Last week’s blog was titled, “What Might Have Been?” Just by way of reminder, the gist of that blog was that as we look back over our lives we sometimes wonder what our lives might look like if we had made different choices. I concluded that particular blog by stating we would delve a little more deeply into this matter by looking at how to deal with those times in which we know that we made a bad decision, and we are now experiencing the results of that decision.

Let’s begin by stating the obvious: Life is filled with decisions. We make decisions by the day, multiple times during the course of a single day. Some of those decisions are relatively innocuous, like what we eat for breakfast, what outfit we wear, how we will spend our leisure time, etc. We make those decisions without giving them much thought, and without worrying if we made the right choice.

However, other decisions are not so simplistic. There are those times in life in which we are faced with life-altering decisions; decisions that will have long-term ramifications, oftentimes changing the entire course of life.

Admittedly, in our early years, most decisions are made for us. As children, our parents choose what meal will be on the table, what clothes we’ll wear on any given day, how we will spend our leisure time, etc. But then, as we grow older, those decisions will gradually be given over to us. We then begin to learn how to make decisions, weighing out the different options that are available to us with each choice we make.

We eventually get to the point when the choices in life are ours for the making. What career path will I follow? Where will I go to college? Or, is college even a viable option for me? Do I want to attend a large university, or a small community college? Or, do I think a two-year degree from a technical institute will serve me best? Who will I marry? Where will we live?

Well, that sampling is enough to show that we are faced with a plethora of choices covering a wide variety of options. Then, as we work our way through the decision-making process for each choice, we must ultimately decide which would be best.

Now, to the point.  We may look back on our life at some critical moment of self-evaluation and realize that we really did make the wrong choice. It might be the choice of a career path, a degree program, the college of choice, or the choice not to go to college, the choice to marry this person rather than that person, the choice to live in one city as opposed to another, etc. etc. We might give serious thought to the choices we have made, and realize that we truly did make, not only a poor choice, but absolutely the wrong choice.

So now we find ourselves at a crucial intersection of life. There are several options available to us.

First, we can choose to make the best of a bad decision. For example, I have seen individuals who feel early in life that a certain career path is right for them. So, they invest years of preparatory work to enter into this particular choice of a life vocation. However, after meeting all the prerequisites for the job, and even having worked on that job for a period of time, they come to realize that this is not a satisfying choice. They find it a great drudgery to go to work. They hate their job. But, they have spent years in preparation, and now have years of experience. Are they to just throw it all away? Walk away? Go in a different direction? Start over?

For some, it may be that they chose a certain career path because that is what one of their parents did. We see it happen all the time: a young boy decides to be a fireman because his father is a fireman; a young girl decides to be a nurse because her mother is a nurse. They see the joy these career choices have brought to their parent, and think it will do the same for them. So, they set their course, and find themselves in a career that isn’t bringing them the same fulfillment as it did for their parent. The reason is very simple: They have invested their lives in something they are not geared to do. In cases such as this, there is nothing wrong with moving in a different direction.

However, there is another option. We can choose to stay. We can choose to make the best of what we have. We can assess the situation, giving careful consideration to the many factors that led us to make this decision. We may discover that our present state of dissatisfaction with our current status is not because we made a bad decision, but because of present circumstances. We may find ourselves working with individuals who are extremely difficult. Our present sense of dissatisfaction has nothing to do with the job itself, but more to do with other factors. As a matter of fact, when we stop to think about it seriously, we come to realize that we are still very satisfied with the career path, but perhaps a change of positions or locations in the same field would resolve the issue.

But then, what about those instances in which we realize that we did make the wrong choice. There is really no question about it. I blew it! In those cases, perhaps it is best to find what we are best suited for, and begin the process to move in a different direction.

I realize that I have rambled on quite a bit, and I apologize. However, what I do hope that each of will understand is that bad decisions are not life-ending. What we need to do is the learn from the poor decisions of the past, and allow what we have learned to help guide us in making future decisions.

Let me sum it up with this statement: Failure is not fatal, nor is it final. We can start over. We can move beyond the bad decisions of the past, and enjoy a bright future. The best way to do that is to sincerely seek the guidance of God by turning to His Word, and to individual’s who have perhaps made poor decisions of their own, and have lived to tell their story.

Entrust your future to God, regardless of your past. He will gladly show you the way!

John Greenleaf Whittier is quoted to have said, “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, ‘It might have been.'” Can you relate? As you look back over your life to this point, do you have to acknowledge a time of regret because you know deep down inside that things could have been so different, so much better (or at least you THINK things could have been different or better)? I imagine that each of us who have lived very long could identify certain moments in which we might think this about self.

But would you allow me a few minutes of your time to delve into this matter? First, let me encourage you to think for a moment about that time in your life. In your mind, how do you think things could have been different if that event never occurred, or if you had responded to it differently?

Let’s think about the Apostle Paul as an example. He was a man who suffered terribly. He offers a list of some of his sufferings in verses 22-33 of the eleventh chapter of Second Corinthians. Would you allow me to engage in speculation for just a moment? We might read that passage and think that Paul could have accomplished so much more for the glory of the Lord had he not experienced those setbacks. As a matter of fact, in the very next chapter Paul tells about an episode in which he prayed three times that God would remove some unidentified problem he faced. God chose to allow Paul to suffer that problem, telling him that God’s grace was sufficient for Paul, and He would reveal His strength through Paul’s weakness.

As we go through life we face many different situations. These situations and circumstances can present us with times of extreme pleasure, or excruciating pain. We might feel backed into a corner, forced to make a decision. As we consider the decision, we might identify several different options available to us. We then choose, and go off in a certain direction. Later, we might think back and ask ourselves, “It might have been…. better, different, more profitable, less painful…” The list of possibilities is veritably endless.

However, in all honesty, we really don’t know, do we? We don’t know if things would have been better; they may have turned out far worse. We don’t know if a different route would have produced more profit; it may have cost us everything. All we can do is speculate. But speculation at this point is futile, because there is no way of really knowing how things would have turned out had we chosen a different path.

I would like to close this blog with a Biblical admonition, and then with a few pointers that I would suggest as we go through times of life-changing decisions. James gives us some very helpful instruction concerning this matter. It is found in James 13-16: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’: whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”

Of course, what we have talked about in this blog is the propensity we have to second guess a decision we have made, and think that things might have turned out differently if… What James is speaking of is making plans for future endeavors. But if we bring these two thoughts together, we can see how to make decisions and then never have to worry about what might have been.

In essence it is simply this: make prayerful decisions, not presumptuous decisions. Don’t make a decision based upon what you presume will happen, because, again, that is nothing but sheer speculation. However, if we take time to pray about the decision, seeking God’s guidance, and then make a decision based on the direction He gives, then we can move into the future with confidence that what we are doing is right. Now, does that guarantee the decision will result in prosperity, plenty, and pain-free living? Absolutely not! The Apostle Paul lived his life as best he could in following the Lord’s will, and yet he suffered terribly. But his suffering resulted in God’s glory.

As believers, that is our ultimate purpose in life: to glorify God in all we do. If we enjoy a life of plenty, glorify God. If we live a life of pain, glorify God. In all things, glorify God. Don’t live life looking over your shoulder into the past thinking about what might have been. Live this moment, and every moment, in the conscious reality of His presence, and trust that He will guide you in every decision you make. He will never, ever, steer you in the wrong direction.

But I know, you are wondering about those times in which you know you made a wrong decision. God gave clear direction, and you chose to go in exactly the opposite direction. What then? That will be the subject of my next blog, so check back for my response to that self-imposed dilemma.

This morning as I sit in silence, looking out the window into the dawning of a new day, I am once again reminded about the simple pleasures of life. You know the ones to which I refer: watching night disappear as the sun’s light pushes the darkness away; watching the tranquil water of the pond right outside my window begin broken by the fish swimming just under the surface; listening to the sounds of the morning as they break through the quietness of this serene scene; listening to God speak as I once again turn attention to His Word, listening for that still, small voice that speaks so loudly and clearly deep within my mind and spirit.

And as I give thought to these simple pleasures, I am quickly reminded of the fact that I do this far too seldom. There are too many days in which I don’t take time to enjoy these simple pleasures. As the popular saying goes, “Life gets in the way.” Would you be willing to admit that this is true of you? Would you be willing to say, in honesty and sincerity, that far too many times life has gotten in the way of your spending time with the Lord?

Please understand that I know exactly how you feel. As I sit here quietly in the stillness of this morning, making conscious effort to not allow that to happen today, I am reminded, sadly and painfully, of the many times I have allowed it to happen. The countless times I have let life get in the way. The multitudes of mornings I have awakened with my mind bombarded with the demands of the day. So many demands, in fact, that I didn’t even know how to begin the day. What is the number one priority? What demands my attention first? How can I be the most productive today in tackling my ‘to do’ list? Then, in a state of utter frustration, I frantically try to make the most of the hours in this day. But, alas, there have been far too many days in which I get to the end of the day and realize that I accomplished very, very little. Not only did I not complete the tasks on the list, but the list has now grown longer. So, sitting in despair and discouragement, I begin trying to devise a plan for tomorrow, while hoping and praying once again that life will not get in the way tomorrow as it did today.

Can you identify? Do you find yourself shaking your head in agreement that the preceding paragraph describes you more often than not? If so, would you allow me to make a suggestion that could very possibly help? I know it has helped me, and I feel quite confident that it will be of great help for you, as well.

Please know that what I am about to share was learned the hard way by this writer. There was a time in my life – a very long time, actually – in which I allowed life to not just get in the way, but to stay in the way. It was a constant for me. The demands of life, and the desire to do the demands of life in short order, were the driving force behind all I tried to do. The specific time in my life to which I refer was the decade of the 1990’s. At that time I had the privilege to serve as pastor of Lochwood Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, while at the same time striving to fulfill the requirements to earn a doctorate in theology. It was an extremely busy time. I was busy, and enjoying every second of the busy-ness.

But, I did not realize the negative ramifications of my over-zealous behavior. Then, it happened. My church family, for pastor appreciation month, sent me and my wife to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for a relaxing week at Son-scape Recreation Ministries. I thought it was going to be a fun-filled week enjoying the beauty of the rocky mountains. Well, we did have some time to enjoy the beauty of the rockies, but we soon learned that we were not there for the enjoyment. We were there to undergo eight days of intense psycho-analysis. I am going to just cut through all the details, and move directly to the last day of our eight-day stay. I was told, after hours of individual and group meetings with the staff, that I was a perfectionistic workaholic. I laughed. Teresa cried. I thought they were joking; Teresa was thankful someone finally had the nerve to tell me the truth. I had let life get in the way, and take complete control.

Now please understand that all through this time I was going through the motions of having a quiet time with God every day – religiously. But, admittedly, it had become mechanical. I was just going through the motions. You could ask me fifteen minutes after my morning Bible reading what I had just read, and I would be clueless. It was just a chore that I had to do. But in all honesty, it was a waste of my time. I was not listening for that voice from above, I was just trying to move to the next task on my list.

On that day, I came face to face with the reality of who I had become. Life had robbed me of living. And because of someone being willing to tell me the truth about me, I was able to begin making changes that would allow me to live life, rather than being drug through life.

So, what are the lessons? They are really quite simple. Slow down! As the old cliché says, take time to smell the roses along the way. Enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Learn the practice of taking things a little easier than you have in the past. Begin your day with the Lord. Listen to Him speak to you through the pages of His Word, and then respond to Him in praise and gratitude. You will then be prepared in your spirit to continue to share with Him your requests and burdens. Then, be in control. Don’t let life’s daily demands control your daily activities, but rather you take control of them. Learn to prioritize. Develop the skill of being able to distinguish between what is absolutely necessary, and what has very little importance in the broad scope of things. Develop the habit of delegation. If it is not something that must be done by YOU, then let someone else do it.

It all sounds so simple, and yet it isn’t. It will take time and effort for you to develop the simple habits I have suggested. But it will be well worth it in the end. You will eventually find yourself looking back over your day with a sense of accomplishment. You will see that list of priorities being completed. You will find that you are free to stop and smell the roses, enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

So, now, have a great day! I’m going fishing!

My family moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1987. I remember vividly as if it were just yesterday our first trip to that city. I purchased an atlas with maps of every state in the nation. I pored over the state maps of those states we would travel through on our journey. I was going a way that I had never been before, and I needed all the assistance I could get to make sure we did not get lost along the way. After choosing what I thought would be the best route, I highlighted the entire path we would follow. My wife, my trustworthy navigator, then gave instructions as we made our way along that almost 1100 mile journey.

When we decided to move to Dallas, we used that trusty atlas for the next several trips back and forth to visit family in South Carolina. However, it became obvious that I no longer needed to depend so much on my wife’s navigation. The route became more familiar. The different turns along the way became habit. Eventually I found that I no longer needed the atlas or the navigation. I knew the route so well that I could go the entire way with no assistance at all. Finally, I knew where I was going.

On September 13, 1977, I began a new journey. I set off on a path I had never traveled before. It was vastly different from the path I had been traveling. Everything was new. The path called for new directions – a new atlas, so to speak. The atlas was readily available. It contained detailed information on how to make it safely to my destination. It was written in such intricate detail that it was amazingly easy to follow. However, there were possibilities of deviating from the clearly established path, so it also contained warning signs along the way to warn of dangers that might be lurking ahead. The instructions were clear, and as long as I remained on the designated path I found that it was exceedingly safe and secure.

I have now been traveling this path for quite a while. I have studied the atlas diligently through the years since I first discovered it. It has provided me with invaluable information that has safeguarded me against many of the pitfalls that could have ensnared me through the journey. The path has sometimes seemed dark and foreboding, and on more than a few occasions I felt as if I had lost my way. It was on those occasions that I was driven back to the atlas to once again get my bearings, and once again get back on the right path.

The journey to which I refer is the journey of being a follower of Jesus Christ. The atlas to which I refer is the Word of God, the Bible. The path to which I refer is the narrow way spoken of by Jesus Himself. And the directions to which I refer are given to anyone who will take time to seek guidance and direction from Him.

