Route 66 - Biblical Culture

In today's reading there were several things that stood out, but one passage struck me as odd.

In Numbers 6:9-12 it is talking about the Nazirite vow. It is a serious commitment to the Lord. This passage begins bu saying, "If someone falls dead beside them..." How weird is that! What kind of place do you have to be living in where people just fall dead beside you? Talk about culture shock! I can't even imagine what that is like. I am sure that there are places, even in our world today, where this happens, and the people don't think that much about it, but it has never happened anyplace I have been. That would totally freak me out!

Further in the passage it says that if this happens, the days of their vow before this event don't count, and they have to start all over again. Imagine if this is the last day of your vow! Some vows were as short as 30 days, and they are to the Lord, but a long vow what ever commitment was made, that could be really tough! Imagine Lent (if you follow that) for an extended period of time.

A weird as this is, we take to take from it how serious it is to make a vow to God. We need to fulfill it at any cost, no matter how long it takes. If we commit to doing something for a number of consecutive days, and something interrupts those days (no matter what it is, even someones death), then you need to start over. Always fulfill your vows to God!

Two Minute Tuesday

How are you doing on your Route 66 daily reading? If you are behind, either make it a priority and catch up, or skip to today's reading and get going! It is so important to be in God's Word every day. How can you lead others toward Christ if you aren't drawing closer to Him yourself?

If we are going to "Lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ", don't we need to be fully devoted to Him ourselves? Doesn't being fully devoted to Him include spending time with Him, learning more about Him, and becoming more like Him?

I encourage you to spend time every day with God through His Word. I also want to encourage you to start journaling. We are using the SOAP method and it makes journaling so easy!

I made a commitment to start journaling at the beginning of the year when we started the Route 66 focus. I have never been one to journal, but I have come to love it. I love writing down what God is speaking to me through His Word and the Holy Spirit. I will be honest and say that I have missed a day or two hear and there, weekends are tough for me! But, I pick it right back up and don't let myself feel guilty for what I have missed, I just press on to become more consistent.

I challeng you to get into God's Word, expect to hear from Him every day, and journal what He is teaching you so that you can look back and reflect on it and celebrate!

Why I Journal

I have always wanted to journal, but have never disciplined myself to do it consistently. The Route 66 Journey we are on at Palm Valley Church has helped me with that. When we began reading the One Year Bible, I also committed to journaling. I'm so glad that I did!

As I look and listen for God to speak to me every day, I need to write down what He says! He is God, and I have a terrible memory. His conversations with me are the most important of my day, and I need to be able to reflect on what He has said to me, and refer to it.

If taking notes in meetings is important, how much more important is it to take notes when you sit at the feet of God Almighty!

I have already been reviewing some of the things God is teaching me and it is so great! I understand Him more and I remember more because I have taken notes and am reviewing them. Forever a student of the Master, I want to be mentored every day by Him and journaling helps me to be a better servant of His teaching.

I began using the SOAP method which is very simple. You can learn about it at www.pvcroute66.com . Check it out! If you've never tried it, I challenge you to try it for three weeks and see if God doesn't bless you through it. The Israelite kings had to write the law for themselves and study from their writings. What a great example!

Route 66 Update

I hope that you are doing the daily reading and keeping up with the www.pvcroute66.com blog. Paige and I are reading Scripture together for the first time in our 24 years of marriage (our 24th anniversary is on the 14th!). We have just had different times that we each studied and for no real reason, we just haven't studied together. I have to say that I love it! I love her and to now share this together is so awesome!

I have been journaling every day. This is my goal for the year, so I'm following through so far.

I love the way the One Year Bible lays out the daily readings!

I think I'm reading the passage about three or four times per day, so by the end I'll really have grown in knowing God's Word. Paige and I read at breakfast, I read alone in my office and journal, I read with staff each morning (Monday through Thursday), and I read ahead working on Home Team curriculum. It's not a burden, I'm having the time of my life spending this much time in the Bible! One of the cool things is that God shows me something different with nearly every reading.

If you haven't started, don't worry about getting caught up, just start! Then if you get time, go back and pick up what you missed. Start, and start now!

Life Is A Highway!

WOW! What else can you say after a weekend like this?! I don't think there has been this much buzz about a series at PVC since PureSex. People are so excited about getting into the Bible and hearing from God for themselves.

Derrick and his team did an awesome job on staging and music. It's too bad Pete can't play guitar very well :-)! The guy flat out rocks it, and he's a USC guy too!

The classic cars on the patio and the route 66 road signs along the walkway were great touches.

The message was simple and straight forward, Greg did a great job (as usual).

We had at least four first time decisions for Christ just today!

People are so excited. Some people we have been inviting were planning to come, but didn't make it. We'll keep praying!

We read day 6 together as a family after dinner at the table tonight. What a blast! If you don't think reading the Bible is fun, you need to be at our house when the boys are around. It was a riot! From Abram chasing birds, to Joshua's comment that the Amalekites sure seems to get beaten by God's people a lot, it was a lot of fun!

The song "Life is a Highway" with the "Cars" movie background was a lot of fun.

Of course on life's highway there are bumps too. Friday's shots were a lot more painful than they should have been and it's been a tough couple of days. I'll talk to the Dr. tomorrow to see what's up. Just one more round of shots to go this coming Friday. I was still able to be at church and pray with some people (Including a friend heading for Iraq!). The life change happening at PVC makes any pain worth every moment!

Route 66: The Journey Begins!

Route 66 begins at Jackson Blvd. and Lakeshore Dr. in Chicago, Ill. The actual beginning has moved around a bit over the years, but this is where our journey begins. This is at Grant's Park which borders Lake Michigan.

Things to see in the area:
Clarence Buckingham Fountain
Union Station
Sears Tower
The "L"
Wrigley Field
Chicago Water Tower
Lou Mitchell's Restaurant

On the road toward St. Louis:
White Fence Farm
Rialto Sq. Theater
Launching Pad Drive-In (With an GeminiGiant out front)
Polk-a-dot Drive-In
Odel - Standard oil station
Funks Grove - Maple syrup since 1891!
In Springfield:

1. Bill Shea's Gas Station
2. Cozy Dog Drive-In
3. Route 66 Drive-In
4. Route 66 Dream Car Museum
5. Abraham Lincoln (enough said!)

Ariston Cafe

Check these places out on-line, or go there!

Don't forget to go to www.pvcroute66.com to follow along the Bible reading blog as well!

Route 66 - The Best of Both Worlds!

In less than three hours 2007 will be over! I am so excited about what's ahead for 2008!

I grew up a car guy, and while I have never driven the entire Route 66, I've been on parts of it and am keenly aware of the heritage it represents. I love cars, old and new, and a broad variety of styles. I like trucks too, especially old ones that have been restored. I love racing (most types), and used to race (primarily endurance Karts). I like working on cars, though there's not a lot a guy can do on a newer car. The boys and I just changed the brakes on Caleb's car and on Paige's car. So, I'm totally into the Route 66 theme that Palm Valley Church has chosen for our "Year of the Bible.

I totally love the Bible! I am amazed every day that God reveals something new to me that I can immediately apply to my life. The power of the Holy Spirit to reveal God's truth is a certain drawing card. Think of the Bible as a collection of mentors who have written for us to gain wisdom for life, to teach us about God, and to provide a road map for us to follow as we enter and grow in our relationship with Him. It is a living document, though the words do not change. Sixty-six books. The Route 66 wasn't named for the number of books in the Bible, but the journey is the same.

Beginning tomorrow morning, we begin our adventure. I hope you will join us! You can follow along by going to http://www.pvcroute66.com/ . I'll be blogging here as well about where we are in the Bible, and where we are on the old Route 66. Come enjoy the ride!