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.

A Slower 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.

Flowers on a Bus

For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. (3 John 1:3-8 ESV).

They were a very motley crowd of people who took the bus every day that summer 33 years ago. During the early morning ride from the suburb, we sat drowsily with their collars up to our ears, a cheerless and taciturn bunch. One of the passengers was a small gray man who took the bus to the center for senior citizens every morning. He walked with a stoop and a sad look on his face when he, with some difficulty, boarded the bus and sat down alone behind the driver. No one ever paid very much attention to him. Then one July morning he said good morning to the driver and smiled short-sightedly down through the bus before he sat down. The driver nodded guardedly. The rest of us were silent. The next day, the old man boarded the bus energetically, smiled and said in a loud voice: "And a very good morning to you all!" Some of them looked up, amazed, and murmured "Good morning," in reply. The following weeks they were more alert. Their friend was now dressed in a nice old suit and a wide out-of-date tie. The thin hair had been carefully combed. He said good morning to them every day and they gradually began to nod and talk to each other. One morning he had a bunch of wild flowers in his hand. They were already dangling a little because of the heat. The driver turned around smilingly and asked: "Have you got yourself a girlfriend, Charlie?" They never got to know if his name really was "Charlie", but he nodded shyly and said yes. The other passengers whistled and clapped at him. Charlie bowed and waved the flowers before he sat down on his seat. Every morning after that Charlie always brought a flower. Some of the regular passengers began bringing him flowers for his bouquet, gently nudged him and said shyly: "Here." Everyone smiled. The men started to jest about it, talk to each other, and share the newspaper. The summer went by, and autumn was closing in, when one morning Charlie wasn't waiting at his usual stop. When he wasn't there the next day and the day after that, they started wondering if he was sick or, hopefully, on holiday somewhere. When they came nearer to the center for senior citizens, one of the passengers asked the driver to wait. They all held their breaths when she went to the door. Yes, the staff said, they knew whom they were talking about. The elderly gentleman was fine, but he hadn't been coming to the center that week. One of his very close friends had died at the weekend. They expected him back on Monday. How silent they were the rest of the way to work. The next Monday Charlie was waiting at the stop, stooping a bit more, a little bit more gray, and without a tie. He seemed to have shrunk again. Inside the bus was a silence akin to that in a church. Even though no one had talked about it, all them, who he had made such an impression on that summer, sat with their eyes filled with tears and a bunch of wild flowers in their hands. You see, they had come to understand how to truly be a friend in a time of need.

Perhaps there’s someone riding your “bus” today who needs a friend. Look for them and walk with them today.

Mountain Moving Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Hebrews 11:1-3; 12:1-3 ESV).

A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its undersized parking lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard. Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain moving faith." They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week. At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the pastor said the final "Amen". "We'll open next Sunday as scheduled, " he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too."

The next morning as he was working in his study there came a loud knock at his door. When he called "come in", a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered. "Excuse me, Reverend. I'm from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a huge new shopping mall over there and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we can have it right away. We can't do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly." The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned and there were far more members with "mountain moving faith" on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week!

Would you have shown up for that prayer meeting? Some people say faith comes from miracles. But the Bible says miracles come from faith. I do know that it is difficult to believe in God when times are hard. We are tempted to surrender to our grief and sorrow. There is a great crowd of “witnesses” who do much more than “look on.” They are our examples of those who have walked where we walk and done what we have done. They have endured and found the truth. Their words to us are: “Don’t be weary and give up.” You may be so tired today that it seems impossible to go on. Just don’t give up on life. Trust in Him. Exercise your faith and watch the mountain move!

A Mile in My Shoes

Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5 ESV).

Jesus words in our Scripture this morning are very telling in our relationships with others. It is so easy to see the fault in others and overlook our own. The following story is true. It illustrates how we can never really know the reasons why people do some of the things they do and our criticism of them may be completely unfounded.

A grocery store checkout clerk wrote to advice columnist Ann Landers to complain that she had seen people buy “luxury” food items like birthday cakes and bags of shrimp with their food stamps. The writer went on to say that she thought all those people on welfare who treated themselves to such non-necessities were “lazy and wasteful.” A few weeks later Ann Landers’ column was devoted entirely to people who had responded to the grocery clerk. Some, of course, agreed wholeheartedly with the clerk. Others had another view entirely. In fact, one woman wrote:

I didn’t buy a cake, but I did buy a big bag of shrimp with food stamps. So what? My husband had been working at a plant fifteen years when it was shut down. The shrimp casserole I made was for our wedding anniversary dinner and lasted three days. Perhaps the grocery clerk who criticized that woman would have a different view of life after walking a mile in my shoes.

And, here’s the real heartbreaker:

I’m the woman who bought the $17.00 birthday cake and paid for it with food stamps. I thought the checkout woman in the store would burn a hole through me with her eyes. What she didn’t know (and I would never tell her) is that the cake was for my little girl’s birthday. It will be her last. She has bone cancer and will probably be gone within six months. Because of her medical expenses we have been unable to live without welfare assistance.

It’s so easy to be critical of others and never really know the whole story. Today as you find yourself interacting with those around you, remember that you haven’t walked in their shoes, and they haven’t walked in yours. Treat them with kindness and patience, compassion and love.

Happy Birthday, Becca!

answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:20-24 ESV).

Just a few of the people sharing their birthday with my daughter-in-law today are actor Jerry Van Dyke, who will be 80; country singer Bobbie Gentry who will be 67; Olympic gold medalist Peggy Fleming, who will be 63; and, Comedian Bill Engvall ("Blue Collar TV"), who will be 54. There are others I could have chosen to highlight, but each of these reminded me of a small truth to inspire you today.

