Category: Book Reviews

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Part II of “The Biggest Lie in the History…”

The words to the hymn “Take Time To Be Holy” say it all and more.

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord,

Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.

Make friends with God’s children, help those who are weak,

Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;

Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;

Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;

And run not before Him, whatever betide.

In joy or in sorrow, still follow thy Lord,

And looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

“Written by William Longstaff, an English businessman, who took his faith seriously. Upon hearing a sermon on the text “Be ye holy, for I am holy,” Longstaff was inspired to write a poem. Being a good businessman, Longstaff had a practical mind. This was reflected in his poem which offers many practical suggestions for becoming holy.

It reflects his understanding that holiness, like every virtue, requires time and attention to develop it. It reflects his personal experience that prayer deepens faith. It tells us that we can face adversity calmly if we look to Christ for guidance.

You need to know that Longstaff managed to get his poem published in a Christian newspaper, but that was the end of it – or so it seemed. But as it turned out, George Stebbins, a Christian musician, had seen the poem and had clipped and filed it. Years later, needing a hymn on the subject of holy living, he remembered the poem and set it to music. It has been a favorite now for more than a century.

I don’t know whether Longstaff ever knew Stebbins had set his poem to music. I don’t know that he ever heard it sung. I know only that he felt called to write the poem – and God did the rest. When we do something good – something for God – (as Matthew alludes to continually in his book encouraging us to enter in to our Holy Moments), we might never know the full measure of that we have accomplished. We can only know that God will take what we offer, great or small, and make it a treasure.” Copyright 2006, Richard Neill Donovan

 This is the good news that will raise us out of our neutralized, passive, inactive state and opens our hearts, minds and souls to an amazing new reality of possibility. Part of this new reality is the joy that comes from Gospel living.

P 55: The primary problem concerning Christianity’s role in changing the modern world is that most Christians no longer believe we are capable of accomplishing that change. This is a direct result of the fact that Christians by and large don’t believe holiness is possible. But it is also deeply connected to a false belief widely held by Christians that the culture has become so powerful that we are simply incapable of transforming it. This leads to conversations that the culture has pushed the envelope too far and the only solution is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This is tragic defeatism, which is the antithesis of the spirit of Christianity and at the same time an astounding form of spiritual laziness. It is nothing more than the fruit of the biggest lie in the history of Christianity. It is only because we have been deceived into believing holiness is not possible that we would believe the culture is too negative and too strong to be transformed by Christianity.  

P 68: The important piece that we need to be abundantly clear about is that the first Christians of the early church clearly differentiated themselves from the dominant culture of their times. Modern Christians blend, and that needs to change if we are going to establish a new vibrant and positive identity in the midst of a culture that is proactively hostile toward Christianity. Just how do we do this? By inspiring every person and every environment we touch with Holy Moments. It’s time for Christians to astound the world with our generosity, kindness, patience, courage, thoughtfulness, and selfless care for the weak, poor and forgotten.

P 73: We have played right into the culture’s negative narrative about Christianity by settling for mediocrity and not striving to live more authentic Christian lives. As a result we have an identity crisis which simply is most people think Christians and Christianity are “inauthentic and seen as a joke because too often the Church and its members do not even possess the endowed and transformative empowering of the Holy Spirit in order to facilitate the life changing Holy Moments through out their daily activities.” (Merlin’s suggested revision)

P73: I believe Matthew is spot on with his idea that the people who show up in church on Sundays and those that don’t show up all have the same ten things on their minds. If we speak powerfully and practically to people about these ten things predominately on their mind, we will change the world… again. And those ten are: Relationships, Family, Health, Work, Money, Addiction, God, Spirituality & Church, Fear, Hopes & Dreams, and #10, the answer to that one deeply personal question we each uniquely possess that we have researched on the web, asked our trusted friends and advisors about, and yet, have not felt confident, reassured or at peace about it. Each and every one of us is waiting on God for that deeply personal answer to our unique question (And we all have such a question! If we are honest!)

P 85: I don’t like alarm clocks. Just the name disturbs me. Who wants to start the day alarmed? When you check into a hotel, they often ask you if you would like a wake-up call. I like that. We all need a wake-up call from time to time. ….(So very true!)

P 99: We would like to change a few things in our lives here and there, but these changes are born from our own selfish preferences, not from a passion to either change ourselves or our world. I call it tweaking. We are not interested in transformation, but we just want some tweaking. So we pray for tweaking. Once we abandon the transformation that is the Christian life, our focus falls on tweaking; our spirituality becomes mediocre and very self-centered.

Then we start praying for tweaking: Dear God, please tweak this… and please tweak that… and tweak my spouse… and tweak my spouse again because it didn’t take the first time… and tweak my kids… and tweak my boss… and tweak our pastor… and oh yes, tweak all the politicians. I suspect 90% of our prayers are tweaking prayers. This desire for tweaking is selective and selfish, while transformation is total and selfless. And after tweaking, we even have the audacity to wonder or even complain that God doesn’t answer our prayers? The reason is simple and clear. God is not in the business of tweaking. God is in the business of transformation. Any time you are ready, he’ll be ready and available… and that word available is what God looks for in the resume of our hearts. Simply reading the Bible helps us know the heart of God as well  as the heart of man. This takes time and patience. The Bible is not a self-help book, in which every line is filled with clichés and step-by-step directives. Rather, it is about learning God’s heart and also, learning our own heart.

P 102: An Example of a Prayer of Transformation

Lord,

Here I am.

I trust that you have an incredible plan for me.

Transform me. Transform my life.

Everything is on the table.

Take what you want to take and give what you want to give.

I make myself 100 percent available to you today.

Transform me into the person you created me to be, so I can live the life you envisioned for me at the beginning of time.

I hold nothing back.

I am 100 percent available.

Lead me, challenge me, encourage me, and open my eyes to all your possibilities. Show me what it is you want me to do, and I will do it.

Amen.

P 108: … I have realized over the years that when I am listening to the voice of God in my life and trying to walk in His way, I find myself focused, inspired, and energized…. And when I don’t seem to be focused, inspired and energized for any prolonged period of time, it’s usually a solid indication that I have stopped listening to the voice of God in my life. (So true!)

Remember it is in the classroom of silence that God illuminates our hearts and minds so that we can see clearly and answer passionately those four questions of  life: Who Am I? What am I here for? What matters most? What matters least? With these answers and clarity, God then sends us out into the world to enjoy living (in fulfillment) with passion and purpose.

P 109: So it’s time to quit making excuses. At the end of our lives though, if all our excuses were gathered up, they could be sorted into two buckets; either being “I’m too young for those things” or “I’m too old for those things.” And you already know how life passes us by in a blink. Don’t let these be your excuses. Now is your time! Now is our time.

P 113: This world should be different because we were here. We have an obligation to leave the world better than we found it. Lies breed hopelessness, so we shouldn’t be surprised that in our culture of lies so many people feel hopeless. The lie that holiness is not possible creates hopelessness among the one group of people who should never lose hope: (authentic) Christians!

But truth breeds hope. And the truth is, holiness is possible for you, for me, and for your neighbor, one Holy Moment at a time. We can collaborate with God and create a Holy Moment today. That is amazing grace in action.

Don’t let the sun go down today without giving the world a Holy Moment. Your holiness is possible. This is the one truth that will bring hope to an age of hopelessness. This is the one truth that will unite (authentic) Christians to collaborate with each other to transform the world…again. This is the one truth that will make all (authentic) Christians people of possibility. If you allow this truth to permeate your thoughts, words, and actions, you will become happier (and more fulfilled) than you have been at any other time in your life.

It is my sincere wish that for you this evening only hours before 2021 arrives, and the following days, that Matthew’s words will indeed provide you focus to sharpen your clarity as you create your Holy Moments of memorable consequence and joy.

Continual Vibrant Blessings On Your Journey Home>>>>>merlin

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The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day: Revitalize Your Spirit and Empower Your Leadership

This book was brought to my attention recently by my friend Chuck from church and is worthy of a quick review. Leadership in our culture today is vanishing and not faring any better in churches either. I recall Terry Shue saying more than a decade ago that already some congregations are in need of hospice care; to be lain to rest gracefully….

We are dealing with more issues today than even at New Years, and we may soon expect more chaos and confusion, making this book on leadership even more pertinent to our future well being. Read John Maxwell’s introduction and chapter titles, and then quietly reflect and construct a list of those persons you know whose business, personal life, career, marriage, spiritual witness, etc. may be positively impacted by your investment of time in sharing this book with them. Contact me if you have ideas or questions. Graduation gifts are coming. Certainly appropriate for college grads and with your mentoring, certain high school grads may qualify. Start this summer and finish up in college this fall. Great opportunity to build bridges with your kids, grand kids, nephews, nieces, friends, etc…. and an excellent basis for life long relationship building.

I presume you fully understand a salesman is only as good as his intimate experience with his product and this is best facilitated by you having experienced this book in your daily life. Otherwise, what has been happening for decades in our culture and our churches will re-occur with us… as perhaps we have been instructed and advised at times by hopefully, only a few, and if so, not majorly impacted, who also were “inauthentic in not having experienced radical transformation and the subsequent empowering to affect effective joyful change in us.” (mle) If implemented, this book will not a walk in your backyard, but it will bring you immense joy at harvest time! Invest in people! After all, weren’t we commanded to make disciples?

Once again, the effective mentoring of our future leadership is always our responsibility; whether in our culture or in our churches! Blessings as you get creative in your “opportunity to be responsible” Holy Moments!! >>>>> merlin

Introduction by John Maxwell

How can I become a better leader? That’s a question I ask myself every day of my life. I’m constantly searching for new things to learn and ways to grow. But sometimes the best way to learn is to return to the fundamentals. After all, that’s what championship coaches when they want to sharpen the skills of their players, whether they’re rookies or seasoned veterans.

That’s what prompted me to go back to the Source, to the greatest leadership book ever written: the Bible. Every leadership lesson I’ve ever taught has been based on scriptural principles. Now in The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day, I’m bringing the leadership contained in the Bible to the forefront. By examining the lives of the Bible’s great leaders, we can learn more about leadership and apply the principles we learn to our daily lives.

This book is a leadership development tool. It’s not meant to be read through in several sittings. It’s designed to be consumed in daily bites and digested slowly, so put it someplace where you can conveniently read it five days a week.

If you go the process as I’ve intended, you will spend the next twenty-one weeks working your way through the material. The book is organized around The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You and I recommend reading the related chapter from it over the weekend to provide a thorough overview prior to beginning The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day. Each week you will spend four days learning leadership from a different biblical figure. Every day focuses on one predominant leadership thought, contains a lesson learned the biblical leader, and poses a question for you to meditate on all day long. The fifth day will help you change your focus from thinking about leadership to  acting on it as you take steps to help you become a better leader.

I hope you enjoy the next few months living with some of the greatest leaders in mankind’s history – and with a few who should have been but weren’t. I’ve learned some wonderful lessons from them, and I hope you do too.


Table Of Contents

1. THE LAW OF THE LID

Leadership Ability Determines a Person’s Level of Effectiveness

Two leaders couldn’t have been more different, from the depths of their hearts to the lids of their leadership. One was a leader after God’s own heart. Both teach invaluable leadership lessons.

2. THE LAW OF THE INFLUENCE

The True Measure of Leadership is Influence – Nothing More, Nothing Less

The first time he attempted to lead, the people wouldn’t listen to him. Years later when he tried again, his influence was so strong that the people did everything he wanted – no questions asked. That’s the power of influence.

3. THE LAW OF PROCESS

Leadership Develops Daily, Not in a Day

He was ready to lead as a cocky kid, but God had a different plan in mind. As a result he helped his family, saved a nation, and fulfilled God’s destiny for his life – all because of the Law of Process.

4. THE LAW OF NAVIGATION

Anyone Can Steer the Ship, but It Takes a Leader to Chart the Course

In a few weeks, he was able to accomplish what other leaders couldn’t do in a century. His secret? Visions, calling, and the Law of Navigation.

5. THE LAW OF ADDITION

Leaders Add Value by Serving Others

They were the one group Jesus criticized most. Why? Because they added value to themselves instead of to the people they led. May Jesus’ admonition be a warning to us!

6. THE LAW OF SOLID GROUND

Trust Is the Foundation of Leadership

He should have been one of the greatest leaders in Israel’s history. Instead he was one of the worst. Why? He violated the Law of Solid Ground and frittered away his leadership.

7. THE LAW OF RESPECT

People Naturally Follow Leaders Stronger than Themselves

Why did Israel’s strongest leaders follow a woman when every other leader of the nation had been a man? Because she was the greatest leader of her generation. That’s the power of the Law of Respect.

8. THE LAW OF INTUITION

Leaders Evaluate Everything with a Leadership Bias

Would you want to listen to the advice of one of your in-laws? Your answer would be yes if you were teachable and he was an intuitive leader able to help you turn your leadership around overnight!

9. THE LAW OF MAGNETISM

Who You Are Is Who Attract

His leadership was characterized by fire. So who did he draw to him to follow in his footsteps? He couldn’t help attracting someone with the same kind of fiery leadership. Learn from him whom you will likely attract.

10. THE LAW OF CONNECTION

Leaders Touch a Heart Before They Ask for a Hand

He could have had the people eating out of his hand. Instead, they ate him alive. It cost him everything. That’s what happens when you violate the Law of Connection.

11. THE LAW OF THE INNER CIRCLE

A Leader’s Potential Is Determined by Those Closest to Him

His leadership team was a “who’s who” of Israel unlike any seem before him or since. They helped him become a great leader – and they helped make Israel the nation it was destined to be.

12.THE LAW OF EMPOWERMENT

Only Secure Leaders Give Power to Others

Who would have the courage to embrace a man everyone feared and then empower him to be the greatest leader of his time? Only a leader secure enough to give his power away. That’s the secret to the Law of Empowerment.

13. THE LAW OF THE PICTURE

People Do What People See

Elisha was able to part the waters of the Jordan, ensure that a destitute widow miraculously survived, and even raise the dead. How was a farmer able to do such amazing feats? Simple: He watched Elijah. People do what people see.

14. THE LAW OF BUY-IN

People Buy In to the Leader, Then the Vision

The people suffered horrible oppression and wanted relief, but they did nothing – until this leader arrived on the scene. Why? Because people buy in to the leader first, then the vision.

15. THE LAW OF VICTORY

Leaders Find a Way for the Team to Win

Everything was stacked against him: he was only eight years old when he became the leader, his father and grandfather had been horrible leaders, and the country was a mess. Yet he achieved victory like no other king of Israel. His secret is contained in the Law of Victory.

16. THE LAW OF BIG MO

Momentum Is a Leader’s Best Friend

His father started the momentum. He increased it. As a result, people came from all around the world to meet him and learn from his leadership. There’s no doubting that the Big Mo was his best friend.

17. THE LAW OF PRIORITIES

Leaders Understand That Activity Is Not Necessarily Accomplishment

The stakes were as high as could be, and he (of all people) was entrusted with leading the movement. He succeeded, and that movement has grown for thousands of years – all because he understood the Law of Priorities.

18. THE LAW OF SACRIFICE

A Leader Must Give Up to Go Up

He was a prince who stepped down in order to move up – to a higher calling. How was he able to do it? He understood the true nature of leadership. You have to give up to go up.

19. THE LAW OF TIMING

When to Lead Is as Important as What to Do and Where to Go

There are certain moments in a leader’s life when timing is everything. She understood that, and she made the most of it. And as a result, an entire people escaped certain death.

20. THE LAW OF EXPLOSIVE GROWTH

To Add Growth, Lead Followers – To Multiply, Lead Leaders

 Everywhere he went, he left in his wake … leaders. He found them, developed them, and empowered them. That was the way he spread his influence across the globe. That was the power of the Law of Explosive Growth.

21. THE LAW OF LEGACY

A Leader’s Lasting Value Is Measured By Succession

Some leaders collect souvenirs. Others capture trophies. This leader created a legacy that endures to this day. Learn his secret, and carry on in his footsteps.

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Five Books For Your Review

Greetings everyone! What a phenomenal month October has been and now this morning, our first brush with snow. October provided exceptional harvest weather, great meals with new friends, my winter’s firewood supply is finally completed, and most importantly, I’ve recently enjoyed being stretched by listening to five diverse books that are now being more fully processed in my simple but yet inquiring mind. Indeed, I’ve been blessed!

The book’s titles and authors are as follows:

Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit As A Constant Companion by Anne Graham Lotz

The Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Peterson

The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi: My Journey Into the Heart of Scriptural Faith and the land Where It All Began  by Kathie Lee Gifford, Rabbi Jason Sobel

Heaven Declares: Prophetic Decrees to Start Your Day by Hakeem Collins

The Prophetic and Healing Power of Your Words by Becky Dvorak

.We will first consider Anne Graham’s “Jesus in Me,” which is my first read of any of her books. I, as virtually everyone else in believer circles today, is familiar with her as Billy Graham’s eldest daughter. She is a delightful author weaving frequently personal anecdotes into the “meat” of experiencing the Holy Spirit as a constant companion. In this book I noted rather astonishingly in her upbringing in a Presbyterian church and even her childhood home, the term Holy Spirit was rarely ever used. She recalls as a child when the ushers placed the filled offering baskets on the front table, a standard prayer was offered over them including the words “the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” Likely the same for many of you.

I however am likely an exception as I happened to live as child near a MN Indian reservation in the early fifties. We there experienced a “Holy Spirit outbreak” among some native American “disciples in training” in the neighboring Mennonite mission church, one of at least five started in Northern MN by spiritual adventurers from such Mennonite communities as Plain City OH and Franconia PA. Understandably, this outbreak created all sorts of tension among the area Mennonite church fathers. So even though, I had heard the terms all my life, I do not recall they were ever explained with the clarity and forthrightness that Anne Graham brings to the table here. I am not aware that she ever even mentions anything about tongues in the entire book. I am sure I would have remembered since tongues are the essence of the evidence of the Holy Spirit for many evangelicals today. Strange, I never once even questioned their omission until just now.

The depth of this presentation made me realize early on that this was a book Loretta and I needed to “digest” together. I see the book being particularly helpful to both younger and middle aged women who now as assertively growing believers, will benefit from the wit, wisdom and nurture that Anne Graham provides, especially if they were not nurtured in a solidly expressive Christian home; having experienced the tyranny of “religious form” but not the “joy of gospel substance.”

As this undercurrent about tongues and the Holy Spirit ebbs and flows through out the North American church today, it is apparent the Holy Spirit can function well in both believer environments. I as well as you, have no doubt witnessed its life and power in both camps. May I offer that the problem seems to arise when either camp insists the other camp adhere to their unique interpretation. Anne Graham does an outstanding presentation of the Holy Spirit as our Constant Companion without even mentioning tongues;

By Loving the Person of the HS,

by Enjoying the Presence of the HS,

by Relying on the Power of the HS,

by Embracing the Purpose of the HS,

by Living by the Precepts of the HS,

by Reflecting the Purity of the HS, and

by Trusting in the Providence of the HS.

  The second book we’ll review “ The Burnout Generation” by Anne Helen Peterson, unfortunately is only available on Audible. Less than two hours in length, it was born early in 2019 prompted by an article written by journalist Peterson when she received millions of emails from readers who resonated with her description of burnout, many so burned out for so long that they were unaware it was not the norm. But how would they know, had they never witnessed a functional loving home as children where two parent relationships were valued, where living skills were learned, boundaries were understood, accepted and respected, family economic decisions and plans were openly and respectfully discussed around the supper table, especially if the evening meal together seldom if ever occurred. And I didn’t even mention the common denominator to living life successfully by fully integrating the Gospel into our daily living.

She interviews four persons whom replied and to be honest, I quit listening several times because I was bored and tired of hearing only how these millennials today have been so dumped on by society. Many of them have incurred college loan debt as high as six digits and are now in underpaying jobs that too often consume their whole life given their lack of ability to separate their work from their personal life. Evidently many are working two or three jobs. The book does not paint a pretty picture of their plight. But weren’t they sold on assuming the dream of higher education without either foundation or substance? Evidently they were not adequately mentored financially by either parents or grandparents as likely none of them remembered the Great Depression; maybe soon to be termed the Great Divide!

Again, I’m likely the exception but I remember well the day and the place my Dad told me how he as a son of a NB sharecropper during the Depression attended farm sales of his schoolmates where everything a family owned was auctioned off to pay their debts except for basically the shirts on their backs. But I never conveyed any of that history to my three sons until just now, so they too are without any word pictures in their memories to ponder prior to a questionable financial decision such as borrowing big bucks just to attend a prestigious college, much less a mediocre school!

In my humble estimation as is born out in the first two interviews, perhaps these millennials were raised with too much intellect and too little common sense. And neither is that entirely their fault. If our high school grads can’t balance a checkbook, open and utilize a savings account, cook, clean, economically maintain their apartment and transportation, etc., what then shall we expect? Notice I did not even mention anything about knowing your life’s essential purpose, planning for your future, setting and reaching goals, delayed gratification, avoiding addictions, practicing healthy lifestyles, seeking proper nutrition, etc.

In conclusion, may we consider the last three books.  If you’ve not yet visited Israel, spend your money and buy “The Rock, The Road, and the Rabbi.” Very insightful and I’ll also encourage you to read our local Holmes County author Paul Stutzman’s “The Thirteenth Disciple,” both of which may just prompt you to envision the significance of you too, someday visiting Israel.

I am finding “Heaven Declares: Prophetic Decrees to Start Your Day” by Hakeem Collins to be an amazing inspiring book containing 90 days of challenging readings. Currently now on day 20, I find myself eagerly anticipating hearing its scriptures, decrees and declarations being read aloud to myself. Portions of it I even read twice for greater impact.

“The Prophetic and Healing Power of Your Words” by Becky Dvorak has opened my spiritual eyes in new dimensions that I only wish I had been introduced to during my college years. I simply was never exposed to the “power of my words.” And consequently, without that understanding and appreciation for the power to speak truth into my life and those about me, that empty vacuum in my mind was filled too often with negative empty spiritual calories that cost me dearly. I do believe both of these books will quite effectively stretch our theology among Anabaptist believers to bring to the forefront scriptures we’ve just missed prior.

I apologize for the length here but we have covered considerable turf, and with the time change, you’ll have more time to read during the winter months. I urge you to break out of your comfort zone and let God lift you out of your “rational” mind more into your “intuitive” mind where we should go more often during prayer. May God then speak to us clearly as we humble ourselves, seek His truth, and then simply obey. He repeatedly states throughout Scripture He desires our obedience rather than our sacrifices! That’s just how I see it tonight!

 Blessings as WE ALL GO FORTH IN SIMPLE OBEDIENCE!!!!       merlin

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Two Book Reviews Quick Before Summer Expires!

Prior to vacation Loretta searched for an inspirational novel to listen to while traveling. We just finished listening to her choice, Lisa Wingate’s epic masterpiece, Before We Were Yours, as we traveled north across Michigan into Canada toward Minnesota on Rt 17, the Trans Canadian Highway, finished in the sixties, comparable to the US famous Rt 66. Fourteen hours and twenty-nine minutes in length, the book thoroughly captures your imagination with its alternating chapters from the years just prior WWII of an impoverished family living on a houseboat shanty salvaged from their house on their depression foreclosed farm near the Mississippi River around Memphis TN. The alternating chapters depicts a 30 year old privileged US Senator’s youngest daughter, an accomplished government prosecuting attorney  recently returning home to SC to perhaps prepare her entrance into politics, considering her 57 year old’s father brush with colon cancer and his uncertain future. The book’s plot  continually contrasts the lives of the “white trash river rats” with that of the southern aristocracy in today’s current culture of cellphones, media driven life styles, and crumbling southern protocols and values.

Inject into that drama mix the tragedy involving the Memphis  branch of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society that was well entrenched in the upper echelons of the Southern elite involving its political, legal and institutional hierarchy providing a continual separation and flow of the “endangered and unsuspecting children” literally kidnapped in broad daylight off the streets or hospital delivery rooms and funneled through a corrupt system for big bucks to childless couples from Wall Street to Hollywood across the USA.

Throughout the book, Lisa Wingate is able to intimately involve her main “present time’s” character’s personal struggles with the identity issues today we all face, provided we are “living in the moment,” as opposed to last month or even 20 years ago. Or perhaps today, even equally devastating, is our living for and dreaming of some future time, seldom if ever under girded with actual steps of accomplishment,but more likely relegated to some Magic Kingdom pie in the sky. Oh, we may never admit publicly to such ephemeral wishes with no ties to our current realities. And in fact, we may even look down our noses on those statistically impoverished “financially challenged” folks today who buy lottery tickets when we ourselves are also quietly and quite methodically squandering our “precious  resources” primarily, our relationships of trust and value with family and loved ones, as well as poorly investing our spiritual gifts of time and energy as our hourglass flows on.  

Lauded as an inspirational book, you’ll not be reviewing scripture but you will be continually reminded of the under girding of our prior generations sacrifices and the accompanying  opportunities that we enjoy today and too often dismiss without adequate thankfulness, and much worse, are not winsomely nor effectively passing the inherited torch down line. 

Yesterday I finished reading a less entertaining book but nevertheless, so very important in the mix of we successfully living a satisfying and fulfilling life. Let’s not get bogged down in the specifics and definitions of “satisfying and fulfilling” as we consider Gary Miller’s latest book, Surviving the Tech Tsunami as I think we can all agree on the magnitude of our current consuming challenge of technology.

Quoting Gary beginning page 11, Life consists of change. I face each day understanding that it will not be an exact replica of the one before. Circumstances, challenges, and decisions will be different, and I accept this. If today were a repeat of yesterday, something would be dreadfully wrong. But there is one caveat; I don’t like too much change too fast. Yet for many of us, that describes the world we live in. Can you imagine someone from the 1800’s picking up one of today’s newspapers? In just a short time, our world has experienced a massive upheaval beyond anything previous generations imagined. Standards of morality, belief in God, and even the public’s view of truth – everything is up for grabs. Mores of society that seemed immovable, like the definitions of marriage or gender identity, are suddenly open for debate. All of this has created a confusing world in which to live and raise a family, and the constant change of electronic technology only generates more challenges.

The Electronic Explosion


Every week seems to bring another gadget, new device, or some product we’ve never heard of and didn’t know we needed. Those of us who lived during the end of the 20th century witnessed an electronic explosion unlike the world has ever seen. Communication, transportation, entertainment, and traditional marketplaces were all affected. Our language has been altered, with social media and texting spawning a lingo of their own. Young people communicate using a dialect  of words and phrases that were nonexistent just a few years ago. I grew up never hearing words like megabytes or gigabytes. Checking for mail meant walking down the lane to a little black box with a red flag. All that has changed, and Google, something I once knew nothing about, is now a common verb in the English language.

Those of us desiring to follow Jesus and chart a safe course for ourselves and our children are constantly faced with tremendous challenges. Changes are coming fast, so how do we know which path to take? Every decision will have consequences, but how can we know what they are? It is tempting to assume we are the first generation to deal with this but as we look at the effect of technology on humanity and the church, we will see our generation is not the first to raise an alarm about it’s negative impact.

Gary divides the book into five sections and twenty-eight chapters:

            Part One: Change – The Historical Battle

            Part Two: Is Something Else Happening Here?

            Part Three: Deadly Diversions

            Part Four: Where Are We?

            Part Five: Re – Evaluating Our Course

Quoting from Gary beginning on page 10,  Gordon Moore, co – founder of Intel, an early pioneer of computer chips, in 1965 predicted the industry would double the number of transistors on one square inch of chip every year. In ’75, he adjusted this prediction to doubling every two years. He anticipated that the industry would make computers increasingly cheaper, faster, and useful for purposes man had not even dreamed of yet. This audacious forecast was scoffed by many, but for the past forty years it has held true.

To get a better picture of this exponential change, imagine the same progression in the field of transportation. If automotive technology had advanced at the same rate, cars today would travel at 300,000 miles per hour, get over two million miles per gallon, and cost only four cents each.

God intends his kingdom to be more powerful than culture. A church able to face current and future challenges needs a clear Biblical vision and open dialogue, collectively addressing each threat and its hidden influence. This requires leaders who are willing to take risks, address difficult topics, and speak out on issues that touch hidden areas of our lives. This also requires a higher level of personal accountability than many churches have thought necessary.

At times leaders must make decisions, even though they may not meet the mindset of every member. But if pursuing Jesus instead of the surrounding culture is not part of the churches DNA, then adding rules is meaningless. If a church is no longer concerned about the things that concerns God, just how much protection will He give? It is easy to analyze every question solely by  how it will affect our church, our reputation, or our image. And if we expect Him to empower our churches, our mission needs to agree with His.

At one time most members of the Anabaptist churches were involved in farming or other agriculturally based occupations. Now we are increasingly pushed into trades and businesses that require increased use of technology. Sometimes we fight this shift as it seems uncomfortable. Life seemed better back on the farm. God’s eye,however, is still on redeeming this lost and broken world, and if we seize the moment, the push into the business world can provide tremendous opportunity. Sharing our faith with coworkers and other business associates has a purifying effect on our own lives. Those we are trying to reach are quite adept at pointing out hypocrisy and inconsistencies. We desperately need their observations!

We are invariably drawn to technology because it promises what we naturally long for – ease and efficiency. We are naturally impatient and constantly looking for anything to accomplish our goals faster. Ironically, the more efficient we become, the higher our expectations and the greater our propensity for disappointment. High efficiency seldom translates into greater contentment. Yet shunning all technology doesn’t seem to be the answer either. God intends that we think, create, and improve. Failing to do this is failing to live in His image.

I challenge you to aim higher than mere survival. God is at work in our world and has promised to be with us. He has assured us that He will never leave us, told us that His power is greater than all the powers of darkness, and promised that he will never allow temptations to come that are greater than we can bear. God is able and willing to protect us against whatever might come.

So, as in a real tsunami, we first seek higher ground. God‘s goal is larger than having people sit safely under His protection, pursuing risk – free lives. God is looking for individuals and congregations who are willing to join him in the battle. His desire is that we labor together with him to build and nurture his kingdom. Electronic technology isn’t taking our God by surprise, and His goal in the coming years is not that we merely survive, but that we thrive!

Blessings as you GO FORTH SEEKING HIGHER GROUND & ARE EMPOWERED TO THRIVE……..  merlin

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The Only Solution for Restless Hearts….

I believe we all possess an internal “homing device” similar as in animals such as birds, butterflies, salmon, etc. in which we as man subconsciously seek someone or something to worship. St Augustine says it well in his quote “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” There is no ultimate peace or satisfying fulfillment in life for man until this restless energy rests solely in accepting in faith Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and follow his teachings in Scripture with the appropriate obedient actions. Man with his inventions and selfish motives has buried, eradicated, and depressed his ability to enjoy this communion with the Trinity. I refer you to Ravi Zacharia’s book“Counterfeit gods” for greater details of this downward spiral in a culture lost in the “slough of despondency” as described in Pilgrim’s Progress, I believe to be the most published allegory ever in history.