Jesus said that life consists of two roads: one broad, and filled with countless throngs of travelers; the other narrow, and traversed by very few. The broad way is the way of the world. It can be described in many ways, but the descriptive terms I will use are from the atlas itself. The philosophy of the broad way is “eat, drink and be merry.” It has been worded in so many different ways in recent years: “get all the gusto out of life,” “if you’re not with the one you love, love the one you’re with,” and so many others. It is filled with frivolity and pleasure-seeking individuals who give little to no thought of eternity.

But the narrow path is the one chosen by those who take the atlas seriously. It is the path that is clearly marked in God’s Word. Jesus said that He was “the way, the truth and the life.” He further stated that the only way to the Father was through Him. In other words, Jesus is the one and only path that will result in ultimate fulfillment for those who choose to follow the narrow way.

After all these years since 1977, I still strive to follow the path I discovered in His atlas. I read it constantly, study it diligently, follow it obediently. And on those occasions in which I veer off course, I am quickly reminded by the presence and person of the Holy Spirit Himself that I need to get back on the narrow path.

The broad path can oftentimes be so alluring, so appealing, and if not for the constant testimony of the atlas that I have committed to memory through these many years I could easily be drawn to it. That is the reason I must consistently and constantly give my attention to the directives of the one and only atlas that shows the clear path to abundant life, and gives the promise of eternal life to those who follow.

So, where are you going?

It was a very long time ago, in a far-away land. The land was beautiful and bountiful. It was a lush and fruitful land that produced immeasurable crops which were more than enough to meet the needs of all who lived there.

The land was ruled by a very kind and gracious king. The king provided the freedoms and liberties that enabled the people to enjoy all the benefits of living in his kingdom. He truly loved the people – each and every one of them. His boundless love for the citizens of his kingdom was so immense that he was compelled to go above and beyond their wildest imaginations in how he cared for them.

For a long time the citizens of this kingdom were moved with gratitude and thanksgiving for the bounty they enjoyed. Their love for their king motivated them to serve him and live in obedience to the laws he issued for their well-being. His laws were designed in such a way that obedience to those laws would always bring about multiplied blessings and enormous bounty for the obedient citizen. The laws were not oppressive, rather they were most beneficial to the occupants of the land. The obedient citizen would be the blessed citizen.

However, the laws issued by this most benevolent king carried certain conditions. The king promised his citizenry that as long as they were obedient to his laws, and would consistently show gratitude for his kindness, love and bounty, they would always enjoy the blessings of his benevolence. But, if they chose to disregard his laws, and began to take credit for the bounty and blessings instead of giving him the gratitude he deserved, they would suffer dire consequences.

After a while, the citizens grew tired of the king’s laws, and began to take credit for blessings as if they had brought them about themselves. The king was very patient, extremely longsuffering, hoping the citizens would come to their senses and return to him. They did not. So, the king began to send messengers to go throughout the land to remind the people of the goodness of the king. They refused to listen. Eventually, they even grew hostile toward the messengers, persecuting them, and even killing some of them.

The king was heartbroken. He was grieved over the actions of the occupants of his kingdom. He began to send more messengers, this time warning the citizens of impending judgment if they persisted in their spirit of rebellion.

Finally, due to the fact that the people had now completely rejected the rule of the king, he allowed them to fall to their enemies. They lost the blessings and the bounty they had long enjoyed because they chose to reject the calls of the king for them to return to him, and once again experience his love.

The kingdom in this story is, of course, the nation of Israel. The king is God, who established the nation and blessed them immeasurably. His law was given to provide the means of showering them with his ongoing presence and provision. His desire was that they always live in fellowship with Him.

Is it possible to draw a parallel between Israel of the Old Testament and the United States of America? In some ways the answer would be no. God brought the nation of Israel into existence by His sovereign choice of one man, Abraham, and through that one man and his descendants forming the nation. In that regard there is no parallel between Israel and America. There are many promises God made to Israel that are theirs alone, so in that sense there is no parallel.

However, if we consider the vision of the founding fathers of the United States, there are clear parallels that can be seen. The founding fathers envisioned a nation which would be built upon Christian principles, a nation that would, in fact, be a Christian nation. Many of the founding fathers and early political leaders of this nation stated clearly that this nation would only succeed if it were ruled by those who embrace the Christian faith and adhere to Christian principles.

For well over two hundred years of this nation’s existence it could be stated with great accuracy that it was striving to live by the vision and the understanding of those early founders and leaders. However, in the recent past, we have witnessed a mass departure from the vision and the faith of our founders. The firm belief of our founders that there is a standard of ethical principles which determines right and wrong has now been replaced with the belief that there is no such thing as an absolute standard of ethical behavior. Now, we are pretty much left to ourselves to determine what is right and wrong for me. My standard may be vastly different from yours, but no one can accuse anyone else of being wrong because there is no standard which determines ethical behavior.

The Bible states clearly that God has established an ethical code of conduct. But the contemporary belief is that my life is mine, and I can do anything with my life I choose. This has now opened the door for a smorgasbord belief and behavior. I cannot tell you that an action or lifestyle you have embraced is wrong, because it is your life, and your choice. And, now, this idea of individual rights has gone so far that there can be no standard, because everyone is a standard to himself.

The parallel is clear, is it not? God blessed Israel immeasurably, as He has blessed America. Israel grew restless, and chose to reject God and His standards, and suffered dire consequences. Could America suffer the same fate? This writer believes that not only is it possible, it is probable. If God did not spare His own chosen nation, will He spare America? He is at the present time raising up messengers, such as Franklin Graham, Greg Laurie, John Piper and others, warning the citizenry of impending judgment if we persist in our present course. But the enemy is also raising up messengers, tickling the ears of those who choose to disregard God’s law.

We have a choice: to obey the message and return to God, or reject the message and suffer God’s judgment.

In my last blog I shared some of my life story. If you read that particular post, then you know now (if you didn’t before) that my life was a self-made mess. I was so self-centered and self-absorbed that I developed the worst type of tunnel-vision imaginable. It was all about me. No one else really mattered. I had reached the point in my life that I was willing to lose it all if it would facilitate my attaining my goals.

And then, the unexpected happened. After a night of partying – with beer, liquor, and marijuana – I got up that Thursday morning harboring yet again another hangover. I tried to ignore the massive head-ache, got dressed for work, and headed out. As I made that fifteen mile drive that morning, I all of a sudden realized I was not alone. There was a presence with me that I had never experienced before. And then came the voice! Don’t get me wrong, it was not an audible voice. I am quite certain that had you been riding with me that morning you would not have heard Him speaking. It was a very personal message. A message intended for me. And, it was really a very simple message. It all of a sudden came crashing down on me that I had truly made a mess  of my life. In making that mess, I had also made life pretty miserable for others.

My wife, Teresa, had put of with four years of marital misery. Oh, there were some fun moments, some bright spots in those four years. But for the vast majority of those years she had watched as I self-destructed. There had been so many arguments, so many disagreements, so many times I had made very clear to her that she was not the priority she should have been. And then there was our son, Bryan. He had suffered from an absent father. I was there physically, but my physical presence certainly did not make me a father.

But that morning – that wonderful, life-changing morning – my life was radically transformed. I listened to that voice. I went to work that morning a different person. I went home that evening with such excitement and joy. I had never experienced anything like it. I couldn’t explain it. I just knew that things were going to be different from that moment on.

I went home, expecting Teresa to share in my new-found joy. She, however, did not meet my announcement as I had expected. She was rather skeptical, unbelieving, and less than excited. I shared with her my desire to attend church on Sunday morning. She laughed. I assured her I was not joking. She laughed. I tried my best to persuade her that I was being sincere. She laughed.

I continued on Friday morning trying to convince her. She laughed. Friday evening I once again told her of my desire to go to church. She quit laughing. At this point I’m not sure what she was thinking, but she was no longer laughing. There may have been a bit of fear, a sense of anxiety, because she had never witnessed such action from me. Church had always been a joke for both of us. All day Saturday I tried to persuade her, to convince her, to compel her to attend worship with me. She refused.

So, I went alone. I walked in just before the service started. I sat on the back row. I didn’t want to draw any attention. I wanted to be invisible. After the worship hour was concluded, and everyone had filed out, I remained. I asked the pastor if I could have a minute of his time. Kelly Burris had visited my home on several occasions, with the desire to share the message of the love of Jesus Christ with me and Teresa.

We made an appointment for Kelly to visit in our home on Tuesday evening, September 13, 1977. Teresa was not thrilled when I informed her of this appointment. She did, however, agree to be there when Kelly arrived.

Patiently, graciously, lovingly, Kelly talked with us from 7:00 until 10:45 that Tuesday evening. Actually, his visit lasted a little longer than that, but something amazing happened at 10:45. That was the exact moment at which Jesus Christ became our Savior, and invaded our home as Lord. It was nothing short of miraculous.

Had you known me and Teresa prior to September 13, 1977, Christian is not a word that would have come to mind. Had you known me, you would have never thought that I would ever become a believer in Jesus Christ. But the moment after, our lives changed so drastically that there was no doubt in the fact that we were distinctly different.

When September 13 of this year rolls around, my wife and I will have been Christians 41 years. Yes, we had decided to divorce and go our separate ways, but at 10:45 pm that wonderful evening, we saw each other through the lens of faith. We extended grace to one another, and have been doing so ever since.

