Darkness

The trauma was over. In them was the backlash of post traumatic stress. In the world darkness reigned.

Those that had walked with the light huddled in secret places. They knew they were safe on this Sabbath day. But tomorrow, well, that would be another thing when the Jewish leaders were no longer constrained by Sabbath limitations. Then the same darkness that swallowed Jesus would over run them.

It wasn’t mostly fear that made them hide; it was shame. Clusters of disciples sat in silence, heads down, consumed by regret. Little conversation, little care for basic needs, little of anything except being overrun by internal darkness. A knot of women stayed close to Mary, His mother, trying to be and do what she needed. But what is there anyone can do after watching her oldest son tumble from the pinnacle of success to scandalous disgrace resulting in appalling death?

Peter sat alone, mindlessly twisting his robe, rocking back and forth, staring at his sandals. A few had put their arms around him, others stayed away as if Peter’s thrice betrayal would infect them. He was best left alone. Well, not really, but at each approach he began to weep and moan anew. Hopeless and helpless, unable to see any path out of the guilt of his abandonment and treason. “Had Judas taken the right road?” he could prevent himself from wondering. No, that can’t be right. But there can be no way out of this. There is nothing to do but wait for arrest and death. We had been so SURE! How could we have been so wrong? Regardless, all hope is bankrupt. Gone. Only darkness.

Same with us after Good Friday. Without hope. Plunged into DARKNESS we are helpless against. Besieged by the shame of our betrayal and abandonment. Guilty of sin that nailed Jesus to the cross. Without God and without hope. Bound for the same kind of death and deservedly so.

Easter will mean little unless we pause to suffer the darkness. Light is not valued unless we allow ourselves to be enveloped by the pitch blackness in which we live without the resurrected Christ.

We will not celebrate raucously, with abandon unless the bottomless darkness is pierced and expelled by resurrected life. Unless the impossible, miraculous life is felt in contrast with the hopeless darkness.

I cannot imagine the palpable darkness of Jesus’ followers after Good Friday. It is both a blessing and a curse to know the end of the story. You and I will never be able to delight in Easter as Jesus’ followers did. Well, not on earth. But someday, when we see Him as they did. THEN we won’t be able to stop dancing!!

¹²remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:12-13 (NIV)

Boldly, Herb

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Perspectives on Jesus’ Death on the Cross

I ran across the following quotes from great men of faith. Read through them slowly on this weekend.

"The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for its standard." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

"The cross cannot be defeated, for it is defeat." - Gilbert K. Chesterton.

"There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross- bearers here below." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

"We need men of the cross, with the message of the cross, bearing the marks of the cross." - Vance Havner.

"He came to pay a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay." - Anonymous.

"All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell is terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or less ignore its meaning." - Oswald Chambers.

Galatians 2:20 (NIV) ²⁰I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

John 14:19 (NIV) ¹⁹Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

“Lord, there is no way we can ever fully value Your death or comprehend Your pain for us. Would you help us to live lives of gratitude by shining light on Your cross. Every moment of every day.”

Boldly, Herb

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Familiar But Oblivious

We are so familiar and yet so oblivious.

We can recite the circumstances and meaning but we fail to comprehend the depth of their significance.

We attend events and hear recitations but we are ignorant of the implications.

We have crosses around our necks, in our ears, on our key chains, on our bumpers and various other spots but we do not pause to consider the horror of the reference. Would you wear an electric chair around your neck? Would you put little lethal injection syringes? Or hang nooses in the sanctuary of your congregation? Or put a picture of a guillotine on your bumper?

We trivialize our sin by committing sin carelessly knowing that we are forgiven, treating the death of Jesus as marginally significant.

We even purchase chocolate crosses, place them into children’s Easter baskets along with eggs purportedly delivered by a furry mammal. We bite into the representation of a death instrument and savor the flavor rather than savoring the forgiveness and vowing to live up to Jesus’ death.

We are so familiar and yet so oblivious.

Please don’t read these words as blame. How can we not live in this culture without being very familiar with the symbols of the Passion Week? They are everywhere. But “familiarity breeds contempt” is the adage. When we see something a great deal we stop respecting it. It’s just the way we are.

But DO read these words as a challenge to change that! To bring us to the depth of appreciation requires deliberate effort. And Jesus deserves that.

Good Friday was not good. It was only made good by what Jesus did there and on Easter.

The cross was not good, but a cruel, torturous instrument of death. We sing about it, see a beautiful icon while in worship, we speak of it freely - and become so familiar that we are oblivious. It was only made good by Jesus’ work there.

Sin is not trivial. The violence of Jesus’ beatings and death reveal the brutality of our sin against God.

Why did the cross have to be so awful? Because of the awfulness of our disobedience to God, our sin. The price of our forgiveness could not be cheap because sin had turned this world completely upside down.

I CHALLENGE YOU to get a fresh glimpse of the cross this week. Watch “The Passion of the Christ,” or read an analysis of Jesus’ experience of suffering. Here are just a couple of the many available:
http://www.csun.edu/~hbeng151/icc/studies/account.html
http://www.thecross-photo.com/Dr_C._Truman_Davis_Analyzes_the_Crucifixion.htm

Is it wrong to have crosses all around us? Not if we are living the transformation that Christ died there to make. Not if we are reflections of the revolutionizing power grace, forgiveness, mercy, reconciliation and surrender that Jesus’ suffering released. Not if we wear them in awe of Christ rather than because they are nice. There was NOTHING nice about the cross!!

