Between Christmas and New Year's

It's Monday morning and I'm off work for the next couple of days and at the time of this writing, sitting at Chaney's drinking coffee while reading, surfing and posting.  Christmas has passed and as always, was absolutely awesome!
     I hope yours was Merry and Blessed. Personally, I can not remember ever having a bad one. Even when bad stuff goes down during the Holiday Season, or when it's just been, "One Of Those Years," the magic of Christmas shows up. Like when Charlie Brown learned he had not ruined it and the Grinch discovered, it couldn't  be stolen.
     It marked the third year we've celebrated the Holidays with out my father. I miss him and long to have one more conversation, but it will not happen in this life. So, I've tossed it in the bucket and am holding on to having that opportunity in the life that's to come. If you believe in that, and I hope you do.
     The coffee shop is filled with people this morning because some folks are still on vacation, and  the rug rats and crumb snatchers are on Christmas Break. That being the case, I did not get a booth and had to  settle for the last available table. It's okay, though not as comfortable. The booth is easier on the TUSH, but I have plenty of cushion, so it's not that big of a deal.
     So, here I am. Drinking coffee at one of my favorite places and sitting somewhere between Christmas and New Years reflecting on what a year it's been and wondering what, or if,  anything will be different in 2015.
     The year that was: Tough, Rough and full of stuff.  Lisa, my wife, soul mate, and very best friend had a kidney transplant last January. Hallelujahs are in order, but it was a difficult process. Her disease went ballistic shortly after landing back in North Carolina and I watched Kidney failure rob my wife of precious life.  She landed in the hospital a year ago and went on dialysis shortly thereafter.
     Long story short, there was and is a happy ending. A friend came forward who proved to be a match and donated a kidney. Thank you friend. I would mention your name, but am reluctant because I did not ask for your permission. However, you and several others know who you are. We can never thank you enough. For this blog post, you're numbered among those nameless individuals in the scriptures God used to accomplish the extra ordinary, but for what ever reason, the Gospel writers failed to record their names. One example being, The Woman At The Well.
     Lisa coasted through recovery and this year, as we're sitting between Christmas and New Year's,  the sun is shinning on what was a very long and dark night. We are thankful and committed to never taking the blessing for granted. Phillip Yancey once said, "Those who pray for miracles and receive them soon forget."  We shall never forget.
     Last March, I resigned my position as pastor at the church we served. It became effective on May 31st and for the first time in 31 years I am not in the pulpit. I have often preached and taught on the danger of placing ones identity in unhealthy places. For example, Who we are is not defined by what we do, whether it be vocation, or calling. Yet, seven months after having resigned, I must admit, it has been a struggle. God has taught, and continues to teach me much during this time.
     In July I was tossed a lifeline by LOWES HOME IMPROVEMNET. I had worked as a kitchen designer and sold home interiors while in Alaska and that experience landed me a job seven years later. When it was most needed.  Amazing how that works.
     Currently I am designing kitchens, selling interiors and visiting churches when I'm not working. It has been good to visit, and receive from others during this time. I've also scratched out some time to pursue another interest. I've been doing some writing, which brings me to...
     The year that will be:  Those who know me and have followed this blog and my Facebook page know I am a passionate reader and lover of both poetry and prose. Even to the point of writing and publishing on Amazon.
     It has been quite the roller coaster ride with a few ups and downs. Some days were better than others. Like anything else, it requires time and work. I have invested quite a bit of time over the last few months and look forward to publishing some new material over the next 90 days.
     I have a meeting with a Cover Artist tomorrow and look forward to the creativity she is bringing to the table. In the past I had tried to put the cover art together myself, but it was a lame attempt. My sales numbers reflected it. I also have an excellent editor who makes me look much better than I am. She will be putting the polish on the writing, while the artist puts a face on the project. I believe the three of us, working in concert, can put together a really nice product.
     Well, that's my attempt at bringing you up to speed with where I'm as we're all sitting somewhere between Christmas and New Years. I just said, "No thank you," to the waitress as she attempted to pour my Ninth cup of coffee. It's getting late and I've occupied this table long enough and like the universe, my bladder is also expanding. I truly hope you had a Merry Christmas and my prayer is that you will have a very happy and blessed New Year.

- Cam

  
   
  
  
  

Santa and The Nativity of Jesus Christ

When Santa was still living my world was simple and life was less complicated. I remember those days well. My dad worked and my mom stayed home. Most afternoons and weekends were spent playing with neighborhood kids.
      Back then, if we kids had differences, we worked through the problem without shooting each other, and if I had gotten out of line at a friends house, I prayed his parents did not call mine, or else I would have had a serious problem upon returning home.
     We still had the Christmas play which featured Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus. The school held no concern about being strapped with a lawsuit for portraying the genuine reason for the season. Christmas break lasted two weeks and the expectation grew like a giant crescendo each day in class with lots of singing. Some of the songs were found in church hymnals and others were traditional seasonal tunes about a Rudolph, Santa, and Dashing Through The Snow.
     The Christmas Tree was a big deal in our house.  And every year presented a humorous story of going into the woods, cutting one down and bringing it home. For example, the year my dad forgot the saw and whacked  a spruce with a butcher knife. When his arm grew tired, he dropped back a few steps and through a flying tackle on the thing. When that failed, he refused to be defeated and got in the old Ford, started the engine and ran over it. Then tied a rope to the bumper and jerked it out of the ground.  (True Story.)
     Both Charlie Brown and the Grinch were welcome in our house. I laid on the living room floor and watched every year as Charlie Brown learned he had not ruined Christmas and the Grinch discovered it could not be stolen.
     Come to think about it...Christmas was hard to mess up. I can't remember a bad one. Some years were lean, while others were fat, but it always had a way of showing up... even during the difficult times. It was magical.
     I am 52 years old and have just come through a very difficult year. I will not delve into the details, but suffice it to say, it has been a long one. I would say, I'll be glade when it's over, but...I would rather not rush Christmas. I am going to slow down, take a breath and worship the Babe in the Manger.
     I'm also looking forward to Santa stopping by our house to leave something special for a couple of precious little boys named David Benjamin and Abram. You see...they are coming into that age where belief and imagination still has the power to make all things possible.
     I remember the year my parents sat me down and told me something about Santa being a myth. Though I was not surprised, because I had my own suspicions, I remember it being a real downer. It was like something was lost. My dad told me it was part of growing up and now I could help him put together a Barbie House and some other stuff for my little sisters.
     We all are endowed with memory. For some, memory is a place of precious keepsakes, and for others it is not a pleasant place to visit. If you happen to fall in to the later category, I'm sorry. My Christmas wish for you is that peace comes to your troubled spirit and healing takes place.
     As for me, I am thankful for memories the Christmas season holds. They are precious keepsakes. And in the words of Longfellow, "Our today's and yesterdays are the blocks with which we build."  When sifting through the building blocks of my yesterdays, I find there are many keepsakes that I'm still holding on to. Some of them are sitting around a Christmas Tree with my mom, dad and two sisters.
     Others are from another time when I'm sitting around a Christmas Tree with my wife and our children, while living 5000 miles from the place we called home. In all of those memories The Nativity was present, and so was Santa.
     I believe Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea two thousand years ago. I believe he was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. Though this has been one of those difficult years, I can testify it has been good. You see, good is never easy, but hard is always difficult. The difference in those two is often found in our attitude.
     I also believe in Santa. He was always good to me, and still is, though the gifts he sends my way usually come through one of his many different Elf's.

