It was a typical early spring London afternoon, damp, low overhanging clouds, rain showers growing more frequent. I was in London playing “Granny” to two grandsons, three and one and a half. Two cousins, aged seven and five, joined us. By now the baby had awakened from his nap. A long, unplanned afternoon loomed with restless children. Adult action was necessary.

We headed to a nearby recreation center and “queued” for tickets for the next Kid’s House of Fun hour. We entered a child’s paradise, a giant bounce/play house: three stories tall, with at least a 900 sq. ft footprint. For about 20 minutes, all, even the baby, enjoyed the paradise of exploring and falling and jumping and climbing and hiding.

And then . . . two larger groups entered, most of the children between 6 and 11. These exuberant children, also restive from a school holiday spent inside, did what comes naturally. They ran through the tunnels and down the slides, bumping one another, knocking each other over, running faster, faster, faster. I felt like I was watching a movie in fast forward as they raced by my watchful eyes in hyper-speed, screaming louder with each pass, heedless who they trampled in the rush to get . . . nowhere. It was just a large maze, and all eventually ended at the same place, exactly where they started.

The rush to get nowhere–how typical of so much of human activity. Rush, rush, rush, hurry here, make that deadline there, don’t be late because something bad will happen, quicker, faster, speedier–GET THERE NOW BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE DONE THIS MINUTE OR . . .!!!!

Or what? What if it doesn’t get done? Well, frankly, sometimes it is pretty darn serious if it doesn’t get done. Some parts of life must be met head on with speed and expertise. But our frantic pace insists if something can be done faster, then it should be done faster. Our lives mirror the House of Fun maze. Racing through it faster only means getting back to where we began, and when we get there, we are tired, sweaty, and unsatisfied.

Stop. Just stop. Breathe deeply. Feel your heartbeat. Find silence and listen to it. Hear the wind in the trees; see if you can catch bird notes and crickets. Skip an activity, turn off the computer, the TV or DVD player, the iPod, your mobile phone. Do nothing. Even without your help, the earth will still rotate and the tides will come in and out. Life will go on. Stop. Listen not only for your heartbeat but for the heartbeat of God. Look for the redeeming love that holds the entire universe together, including the space where you sit this very moment. You are held, pondered, crooned over by the love of the Divine One.

Just stop for a while each day. Leave the frantic circular maze. The world will not end. And yours might begin again in freshness and renewed awareness of God.

The Rev. Dr. Christy Thomas, Pastor, First UMC, Krum
www.thekrumchurch.com, 214-418-9541, www.krumchurch.blogspot.com

Several years ago there was a movie out called The Perfect Storm. It was about some fisherman caught at sea during an extratropical nor’easter which ultimately evolved into an unusual hurricane off the Atlantic coast. As several different weather patterns collided, the storm it caused created waves up to 100 feet high. From a meteorologist’s perspective (not a fisherman’s perspective), it was “the perfect storm.”

Have you ever found yourself in the midst of a perfect storm? Have you ever seen issues from all directions collide at once…with you in the middle?!

I read an article by another pastor recently who believed our nation is in a perfect storm. Just like in the movie, where all the varying weather conditions led to a convergence of one great maelstrom, so it is spiritually in our nation.

What issues are converging to create the perfect storm in America?
• Religion – our nation is becoming increasingly secularized, but not without a struggle (often referred to as the “cultural war”).
• Politics – are more polarized than ever.
• War – this is a dangerous world.
• Economics – no need for explanation here…
• Geophysical issues – our planet is revolting against our stewardship of it.

We could debate for hours whether it is God who caused this storm or if it has been caused by our greed and allowed by God. But ultimately we get to the point that the storm is here (or at least is quickly approaching).

So what do we need to know to survive this perfect storm that is advancing on our nation? Let me suggest three important things:

1. God always shows Himself powerful in the midst of adversity and difficulty. Whether we’re talking about his saving the nation of Israel through the Red Sea or raising his own Son from the grave, God always comes through in a pinch.

2. Since storms neither affect nor scare God, storms are HIS opportunity to show Himself powerful.

3. Since both of these are true, storms are OUR opportunity to trust Him and let Him move in our lives.

If our nation is in the perfect storm, there are things we can do to batten down the hatches. There are political, economic, and ecological responses. But ultimately, we must turn to the Lord for help. This is what God says:
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV)

If, like me, you see the storm coming, get in a local, life-giving church near you. I’ll see you there…hopefully before the rain starts!

New Life Church services are Sundays at 8:30 am (Robson Ranch campus) and 10:00 am (Denton campus), www.newlifedenton.org

In 1927, the Navy lost the submarine USS S-4 in a collision with the Coast Guard cutter USS Paulding. The first divers to reach the submarine on the ocean floor exchanged signals with the men trapped inside. With stormy seas causing repeated delays, the divers could not make the hose connection until it was too late. The last communication from the men trapped inside tapping on the hull in Morse code was the question: “Is there any hope?”

After hearing the nightly newscast, we may ask the same question. Besides the general news, our personal concerns about marriage, finances, children, job security, and various relationships can leave us feeling hopeless as well. It is estimated that we can live about 40 days without eating food; 4 days without water or other liquids; and about 8 minutes without breathing air – but we cannot really live at all without HOPE!

We need to know that there is hope for our future – something real and genuine to build our lives upon. It is this kind of hope that Peter was reminding his readers of when he wrote about the “reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). Because the powerful truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ had radically transformed his life, Peter’s hope was not in anything subject to change. If we place our trust, our hope, in political leaders, the economy, finances, relationships, or positions we hold or aspire to hold, we are on shaky ground. Because the Son of God promised a unique peace (not the absence of conflict or problems) that is an inside job, His followers are hopeful in the most desperate of times.

The 42nd Psalm details four encouraging reasons for those looking to God as our source of life and peace to be filled with hope at all times.

GOD IS WITH US (v. 2) We forget about God being a person and think of Him as just some being “out there” instead of a personal, living being in us!! His very presence in our lives reminds us that we are not alone as we face the future.

GOD’S FACE IS TOWARD US (v. 5) Like children longing for the attention of a parent, as long as we know He is watching we are filled with joy.

GOD’S STRENTH IS WITHIN US (v. 6) God has both the power to change circumstances or change us no matter what is happening.

GOD’S LOVINGKINDNESS WATCHES OVER US (v.8) God’s love and care for us never changes whether we are up or down.

We are a needy people, but we need not be hopeless in this life or the life to come. When we are anchored to the Creator of heaven and earth, the Creator of our very lives, there is always reason to have hope!

Thinking about the New Year, I was reminded of a disturbing statistic I once read. According to a study, only ten people cry at an average funeral – 10! It gets worse. Once those ten (or fewer) wipe away their tears, the number one factor in determining how many people would join the funeral procession to the graveside service is . . . the weather. The statistics show that if there is rain, 50% would go home and not attend the burial.

Those are depressing statistics, aren’t they? I mean, there’s a possibility that at the end of my life, only 10 people would cry at my service. And then there’s a fifty-fifty chance they might sneak out the back afterwards if the weather is bad.

None of us want that. We all want our lives to count for something. We want to make an impact in this world, to make a powerful statement with our lives, to leave our marks, to leave a legacy for future generations. It is a deep-seated need we all have as humans. But it won’t just happen. You don’t accidentally make a difference in the world. Rather, to leave your mark takes directed effort. When Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?” his reply was simply, “That depends a good deal on where you want to go.”

So where do you want to go in life? What kind of response would you like at your funeral? To get where you want to get in life, you need a vision for your life. The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV).

Of course, none of us have goggles that allow us to see into the future. If we did, we wouldn’t worry so much about the economy and the challenging times ahead. So what kind of vision is the Bible talking about?I think there are two aspects of vision we need. We need a  “rearview mirror” vision as we grasp the ancient wisdom of God and his plans. The Bible says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. (Jeremiah 6:16, NIV).”

We also need a “big picture” vision – the idea that God is in control and finding where we fit into his plans. King Solomon said: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).”

Give yourself to God and let Him give you a vision for your year!

Jim Mann, Ph.D. is Lead Pastor of New Life Church of Denton and a
professor at Colorado Christian University. His New Year resolution is to
stop making New Year’s resolutions!
Find out about New Life at www.newlifedenton.org.