Tunnel Vision

I grew up near Pittsburgh, and since I’m now living here for a while, I’m reminded of the “Tunnel Monsters” of the Burgh. Everyone, and I mean everyone, slows from 65mph to 10mph…and sometimes, 0mph, simply because they have to drive through a tunnel. Since there are no obstructions, no surprises, and cops stay away for fear of slowing us down even more, the Pittsburghers decided a Tunnel Monster must occasionally show up and eat a car or two, and people fear they could be next.

While the Tunnel Monster is a humorous means for locals to deal with their daily frustration of tunnel crawl, we as Christians tend to do the same thing. That is, day-after-day, we travel the road of life with God in the lead. While walking our path He set before us, occasionally we see a mountain or possible trouble in the distance so we slow down and begin to question His wisdom.

Are you sure, God?

I know you have gotten me through, over, or around other mountains, but that one is huge—are you sure?

We not only slow down ourselves, but those around us in our sphere of influence. I wonder how much people watch us and wonder if we see a tunnel monster or some other evil greater than God’s power.

Why are you hesitating?

Why do you slow?

Where is your faith?

"I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24

We tend to mock the Israelites because, despite unbelievable demonstrations of God’s might, they continually questioned Moses and God. The Israelites’ path caused them to face death at every turn due to starvation, dehydration, impassable mountains, the Red Sea, warring armies, and giants. Most of us, at worst, might face a harsh word, leaving family and friends, and the unknown, so we slow, stop, and some turn around and go back to “Egypt”, our place of comfort, "I know, but my family lives here…so..."

The problem is not what they did…it is what we do or don't do.

We have watched God do things in our lives, in the lives of others, and the world that we live in, and yet, we question Him daily.

As we get closer to the mountain, we sometimes find that God has provided a tunnel or a way through the problem. We are relieved we don’t have to hike this one. Going over the mountain is exhausting and can take lots of time, energy, and courage. But this time God carved a tunnel, so we should be good to go—right?

Sadly, wrong!

We still slow down. We still question. We still double and triple look for a tunnel monster.

What if, however, there is a note-worthy opponent—so what! The God who created everything, transcends time, and raised Jesus from the dead is leading you on this path. You can run and cower by yourself or stand firm with the clout of God’s might.

It’s your call.

As ridiculous and absurd as the Tunnel Monster is in Pittsburgh, so are we who daily question the God who created us, loves us, and died to save us from His wrath to come.

Isn’t it time to move forward with maximum speed?

Isn’t it time to take our foot off the brake and put it back on the gas pedal?

We need to stop slowing down; our indecisiveness affects the progress of the gospel!

The other side is on the other side….DRIVE ON!

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” Mth. 21:21-22

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Live to Ride, Ride to Live

My friend, Jason, and I were recently on a two-day motorbike ride in Florida. When we woke up on beautiful Cedar Key, we decided to get an early start before the storms had a chance to build. As we left the comforts of the island behind us and rode over the bridge, it became obvious we were in for a wet, and at times, scary ride. I grabbed my phone and took this picture as I crossed the bayou. As you can see, we were heading straight into the dark and ominous veil of storm clouds ahead of us.

It wasn’t until I uploaded the picture that I saw the reflection in the mirror of the bright blue skies behind me. The image captures a cool moment of contrast where we are leaving the comfort and safety of a clear day to enter the dangerous wet roads ahead in order to reach our destination.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

I think many of us live looking longingly in the mirror of life. That is, life does not stop or slow down. We desire to go back to the “good ole days” when things were “simpler”. Some people reading this have storms in the mirror and only see darker super storms in their future.

Before the ride

Regardless of what’s in our mirror, we cannot be glued to what’s being reflected because that is only a memory while the reality of actual clouds, hard times, good times, and unknown twists and turns are rapidly coming at us. Glancing at the mirror is normal and healthy; staring at it will inevitably cause us to crash.

Our future is coming, we can’t stop it, but we can and should live in the knowledge that what is in the mirror is there to stay and how we respond to the coming moments is what determines what’s in our mirror tomorrow.

