Living pay check to check is exhausting, especially when your money disappears before your expenses are fully covered. Like a high school student bored beyond measure, living for the weekend isn’t any better. There must be something greater, with meaning and purpose out there. Thus, my journey has begun to find a reason to live.
Over the weekend I attended a benefit concert for Kay’s Kamp and Ashley’s Orphans. Kay was one of my former students who died of a rare form of cancer shortly after graduating from Red Lion Christian Academy. Meanwhile, Ashley’s life was cut short prematurely in a boating accident while she attend the Elementary at Red Lion. Despite their deaths, their legacies live on by the faith each displayed in their living years.
Lost in my attempt to provide for my family is a higher calling, a vision to make an impact for eternity. When the Raymond Lee Band donated all of their proceeds from Saturday’s concert to these 2 organizations, my heart was convicted by my selfishness. Perhaps, we can all learn from this example, sacrificing temporary wants for those around you who are more needy. May the Holy Spirit, guide each of us to find a higher reason to live, Galatians 5:25.
Whether you are involved in a local church, little league or school, most volunteers often get used and abused. Subsequently, burnout occurs within the first few weeks, month or year, leaving organizations scrambling to find a reliable helpers every season. Depending upon what study you quote, on average 10 percent of a groups’ volunteers does 90 percent of the work. This raises the question, “what’s the secret behind volunteerism?”
As a former coach and teacher, I struggled to find more than three willing families to assist me annually. If I could spread their commitment and passion to others, I might be a famous motivational speaker by now. However, recently I have stumbled upon a few crucial ingredients that transformed the nation of Israel from self centered individuals into servants willing to pitch in.
Beginning in Exodus 35:4-19, Moses makes his plea to the people, similar to a PTA meeting as a vision is cast for what needs to be done in the forseeable future. Once information has been conveyed, its up to the people involved to rise to the occasion. Although not as sexy as modern speeches, Moses addresses each need one by one, asking for supplies and workers. After listening, each family withdrew to contemplate their role in the big picture of God’s plan, unveiling the secret behind volunteerism in Exodus 35:20-29.
1) Consider the cost before you agree to say yes.
2) Commit to only what you can, without feeling guilty or regret.
3) Come with a willingness to complete the role you have signed up for.
4) Only give based upon the moving of your heart since God loves a cheerful giver.
5) Donate anything you don’t need, use or plan on doing anything with in the future.
6) Find the place or role where you can be an asset for your community.
7) Put the needs of others in front of yourself as giving results in priceless moments.
Charles Schultz conjured up in his mind a fictional character with real life tendencies in his classic comic strip Peanuts. Linus was a boy who never wanted to leave his favorite blanket, finding comfort from this childhood possession. Today, infants have similar habits, becoming attached to binkies, serving as a calming device to produce sleep. Despite purging closets each spring, most adults aren’t willing to let go of sentimental items, keeping a few like a security blanket from your past.
Peter was a professional fisherman whose new acquaintance introduced himself as a carpenter. Luke 5:1-11 recounts this first meeting as Peter listens to Jesus speak after a long night of work. Despite his initial hesitation, Peter is willing to trust someone from another occupation, based upon a gut feeling within his heart, Luke 5:6. Subsequently, Peter reached a point of conviction, guilty of holding on to traditions instead of faith. By the end of this passage, each member of his crew was touched by God, leaving everything they knew behind, letting go of their security blankets.
I’m not sure if its my ego, pride or stubbornness, but I find it hard to completely change the routines I have set in life. Sure, every New Year’s provides a tempest, the perfect conditions to rededicate one’s life. Nonetheless, the fear of uncertainty prevents permanent transformation from occurring. Thus, when the going get’s tough, people fall back on what they know instead of following the advice of strangers. This reality of life fulfills the words of Proverbs 27:19, “as water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.” May the example of these fishermen inspire others to forgo the security blankets of their past with a faith for the future.
If I had to take an honest assessment of my goals in life and compare this with how I actually spend my time, my actions display a lack of hunger to make my American Dream a reality. While playing on a Florida mini-tour in 1995, I met several individuals who were willing to risk everything, sacrificing food, shelter and wants to one day make the P.G.A. Tour. Clearly, they wanted it more than me as some ate peanut butter and jelly 3 times a day, 7 days a week, a few lived in their cars and many more worked the night shift so they could play in golf tournaments during the day. In essence, I’m the only one to blame for not fulfilling this desire of my heart.
Nearly 20 years later, I not willing to let another dream slip through my hands. Back in the late 90’s, I had a 45 minute phone conversation with Max Lucado’s editor, set up by a mutual friend who owned a Christian Bookstore. At the time, I was a freelance writer trying to break through, asking as many questions as possible without being rude. Two of his statements serve as a glimmer of hope for this amateur author: “If you want to get noticed, the average professional writes full time for 7 years before getting paid or if you can only afford to do this part time, you must be willing to invest 15 years of your life.” Over the past 3 years, I am in the process of paying my dues, with over 700 daily articles, 1 complete 90 minute movie script and currently a third of the way through my first book called Behind the Devil’s Door. Though I could probably devote more time to writing each week, this time around the block I want it more than ever.
In Psalm 27:4, King David asks a similar question, but from a spiritual perspective: “How badly do you want to spend time with God?” Are you happy with your current relationship or are holding back, not ready to commit fully to the Lord? Based upon verses 1-3, if you are afraid, faithless or weak, you’re likely missing essential pieces. What’s holding you back, keeping you from experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit daily? Perhaps you don’t want God as bad as He longs to be with you, Luke 15:20. May the words of Matthew 6:33-34 provide the assurance you need to re-prioritize your life as soon as possible. While every human feels the pain of unfulfilled dreams, I pray that gazing upon the beauty of the Lord will transform your perspective on life. Your actions in the days that follow will answer the question, how bad do you really want it?
Since Thursday afternoon at 5pm, my life has been a whirlwind of emotions. After a successful second interview at Amazon on Wednesday, I sensed a promotion in the near future, trying to stayed reserved until I hear the news. A little more than 24 hours later, my focus switched toward a battle to live, unable to stand or breath on my own. One second I felt like I was having a heart attack, the next a CAT Scan revealed a pocket of blood around my lungs and liver.
For the past 3 days, I have had a tube sucking the blood out of these 2 areas trying to prevent infection. Until this improves, I am in limbo, getting stronger, but still waiting on my internal bleeding to stop. Unfortunately, my body is not healing as quick as it use to in the days of my youth. Thus, life has been put on hold temporarily, in God’s hand and in His time as I wrestle with the Fraility of the human heart.
God has taught me a subtle lesson these past few days, He’s in control no matter what I try to do. Though I usually try to speculate about the future, I am helpless, trusting in God’s grace to get me through this ordeal. Sooner or later, my odds of improvement increase, yet the Lord knows the next steps that I will take. As for now, time is the enemy, placing me behind where I want to be as the reality of life’s fraility has come crashing through the front door of my heart.
As the 2014 Winter Olympics begin Friday, February 7th in Sochi, Russia, I am reminded of the drama previous events have delivered. Whether it’s a human interest story, someone rising to the challenge of stiff competition or the 1980 United States Hockey Team who came out of no where to defeat the U.S.S.R. and earn a gold medal one game later. Thus, as viewers tune in from all over the world to watch next weekend, who will be the next star, who shocks their fellow competitors with one shining moment of gold.
Looking back on my not so allustrious athletic career, most of the sports I played in high school were held off sight in a relatively obscure locations like local golf courses and State Parks. The only sport I participated in with bleachers was swimming, my weakest talent by far. Yes, my 200 Individual Medal Relay did earn a bronze medal at the 1986 State Meet held at the University of Delaware’s pool, but my lack of speed cost us the gold. Yet, in one of my last high school races as a senior, God moved me to swim faster than I ever had before. Despite dabbling in butterfly, back and free style, the 100 yard breast was my strongest stroke and race.
Leading our arch rival Brandywine by a point heading into the final 2 events, I was facing a cross town swimmer who was 1 second faster on average throughout the season. Typically, the number 1 swimmer swam the inside lanes, a little faster than the 2 outside lanes due to the wake splashing back into swimmers. However, just before stepping on the starting block, their top breast stroker switched lanes to shadow me in lane 1. After 25 yards I was slightly behind, pulling even by the halfway mark. Since the bleachers were right on top of lane 1, I began to hear a roar from lane 2 as I approached the final turn. The noise of the crowd, filled me adrenaline, causing me to go faster and faster as I touched the final wall, finish line. As I looked up, the noise was deafening as members of the final relay applauded my victory by 4 seconds, shattering my PR by 3 seconds. In addition, our other swimmer passed both of Brandywine’s breast strokers in the final 5 yards to earn second and mathematically clinch the win.
As great as this experience felt, there is only one other shining moment that compares. While in college I was asked to help out at a lock-in by my high school swim coach who had become a youth pastor. During the festivities, I was drawn to a kid who was called Satan by his peers. Yeah, he had a mean streak inside of him that was pure evil, but the Holy Spirit moved me to minister to him. Layer by layer, like peeling an onion, God began to show me the defense mechanism that he had created to prevent his heart from being broken again. During an altar call late in the night, I led this young man to invite Jesus into his heart, Romans 10:9-10. Able to fulfill the words of James 5:19-20, I sensed another round of applause, this time from heaven. “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine righteous persons who do not repent,” Luke 15:7. May you experience multiple spiritual shining moments in not just during the Olympics, but throughout life.
Behind the facade, mirage and show played out in real life, lies imperfections tainted by sin. In the emergency room on Monday night, I was confronted by images of reality television. In fact, I haven’t scene this much diversity since I went to traffic court in Ohio following a head on collision in college. To my surprise, 3 Amish teenagers were arrested for driving their buggy’s while intoxicated after crashing into a neighbors yard. All you have to do is spend 1 day in the court and emergency rooms to see faults that were once hidden now out in the open for all to see.
I guess you can say I am not the most patient person in the world as demonstrated by my lead foot driving. However, my patience was put to the test last night as I felt like a cast member on the Jerry Springer show. I was surrounded by a woman involved in a domestic violence dispute and a boy who crashed his brother’s car driving without a license or insurance. Between complaining, distress and periodical groans, I felt like saying, “shut up and suck it up!” Common sense kept me from speaking my mind, but my heart was convicted by my inability to handle this trial with maturity.
Instead of using my accident to be a loving example of Christ, I turned into Oscar the Grouch. Perhaps, I should have ate a Snickers Bar. When push comes to shove, character rises to the surface and for me, I still have a long way to go. This crisis opened a fresh can of worms, exposing my hidden faults of impatience and selfishness. In the future, I must live out Psalm 19:13, so that I will flee from willful sins that can separate you from God. May the promise of James 5:16 set me free from my once hidden faults.
One of my most fondest memories as a child was playing in the snow. My parents had a toboggan that our family would pile on, going down steep hills on golf courses or at state parks. When the snow was too high to drive any where, I created a luge slide off of our back steps or went across the street to Jeanette’s. Although I never went as fast as I did on the toboggan, I always looked forward to building bigger and better courses each year.
When my 3 children were still young, I began to make a short slope off the back deck. Although my wife wasn’t initially thrilled with the idea, its become a winter tradition, that is of course when we get snow in Delaware. Over time, this luge course has turned into extreme tubing, starting on top of a slide on the deck, continuing down the steps of my deck, guided by picnic table benches, winding around a U-shaped wall before ending some where near the back fence. Who said adults couldn’t still have fun or be a kid at heart.
Anyway, with my oldest son now in driver’s ed, it won’t be long until there’s an empty nest with no one left to entertain or raise. Thus, I hope I cherish each snow day that I have with my children before they’re all grown up. While my body isn’t what it use to be, I still enjoy playing hard and passing on an appreciation for life. In the end, I pray that my children will develop their own winter traditions, thanking God each time it snows.
Whether you enter a high school as a parent, visit a college with your child or observe your own workplace, people are trying so hard to fit in that it is easy to forget the real you. Thinking they aren’t good enough on their own to be accepted by their peers, individuals seek to emulate Hollywood stars and pop culture to find approval. Behind this mask, a heart, soul and mind wrestle between reality and the facade you are living. This suppression blinds many youth from discovering the real you, often leaving a trail of remorse, regret and shame.
History isn’t exempt from this dilemma as one of the Bible’s greatest characters struggled with his own self image. According to Genesis 25:27-28, Jacob was a mama’s boy early on. Not blessed with the physical talents of his twin brother, Jacob was quiet, staying at home afraid to compete against the other boys his age. Fearful of being exposed as a wimp, Jacob became a humble servant around the house, doing whatever his mother told him. When the time came from receiving the birthrate from his father Isaac, Genesis 27, Jacob felt like he had to dress, look and smell like Esau to earn dad’s blessing. Several thousand years later, teenagers across the country find themselves in Jacob’s shoes.
While speaking to Jesus in the dark, John 3:1-9, Nicodemus was searching for the meaning of life, knowing deep down in his heart that following the laws of the Pharisees wasn’t the answer. Privy to the truth, the disciples of Jesus receive greater insight in Matthew 16:24-27 to eternal life. The secret to finding the real you is through surrender. As Michael W. Smith once sang about, “Love isn’t love until you give it away!” Despite being a paraphrased version of Jesus’ words, the moment you yield your body as a life offering to the Lord of Creation, Romans 12:1-2, the Holy Spirit unveils the real you in the form of God’s good, pleasing and perfect will. Let the words of scripture guide you toward the path of righteousness, Psalm 119:105.
Whether its a person, place or thing, when you make an emotional connection, experience a breath taking view or recognize an unique talent, a special place opens up in your heart. I can recall moments in life when I went to a conference, attended a retreat or met someone on vacation that I never knew, yet an instant connection occurred. Like twins separated from birth, a long lost cousin you never met or divine intervention, there are certain types of people who click with your personality. Despite a lack of history, some aspect, character or trait unites 2 souls together, making an emotional connection.
Last January, my wife and I returned to the place of our honeymoon for the first time, Palm Springs, California. Yes, any day as a newly wed is special, but the landscape of the desert, mountains and vegetation of this region became etched into my mind. Whether you’re visiting Hidden Canyon in the Joshua Tree National Forest, taking the Aerial Tram to the top of the mountains overlooking Palm Springs or hiking along the trails in Indian Canyons, there is so much to do in this section of California. One week isn’t enough to see the sights with golf destinations, shopping and of course the Salton Sea to explore.
Finally, if you are teachable, every now and then God will reveal to you a gift you never knew you had. Periodically I dabbled into forms of writing beginning with poetry. From here I moved on to song writing and short stories as well as trying to write articles for various publications. While serving as a journalist for Travel Golf Media for 2 and a half years, I began to ponder my connection with writing. What I’ve learned is that when I take the time to be still, reflect and put into words what you’ve feeling and thinking, a sense of peace fills your soul. Thus, this emotional connection with writing continues to stir my heart, inspiring me to be a faithful writer for Express Yourself 4 Him. May you encounter several good emotional connections in 2014. Have a blessed day!
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