All I Want For Christmas!

I was reflecting tonight about the story of Mary and Martha fighting and the purpose of it being included in Scripture. After all, it sounds kind of lame. Two sisters fight. Big deal! How is that news? Well, actually, it was all Martha. Mary probably didn't even realize how Martha felt at the time.

Jesus visited Martha's house unexpectedly. As a good host, Martha felt she needed to prepare dinner. Her sister, Mary, was at Martha's house too. But, Mary was hanging out with Jesus and His disciples instead of helping Martha prepare the meal. And, Martha was irritated.

While Mary was in the living room singing, "All I want for Christmas is You," to Jesus, Martha was banging pots and pans loudly in the kitchen and belting out her own version of "Mary Got Run Over By A Chariot." She was angry, and rightfully so in her perspective. After all, it wasn't fair that Mary got to hang out with Jesus and His buddies while Martha did all the work. This was her house, and they had all dropped over unannounced. Not only was her day interrupted, but she also now had to stop everything she was doing to prepare a meal large enough to feed all the men.

So, Martha stomped her way into the living room and demanded that Jesus tell Mary to come help her. Martha had a script in her mind about how that conversation would play out. Surely, Jesus and His buddies wanted to eat. It was going to take longer for that to happen if Mary didn't help. Of course, Jesus would take her side and tell Mary to go do what was important. Martha expected Jesus to do what she wanted because it made sense. If they wanted to eat, Mary needed to help!

But, Jesus didn't follow her script. In fact, He had the nerve to tell her that Mary had discovered what was most important - spending time with Him. Jesus didn't rebuke Martha's actions. She was trying to be a responsible host to these unexpected guests. Rather, He rebuked her attitude. Martha wasn't graciously preparing the meal with a willing heart to serve. She was jealous of her sister and focused on control. If Martha would have thought about it, the Messiah was in her home! Jesus could have made food appear if He was that concerned about it.

This story about the rivalry Martha felt with her sister is relatable. It is easy to get distracted by the details of life and focus on what is not important in the long run. Like Martha, we write our scripts and expect Jesus to follow them. When Jesus doesn't follow our script, we feel discouraged and interpret the fact that He is not doing what we want Him to do as that He doesn't care. The truth, however, is that Jesus has His own script which is way better than the ones we write.

Jesus wants our attention. He wants us to realize that spending time with Him is more important than all the things we can't control or all the things we need to accomplish. In the midst of a busy shopping season, festive activities, wrapping presents, and preparing meals for guests, don't miss what is truly important. Be a blessing to Jesus this Christmas! Give the best gift you can back to Jesus - your time.

Avalanches of Life

As I was hiking in the wilderness recently, I crossed several debris fields from recent slides this spring. Broken, uprooted trees dotted the mountainside turning the once beautiful view into a marred landscape.

Avalanches. Leaving a path of complete devastation, the massive snow force rumbles down the slope crushing trees like match sticks in one giant force of nature. While slope angle, snowpack, and weather serve as predictors, avalanches can occur with little to no warning sometimes in areas where a slide has not occurred in over one hundred years.

Unpredictable. Destructive. Overwhelming. Avalanches are never pleasant to experience. The aftermath of the debris left behind lingers for many years as a testament to their power.

Observing the devastation from the recent slides in the wilderness caused me to think of avalanches of another type. Life avalanches.

Life hits us hard sometimes. We become floored when life throws us curve balls: the unexpected loss of a loved one, bad news from a doctor, accidents, spousal betrayal, among others. What do you do when an avalanche rips through your life creating a path of destruction in its wake?

If you are like most people, anxiety quickly sets in.

I don’t know how I can get through this.

I don’t know what I can do.

I don’t know how I will survive this.

If you are a believer, most likely at one point you will turn to 1 Peter 5:7:

“Cast all your anxieties (cares, worries) on God, for He cares for you.”

The problem is sometimes we cast those worries on God, and the destruction in our lives remains. We still struggle with grief over the loss of a loved one. The cancer hasn’t gone away. The accident not only hurt your body but also your ability to perform your job. The spouse who cheated on you is now happily remarried while you struggle through life hurt and alone wondering who you can really trust.

