The Advantages of the Pioneer Spirit

All these people were still living by faith when they died... and they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they were looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking about the country they had left they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were looking for a better country - a heavenly one.

Hebrews 11:13-16, NIV (1978)

 

In this passage of Hebrews, the inspired writer has been discussing the faithful men and women of the Old Testament times who had left their homelands because God had instructed them to. Aside from the Divine instruction (which of course is the main thing), they were in many ways like the early pioneers we read about from the 19th century of our own country. Though they all had varying reasons for leaving the comforts of a more civilized society, all had the common goal of making a better life for themselves and their families.

 

Imagine what it must have been like for our early pioneers, selling all of their property and using the proceeds to equip a wagon for a cross-country journey to their own promised land. In many ways they were looking for a fresh start with greater freedom to choose how they would live. Many were looking for land of their own to build upon, as well as to raise crops and animals. Doubtlessly, many of them were tired of the squalor of their "modern-day" life in the polluted, rapidly industrialized cities, and were simply seeking something different. Many were likely attracted by the adventure of it all, and the prospect of traveling across vast and often dangerous expanses of land would have appealed to a very special breed of men and women.

 

The bottom line is that they were looking for a new start to a better life, and they were willing to risk everything they possessed just for a chance at this new way of living. They were more than aware of the dangers, likely having been warned by all their families who remained behind of the risks of disease, wild Indians and unpredictable hazards. These were people with a different vision than most - they were truly a people with the pioneer spirit.

 

This must have been the very type of people that responded so willingly to God whenever He called them to move from one land to another. Very often, the land that these people were instructed to leave were polluted with the idol worship and sinful lifestyles of those who were more "civilized". But the people we read about in the Old Testament (as well as those we read about later in the New Testament times) were the kind of individuals who did not identify themselves by where they lived as much as they did by Who they served. They were the people who were devoted to God, so the daunting prospect of leaving their homelands did not prevent them from being obedient to God and doing that very thing.

 

They had the pioneering spirit because they were absolutely convinced that God was calling them to a better country - a country they could call their own!

 

How about us, today? Do we have that same spirit that allows us to see beyond our own little world? 

 

The fact is that most people do not! That is why those who are suffering in sin are so willing to continue to do so. It's not that they are unaware of their suffering, it's just that it is familiar and, therefore, more seemingly safe than the unknown. That is why the vast majority of the Israelites who were in the process of escaping slavery in Egypt were wanting to return "home" to resume their slavery, rather than risk the unknown of entering the Promised Land of Canaan at God's command. In fact, they were so controlled by their fear of the unknown that they gave up a land of milk and honey in exchange for a barren wilderness for the simple reason that they could not bring themselves to trust fully in God.

 

And that in a nutshell is the problem with most people today: they would rather suffer with the familiar than trust God with the unfamiliar - even when that unfamiliar circumstance came with a guarantee of God's protection. It is a fact that most people would rather return to a home of their choosing regardless of how miserable that home was, rather than trust God to bring them safely to a new home devoid of that misery. 

 

But, for the select few who have the pioneering spirit that has it genesis in a trust in God, there awaits a promised land! For us it is nothing less than Heaven itself, and it is available to all who are willing to risk the challenges of the unknown because they have placed their trust firmly in God.

 

Do you remember that at the end of the journey the Israelites who had placed their trust in God received the Promised Land? Do you remember the pristine land of unparalleled beauty that the pioneers of 19th century America received when their journey was completed? Just imagine what promised land awaits those of us today who are willing to put our faith and trust in God. Why, it will be nothing less than Heaven! 

 

 

Stepping Back After 43 Years Working With Teens

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6, KJV

 

43 years ago, my wife and I graduated from college and moved to Casper, Wyoming. We worshipped at a small church there, and is the case in most small congregations, everyone's help was needed somewhere. In our particular situation it was in teaching, with my wife working with the nursery and toddlers, and me getting put with the teenagers.

 

Now I have to admit that I was probably not the greatest teacher that these teens could have had, but I was the closest to their age and could relate to some of the things they were going through, having had gone through these same challenges in the recent past. In addition to that, these teen and college aged students were pleasant and easy to get along with, so it is not surprising that I enjoyed the task of teaching them on a weekly basis.

