learning to fish

Finding God is Like Learning to Fish

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Finding God is Like Learning to Fish

I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

Proverbs [8:17]

When I was twelve, I lived in a very rural part of central Massachusetts. Our home was surrounded by farms and streams. A very pastoral setting. I was also of the age where I could roam without parental supervision. And with my brother, we roamed the streams and countryside. Discovering remote places and quiet settings where few would walk.

Over time, my brother and I started thinking about fishing. So with our money from cashing in bottles and doing odd jobs, we got fishing licenses, rods, reels, and all the stuff needed to fish. Our first attempts were weak and produced very little results.

But we loved roaming around and would spend hours discussing how to get better. We talked to the locals to find the right bait and whenever we saw someone fishing, I would ask lots of questions.

And we got better with most trips producing results. We discovered that the further away from roads you got, the more productive the fishing holes. We learned to let our line drift into the quiet shady pools, where the water didn’t run fast. We discovered that in front of dams, whether man-made or by beavers, were great places as well. We looked for places just next to the current and had good hiding places for the trout. Over the three years we lived there we learned a lot and diligently scoured the countryside to find fish.

As time wore on, in my twenties, when I lived in the rural parts of Maine. I fished on my days off with my friend Steve. We would go to the remote parts of Maine looking for streams that were just right; off the beaten path, wide enough for fish to live and had shade covered pools.

They were wonderful places to sit and feel gentle breezes on our faces. Quiet solitude where we fished and discussed the intricacies of the fishing holes we visited. Sometimes, it would take a couple of miles of walking to find just the right place. But the journey itself was as enjoyable as the fishing.

As life got busier, with a family and growing career responsibilities I put my fishing poles away.

This past summer, when I hiked a large part of the Appalachian Trail, I rediscovered my love for finding fishing places. When Connie and I would walk by a stream, I would search to see if there was a good fishing spot. Invariably each day we would find one. Not that we carried fishing equipment, but just to look and see if we spot some trout. And we did a lot.

As we hiked, we would say, that’s a good spot, and look to see if we could spot a trout facing upstream, and stationary. Its camouflaged body staying very still, with its back fin waving back and forth just enough to keep the fish from going backward with the current.

What I had learned decades ago was still present and not forgotten. Recently, Connie and I got our licenses and fishing gear, and are heading out to find those streams similar to the ones of my youth.

During my studies to get my Doctorate degree, I discovered two types of Theologians. There were those who studied God and Theology. And those who were trying to discover God. Now you might ask isn’t that the same thing? Well, actually it is very different. Studying God is an academic pursuit and while it is a critical activity, it isn’t the same as trying to find God. Most of these students would go on to be teachers. Finding God is more pastoral and the study of where you will find God. Learning this, hopefully, helps others in the future. Many of these students went on to ministry.

I love today’s verse because it is the essence of finding God. It has two simple statements that show us what is required to find God. Let’s reread the verse; I love those who love me, And those who diligently seek me will find me. The first requirement is to love God. To be desirous of finding God and learning about God. The second is to diligently look for God.

My experience is that most people love God, pew research states that ninety percent of people believe in God, and two-thirds want a relationship with God. The second part is the hardest, that of being diligent.

This isn’t about where God is, but more about our attitude in how we search for God. In other words, God is in different places for different people. And more likely God is found in a very intimate and personal place that is different for each person.

This is somewhat like fishing. I always liked Brook Trout or Brookies. Others like bass, ocean fishing, or large lakes. It is more about being diligent in discovering God, like fishing. You have to be willing to go to places that are hard to get to. Not because God is playing hard to get, but is found in places in which we have to put in the effort.

Doing this makes the effort far more personal and intimate. God wants to be found, but God wants to be found in a memorable way.

Like my early fishing life, trial and error produce results. And so it is with our search for God. The journey to God is almost as important as finding God.

For myself in my life; I have found God in a hotel parking lot, through my grandmother, and on a quiet bench under a streetlight. Each time I vividly remember each step I took and the events. Not that this means I am better than others in finding God. But like fishing, I passionately and diligently journeyed towards God, with a lot of mistakes along the way.

And you don’t have to study Theology to find God, you simply have to love God and diligently look for God. There is no prescribed time frame and no roadmap. Each person’s journey is very different and very personal.

This is not something to overthink, rather it’s being passionate in our journey. You will discover God by observing and searching, not on a map.

God wants to be found in a memorable way.

