For Sale: 1994 Dodge Viper R/T 10

15 Jun 2012 2 Comments

by Rod & Rose in Authentic Life by Rod Tags: , ,


For Sale: 1994 Dodge Viper R/T 10. Original Owner. Red with grey leather interior; A/C; 2nd generation wheels; also includes original wheels and tires; 7,300 miles. Kept in carpeted garage with no natural light. Ready to break out into the light with a new owner!

This is an ad I never imagined writing. My first car was a 1962 Impala SS with a 327 c.i. 4 barrel – red with a white convertible top. I sold it for $300 in 1969. Today it’s probably worth something in the range of $25,000 to $30,000. When I hit my mid-life crisis (make that my mid-life “Chrysler”) shortly after I turned 40, I decided the Viper would be a great car to buy and keep…a good car to have in the garage. It’s been fun to drive and own, but it’s time to let ‘er go. (She really is for sale.)

We all have experienced necessary transitions in our lives as we move through life’s stages. Something that made perfect sense one day makes little sense the next. The concessions we once so desperately needed sometimes seem silly as we enter into a new era of our journey.

I’m at another crisis point in my life where – once again – I’m reevaluating my priorities. And I’m compelled from somewhere deep within my spirit to live a nimble life. It’s a part of stripping down to the things that are most essential.

Possibly I will regret selling the Viper. Time will tell. But there’s a certain kind of pain in every choice we make – letting go of one thing to take hold of something else. Or holding on for dear life to something because of our fear of the unknown.

From my vantage point today, selling the Viper is the right choice. And I will hold on lightly to everything else that is currently under my care – knowing that my possessions are not really mine. All that is truly “mine” is my love for my Lord, and my willingness to allow him to guide me along the path he has chosen for me to follow—today.

Possibly you relate to letting go of something that at one time seemed as though it would always be a part of your life. I would love to hear your story. (Now, please excuse me as I go find a tissue…)

Say WHAT?

14 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Rod & Rose in Authentic Life by Rod Tags: , ,


My hearing is shot…literally. Several years ago, when I was attending Purdue, a pastor friend of mine, Mick, invited me to shoot his .44 magnum handgun. I’d shot a few guns when I was a kid, and I knew guns were loud. But I was totally unprepared for the .44 magnum. The first shot felt like someone crashed brake rotors against each side of my head. The second shot was worse. The gun powder exploded and sent shock waves that blasted past my eardrums and collided somewhere toward the middle of my head. By the third shot, I felt dizzy and disoriented.

Something inside me told me it would probably be unwise to continue shooting the gun–at least without some type of ear protection. So I told Mick I’d like to use some ear plugs. He told me I didn’t need them, suggesting the ringing would stop “before too long.” At least that’s what I think he said because by now all I could do was read his lips. Since he was my friend (not to mention a man of the cloth) I took his word for it and blasted off a few more rounds for good measure.

The ringing never stopped. Thirty one years ago when Mick told me the ringing would stop before too long, I neglected to quantify “too long.” That’s my fault. And now I miss a lot that’s going on around me because I blew out something important in my ears I needed in order to hear.

Some of us also have spiritual hearing damage that hinders our ability to hear God. Maybe we haven’t blown out our spiritual ear drums, but our hearing has been muffled in other ways. Apparently the people hanging around Jesus when he was teaching here on earth had a hearing problem too. Time and again Jesus made the comment, “He who has ears to hear…”

I believe God is communicating with us all the time. He speaks to us through the beauty of nature, in the midst of our pain, and through the serendipitous experiences of day-to-day life. We have opportunities to “hear” God throughout our day. But too often, we miss the message because we’re too distracted by day-to-day life.

And even if we are tuned in, there’s a difference between hearing the words and grasping truth. We know we are truly hearing when we “get it,” and we know we’re getting it when we’re compelled to align ourselves with the truth we’ve been given. May we have ears to hear – today – that allow us to hear the whisperings of our heavenly Father. And may our lives be changed as we respond to his voice.

“Ears to hear and eyes to see–both are gifts from the LORD.” ~Psalm 20:12

Dodging bullets…

13 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Rod & Rose in Authentic Life by Rod


I’m usually on the lookout for life lessons that spring up along my path on a day-to-day basis. As I’ve mentioned before – nuggets of inspiration are everywhere.

I found a nugget several years ago on Saginaw Street in Flint, Michigan. Just as I was about to enter a pawn shop with my two young sons, Derick and Aaron, I heard a commotion behind us. When I turned to see what was happening, I saw a guy with a lady who was carrying something that looked like a piece of stereo equipment. The commotion was caused by another guy with a gun who appeared to be trying to get an unobstructed shot at the guy with the lady. Here’s the curious part: the guy with the lady was using the lady as a human shield to protect himself from the guy with the gun.

I realize there are a lot of guys these days that are having trouble becoming men. Although we’re designed to be warriors who protect our wives, too often we fail—miserably. I admit, I judged the guy hiding behind his woman. I judged him for not having the cojones to protect his woman, and to take a bullet for her if it came down to either him or her.

But then I got a glimpse of myself in this cowardly guy’s pathetic behavior. It’s always easier to see the foolishness in someone else than it is in our selves. We become so accustomed to our own stench of hypocrisy we no longer notice the odor.

While I’ve never used Rose as a human shield in a literal sense, I’ve failed to protect her in other ways. I’ve missed opportunities to be her valiant warrior—to shield her from the onslaught of the “enemy.” Not always, but more often than I care to admit. Since Rose has a generous heart of forgiveness, she has never held my gaffes against me. I’m grateful for that. So grateful that I’m compelled to do a better job of protecting her when the next opportunity arises—and I’m certain it will. There’s a part of me that welcomes the challenge. It will be an opportunity to lean on my Strength and my Shield…

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” ~Psalm 28:7

In Need of Eye Surgery?! ~

12 Jun 2012 3 Comments

by Rod & Rose in Rose


  “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ~Matthew 7:4

Each morning, as I gather my thoughts to pray,  I always begin with Psalm 139…seeking wisdom and discernment. Before all else, I ask God to search my heart, knowing there is nothing good in my flesh. My natural tendency–on my own–is to be too quick to judge or criticize. I’m too quick to wag my finger in the face of my enemies. And too often, in the faces of those I love. So I begin my morning prayer with “Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” ~Psalm 139:23-24

It’s not an easy prayer to pray. When I pray this way, I open my heart to allow God to continue his sanctifying work in me…a NEVER ending process! It’s a process that is never without pain…necessary, humbling pain. His holy fire burns off the impurities of my flesh that contaminate my deepest longing to be pure. When ignored, these impurities spill over  into my thought life,  the words I speak, and the choices I make. They influence the way I treat others.  

Jesus called these things that distort our perception and damage our relationships “planks.” These cumbersome planks come in all shapes and sizes: a haughty spirit, a critical tongue, or an unkind look of disgust. The list goes on.  Each plank, if left unattended, can potentially become an insidious habit.

So as I approach Papa God each morning, I must be willing to allow him to show me my own planks, before I can even begin to offer counsel to those in my circle of influence. God invites me to willingly surrender to him, and to allow him to surgically remove the unwieldy planks from my eye…the eye of my heart. For that is where the wellspring of life resides. His Word says,  “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23.

When I’m not willing to surrender my will for his……when I run away and hide from the truth, the wake of my pride and disobedience causes devastating consequences. But when my heart is aligned with his–truly aligned–God performs his best surgery with his holy Word. With it he corrects my vision, and compels me to restore that which I’ve damaged.  His Word penetrates deeply–it convicts, it corrects and it humbles me.  His Word resonates with compassion that’s just right, and mercy that enables me to open my heart to further understanding. His promises hold me steady as he puts things back into perspective…his perspective. He realigns me in a way that “hurts so good!”

Suddenly the speck that once seemed so large in my brother’s eye, now seems so small. I’m now looking at his heart and loving him just like Papa God loves me…unconditionally!

If you have a plank problem, allow Papa God to remove it from the eye of your heart.   In as much as it depends on you…give God the opportunity to begin the healing of relationships in your life. Let Papa God give you the courage to set the wrongs right… allow his love to refresh the vision of your heart!  ~ In His Strong Love ~ rose

When My Train Wrecks..He is there! ~

11 Jun 2012 7 Comments

by Rod & Rose in Rose


Psalm 25:4-10 “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. …Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. …The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.”

I love toy train exhibits!  I recently had the privilege of taking two of my granddaughters to see the train exhibit at the Albuquerque BioPark. Surrounded by trees, nestled into a gardenscape of scaled-to-size mountains, tunnels, rivers, and bridges, it was a highlight of our visit to be sure!

As we watched the trains winding in and out of tunnels, up and down rolling hills and carefully maneuvering intersections, I stood in awe of the one person that managed it all – the exhibit conductor. He stood in a strategic location…at a distance, yet watchful of every train section that he himself had carefully set in motion. He watched intently as each train set out on its course.

Soon, he turned his attention to a train that had gotten off track. From where I stood, I could not see where the train wreck had occurred. But from his vantage point, he obviously could. He quickly reached down and picked up the train car that had derailed, assessed the damage and took it back to his maintenance table.  He fixed a wheel, made some adjustments, and before too long was able to set the train back on it’s’ track…back on course.

I paused for a moment to take in all the sights and sounds around me. The train whistles, the water sounds of the miniature river, the chattering of children leaning against the guard rails, watching in awe and anticipation as the conductor added more trains to the track. The “oohs,” the “ahhs” and the “yays” as he rescued a train that had gone off track.

It was then that I took a moment to look up through the canopy of trees that hovered above me. I breathed in all the aromas, listened to the wind as it whispered through the trees. With my heart full of gratitude…I thanked Papa God for towering over me…for being watchful in every season of my life! From the moment of my birth to the present, he has been with me. I thought of the times he carried me,  the times he has had to mend the damage caused by the choices I made that resulted in painful derailments…taking me off his intended course for my life. His tender mercies are evidenced in the masterful tapestry of my life.  What a patient, forgiving, faithful Father I serve!

“Oh how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on, all generations will call me blessed.  For the Mighty One is Holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things!” – Luke 1:46-51.

If you know you are off track…feeling  a little derailed, or perhaps a complete ‘wreck’… look up! He is there, ready to  mend the broken pieces. He alone can set you back on the right course…the course He destined just for you!  Thank him for his never-ending faithfulness! ~ Be blessed!  In HIS Strong Love! ~ rose

“Accidental” Life…?

10 Jun 2012 4 Comments

by Rod & Rose in Holy Libido by Rod


Something that puzzles me about the accidental theory of life is this: If humans have been evolving for millions of years into progressively more advanced creatures, and all the adaptations are ultimately improvements that better equip these creatures for their existence on earth—survival—why did they evolve with a sense of God in their soul?

From my vantage point, the fingerprints of a Creator are everywhere. I find evidence of a Supreme Being in the laws and majesty of nature and in the intricacy of the human body. Every single human cell is an elaborate microscopic system of machines and functions that confound our minds. The universe we call home is a work of genius and divine design—and humans are the masterpiece—from my point of view.

Most notable is that we have a sense of God in our souls and we have a longing to connect with him. I believe he designed us with a longing—or craving—for a relationship with him.

A few people are discovering their way to God and his design for their lives in a life-trajectory-altering way. They have blown past the lies of the world into an intimate and honest relationship with their Creator. They’ve found their way home to their heavenly Father, and they are beginning to experience life that offers fulfillment and purpose—and peace. Life that was designed by a profound Creator.

Too much of me…

09 Jun 2012 2 Comments

by Rod & Rose in Authentic Life by Rod


A part of my morning routine is to step on the bathroom scale. I’m not exactly sure why I do it…I know the scale is not my friend. I weigh more than I need to, I know that. Yes, my dear friend, there’s too much of me. And there’s also too much of me in other ways too…

I wonder if I would step on a spiritual scale, if there was such a scale for everyday use? Do you know what I’m talking about – a scale that would measure how much of “me” there is in my day-to-day life. This might seem like an odd concern, from the perspective of the world, because isn’t it supposed to be “all about me?”

We will always be confused as long as we try to understand God’s way by looking at the way of the world. The two ways are diametrically opposed, but for some odd reason we try to blend the two. Even though our deepest heart’s desire is to live for Someone greater than ourselves, our self-centered “selves” just seem to jump right back in the driver’s seat when we’re not looking.

But there’s no need to bemoan our dilemma…it will be an ongoing challenge as long as we live in our “earthen vessels” with an “earthen mind.” The sooner we accept this immutable reality, the more prepared we will be to remain diligent in our journey through our fleeting time here on earth.

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” ~John 3:30, NLT

A Leap of Faith…

08 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Rod & Rose in Holy Libido by Rod Tags: , , ,


Christ followers accept the Father’s teaching with the same unquestioning trust a child displays when he believes what he’s told by his dad. My son Derick illustrated this principle to me in a way that has always stuck in my mind. I was attending Purdue University at the time, and I lived with my family in a mobile home park near the campus in West Lafayette. Whenever I got an opportunity, I enjoyed hanging out with my young sons, Derick and Aaron.

During one these special times we were wobbling a Frisbee back and forth between us when somehow it landed on the top of the trailer. So I did what any safety-conscious dad would do. Rather than boosting Aaron up, who was lighter, I decided on Derick, because he was older—about five years old. Aaron was two, and my better judgment told me he was a tad too young to be on the roof alone.

As I boosted Derick up onto the roof to retrieve the Frisbee, I reminded him to be careful. That’s what good dads do. I didn’t want him to learn from experience what it felt like to fall from that height. Derick tossed the Frisbee to me, and then asked how he should get down. I told him to jump. As soon as the words—or rather word—left my lips, he was in the air, headed in my direction.

I didn’t think about it at the time, but afterward I wondered how much more free-flowing my life would be if I was as trusting of my heavenly Daddy as Derick was of me at that moment. At the time I was just focused on catching him. He was in the air, and the only thing between him and the concrete pad was me.

There’s no need for a Christ follower with the mind of a trusting child to understand why it’s safe to trust. We just do. And we don’t need evidence to prove what God has told us. Our faith is never bolstered by studies and discoveries that prove by science that the impossible may be explained by scientific knowledge.

Flickering Embers…

07 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Rod & Rose in Holy Libido by Rod


The flicker of desire to live for something grander than our fleeting selves is not extinguished, even though at times it seems to be. If it was dead, the angst we feel would have died along with it. Even though the desire for something more may be weak, there’s still some life left in it. All it takes is a spark of hope and a breath of inspiration to reignite a flickering ember.

Something within us longs to fulfill the original design even though we don’t fully understand what that means. Just as a seed germinates, unlocking a sprout that wiggles its way to the surface of the earth and then continues to reach upward as it grows to be what it was programmed to be, so the human spirit reaches for the fulfillment of what it was designed to become. It’s in the DNA—the genetic code for all human life.

Invite God to breathe renewed life into your spirit today, reigniting the flickering desire to live life with him today…

A Dazzling Passion…

06 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Rod & Rose in Holy Libido by Rod


Passion for life finds its source in our passionate Creator. He has dazzled us with the majesty of his work. The spectacular vastness his workmanship is everywhere. We almost have to remind ourselves to breathe the first time we lay eyes on the Grand Canyon. Who can stand at the edge of an ocean and not feel his power in the crashing waves? And there’s an intimate and tender dimension to the spectacular ways of God. The birth of our child—sperm and egg that became human—unleashes a flood of emotion that flows from a place deeper within us than we knew existed.

I believe God designed us to experience his passion in our lives. Falling in love is one of those passionate experiences. When we fall in love, something from deep within surges to the surface, emerging with such force that we are stunned by the impact. We are unprepared for the intensity of the emotions we feel. Up until that time, our anger or sadness may have been the only emotions that really stirred us. But this is different—it’s in a realm of its own. The feelings are more powerful than anything we have ever imagined.

When we are in love, nothing else matters except the object of our passion. When we’re unable to be together physically, we’re together in our minds and hearts. We fabricate reasons to call on the phone, just to hear our lover’s voice, and we come up with an excuse to stop in—just for a minute. We explain we just happened to be in the area; never mind it was miles out of our way.

Here are the questions of the day: Is this the passion we feel for God? Are we distracted by our love for him? Will we go out of our way just to spend time with him?

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries