"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline" (2 Timothy 2:6-7). I read that passage yesterday afternoon, surrounded by towering redwood trees. I had hiked up the prayer trail at Opportunity Camp, settling in on a bench that provided a great view of the trees (especially when lying flat on your back). My thoughts and prayers drifted to the kids who were then enjoying open recreation time. I wondered how many of them had someone who spoke into their life the way that Paul spoke into the life of Timothy -- because he believed in Timothy. Too often, those who speak into our lives do not speak the truth into our lives but lies. They tear…
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Every Father's Day since 1996 I have either boarded a plane or drove off in my car headed to the same destination: Opportunity Camp. The camp is located in the little city of Felton; the nearest "big" city is Scotts Valley (by "big" I mean that it has a Starbucks. The "coffee shop" in Felton sells coffee, crystals, and incense). For nearly 50 years, volunteers have come from points across the country to serve at Opportunity Camp. This year we will have staff from the Bay Area, New York City, Seattle, Dallas, and Denver. Among the senior leadership, I have the least seniority and I've been to camp for sixteen years. Our campers are in the Contra Costa County social service pipeline. For many of them, this will not be their first time at our camp. Opportunity Camp engenders tremendous loyalty among our staff for one simple reason: the kids.…
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“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning …” (Luke 12:35, ESV). In my last post, I wrote about the need to live with intention and purpose. As Christ-followers, we are not to be drifters. We're not the ball in a pinball machine, bouncing indiscriminately off bumpers and falling victim to circumstances. How do we "stay dressed for action" and "keep our lamps burning"? Spiritual preparation takes time. Too often, we're looking for the shortcut. What are the three steps that will get me out of this mess? What prayer will unlock this logjam? In order to get dressed, you must first take the time to pick out what you're going to wear. And even before that, you must first go shopping. The journey towards spiritual maturity takes a lifetime. In other words, we are always en route to growth and maturity. Spiritual preparation also takes discipline. In ancient days,…
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"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning ..." (Luke 12:35, ESV). Our Friday morning men's Bible study has been working our way through the gospel of Luke and we covered part of chapter twelve this morning. In this section, Jesus is instructing his followers to live with right priorities ("do not worry about your life ... seek his kingdom"). It is possible to get so caught up in our pursuit of what is temporary that we lose sight of what is eternal. When this happens, we begin to think of ourselves as owners rather than stewards. I own my time. I own my stuff. I own my talents. This is the opposite of what Jesus teaches. In fact, he puts it this way: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be…
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Elton Trueblood was a Quaker and a theologian. He spent most of his career working on a college campus, at places such as Harvard and Stanford. Being surrounded by college students, it's not surprising he once wrote: "A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he never will sit." In a world that is increasingly about instant gratification and getting our way, Trueblood's words are a good reminder that God calls us to think forward. The apostle Paul would put it this way: "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others" (2 Timothy 2:2). It is a sign of maturity to invest in others without expecting an immediate return. The formation process takes time.…
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