He will raise you up on vultures' wings

He will raise you up on vultures' wings is an especially charming article in Christianity Today Online I just read. For guys like me who find God in every aspect of nature and particularly like to find and photograph birds, this is great! This Minnesota minister, Debbie Blue, calls herself a bird watcher for Jesus and with research has here given some amazing information about both doves and vultures. This is both nature study and a devotional thought.

Look at the birds of the sky . . .  Matthew 6:26

Difficulties Make or Break

"Difficulties break some men but make others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying, one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end."

Nelson Mandela

1918-2013

The Joy of the Gospel

The Joy of the Gospel is the title of Pope Francis' new book on the purpose of the church. He continues to encourage changes in the Roman Catholic Church that make me wish we had Baptist leaders like him. See the AP release on how he thinks their church needs to be reformed or sort of a new mission statement. I'll quote just two paragraphs and all are nearly this church-changing:

"I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security," he wrote. "I do not want a church concerned with being at the center and then ends up by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures."

He added: "More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us, 'Give them something to eat.'"

From my teen years it was missions that got me involved and gave me purpose in life and now it seems the most I hear about missions is a plea to give more money for it. Though I must confess that my local church has some mission opportunities with the homeless and addicted that I am now not participating in. So it is me too that needs to be reformed!  (But deliver me from the right-wing politics taking over my denomination and creeping into my local church.)

Don't shoot off your mouth

There was this Open Windows devotional Sunday night that got my attention, but it was the Scripture verse that really spoke to me at the moment:

Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think.
Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear.
God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better.

That's Ecclesiastes 5:2 in THE MESSAGE, the key verse, with fuller message in verses 1-7. I have always had a problem of talking too much. Somehow, this time, this passage got my attention. Though I've said it before, I'm going to try harder now to talk less, listen more and do most of my talking to God. As a hyperactive adult, prayer has been difficult for me. So I'm setting as a goal again to talk less and pray and listen more. Maybe you will pray that I accomplish it this time. Thanks!  

Can we live a life of humility?

Today's Tennessean had a good message titled It's hard to be humble, but 3 phrases can help that I recommend reading. It is easily summarized with the three phrases I know I need to say frequently:

• "I'm wrong."
• "I'm sorry."
• "Please help me." 

The first two are the easier phrases for me and I think I use them frequently. It is the last phrase that is difficult for me. I'm way to independent and self-reliant. As I get older, I hope I'm learning to ask for help more. I would truly like to live a life of humility for which Jesus is my model. "Lord help me to avoid pride."

"On the inside where God is making new life . . ."

Thanks to Rus Roach for calling attention to this verse on the working of HIS SPIRIT:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The Message (MSG)

16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

After posting this, I was prompting someone to see the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Looking at the trailer again, I joyfully heard the Indian saying "Everything will be better in the end. If it is not yet better, then it is not yet the end!"  :-)  That is more than optimism, that is to me a Christian attitude.  

Give Thanks!

This morning's beautiful worship service was about giving thanks, including many wonderful Scripture verses and music. I have so much to be thankful for, especially a life of adventure and joy that I don't necessarily deserve but I'm blessed with. Then tonight I read the latest posting by Dewitt Jones with this interesting American Indian quote:

"When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. 

Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. 

If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself." 

  -Tecumseh

Worshipping Differently

While in Washington, DC a week ago I took a bus from

my downtown hotel to the National Cathedral for a 9 AM service.

The Episcopal service was as beautiful as the building and 

I found it neat to dip my wafer into the cup of wine!

After worship some friendly members showed me around and 

took me outside to help find gargoyles they particularly liked.

It was a fun and meaningful part of my vacation in DC.

Hoping is a Good Thing!

It’s a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God

19-21 I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,
    the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed.
I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—
    the feeling of hitting the bottom.
But there’s one other thing I remember,
    and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:

22-24 God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
    his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
    How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
    He’s all I’ve got left.

25-27 God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
    to the woman who diligently seeks.
It’s a good thing to quietly hope,
    quietly hope for help from God.
It’s a good thing when you’re young
    to stick it out through the hard times.

28-30 When life is heavy and hard to take,
    go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions:
    Wait for hope to appear.
Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face.
    The “worst” is never the worst.

