I continue to lay the groundwork for my run for City Council in Fort Collins. This has been an Atlanta “snow day.” Here it snows ice (so it seems). The two inches here competes for a record and allows local residents to enjoy the unique weather as activities and businesses are canceled.

The grand kids with some friends from the neighborhood, enjoyed sliding down the long steep driveway of Nathan and Stephanie’s home. Nathan took his four-wheeler and had an outing with some friends in nearby fields. Stephanie shared that church services have been canceled for tomorrow.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” Genesis 28:20-22 ESV

Jacob had bought the rights of the firstborn from Esau for a bowl of stew. He had deceived his father, with the help of his mother, to rob the blessing of the firstborn. But now he faced a situation that he could not control and did not have assurance of what would take place.

As he journeys back to his mother’s family, he finds himself alone, afraid and uncertain of what would happen. He has a powerful vision and encounter with “the God of Abraham and Isaac.” Soon Jacob realized that the he needed to know this God of his father.

He makes a “bargain” with the Lord. If God will go with him, provide for him and allow him to return to his father’s house, he would embrace the God of his father, as his God.

We see that in the course of time the Lord reveals His purpose and plan for Jacob. Jacob one day returns. Not just having been provided for and protected. He returns with two wives, 12 sons and rich with livestock and possessions.

As a result of God’s faithfulness, we see the God of Abraham and Isaac becoming the “God of Jacob.” In the future, and for ages to come, this “Lord God” would be known as the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

As part of Jacob’s commitment he promises to give a tithe of all that he possessed. This pledge is one of the oldest demonstrations of lordship in the Bible. The one before this was with Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedek.”  “Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him….And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” (Genesis 14:18-20 ESV)

Before the law, the concept of the “tithe” is observed in scripture as not just recognizing s source of blessing, but in recognizing authority, rule and lordship. So, when we tithe, it is a declaration of not just the blessing of the Lord and recognizing Him as our “source” but it is also a demonstration that the “Lord is our God.”

Prayer for today… Lord, the most important commitment we can make is to know and declare You as “our God.” Allow that relationship of trust and faith be demonstrated by our words and actions, as we recognize Your provision and lordship. 

Early this morning I made a trip with grandson Riley to the airport to fly to Atlanta. Thanks to Christian for getting up at 3 a.m. to get us to the airport. We arrived at 11:30 a.m. but found the drive from the airport to Stephanie and Nathan’s house as long as the flight from Denver to Atlanta. A winter storm warning had everyone rushing home early, jamming the highways.

This time of the year brings several birthdays close together. Today is son-in-law Nathan’s birthday, yesterday was daughter-in-law Bridge’s birthday and on December 31st was granddaughter Mckenzie’s birthday. Hard to believe she is four. So, I talked her into a picture so I could see what a four year-old looked like.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah…” (Genesis 25:8,9 ESV)

We see it in the life of Abraham and his sons, we see it in our world today; the time of death brings family back together; even when there has been hardship, struggles and division.

I think of the well-known brothers of early Bible history. Cain and Abel; Ishmael and Isaac; Esau and Jacob. Then the twelve sons of Jacob. I am glad that the Bible records the facts of the history of God’s people past for what it was. In that there may be some encouragement for God’s people in the present.

Families are not perfect. They have their challenges, conflicts and even divisions. The greatest were Cain and Abel, when the first murder occurred with the first brothers. We see Ishmael and Isaac set up a conflict between peoples that is still present in our day. We see that Esau, after Jacob deceived Isaac to “steal” his blessing, threatened to kill Jacob.

But even with some of that history we read at the time of Jacob’s death, “Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.” (Genesis 35:29 ESV)

When family reunites at the time of death, while it may be out of love or simply respect for the deceased, it is a reminder of what matters most. I like the simple triumvirate my friend Paul Irwin shared with me, “life is a gift, life is precious, life is fragile.” Even when someone dies at an old age we are reminded that we all face, in the words of the apostle Paul, the “time of our departure.”

This time provides family an opportunity to focus on shared history and not the conflicts or struggles of family life. It can be a time of healing; or lives can just return to “business as usual” when it is all over. Shared history and a common heritage can serve to unite if we allow it to do so and allow the Lord to guide our actions and reactions.

