Posts by: Brian Dolleman

“I had. A bad. Experience.”

Remember this line from The Italian Job?

It was Left Ear talking to Charlie Croker, explaining why he doesn’t like dogs.

I love that line. It made me laugh.

And I can relate. Not that I feel that way about dogs—but other things…

I had. A bad. Experience.

Another way to say it: I have issues.

The Bible has something to say about issues:

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4.23 NKJV)

We CAN’T always determine the conditions or circumstances of life. Things happen, ya know?

We CAN guard our heart—so that it’s not full of issues that control our lives.

When you’re going through it…

Just remember: you’re not alone.

Sure, there are others who are going through the fire too…

But Someone is there WITH YOU and FOR YOU. You are not alone.

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, the king watched.

Suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”

“Yes, your majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!” (Daniel 3.24, 25 NLT)

There is no place you can go that God won’t—to be WITH YOU and FOR YOU.

David knew this. That’s why he said, “I can never get away from your presence!” (Psalm 139.7 NLT)

You are not alone.

Even in the darkest, most difficult and painful of places…

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” (Psalm 23.4 NLT)

He is there—WITH YOU and FOR YOU.

You are not alone.

Have you ever found yourself in the fire?

Maybe you’re in one now—experiencing great pain and difficulty with no sign of escape.

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were put into the fiery furnace, it was so hot, the soldiers who threw them in died.

That’s one bad fire…

Yet, God did not abandon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Although they found themselves in the fire, God was there with them.

The king and the others who were present to witness the execution saw something completely unexpected…

They were “unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed!” (Daniel 3.25 NLT)

Unbound and unharmed.

Walking around in the fire.

I’ve been in the fire before and it wouldn’t surprise me if I found myself in the fire again.

My prayer is that when I’m in the fire, I will be seen walking around—unbound and unharmed.

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FIRE of oppression, YOU WILL NOT BE BURNED UP; THE FLAMES WILL NOT CONSUME YOU. For I am the Lord your God.” (Isaiah 43.1-3 NLT)

When I was 9 or 10, I participated in Royal Rangers (a church-based Boy Scouts type thing).

They taught us how to tie knots and light fires and use knives.

One thing excluded in the curriculum—a class on explosives. That was probably for the best.

True story: One of our Royal Ranger Commanders was missing a hand and had a metal claw in its place.

He left a vivid impression on our young minds as he taught knife safety.

Occasionally we would have Royal Ranger camp-outs.

After two or three days of non-stop camp fires and no bathrooms or showers, we’d come home stinking.

My mom would always complain about it—one bath couldn’t get the smell of smoke out of my skin.

On one particular camp-out, my friend Johnny brought a pound of bacon.

That seemed like a lot for one kid.

Johnny pulled the package out of his backpack and asked us if we’d ever tried raw bacon.

My face did a “Mr Yuk” and I said, “Ewww. Nasty. You’re not supposed to do that. It will give you worms or something.”

I thought Johnny was just bluffing. He wasn’t. He opened the package, pulled off a piece of bacon, and ate it.

By the end of that day, Johnny had eaten the entire pound of bacon. Raw.

On our camp-out, we all stunk like campfire smoke…

But Johnny smelled even stronger—like bacon.

A week later, I saw Johnny at church. I wondered if he still smelled like bacon.

I grabbed his hand, held it up to my nose… and sure enough, he did. Johnny still smelled like raw bacon.

Whenever I think of those camp-outs and Johnny’s thing for raw bacon, it amazes me that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made it out of the fiery furnace like this…

“Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched—they didn’t even smell of smoke!” (Daniel 3.27 NLT)

Incredible.

Every one of those things happened to me on a Royal Ranger camp-out!

My hair—singed. My clothing—scorched. And I reeked like smoke for days.

Yet these three young men made it through a profoundly difficult, painful, scary experience… without being scarred, scorched, or even smelling like it.

I think how they went into the flames was significant to how they came out of the flames.

Just before going into the fiery furnace, they said…

“The GOD whom we serve IS ABLE to save us. He will rescue us from your power. But EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue…” (Daniel 3.17 18)

This is huge.

