ETHOS 4 LIFE

We have survived Valentines Day and are now wondering what is to come next? In my mind, once you get to Presidents Day weekend spring has to be right around the corner. And does it even matter? I think that depends on where you are living at the time. In Texas, I have no problem with winter. It’s been anywhere from the 50’s to the 80’s like it is today.

That’s enough about Spring it will be here soon enough and then we can start complaining about the heat instead of the cold. Complaining, that’s an interesting word in our culture today. For some, they complain because they don’t seem to have enough or they complain that someone else has too much. Have you been complaining lately? Do you know someone who has? I’m sure we can all point a finger at someone like that but be careful if you do that and you are standing in front of a mirror.

As we continue our journey from here to there and we are looking at what Jesus was talking about in his sermon on the mount and how Paul seemed to pull together with its proof of how we know if we are thinking and acting. We are looking at nine things that Jesus said that if we follow we will be able to experience Heaven here on Earth.

So far we have looked at what it means to gain the Kingdom of Heaven and therefore experience true love. and be comforted in order to know what true joy is all about. Today, let’s take a look at what it takes to inherit the earth. You already know that in order for you to inherit something it has to be left to you by your father or mother. (or some rich uncle you never knew about…..) So what does it take to inherit the earth and do I really want it? The answer is, of course, you want it, we all want it in some form or fashion or another and to some degree or other. Some want more and some a little less but if we are truly honest with ourselves we all want to have something but is meekness what we are striving for?

Jesus tells us that people are blessed when they are meek because they are going to inherit the earth. Paul later tells us that if we are willing to make the journey from here to there we will also then have peace. You know you want peace. As with all things, you can’t have one without the other. You and I see people every day who think they are going to rule the world and in order to do so, they will step on anything and anyone to get there. You also know that you don’t really want to hang with them or be with them because there is no room for you. If you really look close to their lives you will also know that no matter who they are if they are looking to rule this world they don’t know the meaning of the word peace. I don’t care if your Buffet, Trump, Obama, or Gates. If you are put into a position of power and are not willing to lead with God’s plan for your life you will never experience peace. We also would rather hang with someone and follow someone who is meek rather than me first. In the end, it always works that way.

Do you know how to have true peace? The first step is to know who can give you peace, true peace. To start with you will need to know one person. That person is Jesus Christ. The first step to peace is a relationship with Jesus and then the next step is yours. Step two, is meekness, truly knowing what it means to be meek, not the fake stuff we throw around like a cheap toy. Hey look at me I’m meek. (by the way if you say that you’re not meek or humble)

M J Wilkins has this to say about being meek “The domineering, the aggressive, the harsh, and the tyrannical are often those who attempt to dominate the earth and establish their own little kingdoms. But Jesus says that it is the “gentle” who will inherit the earth, harking back to the psalmist who encourages those who have been treated harshly by evildoers (Ps. 37:9, 11)“For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.” And “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.”

Don’t confuse meekness with weakness. To be meek will take much more strength than it does to try and dominate. To be gentle implies a great deal of restraint. You and I both know if you turn on the TV or even have a conversation with a friend it doesn’t take long to realize that no one really knows how to be gentle anymore. What do you think would happen if our government in Washington DC would talk and act with a level of restraint and gentleness? What about in your own family? What would it look like if we didn’t all just always say what we think or feel or know? Instead, what if we both listened more than we talked and we thought a little more than we spoke? But that’s only part of it. The real proof comes through an internal heart of being gentle (or meek). When you live this way you will know true peace.

Through my time in studying these topics, I have been looking into the resource of the NIV Application Commentary and thought they said it well in explaining about being meek and inheriting the earth. ““Jesus exemplifies best what it means to be gentle. It takes tremendous strength to bring others into God’s will, but when that strength is coupled with a selfless nonassertiveness, it produces a gentle person who can patiently endure much to bring about God’s purposes for his people. Such gentle persons “will inherit the earth.” Jesus assumes this gentle posture as he preaches good news, proclaims freedom, and announces the arrival of the Lord’s favor, and blessed are those who do not take offence at his gentle messianic ministry. Ultimately this points to the reign of Christ on this earth, but even now Jesus’ disciples have entered into their spiritual inheritance.”

