Stupid Dog

With slightly more manageable temperatures during the recent Carolina mornings, I have taken up the habit of taking a good walk when I first wake up. I make my way through the neighborhood with an iPod full of great worship music and inspiring messages, a hopefully healthier set of veins and arteries, and a sense of befuddlement as to why I see school buses driving around at 5:30 AM. And then there's the stupid dog.

I pity the poor neighbors who are located near this barker. He (this dog just has to be male as much as he just doesn't get it...)is just far enough away from our house that I don't hear him all the time, but now I have indeed found the source of that yelping that I experience from afar. I have taken to tip-toeing by this area of my walk hoping that he doesn't hear me and start with his endless woofing.

Most of the time, however, he hears me and gets cranked up. Just about the time it started to amuse me how stupid, backward, and unrefined this canine motor-mouth is, it hit me that I am just like him when it comes to prayer. I enjoy my life in my comfortable little fenced pen mostly oblivious to all that is going on around me. Every so often, something happens to catch my attention (maybe it's God walking by, but I'm not sure that works well in my illustration here) and I let my voice be heard. "Oh, hey, there goes God coming by this way again, maybe I ought to say something". Once out of my sight, I go back to life as usual in my own little kingdom. If I happen to notice Him again as He strolls by, maybe I'll engage again, but no big deal if I don't. And who knows what I'm saying if I do respond. Maybe it's just annoying and mindless and tends to tick off others who are nearby.

Mind you, I'm not moping around with a "I'm a terrible person" mentality. I just wish I didn't pray like a stupid dog. Who knows, maybe tomorrow morning, the dog will be waiting for me and eagerly anticipating my presence and instructions.

Forgiveness 3

So when exactly does one seek forgiveness? When you 'get caught'? When somebody is noticeably hurt or affected? When you are told to? While all of these are correct, true forgiveness certainly goes far beyond.

When we tell our children about being obedient, we stress the three-fold definition of that characteristic that we have held for years. True obedience is when something is done (or in some cases NOT done) completely, right away, and without complaint.

Obedience is not something that is done half way or just enough to escape negative notice. Taking the trash out is making sure it is in the trash bin outside with a new bag as a replacement. Just making the appearance and smell of the source leave the kitchen does not suffice.

Also, it is not something that is done 'when you have the chance' or merely 'at your convenience' (unless a special request to that end has been made and granted). It is done right away, showing that it is understood that it is more important than my agenda.

Finally, true obedience is done with a happy heart and something close to a happy face. Muttering under one's breath does not answer the call to obey biblically. Just ask any number of Israelites who dutifully followed Moses with their feet alone.

So with these helpful aspects in mind, it would appear to me that forgiveness is necessary when any of these areas are lacking. Doing what your spouse has asked, but with a complaining spirit? Start fessin' up. Have you affirmed that something will be done and tended to, and then put it down on the list of things to do after all of YOUR agenda items are complete? You may need to consider who exactly is the center of that equation. Have you in fact started the process and are safe from accusatory remarks, but in your heart and mind have left much undone? Complete the job with an eye to seeking forgiveness along the way.

Keeping this simple definition of true obedience in our view will remind us of how much forgiveness we are in need of.

Forgiveness 2

A second thought regarding forgiveness comes from my seven year old daughter. She captures the simplicity of the matter that we so often overlook. She mentioned at our family discussion of the matter, "Well, when it comes to forgiveness, YOU have to be the one to ask for it." That's exactly right, YOU have to do it. It can't come from another. You can not ask for it on my behalf. Nor can I represent you when it comes to seeking it.

Now certainly a leader can speak for those they lead. For example, as a father, I can offer words that speak for the whole of the family. But if I mis-speak to one of my children, it will not suffice for my wife to mention to them that I am sorry and indeed wish to be forgiven. I must go myself.

Confronting sin and asking for forgiveness from others is a personal thing. As we pursue living with no regrets, let us remember that. May heaven's joy be ours as we take on this task one with another.

The Joy on None

In an effort to drive me to this blog more frequently to allow for more posting and to help create the habit I seek of putting thoughts down in writing, I am embarking tonight on a Pilgrim Thoughts first. It's word study time!

Recently I experienced again the wonderful God-given and commanded practice of confessing sin. I rationalized to myself that I had confessed it to God and that was probably sufficient. But then I knew that I had to confess to my wife, for she was the one who felt the brunt by my selfishness and pride. My stubborn soul held out for a while longer before I finally availed myself to the full elation of living with no regrets. I can't tell you how rewarding this gift of grace from God is.

I thought I would therefore spend some time over the coming days reflecting on confessing sin. There's not a better place to start than one of the first verses I ever memorized. The apostle John writes, "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9). Take note that this tells us much more about God than it does about us. The practice of confession starts with a gracious God who IS faithful and IS just. And He IS able to forgive and cleanse us due to all that He has done to provide these benefits to us from the cross. Appropriately, the only 'if' part is ours. God is faithful even when we are far from it.

