Searching For The Well Done
Dr. Rus D. Jeffrey – Dec 2009

When all is said and done,
Shouldn’t the world be loads of fun?
But along the way we often stray,
Losing focus as well as our way.

The bumps and potholes we find in life,
Many times fill us with loads of strife.
We look to the left and look to the right,
Wondering why help is not in sight.

The path can be strewn with many friends,
Who just might help us with the twists and bends.
But first we must find the trusted One,
Who really knows how to find the fun.

When tragedy enters along the way,
We wonder how to keep emotions at bay.
Should we cry and should we weep?
Or do we simply fall at His feet?

We start the journey as a child,
Living our lives on the edge of wild.
With our parents close at hand,
They’re always willing to help us stand.

The teen years come when we know it all,
Our parents slide back, sometimes letting us fall.
Could it be they really do know,
More than we thought before the winds started to blow.

In due time we fly from the nest,
Wondering just what’s in store for us next.
True love comes and we often wed,
Celebrating the joy of the marriage bed.

The next stop in life is the parent role,
That’s when things really begin to roll.
Life becomes hectic with every hour filled,
We wonder aloud, will anything get spilled?

When mid-life comes and we start to gray,
We begin to wonder about our stay.
By now it’s been close to two-score and ten,
But what lies ahead around the next bend.

Should we turn left, or should we turn right,
By now the sunset just might be in sight.
When we were once young, those around were old,
But now things are different, or so we are told.

Just when we think we have life figured out,
The tables seem turned and we begin to doubt.
Did we go left when we should have gone right,
Did we simply respond out of a sense of fright.

Before we know it we’re back with the question,
Or is it possibly more of a confession?
Shouldn’t life really be loads of fun,
When we find this journey done?

We walked the path at times alone,
While all along not far from a Stone.
Will that Stone become the Rock,
Who gives meaning to life when we stop.

The path is now strewn with many friends,
Who did indeed help us with the twists and bends.
But when did we find the trusted One,
Who’s also known as the Son.

He’s always been there from the beginning of time,
Simply waiting for His time to shine.
The table is set and all is prepared,
All we need to do is cut loose our despair.

While the journey seems long as we search for the fun,
All we really need to hear is “Enter in” and “Well done”.
For the ancients of old always cheered us on,
Even when we thought all was long gone.

At the end of the journey what will we find,
A loving Savior who is really kind.
After serving God’s purpose in our generation,
We too can find rest with in His Holy nation.

Where Does Your Compass Point?

I’m not a big Pirates of the Caribbean movie fan. I liked the first one, hated the second one, and tolerated the third. Now with rumors of Johnny Depp signing up for a reprisal of his Captain Jack Sparrow character, I’m dreading the fourth installment of a Pirates movie. However, even though I don’t really like the movies, I’ve always been fascinated with Captain Jack’s compass.

Throughout the first movie Captain Jack is chastised because his compass doesn’t work. It never points North. Instead it spins around and goes in different directions. But never North. However, even though the compass never points North, Captain Jack always ends up where he wants to go. By the second movie we discover the secret of the malfunctioning compass. The compass may never point North, but it does point to something more important.

Captain Jack’s compass points “toward what the heart wants.”

Searching For Direction

Many today are searching for direction in life. A quick scan of the landscape can result in worried hearts and troubled spirits. The economy is sliding, the job market is declining, and the government appears to be in shambles. Bankruptcies are at an all time high, and now many business are lining up for government bailouts. Everyone wants a handout.

Then on top of the economic mess, everyone seems to have an opinion on just about everything. Spin doctors are a dime a dozen and they all declare they have the answers to all our problems. The left say they have the answers. The right say they have the answers. Those in the church even declare they have the answers. In this sea of voices and endless noise, it’s sometimes very hard to decipher which is the correct answer. How do we truly discern what is true and what is false?

My good friend Ken Davis recently wrote a post on his Lite Post – A Seriously Funny Guy blog entitled Just Do It. While Ken talked about committing to doing something and then following through, I was reminded of the importance of focus. As life seems to swirl out of control it’s important to check our bearings. Take a look at our compass and make sure we’re still heading in the direction we should be heading. We need to make sure we’re still heading toward what not only our heart wants, but where our heart should be yearning.

Hearing Through The Noise

People are searching for hope these days. I addressed this search in an earlier post entitled Write It Down & Make It Clear. In that post I encouraged us all to remember the words of Jeremiah who said “God’s plans are not to harm us, but to prosper us, giving us hope for the future.” Those are wonderful words. But, what do we need to do in order to make sure our compass is leading us in the right direction, toward that hope? It’s easy to turn to various commentaries on the Bible, and even the words of man, to discover how we should navigate through this world. However, many times the books and voices do little more than add to the noise of the culture.

With this in mind, where do we turn?