It IS WRONG to take Jesus’ work for granted. As Scripture says:

“How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:29 (NIV)

Between now and Easter, would you join me in taking time to contemplate Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, mocking, beatings and crucifixion -- and how our sin sent Him there. THEN we will truly celebrate Easter!

Boldly, Herb

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Hard is Not Bad; Hard is Hard!

It seems that the word "hard" is nearly synonymous with “bad” with most folks these days.

"I won't take that class, it's too HARD."

"That job is HARD - don't accept it if offered!"

"I can't stay in this marriage. It's just way too HARD."

Listen for a day to notice how often you hear such statements. The implication is that hard is bad.

I want to propose a new mantra: "Hard is not bad; hard is hard." Hard is usually painful, but pain is not always bad - just HARD.

I hope this new mantra goes viral because often HARD is good, it's just hard. More often than not, hard is an opportunity to improve - it's just hard. And many, many times, HARD is essential to becoming, accomplishing, discovering, enjoying what we want and need most. It's just that HARD is painful, difficult, not enjoyable or fun.

So everyone say it together, (though it is hard to bring yourself to do so):
"Hard is not bad; hard is just hard."
Now, let's go embrace the hard but important things we must do today. Repair a relationship. Confront a difficult reality. Love an enemy. Discipline yourself to become better. Whatever it is - grit your teeth, endure the pain and do the hard thing.

Boldly, Herb

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What Will You Do With the Extra Day?

You have been given a gift. A gift that comes once every one thousand four hundred and sixty days. The endowment of an extra day.

So how will you use it? 24 hours to use any way you want. Oh, you may not be in charge of your schedule. Most of us have to go to work, school, take care of kids, cook, clean, fill the car with gas and all that. But within those activities we have the opportunity to use those extra minutes to gripe, waste, play, encourage, learn, help, work, and on and on. Do you see the possibilities?

But it is up to YOU. Not your boss, spouse, kids or strangers. No excuses, it is YOUR choice.

It will not happen by accident. We will not drift into good use of these 1440 minutes. We default mostly to the unproductive.

So what will you choose? C’mon, before you use another minute of this day, decide to use part of these bonus hours to make a difference in the lives of others.

Who will you call? Who will you care for? Who will you send a gift or card? Who will you buy groceries or take to dinner? To whom will you bring laughter, love and a lightened load? Who will you contact to let them know THEY have been a blessing to you? Who will you hug or smile at?

Here’s an idea: what if we did so with EVERY PERSON we come into contact today?

So how about it? Let’s make Leap Day a day to make others leap with joy! Who knows - it may catch on for the other 1460 days between now and 2016!

Boldly, Herb


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What Part of “For a Lifetime” Am I Missing?

What Part of “For a Lifetime” Am I Missing?

I am not one to get riled up, but this one ticked me off. Big time!

As Sheila and I were winding down the evening last night, she told me of hearing about Pat Robertson’s latest public degree that a man would be morally justified to divorce his wife with Alzheimer's disease in order to marry another woman. The dementia-riddled wife is, Robertson said, "not there" anymore. http://ow.ly/6vzjE. It had made a secular news broadcast in Pittsburgh.

What part of “as long as we both shall LIVE” am I missing?

Pat Robertson’s statement is so wrong at so many levels!!!

There’s the human commitment level. We live in a culture that is already confused about commitment and is attempting to redefine it all the time. Jesus is the model of commitment and we are to follow that example of never, ever, ever giving up on commitments. “’til death do us part” or “as long as both shall live” is a lifetime commitment, not just until we selfishly conclude “she is no longer there.”

It is wrong at the caring level. In Sheila’s work with the elderly, she has learned that most often the last part of the brain to cease functioning is where feelings are sensed. Even though his wife may not respond in any other way, it is highly likely that she could respond to loving, self-sacrificing, heartfelt touches and words of love. People are “still there” long after our observations believe they are not.

It is wrong because of God’s purpose in marriage. Marriage is not just about the commitment between husband and wife. The Bible is clear that it is also a picture of the relationship between Christ and His Bride, the people who are His Church. If Christ was willing to die for His bride, what right does a husband have to divorce his wife because she no longer fulfills the husband’s needs? Rather, it is an opportunity for the husband to live out for God and the world the picture of Christ’s love for us! I love Gary Thomas’ book, “Sacred Marriage.”* The subtitle gives you a taste, “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?” Yes, marriage is a gift from God, but a much different gift than most of us think. It is the opportunity to live and love as Jesus modeled.

Our human nature tends toward selfishness. Our world’s culture promotes that same selfishness. Those result in an attitude that marriage is for me, my happiness, my pleasure, me… me… me!! God’s design for marriage is an opportunity to become like Christ in self sacrificing commitment FOR A LIFETIME! Not until it is no longer convenient or enjoyable or my spouse “is no longer there.”

