A Fertile Imagination!

I have always had a fertile imagination!  I would think that this is probably why I love to write.  When we took our placement tests for Junior College, I was immediately placed in English 1A and did not have to take any prerequisites to the class that was required for graduation.  And as you’d most likely guess, I enrolled in the one class that was mainly designed for people who loved to write… and write we did, all semester long!  It was a great class! 

After a six-year hiatus from college, I returned to school and attended what is considered to be a very liberal school at Sonoma State University (hey… it was close to home and we had a baby on the way!).  Once enrolled I was able to hone and expand my literary skills by writing numerous research papers for my adolescent and family psychology classes that centered around my (not very popular… I might add) beliefs on the Christian family as an alternative lifestyle!  After two years at that school with many written and oral discussions (some times a bit heated…) I graduated from college with a 4.0 and a firmer commitment to my faith than I had ever had up to that point in my life! 

I think the greatest perk of being an Assistant to six different Pastors over the thirty plus years of ministry, is that I was able to employ my writing skills and allow my IMAGINATION to soar through the countless youth and children’s programs I wrote for weekly classes, retreats, special programs, puppet skits, all church events and outreaches in the city.

Piper and I always enjoyed going to youth and childrens leader’s conferences, curriculum fairs and special events where we would pick up reams of books, papers, tapes, CD’s and DVD’s of programs from which we could pull information and then customize it or re-create it to fit the specific and unique needs of the individuals and/or community to whom we ministered to.

But in order to make it work, I discovered early on that I had to develop and gain a good working knowledge, along with a personal understanding and the trust of the group that I was unleashing my IMAGINATION on!  Without that personal understanding and knowledge of and trust from the group, my imaginative programs might have actually ended up doing more harm to the group than good.

Philippians 4:7 tells us of the results of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who refuse to give into the temptation of worry and wholly yield themselves to Papa God and the truth of His Word in the midst of all the various situations in their lives.  Here Paul writes, “Then God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.” (God’s Word ©) 

Thayer’s Greek Definitions describes the word “imagine” or “understanding” as used in the King James Version, as “the mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining.”  Our IMAGINATIONS can be a very wonderful and enriching part of the experience of our lives… but it can also be a very destructive force as well! 

Over the years, and especially the last ten or so, I’ve come to learn that the positive or negative influences of our IMAGINATIONS in and over our lives, all depends upon the source from which one allows their imagination to flow from.

For me it has become very simple.  It is either one way or another… I really don’t think that there is any gray area in this decision.  I can choose to hook up my imagination to falsity and fear or to the truth of God and His Word.  Piper and I have personally experienced the results of fear-based accusations that arose from a trust in false information and it was like nothing that I’ve had to endure in the past.  I now find myself having to make daily decisions that force me to differentiate between what I see before my eyes verses what I believe to be the contrary truth that I find in the Word of God. 

Where do I hook up that fertile imagination of mine?  Do I let it run wild with the fear of death that is facing me on an ever-increasing measure each day or allow it to flow unfettered as it explores the peaceful, expectant and joy-filled love of the promises of God that I don’t YET see before me?

Well, like Joshua in the Old Testament, I choose the truth of His life… for Piper and I made the decision a long time ago to serve the Lord and the ultimate truth in His Word. And on the other hand, not to trust the falsity of the world that does its best in attempting to feed our thoughts with worry, anxiety and any other lies that we’ll agree to!  (See Joshua 24:14-16)  The Voice translation of the Bible puts this thought into modern vernacular by simply encouraging us to “Entertain no worry…” (Philippians 4:6)

What do you think?  To What or to Whom is your IMAGINATION hooked up to?

Have a great week!  And as you do, keep asking yourself… What am I expecting to IMAGINE today??

Adventures in Faith!

I was looking at a couple of pictures of my wife earlier today and I realized that they were taken exactly ten years apart!  Both portraits were taken at her parent’s house, one outside on their old deck, the other in front of their book shelf/desk area in the living room.  In the first picture Piper was nineteen and in the second, twenty-nine.  As a teen she was sitting on the edge of the deck on a cold winter day wearing a heavy long sleeve wool sweater… over her bathing suit!  Ten years later she is holding our second child in her arms and is sporting her soon-to-become signature long sleeve cotton shirt and green dress slacks.

In the younger picture, we had been dating for almost three years and she is wearing my high school ring on her left hand and has a locket that I had given to her hanging from her neck that contained pictures of the two of us.  In her older version she is wearing a diamond with a white gold set on that same left hand and I’m not sure if she is wearing the locket under her shirt or not… but as of today… she is still wearing the same wedding set and the locket is safe and secure in one of her two jewelry boxes on her dresser!

Looking at the two pictures* taken some ten years apart caused me to go down memory lane thinking about many of the varied experiences we had together during that ten-year span, as well as those over the thirty-five years since the later picture was taken.  Many of our experiences were just plain fun times, while some were, as we’ve come to call them, “Adventures in Faith.” 

There were some financial struggles along the way, the ups and down of family life with four kids being homeschooled, ministry highlights and challenges, a great multiplicity of wonderful experiences with the kids in the Redwood Forests of northern California or the mountain tops in the eastern Sierras near the Nevada border, and the super-special two-night holidays with my sweetie at lodges along the California coast.