It would be interesting to have the “back story” of the interactions of these Bible characters when they were reunited at the time of death. There is an opportunity for reconciliation, but it has to be seized and other than what we only see working out in the course of history, we don’t have much detail of the lives of the actual siblings, before their own deaths.

That is another lesson we can learn and observe. Unresolved conflicts, impact the future. When opportunities for healing are passed by, it seems the scar tissue becomes set over time.

Relationships matter. Family relationships are important. This is true in our natural families and in the “spiritual family” of God. Two verses when, it comes to conflict resolution, come to mind:

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” (James 1:19 NIV)

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31,32 NIV)

Prayer for today…. Lord, help us to value the relationships that tie us together the most; those of family. Where there is hurt, bring healing; where there is division, bring unity; where there is hatred, bring love. May our lives reflect Your highest good for us in Christ Jesus.

Today in addition to a two hour work out and a trip to Denver to prepare for a flight to Atlanta tomorrow with grandson Riley; I made a stop at Fort Collins City Hall to submit my papers to the Clerk as a candidate for City Council. This will be an interesting race and a different challenge compared to other political pursuits.

You can check out my website in process at www.kensummers.us  This will evolve over the course of the next few weeks. I am now ready to accept donations to my effort! The maximum contribution is $75, so I need many friends who will donate, $25, $50 or $75 dollars. You can do so on PayPal.com  Use ken@kensummers.us to make a donation and in the “note” section please include your address. Thanks for you support, as I follow this path. If you want to mail a check you can make it payable to “Citizens for Ken Summers” and send to 5706 White Willow Dr Fort Collins, CO 80528

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  Psalm 16:11 ESV

When Jesus called His disciples, He did so with the simple invitation to “follow me.” The Christian life can be summed up in the call and challenge to follow in the path of the Lord. To follow Him, to “journey” with Him.

We see the Lord’s promise in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Jesus’ words to Thomas’ question and confusion was simply, “I am the way, the truth and the life…” (John 14:6 NIV)

When the Psalmist declares, “You make known to me the path of life…” I believe we can see that in the practical and the spiritual application. When we trust in the Lord, we can be confident of His direction for our life.  The Lord to the prophet spoke, “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 NLT)

We can also see the quality of life the Lord leads us in. It is the path or “life” versus as path of “death” or a dead end road. It is a path of purpose, fulfillment and one with a destiny.

Jesus just doesn’t point us in a direction and send us off on our own. Instead, we can be confident of His abiding presence and His ongoing guidance. He is the God who is “with us.” When He is with us we can know the joy He brings and the pleasures He affords to those who follow Him. I like the words of Psalm 84, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.” (Psalm 84:5 NIV)

Psalm 84 has in its view the earthly Jerusalem. We today make a commitment to follow Christ who leads us in a pilgrimage to a “heavenly” Jerusalem. A place of dwelling for eternity in His presence. This is the place of true joy and pleasure. Not the temporary joy and pleasures offered by the world, or found in temporal pursuits, but the joy that comes alone for the Lord.

Prayer for today…. Lord thank You, that there is no better path to walk than the one where You lead. Thank You for the direction you provide in our life when we need it in the practical application. But more than that thank You that the path of life we experience when we journey with You is one of joy and pleasure. 

Our winter weather is presenting some challenges to navigate around town. But I was out early this morning for a breakfast meeting, before a chiropractor appointment, followed by another meeting. I was able to get to the gym for a workout since I had a couple of days off.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “…the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”  And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”  Genesis 15:4-6 ESV

In the story of Abraham and Sarah, we see that the plan of God is not without human frustrations, doubts and impatience.

Abraham had been following the Lord’s leading and much had taken place since following the call of God. The journey had been difficult, there was a “side trip” to Egypt; tension between the herdsman of Abraham and Lot; there was separation between Abraham and Lot; but then a dramatic rescue mission. Still no offspring to indicate a chance of God’s word being fulfilled.

Abraham is understandably confused. He complains to the Lord that now Lot has gone his own way, the only one to inherit all that he has is his servant. The Lord confronts Abraham with an abrupt response. “This man shall not be your heir…” The Lord then promises Abraham not just a son, but many sons and offspring that cannot be counted.

The simple response of Abraham is that, “he believed the Lord…” We are not sure how old Abraham was, but we do know that Sarah became impatient and as a result Abraham had a son with Hagar. Abraham was 86 at the time. When Abraham was 99 Sarah still did not have a child and Abraham must have been content with the idea that the Lord was fulfilling His promise through Ishmael.

We then see the Lord appearing in human form to Abraham and telling him that Sarah would have a son within the next year. The righteous faith of over a decade ago was now viewed as a cruel joke or as humorous ignorance on the part of the visiting strangers. Apparently they didn’t realize how old Sarah and Abraham really were!

At the “end of the story” we see that scripture focuses on the faith of Abraham that allowed Him to be called, “righteous.” The times of trying to help God out or feeling that the promise was already fulfilled in a different way than anticipated, did not mitigate the initial belief in God’s word and promise.

When we look at this account and other accounts in scripture we see the importance of believing in God’s word. God’s timing is not the same as ours. The way God acts is not what we would expect. He does not always do the same thing in the same way. This calls us to an open-ended trust. It calls us to patience. It call us to avoid trying to “help God out.”

Prayer for today…. Lord, help us to see that the righteous life, is a life of trust. It is a life of taking You at Your word. Often the way You work is to reveal Your power and the fact that “nothing is impossible with God.”

The past ten days or so I have been fast-tracking plans to re-enter the political arena through being a candidate for Fort Collins City Council. I will share more and you will hear from me about how you can support my effort. You can check out my website at www.kensummers.us

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” Genesis 3:7 ESV

This last weekend my friend Darren Fred shared a message at Timberline Church that challenged m thinking about “the fall” and how it relates to “human nature.”

The concept about the desire to know – the desire to experience – leads to a curiosity that more often than not backfires in the realm of human experience. There is a saying that, “ignorance is bliss.” When that “ignorance” is related to experiences that bring more harm and confusion to our life that is certainly the case. But the “point of the spear” of temptation seems to be tied to this issue.

For Adam and Eve it was, “What will it be like to ‘know good and evil?'” “Perhaps we are missing out on something.” “Is God protecting us, or is He ‘holding back’on us?” What they found in their “experiment” was that “knowing” can promise much, but deliver something that is unexpected. They found “their eyes opened” and they experienced something that is common to “knowing evil” and that is guilt and shame.

There disobedience, severed the connection with God that they had enjoyed and now they were “on their own.” They did not have the covering that came from God when they were created, but had to “cover themselves.” Then God did make them clothes from an animal; so we see death was needed to cover their shame. They lost their “innocence” and in doing so had to face the consequences.

I recall the haunting words of a teen from one of our Teen Challenge programs. She said, “I wanted to ‘know” what it was like to be high on meth, and now I wish I never did.” But we see “innocence” is mocked in our culture. People stand aghast, at the teen or young adult that faces a sense of “being out of it” with comments like,  “you’ve never been drunk?!” ” “You’re are still a virgin!?” “You have never tried drugs?!” But often those same individuals find themselves eventually (if they haven’t already) regretting their lost “innocence.”

I think of the admonitions and observations in the New Testament. “…but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.” (Romans 16:19 NIV) “It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.” (Ephesians 5:12 NIV)

There is a way to deal with our lost innocence. It is found in forgiveness and a new life in Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2  Corinthians 5:17 NIV) “…all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24 NIV)

God’s ways are for our good. God’s grace is redemptive. God’s plan is restorative. Heaven will be Eden restored. It will be innocence recovered. “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27 NIV)

Prayer for today… Lord, thank You that we can trust You to watch out for our lives. You desire us to know Your peace and perfect plan being worked out in our lives. Thank You for Your saving grace and work of redemption. 

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:5,6 ESV

Temptation. It confronted Adam and Eve, it confronted Christ, it confronts those of all times. What is interesting is that while the specifics may vary the general focus is the same. John wrote, “For everything in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:16 NIV) Paul said, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind….” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)

How do we see these play out in the record of the “fall”? The first thing the serpent does in “setting up” Eve is to ask, “Has God really said?” Doubting God’s Word is the hammer blow against the foundation that allows us to stand strong and to be stable. That is why we see in scripture the admonition to, “stand strong in the faith…” (1 Corinthians 16:16) When we add to, dilute or doubt God’s Word we quickly drift into vulnerability.

