We are enjoying a nice break in the winter weather. Although we are to have some periodic snow for most of the next week and then be in the 60’s! Baseball season is only a month away. By the time we finish we “March Madness” we will be ready for the “boys of summer.”

After a restful and laid back morning, I made it to the fitness center for a workout. I was surprised that my exercise bike workout went better than usual. Even though my running days are behind, I still correlate workouts to the “personal best” (PB) standard.  I couldn’t figure out if I’m getting stronger, or if the bike I was on was not working properly. So, I will claim the former and be positive about gaining strength and my overall improvement.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. ‘You worthless slave!’… ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to.  You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’  The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.” And Jesus concluded, “That is how my Father in heaven will treat every one of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”       Matthew 18:32-25
Matthew West sings a song, entitled, “Forgiveness”…

It’s the hardest thing to give away

And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those that don’t deserve;

It’s the opposite of how you feel
When the pain they caused is just too real
It takes everything you have just to say the word…

Forgiveness
Forgiveness

It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It’s always anger’s own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying ‘Set It Free’

Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness

Peter’s question to Jesus, “How often should I forgive a brother who sins against me?” reveals that forgiveness has been the struggle of the human condition for time on end. In answering Peter’s question Jesus tells a parable of a man who owed the King “a million dollars” (GNT) As the King was getting ready to sell the man into slavery, he came and begged for “patience.” The King had pity on the man and forgave him the debt and set him free.

When the forgiven man left the King he found a fellow servant who owed him, “a few dollars.” The fellow servant fell down and begged, “Be patient and I will repay you.” The forgiven servant had his fellow servant cast into the debtor’s prison. When the King heard of the injustice of the forgiven servant, he punished that servant. Not because of his debt, but because of his actions…his lack of mercy and failure to show forgiveness.

Some things that I observe in this story…

1 – God’s mercy goes beyond what we ask.  The servant who owed a million dollars came to the King and asked for “more time.” Are you joking? More time, with that amount? But the King did not set up a repayment plan; he had mercy and forgave the man the debt. How often we fail to understand the magnitude of the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness. Sometime we come to God with an attitude of, “forgive me and I’ll do better next time.” That usually doesn’t happen and the Lord forgives us…again. We believe we can earn forgiveness. We can’t its a gift.

2 – Our understanding of forgiveness, impacts our ability to forgive. When the forgiven servant finds his fellow servant who owed him so little in comparison to the get debt he had just been forgiven of, he fails to show the kind of mercy and compassion he had just experienced. Why is that? I recall someone once pointed out, that in his mind the King gave him what he requested….more time. So he is thinking I need a million dollars and I’m going to find it ten dollars at a time. Our ability to forgive is directly related to understanding the forgiveness we have received.

3 – Forgiveness is a matter of the heart –  Our minds call for justice. But forgiveness must come from the heart. The hurts that call for forgiveness can be deep…and it can take time. But a failure to forgive breeds resentment and bitterness and places us in a position that belongs alone to God. God is the righteous and ultimate judge. Matthew West’s song about forgiveness says it well…

It’ll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what it’s power can do
So, let it go and be amazed
By what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you

4 – Forgiveness requires God’s help – The kind of forgiveness we are called to is not possible in our own efforts. It requires the Lord’s help and a willingness to obey and take action. It is an act of faith. It is surrender. Remember, “Surrender is giving up what I want to hold on to.” We speak of the “golden rule” as “do unto others, as you would have them do to you.” While that applies to forgiveness, what Jesus is calling us to is, “do unto others, as I have done for you.” The closing words of Matthew’s West song contain this prayer. It is a good place to start and a reminder that we need the Lord’s help…

 So show me how to see what Your mercy sees
Help me now to give what You gave to me
Forgiveness, Forgiveness….

As I brought my week to an end, I made a trip to Lakewood to take care of some business. In the process I had the opportunity to take Christian and Bridget and the grandkids to lunch. The trip to Lakewood went well with me arriving in a “normal” time. Coming home was different and with traffic and accidents, it ended up being more a two hour drive.

