Tradition say that this is the prison in Rome that Paul was in.

2 Timothy 4

1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:  2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.  6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.  7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

1. I find it interesting that Paul is viewing Christ’s appearing and kingdom as emanate.
2. He tells Timothy to preach the Word in season and out of season.  I understand this to be whether it is popular or not.  I think there is also a reference to whether or not you expect fruit.  In talking about the season, depending on the plant, in a certain season you would expect to have fruit.  But Timothy is encouraged to teach in season and out of season.  Notice also that he specifies what to preach; correction, rebuke, and encouragement.  I often am told that we are not to judge others, however it is impossible to talk to someone about correcting there ways without having judged or determined whether they are doing something that needs correction.
3. Verses 3 and 4 sound a lot like today.  People stay away from church in large numbers in part because they think churches are too judgmental or legalistic.  Sure we that are in the church could be better at the sharing in love and teaching “with great patience”, but I believe a lot of people fall in the category of not put up with sound doctrine, wanting to fulfill their own goals.  People will fill large auditoriums to hear a “religious teacher” or “spiritual guide” tell them that some myth or other form of self-fulfillment will make them feel better about their life.
4. We as disciples of Christ on the other-hand are to be in control in all situations, be willing to endure hardships and share the gospel message every chance we get.
5. So what do we get out of all this hard work and suffering?  I think Paul sums it up pretty well in the closing verses of this chapter.  He was in Nero’s cold dark prison in Rome and knew his days were coming to an end.  In verses 6 through 8 he states that his life is being poured out of him.   He knows that it is his time to die.  Paul compares his life to a runner who has finished a race.

I still remember running track in junior high school and even winning some races.   You don’t win races by holding back and taking it easy.  You win races by expending every last bit of energy you have.  Good runner cross the finish line totally exhausted, sometimes even physically sick, because they have given everything they have to finish the best they are able.  Paul does not sound afraid or even sad.  He is confident in his future, looking forward to his day of judgment before the Lord knowing that he has done his best.

How are you doing in the race of life?

Are we fighting the good fight or are we just wanting to have our ears tickled?  If you lay dying today would you say to those at your side; “I have fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith”?  Are you confident to stand before the Lord at the judgment knowing your reward?

These are some really personal questions that only you can answer.   Jesus Christ can give a peace that surpasses anything man can understand.  Peace that allows a man to lay dying in a prison to be happy and free in his spirit.  I am not sure that I have that yet.

Regular Joe

Inspiration for Today

If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, also we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world.  C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963), Mere Christianity

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In Luke chapter 17 verse 22 and following Jesus is discussing His coming kingdom with the disciples.  Now I know that there are a lot of differing views on when the last days will come and I am not here to open that debate today, but I can tell you that they definitely are coming.  Understanding the exact timing of the last days is something that is not simple but as we grow closer we see more clearly.

It’s kind of like driving down a road covered in thick smoke from a forest fire. Occasionally the smoke thins and you get glimpses of the road as it curves ahead.  But mostly there is lots and lots of smoke.  You get a feeling of foreboding … you see more and more glimpses of the road and then… you come upon a wreck.  As we get ever closer things will become clearer and fall into place. 

Luke 17:20-30

22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go after them or follow them. 24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

Jesus clearly tells the disciples in 22-24 that they will desire to see just one of the days living and walking with Jesus but that it won’t happen.  I think he addresses a larger audience of all believers in saying that his coming will be as lightning that flashes across the whole earth.  But he also talks about the people of Noah’s day and Sodom and Gomorrah.

There are people that are living in sin and ignoring God will miss all of the signs that are given.  They will ignore all invitations to accept Christ as Savior.  And then one day they will be swept away as in the flood, burned up and destroyed as at Sodom.  They will be the Unsuspecting, but the Bible says that they are without excuse.

But there is another group; the Expecting ones.  Further on in Luke chapter 21, (as well as several other locations throughout the Bible), great detail is given on the “End of the Age”.  Note that it is not “The end of the World” as some would have you believe.  It will be the end of man trying to run the world and the beginning of Jesus Kingdom.

