Israel Diary #2 Obstacles

     One of my objectives in this journey is to have a room mate. My friend wants to go. He would be ideal since we know each other pretty well. He also gives me a person to discuss each day's events.
     So why is this an obstacle? He is even less likely to raise the money for this trip than I am. Thus, I am still in need of a room mate. If I don't get one, my costs go up.
     I readily admit that I have no control over this problem. I can't help my friend financially. I can't guarantee that another person will be available to be my room mate. This is definitely a God-sized problem.
     That is where faith comes in. I believe that God can help me get past any obstacles in my path. As the writer said in Ephesians, my God's ability far surpasses my imagination (my paraphrase.)

Israel Diary # 1 Faith

     Today we had our first meeting about a trip to Israel. The cost is the most intimidating aspect. I am not particularly affluent. This is the kind of door that only God can open. I can do my part, but I need God to take care of the rest.
     I have three choices here. I can put this trip in God's hands and save for it 'til he opens that door. I could forgo this opportunity and start saving for the next one. Or, I could give it up as a pipe dream. I believe that God would want me to trust him for the answer.
     So, I will save as much as I can. If God chooses not to open the door, then I'll trust that he has a plan for the money. He knows better than I what is in store for me.

Real Life Examples:The Presidential Hymnwriter

     This year I want to expand on my biographical study from last year. It is my intention to find practical applications for Biblical scriptures. I hope we all find this venture to be enlightening.

     With that, let me begin with the origins of  "Send Forth, O God, Thy Light and Truth". This was a late 19th century setting of Psalms 43. It was quite common during that time for Psalms to be turned into hymns. What makes this one uncommon was that it was written in hymn form by our sixth president, John Quincy Adams.

     In fact, he wrote many hymns based on the Psalms. He placed a high priority on reading God's Word. He also had a great love of music and poetry. This, of course, led to his hymn writing. His most famous hymn was "The Hour Glass", but he was partial to "Send Forth...".

     The lesson he drew from this passage was that of hope in the face of opposition from one's enemies. As Christians, we face similar opposition today. Society calls us intolerant bigots and narrow minded. We know that the light of God's truth will defeat this deception. We can rest in that hope. Not hope as the world defines it, but true hope. It is confidence in the future God has planned.

Walls

     Trust is a major issue with most people (me included.) Some trust more easily than others. The less we trust someone, the more walls we put up.

     In returning to the purpose of this blog, let me pose this question. What would it look like if our walls were visible constructs? I have to admit that I might, at times, look like a walking mountain. I have been burned too many times in the past.

     The problem is that those walls we put up make it hard for people to get to know us. Thanks to my walls, most people can expect common courtesy and small talk. If you've burned me, it's even harder to reach me.

      What we need is a reset button. I think that is what forgiveness is supposed to achieve. If someone hurts you, forgive them and start over. I know, it's easier said than done. Just remember, we rebelled against God and he made the ultimate sacrifice to help us find forgiveness.

My Five: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

     Mozart is perhaps the most human of the five men in this series. He possessed a capacity for crude humor. His genius often made him arrogant and unforgiving. His father's influence might have led to a somewhat spoiled nature.

     Still, the Catholic faith of his family remained strong in him even until death. The world of the Enlightenment ran counter to those beliefs. He could have abandoned his faith and given himself fully to the "rational" skepticism that was popular. He could have chosen to stubbornly hold to the Catholic traditions. Instead, he chose to search for a happy medium.

     The Enlightenment was begun in answer to the corruption inherent both in the aristocracy and the church. The Napoleonic Wars was the messy result. While Mozart's family shared a distrust for the corrupt officials, they still held to the truths of the scriptures. Mozart's dalliance with Freemasonry was the result of this dichotomy.

     There are two conversations I would like to have with him. One would entail his opinion on the evolution of music since his death. The other would involve his actual beliefs. I'm quite sure that Paul would be a large part of that little talk.

     Those are my five. I welcome feedback on this series.

My Five: Coach Thomas Wade Landry

     Tom Landry was known for his hat and his cool demeanor on the field. It was his faith, however, that drove him. While he suffered occasional setbacks in his career, he never let them get the best of him. Like many in his generation, he believed in the importance of discipline. He also believed that the quality of ones life should be measured by ones pursuit of excellence. His faith in Jesus only enhanced these beliefs.

     I will confess that his commitment is very humbling for me. My pride and occasional arrogance weigh me down in the race that the Apostle Paul talks about. Coach Landry had the discipline to drop those kind of burdens. I pray that God will help me overcome my weakness in the area of discipline.

     I love watching football. I think it would be an absolute joy to watch a football game from today with Coach and get his take on things.

     My last post in this series will be about the greatest composer that ever lived.

My Five: President Ronald Reagan

     "All the way to the hangar." This quote by Reagan pretty much sums up his approach to every situation he faced in his life. His efforts to be a standout on the football team at his alma mater reflect this. As do his later efforts in the radio and film industries. Of course, his political career was the ultimate example of his stubborn resolve.

     His political beliefs were shaped by the lessons he learned along the way. He and his family learned a lot about survival during hard times. Especially during the Great Depression. The most important lesson he learned was the power of the human spirit. Individuals need the freedom to forge their own destiny through their own ingenuity. Freedom from bureaucratic restrictions.

     He also gained a heightened appreciation for democracy while he was in Hollywood. There was an attempt by Communists to gain control of Hollywood. It frightened everyone and even set off a witch hunt that ruined many innocent reputations. As a result, Reagan had a lifelong hatred for Communism and other similar forms of government (Islamic extremism).

     Reagan's two greatest assets were his communication skills and his optimism. Despite opposition from Democrats, Extreme right-wingers, unscrupulous media, and unfriendly countries, Reagan managed to turn our country around in his eight years as president. His efforts led to the eventual improvement of our economy and the end of the Cold War.

     I am of the opinion that our current political system is broken. I would love to hear his views about where we are and how we could dig ourselves out.

     Watch for my next blog about Tom Landry!