Bono's Marriage (And Mine)

It's unusual to find a monogamous, long-running marriage in the world today, much less in the world of rock and roll. Bono (of U2 - you've heard of them, no?) has this to say about his almost 30 years with his wife Ali:

"I wasn't set up for marriage. I was not the kind of person that any of my friends would say, 'He's the marrying kind.' but I met the most exraordinary woman, and I couldn't let her go. I have somebody in my life, after a long time, I still feel I don't know. And we have a real sort of almost creative distance between us...relationships need management...I don't know how others would have made it through a married life with that length of time, but that's how I have...and of course respect and love. I'm still in love."

He goes on...

"Maybe a strong sense of survival. I can't remember his quote exactly, but there is a writing by Jean Cocteau where he says friendship is higher than love. Sometimes, it's less glamorous, or less passionate, but it's deeper and kind of wiser, I think. At the heart of my relationship is a great friendship."

Bono has described things pretty well I think.

I'm the kind of guy that likes to work alone, that likes to be alone, and doesn't have a high need for friendship - not good factors to mix into a marriage. However, I too have met an extraordinary woman and haven't been able to let her go. She fascinates me more and more as the years go by, and I'm still getting to know her. Together we've decided that this marriage thing is forever, and because of that, and the friendship we've forged, we've passed through some deep waters together and come out dripping, but more in love. I've told her before and I'll tell her again: she's the only person I can't live without.

Fear the Flatterer

Sometimes instead of a compliment, we need a critique. We so easily fall prey to the praise of men, as if we have truly attained or accomplished something remarkable. It's tempting to live in the imaginary stature that others assign to us, whether through flattery or honest praise. However, we must keep ourselves in check, reign in our pride, and honor only God, from whom comes our very breath.

David Livingstone was both criticized and awarded many high honors. His accomplishments brought him fame and a small fortune, something he never, ever sought. In regard to his critics, he had this to say:

"I like to hear that some abuse me now, and say that I am no Christian. Many good things were said of me which I did not deserve, and I feared to read them. I shall read every word I can on the other side, and that will prove a sedative to what I was forced to hear of an opposite tendency."

Read that again if you need to - Livingstone feared to read the good things said about him - feared his own pride - feared what flattery might do to him.

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Keep On Trudging

I thought I was the only one! I thought I was the only person who ever felt at times like my passion had died and questioned the legitimacy of my work even though at one time I was convinced God has commissioned me to do it! I was certain that I was the only one who experienced periods of utter dryness walking through empty flatlands of bland unspirituality.

Apparently David Livingstone felt the same way at times:

"When employed in active travel, my mind becomes inactive, and the heart cold and dead, but after remaining some time quiet, the heart revives, and I become more spiritually-minded. This is a mercy which I have experienced before, and when I see a matter to be duty I go on regardless of my feelings. I do trust that the Lord is with me, though the mind is engaged in other matters than the spiritual."

I have many times been cheered and upheld by God's certain promises and covenant. As fickle as my feelings and fleeting as my more manic days may be, I know that God is just as He always was: faithful.

Needle And Haystack Life

Just a quick vid from Switchfoot - great sound, great band:

Livingstone Vs. Darwin

Medical doctor, explorer and missionary David Livingstone never ceased to be filled with wonder at the splendor of nature as he lived in and traveled through Africa. In a journal entry from October 13th, 1853 he wrote that "there appears on the quiet repose of earth's scenery the benign smile of a father's love. The sciences exhibit such wonderful intelligence and design in all their various ramifications, some time ought to be devoted to them before engaging in missionary work. The heart may often be cheered by observing the operation of an ever present intelligence, and we may feel that we are leaning on his bosom while living in a world clothed in beauty and robed with the glorious perfections of its maker and preserver."

Livingstone recognized the order and design in the world around him and the fact that the sciences themselves gave evidence for and pointed to an Almighty Maker (rather than being proof of His non-existence). And, as he wrote these words in his journal, another explorer, Charles Darwin, was giving intellectual (?) birth to his own writings which would be published in 1859 as The Origin of Species. Interesting.

Special creation by an all-wise Creator has always been the observation of godly scientists and laymen alike. The "theory" of evolution is the purview of those who wish to deny (consciously or not) the Almighty and thus any responsibility to Him.

In The Category of Heroes...

A couple days ago I wrote briefly about Bear Grylls. He's an outstanding fella, and I think people (especially men) need a few choice characters to look up to for inspiration. Today I'm offering up a couple more stories to swell the heart with courage.

