Author: Dave Dishman (Page 259 of 475)

I wish I was headed to Europe. The dollar surging against the euro means that everything across the Continent comes so much cheaper. In times of economic uncertainty, investors run to the most stable currency on the planet—the American dollar. Makes it hard on those who sell goods to Europe, but great for travelers like myself.

In difficult times investors move away from instability toward solidity.

The apostle Paul encouraged the church members at Corinth in that direction as well:

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ…Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

The Old Testament scriptures are filled with promises—they are guaranteed in Christ. To prove his commitment, the Lord anointed us, sealed us, and placed the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

Often my “yes” is more of a “maybe.” When Jesus says “Yes,” I can count on him. I live in faith, knowing the promises I read in scripture consist of more than pious language. While their timing remains elusive, the promises stay firm. As I commit more and more to the ways of Jesus, I step from instability toward solidity.

How you spend your life, the most important investment you hold, is in safe hands with Jesus—the ultimate guarantor.

2 Corinthians 2 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Ibrahim Boran

This past spring, following the horrible wildfire that destroyed 1,000 homes in our Colorado community, I started to notice flowers blooming amidst the devastation. Everything above ground was burned totally away, but underground bulbs survived to flower and grace the landscape. It was both eerie and hopeful to see daffodils blooming among burned out basements.

Isaiah wrote of flowering amidst the cinders:

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

I read this and think, not yet. Not with nations around our world at war, not with anger dominating our civil discourse, not with sex trafficking, not with addictions, not with all the maladies we hear of daily.

Then I remember what Jesus taught about the kingdom of God, how it works like yeast, slowly yet incessantly changing the nature of the dough.

The birth of Jesus brought hope to a blackened landscape. The presence of the Holy Spirit hovers even now over this world. The Scriptures form the soil of righteousness and praise. It’s all here, ready for someday.

Quietly, someday leaks into this day. By committing to follow the ways of Jesus we make room for sprouts of praise and shoots of righteousness. Perhaps all this it not so far off?

Not yet do we see the full glory of the Sovereign Lord’s righteousness and glory, but if we pay attention, we see sprouts even in this darkened world.

Isaiah 61 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Daniel Hajdacki

Some hikes in the Rocky Mountains take you to the very top. It’s glorious to see the surrounding country from the summit of a peak. Walking to the top is hard work. At times you think you’re almost there, only to go over a rise and realize there’s more uphill. You crested a false summit, one fooling the view of the ultimate prize and disappointing efforts.

Isaiah wrote of false summits. The children of Israel enthusiastically pursued other gods, driving themselves in their devotion. Isaiah—You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say “It is hopeless.” You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint (Isaiah 57:10).

This renewal of strength existed as a mere echo of the true hope of Israel—but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31).

The trust in pretend gods felt good for awhile. This false summit even brought a sense of renewal. But it led to a dead end, as the judgement of the Lord soon descended.

My trust in pretend gods also feels good for a time. Embracing the norms and practices of the world around me, taking on philosophies of life running counter to scripture, or entertaining myself for hours on end may keep me from fainting, but leads to false summits.

Waiting on the Lord, investing time and attention and energy in a growing relationship with Him, pulls me past false summits.

Stalwart trekkers push on past false summits, keeping the top of the mountain in sight. As I hike I notice eagles coasting over mountaintops, and am reminded that true, lasting strength for the journey lies with the Lord.

Isaiah 40 & 57 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Holly Mandarich

Do not be misled; “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Truer words never written. As parents who raised three teenagers (I lived through the experience, although some do not), my wife and I preached this verse regularly.

The wisdom of these words doesn’t stop with our teenage or young adult years. All through life we face the corrosion bad company brings to our character.

Bad company includes the people I hang around with, whether socially or at work. Folks who enjoy gossip, who create dissension, who continually pull toward the negative make for bad company. While it’s easy to turn down those who offer me pot (since the legalization of marijuana in Colorado I’ve been offered a hit twice, both on the golf course), it’s harder to turn away from a juicy morsel of gossip.

I include much of social media and internet searches in the company of the bad. When I read things online and find myself enveloped in angst, then I know I’m in bad company. I mostly avoid social media for this reason.

The antidote to bad company?

Good company.

Surround yourself with people who encourage you to live better and love the Lord. One huge reason for involvement with a body of believers is to get around folks attempting just that. By ourselves, we drift toward bad company.

What I preached to my kids I now preach to myself—not always successfully—and I continue to see the value of surrounding myself with good people whenever possible.

1 Corinthians 15:32 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

PS. I don’t necessarily include the 70’s band Bad Company in my warning against bad company. Their music is pretty cool.

Photo by Pascal Meier