Sitting on the plane yesterday I was constantly struck by the fragrance of one particular flight attendant. While reading my book, without even looking up I knew each time she passed by. I don't know if it was her perfume, lotion, deodorant, shampoo or toothpaste. Whatever it was, it made a distinct aroma that followed her wherever she went.
My iWitness...
What do we smell like?
What fragrance do we leave in our wake as we blaze the trail of life ahead of us?
Is it negative, cynical, sour and dour?
Or is it refreshing, uplifting, encouraging and loving?
More important, maybe the question is "Who do we smell like?"
I ran across this short prayer yesterday...
"Let this be the only legacy I leave:
the vapor of a life
that smells like you..."
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and fear not!
David!
"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere."
(2 Corinthians 2. 14)
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
A cry for help...
A friend of mine from high school posted the following on his Facebook page yesterday afternoon...
All my life i have been searching for something. That sometrhiung never copmes and it leaves to nothin. Never had this feeling that i feel th most.getting closer to the end od the road.
I happened to be the first of a handful of frightened friends to respond. I called him by name and said, "This sounds serious. What's going on?"
Several other friends responded with similar messages of encouragement and hope and invitations to talk...
Eight hours later, he has posted other things on his Facebook page with no alluding to his previous post...
My iWitness...
One of the saddest commentaries in my life over the last two years is the fact that I have known 13 people who have committed suicide.
13 people who have taken their life with their own hands...
13 families that have been devastated - wives, husbands, sons, daughters, moms, dads, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, boyfriends, girlfriends...
13 funerals with loved ones scratching their heads and hearts in grotesque grief, disbelief, frustration, anger and guilt in not "recognizing" the signs that may or may not have been there all along.
13 groups of friends, co-workers, neighbors, "buddies", classmates confounded and confused
Needless to say my antennas are on high alert when I come across a Facebook post like the one above. It seems that a concerned Facebook Friend might have hit the nail on the head in recognzing that these are actual words to a song by the Foo Fighters called "All My Life."
Lyrics or not it seemed to be a cry for help...
I hope and pray that my friend knows that there are friends, that there are those of us who would go to great lengths to talk, chat, visit and pray and support him wherever he finds himself.
More than that... Jesus meets him right where he is!
He need not move a foot. He need not lean forward or backward. He need not say the "right" prayer or even the "wrong" prayer. He need not say 10 Hail Mary's. He need not say the Lord's Prayer. He need not utter a word to know that Jesus stands right before him, right behind him, right underneath him, right above him and right beside him.
"O Lord you are the Light of the World. Please bring your light to the darkened world of my friend and any others who may be reading this post this day. Please let my friend know that it is your Light that overcomes every darkness that threatens to undo us. It is the light of your love that lifts us out of the deepest cavernous cave of darkened disappointment. Lord Jesus you know firsthand what it means to scream out those words, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me." Hear the cry for help for my friend. Decimate the fears that overcome him. Comfort him with the comfort that wraps your strength around him with such force, with such tenderness and with such security that all of life's troubles trail off in this, his moment of great need. Set his feet on the rock solid ground of your grace, your mercy, your love, your power, your forgiveness and your hope... And lead him in the way everlasting... Amen..."
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
(1 Peter 1. 3-5)
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and fear not!
David!
ps - Good news... I sent a Facebook message to my friend late last night and I received a positive and appreciative response from him as we exchanged cell phone numbers. Please continue to pray...
All my life i have been searching for something. That sometrhiung never copmes and it leaves to nothin. Never had this feeling that i feel th most.getting closer to the end od the road.
I happened to be the first of a handful of frightened friends to respond. I called him by name and said, "This sounds serious. What's going on?"
Several other friends responded with similar messages of encouragement and hope and invitations to talk...
Eight hours later, he has posted other things on his Facebook page with no alluding to his previous post...
My iWitness...
One of the saddest commentaries in my life over the last two years is the fact that I have known 13 people who have committed suicide.
13 people who have taken their life with their own hands...
13 families that have been devastated - wives, husbands, sons, daughters, moms, dads, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, boyfriends, girlfriends...
