Frozen Pond

My son surprised me yesterday. It wasn't the good kind of surprise, either, like when someone gives you a gift you weren't expecting. No, he surprised me with something that caused fear to come over me. We went for a walk down to the pond in the park behind our house yesterday, because the pond has frozen over with the very cold temperatures lately. We wanted to go see it and maybe step on the ice a little bit along the edge to see if it would hold our weight. It was a father and son adventure. When we stepped out on the edge of the pond, we could see that it was definitely frozen enough to hold our weight. That's when my son surprised me. Before I could warn him, he fearlessly walked out about 15 ft from the shore on the ice, and said, "I did this yesterday, Dad, I know it can hold me up." That's when the fear came over me. "What, you did this yesterday?" Now, I'm thinking back to yesterday. When did he come down here by himself? Then I remembered. We had asked him to go walk the dog, Buster, down at the park. Now, I knew. He had gone down there when he walked the dog by himself. At that point the "what if" fear began to grip me. "What if" he had broken through the ice and I wasn't around. Without becoming angry, but certainly wanting him to understand how serious I was, I began to instruct him to never do that again. This was something we were to do together, never alone. It reminded me that it is impossible for me to always know what my son is doing at every moment. This is not the first time I've been surprised and it surely won't be the last, but God is never surprised. Just that morning I read these words in Proverbs, "For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths." (4:21) God is never surprised! That is amazing, wonderful, and disconcerting all at the same time. He's never surprised at the good and bad things He sees. And, yet, He is still compassionate towards me. Disappointed sometimes when I want to do things my way, but always lovingly drawing me back to His perfect way. He sees me stepping out on the ice and flirting with danger. He doesn't remove the consequences if I fall through the ice, but He certainly there to dry me off and warm me up; reminding me that His path is always the best and I should never try to do life alone.
Duane

Smells like Garbage

I left my unfinished chicken salad lunch in my classroom that doubles as an office for myself and two other co-workers over the weekend.  Upon entering the room, I was immediately greeted with a smell like the one when you're driving in your car following a garbage truck.  Wow, something had cured over the weekend.  My quick Sherlock Holmes investigation led me to a plastic Safeway bag that encased the smelly culprit... two plastic containers with the remains of Friday's leftovers.  I never realized how much a smell can leak out of a plastic container.  When my co-workers entered the smell zone they immediately questioned with great interest, "What's that smell?"  I don't know why I didn't want to part with those cheap plastic containers.  They must have cost at least a buck at Wally World.  But, I didn't want to throw them away.  I guess I'm too cheap.   So, I tried putting them in an empty filing cabinet.  It didn't work.   The smell was still seeping out and hanging like a dark cloud in the room.  Finally, I put them in the trash can, wrapped them up in the trash bag and threw the whole thing out.  The wonderful smell of rotting food finally left the building.  The smell remained until we had it removed.  I've always kinda felt sorry for those guys who collect my garbage every Friday morning around 6:30 am and have to ride on the back of those trucks.  Do they get used to the smell?  I'm glad those guys do their job.  They probably feel unappreciated.  

You know, I've collected a lot of trash in my lifetime.  Not just literally, but metaphorically also.  You see, there are things in my life that really smell.  Garbage.  I've been jealous.  Jealousy stinks.  I've lied.  Lying reeks.  I've gossiped.  Gossip is foul.  I've made people and things into idols.  Idols have a stench.  I've not loved my neighbor as myself.  Unloving is offensive.  I could go on and on.  Failures.  Regrets.  Shame.  My bag of garbage I carried around was overflowing and it really stunk.  Until... until the Trashman took it all away.  The smell remains until you have the garbage removed.   The Trashman asked me one day, "Can I have your trash?  Will you give it to me?"  Until then, I had no idea how to get rid of the stench.  On the day I decided to give my garbage to the Trashman, he took it all.  He took it all away.  

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  John 1:29

He'll take yours, too.

Duane

Details and Toilet Paper

It was amazing.  What we've been praying for for such a long time finally happened.  God answered our prayers in a mighty way.  The grand opening of Mosaic was pretty cool!  It all went really smooth... except for the toilet paper.  So many details.  I thought I had it all covered.  I had checked my list twice to be sure we had everything covered.  My wife, Mechelle, had even given me a call earlier in the morning while I was taking care of a few other details, to remind me to check the bathrooms for toilet paper.  Everything was done.  The evening began with Mandorla playing music.  It was cool.  I get up to welcome everyone who showed up.  A great crowd.  Then it happened.  I hear a voice from behind me say, "Uh, Duane, there's no toilet paper in the bathroom."  The voice was from Esther, our violinist, a member of Mandorla, and faithful part of Mosaic.  Apparently she knew first hand (no pun intended).  Wow, what an embarrassment. You need toilet paper! Not good.  So, what do I do?  I send Joel on a mission... a mission to track down a roll, real fast.  Well, he wasn't able to find a roll, but he did, with Mechelle's help, find a stack of napkins.  Oh, well.  Sorry, ladies.  I guess we're not a perfect church.  No matter how hard we try, we're not.  And, that's okay.  It just keeps reminding me that we're not, but He is.  I overlook a detail.  He doesn't.  I forget things.  He doesn't (except my sins that He's forgiven). I'm not perfect.  He is.  I'm glad God cares about the details and He never forgets one.  "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26.   There is no detail in my life that He doesn't care about.  Nothing that is insignificant.  6 billion people in the world and He knows how many hairs I have on my head. Wow, what a God!  I have a great God!  