 Jerry Van Dyke, the younger brother of Dick Van Dyke, endured a long career of being shunned by his peers until he was cast as the befuddled Luther Van Dam on "Coach" (ABC, 1989-1997), which earned him four Emmy nominations, as well as long-overdue respect from the industry. While his five-decade career may have had its share of ups and downs, Van Dyke weathered it with good humor, which, in the end, proved to be his lasting legacy.

 Bobbie Gentry’s career as a country and pop music performer was short-lived, yet her "Ode to Billie Joe" remains one of popular music's all-time classics. Even 35 years after the fact, listeners continue to ask what Billie Joe threw off of the Tallahatchie Bridge. Gentry was born Roberta Streeter in Chickasaw County, MS, on July 27, 1944; her parents divorced shortly after her birth and she was raised in poverty on her grandparents' farm. After her grandmother traded one of the family's milk cows for a neighbor's piano, seven-year-old Bobbie composed her first song. It would be the beginning of a life of perseverance and courage.

 Peggy Fleming is perhaps best known for winning the Olympic Gold Medal in the 1968 Winter Games; however she has many other credits in her career. A survivor of breast cancer, she and her husband have dedicated one of their signature labels to the cause of research in finding a cure. It is just one of the many selfless acts of kindness she has become best known.

 Bill Engvall may be the least likely to “make the list.” A native of Galveston, Texas, Bill moved to Dallas and was working as a disc jockey with plans of becoming of a teacher. While in a nightclub one evening, Bill decided to try his hand at stand-up comedy and quickly found that making people laugh was truly his forte. His homespun humor strikes a chord with people of all ages. Everyone recognizes “Here’s Your Sign” in some of the things they have done! Many could learn to laugh at themselves a bit more!

Good humor, perseverance and courage, kindness, and humility are wonderful qualities for all of us to aspire to attain. The four celebrities I’ve listed have them, so does Becca. As I celebrate her birthday today through this devotional, I hope you will be encouraged to live a life celebrating every day as a great gift from God! Use each day to touch the lives of others with your humor, perseverance and courage, kindness, and humility! Thanks for the inspiration and Happy Birthday, Becca!

Sitting on Your Talent

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a trip. He called together his servants and gave them money to invest for him while he was gone. He gave five bags of gold to one, two bags of gold to another, and one bag of gold to the last – dividing it in proportion to their abilities – and then left on his trip. The servant who received the five bags of gold began immediately to invest the money and soon doubled it. The servant with two bags of gold also went right to work and doubled the money. But the servant who received the one bag of gold dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money for safekeeping. "After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of gold said, 'Sir, you gave me five bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.' The master was full of praise. 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!' "Next came the servant who had received the two bags of gold, with the report, 'Sir, you gave me two bags of gold to invest, and I have doubled the amount.' The master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!' "Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, 'Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.' "But the master replied, 'You wicked and lazy servant! You think I'm a hard man, do you, harvesting crops I didn't plant and gathering crops I didn't cultivate? 27 Well, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of gold. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who are unfaithful, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (Matthew 25:14-30 NLV).

There was a man played piano in a bar. He was a good piano player. People came out just to hear him play. But one night, a patron told him he didn't want to hear him just play anymore. He wanted him to sing a song. The man said, "I don't sing." But the customer was persistent. He told the bartender, "I'm tired of listening to the piano. I want that guy to sing!" The bartender shouted across the room, "Hey buddy! If you want to get paid, sing a song. The patrons are asking you to sing!" So he did. He sang a song. A piano player who had never sung in public did so for the very first time. And nobody had ever heard the song Mona, Mona Lisa sung the way it was sung that night by Nat King Cole!

He had talent he was sitting on! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar, but because he had to sing he went on to become one of the best-known entertainers in America. Everyone has skills and abilities. God has given each of us certain gifts and abilities. The parable of Jesus alludes to them as “bags of gold.” In many ways they are. As we “invest” them by using them for the benefit of others, we ultimately increase their value. No gift is too small or insignificant in the plan of God.

You may not feel as if your "talent" is particularly great, but it may be better than you think! And with persistence, most skills can be improved. Besides, you may as well have no ability at all if you sit on whatever talent you possess! The better question is not "What ability do I have that is useful?" It is rather "How will I use whatever ability I have?"

Adrift and Alone

But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. (Hebrews 10:32-39 ESV).

In 1982 Steven Callahan was crossing the Atlantic alone in his sailboat when it struck something and sank. He was out of the shipping lanes and floating in a life raft, alone. His supplies were few. His chances were small. Yet when three fishermen found him seventy-six days later (the longest anyone has survived a shipwreck on a life raft alone), he was alive -- much skinnier than he was when he started, but alive.

His account of how he survived is fascinating. His ingenuity, how he managed to catch fish, how he fixed his solar water still to evaporate sea water to make fresh water, is very interesting. But the thing that caught my eye was how he managed to keep himself going when all hope seemed lost. When there seemed no point in continuing the struggle, when he was suffering greatly, when his life raft was punctured and after more than a week struggling with his weak body to fix it, it was still leaking air and wearing him out to keep pumping it up, he kept going. He was starved. He was desperately dehydrated. He was thoroughly exhausted. Giving up would have seemed the only sane option. Yet, he kept going.

When people survive these kinds of circumstances, they do something within their mind and spirit that gives them the courage to keep going. Many people in similarly desperate circumstances give in or go mad. Something the survivors do with their thoughts helps them find the courage to carry on in spite of overwhelming odds.

"I tell myself I can handle it," wrote Callahan in his narrative. "Compared to what others have been through, I'm fortunate. I tell myself these things over and over, building up fortitude...."
I wrote that down after I read it. It struck me as something important. And I've told myself the same thing when my own goals seemed far off or when my problems seemed too overwhelming. And every time I've said it, I have always come back to my senses. The truth is, our circumstances are only bad compared to something better. But others have been through much worse. I've read enough history to know you and I are lucky to be where we are, when we are, no matter how bad it seems to us compared to our fantasies. It's a sane thought and worth thinking. So here, coming to us from the extreme edge of survival, are words that can give us strength. Whatever you're going through, tell yourself that you can handle it. Compared to what others have been through, you're fortunate. The Lord will not let you down. Tell this to yourself over and over, and it will help you get through the rough spots with a little more fortitude. You may be adrift, but you will never be alone!

