Howzaviz? Aim For The Heart Ramone
July 20, 2009
A Fistful of Dollars – one of the original spaghetti westerns. Clint Eastwood versus the bad guys. In this case, Clint ends up in a deadly confrontation with the evil Ramone.
Ramone has one mantra: “If you want to kill a man, aim for the heart.”
The movie culminates with a classic showdown. Ramone and his evil gang have terrorized the town and taken an old man captive – in order to lure Clint out. Suddenly, a huge explosion causes a massive cloud of dust to fill the air and obscure visibility. And, who should appear in the middle of the street, but the man himself. Poncho, six shooter, cigar.
“Let the old man go.”
Ramone steps into the street and aims his lever action Winchester at Clint’s heart. Boom. Clint falls down, but miraculously gets back up again. Again, boom. Time and time again Ramone pumps lead into Clint’s heart, but Clint keeps on coming.
“Aim for the heart Ramone. If you’re going to kill a man you have to aim for the heart.”
The taunting infuriates Ramone. Finally after all Ramone’s shots are spent, Clint reveals the iron plate he has strapped over his chest – with seven bullet indentations right over his heart. Ramone and his gang are then dealt with once and for all.
This is a great picture of the enemy’s strategy for us – he goes after our hearts. He knows that if he’s going to take you out, he has to take out your heart. If we lose heart we have lost everything. Your heart is the deepest part of you. Your place of deepest conviction. The true essence of who you are. The life of God is found in your heart.
Guard your heart by strapping your self with the truth. The truth of who God is. The truth of who you are. The truth of who your enemy is. Guard your heart by taking time to rest in the Lord. To listen. To drink in His love, His joy, His delight. Guard your heart by discovering God’s heart and knowing His pleasure. Guard you heart by resisting your enemy – engaging in spiritual warfare. Fight back.
Your enemy aims for your heart – guard it.
Proverbs 4:23
“Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
Strength and courage,
David
Howzaviz? Don’t Let The Lies Take Root
July 13, 2009
There we were in an incredible, pristine Costa Rican rainforest. Our biologist guide had led us to one of the most amazing trees I have ever seen – the Strangler Fig. What a diabolical epiphyte. Here’s what it does: Seeds of the strangler fig land in the canopy of a healthy massive rainforest tree – typically in the form of bird crap. (Remember, it all starts with crap.) The seeds begin to take root and send shoots all the way down to the ground around the trunk of the healthy host tree. The shoots take root, drawing nutrients from the soil around the base of the tree, and begin to grow rapidly. The shoots grow and grow until they completely surround the host tree trunk. The tree ends up completely encompassed by the Strangler Fig which chokes the life out of the tree until it dies. A mature Strangler Fig is hollow on the inside where the host tree used to thrive. It is now a hollow representation of the host tree’s former glory.
Wow. This tree is a graphic illustration of the strategy of the enemy in our lives. Jesus told us that Satan is a liar – it’s his native tongue. The enemy attacks us with lies. He plants lies in our hearts through woundedness (crap). If we do not recognize the lies and counter it with the truth, the lies will take root. This is where the trouble starts. Lies that are not dealt with in our hearts will slowly grow and end up choking out the life that God intended for us. We end up a hollow representation of the glory that the Lord called us into.
We need to be aware of the lies that the enemy is trying to plant in our hearts. When we have a thought that is a lie – contrary to the truth of God – we need to deal with it. Don’t believe it. Take it captive and throw it out. Do not let it take root – it will choke out the life that God has for you.
Take your thoughts captive and don’t let the lies of the enemy take root. Don’t put up with his crap.
