Hiking in the Mountains

I'm a hiker. This pastime nourishes my soul and brings me great personal fulfillment.  It is a passion of mine. 

Being immersed in nature, as I trek along scenic, winding mountain trails with my hiking buddies, is a life-giving and re-creative experience to me. There is nothing else that quite compares to it.

I’ve been given the nickname, “Trailblazer,” and—to be perfectly honest—I am proud of this designation. God has blessed me with stamina and walking speed in spite of my skinny chicken legs, which I was terribly self-conscious of as a child.

To me, hiking is akin to walking with God. When I am on the trail, I embrace a different mindset. Praying feels more natural, rhythmic, and conversational than usual. The combined effect of planning and preparing for trips, breathing fresh mountain air, beholding stunning vistas, engaging in unforced small-talk along the trail, putting my physical strength and mental toughness to the test, setting up camps among the trees, cooking simple meals, and warming up by the campfire while being hypnotized by its glow and crackle coalesces to create a powerful and transformative encounter with Mother Nature, self, others, and God.

To me, the Christian life is similar to hiking in the mountains with its various complex pieces and dynamics. There are ebbs and flows, highs and lows, forward movement and unanticipated detours, starts and stops, ascents and descents, hard work and rest, weariness and second-winds, give and take, structure and spontaneity, and predictability and surprises. 

And sometimes there is getting a little lost and struggling to find one’s way back to the right path leading to the intended destination of heaven. But, it’s a matter of direction, not perfection!

When preparing for a multi-day hike in the mountains, several factors must be taken into consideration. Trail maps should be studied, specific plans (and contingency plans) devised and organized, itineraries and manifests communicated with one’s hiking companions, weather forecasts explored, and safety issues considered. Then technical gear needs to be assembled and inspected, organized, and placed in one’s backpack using a thorough checklist. 

When hiking in small groups (which is my usual practice), many of these items are distributed among the members to avoid redundancy and share the load.  Galatians 6:2 (ESV) says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

All the time, one cannot afford to over-pack so as to be burdened with extra weight and unnecessary items. Disciples must remember to pack light for our journey, because we can’t take our material possessions with us into eternity.

Christians—like hikers—need to take sufficient time and necessary effort to adequately prepare for the journey ahead. And we cannot accomplish this task alone. It requires a cooperative approach. We need each other’s help, edification and teaching, emotional support, and sometimes correction and redirection.

But one more thing must be stated: it is critically important to remain hydrated with God’s living water along the trail through personal reflection and practice of spiritual disciplines, lest rapid dehydration sets in. Only time spent alone with God and time in fellowship with spiritual brothers and sisters is able to quench one’s thirst. As a Christian, failure to do so will result in dry, meaningless, and ineffectual walk. 

There are sometimes warnings and caution signs for hikers along the trail regarding potentially unsafe areas or postings regarding private property that is off-limits or that requires prior permission to enter. 

In Christianity, the New Testament provides us with God’s instructions for a faithful walk with the Lord. Ethics and morality are addressed in detail. Just as a compass (or GPS) is an essential piece of equipment for a hiker to carry, so is a “moral compass” for a Christian.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to hit the trail!

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Twitter: @RyanNoelFraser

God's Great Promises

As a child, did you ever make a “pinky promise” and say, “I swear!” for good measure? If you’re like me, probably so. But did you keep your word? Promises are far easier made than kept!

God is a promise-maker. But more importantly, he is a promise-keeper. The Bible is filled with God’s hope-filled promises for his people.

Biblical promises have a three-fold purpose: (1) to educate our mind, (2) to motivate our heart, and (3) to elevate our spirit. We are thus informed and transformed by God’s promises.

As believers we can bank on the promises of God because of “the unchanging nature of his purpose” and the fact that “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:17-18). His covenantal oaths are sealed with Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit as a down payment or guarantee (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13-14). Jesus serves as our faithful high priest in heaven’s throne room (Heb. 6:20). Our hope in God’s promises functions as a spiritual anchor for the soul, keeping us stable and secure (vs. 19).

In this blog post, I want to focus on the interwoven biblical promises of salvation and God’s love. In the Old Testament, the assurance of pardon for sins and eternal salvation remained somewhat abstract and intangible, shrouded in prophetic mystery of what would be fulfilled later upon the coming of the Messiah.

According to Scripture, salvation for Israel referred more to physical redemption and protection as a holy nation than spiritual redemption (e.g., see Jer. 15:19-21). Their rescue and protection was of a physical and military nature, demonstrating God’s covenantal love toward his people.

In the New Testament, however, we as God’s spiritually redeemed people, receive a far greater promise of his amazing grace. John 3:14-17 (ESV), states, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’”

Thus, God sent his one-of-a-kind son on the ultimate rescue mission to save our souls from eternal death through his perfect self-sacrifice.  Who else would love you and me this much? God gave us his best so we could be his children, too. Talk about great and matchless love!

