Two Words

And this time I mean it: two words.

Yesterday was a warm day about 65. Bit warm for middle of February. Gray and overcast. Really windy out of the SSE at 25 with gusts up to 40.

I went out for a nice middle length run of 6.5 miles. I have a nice out and back course laid out that runs roughly north south. Going out there is a nice downhill from about mile 2.25 to the turn around point at 3.25 miles. And with the wind from behind you can really fly down the hill.

Problem is: what goes down must come up (when you are running that is).

So yesterday I reached the turn around point and headed for home into the teeth of the wind. Uphill. Wasn't pleasant. It was a struggle. And over the last quarter mile is a 50 foot rise. I wasn't feeling real good as I neared the top.

As I neared the top of the hill there was an older guy out for a walk. He was pushing his granddaughter (at least I think it was his granddaughter, she was dressed in pink) in a stroller. And he had one of those ankle biter rat dogs on a leash. I moved off the path to give him room to get by.

I kind of croaked out my standard greeting to those I pass: "Morning." It was morning after all.

And then he said the two words. It took me a couple of seconds for them to soak through my somewhat addled brain and register.

Those words were: "Looking good".

And they were exactly what I needed to hear. They carried me through the rest of the run home. Finished strong. I am grateful for those words of encouragement even if I am fairly certain the guy is a liar.

I am certain that I would have made the run home without hearing those two words. But they sure helped even if it was to get me off of how crummy I was feeling for a bit and get me back on what I enjoy about running.

As I finished my run I thought of how often as Christians we miss opportunities to encourage each other. Too often we rejoice over other people's discomfort and problems when we should be praying for them and encouraging them. Too often we pass by someone struggling and barely notice them.

The guy on the hill didn't have to say anything. I sure didn't recognize him. He could have just given me that half head nod guys usually give each other.

But he didn't...

Tourists in Egypt

As I write this the situation in Egypt is still up in the air.

Mubarak is still in power and the protests continue although there seems to be signs of protest fatigue after two weeks of protests. The protesters are growing tired.

I have watched as much of the news as I can handle. I have read as much of the newspapers and blogs coming out as I can stomach.

One image has stood out to me. About a week ago, I was watching the NBC Nightly News. The report was about how many museums and tourist attractions were closed.

Two tourists were standing outside of the pyramids. I am not sure whether or not they were Americans. I thought they spoke English with a slight accent that I couldn't quite place.

They were told that the pyramids were closed and that they should be open tomorrow. the couple expressed disappointment and said "What can you do? I guess we'll just have to come back tomorrow."

My thought as to what you can do: Get out! The country is crumbling around you and you want to see the pyramids? I realize that this could be a once in a lifetime trip, but you do not want it to be the last of your lifetime.

I guess the thing that irked me the most was that they seemed totally clueless as to what is going on around them.

And I hope that I am never that clueless...

Rejected

I recently went in to donate blood.

I went in early on a Saturday right when they opened. This was so that I would be able to donate early and then make it to a gun show before the crowds hit.

Things went pretty normal. Signed in. Hung the number outside the screening room, Closed the door. Read the instructions. Answered the questions. Opened the door. Reviewed the questions with the reviewer: Yes, I served in the military (not in Europe). Yes, I have been to Africa (Somalia, 1982), Yes, I have been out of the country in the last three years (Mexico, March 2007).

Then I got to the physical check. Arms OK, (no needle tracks). Temperature 97.8 (must be my cold, cold heart). And then the new automated blood pressure/heart rate machine with instructions not to move or talk during the test. Blood pressure a nice 118/70. Pulse 44.

Minimum to donate is 50. Except if you are a runner. Then it is 46.

The screener went out the door to talk with the supervisor.

So two more tests with instructions to “stress out”. Blood pressure rose each time. Pulse the second time: 44. Pulse the third time: 43.

Rejected.

I understand the reason. They are worried about slow donations and people fainting. But I have never had any problems with that.