2 Corinthians 10:5
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Strength and courage,
David
Howzaviz? A Change of Faith
July 6, 2009
What? What do you mean I didn’t get the job? It was mine – they all wanted me to be there. It was perfectly suited to me. How could God do this? And that simple announcement began a change of faith in me. You see, I began to realize that my faith was in “what God would do”, not in “who God is”. Let me explain…
I had graduated from UBC, got married, went to Bible School, moved to Winnipeg to be with my brother and the church in Winnipeg, and was working in business as an Account Executive. However, I had always believed that the Lord wanted me to teach, so I resigned from my position and went back to university to get my teaching degree. For my final practicum I was teaching phys ed, business and history at a high school. I had already volunteered at this school for 3 years and had coached the football team, so the kids, and the Athletic Director, knew me. For my business course I brought in a former client – the founder of Dickie Dee Ice Cream – who put on a seminar on Entrepreneurship, and gave away free ice cream. And, the history teacher who I was working with was retiring that year. All three of the teachers I was working with went to the administration and asked for me to be hired. “Don’t lose this kid.” “Whatever you have to do, do it and hire him.” The history teacher even told the admin to hire me to replace him. So, I thought I was a shoe in for a job at this school. But God had other plans.
I ended up substitute teaching for 6 month before I got a term contract. My heart still jumps when I hear a certain kind of phone ring. However, this was all part of an elaborate divine plan to shift my faith to more solid ground. I think we all know that God doesn’t always do what we think He should. That’s why our faith needs to be in “who He is” not what we think He will do. We must know that no matter what the circumstances may be, He remains the same. He is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, love, truth, life, eternal, immortal, invisible, infinite, merciful, generous, spirit, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and immutable. We can always trust in His great goodness and His good greatness, even though what we see doesn’t make sense. One day it will.
Make sure you faith is built on the rock of who Jesus is. Who He is, doesn’t change.
Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Strength and courage,
David
Howzaviz? Christian Atheism
June 29, 2009
God takes initiative. He actually makes the first move. It is easy, though, in the midst of our lives to think that it all depends on you. You have to make it happen. There is an old adage that says, “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” There is some truth in that. We do have a role to play. However, we must remember that God is alive and engaged. He is not some uninvolved, detached being off in never-never land looking on passively to see if we get it right.
I have realized that it is easy for me to go about my life busily trying to carry all my God-given responsibilities – husband, father, brother, leader, follower – gutting it out, trying to do the best that I can. Sure, I ask the Lord to lead and guide me, to give me wisdom and strength to do what He has asked me to do, but do I really believe that He will move on my behalf without being asked to by me? Or does He only move because I have done something to earn His favour, or catch His attention?
I call this Christian Atheism – knowing Jesus, believing in Him, following Him, but not truly believing that He is alive and well and that He takes initiative in my life. Not truly believing that He loves me and delights in me and that He will be actively involved in my life – by His initiative. Not believing that He will surprise me with His love, and not simply respond to my “faithfulness”.
When I was 9, the Lord miraculously saved my life after I was run over by a car on the highway at Whistler. He broke into my life and called me to follow Him. I didn’t ask for that. He chose me. He initiated this relationship. And, He has continued to take initiative in my life for over 35 years.
He did the same for you. He called you and He continues to call you. He continues to take initiative in your life. He does this because He loves you and delights in you.
Don’t fall into the trap of Christian Atheism – God calls you, He initiates because He loves you. It’s not all up to you.
John 15: 16
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”
Strength and courage,
David MacLean
Howzaviz? Sons, Brothers, Husbands, Fathers
June 22, 2009
We Were Soldiers. There I sat in the plane with my new lap top – complete with DVD player. My new stereo ear phones neatly stuffed into my ears. A long flight ahead of me with a great “man” movie to watch. I put the DVD into my computer and readied myself to watch the movie. As I sat there waiting for the movie to start, I read the DVD jacket – “We Were Soldiers – Fathers. Brothers. Husbands. Sons.”
I felt like the Lord say, “Yes, but wrong order.”
What? What does that mean? “…wrong order.”? As I began to ponder this for a number of months afterwards, I began to realize that there is a God-ordained order to our masculinity. There is a sequence. A progression of sorts. All who we are and all that we do needs to be built on the foundation of our sonship. The basis of who we are as men is our position as beloved sons of God. Everything comes out of that revelation. That validation. That affirmation. We are beloved sons first and foremost – before all else. Even Jesus needed this revelation. Of all the things that His Father could have said to Him at His baptism, the Father chose to affirm Jesus’ position as a beloved son.