I was telling two of our kids who are both on vacation at this time, that I have so many fond memories of our family vacations together… and that I was a little bit jealous of their being on camping adventures with their families!  I also mentioned that one of my favorite times while camping was quietly sneaking out of the tent… without tripping over someone’s sleeping bag… firing up the camp stove and perking coffee, while sitting alone in the campground with my Bible before most people in the campground had begun to stir for the day!

I wonder if that is what the writer of Hebrews had in mind when he wrote about the people in chapter six verse five that had “experienced the goodness of God's word and the powers of the world to come?” (God's Word ©)  Who knows… the writer himself might have been sitting in front of a campfire somewhere in Israel with pen… or quill… in hand when this book was written!

The word “goodness” in the original Greek gives the image of something that is “heartfelt, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable and admirable.”  It describes something that is “excellent in its nature and characteristics and therefore well adapted to its ends.” (Thayer’s)  That’s a lot of good qualities isn’t it! 

Think about that for a moment.  Every time you study the Word of God and take the time for it to speak to your heart in a special and personal way… and then take steps of faith based on that scripture, you are putting all those wonderful characteristics to work on and into the midst of your particular situation.  You are letting go and letting God take control!  And that is exactly when “God's peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 God's Word ©)

As I looked at those two pictures of my lovely wife earlier today, I also began to consider the chronology of our walk of faith from one of our first faith projects with the purchase of a 1977 Datsun 280Z, to quitting Sears to go full-time with my photography business, apartment managing and Youth Ministry, to having kids, to buying our first home… and the list goes on and on! 

It's fun to see how our faith has grown over the years from those early days taking portraits of my girlfriend for school projects in the early seventies, to pictures with our kids and lately, with moves all over the country!  I find that as my knowledge of God and His Word increases, so do the “faith adventures” that Piper and I embark on!  I like having Him in the middle of my world!  How about you?

Have a wonderful weekend, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “Am I expecting my ‘faith adventures’ to grow in quantity and quality… in pace with my personal interactions with God and His Word?”

*Both of the pictures are posted with a bunch of others on our blog page.  Take a peek!  pjberruto.blogspot.com/

Oh... That Tastes Good!

One of the things that I have enjoyed since we’ve been out here in the southeast, is watching the local weekly TV programs that explore the South’s treasures and traditions.  I figured that if we were going to make our home out here, that we should taste of and have a knowledgeable appreciation of Southern Living.  This area of the USA is rich in history, southern culture and hospitality and can boast of some the most beautiful and varied landscapes in the country.

I quickly picked up in viewing these shows that true southerners are proud of their history and their traditions.  And while some parts of their history may contain blights on the human struggle, it is not something that they have tried to hide or erase from historical memory.  If anything, they have embraced it and allowed the lessons learned to make their society as a whole and them as individuals, stronger and more appreciative of the various races, religions and cultures that make our country unique.

In all of these programs there is always a segment that shows off particular restaurants and their contributions to the unique cuisines of the south.  There is one particular food critic whose descriptions and experiences of the foods he is sampling always brings a smile to my face.  He is an older gentleman who as I’m finding out, has a longtime and well-known presence within the culinary circles of North Carolina.  

He has a homespun air about him but yet has the ability to draw the viewer right into the scene with him!  His descriptions of the food and its presentation on the plate always tends to get my mouth watering.  But its his actual tasting of the food that causes me to chuckle!  When he scoops up the food on his fork, I’ll turn to Piper and say, “Watch this… here it comes…” and Bob will take a bite, chew for a moment and then say “Oh! Hummmmmm…. Oh… now that is delicious!”  Then he’ll break down the various flavors and textures that his taste buds are experiencing with each chew!  The contented grin on his face causes me to believe that he is being truly honest about what he is tasting.

You know?  I would love to see some time, when the host of the show takes a bite into the scrumptious looking meal before him or her and says, “YUK!  Oh, that’s really awful!”  Wouldn’t you?  It probably wouldn’t make the chef or restaurant owner happy though!  It would also reduce the TV audiences desire to jump in the car and drive to the restaurant in order to taste their meals!

I realized this morning that the writer of the book of Hebrews was also interested our taste buds.  The only difference is that he (or she?) isn’t talking about tasting food but about tasting life!  In discussing Christians who have slipped away from the Word of God, Hebrews 6:5 declares that at one time they had “tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come.”  In other words, they have been to God’s kingdom restaurant and tasted the delicious and powerful words on His menu, but then decided to walk away and frequent the fast food establishment down the street instead!

I would liken this life lesson to the comparison between the chuck steaks that our budget only allowed Piper and I to prepare for our family’s consumption years back, to the thick cut Angus Rib Eyes that we are able to purchase today.  There is NO comparison and I, unlike those spoken of in Hebrews, am NOT going back to an inexpensive but tough steak… or to the easy but tough way of living my life!

I had a choice to make last night after helping my sweet wife with dinner.  She wasn’t able to consume much and I was fighting discouragement and despair when I went into the dining room where she couldn’t see me and fell to my knees before the Lord.  Everything inside of me wanted to SCREAM and give up the fight that we’ve been involved with for many years now.

At that moment in time I had a pivotal decision to make… Which flavor and texture did I want to taste?  Defeat and failure, or the Zoë, absolute fulness of life of God that He promises in His Word?  I’ve tasted both flavors before and at that particular moment, with everything that I was physically and emotionally feeling at the time, giving up seemed a lot more palatable!  But then I remembered the delicious fragrances and textures of God and His Word that I have tasted throughout our past.  And the more I dwelled on it, the more I was reminded of the difference in taste between the liver and onions that my Mom used to try and force on me and one of those thick cut Rib Eye steaks.  So, once again, God’s menu won out!

