IN MY LIFETIME, I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER LIVE TO SEE THIS

There are times, that even the sparrow's perch can't calm the outrage, and utter disgust I feel when confronted with the depravity of men. The secular humanists proclaim a doctrine of man being capable of rising to the pinnacle of moral character without the 'crutch' of religion or the wheelchair of law. In my lifetime on this earth, I've seen the complete opposite come to pass. Since I was born on a February day in 1955, I've seen the heights, and the lows men can attain when left to their own devices. Abortion, open homosexuality, euthanasia, terrorism, and global mass murder on an epic scale are all indicators of what a people bereft of God will do. A godless people will not rise to new heights, but will eventually sink to complete abandonment of any social decency.

In my short time upon this earth, I've seen what lows we can sink to when we abandon the moral compass provided to us by our God. I began my education, when there was still prayer in public school, when the pledge of allegiance was repeated by everyone. Since the Supreme Court ruled against prayer in public schools, I've seen abortion legalized, and even hawked as a business. I've seen blatant hostility by our government toward all religions, and I've seen every form of perversion given legal sanctuary based upon freedom of speech. BUT, This week, I found myself completely stunned, and unable to keep silent. This blog will not be political, even though it could. I won't rant on about God's judgment even though I could. Today, I'm going to scream from the top of my blogging lungs. “What are we thinking?”

About three weeks ago, I read an article online about two doctors who were touting infanticide. The moral debate wasn't about killing newborn infants, but how long after birth, were they deemed viable. I have to admit, at the time I read it, I thought it was two doctors from Europe. It was something I expected from Europe. I knew our doctors in America would not even open the discussion, that is, until I found out one of the doctors was from America. Then, this week, I read another story about the same doctors, and the nice medical term they've coined to soften the blow: After-Birth Abortion.

Let's get one thing clear, and make it absolutely crystal; to abort something is to end it before completion. The problem with adopting the term 'abortion,' is we are never completed. This complex creation that is uniquely us, is ever growing, ever changing, and never finished. So, once we make 'abortion' the acceptable term we use for medically ending all life, we will be forever under the threat of being aborted. If you think I'm reaching, we've already begun the fall down the slippery slope of killing one another off. We are like rats who've over bred, and have begun to eat one another. The economics of population growth will be determined by doctors, and lawyers who will determine your viability. As long as you are healthy, productive, and filling a needed place in the social structure, you will be allowed to remain alive. However, let you come down with any disease, genetic disorder, or lose limbs, you would become a drain upon the resources of society. Because medical care is doled out by the government, you will be denied care or at best your care would be dispensed over a prolonged period of time. If you think I'm crazy, google the London doctors who basically denied medical care to those they'd deemed incurable or terminal.

I'm wondering where the outraged mothers are? Where's the moral outcry? Where's the doctors who still believe in the Hippocratic oath? Where are the politicians swearing it will never happen here? Please, somebody tell me what is going on here?

I'm not living in fear, nor am I espousing fear. It is time for Christians to get off their couches and do the one thing that will change everything; PRAY. I'm not talking about that three second token prayer that basically says, 'do something God.' I'm talking about laying aside some time and going before the maker of heaven and earth and ask HIM to put an end to this, because it's obvious the politicians won't. They will eventually be worn down by those who reason murder away. How do I know this? (CONSPIRACY THEORY ALERT!) The same thing happened when abortion was legalized as a means to control the African-American population in America. LOOK HOW WELL IT HAS WORKED! Unintended result, look at statistics and see how many white, middle class women have abortions. Aborting life for the sake of finances, ego, or social rejection, is the primary reason for an abortion. MONEY is always the bottom line.

So I guess my question is; how are we as Christians going to head this off? Are we going to wring our hands, and say how bad it is, or do we get down on our knees and bust heaven open about it? I hope we'll begin mass prayer meetings with the sole purpose of exposing this hellish idea of murder. I hope we'll stand against it with the same passion we defended the right of the owners of Chic-fil-a.

You see, being a sparrow in the temple of God, means that you see the continual parade of sacrifices brought to cover the endless barrage of sin. As a sparrow, you see the murderous heart of man in all of its various expressions. Globally, the murder of unborn people is higher than at any time in our history, but that isn't enough for those who seek to create a defect free society. Soon, those with dyslexia, genetic markers for heart disease, blue eyes, brown eyes, even those with the wrong color hair, will be aborted after birth. Heaven forbid you should be Jewish in the 1930's or 40's. History doesn't speak well for the decency of man, without God.

