Enjoy the Round

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. (1 Peter 3:8-11 ESV).

I recently read a wonderful story written about James Dobson’s father that illustrates the truth that the Scripture teaches in our text this morning. It follows:

James Dobson’s father was well known for his incredibly upbeat attitude about life. In fact, James even nicknamed him “Opti the Mystic.” James’ dad had a great passion for golf, a game that tends to wreak havoc with even the mildest tempered types of personalities. When his dad began teaching him the game, he didn’t stress scoring or technique at all. He approached the game with only one rule: “Relax, enjoy the round. The game ends far too soon.” When James’ father reached his 80’s, he became weak and ill, and then contracted aggressive cancer. James decided that was the time for he and his father to realize their life long dream of playing the greatest course in the world, the St. Andrew’s in Scotland. The two men traveled first to England to play a few courses and sightsee. One day, they met with a couple of English women. In the course of their conversation, one of the women mentioned a recent D-Day memorial service, and its touching tribute to the bomber incident. At this, James’ father lost all color. He had served some time in England in World War II, and he knew what the women were talking about.

He took James to an old church, where a plaque was located with the names of thirty-eight victims of a wartime bombing accident. And there he told James the story. During the war, an American bomber had accidentally crashed into a local school, killing thirty-eight children. James’ father was one of the first soldiers on the scene, and he was put to work cleaning up the area. It was horrible to see the decimated, burnt bodies of dozens of schoolchildren. This experience deeply changed him. He realized that life was full of pain, and that joy was a deliberate choice. This was why he had chosen to be happy every day.

The two men got the chance to play a glorious round together on St. Andrew’s course in Scotland. As they reached the 18th hole, James’ dad remarked, “Call me sentimental, but I think it’s been one hell of a journey.” When James complained about a few of the unpleasant aspects of their travel, his father replied, “You’re talking about the trip. I’m talking about the journey.” James’ dad died a few months later, and James returned to St. Andrew’s to scatter his father’s ashes. While there, he happened on an eleven-year-old Scottish boy who had not had a successful day golfing. James’ advice to the young boy would have made his father proud: “That’s okay. Enjoy it. The game ends too soon, you know.”

“Work hard at living at peace with others.” That’s the real key to enjoying the round! The game does end so soon for all of us. Begin to enjoy your journey today with a commitment to recognize the marvelous diversity God has placed all around you. Celebrate life today with all of its many changes. Enjoy the journey!

Just Listen

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 ESV).

I suspect that the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. This is especially true if it's given from the heart. When people are talking, there's no need to do anything but receive them. Just take them in. Listen to what they're saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it. Most of us don't value ourselves or our love enough to know this. It has taken me a long time to believe in the power of simple saying, "I'm so sorry," when someone is in pain.

I have often been told by clients I have counseled that when they tried to tell their story people often interrupted to tell them that they once had something just like that happen to them. Subtly their pain became a story about other’s pain. Eventually they stopped talking to most people. It was just too lonely. We connect through listening. When we interrupt what someone is saying to let them know that we understand, we move the focus of attention to ourselves. When we listen, they know we care.

I have even learned to respond to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the tissues, until I realized that passing a person a tissue may be just another way to shut them down, to take them out of their experience of sadness and grief. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry, they find me there with them.

This simple thing has not been that easy to learn. It certainly went against everything I had been taught since I was very young. I thought people listened only because they were too timid to speak or did not know the answer. A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the best intentioned of words.

There are those times when a response is called for, but not nearly as often as we think. This is especially true of men. We are by nature “fixers.” We tend to interrupt and immediately move toward a solution rather than simply listening. A real friend just listens… really listens. Who needs you to be their friend today? Determine to be a listener. The old adage that God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we could listen twice as much as we talk is very true. I love the poem I recently happened upon:

O, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person,
Having neither to weigh thoughts,
Nor measure words - but pouring them right out - just as they are -
Chaff and grain together,
Certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them -
Keep what is worth keeping -
And with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.

Slower in the Journey

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. (Psalm 52:8-9 ESV).

When David compares himself to an olive tree, he is emphasizing the quiet growth and longevity of this tree. Olive trees are known to be very hardy and old. Those trees located on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem are thousands of years old. Even when they were cut to the ground in 70 AD, their roots survived and they began to grow again becoming the trees they are today. The key to their survival was their slow persistency in continuing. It is a principle we need in our lives. Let me illustrate for you.

Many years ago, when I first began to run, my primary purpose was to lose a few pounds and get in shape for an annual soccer referee physical exam. I had no idea that it would prove to be such a multidimensional lesson. I first decided to map my route in the truck to measure it more accurately. Ultimately it was not difficult to run three miles a day. I found it did keep me in good shape, but the other discoveries were so much greater. As I jogged down the route I had traveled so many times before in the truck, a new world suddenly appeared. I could smell things. I could hear the sounds of the neighborhood. As I ran, I could see things that I had never noticed before. Driving in the truck, speeding along, I was in an insulated bubble. Now I could feel the wind in my face. I could sense the even the small details of my world. I began to rediscover my neighborhood. I also found that I could call a greeting to those that were in their yards, even stopping for a bit to visit if I desired. My physical fitness did improve, but it was my senses that heightened and sharpened most.

Though I do not run as I once did I still find the lesson learned essential. It is a lesson of a slower journey. Anyone can do it. It is not necessary to run to slow our journey down a bit. Try turning off your radio and driving more slowly when you leave your house today. The beauty you will discover will be amazing.

However, I also discovered another principle. Because most of us are so intent on reaching our destination, we forget to enjoy the journey. Life is a series of journeys. We are constant travelers. Today I strive to make sure I don't live my life in a bubble. Frequently, I make myself slow down, roll down my mental windows, turn down my mental radio, and experience the beautiful colors and details of my life journeys more intimately. Life is a series of journeys. We are all constant travelers, and time spent at destinations is all too brief.

Slow down your life. Enjoy your journeys. That may mean a change in some of your patterns and habits. Instead of waking up in the morning and rushing around in a hurry getting everything ready for your day, wake up fifteen minutes earlier and just sit in a quiet room reflecting on the new opportunity He has presented you in that day. Instead of rushing through your day, consciously make an effort to slow down and notice the people around you. Stop and talk with them. Let God show you the wonders along your way today.

Table for Two

Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere. (Ephesians 6:18, NLV).

He sits by himself at a table for two. The uniformed waiter returns to his side and asks, "Would you like to go ahead and order, Sir?" The man has, after all, been waiting since seven o'clock--almost a half an hour. "No, thank you," the man smiles. "I'll wait for her a while longer. How about some more coffee?" "Certainly, Sir."
The man sits, his clear blue eyes gazing straight through the flowered centerpiece. He fingers his napkin, allowing the sounds of light, chatter, tinkling silverware, and mellow music to fill his mind. He is dressed in a sport coat and tie. His dark brown hair is neatly combed, but one stray lock insists upon dropping on his forehead. The scent of his cologne adds to his clean-cut image. He is dressed up enough to make a companion feel important, respected, loved. Yet he is not so formal as to make one uncomfortable. It seems that he has taken every precaution to make others feel at ease with him.