To wrap up today we need to know this: Meekness (or being gentle in all things) = inherit the earth. The byproduct of this kind of life is peace. The biggest secret to this life is to trust that what God has planned for you is both the right thing and enough. Today I am asking you to take a step back and evaluate what you are doing and why you are doing it. Whose kingdom are you trying to build……yours or God’s? Try God’s and see what kind of peace shows up

Next stop on the journey from here to there: Being hungry in order to be full

So I am entering the tenth month of a year experiment. At least that’s what I am telling myself. That way I don’t feel weird about the time I have taken off. In this time away I have experienced a plethora of experiences, places, people, cultures, thoughts, and feelings.

We (Joan and I) have had some great views, great conversations, and great kids join us along the way. My truck tells me that we have driven over 28,000 miles since we hooked up to the 5th wheel and took off. Of course, all of that is not pulling the RV but in all the places we have been and things we have done. From spending the early summer exploring Yellowstone, Glacier Nat. Park, the Rockies of Canada and back again it is a trip I will never forget. We spent the rest of summer driving back and forth to Madison, SD to get our house ready and sold. In the fall we spent time at the farm bringing in the late harvest of corn and then once it threatened us with a major snow storm we headed south to the warmth of Texas.

We have been from here to there and back again in our travels and it is clear to me that our lives are the same way. We all have traveled in our lives. Some of those travels take us miles away from what we call home and some of those travels take us back and forth to work each day. You see it doesn’t really matter how many miles you put on your truck or bike or shoes. What really matters is how you progress as a person. Just as your physical life will go from here to there so goes your spiritual life.

It is my desire that each one of you know the beautiful saving grace that comes only from Jesus Christ. A grace that will save your soul for all of eternity. We all grow and move in our spiritual lives, the only question is which way will you go?

Over the next several posts I would like to take you on a journey from here to there. A journey that will show you when you take what Jesus shares with us from his message from the mount (The Sermon On the Mount). This is the starting point of transformation and Paul then shows us the destination of that journey. It is through love, grace, learning, and determination that we walk this journey of life. So let’s head out!

Our Starting point is found in the Gospel of Matthew in the 5th Chapter. Jesus is talking to a large group of people and starts his message with what has been labeled the Beatitudes. Matthew 5:3-11

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

You will notice a blessing for each thing that we may experience in life and then what God will bring to us if we choose to follow his way of life. But the real question many people ask is “How do I know if I am living it right so as to receive the result of the blessing?” A great question indeed, and I believe there is an answer. That answer is found in the book Paul wrote to the Galatians.

Paul in Galatians 5 gives us a set of 9 reactions we will have if we are living our lives correctly. the list of 9 is this: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You may have heard this before as the fruit of the spirit. So as we journey from here to there we must start and end with what Jesus has told us and the proof in the pudding so to speak will show up through the fruit of the spirit.

Let’s take a look at the first one on the list. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Michael Wilkins explains it this way “The “poor” are those who have encountered unfortunate circumstances from an economic point of view, but also persons who are spiritually and emotionally oppressed, disillusioned, and in need of God’s help. Those who have experienced the harsh side of life in which deprivation and hunger are their regular lot have no resources of their own to make anything of their lives. This also includes those who recognize that they can produce no spiritual or religious self-help before God. They are spiritually bankrupt.  We hear this in the psalmist as he cries out in Psalm 40:17. “Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.””

So in essence, all of us are or have been poor in spirit. When we realize our need for God and choose to do life God’s way God tells us we will gain the kingdom of heaven. If we are gaining the kingdom of heaven how do we know if we are “gaining” on it? The proof is Love.

When it comes to love, there is no amount of work that you can do to earn your love. Love comes from a byproduct of the soul. In your journey of life, you will either live in love or you won’t. There is no third direction. When your focus is on God and the ultimate life in Heaven for eternity, this life here on Earth can have a whole different outlook. No longer will money, status, health, and personal satisfaction be our main goal in life. As we journey from here to there we will see the love that God has for us and in turn that love of God will be expressed in your life and everything you do.

Understand your need for God + Love in your heart and life for God and others = The Kingdom of Heaven

Next time we will explore how you can be comforted.