Next we see the serpent telling Eve (with Adam within ear shot), “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The tactic moves from a seed of doubt to an outright accusation that God is not telling the truth. God can’t be trusted, because He is keeping something from you. Something that is good and desirable. This powerful statement of accusation against God, also carries with it that idea, that “you can not only have something you don’t, but it will make you better than you are.” You can be “like God….” Ever since the garden people have sought to be “like God.” We see it in the Tower of Babel. We see in modern humanism. 

What is of interest, is that in the gospel, we see  God “not holding back” and promising His very Spirit to be in those who place their faith in Him. Jesus told His disciples, “greater works will you do than I have done.” We see the promise of scripture, “….The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” (Psalm 84:11 NLT) Peter wrote, “…he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” (2 Peter 1:4 NLT)

Finally, we see the appeal to the senses, “…the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes….” The ability to see and behold beauty in all of its forms is a gift from God. But it can also be the greatest form of temptation. Satan showed Jesus, all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. John warned about the “lust of the eyes.”

When we reflect on all of this we can related to the apostle Paul when he was writing about the war in his flesh. He said, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:24,25 NLT)

John wrote, “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:17 NIV) Paul said, “…But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV) John also wrote, “But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1 NIV)

The good news is that Jesus Christ through the cross “has us covered!” The resources and the rescue plan to keep us from condemnation and to live a victorious life.

Prayer for today… Lord, thank You that our focus does not need to be on sin and temptation. We can hold on to and rest in Your gracious provision. Help us to be mindful of the tactics of the enemy of our soul. Help us to stand firm in the faith and to hold to Your Word, with complete trust and confidence in the life You give.

Happy New Year! Here we go into 2017. This is the start of my fourth year since my life we set on a different course due to a long hospitalization. I have started my annual “read through the Bible” plan and look forward to sharing thoughts in my blog through this year. This may be the year that I don’t maintain the “daily” reflections that have continued since my hospitalization when Debbie established a CaringBridge site to report updates on my health status. My thanks to those who have journeyed with me in this way over the years and will continue to do so in the year ahead.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10,11 ESV

It was the opposite of a modern day, reality show of two couples facing a testing their survivor skills in a wilderness area. This couple had all that they needed; all provided by the God who created them and the heavens and the earth. However the peace and tranquility they were experiencing had been broken by one encounter and the alluring, “try it you’ll like” trap of the serpent.

They “tried it” but the fruit that looked so appealing had a “bad after taste.” They now had knowledge of what they had not experienced, but not what they needed to. As a result, they saw themselves outside of the reassuring connection of God and they realized they were “naked’ and they were afraid.

The time came that they “feared.” The Lord God calling Adam’s name. “Where are you? Who told you, you were naked? Have you eaten of the fruit?” The tension could have not been any greater than a court room drama with the guilty on the witness stand being cross examined by a passionate prosecutor.  Palms sweating, heart racing. A desire to turn back the clock and to wish they had not done, what they had done.

We see them responding as mankind has responded ever since. No direct admission. Trying to soften the guilt, trying to “side step” with indirect responses, “the women, you gave me….” Eve points finger at the serpent. Personal responsibility continues to be something that is difficult to accept. It is always some one else’s fault….There were mitigating circumstances…I’m really not the bad, that type of a person.

John would state it accurately when he wrote, “…fear has to do with punishment.” (1 John 4:18 NIV) Adam and Eve had to face the consequences of their actions. They could hide themselves, but they could not hide from themselves or God. John would write about sin and tell us that it does no good, to deny it, to justify it, to rationalize it. Sin must be confessed.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”                 (1 John 1:9 ESV)

When we find ourselves “exposed” as we really and we are to remember to run to God, not from God. Remember we can’t hide from God, we can only fool ourselves. “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” (1 John 3:19,20 ESV)

Prayer for today…. Lord, we can see Adam and Eve in ourselves. Thank You that we have been provided a Savior who is able to deal with our sin, so we don’t have to hide or deny; but we can confess and find restoration and peace.