I would ask Pat Robertson, If it is right to abandon a spouse when “she/he is no longer there” then what prevents abandoning the spouse any other time my desires, needs, satisfaction are not fulfilled? Where does it stop? It is a slippery slope that we should not even peer at through binoculars.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND: my heart goes out to spouses and family members who must watch a loved one suffer the effects of Alzheimer’s disease or any other debilitating condition. I watched my mother care for my grandmother through long years of Alzheimer’s, my uncle lovingly care for my aunt through ALS, my best friend love his mother as she deteriorated and my father-in-law care for Sheila’s mom through debilitating illness. I don’t dismiss the pain, but I celebrate the courage and commitment of people who refuse to give up!! It is the right thing to do!

At the end of the issue is the fact that only God has the authority to proclaim what we should do, not any other human being. And He does not provide a loophole for us to abandon our commitment because we are not happy.

Just my thoughts. As passionate as they may be. I’d love to hear from you on this issue.

Boldly, Herb

*I highly recommend this book. It has given me a Biblical understanding of marriage as nothing else.

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What is God Feeling? 9/11 Revisited

On September 13, 2001, I wrote the email newsletter below. With all the remembrances around the ten year anniversary, I thought it appropriate to post it here again. At the risk of offending. Please understand that my heart and prayers go out to those whose lives have been forever altered and in no way want to diminish their loss. But more than that, my heart belongs to God. So read if you dare.

From Where God Sits, Special Edition
September 13, 2001

"What Is God Feeling?"

Along with millions of other people I listened and watched Tuesday’s tragic events unfold. Sheila and I were on our way to a night away and were headed for the PA Turnpike through Somerset County. After hearing the report of the fourth plane going down within 40 miles of us, it felt like the world was coming to an end. We turned around and headed home. Shock, horror, sadness, anger, frustration, hurt, disbelief were just some of the emotions we all felt. I hope your first reaction was to pray. Sheila and I did. Along with millions, our family has kept praying.

September 11, 2001 is a day that will live in infamy with Pearl Harbor, the JFK assassination, and the Challenger explosion. Only worse because of the nature of the tragedy and the cruelty of the terrorists

Interviews reported the emotions of people close to the scenes. Those of us removed by distance can only imagine the emotional, mental as well as physical trauma endured by those involved close up and those who lost loved ones. That trauma has only begun.

For the first 24 hours I was in shock, overwhelmed by feelings of being violated, by emotions of sadness for the victims, by a sense of helplessness that we can’t change what happened. Finally on Wednesday I asked God, “What is Your perspective on this tragedy, from where You sit? How do you feel?” He answered me. In a moment I’m going to let you know what I heard, but I’m taking a risk that you will not understand. I expected God to let me know how sad and angry He is. I expected words of comfort I could pass on to others. That is not what He said to me. Frankly, He shocked me and I have hesitated to pass it on. But I asked for Him to tell me. I guess I have to be ready for anything when I ask God a question!

I don’t want to sound cruel or heartless. What has occurred is a tragedy of enormous proportions. There are thousands of people who have been killed, wounded or have loved ones who are dead or suffering. That is awful. So, please understand I’m not trying to make light of it. I am not insensitive to the pain. But I heard God’s Spirit clearly speak two messages. (If you don’t like them, you can take it up with God. Remember I’m only the middle man.) Here they are…

MESSAGE #1. Moments after I asked God to give me His perspective, I heard Him say, “You kill 3,500 innocent Americans everyday. Why are you so upset and so angry about those killed Tuesday?” I was shocked. I was expecting words of comfort, of direction, of help, or anger. I heard none of that and I was immediately convicted. God’s right. He’s always right. Why are we so upset when foreign terrorists kill thousands when we do it to ourselves everyday through abortion? The life of an unborn child is just as valuable to God as any of the people who perished in these attacks. In fact the Bible is clear that God is even more protective of the little ones.

MESSAGE #2. “There is something worse than dying physically. It is dying without a relationship with Me and going to Hell.” All of heaven welcomed many of the people who died Tuesday into an eternity beyond our wildest imaginations. Those people are better off, they’re receiving a reward that will last forever and ever and ever. Others, however, entered an eternity beyond our nastiest nightmares because they refused a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That is worse than the cruelest death we will hear about.

God’s words to me, as surprising as they were, have helped bring me out of the fog of the tragedy and have given me His bigger picture perspective. Yes it is a tragedy. The ripples will last for decades. The worst may be yet to come. But thousands of people around the world suffer daily. Persecuted Christians perish day after day. People die every day within blocks of us, sometimes even cruelly. Perhaps if we are honest with God and ourselves, we have to admit that our feelings are selfish. The tragedy has threatened our personal sense of security, our personal comforts, and our self-absorbed way of life. It grabs our attention because of the unthinkable way in which we were attacked and the enormity of the loss. We are shaken. This one hit home where we thought we were safe and secure.

I invite you to refocus. Ask God to give you His perspective. Live by His promises. Absorb these…

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (NIV)

I also invite you to put your full trust in God. Only in Him do we have true security. All other kinds of security are myths.

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Psalms 20:7 (NIV)

Let’s be God’s hands and feet, His Presence in the world. Whatever we can do, we should do. Pray, give blood, make donations, and talk with others about God’s desires for people to know Him and invite them to place their hope in God.