There is no way that we can be the brother God has called us to be if we do not understand that we are beloved sons of God. And indeed, we need to understand that we are brothers, because following Jesus is a team game. We need each other to walk with Him in this epic adventure.
We are significantly handicapped as husbands if we do not know how to walk as brothers. We certainly need the support of our brothers in the adventure of marriage. And, we must know how to walk as a husband in the adventure of fatherhood, knowing that one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is a strong marriage.
Notice the sequence: Sons. Brothers. Husbands. Fathers. You are a beloved son above all else.
Galatians 4: 4-7
“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”
Strength and courage,
David MacLean
Howzaviz? What Are You Listening To?
June 8, 2009
July 2007 I bought my first new vehicle. I had always loved the Jeep Wrangler – or TJ, YJ, whatever they called that model. You know the one. It’s a convertible 4×4. My first car was a beat up old Fiat convertible, and since then I’ve been hooked on convertibles, but have never owned another one. I was now firmly a 4×4 guy, so a car was not an option.
Even though I really liked the convertible Jeep, I couldn’t buy one because it was a 2 door. As you know, we have 2 sons so 2 doors was just not practical. However, in 2007 Jeep launched the 4 door convertible Wrangler. Awesome – what a great idea! A 4 door convertible 4×4 – it was made for me. We have had loads of fun and adventures in the jeep with the top down. David and Benjamin even made a wood 50 mm machine gun that they want to mount on the role bar so they can pretend we’re in a military Humvee.
I digress…
As part of the factory package I got a satellite radio in the Jeep. I had never had satellite radio before and was soon overwhelmed by the number of radio stations available. Crazy – there is every kind of radio station imaginable. There is even an “all Elvis” station. All Elvis, all the time.
As I was flipping through the stations one day I began to think about the number of voices competing for my attention. All of them had a message that they wanted to convey to me, and I could choose who I would listen to. I can choose to tune into whatever station I want.
I realized that we have the same choice in the spirit. I can choose to listen to EVIL radio – all lies all the time. Or, I can choose to listen to GOOD Radio – all Truth all the time. I can choose to listen to the lies of the enemy that he attacks me with in his whisper campaign, or I can choose to focus on the truth of God and what Jesus says is true. I think we need to reset the radio station of our hearts regularly to ensure that we are dwelling on the truth, and not just swallowing the lies of the enemy that come to us as “thoughts” that seem so logical.
Which station are you listening to? Are you tuning into the Truth of God, or are you swallowing the lies of the enemy? Make a conscious decision on a regular basis to set the radio dial of your heart on the Truth.
Listen to Jesus. GOOD radio – all the Truth, all the time.
John 10:27
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Strength and courage,
David
Howzaviz? Window or Mirror?
June 8, 2009
What do you do when you first get up in the morning? If you’re like the majority of most men, you head for the bathroom. Now, we all have different priorities at this stage of the game, but at some point in the next few minutes of the day you probably look into the mirror. Am I right? You look at your face – you think about how you’re getting old, or fat, or how you need a haircut, or what a hassle it is to have to shave every day – who knows. The point is this: all of us typically look into the mirror at the beginning of the day.
You need to realize that the mirror only enables you to see two things: yourself and what is behind you. Interesting…
On the other hand, a window is a little different. Our family has the privilege of living in an incredibly beautiful part of the world – lakes, mountains, forests, vineyards, orchards, etc. Our home is situated on a mountainside with a commanding view of Okanagan Lake, the valley, the mountains, forests and the city in the distance. When I look out the window I can not see myself, or what is behind me. However, I do see a much bigger world than the view my mirror affords me. I see the wonder of Gods’ creation. I see the miracle of mountains, the sun, the stars, the clouds, wind, rain, snow, trees, the lake, lawn, shrubs, flowers – things too numerous to mention, but all bigger than me and my world. They speak of a God much greater than I am.
