Who Me?

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:1-10 ESV). When Tony Campolo was 9 years old, he was baptized and joined the church along with two other young boys. Forty years later, Tony decided to dig into the old church records of the year he was baptized. There in the archives were the names of the three boys: Tony, Dick, and Bert. Dick had become a missionary. Bert was a professor of theology at an African seminary. Tony was a college teacher, conference speaker, and author. All three lives had been dedicated to service for God. Then he read the church report for that year. It said, "It has not been a good year for our church. We lost 27 members. Three people joined the church, but they were only children." Only children? Hardly. Any life, young or old, redeemed by Christ can be the beginning of God-honoring service. It is bittersweet when a person trusts God only as he takes his last gasp of air. However, more tragic than this is the attitude that many people have about themselves as they see themselves as unimportant. They are astonished at the call of God in their lives. No one should ask the question, “Who me?” when faced with the call of God. The Bible gives us examples of how people were used to bring glory to God. A young boy sharing his lunch became the occasion for Jesus to show His miraculous power by feeding the 5,000. Daniel showed great courage and became an unforgettable demonstration of God's protection. The boy Samuel listened to God and became an important prophet. Young David fought a giant with only a slingshot, and later he became King of Israel. God knows our true potential. I like the way Ray Boltz sings about it in his song "Shepherd Boy." Where others see a shepherd boy, God may see a king. When God looks at you and me, what does He see? Answer the Lord today with “Here I am Lord.”

Forgiving and Forgetting

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. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:5-14 ESV). Bill Vossler was only 7 when he disobeyed his mother and stopped with his younger brother to visit the old couple in the house by the water tower. The man and woman held the boys on their laps, hugged them, and gave them coins and cookies. When Bill showed his mother the coins, she screamed and flushed them down the toilet. "I said stay away from them!" she shouted. "Don't ever go there again. Forget about them!" Not long after that, the old couple moved away and the event faded from Bill's mind. Thirty years later back home on a visit, Bill glanced at the water tower and it revived the memory. He asked his mother about the old couple. "Who were they and why was I supposed to forget them?" Her face turned white. "You really don't know?" she asked. After a long silence she said, "They were Jacob and Christina Vossler. Your father's mother and father. Your grandparents." When Bill was 4, his father had abandoned the family. For years, Bill's stepfather drove the old couple away when they tried to visit. Anger and shame separated the two families. Now that he knew the truth, Bill wondered if he could ever forget his pain and loss. Writing in Hemispheres magazine, Bill Vossler concluded: "Forgetting is only the final step, dependent first on forgiving, forgiving ourselves for our part in the fray and others for theirs. Forgive and forget. It is not coincidence that forgive is first, followed by forget. One frees us to do the other." We often have difficulty with these words of Jesus: "If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Sounding harsh, these words guide us into the process of forgiving and being forgiven which is a marvelous gift from God for all who inhabit this world of pain. There is no escaping the sequence. To be forgiven, you should forgive. To be free, you should forget. How’s your memory?

One Little Word

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:1-11 ESV). It was only one word with just two letters in it that caused 583 deaths. It happened on March 27, 1977. The pilot of a Boeing 747 radioed the tower, "We are now at take-off," as his jet, wrapped in thick fog, began rumbling down a runway in the Canary Islands. He made a poor choice of words. The air traffic controller took the statement to mean that the Big Boeing was idling at the takeoff point, waiting for further instructions. That's why he didn't warn the pilot that another plane, a Pan Am 747, was cloaked in thick white mist, just ahead. The Boeing pilot, thinking everything was cleared for taxi and takeoff accelerated down the runway. Suddenly, there was the sickening crunch of metal and a tragic mid-air collision that resulted in the deaths of 583 people. The word at, a preposition, is the word that sealed the fate of this tragedy. Just a simple word, but it caused some serious devastation. Every day you and I make decisions about the words that we use. Sometimes we are involved in conversations that require us to give counsel, to provide direction for others. The words we choose to give may be words of life, or words of destruction. Many times we can turn these conversations to the ultimate answers found in God and His Word. But we can't counsel or witness if we don't have the words. God's Word is living. It's powerful. It will not return to Him empty. But if we're empty, ignorant of verses and passages that would really help people, it's likely we're going to cause more devastation than positive direction. We may say "at," when it should have been so much clearer, so much stronger, so completely based on what God has said. When you're "at takeoff" in your next conversation, choose your words carefully. Prepare yourself with Words of life!

A Frayed Thread

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:17-27 ESV). Not very often do I find myself sewing. However, there are those times when I need to put a button back on, or do some small repair to a garment. The thing that frustrates me the most is trying to thread the needle! I suppose it’s more a function of not being able to see very well than anything else is, but it is difficult to do. That's especially true when the thread frays and only a part of the thread goes into the needle. The more I thought about today's Scripture, the more I was reminded of trying to thread the needle with frayed thread. As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Notice the attitude of the rich young ruler. He ran to Jesus. The ruler was not arrogant. He was genuinely seeking an answer. Jesus told the man to sell all his possessions and follow Him. Christ knew that the man's wealth was interfering with full devotion to Christ. Sadly the man chose his earthly wealth over eternal wealth. Then, Jesus explains to His disciples: "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Now go back to the image of the frayed thread and the eye of the needle. If they were tightly wound together, there wouldn't be much of a problem in getting the thread into the eye. Often there are those "loose ends" we allow to exist in our lives that keep us from the fullness of the Holy Spirit. What do you need to "tie up" today? What is keeping you from becoming a more fully devoted follower of Christ? What excess cords do you need to remove? Past hurts? Past broken relationships? Past sorrows or regrets? How about present worldly desires? Are these frayed ends keeping you away from His strength? Let the power of Christ put your thread back together today!

The Wonder of Spring

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (Luke 24:1-7 ESV). As we see the end of February and March approaching, it always signals the coming of spring to me; and, that brings me to Easter. Just like Easter, Spring is a season of wonder. Someone has said: • It is the wonder of watching a rosebud outside the living room window as the petals unfold through the morning hours with a beauty that words cannot speak. • It is the wonder in the face of a child wading into a shallow stream and picking up a polished pebble with its flecks of beauty sparkling in the sun. • It is the wonder of the stillness of the wilderness as you come upon a little lake tucked away in the freshly dressed glory of spring, and you hold your breath for a moment and before you leave this lovely place. • It is the wonder of God’s grace expressed through worship as His people enjoin themselves to celebrate the glorious resurrection of His Son by reading the Easter Story and reminding themselves of the glad message that never grows old: “He is not here; He is risen.” • It is the marvelous wonder of corporate worship in a packed church on Easter Sunday morning with people smiling and enthusiastically articulating the very ethos of their faith by singing the words of Charles Wesley: “Christ the Lord has risen today, Hallelujah...Hallelujah...Hallelujah!” • It is wonder of the mischievous grin of a little boy who has put the cold of winter behind him and longs only to enjoy God’s greater out-of-doors with a fishing pole, a can of worms and his little dog. • It is the spiritual wonder of reminding myself that behind the chilling frost of winter, there is the wonderful warmth of spring. • The wonder that behind the cold winds of December, January and February, there is a warm sunshine of March, April and May. Behind every Good Friday, there is always a bright Easter Sunday morning. Behind the darkness of an old rugged Cross, there is the brightness of an empty tomb. Celebrate that brightness today with joy in all you do and say!

The Tests of Discipleship

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). In these verses, Jesus defines three tests of our discipleship. In each test, He calls for our self-discipline and immediate action. As you read them, remember He is talking to believers. 1. The first test is that of complete obedience. Jesus told the enthusiastic young man that he needed to “follow” Him. It was a call to complete obedience. Eugene Petersen writes in his book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: “It is not difficult in our world to get a person interested in the message of the Gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people in our culture make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful attrition rate. Many claim to have been born again, but the evidence for mature Christian discipleship is slim. In our kind of culture anything, even news about God, can be sold if it is packaged freshly; but when it loses its novelty, it goes on the garbage heap. There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called holiness.” 2. The second test is that of complete sacrifice. In our scripture, Jesus tells us that the Son of man does not even have a place to lay his head. In this verse Jesus may well be speaking of the suffering which he is about to undergo for our salvation. His illustration of not having a place to lay his head indicates to us that even the simple comforts, which we think are absolute necessities, are not as important as our service to the kingdom of God. When the young man asked Jesus if he could go and bury his father, this was a request to wait until he received his inheritance. He asked Jesus if he could wait until he had more money to be more comfortable in his life of discipleship. Jesus’ answer is very revealing! Nothing short of a willingness to completely sacrifice everything will do. 3. The third test is that of complete trust. Looking back is always destructive to the disciple of Christ. It diverts our attention away from our future. We need to look forward in faith and trust. Regardless of our failures and missteps, the power of the Holy Spirit within us is enough to bring us forgiveness and victory. I have never been very good at second-guessing God! Just about the time I think I understand what He’s doing in my life, a wonderful surprise jumps up to greet me! These have sometimes been painful; while at other times they were very pleasant. At no time has God ever given me cause not to trust Him. How about you? Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Are you looking back today? Face forward and move confidently in trust!

That Little Speck

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). I have heard this story several different times and several different ways. I really love the lesson it teaches. People are not always as they seem to be, and it is important to remember that when dealing with others. You think you know why someone behaves the way they do. You think you know why someone says the things they do. You think you know their story. You may be wrong. Here’s the story: Jack (not his real name) was in an airport waiting for his plane to arrive. While he was waiting, he decided to get a snack. He walked over to a food stand and bought a bag of cookies. After purchasing the cookies, Jack dropped them in his bag, and walked over to his designated waiting area to sit down. After a few minutes, a stranger sat next to him. Jack smiled briefly at the stranger, and reached his hand down into his bag for a cookie. After a few moments, the stranger also reached down and grabbed a cookie. “What was this guy doing?” Jack said to himself. “Is he crazy?” Jack wanted to say something, but decided to ignore the stranger. One cookie wasn't a big deal. Just then, he reached down and took another one. Jack was getting a little uneasy. Who did this guy think he was? Doesn't he know how rude and strange it was to take other people's things? This wasn't something Jack would ever do, and he expected the same manners from his uninvited guest. This stealing of the cookies continued for several minutes. Jack would take one, and then the stranger would take one. Back and forth. Jack was getting more and more irritated and upset when the stranger looked at Jack. Jack was a little scared. He looked down and saw the stranger holding a cookie in his hand. The stranger broke it in two, and handed Jack one half. After that, he stood up and left without a word. He just smiled at Jack, and nodded his head. This ruined Jack's whole day. He couldn't stop thinking about the rude stranger. How people were raised to act like that he couldn't understand. Still hungry, Jack went to buy another bag of cookies. He walked over to the same counter, and bought some more cookies. As he set them in his bag, he felt something. When Jack looked down, he noticed his first bag of cookies. It was then that he realized he was reaching down into the stranger's bag! He was the crazy one. He was the rude one. He was what annoyed him most. The funny thing is, the stranger didn't seem to mind as much as Jack! Funny how sometimes we really don’t have enough facts or enough information to really make a sound judgment about others and their behavior. Be careful trying to get that “speck” out of your friend’s eye!