Working for the Wind

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger. (Ecclesiastes 5:10-17 ESV).

One day a certain old, rich man of a miserable disposition visited a rabbi, who took the rich man by the hand and led him to a window. “Look out there,” he said. The rich man looked into the street. “What do you see?” asked the rabbi. “I see men, women, and children,” answered the rich man. Again the rabbi took him by the hand and this time led him to a mirror. “Now what do you see?” “Now I see myself,” the rich man replied. Then the rabbi said, “Behold, in the window there is glass, and in the mirror there is glass. But the glass of the mirror is covered with a little silver, and no sooner is the silver added than you cease to see others, but you see only yourself.”

In 1928 a group of the world’s most successful financiers met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. The following were present: The president of the largest utility company, The greatest wheat speculator, The president of the New York Stock Exchange, A member of the President’s Cabinet, The greatest “bear” in Wall Street, The president of the Bank of International Settlements, The head of the world’s greatest monopoly. Collectively, these tycoons controlled more wealth than there was in the U.S. Treasury, and for years newspapers and magazines had been printing their success stories and urging the youth of the nation to follow their examples.

Twenty-five years later, this is what had happened to these men. The president of the largest independent steel company, Charles Schwab, lived on borrowed money the last five years of his life and died broke. The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cutten, died abroad, insolvent. The president of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, served a term in Sing Sing Prison. The member of the President’s Cabinet, Albert Fall, was pardoned from prison so he could die at home. The greatest “bear” in Wall Street, Jesse Livermore, committed suicide. The president of the Bank of International Settlements, Leon Fraser, committed suicide. The head of the world’s greatest monopoly, Ivar Drueger, committed suicide. All of these men had learned how to make money, but not one of them had learned how to live. Money was not the problem. Their love of money was the problem. How about you? Have you learned how to live? It begins with a devotion to Jesus Christ that spills over to a genuine love and compassion to others. Don’t just work for the wind. Work for Him!

The Parable of the Marbles

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:8-17 ESV).

Once upon a time, there was a foolish boy who had a bag full of beautiful marbles. Now this boy was quite proud of his marbles. In fact, he thought so much of them that he would neither play with them himself nor would he let anyone else play with them. He only took them out of the bag in order to count and admire them; they were never used for their intended purpose. Yet that boy carried that coveted bag of marbles everywhere he went.

Well, there was also a wise boy who wished he could have such a fine bag of marbles. So this boy worked hard and earned money to purchase a nice bag to hold marbles. Even though he had not yet earned enough with which to purchase any marbles, he had faith and purchased the marble bag. He took special care of the bag and dreamed of the day it would contain marbles with which he could play and share with his friends.
Alas, the foolish boy with all of the marbles didn't take care of the marble bag itself, and one day the bag developed a hole in the bottom seam. Still, he paid no attention and, one by one, the marbles fell out of the bag.

It didn't take long, once the foolish boy's marble bag developed a hole, for the wise boy to begin to find those beautiful marbles, one at a time, lying unnoticed on the ground. And, one by one, he added them to his marble bag. The wise boy thus gained a fine bag full of marbles in no time at all. This boy played with the marbles and shared them with all of his friends. And he always took special care of the bag so he wouldn't lose any. And what about the foolish boy? Because he was selfish and careless, he lost all of his marbles and was left holding the bag.

A Bucket Filler or Dipper

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Galatians 6:1-3 ESV).

You have heard of the cup that overflowed. This is a story of a bucket that is like the cup, only larger. It is an invisible bucket. Everyone has one. It determines how we feel about ourselves, about others, and how we get along with people. Have you ever experienced a series of very favorable things, which made you want to be good to people for a week? At that time, your bucket was full.

A bucket can be filled by a lot of things that happen. When a person speaks to you, recognizing you as a human being, your bucket is filled a little. Even more if he calls you by name, especially if it is the name you like to be called. If he compliments you on your dress or on a job well done, the level in your bucket goes up still higher. There must be a million ways to raise the level in someone else’s bucket. Writing a friendly letter, remembering something that is special to him, knowing the names of his children, expressing sympathy for his loss, giving him a hand when his work is heavy, taking time for conversation, or, perhaps more important, listing to him.

When one's bucket is full of this emotional support, one can express warmth and friendliness to people. But, remember this is a theory about a bucket and a dipper. Other people have dippers and they can get their dippers in your bucket. This, too, can be done in a million ways.
Lets say I am at a dinner and inadvertently upset a glass of thick, sticky chocolate milk that spills over the table cloth, on a lady's skirt, down onto the carpet. I am embarrassed. "Bright Eyes" across the table says, "You upset that glass of chocolate milk." I made a mistake, I know I did, and then he told me about it! He got his dipper in my bucket! Think of the times that a person makes a mistake, feels terrible about it, only to have someone tell him about the known mistake. This is what I have come to call a "Red pencil" mentality! Buckets are filled and buckets are emptied. They are emptied many times because people don't really think about what are doing. When a person's bucket is emptied, he is very different than when it is full. You say to a person whose bucket is empty, "That is a pretty tie you have," and he may reply in a very irritated, defensive manner.