Listen to the Full Podcast – Finding God is Like Learning to Fish

 

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

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river jordan

Crossing Our River Jordan

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The River Jordan and Being Courageous With Your Faith

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

Joshua stands in front of the River Jordan as God’s newly appointed leader of the Israelites who left Egypt over forty years earlier. God has asked that he lead the Israelites to the promised land of milk and honey, across the River Jordan.

Many years earlier, Joshua as a young man, stood on these same banks and was part of a group sent by Moses to investigate and see if it was safe to cross the River Jordan. Joshua, and a man named Caleb, advised Moses that they should proceed across the River Jordan, but others convinced Moses they shouldn’t cross. The others told Moses there were too many obstacles to overcome and they would die on the other side even though crossing the river meant going to the place that God told them was their promised land. The Israelites refused and even began wondering if they should have left Egypt in the first place!

So God left them wandering in the wilderness for forty more years and each year members of the original group died without receiving God’s promise. After forty years the only people that remained of the earlier group were their descendants, Moses and Joshua and as they approached the River Jordan for the second time, Moses knew he would not be going to the promised land. Moses would see the promised land, but he would die on top of a mountain that overlooked God’s gift.

Joshua stood on the banks of the River Jordan, getting ready to lead the Israelites across. There was to be no investigation of the other side, just Joshua’s belief that God would protect the faithful, as he had seen God do many times before in the previous decades. As Joshua left to cross the mighty river, he had God’s simple directions; Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

This second crossing was very dangerous. The River Jordan was flowing at flood stage and would be difficult for the Israelites to cross. God told Joshua to have the priests go first and carry the Ark of the Covenant, and when the priests stepped into the water, the raging waters of the River Jordan stopped, leaving a path for the Israelites to cross.

This group of Israelites was much stronger in their faith than their predecessors; they crossed over and settled the land. Although they faced many obstacles in their settlement, God protected them and was true to the promise he made to Joshua; for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. This faith allowed them to reside in the promised land of milk and honey.

At this point you may ask why didn’t the first group trust God and cross over when they had already seen many of God’s miracles. On their journey from Egypt, God had Moses part the Red Sea and released them from Pharaoh and He gave them manna from heaven to eat and produced water from stones. Despite all God had done for them, they allowed their human fears, of great danger and doom of the unknown, prevent them from crossing the River Jordan. They made up stories to defend their position about people who were giants on the other side and allowed their humanness to swamp their faith in God.

For many the River Jordan is both historical and symbolic. Over the years many have used this story to inspire themselves to move over their River Jordan. In fact, when you look up the River Jordan in Wikipedia, part of the description is about its symbolism.

This story easily extends to future readers of the bible to imagine and connect with their own life challenges. This story is about being brave with your faith and trusting God so we aren’t left wandering in our own wilderness but are released from our bondage.

So while we can wonder why the first group didn’t trust God and cross the River Jordan, shouldn’t we also focus on our own personal crossing of the River Jordan? What is it in our own lives that is our current River Jordan? Is it a delayed call to a friend to apologize? Is it a long put off task? Perhaps it is something bigger, like drug addiction or alcoholism. Maybe a nasty bad habit.

Whether it is large or small, not crossing our personal River Jordan leaves us in our personal wilderness, like those who first approached the River Jordan. We know what we must do, but don’t believe we are brave enough or courageous enough to cross. In those moments we forget the promise of God; to not be afraid; to not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

This is the point of faith; not letting our fears swamp over our trust in God. This is simple to think and say; or even to advise others. But when we are standing on the shore of our River Jordan, even at flood stage; the decision to move across is deeply personal and unique to each of us.

Inevitably it means letting go and just crossing. It means remembering the times God was with you in the past. Sometimes it takes a friend to encourage you. The River Jordan must be crossed, or we are left wandering in our personal wilderness adrift from God.

Ironically, the moment you cross over, you immediately feel relief and are rid of your fears. Many times you may be left thinking what was the fuss all about. This crossing strengthens and revitalizes us. Most importantly we will know God was with us.

And this is the essence of our relationship with God; letting our fears go to accept God’s promised land of milk and honey.

Listen to the Full Podcast – Crossing Our River Jordan

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

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year with jesus

Jesus Asks Us to Follow Him

Jesus Asks Us to Follow Him

“As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

Matthew [4:18]-20

When Jesus calls us to follow him, it means a giving up of those illusionary things that we believe gives us a purposeful life. However, in following Jesus we begin to create a purposeful life that is not illusionary. We give up things that bind us and create a false want. We give up a chasing of material things that only temporarily soothe us. We acquire a different perspective on what is important. When we follow Jesus the ways of the world dim, replaced by the truer life of being a disciple. Fear of scarcity is replaced with hope, love, and faith.

