Too blessed to be stressed...

This last Sunday, we had a wonderful guy with us at church who shared some simple things he's learned through his life, and communicated them in such a "street level way" that lots of folks were able to hear what he said, and immediately put it into practice. Among the many nuggets that Al Egg, chaplain of the Trail Blazers, gave us was the fact that regardless of what he was up against, when he kept everything in perspective, he realized he was "too blessed to be stressed." Isn't that a great way to live? He went on to say that subsequent to his sharing this concept, various people have stated it in different ways like, "I'm too redeemed to be steamed," or like Travis Outlaw opined, "I'm too anointed to be disappointed."

All of this is simply the outworking of taking Jesus at his word in John 16.33: "In the world you will have tribulation, but cheer up; I've overcome the world!" He said it, but will we believe it? How about you...are you too blessed to be stressed?

Blessings,

Bill

Merry Christmas!

When I look at pictures taken from our back porch exactly one year ago today, I realize how blessed we are! What could we be thinking when we sing, "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas"! It's one of the few times I am exceedingly thankful for mild temperatures and rain.

Truly this is a Merry Christmas. As I stop and consider the gift God gave to us that first Christmas in order for us to have a relationship with him, I am overwhelmed. When you get right down to it, it's all about relationship, isn't it.

Over the past year, I have witnessed such great growth in our own church in this regard, both in terms of people growing in their relationship with the Lord, and as a result, in their relationships with one another.

That gives me great hope for the new year. My prayer is that we all will recognize more fully the beauty of the relationship God wants with each of us, and simply echo that in our relationships with one another.

Oh, it may snow again in the new year. But as we stay close to the Lord, it won't make any difference. His warmth will carry us through anything!

Be blessed,

Bill

There's always life...

Though most all the leaves have fallen from our trees, other plants are just now showing their beauty. This particular plant, a type of "mahonia," is in a flower bed near the entry to our house. That means that during the dead of winter, when you walk toward the house, you see these "candles" lighting up the area. In a place where there's way too much grey, it's a wonderful relief.

It also serves as a reminder that even though so many things look dead around us, there's still life. And that life is beautiful. I began to reflect on this again as I pondered the most recent news telling women not to have mammograms or do breast self-checks while in their 40's, that there's no compelling reason to do so, and in fact it's better if they don't. As I heard the reports and read the articles about them, I wanted to shout, "Tell that to all the women I know who have been in their late 30's or early 40's, found breast cancer, and fortunately got it treated!"

Of course this falls in line with an earlier "study" that told men there was no reason to do a psa test to check for prostate cancer, that most guys don't die of it anyway. Again, tell that to those of us who found we had it, and without getting it treated would have succumbed to it an an early age.

While I'm not prone to buy into many of the conspiracy theories that abound, I've got to assume in these cases that it has everything to do with a) money, and b) a lack of respect for life. I've been warning the folks in our congregation about this for years. When you don't respect life in the womb, then start devaluing life as people age, it's only a matter of time until our society rids itself of all the people who don't fit some group's profile of "perfect." What a tragedy!

Compare this to Jesus' words in John 10.10: "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." God is into life! That's why he sent Jesus. As we trust him with our own lives, not only do we gain real life now and forever, but we get to pass on that good news to all those around us, especially those who are caught up in the culture of death.

Choose life. Celebrate life. Give the gift of life to those around you!

Blessings,
Bill

Going Again Pt. 2

The IT guys on staff rock! They got me set up so that I can use an app
on my phone and drop in thoughts here and there as they come to me. That
last post was just a test. Fortunately, it worked.

Currently I'm most excited about experiencing more deeply what it means
to walk in the Spirit. I'm convinced that when it comes to spirit-filled
living, most of us have barely scratched the surface. To live life filled
with God's grace and power is the best! So if you happen to read this
blog, I'd love to hear what you are finding in your own walk in the Spirit.

Have a blessed day!

PB

Going again

This is better than tweeting!

The heavens declare the glory of God

When I look at what God has created, I'm reminded of the words of David: "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you visit him?" (Ps. 8.4) Truly, "the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork." Considering all the beauty he has created, it's remarkable that he cares about you and me!

Over the fourth of July, Betty and I had the opportunity to spend time in Central Oregon. Among other places, we visited the "painted hills" just outside Mitchell. This picture doesn't begin to do justice to the overwhelming beauty of the landscape, but at least it gives a hint. As we approached the main section, the colors were so varied and striking that Betty was convinced someone had come in at night and spray painted all of them. In truth, someone had: God!

One more time I was speechless in beholding God's creation. Amazing. Then to think that he cares about me, and each one of us individually, makes it even more amazing. What a God he is!

As we continue through the course of this Summer, my hope is that you take time to "smell the flowers," drink in all God has put before you that help you see him, and his marvelous created order. As you do, take some time to give thanks!

The Lord is on our side...

The last few weeks have been particularly challenging. As I have pondered the "why" of my emotions, I am certain it has to do with the journey I've been on myself with prostate cancer, and the thoughts and feelings that has triggered. If you've "been there, done that," I'm certain you can relate.

So why have the last couple of weeks been particularly heavy for me? Because it seems as though the list of people I know who are fighting the same kind of battle is increasing exponentially. Betty and I pray for each one every day, and our list just keeps growing. Add to this the fact that at this very moment, in spite of all he has been doing, one of the guys has seen his colon cancer spreading exceptionally fast, a young mom with three beautiful kids just found out she has breast cancer, and a father of two healthy young kids has found he has prostate cancer. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

I must say, if I were to allow myself to sink into the flesh, it would be overwhelming.

That's why God's Word is so powerful, particularly at times like this. When I find myself beginning to feel the sting of defeat, I find great solace in God's Word, like Psalm 124:

"'If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,'let Israel now say - 'if it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul.' Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the flowers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

That, my friends, is THE answer: our help is in the name of the Lord! It is true that in the world we will have trials. But it is also true that we can rejoice, because our God has overcome the world and all it can throw at us! Praise God!