Conversations: Seek What is Real

 

I recently met with a friend I hadn't seen for a few years.  He is a former pastor and current first responder chaplain.  There is so much I could share about him that is simply amazing.  Part of that is simply due to his vocations.  

We met at a coffee shop where he normally meets with his first responders.  He began making podcasts of these meetings.  They are live and you can hear the atmosphere on the audio.  Frank arrived shortly after I did.  Nevertheless, I was delayed greeting him because so many people know him.  

Our time together began with some familial updates and I had questions about where he studied theology.   He then shared his story about how all of that unfolded.  Looking back, I know I longed for a deeper connection than what we were having.  It wasn't that we weren't sharing our hearts.  It was simply that we hadn't talked long enough to get to something of vital importance.  

We were about half way into our 2 hour conversation when Frank said something that hit me. It is funny to me now that I don't even remember what he said but when he did, I was filled with a joy that spilled out of my lips when I said, "I love you."  Frank simply smiled, nodded, and replied, "I love you, too."  

How often do we miss out on the important conversations because we are hooked on the fast and easy instead of in-depth and real?  Earlier this year, my youngest son and I had a real talk.  It wasn't nearly as long because he got to their point immediately and I happened to be in a place in life I was able to quickly speak the words he needed to hear.  I could tell he absorbed them and they were what he needed.  It was dark and, shortly, he left to go home.  

My wife must have been visiting her mother or something because I was alone and literally had all the lights off when the doorbell rang.  It was my son.  He was standing there with tear fill eyes.  In a deep, strong embrace, he sobbed how much he loved me and appreciated what I said.  I should say, my words were not mere platitudes.  Instead, they were words about life's challenges and how God will make us face them sometimes regardless of what we want and how long we must suffer them.

Dear reader, in this holiday season, seek what is real.  Take and make time to have real conversations.  Be authentic with ourselves and those we love.

Our Leaders

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.  ~ Abraham Lincoln

Another US presidential election is upon us.  There is a lot of division in our nation and each side says their candidate is our savior and the other will destroy us all.  Christians should never place their trust in people. 

In his second inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln poetically described the terrible war and how each side was certain they were right.  He said, "Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes his aid against the other.  It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged.  The prayers of both could not be answered--that of neither has been answered fully.  The Almighty has his own purposes."

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I ask you to pray to our Heavenly Father and seek His will for the one in whom we should vote.  His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  He will see that His purposes will be done. 

We must also pray for our leaders and ask God to raise up Godly people to lead in this country and other countries.  

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  

Romans 13:1

Getting Joseph Out of Joseph

 

 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.  

James 1:12

Joseph was papa’s favorite and he knew it.  So did the rest of the family because Joseph loved telling them.  Have you ever had a sibling, normally the youngest, who knew and acted like they were special?  Joseph, one if Jacob’s many kids, liked to brag about his status in the family.  He even told them about dreams he had where whole family bowed down to him.  Ironically, Joseph was not wrong.  How aggravating is that?

 

God had a plan for Joseph to save his family and the world but He couldn’t use Joseph the way he was. Joseph was too proud and God had to eliminate that before he would be useful for God’s purposes.  Don’t believe me?

 

If Joseph wasn’t sold into slavery, chances are he never would have gone to Egypt.  He never would have interpreted Pharoh’s dreams AND suggested what Pharoh should do about them.  Even if all those things had miraculously happened, Joseph was still full of himself.  Would he have forgiven his brothers when he saw them in Egypt buying grain?  Doubtful at best.  Joseph was too full of pride to be used for God's purposes.  As many times as I’ve read and heard this story in Genesis, I never made that connection until I heard a sermon about a year ago.  The pastor emphasized the point with this phrase:

 

“God had to get Joseph out of Joseph.”

 

Upon hearing that phrase I was immediately convicted of the trials I complained about.  Why, God, why?  How many times do you think Joseph wondered why?  Why did his brothers sell him into slavery?  Why did Potiphar’s wife wrongly accuse him?  Why did he languish in prison in spite of finding favored status with the jailer?  Why did Pharoh’s cup bearer forget about him for so long?  How much more weight did all these things carry to one so proud?  But God had to get Joseph out of Joseph.  

 

God is still getting Duane out of Duane.  He is working on you too.  Let Him work in your heart and life and turn to him when you endure the fires designed to remove the impurities.  Become the instrument He wants to use.  

 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4