Purpose – Page 3 – Pathway Journey

November 6, 2024November 5, 2024

Saltiness of Christianity

Jesus used salt as an analogy to show the importance of being a true disciple. Salt performs two basic functions; it enhances taste, and it preserves. As Christians we bring flavor and meaning to a hopeless world. We also preserve society and order to a fallen world. How do we lose our salt factor?

Salt does not in itself deteriorate. Salt without its saltiness is contaminated salt. Salt is derived from the sea or from salt deposits in the earth. The substance we buy today is consistent and mostly free from contamination.

In the time of the New Testament it was not so pure. The water from the sea was evaporated leaving a residue of salt but the residue was not pure. It was often contaminated with other minerals and substances of the sea. If it became too contaminated, it lost its flavor or saltiness.

October 10, 2024October 10, 2024

True Discipleship Means No Alternatives

I find choosing a paint color a little frustrating because there are just too many options. I ate in a foreign restaurant where I had a choice of meat but no option for the side dishes. When it came to the side dishes, you either ate them or left them. Of course, I usually ate them!

When it comes to being a true disciple of Jesus Christ, why do some folks think they have options?

August 30, 2024September 3, 2024

Finding Joy in Surrender: Embracing God’s Plan for Fulfillment

We exist for God’s purpose not our own. Sure, we existed in the mind of God before He said, “Let there be light.” What a crazy thought but true. Yet, God does not exist so we can live happy, contented, and fulfilled lives. We exist for His pleasure and the fulfillment of His plan in and through us.

June 25, 2024June 24, 2024

Keep the Faith: Don’t Fret Over the World

All the great kingdoms that fill our history books such as the Babylonians, Medes-Persians, Greeks, and Romans have a date of their demise. In their day they controlled much of the civilized world, held sway over peoples, wealth, and resources. Their rulers held tyrannical control over peoples and lands. Those rulers are now dead, and their kingdoms fragmented and destroyed.

In the book of Daniel, the King of Babylon had a dream of an image, and the prophet Daniel told him the dream and interpreted it describing those empires mentioned above. The image was of a man made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay representing those different kingdoms (see Daniel 2:31-33).

May 27, 2024May 27, 2024

Blood, Sweat, and Tears (Memorial Day)

My father, T. V. Whitt was on Okinawa when the Japanese surrendered to end World War II in 1945. I heard him recount with tears that when he left the island headed for home, he looked at the graves of the fallen and thought, “I am headed home to my two little children, but these will not be going home to their little children.”

He came home and continued his family to add three more kids and live to within seven days of the age of ninety. The moment was not lost on him of the great sacrifice given by the dead soldiers, marines, and sailors.

The victories of life afforded our children are won by tears (pain and suffering), sweat (labor and toil), and blood (the sacrifice of injury and ultimately of life).

May 14, 2024May 13, 2024

Benchmark of Life

Recently, I needed to determine the approximate elevation of a hill on our little homestead. My son and I used a process called differential leveling that I learned in an agricultural technology class. The point of the beginning was an established point set at 100 feet of elevation. It is called a benchmark—the initial point of reference. The final reading at the top of the hill was 138 feet, so the hill was 38 feet tall (138 minus 100=38).

I’m sure most of you care nothing about differential leveling, but I wanted you to know where I came about with this concept of a benchmark.

A benchmark is a reference point established as a constant and everything is referenced back and evaluated from that point. In life we need a benchmark to reference all the information that comes to us. If you do not have a reference point, everything else is just a garbled mess.

In the culture of the world, the secular mindset says there is no absolute truth–that there are no benchmarks. (It is funny, that they absolutely state that there are no absolute truths.)

If there is no absolute truth, then every known concept is a falsehood and there is no reliable reference point to anything. It is by this viewpoint of fluctuating ‘facts’ that people are redefining words and concepts that have stood for over 5,000 years of recorded history with little challenge during those five millennia.

April 10, 2024April 8, 2025

Don’t Let Crazy People Drive You Crazy

I recently heard someone opine that he thought that 15 percent of people are bad, 50 percent misguided, and 35 percent were good. Now whether you agree with that number or not, you must admit that there are some crazy people in this world. When I talk about crazy, I’m not talking about people with organic mental issues. Crazy is a term reserved for those who can do better but don’t. I believe some people who act crazy are demonically influenced. Now you may think I am crazy.

I am not a psychologist, but my life’s work has been in the people business from being an educator to a Christian minister. Furthermore, I think of myself as a somewhat positive person because I usually reserve an ounce of hope for everyone regardless of their craziness.

The truth of the matter is, everyone can change but not everyone will or want to change for the good.

April 4, 2024April 3, 2024

Our Purpose in the Vastness of God

Consciously or unconsciously people struggle with their purpose in life. Though few may admit it, all people, unless they are consumed in narcissism, know deep down that they are less than they could be. As the scripture states, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23 NKJV).

God in the beginning made man in His image. We have the stamp of God on our lives. We have a purpose from God that originated before time began. That may be a far reach for some, but the scripture bears it out.

March 13, 2024March 13, 2024

Stable Stool in a Wobbly World

I know you have eaten in a diner where the table was wobbly because one leg was a little short (and you probably put a wad of a napkin under it.) Do you know that a three-legged stool will never wobble? A carpenter puts a diagonal brace in a structure because he transforms a rectangular object into two triangles thus stabilizing the structure.

When rock climbing or climbing a ladder, the safest way is to always have three points of contact—move only one foot or hand at a time.

You see where I am going with this, right? Something of “threes” brings stability. A three-legged stool never wobbles.

“Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NKJV).

In the wobbly world we live in, let’s look at the three legs of stability. In a stable society, we need three points of contact to stay secure. We need faith, family, and community.

February 28, 2024March 6, 2024

Spoiled Brats

Jeremiah asked God why the wicked prospered while the good folks suffered. It is an age-old question that God has been asked perhaps zillion of times. God answers Jeremiah beginning with this statement:

“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5 NKJV).

If you are lost in the imagery and the history of God’s answer, let me simplify it for you. Basically, if you have struggled in good times, how will you fare when it really gets tough.

If you freak out when you forget to get your favorite coffee K-cups, how will you cope if there is no coffee?

There are many people in the United States who are suffering through terrible difficulties. I have friends right now who are going through their own hell. This post is not about those with legitimate difficulties. Bear with me, while I make the comfortable, uncomfortable.