Perspectives

It was late, very late actually. We sat for 3 hours in Dallas because of storm. Riding out an early spring Texas storm not so safely nestled in the cigar like fuselage of a Boeing 707 is not a lot of fun. It was exciting though. Before the tarmac crews were able to get the metal bird anchored to the ground we bounced round like one of those ping-pong balls in a lotto machine. One particularly frightened woman began to mutter something about not wanting to die while on a parking lot stuffed into a human sausage-making machine. I pointed out that while this was not as much fun as the tornado rollercoaster at Six Flags, it did beat being on the plane when it does these kind of gymnastics at 30,000 feet.

That was hours ago now. We were now in a holding pattern circling the City of Chicago. It seemed that the storm, which hit Dallas, had also delayed air traffic across most of the Midwest as it made its trek across the southern tier of states. Tired, hungry and thoroughly disgusted that air travel was punctuality challenged, I looked out the window of what I was beginning to believe would be my airborne hotel room for the night.

Chicago, at 12:30 am, from the sky is deceiving. The vast expanse of bright lights, matted on a carpet of blackness is breath taking. It is as if someone took a piece of black velvet and scattered thousands of tiny diamonds across it. For a split second, I thought to myself how beautiful a city Chicago was. Then, just as quickly, I returned to the world of the coherent and remembered why I was suspended several thousand feet above this giant farm of lights. I was to be in a business the next day on the near north side, trying to figure out why the inventory shortage numbers had come in at fifteen percent. The image of the store and the particular neighborhood it was in brought me back to reality much as if someone had poured ice water down my back. My eyes were drawn from the scattered brilliance of the diamonds and now seemed to concentrate on the flashing red and blue lights that now seemed to dominate the city streets. You see there is another perspective one has in that position, one can see the activity of Chicago’s finest as they race from one crime scene to another, their flashing beacons evidence of the real problems of any big city. I suddenly thought of how the same scene I was looking at might appear to the men in blue who were seeing it from ground zero.

Perspective; it is all about perspective. What might be beautiful from one vantage point might be terribly ugly from another. What might appear peaceful from the safety of several thousand feet might actually be frightful from a closer vantage. The city wrapped in brilliance and apparent sterility at 10,000 feet was actually full of death, filth, pain, and suffering at zero feet.

So often, the Church views life from 10,000 feet. We see the brilliance and beauty of life. We see the mask that others put on in order to appear normal and acceptable. It is a comfortable way to minister. Do not get dirty, do not face hardship, and do not let anything draw you away from your stained glass vantage point as you circle life at 10,000 feet.

As I read the Gospels, I find that Jesus never shied away from the dirty side f life. In fact, it was to the unseemly He ministered too. Of course, from their seats in the synagogue, the Pharisees viewed this as inappropriate. They viewed Jesus ministry as invalid because He choose not to confine Himself to the clean and sterile viewpoint at 10,000 feet.

Christianity is not just a noun it is also a verb. We need to get out of the holding pattern, land this plane, disembark, and get to work. By the way, I walked out of that store the next night to find my rental car had no unbroken glass or un-slashed rubber. Didn’t see that coming from the air.

Enjoy the Java

Jim

In Defense of Marriage

I come before you today as a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a leader of people. I stand here today with no intention of condemning individuals, or fostering hatred toward any person. I stand here because of my concern for my family; my family of today and as a grandfather, my family of tomorrow. I stand concerned for the people whom I influence, counsel, and love. I come today not in a spirit of hatred, for the apostle Paul writes in Romans the first chapter that hatred, as well as homosexuality is a sin, but in love. It is love that has compelled me to speak today, the love for my family, my friends, and for anyone who is deceived into thinking there is freedom in any sin.

As a Christian, I have set as my standard, (the foundation of my behavior), the Word of God. It is from the Word of God that I find His expectation of me, and from here, I form the basis for developing the next generation of my family. It is from this standard, I find that which is needed to maintain the level of character that is conducive to a good society. As a Husband and a father, it is my role to protect those whom I love from harm. It is also from that Word that I find His wonderful grace that has restored me from a life of destruction into a life that is filled with hope and a future; a grace available to those who receive it.

In my role as a husband and father, I am compelled to stand against the recent ruling declaring that the law passed by our representative government, defining marriage as being between one man and one woman is unconstitutional. I believe this to be a deliberate attempt by forces outside our state to undermine the firm foundation that we in the mid-west have enjoyed, the sanctity of marriage and solidarity of the family. To understand that this ruling has any other effect is to ignore the very foundation of family, one man, and one woman committing to a life long journey and bringing into this world new life to be shaped and molded into the next generation. As the leader of a family, I feel threatened by the fact that this ruling now opens the door to require my children be taught a standard that I firmly believe is sinful and will lead to destruction. I feel threatened that this will lead to further degradation of respect to our roles as parents, and grandparents. I feel threatened that the most sublime illustration of God’s love that is used to demonstrate His relationship with us, has been altered to now represent that which the Word of God, the standard I use in raising my family, declares as sinful and worthy of eternal separation from God. As a leader of my family I vow to stand against anything that would threaten the well being and future of my greatest legacy, my children.

As A leader of people, I stand here before you concerned about the future of our society. I am not concerned that homosexuals or homosexuality in and of itself will destroy our society. Instead, I am concerned about the further erosion of standards in general; standards that I believe are under attack because of their origin, the Bible. It concerns me when the judicial branch of the government can effectively overturn the will of the people as demonstrated through their duly elected officials, and rewrite the standards of society. It concerns me that a standard that has been held for so long, a standard that until recently was not even considered challengeable, cannot only be challenged, but shattered by the opinion of four people. It concerns me when the will of those outside our state is forced upon us affording us no opportunity to respond in time to prevent it.