Tonight my children were asking about whether God gives second chances. With a smirk on my face, I told them not only second chances, but also four million two hundred seventy-five thousand four hundred and sixty-ninth chances! I know this because once again I sinned, but God was faithful to forgive and cleanse. Oh, the joy of living with no regrets!

E-News

For those of you who prefer to find out the latest and greatest from the Bower household via this blog (of which I am pretty sure there are none of you), behold the following:

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!! Yes, God is blessing us with another child...number four is currently growing and is about seven weeks old. Let the fun begin!

We are delighted by God's abundant goodness to us. Praise His name!

What It's All About

Startled awake at 2:30 AM with my seven-year old daughter dancing over me with that emergency look telling me that we needed to get to a bathroom VERY quickly, my response was one not quite fit for the Father's Hall of Fame. After verifying the degree of need in the circumstance, which didn't take long at all, I frumped and grumped my way to my glasses, keys, and unzipped the door to our tent and started the hasty trek with her to the back door. Actually, I was quite impressed with her skill, fortitude, or whatever it takes to hold it that long. She really did quite well. Within moments, we were back in the tent, snuggling into our back-aching positions for another few hours of half-sleep. Just about the time that it dawned on me that my attitude could have been significantly better and I could have drummed up SOME semblance of a desire to serve and help my family, my wife graciously turned to me and uttered the words, "It's what camping is all about."

Is that true? Is camping just meant to be an exercise in stretching our ability to apply recent sermon points, understand the finer points of living out theological truths, and humbling ourselves by taking us off of our self-made pedestals? Well...yeah. As I spent the next hour or so trying to find the right combination of sheet/blanket coverage, pillow propping, and body angle to afford more rest, I concluded that not only is that what camping is all about, but the list just goes on and on. That's what breakfast is all about. That's what my commute to work is all about. That's what my reaction to computer problems is all about. That's what correcting my children's school work is all about. That's what coversations with my wife are all about. That's what answering the phone is all about. That's what greeting people at church, at the gas station, and in the neighborhood is all about. That's what spending money is all about. That's what life is all about.

We are put on the planet by God, who is full of grace. We are created in order to bring Him honor and glory and to extend that honor and glory in ways that He has in store for us in particular. That can happen in some odd circumstances. Even when startled awake by a potty-dance.

Marvelous

Today, I marveled. Many times. Some quickly. Some included lingering. I was led to wonder, admire, and be astonished by the following:

1. It started with my morning reading of Scripture. Hebrews 6:18 focused in on the truth that it is impossible for God to lie. It beautifully portrays us as fleeing for refuge and ,further, our result is 'strong encouragement' and having 'hope set before us'. I began my day with the tremendously inspiring reality that my lost and helpless state has been graciously overcome by a loving Savior. His promise to Abraham still rings gloriously true today. I am in awe of God's abundant grace through His promises to me. Promises that He will keep.

2. Then my lovely bride, Sarah, walked by. What a treasured gift she is to me. My love for her grew in those simple moments. Not because of any big activity or reason, but for thousands of little ones. I also marveled at her seemingly effortless ability to do multiple things at once. What would have taken me half an hour or more (plus all the preparation and planning), she flitted through in mere moments. I am in awe of my wife's giftedness and the way she distributes it so freely among many of us.

3. I was amazed at the power of a decision. And a decision acted upon. For the last few days, I had been wasting a bit of time on my commute just listening to the radio. From cultured classical music to base sports talk. Sometimes bluegrass, sometimes Christian pop culture. But as I left today, I decided that I needed to recapture the oppotunity to invest this time. I popped in a CD on fatherhood issues and within minutes was immersed in a exposition of Psalm 78. Much richer.

4. My sin. Three times today (by last count), I threw something onto my desk at work in disgust and frustration. While there were issues and circumstances that preceeded these episodes, I am mindful of the fact that my far-less-than-appropriate response was front and center. Not that my display of selfishness was merely 'less than ideal' or 'not my best moment', but rather it was ugly pride and self-centeredness erupting out from a petty whiner and complainer. The mirror was hard to look at today.

5. Nothing like children to bring reality back to the forefront. Smiling hugs greeted me after a long day. Curious questions gave perspective. And then we had our family reading time before we put them to bed. One of the discussion points in our book hinted at the fact that even parents die someday. Quietly before lights went out, my son asks me to pray for his comfort in the face of that possibility. How could it be that I am privileged to have the responsibility of leading this family? Joyful awe overwhelms me.

Amazing. Fascinating. Enriching. Invigorating. Considerable. Inspiring. Rejuvenating. Quickening. Stimulating.

In a word...marvelous.