"Tychicus will tell you everything." Ephesians 6:21

The Old Columbia River Highway is 100 years old.  It is a beautiful stretch of road through the Columbia Gorge about 25 miles east of Portland.   When it opened, in June of 1916, there were celebrations at both Crown Point (Vista House) and Multnomah Falls.  Earlier this month they celebrated with some classic cars and some Ladies and Gentlemen dressed in proper attire.

Since I became the director of IRM in 2000 I have enjoyed stopping at several places along this drive to ponder, pray and enjoy God’s handiwork.  So, as our own private celebration, Marilyn and I drove this route again the other night.

On one of my first drives through this part of the Gorge, I noticed a quote from Samuel C. Lancaster, the engineer who designed and build the road.  The picture on the right may not be readable, but it says… “Standing here I realized the magnitude of my task and the splendid opportunity presented.  Instinctively there came a prayer for strong men and that we might have sense enough to do the thing in the right way… so as not to mar what God had put there. ”

As soon as I read this, I saw the similarities between Lancaster’s situation and mine.  He realized the magnitude of his task, so did I.  He  did not want to mar what God had done, neither did I.  He instinctively prayed, so did I.  His prayer was for for strong men, I have prayed for strong men and women.  I am grateful for the ways God has answered this prayer for me.

I suggest this is a good prayer for all of us.  That we recognize God at work around us; that we see the significance of that work; that we not mar that work; that we look for and to others around us that God is bringing around us to help us accomplish what He has called us to do.

Thank you, Tychicus

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Hearing is a good thing…

For several years I have known this day would come.  I have been saying, “What?” or “Say that again.” or “Huh?” or “Could you repeat that?” quite a bit in recent months.  So, yesterday, I got these little guys and I hope they help me cut down on my vocabulary a bit.

They are a bit inconvenient and rather intrucive.  I end up hearing my voice and extraneous sounds much louder.  (Do you knjow how loud a key in the door can be?  Or the sound your coat makes when you take if off the hanger?)  But, they say I will get used to them soon.  So, I am hoping that the pay-off will be worth what I paid.

Wearing these hearing aids has caused me to wish there were some devices I could purchase to increase my spiritual hearing.  How cool would that be!  I could pay some money, insert a device into the ears of my heart and wallah(!) I could hear the voice of the Holy Spirit much better.  Pretty cool!

So, it is not instanteous, you can’t purchase it, and it is not a device, but there is a process we can all be involved in to increase or (“aid”) our spiritual hearing.  In fact, I think we could say there is such a thing as a “spiritual hearing aid.”  That process is meditation.

Meditation is the process of the Holy Spirit writing His Word on our hearts.  It is the process of hearing and agreeing with what He is speaking to ears of our hearts.  The more we do it, the better we get at hearing.

Isn’t God good to not have a list price on this?  Anyone wh ois willing to “pay the price” can afford it.  There is some inconvenience and even some intrusion that goes along with it.  You may hear some extraneous sounds along the way.  And it takes a bit of getting used to, as well,  but if you stick with it, your hearing will increase.  The pay-off will be worth far more than what you pay.

Now, here is a plug if you want more information about this process.  Check it out here!  (PS There is a list price to this one…)

Thank you, Tychicus

(See Eph 6:21)

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In the last 5 weeks I have ministered in 5 different states, from the warmth of Florida to the snow in Idaho.  But the physical environment is not the part that excites me the most.  The best part is the spiritual environment.  Being with pastors, missionaries, “regular folks” who love Jesus and want to press in to a deeper relationship with Him never gets old to me.

Here is a shot of pastors from The Dalles, OR caring for their pastor friends from Grays Harbor, WA, by praying for them.

When we got around to Don, he said, “When you were here 4 years ago, you asked a similar question.  Because I had recently been in a very serious accident, and my body was in constant pain, I said I wanted Jesus to heal me, to remove the pain.  You asked 5 guys to gather around me and pray for me.  They did, and ten minutes later the pain left and it has not returned!  When I told this to the people of my congregation, they rejoiced with me, but kept asking me if the pain had come back.  Finally, I told them, no…  when you are healed, you are healed!”

We laughed and rejoiced!

Thank you, Tychicus

(See Eph 6:21)

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I wrote this post last year on this day.  It deserves another run…

February 12.  Happy Birthday to two very well-known historical figures.  February 12, 1809 two little boys were born.  One was born in The Mount, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, United Kingdom.  The other in Hodgenville, Kentucky, U.S.A.  There is no evidence that they ever met, but they would both go on to change the world.

One became a scientist, the other pursued law, and went on to become a president of his country.

Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln were born on exactly the same day.  This is an amazing “coincidence” of history.