Keep Bridget and her family in your prayers as they mourn the loss of her grandfather, Donald Land. I had the opportunity to meet Don just a few times, but remember him following my illness and recovery and being a great source of encouragement. His memorial service will be next week in Chicago.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:15

Jesus was not only a great teacher, teller of parables and miracle worker; He was also good at asking questions. The art of asking questions is one that is not mastered by many. Jesus asked questions of the Scribes and Pharisees when they tried to trick Him. He asked rhetorical questions and questions that perplex and made people think.

On this occasion Jesus, after His popularity had risen, turns to His disciples and asks them two questions. The first one was, “who do people say that I am?” They responded without the benefit of a Gallup Poll, but just in their own interaction among the crowds. They respond with “some say” John the Baptist. That would be Herod who struggled with so much guilt over the beheading of John, that he believed Jesus was John risen from the dead. (It is interesting that Herod thought Jesus was John risen from the dead, but he would struggle accepting that Jesus, Himself had risen from the dead.)

People readily recognized Jesus as a teacher and prophet. So many believed He was  Elijah or Jeremiah or “one of the prophets.” The bottom line was, the public was divided about Jesus.

Then Jesus moves to the personal level. “What about you? Who do you say that I am?” People are often quick to share the opinion of others, but get uncomfortable when the question becomes personal and requires a definitive response, and they are forced to take a position. I can relate to that from the political world. People would look at issues and want to know “as a candidate what do you believe? What is your position is on this issue.”

Peter speaks up for the disciples and declares, “you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus response is interesting to me when He says, “For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven.” The authority of Jesus. His words, His miracles would seem to lead to the conclusion that He was indeed the Christ. However, Jesus said that to truly understand and believe who He was required divine insight.

Perhaps that still holds true today. With even more “proof” of Jesus being the Messiah, the Christ; there are those who still facilitate on who Jesus is. For many today the opinions about Jesus are the same as when Jesus asked that question to the disciples. But it requires a definitive response; one that requires more than an answer. For one must then ask themselves, “what does that mean for me?”

That question of Jesus to His disciples is one that every person must come to grip with today. It is what requires a position, with no “waffling.” The answer to that question demands a response. And for that reason many will deny what they know to be true. But when an individual “confesses with their mouth and believes in their heart” (Romans 10:9) that Jesus is the Christ, it opens up a new relationship and a new revelation. And to get that question “wrong” can have more consequences than just missing a “few points on a quiz.” And that is something to take to heart and consider and make a decision based on your answer.

Our snowy weather continues, but not as bad as the Denver area. I had a good hour and a half workout today at the fitness center. It was my fourth workout this week, which is good for me. After over 30 minutes on the exercise bike, I did my five minutes on the treadmill. I also, picked up a pair of “Canadian” crutches, to give me some options on my mobility assistance. I Look forward to continue progress in my recovery.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

As I was reading the context of these familiar verses, I took note that they come at at time when Matthew is describing all of the challenges to Jesus ministry. He is accused of breaking the Sabbath. John the Baptist facing certain death and sends disciples to ask Jesus, “are you the One or do we look for another?” There are towns that see incredible miracles, yet continue in their sin. Jesus faces rejection in his own home town. If this was me, I would be looking for a refuge from discouragement, a place of rest and someone to help carry my burden

Yet Jesus looks at the disciples and reassures them, that I am the place you need to come when all these types of trails and challenges of life are getting you down. “Don’t run from me, run to me!” In contrast to the “way of the transgressor” that is is hard (Proverbs 13:15) being yoked with Jesus is easy. In contrast to how people were responding to Jesus, Jesus is the One who accepts instead of rejects; He is a shelter, not a task master. He is a place of rest, not one of who demands more.

As I reflect on this invitation of Jesus, that is so reflective of Isiah 55, (http://biblehub.com/isaiah/55-1.htm) I’m feel good and positive about life and my future. That caused me to reflect on a message of Pastor Brady Boyd, from New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Brady said something like this, “when thing are going well, we need to determine what we believe about Jesus and where to go when life gets rough. Because when the trials come, our response needs to be automatic.”

It is like basic training for life. It is like a fire drill. You practice for the battle, your prepare for the fire ahead of time so when it happens your know what to do, where to go. Too many people allow the circumstances of life to throw them off guard and when that happens, they flounder, doubt or make decisions that only complicate their life.

