Unanimous

So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16 ESV). I heard what I thought was a very funny commercial on the radio the other day. The announcer was discussing something with a fictional organization he called “Unanimous Anonymous.” It was a support group patterned after “Alcoholics Anonymous,” but for people who always agreed with you. I was so funny that I don’t have the slightest idea what product and/or brand name they were promoting. However, this ad reminded me of people who always agree with everything you say, whether they mean it or not. These are the “golden retrievers” of life who always want to please you. They will give you the answer they think you want. They fall over backwards to help you even when you don't want their help. Or give you things you don't even want. I'm sure you've met one or two in your life. Sometimes these people are untrue to their own self because they are very insecure and have an over-zealous need to please just about everybody in a vain attempt to get approval which they substitute for love. Sometimes they don't have a healthy sense of self-love and acceptance. The reality is that until we can love and accept ourselves in a healthy way, we cannot fully love and accept anyone else because we can't give what we don't have. The way we grow in self-love starts by getting real; that is, by being honest with ourselves and admitting that we feel insecure and don't have a healthy sense of self-love and acceptance. Once I admit that I feel insecure, I can stop trying to prove to myself that I'm okay and get off the endless merry-go-round of trying to please everyone. This can be incredibly liberating. Furthermore, it's the only way I can do anything about my problem. Then I need to admit how I really feel to at least one or two trusted, non-judgmental and supportive friends who won't judge me or tell me I shouldn't feel the way I do. (I feel the way I do because of who I am which has nothing to do with whether I should or shouldn't feel the way I feel. When I am courageously open and honest about myself with these trusted friends and they love and accept me exactly as I am, little by little in time I learn to love and accept myself. It also helps to realize that God loves and accepts us exactly as we are. But he also loves us too much to leave us as we are. He wants us to grow and become whole so his love can flow freely through us to others. However, until we love and accept ourselves God's love is blocked or hindered from flowing freely through us.

Dry Inside and Out

They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 7:12 ESV). One of my favorite movies is The Godfather. If you have ever watched any of the three in the trilogy you may remember the scene in Part III when the Godfather, Don Corleone, is forced to visit the distinguished Cardinal Lamberto to tell him the bad news that a legitimate business deal involving the Vatican Bank has gone bad. The Archbishop and a coalition of Catholic businessmen run the bank. The Cardinal listens to the Godfather; then he says something quite profound. He picks up a stone and says, “Look at this stone. It has been lying in the water for a very long time. The water has not penetrated it.” Then he smashes the stone. “Look,” he says peering at the smashed insides of the stone, “perfectly dry. The same thing,” the Cardinal continues, “has happened to men in Europe. They have been surrounded by Christianity for centuries, but Christ does not live in their hearts.” This is exactly what happened at the Temple in Jesus' time. There were people there who had been surrounded by the Temple for years, but the God of the Temple had not been allowed to enter their lives nor penetrate their hearts. They had the form of godliness, but not the real thing (cf. 2 Timothy 3:5). Many people attempt to hide from God in church or in some religious ritual. And like so many in Jesus' day the hardest hearts may not be among the ungodly, but among the religious who have all the outward trappings of the godly, but their hearts, like stones, are hard and cold, and they know not God. Very interesting too that the Apostle Paul wrote "there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be … without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them" (cf. 2 Timothy 3:1-5). How dry are you? I do believe that we are living in unusual days. They may be the last days spoken of in the Scripture. Whether they are or not, we cannot deny the importance of turning our attention to Christ. Surrounding ourselves with the trappings of religion is the worst mistake we may make. The reality of Christ in our lives is the only means to true happiness. Start fresh today and invite the Holy Spirit into your inner being. Let the presence of God transform your thoughts and actions. It will amaze you what a difference it will make.

On a Leash

And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. (Luke 11:46 ESV). I am so thankful for the peace and freedom that God has given me. That thought is even more vivid this morning as I remember the days before our dog, Cruise, died. It was necessary that I walk him on his leash each morning. You could see me as I patiently waited for him to do the necessary things that dogs do on walks. In his younger, healthier years he would sniff the grass, deposit some items, checked out a shrub or flower, and prance his way down the walk. I realized how unlike a dog he was. If Cruise were not on the leash, he would be running, rolling, and dashing off. I began to think of the necessity of the leash. A couple thoughts came to mind. Domestication for dogs in captivity is necessary. Domesticating a dog is training it to be a little less like a dog and a little more like a human. Domesticating is also training the human to be a little more mindful the dog has needs and is never going to be human. We as humans keep animals in an unnatural environment, mostly indoors, and in the box that we call home which is "our" comfort level. We want companionship at a level that is convenient for us which causes unnatural rules and behavior for the animals we keep. Jesus blended into the common people and met them where they were bringing freedom to the captive. For people like a blind man at a city gate, a woman at a well, and a man that had been dead for three days Jesus gave them all they had ever wanted. From what we know of Jesus' daily life he had no set schedule, instead as He went about His day He gave the people that He came on their hearts wants. Jesus did not have a special appearance but instead looked like those who were common. When was the last time that we gave someone their hearts desire simply because they asked for it? No leashes, no laws, no stipulations, only that which they want more than anything else and everything to carry out that desire. Have you received your hearts desire lately? I wonder if when we do things for people we do them with only our agenda and goals in mind. Is it that we only do for others so we get something out of it ourselves? Look at Jesus’ message to the religious rulers of his time in our reading again. They were only thinking of themselves and not the people that they were serving. It is interesting that it was the common people who recognized Jesus for whom He was and the religious leaders, full of biblical knowledge who nailed Jesus to a cross. Is it possible for us to make an acquaintance with a person and our only motive being to serve them with what they need and want, never mentioning our position, our knowledge, or our needs? Meeting human needs was a daily activity that Jesus was consistent in and still is today. The religious leaders were full of book knowledge but when it came to meeting human needs, they crushed the people beneath religious demands but never willing to help. Will you be a person who becomes a common person not bound up in religious laws and controls and instead brings freedom to those who are in need of a miracle? Be a person who makes your daily activities meeting human needs, giving God glory through your serving.

