As a young boy I loved maps. Still do. For me, African maps were the best and seemed all the things my suburban surroundings were not: exotic, mysterious, dangerous and enticing. I imagined central Africa as nothing but jungle and filled with head-hunters, snakes and wild beasts. Little did I know how varied and wonderful the land and the peoples are in the region.

Here's a memo to many of us, who at times just plain forget: We don't get to heaven by doing good things for others and the world. We can't earn brownie points with Jesus if we toil in selfless service. In fact, there is an argument that there really is no such thing as pure altruism, since, the theory goes, that any good done has a motive to make the giver feel better along the way.

My, that's an upbeat thought...

In our adult class at church we are studying a different Psalm each week. After a bit of background and teaching about the content of the song for the day, we gather at tables to discuss observations, questions, and applications for us today. It always proves to be a rich time of dialogue and insight. Recently, we looked at Psalm 57 that relates a time just after David, who was being hounded and tracked by King Saul, hid in a cave in the Engedi.

My faith journey began in June of 1970 at a Young Life Camp in the California gold country NE of Sacramento. Over the course of a week the camp speaker led us to see Jesus like never before, as God's answer to our most intimate and immediate and eternal needs. At the end of the week, the camp held a time of silence for each person to contemplate what we had learned. I found myself behind our cabin sitting on a stump.

Here's a line that I wish was original with me and is so good.

Any person who says they are never bothered by the little things has never spent a night in a tent with a mosquito.

I like to think of myself as mostly easy going in the sense that I try not to get worked up over a lot of small things...but there are a few little matters that flat drive me up a wall.