Author: Merlin Erb

This post too comes from Chapter Two as did the prior from the book “Call to Joy.” Another revealing glimpse for me! Again, my comments are italicized.

A wise  man was once asked, “What do you think most needs to change in the world?” He replied, “I do.“ Most people do not consider themselves perfect, yet even though we recognize our need to change and grow, we often do not take a single step toward doing so.

We are held back by our fear of the unknown. We are scared of what we might become if we change. Absurd as it may sound, we are scared of the very thing for which we were created: our fulfillment. We are cautious about abandoning what we do and what we have (even if these are self-destructive) because we have found in these things some sense of security. Sadly, however, these are also what hold us prisoners to our limitations.

Many of us are scared to dream for fear that we might be disappointed. It is like a young woman who prays and dreams every day for that special young man to come into her life; then when he finally does, she becomes hesitant and wary, sometimes to the point that this confuses him and he walks away. She has focused on the fact that one day he might leave. Sometimes we are too hesitant to let our dreams become realities. And what she is focused on comes true.

Do not be afraid of your dreams coming true. Allow them to emerge and become realities in your life.

Only by envisioning what it is we want to achieve and then by the power of the Spirit of God that dwells within us are we able to achieve anything.

The things that we have, the things we do, and who we are form our identity. People identify with us according to these things, and our identity determines the level of respect we receive from people. Often we think we must acquire or do certain things in order to maintain this identity and sustain this respect. (Perhaps this coercion or blackmail is far worse than today’s identity theft.) 

Change threatens this identity and respect, which are false and idolatrous when the things that form this identity and gain us respect are the very things that prevent us from walking with God. So many people are alienated from God by the things that they think give meaning to their lives but that in fact bring them nothing but emptiness, unhappiness, and only momentary pleasure.

You cannot both change and stay as you are.

What holds us back from changing are things that do not help but hinder, things that bring not life and happiness but death, self-destruction, and sadness. Very often these things are detrimental to both our physical and our spiritual health. In some cases God wants us to give up these things and replace them with much grander things. (Consider the June 4 post titled “Intro to Coaching 101” in paragraph 16 of the story of the children content to play in their back yard mud box when their parents really wanted to take them on a family vacation  to the beach for a week…. Absolutely incomparable!) In other cases he wants us to be more moderate. But always we are being called to raise our sights do the things that are above, to envision our fulfillment.

The first positive step for the journey of the soul is to recognize that you are not completely fulfilled. And then you must acknowledge that you cannot become more fulfilled while you remain exactly as you are today. If you are not fulfilled and happy today and yet, tomorrow you do everything the same way you did today, do you actually believe that you will be any happier?

Perhaps what is holding you back is the fact that in the past you have tried to change and been unsuccessful. Often people see the need for changing their lives and make a particular resolution to accomplish it. Although they have the best intentions, these people often fail to achieve the desired change. Why? Because they are focusing on the negative.

There is no change necessary for your fulfillment and perfection that you are not capable of achieving with the assistance of the divine. Take some time to reflect on the power in this statement.

The answer to this problem is to replace the old activity with the new activity. A person experiencing a problem in the area of purity can respond in several ways. For example, if he is constantly glaring lustfully at women as they walk down the street, his response can be twofold. First, he can learn to admire the pavement instead of scanning everything as he walks down the street, thus limiting the input to his imagination. Then, with his imagination and attention now his slaves, he can use them to begin a conversation with Christ, and he can try to sustain this conversation always and everywhere, “praying constantly“ throughout the day.

Thus, far from focusing on the negative and the “sacrifice“ being made, he moves forward by replacing the activity being removed with one much more positive, beautiful, and fruitful to his development.

Focus on the good, the noble, the just. Focus on the positive and hope in God.

It is the replacement of one activity with another of greater meaning and value that makes attempts to change successful.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above. Colossians 3:1

You ever get the feeling recently there is much more to “seeking the things that are above” than you realized? God very ably has “raised us up” and apparently has placed the ball in our court to “work out our own salvation” as stated in Philippians 2:12. 

Paul’s “working out” our salvation is very different from “working for” our salvation! He is simply explaining that our wonderfully free gift from God is already inside of us; it has already been downloaded and is in our RAM ready for us to access. By “seeking those things that are above,” we bring out those beautiful attributes and character traits by faith. It is our faith that works out what is on the inside of us, perhaps in the form of all those freely Holy Spirit  given apps, certainly not us or our “works.” Perhaps this is  one way we can see our inner salvation visibly through our outwardly manifested  character? Remember, Paul instead of receiving the death sentence on the Damascus road, which he expected, was shown unfailing mercy and love that transformed him into one of the greatest apostles in the Bible. 

Perhaps our first step in this faith building process is for us to finally realize we are not yet fulfilled, or even close? And neither will we be until we either become mentally incapacitated or experience death. In other words, God has much more yet to download in us to enhance our “character traits.” And unless I’m daily “Seeking first the kingdom of God,” I’ll remain clueless and oblivious to what all I’ve missed out on until the day I give my accounting. Remember the 5, 2, & 1 talents in Matthew 25:14-30?

And I will tell you from experience, that “living in the now” and being Spirit-empowered, is sorta like  enrolling in auto pay for all your monthly bills, always on time every time, no mess, no fuss, no late fees. And what’s more, your spiritual “equity account” with Jesus, always has more than enough to see you through. 

Blessings as YOU GO FORTH TODAY SEEKING FIRST THE KINGDOM>>>>>…..merlin  

Again, readers, I am sharing a portion of Chapter Two, Walking with God, from Matthew Kelly’s book, A Call to Joy. My comments are italicized.  Enjoy.

When you acknowledge your imperfections, you are on the brink of great growth and wonderful times.

None of us is perfect. This is a truth that most of us learn early in life. Yet, though we are not perfect, we are perfectible!

We have all witnessed ourselves and others failing in different areas of our lives. Some allow their failure to be transformed into despair and defeat. Others are able to get up, move on, and struggle again.

Something failures just look like failures. Other failures really are failures and need to be recognized as such.

Vincent van Gogh, the Dutch painter, is now hailed as one of the greatest artists of all time. But he did not enjoy the same  acclaim and success during his lifetime. He painted 1700 paintings during his lifetime. He sold only one of them, for a mere $85. Almost 100 years to the day after his death, one of his paintings was sold at auction for $40 million. Sometimes failures just look like failures.

Imagine if after paining five pictures and not being able to sell them, van Gogh had quit. Today we would not have sunflowers and so many of his other works to enjoy.

How do you respond to failure? When you fail, particularly in your struggle to become a better person, how do you respond?

It is interesting to look at the circumstances in which both Judas and Peter found themselves just prior to Jesus death and then to compare how they responded. Judas betrayed Jesus. Peter turned his back on and denied Jesus. They both failed. They both fell. The difference is not that one of them failed and one of them succeeded. No. The difference is how they responded to failure.

Judas experienced discouragement as a result of his betrayal. He allowed his discouragement to be transformed by pride  into despair. His pride was his defeat.

Peter also experienced discouragement as a result of his denial. He allowed his discouragement to be transformed by humility into hope. His humility was his victory.

With whom do you identify when you fail? Judas or Peter? Are you prideful or do possess humility?

Get used to failing. We all fail sometimes. It is often the key to success. It is a big part of human existence and it’s an inevitable part of the struggle. But if you persevere you will emerge victorious and fulfilled. So often it is our fear of failing that prevents us from attempting to change and from seeking the joy we desire.

Powerful stuff.  Simply put! Pride vs. Humility. Pride wasted my best years. I trust you learned humility early. Regardless, it is never too late to CHANGE! Blessings as you fail forward traveling FORTH in Spirit empowered humility>>>>    merlin

Greetings readers. This week I am simply providing you some quotes from Matthew Kelly’s book “A Call to Joy: Living in the Presence of God” from its first chapter, “The Voice of God.”

This book was written over 20 years ago when Matthew was 23 years old. In the prior five years, Matthew spoke to over a million people in seminars, talks, and retreats in 46 countries. Millions more have been touched by his writings and appearances on major radio and television programs worldwide. Young, charismatic,and extraordinarily engaging, Matthew comes to the aid of a generation desperately searching for some meaning in life deeper than the pursuit of material things. Exploring the challenges of our modern world, he brilliantly puts into context the unchanging truths of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. In a Call to Joy, he shares both his remarkable personal story and his uniquely inspiring insights on faith, love, and the trials and triumphs of the spiritual life.

Enjoy!

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the world, there is a whisper in the marketplace. The whisper is the voice of God. He is calling to you. He is beckoning to you. He is gently inviting you to a quiet place, and His call is a call to joy. If you listen, you can hear His voice saying, “Come to Me.” He is calling you into His presence so that your life may become a dance for joy.

Holiness is about grasping the moments of each day and using them to grow and become a better person and about assisting others in achieving the same. It is this that gives glory to God.

Smile, say less and listen more, pray, and trust.

A smile is an invitation, and invitation to someone else to dance for joy.