No, our lives have certainly not been perfect. Far from it. But by His grace we have seen Him move in our lives in such wonderful ways it is truly beyond my ability to describe. I’ll close by making one final statement. It was just the other day that Teresa looked me in the eyes and said, “I love our life!” And I do, too. But had it not been for the grace of our wonderful Father in heaven, we never would have had this life to love. By His grace we came together, by His we stayed together, by His grace we are together.

And that, my friend, is the rest of the story!

In my last blog, I raised the question as to what is really important to you. What motivates and drives you? What is it that compels you to do what you do, to be what you are, to go where you go?

As I have given those questions further thought this week, another question came to mind. As I look back over the years of my life – sixty-six of them now – I clearly see several different points on that time-line at which I gave serious consideration to a life-change that might provide ‘greener pastures’ if I were to have gone in a different direction. I saw different paths of life that seemed to promise a brighter future than the one I was traveling.

As a young child I can remember vividly those childhood fantasies about the future. What would I be when I grew up? Policeman, fireman, professional football player, super hero? As I grew a little older, those fantasies began to fade as I realized that some of them could not be realized, while others I chose to discard because of waning interest.

In my young adult years, I focused on two things: music, and electrical design. Both of these were realized to some degree as I played music for about 15 years in a rock band, and as I pursued a career in the electronics field as a printed circuit board designer. It seemed that I had finally locked in to my career path.

These two distinct career paths led me to live two very different lives. By day I was a successful electrical designer, working for a successful international electronics firm. By night I was an alcohol drinking, pot-smoking, drummer in a rock band. I truly and sincerely enjoyed both, and found both to be extremely fulfilling. Over time, however, my music won out. I only wanted to play music. I wanted to be a world-renowned drummer.

My life began to be confusing and chaotic. I came to the point on that time-line of life that nothing any longer brought me a sense of satisfaction and contentment. I was no longer fulfilled. I was truly empty, with no sense of direction, no sense of fulfillment. The career in electrical design no longer brought the sense of accomplishment it once had provided. Playing music lost its appeal. I was like a ship without a sail, with no rudder, floating aimlessly in the sea of life.

For a while these two career paths brought great satisfaction, great fulfillment, great contentment. But they ultimately led to emptiness, dissatisfaction, discontent. It was as if there was a great void, a black hole of the soul. Those things that I tried to stuff into that black hole were simply lost in the blackness. No matter how much I stuffed in that hole, it never filled. Every new thing I tried brought a sense of satisfaction for a while, until the newness wore off, and once again the emptiness returned. Deeper and deeper I sank into that black hole. My life was nothing but a long series of attempts to find happiness.

Finally, I found myself at wits end. Nothing brought fulfillment. Nothing brought satisfaction. Life was a drudgery. Day after day, week after week, month after month, the sense of emptiness grew larger, the darkness of the soul grew darker, the listlessness of life seemed insurmountable.

At this point in my life, I decided to give myself totally to the dark side. Even though my music had ceased to bring the sense of satisfaction it once had, I decided that the lifestyle of a rock musician was the only path that would lead to any sense of contentment. In this state of mental, emotional, and spiritual darkness, I decided to walk away from everything that would hinder the fulfillment of this insatiable desire. The drinking grew worse. The high of marijuana ceased to be enough.

I decided that the only way to truly fulfill the dark desires of life was to leave my wife and child. I convinced myself that to remain in that relationship would only threaten the fulfillment of my dream of success in the field of music. Teresa and I decided to divorce. I was so blinded by my state of spiritual darkness that I wanted to be free of all encumbrances, of all responsibilities. A wife and child had no place in my selfish plans.

It was at this point of total self-centeredness that I experienced the most radical, life-transforming, moment of my entire life. Everything was in a tail-spin, out of control, accelerating in a downward spiral that was self-destructive. I remember this moment as clearly as if it happened yesterday. I was on my way to work on a Thursday morning. During that fifteen mile drive, I was confronted by a presence that was so overwhelming that it shook me to my very core. God Himself spoke so powerfully and pointedly that I could not miss the message. You’ve made a mess of your life. I’m your only hope!

I will share the rest of this story in next week’s blog. Just a hint: Jesus Christ changed everything for me – and He will for you, also. Hope you’ll join me next week.

Have you stopped recently just to review? What’s really important to you? What drives you? What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning, and start a fresh, new day? Does your day begin with an excited, “Let’s get this day started,” or a distressed, “Let’s get this day over with”?

There are certain points in life which bring us to make such evaluations. Big moments, like graduating from high school or college, career choice, engagement, marriage, birth of child/children, birth of grandchild/grandchildren, mid-life directional change, retirement, etc. Many others could be interspersed in the course of a lifetime, but these are enough to get the point across.

If you would take a while right now to review your life, as you look back over the ‘big moments’, what stands out as the driving force, the motivating factor, that has compelled you to choose the path(s) you have taken up to this point? For some, it would be success, for others, money, for others to be the best parent ever, for others to rise to the top of your chosen field, and on and on. So, for just a moment, think! What has brought you to this point in your life?

