Category Archives: Faith

Dr. David Jeremiah visits Bismarck-Mandan

Posted on by
Reply

My wife and I, along with many friends, were in attendance last night for the celebration of KNDR’s 30th year in broadcasting. We got to hear a little bit of background on its beginnings from the daughter of one of the stations founders, and the “main attraction” was a sermon on the servant-oriented Christian life by Dr. David Jeremiah, a visiting preacher who is featured on the station (and hundreds of other stations as well).

The attendance numbered almost double the last Civic Center event I attended, so I think support was very good. The station is also trying to secure funding for the next broadcast year, so it was also a call for support.

The message I got last night is that Christians aren’t supposed to get tunnel vision between home and the church building. It was a good reminder, and hit me right between the eyes considering where I’m at right now. Our church has community evangelism ministries, in which I have not been taking part lately. There are always folks in need and it’s so easy for us to focus on our own immediate concerns. I’m going to try to do better in meeting others with the Gospel ready to share.

In a somewhat related note, on Sunday I added a new mini-feature to this site, the Bible Verse of the Week. You’ll see it in the menu on the right-hand side of this site. That is, of course, unless you read these posts on a site that syndicates my blog…in which case, you need to come directly to the source!

Good news from Minnesota, miracle at my house, a preacher comes home, and the Linton sunset

Posted on by
Reply

While out and about (“aboot” for any Canadian readers) I spotted a truck stopped with this message on its tarp. The truck had Minnesota plates on it and the driver was not around. It reminded me of a certain passage of the Bible written by Peter:

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Speaking of cares, we had an enormous care lifted at our house this week. My wife had previously been diagnosed with Total Placenta Previa, which is a very serious complication to a pregnancy. Many people, including some we don’t even know were praying for a change in her condition. On Friday she had a followup ultrasound, and the placenta has moved to such a degree that it cannot even be classified as placenta previa anymore! This is a very unlikely development, and a true answer to prayer.

If you were in the Linton area during the past week, you probably saw a flyer for Gospelfest 2007, an event held in Linton on Friday night. Pastor John Haveman, local wild man turned preacher, came from Missoula, Montana (my home town, by the way…although I moved here about the time he moved there) to bring a gospel message to the hometown and folks that he still remembers and loves. There was plenty of singing and other fun as well.

Obviously my camera and I were there, and this is what greeted us as we prepared to dodge deer on Highway 1804 on our way home. The hills are very dramatic in this area, but sadly the sun outran my truck as I tried to get in position for a more scenic shot.

Ten Commandments posted at city limits

Posted on by
Reply


Although I’ve only had a few opportunities to pass through Alexander, for some reason it remains one of my favorite small towns in North Dakota. Working for the state DOT I’ve often been able to stay in small towns and go walkabout to explore what they have to offer. In fact, my experiences working around the state for the DOT’s Planning Division are what gave me my love of North Dakota in the first place…how’s that for a formative experience?

One of my favorite qualities of Alexander these days is the Ten Commandments sign posted on the edge of town. I don’t know who posted it, and I don’t know whose property it’s on. I just know that I like it. My travels for work had me working a rare Saturday gig this weekend, and also sent me up Highway 85. Thus I had the chance to pull over for a second and get a photo of this sign. I think more communities should have one of these!

On a side note, the western part of the state got a LOT of rain yesterday. I was disappointed to hear that Bismarck did not get the same. As we worked our way through western North Dakota and northward, the rain even threatened our visibility at times…and the North Unit of the TR Park was fogged in! That’s an unusual Badlands photo. I only got one shot due to time constraints, and didn’t even get out of the car. But it still turned out pretty cool.

The most important day of the year

Posted on by
Reply

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:8-19)

While Christmas is such a special time, the coming of the Messiah who was to save us from our sins, Easter is where Jesus Christ’s work was done. I think this holiday, when we commemorate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior, is seldom given the importance it merits. This one particular event reconciled God and sinners…what could be greater than that?