31-33 Why? Because the Master won’t ever
    walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
    His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
    in throwing roadblocks in the way:

Lamentations 3:19-33 THE MESSAGE

I used this passage to help describe my life during the decade of 1988 to 1999, the darkest days of my life. It is indeed a good think to hope for help from God! Help finally came for me and it can for you too!

Spiritual Not Religious?

I must admit I have said that a few times and like most people it was a subtle slap at the church. So I welcomed Ray Waddle's column in the Tennessean today. It reminded me of two or three important things. The "Spiritual Not Religious" people never organize to help people during disasters nor send missionaries to serve so many people around the world. Pastor Frank one time said that you cannot separate following Christ from relating to people and that is what the church is all about with it's core being spiritual.

I could add to Ray's words with the fact that Christ called the church his bride and that we become one with Him to do his ministry in this world. Even the incarnation ministry of Christ in us works best through the church and her channels and with fellow believers. I still have problems with my denomination and only occasionally with my local church, but its imperfect nature allows us imperfect people to relate to hurting people in love and see that God only works with and through us broken and imperfect people. Yes, Ray, I agree that the phrase I have even used myself, "Spiritual Not Religious" rings hollow in the real world. I am thankful for my imperfect church.

The photo of tulips I just recently found on my computer and decided I love. I made it at Falls Mill, Belvedere, TN in April 2008.

"Pride comes before a fall . . ."

. . . is an old British saying very much like Proverbs 16:18 which has "fall" as "destruction." In yesterday's sermon Pastor Frank continues his series on David in whose life this truism became very obvious. Frank described it as overconfidence and spiritual arrogance coming before failure. I was again reminded of my time of overconfidence and hesitantly say spiritual arrogance that grew in me after seminary and through successful experiences in work until I was a national consultant, traveling the country and pretty sure of myself. Then I made the plunge into marriage, not depending solely on God but constantly trying to fix things myself until my continued personal failures ended in divorce and all the falling or destruction that goes with it. So many times I have wondered how things might have been different if I had depended more on God, tried harder to be the spiritual leader of my family rather than the rescuer trying to keep everyone happy. Only God knows. The message Sunday reminded me of my greatest failure brought on most likely by pride or overconfidence in myself and what I could do.

I Then Shall Live

My blog focus "HIS SPIRIT" was again reinforced with this hymn sung in worship Sunday:

I then shall live as one who's been forgivenI'll walk with joy to know my debts are paidI know my name is clear before my FatherI am His child and I am not afraidSo greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brotherThe law of love I gladly will obey

I then shall live as one who's learned compassion
I've been so loved I'll risk loving, tooI know how fear builds walls instead of bridgesI'll dare to see another's point of viewAnd when relationships demand commitmentThen I'll be there to care and follow through

Your kingdom come around and through and in me
Your power and glory let them shine through meYour Hallowed name, oh may I bear with honorAnd may Your living Kingdom come in meThe Bread of Life, O' may I share with honorAnd may You feed a hungry world through me

Gaither

"Forces concealed in quiet people and plants."

I'm towards the end of reading the Old Testament in The Message version which has given me the most meaning and understanding I have ever gotten from reading the Old Testament. Eugene Peterson has written an overview/introduction to each book of the Bible and they are each brilliant! In his introduction to Nahum he writes:

Larger-than-life figures appear on this stage from time to time, swaggering about, brandishing weapons and money, terrorizing and bullying. The figures are not, as they suppose themselves to be, at the center of the stage--not, in fact anywhere near the center. . . The danger is that the noise of these pretenders to power will distract us from what is going on quietly at the center of the stage in the person and action of God. God's characteristic way of working is in quietness and through prayer. "I speak," says poet George Meredith, "of the unremarked forces that split the heart and make the pavement toss-- forces concealed in quiet people and plants." If we are conditioned to respond to noise and size, we will miss God's word and action. 

This is indeed what happened in the narrative of Nahum and I deeply believe is happening in our world today. Let's yearn for the "forces concealed in quiet people and plants." This is where HIS SPIRIT is at work today. Join me in seeking it.

