July « 2008 « Journeyman Journal

More Than Sacrifice? (Part 2)

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

In case you missed it, you can read Part 1 of this little “series” here.

We are looking a little deeper into the following passage of Scripture:

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6, NLT

Specifically, we are going to unpack the first “command” in this passage: “to show love”. Let’s start with the words themselves. Of course these are Hebrew words:

Chasad : to show kindness (this is the “show” part of the phrase)
Hesed : love or affection that is steadfast based on a prior relationship, devotion

Together, these words translate into the phrase we see above: “show love”. Now let’s look at how other translations interpret this particular phrase:

NIV: “mercy”
ESV: “steadfast love”
NET: “faithfulness”
NASB: “loyalty”

That helped, right? Not a single version uses the same words or phrases to translate this particular set of words. No worries, this just means that either it’s a hard one to translate or that it just has that many meanings…so it isn’t a “set in stone” kind of phrase.

That’s where context can help us out. In Hosea, God is trying to call his people back to Him. They have been acting as prostitutes (His words, not mine) and He wants them to return. He doesn’t want them to just “follow the letter of the law”, He wants so much more. He wants their hearts…He wants them to know and love Him because they choose to. He wants more than sacrifice that’s offered out of duty.

The “show love” that’s referenced here isn’t about us showing love to others. It’s about us showing love, faithfulness, loyalty, and mercy to God! He wants us to show Him love instead of acting like a prostitute and giving that “love” to anything that catches our fancy or draws our attention or gives us something we think we want or need.

He wants more than our sacrifice…He wants us to show Him love based on a real relationship with Him. Hasn’t that been God’s message from the very beginning? Wasn’t that Jesus’ message? He wants to know us and wants us to love Him (i.e.: Mark 12:30).

So the first “command” here is about loving God with everything we have…not out of duty, but because we have a relationship with Him. He wants us to show Him our love…it means something to Him. More to come…

23.07.2008 Devotional, Spiritual Musings 1 Comment

More Than Sacrifice? (Part 1)

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008

This past Sunday our Worship & Outreach Pastor, Rowland Smith, taught on the topic of worship (I know, hard to believe). One of his primary points in the sermon was that true worship requires sacrifice. He challenged us to study the topics of worship and sacrifice in Scripture…so that’s what I did…and I was surprised by the first thing God showed me.

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6, NLT

Now, at first it might appear that this passage is contrary to Rowland’s message that worship requires sacrifice. But that’s not the case. God is using a little hyperbole here to get our attention. God had commanded His people to offer sacrifices and He isn’t changing the rules here.

So what is God saying? He is saying that he requires MORE than just rote sacrifice…He wants more than the action of sacrifice…more than checking the box…He wants more than just us following the letter of the law. What does He want from us? He wants US. He spells it out in two simple phrases.

God wants us to…

…show love

…know Him

This might look and sound easier, but I don’t think that’s really the case here. Offering sacrifices had turned “easy” for God’s people, but it was supposed to cost them something (hence the word “sacrifice”). And here God says He wants more than sacrifice…so it would stand to reason that this is going to cost us even more.

This leads me to believe that there is more behind these concepts and words of “show love” and “know Him” than meets the eye. So over the next couple of days I’m going to break it down…study them…and share the results here. If you have, or get, and keen insights share those…we are all in this together!

22.07.2008 Devotional, Spiritual Musings 3 Comments

The Blogger’s Ego…

Sunday, July 20th, 2008

I saw this comic in last weekend’s newspaper (yes,I’m that far behind) and couldn’t resist sharing. I’m not saying this is me…but…

20.07.2008 Blogging, Humor, Misc Ramblings 1 Comment

Tough Love

Saturday, July 19th, 2008

To you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies!
Do good to those who hate you.
Bless those who curse you.
Pray for those who hurt you.
Luke 6:27-28, NLT

Now this is tough love! And it’s not fair. It’s backwards. Makes you wonder what Jesus was thinking sometimes doesn’t it? I mean come on…love your enemies? Do good to those who hate you? Pray for the people in your life that hurt you (and not just hurt you once, but that hurt you over and over again!)? He just can’t be serious!

Or can He?

