The Underdog

He was out talented. He was the youngest player on the court by three years to his closest competitor at six playing against nine year olds, eleven year olds, one teenager and an adult. He was not as tall, not as fast, he could not jump as high, but that did not deter him from trying.
When we walked on the court he was determined to play with the big boys. He was chosen for a team and the fun began. The objective was simple; a pick up game of playground basketball with the winner being the first one to fifty counting every basket as one point. There was passion, competiveness, sweat, a little blood, and all out effort. It was a great afternoon of fun.
The underdog as I shall call him ran, jumped, played aggressive defense and gave it his all. Still the older and faster players often stole the ball while he was dribbling and intercepted his passes. He was at times snubbed by the older players who would not pass him the ball and not let him pass the ball on inbounds plays but, this did not discourage the underdog who continued to give his very best effort.
It was a tight game. The lead changed several times and the intensity seemed to grow with the exchange of every basket. The underdog kept calling for the ball and doing everything in his power to elude his older and much faster defender. It was around the mid-point of the game when it finally happened. The underdog drove past his man to the basket and heaved a shot that banked off the backboard and went through the rim. Everybody was excited (even the opposing team.) When all was said and done the underdog scored three buckets against much older kids and despite a weary body.
I have smiled about this as I watched that whole scene unfold. I was the adult and those other players were my boys and some of their friends. The underdog who was a friend of Turner’s who came to spend the night and who was not fearful to mix it up with the big boys. Even though our team lost the game by two points in the end, the underdog’s effort was inspiring.
I wish more Christians had the underdog’s attitude. Many people make excuses why they cannot be of more use to God. They are not educated enough, do not know the Bible well enough, are not talented enough, connected enough, not good with children or teenagers, not a leader, and the list could go on and on.
Most people feel like they are pretty ordinary. Few people in life are really extraordinary. There is only one Lebron James, one Tiger Woods, one Bill Gates, and one Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy. There was only one Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, and D.L. Moody. You might be surprised how many pretty ordinary people have been used by God to do extraordinary things.
Jesus hand picked a bunch of ordinary guys to revolutionize the world in the disciples. If you consider yourself out matched, outwitted, out charmed, and out resourced by all the other people in the world you might just be the person God is looking for. You just might the underdog who makes a huge difference for God in this world.
“For consider your calling brethren that there was not many wise, not many noble, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong., and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.” [I Cor 1:26-29]
God is looking for underdogs, ordinary, average, obscure folks who live in the shadows to do great and extraordinary things for him. When God needed a mighty evangelist in the nineteenth century he chose an uneducated backwoods boy turned shoe salesman to shake two continents in D.L. Moody. When God needed an evangelist for the twentieth century he chose a farm boy from North Carolina to take up the torch known as Billy Graham. When God needed someone who would make wholesome movies which would point people to Jesus Christ he chosen a couple of Georgia brothers named Kendrick.
The Bible is laced with stories about how God chose and used underdogs to do extraordinary things for Him. It is not about your ability but rather your availability. There is some task in this world you were born to do. The odds might be stacked against you like they were for our six year underdog in our basketball game but that shouldn’t stop you. Press on and give God your all and then just see what happens. We all love it when the underdog wins and with God on your team, victory is not out the realm of possibility. Of course you have to have the courage to get in the game in the first place. Thank you for a six year old underdog who is teaching the rest of us a lesson we need to hear. Do not shy away from big challenges because is on your team.

Finishing Strong

It is the last week of school and I have been challenging my boys to finish strong for the past six weeks. Each of the oldest three set specific goals for themselves academically at the first of this year and finishing strong was required to achieve them. It has not been easy. Goals set back in early August have lost their luster in late May. Fun and frolicking in the sun are more luring than hitting the books each afternoon and evening. Finishing strong doesn’t always happen.
Ask any teacher. They can tell you that many students get “spring fever” and are not motivated to accomplish much during the last few weeks of school and this attitude gets even worse for graduating seniors. It is the same in the work force. When quitting time approaches people begin shutting down. The only problem with this is that quitting time may still be an hour or hour and a half away where production should continue and there are some who start coasting in their job performance until they can officially leave. Those close to retirement often are referred to as “short timers” because they are not motivated to work hard to the very end.
You can see this attitude in athletic competition or during physical exercise. People give less effort at the end because their lungs and other muscles begin to burn and well, as legendary football coach Vince Lombardi put it, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” Quitting before the end is the path of least resistance and requires minimal effort.
I don’t care if you are mowing the lawn, coaching a season, trying to endure a grueling work out, working at your job, or preparing for retirement we should always strive to finish strong. Our nation does need anymore quitters. Many have quit diets, educational pursuits, writing a book, reading a book, hoping to better themselves, or improving job performance. We must educate and inspire people to be finishers and not to merely stroll across the finish line. We need to hit the finish line of work, school, or life at full speed.
Jesus Christ set the bar high on finishing strong. With joy He endured the suffering of the cross. [Heb 12:2-3] He could have cashed it in and taken the path of least resistance. He did not! He finished so strong that death could not hold him down. He rose from the grave! We do not have a wimpy Savoir but rather a strong Warrior who knows a thing or two about finishing the race of life strong with resolve and excellence.
No more excuses. Quitting is a habit but so is finishing strong. You can train your body, mind, and emotions to finish strong. I do not know what you are being tempted to quit or at least to give less than a stellar performance. From the class room to the board room we must be a people who follow the example of Jesus and finish strong despite the odds. Finishing strong inspires. Crossing the finish line at full speed refusing to give into the pain and the temptation to quit is a wonderful thing to behold. I am challenging all of us to finish strong in every area of life. In fact, I am challenging you to finish strong in life. May the last day of your life you commit to finish the race in your spirit at full speed giving God the glory every step of the way. [Heb 12:1]

A Patriot Takes Time to Remember

As I sit down to write this Memorial Day weekend is approaching. For many that will mean nothing more than grilling out, an extended three day weekend, and a day out of school. For those members and former members of our armed services it means much much more. I thought I would take the time to remember those who fought, bled, been maimed, suffered mentally and emotionally, as well as those who gave their lives in defense of this country.
Down deep I am a patriot like so many others. I will be the first to admit that our country is not a perfect one but it is the one I love and the one I call home. I still love hearing the Star Spangled Banner before a ball game. I love seeing the “Stars and Stripes” flown on flag poles. I love good old American stuff made here in our own country. I love freedom and the symbol of that freedom in the bald eagle. I love parades and eating homemade ice cream with family and friends. I love play days at the school, community and drinking a glass of tea or lemonade with an old friend just to catch up. I love cafes where everybody knows your name and I love the freedom to worship God as I see fit and talk about my Savior Jesus Christ. I love blue jeans, the state of Texas (or should I say the “Sovereign country Texas?”) I love the 4th of July and celebrating with fireworks, food cooked on a grill along with family and friends. I love school plays, school teachers, coaches and administrators who work to educate, love, and support our children. I love the freedom to get in my car and drive to another town or state without asking permission. I love hugs from my wife and boys (like I just got from Tanner who walked into my office while I was writing this.)