So the time to decide you need to run to Jesus is before the battle become intense, the fatigue sets in and the burden of life gets you down. Then when those times come, you run to Jesus, stay close to Him and find the place of strength, refuge and rest that you need.

I had a good day at my outpatient therapy session today. I have benefited as much as possible on the Occupational Therapy side of my recovery. So, they will discharge me and I will continue to work on my arm and shoulder strength and range of motion issues with the exercises that I have learned. I practiced using some arm crutches today, during my Physical Therapy session, as an option for my mobility. That may be the next step in my independence as far as walking.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “They stopped worshiping the Lord…Every time they would go into battle, the Lord was against them, just as he had said he would be. They were in great distress…Then the Lord gave the Israelites leaders who saved them from the raiders. But the Israelites paid no attention to their leaders….Whenever the Lord gave Israel a leader, the Lord would help that leader and would save the people from their enemies as long as that leader lived..But when the leader died, the people would return to the old ways and behave worse than the previous generation.”  Judges 2:16-19

“Every nation is one generation away from moral decline.” We certainly see that in the history of God’s people as they enter into the promised land. We can also observe how important leadership is for people to stay committed and focused.

Proverbs 29:18 says it well, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.“

While the Lord desired to be the leader of His people through the prophets and priests, the people just could not keep their focus and commitment to the Lord and His ways. It started when they entered into their possession and against the Lord’s instructions made treaties with the people of the land. Then they intermarried with the people of the land. Then they adopted the idols of the people of the land as their god. Then they cast off all restraint.

Judges 2, is a prelude to the Book of Judges. Before going into the specific history, the stage is set for the pattern that will be followed for several hundreds of years. The people forsake the Lord. They suffer the consequences of their disobedience by being defeated by enemies around. They cry out to God. God sends a “leader, a judge” to rescue them. They enjoy peace for 40 years (as many as 80) and then when that leader is gone, when a new generation arose, they reverted back to disobeying the Lord and falling captive to their enemies.

This cycle can be observed during the time of the judges and through the reign of the kings of Israel. Finally the Lord said, “enough” and He allowed them to be taken captive and removed from their land.

Some random thoughts and observations as I reflect on this history…

1 – The downward inertia of the human condition – Left to our own devices, we can not be right, do right, regardless of “what we know.” That is why through Christ we have God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness extend to us on a continual basis. This is what enables us to break our own downward cycle of destruction.

2 – Leadership is a human need – An trainer of leaders once told his audience, “if people could get the place where they need to be in their lives and as a group on their own they would not need you.” The reality is they can’t and won’t and we need those who will speak into our lives and to guide and direct our lives. Good leaders see good result, poor leaders, corrupt leaders, see the fruit of their efforts too.

3 – Guarding the future generations – God’s people were not able to “keep their act together” for more than a generation or two. Much of that had to do with God’s people not being able to keep their obedience to God in the midst of a corrupt world. While Christ followers are called to be a light to darkness, there is a risk of being overwhelmed and giving into the darkness around. That is why Peter challenged believers to be “vigilant and alert.” The old adage of “being in the world, but not of the world” still applies; perhaps more than ever.

4 – The Mercy of God –  The Lord in His mercy would respond to the cry of His people. His answer was through raising up leaders, divine intervention and eventually divine judgment. But even in the judgement is when the Lord gave the reassurance, “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)

I am thankful the Bible is so open in the struggles and failures of God’s people throughout history. That gives us insight into God’s character and hope for our own lives and future. But let’s be wise and learn and live so the cycle of the past doesn’t have to be repeated in us and future generations.

After my morning prayer meeting with some pastors and leaders, I had my final appointment with my fitness trainer. I feel like I have made enough progress and have enough routines to be on my own for the next month or two. Tomorrow I return to Northern Colorado Rehab Hospital for an outpatient appointment.

I continue to feel like I am making gradual progress and am thankful for each day that I can get out and carry on more of a normal life and schedule of activity. I also was able to wrap up my federal tax return today, which is nice to get completed.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock.…you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”  Matthew 7:7,8,10

I was thinking of these verses when I went to my Tuesday morning prayer time. During our devotional Pastor Dan Nygaard was observing that “while we know we serve a God of unlimited resources, our access to those resources is limited.” This does present a challenge to our trust and faith in times of need.