Although there is a limit to such an analogy, there are people who seem to have holes in their buckets. When a person has a hole in his bucket, he irritates lots of people by trying to get his dipper in their buckets. This is when he really needs somebody to pour it in his bucket because he keeps losing. The story of our lives is the interplay of the bucket and the dipper. Everyone has both. The unyielding secret of the bucket and the dipper is that when you fill someone else’s bucket it does not take anything out of your own bucket. The level in our own bucket gets higher when we fill another, and, on the other hand, when we dip into another bucket we do not fill our own. We lose a little. For a variety of reasons, people hesitate filling the bucket of another and consequently do not experience the fun, joy, happiness, fulfillment, and satisfaction connected with making another person happy. Some reasons for this hesitancy are that people think it sounds hypocritical, or the other person will be suspicious of the motive, or it is "brown-nosing." Nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is we do better when we share each other’s burdens and seek to restore one another to a sense of joy and peace. How’s your bucket?

The Bishop's Gift

Once a church had fallen upon hard times. Only five members were left: the pastor and four others, all over 60 years old. In the mountains near the church there lived a retired Bishop. It occurred to the pastor to ask the Bishop if he could offer any advice that might save the church. The pastor and the Bishop spoke at length, but when asked for advice, the Bishop simply responded by saying, "I have no advice to give. The only thing I can tell you is that the Messiah is one of you." The pastor, returning to the church, told the church members what the Bishop had said. In the months that followed, the old church members pondered the words of the Bishop. "The Messiah is one of us?" they each asked themselves. As they thought about this possibility, they all began to treat each other with extraordinary respect on the off chance that that one among them might be the Messiah. And on the off, off chance that each member himself might be the Messiah, they also began to treat themselves with extraordinary care. As time went by, people visiting the church noticed the aura of respect and gentle kindness that surrounded the five old members of the small church. Hardly knowing why, more people began to come back to the church. They began to bring their friends, and their friends brought more friends. Within a few years, the small church had once again become a thriving church, thanks to the Bishop's gift.

This fictional story is much closer to the truth than most would like to admit. Over the years I have found many churches that have found their membership dwindling. Typically the membership would find themselves in serious discussions trying to determine the reasons for their decline. Some of the time it would be blamed on leadership, so they would change leaders. At other times it would be blames on styles of worship or ministry, so they would experiment with a new style. And at other times they might even blame each other, which caused even more decline. Never did they realize that the real cause for the decline in their church could be found in their attitude toward themselves and others. For all of the books and articles written on church growth, none could be simpler than that which the Apostle Paul wrote in the first Christian century to the people of Thessalonica:

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 ESV).

The Messiah is one of us. Start today with that commitment and see if it is not contagious as it spreads to those around you.

The Beauty Remains, the Pain Passes

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:1-9 ESV).

There is a story of identical twins. One was a hope-filled optimist. "Everything is coming up roses!" he would say. The other twin was a sad and hopeless pessimist. He thought that Murphy, as in Murphy's Law, was an optimist. The worried parents of the boys brought them to the local psychologist. He suggested to the parents a plan to balance the twins" personalities. "On their next birthday, put them in separate rooms to open their gifts. Give the pessimist the best toys you can afford, and give the optimist a box of manure." The parents followed these instructions and carefully observed the results.

When they peeked in on the pessimist, they heard him audibly complaining, "I don't like the color of this computer. I'll bet this calculator will break . . . I don't like the game . . . I know someone who's got a bigger toy car than this . . ." Tiptoeing across the corridor, the parents peeked in and saw their little optimist gleefully throwing the manure up in the air. He was giggling. "You can't fool me! Where there's this much manure, there's gotta be a pony!"

Although Henri Matisse was nearly 28 years younger than Auguste Renoir was, the two great artists were dear friends and frequent companions. When Renoir was confined to his home during the last decade of his life, Matisse visited him daily. Renoir, almost paralyzed by arthritis, continued to paint in spite of his infirmities. One day as Matisse watched the elder painter working in his studio, fighting torturous pain with each brush stroke, he blurted out: "Auguste, why do you continue to paint when you are in such agony?" Renoir answered simply: "The beauty remains; the pain passes." And so, almost to his dying day, Renoir put paint to canvas. One of his most famous paintings, The Bathers was completed just two years before his passing, fourteen years after this disabling disease struck him.

Regardless of your situation in life, keeping digging through it all… there’s gotta be a pony in there somewhere!

Life Before Death

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-12 ESV).

All questions at the public meeting that day were about life beyond the grave. The Master only laughed and did not give a single answer. To his disciples, who demanded to know the reason for his evasiveness, he later said, "Have you observed that it is precisely those who do not know what to do with this life who want another that will last forever?" "But is there life after death or is there not?" persisted a disciple. "Is there life before death, that is the question!" said the Master enigmatically. Diplomas or degrees never impressed the Master. He scrutinized the person, not the certificate. He was once heard to say, "When you have ears to hear a bird in song, you don't need to look at its credentials."

It is very easy to become enamored with tomorrow. Somehow it always seems to be a better choice than today. Solomon’s wisdom is so contemporary. “God has made everything beautiful in its time.” All of those opposites that he recites in the Scripture today seem so contradictory. Yet, when we understand the wonder of living life in the present instead of in the past or future, we may begin to see the marvelous truth that all things are necessary. Even when some of those things are not good things, they provide for us a backdrop of good. The real key is in continuing to press forward in our lives, trusting Him to work His grace in our lives.

A young coed had two problems common to many students: low grades and no money. She was forced to communicate both to her parents, who she knew would have trouble understanding. After considerable thought she used a creative approach to soften the blows of reality and wrote:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Just thought I'd drop you a note to clue you in on my plans. I've fallen in love with a guy named Jim. He quit high school after grade eleven to get married. About a year ago he got a divorce. We've been going steady for two months and plan to get married in the fall. Until then, I've decided to move into his apartment (I think I might be pregnant). At any rate, I dropped out of school last week, although I'd like to finish college sometime in the future.

