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The Appeal of Fire
The Appeal of Fire
I remember when I was a kid being fascinated by fire. There is a draw in most people that when a fire is burning, we want to be there. We want to see it. Our gaze is diverted and we become mesmerized by the flames lapping at the air. Our minds drift and we lose track of everything around us. Time and life fade as we are drawn into the fire. When we find ourselves in that place we become more open…
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The Sacred Art of Movement
The Sacred Art of Movement
Standing in the Blue River in beautiful Silverthorne Colorado I shivered slightly. It was Janurary 1st 2009 and a ripping hot 31 degrees. My eyes watch the river intently as I search for a trophy. The water is crystal clear and the air is full of hope and expectation. Standing so close to the bank I find the hole I am looking for and I start a roll cast to avoid the overhanging trees. The…
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Patience of the Liar's Cast
Patience of the Liar’s Cast
People tend to laugh at me when I take them out fishing. We will pick a spot on the river and we will fish for a little while. Once someone gets bored it is inevitable that they will ask,”How many more casts until we are done here?” I laugh to myself and generate some random number. I will finish casting that many times and then turn to my fishing buddy and say, “and finally the liar’s cast.” The…
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Reflections in the water...
Reflections in the water…
Have you ever had one of those hobbies that is just so much more than a hobby? Growing up my father spent a large amount of his free time introducing and teaching his three boys about nature. We would hike, camp, backpack, fish, and more. Every experience became an intricate part of our DNA. Every mile marker passed, every fish landed became a memory burned into our souls. To this day almost 20…
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Leading through Blindness
When my son was young we took a trip to South Carolina to visit my parents. While we were there we took a little side trip to one of my favorite places to hike in the state. We went to Table Rock State Park in the Appalachian Mountains. At two years old my son was ready for an adventure. The interesting part of the trip was that everything something caught my son’s eye we would have to stop and…
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Marriage! It is what brings us together today.
Marriage! It is what brings us together today.
Kisii stone: From Kenya When you read the title to this blog it probably sounded a lot different than the way it was written. If it did not then you have missed out on now of the greatest movies of all time. When you get a chance, take a moment and watch The Princess Bride. You won’t regret it. Anyway, this marriage thing has our country in such a tailspin. People throw around definitions of…
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Focus
1 To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us. 3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. 4 Our soul has had more than enough of…
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My dear Sam...
My dear Sam…
One of my favorite books (not movies) is the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. There is something about this amazing story that draws me in and no matter how many times I read the books I am transfixed on several characters. One character is Boromir. Not many people would consider him a character worth reflecting on but there is something about the real human struggle within him that I relate to and the…
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My eyes shed streams of tears...
My eyes shed streams of tears…
129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. 130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. 131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments. 132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name. 133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.…
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“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get Understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” ~Psalm 119: 103-104
Today the little princess and I ventured to our favorite coffee shop to play some games and have a little date time. When I told her where we were going she immediately asked,”Daddy can I have the strawberry drink pleeeaaaasssseeeee?” I chuckled a little and told her, “of course.” We walked into the shop and she ordered her drink of choice and I order a bottomless cup of coffee. (What everyone needs from time to time). We picked up our drinks and made our way to a favorite spot in the shop. We unloaded the games and the little one picked to play Tell Tales: Fairy Tales. She sipped her drink with a huge smile on her face as we recounted fairy tales through playing cards and making up ridiculous stories. I sat back sipping my coffee in awe at how smart and beautiful my daughter is becoming. She looked up at me and giggled. She asked what I was drinking and if it tasted like hers. I looked at her and said, “Not so much but you can try it if you want.” One tiny sip and the look on her face turned from pure bliss to total horror. To her taste buds it was disgusting. Her face turned and she said, “YUCK!” At this point I may have giggled a little and reassured her that she would not need to drink anymore.
As I read in Psalm 119 the words echo in my heart. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. Do we truly believe this? When we hear the words of the LORD through scripture, song, movie, etc, does our face become overtaken with a smile and a chuckle for anticipation of what is to come? Do we shutter in horror when the words we hear are not sweet or do we play it off as being “just culture”?
The passage continues, “Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” First off we can get thrown by crazy words like precepts. What we are talking about here is a rule that it put in place to aid the regulation of behavior or thought. The author is telling us that through the words of the LORD we will be guided to understanding. We will have a scaffolding as we become who God has created us to be. Through an understanding of the law and the covenants we gain a deep insight into our own limitations, needs, desires, and salvation. When we walk this path we begin to hate every false way. That is some strong language. We flippantly through the word hate around but if we stop and truly think about what we hate we find it is the things that play against the deepest desires of our hearts. Sometimes we don’t even know what those are.
Just as the little princess knew what tasted good and desired it, so should we long for the words of the LORD because they are sweeter than honey to our mouths. True as well is the little ones distaste for coffee. We should not feel comfortable when things push against the precepts of the LORD. We should be uncomfortable when we see sin taking place. It should not be a norm but a moment to cry out to the LORD in thanks for what He has done for us and lift up the situation and people involved in the sin.
