The principle of reconciliation is the foundation upon which people of The Way confidently shake up the world, knowing the world will come together again.  Every time I drive into a large city, I visualize what that city would look like, in one hundred years, if people stopped city maintenance.  Have you ever calculated how much of your time and resources is consumed by maintenance?   Once upon a time I owned a commercial cleaning company.  We cleaned many office buildings in the Houston metropolitan area.  If it weren’t for the people who gathered and took out the trash everyday, those big "aquariums" would shortly become uninhabitable.  In contrast, the Wilderness contains a power that incorporates constant change with reconciliation. A river follows the down hill contours of the earth, moving with tremendous power toward the sea.  As the river travels it is constantly carving out earth, occasionally uprooting a tree or other clinger-on in specta...

There are very few things necessary for survival in the wilderness.  Wilderness  ventures demand simplicity.  Simplicity is the breath of freedom.  Physical survival depends on the possession of food, drink, shelter, sleep and oxygen.  The root of most of our actions is to secure and stabilize the acquisition of these survival essentials.  A journey through the wilderness demands we ground our actions in the consciousness of our connection to these essentials.  Simplicity feeds the awareness of times of security, rewarding our lives with an attitude of thankfulness.    An overly encumbered life creates a maintenance crisis that busies us into life absent the knowledge of life’s purpose.  It is purpose that inspires love, legacy, art, and all the other affections that make life abundant.  

The birth of Esau and Jacob and its application to the principle, “The First Shall Be Last and the Last Shall Be First,” (Mt. 20:16) focuses on the most powerful resource given those on The Way.  Reflecting that the little we know about the third child of Adam and Eve is he was named Seth after the Egyptian god of chaos, reveals that we are not afraid of chaos because the Word ends chaos. (refer to blog entries "SETH on January 30 and "PRINCIPLES" January 29) When we are liberated from the fear of chaos, we can be those who shake up the status quo.  The name Jacob means “heal grabber.”  I think you could add that to the top ten names not to give your child, yet it is a celebrated name today.  Why?  Because Jacob represents great hope for those who fall into a system set up to prevent them from realizing their potential.   Esau was born first.  Esau was his father’s favorite.  Esau guaranteed his position in society by the position of his birth a...

At first glance, the narrative of Abraham’s involvement in the selection of a wife for Abraham is alarming, but when taken in conjunction with Abraham’s decision to take a local native to be his wife after Sarah’s death helps focus on the intent of Abraham’s decision for his son.   Abraham obtains the oath of his most trusted servant to seek a bride for Abraham from the lineage of his father.  He specifically tells the servant he does not want his son to take a bride from the Canaanites.  The means of the servant’s selection of Rebekah identifies Abraham’s true intent.  The servant kneels out side the city wall and prays, “O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I w...

Have you ever scratched your head and said, “How does a person have an opinion so clearly based upon faulty evidence?”  A person’s perspective is governed by the lens they look through.  Physiological, environmental, and sociological factors, play a major role in the manufacture of every lens.  Because humans have the unique ability to process information and create on an unmatched scale, perspective has a amazing impact upon the future.  Let us pause and meditate upon this question, “What if I create a future that is uninhabitable?” The wilderness provides a pure lens, uninfected by the other’s perspectives.    Over a short time, this purity can wash away the role destructive perspectives have played in the manufacture of our lens.  Our mind is emptied of many voices, providing a moment of clarity that may gift the pioneer with the ability to discover “The Way” to an abundant life.  Abraham had a very special lens through which he discovered th...

Everyone has faith.  While canvassing a neighborhood I met a Nara.  She lived in a trailer and would only talk to me through the screen.  Nara suffered from Agoraphobia, which literally means fear of the market place, but more generally means fear of everything.  As I tried to be a good neighbor, Nara opened up, sharing a few details of her life.  Although she was this shadowy figure seen through a thick screen, I shared my concern about her ability to get something to eat.  She told me that she went to a twenty-four hour supermarket once a month at three o’clock in the morning. Even Nara had faith.  Nara was able to pinpoint exactly in what she had faith.  For her, exposure to the outside world was always a life and death decision.  It is the same for everyone.  What you truly have faith in is only revealed under extreme pressure.  At these moments your passion is revealed.  I define passion through the lens of Christ. ...

In the wilderness, animals attract mates through expressions of physical dominance.  Sometimes that expression is brute strength, and other times it is the demonstration of dominate unique features.  The peacock flashes feathers featuring eye spots.  The larger the eye spots, the healthier the male.  Guppies dance, deer are attracted to large antlers, and the giant tortoise of Galapagos with the longest neck are the most attractive.  All of of these physical attributes are projections of physical dominance expressed to control the future of a species.  The Bible reminds us that although we may be one with creation, we are special among all the creatures.  We have been blessed with the ability and the responsibility of stewardship.  God calls us to a higher level of existence.  Only humans can project evil intent upon their physical prowess.  Stewardship recognizes there are spiritual laws as well as physical laws.  Throughout...

