Teach Us To Number Our Days

Tonight people around the world are mourning the passing of two entertainment icons, Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett.

I don't know where they will spend eternity. Only God knows that at this juncture. We need to heed the biblical injuction to "number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom." - Psalm 90:12

We have no guarantee for tomorrow. We have this moment. Where will you spend eternity, friend?

P. S. My pastor/writer friend Greg Asimakoupoulos penned the following poem in the aftermath of Farrah and Michael's death and it ties in well with my thoughts.

Remembering an Angel and the King

Pondering the passing of two celebrities...

Farrah's dead and Michael, too.
The news is shocking, sad but true.
The King of Pop and Ryan's hope
are gone before their time.

But lest I think "Who gives a care?"
I'd best remember I'll be there.
What's bad will someday steal what's good.
There's no way to beat it.

So we'd do well to plan ahead
before our friends find out we're dead.
Let's make amends with those we've wronged
and make our peace with God.

Check out Greg's writing at The Partial Observer here.

Why Did This Happen To Me?

My good friend Chuck Gianotti maintains an excellent blog and in his latest post asks the question that often crosses our lips...why did this happen to me?

Check out his E-Meditations blog here.

Here is his latest offering:

Have you ever wondered, “What in the world is happening? How could this have happened?” Things that defy understanding or comprehension, God causing or allowing (depending on your theological perspective on the sovereignty of God) some tragic thing in your life situation or those around you. For all of us, there are times when we ask the supremely tough question, “Why?” followed by a loud silence. “Why did my life turn out this way?” “Why won’t God change me?” “Why did my child have to die?” “Why do I have to suffer this immense pain deep in my soul?” These are the most gut wrenching questions because they come from the most gut wrenching experiences of the soul. “Why …?”

Sometimes even God has no relevant, timely word to satisfy the question. In fact, He says there are some things we will just not every find out. Read what He says to the ancient people of Israel when they are ready to take their big leap of faith into the land promised them. I guess the Lord anticipates their asking the “Why …? question and considers it worth preparing them for disappointment with Him (God), discouragement with their life and dejection within themselves. He says, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” (Deut 29:29). In other words, God says there will be times when you simply will not get an answer. He knows the answer (obviously, He’s God) but He declines to tell us why he won’t tell us. He simply will not reveal the answer.

Maybe we are incapable of understanding the answer if He gave it or from our earthly, time-bond perspective we simply don’t have the frame-work for it to make sense. Where does that leave us? God’s word to us is, rather, to focus on the things He has revealed. That is His purpose for us. To live and labor with the guidance of what He has had made known, than to be paralyzed by what we don’t know. So we simply bring the pain, discouragement, disappointment and dejection and lay it at the altar in humble submission, and leave it there. We must come to the point of accepting it as somehow fitting into God’s will and grace and mercy. It may not go away, but we leave it there with God. And we continually remind ourselves, when thoughts of the “Why …? question invade our hearts and minds, that they still at the altar. We sacrifice our desperate need for an answer before the God has deemed we have enough revealed to us to give us meaning and purpose again in life. So we turn instead to the things He has revealed. We just may discover there is hope yet.

Undone

Frayed

Fraught

Frazzled

Frustrated

Untied

Undone

Unusable

Unraveled

Bent

Burnt

Broken

Bruised

Ever feel this way? Join the club. There's only One who can untie our knotted existence and bring wholeness but sometimes He seems so detached. But, take heart, He's not. Cry out to Him today!

Peaceful Ponderings

As I sit on the dock mesmerized by God's incredible handiwork I praise Him for His steadfast love which never changes.

Actually I'm in my room at the SIM Canada guest house looking at this incredible picture (just dreaming about sitting on the dock).

God is good and He faithfully cares for His own. I need to remember this fact during these days of transition.

Fishing in the Archive Pool...Again

When writer's block strikes with a vengeance I often go fishing in the Pilgrim Scribblings archives for something that I feel is relevant and challenging. Here's a post on Keeping a Journal that has challenged and blessed many readers:

KEEPING A JOURNAL

Writing and maintaining a diary is, without a doubt, the most difficult of the spiritual disciplines for me to carry out. Good intentions abound but the bookshelves in my study are sprinkled with those “blank books” that look so nice but are useless unless we write something in them.

For years I’ve been encouraged to develop this discipline and for some reason I can’t keep it going. Could it be that I wouldn’t want others to read of my struggles? Perhaps!

Several years ago I started recording entries in my computer for security reasons. I chose a password (which I subsequently forgot) so no one else could read of my pilgrimage.

Elisabeth Elliot makes an excellent case for keeping a “Chronicle of the Soul” as she calls a spiritual diary.

She’s been journaling since her high school days and writes, “These are chronicles of growth: mental, emotional and spiritual. It is astounding to go back through them and learn things that I had completely forgotten. It is wonderfully faith-strengthening to see that indeed ‘all the way my Savior leads me’, hears my prayers, supplies my needs, teaches me of Himself. My memory is poor. A journal is a record of His faithfulness (and my own faithlessness too).”

She encourages us to begin to jot down the following (not necessarily every day):

1. Lessons learned from your reading of Scripture.
2. Ways in which you intend to apply those lessons.
3. Dialogues with the Lord. What you say to Him and what He seems to be saying to you.
4. Quotations from your spiritual reading other than the Bible.
5. Prayers from the words of hymns which you want to make your own.
6. Reasons for thanksgiving.
7. Things you’re praying about and answers to those prayers.

Elisabeth Elliot from “Keep a Quiet Heart”, copyright
1995 by Elisabeth Elliot, published by Servant Publications

Yes, I know the value of keeping these “Chronicles of the Soul”. Even as I write this article I’m determined to do better by His enabling. How about you? Have you discovered how beneficial a journal can be? I’m inviting you to check up on me to see how I’m doing. Let me know also how you’re making out. Together let’s keep a record of God’s faithfulness in the midst of our struggles. It will be faith-building for us all. And, if you need one of those blank books, write me. I’ve got a few extras. - David W. Fisher

Sporadic Scribblings

The scribblings from the pilgrim have been sporadic, if not sparse, of late. Writer's block has moved in and doesn't want to vacate the premises...of my mind. Life has been hectic but that's nothing new. I don't know what a normal existence looks like.

On this, another Father's Day, let's remember the true Father who redeemed us through the blood of His beloved Son and guaranteed us a place in heaven through the grace and merit of Jesus Christ.

Rejoice in Him today!

A Beautiful Sight

Jordan Staal (pictured) and the Pittsburgh Penguins mounted an impressive comback after being humiliated by the Red Wings 5-0 in game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals.

After winning game 6 back in Pittsburgh, the Pens returned to Detroit, determined to conquer the coveted Cup and that's just what they did. They beat the Wings 2-1 and returned home with Lord Stanley's mug.

CONGRATULATIONS, JORDAN! You came on strong and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

Good Ones from Goodwin

Joanne Goodwin is a good one when it comes to speakers who are transparent, real and downright funny (or crazy). Although I've never been to one of her ladies' meetings, my wife Carol has. Here are some "goodwins" from Joanne as posted on her Facebook page.

If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...Does that mean the fifth one enjoys it?

I AM in shape. Round is a shape.

Last week I told my psychiatrist, "I keep thinking about suicide." He told me from now on I have to pay in advance.

"I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous - everyone hasn't met me yet.

I love laughter, except the part where milk comes out of your nose.

Wireless in Wisconsin

DISCLAIMER...

If you were looking for a spiritual gem today to lift your heavy burden, you will be disappointed. But rejoice...God wants us to laugh from time to time! - David

AMAZING DISCOVERIES...

After having dug to a depth of ten feet last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, a California archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet, and shortly after, a story in the LA Times read: "California archaeologists, finding traces of 200 year old copper wire, have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network a hundred years earlier than the New Yorkers."

One week later, The Coon Valley Journal, a local newspaper in Wisconsin, reported the following: After digging as deep as 30 feet in his pasture near Coon Valley, Wis., Ole Olson, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Ole has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Wisconsin had already gone wireless.