How about the few verses ahead of the wonderful promise of hope found in Jeremiah 29. It’s here we discover some very practical suggestions of how to make sure we’re heading in the right direction. The people of Jerusalem found themselves in the midst of turmoil exiled in Babylon. Far from home, when it looked like the odds were totally stacked against them, they were encouraged to do some very practical things.

• Build houses and settle down
• Plant gardens and eat what they produce
• Marry and have sons and daughters
• Find wives for the sons and give daughters in marriage
• Increase in number, do not decrease

They also received some spiritual suggestions, to ensure their compass was pointing at their hearts desire.

• Seek the peace and prosperity of the city you live in
• Pray for peace and prosperity because if the city, and nation, in which you live prospers, so will you
• Do not listen to the spin-doctors who spin lies for they do not know what they are talking about

Many of the spin doctors of the day are proclaiming doom and gloom. The so-called people in the know declaring doom and gloom are found both inside and outside the church. As we attempt to stay the course in the days ahead, we need to make sure we’re not listening to the doom and gloom spin-doctors. If we truly want to walk in hope, we need to stay clear of those who spin their lies saying all is doom and gloom.

As we stay the course moving forward with “Hope for the Future” we will do well to seek peace and prosperity for the city, and nation in which we live. As the city and nation prospers, so too will we.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

A world in search of hope. A nation is search of hope. A people in search of hope.

It’s a truth that’s been around since the beginning of time. No matter who you are, no matter where you are, and no matter how good, or how bad your life situation might be – People are always searching for hope. When the nation of Israel found themselves exiled in Babylon, and for all intents and purposes it looked like God had turned His back on them, they still found a message of hope. Ezekiel, exiled with Israel in Babylon, declared a message of hope to the nation encouraging them to establish themselves in the midst of their enemy, pray for the prosperity and peace for those around them, and they too would discover peace and prosperity. That sounds like a message of hope to me.

Meanwhile, things looked quite different in Israel. There we find a rag-tag remnant of the nation living amidst the ruins of the once great City of Jerusalem. They may not be in Babylon, but the Babylonian rulers are all around them, reminding them each day that the once great nation of Israel, is no longer a force on the earth.

But, did the nation of Israel lose hope when surrounded by foreign leaders…

…no, instead, they too found a message of hope in the midst of disaster.

Jeremiah encouraged those still in Israel by reminding them that God’s plans are always to “prosper them and not to harm them.” Ultimately giving those facing turmoil on every side, “purpose and destiny and hope for the future.” With all of this in mind, I find it amazing when people are surprised by polls which say people are looking for hope.

Making headlines this week — New Poll Says Most Think Miracles Can Save Terminally Ill — This comes as a surprise why? News agencies all over the place used the story as their lead. Most announcers read the story with a sound of surprise in their voice. But again, I ask the simple question — Why the surprise? When facing turmoil and tough times, people are always searching for a sense of hope.

According to the survey, when medical treatment for a dying relative appears futile, a majority of Americans believe that miracles can still happen. The survey, which appeared in the Archives of Surgery, said 57 percent of one thousand adults surveyed believe the hand of God could save a loved one, even if a doctor tells them there’s nothing more that can be done. As a result of the survey, researchers say Doctors “need to be prepared to deal with families who are waiting for a miracle.” The article went on to encourage Doctors to be more sensitive to the belief of miracles in order to gain the trust of patients and their families. In that way, it may be easier to explain to them that further treatment of someone with a terminal condition may be pointless. When asked the same question about God’s intervention, close to 20 percent of Doctors acknowledged they would also hold out for a miracle.

For I know the plans I have for you…not to harm you, but to prosper you…giving you hope for the future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

People in search of hope. It’s been with us since the beginning of time. No matter what you might find yourself facing, remember that we can always find hope for the future when we remain anchored in the belief that God’s plans are not to harm us, but to prosper us, giving us a sense of hope, purpose and destiny.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

When it comes to advertising genius, marketing people are always looking for a great hook line. Probably one of the most popular slogans is…

Where’s the beef!?

The slogan was introduced in the 1980’s when Wendy’s introduced a commercial called “Fluffy Bun” with Clara Peller declaring — Where’s the beef? — Now the ever popular catch phrase has become somewhat of an all-purpose phrase questioning the substance, or lack thereof, of almost anything we can think of.

Many today are looking for some kind of meaning in life. In survey after survey, when people are asked – If you could ask God, or a Supreme Being, one question, what would that question be? – Most respond by saying, “What is my purpose and destiny in life.” In other words, people seem to be looking for the beef in life. Some say there has to be more, while others are simply looking for meaning, purpose and destiny.

A recent Rasmussen poll reveals some interesting results when it comes to the nation’s belief in God, or a Supreme Being. The results showed;

• 78% believe in God
• 15% believe in a Higher Power
• 7% believe in nothing

In other words, according to the Rasmussen poll, 93% of the population in the United States, believe in some kind of Supreme Being. Wow! That’s amazing! If this is true I find myself asking a few questions;

• Why are churches not full to overflowing?
• Why do atheists tell us their numbers are on the rise?
• Where are the believers who don’t show up for church every week?
• Has the church somehow dropped the ball on attracting those who have some kind of spiritual awareness?

Somewhere along the line those inside the church have shut out those outside the church who, according to the recent poll, do have some kind of a God awareness. Could it be that a large portion of the population who say they believe in God, or at least have some kind of a God awareness, don’t feel welcome in church? If the Rasmussen poll numbers are correct, that would certainly seem to be the case.

I guess the next question could be something like — Is this a bad thing? Is it a bad thing to have a large number of those who say they have a God awareness outside the church? That all depends on what they’re doing. In the early days of the church, the disciples spent more time outside the church, than inside the church. It’s more of a North American culture mindset which says the only way to connect with God is inside a church. Reality is, we’re supposed to be transforming the environment we’re involved in each day. While the early disciples met for daily prayer times at the temple, they were more involved in the lives of those around them on an everyday basis.

So, I ask again, is the Rasmussen poll wrong?

If we’re measuring church attendance as a factor in arriving at the number of 93% of the population having some kind of a God awareness, we have to say the poll is wrong. Why? Because it’s obvious 93% of the population are not attending church. If they were, every church in the nation would be full to overflowing. Many inside the church may lament such a poll and wonder where the people are. But maybe a better approach is to discover ways to help all of those outside the church, but with a belief in God, figure out how to mainstream their message of hope, purpose and destiny so the world might truly be transformed.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

Iron Man continues to pull in incredible dollars at the box office. Now the slow selling Playstation game is even doing well. It seems Iron Man mania is sweeping not only the nation, but the world. I’m sure Robert Downey Jr. is pleased that he’s connected with such a blockbuster hit. After all, he’s someone who’s had his share of ups and downs throughout his somewhat rocky career. He’s a good actor, but unfortunately he fell into the trap of drugs and alcohol. But, with that behind him, maybe he’s opened a new chapter not only in his life, but also in his career.

Iron Man is a very strong movie. It gets off to a somewhat disjointed start, but in the end, it comes through with great special effects and a good story line. In a nutshell, without any spoilers here for those who have not seen the movie yet, Iron Man is created after Tony Stark, an arms dealer, has a change of heart and decides to right some of the wrongs his weapons company created. Of course this doesn’t go over very well with some inside the company, but this does not deter him from creating the Iron Man superhero.

Now I know what you’re thinking – How in the world can we find an encouraging message from a comic book hero? But here it is. In the middle of the movie Stark’s assistant asks him why he’s so determined to create Iron Man, even if it means he may die while trying to right his wrongs. In a somewhat off-handed comment, we discover a great truth. Downey Jr.’s character says, “Maybe this is why I didn’t die when I was kidnapped.” Wow! What an amazing statement. Tucked away in the middle of this sci-fi comic book hero come to life movie, we discover a statement about purpose and destiny.

Could it be Downey’s statement, via the character Tony Stark, speaks of purpose and destiny not only for Iron Man, but for himself as well? Who knows. But I do know this, the nugget of truth concerning purpose and destiny in the Iron Man movie is a strong message for anyone who hears it. It is true, we do all have a purpose and destiny. While we may not be a superhero, we can do our best to positively influence those around us.

A Fellow Sojourner,

Dr. Rus

I was speaking with a Pastor friend of mine this weekend and we started talking about the journey. Reflecting on the past, looking toward the future, we pondered the journey and talked about sticking with it. The sad thing is, many don’t stick with the journey. People come and go for the oddest reasons. My wife and I always keep reminding ourselves that we simply drive the bus. People get on, people get off. But, so often, people get off before arriving at their destination.

The church seems to be filled with wanderers instead of sojourners. A wanderer is someone who moves from place to place, without a fixed course, aim or goal. A sojouner, is one who stays in a certain location, but as a temporary resident. It’s true, we are only visiting this planet, but we should not be aimless wanderers. Instead, we should remain in one place, growing in that place, and learning all we’re supposed to learn in that one place. But, many in the church today wander from one place to another. The reasons for the wandering are many, but in the end, I do believe the wandering not only hurts the individual, but also hurts the overall body.

As I spoke with my Pastor friend we reflected on the life of Moses. He was the man who led the people of God out of Egypt. He was supposed to lead them into the Promised Land, but, that didn’t work out so well. One day Moses struck a rock twice because he was frustrated with the people and God told him because of his frustration, he would not enter the Promised Land. As a matter of fact, none of the generation Moses was leading would enter the Promised Land. Instead, it was up to him to lead the wandering people around the desert for 40 years, until that generation died off, so the new generation of sojourners would in turn enter into the Promised Land.