Prior to Christ’s coming, the world was bound by God’s law. The Bible says that if a person transgresses the law in one point, he’s guilty of the whole law. Those are some pretty impossible commandments for a person to live by without breaking, aren’t they? Well, that’s kind of the point.

The people of Israel had to atone for their sins by giving blood sacrifices in the temple. They were told to sacrifice animals “without spot” or blemish by the law of Moses. That is, they had to sacrifice their best. The same thing applies to Jesus; we’re all sinners, so only a perfect sacrifice could be made on our behalf. Since there is “none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10) there was no one able to make that sacrifice…until God sent his only begotten Son to die on our behalf. As Peter wrote:

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (I Peter 1:18-21)

Now you know why they refer to Jesus as “the Lamb of God.”

This comes back to the sad mistake of people trying to work their way to heaven by doing good works or following sacraments, or hoping that their good works outweigh their bad and somehow tip some sort of spiritual balance to make them “mostly good” and earn them a place in heaven some day. Neither of those things are outlined in God’s plan for salvation. Only the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross could pay the penalty for our sins.

This one time offering on our behalf has made a way for God and each sinner to be reconciled:

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:10-14)

Notice: doing any sort of ritualistic sacrifice can never take the place of what Jesus did, nor is there any need to perform that sacrifice again. The act performed on the cross stands not only as sufficient for all our sin, but as the only sacrifice capable of making atonement for us. No Saturday afternoon wafer required.

Things changed between God and man that day. Previously, people were not able to approach God in the temple; only a priest who had made atonement for his sins could do so. The holiest place in the temple was separated by a veil, so that not just anyone could approach God. When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was “rent in twain from the top to the bottom” (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38). There goes the priesthood, and the separation between God and men. An everlasting sacrifice was made by Jesus; no further sacrifice on the altar of the temple was necessary (or sufficient).

So now it’s up to each person to approach God on his/her own, in prayer. Jesus told his disciples, God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24 Rather than perform a physical ritual through a priest, it is now up to each person to address God personally, spiritually, through prayer.

Look at the people who were saved in the New Testament after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. They simply believed in Him and in his death, burial, and resurrection. The very same things we commemorate this Easter weekend. They didn’t need absolution from a man; they didn’t need membership in a particular church; and they didn’t need to do it every Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. They simply acknowledged that they were sinners and put their faith in Jesus to save them. All that is required for eternal life in Heaven is that belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and acceptance that he died and rose again to save us sinners.

I could use a lot of keywords here as they appear in gospel tracts and literature, but I choose not to. Rather, I choose to just use my own words, because this message comes straight from my heart.

It’s really easy to take the simple act of believing in God’s grace and His sacrifice on our behalf and turning it into one of those “works” that Paul warns of in Ephesians 2:8-9. Repentance is necessary for salvation, but I believe it’s inseparable from believing that Jesus died for us. That simple realization and belief has to be the most humbling thing ever to pierce the heart of man. I don’t think you can “repent and believe” any more than I think you can “believe and repent.” They are simultaneous; at least, they were in my case. Once the truth that you’re a sinner and that Jesus died for you pierces the heart…wow. You believe, and humbly so…all at once.

If you’ve never placed your trust in the sacrifice the Lord Jesus Christ made on your behalf, I urge you to do so today. It’s not some fancy ritual; rather, it’s the act of a sinner getting his heart right with God, talking to Him one-to-one in prayer as a child to a father. It’s a beautiful thing, and you’ll see Him someday in heaven.

If you want more information, click the “Contact me” link at the top-right corner of this page and throw me a question. (If you’re reading this on one of the websites that syndicate Bismarck Mandan Blog.com, come directly to my site). I’ll give you some passages out of the Bible that can point you in the right diretion. Don’t take my word for it, I’m just one of a million guys out there with a website. Look into God’s word, he’s made it plain as day. Find out what it truly means to become a Christian, and suddenly Easter will have a whole new significance for you…as it does for me, and millions of born-again believers across the entire world.

