We have had a different July 4^th. I had another tough night. I began feeling better after being up for a while; however, we thought it best to head to the urgent care center. It was good to see Nurse Practioner, Lisa Myers who I had seen almost two years when I began to experience symptoms related to my West Nile Virus. We found out that Lisa also attends Timberline Church and had been praying for me. She told me she stopped seeing my name on the prayer list, but it wasn’t in the obituaries, so I must be okay!

With my history, she did prescribe an anti-biotic and had me get a chest X-ray to rule out any lung issues that might be developing. This was another reminder that the symptoms that I used to have that were easily addressed with minimal care, require more diligence than what would seem necessary.

 BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “You will groan at the end of your life when your health is gone. Then you will say, “I hated being told what to do! I would not listen to correction! I would not listen to my teachers or pay attention to my instructors….” Proverbs 5:11-14

Does anybody have a challenge in taking time to read instructions; or do you trust your “instincts” to get somewhere, only to find you are on the wrong road and in the wrong place? The Book of Proverbs is filled with “wisdom sayings” and instructions for navigating the road of life. It also sounds a clear warning about the consequences of ignoring the call and instruction of wisdom. Some of the most profound verses around found in Proverbs 5. They reveal a life of regrets and a clear understanding that “if they only” I had listen and paid attention, life would have been different, the pain they experienced could have been avoided.

This is true for individuals, businesses and countries. When we ignore the clear teachings of God’s Word, we do so at our own peril. In our “post-modern” world, there is a rejection of absolute truth and many resist being challenged in their actions, attitudes or conduct and don’t want to be told they might be wrong.

As a result, many take their own path and want to live life on “their own terms.” They need to be confronted with the famous question of Dr. Phil’s, “so, how’s that work’n for you?” Scripture is clear, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

The good news is the scripture not only tells us how to live a life of wisdom, it tells us how to get back on track when we don’t.  Consider the following:

 ^“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right”. (2 Timothy 3:16)

 “…if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done.” (1 John 1:9)

“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, if they will pray and seek me and stop their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land.“ (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The key is to have an open heart and a willing spirit and to make timely and needed correction. It is one thing to “hate being told what to do.” It is another to, “refuse correction.” Scripture says,

“Blessed is the one who is always fearful of sin, but whoever is hard-hearted falls into disaster.” (Proverbs 28:14)

“He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.” (Proverbs 29:1)

The road of life is filled with many opportunities to take a wrong turn, or go the wrong direction. It is less painful and the ultimate consequences can be reversed when we stop, humble ourselves and heed the instructions that are needed to get back on track.

I’m glad I had a better night of rest and continue to heal from my mole surgery. Debbie was off today, so I’m pleased that she will have a long weekend.

I was able to get out and get a little yard work done before some needed rest and an afternoon massage appointment. It seems that some of the neuropathy in my right foot is dissipating which is good.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Then Jacob made a promise. He said, “I want God to be with me and to protect me on this journey. I want him to give me food to eat and clothes to wear…This stone which I have set up on its end will be the house of God. And I will give God one-tenth of all he gives me.” Genesis 28:20-222

As Jacob set out for Haran to find a wife among his mother’s relatives, he has a vision of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending. The Lord speaks this promise, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your grandfather, and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are now sleeping.  Your descendants will be as many as the dust of the earth. They will spread west and east, north and south, and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.  I am with you and will protect you everywhere you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:13-15)

Jacob was in awe of what he saw and claimed the Lord as his God and in recognition of that he promised to give him a tenth of what the the Lord would give him. We see that by the time Jacob returned to this site, that he had two wives, twelve sons and was rich with livestock and possessions. The Lord had kept His promise to Jacob.

This concept of giving a tenth or a “tithe” is something that we see hundreds of years later incorporated into the law God gave to His people through Moses. But it is clear that this idea did not originate with the giving of the “Law of Moses.”

The first reference to a “tenth” is in the early life of Abraham. After Abraham and Lot separated, Lot and his family was taken captive in a war between an alliance of  several kings. After his victory Abraham meets an unusual character known as “Melchizedek.” He is referred to as a “king” and “priest.” The writer of Hebrews in the New Testament would say of Christ, “He is a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 7:17)

This was Abraham’s response when he met Melchizedek. “Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a priest for God Most High….Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had brought back from the battle.“  (Genesis 14:18-20)

What we can observe in these passages and what I believe is an important spiritual principle is, “the giving of tithe is a recognition of lordship.” This is certainly clear in Jacob’s response. It becomes clear as the Lord gives the Law to His people. “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.“ (Leviticus 27:30)

As such it recognizes that the Lord is our provider, protector and “ever-present” help. Jacob said, “I want the Lord to be with me and protect me and provide for me….”  When we see how the Lord appeared to Jacob and what He promised, it would have been foolish for Jacob to say, “That’s okay, I will take care of myself, I don’t need help”  or “I think I will check out other “gods” and see what they offer.”

As the Lord fulfilled His promise, Jacob offered the Lord a tenth of what the Lord provided in recognition of God as His source and the one who who fulfills His promise and goes before Him.

Is God with you? Does He go before you when you trust in and follow Him? Does He provide for you and keep you safe? If you recognize God instead of yourself as the security for your life, offering to Him a small token as an act of worship and recognition of His Lordship is reasonable.

I had a rough night of sleep last night with a lot of coughing and restlessness. When I took my bandage off my incision I did notice some discoloration on my eyelid that the doctor had warned me about. This morning, I made a visiting to my Chiropractor and he counted about 18-20 small stitches that were needed to my head closed up.

This morning, I attended the memorial service for Bob Odell. The Odell’s and Kercher’s attended church together for a number of years and my father-in-law and brother-in-law served on the Church Board with Bob in the past. It was a great tribute to a faithful follower of the Lord, who made an impact on many. Bob’s daughter Dawn did an excellent job not only sharing about her dad’s life but sharing the spiritual challenge for the day. Our prayers continue to be with Mary and the family as they make this adjustment to the loss of a loved one.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…   ^“The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.  Then he traveled from Shechem to the mountain east of Bethel and set up his tent there.…There Abram built another altar to the Lord and worshiped him.”  Genesis 12:6-8 (NCV)

“Altars” become important places and symbols in scripture. They are places of worship, places that establish and mark a covenant or a point of consecration.

When the Lord called Abraham and gave him His promise regarding his future and his descendants, Abraham responds by building an altar. It is here, he worships the Lord who has given him a promise that is beyond his comprehension. As he worships Abraham makes himself available and expresses his trust in the Lord. Scripture simply says of Abraham,  “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.“ (Genesis 15:6)

We see Abraham traveling to Shechem and there he builds another altar. We don’t have insight as to the reason or motivation for this place, but it represented another point remembrance, consistent trust and worship as the Lord was directing and providing for Abraham on this faith-walk, this journey to a place “the Lord would show him.”

The other significant altar in Abraham’s life takes place many years later. Isaac is born and the Lord calls Abraham and Isaac to take a hike to the top of Mount Moriah. There an altar is built and as Abraham prepares to offer his own son as a sacrifice the Lord steps in and provides a substitute. Abraham is preparing to sacrifice, the representation of a promise fulfilled and a future, but God steps in and provides. We read, “The angel said, “Don’t kill your son or hurt him in any way. Now I can see that you trust God and that you have not kept your son, your only son, from me.”… So Abraham named that place The Lord Provides. Even today people say, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:13,14)

We find at some altars, when we are willing to lay down that which we want to hold on, God provides. The provision of a substitute is the message of the gospel in a picture. Christ the Lamb of God as our substitute before the Lord.

Altars are places of sacrifice. They are places of surrender. They are places of submission, worship and trust. After Abraham returned from his “fateful” sojourn to Egypt he returned to the first altar he built. Sometimes we need to return to those places to refocus and reclaim God’s promise for our life and set our lives aright once again.

As the “Father of Faith” Abraham was a builder of altars. In our lives of faith, there are those “altar building” moments when there is change, consecration, dedication and laying hold of God’s promises for our life.

I have continued to take it somewhat easy today following yesterday’s procedure.  I focused on some work in my home office and did get some rest. I got out to run some errands and to take the dog for a walk. It was cloudy this afternoon and we get a brief rain shower. I will probably get out an mow the grass later this evening.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….  “Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success.” Proverbs 3:5,6 (NCV)

There are a multitude of promises of the Lord and provision for His people. The key to receiving those provisions often requires actions on our part. For example, “If we confess our sin, the Lord is faithful and just to forgive…” (1 John 1:9) A familiar verse from the Old Testament is 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people humble themselves and pray and seek my face, then I will hear…and heal their land.”

