Tag Archives: Faith

Celebrating the Life of a Friend, Photo by Jesse Von Fange (JVF)

Celebrate your Faith Goals with Joy, like Touchdowns.

12 Comments

When asked some key ways Steve encouraged him, Keith, a co-worker answered: “Take quiet time alone to commune with God on a daily basis. Feel comfortable about speaking faithfully at work. You never know when you might plant a seed. Set individual faith goals and make them right sized. Bigger than a first down and smaller than winning the game. Make them like a touchdown and celebrate accomplishing your faith goal with joy.”  

I can’t believe my friend Steve has been gone six years now. It happened so suddenly. One morning, in January 2017, he never woke up. The news sent ripples through the faith community and at the corporate offices he’d recently retired from. We were all in shock. Fittingly, an enlarged heart contributed to his death.

A few days later, I was given the privilege of saying a few words at his life celebration. I asked the hundreds gathered for a show of hands for those who’d dined with Steve, and he’d insisted on picking up the bill. Over half the folks raised their hands.

Steve was that kind of person. If he felt like he could help you in any way towards becoming more the person God designed you to be, he’d go all out.

Even though, he was a few years younger than me, I considered him a mentor, especially in leadership and business. He had a keen mind and rose quickly in his career to the upper executive level in a large corporation. This is where I met him.

Steve excelled at work, but he never took his eye off the loftier aspects of God’s kingdom. He listened well, as he talked with you, praying for insight as to how he could add fuel to your passions and gifts.

Being careful to never cheat the company, he’d use breakfasts, lunches and breaks to meet with folks who seemed to have spiritual interests.  

He and I often met at Arby’s or Cracker Barrel near the office. During one of these meals, I first experienced his touchdown signal. I don’t remember the exact circumstance, but I’ll always remember my excitement when he suddenly raised his hands and yelled “touchdown” at my answer to one of his coaching questions.

When he saw folks moving in what he felt like was their “sweet spot” and making some significant advancement in their faith goals, this was a touchdown. And he wasn’t going to pass it by without joyously celebrating it with you.

The impact Steve had on me can’t be overstated and I know I speak for countless other folks who were blessed to know him.

Six Years Later

As a tribute to him, and to mark the sixth anniversary of his homecoming, I’d like to share, in no particular order, six ways Steve positively influenced my life. 

Savor and Enjoy Life

God was Steve’s highest joy. This was a belief which God developed over the course of his life, as he matured in his relationship with Jesus. Steve was always aware of how easy it is for idols to creep into our lives, but as time went on, and as his surrender deepened, his freedom in Christ grew. 

With God at the center of his affections, Steve lived life with gusto. He was a gifted photographer who loved capturing adventures on film, especially with his family.

He sought to be present and to savor life’s moments. When we ate together, he loved to slather whatever he ordered with a lot of sauce. I saw this as an example of the exuberance in which he lived, savoring moments. 

When he was in college, he and his racquetball partner played a joke on the rest of the competitors in a tournament. By naming their team “Bye”, they made it to the finals because teams assumed they weren’t playing and didn’t show up. He loved a good laugh.

Defer to Others

I watched Steve, time after time, live out the following two verses.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:3-7).

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35).

When you were with Steve, you could tell by the questions he’d ask, and the ways he invested in your life, that he really cared. His heart was to look for ways to love you by extending what God had entrusted to him to you, in order to build you up.

Learn a Person’s Passions and Gifts

Steve was a master at asking probing questions. When he was with you, he listened intently to you and to God. Steve wanted to discover what he would call your “sweet spot”. He desired to be a catalyst for you in something which activated your passions and gifts. When he sensed your heart was coming alive about something, he would encourage you in it. In these cases, Steve partnered with you to add fuel to your flame. 

When he found out my daughter was performing some songs at a downtown venue, he and his bride Sharon, showed up to encourage her passion.

And, as mentioned before, when there was a victory in an area you were passionate about, he’d give the touchdown sign with joyful exuberance.

Maximize Your Influence by Investing in Leaders

Steve was a leader of leaders. Not that he wouldn’t invest in folks who didn’t seem to be leaders, but he took the command to seek God’s kingdom first seriously. [1] He figured his contribution to advancing God’s Kingdom would be maximized if he streamlined his investment toward proven leaders.

He was involved in several leadership development programs and made a huge impact among executive teams wherever we went.

From one of the executives at Steve’s workplace when asked for one of two ways Steve encouraged him in his faith, “Take quiet time alone to commune with God on a daily basis. Feel comfortable about speaking faithfully at work. You never know when you might plant a seed. Set individual faith goals and make them right sized. Bigger than a first down and smaller than winning the game. Make them like a touchdown and celebrate accomplishing your faith goal with joy.” KEITH

Require a Hoop

Occasionally, I’d ask Steve to help folks in my life, particularly with financial issues. He was great with finances and a spreadsheet master. 

