Invest in Goodness

Hello!

As we approach Thanksgiving it is common for us to reflect more on our lives and on our faith. I know the holidays cause me to pause and think about my life and the fruits of it. Am I living a life that is full of gratitude? Do I strive to live a humble life, putting the interests of others before my own (Philippians 2)? Do I recognize every day the depths that God went to (becoming man) to have a relationship with me? Would I do the same for Him? Is my life planted in the good soil to produce good fruits, or are their some sour apples in my soul?

Some may think I am a bit too serious when it comes to my faith and my own introspection. On some levels they may be right. But, I cannot help but reflect on these things and on the way my Christian walk manifests itself in me. In my personal faith pursuits, I came across this quote below. It has me thinking even deeper now. Maybe it will do the same for you.

"Christianity is not a voice in the wilderness, but a life in the world. It is not an idea in the air but feet on the ground going God's way. It is not an exotic to be kept under glass, but a hardy plant to bear twelve months of fruits in all kinds of weather. Fidelity to duty is its root and branch. Nothing we can say to the Lord, no calling Him by great or dear names, can take the place of the plain doing of His will. We may cry out about the beauty of eating bread with Him in His kingdom, but it is wasted breath and a rootless hope unless we plow and plant in His kingdom here and now. To remember Him at His table and to forget Him at ours, is to have invested in bad securities. There is no substitute for plain, every-day goodness." - Maltbie Davenport (Mattie D) Babcock, Short Biography

I strive to invest in the goodness of our God and Savior. That is where my true security lies. In that goodness, my treasure is found. I pray that I will continue to invest - not for the return I will get, but for the return others will experience because of Christ living IN me and THROUGH me.

Gracious God, I am grateful for how far you were willing to go to be in a relationship with me. I thank you for your goodness and I pray that Your goodness will live in me in such a way that others may say, "taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalm 34:8)

Take Care & God Bless,

Pastor Don

Let Freedom Ring

This week our nation celebrates and remembers the veterans of our military service. We recognize the sacrifices they have made and continue to make on our behalf and on behalf of countless others who live in tyranny and oppression.

I grew up in an Air Force family and was raised with a deep respect for God and country. Every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner I get goosebumps and pride wells up from deep inside. My grandfather served in the Army and in WWII. My father is a retired Lt. Colonel in the Air Force and still teaches at the Air Force Academy. I have a brother that is active duty Army and has served one 15-month tour in Iraq and will be leaving again very soon.

While I have not experienced any type of deployment, I do understand the waves of emotions (from pride to worry/fear) that can overwhelm family members who have loved ones in violent areas of our world. Whenever I hear of a soldier who has died, I am reminded of how fragile life is and how my own family stands on the threshold of such news when my brother is deployed. I thank God for these men and women who willingly put themselves in harms-way to let freedom ring.

Our world also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the falling of the Berlin Wall on Monday. On November 9, 1989, our world experienced the destruction of a wall that had kept freedom out and had silenced the voices of those contained within its stone-cold barriers. I grew up in the Cold War era, always aware of the Berlin Wall. It seemed so solid, so impenetrable, so eternal. I never thought I'd see the day when that wall would come down. As a 17 year-old youth, that moment had a deep impact on me, as it reminded me of the preciousness of freedom and also its delicate nature.

Freedom in the world is a fragile thing. It can be granted and taken away before you know it. One day you are able to move freely, talk freely, worship freely, and make your own choices freely, and the next day a wall can be built that limits your freedom and liberty and you find that you are fighting for your right to survive as a free person. Freedom in the world is not a certainty. Men and women valiantly and courageously fight for it, some giving their life for it. For that, they deserve our respect, our honor, and our rememberance.

As a Christian, I understand the fragility of freedom in our world, while fully understanding the true freedom that comes from our Savior. In John 8 beginning in verse 31 "Jesus said...'If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

God's freedom refers to the spiritual freedom we have in His Kingdom, not to the physical or earthly freedoms of the world. Walking with Jesus, we may experience rejection, persecution, alienation, even death, but such struggles do not infringe on the freedom we enjoy in Christ! Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

Friends, whether we are able to experience the freedoms of this world or not, we can give all praise and glory for the true freedom that exists in Christ and the promise that our souls and our spirits do not have to live in a yoke of bondage. May we never forget that true freedom does not exist apart from Christ. May we, like the veterans we celebrate this week, fully commit our lives to telling others about the freedom that is found in Christ. May we risk our reputations, our emotions, our relationships, our treasures, and our lives so that others may live in true freedom. LET FREEDOM RING!

