De-cluttering to Hear the Still Small Voice

Lately, I have been busy.  In fact, I have been so busy, I have gotten slack in lots of different areas and things have begun to pile up.  I have found myself dealing in clutter.  My dresser at home has been cluttered with my stuff.  My sock drawer has been cluttered.  My desk at work has been cluttered.  My calendar has been cluttered.  Even my Bible was cluttered.  Yep, you know all those notes you take during the sermon and the pictures drawn by your precious children to keep them occupied during the message?  I mean it seemed that everywhere I turned I was dealing with clutter.  So I said to myself, "Self, what is up with all this clutter!"  I am amazed that I even heard myself since everything was so cluttered, but I did!  A real quick evaluation made me realize that I needed to stop and reassess a few things in my life.  I started asking questions immediately, "How did I get to this point? Had I lost anything in all this clutter? Would I be able to find it if I did?"  I evaluated and re-evaluated some things and in just a few moments found that I had once again allowed "stuff" to get in the way of lots of things.  Funny how that happens.  I think that I would learn after all these years, but somehow, I don't.  I find myself laying something to the side thinking that I would deal with it more efficiently later.  That is all well and good until I lay something else on top of it and then I add more and more and more.  Before long, clutter happens.  

Can I get a witness?  Is it just me or have you been there?  I have learned that clutter in one's life just doesn't happen overnight.  It is a process that grows like a bad disease.  It can spread like a cancer over a period of time and before you know, life is "clutterly"consumed.  So what exactly happens when you get caught up in a mess of clutter?  Clutter is defined as "to fill or litter with things in a disorderly manner."  It is interesting that this definition uses the words "fill or litter."  When one gets caught up in a mess of clutter, space is taken up, seemingly important things become trashy, things are misplaced, perhaps opportunities are swallowed up, and time is wasted.  What have I lost or how much time have I wasted because of clutter?  How much more productive could I be if I de-clutter my life?  Spiritually, we can get cluttered as well.  We can get caught up in service, doing ministry and lose sight of the Savior.  We can be so concerned with rituals we forget the need to strive for righteousness.  We can get so busy with dogma we forget about discipleship.  Can you see the picture being painted before our eyes?  It is easy to be tempted by the clutter in our lives.  Scripture reminds us that we are not alone in this mess (1 Cor. 10:13).  However, that does not excuse us from working on it!  Elijah faced lots of clutter in his life.  One example can be seen in 1 Kings 19:10-18.  Here, Elijah even faced clutter that was beyond his control.  However, one characteristic that he displayed was to work through the clutter until he heard the still small voice of a Mighty God.  There is something to be learned here.  First, in the clutter, you cannot hear God speaking.  Therefore, do all you can to make sure that you get beyond the clutter.  Secondly, sometimes the clutter comes from things we cannot control.  However, God will still speak if you wait for Him to do so.  Being focused, setting goals, and a bit of discipline can help in other areas of your life to help de-clutter.  The really cool thing is I am finding that if I am de-cluttering spiritually, the rest will fall in suit!  So take a lesson from the clutter in my life, examine, evaluate, and enter into a plan of action:  DE-CLUTTER!  In fact, I am cutting this short now to go tackle the sock drawer!  

The Talk...A Guide for College Students to Stay True to Their Faith

Think with me for a moment about that person in your life that sometime in the last few months gave you the talk.  No, not that talk. I mean the talk where someone in your life, your pastor or parent or grandparent or Youth Minister or godly friend said to you, “make sure you hold strong to your faith.”  Did you get that talk?  Did you think about how much that person cared about you to give you that talk?  Did you think about the fact that person might have had a very good reason to give you that talk?  Maybe, that person thought about you going off to college where your faith would be challenged.  Maybe that person thought about the decisions in your life that you would have to make over the next few days and weeks that could compromise your beliefs.  Maybe that person knew that you would be challenged perhaps greater than you have ever been challenged before and you would be stretched greater than you have even been stretched before.

The Apostle Paul recognized that in certain academic settings one just may be challenged to go after some ideas that sway from biblical truth. In Colossians chapter 2, Paul mentions this very thing.

Colossians 2:1-7 reads, “I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. ² My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

^[1]

Paul has a personal interest in those believers in Laodicea.  Other references in scripture show that there could have been a letter to the Laodiceans .  In fact, Colossians 4:16 reads, “After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.” ^[2] Some scholars think that this phrase “letter from Laodicea” is referring to our copy of Ephesians which had been delivered to the city.   Another interesting point is that this city is mentioned in another place in scripture.  Remember these verses from Revelation 3:14-16?

 ¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.^[3]

Paul recognized that this prominent city in Asia was a place that allowed its citizens to believe that they did not need to be dependent upon biblical values or anything else for that matter.  It was a city of prominent trade, a maker of fine black wool, known for self-sufficiency, a center for banking and a hub for ophthalmology, the branch of science that is about the study and care of the eyes.  It was an academic setting that believed in self-sufficiency.  One writer goes so far to say it was so self sufficient that it wouldn’t even accept help of neighboring countries when a major earthquake hit and left it destroyed.  The interesting point here is that this thought process refused to allow for a dependence on a Holy God.  In fact, the Laodiceans basically said, we can do it on our own.

Paul was burdened about those in that area that could be easily influenced by this thought process.  Colossians 2:1 mentions that this was an area that Paul was struggling with the possibilities of what could happen if this thought process was allowed to infiltrate their minds.  Perhaps someone that cares about you also thought that and decided to give you the talk before you came to college.  Many students come to college and they forget about the path which God has called them to go forth on and they turn to areas of thought that lead them to pain and destruction.  I hope that you had someone to care enough about you to give you that talk.  So today I want to reiterate to you the importance of making sure that you focus on what God has called you to be and do and that you are not swayed to follow another form of thought.  In fact, this is your lucky day.  I want to take the rest of this passage and briefly show you a plan to go forward and be successful in this academic setting  and yet stay true to your belief system.  Contrary to popular belief, Christianity is not about rules and regulations. It is about experiencing life to its fullest.  Jesus said in John 10:10 ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.^[4] The people of Laodecia were convinced that their fullness of life could be found in lies and misappropriations of the truth.  Paul recognized this and thus had a burden for those Christians there.

Paul states in Colossians 2:2, ² My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Look at those phrases:  Encouraged in heart, united in love, full riches, complete understanding.  Do those sound like rules and regulations?  Then he adds that he desires those folks to KNOW the Mystery of God.  What is the mystery of God?  Simply put, the Mystery of God refers to an opportunity for you and I as filthy, dirty rags being united to a Holy God because of what Christ has done for us!  And then Paul adds the phrase, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Why in the world would Paul say such things?  I am glad you asked!  He answers in the next verse:  ^4” I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.”  You will be challenged in the way you think and believe.  You will be stretched.  But you will not be broken if you hold strong to these next thoughts that Paul shares in the following verses.  Paul writes, ^{5 “}For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Stay connected to those that have given you the talk.  They care about you.  They love you.  They desire the very best that God has for you.  Just like Paul, those precious people in your life are present with you in spirit and they will delight in you being disciplined in your work and firm in your faith.

If you have Christ in your life, keep on keeping on.  Don’t stop.  Grow!  But remember your roots.  Remember where you came from and how your belief system was developed.  Remember how roots are strengthened through proper weeding, care, nutrients, and good soil.  Oh the metaphors here!  Stay strong by making sure you are being with good friends not those that pull you down.  Stay strong physically by taking care of yourself by eating properly, getting rest, and being focused.  Remember why you were taught the things you were taught recognizing that your faith will continue to grow and even become stronger and stronger!  Finally, always be thankful.  Every breath you take is a reason to give thanks.  Every friend you make is a reason to give thanks.  Let your thankfulness overflow.  In short, allow God to show you His best because that is what He desires.

It is very easy to become “Laodicea-like” thinking that you can do it on your own.  I want to encourage you to recognize your dependence on the One who made you to grow and blossom. 