I love education and access to books of all genres. Above every book in the world I love the Bible and truth of God’s revelation found there. I love the blessing and privilege I had to get to go to college and to receive an education. I love churches of all shapes, styles, and sizes. I love salt of the earth of people who work hard to produce goods and services for the rest of us. I love this country. I am an unashamed patriot!
What you and I enjoy in this country did not come easy. Pilgrims looking for religious freedom founded this nation under the sovereign rule and guidance of God. Yet, there were sacrifices made. Some died in the Colonies trying to make a go of it. Others died in the American Revolution. Some say as many as 50,000 died to gain freedom in this new country during the Revolutionary War. More soldiers died years later to liberate slaves during the Civil war against those who fought to oppose totaling 529,514 causalities in both the Union and the Confederate forces. Brothers were fighting against brothers. More blood was shed and lost during WWI and WWII. A staggering five million men lost their lives among the Allied Forces in World War One! 400,000 more died to fight tyranny in World War Two. Tens of thousands also were killed in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East.
I typed in the question on the internet, “How many U.S. soldiers have died in the War on Terror?” The answer came up on my computer screen, “Too many!!” I do not take the liberties and freedoms I have for granted in this country. God has protected us more often than we have known. Men and women have surrendered their lives to fight and defend my freedom. I am a patriot! I love and appreciate those who proudly sail our seas, fight on the front lines, fly over enemy nations all to defend this nation.
I am not ashamed to say that I cried after seeing the World War II movie, Saving Private Ryan. I cried because as I walked out of a theater in Houston, TX behind some older gentleman, we exited into a ground level parking garage where some punk rock skaters were loitering. I cried because I could not envision one of those young teens thanking those older men who fought so they could even have the freedom to paint their hair the colors of the rainbow and hang out in mall parking lots. I wept for a long while as Brenda and I drove the hour and a half back to our home in Hudson, TX. I vowed then that I would not take the service of our military personnel for granted. With freedom there is privilege and responsibility and one of those responsibilities for me is to not only remember but to honor those who fought to ensure that I could enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
I was flying out of Odessa, TX not long after 9-11 and there were armed soldiers all over that little airport. I walked up to one of them near the gate I was about to depart from and just told him I appreciated the job he was doing for our nation. He was just doing his job holding an assault rifle dressed in military fatigues. Being that former President George W. Bush had some connections in West Texas I did not take those soldiers presence for granted.
Recently my family was eating out in Decatur. I noticed an older man who was wearing a military cap signifying that he had fought in World War II. He was all alone eating in a booth. I could not take my eyes off of Him from across the room. As we were leaving I gathered my boys and walked up to the man’s table. I simply told him I appreciated what he did for our country. I had my boys thank him and shake his hand. He was a real hero. He seemed a little stunned. There have been millions of military men and women who have been heroes just like that man. They have been unselfish, willing to sacrifice their families, their futures, and their comforts all to defend this nation. Some walk with a limp, some have physical and emotional scars reminding them of battles, and others barely exist losing not only limbs but their dignity as well all so you and I could enjoy the freedoms in this country. Do we ever say thank you? Do we really honor their sacrifice?
I am not ashamed to be a patriot and I am not too proud or arrogant to say thank you to all those who fought to give me the life I now enjoy. We are still a blessed nation (not a perfect nation but a blessed one.) I would rather live in this country than any country on the face of this earth (unless God willed and called me to serve Him elsewhere.) It is time for patriots to stand up and look a veteran in the eye and say, “Thank you! I will not forget what you did nor take your sacrifice for granted.”

Childlike Faith

Recently I was at Fort Richardson with our youngest son Turner on an end of the year field trip. We laughed, hiked, and enjoyed the company of friends. He was filled with boundless energy running, climbing, and of course talking and talking.
As we toured the buildings Turner along with several other children began climbing on the ruins of what used to be the jail. There is little left now but broken down walls. As Turner climbed to the top of the walls I walked over to him at the highest point and asked him to jump into my arms. He immediately declined and the look on his face and his frozen body indicated that he was scared to death. I kept exhorting him to trust me. His heart was saying yes as he would shuffle closer to the edge of the six foot wall but his mind would then say no and he would lean back. This went on for several seconds.
He was in turmoil about what to do. He wanted to leap out into the arms of his father but all he could think about is what would happen if I missed and did not catch him. It was the classic battle of fear verses faith. You and I have both been there. We want to trust God, we want to leave our worries with Him and live a stress free life but then come trials and little tests that force us to trust or tumble into doubt and fear.
Child like faith is such an innocent and beautiful thing. Little children often do not know enough to give in to their fears. A child will walk right in front of a moving swing or a moving vehicle not even thinking about moving out of harms way and this can be dangerous. On the other hand a child can love with a perfect love and trust with a perfect trust. No matter how bad a day goes for those precious little ones when a loving father, mother, or grandparent whisk that child into their arms tears often dry, frowns turn upside down into smiles, and moist little eyes can shine once again with laughter and joy. Most children do not stress about things in life. There is trust that each day there will be food, shelter, clothing, and love. Tragically there are some who may learn early in life not to trust and what it means to go without but this is not the norm.
From time to time we all have to walk the edges of life. The ledge is narrow and there is trouble if we fall off. It is often while walking these narrow ledges that God comes along and says, “Jump! Trust me!” That is when we begin to back pedal and start thinking there must be another way out. Our fears too often conquer our faith.
Like it or not a great deal of life as a follower of God comes down to trusting and obeying. Here in lies a great deal of the problem. You will have a hard time trusting someone you do not know. If you have not come into a relationship with Jesus and cultivated closeness to Him through seeking to know Him better, trust may be a very hard thing for you. Trust will be even harder if your life is filled with experiences of people letting you down who were supposed to love you and be there for you. God is not like that. He is always faithful. [I Thess 5:24] Most of the things He calls us to obey require trust. A child like trust even though we face adult like issues. Regardless the words of scripture challenge us to have a child like faith,“for we walk by faith and not by sight.”[II Cor 5:7]
Our eyes can deceive us and often do. What we see tells us that God will not come through. If we really jump our eyes tell us He will not catch us and we can live our entire lives thinking God cannot really be trusted. I abhor this kind of thinking. It has paralyzed far too many churches and crippled the faith of too many people. Can God really be trusted? If we jump with the simple and pure faith of a child, will God be there and swoop us up in His Sovereign arms? Yes!
I do not know what ledge you are walking on. I am walking on a few myself. Looking down I see how I could fall on and be maimed or fail. I know the Lord is calling me to trust Him like a child. Here is the question. Do I jump? Do you jump? Faith is not really trust until we have leaped in obedience trusting God with the results. It is that very leaping that produces the fear but it is also that leaping that strengthens faith. The more I leap and the more often I experience Him catching me the more I will be able to trust Him with the future.
So, there was Turner on the ledge debating with himself whether he was going jump into my arms or not. Finally, after much deliberation, he moved toward the edge and leaped with all the spring his legs would give him catapulting himself into the air and into my arms. I was so proud of him! That is proud until the moment of truth. Of course this whole lesson on faith hinged on my catching him. While leaping he pulled his knees forward so that they would hit my chest first making it awkward to grasp him and to cling to him. It was not pretty but I caught him and we laughed and giggled. His eyes shone like brilliant rays of sunlight and I looked at him with admiration and pride as I clutched him tightly in my arms and hugged him.
O that I would learn from my son and determine to trust God and obey Him. The chorus to the old hymn “Trust and Obey” sums it up well. “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Trust like a child and take the leap from your ledge. Your Heavenly Father will catch you.

