“By oppression and judgment He was taken away. Yet who of His generation protested?  For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people He was punished.”  Isaiah 53:8

For years we have had meandering trees and plants growing alongside our house. While WE liked the shade and the greenery, the love was not exclusive… rats and varmints loved it too. A friend suggested that if I wanted the rats gone, I would have to make the jungle disappear! Determined to erRATicate the forest, I set to work to cut out the offending trees by the roots! The deforestation was going well… until!

One particular tree had roots that went everywhere! Grabbing and pulling usually freed the smaller roots from the surrounding earth, but one root refused to budge. I am human. I am smart. I have tools! In determined frustration I isolated the offending root, grabbed my loppers and CUT! What I saw within a nano-second was not good!

The tree had been planted by my wife AFTER the internet fiber optic cable had been installed. Not able to go DOWN into the ground, the root grew OVER the cable. I could not see the cable until AFTER the fatal cut! I knew immediately that this was going to take a professional to fix…someone who had skills BEYOND my understanding and abilities. I called the internet provider to restore communication!

It would have been easy if it was just coaxial cable. I know how to splice a wire. But this fiber-optic stuff is different and requires special tools and skills. I was blessed to meet the technician to tuned out to be an old Jesus acquaintance from years ago. I got to watch him do his thing, learn what it took to restore fiber AND talk about Jesus… all at the same time. What could be better?

The roots of sin are deep and stubborn, confining mankind to a life devoid of God. It was going to take a specialist to root out the problem that kept me from God. Mankind had NO way of knowing just how far God had to go to accomplish the restoration. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay MY penalty for the sin that kept me disconnected from true life. He came willingly and at no cost to humanity. And we killed Him for it!

This week, as we approach Palm Sunday, we may want to read Isaiah 53 to see how far Christ had to come to restore my connection to the Father. To do it, HE had to be cut off from His Father first. A painful operation that nobody could understand. But one no one really cared in the first place!

Humans are infested with rats and roots. God came to restore us to life. For those of us who HAVE taken God up on His ‘free offer’ of restoration there is nothing better on this earth. Sadly, most of those who HAVEN’T, don’t even know there is a problem. You might say they cant see the forest for the trees… or the roots! Are YOU connected?

“be anxious for nothing.” Philippians 4:6

‘Hakuna Matata!

Ain’t no passing craze
It means no worries
For the rest of your days.’

For Christmas my kids bought us tickets to go see ‘The Lion King,’ a Broadway play base upon Disney’s animated movie of the same name. One of the highlights from the movie is when Timon and Pumbaa use the phrase ‘Hakuna Matata’ to teach Simba the lion to put everything in the past and to live a ‘worry free’ life! By the end of the song, Simba is eating bugs instead of zebra’s… and liking it!

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a good Disney movie. The creativity of Walt Disney and the ‘WORLD’ he built is a HUGE success. And while the movies can teach and show the good and evil sides of humanity, it is VERY clear that the religion of Disney is NOT Christianity. The concepts portrayed in this move have a smattering of Animism, Buddhism and Hinduism blended together. All for your kids enjoyment!

It was Paul who said, “be anxious for nothing.” Which are funny words from a guy who said just 2 chapters earlier that he was anxious (Philippians 2:28). But the concepts of ‘Hakuna Matata’ and ‘do not be anxious’ carry a danger that can be worse than a zebra facing a Lion. It is the temptation to simply put everything into the past… to FAHGETABAHDIT and party on! Later, Rafiki wises Simba up with a ‘conk’ on the head. “Hey.. THAT HURTS?” ‘Hakuna Matata’ never relieves the pain!

I was MOST awed at the opening of the play, when all the creatures came out to the spectacular song ‘The Circle of Life.’ Being a Jesus Guy, I was moved at the beauty, creativity, sound and performance that ALL came together, NOT because of Walt Disney, but because of Jesus Christ! It was JESUS who created creation and made us for Himself (John 1:3) giving us incredible imaginations and talents to Glorify God. Imaginations that sadly, became tuned toward ourselves instead.

