God's Handiwork - AMAZING!

Yesterday, I had the privilege of going with U-Turn, the great youth group of Church on the Move. Pastor Chris did an excellent job of leading our young people and their families on an amazing hike in Great Falls National Park along the Potomac River. We hiked over large rocks along natural trails and along the way was able to observe some of God's finest handiwork.

So many times, we are given amazing treats. Amazing opportunities to view some of God's finest work. If we go to an art gallery, we notice the amazing paintings and sculptures and we offer commendation to the artist for a job well done. If we observe a beautiful building, we give credit to the architect and the design firm who brought it all together. If we observe an athletic competition and someone makes a great play, we will acknowledge the Sportscenter moment at a minimum with a "Nice Play" or as my son's baseball teammates, a vocalized rendition of the Sportscenter theme music, "Duh, na, nant, Duh, na, nant." And yet we see God's amazing handiwork all around us and rarely do we take notice of the beauty that God surrounds us with.

George Straight sings an amazing song called "I Saw God Today." He discusses with amazing clarity the importance of observing God's handiwork that is all around us. Whether it's found in the cry of a newborn baby or in the grin of a toothless old man, in a nest filled with newborn robins or in the perfect formation of which a flock of geese will fly, in a statuesque mountain range or a repeated splash of wave after wave on the sea shore, if we will just take notice, God's handiwork is absolutely amazing and breathtaking at every turn.

What would happen if we would learn to take notice of the hand of God all around us. I would venture to say, that if our minds were focused on all that God is doing around us, we wouldn't be so stressed, so frustrated or so agitated. I would also venture to guess, that if we were constantly aware of God's workmanship all around us, we would be more inclined to share our faith with the people we bump into along the way. God is always with us, working all around us, operating amongst us, holding all that we perceive and know in the palm of His hand, and we must learn to take notice because then we are treated to an amazing show - God's hand at work!

Thanks Pastor Chris for leading a trip through the handiwork of God. My aim is to start taking notice everyday of all that God has been up to and is accomplishing around me. Maybe then, I won't be so sore from trying to take it all in at once time :-)!

Love all of you - Look around and see what God is up to today in your life! --- RP

The Simple Jesus

Today, I'm thinking of just how revolutionary Jesus was. 2000 or so years ago when he showed up the religious world was a chaotic mess. He walked into a religious melting pot of Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, Scribes, Priests, Levites, followers of various Rabbis and even followers of John the Baptist. Out of this large bowl of religious soup, Jesus shows up and begins to blow peoples minds with statements like, "Love your enemy. . . do good to those who use you with spite. . . don't judge others . . . don't condemn. . . forgive. . . turn the other cheek. . . go the extra mile. . ." He makes statements that don't exactly line up to any particular groups thinking of the day. As a matter of fact, He almost seems to be in direct opposition to the prevailing thoughts of the day and His ideas were catching on. So much so that one day a group of Pharisees were trying to trap him and they asked of all the law, what was the greatest. This was not an easy question in the mind of the Pharisee because they had 613 laws - so to randomly pick one as being most important was not some flippant task. But Jesus says - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind . . . and the second greatest is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself. . . oh and by the way, you can hang all the law and the prophets on those two statements." Beautiful simplicity.

Why do we make Jesus so complicated? Why do we make Christianity filled with so much religious rhetoric and so hard to understand? Jesus meant for discipleship in His kingdom to be simple. Love God . . . love your neighbor . . . simple. Treat others the way you'd want to be treated . . . simple. Love one another as I love you. . . simple. Jesus went so far as to invite us to "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me . . . for my yoke is EASY and my burden is LIGHT." SIMPLE.

Many Christians that I know in some ways, have become modern-day Pharisees. We spend all our time fighting amongst ourselves over whose right and whose not. We strain at gnats and swallow camels. We clean the outside of the cup with little regard for the inside. We make sure the cemetery has all the grass cut and the flowers put out with little regard for what lies below the surface. We are more concerned that others consider us spiritual or godly or dare I say holy, than we are that God sees us as godly or holy. At the end of the day, how you see me is of little importance - BUT how God sees me is of ETERNAL importance.

So instead of spending our time trying to make discipleship in the kingdom so complicated - what if we returned to our example, Jesus Christ, who made it simple. Jesus looked at future disciples and said "Follow Me". . . simple. Jesus said, "Go and tell others". . . simple. Jesus said that his disciples would be known SIMPLY by their love for one another. It's time that we get back to being Disciples of Jesus Christ - It's time that we make living for Jesus the way He designed it - SIMPLE!

Love everyone - Have SIMPLY a great weekend! ---- RP

Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?

Imagine, if you can, 5 days into a journey where all you've been told to do is get in your car and begin to drive. Just get in the car - don't worry about gas, I'll provide. Don't worry about food - I'll provide. Just drive. No hints as to a destination. GPS is of no consequence on this journey. Just pack your bags and go. I'm not sure how I'd respond to such a request from the Lord, but Abraham went. Now, the Bible doesn't give us any of those side conversations between Abraham and God but Abraham was human after all, so you know there had to be a few along the way.