It is important for us, on a daily basis, to look – metaphorically speaking – out the window and not in the mirror. We need to choose to look at who God is and not to focus on ourselves and our own limitations. Too easily we concentrate on ourselves, on our limitations, on our shortcomings and on our past. We need to set our hearts on who God is – His greatness, His glory, His love, His life, His truth, His heart toward us and this world.
Don’t start the day by looking at yourself, your resources, your limitations, your failures, your past mistakes, past patterns – the way things have always been. You will never be enough. He will always be more than enough.
Look out the window, not the mirror.
Colossians 3:1, 2
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Strength and courage,
David MacLean
Howzaviz? Run Away
June 1, 2009
Years ago I was going through a very difficult time in my life. The Lord was “laying siege” to my life and actively cutting off all the things I went to for life apart from Him. I was angry, frustrated, depressed, lonely, afraid and confused. I couldn’t really understand why my life was going so badly. I loved Jesus. I wanted to follow Him. I wanted to serve Him. Why was I feeling so bad? Why did God seem so far away? Why was everything falling apart?
I needed help, so I went up to be prayed for at the end of a morning service. I wanted to meet with God and ask Him to touch me. However, I didn’t receive the comfort I was looking for. I felt like I was being forced to face the pain so I could receive God’s comfort and healing, but He was nowhere to be found. What’s going on? Does God not care? Does nobody care? I was really hurt and angry, so I left. I got in my car and drove away. I didn’t know where I was going, I just left. I did what I had done for years. I ran. If things didn’t work the way I wanted them to, I would withdraw, runaway and try to make it work another way.
I ended up later in the day sitting alone trying to figure out what was going on. As I sat there, this thought came to me: Why do I always run from God whenever I’m hurt of offended? This indicates that I don’t really believe that God is the only source of life. I had believed the lie that I don’t need anyone – including God. This is why I run away when I am hurt.
This was a major revelation for me. I didn’t really believe that Jesus is the only source of life. I needed to ask the Lord to forgive me. I needed to break the power of the lie I had believed – that I need no one, including God. I needed to ask the Lord to heal those deep wounded areas in my heart. And, I needed to keep coming to Him even if He seemed far away. If Jesus is the only source of life, then where else can I go?
Jesus is our only source of life. Don’t run away. Run to Him.
John 6:67-68
“‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'”
Strength and courage,
David
Howzaviz? Recognize Enemy Fire
May 25, 2009
I’m a Clint Eastwood fan. I have seen almost all of his movies – many of them good, and many of them not so good. Heartbreak Ridge is one of those not so good movies, but there is one scene in it that is incredibly profound. I was in the theater years ago watching the movie and the Lord gripped me during this short scene as if to say, “This is a key truth that you need to remember.”
Here’s the scene: Clint is an old US Marine Gunnery Sergeant given the task of whipping into shape a rag tag group of recruits from the wrong side of the tracks. He leads them through an intense training regime to turn them into Marines. At this point in the movie he is leading them on a long run through the hills, and they start to fall back. After they round a corner on the trail, Clint steps out from the bushes behind them and starts firing an AK47 assault rifle at them. They all run for cover and listen incredulously as Clint gives this lesson:
“This is the AK47 assault rifle the preferred weapon of your enemy and it makes a distinctive sound when fired at you – so remember it.”
So where is the big spiritual significance? Here it is: most of the time we don’t realize when we’re under attack from the enemy. We don’t recognize the sound of enemy fire. We think it’s just our emotions, or just a bad day, or that we’re tired…lots of different things.
I was on a walk one time telling the Lord how lousy I felt and asking for help to get out of it. He helped me discern exactly what I was feeling – despair, discouragement and hopelessness. What I was carrying around as a “bad day”, evidenced by me feeling lousy, turned out to be enemy fire. When I identified the “enemy fire” in my life and rebuked the work of the enemy – despair, discouragement and hopelessness – I got free. My emotions shifted.
Now, I am not saying that every negative experience or emotion is the enemy attacking us, but I do think that he wields far more influence in our lives than we recognize. It’s time to be a little bit more alert and recognize enemy fire in our lives.
What is the sound of enemy fire in your life?