You stare at the debris field in your life and think: Ok, God, I have casted my cares on You, but my life hasn’t gotten any better. I’m still alone and afraid. I still don’t know what to do or how I am going to make it through this.

The problem is that we do a lot of talking. We throw those worries on God, yet we keep ourselves in the center of them. Take a look at the word “anxiety.” It is a seven-letter word. The letter “I” is right in the center of it.

At the center of anxIety is “I”! We never truly let go of those worries. We never truly let go of those fears. We never truly let go of that hurt. We cast it on Jesus, but we don’t let go as we cast! We never let go of the net.

Peter was a fisherman, so he was using an analogy that he was comfortable with when he wrote 1 Peter 5:7. There is an art to casting a net that Peter was well aware of. First, one initiates the throw by twisting at the waist. Then, you release the net as you feel it build momentum and allow the weight of the net to carry it out of your hands and sail away. The net will fan out and sink to the bottom of the water trapping anything in its vicinity.

When Peter said to cast all of our cares, worries, and anxieties on God, he didn’t mean for us to just tell them to Jesus. He didn’t mean for us to say Ok, I’m struggling with this, this, and this. He meant for us to literally cast them – to let go of them, to let them fan out, to let them sink on God who can bear the weight of them instead of us.

Peter knew that if the net was cast on us that we would be trapped. He knew when the avalanches came in our lives that we would sink in the debris. So, he told us to cast them away. To cast them on the only One who can bear the weight of them. To cast them on the only One who can break free of the net.

Cast all your cares on Jesus. Throw them, fling them, release them and let go!

Then, it’s no longer. I don’t know how I can get through this. Instead, it becomes: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It is no longer “I” in the middle of it.

To truly understand 1 Peter 5:7, one must first look at the context. Take a look at 1 Peter 5:6.

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor.”

In fact, don’t look at 1 Peter 5:6 and 5:7 as two separate sentences. Look at them as one as portrayed in the ESV version.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.”

We cast our anxieties on God as a result of humbling ourselves. We take the focus off of ourselves and why this is happening to us or how we are going to get through it. Instead, we humble ourselves to God. There is another word in which the letter “I” is at the center.

pride

Pride is the opposite of humility. Pride says: I can do this. I can fix this. It is all about me. Humbling ourselves to God says: God, You can do this. You can fix this. It is all about You.

We humble ourselves by casting our cares onto God. God’s promise in these verses is that at the right time, He will exalt us, He will lift us up!

Avalanches change the landscape in the mountains. The scarring and disfigurement ultimately creates new habitats for plants and wildlife. New growth occurs in the wake of devastation.

1 Peter 5:6 is a promise. At the right time, healing will come! At the right time, we will be lifted up!  At the right time, the landscape of the debris from the avalanche that has happened in your life will change. At the right time, you will look back on this chapter in your life and say:

I can see how God walked with me. I can see how God strengthened me. I can see how God made my faith grow. I can see how God blessed me even in the midst of trials. I can see how God got me through that. I can see how I truly can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!

The next time an avalanche roars and crashes through your life cast that debris field on God. And, let go of the net!

Worship As A Weapon: Raise A Hallelujah!

If I had to compare myself to a Biblical character, I would have to say that I am most like David. I fall as often as I stand in faith. I face down giants one moment then run from them the next. I'm on fire for God, then I cry out in despair when trials come. I praise God for being a good Father one moment then complain to Him for not caring as soon as problems arise. I tend to ride the same roller coaster of emotions that David did - which is never more obvious than in the book of Psalms.

It's comforting to me that God looked at a man like David, who fell in faith as often as he stood, and had these words to say. "That's a man after my own heart!" Those words give me hope! David was far from perfect - both in his faith and in his actions. Yet, he was ok in God's opinion because God saw his heart.

David went through a season of doubt where he might have wondered if his faith was big enough to survive. Saul was chasing him. The city of Gath wouldn't let him stay and hide. He lied to the priests and acted crazy with the Philistines. He had nowhere to go - no friends. David's giants were overwhelming him. Desperate and alone, he ran to the wilderness and found refuge in a cave.