But let’s keep God’s perspective and live for Him in dailyness as well as times of tragedy.

Boldly, Herb

What Kind of Day Will I Have?

Funny thing about the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had better days than we can ever fathom. Perfect. Wondrous. Full of meaning, pleasure and excitement. Day after day after day, by following God’s lead, they experienced incredible days. The day they decided they wanted to have the kind of day they wanted, EVERYTHING went south. TRULY everything. In the moment they decided they had a better idea of what a good day would be, they sent all of existence on a trail of bad days and tears. They reached for the ONE fruit that was off limits and forfeited the ENTIRE garden. Astonishing and plain stupid. If we could ask them, I am 100% sure they would tell us that the worst day WITH God is a gazillion times better than the best day WITHOUT God.

Same with us.

As I (and you) begin each day, the question is not, “Will I have a good day?” Rather, it is, “Will I have the day God has in mind?”

Embedded in the second question are further questions.
“Do I really believe that the day God has in mind is better than anything I can conjure up?”
“Do I truly embrace that a difficult day with God is better than a day that seems to be easy?”
“Am I convinced that walking in alignment with Jesus is more satisfying than any other pleasure in the world?”

7I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ Philippians 3:7-8 (New Living Translation)

If I cannot answer the above questions, “Yes. Yes. Yes. And YES!!” I am with Adam and Eve, reaching for the fruit, believing I am smarter than the eternal, all-powerful Maker of the Universe and know better what a good day will look like.

Look at that equation and the choice is clear. But what will YOU do about TODAY? Reach for the “me” fruit or trust God and have the whole Garden?

Your choice.

Stupid or smart. I’m determined to choose smart today.

Boldly, Herb

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Counter-intuitive

I was wrong! I can’t believe it, but I was wrong. I’ve read the account hundreds of times, thought I had it right, but I was wrong.

Lying in bed, just before going to sleep a couple weeks ago, I grabbed the Bible by my bed and read Matthew 4. It is the account of Jesus going into the desert for 40 days with no food, going toe to toe with the devil with no human companions. At the end of the 40 days, the Bible says Jesus was hungry. I used to consider that one of the great understatements. But I’ve learned that when a person fasts for an extended period of time the feelings of hunger disappear, reappearing only when the body has no more reserves and needs to eat to prevent damage.

It was at this point the devil ramped up the temptations, coming after Jesus with the big three: turn rocks into bread, jump off the temple, bow to the devil and sidestep the pain.

Here’s where I was wrong. I’ve always believed and taught that the devil came after Jesus when He was at His weakest – 40 days alone in the desert and hungry. As I was reading the scripture in bed that evening, I sensed the Holy Spirit hit me with this truth: Jesus was not at His weakest but at His STRONGEST! And in that moment, I knew it was true.

Yes, Jesus was worn from the 40 days, but through the extended time with the Father and the counter-intuitive discipline of fasting and prayer, Jesus was the STRONGEST He had ever been. Scripture confirms it…

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. Luke 4:13-14 (NIV)

Soooooo… Is it possible God might be calling us to pray and fast during this Lenten season to become the STRONGEST we’ve ever been?

It is counter-intuitive after all we’ve heard about eating right, etc, etc, but in the spiritual realm, it is THE right formula for experiencing life as God designed.

WHAT WILL YOU DO? Take the hard road of discipline that Jesus traveled to emerge in the power of God’s Spirit, to see God work supernaturally, to hear God speak clearly, to watch God work in those we love, to experience life as God has designed – OR – take the road of saying yes to your desires and no to God’s and experience WAY, WAY less than God designed or desires?

Your choice. But I invite you to join me to the “Focus 40” this Easter season. I hope you will.

Boldly, Herb

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Jesus Was Always Picking Fights

Here’s a topic you won’t hear a lot of people talk when they refer to Jesus. But it is true! Jesus was always picking fights. Just read the accounts of His life looking for it, and you will find it was His lifestyle. Not something that just happened or that He couldn’t avoid. It was what He did consistently, along with the teaching, miracles, healings, etc. Yet even in those, He often used them to start a fight!!

Jesus even did so in His home town. First time back from His baptism, desert temptation and beginning of His public ministry, He immediately picks a fight. Seems like it would be the time to let people know that the kid they watched grow up had actually been the Son of God incognito. But, NO! He picks a fight. Look at it…

1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7And the man got up and went home. 8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men. 9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:1-9 (NIV)
At first glance it appears He was picking fights with people, but really He was picking fights with wrong beliefs that led to wrong actions. Picking fights with falsehoods was actually the loving thing to do! Imagine that! God is showing me that we must be doing the same. If we do not follow Jesus’ example to reveal falsehood by our words and actions, we are, by omission, allowing lies to stand unchallenged. And that is not living lives of truth, being salt, light and fragrance of Christ. Nor is it “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), which is our mandate.

So… go pick a fight to for Jesus!

Boldly, Herb

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It Doesn’t Work

Imagine for a moment you wanted to learn how to pop really, really good popcorn. You come to me because you know that I am a pro. I am thrilled to show you because we all love to show others that in which we find enjoyment.

