Life is a marathon

...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,.. Hebrews 12:1

I remember well my first day of basic training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. All the new recruits we "chauffeured" in an air-conditioned bus to hear a welcome from the commanding general. After we heard what to expect in the next eight weeks, we were ushered back to the parking lot where we expected our bus to be waiting. Instead, we were introduced to our drill sergeant who informed us that there would be no bus, but we would have to run the two miles back to our barracks. And to make sure we didn't get lost; he would lead us lead - in his jeep. Needless to say, most of us didn't make it in the allotted time. 

Running became a regular routine each morning. We were started with a two-mile run, which was increased gradually. At the end of our eight weeks, we were running eight miles! To my surprise, I actually enjoyed those runs! (Truth) In the military, running was never about sprinting but endurance. 

Endurance implies that the Christian life is better compared to a marathon than a sprint. It is something that takes work, commitment, and fortitude. It can't be completed without preparation or practice—otherwise we will burn out in no time at all. Think about it: you would not run a marathon without any preparation. You don’t just show up the day of the race and expect to do well. Rather, you sign up months ahead, sometimes a year ahead.

Peter and John both exhort us: “do not be surprised” or "do not be caught off guard" at the race we must run 1Peter4:12 1 John 3:3

When we see the course that is set before us, we will not be surprised. We will be ready to run, come what may.

Free Your Life

Recently I borrowed a book from a friend that we share a common interest. The book is entitled Freedom from Tyranny of the Urgent, by Charles E. Hummel. I want to recommend this book to all true Christ-followers as it has the potential of changing your life. The basic premise is that not all things in our lives that are urgent are important. This book will help you discover the difference. 

If you want to live a life of meaning and purpose, this book is for you.

Jesus: Our Blood Donor

 "The Life is in the blood."  Leviticus 17:11

Most people, when they retire, get a gold watch. James Harrison deserves so much more than that.

Harrison, known as the “Man With the Golden Arm,” has donated blood nearly every week for 60 years. After all those donations, the 81-year-old Australian man “retired” Friday. The occasion marked the end of a monumental chapter.

According to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, he has helped saved the lives of more than 2.4 million Australian babies. Harrison’s blood has unique, disease-fighting antibodies that have been used to develop an injection called Anti-D, which helps fight against rhesus disease.

Harrison’s remarkable gift of giving started when he had major chest surgery when he was just 14, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service said. Blood donations saved his life, so he pledged to become a blood donor. A few years later, doctors discovered his blood contained the antibody which could be used to create Anti-D injections, so he switched over to making blood plasma donations to help as many people as possible.

As great as Mr. Harrison’s dedication was there is someone else whose blood donation was even greater, Jesus Christ. Jesus is a blood-donor not a blood-shedder. “The life is in the blood,” as the Scripture says. The New Testament doesn’t so much teach “forgiveness OF sin” as it does “freedom FROM sin.” Jesus’ blood is not just about paying for our past transgressions but rather providing for our future transfusion. He wants to infusion us with His life.  

A Naked Marriage

 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. Genesis 2:25

It is interesting that when God created Adam and Eve, He create them naked and without any shame related to it. The word “naked” in Genesis 2:25 means “to be exposed.” God created marriage to be a place you could totally expose yourself to each other – mentally, emotionally, spiritually, sexually, and physically – without shame.

This is what makes intimacy on every level possible in marriage. When you are truly “naked” without shame in marriage, you can share your lives with each other. You can talk about anything without fear. Adam and Eve were created naked without shame until sin entered into the relationship. Once they sinned, they could no longer trust each other. Paradise was lost and they now feared intimacy with God and each other and covered themselves with fig leaves. Genesis 3:7

The good news is that Paradise can be restored when couples take responsibility for their actions and apologize for any damaging behavior. There must be openness in our relationship. Nothing destroys intimacy more than secrets. Don't take your relationship for granted. Keep the lines of communication open. When you make a mistake, apologize quickly. This is the only way to create a “naked” marriage the way God intended.

Work Is Not A Four-letter Word

Very few people look at work positively. Work to most people is something they endure so they can endure the weekend. There has been numerous cartoons and jokes about Monday morning but is there a positive side to work? What does God think about work?

Did Adam and Eve have  life of luxury? Was everything provided for them? The foundation for our work ethic come from the book of Genesis.

Evidently work itself is not bad, for Adam was told to work even before he sinned. And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to 'dress it and to keep it' (Genesis 2:15). God knew that idleness was not good for mankind, so He assigned to Adam the responsibility of "dressing" the garden, perhaps to keep the plants from overrunning everything. This was not difficult work, but enjoyable. 

You may have heard the saying, "If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life." (Unknown) I told my children that it really did not matter how much money you earn if you dislike your job. Who wants to work 20-30  years in a job they dislike just it paid well?

The Bible has much to say about work and the work ethic. I will share those thoughts in upcoming blogs.  

I hope

 I hope I get a new bike.

I hope people like me

I hope she likes me

I hope I get married

I hope I get the promotion

I hope...

I hope...

I hope....

Our lives are filled by our hopes.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

Our lives travel between heart-sickness and fulfillment. Consider this: there was once a hopeless people and God spoke to them through the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah prophesied that God would send a Messiah who would meet the needs of Israel. Isiah 9:6 But it was 700 years later for the promise to be fulfilled. Luke 2:12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” God makes a promise but doesn't give a timeline.

Much of our anxiety comes from our inability to be patient. We mistake "not yet" for "never." To hope in God is to be patient with God. It's believing all the facts are not in yet. Our lives are mapped by our hopes. The map is long but it leads somewhere.

This holiday season look towards the future promised to you by looking at this child, finally arrived. What do you see? Just a baby in a cradle? Or a wooden manger holding Life itself?

The Dash

My wife and I live just a two-hour drive to historic Charleston, South Carolina. We both love history and since Charleston had an abundance of historic churches, it is just natural that we would tour them.

Many of these churches date back to the 1700's. We find visiting the cemeteries very interesting. 

Grave markers range from 1700's to present day. Most grave markers have one thing in common; between the date of birth and date of death, is The Dash (-). That symbol signifes a person's whole like. So brief! 

James 4:14 says our lives are like a mist. Job 7:6 tells us our lives are faster that a Weaver's shuttle. Since life is so short and eternity is so long, our wisest action would be to prepare.

Preparation is as easy as ABC.

A = Admit that you are a sinner in need of redemption. Romans 3:23

B = Believe that the death and resurrection Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation. John 14:6

C = Confess your sins. Confessing means that you agree with God you are a sinner in need of a Savior.