But we see Jesus the one who tells us that, “asking, seeking and knocking” is the key to receiving, finding and doors being opened. The biblical text carries the meaning of “ask and keep asking… seek and keep seeking… knock and keep knocking…”

While Jesus uses the analogy of parents to children, unlike parents the Lord doesn’t get tired of our persistence. As a matter of fact, He invites it! As a parent who gives good and desires good for their children so the Lord does for us. Sometimes that insight to our lives brings a quick response of yes, other times the Lord answers our prayers by not giving us what we want, but helping us to grow as we face our need.

As we view these verses we tend to focus on the “ask” part, more than “seeking” and “knocking.” Perhaps our faith would be well focused to seek the Lord and His wisdom. To knock on doors of opportunity or opposition and see the Lord respond.

So, let us continue to be bold and persistent in our asking. Trusting the Lord who know us better than we know ourselves and be assured of His continual presence. But let us also remember that seeking and knocking are equally important in our lives.

These can be challenging situations for us. But we can always rest assured of the Lord’s care for our lives and His presence where-ever we are and whatever we face.

One year ago today, I was taken by ambulance to the hospital in septic shock. This is the time that Debbie says, she was watching my life gradually drift away. I am thankful for the training the staff at Poudre Valley Hospital had just completed on treating septic shock. I believe I was the first “almost alive” patient on which they were able to put into practice their training. I returned home after six days in the hospital and ten days at Northern Colorado Rehab Hospital.

Today, I helped Debbie lead the Grief Share group at church. I did share with the men I was meeting with about this anniversary. I said, “but for God’s intervention, Debbie may have been here participating as a widow.”

Instead, I was outside early this morning clearing the driveway of snow pushing the snow shovel in my power wheelchair. It was nice to return home and find some neighbors had finished the job for us.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “…those who are far from You will perish…But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.” Psalm 73:27,28

 ^“The people of Reuben and Gad said, “This altar is a witness to all of us that the Lord is God.” Joshua 22:34

As the Children of Israel moved into the promised land, there were cities east of the Jordan river that were conquered and occupied by the tribes of Ruben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh. The agreement was that the fighting men of those tribes would cross over the Jordan and fight with the rest of the tribes in conquering the land. When the initial battles were won and the tribes of Israel were assigned their boundaries, these tribes east of the Jordan were allowed to return to their cities.

As they returned, they built an altar that was a replica of the altar in front of the “Tent of the Lord’s Presence.”  This was perceived as an act of rebellion by the other tribes and they were preparing for war, when the eastern tribes explained that the altar was not for sacrifices, but for a sign for generations to come that these tribes were part of the inheritance God promised to Abraham. There declaration was “we will continue to serve the Lord God.”

When we fast forward in history we see that these tribes, like those even closer to Jerusalem, did not remain loyal the to the Lord. They were taken captive by the Assyrians as part of God’s judgment. When we read the gospels we find Jesus coming to the area of the “Gadarenes” (Luke 8:26-29). It is there he casts out a “legion” of demons from a man and sends them into the pigs who run off a cliff and are drown in the sea.

When we were touring Israel in the year 2000, we made a trip to the location of this miracle. Our Jewish guide was was an excellent historian with a chronic horse voice, and agnostic when it came to faith. He made a comment on this occasion that I still remember to this day. He said something like this, “when you distance yourself from the center of the presence of God, rebellion and spiritual darkness eventually take over.”

I thought this was challenging spiritual insight from someone who questioned God’s existence and continuing involvement in the lives of His people. However, the words are important ones to remember. When the Lord established the camping order for the tribes of Israel in the wilderness, everything was oriented to the “Tabernacle” that was in the center of the camp. This was a significant reminder that God’s presence is to be the center of our lives and the “north star” for our journey.

This was a change from the early days of the exodus when the “tent of the meeting” was outside the camp and Moses would go and meet with God and return to the people with God’s instructions.

Too many today view God as the one who is “over there” opposed to “right here.” Paul asks the Corinthians, “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God?”         (1 Corinthians 6:19)

When people distance themselves from God’s community and fellowship with God, they begin a journey in the wrong direction. That is not usually their intent. I’ve heard people say, “I am not ‘going the church’ but I haven’t ‘given up on God.” But it in time they find themselves “giving up on God”.

That is why the psalmist says, “it is good for me to be near to God.” That doesn’t mean life is always easy and trouble free. But life will only become more difficult and challenging when we distance ourselves from the Lord’s presence.

The winter storm is coming, but not as vigorous as anticipated, at least at this point. Before being out and about and running some errands today, Debbie and I had breakfast with Sue and Sam Schmidt (Debbie’s sister and her husband)  Cheryl and Mike Pierson (Debbie’s cousin and her husband) We enjoyed our breakfast and time to reconnect. It brought back memories because Sue and Cheryl were at house on July 20, just two days before my hospitalization for breakfast on the patio. They both recalled how I wasn’t feeling good that day, but had no idea (like me) that I would end up in the hospital and begin a long and serious health challenge.

Tomorrow morning I will help Debbie in leading the Grief Share class at Timberline Church. We are looking forward to connecting with this important group who are moving forward through a variety of grief experiences.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “So the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he had solemnly promised their ancestors he would give them. When they had taken possession of it, they settled down there. The Lord gave them peace throughout the land, just as he had promised their ancestors. Not one of all their enemies had been able to stand against them, because the Lord gave the Israelites the victory over all their enemies.  The Lord kept every one of the promises that he had made to the people of Israel.”  Joshua 21:43-45

Joshua was the leader who succeeded Moses and led the Children of Israel to possess the promise land. Joshua was one of the surviving men from Egypt, who had been Moses aide during the experienced exodus and wanderings in the wilderness. He along with Caleb spied out the promise land with 10 others. Only Joshua and Caleb brought back a good report about the land.

Now Joshua after winning key battles and conquering key areas of the land of Canaan, is old and ready to die. Instead of another single leader, the land is divided among the remaining tribes of Israel and they are charged with going forward to take the possession promised by the Lord.

As the people move into their possession Joshua reminds them of the Lord’s faithfulness and charges them to remember some foundational truths…

1 –God Speaks to You – Joshua reminds them to obey all that is written in the Law. This is the guide to success and their lifeline to victory. They also could be confident that as they sought the Lord, He would provide through His Priests and Prophets specific instructions and messages.

2 – God Fights for You – “The Lord your God has been fighting for you.… The Lord your God will make them retreat from you, and he will drive them away as you advance.” (Joshua 23:3,5) What they had seen the Lord do for them, He would continue to do. The battle belonged to the Lord. As they would remain faithful, the Lord would honor their efforts with success. It is easy to try to fight our own battles. Sometimes we need to stop and trust God to bring victory in the struggle of life that confront us.

3 – God Keeps His Promises to You – “The Lord kept every one of the promises that he had made to the people of Israel.” (Joshua 21:45) We can count on the faithfulness and reliability of the promises of God. What he said, He will do, what He has promised, will come to pass. Any degree of uncertainty is due to human failures, not God’s faithfulness.

4 – God Disciplines You –  ^“If you do not keep the covenant which the Lord your God commanded you to keep and….he will punish you, and soon none of you will be left in this good land that he has given you.” (Joshua 23:16)

We have seen this warning throughout the pages of the journey too the promise land. But we see that God’s discipline is not a vindictive action, it is correction. It is training. It is warning. It is intended to get the attention of God’s people that they may come to Him and find mercy and forgiveness.

These foundational truths are ones that are good for us to remember in our life today. They serve as guidelines for us to possess the “promise land” the Lord has given to us. While for God’s people it was territory, for us it may be a realm of “spiritual territory” or an area of our life where we need some “victory” and to defeat enemies that have confronted us and kept us from experiencing the fullness of the life God has for us.

In our lives today, we can be confident of the Lord’s direction, His protection, His faithfulness and His work in our lives bringing us to the place we need to be in our life with Him.

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The Foundational Truths above, I borrowed from the introduction of a message shared by my friend and pastor in Littleton, Bill Oudemolen. You can listen to his entire message entitled, “Casual Christian or Captive Christian” at the link below:

http://foothillsbiblechurch.org/sermons/casual-christian-or-captive-christian/