As the play moved toward its conclusion, I was anticipating an even bigger reprise of the opening song. For me… it fell a little flat. It seemed that the ending wasn’t as big as the opening. Another major difference between Jesus and the god of Disney. The Greatest part of life for the Believer is when we step off the dirt of this world and onto the Golden Streets of Glory. Life will then just be beginning! The question REALLY is… am ‘I’ living FORWARD?? Or BACKWARD?  

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

I had written about the sorrowful loss of my good chainsaw. Putting it in the bed of my truck, I arrived home only to find the tailgate down and the saw…case and all… gone! Though I drove back over my route, I knew it was a lost cause. Five days later I was relaying the story to a friend. His eyes lit up as he said, “I know where your saw is!”

Diving along the road, my friend, and fellow church member, saw a company truck stop on the road, someone get out and retrieve a chainsaw off the highway. He even remembered the name of the company. I called and visited them, only to find out that the person who had the saw was not currently there, but would call me. I waited. I could not help but think, “this is a strange way for Jesus to reach someone.” I did NOT see it as a coincidence… but rather a divine appointment. God was up to something!

Meeting the man who had the saw was a rushed event, as he was in a hurry to get to work. With about 60 seconds to speak, I simply stated, “God obviousness is trying to reach you… what is going on in your life and how may I pray for you?” He reply was 1 sentence with 2 major cataclysmic events. Then he was gone! I hollered after him, I’ll call you later! And I did.

Oh how much I would love to tell you that we got together, that I shared the Good News with him, he received Christ and his life was immediately changed. But I cannot. I rewarded him with some cash, made offers to possible help and I DID present Christ to him. He took the cash. For now, the bittersweet truth is, all I got back was my chainsaw.

Life is filled with loss. When we are finally found by the Savior, we forget how lost we had been and how long and hard the journey. It is rare that all things change instantly. Some problems took a LONG time to make. They will take a long time to heal as well. The ingredient of ‘time’ is not in my realm of control. All I can do is be available to tell the story of Christ, and pray it through. After all….this is HIS-story. Not mine.

This story is not over! I will be praying, gently nudging and be ever hopeful that the “Tale of the Lost Chainsaw” will be proclaimed in heaven. I pray it will end with Praise to God for his humor and creativity. AND that the final ending will be the spectacular and miraculous way that a particular person was saved forever! But the story is not complete… yet.

God knows my heart. I’d rather have lost a chainsaw and seen someone redeemed than the other way around. But the difficulty in life is the choice! He asked ‘me’ to be available and willing to lose, or be used, in any way He sees fit. REGARDLESS of the outcome! I have said yes. The rest is up to Him. What is He asking of YOU today? Will you obey?

“BE SURE OF THIS: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Jesus – Matthew 28:20 NLT

It was my youngest daughters birthday and at the last minute she called to invite my wife and I to join her family for dinner. The place she was selected was a Japanese Steakhouse. You know… the one with the Hibachi grill? Even as we got out of the car to meet them I heard it… “Yes Coast.. BIG Fire…WHOOSH! But don’t worry, it won’t hurt you!” Their son, Coast, is almost 2!

I was the father of little kids and knew the drill. So I immediately chimed in… “First we CHOP CHOP!” Then we WHOOSH WHOOSH! Then we EAT EAT! Then we say YUM YUMMMMMMM!” By the time we hit the door he was saying it along with me and adding the hand gestures we had created together. As the flashy event got closer… we all built up the event in anticipation that he was anticipating it WITH us…. It didn’t work!

WHOOOOOOOOSH happened!!!! And he immediately he closed his eyes and started to whimper. He TRIED to be tough. But the event was just too much for his little heart. My wife leaned in close and he leaned in closer, putting his head on her chest… “no no no no no,” was all he could say. WE knew Coast would be alright… but HE didn’t! Ever been there?

The promise in today’s Bible verse is repeated several times in both the Old AND New Testaments. There are 365 ‘Fear NOT’s’ in the Bible.. seemingly one for each day of the year. And why? Because our Creator KNOWS we WILL BE VERY much AFRAID… VERY often! He wants to reassure us that His promise is rock solid. That through every WHOOSH, SLAM, CRASH and BAM… He WILL be RIGHT THERE WITH us. All we need to do is lean in!