"God - where are we going?"

"God - when are we going to get there?"

"God - how will I know when we've arrived."

"But God - that hotel looked nice. It even had a pool. . ."

"Oh C'mon - that was the fifth McDonald's and still you won't stop. I'm hungry down here. . ."

"But I've got to go to the bathroom - and I'm tired of holding it. . ."

Now maybe your travels don't sound that way - but with my kids I've heard it all - and so something tells me that Abraham, being God's child and all, had a few juvenile moments on his journey.

Juvenile moments. Spiritually we have them, don't we. Those moments where we forget who's in charge and we forget how powerful He is and we forget that we are here only because of His benevolent merciful nature which sees us for who we are and loves us anyway. Those moments where we forget that with Jesus, it's really not about a destination. Yes - he wants to take you to heaven and hopefully we're all going to arrive there someday. But with Christ, my becoming like Him is not about a destination, it's all about the journey.

Over the last several months, I've had to remind myself of this fact many times. When life as you know it and thought it was supposed to be falls completely apart and everything that you'd hoped for, believed in, counted on, and dreamed of is suddenly a pile of burning ashes, you stop and wonder, "Where are you going?" God - what is the purpose in all of this? What is the destination where you are trying to take me? Does it have to be this complicated? Am I such a bad guy that you have to whip me so hard? Isn't there a McDonald's on this trip? :-)

One thing is certain. Isaiah was right when he said that God's ways are higher than ours. His thoughts are certainly different than ours. His plans are not always the ones we have for ourselves but are certainly the ones that are most beneficial. With Him, the destination is a foregone conclusion. He knows the end from the beginning. Jesus has seen it already and He knows the plans He has for you and I. The destination is not in question. The only ones wondering where we're headed is you and me. God knows. And IF I have declared Him to be Lord of my life and IF I've placed my very being in His hands then I've got to trust that wherever He leads me will be good for me and so . . . I'm going to follow.

You see, lately I'm starting to appreciate, not the destination, but the Journey. The destination is never a question. I will arrive at what God has prescribed and planned for me. It's the journey that determines: 1) my arrival time, and 2) what I learn along the way. Wouldn't life be great if we woke up one day, God said let's go on a journey and we arrived 10 minutes later. Imagine how much we'd feel that we accomplished. "Look at me - by the age of 21 I have accomplished everything that God had planned." It's like those people who are born with silver spoons and receive everything handed to them. And then they spend their lives in some type of trouble or another because they can't find value nor appreciation in their destination. But the man who had to work hard, who had to claw and scratch and fight for every inch, knows the value of where he's arrived because he remembers where he's been. He remembers every foot hole, he remembers every pit stop. He remembers every time he didn't think he would make it through and somehow by God's grace he did. He draws strength from every inch of every valley that he was forced to cross. He finds peace in knowing that with every step of the climb, he learned to appreciate how far he's come and where he's made it to.

When I graduated from college in 1994, I thought that surely by the age of 38, I would have done some pretty amazing things. I would have arrived at some pretty amazing destinations. And truthfully there are moments when I look at where I am and I question whether I've accomplished anything at all. But then, I'm reminded that God is still leading me; that God is still positioning me and working in me, so while I've not arrived at my destination yet, I am going somewhere. I am on a journey to a place that God has designed for me and therefore that makes me somebody special to God.

In those moments when I feel low and I began to question my lack of accomplishments, I also find myself looking back on where I've been. You see sometimes our sense of failure comes from looking ahead at the daunting task and realizing our frailty in comparison to the size of the mountain that is before us. It is in those moments when we must learn to look backward at where we've been - not with desire to return - but to increase our faith because of the successes we've had along the journey.

As we've struggled through some things over the last few months, there were moments where I thought my life had no meaning and that all I had done was of no value to anyone. And then I'd get a card in the mail, or an email from a friend; a phone call from someone unexpected or even a financial blessing when you least expected it but needed it the most. I've come to realize that there is a beauty beyond compare along the route of the journey if you'll learn to appreciate those that you come in contact with. I can't stand being around people who have "destination disease." They are always looking for the next destination - looking for the next arrival point. They're driven and that's great. They're motivated and I'm happy for them. But the problem is that they're always looking past those on the journey that God brings in their path because they're trying to get a glimpse of the elevator operator who can express them to the next floor. God, help me to never look past where I am on the journey because you have brought to this place to learn something, to appreciate something and to be a blessing to someone.

So today - as I've rambled on - I hope that wherever you are and wherever you are headed, you will take time to appreciate the beauty of where you've been. In the heart of Virginia if you're traveling west on I-64 you will cross a range of mountains called Shenandoah. Really to go from one side of the state to the other, you don't have much choice but to cross this mountain range. In my travels around the state, I've had many destinations that forced me to travel across those mountains and many times I've seen it as a nuisance. But about 5 years ago, I noticed a place that when I get to the top of this one peak and my car crosses the ridge, I can look down and see one of the most beautiful sights. It is a valley that is dotted with homes and farms right in between these two mountains. For me, it is a breathtaking sight that I failed to appreciate for many years. BUT now, on my journey it is the sight I look forward to. No matter where God takes you, no matter what journey he has planned - look for the beauty that lies on your path and appreciate the lessons He is teaching - because they will be what you need to survive upon your arrival at your destination.