Lent - Part 7

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:1-13 ESV). The following is a true story: Dana and Rich had gone out for a bicycle ride, expecting to come home refreshed. Instead, their lives were forever changed. As he rode down a hill, Rich lost control of his bike and crashed. His body was mangled by the accident, and he barely made it to the hospital alive. Now, some months later, as Rich struggles to adjust to his circumstances, Dana keeps a faithful vigil by his side. He can't feed himself. He can't walk. And with his broken jaw wired shut for a time, he couldn't talk. It wouldn't be much of a surprise if they became angry people. But they aren't. They are not celebrating Rick's disability, but neither are they holding pity parties. One day, as the two of them were sitting under a shade tree outside the hospital, Rich turned to his wife and said, "Dana, I don't know if I'll ever get to walk again, but I'm learning to walk closer to Jesus, and that's what I really want." Remarkable! Instead of shaking his fist at God, Rich is reaching out to grab His hand. Sometimes when we think we have problems (and we do), we need someone like Rich to adjust our perspective. To show us that salvation is about a relationship with Christ, a relationship we need the most when the going gets the toughest. We are not equipped to handle all the problems we face, but God is. That's why He told us: "Cast your cares on the Lord." As Rich is finding out, walking with Jesus doesn't depend on the legs, it depends on the condition of the heart. Learn that lesson this Lenten season. Between now and the time you read these words there could well be a dozen national emergencies and numbers of crisis in your personal life. However, as Dr. Norman Vincent Peale often says, "The only people who do not have problems are those in the cemeteries." Then with a twinkle in his eye he says, "and some of them really have problems." If you have problems, it simply means you are alive and the more problems you have the more alive you are. He even jokingly suggests that if you don't have man-sized problems you should get on your knees and ask God to “trust" you with a few.

Lent - Part 6

“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. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:1-11 ESV). Puppies are so much fun! They are full of energy and playfulness. They are a delight to watch. They remind me of small children at play. I love watching them laugh and play. Their innocent expressions of joy are contagious and always fill my heart with joy. Far too often we as Christians fall into the high-speed rut of our careers, our pursuit of material things and we pay little attention to the wonders of life. Our accomplishments and achievements are but a fading moment. Even after Constantine had made Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire, there came to the throne another Emperor called Julian, who wished to put the clock back and to bring back the old gods. His complaint, as Ibsen puts it, was: "Have you looked at these Christians closely? Hollow-eyed, pale-cheeked, flat-breasted all; they brood their lives away, unspurred by ambition: the sun shines for them, but they do not see it: the earth offers them its fullness, but they desire it not; all their desire is to renounce and to suffer that they may come to die." As Julian saw it, Christianity took the vividness out of life. Oliver Wendell Homes once said, "I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers." Robert Louis Stevenson once entered in his diary, as if he was recording an extraordinary phenomenon, "I have been to Church today, and am not depressed." How tragic that description is so typical! God desires joy for us! What better time than now to reexamine our lives and rediscover our real source of joy. Perhaps it will involve a little pruning in our lives. There may be those things that need to be cut away from our lives to allow us more opportunities to experience the vitality of Christ’s life within us. I cannot say it more clearly. Being a Christian is not about losing, it is gain; it is not about sacrifice, but acceptance. Be a child as we approach the glory of Easter!

Lent - Part 5

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV). Have you seen the television commercial where the scene opens with a family getting ready for work and school? Dad comes down to the breakfast table and Mom is serving stacks of pancakes with all the trimmings. The children are leisurely getting ready for a quite breakfast before the day starts and then the scene abruptly changes and you are taken to a chaotic scene where everyone is in a rush and no one seems to be able to get off on time. The insinuation is that the latter scene is much more the norm and the first scene. And, in most families that would probably hold true. Perhaps it is in yours. Each morning as we rush off to school or work, we always seem to run a little late, but we usually vow to get up a little earlier the next morning. Most of us at least think about getting up a little earlier to walk outside, take a breath of fresh air, watch the birds searching the yard for their breakfast, or just take in the beauty of nature. However, even though the alarm might ring earlier the next morning and we take the time to observe God’s morning blessings, we still find ourselves rushing through the remainder of the day, and by evening we are exhausted again. It seems to be our way of life. From a human perspective, we cannot imagine the energy and strength that God must have had to create the oceans, the trees, the animals, this place called earth, and us humans. To have done all of these acts and not grown tired is incomprehensible to us. God’s strength is unlimited, and the amazing thing is His strength is available to us. As adults we frequently feel a lack of strength and energy. Sometimes in observing children, we often wish that we possessed their level of energy. The fact is that, yes, children are energetic, but eventually even they grow tired. Not one of us can have unlimited strength and energy, that is, not one without God’s strength. Without His help we are like a single battery, which will eventually lose power, but with His strength we become a recharged battery with Him acting as our re-charger. In the last verses of Isaiah 40, the Bible says those who walk with the Lord will soar on wings like eagles, will run and not grow weary, and will walk and not be faint. Each night as we lie down to sleep and pray, God plugs in our re-charger, to charge us full of his power for the next day. The best thing is that God is watching over us twenty-four hours a day, and if our battery starts to fade, he has already plugged us in. Use this time of Lent to realize what you have, not what you should give up. After all, he already has it all; and, we need it all!

Lent - Part 4

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39 ESV). There are many important dates in our lives. Three of those for me are July 9, 1974, April 2, 1979, and October 20, 1983. Those are the dates of the births of my three sons, Kyle, David, and Aaron. Each one was so different from the others. But, even if they had been the same, I couldn’t forget one tiny detail. It is amazing how God has shown me so many things through their lives. Family really is everything to me. That’s at the heart of Paul’s message to the Roman Christians. God’s love for His Child is no different than mine. In fact, it is deeper and greater! Yet, when it came time for God to provide the sacrifice necessary for my salvation, He was willing to give up His own Son. Thus, when, in verse 38, Paul tells us that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord,” I have complete confidence that it is true. Based on the knowledge of His sacrifice, it is easy to believe these words. Just as we love our own children, God loves us, His children, no matter what. A minister one day sat in the vestry of his church to meet anyone who might have spiritual difficulties. Only one came. "What is your difficulty?" asked the minister. The man answered, "My difficulty is the ninth chapter of Romans, where it says, 'Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated,'" "Yes," said the minister, "there is great difficulty in that verse; but which part of the verse is difficult for you?" The latter part, of course," said the man. "I cannot understand why God should hate Esau." The minister replied, "That verse has often been difficult, but my difficulty has always been with the first part of the verse. I never could understand how God could love that wily, deceitful, supplanting scoundrel Jacob." The message of Lent is: It doesn’t matter what you may have done in the past. God DOES love you. You are His child. When Jesus began his ministry after praying in the wilderness, his mission was unshakeable because of the deep love he had for us! That took him to the cross!

Lent - Part 3

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:1-11 ESV). Webster describes humility as not proud or haughty, not arrogant or assertive. While visiting with a pastor of my hometown concerning the essence of humility, he said, “It is all about love.” Humility is the common thread of Christian love. That becomes the basis for our expression of the grace we have received through Christ. Recently, a newspaper reporter, in conjunction with a group of college graduate students, began a project to see how it feels to be homeless. They thought that it would be fundamentally impossible to look homeless. Surely their college degrees and suburban upbringing would allow others to see through their charade. During the week preceding the start of this project, all participants followed their normal routines, such as being professionally dressed as a businessperson, teaching Sunday school at a local suburban church, and having dinner at the country club. The price of invisibility for the project participants was simply an unshaven face and a change of clothing. Persons who would have normally smiled and said hello, just looked the other way. If someone did look their way, it was only long enough to cast their fear or disapproval. The text for this morning instructs us to consider others better that ourselves. In doing so, we are not to view others as superior in any way. Christian love means that we see others as worthy of the same treatment and respect that we want ourselves. Lent is the perfect time to reexamine how we treat others. Is our relationship to others built around what we receive from them, or what we may give to them? Are we living examples of the grace of God as it has been given and shown to us? Or, are we selfishly living within the circle of those most like us? It’s easy to like people who are like us. The real test of our faith is in how much we behave like Jesus. Those who despised Him and treated Him badly, He loved and died for them. Can we really do any less in our lives if we are to be true to our calling? These are thoughts we should use to guide us in our continued reflection during the Lenten season.

Lent - Part 2

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV). There's a saying that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. But is it? When the boys were young we had a twenty-gallon aquarium. It was pretty, but we had one problem, and that was algae. Algae grows in the tank; and, if unchecked it will eventually cover the walls and decorations. So I bought an algae eater. I carefully picked out a fish that looked big enough to eat all the algae. To keep him strong and help him grow, we bought the algae eater special food to be sure he had a balanced diet. When another fish started nipping at our new algae eater, we put that fish in a separate tank. So the algae eater really was a special fish to my family, with a special purpose in life. The first thing I did each morning was to look in the tank for the algae eater. One morning, he was gone! I peered into the aquarium behind the decorations, plants and rocks, but we couldn't spot the fish. Finally, we found him dead on the floor behind the aquarium. During the night the algae eater had jumped out of the aquarium through a small opening at the back of the aquarium's cover. I wondered why would the fish jump out? There was a special purpose for his life. We provided everything he needed in the tank to be happy and productive. What could he have been seeking? The algae eater was looking for something different, presumably something better--"greener grass." In doing so, he missed a great opportunity to make a significant contribution where he was. Do you live by the "if only's"? This involves sitting around and thinking that if only something were different, you could be happier or more successful. For example, "If only I had a different education or skill, I could." "If only I had more money, I could." If only he (or she) would love me, I would be happy." If only...if only...if only.... In effect, this is looking for greener grass. But contrary to the saying, the grass is not greener on this side of the fence. And it is not greener on the other side of the fence. The grass is greener where it is watered. Nothing positive is accomplished by idle wishes, relying on excuses, and complaining. What are you doing where you are, with what you have, to achieve your desires and goals? Are you taking steps to strengthen your beliefs and faith so you can withstand the daily onslaught of negative forces like stress and frustration? The Lenten Season is a wonderful opportunity to examine the wonder of where you are in life. 1 Corinthians 12:18 tells us that God has arranged the parts of the body of Christ exactly as He wants them. So there is a reason believers are in particular jobs, communities, churches and families. Avoid being like the algae eater, and missing an opportunity to make a significant contribution where you are.

Lent - Part 1

For the next week we are going to be looking at several attributes associated with the period of time known in liturgical churches as Lent. Lent actually began Wednesday, February 13th, this year (I know… I’m two days late). In the calendar of Western Christianity, the first day of Lent occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a “moveable fast,” falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as February 4th or as late as March 10th. That’s the “when.” What’s the “why”? According to the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke; Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, during which he was tempted by Satan. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40-day liturgical period of prayer and fasting. We can see one of those references in today’s reading: Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (Matthew 4:1-11 ESV). We should not miss the significance of this experience at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. The devil was offering what appeared to be an alternate plan to that which God had communicated to Jesus. It is clear from the tremendous stress and prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane that the cross was not something that Jesus blithely took on. The pain and suffering were real. He knew that the path God had chosen for him was most difficult and completely undeserved. Stan comes and offers an easier path. That easier path is always the alternative presented by the world and the devil. The practice of some kind of fast during Lent is intended to provide the believer with a tangible reminder of the cost of discipleship being higher more often than not. I love the quote from Clarence Jordan, author of the “Cotton Patch” New Testament translation and founder of the interracial Koinonia farm in Americus, Georgia. He was getting a red-carpet tour of another minister’s church when the minister pointed to the rich, imported pews and luxurious decorations. As they stepped outside, darkness was falling, and a spotlight shone on a huge cross atop the steeple. “That cross alone cost us ten thousand dollars,” the minister said with a satisfied smile. “You got cheated,” said Jordan. “Times were when Christians could get them for free.” Lent calls us to a cross!

One of God's Valentines

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1-2 ESV). Tennessee Williams tells a story of someone who forgot, the story of Jacob Brodzky, a shy Russian Jew whose father owned a bookstore. The older Brodzky wanted his son to go to college. The boy, on the other hand, desired nothing but to marry Lila, his childhood sweetheart. A couple of months after young Brodzky went to college, his father fell ill and died. The son returned home, buried his father, and married his love. Then the couple moved into the apartment above the bookstore, and Brodzky took over its management. The life of books fit him perfectly, but it cramped her. She wanted more adventure, and she found it, she thought, when she met an agent who praised her beautiful singing voice and enticed her to tour Europe with a vaudeville company. Brodzky was devastated. At their parting, he reached into his pocket and handed her the key to the front door of the bookstore. “You had better keep this,” he told her, “because you will want it some day. Your love is not so much less than mine that you can get away from it. You will come back sometime, and I will be waiting.” She kissed him and left. To escape the pain he felt, Brodzky withdrew deep into his bookstore and took to reading as someone else might have taken to drink. He spoke little, did little, and could most times be found at the large desk near the rear of the shop, immersed in his books while he waited for his love to return. Nearly 15 years after they parted, at Christmas, she did return. But when Brodzky rose from the reading desk that had been his place of escape for all that time, he did not take the love of his life for more than an ordinary customer. “Do you want a book?” he asked. That he didn’t recognize her startled her. But she gained possession of herself and replied, “I want a book, but I’ve forgotten the name of it.” Then she told him a story of childhood sweethearts. It is a story of a newly married couple who lived in an apartment above a bookstore. A story of a young, ambitious wife who left to seek a career, who enjoyed great success but could never relinquish the key, her husband gave her when they parted. She told him the story she thought would bring him to himself. But his face showed no recognition. Gradually she realized that he had lost touch with his heart’s desire, that he no longer knew the purpose of his waiting and grieving, that now all he remembered was the waiting and grieving itself. "You remember it; you must remember it, the story of Lila and Jacob?” After a long, bewildered pause, he said, “There is something familiar about the story, I think I have read it somewhere. It comes to me that it is something by Tolstoi.” Dropping the key, she fled the shop. And Brodzky returned to his desk, to his reading, unaware that the love he waited for had come and gone. One day C. H. Spurgeon was walking through the English countryside with a friend. As they strolled along, the evangelist noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof. At the top of the vane were these words: GOD IS LOVE. Spurgeon remarked to his companion that he thought this was a rather inappropriate place for such a message. “Weather vanes are changeable,” he said, “but God’s love is constant.” “I don’t agree with you about those words, Charles,” replied his friend. “You misunderstood the meaning. That sign is indicating a truth: Regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love.” Indeed, that is the truth of Valentine’s!

Vertical Coffins

My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. (Proverbs 3:21-26 ESV). There are far too many Christians who have come to believe that life is supposed to be dreary and sad. God desires us to have joy in our lives. The following story by Charles Garfield is a wonderful illustration of someone who has learned to make the most of their life. If you have ever gone through a tollbooth, you know that your relationship to the person in the booth is not the most intimate you'll ever have. It is one of life's frequent nonencounters: You hand over some money; you might get change; you drive off. Late one morning in 1984, headed for lunch in San Francisco, I drove toward a booth. I heard loud music. It sounded like a party. I looked around. No other cars with their windows open. No sound trucks. I looked at the tollbooth. Inside it, the man was dancing. "What are you doing?" I asked. "I'm having a party," he said. "What about the rest of the people?" I looked at the other tollbooths. He said, "What do those look like to you?" He pointed down the row of tollbooths. "They look like...toll booths. What do they look like to you?" He said, "Vertical coffins. At 8:30 every morning, live people get in. Then they die for eight hours. At 4:30, like Lazarus from the dead, they reemerge and go home. For eight hours, brain is on hold, dead on the job. Going through the motions." I was amazed. This guy had developed a philosophy, a mythology about his job. Sixteen people dead on the job, and the seventeenth, in precisely the same situation, figures out a way to live. I could not help asking the next question: "Why is it different for you? You're having a good time." He looked at me. "I knew you were going to ask that. I don't understand why anybody would think my job is boring. I have a corner office, glass on all sides. I can see the Golden Gate, San Francisco, and the Berkeley hills. Half the Western world vacations here...and I just stroll in every day and practice dancing." Someone has said that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% what you make out of it. They undoubtedly understood the principle of wisdom that Solomon shares with us in today’s Scripture. The kind of planning Solomon is referring to is centered in attitude. To be able to find joy in every experience of life is to understand the powerful promise of eternal life for all believers. While we don’t know the “in-between” of our birth to death story, we do know the ending. Whatever you may be experiencing today, it really is temporary and it will end with your victory. Are you living in a “vertical coffin,” or are you having a party, practicing your dancing? The choice is yours.

Gathered Thoughts

Lent begins tomorrow. That time of the year usually makes me ponder things a bit more. While I rarely use this forum to comment on political or current issues; lately I have been thinking about the firestorm of opinions surrounding the rash of shootings in our country. Many children have lost their lives; and, every one of those deaths is senseless and tragic. However, I think some have missed a much larger senseless and tragic daily occurrence. Nationally, there are about 1.3 million abortions each year, which works out to 3,562 abortions each day, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. Some would cite the fact that the number of abortions is down from 1990, although I contend one life lost is too many! So, I have gathered a few thoughts and felt compelled to write them in this forum. First, let’s look at the issue of when “life” begins. I suppose I am a little sensitive to this issue. I know I am not “objective” in my beliefs. However, the Scripture is supportive of my beliefs. The Psalmist declares: For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:13-17 ESV). Second, in the case of the necessity of abortion, consider the following four situations?  There’s a preacher and wife who are very, very, poor. They already have 14 kids. Now she finds out she’s pregnant with number 15. They’re living in tremendous poverty. Considering their poverty and the excessive world population, would you consider recommending she get an abortion?  The father is sick with flu, the mother has TB. They have four children. The first is blind, the second is dead, the third is deaf, and the fourth has TB. She finds she’s pregnant again. Given the extreme situation, would you consider recommending abortion?  A white man raped a 13-year-old black girl, and she got pregnant. If you were her parents, would you considering recommending abortion?  A teenage girl is pregnant. She’s not married. Her fiancé is not the father of the baby, and he’s very upset. Would you consider recommending abortion? In the first case, you have just killed John Wesley, one of the great evangelists in the 19th century. In the second case, you have killed Beethoven. In the third case, you have killed Ethel Waters, the great black gospel singer. If you said yes to the fourth case, you have just declared the murder of Jesus Christ! I know that there are other cases that require very difficult decisions. And, I am grateful that I have never been called on to make those decisions. However, when the choice may be made to give life, I cannot imagine taking it. Abortion does just that. Of course we must do more to protect our children in our schools and playgrounds. Shouldn’t that protection extend to our unborn children as well?

Real Ice Cream

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-8 ESV). I like ice dream! There’s no surprise in that statement. However, not all ice cream is made the same. For example, today's commercial ice cream usually substitutes dimethyl glycol instead of eggs, a chemical that is also used in anti-freeze and paint remover. Most of the time, piperonal is substituted for vanilla, but it's also used in larger quantities to kill lice. And then, when you top off that bowl of “homemade vanilla” with strawberry flavor, remember that you are probably ingesting benzyl acetate, a chemical that is used as a solvent for nitrate, one of the main ingredients in fertilizers and cheap explosives. This information shouldn't stop us from eating ice cream or make us want to start boycotting Dairy Queen. Ice cream is fine and wonderful as long as we enjoy it the way it was designed by its creator. But if we just decide that we are hungry for ice cream and start eating anti-freeze and lice medicine, we would probably die (although it might be with a nice clean scalp, and a circulation system that is not affected by cold weather!). We would die because we would be attempting to quench a normal desire for ice cream in a way that was never intended by the designer. Sin can be an awful lot like ice cream. You see, sin takes place when we seek to satisfy a normal hunger in a way never intended by our designer. Lust is just one of those sins when good God given appetites consume us, control us, and become our point of focus. But, whether its sex outside of marriage, or any other sin that calls us away from God’s design, we have a choice and the power to make that choice. James makes that very clear in our reading this morning. In fact he says we are to be happy when we are tested. These are opportunities for growth in our lives. God has even made a provision for the difficult decisions. When we face something we’re not sure about, we have the ability to ask God for wisdom. The promise is that God will give us all we need to understand and choose wisely. The problem for most of us is that we often don’t stop to think about the path we choose. If it says “ice cream” on the carton, we assume it must be the same as all others. Examine your choices before you make them. Most of your heartaches can be prevented by good choices. And, you can know they are good by seeking God’s counsel through Scripture and the wisdom of those who have gone before you. Don’t settle for imitation anything! Get the real thing in Christ!

The Fireman

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. (Matthew 10:38-39 ESV). The Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once wrote about a town where a fireman lived. Everyone liked the fireman because he was a nice guy. He made it a habit to be gentle and kind, which was unusual for firemen, who were supposed to be tough. There was a fire one day, and the fireman charged to the scene of the fire with his fellow firemen and heavy equipment. As they came toward the fire, much to their surprise and chagrin, they encountered between themselves and the flames about two hundred townspeople. And each of them was standing there with a water pistol, aiming at the fire, squirting water on it. The fireman asked, "What's going on here?" A spokesman for the group turned and said, "Well, we all appreciate this wonderful work you're doing in our community, and each of us has come to contribute in some small way to your work." And they continued to squirt water on the fire. The fireman said, "I don't get it. You are all crazy!" "Oh we realize that we all could do more, couldn't we, folks?" said the spokesman. "Most definitely," everyone said, "But we just wanted to offer this token of our support." "You don't know what you're doing!" shouted the firemen. "True, but you have to appreciate that fact that everyone is willing to offer whatever help they can," said the spokesman. And everyone said, "Amen!" and went squirt, squirt. At that, the fireman shouted, "Get out of the way! This is no picnic, this is a fire, and a fire doesn't require well-meaning people who come to make small contributions. A fire is a place where people come to give their lives." Sometimes we are a lot like those people. We all appreciate the work others do, but we contribute little more than a squirt here or there. We encourage others with our gratitude and warm words, however they amount to little more than a squirt or two! I can easily imagine the Celestial Fireman saying, "Will you please get out of here! What I am looking for are disciples who are radically committed and willing to die for the sake of the gospel!" Kierkagaard also said: “I went into church and sat on the velvet pew. I watched as the sun came shining through the stained glass windows. The minister dressed in a velvet robe opened the golden gilded Bible, marked it with a silk bookmark and said, “If any man will be my disciple, said Jesus, let him deny himself, take up his cross, sell what he has, give it to the poor, and follow me.” What kind of disciple are you?

By the Light of the Moon

“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (Luke 11:33-42 ESV). Last week we had a full moon and a clear sky. In our home we have uncovered transom windows. As I was watching a little late night television (catching up on some of my recorded shows), I realized how bright it was in the room without any artificial light. It was as bright as if I had some lamps on. In fact, it was almost brighter than I wanted to watch TV! I will say though, I was certainly glad to have the light when I got up to get a glass of milk! The light was essential to see my way. Light is essential in our spiritual lives also. This is the principle Jesus teaches in our reading today. Spiritual light reveals the true nature of our character. Good deeds done in public may be no more than a ruse to hide the true nature of our heart. On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait with the following inscription: “James Butler Bonham—no picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by the family that people may know the appearance of the man who died for freedom.” The Jesus that the world needs to see is not in the outward appearances of religious hypocrisies. The Jesus the world needs to see is in the character we develop by practicing the truth in our lives. The light reveals integrity and honesty. The earlier the light comes in your life, the earlier you will be able to change those areas of your life that do not accurately reflect the presence of Christ.

Patterns of Movement

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV). One of the necessities for successful hunting is to learn the patterns movement of the game you are pursuing. Since it is winter and my attention is turned to the past hunting season. Perhaps I can make next season even better than this past one! This in turn caused me to think about the patterns of life we have adopted also. We all have them. They are our habits. Some of them are good. Others are not. When my children were younger, I enjoyed taking them to school. It provided me another opportunity to help them have a good start to their day. I remember when David was little; one dad brought his daughter late nearly every day. At best, they barely beat the tardy bell. Each morning they went through the same routine. Dad got out quickly. He hurried toward the front door, leaving his young daughter to get her lunch box and books by herself. Taking big, fast, long adult strides, he gruffly barked at her to hurry up. “You don’t want to be late,” he always scolded her. She hurried to catch up. He opened the school door for her and they disappeared. It was their daily pattern. . We’ve seen it a million times with different specifics. People tend to fall into a pattern of daily activity. Most of the time these habits are harmless, however, at other times they are not. I’m sure the dad thought he was doing something special for his little girl by walking her to class. I’m sure he loved her very much and wanted her to have a great day. I’m sure he wanted her to be confident and excited about her schoolwork. I’m sure he didn't know how hurtful his treatment of her was. But he was in a rut, a habit that’s so ingrained he didn’t think about its consequences. We live so much of our lives on autopilot! We often sit in the same place, eat at the same restaurant, visit with the same people, drive the same way to work, watch the same TV shows, get up at the same time, and even wear the same clothes. Most of this is not bad. Putting unimportant things on autopilot allows us to devote our energy and attention to new things, important projects, and needed creativity. But we must turn off autopilot in our precious relationships. We get in predictable routines, bad habits, and destructive patterns in our relationships with our spouse, children, parents, and friends. Our loved ones feel taken for granted. Underneath the surface we catch ourselves not listening as we should, or expecting them to understand us being “just a little late” again, or surfing the net, or watching TV, pretending to pay attention to them, or using them as the butt of another of our jokes “to liven up a dull party.” We’ve fallen into a bad rut that runs over the ones we most love. We can break those patterns. First, notice what you do with your loved ones in your daily routines. Check out the patterns and habits and see if you can catch some things you'd like to change. Second, try to do something new, something fresh, for each of the people you love each month. It won’t be extravagant, just out of the routine. Third, really listen to them. Listen for the mood they’re in, find out about their day, say things they need to hear, and don’t try to tell them what to do so much as let them know you care what happened. Change your pattern of movement. You will like the difference it makes! Follow God’s example of unfailing love.

An Amazing Gift

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. (1 John 1:1-4 ESV). It is an amazing thought! Words are so powerful. I can write a sequence of words, have them put on a web page and people I’ve never met, people from all over the world, can read those word and know what I’m saying! The gifts of words, language, and reading are incredible! Language is one of our greatest gifts as humans. It enables us to capture a collection of words, translate them into thoughts, and then understand a message. God loved us so much, that He chose this gift to be a vehicle of communication to us. God could have made it so much more difficult to know Him. He could have revealed Himself in the mysteries of the universe so that only a scientist could know Him. Or, he could have revealed Himself in philosophy so that only philosophers could know Him. He could have revealed Himself in psychology and then no one would have been able to know Him! But God chose to reveal Himself in human words so we could all know him. The Bible contains God’s words for us. The Bible tells us of God’s work in our world. It speaks of His majesty, greatness and might. The Scriptures declare His work in history. That He would communicate with us, in words we can understand, at the level of our intellect, says something very important to us about Him and His love for us. John declares that this communication of God to us is a means of completing his joy. That is due to the fact that through an understanding of God’s message comes and understanding of God. That leads us to a restoration of our broken relationship with God and eternal life. So the next time you read the story of Jesus, be reminded of God's three great gifts to us. First, He has given us the ability to read words. Let's use and enjoy this incredible gift. Second, He spoke to us with words in the Bible to teach us about Himself and His will. We must never underestimate the importance of having a book written in human words to reveal the divine will. With Bibles so readily available, we must take advantage of this gift. Third, God sent his Son as the final Word to not only tell us, but also show us how much He love us!

Who Are 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. (1 John 3:14-18 ESV). We reveal our identity in many different ways. Clothes tell something about our occupation or the group with whom we associate. Accents reveal where we live or where we grew up. Business cards reveal our occupation and phone numbers. Bio sheets tell about our education and job experience. John says Christians are identified by one particular trait. It is the one unmistakably accurate way others can know we belong to him: If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves we have passed from death to eternal life. Recently I read a powerful story that illustrates this truth. On August 28, 1993, Mark Knutson was diagnosed with cancer. It was an especially bad form of cancer and he was already in the latter stages of it. He wasn’t given long to live. Mark was not well enough to receive visitors. He worried about his wife and two children. How would they hold up? Would they be loved and supported through his ordeal? On September 19, he received his answer. The Knutson family opened the window and saw the street filled with Christian friends. After completely encircling the house, the people joined hands and prayed. They prayed for Mark. They prayed for his family. They prayed for grace and strength. They let the Knutson family know they were loved. Unlike so many modern displays of concern, their care didn’t end with one public display. For the next six weeks, groups from 2 to 20 would pray for Mark and his family in the corner of the yard. They kept a prayer register on the back porch so Mark could know who had been there without disturbing him. Some faithfully sent cards of concern and support while others helped with transportation and other needs of the Knutson’s children. The Knutson family said, “We truly felt a hedge of love encircling our home.” In a world of self-interest, there is still one distinguishing mark for a Christian. It isn't the sign in front of our church building, the bumper sticker on our car, the fish ring on our finger, or the crucifix we wear around our neck. Our real identity is demonstrated when we actively and consistently love each other. Let’s make sure the proof of our discipleship is showing! Who do you know that needs your love today?

Assiciated Program Not Found

Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! (Mark 7:1-9 ESV). The Directory was named C:\BUSINESS\PROJ3\LETTRS\ARCHIVE and the creation date was July 12, 1998. I opened the directory and looked over the filenames trying to figure out what the files were. I could not remember. I tried to open one of the files, but received the "Associated Program Not Found" message and realized I had deleted the old word processor used to create these files several years ago. I pondered for a few seconds concerning what to do with these orphaned files. When I checked how little disk space they were occupying, I decided to just leave them there. I never delete anything. I still have old CPUs that run only on DOS 2.1.1! My garage and Kyle’s basement are full of things I might need someday! Life is a never-ending series of choices concerning letting go and holding on. For all people, regardless of social status, personality types, or religious beliefs, each day presents us with choices regarding what we will let go of, and what we will hold on to. Who we are, what we believe about ourselves, and most importantly, what we believe about God, is reflected in these choices. For those in the time of Christ, the traditions and the ways of man were of highest priority. And because it is impossible to choose both the way of God and the way of man, they chose the way of their own making. The way that was most comfortable to them. The way they could control. Perhaps the life we live indicates that we have made the same choice. Letting go and holding on. It sounds so simple; yet it is so difficult. Use this prayer as a commitment this morning: Father, help me this week to let go of all that I have created, and turn to You; all the things that I have told myself that I need; all of my man-made and man-focused traditions that help me feel safe and secure; all the distractions that keep me from You. Help me to hold on to You, and to be comforted in the knowledge that You are holding on to me.

Chasing the Blues Away

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14 ESV). Everyone experiences those times when stress builds up and causes some degree of depression. It is those times when we need to find that narrow gate and chase the blues away! Jesus wants all of us to experience abundant life. Sometimes all you need is a little conversation, with a friend or even alone, to make a stressful day seem far away. With a worry-free mind you can accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Here are some practical suggestions: 1. First, call a friend. After a long day of working, thinking, or battling against all odds, your mind and body have taken quite a beating. It feels like you could just slump into the couch and never move again. Well, the bad news is you have to move again but not very far. Just far enough to reach the phone. Don’t be tempted to just wait for someone to call you. Call them. Call up a close friend, preferably someone who is good at listening and talk out your stressful circumstances. You have to have the right phone companion for this to work. Some people don't especially enjoy hearing about other people's problems. Complaining isn't the key to a stress-free life, but talking things out with a good friend is good advice to follow. 2. Second, write a letter. If no one is home or the phone is too far out of reach, write a letter. The idea is to get your thoughts out on paper so your mind can rest and you can put some concrete words behind your foggy worries. Once your letter is complete, the job will have been done. I have known many people who write letters that they never send. The act of writing the letter is enough for them to turn their stress into peace of mind. 3. Third, write in a journal. If you find that writing letters you never send works well for you, try writing in a journal. This is a quick and easy way to get your thoughts out into the open. Many times once you see what you have been stressed about written down, it doesn't seem as important. Stress has an unfair advantage. It’s like wrestling with a pig…you both get all dirty and the pig likes it. The wonder of the life that Jesus offers to us is that we no longer need to wrestle with that pig! There is now a choice to make. Before we had the presence of Christ living within us, we were powerless against the enemy. Now, we have all that we need to walk the narrow road to life. Which road are you on today? Maybe you need to chase your blues away. Try these practical suggestions, liberally applied with prayer and faith in Christ. It will make a difference!

Giving and Taking

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:1-5 ESV). How do you think the Disciples felt? Their Savior, the one who had made the lame walk, the blind see, and the dead come to life, was carefully washing their ugly, dirty, rough, callused feet. Were they humbled by his presence, embarrassed by his touch, inspired by his service, or moved by his love? The emotions must have been overwhelming. Through this simple act of kindness and generosity, Jesus is teaching two important lessons. 1. First, Jesus teaches that we are to nurture one another through service toward one another. He says, “If I then your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” God commands us to serve even the least of these, the hungry, the hurting, the poor, and the unlovable. We are to overcome our pride and selfishness and serve others. 2. Secondly, Jesus is teaching us to be gracious and thankful recipients of, not only Gods’ blessings, but also of the acts of kindness bestowed upon us by others. Stop and notice the random and intentional acts of kindness you receive from others. Accept these acts as gifts from God. He intentionally gives us friends, family, a church and a community so that we may care for and nurture one another. God intends that we sometimes be the givers; sometimes we are to be the takers. There is a time for both in our lives. It is a great tragedy is when we become so self-centered that we do not give to others. However, we also need to learn to receive from others. In Tennessee Williams' play "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof," the redemptive power of patient love wins. In the play, Brock, the son, tries to escape all his problems with himself, his wife, his father and his work with alcohol. The father, Big Daddy, in his rough profane way is deeply concerned for his son. Big Daddy pursues his son through every kind of evasion and rationalization, trying to break through to him. Nothing the son says is sufficient to turn the father away. He could easily have avoided the pain by abandoning his sick son. Instead, he hammers at the door of Brock's life with a love that is willing to accept every rejection that his son can offer. Finally his love and patients breaks through to his son and Brock is restored to life with his family and his work. That's the kind of love that God has for us. A love that never quits, breaking down our barriers, wooing us gently, patiently, with long suffering, urging us to trust Him. Receive that love today so that you can be the giver of it to others.

God's Invirtation

And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:1-14 ESV). This is actually two parables, both in accordance with Jewish custom, about the Kingdom of God. In them, the invited guests to the wedding feast for the king’s son refuse to come. Again, after everything was prepared, the final summons was delivered. The guests still refuse the invitation. After the king had the original invitees killed, he told his servants to go out and invite all they found. William Barclay says, "this parable has much to say on a much wider scale" by reminding us that: God's invitation is to JOY. "It is to joy that the Christian is invited; and it is joy he missed, if he refuses the invitation." God wants us to realize the wonders of eternal life. The people, who refused the king's invitation, lost the joy of the wedding. We allow ourselves to become so involved with the present we ignore the future. "... Some day our greatest pain will lie, not in the things we suffer, but in the realization of the precious things we have missed." Most importantly God's invitation is also an invitation of GRACE. In the latter verses of the parable Jesus describes a guest who came to the wedding without the proper garment. The king orders him bound and thrown into darkness. The garment, of course, represents the preparation each person should make in order to respond to God's invitation. The way we come to God often demonstrates our preparation. You have been issued an invitation to the greatest of all celebrations. Have you prepared yourself?