Blessed are the poor in spirit, he said, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Heaven, it seems, will not be home to those who are filled with pride. Blessed are the meek, he said, for they will inherit the earth. It looks like the powerful will get their way forever... but in truth, those who love their neighbors and walk humbly with the Lord... will inherit the earth. Blessed are the pure in heart, he said, for they will see God. No one can stop the fleeting thoughts that sometimes cross their minds, but if we feed our soul with good and holy things, and if we busy our hands in work that is worth doing, and associate with people who are compassionate and righteous, our chances of having "sinful" thoughts will go way down. Blessed are the peacemakers, he said, for they will be called the sons (and daughters) of God... because even those who actually care about and wish for peace... are reluctant to take a stand to bring it about.
Blessed are you when people persecute you for my sake, he said, for you have been faithful and brave enough to let others know that I am your Lord! When we die and our obits are read, pray that no one will be surprised to read that we were Christians! Pray that our faith shines through in what we do and say. YOU are the salt of the earth, he said. YOU are the light of the world, he said. Wow, what an awesome privilege and responsibility this is. I might be the only Christian another person knows in his or her life. As dim as it is, I might present the only reflection of Christ that another person may ever see! Pray that Christians will act like Christians. If your righteousness does not exceed that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, he said, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. If you are obsessed with judgment, rules, and scorekeeping, you will not see heaven because heaven is a place of love, forgiveness, and grace.
Watch your inner thoughts, he said, for they are the source of all sorts of sin. Murder begins in the heart. So does adultery and theft and more. You have heard it said, he said, that you must love your neighbor and hate your enemies, but I tell you to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, If people got what they deserved in life, we would all be in trouble. Instead of worrying about long, self-serving prayers, simply pray that God will give you your daily bread and forgive your sins, and deliver you from evil. Pray also that God's will will be done on both heaven and earth and that Jesus will come soon. No one can serve both God and money, he said, so put God first and avoid the love of money like the plague! Do not worry about your life, he said, because it doesn't help and it isn't necessary... and don't spend your time judging others! Leave judgment to God because you are too sinful to judge your brother. Be bold in your prayer, he said. Be persistent and believe that God will answer you.
Anyone who hears my words AND puts them into practice is like the wise man who builds his house on the rock. Then, he finished what we call his Sermon on the Mount, and the crowds were amazed at his teaching. (Matt. 7:28) Let those who have ears, hear.
PK IN SWEDEN
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Saturday, October 15, 2016
HE DANCED A JIG FOR THE LORD!
Most of the people I know are afraid to let go.
They're disciplined, reserved, measured, realistic.
They try not to cry of laugh too loudly.
They don't want to make a spectacle of themselves.
So... they sing their songs softly, with mumbled words.
They demur when they're complimented,
they hold their tongue when they're insulted... and
when their team scores, they simply set on their hands.
Most of the people I know are afraid to dance boldly,
lest they do it wrong or make a fool of themselves.
Even in moments of great joy,
they control themselves... but NOT David. (see 2 Samuel 8)
David was a man of passion who let it all hang out.
Sometimes, he cried out to God with bitter complaints.
Sometimes, he wrote songs of praise... and
on at least one occasion, he danced a jog for his Lord.
It occurred when he was bringing the Ark home to Jerusalem.
The people were with him- with their cymbals, horns and sistrums.
They danced all the way because it was a sacred day of great joy!
But no one danced with more abandon than their great King.
David danced with all of his might, wearing little more than an apron.
He danced like a fool... for God, and only for God.
He danced like a fool and gave everyone in the crowd...
a loaf of bread and a couple of cakes to take to their homes.
He danced as if no one was watching...
but his wife, Michal, was watching intently, and she was disgusted.
She told him so when he finally came through the door.
She told him that he had been vulgar and most un-king-like.
She told him that he had made a fool of himself,
but he didn't care what she or anyone else thought.
He said that he danced and sang only for God... and
that, given the chance, he would act like a bigger fool the next time.
When you get saved, when you're filled with the Holy Spirit.
when you're bringing the ark home, or a lost sinner home, or
simply becoming aware of what it means to be saved,
the only thing you can do is to hold your sides and laugh, or dance the jig!
What do you think?
Should David have danced with such abandon?
If you had been there, would you have sided with David or with Michal?
Can people who know themselves to be saved... keep from smiling!
They're disciplined, reserved, measured, realistic.
They try not to cry of laugh too loudly.
They don't want to make a spectacle of themselves.
So... they sing their songs softly, with mumbled words.
They demur when they're complimented,
they hold their tongue when they're insulted... and
when their team scores, they simply set on their hands.
Most of the people I know are afraid to dance boldly,
lest they do it wrong or make a fool of themselves.
