Enjoying the Journey
Reflections on Life
Lessons Learned On A Walk Through the Woods
Henry Drummond who wrote the classic work on 1 Corinthians 13, The Greatest Thing In The World, was a naturalist. He believed that every spiritual reality has some natural parallel in this physical world that reflects it. In this way the Creator gives evidence of the greater reality. This would seem to make sense when we listen to the way the Lord Jesus Christ used earthly object lessons to teach the higher truth. Regardless, it is my conviction that you can learn a lot about God, about yourself, and about life by simply taking a walk through the woods. I have a favorite trail on our farm that takes me high up on a ridge line. Many days as I…
Read MoreHow To Make The Most Of This Season In Life
Seasons are marked by change. The autumn leaves turning colors and falling to the ground are a reminder to us all that time is passing. And while we love some seasons more than others, God uses every season in life to bring us closer to Himself. He is the One who transcends it all – eternal, immutable God. I do not know what season you are living through at this time. While it may be bright and sunny outside it can be dark and gloomy within. When some are rejoicing, others are walking through their most difficult days. One thing I do know is that “He hath made everything beautiful in his time…” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). How can you make the…
Read MoreHow NOT To Choose A Mate
When I was a young man someone told me, “Choose only a date who would make a good mate.” That was good advice. A casual relationship can quickly turn into a serious one. Friendships often become lifelong commitments. There are many choices in life, but few have more lasting consequences that who you will marry. In Genesis 6:1-2 the Bible describes an ancient society where “the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” This would set in motion a chain of events that eventually led to the worldwide flood. Civilization was destroyed because of evil imaginations and carnal desires. What can we learn from this…
Read MoreThe Greatest Challenge I Have
A few days ago it was my great joy to untangle the many strands of Christmas lights that somehow magically weave themselves into ridiculous knots during the off season. Why can’t these things be easy? I muttered to myself (again), “There has to be a simpler way!” Something in all of us, at all seasons, cries out for simplicity. We all have our challenges in life. With age and responsibility comes new layers of things to work through. If you are not careful, life can get very complicated! In the midst of constant turmoil and complexity the Apostle Paul said that he had to work to live his life “in simplicity and godly sincerity” (2 Corinthians 1:12). Later in the…
Read MoreWhat We Miss While We Are Looking At Our Phones
Have you noticed? Everyone is looking at their mobile device…constantly! In the grocery store. Around the dinner table. Driving down the road. Walking through town. Consumed with a digital world, we are no longer conscious of the world God placed us in. Concerned about connections and messages we are losing real relationships with those who are closest to us on earth. We have added so much information and interaction to life – have we stopped to consider what we may be losing? While we are looking at our phones… We miss what is above us. When you are always looking down it is impossible to look up. Recently I walked outside and paused for a moment to look up. The…
Read MoreGuest Post: Lessons Learned At The Bulletin Board
You are going to be encouraged by this wonderful article by my friend Dr. Charles Keen. A great deal of wisdom flows through nearly 60 years of ministry. Read more from his pen at https://gcpublishers.org. In my school days, the “social media” existed in two mediums – the water cooler for the faculty and the bulletin board for the student. From these two locations, we kept current with (our) world view. The grade schoolers gathered at the bulletin board to check on their Spelling Bee status. The high school girls gathered to see if they made the cheerleading squad or the volleyball team. We boys world view consisted of the seasonal sport and to see if we made the cut. In our school that…
Read More7 Truths My Dad Taught Me
Tonight I had the joy of sharing these thoughts with our church family. Perhaps they will be of some help to your family. My dad has been one of my greatest teachers. All fathers teach more than they realize, and more than their children realize until later in life. As a boy I enjoyed asking preachers to sign the flyleaf of my Bible and share their favorite verse. Occasionally I look back through those signatures with fond memories of many who taught me God’s truth. One day it dawned on me that I had never asked my own dad to sign my Bible. He was reluctant to do so but, when he did, he signed it differently than all of…
Read MoreLoving What You Do
“Do you enjoy what you are doing?” I hear this question often. The answer for me is…absolutely! While there are challenges in every work, there is nothing as fulfilling as being in the will of God. There are many needy places around this world and one individual cannot go everywhere or do everything. We all must find God’s choice for us. The will of God for some will be an obscure village or a small town. God’s will is not done by our logical schemes and plans; it must be done God’s way. Philippians 2:13 teaches, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” God meets us along the path of His…
Read MoreGreat Minds Or Great Hearts?
Early this week I was in Fort Myers, Florida. One afternoon between meetings I had the joy of visiting Thomas Edison’s and Henry Ford’s winter homes. It was fascinating to read about the lives of these famous innovators. And a little sad. As I sat watching a film about the bitter relationship between Henry Ford and his only son Edsel, I thought what a waste a great mind is without a great heart. Our world is full of great minds. Scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, inventors, philosophers, teachers, leaders all make their mark on history. Yet too often when you read the personal history of great thinkers you discover that something is tragically missing in the deepest part of their lives. It…
Read MoreReflections On The Death Of My Childhood Friend
Last night I was asked to share a few thoughts at a memorial service for one of my childhood friends. Ramie and I attended kindergarten through high school together. He was my friend and now, at age 42, he is with Jesus. He leaves behind two beautiful little girls, a grieving mother, and a host of friends. He leaves behind precious children that he instructed and influenced through his work. And he left behind something else for me…a reminder that life is brief and we have a short time to make it count. Since his home going I have been thinking about Moses’ words in Psalm 90:10, life “is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Last week I noticed a timbering…
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