They went into the flames saying, “Our God is able to get us out of this—but even if he doesn’t, we’re good.”

I love this.

They trusted God and they didn’t box God in. They were OK letting God be God.

They hoped for a good outcome, but were willing to accept whatever God would do.

This, in my opinion, is key for us today—if we’re going to make it through the difficult, the painful, and the scary without being scarred, scorched, or even smelling like it.

I want to be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

I want to say confidently, “My God is able to get me out of this—but even if he doesn’t, I’m good.”

I’ve smelled like campfires before.

My friend Johnny smelled like raw bacon for at least a week…

And I’ve known many people who smell like resentment, bitterness, hurt, and anger for decades because of what they’ve been through.

It’s sad.

They’re not in the fire anymore, but they still smell like it.

It doesn’t have to be that way. The truth is, we will all go through some fires…

But how we go into the flames is significant to how we come out of those flames.

Next time you’re feeling the fire, say:

God, you’re able to get me out of this—but even if you don’t, I’m good.

I trust You and I’m not gonna box You in.

I’m OK letting You be God.

I’m hoping for a good outcome, but I’m willing to accept whatever You do.

The king needed help.

He had some disturbing dreams and needed to know what they meant.

He consulted with his official magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, astrologers and wise men.

When they couldn’t help him, the king raged and gave them all a death sentence.

Daniel, being one of the king’s wise men, prayed.

He asked God to intervene.

God revealed the answers to Daniel.

Daniel shared the information with the king—and his life was spared.

In fact, all of the men sentenced to death were spared.

There is something significant about Daniel’s interaction with King Nebuchadnezzar…

Daniel blessed him; he didn’t blast him.

He could have blasted the king.

He could have pointed out that magic and sorcery is bad.

He could have said “God is punishing you” for your harsh treatment of the people.

He could have said, “I will tell you everything you need to know about your dreams—as soon as you repent.”

But he didn’t.

Daniel was a blessing to the king.

He helped him. He met a need. Daniel was kind and gracious to Nebuchadnezzar…

And that is what produces influence and brings about change.

What was the king’s response?

He said, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries.” (Daniel 2.47 NLT)

“The king appointed Daniel to a high position… He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.” (Daniel 2.48 NLT)

Here’s my point: Blasting doesn’t make a positive difference. Blessing does.

“Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to BRING OUT THE BEST in others… not put them down, not cut them out.” (Colossians 4.5, 6 MSG)

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.” (Matthew 5.16 MSG)

Our job is to bring out the best, not point out the worst.

We’re called to bless, not blast…

And that is what produces influence and brings about change.

Pyramid schemes are designed for the privileged few to make it to the top on the backs of the less fortunate many.

Some view leadership and influence this way—based on what I take from others, I rise.

God’s way is the opposite.

“Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top.

Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage.

Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” (Philippians 2.3, 4 MSG)

This is the opposite of a pyramid scheme.

Influence is about making a difference in people’s lives.

Leadership is about benefiting others, lifting others, blessing others…

And being a blessing IS A BLESSING.

“Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting is the way.” (Luke 6.38 MSG)

A turtle will hide in his shell when he’s afraid…

And when he’s hiding—he’s going nowhere, he’s accomplishing nothing.

There’s a famous quote about this:

“Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.”

I think this is true about people too.

We only make progress when we stick out necks out—but when we hide in our shells, we go nowhere and we accomplish nothing.

Looking back on significant things I’ve either participated in or accomplished, I notice…

Nobody told me I was perfect for the job. Nobody begged me to do it.

It didn’t come knocking on my door.

I stuck my neck out.

I chose the opportunity to make a difference over hiding in my shell.

I wasn’t perfect for the job and the conditions weren’t perfect.

I went for it anyway.

And I’m glad I did.

When I think about the people who have made a significant difference in my life, I notice…

Not one of them was (or is) perfect.

They stuck their necks out—they chose the opportunity to make a difference over hiding in their shells.

Here’s what I’m saying:

Hey Turtle!

Stick your neck out.

Choose the opportunity to make a difference over hiding in your shell.

If you stay in your shell, not only will you go nowhere and accomplish nothing, but you will rob others of the blessing you could have been in their lives.

“Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.”