First, a computer generated replay of Flight 1549 landing on the Hudson River. Watching this and hearing the actual radio transmissions with Captain Sullenberger made me think even more highly of this calm, cool and collected pilot. (You may want to pop the video out to full screen for a better view)


Next, a story about a man who has learned the value of a life well spent. Would that God could graciously use me to touch so many young people.


And then, just for fun, this final example of one young man (of five) that I am trying to be a hero to:

Stuff that I want to say right now...

Backbone

If you know me at all, you also know that I'm a little bit of a Bear Grylls fan. I like watching Man vs. Wild, but I've enjoyed reading Bear's books even more. Between the covers of Facing the Frozen Ocean and Facing Up (aka "The Kid Who Climbed Everest" in the States - somehow I got my hands on the U.K. version...) is where I've really learned about the kind of 'bloke' that Bear Grylls is. Now, I don't intend to wax eloquent about Bear - no man is really worth that, no matter how great he is - but I will state that I admire the man for the things he's accomplished, for the way he demonstrates his faith and for his devotion to his wife and children.


When Bear climbed Mt. Everest, he was the youngest Briton to ever do so (not sure if the record still stands . . . nope Google says there have been a couple others since Bear did . . . ) and when he returned from Nepal he was repeatedly asked, "Did you find God on the mountain?" He says no, he had met God as a teenager and God is with him wherever he is. He goes on:

"If you ask me, did He help me up there, then the answer would be yes. In the words of the great John Wesley when asked by some cynic whether God was his crutch, he gently replied 'No, my God is my backbone.' He was right."

Way to go, Bear - may God help all of us men to walk daily in strength and holiness!

Amazing Things Above

I just witnessed a perfect winter sunset: scattered clouds full of texture on the horizon lit by cold fire and the colors of amaranth, amethyst, azure, bittersweet, byzantine, coral and vermilion; black trees, naked and silhouetted against the blue ice of the lake and the flaming sky; flights of geese crossing all of this color, immune to the cold; the whole scene shifting subtly from fantastic to phenomenal.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a sunset quite like this one. Ten minutes of sublime perfection. Ten minutes. Then in moments it has disappeared. Right now I am so looking forward to seeing colors that have yet to be named, to beauty that never fades, to rapture that has no ebb, to perfection untainted by corruption. I'm setting my mind on things above and my Redeemer who will preserve me and take me there someday.

Presumably Dr. Livingstone

In college, I used to feign sickness in order to get out of giving speeches in class. The fear of public address I had known in middle school and high school had blossomed into a full grown phobia. This, of course, is most certainly part of the reason God called me to preach and teach.

At this point in my life, I essentially have no more fear of public speaking. I still get a little hepped up sometimes when I have to play, sing or speak but it's a far cry from the crippling emotions I used to experience. No big deal, thanks to a merciful God.

Apparently the Scottish medical missionary David Livingstone wasn't much for oratory either at first. Not only was he unimpressive in his delivery, but on one occasion when he was asked to speak at an evening service in Essex, he completely forgot his carefully crafted and memorized sermon a few minutes into the message and hurried out of the pulpit with the words, "Friends, I have forgotten all I have to say."

If I had a nickel for every time I've felt that way facing a crowd . . . lost my train of thought . . . felt incapable of properly delivering the message . . . achingly aware of my weaknesses.

In reading this story of David Livingstone, I was just reminded of my own frailty and the goodness and mercy of God. I'm sure glad I don't have to deal with that fear anymore. These days, I don't pray for the "shakes" to go away long enough for me to speak, but I do pray along with Spurgeon, "may infinite wisdom cure us of the madness of self-confidence." I don't want to swing too far in the other direction.

I'm a little bit more of a fit vessel than I used to be in delivering God's Word, but that's none of my doing. He's been very merciful and kind. Even if my knees still knocked and my teeth still chattered like they used to, I think I'd be glad to be a fool for Him.

Shades of Green

I've seen Phil Keaggy in concert several times, and attended a guitar clinic a few years back where I had the chance to meet him and see him play UP CLOSE (and therefore confirm that he is not a guitar playing robot from outer space). He'll be in my corner of Kansas in a couple weeks and me and my guitar playing son are going to attend the guitar clinic and the concert together. Mmmmm.

When I rate musicians in my own mind, their ability to make me weep factors heavily into the process, so Keaggy is right up at the top with Rich Mullins, Randy Stonehill, Stuart Townend and Bono.

One of my favorite Keaggy compositions . . .