There will come a day when Coast will SHINE in the light of the flash. One day he will anticipate and laugh at the WHOOSH! But until then…those who love him will keep telling him… “it will be O.K, we are here with you! Don’t be afraid!” But I can’t help thinking… as adults… do WE really pay attention to the voice of our Savior at the WHOOSHES in our lives? Do WE LEAN into Him for comfort and encouragement in our fears and tears? He wants us to!

God loves you and me SO much that He sent His Son. And His Son loves you and me SO much that He ACCEPTED the assignment. Facing and enduring the sorrows and pain that it would take to win our hearts, you and I have the choice to ‘lean in and trust,’ or ‘fear and flee.’ My initial reaction at the WHOOSH shows Him the inclination of my heart. Today He is encouraging us to Trust Him… will we? Because ‘WHOOSH is COMIN!’

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own?” Jesus – Matthew 7:3

This morning I was on my way to the coffee pot to pour my wife and I a cup…. He-Brews! After filling her cup, I heard her holler ‘OUCH!’ Turning around, I saw her lying on the floor holding her ankle. “What happened?” I asked.. silence. Drawing closer with concern I asked, “are you alright?” Before my very eyes her painfully contorted face turned into a devilish grin as she said.. “April Fools!” I am married to the devil!

Normally I like April 1^st. As is the birthday of my youngest daughter. We laugh now as we tell the story about her birth. Being our fourth child, all who were delivered naturally, my wife was ready to push when the nurse hollered…”STOP!” It had just been discovered she was breech! That means ‘about to come our butt first!’ After 20 minutes of no joke, pant-blows, no drugs and prayer, my wife delivered her that way… BACKWARDS!  I do think it affected her brain though! I see it every April 1^st.  This morning my wife suggested we call and sing “We wish you a Merry Christmas to my daughter!” We did!

I do not like April Fools Day for the same reason I never liked the Three Stooges or Slapstick comedy. Laughing at someone else’s misfortune or pain just isn’t in me. Inflicting pain or confusion on purpose… confuses me. Having experienced so much of it in my life, I don’t get the joke. Neither did Jesus.

Teachers of the Law during Jesus Day were folks who felt it their obligation to point out the bad things in peoples lives. Jesus came and pointed out that those who THOUGHT they were better, were actually WORSE. Foolish judgment had a way of biting the judge because they really did NOT see the error of their ways. “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.” Romans 1:22. I cringe at the thought in my own life!

The basic principle of The Christian Life is VERY simple… but EXTREMELY difficult. To become a Christian one must FIRST admit that they are a sinner deserving of God’s wrath! And while that sounds like a joke to the world, it is a deadly serious transaction. Once we admit our failure, we then ask and receive God’s Mercy and Grace. From then on, we are to commit to doing HIS thing and NOT our own! NOT an easy task.

In all of the Gospels, I do not see anywhere where Jesus told a joke or laughed. While that doesn’t mean He didn’t, we can be sure it was not a dominant part of His personality. Though allowing loud mouthed Peter to step out on the stormy waves may qualify, that one seems more of an inside joke! Peter’s inflated ego needed a little deflating after all! Christianity is VERY serious and I am pretty sure that Jesus would be playing April Fools jokes on us today. Too much confusion, which the Bible says God is NOT the author of!

I had to pause in this writing this because my wife hollered that her car would not start. When I got to the garage.. well… you know! She just laughed all the way out! I’ll be glad when this day is over!

“Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

Getting up yesterday morning I put on some comfortable clothes and spent time with God. Having 2 appointments, I changed into nicer clothes. Upon arriving home I got comfortable again. Picking up on my spring yard work, I changed into work duds, then later bathed and changed again into better clothes to go out to get fast-food place with my wife. Arriving home, I changed back to relax. How many times did I change my clothes??? According to God’s standards, the answer HE would expect should be…ZERO!

I know I drive my wife nuts with my clothes. I usually just drop the previous ones over a quilt rack, or on the floor bedside my bed, and go. I save the ‘putting away’ until another time… sometimes a day or 2 later! But I THINK I have Biblical precedent and a great defense! God says to “PUT OFF” the OLD man… then to “PUT ON” the NEW. Preoccupation with the old flesh is a NO NO! He seems to be saying…DROP IT! Focus on God to maintain the NEW is hard enough without playing with the OLD!

My wife has more of an appearance issue than I do. She very much dislikes the idea that someone would see me in my dirty, ripped up work clothes. Because of my vocation, she asks the question, “what would people THINK of you if they saw you dressed like that?” She has a point, I guess. Apparently my Master has the same issue! The verse today clearly tells me what He thinks about ‘the dirty old man’ within. The Flesh is NOT something to be dressed up. His demand is to do with it ‘currently’ what Jesus did with it on the cross ‘ultimately’…kill it off!

I was CREATED to BE LIKE my CREATOR. Not some dirty fallen bum. He clearly says that following any selfish, fleshly desire simply fuels the fires of my own corruption. He calls me to ‘PUT OFF’ the old and to ‘re-mind’ my thinking to HIS. I was made for fellowship and relationship with HIM. His clothes are righteousness and holiness. When I am dressed up in the proper attire, my whole world changes. And that is the point!

It is said that you can dress up a pig… but that a dressed up is still a pig! God has NO plans for my flesh. MY way is NOT His way… and there is NO way I am getting anywhere NEAR the Palace looking like a bum! But the choice is mine! He will never MAKE me change if I do not WANT to change. I suppose one of the best things I can to is to ask myself each day, “what am I dressed for?” Though I do not know if my wife will buy the excuse for the pile old clothes on the floor!

“the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.” 2 Peter 2:9-10

I have found myself repeatedly looking heavenward and calling out… “HUH??!” If repeated episodes of rats, moles, invasive trees and plants were not enough, now I am forced to deal with sewage! Sometimes it takes MANY times before I come to the realization that THIS time… it’s time! God is calling me to learn something about myself and he is using icky stuff to open my eyes.

Vacating a house from a property does not actually vacate the property. One of the BIG things that has to be dealt with is the part that is rarely seen and ALWAYS taken for granted. If the house is on a septic tank, which rarely is ever considered, that tank has to be dealt with. In my case, to GET to the tank meant digging up dirt and tree roots to expose the nasty thing. But it has to be done and apparently NOW is the time.

I have learned, and been reminded again, that a ‘follower’ of Christ NEVER actually fully ARRIVES! For 51 years, God has been working on me… calling, reminding, pressing and fixing. When I think I finally have overcome something with His direction and help, He takes His invasive eye to my soul and points to something ELSE I usually never even have noticed before! He is an irritating God because He NEVER seems to get tired of pointing out ‘the nasty stuff!’ I’d LOVE for Him to take an occasional vacation… but He is relentless!

‘The Flesh,’ also called the sinful nature, has a mind of its own. I am quite comfortable with him because I have lived with him for a VERY long time. Like rats, it wants to dominate my soul. Like tree roots, it surrounds and suffocates my spirit. Like moles and septic tanks, it does its dirty work underground, displaying the mounds of upheaval and the smell of corruption. And it is NOT OK.

Part of this kind of process is not new to me. As I find myself in situations I do not like, my quiet time with God takes on a life from above. I find that things I read from Bible passage I read this morning winds up the theme of the Christian radio program I listen to this afternoon. Over and over, day in and day out… I finally realize He is trying to reach me to teach me.

I know I will never fully arrive as a perfect image of His Son. But I also know that He does not allow that as an excuse for vacating my premises. I am His.. He is mine. And apparently He has work to do. I may be dense sometimes, but I am not stupid. He doesn’t seem to mind the icky stuff and has plans for me TODAY. I can either join Him or fight Him. Since I have already learned that fighting Him is a lost cause, I guess it’s time to clean some of this this stuff up!

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:25

Yesterday was going SO well. I had lots to do, one of which was to cut some trees around a house that had gotten out of hand. Since it was at a different location, I loaded up my truck with tools I would need and headed off. After a few hours labor and the joy of a job finally done, I threw my chainsaw in the back of my truck, shut the tailgate and headed home. Once home, I went to reverse the process to unload…only to discover my tailgate was down and my chainsaw was gone!

Doing what anyone would do, I quickly backtracked my way, but I KNEW it would be useless. Anyone who found the saw, case and what all was inside, would have hit pay-dirt. It took a lot of time, shopping and money to gather all that stuff together… now it was gone and in someone else’s hands. My wife couldn’t appreciate my mood, since it was just a tool. While I love that she has that attitude, I was not quick to jump on board. It was like part of ME was in that saw. And while it wasn’t my wallet… it felt like it!

I have had several chainsaws over the years. But a good chainsaw isn’t cheap and a cheap chainsaw isn’t good. Far too many times I had tried to fire up a saw that had been setting, only to give up and put it away. A couple years ago I decided to remedy that problem. So I did research, shopped, bought a good one (on sale) and (over time) added the accessories. It has never let me down. But I had not foreseen THIS happening

A saw is an impersonal object. It didn’t see a chance at freedom and leap from the truck on its own. It never once complained that it didn’t like me, its owner. There was no free will that complained of too much or too little use. It was mine and it did what I expected of it WHEN required. Now it will do the bidding of someone else with NO sense of sorrow or loss. It is a THING! Jesus is GREAT at using THINGS to teach eternal lessons to living SOULS.

Every human being is born under the ownership of God. Being made in His image, we were created for the purpose of living with, and serving HIM in continual fellowship and love. But for love and service to really WORK, God’s creation HAD to have free will. Unfortunately, with so many choices, the decision to WORK WITH our creator took a back seat to doing our own thing. We CHOOSE lostness!

The Lenten season shows us the work, time and cost that Jesus willingly paid to get you and me back into right relationship with Him. We didn’t know the cost to Himself, nor did we ask Him to rescue us. His love was enough. When He finds me in my dark place, (He is ALWAYS searching) He extends His hand and bids me to come home. But the choice is always mine.

If I have THIS much sorrow over a lost saw… imagine the sorrow God has over a lost SON? I am SO glad I am His son and not a saw! You?

“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

I have never, not once in 31 years, EVER seen anyone sleeping on the street in my neighborhood. But last week, while walking the streets of New Orleans, this was a common sight. With no real preparation or response, the only reaction I could muster was shock! The only real question I could ask was, “how could someone fall that far?” Interestingly, being only one half of the surreal encounter, I was the ONLY one asking the question!

It generally started in the morning as we walked. There always seemed to be some kind of food in their hands. After being awake and having eaten whatever, the street dwellers would start the begging. Cardboard placards read things like, “homeless – TIPS appreciated” or “anything will help,” were attempts to garner money from people who felt sorry for their plot. But there was no mistaking where that money would ultimately go.

I received a kind of societal explanation as to what was REALLY going on down in the French Quarter when our Uber Driver made an attempt to answer my question… “WHY do the authorities ALLOW this kind of behavior in a town that makes most of it money from tourism?” He said, “to get rid of them there has to be rules. When people come to Bourbon street, they do NOT WANT rules. This is the result!”

That last sentence may have been heard in my mind, but it was not setting well in my spirit. It took some time to think and to marry the ‘cause and effect’ of what he said. Then Romans 1:28 came to mind… “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.” I was seeing the principle before my very eyes.

All across this great nation there are programs and ministries from both churches and municipalities to try to help relieve the suffering of these lost ones. Sadly, most show very poor or lasting results. I have read that only about 5% of alcoholics or drug addicts ever make it to sobriety. Almost NONE make with without turning to God for the hand up!

This uncomfortable subject is best pushed back into my own psyche because it is just too painful to consider. And yet, the principle is a law unto itself. When I ALLOW a lie of evil into my heart, that seed WILL sprout… even if I don’t want it to. Sadly, the bigger that evil grows, the more GOOD stuff the decision maker will have to throw out to make room. Eventually, nothing good remains.

I have wrestled with the notion that “God causes and controls everything” to the point of exhaustion. I have learned through Scripture that bad choices bring bad consequences. Reaping what I sow is a universal principle that starts in the heart and ends with destruction. God is asking me today just how much I am willing to LOSE in order to GAIN HIM! It is a valid question, since what comes tomorrow, WILL be the fruit of what is planted today. How do YOU see it?