“What do you do now?” I inquire.

“I do this,” you reply as you take a small pan, put a cup of oil in the bottom and 2 kernels of popcorn and turn the stove on low.

“Yeah, um…” I mutter, trying not to call you something inappropriate. “Let me show you.” I cover the bottom of the pan with oil, turn the stove on medium high and add ½ cup of popcorn. “Every minute shake the pan until the popping slows to less than a pop every 5 seconds.” I empty a perfect pan full of popcorn into a bowl and you enjoy it. “Got it?” I ask. “Got it!” you enthusiastically exclaim.

You return the following week, despondent. “It doesn’t work.”

“Okay, show me what you did.”

You pull out a pan, put a teaspoon of oil in the bottom of the pan, add 3 cups of popcorn and turn the stove on high. In a few minutes the smoke detector starts screaming. “See, I told you it didn’t work!” you growl.

Being a patient man and giving you the benefit of the doubt that I didn’t explain well, I say, “Let me show you again.” I cover the bottom of the pan with oil, turn the stove on medium high and add ½ cup of popcorn. “Every minute shake the pan until the popping slows to less than a pop every 5 seconds.” I empty a perfect pan full of popcorn into a bowl and you enjoy it. “Got it?” I ask. “Got it!” you enthusiastically exclaim.

You return a week later, angry. “It doesn’t work!”

“Alright, show me!”

You rip a pan out of the cupboard, turn the stove on medium high, put 3 cups oil in the pan and add 10 kernels of corn. I cover my ears before the smoke alarm taunts you again. “See!” you scream, clearly mad at me. “It doesn’t work! You must not know what you’re talking about!”

“Look!” I try to respond without sending the message that I think I should call the padded truck for you. “It does work. It has worked every time I have done it.” I even show you one more time. You settle down a little as you enjoy the perfect bowl of popcorn. “Now just do it that way and it will work.”

You stop coming around and I assume you’ve started doing it right. Much later I hear that you are spreading the news that popcorn doesn’t work and Herb has no idea what he is doing because you tried to follow my instructions and IT DIDN’T WORK.

Sound silly? Sure. When it is about popcorn.

But when it is about God, it’s not silly. It’s TRAGIC! We don’t do that, do we? Yep!

So many people have come to the conclusion that God and church don’t work because they hear His instructions over and over. They even see peoples’ lives that clearly demonstrate Jesus’ peace, joy, contentment, healthy relationships, good attitudes and more.

But they walk away to try do life their way instead of God’s way and angrily blame God and church for their lives not working.

How about you?

Boldly, Herb

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Don’t Feed the Animal!!

As I stood in the shower, an enlightening and profound thought popped into my head. The concept was not new, but the statement caught me in its simplicity and profundity.

DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

If I don’t want the stray kitten to hang around, grow, become attached and impossible to excommunicate – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!! So simple, yet so true.

“Why,” you might be saying, “Is this so profound to you, Herb?”

Because I look around in my own life and others and realize the reason we struggle is because we are FEEDING THE ANIMAL!! And in the shower it occurred to me that we are being dense.

If I don’t want to have thoughts and behavior hang around, grow, become part of my life and impossible to excommunicate – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL that is my thought life!!

If I don’t want hurt and anger to consume me – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

If I don’t want to struggle so hard with temptations of any kind – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

If I don’t want to be negative – DON’T FEED THE ANIMAL!!

And then, on the flip side, DO FEED THE ANIMAL you want to hang around, grow, become part of you want to be part of your life and impossible to excommunicate…

… right thoughts and behavior
… the opposites of the temptations that threaten
… forgiveness, love, patience
… positive thoughts

So simple, yet so profound and CHALLENGING to actually do.

Which animal will you feed today?

Boldly, Herb

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Not so Random Thoughts on Trust

May 12, 2010

Trust comes from going through insecure situations and experiencing God coming through for you.

The path to deep trust is one of fear, uncertainty, challenging all we rely on … and it is very painful.

The natural response is to resist and cling to what we can see even though we THINK and SAY we believe what we can’t see. That is not trust.

Trust is CHOOSING to do what is against our natural inclinations, what causes us fear, what seems to make no sense, to let go of control and OBEY God’s invitation.

Trust goes against everything we understand to give us all that we really desire but cannot grasp.

Trust requires that we obey BEFORE we understand – and then we understand AFTER we obey.

When we go through really tough times, God is offering opportunities to develop deeper trust that we think we even want but the kind of trust that God knows will deliver what we really desire.


Boldly, Herb

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What Wavelength Are You On?

Why do we hear requirements instead of promises? Demands instead of unbelievable offers?

HOW we hear is as important as WHAT we hear.

And it seems to me we are hearing WAY wrong when we listen to the instructions of God. Let me try to paint this picture…

Suppose you have a stern, distant, demanding, finger pointing teacher who seems to delight in reminding you of the monumental amount of work required for class. Every day she reminds you “If you want to get a decent grade in this class you will have to do better than you’re doing.” Toward the end of the school term she makes a different statement, “If you score well on the final exam you will get an A for the year.” What do you hear in that statement? A demand filled warning or a promise? That you had better study well because you’re not doing well or the promise that an A is in your future if you will only study well? Because of the way of hearing she has created, my bet is on the first choice.