Psalm 150

 ¹ Praise the LORD.  
       Praise God in his sanctuary; 
       praise him in his mighty heavens.

 ² Praise him for his acts of power; 
       praise him for his surpassing greatness.

 ³ Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 
       praise him with the harp and lyre,

 ⁴ praise him with tambourine and dancing, 
       praise him with the strings and flute,

 ⁵ praise him with the clash of cymbals, 
       praise him with resounding cymbals.

 ⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 
       Praise the LORD.

Duane

All Invited

It's finally here!  October 3rd!  Mosaic's Grand Opening! A year and a half ago Mosaic started out as a small group of people in my house.  It since has grown out of my living room (thank the Lord... love to have you at my house, but not all at once!)  Tomorrow's a big day.  Lot's of details to get done, but it will happen, Lord willing.  We are praying for good weather for our cookout at The Stable Restaurant across the street from us, who will be providing burgers, and all the fixin's for everyone who attends.  The free food starts at 5pm, then at 6pm, Mandorla will be playing a mini-concert in our service.  KidMo will be if full swing for the kids at 6pm also.  After the service we will have desserts for everyone to enjoy.  So, if you're in the neighborhood, stop by and celebrate with us or check us out.  Love to see you.

Duane 

Actions

At my other job, I often encounter students who make great claims, but the reality is, their actions do not confirm their statements.  One might say, "I will do such and such" or "I'm gonna stop doing this or that," but, then turn right around and do "such and such" or continue right on doing "this or that," when you step out of the room.  I asked a student the other day, "You said you were going to do 'this', but what are you really going to do?"  How many times does this describe our lives?  Our actions don't support our words.  You might say, "Well, I believe I'm a person of good character and I really try to live out what I say I believe."  But do we really?  I believe that most of the things we say we believe, we do back them up by our actions.  But, then there are those beliefs where we really drop the ball.  Our actions really come up short of our beliefs. For instance, I was thinking this week of the reality of Hell.  For most Christians, this is a core belief. We believe there really is a Hell, because Jesus said there is a Hell, and the New Testament writers confirm this truth.  Even though it is sometimes hard to comprehend, most Christians believe that there really is a place where all those who reject God and His salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, will spend eternity, separated from God in a place of eternal fire and torment.  Most Christ-followers believe this.  I believe in this reality. But, this is where I sometimes drop the ball with my actions.  For if I believe in this truth of a real Hell, then I would never want anyone to go there.  So, why do I seem so nonchalant, so careless when it comes to warning those I love and care about.  Why do spend so much time praying for my own personal needs, instead of praying for them to come to faith in Christ?  

Lord, thanks for being a forgiving God.  I agree with you that I have many times failed to confirm my belief with action. By your grace and through your Spirit living in me, help me to warn them, pray for them, invite them to come and hear the good news that You experienced Hell so they would not have to.

Duane

NotReligion - Home

NotReligion - Home

Shared via AddThis

King of the Mountain

Yesterday I ventured up 522 to Sperryville, VA, where I caught 211 and made my way up to Thorton Gap. There I got in line to show my annual pass to the national park service person. Before leaving on this adventure, I asked my traveling companion if he had ever been up to Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Mountains, and he said "no." This was a complete surprise since this person had lived in Virginia his whole life and could see the mountains from just about anywhere in Culpeper. He had seen them from a distance, but had never been there and experienced their beauty. So, when we made the turn on to Skyline Drive, I knew my traveling companion would be in awe. I was not disappointed. As we pulled off the roadway onto one of the many overlooks he said, "This is really beautiful." I agreed with him and said, "Let's get out and take this all in." As we stood there on top of the Blue Ridge Mountains looking out towards the west we were speechless as we attempted to comprehend all that our eyes were seeing. We were at one of the highest points on Skyline Drive and down below was the great Shenandoah Valley. Houses and barns looked like you could reach out and pick them up with your fingers. Automobiles appeared as ants. At 3500 ft we watched hawks glide on invisible wind currents below us in search of prey. We were both just standing there in quiet wonder when my travelling companion broke the silence with, "I would like to have a house right here!" I was again surprised, but this time at his reaction and thoughts upon experiencing the beauty of the mountains. I responded with, "Yes, and you could be sorta like... king of the mountain." Then my friend made this statement, which caught me off guard. He said matter-of-factly, "I AM king of the mountain." We both kinda laughed then got back in the car and drove to another overlook not far down the road. I thought about that statement later..."I am king of the mountain." Sometimes I feel like that. And sometimes I believe I am king of the mountain...at least king of my mountain. Sometimes I do try to be king. Sometimes I act like I am king. That is...until my mountain begins to crumble underneath my feet. It's then that I am ready for someone else to be king. Sometimes I try to take the place of the one who is king. I say things like, "I've got this" or "I've got it under control" or "I can handle this." But, when my mountain starts to crumble it reminds me that I really don't have this under control and I can't really handle this on my own. I need someone else to be king...someone who can handle all this...someone who really is king of the mountain.

God, be king of my mountain. Take your rightful place. Let me not even entertain the thought that somehow I can be king. For you alone are worthy and able to truly be king of the mountain.
Duane