About 12 years ago, Marilyn and I attended the National Day of Prayer meetings in Washington D.C.  We took a couple extra days to take in some sights in the area.  We did not have a firm plan, we were pretty spontaneous.  We knew of a couple things we wanted to make sure we took in, but did not have a schedule.  One of the things we wanted to make sure we saw was the Holocaust Museum.  We were struck like everyone is as we moved through the historical halls and saw the documentation of destruction.  I wept.  As we exited the building, we wandered and reflected.  We talked about the hatred we saw.  We talked about the senseless loss of life.   I knew how Darwin had influenced Hitler’s life and thinking.  Darwin’s thoughts were not the only influence, but they were an influence that allowed Hitler to justify his mass killing of those he deemed to be inferior.

Without planing, we soon found ourselves at the Lincoln Memorial.  We walked up the steps.  We looked out over the mall from where Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke his famous “I Have a Dream” Speech.  We read quotes from Lincoln that have been forever written in stone.  Then it hit me!  As I read the words of Abraham Lincoln, I realized the power and the contrast of one man’s ideas.  I will never forget the impact.

I have many people in my life that I get to relate to on a regular basis.  I get to do life with them.  Some of them daily, some weekly or at least monthly.  Of course, Marilyn is at the top of that list.  My kids, grandkids, people at church, partners in ministry, etc. fall into that group as well.

Then there are people with whom I have had that kind of relationship with in the past, but now, because of changing life events, I don’t have as much contact with.

But every now and then, we get to reconnect.  Recently, I have been able to reconnect with some “old friends.”

• A “Radical Missionary guy” I met about 13 years ago.
• A pastorof a church a long ways from where I live, where I have ministered on a few occasions.
• A high school buddy (and his wife) I get to see every few years.
• Several “prayer colleagues” who make up a National team.
• A mentor I spend time with on the phone regularly, but only occasionally see face to face.
• A long-term missionary and former classmate at the Bible College we attended.
• A faithful city-servant seeking to see Jesus’ John 17 prayer become more of a reality in a significant city.

Reconnecting with these people has been a great encouragement to me.  I love that fact that they are still the same people I met but yet they are more than they used to be.  They are now further down the road.  They have far more experiences than they used to have.  They have more wrinkles and gray hair.  They are, in short, I better version of what they used to be.

I have been encouraged by them, blessed by them, challenged by them, and motivated by them.   I think they make me a better version of what I used to be as well.

Reconnecting is good.

Thank you, Tychicus

(See Eph 6:21)

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A pastor within the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, A. W. Tozar, has greatly impacted me in the area of worship.  He died a few months before President Kennedy did, but he still speaks.  And hen he speaks of the worship of God, I have, and want to continue to listen well.

Here is a quote from his small book called, Worship: the Missing Jewel of the Evangelical Church.

The purpose of God in sending His Son to die and rise and live and be at the right hand of God the Father was that He might restore to us the missing jewel, the jewel of worship; that we might come back and learn to do again that which we were created to do in the first place – worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, to spend our time in awesome wonder and adoration of God, feeling and expressing it, and letting it get into our labors and doing nothing except as an act of worship to Almighty God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

When he speaks of worship, it is not simply a meeting we attend or an act we perform.  Worship happens when we become so aware of the reality of God – His greatness, His goodness, His glory – that we are good for nothing else but to stop and gaze longer.  A favorite professor of mine summarized worship as those times when you simply look up at God and say…  “WOW!”

By His grace, I have had many of those wonderful moments.

As I have considered these times recently, I see there are three “platforms” that help me worship God – Father, Son, and Spirit – well.  1) His names, 2) His character, and 3) His acts.

There certainly are overlaps here.  Jesus is called the Savior because He saves.  The Spirit is Holy, therefore referred to as the Holy Spirit.  So I would not advocate that we parse these three and separate them.  But I have found that as I look through these three lenses, I worship well.

As you worship, consider these three areas.  Take time to ponder how we see Him better as we reflect on how Scripture refers to Him  Consider His character, His attributes, His nature – what we know about Him.  And look freshly at what He did years ago, recorded in Scripture, and what He has done in your own life.

As you do, I believe you will have some of those “Wow moments.”

Thank you, Tychicus

(See Eph 6:21)

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From June 4th – 8th, I get to minister back in my home town – Gig Harbor, WA.

I loved the years I lived and ministered there, and I am grateful for every opportunity to return.

If you can join us for any of these times, please do so.  If you can’t join us, you can pray.  Thanks.

June 4th – sharing at Thrive in Gig Harbor.  This is a multi-church gathering for those 18-25.  They meet Thursday evenings at 4819 Hunt St. NW.

June 7th – preaching at Peninsula Christian Fellowship.  This is the church I pastored for many years (until they finally found out!!!).  They meet at 10:00AM at 3114 45th St Ct NW.

That evening from 5:30 – 8:00 we get to dive into one of the most significant topics ever – Biblical Meditation!  It is not for mystics, leftover hippies and old philosophers.  It is for everyone who values God’s Word.  We will hear about it and do it.  You will not only grow during this time, you will grow because of this time.

