Monthly Archives: July 2010

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 18

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Leadership Thus David ruled over all of Israel. He ruled well, fair and evenhanded in all his duties and relationships. 1 Chronicles 18:14 (MSG)

This past weekend my dad and I were road tripping down to the lake with my wife. In the process of our conversation, my dad mentioned that he’d run into my Junior High school Principal who had asked about me. When I was younger, I had positions of student leadership in school. But, I wasn’t the greatest leader in the world. I thought that being in a position of leadership meant lording it over others, getting what you want, and doing what was in your best interest. Even though it was part of the journey that led to my relationship with Christ, I look back on those years with a sense of shame for my motivations and actions.

“If you see him again,” I told my dad, “Tell him I’m sorry for being such an obnoxious little twerp.”

I thought about that when I read the description of David’s leadership in today’s chapter. What a great description to have recorded through history of your leadership. What a great benchmark to strive for in my leadership positions in family, church, community and business: “To rule well, fair and evenhanded in all my duties and relationships.”

Today, I’m thinking about my current positions of leadership, and doing some evaluation.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and lumaxart

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 17

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Paving the way. “And now I’m telling you this: God himself will build you a house! When your life is complete and you’re buried with your ancestors, then I’ll raise up your child to succeed you, a child from your own body, and I’ll firmly establish his rule. He will build a house to honor me, and I will guarantee his kingdom’s rule forever.” 1 Chronicles 17:10b-12 (MSG)

I sat in the high school gym with my daughter’s Geography teacher. It was parent-teacher conferences and I was there to get a snapshot of how my daughter was doing in class. Her teacher looked at me and chuckled.

“You daughter has seen more of the world than I have. In some ways, she knows more about Geography than I do!” he said.

I got his point. My eldest daughter is barely 20, and both of my daughters have been around the world to share the love of Christ with others. Thailand, India, Romania, Costa Rica, Panama, Morocco, and Mexico to be exact. When I was their age, I could not have fathomed having the breadth of experiences and opportunities that they have had to make a difference in other people’s lives.

As I have supported their journies, prayed for them, and watched them grow, my mind has often wandered back to this chapter in 1 Chronicles. I watch my children give themselves to the work and I’m proud of them. In many ways, they have already seen more and experienced more in their 20 years than I have in all of my 40 (plus a few). God willing, my road will take me many places before my journey is through. Nevertheless, I accept that they will experience things and accomplish things of which I never dreamed.

David was a warrior and his road led through wilderness and battle. His road paved the way for his son, Solomon, who would enjoy a road that led through peace and knowledge. David’s road made the way for Solomon’s. My parents road paved the way for me. My road paves the way for my children. There is a subtle and holy order in that.

My job is to walk the path I’m given, and to prepare and support my children for the path God has for them.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and edwinylee

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 16

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Religion or relationship. That was the day that David inaugurated regular worship of praise to God, led by Asaph and his company. 1 Chronicles 16:7 (MSG)

There was a distinct point in time when, for me, “going to church” became “worship.” I was raised going to church. We were there every Sunday. I was a regular attender at Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Choir, and Sunday mornnig service. It was what my family did. We were religious about going to church, but wasn’t really worship for me.

It was while I was in high school that I entered into a relationship with Jesus. Suddenly, the stale mechanics of going to church took on a whole new dimension. I wasn’t checking something off my to-do list of good intentions. I wasn’t just doing what my parents demanded. I was going to meet with God. I was going to have a heart-to-heart with Jesus, to learn from his message, and to worship the one who gave up his life for me.

One of the things that David understood was the importance of worship. Reading Chronicles, I get the sense that David viewed worship as a way of honoring God who had protected him, anointed him, and saved him. It wasn’t about some religious good-luck charm. David understood that regular worship was part of his relationship with God.

Going to church is a religious good deed. Worshiping God is a relational act of the heart.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and stuckincustoms

 

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Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 15

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What is appropriate worship. When the Chest of the Covenant of God entered the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, was watching from a window. When she saw King David dancing ecstatically she was filled with contempt. 1 Chronicles 15:29 (MSG)

As I read this verse in today’s chapter I was taken back in my memory to a congreational meeting I experienced many years ago. It was a hot summer evening, and it was heated in the air conditioned meeting as well. The source of contention: whether it’s appropriate to clap in church. The divide was, in general, along generational lines. The anti-clappers were entrenched in their insistence that the worship service be reverant, holy and quiet. The pro-clappers had various verses about praising God with clapping picked out to prove their point.

Worship can be a funny deal for people. How we express our praise and worship can be a very personal thing. I have been through several of these heated congregational meetings in different churches in which people were debating whether it was appropriate to clap. I’ve had to endure similar debates on raising hands in worship. The crux of the issue in these silly debates tends to always boil down to what individuals feel is appropriate, which I usually interpret to mean what makes them feel comfortable and should therefore apply to everyone around them so that they don’t feel uncomfortable in worship.

Worship is a personal thing, and I’ve always tried to personally be true to two things when I’m in worship. First, I try to worship in a way that is true to God’s message and what God has prescribed. Second, I try not to worry about anyone else. I’m responsible for how I am expressing praisse, thanks, honor, and confession. If I’m busy worrying about what other people are doing, then I’m not really focused on the reason I’m there in the first place.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and wohlford

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 14

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2010 05 03 Playhouse Construction Weekend 005 God answered, “This time don’t attack head-on; circle around and come at them out of the balsam grove. When you hear a sound like shuffling feet in the tops of the balsams, attack; God will be two steps ahead of you….” 1 Chronicles 14:14b-15a (MSG)

We just finished a(nother) weekend of construction on the lower level of our playhouse at the lake. We had a stellar crew helping us with doors, flooring, and electrical work. I am, admittedly, not a real do-it-yourself guy. I can do some basics with a hammer and screwdriver, but I’m pretty clueless when it comes to some of the intricacies of construction.

One of the blessings of this project has been having family and friends who know what they are doing helping out. As we’ve worked on this project, I have often come to a point in the project where I’m perplexed. Many times I’ve gone to my dad or one of my knowledgeable friends with a question and have heard in response, “Yeah, I noticed that and I’ve been thinking about it. I think what we need to do is….” It’s been amazing to have people two steps ahead of me, looking out for my best interest and sharing their wisdom.

Daily taking time to seek God’s guidance and wisdom in the perplexing steps my journey, there is something comforting in the knowledge that He is two steps ahead of me, looking out for my best interest, and willing to guide me.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 13

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Consider the source. David was terrified of God that day; he said, “How can I possibly continue this parade with the Chest of God?” 1 Chronicles 13:12 (MSG)

Today’s chapter was a good reminder to me of the healthy respect and fear I should have of God and His power. This weekend my dad and a friend were wiring our basement. With all of our knowledge and safety standards, electricity often seems pretty harmless. You flip a switch and it’s on. You plug something in and it works. However, when you dig deep into the wiring and junctions, you come into contact with the raw power of electricity. When sparks fly, circuits blow, and things pop you begin to have a bit healthier respect for how dangerous and deadly the power behind that light switch is.

Jesus came to bridge the relational divide with God, to reconcile us and bring us into oneness with God the Father. Nevertheless, like the raw power behind a seemingly harmless spiritual switch, God is holy. It is always a good thing to have healthy respect for our loving God’s raw power and holiness.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and star_guitar

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 12

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Whodunnit. When David went out to meet them, this is what he said: “If you have come in peace and to help me, you are most welcome to join this company; but if you have come to betray me to my enemies, innocent as I am, the God of our ancestors will see through you and bring judgment on you.” 1 Chronicles 12:17 (MSG)


My wife is great at guessing what’s coming next in a movie or television program. Within the first few minutes of a program like “The Mentalist” or “Law & Order,” she’ll be saying, “I think he did it.” By three quarters the way through the program she’ll usually have announced who did it along with the means, motive and opportunity. Most of the time, she’s right. Perhaps it’s from hanging out on the couch with her, but I find myself doing the same thing now. I’m not as good as she is, but I’ve gotten better at it.


That’s why the verse from today’s chapter caught me off guard.


When I read David’s opening words, “but if you come to betray me to my enemies…” my mind conjured up a host of likely conclusions that would come from a red-blooded male warrior:

  • I’ll kill you ’til you’re dead.
  • I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse.
  • I will personally cut off your head and feed your body to the lions.

What I didn’t expect was “God will see through you and bring judgment upon you.” That’s what I love about David and his story. In so many ways he is a flawed many like any other, like me. But, you constantly catch glimpses of why God called him “a man after my own heart.” David does not presume, like most ego-centric, paranoid warrior kings, to be judge, jury and executioner. He reserves judgement for God and trusts God enough to reveal his betrayer.


How often am I quick to judge? How often do I jump to conclusions and make snap judgements about my children? My family? My co-workers? My friends? Today, I take my lesson from David’s example. Reserve judgement. Stop being so paranoid or jumping to conclusions about who did what. Let God reveal what is true when it’s necessary and in His good time.