Ask yourself today two things. 1) Do I hate every false way? 2) If not then what can I do to taste the sweetest of the LORD? The LORD desires to provide you with a strawberry smoothie but some many times we choose the coffee unaware of the alternative. Remember the words of Paul today:
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” ~Philippians 4:8-9
Honey to our mouths… "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get Understanding; therefore I hate every false way." ~Psalm 119: 103-104…
It is good...
It is good…
“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.” ~Psalm 119:71-72 How many times do we complain about the things that happen to us? How often do we doubt the plan of the LORD based on how we feel in a moment of time? How valuable are the LORD’s promises, laws, and covenants to us? Do we…
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Do shepherds really care?
Do shepherds really care?
One of my favorite places to take the little ones is a living history museum here in Denver. We tour around and look at the blacksmith, chase the geese, stand in awe at the 400 pound pig, and gaze at the sheep. To most people, looking at sheep would seem strange for extended periods of time, but more often than not my cerebration is disturbed by a tiny voice asking to go to the pond and see the…
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Recently I had the joy of taking my daughter on a date. I asked her if she wanted to go fishing. She looked at me and replied, “Daddy, ice fishing, fly fishing, or kayak fishing?” I just about lost it. My daughter understands addiction well. We planned a trip to a local lake and took the time to make sure that our gear and our snacks were ready to go. The day finally came and we loaded up and went to our little lake. While fishing she turned to me and smiled. She said, “Daddy, I love you.” In that moment my heart became overwhelmed with such a love and desire to protect this precious angel I teared up. I thought to myself why she would just turn and say that. I wondered what was going through her mind and her heart. A couple seconds later she took a big handful of yogurt pretzels and stuffed them into her mouth and giggled.
What possesses us to tell someone that we love them? What drives our hearts and minds to a place of vulnerability to speak these powerful words? As I reflect on the word I find myself gravitating to three passages for an answer. First we look to Genesis 22. Here we find Abraham with a long promised son, walking patiently within concern with his son to sacrifice to the LORD. As they reach the top I can only imagine the scene. Here is Abraham preparing the place for the sacrifice. Issac has seen it before and he sits quietly as his dad places the rocks, the sticks, the fire. The love in Issac’s eyes and he is on an adventure with his dad. In that moment Abraham turns and speaks to his son about the request of the LORD. Out of love and reverence to God Almighty, Issac laid on the altar to be slain by his father. Both not quite understanding but trusting deeply in the LORD. Suddenly the voice of the LORD proclaims a stay of hand. Abraham breaks down in thanksgiving and worship with his son. The two take the provided sacrifice and more deeply than ever love the LORD.
Next we would jump to Jeremiah 11. Here you have a young prophet fearful because there is a plot to take his life. The words sum up the situation well.
“The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, ‘Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.’ But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see you vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.”
Here is Jeremiah being led to death and a gentle father explains the plan. The God of all creation steps in and saves this prophet and he worships. His love for God grows and his understanding of trust is forever deepened. He finds himself in a place of pure love.
The final passage I gravitate to is found in John 19 as well as the other gospels. A man not known by this world. From Isaiah we read about him.
“13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you- his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind- 15 so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. 1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. – Isaiah 52:13—53:12”
Another sacrifice was to take place. This one was not haunted by a father but was endured. It was not prevented but accepted and given freely. A man deserving beyond the best of everything silently accepted that His death was imminent. He was pierced and beaten. He was shamed and spit upon. He was made nothing and died on a cross.
This sacrifice was not stayed because of me. It was not stayed because of you. Even as I write this I reflect on my daughter turning to me and saying that she loves me. I reflect and turn to my Heavenly Father and say Abba!!! I love you. I will never understand why I deserve such an act of love but I will spend my life surrendering at the cross and sitting in aw of the sacrifice. My understanding of trust and love is deepened and my sin and shame have become powerless. I am forgiven and the sacrifice of my life that is owed has been taken away. So has it for you as well. We can take a handful of yogurt pretzels and stuff them into our mouth and giggle because that sacrifice was not stayed. Tis so sweet…
Tis so sweet Recently I had the joy of taking my daughter on a date. I asked her if she wanted to go fishing.
What's on the agenda for today? #tyingflies
...the righteous shall live by his faith.
…the righteous shall live by his faith.
How many times have I sat back and wondered why things appeared the way they did? Oh the times I have wondered where God was and why he wasn’t answering me in the moment. So many times has my faith faultered and I found myself overtaken by the enemy. This is never a feeling that we like yet there are lessons to be learned each time this happens. There are reminders to be heard every time we find…
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Great day with my little man. Museum, games, and snacks.
Get ready for international tabletop day. April 30th. Here is a link to sign up and join with a great group of people and over 200 games to choose from. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4fa4ac28a1f94-international (at Centennial, Colorado)