I pray this will be my last rant about this.    

New Things

It is one of those amazing moments here in the sparrow's perch, when the goodness of God washes over me in waves of joy, and love. His presence is sweet this morning, and the sweet oil of revelation is a delicate perfume that causes me to breathe deeper and deeper. Everything is slowing down and things I was unaware of before are being magnified to my senses.

I'm usually enthralled with the skitter and chatter of the sparrows outside my window, but today everything seems to be coming from inside the office. The hum of the computer fan, the tic-toc of my clock on the mantle, the occasional creak of the building as the wood joists and beams respond to the cool morning air I'm letting in. I only wish my right ear wasn't so damaged from years in the Air Force. A soft continual hum is testament to the arrogance of youth, and the foolishness of rebellion. Though I often wore ear protection, I as often did not. I am paying the price, now.

Even sparrows grow old and die, and I am growing old.

But, enough of that, let's get back to the revelation he gave me this morning. I love Wednesdays. I look forward to Wednesday night services like a child looks forward to getting candy. Wednesday nights are often a better service than Sunday mornings, mainly because I feel freer to skitter and chatter about within the presence of God. I don't know why that is, but at least that's the way it is here. One of the things I've asked the Lord to do in my life of late, is to help me to lay aside the things I think I know about him, and have him enthrall me with what I don't. What's laughable about that, is most people who know me, will tell you that I'm a pretty open guy about spiritual things. Yet, I keep discovering that I am not limited by what I know about him, but by what I don't know. And, at the same time, what I know about him forms the paradigm that keeps me from discovering more of him. Like the little sparrows outside my window, they fly to the same spot, go through the same holes, perch on the same wires, and violently protect their territory. I'm not different than they are. My reply to people when confronted with something new in the Lord, is; “That's not in the scriptures.”

Sad, little Pharisee that I am. Trust me, I'd not be any better than they.

Excuse me, Lord. I've never heard of any prophets spitting on the ground and making spit mud to rub in someone's eyes. And, what's with the wet willy thing while praying for someone's hearing to be restored? You show me in the law and the prophets where anyone ever blessed bread and fed five-thousand. And, turning water into wine? God just doesn't move that way. He wouldn't approve of sitting down with tax collectors, healing gentiles, or any of those things. It's not in the Word!

Even as free and open as I am, my expectations of what God will do are still couched within my experiences, and I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS. I know all the right moves, all the right things to say, even know some crazy stuff my brothers and sisters in the Lord would cringe at. Still, my heart's cry this morning is that I will put away everything I think I know, and let God show me things I've never seen before. The problem is, I'm usually the crazy guy in our services. If I do something totally unexpected, people expect it. That's just David, you know how he is!

Hmmmm?

Anyway, I keep looking for that one person other than me who is willing to be shameless like king David. I want the opportunity to say; I will be even more undignified than this in God's presence. So, tonight I won't be looking for anyone else, I'll be looking for the Holy Spirit to show out. Not, for the show, but for the opportunity to show out with Him. I'm like that.

The Forever Journey

I don't know if I can be very 'spiritual' this morning.

Don't get me wrong, the fan is blowing, the sparrows are bouncing in the puddles of water from the rain shower we had this morning, and the soft rumble of traffic is beginning to get louder. The sun is barely peeking over the horizon and everything is washed in an orange glow. It's very peaceful at this moment.

Actually, I'm steeling myself to go out and face the day in light of what day it is.

Thirty-six years ago, I stood nervously before a young woman I barely knew, and put a ring on her finger. We were married on a Friday. It was more of a protest than anything else. I am not superstitious and wanted to make a point of it. Friday the 13^th will always be a day of joy for me.

No, I'm not some sappy, dopey, guy who's relegated his marriage to a sugary sweet syrup unfit for human consumption. Glenda and I don't fight. We disagree, but we don't fight. There are childhood reasons we don't fight, but I also realize that there are couples who must fight. For some couples the fight is the only way they reveal how they really feel about things. Personally, I don't want to know how my wife 'really' feels. I'm sure she would not like to know some of my twisted inner workings. You see, I'm not silly enough to think she doesn't already know who I am and what I think. The things she doesn't know, the things I've laid aside over the years, are only hurtful and selfish. It is pride and selfishness that somehow makes us want to make sure our partner knows they have failed us. You see, I discovered long ago, Jesus is the best person to tell my hurts to. If I tell my family, they may not forgive Glenda as quickly as I will. If I tell my best friend, they don't love Glenda like I do, and will begin to pat my po-po, and tell me I deserve better. If I tell the Lord, he simply reminds me that I'm not perfect either.

