Find the Way (Jun 16)

This past week, I’ve been working on setting up my computer network in the new building at work.  The biggest part of the job is getting it setup so that my systems will be able to talk to other systems throughout the company…all around the world.  As I worked through various connectivity issues and getting all of the routes in place, there were many different hurdles to overcome.  But most of it came down to making sure that the right path was laid out.  What systems do I have to go through in order to get to Boston’s systems?

It strikes me that we may also struggle to find our own path to the heart of God.
 

John 14:1-11
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
 

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father, but by Him.  He is our way.  He is our path.  He is route to the Father, to righteousness, and to everlasting life.
 

Also, once I got basic connectivity between office locations, I needed to bring up the main server at the new site.  This is the computer that controls everything and authorizes people to do stuff and access stuff.  These servers need to be authorized by the main server at headquarters.  Even though I could “see” everything all over the network, my system would not communicate fully with the server in authority.  Even though my systems could see everything throughout the organization, nothing would possibly work right until it had received commission from the true authority.
Likewise, even when we see the right order and see God and the path through Christ, we must submit to God and receive our commission from the ultimate authority.  Also, we have no authority to instruct others and spread the Word of God to others, if we have not first come under the headship of Christ.  Unless it is authentic, our witness has no authority.
 

Matthew 28:16-20
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

A Paddle Board Santa (Dec 23)

In December of 2011, I made a trip down to Orlando, FL, to work on a project at one of my company’s offices.  Before we really got into the thick of the project, I had a little bit of spare time to drive around a see a few sights.  Shortly after I arrived, I drove out to Daytona Beach, and then went up and down the coast.  While I was there, I got out and was walking around in one of the parks and taking some photos.  The city was gearing up for some sort of holiday cultural festival, and there were all sorts of things in the park.  Then as I looked out over the water, I saw Santa on a paddle board, out in the river.  I had never seen such a thing.  Santa is supposed to be in a sleigh, surrounded by lots of snow.  Later, as I headed over to my hotel on International Drive, I saw a huge Christmas tree, all decorated with ornaments and lights, but it looked so out of place with no snow.  When I got to work on Monday morning, the office was all decorated for Christmas.  Even though it was December and Christmas was fast approaching, I guess it was something about seventy five and sunny that it just didn’t feel like it was Christmas.  As I talked with folks that live down there, I realized that this is perfectly normal for them.  To them, in their situation, this is Christmas.  I was in an unfamiliar environment and climate.  It was not a place or situation where I expected to see Santa, but he showed up, all the same.  It was, after all, Christmas.

The same is even truer of God, of course.  You see, God meets us in all situations.  He understands all circumstances.  God has a provision for all needs.  You may be in a place or in circumstances where one might not expect to see God, but He has a way of seeking out and saving the lost.  I know that God is above all circumstances that I might run across in my life.  But I also have to believe that He is above all completely different circumstances that you might run across in life.  I expect to see Santa bundled up in a blustery blizzard.  Floridians expect to see him paddle boarding in the sunny surf.  Neither is more “correct.”  Christmas comes to all corners of the world.  Just as Christmas comes to warm climates and cold alike, God pours out His Spirit on all flesh.

Your situation is not too difficult.  Your circumstances are not too foreign.  Your culture or personality is not too incompatible.  God loves you.  He has a place and a purpose for you.  And He has provision for your need.  So turn to Him.  It doesn’t matter if you’re in the darkest, coldest place in life, or if you’re experiencing bright skies and clear sailing.  God will meet you and draw you into His heart.  You will have Christmas in your heart—the coming of the Lord!

Just Come on Down (Jun 17)

Over the past several weeks, I have been working on a project in Niceville, FL.  Originally, the plan was to fly down there and complete the project in about four days.  With budget cuts, I was required to complete the project remotely.  Concerning me at first, I quickly realized that this should not be much of a setback.  I put a considerable amount of planning into the project, figuring out how I could accomplish all of the tasks from several hundred miles away.  When the scheduled week came, things were all set, and I jumped into the project.  A couple of days into the project, things were going swimmingly well and I was checking tasks off the list as planned.  On the last day of the project, I had one more critical task to complete.  Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.  I had to scramble to overcome each roadblock.  Even though I had sent many things down to them ahead of time, I was finding that with the change in strategy, I didn’t have the tools that I needed.  Guys had to bring things in from home.  I had to ship more things down there.  I had guys in the office doing all sorts of things for me and trying everything I could think of.  As days turned into weeks, additional tasks kept piling onto the project, making it appear that our initial estimate of a week was wrong.  With each task added, more problems arose.  At times, it became quite frustrating and stressful.  At least a few times, I said, “You know, if one more thing goes wrong, I’m buying a plane ticket and going down there.”  You see, after that much frustration, the cost of the trip would be worth it to me because I would be able to get my hands on the situation and just take care of everything in a day or two, as I had originally planned.

Friday night, I was working feverishly to get one last thing complete so that I could call the project a wrap.  I had a piece of hardware that needed to be installed.  I setup a conference call with the vendor in Massachusetts and a helper in Florida.  She connected up a laptop to the equipment, the vendor was controlling the laptop, and I was viewing the screen.  Once again, we were running into some trouble, and the ladies down there didn’t always understand exactly what it was we were asking of them.  At one point, the office manager said to me, “Joel, why don’t you just come on down here?  It’s really nice here.  We’re just five minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  We’ll treat you well.  You can come in and just fix everything out and also have a great time.”  She went on extolling the wonders of Niceville, FL.  This is when I explained that she didn’t have to talk me into it.  I wanted to come, but just couldn’t.  In fact, I’d pay for the trip to alleviate all the stress and frustration of the past few weeks.

Today, I think it’s God in the position of saying, “Come on down.”  He wants us to come into the center of His Will, be filled with His Spirit, and do His Work.  How often do we instead try to work from a distance?  Do we try to work without the right tools?  Do we think to ourselves that if we just scramble around, we can pull off a Macgyver and kludge something together enough to get the job done?  You know, if we’d just go down there and be in God’s presence, receive the tools and strength that we need, and see clearly what it is that God has planned for us, it would work out a whole lot better.

Mat 11:28-30  Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29)  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  (30)  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Joh 6:35-40  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.  (36)  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.  (37)  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.  (38)  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  (39)  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.  (40)  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 15:1-8  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  (2)  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  (3)  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  (4)  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  (5)  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  (6)  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.  (7)  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  (8)  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.