Have a GREAT day and love those around you!! – Bryan

I don’t know why and I can’t really explain it but I just had the phrase “Be excellent to each other!” go through my mind. For those of you over the age of thirty, you will recognize this iconic quote from the movies of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures. Now I will agree that these are probably the dumbest movies ever made. (And that’s why I would watch them) But if you look into the characters and what the movie was about you can start to catch some great principles of the Bible and to live life by.

Now just relax, I’m not going to start saying that Hollywood is a great place to find Biblical principles because it’s not. But I will say this, even Hollywood can not escape the natural principles of life that were originally instituted by God, no matter how hard they try. Let’s be honest, Bill and Ted got the expression from what we might know as the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one’s self would wish to be treated. The Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 b.c.) stated it negatively, “Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you!” Jesus in turn, was not quoting Confucius but rather was giving us a summary of the Old Testament and what God wants us to do with the New Testament in one line. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Mt 7:1-2) At the center of this is a simple principle that Jesus gave to us. Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. You can find this is Mt 22: 37-40.

Another line from the movies is this, “Ted, you and I have witnessed many things, but nothing as bodacious as what just happened. Besides, we told ourselves to listen to this guy.” I can totally see the story of Jesus and the disciples being made by a Bill and Ted remake with this quote in the story, Bill and Ted go back in time and meet up with themselves and tell them to listen to someone they have just met. How awesome… I mean How totally tubular of a story would that make if Peter and John were standing there when they met Jesus and a voice told them to listen to this guy! O wait, it happened when Jesus was baptized by John and God opened the heavens, a dove descended and He told them that this was His son with whom he is pleased with and that we should listen to him. Ok ok, that’s enough quotes from Bill and Ted for now but let’s think about these two things for just a moment.

One, BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER. Some people think that this means to just put up with whatever happens and keep the peace. Others think that this means to never have an agenda or set of thoughts and in doing so you will never be offended and can always be excellent with one another. Neither one is true and both ideals take a defensive posture. The statement to “be excellent to each other” or “do unto others as they do to you”, needs to be flipped into an offensive posture. Now pay attention here. We are not to offend and therefore be offensive but instead, we are to bring this attitude to others instead of just reacting to them and therefore we are on the offense, not the defense. Hang with me here, in the NIV Commentary by Mike Wilkins he says this “In other words, to fall into a pattern of life in which we judge others is to show that we are not true members of the kingdom of heaven. Absolute judgment is a categorical pronouncement of the guilt of another person as though this is the final word on a matter. At fault is a person who makes himself and his way of doing things and his opinion the absolute standard. He or she has usurped the place of God because only God can judge in this way.” So instead of judging try getting to know someone. Have a meal or a cup of coffee with them and really get to know them without thinking of all the ways they are screwing up and instead encourage them through how you live your life FOR God and not Against God. See what kind of a difference can be made when someone starts to have a hope in a prefurred future that includes doing life God’s way for a change.

Second, YOU AND I HAVE WITNESSED MANY THINGS, BUT NOTHING AS BODACIOUS AS WHAT JUST HAPPENED can and should take us back to the beginning. Our story as a human race does not really start at Genesis 3 but back at Genesis 1. We can not forget that before the first sin and all of the world as we know it went off the rails there was a creation. A beautiful and loving creator started everything with good. You, me, everyone else all came from a loving God that wants to have a relationship with you and I. And in all of this God wants for us to be excellent to each other and to him. That’s it. It’s not about a big set of rules. Although they do come into play to help us and not hurt us. Following God’s rules will help you stay out of some sticky situations and bad relationships but rules are not all that life is about. It is about living, living toward something and not just trying to get away from something. Spoiler alert… that something you’re looking for is God. Start today in chasing after how God wants you to live (you can find this in the Bible and also adding to that your ETHOS) and just start today. A farmer friend of mine tells me that the only way you can plant in a straight line is to look forward and not behind. Give it a try and see what happens.

In taking this year away I have had some of the most excellent adventures. From getting to see some of the most beautiful and interesting things our country has to offer to also have some of the most unexpected conversations I have ever had. I have been learning, filling in blanks of past mistakes and misunderstandings so as to learn from them and try not to repeat them, and dreaming of a preferred vision and future as God lays it out in front of me. Thanks for listening!

Now go Be Excellent To Each Other!

Well, we have made it another day. My black lab Dexter fails to see the greatness of staying up past midnight, messing up his walking schedule and having to listen to these random explosions in the sky. For the most part, I would have to agree with him. Except for the part about the fireworks. I like to see a good display of fireworks, whether its the 4th of July or New Years or even on Christmas. It’s nice to have a few bright lights light the sky.

Happy New Year!!

As we look upon the year 2019 we can all sit back and think about all the things that have gone right for us. All the beautiful things we have been a part of and all the relationships that have gone right and we cherish the most. That is what we should be doing but that’s not the reality of what we do is it? No, we sit back and think about all the things that went wrong. All the things that did not go the way we wanted them to or all the things that others did or did not do to help us get what we want when we want it, and how we want it, don’t we? What are some of the regrets that you have when you look back at 2018 or 2017? What are you going to do with what God has given you?

Ok, now that you’re done with that little fun exercise let’s take a look at what is ahead of us. In the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes the King of Israel, King Soloman, starts off his letter this way “Meaningless! Meaningless!”says the Teacher.“Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. All things are wearisome, more than one can say.” Ecc 1:2-8

Is that how you look at 2019? With all the warmth and closeness that cactus or a fresh hairball from the cat can offer? (just, one more reason not to have a cat) Even with all the things that can go wrong you have a choice. You can continue to look backward and see what could have and what should have been or you can turn around and look out front to see the path God has for you and take each new day as it comes. I think that one of the best things we can do on this new years day is to have a funeral. WHAT…. you say a funeral? Yes, a funeral. Let’s put away what we wish would have or could have happened in the past. Put away the death of a dream that is never going to happen and you still won’t let go of. You can’t change what happened in the past but you can take steps to change how you’ve made decisions in the past to have a better outcome in the future. Nothing is guaranteed but we can sure make better choices. Like everyone says, you can’t predict your health but you can predict poor life quality if all you eat is donuts, bacon, steak, and coffee. (that life may be short but it does sound pretty good) You can’t be sure what the markets will do in the future but you can guarantee yourself a life of misery if you don’t save any money for the future and spend less than you make. The same thing applies to your dreams. You can give yourself a chance at a better outcome if you will be willing to look toward your purpose and giftedness that God has given you.

I will leave you with this. ‘This is what the ancients were commended for. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ‘ Hebrews 11:1-2

If you will choose to seek what God want’s for you to have you will find a life that is filled with Joy. Look to my last post to see what is said about happiness and joy. https://ethos4life.com/2018/12/20/happiness-and-joy/ Look toward what changes you can make in the new year, resolutions if you must, but if you get tripped up don’t be afraid to get up, wipe the blood off your knees and keep taking that next step. Whatever it may be and know this. I am praying for you – I pray over the people that read this even though I don’t know who you may be. So go ahead and let me know who you are and what I can be praying for you and I will.

Happy New Year! and God bless your 2019

Bryan

As we approach Christmas Day at warp speed. (That’s the speed of light for you non-Trekker fans.) Many people are obsessed with making sure they try to get everything just right. Many obsess with making sure they have bought just the right present for the right person and that the house looks like a picture out of a Norman Rockwell painting. When you walk into their house, the smell is better than the greatest scratch and sniff you have ever scratched and sniffed. Don’t act like you have never had your nose buried in a magazine so deep that we couldn’t see your face trying to get every last bit of fragrance to make your day just a little bit brighter.

Anyway, we come to Christmas Eve and as the family gathers, the house looks great, decorated with just the right mix of modern and all the different things the kids have made for us over the years. Those things that when you see them almost stop you in your tracks as the flood of memories hit you like a brick. The food smells amazing as if to prove that all those cooking shows you watched have certainly paid off and you even think to yourself “I may be ready to apply my skills to Chopped.” You look forward to everyone complimenting you on how amazing everything tastes and smells and looks. When people walk into the living room they can tell that this is no store-bought tree. The fresh pine smell fills the room and the decorations are all hung with precision and meaning.