Are you fulfilled? Satisfied? Contented? Or, do you have a sense of failure, dissatisfaction, and discontent? Are you at the present moment on a journey that brings you excitement at the beginning of each new day, or do you hate to see the sun rise, to hear the alarm clock sound, to face the drudgery of another day of the same old monotonous stuff?

The Bible offers a bit of insight into this matter. In Proverbs 22:6 we find these words: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” The wise parent will be an observant parent. He/she will pay close attention to the natural tendencies the child displays. Some children are outgoing and active while others are more reserved and quiet. Some love the outdoors and anything that can be done outside, while others are geared more to indoor activities such as reading, writing, drawing. They are different because it is in their DNA, their God-given code.

Children are not just born with different physical traits, but with vastly differing personality traits, different drives, different desires. A wise parent will make note of what drives their child(ren), and will foster those drives. For the parent of the child who loves sports, then encourage them to try different sports until they lock in to the one that is right for them. For the parent of the child who loves to write, or draw, or sing, or dance, then encourage them in that direction of life. One of the very worst things a parent can do is try to force his/her child(ren) to be something they’re not.

When my boys were young, they knew every year that one gift they would always get for Christmas was an electric train. It wasn’t that they particularly liked electric trains – as a matter of fact I finally figured out they couldn’t care less about electric trains. So why did they get one every year, you ask? Because I liked electric trains. I was living vicariously through them. I was, inadvertently, trying to force them to be like me!

When I finally realized that my two sons were vastly different, I began to try to facilitate those differences. For example, my oldest son, Bryan, loves to write poetry and songs, and to play music. My youngest son, Joshua, loved to be outside playing some sport, ANY sport! When I finally realized they were different, I began to try to move them in that direction, in the way God had designed them to go.

If you have tapped into your natural bent in life, then you are one of the privileged ones who truly loves the dawning of each new day, because you are doing what you were designed to do. If, however, you dread the dawning of each new day, and hate the thoughts of having to do whatever you do again, and again, and again, then you probably haven’t tapped into the real you.

As parents, we have a awesome privilege, and responsibility, of helping our children become what they are designed to be. But, if you are already an adult, and you are locked into a career path that leaves you empty and exhausted, and all you look forward to is the weekend or the next vacation, then please pay attention. Stop right now and make an evaluation of your life. What brings you the greatest sense of joy and accomplishment? That is where you need to be investing your life.

Jesus made a startling statement that I will close with: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). I realize that the life to which Jesus refers is spiritual life, and the hope of eternal life. But, I feel that it also applies to our physical life, here and now. Jesus wants His followers to enjoy life, to live life to the max. And the only way that will ever happen in the fullest sense is when we tap in to His design for us.

So, what’s really important to you? What makes you tick? Why do you do what you do? I hope that it is because you have found your true self in relationship with the God who created you. Then, live your life to the full! That is God’s desire, and His design.

As I think about our upcoming celebration of the Declaration of Independence, my mind takes me in so many different directions. The date itself is significant from an historical standpoint due to the fact that it commemorates the signing of the document that declared America’s independence as a sovereign nation. This took place on July 4, 1776. The date did not become an official federal holiday until 1941, but had long been recognized as a most momentous date.

I could go in several different directions in this blog, but I would like to focus my attention on what I see on the contemporary scene in today’s America. I see a nation torn apart in so many ways. Racial tensions continue to escalate. Political divisiveness seems to be at an all-time high as we see the chasm between liberals and conservatives widen by the day. Religious tensions run high as major denominations strive to find their identity in the context of today’s tumultuous cultural crises.

We can think back to the historical setting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and we are forced to acknowledge a solidarity among those who put their names on that document. Their vision was focused. Their desires were focused. Their willingness to sacrifice everything for the sake of that document is evident to all.

So my question is: What has happened to the focus, the solidarity, the sacrifice? How have we, as a nation, become so divided and divisive in light of that initial solidarity? How has the focus and vision of our beloved nation become so blurred? Why is it that now we are witnessing throngs of individuals who have no understanding of what those initial signers of this document envisioned for this land?

The answer to that question would be impossible to state in a brief blog, and it is not my intent to strive to give such a detailed response. It is my intent, however, to share my thoughts on perhaps what may be the foundational answer to this dilemma. Today’s Americans, from my very limited perspective, have no idea what it means to be an American. It disturbs me to no end to see those who burn our flag, or who throw it on the ground, urinate on it, then stomp it under their feet. It grieves me to witness those who refuse to stand for the playing of our national anthem, as they fail to recognize that the very liberty to do such deeds was secured for them by those who died for their loyalty to that flag and that for which it stands.