Send a copy of this letter to our congressmen

Posted on by
Reply

A friend of mine forwarded this letter to me the other day, it’s a little something he drafted and sent to Senator Dorgan last week:

Dear Senator Dorgan,

Please consider this as a respectful request from a North Dakota citizen to uphold  the entire Bible as my religious right for a belief system. Canada has made it illegal for pastors to preach certain parts of Bible from the pulpit. There is the same talk of this happening in our country. My request is based on the following fact that the Bible does not instruct Christians to hate anyone. Government condemnation of portions of the Bible on the grounds of “hate speech” would be contrary to what the Bible actually teaches. The exact opposite is true. The Bible instructs Christians to love, even if we don’t condone the behavior of the person or even if we believe that God has deemed the behavior immoral.

Canada has outlawed their pastor’s ability to preach homosexuality as being immoral behavior. I am asking you to take a stance to uphold my right to believe what the Bible says and for my right to practice my faith and hear the Bible preached in its entirety without government persecution. Anyone who would claim that the Bible instructs us to hate someone because they are homosexual is a liar. The Bible also says lying is immoral. I hear the sting of people taking the Lord’s name in vain nearly every day. The Bible says it’s immoral to take the Lord’s name in vain. I believe it is wrong to take the Lord’s name in vain. The Bible does not say to hate someone who does it.

This is my plea for the protection of my rights to my faith. I believe this right is upheld by the Constitution. I am sad that the hateful actions of some individuals and groups have been mistaken as “Christian” beliefs. I live according to the instruction of the Bible which is to love all people, even if I believe their behaviors are immoral. I cherish the right to teach my children these same Biblical values. It is possible to stand up for your moral principals without being hateful. Any hatefulness that I am capable of showing does not come from Biblical teaching or the Spirit of Christ within me, but from my own wretched human nature. I work hard to live a life pleasing to God that emulates Christ. I often fail, but please do not mistake the short comings of Christians or those claiming to be Christians as Biblical instruction.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Mike

Mike makes a couple of great points here. First is that we Christians could lose the right to preach the Bible if we’re not careful. You think that can’t happen? Look at the free speech part of the First Amendment; it’s been ripped to shreds by the McCain-Feingold Act. Political and religious speech were of utmost importance to our founding fathers, and now this crazy Congress has vanquished free political speech. Anyone who thinks religious speech can’t be next is living in a dream world.

The second is that Christians are not “hatemongers” and, aside from the Phelps cult, don’t preach against homosexuality out of hatred…at least not while walking within God’s will, that is. Homosexuality is a SIN, there’s no way of getting around that; but so are things like lying, stealing, and blasphemy. You don’t see people proudly proclaiming their sin in “Thief Rights” parades, do you?

Of course not; part of the reason homosexuality is so disgusting isn’t just the physical manifestation of it, but the fact that homosexuals define themselves by their sin. Every single person on earth is a sinner according to the Bible. The way to salvation is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, repenting of that sin.

I agree with Mike that we should all be trying to win more people for Jesus according to his will, and let Him help them deal with their sin. That’s what happened when I became a Christian, and millions could tell the same story. And while we stay grounded in the truth of God’s word, acknowledging that there is “none righteous, no, not one,” (Romans 3:10) then we won’t start marching around with picket signs claiming that a homosexual is worse in God’s eyes than a thief, liar, blasphemer, or adulterer. A true Christian won’t walk around judging others; he’ll let the Bible do the judging. We’re just supposed to be bearers of the truth that ALL may be saved.

If you want to stand up for religious freedoms, I invite you to either copy and paste the text of Mike’s letter and send it to your congressmen or to write one of your own. They’ll respond, and I hope to hear how Dorgan’s office responds to Mike’s letter. The only way we make sure our voices are heard is by speaking up!

