Devotional 7-27-12

Tough Uphill Climb-Sweet Downhill – BLOWOUT

I remember learning how to ride a bicycle. It was a small neighborhood hand-me-down outgrown by a larger kid and given to my parents because I was just about the right size. Wow, did I feel free. Zoom zoom around the block I would go (that’s all the day I got it) until I accidently ran upon the heels of a walker as I tried to pass too closely. Ut-oh. That got my bike exiled to the storage locker assigned to our apartment in the military supplied apartment where we lived. I was crushed. Fast forward forty years. I have an opportunity to ride in a fundraising event for church. Well, heck, I’ve ridden a bike most of my life > what could go wrong with this? Let me count the ways! I was not prepared. I had not trained, and it was a rolling disaster. Yes, I finished, but it was not fun. I stayed away from bicycles for nearly ten months. When the fundraising event rolled around the next year, I at first said NO WAY. As I began to apply a tiny bit of logic, I realized that I really did like to ride and that if I trained for it perhaps things would be better. So I trained – and YES, it was a more pleasant and enjoyable ride.

Late in 2011, I was told by a friend that his father was an avid bike rider and that I should call him and ride sometime. Sure, I thought. Before I could call, my friend’s father had called me, and we set our first ride meeting. The friend’s father, two other cyclists and I rode 50 miles that brisk winter day. I almost D-I-E-D! We rode together several more times, and in February I was accepted, by the friend’s dad, as a part of the group that would get to ride from Huntington to Washington, DC. in support of a goal to raise money for Homeless Veterans. Way more of a challenge than I had ever given myself. Training would be the key.

In the months that followed I rode many miles with the dad. This man was not only an avid bike rider; he was/is a skilled bike rider. On all of those long training rides he always stayed near, passing on tips and hints to make me more proficient. This man could have mopped the street with me any day of the week and twice on Sunday – but he never did. He never chastised me for not keeping a faster pace or for showing signs of being tired when he himself could probably have done the ride all over again with only a water bottle change. And on the long ride to DC, able to arrive a day and half before everyone else, he stayed in the group fading and accelerating to be alongside each rider to encourage and check on them.

Faith in my mind is similar. I remember going to church as a child. I would listen in Sunday school and church. I would sing the songs, play the games and memorize Bible verses during VBS. As the challenges in life increase, so does spiritual training have to increase. We can no longer ride our small faith around the neighborhood with the wind in our hair and not a care in the world. We have issues to confront that force us to try and fix them on our own or rely on God to see us through. A spiritual mentor acting much as my bike riding friend can help condition us -- one who is well read and well versed in the scriptures yet never tries to speed past us or make us feel inadequate or inferior because we didn’t come to same conclusion to a question as quickly.

While on the bike ride to Washington my rear tire blew. It happened following a fairly grueling uphill climb and while nearly through a fairly steep descent. I was traveling 25 mph, and the BANG could be heard far and wide. While a rear flat does not carry with it the nearly immanent disaster as a front tire flat, it is still a bit unnerving. Because I had ridden so many miles in training and been coached so well by my friend’s dad I was able to keep my head about me (and not throw my hands up screaming “I’m gonna crash”), steady the bike, apply the brakes and get myself to the side of the road. It’s what came naturally.

When we have climbed a pretty serious hill in life, admire what we’ve done and then begin the sweet downhill ride - only to have a blowout, with our spiritual training as our foundation we can do what comes naturally and turn to God first.

At 50 years old I don’t know if I’m allowed to have a hero. Sorry Bill, you get to be that guy. You have not only molded my riding skills but have shown me how a ‘know-er’ can and should act towards one who is not yet as far along. As my riding ability increases and my spiritual knowledge strengthens and increases I hope that I can be as patient and encouraging as you have shown me is possible.

Steve Matthews

Devotional 7-19-12

Matthew 18: 21-22

Technology has taken things in my life and moved them from a leisurely pace to supersonic speeds and sometimes to my complete consternation and vexation.

One of the greatest inventions in my lifetime was the Ticonderoga #2 pencil. Not so much for the pencil end but for the wonderful brownish red device on the opposite end called the eraser.

I know computer keyboards have backspace buttons and delete keys, but to me it is not the same as rubbing a mistake off the page to the point of ripping through the paper product you were writing on. Additionally, you could make the mistake more than once which was a real big deal to someone whose strong suit was not arithmetic or much anything else mathematical.

I remember taking quizzes and tests when you were instructed to use a ball point device or other permanent marker. You want pressure?

I have thought about this too much but whenever I get a chance to speak with a younger person I know (whether they want it or not) that I know some mistakes in life are inevitable. But I encourage them to make their mistakes with a #2 pencil and not a permanent marking device. Tattoo is an art form, but it will sag at some point.

With God’s love and through the gift of Christ’s advocacy we have the universal solvent to cover our “mistakes” large and small. We are commanded by Christ himself to forgive others in multiples of 7 regardless of how much our natural instincts say differently.

Honestly, that seems a lot more practical than even the Ticonderoga #2.

