Will you finish the race?

There have been times over the last 2 weeks when I wondered if I would finish the race. I hope you find the same comfort I do that with God, that all things are possible (Matt 19:26), and as a brother reminded me this morning...his ways are bigger, higher than ours. I can, and should, find him in adversity.

Rom 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God,that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

I really like the last two lines, because they point to the choice God still gives us, to turn and trust Him FOR ALL THINGS and give glory. For some that means crying to Him for help, others lifting hands. Reminded all the time that he who began a good work in you will complete it (Phil 1:6).

Your brother,
Brad

PS. All this reminds me of a a recent post below about our trip to
the Indy 500.
http://da98808.blogspot.com/2008/05/indy-500.html

The Indy 500

Living in Indy for 17 years, I've never gone to the 500. We rode bikes from Bill and DJ's place, a lot of fun. We joked about advertising to all the stopped cars. We even met a WWII vet on his bike (a 50-year guarantee he said).

My main takeaway came after watching about eight or nine cars taken out of the race due to accidents. I imagined the drivers spending their whole life to get to this point, then loosing everything they dreamed about in an instant.

At least three drivers were simple victims of another driver's choice. The reporter asked one driver how he felt about it, his reply was "You can't let this place get you down, you have to be positive, and just come back next year". His choice in that moment seemed better than a couple of others who cried (Sarah Fischer), or jumped out of their car threatening to get physical revenge (Danica).

More than a positive attitude, we believe that our Dad will help us finish the race, even when it seems that the wheels come off and all is lost. The world can't understand and sometimes we can't explain, we just believe based on His indestructible life (Heb 7:16).

Remember, I Forget

John 19:2-3
The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.

Almost anyone who reads this wants to cringe....How could anyone do this to another human, let alone the lamb of God?

They didn't believe. They thought he was the reason for the problem, or an incidental part of reality, instead of the answer. I do that. Looking back over just the past week I have hit those troughs where I've been hurt, ran out of steam, and actually told someone I need to "hit some trash cans". If I stopped to ask why I might have found the answer. But like a friend of mine says, sometime we have to hit bottom before we can bounce back.

Look at the Hebrews, right after plagues that released them from Egypt, they were complaining before the Red Sea, or after the Read Sea, complaining about the manna. Something in me is the same, I forget the miracles, the love, the tenderness that Father has shown. I forget the fullness of fellowship with those who love Him. I forget the beauty and connection from music made for Him.

I forget.

But God does not leave us there. Through pain comes pursuit, and by pursuit he brings brings us back into His pleasure....and fullness.

Heb 12:11, Heb 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

I did have a very happy ending just before I left on a long trip to Chicago. I asked Him for help and I got it...Wisdom, words and a card in the mail from Starbucks that was labeled "An Invitation" to Starbucks for chocolate.

It was the perfect segue, at the perfect time, into a very important conversation with someone I love.

I write these words to remind myself to remember, I forget. You can remind me too. :)

The Right Story in the Battle

I believe in You (The Kry)

years ago
when i said i'll follow You
i didn't know
what it meant to
take my cross and go against the flow
to deny myself
to lose my life to gain it all

since i've learned
life's a battlefield
and i'm a soldier
when marching through
the evil under fire
You remain my shield
in my darkest hour
yes i know life ain't no bed of roses
so as i go i will hold to You again

Today this song played on my IPOD on the drive into work. I thought about the line "Life's a battlefield" and the idea from John Elderidge quote we have focused on in the Band of Brothers ....unless you understand that you are in a battle, you will misunderstand 90% of life.

Today in a training class at work, we talked about "Crucial Conversations", (a topic bigger than one post). The point that struck me most clearly was the progression from facts--->to telling ourself a story (judgement)---> to acting. Often the result is silence or violence, unless both in the conversation feel safe and loved. IF the battle is all about me, I am going to rush to defense and follow my emotions.

If, however, the battle is all about God, then I will not use judgement, but ask questions (of God and the others) to probe how to build common cause. This would lead to more creative options and chances to build trust. The battle is spritual, not flesh and blood.

Could this be the escape from traps of Villian/Victim/Helpless?

Learning From History

Hitler and Churchill, men among the great leaders of their time. They moved millions of people from the center-fold of complacency. They prepared and led their country to victory, and sustained it during defeat. As leaders, both men had learned from History.

Hitler found the power of fear and suspicion as he looked back to the 1st and 2nd Reichs. He studied how to manipulate the masses, using charismatic speech that created enemies from innocents (the Jews, and other people who were different). He learned to divide and conquer, interestingly a British maxim.

Churchill learned too. A insatiable student of history he wrote many books on the subject. In a church history course tonight, I heard he wrote

"The greatest advances in human civilization have come when we recovered what was lost: when we learned the lessons of history"

He also wrote "History is written by the victors."

Reader, if you ever wondered...this is why I blog. Careening through my days, too often I realize that I have ignored my closest companion. Blogging slows me down to ponder the lessons of the days behind. I leak, I forget, and it helps to be reminded in this way that there is a path I am on, a story, and its not about me. Its His story.

Revelation Song

Right after the camping trip (see later post), DJ, Amanda and I met the new Costa Rica Team to share what we learned about expecting God, listening and acting boldly and how we recognized the different gifts in the team. Gifts that keeps giving.

Later we went to visit some friends at Every Nations Church in Carmel Indiana, some of the Costa Rica team. I was reminded of the power and passion of worship in Costa Rica by the night of praise here in Indiana. It was a night when I was reminded of Father's love, running to Him with arms open, like a little child about to be picked up...praise as it was meant to be. A praise of passion that has many forms (see three versions below) but one end...a REAL connection with our Papa Dios.

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father" The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's Children. ...if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. Romans 8:15-17

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!