The Mount of Olives

 

The Chapel of the Ascension

 

2684 feet high, east of Jerusalem and presently holds about 150,000 graves—The Mount of Olives. It is mentioned by name 14 times in the Bible; twice in the Old Testament and 12 times in the New Testament. However, Biblical writers often just reference the site as the mount east of Jerusalem.

 

Some of the graves on the mount.

Friday April 24, 2015 found me atop the Mount of Olives. The wind blustered furiously and the cold assaulted our group. But it would take more than wind and cold to squelch burning curiosity and excitement.

This mount holds such history, it has witnessed both moments of triumph and defeat. King David stopped here to weep while fleeing Jerusalem when Absalom staged a coup. King Josiah tore down idols which stood on this mount. Jesus pauses here to mourn for Jerusalem before he mounts a young donkey for his triumphant entry into the city (Palm Sunday). On the night of his betrayal, Jesus spends time here with his followers before continuing on to the Garden of Gethsemane (located near the base of the mount). And finally, Jesus ascends from here and scripture tells us he will return here and the mount will be split in two, one side moving south, the other north (Zechariah 14:4).

As we walked down this mount our guide asked, “Why did Jesus chose to ride a donkey? Why not a horse?”

Well, as we were with a large group of cowboys, the question seemed both appropriate and obvious. Donkeys are more sure footed, less risk of falling on the rugged terrain. Imagine our surprise to find we, the Texans, well versed in horse logic, were wrong. In the Jewish culture the donkey is the symbol for peace. Jesus made a statement with his choice of ride. He, the Prince of Peace, entered Jerusalem offering peace through the sacrifice of his life. He purchased our peace with his blood.

However, when he returns he will come riding a horse, the symbol for war. He will wage war against Satan and those who stand with him and he will reign victorious!

Everything matters. God specializes in the details. And the beauty of these entry choices leaves me awe struck at his incredible love for mankind. First he offers peace at an incredible cost, and withholds war, not wanting any to perish. The war will come, but his patience holds it off for now.

Much to think about as I descended this mount and now as I recall the unforgettable time spent there.

 

A Spiritual Journey through Israel

This picture was taken from the Mt. of Olives with Jerusalem in the background.

 

A Spiritual Journey through Israel

As many of you know, Troy and I, along with about 50 other Texans just returned from a trip to Israel. I’m inviting you to join me in my reminiscing, as I carefully probe back through my days in the Holy Land. I believe the time will be well spent, exciting and far less exhausting than the original journey. Each post will include new and fascinating pictures which will help bring the stories alive. So,

Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. When you read you begin with A, B, C; when you sing you begin with Do, Re, Me; and when you travel through Israel you begin with God’s Word.

Pastor Rob, from Lonestar Cowboy Church was our leader, Billy from Nazereth our guide, Fadi our driver, but God’s Word was the foundation of our trip. Our theme text, Psalm 48, extols God’s majesty and encourages the reader to explore his chosen land. And we did both during our time in Israel. We praised our mighty God and walked about in the land spoken of throughout the pages of our Bibles.

Our itinerary had little breathing room. Before the rooster even thought to crow, we were up, fed and on the bus, yawning from jet lag, but eager for the day’s exploration. I am just as eager to revisit these sites with you. Stay tuned… we begin on the Mt. of Olives, a very good place to start.

What all happened here? And why is it now a massive graveyard? Just a few of the topics for our next discussion.

 This is Billy & Fadi! The best possible team to lead us on our journey. Very thankful for these 2 guys!

 

Ever Editing

            I am new to writing. Not really new, but new to writing where people other than a teacher or professor will be reading my scattered words. I must admit, I would rather be talking. It is easier and comes more than naturally to me. But, God invited me down this writing path and I am eager to see where it leads. So, I write. And I edit.

            For every word I write, I delete at least two. If this was a dance, it would be a great two-step, which I would completely enjoy. But this is writing, and deleting more than you keep is both frustrating and tiring. However, without editing, the jumble of words would be more bewildering than helpful. So, I edit and edit some more. The point of all this deleting and moving of words is simple—I want the message to be clearly received. Without editing, readers would never see the message through the mess.

            As I sat recently editing an especially difficult paragraph, my mind strayed down a reflective path. God edits me daily. He moves things, removes things and adds a special touch here and there. He, as my creator, designed me with a particular plan. I, as the human creation, often allow things to clutter up my life, distracting me from God’s purposes. So, God edits. He deletes activities, people and my agendas as needed. But He also adds beauty with just the right person, just the right activity or just the right circumstance at just the right time.

            Thankfully my written work does not fight back as I edit. The process drains without any extra trouble. Unfortunately, I often cling tightly to edited areas, not wanting change, not wanting to lose anything. But I have discovered the most incredible truth through repeated experiences. God removes for our good and his glory and He adds for our good and his glory. The ultimate truth—God edits perfectly. I just need to let him.

            So, I will agree with Job, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:20).

Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Keep Your Eye on the Ball

A tangled heap of cleats, pads, helmets and jerseys. The game of football. While I grasp the basic idea of the game, the details boggle my mind. However, a determination to learn prevails. Every time #88 enters the field I want to know what he is doing. Football moms, just one of our responsibilities and joys.

Capturing the game with prize pictures, another responsibility I take extremely seriously. The 150 plus photos taken at each game proves my determination yet also highlights my ignorance of the sport. As father and son peruse my photographic efforts, a running commentary on the game ensues. I desperately try to follow the conversation, unfortunately with limited success. Thankfully they eventually take pity on my frustration and, less than patiently, begin to instruct the clueless football mom.

These weekly sessions enhance my knowledge of this bewildering pastime. I now know positions, players’ responsibilities and what a good block, tackle, throw and play should look like. In pictures. On the field, the chaos still baffles me, as I often lose sight of the ball completely. And the field again appears to be a place of tossed about boys and their equipment. 

With minimal effort, these sports photos translate to life. At a glance, the disarray seems without purpose, a tangled mess of life and people. Observers easily lose sight of the primary purpose. As daily life requires quick calls, fast feet, and excessive strength, the participant must be fully aware of where God is in each moment.

Just as running, blocking, dodging and passing are worthless movements without the football, so are endless days of activity without Jesus. Actions, regardless of earthly value, have no eternal value without God. Likewise, regardless of how mundane, activities which include Him instantly achieve eternal significance. When life begins to look and feel disheveled, take a moment and readjust your focus. The Prince of Peace can take the tangled and tousled and provide meaning and value.

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Walking on the Rocks

            I just recently returned from a week of church camp, the same one I attended as a camper through junior high and high school. I can’t help but compare my experiences, even though 20 years separates them. Much about camp life has changed. The most important upgrade—air conditioning in all buildings! Pretty sure camp would just be a memory if that particular change had not been included. Activities have been added and others removed as times and teenagers continue to change. But much remains the same. Beautiful singing under the stars. Late nights and early mornings. Baptisms at the river.

            The river. A landmark at camp. A cherished spot for all. Worship, play, baptisms, Bible studies and more happen on the shore or in the clear flowing water of the Medina River. Unfortunately, the river, no longer draws me. In fact, I dread the trip down the hill to the bank of the river. What was once a favorite now represents challenge and possible danger.

            As I sit on my golf cart, I watch teenager after teenager run across the river rocks as they seek to get the best seat or at least a seat with friends. They fly across, never even looking down at the rocks that make up the shore of the river. I, too, once navigated the rocks without a single thought. They were just there, nothing to consider or slow me down. Not so now. Those rocks make me incredibly nervous. One wrong step and my already weak and injured ankle could be damaged beyond repair. The rocks scare me.

            As a teenager my ankles were as strong and hearty as the next guy. The rocks posed no threat. But add 20 years and an ankle weakened by Cerebral Palsy and the rocks that went unnoticed, now seem menacing. To get my camp chair with the other adults, who line the back of the youth, I must walk across about 20 feet of unstable river rock. And typically I do this multiple times throughout the week. It is exhausting both mentally and physically.

            It isn’t walking on water but the parallels still exist. My weak ankle causes me to focus on the rocks, the danger. The teenagers’ strong ankles allow them to cross the rocks oblivious to any danger. Rocks. Waves. Strong faith. Weakened faith. Eyes focused on the danger. Eyes focused on Jesus.

            Navigation through life, focus, and attitude directly link to the condition of faith. A weak faith sees ever danger as it forever focuses on the circumstances it continually encounters. A strong faith, eyes on Jesus, moves through circumstances confident and steady. If I want to one day cross those rocks as I once did, I must strengthen my ankle. A strong faith allows us to yield to the Good Shepherd with whom crossing through dangerous ground no longer holds fear, for our Shepherd will get us safely through. This does not mean rocks or circumstances are removed. What it means is—He has promised and He will faithfully see us through.  

Settling

            Physical therapy consumed much of my time as a child, or at least that is how my memory reads. There was much time stretching, strengthening, and complaining. I hated every minute of therapy. However, I am now eternally grateful for those long hours. I can do far more than the doctors ever dreamed, because my parents persevered despite my tantrums and tears. They understood the value of pressing forward despite the opposition (me)—because cerebral palsy was not something that was going away.

            I am once again seeing a physical therapist and we have become friends. Shocking but true. I need her knowledge and expertise to walk pain free. We have made huge strides together. However, recently she mentioned my hand and the possible need to see an occupational therapist. Since we are friends, I decided to give it a try.

            Well, I didn’t realize there was so much I couldn’t do. It was most disheartening. The therapist asked me to do the craziest things and most often, I couldn’t. And really who cares? Right? Why waste so much time on something that wasn’t even bothering me. My right hand can hold my phone or my drink; seemed enough to me. Why ask it to do more?

            The therapist had a much different opinion and outlook. “Why not be as healthy as you can be? Why settle for less than you can have?”

            Her words continue to haunt me. “Why settle?”

            In my physical life I have chosen to settle for years and the result is deterioration. Muscles are shrinking and weakening. The situation now requires hours of work each week just to try to regain all I have lost. And honestly, I lost it and didn’t even notice it going. Just one day, there were so many things I could no longer do.

            If not vigilant, spiritual life can suffer the same fate.  A thriving relationship with Jesus with enough “settling” quietly falls into disrepair. A compassionate heart becomes cold and hard without notice or warning. It doesn’t happen overnight; but it sure seems like it. A powerful prayer life decays into a rotting bunch of trite mumbled prayers. When did it happen? It was never the desire or intent, but it happened.

            Settling is more than just settling. It is an unconscious path to a subtle decline. Time masks the progression of dilapidation. Long before noticed the damage sets in. Full recovery demands intense time and energy just to regain what was lost.

            The solution? Never chose to settle! “Why not be as healthy as you can be?”

            The greatest aim—a powerful passionate pursuit of Jesus. In the chase, growth and fruit result.

            Settling is never an option.