4,967 days ago, almost to the minute, I took a step in my life that has about as many cliches to describe it as twists and turns in its journey - salvation. Whether you call it "coming to Jesus," "being saved," or, as we call it at Meadow Heights, "beginning a life-changing relationship with Jesus," stepping across that dividing line between being a non-believer to accepting Jesus into your life is the most important moment in your life. In that moment, and for quite a while to follow, it's easy to desire a closer relationship with someone who could be so amazing as to give His life for you. But just as in human relationships, the fire and desire slowly burn out, and from time to time, we all come to a point where we realize the love and passion just aren't there anymore. Not because God no longer loves us - and probably not even because we don't love Him - but because the busyness of life and Satan's meddling in our plans gets us off track.

4,966 days later, I was (again) at one of those points in my life. It definitely wasn't the first time I had realized that my relationship with God was hurting, and it probably won't be the last. Even worse than the realization that I had gotten to this point in my life is the fact that my wife had to point it out to me. Instead of being the spiritual leader of my family, for some time now, I've been riding out life, waiting to see how things fall into place and spending time with God only when it was convenient. For the past few months, I've focused way too much on the first part of my mission (to use my gifts and abilities to make the greatest possible impact on public education in Missouri) and not enough on the last part (while providing the best possible life experiences for my family.) The last part includes spiritual guidance, which I have been failing to provide. Tonight, I'm recommitting (again) to work on growing closer to God and stronger in my faith while building a spiritual legacy for my family.

I love music. I love listening to a great CD or my favorite channels on Sirius, and I enjoy going to concerts when I get the chance. A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to see Mercy Me at the Coliseum in Poplar Bluff. I was very disappointed to find out that Aaron Shust would not be traveling with them until the next week, but would be replaced by a group I had never heard of - Shane & Shane. I felt ripped off - like I wasn't going to get my $20's worth because the opening act was some unknown duo. It was kinda like when I buy a CD because I just have to have one particular song, and then when I listen to the whole CD, I find two other songs that I like even better. I was so impressed with Shane & Shane that I bought a CD and had already listened to the first ten seconds of every song by the time we stopped to get gas on the way out of town. Since then, I've heard some of their songs played on Spirit 66 - so they're not as unknown as I originally thought.

One of the songs on Shane & Shane's "Pages" CD that has really stood out to me is called "Embracing Accusation." The first part of the song talks about how "the father of lies, coming to steal, kill and destroy all my hopes of being good enough . . . " is singing the song of the redeemed. My initial reaction? Wait a minute . . . Satan is singing the song of the redeemed? That's blasphemy. And they even ended the verse by saying, "he's right. Hallelujah, he's right!" I couldn't believe they'd be saying that . . . until I listened to the song a few more times. The more I listened, the closer I listened. And I started hearing other parts - "The devil is preaching the song of the redeemed - that I am cursed and gone astray. I cannot gain salvation." Well, that's true - that's what Satan says. It's not until I clearly heard the last few lines of the song that I realized the real meaning of the song: "Oh the devil’s singing over me an age old song - that I am cursed and gone astray. Singing the first verse so conveniently; he’s forgotten the refrain: Jesus saves!"

Two words - that's the difference between God's version of life and Satan's. TWO WORDS.

Ok - back to the topic: Quiet Time Commitment. So now that I'm at this point in my life where I'm committing to spiritual growth (do I have to say "again" again, or have you gotten the point by now?), I think God has given me a specific plan to maybe keep my interest a little longer and help me stay committed to it. I have book that was given to me by my high school band teacher - The One Year Book of Hymns. This devotional book has 365 days' worth of stories behind best-loved and little-known hymns alike. I've read a few on occasion, but I've never read through the book as a devotional. And I'm not going to start. I also have 4Him's "Hymns" CD - a collection of fourteen hymns, presented differently than in traditional arrangements. The plan: read the story/devotion for a hymn on the CD, and then listen to the song to hear the meaning the author intended - not just the same old song that's been sang over and over again. This time, I'll listen for all the words to make sure I understand the real meaning, and to make sure I haven't forgotten the refrain of any of them. I'm also going to try reading through the Bible in 2008 - so I'm getting a little head start, hoping the extra forty-three days might help get it all in.

Tonight, I read the stories behind "Faith of Our Fathers" and "On Christ, the Solid Rock, I Stand." The first one was just the interlude on the CD, so I decided to do two songs. Both of these songs have a great meaning related to the commitment I am making tonight. The first one talks about how our faith has been passed down through generations, in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword. It's a song of commitment saying that we will be true to the faith 'til death. So often, we (I) are more concerned about our reputations and our comfort zones to be true to our faith - to show it and share it with others. Every Wednesday around 12:15, I supervise a group of about thirty high school students who meet in the school library to listen to one of their peers teach a Bible lesson, to pray for their friends, and to sometimes sing songs. The faith of those 7th through 12th graders is so important to them that they don't worry about anything other than sharing it. They get it - they understand that "through the truth that comes from God, mankind shall then be truly free."

The second song I read about and listened to tonight was "On Christ, the Solid Rock, I Stand." The author of this song was introduced to church and to God by the cabinetmaker with whom he apprenticed. It seems as though we're living in the most uncertain times in the history of mankind. The presidential election is less than 51 weeks away, and I'm still not sure who I trust to be the nominee. Congress's approval rating is less than 20%; the president's isn't much better. I wouldn't trust public sentiment to tell me whether I should wear a coat in the morning. Corruption abounds throughout our nation and other nations; the price of oil is unstable; the housing market and interest rates are constantly changing; you can't even trust the safety of toys anymore. What can we trust? The same thing that has been the only thing anyone could trust for the past 2000 years - Jesus' name. "On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand."