The cushy beds in the tent trailer at Convict Lake claimed my son-in-law and grandson as I rose alone at early dawn to entice a few trout in the creek. Yes, I caught a few. But better than the rainbows was the reminder of God’s patience. The crisp dry air of mountain mornings brings a unique freshness. Being immersed in God’s creation makes me…
Read MoreRelentlessly Seeking
In an almost New Testament manner, an earlier church we attended had a satellite campus at a winery east of Temecula. The pic above shows the view the gathered believers have during worship. This last Sunday, just after the sermon began, a small, yellow-breasted bird flew up to the window, beating his wings trying to get in. Tiring, he flew back to a grapevine branch, rested, then resumed his attempts to enter God's presence. After a few moments he tired…
Read MoreKind to the Bone--The Spirit's Fruit of Kindness
Remember the old rock song, “Bad to the Bone,” about a guy who bragged his badness went to the core of his being? Let me tell you about another. A real one. At 20, he committed armed robbery and escaped. Two months later he was arrested for fraud, sentenced to three to five years. Upon release at 23, he was arrested for the earlier robbery and sent to Leavenworth. Upon getting out, he joined the army and soon got discharged for having syphilis at 26. At 27 he quickly married a young country girl, got her pregnant and more quickly left, only to marry another young girl two days before his son was born. With no divorce. Once more going to prison. He spent the rest of his life as a con man, dying early at 52 from his syphilis. This dude was bad to the bone. In his wake, he left only loss and deceit and pain. He was my…
Read MoreHave a Beer?
I may get some push back on this post. In a previous book, I mentioned that the Bible doesn’t forbid drinking alcohol in moderation and received some VERY critical reviews..some quite personal. Yes, reviewers, we remember the good, the bad, and the ugly. However, I did intentionally forget your name. Well, most of it. In the early 1970’s…
Read MoreRain on Them
Last week we examined one of the causes why families and churches and friends get so upset with each other: we primarily try to change people’s behaviors, thinking that living by God’s standards will improve our culture. Yes, it will, but at what cost? We say we want to make disciples, but many nonChristians see it as meddling and turn us off. They become less open to hearing about Jesus. And when Christians attack other Christians over politics…
Read MoreOur Aim May Be Off
Many Christians bemoan the direction of our country. Our long-lived moral values, resting mostly on the Judeo-Christian ethic, are disappearing like dust in the wind. To combat that, many followers work politically to pass laws and elect candidates to restore righteousness to our country, with righteous defined as right behavior. How is that working? First, with all this work going back decades, our culture shows little moral restoration. Second, our efforts often alienate…
Read MoreHanging in There: Fruit of the Spirit #4
Coworkers have been resigning, causing our boss to make unreasonable demands to take up the slack, so we start reading the help wanted ads. Someone in church offends us by a chance comment, and we're ready to start looking. Again. Our mate treats us like last week's leftovers, and we wonder how a divorce would affect the kids. Some jerk darts in front of us on the freeway, we slam on our brakes, and are ready to quit being Mr. Nice Guy. Fortunately…
Read MoreCreation Care
My recent camping/fishing Sierra trip stunned me with the natural beauty and how it all fits together—again. Funny how each trip does that. Mid October revealed the glory of golden aspen with the contrasting cedars and Ponderosa pines, the life-sheltering and beautiful streams, the awe-inspiring Milky Way at night. But heading home showed all isn’t well on Planet Earth. Lone Pine Creek was…
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