That I May Know Him

I was 15 years old when father purchased a Saturn.  The Saturn was so beloved that my father would wash and waxed it at every opportunity.  One day I needed to get the mower, which was parked in front of the Saturn, in order to fulfill my weekly yard duties.  I grabbed the keys and began backing out the Saturn and quickly noticed that for some reason I was stuck.  I put the car in drive and then heard the noise that is far worse than nails on a chalkboard.  Yes, I had wedged my father's new car against the brick at the entrance of the garage.  Immediately, fear seized my heart as well as guilt and dread.  I carefully parked the car and got out to observe the damage.  I quickly noticed chalky white streaks on the shiny red paint.  I wiped at the quarter panel with my hand and fully realized that the finely waxed car was no longer smooth.  I ran to the cabinet in the garage and grabbed the one thing that I thought would...

Exodus 20 We are all worshipers.  Our Creator knows our hearts very well.  Unfortunately, there is a tendency for us as followers of Christ to look at far away cultures and even cults and scoff at their idols and how they worhsip.  We shake our heads at golden statues shrines and prayer wheels.  Thinking we are a far superior people because we follow Christ.  The reality is that we are as much of idol worshipers as they are.  We may not have golden statues and prayer wheels but we do put all kind of things before God.  And we fail to remember our former life apart from Christ.  We must continiue to remember that an idol is anything that we put in the place of God.  Even pastors tend toward pastor worship.  We at times exault a favorite pastor/leader and their teaching above what we even read in the Scriptures.  We battle over who is more Biblical or concervative.  We...

Ethan in the 2011 Christmas Program I would like to share something that my son, Ethan, wrote last week.  He is in second grade.  I am going to present it letter by letter. "I have a dream that everyone will Stop beliving in evalution like the big bang and that monkeys are our antsesters.  I belive someday everyone will go to church and belive that Jesus died on a cross for our sins.  I hope people will when they die go to heaven."  By: Ethan Dayton 1/4/12 When I got home I had barely gotten through the door when he ran up and thrust his papers into my hands.  "Read this, Daddy!"  he chanted over and over.  Once I removed my book bag, coat, and shoes I sat down and read the paper.  I was blown away to learn that he had written this paper in class at school.   I was deeply touched.  As a father who does devotions and prays with his little guy I was blown away.  He told me that he learned about Martin...

Exodus 17-18 I love puzzles and mysteries.  I remember a short-run television show called Push, Nevada .  It offered those who watched the show the chance to get involved and search for clues.  The clues were found in the opening credits, in the lines of the characters, and on objects throughout the episodes.  The goal was to put the clues together and solve the mystery for a chance to win $1,045,000.  Another more recent examples would be the show, Lost .  I admit that my wife and I got swept up intently watching season after season and even checking out special websites and other pertinent information.  Ultimately, we ended up buying all the seasons of Lost so that we could take the journey again in the future. As a child I would scour our house looking for interesting trinkets and objects.  In fact I loved traveling to grandparents or relatives houses for much the same reason.  At a young age I began to find my Chr...

Exodus 4-11 I began this quest through Exodus as an attempt to refresh myself with the Old Testament.  Throughout college and seminary I loved my Old Testament classes.  I have over the last eight years taught through the lives of many of the people in the Old Testament (OT).  My favorite study that we did in OT class was through the Kings of the OT.  A few months back I finished teaching through Genesis.  I then began to read through various epistles and and books at the end of the New Testament.  Finally, I sat and thought about how long it had been since I studied through the OT.  Here I am in Exodus.  I am loving it. My current problem is reading Exodus without pictures of Charlton Heston and the Prince of Egypt drifting through my head.  It is amazing how imprinted those visuals are in my brain.  I am working primarily from the Bible and several OT historical background books that I have in my library....

Exodus 3 Patience is not always my best virtue.  In fact I have taught my son to be frustrated and impatient as I take him to school every morning.  For the last three years I have driven my son to school and dropped him off out front nearly every day.  And for three years it has been the same thing over and over.  Often there is a line of vehicles waiting to drop off children at the front entrance.  The driveway is a circle that is marked by a yellow line to tell parents how far to pull ahead  so that the maximum number of children can be dropped off at once.  There is even a teacher or two waving vehicles to pull ahead so that more kids can be dropped off and the line can move faster.  Parents have been told to stay inside of their vehicles, to have their children to exit only off to the side of the sidewalk, and if they have a project to bring to school to be sure to park in the parking lot and walk it in.  Letters and emails ha...

Yesterday was a fun day.  I did not get a lot accomplished in the office at all (insert sad face) but I did go to Ethan and Ari's Thanksgiving parties (big smiles)!!!  Ari was a beautiful little Indian maiden in her program.  In it she proudly proclaimed her thankfulness for her big brother all the while collecting food scattered on the floor in front of her to help the pilgrims for their feast.  Following the packed out program we got to sit and talk with some great friends who have at one time or another been apart of our small group. A few hours later we went to Ethan's school for his Thanksgiving program.   My son has a flair for the theatrics!!!  Ari, Kelly, and I watched all of the other boys and girls struggle to read their lines from a paper.  Then Ethan would always bound up to the microphone with a big smile and deliver his lines that he had memorized with as much exuberance as possible.  I was ve...

Leviticus 10:1-2, I Samuel 2:12 - 3:18, 8:1-5 I don't think most guys (not boys) truly appreciate their fathers until they are older.  Unfortunately, some guys never appreciate their fathers.  And some fathers live in such a way they should not be appreciated.  We live in a culture brimming with men who have major Daddy issues.  Part of that problem can be from the immaturity of the guy.  Much of it can be from fathers who choose emotional (and even physical) distance as opposed to loving warmth and guidance.  Perhaps they choose harsh criticism instead of kind support.  Or maybe they live by the closed fist instead of an open embrace.  Men may not fully comprehend the effect or power that they hold on their children (or those who are under their care).  Aaron, Eli, Samuel all had despicable sons.  Let's look briefly at them. Aaron's Sons : Nadab and Abihu On the first day of the priesthood.  ...

Talley's normal position!!! Exodus 1 I love our dog.  Her name is Talley.  She is a beautiful beagle/German shepherd mix.  Her fur is soft and she is very well tempered.  After twelve years of having her in our life I have noticed that she has the gift of napping.   In fact I am pretty confident that 20 hour a day are filled with naps and sleep.  Our children will play with her ears and paws and she won't even budge.  Don't get me wrong she loves walks and to play but that usually brings even longer naps.  Yeah, I totally envy her.  She is a very comfortable and comforting dog. I have been reading through Exodus.  Over the last several years I have spent a lot of time in the New Testament.  So, now I turn to early Israelite history to see myself and my God.  I recently taught through Abraham to Joseph (I am also reading that with my son).   So, now I turn to Moses. When I ready that first chapter I ...

Romans 1:8-17 I will never forget Ruth. I did not know her that well as a child; even though she was a Sunday School teacher. But as I became a young adult we began building a relationship. I am not sure of how we began our relationship. I just remember its effect and impact on my life. You see, everyone needs a Ruth in their life. And everyone needs to be a Ruth in someone elses life. Ruth was quite simply a prayer warrior. She was advanced in years when I began building a relationship with her. She was no longer able to teach the little girls Sunday school class that she taught for decades and that she so deeply loved. She could not get around like she once was able to. Her health problems meant that she was quickly declining. She is the only person that I have ever met that wore out her knees in prayer. She would constantly remind me that she consistantly prayed for me. I felt honored and unworthy at the same time. Paul spoke often on prayer. He told the chu...

Ephesians 2:1-10 Today there is an increasing popularity with anything zombie oriented.  There are a lot of books, movies, and even music.  In fact in most cities there are Zombie Walks held annually.  More and more people put on the gory makeup, the tattered clothing, and shamble down the streets.  Several universities have zombie infection events where students shamble across campus spreading the infection over a multi day period.  The goal is to be one of the last of the living.  I personally get a kick of of the whole zombie subculture.  I take that back.  I look forward to zombie conversations because it is a great vehicle that allows me to share the gospel.  A great description of our state before Christ is the zombie.  The zombie is completely oblivious that it is dead.  It shambles anywhere seeking to fulfill it's insatiable hunger.  Before Christ I was one of the walking dead. ...

I Peter 5:8-9 I have a real weakness for Jif peanut butter.  We I can't even say weakness.  It is more like an addiction.  Someone from my church, who knows my love for Jif, convinced me to put it on a hamburger.  That is the only time I did not like Jif.  But my addiction has lead to a rise in my cholesterol and my waistline!!!  Three months ago I broke the spell that Jif has on me.  Since then my cholesterol has dropped significantly and I have lost about 30lbs.  I am amazed at the dramatic loss.  But I know that I am one spoonful away from my addiction again.  I do not mean to mock addictions.  Mine was not alcohol, meth, or weed.   Mine is food and it is just as destructive to my body. I say all that because I have a real weakness for food.  Drugs do not get my attention at all.  I can even enjoy the occasional glass of Merlot without any reaction.  When stress arises my desire for late night snack...

I was talking to a good friend over coffee this morning. We were talking about guys and relationships. We discussed how difficult it is for guys to take the time to invest in real, healthy, growing, Christ-centered relationships. Sure guys hang out for the game or do the occasional stop and chat. But the depth beyond, Hey man, how it going?" is completely absent. Men have become islands. With that I think that it is a pervasive problem effecting all Christians. With all the sin, temptation and struggle that we go through we choose to go it alone without the help of brothers and sisters for support and encouragement. That is a painful and depressing way to live. Even spouses become to busy with life to sit and have an intimate conversation filled with Christ's truth and encouragement. Satan has deceived us into thinking that our relationship with Christ and with others bring in neutral or low maintenance is alright. The reality is that we toil away at everything (...

I Peter 3:8-12 For nearly a decade a picture has been on the wall next to my desk. What it communicates I still strive to comprehend. It is called, "Forgiven." It shows a man with hammer and nail in his hands held up by a risen Christ. I am that man. My sin nailed Christ upon the cross. His love for me kept him there. When I stop and think of the shear magnitude of my own sins that his blood atones for I am amazed. It is difficult to grasp the forgiveness of my own sins let alone the sins of the elect. One word comes to my mind. Unworthy. I am UNWORTHY. I do not understand why. And yet, as amazed as I am, I am still harboring anger and a strong lack of forgiveness in my own heart. At one time I was very laid back. But today and for months I have struggled with fierce anger. By fierce I mean tearing, bludgeoning, and raging anger. Regularly verses like Romans 12:17-21 and I Peter 3:8-12 course though my mind. God's Word restrains me. His Grace constrai...

I Peter 2:4-12 It started in the garden. That is when humanity began passing the buck. Instead of accepting responsibility for what he had done in eating the apple Adam pointed at God and Eve. The other problem is that he hid. Today this is seen in weak marriages, poor performance in jobs, and us allowing everyone else the responsibility of raising our children. We blame our spouse, we blame our boss, and we allow teachers, television, video games, and pop culture to raise our children. It is no wonder that marriages are failing and children walk away from God the first chance they have. I still love Keith Green's song, Asleep in the Light. I think that describes the modern church. We no longer see ourselves as Peter describes us as strangers and foreigners. No do we live as God's living stones in his holy temple or as priests. We live as though there will be a U-Haul behind our hearse. We live as though the gospel is secondary. American Christianity is failing. ...

I Peter 1:21 - 2:3 We are called to sincere real love. It is expected that since we have trusted in Christ's work and we are committed to following Him then that should be what compels us forward in our life. We must crave pure spiritual milk. We must be nourished by God. The problem is that we tend in action to crave filthy water. We settle for a cool refreshing liquid that is filled with particles, bacteria, and virus'. That filthy water is our acting loving, kind, and gracious in our hearts and yet being filled with deceit, bitterness, and anger. Throughout our day thousands of thoughts sweep though our minds. It is our choice to cling to certain thought processes and foster them. It is also our choice what we fill our lives with (or even who we fill our lives with). Filthy water results in diarrhea everywhere. We cannot fill our lives with filth and expect health. Likewise we cannot surround our selves with bad influences (people in our lives, those things we w...

I Peter 1:15-16 In trying to fit into our culture we have increasingly downplayed personal holiness. If you search holiness on the internet you find pictures of Dalai Lama the Pope and other well-known gurus. If you refine your search you can even come up with people who are heavily pierced. If you are lucky you might find a picture of Billy Graham. For many the idea of holiness is a foreign concept much like gurus and Dalai Lama. In an effort to appear more normal than people and groups like Fred Phelps and his wacky Westboro Church we neuter our faith by our silence. The the issue arises of how we live and communicate in a manner that shatters the cultural misconceptions. Is that possible? Remember, Christ did not call us to beat people with the cross but to proclaim the gospel boldly and clearly. Hate is not the gospel. I would also say that magician and performer Penn Jillette is correct in his estimation that we must really hate someone to know the gospel and the path t...

I Peter 1:13-20 Do my compulsions and addictions control me? In Christ am I continuing to live as though I am not in Christ? I have to say that I like Peter. He understands compulsions. To act or speak without thinking or considering the consequences. At times self control seems foreign to him. Peter was lopping off ears, climbing out of boats onto water, jumping naked off of boats, cursing and denying, and much more. Perhaps what we see as impulsive, bombastic, erratic, and at times crazy behavior God sees as directable usable passion. What we would sidestep or cast off God would embrace and utilize. Peter calls us to be clear and to not slip back into old patterns. Our desire should be holiness. And that desire should be driven by Christ's work on our behalf.

I must admit that I love the ocean. Salty air and the smell of sand bring back many of my fondest memories. Those memories involve riding a catamaran, playing, or swimming in the ocean. Nearly every year from grade school to high school my family went to the ocean. I loved walking out into the water chest deep so that I could swim and play. Early on I discovered something that I should have listened to my mother's warnings about. My mother told me to always watch were I was in the ocean bacause I could drift out further or drift down the shoreline. I remember thinking my mom was crazy so I would just walk out and do my thing in the water. One particular time I looked up from playing and swimming and noticed that I was much much farther out and nothing in front of me was familiar. Paniced, I swam in and staggered around the beach trying to figure out were I was. Nothing looked familiar. Mom was not sitting there watching me. I must have drifted down over a mile and I did not realize...

I have been thinking about my buddy Luke a lot recently. Partly because he just sent me a great text message. He said that he is in IHOP with his friend Chris (who helped him drive everything to Florida) and they were sitting next to Edge from WWE. I responded that he should see if Edge would support he and Sarah. It is a nice thought. Anyway, Luke said something two weeks ago that is still ringing in my soul. It quote that is not foreign to me. But God gripped my attention this time. The quote was by, the British Missionary to China who also founded Heart of Africa Mission, C T Studd. He said, "Only one life, it'll soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." Those powerful words reverberate in my soul like a pounding gong. I am the king of excuses and time wasting. So, now when I am going about my day C T Studd's words grip me. They shake me. And they refocus me. I am deeply thankful for the great men and women of the past who boldly lived daily in lig...