Nick’s Walk

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become ifishers of men.”

Last night we had a nice men’s meeting at church. We enjoyed a good gumbo and watched videos in which two couples shared their experiences of infidelity, divorce and potential divorce. We learned how both situations were saved when the couples put Jesus first. We were told we need to love our spouses better, listen more. Good lessons, but I’m not sure that’s the problem. Any man who has been married but a few years listens plenty. Come on. The women never seem to stop talking. Men could probably use lessons in positive listening or in being more convincing that they are listening, but they listen plenty. I don’t know any men with fidelity problems. I guess I should say I don’t know for sure that any men that I know have fidelity problems. The problem is I don’t really know much about most of the men I “know.” To me, the real issue for men is having someone they trust to talk to. That’s not going to happen in a room full of men who are full of gumbo and words of “wisdom.” I know a lot about the private lives of a couple of the men who […]

Wouldn’t it be great to be able  to periodically go on retreat and spend a week alone evaluating where we are with our lives? Almost none of us have the opportunity or resources to do that. A reasonable alternative is to more frequently run through a quick check list to get a reading of how we are doing, a periodic report card.   Here’s a suggested five question list: 1. Am I stepping out? No, I don’t mean am I a frequent party person? We’ve heard it all. The Christian walk is a matter of one step at a time.  If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling back. What we need to do is frequently check our position. Am I one step further along with my God than I was yesterday, last week or last month? If we aren’t taking one step at a time, years will past and then we will realize that we have “wasted” our lives and become stagnant.  2. Whom do I fear?  Do I spend time concerned about whether my life pleases God? Or do I worry about what someone else thinks? The problem here is that even if that “someone else” is an important person […]

SPOILER ALERT: If any of my readers think I’m a great person (I know, figure the odds) and such a person doesn’t what to be set straight, stop reading. Those of you who know I’m a jerk will enjoy today’s posting so read ion for a change.  During the month of February David Jeremiah has been teaching on Slaying the Giants in Your life. Regretfully, I saw myself often as he marched through such things as fear, guilt, and resentment. I felt right at home as he discussed discouragement, loneliness and failure. It was not a waste of my time when worry and anger were discussed. But on the last day of the month, he was really “reading my mail” as he discussed the green-eyed monster of jealousy and envy. I guess I had never considered myself to be a jealous or envious person. Wrong. I don’t envy those who are wealthier, younger or better looking. (There are just too many such persons out there.) I thought I had finally made it through one “giant” unscathed until “professional jealousy” was mentioned. It turns out I do have a problem with those who have more professional success than I do. […]

I can’t help but feel that Christianity is in a mess. I am ashamed of what is done in the name of Christ. I am embarrassed by many who call themselves Christian. I believe when Jesus considers the situation, He weeps. It’s not our job to determine who the Christians are. It’s not our job to point out who the sinners are. (Since we are all sinners that would be a wasted activity, don’t you think?) We are not commissioned to raise buildings or empires. It isn’t complicated. We are called to tell. I suppose it might be possible to list all the problems; but I’m not sure that would get us any closer to the solution. I think the solution is to simplify and remember, “Just Jesus.” The word “gospel” originally described the word that was spread throughout the Roman empire when a new Emperor ascended to the throne. “Gospel” as used throughout the New Testament,  refers not to a theology or movement, but to a person, now ascended to the throne as King of King and Lord of Lords.  Jesus consistently pointed to Himself.   Paul, Peter, John, they all. preached Jesus. The gospel is the proclamation of Jesus—His Life, Story, […]

“Always buy the most hideous house in the neighborhood, so at least you won’t have to look at it.” – Unknown I guess in this generation we spend way too much time watching television. If you are a tv person you can get the idea that everyone is twenty-something and gorgeous. Trying sitting in the back of church (or looking in a mirror) to get a dose of reality.  I like sitting in the back of church. I do it not just so I can slip out if the sermon is a bit weak or if nature calls (as it seems to do more frequently as I age.) I guess I enjoy seeing all the earthen vessels. The longer I am a member the more I know the stories inside those vessels, and the more I am blessed. Most of us are not twenty-something and our beauty pageant days are way behind us, if they ever existed at all. But that’s all just part of God’s plan. From the day of our birth these earthen vessels are starting to deteriorate. Our society’s frantic attempts to slow or prevent that decay is just more evidence of our of lack of acceptance […]

Galatians 5:17  For the desires of the flesh are against the spirit and the desires of the spirit are against the flesh. For these things are opposed to each other to keep you from what  you want to do. Contrary forces seem to plague most of creation. Consider marriage. Men and women are different; no matter what political correctness may dictate. It’s why marriage is so tough.  Our natures have opposing elements; particularly once our spirit is ignited after we come to Christ. I remember years ago sharing a room with a friend at a men’s retreat. He had just been baptized in the spirit and spoke in his prayer language for hours. I recall him laying in his bed and commenting,”All things are spiritual.” Nice thought but not true. As far as I know he is no longer following Christ. In fact, he is very much in and of the world.  Our nature is like a successful marriage. Success doesn’t come with one partner dominating the other; but with both putting the marriage first. In a successful marriage, the partners adopt and adapt. The union becomes more important than the partners. If we are to be successful in […]

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 The words with which we traditionally end the Lord’s Prayer were likely not uttered by Jesus. They are absent from original manuscripts. They were uttered by David when the people had gather together gifts for the construction of the temple. Nonetheless, the sincere praying of these words identify true followers of Christ who recognize where the kingdom, power and glory reside. They are the ones who take God seriously. Many give Jesus lip service, but those who “follow” Him know that all that counts is part of His Kingdom, that He has been handed all power and that anything worth doing is done for His glory. We turn to Our Lord when our needs float to the service, when they are obvious and grip us. It is good at all times, especially when we feel we’re doing fine without Him, to recite the words He gave us and meditate upon their […]