Thursday night sunset, and an ACC update

Posted on by
Reply

This is another from my new super-wide lens, but from the room which has a more scenic view of Bismarck than any other: the conference room at the Schafer Leadership Center at the University of Mary. A bunch of us artists participating in the ACC Art Show have our business cards and stuff available in this room, as well as a liturgical display in the adjacent lounge area.

The show is taking off to a grand start, as the building saw a lot of activity for tonight’s meet’n’greet night. There were so many folks in the long room where the main exhibits are held that I really didn’t feel like intruding for a better picture. We’ll see what happens Friday night or Saturday.

This is the piece that moved me the most: “Revelation” by artist David Christy of Fargo. His written description of this piece says that he started out intending to paint one 40-inch by 30-inch panel, but it then developed into this nine-panel masterpiece. I bet I went back to it at least three times.

The work in this show spans pretty much every medium that you’d imagine. I watched Nebraska artist David Belitz talk with show patrons while bending a spool of wire into a rose for them. There are sculptures in metal and ceramic, paintings, photography, cloth…you name it, it’s there. Artists have come from the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. Student artists from local schools have participated as well. One can walk the halls of the Benedictine Center from one end to the other and enjoy rooms of artwork along the way.

The show runs from 1:00 to 10:00 Friday afternoon and 9:00am to 9:00pm on Saturday. A variety of musical entertainment will perform from 1:00pm to 4:30pm on Saturday, with a bell choir concert at 5:00pm.

I’m told that the show was started by artists who had submitted work in other art shows but were overlooked, despite their quality, most likely because of their Christian theme. Here’s a show where the whole point is to give glory to God, and the work can be judged on its merits as well as enjoyed. Don’t miss this opportunity!

A rebuttal to Mark Armstrong’s article

Posted on by
Reply

In the January 2007 issue of The Dakota Beacon Mark Armstrong (who I should clarify is a friend of mine, as is the magazine’s publisher) wrote an article talking about Our Lady of Guadalupe, a supposed apparition of Mary in South America. He talks about how he and his wife ventured to Mexico to purchase a canvas reproduction of an artifact depicting this thing, blessed by the Pope. He then goes on to talk about how Jesus sent Mary to the western hemisphere, and how she “will intervene for us today and overwhelm the darkness with the brightness of her presence once again.” Pick up a copy of the Beacon and read it for yourself.

I’m unable to let Mark’s article go unanswered, because in it he makes some dangerous assertions that are disturbing to any Christian who believes in God’s word. You see, he throws around a lot of praises of an apparition purporting to be a “Blessed Mother” whose claims are nothing but Satanic in nature. Catholics who fall prey to these apparitions need only to consult the Bible to see that they’re being deceived. While my tone in this post seems pretty harsh, I’m only being serious because this is very serious stuff, folks. This post is written out of concern for God’s truth, and I ask your forgiveness that I can’t always convey my care in a very loving tone. It’s out of love that I sound the alarm here…please bear with me.

Ask any catholic whether they worship Mary, and they’ll try to avoid the issue, claiming instead that she’s merely revered, esteemed, or something similar. Yet they claim that she takes the place of Jesus and exalt her to a role which she never claimed and which was never bestowed upon her. Nowhere in the Bible is she ever given the position to which they try to promote her. When told about his mother wanting to see him, Jesus said, “My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it” (Luke 8:21). In Luke 11:27 a woman exclaims how the mother of Jesus must be blessed, to which Jesus replies, “Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28). Mary herself knew she was a sinner in need of the Messiah to come, which it turns out she would bear: “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” (Luke 1:45-48) So neither Jesus nor Mary claim that she’s special aside from being chosen to bear the Messiah, yet millions of people today try to turn her into a false God. They claim they don’t, but they pray to her for things that only God can provide. That’s blasphemy and idolatry.

