God

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Sacred Cab

Sacred Cab? Huh? How can the cab of truck be sacred?

As I have spent the last few weeks learning to listen to God and experience Him, this description seemed to apply very well.

Sacred Spaces evoke a feeling of a sacredness of space and time, where Heaven seems to touch Earth and we find ourselves aware of the Holy, and filled with the Spirit. A higher energy is resides in a sacred space, a power beyond human control which is part of the feeling of “awe”. To find ourselves in the midst of great natural beauty is an awakening into moments of heightened spiritual consciousnessThis feeling of “sacred” invokes a connectedness, a presence of the blessing of existence. It is “sacred” when it becomes for us a “window to the Kingdom of God” and a reminder of the sacredness of all space as space created by God.

Sacred spaces present creation to us as a window to this kingdom of God, a glimpse of heaven here in this lifetime. It’s an experience of the divine in life itself, in the very landscape of all things. We see all things as interdependent within an “inclusive community” and we experience a feeling of harmony as the process of having achieved balance.

This experience comes to us so clear, so inviting, and so welcoming, like good hospitality. At the same time shadows of unknown drift off in all directions. They remind us of the Unknown who is far more than we ever dreamed. We leave the sacred space with the new knowledge that life is far more than we dreamed. Our souls go deep into the rivers of the Spirit.

The glory of sacred spaces is not just in enjoyment of that which is created, but in seeing and feeling God’s very presence in creation. <see link here>

While I have spent the better part of 40 years as a believer in God, learning (and discussing <OK, arguing>) the finer points of theology, I have always found it difficult to connect my heart with Him. I have always thought that relating to God meant assent to certain principles and dogmas. What I am learning now is to hear His heart and just relax in His presence. By quieting my mind and stilling my thinking, I can reflect on who He is and What he has done and is doing.

He seems to be leading me into an exploration of the spiritual disciplines and how they can be used of Him to order and realign my heart and actions. I am drawn to the awareness that Salvation is much more than ‘Heaven when I die’, that He desires to remold my doing and thinking in the here and now.

One quote from this week, ‘How can we expect to answer the the question ‘What Would Jesus Do’ in the difficult times of life, if we are not walking like Jesus walked in the daily life?’. As an analogy, I have an acquaintance who is an amateur body builder (and quite good). He doesn’t sit around eating bonbons and watching TV then expect to win competitions. Instead, he goes to the gym and works out. He diets properly. He refuses things that he know won’t help him in his goal. So I must learn the things I must do to re-order my mind and then faithfully do them.

Stay tuned for more to come….

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A Good Question

A friend asked me a good question the other day. After reading my first post he turned to me and said, “when were you saved?”

I was at a loss for words, which if you know me at all, is unusual. After thinking a few minutes, I told him I wasn’t sure. Not that I’m not sure I’m saved, just not exactly when.

Let me explain. I can point to three times in my life that God got hold of me.

The first time I was maybe 5 years old. Having been raised in church and in Sunday school since infancy, it seemed normal for me to answer an altar call that day. I know there were many discussions in the church as to whether I was too young to know what I was doing. I don’t think I was. I knew that I loved Jesus and that He loved me.

The second time I was 17. I was still in church but I sure wasn’t living like a believer. I had , shall we say, ethical issues of a guy/girl nature. I had one language for church, and another away from it. But, most of all, I had decided to never trust anybody but me for my safety. After getting beat up a couple years before, I vowed to never be a victim again. So, at any given time I had as many as 3 or 4 blades on me. Everything from a razor blade case cutter to a machete in a sheath down my back. Even a 6 inch hunting knife in a sheath up my sleeve. That summer I visited my brother in Oregon and while listening to his pastor preach one Sunday night God spoke to me and convinced me that my safety was in Him not me. I remember going to the car and putting away all the blades that I had. To me, that was an act of sacrifice. I stayed in church and became the perfect hypocrite. While I said the right things and could discuss doctrine with the best of ’em, my inward and home life was horrible. I think I truly believed but I had no clue about putting it into practice.

The third time I was 31. As a direct result of my hypocritical and abusive lifestyle, my wife called me one day to let me know that she had no intention of staying with me. She hit me in a way that she knew would hurt me most. This drove me back to Him and I finally let Him remold and start to rebuild.

Back to the question. Sitting there, mulling this over, I came to the conclusion that it really doesn’t matter that I know when I was saved, just that I am. To worry about when it happened and try to ‘pick’ which of the three times was ‘real’ is a waste of energy.

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,  and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:10-11 (NIV)

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Gods and Idols

While listening to Jeremiah the other day, I was struck by how often God said He was angry with Israel (both kingdoms) for prostituting themselves with other gods and burning incense to idols. I got to thinking how glad I am that don’t worship false gods or pay homage to false idols. But, then again…. If a god is anything that I believe in and trust to help me and an idol is anything I place an extremely high worth in, then maybe I do have some of those.