Product Branding

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:1-6 ESV). Many years ago I was a part of an advertising group. It was called a “Local Marketing Group.” It was composed of the Dealers and/or General Managers of most of the Chevrolet dealerships in the DFW market area. One of the topics we discussed was product branding. That is the process of advertising that makes the product so recognizable that when a consumer sees an image they automatically think of a specific product. One of the best examples is the “Golden Arches.” Just about everyone who sees that symbol knows that they represent McDonalds. That’s branding. In one of our meetings we heard from an author named Faith Popcorn. Faith Popcorn is well known to people in marketing. In fact, Fortune Magazine called her "the Nostradamas of marketing." She has a phenomenal track record for predicting the future trends that are going to effect our lives. In her book, she listed several trends. One that was very intriguing she called anchoring. She described the search for something we can count on to anchor our lives in an increasingly uncertain and unpredictable world. She said, "There is a new trend about the inner spirit called anchoring. The search for life's anchor is a must for filling the void that so many are feeling. We're looking for ourselves, our lost souls. A relationship with the divine, may be the ultimate expression of anchoring." Does that sound like anything that's going on inside of you? I think we know that the anchor is going to be a person, an anchor relationship that we know will be permanent. Often the word "anchor" wouldn't describe our relationships for the most part. Many relationships today would better be described as superficial, disappointing. The result is a deepening loneliness. The writer of our reading today states the “branding” strategy of Christianity. We ought to be known as people who love one another. If ever there was a need for us to support and encourage one another; it is this day in which we live. What is your relationship to others? How does your church practice “anchoring”? It really is not just an advertising ploy. It is the heart of the Gospel. We should be known as a people of love!

The Blood of the Lamb

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:11-18 ESV). The beautiful, green hills of New Zealand, a country known for its sheep industry, are dotted everywhere with white sheep. During the yearly lambing season, thousands of baby lambs are born. Unfortunately, some lambs die at birth. Many mother sheep are also lost during lambing season; they die giving birth. In an attempt to save the orphaned lambs, the shepherds match baby lambs that have lost their mothers with mother sheep who have lost their lambs. It's not as easy as it sounds, though, since a mother sheep won't accept a lamb and nurse it unless it is her own. They use a very interesting method to induce the ewes to accept the orphaned lambs. The process is as old as shepherding itself. The mother's own lamb, which has died, is skinned, and the skin of the dead lamb is draped over the living lamb as it is placed by the adoptive mother's side. The mother sheep then smells the skin and accepts the orphaned lamb as her own. From that moment on there is an unbreakable bond established. Lambing season in New Zealand reminds us of what was done for us on a cross two thousand years ago. When the Apostle John wrote of being saved by "the blood of the Lamb," it was in terms that people in agrarian societies vividly understood. The Apostle Paul emphasized this in our reading this morning. Because of Christ's blood, God accepts us as His own. Once we were orphans, but now we are God's adopted children. What a marvelous thought to end this week with! We had no parents until God through Jesus Christ adopted us. The only hope we had was that of death and all of its pain. Now through Christ we have the hope of eternal life as the children of God. That is the adoption we have received in the grace of God extended to us in the death of Jesus.

Transfiguration

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. (Mark 9:2-8 ESV). The Transfiguration of Jesus is one of the most spectacular events recorded in the Gospels. The word transfiguration really means metamorphosis. It is about change! The times of change in our lives are often difficult and always stressful. A few years ago, I took a little test at a workshop about the various things that had been happening in my life. Some of them were positive, like receiving an award; others were not so positive, like the loss of a relative or other difficult changes. When the workshop participants had completed the test, numbers were given to each of the items we had checked and we were asked to total our scores. If we had scored above 150, we learned that we were experiencing a lot of stress in our lives. I won’t disclose my score, but I can tell you it indicated there were a lot of changes going on in my life that year! The positive things that happen in our life – positive changes – provide stress as well as the negative things. I had never suspected that. But it makes sense. All change provides some sort of stress. Even the positive things that happen in our lives do. There are so many changes, so many adjustments that we are called on to make in our lives. At times, it seems overwhelming and difficult. However, life is about “transfiguration.” There are new friends, new experiences, and new challenges with each new day. So many of the experiences are wonderful. Some are difficult. All are stressful. I have learned, through all the changes of life, the important lesson that it is not necessary to go through any stressful change alone. For people of faith, there are spiritual resources through prayer and meditation that provide a sense of a shared journey with God. For Christians, there is a very real sense that Jesus has gone before us in all the things that we face, and that our trust in him assures us that we, too, can prevail over any obstacle. That’s the message in our reading this morning: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.” As wonderful as it was to see Moses and Elijah, they were merely secondary to Jesus! There is no need to be alone. Ever!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

He who has ears to hear, let him hear. “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” (Matthew 11:15-26 ESV). One of the more lovable men on TV is weatherman Al Roker on the "Today" show. I am sure you have noticed how much weight he has lost. In an interview some time ago, he said that he weighed in at over 300 pounds, at only 5' 8". The radical surgery he underwent was done after a lengthy process of examination. He had tried many diets and exercise programs over the years, but none of them seemed to work. I had wondered what had caused him to go through such extreme measures. When I heard the interview, I understood very clearly. It seems his daughter saw him without a shirt one day and remarked at how big he was. It was the kind of remark only a young child could get away with, in their innocence. The Bible has a wonderful story that emphasizes this truth (cf. Genesis 5). "When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah." It says, "after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God." Enoch lived for the first 65 years of his life with no mention of a relationship with God. Then, suddenly, he starts walking with God, and continues to have this intimate relationship with his Creator for the rest of his life. What was the catalyst that changed Enoch? The same thing that changed Al, it was his child. There is something about a child that makes you start thinking about yourself in ways you may not have thought before. They have a way of seeing the truth without any encumbrances. That’s the impact of the truth in our reading this morning. We need that kind of truth in our lives to measure ourselves. When we do, usually we consider looking to God, as we may have never done before. That brings us to a cry of "Help." The good news is that God stands ready to answer our cry for help. Let the simplicity of the Scripture show you the weight of your own self-centeredness, your unresolved issues, your dark side. In spite of your sin, God loves you and He wants to walk with you. The Bible says, "You who were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." It is so simple and yet so often overlooked!

Keep It Simple

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11 ESV). Recently I found some old notes from one of my dear friends, Kent Marrs. It contained “The Ten Commandments in Cajun.” It may not be “politically correct,” but it spoke to me in several ways. First, let me list them for you to read them: 1. God is number one... and das' All. 2. Don't pray to nuthin' or nobody... jus' God. 3. Don't cuss nobody... 'specially da Good Lord. 4. When it be Sunday... put yo'self in God's House. 5. Yo mama an' yo daddy dun did it all... lissen to dem. 6. Killin' duck an' fish, das' OK... people - No! 7. God done give you a wife... sleep wit' jus' her. 8. Don't take nobody's boat... or nuttin' else. 9. Don't go wantin' somebody's stuff. 10. Stop lyin'... yo tongue gonna fall out yo mouf. They are offered not in ridicule of any culture, but as an example of how simple the commandments of God really are. It is not complicated philosophy or theology. As the psalmist says in our reading this morning: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” I need it to be simple. Not long ago Mary and I went shopping to purchase a new patio set. We looked at several different “big box” stores. We finally found one we liked; however, they only had the floor model and could not sell it. So, we travelled to a nearby city and did find it at that location. The problem: it required home assembly! Being somewhat handy with that sort of thing, I thought it would be no problem at all. However, after unpacking all the pieces, it became very apparent that I needed to follow the instructions! I did and everything turned out perfect, even though it took nearly four hours! I shouldn’t have been surprised, though I was. Whenever we follow the manufacturer’s instructions usually the project turns out just fine. So it is with God’s instructions for our lives. It isn’t complicated. Keep it simple and follow His ways. It will bring you “great reward.” Make that your commitment this Lenten season. Focus on those things and receive the joy He desires to pour into your heart!