The following is a true story. One day a priest found himself walking through the Bowery in New York City, a place where many homeless people can be found. The priest was with three friends, and they were on their way to take a ferry ride. As they walked along, they came upon a man sitting on the pavement. He was very dirty and look depressed. When he met the priest’s eyes, he beckoned to him to come over. Touched, the priest move toward him. But his friends quickly spoke up: “Come on, you don’t want to go near that bum.”

The priest ignored their warning and move still closer while his friends watched in amazement. The priest said a few words to the man. Then he smiled and moved on to catch the ferry.

As they were waiting to board, the same man came running up to the priest, sobbing like a child; he pulled out a gun and said, “Father, just before you walked along this morning I was about to go down an alley and blow my brains out. When you came along I waved to you and you responded to my call, my cry, my plea. Then you spoke to me as you would speak to someone you love, but it wasn’t any of this that stopped me from doing what I had planned. As you started to leave, you looked deep into my eyes and smiled. It was a first sign of human affection that I’ve been shown in seven years and I just wanted you to know that today your smile has given me life.“

The two spoke for a while, and the priest discovered that this man had been once been a doctor practicing at John Hopkins Hospital. Then the priest gave him his blessing and went on his way.

Later, the priest went to the hospital to find out what he could about this man.He brought the man’s name up to various doctors and nurses and was told that he had in fact been a doctor there, but he was having some trouble so he left. No one knew where the priest could find him now.

Three years later the phone rang and the priest was greeted by a well-spoken voice saying, “Hello, I’m Dr. Lawson. Remember me? From the Bowery? I’m back at the hospital now. I just wanted you to know a smile can make a difference, sometimes all the difference.“

If you do nothing else today, smile at someone who needs to see you smile.

Say less and listen more. These five words have improved my relationships with people more than any others. Everyone has a story. Your story is the thread of your life. It is when we lose or forget our story that our lives begin to fall apart.

Experience is not the only teacher.

The voice of God never ceases in our lives; he just uses different channels.

We are always wanting to know more, yet we are often not prepared to listen. We want to know more, but we do not live what we already know.

Our big struggle takes place between the false self and the true self. The more we abandon the false self and surrender to the true self, the more we grow in perfection. This battle takes place primarily in our hearts. It is a battle between power and love, between the love of power and the power to love. As we discover and nurture our true selves through prayer and reflection, the power to love grows in our hearts and defeat its enemy, reducing our love of power.

Suffering puts us in touch with what is really important. Sacrifice spells out our commitment and confirms our love.

Nothing in this life is a coincidence. There are no accidents, just providence. Providence, providence, all is providence.

To breathe is not a right, it is a gift.

One of the first steps toward being able to recognize and be in touch with the divine plan for you is discovering the difference between a right and a gift. In the modern Western world we have an interesting combination of an overdeveloped sense of rights and over developed ego. When the two are mixed together, they form an extremely harmful formula known as U4 (unfulfilled, unhappy, unsatisfied, and unbearable).

I don’t under stand why I’m alive, or why I wake up each day, how I breathe, and many other things, but I do know that one day I will not wake up. Death, however, is not a mystery. Life is the mystery. Life is sacred.

Life is to be reverenced in all its forms.

To hear his voice you must be willing to change and obey his words. To achieve the necessary frame of mind and heart, we must recognize that God is good and that he calls us to do what is best. His challenge to change is much more than just that. His challenge to change is really a call to growth and to fulfillment. Fulfillment for a person is not a place, it is not a destination, it is a path. Journeying along the path is fulfilling. Standing still on the path is depressing.

When you stand still, you reject “the struggle” and you refuse to change and grow. Simultaneously you reject fulfillment, happiness, the dance for joy, and everything else that is eternally good.

God is your Father. He is a loving Father with wonderful plans for his children. Regardless of the greatest plan you can put together for yourself with the greatest power of your imagination, his plan is better, greater, more exciting, and more rewarding. Believe in his plan. Ask him to reveal his plan to you. Then listen…

Standing still on the path is depressing..  Believe in his plan. Ask him to reveal his plan to you. Then listen. Blessings as you GO FORTH ON YOUR PATH!   merlin

Good evening readers! I have not sat down to write in nearly two weeks …. which is a record  for me since I began this blog. This was certainly not by design, for even prior to my accident and Loretta “nursing” me thru that season, she was planning two 10 day trips this summer and I’ve been adamant that they occur regardless. But what we didn’t plan for was her mother being hospitalized prior and for me now to be responsible for her care while Loretta is elsewhere. But everyone has been helping and all is well.

Actually, it is really a neat experience to spend so much time with Eileen. I’ve “experienced”four additional mothers after losing mine in ’72. I have two presently yet on earth to enjoy, both 93 now, and of course Eileen is immediate family, not an adoption. Perhaps I need to write a book on the dynamics and blessings of being a “vagabond son” and “adopted” by three “experienced” and one “inexperienced” mothers after being “orphaned” at the mature age of 23. Most interesting!    

FYI, I do have a specific chair from which I write in my office. Certainly not fancy, actually wicker. But now here at mom’s, I either sit on the living room couch or at the kitchen table. And I do have the couch covered with books and papers, but worse, is I have not brought a printer over so I make a frequent journey of 102 steps to our home for that or whatever else I may need.

But even more interesting , is how I process several books at once in addition to scripture. I’m reading the One Year Bible again after a twelve year break and the experience is just choice. I am also back to listening to the Message version of the NT again as I did extensively five years ago providing much joy.

I always have a new book ready on audible while driving or similarly focused as such on a  “trial basis” to determine if this new book’s message “moves” me sufficiently to study it more closely later on Kindle when I will underline it. Then, if I think I’ll really refer to it frequently and loan copies to whomever, I’ll even order a hard copy.

It seems there is always one book God has me virtually “inhaling.” Be better if He could just direct deposit it in my brain but truth be told, he has sorta promised that via the Holy Spirit with Scripture, hasn’t He?  In fact, I’m currently listening to Bevere’s “God, Where Are You?! Finding Strength and Purpose In Your Wilderness”  multiple times and specific chapters, maybe even 5 or 6 times. This book is spot on for my life choices today and is also giving me insight to both past and present challenges.

Recently I was told to read for entertainment. I seldom read now strictly for entertainment. The exception to that recently has been all of Paul Stutzman’s books. And I’m sure there’ll be other authors like him who I’ll meet when timely and prudent. At this moment of my life’s focus, I consider all my virtue wisdom books as my form of entertainment. You must understand I didn’t start reading significantly until I was 65. My mistaken thinking prior was I just didn’t have “time.” Now I more fully understand the futility of my self-imposed “desert experience.” By not reading scripture significantly or the virtue/wisdom books, I continually destroyed the potential life giving energy in both my vertical and horizontal relationships reducing my opportunity to “wake up and smell the roses” and “get a life” worth living, both for myself, and with all those persons in proximity to me.

Enough about the necessity of reading. My biggest pet peeve today about typical weekly church pew squatters is the impression I get at least from many, is they don’t read the “good stuff.” And that was exactly me for many years! When you’ve been a non-reader as long as I, (usually non-readers are also non-learners …  remember the Bernard quote in a recent post?) you sorta have a sixth sense about what’s going on in a non-readers life. Perhaps it can even be said, you can read non-readers like a book?

I dare say if the only reading you ever do is your daily reading in the One Year Bible and if you approach that as the opportunity for God to speak truth and wisdom into your life, you will be surprised at how frequently you’ll find something; a truth, an insight, a new understanding, etc. And if your faith is real, in the moment, and in community,  you just gotta share it with someone. However, in the event that your daily Bible reading is merely to check your “did it box,” as I did for thirteen years, it will be sadly and largely, a waste of your time. Your time may be better spent talking with your kids or spouse. I do believe podcasts do not replace reading of scripture though such may enrich your reading profoundly.

If I’m honest with myself and you, I’ve indeed spent much of my life in a DWE. Perhaps not literally, because many of you know I first came to Wayne County OH 51 years ago from MN, a frozen wilderness and you’re not likely aware how I lived in “real time” spiritual deprivation and all its catastrophic losses …especially in relationships, both vertically and horizontally.

Perhaps we’ll talk more about our “desert/wilderness experiences (DWE’s)” next time. I understand it seldom  rains in the desert. If you desire water, it will have to be drawn from wells or springs. John 7:37-39 NKJV states “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Note that it is not the outpouring (rain) of the Spirit of God that we are apt to experience in the desert. Rather, in the desert, we must draw deep from within our heart, for actually it is from the fountain or well of God that these refreshing waters arise.

Just how does this happen to us? Read Isaiah 11: 2 NKJV where the prophet Isaiah explains the nature of how the Spirit works flowing like rivers out of the believer’s heart.“ And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”

Consider also these supporting Scriptures:

Proverb 18:4“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook” (NKJV).

Proverb 16:22 “Understanding is a well spring of life to him who has it” (NKJV).

