Month: June 2021

Faith…More Lessons from Wyoming

Being in the vastness of the Wyoming high plains country surrounded by people of God for the last three weeks, knowing that we have been here under extreme conditions of weather (very hot), lack of rudimentary facilities (tents for home and 4 bathrooms for 60 or more people) and not much modern communication (cell phones rarely connect) united to accomplish singular goals has reminded me of a larger purpose that often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of modern life, being prepared and seeking to help others be prepared for the soon coming of Jesus Christ. The amazing thing about being in this isolated community for this time is that it allows all here to a chance to talk and really get to know one another. In that way it reminds me of the early church of the book of Acts of the Apostles when it says:

“All the believers were together and had everything in common.” Acts 2:42

For me it has been wonderful and refreshing, yet in a week we will break camp and head back to our day to day lives and what lessons will we take from this time of unity of purpose and prayerful devotion. I pray among the many thoughts I have had that each person will take the spirit of this place with them.

Today as I write this, I want to share some of the testimonies and thoughts on the Word of God that I have heard so you who read this may share even if you are not blessed to know someone who has been among us this month. I will not mention names or find no reason to attribute these to a particular person, but if anyone who shared reads this, I pray I did your thoughts justice.

There was a morning devotion that spoke of faith, in fact, I believe there was more than one devotion that was directed at this topic. I was impressed with this because it is something I have struggled with for years. Our speaker spoke of the book of Hebrews chapter 11. (If you do not know that chapter in maybe this is a good time to open your Bible and read.) He spoke of how each character was challenged in different ways when it came to his or her dependence on God.

How Noah’s act of faith was to build a boat, but not just any boat, an enormous one that took 120 years to complete. All of it during a time when it did not rain upon the earth. It made me think, did I have that kind of faith. Could I trust God that much to work for him for even 120 days without physical results and still believe.

About Abraham leaving his secure home to travel to a foreign country without knowing what his mission was, just on pure faith. Later to trust God with the ultimate, his only son Isaac, after being asked to sacrifice him on an altar. Could I be willing to cling to God so completely that I would be willing to sacrifice even my next cup of coffee or meal to follow God’s plan.

It was a thought-provoking devotion that led me to question, once again, where is my faith and how will I grow in trust of the Lord. Here in this community, I had time to think and reflect, it was a blessing.

There were others who shared testimonies of their walks and struggles. Some of which were painful to hear but each of them was a blessing because they encouraged me to see how God worked in each situation miraculously in some and slowly but surely in others.

The devotion that stands out the clearest was given early by one of our scientist leaders. He gave a thought-provoking talk on the idea of how we limit God, seeing only as we do in three dimensions. Using a book titled “Flatlands” where all lived in a two-dimensional world were startled and amazed when a three-dimensional character entered their world. So, when God, who exists in four dimensions or maybe more reveals Himself in our world how it can lead us to truly believe or doubt what we see or read because we cannot understand or trust.

Faith again! I think that has been the theme of this month. Not only in words but in our actions. Faith to believe others will perform the tasks they have been assigned. Faith that each will provide the gifts of the Holy Spirit to make this venture successful. I am not sure that was or is the intent of this endeavor, but it is what I am filled with today as RuthAnn and I prepare to finish our work here.

And as I have started this writing I will conclude. How can such a time as these changes me and maybe you. It is my prayer that I will return to my day-to-day life trusting God’s will for me, even when I do not see it clearly. That I will have more patience and more, well, faith, that God really is working in my life and leading me to complete the good work He has started in me. That I can live like those faithful of Hebrews who:

“….were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” Hebrews 11: 39-40

They never received the promise Jesus Christ, the promise of his life, death, and resurrection, yet believed and by this were made perfect in God’s eyes. How much more blessed are we to have that promise to hold on to every day. We just need to believe, to have faith.

Blessings

John

6/24/2021

Thoughts under another Wyoming night sky

A few years ago, I wrote on these pages about an experience I had under the canopy of a majestic Wyoming night sky. I was a different man then. Much younger, of course, but also very lost. Lost in self-satisfaction, addictions and well, just plain lost.

On that night, in the midst of a conversation with a young co-worker, we had pondered the night sky as we consumed a fifth of whiskey together. He is questioning how such majesty could come to be and I not wanting to see the Creator at work.

I am, these many years later, again under those indescribable Wyoming skies. A little farther east but still each night the canopy of stars surrounds me. Now, instead of heading a work crew building cell tower bases. I am here with God led scientists at a place called the Hansen Research Station. The goal of this expedition, as it has been for close to 30 years is to through both paleontology and geology show the wonders of God’s creation. The blessing is that the scientists allow folks like me to be part of this work each year.

I will not spent a tremendous amount of time explaining the work. Mostly because I do not understand much of it myself. But we are here in the high plains in Northeast Wyoming excavating and preserving remnants of dinosaurs or at least their fossilized remains.

It is rough living, tents, and few of the modern amenities. Rough work, hands on digging with small instruments in the shaley clay for hours on end. I am amazed each time I come here how it compares with my experience of years ago in its roughness. Yet, as I have stated, I am a different man in a different place but still under that amazing Wyoming sky.

Last night I was once again sitting under it. This time there was no companion. My wife RuthAnn was sleeping. There was no fifth of whiskey, that addiction no longer holds me thanks to my relationship with Jesus Christ. This night it was just me, the night sky and the realization of how powerful and wonderful the God we serve is.

As I sat, off to the East was the remnant of a super cell storm. It flashed lightnings as if a fireworks display. I do not take these storms lightly. They are dangerous and deadly. We experienced one in the camp a few nights before. But as I sat there under unlimited stars and with the storm flashing, I felt so humbled. Here I was. A man who had spent years cursing God, when I took the time to believe in Him at all, surrounded by His majestic creation and his people who were here to glorify Him. He had brought me through so much. I wanted to find a way to praise Him. I wanted to remind myself that I really was no longer the man who sat below these skies so long ago. I wanted to find that verse I had written in my last blog about a Wyoming night and this time sing it in my heart. So, I opened my cell phone Bible and found this verse written by a shepherd boy long ago as he looked into the wonders of a sky distant from here but still all God’s creation.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the skies announce what his hands have made.” Psalm 19:1

I felt at peace now. I felt blessed. I did sing in my heart and lifted my eyes again and again to His wonders.

Today I will join again with the students, volunteers, and scientists. We will dig up the past in search of patterns of God’s creation and ways. More importantly I will share in song and devotion to My God and Savior. Tonight, I will walk again under this Wyoming sky, and I will know that as small and sinful a man as I am, I am loved. That is why I come here and contribute what I can. Just to give back a little and know God can save and change any heart including my own!

Blessings from Wyoming

6/15/21

John