Somehow most of us have developed the picture of a stern, distant, demanding, finger pointing, scolding, unhappy-with-us, nothing is ever good enough God. From the time you’re born he schemes to create that image and does so in many, many ways so don’t worry about HOW we got there. We’re there. With that picture in our heads, how in the world will we hear anything other than demands and requirements when we read the Bible? And why will we want to read the Bible?

God has been showing me that we’re missing His incredible promises and the unfathomable depth of His love because we are hearing wrong. That in this “if…then…” covenant relationship with God, we’re focusing on the “if” (requirements and demands) when He wants us to experience the “then” (promises). And it is KILLING us, causing us to live with the hole in our souls that God soooo wants to fill with satisfaction that comes from embracing Him. For example…

John 8:31-32 (NIV) 31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

What did you hear when you read that? That we had better work harder at holding on to Jesus’ teaching, that our efforts are not good enough, that we’re sad excuses for disciples? That’s the way I’ve typically read it. But I’ve come to believe that instead Jesus is making the promise of freedom – that He soooo wants us to have freedom and is showing us the way to accept the offer – hold to His teaching. IT’S A PROMISE FROM A LOVING, GIVING, SACRIFICING, DOING ALL THAT HE CAN FOR US GOD!!!!!


Or…
Matthew 6:12, 14-15 (NIV) 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

What did you hear? That you had better do better at forgiving people, no matter how much they hurt you or you’re in trouble? Yet instead Jesus is pointing us to the promise to cleanse us from anger, bitterness and hurt, that He soooo wants us to experience the exhilarating release from emotional chains that He is showing us how to accept the offer – let go of the hurts people have inflicted on us just like He let go of the hurts we inflicted on Him. IT’S A PROMISE FROM A LOVING, GIVING, SACRIFICING, DOING ALL THAT HE CAN FOR US GOD!!!!!


Or…
Malachi 3:10 (NIV) 10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Did you hear a demand from God to give him 10% of your income? That He wants your money and does not understand how hard it is for you to pay your bills? Yet instead God is pointing us to the promise to provide for us in flood-like ways, that He soooo wants to give us what we need and He is showing us how to accept the offer! IT’S A PROMISE FROM A LOVING, GIVING, SACRIFICING, DOING ALL THAT HE CAN FOR US GOD!!!!!

I challenge you to read the Bible this week looking for the promises of the real God of the Universe, who actually died for us so we can experience true life and crush that warped, ugly, twisted image.

Then WALK INTO HIS ARMS. You will never do anything to make Him happier!!!!

Boldly, Herb

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Can’t Believe How God Hangs With Us!

January 15, 2010

The other day my wife, Sheila, got excited. “Herb, did you see my baby?” she asked. My mind reeled. We’re way too old to have kids and I was pretty certain she was not pregnant. Let alone ready to deliver.

“No… where is it?” I asked tentatively. She pointed to a shelf by the hallway window.

“Look! Isn’t it exciting? It’s growing!” she enthused as she gently touched a tender shoot.

Sheila bought a plant two years ago. An orchid plant. She has nurtured, cultivated, watered, protected, and moved it from window to window. It is a spoiled brat! And it has given her NOTHING. Not one bud, not one bloom, not one aromatic fragrance. Nothing.

“It will only have one bloom a year,” she informed me.

ONE BLOOM! I thought (but did not say out loud), “You’ve got to be kidding! You’ve been caring for this green thing for two years and when it finally blooms it will only give you ONE flower? What a waste of time!” I kept my mouth shut, nodded and smiled. (Hey, I’ve been married a long time!)

“But when it blooms, it will last a long time,” she assured me. Rats, she saw through the smile.

“And when it blooms, it will be BEAUTIFUL!” Sheila continued. Obviously, it is worth it to her. All the time, effort and care put into something with great possibilities but no guarantees.

The “baby” continues to grow; Sheila continues to care for it and wait in anticipation of what is coming.

A lot like US. A lot like GOD.

God looks at us in the same way Sheila looks at the orchid plant. Full of great possibilities but no guarantees. He cares for us, nurtures us, protects us, gives us the best shot at becoming something beautiful. And then He waits. And waits. And waits. And waits some more. Knowing that if we turn to Him, we will bloom into something of incredible beauty.

Can’t believe how FAITHFUL God is with us. I would have given up on the orchid and us long ago. But not God.

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)

Is your life beautiful? Can be. Turn to Him and He guarantees to transform us from a lump of green leaves to a magnificent creation.

Boldly, Herb

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It’s Amazing What a Decade Will Do

December 31, 2009

Exactly 10 years ago we were bracing for the worst as we faced uncertainty resulting from glitches in original computer language. Can you remember the level of insecurity ten years ago? Who should we believe, the “experts” who said the glitches were fixed or those who identified all the possible things that could go wrong? On what should we base our judgment as this was completely new territory? Would planes really drop out of the air, power plants shut down and modern comforts disappear?

Some folks were mega-doomsayers, predicting the end of civilization as we know it. Others were saying there was absolutely nothing at all in any way whatsoever to be concerned about so go about life as normal. Most of us were somewhere in the middle. In fact, our family still has a white “Y2K” cupboard in the basement where we stored some food, water and gas masks (just kidding). After ten years we’re still calling it that. Hey, habits die hard with us!