Our Freedom in Christ

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:7-10 ESV). The Gospel is easy to outline, though often difficult to explain. When I first began in the pastorate I used the following outline to concisely present the essentials of the message of God’s grace. It has changed little as the years have passed, although I have adapted it to fit the circumstance on occasion. It has five points: 1. This is God's world. 2. We have lost eternity. 3. God in Christ has sorted out our problem. 4. In Christ we may possess life eternal. 5. We receive God's gift of life through faith, which is a gift of God. The center of the gospel is the resurrection of Jesus and the consequent blessings that flow from this. The substance of God's blessing is his free gift of grace in Christ. “Because he lives we may live also." I sum this truth up with five sub points:  A new friendship with God.  A new life-style.  A new freedom.  A new community to be part of.  The hope of a New World. The second sub point in this gospel presentation affirms freedom. This is pure John Stott, in fact, he sees this as the central statement of the gospel, freedom from guilt, self and fears. I can't think of any better way of saying it, so I use it. This world cries out for freedom. In Christ we are offered the gift of freedom. Freedom from the dominance of self, of the psyche. Freedom from guilt and condemnation, forgiven. Freedom from the fear of judgment, loss, death. Of course, it is not just unbelievers who cry out for freedom. I believe Christians find themselves enslaved, as do unbelievers, yet the slavery is different. We are enslaved to our piety, to Sunday religion. Our reading this morning reminds us that Jesus functions as a High Priest. That is, he stands between God and ourselves and gains for us a right of approach to the throne of God. The point our writer wants to drive home to us is that Jesus has experienced all the limitations of humanity. He understands our weakness and identifies with it, for he was "tempted in every way as we are". He cannot be horrified by our sin. He has felt everything that we feel. The only difference between him and us is that he is "without sin." Therefore, we need have no hesitation to come before God's throne and cry for mercy. We don't have to ask twice for forgiveness. Jesus is a perfect High Priest. He is sinless and therefore, his sacrifice upon the cross did not have to be applied to his own sin, but could be fully applied to ours. In him is forgiveness, and in forgiveness there is freedom. Christ is the "source of eternal salvation" therefore we are eternally free. Trust in THE High Priest and celebrate your freedom today!

Metal Detectors and Searches

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139:1-10 ESV). It has been a while since I boarded a plane for an international destination. However, last year when I flew to the Ukraine for a ministry opportunity, I went through several “searches.” I am very glad about the increased security in our day. It gives me a feeling of safety. However, there are those times when I face a search and wonder if I will “pass.” I remember the drill well. I took all the keys and metal objects that I thought might set the machine off and passed them around through the security guard and still did not pass the first time through! I had forgotten to take my pen out of my pocket! What a relief when I stepped back through and passed! What comes to mind when you think of being searched? When the police search someone, it usually involves checking to see if they have something in their possession that they should not, like Illegal drugs, concealed weapons, or some incriminating evidence. When a doctor searches someone, they might use a scanner or a stethoscope or even a small camera to go inside of us and look around. Is there a disease or a tumor or an extra organ that needs to be removed! Our reading today talks about the search of God into our hearts. When God searches, he is not looking for external characteristics, or hidden contraband, or even internal body parts. God searches the soul and the heart and what He finds tells Him everything there is to know about us. He searches us; He knows us. Like a mother knows the cry of her child above all others. Like a couple knows the meaning in each other's eyes. Like a child knows his father's voice. There is nothing quite as frustrating as being misunderstood. Sometime we lack the ability to explain ourselves. Sometime others lack the ability to understand what we are going through. But God searches, He knows, He understands. To some it may be scary to be known so completely, to be understood so perfectly. But it is also reassuring to know that there is always One to whom you can go and never be misunderstood, never be rejected, never be left out because you just don't fit in. On this fourth day of Lent, rejoice in the knowledge that God searches you, and knows you, and loves you and desires to guide you in your life.

Phishing

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:7-9 ESV). An article in Newsweek Business say that cyber criminals are masquerading as legitimate banks and online retailers to collect personal information from unwitting customers, “phishing.” Here’s an excerpt from the article: You may have received one of these emails. The e-mail seems legitimate. The logo and the return address match your bank’s, and the official-looking letter below warns that fraudulent activity has been detected in some of the bank’s accounts. It asks you to click on a link below, check your account balances, and report any signs of fraud. Should you follow the instructions, however, you may unwittingly become the victim of fraud. The e-mail is actually a counterfeit `spoof’ and the link leads to a Web site that looks like your bank's, right down to the URL address that appears in the window. But it’s actually the creation of tech savvy cyber-criminals who are forging legitimate logos, Web sites, and links, even URL addresses (hiding the actual Web address and substituting a fake URL that matches a legitimate address) to try and get recipients to give up personal and financial information. The first of these so-called "phishing" attacks were publicized in 2004 when an Australian bank was targeted. Other banks, insurance companies, e-commerce sites and online retailers around the world from eBay to PayPal to Visa International have since been hit. But security officials say criminals have stepped up their efforts in recent years, with increasingly sophisticated and pervasive attacks. The Devil also has his ways of “phishing” in our lives. It is not necessarily electronic subterfuge, but every bit as dangerous and destructive. His temptations always seem to be justifiable. In his book, Men at Work, George F. Will takes a close look at four baseball players. One of those examined is Orel Hershiser, who talks about his philosophy of pitching. He said, “There are two theories of pitching. One is that you try to convince the batter that a particular pitch is coming and you throw something different. The other theory that you don’t hear as much, but that I use is that if the batter expects a particular pitch, you throw it, but you throw it in a place where he can’t hit it. That is: Know what a batter wants or expects and throw the ball almost there. If he is a highball hitter, throw it a bit too high. His eagerness will prevent him from laying off it, but it will be hard to hit well.” Isn’t that the way the devil works in our life? He knows just what kind of pitch that we are a sucker for and then throws it our way. But, it is just a little higher or just a little bit more outside than where we like it, and most likely we will bite on it every time. After all, it looks so good. It feels so right. Be careful of his “phishing” attacks!

Ite?

