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June 11

Wednesday, June 11th, 2025

As I continue reading Unbroken Faith by Diane Dokko Kim- her book on having an autistic child who was also diagnosed with ADHD/ADD at the age of 2 and the crisis it brought personally, professionally, and spiritually- my eyes are continually being opened wider. Here is one example why:

“A rogue wave called autism had struck, leaving me sputtering with shock and indignity. In its wake, I was swept along into a career change I never signed up for: full-time caregiver, case manager, disability advocate, and traffic controller. Now my days were spent floundering amidst the waves of therapeutic professionals who cycled in and out of our home, specialists I’d never heard of before with a dizzying array of acronyms: LSW, ABA, OT, SLP, BCBA. Daily, for forty hours a week, as soon as one wave rolled out, another rolled in.”

“Dipping into the reserves of a faith bottomed out, I sagely accepted my new calling: Help the Poor Child. A forced perma-smile betrayed clenched teeth that gritted out my new mantra. “I’m trusting God. I’m trusting God. I’m trusting God…” But inside, I was wrecked. Our son was cognitively disabled; I was now spiritually crippled. Both of us needed urgent and intensive intervention. But therapists only came for him.” (pp.39-40) 

It was that latter phrase which struck me: They both needed intervention but therapists only came for him. That is a common problem I have encountered when I have talked with people of special-needs children. The child gets the attention, but what about the parent, the caregiver? It is sort of like the pastor who gives and gives without taking time off and then finally finds himself burned out, having an affair, or needing a therapist because of depression. Many parents of special-needs children are forgotten amidst the difficulty of their lives. Diane is not afraid to admit it led to a real crisis in her faith and she hit rock bottom. The sad part is there will be those “Christians” who will chide her or condemn her or think less of her because she is willing to admit that. IMHO that is one of the first steps needed to be taken for healing to begin. 

My takeaway: instead of condemning or even opening our mouth, perhaps a listening ear or a sympathetic “Here, let me carry that load with you for awhile” is what is needed. While the attention is rightfully on the child, let’s not lose sight of the parent(s) who are also struggling and often feeling abandoned. I personally believe that is exactly what Jesus would have done. 

Jo, Tami and I are leaving for Ohio today and will be back in town on Saturday after watching Braden (grandson/nephew) play a few games of baseball. I’m not sure about posting tomorrow but your prayers for safe travel sure would be appreciated. 

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May 7

Wednesday, May 7th, 2025

Viktor Frankl. Douglas Groothuis (pronounced Grewties quiet “s”). What do they have in common? Viktor is a concentration camp survivor. Douglas is a philosopher who anchors all he says and believes in his faith in Jesus.  Around 2014 his wife, Becky, was diagnosed with PPA (primary progressive aphasia). PPA is a rare from of dementia, worse than Alzheimer’s. It took a brilliant wordsmith and a member of the MENSA society and made her a shell. Douglas wrote a book Walking Through Twilight that I am rereading for the second time. There are several reasons, none of which are relevant to this post, so I will forego the reason. Doug is lamenting the loss he is suffering as he watches his once brilliant wife waste away to nothing. (She mercifully went home to Jesus in 2018). 

He was writing at one point about visiting his wife in a psych ward (a terrible place for her). The drive to and from was about 60 miles, so visiting, while still teaching at Denver Seminary, was taxing. But he said, “God met me in those visits.” (p.12). He had been re-reading Viktor Frankl’s classic study of suffering and meaning, Man’s Search for Meaning, in which Frankl expresses that human value can be affirmed in the thick of searing suffering, as he found in Hitler’s prison camps. Be we have to change ourselves. Frankl says,

When we are no longer able to change the situation…we are challenged to change ourselves. (p.12) 

But it is later that Frankl wrote what I consider to be the gem of his work:

We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms-to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. (p.12)

WOW! That is a mouthful. And a heart full. While I am not one of the “positive thinking gurus” who walk around talking positivity is the answer to all of life’s questions, I do believe our attitude does play a lot in our view of life. Too many people, including those who call themselves Christ-followers, spend way to much time looking like they sucked on pickle juice for a good part of the day-or even their life. It’s the old discussion of is your glass half empty or half full. As I work my way through the book of Job in my reading, I am reminded again of Job’s perspective versus his so-called “friends.” You know the old statement “With friends like you who needs enemies”? That fits. Job didn’t need them. He needed the reassurance of God’s presence. He got it eventually. So do we. In fact, it is never failing. May your day be a reassurance of that truth.