Today I call upon those of you who stand with me. I implore you to search your hearts and understand there is no place for hatred in this fight, for this fight is not against people but instead it is a fight in defense of an institution that has existed throughout all human history. An institution that is currently being radically redefined in unacceptable terms. As Christians, we are called to identify sin, not to tear down those who are ensnared in it, but instead to show them the light of the good news, the Grace, and love of Jesus Christ, and by doing so lift them up.

Today I call upon those who are at the heart of this issue, those who have chosen a homosexual lifestyle. I tell you that we do not hate you, but we want to maintain a standard that has been dear to us and we feel has been of vital importance to the advancement of our society, we want the sanctity of marriage restored. We do disagree with the lifestyle you have chosen. However if that is the choice you have made the consequences of that choice are between you and God. We will not condone the behavior, but neither will we turn you away. Your standards are in conflict with our standards, but that does not mean the established, Biblical standard must therefore be abolished. You are no less of a citizen, you are no less a member of a family, you are no less a friend because of your choice. Based upon my beliefs and what I read in the Word of God, I will continue to pray for you as I pray for all who I feel are deceived by sin. I will treat you no differently than I have ever treated you, nor will I treat you any differently than I treat anyone else.

I also speak to those members of the clergy who recently commented that all Christians are joyful for the recent ruling. I would say in the strongest way I can, please do not speak for me, and please do not assume the role of being a judge concerning my relationship with God. My relationship with God is not predicated upon my acceptance of a ruling, it is predicated upon my acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice and the Grace of God, and that is something of which you have no authority to judge, however subtle that judgment might be. I will not judge the soul of another, that is strictly outside my purview and reserved for the redeemer alone, I ask you do the same.

We join today across many traditions, traditions that at times separate us. However today we realize the strength of the unity that will bind us together and allow us to see this through to victory. That unity is not a cause. Thant unity is the saving power of Jesus Christ, it is the blood of Christ that unites us and the Grace of God that calls us to declare; ‘that which God has united let no man put asunder.’
Thank You

The Tempering of a Man

During Deer season, the woods are a magical place for a ten year old. The quiet, peaceful world under the canopy of sleeping trees explodes with sensory input during the hunt. The untrained pedestrian misses so much as, they hurry through, thinking only of the destination. There are so many different sounds to sort. The rain gently pattering upon the dried brown leaves that refuse to depart the safety of the trees they have grown to become a part of, sets the foundation for the symphony of natural music that is the woods in the autumn. The sounds of leaves as the wind rips them from their tenacious grip make it difficult to distinguish between the soft footfall of our intended prey, and the leaves own soggy landing on the wooded floor.

More intoxicating than the sounds though are the smells. The sweet aroma of decaying flora mixing with the biting slightly acrid smell of the cold, create within me a repository of memories to be drawn upon for years to come. I believe the smell that affected me the most that morning was the smell of a distant fire burning in a fireplace. The aroma of the hardwood smoke as it wafted through the labyrinth of branches and twigs, telling to the trees the fate it’s cousin had come to. This smell brings to mind memories of the warmth that fireplace provided when we returned, empty-handed to the cottage like country store to renew our strength and resolve for the afternoon.

Jackson’s store holds many memories and lessons for me, though I was there only twice. The bustle of the women folk as the men came in cold and wet from our quest to provide fresh meat for the table, illustrated an age-old axiom of co-operation. The hunt was not just for sport to these people of the Ozark hills. The hunt put needed food in the freezer they would draw from for months to come. This was not just a man’s recreation, but also a family activity in which each party played a part. To some extent, my father and I were interlopers in this world, though we were welcomed as if we were family. We certainly could use the meat, and as dad, and his dad before him had been taught, we would not kill anything we did not intend to eat. Sustenance however, was not the primary goal for this pair of city dudes who depended upon the local Safeway and Kroger store for our food. Instead, dad and I were reliving the heritage passed down through many generations of Burnette men; through hardship, we were to provide.

I spend much time thinking of the things that made me the man I am today. Much of that time is spent on the strength gained from activities like hunting, and sports and the life lessons gained from them. They are an important part of making a man who he is. However, a far more important ingredient is necessary. Strength alone creates a brute. Strength mixed with great fear creates a tyrant. Strength without the tender influence of love is empty and without purpose. Strength tempered by love, optimism, and sensitivity produces a man.

My mother holds the key to who I am today. It was her love for us that caused her to look beyond her own hardships and see the adventure in all that we went though. Mom never dwelled on our failures and shortcomings, but instead extolled any piece of success. She has the innate ability to weave into the fabric of any failure the cloth of hope and success.

Some might look at the childhood we had and gasp at the hardships we faced. There was never much money around; many do not put a monetary value on what a pastor provides. We did without many of the luxuries other families had. Mom refused to let us dwell on that. In fact, I did not realize how poor we were until I was much older, and by then it did not seem that important. Mom more than made up for any temporal riches we did not posses. She could turn a breakfast picnic in the park into something far greater than a trip to Disneyland. Mom never sees the content of the glass, only the potential volume it will hold and then she pours herself into it until our lives would, and to this day still overflows.

The rites of passage were an important part of my childhood. They taught me how to become a man. I am forever grateful to dad for taking the time to build that strength in me. It is to my mom however that I owe the greatest debt of gratitude. She has tempered my strength with tenderness and optimism even during times when she herself had little to be optimistic about. I hope everyone has someone like my mom in their life, and like her is what I strive to be.

This is for you momma,

Enjoy your java

Jimmy

Rites of Passage

It was a wet, cold late autumn day in the mountains of North central Arkansas. I anxiously watched out the car window as my father and I traveled from the confines of the city into the unusual back hills life of the mountains. My imagination began to weave scenes of what the day would be like; the great adventure that lay ahead.