Still, he sits alone. The waiter returns to fill the man's coffee cup. "Is there anything else I can get for you, Sir?" "No, thank you." The waiter remains standing at the table. Something tugs at his curiosity. "I don't mean to pry, but..." His voice trails off, knowing this line of conversation could jeopardize his tip. "Go ahead," the man encourages. His is strong, yet sensitive, inviting conversation. "Why do you bother waiting for her?" the waiter finally blurts out. This man has been at the restaurant other evenings, always patiently alone. Says the man quietly, "Because she needs me." "Are you sure?" "Yes." "Well, Sir, no offense, but assuming that she needs you, she sure isn't acting much like it. She has stood you up three times just this week." The man winces, and looks down at the table. "Yes, I know." "Then, why do you still come here and wait?" "Cassie said that she would be here." "She's said that before," the waiter protests. "I wouldn't put up with it. Why do you?" Now the man looks up, smiles at the waiter, and says simply, "Because I love her." The waiter walks away, wondering how one could love a girl who stands him up three times a week. The man must be crazy, he decides.

He has many things, exciting things, to tell Cassie. But, more importantly, he wants to hear Cassie's voice. He wants her to tell him all about her day, her triumphs, her defeats... anything, really. He has tried so many times to show Cassie how much he loves her. He'd just like to know that she cares for him, too. He sips sporadically at the coffee, and loses himself in thought, knowing that Cassie is late, but still hoping she will arrive. The clock says nine-thirty when the waiter returns to the man's table. "Is there anything I can get for you?" The still empty chair stabs at the man. "No, I think that will be all for tonight. May I have the check, please?" "Yes, Sir." When the waiter leaves, the man picks up the check. He pulls out his wallet and signs. He has enough money to have given Cassie a feast. But he takes out only enough to pay for his five cups of coffee and the tip.

"Seven o'clock tomorrow for the party of two?" the hostess confirms. "That's right," the man replies. "Do you think she'll come?" asks the hostess. She doesn't mean to be rude, but she has watched the many, many times alone at this table for two. "Someday, yes. And I will be waiting for her." The man buttons his overcoat and walks out of the restaurant, alone. His shoulders are hunched but through the windows, the hostess can only guess whether they are hunched against the wind or against the man's hurt. As the man turns towards home, Cassie turns into bed. She is tired after an evening out with friends. As she reaches toward her nightstand to set the alarm, she sees a note that she had scribbled to herself last night. ' 7:00, ' it says. ' Spend time in prayer.' Darn, she thinks. She had forgot again. She feels a twinge of guilt, but quickly pushes it aside. She needed that time with her friends. And now she needs her sleep. She can pray tomorrow night. Jesus will forgive her. And she is sure that the man who awaits her doesn't mind.

Please don't put God to the side today. Spend your time with the Lord today and everyday, that's what He wants out of you, that deep relationship. Just as we desire it from others, He also desires it from us. As busy as you may be, find the time to seek His face and His presence today.

Hobson's Choice

What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:15-23 ESV).

A Hobson’s Choice is a situation that forces a person to accept whatever is offered or go without. Sixteenth century entrepreneur Thomas Hobson, who hired out horses in strict rotation at Cambridge University, inspired the phrase. There was no choosing by the customer; it was strictly “Hobson’s choice.” Comic strip satirist Garry Trudeau, who writes Doonesbury, tells the following story about his doctor father:

A man once turned up in my father’s office complaining of an ulcer. My father asked the pertinent question. Was there some undue stress, he inquired, that might be causing the man to digest his stomach? The patient, who was married, thought about it for a moment and then allowed that he had a girlfriend in Syracuse, and that twice a week he’d been driving an old pickup truck down to see her. Since the truck frequently broke down, he was often late in getting home, and he had to devise fabulous stories to tell his wife. My father, compassionately but sternly, told the man he had to make a hard decision about his personal priorities if he was ever to get well. The patient nodded and went away. Six months later he came back completely cured and a new man. My father congratulated him and then delicately inquired if he’d made some changes in his life. The man replied, “Yup. Got me a new pickup!”

Life for the follower of Christ is not a Hobson’s choice. We do have a choice in the actions we adopt and follow in our life. We are not mechanical beings controlled by God. Through the free gift of God in Christ, we have been set free to make a choice for a godly lifestyle. Today, in all that you do, choose life. In your choices today, be wise and choose according to the things that are full of His Spirit. In your dealings with others, practice grace and forgiveness. React in love and humility toward others. Be honest and kind in each encounter you have today.

No Encores Please

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10 ESV).

Someone has said, “There is nothing wrong with mistakes. Just don’t respond with encores!” In the book by Robert Jeffress, The Road Most Traveled – Releasing the Power of Contentment in Your Life, the author describes what he has called “Big-Bird Theology.” If you have ever watched the big yellow bird on Sesame Street, you know that whenever Big Bird makes a mistake, he has a standard reply: “Everybody makes mistakes.” And, while that’s true, there are some essentials that must be applied to this philosophy if we are to improve our behavior.

First, rationalization of our mistakes can cause denial and repetition of our sin. Too many people follow the adage of if at first you don’t succeed, don’t admit you tried! Charles Kettering of General Motors, one of this century’s great creative minds, had this to say on the value of learning to fail.

“An inventor is simply a person who doesn’t take his education too seriously. You see, from the time a person is six years old until he graduates from college he has to take three or four examinations a year. If he flunks, he is out. But an inventor is almost always failing. He tries and fails maybe a thousand times. If he succeeds once then he’s in. These two things a diametrically opposite. We often say the biggest job we have is to teach a newly hired employee how to fail intelligently. We have to train him to experiment over and over and to keep trying and failing until he learns what will work.”

That’s the center of the truth John had for us to learn in today’s verse. We ought not to deny the truth of our failures. Learn from them and move on.

Second, failure is not final. When the musical hit Oklahoma! opened in New Haven in 1943, Michael Todd, then famous producer and impresario said: “No legs, no jokes, no chance.” It was a pronouncement of certain failure. However, Oklahoma! opened in New York on March 31, 1943, and was immediately acclaimed as one of the greatest musicals of all time, and ran for 2,248 performances. A few days after Muhammad Ali first lost to Joe Fraser the world’s heavyweight boxing title he was interviewed on a television talk show. He said something that ought to have grabbed everyone, though the sports writers barely acknowledged it. Ali said, “In a way it was good that I was defeated. Real victory comes in being able to accept defeat.” Certainly he had feeling of regret and disappointment, but he understood the principle of being able to continue in the face of defeat. Whatever your failure, there is another chance for you in the grace of God. Failure is not final. Receive His forgiveness and keep trying!

Just a Mustard Seed's Worth

And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:14-20 ESV).

A lot of people worry about making decisions. Even when they know the worst possible outcome of their options, they still fret about making a decision. That results in procrastination, which is a time killer and an opportunity buster. Many people miss the opportunities presented to them in life simply because they are paralyzed from their worry and wait until its too late. Often I have heard the phrase, “If you snooze, you loose.” There is some truth to that old, common proverb.

I remember the story about a young man in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He had a college internship at the local newspaper. One of assignments had been to interview two young entrepreneurs who’d started a new business. The intern spent the better part of a day with these two enterprising businessmen, asking lots of questions about how they operated their little cleaning products company. Before he went away, they offered him the opportunity to join them on the ground floor of their new business. Well, he decided that he couldn’t afford to spend his life selling soap. After all, he was a college graduate! He had studied for a career in journalism, not business. I don’t know where the young intern is today, however I do know where the two young businessmen are. Their names are Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel. Their little soap company is called the Amway Corporation today. DeVos later said, “The only thing that stand between a man and what he wants from life is often the will to try it, and the faith to believe that it’s possible.

How often have you said, “I could have…” or “I should have…”? You don’t have to ever say it again. Position yourself to take action. Don’t wait for a better time or a more favorable situation. Make a decision based on your faith in God for your life and do it!

