What is truth?

Ancient philosophers have often asked and searched out the meaning of truth and asked themselves, "what is truth"? When Jesus stood before Pilot on the Friday morning of his earthly judgement, John tells us that Jesus explained that he had been brought into the world to bear witness of the truth. To this Pilot replied, "what is truth"? We have asked ourselves this eternal question throughout all of time. Jesus also stated that He is "the way, the truth, and the life." So, the answer is that Jesus is truth but it's not that simple. The world and everything in it tries to explain itself and tell me what truth is through books, magazines, TV, and human reasoning. Though some of this effort stumbles onto truth, it does so only by truth being revealed to us through God and His creation. The things that we believe become truth for us because belief drives action. What you REALLY believe is what you act on. We go to work because we really believe the consequences will be bad if we don't. We don't go to church every week because we don't believe that it is really necessary. There are many things that we say we believe, but follow your actions and you find the truth of what you really believe. The missing step is to get ourselves to believe what is really true and to ignore the lies that are not. So, how do you know the difference? Go to the One who is truth and find the answer in John 8:31 - "If you abide in My word, you are truly my disciples; you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." The Bible will give the answers and will show you truth. Seek it. Find it. Believe it. Act on it. The truth will set you free and you will discover a road to the heights of success.

Following in the Footsteps

People often remark that we follow in the footsteps of our fathers, mothers, parents in general, or in other words, we follow in the path of our ancestors. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:9, "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." My father, having passed away when I was three years old, left some parenting undone you might say, but I always felt that I was "following in his footsteps." I calculated how many days he lived past his birthday of the year he died and I remember the day that I was as old as he was to the exact number of days that he had walked the earth. In my mind, I knew that the next day I would continue my journey without footsteps to follow.
Since then, I have tried to follow the Lord and have often wondered about Proverbs 16:9. How do I plan my way and allow God to direct my steps? Does he do the micro- planning and I do the macro- planning or vice versa? Do I make the big plans and he makes it possible? I really thought he planned the big picture and I made the smaller decisions and he somehow works it all out for good. Matthew Henry, a Theologean and Presbyterian Preacher, explains it this way: "If men devise their way, so as to make God's glory their end and his will their rule, they may expect that he will direct their steps by his Spirit and grace, so that they shall not miss their way nor come short of their end." That makes it a little clearer but still leaves in one ingredient to following God's will - abiding in faith.
I find that emptying myself and completely serve God's glory can be difficult and knowing his will requires much abiding and then faith that your sense of leading from him is really from him. But a wise man once reminded me that Jesus said "my sheep hear my voice." So, when he directs my steps, I will know it and peace in my spirit will help me know that I am listening to his voice. Sometimes it is hard to see the big picture when you are walking in it, but a little path of bread crumbs totals up to a fine meal at the end of the day. So, I follow in his footsteps and at the end of each day I go to sleep knowing that I have reached the heights of success.

It's not about houses and paychecks

As I sat and read in Jeremiah chapter 12 this morning, I whole heartedly agreed with his question to God, "Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Yet you know me, O Lord; you see me and test my thoughts about you." I can totally relate to his thinking here. Jeremiah goes a little too far in the next verse where he asks God to drag them off like sheep to be slaughtered. I don't quite go that far in my frustration, but I do relate to the sentiment. Why God? Why do many other people prosper when I am trying to serve you and it seems that you won't let me prosper. God, you know me and you know I'm trying to follow you, so why won't you let me prosper like them? And the answer gently comes from the Lord, "because your understanding of what it means to prosper is incorrect. It's not about houses and paychecks."

When I think about that, I realize my own sin. While saying I'm trying to follow the Lord, I am actually holding an idol in my heart of...can you guess it? Money and possessions. Let's be honest as long as we are pulling back the curtain and looking at what I'm really striving for. When do I have the most peace? When I have money in the bank. When do feel the best about myself? When people see my home and say it's a nice home. When do I feel wealthy? When I can buy a gift for someone or buy someone's lunch and not worry about the money or take a nice vacation. So, I am sitting here claiming to God that I'm following him and he should let me prosper when in fact I am asking him to help me worship other idols. Somebody just took a 2x4 and smacked me into next week.

Prospering is not about houses and paychecks. Being at peace is not about knowing you have money in the bank. Peace of mind and true prosperous living comes from knowing that there is a God who loves me, has my best interest at heart, and promises to take care of me. So, I don't have to know the plan for next week or next month. I don't have to know His total plan for my life. I couldn't understand His total plan for my life if He tried to explain it to me. But I know He's good and I know He's trustworthy. So, guess what? I am at peace and I am prospering in many ways that will last longer than my house and my paycheck. By focusing on those things, I can reach for the heights of success.

...and do you remember what is the heights of success? If I have given glory to God today in the things I have done, I have reached the heights of success.

The Search Continues...

Well, it’s been an interesting week as I continue to hunt for the illusive full-time position. While driving around Atlanta, I was listening to a cd produced by Success Magazine. (This is an excellent magazine, by the way, that includes a cd with each monthly issue containing short interviews or lessons or leadership and business strategy. Excellent information.) In the April issue, I was listening to Jim Rohn talk about leadership and the struggle of managing people. He spoke about how to spend your time with the 20% of the people that do 80% of the work. It sure made me think about which group I’m in. Finding the right full-time work is critical to making sure that we are capable of being in the top 20% of employees for a company. I know that I want to strive for that and therefore, I am trying to find the right fit so that this will be possible.