Riding A Rough Road

Yesterday, Taylor (my oldest son) and I decided we would go on a bike ride. We buckled our helmets, donned our padded riding gloves and shorts, filled our water bottles, and got on the saddle of our bikes for a good workout. I was proud of Taylor for keeping up as he did on an inferior bike than the bike I was riding. The first five miles or so went very smoothly. As we coasted down a hill to a stop sign I looked over at Taylor and told him we had a choice to make. We could turn around and go back the way we came. We could turn to the right and go the semi-challenging way or we could turn to the left and go to the hardest challenge. Without hesitating he replied that he wanted the hardest challenge because it would make him better. The hardest challenge way is laid out with seven difficult hills, some of them very steep. We turned left and after a mile or so came to the first hill, Taylor breezed up the hill with ease as I labored to get my large frame pedaled to the top. We surmounted the hill only to discover trouble ahead. The pavement had been stripped off the road leaving a dirt gravel base. It was a very rough road. This was not a problem for Taylor. He was riding a mountain bike built for such terrain. I, on the other hand, was riding a racing bike with thinner high pressure tires which could easily be punctured by the rocks. I told Taylor he could go on without me and wait for me at the end of the road because I have slow my pace to a crawl to navigate the rough road without damaging my tires. It was a rough ride and I had to creep along seeking to dodge rocks and riding my brakes down the steep hills so I would not puncture my tires. It was frustrating. Everything in me wanted to pedal harder and faster as I watched Taylor pull ahead and slowly ride out of my sight. I felt every bump, every rock I incidentally rode over, and each hole I could not avoid. It was a dawdling pace I kept preserving my tires. I had to be painstakingly precise as to the route I took on the rough road. I looked for the smoothest grooves with the least amount of rocks and the most flat and worn surface. There are many times in life when we are forced to ride some rough roads. It was never our choice to have to do so but along this journey of life many have found the ride to be rough and long. Sometimes it is God Himself who leads us down the rough riding roads. We may not understand His reasons but regardless we find ourselves ducking and dodging obstacles and pot holes that slow our progress. As I sluggishly made my way I kept thinking about two things. I thought about Taylor being so far in front in me and how he was better equipped to deal with the adverse conditions. He rode so far ahead that I could no longer see him but I could envision him in my mind at the end of the rough ride waiting on me. That kept me pushing onward and forward. I knew that if I kept at it I would eventually make it to the end and Taylor would be there waiting for me. Many of us have loved ones who have already preceded us in death. They have already ridden the rough roads and crossed the finished line. They are waiting on the other side of the rough ride of this life and have been ushered into the smooth existence of eternity in Heaven. They too faced obstacles and challenges but they did not quit and finished the course set before them. [Heb 12:1] Their examples should inspire all of us to keep pedaling, to keep climbing the steep hills, and to endure the rough roads of life. Just as sure as there are rough roads there are also smooth ones as well. There are seasons in life when every step or every revolution of the pedal does not feel like a chore. In fact there are times in life when it can feel like we are coasting down hill on a smooth road. The second thing I thought about during that rough ride was that smoother roads were ahead. We can get so tunnel vision at times thinking that our whole life is going uphill on a rough road. We entertain thoughts that it will never get better even though all of us have known the path of lesser resistance and the wheels of our lives have spun on the smooth surfaces. Sure enough I finally made it to the end of the rough road and there was Taylor waiting on me. He mounted back up and fell in behind me as we turned left to ride on my favorite road in Paradise. It is a smooth road with a few hills but a road where you can really generate some speed. I turned to yell at Taylor informing him that we were going to pick up the pace and off we went back toward home. We reached high end speeds and sailed all the way back to the elementary school before splitting; Taylor to go home and me back to my office to park my bike and get the car. The rough roads in life serve to make us appreciate the smooth ones all the more. Let me leave you with a scripture to help you through life’s rough roads. Behold I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make roadways in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. [Is 40:19] Did you catch that? God makes roads in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. God smoothes the way of our lives even when it seems impossible. Many times in our lives He may lead us to ride the rough roads for a season but smooth roads await us if not in this life then for certainty in Heaven for all those who have trusted Christ as their Savior. So keep pedaling and keep persevering. Smooth roads are ahead.