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April 7

Monday, April 7th, 2025

For those of you who don’t live anywhere around here, I can just put the weekend into one word, no make that three: RAIN and MORE RAIN. The river in our town is supposed to crest today around 25′. In ’08 it crested at 26.8′. The highest? 28.5 in 1913. The RED travel advisory means Emergency personnel only so we cancelled church yesterday and school is cancelled today while in an ORANGE. Reason? Flooded roads. Like a lot of them. I heard over 50.

So…rather than talk about that, let’s talk about something much more fun and meaningful. Last week I mentioned that I have begun rereading a series by Glynn Young called The Dancing Priest series. I finished #1 and find myself more than 1/2 way through #2- A Light Shining. #1 found Olympic hero, Michael Kent, ordained into the Anglican church and being sent to St. Anselm’s in San Francisco. Across the street from the church building was a warehouse which housed several children, the oldest being Jason, Age 15. He was the “father” to the 6 kids who lived under his care. When Michael decided to do something about it he sat down with Jason, who had just accepted Christ. Following is the conversation which ensued:

J: “So why’d you do it in the first place? Why do you have this class we go to on Sunday’s?”

M: We’re trying to reach out to you.”

J: “Everyone else ignores us, except when the shop people think we’re stealing or the cops decide to hassle us. Why don’t you just ignore us?

M: “Because you matter. You matter to God. And because you matter to God, you matter to us. Jason, God sees you as something valuable. You have great value in His eyes.”

J: “I’m a piece of crap, Father Michael. That’s all I am. I steal when I have to. I’ve done drugs, all of them. I hustle tricks to make money. There’s no value here. I’m a piece of crap.”

M: “That may be what you think. And that may be what a lot of people might think. But it’s not what God thinks. And it’s not what Father John and I think. Jason, you and maybe others see what’s on the surface. And what’s on the surface may be ugly, to you and to a lot of people. But what really matter is what’s inside and what’s in our heart. What God sees is the man He created you to be.” (pp.8-9)

There is more to the conversation. I have edited it to fit the format, but what it does say is that each one of us matters to God. He sent Jesus to die so that we could be forgiven. While a story written by Mr. Young, the conversation is heard all over the planet. Every person has value and merit. Each one matters. We are all sinners, for sure, but we still matter to God. I hope you will carry that with you today.

(May I also suggest you read this fantastic series? It can be found on Amazon. Start with Dancing Priest) 

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March 30

Thursday, March 20th, 2025

FEAR is one of the biggest issues many people face. Fear of the past coming back to haunt us. Fear of the present rearing its ugly head to rob us of our joy. Fear of the future-unsure of what is ahead.  Oh…and fear of the dark, fear of tight places, fear of flying, fear of snakes, etc.

I am not downgrading anyone who has legitimate fears. I read recently about a woman who was mauled by pit bulls. The tragedy would have taken on greater intensity because she had a huge fear of dogs from being bit by one as a child. Legitimate fears are not to be disregarded. “Made up” fears though are a different story. Some people are just fearful people. We used to use the phrase “they are afraid of their own shadow.” Many are mastered by their fear. We did something in the past we are so afraid of people finding out about that we are always looking over our shoulder wondering, “When?” or “If?” We live in fear of the present lest we find ourselves unable to sort through things and function. We are paralyzed by the fear of inadequacy. And, of course, there is the fear of the future. What will it bring? Will there be war? Will I be able to make ends meet? The list is endless.