Until next time - God bless - Love you all ----- RP

Thanking God for a Great Dad!

Having just celebrated Father's Day, I've taken some time to consider the wonderful man who for nearly 38 years, I've called Dad. When I consider my own children and my attempts at being a good father, I realize with each passing day, that fatherhood is not easy. Most of the dads I know do their very best to be supportive, responsible, and even engaged in their kids lives and yet we live in a world where movies and television portrays husbands and fathers to be bumbling, stumbling, good for nothing idiots. When I was growing up, television portrayed dads with the images of Ward Cleaver, Charles Ingalls, Sheriff Andy Taylor, and John Walton. As I moved to my teenage years the image of the wholesome, responsible, disciplined father-figure shifted to men like Dr. Cliff Huxtable, Tony Micelli, and Dr. Jason Seaver. While these men offered structure and discipline the husband and father figure they portrayed were many times seen as funny and at times made laughable by their antics. As I grew into my 20s these men were replaced by Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor, and the worst portrayal of all Homer Simpson. Now days, the role of husband and father is portrayed in such a way that rarely does society show us a man who loves his wife, strives to raise his children and does it all in a manner that is responsbile, respectful, humble and honorable. If you are waiting for the media to teach your children how a father should really be, there is truly no example out there. So you better learn to be the man. . .

That's why today I'm so thankful. For all 38 years of my life, I've been so greatly blessed to have a wonderful example of how to be a great husband and a Godly father. I grew up in a home where I didn't have to rely on the prevailing society norms to tell me how to be a good dad or good husband. I didn't have to rely on Homer Simpson to show me how a man ought to treat his wife and kids. I wasn't forced to observe the tactics of Peter Griffin to know how to be a "Family Guy". No, I had the pleasure of observing Clyde Pavie, hard worker, good provider, lover of my mom, honest, truthful, a man of integrity, a man who loved others and was willing to help those that were in need. Most of all, he was a man who loved God and he taught me and my brothers to love Jesus Christ as well. My dad would work sometimes up to 3 jobs to take care of our family and yet he made sure he never missed my baseball games. He always managed to be home and eat dinner with us, even if it meant he drove 30 miles home before he returned to a second job. No matter how busy he was he always made sure that he took us to church on Sundays, Wednesdays and any other time the doors were open. In the process of all of that, my dad taught us to serve. He taught us to serve in the kingdom of God, not for notoriety, not for applause, but because there was a need and there were people who had yet to discover the joy of serving Jesus Christ.

I'm all grown now - I've got a wonderful wife and two kids of my own - thankfully I'm not stuck looking for an example. My dad continues to pour into me even now. He has continued to be a man of mercy and kindness. Whenever I'm in need of advice, a listening ear or someone to call a friend, my dad is always there. I've been so greatly blessed to have such a wonderful man in my life. Don't get me wrong - I know he's not perfect. What I love most about him is that he's not afraid to share his frailties and admit his imperfections. Qualities that I've had to utilize myself of late. I'm thankful I've had a great example in that as well. Learning of God's mercy from my wonderful Father has made me appreciate the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ even more.

So now we live in the 21st century - the year 2009 and society portrays husbands and fathers as bumbling, stumbling, oafs who are laughed at because they are shown to be spineless, unfaithful, lazy buffoons. I pray that more children will find role models like my father - men who are worthy of the title Dad.

In closing - I'm reminded of a Gaither Vocal Band Song - it's always been one of my favorites. Notice the words:

What this dying world could use is a willing Man of God
Who dares to go against the grain and works without applause;
A man who'll raise the shield of Faith, protecting what is pure;
Whose love is tough and gentle; a man whose word is sure.

God doesn't need an Orator who knows what just to say;
He doesn't need authorities to reason Him away;
He doesn't need an army to guarantee a win;
He just needs a Few Good Men.

Men full of Compassion, who Laugh and Love and Cry-
Men who'll face Eternity and aren't afraid to die-
Men who'll fight for Freedom and Honor once again-
He just needs a Few Good Men.

He calls the broken derelict whose life has been renewed;
He calls the one who has the strength to stand up for the Truth.
Enlistment lines are open and He wants you to come in-
He just needs a Few Good Men.

Men full of Compassion, who Laugh and Love and Cry-
Men who'll face Eternity and aren't afraid to die-
Men who'll fight for Freedom and Honor once again-
He just needs a Few Good Men.


Let this blog serve as a call to every man - it's time to take a stand and be what God has called us to be - men of honor, men of integrity, men of respect. Let's be men, not as prescribed by Hollywood, but as lived out by those who have gone before - like my Dad. I love you POP - you are a great man and a great example and I pray that my son at the age of 38 would be able to say the same about me. - RP