Over the years of traveling and speaking, and traveling on short-term mission trips I have been to about 60 different countries. In some of the countries I was in for several weeks to several months, others I was there for a day or two, and some only for a couple of hours. I have been to every State in the United States. Again some of them for a long time and others just long enough to ride my bicycle through. Of all the places I have been, my all-time favorite is Alaska. It is probably because most of the time when I come to Alaska I am fishing, hunting, or visiting family. But there is something that happens inside of me when I come to Alaska. I am not sure what to call it or how to describe it, but I just feel good. It is kind of a happy feeling with some peace and calmness thrown in, along with a sense of security in a weird kind of way, and a very real sense of expectancy, like something good is about to happen.

We got to Soldotna, Alaska, to Tim’s place today and spent most of the day getting ready for fishermen to come and spend a week fishing here on the Kenai River. There will be three groups of people each that will be here for a week fishing. We went fishing for a couple of hours this evening but caught nothing because the run hasn’t started yet, but I still had a wonderful time. It really is for me kind of a magic place.

The older I get, and the more aches and pains that I have the more I think about heaven. While I am up here in Slaska I think about heaven constantly. Heaven is a very nice thing to think about, to visualize, to dream about, both daydreaming and while I am sleeping. The cool thing is I am confident that I am going there forever because of my faith in Jesus Christ as my savior. The more I think about it the more real it becomes to me, and the stronger my faith becomes.

Sunday was our annual “Baptism at the Lake” service. We meet at a park-like location that a retired farmer in our area owns and maintains as a ministry for churches and other groups. It is a gorgeous place with lots of well-maintained green grass, many oak and fir trees for shade, water, electricity, port-a-potties, and a beautiful lake called “Lake Charles.” We don’t have any other services that weekend. It starts with a big “Potluck” at noon with great food and fellowship. Then it moves to a worship service, with those getting baptized sharing a testimony of their story with Jesus intermixed with singing. And then we all move to the bank of the lake where a concrete platform has been built in the water, just the right height, with a guard rail and a walkway out to it.

We had 37 people baptized Sunday and of all the baptism services that we have done over the years this one was the best for me. What made it powerful for me were the testimonies. The stories of lives being transformed by their faith in Christ was amazing. People used phrases and words like, “I was all messed up,” “I was addicted to. . .,” “I was suicidal or had attempted suicide,” “I was in prison,” “I was totally depressed,” “I was at the end of my rope,” and a number of others. All of those words and phrases were replaced by words like, “hope,” “joy,” “security,” “strength,” and “peace.” It was a beautiful display of the reality of Jesus Christ, and the power that faith in Him has to change lives.

As I listened to the testimonies I asked the question, “Did I have any part in their journey to this point today?” I asked that question of myself, not as motivated by pride, but as a motivation for myself to attempt to do even more to influence people to trust and grow in Christ. Paul declares on numerous occasions that those he had influenced towards faith in Christ and their subsequent growth in Christ were his glory both now, at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and for all eternity. That glory will come from Christ and from those he had influenced.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.

Pray daily and ask God to use you as a witness for Him. Ask for opportunities, ask for boldness, ask for wisdom to say the right words, and pray for people that you know that are lost and that God will work in their lives every day.

Psalms 78:24-27
He rained down manna upon them to eat
And gave them food from heaven.
Man did eat the bread of angels;
He sent them food in abundance.
He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens
And by His power He directed the south wind.
When He rained meat upon them like the dust,
Even winged fowl like the sand of the seas,

Exodus 16:35
The sons of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.

Have you ever wondered about the manna the nation of Israel ate for forty years as their main food source? It says that it is what angels eat. I buy a supplement package that consists of vitamins, minerals, protein, and some other goodies that are supposed to make me healthy. I wonder what was in the manna. Too bad we don’t know that. It seems reasonable to assume that the food that God designed for angels to eat would be a superfood.

I am working hard now to eat healthily. I try not to eat any gluten, no refined sugar, nothing with too many additives, and as natural and as fresh as I can find it, or instead, Patty can find it because she does all the shopping. I am working at making my diet simple, so I can know and control most of what I eat. The Israelites ate manna and quail for forty years; that is about as simple as possible. They fussed about it, and the ones who did God killed; that is a pretty severe consequence for fussing!