I Peter 5:8
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Strength and courage,
David
Howzaviz? The Siege of God
May 18, 2009
Have you ever watched a movie that includes a siege? It was a common tactic during the days of fortified cities and castles. History is filled with some pretty nasty sieges. Braveheart, Return of the King, The Kingdom of Heaven – all have examples of sieges. A siege could take any amount of time depending on how strong the fortifications of the city or castle were, and how significant the stores of food and water were within the besieged fortification.
Now, I am no military historian, but it seems to me that the goals of a siege are fairly simple. 1. Cut off all the sources of supply for the besieged people. Cut off their water. Cut off their food. Cut off their supply lines totally. Cut off everything they need for life. Starve them out if need be. 2. Break down the fortifications and the walls of resistance. Break down the walls that have been built to protect and defend.
Scripture has many examples of sieges. There are examples of the enemies of Israel besieging them, but that’s not all. Isaiah 29:3 indicates that God actually lays siege to us, “I will encamp against you all around; I will encircle you with towers and set up my siege works against you.”
What? Why on earth would God do that? Because He loves us. He wants our wholehearted devotion. He wants to be our only source of life.
I have personal experience with this. You see, God laid siege to my life. He started to cut off things I would go to for life apart from Him. Self sufficiency, approbation, success, accomplishment, leisure distractions, self confidence, gifting, skills, strengths – these were the fortress in which I hid. The Lord loved me enough to lay siege to those things and cut off the life I was getting from them, so that I might turn to Him and find my true source of life.
God wants our whole heart. He wants us to discover true life in Him and He loves us enough to lay siege to us and cut off sources of life that are not true life from Him. You may be in the midst of the siege of God. Surrender to Him. Pull down your defenses that you hide behind. Drink from His waters of life – not ones that you have created. He wants you to find true life in Him.
The siege of God leads to life. Surrender to God. Find your life in Him.
Jeremiah 2:13
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
Strength and courage,
David
Give Me Your Backpack
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
May 11, 2009
After graduating from UBC with a Commerce and PE degree, Anne and I got married, went to Bible School and then moved to Winnipeg to be with my brother and the church in Winnipeg. I worked in business as an Account Executive, but had always believed that I was to teach. So, after a few years I resigned my position and went back to university to get an Education degree. This marked the beginning of a very profound period in my life.
While at the University of Manitoba getting my Education degree I started a prayer and Bible study group with Christians in the faculty. During one of those meetings I had my first vision.
I saw myself hiking up a mountain wearing a great big backpack. I came to a fork in the path. One path went straight up the mountain, and the other went down into the valley. However, it wasn’t the paths that caught my attention – it was Jesus. He stood at the fork in the path holding a climbing rope and a climbing axe. He held them out to me and said, “Give me your backpack, all you need are these.” My first thought was, “I can’t give you my backpack. Everything I need for this trip is in there.”
The vision ended.
As I began to unpack the vision the Lord helped me to understand what He was saying. The rope represented the Word of God. The climbing axe represented the Holy Spirit. The back pack represented all the things that I believed I needed to accomplish during my life in order for me to be considered “successful”.
What did I think I needed to accomplish in order to be a success? A beautiful house in a beautiful neighborhood. Nice vehicles. Meaningful work. A good income. Enough money to give away lots. Cool family holidays. World mission travel. A good reputation in the community. Influence and favour in the community. A ministry that makes a difference for the Kingdom.
The Lord was calling me to lay all of these hopes and dreams down and walk with Him – relying on His Word and the Holy Spirit. It took me two years to come to the point of surrender. At the time I was teaching in a private Christian school making $2,000/month. We were raising a family on one income, and none of my hopes and dreams seemed remotely possible. Jesus had to be enough.
What’s in your backpack? Will you give it to Jesus? Is Jesus enough for you?
Matthew 16:24-26
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?'”
Strength and courage,
David
Howzaviz? I Am Your Provider
May 4, 2009
No. No? No. You’ve got to be kidding! There I stood on crutches, with a broken leg, at the counter of the unemployment insurance office. I had just been informed that I do not qualify for unemployment insurance benefits. It was the summer between 3rd and 4th year university. I had worked every summer since grade 12. I did landscape work for the same company each summer and I would make just enough from May through August to pay for the next year of university. Unfortunately I had just broken my leg in 3 places, which now prohibited me from working.