Is all of this ok? Or are we supposed to be doing and thinking something else? Yes, this is all ok. But there is a qualifier to it all. That qualifier is this, does this bring you happiness or joy? There is a difference and in this application one is right and one is wrong.

Let me explain. As we look at this holiday season we can get caught by all the different elements it has to offer. The sights, the smells, the touch, the sounds, and of course the taste of everything that makes up Christmas for us. These things all can and do bring us happiness. But some people make the common mistake to think it brings them joy.

Joy, true joy can only come from one place and one person. That person is Jesus. In Luke 2:10 the working class of people, or Shepard’s were just hanging out doing their job when all of a sudden there was a bright light that just turned on in the middle of the night. This scared the stuffing out of them and then an angel says this. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” This was certainly good news for a bunch of people that didn’t usually have joy in their life. The joy he was talking about was the saving relationship we can have with Jesus. Jesus spent his whole life and short ministry telling people this good news, that God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. If you’re willing to give up your ways for his you will have the real joy to know for yourself. You can know that you will live forever with God in Heaven. That is real joy!!

So for the next week. Go for it!! Enjoy all the happiness that will come. Get to Christmas morning and be happy, make others happy with gifts and food. Be happy in the community you are a part of but just remember that in all of life there is only one way to have true joy throughout the whole year. Jesus!

Merry Christmas from the Sagmoe’s

As we are in the mix and the mess of what December can bring. Let me ask you a question. Where are you traveling?

As we continue on our year-long journey, Joan and I find ourselves in Arlington Texas. Mainly because there is no snow here and I have followed the star in the east just like the wise men of years past. (Yes, we are about 4 miles west of Cowboys Stadium) Since I last posted we have been to several different places and done several different things. Some we planned and some we did not. We started in our last place of residence, Madison SD, and finished putting the last of the touches on our home before selling it in late October. This event was met with a lot of different thoughts and feelings. We sold a house we put a lot of ourselves into and were able to have a lot of great people be a part of. We departed a town we had put our lives into for over four years and leave behind some great people and a great church. From there we spent time between Sioux Falls and Rapid City visiting family and friends and getting to relax in the Black Hills.

For the last month, we parked the RV at the farm by Avon. While there, Joan and I were able to help out on the farm. I was allowed to help harvest by spending several days sitting in the combine watching it chew up some corn. I thank God that the harvest seemed to be good and glad we were able to help as the weather did not cooperate as well as it could have with rain, snow, and even warm weather. You may be asking yourself how warm weather can be a problem? Well, without it freezing, at times it was too muddy for the trucks to get in. Along the way, I was able to experience food poisoning for the very first time. Wow, that’s fun…..not. One morning we woke up to the camper being rather colder than we were used to. With a little brilliant investigating on my part I deduced that with it 18 degrees outside and only 55 degrees inside the furnace went out. While the most common reason for this in the RV world is that you are out of propane. Well, this was not the case and the furnace would not light. Now, this might not be a huge inconvenience in most cases, for us, however, this meant that all of our tanks were going to freeze. So we spent a three day weekend in the shop of an RV dealer where we thawed out and they replaced the furnace. Hey, life is good.

After a month at the farm getting to hang out with family and help out, we hooked up and headed for Chillicothe MO. It was about 15 years since we had seen some old friends and enjoyed getting to hang out with them for the weekend. When the weekend was over we shuffled down to the Kansas City area where I had the great joy and privilege to meet with a pastor at Cornerstone Church. This is a church I have been working with over the past few months in helping them develop who they are as a church and what their purpose is. The basis for this is helping their pastor find her purpose and develop her ETHOS. That is what truly makes my heart beat. But it was much too cold to stay there and with the threat of more cold weather and possibly even some freezing rain, we decided it was time to see where we might go to avoid having to use the furnace so much. Texas seems to be a good place to start.

So here we are Texas. We are going to spend the next month or two seeing some of the places we have only heard about in the winter. We will start in the Dallas area and then make our way south toward San Antonio, Galveston, and maybe even see what Brownsville looks like. 