And if He is serious…why? Why should we act this way? It certainly isn’t in our nature (pretty much the exact opposite is our nature). Why does Jesus command us to love like this? Two reasons…

One: He calls us to be different, and that often means taking the rougher road (the 4×4 road instead of the paved road). Loving those who already love us is the easy way, and according to Jesus it’s what everyone else is doing already:

If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that?
Even sinners love those who love them!
Luke 6:32,NLT

Two: Because loving those who we don’t want to love and loving those who hurt us is how God acts…and He wants us to act like our Father. He wants us to be like Him. Imagine that! I don’t know about you, but that’s what I strive for pretty much every day…to be like my Father.

Love your enemies…
Then…you will be acting as children of the Most High,
for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
Luke 6:35-36, NLT

Don’t miss who he’s talking about here. Who has he been kind to? “Those who are unthankful and wicked.” Hmmm…sounds a lot like a guy I know…I see him in the mirror every day! God has been (and still is) kind and compassionate to me. All He asks is that I return the favor to others.

Yes, it’s tough love. But is anything really worth doing ever easy?

19.07.2008 Devotional, Jesus, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Anita Takes the Cyber-Plunge

Friday, July 18th, 2008

My beautiful bride has taken the plunge into cyberspace and the world of blogging with her very own blog site! You can find her at (also linked on my sidebar):

A Girl Needs Accessories

I highly recommend you check it out…she will be sharing funny stories from hers/our life as well as her passions. I must admit that she is much wittier and funnier than I am…it’s a blog sure to be a hit! Stop by and drop her a comment or two (she already is making my jealous for the comments on her first blog).

18.07.2008 Blogging, Misc Ramblings No Comments

For People Who Don’t Like to Go Church

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

This is how Michael Yaconelli described his church in Messy Spirituality: ”‘our church is a church ‘for people who don’t like to go church’” (p. 63). There is something about that description that I like. It’s a church I would at least try out once. I think it’s the church Jesus started too.

Church and being a Christ follower isn’t about religion (in the usual use of the term). It’s about getting to know Christ better and becoming a better disciple by becoming more like Him. And we become more like Him by spending time with Him…by “abiding in Him”. For several days now God has had me in one passage of Scripture (which is a little different for me as I tend to like to move on once I’ve read something).

What have I learned? Not enough, I’m sure. But for me, the point has been that I need to slow down and spend time with God…and even enjoy the journey. I need to “abide in Him” and let Him abide in me…I need to spend time with Him and let Him rub off on me. Here’s the passage for you to munch on too…

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

There is obviously a lot here to mull over (I am still finding new stuff). But God’s primary message for out of this passage is to “Remain in me…Remain in my love”. I’m trying…but it’s always been hard for me to stay still.

P.S.: I actually don’t mind going to church anymore…but that hasn’t always been the case.

17.07.2008 God's Love, Jesus, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Spiritual Retreat WP-Style

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

This past weekend Anita and I headed off to Winter Park for a spiritual retreat…and it was absolutely amazing! A friend from work, Emilie Erb, was gracious once again (we went last year too) to lend us her mountain retreat. As Anita put it, the point of the entire weekend was: NOTHING! We had no itinerary and no agenda outside of spending time together and time with God (and we accomplished both).

We slept in. We read. We prayed. We shopped (of course). We walked. We ate. We watched two movies.We got connected once again to one another and to God. Again, it was an amazing weekend!

Our focus for the weekend was praying for each of our kids. We talked about what was going on in each of their lives and how we could and should be praying for them. We talked about ourselves as parents and how we can do better. We talked about our own spiritual journeys. And we prayed…we asked God for guidance, for help, and for each one of our kid’s needs and futures.

We also spent some time praying and reading Scripture for ourselves. For me, God dealt with some old agreements as a father that He wanted to heal and restore. I also made three new commitments that will help me be a better dad to my kids. And God also shared His heart with me and asked me to slow down and just be with Him (abide in Him) and stop looking so far into the future…to be more present with Him now and enjoy the journey a little more.

I can’t adequately express what this weekend meant. It was fun, it was restful, it was needed. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. I am thankful that God provided the opportunity (thanks again Emilie!) and that we were able to make the time to get away and spend it with each other and with God. We came back home rested…rested physically, rested emotionally, and rested spiritually.

We didn’t take many pictures (didn’t fit with the NOTHING theme), but here are a couple we did take)…

D&A in WP
Don’t we look rested?

The Mountain Getaway
Thanks again Emilie!

15.07.2008 Recreation, Spiritual Development, Vacation 1 Comment

Authentic Spirituality

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

I must tell you right up front that I will likely not communicate very well on this topic, because every time I try it seems to fall a little short of my intentions (my best of intentions). I’m not sure why…other than the fact that I’m just a big goof.