 

Within a few months, I was the official "youth group leader" and we began to have regular devotionals and numerous outings, from sporting activities to campouts. For over thirteen years, I was the primary teacher for this age group and probably averaged a Bible class a week teaching this group during that span.

 

It was this interaction with kids whose largest percentage were genuinely interested in learning more about what God wanted of their lives, and who seemed intent upon doing the things that they learned were pleasing to Him, that sparked me into deciding to become a full-time minister. This led me to Happy, Texas, where I had the privilege of preaching, as well as working with the teens for another thirty years. It has been one of the most satisfying works that I can imagine anyone having the opportunity to take part in, and it is one that I rarely tired of. 

 

Still, the body and the mind get a little older every year, and this year I realized that it is time to step down and let someone else get to experience this very pleasant work. So, as of this last Monday night when the teens gathered for one last mowing (they take care of our widow's lawns during the summertime) before getting ready to go back to school, I, too, took part in that one final activity with the kids after 43 years of work.

 

I have to admit that at the age of 65 it is time for a younger man to take over... but I also have to admit that I am a bit wistful at the thought of this four decade plus area of service coming to an end.

 

Unless you have had a similar opportunity to work with teens, it is probably a little difficult to grasp the enormity of the privilege, as well as the large responsibility that goes along with working with teens. There can be a temptation to merely entertain this particular group of young men and women, but this is a temptation that must be avoided at all costs. It's not that entertainment does not have its place, but the primary responsibility of any teacher - including those who work with teens - is to teach them what God expects of their lives, and to show them the benefits of doing so.

 

Much of what we have focused on has been the instructions that God's Word provides in how we are expected to live our lives. This means that we don't get drunk or take drugs. It means that we do not have sex outside of marriage. It means that we accurately define Bible marriage as only between a man and a woman. (For those who are confused on this matter, it means marriage only between someone with XX chromosomes and XY chromosomes.) It means that we pass along God's teachings on honesty, courage, and faithfulness. 

 

It means we teach these young men and women to read the Bible for themselves, because, tragically, there are so many youth workers in our modern-day church environment who believe in doing your own thing and teaching our precious children that God will accept them whether they are obedient to His instruction or not. It also means that we portray God as He really is - a loving Father who is willing to forgive us of any past transgression, but only on His terms.

 

There are far too many people hired to take care of our kids who don't even know what the Bible teaches or, worse still, who have decided that what the Bible teaches just doesn't matter. Such youth group workers are to be viewed for what they truly are: dangerous! They are dangerous to the church, and particularly dangerous to our kids. Church leaders have a duty to make sure they are aware of who they are hiring to work with our kids as well as what they are teaching. This is not a glorified babysitting job for adolescents, it is a sacred trust that must not be broken.

 

But for those workers who understand their duty to God and the kids they have been entrusted with, they can genuinely have a meaningful impact on the lives of those they serve. Speaking from years of experience in this area, I can tell you that it is one of the greatest privileges that a person could ever be given. I didn't fully appreciate this fact when I started 43 years ago, and I'm not sure that I understand to this day the full importance of this task. But I do know this: It is a privilege and an honor. Anyway, it has been so for me, and I am going to miss it.

 

But I am excited for the next generation to carry on this vital work. I can hardly wait to see the successes and the impact that they will have on this next generation of kids!

Bites, Bumps, Bruises and Other Gifts from God

The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

Proverbs 22:3, ESV

 

I hate pain! The problem is that I have had more than my fair share of clumsiness, stubbornness, and often downright onery behavior, and have therefore suffered more than my fair share of pain. That's okay, though, for pain is one of our most useful teachers. Pet a strange dog and get bit, and you will likely not only not approach that particular dog again, but you will probably not pet any other strange dogs either. When I was four years of age, I fell off a tricycle that I had been standing on and broke my arm. I don't recall ever standing on tricycles after that and never had another broken arm.

 

One time (also about the age of four) I informed my mother that I didn't have to if I didn't want to when she told me to stop standing on her good living room chair. Technically, I was just as right as I could be - I did not have to if I did not want to. But Mom had a lightning strike that came out of nowhere that made me want to obey. I don't ever remember challenging either of my parents in such a bold way in the years that would follow.

 

My point in all this is that pain can be a useful teacher, if we will let it. A parent can command, yell, and even plead with their child to do something, but I have noticed that there is nothing quite like the firm hand of discipline to drive the point home the first time.

 

Have you ever observed that you can always tell which kids have good discipline in their home? If not, just go to WalMart and pay attention for a few minutes to the way kids interact with their parents. You can tell almost immediately if a child has experienced some good, properly administered pain. You can also tell the ones whose parents have been too "loving" to ever insist that their child obey, especially in such a way as to make the lesson painful for their little angel.

 

And what works for kids works even better for adults! Overspend on your credit card for one cycle, and the ensuing pain of a restrained budget will cause the prudent to not repeat the error. The fool, on the other hand, really will keep on going and will increase their suffering. It's the same way with those who abuse drugs and alcohol. The prudent will learn and adjust their behavior, while the fools will just keep on going and will likely be continually surprised with the fact that they suffer every time for their imprudent behavior.

 

Ralph Parlette, the author of the University of Hard Knocks, put it this way: The smart person will learn from the first "bump" and not repeat their mistake a second time. This type of lesson is referred to as a "needful knock". The "naturally bright" person on the other hand will make the mistake over and over and continue to amass bump after bump. Mr. Parlette refers to these painful outcomes as "needless knocks". A wise person will take some time after receiving a bump to analyze their situation. As a result, they will usually learn from the first needful knock and go on very nicely with their lives. The fool, however, has a lifetime of bumps to look forward to,

 

Which person are you?

 

The fact is that most bumps, bruises and bites are God's way of getting our attention in order to help us be self-correcting in our behavior. These things, though necessarily painful, can lead us to a much happier life if we will let them. If not... well, I think you know the outcome to that.

The Lord is so Good!

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.

Nahum 1:7, KJV

 

Isn't God good?

 

On July 3rd at 12:14 AM, we got a text that we had been expecting: The time for our newest grandchild had arrived, and our daughter and son-in-law were just pulling out for the hour and a half trip to the birthing center in Lubbock, a town some 90 miles away from their home. I had asked Josh to let us know, if possible, when they were leaving and when they arrived so that we would know they were safe and sound. My eyes were a little out of focus when we got the text, so I thought it was actually five minutes later at 12:19.

 

Why be so precise? Well. I figured that if all went well, we would be getting a second text at about 1:49 AM telling us that they had gotten to the birthing center and were getting settled in. Instead, we received a phone call from Josh at about 2:15 AM telling us that we had a new grandson, Oliver! Carolyn and I were ecstatic and could now settle in for a needed night of rest, because we had the other three of Becca and Josh's kids (ages 20 months to 4 years old) and we needed all the rest we could get.

 

I was just about settled, when it struck me! Josh had told us that Oliver was 7 lbs 11 oz, was 20" long and was born at 12:41 AM! My tired brain started doing the math and it dawned on me that Oliver was born an hour and 23 minutes after they had left for an hour and a half trip... there was more to this story than we had been told! 

 

A little after 6:00 that morning we got the news that Becca, Josh and Oliver were already back in town! It was we got to talk with them that we got the rest of the story. Unbeknownst to any of us, a huge rain system was making its way through Texas that morning. It was the same system that would cause so much flooding a little south and east of us later that day. Apparently, it brought some big swings in the barometric pressure, and as any rancher knows, anything and anyone remotely close to giving birth when the pressure drops is likely going to be sped up a bit.

 

Anyway, I digress.

 

Our daughter had started having contractions about thirty minutes apart earlier that evening. No big deal (she thought) for they had left for the very same birthing center from the very same house when her contractions were ten minutes apart with her last child - and they still had hours to go when they reached that birthing center. The problem was that when she woke up shortly after midnight, the contractions were a lot closer together and she was in full blown labor! It became a race against time as they jumped into the van and sped towards the doctor. They made it as far as a little town about 20 miles from Lubbock when Becca told Josh that she didn't think the baby was going to wait, so he pulled over into a truck stop parking lot and folded the seats down in the back.

 

Becca thought with her being able to lay down that they might be able to make it, so Josh hopped back in the driver's seat and headed towards help. They did make it to the birthing center and the team came out to the van and realized that Becca could not even make it inside. So, a few minutes later, Oliver Keith came into this world in the fullness of health and safety!

 

Total time elapsed for an hour and a half drive and the birth of a healthy baby boy was one hour and twenty-seven minutes!