We had to punch through the dangerous rain to get home. What will you do with today? Will you continue to long for the images of your past? Will you continue to lament about the destructive storms in your mirror? Or will you choose to believe in the words of Christ and live knowing He has overcome the worries of today and will lead you through the storms of tomorrow?

“They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

God assured us that life would be difficult. He asks us to remain focused through the complexities knowing that we must travel this road to get to the One we love.

This life will take us down; its meandering whiplash turns are daunting, demoralizing, and deadly. In the end, it is our foundation and focus that either gets us through or pulverizes our will to drive into the foreboding unknown. For Jason and me on that ride, it turns out, we barely got wet. The storms broke up before we got there and all we got was some sprinkles. I wonder what hurricanes, tornadoes, and super cells God will diminish, remove, or carry you through.

“We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” 2 Cor. 4:9

What the clouds turned out to be

Get on your bike, glance at what’s behind you, and ride into the wind knowing no matter how bleak it looks, God never abandons you if you have put your faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. 

Dead Squirrels

 

Everyone can associate with the squirrel on the road. You know the one that dodges, darts, and dashes to get from one side to the next for no apparent reason. For the last few weeks, one of those gray, furry creatures would run in front of my car on a small side road on my way to work. This week, he juked when he should have jived and met his end.

As I drove by him on the road, I considered his brief life. His ‘home’ was on the side of the road surrounded by dozens of wooded acres with no homes, cars, or roads, everything he could possibly need or want to live a happy life. He would run to the other side of the road, which is a walled subdivision. It reminds me of the classic question, “Why did the chicken/squirrel cross the road?”

This story plays out untold thousands of times a day around the world, but it’s not just animals, it’s us. God gives us what we “need”, and yet, we want what’s on the other side of the road. Our discontentment with His provisions and curiosity is so strong that we are willing to risk the dangers inherent in those decisions. Somehow—I’ll never understand how—we convince ourselves that what happened to millions before us will not happen to us; “It can’t happen to me!” We believe we are wiser or have figured out a trick that ‘they’ didn’t know. In the end, the wheels pin us to the road, and the result is the same…passersby glance at our outcome, and then shake their head in disbelief about our poor choice to leave the known to run to the unknown. The funny part is that the squirrels on the side we’re running to are running to our side believing the same thing about our side.

God warns us over and over about desiring the other side of the road because longing leads to running, which leads to our demise.

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Stories of men and women, who have refused to be content, litter humankind’s history from the most powerful leaders to the lowliest survivor. Curiosity killed the cat, the squirrel, and us.

 “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” 1 Timothy 4:11-13

If you are finding yourself looking, longing, and lunging for the other side, consider the dangers…consider our mandate to be content…consider our first goal, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33

 

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Never Underestimate the Enemy

 

Many years ago, I entered a karate competition. As I awaited my turn in the ring, I sized up my opponents. One man stood out from the rest. He was in his thirties with a scraggly beard and very rough looking. My thought was anyone but him. The luck of the draw pitted me against that man. Fear raced through my mind as he and I squared off to do battle. They declared me the victor in less than a minute. I was shocked that I was able to beat such a leathery looking opponent. But that was only round one.

Again, I stood on the sideline, looking who remained that I had to fight, as one by one, competitors took the walk of shame and the circle of winners shrunk. I then won my next round and there were only two of us left. I had not paid this young man any attention as he was skinny and quite weak looking. I leaned over, extended my hand to wish him luck, but inside I knew I had this competition wrapped up. He smiled at me and wished me luck as well. We entered the ring, bowed to the Sensei, faced each other and bowed, and then just before the judge yelled, “FIGHT”, this meek young boy’s face turned from kind to violent, startling me. The fight was on and very quickly he took my strategy (walk to the table and pick up my trophy) apart and won 3 to 2. I was stunned at the loss. How could I let someone who looked so innocent beat me?

I learned a critical mindset that day, never underestimate my enemy. My mind gave me permission to stand-down, to relax a little, and glance at the large trophy on the table near us. The trophy I would never have because I underestimated my opponent.

