Travel light.

This is my new motto/catch phrase. (I have a few of them.)

TRAVEL LIGHT.

Isn't it beautiful?

Let me explain - Life is a journey. I am a pilgrim. "He who dies with the most toys still dies." (Can't remember where I heard this.) Acquiring stuff bogs down the sojourner. Sometimes it even brings the true journey of life to a halt - there's too much to worry about losing to engage in the adventure.

Do you have any thing/s that you would have a hard let letting go of?

• Your house? Truck? Guitar? (Some of my things that put my pilgrimage at risk.)
• How about the sum total of everything you have acquired? Could you walk away from it all?
  

If we can't, then what are we really living for?

The point: Things can "easily entangle us." (A smart guy named Paul once coined this.) Never forget that life is a journey. Never forget what is worth living for and what isn't. Know you direction. Travel light.

Warriors...hopefully?

As I further contemplated the notion of each generation learning to fight the good fight, in utter disregard of the best protective efforts of parents (and often times the church), something else occurred to me.

While praying with some mighty men and women of God, the subject of revival and growth came up in regards to the youth. Having been thinking recently of Joshua and the taking of the Promised Land, I put this thought together:

Taking land (seeing God's kingdom advance) is CONTRARY to safety.

Furthermore:
1. Moving forward provokes new enemies.
2. Unknown enemies reside in new territories.
3. Old (former) battle tactics are also outdated. New and unique warfare is needed.

(By the way, this all comes straight from Joshua - check it out for yourself.)

All this points towards an uncomfortable decision - build up walls to close ourselves off and try to prevent defeat, or march out to engage new enemies risking defeat for the sake of victory. (This also begs a comment on faith - if we really have it, why do we run from enemies instead of engaging them.)

I have no idea what battles my boys will face as they grow up. What I do know is that my battles today are not at all the same battles my parents or grandparents faced. I suppose my challenge is just to see that they are mighty warriors ready for whatever may come.

"But God..."

Ephesians 2:1-10 tells a great story. My story. Your story. It recounts my years of hopeless service to my own desires and passions. Then comes the important part, "But God." (2:4)

In the midst of my slavery to myself, God stepped in. The life and fulfillment I had sought through my own slavish efforts, He gave me. My soul was lost in darkness, but God...

It gets even better.

This "But God" was not just about pity. God stepped in because He loves me. God stepped in because I have a destiny in Him.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (2:10)

If you can look back across your journey and see your own "But God," have you considered recently His love for you? Have you been in pursuit of the good works that you were created to do?

Hope in the Mundane

This January, many of us have been examining "Haggai" and God's call to rebuild Yahweh's temple in the Old Testament. This was quite an imposing task for a bunch of returned exiles - the original temple took millions of dollars: laborers, the best building materials that the world had to offer, a ridiculous amount of gold, etc. So, like all severely overwhelmed people, they didn't do anything.

Then comes a great surprise. God sends word, "Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified." (Haggai 1:8)

Right now, you may be thinking, "So what."

Here's the point. God wanted His house built. The people had nothing "valuable" with which to build it. And God didn't care.

I can relate to this. I want to answer God's call. I have nothing extraordinary to build with. All I've got is the plain and the ordinary. Perhaps that's all that you've got, too. Perhaps you've been reluctant to begin working with your meager opportunities, talents, and resources. Perhaps you're afraid God might show up and take note of the quality of your work, "How is my house coming along? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?" (2:3) After all, He showed up to ask the Israelites.

This is our great hope. Our best really may not amount to much. It doesn't matter. God has redeemed the ordinary. God has redeemed the simple. God has redeemed the modest. God has redeemed the mundane. And He is calling.

Negligent Faith

Faith. It is the most important thing, right? Here's the thing , though. Most of us would never handle our jobs wit the same degree of negligence that we handle our faith. We would never handle our finances with same hap hazardous approach we use for our faith. Our spouses and children would classify us as "neglectful."

How is it that matters of faith, then, get pushed off onto the back burner. Why doesn't prayer ever really get done? Why are "daily" devotions the relegated to mystical super-Christians?

Maybe what we need a faith-based retirement (or death) planners...

"Yeah, um, when I die, I want to be ______________ prepared. I'm hoping for a crown of glory in heaven that is of __________ quality. What do I need to begin doing now to get there?"

Let's make some plans. Let's become the people we were born to be.

People and Legacy

I had lunch with an old friend yesterday. It was a great time reminiscing about the way things used to be and catching up with the way that they are. My how things change! Back in the day, we were carefree college guys who liked cutting class to play tennis. Today, we're both husbands, dads and career-oriented employees. Somewhere between the house salad (with ranch) and the Southwestern chicken wrap, we began looking ahead a little bit. The question: are we headed towards our destinies?

I have had a pretty good life filled with things that people generally consider "significant." However, looking over my shoulder at those things, they feel a little bit like little league baseball trophies. A few years later, and they don't matter too much. The times with lasting significance, the times when I think I have "hit my stride" in reaching for my destiny all have to do with people. The times I have impacted another, invested my time and energy in the welfare of another - those times matter.

People matter. My wife matters. My three boys matter. Family matters. Friends matter. The inconvenient person I usually try to avoid matters. Long after the clamor of my activity has faded, my legacy in people may or may not live on - I prefer that it does.

So what about it. Maybe you and I can create, pursue, and seek opportunities, while we're about the typical activities of life, to positively impact the life of another. Create your legacy.

Less is more?

Isn't it ironic that life can be full of perfectly enjoyable things, yet we fail to enjoy anything?

I have a beautiful wife...
and three amazing boys...
and a great job...
and the opportunity to go back to school...
and several really good friends...
and a nice house...
and a truck...
and a new guitar...
and some dreams...

So many things to enjoy, so little time. In running from one thing to the next, I find myself too busy to enjoy anything. If your heart is truly where your treasure is, then mine may be lost in the vault.

Simplicity. Hmm. I'l have to give that some thought after I finish my homework, wash my truck and play some football with my four year old.