Following Jesus - The Will Campbell Way

A Middle Tennessee minister/philosopher/activist, Will Campbell, cut to the chase when it came to following Jesus and would be as good a role model for me as anyone in contemporary times. He died June 3. In today's Tennessean our religion columnists Ray Waddle wrote an excellent column in remembering Will Campbell titled "Jesus movement cut across all political mandates."

Hopefully the full article above will stay online for a long time, but just in case I want to copy a few passages of the column that particularly spoke to me as the way I would like to follow Jesus. The headings are my addition (not their words/opinion) as I try to summarize the writings of both men:

REJECT POWER & MONEY 

Those are hard things. Probably the hardest is rejecting power, since all well-intended solutions (and egos) depend on accumulations of political influence and institutional muscle. But Campbell warned:

“True soul freedom can never be found in any institution. If they will pay you, let them. I did it, too. But never trust them. Never bow the knee to them. They are all after your soul. All of them. Jesus was a radical! And his grace abounds.”

REPLACE DOCTRINE WITH INCARNATION OF CHRIST

For him, the Jesus movement revealed a path that cut across all political mandates. Visit prisoners. Be a friend to the forgotten. Be also a friend to racists. Put no faith in any ideology. Be the incarnation of Jesus in this world. . .

 . . . The God of the Bible is too enigmatic for well-rounded theological statements. Will Campbell relied on his own wits and the subversion of grace, summarizing a biblical command: “We must obey God rather than man. He is our only sovereign. He is our God. Him will we serve.” . . .

 “Given a hearing, Will can describe a Christianity that is scandalous and objectionable, shockingly exhilarating and frighteningly attractive,” writes Richard Goode, a history professor at Lipscomb University . . . 

I HAVE NO MINISTRY - JUST A LIFE LIVED

. . . Speaking to a group of Baptist brethren in 1995 he said: “As the sands of time run out on me, I do not consider that I have had a ministry at all, except in the sense that all believers are priests. I have had a life. As to how well I have conducted it I am willing to leave to the One so mysterious, so elusive and evasive, so hidden as to say to Moses from the burning bush, I AM WHO I AM, to be the sole judge. I can only exult that grace abounds …” 

It is so exciting to find someone's words that express what I have been thinking and trying to say and live. I have just not been able to communicate it like Will Campbell and Ray Waddle! I thank you guys!

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Lloyd Elder was our preacher today. He led us to look first at the great hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" and the story of how Isaac Watts came to write hymns like this. We are all so unworthy of God's great grace toward us! Then he read and discussed Hebrews 12:1-3 which I have copied below with the emphasis being mine. As I continue to focus on "His Spirit" working within us I see that hymns and verses like this keep pointing us to Jesus and His Spirit within. Then to finish his trilogy of focuses on Jesus, Dr. Elder led us in the Lord's Supper. It was a very good worship service.

Hebrews 12:1-3
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Call to Endurance

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.

My Favorite Psalm

My bedtime Bible readings have been from the Gospels for awhile and I have now changed it to the Psalms. Though there are many favorites, right now it is again the 23rd Psalm. It speaks to how I think God has cared for me and blessed me in so many ways and without me deserving it. I'm following this copy of it from the Holman Christian Standard Bible which is what I'm reading from at night. (In the mornings I'm reading through the Bible in "The Message" translation which is the best every day language Bible available now.)

Below the psalm quote I'm placing the photo that I entered in our church's Art Festival several years ago when the theme was the 23rd Psalm. It is a Masai shepherd boy in Kenya with his sheep and note his "rod (knife) and staff" which the Psalmist says "comforts me." To me it is a good picture of how God shepherds and protects a dumb sheep like myself and thus in some ways a picture of my life, receiving more care than I deserve.

Psalm 23

The Good Shepherd, A Davidic psalm.

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He renews my life;
He leads me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live.

