Josiah Road

“Locks & Flocks”

posted by Mike Blackaby 28Jul

The professor announced a ten-minute break at the half-way point of class, and I eagerly slipped off to the bathroom. However, as I climbed the stairs, I saw a friend and started chatting and time swiftly passed unnoticed by me. I was not aware of my classmates making their way back to the room, and by the time I realized break was over, I was alone. I raced back to the classroom, realizing it had been in session for several minutes already. Thanking God I had sat in the back, I reached for the door…it was locked. I tried it again, but it wouldn’t budge. Beginning to panic, I tried to think of a plan, but my options were limited. I could either wait out the next hour and a half, or I could try and get the attention of a classmate.

The two doors to the classroom were located at the back, with a large window between them. I knew I couldn’t walk past the window to the other door, since I would walk clearly into my professor’s line of sight. I sighed and leaned out from the door, hoping a casual glance backwards from a fellow student would alert them of my predicament. Nobody noticed.

I began to pace back and forth, my mind racing. I had tried everything! Out of desperation, I tried again to turn the locked door handle, a little harder this time. Suddenly I had a strange feeling. I took a step back, and surveyed my position. I was at the wrong door. In fact, I had been trying to break into a kitchen. Taking several steps towards the window, a slight curve in the wall revealed the real door, which opened on the first attempt. Coming in late has never felt so good.

Many people are knocking on the wrong door. The world is filled with diverse people, all holding different worldviews that offer varied answers to life’s questions. So how does one determine which is right? One thing is for certain, there can only be one truth. Logic necessitates that if one thing is true, the opposite cannot at the same time also be true. However, in a pluralistic society, truth itself becomes lost.

Never before has the world offered so many “solutions” to the big questions of life, yet people continue to wander like sheep without a shepherd. Suicide remains the clearest declaration of hopelessness one can employ, and it is claiming the precious lives of young people every day. Surely there is more to life than this!

Jesus offers hope for the hopeless, rest for the weary, and love for the broken heart. The problem is this: Most people are knocking on the wrong door. Although a vast number of doors stretch out before us, only one leads to God. We all have a choice…which door will we choose?

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.” John 10:9

Crossing the Rubicon

posted by Daniel Blackaby 21Jul

With one final glance over his shoulder, he confirmed the coast was clear. Breathing in deep – he made a break for it! Sprinting as swiftly as could, he dashed toward the trees bordering enemy lines. Almost there! Carpe Diem! With a graceful leap he crossed into freedom. And then… ZAP!!!!!

The fugitive in this tragic tale is named Chevy… and he is our family dog. He is fluffy, cute, and friendly. Unfortunately, he has also developed the characteristic of being a bit of a brat. His favorite escapades include sneaking late-night snacks from the kitchen garbage and leaving his “duty” in various unwelcome places in the house. However, his favorite trick is to escape!

My family recently migrated down to South Carolina where God has blessed us with a large, beautiful backyard. It was heaven on earth for tiny Chevy, energized by the vast grounds to sniff and play. However, the temptation was too great and old habits die hard; so once the backyard had begun to bore him, Chevy attempted his greatest escape yet. However, he missed one tiny detail: our new electric-dog-fence. The initial jolt startled Chevy, who unleashed a sharp yelp. Confused, he hightailed it 180 degrees and retreated to the house. ZAP! Another electric bolt shocked the frazzled Chevy as he re-crossed the fence line. Tail between his legs, Chevy dashed dazedly into the house.

Over the next few weeks our family watched Chevy. He refused to leave our back porch. When “duty called” he would take one small step onto the grass, before quickly sprinting back to safety. Several times we even found his “deeds” on the deck; he had been too terrified to attempt the yard.

Our poor dog had been paralyzed by fear, and it had come at a cost. His fear of the electric fence had stripped him of the joys of the beautiful backyard. What are you afraid of? Do we ever get paralyzed as well? Has God been asking you to do something, but it scares you? Several years ago God called me into full-time Christian ministry. This would have been wonderful, expect for my paralyzing dread of public speaking. I was forced to make a decision. Would I be content with living my life in safety, or would I take a leap of faith and step off the porch?

Hall-of-Fame NHL defensemen Ray Bourque once encouraged his goaltender Patrick Roy, who was struggling to deal with losing, to “play for the joys of winning, not the fear of losing.” Has God been perhaps calling you into Christian ministry as well? Or to reach out to some friends who are difficult? Maybe God is asking you to forgive and mend a broken friendship. Have you been too scared to obey? I encourage you not to let the fear of failure cost you the joys of what God has in store for your life. It’s time to step off the porch.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” 2 Timothy 1:7

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