A Plumb Line for Living

If you’re like me there’s something alluring about the New Testament Church. As I read the book of Acts I’m drawn in, intrigued, energized, and a little mystified.

What is it about the Early Church that has the ability to challenge and confront the status quo, while simultaneously encouraging potential, passion, and power? For me it’s all about getting back to basics, focusing on those things that were fundamental, foundational, and imperative to the Early Church.

With any new movement there is the great benefit of building from the ground up. By beginning with the cornerstone, alignment takes place for the entire structure. This cornerstone, this alignment, is critical to the strength of the building as it was designed. But when we become detached from the original plan we can find ourselves in jeopardy of compromising the integrity of the entire structure.

When I misalign the fundamentals, or even allow other good things to divert my attention, I risk diminishing my potential, passion, and power as a man of God.

So how do I make a correction? How do I realign? By getting back to the basics that the Early Church was devoted to. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42 NIV) These were the basics, the passion, and the power of the Church, which energized the spread of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

I can become easily misaligned when I lose my grip on the basics, instruction in His Word, connection with His people, reflection upon His sacrifice, commitment to speaking with Him through prayer.

The basics were the power behind the Early Church; it is the reliance upon these basics that continue to be the power of the Church today.

So let’s get back to the basics.

Just a thought…

Something About Nothing

What does it feel like to do nothing? I mean really nothing. No demands, no noise, no interruptions, no expectations. That’s difficult to imagine—even my leisure time is filled with something: a book, a newspaper, a television program, or a favourite diversion. Seldom do I do absolutely nothing.

In our day and age, I think the idea of doing nothing appears wasteful, unproductive, and even negligent. There are always needs to be met, expectations to be fulfilled, and there is always something to be done. We are driven to maximize, not minimize, our valued time.

I don’t know about you, but there’s a risk in buying into the hyperactivity of our fast-paced world that only esteems you when you say you’re busy. When asked, “So how are things going?” you rarely hear the response, “I’m doing nothing, in fact I’ve dedicated time for nothing.”

Perhaps one of the greatest disciplines absent in this life of exponential demands and activity is the discipline of doing nothing.

So what does “nothing” look like? Silence. It’s the absence of distraction, expectation, interruption, schedule, manufactured noise, and the torment of a relentless to-do list. And what can “nothing” provide for us? Well, potentially an emptying of self, the release of pent–up emotion, anxiety, stress, and a replenishing of hope, peace, contentment, purpose, and the undisrupted presence of God.

In quietness I set myself aside for God that I might hear from him. Not on my terms, not managed or manufactured, but simply absorbed in His presence.

Andy Park wrote,

In the secret, in the quiet place

In the stillness you are there.

In the secret in the quiet hour I wait, only for you,

Cause I want to know you more

Take time to wait upon Him. Take time to empty yourself—be still, without agenda, come with nothing, and experience the renewal of your hearts and minds having simply been in the presence of God.

Just a thought...

THE 10-90 RULE OF LIFE

Who of us has not experienced the intense weight of suffering, whether it is physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual? I’ve heard it described as a pressing down, a heavy weight on one’s chest, intense anxiety, even trudging through thick mud exhausted with the prospect of moving even one step further. Suffering can be overwhelming and oppressive.

The burden you carry may not even be your own. Empathetic or sympathetic concern for the suffering of others can be as oppressive as any distress we might experience personally.

Given that suffering can be a frequent companion, how do we cope when confronted by the stress, pressures, and burdens that come from simply living life? Here are a few thoughts:

1. Be determined to be a person of character. When you intentionally pursue being a person of integrity, your character shapes your decision-making. The decisions of life become more obvious and compromise-free. Many times we are weighed down by the burden of our own poor personal decision-making. We are seduced by the easy, quick, or immediately gratifying answer. Don't get distracted. Stick to your guns. Making right decisions eliminates the stress of carelessness.

2. Don't carry the weight alone. Some of us try to get through the struggles of life on our own, but isolation in the middle of difficulty can intensify the burden. Burdens are best carried with the support and love of others. Choose carefully and surround yourself with authentic, trustworthy, wise, and godly people.