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Wayfarer's Journal

Madison is Safely Home

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I got a call from Madison last night. She arrived back in the U.S. from India about 5:00 p.m. last night (Wednesday). Now she has a couple days of debriefing in Texas before flying home.

She sounded great and we had a wonderful conversation about her experiences. She said she feels great, remained healthy during her trip and feels well rested. She said there was a huge part of her that didn't want to leave India. She fell in love with the Indian people. Her team had an amazing ministry in India working in all sorts of different capacities. One of the highlights of the trip was a small school where Madison and her team worked with the young female students. I won't recount the whole story, but suffice it to say that she and I were both crying as she told me about her experiences.

I imagine you'll should start seeing Facebook posts and pictures after she arrives back in Iowa on Saturday.

Thanks to everyone for their love, prayers, encouragement, and financial support to make this trip possible for Madison.

Wayfarer's Journal

Set off Fireworks! Taylor Turns 20!!

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This past weekend was spent at the lake with family as we gathered to celebrate Taylor's 20th birthday (wow, has it been that long?). Taylor and Clayton caravaned down with Wendy and me on Thursdays. My sister Jody, her son Sam, and her daughter, Emma, joined us on Friday.

Taylor's birthday is always a lot of fun. Being a 4th of July baby, people are always celebrating and there are always fireworks! On Friday night we got in the boat and anchored out in the bay where we could have an unobstructed view of Captain Ron's firework display. There were more fireworks on Sunday, but we opted to simply sit on the dock to watch them.

We spent much of the weekend relaxing, eating, and chatting. It was so nice to wake up each morning and sit out on grandpa and grandma's glider with Jody. We were usually up before everyone else and it's been far too long since we had the opportunity to have quiet brother-sister chats. For Wendy and me, this weekend was a small taste of why we've made such a huge investment of time, energy and resources in building the Playhouse. The family gathered around the dining room table, enjoyed a nice meal, and then we laughed, shared life, and broke out old family stories.

Trivial Pursuit on the Wii was also huge over the weekend with the guys beating the gals two games out of three. Guys rock. Just sayin'.

On Sunday morning we went to worship on the beach at Captain Ron's. There's usually about 10-15 people at worship on the beach, but for the 4th of July the church who usually leads worship on the beach brought their entire congregation. There were some 500 people worshiping and the service ended with people getting baptized and sharing testimonies. It was awesome. They even gave an open invitation to any who wanted to follow Christ and be baptized. One young man got up and waded down into the water in his jeans and polo shirt. We were all pretty pumped.

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As for the Playhouse, work on the lower level continues. It has been mudded, taped and painted. This weekend we begin finishing work with installation of doors, trim, outlet and fixtures. You can begin to see actual living space emerging from the construction materials. At this point, we're a little weary of the work and can't wait to have it all finished. We're not far off.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Chronicles 11

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Wilderness These are the chiefs of David's Mighty Men, the ones who linked arms with him as he took up his kingship, with all Israel joining in, helping him become king in just the way God had spoken regarding Israel. 1 Chronicles 11:10 (MSG)

Great leaders aren't great leaders without great followers.
Great followers are made when a leader earns their devotion.

The prophet, Samuel, anointed David as God's choice for king when David was just a young boy. David did not ascend the throne of Israel until he was 40. Between his being anointed king and his ascension to the throne, an epic story unfolds. After his initial headline grabbing defeat of Goliath, David's rise to fortune and fame was short lived. King Saul, jealous of David's popularity and God's favor on him, puts a price on David's head. David spends the better part of 20 years on the run living in caves in the desert with a rag-tag band of warriors and mercenaries.

It was in the Judean desert that God prepared David for the throne. It was in the wilderness that David became a great leader. As he and his men scratched out a living and hid from Saul's army, David earned the respect and devotion of his men. A select group of highly gifted warriors rose from the ranks. Like comic book heroes, the Mighty Men became legendary and helped David inherit the promise God made to him in his youth.

Life's journey has its share of stretches through the desert and wanderings through the wilderness. They are difficult paths to walk and they often seem endless. Nevertheless, they acheive God's purposes for us. They prepare us for what God has in store down the road. They prove us and refine us. They develop maturity and wholeness. King David would never have been King David unless he'd spent half of his life in the desert earning the respect of the men who were single-heartedly devoted to him.

Press on. There's a reason you find yourself in a difficult place.