When you sign up for my newsletter you get a series of emails I’ve prepared with downloads of unannounced gifts and tools to use. I so much like this because it connects me with readers who respond with their questions and comments and let’s me get to know them as well. A friend named Blanca asked if I could post this email so she could put it across her social network. I’m happy to do it. This one brings me the most email comments every day.

The time for living on principle alone is over.

You know what I mean by that?

While the Israelites were wondering in the desert,
they were led by the cloud by day and
kept warm by the pillar of fire by night.
They ate manna every day. God told them
to go out every day and pick enough for that day.

When they crossed the Jordan, the manna stopped.
They had to go up and possess what was promised
to them. They needed to hear God’s plan for every
battle, for every giant, for every encounter.

And God got specific. He said, “walk around the city
once for 6 days and on the seventh day, seven times
and on the seventh, give a big shout and play the
trumpets and the walls will come down…”
yah, that was in every military manual before.

God wasn’t interested in setting down principles.
The principle was “listen and obey.”

The one time they didn’t, they got tricked
and had to compromise with God’s plan.

You and I and us as the church, cannot afford to
compromise with God’s plan. We can’t miss out
what He’s entrusted for us to do.

God told the people of Israel to do ridiculous things.
He told them to do difficult things. He told them to do
impossible things…

…but He also gave them a promise.

Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan
to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger
than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky.
The people are strong and tall–Anakites! You know
about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up
against the Anakites?”  But be assured today that the
LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of
you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will
subdue them before you. And you will drive them out
and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised
you. Deuteronomy 9:1-3 (New International Version)

Did you catch that? When God leads us into the land
he has promised us:

He moves us from Principals to the Principal of Hearing and Obeying.
He asks us to do the impossible.
He does the work, so we can accomplish it quickly.

Aren’t you glad He’s for you, and if He’s for you
who can be against you?

-Trevor

Sign up for my newsletter to learn more

Happy Father’s Day Dads!

It doesn’t matter if this is you’re first one or if you’ve already have great-grand kids, you’ve been entrusted with such amazing gifts.

And you’ve been honored with the name the One has chosen and was favored by the Son.

…Father…

We live in a time when commercials make fun of us and kids don’t automatically respect us and well, know know how it is and you know we don’t complain.

The good dads don’t complain.

They drive and sit and cheer and wait and work and putter and just would like one day to really get after that honey-do list.

But you’re doing good.

Sure, we all make mistakes. Just sitting here blogging as my wife is making breakfast and the dog needs to be walked before the kids wake up is probably one of mine.

But babies bounce, and kids wake up, and people can truly forgive.

I want to leave you with quotes from 2 philosophers. One is the apostle Paul. He said, “…only let us live up to what we already attained.” I think someone reading that needs to hear that today. The second is from the philosopher Red Green who would end his sketch with “We’re in this together. Keep your stick on the ice.”

We’re in this together. Keep Your Stick On the Ice.

I was thinking about Father’s Day this morning and about my dad. He passed away December 2005. I miss him.

But that got me thinking about people who don’t have fond memories about their dad. And then I remembered this short story I wrote years ago. Hope it will encourage someone who reads it sometime.

Reconciliation

By Trevor Lund

Stopping his car a short distance from the house, Tom sat. It was the perfect place to look and remember. The trees had grown considerably and their branches now hung densely over the road.  The noonday sun shot shafts of light through the trees onto the streets making beautiful patterns of dark and light. The shadows played in the breeze.

Peaceful, thought Tom. He watched some local children running with their puppy, as they passed an elderly couple out for a summer’s stroll. They both smiled and waved as the children enthusiastically continued on their journey. Tom caught the couple’s profile and for an instant, and wondered if he knew them those many years ago.

His sight and his thoughts returned to the white house at 123 Elm Road. He was surprised. For years he had pushed this encounter out of the realm of possibility, fearing what he would feel when he saw the house.

Tom was drawn to the little gate in the picket fence, which always squeaked when closing. In his mind’s eye he saw his mother on the veranda, standing on her toes as she yelled after him, “Tommy, make sure you are back in time for dinner!”

