The Upward Look
Today was the Rocky Mountain Energy Forum webinar that I hosted with Amy Attwood. I appreciate all those who participated. We have another one scheduled for April 24th. If you are interested in some good information and background on the issue of hydraulic fracturing let me know.
I have my personal fundraising page set up for the Colfax 5K. It is Saturday, May 17. I have several who have offered to help me participate by pushing me in my wheelchair. That means I have about six weeks to train to see how much I can motor myself in a regular wheelchair.
You can support my effort with a donation to Teen Challenge of the Rocky Mountains at www.coloradogives.org/ksummers
If you would like to join our effort and participate in the event and help raise funds for Teen Challenge check out www.teenchallengerockymountains.org
My occupational therapist paid me a visit today. It was a good session as far as some good education on my recovery and further evaluation on the strength of various muscle groups in my shoulders. I believe I have a good workout plan and may be transitioning to outpatient rehab within the next month.
This morning I read through the Book of Colossians. This one of Paul’s letters that he wrote from prison in Rome.  In this Book Paul not only asserts the deity of Christ in response to some first century hearsay, but he challenges believers to their conduct in light of Christ’s supremacy.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above,not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
Paul clearly communicates the transformation that comes into an individual’s life when they become a follower of Christ. In the verses above he talks about your “mind” and “heart.” Our thoughts and our emotions are the key to the direction of our life and the degree of joy and peace that we experience. This focus is not to make us as those with our “heads in the clouds” but as those with our “heads focused on heaven.” In other words, our preparation for being forever in God’s presence begins now with cultivating His presence in our life and allowing Him to rule our mind and our hearts.
As our life is drawn away from the “things on earth” our thoughts and emotions will be manifested in our life style and the character qualities of our life. Paul put is this way:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14
This verses call to mind the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians and perhaps even the armor of God from Ephesians with the imagery of “clothing” yourself in these virtues. These traits are godly character traits that can only be applied consistently and correctly in our lives as we trust in God’s Spirit to empower us and to help us.
The challenge is for us to learn what these mean from God’s view and not a worldly view. Sometimes the worldly view can see these characteristics as weakness or allowing ourselves to be run over by others. Different personalities will react differently when they read these traits. However, the way the world views them may not be the same as they way God views them. Our desire must be to please the Lord and not people. The whole point Paul is making is that Christ’s deity calls us to a higher life, with a heavenly focus.