---

^[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Col 2:1-7

^[2] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Col 4:16

^[3] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Re 3:14-16

^[4] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jn 10:10

Things Grannie Taught Me

Thursday morning, April 5, 2012 I received the phone call I had been anticipating for many days.  Actually, for many weeks and months I knew this call would come.  After three weeks in ICU and over 96 years of a wonderful life, my Grandmother passed away that morning about 4:00.  My cousin Melissa, who had determined to be her caregiver, friend, and incredible granddaughter was by her side.  Even though we knew it was inevitable, the tears flowed that morning and I am certain in the days to come there will be more.  In her later years, Grannie had a hard time remembering who folks were, but I always remembered who she was!
At her death, I have realized that I have had almost 50 years of learning, of character development, and wisdom stemming from this saintly lady.
Here are some things I have learned from Grannie:
1.  I have learned to laugh!
Grannie loved to tell stories and jokes.  One my favorites was the story about little Susie in class and having a hard time sitting still.  In fact, the teacher even called her out, "Susie, can you not be still?"  Susie replied, "I am sorry teacher, my butt is asleep," to which little Johnny sitting right behind her blurted out, "It sure is Teacher, I have heard snore three times!"
2.  I have learned to be hospitable but firm.
Grannie always wanted to make sure that her guests were well rested and fed.  She always kept things neat and clean.  Even in her latter years, keeping things in order was important to her.  I remember visiting her at Autumn Care, the nursing facility which she lived.  Often when I would visit her she would be in the dining area, sitting at a table in a wheel chair.  One particular time, another lady was sitting at the table with us and kept pulling the table cloth up.  Granny would reach over and pull it down.  The lady would pull it up, and Granny would pull it down again.  After about the third or fourth time, Granny looked at that lady and in anger said, "Just look at the mess you're making!  Shoot a monkey!"  I realized right then, that I just heard my Grandmother come the closest I had ever heard to cussing! 
3.  I have learned to grow flowers, vegetables, and fruits.
Grannie loved her flower gardens.  She and my Grandfather made a great team for 63 years with their flower gardens, fruits and vegetables!
4.  I have learned to store up the harvest for the cold winter ahead and share what I had.
If you spent any time at all at Papa and Granny's house, you knew there would be a time that  we worked in the garden and then a time putting it all away.  Granny would always share the fruits of the harvest.  She never had much, but she always had enough to share.
5.  I have learned to appreciate front porches.
It didn't matter when you came to visit, how cold or hot it was, or how late you left.  Granny always walked out on the porch to see you off. 
6.  I have learned to hug and kiss those you love.
7.  I have learned that it is okay to talk with your mouth full, especially if you are from "Ardell County."
8.  I have learned that there will never be a better coconut cake, a red velvet cake or banana pudding this side of heaven!
9.  I have learned that if WFMX radio was playing really loud in the kitchen and it was still dark outside, breakfast would be ready in just a few minutes!
10.  I have learned that Jesus loves me, that I was prayed for everyday, and that one day I willl see her again because I have placed my trust in this Jesus she told me about!

My Guiding Statement

I recently gave to my Career and Life Planning class an assignment to develop a 2-3 sentence paragraph that could be seen as their guiding statement. The purpose of this assignment was to help these college age students begin a process that would help them ultimately find the best career path possible. The answers were as varied as the students. Some focused on their faith and how that faith would be intertwined with all they were to do career wise. Others focused on wordy statements that had no direction but obviously sounded good. As I read each one, I could not help but ask questions that would challenge the statements. Teachers are supposed to do that, right? After all, employers certainly would ask questions that would challenge one's beliefs to see who would rise to the top in this competitive job market! I sound like an expert don't I? Being the teacher, I am the expert, well at least for this class. The expert does challenge one to think, right? The expert does ask good questions, right? I found myself looking in the mirror envisioning a super hero complete with cape saying with gusto, "I am Expert!" All of the sudden while my head was swelling with this new found "expertitis," I had this incredible,overwhelming feeling. Immediately I began to ask myself just when exactly I became the expert. How did this educated redneck from North Carolina become such a wealth of knowledge? Sure I have two Master's degrees, but my education certainly has been more than a bunch of books on my shelf. In a few months, five to be exact, I will turn 50 years old. Fifty years! I began to think about my own guiding statement. Has my guiding statement changed? Has it been fulfilled? Am I focused and is my guiding statement making a difference? Is it really guiding me? I have come the conclusion after almost 50 years of living on this earth, my guiding statement has theoretically remained the same. The truth of the matter, I have always held to the basic core beliefs since I was old enough to understand the difference between right and wrong. In fact, since I realized my need for Christ at a very young age, in some form or fashion my guiding statement has remained intact. I may have used different words but they have the same meaning. My sentence structure may have even changed and it very well could change again. However, my core of my core is solid! It is indeed a work in progress! What is my guiding statement? Well, I am glad you asked! Here you go:
I am called to love the Lord with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. I am called to serve Him in everything I do in a way that will give Him honor and in a way that He will be glorified. If for whatever reason I am not doing this, I need to revaluate my heart, mind, soul and strength to determine what I have allowed to take His place, turn from it, and return to that which I have been called.
This statement has many parts in it that need to be broken down for further study. I will take the next several blogs to do just that. You will see that everything in my life stems from this statement. My relationships with my wife, family, and friends; my work ethic; my spiritually; my drive; and my total existence are impacted by my guiding statement! Stay tuned and come along this journey with me! Just maybe, it will help as you look at my guiding statement to define and perhaps refine yours! Let me know what you think!