Wow! Think about that for a minute or two. Moses knew he would not enter the Promised Land. But, as a leader, he stuck with his assignment, became a sojourner in the desert, so he could point the next generation in the way they should go.

I believe this is a lesson not only every leader should learn, but many of the wanderers of today should also learn. Too often we toss in the towel and complain, and we don’t even ultimately know how the journey will go. Moses knew the outcome of his journey, but he remained faithful and sojourned in the desert, pointing the way to the Promised Land.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

This writing thing is really very interesting. As I mentioned in an earlier blog entry I’m currently reading a devotional book entitled A Year with Thomas Merton. The entry I just read seems so relevant, and yet also so irrelevant to my life. While Merton writes he is starting to read the book of Job, I am not even thinking of reading that book. It’s not that the book of Job is a waste of time, for it’s really far from that. I’ve spent time reading Job before and find it all very fascinating. However, at this point in my journey, it’s not really a book I feel like reading. So, in that respect, the reading was rather irrelevant.

However, in the same entry Merton talks about his writing. Should he continue to write, or should he stop writing. For in the end, he really is a writer, so what else is there for him to do. He even makes mention of possibly having paper and pen buried with him so he can in turn continue writing, even after he dies.

This whole line of thinking once again stirred in me the desire to write. For there are times when I do little writing, but even when I’m doing little writing, there’s still writing coming out in the form of those pesky little post it notes all over the top of my desk. Sometimes it’s not even post it notes. I find myself jotting down little thoughts here and there and randomly sticking them under a coaster I have sitting on the corner of my desk. The notes build and build and while I sometimes do little with them, they’re still there. At times they seem to call out to me as young children do when they want to be encouraged to grow. I guess one day the little notes may just grow up into full blown articles, or dare I say it, even a full blown book or two, or even more. But for now, the notes sit stuffed here and there.

Jotting down some thoughts.

Even if they don’t become more, I do believe it’s important for us to jot down those random thoughts we find along the way. I do believe they help us sort through this journey we call life. For many, those thoughts may never see the light of day. But, in the end, I believe they’re an important guide along the way helping us sort through life, emotions, and even problems or situations along the way.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

It seems this afternoon was filled with tech support conversations. It all started with a problem of not connecting to the Internet at all. That was followed by the discovery that my godlaughs.net domain does not seem to be working.

The good news is, my Internet connection problems were solved. The somewhat bad news is, my godlaughs.net site still seems to be down. First I spoke with one tech support person, then I sent an email to another tech support person. They keep telling my someone is pointing to the wrong IP address. I have a hard enough time remembering how to spell some domain names, let alone figuring out what to do with all those really strange IP numbers. But alas, hopefully it will all be sorted out soon.

All this IP talk of pointing the domain to the right place reminded me of how many people think they need to connect with God. It can all seem very confusing to someone not up on all the Christian hype, lingo and clichés. Why is it humankind likes to complicate so many simple things. The “keep it simple” rule really does work.

When wanting to connect with God, all we need to do is talk. While it’s true sometimes we wonder if Anyone is listening, we can rest assured He is. In the end, as we journey through this life, we do indeed discover He is easier to connect with than we think, and we don’t need an IP address to figure it all out.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

Another weekend has almost finished once again. While some live for the weekend, many live for the week. Living for the week means looking for opportunities to encourage those around us with words of hope we may have received over the weekend.

Today we visited another church in the area. The speaker was very uplifting and he reminded us of the importance of looking at the areas in our lives where we’ve tasted of the refreshing waters of a great well. For whatever reason, many old wells become filled in with the distractions of life. When this takes place, we become not only frustrated, but we also lose touch with our foundation. The foundation is always what one builds on in order to move forward in our purpose and destiny in life.

As I wind down yet another weekend, and another night, I’m meditating on what wells in my life need to be re-opened, cleaned out, and re-claimed. My prayer is, that you will do the same.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus

I just finished watching qualifying for the Nextel NASCAR race at Bristol. The race is set for tomorrow night, but now the starting grid is set for the race. They’re on a short track this week and that means a lot of bumping, grinding, rubbing, and racing. It also means short tempers with, at times, helmets and yes, even fists flying. For the drivers, it’s all in a days work as they go fast and turn left.

Sometimes in this journey we call life we get a little wound up and it seems all we’re doing is going fast and turning left. Tempers can flair as we bump into one another and sometimes even get out of control. Many times we simply add to our stress level as a result of not willing to slow down to either let the other guy go past, or reflect on what God might be trying to teach us in the moment.

As I wrap up another day, I’m trying to slow down for a few minutes to ponder the events of the day, and yes even the week. Maybe this should be a weekend set aside for contemplation, instead of simply going fast and turning left.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus