Faith

Hebrews 11 has often been referenced as the Hall of Faith chapter or the Hall of Fame for faith in the Bible. Recently I ran across a list of "P" words for characters of faith. I have faith that you will find it worth my sharing as you ponder these who lived at various levels of faithfulness.

• Abel endured a PAINFUL faith. His obedience to God led to his being clubbed to death in the fields by his brother Cain.
• Cain possessed only a PARTIAL faith. He did what God commanded but only halfway and halfheartedly.
• Noah displayed a PRACTICAL faith. He built the Ark and gathered animals all the while PREACHING to his neighbors about their imPENDING doom and God's PERFECT love.
• Abraham gained a PROMISED faith as he received God's guarantee that his three-fold blessing would include his seed, land, and nations.
• Enoch was blessed with a PURE faith as he walked with God and was taken to heaven...we might say PREMATURELY.
• Isaac used a PRUDENT faith to gain his birthright, build a family in a foreign country, and become reconciled to his brother.
• Jacob developed a PRECIOUS faith. From his deathbed he "blessed each of Joseph’s sons in turn, blessing them with God’s blessing, not his own—as he bowed worshipfully upon his staff" (Hebrews 11:21, MSG).
• Joseph clung to a PATIENT faith as he waited for various lengths of time for deliverance from bondage and slavery from a PIT and a PRISON.
• Gideon led with a PRAYERFUL faith as he defeated the Midianites though outnumbered 450 to 1.
• David meditated with a PASSIONATE faith as he wrote and sang his PSALMS becoming a man after God's own heart and an imPERFECT king.
• Samson was PROTECTED from all but his lustful self by his POWERFUL faith that eventually allowed him to destroy the enemy PHILISTINES.

Faith is a foundation stone of any spiritual relationship with God and Jesus. 

photo by Zac Durant on unsplash.com

Peter encourages us in this way: "So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus" (2 Peter 1:5-8, MSG). 

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Gratitude

A long, long time ago in a galaxy...not really; but it was some years ago that I first heard a preacher or teacher say that we need an "attitude of gratitude." After not blogging for more than a week, I fittingly thought that I'm grateful for many things today. Allow me to list a few while urging you to ponder your own personal thoughts of thankfulness. I will sprinkle in a few quotes within this humbling topic:

1. Gratitude teaches us to appreciate the rainbow AND the storm. (Dr. Hibbert)
2. I'm grateful for my eye doctor's appointment yesterday that assured me my glaucoma is being kept at bay by eye drops and not surgery.
3. Gratitude bestows reverence allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies...those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. (John Milton)
4. I'm grateful for the amazingness of my wife. The meals she has fixed us for almost 50 years just keep getting better and better...as does she!
5. There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. (Albert Einstein)
6. I'm grateful that I've been witness to lots of miracles in my life.
7. Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind. (Lionel Hampton)
8. I'm grateful that none of my immediate family (me, wife, kids, their spouses, all nine grandkids) have had to deal with the coronavirus as yet. (That sound you may have imagined you heard was my knuckles tapping on my head as I knocked on wood.)
9. I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. (G.K. Chesterton)
10. I am grateful that my procrastination has been at least temporarily overcome. I am blogging again. (My blogs are not for you...they are totally for me. Thanks for your patience.)
11. Gratitude can transform common days into THANKSGIVINGS! (William Arthur Ward)

I Am Gratitude!

Psalm 119

Psalm 119 is THE chapter in the Bible that completely praises God's Word. Its 176 verses present statements about the incredible nature of the Creator's love letter to His Creation. Synonyms such as word, way, law, statute, precept, decree, command, and promise as well as their plural forms are in nearly every verse. Only five verses -- 84, 90, 121, 122, 132 -- don't contain one of those direct references listed above.

Some of my favorite praise verses are in this beautiful chapter are...

18. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

24. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors. 

89. Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

164. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.

171-172. May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees.

May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.

There are a multitude of reasons for praising the Lord. One of the greatest of these is His Word.

Psalm 19:105...a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
[photo by Ray Fragapane on unsplash.com]

Absurdities

There are happenings in life that are weird. Some things seem penultimately strange. We chalk them up as unbelievable, incredible, or even supernatural. They go beyond science fiction or fantasy. When we decide they are true, our faith sets them apart as Godly.

A few of these are the crucifixion of the Son of God, His resurrection, His virgin birth, and other BIGGIES we know to be miraculous. There are many less significant stories from the Bible, though, that get my sense of WONDER up...way UP! Allow me to share a few of these.

In Joshua 6, we can read of the Battle of Jericho. For seven days the Israelites walked around that fortified and impenetrable city in silence...until they didn't. Then they blew trumpets and shouted. The walls fell and the victory was theirs.

In Judges 7, Gideon whittled his army down to 300 men who quenched their thirst in the proper manner. He faced the Midianites force of 135,000 soldiers. The odds were not in his favor. He was outnumbered 450/1. Again trumpets and shouting were involved as the victory was quickly assured. The enemy were even slaying one another.