Steve was always willing to help, but he would require action at the beginning of the process to be sure the person was serious. 

For example, if I requested financial coaching for a person, he would require them to provide a list of monthly income, expenses, and a savings/debt picture first.

He called this a “hoop” – a task for the recipient to accomplish prior to receiving help. Steve would wait for the hoop to be jumped through before proceeding. This way he knew the person was serious about getting help. This also gave him some starting data to work with.

Be Extraordinarily Generous

Steve’s generosity is what stands out most to me. He loved to give, especially when his giving would encourage you in your “sweet spot”.

As mentioned before, we was always listening for ways to invest in a person’s passions.  And he didn’t just give financially. He’d also give his time, skills, and possessions; whatever he could give to advance the kingdom or bring you joy.

He once drove across town to our house to photograph our family Christmas picture. 

Steve didn’t just give in ways which would have wide impact. I was told he carried a glove box full of meal cards for folks he’d come across who were in need.

Living Out Your Faith in the Workplace

In his later years, Steve created an excellent video series on living out your faith in the workplace.

Check them out:

Living Out Your Faith in the Workplace

Prayer

Lord, thank you so much for Steve’s life and for his friendship. You made him intelligent and generous. Thank you for using him in my life and in so many others.

Thank you for how he savored and enjoyed life.

Thank you for how he looked out for the interests of others. 

Thank you for how he studied others to determine their passions and gifts.

Thank you that you made him a leader of leaders who had tremendous impact on folks at the executive level.

Thank you also that he cared about ordinary folks and loved being a blessing.

Thank you that you gave him a generous heart and that he delighted in bringing joy to others.

Amen

A verse his son Jesse often heard him quote:  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father (Colossians 3:15-17).  

[1] Matthew 6:33

Please Check out the new Cola City Podcast . Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in the Midlands of South Carolina.

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. 

 Novels by the Author:

Rob Buck

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?  Beyond Time

By finding two undelivered letters in a old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family Hope Remains

 

Daily Surrender, Withholding Nothing

Our Highest Joy (Returning to Mount Moriah)

2 Comments

Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” (Genesis 22:1-2 NASB).

As Abraham obeyed God and made his way to Mount Moriah to sacrifice Isaac, he’d already been on quite the adventure.

The Back Story

He used to be Abram (father of many). At 75 years of age, God called him to leave his native land and travel to a unknown place. He was called to “be a blessing” and to be the father of a great nation. [1]  But his wife, Sarai, was barren. 

He pitched a tent between Bethel (house of bread) and Ai (house of ruin). There he built an alter to the Lord (Jehovah – the Existing One) and called upon His name. [2]

God brought a famine,  leading Abram to Egypt. Out of fear, he offered up Sarai to Pharaoh, calling her his sister. [3] 

From Egypt, Abram returned and pitched his tents again between Bethel and Ai. But there was strife between his herdsmen and those of his nephew Lot.  He and Lot separated. Abram took a humble posture and allowed his nephew to choose his spot. So, Abram moved his tents and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron. There he built an altar to the Lord. [4]

 Next there was  war. Lot was taken away. Abram fought back. He battled and defeated the kings. He rescued Lot and all his possessions. Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, brought out bread and wine and blessed Abram. [5]

The then Lord said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your very great reward” (Genesis 15:1b NIV).  God reassured Abram that, in spite of the circumstances,  a nation as numerous as the stars would be born from him. Abram believed God and his faith was credited to him as righteousness. [6]

As time went on, Abram’s trust in God’s promise waned.  Sarai was still barren. Listening to his wife, Abram took matters into his own hands and fathered Ishmael.  This wasn’t God’s design and there were consequences. [7]

But God remained faithful, even when Abram was not. He expanded the vision, changing Abram’s name to Abraham (father of many nations). He commanded circumcision as a sign of the covenant between them and as an assurance of God’s faithfulness. God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah and promised she would soon have a child named Isaac. Since Sarah was 99 years old, Abraham’s trust in God’s promise waivered again. He asked if Ishmael could be the child of the promise. [8]

Abraham journeyed toward the land of the Negev and settled in Gerar. Still fearful and concerned about his safety, he lied again about Sarah being his sister to King Abimelech. [9]

When Abraham was 100 years old, Isaac, son of the promise was born. As God had commanded, Abraham circumcised Isaac when he was eight days old. 

Intense family strife developed because of Ishmael and his mother, Hagar. Abraham was greatly distresses, but God spoke peace to him.  Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba and called upon the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God. [10]  

Relating to Abraham’s Story

Before we pick back up on Abraham’s journey into deeper surrender toward the heights of Mount Moriah, let’s look at how we might relate to his story so far.