I too have “tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come” and it is a fresh and strong enough memory that quickly causes my spiritual appetite to come alive with anticipation of the taste of His VICTORY!

How about you?  What do you want to TASTE today?

Have a great rest of the week, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting to TASTE today?”

When… There’s a Whole Lot of Shaking going on!

I was jarred and shaken awake this morning around 3:30 when my phone, placed on the bed stand about a foot from my head, began to vibrate and sound off a loud alarm letting me know that there was an extreme weather warning.  It doesn’t seem to matter how low I set the volume on the phone before I go to bed as the emergency weather alert always seems to broadcast at full volume!

So, in my groggy state of mind, I grabbed the phone and attempted to turn down the volume so not as to wake up my slumbering wife.  When that didn’t work I reached across the bed stand and fumbled around until I found my glasses so I could read the message on the phone and see what catastrophic event was so important as to awaken me from a hard-to-get-into deep sleep. 

Well… I was able to get the glasses on without poking myself in the eye and with a sigh read: “Flash Flood Warning!”  We had been experiencing some thunderstorms throughout the night and at times I could hear the rain beating down on the roof.  But while there are some lowlands and flood zones in our county, our neighborhood is not located in one of them!

Before we bought our house, I went on line and checked out the flood zones in the areas around our house to make sure that our property was situated on high ground.  So, at 3:30 this morning I was a little annoyed at the alarming alert which didn’t affect us!  But after I calmed down and snuggled back up under the covers, I was happy that technology allows us to have such emergency alerts that can save lives in the middle of the night!

Last night’s adventure though, got me to thinking about how much my life in general has been shaken up by the attack on my wife’s health.  And while it was not a sudden alarm that went off and rapidly changed the landscape of our future, it has been a slow but deliberate breakdown of every plan, vision and dream of our tomorrows together.  Now I find that I am at a new place in my life… one in which I have never ventured before!  For the first time since we have been together, I have no clear vision or dream for Piper and I except… for what the Word of God promises us!

I was reading during my Bible Study time today from a new commentary on the book of Hebrews, that “God wants His people to have their feet on the solid foundation of faith.”*  It was stated that the word “established” is used eight times in this book of the new Testament.  To be “established” means to be “solidly grounded, to stand firm on your feet and carries the idea of strength, reliability, confirmation and permanence.”*

The author of the commentary felt that while studying the book of Hebrews that the students of the Word will ask themselves the simple question: “What am I really trusting?  Am I trusting the Word of God, or am I trusting the things of this world that are shaking and ready to fall away?”**

As I have mentioned in many prior blog posts, I can clearly see now, how the good Lord had it all planned for us to attend Bible College exactly when we did, so that we could face the trials and tribulations ahead with a firm foundation of God’s Word and His Love under us.  Hebrews 12:8 encourages all in this regard by declaring, “Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander.” (The Message Bible) 

After everything Piper and I have been through over these last ten years, I can’t help but mirror what the commentary writer states as the key to the book of Hebrews being that “You can be secure while everything around you is falling apart.”*

I have to say that over these last ten years, that we have been though a whole bunch more shaking in quantity and severity as we’ve responded to all the various physical changes and stages of this disease as-well-as-with the interpersonal interactions with others while on this journey with Piper’s health, than in 50+ years of living in earthquake country while in California!

And through it all, I am sooooo thankful for the firm foundation of Papa God and His infallible Word of grace, love and power that has held us steady during the biggest time of shaking that we’ve ever encountered!  Where do you stand on this?  Will His Word keep you steady when your world shakes?

Have a good week, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “Who or What am I expecting to keep me steady when my world is shaking?”

*Be Confident (Hebrews): Live by Faith, Not by Sight,  Warren W. Wiersbe pg 311 – Kindle Version

** Ibid, pg 310

Out-of-Whack!

I was talking with our youngest daughter late yesterday afternoon and amongst the variety of subjects we discussed, she mentioned how her Mom seemed to have the knack of being able to be right in the middle of 3 or 4 different activities that were all going on at the same time and to do so with complete peace and control, accompanied with a joyful countenance and a big smile.  

Whether it was during homeschool with different age-specific lessons being taught to the four kids, with a group of neighborhood kids playing in our house, ministering to a group of children or youth at church, or at an extended family gathering, she could multi-task with the best of them!  If things ever got out-of-whack, or a little heated, she had the ability to turn it into a funny situation with all sides laughing… in spite of themselves.

Her aura emitted a quiet confidence and most people immediately felt at home with her.  She was definitely not a bragger, but just went about her daily life with the joy-filled revelation that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:13 MKJV)  I can hardly remember a time in our 48 years together where she baulked at agreeing to try some new (sometimes fairly outrageous), faith-led adventure with me.  Philippians 4:13 was just a part of who she was!

The Message Bible best sums up the interaction between this verse and my wife as it states: “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”  If there was ever someone who “knew” the Word and blended it into every aspect of her life, it was Piper!