That is a brief glimpse into what we are up to. What are you up to this month? The month of great anticipation of family, friends, parties, and Christmas. The month of great exhaustion, planning for parties, family, friends, and Christmas. But also it is the season of Advent. The expectant coming of the Messiah. No one (except a few) knew who or when this event might take place but there was none the less an excitement of when this might take place. Did Mary know that traveling would take place? In the Bible, Luke chapter 2 it says this “He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.” (Luke 2:4 NLT) They traveled, they left one place for another if even just for a short time.

I wonder if we could be in the same position as this young couple? They have a lot going on with a baby on the way. Do you suppose they were thinking, why do we have to do this now? Why does this have to happen to me now? In the midst of knowing who his pregnant wife was carrying inside her and not only not knowing how to be a father let alone the father of the creator of the universe and all that is in it. Joseph found out what it was going to be like to juggle all the things in his life all at once. What pressure were they feeling to keep family, friends, and work all in balance during this time? What are you feeling or going through?

I’m sure you have heard this from more than one person but let me add to it. Slow down, take a breath, see who is around you in your life and take just a moment each day to thank God for them. Take just a moment, just five minutes, to see how you can organize your crazy schedule so some of the unneeded stress can be minimized so we can see and feel the anticipation of what Advent truly means. For us, part of our anticipation is awaiting our children to join us in just a few days for a couple of weeks.

God is good. Blessings to you and your family during this Christmas Season!

Last week Joan and I headed out on the bike for who knew but maybe our last ride of the season. We took off from Rapid City, SD and headed west about 120 miles toward Devil’s Tower WY. It was going to be a beautiful 80-degree day and we didn’t know how long this weather would last. After all, there were six inches of snow on the ground just days before, but that was all in the past and we headed out. It truly was a beautiful day and after about 100 miles of the expected 120-mile trip, we could start to see something in the distance. There it was, Devil’s Tower sticking up in the distance. Sticking up as if a finger was pointing to the heavens.

My mind began to think about a couple of different things. One, no matter what season it is or whether its sunny or cloudy out the tower will be seen from miles away. It seems that no matter what the tower would try to do to cover up or shrink down there is truly nothing it can do to not be seen by millions of people every year and from miles away. I also asked myself, is that what it was created for? It didn’t ask to be placed where it did. It could have been placed in downtown L.A. or New York but it wasn’t, it was placed a lot of miles from anywhere. It didn’t have a choice, it just stands there looking out of place some people say, while others see the hidden beauty that can only come from such a majestic piece of rock.

The second thing that went through my mind was this, What does it matter?  

As we arrived at the base of the tower, we noticed there was a low buzz from the people that were hanging around and looking at the tower and interestingly enough, there were a few people climbing it.

I see people every day who are placed in different places, looking differently, feeling out of place, feeling majestic or somewhere in between. Is that you? Does it seem that people are climbing all over you? (If you’re a parent, sorry, it’s just part of the job)

As we sat on the bench watching these climbers slowly move up the tower I could not help but be reminded of how this is a pretty good image of us. Each of us is seen by thousands if not millions of people every year and we all at one time or another feel out of place or not worthy of being where we are. Sometimes we wish we could just sink away as many people try to do without real success and then there are those times when we think everything is going our way and we love the fact that everyone can see us.

I’ll ask you the same thing I said about the tower. What were you created for and what does it matter?

I’ll help you with the first one by telling you what you are not created for. You are not created to be alone, you are not created to feel like a loser, you are not created to do life trying to hide who God created you to be. Check out what Paul says in Ephesians  “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Eph. 1:4-5)NLT

Maybe today can be a reminder that you were created by the love of God and who he is and what he wants you to understand. Paul goes on to talk about living your life with the purpose that God has created you for. In Pauls words “Live a life worthy of the calling that you have received.” (Eph 4:1) and in a letter to the young man that Paul was mentoring, he said this “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Ti 1:7)NLT

It is time for you to stop hiding! It is time for you to stand up and reach for the stars as if you were a tower in northeast Wyoming. Find out what God has in store for you by seeking him out. Remember who you are and understand how God has created you by paying attention to the things God has already put in you. Things like your passions, giftedness, personality, core values, and drive. God has created you for more than just standing around and looking pretty. What are you here for?