God of grace and mercy, You have created me with freedom...freedom to choose life over death...freedom to choose love over hatred...freedom to choose joy over despair and hope over fear...freedom to choose You. Guide me with Your wisdom to choose wisely with the freedom You have so graciously given that through my life Your freedom may ring!

Take Care & God Bless,

Pastor Don

Increasing Our Chances

Good afternoon!

Another beautiful day in Canon City, Colorado. You would never know that we are in November with the temperatures in the mid-70s, people wearing shorts and driving around with their windows down. It truly is beautiful weather and we can give the glory to our Creator for offering us this blessing today.

I want to share another blessing that happened two nights ago. My wife and I took our kids out for a celebration dinner at El Caporal to celebrate their good reports from our parent-teacher conferences.

As we were eating dinner my daughter was talking to us about how some of the girls in her class are boy crazy. She said that she looks at them and says, "What are you thinking? We're kids and we don't need to be doing that stuff. We're kids and we're supposed to party and have fun because when you get older you don't get too many chances to do that!"

My wife and I about died. I am making the assumption that I am at the age where I don't get much of a chance to party and have fun. What can I say, these semi-old bones and this withered spirit are running out of the fun chances life has to offer!!!

It did make me think, however, of the importance of demonstrating the joy and fun in life with my children. If they think that growing up is full of seriousness, pain, discouragement, stress, etc. - then growing up and, eventually, adulthood will lose it's joy and excitement as well. No doubt, there is more that we deal with as adults, but I wonder how much different our lives would be if we dealt with it from the perspective of a child.

When that stressor comes into our lives, or that situation at work, or that gutteral reaction to things going on around us, we say, "Hey, we don't need to get worried and bogged down by that stuff! We're God's children and we're supposed to experience His joy and revel in the strength and peace only He offers! If we don't, our spirits grow old and worn and we lose our chances at joy!"

I wonder what impact that would have on my life? On the life of my family? On the relationships God blesses me with?

In this Thanksgiving month, we are reminded that there is so much to be thankful for. Living with a grateful heart will open up a whole new world to us and it may even help us to come to Jesus with the spirit and awe of a child.

In the words of George Herbert, "Thou who hast given so much to me, give me one more thing - a grateful heart!" May that be our prayer...no matter what happens around us. With a grateful heart, our own spirits and the lives of those around us, will be able to see that there is joy to be experienced in this world and in the God we choose to serve! Maybe that will increase our chances at having some fun with this life!

O God, give us grateful hearts, that our lives may be full of thanksgiving and joy. Give us eyes to see your blessings, great and small, and may our spirits be lifted by Your presence with us. In Jesus' holy name. Amen.

Take Care & God Bless,

Pastor Don

Busted Smiles

Greetings Friends,

I pray you are all doing spiritually well, even if the circumstances of your lives have been difficult (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4).

There was a boy who was reprimanded for laughing out loud during school (ever happen to you?). The boy responded to the teacher by saying, "Teacher, I didn't mean to. I was smiling, and the smile busted."

Have you ever experienced such joy, humor, laughter in your life that you just couldn't contain it? I know I have. I believe all of us have at one time or another. We laugh until we cry. We let loose and experience the joy of life and we don't want it to stop. We smile so much and laugh so hard that our faces hurt. There is a reason why they say that laughter is the best medecine. It is a cleansing of the soul - a releasing of pent up frustration, anger, and negativity. It lightens our lives and frees our souls.

So many times in life, we lose that joy. We are like the teacher telling the boy to stop laughing. Or like the little girl who looked at her grandmother and asked her how she felt. The grandmother said that she felt fine. The little girl then asked, "Well, if you feel good, why don't you tell your face?"

Take it from someone who has been there lately...it can be easy to lose our joy. We forget to tell ourselves that there is reason to be joy-full in our living. We forget because we focus on the wrong things. We focus on the economy, the political fights in our country, the gossip that surrounds us in the workplace, etc. etc. etc. We focus on our scarcity instead of our abundance. We focus on what isn't being done for us (no job, less money, kids not obeying, spouse not meeting our needs), instead of what has been done for us! Jesus went to the cross, in obedience to God, and died for us so that we may be able to experience the fullness of life and joy with Him!

I know that there are things in this world that concern us - and quite frankly they should. We are not to be apathetic towards injustices and wrongs that are being done. However, if our energies are focused on everything that is wrong, we forget what is right and what has been done to set us and the world right with God.

Friends, if you are struggling with joy, you've lost your focus, just like I had. And all it takes is to turn around and see that God is right there, with open hands and an open heart, to offer you the joy that you've been missing. Today, I choose joy! I choose to let my smile bust! How about you?

God of love and joy, fill me today with a joy that is beyond understanding, so that when I confront the struggles and challenges before me, I can do so with the fullness of your Spirit within me. In Jesus' holy name. Amen.

Take Care & God Bless,

Pastor Don

Home Alone

Do you remember the first time your parents let you stay home alone when you were a kid? I don't quite remember the first time I stayed home alone, but I do remember the first time my parents took my three younger siblings out of town for the weekend and my older sister and I were able to stay at home by ourselves.

We thought we were all grown up. We understood the rules (Mom and Dad made sure we understood the rules if you know what I mean). We knew what was expected of us. What we didn't expect, however, was that our first night at home, the police ended up at our house!

Before your imagination runs wild with crazy parties and out-of-control teens, let me explain. You see, my sister's best friend from Kansas was coming into town that night. So, Lisa and I got in the car and I drove us to the airport to pick up Shelly. When we got home, I pulled into the garage as the girls were still engaged in conversation (actually, I don't think they ever took a breath the whole trip home). I was ready to let them go off and reconnect. I couldn't wait to have a thought to myself. Listening to that banter had been driving me crazy!

As we walked into the house, I was carrying the bags. We only got about 7 feet into the doorway when I sensed something was wrong. I had turned on the light and, almost in slow motion, I noted that the sliding glass door was open, the curtain was moving with the breeze. I looked to my left and noticed our VCR was gone. I looked to the right and noticed that my dad's computer was missing. I determined rather quickly we either had been robbed or were in the process of being robbed.

I told the girls to be quiet. They didn't listen at first until I pointed out to my sister that someone had been or was in the house. Like teenage girls do, they freaked out. We dropped the bags, got back in the car, and drove about 10 blocks to the nearest grocery store to call the police. Why we didn't go to a next door neighbor, I will never know.

To make a long story short, the police showed up, did a walk-thru of the house, and showed us where the robber had broken in. They fingerprinted the window and made sure we were doing okay. As the police were there, the phone rang. Wouldn't you know, it was my parents. They asked me how we were doing. I said, "Well, the cops are here." My mom thought I was joking. I assured her I wasn't. The police got on the phone with my parents and assured them we would be okay. They went on their way and my sister and I were never left home alone again.

I thought of that story when I read an email devotion this week from Rich Reich of life-group devotions. He quoted Kristin Armstrong who said, "Just as parents arriving home from a vacation do not want to find their teenager hosting a raging party, Jesus doesn't want to return to a disrespectful mess either. How will he feel if he comes back to collect his beloved people, the ones he gave his life for, only to discover that we have let our families and churches fall apart, made idols of money and worldly success, and allowed sin to pollute us? Like the parents of the teenager, I imagine he will not be amused."

Luke 12:37 reads, "Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant upon his arrival." As Rich shared his story, I was reminded of my own. But, I am reminded every day of how my spiritual home (my body, my mind, my spirit) is doing. Am I being vigilant in my prayer life, my study of His word, my practice of my faith, my love for all His children? Is my house in need of repair? When Jesus comes, will He be pleased to see how I have taken care of myself and His body? How am I, how are we, being vigilant in being His hands and feet in this world?

It is something I have to ask myself everyday.

Gracious God, help me to be vigilant in my faith. Remind me everyday of your deep love for me, so that I may be vigilant in sharing it with others. In Jesus's holy name. Amen.

Let There Be Light

I pray this finds all of you living into your God-given potential and purpose and that you have experienced the warmth of our Lord's embrace this week.

Last night, after returning home from the church, I walked into one of the rooms in our house where a candle was lit. It was just one of those small candles sitting on a counter, flickering a small flame of light into the midst of the darkness.

A little background on me. I am one of those people who has a pet peeve about lights. To conserve energy, I am always going around the house turning off lights that have been left on after someone has left the room. If there is natural light streaming into the room, I am less likely to turn on a light. I get a kick out of people that automatically turn lights on when they enter a room, whether they need to or not! It doesn't make much sense to me.

In light of this information, I was delighted to see the candle lit. Had it not been, the room would have been pitch black and I would have had to flip the switch. Since there was candlelight, I didn't have to use electricity to do what I needed to do. As I remained in the room, I stopped what I was doing to take in the atmosphere.