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. (Proverbs 25:11 ESV). Some time ago, while in another city, I entered an elevator with an attendant. It wasn’t crowded although there was another man who entered with me who was obviously from Australia. His accent was very distinctive. As he entered behind me, he announced, "Eighth floor, please!" "What?" he queried. "Eight," he repeated in his best Australian English. The attendant said, "Ite? What's ite?" After making several more futile attempts he said, "The one after seven, please." The attendant said, "Ooooh, you want aaate!" I couldn’t contain my laughter any longer. We all had a good laugh and the elevator began to ascend! At best, communication can be very difficult, at worst disastrous. Just because I have spoken doesn't mean I have communicated. To communicate effectively means that the listener needs to hear and understand my message as closely as possible to what I meant it to be. In our dealership we have extensive procedures in place to make sure that our communication is clear and understood. Even then there are times when we are misunderstood. Those times can usually be overcome. However, there are other times when they cannot. When used poorly, words can confuse and mislead, or used bitterly, they can cut and hurt deeply. But, when words are used wisely and powerfully, they can move much more than mountains, they can move men and nations! We don't have to be eloquent to give a kind word, a loving word, an encouraging word, a complimentary word, an affirming word, and a hopeful word. They cost nothing to give but are worth their weight in gold. Or as our reading today indicates, they are as golden apples set in silver bowls. Dale Carnegie said, “You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world's happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.” Perhaps there is someone who will pass through your life today looking for a few kind words. You may need to slow down to see them. Usually they are not obvious to the casual observer. However, if you will look, you’ll see them. Use the power of kind words to give them an invaluable gift of hope and encouragement. It won’t really cost you anything, but it will be worth more than anything!

The Welathiest People in the World

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:15-21 ESV). After two years of falling fortunes, the collective net worth of the world's billionaires jumped half a trillion dollars in 2004, to $1.9 trillion. The biggest gainer in sheer dollars was Warren Buffett, who added $12.4 billion to his net worth and now is only a few billion dollars shy of ending Bill Gates' 10-year reign as the richest person on the planet. This year, Forbes reports a record 587 billionaires, including 64 newcomers hailing from 19 countries. Thanks to rising oil prices, Russia minted eight new billionaires and now has a total of 25, the third-highest concentration in the world. Twenty-three of them live in Moscow, ranking it second behind New York as the city with the most billionaire residents. Hong Kong and Paris follow. The youngest billionaire is Prince Albert Thurn und Taxis, just 20 and ranked No. 262 with a fortune of $2.1 billion. Compare that with the average age of all billionaires, which is 64, and an average net worth of $3.3 billion. Not a bad start. Perhaps the most surprising to make the list at number 552 is former welfare mother J. K. Rowling with the huge success of her “Harry Potter” series of books. I happen to know one of the people on this list. In fact she is ranked sixth by Forbes. She lives in Parker County where we lived for seventeen years. She is the heiress to Sam Walton’s fortune; the founder of Wal-Mart. Forbes estimates her wealth at 20 billion dollars! I can’t even imagine that amount of money! However, the article began me thinking about money and happiness. Jesus’ teaching is very clear; money is not the answer to our quest for happiness. 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, and 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: he 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; and, the head of the world’s greatest monopoly, Ivar Drueger, committed suicide. There are many “lists” in life. However, there is only one list that will count for eternity. That one is contained in the Book of Life. The measurement used for that list is not our wealth, our talent, our intelligence, or our accomplishments. You may only be listed there if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ. If you make that list, you will be one of the wealthiest people in the world! What list are you on?

In Control

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him. (Colossians 1:15-22 ESV). Recently I was reminded of my days as a Student Director on a college campus. One of my duties there was to teach college level religion classes. I remember one semester of “The Life and Times of the Apostle Paul” as we came to Ephesians I wanted to illustrate the concept of grace. I gave the class a quiz in which I asked them to write their thoughts about the subject in 100 words. They had the entire period to compose their essay. As the period drew to a close and I received the papers, I asked the class to remain for a moment. Without reading a single paper I tore them all in half and threw them in the trash. Then I announced that everyone present that day would receive an “A” on the quiz. I then explained that was how God gave us his grace. No matter how hard we try, we can’t earn it. He just gives it! It was amazing to see their reaction. Some thought it was a joke. Others couldn’t believe that I would do that. It is human nature to want to earn our way. We want to be even. We don’t want to owe anyone anything. I paid for another person’s lunch the other day. He wasn’t with me, just in the same restaurant. After lunch he called me and offered to pay me for his meal. He was angry that I had paid for his lunch! I simply said that if he needed to spend that money he should go give it to a charity, his lunch was already paid for. We all have a lot of bills with God. We can't pay those either. We want to control everything. It's the adult child syndrome. We're big into control. Did you hear about the man in India who was making a trip across the entirety of the nation? Everything he owned was in a suitcase. He put the suitcase in a rack on the train above where he was sitting and he put his eyes on the suite case because everything he owned was in the suite case and he knew there were thieves on the train. It was two o'clock in the morning when he simply couldn't keep his eyes open any longer. For just a few seconds he drifted off and when he opened his eyes, the suite case was gone. He then said out loud, "Thank God, now I can go to sleep." You don't control anything. You're not big enough. The powers are far beyond you. Now isn't that a relief? You can go to sleep. God is in charge.

Taxes and Stress

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. (Proverbs 12:24-26 ESV). Today is tax day for many people. It is a stressful day for many people. I saw some tips lately from a book, Why Make Yourself Crazy? 100 Ways to Rid your Life of Needless Stress by G. Gaynor McTigue. Perhaps they will be as helpful to you as they were me: 1. Do one thing at a time. We are experts at multitasking; however, it often leads to mistakes, or unreliable performance. While you might want to argue with that, it probably depends on the job and what machinery is involved. The point is that when we are doing too many things at once, we lose the satisfaction of focusing on a job, giving it our total attention, and doing it well, and then finishing and moving on to the next thing. I do think that multitasking adds seriously to our level of stress these days. McTigue emphasizes, "Enjoy the experience. Why make yourself crazy?" 2. Throw something out every day. McTigue says, "You've got too much stuff in your house. Office. Garage. Attic. Useless clutter that weighs you down, getting in the way, obscuring the things you really need. Be realistic. If you're not going to use it, lose it." Or give it away. Just getting rid of one thing a day should help to keep the clutter under control. 3. Eliminate meaningless deadlines or useless meetings. Our life is full of deadlines. Arbitrary and unrealistic time constraints imposed by ourselves and others that serve only to make us more pressured, anxious, or stressed out. We can save our stress energy for the truly immutable deadlines, like tax day, or Christmas. 4. Don't be so self-conscious. Most people aren't judging you. In fact, they're usually so wrapped up in the business at hand, or in their own image, they're barely noticing what you're wearing, how you're coming off, or that everything isn't just so. Lighten up on yourself. 5. Just do it. This may seem like a contradiction to the above, but rather than procrastinate over something you have to do and stress out about it, just do it. Usually the time spent stewing and brewing is longer and more stressful than just tackling the job and getting it done. Or chop the job down to manageable, bite size portions. 6. Spend some time doing nothing. Spring is full of chores to be done. There is gardening and summer schedule is ramping up. But do take time to just be, hang out, read, sleep, relax, meditate, and focus on God. This is easier for some of us than others. But we all benefit from taking a little time to do nothing at all. Our reading today comes from the wisdom of Proverbs. It speaks of a balance in our lives. In today’s world, our concern is not doing nothing, but doing everything! Take a little time and reevaluate your stress levels. Eliminate those that you have control over. You will be healthier and happier!

