Up-Hill

In numerous sermons, I have recounted the famous incident of Churchill in a fox-hole during WWI. He was as afraid & disillusioned as a human soul can be…& contemplating desertion from the army. He wrote of his miserable condition & confusing thoughts to his love back home…Clementine. She speedily returned a letter to him that quoted their favorite poem by Rosetti. It is also 1 of my all-time favorites…& has often been an instrument of the Spirit of God to encourage my heart while instilling resolve…as it did with Sir Winston Churchill.

Up-Hill

Does the road wind up-hill all the way?
Yes, to the very end.
Will the day's journey take the whole long day?
From morn to night, my friend.

But is there for the night a resting-place?
A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.
May not the darkness hide it from my face?
You cannot miss that inn.

Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
Those who have gone before.
Then must I knock, or call when 'ust in sight?
They will not keep you standing at that door.

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
Of labor you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
Yea, beds for all who come.

-by Christina Rosetti

This poem (as is often said by critics & admirers), is an allegory…which is a type of poetry that is meant to convey a message or doctrine by using people, places or things to stand for abstract ideas. Rosetti had a very strong belief in the afterlife. Now read the poem again & think of the road as the journey of life & the respondent who answers the questions as God. So in the first stanza the traveler asks, “Does the road wind uphill all the way?” (Is the journey of life uphill all the way?) & God answers "Yes, to the very end" (death). The traveler then asks, "Will the day's journey take the whole long day?" (Will there be any rest during the day from my long journey) God answers no, you will struggle from beginning to end. Then the traveler asks "But is there for the night a resting-place" (Is there life after death) God Answers, "You cannot miss the Inn" (Heaven)...you can figure out the rest.

This is an accurate interpretation in many ways; however, more pertinent to me, is applying the poem as a prophetic call to embrace the principle & power of the Cross of Christ. That makes the Hill a struggle with the obedience of faith & the desire to be a faithful witness.

The “HILL” is our wrestling with the world, flesh & devil; & the “REST” is the fruit & experience that accompanies a revelation of the finished work of HIS cross!!!

Mountain Trailways 4

While many people choose to use the New Year as a time for resolutions, new commitments & priority setting, I have often used the Spring-time for that purpose. I tend to focus on family in December, fast & worship to dedicate a new year in January, pray & write in February, reflect in March, & refocus in April.

It probably started because of the college students in our churches & my own tweenagers’ calendars, but I have found it helpful to journal resolutions & priorities in Dec/Jan, pray & study them in Feb/Mar, & make commitments related to these during the Easter season. For me, this is much more than just a habit or calendar issue though, it is an opportunity to discern the will of the LORD, honor the seasons HE has set, & step out in faith…trusting-obedience.

I want to encourage you to receive of these thoughts, reflect on what Father God is saying to you, & re-commit to the purposes, principles & priorities HE has given you. The following excerpts are from Mrs. Cowman’s Mountain Trailways opening devotional & Amy Carmichael’s journals:

(Christians) “Youth of the world, fellow mountaineers, roadmates, in the name of our loving Master we greet you on this glorious New Year’s (Season’s) morning! Together we stand at the foot of a great mountain range to salute the breaking of the dawn, to renew our covenant with Him, to place anew our hands in His as we begin our journey through the untrodden months ahead. Before us are twelve towering peaks rearing their heads above the snow line. The tang of their icy winds sweeps down upon us. We are awed by their desolate grandeur. Harken! Bugles are sounding. Those who have left the murky mists of the low valleys...beckoning us! The topmost crag challenges us, stirs our blood, and kindles our courage. Our Great Leader cries, “Out! Out! Take the trail!”

Multiplied thousands of Christians & youth are responding to His call to scale the heights, win the prize, “the high callings of God in Christ Jesus"--triumphant mountaineers who will participate in the conquest of the ages. To them, ‘the mountain shall be thine” (Joshua 17:18)—His gracious Word of assurance!