So are you one of those Expecting Ones, waiting and looking for the return of Christ or one of the Unexpecting who will be caught in the day of destruction?  If you are expecting his return do you have enough compassion on those that are eating, drinking, buying and selling, planting and building around you to share the love of Jesus with them today?

Don’t think that I am trying to lay some guilt trip on you or that I have it all together running around talking to everyone about the Lord.  I struggle to share Christ with those I meet.  I question what to say and when.  I worry about what people will say about me if I am too vocal.  I try to seek Gods wisdom and strength in the answers to these questions.

But more and more I am convinced that there are a lot of hurting people in the world that want to hear real answers to their trouble.  And I am eternally grateful that Jesus was willing to be tortured and die on the cross for my sins.  I glad that he wasn’t worried about what people would say about Him!

Regular Joe

Suggested Prayer; Lord Jesus, help me to have compassion on someone today and share your love with them.

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My wife reminded me that she had some photos of the canoe trip in today’s devotion.  They aren’t anything spectacular but I did want to give credit to two great Samaritans that put off fishing to retrieve us from the bank of the river and go looking for our canoe.  They took us a couple of miles down the river, helped retrieve the canoe and get us back on the water.  They didn’t want anything in return but certainly were a God send for us.

Pulling the canoe off a submerged rockFree again in tow to the river bank

Turning a canoe upright in the river is no easy task, Thanks guys!

Don’t forget to be that good Samaritan when you get a chance and to say thanks to those who God sends your way in times of trouble.

Regular Joe

Since all of the above events it is hard for my wife to walk on uneven ground, (like any kind of hiking trails so I thought it would be a good idea to get a canoe.

One afternoon I decided it would be a good idea to take the canoe down to the Bitterroot River and float a 6 mile section of it.  Now if you are not familiar with most rivers in western states they are not your slow-moving placid rivers that are found in the Midwest.  Along with the mountains come rapid changes in elevation and the water moves accordingly.   I should make note here that we have floated this section of river multiple times in inner tubes and Ardee had taken a canoe with a friend before so are not unfamiliar with the river and its dangers.

On this particular sunny afternoon the water had receded from its springtime and early summer highs.

We loaded the canoe, myself in the back and pushed off into the quickly moving water.  Getting used to the feel of being on the water and discussing the balance in a canoe we were quickly 300 yards down the river.  About 400 yards downstream from our launch point the first bend took the river hard left followed by a sharp right bend.  Directly ahead near the bank was a large tree pushed against the bank by the winter and spring runoff.  Now anyone who has run rivers at all know that you don’t want to be anywhere near trees lying in the water.  It was at this point that I realized that I had not been paying close enough attention in maneuvering the canoe. In the fast current I could not steer it by myself and Ardee was unsure of what to do.  It probably would not have made any difference as we should have set a different course at least a hundred yards earlier to miss the dangerous snags.  About all I could say was to push-off with the oar when we hit the tree.

Well, needless to say we hit the tree with a lot of force, immediately the canoe swung parallel to the massive trunk and the force of all the rushing water promptly sucked the canoe with us in it under the tree.  There is an immediate adrenaline rush of seeing branches filtering the bright sunlight passing overhead and knowing that every year people drown on rivers, caught in branches like this with their life jackets and clothing.

Everything slows down and a flood of thoughts come pouring in.  How did I end up here?

Seconds later I burst to the surface on the far side.  As I look and see that Ardee is also out although understandably shaken, I look for the canoe, swamped but trailing a rope within about 30 feet of me.   I tell her to swim to the bank and I start swimming for the canoe.  Adrenalin allows you to focus all of your attention on one thing, but it can also give you tunnel vision.  I am so focused on reaching the rope and do not notice the rush of water around more deadfalls on the opposite bank where the current has swept me.  Suddenly realizing the danger I forget the canoe and focus on swimming toward a bare section of trunk closer toward the bank.  Already tired I realize that my only hope is to try to launch myself as far out of the water as possible and grasp the trunk to keep from getting swept under the multiple trees lying in the water.