In the Old Testament book of Judges there is a man who lived in fear. His name was Gideon. When we first read about him he is threshing wheat in a winepress. Grapes are smashed in a winepress inside. Wheat is threshed outside where the wind can help carry away the chaff. But it says Gideon was living in fear of the Midianites so he was threshing wheat while hiding. But one day an angel of the Lord visited him and called him a “mighty man of valor.” Yeah, right. Can you see the headlines? “Man in hiding called mighty man of valor.” Makes no sense to me. But then again, when was God ever tied to what I thought? Answer: N.E.V.E.R.

God called Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites in a unique way. First, get rid of your fear. Second, tear down your dad’s altar to Baal. Third, whittle your army from 32,000 to 300 men. Fourth, be unconventional in your approach. Surround the Midianite camp, then at Gideon’s signal blow a horn, break a clay jar, raise a torch and shout. Gideon and his men were able to stand by and watch the Midianites panic and either kill each other or run.

Gideon’s fear became faith when he trusted in Yahweh (God) to intervene. What hill or mountain are you facing these days? Health issues? Job insecurity? Marriage on the rocks? Wayward child? Self-induced instability? Trust Him to settle things and make them right.  “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Pr. 20:24 NLT). That verse says it all. Faith over fear.

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March 13

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

“Just follow your heart.”

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times.  You can’t watch a Hallmark movie or Great American Family without hearing it. You can’t read a self-help book (I will leave them unnamed since I don’t want to publicize them) without hearing that phrase. You can’t go to a high school or college graduation without hearing those words somewhere in the speech. Without a doubt it may be one of the most popular phrases used in our culture. 

Last night in my group I call Wednesday Night Conversations, we discussed this phrase. I shared some statistics with them that I thought were quite telling:

  • 84% of Americans believe that the “highest goal in life is to enjoy it as much as possible.”
  • 86% believe that to be fulfilled requires you to “pursue the things you desire most.”
  • 91% affirm that “the best way to find yourself is by looking within yourself.” 

(Source: “Don’t Follow Your Heart by Thaddeus Williams-p.xiv)

But, in reality, following your heart is a really bad idea. To follow your heart implies that you take it as seriously as the Christian takes the Bible, the Muslim takes the Koran, or some cult follows its rule book/leader. You must redefine your identity and anything less than full obedience and expression of every subjective feeling of sexual attraction is unforgivable. Anyone who questions you is a bigot, a phobic, a hater, or worse, an “R.” Our ancestors got a lot wrong, like us. But the one thing they got right was that feelings were not the final authority of right and wrong. Why? Simple. Feelings cannot be trusted.  You wake up one morning and you feel absolutely great. Your day goes well. You wake up the next morning with a headache to beat all headaches and you didn’t sleep very well. You day goes terribly. What was the difference? How. you. felt. The fallacy in all of this, the unalterable truth the “follower your heart-ers” want us to think, is that deep down we are all basically good.  Aaaah yeah.  I know myself. I know I rationalize, make excuses, point the finger of blame, and tend to dismiss criticism. 

Word to the wise: don’t follow your heart. It is deceptive and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Instead, we need to align ourselves with God’s Word, whether it goes against our grain or not. The TRUTH is not up for grabs or auction. We need to pray that God will give us a new heart (Jer. 24:7), one that will follow His lead and not our own.

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Burning Hearts – March 2

Friday, February 28th, 2025

“Come on in! The water is fine!” We might hear that from someone inviting us to join them in the pool or the ocean. However, a smart person will check out the person inviting them. Are they shivering? Are their lips blue? Are their teeth chattering? Or do they look totally relaxed and comfortable? We tend to be somewhat cautious in situations like that.

Why, then, are we less conscious when it comes to an invitation to join in where we are told to “Follow your heart” or “YOLO” or “Do what makes you feel good” or “I can do whatever I want. We live in an age of grace”? You recognize those statements, and others like them, I’m sure. The desire of our culture is to hide the consequences of those lines of reasoning, and “suck us into” its hideous swamp.

