Author Archives: Larry

CAN YOU REALLY TRUST YOURSELF?

Choices LogoThe things that we achieve in life are much like the crops a farmer will harvest at the end of each season.  We invest our time and energy into a various number of choices and over time those choices both great and small produce a certain result in our circumstances, behaviors, and attitudes.  Hence the old adage we reap what we sow.

Our lives are a byproduct of the seeds we sow in our daily living.  Over time those seeds become a way of life for us.  If we manage our money well; spend less than we make and give generously then we will find that we have great freedom in our finances.  We may not be rich but we will have freedom.  If we manage our money poorly; spend more than we make and spend selfishly then we will be a slave to our money and to those whom we are indebted. Continue reading →

A GREAT TREASURE

Buried Treasure LogoJimmy burst through the kitchen door as if he were being chased. He didn’t stop to wipe his feet nor to turn and close the door.

In spite of his effort he kept wishing he could move faster. The hallway seemed twice as long but he finally made it to the stairs. He began taking the stairs two at a time.

His bedroom door was now in arms reach. Jimmy was moving so fast that he wasn’t able to turn the door knob. His momentum drove him face first into the door. As he turned the knob he stumbled and fell forward into the room. Continue reading →

LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING

In 2004 Country Music artist Tim McGraw released the hit song Live Like You Were Dying.  It reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard country music charts where it remained for a total of seven weeks.

The song shares the story of a middle aged man in his early forties that wrestles with his mortality as he is diagnosed with a life threatening illness.  The songs lyrics pull at our heart strings as the story tells of a life that is radically transformed and reprioritized in light of the shortness of the remaining days the gentleman has to live. 

Unfortunately many of us are careless in life with no thought of tomorrow until our living is interrupted by some news that our life may be cut shorter than we expected.  It is sobering to hear that we are not going to live forever.  Or even make it to old age.  It is amazing how quickly one can change his or her priorities when the idea of a long life is no longer a reality.

The sobering truth for all of us is that we are dying.  When each of us enters into this world we begin our journey towards the grave.  We don’t need to be told by a doctor that we will not live forever.  The grave is the destination of all men, women, boys, and girls.  The problem is that we don’t think in those terms.  We live with the unmerited expectation that we will die of old age.

What if more of us began to live like we were dying?  Would we as the song suggests love a little deeper, speak a little sweeter, give forgiveness that we had been denying?  Would we be better husbands and wives and take a long hard look at how life would be different if we had it to do all over again?  Is it possible that we would be better people, we would have better families, and even better communities?

There is a time for life and a time for death.  All who are born will eventually die.  Why not live like it, starting today?  I hope we all get the chance to live like we are dying.

Written by Larry Westfall.  Copyright Finding Wonder 2013.

THE CALL

The CallA dozen ministry leaders from various churches were sitting in an expensive restaurant. They had gathered to dine and decide who would be the keynote speaker at an upcoming Dynamic Leadership Conference.

After discussing the size of their congregations and various ministry accomplishments there was quite a bit of tension because some desperately wanted their own time in the spotlight. Suddenly all of their cell phones rang at the same time.

None of their phones showed the incoming phone number, all it said on their screens was “I Am”. After looking at each other, the minister of the smallest church nervously answered the call, changed his phone to speaker mode and laid it on the table.

The voice of a stranger though somewhat familiar to a few of them said “in the world’s systems, those in power set themselves up over the powerless. It should not be that way with you. I will send a humble child who knows my heart to be the keynote speaker. You who are listening to my voice will clean the convention center after the crowd leaves.

Because, I oppose the proud but I give grace to the humble.”

Questions For Consideration

1. Have you ever let your ego get in the way of what is most important?

2. What are some ways to overcome our natural desire to be in charge?

3. If humility was a top priority in the church, what difference would that make in our relationship with society?

Written by Tom Wise. Copyright Finding Wonder 2013

LOST AND FOUND

Lost and Found finalLarry pulled the cushions off the couch and pushed his hands down the sides and across the back.

Nothing.

He put the cushions back and moved on to the two chairs in the room.

Still nothing.

He was beginning to get a little anxious. If he was going to be on time for his lunch appointment he would need to leave in the next ten minutes.

“Where could those stupid keys be?” he said aloud standing in the middle of the living room.

He had checked the pants he had on yesterday with no luck.

He had checked the key rack in the kitchen, where they should be, but they were absent.

He had checked the trash can under the key rack but no keys.

He had checked the night stand beside the bed and found nothing.

He had interrogated the kids and his wife but still had no keys.

He realized that he was going about things all wrong.

He started in the bedroom and began putting everything in its proper place. He went from room to room and started putting the small piles of clutter in each room away. As he made his way back into the living room it dawned on him that he had worn his coat yesterday because it was raining.

He opened the coat closet and searched the pockets in his jacket. Sure enough there were the keys. He breathed a huge sigh of relief. He then broke into his happy dance.

“Thank God,” blurted out his daughter.

“I know, right. I thought he was going to pop a blood vessel,” his son chimed in. “By the way, please don’t ever do that in public.”

Larry could only smile. He was pretty determined to find the keys.

He grabbed his daughter by the hand and twirled her around. It’s time to celebrate.

“I agree with Joshua. Don’t ever do that in public.”

He gave the whole family hugs and headed out the door. He and Todd had a good laugh as he retold the story over lunch.

Story based on Luke 15:8-10.

Questions For Consideration

  1. Can you remember the last time you misplaced something of value to you?  How determined were you to find it?
  2. Do you have the same determination to help reconcile those that are far from God?
  3. How do you need to pray today to help your heart to be aligned with God’s heart?
Written by Larry Westfall. Copyright Finding Wonder 2013.