An apology to you as readers is in order now as the basis for this whole post is based on a book likely none of you ever read, yet anyway. I first read it last November at the suggestion of my eldest son Ben to give me me further insights into considering a possible career as a Life Coach. It may seem unfair to have you read how this post now, about how this book has impacted my thinking and you don’t even have a clue what it’s about nor will I even attempt to summarize it.  Matthew Kelly has written many books and I have referenced several of them prior. This one, The Dream Manager, as for many who have read it, will tell you it permanently changes them, for the better, and again, I’ll not even try to summarize that phenomena.

When I finished the book, and was reflecting on the quick read as an allegory, I realized I too would never be the same. You already know of my auto accident September 18th and its spiritual significance. Now I am experiencing virtually another quantum leap by this Dream Manager book literally pouring gasoline on my flaming passion for teaching and enhancing communication skills at all levels for individuals of all ages, in business settings as well as in church revitalization. And Kelly has written more of similar consequence, the one I lean on heavily in the remainder of this post, is “The Seven Levels of Intimacy” as the primer for all communication skills. Ok, the apology is over and we’ll resume the effects of these two books. 

Perhaps you ask the question: Who, What, When, Where and How does one begin this “communion” or “encounter” with the Trinity, namely God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Traditionally, such an encounter can be as moving as Saul on the Damascus Road as recorded in Acts 9, or as abnormal as after an earthquake in a  Philippian jail found in Acts 16, or as strange as Howard Storm’s  NDE (near death experience) in a Paris Hospital while waiting for surgery transforming him from an avowed atheist tenured art professor to becoming a pastor as described in the “Imagine Heaven” book by John Burke. Or it can happen, as with me during 5th grade summer Bible school one evening with my parents in our living room before I went up to bed, Better yet though, what is your story?

There is no scarcity of books being written for growing the Kingdom and I am sure Kelly is well aware his business books exhibit a unique dual message; spot on for secular business wisdom as well as a unique unspoken Christian foundation for life. Similarly, I believe Jesus’s ministry of love is exemplified best by being a “faith facilitator” as opposed to being a “dictator” when we consider practically how the Christian faith is to be effectively encountered, especially in this culture. So, how can we best fulfill Matthew 28 to “Go therefore and make disciples?” First, you must know the term “disciple” to me implies significantly more “interactive involvement,” going far beyond that merely of making “converts.”  

I see the initial action bottom line from The Dream Manager book as encouraging readers whether in the marketplace or a church, to first, just write down their dreams. Most people find this simple task very difficult. I also happen to believe the process of dreaming and the realization of those dreams as witnessed in Kelly’s allegory, are best achieved among people actively taking St Augustine serious when he said “our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

Persons satisfied living in the consequences of their poor choices whether in relationships, habits, addictions, finances, etc. are continually struggling to survive rather than thrive. Such people may laugh or scoff at dreamers until they too miraculously catch a glimpse of their restless hearts finding their spiritual rest. True, they may still be struggling to survive but now with a glimpse of rest, perhaps for the first time ever in their life, they can visualize Hope, the end result or the payoff, for “hearts resting in you!”

And in time, these little flames of Hope as found among these “hearts resting in you”  will transition from merely “struggling to survive” to “learning to thrive,” all accomplished by simply understanding the divine plan and allowing our built-in homing device to find our rest in you. And often Hope matured, ultimately leads to pure Joy. So simple, but yet, so very profound.

So just how does this happen? I believe ultimately Joy can be found because dreams when conceived in a loving and caring atmosphere emphasizing the Hope that lies within us, will then be verbalized & shared positively changing not only the dreams originators, but everyone else who hears and witnesses the transitions. In time, the circle enlarges to their friends and family and hopefully you too will be included as the dream facilitator.

In the book, Kelly solicited material dreams from the Admiral employees, and truth be told, the non-material dreams arrived later, though well before the fifth anniversary of the employees enjoying their initial success.  Did you notice how soon the successful dreamers realized, that it was imperative for them to share their vision with other employees and family including even grandchildren and great grandchildren? And true, initially it often was just for the“goodies” but I am detecting, the successful dreamers soon realized, there was something much bigger and rewarding here being played out though I’m not sure many of them could have verbally identified the dynamics of this process.

But then, let’s back up and just consider how often do we fully realize the scope of God’s blessings to us each and every day? Too often, I’m totally oblivious! The bottom line of our consideration for this post and of these two books is the social dynamic of the exuberant sharing of our dreams as certainly being worth our examination for strengthening the foundations of all communications as well as growing and maturing both business and kingdom efforts, expansions, and enterprises.

This is the moment I need to point out there is another dimension in this intricate communicative process that Matthew Kelly shares in his book “The Seven Levels of Intimacy” (TSLOI) where the seven are identified as Cliches; Facts; Opinions; Hopes & Dreams; Feelings; Faults, Fears, & Failures; and Legitimate Needs.

Closely related to and on the heels of these seven levels, Kelly offers us these eight Journeys that we may begin though generally we are not even aware we’ve begun or are in pursuit. But as we mature in our communication skills and later review our progress, we will realize we are indeed enjoying the fruits of our labors. For example, Kelly says these Journey’s will transport us from: the Shallow to the Deep; the Irrelevant to the Relevant; the Illegitimate Desires to Legitimate Needs; Judgement to Acceptance;  Fear to Courage; False Self to True Self; Loneliness to Profound Companionship; and Isolation to Unity. Note how the above transitions of process “flesh out” the TSLOI. By connecting the dots of these forms of communication as outlined above, participants pursuing either their personal or corporate dreams whether in the marketplace or the church, I predict will eventually realize “our hearts were restless until they found their rest in you.”   

At this point I need to share some church history rather than more dream allegory. Yes, Peter preached and and on one day three thousand were saved. In recent centuries in this country, we’ve experienced such revivals. Perhaps on certain continents this still occurs. And I fully believe God could do it tomorrow in North America if he so chose.  As always the question on the table right now is what are we to do or be right now in response to the Great Commission? There is an unparalleled opportunity here for the church to grow, especially in a culture such as ours fraught with the pain of abuse whether racism, sexual, family, or even being denied housing, health care, employment or educational opportunities, etc. not even to mention the media circus that relentlessly pervades our lives socially and politically.

However, an “unparalleled opportunity for the church to grow” is not what I’m hearing and reading about in and around church circles today. I hear of “hospice care” for aging congregations, dwindling youth numbers, even now the “maturing” of congregants, formerly the financial backbone of a congregation, whom are loosing interest and no longer attending regularly. Neither have I mentioned the lack of Hope and Joy so readily observed I’m told,in nearly every congregation. Dying social clubs are really hard to maintain, let alone revive. This paragraph provides more than enough “example” of what we are being led to believe today is the “new reality” for the church now and into the beyond.

May I suggest an alternative to the above disparity and gloom? Simplistically the difference is whether you see your glass as half full or half empty. Truthfully, it is that simple. It is all in our perspective. The trillion dollar question though is what has happened to our Christian perspective? Either on the corporate organizational level or even sadder, for the individual congregant faithful all his life but now spiritually lonely without joy? How did we evidently get so corrupted so quickly? You may say it happened almost like a computer virus; suddenly it just appeared! Actually, not! Scripture has been predicting this falling away. We have been derailed by a host of devilish “good” ideas on many fronts, rather than now focusing specifically on “God,” and abiding in His word and offering our obedient actions as we worship Jesus, our King.1

I hear you saying, ‘Merlin, come on now. It will take much more than merely perspective to revitalize the church.’ Yes and No. Yes as said by Francis Chan in his book ‘Letters to the Churches’ on pg. 48 when he says “it is imperative that we differentiate between what we want and what God commands. Not that desires are all bad, but they must take a back seat to what He emphasizes.” Consider Paul’s words from I Cor 1:17 “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, less the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” Continuing in I Cor 2:1-5 “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

Continuing in this vein, I quote Chan again on Pg. 52 “We’re not doing people any favors by pretending they are at the center of the universe. Either people will be awed by the sacred or they will not. If the sacred is not enough, then it is clear that the Spirit has not done a work in their lives. If the sheep don’t hear his voice, let them walk away. Don’t call out with your voice. By catering our worship to the worshippers and not to the Object of our worship, I fear we have created human-centered churches … Many of us make decisions based on what brings us the most pleasure. This is how we choose our homes, jobs, cars, clothes, food, and yes, even churches …. In essence, we want to know what God will tolerate rather than what he desires….Ignorance feels better than disobedience … Scripture is to be our starting point, not desire or tradition … What would please God most?”  

So yes, we may have much to change, but first we must understand God’s desire for our worship and then change accordingly. No, as I said prior it is quite simple, largely perspective. Let me begin by stating I find most Christians are quite negative in their outlook on life except for maybe that hour or two on Sunday when they show up in church. Let’s assume you get can get a significant discussion started about technology and our culture,  and I virtually guarantee you the average Christian over 50 will remind you of our country’s “glory days,” the rampant loss of morals, lack of integrity, etc. and all the negatives they are against. Seldom if ever, do we hear what really excites them about the opportunities Christians have today to be a positive witness for Jesus Christ on so many fronts. What a glorious time indeed it is to be alive and be faith facilitator!

Do you understand better now what I’m getting at when I say it’s largely perspective? Unfortunately, the prevalent doom and gloom in the minds and attitudes of many Christians when not within the walls of the church, whether subconscious or overt, is too often a spiritual downer to everyone these negative Christians  meet. This scenario is not scriptural nor desirable at all. Such negativity comes either from the negative influence of culture, or individual spiritual laziness and the subsequent lack of empowerment. I compare this negativity much like traveling to new surroundings without the comfort of GPS whereas the empowered  faith facilitators are totaling enjoying their guided trip within their spheres of influence.

I pray you enjoy your discipleship journey into your uncharted waters until “your restless heart rests in Him.” As said prior, this will be a Journey through the Seven Levels of Intimacy and then progressing from the:

Shallow to the Deep,

Irrelevant to the Relevant,

Illegitimate Desires to Legitimate Needs,

Judgement to Acceptance,

Fear to Courage,

False Self to True Self,

Loneliness to Profound Companionship,

And Isolation to Unity!      