Proverb 20:5 “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out” (NKJV).

I believe the key word is “draw.” Remember, the waters of refreshment in the desert do not come from the Spirit’s rain but must be “drawn” from the heart.

I like Proverb 10:11 that says, “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life …”(NKJV). Even better is Proverb 15:23 “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth”(NKJV). Such as when you suddenly realize while living life in real time, you have an Ah Ha moment, and you know that you know! ….The reality is the “Truth having been internalized” is now suddenly flowing out from within you. It should be no great surprise. Truth in, Truth out. Thank you Jesus!

I think too often I have gotten discouraged with the surroundings of my DWE continually pleading with God to do “something” and so I stagnate (sit, soak, and sour) on the “on deck circle” waiting for whatever to materialize. And since it doesn’t or hadn’t, we are tempted to build a “house” there and get comfortable, you  know how it is; keep the job, buy bottled water, install heat and AC. Not a  good idea! Deserts are temporary. Wildernesses require living in “tents” so we can move out quickly. We must be tenacious and persistent in our drive to experience the fullness of God. We must drill deep into our “being” continually supported by scripture as God utilizes the desert to build up our strength and  stamina for our future battles. Understand the DWE is where God brings us to teach us that any attempt on our part to do something for Him, apart from his leading and ability, is merely futility!

God does not waste our less than desirable sinful experiences. We were already forgiven before conceived and upon our confession and subsequent restoration, we are then empowered for his service, possibly in even the very area we experienced our most devastating failures. Now isn’t that scary? Suddenly perhaps a grass hut in Africa and being shoe less doesn’t sound so bad? I say that because something similar is always given as the worst possible nightmare for entering kingdom work!  Even more so, your personal experiential truth!

And when God has us wandering in the DW, please realize God is not wasting time. Actually, He is the one who redeems our time. Where I am today is a vital component of where I am going. Look at it as being the process of going from the promise to ultimately, the promotion. That is the real fulfillment God desires for us. He is God, the Author and Finisher. Continually live in the moment … trust Him and obey what He is showing you today!

John Bevere says it well. “Just because we don’t feel his presence in the prayer closet does not mean that He is denying us. Therefore, our joy is not based on how we feel. Rather, it is based on who He is and the privilege we have of being related to Him. So, we see past the lies of being denied and instead realize He is drawing us out … toward the deeper wells!”

I prefer to think of the DWE as God bringing us first into a state of contentment, but not complacency, so we can live fully engaged in the present. Consider the lives of both Joseph and David. Such patience!

Prepare to go forth all you tent dwellers, move out now since you’ve drank deeply of those cool refreshing waters from your heart. Live in the moment. Accept your divine orders. Conquer your promised land!>>>>> …… merlin

I am continually amazed at how God provides such an abundance of truths from the wisdom writings and how they mesh or flow into my circumstances today. Perhaps I’m encouraged to move ahead in confidence, or to wait patiently though seldom with adequate understanding. Perhaps I’m merely awaiting  confirmation, but all too often it seems, the experience requires a very painful but oh so necessary, total reworking of me and everything I hold dear, or increasingly, NOT dear enough!  

I am increasingly aware I have either developed, been given, or am acquiring  a dream/desire to communicate by writing. Isn’t that just totally absurd? Me write? Who would ever take time to read it? And what would I ever write about? I’m still waiting for several articulate readers to step forth with a heavy dose of a reality check!

In my defense though, coaching protocols today encourage us to discover or uncover our dreams/desires and this leads us frequently back into our earlier days, maybe even back to grade school, to a time when circumstances overruled  dreams and desires. Perhaps your dreams and desires were restrained, repressed, discouraged, misunderstood, or for sure at least, not practical in your life situation then or later for whatever reason. And only now sadly, are you and I finally having the luxury of discovering how the God given desires of our hearts are so intricately interwoven with our natural skills and abilities even though as I did my entire life, lied to myself while pursuing all my other adventures while in my workaholic stupor. Hopefully, you were not as obsessed as I!    

You know this writing all began quite innocently as Loretta had encouraged me to write throughout our marriage but I seldom obliged. I literally had nothing to write about. No creativity was present. Then our two younger sons several years ago threw in their support and this past November, our eldest set me up with a blog that was all new to me. But I did write, or tried at least. Basically, I just looked out the windows, admired the beauty, and started typing.

Some of you remember those first posts. Actually, the first post comes up when you google merlinsmustache.com as “Greetings.” As I recall, Ben was getting ready to leave when he said “you need to quick write something introductory” so he could show me the process before he left. Now I am surprised the post is as coherent as it is considering the time frame of its birth.  

The very thought I would someday enjoy spending hours communicating through a keyboard when I never even took a typing class, was a huge stretch … but  now I even have a future list of subjects I am looking forward to developing when time permits.  

All I can say at this moment on Friday afternoon at 4:59 PM, is this. I find it simply amazing how God has worked in us as Loretta and I are two very imperfect vessels,  especially I. True, we had been considering God’s will or suggestions for our retirement for years. Howbeit now, the focus has evolved into a  consuming passion for us since the 9/18/18 accident. We are not persons of great faith or even significant prayer warriors. But being sidelined on the bench has provided me time for considerable reading, listening, and prayer coupled with an intense seeking to know and experience God as I have never done prior, and it has been in a few words, “simply marvelous.”

Never in my life have I been as happy, fulfilled, and filled with expectations when I really have no concrete basis for such. It certainly is not because I have any great predictions for my liking to write or because I’m getting any accolades from anyone anywhere!

Recently I was listening to an evangelist relate his wilderness experience of God earlier leading him into significant kingdom building activities progressing toward the dream he had heard from God years earlier, but then all the events in this couple’s life were disrupted for several years. And during their wilderness times of silence, solitude and simplicity, he heard God say “I just wanted to know if you were really in love with me, or merely with the dream of what I could do for you.” And that stopped me dead in my tracks as I was working in the lab at the time when I heard it. I hit the 30 second rewind button on audible twice to hear it again. And again. Yes, those 25 words suddenly turned the lights on for me spiritually. Am I actually so in love with Jesus, seeking His righteousness, His holiness, His presence, regardless of the task, OR was I only in love with the dream of what He could do for me. May I explain. 

Only of late do I realize how I have been so deceived in my past quests for spiritual accomplishment. Yes, decades ago I was likely unknowingly the model Pharisee at my church. Eventually I “matured,” and saw the error of my ways and actually went underground by just staying off the platform choosing instead to engage others in their stories of their faith walks and be an encouragement as a faith facilitator. During my Pharisee stint,  I once focused my “merlin’s project attention” on several men outside the church without faith and in visible need of a relationship with Jesus.

There are several key words here: “merlin’s project” and “visible.” The first, project, is what addictive people, such as myself do when they hide behind rather than face their separation from God and remain synthetic in their relationships. Visible in the fact it was readily apparent these men needed Jesus  but what was not visible to me, though it was very visible to Loretta, was the extent to which I personally needed healing and restoration before I could speak truth into these men’s lives. “Merlin’s projects” continually during our marriage consumed and diverted my energy and attention away from my wife and family, even and especially, my spiritual growth, illustrating so well the hypocrisy of these hidden addictions that we often unknowingly tolerate in our relationships, families, churches and communities.

Addictions in addition to those we normally consider, are also found in such as food, travel, entertainment, continual self-centered thoughts, shopping, media, clothes, image, financial security, name brands, children’s activities, sports, software, pets, landscaping, gardens, books, google, tools, music, attitudes, conversation, busyness, intellectualism, creativity, hobbies, politics, minimalism, demonic, spiritualism, reading, games, and especially, physical health and well being, etc.

Understand we human beings are very capable of making virtually anything “addictive” if we inadvertently shift our essential purpose from being “human beings” reflecting God’s-best-possible-version-of-us; to merely becoming “human doings,” reflecting our consumptive addictive busyness and-less-than-desirable-version-of-ourselves.

 Is it possible we’ve been trying too hard to facilitate healing for others as I did with those two men, when actually we desperately need first to receive healing from our “hidden” addictions ourselves? And then when we do recognize our hypocrisy, rather than immediately seeking forgiveness, restoration, and empowerment as we ought, we are embarrassed and understandably so… so we sit , soak, and sour in the safety of our pew, until we just can’t handle all the hypocrisy any longer, so we split. I keep wondering what effect these “hidden addictions” or “displaced affections” are having in our congregations today.  Perhaps this explains why some today are seemingly so easily withdrawing their church support and attendance. 

Or consider addiction’s effect from a different angle. You have heard it said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. That is not from the Sermon on the Mount either! I believe every area of life can be weakened by one area of addiction.  Mahatma Gandhi once wrote, “Man cannot do right in one department of life while he is occupied in doing wrong in another department. Life is one indivisible whole.” And we all know only the blood of Jesus and His righteousness can make our lives “one indivisible whole” and once and for all, stop all of this daily trivial pursuit nonsense full of excuses addictions! 

