Nick’s Walk

Hebrews 10:19 pTherefore, brothers,

We are called to pour out our lives in ministry and mission. Before we become overwhelmed with how challenging that sounds, let’s consider some practical applications. Every other week Kaydence lives with us. I try to be the one who picks her up from daycare and I bring her to church on Sundays. These are certainly not odious tasks. But I consider that I am pouring my life into hers. I home school Nicholas five days a week. I try to give him more than reading, riting and rithmatic. I try to give him the best stuff I have. More life pouring. Tomorrow I am spending the day at Angola. I have been looking forward to it for weeks. I will try to pass on to those guys the best that I have to pass on. More life pouring. Consider this about life pouring: It’s not optional. In fact, once we become disciples, it becomes our main purpose. We are to pour out the good. It’s not for us to pour out our fears, prejudices and hurts on others. We are to pour out the best that is in us and that comes down to Jesus. It’s fine to […]

Have you noticed that those who are really comfortable being a Christian use the name of “Jesus.” Those on the border talk about “God.” I’m not completely sure why this is so. Jesus is God. That’s what I believe. But it really is all about Jesus. The whole of scripture is about Him. It predicts His coming. Chronicles His life. It predicts His return. All about Jesus. Jesus is a more personal term than God. It separates us from many others. It may be more politically correct to talk about “God” so as not to offend Jews, Muslims, and social Christians. But believing and trusting in Jesus is what makes us different. It’s what insures our future and guides our present. Jesus is more specific. God conjures up vague images of a grandfatherly person way up in heaven with a stern and judgmental attitude. Jesus is a real person. He is someone we can relate to. He got angry, hungry and tired. He got dirty and had human bodily functions. Although our image of him may turn out to be imperfect, we do have an image. We can talk to Jesus. I can imagine talking to “God” but I […]

I think the ugliest condition of man is that of ingratitude. Consider the recipient of something great and undeserved who doesn’t appreciate it. Have you ever been more hurt than when you carefully planned a gift or surprise for a loved-one who seemed totally unmoved by your efforts?  In this country, it seems to me, that we have a plague of ingratitude. Imagine a nation that performs less for a greater reward with less thanksgiving. We are richer than almost any nation. Poverty, real starving poverty, is practically unknown. Most people I know have their own car and smart phone and don’t work more than 40 hours a week. There biggest food problem is eating too much; never not having enough to eat. They go to bed knowing their children are well-fed, sheltered and safe. They think housing, health care and retirement income are rights.  Yet they complain. Their neighbor has more. Their possessions demand maintenance tribute. Like Rodney Dangerfield, they don’t get no respect.  Considering the real struggles of most of the world, our complaints are pathetic.  My parents never owned their home. They didn’t have a car of their own until I was in high school. You can’t understand the […]

You are the rock of my salvation. You are the strength of my life. You are my hope and my inspiration. Lord unto You will I cry. I believe in you, believe in you. For your faithful love to me. You have been my help in time of need. Lord unto You will I cleave. You are the rock of my salvation. You are the strength of my life. You are my hope and my inspiration. Lord unto You will I cry. You are the rock of my salvation. You are the strength of my life. You are my hope and my inspiration. Lord unto You will I cry. I believe in you, believe in you. For your faithful love to me. You have been my help in time of need. Lord unto You will I cleave. You are the rock of my salvation. You are the strength of my life. You are my hope and my inspiration. Lord unto You will I cry. You are the rock of my salvation. You are the strength of my life. You are my hope and my inspiration. Lord unto You will I cry.  Listen to the hymn here.  I have come […]

Yesterday I picked up Kaydence at daycare. As soon as she was strapped in her carseat she announced that she had eaten all her lunch, taken a nap, not had an accident and hadn’t hit any other kids. She was pretty proud. Recently she has had “issues” at day care and I had gotten in the habit of quizzing her at the end of the day on how things had gone. She had gotten the jump on me. In my youth, the Examination of Conscience was a common spiritual exercise. At the end of the day, one would consider the day, it’s positives and negatives. Spiritual exercises seem “old-fashioned” these days. But they serve a good purpose. If we consider how we are doing on a daily basis, we are less likely to drift too far from the path. If you google “examination of conscience” you will find several helpful guides for this exercise. I like the simple process of reviewing the ten commandments, keeping in mind Jesus warning about violating these provisions are possible even in our thought life. Then I consider the Great Commission and ask how I’m doing in that regard. Finally I consider Jesus command […]

How many open doors have you walked by recently? I believe that we never lack in opportunities to serve God. Our only lack is in our perception of those opportunities. We walk down a hall with many open doors, but we don’t see them. Maybe our focus is on the ceiling not seeing doors at all. Maybe we are looking at the floor, watching each step that we take. However, I think the biggest distraction are the closed doors. As we walk through the hall of life, we can become obsessed by what we can’t do and miss out on our opportunities. When we consider witness opportunities, we should look to those closest to us. We have a much better chance to share with those with whom we have daily contact, than we do with those who live across the ocean. Sometimes we miss these up close opportunities, because of fear. The problem with sharing with someone we see daily is they know us. They see our walk and if it is not consistent with our talk, it will be obvious. Family offers a particular challenge in this regard. It is said no one can hurt us like those […]

It’s Monday and the celebration of Easter is over. Now comes the challenge of living out the Resurrection. If we believe that He is risen; there should be proof in our lives. Consider the signs of a resurrected life: Fearlessness – The resurrection heralds the end of fear. Jesus’ most frequent greeting, Fear Not, now becomes possible. If even death has been conquered, what have we to fear? Yet fear seems to inhabit not just the world but the church. We consider the end times and shudder in fear instead of awe. We recognize that our faith is no longer “mainstream” or even “acceptable” we slip into the darkness instead of fighting to remain the salt and the light. Holiness – We forget that to be “holy” is not to be better than thou, but set aside for a special purpose. A resurrected life is one that is set aside for a special purpose. That affects our every decision, every day. Loving – It is truly sad that the church is considered by most of the world to be “unloving.” Yet lovingness is the characteristic which is to identify us. Energetic Enthusiasm – A resurrected life appears as the […]