Recently we lost a very close friend to pancreatic cancer. In the days leading up to the funeral many of those who were close to her couldn't understand why this had to happen. They wanted to know why God allows these kinds of things to happen.
I had those same kinds of thoughts myself when my son David passed away in 1982. I questioned God, got angry with Him, and eventually I abandoned Him. It took many, many years for me to learn to trust God again. Life is full of so many mountaintops and valleys, it's never been a smooth ride. But in the years since David died the one thing I've learned to trust, to lean on, is that no matter what is going on in my life, God is always there with me, holding my hand, hugging me, giving me the strength to make it through my many storms.
"Praise You In This Storm" is a song by the Christian group Casting Crowns that helps lift me up when I am struggling with the storms in my life. This song is from their Lifesong cd; if you don't have it...GET IT! It's one of the best cd's I've heard.
Here are the words to "Praise You In This Storm":
I was sure by now
God, You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with You"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with You"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
Though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Pagan? What's that?
My wife and I run a bicycle shop in the metro Detroit area, which is a seasonal business. We usually are fairly busy during the spring and summer months, but we slow down quite a bit during the fall and winter. This cycle (I like the chance to throw in that word!) usually requires us to hire seasonal help in order to get through this busy season, and this year hasn’t been any different. Or so I thought.
I am usually busy during this time of the year in our workroom, doing repairs on bikes, assembling new bikes, and frequently serving our customers. Because I spend so much time in the workroom, I try to use that time to maximize my Biblical studies. I am usually listening to mp3 recordings of sermons, Christian talk radio, worship music, or the Bible on compact disc.
This season I hired someone to help out with the mechanical duties, and it turns out that he is a pagan. “What does that mean?” you might ask. Well, at first I kind of thought he was kidding, you know, someone who doesn’t really believe in God, an agnostic or an atheist just making a joke, teasing the Christian guy at work. Turns out, though, he really is a pagan, a worshipper of nature, believing in many Gods, and ultimately, believing in a “balanced” god system, a divine male and female. His wife is a wiccan, as are both of his teenage daughters.
Paul (not his real name) has been working for me now for about 2 months, and he is a great guy in just about every respect. He loves his kids, is heavily involved in all of their activities, and he is always willing to help whenever needed around the shop. We get along very well, and we constantly discuss theological issues. He is quite open to just about anything I want to share with him, and he often shares his past experiences with me.
Paul used to be a Christian. He and his wife lived in Texas and were members of a fairly legalistic fundamental church there. They had some bad experiences at that church, and ultimately left the faith. He often tells me how bad Christians behave, and I frequently have to agree with him. In fact, I keep telling him that unfortunately for Jesus, the worst advertising for Christianity is often the Christians!
Lately Paul has told me that if anyone can convert him back to Christianity, it would be me. At first, I thought he was teasing me again, but he was serious. He told me that he hadn’t met a Christian like me before, someone that didn’t judge him, but just listened to what he had to say, interacted with him, and didn’t condemn him to hell and the devil. I wish that weren’t true, I feel bad for Paul, that he and his wife haven’t been able to experience the love and grace that God has shown us through Jesus.
He said the same thing again the other day, so I asked him if he was serious or if he was simply challenging me. He said it wasn’t really possible for him to convert back to Christianity, there was no way he’d ever worship Hey Zeus (his phrase for Jesus) again. The funny thing is that I know God has been working on Paul’s heart ever since he left the faith, He is putting questions into Paul’s mind that I don’t think he ever considered, and it is causing him to think about new and interesting issues in his life.
I pray that God gives me the answers that Paul needs to hear. If anyone reading this blog has any experience dealing with and talking about these issues with pagan/wiccan believers, I would certainly appreciate any advice you can offer.
I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30
I am usually busy during this time of the year in our workroom, doing repairs on bikes, assembling new bikes, and frequently serving our customers. Because I spend so much time in the workroom, I try to use that time to maximize my Biblical studies. I am usually listening to mp3 recordings of sermons, Christian talk radio, worship music, or the Bible on compact disc.
This season I hired someone to help out with the mechanical duties, and it turns out that he is a pagan. “What does that mean?” you might ask. Well, at first I kind of thought he was kidding, you know, someone who doesn’t really believe in God, an agnostic or an atheist just making a joke, teasing the Christian guy at work. Turns out, though, he really is a pagan, a worshipper of nature, believing in many Gods, and ultimately, believing in a “balanced” god system, a divine male and female. His wife is a wiccan, as are both of his teenage daughters.
Paul (not his real name) has been working for me now for about 2 months, and he is a great guy in just about every respect. He loves his kids, is heavily involved in all of their activities, and he is always willing to help whenever needed around the shop. We get along very well, and we constantly discuss theological issues. He is quite open to just about anything I want to share with him, and he often shares his past experiences with me.