I shared all of this to simply say this. I am only now learning to dream real dreams. I have had many dreams over the years but I never wrote them down. Dreams not written down and reviewed frequently are merely of-no- effect-wishes! Likely most of these wishes were quite selfish and self serving rather than “restorative and healing” to both  myself and others in our quest to become the-best-versions-of-ourselves/themselves.

The question now for me this Friday evening on June 14, 2019 is “Do I trust God with my desire to communicate to whomever wherever however with whatever?” Or is my desire, enjoyment and dream to write, merely another one of “merlin’s misdirected self-centered addictive projects” in my feeble attempt at spiritual discovery, hopefully fulfillment? Time will tell. It usually (or always) does.

How about you? Is God tweaking your heart strings yet about anything possibly addictive for you? Are you on the path presently experiencing “restoration and healing,” not only for yourself, but also with the others in your life from over the years, where now, for whatever reason, it seems relationships may have weakened, perhaps even  “soured?” And if so, for very little fault of your own, but you know now without a doubt, that you solely have the power and even quite possibly, the responsibility to initiate the process to make both yourself and “all of them” the best-possible-version-of-themselves now, and hopefully, even guide them into eternity.  Can you trust God on this? The time is now. Become a faith facilitator. Many are watching you! Your destiny and your legacy lie in the balance.

Everything in life begins with a thought, leading to conversation, leading to relationship, leading to dreams and desires, leading to choices and decisions, leading to destiny and legacy, leading to joy or misery ….

Listening, asking questions and offering accountability is what I do.

Destination discovery, goal setting and implementing is what you do.

Celebrating victories is what we do.

Blessings as you go forth now resisting addictions by continually facilitating restoration and healing>>>>   merlin

   

In the prior post titled“on the legitimacy of intellect as a primary human need,” we were encouraged to feed our minds and ask ourselves what stories are we listening to.  But of far greater consequence is the fact that our intellectual needs are seldom seen as urgent and therefore not pursued, and for sure, seldom if ever from the “wisdom writings.”

In time our intellectual desires merely slither away like a snake into a forgotten dark abyss replaced by today’s never-ending barrage of written, verbal and masterfully imaged “largely addictive consumptive noisy trash” in stark comparison to the “wisdom writings of the past” and some of  the contemplative authors of today. As we each tend to our spiritual garden, its needs and desires, we produce clarity, direction, continuity, integrity, etc. and soon discover our other three primary needs; physical, emotional, and intellectual, will all fall into a desirable and productive perspective.    

Today we will reflect briefly on our perceived spiritual needs that I alluded to earlier. I resonate with Kelly’s mention of silence, solitude, and simplicity starting on page 60 in “Rhythms of Life” … and again, since he explains it so well, I’m simply sharing it here and now with you, howbeit in a condensed format similar to Readers Digest Condensed Books. (Please note the verses and comments in parentheses among Kelly’s italicized text in bold are my additions.) Enjoy.    

Only here in the area of spirituality do we come to understand most fully our other legitimate needs – physical, emotional, and intellectual – and gain the insight to live a life that enriches, upholds, and protects our well-being in each of these areas.

Our spiritual needs have a tendency to change as the seasons of our lives change. Each of us has a unique spiritual journey. In different stages of the journey, we have different needs. And yet, there are some needs that are unchanging and necessary in all seasons of our lives – silence, solitude, and simplicity.

The noise of the world is preventing us from hearing the gentle voice within that always counsels us to embrace the-best-version-of-ourselves. We will begin to hear this voice again only when we make a habit of withdrawing from the noise in the world and immersing ourselves in silence. Nothing brings priority to our days like a period of silence each morning. (and especially so after reading Scripture such as the One Year Bible!)

Every day we are faced with a myriad of choices and opportunities. We need time away from all the other voices to discern which of these choices and opportunities will enable us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves and which are merely distractions.

It is also in silence and solitude that life’s preeminent challenge is proposed to us. Brother Silence and Sister Solitude unveil the person we are today with all our strengths and weaknesses, but they also remind us of the better person we know we can be.

In the silence, we see at one time the person we are now and the person we are capable of becoming. In seeing these two visions at one time, we are automatically challenged to change and grow and become the-best-version-of-ourselves. It is precisely for this reason that we fill our lives with noise, to distract ourselves from the challenge to change.

Commitment to the purpose of becoming the best-version-of-ourselves is the singular key to living life meaningfully and passionately.

Silence has been a great friend to the extraordinary men and women of every age. Many of life‘s great lessons can be learned only in the classroom of silence, especially those that teach us about our individual talents and how we can use them to fulfill our destiny.

Blaise Pascal, the 17th century French philosopher, scientist, mathematician, and writer, wrote: “All of man’s miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone.“ Learn to be quiet. Learn to be still. These are among most valuable lessons in our journey. (Be still and Know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations…. Psalms 46:10)

We come now to the spiritual need of simplicity. Simplicity is one of the governing principles of the universe, yet with every passing century humanity looks to greater complexity to solve its problems and improve its life. If we learn once again to listen to the gentle voice within, we will hear it counseling us many times a day to simplify our lives. When the voices of the world propose the multiple complexities of modern living, the gentle voice within will whisper: Why complicate your life? 

Simplify. Simplify. Simplify your life and you will find the inner peace that the poets and saints of every age have coveted more than any possession. Silence. Solitude. Simplicity. Three great friends! They may be the subtlest of our legitimate needs, but when they are honored our spirits soar to unimaginable heights, and we are left only to wonder how or why we ever followed the promptings of all the jeering voices of this world.

When we tend to our legitimate spiritual needs, everything else seems to fall into perspective. Only then are we able to let go of the past, wait patiently for the future, and live with an intense passion for life in the joy of the here and now. We feel healthy. We feel more fully alive. Our lives fill with vitality, and life becomes an exciting adventure instead of the day-to-day drudgery of counting the minutes away.

The fulfillment of our legitimate spiritual needs leads us to place our essential purpose at the center of our daily lives. When silence, solitude, and simplicity become a part of the fabric of our lives, we are much less inclined to neglect our other legitimate needs. Only with the focus, perspective, and vitality that are born from the spiritual disciplines will we ever learn to transform each moment and experience of our lives into opportunities to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. Spirituality brings clarity, direction, continuity, and integrity to our lives.

The reason most of us neglect our legitimate needs (physical, emotional, intellectual,spiritual) is that we are too busy pursuing our illegitimate wants. We ignore our legitimate needs because we erroneously believe if we get enough of our illegitimate wants, it won’t matter that we are not taking care of our legitimate needs. This is a fallacy of monumental proportions because you can never get enough of what you don’t really need because fulfillment comes only from having what you need.

Notice I included the first paragraph of the next chapter, Beyond Our Wants. Kelly correctly identifies our problem, as needing to move beyond our superficial wants so as to begin to discover our deepest legitimate desires. We will discover our needs and desires are divinely and providentially linked. Imagine that!

Thanks for reading. Blessings as you go forth in your spiritual discovery of SILENCE, SOLITUDE, & SIMPLICITY (You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:7-8) >>>>   merlin

The prior post titled Intro To Real Life Coaching RLC 101 was indeed long enough to be a chapter in a book. I do apologize but here forth I shall try to shorten them. You must read and digest the prior post before beginning this one or you will not understand either fully as it is my only post introducing the essence of life coaching.

Basically RLC 101  was about learning to live life wisely … referencing Romans 5:1-5. Frequently we get lazy and resist being life-long learners. We can all identify with the “not getting in the car example and going to the beach” at some time or another in our life, as well as the elation and exuberance we feel when we continually re-discover the essential purpose and meaning for our life! Seldom ever merely “once & done!”

The remainder of this post is taken verbatim from the book “The Rhythms of Life: Living Every Day with Passion & Purpose” by Matthew Kelly. I’ve chosen this portion of text beginning on page 56 because I believe its emphasis on our legitimate intellectual needs is both a logical and pertinent continuation for my stated rational of coaching intellectually in RLC 101. Kelly states, intellectual needs are never urgent, when compared particularly to our physical and emotional needs; perhaps less true for our perceived spiritual needs. I have no need to be personally innovative or “re-state (reinvent) the wheel” when a gifted author such as  Kelly states my sentiments on “Christians getting lazy intellectually” so well. I call it “maximizing stewardship efficiency” (MSE). Time and energy are always limited regardless of age.

Enjoy being stretched!.

“Ideas shape our lives. Ideas shape history. We all have a need for a constant flow of ideas that inspire us, challenge us, illumine our minds, teach us about ourselves and our world, show us what is possible, and encourage us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves.

We need a diet of the mind just as much as we need a diet of the body. The ideas we feed our mind today tend to form our lives tomorrow.

I think of it in this way: We become the stories we listen to. It does not matter if we get those stories from movies, music, television, newspapers, magazines, politicians, friends, or books – the stories we listen to form our lives. But perhaps the more important question is what stories do you listen to? What stories are forming your life?