Like Abraham, as believers, we’ve been called to leave our familiar ways to travel with God to unknown places.

Like Abraham, we’ve been blessed to be a blessing.

Like with Abraham, God is at work in our lives to build unwavering trust and deeper intimacy.

Abraham faced barrenness, famine, strife, separation, war, distress and family tension, some of his own doing. Like Abraham, we face loss and lack, which God uses in powerful ways to fashion and  stretch our souls. The Master has unique trials for each of us in order to free us from ourselves and our own devices and give us true joy.

Like Abraham, we become afraid. Sometimes our faith is weak. We choose poorly, often even repeating our foolishness. We throw our loved ones “under the bus.” We care too much about us. We take matters into our own hands. We cling to our ways, even when God shows us a better plan.

The same God who walked with Abraham, walks with us. Nothing we go through is a surprise to Him. Like Abraham, our journeys are filled with missteps, but, through it all, God is faithful. He upholds His end of the covenant, even when we don’t.

 Abraham’s Test

In Genesis 22, when God called, Abraham said, “Here I am.”

When God gave His surprising command to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham obeyed quickly. No arguments.  By then, he was probably 120 years old. His faith had grown strong, forged by famine, war and strife, undergirded by God’s grace, even in the midst of Abraham’s sin.

 In full faith, Abraham walked on because he considered God to be able to raise Isaac from the dead. [11] After the third day, he could see Moriah rising up in the distance. On that same mountain, Jerusalem would be built and, years later, Jesus, God’s only Son, would be sacrificed as the Perfect Lamb.

Climbing up the mountain, Isaac asked where the lamb was for the sacrifice. Abraham replied, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering my son” (Genesis 22:8b NASB).

When they came to the place for the sacrifice, Abraham built the altar, bound his son and placed him there. But in the process of slaying Isaac, an angel said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Genesis 22:`12b NASB).

Our Response

Do we fear God in the ways Abraham displayed?

Are there things we withhold from God?

Do we trust God’s love for us and His plan for our lives? 

Is our emotional wellbeing anchored around people or things?

Is our faith deep enough to withstand unimaginable circumstances because we know God is at work, especially in our trials?

Are we willing to surrender even the most precious parts of our hearts to God because we trust Him?

Like me, you probably find yourself somewhere along Abraham’s journey leading up to his test. We worship, we love, we seek to obey. But sometimes we stumble. Too often, we choose what we want ahead of the interests of others. We try and solve problems on our own, using our limited strengths and abilities. We fear. We fall back to familiar lies and worn out patterns of trying to make life better.

Is a better life the point?

But know this. The same loving, merciful God who kept His promises to Abraham, in spite of his weak faith and sin, keeps His promises to us.

Challenge

Thinking about your journey, have there been similar sacrifices required of you, like Abraham with Isaac?

Are there things you are withholding from God, though He’s asked you?

What is God asking of you right now?

Where do you need to trust God more in a particular area?

Are there lies you believe and even defend, creating strongholds in your life?

Talk to Him about these things.

Prayer

O Lord, I’m so amazed at Abraham’s journey. Like him, You’ve chosen to love me. You’ve blessed me with every spiritual blessing. You are Jehovah-Jireh. You see what I really need and You provide. 

Thank you for the freedom and joy which awaits me, as I surrender more and more of my life to You. Only You can enable and direct my surrender. Please carry me along Your road of freedom.

May I give every one and every thing to You along the way,  returning to Mount Moriah every day.

 Amen.

[1] Genesis 12:2

[2] Genesis 12:4-9

[3] Genesis 12:10-20

[4] Genesis 13

[5] Genesis 14

[6] Genesis 15

[7] Genesis 16

[8] Genesis 17

[9] Genesis 20

[10] Philippians 2:7b

[11] Hebrews 11:17-19

Previous posts in the series – Our Highest Joy:

Unmasking the Lie

Dealing with sadness and disappointment

Eternal Thanksgiving

Fueled by the Joy of Jesus

God with Us

Fixing Our Hope

Remaining Cheerful

Not My Will

Mustering our Faith

Being Poured Out

Loving Like Joe

.Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.

Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. 

Novels by the Author:

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?  Beyond Time

By finding two undelivered letters in a old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family. Hope Remains

Freedom in Christ, Joy in Failure

The Joy of Complete Forgiveness

2 Comments

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. (Psalm 51:7-9 NASB)

We all have stories. Imagine yours including adultery, murder and deceit. What would it be like waking up each morning with a hidden blanket of guilt and shame to drag around your day? The coverup would require you to live separated from your heart, the wellspring of your life.[1] The flow of courage would be clogged, Dis-couragement would set in. This was David’s story before he wrote the verses above.

