Is it possible that you prefer misery?

 

I’m mainly dangerous to myself

 

What does it mean to repent?

 

Mildly puzzling stories from the road

After a long car ride with no radio and an out of tune banjo with only 3 strings, we took a moment to get out of the car and stretch our legs. Unfortunately, we were still on the interstate and hadn’t actually stopped driving.

Exiting a car when it is moving at 70 mph is both exhilarating and painful. It results in the recognition of some important and meaningful lessons…which I can only seem to remember when a fan is blowing in my face.

Helpful tip: Tuck and roll.

…This is a brief excerpt from the chapter in my autobiography titled: Mildly Puzzling Stories from Road.

You still matter to God

There has never been a moment in your life in which God took His eyes off of you and thought, “That’s it! I’m tired of this one. And I no longer care what happens.”

The evil one would like you to believe you’ve pulled enough stuff that God is done with you. But that’s not true. You still matter to God.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Time to reminisce

 

The Gospel of Jesus and Cancel Culture

 

The importance of real justice

We hear a lot of talk about justice, these days, which is good. Justice is very important, we know from the book of Deuteronomy chapter 32, vs. 4, that justice is a characteristic of God. This helps us understand that justice is good and right!

Real justice requires a respect for and a recognition of fairness, equality, individual rights, objective truth, investigation, evidence, valid testimony, reason, logic, due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

If people are understood to be “right or wrong,” “innocent or guilty,” “just or unjust,” simply based on something over which they have no control and is physically inherited—such as race—real justice is not served.

From my unfinished memoirs...

Here is the beginning of chapter 5 of my still unfinished memoirs...

“One time, while suffering from a high fever, I became convinced that leprechauns were sneaking into my closet at night.    

…After the fever passed I realized how silly was this delusion. But we were never able to explain why there were small green suits hanging by my dress shirts.”

God-given rights cannot be taken away by human institutions

 

If you throw a punch you need to be able to take a punch

 

Better people than me have fallen – Be humble

 

Shall we count some stars?

 

Mountain living!

Ahhh...the beautiful snow-capped mountains of Oak Lawn, IL. 

We are having the ski-lift installed later today!

#CantWait 

 

Nadia’s special night-time concoction

 

Two wrongs do not make something right

 

Do not make God into your enemy

 

There are people doing good things, too!

We often notice the bad things people do and the hurtful ways people behave toward each other. I guess it’s fair to say that sometimes it is hard not to notice. This reality about life can be incredibly disappointing and discouraging.

But it’s good to remember that it is not uncommon for people to do kind, thoughtful, helpful, loving things for others, as well. I have been blessed to see people help others in ways that were costly and inconvenient for themselves with no desire for thanks, praise or public admiration.

Followers of Jesus are called to be loving, gracious, merciful, helpful servants because we are called to be like the One who is loving, gracious, merciful and helpful to us.

Referring to Himself, Jesus said, “…[T]he Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28

Time for some snow swimming!

 

Making paths for Lucy and Finley

 

We're getting a real winter this year

 

Our calling is to become like Christ

 

Chocolate chip cookies and Valentine's Day

As a very romantic man I decided to bake chocolate chip cookies in celebration of Valentine’s Day. This seemed to make more sense than my first idea which involved a spiral ham and copious amounts of glaze.

My beloved, Nadia, told me the cookies were “very good.” And with a wistful look she added, “This is the kind of thing every woman dreams about.”

…Actually, now that I think about it, she might not have said the thing about the dreams but she was excited about the cookies.

Ah, the wonder and enchantment of chocolate chip cookies.

 

Friends with people and with dolphins

 

Friday outing with Rachel, Lucy, Finley and Dan

 

The best thing that could happen for the people you know

 

Jesus is offensive to some people

 

It’s not mean, it’s just wise and observant

 

Lucy and Finley are getting around

 

Sometimes they have to learn the hard way

 

Long distance phone calls...back in the day

When I was young, making a long distance call was a very big deal. When any long distance phone conversation was happening people spoke loudly, with careful enunciation and everyone in the house had to be quiet. It helped if there was reverence, hands folded and no horseplay by anyone in the family during the call.

My parents would put their hand over the phone mouthpiece and say, with great seriousness, “Shhh, this is a long distance call!”

We immediately became silent. We knew something important was happening. It was not uncommon for the long distance phone caller to be my aunt informing us how much warmer the temperature was in Phoenix, especially if the call was happening during the winter months. There would always be inquiries regarding the time difference between the two locations which resulted in wonder and awe at the fact that the Earth was, indeed, rotating.

When the call was over. We would all look at each other and nod our heads in somber acknowledgement of the crucial communication event which had just occurred. Occasionally this quiet head nodding continued for an hour or two.

I’m trying to initiate this same type of solemn behavior in our household when I am sending text messages to people far away but it’s not working very well.

Finley is very obedient when it’s feeding time!

 

If you have received comfort, then provide comfort to others

 

Responding to a struggle regarding political matters

I was sent a public message on social media by a friend regarding a matter with which she is struggling. As you will see, it involves politics. In her message to me my friend makes it clear that she is posting about the issue in a public way because she suspects others may be struggling in a similar way. She thought her post and my response might be helpful for other folks. I am providing, below, her initial post and my response.

POST FROM MY FRIEND:

I’m struggling Pastor Dan. I’m posting on your page just in case anyone else is struggling along with me.

I had a heated discussion with B after work today. Not towards him, but out of anger. I’m not feeling very Christian like these days. I feel like I was stripped and persecuted for 4 years because I supported President Trump and STILL do. And now those exact people want to join hands and say we should be one. Let us “heal”. They are crying, “Unity!” I’m not feeling it. I feel animosity. I’m tired of turning the other cheek. The things I really want to say are so far from being a Christian.

I’m praying on it. And I’ve been praying on it. But I’m feeling like an epic fail right now. I know I’m not alone.

I’m a sinner and I own my feelings. I’m just trying to figure this out.

I’m sorry if this puts you on the spot. I’m looking for guidance and I trust you with my heart. I know what the Bible says.

I’m just struggling immensely right now.

 

MY RESPONSE:

Hi J, I love your passion and your vulnerability.

You have not put me on the spot in an unfair way.

Yes, the political division, friction, frustration and struggle that you described is something other people are wrestling with, as well. I have heard from others. You are not alone in feeling frustrated, hurt, confused and angry.

And God knows exactly what you are feeling. He understands. You have not done anything that has caused Him to stop loving you. (See Romans 8:35-39)

Unfortunately, I do not believe the political division will be resolved. (I know this doesn’t sound very optimistic but let me explain.) In my opinion, the political division is not resolvable because, in a very simple way, what leads a person to the left or the right politically has to do with their fundamental view of reality. So, the conflict goes back to the way we understand life, reality, human nature, ultimate purpose, etc. When the most basic beliefs and values are in conflict, reconciliation and harmony become very, very, very unlikely.

So part of the challenge for followers of Jesus is to attempt to put aside the political inclinations and look at every person we know as a precious soul for whom Jesus died. Our call, as followers of Jesus, is not really to political unity. Our call is to the love of Jesus alive in us and extended to everyone we encounter. Everyone. I know this can be incredibly difficult. Some people test us to our very limits and then just a little bit further still. There are people who try to intentionally provoke us. I get it. But our Lord calls us to love everyone.

Seek God, when it comes to this matter of love. We cannot do this on our own. We need God’s love, through a work of the Holy Spirit, in us.

One of my concerns, when it comes to political matters, is I have seen indications—on more than a few occasions—that for people who claim to be Christians, their political commitments are more important than their commitment to Christ. In other words (not for everyone, but for some) if there is a conflict between their political commitments and their Christian commitment, the political commitments win.

That is not good.

As Christians, our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ must come before, literally, everything else. Family, friends, job, money, politics, fame, status, material possessions are all a distant second compared to Jesus.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.’” Matthew 16:24-25

Jesus is first. Our commitment to Him is primary. This is foundational to Christianity. To miss this truth is to misunderstand the Christian faith.

Think of it this way: If Jesus is who He claims to be, then it is logically inescapable that He has to be more important than everything else regarding our existence!

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”  Philippians 3:7-9

It bothers me that politics seems like it is increasingly invading every area of life. In my opinion, this is not good. The more that everything in life becomes political, the closer we move toward negative, restrictive, controlling forms of government.

It’s interesting to me that in the time and place Jesus lived a person might have thought He would have spent more time talking about the political issues of His day. The Roman government was a significant, and oppressive, factor in the life of the Jewish people. Under the circumstances He didn’t really address the subject very frequently. He was more concerned with talking about something He knew to be more important: the Kingdom of God.

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”  Jesus, in Matthew 6:33

God’s kingdom is eternal. The political systems of this world, including the political systems of the United States of America are temporary. (By the way, I love our country and am not against it, however, I am sharing biblical truth. The United States of America is not eternal. The Kingdom of God is eternal.)

(Again, please do not read that as disinterest or negativity toward the U.S. I genuinely want our country to thrive and do well. I want it to be a place of liberty, justice, truth, fairness, and opportunity for everyone.)

However, since earthly kingdoms are not eternal, we do not put our faith, trust and hope in political outcomes. I have political outcomes I would like to see happen. I understand that what happens politically is not inconsequential. But as followers of Jesus our ultimate faith, trust and hope are not in the politics of our country, it is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

One day, every knee will bow to Jesus (Phil. 2:10), not to any political leader or political ideology. Jesus is Lord of all. He is victorious. And He will prevail!

J, you are not an epic failure! You are learning, growing, stretching, thinking and trying to understand how your genuine faith in Christ applies to the everyday issues, struggles and realities of life. These political issues stir up strong feelings. They can definitely test our calling, from Jesus Himself, to love others.

You wrote: “I’m a sinner and I own my feelings. I’m just trying to figure this out.”

Those are the words of a person who is attempting to take responsibility. That willingness to examine yourself, honestly, before God is an essential aspect of faith in Christ Jesus.

“If we confess our sins, [this involves honest self-examination] he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

God is at work in you. I see that to be true. I am very encouraged by that truth. And you know what? Good news! God will complete the work He is doing in you.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it  is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”  Philippians 1:6

You are in the process of becoming more like Christ! Sometimes there are bumps in the road.

The fact that you are bold enough, vulnerable enough, courageous enough and honest enough to express your thoughts, feelings and struggles in a public way tells me you are sincere, motivated and serious about trying to deal with them and grow.

I hope this helps! (Sorry I got a little long-winded.)

Please do not be discouraged, my dear friend!

I love you. God loves you. Be blessed!

Dan

 

Certain people need redemption? No, all people need redemption.

 

All positive, no negative