It was there in that dark, musty cave that David finally came to his senses. He remembered that he served a God who is bigger than his problems. David realized in that cave that he wasn't truly alone, although he felt that way, because God was there with him. So, David did what he did best. He poured his heart out in a song.

David penned the words to Psalm 57.

"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to You for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by." (Psalm 57:1)

Psalm 57 is a praise song. David was singing in the dark, and it wasn't the blues! God had promised him that he would be king, but it wasn't looking like it was going to happen. David's life was falling apart. He was still physically alone and being hunted by an enemy.  David's circumstances hadn't changed. Yet, David's heart had!

"My heart is confident in You, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing Your praises." (Psalm 57:7)

David made God his refuge once more. He stopped focusing on his giants, and he started focusing on his God! David's faith had crumbled like leaves, and he had lost his way. Yet, he anchored himself back to God in the midst of his life's chaos in that dark cave through praise.

"I will sing Your praises among the nations. For Your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds." (Psalm 57:9-10)

David used his worship as a weapon against doubt and fear. He chose to worship in the middle of a storm. David took his eyes off of himself and turned his thoughts to God. It is hard to focus on the negative when we are busy focusing on praising God. David's heart changed when he used praise and worship as his weapons.

When David wrote the song, Psalm 57, he focused on who God is: protection, glory, love, faithfulness. In the midst of the confusion and chaos in his life, David raised a hallelujah! He chose to praise God in the middle of the storm even though he didn't see God's promises for him happening at the moment.

Sometimes, our battles aren't about our own victory. They are about God's victory! People we don't even know are watching how we live our lives to see if we really believe in everything we say that we believe. They are watching to see if we are going to get back up in faith after we have fallen in doubt. They are watching to see if we are going to raise a hallelujah even when it looks like our prayers aren't going to be answered the way that we want them to be answered.

You may be going through a season of doubt right now that is so big that you are wondering if your faith can survive it. Like David, your life may feel like it is falling apart. You might be struggling with loneliness, depression, betrayal, anxiety, fears, health concerns or any number of issues. In the midst of the storm, in the middle of the deep, dark cave you may be experiencing, will you raise a hallelujah?

Riches Abound At The Banker Mine Ruins!

Located near the historic mining district of Winfield, the Banker Mine ruins were once a profitable operation. Towering tailings testify to the ore extraction that once took place in the dark depths of the earth. Godfried King and Fred Aude discovered the potential of the Banker Mine while exploring near Clear Creek Canyon in the late 1800s. The two men quickly laid eight claims. They began to extract a tunnel which eventually grew to be 3700 feet long. 

Near the mine, a complex soon sprang up high in the harsh terrain of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Men worked feverishly felling trees in the nearby forest. At an elevation of 11,600 feet, sturdy buildings that could withstand the harsh, unforgiving winds and winters had to be erected quickly. The development included boardinghouses for the hard-working miners as well as an assay office. Equipped with two 100-horsepower boilers, machine drills, and compressors, the Banker Mine quickly became the biggest producer of silver and lead in the area. 

Unfortunately, water flooded the mine in 1917. The air quality worsened creating dangerous working conditions. Eventually, the Banker Mine ceased operations in 1927. Untold amounts of silver and lead remain hidden beneath the surface with no way to reach them. Abandoned to the elements, the once-flourishing Banker Mine soon became a ghost town mining camp. 

Today, several deteriorating buildings dot the landscape near the Banker Mine. Remnants of the boardinghouse and an office can be seen. A large metal can trash dump lies hidden in the weeds along with a boiler. Various pieces of mining equipment and relics can be discovered in the surrounding area if one pays close attention. The Banker Mine, once rich in silver and lead, is now rich in history and in the colorful scenery that makes up Colorado. 

To visit the ghost town mining camp at the Banker Mine Ruins:

From the historic mining district of Winfield located in Chaffee County: Take the left fork and follow the 4wd road approximately 1.5 miles. Look for the tall tailings and a spur road on the left that will lead to the cabin ruins. 