I’ve come to see that Piper’s intimate knowing of the Word is exactly what Proverbs 3:6 talks about.  Here the writer is completing his thought from the previous verse by declaring, “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth.” (God’s Word ©)  The definition of the word “acknowledge” is where the parallel to my wife’s experience comes in.  In the Greek translation that word is a derivative of the word “ginosko” which describes a very intimate, personal and close relationship.  To me, the author is telling us to take the time to develop an intimate knowledge of God’s will and/or direction for each and every situation we face in life.

Before I quit my position at The Home Depot back in 2010, in order to stay home and care for my wife, Piper and I spent a few months in prayer seeking God’s guidance for this event.  Even though we had stepped out in faith for finances throughout the years of our marriage, we realized that we needed to have a fresh revelation and plan from God for this particular step at this particular time in our lives.  

When the day finally came for me to walk out of the door of that store, with my final paycheck in hand, we had prayed it through, had our foundation scriptures solidly encased in our heads and hearts, had set a plan in motion and were fully focused on God and His Word… no matter what our (or other’s) sense knowledge tried to tell us.  We were assured that if we stayed on the path that He had set for us, that we would be fine… and we were! 

As I look back at that time, I am amazed to see how many different things fell into place in the following couple of years.  Sure, we had a few thin times and a fair amount of discouraging comments that came our way, but we were too focused and locked in on God and His Word to yield to any other so called “counsel!”

I firmly believe that this is a good example of how God desires us to “acknowledge” Him in everything we do.  Its being confident and sure that you know and will continue to follow His directions, even when things might get a little out-of-whack!  What do you think about that?  Do you have any personal experiences that you’d like to share?  Feel free to share them in the comments section below or if you’re reading this on Facebook, to share it there.

Have a great weekend, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “Am I expecting to really ‘know’ God’s will and directions for each situation in my life?”

Role-Playing!

I have never enjoyed role-playing.  It is kind of funny that one of my first remembrances of going to Piper’s Church Youth Group with her soon after we began dating entailed a role-playing session.  I was the new kid in the group, so guess who got picked to go first… Yep!  It was me!  Let me tell you… I was NOT too thrilled about it but… I was so captivated by my sweet cheery girlfriend that I was not about to let anyone know how I REALLY felt about the activity.  Ah…  The things we do for love!

Later in life when I worked in management for Hewlett Packard and their spin-off company Agilent Technologies, I regularly attended management training classes and seminars in which role-playing was a common training technique employed in the sessions.  There wasn’t too much that I could do about it, so I put on a fake smile and put myself through the ordeal hoping that I wouldn’t make too much of a fool of myself in front of my peers.

Over the last ten years as Piper and I have lived through the daily adventures of the disease that has attacked her body, I have become extra aware of how people regularly use role-playing to get through the various situations in their lives… especially the uncomfortable ones!  This new-found awareness started after Bible College when I began to look into the mirror and question how strong my faith really was.  Was it all talk, or was there some true love and personal understanding of God and His Word working in our lives?

I noticed in my attempts to be brutally honest with myself, that there were many situations when ministering to parishioners in the local church when I would automatically flow into the role-playing position of Pastor when assisting them with the tough times in their lives.  I could easily switch it on, say and do all the right things and then, most times, walk away without having to get too deeply involved in their situations.

Now that’s not to say that I didn’t have a deep Christian love and concern for the folks in our church and that my words, thoughts and actions didn’t have a positive effect on them, but… as I examined myself, I could see that it was just kind of a well-learned and practiced routine that I just sort of flowed into without much thought. 

Now that I was suddenly thrust on the other side of the equation and found myself in need of love, concern and assistance from others, I quickly became sensitive to those who were sincere and those who were, in essence, playing a role.  It is something that I see almost every day.  In the store there are those who will pass us by as I do my best to navigate Piper’s wheelchair in front of me and the shopping cart behind me around the corners and narrow aisles, and they’ll say “hello” and/or give me a warm smile.  There are the one’s who immediately turn their eyes and conveniently look the other when we pass and if I should accidently bump their cart (or worse, knock them in the side as we attempt to pass…), they’ll put on a nervous smile and quickly start moving away from us.  And then there are the one’s who are real and will stop and greet us and start a conversation. 

Last week while at Walmart we passed a young couple (older youth or young adults) on numerous occasions throughout the aisles of the food market.  At each passing I gave them a smile and a few times made a nice comment to them and they would respond in kind.  I didn’t think too much about it until we were back out at the car in the parking lot and I was about to lift Piper into the car, when another vehicle pulled up behind us with that same young couple in the car.  The girl was driving and stuck her head out the window and asked if we needed any help!  Their response of love really touched my heart!  To me, that wasn’t role-playing or just the acting out of a rote response, it was an interaction of the heart.

I found it interesting when I discovered that Proverbs 3:5-6 also talks about role-playing in our lives.  This portion of scripture encourages us to “Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth.” (God’s Word ©)  In the original Hebrew, the definitions of the word “understanding” include the ideas of, “discernment, an act, or personification.”

As you can imagine, it was the thought of performing “an act” that caught my attention.  In reference to its usage in this application, I would imagine that the writer is talking about performing an “act” that is derived by one’s own understanding of the particular situation at hand.  Its like automatically going into a rehearsed role-playing mode when faced with the various situations of life… like I discovered myself doing in the past and see people around me doing when faced with Piper’s and my situation.

Yesterday we met the new nurse on Piper’s Hospice team.  We spent quite awhile together as she examined Piper and we got to know each other.  As I was telling her “Piper’s story” and about her normal vivacious, out-going personality I turned and pointed to all the framed pictures I have up on the wall that display images of Piper and I and the kids during various events in our lives.  Stefanie looked over the pictures and then focused in on one in particular and after a moment asked, “Is that her too?”  I commented that is was and told her a little history of the particular photo to which she declared with a gush, “She’s really beautiful!”

Well, that remark made me reach for the tissues!  Later in our discussions she became over-whelmed with emotion over something I was telling her about Piper and I almost had to get her some tissues too!  Let me tell you, those kinds of actions are from the heart and not just the reaction of a role-playing mode!  And like I stated, they really blessed and uplifted me.

That’s the same kind of responses that I want to input into people’s lives!  I don’t want my insecurities, my pride, or the confines of my personal comfort zone to interfere with any opportunity that may arise where I could possibly be a blessing to someone else.  How about you?  After these last ten years, I don’t ever want to fall back into an impersonal role-playing mode when people’s hearts and emotions are on the line.

Let me warn you though, setting aside the role-playing mode isn’t always easy!  It takes some premeditated thought and courage to step out into the unknown!  My old favorite verse in Joshua 1:9 has come to my aid at many times when I’ve faced these situations. It is always like a shot of adrenaline when I remember that Papa God has commanded me to “Be strong and courageous! Don't tremble or be terrified, because the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (God’s Word ©)

He’s with us… He’s got our back!  So, what have we got to be afraid of?

Have a great rest of the week, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “How am I expecting to stay out of the role-playing mode when ministering to other’s today?”

Party Time!

Yesterday was an active day in our neighborhood… at least down by our corner of the block!  Most of the homes in our neighborhood do not have fences so there is not much privacy when folks are out and about in their yards.  Our lot is fenced and situated at the end of the road in such a place that we border a forested commons area on one side with a thick forest behind us.  Our neighbor’s lot to the east of us is separated by a four-foot picket fence, and while it helps to keep the dog in our yard, our sightline is still open to views of the back yards all the way down the road.

Our immediate neighbors are usually very quiet and private folks.  They are of Hispanic descent and tend to stay to themselves, although I have spoken to the wife on a few occasions and once to the husband who does not speak much English.  Once or twice a year they will host a gathering in their backyard that seems to consist of family and friends.  They enjoy their music and will sit around the fire pit or on the deck and talk late into the night.  I knew something was up when I took the dog out for the night one day last week and the big box they had resting against their deck suddenly had turned into an above-ground swimming pool.

Well, the party began early yesterday afternoon.  When Piper and I took the dog out for his first run of the day in our yard, he was immediately drawn to the sound of many voices and then caught a glimpse of the neighbor’s little white dog.  Fiver ran up and down the fence line on our side, while their dog ran up and down on their side… both loudly barking and marking their territories!

I couldn’t help but laugh along with our neighbors at the sight.  After a few moments their daughter scooped up their dog and brought him or her inside.  I let Fiver take care of his business and then we all retreated back into the house.  Meanwhile the neighbor's across the street from us had a rather large inflatable set up in their corner yard and within a short period of time their driveway and the street in front of their house was filled with cars while a crowd of kids and parents surrounded the play structure.

They weren’t really loud and by no means obnoxious, but it definitely was more noise than our quiet block usually reflects and Fiver was on high alert and wanting to go out front and check it out.  I actually enjoyed seeing the kids playing out front.  I like it when there is life in the neighborhood!

When Piper and I went out around five to water the garden, the party next door was in full swing.  I didn’t see their dog so I let Fiver out and within a few blinks of an eye not just the neighbor’s dog appeared from the other side of the pool but two or three little brown ones as well!  So… Fiver and the other dogs were all barking and everyone was staring at me and laughing!

Fiver was definitely excited but is also fairly obedient and when I told him to sit (a couple of times…) he sat still… quivering all over, but still and I grabbed him by the collar and directed him back into the house!  After I finished watering the veggies and the new hydrangeas near the garage, I put Fiver on a leash and walked him to the opposite side of our backyard where he did his thing and all were happy!

I was thinking about all that this morning and reflecting on the fact that I had a decision to make at that time that would entail two different outcomes.  One was to give way to the slight annoyance that I was feeling with our daily routine being broken with all the competing noises coming from next door.  You know, it is a lot easier to just let the dog run free throughout the backyard, chase the ball when I toss it and be free to enjoy the quiet solitude of our yard while I garden, enjoy the scenery or simply talk to my wife.

With the dog being totally distracted my regular routine was not going to happen!  So, what do I do… get angry… ask the neighbors to get it together for their once or twice a year family gathering or simply relax, realizing that it doesn’t happen all the time and that I wanted to take it easy yesterday anyway.  I needed a rest from working on the landscaping project I started the day before.

Well… I chose the later of the two decisions!  Piper and I jumped into the car and took a leisurely Sunday drive down the meandering two lane county road, through the beautiful countryside thriving with the vivid green fields of soybeans and tobacco to the small old downtown area of Lillington.  I was telling my cousin in California later in the day that it felt like we took a step back in time.  She had made a comment about our area being like the homes and countryside in the old movie classic Gone with the Wind.  I replied that we had in fact, passed a few houses that closely resemble the home in that movie… albeit “mini” versions!