3. Trust. There is One who loves you more than you can imagine. There is no burden that you carry He cannot identify with, no trouble that Christ does not desire to walk through with you. Trust the Lord, even when life doesn't make sense. What we don't understand today we live knowing He does. The Lord has all our todays and tomorrows in His hands.

We all share the same reality of suffering that confronts a fallen world. But we also share a choice of how we will respond to the troubles and burdens of life. We can choose to let them crush us, or embrace those attitudes and influences that will allow us to live above circumstance. As Chuck has said, "Life is 10 per cent what happens to us, and 90 per cent how we respond to it."

Just a thought,

The Tale of a Knight in Waiting

Twists, turns, mountains, plains, sun, wind, rain, torrential downpour, lightening, thunder... We've seen and experienced so much in only 7 days in retrospect it really seems somewhat surreal. I don't think we could have written the script better, for a vast assortment of reasons the trip seemed to inspire and refresh each of us.

From the onset I knew it would be special and I wasn't alone. On the very first day Jim rode 1200km just to meet up with us in Ashford, Washington. Now that's commitment!

From then on it was one incredible experience after another. You know you think you've seen beauty but what doesn't seem possible is to see the beauty of God's creation as if it were the first time all over again. Rivers, streams, mountains when being described as majestic only seems to do injustice. Vast forests for miles and miles, and then plains stretching out far beyond vision. The astonishment of Gods creative juices bewildered our minds and often fell from our lips.

Highlights! Lolo pass in Montana, a road built for the enthusiastic biker who not only wanted to experience the thrill of twists and turns but the wonder of dancing beside a wandering river. I must admit sometimes my mind wandered as well, just a thought, enjoy your surroundings but don't forget there's a curve ahead. No harm done just a little injection of adrenalin.

1000 km day! Okay George you may think we fell short by a couple but I'm pretty sure I made it up by taking the curves much wider than you.

Mount Rushmore! Man those guys are big. You know I wonder at Gods creation, but something like this reminds me that were Gods creation as well and given the opportunity and compulsion we can do great things.

Wyoming! I guess what I can say is it far surpassed my expectations. This is incredible country. I've always been a sucker for the wild west, in fact my favorite movie is Tombstone, but the Wyoming plains and rock formations are breathtaking, can you say Devils Tower. That sight alone makes you step back and ask a whole lot of questions.
Yellowstone National Park! Scenery ever changing, animals a plenty, hot springs, more great roads, curves, flag ladies? Jim? I guess some things stay on the road.

Mt. Big Horn!!!! Okay this may have been my come to Jesus experience of the trip. Thunder, lightening, torrential rain, gale force winds, cliff side roads... So many thoughts rushed through my head, not many were good, but then the exhilaration and male bonding when we conquered the angry mountain. If you want to read the legendary tale check out Bob's blog at Positively Parkinson's.

I could go on and likely will for weeks, but let me tell you one of the great prizes I left with, a deeper friendship with four men of integrity, caring, humor, and wisdom.

Countless times I sat and listened as they shared their experiences, life lessons and wisdom, not as people looking to impress but with honesty and openness. This may not be the stories we'll tell others when they ask of our adventure, but for certain it will be the thing that shapes me and made me a better man.

Thanks guys, here's to more twists and turns together, and maybe even one day becoming a Knight. Another story.

Twists and Turns

From twists and turns to flat out straight aways we experienced the entire gambit today as we climbed Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helen and all parts in-between. Yes this is the second day of what seems to becoming known as the Grand Peaks Tour.

In a strange way for those who have never experienced a motorcycle road trip, the day ranges from intense exhilaration to peaceful reflection, from solitude to fellowship with good friends.

I find it a paradox that an activity all so consuming can also be so cathartic. I suppose it's the distraction quotient, as we like to say it's all about keeping the shiny side up. When you think about it it's not so different from what we do everyday, many of us feel the day has been a success when we've simply kept things upright, but during the trip whether it be meandering down the highways of North America or getting through the next day, take it all in, check out the scenery, go somewhere you've never been before, absolutely keep things upright but drink in the adventure called life, I think that's the way it was intended to be, even if there are a few close calls along the way.

Ecclesiastes 8:15 (New International Version)

15 So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.