Spring Turkey Season

“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). Spring means many things. One of those things is the coming of Turkey season. One of the nice things about that is that it gives me an excuse to get out in the woods again. I like to go and walk around at this time of the year. Meandering along some of the deer trails will reveal many things that I did not see during the fall and early winter season. If I go slowly enough and look carefully along the way, I may be lucky enough to find some shed antlers. Two things are important about this. First I can learn what kind of bucks survived the winter. And, second, I may learn which areas are most frequented by these bucks. It’s a fun exercise. I’m sure there are those of you who think that nothing cold be further from fun that this kind of walk. There are different kinds of walkers. Some people prefer a brisk walk through their neighborhood or at the local running track. I call that “mall-walking.” That is good exercise, but it’s way too fast for my taste. I prefer to meander, stopping to notice things along the way. Thinking about my style of walking recalled Jesus’ words in our reading today. Just as I prefer the easy road on my daily walks, many folks choose the easy road on their journey through life. But the easy road doesn't always lead to the right place. Are you traveling with those "few" on the narrow road to heaven or sailing smoothly down the expressway in the wrong direction? To those plodding along on the "deer trail," folks on the four-lane going nowhere appear to enjoy their trip more. It's quick, easy, and seemingly without pitfalls and potholes. That crowded highway seems easy and more carefree than the nature trail; but looks can be deceiving. People on the broad, easy road aren't knocked down by the "tree branches" of life and they aren't on constant vigil watching for the "spiders and snakes" of temptation that catch one unaware, but they are in grave danger of reaching the wrong destination. Though the narrow path leading to life can seem difficult, the heavenly destination is definitely worth the effort. If heaven is our goal, we must find and stay on that narrow path. To do this requires acceptance of God's Word and obeying the commands of Jesus. Some of us are making great time in the fast lane; but what good is that if we are breezing along on the wrong road, oblivious to the fact that we are headed for hell? In the Scriptures, God spelled out what He expects of us. Our road map is there. Are you following it where He wants to take you?

“The Legend of the Colors”

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:4-7, 16 ESV). Of course we know that God as a sign of his promise created the rainbow after the flood. However, the following “legend,” while only a story, is thought provoking. Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite. Green said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority." Blue interrupted: "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing." Yellow chuckled: "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, and the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun." Orange started next to blow her trumpet: "I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you." Red could stand it no longer he shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy." Purple rose up to his full height: He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey." Indigo spoke, more quietly than others, but with determination: "Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace." And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of their own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort. In the midst of the clamor, God began to speak: "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me." Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands and God formed them into the rainbow. There is no one better than the other within the body of Christ. We are all valuable in the work God has called us to. Celebrate your diversity and unite in your brotherhood.

Two Wolves Within

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV). I was reading through some old notes this week and came on the following story. Even though I do not know who originally wrote it, it is a wonderful illustration of the tension we often feel as we relate to others. There was grandfather, his little grandson often came in the evenings to sit at his knee and ask the many questions that children ask. One day the grandson came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face. Grandfather said, "Come, sit, tell me what has happened today." The child sat and leaned his chin on his Grandfather's knee. Looking up into the wrinkled, nut-brown face and the kind dark eyes, the child's anger turned to quiet tears. The boy said, "I went to the town today, with my father, to trade the furs he has collected over the past several months. I was happy to go, because father said that since I had helped him with the trapping, I could get something for me. Something that I wanted. I was so excited to be in the trading post; I have not been there before. I looked at many things and finally found a metal knife! It was small, but good size for me, so father got it for me." Here the boy laid his head against his grandfather's knee and became silent. The Grandfather, softly placed his hand on the boys raven hair and said, "and then what happened?" Without lifting his head, the boy said, "I went outside to wait for father, and to admire my new knife in the sunlight. Some town boys came by and saw me, they got all around me and starting saying bad things. They called me dirty and stupid and said that I should not have such a fine knife. The largest of these boys, pushed me back and I fell over one of the other boys. I dropped my knife and one of them snatched it up and they all ran away, laughing." Here the boy's anger returned, "I hate them, I hate them all!" The Grandfather, with eyes that have seen too much, lifted his grandson's face so his eyes looked into the boy's. Grandfather said, "Let me tell you a story. I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times. It is as if there are two wolves inside me, one is white and one is gray. The White Wolf is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. But it will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way. But, the gray Wolf is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing. Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit." The boy, looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes, and asked, "which one wins Grandfather?" The Grandfather, smiled and said, "The one I feed." It is often difficult to maintain an attitude of love when others continue to hurt us. However it is true that the “wolf” we feed is the one that wins. Which are you feeding today? Let go of past hurts and face today with a renewed sense of hope and affirmation.

Getting Up After You Fall

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). Someone once asked Paul Harvey to reveal the secret of his success. “I get up when I fall down,” said Harvey. There is a wonderful story about a girl who was born into a very poor family in a shack in the hills of Tennessee. She was the twentieth of twenty-two children, prematurely born and frail. Her survival was doubtful. When she was four years old she had double pneumonia and scarlet fever, a deadly combination that left her with a paralyzed and useless left leg. She had to wear an iron leg brace. Yet she was fortunate in having a mother who encouraged her. Her mother taught her that despite the brace and leg, she could do whatever she wanted to do with her life. She taught her that all she needed to do was to have faith, persistence, courage and indomitable spirit. So at nine years of age, the little girl removed the leg brace, and she took the step the doctors told her she would never take normally. In four years, she developed a rhythmic stride, which was a medical wonder. Then this girl got the notion, the incredible notion, that she would like to be the world's greatest woman runner. At age 13, she entered a race. She came in last, a distant last at that. She entered every race in high school, and in every race she came in last. Everyone begged her quit! However, one day, she came in next to last. And then there came a day when she finally won a race. From then on, Wilma Rudolph won every race that she entered. Wilma went to Tennessee State University, where she met a coach named Ed Temple. Coach Temple saw the indomitable spirit of the girl, that she was a believer and that she had great natural talent. He trained her so well that she went to the Olympic Games. There she was pitted against the greatest woman runner of the day, a German girl named Jutta Heine. Nobody had ever beaten Jutta. But in the 100-meter dash, Wilma Rudolph won. She beat Jutta again in the 200-meters. Now Wilma had two Olimpic gold medals. Finally came the 400-meter relay. It would be Wilma against Jutta once again. The first two runners on Wilma's team made perfect handoffs with the baton. But when the third runner handed the baton to Wilma, she was so excited she dropped it, and Wilma saw Jutta taking off down the track. It was impossible that anybody could catch this fleet and nimble girl. But Wilma did just that! Wilma Rudolph had earned three Olympic gold medals. She did not know how to quit! Whatever disabilities or setbacks you may be facing, remember the promise of faithfulness from your heavenly Father. Don’t give up! If you have fallen, get up and try again!