13 funerals with loved ones scratching their heads and hearts in grotesque grief, disbelief, frustration, anger and guilt in not "recognizing" the signs that may or may not have been there all along.
13 groups of friends, co-workers, neighbors, "buddies", classmates confounded and confused
Needless to say my antennas are on high alert when I come across a Facebook post like the one above. It seems that a concerned Facebook Friend might have hit the nail on the head in recognzing that these are actual words to a song by the Foo Fighters called "All My Life."
Lyrics or not it seemed to be a cry for help...
I hope and pray that my friend knows that there are friends, that there are those of us who would go to great lengths to talk, chat, visit and pray and support him wherever he finds himself.
More than that... Jesus meets him right where he is!
He need not move a foot. He need not lean forward or backward. He need not say the "right" prayer or even the "wrong" prayer. He need not say 10 Hail Mary's. He need not say the Lord's Prayer. He need not utter a word to know that Jesus stands right before him, right behind him, right underneath him, right above him and right beside him.
"O Lord you are the Light of the World. Please bring your light to the darkened world of my friend and any others who may be reading this post this day. Please let my friend know that it is your Light that overcomes every darkness that threatens to undo us. It is the light of your love that lifts us out of the deepest cavernous cave of darkened disappointment. Lord Jesus you know firsthand what it means to scream out those words, "My God, my God why have you forsaken me." Hear the cry for help for my friend. Decimate the fears that overcome him. Comfort him with the comfort that wraps your strength around him with such force, with such tenderness and with such security that all of life's troubles trail off in this, his moment of great need. Set his feet on the rock solid ground of your grace, your mercy, your love, your power, your forgiveness and your hope... And lead him in the way everlasting... Amen..."
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
(1 Peter 1. 3-5)
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and fear not!
David!
ps - Good news... I sent a Facebook message to my friend late last night and I received a positive and appreciative response from him as we exchanged cell phone numbers. Please continue to pray...
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Memory - Part 2
Memory can be a two edged sword...
I love being able to remember a lot of life's most special memories and occasions...
I hate not being able to forget some of my worst days where my decisions and actions sent my world way off course...
Memory can be a two edged sword...
My iWitness...
I am in marvel mode today...
I marvel at these words from God...
“I, I am he, who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." (Isaiah 43. 25)
"For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8. 12)
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” (Hebrews 10. 17)
O that I would take God seriously at His word...
"O Lord... what kind of God are you that you remember my sins no more? Are you crazy? Wouldn't it be better to hold tightly onto each one of my transgressions and use it as great leverage like a sledghammer in making me behave? How is it that you in your grace and mercy choose to forget the times that I have forgotten you? Why do I have such trouble and yet at the same time take such delight in the fact that you remember my sins no more. When I can't forget my sins please O Lord help me to remember that you remember them no more..."
Indeed I am in marvel mode today...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and fear not!
David!
I love being able to remember a lot of life's most special memories and occasions...
I hate not being able to forget some of my worst days where my decisions and actions sent my world way off course...
Memory can be a two edged sword...
My iWitness...
I am in marvel mode today...
I marvel at these words from God...
“I, I am he, who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." (Isaiah 43. 25)
"For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8. 12)
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” (Hebrews 10. 17)
O that I would take God seriously at His word...
"O Lord... what kind of God are you that you remember my sins no more? Are you crazy? Wouldn't it be better to hold tightly onto each one of my transgressions and use it as great leverage like a sledghammer in making me behave? How is it that you in your grace and mercy choose to forget the times that I have forgotten you? Why do I have such trouble and yet at the same time take such delight in the fact that you remember my sins no more. When I can't forget my sins please O Lord help me to remember that you remember them no more..."
Indeed I am in marvel mode today...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and fear not!
David!
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Memory
I hadn't talked to Bettie in a while and thought that I would give her a call and check in.
I called her up and she cheerfully answered the phone (as she always does) with a bright, "Hello!"
My response was simple, "It is I."
She laughed and hooted and quickly said, "Oh David, tell me you love me and miss me!"
"Bettie.... I love you and I miss you!"