On the next page, she continued: Mom and Dad, I just want you to know that everything I've written so far in this letter is false. NONE of it is true. But Mom and Dad, it IS true that I got a C in French and flunked Math. It IS true that I'm going to need some more money for my tuition payments.

Even bad news can sound like good news if it is seen from a certain vantagepoint. So much in life depends on "where you're coming from" as you face your circumstances. The secret in this case and in yours is perspective.

One Glass of Milk

And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:38-42 ESV).

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water. She though he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Year's later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, he went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown, he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day, he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words: "PAID IN FULL WITH ONE GLASS OF MILK. Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly."

You may not have the opportunity to give a glass of milk to someone today, but all of us are surrounded with opportunities to show love to others in many other ways. The following expansion of 1 Corinthians 13 is a wonderful illustration of some of the ways we may show the love of Christ toward others. Love is:

Slow to suspect - quick to trust.
Slow to condemn - quick to justify.
Slow to offend - quick to defend.
Slow to reprimand - quick to forbear.
Slow to belittle - quick to appreciate.
Slow to demand - quick to give.
Slow to provoke - quick to conciliate.
Slow to hinder - quick to help.
Slow to resent - quick to forgive.

Small Wooden People

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16 ESV).

The following story so perfectly illustrates the love of God waiting for all of us when we simply trust Him. There once was a small group of people called Wemmicks. They were small wooden people. A woodworker named Eli carved each of the wooden people. His workshop sat on a hill overlooking their village. Every Wemmick was different. Some had big noses, others had large eyes. Some were tall and others were short. Some wore hats, others wore coats. But all were made by the same carver and all lived in the village. And all day, every day, the Wemmicks did the same thing: They gave each other stickers. Each Wemmick had a box of golden star stickers and a box of gray dot stickers. Up and down the streets all over the city, people could be seen sticking stars or dots on one another. The pretty ones, those with smooth wood and fine paint, always got stars. But if the wood was rough or the paint chipped, the Wemmicks gave dots. The talented ones got stars, too. Some could lift big sticks high above their heads or jump over tall boxes. Still others knew big words or could sing very pretty songs. Everyone gave them stars. Some Wemmicks had stars all over them! Every time they got a star it made them feel so good that they did something else and got another star. Others though, could do little. They got dots. Punchinello was one of these. He tried to jump high like the others, but he always fell. And when he fell, the others would gather around and give him dots. Sometimes when he fell, it would scar his wood, so the people would give him more dots. He would try to explain why he fell and say something silly, and the Wemmicks would give him more dots. After a while he had so many dots that he didn't want to go outside. He was afraid he would do something dumb such as forget his hat or step in the water, and then people would give him another dot. In fact, he had so many gray dots that some people would come up and give him one without reason. "He deserves lots of dots", the wooden people would agree with one another. "He's not a good wooden person." After a while Punchinello believed them. "I'm not a good Wemmick," he would say. The few times he went outside, he hung around other Wemmicks who had a lot of dots. He felt better around them.

One day he met a Wemmick who was unlike any he'd ever met. She had no dots or stars. She was just wooden. Her name was Lulia. It wasn't that people didn't try to give her stickers; it's just that the stickers didn't stick. Some admired Lulia for having no dots, so they would run up and give her a star. But it would fall off. Some would look down on her for having no stars, so they would give her a dot. But it wouldn't stay either. “That's the way I want to be,” thought Punchinello. “I don't want anyone's marks.” So he asked the stickerless Wemmick how she did it. "It's easy, "Lulia replied, "everyday I go to see Eli." "Eli?" "Yes, Eli. The woodcarver. I sit in the workshop with him." "Why?" "Why don't you find out for yourself? Go up the hill. He's there." And with that the Wemmick with no marks turned and skipped away. "But he won't want to see me!" Punchinello cried out. Lulia didn't hear. So Punchinello went home. And he resolved to go see Eli. He walked up the narrow path to the top of the hill and stepped into the big shop. His wooden eyes widened at the size of everything. The stool was as tall as he was. "I'm not staying here!" and he turned to leave. Then he heard his name. "Punchinello?" The voice was deep and strong. Punchinello stopped. "Punchinello! How good to see you. Come and let me have a look at you." Punchinello turned slowly and looked at the large bearded craftsman. "You know my name?" the little Wemmick asked. "Of course I do. I made you." Eli stooped down and picked him up and set him on the bench. "Hmm," the maker spoke thoughtfully as he inspected the gray circles. "Looks like you've been given some bad marks." I didn't mean to, Eli. I really tried hard." "Oh, you don't have to defend yourself to me, child. I don't care what the other Wemmicks think." "You don't?" "No, and you shouldn't either. Who are they to give stars or dots? They're Wemmicks just like you. What they think doesn't matter, Punchinello. All that matters is what I think. And I think you are pretty special." Punchinello laughed. "Me, special? Why? Eli looked at Punchinello, put his hands on those small wooden shoulders, and spoke very slowly. "Because you're mine. That's why you matter to me." Punchinello had never had anyone look at him like this--much less his maker. He didn't know what to say. Every day I've been hoping you'd come," Eli explained. "I came because I met someone who had no marks." "Why don't the stickers stay on her?" "Because she has decided that what I think is more important than what they think. The stickers only stick if you let them." "What?" "The stickers only stick if they matter to you. The more you trust my love, the less you care about the stickers." Eli lifted Punchinello off the bench and set him on the ground. "Remember," Eli said as the Wemmick walked out the door. "You are special because I made you. And I don't make mistakes." Punchinello didn't stop, but in his heart he thought, "I think he really means it." And when he did, a dot fell to the ground.

Perhaps you need to hear your Maker telling you how special you are today. Listen to Him. He never tells a lie! And, then watch the dots fall off one by one! Even when you know you’ve done things that deserved a “dot,” trust Him. He will forgive and restore you through the wonder of His grace.

