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