The party across the street ended around six in the evening, but the one next door was still going on when I took Fiver out at ten to take care of his before bed needs.  It was actually kind of funny with a bunch of grown-ups in the pool shouting: “Marco… Polo!”

I am thankful for the great insulation in our house because we never heard the noise from the outside inside our home!  But you know, it wouldn’t have mattered if we did.  I didn’t know all the facts for the gathering next door, but I could see that they were having a great time and I didn’t want to put any kind of a negative shadow over their event.

Proverbs 3:5 in the Good News Bible tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Never rely on what you think you know.”  This translation says a lot to me as I’ve been on the other end of tirades where I was accused of things that the perpetrators “thought” they knew about me or our situation… while in reality, were totally wrong!  Since those times I personally tend to go overboard in researching the facts before I say or do anything when it comes to somebody else’s situation.

Sure, I was tempted to get riled up with the noise invading my private space and having to deal with our 67lb dog who was noisily reacting to the situation.  But I simply chose not to!  I probably could have leaned over the fence and talked to them to find out what was going on and then asked them for a little temperance, but I decided that their enjoyment of family and friends was more important than my sticking my nose where it probably didn’t belong in the first place.

So, I’m still friends with my neighbors, we watch over each other’s homes and we lovingly put up with each other when we do things differently than the way the other one would do it… I’m sure that there is some important Christian message in that statement!

But, for me it is all about being a blessing to others… and not try to reprove or improve someone’s life as I may think that my way is better than theirs!  What do you think?

Have a good week, and as you do, keep asking yourself… “How am I expecting to love others… who may do things differently than I do, today?”

I'm Not Dull... am I?

I was thinking the other day that I am a very visual person.  I like to observe people, events and most anything that comes across my path in the course of a day!  I noticed that when my wife is having an exceptionally rough day with her health, that I will many times pause in the midst of her care and take a few moments to examine some of the many pictures that I have hung on the walls of our home that capture her essence from the early days of our relationship well into the 2000’s.  A few moments with those images of a healthy, confident, spunky and loving Piper always helps to encourage me, set me back on track and renew my commitment before God to always be there for her.

Another thing that I’ve noticed is that I do the same thing with God’s Word throughout each and every day.  Over the years I have memorized a lot of scriptures but just reciting those verses from rote isn’t the same as sitting down with my Bible and reading the inked words on the pages of His written testament.  Come to think of it, I have a Bible in almost every room in our house! 

There are three next to my bed stand, one in the bathroom, two or three in the dining room, usually at least one on the coffee table in the living room and a whole bunch on the bookshelves and desk in the study.  Then there is always my Bible Study program on my laptop that is opened up throughout the day and the thirty-two translations that I’ve downloaded onto it, and of course my phone and its variety of Bible translations!

So yeah… looking at my actual Bible and the powerful, life-giving and encouraging words of God that are held within its pages works the same to me as those pictures of my wife!  Sometimes I’ll stop at the entrance to our kitchen and just stare at one particular picture of Piper hanging in the dining room that I took during one of our many two-night holidays alone on the northern California coast.  While observing the picture I will look deeply at every feature of her face and just absorb every bit of her countenance.  It’s almost like I’ve got to spend a moment or two with the healthy Piper I expect to see again.

And you know?  I’ll do the same thing throughout the day with many glimpses into God’s Word.  I don’t just peruse it or casually look up a favorite verse, but I’ll take the time to study small portions and try to absorb each and every feature of it that the Holy Spirit directs my attention to.  When I walk away from those times in the Word, I sense that I have received a boost of His spirit and His life. (See: John 6:63)

In the book of Acts chapter 28, verse 27, Paul relates a statement from the Prophet Isaiah to the Jewish people in Old Testament times and references its meaning to the church in current days who could lose their affection for the things of God.  Of this potential situation he says, “for the hearts of this people has become dull…” (EMTV)

That statement really rang in my inner man as I read it this morning.  That is something that I do not desire and CANNOT afford to happen in my life!  How do you feel about that?  My time in the Word of God each day is a major priority in my daily schedule.  His Word continues to excite me, to guide me, and to encourage and strengthen me.

To me, someone whose heart has become dull is one who is simply out of touch with the things of God… and most likely also with the things happening in their own lives as well.  That to me would be a very scary position to be in!

So, stay in touch with God on a regular basis throughout your day.  Be visual with Him and spend time physically reading and studying His Word of life.  With today’s technologies, it is pretty easy to always have a copy of His precious Word with you.  I would hate to have God tell me that I’ve become dull of heart… wouldn’t you too?

Have a good rest of the week.  Stay close to Him through His Word, and keep asking yourself… “How am I expecting to stay sharp and alert to the things of God today?”

Where is It?

The last couple of mornings have been very difficult for me as my wife has hardly been eating anything.  With the attack of Alzheimer’s on her body over these last twelve or so years, she has been slowly losing many of her intellectual and physical capabilities.  From the early beginnings when I began to notice some small but subtle changes in her physical appearance and then having a difficult time finding that “right word” in order to complete her thoughts, it was increasingly apparent that something was going on with her although at that time most attributed it to the onset of menopause.

Piper had a complete and thorough physical in the summer of 2006, just before we left for Oklahoma and Bible School, and even with that, the doctor reported her to be in great health and sound physical condition.  About a year later things began to get more pronounced and we started off the investigation in earnest with multiple brain scans and other tests with a variety of specialists.  The changes came at a rapid pace once we returned home to California in 2009 and the deterioration of her well-being progressed from a seemingly innocent stumble in the hallway to the point today where she can no longer carry her own weight and requires 24-hour care for all of her needs.