I needed this money. I had not worked long enough to save what I needed for school. I didn’t want debt. I had paid into UI for over 5 years, and now when I needed it I couldn’t get it. I was mad. I was afraid. I was hurt. I turned away from the counter and started to hobble to the door wondering, “What on earth was I going to do now?”
In that moment I heard the Lord very gently whisper into my heart, “I am your provider, not the government.” I didn’t really know what that looked like, but I thanked Him and went home.
A number of days later a knock came to my door. When I opened up the door I discovered a gal from our church there. We weren’t particularly close, but knew each other through the house group we attended. It was a little awkward at first, but she then said, “I’d like to give you this.” She handed me an envelope. She went on to say that she had asked the Lord to provide her a car and he provided one for less money than she had saved. He then asked her to give the balance of the money to me. She gave me $1,000.
I was blown away – flabbergasted really. When she left I sat down and wept.
I learned that day that God is faithful. He provides. He cares. He showed me that I can trust Him. I can lean on Him when all else seems to fail.
You can lean on Him too. You can trust Him. The Lord is your provider.
Philippians 4:19
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Strength and courage,
David
Howzaviz? Bart Was Not a Blind Man
April 27, 2009
There he sat at the side of the road. Alone. Abandoned. Rejected. Reviled. Poor. Pitiful. Blind. Begging. Hopeless. Helpless.
Helpless? Maybe not…
Even though Bart was blind, he could see. He could see opportunity. And, his hearing was good. He heard a commotion – it sounded like a large group of people walking past where he was sitting. So, he grabbed someone and asked what’s going on.
“Jesus is passing by.”
Bart had heard the stories. He had heard that this Jesus was doing incredible miracles. He saw his opportunity and he took it. He started yelling at the top of his lungs, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Finally, Jesus heard him and told his disciples to bring the yelling man over.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
“I want to see.” Bart said.
Jesus healed his blindness, and Bart followed Jesus.
We can learn a lot from Bart – a.k.a. Bartimaeus. Even though he was blind, he was not so blind as to miss his chance at freedom, healing and deliverance. He was not half-hearted in his pursuit of Jesus. He yelled at the top of his lungs. And, when people told him to sit down and shut up, he yelled even louder. He was desperate for Jesus.
You see, I think he understood that Jesus responds to faith. He knew that Jesus passes by us looking for faith, and if he doesn’t find it, he passes us by. And, I think that his prayer is one of the most profound in scripture – “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! I want to see!”
I pray this prayer regularly. Lord, have mercy on me and open my eyes to see the truth of who you are, your heart toward me and this world, who you say I am and the role you have called me to play in this epic adventure…have mercy on me and open my eyes to see what I need to see – the things that I don’t even know exist, because I can’t see them. Open the eyes of my heart.
No, Bart wasn’t totally blind. He saw his need for Jesus. He saw that he needed to passionately and wholeheartedly step out in faith and cry out for mercy to the One who has the power to save and to heal. He saw that he needed mercy. He saw that he needed healing. And, he saw that he was desperate to see.
We can learn a lot from Bart, because we’re blind men too.
Mark 10:46-52
“…When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!…Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, Son of David have mercy on me…”
Strength and courage,
David
Howzaviz? Anchors of Truth
April 13, 2009
Anyone who has done any boating knows that you need to be very aware of the weather before you depart on any outing. If you encounter any kind of hostile weather when you’re out in a boat, you have only a few options: 1. Keep going and ride it out. 2. Find a safe harbour where you are protected from the storm and wait for it to pass. 3. Drop anchor, or tie up to a mooring buoy in a safer place and hold on.
Now, I’m no expert seaman by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ve experienced enough to know that a secure anchor is a critical lifeline in the midst of rough waters. We were “camping” once in a yacht on Okanagan Lake, tied up to a mooring buoy. At night the wind picked up, the lake got rough and if our anchor didn’t hold we would have crashed onto the rocky shoreline. When storms whip up you have to know that the anchor you’re tied to is going to withstand the pounding waves.
