While conversing about our true purpose...

Just after a conversation about...

While visiting with friends in the mountains, an afternoon squall came up and drove everybody indoors for a siesta, while we waited for the storm to pass.  Conversations deepened. Discussions about life purpose, true callings, gifts, burdens and responsibilities filled the kitchen.  Big picture conversations about getting the most out of life, living life to the fullest and doing our personal very best!

We pondered options and variables and asked the questions, "What if?" "How can anyone know?" "What does it take?" "Do we sacrifice the great and only do the good?" "What if we are supposed to be doing something else?" 

We were stuck on the concrete, even though we live in the abstract.

Then we turned around and saw this rainbow, literally right at the close of that conversation.

This rainbow reminded us of God's presence.  His guidance and provision support us and sustaining.

The rainbow wasn't the answer.  The rainbow wasn't the direction or even a clue to the answer but a reminder of Him.  The answer we were looking for was in response to career questions.  It seemed like our answer wasn't the answer but He was the answer.  He is the answer to our questions.  He will provide.

We often fret and worry about details when He repeatedly reminds us not to worry. 

Maybe the answer is in the process of asking the question, articulating our perceived issues, then trusting him for the answer, in his time.

Not every opportunity is one of simple yes or no.  Frost reminds us to consider the path less traveled. The Word discusses a narrow road and a wide road.  Interstates and jeep trails and forks in every path clarify our focus and priority!

Genesis has a story (Chapter 22) where Abraham is willing to sacrifice his good for something even greater.  This happened when Abraham held onto his son with an open hand, willing to allow God to provide!  How tight do we hold on?  ...  

This different view of the same valley shows a new perspective. We did get to see the big picture!  From the neighboring mountains this desert valley is still gorgeous!

How tight do we hold on to what we have? Who we are? What we think? Believe? or Know?

Just after a conversation about...

Why write?

Here we are in Branson enjoying the beginning of a summer break. In the middle of snowmagedden, it helps to remember. The view from this lookout over Tablerock Lake inspired many deep conversations.

When I sit down to write, there are times when I am not sure where I am going with the topic.  My thoughts wander from idea to idea.  This randomness might not be a bad thing when jotting notes or blogs, but it might not be the best way to write a letter to a friend.  Using written words to effectively communicate with others may take some planning or forethought.  For instance, if I have a blog idea and start writing about good teaching but it flows into a discussion about classroom management, it appears random.  If however, I was writing an email to teachers, I might try and be more concise, organized and deliberate.  Every sentence is not really a record of my thought process but a conveyance of a single idea, topic or point.
As we look at Ephesians, Paul begins by sharing about how the message that was for just one group of people now includes all peoples.  The haves and have nots are now the same group. He shares some spiritual implications, then gets right to the action.  (It seems like he addresses the beliefs, then the behaviors of those claiming that belief.). There are behaviors among this new group of people that he serves to address in the letter.  Living alongside each other is that theme and he expands on a few points.  Behaviors and how each should act towards the other, such as being nice and polite seem simple but must have been necessary for his intended audience to hear.  Of course he also addresses indulgences in interpersonal relationships and gluttony.  Regarding the relationships, he touches on both the public and private relationships, outside and inside the family.
Finally, Paul gets to the last ten percent.  The real reason for the letter.  The Armor of God, famous in its own right, yet today, the question is how does it and why is in connected to these other topics?  The prior paragraph may supply a hint.  It seems the people were looking to blame each other, bicker and squabble and direct energy against one another and not to the actual enemy.  The battle is a spiritual battle and not against each other.  These people were getting distracted by other peoples behaviors, actions and maybe even beliefs but this letter intended to neutralize that natural bent.  He just wanted them to get along, yet that is always the hardest thing to accomplish.  They were distracted by behaviors and couldn't love one another.
Looking at the armor of god with that in mind and we see a new perspective.  The belt of truth is exactly how we are to dialogue with others.  Talk in truth.  Doing the right thing is more then just a cute slogan but a command.  He says to put on the breastplate of righteousness and means just that.  Keep things formal.  Keep things proper.  Keep things from dissolving into four set talk or joking but do the right thing!  Having our feet in the boots of the Gospel of peace speaks to the way we act, knowing we are doing what we are supposed to be doing while actually just living our day to day lives.  The shield of faith vitally protects us from the discouraging words from others as well as the tough words we speak to ourselves.  It seems we know best how to bring up all and any negative thoughts, especially when it comes to the ones that gave the greatest impact.  We know what hurts the worst and are not afraid to go there.  Our faith puts those flaming darts out.  The remembering of our faith eliminates those arrows that would otherwise discourage to the point of failure.  The helmet of salvation and the knowledge or understanding doctrinal issues actually serve to protect us.  We become confident that we know what we know but bring a helmet, we don't bludgeon other people with what we know.  In fact our only offensive weapon is the sword of the spirit or the word of god.  The name of Jesus is our weapon.  If we are called into a hostile situation, our device of choice is his name.  For us to attack, we would only use one implement.  Especially against others.  Jesus.
Paul wrote for them to play fair, use kindness and treat each other with respect.  It seems like he was all over the board but in fact, he was focused and driven, trying to get them to be nice. 
I write to gather, orgainze and think through hard thoughts.  Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't?