Points of Reflection

  • What limits us from following Jesus completely?
  • What changes could we make in our lives that free us to follow?
  • What is our most important possession?

Listen to the full podcast

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ephesians

Christians, Get Along with Each Other!

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Christians, Get Along with Each Other!

Epistle to the Ephesians

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2

If I had to sum up the message of Ephesians, I would say that it is for Christians to get along with each other. Not just socially, but also in the church and with family. The starting point for why this letter was written is once again; for the newly converted gentile Christians and Jewish Christians in the 1st century to get along. While this theme keeps getting repeated in Paul’s letters, it provides a great example that is more universal than just the dispute between these two groups. In a way, these disputes act as an example of how we should all get along. In other words, we shouldn’t just look at the dispute between the gentile Christians and Jewish Christians as isolated and act amused at their inability to get along. Rather, we should look at our lives and see where we have created barriers with others, just because they are different.

But before we get too far in this discussion of Ephesians, there are two critical items regarding authorship and its date; and who the letter is written to we should discuss.

First, many scholars do not believe that this letter was written by Paul, but by a devoted student of Paul’s. The reason is the letter isn’t written with Paul’s normal literary style. Things like greetings and very personal well wishes are not as prevalent. But we should also know that in the first century, this was very common for a student to write in a teacher’s name. So, while in the 21st century this might be considered a bit shady, in the 1st century this was very acceptable and encouraged. So, if this is true than the letter was probably written around 80AD.

The reason for bringing this up; is that some people might feel that this is an inferior writing because of this issue. But the letter, by itself without this interesting quirk, was highly regarded by the early church leaders and thus its inclusion in the New testament. Because of the completeness of its message, I completely agree it is a very helpful letter for all Christians, regardless of this small quirk.

Another item, while the title is the Ephesians, I view this as an open letter to all churches and Christians. In other words, just take the word Ephesians and substitute your own church name. It will still apply. The reason for this thought is that the letter contains no reference to the church in Ephesus in its content. Thus causing me to think that it’s message is far more universal than just one church in Asia Minor.

So let’s turn to the opening verses in chapter 5, where it says, Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. So, what I see here is the attitude that is expressed, to walk in love as Christ loved us. What a wonderful sentiment! To just imitate Christ in all that we do.

So what does this mean? It doesn’t matter if we are a Yankee Catholic or a Southern Baptist. What matters is our desire to lovingly commune with all people with God through Jesus.

It also doesn’t mean to value each other differently based on our own special gifts. In other words, because one person is a banker and another is an author, that either is better. The most important thing is that we value each other as Christian.

We see this in chapter 4, verse 1-2 it says; As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

In other words, what we do and who we are isn’t as important as we how we treat each other. If you go into a business and meet the CEO and a dock worker, we are asked to treat both with humility, gentleness, patience, and love.

So, this is the primary message of this wonderful book in the Bible. As Christians, we should all get along with each other.  

Now another place we need to go, and it’s quite controversial; is Ephesians [5:21]-23, where it says; Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. The interpretation of these verses has led to a lot of harm over the years.

Some men have used the words, Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as a source of domination, while ignoring the words, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. This is called Versification. Or in other words when we take selected words to support our behavior, instead of putting them together with other verses to understand their global meaning. This is very important. We always have to be careful in using the Bible to justify our behavior. Instead, use the Bible to form our behavior.

So my position on this controversial verse, is that I should treat my family out of reverence for Christ. I know there are some who will want to drag me back into the submission piece, but I feel my primary goal is one of love and not to have others dominated.

Finally, the last message of Ephesians is to stay strong in Christ. In chapter 6-13 it says, Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Another reminder of the purpose of faith. That we will all be tested, but keep to your beliefs and faith. And while things may be rough for a while, not giving in to evil or doubt will keep you safe. So while this statement doesn’t appear to fit with the theme of getting along as Christians, it does fit in with the theme of our Christian conduct. Which is still the overarching message of Ephesians.

This book is personally one of my favorites, as it gets to the point and is clear in its message of Christian conduct.

Read Ephesians with the knowledge, the writer wants us to all get along and put Christ first.

Listen to the Full Podcast – Christians, Get Along with Each Other!