Paul used to be a Christian. He and his wife lived in Texas and were members of a fairly legalistic fundamental church there. They had some bad experiences at that church, and ultimately left the faith. He often tells me how bad Christians behave, and I frequently have to agree with him. In fact, I keep telling him that unfortunately for Jesus, the worst advertising for Christianity is often the Christians!
Lately Paul has told me that if anyone can convert him back to Christianity, it would be me. At first, I thought he was teasing me again, but he was serious. He told me that he hadn’t met a Christian like me before, someone that didn’t judge him, but just listened to what he had to say, interacted with him, and didn’t condemn him to hell and the devil. I wish that weren’t true, I feel bad for Paul, that he and his wife haven’t been able to experience the love and grace that God has shown us through Jesus.
He said the same thing again the other day, so I asked him if he was serious or if he was simply challenging me. He said it wasn’t really possible for him to convert back to Christianity, there was no way he’d ever worship Hey Zeus (his phrase for Jesus) again. The funny thing is that I know God has been working on Paul’s heart ever since he left the faith, He is putting questions into Paul’s mind that I don’t think he ever considered, and it is causing him to think about new and interesting issues in his life.
I pray that God gives me the answers that Paul needs to hear. If anyone reading this blog has any experience dealing with and talking about these issues with pagan/wiccan believers, I would certainly appreciate any advice you can offer.
I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Homeless in Hart Plaza
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' (Matthew 25:34-36)
These words, spoken by our Lord, have really made a difference in how I look at the world today. My wife Debbie and I are involved in ministering to folks who are homeless. What a homeless friend of mine calls “housing challenged”.
Our church participates in an area-wide homeless housing program called ChristNet, which essentially feeds and houses those in need through the fall, winter, and spring months in Detroit’s Downriver area. Each week from September through May a different church will host ChristNet, allowing up to 30 guests each night to eat and sleep in a safe, warm, friendly environment.
Debbie has always had a heart for the homeless, but I have to admit, until we first participated in the ChristNet program, I hadn’t given homelessness much thought. Sure, I would see the occasional homeless person walking down the street, but it would never even enter my mind to stop and engage that person in conversation. Wow! How things have changed! Jesus has really worked through Debbie to touch the lives of people that in the past I never would have given a second thought about.
Last month we decided to head to downtown Detroit to talk to some homeless people, to listen to their stories, to feed them, and to let them know that Jesus loves them. It was truly uplifting to see how much trust many of them have in God in spite of their circumstances. We came back excited and refreshed, and most of all, I think we made a difference to them, even if only for a day.
After relating our experience to Shawn, the youth minister at our church, he decided that a youth group service project was in order. A few Friday evenings later we made about 50 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, loaded up 2 cases of water and 120 bags of potato chips and headed to Hart Plaza with several adults and a group of our teens.
We handed out all of our food and water that night, talked to many homeless folks, and prayed with them. They loved it! It meant so much to them to know that God was there with them working through us, feeding them, giving them a listening ear, treating them the way anyone would want to (and should be) be treated. I think our teens learned a valuable lesson that night, and my prayer is that they will remember that night every time they come across someone in need.
In Matthew 25:40, Jesus said
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Let’s keep in mind those priceless words from our King!
These words, spoken by our Lord, have really made a difference in how I look at the world today. My wife Debbie and I are involved in ministering to folks who are homeless. What a homeless friend of mine calls “housing challenged”.
Our church participates in an area-wide homeless housing program called ChristNet, which essentially feeds and houses those in need through the fall, winter, and spring months in Detroit’s Downriver area. Each week from September through May a different church will host ChristNet, allowing up to 30 guests each night to eat and sleep in a safe, warm, friendly environment.
Debbie has always had a heart for the homeless, but I have to admit, until we first participated in the ChristNet program, I hadn’t given homelessness much thought. Sure, I would see the occasional homeless person walking down the street, but it would never even enter my mind to stop and engage that person in conversation. Wow! How things have changed! Jesus has really worked through Debbie to touch the lives of people that in the past I never would have given a second thought about.
Last month we decided to head to downtown Detroit to talk to some homeless people, to listen to their stories, to feed them, and to let them know that Jesus loves them. It was truly uplifting to see how much trust many of them have in God in spite of their circumstances. We came back excited and refreshed, and most of all, I think we made a difference to them, even if only for a day.
After relating our experience to Shawn, the youth minister at our church, he decided that a youth group service project was in order. A few Friday evenings later we made about 50 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, loaded up 2 cases of water and 120 bags of potato chips and headed to Hart Plaza with several adults and a group of our teens.
We handed out all of our food and water that night, talked to many homeless folks, and prayed with them. They loved it! It meant so much to them to know that God was there with them working through us, feeding them, giving them a listening ear, treating them the way anyone would want to (and should be) be treated. I think our teens learned a valuable lesson that night, and my prayer is that they will remember that night every time they come across someone in need.
In Matthew 25:40, Jesus said
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Let’s keep in mind those priceless words from our King!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)