Longfellow wrote, “Whenever two ways lie before us, one easy and the other hard, one which requires no exertion while the other calls for resolution and endurance, happy is the person who chooses the mountain path and scorns the thought of resting in the valley.” What mountain of difficulty do you have before you today? Jesus said, “With God nothing is impossible.” Just a little faith moves those mountains. Pray today for courage, not faith. Most of us don’t need more faith. We need courage to use the faith we already possess!

An Answer With a Question

Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold. And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. And Job died, an old man, and full of days. (Job 42:1-6; 10-17 ESV).

This passage of Scripture comes from the last chapter of the Book of Job. It is the culmination of Job’s struggles. This book, like no other, begs the question of why? I know I have been faced with experiences in life that I couldn’t help but ask that question. Job did too. In fact, there are 288 question marks in the book. Many of them were from Job; others were spoken by his counselors who turned out to be more of a hindrance than help. God said of these men, “Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?” They were not helpful at all. However, the most puzzling of all of these question marks comes from many statements God made. As I read through this little book, I counted seventy eight times that God answered Job’s questions with a question!

Sometimes God does answer us with a question. They are often questions that leave us humbled, awed, speechless, weak, and believing. We are left believing not because we have found the answer, but because we’ve seen God. I am thoroughly convinced that it doesn’t matter that we may have more questions now than when we started asking in the first place. That which truly matters is that we see God. In the seeing of Him we discover the truest answer to all of our questions. We are called on only to know Him and in knowing Him, trust Him completely.

Years ago, Monroe Parker was traveling through South Alabama on one of those hot, sultry Alabama days. He stopped at a watermelon stand, picked out a watermelon, and asked the proprietor how much it cost. “It’s $1.10,” he replied. Parker dug into his pocket, found only a bill and said, “All I have is a dollar.” “That’s OK,” the proprietor said, “I’ll trust you for it.” “Well, that’s mighty nice of you,” Parker responded, and picking up the watermelon, started to leave. “Hey, where are you going?” the man behind the counter demanded. “I’m going outside to eat my watermelon.” “But you forgot to give me the dollar!” “You said you would trust me for it,” Parker called back. “Yeah, but I meant I would trust you for the dime!” “Mack,” Parker replied, “You weren’t going to trust me at all. You were just going to take a ten-cent gamble on my integrity!” Too many times we, too, are only willing to take a ten-cent gamble on God’s integrity! How about you? Are you willing to completely trust Him, even when He only answers your questions with a question? That’s how you may live a long, good life just like Job.

The Bank for Savings

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15 ESV).

In July of 1819 the first savings bank opened in the United States in New York City. It was called “The Bank for Savings.” A savings bank was, until recently, a financial institution that performed only the following functions: receiving savings deposits of individuals, investing them, and providing a modest return to its depositors in the form of interest. A common form of savings bank, the mutual savings bank, was traditionally the only type that accepted savings deposits exclusively. Mutual savings banks are state-chartered institutions, owned by their depositors and managed for their mutual benefit by self-perpetuating boards of trustees. A credit union or a savings and loan association may also receive savings deposits. However, due to extensive deregulation in the banking industry, primarily during the 1980s, the distinction between savings banks and other financial institutions has become increasingly hazy.

It’s very interesting how much we have come to rely on such institutions. We have IRA’s, mutual funds, certificates of deposit, and investments of all kinds to choose from in preparing for our future. All of these are an important part of our financial future. However, the Apostle Paul understood how important other things were in comparison. Let me make some practical suggestions in some “investments” you may make for the future.

1. First, invest in the development of others. While you may not have formal training in this area, you have unique experiences that can be helpful to others as they seek to make decisions in their lives. Put some time into the lives of others by sharing with them your own life.

2. Second, invest in practice of prayer. So often we turn to prayer as a last line of defense against the challenges of the world. It ought to be the first thing we do in the face of life. When I hear someone say, “all I can do is pray about it,” it is an indicator that they don’t really understand the true nature of prayer. Spend time in prayer.

3. Third, invest yourself in specific study. A friend of mine is a wonderful example of this. He has spent the last few weeks studying the Scriptures dealing with the Second Coming of Christ. He has written a very insightful and thorough paper detailing his research. It was wonderful to see how with each day he found more and more information. It was as if he were uncovering layers of earth digging for more and more treasure buried beneath. With so many tools at our fingertips, invest yourself in serious study.

4. Fourth, invest yourself in worship. Praise and worship is an investment that brings immediate blessing. God desires to lavish you with His presence. Put some time everyday into just being alone with Him.

Bonehead

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22 ESV).

Larry Terherst tells a wonderful story of a prison inmate he taught. His name was Alvin C. Hass. The other inmates in the prison class didn't use the name "Alvin Hass" when they introduced him. They introduced Alvin as "Bonehead." Here is his story of “Bonehead”:

Immediately, I felt uncomfortable with Alvin's nickname. The tall, soft-spoken inmate wouldn't look at me as he shook my hand. Needless to say, "Bonehead" was bald-headed. The hair that he had on the sides went way down past his shoulders. I felt as though I were staring at him and tried not to look. But there was a large (and very intimidating) tattoo on top of his baldhead. (Yes! A tattoo on his head!) The tattoo was of Harley-Davidson wings and covered the entire top of his head. As a teacher, I try to maintain excellent composure during stressful times, and I made it through that first day of class. At the end of the period, "Bonehead" slipped me a note while he was filing out of the classroom. I thought, "Oh no! He's telling me that I'm going to be 'taken out' by his other "Harley" buddies if I don't give him a good grade or something like that." A little later, I had a chance to read the note. It said, "Teach (he always called me "Teach"), breakfast is an important meal and if you're not in by then you're in big trouble! - Bonehead, the Mountain Hippie." Bonehead completed a series of six classes with me over many months. He was an excellent student who seldom spoke. However, he handed me a note nearly every day with some type of saying, tidbit, anecdote or other wise advice for life. I looked forward to receiving them and became a little disappointed if by chance he didn't give me one. I still have them all today. Bonehead and I clicked. Somehow, I knew that each time I opened my mouth to teach, he understood me. He silently soaked up everything I said. We were connected. At the conclusion of the course, each student received a certificate. Bonehead had completed the course doing excellent work the entire way through and I was excited to give him his certificate. We were alone when I presented his certificate of completion. I shook his hand and briefly told him what a pleasure it was to have had him in my classes and that I appreciated his hard work, excellent attendance and superior attitude. His response stayed with me and continues to make a deep impression on my life. In that soft voice of his, Bonehead said, "Thank you, Larry. You're the first teacher in my life that ever told me I did anything right." As I walked away, I was awash with emotion. I could hardly hold back the tears thinking that in all of Bonehead's growing-up years, no one ever told him he had done anything right.

“At-a-boy” is a phrase we use all too seldom. Perhaps the reason why most of us don’t compliment and encourage others lays in our own sense of weakness. When I pastored First Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant, I had an older man who never failed to present me with an encouraging word before each morning sermon. I. C. White was one of God’s very special people for so many reasons. He was comfortable with himself and therefore he could make others comfortable around him. No one of us will ever be perfect, however as we find ourselves at rest within Christ, we can find a peace that will make it possible for us bring others to the same sense of rest. There are many “boneheads” around us who simply need to hear a good word. Start by hearing a good word from your heavenly Father who loves you and will never leave you alone. He has made you very special in His eyes. Celebrate that uniqueness and pass it on to others.

Zone Improvement Plan

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:13-21 ESV).