     I am off work today and sitting at Chaney's drinking coffee and rambling. I hope this finds you doing well on this first day of December. May The Lord bless you this Christmas season, and through the magic of imagination and belief, I hope Santa is very near.

Merry Christmas.

Cam
    
    

Thomas Aiman: Writer of Dystopia from a Christian perspective.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Apocalypse-First-Attack-Dystopia-ebook/dp/B00OR5RAI4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1415030678&sr=8-2&keywords=American+Apocalypse

Thomas Aiman is an acquaintance I recently made who beat me to the punch in writing the granddaddy of all end of the world Doomsday/Dystopian short story's. Coming from a Christian perspective, American Apocalypse is the introduction his Days of Dystopia series.
     In eight pages he blows up 6 major cites, kills off 20 percent of the American Population, shares the testimony of how a Muslim converted to Christianity and became a pastor who lost his family to a violet act of terrorism.
     He goes on to draw a picture of how the world is caught in a vacuum when America goes down. He delves into the Mark of The Beast with an interesting twist on the mystery of  666.
     In case you haven't figured it out, I am stoked about the up and coming series and this is a personal invitation to readers, friends and family to give the intro  a look. I was left hanging and hoping for more.
     As promised a few days ago, I will be interviewing Thomas soon and posting it on the Blog.

Amazon's New Fire

I recently made a decision to upgrade my phone, and justified the purchase by telling myself it was more of a need than a want.
     I was persuaded by the psychology which was reinforced by the fact of my old 3g iPhone being on the brink of extinction. Then AT&T made it easy with their Next Plan.
     Then once I made the decision to buy, I had to decide which phone to purchase. I had heard the buzz ab out Apple's new i6 pulse coming out and thought I wanted one.
     Untile Amazon introduced the Fire Phone and threw in a free year of prime to boot. This complimented matters a bit because I am an Amazon freak, or something like that.
     You who follow me on the blog and Facebook already know I publish with Amazon on their Kindle platform and read a tremendus amount on my Kindle app.
     I wanted a phone that integrated my reading  App and KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) material as seamless as possible. So, with that I squeezed the trigger and walked away from a long and loyal relationship with Apple.
     Once the purchase was made and I walked out the door, I began to second guess myself. It was not buyers remorse, but more like, "Dang, hope I made the right choice."
      Two and a half months after the fact I must say.."THIS PHONE IS AWESOME! " It intergrates everything I do with Amazon wonderfully and  the year of prime membership gives me a million songs, tons of books, at no cost and free shipping.
     Now that Apple has responded by not allowing people to browse the Kindle store from the Kindle app thats downloaded to the iPad and iPhones leaves me really happy with the decision I made.
     The Amazon Fire Phone has a larger screen that makes for easy reading and...blogging.
     Yes, this is written and posted from my phone.  And there you have it.... Apple's Iphone, or Amazon's Fire? For me... it's the Fire hands down. No regrets and never looking back.

 Until we meet again,

 - Cameron 
    

   
   
   

American Apocalypse: Days of Dystopia

Those of you who know me and follow this blog may remember I was recently considering writing a post apocalyptic dooms day story. The reason being, there are so many people into the genre and I had given thought to what the grand daddy of all dystopian scenarios would look like.

Well, I think someone may have beat me to it. I recently read Thomas Aiman's American Apocalypse: Days of Dystopia and must concede he is much more capable. So my hat is off and I am recommending his first installment  You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/American-Apocalypse-First-Attack-Dystopia-ebook/dp/B00OR5RAI4/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414623089&sr=1-2&keywords=american+apocalypse,

He actually reads this blog and initiated contact with me first. I was blown away in that he and I were on the same page. If you choose to read it, you will be most surprised by the twist he puts at the end, which serves as more of a personal testimony.

American Apocalypse Days of Dystopia includes a little historical fiction for you history buffs, Theology for those who may be interested, terrorism ..... in light of the word in which we live and bewilderment.

If you will but pull up the above link and click on: "Look Inside" it will sale itself.  Personally. I'm looking forward to his next Installment. He has agreed to do an interview with me, which will be included on the blog in the very near future.
He has granted me permission to offer this teaser... hope you enjoy.

     "Tyranny and terror have been walking hand in hand across the pages of history for a very long time. As the epic battle of good versus evil plays out in an arena of the human condition, each will find a face and secure a willing partner.
     At the dawning of the twentieth century transportation was undergoing huge innovation; moving from horse and buggy, to iron rail locomotives. By the close of the same century, man was walking on the moon. It represents a strange dichotomy of unparalleled progress, branded and tainted by the memory of two World Wars, and the Holocaust.
     Evil lurked. It whispered in the dark, appealing to the depraved and sowing seeds of destruction to the likes of Hitler, Himmler, Goring, and Gobbles. They each put a face on evil. Yet, during that time, goodness became evident in the lives and convictions of people who took it upon themselves to provide safe haven to a suffering population. And, in turn, were persecuted to death, for the goodness they bestowed.
     What you’re about to read is an account of how evil put on a face and secured willing partners, to bring about the destruction of modern civilization, as we knew it.  They truly were, and continue to be, days of dystopia.

The Mark of The Beast
“Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of man:       666.”   (Revelation13:18)

On July, 4^th 1776   Fifty Six men signed the declaration of Independence. 
On July, 4^th 1826   Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died, only five hours apart.
On July, 4^th 2016   Hell was unleashed."