And I don’t blame the screeners and people at the local office who were only following the ironclad criteria laid down by the Main Center of the Community Blood Services. Because I know from previous conversations that they get hammered by the people in quality control if they mess up in any way on the paperwork.

And I can go back and try to donate the next day, although it will be at least a week.

So now I have a letter to write to the Main Center. And I have to point out that if comes down to a choice between my health and donating blood, it will be my health. For it is my health that allows me to donate blood in the first place (I don't want to give the impression that I am bragging for I realize that I have been blessed by good genes).

This is not really a big deal. I have been more amused by this than anything else. The fact that I am “too healthy” to donate is a weird idea.

But it has made me think: How many times have I rejected someone because of my ironclad criteria without regard for the circumstances of the individual?

Persecution

Since reading the Living Water chapter about No Turning Back, I have been thinking a lot about persecution.

My thoughts were that persecution is the sign of a living church. A church that is growing and impacting the world about it will have detractors and Satan will actively oppose that church.

I haven't known too many people who have really suffered for their faith.

But there is one that I knew a few years ago. So here is the disclaimer: I may mess up on some of the details since it was over thirty years ago. I will make the best attempt at this.

There is one man that I can recall who the chaplain of the Civil Air Patrol Unit that I was in when I was in high school. As I recall his name was Larson and he was a retired pastor/missionary who taught at the local Lutheran College. In fact both of my parents had him as a professor when they had attended Concordia in Moorhead in the late 1950's.

Pastor Larson had been a missionary with his wife in the Philippines when World War Two started. He and his wife spent the war in a Japanese internment camp. As I recall his wife never was the same and suffered for years afterward from the effects of the deprivations.

I recall that he was quiet and gentle and carried himself with a kind of dignity that was often lost on the rabble of high schoolers who pretty much didn't care for his message and who didn't have an appreciation for how difficult those times must have been for he and his wife. He didn't share his story too often either.

My parents later told me that after his wife died he went back to the Orient as a missionary. I am not sure if it was Taiwan or the Philippines.

I didn't really come to faith in Christ until much later in my life. And I haven't thought much about Pastor Larson until this week.

But he was the kind of guy who when he went home to be with the Lord I am pretty sure heard those words: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

May the same be said of me...

Tired

I am tired. I am tired of turning on ESPN and hearing about Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) and his steroid test.

A couple of thoughts: The tests were supposed to be anonymous and the results never revealed. Then the Federal Government subpoenas the two lists and work out who tested positive.

So the first lesson learned is don't trust the government. As a Christian, I am supposed to submit to the authorities. Don't see anything about trusting them.

I do not think that whoever revealed the test results is on any higher moral ground than A-Rod. I think that individual (or individuals) have serious integrity issues.

The second thing that struck me is that A-Rod had been lying about his usage for six years. he even lied on national TV. Then this whole matter became public.

During his coming clean session with Peter Gammons, he said that he felt like a load had been lifted from his shoulders now that this lesson is public.

What a lesson! If we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins. God forgives us and takes that burden from us.

We are also told that all things will be revealed. Nothing can be hid from God. Nothing we have ever done has been hid from God. A-Rod has had one of his mistakes revealed for the world to see and is suffering the humiliation of being found out.

But someday we will all face God and answer for our sins. Forgiveness releases us from the burden of carrying our sins around. Confession is good for the soul.

Stepping Out in Faith?

What does that mean? Stepping out in faith.

I think the term comes from when the Israelites crossed the Jordan under the leadership of Joshua. The Jordan River was at flood stage and didn't stop flowing until the leaders feet hit the water.

Today we often hear the term used in connection with building projects or fundraising in the church. I think that all too often we are using the phrase to justify starting something that we want to do in our humanness and not something God has blessed.

The Israelites had forty years of wandering in the wilderness to come to grips with the fact that God wanted them to possess the land no matter what obstacles they may see in front of them. All too often today we spend an hour in prayer and then say that we know that God wants us to step out in faith.