You and I can become Calebs (Read in the book of Joshua.). The hard climb strengthens the muscles; the problem solved trains the mind; the difficulties conquered build character. There is joy unspeakable in conquering mountains, triumphing in His victory!

(Remember)…Our Lord does not ask us to climb in our human strength. “I will gird thee!” He has not bidden us journey alone. “Lo, I am with you!” One Climbs beside you.

Make you away this very hour to the glory—crowned heights with God! Who knows what awaits you! Climb and Listen!” -Mrs. Cowman

Make me Thy mountaineer; I would not linger
On the lower slope.
Fill me afresh with hope, O God of hope;
That undefeated, I may climb the hill, As seeing Hum who is invisible.


Make me to be Thy happy mountaineer,
O God most high;
My climbing soul would welcome the austere;
Lord, crucify, On rock or scree, ice-cliff or field of snow,
The softness that would sink to things below.

Thou art my Guide; where Thy sure feet have trod
Shall mine be set;
Thy lightest word my law of life, O God;
Lest I forget, slip & fall, teach me to do Thy will,
Thy mountaineer upon Thy holy hill.

-Amy Wilson Carmichael

Mountain Trailways 3

In recent months, I have spent much of my free time worshiping with my guitar, hiking in the mountains, & meditating on inspirational passages from my favorite devotional books. 3 of them have impressed me profoundly (Pilgrim’s Progress, Edges of His Ways, & Mountain Trailways). The following thoughts combine excerpts & ideas from these 3 devotionals that have found their way into my 3 leisure activities.

1 Chron. 6:32 “They ministered…with singing.”
Col. 3:16 “Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

“I beheld, then, that they all went on till they came to the foot of the hill Difficulty at the bottom of which was a spring…Christian now went to the spring, & drank thereof to refresh himself, & then he began to go up the hill… And he went up singing.”


Each day of our lives we begin where Christian began—that is if we have found the spring where we drink & refresh ourselves. Yes, there are “Difficulties” in life, but there is a Dayspring to be found devotionally with Christ at the base…beginning of each day.

Onward & Upward…Yes! There is a high calling of God in Christ Jesus, so Let us climb! We need not live on the marsh & in the mists. The slopes & ridges invite us!

Teach me the faith of the mountains, serene and sublime,
The deep-rooted joy of just living one day at a time;
Leaving the petty possessions the valley-folk buy
For the glory of glad wind-swept spaces where earth meets the sky.

Teach me the faith of the mountains, their strength to endure,
The breadth and the depth of their vision, unswerving and sure,
Counting the dawn and the starlight as parts of one whole
Wrought by the Spirit Eternal, within His control.
--Author Unknown

I am believing that some, who have perhaps till now tried to avoid climbing the hill Difficulty, will face it with a new purpose. Do not forget the spring & do not forget the song. “They ministered…with singing.” Let us climb…& let us climb singing!

O Lord, Help us to live a mountain-top life…Help us to live the joy in the journey!

Mountain Trailways 2

My elementary & high school memories involve many travel experiences. We lived in Florida, & routinely drove the I-24 mountain corridor between Chattanooga & Nashville, TN. en route to vacations with relatives. The steep-winding road ventured below the colossal train overpass, above the blue rivers & green valleys, & through the cut-rock mountain-top. Then, as we descended with ears popping, we scanned the interior cliffs for a view of a waterfall.

That area is now covered with concrete & guarded by a retaining wall; but in the 70’s & 80’s, it was our favorite place to pull-over & take a break. A waterfall near the tops of mountains was a thing of dreams…even more captivating than those found in the valleys. The power of a mountain torrent, the mystery of its surrounding crags & caves, the breathless-beauty & shocking cold of these natural wonders left an unmistakable mark on my impressionable-youthful memory.

From my earliest winters sword fighting my brothers with icicles there, through the rock-collecting & photo stages, up to recent stops to awaken myself by splashing the freezing flow on my face; those streams & falls have provided much needed refreshing.