The Zone Improvement Plan was instituted in July 1963. Known better as the ZIP Code, it allows for electronic processing and delivery of mail. An envelope that does not include a ZIP Code in the delivery address must be manually sorted, which increases the cost of sorting the mail and causes mail to be delayed en route to the delivery address. In 1983, the Postal Service began to use an expanded ZIP Code called ZIP+4. It is composed of the original five-digit code plus a four-digit add-on. The four-digit add-on number identifies a geographic segment within the five-digit delivery area such as a city block, an office building, an individual high-volume receiver of mail, or any other unit that would aid efficient mail sorting and delivery. It has been a good plan and essential in expediting the delivery of the billions of pieces of mail sent each year.

There are many “plans” that we have seen developed that have not been so successful. In the spring of 1981, a young man was flown into desolate northern Alaska to photograph the natural beauty and mysteries of the tundra. He took along 500 rolls of film, several firearms, and 1,400 pounds of provisions. As the months passed, the words in his diary changed from wonder and fascination into a nightmare. In August he wrote, “I think I should have used more foresight about arranging my departure. I’ll soon find out.” In November he died in a nameless valley, by a nameless lake, 225 miles northeast of Fairbanks. An investigation revealed that though he had carefully planned his trip, he had made no provision to be flown out.

As you have read the parable of Jesus this morning, what do your plans look like? The successful man in the story had an excellent plan for his business expansion. Tragically, he had not planned for his future. Possessions and wealth are at best temporary. How often I have heard folks tell me they are “saving for a rainy day.” I wholeheartedly agree that we ought to save for our future. Many people have no trouble saving financially for their future, but it is spiritual savings that are essential. A plan without God is a plan for eternal and complete failure.

What will your plan be for the future? Have you got a provision for being “flown out”? Turn your attention to trust in Jesus.

In God We Trust

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee consisting of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson “to bring in a device for a seal of the United States of America.” After many delays, Congress finally approved a verbal description of a design by William Barton on June 20, 1782. The seal shows an American bald eagle with a ribbon in its mouth bearing the device E pluribus unum, which translates into English as “one out of many”. In its talons are the arrows of war and an olive branch of peace. On the reverse side it shows an unfinished pyramid with an eye, the eye of Providence, above it. Although this description was adopted in 1782, the first drawing was not made until four years later, and no die has ever been cut. There are many such symbols in our national logos. “In God We Trust” first appeared on U.S. coins after April 22, 1864, when Congress passed an act authorizing the coinage of a 2-cent piece bearing this motto. Thereafter, Congress extended its use to other coins. On July 30, 1956, it became the national motto. Like many others, however, I wonder how much we truly trust in God. Abraham Lincoln said it so well:

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

While that was spoken over a century ago, it could be words spoken today. So many things tear at the fabric of our nation. The time is long past for us to heed the wisdom of David written to Israel many thousands of years ago.

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. (Psalm 37:1-6 ESV).

In the 1830's Alexis de Tocqueville toured America. When his tour had been completed, he made this observation: "I have toured America, and I have seen most of what you offer. I've seen the richness of the fields and the wealth of your mines. I've seen your industrial might, the beauties of the rivers, the streams, the lakes, and the grandeur of the mountains. I've noticed the abundance of the forests and the marvelous climate with which you are blessed. In none of these things did I see the cause for the greatness of America. It wasn't until I went into your churches that I saw the reason for America's greatness. America is great because America is good; and as long as America is good, America will be great. If it ever ceases to be good, it will cease to be great." To be good, America must once again trust in the Lord! And if America ever trusts in the Lord it will be one person at a time. The next time you reach into your purse or pocket to pay for something, read the motto on our money and be reminded to “trust in God.”

The Emancipation Proclamation

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:16-25 ESV).

In 1862 President Abraham Lincoln outlined his Emancipation Proclamation which abolished slavery in the U.S. territories. It was the single most critical step in the development of our nation, leading to the bloodiest civil war any nation has ever known and the freedom of people. Today that freedom is prized all over the world. And, yet, so few people truly understand freedom. Philip Brooks said, “No man in this world attains to freedom from any slavery except by entrance into some higher servitude. There is no such thing as an entirely free man conceivable.”

The text this morning illustrates that truth. “Servant” in our English New Testament usually represents the Greek doulos, which means “bondslave”. Sometimes it translates the Greek word diakonos, most commonly meaning deacon or minister. Both doulos and diakonos are synonyms. Both words denote a man who is not at his own disposal, but is his master’s purchased property. Bought to serve his master’s needs, to be at his beck and call every moment, the slave’s sole business is to do as he is told. Christian service therefore means, first and foremost, living out a slave relationship to one’s Savior. What work does Christ set his servants to do? The way that they serve him, he tells them, is by becoming the slaves of their fellow servants and being willing to do literally anything, however costly, irksome, or undignified, in order to help them. This is what love means, as he himself showed at the Last Supper when he played the slave’s part and washed the disciples’ feet.

Ten years ago, Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, put together a brief comparison of the characteristics of service that is focused more upon ourselves and service that is focused more upon Christ. In paraphrased form, it becomes a self-help test worth taking. Why not measure your clarity of vision against his conclusions?

 Self-focused service is concerned with impressive gains. It enjoys serving when the service is titanic or growing in that direction. Christ-focused service doesn’t distinguish between small and large. It indiscriminately welcomes all opportunities to serve.
 Self-focused service requires external reward, appreciation, and applause. Christ-focused service rests content in secrecy. The divine nod of approval is sufficient.
 Self-focused service is highly concerned about results. It becomes disillusioned when results fall below expectations. Christ-focused service is free of the need to calculate results; it delights only in service.
 Self-focused service is affected by feelings. Christ-focused service ministers simply and faithfully because there is a need. The service disciplines the feelings.
 Self-focused service insists on meeting the need; it demands the opportunity to help. Christ-focused service listens with tenderness and patience. It can serve by waiting in silence.

In Christ we have been set free! What does your freedom look like today? Is it freedom to minister as He did? Or is it focused on your selfish desires and needs?

The Wisdom of Fathers

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4 ESV).

Tomorrow is Father’s Day! So, here’s a little “test” for all of you who are Dads. Give yourself a point for every one of these you've actually said to your kids!

Don't ask me, ask your mother.
Close the door -- were you raised in a barn?
You didn't beat me -- I let you win.
Big boys don't cry.
Don't worry, it's only blood.
I'll play catch after I read the paper.
A little dirt never hurt anyone, just wipe it off.
You call that a haircut?
"Hey" is for horses.
This will hurt me a lot more than it hurts you.
Turn off those lights -- do you think I'm made of money?
You call that noise "music"?
I'll tell you why -- because I said so, that's why!
Do what I say, not what I do.
If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times.
C'mon, you throw like a girl.
You want something to do? I'll give you something to do.
This is your last warning!
I'd better get a good report, or you better head to Mexico.
What keeps those jeans of yours from falling off?
I'm not just talking to hear my own voice!
Don't believe everything you hear.
What do you think I am, a bank?
What part of NO don't you understand?
I don't care what other fathers are doing -- I'm not everybody else's father!
You're not leaving my house dressed like that!
If I catch you doing that one more time, I'll....
Act your age.
What did I just get finished telling you?

The higher you score, the more embarrassing your parenting might have been! Seriously, some of the things we fathers say are downright embarrassing when we think about it. But, in our finer moments, it is our intention to give advice that will shape our children into the people God wants them to be. Though our children don't believe we can relate to anything that goes on in their lives, we can. With what we have learned over the years by listening to others and the experience of making wrong decisions, we want to share with our children a wisdom that will keep them on the right path. Tomorrow call your children and express your unconditional love and encourage them. Don’t wait for them to call you… call them! Show them the love of your heavenly Father through your love. Happy Father’s Day!

Wranglers and Stranglers

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. (Proverbs 12:25 ESV).

Years ago there was a group of brilliant young men at the University of Wisconsin, who seemed to have amazing creative literary talent. They were would-be poets, novelists, and essayists. They were extraordinary in their ability to put the English language to its best use. These promising young men met regularly to read and critique each other's work. And critique it they did!

These men were merciless with one another. They dissected the minutest literary expression into a hundred pieces. They were heartless, tough, and even mean in their criticism. The sessions became such arenas of literary criticism that the members of this exclusive club called themselves the "Stranglers."

Not to be outdone, the women of literary talent in the university were determined to start a club of their own, one comparable to the Stranglers. They called themselves the "Wranglers." They, too, read their works to one another. But there was one great difference. The criticism was much softer, more positive, more encouraging. Sometimes, there was almost no criticism at all. Every effort, even the feeblest one, was encouraged.

Twenty years later an alumnus of the university was doing an exhaustive study of his classmates' careers when he noticed a vast difference in the literary accomplishments of the Stranglers as opposed to the Wranglers. Of all the bright young men in the Stranglers, not one had made a significant literary accomplishment of any kind. From the Wranglers had come six or more successful writers, some of national renown such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who wrote The Yearling.

Talent between the two? Probably the same. Level of education? Not much difference. But the Stranglers strangled, while the Wranglers were determined to give each other a lift. The Stranglers promoted an atmosphere of contention and self-doubt. The Wranglers highlighted the best, not the worst.

Which will you choose to be today? Will you be a Strangler or Wrangler? Al around us there will be those who need an encouraging word today. Find a way to be positive and supportive even if it is in some tiny detail. Be the lift they need to rise above their circumstances. As you do, you will find it lifting you as well.

The Angel of Marye's Heights

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:11-20 ESV).

It was December 12, 1862, and the Battle of Fredericksburg was in full swing. The Confederate and Union troops were locked in fierce and bloody combat, with the confederates gaining the upper hand. They had staked out a solid position on a hill called Marye’s Heights. From there they were able to decimate the Federal troops. After two days of fighting, the fields were carpeted with the bodies of dead and dying soldiers, mostly from the Northern troops. The air was filled with the moans of agony. One young Confederate soldier, Sergeant Richard Kirkland, could not harden his heart to the suffering men in the field. Even though they were mostly the enemy soldiers, they were still human beings in his mind. Sergeant Kirkland wrestled with his conscience for as long as he could. Finally, he approached his superior officer with an unusual request: could he go out into the field and carry water to the suffering men? He was sent to General Kershaw, who was temporarily dumbfounded by his request. Didn’t Sergeant Kirkland realize that he would be shot as soon as he stepped out on to the field? Yes, Sergeant Kirkland said, but he was willing to take the risk. With reluctant admiration, General Kershaw agreed to his request.

Sergeant Kirkland filled as many canteens as he could carry and then proceeded, unarmed, over the wall into the open fields. At first, both sides held their fire out of sheer curiosity. They suspected that he might be going out to steal or desecrate the bodies of the enemy dead. But then they witnessed the tender scene, unheard of in the midst of the brutal war: a Confederate soldier offering a cool drink of water to Federal soldiers, his sworn enemies! Not a shot was fired while Sergeant Kirkland was on the field. The sound of exploding muskets was replaced with the sound of cheers, rising from both sides of the field. Whenever Sergeant Kirkland returned to his side to get water, shots were fired again. But as soon as he stepped on to the field to minister to the wounded soldiers, all fighting ceased. Repeatedly he filled his canteens, then returned tot he field, until all the soldiers who were still alive had been given a cool drink of water.

Sergeant Kirkland earned a nickname that day, “The Angel of Marye’s Heights.” Later he would be killed in the war. Those who witnessed his death said that he died a hero, thinking of the men under his command up until the very end. His story became a standard for all men teaching the value of compassion and selflessness. All of us can learn a lesson from this brave soldier. The real test of our faith is not in being “right” about an issue, as much as it is in being right in our relationships to those around us. Let your love and compassion for others be so apparent today that no one can miss seeing the love of Christ in you.

What's in Your Cup?

You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:24-28 ESV).

I was trying to counsel a young man the other day that was less than receptive to taking advice. He said he wanted help, but in fact he wanted someone to fix his problems. He said he wanted advice, but instead he wanted to be right. Here was someone who was broke and had no job. His life wasn’t working. You’d think he would be willing to learn, but sadly, this was not the case.

It reminded me of the story of the young mystic who traveled a great distance to study at the feet of a revered sage. When the young man arrived, he proceeded to try and impress the master with how much he knew and how wise he was. Instead of asking questions, the student ranted on about his beliefs and philosophies. The master listened quietly for a long while. Finally, the student stopped talking for a few moments. The master asked his guest if he would like some tea. "Why, yes," the young man replied. The old man began to pour the tea into his visitor’s cup. But he didn’t stop when the cup was full. He continued to pour as the tea overflowed into the saucer and then onto the tabletop where it began to run out on the floor. "Stop!" the young man said. "The cup is full. Can’t you see? It can hold no more." "It’s true," the wise one said. "We cannot put more into an already full cup. And you are like that cup. Until you empty yourself of yourself, your fullness will prevent you from learning."

At times we can all be a bit like the young man. We sometimes have to let go of what we think we know in order to embrace new ideas. We’re always free to pick up our old beliefs and "knowings" at a later time, but we need to be open in order to look at things in a new way. We need to approach knowledge with the wonder and openness of a child. This way, we keep from missing important lessons and learning helpful life strategies. It’s not easy, but we CAN learn to suspend our habits in order to listen with a clear and open mind. If we do, we won’t be one of those people referred to when people use the cliché, "You can’t teach an old dog new tricks."

Jesus’ most severe warning came to that he called “hypocrites.” They were those who had a closed mind and refused to explore anything new simply because it was new. New is NOT always better. However, new is not always wrong either. Empty yourself of your pride and arrogance and examine the truth of God in the things you experience today. Then you will have the joy of new birth constantly building itself in your life. The Christian life is meant to be dynamic, not static.

The Surrounding Master

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:25-34 ESV).

A mother wishing to encourage her son's progress at the piano bought tickets to a Paderewski performance. When the evening arrived, they found their seats near the front of the concert hall and eyed the majestic Steinway waiting on stage. Soon the mother found a friend to talk to, and the boy slipped away. At eight o'clock, the lights in the auditorium began to dim, the spotlights came on, and only then did they notice the boy, upon the bench, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". His mother gasped, but before she could retrieve her son, the master appeared on the stage and quickly moved to the keyboard. He whispered to the boy. "Don't quit. Keep playing." Leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side and improvised a delightful obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized. In our lives, unpolished though we may be, it is the Master who surrounds us and whispers in our ear time and time again, "Don't quit. Keep playing." And as we do, He augments and supplements, until a work of amazing beauty are created. Here are some observations about the support of God that I have found in my life.

 God is patient. When I think of the many things that have happened in my life I cannot help but be amazed at the patience of God. It leads me to the unshakable conclusion that I am important to Him and He desires to be personally involved in every aspect of my life.
 God is kind. God acts kindly and graciously on our behalf. This allows us to feel that we are worth God’s help and intervention.
 God is giving. God is someone who gives to us and supports us. We are worth God’s support and encouragement.
 God accepting. Regardless of what we do, God doesn’t dump on us or reject us when we struggle. He understands and encourages us. We are able to accept ourselves even when we blow it or don’t perform up to your potential.
 God is protecting. God does not leave us alone to fight our own battles. He provides us with protection from both spiritual and physical enemies.