Most importantly, let’s look at Mark’s claim that Mary will “intervene for us today and overwhelm the darkness with the brightness of her presence once again.” Let me point out that the Bible says “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Timothy 2:5). Romans 8:24 tells us that “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” The Hebrews were told about Jesus: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) We don’t need Mary to interceed, intervene, or do any other sort of thing that Jesus Christ himself does for us. Anyone or anything that tries to replace Jesus Christ is of the devil, plain and simple. If you run across something, no matter how miraculous, who tries to usurp the authority given to the Son of God, you’re face to face with the devil or one of his angels. According to the Bible, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12) We need no purported brightness of the presence of Mary or any other. Check your Bible…it’s in there.

The blasphemous idolatry toward Mary is blatant. Take, for instance, the “Hail Mary” prayer. It starts out innocent enough: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” Nothing wrong there, the wording closely resembles that of Luke chapter 1. But then things take a turn for the worse: “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners…” That’s just plain blasphemous. As I’ve stated above, only Jesus stands ready to intercede for us with God the Father. Nobody in the entire Bible attempts to exalt themselves to the level of God except the devil himself. Mary never did it either. It takes something very sinister to start presenting that in churches which claim to follow Jesus.

This also brings up the larger issue of Catholicism vs. Christianity. The Bible tells us throughout its text that we are saved by faith. For example, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Catholic Church, on the other hand, claims that the sacraments are necessary for salvation. A quick read of the current Catechism shows that “the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation” and “Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify.” They mix the word “grace” with the underhanded tactic of saying that you must work for that grace. These are the same folks that are confirming these apparitions and deeming them worthy of worship. Let’s not forget that Peter said we are “kept by the power of God through grace until salvation” (I Peter 1:5) or that Paul wrote “…But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” (Romans 5:15) Jesus died once to save us, just like Adam sinned once to condemn us. We don’t need to try to perform sacraments to do what Jesus has already done on our behalf. If you don’t accept his sacrifice on the cross, where he declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30) as payment enough for your sin, then you do not believe in the Jesus of the Bible.

It all comes down to your final authority. If you get your answers and your doctrine only from a church of men (catholic or otherwise) without a clear basis in the Bible, you’re liable to fall for anything. If you go to the Bible, the inerrant word of God, you have something which stands proven and doesn’t change, despite the best efforts of men. God doesn’t change, and neither does his gospel. Check out Galatians 1:8, where Paul warns: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Trying to substitute Mary for Jesus in any capacity is in direct contradiction with the gospel as preached by the apostles and recorded in the Bible. Piling conditions, works, and sacraments on top of the grace that is freely given is the same sin. If the scripture is not good enough for you, and you choose some other final authority, then that’s your decision. But you cannot claim to be Christian while seeking a substitute for Christ. You cannot be a Christian while trying to substitute works for his grace. It just doesn’t work.

Here’s an analogy: I’ve got a nice entertainment center at home. I’d really like to program my VCR using the remote for my satellite receiver, because it would be much easier for me. I don’t like the VCR remote, or having to do it the way the VCR was manufactured. But the fact of the matter is, the VCR will only work one way: if I read the manual and follow it to the letter. Your soul has an owner’s manual: the Bible. If your soul is sitting on the shelf, blinking “12:00” all the time, then you’ve got serious trouble. Dig out that owner’s manual and get the truth. Quit trying to do things your own way, because the next thing you know, you’ll be worshiping a piece of cloth from Mexico with someone’s face print in it.

As for these apparitions themselves, I’ll just let the Bible speak for itself: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” You can find these words in I John chapter 4. That’s not me talking, that’s God’s word. In accounts of these apparitions of “Mary” where this test is applied, “Mary” changes the subject and vanishes.

I’ve known and/or worked with Mark for over fifteen years and don’t doubt his good intentions, but that article last month was nothing short of blasphemy. If you want more truth about the apparitions claiming to be Mary, and even Jesus, check out the book “Quite Contrary” at BibleSoft.com. But even more importantly, read your Bible…all of it, not just the parts that might prove your point if taken out of context. I was raised and confirmed a devout Catholic…private schools, altar boy, the whole works…but I’d never been told to do anything with a Bible except carry it in front of the priest. Once I read my Bible, my eyes were opened. I encourage you to do the same. Read it cover to cover, and you’ll be surprised what’s in there…and what’s not.

A life well lived

Posted on by
Reply

Friday I attended the funeral of Bob, the father and grandpa of some dear friends of mine. It’s always hard to watch people you love as they grieve. While we know that Bob is in heaven, a place of unspeakable joy, it’s obviously very hard for his loved ones to say goodbye. I knew Bob…not very well, but enough to smile when I would see him and shake his hand, and enough to remember him in prayer when obstacles to his health would come up. I learned a lot more about him on Friday as his pastor and friends spoke about him. Any man would be honored to be remembered as Bob is, and for some reason I saw the reasons why with remarkable clarity that day. Such an occasion tends to make a guy wistfully introspective about how he’s seen and will be remembered by others. From that introspection comes this epiphany.

If I was asked how I would identify myself, the answer would vary over time. In the 80’s I’d have said computer “hacker” or, while I lived at Big Sky, simply a snowboard bum. In the 90’s and beyond it would probably have been as a mountain biker or Hakkoryu karateka. All that time it would have been as a motorcycle racer and by my job at KFYR-TV. I suppose I could also throw in video animator, scuba diver, photographer, semi-anonymous blogger… but do any of those things really count?

Last year, as folks were teasing me about my independence vanishing the day PJ is born, my friend Chuck told me something that sums it al up. He said I’ve had a remarkable young manhood, but now it’s time for a new manhood to begin. He couldn’t have said it better or more succinctly. Of course, having been a bachelor for a LONG time, I find myself resisting that role…but I’m coming around. I’ve got a little boy next to me now who’s put life into an entirely different perspective, one I couldn’t have anticipated even up to the very minute he was born.

Through my youth (and I’m not old yet) I relished the fact that I was known as an adrenaline junkie. After a while my idea of “getting serious” was by letting my job at the TV station define me. I suppose that’s typical for a guy, to let himself be defined by his occupation or something he’s passionate about…or both. But adrenaline wears off and careers change…who am I then?

Since I left the TV job and have slowed down a little bit, I didn’t know what kind of identity I have. I knew I didn’t want to be thought of as “that motorcycle guy” forever. But who am I? I still cling to live TV, and miss doing it every day more than I can describe. There’s the fact that I started writing again and picked up photography as an art, starting this blog…but that’s no identity. Heck, I don’t even get paid for this, and in the interest of my family’s safety, I don’t even divulge many specifics about who I am. But aside from smoking tires and pinned together bones & scars, ESPN etc. shirts and crew passes, artsy pictures and questionable writing, there’s gotta be something of substance…right?

As I listened to the people talk about Bob and watched a slideshow of family pictures, it occurred to me: it only matters who a man is. The identity part will take care of itself.

Bob was a Christian in the way he lived his life and in volunteering for Focus on the Family and as a Gideon. In other words, it wasn’t just a label. Look at the family that misses him, and it’s obvious that Bob succeeded as a husband and father (even grandfather!). We got to hear as his pastors and friends shared memories of Bob’s friendship and concern for others that will remain very dear to them. Finally it struck me: Bob was a Christian, a husband, a father, and a friend. I’d put two and two together and come up with a very profound four. Looking around at the kids and grandkids, listening to the memories shared by his pastor, his Gideon brothers, and his friends, I was surprised at the things that made Bob so dear to these people fit neatly into those four characteristics. I needed only to see his impact on the people in church that day to see that Bob had succeeded in each of those four roles. That’s what I want.