I had hardly slept the night before. As I lay in bed, the mind of this ten year old was filled with excitement. This was to be the first of my ‘rites of passage’, my first deer hunt. Today I would take my first step toward manhood and I worried how I would respond. There were the usual scare tactics used that seem to be uniquely male. Dad and the older boys talking about ‘blooding’, or the tradition of drinking a cup of the warm blood from your first deer, the tales from my grandfather of how the Indians always ate the heart of their prey in honor of its life. I was frightened that I would get sick when we cleaned the deer and embarrass my father and myself. The fear of becoming a man combined with the anticipation of the same is a difficult thing to handle.

The tales of blooding were of course not true, but used as something a young man must learn to overcome, the fear of what might be.

Fear is debilitating. Fear binds us and causes us to avoid difficult situations and decisions. Fear retards our social and emotional growth, and makes deep relationship impossible. The fear of not being good enough or not achieving stature in the eyes of the older men in our lives can destroy a developing male ego. Because of this fear, so many men in our society become adolescent adults. We need a Dad, or Granddad or other male figure that we respect to tell us we have what it takes to join the club, and become a man of strength and honor.

Strength and honor are the two most important things in a man’s life. These components are required to become a good husband and a good father. This is what makes a man, a man. To have the respect of a good woman is far more important to a real man than all the gold, or all the sensory pleasure he might garner. The respect of his children comes in a very close second, for there is no greater joy than to hear the words from one’s son, ‘I want to be just like you when I grow up daddy’, or to hear his daughter say, ‘I hope my husband will be like you’. A man who cannot establish these levels of honor and respect can never truly feel like a man.

By the way, we never even saw a deer that day…such is life.

Enjoy the Java

Jim

Season of Change

Ah, spring has arrived in the Midwest. The strangle hold winter has had has finally been weakened and we can now expect to experience beautiful warm days from now until next autumn. I certainly hope this to be true; however, I have lived here long enough to realize that the end of April is still a tad early to make this declaration. We might still have those unexpected cold blustery days rise once again and remind us of the salient fact that we cannot control nature. However, those days are rare, and perhaps they will not come at all. I can say with no fear of being proved wrong, there will be far more nice days than those that are not. I also am confident that the bone chilling, arctic blasts of January have retreated and the summer season I love so well has begun to establish a foothold.

I am amazed at how easily one can draw comparisons between the seasons of nature and life. Those experiences of life that thrust us into times of grief and agony; the winters of our existence, seem so intense that they chill our spirit to its very core. The times we spend traversing our lifeway through the drifts of grief are arduous journeys that drain away our energy and leave in its place the emptiness of exhaustion. So many times we feel, just as I do in mid February, ‘this winter will never end’. Nevertheless, end, it does.

Grief, like winter has fuzzy borders. The line that divides these times in our lives is blurred and the times of respite from our sorrow are at first like those ‘January thaw’ days of winter. They seem to tease us with the remembrance of how it was, those days of warmth, the good days, only to be replaced by the days, which once again thrust us back into the realization that this season has not ended. However, as time progresses, the ‘sunny’ days come more frequently and combine into weeks of ‘good’ days. Soon those weeks become a season, and eventually the grief and pain are but an unpleasant memory tucked away in the fabric of our memory. The memory of winter is always a part of us, but the biting cold that once drove us to shelter no longer has a hold on us and we remember it in an atmosphere of warmth and safety.

Today, as you read this, you may be in the throes of a winter season. If so have hope, spring is coming. Look for those that God has placed on your lifeway to help warm you and provide companionship along the way. Perhaps it is spring in your world, the cruel north winds no longer blow, but the inconvenient times of grief still remind you of its presence. Take heart, the good days are outnumbering the bad, and soon you will bask in the glory of the Son, which has always been there tempering the cold.

If you are enjoying summer, remember those who are not. Allow yourself to be used to help them once again feel the warmth.

Be observant of those on your lifeway and reach out, and do not forget; the seasons change.

Enjoy the Java

Jim

Transformations Along the Lifeway

I am a summer kind of guy. I love the heat of the sun, the length of the days and the sounds, sights and smells that make summer what it is. Conversely, I am not overly enthusiastic about winter. If we could do three seasons instead of four, I would be a very happy man.

Watching the Midwestern landscape transform from shades of brown to the colors of spring, remind me of a song from the ‘70’s; ‘Kodachrome They give us those nice bright colors They give us the greens of summers Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, Oh yeah’

I love to watch as the dullness of winter yields to the new life of spring; as the hay fields, which seem to transform overnight into the rich green of newfound vitality, interrupt the fields of light brown corn stubble. A spirit of hope arises within me as I see the trees adorn themselves with the tender buds that will soon burst forth into full foliage.

I enjoy autumn also. Being partial to impressionist art, I love the manner in which God expresses His creativity in the multitude of colors autumn brings. However, give me a summer day where I can feel the heat of the sun on my face, hear the song of the cicada in my ears, and the freedom from the confining walls of the house, and I am happy.

There are many parallels to life here. We experience these seasons of life many time from birth to death. There are those times of great joy and pleasure, and there are times of great sorrow and at times despair. Our lives are composed of many cycles which are generally dictated by circumstances, circumstances that can begin either the transformation from a time of joy to a time of sorrow, or a time of pain and despair into the promise of hope; Transformation.

The transformative times in our lives can cause much confusion. On one hand, there is great adventure in seeing things change without knowing what they will become, and on the other, there is the impatience with the dead cold winter and the longing for anything that frees us from its grip. Some hopes and dreams seem unattainable, permanently out of our reach, and we therefore grasp for the closest facsimile of that dream in hopes that it will suffice. All too often, this leads to yet another time of winter. The desire to see change many times overrides the natural order of seasonal movement. We need to hold fast to the dreams and promises God has given, and allow Him to bring transformation in His time.

At other times, we become so mired in the snowdrifts of life, that as these drifts melt we become entrapped in the mud that is left behind. We must extricate ourselves from this grip and once again continue the journey.

There are three keys to a joyful journey on our lifeway. First, we must have a relationship with the one who loves us beyond measure, Jesus Christ. Second, we must move forward and look to the next horizon. Third, we must choose well the memories and events of the past we allow to color our attitude toward the journey.