I know that there are many people that enjoy the ambience of a candlelit room. For me, it brings a sense of calm and peace. I enjoyed watching how the light danced along the walls and ceiling of the room. I delighted in the spiritual experience as well.

I was reminded again that no matter how thick the darkness in the rooms of our lives, a small, singular light can break through it all. No need for a floodlight or a spotlight to break through the darkness. We only need a single flame.

We all experience darkness in our lives. We often hear it referred to as "the dark night of the soul". The darkness can envelope us at any time. It can come in the form of depression, a lost job, increasing stressors at home or work, an argument, growing feelings of bitterness and resentment, a busy schedule, a loss of purpose, an accident, a physical struggle, or emotional or spiritual pain. The darkness becomes an enemy to our spiritual well-being and health. We almost become comfortable in it and we forget that there is a light ready to shine into the darkness if we are willing to let it. This is how the enemy wins.

In the midst of whatever darkness you are experiencing, remember that there is a light wanting to shine and dance into your life. In Micah 7:8 it says, "Do not gloat over me my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light." May that be our confidence as well!

When we allow Him, even a small part of Him, into the dark areas of our lives, the darkness scatters and we begin to see the ways He is dancing through our lives...even in the midst of the darkest night. Because when the Light comes into our lives, the darkness is not dark to Him. His nature does not consist of any darkness...only light (reference to Psalm 139:11-12). Hold on to the Light...let it shine in the darkest area of your life and watch it dance. Watch it bring peace and calm. Experience the joy that the Light offers. Let it guide you and let it direct your paths. (Psalm 119:105).

Loving God, may your light shine in our darkness. Scatter the darkness that reigns in our hearts and our world. May your light overcome the depths of our despair, confusion, doubt, and fear. May your light dance in our hearts and burn brightly in our lives. We pray in the name of your Son, Jesus, the Light of the world. Amen.

God's Push

May you experience the power and joy of walking with our Lord today!

Allow me to share with you a powerful revelation that God placed before me today. A couple of weeks ago I shared with you in my sermon All You Really Need that I have been in a spiritual funk lately and, that in the midst of that time, God shared with me to keep holding on in the midst of the storm and to turn my focus back on Jesus. It's in times of great distress that Jesus is coming to us (sometimes in unexpected ways) to calm the storms in our lives. As I have clung to the boat of my life, spiritually tossed to and fro, I have tried my best to look for Jesus and see Him in the midst of chaotic times.

Friends, I am happy to share with you that Jesus came walking upon the waters of my life today! He has placed Himself in the midst of this broken vessel. He has calmed the waters. He has restored my soul!!!!!!!!

I went to a leadership event at the Vineyard church for lunch today and as I was listening to the speaker (who was Pastor Cory Sondrol's sister), God answered some questions and affirmed some decisions I have made, or am in the process of making. That was all nice and good...but then God really brought me to my knees. He got me good.

We watched a video from a book by David McNally, Even Eagles Need a Push. The book isn't even out yet, but there was a part of the video that spoke to me where I was at. The quote said, "Why does the thrill of soaring have to start with the fear of falling?"

I thought to myself, "That's it! That is where I am right now! I know that God is pushing me towards the edge, but I'm afraid of falling." Then God spoke, "Those who hope in Me will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31). What I failed to remember is that when we are pushed to the edge spiritually, personally, emotionally, professionally, relationally, God is there. While we fall we may experience our stomachs in our throats, but we won't stay there. In the midst of the falling, God has created it within us (just as He created it within the eagle) to spread our wings...trust in Him...and His Spirit will surround us and help us experience the thrill of soaring.

I got to thinking that so many times in my life I have just huddled at the edge, looking over and being too fearful to make the jump. In doing so, I am unfaithful. I display a lack of trust in God. I stay in my fear and I rob myself of the thrill of flying with our Lord.

Are you huddled at the edge? Are you afraid of what the journey may hold? Are you feeling God nudge you to a new place in your life? If you are - take the jump. Go over the edge. The fall doesn't last long - but the soaring will open up a whole new world with the Lord at your side.

Let's stop letting the fear of falling keep us from experiencing the thrill of soaring with Him. May God break through our huddled masses, nudge us over the edge, and lift us up on the strength of His wings. It is then that we soar and become ALIVE again!

Heavenly Father, I have been huddled in fear far too long, afraid of what the future holds. Afraid of exploring new territory in my life. Afraid of falling and the pain it may bring. Help me to trust in You today. Give me a gentle nudge so that I can experience what it's like to soar with You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.