"Oh David, tell me one more time!" And I did.
My iWitness...
Bettie was the first administrative assistant I had when I moved to Houston, Texas to start a new church. When we first met she was 69 years old. Today she is 87. She stands 58 inches tall. One of our long standing memories was for me to scare the daylights out of her on a daily basis. One day I came into the office and I sat down at my desk. She was under my desk and reached out and grabbed my leg and I jumped out of my seat screaming and yelling like a little baby. We laugh to this day over that memory.
A week or two after working together I called her on the phone and she said, "Hello?' and I responded with "It's me." She said, "It most certainly is not! You never respond with 'It's me'. You are not the direct object. You are the subject. You must repond with 'It is I.' Do you understand me?"
All I could say was, "Yes ma'am!" And for the last 18 years that has been our routine. She knows it's me because I am sure I am the only one who ever says right off the bat on the phone, "It is I."
One of my favorite things Bettie ever said to me was, "David, I am old enough to be your grandmother. If I was twenty years younger I would be old enough to be your mother. If I was twenty years younger than that, then I would run away with you." Our friendship has provided plenty of laughter!
In our conversation the other day I asked Bettie, "Do you remember when you and Julie and I went out to dinner and I was pulled over by a police officer?" (It's one of my favorite stories to tell)
My heart sank a little by her response... "No David, tell me about it."
"All three of us were going out for my birthday dinner and we got to an intersection and Julie said turn right and you said, "No, go straight." I went straight and in the process ran a red light. Within seconds blue lights were flashing and I was pulled over by a police officer. I had tinted windows in my Maxima and I rolled down the window and the office asked if I knew what I did. I said, "Yes sir I do. I know I ran that red light, but I am going out for my birthday and I really don't know where I am going and my wife told me one thing and my girlfriend in the back seat told me another thing and in all the confusion I ran the red light." The officer looked at me in disbelief and barked out, "Your girlfriend? Let me see!" I rolled down the back passenger window and Bettie, in her late 70's stuck her head out and said, "Hello officer!" He started laughing so hard and said something about, "You have enough trouble on your hand! Get out of here..." And off we went.
Bettie said in disbelief on the phone, "David, you are making that up! Did that really happen?"
"Yes Bettie, that really happened!" Her response was so honest and vulnerable, "David, I just don't remember that at all." I knew she didn't. I have told her that story about five times in the last few years and the response is always the same. "Did that really happen?"
And then I offered this to Bettie... "Bettie, I am afraid I am going to call you one day and I am going to say, "It is I" and you are going to say, "Who is this?" There was silence on the other end of the line. I continued, "Bettie, let me just say this. There may come a day when you don't remember me, but please know this... Bettie, I will never forget you."
Bettie's response was quick, "David, I will never forget you." I knew better. I hope she doesn't and I hope I never forget her either.
There was a period in my life when my life went down the drain in a hurry. There were many people who stood by me during that most difficult time. My wife Julie being the primary supporter. But every step of the way there was Bettie as well. All 4 feet 10 inches of her standing proudly by my side when many others drifted away.
On the phone I said, "Bettie, you were always there. Thank you for standing with me through some of the most difficult days." Her response made me chuckle... "David, it was easy."
Maybe there is someone who has stood by your side through thick and thin.
Maybe there is someone you need to call today and simply say, "Thank you..."
The convesation with Bettie was coming to a close. I told her one more time what she wanted to hear most... "Bettie, I love you and I miss you!" And I do...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and fear not!
David!
ps - Isn't it great to know that we have a God who always remembers our name! He never forgets who we are and how precious we are to Him.
God "will not leave you or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31. 6)
I called her up and she cheerfully answered the phone (as she always does) with a bright, "Hello!"
My response was simple, "It is I."
She laughed and hooted and quickly said, "Oh David, tell me you love me and miss me!"
"Bettie.... I love you and I miss you!"
"Oh David, tell me one more time!" And I did.
My iWitness...
