Simply A Night Owl

What used to be a “kind of funny” joke has turned into a nightmare.   Both my parents used to joke around about how one day, I was going to have a child who was just as bad (or worse) than I was.   Just the thought of that was almost scary enough to keep me from having kids. 

Let me give you a little taste of what my parents went through.  When I was a baby, I climbed out of my crib and took a header on the floor requiring stitches in my chin.  Bad enough?  I don’t think so.   Less than a week later, I did it again.   I was also the only kid who I ever heard of who attempted to walk across the top of a greenhouse.  Yep, you heard my right.  Actually, I did really good.  I made it across five panes of glass before falling through and landing in the roses.  (OUCH!!)  Then, instead of just walking out the door, I went out the same way I came in.  (Try picturing that!)  I would go and visit my aunt for a day or so and in doing so, I used to hang off of the deck rails which were about twenty feet above ground.  (She had the coolest house for exploring)  One day, I even found my way onto the roof and went next door to visit the neighbors.

Well tonight, I got a little taste of what my parents went through and it nearly resulted in a heart attack.  I walked out of my room for what was not more than a few seconds to put some clothes in the washer (we’re talking five feet away here) and Morgan, who was on the bed, decided he wanted to follow me.   So as I am putting my clothes in the washer, I hear a thump and he starts screaming.  He had taken a nose dive off of the side of my bed (about 2 1/2 feet) and landed on his forehead on the floor.   Well you know what?  With everything that I have ever done in my life, that is the most scared I have ever been and now, I’m feeling a little guilty.  I just don’t know that I could have lived with myself had it been worse. 

So far there is only a knot and red spot on his forehead and he will have some bruising but he is in good spirits and acting pretty normal.  I want to ask an interest in your prayers for little Morgan that it is nothing more serious than that.  

On May 27, 2008 Daryl Wheeler “took” the Republican primary for the office of Sheriff of Bonner County in a landslide victory obtaining 2093 votes to his closest opponents 901. Congratulations Daryl!! On to November.

Click here to see all of the Bonner County election results.

Let me see. How can I describe the last seven months? It has been a blur of bottles, diapers, crying, laughs, smiles, colds and cuddles; all in the middle of crazy work schedules and mixed in with occasional bouts of sleep – er, naps I mean. With a seven month-old little daredevil running the household now, that’s pretty much about all I have time for. Writing has definitely taken a seat somewhere in the third row.

I’m not really complaining about it though because when I write, especially on matters biblical, I have learned to be patient and wait for God’s perfect timing. OK, “am learning” would probably be more accurate. Even still, He has shown me over and over that He will lead me where He wants and once again, He has shown me that I can trust that He knows what he is doing. God quite often uses these “time-outs” in order for me to experience something that is fitting for what I want to write about. This case proved to be no exception.

In the last seven months, I have started to have a real crisis. I don’t think that it can be actually be labeled a crisis of faith because my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is solidly intact and in reality, is stronger than ever. What I have started to lose my faith in are institutional churches and “religious” people. It has always been an opinion of mine that institutional church is simply the beginning of understanding, not the end. In the last seven months, that belief has become more and more solidified.

I have been able to see “church” from outside of the box. I have been able to objectively look at doctrine and genuinely experience how rigid it is. I automatically question everything. Sometimes it’s because at heart, I am a rebel; mostly it is because I genuinely like to explore, probe and dig deeper. I want to truly understand my walk and my calling and I don’t like to accept things at face value simply because that is the way it’s always been. That is just not enough for me. I’m like the little kid that continuously asks, “Why?” to everything said to them.

Have you ever experienced church where it was expected that you act a certain way, believe a certain thing, dress a certain way? You can’t be late, communion is only on the first Sunday of the month, potluck is only on the third Sunday and only if there’s a guest speaker. No talking in the sanctuary and definitely don’t even think about bringing your coffee and donuts in with you. Hymns are sung because lively praise music is like Rock ‘n’ Roll. Don’t question the leadership about anything and don’t try to make a change, even if it is for the better. Sound familiar?

I feel as if I have been placed into a box; classified as unorthodox, unconventional; a heretic. I have been labeled a “boat rocker”. Looking from the outside in though, I am all right with that. Every rose has its thorn and for me, being a “boat rocker” is really part of my calling. In the last couple of years, I have experienced the rigidness of people who hold on to doctrine like a life jacket; like without it, they would go under. Jesus told Simon to put out into deep water (Luke 5:4) and I think that this might be what he is telling us as well. Anybody in the world can splash around in the safety of shallow water but our true colors show when we are in way over our heads and there is nothing but us, the water and God. As a “boat rocker”, I sit back and wait for those who hold onto that life jacket (doctrine) to relax a little and put down their jacket (guard) and then it’s time to rock the boat.  This is not meant to be subversive per se. I just want folks to understand that there is always another viewpoint; another side to the coin. Each coin has a head side and a tail side and they are viewed as opposites but in reality, while they each show a different picture and have a different message, they serve the same purpose. In the end, it’s really all about the coin.

My perspective on the great commission is that we are supposed to be telling people about Jesus, not telling people about church and I am of the opinion that churches in the west have, somewhere along the way, forgotten this and completely lost sight of what the real goal is. These churches spend their time, resources and concentration on putting butts in the seats. Church today has seems to have become just another big business where the best marketing, the best programs and the best worship bands will draw people to that church; and if there’s a really good looking charismatic pastor, that’s serious bonus points. This economy is not limited to mega-churches either. There is a small congregation in North Idaho that is dying to grow and dying because they’re not. Why? It’s very simple, nobody is doing anything. It is a very fundamental church where one family has ruled the roost forever and everyone is afraid of change. If the question, “How many of you invited someone to church this week?” were asked, there would be no response because nobody did. From the big mega-churches down to the small town congregations, “go and make disciples” has become “come to us to hear the word”; and in my mind, that is where we are failing.

There is a definition of “religion” that I want to focus on because this is what I believe causes a lot of categorization. The really sad part is that it is not only non-believers categorizing Christians, it is Christians categorizing each other as well. Religion is defined as an institutionalized system of beliefs and practices related to the divine. Wow! Did I just say institutionalized? That is making something a custom or an accepted part of the structure. It reminds me of the joke about marriage being an institution and who wants to be institutionalized? Well apparently, some do and that’s where the problem starts. “Religious” people have bought into the institution so much that things like correct thinking and correct theology (translate correct as “thinking like them”) have become the standard. “Religious” people today are very quick to tell you how wrong you are and how you need to change your ways. They are also very fond of telling you how condemned you are for it.

The problem with that kind of thinking is that it places too much emphasis on rules, regulations and doctrine when it should really be all about Jesus. Jesus said,

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) ~ Emphasis Mine

What He didn’t say was that you could get to the Father by thinking right or dressing good or hanging around the right crowd. Getting to the Father is also not accomplished by judging others. I believe that when we are standing in the presence of our Father, he’s going to ask us a few questions. The first and most important of these will be, “What did you do with my son?”

I’ve gotten a little long-winded when what I wanted to really focus on was inactivity; the popular view today that simply going to church on Sunday is what is necessary to be a good Christian. There is more to this walk than getting your face time in on Sunday morning.

To be continued…..

I just read an article on the dangers of drinking….scared the CRAP out of me. So that’s it, after today, no more reading.

Well here it is – Sunday evening.  I worked from 6 this morning until 3 this afternoon.  Then I came home, mowed the yard, put down fertilizer again, dug up a dead tree, planted a Star Magnolia in it’s place, watered, played with the dog and did a couple loads of laundry.   So here I sit at my computer with time on my hands and in all of that busyness, I looked at my old format tonight and decided that it was way too busy and what was required was something that was a little less like an attack on the eyes than what I have had in the past.  

So now, I guess I can just write instead of trying to dress up my blog.  

If you live in Bonner County and you are reading this, please remember that the primaries are this Tuesday, the 27th.  Let your voice be heard.

Author’s Plug:   Vote Daryl Wheeler for Bonner County Sheriff

Picture a clear morning in April. As you walk outside of your home, you find there is still a little bit of snow on the ground. The sun is shining down onto the earth between light wispy clouds. There’s a light breeze blowing; not cold, but sharp enough to make you feel refreshed as you step outside of your shelter into the world. Today isn’t just any other day though. Bozeman, Montana is normally a sleepy little town in the morning, even more so on the outskirts where you live. You are part of what is left of the human race after the third world war and life just isn’t all that great. Those who are left spend a lot of time just surviving; some wish that they had not. Most of the population spends every night in make shift bars drowning themselves in liquor bottles while others are content to just merely live out their days with no purpose or direction; just meandering around. Sleeping late has become a community pastime.

It makes me wonder what it’s like to live every day with a future that is uncertain and a past to be ashamed of. How can I begin to imagine living every day of my life knowing that the only thing I look forward to at the end of the day will be the bottle that will help me to forget it all – temporarily? Can I have empathy toward people that really believe that a lot of money or relocation will help them out of their rut? What is it like to just lie in bed staring at the ceiling all day? Well yeah, I guess I do understand that line of thinking.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of comfort, who comfort us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” ~ 2 Corinthians 1:4

At the same time, another group of folks were passing through the area. These were just regular folks out doing their jobs – another day at the office. They had no idea when they woke up that morning that they would be led to become missionaries of peace; making first contact with this lost group of people. How scary that must have been for them. Up until now, these missionaries had viewed this small group of people as savage and primitive; a group that reminded them of their past – people to steer clear of. Going against everything they knew, they landed themselves right in the midst of those who until now, they wanted absolutely nothing to do with. There are times when the Spirit leads me to do that very thing and when he does, I often wonder what it is I will say. As it were, the very first words spoken by a Vulcan to a human were “Live Long and Prosper”. In retrospect, this was not merely a simple salutation, it represented hope – hope that prosperity and long life could actually be a possibility.

Anyone who has read me before knows that I am a total Star Trek fan. My favorite of them is The Next Generation but I pretty much like any incarnation of the series that has come along. That said, my readers occasionally get to bear with me as I try to somehow tie something Star Trek into something mission or purpose. Pursuit course – engage!

It was that word – pursuit, which got me where I am at today.

“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; see peace and pursue it”~ Psalm 34:12-14

“Live long and prosper” was used as a primary salutation by the Vulcans but in reality, it was a response to a lesser known greeting; one that Sarek used quite often; “Peace and Long Life.” This was the preceding salutation and it was this greeting which first came to mind as I read the verses from Psalm 34. “Peace and Long Life” were actually derived from the Hebrew greeting Shalom Aleichem which means peace be upon you. Even the Vulcan salute is a derivative of a blessing performed by the Kohanim when they use both hands to form the Hebrew letter Shin; which is Shaddai; meaning [Almighty (God)].

In the end, I guess what I am really trying to say is that because of my experiences in this life, I can be a missionary – going about his daily routine and following the leading of the Spirit when given. This so that others in need can see through me that peace and long life are possible in Shaddai.

Shalom Aleichem

Pastor’s Business Card

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door.  Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote ‘Revelation 3:20′ on the back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, ‘Genesis 3:10.’  Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock.’ Genesis 3:10 reads, ‘I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked.’

Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” ~ Psalm 96:1-3 (Emphasis Mine)

The NIV Study Bible calls this Psalm an Old Testament anticipation of the New Testament World Mission. Pretty cool huh?! Now we have everything we need and we can all just be motivated and go at it. Truthfully though, that’s a pretty bold statement; one that I don’t know that I agree with specifically. Let me see if I can articulate what it is that I mean.

The parallels between the Old and New Testaments are many; so many, in fact, that in a lot of cases, they seem to be intertwined. I think a lot of that boils down to basic human behavior, which hasn’t really changed a whole lot since Adam and Eve. The stories are pretty much all the same, just the times and the players are different. So it really comes as no surprise to me that a connection such as this can be made. It would be very easy for someone to read “Declare his glory among the nations” and be able to say that it means the same thing as or at least prefaces “Go and make disciples of all nations” and then run with it. Figuratively speaking, the comparison might be accurate but I have to wonder; did David really know what the mission of the New Testament church was going to be or was he simply just WAY excited about the Lord and wanted everyone to know. I cast my ballot for the latter.

What was going on at this time? Saul was dead, David had re-captured Jerusalem and The Ark of the Covenant had come home. These were awesome and exciting times. The Lord had once again taken care of his people and this time, it required a whole new mind set about praising God. The same old song and dance (the way we’ve always done it) was no longer appropriate. This news was so good that it could not be contained within the walls of the city.

I remember when God entered this temple on a summer day and wouldn’t you know it, after that, I was singing a new song. Do you remember your day? I was a changed man through Christ and I wasn’t singing quietly about it either. This must be what it means to declare as a trump! I simply could not contain it and it spilled out at every pore. The message that God cared enough about me to forgive and forget everything that I had ever done was simply too much to hold in; everybody had to know how glorious of a Father we have.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”

OK..thanks to Glenn for this link!