I am not sure that stepping out in faith is the correct path unless we are 100% certain that God is directing us. When looking at building plans (where I most often hear this phrase) all the major building projects in the Bible were provided for in full before they began. This includes the tabernacle and Solomon's temple. Even with the rebuilding of the temple the timbers were arranged for from the King's Woodcutters prior to the rebuilding.

In Hebrews 11, the great faith chapter of the New Testament, the writer lists a bunch of people who step out in faith to do what God wants them to do. Almost without exception these men and women are moving out of their comfort zone through action. Not a building project is mentioned.

Stepping out in faith almost always comes done to an action of witness or of carrying God's will forward and expanding the Kingdom.

I have much to ponder on this. More later...

Halo

OK, I confess: I like to play video games.

Kind of different for a guy of my advancing age, but I do enjoy them.
I get a real sense of accomplishment when I finish one.

I finished Halo 3 (Christmas gift from my son) tonight.
Great game. Looking forward to Halo Wars in March and Halo 3: Orbital Drop Shock Trooper in November (hopefully).

But that's not my point.

As I played through Halo 3, there were several points that for me were pretty tough to get past. One was where the two Scarab tanks drop in and have to be destroyed while flying in the Hornet (if you don't know what I am talking about that is OK, just bear with me). It took me over 50 times to get past it. Pretty frustrating.

I was reminded of this process of God's work in out lives. We are going along and we make a mistake. I can not progress until the problem is fixed. It might take me failing 50 or 100 or more times until I learn the lesson. If I keep doing the same thing I will keep getting the same results. But if I turn to the Lord for help and rely on Him I can get through the tough spots.

And just like a video game, there are usually more tough spots ahead.

I can quit and put the game aside. But it gnaws at me. I want to finish and I want to finish as strong as I can.
I can give up the Christian life and try to live the way the world wants me to, but the Holy Spirit will keep gnawing at me until I pay attention. And I want to finish as strong as I can.

Most of the popular video games have strategy guides to help find the way. Even with a strategy guide, I still make lots of mistakes and lose my way and run into road blocks. Sometimes I have to call my son for help in getting past the real tough spots.

God has also given us a strategy guide: The Bible. But even more than the Bible he has given us a strategy guide interpreter: the Holy Spirit.

And if I pay attention to both, I have a much better chance of getting past those trouble spots and getting to the end.

Trials

So in checking my e-mail this morning, I came across one from Matt Furey (yes, that's his real name). He links to a video where he describes a tough time in his life where he did some stupid things and paid a heavy price for it.


A couple of comments really jumped out at me. The first comment was made by his cousin: "God never gives a human being a trial unless he also gives them a means to rise above it."


I was immediately reminded of 1 Corinthians 10:12-13: "So, if you think you are standing firm be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted , he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."


And of I Peter 1:6-7: "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."


See - I am not sure that I agree with the part of the statement that "he also gives them a means to rise above it." I think it is more accurate that God gives us a means to endure it and that distinction is a big difference. We are promised that trials will come our way and that we will suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

There may not be a way out except to endure until the trial is over. But God will be there right along side of us through it all.

The statement was also made on the video that "people don't need to heal outer scars they need to heal inner scars." And this is so true.


In this society, we are so concerned with outer appearances and not concerned with what is going on inside. We judge people on the outer appearance when we shouldn't be judging them at all.


There are a lot of hurting people around us and we aren't even aware that they are hurting. We don't know what is going on behind closed curtains, on the Internet, at the office, with the kids and the family. We don't know the hurts and loses from long ago that are so scarred on their hearts that they can't see hope. Yet they put on the brave front so well we have no idea there is anything wrong.

It is so easy to think that nothing is wrong. We don't get to know our neighbors and coworkers other than on a superficial basis. Or we are so concerned with our own outer appearance that we don't look beyond the superficial with others.

We can't heal the inner scars of others but we can introduce them to the Great Healer. And we can realize that there is a human being behind whatever outer appearance we have trouble getting past.

And maybe, just maybe, we are to be there to help them through the trials we are promised.