Bettie was the first administrative assistant I had when I moved to Houston, Texas to start a new church. When we first met she was 69 years old. Today she is 87. She stands 58 inches tall. One of our long standing memories was for me to scare the daylights out of her on a daily basis. One day I came into the office and I sat down at my desk. She was under my desk and reached out and grabbed my leg and I jumped out of my seat screaming and yelling like a little baby. We laugh to this day over that memory.
A week or two after working together I called her on the phone and she said, "Hello?' and I responded with "It's me." She said, "It most certainly is not! You never respond with 'It's me'. You are not the direct object. You are the subject. You must repond with 'It is I.' Do you understand me?"
All I could say was, "Yes ma'am!" And for the last 18 years that has been our routine. She knows it's me because I am sure I am the only one who ever says right off the bat on the phone, "It is I."
One of my favorite things Bettie ever said to me was, "David, I am old enough to be your grandmother. If I was twenty years younger I would be old enough to be your mother. If I was twenty years younger than that, then I would run away with you." Our friendship has provided plenty of laughter!
In our conversation the other day I asked Bettie, "Do you remember when you and Julie and I went out to dinner and I was pulled over by a police officer?" (It's one of my favorite stories to tell)
My heart sank a little by her response... "No David, tell me about it."
"All three of us were going out for my birthday dinner and we got to an intersection and Julie said turn right and you said, "No, go straight." I went straight and in the process ran a red light. Within seconds blue lights were flashing and I was pulled over by a police officer. I had tinted windows in my Maxima and I rolled down the window and the office asked if I knew what I did. I said, "Yes sir I do. I know I ran that red light, but I am going out for my birthday and I really don't know where I am going and my wife told me one thing and my girlfriend in the back seat told me another thing and in all the confusion I ran the red light." The officer looked at me in disbelief and barked out, "Your girlfriend? Let me see!" I rolled down the back passenger window and Bettie, in her late 70's stuck her head out and said, "Hello officer!" He started laughing so hard and said something about, "You have enough trouble on your hand! Get out of here..." And off we went.
Bettie said in disbelief on the phone, "David, you are making that up! Did that really happen?"
"Yes Bettie, that really happened!" Her response was so honest and vulnerable, "David, I just don't remember that at all." I knew she didn't. I have told her that story about five times in the last few years and the response is always the same. "Did that really happen?"
And then I offered this to Bettie... "Bettie, I am afraid I am going to call you one day and I am going to say, "It is I" and you are going to say, "Who is this?" There was silence on the other end of the line. I continued, "Bettie, let me just say this. There may come a day when you don't remember me, but please know this... Bettie, I will never forget you."
Bettie's response was quick, "David, I will never forget you." I knew better. I hope she doesn't and I hope I never forget her either.
There was a period in my life when my life went down the drain in a hurry. There were many people who stood by me during that most difficult time. My wife Julie being the primary supporter. But every step of the way there was Bettie as well. All 4 feet 10 inches of her standing proudly by my side when many others drifted away.
On the phone I said, "Bettie, you were always there. Thank you for standing with me through some of the most difficult days." Her response made me chuckle... "David, it was easy."
Maybe there is someone who has stood by your side through thick and thin.
Maybe there is someone you need to call today and simply say, "Thank you..."
The convesation with Bettie was coming to a close. I told her one more time what she wanted to hear most... "Bettie, I love you and I miss you!" And I do...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and fear not!
David!
ps - Isn't it great to know that we have a God who always remembers our name! He never forgets who we are and how precious we are to Him.
God "will not leave you or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31. 6)
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Bottle of Tears
When was the last time you cried?
When was the last time your stomach convulsed due to the tears flowing down your cheeks and splashing down on the ground below?
When was the last time you cried because of physical pain?
When was the last time you cried because you were overcome with great joy and delight?
When was the last time you cried due to the great grief and emotional pain that a situation brought on?
My iWitness...
Every time the Olympics roll around I know one thing for sure... I am going to cry. There's something about watching these elite athletes who have sacrificed so much and trained so hard and in the throes of competition hit the landing, make the shot, hit the tape at the end of the dash, set the record or simply finish in spite of a debilitating injury during the course of the race that makes me shed tears.
I cry when other people cry. When I see people I know and love cry in pain, I cry. When they hurt... I hurt. When I left the ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Klamath Falls, Oregon I cried a lot. When I hit the wall of frustration and the feeling of ineptitude in my new job a few weeks ago, I cried.
It's been a long time since I cried for joy. I will have to think about that today.
Here's a fascinating question... What do you do with the tears you shed? After you have wiped them away, what do you do with them? Do they simply dissolve on the cheeks of your face or do they get absorbed by a tissue? Where do these tears go?
You may be wondering... "Who keeps tears?"
Here's the answer... God does!
Jim Croce sang a song about saving time in a bottle, but did you know that the Mighty God of the Universe keeps your tears in a bottle.
Listen to Psalm 56. 8-9...
You have kept count of my tossings,
put my tears in a bottle.
Are they not in your book?
Then my enemies will turn back
in the days when I call.
This I know, that God is for me.
That's just how precious we are in God's eyes... not only does He hold our hearts in His merciful hands... He treasures our tears in a bottle, with our name on it, with our picture on it.
So... the next time those tears well up and start cascading down your cheeks, just remember, it is with great purpose and intentionality that our God does not let our tears go to waste but rather our gracious God reaches over and gently, ever so gently captures and collects them in a bottle.
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
When was the last time your stomach convulsed due to the tears flowing down your cheeks and splashing down on the ground below?
When was the last time you cried because of physical pain?
When was the last time you cried because you were overcome with great joy and delight?
When was the last time you cried due to the great grief and emotional pain that a situation brought on?
My iWitness...
Every time the Olympics roll around I know one thing for sure... I am going to cry. There's something about watching these elite athletes who have sacrificed so much and trained so hard and in the throes of competition hit the landing, make the shot, hit the tape at the end of the dash, set the record or simply finish in spite of a debilitating injury during the course of the race that makes me shed tears.
I cry when other people cry. When I see people I know and love cry in pain, I cry. When they hurt... I hurt. When I left the ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Klamath Falls, Oregon I cried a lot. When I hit the wall of frustration and the feeling of ineptitude in my new job a few weeks ago, I cried.
It's been a long time since I cried for joy. I will have to think about that today.
Here's a fascinating question... What do you do with the tears you shed? After you have wiped them away, what do you do with them? Do they simply dissolve on the cheeks of your face or do they get absorbed by a tissue? Where do these tears go?
You may be wondering... "Who keeps tears?"
Here's the answer... God does!
Jim Croce sang a song about saving time in a bottle, but did you know that the Mighty God of the Universe keeps your tears in a bottle.
Listen to Psalm 56. 8-9...
You have kept count of my tossings,
put my tears in a bottle.
Are they not in your book?
Then my enemies will turn back
in the days when I call.
This I know, that God is for me.
That's just how precious we are in God's eyes... not only does He hold our hearts in His merciful hands... He treasures our tears in a bottle, with our name on it, with our picture on it.
So... the next time those tears well up and start cascading down your cheeks, just remember, it is with great purpose and intentionality that our God does not let our tears go to waste but rather our gracious God reaches over and gently, ever so gently captures and collects them in a bottle.
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
Monday, February 25, 2013
We Are The Champions
On Sunday afternoon at the Stoltz Sports Center on the Jon Davison Court at the University of Dubuque the UD Spartans Men's Basketball team took on the Knights of Wartburg College. At stake? Only the IIAC Conference Championship! Win or go home! Spartans clashing with Knights!
After the first twenty minutes the Knights were poised to turn out the lights on the Spartans. At the halfway point UD was down by six points. For the fifteen minutes of halftime the crowd sat on their hands with heads hung low, shoulders slumped with the decibal meter reader registering negative numbers.
Then the second half began. Wow! What a comeback. Spartans began knocking down three pointers and then there was an electric dunk that sent the crowd into wild hysteria. Knights could not buy a basket in their quickly tarnishing armor. And before you knew it the game was all but over. We were just waiting for the clock to run out. The Spartans won 73-60, outscoring their opponents by nineteen points in the second half. The buzzer sounded. Game over!