Kicking with all my remaining energy I lunged as far out of the water as possible and gripped the log.  After struggling against the undertow for what seemed like minutes I was able to claw my way up onto the log and work my way to the bank.

Ardee was on the far bank, the canoe had disappeared down the river along with its contents and a sunny afternoon trip on the river had changed to a life threatening challenge all in just a few minutes of lack of focus and attention.

A picture from a happier float trip!

Now you might say; “boy your angels were looking out for you”.  Which may be true, but what do you say to the family of the Christian in similar circumstances who drown?  Didn’t God care for him or her?  A lot of times there are not simple answers for life’s trials and tribulations.

Whether you are floating the river or any other number of activities it is important not to get caught up in the moment and not pay attention to the details.  It can cost you dearly.

It’s the same with our spiritual journey.  It is important to pay attention to the details in our spiritual life.

Proverbs 4 NKJV

10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many.  11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.  12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. 13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.

God has a perfect path for us if we are willing to follow it!  I encourage you to seek God for the steps to follow today.

Regular Joe

Suggested Prayer; Lord Jesus, help me to seek you in all my foot-steps, both large and small.

Suggested Reading: Every Step We Take. by Demetrica Mathews

Our Western Culture has changed over the years since I was a kid.  I think probably my grandfather and his grandfather would say the same.  Today you cannot turn on the TV without hearing a message of finding happiness through pleasing and satisfying your wants and desires. 

Yet, for Christians this is the exact opposite of what Paul tells us in Romans will bring us peace and happiness.

Romans 5:1-6

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.  5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

The natural or unsaved man continually is seeking peace and fulfillment through meeting personal desires.  I think that this desire is actually what brings many a man to finally seek God after discovering that nothing else really brings peace and satisfaction.

But I know that I, as a Christian, have fallen into the same thought process at times.  “If only I had____, then things would be easier.  If I just had _____ in the bank then things would go smoother.  Boy, it’s going to be exciting when that shipment from _____ arrives.   We are to be in the world but not of the world.  That can be a challenge at times.  It is easy to fall into the thinking that is prevalent all around us if we are not constantly in God’s word.

Bad Moon Rising; http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/

In verses 3 and 4 it says that we as Christians rejoice in our suffering.  Rejoice in our suffering?!!  I can’t say that I have met anyone rejoicing in their suffering lately. I don’t think Paul is telling us we should be running around telling everyone that we are having a party because we are suffering.  Notice the process: suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.   As I have matured in Christ I believe that I have come to understand these verses better.

Suffering produces

1.      Perseverance- persistence, diligence, tenacity, devotion, endurance, firmness are all word that talk about a continuing action to reach a goal. (i.e. Becoming more like Christ)

Perseverance produces Character

2.      Character- honor, integrity, strength, uprightness,

Character produces Hope

3.      Hope- confidence, anticipation, courage, faith, desire, expectation

It takes the ability to almost step outside of yourself and look at the situation from an eternal viewpoint.  Also as you grow older and have more life experiences you can look back and see the times and events that really changed you for good or bad.

I can honestly say that I have had very little spiritual growth in times when everything was going smoothly and there was no pressure in my life.  It has been the times when I was outside my comfort zone, work was nowhere to be found and bills were piling up, I was sick as a dog, or other problems swirled in my life that I really seem to grow in my faith.

When God allows trouble in our lives it is for our good!  Your mission, should you accept it Mr. Phelps, (oops, an old Mission Impossible TV show popped into my brain) is to: persist in working through the trouble with reliance on God, which will build our integrity and strength in the Lord, which will give us faith and confidence that the Lord will stand with us and ultimately bring peace and justice to the whole of creation.

5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

I continually need to remind myself of these promises, especially  in times of trouble.  We can have peace and rejoice in our troubles with Christ in our life!  When you are feeling like a down trodden Regular Joe or Jane remember that Jesus is right there with you to help you grow through the situation, bringing true peace, joy and confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ!

Regular Joe;

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