The same is true for the storms of life. In the midst of the storms that you’re facing right now, what are the anchors of truth that you’re holding onto? We can not expect to sail through life without storms. They are a reality in this life and we’ve got to have anchors of truth to hold us secure in the midst of the storms. Here are a few anchors of truth that I cling to when I’m experiencing the storms of life:
Jesus won’t give up on you!
Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
You are deeply loved by God!
Romans 8:39 – “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus will take care of you!
Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will provide for all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
God will show you the way!
Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”
Jesus called you, you didn’t call Him – He knows what He’s doing.
John 15:16 – “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name,”
He is bigger than anything you are facing!
Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according His power that is at work in us.”
He knows the plan – you don’t – and it’s good!
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Choose to hang onto God’s anchors of truth. They will hold you secure in the storms of life.
Psalm 27: 13, 14 – I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Strength and courage,
David
Howzaviz? Still in the fight
April 6, 2009
Blackhawk Down. The story of American military involvement in Somalia and a particularly gruesome battle in Mogadishu following a botched raid and the downing of two Blackhawk helicopters. A small group of elite soldiers are pinned down by an overwhelming number of Somali militia. Men are dead. Men are wounded. Those still alive are trapped in a couple locations trying to survive the night, hoping for reinforcements to arrive and rescue them at first light.
A good number of them are huddled together in a location surrounded by the enemy, trying to keep the enemy at bay. They are tired. They are wounded. They are discouraged. They are afraid. Their friends are dead. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. They were better trained than their enemy. Better equipped. It was supposed to straightforward – in and out with minimal issues. This was not the plan.
One wounded soldier begins to give into the pressure to give up hope, to cave into fear and despair. He puts his weapon down. His commander sees this happening and reminds him of his duty to fight for the bigger mission, for his brothers, for himself. He’s not the only one exhausted, afraid and wounded. The commander picks up his weapon, pushes it into his hands and asks him this question:
“Are you still in the fight?”
He slowly takes hold of his weapon and responds, “Still in the fight sir.”
Are you still in the fight? Or, have you given in to hopelessness, fear and despair? Have you put your weapon down? Are you wounded and giving up? We are all battling similar enemies – fatigue, despair, dread, hopelessness, self pity, apathy, diminishment, passivity, resignation, etc. We are all wounded to various degrees and in need of healing.
Pick up your weapon. Wield your will well. Walk in the light with your brothers. Resist the enemy. Meditate on the truth. Commune with Jesus. He is with us. He is for us. Help is on the way. Sometimes though, it’s just hard and we need to resolve to stay in the fight.
Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Still in the fight sir.
Galatians 6:9
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Strength and courage,
David
Howzaviz? Do you believe I can still part waters?
March 31, 2009
HELP!!!!!!!!! Have you ever prayed a deep, guttural prayer that comes out of the pit of your stomach motivated by an overwhelming, paralyzing fear? Well, this was one of those.
Anne and I and our 2 “toddler” sons had recently left Winnipeg to move back to BC. I had been working with the Winnipeg Jets, who were now going to Phoenix. Anne and I believed that the Lord was leading us back to BC. I had spent a lot of time during my last year with the hockey club cultivating an employment opportunity with a Kelowna organization. They had indicated to me that they wanted to hire me to start a program I had presented to them. There were a few details to work out, but they were excited to bring me on. So, with faith in our hearts that the Lord was calling us to Kelowna, and the assurance of this organization that they were intending to hire me, we sold our home and shipped all our belongings to Kelowna. We headed to Langley for a few weeks to stay with Anne’s parents.
After we had been at Anne’s parent’s place for 4 weeks I got the call that the deal was off. I was gutted. Winded. Devastated. How could God let this happen? We were following Him – He was supposed to provide. I went for a desperate prayer walk with the Lord and prayed that gut honest one word prayer – help! I felt like we were the Israelites who had been led out of Egypt only to be trapped at the Red Sea, waiting to be slaughtered by Pharaoh’s economic army.