So what is the thing that I trust in to take of me? Me! My self, My abilities. My intelligence. And how’s that worked out for me so far? Pitifully bad I’m afraid. Oh, I do OK, I guess, but I not sure that I’d want to bet on me when push comes to shove…I tend to cut and run. What other things do I put on a pedestal? Or said another way, if I only had enough ____ I would be happy, set, content, etc. Money? Friends? Influence? Toys? All these and more. Of course it’s easy to see other peoples’ gods and idols. Fashion, sports, recreation and a hundred other things. But what about more cunning gods? Things like science, medicine, theology, philosophy.

I’m not saying any of these are bad or immoral, just that when I trust only in them to meet my needs or when I value them so high that they define me, then I have crossed into idolatry.

The true God will not share his throne with anyone. Either He is the source of my life and contentment or I’m on my own, I cant have a little of Him and a little of me.

 

“You shall have no other gods before me.  “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,  but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:3-6 (NIV)

“But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim  —for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God—
Exodus 34:13-14 (NASB)

 

Dogs and Cars
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Dogs and Cars

From the cab of a truck I get to see a lot of things. One that nearly always makes me smile is the sight of a dog riding in a car. I find typically that they are in one of three states; sleeping like a log, bouncing around the inside, or head stuck out the window.

It struck me today that I could learn a lot about trust and faith in the Master from dogs!

  • When the master says jump in they rarely quibble about it, they’re in!
  • They have no clue where they are going, they just trust the master to be with them.
  • They have no idea of any danger around them, after all, the master will keep them safe.

So too, my response when I’m in unfamiliar circumstances must be:

  • Trust the Master and rest.
  • Fully enjoy everybody that’s riding with me.
  • Immerse myself in the experience.
  • Don’t worry about where He is taking me, He knows.

The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’ Numbers 6:24-26 (NASB77)

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A New Start

Most of my friends know by now that after working on a new career the last year and a half, I made the difficult decision to return to trucking in October.

When I left trucking almost two years ago, I dreaded every day in the ‘saddle’. I was angry, sullen , and generally not a fun person to be around. So when events seemed to force me to reconsider going back over the road, I was understandably concerned. Could I stand it again? Would I self destruct? What if i revert back to that angry man?

I can say that the past two months have been reassuring. Not the least is how easily I have re-acclimated to long days in the seat. Refining old habits has been a challenge too! Learning to drive slower and without the aggressiveness of the past has been tough.  Relearning how to exist as a near hermit has been easier than I imagined it would be.(Not sure what that says about me!).

One difference this time is I determined to use the time in the cab in a godly and productive way. In the past my time was spent listening to music and talk radio, neither of which builds my soul. So, one of the changes I made was to find a way to fill my ears with good things; I listen to audio books on MP3. It is truly amazing the variety of good books that are available, In the past few weeks I have learned from C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, Dietrich Bonhoffer, Alistair Begg, and many others. Listening to the Bible as it is read is quite a different experience than just reading it. Between classic novels and newer fiction, I have been to ancient Wales following Rhy Bran Houd (Robin Hood) and followed the Tribulation saints through trouble. I was there in King Arthurs’ court right next to a Connecticut Yankee.

One question from the beginning of this iteration of my journey has been ‘How can I best be used of God in this?’ One thing that struck me is that my life resembles a monks’. Long periods of solitude and sporadic interaction with other people. Following that thought, I have decided to investigate and attempt to pattern my walk into a monastic style for as long as God leads me in this direction.

So exactly what is a monk? A monk (from Greek: μοναχός, monachos, “single, solitary”) is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decided to dedicate his life to serving all other living beings, or to be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live his life in prayer and contemplation. (And yes there have been, and are, married monks!)

Part of my new direction will be implementing a daily routine (as much as a trucker can have a routine) of prayer and meditation along with bible reading and study. Integrating a meditative habit into a chaotic, hectic life of trucking shall be, umm, interesting to say the least!

Another aspect I will be investigating is monastic vows. I’m not sure where it will lead me, but the thought of a handful of kernels of truth or touch points on which to base by daily decisions is appealing to me.

As a conservative christian raised in the Baptist tradition, I had never considered the trappings and tradition of the orthodox and catholic church to be important, more a hindrance than a help when it comes to really knowing God. I have come to understand that there is much good in liturgy and order. (As I’ve thought about it, I think even the most non-liturgical churches have their traditions…just try to change the order of service in most any church, like maybe reverse the order of communion and sermon, or do the offering in a different way).

I hope you will check in with me from time to time as I travel this road for as long as it leads me.

The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’ Numbers 6:24-26 (NASB77)