The convicting part, of course, is that it requires a man to step up. You can’t be known as a Christian if you’re not out there sharing your faith and behaving accordingly. You can’t be selfish with your time and accidentally become a good husband or father. A true friend is ever present in times of trouble. None of these things come easily, and they all require sacrifice and selflessness. Who would have thought a person would have to set themselves aside in order to have an identity they can be proud of!

Like I said, any guy would be honored to have a group of friends and family to remember them so lovingly someday. Who’d have ever thought that touching so many people over the years, while certainly not easy, could be so simple? I guess you can count me among those who Bob touched, because I’m going to use this moment of unusual clarity of vision to inspire me to be a better Christian, husband, father, and friend. In the end, it will be a life well lived.

Glen Schmidt Family

Posted on by
Reply

Tuesday night the Glen Schmidt Family performed at a local nursing home, and I had the pleasure of joining the folks there to watch and listen. This family plays gospel music with what I consider to be sort of a bluegrass twist, and they’re a definite must-see any time you’ve got the opportunity. I’m not just saying that because they’re my friends!

There are a couple of particular songs they perform that are stirring to the soul, but my favorite has to be “I’ll Fly Away.” When they wrap up the show with this hymn, I’m powerless to fight the waterworks as it always moves me to tears. Sometimes I last until the point where they invite everyone to join in, but the thought of everyone in heaven singing like that someday is overpowering. Tuesday night I actually made it all the way to the truck, but that’s as far as I got. Their music is simply lovely.

They’ve got a CD for sale too – you can listen to the songs and place an order on their website at www.glenschmidtfamily.com. They play at Buckstop Junction during the summer, as well as a variety of other events in Bismarck-Mandan and surrounding communities. I invite you to listen and buy a CD – you’ll be moved by the music and will be supporting a really special ministry.

The true meaning of Christmas

Posted on by
Reply


Despite all the efforts to combat it, Christmas is here. What was once a celebration of Christ’s birth has become artfully hijacked. In some ways it’s been converted into a time of commercialism. In others it’s become simply a time of tradition; family, food, fun. I’m not saying the exchange of gifts is bad and, quite frankly, this world needs more tradition and family time. Whether good or bad, these things are a distraction from the true meaning of Christmas.

One thing I first realized when I became a Christian is that there’s way more to the Christmas story than I’d ever known. Jesus didn’t suddenly spring up and change the way God dealt with man forever; his birth was foretold. Around the time of his conception, you didn’t have to explain to an Israelite who the Messiah was. He was foretold by the prophets. His lineage was known and predicted, as well as his birthplace of Bethlehem. They were literally waiting for him to arrive.

Another thing I realized is that we Gentiles are not God’s chosen people; Israel is. We, however, through the faith in Jesus that his nation didn’t have, are grafted in. In both the old and new testaments, Jesus is referred to as a light to the Gentiles. As Paul points out in Romans, the grace God shows the Gentiles is intended to provoke Israel to jealousy. He made a covenant with them that he will not break, and his wish is that they’d come around.

The Christmas story as told in Luke is simply beautiful. I love to try to picture that starry night (because I’m a starry night kind of guy) and the magnitude of the events that unfolded around Jesus’ birth. People were waiting for his birth. This night was prophecy fulfilled, the opportunity for God’s chosen people to be redeemed. Later on, because he wasn’t the type of Messiah they wanted, they rejected him. When Stephen was stoned in Acts chapter 7, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He was ready to redeem his people, but again they rejected him and killed the messenger, Stephen. Thus we are now in the church age, the time of the Gentiles.

Christmas 2006 has been such a mix of feelings for our household. First off is our little Christmas present, the handome little PJ who was born last week. On the down side, we’re experiencing another brown Christmas. Once the snow comes to stay each year, I load the Minidisc of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in my truck and don’t take it out till Spring. This year the snow left. It’s really hard to get in the spirit of driving around with Stacy, looking at lights, and listening to Vince Gauraldi when the roads and lawns are barren. It takes the spirit right out of it.