My sermon for Sunday finds the people of Israel seeking independence from God but also failing to see there is a consequence to that thinking and to their sin. Sort of like many of us, we want to indulge but we don’t want the extra pounds that come with indulging. They took it a step further: it had nothing to do with what they ate or did not eat. It had everything to do with lifestyle and obeying God’s law. We find many today taking that same approach. “I will do what I want. I don’t want to even think about results and consequences.” That’s a pretty scary (and dead end) philosophy.

I would appreciate your prayers for Sunday’s message. It is one that we all need to hear, but not all will take it well. If you can join us in person, please feel free to do so at 9 and 10:45. If not, we live stream both services at the same times. You can catch them on YouTube or on our website during the week. You can send a request to our Facebook Group at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship or view our public page at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship-Spencer, IN. You may also watch via our YouTube channel at Owen Valley Christian Fellowship. If you happen to watch, would you mind letting us know? No pressure. I promise. I look forward to hearing from you.

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January 16

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

What do you do and where do you go when you feel like you have had enough? As I read some Scripture this morning and thought about what to write, that is the question which came to mind.

Last night I began a new class called Wednesday Night Conversations. The class itself is not new; I had started it last Fall but took a break around the holidays. I restarted it last night and it will run until March 12th since the 19th is Spring Break (and I will not compete with that!). 🙂  The series of lessons is based on a book by Shane Pruitt entitled 9 Common Lies Christians Believe. The book is about one-liners many Christians are guilty of using when talking to people. Last night’s lie was “God will never give me more than I can handle.”  We investigated it using I Cor. 10:12-13 as the basis. Of course, the context is important. Long story short, God never says He will give us more than we can handle. He does want us to know that when temptation comes or when trials hit, He is there to go through it with us. That is the promise of not getting more than we can handle. He wants us to know with Him we can handle anything.

All of that was fresh on my mind when I read Scripture from Psalms this morning. In Psalm 35:9-11 it says, “Then I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be glad because he rescues me. With every bone in my body I will praise him; ‘Lord, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?'” In the very next chapter I read this: “Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths.” (36:5-6).

It was common to hear from myself and others last night that life is hard but that God has promised His presence and faithfulness. I am not ashamed to admit that I thrive on that truth.  There have been times I have felt like I was at the end of my rope. Not emotionally. Not that way. But just felt like giving up. I had nothing left. I had no more desire to go on with what I was doing. But God had other plans and I am so glad I listened to Him and didn’t follow my heart (one of the common lies BTW). If I had given up, I would not be experiencing the love and joy of the church I pastor and the sheer joy of knowing I am in the center of His will. He was and is and (I’m sure) will always be sufficient.

{All Scripture from the New Living Translation}

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Guest Post- Ed Damas

Wednesday, November 6th, 2024

I recently wrote a blog about Faith vs. Feelings using Psalm 13 as the basis. You can find that post here. Following that post, a long-time reader of my blog, Ed Damas, sent me something he wrote. I asked his permission to share it with you.

Recently my faith was strongly shaken, to the point that I cried out to Jesus, again, after so many seasons.
 
I wrote this one night:

And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14:70-72)
 
 Think about that! Peter BELIEVED in Jesus, and yet when Jesus himself told him that he would deny knowing Jesus.. Peter’s answer was “NEVER! I will never deny You!”
 
Yet that is exactly what happened.
 
So Peter realized an awesome truth: That Jesus WAS who He said he was, and that everything that Jesus preached, did, and was going to do, proved that Jesus was the real thing!
 
Peter’s faith was shaken… so much so that he denied knowing Jesus, yet through it all, Jesus proved who he was over and over again… Right up to the point (and afterwards) that He appeared in the midst of the disciples in a room where the doors were shut and probably locked.
 
Jesus is working the same way today with those of us who choose to follow Him. Despite all the doubts, worries, troubles, etc.. Jesus knows that at some point we will ultimately deny Him. But Jesus also knows our hearts better than anyone ever will… And He WILL manifest HIS glory to us so that even in when our faith is at it’s weakest, even when our belief tells us that Jesus isn’t working, He WILL manifest Himself to our being. Because the truth is that when God works.. Jesus also works!
 
Have Faith. Believe!