Mount Falcon: A Fascinating Hike To A Colorado Summer White House and Castle Ruins

Mount Falcon, situated in the foothills above Morrison, Colorado, is a fascinating walk into history. Panoramic views combine with castle ruins and big dreams of a summer White House nestled high on the mountain. 

The key feature of Mount Falcon Park is the Walker Home Ruins located along the Castle Trail. Build by entrepreneur John Walker in 1909, the mansion featured beautiful stone walls. The extravagant home, constructed by stonemasons from Italy, included ten bedrooms, eight fireplaces, a library, a music room, and an observation deck along with quarters for the servants to reside in. 

Walker, who developed the amphitheater at nearby Red Rocks, also invested in the Stanley Steamer Company and owned Cosmopolitan Magazine. A successful businessman, Walker preserved thousands of acres of land near Morrison, including the Mount Falcon area where he built his mansion. This land eventually became Jefferson County Open Space.

Ever the dreamer, Walker had a vision to construct a Summer White House near his mountaintop castle for President Wilson and future Presidents to enjoy. After hiring a Denver architect to design a mountaintop palace fit for royalty in 1911, Walker promoted it widely going so far as to ask Denver children to donate dimes to fund this lofty presidential project. The foundation was laid, but a series of tragic events soon struck Walker and his family.

First, Walker's wife, Ethel, passed away in 1916. Two years later, a lightning strike caused his beloved castle to burn to the ground leaving only the stone walls as a testament to the magnificent castle that once stood high on the mountain. Fundraising efforts for Colorado's Summer White House shrank as World War 1 loomed. Walker's fortune quickly dwindled as the economy fell. The dream of a Summer White House stayed just that. The crumbling cornerstone and foundation remained the only testament to Walker's lofty vision for a mountain-top Presidential Retreat. 

Once a millionaire, Walker died a pauper in 1931 but left behind a legacy in the thousands of acres he preserved in the Morrison area which are enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts.

Visiting Mount Falcon Park:

To visit the historic sites at Mount Falcon Park which include the foundation of the Summer White House, the Castle Ruins of Walker's Home, and a lookout tower, park at either Mount Falcon West Trailhead or Mount Falcon East Trailhead.  The western trailhead approach is an easy family-friendly 2.3 mile loop hike to the ruins while the eastern approach is fairly strenuous climb (1700 feet in 3 miles) popular with mountain bikers. 

Directions:

Mount Falcon West Trailhead: 
21074 Mount Falcon Road, Indian Hills, CO 80454

Mount Falcon East Trailhead: 
3852 Vine Street, Morrison, CO 80465

Transposed Truth

As I was helping a dyslexic child with his homework, I noticed an incorrect math problem. I asked the boy to tell me the solution to the addition problem knowing that what he writes isn’t always what he thinks.

“42,” he replied.

I pointed out the numbers one by one. “You wrote 24. You have the correct answer in your head, but you switched the numbers when you wrote them. Although you know what the solution is, the answer you wrote is incorrect.”

I wonder how many Christians have a dyslexic spiritual life with a distorted view of God’s truth.

There are many motivating, encouraging, and inspirational sayings floating around on social media that sound good. Many Christians share these feel-good posts, but they are a world view of truth – not a Biblical view. Even when truth is transposed slightly, it is still completely false. 

For example:

Example 1: “Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.”

What about being Jesus centered and not “me” centered?

“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” (Philippians 2:4-5)

Example 2.“Remove yourself from people who don’t pour into you.”

Where does the Scripture about bearing each other’s burdens fit into that statement? 

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Example 3: “If you don’t feel joy in the situation you are in right now, it may be time to move on.”

What happened to trusting God every day? 

“Consider it joy when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3)

Example 4: “Treat people how they treat you because there are more takers than givers in this world.”

What about do unto others the way you want to be treated? 

“Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who hurt you. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” (Luke 6:27-31)

Example 5: “If a person is not giving you peace, then they need to be removed from your life.”

What about being a light to others who are hurting? 