The underlying joy we have as believers should allow us to weather the storms, and return us once again to a place of happiness and fulfillment. Joy is the foundation of enduring happiness, and the joy of serving a loving heavenly Father is the only true joy in life. It becomes the motivation needed for the journey.

Today, as you look out the window and see the transformation of nature take place; remember the transformative times of your life. Do not allow the sepia tone landscape of winter to detour your journey of joy, but instead look to the lush vibrant colors of summer to re focus your point of view and move you forward on your lifeway.

Enjoy the Java

Jim

Diamonds in the Dust

“I am not what I was…but I am what I have become.” This phrase came into the scrambled jumble of synapses I call a brain yesterday morning. I had read earlier in the morning a post by a friend of mine concerning a Bible study where the discussion topic was ‘Diamonds in the Dust’.

I realize that my mind works a bit differently than most. I tend to approach things from the side, thus giving me a rather unusual and at times incomprehensible view of things. As I read the words of the post, I immediately thought of a school field trip I took in the 5th grade to the only working diamond mine in the United States. This mine is located close to Murfreesboro Arkansas. Here the public can come and sort through the dust, rocks, and dirt to hunt for diamonds and you get to keep anything you find! Obviously all I found was an opportunity to get out of the classroom.

I have long heard the phrase, ‘diamond in the rough’ used, but never ‘diamond in the dust’. I wonder at that. Before the former can be transformed from its natural state, to the lustrous beauty of fine jewelry, it must be rescued from the dust.

This is an interesting concept. It is also very applicable to our lives. It is from the dust of despair that God rescues us. We are covered in the dirt of our bad choices, and the bad choices of others. The potential for beauty and value lies within each of us, but is unrealized as long as our domicile is the dusty refuse of a cataclysmic event. You see, it is the eruption of a volcano that brings the diamond to the surface. However, surfacing is only the beginning. The diamond must be found.

Even after one finds a diamond, its beauty and value is not realized until the stone has been carefully cut and polished by a skilled artisan who does not concern themselves with its current state of existence, but what the diamond can become. They are able to see the potential that lies under the dusty coating.

We are all found in the dust; brought there by the heat and pressure of a sinful world. We many times surface to the attention of others only through the violent explosions of life. It is sad, that many times it requires such a destructive act for us to be noticed. I, as everyone else, stand guilty of this negligence; the failure to dig deep into life and find these treasures before they must be expelled from their resting places in such a manner.

However, I am thankful for the artisans who recognized the chunk of stone in the dust, and helped shape and form my life into what I have become. I am certainly not perfect, but I am happy with who I am. I also realize that many people had a part in making that happen. Their time and talent have transformed me from a useless chunk of dirty crystal, into something of albeit questionable beauty, but hopefully useful utility. I am certain this process is not finished.
It is my prayer to become an artisan. One who can see the chunks of crystal and identify the purpose that my Lord has for them. I pray that I might be able to skillfully help them realize the true nature within themselves that make them the wondrous creation God intended.

“God help me see in others what you have created them to be, and thank you for transforming me from what I was into what I have become.”
Enjoy The Java

Jim

Baseball and Friendship

The quiet of early morning gently envelopes me like the shell of a chrysalis protecting me while I prepare to emerge for another day. Enshrouded in blankets, warm and comfortable, my mind begins to drift again to the happenings of yesterday and the plans of today; another day on my lifeway.

I detest the cold; especially the damp cold of a Midwestern springtime. It is a cold that seems to delve to the core of my being, chilling until I can think of nothing but getting warm. My body and soul aches for the warmth of the Dixie springtime’s of my youth.

Ah, the memories of boyhood in the south… the sound of baseballs being hit and the slap of the glove as they were caught; the smell, and the feel of a well-worn mitt. My mind wanders; I can almost taste the dusty grit as the wind blows across the infield and I long to once again hear those words that would transform my world from one of studies and the tedious boredom of school, into one of challenge and dreams…’PLAY BALL!!’

Baseball was my escape from the harsh realities of city life. The wailing of sirens and sounds of the traffic were replaced by the sights, sounds and excitement of a game I learned to love as a child. On the field, I could be transformed into my favorite players, taking on the glory of their success while forgetting the menial cares of my young life. Baseball was, and is today, a means of escape for me. It consumes my consciousness as each play unfolds and I consider each option and analyze the strategy and tactics being employed. Yes, above all games, I love the game of baseball.

The alarm clock is beginning to sound, just as the recess bell would ring years ago. The sound calls me back from my temporary respite from reality. It is time to once again deal with the reality of life. It is time to forge ahead on the lifeway and find new challenges to overcome, new opportunities to explore and new relationships to establish as I nourish those I already have. These are what make the journey worthwhile, relationships. A relationship with a loving God and the relationships that He allows me to develop with others on this great journey of life. These things make the hard times bearable, and add pleasure to the times of joy.

Relationship requires investment, although not in the sense of investing for return. Love is the currency of relational investment. This currency should be invested with no expectation of return, for love that is given under the condition of an expected profit is not love at all, only selfishness. This is a hard concept for our society to grasp.

In order to do this one must always be evaluating one’s motives. Why would someone invest into another’s life and expect nothing in return? While I cannot answer for others, I can answer for myself.

In the course of my life, I have encountered those who approached relationship in this manner. They invested deeply into my life, and asked nothing in return. I, as many would be, was at first, suspicious of them. The question would burn within me, ‘What is their ulterior motive? When will the bill come due?’ There was none, and it never did. They invested because they cared. Some call it sacrifice, others duty, I call it love. When love, or agape, becomes one’s lifestyle, this behavior becomes the natural outflow.

I deeply cherish the relationships in my life. Each is as its own treasure. The Bible tells us to love God with everything within in us, and that loving our neighbor in the same way is just as important.

We need to discard the selfish, self-serving attitudes of our egocentric society and truly love those whose lifeways we share. We also need to cherish the love we receive; life is so much fuller and richer because of the love of good friends.

Enjoy the Java
Jim

Lifeway Obstacles

The day is warm. The birds are singing their songs in the trees as the wind gently rustles the leaves. I feel a comfortable kinship with the forest. The sweet smell of fallen leaves, and the occasional brush of a spider web against my face. These sensations transport me to a place of refuge and joy. It is here that I can be alone with myself and alone with God.

I have traversed many a forest pathway in my life. When the stress of everyday living reaches a critical point, I have always resorted to this refuge, no matter where I have lived. Much have I learned from the forest. There is a life lesson in every stroll across the forest floor.

At times during these journeys, I have come to places where a tree has fallen across the pathway. Most of the time, these fallen trees are small and easily navigated around. There have been times however, that the obstacle was large and difficult to overcome. I could see the pathway continue its meandering course beyond the fallen barricade, but getting to it was a problem. It is here that one must decide if continuing the journey upon the path that one is on is worthy of the effort to overcome the obstacle.

The same principle holds true in our journey along our lifeways. Many obstacles will block our path. Many times situations dictate that we must make a decision; whether to overcome the obstacle and continue along our chosen route, or to change the course and blaze a new trail.

Choices; it is the choices we are obliged to make throughout life that order the direction of our lives. While the list of options is seldom a difficult thing to develop, deciding upon the best is always an exercise in presumption. Not having the ability to know what the future holds, we must weigh the known quantities and choose the best course. The best course is seldom the easy course, making the decision even more difficult. Choose we must though, for not choosing is surrender, and surrender should not be an option. To sit at the base of the obstacle, fretting over the fact that it is there, delays our progress on our lifeway. To delay or cancel our journey is unthinkable, for no matter the size of the obstacle, the energy expended to overcome is small price to pay for the joy that always lies ahead.

One must begin to look at the possibilities presented by each obstacle. Possibilities for personal growth, the satisfaction of overcoming adversity, and the character that is built with every victory. These are but some of the possibilities, but the greatest possibilities include the people that God puts at our side to help remove the obstacle and allow us continue our journey. His faithfulness is the sunshine that warms our life and lights our path when faced with the biggest opportunities for success.

Every obstacle we face presents an opportunity for success or defeat. The defeat comes only as a result of our surrender. The choice is ours, surrender and miss the joy God has in store for us, or fight until the victory is won. What will you choose?

Today, choose well.
Enjoy the Java
Jim

The Course of the Pathway

Pathways are roads that provide an easy and directed route from one place to another. I have traveled many pathways in my life. Some were trails blazed through unpopulated mountainsides leading to a particularly good trout stream or hunting spot, others were the streets of the many different towns and cities I have lived in. Of the two, I prefer the first.

I find the concept of the ‘pathways of our lives’, to be most fascinating. I refer to these as our ‘lifeways’, as they are the trails that are blazed into our history, telling the story of where we have been physically, spiritually and socially. I also know that in my own life I have many times thought I had my future lifeway planned in the same manner I would plan a vacation trip.

There are many congruencies between pathways and lifeways. Both have a start and a finish, both must circumvent immovable objects to achieve their intended goal, and both are dynamic, or can change. It is the dynamic nature of a path that makes it either frightening, or a source of adventure, depending upon one’s outlook on life. How we travel the path, not the path itself proves the mettle of our character. It is upon these lifeways that the future history is written, for others and us.

There are many sources for the altering of a path. Nature sometimes does this violently, as the floodwaters or quaking earth changes the terrain. Other times the gentle but persistent wind transforms it. The resulting detour can sometimes be unnerving for the traveler when first they navigate it. New sights, and landmarks, which are not recognized, can cause stress and confusion, resulting in an unplanned change in direction.

Such is true with lifeways. Lifeways change not by nature, but by choices. At times, we make these choices. At other times, it will be the choices of others that alter our course. Sometimes the change is miniscule, sometimes massive. Sometimes the change is thrust upon us violently and against our will, and sometimes it takes place over an extended period, gently moving us. Either way, any deviation will affect our lives forever.

I believe it to be the course changes that bring us the greatest things in life, the greatest joy, and at times the greatest pain. My choices have skewed my course just enough to cause it to intersect with the lifeway of others. Sometimes at such a narrow angle as to cause us to travel a united pathway for great distances, others have merged for a lifetime, and yet others are more of an intersection, a short traversing of like paths that quickly diverge into different directions. No matter the duration, the impact upon our lives can be tremendous.

It is of great importance to remember our choices not only alter our lifeway, but the lifeway of every other person who shares in relationship with us. There are no ‘little’ choices in life. Some choices will alter lifeways for generations to come. We must remember to choose well. There are no ‘do-overs’ in life. We deal with what we get and what we get is not by chance. I rest in the knowledge that no matter what deviation of lifeway I face, no matter the opportunity or the pain, there is one who watches our lifeways and directs the degree of deviation to work things for our good, if we will let Him.

Enjoy the Java

Jim

Pathways

How sweet are the memories of childhood. As children, growing up in North Little Rock, my sister and I spent countless hours playing at Burns park. Burns park is a huge city park nestled between the plush rolling foothills of the Ouachita mountains, the noisey busy streets of the city and the Arkansas River. It is known for it's many nature trails which are cut into the dense pine and oak forest. It was a great respite from the streets of the city.

We would play for hours on end in one particular section of the park. This was a section that had a mixture of very old, very tall pine trees, and some stands that had recently been planted. The trails in this pine forest were padded with pine needles that had fallen from their hosts, making them particularly quiet to walk on. This made the games of hide and seek, cowboys and Indians, and whatever else our fertile imaginations could conger, even more enjoyable. Many of these pathways would cross themselves, always lending an element of surprise to our games.

Pathways are important if one wishes to traverse the forest. They allow us to avoid the underbrush, and provide a more direct route than could be achieved by walking around the trees. Yes, pathways are important, not only through the forest, but in life.

The pathways of our life are very interesting. They are like the paths we followed as children. I always found the most pleasure in walking a pathway for the first time. It was the adventure of not knowing what might lay around the next curve, or where the path would eventually end up that made it so much fun. Forty years later, as an adult, I find the same childlike sense of adventure when I explore a new trail. I find this to be true in life also. Each day the path we travel is new, uncharted territory. Along it's way we find many new and exciting things, we meet new people and develop new relationships. At times the path becomes difficult or our progress is impeded by obstacles, but it is the adventure of the journey that makes life worth living. Knowing that the eventual end of this pathway is a home which is greater than we can imagine, adds to the anticipation of each days journey.

I will be blogging about pathways for the next several blogs, and the different aspects of the 'pathway' concept in our lives. I hope you find this a pleasant journey.

Enjoy the java
Jim

The Meaning of Freedom

The life of a pastor is always interesting, sometimes more so than others. Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit with two groups of people who will not see their families for the next twelve months. That's not all they have in common. Both groups find themselves in this state because of choices they have made. This is where the similarities end though.

One group has lost their freedom because of bad choices and behavior. They are incarcerated in the county jail, awaiting an open bed at a larger facility. They abused the freedom that is ours in this great nation, and therefor lost their freedom. When they have completed their sentence they will be released back into society hopefully as productive members who cherish the freedom they so wantonly discarded in favor of the satisfaction of their own selfish desires.

I met with the other group at the send off for the 1168th Transportation company of the Iowa National Guard. These men and women have chosen to serve because of the freedom we enjoy. Their commitment to preserving this freedom has lead them to choose to put their lives on the line. Tears of pride as well as sorrow were shed last night as family and friends said farewell to these brave men and women.

Quite a contrast, on the one hand those who had freedom and gave it up by abusing the freedom of others, and on the other hand those who have freedom and cherish it enough to risk their lives to keep it, not only for themselves but for the rest of us. In fact these men and women will be fighting to ensure the future freedom of those from the first group. Selfishness versus selflessness.

There is a tremendous spiritual message here. We were created with the utmost of freedom. We gave that up in search of something greater, and therefor lost the freedom God gave us in the garden. However, He loved us so much, and wanted to re-establish the freedom He intended for us, that He sent His son who was willing to give His life for it.

We have a choice to make. Will we continue in the incarcerated state of sin, not being able to enjoy the inalienable freedom with which we were created, or will we accept the freedom that was purchased at Calvary? If we chose freedom, we should stand boldly and be willing to risk all in order to bring this freedom to others.

Do you choose freedom today?

Enjoy the Java.

Jim

Dreary Days and Sunshine

We in the midlands awoke to yet another cold, drizzly, dark grey day.

I suppose this is a regular occurrence this time of the year, yet every year it seems to be unusual. These are the mornings that I recall, vividly, all the abuse my body has taken over the years. Each area of my body relays it's ire to me for the way I have treated it by taking advantage of the cold to scream painful rebukes at me for the carelessness of the past. I really don't like these kinds of days, I'm a 'sunshine' sort of guy.

As I was driving to work this morning, generally feeling sorry that the Lord had not called me to the beaches of Florida or Hawaii, I began to wonder what it was like above the clouds. Ah, the wistful thoughts of one whose dreams of summer were waning.

The fact of the matter is this, the skies are thick with clouds, barely allowing the light and heat of the sun through. It is also a fact that the clouds, unlike the sun, are not a constant. The clouds will eventually float away revealing that which was always there, clear blue sky and a bright warm sun. The clouds are but a temporary situation, and the constant is always there.

This really is reflective of life. There is a constant Son in our lives if we will recognize Him. Though the clouds of life come, sometimes dimming the light and causing our souls to experience the pains of our previous abuses, they are transient and the Son is always there.

We need to focus our thoughts not on the clouds, but on what will be when those clouds roll away. We tend to assume whatever state we are currently in is the permanent state of our lives. This is of course not true. Our lives are dynamic, they change and shift. The dreams which we see as lost today, can in fact become the reality of tomorrow if we keep our eyes on this reality; God is always there.

Dare to dream today,

Enjoy the Java

Jim

Freedom

I love watching eagles and hawks fly.

Just north of Moline Illinois, there is a park nestled up against the Mississippi River. In this park there is a very high cliff that was probably carved out by the rushing waters of the ‘Mighty Miss’ over the eons. Spread across the face of this cliff are several nesting areas used by Bald Eagles.

Many are the times I traveled to this park in search of a distraction from the pressures of life. One of the diversions I would indulge was watching these beautifully majestic birds as they flew high above the river, watching for an unsuspecting dinner guest. I could do that for hours on end. It fascinates me to watch as they simply turn into the wind and rise from the ground to effortlessly glide higher and higher.

I would sit and try to imagine how that feels, the total freedom of being suspended in the air, defying the laws of gravity, sentient only to the wind in my face and the magnificent view below. Unfortunately my wife and my insurance agent have no sense of adventure, therefore I have never ventured into the world of hang gliding. Someday…yes someday.

It occurs to me in some ways, the trials of life act as gravity upon our souls. While we watch others who are free to rise above the fray, and ‘catch a thermal’ rising ever higher enjoying the wonderful gifts of a loving God, we are many times bound to earth by the situations we find ourselves in. Our imagination, and sense of adventure are not great enough to look beyond the ‘way things are’ and consider ‘how they might be’. How sad.

Throughout the scripture we are called to be as eagles; mighty, fearless, majestic and free. True, even the eagle must return to earth, and we will always have to deal with the realities of life. However, we need to spread our wings and allow the wind of the Spirit of God to lift us from the facts of living, and allow us to dwell within the truth of His freedom.

We don’t have to long for what is already available to us, if we will only allow God to expand our vision.

Let’s take a flight today…
Enjoy the Java
Jim

Integrity

There are some things in life upon which we can rely. The sun comes up each morning, the lush green of summer turns into the vibrant colors of fall before giving in to the bare vista of winter, and regardless of how cloudy it is, somewhere above the ceiling of grey there is a clear blue sky.

Having constants in life is important. A firm foundation is required for a safe home. Regardless of how many times one might redecorate the outside, changing its appearance, the foundation must never change. A shifting foundation cannot be trusted and causes the house to fall.

In one of the many men’s ministry meetings I have attended, the speaker commented that integrity was proved by what one did when no one else could know. That really struck a chord with me. I want to be someone that others can depend upon regardless of what is happening in my own life. I want very badly to be the foundation that others can depend upon. This can only happen if I consistently look at myself and ask the question; ‘Is what I am doing something I would be proud to tell others about?’ I am sorry to say that at times that is not the case. We all have things that we deal with that must be purged.

Honesty is one of the fundamentals of my existence. I strive to be truthful in every situation I find myself in. Many times that truthfulness has not served me well at a given moment. It might have been easier to tell a lie to avoid the consequences of my own actions, however the fact that those consequences and the consequences of the lie would have to be dealt with at sometime anyway convinced me that as old Abe said, ‘Honesty is the best policy’, was in fact how I should live my life.

I've learned how painful it is to not be trusted because of a lie, especially if the one who would not trust me was someone I loved and respected. I always found that the disappointment I saw in the eyes of my parents when I let them down was far greater punishment that any trip to the woodshed I made with my dad. I preferred the woodshed, as at least it was over and done with, but the disappointment and loss of faith in me would continue until I proved myself worthy of their trust once again.

I have also learned how painful it is to lose faith in someone you love because of their untruthfulness. I have found that the loss of faith is far more painful than the truth would have been. This has always been something I have had a difficult time overcoming. These have been the times that God has taken the opportunity to teach me what grace is all about.

I thank God He has been gracious to me in forgiving me and restoring me to a place of honor in His sight even after I have let Him down. This is the ultimate expression of His love to us, His willingness to pay the debt that we owe, and then clothing us in His glory to boot. How hard it is to reciprocate this grace to others when we have been wronged.

Integrity is more than being honest and righteous; it is about treating others as God has treated us. Forgiveness must be the central theme of our relationships. It is a fact that those around us will at sometime hurt us. Another fact is; it will sometimes be those to whom we are the closest who will hurt us the most.

It is truth that we should show the same grace that we so willingly accept from God.

Forgive someone today.

Enjoy the Java

Jim

Looking Across HWY 59

Last week I found myself waiting to have lunch with a client. I had arrived early and was watching for her from the parking lot. I find it so interesting to just stop occasionally and observe what is around me. I generally find that I miss so many meaningful sights as I rush along my way. Perhaps that is why the writings of our predecessors who rode from place to place on horseback seems to be deeper and more descriptive. They took time to see life. We have few Louisa Mae Alcott's, or James Finamore Cooper's amongst our writers today. Alas I digress.

As I waited I became aware of a rather trichotomous vista spread out before me. You see, I was in the little town of Avoca Iowa, at a restaurant just off the interchange of I 80 and US Highway 59. Highway 59 is a very busy road being a major north south artery. As I watched the travelers speed past me rushing to their next appointment, I became aware of the back drop. Directly across from where I was sitting, was a cemetery on a hill. The thought occurred to me that the people who were passing this spot had on their minds what their next destination was, but were probably not too concerned about their ultimate destination. While they were speeding past me, headed to some specified objective, the final destination for each of them would someday be either this cemetery or one very similar. It really caused me to consider that whatever the goal of my life is, if it does not include touching others, it will have been futile.

I said this was a trichotomous vista, for in the background of the cemetery I noticed a farmer on his combine harvesting the crop that had been planted and was ready to be taken from the field and put to the use for which it was grown. The recondite symbolism of what I was watching was not lost on me. In the foreground we have people who are mindlessly rushing from point to point doing things they have made important, all the while ignoring the limitations of time placed on all of us because our physical lives have a definite beginning and ending point. While this is happening, God is harvesting His field. Some of that harvest will be the good grain that will live eternally, others will be the chaff that has no value and will be disposed of in the fire.

We need to be sure of our status. We need to be the good grain, and if we are,we need to be about the things which are eternally important. It's not the next contract, or the grocery list, or even getting the kids from place to place, it is who you touch along the way. You are an important part of what God is doing in your world today.

Enjoy the Java,
Jim

The Only Thing

First I would like to express just how much I hate the city. As a boy who has spent much of his life living in cities, some of which were rather large, I want to express my utmost gratitude to God for delivering me from the rat race, and allowing me to live in a one horse paradise. Viva La small town Iowa!!

I have spent the last two days in Des Moines attending a conference our fellowship puts on for it's pastors. While I did not like venue city, (Des Moines is at the top of the list for my least favorite cities), the conference was timely and I feel will produce bushels of fruit.

The conference centered on the concept of church planting and growth. Over the years I have been a part of a great number of these sorts of conferences. Whether they be about growing a church, or growing a business, they are always informative but somehow irrelevant to what I am doing at the given time. It was not so at this conference. God prepared this conference for the team that I am a part of. I hope that others got something from it, I'm sure they did, but it was prepared for us.

One theme that came shining through, and a message that I have been preaching for some time is this; it is time for us to forget the way things have been done, we don't need to shift paradigms, we need to shatter them.

In both our personal and corporate ministries we need to be able to shift with the move of God as He applies His word in a relevant manner to our society. Remember the move of God is always fresh, but it is not new. The move of the Spirit started with the words of Jesus as He declared 'It is finished'. The Spirit has not ceased moving since, we have however placed our selves in protective shelters at times to avoid it.