The Power of One Voice

In our democratic society we often celebrate the voice of the people and we applaud when the masses stand together. We love unity and teamwork and celebrate the voices of the many more than we celebrate the power of one voice. The problem is that many people can join their voices with the masses to be politically correct and to fit in with the times even if both are wrong. The truth is that for many people it is easier to join the masses whether they believe the mantra or not. It is easier to say the right things and to get along than to be isolated and ostracized.
There are times when the one voice has proven true over and against the voice of the masses. At a time when the Roman Catholic Church had become corrupt and were deceiving people while fleecing their pockets Martin Luther stood up with one voice to oppose the church and the Pope. His was the powerful voice of the reformation.
Martin Luther King Jr. was the voice of the civil rights movement and is still remembered today as a champion for racial equality even though he was tragically gunned down decades ago. His voice still resonates in the hearts and minds of millions.
Mother Theresa was the voice of the poor, downtrodden, and suffering and her one voice has now turned into thousands of people who have fallen in her footsteps. These people serve and give their lives away to some of the lowest of the lowest.
William Wilberforce was the voice of abolishing slavery in England many many years ago. His critics sought to silence him for decades but he kept sounding the trumpet of racial equality and the end of slavery. In the end his voice triumphed.
William Wallace was the voice of freedom for Scotland against the tyranny of England. His voice inspired the masses to fight for and gain freedom for their families. In the end William Wallace was executed but his voice was not silenced.
We are increasingly becoming a nation where you are encouraged to speak your convictions only as long as they line up with what the rest of the mainstream think. Billy Graham has been the voice of God to evangelize sinners to salvation and point people to the narrow road of redemption through a relationship with Jesus Christ exclusively. Graham has never minced words about how a person can be saved. He has pointed people to the truth of the Bible and hope of forgiveness through Jesus.
Political pundits would have you and I believe that every opinion, all world religions, and all political policies are equal. They are not. Our society tolerates and even promotes freedom and diversity until you stand up for your convictions as a follower of Jesus Christ. If you are devoted Christian you are often branded as intolerant, judgmental, narrow minded, and a hate monger. This label is not attached to many Muslims who hate and kill the innocent. Society thinks it is okay to state what you believe as long as you believe what everyone else does. Stray from the political and social agenda of certain people and you will be bullied into submission or humiliation.
Isn’t that what recently happened with a certain beauty pageant contestant who refused to cave into the pressure to give a politically correct answer to a loaded question about homosexual marriage. Miss California simply spoke her convictions and the backlash has been unbelievable. She did not even win the pageant but her name is all over the internet and the media. I simply typed her name on an internet search engine and there were over 600,000 sites with her name in them. Many of them are bashing her for standing up for what she believed, and by the way what I, in!
The power of one voice is incredible but how many people cave into the peer pressure to not rock of the boat. What if nobody stood up with one, lone, solitary voice to defy the masses? If nobody ever did this on juries more innocent people would be wrongly incarcerated. Politicians would be silenced from reform and bought by the highest bidders to push lobbyist’s agendas. If nobody had the courage and backbone to speak up, what would happen in our public schools and if no school board member had the courage to vote their convictions and speak the truth what would ensue. If no parent has the guts to shout out that all the idolatry in children’s sports, dance, gymnastics, and cheerleading must come to an end as young boys and girls are burned out and face the never ending pressure to perform at high levels to satisfy insecure parents who are trying to relive their lives through their prodigy. Who has the one voice to shout out to the masses of Christians who have been sucked into this lifestyle that we are sending our children mixed messages when we tell them give their hearts and souls to ball and to give what they have left to serve Jesus Christ. Like the old saying goes Jesus is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all and for many families Jesus has taken a back seat to our children and their involvement in sports and dance etc. Who has the backbone to say anymore that you cannot sing the praises of God on Sunday and talk with the filth of a pagan using profanity and obscenities Monday through Saturday? This is blatant hypocrisy but who has the one voice to hold people accountable anymore. We cower behind the verse “judge not lest you be judged.” True we should take the log out of our own eye before taking the speck out of someone else’s eye. That does not mean we should condone blatant hypocrisy. Which states have the backbone to vote for traditional marriage between one man and one woman and withstand the tidal wave of peer pressure as other states cave in to homosexual marriage?
Voices are being silenced more and more. People give up and give in. Like the old adage goes if you cannot beat them join them. There are some things we are not supposed to join. This nation was founded on religious freedom but I have been increasingly offended that followers of Jesus Christ are often censored, held to a different standard and written off as antiquated for our modern times.
I thank God for the lone voice of Billy Graham’s daughter, Ann Graham Lotz, who told our nation after the 9-11 attacks that we could not have it both way. We cannot push God out of ever fabric of our society and then have the audacity to complain that He did not protect us when the terrorists attacked. She passionately proclaimed we cannot have it both ways.
There is power in one voice. Whether that voice is on a committee, a city council, a jury, in a family, in a community, in a school, on a mission field, in a pulpit, in a newspaper, or in some other place of influence, there is power in one voice. One voice committed to truth can accomplish a great deal. Being a lone voice will not always bring accolades from the crowds and on more than one occasion they have been silenced by a sniper’s bullet or by burning at the stake or having a head chopped off. In this day of pluralistic voices ranging from the bizarre to the fabrication of truth, who has the courage to stand up and be the power of one voice?

