On the Ropes

Today marks the one year anniversary of the most sacred of trusts being broken as a young man stormed into an elementary school and ushered 26 innocent victims into the heavens.

One of my classmates whose Christian faith is rock solid and whose broad muscular shoulders are straining under the stress sits in a hospital room next to his beautiful wife who is having the battle of her life with cancer.

I have a most dear family relative in the hospital after suffering a stroke.

Friends of ours are trying to raise money to fulfill their missional call to go to China.

There are a lot of people who are "on the ropes."

My iWitness...

My mission bound friends gave me this poem that I wanted to share with you...

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HOLD THE ROPES

Down beneath the mighty ocean
Divers plunge for treasures rare
But men hold the ropes above them
So they breathe the upper air.
Seeking pearls of richest value
Braver hearts have dared to go
But our hands must every moment
Hold the ropes that reach below.

So amid the heathen darkness
There are heroes, true and brave,
Shrinking not from death or danger,
Hearing all to help and save,
But they cry,
"Oh, do not leave us,
Mid these dreadful depths to drown,
Let us feel your prayers around us,
Hold the ropes as we go down!"
______________________________________________

Count on me to embrace this joyful privilege and weighty responsibility to hold the ropes for you.

Would you be so kind to be on the ropes for me?

And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!

"...pray without ceasing..." (1 Thessalonians 5. 17)

The Lion Chaser

Yesterday was going to be a tense day...
The timing of text that came in at 10:25 am from my wife Julie was perfect...

"I am praying for you today, I think you are in a pit with a lion on a snowy day! God will get you through..."

My eyes flooded with tears...

My iWitness...

Julie knows that  one of my heroes of the Bible is Benaiah.
Ever heard of him?
Is he an Old Testament guy or a New Testament guy?
We find him buried in the book of 2 Samuel, twenty-third chapter, twentieth and twenty-first verses...

"There was also Benaiah son of Jehoida, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two of Moab's mightiest warriors. Another time he chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it..."

Most of the lions I come face to face with elicit great fear when they are registered in my visual cortex. Once my brain has come to grips that a lion is staring me down my muscles reflexively react in a way that make my legs and feet move in a way that would qualify for the Olympics in the 100 meter dash. I run!

Not Benaiah...

He doesn't run away from lions.
No...
He chases lions.
Benaiah is a lion chaser.

I love how the author of this book depicts Benaiah's conquest.
It's not enough that Benaiah is chasing a lion.
It's not enough to add that while chasing the lion, Beanaiah finds himself stuck in a pit with the king of the jungle.
Forget the fact that the ground is slippery.
Oh no ladies and gentlemen... the author adds, "by the way... it's snowing!!"

Benaiah meets beast in the worst of conditions and come out victorious!

Let me throw something your way for you and me to ponder today...

Any lions in your world today?
Any lions getting ready to pounce on your parade?
Any lions roaring havoc in your life?
Does it happen to be snowing today?

Here's my counsel...

Don't run away...
Chase...

And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!

The Star

The Wise Men saw a star in the West and they followed it. They came from the east and who knows how long they traversed with The Star leading the whole way.
Ultimately The Star would lead them to Bethlehem where they would indeed meet the Savior face to face and then proceed to fall down on their own faces to worship the approximately two year old toddler named Jesus offering gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

My iWitness...

Help me out with something...

If you recall, The Star led the Wise Men to Jerusalem before making their way to Bethlehem, six miles to the south.
There they encountered King Herod and the religious leaders.
The Wise Men inquired about the new "ruler." The religious leaders said, "Yes! The prophet says that the new messiah is to be born in Bethlehem."
The Wise Men say thank you very much and go on their way.

A couple of things stand out here that I need help with...

1. Going to Jerusalem first was out of the way. Why go to Jerusalem? The Star could and should have led them straight to Bethlehem. Why this detour to the north to have to deal with the insecure, genocide prone and paranoid King Herod? We know that there was another way to get to Bethlehem because when the Wise Men leave they go home another way so as to avoid King Herod.

2. The religious leaders of the day knew that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Yet, none of them went with the Wise Men. For nothing other than just curiosity none of them accompanied the Wise Men.

