A different approach

Over the years my approach to Bible study has changed dramatically. First, let me take you through a quick evolution of my study and preparation methods.

• Infant Stage: This is when I would lean heavily on a sermon outline book, or commentary from a competent source to tell me what I am supposed to believe and understand.
• Child Stage: I began reading and studying lots of materials, doing comparative analysis on the text and drawing informed conclusions from my study.
• Young Adult Stage: I started my study with the word. What did the Bible say? Who was it written to, what were the circumstances of the writing? What was the author trying to say to that audience? After drawing my initial conclusions I would look for others who had come to similar realizations in their works (as a means to test my theories).
• Mature Stage (or at least I hope so): I read and study the Bible as a series of letters written just for me. What is the author (God) trying to communicate into my life. The first readers of the scriptures did not have commentaries, lexicons or Ph.D's to consult when they read the text - it made an impression on each of them in a personal way.

A few years ago my mother passed away. Of all the treasured things she left behind, I most cherish a letter she had locked away for after her death. In that letter she shares her faith, love and hope for my future. When I read that letter I don't parse each word, diagram the sentence structure, but I clearly understand the theme and purpose for which it was written. My mom wants me to go to heaven. She wants me to be faithful. She loves me more than life and left me a gift to insure that I would never forget her, or her hopes and dreams for me.

Our Savior did the same thing. He left me a letter that defines his hopes and dreams for my future. It is full of practical instruction on how to live and motivitational examples of what others have done before me. You don't need a Ph.D to know what God wants for your life - just pick up the collection of letters he left for you and read them now and again.

My greatest gift

I still recall walking down that peaceful backround in Honduras when I wandered on the little girl in the picture to your right. She lived in a run down little shack and you can see how her eyes lit up when we gave her a hand made doll, sandwich and a few crackers.  As Paul Harvey would say, "and now for the rest of the story."

When we came back from our trek down to a small village, she was waiting for us at the gate. She wasn't waiting for more food or gifts, but had two small bags of fruit she had gathered to give back to us. It was one of the most humbling moments in my life. I gave out of abundance and she gave out of her poverty and want.

Through the years I have learned that my greatest gifts also come through my own poverty and want. Sometimes that has been financial (streching myself to help someone else), other times it is out of the emotional poverty that exists because of tragedy, heartache or struggles in my own life. Somehow those gifts seem to have a deeper purpose and meaning.

My personal challenges in life are not secret to those who regularly read my blogs. They have included a divorce, financial struggles at times and bouts with discouragement and depression. I used to look back on those times and see the scars and failures, but strangely they turned into blessings. Not blessings for me, but others.

We laugh at the comic renditions of "I feel your pain," but there is real value in sincere empathy towards others who have struggled. The greatest gifts I have to give are the hope and promise that come in those shared experiences. Having been through the fire of affliction, I can assure others there is so much good on the other side.

So, what do you have to give? What is your greatest gift to others?

Behold the Dreamer

"Behold the Dreamer." Those were the words his brother's spoke as Joseph approached them. I imagine it was pretty hard for them to swallow the idea that one day they would bow down before their younger brother, but that day would come.

Who stands in the way of your dreams? What obstacles will you have to overcome to stand on that mountain top and plant your flag of victory? Joseph did become second in charge of all the land of Egypt, his brothers did bow before him and he was responsible for the salvation of his people, but it was a long, hard road getting there.

Here was a man who was threatened and then sold into slavery by his brothers, his master's wife lied about supposed inmproprieties, he spent years in prison for a crime he did not commit. It would have been easy to get discouraged along the way. He could have quit and said, "this isn't what I signed up for."

So what was Joseph's key to victory and success? Two simple principles:

1. Joseph never lost sight of God. It's tough when you are down and life kicks you in the teeth. Our faith wavers and our hardships seem to be more than we can bare. When that happens, remember the words of David, "I have never seen the righteous foresaken, or his seed begging bread" (Psalms 37:25).
2. Do your best wherever you are. Whether he was a servant in Potipher's household, or a convict in a dark, cold prison - Joseph always put his best foot forward. In every case he was recognized for his efforts and it finally all paid off for him.

Never let anyone discourage you when it comes to your dreams. It is never too late to start. Watch upcoming blogs for those individuals who realized their dreams later in life.