Once again the link: http://www.amazon.com/American-Apocalypse-First-Attack-Dystopia-ebook/dp/B00OR5RAI4/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1414623089&sr=1-2&keywords=american+apocalypse

- Until we meet again

Heart Conditions

A couple of weeks ago I posted a note on Facebook stating: "Either I'm in labor and having a really long contraction, or else, I'm passing a kidney stone."
     I posted it as a joke, while on the way to the hospital thinking I was actually passing a stone. As it turned out, the joke was on me. No, I was not the first man in labor, but I was not passing a kidney stone either. Shortly after arriving to the hospital, an ER doctor ruled out a kidney stone and suspected a heart attack.
     I was surprised, to say the least, and suddenly felt it was no laughing matter. A couple of cardiograms and three blood test later I was informed I had not suffered a heart attack that evening, but it appeared that I had experienced something called a silent heart attack in the past.
     I questioned what that meant and was told something had happened to my heart, and at the time, when ever that was, I did not know it. It was like a heart attack masking as acute indigestion, or fatigue.
     Long story short....I went to see a cardiologist last week where I had a video and 97 pictures taken of my heart and function. It appears, the plumbing is in working order, but there seems to be a problem in the electrical system. It gives me a visual of being compared to an old building and renovation project. I will be talking to the cardiologist again about the next course of action.
     In light of current events I've been giving some thought to my heart and concluded that it truly is an amazing organ. The doctor told me that when my problem occurred, the heart found a way to compensate.
     Think about it. Your heart beats X number of times per minute and never takes a break. During the sonogram I watched the actual valves open and close and thought to myself, "What a work horse... look at that thing go."
     I'm fairly certain, that during the course of my life, I've consumed an enormous amount of beacon, sausage and cheeseburgers, that in turn, have produced enough cholesterol to plug the Columbia River. Yet, my old heart keeps ticking. It has been abused, taken for granted, and severally wounded a few times, but never complains. Yes, the heart truly is amazing.
     I've also given consideration to my other heart. That heart of which the Scriptures speak when you read, " Love the Lord your God with all your heart,"" Blessed are the pure in heart," and "You shall find me when you have searched for me with all your heart."
          When the Bible speaks of the heart, it is not making reference to that muscle beating in the left side of your chest, but rather to something burred deep within the soul of every living being. Dr. Bob Moeller defines it as, "That place where you give and receive love."
          I was siting in a chiropractor's office in Traverse City Michigan a few years ago when I noticed a large flat screen monitor mounted on the wall scrolling fun facts about health and wellness. One of the notes grabbed my attention. It was a question that read:  "Why is your left lung smaller than your right ?  Answer  :"To make room for your heart." 
     I read that fun fact and thought, "When  God designed mankind, He made room for the heart. Then I had a question of my own:  Have we made room for God in our heart of hearts? And to personify and come a little closer, "Have I made room for Him...in that place where I give and receive love? And, If I have, what does it look like?

Until we meet here again...

- Cam

Grace: What does it look like through the eyes of a child?

Grace has been defined as:" Unmerited favor." It's been described as a free gift. The Scripture declares, "By grace we have been saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is a free gift. Not of works lest anyone should boast..."

Ephesians 2:8 has become a foundational corner stone within the Christian Faith. Like John 3:16 it is one of those verses we followers of Christ cling to when everything else in our world is falling apart.

Theologically speaking, we understand grace is a property of God that goes before his judgment. It was by grace, that he offered up His Son on Calvary's Cross 2,000 years ago to receive the punishment for the sin of this fallen world.

Question: What does grace look like through the eyes of an eleven year old boy. How do you communicate in terms of experience the principal of grace. Is there a working platform, or model out there, that takes a subject so deeply grounded in Christian principal and breaks it down to a level children easily understand.

When I was eleven years old and in the fifth grade at Sumner Elementary School, I experienced grace and have never recovered. I've published the story with Amazon and call it, The Note.

It is being offered for free all day tomorrow, Sept. 19th. I am in the process of changing the cover. If you have already red the story, you will notice the cover has changed. It is a work in progress and until we find one that fits.

You can find the story at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Note-Graceful-Reflection-Cameron-Dockery-ebook/dp/B00KPCJ87O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411074065&sr=8-1&keywords=cameron+Dockery

More on the End.

In preparation for my next short story I've been blogging about Apocalyptic/Dystopian literature. As Previously stated, I've never been into the genre, but Hugh Howey's success and current world events have got me to thinking.  And with that, I have tried to envision what the sum total and grand daddy of all apocalyptic scenarios would look like.
     Being an American, I thought in terms of local context, in light of a world event. In short, if America goes down due to a catastrophic event, what will be the resolve of those who survive, and how will the world respond?
     American influence and position in global markets suggest, that if we go down, there will be a ripple effect. I'm no economist, and am not versed in international studies, or social sciences, but it would appear, that if we as a nation go down, or should be taken out, the stability of the world, as we know it,  will be seriously compromised.
     For example, if America defaulted on her debt, to the point of NEVER being in a position of repaying her obligations, what would that mean for China. One would think it to be an almost insurmountable blow, but according to Harvard economics professor, Dale Jorgenson, maybe not. For he recently said:
     “The United States will need to come to terms with the fact that its prevalence in the world is fated to come to an end....This will be difficult for many Americans to swallow and the United States should brace for social unrest amid blame over who was responsible for squandering global primacy...”     MIT's Simon Johnson has recently suggested,  “The damage from the financial crisis and its aftermath have dealt U.S. prominence a permanent blow." He went on to say,  “The age of American predominance is over,“The (Chinese) Yuan will be the world’s reserve currency within two decades”
     The impetus for my up and coming Short Story is based solely on a Doomsday Apocalypse, but those in the know are suggesting, an unavoidable financial apocalypse is already underway.
     And while it's obvious that America has propped Herself up by selling out to the Chinese, it is also true that the holders of our debt are left venerable.
     I 'm curious, where such a scenario leaves The Middle East? Namely, OPEC. China, is home to a population of 1 billion people, who are becoming more and more oil dependent. They have also had the foresight to recently purchase huge sums of gold. That alone leaves me wondering if  the U.S. Dollar, for what ever reason, is no longer the standard currency, and for some unforeseen reason, the Yuan does not become the reserve currency, then the Chinese are positioning themselves with the oldest Measure in the history of trade.
     If predictions from Harvard and MIT scholars prove true, in twenty years I will be 72 and living in a world where America is no longer the leading influencer at the table of international policy. It's hard to imagine, even a little scary. It may be wishful thinking, but something in me finds it hard to believe. Is it possible for the largest economy and strongest military on the globe to falter and fail into insignificance?
     When 9/11 came down, the Chairman of The Federal Reserve, was aboard a flight from Switzerland to D.C. While on that flight he received a phone call from President Bush and was informed of the attack. He was then asked, "What is our worst case scenario, as far as the economy goes?" Greenspan responded, "A complete collapse of our financial infrastructure." He went on to explain, "All that's necessary for our economy to fail is for people to stop spending money."
     At the height of her power, Rome had conquered most of the known world. Left in her wake, were no serious contenders.  Yet, as Daniel predicted, She fell...and The Dark Ages ensued.
     I am convinced the possibility of a fallen America is no far fetched idea. Should it happen, this world would be a very different place. Those we support, in terms of aid would be cut off. Those who depend on Federal and State assistance, would be left without. Martial Law would be declared and congress would no longer hold the power. The military would take over the responsibilities of governing the nation
     Their chief Modus Operandi would be two fold. First,  they would preserve and protect the constitution, while defending our boarders. Everything else would be secondary. Under Martial Law the "New Government,"  would have the authority to make unilateral decisions, that could not be challenged. This alone would change DNA of the country. For example, in the name of national security,  the military could, and probably would,  authorize the drilling for oil, in places that have previously been shut down and declared off limits. In such a doomsday scenario we would have to rely on our own natural resources.
      Since the dollar would no longer be the standard currency, it would be greatly devalued, ensuring a complete collapse of our financial infrastructure.  9/11 derailed us, but the doomsday scenario takes us out. The economy would be so hyper inflated due to the over printing of money we would resemble Germany following WWI when people went to the market with wheel barrows filled with devalued money.
    Chaos will break out and the military will be forced to squash it with an iron fist. Those who plotted our demise will find the reciprocating consequences hard to bear. Not necessarily because of our response, but due to the shake up and ripple effect of a planet falling apart.
     The world will become more primitive.  While 9/11 is reduced to a warning shot, as compared. So The Great Depression would look more like a hick up as compared to the fall out of the Doomsday Scenario. A study of history reveals WWI was followed by the Roaring Twenties. Then the Great Depression, opened the door for the second World War.
     That being the case, can you imagine how an apocalypse like I've just described, would play out here at home and abroad.
    
Until we meet again,

Cameron

The Beginning of The End.

If you read my previous post: The Day America Died, you may recall these words:
" When the dark side of human nature is left unchecked, chaos will always encroach. For even in the Garden of Paradise the Prince of Darkness raised his ugly head and questioned the authority of God. Since that time the personification of evil has never been more than a whisper away."
As a reader, I've never been into the post apocalyptic dystopian genre. However, Hugh Howey caught my attention a couple of years ago when I stumbled upon the first installment of his Silo Series, WOOL. I quickly learned there are tons of people into the genre.  So many, in fact, that Hugh became somewhat of an over night success, and was catapulted to the top, securing a place among Amazons best sellers. It has given him a platform from which he continues to write, and has also become somewhat of a voice crying in the publishing wilderness,  championing the cause of fellow Indie's,
     Realizing there is an ocean of readers thirsty for more apocalyptic/dystopian literature, and scanning the horizon of current events, both abroad and here in the U.S. has piqued my interest inspiring something dystopian in my own pursuit.
     And with that, comes a whole litany of questions. Like: What is it about an end of the world scenario that grabs people?  Why, at times, does it become an obsession? When it finally does happen, what will it look like, and how bad can it get?
     If you're  familiar with dystopian literature,  you already know the preceding questions have been incorporated into multiple storylines a thousand time  over.  That being the case, I would like to pose a much lager question that has less to do with the end, and more to do with the beginning.
     And its not the beginning, or end of the world to which I speak, but rather the ontology of the idea. To be more specific, I want to know who, or what, planted the first seeds of a DOOMSDAY APOCILYPS into the human psyche? It appears the concept has been around for a very long time.
     For example,  Old Testament prophets spoke to the impending destruction of Jerusalem over three thousand years ago. The prophet Jeremiah not only saw judgment coming, but also endured the siege and lived to record it. You can read about the mayhem in his Book of Lamentations.  When Nebuchadnezzar invaded, and then departed with slaves and spoils the prophet wept,  "How empty sits the city, that was once filled with people." 
     The same prophets who predicted the fall of Jerusalem also foresaw the coming of The Messiah, and seven hundred years later, He was born in the City of Bethlehem.   It has since become the most celebrated birth place on the planet. He was eventually rejected by the masses, but followed by a few, who became the foundational world changers called The Church.
     He did not fit the description for which the establishment had been looking,  but rather celebrated a Kingdom that  is not of this world. And, as far this world goes, He had a few things to say about that also. Among them being.... it's going to end.
     For those who's soul purpose is to live for the beauty and bounty of this world, His words will be a little unsettling. For He spoke of global conflict in the midst of famine and pestilence. Depending on your theology, many believe the Scripture forewarns of an ultimate battle between good and evil, to be played out in the valley of Megiddo.
      Many of my friends in the Arts community will perceive me as preaching to the choir, but that is not my purpose. So, to make that point please allow me to  Segway into the scientific, for a brief moment. Astrophysics informs us of the fact that the universe is expanding. We now understand the earth is not at it's center. When the Archbishop of Canterbury read Einstein's theory of relativity he asked the renowned scientist, "What will this mean for the church and the Christian Faith." Einstein, who believed in a creator, responded, "Nothing."
     If you follow the logic, and realize the earth is uniquely positioned in the galaxy to support life, then it is not a very far leap, to see with an expanding universe, there will come a time when the earth will no longer, be positioned to support life. Which, leads to a conclusion that, one day, our world is going to end.
     If that's not enough to raise an eyebrow or two, consider our nearest star. It's called the sun and has maintained a controlled nuclear explosion every second of its powerful existence. That is mind blowing. However, like all stars, our sun has a life span, and there will come a time when it will eventually burn out and collapse upon itself. Those in the know predict when that happens, the rest of the planets in our galaxy will be sucked into a giant black hole left in its wake. If we can connect the dots, science is telling us something about the future of the planet earth. One day, it is going to end. It's not a matter of if, its a question of when. And, to some degree, how.
     Those of you who read this blog know I'm no theologian. Astrophysics is a foreign language to this undereducated country boy, so I make no claims there. However, as stated above, if we but connect the dots, theology and science come to a similar conclusion, as far as the earth goes. At the  the end of the day, Pun intended, "She's a ... going to end."
     I am a Christian and believe there will be, as scripture declares, "A New Heaven and A New Earth." However, my delve into the dystopian genre and short story that's soon to be released on  Amazon, will have several twist and turns that may leave my friends scratching their heads, and wondering if perhaps, I've jumped off the bus. The short answer to that question is, no I've not.

-- Until we meet here again,

Cam
 

    


     

         

The Day America Died.

This is the intro to a post apocalyptic dystopian short story. I've never written in this genre, but had a thought and put it to paper.

No one knows how it happened, though most are convinced our own government kept us in the dark, until it was too late.  Then it no longer mattered. On the day America fell, a desire for justice was quickly replaced by the will to live. The all-important question became, “How long can the world endure.”
    There was a time in my life when I believed goodness would prevail. But, when nuclear weapons went off in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, only to be followed by three more the following day in Charlotte, Atlanta and Washington DC, I was left with serious questions.
    Those who wished us harm finally succeeded. The one Homeland Security could not afford to miss, slipped through the cracks, and in just two days twenty percent of the nation’s population was annihilated. Since that time there’s been so much death, only twenty percent remain. Nine Eleven has been reduced to a warning shot.   
     The terrorist who plotted our demise were blinded by an extreme ideology which left them unable to foresee the results. But, when the strongest economy on the globe defaulted, the dominos started falling.
     China found its self over extended and quickly spiraled into financial oblivion. Russia, went into a defense mode, as Putin understood the same thing could happen in Moscow and Saint Peters Square. England had been feeling the trimmers for quite some time, but turned a deaf ear in the name of tolerance and multiculturalism. When the world fell apart, the British were unable to help us for fear of retaliation.
     Having lost their strongest ally left the Israelis alone and isolated. As radical Islam began closing in they took preemptive measures and launched their Nukes. Once Baghdad, Tehran and Cairo were obliterated, they took a ground assault into Palestine and in Syria.
       Here at home, things we once took for granted, have become costly commodities. All entitlements have been absolved, because the government for all tents and purposes no longer exist. Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare are no longer available. This alone resulted in the death of millions. Those on critical life supporting systems, such as dialysis and other expensive medical regiments began dying off soon after the collapse.
      People took to the streets in open rebellion when supplemental programs were suspended. The National Guard was called in, but as our government collapsed the troops returned home in defense of their own lives, homes and personal property.
     Long ago and far away, the prophet Jerimiah looked over the destruction of Jerusalem and wept, “How empty sits the city that was once filled with people.”  I have never been one who believed in the pagan principal of history repeating itself, but his words ring true for the destruction which has come upon what many once considered, the prize of the west.
      When the dark side of human nature is left unchecked chaos will always encroach. For even in the Garden of Paradise the prince of darkness raised his ugly head and questioned the authority of God. Since that time the personification of evil has never been more than a whisper away.

 

And the Angles Wept.

The rains came, the flood rose and people fled to the high places seeking refuge. As the waters continued to rise, those who suddenly believed cried out, "Where is God?" The agnostics responded, "He has forsaken us!."

When the tallest mountains were finally immersed, the storm ceased and the clouds rolled back. Darkness fled form light and the earth was cleansed.

Technology was no more, and that was okay, because it was not longer needed. There were no birds and when the water receded, there was no one, nor anything left, to roam the earth. Only the fish remained.

And the Angels wept.

- Cameron Dockery

The Shoreline

When at night I walk the shoreline alone
and feel the wet sand yield, to the strength
of an out going tide, I'm reminded of the
familiar places I've never been.

Like the undertow of a child's imagination
whispering truths long forgotten, and calling
me away, from the chaos of a world gone  mad.

- Cameron Dockery


I remember walking the North Carolina beaches as kid and feeling the wet sand giving away under my feet. It was tiring. AS the calf muscles in  my legs grew  tense, I would step up into the dry sand, where walking would be much easer.

 However, before long I would find myself drawn back to the wet sand and feeling the water receding with every step.  It was as if something was pulling me away.

 This morning that memory from long ago represents the undertow of a world I once  knew. A time when belief came easy and imagination was unlimited.

 I want to go there again, if only for a while, to hopefully, recapture the wonder.

Story:The Medium Morphs

I picked up a copy of The Grimm’s Fairy Tales while in Barns and Noble Sunday afternoon, and before leaving the bookstore read the first story, over a cup of coffee.  It is called The Frog Prince, and was included in the first collection over two hundred years ago.  
     To those of you who know me, it comes as no surprise, because you’re already aware that I’ve been fascinated with story for quite some time. In fact, I believe everyone has a story, and before you can truly know a person, it’s imperative that you know his, or her, story.  The chapters of our lives play heavily into the people we’ve become.
     Don’t be alarmed. I’m not making a case for developmental psychology, or behavioral therapy.  This post is about story, plain and simple.
     However, with that being said, it does seem as if story is written into the DNA of human personality. Almost like it’s hardwired into the Gnome and stamped on our collective imagination. Story has always been with us.
     Primitive civilizations used story to preserve culture while teaching future generations. As long as man has been on the earth, story has had something to offer. The medium morphs, but the meat of what story is about holds a steady resolve.
    There was a time when stories were the main event shared around the village campfire. Homer’s Epic’s, The Iliad and The Odyssey were oral traditions dating back 670 years before the birth of Christ. If you’re looking for older documents you have to go back another 1400 years to The Epic ofGilgamesh, which was written on 12 clay tablets about 4000 years ago.
     Since that time the medium of story and the way it has been presented and preserved has continually changed. It’s ridden the waves of Papyrus in Egypt, and Parchment from Pergamum. From Chinese Block printing to Gutenberg’s press story continued to captivate the hearts and minds of every generation.
     And now were living in a digital age where many people no longer purchase printed books. Their medium of choice are e-readers, such as Kindle and Nook.  
It is reported that Amazon sells a million and a half e books a day.
     Those in the know say the publishing world is in the midst of a revolution, much like the music world experienced over a decade ago. Self-Publishing was once considered a thing of vanity, but now has become a platform from which many are finding a pathway to success.
     I was born in 1962 and grew up as a Baby Boomer watching stories through the medium of television and big screen movies. My father was born in 1941 and grew up listening to The Lone Ranger on the radio. Once again -- The medium was different, but the meat was the same. The common denominator being-- story.  
     Story has been around for a very long time and it will outlive everyone reading this blog post. Times may change, but people will always be hungry for another adventure, comedy, poem, or romantic interlude.
     As long as there are readers, the world will need writers, and if before I make it, they lay me to rest, please grant this wannabe, one final request. Carve on my stone, “He Died Trying.”

Stay tuned for part two. Until then, read something.  

www.camdockery.com

   http://www.amazon.com/Note-Graceful-Reflection-Cameron-Dockery-ebook/dp/B00KPCJ87O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406689325&sr=8-1&keywords=cameron+dockery 

Life Goes On.

 

 

Her name was Wisława Szymborska. A native of Poland who looked upon the darkest hours of human experience and lived among the most abused people of the twentieth century. In a world gone mad, she survived Nazi tyranny and endured Soviet Occupation. She was also a poet and responded to a living hell with these now famous words, “Reality demands, we also state the following: Life goes on…” Fortunately, for Wisława Szymborska life did go on, but for others it did not.

Six million Pol’s died during that time and in that part of the world.  Not counting the Jewish population who suffered genocide in the Nazi death camps. Like most post war Polish citizens, she was haunted by survivor’s guilt and left wondering why she survived, when millions of others perished.

 As a poet she was not alone and her contemporaries struggled as well. Being disillusioned with ornamental poetry, Czeslaw Milosz wrote somewhat of a treatise on the subject in his poem, Dedication. There he asks, “What is poetry that does not save nations or people?”

You will find an excellent round table on the subject of Post War Polish Poetry at the following link: http://philoctetes.org/calendar/our_life_in_poetry_post_war_polish_poets/ 

His name was Robert Frost and he was born a generation before Szymborska. While both poets managed to reach iconic status in the arena of world literature, there is no evidence of their paths having ever crossed. However, they shared a common thread, philosophically.  It becomes most obvious when considering, life--in light of-- human suffering. 

He was called the poet of the twentieth century and went against the grain carving out his own path toward success and literary legacy. Though he never graduated from a college or university, he was awarded 43 doctorates and won the Pulitzer Prize no less than four times.

He was also, no stranger to suffering and disappointment. After enduring the premature death of two children, the suicide of his son, and loss of his wife, he said, “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life, it goes on.”

Robert Frost enjoyed a good and very long life, but for him, it never came easy. And like Szymborska he learned, life has a way of moving forward.

May I get a little personal? How are you doing? Perhaps you’re on the very apex and zenith of a wonderful experience. Or, maybe you’re walking through a dark valley.

History tells us pain and suffering have been courting the human condition for a very long time. Somewhere in the world today, a spouse was lost to terminal illness; a child died in a freak accident, a kid tried crack for the first time, and a drunk crossed the yellow line.

In a courtroom somewhere last week an innocent man was sentenced to prison, while a guilty man was set free. Last week a father walked out on his family, and someone you trusted let you down. At first you were hurt, but now you’re angry about it.

Personally speaking, I’ve recently landed in a place I’ve never been, and the voices in my head are whispering some pretty nasty things. I realize the ambiguity of my confession leaves this a little cloudy, but that’s as far as I can take it for now. I‘ve opened a window to my soul because I feel it’s necessary for integrity’s sake.

And, if I’m going to post a proposition speaking to the dark side of the human condition and support it with testimonies from iconic figures, such as, Szymborska and Frost, then ask, “So, how are you doing?”  I have to be transparent.

There are times, when we all, walk through stuff. If you happen to be walking through some now, you’re not alone. Some of you, I know personally. Others of you, I will never have the opportunity meet, seeing you live in Russia, Germany, England and eleven other countries.

However, tonight, let us come together and agree that, if Szymborska and Frost can walk through the darkness and at the end of the day say, “Life, (it) goes on.” You and I can be encouraged and borrow from their experience and say, “Yes, it does and it will, and as the darkness rolls back, the sun is going to shine again.

Be encouraged.

www.camdockery.com

The Genius of Charlie Brown

                            

I was born in 1962 and grew up watching The Peanuts on television. The fifty two years I’ve spent on this earth becomes more evident every time I look in the mirror. Yet, I’ve noticed Charlie Brown and Lucy have not aged a day. Time continues to treat them well, and it’s not just for the sake of appearance. Something about these characters resonates with every succeeding generation.

My wife and I introduced The Peanuts to our children. Now our kids are grown, but we still celebrate holidays with the gang. We already know Charlie brown is going trick-or-treating for a sack full of rocks, and will spend the night waiting for the great pumpkin. All the while Snoopy is busy patrolling the night skies and fighting off The Red Baron.

I’ll always treasure how Linus reminds Charlie Brown of the true meaning of Christmas and uses his security blanket to put the finishing touch on what turned out to be the perfect Christmas tree.

At its height The Peanut strip became a billion dollar industry with Charles Schulz earning a reported 30 -40 million dollars a year. A Charlie Brown Christmas was first aired during the Christmas season of 1965. It was the very first primetime animated feature film. It was also a raving success and critically acclaimed. It has been aired every year since.

It speaks to the genius of Charles Schulz in that he was able to tell Children’s Stories adults still enjoy, and love to read. He was able to speak to the heart of real life issues through the innocence of a child’s personality.

A new full length movie is slated to be released in the fall of 2015, and though their creator is gone, the Peanuts live on. This world is a better place for it.

I recently posted a similar blog regarding the idea of Children’s Stories adults love to read. In that post I cited C.S. Lewis and Mark Twain as examples. I believe there is something to be learned. It is possible in this day, to write “G” rated material that speaks to the masses and communicates a marketable message.

Schulz, Lewis and Twain represent something that’s much needed, but seriously lacking in today’s world.  At the risk of redundancy allow me to share their genius one more time. “Kid’s stories, adults love to read. “

www.camdockery.com

Where has my friend gone?

This article was provoked by something that’s been trending within the sub-culture of social media for quite sometime. It’s most obvious on Facebook and has to do with the unfriending of people from your network.

Make no mistake, there are times when the unfriending of an individual is appropriate. I would say, in some circumstances, it’s the most healthy and safe thing to do. We live in a day and age where stalkers, gawkers and those addicted to gossip, prowl the web looking for people to harass and humiliate. In such extreme instances, you are left with no other option.

Then there’s the immature adolescent searching to find his/her way in a world that has never been kind, or graceful. We’ve come to expect this type of behavior form kids who live in a society where dysfunction is displayed, celebrated and even capitalized on by television networks each week.

However, it is not the above criteria to which I’m speaking. My reference is pointedly addressing adults who act like children. Adults who look less like leaders and contributors to society and more like a little kid on the playground that does not get his/her way and throws a tantrum, then follows it up with a grand exit by taking his/her ball and going home.

So, to answer the title question, “Where has my friend gone,” and to speak to the issue at hand I suppose we must start with another question, “What is a friend?”

Webster defines friend as:

“1.
a :  one attached to another by affection or esteem.
b :  acquaintance
2.
a :  one that is not hostile 
b :  one that is of the same nation, party, or group
3:  one that favors or promotes something (as a charity)
4:  a favored companion”

So, according to the Word Master, there is more than one type of friend, or at least varying degrees of friendship.

Therefore it becomes subjective and the onus falls on the individual. So, the next question would be, “What is the nature of true friendship?”

I’m reminded of an interview David Letterman hosted with then Prime Minister of The UK, Tony Blair. It was no surprise when Dave took a pot shot at President Bush and invited the Prime Minister to join the bashing. However, Tony Blair, refused to be drawn in and said of President Bush, “He is a friend, and I am no fair weather friend.” Kudos to Tony Blair for sticking to his guns and avoiding the media hype, and for supporting his friend.

From that interview I understood Prime Minister Blair was unconditionally committed to his friendship with the President. Their relationship was developed over a period of years and tempered on the anvil of an unpopular war. The relationship seems to have been cemented.

So, when we welcome someone into our network as a friend, do we consider them a friend, or just an acquaintance? I understand the difference. I could only imagine if the person was, or is someone we have known for a period of months, or years he/she would be considered much more than an acquaintance.

If it is someone with whom we have shared fellowship, and a portion of our life, indicates this individual is much more than a mere acquaintance. And with that, I am haunted by the question, “Where has my friend gone?”

Realizing I’m no victim and understanding relationships at times grow sour, or drift apart leaves me in a position of not placing blame, but rather with a deep sense of loss and disappointment. It hurts.

Then I’m reminded of how Brutus betrayed Caesar for political gain, and Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. It is questionable as to how much of a friendship Brutus and Caesar truly enjoyed, but Jesus poured his life in to Judas Iscariot.  He shared the Last Supper with someone who sold their friendship out for 50 pieces of silver.

At the end of the day, I suppose human nature has not changed since Caesar crossed the Rubicon, or since Jesus washed the disciple’s feet. Perhaps I’m a little too sensitive in an age where the invitation to participate in social media suggest friendship. And it could be that I expect way too much from people. However, there is a longing in my heart to know, “Where has my friend gone?”

Jesus once said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he should lay down his life for his friend.”  If we, the followers of Christ, practiced this principal, the world would once again see us as genuine. Until then, they are not interested in our shallow hypocrisy.

Knowing my friend, who unfriended me will not see this post, gives the appearance that I’m preaching to the choir. I hope that’s not the case, but if it should be… then to the choir I say, “Has anyone seen, or heard from my friend? If you do, tell her we love her." 

James Taylor put the concept of unconditional friendship to music and it came out pretty good. Follow the link: http://youtu.be/dvvJ7MYaK8o

 

 

Alaskan Nights

 

 

Days are short and night falls early during Alaska’s winter months. However, it’s not all bad, because there are those special moments when The Northern Lights dance through The Big Dipper, and if you’re living in The Great Land, as the Aleut's call it, you’ve just been given a free ticket to the greatest show on earth.

And there are nights when a full moon lights the evening sky to cast long shadows across winter’s fresh blanket. Occasionally, you’ll hear a wolf howling in the distance and feel the cold chills rise on the back of your neck. You’re not frightened by the wolf, or its howl. But, you are suddenly aware of something mysterious, wild and ancient.

Then there’s the silence that comes with winter. I’ve stood in the moonless night, with a cup of coffee in my hand, as the mercury dropped to forty below zero. There was no wind, or breeze as I stood in the darkness observing total and absolute silence. It was both eerie, and beautiful. Reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel’s, The Sound of Silence.

Alaska, I’m still missing you, and though you were not easy, I will always remember you as good.

 

- Cameron Dockery

 

 



Grace & A FREE GIFT!

Traditionally, it has been defined as, Unmerited Favor and is often called, a free gift.  C.S  Lewis said it was the unique contribution of Christianity, and  Phillip Yancey calls it, our last great word. A word that appears 206 times in The Bible. A word  and you know as grace.

Shiploads of books have been written on the subject and entire theologies rest on it's premise. The Apostle Paul said, "By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourself. It is the gift of God...."  Today I am writing this blog post as a recipient, rather than an authority.

There is not much to say on the subject that has not already been covered by others much more capable than myself. For me, once I close my bible, the go to book and resource on subject at hand is Phillip Yancey's Classic, What's so amazing about Grace? 

I read it twenty years ago and have never recovered. I've learned we live in a world of un-grace and the question that keeps me up at night is," why?"   Why is it that we who have been redeemed and transformed by the grace of God have such a hard time communicating the message to others.

If you have been following this blog for awhile, or have followed me on Facebook and twitter,  you already know, I've written a short story called, The Note: A graceful reflection. 

It's a true story written about a boy who gets himself into a lot of trouble. He had been traumatized the previous year by a father, who crossed the line while administering discipline and left emotionally handicapped. Therefore, his confession came slow. In the end grace, healed and restored a damaged relationship.

The purpose of writing The Note was to share the message of grace by offering a real life example of what it looks like through the eyes of an eleven year old boy and the ramifications it carried into adulthood.

And with that: I am offering a three day free give away. The Note can be downloaded free for the next 72 hours to your Kindle, computer, tablet, and smart phone. If you do not own a kindle, just down load the free app and WAALAA... you're in business.

I would welcome any and all feedback, or critique on The Note.

Thank you!

Thoreau & The Church: Quiet Desperation

“The masses of men lead lives of quiet desperation…”- Henry David Thoreau       

These words were written by a man who retreated to the woods one hundred and sixty years ago to find himself. Now, the axiomatic assumption of Henry David Thoreau is immortalized and becomes obvious in a postmodern culture down on the aftermath of industrialization. A culture that’s also completely disappointed with the church and as a result has totally forsaken Christian principal.

I was first introduced to Walden while in Middle School, but at the time I was not into reading, or the classroom.  If memory serves correctly, the only impression it left on me, was thinking how cool it would be to hang out in the woods by a pond, and fish all day. 

Now, fast forward thirty-eight years. I picked up a copy of Walden while browsing through a bookstore last week and have been pouring myself into what has become a classic contribution to American Literature. This time around--It’s speaking to me.

Make no mistake thinking I have embraced Emersonian Transcendtalism. Or, the philosophy and belief championed in the early part of the 1800’s as a backlash to New England’s Calvinism and the state of intellectualism being taught at Harvard University. 

Like Emerson, Thoreau made the mistake of confusing creation with The Creator and in the process looked to religion as many streams flowing into the same ocean. You will find a little Eastern Religion, mixed with German Idealism and topped off with a few Biblical principles as foundational to a discipline that’s more pagan than Christian.

So, why is a pastor reading a man who is both philosophically and diametrically opposed to everything the church has been teaching and holding onto for the past 2000 years?

The answer is simple. I’m in to literature and am drawn to the classics. I’ve also learned that God is the author of all truth. Where ever it’s found. Sometimes it shows up in the scientific method, other times it’s hammered out on the anvil of time and history. It’s also echoed from the pulpits across the country and around the world. Ultimately, we know His Word is true and everything proposed as truth must be weighed and measured against Scripture. As Christians we are not threatened by science, history or philosophy. And as believers we have an obligation to bring an answer to arguments presented.

However, it was not Christian Apologetics that brought me to Walden. It is the dilemma in which I currently find myself. For the first time in 30 years I am a pastor without a pulpit and it has been more than a little disarming. It has forced me to step back, slow down and bring some very big questions to the only One who knows the end from the beginning.

It has also given me a chance to observe form another point of view something I have been perusing for the greater part of my adult life. And with that, the words of Thoreau ring very loud. Listen to them again: 

“The masses of men lead lives of quiet desperation…”

It’s true. I believe more so now than then. Today, the 40 hour work week is a thing of the past and in spite of great technological advances people have less time to focus on what matters most. It’s sad to say, but the majority of people are desperately running a race they can never win. The results of a society given over to materialism are evident.

I have watched young people walking in groups through shopping malls simultaneously talking, texting and listening to music as the world passes by. Texting while driving now kills more people a year than drinking while driving and the technological trend and answer to the law is hands free devices.  Google is working on a first generation prototype of their driverless car. If it works perhaps the death toll from texting related accidents will come down.

It’s impossible to get away these days. Cell phones give people instant access to us where ever we are and whenever we’re needed. I am guilty as the next person. I find myself constantly checking my phone for missed calls, emails and messages. When I’m travelling and need a hotel WIFI is an absolute must. It’s even come to the place that when I’m eating lunch, I usually bring along my laptop to catch up.

Social media is another monster. Corporations are in a constant battle with employees who spend company time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Here’s the question, what is it about social media that draws people? I believe it is because we are created for community and it’s not happening at home, or in the real world so the masses seek it out in digital form. Once again and at the risk of being redundant listen to Thoreau: 

“The masses of men lead lives of quiet desperation…” 

Like Thoreau, I am convinced the problem is spiritual. Unlike Thoreau, I believe the church has the answer. The question that keeps me awake at night is, “Why are people no longer drawn to the church?”  It does appear, that as followers of Christ, we have lost influence.

How did it happen? The New Testament tells us that both sinners and pagans were attracted to Christ. So were the hurting. However, it’s simply not the case today.

Do we call it a social trend?  Is it a result of something that began during the enlightenment? Or, do we blame it on the devil?  I’m afraid if we play the blame game we are only avoiding the more painful truth.

I think we should look in the mirror. For if we take an honest inventory we’ll soon discover that we are among the masses leading, “lives of quiet desperation.”  The church in general seems to have lost her most sacred connection. I’m no authority, but I’ve attended church growth conferences all across The North American Continent for the past 30 years and have watched the trends and fads come and go.

While there are glimmers of hope spread out here and there, where some fellowship either has, or is currently experiencing growth, it’s also true that leading social indicators inform us the life style of the church is not much different than the unchurched. And maybe that is where we need to start.

What would happen if the church were to stop and take a breath to seriously connect with The Spirit of God? If we were less competitive and more co-operative would it look more New Testament? If we were less legalistic and more realistic would the desperate masses be more drawn to our fellowship? If we were to actually practice what we preach would the world once again see us as authentic?

Pastors continue to drop out of the ministry at an alarming rate. Many have given up their dream of believing what they do actually makes a difference. Every week churches die and close their doors for the last time.

They once were, A City on a Hill, and a light shining in the darkness. But, something happened. Over a process of time they moved from mission to monument and became a dying testimony to what was. Their end was inevitable.

I’m convinced America is in trouble because the church is in trouble. We, the church, have been on a downward spiral for quite some time. We are going the way of Europe with Cultural Christianity.

Is there hope? Can it be turned around? Can the American Church find new life and revitalization? I think so. In fact I’m convinced. It’s interesting to note that when Thoreau wrote Walden, America was in the midst of something called, The Second Great Awakening. A period of unprecedented church growth and expansion.

When I started reading Walden and committed myself to a blog post I did not intend to write 2000 words, but something happened in the process. My addiction became evident.

You see I am addicted to the church. I used to tell my son that I was an addict and worked to support my habit. I was a bi-vocational pastor and worked 50 hours a week while pastoring a small church on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.

Today, I’m still addicted. Though I do not have a pulpit at the moment, I still find myself preaching to the choir and the readers of this blog, and on You Tube occasionally.

In reading Walden I have been challenged by Thoreau to retreat to The Book. The Book that was written over a period of 1600 years and contributed to by no less than 39 authors. It’s called The Bible. And there I find a verse that speaks to my personal desperation. “Be still and know that I am God.”  (Psalm 46:10)

I know that I am going to receive messages from some Christians who will question why I am preaching Thoreau. Let me go ahead and answer that one.

I’m not preaching Thoreau, I’m simply using a quote from Classic literature to express a point.

I’m also going to hear from some of my newer friends who are also into to literature, but not Scripture, or the church. They will inform me that I lost them when I started preaching. I’m sorry, but like I said, I am addicted to both, The Gospel, and The Bride, of Jesus Christ.
In closing, if I may refer once again to Thoreau. He said:

 “I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

Mr. Thoreau, I get it. I understand what you’re saying. I’m only sorry that you stopped short. You retreated to a solemn place and looked inward. The answer you were looking for required one further step. After inward reflection you should have looked upward. He was there, and waiting.

And to the church, we would do well to retreat from the industry of church to reflect and re-connect to The Vine. Have you noticed how over the course of the last several decades the movements have become industries?

For example: In the 60’s bus ministry was popular, then in the 70’s, door to door ministry, such as Evangelism Explosion became the ticket. After that it was expository preaching. Pastors from across the country tuned in and tried to emulate Chuck Swindoll. In the 90’s John Maxwell introduced the priority of leadership to the church. Pastors, myself included, flocked to his seminars. Following that, Contemporary praise and worship became the hot item and the worship wars broke out!

That synopsis spans five decades of church and it does appear that God was in each and every movement. However, there were times when the movements became multi- billion dollar industries.  God was, is and shall forever be committed to His Movement, which is The Gospel. But, he is not committed to the industry.

His Bride and Body are much more than business as usual. Is it possible that we who hold positions of leadership in the church have become much like the masses of men to whom Thoreau referred?

Could it be that we are guilty of buying into the industry of church?  In the process have we lost intimacy with The Spirit? Have we sat back at conference and longed for the accolades of men when the trophies were being waved and celebrated?

In the words of a Church Growth Guru, “Just a thought.”

For the time being, I have come to a place where I have no other option but to listen and wait. I think I read something about that in a letter that was written to the Churches of Asia Minor once. We call it, The Book of Revelation.

Pray for me, as I will be doing the same for you.

 

Blessings