II Kings 5 relates the story of the great general Naaman. He was a hopeless leper until he was convinced by a slave girl to follow the advice of God's prophet Elisha. He immersed himself seven times in the murkiness of the River Jordan and was cleansed.

Acts 12:19-24 presents the bizarre tale of King Herod, enemy of Christians. He chose not to disagree with the people when they shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” It took but a moment for his demise to come: "Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died." [Notice the order indicates he was still alive when the worms feasted.]

These above stories are all illustrations of unusual occurrences of astonishing phenomena. Only my faith allows me to believe in their reality. Absurdities? Probably. Truths? Absolutely!

Below are two of the most unusual photos we have taken in our travels:

Odd signage in Hawaii, 2013

Unusual rendering of Noah's Ark
downtown Bucharest, Romania, 2012

Mad Dashes

photo by Braden Collum on unsplash.com

In Luke 15:20, the Prodigal Son was reunited with his father. On that day that father could've defeated Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt, or Michael Johnson in any short sprint. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

As a child, I was impressed with athletes such as are listed in that last paragraph. One of my heroes was Jim Ryan. He wasn't a sprinter. He ran the mile/1500 meters. He competed at the Olympic level. Later as a Harding University student, I knew of a fellow student and college track star named Jim Crawford. He never achieved the same notoriety as Ryan. Years later I asked a man "in the know" about track athletes of /the RyanCrawford era what the difference was between those two Jims. He said it was about 100 miles. That was the amount of training each week that set Ryan above Crawford. I'm not certain of that reasoning, but it could be the reality.

The Bible is filled with stories of great runs and mad dashes from both heroes and goats. John 20:4-8 relates the time Peter and John raced. Upon hearing of the empty tomb, that set out together in a mad dash. John reach the tomb first and paused allowing Peter to overtake him. Peter didn't hesitate, but sprinted into the cave.

Overcome with an urgency to preach the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch, Philip dashed to the chariot. He seized the opportunity, and the Ethiopian treasurer went home a baptized believer. A final positive example of a mad dasher was Joseph in Genesis 39:12 (NLT)...Potaphar's wife tried to entice Joseph into adultery as she came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

Others were goats and ran in the opposite direction. Jonah was one who ran away from God (Jonah 1:3) Likewise the story of Jesus' betrayal and capture by the Judas-led-mob in the garden ends when "all the disciples deserted him and fled" (Matthew 26:56, NIV). I hope if a similar opportunity presents itself, I  won't make the mad dash for safety in fear of my life as those men did.

I never was one to enjoy a lot of running just for the sake of running whether it be a jog or a sprint. The extent of my mad dashes in an athletic venue were the few quick steps required to get in position to kill a racquetball in the front corner of the court for a winner.

I long for the day when my heavenly Father will spot me walking those last footsteps to the gates of heaven. Perhaps he will sprint to me, sweep me up into his arms, and kiss me. I pray someday to be witness to that event as God madly dashes to enfold me in his welcoming embrace.

More than Thunder

July 2008 Mississippi River storm

Living in Southern Middle Tennessee, it's not unusual to be awakened by thunder at any time during the night. Early this morning it started about 5:30. As it often the case, it was followed by torrential rain and wind. What do you do when that ominous and always mysterious event interrupts your sleep? You go to the kitchen and peel potatoes for Sunday lunch confident that Mother Nature will subside by then, and your invited guests won't have to paddle to your home.

What came to mind while doing my KP duties was the Hallal song that has been a favorite of mine since it was first published in 2005 by Ken Young and others...More than Thunder.  Realizing that the voice of God is so much more that that; and knowing there is scientific explanation for the thunder and its companion lightning, I still like to imagine His booming through the storm. Psalm 29:3-4 states it well: The voice of the LORD is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; The voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

Click this YouTube link to hear the song (wait through the error message if one appears):

More than Thunder  

You calm the storm and walk on water,

You heal the blind and raise the dead from out the slumber.

Some hear the voice of God and say it's only thunder.

But as for me I stand amazed!

You make the bread to feed the hungry,

You turn the water into wine for all the thirsty.

Some go away content and fail to see your glory,

But as for me I stand amazed!

When mountains shake, I will not forget to praise you;

When eagles soar I will glorify your name.

When lightning flashes, I will celebrate your wonder!

Lord may it always be to me...more than thunder.

You make the stars shine in the heavens.

You tell the moon to move and stir the mighty oceans.

Some see your wonders and they never sing your praises.

But as for me I stand amazed!

When mountains shake, I will not forget to praise you;

When eagles soar I will glorify your name.

When lightning flashes, I will celebrate your wonder!

Lord may it always be to me...more than thunder.

Who is like the Lord our God?

Great and wondrous are his ways!

Who is like the Lord our God?

Let all the earth be filled with praise!

When mountains shake, I will not forget to praise you;

When eagles soar I will glorify your name.

When lightning flashes, I will celebrate your wonder!

Lord may it always be to me...more than thunder!

Blessings

Some years ago when my voice was younger, I enjoyed singing Barbershop music with choruses and quartets. One of our groups closed programs with the Irish Blessing. Today I had cause to remember those special lyrics. I key them for you as a reminder of WHO is in control, and how truly wonderful are HIS blessings? Obviously they come in three austere, metallic colors...

Big Brother Is Watching!

Have you ever wondered why, after a conversation with your spouse about blood sugar test strips, you start seeing numerous Facebook posts about various topics related to your life as a Type 2 diabetic? I sure have recently. My conclusion is that Big Brother is watching us...all the time.

Mt. Rushmore National Monument, South Dakota

During a current major photographic project involving culling and sorting through our thousands of film and digital pictures, I ran across a trip to Mt. Rushmore. If you stand in the precise spot in the main parking lot and look up, you will see just the top of George Washington's face. His eyes seem to eerily stare out at you over the granite parapet.

What is he seeing? Why is it bizarrely ominous in our 21st Century world? Ponder and pray that God continues watching over us as protector and shield. Jesus is the only Big Brother I want watching over my life.

Cades Cove

We frequently sojourn to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) in East Tennessee. In addition to its being the most visited NP in the nation, it is adjacent to the ultimate tourist traps of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. There is always lots to do and see. One of our favorite destinations in the area is Cades Cove.

The Cove is a multi-mile loop road filled with historic buildings, scenic landscapes, and wildlife. Tourist vehicles can be bumper to bumper, so each adventure can take awhile. The highlight of any trip to this destination is the search for wildlife. Most times we have seen lots of deer and turkey, and watched the saddle horses playing in the meadows after a long day of carrying tourists on trail rides. We had always heard of the many bear sightings. We just hadn't gotten lucky...yet.

In June of 2020, following  our two month plus quarantine during the height of the pandemic, we returned to this idyllic place for another try at seeing bears. We had invited another couple from church to stay with us in a condo in Pigeon Forge and explore the area for five days. Our first trip to Cades Cove, an hour distant, yielded exploration of some old churches and homesteads but no bear. We did see a lone turkey up close and personal. A couple of days later our luck changed.

Following attendance at several entertainment venues that included a Bible Times concert, Alcatraz East Crime Museum, Country Tonight Show, and the Titanic Museum, the wives decided an outlet mall shopping spree was in order. Not finding that to be a pleasant alternative, the husbands decided on a drive through the country. We began heading west on the Foothills Parkway. That was a relatively new scenic highway. Since that adventure was generally in the direction of Cades Cove, it inspired us once again to go bear hunting.

We drove through Townsend, the last vestige of civilization before the last few miles driving to the Cove. We looked for a bakery or ice cream shop but found none open. With the call of the wild filling our imaginations, we headed to the entrance to the Cove which is actually a part of GSMNP.

After about a dozen previous enterings that nearly always rewarded us with multiple deer sightings but never a bear, providence shined down on us as twilight approached. This time we saw eight bears consisting of a mother and cub(s) in three different spots. Some were even close enough to the road for decent pictures, though the grass was so high that it partially interfered with the photography. It was still exciting reminding me of viewing the moose, elk, grizzlies, wolves, dall sheep, mountain goats, bison herds, and other large mammals of the national parks in Alaska, Canada, and and the western United States.

Exploring God's creation via road trip is always an adventure. That June afternoon was just one more reminder of the Lord's handiwork. All we had to do was LOOK!

More...

In her namesake movie, Sabrina cautioned the extremely wealthy and sometimes arrogant Linus, "More isn't always better, Linus. Sometimes it's just more." I was recently reminded of this quote by the love of my life.

I've been working out regularly and somewhat strenuously at Planet Fitness for the last six weeks or so  since their post-quarantine reopening in May. I had begun on a new fitness journey early this year. After nearly two months, the pandemic hit and temporarily shut that adventure down. I needed the routine, the fixed workout regimen, the regular pattern. I had actually been following most of what the trainer had described in our early meeting to design an exercise program.

After the reopening I felt I wasn't being challenged enough. I nearly doubled my workout. It actually felt pretty good. No pain, no gain...and all that. Today we met with our trusted trainer to rethink and redesign. I discovered I've been a bad boy, a very bad boy. I hadn't been resting muscle groups as I should. I wasn't exercising smarter, just morer (don't correct my grammar...I'm not in the mood).

After an hour and forty-five minute reassessment with an introduction to a whole bunch of stuff I hadn't been doing or hadn't been doing correctly, I left mentally exhausted. Several hours of frustration later, I realized they were right, and I was a hard-headed idiot.

When my wife reminded me of the Sabrina quote, I thought of something else. A colleague of mine at Martin Methodist College about 18 years ago returned from an admissions trip. He had just met my wife who was counselor at the high school he had visited. Tony approached me with the totally truthful statement, "Kerbe, you married up!" I agreed...way up!

This nostalgic trip down memory lane led to another thought from a conversation between Linus and Sabrina's father Fairchild, the chauffeur. Fairchild said, "You don't deserve her." To which Linus replied, "I don't, I know that; but I need her, and I don't need anything."

photo from hospital.news.com

One of my 2020 resolutions was to exercise more. Six months later my July 1, 2020, revolution is to exercise smarter. My wife's reminder was right on! More isn't always better, sometimes it's just more. Thanks, Delores. I look forward to your helping me find the right path at the gym as you always have in life.