Even in moments of great joy,
they control themselves... but NOT David. (see 2 Samuel 8)
David was a man of passion who let it all hang out.
Sometimes, he cried out to God with bitter complaints.
Sometimes, he wrote songs of praise... and
on at least one occasion, he danced a jog for his Lord.
It occurred when he was bringing the Ark home to Jerusalem.
The people were with him- with their cymbals, horns and sistrums.
They danced all the way because it was a sacred day of great joy!
But no one danced with more abandon than their great King.
David danced with all of his might, wearing little more than an apron.
He danced like a fool... for God, and only for God.
He danced like a fool and gave everyone in the crowd...
a loaf of bread and a couple of cakes to take to their homes.
He danced as if no one was watching...
but his wife, Michal, was watching intently, and she was disgusted.
She told him so when he finally came through the door.
She told him that he had been vulgar and most un-king-like.
She told him that he had made a fool of himself,
but he didn't care what she or anyone else thought.
He said that he danced and sang only for God... and
that, given the chance, he would act like a bigger fool the next time.
When you get saved, when you're filled with the Holy Spirit.
when you're bringing the ark home, or a lost sinner home, or
simply becoming aware of what it means to be saved,
the only thing you can do is to hold your sides and laugh, or dance the jig!
What do you think?
Should David have danced with such abandon?
If you had been there, would you have sided with David or with Michal?
Can people who know themselves to be saved... keep from smiling!
Saturday, October 1, 2016
40 YEARS OF SOBRIETY
On October 04, 1976, I had my last drink. I surrendered my self-will to God... and began a life more devoted to service than self. On October 04, 1976, an emptiness came over me- an emptiness that I had never known- an emptiness so powerful that it drove me to my knees.
I was sitting by myself in a restaurant in Omaha, Nebraska... when it suddenly occurred to me that I was desperately lost and in the process of dying. So, I sat my beer down and drove home, telling myself that whatever alcoholism treatment was, it had to be better than the life I was living. I didn't know what the future would bring, but I was sick and tired of forgetting where my car was and of passing out on my own front lawn. I was sick of tired of looking at my troubled, frightened, and lying face in the mirror, and I had become totally confused about what was real and what was false in my life. Deep down, I knew that I was a "good" person, but I wasn't doing much good. In my heart, I was sure that I could make a contribution to the world, but every night, I watered my own whiskey bottle down so that I myself would forget how much I had to drink. I had become vain and fearful and I told lies when the truth would have served me better. In the early days, I could hold my liquor. I could drink all night, but in the latter days, I was often drunk before the party started. And I wasn't a pretty drunk either. Whenever I drank, I slurred my words, My clothes became disheveled and too big, and I talked too much. Often, I would offend someone by being too friendly or too antagonistic, and most importantly, I had lost any sense of who I was and where I was going. In AA circles, they say that, "a man takes a drink, the drinks takes a drink, and then the drink takes the man," and I can only add "amen,: What was once my servant had become my master, and I was done. I had hit bottom, and I was 30 years of age. Let those who have ears, hear!
I was in treatment for 30 days, and while they were still concerned about my inability to express even the simplest of feelings and my refusal to talk about my past, they let me out... and my journey began. I attended AA meetings. I made amends wherever possible, and I turned my life over to the care of God, whom I had come to believe... could and would free me from the demons that were trying to kill me. I adhered to the 12 Steps of AA because I knew that, under my own direction, my life had become an absolute disaster. I wanted to be the father and husband that my wife and kids deserved, and I wanted to love the man I saw in the mirror- so I stayed active and did what I was told to do. I stayed away from temptations and sought to grow in my faith that Jesus Christ was my Lord and Savior. Yes, when I was in the treatment center, the Rev. Luther Ratmeyer called on me because he and my wife, Sherry, had been praying for me for some time. He asked me if I was ready to let go and trust in Christ, and I said "yes." He led me in the "Sinner's Prayer," and invited me to get involved in a Christian community when I left the center. He prayed for me, and he prayed with me, that day and for years thereafter, He was instrumental in my decision to enter seminary, and he listened to me when I struggled, which I did... because spiritual growth isn't magical. Surrender isn't easy and the devil (like alcohol) is cunning, baffling, powerful, and patient. I had many setbacks, some of them of consequence... but I never considered drinking again... and I never quit believing in the transforming love of Christ Jesus. Whether the walk was downhill or uphill; whether the sun was shining or it was storming like hell, I kept my feet moving because I never felt that Christ had forsaken me. He never has abandoned me, of course, and I've kept my feet moving for 14, 600 days now... and yes they have been taken one day at a time.