Let the Master surround you today. Then you perform the masterpiece of your life!

Looking Back

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62 ESV).

The year was 1910, and a dreaded epidemic of infantile paralysis was moving across the face of the Western world. Poliomyelitis struck its victims quickly, starting with painful muscle spasms and ending in partial or total paralysis. Doctors of the time had no idea how to treat the disease. Polio was baffling to the medical world of the day. In fact, the treatment applied in the early days of the disease, straightening and binding the spastic limbs, actually contributed to the devastating nerve damage. However, in a remote area of New South Wales, Australia, a young nurse had found a treatment that worked.

Elizabeth Kenny had become interested in medicine when, as a young tomboy, she fractured her wrist and acme under the care of a Dr. Aeneas McDonnell. He only formal education had been at her mother’s knee; yet, Dr. McDonnell’s medical books fascinated her. Elizabeth’s brother was an extremely weak child, but using the books, she was able to create a wood and string exercise machine and teach him to do exercises. Soon, his muscular development equaled that of his peers. Elizabeth pursued her nursing degree with a passion. When her fiancé forced her to choose between nursing and their relationship, she chose nursing. The world would be immeasurably grateful for that choice. For, on that fateful day in 1910, when she confronted her first case of polio, she ignored the common practice of the medical world and began to treat the child with hot compresses and massage. It was a purely instinctive reaction, but it worked. The muscle spasms disappeared by morning and the child had full mobility of her limbs. Nurse Kenny began to see other cases, most of which responded well to her unorthodox methods. Unfortunately, the rest of the world would not know about her breakthrough for many decades. The medical men of the world refused to believe that a nurse in a little town in Australia had come up with a radical new way to fight this dread disease. They refused to change their treatment methods, or to spread the word of her successes. Fortunately, the parents of the young patients praised her incessantly, and soon her reputation spread overseas. By 1950, after many rejections, her methods finally became the standard practice worldwide.

It is so easy to fall prey to discouragement. But, having put your hand to whatever “plow” God has given you, keep your hand on it and don’t quit! Fix your gaze ahead and keep going forward. There you will find the reward of faithfulness!

What a Body!

I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night – but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalms 139:7-16 NLV).

“What a body!” are usually the words spoken between two people as they look at someone else poolside or at the beach! However, today I’d like you to put them in a different context. It is an exclamation that we may legitimately make regardless of what our size is. Our physical bodies are a marvel of creation. In fact, if you are an adult of average weight, here is what your body accomplishes in 24 hours:

 your heart beats 103689 times
 your blood travels 168,000,000 miles
 you breathe 23040 times
 you inhale 438 cubic feet of air
 you eat 3. 25 pounds of food
 you drink 2. 9 quarts of liquids
 you lose 7/8 pounds of waste
 you speak 4800 words, including some unnecessary ones
 you move 750 muscles
 your nails grow . 000046 inch
 your hair grows . 01714 inch
 you exercise 7,000,000 brain cells

In today’s Scripture, we can learn several things about our bodies.

1. First, we are not merely a physical creation. When God made us, He gave us more than just flesh. As marvelous as our physical bodies are, they pale in comparison to our emotions, personality, and spirit.

2. Second, we were created according to a divine plan. The psalmist says God knew us before we were ever in our mother’s womb! Next time you begin to think that there’s something “wrong” with your height, or the shape of your nose, or any other unchangeable feature, remember that God made you unique and special in His eyes.

3. Third, God has a plan for us. Every moment was “laid out” before one second of our life began. That plan is one of blessing and promise. Trust Him for it!

Never Quit

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. (2 Corinthians 4:3-12 ESV).

Jean Giono tells the story of Elzeard Bouffier, a shepherd he met in 1913 in the French Alps. At that time, because of careless deforestation, the mountains around Provence, France, were barren. Former villages were deserted because their springs and brooks had run dry. The wind blew furiously, unimpeded by foliage. While mountain climbing, Giono came to a shepherd’s hut, where he was invited to spend the night. After dinner Giono watched the shepherd meticulously sort through a pile of acorns, discarding those that were cracked or undersized. When the shepherd had counted out 100 perfect acorns, he stopped for the night and went to bed. Giono learned that the 55-year-old shepherd had been planting trees on the wild hillsides for over three years. He had planted 1,100,000 trees, 20,000 of which had sprouted. Of those, he expected half to be eaten by rodents or die to the elements, and the other half to live. After World War I, Giono returned to the mountainside and discovered incredible rehabilitation: there was a veritable forest, accompanied by a chain reaction in nature. Water flowed in the once-empty brooks. The ecology, sheltered by a leafy roof and bonded to the earth by a mat of spreading roots, become hospitable. Willows, rushes, meadows, gardens, and flowers were birthed. Giono returned again after World War II. Twenty miles from the lines, the shepherd had continued his work, ignoring the war of 1939 just as he had ignored that of 1914. The reformation of the land continued. Whole regions glowed with health and prosperity. Giono writes, “On the site of the ruins I had seen in 1913 now stand neat farms….The old streams, fed by the rains and snows that the forest conserves, are flowing again….Little by little, the villages have been rebuilt. People from the plains, where land is costly, have settled here, bringing youth, motion, the spirit of adventure.”

Bouffier knew the way to success. There are ten principles for such success. They apply no matter if you want to succeed in the classroom, in the boardroom, on the playing field, on stage, or any other area of your life. They are:

1. Show up.
2. Pay attention.
3. Ask questions.
4. Get help before you really need it.
5. Willingly help others.
6. "I can't" is not synonymous with "I don't want to."
7. You don't have to "like" a task to excel at it.
8. Curiosity always beats intelligence.
9. The problem isn't the problem. How you handle the problem -- that's the problem.
10. Don't even think of quitting!

Do you count your acorns before sleep each night? Remember that your Father in heaven sent His only Son that you might have abundant life. He desires your victory. Don’t quit now!

Big Brother's Watching

Jesus told them, "Don't let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah.' They will lead many astray. And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come. Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come. (Matthew 24:4-14, NLV).

In June of 1949 George Orwell’s book, 1984, was first released. It was required reading when I went to high school. In the book, the main character, Winston Smith, lives in London, which is part of the country Oceania. The world is divided into three countries that include the entire globe: Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia. Oceania, and both of the others, is a totalitarian society led by Big Brother, which censors everyone’s behavior, even their thoughts. Winston is disgusted with his oppressed life and secretly longs to join the fabled Brotherhood, a supposed group of underground rebels intent on overthrowing the government. Winston meets Julia and they secretly fall in love and have an affair, which is considered a crime. One day, while walking home, Winston encounters O’Brian, an inner party member, who gives Winston his address. Winston had exchanged glances with O’Brian before and had dreams about him giving him the impression that O’Brian was a member of the Brotherhood. Since Julia hated the party as much as Winston did, they went to O’Brian’s house together where they were introduced into the Brotherhood. O’Brian is actually a faithful member of the Inner-Party and this is actually a trap for Winston, a trap that O’Brian has been cleverly setting for seven years. Winston and Julia are sent to the Ministry of Love, which is a sort of rehabilitation center for criminals accused of thoughtcrime. There, Winston was separated from Julia, and tortured until his beliefs coincided with those of the Party. Winston denounces everything he believed him, even his love for Julia, and was released back into the public where he wastes his days at the Chestnut Tree drinking gin. In 1984, George Orwell warns of the terrifying dangers that man may create for himself in his quest for a utopian society. It warns that people might believe that everyone must become a slave to the government in order to have an orderly society, but at the expense of the freedom of the people.

There are those who would proclaim that 1984 has become a prophecy fulfilled in our day. And, while there will someday be a one-world government that uses many different techniques of deception and coercion, the great danger today is of becoming apathetic toward our faith. Jesus’ words seem so clear in the face of our world: And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will lead many people astray. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But those who endure to the end will be saved. On this anniversary of Orwell’s book, it would do us all well to reexamine our faithfulness to the One who saved us. Recommit yourself to a life of faithfulness today. Big Brother is not watching, but Jesus is!

A Nest by the Altar

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. (Psalm 84:1-7 ESV).

All sorts of animals build nests, chimpanzees, orangutan, and gorillas build nests to sleep in each night, though birds are the chief nest builders, exhibiting great variety and ingenuity among the different species. The type of nest depends on the environment and the condition of the young when hatched. Altricial birds, whose young are generally blind, naked, and helpless on hatching, usually build higher and more elaborate nests than do precocial birds, whose young have a downy covering and are able to move about and feed themselves soon after emerging from the egg. Most sea birds, shore birds, and game birds do not build real nests but lay their eggs directly on a rocky ledge or in a shallow depression scooped out of the earth or sand. Woodpeckers and parrots nest inside hollow trees, as do the Old World hornbills; the male hornbill seals the female into the cavity, leaving an aperture only large enough for him to feed her as she incubates the eggs. Sand martins and kingfishers dig tunnels into shore banks, with enlarged nesting chambers at the ends. The stork's nest is a simple platform of sticks, and the eagle's aerie, built in tree tops or on cliffs, may be 5 to 12 feet in diameter; both birds add to their nests each year. As a general rule, the smaller the bird the more elaborate is the nest. The nest is usually bowl-shaped and composed of twigs, grass, leaves, and when available bits of cloth and string.

In every case, the nest is built for the security of the new hatchlings. No wonder the psalmist uses this image as he praises the safety he has found near the altar of God. Just as the newborn chicks have no protection outside of their nest, so we must place ourselves in the Lord’s hands. Isaac Rankin says that just outside his window is a large wire that carries a heavy current of electricity for light and power. It is carefully insulated at every pole and is out of common reach. "However," he says, "if I could lean out far enough to grasp it, death would be as swift as a lightning stroke. Yet the doves in my neighborhood suffer no harm when they perch on it. They fly from my windowsill, where I sometimes feed them, and preen in safety and contentment on the cables. The secret is that when they contact that wire, they touch nothing else. My danger would be that should I attempt to reach out and do so, the walls of my house would act as a ground, and the current would turn my body into a channel through which the electricity would flow in damaging power. Because they rest wholly upon the wire, they are unharmed. So God would have us seek our safety in complete surrender to His power and love. Will you rest in Him today? There is a nest at the altar of God just for you! Rest within His arms today.

Beauty Tips

Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; bless his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be revered above all the gods. The gods of other nations are merely idols, but the Lord made the heavens! Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. O nations of the world, recognize the Lord; recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come to worship him. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him. (Psalm 96:1-9 NLV).

Audrey Hepburn, five-time Oscar nominee and winner of the 1953 Academy Award for Best Actress, was an enchanting actress famous for her roles in films such as Roman Holiday (1953), Sabrina (1954), Funny Face (1957), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), and My Fair Lady (1964). It was in her humanitarian efforts that Audrey's stunning inner beauty and elegance shone through. Named goodwill ambassador and spokesperson for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 1986, Audrey devoted the last years of her life to tirelessly touring Africa and South America to help hungry children. The following are her “beauty tips” (her words are italicized). With summer in full swing, I thought you might be interesting in improving your “beauty.”

1. For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. There are no more wonderful gifts to give to others than words of encouragement and comfort. Instead of collagen, try kindness for beautiful lips.
2. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. Someone has said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Real inner beauty is reflected in our search for beauty in others. Look for the good all around you today.
3. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. In America we have come to believe there is no hunger since it seems so easy to find food nearly everywhere you look. However, there are still many pockets of poverty in our country and around the world. Get involved with those who are needier than you.
4. For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day. This is just another way of encouraging us to be kind and patient to the children in our life. Children are such a challenge at times. Practice patience and love with them.
5. For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone. There will never come a time when we will be left alone to fend for ourselves. Christ is always with us. Walk in that unshakable faith.
6. People, even more than things have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Never throw out anybody. No one is so bad as to be impossible to reach. Keep loving and praying for all those you know.
7. Remember: If you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

Old Dreams and Empty Rockers

A song for the ascent to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior's hands. How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates. (Psalms 127:1-5 NLV).

As I was transferring some files recently from one computer to another I glanced through some of the poetry I have written through the years. The poem below was written during a particular period of nostalgia. It was rooted in the early years of raising each of the boys. There were so many experiences that God gave to us. Some of the fondest memories were those imbedded in my mind during their infant years. Rocking each of them to sleep in the evening became a ritual that I have always cherished. Dreaming dreams and praying for them each night became a habit that I have never left. The following poem, titled "Old Dreams and Empty Rockers," may be both a blessing and an encouragement to you. Regardless of their age, they are never too little to pray for. Our children are truly a blessing from God that can never be valued enough.

Inviting and empty they sit on the porch.
Once the place where sweet lullabies were sung,
Soft whispers and gentle caresses sweeping
My children into dreams and visions of wonder.
Those old rockers recall the dreams of yesterday.
Some have come to pass, others have yet to be.
In the quiet moments, alone, I reflect on them.
Each moment spent singing, rocking, and dreaming
Is now a bright jewel set like a star in the night.
A slow smile spreads across my heart and soul.
A soft sigh escapes from my lips
Echoing the deep satisfaction of my life.
I know that some of it could have been better
Some of it could have been much worse
And all of it was centered in love and hope.
Though long empty, the old rockers still hold me.
I am captive to the dreams they helped weave.

Perhaps you have become so busy doing for them, you have forgotten to do with them. Regardless of how far away they may live, write them a card; call them on the phone. Bless them with your voice today. Tell them of your dreams and hopes. Hold them once again in your arms and pray over them that the God of the ages would give them all of their heart’s desires from His limitless bounty and grace!

Nothing Is Impossible

It seems like there is always something that people declare to be “impossible.” Fermat’s Last Theorem was such an assertion. However, English mathematician, Andrew Wiles proved Fermat’s last theorem. It took the Princeton University professor seven years to come up with the 200-page proof that solved the 350-year-old problem, which many mathematicians had declared was unsolvable. The problem was named after Pierre de Fermat, who lived from 1601 to 1665. He was a magistrate whose avocation was mathematics. Fermat is known as a founder of modern number theory and probability theory. He also did much to establish coordinate geometry. He also invented a number of methods for determining maxima and minima that were later of use to Newton in applying calculus. He noted without proof, although he claimed to have discovered one, the assertion now known as Fermat's Last Theorem, which states that the equation xn + yn = zn, where x, y, z, and n are nonzero integers, and has no solutions for n that are greater than 2. Prizes were offered for a proof of this theorem, and attempted proofs resulted in many developments in the theory of numbers. British mathematician Andrew Wiles described a proof of the conjecture in 1993, but a gap in the proof required additional work, which was completed in 1994. However, Wiles' proof involved mathematical concepts that were unknown in Fermat's lifetime, so whether Fermat had a valid proof remains conjecture. In optics Fermat recognized that of all possible paths, light takes the path that takes the least time; this fundamental rule is known as Fermat's principle.

Pretty impressive information for a preacher, huh? Well, as you know, I copied the information from Wikipedia! It illustrates our reading today very well however.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. (Mark 9:21-27 NIV).

So many times we fail only because we believe that we cannot succeed. Faith is the essential ingredient to our success in all of life. Philip Yancey defines faith as: "Believing in advance in something that will only seem logical when seen in reverse." The miraculous await those who believe. Your challenge today may not be as complicated as Fermat’s Last Theorem, but it may seem just as impossible to solve. Trust in the Lord and believe in His mighty hand stretching out to you in grace. He will not fail you!

Sometimes the blessings of God seem disguised, but his mercy will never fail us. Laura Story says it best in her song, Blessings. Spend four minutes and watch this little video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mmgV6mPvb0&feature=player_embedded it will bless you!

Safe Inside - Happy Birthday Mary!

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. (Psalm 84:1-4 NIV).

First, let me say that today is a VERY special day in our home. It’s Mary’s birthday! She is “39” today. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it. Even though we have been married for nearly forty-two years, it was an arranged marriage before her conception (insert big smile here)! Anyway, Happy Birthday Mary!

Let me get to two seemingly unrelated events and an important principle. The first is Mary’s birthday while the second is a wren that flew in my back door last week. Here’s the beginning of the story. Last week the weather was calling for strong thunderstorms in our area with accompanying high winds. I went outside to take down the patio umbrella and hammock so they would not be damaged by the winds and when I opened the door, the wren flew inside! I guess it thought it was safer inside than outside. Go figure! But then I thought about Mary’s birthday and the passage today and God gave me the perfect illustration!

Many people may not know how important Mary has been in the development of our home. Often, because I am “in front” of people so much more, people don’t get the opportunity to see the strength and wisdom Mary has. Like a house, the home within often goes unnoticed. We notice the structure without considering the things that make it a home. It’s what the psalmist sees in the presence of God when he uses the words “home” and “nest.” I wonder how many people have confused a building with a “nest?” Let me make two observations.

1. First, God never let’s go. We are always safe in Him. Mary is like that. Relationship is everything. When we make our home in the presence of God, that position will never change. We may have times when our fellowship wanes, when we make choices that take us away from the joy, peace, and power of His presence, but we can never lose our relationship to Him as Father.

2. Second, God’s home is always our home. Mary and I have moved into many houses over the years, but she always made sure our children knew they would always have a home. It has never mattered how far away we may be separated geographically, home has been where we have “let our anchor down.” The same is true with the “dwelling place” of God. The very nature of it gives us security. Because he is there, it is not merely a safe place, but a permanent place. God is eternal, so is His home!

I am so grateful that God has allowed me to spend my life with Mary. She has shown me the eternal nature of the nest our Father has given me through His grace in Christ! Do you know that grace? You can. His door is open, fly on in! Happy Birthday Mary… and thanks!

Wishing You Enough

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. But even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty. As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don't say this because I want a gift from you. What I want is for you to receive a well-earned reward because of your kindness. At the moment I have all I need – more than I need! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable to God and pleases him. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:13-19 NLV).

I have great difficulties with saying goodbye. I am a “hanger-oner.” My family tells me that I often hang on to the past whether it is embodied in an idea, memory, or a physical item. I just don’t like to change. And, good-byes are some of the toughest changes we ever experience.

Recently I had some time to wait in the airport. I heard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, "I love you. I wish you enough." She in turn said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there, I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?" I asked. "I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, the next trip back would be for my funeral," he said. "When you were saying goodbye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?" He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. "When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them," he continued. Then, turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye."

He then began to sob and walked away. Change is inevitable in our lives. However, we need not fear it. Perhaps you are facing some changes in your life today. Like the Apostle Paul, I would like you to know that our God is able to supply all that you need in the coming challenges. My friends, I wish you enough!

Pick a Spot

Imagine what the game of bowling would be like if you couldn’t see the pins you were trying to hit. In 1933, Bill Knox did just that and bowled a perfect game. In Philadelphia’s Olney Alleys, Bill had a screen placed just above the foul line to obscure his view of the lane. His purpose was to demonstrate the technique of spot bowling, which involves throwing the ball at a selected floor mark on the near end of the lane. Like many bowlers, Bill knew that you could do better if you aim at a mark close to you that’s in line with the pins. He proved his point with a perfect 300 game of 12 strikes in a row.

Spot bowling illustrates part of a wise approach to life. When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about the return of Christ, he reminded them that the ultimate goal of their salvation was to “be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul taught them to focus their eyes on near actions that were in line with that goal. He urged them to comfort one another, help the weak, warn the wayward, pray without ceasing, and rejoice always. Then he added that we must do this in the power of Christ who is working in us. Read the text below:

And remember to live peaceably with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else. Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil. Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this. (1 Thessalonians 5:13-24 NLV).

I like to hunt. A part of the preparation for each year is assuring that my rifle is still “sighted in.” In order to do this, I always take it to the shooting range and fire several rounds to check the sights. Even then, it is also a good practice to rehearse good shooting habits. One of those is to “pick a spot” on the target. Especially when shooting large game, it is easy to lose sight of the goal while looking at the immensity of the target. Life can be that way. In Alice in Wonderland, when Alice comes to a junction in the road that leads in different directions, she asks the Cheshire Cat, “Cheshire-Puss, would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to go to,” said the Cat. “I don’t much care where,” replied Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”

If you have no goal, it really doesn’t matter which way you go! Listen tot he goals Paul sets before us again: always be joyful, keep on praying, always be thankful, hold on to what is good, and keep away from evil. Those are targets worth aiming at in our lives! Then only one thing remains. Get going! Will Rogers said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you don’t start moving.”

Real Contentment

Generations come and go, but nothing really changes. The sun rises and sets and hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere. The rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows again to the sea. Everything is so weary and tiresome! No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. (Ecclesiastes 1:4-8 NLV).

Solomon has described the typical attitude of most people in this passage of Scripture. The Bridger Wilderness Area asks hikers in this pristine area to fill out comment cards. These are actual comments left by hikers:

 Trail needs to be reconstructed. Please avoid building trails that go uphill.
 Too many bugs and leaches and spiders and spider webs. Please spray the wilderness to rid the area of these pests.
 Please pave the trails so they can be plowed of snow during the winter.
 Chairlifts need to be in some places so that we can get to wonderful views without having to hike to them.
 The coyotes made too much noise last night and kept me awake. Please eradicate these annoying animals.
 A small deer came into my camp and stole my jar of pickles. Is there a way I can get reimbursed? Please call ___ ___ ____.
 Reflectors need to be placed on trees every 50 feet so people can hike at night with flashlights.
 Escalators would help on steep uphill sections.
 Need more signs to keep area pristine.
 A McDonalds would be nice at the trailhead.
 The places where trails do not exist are not well marked.
 TOO Many Rocks...

There is humor in each of these. However, there is also a significant insight to be gained into how we have become so accustomed to our comforts. Contentment comes from an inner quality of trust in the overcoming plan and purpose of God working in our lives. Even when bad things happen to us, our trust can lead us to overcome those feelings of loss and capture the true sense of victory that is ours through Christ. The Apostle Paul knew that and taught it to the Corinthian Christians. After listing all of the many deprivations and trials he had endured, he wrote:

Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10 NLV).

His strength will bring contentment as we trust in Him more and more each day. Commit yourself to that kind of faith as you pray this morning.