The Turns our Lives Take

I was recently sitting in the cafe of a Barnes and Noble (a truly good place to be) while correcting papers for summer school when the father of my college girlfriend walked in and sat down at the next table. We exchanged pleasantries; caught up on a bit of news (this was over ten years ago; time flies), and proceeded to continue with the work that had brought us there...If I rewind my life to the beginning of my last year in college I would be in a place where I thought that I had the future all worked out. I was in love with this girl, we were approaching our year and a half anniversary of dating, and my future ministry opportunities seemed at my fingertips.
That "plan" all ended with the end of that relationship; I was certainly devastated (are are most when they don't see it coming) and found myself visiting my grandmother (my mom's mom) at the nursing home where she had recently been taken to seek her advice and consolation. She did not disappoint me (this time or any other); despite her failing health she offered me hope for the future; assured me that it would all work itself out, and asked me to speak at her funeral; all in one conversation.
It took me more than two years to find my bearings (relationship wise) again; and it turns out it was love from a source I wasn't even considering. My wife Nicole and I were simply friends on the night of Dec 4th 1999 when we ended up kissing for the first time. A month later, I knew this was the woman that God had placed in my path. Over eight years of marriage later I've only confirmed that God knew what he was doing all along.
I learned a lot from that failed college romance; a lot about what it takes to be the man I should be; lessons I was able to apply when Nicole entered my life.
I spent many a day wondering when the Lord was going to answer my prayers; at times sad, at times resigned to waiting; I know now that I WASN'T READY for Nicole until the day we first met. If she had stumbled into my life earlier neither one of us would have been ready. That may sound a bit dramatic, but its true. I may have been wondering why God was being slow in answering my prayers; he was wondering how long it was gonna take for me to open my eyes and see that a God-fearing girl like Nicole was just what I needed (not a complimentary theology perspective; a complimentary help-mate)
As I sat in Barnes and Noble, remembering how very different my attitude and perspectives were eleven years ago I decided that it was necessary to thank this father who had been a part in the process of what it took for me to become who I needed to be (he and his wife always treated me well; that's something to appreciate, it doesn't always happen that way; it also helped prepare me for the very positive relationship I have now with Nicole's parents). Is it any wonder that Isaiah writes, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." (55:8)
I never saw that turn in the road coming, but when I look into the beautiful eyes of my wife; I'm glad that God knew all about it.

Do I have to be Happy with God to Pray?

In I Samuel 1:10 we're told that, "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD." By the way, God answered that prayer. Hannah was praying for a child, God blessed her with the boy Samuel who would grow up to be one of the heroes of Jewish history. We absolutely don't have to be in a happy frame of mind to pray. In fact, God welcomes our honest prayers (including those where we're upset or don't understand God) far more than he ever will a fake attempt to get what you want from him through flattery. By the way, God knows your heart anyway, so you might as well be honest and admit to God that you're confused, sad, tired, and yes, angry.
Why was Hannah praying to God in the first place? Hannah went to the temple to pray precisely because she believed that God was in control of the world; that he was the one who could answer her prayer, and that it was a waste of time to ask anyone else for a miracle. Hannah HAD faith. Not a happy go lucky, all is right with the world kind of faith; but rather a real, down in the trenches, beaten but not broken, kind of faith. Real faith. And God answered her prayer, not in spite of her bitterness and weeping, but because of it.

Taking a Break

I recently enjoyed a three day camping trip with one of my best friends (the army doctor) and a couple of his friends on the shore of Lake Superior (at the Two-Hearted River); it was guys only, (wives and kids left behind in order to make the trip a rest from obligations and duties); fishing, canoeing, swimming in Lake Superior (that's a manly enterprise; believe me, it wasn't very warm at all), and mostly just sitting around the campfire at night talking about nonsense (such as trying to decide which characters in Episode IV each of us were {rule: you can't pick the character for yourself}; I was happy to be nominated as Obi-Wan, although the guy we tagged as C3PO wasn't too thrilled)...It was only a couple of days, but that time away did us all a world of good. There's a reason why the LORD rested on the seventh day; not everything in life can be about work; otherwise, when do you appreciate what you have and what you've accomplished?
Another bonus of our trip: We were entirely unplugged from the modern world; no electricity, no running water, NO cell phones, no 24 hour news cycle; just guys cooking over a fire and not worrying about all of the things that follow us around back in our daily lives.
When is the last time you truly got away from it all; if only for a day or two? Can you let it all go for a bit, or are you too worried that all of the balls you're juggling will come crashing down?
The Christian has access to the ultimate in stress management...Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Make the time to find rest in your life; I'm pretty sure if God took a day off, you can too.

Which Bible Translation do I use?

One question that always seems to get asked of those like myself in the ministry is, "What Bible translation do you use?" For some, this question is a litmus test, a way to determine if the two people in question are on the same "team"; for others, this is merely one of those issues of curiosity akin to asking a pro-golfer what brand of club he prefers. Much has been made over the years by those who have staked out a King James ONLY position. These partisans of the King James Version have declared all users of other translations to be at best 2nd-rate Christians, at worst hopeless agents of the Whore of Babylon (somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but I've been called things to that effect). Unfortunately, that position itself is wholly un-Biblical, has no basis in the scholarship of translation, and assumes that 99% of those who claim Jesus Christ as their Savior are somehow mistaken. So much for a Church against which the Gates of Hell shall not overcome.
As you can tell, I am NOT at King James ONLY believer. By the same token, I don't have anything against the King James Version beyond the difficulty that arises when you try to use it to reach the un-churched. (For its poetic beauty and its influence on Church history, the KJV deserves to be kept in the mix to be sure)
I myself use the New International Version when I preach and for my personal study because of how readily the meaning and message of the Gospel are conveyed through its modern English. When I put the weekly PowerPoint together and choose the opening and responsive Scripture readings I typically check the KJV, NIV, NASB, and NLT to find the one that speaks to the sermon's message the best (and I usually try to rotate my use of the major translations to demonstrate my own acceptance of them).
In the end, the truth is that we are BLESSED with an abundance of excellent and trustworthy translations in English such that we should never consider ourselves to lack the true Scriptures (compared to some languages which have one or no translations of the Bible, what are you complaining about??) Every translation of the Bible into English is one man's or a committee's attempt to render the original Greek (and bit of Aramaic) into English. Anyone who has ever translated ANYTHING into another language knows that more than one English word (and sometimes several) can be used to convey nuances of the single word from the Greek. Some translations try to be word for word; others go for the meaning behind the words. That debate, while interesting, is immaterial to the question of whether or not we have the true Bible in English. We do, end of story, no question about it.
So, the next time someone asks you, "Which Bible translation do you use?" go ahead and tell them. Don't be worried about your answer, the important question is not which Bible you use, but that you do use it and learn from it.

The Value of Persevering - James 1:12

There's something about persevering under difficulties that gets God's attention. The Bible has plenty of examples of men and women who stood up against life's difficulties AND remained true to their faith. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Ruth, Hannah, Daniel, Elijah, Sarah, Peter, Paul, etc. It's actually one of the most prevelant themes of those believers in God whose stories we know about from the Bible. In James 1:12, we're told that those who persevere under trial will be "blessed" and "receive the crown of life"; much likes Jesus' list of the downtrodden "blessed" from the Sermon on the Mount.
Anybody can be commited to a cause when its convenient, even easy, but who really is willing to say, "I trust God, no matter what." In "Forrest Gump", Lt. Dan rages into the storm, defying God to do his worst; Forrest reasoned that Dan made his peace with God in that he let go of his bitterness and anger (at his "unfair" loss). What do we need to do in order to stand our ground under trial? Pray? Certainly, that's a must even in good times. Read the Bible? Sure, knowing what God has done for others, and what God has promised to you is always a big help. Talk to someone you can trust? Yes, share you're burden with another Christian, let him/her know that you're having a rough time, be honest.
Are we supposed to be happy all of the time? Put on a happy face? No, just remain true to God, even if you have to yell into the storm, stay true.