Welcome to Holland

Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride. Don't be quick-tempered, for anger is the friend of fools. Don't long for "the good old days," for you don't know whether they were any better than today. (Ecclesiastes 7:8-10 NLV).

I am often asked how I manage to live life with such optimism, especially in the face of difficulty. I have discovered it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans: the Coliseum, Michaelangelo's David, and the Gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting! After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland!"

"Holland?" you say, "What do you mean Holland? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy! "But, there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland, and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place. So, you must go and buy new guidebooks. And, you must learn a whole new different language. And, you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. It's just a different place. It's slower paced than Italy less flashy than Italy. But, after you've been there awhile, and you catch your breath; you look around and begin to notice that Holland has windmills. Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts!

But, everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy; and they are all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And, for the rest of your life, you will say, "Yes, that is where I was supposed to go. That is what I had planned." And the pain of that will never, ever, go away; because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss. But, if you spend your whole life mourning the fact that you didn't get to go to Italy; you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland!

I have embodied this principle in a little phrase that I long ago memorized and often quote to others and myself. It has proven a wise proverb in life:

Never let past failures or future fears rob you of present joy.

It’s so easy to get lost in the good old days. We are often plagued with our failures, or taunted by our successes. Neither will bring you today’s joy. Even when life seems to have toppled in on you, remember the grace of God that is available to you. Don’t miss the wonder of Holland because you didn’t make it to Italy!

The Wrong Trophy

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:1-8 ESV).

There are some rewards that are not worth getting! The following are from the British Sunday Express. These are true stories of some awards given in 1992.

 The Tortoise Trophy. This was given to British Rail. Which ingeniously solved the problem of the lateness of the InterCity express train service by redefining “on time” to include trains arriving within one hour of schedule.
 The Crime Watch Gold Star Award. This award was given to Henry Smith, arrested moments after returning home with a stolen stereo. His mistake that led to his speedy capture was having his name tattooed on his forehead in large capital letters. His lawyer later told the court in his defense: “My client is not a very bright young man.”
 The Crime Watch Silver Star Award. This award was given to Michael Robinson, who called police to deliver a false bomb threat. He became so agitated after he was put on hold and the cost of his call began to mount, that he began screaming “call me back” and left his phone number.
 The Crime Watch Bronze Star Award. This award was given to Paul Monkton, who used his as his getaway vehicle a van with his name and phone number painted in foot-high letters on the sides.
 The British Cup. This trophy went to the passengers on a jam-packed train from Margate to Victoria who averted their eyes while John Henderson and Zoe D’Arcy engaged in illicit sexual activities but complained when they lit up cigarettes afterward in a non-smoking compartment.
 The Flying Cross. This award was given to Percy, a homing pigeon, who flopped down exhausted in a Shefield loft having beaten 1,000 rivals in a 500-mile race and was immediately eaten by a cat. The 90-minute delay in finding his remains and handing his identification tag to the judges relegated Percy from first to third place.
 The Lazarus Laurel Award. This award was given to Julia Carson, who as her tearful family gathered round her casket in a New York funeral home, sat bolt upright and asked what was going on. Celebrations were short lived since Mrs. Carlson’s daughter, Julie, immediately dropped dead from shock.

There are some trophies not worth having! When Jesus taught the crowds that had gathered on the mount near the Sea of Galilee, He instructed them about their giving and their prayer life. His emphasis was on their need to seek a higher reward than that of those around them. Our lesson is clear: live for the praise and reward of our heavenly Father, not the people around us. It is always good to be appreciated by others for the good things we do. However, the greatest reward will come from God, not men.

The Congressional Medal of Honor

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (James 5:7-11 ESV).

Often called the Congressional Medal of Honor, it is the nation's highest military award for “uncommon valor” by men and women in the armed forces. It is given for actions that are above and beyond the call of duty in combat against an armed enemy. The army first awarded the medal on March 25, 1863. More than 3,400 men and one woman have been awarded the medal. Recipients of the medal are awarded $400 per month for life, a right to burial at Arlington National Cemetery, admission for them or their children to a service academy if they qualify and quotas permit, and free travel on government aircraft to almost anywhere in the world, on a space-available basis.

So much has been said and written about courage. Mark Twain said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” Arthur Ashe said, “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever the cost.” And, the Duke, John Wayne, said, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” But, how do we live our lives courageously? How can we insure that when the moment of crisis comes, we will not shrink back from the challenge? Edmund G. Ross, a senator from Kansas, gives us some insight from his example.

Ross’ story is particularly interesting. I suppose you could call him a “Mr. Nobody.” No law bears his name. Not a single list of Senate “greats” mentions his service. Yet when Ross entered the Senate in 1866, he was considered the man to watch. He seemed destined to surpass his colleagues, but he tossed it all away by one courageous act of conscience. Conflict was dividing our government in the wake of the Civil War. President Andrew Johnson was determined to follow Lincoln’s policy of reconciliation toward the defeated South. Congress, however, wanted to rule the downtrodden Confederate states with an iron hand. Congress decided to strike first. Shortly after Senator Ross was seated, the Senate introduced impeachment proceedings against the hated President. The radicals calculated that they needed thirty-six votes, and smiled as they concluded that the thirty-sixth was none other than Ross. The new senator listened to the vigilante talk. But to the surprise of many, he declared that the president “deserved as fair a trial as any accused man has ever had on earth.” The word immediately went out that his vote was “shaky.” Ross received an avalanche of anti-Johnson telegrams from every section of the country. Radical senators badgered him to “come to his senses.” The fateful day of the vote arrived. The courtroom galleries were packed. Tickets for admission were at an enormous premium. As a deathlike stillness fell over the Senate chamber, the vote began. By the time they reached Ross, twenty-four “guilties” had been announced. Eleven more were certain. Only Ross’ vote was needed to impeach the President. Unable to conceal his emotion, the Chief Justice asked in a trembling voice, “Mr. Senator Ross, how vote you? Is the respondent Andrew Johnson guilty as charged?” Ross later explained, at that moment, “I looked into my open grave. Friendships, position, fortune, and everything that makes life desirable to an ambitions man were about to be swept away by the breath of my mouth, perhaps forever.” Then, the answer came—unhesitating, unmistakable: “Not guilty!” With that, the trial was over. And the response was as predicted. The “open grave” vision had become a reality. Ross’ political career was in ruins. One gloomy day Ross turned to his faithful wife and said, “Millions cursing me today will bless me tomorrow...though not but God can know the struggle it has cost me.” It was a prophetic declaration. Twenty years later Congress and the Supreme Court verified the wisdom of his position, by changing the laws related to impeachment. Ross was appointed Territorial Governor of New Mexico. Then, just prior to his death, Congress awarded him a special pension. The press and country took this opportunity to honor his courage, which they finally concluded, had saved our country from crisis and division.