June 8th – I get to share at another Thrive gathering in Silverdale, WA.  Not sure about the location right now, but it is findable…

When not doing these things I will be hanging out at our little trailer – enjoying Jesus and the peaceful environment.

Thank you, Tychicus

(See Eph 6:21)

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Each Christmas we celebrate the wonderful truth of Immanuel or “God with us.”  It is amazing that the God of Heaven wrapped Himself in humanity, left heaven, came to earth, and dwelt among us.  But, there is another truth that is equally stunning – maybe even more stunning.  And it deserves a holiday as well.  In fact, “God with us” was true before the Incarnation.  God was with individuals and with the Israelites on many occasions.  It really is an “Old Testament truth.”

So, what is the New Testament truth that trumps “God with us?”  It is “God in us!”

I don’t fully grasp it (so, what’s new?) but I know that Scriptures teach that the place where the Spirit of God now actually dwells is in those who follow Jesus.  Jesus said it (John 14:17), Paul taught it on several occasions (i.e. Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 3:16. 2 Timothy 1:14), and John, using a different word picture, agrees (1 John 2:27, and 2 John 1:2).  It is worth it to spend time reflecting and meditating on these amazing statements.  The logical and theological distance between “God with us” and “God in us” is at least as great as the distance between “God not with us” and “God with us.”

For the last few years at Christmas time when I hear people rejoicing in Immanuel, I have wondered why we don’t have a compatible holiday when we celebrate “God in us.”  It seems the natural day to celebrate this truth is Pentecost Sunday.  It was on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit first came to dwell in all believers.

I know of the other aspects of Pentecost Sunday which some believers rejoice in and others smile and nod at, but it seems that the main thing – that Christ, through His Holy Spirit is now dwelling inside His followers – is rarely mentioned.

So, without diminishing anything of the wonders of Christmas and the other aspects of what happened in Acts 2, I propose we launch a new national holiday!  It should come with all the festivity of Christmas.  We should sing songs, exchange gifts, send cards, gather as families, eat large meals, have special church services, even have extra days off work – perhaps a few people in congress can propose a bill – all in celebration of an amazing truth.  GOD LIVES IN US!  Whoa!  My, goodness!  What???  How can that be?  It’s stunning!

Well, okay, perhaps all of that won’t happen…  But at least we can and should pause for a bit and stand in awe.

Thank you, Tychicus

(See Eph 6:21)

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Always the first Thursday of May, the National Day of Prayer is the one day each year when our Federal Government asks those of us who believe in prayer to pray for them.  As one who believes in prayer, I am delieghted they ask and delighted to pray.

In Clark County, the were two breakfasts and there will be four gatherings this evening.

It was great to see about 80 pastors and ministry leaders gather together for prayer at Faith Center.  Pastor Glen and his crew were in their normal mode of excellence.

Curtis Miller shared his heart on how to pray for teenagers.  Good information and good challange.  David Madore shared about how we can pray for businesses in Clark County.  The most effective way to deal with poverty is to provide more good paying jobs.   Jan Stahl directed a time of prayer for our elected officials.  Many of us are now carrying little rocks in our pocket with the name of an elected official on it.  We will pray for them (and others) when we see it.  A letter wa read from our Congresswomen, Jaime Herrera-Butler.  She encouraged us to pray that the level of hope in our country would increase and that the leaders would have godly wisdom.  Finally Glen Johnson led us in a time of praying for one another, but especially for Sr. Pastors.  Good interaction, good fellowship, good worshiop, good prayers.

Thank you, Tychicus

(See Eph 6:21)

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I love it when people grow in their relationship with Jesus!  Therefore, I have a deep desire to get resources that will help people do that to more and more people.    So, I am excited to announce that my most recent book is now available on Kindle.  Just poke a few buttons and it is yours!

A little background…

• My life has been significantly shaped by my interaction with God’s Word, the Bible.
  
• The most important and powerful way to interact with Scripture is through meditating upon it.
• Simply because people are engaged in Eastern Meditation does not mean that we, as followers of Jesus, should shy away from that term.  It is  a good, Biblical term.
• I have practiced Biblical Meditation for over 40 years.
• Last year I put some thoughts about meditation together in book form – Experiencing  Life and Power through Biblical Meditation.
• As of THIS MORNING, it is available on Kindle.  Click on this link to read some reviews of the book and even read portions of it.   Of course you may purchase it there as well – for just $4.99.

If you have any desire to let Scripture impact your life, I encourage you to take time to meditate upon it.  A simple definition of Biblical meditation is “Letting the Spirit of God write the Word of God on the hearts of the people of God.”  For more information about meditation go to my website here.  Whether you purchase this book or not…  please give time and energy to this wonderful process.  And click here to watch a short video with a little more information about the importance of Biblical meditation.

Thank you, Tychicus

(See Eph 6:21)

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