That’s when the Lord asked me, “Do you believe I can still part waters?”
I knew I had no option. I had to believe that He can still part waters, or we were dead. It was at that point that He told me to start my own company. Through lots of hard work and the faithfulness of God, MacLean Group has been a wonderful blessing for over 10 years. However, it all began with a belief that God still parts waters.
Do you believe that God can part the waters in your situation? He can. Believe and follow Him.
Exodus 14: 13, 14
“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.'”
Strength and courage.
David
Howzaviz? Courage is not a Gift.
March 23, 2009
John Wayne. An iconic man’s man. I remember the first time I saw a John Wayne movie when I was a boy. True Grit. It was the late 60’s and my dad took us to the 17th St. Drive In, in Calgary. We had an old wood paneled Ford station wagon – sleeping bags in the back for when we fell asleep. I’ll never forget watching John Wayne fearlessly gallop across the clearing toward his enemies: the reins of his horse in his mouth, lever action Winchester blasting away in his right hand and his six shooter blasting in his left. Wow. Now that’s a man. Fearless.
At least I thought he was fearless. I have since learned John Wayne’s definition of courage – “Being scared spitless, but saddling up anyways.” It’s been said there are two kinds of people in this world: those who are afraid and those who are afraid. No one is fearless. You see, it’s what we do with the fear that matters. That’s where we separate the men from the boys. Fear is the prerequisite for courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to keep going in spite of it. Courage is not a gift, it is a decision to keep going even though you are afraid.
We all have an equal opportunity to be courageous, because courage is an act of your will. The greatest gift God has given mankind is our ability to choose – our will. Even though you’re afraid, maybe terrified, you can choose to keep going. You can choose to press through your fears. Surrender your fears to God and don’t let them stop you. Press on. If you’re afraid, then you have the opportunity to be courageous.
God didn’t say to Joshua that He would give him courage. He told him to be strong and courageous. In other words, He told him to “choose” to be strong and courageous. Give your fear to God and make a decision to keep moving forward – that’s courage.
Courage is not a gift – it’s being scared spitless, but saddling up anyway.
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Strength and courage.
David
Howzaviz?
March 16, 2009
So there I stood in my scuba gear, waist deep in the Pacific waters of the Gulf Islands, waiting with my instructor as he talked with a another diver who was just coming out of the water. I didn’t hear much of their conversation except for the initial question my instructor had asked – “Howzaviz?” What the heck did that mean? I soon learned that in Scuba lingo, Howzaviz? means: “How is the visibility? How far can you see?” You see, the visibility in water can change quite significantly due to currents, tides, rain, temperature, etc. Before you begin a dive it is helpful to know how far you will be able to see – 2 feet, 50 feet, 100 feet?
I’ve learned over the years that life is like that. Some days it feels like we can see forever. We see the big picture. We’re full of faith and hope. If only everyday were like that… Many days, if not most days, we feel like we’re stuck in cloudy waters. We can’t see very far. We don’t know what’s up ahead – or all around us. We don’t really understand our place in the bigger picture. It can be very disorienting. It can be terrifying. However, I believe God wants to open up the eyes of our hearts so that we can see the hope, the riches of our inheritance and His power that He has for us. Sometimes the waters will be clear, sometimes the waters will be cloudy, but if we’re able to see with the eyes of our heart – with eyes of faith – our vision can be clear in the midst of the our surroundings regardless of how certain or uncertain they may be.
This “e-visional” is the first of what I hope will be many encouraging visionals written to help improve your vision and help you begin to see clearly with the eyes of your heart. To help you see the truth of who God is, who He says you are, and the truth about this life we are invited into. My prayer is that “Howzaviz?” will help open the eyes of your heart so that you can, “… see the hope to which He has called us, the riches of His glorious inheritance in us and His incomparably great power for us who believe…”.
Ephesians 1:18,19
“I pray that the Lord may open the eyes of your heart that you might see the hope to which He has called us, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints and His incomparable great power that is at work in us.”
Strength and courage,
Dave