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)

Truth Transposed:

When we have a dyslexic spiritual view, truth becomes transposed. We become unclear about what is truth and what is slightly left of the truth. It’s easy to be misled. The enemy takes something that is true and twists it slightly to make it not true. It sounds like good advice, and it speaks to the gaps in our hearts. It’s encouraging. Yet, it is completely false to the point that we become no different in our words and actions than unbelievers.

Reject what is not completely rooted in the truth of God’s Word! Just like in the child’s homework, when truth is transposed, it becomes completely false. Every situation God calls you to is not going to be convenient or even fun. The people in your life are not always going to add to you or make you feel good. God is going to call you to things that are not going to bring you peace or joy at times. If you doubt that, take a long look at the lives of the Biblical characters. The Christian life is not meant to be a cake walk. It's not about us; it's about Him! 

We are to be set apart!

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

The Forgotten Legacy of the Ghost Town of Dearfield

The ghost town of Dearfield lies on a remote stretch of Highway 34 east of Greeley, Colorado. Neglected for decades, the ramshackle ruins that remain do little to testify to the historical significance of this former farming community. Established in 1910, Dearfield reflected the African-American dream of self-sufficiency and was once known as one of the most successful African-American agricultural communities in the United States.

Inspired by Booker T. Washington's advice to get a home and property of his own, O.T. Jackson dreamed of establishing a self-sufficient African-American community on the eastern plains of Colorado. Jackson, an entrepreneur from Boulder, visioned a prosperous agricultural settlement, similar to Greeley's Union Colony, made up of African-Americans.

Using the Homestead Act of 1909, Jackson filed a desert homestead claim of 320 acres located near a Union Pacific Railroad station in Weld County. The nearby railroad would help to ensure the future community's success in marketing its produce. Believing that the land would remain dear to the colony's residents, the name Dearfield was chosen.

Seven families called Dearfield home by 1911. However, life was difficult for the early settlers. Having little money when they set up their homesteads, only two of the seven families were able to build cabins. The rest of the families lived in tents or dugouts. Wood was scarce, so buffalo chips and sagebrush were used as fuel. The first winter was severe. Several horses were lost due to starvation while others were too weak to pull wagons.

The first few seasons presented difficulty for the settlers of Dearfield as they struggled with water shortages farming the dry plains. Refusing to give up on their dream, the hardy residents persevered through the hardships as they experimented with dry farming until Dearfield became prosperous. By 1915, more homestead acres were filed nearby as 595 acres were cultivated with oats, sugar beets, squash, watermelons, potatoes, corn, and more.

At this point, Dearfield's population consisted of 111 people living in forty-four cabins. Dearfield boasted a restaurant, grocery store, lodge, boarding house, school, gas station, and two churches along with a dance pavilion. By 1920, seven hundred African-Americans called Dearfield home. At its peak, Dearfield was valued at $750,000 with over 15,000 cultivated acres. Jackson's dream of a self-sufficient African-American community had indeed become a reality!

There is an absence of irrigation and a heavy dependence on precipitation in dry farming. The onset of the Great Depression and the droughts of the Dust Bowl brought an end to Dearfield. By 1940, only 12 people remained in this once thriving community. The Dust Bowl's dry winds blew away Jackson's dreams and turned Dearfield to dust.

Jackson clung to hope and remained in Dearfield operating the gas station and running the diner until illness prevented him from doing so in 1946. He passed away in 1948 leaving his niece, Jenny Jackson, the sole resident of Dearfield until her death in 1973.

The ghost town of Dearfield represents a significant part of Colorado and African-American history. A symbol of empowerment, Dearfield was an inspiration of success in a time period when African-Americans were marginalized.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995, Dearfield was placed on Colorado's Most Endangered Places list in 1999. Although some attempts have been made at stabilization, most of the remaining structures in Dearfield are in a huge state of disrepair. This significant part of history remains in danger of being lost to time.

To Visit The Ghost Town Of Dearfield:

Follow Highway 34 east of Greeley for 24 miles. Don't blink or you will miss the Dearfield sign on the right.