It further grieves me to witness such disregard for those who have been elected to serve. I have never seen such vile actions from those who did not vote for our current president. I did not vote for Barack Obama, or Bill Clinton, but you did not hear me bash them, or worse, threaten to do them harm or even wish harm on them. Donald Trump, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with his political views and decisions, has been elected by the people of the United States, and he deserves the respect of being in that office.

But we are so divided, so divisive, so bent on bringing harm to those with whom we disagree, that we have lost sight of what the Declaration of Independence meant, and means. Our nation is a torn nation, a divided nation. A nation that is under assault by those who disagree with the initial intent of the founding fathers of this land. There seems to be such a massive divide that there is no remedy, and that we are moving hopelessly toward self destruction. Sadly, there are those who desire that very thing. Celebrities are now proclaiming that they would rather see this nation completely fall than to see Donald Trump succeed in making America great again.

I will conclude this blog with an overly simplistic answer to the problem. Let’s get back to the original intent of our founding fathers. Let’s get back to the solidarity they envisioned. Let’s get back to being a constitutional republic. Let’s elect leaders who will strive to correctly interpret and implement the constitution of the United States.

I am not naïve enough to believe that life will ever be as simplistic (not simple, mind you) as it was in those early, formative years of our nation’s existence. But let’s insist that those who desire to come here are truly desirous of being Americans. Let’s insist that they know what our constitution stands for. Let’s insist that they do not expect America to accommodate their cultural practices, and make them the norm, but that they assimilate into American culture. Let’s insist that they learn our language, and not expect our schools to accommodate theirs. Let’s put an end to the vitriolic divisiveness by bringing people together, not pushing them further apart.

Would you join me in making this July 4th celebrations a true celebration of who we are: The UNITED States of America.

In my last blog, I mentioned a statement by the Apostle Paul in which he said that we are to be in the world but not of the world. I would like to follow up on that statement in this week’s blog.

The word, ‘world’, is used in different ways in the Bible. There are passages in which the word refers to the created order, the physical realm, the world of beauty and wonder which was designed and made for the pleasure of God. Then there are other passages which use the word in the sense of the world of humanity. When Jesus said to Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world…” He was making reference to the human family. God gave Jesus, and Jesus gave His life, for the purpose of providing salvation to fallen and lost humanity.

Then there is a third way the word is used. John admonishes believers in his first letter to not love the world, or the things of the world. This should be understood as a reference to worldly systems, philosophies, ways of thinking. The term ‘world view’ is used as a reference to these worldly systems. The ways of the world are always in contrast to the ways of God, which are revealed in His Word.

World views can be seen in the philosophies of man, the political systems devised by man, the religious systems created by man, the ways of giving answer to the many perplexities of life envisioned by man.

Jesus came into a world filled with various philosophies, political systems, religions, and supposed answers to those perplexing questions of life. He came into a world that was steeped in the failed attempts of man to explain that which is beyond explanation. That is, without explanation when one tries to explain without having God at the center of the explanation.

To be in the world and yet not of the world would mean that we not allow ourselves to be duped by the worldly systems of belief and explanation. Worldly explanations, man-made explanations, which leave God out of the equation, always fall miserably short of providing a justifiable and acceptable answer to the perplexing questions of life. However, when one puts God at the very center of striving to find a justifiable and reasonable explanation, the explanation then comes easily. I don’t mean by this that it solves all the enigmas and perplexities of life. But that is where the principle of faith comes in. The Bible gives us answers, but many of those answers have to be embraced by faith – belief in the explanations the Bible offers even when they don’t give every specific detail.

For example, consider the creation account as recorded in the first two chapters of the Bible. We are told that God created everything out of nothing. It tells us that on six successive days of creative activity God brought everything into existence. It does not give a detailed account of the how of creation, but it does tell us about the what of creation. We are then left to embrace this teaching by faith.

A worldly system of belief that is void of God will strive to find other explanations. Thus, alternate attempts to explain that which cannot be explained without God. The extreme danger that believers in the Bible’s testimony face is the desire to go farther than the Bible goes in its explanations. When we try to go farther, then we enter into the realm of speculation. Speculation is completely subjective, based entirely on the reasoning ability of the one speculating. My speculations are just as valid as anyone else’s. However, if my speculations run contradictory to the clear teachings of Scripture, then I have entered the realm of the worldly systems of belief and explanation. And by doing that, I have put myself on the throne of my life, being a ‘god’ unto myself.

So, back to the initial statement in this blog. We live in the world. That is a necessity. But we don’t have to live as the world. That is a choice. As Christians, we are to live according to the clear teachings of Scripture. And, when we find ourselves faced with the teachings of the Word of God which are contradictory to the teachings of the world, we are to embrace God’s Word and reject the world’s way of explanation.

In the world, but not of the world. May that be our desire and intent in every aspect and area of life.