Dirkmonster

Hope or Futility?

It is tough for me to admit that at one time I thought life was basically a futile pursuit and God was unable to help someone like me.  I had very little hope.  I am grateful that I don't feel that way most of the time, although I still have my moments.

The little strip of paper I picked up as I left the YMCA this morning had this verse:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The first part of that verse caught my eye; "the God of hope".  When I looked at life through glasses which made everything look futile and dreadful, I was not open to "the God of hope".  I was dealing with a "god of futility and dread".

But I desparately needed to try and lose those eye glasses.  I needed to open up my eyes and heart to the possibility that maybe I had more to learn about who God was, and back that up with action in community with others with similar struggles.

In time, I began to discover "the God of hope" that verse talks about.  And that gives me a different perspective on life.

And maybe, just maybe, I still don't fully understand God.  Who does?  I have to continually challenge beliefs about God's direction for my life that don't appear to be consistent with being "filled with all joy and peace..."  For example, I admit that it seems impossible, certainly unlikely, that I could be filled with "all joy and peace".  That I could "overflow with hope".  So I have to ask myself, what does that say about the god I am relying on?

So for me it is a process that simply involves being open and willing to develop spiritually.  How cool would it be to tap into the power of a Holy Spirit that I fills me with "all joy and peace"?  I want to be open to a path that leads me closer and closer to something like that. 

 

Roughing it (not) at the Gracepointe camp-out

It's been 10 years since I last slept in a tent.  I remember why I wasn't in a rush to go campaign again.  Pre-kids, Lyn and I went camping in the middle of the summer and spent the night sweating and as the main course for every kind of bug in the woods.

But that was just a tactical error because there really is something spiritual about a campfire, hot dogs, smores, a tent, sleeping bags and an 8 year old son.  That's why, I imagine, the leaders of the men's ministry at Gracepointe Church in Franklin, TN held a father-son camp-out Friday night.  And this was the best way to get back into it, because this was anything but roughing it.  We were on the church property along side a creek and big firepit.  The indoor bathrooms were open.  The air is still cool at night.

This one night suburban adventure compelled me to acquire some gear.  A new tent, sleeping bag for Ross, air mattresses with battery powered pump for inflation and deflation and, of course, tiki torches with fuel that burns in different colors.  Add to that my standard tailgate set-up and we were better off than in a Super 8 Motel.

My friends Joel and his son Jacob plus Devin and his son Campbell joined us.  About 50 other fathers and sons pitched tents scattered around the field with the large fire pit at the center.  Before igniting the bonfire, our fearless leader Steven set up smaller piles of charcoal around the edge of the pit to roast hot dogs and marshmellows.  After dinner, the fire was lit and the kids broke out a couple cases of glow sticks. 

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CAMP-OUT PHOTO ALBUM

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Ross and a lot of the other boys ran and played hard until after 11pm.  The guys had a lot of laughs and tried not to be too concerned about the Lord of the Flies dynamic that was taking shape amongst the boys.  Finally we crashed in the tent.  Once we fell asleep, it was very very peaceful.

Roosters at a neighboring farm started making noise about 4.  It got light outside a couple hours later.  We got up, made coffee, fried up some bacon and broke down the tent.  Ross and I were back home before 9am.

The experience has me surfing State Parks web sites this morning looking for another opportunity to camp.  As summer approaches, this time around I am looking for camp sites at a higher elevation.

Good, good times.

Acceptance is the key to playoff hockey

I only think I know what I need.  I need to lose weight.  I need a new car.  And, I really really need the Predators to win their playoff hockey game tonight.

But my spiritual side gently reminds me what I really need is acceptance.  Acceptance of the way things are, given the fact I don't control people, places or things.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."

When I accept the way things are, I am at peace.  I trust God has things well in hand.  I know there's a redemptive plan. When I don't accept the way things are, what I'm really saying is that my way is the only way.  I am leaning on my own understanding.  I tend to get angry, say things I regret and hold grudges.

When I'm on my game, another "a" word follows acceptance.  That's action.  I accept the way things are and realize the only thing I control is my active response.  I cannot change the situation that is at hand.  The only thing I can change is me through action.  

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can..."  

What is the best active response to the situation that backs up my trust that God has things well in hand?

Of course, I have a short memory about where lack of acceptance leads me.  Often I find myself in fear of my problems, my obligations and other people. That's where maintaining my spiritual condition allows me to stop, take a breath and lean not on my own understanding.  

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Tonight's playoff hockey game will test how well I have maintained my spiritual condition.  I "need" my team to win so bad, that I am challenged to accept any other outcome.  The only thing I will control is my response to the outcome, win or lose.  

That being said, "Go Predators"!

 

My Prayer for Today

God, in this new day;
Thank You for the opportunity to choose an attitude of gratitude,
and of tolerance for others given Your tolerance of me.

Thank You for the wisdom to look at myself first with an eye toward how I can be more kind, gentle, generous and humble;  what I can say that builds up others and in so doing builds me up.

Forgive me for being selfish and self centered.  Search me and show me where I've fallen short.  Give me the courage to try and make it right.

Bless those who suffer and are in need today.  Comfort those who are grieving.  Build strength in the weak.  Deliver encouragement to the broken hearted.

In all these things, give me the fortitude I need to be your instrument.

Amen.  

"Counting the only present day thine"

I came across a beautifully written 17th century book of spiritual wisdom tonight called: Practice of Piety: Directing a Christian How to Walk, that He May Please God.

Turns out the Puritans had the "One day at a time" concept nailed 400 years ago:

Cast over, therefore, once every day, the number of thy days, by subtracting, those that are past (as being vanished like yesternight’s dream), contracting them that are to come (since the one half must be slept out, the rest made uncomfortable by the troubles of the world, thy own sickness, and the death of friends), counting the only present day thine; which spend, as if thou wert to spend no more.

Fascinating how some characteristics of a human's spiritual life endure and resonate. 

Reflection on Psalm 7

In Psalm 7, as in a number of Psalms I read this week, David appeals to the LORD for protection from his enemies.  My inescapable identification with this is that I am my own worst enemy.

I come to you for protection, O LORD my God.
Save me from my persecutors - rescue me!
If you don't, they will maul me like a lion, tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

I see "my persecutors" as my character defects, my sinful nature.  If God isn't directing my life, they will tear me to pieces.

They dig a deep pit to trap others, then fall into it themselves.  The trouble they make for others backfires on them.

For David, I imagine "they" are armies of enemies.  I don't have armies bearing down on me like David did.  But I have a selfish will that will destroy me if I don't surrender it to God.

A spiritual home

A good friend challenged me today to find a spiritual home. He knows how we've not found a church home since moving to Brentwood over a year and a half ago.

My spiritual life is active.  I have prayer, devotional time, Bible study and service work.  I believe exercise can even be a spiritual activity.  These are activities that nurture the soul and enhance my contact with God.  But my friend is right there needs to be a fellowship component in my spiritual life centered on Christ.  The way he described it as a home where you can feel the love of God.

I would love to hear from you in the comments about your spiritual home and what it means to you.

"40"

This was taken from the commentary on my Bible reading today.

Psalms - The U2 fans out there will know that the band released a song called "40" in 1983 inspired by Psalm 40.  The band took most of the lyrics for this song straight from the early verses of this Psalm - and I quote here from the song, not the Psalm per se - "I waited patiently for the Lord, He inclined and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit; Out of the miry clay.  He set my feet upon a rock; And made my footsteps firm. Many will see; Many will see and hear."  The song also could have also been called "6" because the refrain is from Psalm 6 verse 3: "How long, O LORD, how long?"  A quote from Bono on the song is this: "'40' became the closing song at U2 shows and on hundreds of occasions, literally hundreds of thousands of people of every size and shape t-shirt have shouted back the refrain pinched from 'Psalm 6': 'How long to sing this song.' I thought of it as a nagging question - pulling at the hem of an invisible deity whose presence we glimpse only when we act in love. How long...hunger? How long...hatred? How long until creation grows up and the chaos of its precocious adolescence has been discarded? I thought it odd that the vocalising of such questions could bring such comfort; to me too."  Has anyone heard U2 play "40" in concert before?  I did twice - once back on the Joshua Tree tour way back in 1987 and once a couple years ago on the Vertigo tour.  It's a beautiful song - written really by David!

I have the live version of "40" in my iTunes now.

Hopefully tonight the healing begins

Saturday night's 5:30pm worship service at Bellevue Community Church will be the first since the previous weekend's painful chaos.  I'm expecting God to show up big time.
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Dr. Foster asks for unity, not protest

Dr. Foster published an open letter today on www.fosteringhope.com in which he calls for his supporters to come in peace to this weekend's services at BCC:

With all my heart, I am asking that at all four weekend services there be a coming together to begin the healing process and start the next chapter of BCC's life. I do not want nor do I support a vote of any kind and I plead with everyone that there be no protests, petitions, signs, or contentious displays by anyone for any reason. While we may differ on this decision, it has been made by good men who, at great distress to themselves have stepped up to do what they honestly in their hearts feel is the right thing for BCC. My task is done and it is time to move onto the next chapter of my life too. READ THE COMPLETE LETTER

That's a classy move and hopefully lessens some of the tension that was building around this weekend.  At the elders meeting with the BCC community Wednesday night, Randy Holland promised BCC would play from its strength in an unforgettable worship experience featuring Lionel Cartwright.