Ed was able to relate to the story of David in Psalm 13 and to realize that feelings are an unreliable testimony to the reality of our faith. Feelings are fickle. I suspect Ed is not alone is what he wrote about. Here is what I would like to do: next Monday I am having knee replacement surgery. I have no clue what to expect or how it will affect my blogging. However, if you have a story to tell I would love to include it on my blog, especially while I am rehabbing. So email me your story and I will be glad to have you as a guest blogger. Try, if possible, to keep it around 500 words or less if possible. I am at 445 right now. 

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October 23

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024

Of all the questions people ask, one of the most frequent is “Where is God when it hurts?” That is put in different way, like “Why do Christ-followers suffer?? or “Why does God feel so far away when I’m going through a tough time?” I’m sure you could add your own variation to that. This morning as I was reading Psalm 13, I flashed back to the first time I ever looked at this psalm in depth. I was in a period of deep questioning-not when it came to where was God- but in my own life’s purpose. It was, and has been, one of the most eye-opening experiences I ever had. I’d like to share that with you today.  I’d like to suggest a Bible and a highlighter (different colors) as you study.

The chapter is written by King David. {Following Scripture is from the NLT}

If God truly forgot David as he says in verse 1a: “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?”

Why does he say at the same time that God truly loves him unceasingly in verse 5a: “But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me”?

David also says in verse 1 that God hid his face from him: “How long will you look the other way?”

But in verse 6b he says God was good to him: “Because he is good to me.”

In verse 2 David said he struggled (wrestled) with many thoughts and had sorrow in his heart every day: “How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart everyday?”

Yet in verse 6 he sang with joy: “I will sing to the Lord.”

Finally, in verse 2b David said his enemy had the upper hand: “How long will my enemy have the upper hand?”

Yet in verse 5b he says, “I will rejoice because have rescued me.”

How can that be? Is there a discrepancy between the verses? No, actually there isn’t. The difference is between David’s feelings and David’s beliefs.  David felt God had hidden His face from him, but he believed God’s love for Him was unceasing. David felt God had hidden His face from him, but he believed God was somehow good to him.

The same is  often true for us. There is a disconnect between our feelings and our faith. And there you have just one more reason why we should not trust our feelings over our faith. And it is also one more reason why we should not get trapped into thinking “just follow your heart.” Feelings are deceptive.

Follow your faith, not your feelings. Anchor yourself in God’s Word; don’t rely on your feelings.

{Note: my unfailing thanks to Randall Arthur and his book Wisdom Hunter for the insight into this passage. It forever changed my life}

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October 22

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024

A common topic of conversation-not only among the elites, but also among common church (and non-church) people-is how Christianity is just one of many ways to God. You have probably heard it just as I have: “You Christians are so close-minded. You think you are the only ones who are right. All roads lead to God.”  In their minds, all religions are the same and none are better than another (unless, of course, you belong to said religion. Then you think you are the only one that is right). The common strain among all is they all have their good points and they all tell us how to get to God or some variation of that.

I beg to differ. While it is true there are many religions (obviously), it is not true that all roads lead to God. It is not my purpose in this devotion to tell why by listing every well-known religion and show why they aren’t. But I would like to sum it up with this: Each religion boils down to the creatures trying to get their god or gods to like them. Hence, the need for works. For alms. For treks to a city. For certain bodily disciplines. Each one is trying to reach up to their god and in the process gain his/her approval.

Christianity is different. Christianity teaches that we don’t have to try to reach up to God. We don’t have to work hard to get God to love us; He already does. We don’t have to work hard to get God to like us; He already does. In fact, God already showed us that! That is the meaning behind the Incarnation-God becoming flesh in the form of a baby. God has already reached down to us. He was fully human and fully divine, died on a cross to pay for our sins and rose again.

The best way for me to put it is the way I once hear it put: “Religion says, ‘Do’; Christianity says, ‘Done.'” Religion says this is what you must do; Christianity says this is what has been done. No matter what we hear from the crowd, there is still only one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ, His One and only Son. Faith in Him is the only requirement for salvation. John 14: 6 is still true: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”  There is simply no other way to read that. 

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