One would think that I would be acclimated to changes in her by this point!  But as you can expect, each and every change has been very difficult for me to witness.  The swallowing yesterday and today caused me to step back and look deep inside to see where my faith really stood.  On both days I found myself at the completion of her breakfast, sitting on the floor in the hallway in prayer to the Lord.

At times like these it is easy to question your beliefs, and I must admit that there were a great multiplicity of questions going through my mind.  But as I finally quieted down those voices in my head, I recalled John 6:63 where Jesus said that His words are "spirit and life" (KJV) and I began to ask myself if I REALLY believe all those healing scriptures that I’ve been pumping into Piper and I for years now.  I needed to know if His Word was only in my head… or is it firmly planted within my heart?

Well, with a quick shake of my head and a rub to my eyes, I reaffirmed my belief in God’s Word as well as to my commitment to Him and to Piper that I would NEVER give up!  So, with a steading arm on the dog standing next to me (it’s nice to have a big dog!), I pushed myself up to my feet and walked back into the dining room, praising the Lord and thanking Him for His Word that is working inside my wife and perfecting a healing and a cure in her.

I think it is times like my experience this morning when you really learn if your faith has gone beyond the realm of “Mental Assent” and is a faith that actively “ACTS” on the Word… whether you see the end result of your faith or not!  I read a good explanation of “Mental Assent” the other day that stated:

“With mental assent you believe something in your head, you approve it and confirm it is right, proper and godly.  It carries your endorsement without qualm.  You may not speak of it, but it carries your seal of approval.  However, the problem is that you don’t realize that you are not fulfilling it.  You think it, but you don’t actually do it.  Why?  Because you believe it in your head, not in your heart: Mental Assent.  If you truly believed it in your heart, you would put it into practice.  You only believe God’s Word as far as you obey and act on it.”*

As I mentioned in our last post (7/6/18 – “Swooning…”), I have seen this on different occasions as we have interacted with others concerning our stand for Piper’s healing over the years.  The above definitions brought a peace to a part of me that has been extremely frustrated and confused with some folks who I know believe the same way Piper and I do, but yet continue to give us that blank and dazed look when it comes to actively agreeing with us.

I’ve also mentioned before of how I questioned just about everything I have ever believed and stood for when we returned home from Bible College to face the greatest battle in our lives.  The more I questioned, the more it came down to the point of exactly where my supposed faith was located… in my head or in my heart!  The answer to those questions is what helped me to begin making the many decisions we’ve had to make over the years that favored following God’s promises over what medical science and even some good-meaning family and friends were suggesting.

How about you?  How would YOU answer those same questions about where YOUR faith is located?  Is it stuck in your head or has it moved down deep into your heart?

Have a great new week!  And as you do, keep asking yourself… “Where am I expecting to find my faith in time of need today?”

* https://born-again-christian.info/believe.it.or.not.mental.assent.htm

Swooning!

My wife and I drove through the quaint, original downtown area of the Fuquay Springs section of Fuquay-Varina early yesterday afternoon.  Since the modern township is the result of two towns that merged together in 1963, it touts the unique feature of having two historic downtowns!  The Varina side has been artistically turned into a touristy destination with restaurants, multiple craft beer bistros, barbeque grills, ice cream shops, and clothing boutiques.  The street that bisects the area is narrow with angled parking and makes for a very pleasant walking experience.

Fuquay’s historic downtown is more of a working area filled with historic old buildings, banks, small stores, an old fashioned looking pizza house, more restaurants, a gas station/tire shop squeezed between two other stores and the city’s Police headquarters.  One of the largest buildings on the street is a gun shop located across the street from the PD.

So, as we passed by the gun shop that looked like it had been there for a long time, I glanced to my right toward the intersection we were driving past and couldn’t help but smile when a black early-nineties Z28 Camaro pulled up to the stop sign.  I noticed that the driver pulled in behind us and then came up on our left when we reached the stoplight.

I couldn’t help but check out and admire the car, especially since it was the same body style as the Camaro I owned for about twelve years.  The young driver, complete with dreadlocks and bouncing his head to the music playing never looked over at us, but I still smiled and enjoyed observing the interior, even though the dash top was dried out and cracked and the seats looked like they had seen far better days.

It didn’t matter though!  As a car guy I took notice of the fine lines of that particular model, the Z28 mags that I always wanted to get for my GS and the wonderful roar of the small block V8 engine.  Ah… a bit of heaven for a guy that has always had a thing for nice cars!

I know that it may not be right, but I have sometimes found myself getting annoyed with some folks who may not have the same affinity for cars… especially when it comes to the 1960-1970’s muscle and pony car varieties.  You know what I mean right?  Like when a gorgeously restored 1970 Chevelle SS 396 drives by and you’re barely able to stay upright on your feet because you are swooning and drooling all over yourself at the sight… and then you look at the person standing next to you and they have kind of a dazed look on their face and are completely oblivious to the beautiful piece of artwork that just passed by!

Well, you know… I’ve discovered myself in a similar position on multiple occasions over the last ten years, when it came to talking with others about having faith for my wife’s healing.  Strange huh… especially when the other folks are fellow Christians!  But I’ve been learning a few things about this lately.