You are here for those around you. Who around you is hurting? Who around you could use a hand up and not just a handout? Who around you would like to feel the love of someone else? Think of all the things you would like and help others think and do the same thing.

Remember, we all stand up and are seen by people so we might as well enjoy the ride! Besides, it’s a nice day. Have a great one!!

As I write this, I am sitting by a small creek running through the Black Hills of South Dakota. I love the hills and what they offer for so many different reasons. One reason is that I love to sit back away from the highway and listen and smell. What? you like to just listen and smell you say?? Yep, smell. The way the wind will blow through pine trees is unmistakable and the smell of pine will just carry you away.

For me, it carries me to remember all the years we have come to the hills during the Thanksgiving season. We would come to the hills and have Thanksgiving as a family and watch some football in the afternoon (go Cowboys) and that was great. But it is the Friday after that has made permanent marks in my memory. Here in the Black Hills National Forest, you can purchase a permit to cut down your own Christmas tree. So our family would set out on our own black Friday so to speak as we would tromp through the hills looking for that one tree that was not too sparse, not too tall, and not too ugly. Some years we even managed to find one. If you know us at all and have seen any of the trees we have brought back, you know that we didn’t always have the best looking tree on the block but I can tell you this. I’ll bet we had a tree with the most memories attached to it. For on those tree hunting days, our family would make some of the best memories we have together. We would spend the day hiking, playing, talking, and just plain goofing around. This would be the week I looked forward to more than any other week of the year, including Christmas. On these days, we would pack some hot cocoa, a few things for lunch, clothes for playing in the snow, a camera, and a saw. We would then set out for the journey of a lifetime. Well, ok maybe not of a lifetime but it was really fun none the less.

We would get off the main highway and onto the fire trail backroads. At this point the hunt was on. Driving through the hills someone would shout out “What about that one” and from the road, it would look great. Nice and full, not too tall but just right. So, we get out of the truck walk up the hill (it was always uphill) and when we could hardly breathe due to our impeccable physical training and a little more altitude than we were used to, we would come to the “perfect tree” only to find out it was two small trees grown together or one grown right behind the other that looked like a perfect tree. It didn’t take too long before we got smart and brought along some binoculars. No matter how many times or trips we took up the hill or over the deep ditch or across the creek, we always ended up cutting a tree down, taking a family picture with it, and loading it up in the truck.

We have taken a lot of flack from people for the trees we bring home. Mostly because a lot of years we would bring home a tree that even Charlie Brown would have to look twice at to make sure it was really a Christmas tree.  But that didn’t matter to me, not because we had such a great tree but because we had logged some of the greatest memories on the planet about being together and what it meant to have a true community as a family. Now, this sounds a little too much like a Norman Rockwell painting and I will admit that every once in a while a temper could get short or a feeling would get stepped on. But even with all of that, I count these trips as the highlight of the year.

I titled this post “Reactions” and up till now, you may be wondering what hunting for a tree has to do with that. Well, let me tell you. Every day of our lives we deal with reactions. We see one thing and react, we feel one thing and we react, we have something happen to us and we react. It’s not about what happens to us that is important, it is how we react to it that will either give us a boost or tie us down.

Have you ever thought about why you react the way that you do? Do you think you have a choice to how you react? Do you ever think you can change the ways you may react inapparently to certain situations? I believe that if you understand the “Why behind the What” of reactions you can have a better understanding and a better chance to respond to situations in life more appropriately.

In my last post, I asked you to take a look at some of the memories you have from your past. Both good and bad memories because I want you to look at those times in your life and see how you reacted. As I am sure you are thinking the same thing I am and you may even say “Bryan, I’m not all that proud of the way I reacted in some of the situations I have been exposed to.” I get it, me too. I have not always picked the best route through some situations either. And, there is nothing we can do to change that. The only thing we can do is try to learn from the bad ones as to what not to try and repeat and grab on to the good ones and try to build upon them. We have a big advantage in this area of life if we will understand our own personalities. According to Florence Littauer, there are four dominant types of personality: sanguine, choleric, melancholy, and phlegmatic. Each personality type has its own distinctive strengths and weaknesses. I would encourage you to find a personality profile quiz and see what your personality says about your strengths and weaknesses. From there you can both give yourself permission to understand why you may react the way that you do. Fix the reactions that cause harm and build on the reactions that create good in your life.