As a serious Bible student, I know that 40 is a powerful Biblical number. Noah rode the waters of flood for 40 days, the people of God ate manna for 40 days, Jonah preached to Nineveh for 40 days, Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, and he appeared to his disciples and others for 40 days after his resurrection, Moses led Israel through the desert for 40 years, and many of the judges- Othniel, Deborah, Gideon- judged Israel for 40 years! We say that "life begins at 40," and according to an Arabic saying, to understand a people, you have to live among them for 40 days. I could go on, but the point is clear- 40 is an important number, and to me, it is a holy and sacred number. Thus, I am filled with joy on this, my 40th AA birthday! I am grateful to Jesus Christ, who came to me when I needed him most; to my wife, Sherry, who has been at my side for nearly 50 years; to Pastor Lu (oh, how I wish that I had been the pastor that he was), and to all of those who knew my story and loved me anyway! I don't know how many steps I have left to take... but I pray that each one of them will be taken soberly... in service to my great God. Amen!
I was sitting by myself in a restaurant in Omaha, Nebraska... when it suddenly occurred to me that I was desperately lost and in the process of dying. So, I sat my beer down and drove home, telling myself that whatever alcoholism treatment was, it had to be better than the life I was living. I didn't know what the future would bring, but I was sick and tired of forgetting where my car was and of passing out on my own front lawn. I was sick of tired of looking at my troubled, frightened, and lying face in the mirror, and I had become totally confused about what was real and what was false in my life. Deep down, I knew that I was a "good" person, but I wasn't doing much good. In my heart, I was sure that I could make a contribution to the world, but every night, I watered my own whiskey bottle down so that I myself would forget how much I had to drink. I had become vain and fearful and I told lies when the truth would have served me better. In the early days, I could hold my liquor. I could drink all night, but in the latter days, I was often drunk before the party started. And I wasn't a pretty drunk either. Whenever I drank, I slurred my words, My clothes became disheveled and too big, and I talked too much. Often, I would offend someone by being too friendly or too antagonistic, and most importantly, I had lost any sense of who I was and where I was going. In AA circles, they say that, "a man takes a drink, the drinks takes a drink, and then the drink takes the man," and I can only add "amen,: What was once my servant had become my master, and I was done. I had hit bottom, and I was 30 years of age. Let those who have ears, hear!
I was in treatment for 30 days, and while they were still concerned about my inability to express even the simplest of feelings and my refusal to talk about my past, they let me out... and my journey began. I attended AA meetings. I made amends wherever possible, and I turned my life over to the care of God, whom I had come to believe... could and would free me from the demons that were trying to kill me. I adhered to the 12 Steps of AA because I knew that, under my own direction, my life had become an absolute disaster. I wanted to be the father and husband that my wife and kids deserved, and I wanted to love the man I saw in the mirror- so I stayed active and did what I was told to do. I stayed away from temptations and sought to grow in my faith that Jesus Christ was my Lord and Savior. Yes, when I was in the treatment center, the Rev. Luther Ratmeyer called on me because he and my wife, Sherry, had been praying for me for some time. He asked me if I was ready to let go and trust in Christ, and I said "yes." He led me in the "Sinner's Prayer," and invited me to get involved in a Christian community when I left the center. He prayed for me, and he prayed with me, that day and for years thereafter, He was instrumental in my decision to enter seminary, and he listened to me when I struggled, which I did... because spiritual growth isn't magical. Surrender isn't easy and the devil (like alcohol) is cunning, baffling, powerful, and patient. I had many setbacks, some of them of consequence... but I never considered drinking again... and I never quit believing in the transforming love of Christ Jesus. Whether the walk was downhill or uphill; whether the sun was shining or it was storming like hell, I kept my feet moving because I never felt that Christ had forsaken me. He never has abandoned me, of course, and I've kept my feet moving for 14, 600 days now... and yes they have been taken one day at a time.
As a serious Bible student, I know that 40 is a powerful Biblical number. Noah rode the waters of flood for 40 days, the people of God ate manna for 40 days, Jonah preached to Nineveh for 40 days, Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, and he appeared to his disciples and others for 40 days after his resurrection, Moses led Israel through the desert for 40 years, and many of the judges- Othniel, Deborah, Gideon- judged Israel for 40 years! We say that "life begins at 40," and according to an Arabic saying, to understand a people, you have to live among them for 40 days. I could go on, but the point is clear- 40 is an important number, and to me, it is a holy and sacred number. Thus, I am filled with joy on this, my 40th AA birthday! I am grateful to Jesus Christ, who came to me when I needed him most; to my wife, Sherry, who has been at my side for nearly 50 years; to Pastor Lu (oh, how I wish that I had been the pastor that he was), and to all of those who knew my story and loved me anyway! I don't know how many steps I have left to take... but I pray that each one of them will be taken soberly... in service to my great God. Amen!
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