In John 6:63-64 Jesus explained it to us saying, “The Spirit brings life.  The flesh has nothing to offer.  The words I have been teaching you are spirit and life, but some of you do not believe.” (The Voice)  If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that we’ve been speaking a lot about the meaning behind the words “spirit and life.”  But what has REALLY been catching my attention over the last few days is the first part of verse 64 which is the phrase that Jesus spoke to complete the thought that He began in verse 63.

So, what He is saying in effect, is that even though I have been speaking wonderful, powerful words that are filled with the spirit and life for your lives, that some of you still don’t get it!  You STILL DON’T believe me!  And how did He know this?  Because some of them were not ACTING on the words that He spoke unto them.

E.W. Kenyon in his book “The Two kinds of Faith” explains that “The word ‘faith’ is a noun: the word ‘believe’ is a verb.  ‘Believing’ is really ‘acting’ on the Word.”  He went on to say that “Instead of using the word ‘believe’, I use the words ‘act on His Word.”  John Gill in his commentary on John 6:64 wrote that “Their faith was not a living faith, or of a spiritual kind.”  Robert’s Word Pictures explained it by saying that “failure to believe (or act on His Words…) kills the life in the words of Jesus.”

I may be stepping out on a thin branch here… but it would make sense to me that this could very well be an explanation why some folks look a little dazed and blank when I enthusiastically share Piper’s and my beliefs on the healing properties of God’s Word.  I believe that every time I speak His Word over Piper that I am filling her up with His spirit and His very life!  Whew… now I’m getting a bit swoony over that reality – I’d better sit down… Oh wait, I am sitting!

I just had a fantastic conversation with Piper’s new CNA about God’s Words of healing that I speak over Piper at least twice a day.  She was in total agreement, her face lit up and the atmosphere in our home was brightened!  Even Piper responded with the most alertness in her face and eyes that she has shown for a while whenever a CNA has come over to bath her!

I am learning that most of this comes down to the practice of taking the time to allow the Word that you study each day to get past your head or your intellect and sink down deep into your heart!  We’ll discuss this a little more next week, but until then, take some time this weekend to look inside and see if your “believing” in God and His Word is truly being acted upon… or just talked about…

Have a super weekend!  And as you do, keep asking yourself… “Am I expecting to actively ACT on the Word of God that I read or hear today?”

A Foundation for Life

I found myself standing in our bedroom late Friday morning, once again, telling Piper’s story.  The Certified Nurse’s Assistant from our Hospice group who had been coming out three times a week to care for Piper since we entered into their assistance program had recently left the company and this was the second visit by her replacement.

During her previous visit she had taken the time to view all the pictures of my wife that I have up on the wall near my bed.  In the midst of our conversation on Friday, she mentioned that if the pictures on the wall were any example, it looked like Piper really enjoyed a happy and active life that included a love for the great outdoors.  From that statement I began to share with her how the Piper currently laying there on the bed was so opposite to the “real” Piper that I’ve known and loved for almost 48 years now!

I am saddened at times when I realize that our younger two children’s spouses never got to meet the “real” Piper.  They have met members of her immediate family with which our kids felt might give their spouses a sense of Piper’s personality… but they’ve both had to concede that their Mom’s personality and ways were actually quite different from the rest of her clan.  As I’ve mentioned in the past, Piper’s always had a spontaneity about her… complete with a sincere smile and a happy, positive, caring and outgoing personality that tended to light up a room whenever she walked in.

Hopefully, I am not sounding like a broken record here, but I attribute much of who she was to her love for Papa God and the truth of His Word.  John 6:63 tells us that “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh accomplishes nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”  (International Standard Version)  There are two uses of the word “life” in this translation, but they are actually two different words in the original Greek.

The first talks of the Spirit who “gives life” and is probably better translated “quickeneth” as in the King James Version.  Thayer’s Greek Definitions defines this usage as “spiritual power to arouse and invigorate.”  Dictionary.com describes the meaning of “invigorate” as “to give vigor to; to fill with life and energy.”  And that my friends would very accurately describe my Piper!  I believe that those of you who have known her through the years would have to agree with that description.

In the second use of the word “life” Jesus is telling His disciples that the words He’s been speaking to them are “spirit and life.”  That word “life” is “Zoë” and describes “the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate; the absolute fulness of life; life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ…” (Thayer's)  This definition of “Zoë” also paints a pretty good resemblance to my wife!

Piper always had a real love for the Word of God and had a unique ability to quickly apply its meanings to her life in a very practical manner.  She was a gifted teacher and taught the practicality of the Word to our kids and a few generations of Youth and Children in the five or so churches we served in over the years.

I believe that her love and attention to the Word of God is what gave her that sparkling personality and life, and the foundation of joy that could not be shaken by negative reports.  I mean let’s face it here… Jesus Himself told us that His Words fill us with the spirit and a source of life that is not available anywhere else!  What it comes down to is the question of whether we choose to believe that or not!

Piper did… and the veracity of that life long decision carries forth today in me, our kids and in anyone who had the privilege of getting to know her.

What is the foundation of your life?

Have a great week, and as you do keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting to give me “life” today?”

PS:  And speaking of life… I was watering the flowering plant hanging from our porch this morning when a fuzzy grey little birdie popped up its head and began squealing from the water dumped on his head!  Then Mama bird flew out and was not too happy… so I made a quick retreat into the house!