Ps.110:7 “He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore, shall he lift up the head.”

Amy Carmichael once journaled, “We think of our Lord as Saviour, Shepherd, Master, Guide & King, but have you ever thought of HIM as a Mountaineer? The word in Ps.110:7 should be translated “torrent.” A mountain torrent flows down a mountain, & that means the one who drinks of it is climbing the mountain.”

Kay’s note is: “He shall not faint in the long & weary conflict. As he journeys on, he drinks of a wayside mountain torrent –the river of truth & righteousness -& so advances on his career of victory.”

The 22^nd Canon of the Second Council of Orange says: “Whatever of truth & righteousness man has, is from that fountain, after which we in this desert ought to thirst, in order that, bedewed as it were with a few drops from it, we may not faint in the way.”

“From that fountain the King of Righteousness, Jesus Christ, had a full torrent accompanying Him throughout His progress…That same torrent flows today to revive & refresh us as we climb our mountains” (Mrs.Cowman).

Mountain Trailways

I have always loved the hills & mountains. If I have a hobby or tradition, aside from reading, it is my weekly “prayer hike.” Whether navigating the trails & terrain of the Kennesaw Mountain area (where I live), trailblazing near the “Interpreter’s House,” adventuring through the foothills of the Appalachians (GA/NC) or the mists of the Great Smokey’s (TN); I find strength for my soul on mountain trailways.

The Psalmist said, “I will lift my eyes unto the hills—Where does my help come from?...My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven & earth”-Ps.121:1-2. The Message says, “I look up to the mountains…my strength comes from God.” This song of ascents captures my sentiments exactly. “The person set on the way of faith gets into trouble, looks around for help,” & asks the question of the source of strength? “Is there anything more inspiring than the magnificent scenery of a ridge of mountains silhouetted against the sky? Does any part of this earth promise more of majesty & strength, of firmness & solidity, than the mountains? …But a Hebrew (& Christian) should…would see something else…the Lord who made it all” (E.Peterson).

While hiking, I usually memorize scriptures, sing hymns & meditate on truths from those & great literature. I usually pause every hour to read reflectively, stretch & figure out some memory keys for reciting & developing the ideas in the passages I’m focused on. This practice combines with the prayer, hiking, wildlife & beautiful views to produces an awesome experience of challenge & renewal for my Spirit, soul & body. However, the purpose of it all is a passionate pursuit of the heart of the Living God…to experience HIS presence & perspectives. By far, my favorite hiking poem is “Hills.”

HILLS

I NEVER loved your plains!--
Your gentle valleys,
Your drowsy country lanes
And pleachéd alleys.

I want my hills! -- the trail
That scorns the hollow.--
Up, up the ragged shale
Where few will follow,


Up, over wooded crest
And mossy boulder
With strong thigh, heaving chest,
And swinging shoulder,

So let me hold my way,
By nothing halted,
Until, at close of day,
I stand, exalted,


High on my hills of dream--
Dear hills that know me!
And then, how fair will seem
The lands below me,

How pure, at vesper-time,
The far bells chiming!
God, give me hills to climb,
And strength for climbing!

-by Arthur Guiterman

"No Sam's Mom!"

It was one of the proudest moments of my life. It ranks up there with becoming a Christian, championship football seasons, passing the Camp Ridgecrest “Little Chief” test, my wedding day, becoming a father, a few special ministry moments and glorious experiences with the Living God.

Some of the neighborhood boys had decided to start a club (6-10 yr olds). So, after extensive planning and intense preliminaries….they set out to build a tree-house …their club-house. After the basic construction from scrap wood and spare nails was done, they put the finishing touches of childhood craftsmanship in place…their stamp of authenticity, -graffiti. There were some splotches and lines of various colors, a few signatures (if you could call it that), a couple of ? symbols, and the crowning achievement…the club-house credo writ large on the exterior wall for all to see.