Turns out about the worst thing that happened was 150 slot machines in Delaware shut down and bus validation machines in Australia failed to operate. Guess we didn’t need all those generators and caches of supplies after all. Oh, well, at least we still have a perfectly good cabinet in our basement with a very cool nickname.

Today we approach the beginning of another new decade and that serious fear is nearly forgotten. Amazing what a decade will do! Amazing what perspective will do. It’s easy to look back, laugh and wonder what the fuss was about. But on December 31, 1999 that perspective was hidden. It’s all in how we look at it.

Though the Y2K threat is history and amusing, the past decade has given us a host of real threats that could cause us to shut ourselves into that Y2K cupboard and never come out. Really. Or we can stick our heads in the sand and pretend that the threats are not really there, that we still live in Mayberry with Andy Griffith and everything will turn out right at the end of the show. Appears to me that neither works very well. Besides, there’s not enough room in the Y2K cupboard anyway.

There is another choice as we step into the new decade. Another perspective. Another way of looking at life. You see, it all depends on what we see is biggest. If the threat of terrorism, worldwide hunger, disease, illness, or economic disaster is the biggest thing in our lives we’ll run for the cupboard. But what if just maybe there is something bigger than it all. Something so big that it dwarfs all threats?

Job came face to face with the Being Who is bigger than all. (Read Job chapters 38-42 to begin the New Year.) After questioning God, God shows up! In the biggest bit of Biblical sarcasm I know, God challenged Job’s perspective, verbally pinning Job to the wall. As you read the account we hear God reveal how big He is and how very, very, very, very small all else is. And that GOD IS ON OUR SIDE WHEN WE CHOOSE HIM, dwarfing all else in our lives.

Job 42:1-2 (NIV) 1Then Job replied to the Lord: 2“I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.

Job saw differently after that. I’m guessing Y2K and any other threat would never faze him again. My prayer for you is the same. That you will really see God and allow all else to fade.

Happy New Year! Happy New Decade!
Boldly, Herb

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It’s a Long Time Between Promise and Delivery

December 9, 2009

It’s embarrassing. It really is.

Been thinking about the many people in the Bible that were given promises and how long they had to wait for God to deliver on the promise.

Abraham: 25 years between the promise of a child and the (literally) delivery.

Moses: 40 years (at least) herding sheep in the wilderness from calling to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt to actually confronting Pharaoh.

Peter: 3 years of hanging out with Jesus, and a lot of embarrassing statements and actions, until he was fully ready to go fishing for men.

Joseph: 13 years of being a slave after seeing God’s vision of being a ruler until God miraculously moved him from the dungeon to the palace.

Israel: 400 years of silence, not even a peep from a prophet, prior to Jesus being born.

Jesus: had to live in a human body for 30 years after Christmas before going about His purpose.

And we get impatient when God doesn’t deliver in a day!!

I think I’ll go apologize to God and try to get some perspective.

Boldly, Herb


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What We Can Do for Tiger Woods

December 3, 2009

What do you do when nothing thrills anymore? When you’ve pushed, worked, sacrificed, sweated and finally reached that which you believe will satisfy, and it does… for a while… then it doesn’t?

You conclude that you were mistaken, that what you were expecting to fill the hole inside you was the wrong thing and thus it must be something else. You step back, evaluate (consciously or unconsciously) and aim for the new target. You push, work, sacrifice, sweat and finally reach it. To find that it satisfies… for a while… then it doesn’t.

What do you do now? Take new aim and give it another go. Some people repeat it over and over again their entire lives, always reaching for something different because there is always something else to reach for. Others get tired of chasing a new target and give up by emotionally shutting down, medicating with something that dulls the pain or just end it all.

There are a very select few who run out of targets. They reach all that there is to reach and find that they there is NOTHING else to aim for. What do you do when you still want to pursue what satisfies and THERE ARE NO MORE TARGETS?

We hear about these rare people in the news. We common folk are baffled because we think, “If I had wealth, success, fame, family – all I could ever want and more – I WOULD BE HAPPY!” And we would be stupid to think so.

I don’t know any more about Tiger Woods than you do, probably less. But I’m guessing this has something to do with his recent struggles. What do you do when, at 33 years old, you have everything you’ve been told all your life would make your life meaningful… and it doesn’t? The human soul cannot live with that and will drive a person to do something, sometimes anything, to gain relief.

Many are angry because they would like to have what Tiger has.
Others are hurt that he has plummeted from the pedestal they had him on.
Some are mad at the hurt he has caused to his family and friends.

What would Jesus do if He showed up in visible form at Tiger’s house?

I have a Bible based hunch that He would put His arm around him and say, “I’m your friend, I am here for you and will not walk away. I am not your friend because of your wealth or success. I would be your friend if you were nothing by the world’s standards because you can’t earn or loose my friendship.
Now, what’s really going on? Whatever has happened (and we don’t really know) are symptoms, not the real issue. No matter how stupid your choices have been, we can deal with them. Let’s dig underneath it all to get to the hole in your heart, figure out how to fill it and restore your life and family.”

