Walking With God
February 21, 2008
Walking With God
By Boe Parrish
Beginning this journey some thirty-five years past,
With a prayer of faith most said wouldn’t last.
More peace and more challenge than I’d ever known,
But reading and praying I had steadily grown.
Now His Truth deep inside and guiding my choices,
He gave me daily assignments as I trust in His voice.
My life serving others, who are hurting and lost,
Is the model He left us regardless of cost.
To connect at their need no value is greater,
Their heart you’ll soon win as they discover the Savior.
The words have been few as I’ve lived out my walk,
Compassion in action I’ve allowed it to talk.
The lost as my target I know where to go,
Anyplace where they gather and my Savior I’ll show.
Walking among them so slowly at first,
Listening and serving and developing their thirst.
Affording many a man a glance of a Christian,
That’s living and serving and sitting to listen.
It’s not what we know that will change a man’s life,
But letting them know that they matter…their hurt and their strife.
You see walking with God day by day always changes,
Among the lost and the hurting and all of the strangers.
Staying in touch with God up above,
Receiving direction and being refueled by his love.
It’s so easy to do as we move all about,
Unless we skip our devotion and our love all runs out.
Then we’ll struggle and strain with our own strength we’ll strive,
And notice no difference with the hurt in their eyes.
Walking with God many mistakes have I made?
But growing and learning the foundation was laid.
And over the years as lives intertwine,
God’s purpose fulfilled with His life and mine.
The journey’s been worth it as I look at the fruit,
The lives that were changed, giving Satan the boot.
A fish out of water; some days I felt odd,
But I treasure my time I’ve spent walking with God.
Boe Parrish
The Aroma
February 21, 2008
The Aroma
By Boe Parrish
Recently I returned from a life-changing ten day trip to
The businessmen in
Through the Holy Spirit Paul tells us in II Corinthians 2:14,15 (NIV), “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
Equally, if I go into a business in
In serving, if I leave the aroma of Christ, then wonderful and fruitful results will occur. By building quality relationships with those around me, I have a much better opportunity to speak about my faith, than if I do so without an invitation or if I am pushy.
How is your fragrance? What aroma do you leave behind? Do you leave the aroma of Christ or some other smell? In II Corinthians
Our goal is to spread the fragrance of life everywhere we go and to every person we meet.
Boe Parrish
Nancy’s Prayer
February 20, 2008
Nancy’s Prayer
By Boe Parrish
Word came today but there’s still little doubt
About elevated blood counts, and what all that’s about?
Some pains and some symptoms were evidenced within,
as doctors and nurses attended again.
Many weeks we were waiting as space opened up
for questions and testing and medical stuff.
So much information, so much to consider
where in the world would we find the right answers?
The only place we had learned to escape to
was the Father above who we’d always retreat to,
for guidance and wisdom and courage and grace,
as we turned to our Savior back down on our face.
More peace and more joy were found all around us
in spite of the journey now setting before us.
One day at a time is what we have learned
is what is required, with anxiety spurned.
His peace it now guides us through many decisions
as we trust and we pray through this difficult season.
Doing it right and telling our story
encouraging others all for God’s Glory.
Devoted and focused we cry out to God
for His presence and healing and bountiful love,
as others far worse in there medical state
have no hint of a Savior or their ultimate fate.
Oh God help us remember it’s not about us
as we move through this illness without making a fuss.
But using this challenge and seizing the day
we pray we will strengthen and nurture their faith.
Giving thanks in all things is what life’s all about
and walking through challenge without any doubt.
Trusting and serving and giving to THEM
Is what honors our Savior, it’s all about HIM.
Boe Parrish
Facing Life’s Challenges
February 11, 2008
By Boe Parrish
Nancy, my bride of thirty years as of August 28th, 2007, recently went through one of the most challenging times of her life. I watched as one month the doctors gently shared that they were pretty sure she had ovarian cancer, and the next month where all tests indicated the total opposite probability.
The emotional roller coaster she and I were on was one I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Three months later, once again test results were very discouraging and not giving us much hope. But we hoped against hope and quietly trusted God for whatever outcome he decided was best.
She made comments throughout the ordeal I thought were amazing for someone facing everything she was facing. Comments like, “I somehow hope God can receive some glory through this season,” and “This just can’t be about me because so many others are facing challenges of their own,” and “I just don’t want to make a fuss over this.”
I decided to jot down a few of her thoughts and comments during that season and share them with all of you. You see, none of us are without challenges in our lives. You may not be facing any at the moment, but different seasons of life bring different challenges to learn from.
We decided early on we were not going to ask why, but why not us, why not now, and what do you want to teach us through this? These are much better questions to ask God, and I think he enjoys teaching us wonderful things we would never learn if not for the trials in our lives. In James 1:2-4 it says, “2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)
We received the best possible news after surgery, with all the pathology reports coming back cancer free. But we would’ve been just as okay if they hadn’t, because God had given us great peace throughout the ordeal. I was so proud of the strength and grace Nancy displayed as she walked one of life’s toughest challenges and passed the test!
I gathered many of her thoughts and comments and put them together in a poem which I gave to her before she entered the hospital for her surgery. I wanted to share what I wrote and named as Nancy’s Prayer. It is also posted here on my blog.
This prayer was truly the heart of my bride as she walked through a very low valley last year and with God’s help, sparkled all the way through it. We consider it the highest honor to walk through life with each of you who enjoy this site.
Real Accountability
February 11, 2008
By Jon Cook
I work in a profession where accountability is a frequent topic of conversation. Everyone needs to be accountable for their time, conduct, money, and their beliefs and work ethic. Pastors need accountability even more because of the nature of their work with people. I have had accountability partners for over 30 years…but that does not make me accountable. A man is only as accountable as he chooses to be. Even in an accountability relationship, one can choose to not share the whole truth about himself or even lie to cover up his sin.
Most of us see accountability as volunteering to participate in a relationship where freedom is given to ask a set of strategic questions for the purpose of discovering another’s sin. In fact, these relationships are frequently ineffective due to our refusal to be totally honest and open about the challenges in our life. We feel better about ourselves because we say we are accountable, yet in reality no real accountability ever takes place.
I have come to believe that the best kind of accountability is being involved in a relationship that provides the freedom and security to voluntarily confess your sin without being prompted by a set of questions. This means we invest in a relationship with another that eventually is characterized by an extraordinarily high level of trust, transparency, honesty, and security. This process takes time, effort, and commitment. I served on a church staff where we were paired with other staff members as accountability partners. I am not sure how much accountability took place. An accountability partner is someone God puts on our heart who we believe can provide the trust needed to encourage confession.
I start most of my days at the coffee shop. There I enjoy many wonderful relationships and stay in touch with people in my community. But the best part of my time at the coffee shop is spent talking with three men who provide safe relationships of accountability. The four of us did not set out to be accountability partners. Accountability has become a part of our friendship as we have invested time in one another through the years. I find myself voluntarily confessing sin and asking for help and prayer support. These special friends have also learned what questions to ask me that encourage confession. They know these questions because, through the years, they have learned what areas of sin I struggle with the most. Accountability is a natural part of our friendship. And it has taken years to develop.