"We Are The Champions" blared over the loud speakers while players jumped into each other's arms and pure delight washed over the faces of families, fans and players alike. The ladder was placed under the basket and each player took his turn to cut a piece of the net to hold on to forever as that great reminder of "remember when..." The head coach was the last one to cut down the remaining net and the jubilant crowd went crazy.
Perfectly in tune with the band Queen I was singing at the top of my lungs, "We Are The Champions!" Congratulations Spartans!!
My iWitness...
It struck me last night... while my voice was still hoarse from yelling, cheering and singing, "is the word "Champion" in the Bible?" Here I am belting out We are The Champions and I was wondering if being a "champion" was even in the Bible.
When we are talking about "victory"... you better believe that concept and word are prevalent in the Bible. "Death is swallowed up in victory." Paul encourages us to run the race so as to "win" in order to take posession of the prize that has been prepared for us through Christ Jesus.
But there is only one "Champion" mentioned in my Bible.
Are you ready for this?
His name is Goliath!
"And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span." (1 Samuel 17. 4)
This champion was as arrogant as they come. His ultimate mistake was to make fun of our God in the face of a young boy who was "a man after God's own heart" - David.
Listen to what happened next...
David approaches the "Champion" Goliath with a slingshot and five smooth stones. The Champion chomps at the bit to take out the boy and before he knows what hits him, he is hit with a stone right in the middle of the forehead and you can hear the crowd cheering... "Timmmmber!!" Down goes the Champion.
"Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled." (1 Samuel 17. 51)
Pay attention to the Philistines... When they "saw that their champion was dead, they fled."
Guess what? When the disciples of Jesus saw that their Savior was dead, they fled. Only John stuck around.
Here's the good news... Our Champion, Our Savior is not dead! He is alive! Death is indeed swallowed up in Victory. Jesus has overcome the last enemy - death. He is risen. He is risen indeed!
We don't ever have to flee. When Jesus rose from the dead, the ultimate game of life versus death was over. Jesus won. That game is over. With our trust in Jesus and with His promise of eternal life for all those who believe the only thing left to happen is for the nets to be cut down.
So now we wait... the time between the last buzzer and the last thread holding the net to the goal seems like an eternity. It's not. It just seems that way. With each passing day we are one day closer to seeing the nets come down and hear the heavenly host of angels singing together...
We Are The Champions!
And that's my iWitness..
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
After the first twenty minutes the Knights were poised to turn out the lights on the Spartans. At the halfway point UD was down by six points. For the fifteen minutes of halftime the crowd sat on their hands with heads hung low, shoulders slumped with the decibal meter reader registering negative numbers.
Then the second half began. Wow! What a comeback. Spartans began knocking down three pointers and then there was an electric dunk that sent the crowd into wild hysteria. Knights could not buy a basket in their quickly tarnishing armor. And before you knew it the game was all but over. We were just waiting for the clock to run out. The Spartans won 73-60, outscoring their opponents by nineteen points in the second half. The buzzer sounded. Game over!
"We Are The Champions" blared over the loud speakers while players jumped into each other's arms and pure delight washed over the faces of families, fans and players alike. The ladder was placed under the basket and each player took his turn to cut a piece of the net to hold on to forever as that great reminder of "remember when..." The head coach was the last one to cut down the remaining net and the jubilant crowd went crazy.
Perfectly in tune with the band Queen I was singing at the top of my lungs, "We Are The Champions!" Congratulations Spartans!!
My iWitness...
It struck me last night... while my voice was still hoarse from yelling, cheering and singing, "is the word "Champion" in the Bible?" Here I am belting out We are The Champions and I was wondering if being a "champion" was even in the Bible.
When we are talking about "victory"... you better believe that concept and word are prevalent in the Bible. "Death is swallowed up in victory." Paul encourages us to run the race so as to "win" in order to take posession of the prize that has been prepared for us through Christ Jesus.
But there is only one "Champion" mentioned in my Bible.
Are you ready for this?
His name is Goliath!
"And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span." (1 Samuel 17. 4)
This champion was as arrogant as they come. His ultimate mistake was to make fun of our God in the face of a young boy who was "a man after God's own heart" - David.
Listen to what happened next...
David approaches the "Champion" Goliath with a slingshot and five smooth stones. The Champion chomps at the bit to take out the boy and before he knows what hits him, he is hit with a stone right in the middle of the forehead and you can hear the crowd cheering... "Timmmmber!!" Down goes the Champion.
"Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled." (1 Samuel 17. 51)
Pay attention to the Philistines... When they "saw that their champion was dead, they fled."
Guess what? When the disciples of Jesus saw that their Savior was dead, they fled. Only John stuck around.
Here's the good news... Our Champion, Our Savior is not dead! He is alive! Death is indeed swallowed up in Victory. Jesus has overcome the last enemy - death. He is risen. He is risen indeed!
We don't ever have to flee. When Jesus rose from the dead, the ultimate game of life versus death was over. Jesus won. That game is over. With our trust in Jesus and with His promise of eternal life for all those who believe the only thing left to happen is for the nets to be cut down.
So now we wait... the time between the last buzzer and the last thread holding the net to the goal seems like an eternity. It's not. It just seems that way. With each passing day we are one day closer to seeing the nets come down and hear the heavenly host of angels singing together...
We Are The Champions!
And that's my iWitness..
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Baton
The indoor track and field Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) championships were held last night at the University of Dubuque in the Chlapaty Wellness and Recreation Center (CRWC). The kids and I arrived later in the evening, just in time for the relay races.
Undertand this... the indoor track is oval in shape and is only 200 meters long. An outdoor track is oval in shape and is 400 meters long.
The runners from all the schools were poetry in motion - chiseled arms pumping, muscle toned legs flying, cheeks inhaling and exhaling at a furious pace, hair wind blown, tummies flat and ripped, determined minds extremely focused, rabid fans cheering and the most important of all... baton firmly fixed in the grasp of the runner's hand ready to be passed on to the next runner in the relay.
Passing the baton to the next runner in the relay is a carefully choreographed dance, almost with ballet type precision and grace. Every runner passed the baton without fail... except for one team. The baton holder tried with great effort to pass on the baton to his teammate but could not find his waving hand within the space allowed. Both runners frustrated veered off the track in complete disgust having never passed the baton and therefore being disqualified from the race. One sad note was the next runner who was 200 meters away didn't realize that his team had been disqualified and there he stood waiting and waiting for his teammate to come around the last turn. It wasn't until an official came over and whispered to him that no one would be coming that his shoulders slumped and he walked off the track in great disappointment.
Agony struck one of our University of Dubuque runners. Having just received the baton, he took off like a bandit and then for no apparent reason the baton simply slipped from his grasp and the baton bounced erratically on the ground as his body kept running forward...
My iWitness...
For a lot of us the baton of the Christian Faith was passed on to us from our family. I know it was for me. My grandparents were faithful Christians. My parents were faithful Christians. Every Sunday we were at church. Before church was Sunday school. Every week I was at choir practice as a young person. After choir practice was youth group. With the baton of Jesus in my hand I went off to college and have never stopped running since. The passing of the baton was successful!
As I watched that one relay team not make the baton pass successfully my heart broke for the runner who was 200 meters away who was waiting for the baton that would never come.
Let's break that down...
The first runner was the dad. The second runner was the son. The third runner was the grandson. The fourth runner the great grandson.
The dad (1st runner) runs the race and it comes time for him to pass it on to his son (2nd runner) and for whatever reason is unsuccessful in passing it on. The baton is dropped. Now the grandson (3rd runner) is on the track. He is ready to run. He is in position bouncing on the balls of his feet. He can't wait to get the baton. The baton never arrives. And here is the saddest part... the great grandson (4th runner) never even gets to go out on the track.
Make it our aim to pass on the baton of faith to our children. Don't leave it up to the Church to do that. Don't leave it up to the private Christian School to do that. It is up to us! It's up to you and me to run the race and pass on the baton of faith to those coming after us.
Where would Timothy from the New Testament be without his mom and grandmother. Listen to Paul's words to Timothy...
"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,vfor God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1. 5-7)
Don't forget about my friend who dropped the baton in the middle of the race.
You know what he did?
He stopped, turned around, bent down, picked up the baton and started running again.
Have you ever dropped the baton?
Me too...
It's okay. It happens. Just don't keep running without the baton.
Stop (recognize something is missing). Turn around (repent), bend down (get down on your knees if you have to), pick up the baton (the faith is right there - it won't run away from you) and start running the race again (other Christians are cheering you on) keeping our eyes on Jesus.
One last thought... there are people 1200 meters down the track that are depending on us to get down the track of life and pass the baton...
You may trip, stumble and flat out fall on your face along the way. The good news is that as you hold on to the baton, the baton holds on to you...
Have a great run...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
Undertand this... the indoor track is oval in shape and is only 200 meters long. An outdoor track is oval in shape and is 400 meters long.
The runners from all the schools were poetry in motion - chiseled arms pumping, muscle toned legs flying, cheeks inhaling and exhaling at a furious pace, hair wind blown, tummies flat and ripped, determined minds extremely focused, rabid fans cheering and the most important of all... baton firmly fixed in the grasp of the runner's hand ready to be passed on to the next runner in the relay.
Passing the baton to the next runner in the relay is a carefully choreographed dance, almost with ballet type precision and grace. Every runner passed the baton without fail... except for one team. The baton holder tried with great effort to pass on the baton to his teammate but could not find his waving hand within the space allowed. Both runners frustrated veered off the track in complete disgust having never passed the baton and therefore being disqualified from the race. One sad note was the next runner who was 200 meters away didn't realize that his team had been disqualified and there he stood waiting and waiting for his teammate to come around the last turn. It wasn't until an official came over and whispered to him that no one would be coming that his shoulders slumped and he walked off the track in great disappointment.
Agony struck one of our University of Dubuque runners. Having just received the baton, he took off like a bandit and then for no apparent reason the baton simply slipped from his grasp and the baton bounced erratically on the ground as his body kept running forward...
My iWitness...
For a lot of us the baton of the Christian Faith was passed on to us from our family. I know it was for me. My grandparents were faithful Christians. My parents were faithful Christians. Every Sunday we were at church. Before church was Sunday school. Every week I was at choir practice as a young person. After choir practice was youth group. With the baton of Jesus in my hand I went off to college and have never stopped running since. The passing of the baton was successful!
As I watched that one relay team not make the baton pass successfully my heart broke for the runner who was 200 meters away who was waiting for the baton that would never come.
Let's break that down...
The first runner was the dad. The second runner was the son. The third runner was the grandson. The fourth runner the great grandson.
The dad (1st runner) runs the race and it comes time for him to pass it on to his son (2nd runner) and for whatever reason is unsuccessful in passing it on. The baton is dropped. Now the grandson (3rd runner) is on the track. He is ready to run. He is in position bouncing on the balls of his feet. He can't wait to get the baton. The baton never arrives. And here is the saddest part... the great grandson (4th runner) never even gets to go out on the track.
Make it our aim to pass on the baton of faith to our children. Don't leave it up to the Church to do that. Don't leave it up to the private Christian School to do that. It is up to us! It's up to you and me to run the race and pass on the baton of faith to those coming after us.
Where would Timothy from the New Testament be without his mom and grandmother. Listen to Paul's words to Timothy...
"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,vfor God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1. 5-7)
Don't forget about my friend who dropped the baton in the middle of the race.
You know what he did?
He stopped, turned around, bent down, picked up the baton and started running again.
Have you ever dropped the baton?
Me too...
It's okay. It happens. Just don't keep running without the baton.
Stop (recognize something is missing). Turn around (repent), bend down (get down on your knees if you have to), pick up the baton (the faith is right there - it won't run away from you) and start running the race again (other Christians are cheering you on) keeping our eyes on Jesus.
One last thought... there are people 1200 meters down the track that are depending on us to get down the track of life and pass the baton...
You may trip, stumble and flat out fall on your face along the way. The good news is that as you hold on to the baton, the baton holds on to you...
Have a great run...
And that's my iWitness...
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
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