These eight destinations deserve your mental “savoring,” then dreaming, and if you do get inspired, YOU will want to read the book and then implement the ten steps at the end, getting you well down the road towards becoming Kelly’s best-possible-version-of-yourself while helping others become the-best-possible-version-of-themselves as well!

Blessings as you too begin to dream about becoming the-best-possible-version-of-you in the peace and rest only God can provide as YOU GO FORTH FACILITATING DISCIPLES>>>>          Merlin

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Personal Insights From The Wednesday Past!

I am not kidding! This morning after a particularly disappointing Wednesday, I set out to do exactly what I wanted to do for once, just as I had decided prior to going to sleep! Even though I have some self-imposed writing deadlines beckoning strongly … and letters to write to some new book friends about the US, I knew this morning it was time to work outside; I really needed some therapy time. I’m sure you can relate but the fact is for most of you not enjoying retirement or at least a “wind-down phase” in preparation for such,  you seldom can allow yourself such a “personal passion day” (PPD). And you will indeed be amused (or not!) at just how I spent those “I want to do it my way” hours last Thursday!

You are likely beginning to realize now that one aspect of my life’s passion is creating, whether it be writing, or verbally communicating what I’d written prior, to people who I desire to be in relationship with, to enjoy hearing their response to whatever I’ve communicated so as to broaden my understanding and appreciation of them. Just as you may admire an athlete, a musician, or a particular craftsman, I have always admired skilled orators.

Strange now that at 70 years, I can say that I greatly admired one particular Bible scholar and radio speaker, even though his name escaped me recently, and not so much for his eloquence though he was a skilled and polished communicator, but I remembered him solely for his actions, whom I only observed one time. This person was Warren Wiersbe, author of more than 80 books, including his recent autobiography“Be Myself: Memoirs of a Bridgebuilder,” former pastor of the historic Chicago Moody Church and later radio pastor of Back-To-The-Bible Broadcasts. In fact, I can’t tell you now a thing he said that evening when I first heard him in person, but what he did prior to speaking, I’ll never forget as long as I live. When we arrived, he was down in the pews and aisles meeting and greeting folks as they filled the sanctuary of seven doors. Long time pastor of Kidron Mennonite Church, Bill Deweiler, had invited Wiersbe to speak that evening in the late ‘80’s, and no doubt quite a number of NE Ohio folks familiar with Wiersbe from his radio broadcasts on WCRF were in attendance, so he was completely in his  “element” of meeting and greeting his many friends from over the years. And for some unknown reason, that action by him that evening 40 years ago, really impressed me. So much so that his action precluded me even remembering for certain who this person was; as initially, I had him narrowed to three when Ruth set me straight. I knew his identity was with either Moody Bible or Back to the Bible and I was partially correct on both counts. But the point I want to make here is: it was the action I remembered that spoke volumes, not the man’s name or his ability with words. Perhaps that is the kind of disciple I wish to be. My identity is not at all important. Only my actions and possibly words in rare occasions, pointing whoever whenever wherever & however to being discipled by the Master of this universe, is of any significance. I have just began to read “The Thirteenth Disciple” by Paul Stutzman. Perhaps I’ll learn more from him about becoming a disciple in “late bloom!” to which he alludes.

I just now googled Warren’s name and found his first quote of the ten listed, taken from his “Be” series of commentaries to be as follows: “Each member in the body of Christ is important (I Cor. 12:12-31), and we all need one another and to minister to one another. Since there’s no competition in the work of the Lord (John 4:34-38; I Cor. 3:5-9), there’s no need for us to promote ourselves. The important thing is that God receives the glory.” from his Be Available: Judges. Interesting man indeed and I will be reading his autobiography soon.

So let’s return to the pervading question; just how  was I going to bless myself this Thursday by “doing it my way?” Certainly not by meeting and greeting! It should be no surprise then since I not only admire orators but enjoy reading, that I’d have my ear buds in and be listening to some form of encouragement. The disappointments of Wednesday inflicted their subtle attacks on my perception of my character as well as the understanding that nine month’s work had just possibly got flushed. I am continually tempted to take negative events that could possibly be connected to my actions as a reflection of me.

Before going to sleep Wednesday evening, I decided my therapy Thursday would be physical work in order to clear my head, as well as to get my strength and agility back.I didn’t even consider either a driving or shooting range for my emotional release; no, I needed physical work doing something positive and hard. I worked off my disappointments and rare anger as a boy, either by doing chores among the Holsteins or by cutting wood. Both were for room and board when younger but later, I cut wood for myself and money. That was a double win! Besides I didn’t have access to or money for either ranges, clubs or guns. Lucky me!

 I know God never wastes actions; ultimately, mistakes whether caused by us or others, can glorify God and build both character and virtue in us. If upon realization of the error, repentance and forgiveness is sought; restoration and renewal will be enjoyed. Already before going to sleep Wednesday evening, God reminded of a similar caper in my life, actually way back in April of ‘74, months  after we were married, when I did something far more stupid than what I was stewing over with God now for perhaps wasting my time? What I didn’t remember when sharing my memory of this caper In Sterling IL with Loretta, was that she was not even aware of the deception I’d instigated before leaving!  So very interesting how God so timely restored my memory after 45 years. That was His part in my restorative therapy! The rest was up to me. As St Augustine said, “God provides the wind, man must raise the sail.”

As you know, I do write with numerous bunny trails continually cropping up. Today, professional writers may use side bars offering you a choice to read or abstain. As of yet, mine are embedded in the script making such choices impossible. For example, I keep throwing you these historical clips that factually have contributed to making me who I am today … and help you understand perhaps why I write the way I do. But allow me another clip before we move into the garage.

Being 70 now, and actually this clip has nothing to do with our age, as much as it does with all of us finally realizing we are on “borrowed” time; and that will do one of two things to you and I in our psyche. Either, we’ll submit to the pressures that surround us, or we will rise up and resist those pressures. I do not believe there is a middle ground. Merely going with the flow of what you’ve planted and invested so far  in your life to date, whether young or old, is in my opinion, submission to mediocrity. For examples of rising up and resisting the pressures of, I’ll just mention two here, aging and poor investments. The effects of aging are largely determined by our investments of lifestyle, including our habits of good nutrition, adequate exercise and rest, avoiding or at least relieving stress, etc. Poor investments may trigger financial thoughts but even more importantly, are our relational investments on all fronts; with God, family, friends, acquaintances, as well as people you have not even met yet.

Personally, I’ve chosen to rise up and resist. But having said that, please realize, that we each possess a vast diversity of abilities when it comes to rising up and resisting. And generally rising and resisting (definitely not your typical R &R) is a journey that involves all of life and our continual change dependent on our readings, experiences and education.   

The whole point to this “clip,” is to tell you one way of many that I “seize my day” daily and that is by strategic intervention to secure a dynamic existence, or, a fulfilled and joyful life. The culture out there is in direct opposition to me or anyone accomplishing that! There are numerous ways to secure your dynamic existence but I am best acquainted with electronic enhancements such as audible books or YouTube, whether listening to scripture, podcasts, sermons, or uplifting  books that instill within me the desire to invest in myself and others as we together pursue becoming the best possible versions of ourselves; as well as enable you to become the best possible version of yourself. And I do these activities precisely, as many of you do, in our mentally unproductive times during physical chores, exercise, driving, or even while working if I’m doing rote meaningless tasks such as in my simple milk microbiology lab.

Some of you may contend you need your quiet space, and are not about to buy into this electronic invasion no matter how good the material. And I certainly will not go up against you on this point. But I am asking you honestly to consider  what you think about during your quiet times before you snooze. If after you reflect, God speaks and you take notes, you’re likely on track for significant spiritual growth and I applaud you!

So finally upon going out into the garage, I was greeted by all the tasks since my accident that needed my attention; Christmas decorations totes, boxes to be knocked down for recycling, and items to put away that only I knew where, and by all means, sweep the floor. I had attempted two cleanups prior in the garage, the first in December from a wheel chair. Not easy but I did later get pretty good at vacuuming carpet in the house traffic areas from a wheelchair. The second time was later in January on my feet,  but my strength was so limited. Today though, I felt I was well on my way to being normal by September 18, 2019.

I had taken the Prius out of the garage earlier but not the Explorer … and of course, its battery was dead from sitting too long, but that was soon rectified and in less than two hours, the garage premises were good for the moment at least.

Next on the list after the garage, were the two “bridges,” actually ramps that Chet Miller had built for me on our patio so Loretta could wheel me into the house. The therapy folks of course had to do their inspection of our home before they would discharge me, necessitating Loretta hauling me out to our home. They met us here, as I recall a day or two prior my discharge, with a list of tasks, including handrails on the bridges, which never happened! But it was only today I fully appreciated Chet’s  efforts when I closely examined his work.

You see, as I came out onto the patio area, which actually has three levels, I was  first confronted with what do I do with these bridges. Loretta wanted them removed, as did I, because they totally mess up the summer seating. No offense Chet, because you had followed my instructions precisely when I said I really don’t care what they look like, just make them simple and functional out of the scrap lumber upstairs in the barn as they’re just temporary anyway. 

And he did. I didn’t even know I had some of the heavy dimension pieces and as far as I could tell today, he only purchased two or three 1’x2’. But I’m getting ahead of my story. Actually, I first sat down to consider my options on the southern style rocking chair on the upper level that had contributed considerable history to our family. We had bought the chair in NC at a Cracker Barrel coming home in the early 90’s from Hilton Head. As I recall, Cracker Barrel was opening a lot of stores back then and we got well acquainted with this enterprising manager later one Saturday evening just before closing and learned these store managers were quite competitive with the other stores in their district. They had a record breaking Saturday, and evidently were ahead of the others, but still desired more sales to insure their honor. Fact is, we’d been looking at these rockers prior and on that evening, I think they were marked down $50., perhaps from $149 to $99, so we brought one home and helped them clinch their title. The rocker was a bit of a trick to fit in our Jimmy conversion van though, especially with the big Pioneer wagon and everything else.

But back to the bridge situation. Of course, I’d turned off the audible book for all this heavy rocking chair thinking because suddenly I had a dilemma. As I often do, I took a picture of the situation and then text it to my wife and our three sons. This was my text: “About to dismantle my most visible recent bridges of my life … certainly not going to burn them. I shall not need them again while I’m here! Is that determination? Or merely foolishness? I prefer to think wisdom. Blessings.”

