Monthly Archives: October 2009

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Exodus 35

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What I have I offer. Then they came back, every one whose heart was roused, whose spirit was freely responsive, bringing offerings to God for building the Tent of Meeting, furnishing it for worship and making the holy vestments. Exodus 35:21 (MSG)

Everyone was at the meeting when Moses came down from the mountain. Everyone saw his face shining with God's glory. Everyone heard God's Message from his lips. Everyone dispersed. Not everyone came back. 

Those who returned were those whose hearts were roused and whose spirits were responsive. They came back with something to offer.

I don't want to be the person who was merely checked off for my attendance before God. I want my heart roused. I want my spirit to be freely responsive. I want to reciprocate with something tangible to offer.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and uncleboatshoes

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Exodus 34

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Everyone needs a mulligan. Moses was there with God forty days and forty nights. He didn't eat any food; he didn't drink any water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Words. Exodus 34:28 (MSG)

In the world of my childhood, on the playground, there was no better picture of grace than the "do over." You line up your shot beneath the basketball hoop and give it your best heave. The ball misses the hoop entirely and you shout "DO OVER!" Things did not turn out as you planned, so you get another shot. When we grow up and play golf, this is called a "Mulligan."

Casual readers of God's message, or watchers of the movie the Ten Commandments, will easily remember Moses going up the mountain and coming back with the tablets to find the people worshiping the golden calf. What we don't often remember is that Moses and the people got a "do over." Moses ascended the mountain again, and stayed up there for 40 days and nights again, and returned down the mountain again.

The return trip, however, was different. This time, the people waited and anticipated Moses' return. There was no falling into doubt and idolatry. Instead of descending in anger and shock, Moses descended aglow with God's glory. Same story, different outcome.

There are many times in life when we need a spiritual "Mulligan." We start a leg of the journey with the best of intentions and end up, as Bob Dylan sang, "on a bad motorcycle with the Devil in the seat, going 90 miles-an-hour down a dead end street."

God specializes in second chances. We all need a "do over" from time to time. Take a mulligan today. Tee it up again. Get a fresh start.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and Dru Bloomfield

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Exodus 33

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Check the map. God said, "My presence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end." Exodus 33:14 (MSG)

Maps. My wife loves maps. Wendy and I traveled last week and I was, once more, struck by the difference between us when it comes to travel. It's not that I don't look at the map. I look, but I get a general course of direction and go. Wendy studies the map before we leave. She meditates on the possible courses we could take and contemplates the best way to get where we're going. She looks at the GPS and calculates the route. Then, as we drive, she anticipates what lies ahead, where we have to turn, how far we have to go to the next way point, and if the chosen route continues to look like the best choice.

I thought of that as I read about Moses pushing God saying, "You tell me, 'I know you well and you are special to me.' If I am so special to you, let me in on your plans." What are the plans God? Where are we going? Where are you leading us? What road are we taking? How long until we get there? What do I need for the journey? Can you please give me a map?

Whether we're looking for a general idea of the direction or a detailed GPS navigational map of the trip, I think Moses echoes our own heart's cry at regular intervals along the journey. We're constantly grasping at a peek of what is coming up around the bend.

Yet, God responded to Moses' demand with a simple promise of His presence. He will be present with us. He will be faithful. He will see us to the journey's end. We may not have been given a map, but if we'll simply follow directions and keep up, we can trust our Guide to see us through to the end.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and cmbjn843

Wayfarer's Journal

Great Evening with Cuz

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Dinner at Bucas! Wendy and I are getting ready to say good-bye to "Sin City," and we're packing for home. We enjoyed our week here, and I appreciated the conference I attended. The truth is, however, that the highlight of the week was not the bright lights, slot machines and shows. The highlight was catching up with old family and friends.

