Parts of the Past - 1

Too Close to Christianity ?

G.K. Chesterton The Everlasting Man "THERE are two ways of getting home; and one of them is to stay there. The other is to walk round the whole world till we come back to the same place"
The point of this book, in other words, is that the next best thing to being really inside Christendom is to be really outside it."

Some of Christianity's biggest critics are actually too close to it. Chesterton suggests that it may be good to step far enough away to see its beauty and reality. Against the backdrop of a sin sick world- the offer of the gospel is a pretty good deal.
A word of warning- for every step and minute spent apart from the Creator, there is a danger of no return.
We are one heartbeat away- we are on the precipice of eternity.
So if one feels they must step away to see it clearly- do it- but beware the danger.
And as soon as you see the beauty and meaning of it- run like hell to its shelter.
I do not step away- I cling to it. I know my faith is real because I can see everything else so clearly by it. Just communicating love and fear makes me realize God is there. I feel love- God must be there. I feel fear- God must be there. I can tell you about love and fear...God must be there.
We are so close to God we can't even see the plain evidence - right before the eyes of faith.

Wait for The Breakthrough

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy

We live in a land of dreams. The reason people fight to get into the USA is the promise to allow an environment to work for and accomplish dreams. I find it sad that the dreams are so small today. As an educator, I want to impart a desire to do the impossible. I want them to aim at the targets of great heights. They may only hit the moon when they shoot for the stars,but the implication is obvious.
Our culture can be dream killers. Microwave ovens have contributed to the inability of our people to wait. God is a dream giver and fulfiller. But His pace is steady and often misunderstood as slow. God is never late,but He is rarely early.
The wait makes the breakthrough a true celebration.
May your dreams come true.....I know the wait is not easy. But your dream,if it is big enough, is worth it!!

Caleb's Social Security Plan

10 "Now, as you can see, the LORD has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise – even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. 11 I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. 12 So I'm asking you to give me the hill country that the LORD promised me."

Alive and Well - Strong-Able to Travel- Willing to Fight- Hungry to Conquer. What a resume at 85!
There are some interesting notes here.
#1 Caleb trusted the Lord and clinged to His promises.
#2 Caleb persevered through rough times- wilderness living was no leisurely lifestyle
#3 The tough times forged a rugged man
#4 Caleb was patient to receive what God promised
#5 Caleb was willing to do his part- climb and fight
#6 Caleb respected authority
Lord, may I live life like Caleb. Give me a fire that does not flicker out as I grow older! I want to be an old man one day on fire for Your kingdom! 

The Road of Life

Psalm 90 : " 10 Seventy years are given to us! Some may even reach eighty. But even the best of these years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we are gone. 11 Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.
12 Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom. 13 O LORD, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. 15 Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. 16 Let us see your miracles again; let our children see your glory at work. 17 And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!"

Had a fun football win Friday night and then ran a 5K race on SAT- I haven't been running as much because of football- and the course was a winding up hill for half the race challenge!
While I was running, I became overwhelmed at how good God has been to me. Just to be able to run when last fall I had a torn meniscus and could barely walk- the trail was beautiful- and I was hurting. It is like life- it is bittersweet- glory and pain- successs and emptiness.
I agree with the Psalmist- Come to us Oh Lord- no more delay! Let our children see you anew! Yes- make our efforts successful!
AMEN