“Ya Mom!” He said, not looking back. The gate squeaked as it returned to its resting place.

On this side of the house he could see the kitchen window and could almost smell his mother’s delicious pies cooling in the summer breeze. The aroma always seemed to draw him and a few of the other neighborhood boys back to his house well before it was time for dinner.

Tom didn’t think he would remember his mother’s smile when he returned. He also didn’t think he would remember the tire swing his father put up. That silly swing was still there. He chuckled with amusement. What a time that had been! It didn’t look like it could still hold weight, but it was there, the branch having grown around the rope.

Tom remembered his mom on the ground next to him, trying to convince his father that the first branch was too small to climb. That stubborn old coot was convinced it would hold, but gravity ended up with the final say. That man is as tough as nails, Tom thought, smiling. Didn’t even stop the bleeding before he went back up.

His father found another branch in a more awkward place. Still, the tire was up within the hour.  The older man used the suspended tire to teach Tom how to throw a football. He was so young that at first he had to heave the ball like a shot put. They spent hours out there, his father celebrating his every attempt. That was so long ago, thought Tom; it must be forty or forty-five years.

It was before the funeral, before the house seemed empty, before his father began drinking more than just on social occasions. It was before the constant criticism and before the beatings. Tom had left this now peaceful neighborhood when he was sixteen. He was as angry and as bitter as the drunk who beat him. He even changed his last name to disavow any association with his past, leaving both he and his father alone.

Tom had some unfinished business with his father. He left in a fit of rage and had no contact with him these past 35 years. Up until last year Tom would not allow himself the slightest chance of ever being so close to this house. But last year changed things. All of Tom’s attitudes either immediately or over a period of months were different.

He learned about forgiveness. He experienced the freedom it brought. It made his “on the brink of disaster” marriage exciting and new. He never dreamed he could have such great relationships with his son and daughters and even their spouses. Eventually even the mistrust about his business partner faded. Still, Tom had unfinished business with his father.

As chance would have it, Tom ran into a childhood friend at an airport while he was on a business trip. How they recognized each other Tom would never know. Years before this friend bought his parents’ home, and now he lived just a few doors up from Tom’s father. This friend mentioned that his father was still living there and was always out taking care of the garden. Tom knew then that he had to finish the business with his father.

The place did look great. The sun was shining and the blue sky and cumulus clouds nicely outlined the A-frame roof. The yard looked immaculate. Tom had no idea how someone who drank as heavily as his father could even keep this house, let alone make it look so good. He had to admit he knew very little about the man after having completely isolated himself for so many years.

The shadows from the elm trees played with the breeze as the sun lowered to meet the horizon. Tom had sat there a long time summoning up the courage to venture forth. In the past there was so much hate, so much anger. Tom was relieved that he did not have to push past these feelings, but the hesitation remained.

Tom would have phoned ahead, but about a year ago he tried the old number and discovered a new unlisted one had taken its place. He was actually relieved at the time, but now he was changed.  He could have written his father setting something up, but words on paper seemed so inadequate.

What if his father wasn’t home?

What if someone else answered the door?

What if he was home? What if the old, dark feelings awoke when they met face to face?

Tom swallowed and, saying a quick prayer, reached for the door handle. Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone coming around the house with a big sunhat blocking the face. Tom waited.

The skinny little man hobbled as he dragged a watering hose behind him. With his head to the ground and his back to the road, he first watered the plants next to the house. Then the hose was turned onto the low-lying shrubs closer to the tree with the tire swing. While watering the shrubs, the old man limped over to the swing. He ran his fingers over the grooves. When he looked up to check the fraying rope, Tom saw his face.

That hard face, that face that cursed him and put him down, that face that mocked him and ridiculed him and called him stupid, that face… had tears in its eyes as it surveyed the handiwork of so many years before.