As I said in my last post, I am currently reading out of Messy Spirituality and what I read this morning has struck a cord deep within my spirit. Yaconelli starts off by stating what we all “secretly” already know:

Many of those who attend our church have always wanted to go to church, wanted to know God better, longed for a better relationship with Jesus, but more often than not, they feel as if they would end at a church where they were made to feel as if the “mess” of their lives disqualified them from the possibility of on authentic spiritual life (pg 35).

I confess that this is exactly how I feel on any given day. My life is a mess and I struggle everyday for authentic spirituality…a real, genuine relationship with God. Sometimes I feel like I have, like I’m on the right trail, but other times I don’t. I want to help others find this authenticity in their relationship as well. Although I often feel like such a “goober” even trying to talk about spiritual things (“what will people think”, “what right do I have anyway”, “what a loser!”…all run through my head at one time).

Yaconelli says what I feel and what I think (and he does it much better…this is the book I wish I could write!). That’s even the point of this blog…to share my own personal spiritual journey…my learning process of walking and living with God—warts and all (and I’ve got plenty of them). So if you are looking for an example of an imperfect guy who is still trying to follow Christ…look no further!

I don’t want to be a “fake Christian” who acts like he always has it all together…because I don’t. God has a lot of work to do in my life. And I think that is exactly where God wants us..smack dab in the middle of our own failures and inadequacies and messiness. That’s who He wants to have relationship with…that’s who He wants to shape and transform and heal.

I commit, here and now, to do my best to be real and authentic and genuine (of course, I will often fail because I’m a mess ). I commit to walking with God with all of my heart and mind and soul. I commit to being imperfect and allowing Him to fill in the gaps. I commit to turning to Him in my all too frequent moments of need. And finally, I commit to taking others along the journey with me (family, friends, and anyone else who dare give it a shot).

A closing thought from my reading this morning for us both to chew on:

Spirituality looks like whatever you and I look like when we’re thinking about Jesus, when we are trying to find Jesus, when we are trying to figure out what real Christianity looks like in the real world (pg 37).

10.07.2008 Devotional, Spiritual Development, Spiritual Musings No Comments

I’m a Mess

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

I know what you’re probably thinking: “Not exactly earth shattering news here!”. But it’s not exactly what you think (but yes, I am a mess).

I started reading a mew book this week called Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli. Here’s a quick excerpt from the back of the book that explains the basic premise:

Messy Spirituality was written for the silent majority of us who have been convinced that we just don’t do Christianity right. Michael Yaconelli dares to suggest that imperfection, unfinishedness, and messiness are, in fact, the earmarks of true Christianity; that real Christianity is messy erratic, lopsided…and gloriously liberating.

Something in this concept rings true in my spirit…which is why I picked up the book to read as part of my devotionals. I certainly agree with the theology and concept. And so far it has not disappointed, and has caused me more than once to pause and ask God to help me process what I’m reading. Above all, I want to be an authentic Christ follower and this book is challenging me to do just that (in some new and unexpected ways).

If you’ve read the book, please share some your thoughts and favorite parts. If you haven’t, I encourage you to pick it up (it’s short but full of good stuff!). I’m only one chapter in so far and would love to be part of a Notorious Sinners group (you’ll have to read it to find out what that’s all about…a little teaser for you).

09.07.2008 Books, Devotional, Spiritual Musings No Comments

Como 2008

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

Every year we make a trek up to some private land in Como, CO. The tradition is that we go on Memorial and Labor Day weekend, but this year the snow kept us from getting there over Memorial so we pushed the trip to this past weekend. I must admit it was much warmer (day and night), but that’s not to say it didn’t have a few new wrinkles (see the last photo).

We always have fun with family and friends. The view is unbelievable and the fishing is usually out of this world (I caught 9 trout this year). The weekend typically includes poker, s’mores, rides on a recreational vehicle of some kind (this year it was a motorcycle thanks to my buddy Justin), working on the pond (see photos), and just taking it easy by the fire. This year was no exception…we had two new couples/families and had a great time. We missed some of the “old guard” (i.e.: Bill & Cindy and Larry & Shelley) but we are truly blessed to be able to use this pristine land and just get away from it all for a few days. If you’d like to join us just drop me a line…the more the merrier!

Here are some of the more memorable photos from the weekend…

The Busy Campsite