Let's talk about number two first...

Don't be like the religious leaders. Here was their big mistake - Just because they "knew" where the Messiah was to be born didn't guarantee that they would "experience" the newborn king.

So it is with us... We know that December 25th is Christmas Day. We have known about it since we were old enough to know what a calendar is. Just because we "know" that Christmas day is in thirteen days does not guarantee that we will experience the joy of the day.

Now for number 1.

Is The Star you are following these days leading you to places that seem "out of the way" of your ultimate destination? Do you feel like you are on the "beltway", going around and around?

I know that feeling all too well. I do believe with all my heart that God has us on the "beltway" for reasons only known to Him at this point in time. However, I do believe with all my heart and with all the confidence in the heavens, believe that His purposes will ultimately be revealed.

Who knows?
Being on the "beltway" might just allow us to once again see The Star in the western sky and lead us to a place where we see and worship the Savior face to face!

And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

⁶ “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” ⁹ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. (Matthew 2. 1-12)

Bullying

The elementary school which my children attend hosted a Roller Skating Party at "Skate Country" last night. I couldn't wait to get to the rink and put on my "quads" and get jammin' to the music, bustin' a few moves out on the floor and showing my kids how their dad used to do it "back in the day."

Sure enough, it was like riding a bike. I was out there gliding around looking like a real amateur! The popular songs like "Thriller" and "What does the Fox say?" blared through the loudspeakers and I skated, skidded and skedaddled around the rink having the time of my life with Faith and Joshua.

My mind drifted back in time to the "Holiday Skate Center" back in my home town of Orange, California. My long time friend Gina was a staple at the roller rink. She was poetry in motion out on the rink with her long black hair flowing in the wind contrasting with her white roller skates attached to the bottom of her skinny legs. Those good memories were quickly interrupted by a not so nice memory.

I remember being in Junior High School and going to the rink on a Saturday night with a friend. I was wearing a shirt that had a picture of a sunset on it. Some other boy didn't take too kindly to my shirt. He started bumping into me and calling me names like "faggot" and other derogatory names. His friends surrounded me while we skated counter clockwise around and around. He challenged me to go outside and fight. I was not able to skate freely. I started to sweat in fear. I didn't know what to do as this small gang of skaters on quads bullied me all evening.

This type of bullying happened to me on more than several occasions in Junior High School. That probably has a lot to do with why I love guys like Steven Segal, Jason Statham and Jason Bourne in the movies who really know how to kick other people's ass with the greatest of ease and flare. I didn't enjoy being bullied and I cannot stand watching other people be bullied.

I have always had this fantasy of being mugged and right before the guy mugs me I hold out my hand and say, "Hold on just a minute. Before you mug me you need to know something. I'm a pastor and I've been a pastor for about 25 years. So you see... I have 25 years of repressed anger built up inside of me and I am about to unload all of it on you in about 15 seconds. Just wanted you to know all the facts before we get started!"

All of this... due to bullying.

My iWitness...

Have you run into any bullies lately?
Anyone "bullying" you at work?
Home?
Neighborhood?
Church?
School?

Just because we may think out of the box, speak with an accent, dress according to our own style, walk to our own drummer, see life through loving lenses or place our trust in a Jewish carpenter who allowed himself to be bullied by the self-righteous, holier than thou religious authorities does not give anyone the right or the "go ahead" to bully us.

For those of us who are being bullied or were bullied, praise God we have a Savior who understands and empathizes with us...
Jesus knows better than anyone what it means to be the victim of bullying...

And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5. 10-12)

ps - I have never been in a fight since 5th grade and I have no plans of going out and trying to get mugged to get rid of any repressed anger...I'll leave all that to the guys in the movies!

$7.98

It happens every year at this time.
Somehow, some way "needy families" are identified and their needs are distributed to different groups. These groups purchase items that meet the needs of these families and the gifts are delivered.
Our department chose to participate in this annual tradition.
My assignment was to purchase pants for a  girl, size 14/16.
I went to Target today and bought a pair of pants that looked pretty hip to me.
The cost was $7.98

My iWitness...