A Secret Discerned

Joe Mangano has invited me to attend a writers' group here at McKendree Village tomorrow. Their assignment is to write a short story or other writing on an attitude you changed that improved your life. As a visitor or first time attender, I do not have to bring a writing. But I want to and this is it. I started out writing about how positive thinking was the attitude that changed my life but ended up focusing on yielding my life to God. If I get serious about this writing stuff, I might re-write and maybe make two poems, one on positive thinking and one on letting God take charge. But then, it was my reliance on God that gave me the positive thinking in youth, so maybe this is okay. We'll see!  Or maybe I should stick with prose!  :-)   Here's the May 10 draft:

A Secret Discerned

A teen boy who was poor and shy,

Though in life, determined to try!

No success in sports, fame or girl,

I added activities, living in a whirl!

Mom gave me a nice new book,

Norman Vincent Peale’s ideas I took.

Bible verses and fun stories he told,

As I was learning in life to be bold.

“Change your thoughts - you change your world.”

As my petulant young life unfurled!

“This is the day the Lord hath made . . .”

A simple thought I carefully weighed.

God’s in charge, not me I learned;

That’s the secret I discerned.

Live simple and give much,

Scatter sunshine, love and such.

Words learned when I was young,

For a lifetime on my tongue!

Let go and let God have His way!

This attitude must not sway!

Charlie Doggett

May 10, 2013

A New Heaven & A New Earth & A New Eden

Revelation Chapters 21 & 22

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”^[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

This morning's worship service focused on Heaven as described in Revelation

When every tear is wiped away . . .

Today was the second in Pastor Frank's sermon series on Revelation. We have learned that Christ is
in control of the past, present and future (last Sunday) and how in the future every tear will be wiped away as everything is made right in the presence of Christ.

I'm including one of my tree photos because I believe heaven will have large and beautiful trees. This one is imperfect but beautiful in the setting sun in Mt. Juliet after dinner tonight. Another tree photo is in my Nature Blog.

The Words

I watched The Words movie tonight and liked it even if difficult at times. It is about a young writer who steals a novel from a lost manuscript and the great difficulty of living with a lie or any life mistake. It is negative motivation to be honest. The movie doesn't moralize, but easily could be considered a lesson on honesty or about the pain lies can give the liar.

Blue Like Jazz

I just watched the movie version of the book, Blue Like Jazz, from Netflix. Wow! It's a very honest and sincere movie about college students struggling with who God is or whether he even exists. It's about a 19 year old conservative Christian boy (Southern Baptist) student in a Texas junior college who transfers to the most Godless campus possible in rebellion against the hypocrisy he has grown up with. Even he was surprised by the outcome. Messy but very inspiring!

Though this book and movie was written for twentysomething and thirtysomething postmodern Christians, it's a great watch for all with some pretty meaningful conclusions. I liked it even though it was not at all like my experience on a Godless college campus in 1958-60. I was touched by how God can and does work in surprising ways to make himself known.  Available on Netflix.  with good description there.

The One who is, who was, and who is coming

That title is a portion of Revelation 1:4 HCSB and was the subject of Pastor Frank's sermon this past Sunday. As I think of my life, all the best things that happened were when I stayed focused on Jesus and when I focused on other things including myself, life got more difficult. It is more than just asking WWW? (What Would Jesus Do?) but making him and his ways the focus of my life, an incarnation of Christ,   "because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 HCSB

What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Last night via Netflix I saw the powerful 1993 drama movie What's Eating Gilbert Grape and in some ways it had a spiritual impact on me or maybe I wanted it to and it was just an emotional experience. Gilbert's mostly patient caring for his developmentally challenged younger brother in a dysfunctional family was almost heroic as well as very conflicted. I saw myself in Gilbert (Johnny Depp) over and over as I recalled the challenges of caring for Juli while trying to go on with my life in so many complicated situations (like Gilbert). Maybe I will write it down someday - another story to tell! The added interest of the movie was seeing a young Johnny Depp and an even younger Leonardo DiCaprio. Plus Juliette Lewis was great as the girlfriend! A delightful movie for me! See the  trailer or an essay on the movie. Gilbert said something like "Everything has a purpose, I just can't figure out what the purpose of this is." I know the feeling Gilbert!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  
Romans 8:28 NIV

Into The Congo Inspiration

I just finished reading Ron Meyer's chronicling of his 31 years as a missionary in the Congo of Central Africa. It was heart-warming to see how God worked in and through his life in the African Forest, especially since Ron is a new friend and fellow-resident of McKendree Village. He also gave me an idea of how I might write a similar chronicle of my 3 years in The Gambia, West Africa. I think I too would share it as a series of stories as he did. Of course as a photo nut, I will probably use more photos!  :-)

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

My Quiet Place

Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." 

Mark 6:31 KJV Cambridge ed.

Reminder of God

Iglesia Sagrado Corazon, Vinales, Cuba

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Vinales, Cuba

We saw the 1700's cathedral in Havana, but it was this little church in a farming village in Western Cuba that impressed me the most and really pointed me to God or reminded me of His presence in our busy travels by the many sights. It was also the only one I felt comfortable going inside and photographing. Except for the statue if could be a Baptist Church. It was a brief moment of inspiration and a reminder that architecture can remind us of God. 

Only by His Grace

In Sunday school this morning we talked about justification by faith and how none of us are ever good enough to live by the law but must depend on God's Grace and Him making us righteous through the perfection of Jesus. Tonight I watched the History Channel Bible series and was reminded of this as we saw Saul let his power go to his head and lose his dependence on God and then again with David, "a man after God's own heart" doing the same thing again as he sinned with Bathsheba. It is just our human nature to be selfish and to disobey God. I am justified only by His Grace!

This is a place . . .

In a good worship service today with The Centurymen singing and a good sermon on Christian growth and how we follow Jesus, the congregation read responsively from the bulletin four bulleted statements we have had there for some time. I like them because I think they describe what a church is or has been for me:

• This is a place where laughter is shared and tears are understood. • This is a place where questions can be asked and where strugglers find encouragement. • This is a place where new beginnings are found and faith can grow. • This is a place where hope holds together the pieces of the broken heart.

This is First Baptist Nashville or what we want to be

Good Life

Like this? Learn to build a better life at Good Life Project.

Kingdom Man?

Kingdom Man is the name of the book by Tony Evans I have started reading. It was used on the men's retreat for First Baptist Nashville this weekend. At the last minute I decided not to go for multiple reasons. One of those is that I did not think it would be good for the younger adults if in discussions I got started talking about my failed marriage. Though they might learn from my mistakes, I did not want to complicate the message that God wants men to be the spiritual leader of the family. I was more concerned about keeping the peace than being a spiritual leader in my marriage and that is just one of my failures. I've only read three chapters so far and hope to learn a lot and grow spiritually from some of the lessons. The thing I don't particularly care for in the book so far is his big emphasis on the macho man, sports, etc. which has never been me. But if he can use it to bring men to God, more power to him. The first two chapters describe what he calls a "Kingdom Man" and the third presents his idea that we are all called to greatness. It is a spiritual greatness. I'll report more as I read more, but my first repulsion by the macho-ism has been relieved as I read further.

"Spiritual Sleep"

Pastor Frank one time told us that sleep might be the most spiritual thing we could do for ourselves. 

I think I agree. And this is where I sleep. 

The simple print of Jesus in the Garden hung in my Grandmother Clemmie Hardgrave's bedroom. 

Sometime after Grandmother's death Aunt Iris gave it me. I treasure it!

My bedroom is used only for sleep, prayer, some reading and dressing. (No TV!)
So, it looks like a monastery bedroom - I like it!

On March 19 I changed the photo from one of just the bed and painting 

to this one with an interesting set of afternoon shadows of

my Tudor window, blinds and floor lamp

Love it!

Grace for the New Year

I saw Les Miserables, the new movie today. It is a powerful story of love and grace very well presented in this movie. It is best summed up for me by a paragraph in the Christianity Today review:

"As a Christian, I have always been drawn to the portrayal of faith in Les Misérables. The bishop displays a Christ-like mercy to Valjean that literally transforms him. He emerges from that church figuratively born again, with a new identity and an entirely new course in life. And we see this transformed life touch others in need with compelling grace and love. This is all in sharp contrast to the character of Javert, a man of the law. He shows no mercy, and when mercy is eventually shown to him, instead of being transformed he is undone. Wonderful discussions could stem from these two characters alone. And I love that there are such beautifully faith-inspired characters in a film today."
-Camerin Courtney

His Spirit is seen or felt throughout this movie. I recommend it!