A Fool and His Folly

Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly. If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. (Proverbs 17:12-14 ESV). Ed Price tells a wonderful parable that illustrates the foolishness of quarrelling. It seems that there lived a bear in a cave deep in the woods. Nearby was a meadow in which a farmer kept his cattle -- and one large, ferocious-looking bull. Each day the bear hid at the edge of the woods, watching the bull. The bear was known as the strongest, most fierce creature for miles around. No other beast in the forest dared to tangle with him. As the bear watched the bull peacefully gazing, he wondered which one of them would win a test of strength. He thought about this for many days. Then one morning he decided to challenge the bull to a fight to the finish. The bull had just chomped down on a fresh clump of clover when he looked up and saw the bear barreling across the meadow toward him. He stopped chewing. The red flag of danger popped up in his head. The bear skidded to a halt in front of him. The bull lowered his head menacingly, his sharp horns aimed right for the bear's throat. For long moments they stood in place -- eyeball to eyeball -- neither one of them moving. Finally the bull grew tired of the stare-down and asked, "What do you want, Bear?" "I want to fight you," growled the bear. "Why?" asked the bull. "Because, I want to prove that I am a stronger and better fighter than you are." The bull laughed. "I thought you really wanted something. You can't possibly win against me. I have sharp horns that can cause terrible injuries." "And my claws are sharp and quick," the bear shot back. "I have defeated many an enemy -- anyone who would harm my cubs or take away my mate. I am the king of the forest!" "Then go back to the forest," the bull bluntly advised. "This is the meadow." The bear blinked in surprise. "I beg your pardon..." "I mean, what's the point of me fighting with you?" the bull asked. "What would that prove? We are not enemies. I have not harmed your cubs or taken your mate." "It would prove that I am the strongest." "Okay," said the bull, smiling. "I'll buy that. You are strongest. Now leave and let me graze in peace." "Just one cotton-pickin' minute. What do you mean by that?" The bear raised a club-like paw. "I will tear you to shreds. Defend yourself." "What you do is up to you," the bull answered calmly. "But if you do, what will all your friends -- the ones who are watching us right now -- think about you?" "They will think that I am the strongest," yelled the frustrated bear. "I don't think so. I do not choose to fight you just because you choose to fight with me. I would only fight to defend one of the cows in my care. If you attack one of them, then I'd be obliged to give you a good lashing." "I can't attack them," protested the bear. "They can't fight back. There would be no victory to it." "Exactly," answered the bull. "But what if you did? And what if I should try to defend them? What if something should happen to me? Who would protect them then? You? Would you trust me to protect your cubs if something happened to you? What would happen to your family if you lose the fight?" "I never thought of that," said the bear. "Go back into the woods, Bear," said the bull as he turned to walk away. "Live in peace. And I will stay in the meadow and do the same." The bear turned toward the woods. He had come spoiling for a fight -- to prove which one was the strongest. But he had learned an important lesson from a very wise bull. In peace, there are no losers.

Ramblings of a Retired Mind

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:21-29 ESV). Just recently I received the following “ramblings of a retired mind” from a friend of mine. They are pretty funny, however they also lead us to an important truth. Before we get to that, read them:  I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell phones that everyone has clipped on. I can't afford one so I'm wearing my garage door opener.  You know, I spent a fortune on deodorant before I realized that people didn't like me anyway.  It might help if women put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans!  I was thinking about old age and decided that it is when you still have something on the ball but you are just too tired to bounce it.  I thought about making a fitness movie for folks my age and call it "Pumping Rust."  I have gotten that dreaded furniture disease. That’s when your chest is falling into your drawers!  You know when people see a cat's litter box, they always say, "Oh, do you have a cat?" Just once I wanted to say, "No, it's for company!"  Employment application blanks always ask who is to be notified in case of an emergency. I think you should write, "A Good Doctor!"  Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do . . . write to these men? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while they delivered the mail?  I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older then it dawned on me... They were cramming for their finals. As for me, I'm just hoping God grades on the curve. Maybe there is some need to “cram” for the final, although the real key is not in the final “test.” After it is all said and done, there will only be one criterion that will be evaluated. If you have built your life on the solid foundation of faith in Christ you will have eternal life. You will have passed the “final exam.” What kind of foundation are you building on?

A Story of Grace

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV). I never tire of hearing about the grace of God. It is the heart of the gospel. Unfortunately in our culture it is difficult to understand. We live in a society that prizes independence and “earning your way.” While that is a good trait in the world, it does not apply to the relationship that is ours in Christ. I found the following story recently and it illustrates this truth. A mother of a 9-year-old boy, Mark, received a phone call in the middle of the afternoon. It was the teacher from her son's school. "Mrs. Smith, something unusual happened today in your son's third grade class. Your son did something that surprised me so much that I thought you should know about it immediately." Mother's seldom want to hear from their child's teacher in the middle of the day. The mother was uneasy and nervous by such a beginning to a phone call. "What now?" the mother wondered. The teacher continued, "I have been teaching for many years and nothing like this has happened until now. This morning I was teaching a lesson on creative writing. And as I always do, I tell the story of the ant and the grasshopper. The ant works hard all summer and stores up plenty of food. But the grasshopper plays all summer and does no work. Then winter comes. The grasshopper begins to starve because he has no food. So he hops to the ant’s house and begins to beg. 'Please Mr. Ant, you have much food please let me eat, too.' Now boys and girls your job is to write the ending to the story. Your son, Mark, raised his hand. "Teacher, may I draw a picture?" "Well, yes, Mark, if you like, you may draw a picture. But first you must write the ending to the story." The papers came in. As in all the years past, most of the students said that the ant shared his food through the winter and both the ant and the grasshopper lived. As always, a few children said, 'The ant said, "No, Mr. Grasshopper. You should have worked in the summer and not played. Now, I have just enough food for myself." So the ant lived and the grasshopper died. But your son ended the story in a way different from any other child, ever. He wrote, "So the ant gave all of his food to the grasshopper; the grasshopper lived through the winter. But the ant died." And the picture? At the bottom of the page, Mark had drawn three crosses. "Jesus gave up his life so that we might live eternally." That’s grace!

Up a Tree

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:15-17 ESV). I read the following excerpt from an article by Nicole Achs Freeling, titled “The Learning Tree”: The top of a 90-foot-tall Southern white oak may be a great place to spend the night if you're a cardinal or a blue jay. But it's not exactly the place you'd expect to see a group of, say, Internet executives setting up camp. Not, that is, unless you're a fan of the emerging sport of tree climbing, a pursuit that takes the childhood passion of hoisting oneself into a favorite tree's branches to new and sometimes extreme heights. "It's a mystical experience," says certified arborist Peter Jenkins, founder of Atlanta-based Tree Climbers International, which teaches a climbing course that takes people to points among the canopy from 60 to 200 feet high. "The wind comes up and stirs the tree, like it's speaking to you. It's about being with nature, and being with yourself." I have climbed in a few trees in my life. Usually they were equipped with ladder rungs and topped with a platform of some sort. They always were used to gain a sight advantage while deer hunting. I must admit that sitting alone in a tree and listening to nature wake up around me is a very refreshing experience. I thoroughly enjoy the quiet time of reflection it provides. God is very real to me in those moments. Perhaps that’s the kind of “mystical experience” Mr. Jenkins is talking about in his explanation of this new “sport.” Regardless, it does point us to the truth that there is a need within all of us to get in touch with the Divine. This is the heart of Paul’s instruction contained in our reading this morning. God has made it possible for us to call to him as a child to their father: “The Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts.” It is in that experience that we may understand the many facets of our relationship with God. I have noticed that many people never grow in their relationship with God. To them he is no more than some mystical being far removed from their daily experience. God’s desire is to be known as he knows. He desires us to let the presence of the Holy Spirit grow in us to the point that we become the closest of friends. What kind of friendship can be nurtured with only moments together separated by lengthy absences? Perhaps you need to climb a tree, or merely get alone in a quiet place. Either way, find God and experience his voice speaking to you. It will surprise you how much he will tell you about himself. He is not hidden from you, though you do have to look for him.

The Five and Dime

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Romans 12:11, ESV). The seven last words of a dying organization are: “we’ve never done it that way before.” I have been a part of such groups. No matter how logical the proposal these groups cannot overcome their fear of the unknown. They become stagnant and eventually lose their ability to grow. It is the first stages of organizational death. A similar principle applies in individuals. If you convince yourself that it can’t be done, it won’t! Some years ago an energetic young man began as a clerk in a hardware store. Like many old-time hardware stores, the inventory included thousands of dollars' worth of items that were obsolete or seldom called for by customers. The young man was smart enough to know that no thriving business could carry such an inventory and still show a healthy profit. He proposed a sale to get rid of the stuff. The owner was reluctant but finally agreed to let him set up a table in the middle of the store and try to sell off a few of the oldest items. Every product was priced at ten cents. The sale was a success and the young fellow got permission to run a second sale. It, too, went over just as well as the first. This gave the young clerk an idea. Why not open a store that would sell only nickel and dime items? He could run the store and his boss could supply the capital. The young man's boss was not enthusiastic. "The plan will never work," he said, "because you can't find enough items to sell at a nickel and a dime." The young man was disappointed but eventually went ahead on his own and made a fortune out of the idea. His name was F. W. Woolworth. Years later his old boss lamented, "As near as I can figure it, every word I used in turning Woolworth down has cost me about a million dollars!" One of the age-old killers of enthusiasm is: "It can't be done." But if the idea is creative and comes from God, it can be done! It may not be easy, but it can be done. Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” Do you remember the story of the disciples coming in after a night of fishing and not having caught anything? Jesus directs them to go out again and cast their nets again in the same spot they were so unsuccessful earlier (cf. John 21:1-8). I wonder if you have quit too soon? Perhaps you need to cast your net one more time! If the Lord has directed you to do something, keep at it. Success will be yours!

A New Room

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 ESV). From time to time I get wonderful stories from some of my readers. This one is so good, I had to pass it on today. It comes from Joe Edwards. It is lengthy, but well worth the read. Luther had been home from the war nearly four months, now, and worked at the Carnation Milk plant in Mt. Vernon where his wife, Jenny, worked. This morning he was in the little Miller cafe next door to the post office waiting for the mail to be "put up". Sitting across from him in the booth was his old friend, Fred Hill. They were discussing the war which was still going on in the Pacific Theatre. Recruitment posters still lined the walls of the little cafe. Fred had not been in the service, because when the war started in 1941, his parents had been in very poor health; his father with a bad heart, and his mother with cancer. He was needed at home to care for them and operate the farm. His parents had since died, and the farm was now his -- his and Maggie's. When Luther, Fred's best friend since childhood, had flown over Miller in the B-17, and when the bodies of the Hobbs boys and Billie Martin had been shipped home, and when Perry came home with hooks where his hands should have been, Fred felt guilty. He felt he had not done his part for the war effort, and in his own eyes, he was diminished. But today, it was Luther who seemed depressed. Fred asked him what was bothering him. "You seem down in the dumps, today, Luther," he said. "I can't see what could be botherin' you. You came through the war without a scratch, you got a beautiful wife and a baby on the way, you got a good job, what's the problem?" "Jenny's mother is in bad shape," said Luther. "We're going to have to take her in, and with the baby coming we don't have the room." "Can't build a room on?" asked Fred. "No lumber available," said Luther. "I've tried here, Mt. Vernon, Springfield, Joplin, and there won't be any more shipments for the duration. Who knows how long that will be?" "Tried Will's sawmill?" "Yeah, but he just saws oak, and it's green. The baby'll be here in August, and we can't wait for the lumber to dry. Besides, you can't build a whole room out of oak, anyway." "Wouldn't want to," said Fred. "Reckon the mail's up?" "Probably." The two young men left the cafe and went into the post office next door. Buford Patten, the postmaster, had raised the door to the service window, signaling that the mail was in the boxes. Luther and Fred retrieved their mail and left -- Luther to work at Mt. Vernon, and Fred back to the farm. That evening, Fred finished the milking and sat on the front porch with Maggie. "Days are gettin' longer," he said. "Man could get half a day's work done after five o'clock." "Better put your Pa's car up," said Maggie. "Radio says rain tonight." Fred's father had bought a new 1941 Ford just before his first heart attack, and the car was now Fred's. He had built a new garage for it just before Christmas, and tonight he congratulated himself on getting it built before the lumber ran out. He didn't even know it had, until Luther told him this morning. Fred drove the car into the new garage and latched the door. He walked back around the house to the front porch. Something was nagging at his mind, but he couldn't define it. He shook it off and sat on the porch with Maggie until darkness fell. They could see heat lightning in the West, and the wind started to rise. They went in the house to listen to the news of the war on the radio, and shortly went to bed. The next morning, Fred again drove his pickup into Miller for the mail. The air was fresh and clear now, the rain having washed it clean. The sun was shining, and he felt good. When he reached the cafe, Luther was there ahead of him. "Still haven't found any lumber, I guess?" "No, I asked everybody at work, and nobody knows of any. I don't know what we'll do." Now the nagging in Fred's mind defined itself. "I found the lumber for you," he said. "You did? Where?" Luther was delighted. "Fella I know. He'll let you have it free, you bein' a veteran and all. He doesn't seem to want you to know who he is, so I'll have to haul it in for you. It's good lumber, fir and pine, cut different lengths and got nails in it, but that's no problem. Tell you what, you get your foundation poured, and I'll bring you a pickup load everyday and help you build it. We'll have it done before the baby gets here." "That's a friend for you," Luther said to himself, as he drove to Mt. Vernon. That evening he came home with sacks of cement in his pickup. Luther dug and poured the foundation, and when it was ready for the footings, he told Fred. "Fine," said Fred, "I'll bring the first load over and be there when you get home from work." Fred appeared every evening with a load of lumber, and the two men worked until it was too dark to see. Sometimes Maggie came too, and the women sat in the house listening to the radio or talking about babies or Jenny's ailing mother, their sentences punctuated by the sound of the hammers outside. Over the next few weeks the new room took shape and was finished and roofed. "Where did you get the shingles?" asked Luther. "Same fella," answered Fred. "He's got all kinds of stuff." Luther didn't push. Lots of older folks liked to help out the young veterans anonymously. It was common. It was done! The women fixed the room up inside, and moved Jenny's mother in. The men went back about their business. At supper one evening, Luther told Jenny he would like to do something nice for Fred and Maggie, since they had been so helpful with the new room. "I know," said Jenny, brightly. "Maggie likes those big wooden lawn chairs like Aunt Birdie has on her lawn. Why not get them a couple of those?" "Good idea," agreed Luther, and the next Saturday he bought a couple at Callison's hardware and loaded them into his pickup. When he got out to Fred's farm, there was no one home, Fred and Maggie having gone into Springfield, shopping. "That's ok," Luther thought, "I'll just put them in the garage in case it rains." He drove around the house and into the driveway that led to Fred's new garage. The garage was gone. Only the foundation remained to show where it had been. Luther put the chairs on the front porch and drove home, tears in his eyes. The two men are now in their mid-seventies, and are still the best of friends. They never spoke of the incident. How could they? There was nothing to say.