I am doing this to control some of the results of Parkinson’s, such as muscle spasms, loss of balance, constant exhaustion and fatigue, muscle rigidity, and muscle pain. I am beginning to notice some improvement in those areas, but I have noticed a significant improvement in my skin. I have had, over the years, lots of little growths, some on my arms and hands, but most on my forehead and the top of my head. I have had the bigger ones frozen off over the years so they don’t become skin cancer. Since my diet discipline began, all of the growths that I have had, which were several dozen, have all disappeared. I have also had patches of eczema over the later years of my life, and that has also all gone away.

I did a similar thing with my eating several years ago and noticed a marked improvement in all of my Parkinson’s ailments, but then I slowly drifted back to my former way of eating. The temptation of ice cream, cake, bread, pizza, etc was more than I could resist, and there I was, back to square number one. Seems kind of stupid looking back on it, and it was.

People go through my leadership class and learn about the basic disciplines of the Christian life of goal setting, Bible reading, Bible memory, meditation, prayer, private, with their church family, with their spouse, they start to read good Christian books, listen to podcasts, and make plans to get involved in some ministry. Most are on a roll at the end of the class, but many drift back to the level they were at when they started the class. It seems stupid, but we all are stupid. The cure is to be part of an accountability group, but that takes time, and most think they can run the race of life on their own so they don’t join with others to receive and to give encouragement and to give and receive grace. It seems stupid; it is, and sad.

The benefits and blessings of eating right are good health and energy. The benefits and blessings of faithfully practicing the basic disciplines of the Christian life are spiritual growth, victory over sin, much fruit as God uses us, and marvelous rewards that last for all eternity at the judgment seat of Christ.

This morning I had the privilege of taking one of my grandsons, about ten years old, fishing. I enjoy taking people fishing who haven’t fished much and who enjoy it. Occasionally I will take someone fishing who is a genuine fishing addict. Those are the people I enjoy taking fishing with because they are having such a good time that I have a good time just enjoying their joy. My ten-year-old grandson is a genuine, through and through, bonafide fishing addict, and I experienced so much joy from his joy. He lives in Hawaii, so I don’t get to take him fishing very often, but I try to take advantage of each opportunity I have with him. Today we went crappie fishing, and tomorrow we are going bass fishing.

I am looking forward to the day I get to take him to Alaska to fish for salmon and halibut.

Another kind of person I enjoy being with is someone addicted to the Bible. Not just a read-it-everyday addict, but someone who realizes that the knowledge, truth, and information in the Bible is infinite, there is always more to learn, and they are obsessed with learning more and more. True Bible addicts have learned that the knowledge in the Bible is in layers, as it were, and that every layer of new truth requires that every layer above or before it must be mastered accurately. If any one truth is not understood or misunderstood, every bit of information that is at a deeper level will be warped.

True Bible addicts know that there are a lot of people teaching stuff out of the Bible that is not accurate, so they study, check, and double-check all the teaching that they hear or read because false teaching that they would take in and believe would not only affect their relationship with Jesus but that it would taint all the future study and learning in the Bible that they did.

Hebrews 5:13-14
For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Patty and I make fun of each other when we do funny things because of memory loss. The other day I needed to go to Freres Building Supply in Jefferson, and I asked Patty if she wanted to go along. She said, “Yes, I would, and I will drive so you don’t get lost.” We took off, and when we got to the stop sign, she turned right and then left into Dollar General. I asked what she was doing that we were going to Freres; she thought for a minute and then said, “I was just testing you to see if you remembered where we were going.” I mocked her for the rest of the day. The next day she said she had to go to the church to pick up our cooler that they had borrowed for Vacation Bible School and asked if I wanted to go, and I said, “Yes, but I will drive so you don’t end up at Dollar General.” I drove to the covered area on the North side of the Old Chapel at JBC, and Patty said, “The cooler is in the gym; I will get out here and walk through the gym, get the cooler, and meet you at the gym door,” which is on the other side of the Old Chapel. Patty got out, and I turned the pickup around, and instead of turning left toward the gym door, I just kept going straight and went down the driveway and turned left on the Highway, and headed home. I got about halfway home and thought, “Where am I going?” I turned around and got to the gym door as Patty was walking out. When she got into the pickup, I was laughing hysterically. She asked what was so funny, and I was tempted to say, “Oh, nothing,” but I couldn’t stop laughing, so I told her, and then she had a good laugh and heckled me the rest of the day.

I have memorized these verses and meditate on them almost every day.

2 Corinthians 5:1-4 For we know that if the earthly tent (body) which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this tent (body) we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this body, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

While we are in this earthly body, we groan! Amen to that! When we die or Jesus returns, we get a new eternal body; it will be a body like Jesus has. It won’t get sick; it won’t get old; it will be super strong and won’t get tired. We will have a mind like Jesus and be able to think clearly, and powerfully and we won’t forget anything! I can’t wait, and by the way, that promise is only for those who are His followers.

For the last two weeks I have been very careful about what I eat. I found out that no one is allergic to rice, so I went on a rice and vitamin supplement-only diet and then have added foods to my diet a few at a time and noting any changes, especially in regards to Parkinson’s symptoms. I found out that I have very strong reactions to anything with Gluten in it. I also react to hot dogs and it must be the additives because I am fine with most meats. This past week has been much better for me as far as muscle stiffness, muscle cramps, and not being able to sleep. I have actually slept like a baby for the last week, and that is so nice. Now I have no excuse for being grumpy.

My discipline in regards to what I eat and how much I eat has been very poor most of my life. But now that I am almost 75 years old I would like to still be active physically and productive as a Pastor and a disciple of Jesus Christ. I don’t want to be lazy and undisciplined about what and how much I eat and then whine and fuss when I don’t feel well. I am keeping close track of everything I eat and noting any changes in physical energy and flexibility. I am also trying to notice any mood swings especially between enthusiasm and depression, and energy and tiredness mentally.

A new thing I just started is a thirty minute stretching routine each day. I have gotten so stiff and inflexible that I can’t put my socks on in the morning. I can’t get on my bicycle except by laying it down, stepping over it and then picking the bike up under me. This program that I bought promises that I will be doing the splits in no time.

Everyone’s life is full of challenges and barriers that need to be conquered and overcome. They are all different , but we all have them. That is what makes us grow. I found myself getting wimpy and whining more and more about the challenges and barriers in my life, but I am going to conquer that problem as well.

This is one of my favorite stories that I used to tell a lot but I haven’t told it now probably for ten years.

In 1960 Dad retired from the Navy, and we bought our first farm on North Myrtle Road, 13 miles out of Myrtle Creek. My Dad’s sister and her husband, Uncle Bill, visited us about a year later. I had never met Uncle Bill or Aunt Mabel because they had never visited us before. After all, we moved so much while Dad was in the Navy that they couldn’t figure out where we lived; at least, that is what Uncle Bill said.

When they drove into the driveway, Dad told me that after all the greeting was finished, to carry their suitcases into the room where they were staying. I did that, and when I finished, Uncle Bill gave me a nickel. I thanked him enthusiastically; a nickel was worth a lot more in 1961 than it is now. I could buy a pack of bubble gum with five baseball cards for a nickel back then. Later I brought him the paper, and he gave me another nickel, a cup of coffee, and, yep, you guessed it, yet another nickel. On one of those nickel experiences, I noticed that Uncle Bill had a big bulge in his pants pocket where he was getting the nickels from. I concluded that Uncle Bill was rich. There was a bit of a lull in Uncle Bill’s generosity, so I didn’t wait for him; I just asked him for a nickel. He, without hesitation, reached into His pocket and brought out a nice shiny nickel, and gave it to me. My mom was just around the corner in the kitchen and heard me ask Uncle Bill for a nickel, and she came around the corner, spitting mad, and I thought I was going to get a significant whipping. Uncle Bill intervened and said, Bernice ( that was my Mom’s name), that is OK; I would like for Dee to ask me for a nickel any time he wants. Mom wasn’t too happy with me begging for nickels, as she put it, but reluctantly agreed to Uncle Bill’s generosity after he assured her it was what he wanted. So I became Uncle Bill’s shadow; every place he went, I went. I even tried to go into the bathroom with him, but he assured me he would not be long and for me to wait outside the bathroom. Actually, we had an outhouse, not a regular bathroom, and it was a two-holer, so I thought it would be fantastic for us to sit together. At some point, I took the initiative and asked Uncle Bill to go ahead and give me all the nickels in his pocket, and then he wouldn’t be bothered with me shadowing him anymore. He sat down and looked me in the eye, and said, “A major reason for our visit was to get to know you boys, but I knew Junior High boys wouldn’t have any interest in hanging out with their old Uncle Bill, so I came up with this plan to bribe you. You know, if I gave you all my nickels now, I wouldn’t see you much for the rest of our time here; no, I will keep my nickels, but you keep asking, and I will keep giving.”

One of my significant mottos with prayer is, “Much Prayer – Much Blessing; Little Prayer – Little Blessing; No Prayer – No Blessing.” Is that because God is a reluctant giver and needs persuading? I don’t think so; I think God wants our time, fellowship, and attention, and He is willing to give us nickels whenever we ask to get our time with Him. We get so busy with our lives that we quickly forget all about God and give Him just token, left-over time.

Luke 6:23
Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.

Revelation 11:18
the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints

One of the things that constantly puzzles me is how few believers in Jesus think much about the “Judgment Seat of Christ” and the eternal rewards earned in this life that will affect the quality of our eternity forever.

The Bible talks about judgment, rewards, and the loss of rewards a lot, but it is like most Christians don’t see them when they read the Bible.

All the verses written about the rewards given to us by God for the deeds that we have done in this life are intended by God to motivate us, stir us up, make us hot, and increase our willingness to work hard and sacrifice for God.

But because there are so few who understand the eternal rewards that we could receive that will make a huge difference in the quality of our life in eternity there are a lot of lukewarm, apathetic, world-focused Christians running around who make very little difference with their life in this world.

I think about the day I will stand before Jesus and give an account of my life and what I have done with my life for Him constantly. I begin my day thinking about it, and I end my day thinking about it. I am a highly motivated, driven person, always wanting to do more, looking for opportunities, looking for open doors, and never satisfied or content with what I have done or how much I have grown; I want more and more and more.

I sleep almost every night, and if I miss a night because of schedule, the next day, I am not worth dirt. The other day I went to bed at 7:00 pm and didn’t get up until 7:00 am; it was a delight. I usually don’t do that because I would toss and turn and not sleep, but that evening I was so tired that I slept like a baby. I eat almost every day, and usually, I eat three meals, and I have a weight problem because I love to eat. On our month-long bicycle trip, we showered almost every night, and if we missed one, we felt sticky, smelly, and very uncomfortable; showers were, Oh, such a delight! I have not had a cavity or a filling in my teeth for over 50 years, and I feel “not right” if I don’t brush my teeth daily.

Things we do daily are not necessarily drudgery, mindless repetition, duties, obligations, or legalism. They are often the key to our health and energy, sense of well-being, and joy. We do them regularly and faithfully because the benefits and blessings from those faithful basics are our energy sources.

Our physical life is a visible illustration of our spiritual life. Our physical health is tremendously influenced by our daily disciplines and habits, and our spiritual life and health even more so. Even though many of the disciplines of our physical life are not what I would call a delight, I do them almost every day because the benefits are almost immediately experienced, and the benefits are tremendous. One such discipline is physical exercise. It is a struggle while doing it, but the results are so apparent that I am making goals to do more; I love feeling good and energetic; therefore, I love exercising.

The problem for many is that the faithful practice of the basic spiritual disciplines is not as quickly connected to the benefits and blessings that result from doing them. The Bible is full of blessings promised to the person who faithfully reads, memorizes, and meditates on the Bible, but most are ignorant of them.

1 Peter 2:2
like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

Psalms 119:165
Those who love Your law have great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.

Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

There are over fifty clearly stated blessings in the Bible promised to the person who faithfully reads, studies, and memorizes it so that they might live it. God’s blessings are conditional, that means that when we experience a blessing from God their is a reason.

James 1:25
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Many born-again Christians are living weak, fruitless, and joyless lives because they are not being faithful to the basic disciplines of the Christian life. According to their theology, the disciplines are just things you are supposed to do, and because we are saved by grace, no big deal if we don’t. They tend to believe that because our salvation is a free gift from God, neither earned nor deserved, that blessings from God are the same. God is our loving heavenly Father who will shower us with blessings, and if something goes wrong, it is the devil’s fault.

And when I say “many,” I really mean “most.”