The key to courage is in looking into the face of the future and knowing that we are secure in our Father’s hands. As you are challenged, look the danger in the eye and “saddle up” anyway! God will not leave you alone or defenseless! Just as James reminds us: “take courage, the coming of the Lord is near!” While you may not receive your “award” today, you will not be forgotten or left alone. Like Job, your faithfulness in the face of challenge will be rewarded.

Struck by Lightning

Imagine you are looking over into the center of hell as huge crowds of demons gather for their strategic meeting to determine the outcome of the lives of millions of people. They would hush as Satan steps up to address them with the following:

“We can’t keep the Christians from going to church. We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can’t even keep them from Christian values. But we can do something else. We can keep them from forming an intimate, abiding experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to church, let them have their lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can’t gain experience with Christ. Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining a vital connection through their day. Keep them busy with nonessentials and invent numerous schemes to occupy their minds. Overstimulate their minds so they can’t hear the still small voice of their God. Jam their minds with noise and break their union with Christ. Fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers, pounding them with the news of the world twenty-four hours a day. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogues, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services, and false hopes. Even in the recreation, lead them to be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted, and unprepared for the coming week. Don’t let them be still in God’s creation. Even when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with guilt and a troubled conscience. Don’t let them encourage one another. Keep those who are especially gifted encouragers busy and worn out. Above all, keep them from praying together. Let them be involved in ministry, but keep them so busy doing good things that they never have time to seek power from Christ. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family unity for a good cause and missing the true cause of their Savior.”

And Jesus said:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5 ESV).

According to a recent article in Health magazine titled “I Have Been Struck by Lightning, and I Am Alive,” there is a common belief in non-scientific cultures where thunderstorms are common that lightning has magical qualities. They tend to believe that being struck by lightning and surviving gives the survivor magical spiritual and healing powers. For example, when a Sudanese man’s hut is struck by lightning, he is reportedly “dead” for two days, and then on the third day he awakes and is a shaman. These beliefs are certainly no more than mythical oddities. However, there is a need for us to be “struck by lightning” of a sort. That lightning is found only in the presence of God in Christ. So many Christians are impotent and defeated simply because they have not found their place in Christ. Power comes from an intimate relationship with Christ. Just as a branch cannot survive apart from the vine, so we cannot survive living around the things of God. We must immerse ourselves in God! Then the lightning will strike!

That Thing We Call English

English is a crazy language. There is neither egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger, neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce and hammers don’t ham. If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn’t the plural of booth beeth? One goose, two geese. So, one moose, two meese? One index, two indices?

Doesn’t it seem crazy that you can make amends not one amend, that you comb through the annals of history but not a single annal? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? If you wrote a letter, perhaps you bote your tongue.

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck, and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? Park on driveways and drive on parkways? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? How can overlook and oversee be opposites, while quite a lot and quite a few are alike? Have you noticed that we talk about certain things only when they are absent? Met a sung hero or experienced requited love? Have you ever run into someone who was combobulated, gruntled, ruly, or peccable? And where are all those people who ARE spring chickens or who would ACTUALLY hurt a fly?

You have to marvel at the lunacy of our language, and yet, it is the conveyance of the most wonderful message ever dreamed of. Thankfully there is no ambiguity in the words of Jesus to Nicodemus. They tell us clearly of the love of God for all mankind and His great sacrifice for our salvation. Read it in any language and it is speaks of grace and compassion. Anyone may understand it, English and all!

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:14-18 ESV).

Free to Soar

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5 ESV).

One windy spring day, I observed people having fun using the wind to fly their kites. Multicolored creations of varying shapes and sizes filled the skies like beautiful birds darting and dancing in the heady atmosphere above the earth. As the strong winds gusted against the kites, a string kept them in check.

Instead of blowing away with the wind, they arose against it to achieve great heights. They shook and pulled, but the restraining string and the cumbersome tail kept them in tow, facing upward and against the wind. As the kites struggled and trembled against the string, they seemed to say, "Let me go! Let me go! I want to be free!" They soared beautifully even as they fought the imposed restriction of the string. Finally, one of the kites succeeded in breaking loose. "Free at last" it seemed to say. "Free to fly with the wind."

Yet freedom from restraint simply put it at the mercy of an unsympathetic breeze. It fluttered ungracefully to the ground and landed in a tangled mass of weeds and string against a dead bush. "Free at last" free to lie powerless in the dirt, to be blown helplessly along the ground, and to lodge lifeless against the first obstruction. How much like kites we sometimes are. The Lord gives us adversity and restrictions, rules to follow from which we can grow and gain strength. Restraint is a necessary counterpart to the winds of opposition. Some of us tug at the rules so hard that we never soar to reach the heights we might have obtained. We keep part of the commandment and (pardon the pun) never rise high enough to get our tails off the ground.

