We read in yesterday’s My Utmost For His Highest John 21:17, the almost easy-to-skip-over words: “feed my sheep.” Jesus’ words to Peter are not just for Peter, are they? Everyone who reads this Word of God, the Bible, needs to be open to the Holy Spirit to speak, individually, regardless of ministerial status, for we are “a royal priesthood.”

This business of ‘feeding’ is pretty simple-it’s providing nourishment. So when we ‘nourish’ another, we are ‘feeding’ them. Obviously the Bible teachers of our faith are the ones we think of first, as we ‘expect’ them to feed us, by teaching us the Scriptures. Whether we ‘take and eat’ the food provided is another thing entirely! But there are many other ways we Christians can provide nourishment to one another, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And, amazingly, the Holy Spirit can ‘speak’ to us through other people, even in a so-called non-Christian environment or way. This is what I want to share about today, as I encountered such a wonderful ‘word from God’ from a totally unexpected source.

In planning an overseas trip, which requires both airline tickets and hotel reservations to be paid for in advance, one is wise to purchase trip insurance. This insurance covers a multitude of possible problems one might incur, like lost luggage, medical costs, even emergency evacuation.  It’s not too expensive and I’ve purchased trip insurance several times, counting myself fortunate for not having to use it.

Having committed to a trip this April to Portugal/Spain, and having purchased the trip insurance, I was feeling like a seasoned traveler. And then the Corona virus thing hits the fan! Folks all over the world are generally concerned, and a bit of panic is in the air, as the media seems to sound the alarm on every station and outlet. People are getting infected, and people are dying, and warnings are everywhere.

What is one to do? So, I called my insurance company to find out the particulars of my coverage; the fine print that really determines what is covered, and if I could just cancel my trip. I realize that insurance is a product that only makes money for the issuer based on what they DON’T pay out from premiums collected, so I was prepared for a bunch of legalese explaining to me how I couldn’t collect.

I wasn’t prepared for what happened next, when I called and talked to a Representative. I wasn’t prepared to hear a ‘word from God.’ I was expecting a bunch of negative, but received the most amazing declaration of truth I could imagine! Obviously this company is getting a lot of calls right now, as so many are wondering the same things I am. Certainly they have coached their Representatives on how to answer these not-yet-happened events! Dealing with all the what-if’s must be complicated, which is why they have the fine print in the first place.

So here it is: the Representative simply said, “Mr. Heiney, fear is not a covered item.”

Bang. A Truth explosion.

The Rep didn’t quote Bible to me, but he quoted truth nonetheless. You can apply this to so many areas of life, in addition to my travel plans! He didn’t say “In Jesus’ Name,” and he didn’t invite me to prayer. 

This is how God works, don’t you think? He works all day long, through many different sources, to try to teach us His truth for our lives; to show us HOW to live in a spiritual way vs a worldly way. 

While the world is going fearful right now, in many areas, The Lord shows up to say things like “Be at peace,” or “I’m in control,” or “It’s going to be ok,” etc.

The Word of God is FOR us, not against us. This God can use any source He chooses to speak into our lives, if we are listening…

Fear is not a covered item in a travel insurance policy, but it is so completely covered in a Spiritual Policy! Make sure you have one…

In 2010 a movie came out from Emilio Estevez called The Way. Not being a big Hollywood production it didn’t really get much traction, but steadily gained a sort-of cult following, due to the powerful story and marvelous on-location sights in France and Spain, not to mention a terrific ‘acting job’ by his father, Martin Sheen, and a few other notable characters one won’t easily forget from other countries. Then it got ‘discovered’ by Christians beyond just the Catholics, and the growth spread to Protestants and others as well. Carol and I got to see this movie in January of 2013, and something happened to us, something rare, in that we BOTH were impacted with the desire to go follow in those steps.

Over the ages literally millions of people have followed this path, this Camino. In the Dark Ages though it began to dwindle, and the troubles of life and cares of this world diminished the Pilgrimage to just a few, and practically none from the USA. Most of us in the US don’t even identify with “Pilgrimage” at all, not knowing its power or meaning, much less its ‘calling.’ I don’t really know how Emilio Estevez discovered it, or how it compelled him to write and make a movie, but I’m beginning to understand why.

In 2013 (and 2015) Carol and I walked the Camino de Santiago, following the path (camino) of St. James, from the Pyrenees Mountains bordering France in the east, to the city of Santiago in western Spain.  In 2017 we walked an ancient trail in Ireland, The Wicklow Way, and in Scotland, The Great Glen Way, following a course frequented by William Wallace. This year, 2019, we walked another ancient trail in Ireland, The Dingle Way, part of the larger, longer Kerry Way. To say that these adventures have impacted us is to miss the real import. We have been infected! We have been Blessed! We have been able to encounter God and our faith in new ways, which make us hungry for more.

“Why tell us this?” you may be thinking, as many of you already know about our compulsion. Forward to now…to Christmas time…and to all the gifts you want to give to those you love. The very best gifts are personal ones, and the best personal ones are those that connect our lives, not just add more stuff. Ever since we finished our first Camino we’ve been immersed in stories, pictures, songs, home-made videos and even some pretty good small-time film productions by others with the same experiences, same passions, same ‘infection.’ Facebook is alive with lots of Camino stories, and websites abound. Even Youtube is in the mix, as are many others I’m sure.

The ‘gift’ I’m trying to give you is encouragement to learn, and to experience this Blessing even if you can’t go in person. Check out www.americanpilgrims.org and tour around the site and learn about the Camino. Go to www.youtube.com and search for Camino songs, or Camino films, and enjoy the tour!

Once you enter the Camino ‘Zone’ you will be a bit like St. James was when he walked across Spain telling the folks about the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. Christian ‘missions’ should include so much more that just quoting Scripture; it should include personal testimonies and urging others onward. In fact, once you’ve been on a ‘mission’ yourself….well, it changes you. You get dangerous. The infection wants to spread …

Merry Christmas, and Buen Camino to all!

I’m not writing to be a ‘basher.’ I’m writing to encourage being a ‘believer in/follower of… Jesus.’

There are so many things in this world that we Christians actually do participate in that are not God-honoring that we should pause from time to time to re-examine our ‘walk.’

Halloween is a gross thing when you think about it. The world therefore tries to make it seem like it’s harmless fun, and has lots of support from our enemy the Devil. Some take a very strong position here and assess Halloween as purely Demonic, such that those who participate are giving themselves to that enemy.

Others just brush it off as they do everything else the world has to offer that is not ‘of God.’

This, then, is the actual issue as I see it. Once we become aware, we become accountable, and after that we become responsible, and then we become a part of the thing, complete with consequences. Sometimes the process moves quickly, sometimes very slowly, but the fact that the ‘world’ is affecting us as Christians is undeniable.

I think the behavior we should be pursuing is that which is Godly. I think that if we concentrated on pleasing the Lord we would avoid displeasing Him. Some say this as “being IN the world but not OF it.”

Jesus said He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If we actually follow Him, with intentional pursuit, the Way that He takes us will be the right way, and the Truth that He speaks to us will strengthen and guide us, such that the Life He offers will be ours. Problem is, this seems to begin with our denying self and allowing the exchange of natures to take place….IN us….His nature for ours.

Replace the temptations of the world with the opportunities God provides in Christ Jesus, and you will be busy indeed! Instead of worrying about being dead to self, concentrate on being ALIVE in Him. When anything that is not Love shows up, go instead the Way of Love. 

Just a thought …