One other down side every Christmas is that my dad disowned me when he found out I wasn’t going to a Catholic church any more. He hasn’t spoken to me since, and it’s been two or three years now. I don’t remember the exact time it started. He didn’t attend my wedding, didn’t visit us in the hospital when our boy was born, and his only response to the news that he’s got a grandson was to hand the phone to my mom. If I come to the house, he leaves the room until I have left. I can’t really get too upset by dwelling on it, because it’s his decision. The man that told me all through my youth that it’s important not to ever leave a loved one on bad terms, because there’s no telling if something might take them from you, has thrown his own advice out the window. Hopefully little PJ will help soften his heart, along with our prayers.

There were little victories, too…Christmas displays were allowed to stand in Chicago and Seattle. Store employees wished “Merry Christmas” except for certain stores (which I boycotted). The Northern Lights showed off their colors just two weeks before Christmas. Friends and family have come back to Bismarck-Mandan to visit, and there’s plenty of time to reminisce. My friend Reed and the rest of his aviation unit are home from Bosnia in time for the holidays. Today, Christmas Eve, marks the 9th anniversary of the day I brought Scooter home from The Birdhouse, tucked in a little pet carrier box which I stuffed in my coat to keep him warm. He’s sitting on my shoulder right now, feathers fluffed, and leaning against my earlobe. He’s spent many years there while I stare at the computer screen, and sometimes I feel I should split some of my freelance money with him.

Aside from PJ and Scooter, the most treasured memory I will retain from Christmas 2006 was the time spent caroling at one of Bismarck’s nursing homes this year. As we walked the halls singing, many residents would stand in their doorways and sing along. I could barely continue through the tears when I’d see a little old lady standing at the entrance to her room, singing the fourth verse of Joy to the World (or any of our other Christmas hymns) by heart. These days most people, myself included, don’t even know how many verses the popular Christmas hymns have, and certainly don’t know the words to those verses. I was touched beyond description. If you ever have the opportunity to go caroling for these folks, don’t let it pass you by. It will leave you a changed person.

Having the baby a little ahead of our expectations has kinda cramped my style of last-minute shopping. I tend to go to Kirkwood mall once a year (not counting Scheel’s), mostly because I don’t care for having to shield my eyes from the way the girls are dressed down there. This time I cranked up my iPod, put my head down, and finished my shopping all in one day. I managed to get almost all the Snoopy keepsake ornaments from Hallmark, too. Among the random songs came a couple of Christmas songs by gospel singer Robert Robinson, whose voice will send shivers up your spine. If you saw a guy with watery eyes wearing a motorcycle jacket and an iPod, that was me.

Two events that always signal the Christmas week are: James Bond marathons and the 24-hour “Christmas Story” marathon on TBS. I own the DVD of “Christmas Story” after being introduced to the movie in 2003. How I went 20 years without discovering this masterpiece (and Christmas staple) is beyond me…but that has been rectified. And I still watch it on satellite, despite the fact that the DVD sits ready and waiting. What can I say, it’s tradition. We also watched the usual Frosty the Snowman and other Rankin-Bass features, because they’re tradition too. I’m not going to teach my kids that there’s a Santa Claus, but I do find the TV specials entertaining.

Because our plans got put back a little bit, we’re likely to spend Christmas Day opening gifts and that sort of thing. My brother made it back for the weekend, so we’ll see him briefly. It seems like all our loved ones in town are sick or have sick kids, so we’re staying home to isolate our little boy from any unwanted germs. After all, he still won’t be a week old on Christmas day. It’ll just be the four of us, counting Scooter, and it’s the stuff memories are made of. I hope your Christmas is as memorable as mine. If you’ve got anything you’d like to share about your Christmas, please enter it as a comment. Merry Christmas!