You see, God likes Dave and Glenda. He likes the unique person we are together. He loves us individually, but he likes who we are together. I'm sure that when he assigns angels to protect us, he always refers to us as Dave and Glenda. When he is proud of us, it is Dave and Glenda. When he is disappointed in us, it is Dave and Glenda. You may be asking how I know this? One little scripture, “What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” God is a forever God. I'm not arrogant enough to split what God has joined.

Thirty-six years ago, we were thinner, sweeter, more open, laughed easier, played harder, worked longer, and couldn't let each other go. Today, we ache all over, move slower, snore louder, don't want to work any more, and have learned to let each other go. I still pat her rear as I pass her, stare into her eyes during meals, and love to hear her raucous laugh when her funny bone is tickled. This weekend, we spent our time with our daughter Amy, and her children at Silver Dollar City. There would have been a day when we would have secluded ourselves away in a hotel and . . . well you know. Not one to ride thrill rides, I volunteered to keep little Avery while Glenda took the older grandchildren with her . As I watched this marvelous woman in her native environment, I wondered if I'd taken the best years of her life from her. I'm an old fuddy duddy who prefers a good book, science fiction movies, or video games. She likes running from place to place, amusement parks, and funny movies. Her patience is endless, and her willingness to play is priceless. The grandchildren love her, and cling to her. It is as it should be. As I watch her, I'm taken back to when our own children were that age, and we went to Knott's Berry Farm. She wore them out. Still, to this day, my children and grandchildren know that she is always up to 'fun.' She is my opposite, but I like it. I have fun just watching her have fun.

Now, when I look at her, I see three children, five grandchildren, endless parades of friends, thousands of church services, hours spent together in vehicles traversing the country from one side to the other. We've been blessed to do things and live places other people only dream about. We've lived on the edge of our Christianity, and then been totally buried in it. We've seen death, life, joy, fear, and the inestimable injuries of words casually said.

When Glenda and I were first married, I always referred to us as 'we.' If someone asked me to do something, the answer would always come back couched in 'we.' Somewhere along the years, I let myself become selfish and wondered 'what about me?' Then God, reminded me, even though he still loves me, he loves us more. It was a hard lesson for me to learn. Learn it I have.

My most precious bride, I love you more than words could ever say. You are ever and always my heart, my soul, my flesh. I've finally got it in a way that only death can part. Yes, I'll make this forever journey with you, we will finish this journey together.     

THE AUDACITY OF ARROGANCE

It is a very pleasant morning here in the Sparrows perch. A cold front (the August type) moved through yesterday, and the breeze blowing through the window is almost chilly. You know, the kind of chilly where 68 degrees feels like you have to put a light jacket on. The long string of high 90's and 100's have sucked the life out of everything. Add to that, an entire summer with barely an inch or two of rain, and just walking outside becomes exercise. However, I am thankful for this time in the mornings once more. I am thankful for the cool of the day, when God's presence is so easy to feel, and my own heart is set so firmly on realizing him the rest of the day. I am blessed to hear the songs of the sparrows, starlings, and even the gentle coo of pigeons. I like to turn off the florescent lights in my office, because their hum drowns out the gentler sounds of the city as it begins to wake up.

I’ve been very reticent about writing this particular blog, even though I’ve been able to return to my normal daily routine of going to the church early in the morning for over a week. If you’ve read the previous two blogs, you understand how important that is to me. I believe that the lack of this special time for the last month was the reason I've failed to live under an open heaven through many of the conflicts that have come my way. If I were to share with you the things that have happened during this last month, you’d understand it’s importance even more. It’d be easy to pretend that everything was great during the last month, but that would be a lie. I could even write about everything else under the sun, but it wouldn’t mask the fact that this last month will undoubtedly go down in my mind as one of the worst months in my life.

For those people who don’t like to talk about spiritual conflict, or don’t believe in it, DON’T READ ANY FURTHER, you'll just get offended. I've done enough of that to last a lifetime!

Actually, I should be the happiest man on earth right now. Two weeks ago, my only son married a beautiful young woman whose inward beauty rivals that of her physical. For that I’m grateful to God. My greatest desire is that he be a better husband and father than I was.

Like all weddings, his came at a cost, a spiritual cost. Things happened, things were said, and the insults piled up. Before long, I didn’t even want to go to the wedding. Once I’d went, I was sorry I went. Not that the wedding wasn't beautiful, but everything leading up to it was. . . .Suffice it to say, I pray to God, this is the last wedding any of my children go through. No divorces or remarriages, please.

Over the last month, the enemy of my soul has pressed me in hard, and almost robbed me of the joy of doing anything. He has used family, friends, and even absolute strangers to challenge me on every front. The battleground hasn’t been an area of gross sin, blatant cruelty, or even my tendency to be short tempered. If it had been these areas, I would have easy paths of help already built in. My brothers in the Lord would be ready to buck me up and help me. My brothers in the Lord know what I look like when I'm battling these things. The battleground has been my confidence in who I am, and more specifically people calling my motivations into question. Wow, it's been nearly six years since I last fought this battle.

It would be an understatement to say I have wanted to crawl away under a rock somewhere and hide. Trust me, the fetal position sounded good to me a few times. I haven’t figured out, what makes people feel so easy to offer their opinions, when opinions weren’t asked for, but I must be wearing a sign that demands people do it. These unsolicited opinions have raged on and on for the last month, and they follow along these tracks. “I wouldn’t have done that.” “Shame on you.” “What’d you do that for?” “What were you thinking?” “If I’d have done that. . . . “ “What'd you say that for?”, “I'd have done it this way.”, “Are you sure?” and on and on and on. Every time I'd stand up and dust myself off, I'd be buffeted again. I suddenly, and without relief, felt like a bullied child again. A part of me wanted to lash out, and say mean things back. You know, the kind of adult remarks that are the equivalent of “your mother wears combat boots.” I’m mature enough to know it is the audacity of arrogance, that the arrogant do not realize they are being so. If you try and point out their arrogance, you are accused of being unchristian or too sensitive. In their eyes there is no excuse for your behavior and it is their God given right to express their opinion of you. If you can't take their abuse, there's something wrong with you. What's worse, is that I know from experience, not to try and defend myself. If you try to defend yourself, you only invite greater criticism. So, I kept my mouth shut. . . . most of the time. The one time I failed, whew, did it ever stink. Nothing worse than resurrecting that old dead stinking corpse. I don't care how much spiritual disinfectant I used, the old man stunk.

If all the abuse had come from one person, I would have been able to brush it aside easily, but it came from every angle, from people I least expected it to come from. No sooner would I get my attitude back in check, than someone else would step in and pierce me through. I felt like a customer service clerk at the abuse desk. "Here take a number, and I'll allow you to verbally abuse me in just a few minutes."  This week it finally came to a head, when a man I greatly admire, insinuated that I would lie to him. After I picked up my jaw from off the floor, I walked away stinging. I wanted to fire back with everything within me. Lord, it would have felt good to point out the numerous times he’s been double-minded, and even point out his lies. (For those of you who might be thinking that this is an underhand way to do that, he doesn’t read this blog and doesn’t know anyone that does.)

Trust me, the man took what remaining wind I had, out of my sails. I'm hanging limp in a dead calm sea of self indulgence, my old man stinking on the deck, (actually I tied him to the mast,) wondering what in the world happened? I found myself asking: What is going on? What is all of this about, Lord? I’m tired of this, I don’t want to do anything. Somebody find me a rock to crawl under, or just shoot me. Running away would feel so good.

BUT,

The Lord isn’t content to let me wallow in self pity for very long. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’d have liked for him to give me as much time as he gave Bro. Peter. I mean, four days to wallow in my own self-pity would have been great. Do you hear that God? What’s wrong with a good four-day whine? What's the deal, Lord? I’ve been kicked around for a solid month, and now you want me to simply suck it up and move on like nothing ever happened? All these people are saying bad things about me. Why don’t you step in and do some serious ‘vengeance is mine saith the Lord’ type stuff. Why don’t you do some serious head cracking, and getting even stuff for me? I thought you LOVED me! These people are calling my character into question. I don’t call their character into question. I do what you say! What about ME?!!!!!!!

OOPSsssssssssssss, Red Flag!

How’d I get here?

Like I said at the beginning of this blog, for the last month, I’ve been unable to go to the sparrows perch in the mornings. Sure, I’ve been praying, reading the bible, reading spiritual books, listening to christian music, working with christian brothers, doing all the things that work at a religious level, but my time in the presence of the Lord has suffered. The red flag the Lord gave me a few years ago, to alert me to when I was out of relationship with him, was when I find myself asking; “What about me?” That’s my cue, that I’ve moved away from being close with the creator of my soul. That one statement, is the place where arrogance, pride, and self-centeredness have all combined to make me focus on myself.

You see, spiritual warfare has all kinds of battlegrounds. Some of them, such as addictions, are easily seen, and it is obvious to everyone you are in a spiritual battle. Other battlegrounds, those that are way down deep in our minds, are not so easily seen. That is why I’m glad the Holy Spirit put the red flag up for me. I mean I could have gone on a lot longer feeling sorry for myself. I have, in the past.

On the other hand, I like living under an open heaven, and I thoroughly enjoy God's presence in my life. I can't stand the smell of that old stinking corpse that used to be me. I like the new creation in Christ Jesus, and just like the Apostle Paul, there is one thing I know, putting the past behind me, I press on to the high calling of Christ Jesus. So, for those of you who feel that I let you down this month, I did. For those of you who feel that I could have done a better job, I could have. For those of you who felt I was insensitive, I was. To the one who felt I’d lied, you misunderstood. Living in the perfect law of love, means that even when you are misunderstood, you are wrong when you demand people know they misunderstood. You see, the problem with arrogant people is, it is very difficult to tell them when they are arrogant. I know, I'm still cleaning up the deck from trying to push that old arrogant corpse overboard. This time I hung a millstone around his neck.

Thank you Holy Spirit.  

Ahhhhhh, The Perch Once More.

Finally, able to swing things around to where I could get back to my original schedule.  It rained sometime during the early morning hours (the rain, wind, and thunder boomers, stirred me.)  Usually, I will sleep right through a thunderstorm, but this time it woke me up, and I'm glad it did.  I quickly threw on my clothes, jumped in the truck and drove to the church.  The office was hot, but quickly cooled down once I opened the window.  I made some coffee, leaned back in my chair, and enjoyed the soft rhythms of the city coming to life as the sparrows danced outside my window.  I think they were as happy for the rain as I was.
Prayer time was simple this morning, "make me a blessing to someone today."  Of course I went through the usual list of missionaries, pastors, and family.  Especially family.

I thanked God for the sparrows singing outside the window.  Even now, as I'm typing this, a handful of them are splashing around in the puddles on the roof below.  I sometimes think I'd like to build a little meditation deck outside my window, with potted plants, a small park bench and a soft awning.  I could go out and sit on the park bench and look out over Lake Harrison. I can write anywhere, and it would be fun to sit outside and write.
 
Some of you who know me, are probably wondering why I wouldn't just step outside my front door. Answer:  There is a rhythm and peace here that is conducive to feeling the presence of God. I tried explaining a couple of blogs ago, but there isn't any way to make it make sense.

Enough of that, I came here this morning with a purpose.
 
It's been a long time since I've recommended a book to anyone.  I came under a great deal of criticism for the last book I recommended, which in turn has made me cautious about recommending books. Soooooo.... I'm going to go about it a different way, I'm going to recommend an author.  I have a handful of authors I like to read, John Bevere, David Platt, and now, I'm enjoying Bill Johnson from Bethel Church in Redding California.  What is even more enjoyable, is his daily posts on Facebook.  If you decide to read any of Bill's books, I highly suggest you start with "When Heaven Invades Earth." If you don't like to read books, but like doing Facebook posts, do a search for Bill Johnson (Author) and click LIKE.  His posts will start popping up.
Bill is a very down to earth, honest, and transparent writer.  He writes down his failings as well as his success.  He lets you know how he feels as much or more than what he knows.  There is an anointing in his books that opens your mind to the possibilities of God.  I began reading "The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind" way back in April while visiting my daughter in Miami.  I couldn't put it down.  I was halfway through it, when he mentioned his first book (When Heaven Invades Earth).  At that moment, I immediately stopped reading "Transformed" and started reading When Heaven Invades Earth.  Wow!  It changed up the way I thought about myself, and the world around me. I have a long way to go, and there are moments and times I feel completely out of touch with what God wants to do in me, but I know what I am in Christ Jesus, and what he wants from me.
There you have it.  My first recommendation in a long time.  This man is a must read.