This is the full day of the Western Conservative Summit. It has been good to see people that we haven’t seen in a year and to hear some excellent speakers, communicate with passion and vision. There are five Republican Presidential candidates speaking during the conference and last night we heard Rafael Cruz, the father of Ted Cruz from Texas, who is a pastor and leader and dynamic communicator.

We are staying at the Convention Center Hyatt and have a room on the 23rd floor with a great view of the mountains and downtown.

A highlight of our day was attending a 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration for our friends Doug and Pat Powell. Doug and Pat have been friends for a number of years. I served as their pastor for a number of years. Doug served on our church board and Pat also served with me as an Associate Pastor. It was a great opportunity to reconnect with them and many friends from our pastoral ministry years.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Today as I prepared to pray a prayer of blessing for my friends Doug and Pat Powell as they marked their 50th Wedding Anniversary, I shared some comments from this familiar verse in Jeremiah. I realized that I have often referred to this verse but never “broke it down” with some observations.

The first thing that should catch our attention is that “God has plans for us.” This speaks of promise, potential and destiny. It is one thing to have plans for yourself, but when you feel like there are others who have “plans for you” who want to encourage your success and future that is a different level. When it is the God of the Universe, you can have encouragement knowing what He plans, He accomplishes.

I often note that this verse, filled with encouragement words, is spoken to God’s people as they begin 70 years of captivity, away from their homeland. What we need to know, is that our past or our present, cannot circumvent God’s plan for our future.

God’s plan is for our good; to prosper and not to harm. Regardless of whether God’s plan involves times of testing and trial, we can be assured that the final outcome will be one that is a cause for rejoicing and is evident of God’s provision for our life.

God’s plan gives a positive outlook for the future. I am perplexed at times how even those who claim to be followers of Christ will have anxiety about the future. This may lead them to look to horoscopes or something worse in a search for reassurance. God is a God who has worked in the past, He is with us in the present, but it is His promise for our future that gives us hope and encouragement. When He is “on our side” and when we understand that “He is for us” we can be excited about His plan and purpose being fulfilled in our lives.

What God’s people discovered is that God’s plan are fulfilled when we learn to trust and submit to Him. For them it took 70 years to learn that lesson and that God is serious about our lives and how we live them.  This makes me think of the saying, “we can do this the easy way or the hard way!”

I would rather have confidence in a God who will intervene and redirect my life, than to sit back and allow me to drive “off the cliff” of life. When life isn’t working, stop! and get in line with God’s plan for your life. It is a hope-filled-prosperous future.

This morning I attended the Timberline Senior’s breakfast. It was good to sit with my friends Lynn and Becky Wickstrom. They have been friends for a number of years and spent their lives investing in the lives of children through kids crusades held across the United States and even overseas. It invited them to stop by our house and pick some of the strawberries that are ripe and ready for picking.

This afternoon, Debbie and I traveled to Denver to attend the Western Conservative Summit. It was good to arrive mid-afternoon, but Debbie had to finish up some work and I took a nap. We did enjoy getting to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner on the Sixteenth Street Mall.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….   “There is no good way to answer fools when they say something stupid. If you answer them, then you, too, will look like a fool. If you don’t answer them, they will think they are smart.”   Proverbs 26:4,5

Really?! This was my response this week when I read a Facebook post that caught my attention. It cross-referenced an article related to the horrific murders in South Carolina. The article was from Psychology Today. The author posits that the moral decay in America is a result of “anti-intellectualism.” He says of Dylan Roof, “Whatever his IQ, to some extent he is a product of a culture driven by fear and emotion, not rational thinking, and his actions reflect the paranoid mentality of one who fails to grasp basic notions of what it means to be human.”   (I’m not sure I would have comfort that a mass murder was “thinking rationally.”) He goes on and places the blame for “irrational thinking” at the feet of “fundamental” Christians. In doing so, he is not delineating any extreme theology misconstrued, but anyone who believes in the Bible. (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-humanity-naturally/201506/anti-intellectualism-is-killing-america)

How do you respond to something like this? From my political experience, I am accustomed to what you say being scrutinized and when you say something that is “off” being ostracized. It is interesting that the “intellectual” community plays by different rules. As Solomon found out trying or answer a fool is either “foolish” or not answering gives them a sense self-importance.

However, I do believe the Lord is able to give us wisdom in a challenging “post-Christian” culture. We can have the wisdom to know when to respond and how and when not to. I am reminded of Peter’s words, “…in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..” (1 Peter 3:15)

Our morning began with waiting for our “run-away” dog to return. The rabbits in our yard and neighborhood provide too much of a distraction if he has the opportunity to escape our grasp. Fortunately, he know where he lives and usually comes home…eventually.

I had my final appointment three times per week with my Chiropractor. Next week we begin to scale down to twice a week and then once a week to complete the treatment plan. My challenge is getting back to a regular exercise routine to keep working at building muscle. I did get back to the fitness center today. I was on the treadmill for 10 minutes and I think I was able to accomplish that task in better shape than last time I tried.

As I was leaving the fitness center it began to rain. So my timing of the rain the last two days has been good. The rain has started after an event has ended which is good.

We are looking forward to a busy weekend. Tomorrow we travel to Denver for the Western Conservative Summit, and then we will attend a 50th wedding anniversary for our friends Doug and Pat Powell and then on Sunday is my mothers 90th birthday reception.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But the day when the Lord comes again will surprise everyone like the coming of a thief. The sky will disappear with a loud noise. Everything in the sky will be destroyed with fire. And the earth and everything in it will be burned up.  Everything will be destroyed in this way. So what kind of people should you be? Your lives should be holy and devoted to God.  You should be looking forward to the day of God, wanting more than anything else for it to come soon.” 2 Peter 3:10-12 (ERV)

I have been reading through what is call the “Book of Enoch.” It is an “extra-biblical” ancient writing that is attributed to Enoch, “the seventh from Adam” but is believe to have been written during the first century. It is interesting that Jude makes reference to a quote from the book in his letter and that is what got my attention.

There was verse that I read that did get my attention more than most. It speaks of the consummation of  God’s plan of redemption and says, “The former heaven shall depart and pass away; a new heaven shall appear; and all the celestial powers shine with sevenfold splendour for ever…..Neither shall sin be named there for ever and for ever.” Enoch 92:17,18

We certainly see this in the Biblical record in several passages. Peter talks about the “day of the Lord” and how what is now will be no more and how the Lord will create a “new heaven and a new earth.” We see in Old Testament prophecies, in the New Testament and in Revelation descriptions of God’s plan for the earth and His people. Sometimes, those descriptions create more questions than clarity and I find it interesting to see how many of those “end time” events are reflected in prognostications of scientists and others.

For example, upheaval in nature and the economy; massive earthquakes, hailstones, war and even “stars falling from the heavens.” Much of it can sound like the worst case scenario of “global warming or climate change” or fears that one day there will be a giant collision of an asteroid striking the earth.

The questions and search for “figuring out” what will happen, when and why as the earth moves closer to “that day” will continue. As matter of fact it began at Jesus ascension. As the Lord promised He would return the first question of the disciples was, “when?” ….tell us more. Jesus response in brief was, “it’s not for you to know….”

He followed that with this what you are to know, “when the Holy Spirit comes, you will receive power to be my witnesses…” In like fashion Peter asks the question, “knowing these things, what kind of people should we be?”

It is not wrong to study, seek and ponder. But not at the expense of doing what we are to do (sharing the “good news” with the whole world) and being the people we are to be (those who are devoted to the Lord and looking for and eager for Christ’s return.)

The Lord wants us to relax and be at peace; like He is saying, “I have this under control.” But we don’t sit back and do nothing, we live life with confidence and take our responsibility to share a message of hope, forgiveness and peace with others. This will be all the more important as our world becomes more hopeless, tense and filled with unrest. As Christ’s ambassadors we need to understand that as long as we are in the world, we are to be the “light of the world.”

So remember our focus as we look to the future is not be on what we don’t know and won’t know, but what we do know and what are to do and be.

Today, my brother, niece and mother came to Fort Collins for a visit. It was good to have them here and for my niece Kate, to see our home for the first time. We had a nice visit, enjoyed strawberries from the garden and a visit our neighborhood pool.

I wanted to see grandson Riley’s baseball game, since their season is coming to an end and they were playing in Arvada. My plans and timing ended up being curtailed by the afternoon traffic and some adverse weather, but I made it in time to see most of the game. Riley played well, hitting the ball at every at bat and ended the game at catcher, after playing second base for most of the game.

The rain began just as the gamed ended, so that was good. My trip home went better, but delayed the posting of my daily blog.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  ^“If you see someone on their way to death or in danger of being killed, you must do something to save them.  You cannot say, “It’s none of my business.” The Lord knows everything, and he knows why you do things. He watches you, and he will pay you back for what you do.” Proverbs 24:25 (ERV)

I have been reading Proverbs in what is called the “Easy to Read Version.” This verse above is from Solomon’s “thirty wise sayings.” As I read it I thought of two things.

First, we have heard of the situations where someone was being attacked or in need and was ignored by several people who witnessed the crime or saw the person in need. When confronted, “they didn’t want to be involved.” It is like a modern day “Parable of the Good Samaritan.”  You will recall that the man robbed, beaten and left for dead was ignored by the Priest and Levite, but got the attention of the Samaritan, the most unlikely person in the eyes of the Jews of the day to stop.

Second, I thought of the spiritual application and our obligation to share the “good news” of Christ’s love and forgiveness with others. The Bible is clear that those without Christ in the center of their lives are headed to a certain death. The Lord has called us to be those who are the warning signs on the road of life to those headed in the wrong direction.

The proverb also says the Lord knows our motives; why we do what we do. Our initial impulse can be to view that as a negative and assume that our motives and those of others are suspect. But as we follow Christ and are sensitive to His direction in our life, we can have confidence that the Lord sees our hearts and actions and even if we aren’t recognized for our positive actions the Lord sees and will reward us.

In our life we need wisdom and discernment as to who to help and when and the same applies in sharing our faith. But when it comes to an eye towards those who are in need and those who are in danger; physically, emotionally and spiritually, it is our business to take action. That is what the Lord compels us to do.

This morning I was able to reconnect with my Tuesday morning prayer group after a long absence. Later in the morning I traveled to Denver to visit my mother and meet my brother and niece who had just arrived from California. My niece will be here for the next three months as an occupational therapist intern at Saint Anthony Hospital.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.”                  John 10:11   “Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7

God’s provision for His people is a consistent theme in scripture. Paul said, “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19) Jesus said, “…do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matt. 6:31)

We see the familiar imagery of both Psalm 23 and John 10 that speaks of the shepherd and the sheep. We see in these passages the provision of safety, security, protection, restoration and the assurance of a future destiny. The key to receiving Christ’s care is our response to Him. So with this in mind I encourage you to:

C – Come to Christ. Care is about relationship. Jesus said, “come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) In referring to Himself as the “good shepherd” Jesus said, “I know my sheep…they listen to my voice.” (John 10:14,16) In submitting ourselves to Christ we find His strength and protection. The Psalmist implored, “Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God,  And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand….” (Psa. 95:6,7)

A – Allow Him to supply your need. The shepherd knows what his flock needs. He plans and prepares and provides for them what is needed, when it is needed. When the sheep rest in that, it goes well. When they wander, they find themselves in danger and trouble. Sometimes the Lord provides for us what we need, when we don’t realize that we need it. Rest, for example. Psalm 23 says, “He makes me lie down…” The rod and staff of the shepherd speak of meeting the needs of protection and direction for the sheep.  As we follow our Shepherd in the path of life we will have all that we need.

R – Receive His care. To receive the Lord’s care, we need to be willing to “let go” of our worries and anxieties. We need to “let go” of our sense of control and believing that we know what we need. One writer in commenting on           1 Peter 5:7 said, “…if you are filled with fear of the “thick and dreadful darkness” because of God’s dealing with humankind, learn to trust His infallible wisdom….know that He who endured the “dreadful darkness” of Calvary and the feeling of having been forsaken…is ready to accompany you “through the valley of the shadow of death” until you can see the sun on the other side.”

E – Experience His provision. Relationship with Christ, trusting Him and having confidence in His care, knowing that He can supply for us what we need, allows us experience the full provision of His grace. Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely your goodness and love will be with me all my life…”

Today, you can have the comfort and blessing of being under the “Good Shepherd’s CARE.”

Today, I continued my Chiropractor appointments. This is my last week of three appointments and then I will taper to two times a week and then once a week. I do need to get back into more of an exercise routine. This will be a good way to push some of my muscle development. I do enjoy getting to the swimming pool even for short workouts.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” Matthew 6:26
“…how much more valuable is a person than a sheep!…” Matthew 12:12

I recall doing a memorial service the mother of one my legislative colleagues. She was unique person indeed. She experienced difficulties in her young life and made the comment, “I know what it is like to not be wanted.”

The gospel message and the entire story of the Bible is about our value to God. The Bible says that God loves us so much that, “He gave His one and only Son.” He did so that we might have life in Him and enjoy and eternity in His presence. In God’s eyes we are of value. So much so, that the fulfillment of His plan of redemption is that we might be with Him.

“Now God’s presence is with people, and he will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and will be their God.” (Revelation 21:3)

When you understand your value in God’s eyes…

1 – It instills confidence – When we understand our value in God’s eyes it provides confidence in our living and our asking. It removes fear. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.“ (Heb. 4:16) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

2 – It builds your sense of trust – When we understand our value, we see that “God is for us…” Jesus said, “if earthly fathers know how to give good gifts…how much more your Father in Heaven…” (Matthew 7:11) Jesus promised never to “leave us or forsake us.” Paul said of our connection to Christ, “…if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.“ (2 Timothy 2:13) God’s love is unconditional and we can rest in His love.

3 – It frees you to value others – When Jesus was in the Upper Room with His disciples before His arrest, John’s Gospel says,  “Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.“ (John 13:1)

Facing His greatest time of need, Jesus takes time to wash the feet of the disciples. But notice it says, “He knew where He had come from and where He was going.” That’s a description of personal security and understanding of value. And out of that understanding Jesus serves others.

When He finished His task, He told His disciples, “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15) Jesus told His disciples, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34) When we don’t feel valued, it is difficult for us to value others, when we understand our value, it is natural for us to value others in meaningful relationships.

Right after Jesus tells His disciples not to worry about the “things of life” – reassuring them of the Father’s provision, He says, “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.“ (Luke 12:32) Don’t ever underestimate your value in God’s eyes. Live life as valued by God. Live with confidence and trust in your relationship with the Lord and as one who values others.

Today I was up before 6 a.m.; rather unusual for a Sunday morning.  I got up early to ride my bike to Timberline Church to help send off the cyclists, on their next leg, who are biking from Cheyenne to New Mexico to raise funds to support “anti-human trafficking” causes.  Rich’s Ride was inspired by Rich Dixon a paraplegic, who began riding a bike as part of his physical and emotional recovery from his injury. 

It was also good to see my friend, Pastor Scott Bottoms, from Colorado Springs, who is part of the tour group. Scott is the Chair of the Board of Directors for “Sarah’s Home” a safe house and recovery program for girls rescued from human trafficking.

This morning I conducted the chapel service at “Mackenzie Place” assisted living center in Fort Collins. It was good to team with my friend Steve Harris who lead the singing. After the service Debbie and I enjoyed the Father’s Day Brunch in the dining room and an enjoyable visit with a very bright and healthy 93 year old resident.

After that, I was ready for a long nap!

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.”  Proverbs 23:24

Happy Father’s Day! We usually speak of the “joys of motherhood” and “challenges of fatherhood.” The roles of the respective parents are unique in some ways but the challenges are the same and the “team effort” is needed in successful parenting.  We often see reference to a “father’s correction” and a “mother’s instruction.” Sometimes those two roles become associated with each parent, but they are not exclusive to the respective parents. Father’s too, are to instruct. Mother’s too, are to correct. And it works out best when they have a good “game plan” to be consistent and “on the same page.”

The importance of family and child raising is being seen more and more in our society. Increases in  crime and poverty can be tied to fractured families and failed parenting.  As a result, we see the impact of absent and irresponsible fathers and the same is true of mothers who neglect their God-given responsibilities. More and more I run into single-parent fathers because of a mother who has abdicated, neglected or unable to fulfill her duties.

How can the complicated and challenging task of Fatherhood (and motherhood) be summarized? I believe this observation of Jesus life is instructive: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

Parents have the responsibility for the physical, spiritual, mental and social development of their children. This requires consistency and understanding the unique characteristic of each stage of life as a child grows. I recall my friend Dick Foth putting forth this parenting strategy: age birth-five (set limits) age 6-12 (lead by example and instruction) age 13-18 (negotiate)

Obviously these are general guidelines, but I have seen parents get in trouble when they “negotiate” with a toddler and try to “set hard limits”  for an older teen. I also remember the adage, “win the early battles in child raising and work yourself out of a job.” The idea is that, parents provides the structure and discipline so a child learns to live as an adult within limits and is self-disciplined.

Another way to view the stages of parenting is: “parents teach, they guide and they counsel.” Again these are not exclusive to or isolate to various ages. For example, I have observed the parents of my grandchildren challenging them and helping them to think through a problem, instead of just “telling” them. That is part of teaching. But as parents grow older they still, “parent through advice and counsel.” A friend of mine called recently to ask me a question. He said, “this is something that I would normally talk to my father about, but since my father has passed away, I’m calling you.”

The other observation that I would make is that just as marriage moves through various stages of growth and change, so does parenting. The sense of connection, communication and closeness of a relationship with children can does change over the years.

Finally, remember that parents are God’s plan for transferring “faith” from one generation to the next. John the Apostle said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.“ (3 John 4) While John was talking about his “spiritual” children, how much more this is true for our “natural” children. I notice Solomon says, “the father of a righteous child has great joy…”

As a father, I have “great joy” because my children are not only committed to their faith, but are committed to developing the faith and character of their children. It is rewarding when you see your children not only being effective parents, but even excelling in their God-given roles. So, on this Father’s Day, I rejoice in my son Christian (and wife Bridget) and daughter Stephanie (and husband) Nathan. Keep up the good work, the challenging work, the rewarding work of parenting. The “rejoicing” does come!

Today was a hot day. It looks like we have moved out of our monsoon season of this spring. It was good to get to the pool after some yard work and errands. One of those errands was taking some of my equipment back to “GoodHealthwill” to re-donate it for others to use. I also removed the extension from our back step that Christian had built for me last year. These were a couple more signs of progression in my recovery.

Yesterday, my friend Zane Strange and I made a visit to Larimer County Drug Court and to District Judge Daniel Kaup’s office. Judge Kaup and I served together on a State Drug Task Force for a number of years. Zane, who was instrumental in the design and coordination of building our handicap ramp, as part of “Serve 6.8” had a different connection. Over eleven years ago, he was in an orange jumpsuit standing before Judge Kaup facing several felony drug charges.

Judge Kaup was instrumental in getting Zane headed in the right direction and this was an opportunity for Zane to thank the Judge and share his story of victory over addiction and how they Lord was using him in some significant ways in coordinating community disaster relief and reaching out to homeless people and those in desperate need for a new direction in their life.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth…seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:1,2,10)

“…To him who overcomes, to him I will give….a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.”  (Revelation 2:17)

New life in Christ presents us with the grand prospect of a new identity and new character. We see it referenced in such ways when we speak of being “born again” and being “a new creation.” We are to accept this new identity through a new focus or our hearts and minds. Paul says to, “seek things that are above…set your mind on things above…”  He goes on to say basically, “live your life in accordance with the new self which is… being renewed after the image of its creator.”

Often times in scripture we see this new identity reflected in a new name. In the Old Testament, Abram, becomes Abraham; Jacob becomes Israel. In the New Testament Simon becomes Peter; Saul becomes Paul. To the Church at Pergamum the resurrected Christ promises those who “overcome” a new name.

I have had this on my mind since I visited Judge Daniel Kaup’s office yesterday. He presides over the drug court in Larimer County and they are preparing for a graduation. In his office was a poster put together by some of those who have completed the program, one quote caught my attention, it said, “I am not what I have done, I am what I have overcome.” This individual was expressing that they were putting the past and an old identity behind them and choosing to identify with their victories and not their failures; what they have overcome in the present and not what had overcome them in the past.

That is an apt mindset and attitude for those who been made “alive in Christ.” In Christ shame is removed and He redeems lost years and opportunities and provides a new start and a new identity.

As we were in Church this evening the words of this song of Chris Tomlin’s caught my attention:

I was lost
I was in chains
The world had a hold of me

My heart was a stone
I was covered in shame
When He came for me

I couldn’t run, couldn’t run from His presence
I couldn’t run, couldn’t run from His arms

Jesus, He loves me, He loves me, He is for me
Jesus, how can it be, He loves me, He is for me

These words would have a powerful connection for those overcoming a bondage to drugs and alcohol, but they are a fitting description of every life before coming to Christ. Remember, “Jesus loves you and is for you” and gives you a new identity in Him.