That’s what Jesus did in the Bible and still does. For Tiger or for you.

Instead of gossiping about Tiger and all the lesser known people we hear about, how about if we pray for them. Let’s put our arms around those that are close to us and help them figure out that the only piece of life’s puzzle that fits into that hole in their hearts is Jesus. If that happens, tragedies turn into the greatest triumphs.

“6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)

Boldly, Herb

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Grace That Turns Us into Puddles

December 1, 2009

I am blown away by the way Jesus reached into Peter’s life when he was at his worst. Jesus KNEW that Peter would betray Him, denying Him three times. At the time when Jesus needed His close friend most, Peter turned his back on Jesus in every way. Jesus KNEW Peter would but believed in Peter anyway.

Jesus erased the evidence that could have gotten Peter the death penalty when He replaced the guard’s ear.

Jesus prayed for Peter so he would have the strength to return rather than hang himself as Judas did.

Jesus made eye contact with Peter as the rooster crowed signaling the third denial, reminding Peter that Jesus KNEW it would happen and reminding Peter of Jesus’ instructions: 31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32, NIV)
If Jesus had spoken anything, He risked Peter being taken prisoner as well. Mark Batterson states that Jesus’ was not scolding or saying “I told you so!” Rather Jesus’ look said, “Peter, look at Me. I forgave you before you even denied Me. I just want you to know that I haven’t given up on you. We’re still in this thing together!” (“Wild Goose Chase”, Mark Batterson, p. 108)

Following His resurrection, Jesus specifically restored Peter (John 21:15-19) with unconditional grace. And then the Holy Spirit used Peter and others to turn the world upside-down.

UNCONDITIONAL GRACE.

What is it within us that resists grace?

The undeserved, unearned favored position with God that causes Him to pour out His love, mercy and forgiveness without end. We don’t understand it, we can’t comprehend it, we have a hard time accepting it when it is extended and so we try to earn it. Often we reject or try to alter it because we believe it must somehow cost us something.

We grow up believing that you get what you earn; nothing is free in life; “If it sounds too good to be true it is;” there is a cost for everything and if someone is offering you a free gift you better check around for the catch. That’s true in the human world and works well in school, purchases and jobs. Not so good in relationships.

In relationships most of us have experienced conditional love – that if we want someone’s love there are conditions (act right, give back, live up to it, do what I want, etc.) It’s not that our parents tried to love us conditionally; it’s just what the whole human race understands and lives out.

That’s why it is so hard to catch, believe and embrace God’s grace. We have no point of reference for it. We have no experience that prepares us to accept it.

But when we see it, it takes our breath away. It will turn us into a puddle or make us run. Peter was a puddle; Judas ran. There was nothing short of total rejection that could prevent Peter from experiencing the incredible grace of Jesus. All he had to do was stay in the vicinity with Jesus. And grace washed over him like nothing he had ever known. When he expected Jesus’ rebuke, he got His unconditional grace. Jesus instruction was not how badly Peter blew it but was simply, “Follow me!” (John 21:19).

It’s the same for you.

God’s grace really, really, really is free and better than anything we can imagine. It is too good to be true, yet it IS true. For YOU!

I’m a puddle.

Boldly, Herb

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Sheep Dung or a Burning Bush

November 17, 2009

Interruptions. A negative image. The phone rings… the email alert goes off… an annoying co-worker plants himself in front of us… the pile of laundry threatens to destroy the home… the alarm clock buzzes… Like a child who insists on attention, “Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, MOMMY” interruptions interrupt often and loud.

There is a different breed of interruption.

A neighbor stops by, interrupting your busy day, “C’mon, let’s go. I’m taking you out for some fun.” Before you can object, the friend continues, “I’ve made arrangements for a babysitter and hired somebody to do your chores. The day is on me.” Would you welcome that kind of interruption? In a HEART BEAT!!!!

Those are God’s kind of interruptions. Really. If we open our lives to embrace them. Sometimes they don’t look like it on the surface, but if we give ourselves to what God has in mind (don’t whine, complain, resist) we will experience satisfaction and adventure.

Moses was in a comfortable routine and I’m guessing he didn’t like interruptions any more than we do. I don’t know when his 401K was due to kick in, but it had to be close with 40 years of service at 80 years of age. Then one day God interrupted, lit a bush on fire that kept glowing like a gas light, spoke to him from the bush, told him to give up his security and fulfill his life’s purpose. Moses balked, threw up objections and finally asked to be excused. To no avail. Reluctantly he went on the adventure of a lifetime – of several lifetimes. Never in his wildest dreams could he have concocted what God delivered.

An interruption.

I wonder how many adventures we miss because we refuse to go see what the burning bush is about. That’s all Moses did. Nothing heroic, he simply saw something that made no sense, “Hmm, that’s new,” and walked to where God was up to something. Interrupted. Could have been too zeroed in on his routine to see it. Or if he saw it, been too busy to leave the sheep. Or if he walked to the bush he could have been so enamored by the phenomenon that he missed hearing God’s voice. Or if he heard God he could have simply walked away.

What do you do when God interrupts? Dodging sheep dung or talking to burning bushes? Your choice.

Boldly, Herb

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