When the Spirit is moving things change, just as a high wind moves things from where they are to a new location, so is the wind of God. It is sometimes uncomfortable for us as most of us do not like change. The days of Status Quo in ALL ministry is over. We cannot afford to be complacent about the return of Christ or the fate that awaits lost souls. Introducing people to Jesus Christ must be the air we breath, the purpose of our lives.

After a tragic event that befell our family several years ago, my wise mother turned to me and said something that God has burned into my mind. She said; "Telling people about Christ is not the most important thing...it's the only thing."

Make it a profitable day for the Kingdom in your neighborhood today.

Enjoy the Coffee,

Jim

Don't Sleep Through the Storm

In what is becoming a rather frustrating pattern, I awoke in the wee hours of the morning. I'm not really sure what time it was, as the alarm clock is on my wife's side of the bed. As I lay there, unable to return to the sleep I so much desired, I began to listen to the sounds of the night.

It was one of those Indian summer nights we get here in the heartland. Not too warm, but certainly no bite in the air either. It was also very still. The windows were open allowing the sounds of the crickets and other nocturnal creatures to float in as they called across the darkness to some unseen cohort.

In a matter of seconds, the sound of chirping was replaced by the sound of a great gust of wind. As the first gust died down it was replaced by a steady and very heavy wind. Soon the rain began to fall, and moved from a sprinkle to the hard pelting of a downpour. Then came the lightning and thunder. For a space of about thirty minutes we were in the middle of a strong thunderstorm. After the storm subsided, the sound of the crickets returned, and I eventually drifted off to sleep.

In the morning I had commented to my wife about the storm. "What storm?" was her only reply. She had slept right through it without any disturbance at all. I envy her.

Sleep is a wonderful thing. It revitalizes us and allows us to perform to our fullest. However, sleeping is only good at the appropriate times. As I thought of Tina sleeping through the storm, my thoughts turned to those who sleep through the rushing mighty wind of the Holy Spirit. We pray for revival, yet so many follow that prayer with sound sleep, never hearing the telltale signs of the first gust of wind, and missing out on the refreshing rain. There is power in a thunderstorm, sometimes enough power to destroy. There is also power in the moving of God, a power that will certainly destroy the unrighteousness within us. We just need to be awake.

Over the past few weeks, I have felt that initial blast of the storm. I will remain awake...will you?

Memories from the Bayou

I am sitting at my desk rather early this morning. The robust smell of strong chicory coffee fills the air, and my mind wanders to thoughts of the bayou country in Louisiana. Thoughts of early morning fishing trips on D'arbonne, Claiborne, and Black Bayou, the misty fog slowly lifting to reveal the splendor of the South's most diverse assortment of flora and Fawnia. The sight of 'gators slowly submerging themselves as they meandered through the stained water. The sounds of a hundred different birds waking to greet a new day in paradise. I truly love the bayou conutry.

I think about the thrill that fills every fiber of my being as I would feel the tug of a monster bass on the end of my line, or the camaraderie of good friends laughing as I fall in the bayou trying to free a lure from the tangles of a Cypress stump. Yes, the aroma of the coffee brewing easily transports me from this windowless office in the Midwest to the glorious open outdoors I so adore.

It is interesting to me how the sense of smell can trigger such remembrances, and in turn the inevitable emotional response. In this case it is a response of satisfied pleasure. A pleasure that was found during some of my most trying days. I have to force myself to remember the difficulties of that time in my life, many of which, perhaps the vast majority of which, were of my own making. Those memories seem to pale into insignificance when compared to the pure joy I would find in God's creation. I believe that pleasure was the means by which God was reminding me He was still there waiting for me regardless of how far and swiftly I was running away from Him. Somethings are just too big to run away from.

As I study the Old Testament, I find that God has a sense of smell also. Many times throughout the book of Leviticus, the smoke from the offerings is referred to as 'a sweet smelling savor'. In at least one other passage, God tells the children of Israel that 'their offerings are a stench in my nostrils'.

I wonder if the sense of smell excites God's memory of us? If it does, I pray that memory be a joyful memory of a son who, hard as he tried to destroy what God had given him, in the end found his way back to the only true joy in his life, Abba, Daddy.

What are the memories you are making with 'Abba' today?

Jim

Old Barns

I was driving to Clarinda Iowa last Monday. Clarinda is a small city in Southwest Iowa not far from the Missouri border. It is nestled in the rolling hills that are marked by their landscaped terraces. Like most towns in this part of the country, Clarinda is surrounded by farms.

As I was driving along State HWY 2, I began to notice a number of old barns. I suspect most of these barns are in the area of one hundred years old. Some of them, most of them actually had been taken care of with varying levels of effectiveness. Some however had been badly neglected. What a shame. These are the barns that have served to house the industries that have fed the world, these majestic icons of Americas fruitfulness and the blessings of God, falling into such a state as to be rendered useless.

I began to notice a pattern in the barns that were in bad shape. It seemed that invariably the roof was the first to go, more specifically the side that faced the west. I suppose this is because our weather patterns bring storms from the west sweeping east, so that is the face that receives the most stress.

When the roof began to fail, the corresponding outside wall would collapse inward. The easterly facing side of the roof was intact, as were three of the four walls, but the one side of the roof, and the one wall which had fallen transformed this once useful structure into a hazard for any who would venture into it. I saw this pattern in three separate barns, it seems there is a lesson here.

Having spent most of my life in a management position of one kind or another, I understand the importance of proper leadership. When the roof begins to collapse, it will almost always take a wall with it, causing the entire structure to become useless. We must realise that though the roof is important, it is supported by the walls on which it sets. It is an awesome responsibility to be 'The Roof', a responsibility that is too oft looked at in terms of the privilege it carries instead of the function it is to fulfill. The roof protects the walls and all that is inside.

Having said that, it should also be noted that those in position of leadership NEED the attention of others. Specifically on the storm ward side. We must lift these people up and meet their needs to ensure they are kept in good repair.

A properly cared for barn can last several lifetimes, one that is neglected will fall to the ground, destroying all that is in it.

Jim