However, God’s eternal blessings and promises are contingent on our believing and trusting in the Son of God’s true identity and spiritual authority. We can’t please God without demonstrating a responsive faith (Heb. 11:6; James 2:14-17). We don’t have to give up a child for God (as he did for us). He just asks us to believe and act accordingly. 

God’s grace is free of charge (Rom. 6:22-23). It can’t be purchased or earned. The price (or debt) has already been paid in full by Jesus—our high priest, sacrificial lamb, Prince of Peace, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We deserve nothing less than the penalty of death for our sins, but Jesus took our sentence upon himself as a ransom (i.e., appeasement or propitiation) for God’s righteous judgment and holy wrath.

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV), states, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s unconditional love for us is a sure thing without exception.

You don’t have to be anything special for God to cherish and accept you—not the smartest, richest, prettiest or most virtuous or upright. Your heavenly Creator loves you just as you are.

The greatest invitation in the Bible states: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20, ESV).

God is reaching out to you today with his love and grace. Jesus wants to be in a saving, personal relationship with you. Will you take hold of His nail-scarred hand?

Money, Money, Money!

We deal with money every day. It’s part-and-parcel of our life on earth. Many times, it seems we have a love-hate relationship with it. Rather than us handling our money, it often handles us, putting stress in our lives. In fact, finances are one of the greatest sources of conflict in marriage.

The Bible has a lot to say about our attitude towards and use of money. What follows are seven practical, biblical principles regarding money management.

1. Keep Money in its Proper Perspective!

If we’re not careful, money can become the main motivator and focus in our lives. It can consume and control our every thought, motive, and action. In Matt. 6:24 (ESV), Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Paul states, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world . . . For the love of money is root of all kinds of evils” (1 Tim. 6:6-7, 10a, ESV). The Hebrews writer admonishes, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Heb. 13:5, ESV).

2. Earn Your Keep!

Don’t be lazy and irresponsible by mooching off others. Be responsible for making your own income by working hard. The apostle Paul warns against idleness. He describes how he and his colleagues labored for their own bread to set a good example. He asserts, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thess. 3:10, ESV).

3. Invest Your Money Wisely!

In other words, be a good and prudent steward of God’s blessings. Jesus thought it was wise for people to invest their money and earn interest rather than foolishly burying it in the ground (Parable of the Talents in Matt. 25:14-30). Let your money work for you and your family. Have a regular schedule of investing a consistent percentage of your income over the long haul (i.e., “dollar cost averaging”).

We glean financial wisdom from King Solomon. He recommends the following: (a) Saving consistently—little by little—over time (Prov. 13:11); (b) Diversifying your investments to minimize risk (Eccl. 11:2); (c) Investing ethically in a way that pleases God (Eccl. 12:13); and (d) Seeking good counsel (Prov. 15:22).

4. Don’t Live Beyond Your Means!

Avoid debt at all costs. Don't allow yourself to get so strapped financially, that you are beholden to others (including financial institutions). Credit cards can be a dangerous trap that gets people into a terrible financial bind unless they pay off their debt each month. Accruing exorbitant interest on what they owe catches people in a vicious cycle of ever-growing debt.

If you are married, commit to base your lifestyle on only one of your incomes. You never know when one of you may be laid off, become physically unable to work, or need to stay home to take care of family members.

Don’t buy too much house. A good rule of thumb is to not exceed a mortgage that is more than two years of income (for one partner if you’re married). Avoid taking out a second mortgage (or “home equity loan”) as it will cause you to be stuck if ever you need to sell your home and lack alternative collateral. Also, avoid financing expensive vehicles. They aren’t an investment. Save up and pay cash for an affordable automobile. Learn to be content with what you have (1 Tim. 6:6; Philip. 4:11-12; Rom. 13:8).

5. Be Ethical With Your Money!

Be honest with your financial and business dealings. Don’t steal from others, including the government (Eph. 4:28). Pay your taxes. Jesus commanded it because it’s the right thing to do (Matt. 22:17-21), as did Paul in Rom. 13:5-8.

6. Be Generous with What You Have!

Share your financial blessings with the church and others. We need to be careful not to become greedy with our possessions (1 Tim. 6:17-19, 1 Cor. 6:10). When it comes to generosity, we will reap what we sow (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

7. Trust in the Lord to Provide!

Don’t try to handle your finances on your own. Put your faith in the Lord to provide as you do your part. Jesus instructed his disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11). God will take care of us financially and give us what we need because he loves us (Matt. 6:25-34).

Let God be central to your financial life. After all, it really belongs to him in the first place. He is the giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:16-17).

Going Backward: Getting Our Identity in the Wrong Direction

Guest post by Jill M. Richardson

I'm delighted to be hosting author and speaker Jill M. Richardson on HeartPoint this week. Here's a little bit about her . . .

