Nick’s Walk

39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:39 One of the hardest lessons to learn is that to really gain something you have to let it go. Tightly gripping something in your hand kills and smothers it. The war hero is a hero because he’s let go of his life long ego. Living is not the most important thing. The Christian is really following Christ when He lets go of his life. Then he really starts to live.  With the grip comes the illusion of control. If I hold on to something I believe that I can make it what I want it to be. It will do what I tell it to do. That might have some value  if we had any clue as to what to do. We are clueless. We can’t direct our lives because we don’t know what’s best for us Let go.  Let God. It’s more than a wise saying. It’s the only way to live.  Nick

It is very early in the political season and I’m sick if it already. We have seen one after another Republican presidential candidate rise  and fall. I still haven’t seen the man or woman I really want to be the next president. I guess the reason I’m sick of it is I want everyone to say what they really believe so that I can decide who really believes what I believe to be the truth. Stop telling me what you think I want to hear. We are killing folks telling them what we think they want to hear. Politics has gotten to be a mess and so has the church. We are so concerned about preaching what people want to hear; that we are not concerned enough about preaching the truth. The goal of politics is for us to have an opportunity to select those to lead us who will make the best decisions for our country. What good is there in finding someone who has the best chance of winning, if we won’t be any better off once that person is the winner. We are so concerned about filling our pews that we forget the goal is to […]

If 2012 is to be better than 2011, I need to do a better job of controlling intake. Garbage In: Garbage Out is the old computer phrase. This is true in nutrition as well as information. It occurs to me that most of us would benefit from a food and information diet. Consider implementing these intake procedures: 1. Record your intake. I have the feeling that if I made an accurate measurement of the food and the information I consume I would be shocked. Not only do I take in too much, but the quality of my intake is not real good. Try this for a brief period, a month, a week, or even a day. Record everything you consume. For food, that’s relatively easy. It’s impossible to record every piece of information you absorb, so just try noting the major things: Television programs, radio programs, Internet sites, conversations, books, articles. The good thing about doing this is that the mere act of making a record will force us to change our habits. Before we make a note of something we are about to eat, or a piece of information we are about to absorb, considering the consequences may […]

The LORD is my strength and my shield;          My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;           Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,           And with my song I will praise Him.  Psalm 28: 7 Well, how’s the New Year resolution thing working out for you so far. I have to admit to kind of limping into 2012. It’s the third day and I’ve overslept three days in a row. I’ve gotten to bed early enough. I just can’t seem to get motivated to get up when my eyes first open.  I plan to forward a daily bible reading on to everyone on my distribution list and that’s not working right. My bank hasn’t adjusted my balances since last year so I have a stack of first of the month bills that I don’t have much confidence in mailing out. Even our water dispenser stopped dispensing and I just noticed I have a doctor’s appointment this morning that I’m not going to make because I forgot I had it.  How about you? Those promises to read your bible more or watch your diet or whatever, how are  you doing? If you’re like […]

Every New Year presents new challenges, new blessings, new successes, new failures… just lots of new stuff. This one started off differently. I overslept. I don’t know if this is a harbinger of things to come or just a one time deal.  For the last few days I have considered the New Year and now it’s here. In many ways it’s no different than last year, so far. It’s just as dreary outside this morning as it was when I went to bed last night. Two birds just committed suicide by running into our windows. They have been doing that for years. I will go go church and thereafter prepare my “traditional” New Years Day meal. In our family, it’s tradition that I do the cooking on New Year’s Day and my repertoire is limited so the guests, if any, will know what to expect. I guess what I’m trying to say is that this year will only be new if we are new. The world around us is going to be pretty much the same. If we want anything to be different, we need to act differently and not insanely. By that I refer to the old saying that insanity […]

Most of us are I-pad people. Even many of us who don’t own these devices. They were among the most popular Christmas gifts of 2011, along with Kindles, and smart phones and game playing devices. These things have something in common. Think about it. While you are thinking about that answer this question: What do you do for fun? Most will say: Watch tv. Go to a movie. Go out to eat. Watch a sporting event. All of these things have something in common as well. It’s what makes us a generation of what I call I-pad people. Here’s the common thread: We are observers and absorbers. That’s what the popular gifts and popular activities have in common. They are all designed for passive activity. We take in information. We read. We watch. We listen. Sure you can put stuff out there on these devices. But what do you really do most of the time. If you’re honest you’ll say: Check my email. Check my Facebook page. Watch a video. Read a book. Play a game.  These tendencies are true of younger folks with jobs. When they come home at night, they believe they deserve to sit back and just vegetate. […]

Yesterday when discussing making 2012 better than 2011, we decided that one way we need to do that is by changing our world. We do that by being salt and light. Here is some more thoughts on just how do we do that.  These thoughts are borrowed from the Teal Trust. Tomorrow we will look at an example of someone who is living as Salt and Light.  Being Salt and Light in the world. There are two broad approaches to seeking to shape values in society. At times the Christian community may feel it needs to confront a particular value, decision or priority adopted by the community.  But the Christian community is also able to influence values day in, day out through bringing a distinctively Christian approach to the people we come across as we go about our daily lives. This is what we mean by being “salt and light” in the world (Mt 5:13,14), where by living distinctively Christian lifestyles we seek to influence those around us, and through this the values, decisions and priorities adopted by our communities.     Pause for Thought :  Start off by thinking for a moment where your influencing opportunities are.  There will […]

Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.Ephesians 4:25 Back in 1940, only 20 percent of college students admitted to cheating. Today, that number has increased to 75%-98%. Worse yet, two-thirds of parents think cheating is no big deal and that all students do it, according to statistics from National Public Radio. What has happened to integrity? If 2012 is going to be better than 2011 there will have to be more integrity in our world and we will have to provide it.  We face a constant struggle being in the world but not being overwhelmed by it. For most of us I think we need to be in it more. We are comfortable surrounding ourselves with Christians, trying to create a Christian environment in which to live our lives. But we need to be bolder and more fearless and begin to operate more out there where the battle is.  Christians sometimes treat unbelievers as untouchables. They appear as though they are avoiding all contact with them. I can understand not wanting to be influenced in a bad way. But how about influencing others in a good way? Jesus said that as Christians, we are to be salt and […]