Our problem is that our intellectual needs are never urgent, so it is easy to overlook them. When was the last time you said to yourself,  “I urgently need to read a good book today?” It doesn’t happen. Why? For one, our intellectual needs are not primary needs. If we neglect them, we won’t die. But mental vitality leads to physical, emotional, and spiritual vitality. Everything in our lives begins as a thought.

The reason people neglect their intellectual development is that they associate books and learning with school and work. Most people have very little leisure time, and they don’t want to spend that time doing what they perceive as“work.“ One of the great tragedies of modern education systems is that they are failing to instill a love of learning. All too often, learning is seen only as a means to an end. It is necessary to pass an exam, or get a degree, or gain a promotion. Learning, like so many other aspects of modern living, has been violently disconnected from our essential purpose.

When we take all of this into account, it is easy to understand why most people neglect their legitimate need for personal intellectual stimulation. At the same time, to neglect our phenomenal abilities to think, reason, decide, imagine, and dream is to enormously limit our potential.

In the category personal intellectual stimulation, we could read magazines about fashion, gardening, sports, finance, music, farming, woodworking, or any other area of interest. We will be entertained, but it is unlikely that we will be challenged to raise our standards and become the-best-version-of-ourselves. To really stretch ourselves, we must delve into the wisdom writings. Selections could include a variety of philosophical texts, the writings of countless spiritual leaders past and present, and the scriptures. It is in these writings that the intellect comes face-to-face with the most profound questions and truths about the world, creation, God, humanity, and our individual journeys. Wisdom writings constantly hold before us a vision of the-best-version-of-ourselves. These writings seek not to entertain us but to reveal to us who we are and why we are here. The wisdom writings gently call us out of our comfort zones and challenge us to improve, develop, grow, and live life to the fullest.

Our intellectual needs are many and varied. Most of us have a need for a professional intellectual focus. We all need different forms of entertaining intellectual stimulation. But we must challenge ourselves to move beyond these intellectual comfort zones and to embrace writings that challenge us to ponder  the deeper questions, truth, and mysteries of our existence. As Mark Twain wrote, “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them. “

Books change our lives. I believe that with my whole heart. In the room where I write in my home, I have more than a thousand books. But on the top shelf of one of the bookcases at eye level I have 37 books. Each of these books has had an enormous impact on my life. I can tell you where I bought them, what city in the world I was in when I read them, and what the circumstances and situations of my life were at the time. From time to time, when I become discouraged, confused, lonely, fearful, or simply begin to doubt my life, and myself, I go to that bookshelf. I glance along that row of books and one of those books  calls out to me. I take it from the shelf and rediscover the inspiration that first earned it a place on the top shelf.

Our bodies need regular exercise and a balanced diet, and so do our minds. You have a legitimate need to nourish your mind. If you choose the right diet of the mind, your life will be directed by ideas of excellence and greatness. If you allow the media and secular culture to select your intellectual diet, your life will be formed by distraction and mediocrity.

Books change our lives. Begin your own great book collection. Choose books that will help you to achieve your essential purpose and become the-best-version-of-yourself. Make daily reading one of the defining habits of your life.”

Blessings as You Go Forth Reveling in Your Newly Acquired

Appreciation of Your Intellect>>>>    Merlin

PS: The offer is still good if you desire my help in creating for you a preliminary personal book list.       merlin.erb@gmail.com

Good morning on this third day of June 2019. It has been a phenomenal week with doors opening, new venues, and numerous possibilities. But I did learn of one shocking revelation, the type that initially strikes mild terror in ones heart, but then, after reflecting on who really is in charge, peace was soon restored. I have heard truth and justice always prevails, but sometimes I sure do wish they would prevail a bit faster!

I was reminded today of this perspective in my reading of these verses from Romans 5: 1-5. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only that but rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

 May these words under gird this post and invigorate your faith walk today.

God is increasingly exposing me to other people’s pain and their life’s dis-satisfactions, and now as I’m about to begin living as a life coach, I guess I had best understand that only by guiding people into self-discovery of their life’s fulfillment, can I ever expect to be paid for any of my services. The benefit of using coaching questions  rather than advising or telling in a mentor or consultant role is very simple.

Questions hold the power to cause us to think, create answers we believe in, and motivate us to act on our ideas. Asking moves us beyond passive acceptance of what others say, or staying stuck in present circumstances, to aggressively applying our creative ability to the problem.

Coaching starts with the assumption that the key to change is not so much knowing what to do, rather, it is being motivated to do it. Research shows ( and experience confirms ) that people are more motivated to carry out their own ideas and solutions. Asking creates buy-in, and buy-in gets results. Tony Stoltzfus in his books on leadership coaching whom I refer to frequently, estimates 80% of his clients already know what to do; they just don’t have the confidence to step out and do it. Self-confidence is a huge factor in change.

The discipline of coaching uses relational influence to empower clients to take responsibility for their goal achievement. Or more succinctly, coaching is client centered, relationship based, and goal-driven. Coaching builds on that foundation by examining the four skill areas in the coaching conversation: listening, asking, acting, and supporting.

For all you other fellow Christian coaches in residence, I presume the Holy Spirit exposes you to other people’s challenges and dis-satisfactions much like me; always in his divine timing, though we may never consider such interventions always necessary or beneficial for us. Today individualism is rampant in western cultures and in the church as well, and frequently in conflict with kingdom living as set forth in the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew chapters 5-7.  Although historically significant in the early church, today the Sermon on the Mount is experiencing diminished value. It is rarely taught, seldom caught and hardly ever, visible in action.

In Mark 1:17 we read Jesus invited Simon and Andrew to “follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.” Perhaps that invitation by Jesus serves as the first example of Jesus implementing a universal call to life coaching thereby commissioning all of us to  consider coaching on some level in life, at least if we take his “fishing” and“kingdom living” invitations seriously. Has the church now relegated “making you fishers of men” to merely adding converts:  “making a decision for Christ,” be baptized, join a church, do your share, pay your share, etc.? And increasingly, we see being baptized and joining a church less emphasized favoring even greater individualism. Is this a natural outcome of the social club gospel? Where is the transformation, the empowerment, the joy, the happiness, the hope, the fulfillment for us in all that?  

And so as we“on deck coaches” await our assignments, the majority of this observed pain in other people’s challenges and dis-satisfactions, appear much like an open Windows screen that is always in the background on your Desktop and only rarely do you accidentally click on it…. and instantly your memory is refreshed of all those past “Patterns of Defeat” as Kelly calls them, that squander now not only your time, but even more devastating, suck down the energy level of your mind instantly …. compared to your physical stamina which is usually good for hours… unless of course, it’s drawn down too in similar fashion by the Windows memory refresh.

So how does this work for real? Imagine just seconds prior to physical competition such as in a track or swimming event, this devastating negative instant replay of a past failure appears, that causes your mind again to become a major obstacle and you are powerless, you lose your edge, your focus, and too often, you do not even place in the competition. For some of you, these “Windows of pain” are all about you; for others, you may identify through the relationship of spouse, family, business, work, church or mere acquaintances.

By now we all recognize we are indeed a piece of work needing God’s restorative touch in order to become the best-possible-version-of-ourselves as coined by Matthew Kelly in many of his books. And I realize even though I am very much a novice in this coaching field yet, I have been in training all my married life as I am now beginning  to piece together the processes that occurred within me as Loretta and others attempted to guide me to gain and implement spiritual truths in my search and rescue. Or rather than, as gain and implement, you might be more accurate to say learned and obeyed. I am now quite convinced had I been lovingly confronted and coached or discipled (actually I needed considerable discipline early on) into real learning as I have been in recent months, I could have accomplished in merely years what took decades, judging now by my growth since September 18, 2018. God desires us to mature in his wisdom,to be fully discipled or coached in truth, and then in return, to disciple or coach others for kingdom living.

Because of my slow spiritual maturation, I now understand just how easy it is to become so deceived and sidetracked. Early on even in high school and perfected during my college years and early adulthood, I became this church organization person in love with church trivia; genealogies, leadership, program, name dropping, a classic modern day Pharisee indeed! All the despicable stuff I see now as I look in my rear view mirror. May God forgive me!

I say all that to say this. Kelly in his book “Perfectly Yourself: Discovering God’s Dream For You” has a quote from Benjamin Barber that echoes deeply within me: “I divide the world into learners and non-learners. There are people who learn, who are open to what happens around them, who listen, and who hear the lessons. When they do something stupid, they don’t do it again. And when they do something that works a little bit, they do it even better and harder the next time. The question to ask is not whether you are a success or a failure, but whether you are a learner or a non-learner.”

Because of my history, you can understand how painful it is for me to watch others I love make the same mistakes as I did by not embracing learning to live life wisely. I see resistance to learning everywhere in our cultures of individualism. But it is most disheartening when resistance to learning the lessons of life is so entrenched in the church by those in such close proximity to all the teachings of Jesus necessary to live a joyful, hopeful, and fulfilled life. Revisit Romans 5. Sufferings > Endurance > Character > Hope > No Shame!!! Why? How? Because God’s love has been “poured” (not dripped!) into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

I compare this resistance to spiritual growth to the story I heard of children playing in their sandbox filled mostly of mud when their parents were trying to get them to join them in the car to go to the beach on vacation for a week. They simply were not open to the opportunity their parents wanted so desperately to give them. Either the children couldn’t visualize the opportunity or trust their parents invitation to experience the unknown and give up the security of their mud box.

Oh, I don’t doubt that most all of you know we are lavishly and  infinitely loved, and hopefully, all in receipt of salvation, perhaps have even joined a church and serve on the Board or teach a class. Church culture has a knack of usually making us look good, smell good, and sound wonderful, when in reality, we can be spiritual minimalists and often, quite miserable since too often, we are “knowing” but not “being.” Consider the bright side of that. At least you know! Coaching can help with not the not being. We appear to be spiritual in form but actually possess very little substance or understanding, and seldom have any gas (transformation or empowerment) in our tank even though we always tithe our 10% plus religiously as though it were an insurance premium.

My big error in life occurred because I simply did not trust God with my life early on and I never got in His car as His child and went with Him to the beach to experience all the joy and learning He desired for me. For then, had I trusted Him at the beach, as I grew and matured as a young man facing the challenges of adulthood, I would have learned to trust Him to lead me through the daily intricacies of relationships, careers, lifestyles, exercise, entertainment, money, investments, nutrition, friends, etc. Again, all under girded by suffering with Christ, producing then endurance, then character, then hope, then no shame!  Why & How? Because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  All for my good and His glory!    

So now today, it is my observation that both in our society and the church, there are many individuals very dissatisfied with their present lot in life. Kelly says “It has been his experience that nothing changes a person’s life more than the discovery of one solitary truth: There is meaning and purpose to life. More specifically though than that, it is when ” you discover there is meaning and purpose to your life!

That once established, as presented in Scripture, will open doors for you and enable you to literally fail your way to success IF you  are willing to learn! Daily Bible reading, study of Scripture and reading good books if only 3-5 pages a day, will totally change your outlook and approach to life as you focus on-becoming-the-best-possible-version-of-yourself-you can be. Read Romans 5:1-5 again. Be immersed in its challenge and profound comfort.

Now, I must say though, in the event you are not ready yet for the scriptural emphasis, don’t let that be a deterrent! Be assured that only reading good books by authors I mention frequently and others, will profoundly improve both your disposition and subsequently may quite soon, improve your position in life as well … particularly, for living a more joyful,  hopeful and fulfilled life.

And may I share something else? Frequently, after you read numerous good books, I understand in time reading scripture often becomes meaningful. Strange indeed! Actually, I think not if you really understand and appreciate how God works. Email me for a suggested book list designed specifically for you as a non-believer.

Blessings as you GO FORTH AS A  (coach-in-training) THIS WEEK>>>> merlin

All week I’ve been considering what to share with you this Memorial Day Weekend. The sudden unexpected home going  of my friend Wayne Tuesday morning was bittersweet- he was certainly ready for the journey, but since his passing, I have learned there was so much more to his life than I knew about, and now it is too late to ask. Although in the past five years, I’ve been profoundly touched by a number of local brothers, numerous authors, etc., with the exception of Loretta, I can say Wayne has pushed me out of my spiritual comfort zone more than anyone else.

Wayne is the only person I recall who got me riled up sufficiently to write him  a 1500 word email and then never sent it. Understand though, there were some longer that were sent and likely had been better not sent! Experiential wisdom perhaps!   For by the time my epistle to Wayne  was done, I was healed since God revealed that its message was really more for me rather than him. I must say however I still think it was some of my best writing so far as I did reread it twice since his passing.

A book by Matthew Kelly “A Call to Joy: Living in the Presence of God” has been on my “to be consumed soon” pile for several weeks and I just finished it this evening. I am realizing of late I am now developing an attachment to certain books I read, perhaps similar to the artist who admires a particular panting by another artist, or a musician for another performers rendition of a certain piece. Only with me, it is not because of any identity with the struggle of process or inherent ability, but rather because of an identity with the message. This book could have been my message, no, actually it should have been my message when I was 23 in 1971. Just one small problem though, when I was 19 and a sophomore at Hesston College, I was not listening for a whisper from God, or spiritual insight from our campus pastor, Peter Wiebe, or even my roommate, Lavern. Strange, how I earlier knew I was called but then veered so far off the track for so long.

Perhaps that explains the propensity I have for this author and the message of this book. It’s simply me. It connects the dots. It explains me and the way I think, and the way I think many others think… the under-girding realization that we were designed to live in the moment, always. Not in the future, not in the past, but right now, and totally captivated by the immensity of God’s love for us. Not merely a box we checked off as a youth during Bible School or summer camp, or rechecked again as young adult when we blew it and everyone knew it. No, discovering God’s love for us is such an adventure, living in the moment is breath-taking, like doing 360’s on a stretch of deserted icy Rt 30 and experience no damage. In fact no one else even seen it so you get out and take pictures of the tracks for proof later. I’ve done that. That’s living in the moment. Friendship with God. Real relationship. Acknowledging appreciation for his protection. Realizing I need friends that will do three things for me: teach me to love; teach me to be loved; and lead me to God! And of course, we must reciprocate.

Sometimes I summarize books and email my summaries to the “qualified inquiring minds” ready for such truths. However, this paperback ranks high enough to be read by everyone and in their library for quick referral or loan. For example, consider this clip taken verbatim starting on page 33 before we introduce the book properly.

To breathe is not a right; it is a gift.

One of the first steps toward being able to recognize and be in touch with your divine plan is discovering the difference between a right and a gift. In the modern Western world we have an interesting combination of an overdeveloped sense of rights and an overdeveloped ego. When the two are mixed together, they form an extremely harmful formula known as U4, (unfulfilled, unhappy, unsatisfied, and unbearable).

Even a small dose of this U4 in our lives prevents us from being able to see the plan. Worse still, it renders us blind to the miracles in our life. And failing to recognize the miracles in our lives is one of the major problems in our world. I don’t understand why I am alive, or why I wake up each day, how I breathe, and many other things, but I do know that one day I will not wake up. Death, however, is not the mystery. Life is the mystery. Life is sacred.

Life is to be reverenced in all its forms.

Life is a miracle. But like most people who have wandered through this world, I do not spend enough time pondering the sacredness, the mystery, the wonder, the gift of life. However, whenever I have reflected on the mystery of life, my days have been greatly enriched.

Now I try to open myself to this life by trusting that I am right where I am right now for a reason. There is a plan, a glorious plan – a plan full of miracles.

What follows is the way I have chosen to introduce you to this book; its first four paragraphs and then the final six pages. Enjoy the read!

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the world, there is a whisper in the marketplace. The whisper is the voice of God. He is calling to you. He is beckoning to you. He is gently inviting you to a quiet place, and His call is a call to joy.

If you listen, you can hear his voice saying, “Come to Me.“ He is calling you into His presence so that your life may become a dance of joy. 

Joy is not simply a feeling of happiness. Joy is the all-intoxicating feeling of becoming. It is the greatest of emotional and spiritual sensations. We experience joy when we grow, and we grow when we live in the presence of God and listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I have spent 23 years on this earth and just four years ago I heard the call to joy.

As I was preparing for bed on the evening of April 7, 1993, I realized that I was at a crossroads in my life. Getting into bed that night, I reached for my Walkman from the bedside table so that I could listen to some music before I went to sleep. As I did, I sensed a strong external presence that was urging me not to pick up the Walkman. I ignored the sensation. When I put on the headphones, I had a similar feeling, only this time it was twice as powerful. Again I ignored it.

I turn my Walkman on, and after a few seconds of listening to the music, I felt the same urge for a third time. This time, however, it was almost overpowering. I knew it was something I had never experienced before. I took my Walkman off, got out of bed, and fell to my knees. As I knelt there in the darkness and silence, I asked myself why I was kneeling in the middle of the room at this hour. But before I could answer this question, I heard a voice speak to me – a voice as clear as any voice I have ever heard. “Keep doing what you are doing. Believe in yourself and believe in Me,“ the voice said.

I looked around. There was no one else in the room. My brother was asleep and snoring in the room next to mine. I looked around again, but somehow I knew I wouldn’t find anyone. Thirteen words, yet because of them, my life would never be the same.

An Invitation      Pg.198

In these pages I have tried to share with you the plan of life that the voice of God has proposed to me over the past four years. I have established that the purpose of each human being is to struggle and grow toward his or her fulfillment. It is the struggle, this growth that brings a person joy. This joy is a foretaste of the union with God we called heaven. 

For more than four years now, I have engaged in this struggle. It has been the most fulfilling exercise in my life. I have never known such joy and serenity as that which I know when I engage in the struggle.

Just as there are many aspects of our daily lives as human beings, so there are many aspects to this spiritual struggle. I have tried to cover as many as possible in these pages. However it is not important that we cover every aspect. What is important is that we understand the general principle.