Sanctuary with God

The retreat had been long past needed. After a full summer of revivals, camps, and retreats, and pasturing a growing church, I was long over due for some time of spiritual and physical replenishing. As the summer ended I sighed looking at the fall calendar knowing I needed some time away to seek the Lord and to be refreshed. After three of the busiest months I can ever remember in my life, at times preaching and teaching five times a day, packing and unpacking suit cases, and endless message preparation I asked my wife for a personal prayer retreat. She knew I was emotionally, spiritually, and physically depleted and graciously took up the task or raising the boys for a few days without my presence and influence.
I packed my Bible, computer, prayer journal, and as many books as I could fit into my backpack and headed down 287 South toward Palestine, TX. Overlooking a beautiful private lake and surrounded by rolling hills and towering trees changing colors in the brisk autumn winds, is a small two bedroom rustic cabin I have made pilgrimage to for the past twelve years.
Upon arriving, I quickly unloaded my things from the truck and set up my computer and unpacked my books. My host graciously left me a four wheeler to get about the four hundred acre retreat out in the back. I quickly grabbed my journal, Bible, and a pen and was out the door headed for a scenic spot situated right above the lake and nestled up to a deer sanctuary.
It took less than fifteen minutes for me to get out of my truck, unpack, and be in my favorite secluded outdoor spot letting my soul exhale the pressures and demands of life in ministry and inhaling the fresh presence of God in the stillness and solitude of that sacred place.
In between prayers, I would take gazing looks all around me to bask in the glory of God displayed in brilliant colors in nature. In the distance I kept hearing the splashing of water as large mouth bass danced in the brisk fall winds in East Texas.
My focus gradually moved from the lake to the sloping hill to my right, where a herd of white tail deer were grazing. Several bucks paraded in this heard which caused me to think about the fact that deer season was only weeks away. Those bucks, holding nice racks of antlers, did not seem the least bit concerned that soon, their companions in other fields outside the game sanctuary, in the pine thickets would be running and hiding for their lives amidst the thunderous roars of four wheelers and gun shots.
Those deer I watched had nothing to fear, because the
It took me less than fifteen minutes for me to get out of my truck, unpack, and be in my chair letting my soul exhale the pressures and demands of life in ministry and inhaling the fresh presence of God in the stillness and solitude of that sacred place.
In between prayers, I would take gazing looks all around me to bask in the glory of God displayed in brilliant colors in nature. In the distance I kept hearing the splashing of water as large mouth bass danced in the brisk fall winds in East Texas.
Those deer I watched had nothing to fear, because they were in a game sanctuary on private property protected by high fences and locked gates. They have protection and refuge there. That was exactly what my soul needed. I needed sanctuary with God from the distractions and pressures of the world.
It takes a lot of effort and sacrifice to make those annual treks to find sanctuary with the Lord. I almost talked myself out of going several times. It is not easy to leave my wife, four little boys, and a caring congregation to go get away. I miss the precious people of First Baptist Church who love Brenda and I so much. I often miss mid-week worship during these times away. I do not get to sleep in my own bed and I am not home to cook breakfast for our four growing boys. I do not get to kiss Brenda in the morning or eat lunch with her as I do most days.
It is amazing how in less two hours my soul was able to connect with the living God and my mind was stilled, my pulse slowed, and my heart became tranquil as I sat in the presence and saturated myself in the Lord. My gaze turned upward first and then inward bringing new life and fresh revelations of His infinite glory.
I spent several amazing days in that little secluded sanctuary. I read several books, prayed for long uninterrupted times, began writing a new book, but the high light of the retreat was just meeting with God.
Each problem and challenged that loomed over me menacingly was forced to bow in humility before the Creator of this Universe. Every burden I carried for people and the problems they face I laid at the feet of Jesus. Pressures were lifted and peace was restored as I took time to worship privately and personally.
The phone did not ring, the television remained turned off, and I had no ability to even listen to music. It was quiet and the quiet was deafening. Pulling myself away to retreat is not easy. I like the thrill of the rat race. I like it when the calendar is full, the computer is humming, the messages are being prepared for and delivered, the sick are visited, plans are laid for the future, the pages of books are being turned, new sentences and paragraphs are crafted into new books being authored, and I hit the pillow exhausted at night.
I can tell when all those things begin taking a toll on me though. I can tell when my regular devotions are not refueling me completely because I am overextended. Retreating to my place of sanctuary with the Lord combats all that. The truth is that you and I do not have to wait to take a trip to find sanctuary with the Lord.
Each of us can schedule lunch with the Lord in a park or in an isolated corner of a café. We can take extended drives some evenings with the radio off just to enjoy God. My favorite times are in the mornings. I love to get up early, while the rest of my family slumbers peacefully, to meet with the Lord. To get up early I have to be disciplined to go to bed early and turn the television off.
I don’t know what pressures or anxieties you are carrying today. I have no way of knowing what is going on in the inside while you pretend everything is okay on the outside. I cannot tell if you are really connected and energized in your seeking and serving God or whether you are faking it and running on spiritual fumes. I am sure your calendar is filled for weeks on end. Finding sanctuary seems far fetched.
I urge you with all my heart to carve out an hour, half a day, or even one day and night away for the primary focus of being renewed, recharged, and revived in your walk with God. In Him, you will find; peace, hope, encouragement, strength, rest, and renewed focus and vision. Without the Lord our souls become like a battery that slowly drains eventually unable to function. A lady at church just last night could not start her car because the battery was dead. She needed to be jumped off to get her car cranked.
That is was a little retreat to find sanctuary with God does. It gives us time to be jump started and to recharge our souls. We may not notice the slow drain on our souls at first but sooner or later it will manifest itself, and we will not be able to function at full capacity.
I talked to my friend today who works on that ranch I so often retreat to. We began talking about the business of the spring and summer and about m our souls. We may not notice the slow drain on our souls at first but sooner or later it will manifest itself, and we will not be able to function at full capacity.
I talked to my friend today who works on that ranch I so often retreat to. We began talking about the business of the spring and summer and about my need to go and get away for awhile before school gets out. Though the calendar looks packed we ended our conversation saying we believe God will make a way for it to happen. I hope you will not just find time but carve out time over the dining room table, in a back bedroom, out in a pasture, or in your office to find sanctuary in God as well.