The whole story of Sodom and Gomorrah is very strange.  People can get hung up on wether these cities existed.  Indeed, archeologists are working at locations around the Dead Sea.  One that is special is Tall el-Hammam on the Jordan River.  The remains of a massive city is being unearthed and could possibly be Sodom.  What interests me is how those upon whom God has his hand react to the events surrounding the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the theme of the role of the wilderness in this story. First there is the contrast of the hospitality offered the travellers, now recognized as messengers from God, between  Abraham and the residents of Sodom.  Unlike Abraham, the residents of Sodom want to treat them as objects to dominate; all except Lot.  Cowardice is the consequence of unchecked fear.  The bully always acts out of fear.  The result of a bully’s life is destruction.   Lot and his family afforded the travelers hospi...

The wilderness is experienced on many planes.  From a mountain top the wilderness is enjoyed as a brilliant landscape.  It can be an ocean of textured green interrupted by outcroppings of rock and earth.  Distant rivers bring the depth of valleys with a thin blue line.  If you look from a hill you can enjoy the curvature of the earth and witness the world around you in more detail.  If you're a hunter, you can watch the pattern of your prey and calculate where you might intersect their path and secure the nourishment your family needs for survival. If you are on the trail, you are immersed under the wilderness canopy.  Everything is proportional and intimate.  The eagle you see in the sky is your eagle, the porcupine your porcupine, the trees your trees, the grass your grass.  Everything has a special identity as it enters your mind and your soul.  Everything is precious, and stimulates your gratitude and protective impulses. God tests Ab...

Traveling on a foot path, the wilderness most often is a perfect picture of hospitality.  The experience expands the human soul, the pure air opens an individual mind to claim a great dream, and the reality of how free God created us fills our being with words unspoken, “Thank you God for your hospitality.  Hospitality, in its purest form, frees the stranger to feel at home in another’s environment.  Hospitality empowers the stranger to express the very core of what is important to the traveller. Abraham is inspired by wildernesses hospitality through the appreciation of a Terebinth tree.  Old growth Terebinth trees are quite spectacular in their breath and color planted against the backdrop of an arid world.  They have red berries like small immature grapes and leaves constructed like feathers that change colors, displaying bright red colors that look like red coral.  This wilderness expression of hospitality inspires Abraham’s vision to stare in awe of ...

Aaron began to live up to his name before he was born.  His parents chose a name that meant “miraculous” to remind them every day of their gratitude for the birth of their son. Like many parents, Mother and Father shared their excitement about starting a family.  Night after night held each other and whisper about their future family, drifting off to embrace their shared dream.  After the second year of marriage, they became concerned and went to the doctor for advice.  After many tests, the doctor sat them down and hand in hand they listened to the doctor tell them, “It is impossible for you to have children.” Doctor after doctor told them Mother and Father the same thing.  Their problem was rare.  Father’s sperm count was very low and Mother’s fallopian tubes were blocked.  One of these problems was enough to prevent fertility but both potential  parents having such problems led every doctor to say, “It is impossible for you to have children.”...

Yesterday I attended a funeral for a friend.  Although I did not know Mike personally, knowing him through relationships with his family, he was a friend in my heart.  His funeral was  a most wonderful spiritual experience; a life that leaps out and grabs your attention and says, “This life is the embodiment of God’s Word.”  The hope and demand of his life’s testimony filled my life with God’s intimacy.  The flowers were situated so that, from my vantage point, I could not see the speakers, forcing me to focus on the sounds of their testimonies.  Instead, I focused on a large framed photograph of Mike, resting on an easel.  He was pictured in sunglasses,  wearing a t-shirt featuring an American flag.  He was s tanding on a hill overlooking a Cuban village, his face representing perfect content.  He stood there staring right into my eyes.  I spent the service looking at Mike while listening to the testimonies about his life.  He...

Daydream  Lord empty my mind affected by civilization's: Affronting annoyance of angry voice aggravation, Heated horns honking honing a momentary impression, Bitter bullies bludgeoning babies for brief glorification, ISHMAEL - GOD HEARS Lord guide me, mold me, what shall I do? “My messengers always with you, Rest and refresh by life’s spring, Daydreams are tomorrow's prelude, You are doing fine, I will hear you.” ISHMAEL - GOD HEARS Amen. Ishmael, whose name means “God Will Hear,” was a man for the wilderness and his life and trials give us the border understanding of the wilderness.  The wilderness is a place of refuge, a place away from bombarding human voices and pronounced agendas.  The wilderness is another place, a holy place, a place of clarity, a place of confidence that God will hear. Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.  And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whe...