 

It had been raining in that city for a bit, but it paused long enough for the physicians to deliver that baby in the back of a van in their parking lot. Shortly after Mama and Oliver were brought safely inside, the skies opened up and it began to pour! The kids had to leave for home before the streets were too flooded to travel. They made it back to Happy a bit before 6:30 AM, just a little over six hours from when they had departed to have our sweet grandson.

 

Surely, the LORD is good! A stronghold in the day of trouble! And, as it turns out, in the day of great joy!   

Don't Let the Devil's Children Distract God's Children

Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

I John 4:7, KJV

 

The hill country of Texas has recently experienced one of its worst disasters in its history. Over a hundred people, many of them children, have lost their lives. As I write this article, over a hundred more people are still missing. It is a time of incredible grief and suffering. While this event is certainly no less tragic than the other disasters that have taken lives over the years, it hits home for those of us who are near, and for those who have lost loved ones. 

 

I have witnessed a number of wonderful people during this time. People helping people, people praying for people, and people grieving for people they don't even know. Disasters such as this have a way of bringing out the very best in some people. However, they also have a way of bringing out the very worst in others...

 

I have been saddened to see how quick some have been to use this tragic event to go on the attack. People who don't like the fact that this part of the world is more conservative in their outlook have gone so far as to rejoice over the fact that some of their children have died and have not been shy about saying so. Others who sense a political opportunity have jumped in with their opinions on who is to blame (hint - it's the side they didn't vote for). Some have claimed that this is our own fault for not taking their opinion one what is causing climate change as seriously as do they. The list of unattractive behavior goes on and on, and you have likely heard far worse than some of these examples mentioned here.

 

It is sad and even infuriating at times, but we should not be surprised. Satan's children have always been at war with the children of God, and these verbal attacks are nothing new. Don't get me wrong: it is fine to have differing opinions and fair criticisms, and there will be plenty of time to look into these things. But to pour salt on the wounds of those who are grieving is another thing entirely, and the motivation to attack when others are still frantically searching for missing loved ones displays a lack of love.

 

Again, we should not be surprised, but we should be careful. It is times such as this that people's true character is on full display. It should strike us as ironic that those who fight for the right to kill their unborn children would then have the audacity to assign blame to those who are trying to save lives and who certainly wish that they could have been more proactive in making sure a tragedy such as this never happened, but that irony will always be lost on those who are not controlled by the Lord.

 

And God's children should not be quick to get involved with such wicked arguments as are going on right now. We are commanded within Scripture to overlook such offenses, and to not answer fools according to their folly. And, we are also commanded to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

 

Why is that, do you suppose?

 

It's because life is too short to get involved with people who hate righteousness. It is also too short to allow evil people to goad us into fighting with the righteous. When we do, it distracts us from our mission here on earth. We are here to serve God in good times and bad, and part of that service is to help other people. Some are easy to help, for they are already seeking the Lord, but some are more difficult to want to help, for they really don't seem to love God or have any desire to serve Him. This is a tragedy in and of itself, but some of us were like that at one time, and somebody likely had enough love for us to try and rescue us from such worldly behavior.

 

Critics and "trolls" have always existed - we cannot do anything about that. However, we can control our reaction to such childish and wicked behavior, and that is exactly what we need to do if we are ever going to be able to place our full attention on the things that really matter. People we know and love are going through some very difficult times right now and it does them no good for us to get distracted by bad behavior on the other side. The people who are suffering will need our attention. They need our assistance, our compassion and our prayers. These things are too important to be interrupted by taking time to respond to those who are wicked enough and ill-mannered enough to go on the attack.

 

And there is something else: Those who are currently on the side of the devil still have souls. Furthermore, we are commanded to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Of course, that does not mean that we simply stand idle why these misguided people attack the righteous but is does mean that we have enough love for both the wicked and the righteous to pray for both. So, we need to be praying for those who are suffering, but we also need to pray for those who are adding to their grief. After all, if the enemies of God repent, they will no longer be enemies of God or of us. And when you think about it, it is a lot easier to co-exist with those who are servants of God than those who are His enemy.

 

So, beloved, let us love one another! There are people who need our full attention right now and we cannot afford to let that attention be divided. There will be plenty of time in the future to sort out our reconcilable differences, and there may be a time to separate from those with whom we have irreconcilable differences. What we need to do in both cases is love one another. God will take care of everything else.