Mike Bowen

Devotional 7-13-12

Clean Hands and Pure Hearts
Psalm 24: 1-6

A psalm of David.

¹ The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
² For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.
³ Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
⁴ Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies.

⁵ They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
⁶ Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.

A family was traveling toward Pennsylvania after leaving Hilton Head, SC. They had neither read nor heard about a massive storm that had ripped through a six state area, leaving toppled trees and downed power lines in its wake.

As they passed a gas station in Fayetteville, WV, the driver noticed an unusually long line of people waiting to buy gas. She began to get nervous when the lines disappeared and were replaced by pumps covered with plastic bags. Her gas tank was near empty; it was ninety degrees in the shade, and the only open gas station for miles was too far away for her to reach.
It was about that time that a stranger asked if she and her family would like to “sit on the porch and have a cold drink” while they figured out their next move.

As it turned out, the stranger was the son of the town’s mayor. He and his wife welcomed the families along with two others who were also stranded. Hamburgers were grilled and cold water was shared. Then the mayor brought out a gas can that he had filled the day before and divided it among the families. It was just enough to get them to the gas station so they could make their way home.

In Psalm 24:3-4, we are asked who may climb the mountain of the Lord. The answer is none of us because none of us have clean hands or pure hearts. We have all sinned. But when I read the story about the mayor and his family helping those in need, I could not help but think that God must have been so proud of his children taking care of their brothers and sisters with their hands and hearts. And what about the woman who connected power cords and pulled them across the street so her neighbor could share her electricity? Or the family who took in fifteen relatives and friends to share their air conditioning and pool?

The list is endless; that is the good news. Now all we have to do is follow in the footsteps of those who are climbing the mountain of the Lord in order to stand in His holy place. We need to come to the Lord with clean hands and pure hearts – or at least invite someone to come sit on the porch and have a cold drink.

Heavenly Father, you have given us everything we need and more. Let us remember to share our possessions, our time, and our love as you have shared them with us. In your name we pray. Amen

Becky Warren

Devotional 7-6-12

I Corinthians 12: 2-10

This scripture speaks to us about the different gifts given to each of us and that we are all members of the body of Christ.

I think that this is a familiar piece and that at one time or another we have said. "I don't have any special gifts". We have probably also thought that we could really do a good job at something if we were only given the chance.

Now I am not saying that hear voices in my head, no matter what the Discovery Class believes, but if a thought keeps popping into my head, I have to believe there's a reason. I believe God, with the help of the Holy Spirit is giving me little nudges to do something. Sometimes it's way out of my comfort zone, and I try to ignore it, but it usually keeps coming back. Sometimes it's in disguise, and I agree to do it only to find out it's the very job I had been trying to avoid.

Because I like to cook and bake for people I care about does not mean that it is the gift I have to use all the time. Maybe sometimes I need to wash windows or clean closets at the church instead. Maybe I need to listen more to problems someone wants to talk about and stay silent and let them work it out themselves. Maybe there is a small gift in the back corner of my mind that I've been afraid to open for fear that it's something I really don't want to try.

The bottom line is that the "Giver" of these gifts already knew the ones I'd like, and the ones I've tried to avoid. He is very patient, and I might as well go ahead and open that gift. It might really surprise me.

Checked for any unopened gifts in your life lately? Why don't you? Maybe we can work together.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for your patience with your stubborn children. May we always seek your guidance and listen for your advice.
Amen.

Debbie McGinnis

Devotional 7-1-12

The Power of PRair

Hold your hand close to your face. Now blow on it. Did you feel the air? Sure you did. Did you see the air? Probably not. Air is an interesting thing. It blows gently as a breeze to cool us. It blows violently and leaves in its wake destruction. It pushes against our bodies and our vehicles as we attempt to move forward. A really neat science experiment unfolds as two or more objects (cars, birds, bicycles) move into the wind. The very first object seems to take on the full force of the wind. The air ‘splits’ around it. The object(s) that follow – closely – are allowed to move in a way unhindered by the force of the air. The race car industry has sort of taken ownership of the word but what is happening here is drafting.

Our eyes are instantly drawn to the sky when we see a V formation of birds flying overhead. Scientists that study these birds tell us two things for sure; 1) a bird could never fly, by itself, as far as it does within this formation and 2) the lead bird has to change. The same bird cannot take on the force of the air for the entire journey.

I just completed a fairly long bicycle ride. Eight cyclists covered 445 miles in six days. There were many miles on this trip where the bikes would be in a single file line, very close to each other while the lead bike “pulled” the group. After a few miles that bike would drop back and the next bike in line would pull. No strings attached, all done by the power of unseen air. Together, helping each other, we were able to cover more ground, faster.

Prayer works like this too. You may have a friend or co-worker or family member that is visibly suffering even though you cannot see what troubles them. But you know it is there. By offering a kind word, a listening ear or a prayer you can be the lead bird, allowing them to tuck in behind you and your strength until they themselves feel strong enough to face the force.

Steve Matthews