I'm a cyclist. There are few things in this world that I enjoy more than riding my bike along cornfield-lined country roads and tree-canopied trails.

I'm also a husband, father, volunteer, and several other "things." Many labels apply to me, and on any given day I "wear a variety of hats," as the saying goes.

Why do I bring this up? I was reading an article earlier today (in a cycling magazine, actually) in which the author wrote of the time he gave up professional bicycle racing. He lamented, "When you do anything enough that it becomes your identity (emphasis mine), it's hard to step away from it, much less say goodbye." This made me sad for him, not because he had said goodbye to something that was so important to him, but that his identity was so closely linked to something that he did (or, in this case, used to do).

Unfortunately, I doubt this is a rare situation in a culture such as ours, where individual accomplishment, personal celebrity, and a persistent need to be seen and heard are so highly celebrated and revered. "Doing" is viewed as more important than "being." The value of a person is determined by what he or she can do or provide, NOT by who he or she is. Character has been replaced with commodity.

In social settings, we often ask "What do you do?" when meeting new people. I would venture to guess we have a pretty good idea of what most of our friends and acquaintances "do" for a living. But do we have a really good idea of "who" they are, what makes them tick, their likes and dislikes?

If someone asked you, "Who are you," how would you answer?

For those of us who confess to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior, the answer should be clear: we are children of God Almighty! Servants of the King of Kings! Our identity is in the risen Christ, eternal, unchanging, full of grace and truth. Who we are has nothing to do with what we have or haven't done, and everything to do with Who He is! We need never mourn the loss of our identity because it is safely and securely bound up in the One from whom it will never be lost or taken.

Peace,

​~Brian

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11)

Jesus shared these words with His disciples after speaking at length to them of his love for them, and the Father's love for them, how They would abide in them, that He was sending the Spirit (the Helper) to be with them, and that they would have His peace. Overwhelming, I'm sure, and pretty amazing, eh?

I've been pondering this joy that Jesus speaks of over the past couple of days. Have you ever experienced true joy? Not just happiness, something that makes you smile, but joy: giggle-inducing giddiness; a wide-faced grin that makes your mouth and your teeth hurt; inexplicable tears running down your face and a warm sensation in your chest. THAT kind of joy!

I have, and it's amazing. Here's what it looks like for me:

- Riding my bike on a country road, surrounded by green fields of corn and beans, a seemingly endless blue sky above me, and my son on his bike next to me.
- My three-year-old grandson, clad in a t-shirt, shorts, and a smile, running in circles in the rain, laughing and splashing without a care in the world.
- Helping my dad, fresh off several rounds of chemo and radiation for cancer, fire up his chainsaw and cut up limbs for our burn pile.
- Holding hands with my wife of 30+ years as we sit on the couch watching TV after dinner.
- Rocking out with my kids/nephews/niece at a concert, dancing and moshing like I'm 30 years younger (a word of caution: it's best to stay clear of the pit).

...and sometimes it's simply me driving in my car, thinking about all of the ways that the Lord has blessed me in this wonderful life that He has made possible for me.

Gratitude abounds. Sometimes, we simply need to stop and experience the joy of what we have going on around us, acknowledge the presence of what's already there.

So, what does joy look like for you?

Peace,

~Brian

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him" (Genesis 1:27)

I write this with a heart that is bursting at the seams! My second grandchild was born earlier today, and looking at his picture brings thoughts of the miracle that is birth. If you have had the privilege of being present for the birth of a child, or simply spent any time at all with or around a newborn human being, you understand how incredibly awesome the power of new life is.

You also learn about the intensity and passion involved in loving another person purely for the fact that they exist. Before you is a helpless infant, someone about whom you know very little and with whom you have very little experience (unless you are the mother), and you find that you love him or her in a way that is difficult to describe, simply because they "are."

I believe this to be a glimpse into the love that God has for each of us. He created us in his image and loves us simply because we are here, so much so that He sent his one and only Son to die for our sins and enable us to live with Him in eternity. And He calls us to have this kind of love toward others.

May He provide us with daily reminders of what this kind of love looks like, and may He give us the courage to share that with everyone we encounter on our walk.

Shalom,

​Brian

Driving in to work this morning, I was passed by an SUV that had a neon hand with middle finger extended that appeared to light up when a vehicle approaching from behind got close. Last weekend I was running errands and followed a driver who "flipped the bird" to a group of people quietly demonstrating outside a women's clinic near my home. These are just a couple examples of public rudeness I've experienced of late (the horn honks and loud, angry shouts are too numerous to mention).