A Walk on the Beach

Christmas Day 2011 provided for me a first.  I had the opportunity to walk with my wife and family on the warm sands of Bonita Beach on the Gulf Coast of Florida.  It was a beautiful day with the temperature in the high 70's and literally not a cloud in the sky.  Walking hand in hand with my wife, my girls following close behind, I literally experienced a peace that I had not felt in a long time.  We enjoyed discovering the bright colored shells and the warmth of the sand.  I was relaxed, thoroughly enjoying the time with my family and found myself counting my blessings.  The stroll continued and then I heard the voice of one of my greatest teachers and one of the greatest theologians I have ever known, my 5-year old daughter Sara.  She simply said, "Hey Daddy, I am walking in your steps!"  Immediately I thought about what I just heard.  The beautiful innocence and trust suddenly became an overwhelming thought.  I wondered exactly where my feet were and the length of my stride.  I thought about the past year when I had worked long hours, had some great success, but also thought about poor decisions that I had made and the time I had not spent with my family.  I thought about failures of trying to do things my way instead of placing all of my trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6).  I thought about my next step.  Could Sara reach it?  Would she step with excitement or would she ultimately find disappointment in where I have placed my feet?  Would I help light her path or would I lead her to destruction (Psalm 119:11)?  Would I lead her to Holy Ground (Exodus 3:5)? Yes, my daughter is walking my steps, all four of them are (Proverbs 22:6).  I need to choose carefully where I put my feet.  I need to walk in a pace that they can keep up.  I need to show the way.  Most of all however, I need to walk in the direction that honors my Lord not only because He requires my obedience, but because I do have little feet walking in my steps whereever I put my feet.  Borrowing a title from fellow North Carolinian Nicholas Sparks, my Christmas Day walk on the beach was definitely "A Walk to Remember."

The Embrace

Luke 2:28 (NIV)

"Simeon took him in his arms and praised God..."

I was reminded last night listening to my pastor's sermon of this powerful statement as Joseph and Mary had their child dedicated at the temple.  For Simeon, it was prophecy fullfilled, a belief come true, and a life now accomplished.  The Messiah was foretold hundreds of years prior.  This prophecy had become the foundation for Simeon's belief system.  His whole life had been to the devotion and study of this belief system.  Dr. Luke shares with us few details about Simeon, but the brief description does use the words "righteous and devout."  Righteous here means "observing divine laws" according Strong's Lexicon while it shows devout meaning "taking hold well."  Parenthetically, as I have examined my life of late, I would admittedly share that I have been far from being one that is righteous and devout.  However, wanting to become so, I immediately think I need to model what one does that is righteous and devout.  Simeon's example is taking the One whom he longed to see come to save the world, simply embracing Him and worshipping the God who sent Him!  How long have you waited to embrace your Savior?  Have you ever embraced Him and then let Him go? Interestingly, the same baby that Simeon rushed to embrace is the same One that stretched out His arms on a cross to embrace the world!  By the way, the Gospel of John tells us that nothing can snatch us out of His hands once we are in them...Romans tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God.  Sounds to me like Simeon's studies were on to something.  No wonder he was quick to embrace the newborn babe!  I think I will hold on tight as well....afterall, He is holding on to me....and He is holding on to you!  Merry Christmas!

The Comfort of Being Heard

As a Dad, sometimes I wonder if I am being heard.  You can talk to little girls, ask them to do some chore that should have already been done, you get an "okay" but there is no action.  "Did you hear what I said?" "What?" "I said...!"  Somewhere in this process, I evitably ask, "Are you listening to me?" 
There is great comfort in being heard, but there is great frustration when one feels ignored.  This weekend, I was privileged to hear several very successful men and women that have built huge businesses by developing relationships by listening to others.  Their success has come because they have learned the art of listening. There is no greater comfort in being heard and understood.  It seems that the Psalmist recognized this comfort when he wrote in Psalm 106:44

"But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry;"

(The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ps 106:44)

We are reminded here that God not only heard their cry, but He also took note of their distress. 

 

Several years ago in a movie called WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP, the two main characters are discussing the music of Jimi Hendrix when one of them says, "Look man, You can listen to Jimi but you can't hear him. There's a difference man. Just because you're listening to him doesn't mean you're hearing him."  We listen but do we hear?  Many times in the relationships of our lives, we fail to fully hear exactly what is said.  We fail to catch the full meaning of the distress of the situation sometimes because we don't care enough to do so.  Thanks be to God that when He listens to our cry, He hears us! 

 

What would happen if we modeled that in our lives?  What would happen if we allowed ourselves to take the time to listen to those around us?  What would happen if we "took note" of the concerns of those to whom we are connected?  What would happen if we just listened?