But now, only twelve hours later, I find the wisdom comment as being quite presumptuous. Actually, when we built the addition in ’02, I was thinking we ought to make our home wheelchair accessible, in the event I ever needed such. But at the time, to do so would have required some major landscaping maneuvers and structural changes that were nigh impossible given our space constraints.

So today, before dismantling, I was thinking, what if I go down again for whatever reason (my record thus far for avoiding injuries stinks as I was on my back three times in the past 30 months and twice I needed a wheelchair for a month or longer ) and just when may I need  ramps again in order to get discharged to come home? The therapy folks kept wanting us to build this huge permanent monster structure with a much lower slope so I could self-navigate.

For me to self-navigate either up or down, was never conquered. It was just too steep and I would have needed rubber tires for traction. And when snow would blow in, it really got interesting. I never once even attempted going down myself. I could see the fatality caption: “Dalton man rolls wheelchair off ramp and breaks his neck.”

So what was my solution? I knew it had to go and as soon as I started dis-assembling, I realized Chet had already thought of that and had built the ramp bridges in components so they could be stored for a repeat performance if and when needed. He likely used four dozen wood screws and it was built tough enough to have served as bridges on a competitive dirt bike racing track. So the further I went in the tear down mode, the better I felt about retiring and storing it.

We speak loosely about burning our bridges to insure we do not have the option to retreat. And in my text, I said wisdom, but that actually was mostly foolishness. I may have great resolve and determination to not repeat my September 18 adventure, but actually, I have very little to do with a future similar incident regardless of my resolve or good intentions. Life happens and at my age and with my decreased agility and OI, things can go south quickly and force me to re-visit a wheelchair again. At least now we know the temporary structures are nearby and ready for access within an hour or two.

I’m sure some of you “curious George’s” are going to ask, “just which audible book were you listening to to counteract the negativity from the day prior, at least when you weren’t doing that heavy thinking for five minutes?” Actually, I do have a book I am returning to frequently in the past two weeks. I’m embarrassed to say this but I’ve “listened through” this book numerous times but have not yet read it or underlined it. Personally, I find reading a book so much more satisfying than merely listening to it but sometimes time only permits listening.

This book is by one of my favorite authors, John Bevere, and is titled “The Fear of the Lord: Discover the Key to Intimately Knowing God,” with four sub captions: Positions Your Heart to Receive Answers, Promises Divine Protection, Provides Clarity and Direction, and Produces Riches, Honor, and Life. It is strange how I’m so drawn to this one book recently but I do believe God knows both how fragile I am as a“late blooming” Christian. And he also knows the extent to which I need to more fully comprehend just how foundational  my understanding of the “Fear of the Lord” is to building a fulfilling joyful life.

You see, I always knew salvation was a free gift, one that I cannot earn, and that is true. However, and herein lies our challenge, neither can you or I retain it (salvation) if we do not give our entire life in exchange for it. Even a gift must be protected from being lost or stolen! John goes on to say “a true believer, a disciple, lays down his life completely for the Master. Disciples are steadfast to the end. Converts and onlookers may desire the benefits and blessings, but they lack the endurance to last to the end. Eventually they will fade away.”Jesus gave the Great Commission to “go therefore and make disciples of all the nations….”(Matt 28:19). Note again he commissioned us to make disciples , not merely converts.

I recently was reminded of two verses in Psalms that I have adopted for now as my verses of the 7th decade of my life. Psalms 145: 4 says, “One generation shall commend your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts.” Psalms 71: 17-18 says, “O God, from my youth you have taught me, (He taught but it was I who didn’t learn so well) and I still (perhaps I need to change it to read “I will still) proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”

To this end may I be faithful. For His glory, my good, and hopefully, for your learning and enjoyment.

Blessings as you too GO FORTH BEING and MAKING DISCIPLES>>>>   Merlin

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Of Course Strategy Matters!

Today I was recapping this chapter for a friend about to undertake a review of her company’s Strategic Plan, apparently a task requiring considerable personal time reading the materials provided prior to team meetings, etc. I find this book by Matthew Kelly, the Culture Solution: A Practical Guide to Building a Dynamic Culture So People Love Coming to Work and Accomplishing Great Things Together, captivating because both of its freshness and applicability to such a wide audience. Few of us have been corporate managers (actually Kelly prefers the term leaders, not managers, because that is precisely what is often missing) but we all do influence and ultimately determine the “flavor of our culture,” the immediate environment and the atmosphere about us, and today, way, way beyond our proximity as never before, and to think it’s happening  24/7/365…

So why this post now? Well, perhaps it’s because I am continually amazed at how God designed the lives of His Spirit empowered children to be so joyfully connected and broadly encompassed in fellowship on so many fronts; and then I am equally amazed at how the ultimately defeated Evil One, (who when coming against we the empowered, doesn’t have a leg to stand on), so successfully twists and misconstrues all that God has created for our enjoyment into idols merely for our entrapment and ultimate destruction. The culture promoted by the Evil One that you and I battle every day is not desirous of seeing you and I become the-best-version-of-ourselves, nor necessarily our businesses become the-best-version-of-themselves either. He quite frankly wants all of us to join him, eternally!

You know today culture is huge! Don’t kid yourself. Perhaps that is why Kelly devoted 46 pages in Chapter Four to Dynamic Culture. In this post, I have only touched on 8 of those pages. The second longest chapter is Five and is titled “It All Starts With Hiring.” And isn’t that the truth, as many of you can testify. Actually, I have read this book more from the perspective of Christian Outreach, Church Revitalization, and insight for my Personal Strategic Plan (PSP) and it is loaded with spiritual value, but I warn you, there isn’t one Bible verse quoted that I recall. Prove me wrong.  

Beginning on page 95.

“When Peter Drucker said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” the comment wasn’t intended to undermine the importance of strategy. Strategy is incredibly important. You cannot overestimate its importance, and that’s what makes the quote so powerful.

The very idea that something else was anywhere near as important as strategy initially stunned people. The statement was arresting. When it was first heard it would have felt like a category 6 earthquake to any organizational management expert. It is more relevant today than ever before, giving the growing dysfunction of employees personal lives. Whether Drucker said it or not, if he were alive today, he would probably say, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

It is essential to understand that the more dysfunctional people’s lives become, the more critical healthy corporate cultures become. People do bring all the joy and misery of their personal lives to work. A Dynamic Culture needs to be able to absorb the dysfunction of people’s personal lives in a way that allows them to still perform their work at a high level. This is an incredibly complex thought, and one that I usually would not even include. It’s a topic someone should write a doctoral thesis on. It needs to be said, understood, and acted upon. Or we can continue to hide behind the nonsensical excuse that this is not a corporate responsibility. In nirvana that is true, but it’s probably best if we stay as closely connected to reality as possible.

Warning: if you are not in a leadership position, you may be tempted to check out now, thinking the topic of strategy doesn’t matter to your role. Please don’t make that mistake.

In the opening of the book I wrote: Too many books are written just for leaders; as a result, the message never makes it all the way through the organization. That’s why I specifically set out to write this book for everyone in your organization.

If you are not in a leadership role, there are dozens of reasons you should keep reading, but let me just give you the single most compelling reason. You may not have a leadership role in the business you work for but the most important business of your life is the business of your life itself. Anything you learn about corporate strategy should teach you to live your own life more strategically. Great businesses have Strategic Plans and they update them at least once a year.

The biggest project or venture you are running is your life. Do you have a plan? Most people don’t. They are just stumbling from one year to the next, hoping for the best. That is merely an observation, not a judgment. More than most, I have seen how brutal ordinary life can be, even in the suburbs of American cities. At the same time I want to encourage you to start developing a Personal Strategic Plan (PSP). The point is simple. Strategy and planning are important for organizations, and even more important for our lives and yet, most people spend more time planning their annual vacation than they spend planning their lives.

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” The maxim does not mean strategy doesn’t matter. There is no point having an exceptional culture and no strategy. And your organization will not withstand bad strategic decisions, regardless of how strong and healthy your culture is. But when you have a solid strategy, developing a Dynamic Culture is like adding steroids.

Is culture more important than strategy? There is obviously no point having the best culture in the world if you have a horrible strategy, and vice versa. Our goal should be to build a world class culture to execute a best-in-industry strategy.

So, the first point is: A great strategic plan can make all the difference. If you don’t have one, get one. If you have one, start using it. We will talk more about how to do that most effectively in the coming chapters.

The second point is: Where is culture in the plan? Most organizations leave it out. They focus on sales and marketing, manufacturing and sourcing, financial reports and the new product development, and other such things. But if you raise your hand when the plan is finished and say, “We say the culture is important and that we are committed to building a strong and healthy culture, but where is culture in our Strategic Plan?” you are likely be greeted by a very, very awkward silence.

Culture deserves a place in everything your organization does. Your organization deserves it. And not just any place – a primary place, a driving place. Everything your organization does affects culture, and culture affects everything your organization does. Culture should have a seat of honor at every planning meeting. Tape a sign that reads “Culture” to an empty chair and put that chair in place of honor at meetings. When it comes to culture, we either need to get serious or shut up and stop talking about it. But be warned, there are dire consequences to the latter and we have already seen how empty culture talk impacts employee and customer engagement.

A good Strategic Plan brings confidence to the culture. Confidence – now, that is something people can smell on their leaders. No amount of perfume or cologne can overshadow that smell. It is impossible to overestimate what that confidence means to an organization. Have you ever been around an elite athlete who has lost his or her confidence after an injury? It’s not pretty. Everyone around him is on eggshells in the gym, on the field, in the cafeteria…

Great cultures are confident and humble at the same time. They are so confident, they don’t need pretense, and so they very naturally embrace humility. A great product, service, leader, and strategy can all contribute to building confidence in an organization, but it is the culture that sustains organizational confidence.

Does strategy matter? Of course it does. It matters a great deal. But whatever your product or service is, whatever your strategy is, whatever your goals and mission are, nothing is more essential in accomplishing them than a strong, healthy, vibrant Dynamic Culture. We have to stop seeing culture as something that is at odds with strategy. They should be best friends. By forming strong connections between strategy and culture, and making Mission King (Chapter Two), you give everyone a clear sense of the what, the how, and the why.

The quintessential question is: Will culture be part of our strategy, or will strategy be part of our culture? The answer is both. It is not a one-way street.

Mission is King and both strategy and culture serve it. Strategy is a short-term way an organization accomplishes its mission. Culture should be included in every Strategic Plan. If you separate culture from strategy, you run the risk of culture going rogue and usurping the mission of the organization.

Who you are is infinitely more important than what you do. This is true for people and organizations. Wise organizations allow who they are to determine what they do. Strong, healthy, dynamic, and enduring organizations adopt strategies that are a natural extension of their mission and culture. Strategy is what they do, mission and culture is who they are.

This powerful alignment of culture and strategy will create a competitive advantage of monumental proportions. An organization that takes this single idea seriously dominates its competition in attracting talent. An organization where Mission is King and culture is central is so much stronger, healthier, more vibrant, and more dynamic than its competition. This type of organization deals with challenges and conflict in a very different way than its competition. And perhaps most convincingly, in a world where the speed of change has become immeasurable, an organization that makes Mission King and forms this powerful alliance between culture and strategy deals with change infinitely more effectively than its competition. The most obvious example of this is that everyone is not waiting around for the king to make the decisions about everything. As a culture matures in healthy and effective ways, more people are empowered to make more and more decisions.

For too long, and in too many organizations of every type, culture has been considered the weak, unprofitable, distracting little brother to strategy. Not so. Real strength, enduring profitability, extraordinary employee engagement, and the next great idea that carries your organization in the future are so much more likely to flow from a Dynamic Culture. The little brother has grown up and it turns out he is a genius. His name is Dynamic Culture.

Every organization needs a strategic plan. Napoleon reportedly said, “Those who fail to plan can plan to fail.“ He was right, but he failed anyway. Great plans spring forth from Dynamic Cultures. Napoleon had the wrong vision and values. He was culturally bankrupt. He wouldn’t have been able to run a fast-food restaurant, let alone a nation. We are talking about a man who re-instituted slavery just eight years after it had been abolished; divorced his wife because she didn’t give birth to a son; deprived women of their individual rights; rigged elections to continue his dictatorial regime; censored and then took control of the press; was self-congratulatory; sacrificed the lives of 500,000 men to invade Russia even after his advisers warned him that would be the cost; a man who said, “I care only for people who are useful to me – and only so long as they are useful.”

Napoleon had a plan, but his strategy was self-serving and his culture was sick because his values were sick. These are just some of the reasons he failed. It is not enough just to have a plan. It is not enough just to have a strategy, even if it is a good one. Without a Dynamic Culture you are susceptible to failure. Sooner or later, a competitor will emerge who integrates mission, strategy and culture, and that competitor will crush all others.

Every organization needs a strategic plan, and part of that plan should be the creation and the growth of a dynamic culture. Your first Strategic Plan can be simple, but let it be driven by who you are (values and culture) and not just what you do or how you do it (strategy).”

Merlin writing now, so as I reflect on the above paragraphs, I considered changing the subtitle word “work” to “church,” making it read “So People Would Love Coming to Church and Accomplishing Great Things Together!” Actually, that book is already written and is known as the Bible and is our Strategic Plan. Unlike corporate America, virtually everyone has a copy but still few possess a working knowledge of its contents and we need not worry about performing the annual updates.

However, maintaining a Dynamic Culture from this book, the Bible, has been quite problematic in the past two centuries in Western Europe and North America with a negative correlation between wealth and self-centered higher education, whereas on other continents, once it’s introduced, are developing their Christian Culture rapidly and the plan is flourishing!

I am reminded of the word “entitlement”, which I first recall in my use in ’75 in the social services realm when I worked briefly in “comprehensive health planning.” The word “entitlement” now is even part of the North American church culture, not perhaps overtly, but individually we all struggle with rationalizing our extravagant lifestyles compared to 95% of the world. So much so, that we become spiritually out of tune, tempted to think our culture and our goodness is sufficient, and perhaps, we are not even capable of verbalizing our personal mission, let alone have we ever committed our Strategic Plan to paper with our spouse and family. And to think I have been pointing fingers at businesses that are not communicating with their employees! What have I been doing under my roof? So what effect does this “spiritual ignorance, actually disobedience”  have on me, my family, church, and the subsequent culture dynamics? Likely not much different than in the business world. Perhaps Hospice Care follows entitlement. Sounds better than the Revelation scenario.

Seriously, how many Bibles do you have? Including access on phones and computers? How many times have you read it through? Do you read it frequently? Do you study it sufficiently to even check translations? See how similar the constituents of churches and businesses are? If you are a Christian and own a business today, you need this book. If you are an employee, ask to borrow your employers copy. If he doesn’t have one, buy him one but read it first. That is real “entitlement!” Blessings as you reflect on writing your Strategic Personal Plan and share it around your table. Then you will be “entitled” to watch the Dynamic Culture take shape and new life come forth>>>>       Merlin  

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Hilton Head Island: First at 40, Now at 70!

It is interesting to visit a favorite vacation spot after being absent for nearly 20 years. During the 90’s, we spent many of our summer vacations on the island. It seems numerous NE Ohio residents had invested in condos on the island whom in turn rented them to their friends and neighbors creating blocks of Ohio plates in the parking lots about the island. Such vacations were affordable, within 12 hours driving time of home, and greatly appreciated by the kids for the expansive beaches and decent waves, if for only one week each year.

Prior, we always drove straight thru. This time we did it in two days which elevated the trip a quantum leap for enjoyment, but also more expense for lodging and food…but on the positive side, it is an opportunity to experience a new community and its culture and food in route, particularly if you get creative in finding lodging and food away from the franchises, such as a bed and breakfast.

On the island, our twenty year absence visually revealed its growth. This time we visited for the first time the National Game Refuge, thanks to Teddy Roosevelt, the first of its kind, near Savannah GA, within sight of the new bridge and the shipping docks. We spotted 13 alligators on our drive thru today. One day we toured the Coastal Discovery Museum, a 68 acre portion of a plantation on the island, converted to an amazing collection of paintings and crafts from local artists, to elaborate walkways out over the lowlands demonstrating the habitat for the life cycles of crabs and oysters, and numerous displays detailing the islands various stages of its historical accounts since it was discovered.

I find it strange now to realize just how recently this island has become so developed for tourism. The first bridge was built in ’56 at a cost of 1.5 million which was replaced in ’82 by a 4 lane structure. I cannot recall any place in that I have personally witnessed such a change in the past 30 years (1989-2019) that really only began its tourist development 30 years prior (1959-1989). The airport opened in 1967.

So, I’m sitting here in the Disney complex in unit 1822 with the door open to the porch looking out over the salt water lagoon as the sun sets. We have three huge bedrooms; two up, one down, 4 baths. We are enjoying Loretta’s brother Larry(Debbie) generosity as they are Disney members, who invited Loretta’s oldest brother, Ken(Linda) and younger brother, Everette, and Loretta and I here for a week of renewal and relaxation. A year ago Loretta and I invited everyone to join us in Hawaii for 5 days but Ken and Linda were not able because of Ken’s recent surgery then. We have not yet decided what we’ll attempt next year.

And just as the local economy and geography of the island has undergone startling transformations, so have we as a family; not so much as an expansion of numbers necessarily, as many of you are so accustomed, as much as it is that our physical appearances have changed. Aging is not kind but we are all blessed with good health currently, though for a few of us, our mobility is currently challenged.

As you can imagine, I utilized my spare time to read. I learned on the way down that I can read very comfortably in the back seat of the car on my tablet so I finished reading and underlining both John Eldredge’s book, All Things New, as well as Imagine Heaven. Two recent acquisitions from Matthew Kelly,  A Call to Joy, and Resisting Happiness, were quickly devoured and between the four, I experienced a delightful smorgasbord indeed that I will savor for weeks to come. Truth told, I don’t think I’ve ever  witnessed such an understanding of truth from a 24 year old author as Matthew was when he penned A Call To Joy: Living In The Presence Of God.

Several quotes from it that I’ll pass along to you are:

“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, at least in a different manner, with a different state of mind or heart.”

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

“What you become is more important than what you do.”

Kelly  repeatedly drives home the importance of “loving our fellowman into the kingdom”as “they”  are the only investment we can send ahead into eternity as equity in exchange for our heavenly rewards in the second judgement, a  point also under girding the message from Imagine Heaven in the last two paragraphs of Chapter One.

“In the western world, we live for retirement. We have a vision, a mental picture in our imaginations, of what retirement will be like — home, vacations, hobbies, and time to spend with the people we love. Because we can picture it, we will work for it, save for it, sacrifice for it. There is nothing wrong with retirement, but it lasts only a few decades at best.

What if we became a people who have vision for the ultimate Life to come? What if it’s true that this life is merely a tiny taste on the tip of our tongues of the feast of Life yet to come?What if Heaven is going to be better than your wildest dreams? And what if how you live really does matter for the Life to come? That would change how we live, work, love, sacrifice – wouldn’t it? That’s what I pray will happen for you as you get a clearer picture of Heaven…”  

Consider Kelly’s second most recent book, Resisting Happiness: A true story about why we sabotage ourselves, feel overwhelmed, set aside our dreams, and lack the courage to simply be ourselves…. And how to start choosing happiness again! This little 37 chapter 186 page easy read is a spiritual powerhouse in helping us overcome resistance which is summed up well at the end of the first chapter,“The first lesson is that you never defeat resistance once and for all! It is a daily battle.” The remaining 36 chapters each have a Key Point and an Action Step to insure your daily victories. Not to even mention his quotes! Such as near the end of chapter 25, “Any type of inner slavery limits our ability to love ourselves, to love God, and to love others.” Well said indeed. Thanks for reading.

Blessings as YOU GO FORTH LOVING GOD & LOVING OTHERS>>>>   Merlin

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Convalescence and Family Reunions

Greetings everyone!

I am happy to report that Dr Ficco, the surgeon who artfully reassembled my September 18 “impact exploded” R ankle, released me from his care on March 5th very pleased with its progress. Initially, the x-rays indicated it may a difficult fix, and I’m grateful for all the prayers, and quite likely, some divine intervention that occurred.

Loretta indeed performed magnificently on the home front revamping the micro lab as two days prior the accident, the old computer had crashed necessitating both  a new computer and software program. We also at that time switched to using Petri Film rather than agar and petri dishes, and Loretta accomplished that transition all on her own with me coaching from Aultman via FaceTime on our phones.

But then, after 21 days in the hospital and rehab, I went home and life really got complicated for Loretta. No longer could she just visit me and go home, but now she had to endure me in close proximity while I convalesced at home literally waiting on me hand and foot, never complaining but very near total exhaustion. Life did improve January 1 when I was able to stand and walk again, and three weeks after that, I was off ibuprofen.

I have heard from other couples that when the husband retires and suddenly is home 24-7, that major relational eruptions can occur, so just imagine the added stress by injecting into that equation, a helpless but quite demanding convalescing house bound husband for four months! We are happy to report we did actually survive, and now indeed are anticipating thriving together, particularly, if I can just quit inflicting new injuries. Needless to say, she and her cousin Beth, will soon embark on numerous trips during the next six months, some that were even on the books prior, as she so well deserves for her stint of “Home Alone with …… husband.” And yes, of course I’d like to replace Beth, but I am still working part time, and quite frankly, am very glad to have the work and able to do it, while I anticipate my next adventure.

Also, I’m happy to report during her recent 16 days in Honduras, with CAMO, Central America Medical Outreach, my ankles really began to improve. Prior I was quite distraught in that it hurt so much to walk. I tried to push hard during therapy (finished March 1) by walking in the woods and fields to loosen up the ankles to no avail. And then on a nice day two weeks ago, I decided rather than just walking, I’d start cleaning up all the branches and twigs in the areas I mow, so I got out my rake and went to work, thinking how this raking was indeed a new experience for me but likely good for the upper body muscles as well as for the ankles. Normally, since Loretta got me a Stihl Back Pak when I turned 50, the rake was retired and all the leaves, sticks, etc.,  were either moved by air or chopped up by the mower. And several days later, I noticed walking was much easier. On our recent two snow days when I used the snowblower, I averaged over 10 miles according to my tracker, normally 5-7 miles. So I am much encouraged in the past week and do believe now that by this September I will experience a complete recovery.

I am so very thankful for the health I now enjoy and can better identify with the persons who experience Near Death Experiences (NDE’s).  Frequently they express this ever present thankful understanding of being spared and for what purpose? Such thoughts just occur as we view our life to-date in our rear view mirror, but of greater significance, is how do we live out the remainder of our lives, now better realizing the fragility of life, its experiences and relationships on all levels.

As you’ve heard me say before, Loretta several weeks ago again, said “you need to listen to this book.” This time it was “Imagine Heaven”by engineer and now pastor, John Burke. So while I was walking the fields, the woods, I’d be listening to this Imagine Heaven book. I found it utterly fascinating. In fact, I listened to it twice  and today ordered the Kindle version so I can underline and more easily refer to the Biblical references he uses.

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know this recovering workaholic has; no, now it’s had, an attitude, such that I figured I’d have all of eternity to discover and experience heaven, which should be more than sufficient, therefore an excuse to keep focusing on the here and now that I thought was of greater importance. To a degree, that may be true but the problem was, I refused to understand at all, that I was not investing well in the here and now, to even get close, to ever experiencing the family reunion of all times waiting for each of us in heaven. And I can just hear you saying, “I could care less about a future family reunion, even if it were in heaven. Just three hours with those still here that Sunday afternoon last summer at Cousin Mary’s did me in. I even left early, thank you very much.”

If that remotely describes you, you really do need a change of scenery, perspective, reality, etc., and Imagine Heaven will certainly open your eyes and maybe, your seldom or underused imagination. Christians ought to be the most imaginative folks you can meet on this planet; although I’m not always so convinced. Seriously, how are we to go about living by faith without an imagination? And some of us are such Thomas’s “except we see the ….” We may think we see here on earth, but I understand earthly 3-D and color is very bland and boring compared to heavenly dimensions and colors, and we won’t need the media there either, since we may communicate without words, but instantly by thoughts. And here we thought the internet and Wi-Fi was neat, though quite addictive for the unimaginative; there totally outdated and not needed!

Now you know where to look at least. The Bible and Burke provides the interesting accounts and the scripture verses. Handy for us being so unimaginative, you know! Thanks for reading. Google the book and download the free sample. Take your imagination out of storage!             Blessings as YOU GO FORTH>>>>                   Merlin

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How To Get That Transformed View Of Self

Congratulations! You’ve persevered through the three prior posts of these admonitions from Paul to finding the ever illusive path to true Christian joy. I remember well the flood of freedom that swept over me when I first envisioned and understood the importance of becoming a gospel-humble person in my spirit, soul and body, my heart mind and will, borrowing from John Eldredge in Moving Mountains. I’m praying now for even greater revelations for you.

How did Paul get this blessed self-forgetfulness? He does tell us – but we have to look carefully. First he says, ‘I don’t care what you think; but I don’t care what I think.’ In other words, he does not look to them for the verdict nor, does he look to himself for the verdict. Then he says ‘My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent’. The word translated ‘innocent’ comes the word ‘justify’. The word for ‘justify’ is the same one he uses throughout Romans and Galatians. Here Paul is saying that even if his conscience is clear, that does not justify him.

What Paul is looking for, what Madonna is looking for, what we are all looking for, is an ultimate verdict that we are important and valuable. We look for that ultimate verdict every day in all the situations and people around us. And that means that every single day, we are on trial. Everyday, we put ourselves back in a courtroom. But do you notice how Paul says that he does not care what the Corinthians think of him or what any human court thinks? It is odd that he is talking about courts – after all the Corinthians are not a court. He is talking metaphorically, I think. And he is saying that the problem with self esteem – whether it is high or low – is that every single day, we are in the courtroom. Every single single day we are on trial. That is the way everyone’s identity works. In the courtroom, you have the prosecution and the defense. And everything we do is providing evidence for the prosecution or evidence for the defense. Some days we feel we are winning the trial and other days we feel we are losing it. But Paul says that he has found the secret. The trial is over for him. He is out of the courtroom. It is gone. It is over. Because the ultimate verdict is in.

Now how could that be? Paul put it very simply. He knows that they cannot justify him. He knows that he cannot justify himself. And what does he say? He says that it is the Lord who judges him. It is only His opinion that counts.

Do you realize that it is only in the gospel of Jesus Christ that you get the verdict before the performance? The atheist might say that they get their self-image from being a good person. They are a good person and they hope that eventually they will get a verdict that confirms that they are a good person. Performance leads to the verdict. For the Buddhist too, performance leads to the verdict. If you a Muslim, performance leads to a verdict. All this means that every day, you are in the courtroom, every day you are on trial. That is the problem. But Paul is saying that in Christianity, the verdict leads to performance. It is not the performance that leads to the verdict. In Christianity, the moment we believe, God says ‘This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.’ Or take Romans 8:1 which says ‘Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’. In Christianity, the moment we believe, God imputes Christ’s perfect performance to us as if it were our own, and adopts us into his family. In other words, God can say to us just as He once said to Christ, ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’You see, the verdict is in. And now I perform on the basis of the verdict. Because he loves me and accepts me, I do not have to do things just to build up my resume. I do not have to do things to make me look good. I can do things for the joy of doing them. I can help people to help people – not so I can feel better about myself, not so I can fill up the emptiness.

With every other form of identity and every other ‘badge’ or accolade we might award ourselves, it is always the case of the verdict coming from the performance. We might find security in labeling ourselves a good person, a free person, a religious person, a moral person. Whatever it is, it is always the same: performance leads to the verdict. But the verdict never comes. Madonna said so, and she should know. Madonna has done things that you and I are never going to do – and it is still not enough. Madonna has heaps of talent, she has tremendous guts. But even Madonna, despite everything she has done, says that she has still not found the ultimate verdict she is looking for. The performance never gets the ultimate verdict.

But in Christianity, the verdict can give you the performance. Yes, the verdict can give you the performance. How can that be? Here is Paul’s answer: He is out of the courtroom, he is out of the trial. How? Because Jesus Christ went on trial instead. Jesus went into the courtroom. He was on trial. It was an unjust trial in a kangaroo court – but he did not complain. Like the lamb before the shearers, He was silent. He was struck, beaten, put to death. Why? As our substitute. He took the condemnation we deserve; He faced the trial that should be ours so we do not have to face any more trials. So I simply need to ask God to accept me because of what the Lord Jesus has done. Then, the only person whose opinion counts looks at me and He finds me more valuable than all the jewels in the earth.    

How can we worry about being snubbed now? How can we worry about being ignored now? How can we care that much about what we look like in the mirror?

Let me say a word to those for whom this is all new. You may wished you believed this. Here is what I would say – some people have never understood the difference between Christian identity and any other kind of identity. They would call themselves a Christian, they consider their behavior to be on the upper end of the scale, they go to church and they hope that one day God will take them home. Let me say that Christian identity operates totally differently from any other kind of identity. Self-forgetfulness takes you out of the courtroom. The trial is over. The verdict is in. Perhaps that is new to you. Keep looking. Keep digging. Keep asking questions. There is a lot to discover. I have covered a lot of ground in a short space. There are lots of pieces of the jigsaw to put together – why did Jesus have to die? Why did He rise from the dead? Was He really the Son of God? Keep looking until you understand the whole picture.

But maybe you are in a different position – you believe the gospel; you have done so for years. But … and it is a big ‘but’ … every day you find yourself sucked back into the courtroom. You do not feel you are living like Paul says. You are getting sucked back in. All I can tell you is that we have to re-live the gospel every time we pray. We have to re-live it every time we go to church. We have to re-live the gospel on the spot and ask ourselves what we are doing in the courtroom. We should not be there. The court is adjourned.

Like Paul, we can say, ‘I don’t care what you think. I don’t even care what I think. I only care what the Lord thinks.’ And he has said, ‘Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’, and ‘You are my beloved child in whom I am well pleased’. Live out of that.

Thoughts & Questions For Reflection

If you are new to Christianity, why not read the Gospel of Mark and ask God to show you the truth about Jesus – particularly His death on the cross. If you know any Christians, perhaps you could ask them to talk to about it.

Or you may use the words of Psalm 139 in prayer. Ask God to show you your heart. Ask him to show you the places you look for self-worth and the ways you try to find your sense of identity.

‘Search me, O God, and know my heart; and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23,24

Could you explain to someone else how the gospel can (and should) transform our sense of identity? How much do you experience that transformed sense of identity? In what way’s has God’s Word encouraged you or challenged you? Pray about it.

Pray that God would give you what you need to enable you to develop true gospel-humility and the freedom of self-forgetfulness.

In addition, I suggest two of his many books for greater clarity, The Reason For God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, and Making Sense of God : Finding God in the Modern World.        Blessings As YOU GO FORTH>>>>                           Merlin

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