Instructions for the Tabernacle

“Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size. Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set. Likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another. And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single whole. (Exodus 26:1-6 ESV). In our reading today, we are told how God gave His instructions to the Israelites concerning the construction of the Tabernacle. If you continue reading in this chapter you will find other instructions as to the clothing for the priests. He gave specific commands for this endeavor. God spared no beauty, time or workmanship on His special dwelling place. He called for the finest linen, decorated with color and embroidered with cherubim. A great amount of gold and silver would enhance the beauty of the construction, and gemstones would be set in the priests' vest. The garments for the priest were called to be "made beautifully, which would lend dignity to the priests' work." God then told how He equipped the craftsmen, and "filled them with the Spirit of God" and gave them special skills to do the job at hand. Today, our bodies are the temple of God. He spared no beauty, time or workmanship on His special dwelling place. We have been made in His image, and I believe He wants us to shine for Him, inside and out! The instructions regarding outer clothing are easy. They should adhere to standards that conform with those of the priests' of long ago. This does not mean that we cannot wear casual clothing, but that we should wear clothing that does not interfere with the task of representing Christ to others. Wearing gold, silver, or jewelry with gemstones does not deter from our mission of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. He has equipped us, just as He did those early craftsmen with the power of the Holy Spirit and special gifts and skills to use for Him. I am so glad to be reminded that our God enjoys things of beauty from a spectrum of color to embroidery, to jewels. However, we ought to also pay attention to how we are clothed inside. This is the clothing of character. Truth and integrity are the easiest characteristics to notice. And, yet they seem to be some of the hardest to develop. There are other beautiful jewels to use in the development of our inner clothing. These are things like loyalty, love, and understanding. Others accompany these, like patience and kindness. What does your tabernacle look like?

Happy Birthday, David!

The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’ (Deuteronomy 1:30-31 ESV). Happy Birthday Dave! Today, my son David is 34 years old. I really don’t know where the time went! And it causes me to reminisce a little. Those thoughts I won’t bore you with; however, with a little research I discovered that another interesting event took place on April 2nd. The Radio sitcom Life of Riley debuted on this day in 1941. The show starred William Bendix as a bullheaded family man. The show ran for 10 years on radio and about six years on television. Chester A. Riley was sort of an American everyman who worked at the local aircraft plant with his buddies in California. He got into some really funny situations usually based on some crazy misunderstandings. His attractive loving wife, Peg, was the voice of reason in the family, and kept Riley from totally getting out of control. His son, Junior, sometimes counteracted what his father said to add to the comedy. Babs, his daughter, tolerated but always loved her bumbling father, who always had the best intentions. Jim Gillis, was Riley's best friend, his neighbor, and co-worker at the aircraft plant. His wife was Honeybee, who at times could be outspoken. It was among the top twenty-five most watched programs in the fifties. The catchphrase developed by Bendix for this character is perhaps the most remembered from the series. When Riley found himself overwhelmed by seemingly small matters often escalated to near disaster he would say, “What a revoltin’ development this is!” Of course, Peg would step in about that time and bring calm and order to the situation. All of my children have taught me many things. In fact, they still cause me to stand in awe of the wonderful gifts they are from God. There are times when the simplest experiences become the most profound teachers. Just like the character in the Life of Riley I might find myself thinking that something is an insurmountable problem and God uses it as an opportunity to be the presence of calm and bring success to it. That thought brought me to today’s reading. God is a warrior on our behalf. Just as he cared for the nation of Israel throughout the wilderness experience, he cares for us. And he will care for you also. The key is trust. Throughout these nearly three and one-half decades I have found that in good times or bad, God has never left us. While the outcome may not have looked liked I anticipated God’s blessing always far exceeded any thoughts I might have had. He has cared for us in so many ways; it is hard to count them all! I can’t wait to see the next thirty-four years! Happy Birthday, Dave!

A Happy Easter

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:1-10 ESV). They were desperate to keep Jesus in the tomb! All they needed was three days, and then they could prove a lie to all He said. Just three short days, and it would make mockery of Jesus and His claims of Messiah. Three days would prove them right and Him wrong. There was no question that Jesus was dead. They had seen to that. They were there when He was crucified. They were there when He cried out, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" They were there when He said, "It is finished!" O yes, they were there. They were there when the Centurion certified that He was dead, satisfying Roman law. They were there when Joseph of Arimathea took His body down from the cross, satisfying Jewish law. They were there when He was wrapped with hundreds of yards of linen and coated with spices and perfume. They were there when He was placed in the tomb. O yes, they were there. They were there when the huge oval stone was placed in front of the tomb. They were there when the workmen secured the stone with mortar. They were there when the grave was sealed. They were there when the guards were placed before the tomb. O yes, they were there. They had made it impossible for a live man to get in, and a dead man to get out. Thus, by their own hands they proved beyond all doubt that only God could leave the tomb! And He did! Centuries have come and gone, and time has dulled the miracle of that Easter morn. We celebrate a day, the early church celebrated a Life. It would do us well to forsake the day, and embrace the Life. No matter what men say, the cross is barren and the tomb empty.