Month: June 2010

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Building with Wisdom

Yesterday I wrote about standing up, and then I traveled downtown to the office and gathering with my fellow geeks for the all employee meeting.  Since this was scheduled during the USA-Algeria game, I had to position myself where I could be in a place to casually check my phone for progress of the game.  However, to my demise, I was in a place where the camera was almost always pointed towards the section I was sitting.  So, the World Cup had to wait.  ( And I am sure glad that Landon didn’t wait any longer then the 91st minute!)

Anyway, some of our sales guys were talking about how IT effects our sales processes, which was actually very interesting, and then he says something that really impressed me.  He says, “this morning when I was reading the Daily Buffet..”.  Man that would have been awesome.  No, he says “this morning, when I was doing my daily devotional, the verse was from Proverbs 24.”  Then we went on to talk about the Proverb and to apply it to some of the things he does each day. I was so impressed that in Corporate America, in front of a worldwide audience, he would mention his daily time with God in such a casual manner.  That’s standing up.  I hope this gives you a little bit of motivation today to stand up and build your house with wisdom and understanding.

1 Do not envy wicked men,
do not desire their company;

2 for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;

4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.

5 A wise man has great power,
and a man of knowledge increases strength; Proverbs 24:1-5

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A Reminder About Your Crown

Growing up in West Virginia, I never thought much about them, but my recent Memorial Day tour de West Virginia, with my children, I was reminded again about this roadside attraction that is very common to West Virginia, although not exclusively there.  All over the state on the side of the road you can find two things – barns painted with Chew Mail Pouch and a blue cross flanked by two yellow ones.  No, the barn and the crosses are usually not found together, and yes it’s the crosses that I am talking about.  I had seen them all my life essentially, and although I regconized the event they are meant to acknowledge,  they really had become so common place, that I drove by these for years and really just ignored them.

But on my recent trip I told the story of why they are there to my boys. The fascination with the crosses was new again and for the entire weekend, they pointed out every time they saw one the side of the road.  Our favorite being out on a small island at the very end of the New River where it meets the Gauley and becomes the Kanawha.

So, two things. First, its pretty amazing someone will stand up and get the message of the Christ out with there in some a bold way like this. Its interesting to Google about these crosses and see how many people have heard about Christ because of these crosses. (try it Google “three crosses West Virginia”)

Secondly, sometimes, we need reminders to keep us focused. We need a guide to keep us going, and to keep the promise fresh and new.  Isn’t it great when with youthful exuberance you can yell “there’s a cross”, or “there’s the Lord”  in your own life!

Recently I have been listening to this song by Everyday Sunday

I will stand up now
I will not step down
I will do my best to wear this crown
But I need You as You guide me through today – Stand Up Now – Everyday Sunday

Get out there today and stand up, wear your crown, and maybe the thought of these crosses on a moutain in West Virginia will help guide you today.  What crown you ask.. Check it here:

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Ps 103:1-6

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

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Summer Harvest

Do you like tomatoes? If so I have some for you!  I am currently picking handfuls of Cherry and Roma tomatoes a day from my square foot garden.   I am also starting to bring in cucumbers,  squash and peppers.  I have a few little bitty really hot peppers that have grown amazingly, I am just not exactly sure what do to with them. If you have some suggestions, I will gladly listen!

Its been a great experience this spring, taking care of these vines by directing their growth and providing support and water.   And finally what a pleasurable experience walking into the house with hands fulls of fresh produce.  Its a great thing being a vinedresser.  I can only imagine the pleasure the Lord gets in when he observes the fruit we bear.  Check this out – still from the Johns:

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:1-8 (New International Version)

This is to my Father’s glory!   Yep!  The Father loves to walk into the kitchen with a big grin on his face and an armful of fruit – your fruit!  Live today in a way that glorifies the gardener by producing fruit!    Are you not sure what fruit you can produce?  Take a quick look in Galatians and if you know the song sing along while you read it.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

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A Fence Around us

This weekend I was out for a nice morning run on very familiar road.  As I approached my turn around point I heard the barking of two approaches dogs.  The sound of the bark let me know these were no purse dogs.  There were Marmadukes.  Dogs that would push me over and stomp me just saying hello.  Dogs that love to “play” with things that run by.   But even though I heard their growls and barks and their approaching paws, I didn’t flinch, nor even turn to look at them.  I didn’t because I knew there was a fence between us.  A fence of protection.  A fence that made me bold and secure.

Immediately, I thought about how we can live life in fear of anything that moves or barks, or we can realize that we have a fence of protection around us.

4 Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.  Ps 23:4

We have a shelter when we abide with him.

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]

2 I will say [b] of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday. Ps 91: 1-6

What a great way to start out a week, realizing that when you walk with the Lord you can walk without fear, and you can be bold!  You can just keep running when you hear the dogs on your heels.   Be Bold and Fearless today, and put you trust in the promise that will not fall.

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:35-19

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Oppression and Freedom

I like picture of the day and picture of the week blogs.  There are several sites like that that I frequent.  I think it helps get a perspective of what is going on all around the world.  This week, the WSJ picture blog seemed to be full of pictures of oppression – riots, ethnic fighting, and police brutality.  Its was really heartbreaking to look at those images.  But at the same time it was so motivating to know the freedom we are blessed with here in this land.

So with Juneteenth right upon us as well, It seems such a great time to consider the freedoms we are afforded.  But not only the freedoms we have as a citizen of the country we reside, but the freedom we are given from our Savior.   Many people view following the Christ as a binding and limiting engagement.  But check this out.

23“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. 24Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

and

13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  Galatians 5:13 (New International Version)

We are called to be free!  We are blessed that we have been delivered a message that allows us to live, not by a series of laws, but by the spirit of love.   Boy, that something that brings joy and hopefully stokes you up a little bit.  And just imagine the feelings of the American slaves when they realized that the rumors of their freedom were true!

How are you using your freedom?