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Photo by Chris Flexen on Unsplash

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pleasing god

Paul and Pleasing God

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On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

1st Thessalonians 2:4

Paul sits in Corinth having been joined by his student, Timothy and writes a letter to the church in Thessalonica. The date is sometime between 50AD and 52AD. Paul is currently in the middle of his second missionary journey. The letter Paul writes is likely the first of all his great letters.

Since Paul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus, he has spent three years in the wilderness; met with Peter and the early church in Jerusalem; waited in Taurus for a way to help spread the good news about Jesus; finally called to work with Barnabas in Antioch, and then complete his first missionary journey. And now he is in the second of his three missionary journeys to spread the Good News of Jesus. A time frame that has spanned around fifteen years.

Paul has endured a lot and his trials along the way have become legendary. Now, he sits peacefully in Corinth. Timothy has returned from Thessalonica with good news about the church they helped create. Paul is overjoyed and relieved; his work is bearing fruit. Through his many struggles and travels, he has worked very hard to spread the message about Christ throughout the Gentile world, now it seems it has been worth the effort.

Now begins the time Paul uses his extraordinary literary skills and writes the Letter to the Thessalonians. The first of many that would not only encourage and help those he visited but resonate throughout the ages for many others. These letters would become his other mission. Letters so skillfully written that their messages are still relevant for Christians centuries later.

Out of joy, Paul writes to the Thessalonians. A message so infused with heartfelt expressions,  as the reader, you can feel this joy spring forth. We have all had this moment in our lives. When we have worked hard and seen the fruits of our labor. A place of silent satisfaction, knowing that we have achieved something so personally important, we sit with a joy that is hard to contain. This is where Paul was for this moment.

The letter doesn’t really contain any deep theological pronouncements, rather it is a to the point reminder of the basic values of Christianity. Kind of a primer that lays out the basics.  But in chapter 2:4; Paul makes a radical statement for that time that is easily overlooked when reading 1st Thessalonians. It says; On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

The critical statement of; we are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts, is a critical point about what it takes to be a good Christian. In all that we do or say; it should be pointed to please God.

Now for 21st century Christians, this might seem obvious and rather simple. But consider the 1st-century reader, who lived in a world controlled by kings and emperors, freedom of whom to please was minimal.

Beyond its basic point of whatever we do, we should do to please God; this was a revolutionary and new concept for the Gentile community. A radical departure from serving and pleasing masters or emperors. The statement is a dramatic reorientation of their minds as to whom they serve. An extraordinary change in mindset from how they were living.

In part, this direction stated by Paul directly led to the persecution of Christians that would last for almost another three hundred years.

To turn away from worshipping the Roman gods or the emperor, who was considered a god, meant in some way, treason. In later years, Christians would be challenged to show their loyalty by pinching incense to prove their loyalty to the Roman gods and the emperor. Their reluctance to do this put them at odds with the ruling authorities and sometimes cost them their lives. Yet many did try to please God first. Their bravery propelled the growth of Christianity forward to today.

What about us in the 21st century, we certainly have more freedom of choice in what we do and how we think? What can we take from this letter? Well many of us don’t have to publicly bow down to an emperor or masters. Instead, we have to fight off those internal temptations of life that move us away from God.

For us there are different things; power, money, and fame that lure us away from God. Things of life are put in front of us than bend our values. Causing us at times to rationalize our intentions. Forcing us to internally calibrate our real motives.

This doesn’t mean we should not try to be successful or to work hard to provide for our families. Instead, it means that in all we do we should do as to please God and not our human desires.

The pursuit of those positive things of life and pleasing God, we shouldn’t view as separate, but as interlinked. We should show passion for being our best. We should try to be the best parent, spouse, friend, partner, tradesperson, or businessperson we can be. But this doesn’t mean we can’t connect these efforts to pleasing God as well. Rather our mission is to do both.

Paul is asking us in this letter, not to be the best at pleasing others, rather please God while being the best person we can be. It is a higher calling than just existing successfully, but to exist successfully with God’s values.

Now we should also remember, sometimes when we seek to first please God, we will lose in the short term. And this is the point of faith, knowing and believing that pleasing God will at times give us short term losses, but over time long term benefit.

Pleasing God is an important message of Paul to the Thessalonians, which also applies to us in the 21st century. This is an important and foundational principle of Christianity; to please God in all that we do, say, and think. The more we practice this principle, the easier it becomes.

By the way, God is easier to please than some people.

Click here to listen to the podcast

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

 

Photo by Senzekile Msomi on Unsplash

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finding hope

Finding Hope and Love; Not Fear through the Coronavirus

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There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John [4:18]

A friend of mine said they were tired of listening to all the news about the Coronavirus, it was making him fearful. When I probed a little deeper to find out why; I discovered that during the day it was all he watched on television. Because he was now working at home; he had left the television on to get the latest news.

He had become obsessed with knowing everything he could about the virus. Over and over all day he heard terrible stories of despair. Leaving him on Friday’s exhausted and fearful. Well, we all know the cure for this, stop watching the news all day. Easy to say, but hard to do.  If you went to any mental health professional they would give you this advice, limit your watching the news to thirty minutes a day and try to watch at the same time each day.

Now beyond the obvious mental health benefit from this suggestion, it will also let other positive things appear, that had previously been blocked by the obsessive binge watching. Especially the positive of life. And more importantly, the positive things of heroism and joy that are sprouting up throughout our country and the world. Things you won’t find on TV, but they exist.

For instance, consider that there are over one hundred companies hunting down a vaccine, therapies, and better testing to wipe out the effect of the Corona Virus. Heroic people working through the night; many who haven’t had a day off for weeks.

Motivated to help, these people are passionately pursuing a way out with intense fervor. Everyday people who have the tools and education, working for humankind. They don’t fear failure, they are on a mission to help.

Despite what the news is telling us that a cure is eighteen months away, they actually hope it will happen far earlier. This past week, a new therapy was discovered in Chicago that showed wonderful results in rapidly reversing the effect of the virus. Likewise, in Great Britain, the leading scientist on vaccines, Dr. Sarah Gilbert, has stated that she is eighty percent sure she will have a vaccine available by September.

Many of the drug companies are doing this as a non-profit effort.

Also, consider the health care workers, who on the front line of this great struggle. Many working and staying at hospitals because they can’t go home. They stay day after day, because this what they trained to do, and this is the work they have to do.

In Great Britain, they asked for volunteers to help the vulnerable, over a quarter of a million people immediately signed up.

In Yorkshire, a ninety-nine-year-old army veteran is walking ten laps a day to raise money to fight the virus. His goal was to raise one thousand pounds, instead, his efforts have gone viral and he has actually raised the equivalent of twenty-three million dollars.

John Krasinski, you know him as Jim from the office,  has started a YouTube channel that is called Some Good News. His channel uplifts viewers and gives hope. Today, John has close to two million people viewing his channel. If you want to be uplifted; click this link and off you go to hear stories of human kindness; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5pgG1M_h_U.

In Rio De Janeiro, the famed Christ the Redeemer statue that stands above the city is illuminated with a health worker uniform and has thank you inscribed on the bottom.

On Easter morning New York City, the hardest hit by the Coronavirus, a rainbow appeared across the full horizon.

In Punjab, India, for the first time in decades, the local residents could see the Himalayas. Pollution is down by forty-four percent allowing these great mountains to be seen.

In hospitals around the world, doctors who work with facemasks, have pictures of themselves smiling on their uniforms.

Famous chefs around the globe are giving free cooking lessons on television and YouTube.

Elton John created and delivered a free concert shown from his living room. You can watch via this link; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ptAm_JDZQQ

And there are so many more stories of people trying to help. Just type into Google, Corona Virus good news stories; and you will spend hours reading them all.

These are stories driven by love and not fear. Compassion from the hearts of people trying to give us hope. Not stories of panic, but stories making the world a better place. Stories that drown out the debilitating effect of fear.

In 1st John, John tells us that perfect love drives out fear. That is what is driving the ninety-nine-year-old army veteran to walk every day in his garden. And the world has seen that love, instead of being driven by fear.

The health care workers around the world are more concerned with compassion than fear. They know what they have to do, and they do it. A tremendous walk across the bridge of fear to that of compassionate love. This is what heroism is.

Christ himself on Good Friday walked with his cross not fearful, but out of love for humankind. And that’s the point of John’s simple message. We all have trials in life and for some, there will be many more than they deserve. He exhorts us to not let fear drain us. Instead, let love lift us.

So my friend now loves John Krasinski’s, Some Good News channel on YouTube. The obsessive addiction of needing to hear the national news has been replaced by the uplifting events of humankind trying to help.

Choose today to seek love and not be put in a corner by fear. And sure there is plenty to be fearful of, but far more to admire and love.

Cross the bridge of fear and find love.

Click here to listen to the podcast

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

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