Tag: Proverbs

Deep Roots…

Last week I had the enviable task of being a chaperone for a third-grade field trip!  As I am writing I can almost feel the jealously that you are undoubtedly feeling right now…  But seriously, It was rather interesting and the kids were very well behaved so it was easy.

We went to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals and I arrived a little earlier than the school bus, so I took the opportunity to look around.  The museum sits on a small hill in a very wooded area, very park like, with all sorts of trees, most very old…and very tall.  But scattered in amongst them there were smaller trees, just a fraction of the size and age of the older ones.  Protected from the wind, rain, and any strong storm that might happen.

It has been very wet in the Pacific Northwest this winter, and on occasion, extremely windy.  Which, made me thankful that it was neither on this day, because I wanted the roots to hold firm and keep these trees standing tall and strong.  Too often I have turned the news on to see a car crushed or a roof collapsed because the ground was too soft to hold the deep roots that these trees can put down.

Looking at those trees reminded me of a verse I had read just that morning in Proverbs chapter 12. In verse 3 it says that the Godly have deep roots.

Those big trees had roots that would hold on, stay strong, and find nourishment.  Their roots even served to protect the younger trees who were just establishing themselves.  I would be willing to bet that this was the image the writer of Proverbs intended.  When saying that the Godly have deep roots, he was saying they have the ability to hold on, stay strong, find nourishment, and even protect those who are just beginning their journey!

Now this may not be an epiphany for you – but it was a definite ah-hah moment for me.  It really caused me to think not only about my own roots, but about the roots of those close to me.  Am I teaching, nourishing, protecting, and sheltering like I should?

Over the next few days think about your root system.  Where are you finding food?  Are you going deeper?  Are you growing stronger?  We all should be…after all those trees had deep roots and were still growing…they were still living….aren’t you?

Until next time…

Pastor Barry

Treasure Hunter…

Goonies is one of my all time favorite movies, after all what kid can’t identify with at least one of the characters.  For those of you unfamiliar with the movie – Mikey, Brandon, Chunk, Mouth, Andy, Stef, and Data are a ragamuffin group who call themselves the “Goonies.”  In short they find a pirate’s treasure map and ultimately…. (well I can’t really tell you because that would ruin the movie.)

This got me thinking.  Who wouldn’t want to find a treasure map?  Who hasn’t dreamed of stumbling upon untold riches?  It’s the stuff stories and legends are made from.  It’s contagious and infectious…just look around your city.  How many times have you seen someone with a metal detector walking in a park or on a beach or in a vacant lot?  Those people are looking for treasure!

I can’t tell you how many forts and secret hideouts I built as a kid.  Each one was built around the premise of finding secret treasure.  Occasionally I would find something – usually an old tool or a piece of wire or even a rock that looked like an arrowhead.  Nothing ever very valuable – but it was the adventure that made it exciting.

The other day my wife and I were talking and she recommended that I read Proverbs 2.  (On a side note – I have the best wife in the world!)  So I started reading….

1 My child,listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
2 Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
3 Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
4 Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Did you catch that?  Read it again….

God calls us to be treasure hunters! He tells us to search for wisdom, insight, and understanding like you would hidden treasure!  And the best part is that we will find what we are looking for!

It’s about passion.  Treasure hunters hunt with passion.  They go after something full force and totally sold out.  I can’t think of a better way to follow God than as a TREASURE HUNTER!

Until next time…

Pastor Barry