I'm all for free speech and expression, but is all of this really necessary? And what does any of it accomplish?

James writes, "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be" (James 3:9-10). Similarly, Paul writes, " Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4).

I will be the first to acknowledge my susceptibility to "road rage" when I'm cut off in traffic or get parked behind a "camper" in the passing lane. I may also be found guilty of making off-hand remarks at the television when something or someone makes a statement I disagree with or find to be outrageous. However, I've learned to bite my tongue and keep my hands to myself when around others who may not share my viewpoint. It's not that difficult. All that's required is a little self-restraint.

If we disagree with another's actions or perspective, perhaps a more constructive response would be to engage them in a respectable conversation, where possible. If not, we should just let it go. My flippant, offensive reaction to someone else's words or deeds isn't going to impact them or the situation for the better; in fact, it may make things worse.

My two cents',

​Brian

As followers of Christ, we are called to make disciples (Matthew 28:19), and this requires that we open our mouths and share the Gospel with others. However, discipleship is most effective when it involves conversations - not lectures - and a conversation requires that at least two people be present and participating, taking turns speaking and listening.

I'm reading a book by Neil Tomba, The Listening Road (https://a.co/d/952Xkh7), in which Pastor Tomba and his team cycle across America seeking conversations on faith with ordinary citizens along the way. Relaying one of these encounters, the author references the following passage:

"... sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15, NASB; emphasis mine).

I spend a great deal of time working on the defense of my faith, but it occurred to me after re-reading this passage that we are prompted here not to initiate the defense but to do so in response to a request. In other words, don't force your defense (reasons, justification, etc.) on others; engage them in conversation, listen to their stories and their positions on life and faith, and be prepared to share your reasons for following Jesus if and when they ask you for them.

While we need to speak about our faith and tell others the good news of Jesus Christ, it's just as important that we listen to what others think, honestly and sincerely engage them in conversation, and wait until they invite us to share what on our hearts and minds.

Shalom,

​Brian

I've always been a "praying man", and as my faith has matured I've learned a variety of ways to enter into the presence of our Lord.  A more robust exploration into prayer will have to wait for another day, but a situation in my personal life has brought home for me the importance of urgency, perseverance and belief in our prayers.

My brother, whom I love dearly, was diagnosed with ALS earlier this summer, and the Lord and I have spent many agonizing (for me) moments wrestling with this.  I've accepted the reality of the situation, but I have days where it simply breaks me down.  During these times, I dive into the Word and look for guidance.  Today, I've been drawn to scripture on prayer.

I'm reminded by Matthew that we have but to ask God, and He will respond: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)  The caveat here is that what we're asking for must be in-step with God's will for us, but there are no other conditions.  We must simply ask.

And God wants to give us good things, too!  "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"  The Holy Spirit interfaces with God on our behalf, communicating what we truly are asking for, so that we don't have to worry about the words to use.  In fact, we don't even have to use words at all.  When I'm broken, and weeping, and can't even speak, this is very comforting to me.

We need to be serious about our prayers and requests, though.  Christ alludes to this in the scripture from Matthew quoted above; note the progression of "Ask...Seek...Knock".  Each step in the process involves more activity, another level of involvement, persistence.  The Parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke gives a wonderful picture of what this looks like:

    Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.      He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people    
    thought.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me
    justice against my adversary.'  For some time he refused.  But finally he said to himself, 'Even
    thought I don't fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I
    will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!'"  And the Lord
    said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for his chosen
    ones, who cry out to him day and night?  Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that
    they get justice, and quickly.  However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
    (Luke 18:1-8)

If we truly want what we ask for, we must keep asking.  God tells us that He will answer our prayers (John 14:13-14), but He doesn't tell us when or how.  Your next prayer may be the one that He's waiting for before He answers, so don't give up!

And finally, don't doubt that He's going to answer.  Be persistent in your prayers, and because God has told us that He will answer, BELIEVE that He will!  As James tells us, "...when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord." (James 1:6,7)  So stand firm in your petitions to God - He expects nothing less.

Pray fervently, pray persistently, pray with the expectation that your prayers will be answered.  And God will respond accordingly.

Shalom,

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus tells us that we are the "salt of the earth" and "light of the world."  What does this mean, and how does it apply to those of us that follow Christ?

In my research of the meaning and significance of salt in the Bible, I came across the following article, which I found to be very insightful:

http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/faq/salt.html

The idea that salt symbolizes blessings and the judgement of God was new to me.

Check this out and let me know your thoughts.

Shalom,