Remember this, the best reaction we have to make is the reaction to what Jesus has told us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 God loves you and wants you to have a life that is pleasing to Himself. God will not force you to react a certain way but will show you how he made you and why he made you the way that he did if you will react toward him and not away.

I hope you have a great day and if you can, get out away from the noise of life and find somewhere to sit and listen and smell all that God has for you.

Blessings,

Bryan

With the start of the NFL and college football seasons set to begin very shortly, we will all be focused on the win of the day. And just as there is in a football season, there will be winners and losers every game. But just because a team wins or loses that week there is one thing they all have in common. They get ready to play next week. One win or loss does not define their season but it does dictate what the teams’ practice looks like during the week. It doesn’t matter if you’re one of the chosen (a Cowboy’s fan) or some misguided person cheering for another team (Ok haters, keep with me I’ll lay off the Cowboys talk) we are all in this together.

So whether you’re a football fan or not, you are part of a group that plays for a win. You are a part of the human race and your race started the day you were born. You were not asked if or when you wanted to play the game, you were just set at the starting line and encouraged to get started. Let me ask you the question millions of people ask themselves every day.  What is the point of life? or better yet what is the meaning of life? Both great questions and I think there is an answer and I want to take the next several posts to take a look at what we can do to live a life that wins.

First, let’s take a look at what a win is and how we can know if we have it. The win is very important whether you are looking at it personally, in a church, a business, a city, or even a culture. From the viewpoint of the one I believe started this whole thing, a win is understanding that God came down to Earth in the form of a baby boy, lived a life of perfection of choice and then died the death of a thief to answer for the sins of all who had come before us and after. I think a win is living a life acknowledging that Jesus is the son of God and died for your sins and mine and you choose to follow his ways for your life. That is the way to eternal life with God forever in Heaven. That is winning the season and the Lombardi trophy.

What if you were the owner of a team and knew that at the end of the season you would be awarded the Super Bowl trophy but you still needed to play the entire season anyway. That is what it is like for you if you will put your trust in Jesus. You have already won the season but just for fun, you have to play all the games anyway.  And just like every NFL team that will play the entire season for the hope of winning the Vince Lombardi trophy we who choose to follow Jesus Christ are playing with the hope of eternity with Christ in Heaven. In 1 Peter 1 it says this “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,” (TNIV 1 Peter 1:3-4)

So let’s take a look at what I think will help us get through the season with as few bumps, bruises, and concussions as possible. Every football player on the field knows it’s not “if” but “how many” bumps and bruises they will experience. And we, just like football players, will practice to try and get through the season while minimizing the hurts and pain but at the same time playing within the rules as to not get disqualified from the game.

In my last post, I asked for you to look at the stars. To look and see if there was anything different and something to follow. In the next few posts, I want to give you some things (stars if you will) that you can follow to reach the goal and win the game.

Just like a team striving to win the game you need to know who you are and what your role on the team is. I will call this knowing your purpose and your ETHOS. Take and ask yourself this. Where did you come from? There is a power in your past. Your past will include some good things and some bad things. Some of the decisions you have made in your past are good and had good results and other decisions were not so good and have left some noticeable bruises and scars in your life. Getting back to a football team, you don’t ignore the bad plays and just keep calling them. No, you pay attention to what plays worked and which ones didn’t. The teams that remember the good plays, the ones that created success, and get rid of the bad plays, the ones that created the opposite of success, will stand a much better chance of winning the game and moving on to the postseason.

The same is for you and me. I want you to do something, take a good honest look at your own life and even write down the plays in your life. God has instilled in each of us our memories. Memories that are good and bad both. Memories that we love and some we would just as soon forget. Use them, look at them honestly and put them down on paper. Take a piece of paper and make two columns. One column is good or happy memories and the other are bad or sad memories. After you put them down, ask yourself what part you played in them. Did you make decisions that led to a successful play or did it lead to a quarterback sack?

We will talk soon and take a look at what you have and how you can use it to your advantage.

Have a great day and Go Cowboys!!