Now, if you are a parent, have been a summer camp counselor, or did a lot of babysitting (say 2nd to 6th graders); then, this is nothing new to you. The list of “club” rules and members is a normal part of learning to both write and relate (I think). And, I must admit that our daughters tend to be much more serious and creative while universally embracing the “no boys, and especially no brothers allowed” doctrine during those early years.

However, nothing could have prepared me for the neighborhood boy’s club-house graffiti credo. No, it wasn’t your traditional “No Girls Allowed,” nor a more conventional no sisters or adults clause. It was a new, radically different, undeniably bold and revolutionary statement…..”No Sam’s Mom!!!”

WOW! The elementary exclamation of exclusivity, the kid’s key to liberty…the club-house commandment and battle-cry…the castle rampart for protection. Do you get it? This was not a prohibition of all women or parents, but of “1.” Somehow in the infant, imaginative and warrior obsessed minds of these youth; they had focused in on the “1” ultimate opponent they did not want to have to face…“Sam’s Mom,” my wife Hope.

They knew (as I do) instinctively and experientially, this “1” woman was there and would get involved if needful. That’s it! Involvement, concern, action was her character; and she had and would serve as a boundary to adolescent whims and attitudes, while providing a voice of wisdom and conscience. How often our souls and our children are threatened spiritually and we need someone to discern, speak up and get involved to stave off the assault.

The world’s system, postmodern culture and media constantly promote ideas and images that place children’s lives at risk by making false beliefs and sinful activities appealing and applauded. Worse still, is the corresponding spiritual fascism that labors to erase parents, disdain all authority figures and eliminate the Christian faith and God from “normal” life experience. The biggest lie is humanistic, and proclaims that we may live this life on our own, for selfish pursuits and pleasures, and with no reference to either the Almighty or our want…need of piety or devotion.

But not on Hope’s watch. Every neighborhood needs a “Sam’s Mom,” and every family needs an initiator of conversation about values and consequences. Please understand, I in no way am suggesting the oft experienced religious, controlling or condemning parenting; but rather the grace and truth that says, “Have you thought about what that would feel like if it was you? Could we talk and pray about that for a few minutes?” What I’m endorsing is the Pr. 31 “virtuous woman;” the Christian mother whose “kindness brings conviction” and whose “gentleness makes greatness!”

Hope, that’s who you are. You are beautiful, holy, awe-inspiring and lovely beyond compare. Solomon saw and said it by Spirit-inspiration, the neighborhood boys experienced it and I know and love it, “Who is this who shines like the dawn; as beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awe-inspiring as an army with banners?” She is the “1” coming up out of the wilderness, leaning on her beloved, full of ardent, unrelenting passion (SOS 6:10, 8:5-7).

Hope Buhler, I am forever grateful for who you are. As a gift of life, graced with wisdom and beauty, you are uncommon…precious, priceless. Your faithfulness is a pillar in our love and family. Your strong convictions, fierce loyalty and fiery faith anchor me. Your spiritual sensitivity, personal vulnerability and brutal honesty refine me. Your depth of devotion, high aspirations, width of counsel and the length of your sacrificial-love has touched Heaven and reached my soul…marking my life eternally.

Words cannot express my gratitude for who you are, what you do….how you live, love, believe and serve. You cared and got involved with me, our children, their friends, our neighbors and the innumerable company of souls that have benefited from you “fearlessly diving in.” I will never forget you watching me, writing me, worshipping next to me, our times of spiritual wrestling and soul-wrenching prayer, waiting in desperation…hoping in the Lord, and wondering together. You have been to me and all who truly know you, God’s goodness and truth. You are tried, trusted and treasured. You are pure joy, and can only create unhappiness by being absent. With all my heart and sincere thanks, Your Husband, Chip.

“Je t’aime plus qu’ hier moins que demain.”
I love you more than yesterday, Less than tomorrow!

P.S. Hope, Sarah and I have 2 words for you………. “kindness!”