In Proverbs 3, we find a series of these, “if then” relationships. The first and most well known is in verses 5 and 6. It lets us know that the key to “success” is “trusting the Lord with all of our heart, not relying on our understanding and remembering the Lord in all we do…”

The next is in the following verses. Proverbs 3:7,8 tell us the key to “health.” “Don’t depend on your own wisdom. Respect the Lord and refuse to do wrong. Then your body will be healthy, and your bones will be strong.” Solomon tells us the a healthy lifestyle has a much to do with our moral conduct and placing the Lord first in our lives as it does with our exercise and diet.

Next we find the key to “wealth” in Proverbs 3:9,10 “Honor the Lord with your wealth and the firstfruits from all your crops. Then your barns will be full, and your wine barrels will overflow with new wine.” Once again the key to this important area of life is putting the Lord “first.”

What we see in these verses and others is that following the Lord’s “wisdom” is the path to achieving that which we seek in life. At times it is not the easy or natural response for us. It doesn’t always align with “our understanding.” For example, it is difficult to believe that success comes from distrusting ourselves and how we understand a situation and seeking the Lord’s perspective, and simply trusting in Him.

It doesn’t always make sense that health, comes from honoring the Lord with the way we live our lives. But then again, I am reminded of my many trips to doctor’s offices and the questions related to health history that focus on alcohol use and smoking and other lifestyle issues. Invariably a health assessment is a “lifestyle” assessment. So perhaps Solomon’s wisdom from thousands of years ago, still applies.

In our world of “wealth accumulation” and “making ends meet” it seems odd to put God first, instead of seeing what we have left over after we take care ourselves first. But we see that God’s wisdom in finances is to recognize Him as our source and to honor Him.

We can have confidence that as we align our lives to God’s ways and His wisdom that we find ourselves blessed with the provision of His promises.

Today, I had the skin cancer above my eyebrow removed. It was an interesting process and went well. I was pleased that the doctor was able to remove all the cancerous tissue on the first try. But when the plastic surgeon allowed me to look at the crater that was left, it didn’t look like there was much more to take! This gives me a different take on having a “hole in my head.”

While these procedures are fairly common and not the cause of much concern, with my recent history, I am always glad when what is suppose to be routine, comes out that way. I appreciated my brother-in-law Sam Schmidt for coming to join us for the process and bringing me home after it was over. The doctor gave me a good excuse for “taking it easy” the rest of the day.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “The Lord saw that the human beings on the earth were very wicked and that everything they thought about was evil.…But Noah pleased the Lord.”  Genesis 6:5,8 (NCV)

I have started my next journey through the Bible. I am reading the “New Century Version.” This is one that I have read before, but it has been several years. It doesn’t take long in the Biblical narrative to go from creation to the fall to the growth of the population of people, to the world becoming so full of evil and sin, it compels God to act. Some calculate, based on the year of birth of the first nine generations from Adam, that the flood came 1,656 years after creation. By my calculations Adam was still living during the early years of Lamech, Noah’s father.

While I find some of this timeline study of interest, what we realize is that in the midst of this lineage of a righteous family, evil was growing on the earth. Out of the description of the moral condition of the world at the time, we find this contrast, “But Noah pleased the Lord” or as some translations word it, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

So we see God redirecting His plan for the world to one man and his family. A man who is called, “a preacher of righteousness.” (2 Peter 2:5) Noah pleased and Lord in his personal life of dedication to the Lord and his willingness to speak out against the evil of his day.

The Lord is still looking for lives the please Him and stand out in contrast to the prevailing culture. These are the lives of commitment and courage that He is prepared to use to accomplish His divine purposes, even in our world today.

Because of God sending Jesus into this world, we can be those who “find grace in the eyes of the Lord.” The other early patriarch that “pleased God” was a man named, “Enoch.” The Book of Hebrews speaks of Enoch, “before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Heb. 11:5) The Lord took Enoch out of an evil world through his “translation” – for Noah He delivered him from the evil of the world through divine protection when judgment came.

The bottom line for those who follow Christ today is that when we live our lives in His grace and make it our aim to please Him, the Lord uses us and protects us and delivers us. That was the message that Peter preached to his readers as he spoke of the days of Noah and God’s judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah.  He said, “So the Lord knows how to save those who serve him when troubles come. He will hold evil people and punish them, while waiting for the Judgment Day.”  (2 Peter 2:9)

In a changing world and one that seems to characterize, “the days of Noah” our challenge is to keep our focus on the Lord and to look to Him for strength and courage to live our lives to please Him. As the Lord looks at the world today, may He see us stand in contrast to the surrounding culture.

Today has been a “catch up” day. This last weekend was busier and with the walking that I did was probably more taxing than most. It did have a Chiropractor appointment and did make it to the neighborhood pool for some exercise.

This last weekend our room at the Hyatt Convention Center Hotel gave us a good look at one of Denver’s more well know landmarks the D&F (Daniels & Fisher) Tower. It was Denver’s first high rise opened in 1911 with 20 floors.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Happy are those who don’t listen to the wicked, who don’t go where sinners go, who don’t do what evil people do. They love the Lord’s teachings, and they think about those teachings day and night.”                              Psalm 1:1,2 (NCV)

In our world today, in our culture today, there are many voices. Some of those voices come from friends, parents, media, our own thoughts and of course God’s Word. Each day in each situation we must face the decision as to what “voice” we will listen to. We need to remember that what we give our attention to, will determine our thoughts and actions.

We see that God’s Word provides clear instructions for our life. Psalm 119:9,10 says, “How can a young person live a pure life? By obeying your word. With all my heart I try to obey you. Don’t let me break your commands.” This admonition isn’t exclusive to the “young” and to “men.” It applies to all and it has ramifications for our life outside of “moral” purity. We need to understand that our thoughts and attitudes are being influenced consistently in our lives by what we listen to.

The first Psalm simply says, “don’t listen…don’t go…don’t do what evil people do.” Those verbs provide for us a progression that we need to pay attention to. Listening, leads to going with, and the “going with” leads to “doing with”. Paul in the New Testament gave the warning,  “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”       (1 Corinthians 15:33)

In the first Proverb we read, “My child, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not follow them…My child, do not go along with them; do not do what they do.“ (Proverbs 1:10,15) Sound a lot like Psalm 1. I believe the message is consistent. Solomon, then speaks of the value of wisdom and listening to what “wisdom” says. It is interesting that he says, “wisdom shouts in the streets.” It is as though, in a sea of voices wisdom is wanting to be heard and crying out to get attention of those who listen. The Proverb goes on and say those who ignore wisdom’s counsel will suffer consequences, but those who heed, “…will live in safety and be at peace, without fear of injury.” (Prov. 1:33)

The voices around us are louder and more persistent than we realize. It takes discipline and focus for us to make sure that we are listening to God’s voice and that the words of others that “keep us on track.” This shows the importance of God’s Word being a daily part of our life, and being reinforced in our life through the relationships we have.

Debbie and I enjoyed the final sessions of this year’s Western Conservative Summit. We enjoyed the morning chapel service with Spencer Tillman, former professional football player and sports commentator.

This afternoon, we had a reception for my mother’s 90th birthday. We had a good turn out of family members and friends. One of the pictures is with my mother and my brother and sister, the other is my mother with two of her six sisters that are still living and my father’s brothers and sisters that were in attendance.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”…He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:1-2,15-16

The words of this familiar Psalm can be easily taken for granted. When you are a nomadic people when the heat of the day and the uncertainties of the night pose a daily challenge, a dwelling place and a shadow are not only welcome, but vital to survival. The Psalmist uses figurative language to describe the Lord as a shelter and a shadow. Both of those require proximity and closeness.

It is one thing to understand what the Lord is for us, it is another to receive those benefits. To receive the benefits of who the Lord is, it requires us to “relax and stay put.” We see that in the verbs of “dwell” and “rest.” Making the Lord our refuge and fortress does require trust. It is being where the Lord is, it is staying where He is. I recall a friend once telling me, he found that when there was a sense of alienation from the Lord, he needed to ask himself, “who moved?”

The benefits to that connection and relationship with the Lord described in the first two verses of Psalm 91, are seen in the last verses. When we stay connected to the Lord in a life of trust, we “have His ear.” The Psalmist says, “He will call on me and I will answer him…”

When we stay connected to the Lord in a life of trust, the Lord “is with us to deliver, rescue and honor.” Psalm 34:19 says, “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all…“ The Lord spoke through Samuel and said, “Those who honor me I will honor…” (1 Samuel 2:30)

When we stay connected to the Lord in a life of trust, “it is good for your future.” The Psalmist says, “with long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” God’s promise to His people was, “…as your days, so shall your strength be.” (Deu. 33:2) The Lord gives us the strength we need and sustains us throughout our life as He accomplishes His purpose in our life and brings us to the place where we experience the culmination of His plan and we are “with the Lord forever.”

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.