Jill is a writer and speaker of topics that start with grace, courage, hope, and restoration. Also a firm believer in the power of Earl Grey, author of five books, Cubs fan, and sort-of empty nester. She has an unnatural love for Middle-earth, chocolate marzipan, old musicals, and fish tacos. She co-pastors a church near Chicago and has three grown daughters. Her latest venture is Just Hear Me Out: Conversations in the Generation Gap, a book, conversation style, between a baby boomer and a millennial about faith, church, leadership, and what we can finally agree on to move forward. 

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I took up the clarinet in 5^th grade. My parents probably wished I hadn't. I did want to learn—really. But how many times can you play “I Love You Truly” in the expected half hour practice before you start to get a little . . . creative? Or a lot bored.

I don't remember the teacher at all. I don't even know if it was a man or a woman. Clearly, I was not inspired. As a result, I also was not very good.

Enter 6^th grade and Mr. Leafblad. I don't remember him ever telling me my playing stunk. (Even though it did.) I don't recall being bullied, or patronizingly cajoled, or shamed into practicing. I do remember practicing. His enthusiasm for leading a bunch of tweenagers, coupled with his endless encouragement, did what the disinterested fifth grade teacher could not.

Suddenly, I cared.

In fact, I got to be the best clarinet player in junior high. 

I became what I was meant to be, a much better player, because the one in charge accepted me as I was, encouraged me, and saw me as a whole human being, not just as a kid with a clarinet I did (or did not) practice often enough. The desire to do the right thing grew out of love for the person asking it of me. 

Who Am I?

Seeking identity is basic to human nature, not and this venture for meaning has become a hallmark of the Millennial generation. This should surprise no theologian, since God would instill in His creation a desire to continued relationship with Him, the basis of identity and meaning.

Yet one of the biggest mistakes we make in trying to figure out our identity in God is to do things that make us acceptable. We work hard. We faithfully practice for a half hour. We stare at the music and, even if we can't understand a single measure or we hate the sound, we play on, fighting for each note.

We hope beyond hope that in doing things we can figure out who we are.

We do too many things to gain identity.

It worked in school. We figured out early where we fit in. We became the smart one, or the good one. Maybe you were the funny one, the pretty one, the social butterfly, or even the victim. Regardless, we learned that if we kept doing the things that made us whatever we were (getting straight A's, cracking jokes in class) we had an identity. We were secure. 

I spent years proving I deserved my spot in the universe by being the smart one. If I dared let it slip, if I found someone smarter than I was, I would have no idea who I was. It was terrifying.

Don't we do that in church, too? Don't we often—usually--approach God that way?

I'll obey God's rules. I'll go to that service project. I'll tithe. I'll come to church, take communion, even go all out and volunteer for children's church. If I do all these good things for God, I'll be a good person. My identity will be set. God will accept me.

You want to know something crazy?

Jesus doesn't call me or you to be a good person. Jesus calls us to be His person.

To get our identity from belonging to him, not from doing good things.

We do this thing backward.

The Results of Living Backward

Once we know who we are because of who He is and what He already calls us, we will want to do good things out of pure love and gratitude. When we try to reverse that? When we try to obey all the rules in order to feel acceptable? We get so messed up.

People who try to do this identity thing backward are the ones you meet who are always right. They know what is and is not “approved.” No one else can do it right. Everyone else is a little bit wrong. Backward living people are never satisfied. Why? Because they only know who they are--they only feel accepted--if they're better at doing good, being good, or toeing the line of truth closer than the other guy.

If we have to admit we don't know, that the lines may be more fuzzy than we thought, then we are no longer the best at doing, thinking, and being right. And then – We don't know who we are. We're back in junior high.

People who try to do this identity thing backward also become addicted to approval, doing more and more and more, until they burn out. How many of those have we seen? How many have we been? I see that hand. I raised that hand.

There is another way.

Go the right direction.

Take our identity from God, freely given, first. We are chosen, beloved, accepted, known, adopted, and so much more. Then, move into obedience. Let the love for the Great Encourager be the motivator to be what we were meant to be. Not the fear that we'll let Him down.

“For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
and through him God reconciled everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.” (Colossians 1.19-23)

God is not that teacher who won't ever give the A. He's not the boot camp sergeant. He's the one who sees you as what you will be--without fault. Do you really want a label? Try the ones mentioned above: Blameless. Loved. Reconciled. Friend of God. (Because if you're no longer an enemy, you're a friend.)

I'll never get my identity from doing things. Things are things. They can't offer a moment's peace to my soul. Only a person can do that. The Person—the one who asks us to follow, listen, live in the identity we've already been given -- and let good things flow out of that.

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To connect with Jill, please check out her various social media sites:
jillmrichardson.com

facebook.com/jillwrites

@JillMarieRichar

pinterest.com/jimari/
jill-therimperfectjourney.blogspot.com