Perhaps it was because Tom was a father; perhaps something more, but in that moment Tom knew what his father was thinking. It was the furthest thing from his mind when he pulled up here a few hours before, but something overwhelmed him and seconds later he found himself running to that little picket gate calling out, “Dad! Dad! It’s me, it’s Tom, Dad! Dad, it’s Tom! I’m here Dad!”

The old man was at first startled. But joy overtook. He threw down the hose and made for the gate as fast as he could. “Tom, my son!” he rejoiced, tears streaming down his face.

It was a miracle. Years of heartache and pain were erased with a single embrace. Tears flowed freely from eyes once hard, offering unspoken confessions and refusing to reserve forgiveness.

The lengthening shadows played in the breeze and the gate squeaked as it returned to its resting place.

Does God Really See Value in Everyone?

The question becomes more powerful when we ask: Does God see value in me?

Look at some of the people God saw the value in:

• Moses stuttered.
• David’s armour didn’t fit.
• John Mark was rejected by Paul.
• Timothy had ulcers.
• Amos’ only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
• Jacob was a liar.
• David had an affair.
• Solomon was too rich.
• Abraham was too old.
• David was too young.
• Peter was afraid of death.
• Lazarus was dead.
• John was self-righteous.
• Naomi was a widow.
• Paul was a murderer.
• So was Moses.
• Jonah ran from God.
• Miriam was a gossip.
• Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
• Jeremiah was a bullfrog;
• Just kidding — he was depressed and suicidal.
• Elijah was burned out.
• Martha was a worry-wart.
• Mary may have been lazy.
• Samson had long hair.
• Noah got drunk, and that’s not all.
• Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?

Have you ever noticed that God’s opinion of us matters more than what we do?

Need proof?

Look at God’s opinion of Sarah. Peter uses her as an example:

…like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 1 Peter 3:6 (New International Version)

Do you remember what she actually did?

Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”

Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Genesis 18:11-16 (New International Version)

Isn’t grace amazing?

You haven’t messed up so much He can’t make it right. The mistakes you’ve made and even the sin you’ve committed can and will be redeemed. He’s not about to hold what you’ve confessed and He’s forgiven against you.

So dare to dream again. Dare to live once more.

I’ll be sharing resources at Life Above the Negativity to help you.

Writers need encouragement.

Since I’m getting ready to launch Hope In Transition, I’m on the look out for writing advice and encouragement. I’ve found some great help around doing up e-books. Since I have so many ready to go, I’m excited to see what comes of it.

I came across this video and was blown away with what the speaker says. She describes my writing experience with the Holy Spirit. Even though she uses different language and comes from a different perspective, she’s come upon some powerful truth.

Now consider the advantage we have as creative types, since we have the Holy Spirit.

Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?
2 Corinthians 3:8 (New Living Translation)

Be encouraged to be creative, knowing God is working through you.

Blessings
Trevor

P.S. This Sunday I’m speaking on “How To Get the Good God Has For You”. There are too many Scriptures to get to in the sermon, so I’ll be posting my sermon notes here next week.  There will be a lot of posts, so be forewarned. I’ll be setting up a new category. Yes, it will eventually be available on RevTrev Radio.

While I was setting up HopeInTransition.com, the speakers invite and RevTrev Radiothis week,

It’s natural for a parent to do everything they can for their child. What happens when your 16 year old son is diagnosed with MS around the same time a possible new treatment is emerging?

With all the controversy in Canada with the Zamboni Liberation Treatment to relieve CCSVI or chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, an Edmonton mother took her son to Merida, Mexico for tests and the procedure.

Find out the results of the treatment on one so young, who was just beginning to experience early onset of MS. I don’t think my sister will mind me sharing this with the world.

Hi everyone,
It’s been a great day for us in Mexico.  The sun is finally shining after tropical storm Alex and Parker’s recovery is well underway.
Twenty-four hours after the procedure and here’s where he’s at:

• Sensation in hands – 90%
• Sensation in feet – 100%
• Overall Sensation – he could feel the temperature of the water in his shower today – this is huge!
• Strength has improved dramatically – the neurologist put him at a 1.0 on the ten point scale of MS – on Monday he was at a 2.5.
• Walking – we walked quite a bit today and his legs didn’t give out – he was even taking stairs two at a time just because he could
• Noticeable decrease in fatigue
• Appetite – the teenage boy is back!  It was just fun to watch him eat – I don’t remember the last time he ate 3 complete meals in one day.
• Heat sensitivity – still there but noticeably decreased
• Mood – it’s been a day of smiles
• Pressure in his head – gone!

Tonight we had the privilege of having supper with our host and the next candidate for the liberation procedure, who is also Canadian.  He shared with us his story and it confirmed two distinct things for me:

1)  It was an absolute act of God that we got Parker in for this treatment now when the stage of the disease is early and

2)  as Canadians we need to fight to get this treatment for everyone with MS – not just those who are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to access it outside of Canada. We have met a lot of pioneers (aka heroes) this week but there are so many others that need to meet them too.

Tomorrow morning (July 1) we begin the journey home.  Please pray for safety. Between puddle jumper aircraft and the now Hurricane Alex hitting Texas sometime in the next 24 hrs it could be an entertaining day.  Wouldn’t want things to be boring!

Thanks for your prayers!  You are sincerely a blessing to us!

Isn’t God Awesome. I chose to give God credit for everything that brings life and life to the full, and I only blame the devil for all that steals, kills and destroys. Thank you everyone for your prayers. I can’t wait to hear the full story later this week.

I need to admit I’ve got to learn more than I teach. I know I can only teach what I’ve learned. I don’t have all this together, but I do have an understanding of I can pass onto you.  

We picked up a dog on the weekend that is great with the kids, but afraid of me. It’s really testing my patience… anyway, the thought occurred to me that the Father is probably using the dog to teach me more about Him, so I’d better be ready to listen. One of the ways I listen is to meditate on what I know.

Here’s some of what I know about growing the fruit of the spirit.

We need to be growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. So how do we do it?

There are 5 truths of the fruit of the Spirit we need to understand and implement into our lives.

• The Fruit Reflects the Goodness of God
• The Fruit is Natural to our Spiritual Nature
• It is Our Choice to Grow in the Fruit of the Spirit
• Growing the Fruit is a Process
• The Holy Spirit Empowers Us

The Fruit Reflects the Goodness of God

When people see the fruit of the Spirit in us, they see the reflection of the Goodness of God. We may not possess these qualities in ourselves, and if we do, they pale at what God will eventually have us reflect.

The moon does not have its own light, but reflects the light of the sun to the part of the world that’s away from the light. There are two things that happen to stop the light from the sun being reflected to the world. They both have to do with the position of the moon.

When the world comes in between the moon and sun whose light it was created to reflect to the part of the world that’s away from the sun, it’s called a lunar eclipse. The shadow of the world covers the face of the moon that reflects the light of the sun.

The moon is also capable of coming in between the sun and the side of the world that is directly receiving its light. The shadow of the moon covers a portion of the earth instead of reflecting the suns light to the side of the world that is away from the sun. We call that a solar eclipse.

However, there is also a time when the moon is in the perfect position to reflect the greatest amount of the light of the sun to the part of the world that is away from the sun. It is the brightest, biggest moon of the year. We happen to call that the “harvest moon”.

The same is true for us. We reflect the goodness of God by choosing to grow the fruit of Spirit that reflects His good nature. It puts us in the position to reflect the greatest amount of His light to the part of the world that is still in darkness.

The Fruit is Natural to our Spiritual Nature

Made in the image of God, we are tripartite beings and have a Spirit, Soul (mind), and Body. The Bible says we are saved (Eph. 2:8) (Spirit), we are being saved (1Cor. 1:18)(Soul) and we shall be saved (Rom. 11:26) (Body)

Galatians 5 makes it clear that there are two natures at work in our body. Since we have crucified our flesh and all its desires (verse) we can keep in step with the Spirit.

When we make Jesus our Lord, our natural being becomes our Spirit. We make our choices based on the word of God and no longer on circumstance or negative feelings. Although we can choose to, we no longer have to live by the works of the flesh.

It is Our Choice to Grow in the Fruit of the Spirit

Some people think the fruit of the Spirit just naturally grows, as an offshoot or sign that we have raised our hand or said a prayer. When it doesn’t happen it’s easy to conclude that our experience was not as profound as we thought at the time.
That kind of thinking is a great way to stay immature.

We have a choice to live by the flesh or live by the Spirit.

It is a choice we begin making by agreeing with what God says about us and declaring who we are in Christ daily or even hourly and then choosing to act in the nature of God (fruit of the Spirit) in a situation-by-situation basis.

Eventually our choice becomes a habit and we begin to naturally work out of the Spirit.

Growing the Fruit is a Process

Fruit grows in the spiritual as it does in the natural. There are places in the same orchard that grow better fruit faster because of soil and amount of direct sunlight.
We start stronger in some areas and weaker in others – but we grow in all. As we make choices, we start habits and soon the habits bring our body and soul in line with our Spirit.

This is “working out our salvation with fear and trembling.”

Theologically it’s known as Sanctification.
Poetically it’s “becoming more like Christ.”
Philosophically it’s “become who we already are.”

Because it’s a process we have patience for ourselves and grace for others. It is difficult at first, and we all make mistakes. But aren’t you glad God has the full measure of the fruit of the Spirit? When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John…)

The Holy Spirit Empowers Us

Whatever God calls us to do, He empowers us to do and provides everything we need to do it His way and in His power.

No one can will himself or herself to have joy over an extended period of time. But it is possible because the Holy Spirit grows joy in us. More than that, the Holy Spirit breaks the yoke off of those with depression when counseling and drugs can’t even work. Maybe we should start with the Holy Spirit?

How Do We Show the Pre-Eminence of Love?

Our Words…

Ephesians 4:29, John 6:68, Isaiah 50:4

Our Actions…

1 John 3:17-19

I’ve got to learn to apply the fruit of the Spirit in my relationship with my relationship with our new dog. Is there someone God’s given you to help you become more and more like Him?

Love to know your thoughts. Please comment.

When we’re raised in the church, we often accept that we know what phrases mean without ever thinking, “Just what does that mean?”

The longer your on the way, the harder it is to say to someone who asks you to explain a concept,  “I really don’t know.” So we make something up based on all the sermons we heard that never explained phrases and just assumed we were all on the same page.

I was a senior pastor at the age of 25. I knew enough to know that I knew less than people in my congregation who were in ministry longer than I had been alive. So I learned to say, “I really don’t know, but let me study up on it and get back to you.” It made me be a life-long learner.

A few months ago I was listening to a sermon encouraging me to ‘seek the Lord’ and I thought to myself, “Do I really know what that means?” I guess I always thought it meant “pray longer” maybe even “pray louder”. Of course it meant to fast – at least do a Daniel fast… I don’t think I’ve written about doing a Daniel fast on this blog yet.

Anyway, I decided I’d better do some research and figure out what the Bible says about seeking the Lord and I discovered I only knew part of the whole.

If we think we can just say, “I’m seeking God” we’re mistaken. If we think we can just pray more and find Him, we’re deceived. If we try to earn His favor in hopes we’ll get our ways, we’re going to be disappointed.

In another post we’ll look at why we should seek the Lord.

No, I wasn’t underwater. We went to a couple of very cool aquariums. A good friend of mine bought goggles that hold a video camera before he went to Hawaii. Can’t wait to see his shots. Here are a few of mine.

Again if you like them, comment and/or share them with others. I really appreciate all the comments here and on facebook.

You can see all of our posted pictures here… there are way too many and most are just fun family memories.

The heavens declare the glory of God… night after night they pour forth speech. I love looking up at the sky and into the heavens. Here are a few sky shots from our trip to San Diego.Hope you enjoy.

If you do, why not Stumble it? I really appreciate that. If you drag the photos you’ll be able to post them on a number of sites, or email them to yourself and friends.

You can see all the photos I’ve posted. Comment and tell me what you think.