If your goal is to allow the image of God to increase in you by struggling to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ, then this is the general principle: every moment comes bearing a gift.

Each moment is an opportunity. Every set of circumstances provides you with a chance to learn, to grow, and to love God, yourself, your neighbor, and all of creation. Prayer opens your heart and mind and allows you to see these opportunities. Often they will cost you something. What you receive is always  more than what you are asked to give. He that gives lives.

Love is about stepping out of the comfort zone.

Life is meant to be a dance for joy. Be careful how you define joy in your life. The soul hungers for this joy and the journeying soul is always seeking it. The journey is the joy. The joy is the struggle. The struggle is the journey.

Take time to listen occasionally, and to remember the following:

The journey is the struggle to seek, discover, and live truth.

The joy comes from the struggle.

Remember “the struggle“ is the struggle to better yourself, to change, and to grow with courage and patience.

Only two things exist in eternity: joy and misery.

You will not be any happier today than you were yesterday unless you do something different, or at least in a different manner, with a different state of mind or heart.

There are some basic guidelines for making resolutions. Make few of them, preferably one at a time. Write each resolution down. Resolve first to perform your duties and obligations. Examine yourself with regard to your resolution early in the morning and before you retire at night. Do what you resolve. PS And when you do fail, do not quit. Trust in God, humble yourself, and renew your resolution.

Often it is the ordinary, the everyday, the material stuff that connect us with the spiritual.

Love is truth lived.

Joy is the fruit of appreciation. It is impossible to love someone you do not appreciate.

Suffering puts us in touch with what is really important. Sacrifice spells out commitment and confirms love.

The Spirit is joy. When we sin, we choose misery and reject joy.

Prayer allows us to see the person we are and the person we can be.

Truth is the only thing worth living for and the only thing worth dying for.

My obedience to what I know is right brings me joy. My disobedience to what I know is right brings me misery.

Joy is not the absence of pain.

Strength of character comes from prayer.

Your fears are a passport to a new state, to a higher level, to a greater joy.

We become what we love.

What you become is more important than what you do.

This path is a difficult one. It is a path of struggle and heartache, and you will experience both victory and defeat, and defeat upon defeat, but if you persevere you will emerge victorious and fulfilled.

The struggle has a single goal. The tools that help us to maintain the struggle have a single aim. The goal is to live in the presence of God – to recognize that “God is with us, and indeed, within us.“

When Mary came to visit Elizabeth, we are told that the child, John the Baptist, danced for joy in the womb of Elizabeth. Why? He was in the presence of God.

We also read in the Scriptures that David danced for joy before the ark of the covenant. Why? He was in the presence of God.

When we live in the presence of God, our lives become a dance for joy.

There is only one goal, there is only one aim, to live in the presence of God. It is what we desire for eternity and indeed for every moment of our existence.This single idea represents everything good that we desire. Peace, joy, love,happiness belong to those who live in the presence of God.

I have shared with you the principles and ideas that the voice of God has shared with me. I offer them to you as they were offered to me, to be accepted and employed, or rejected and discarded.

For Your Reflection (FYR)

There was once a very wise old hermit living in a small cave high in the mountains. Late each evening, he would walk for many miles, praying and reflecting on the beauty of creation with which God has surrounded him.

One night when he returned to his cave, he discovered a thief who had come to rob him. The hermit’s presence startled the thief, and an uneasy silence filled the cave. After a few moments the wise old man said to the thief, “I have only three things in this world: The bowl from which I eat, and you can have it; the mat on which I sleep, and you can have it; but the third thing I could not possibly give you, so gather the first two and be on your way.“

Far from being satisfied, the thief only became curious about the hermit’s third possession and said, “What is the third thing you cannot give me?“

The hermit replied, “Follow me,“ and led the thief out into the night. They walked through the mountains for miles without exchanging a word until they came to a lake. They stopped on the shore and the hermit stretched his arm out toward the lake and pointed to a beautiful shining silver disk in the middle. The thief stood and stared in silence.

The hermit said quietly and gently, “There is the third thing. It is the face of the moon reflected in the water. It is the wonder and the glory of God reflected in His creation. I come here often, and I contemplate the wonder of God and His creation. I recognize the love that God has for His creation. I see that his love for me is great. It is out of this love for me that he has surrounded me with such beautiful, complex, awesome wonders. Yet while they are magnificent and beautiful, glorious and mysterious, I know that they are only a dim reflection of the God who created them – so great is God. It is in recognizing how wide and deep God’s love is that I see that the love of God I have experienced in my life is only a portion of the love that he has for me. I see the need to open myself a little more to His love.“

A silence fell between the two again. The thief knew he could not possibly take this from the wise old man. More than this, the thief was in awe of the fact that here was a man who had something so great, something of greater value than anything he had ever possessed, yet nobody could ever take it from him.

The hermit stretched out his arm toward the disk once again and broke the silence, saying, “I can point you to it, but I cannot give it to you.“

Go now and seek it and you will receive abundantly.

Seldom have I see a book written as a short story or a mini-novel that presents such a concise and precise presentation of the Gospel in story form in a manner becoming the Anabaptist tradition of not merely making converts, but rather, enabling seekers to become empowered and transformed disciples of Jesus Christ. And the clincher in this short encounter of Nick with Andy, is that its setting is in a real and functioning Christian community, and urban at that, never mind the struggling main character, Nick, at the end of his rope without hope!

I propose it is this book’s emphasis on “discipleship in community” as what distinguishes typical evangelical outreach oriented events such as crusades or men’s events, from the three basic tenants of Anabaptism as presented in Harold S Bender’s landmark documented presentation to the American Society of History in 1942 and later published as “The Anabaptist Vision.” These three tenants are (1.) discipleship for transformation-page 18, (2.)voluntary church membership based on true conversion with a commitment to holy living-page 26; and (3.) the ethic of love and nonresistance as applied to all human relationships – page 30. Please understand me to say loud and clear I believe both methodologies are needed to work in tandem to achieve meaningful church growth.

“How Can Anyone Say God Is Good” was written by Gary Miller, who was raised in CA and today lives with his wife Patty and family in the Pacific Northwest. Gary works with the poor in developing countries and directs the SALT international programs for Christian Aid Ministries. This program offers business and spiritual teaching to those living in chronic poverty, provides small loans, sets up village savings groups, and assists them in learning how to use their God-given resources to become sustainable.

Below is my summary of the 78 page story which is italicized. Immediately after, is a must read, the “Author’s Journey” preparing him for the writing of this story. Contact me if you desire a free copy of the book and join me in its distribution.

Nick is a white male, three years out of college, a computer techie grad, under-employed as a letter carrier at the post office who after a big fight with Jessica, his live-in of 2 years, finds a note explaining she had quite enough and has moved out and of all things, has moved in with his best friend Eric, with whom she had been developing a relationship for the past several months. To top it off, she took their savings and the rent was already two months past due and he was about to be evicted.

As children, he and his sister had been taken to church each Sunday by his mother, taught to pray, and he still remembered some of the verses and songs from Sunday School, all the while his father chose to stay home and watch TV. 

But that all abruptly changed when Nick, then twelve, and his sister came home from school one day and found the house locked and a note from their mom saying she was starting a new life running off with a man from church and they’d not seen  her again. Presently, he has no relationship with either his father or sister and was truly, all alone; even his two best friends, had now shut him out. He was left alone with no money, and now about to be evicted from his apartment strewn with empty beer bottles and pizza boxes. Nick also drank too much and he knew it.

The evening following Jessica’s departure, while carrying his bike upstairs to be safely placed in the apartment, the rear wheel got caught on the railing somehow wrenched from his grip and tumbled down the stairs messing up some spokes and a brake cable. This would require a visit to Andy at his bicycle shop the next morning who turns out to be a major player in Nick’s messed up and lonely life for the next weeks as detailed for you in this 78 page mini-novel.

This Andy is a real mystery to Nick, in that frequently there are people engaged in deeply personal conversations with Andy when he delivers his barrage of first class mail from all over the US. And then there is always all this food appearing, which Andy frequently shares with his visitors, saying they just can’t eat it all. But the one big negative about this mysterious Andy, is that he is so winsomely religious; not at all the “in your face you’re going to hell” type, for Nick has witnessed frequently in-depth counseling conversations, and even actual prayers being offered with a client in the shop.

 The one thing that really irks Nick no end though is the big sign over Andy’s desk that says “God is Good!” Nick has experienced considerable relationship pain in his short life, but he did well in his classes at the university and now knows first-hand that belief in a supreme being may sound wonderful to many simple minded people, but when life gets difficult, a fictitious  god won’t solve real problem’s in real people’s lives. In fact, Nick has been down right rude to Andy on several occasions ridiculing him for his religious crutch for people who couldn’t handle reality. And Andy would never show any anger; he’d just listen and frequently even tend to agree with Nick’s observations.

And besides all that, Andy spoke of his church over on Fifth St but Nick never could find it. He knew the area well since he delivered mail in the neighborhood and there is no church on Fifth St. And then, there was the thing about his back rent mysteriously being paid, and how Andy loaned him his own bike when Nick’s was in for repairs. And where was his wife anyway? Nick was so confused. Never had he ever met anyone quite like Andy, so generous and loving to so many.  

And unfortunately, most of us in our culture of separation and individualism, seldom do. But down thru history for the past 2000 plus years, there are persons just like Andy who hopefully exist in your community, who believe and practice daily God is Good, and that He desires you experience spiritually more than becoming merely a convert, but like Nick did, to experience Christ in being discipled in community among believers who live their lives in simple loving obedience faithfully sharing with and loving their neighbors as family. It is our hope and prayer that this short story provides you or someone you may know, with exactly the desired “dose” of “loving hope” to brighten your/their day. For you will soon see when reading the story about Nick, how can anyone really not say, That Our God is Good?

Contact me for a free copy of Gary Miller’s book “How Can Anyone Say God is Good?”  merlin.erb@gmail.com or text / voice 330465-2565. These books are available from CAM for $1.00 ea. in quantities of 50 or more. Join me in using them as tracts as you are nudged by Holy Spirit to share your hope. Imagine offering hope and community to 50 seekers for less than you and your spouse spend twice eating at your favorite buffet. Purely Perspective!

The Author’s Journey as written by Gary Miller (pages 79-88)

Although the characters in the story How Can Anyone Say God is Good  are fictitious, the doubts express by Nick are not. Many people who are honestly seeking truth are asking similar questions. All of us are aware that things are not right in our world. An inner voice tells us something is seriously wrong, and we find ourselves asking questions like, Why can’t people get along? Why are human relationships so difficult.? Why does poverty still exist?

Governments and aid organizations have poured billions of dollars into humanitarian aid, yet hunger continues. And what about politics? I have heard people ask why modern, educated, democratic nations can’t even come up with good candidates at election time.

In light of all the scientific advances man has made, why do we still have ethnic cleansings, cruel dictators, school bullying, and mass shootings? Why do a few have so much wealth and the masses so little? Are we really able to map human DNA, travel in space, and produce a vast array of amazing electronic gadgets, yet still not feed all the children?

These things trouble us. Surely things could be better. All the pain and the inequalities we see should not exist. This leads us to the questions Nick struggled with; how can anyone believe that God is all powerful and good if he’s in control of this mess?

I don’t know if you’ve struggled with this question or not, but I have. I was raised in a Christian home and taught that the Bible is true. Yet, deep down inside, I wrestled with many questions. Where did this world come from? Is it possible, in spite of what the Bible teaches, that our universe came into being by some cosmic collision? Could it be that my existence is just the result of some freak molecular accident?

Or, if, as the Bible teaches, God actually exists, how could he be loving and still allow evil to wreak havoc? As a young man this perplexed me. Today I look at this question from a different perspective. My work takes me into impoverished developing countries, and I spent time with people who live in abject poverty. I work with children being raised in deplorable conditions. Many live in a cycle of poverty that seems almost impossible to reverse. There are open sewers, no clean water, and little hope of meaningful change. Disease, famine, and natural disasters plague them constantly. How can a loving God see all this and allow it to continue? Doesn’t he care about the human misery?

I have wrestled with all these questions, yet have chosen to believe. I have come to trust in a living God who is all powerful. That doesn’t mean his path to faith has been easy.

As I have searched for a logical answer to the question of origin, I have found evolution to be woefully inadequate. If evolution is powerful and miraculous enough to convert pond scum into the incredible complexity of life we observe around us, by now it should have easily resolved lesser issues like world poverty, human relationships, or harsh dictators. Those are simple issues compared to developing something as complex as the human eye. And further, evolution never even attempts to answer the large question of where that original pond came from? Who put it there?

Why don’t we hear more regarding this real and critical question of origin? The answer seems obvious and points to a reality that many don’t want to discuss. As I observe the complexity of this amazing world we live in, I cannot escape seeing evidence for a Designer. If there is an effect, there must first be a  cause.

I have also come to believe that this Ultimate Designer loves humanity. And while I’m not a scientist I have used the scientific method to come to this conclusion. My choice to believe is based on observation. Let me share what I have observed.

From childhood I have been surrounded by individuals who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ. Church life for me has been very similar to what Andy and Teresa experienced with the little group on Fifth Street. I have seen huge financial bills paid anonymously, groups of young people singing to those who are suffering, and people finding gifts of food in their kitchens. I have experienced free assistance on home-improvement projects, felt an arm around my shoulder while dealing with extreme disappointment, and found nameless envelopes stuffed with cash during difficult times. These people are not perfect, but they really want to be like Jesus Christ. They see the teachings of Jesus not simply as hard sayings intended to show us how bad we are, but as God’s original intent for our world. God wants us to love, share, and care for each other. He desires a world where people are concerned about the hurting, and his church today is to be a demonstration of his desires for the world. If our entire world were like the people I have been surrounded with, it would be a beautiful place.

I have seen changed lives. I have watched selfish men and women place their faith in Jesus Christ and become totally transformed. I’ve seen this locally, but also in many places around the globe. I think about a husband and wife in Bangladesh who recently found Jesus. In their community she had a reputation as an obnoxious quarrelsome woman. She came to faith in Jesus, and a few months later her husband began inquiring. This couple lives in an area where believing in Jesus means risking martyrdom, so people wondered why he would choose to become a Christian.

His response was simple “Before my wife decided to follow this Jesus, she was selfish and difficult to get along with. Now she is loving and completely changed. I have looked at my life, and I am very self-centered and can be hard to get along with. I just want this Jesus who made such a drastic change in her life to be in my life as well!“

He simply saw something powerful enough to transform, and he wanted it so badly he was willing to risk persecution. This is why I have come to love the Bible, the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, and the power he provides to those who believe.

These are just a few examples of things I have observed in the lives of those who have chosen to follow Jesus in daily life. There are still many things I don’t understand. Yet I have seen enough to know that God is at work in our world, and, as the Bible tells us, God will make things right in the end.

Several years ago I was riding a bus through the city of Manila in the Philippines. Manila is one of the densest populations in the world, and a large portion of the city is a slum. The traffic crawled, and took most of the day to get to my destination. So for hours I sat looking out at extreme poverty slowly passing by the window: rusty tin shacks, dirty half-clad children, domestic violence, and horrendous living conditions. After a couple hours of this,  I suddenly became aware that I had tears running down my cheeks. This was so terribly wrong! Why is so much of the world like this?

As I wiped the tears, another profound question struck me: Why does this bother me? What is it that tells me there is a problem with this picture? If we are just cosmic accidents, freaks of some explosion, why does pain and suffering in fellow humans concern us? If there is no Creator, no absolute standard of right and wrong, and no ultimate truth, why are we troubled?

The answer was both obvious and comforting. Compassion for others spoke to me, not of some strange cosmic coincidence, but of being created by a compassionate Creator. Internal empathy reminds me that I am more than the result of colliding molecules. The Bible tells us that God created us in his image. And I found great comfort in realizing that if creation isn’t content with how things are, it’s because of a Creator who isn’t either.

Yet I want to be very clear. Though I have chosen to believe in and follow God, I still have many questions, and there are many things I do not understand. I have lived close to people who have endured chronic pain for many years. I don’t understand why God doesn’t just heal them. I don’t know why bad things happen to good people. I don’t understand why some extremely poor countries repeatedly get hit with hurricanes, tsunamis, and crop failure. Nor do I understand why God created pleasure or why he is so extravagant with sunsets.

I can’t comprehend why God has allowed the face of Christianity to become so marred –  why he allows professing Christians to bear his name and claim they are all following a loving Jesus while promoting violence, bombing, and military aggression. How can people claim to follow Jesus without following him?

But I also see things that give me great hope. Things that increase my faith in God. I have observed blessing coming from suffering. I have seen God work redemptively in situations that look like tragedies. I have seen many followers of Jesus choose to live in extremely difficult and dangerous places around the globe in order to help others. The power of Jesus Christ within has empowered them to walk away from safe, middle-class America, motivated by a desire to bless the less fortunate. I have watched believers here in the United States bring aged parents into their homes during their final years, knowing that caring for them will greatly curtail their personal liberties and social lives. The list could go on.

In short, I have seen God working in the lives of others and felt his love and power transforming mine. And I’ve observed and experienced enough of his redemptive power to trust him for what I cannot understand. Some situations still seem so wrong, but I live in confidence that the Bible is true. And a day is coming when all these wrongs will be made right, when evil will be overcome by good, and when those who follow Jesus now will live forever with him in peace.                                                                                                                                                                               
But there are still many things I don’t understand. But I have seen enough that in spite of my questions, I have become one who openly proclaims, ”God is good!” Pages 79-88.

Blessings as YOU GO FORTH this coming Memorial Day Weekend. Plant a memory worthy of recall!                              Merlin