How do I find that right fit? Trying to find information about companies can be overwhelming. There are endless numbers of websites, research sites, library sites, etc. where you can find out information about a job or a company and hours can quickly pass and what have you gained? Some knowledge and information. Some new awareness of a business industry. Maybe it’s all for the general purpose of being educated in the world of business, but I sometimes get to the point where I’m really tired of staring at a computer. But, when you stop moving forward on some new lead, it feels like it’s slipping away and so you keep going a little longer. Then you find something that you think you would be great at and then you wait. And wait. And wait. It’s the waiting that is the hardest.

So, what do you do? Wait a little more. Be grateful that your wife or spouse is encouraging you. Keep chasing leads. Pray for patience. In the mean time, I try to read books, listen to cd’s, read the Bible, and trust in God’s provision. I’m learning patience and trust in a way I’ve never experienced before and hopefully this will prepare me for being a part of the top 20% in my next job so I can reach the Heights of Success.

Well, we've had national healthcare for 3 days now and what do we get? At least 7 states are considering suing the federal government claiming the new law is unconstitutional. Polls would tell us that over 60% of the American people didn't want it before and now that we can read it, they still don't want it. We get the opportunity to pay higher taxes now for something that we can't use for 3 years. I guess this new president who was going to be so bipartisan and bring healing to the nation is doing just the opposite. Georgia was voting on March 24 to allow health insurance providers to sell policies across state lines, but it was defeated or at least tabled. One of the arguments made against it was that we still don't know where this healthcare plan is going and how we will be affected. So, even though the federal bill was signed into law, we don't have unity, we don't have consensus, the American people are divided, taxes are going up, but the health care improvements are delayed. Well, if you voted for Obama hoping for change, I hope you understand why the rest of us didn't. However, November is coming and we have the opportunity to begin the correction of these misguided leaders. There is still hope that as Americans and individuals we can reach for the heights of success.

When the "Son" is shining, we can see His shadow

While reading a book called “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge, I was spurred to consider David and Goliath and how God many times waits until the cards are truly stacked against him before He shows up. Even in the death of His own son, from our perspective, He didn’t show up for three days. I often worry about problems and finances that ultimately are really just manifestations of fear, pride, and lack of faith.

As John Eldredge describes David and Goliath, “a freckle-faced little shepherd kid with a slingshot" vs. “a seasoned soldier and trained killer”. I’m sure the other Isrealites thought to themselves, “who sent this kid?” This is what we see when we get real about who we are versus who we are up against in this world. But the truth of it is that if we can expand our view further out we can see that that our brothers and sisters in Christ are behind us praying on our behalf. If we expand our view even further, we can see that there is an army of heavenly hosts waiting for the battle cry to be sounded so they can act on our behalf. And if we can expand our view as far as possible, we see that God is also standing behind us ready to act on our behalf. Like a kid who gets picked on in the school yard and finally stands up to the bully only then to realize that his dad was standing behind him the whole time. Maybe we can’t quite see God because of his enormous size and grandeur or because his glory is too much to behold. But as long as the "Son" is shining, we can see his shadow. God stands ready and sometimes waits until we think all is lost, then He shows up and saves the day in such a way that we know all the glory is due Him. Hebrews 13:6 says “So we say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” If we can talk our hearts into believing that this is true, then fear will leave us, God will get the glory, and we will reach the heights of success.

They did as the Lord commanded...

You may often read the Old Testament and ask your self, "What’s the point"? It's mostly a historical story that is questionable whether it applies to our lives or not. There are some analogies that are useful, but we don't follow the law because we're under grace. Right? Not exactly. If you look twice, you will see that it is more than just historical. It's radical.

The phrase that I have seen many times in Exodus and Numbers is "They did as the Lord commanded." Many of us wish that God would tell us specifically what He wants us to do, but let me remind you that when you know exactly what you are supposed to do, then it is your responsibility to do it. Sometimes the struggle is knowing what to do, but often, I think that many of us simply don't want to do it.

Moses would meet with God daily and listen to instruction and follow it. Take this animal...kill it in this manner...with a hin of oil...place the blood on your right ear lobe, right thumb, and right big toe...don't touch certain things...do certain things...etc, etc. God was very specific and we again consider the phrase, "they did as the Lord commanded." These were not old customs that God was restarting and reminding them about. These were nutty, off the wall, requirements that came out of nowhere. But God made it clear that He had chosen these people, that he was trustworthy, and then gave them instructions. Are times so different today?

Don't think of daily time with God as a requirement (mainly because it's not). We don't meet with Him every day because we have to; we meet with Him every day because we want to. God wants us to live relationally with Him every day so that we don't drift to the left or to the right. His ideas are sometimes radical, but His ways are good. How do you know He is good? You won't know the first time you trust Him. That's why they call it trust. But the second time, you'll remember the first; the third time you'll remember the second; until one day you won't know any different. Then you wouldn't think of going about your day without Him because to do so would be like heading out without directions and that gets you nowhere. Let the people of God show ourselves to be followers of God. Pray. Listen. Follow. Then future generations can say "they did as the Lord commanded" and they reached the heights of success.