In life, I wonder how many of us will never see the "trophy" God has waiting for us because we underestimated the enemy and overestimated our resolve. How many times has that ego-boosting glance from an attractive person lured an otherwise powerful warrior to fall? How many times has an advertisement promising happiness with their shiny new product sent a person to financial ruin and the landslide of heartaches that follow? How many times have we read the verses that Satan masquerades as an angel of light, that he is brilliant, beautiful, acts like God, appears good to the human intellect, yet is a roaring lion seeking to devour those who miscalculate and become complacent? How many times will I continue to underestimate my enemy and trust in my abilities?

I wish I would see the immediate spiritual results of such failures as I did, physically, that day in the ring. Sadly, it is usually a process, a slow process, where we allow the drip to become a raging torrent and succumb to his fierce powerful grip. By ignoring our weakness we are ultimately unable to fulfill our purpose—glorifying God with our lives.

According to God, our enemy is a seasoned and unyielding enemy, and we do not need to size him up. Instead, RUN from temptation and PURSUE righteousness, is our answer. Look away, walk away, run away, just get out of the way of our enemies reach (Gen 39:12; 1 Tim. 6:11). Do not glance at the winner’s table; we have work to do and the enemy is trying to stop us with egotistical pursuits, busyness, and burdens.

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Tim. 2:22

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Cor. 9:24

 

"I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Phil. 3:14

 

 

Evil…Where?

 

I grew up in a rural sleepy town and worked on a dairy farm. My exposure to the outside world was limited, at best. Shortly after graduation I moved to central Florida and became a cop. I quickly realized that I was not in “Kansas” anymore. It was not the state; it was the job. What was once hidden from view became my life.

Indescribable evil is what first responders deal with on a daily basis. They are not called to celebrate a birthday party unless someone drank too much, pulled their pocket knife, and proceeded to take their aggression out on a family member they “love”. People do not call 911 to wish the Thin Blue Line a Merry Christmas. They call those three numbers because they have reached their capacity to control a horrible situation. They call good men and women into the Devil’s lair where his presence is palpable.  

It did not take me long to stop asking the question “why?” In the end, there is no answer that will satisfy one’s intellect for the heinous crimes violent criminals commit. All I could do was handle the situation, clean up the bodies, and move on to the next call. Nothing will allow me to listen to that answer and think, “Oh, now that makes sense” except evil. That is not a simple answer; it is the most complex answer we have, for in it are all the troubles of this world.  

When someone lashes out, they have simply followed through with the evil that is already in their heart. It makes us feel better to put a title, a drug, a horrible parent, poverty, wealth (as is the case in CT.), etc. so that we can rebuild the false walls of security in our naïve minds. That way when someone else decides to do something as hideous as shoot kids or use a hammer to beat their neighbor to death (Jared Brooks, Seffner, FL 12-15-12), we can search for a title and go to sleep thinking, “See, that’s why he did it, his mom was dismissive of his needs.” Really?

Where’s God?

God has clearly given us free will. From the beginning of time, we have run from the very God who loves us. The Bible—history—records one generation after another who chose death over life, hate over love, and self over others. Our possessiveness, anger, and wrath are the headlines of antiquity. Where is God we ask? God is where He’s always been, here (Rom. 5:8). He awaits our choice to turn towards Him or remain distant from Him. His arms are not crossed while tapping his foot and scowling. He is waiting with anxious anticipation of our return to His ways (Pro. 8:17). He runs to greet those who return to Him (Luke 15:20). He desires love yet we continue to desire hate. From those feelings of jealousy of a fellow worker to planning their ruin, we turn our back on the only source of hope; Jesus Christ.

Christmas is a time to remember that He came to save us from His wrath and it is our choice (1 Jhn.4:9-12). The answer to “Why?” is simple: evil exists in the heart of each of us and only God can cleanse us of our own self-destruction (Mth.12:35).

Freewill; the greatest gift, our greatest failure.

“So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.” 1 John 3:10