Typically when I participate in such festivities I feel just that..."festive."
Not today...
For some odd reason I felt sadness as I purchased these pair of pants.
I felt sad for a young girl out there in Dubuque whose wardrobe depended on a 50 year old's taste of fashion.
I felt sad as I thought about my own Christmas festivities considering we will more than likely spend 150 times more on our own family. That doesn't even begin to account for the amount of money we spend on others who are close friends and family members.
I felt selfish and a little awkward walking through the girl's section of clothing at Target.
For all I know, this young girl will be overwhelmed and happy for the pair of pants she would not otherwise have received.
For whatever reason my emotions are raw, exposed and a little on the melancholy side.
It's the season of cheer, joy, happiness and smiles and yet, for me today... not so much.

Who knows?
Maybe in ten minutes my attitude, thoughts and feelings will change...
Then again... maybe they won't...

Among other things please remember this Christmas season...
Those who have lost loved ones...
Those who are needy...
Those who would love to change their disposition from depressed to cheery, but simply cannot do it...
Those who are without family, home and shelter...
Those who have a lot of stuff, but don't have anything at all...
Those whose lives might be forever touched if we would just spend $7.98

And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
(2 Corinthians 9. 6-7)

Visibility

Yesterday was a brutally long day of travel. It began with a 5:30 am flight from the West Coast with a "scheduled" 90 minute layover in Denver. My 5:30 flight became 6:15 flight with a "scheduled" 45 minute layover in Denver. No worries! Plenty of time. My flight from Denver would allow me to arrive in Cedar Rapids, Iowa around 1:30 pm. Combined with my 90 minute drive home I would arrive about 60 minutes before my children performed in the church Christmas Pageant.

Once in Denver I rushed to my assigned gate only to discover that there had been a delay and then another and another. Suffice it to say... I arrived 60 minutes late for the Christmas Pageant. Everyone was enjoying cookies and punch when I arrived. I did however have the chance to stack and put away al the chairs in the fellowship hall after the reception was over.

The drive home from Cedar Rapids was painstaking. It was pouring down snow. The roads were icy. I drove very slow and I had very poor visibility.

My iWitness...

Let me rethink those last three words of the previous sentence - "very poor visibility."

How much "visibility" did I need to get home?

How much "visibility" do we need to make it through the day?

In driving home I had enough visibility to make it the next 200 yards or so. Drive 200 yards at a time at 50 miles an hour over a two hour time frame and you can cover quite an amount of distance.

All that to say... Go with the "visibility" you have.
Keep plugging along.
You just may be on the right road, heading in the right direction, arriving at the right destination.
You may have just enough visibility to travel the next 200 yards.
And that may be all the visibility you need...

In retrospect let me revise the statement in question...
"I drove very slow and I had enough visibility to get me home. Thank you, God!"

Getting home was the point anyway, wasn't it?

And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. (Exodus 13. 21)

Looking Up

Sometimes they came in groups of three.
Other times only one or two would stop and look up at about a forty-five degree angle.
They always stopped at the same spot.
The men who looked like hunters from the North Woods of Wisconsin ran for their life after stopping by and "looking up."
One older man stopped, looked up and started running in one direction, only to realize after scurrying for about thirty feet, he was running in the wrong direction.
I bet you yourself have been a part of this curious crowd.
I know I have been.
I was part of that crowd today...

Of course I am talking about the "Airport Monitors" that you find in every terminal and concourse at your local airport.

My iWitness...

It really is a fascinating phenomena to watch.
What I love about this ritual is that without fail I am told where to go to find the next leg of my trip.
Typically the monitors are right every time.
I love this.
I come to a crossroad in my journey.
I walk up to the monitor.
I look up.
The monitor tells me which gate to go to continue on my journey.
I go to that gate.
I get on a plane and within hours I am at my desired destination.

Do you ever wish it was that easy with God and our own convoluted journeys?
We come to a crossroad.
We wonder where we should go next.
We "look up" and God, the monitor tells us which gate to go to.
We walk to the next gate full of joy, knowing full well that God the monitor has pointed us in the right direction.

There is one thing that we can do...
Look up...

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121. 1-2)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,)
    and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3. 5-6)

Here's to "looking up"...

And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!