If we’re honest, we’ve all dealt with some level of guilt and shame involving our choices. We may not have physically committed adultery and murder, but in our pursuits of personal happiness and fulfillment we’ve chosen us over God.

What do we do? Do we try really hard to do good, hoping our deeds will tip the scale and outweigh our dirty hands? Some religions suggest this path of salvation. But trying to earn a right standing with God leads to joyless self-effort and striving. We can never become clean on our own.

But there’s really good news, “holiness is not something you achieve but something you receive.”[2]

What we can’t do, God did for us through the sacrifice of His only Son. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (II Corinthians 5:21 NASB)

But to receive forgiveness, we must believe in the timeless work of Jesus. He died on our behalf, washing us clean. “Come now and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; though they are crimson, They will be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 NASB)

After committing adultery with Bathsheba, David tried to cover up his transgression by having her husband, Uriah, killed in battle. Psalm 51 is his confession. Though he lived before Jesus, David too was saved by grace, through faith. David trusted in God’s goodness and forgiveness, even in the midst of being responsible for a man’s death. David received complete forgiveness and it gave him great joy. How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How joyful is the man the Lord does not charge with sin and in whose spirit is no deceit! (Psalm 32:1-2 HCSB)

David’s life was not perfect after he wrote Psalm 51. He struggled. But what made him a man after God’s own heart was his quick confessions and repentance, walking in God’s forgiveness and Christ’s righteousness.

We can wake up each morning with no guilt and shame, because of what Christ has done for us. Pursuing holiness, we walk in the goodness and mercy of God. Leaving the past behind, we can experience the joy of complete forgiveness, continually giving glory to God for the grace He’s lavished on us, even when we fail.

Lord, this truth of complete forgiveness has alluded me. It’s easy to unconsciously think it’s still up to me. But You’ve made it clear. In You, my heart is wiped completely clean. Please continue to reveal idols of self that I might quickly confess and repent. Teach me the Joy of Your complete forgiveness.  

[1] Proverbs 4:23

[2] Jeff Shipman in a Sermon on Isaiah 1 at Columbia Crossroads Church

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures. Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post once a week. Thank you for reading. 

 Novels by the Author:

Beyond Time

Hope Remains

The Lord is my Light, The Lord is Near

Son Shine

2 Comments

A few Sundays ago, at the beach, a few of us woke up early to see the sunrise. I was a bit demotivated at first, especially since we were on vacation, but my son in law convinced us it would be well worth it.

“I walked out onto a sandbar about a quarter of a mile,” he said, speaking of his adventure the previous morning.

So, when my phone chimed around 6 am, I quietly dressed and headed down to our rendezvous spot. A faint tinge of light was beginning to illuminate the eastern sky as we walked the block and a half down to the beach. When we reached the sand, we slipped off our shoes and headed east.

An orange band hugged the horizon, topped by a pale yellow patch, slowing replacing the night’s darkness, already taking on a light blue hue.

After walking a few hundred yards we turned right ninety degrees and waded toward the middle of the ocean. Walking on a sand bar, we kept going until looking back, the houses on the beach were distant silhouettes. It was breath taking. My son-in-law was not exaggerating. It was truly magical.

When the first rays of the sun broke through, we were all captivated by God’s splendor.

Several weeks have passed since our early morning adventure and I determined last night to greet the sun again. I’m several hours from the ocean, but live half a mile from a large lake. Using my StarTracker app, I determined where the sun would rise over the lake and was waiting in my convertible with coffee and journal in hand. As the sun rose, I wanted to praise the Lord for His new day sun.

But I saw no sun. The sky brightened, but only with lighter shades of grey. The eastern sky was covered with clouds. I would see no sunrise, but was determined to still praise my God for His beauties.

When I returned home, I pulled out a camping chair and enjoyed the crispness of the morning air. Sipping on my coffee it occurred to me that even though I saw no sun, the Son still shines.

Sometimes my days can seem totally grey. Hard times can block the light of my Lord’s nearness. What a great reminder!

God’s light always shines, even when I can’t see it.

“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 4:18

His word lights my way.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

With God, there is no darkness. “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” I John 1:5

I have been called out into the Lord’s wonderful light. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellences of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”  I Peter 2:19

When I was a young believer, we would sing a Song about the Lord being our Light, based on the following verses from Psalm 27:

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?

When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.

Though a host encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.

Prayer: Lord, thank you. You’ve shown me, even on this cloudy day, Your light shines brightly. You are Light. In You I have no fear. Bring light into every crevice of my heart. Light my way I pray, that I might follow Your path for my life. Please give me the peace of your presence, even when all around me is dark and evil. Though I walk in the shadows, I will not fear for you are always with me.

One Thing! Lord, you are my Light.  May my one overwhelming desire be to remain in Your presence and gaze upon Your beauties, even in the midst of my cloudy days.

Amen.