Remove Those Cataracts

Two verses from God's Word: from Isaiah 6, it says "be ever hearing but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving. The people have closed their eyes so they cannot see". And from Matthew 13 where it says: "for they look, but they don't really see".

Tomorrow, I will have the second of two cataracts removed at the hospital. My vision had started to become blurry and it was not only irritating, but also limiting in my ability see they way I needed to. So even though I didn't look forward to having it done, I am really happy with results of the first cataract surgery and am looking forward to the second one being done tomorrow. I could immediately see the positive results from my right eye and I have no doubt I will have the same results from the left eye. Praise be to God!

It's amazing what can be done in that area of medicine. What was a long, arduous, and somewhat dangerous surgery with a very long hospital stay and a long recuperation at home has become an in and out in a few hours and back to work the next day. Wow! I was and am impressed and am glad that I live in our time.

I was reminded of these verses from scripture that warns us to not be "blind" spiritually when it comes to understanding what God is trying to show us in our lives -- both those things that God wants us to "see" that need to be changed and those things that satan doesn't want us to "see" that makes us effective for the work of His Kingdom.

The key, my friends, is clearly God's Word. There are tons of books written and programs shown that tell us how to become effective in 7 easy steps, so to speak. How to lose weight, how to gain friends, how to break habits, how to make money, and how to influence people, etc. Don't waste much valuable time but instead keep your main focus on the Word. God doesn't hide His will and His plans for us. As one wise writer said: "it isn't the parts of the Bible that I don't understand that trip me up, but it's those parts that I understand all too well and won't apply (see).

Jesus said to His followers, "blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear.: Up North Wisdom says if you need enlightenment for your life, then "hear" the truth from the Psalmist when he said concerning God's Word: "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Get rid of those spiritual cataracts and see clearly in this day that we live. God's Word, now more than ever. See and hear: The Best Is Yet To Come!

Peacemakers

The Word of God says, "Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." Notice that it doesn't say, Blessed are the peace keepers. The United Nations is often called upon to be peace keepers around the world and it never seems to work. There was a reason why the gun named to help tame the wild west was call a "peace maker" -- if you catch the meaning. :)

I have watched with interest the events unfolding the last several days in Madison and cities around the state. There are thousands of people protesting the Governor's proposed "budget repair" bill. I was a teacher for 10 years and three of those years I was the chief negotiator for the teacher's union. Now I am just a tax payer who wants his taxes to be used wisely. So whose side do I take in this issue?

Neither one. What would the person be called who could come up with a peaceable solution that both sides would accept even though not entirely happy with that solution? Amazing? Incredible? A genius? etc? I am not sure but there is one thing I am sure of. Christians are to be peacemakers. A word of wisdom, a word of knowledge, a word of Peace. Are you a person who brings peace into troubled situations. Are you a person who helps calm stormy seas, so to speak, or are you one of those who stir things up and adds "fuel to the fire" in situations of conflict.

Pastor Jim used to quote often, "A soft answer turns away anger". Wow, friends that is so true. The Bible says we are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. How about praying for peace in our government. How about praying for Godly wisdom to prevail. How about praying for God to use you to bring a word of reason in unreasonable situations. How about praying to be an instrument of peace. How about just praying, then praying, then praying.

Up North Wisdom says we need to believe that God knows what is going on around this state, as well as around the world, as well in my heart, mind and life. Let's release His power to do what no other power can do. A calm voice, a calm and gentle spirit; Don't be anxious about anything, but ...... Oh yea! I remember that. And: Blessed are the Peace makers. Amen!

WOW!!

In a daily devotional, Sara Young presents an intimate conversation with God, where He invites her, and the readers of the devotional, to come closer and experience the peace of His presence. Here is the word for her, you and me as this year draws to a close:

"As this year draws to a a close, receive My Peace. This is still your deepest need, and I, your Prince of Peace, long to pour Myself into your neediness. My abundance and your emptiness are a perfect match. I designed you to have no sufficiency of your own."

Wow! What a powerful word as we enter this new year. "no sufficiency of your own". What a contrast to my ego, my pride, my "self-sufficiency". I read the words from Philippians that says, "I can do all things through Christ..........." My actions say I often stop at: "I can do all things."

I want to have the attitude of Ruth and Mary in the scriptures where they say, in essence: "who am I that You would redeem me, that You would show such favor, that You would consider me someone who could be used for Your Kingdom purposes?"

I know what God is calling me to do in this upcoming year, and I don't like it but I receive it. It sounds like what He was calling me to do in the year just completed. And the one before that and the one before that and ........................... You get the picture.

Humility -- discipline -- fasting and prayer -- accountability -- patience ........... You also get that picture, don't you? Up North Wisdom says it isn't that difficult (to understand). But it is not easy to put into practice. Whoever said it was? The way of the cross? My flesh says no. My spirit says it's the only way -- to anything worthwhile. To peace -- to joy -- to satisfaction -- to acceptance -- .................And you get that picture as well, don't you.

And like Sara Young, I end the year saying to the Lord: "Thank You for Your Peaceful Presence, regardless of my feelings." Amen. For 2011, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!

It's Not About Me

Christmas should remind us if nothing else does, that this life is not about us, even if we try so hard to make it so. If we are Christians, then even the church is not about us. The church is about reaching out to those who do not know, who do not believe that their only hope and salvation is in Jesus Christ.

Are you making life all about you? You will never be content or at peace if you do. Jesus came into this world because of you (every "you" out there). If your life revolves around you, then you will always be seeking, searching and trying to do what is impossible to do: that is, find satisfaction from what you do and from what you achieve. We have nothing to offer Christ except the only thing He wants -- our life committed to Him. Our talents means nothing in light of all that Christ gives to any who ask.

Up North Wisdom says stop trying so hard to be appreciated, valued, accepted in what you do instead of in who you are. The theme of our Mega For Kids says: God created you, God loves you, and God has a plan for your life. Rest in that and quit trying in your own power to make God (and others) love you more. We serve because we are loved.

Thank you, God for sending Jesus Christ to make real life possible. You came to give us LIFE and to give it to the very fullest. Wow!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

The Greatest Compliment

At a recent staff meeting, I asked my associate pastors what would be the greatest compliment that someone could give them. After hearing some excellent feedback, I told them that I heard my sister say of a person some years ago, "That person was the best listener I have ever talked to."

If relationships are at all important to us, then it is critical that we be good listeners. Are you? Am I? Someone said that good leaders are good listeners and great leaders are great listeners. The Bible says in James chapter one that we should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Good counsel -- too bad we all don't heed it better.

I like to talk to God; and to my wife; and to my kids and grandkids. Do I like to listen to them as well. God wants my attention and so does my wife and the other important people in my life. Stephen Covey in "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" puts it this way: "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." Wow! Did you get that?

I guess we need to be less concerned with whether people hear and understand us than we are with whether we hear and understand them. We need to listen more and talk less. I think since God created us with two ears and one mouth, it should tell us something.

Here are some barriers that keep us from being effective listeners: (They are not original by any means.) No. 1 being preoccupied and not listening. Parents do this a lot with their kids. God forgive me for all the many times I tuned my kids out thinking it wasn't as important as my immediate preoccupation. No 2 Being so interested in what I have to say that I listen mainly to find an opening to get the floor. No 3 Formulating and listening to my own rebuttal to what the speaker is saying.

No 4 Listening to my own personal beliefs about what is being said. No 5 Evaluating and making judgments about the speaker or the message. And finally No 6 Not asking for clarification when you know that you do not understand.

Up North Wisdom says that I need to follow my own teachings that I gave regularly to the teens when I was the Youth Pastor. That is: to listen up, lighten up and shut up. Their language. You get the message. And so do I. And when it comes to our relationship with God, let's be like young Samuel when he said, "Speak Lord; your servant is listening." Blessings!

Flattery vs. Compliments

Flattery: "a deception of others and ones self" "insincere and excessive compliments for personal advantage"

Another title for this blog could be: selfishness vs. selflessness. That is because flattery is always about the flatterer and compliments are about the "other" person. I read where a well-known widow at a big reception asked a young man to guess her age. "You must have some idea" she said as he hesitated. "I have several ideas," he admitted with a smile. "The trouble is that I hesitate whether to make it ten years younger on account of your looks, or ten years older on account of your intelligence."

Giving sincere compliments is a powerful tool for creating and building relationships. Flattery destroys them. Praise rightfully earned helps develop the self-esteem of those we care about. Insincere flattery (which may be an oxymoron since flattery is by definition insincere) makes us feel less worthwhile, makes us feel hurt and used and less trusting of the flatterer. The flattery may for a short time make one feel good but ultimately it will make that same person feel empty and used. The Bible is full of verses warning against falling into the trap of either giving or receiving flattery.

It is important to understand that a flatterer depends on giving compliments for his own personal gain when he doesn't usually believe the compliment itself. Every one likes a sincere compliment. However people with a low self-confidence can be susceptible to the flatterer. Ironically a person who attempts to flatter a person, thinking that his flattery will work, really shows how little he thinks of that person.

Up North Wisdom says we should and must be more complimentary of others. Use the gift of encouragement. Sometimes out of fear that our compliments may be mistaken for flattery, we often neglect to build others up and to give deserving compliments and encouragement. Motive is the difference between flattery and a sincere compliment. One is intended to encourage and give credit where credit is due, the other is self-serving. Avoid being manipulated by flattery and being a flatterer. Flattery is a lie. The Bible calls it sin and so should we.

Tension

Tension: " The act of stretching something tight" -- "the feeling of uncertainty and interest about the outcome of certain actions" -- a balanced relation between opposing (different) elements" -- "the interplay of conflicting elements that make up an effective piece of literature and esp. a poem".

OK, what's the point? Just this: we tend to think of tension as something negative; something to be avoided at all costs such as a "tension" headache or an emotional (mental) strain. I want to propose that tension can be very good in helping us be more effective in relationships as well as in ministry. Because it can tend to make us somewhat uncomfortable, we generally want to avoid tension but I think we should learn to embrace it.

An effective musical instrument with strings needs to have proper tension to sound good. Too much and it can break; too little and you get nothing. In my relationship with my wife, tension between ideas, thoughts and feelings can make me uncomfortable but it can produce power and intimacy that otherwise wouldn't be there. It's like the place where two powerful rivers come together: There are strong, sometimes dangerous currents, whirlpools that look bad, and rapids that can leave you breathless. But downstream a ways, the river is stronger, wider, deeper and much more effective that either river was on its own.

It can be that way in ministry when people are working together: Thought against thought, idea against idea, feeling against feeling. You know -- tension. But when you put together the conflicting elements and have some patience, what comes out of it is like a beautiful piece of literature. And it ministers to so many.

Up North Wisdom says that if I love and appreciate the person I live with, the person I have relationship with, the person that I minister with, then I will give way when it is needed, speak up when it is needed and press forward. I will not give in, give out or give up even when I am really tempted to. Begin to see tension as a positive force in building something really good in your relationships and your ministry. God will give wisdom to know when the tension is too great (and in danger of breaking) or when the tension is too loose and nothing happens -- no growth, no building, no progress and no intimacy.

Take a chance and see what God will do when you turn over your fears and doubts to Him. When you understand and embrace Godly tension, you will really believe that: The Best Is Yet To Come! Blessings!