Our heavenly Father desires only the best for us. All of the things we feel are so restrictive and binding are only in place for our good. It is our enemy, the Devil, who desires to put us into bondage. His lies and deceptions will not bring freedom. David reminds us in today’s psalm that freedom to soar like and eagle comes from turning completely to our Father.

What have you been fighting against in your life? What do you need to surrender to Him today? Let Him attach His “string” of love to your life and soar into the heavens! Ask for His grace and forgiveness for your failures. Trust Him for complete restoration. Even if you’ve been broken up a bit by your fall, He will restore you better than you could possibly imagine. Trust Him today.

Grace in Sowing and Reaping

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10 ESV).

Happy Birthday Kyle! I am continuously amazed how God uses my family to help me see His greater purpose and ministry of grace in my life. Just the other day I was at Kyle’s house helping him repair his lawn tractor. While he was mowing a steep incline beside his house, the tractor took a strange turn and the front axle assembly completely broke! It wasn’t just a weld that had split, the whole left side of the assembly cracked and left the wheel hanging, useless.

This happened the day before he was to leave for a week of vacation in Texas, and given everything else that had happened that day, it was certainly discouraging. He called me that evening and began to recount all the stuff that had happened and I had to laugh. It was either that or cry! For example, as he was mowing, he had forgotten to turn the timers off on his irrigation system. This by itself wouldn’t have been much more of a problem than getting him wet when they went off. However, he happened to be mowing over the one spot where a sprinkler head was located at the same time the system automatically started. Of course the mower cut that as easily as it did the grass! What a mess! The sprinkler system was broke, the mower was broke, the grass not finished and he was due to leave early the next morning. I went over to the house after our little conversation and looked at the damage. It really wasn’t a total loss. I told him to get out his manual, find the part number and order it. It would be “easy” for us to replace it.

My schedule was such that I couldn’t get to his house after he returned from Texas until late. But, we decided to get started at 8:30 PM! For the most part it was pretty easy to disassemble the mower. We started cleaning and putting it back together and got to one of the last steps and couldn’t figure out the direction one of the parts needed to face. We DID read carefully the diagram and I was certain we had it right, at least until we put the last part on! Yep, it was backward! So, we took it apart again and fixed it. Finally, three hours later we had it put together and ready to mow.

Here’s the point… we were doing our best to follow the directions, but still failed. It was not until we had more information (seeing it more completely put together) that we realized our mistake. Then we corrected it. Often when we come to Paul’s declaration of sowing what you reap, we fail to understand the full nature of God’s grace. It is true that we sometimes make very poor choices and reap the consequences of those choices. However, they are never final in this life. God always gives us a chance to take a few steps and “see it put together” so that we may do it right. What have you chosen in your life that didn’t turn out well? Accept the grace of God… take it apart and get it right! Don’t grow weary of doing good!

Happy July 4th

Happy July 4th! With those words we will all celebrate in different ways the independence of our nation. There have been many unique things that have occurred on July 4th.

 Of course, in 1776, the U.S. declared independence from Great Britain.
 In 1826, former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died.
 In 1845, Henry David Thoreau moved into his shack on Walden Pond.
 In 1848, The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels was published.
 In 1865, Alice in Wonderland was first published.
 In 1884, the Statue of Liberty was presented to the United States in Paris.
 In 1895, Katherine Lee Bates published America the Beautiful.
 In 1997, the U.S. Pathfinder probe landed on Mars.

While it was not on July 4th, another incredible event took place many years ago that makes all of these pale in comparison as far as eternal significance is concerned.

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. (John 20:1-18 ESV).

That was the day of ultimate freedom! It is the day to remember! As you find yourself enjoying the liberty won for all of us through the sacrifice of so many early patriots, remember the victory won for us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Spend some time today with your family and friends reflecting on that sacrifice. Enjoy both of your freedoms!

In Memory's Kitchen

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. (Hebrews 10:19-24 ESV).

One day in 1969, Anny Stern, a 62-year-old woman living in Manhattan, received a phone call that made her tremble. Years later as she related it, she still grew teary eyed. “I have a package for you from your mother,” the caller said. Stern’s mother, Mina Pachter, had been dead for twenty-five years. She died in Terezin, a Czechoslovakian concentration camp. But Stern learned that shortly before her mother’s death, she had entrusted a package to a friend, hoping he might be able to get it to Stern. Now, after all this time and many intermediaries, the gift had finally arrived. Stern opened the package but couldn’t bear to examine the contents. She put it away for nearly a decade. Finally she took up the parcel again and lifted out some letters and poems that had been written by her mother, and a crumbling, handsewn copybook. On every page, recipes had been scribbled. There were recipes for plum strudel, breast of goose, torte, and eighty more! Hungry, sick, and brutalized, Pachter and the women around her had created a cookbook.

In Memory’s Kitchen: a Legacy from the Women of Tarazia was edited, translated, and published soon after. It is not merely a guide to making strudel and tortes, but much more. It is the story of life in the kitchens of these women, the skills they had amassed, the flavors they knew so well, the passion for family that kept them stirring and kneading and tasting day after day. It was much of what they owned and the heart of what they had to give. By the time they scrawled those recipes, such dishes were only dreams. But to write them down was to insist on a real-world future, to insist that their daughters would receive their legacy. The women of Terezin were not the only camp inmates who collected recipes even while they were living on potato peels. It gave them hope.

It is so tragic that many people have no such hope. After a very wealthy young actress took her life, a fan was overheard to say at her memorial, “She had so much to live for.” “No,” replied a bystander, “she had so much to live on, but so little to live for.” Hope is not found in our surroundings or our circumstances. It is found in the presence and purpose of our Savior, Jesus Christ. That is a hope that will never disappoint us nor abandon us. Turn your attention to Him today and rejoice in your hope!