Last night we went to Buca Di Beppo's and met my cousin, Amy. Wendy had never met Amy and it had been years since I'd seen her. Me and my siblings grew up making a lot of fun memories with Amy and her siblings. There is something special about all of those early, shared experiences. We sat down at the table and immediately dove in to catch up on one-another's lives. Poor Amy, she was fighting a cold and clearly didn't feel that well. Hopefully the good food and laughter made her feel a little better!

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Amy, and we left with those pangs of sadness that they happen far too seldom.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and thomashawk

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Exodus 32

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Really! It just popped out of the fire! "So I [Aaron] said, 'Who has gold?' And they took off their jewelry and gave it to me. I threw it in the fire and out came this calf." Exodus 32:24 (MSG)

From the time we're little children, we know how to make excuses for our wrong-doings. We get caught with our hand in the cookie jar and exclaim, "But, mommy! I was getting a cookie for YOU!" We get caught making out on the couch with our girlfriend and exclaim, "It's not what it looked like! We weren't lying together. We were just hugging, lost our balance, and fell over." We are questioned about our sin and obfuscate the truth to the point we're arguing over the definition of the word "is."

We can shake our heads and laugh at Aaron for expecting Moses to believe that he threw gold in the fire and, when he pulled it out, there was this statue of a calf. The reality is that each one of us, at one time or another, have stretched the truth in an attempt to avoid the consequences.

The path to maturity begins with the single step of being honest about ourselves and our mistakes. Only when we're willing to admit the truth about our shortcomings can we begin the process of repentance and positive growth.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and allspice1

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Exodus 32

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Really! It just popped out of the fire! "So I [Aaron] said, 'Who has gold?' And they took off their jewelry and gave it to me. I threw it in the fire and out came this calf." Exodus 32:24 (MSG)

From the time we're little children, we know how to make excuses for our wrong-doings. We get caught with our hand in the cookie jar and exclaim, "But, mommy! I was getting a cookie for YOU!" We get caught making out on the couch with our girlfriend and exclaim, "It's not what it looked like! We weren't lying together. We were just hugging, lost our balance, and fell over." We are questioned about our sin and obfuscate the truth to the point we're arguing over the definition of the word "is."

We can shake our heads and laugh at Aaron for expecting Moses to believe that he threw gold in the fire and, when he pulled it out, there was this statue of a calf. The reality is that each one of us, at one time or another, have stretched the truth in an attempt to avoid the consequences.

The path to maturity begins with the single step of being honest about ourselves and our mistakes. Only when we're willing to admit the truth about our shortcomings can we begin the process of repentance and positive growth.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and allspice1

Wayfarer's Journal

A Priceless Gift

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12-24-07_1139 Last week, the passage we're studying at church spoke of the hearts of Jesus' disciples being "hardened." That phrase jumped off the page at me, and my quiet prayer all of last week was that God would soften my heart.

On Saturday afternoon, Wendy and I attended the wedding of some friends. As the music swelled and the bride walked down the aisle on her father's arm, I felt strong emotions stirring in me. It was exactly two weeks from the day I would have my eldest, Taylor, on my arm, escorting her down the aisle. As hard as I fought, I couldn't hold back the tears seeping out of the corner of my eyes as I watched the father giving away his daughter.

For the past nineteen years, I think I've had a pretty objective view of my role as father to Taylor and Madison. I realize that my role as daddy has been to instill in them a clear understanding that they are loveable and valuable, and raise them to be capable young women who will walk their own journey faithfully. I realize that God is, ultimately, their Father. I am a steward, blessed with the task of participating in the miracle of their birth, loving them, providing for them, teaching them, and caring for them as they prepare for the day when they head off on the path God has appointed for them.

As I sat in that pew and watched the bride and groom make their vows, my emotions swelled over me like a tidal wave. "I'm not ready to give her away," I thought to myself with sudden realization. This is the most precious gift I could ever give to anyone. Taylor is absolutely priceless, and I'm just going give her away. My brain could argue all it wanted about this being the natural order of things and this being just another waypoint in the journey, but sitting there at the wedding I could feel my heart ripping apart.

Trying desperately to rely on my stoic Dutch genes, I fought back the overwhelming grief in my heart the rest of that day. Evening came, and I couldn't hold it together any longer. The emotional dam burst and I sobbed out my grief on the shoulder of a very surprised and perplexed Wendy.

In the midst of my tears, I was gently reminded of my prayers all that week. My heart of stone had, indeed, been softened so that I could feel this sorrow. "I know," I heard God's Spirit whisper in the midst of my grief, "and now you have a hint of what I felt to give away my Son to a world that would reject and kill him."

The following evening, Taylor and I shared a few tears together as I told her of my experience that week, and my emotions. Despite those feelings, I look forward to this important waypoint in our shared journey. No parent looks back without a few pangs of regret for mistakes made and things left unsaid and undone. Yet, I realize that Taylor was a priceless gift given to my care over nineteen years ago. While my role in her life will never be completely finished, it is time to walk her down the aisle and "give away" that which was given me. Then, to celebrate, love, and support both Taylor and Clayton as they become one flesh and start their journey together.

Wayfarer's Journal

Week in Vegas

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Welcome to Las Vegas. Wendy and I have been in Las Vegas this week. I spoke at a Call Center Conference at Mandalay Bay and I have spent the week attending sessions and doing some networking. Wendy has been working from the hotel room while I'm at the conference. Vegas really isn't our cup o' tea, though we took a drive down the strip last night and enjoyed the spectacle.

The highlight of the week, for us, has been reconnecting with family and friends. A good friend of mine, Tim Egan, moved out here several years ago and we got together with Tim and his wife for dinner the other night. It was great to catch up. When Tim was single and living in Des Moines, we spent many an evening together talking about life and solving the world's problems (though no one ever listened). We enjoyed our time with Tim and Laura, and it made me miss his company.

Tonight, we are having dinner with my cousin, Amy. I can't wait to see her again. After making so many memories as kids, the opportunity to see one another has become a rare occurrence.

We head home tomorrow and prepare for a big wedding that's coming up a week from Saturday!

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Exodus 31

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Just breathe. "Yes, because in six days God made the Heavens and the Earth and on the seventh day he stopped and took a long, deep breath." Exodus 31:17 (MSG)

In my youth I was a competitive swimmer. While swimming in a race, the act of taking a breath slowed you down. If you could keep from breathing on every stroke you could shave precious seconds off of your time and it gave you a competitive edge. The key was to push yourself as long as possible and worry about breathing after the race.

In the "rat race" of life, we get sucked into a similar belief. We push ourselves day-by-day to get as much done as possible, filling our lives with a blur of motion. The idea of "sabbath" has become a forgotten concept. If we stop, even for a moment, we might miss out on something. We might lose our edge. We may not be competitive.

I love the way the Message translates the Sabbath as "a long, deep breath." How often do I feel choked by my schedule? God knows that my spirit requires "a long, deep breath" on a regular basis. The discipline of rest feeds my body, mind and soul with spiritual oxygen. Rest is a holy practice I, too often, ignore.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and chucka_nc

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Exodus 30

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Half shekel. The rich are not to pay more nor the poor less than the half-shekel offering to God, the atonement-tax for your lives. Exodus 30:15 (MSG)

So much of our world is focused on economics and economic disparity. "The rich get richer," the saying goes. "The poor will always be with you," people utter, quoting Jesus. Taxes create strong reactions across all economic lines.

I find it interesting that God asked the people of Israel to pay this simple flat-tax called the "atonement tax." God is a God of metaphor, and this tax was a constant reminder that in the economy of God's Kingdom we all stand equal. Rich or poor, great or humble, the debt of sin is the great equalizer. We all fall short of God's glory, and we all owe a debt that is humanly impossible to pay.

Once again, the ancient system God instituted through Moses encompasses the great theme of human history and foreshadows God's plan to redeem all of us through the sacrifice of his very own Son.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and tal_klinger