My youngest granddaughter’s name is Luna Maria.  Her name literally means “The Seas of the Moon.”  As you can imagine, looking at the moon has taken on new importance in my life. Since Luna’s birth I have noticed the Man in the Moon has looks more and more feminine.   During a recent camping experience at Llano State Park, my son and I were treated to nights filled with a full moon.  Nights were illuminated by the moon’s reflective surface so that it was largely unnecessary to carry a flashlight.  We spent a lot of time enjoying the moons brilliance.  My son asked, “Do you see the man in the moon or the rabbit?”  I was a bit shocked at the question.  I had never heard of the rabbit in the moon, but I could see he was serious.  He proceeded to try to outline the body and the ears of the rabbit in the moon.  Try as I might, I could never see the rabbit.  Indeed this morning, during meditation and devotion, I reviewed the many moon ...

Why do humans have such a tendency to pile upon each other?  Harris County, Texas has a population density of 2,402 people per square mile.  Polk County, Texas has 43 people per square mile.  People chose to live in Harris County for economic reasons.  There is greater opportunity for employment and the ability to care for your family.  It is quite reasonable to choose to live in a crowded area for this reason.  However, why do people drive so closely to one another on the highway in Polk County as well as  Harris County?  People seem drawn to the bumper of the car in front of them when they know it would be safer for their loved ones if they kept a distance.   It is natural for creatures to enjoy and desire the company of others, but only humans can make that decision for self destructive reasons.  Humans are the most dangerous animal in the wilderness because they share a gifted intelligence and is the only creature who kills for the...

The world is always on the go. River isn’t moving? Not a river, now a sea. Sea is always moving, filling the sky with wind swept clouds.   Wind can not find the cloud? Not a cloud,  now rain Creating rivers and lakes for plants and animals to drink. Nothing to drink? Plants and animals are on the go. Too hot too cold? Plants and animals are on the go. The world is always on the go. “Let’s go to Canaan,” Terah and his family are on the go. Terah dies in Haran,  death happens, it's part of on the go. "Let's go to Canaan," Abram and family are on the go. Trade God's promise for your disappointment, dry your tears Keep looking forward, we are on the go.  This time with God's promise, we are on the go. The world is always on the go. Abram built a  Canaan alter but in Betel had to live. Famine, another detour, we were already on the go. Danger eating in powerful sex trafficking Egypt, Sarai to Pharaoh’s bed, “Laws of C...

Alvaro's excitement was almost out of control.  Tonight was the biggest night of the year.  He was eleven years old, and a costumed member of a pack of “Trick or Treating” elves destined to invade Halloween night.  With but an hour till deployment, Alvaro dressed as a bearded Hobo, was in his bedroom, standing over his bed, surveying his tools of chaos.  Next to his distressed patched pillow case, able to hold massive amounts of loot, lay two piles of fake poo, one dose of fake vomit, and a black cat, with it's stuffing removed, covered in streaks of red paint.  Alvaro was lock and loaded for the 7th grade night of all nights.  This would be one for the history books for sure. Alvaro was carefully placing his equipment in the Hobo Sack, face permanently affixed with a painted grin, when he heard his mother call from the foot of the stairs, “Alvaro, you have a phone call.”  Alvaro knew the importance of this call: NEED TO KNOW DEPLOYMENT INSTR...

Ahava entered her father’s study holding a tiny porcelain tea pot in her hand, and a brown Teddy Bear named Romeo under her arm?  Her father sat in his big black leather swivel chair engrossed on the papers carefully displayed upon his desk.   “Daddy,” Ahava called with a voice so sweet it could melt ice.   “Daddy,” Ahava called a second time with just a hint of distress.   “DADDY,” Ahava called a third time with a slight shrill of distress.   Her father continued pouring over his paperwork, but managed to reply, “What sweetheart?”   Encouraged, Ahava continued, “Will you have tea with Romeo and me?”   This time father put down his pen, swiveled in his leather chair, and looked deep into his daughter's eyes shaking his head sadly saying, “No sweetheart, Daddy can’t right now I am busy with work.   WHY? Because Daddy needs to make money to take care of you. WHY? Because Daddy loves you. WHY?” Because everything D...

A few years ago I was a junior high counsellor at a coed summer camp.  I was assigned a cabin where I was responsible for twelve boys.  There were  many cabins with counsellors and campers.  During the day we would gather for group activities.  Davey was one of those boys. From outward appearances, Davey was not having much fun.  Davey wasn’t disruptive or disrespectful, he was simply quiet and shy.  Davey was pudgy and talked so low you had to strain to hear what he was saying.  He was one of those kids a counselor longs to help.  Davey did not act like he needed help.  He always participated, although he seemed to try and make himself invisible while doing it.  He was like this boulder in the middle of a rushing river.  Davey was just there while the other boys and girls talked, laughed, and played all around him. Every evening after dinner and before bed, the campers would gather in the great hall for music and special g...