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For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:14-21 ESV). The worst part of writing any letter or report is the first few words. It is difficult to know how to get started. It's that blank, empty document that is hard to overcome. Most word processing programs have solved that problem for us! As soon as you begin you may choose one of the many preprogrammed templates. Templates come in many forms. Some are completed documents that you simply revise to meet your needs. Others are the "shell" of a document allowing you to fill in the blanks. Others will step you through the process of completing a document. They provide a jump-start on your work, and are a whole lot better than starting with nothing! In the account of the creation, Moses writes, "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." (cf.: Genesis 1:2). While it might be difficult for us to start with nothing, God does not seem to have the same trouble. For God, nothingness is not a hindrance, but rather a starting point for limitless creativity: From nothing, He created a universe so vast that we still only understand a small fraction of what He has done. From nothing, He created a world so detailed that we are still yet to identify all the parts of His creation. From nothing, He created the human body so complex that we can only stand in awe of One who could assemble such a creation. This is the impact of our reading this morning. God is still in the business of creating. He still sees limitless possibilities in the world around us. The power He used to create the universe He now uses to recreate the hearts of those who place themselves in His hands. He still takes nothing and creates more than we can know or imagine. Have you let Him begin that work in you? You can today! Trust Him.

Post-Its

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34 ESV). It has become a central part of modern communications. It is present everywhere we turn: on our documents, our desktops, even around the edges of our computer monitors. It is known as the “Post-It Note." Wouldn't it be great to own the patent on the "Post-It Note!" We use them everyday to make quick notes to ourselves, or to write extra information on a report that is given to others, or to jot down a quick "to-do." Then, at some point in the future, every Post-It meets the same fate. We throw them out. Their usefulness is done, the words they carry are no longer important, and they get tossed! Our reading this morning talks about a time when God was speaking to His people and He was making them a promise. An eternal promise that He would be their God: their protector, their Lord; and they would be His people: His children, the ones He loves and cherishes. It was an important promise and He wanted to write it where they would always remember it. So He wrote it on their hearts. Not on a tablet that could break, or on paper that would fade, and certainly not on a Post-It, that could easily be pulled off and thrown out. He wrote it on their hearts. Writing on hearts is tricky business. It must start with the One who has an infinite amount of patience and care as well as a Creator's knowledge of the human heart. For anyone else to try this delicate procedure would only lead to disaster. But it also takes a willing heart. A person who trusts the Writer enough to open their heart to His touch. Someone who makes their heart available to be written on. So how does your heart look these days? Is it covered with the "Post-Its" of our modern culture? The opinions that come and go so quickly. The ideas of men that are heard and tossed away like Post-It Note Philosophies. Or is your heart covered with the timeless and permanent words of God. Has He written His promises on your Heart? Let today be the day that you make your heart available to the Author of Creation, the One who wants to write His story on your heart and in your life!

Goodbyes

Thus says the LORD: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’ They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. And I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be raised up. Behold, these shall come from afar, and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene.” Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Your builders make haste; your destroyers and those who laid you waste go out from you. Lift up your eyes around and see; they all gather, they come to you. As I live, declares the LORD, you shall put them all on as an ornament; you shall bind them on as a bride does. (Isaiah 49:8-18 ESV). We once had a Schnauzer and she's had great radar. That radar went off whenever she would start to see suitcases being packed. She had learned what that meant. Someone who loves her is going away. She’d run to the back door and begins to whine whenever it looked as if someone she counted on was leaving her. Chances are, you've never run to the back door and begun to whine. But it could be that you know the awful feeling of someone you've counted on leaving. And you FEEL like going and hiding sometimes! I don't know what the leavings may have been in your life, someone you needed died . . . a marriage partner you pledged your life to is gone . . . friends who have let you down or just moved away. The pain of being left is of the great hurts of life. Out of it can come deep feelings of insecurity, distrust, and worthlessness. And ultimately that hurt can become a deep fear of abandonment . . . the fear that loving again will mean losing again. Every one of us needs some stable relationship where there will never be a goodbye. There is one . . . and you may be ready for it. This is the promise of our reading this morning. If you're tired of goodbyes, this promise from your Creator is loaded with hope for a "never say goodbye" relationship. He says, "I will not forget you." and "I am with you always, even to the very end of the age." Also, "I will never leave you or forsake you." There may have been too many goodbyes. But you have within your reach right now the ULTIMATE relationship with the one Person who will never say goodbye. Trust Him to never leave you. Turn to Him today!

Perspective

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). When I was in the car business one of the details in the building of a new facility was meeting with architects. In one of these meetings, the first hours were introductory to our facility and the surrounding businesses. We talked about future potential and growth and which direction we felt the business was taking. Then it was time for him to put some ideas on paper. It was quite interesting to watch him work as he prepared some architectural illustrations. The first thing he did was to lay out the “perspective.” This is where he chooses the particular vantage-point from which he will present the delineation. After that decision is made, he draws it up and paints it as if the building were already built, complete with full-grown trees and landscaping. The perspective determined the rest of the building. Many times, when anxieties arise in our lives, and when difficulties are looming, it seems as if there is only one possible view of them, and that is not a positive one. While driving back from Nashville recently I was thinking through a particular problem and I remembered this meeting, thinking, "What do you see?" My response was very easy. All I saw were the bugs splattered over the windshield. Then it hit me! While I focused on the bugs I was missing everything else beyond! My perspective was wrong. What determines your perspective? It often comes from how you have educated your mind and your spirit. Feeding your mind habitually on television and other world-oriented sources will determine the point of view from which you see life. God, on the other hand, has laid out the proper perspective for us in His Word. Learning to take advantage of this provision through reading and meditation alters the way we see things; it alters our focus. This new power of being able to see circumstances in relation to the overall eternal picture begins when we change our minds from going our own way, or the way of the world, and turn to follow Jesus Christ. Like the architect, when he makes a choice of which vantage-point to take when laying out the architectural rendering, we too may choose the perspective in which we see our circumstances. What will your choice be? Will you too see the splattered bugs and miss the landscapes beyond?

Directions

Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance. The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:2-12 ESV). I am directionally challenged! That is to say I am easily lost. Some years ago I remember being given directions to a particular place in downtown Ft. Worth. I was emailed the directions the first time by simply saying it was in the same building that I had attended another function the previous year. Unfortunately I couldn’t remember exactly where that was located! I suppose I could have faked it and not written back to ask for more specific directions, but I would have gotten lost and been late to the meeting. I fear being late much more than I fear looking “unmanly” and asking for directions! Everyone knows that men are supposed to know how to get anywhere without having to ask for directions! Yeah, right! I have been lost so many times I can’t count them. It is always the joke in our house that I drive and Mary navigates. Thank goodness she has a good sense of direction! After reading our verses this morning, it occurred to me that many people must be directionally challenged spiritually also. Since it is in the nature of each of us to follow our own opinion, we are all susceptible to going the wrong way, to set out in our own direction, in a way that seems right to us. But God can see the end. And while we may think that we are so young the end will never come, or we are so smart we can change the rules in the end, or we are so special the end will not apply to us, God still sees the end. And He wants more than anything to keep us from that end. "Are you headed out in your own direction today? How does it look? Does is seem OK? Does it seem right? Or perhaps you're starting to realize that it is time to ask for directions. In the spiritual realm it is not a matter of being late. If you take the wrong way, you will never get there! In fact, you will get death instead of life. There is only one way that is the right way, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. Follow Him and you will never be on the wrong road!

The Black Hills

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:1-10 ESV). The Indians call them Paha Sapa; we call them the Black Hills. If you ever visited Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills, you probably drove by or through Keystone. But the Keystone you drive through now isn't where Keystone used to be, not since the devastating flood of 1972. Back then Keystone was in this valley by a lazy little creek, which suddenly became a raging flood, roaring through the valley, destroying the town, and claiming many lives. Well, it was then that the folks of Keystone decided to make a change. When they rebuilt their business district and many of their homes, it wasn't on the ground they had always been on. They moved up the mountain to higher ground. Life's floods come in many forms; major crises or disasters that carry away much of what we had been depending on. An illness maybe or a death can do that, a divorce, a disaster, a broken relationship, the loss of your job. Upheavals that rush in and change the landscape forever. And make you think about where is the best place to build the rest of your life. Today’s reading declares that "God is our refuge and strength; an ever present help in trouble.” You may be experiencing one of Life's major upheavals, everything you used to count on seems to have washed away. But remember, "God is our refuge and strength," so we don't have to fear those things. The truth is that when you've lost everything, you haven't lost EVERYTHING! Not if you have a deep, personal love relationship with the God whom never leaves, never lets go. The Psalm continues, "The Lord Almighty is with us, come and see the works of the Lord." That simple statement may explain the reason the flood was allowed to happen; so you would finally, "Be still and know that I am God." Maybe, you've been "God" in your life, controlling things, living life your way. And you've been building your life around someone or something here on earth. Something or someone that the flood may wash away. God's message to you through all of this stress and pain, "It's time to move to higher ground." Having seen how loseable all our earth-stuff is, maybe you're ready to build on something you can never lose, no matter what hits you. You were created to build your life on the One who gave you your life, God Himself. The flood has sent its message. The ground you've been on is not where you're meant to live. It's time to move to higher ground you were made for. And, Jesus IS the higher ground where you will be safe, forever.

One Brick at a Time

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7 ESV). Perhaps you’ve heard the modern proverb “one brick at a time.” I have never used that particular one myself. I prefer others. My sons could tell you that one of my favorites was always “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” Others are equally as worn from use, like “a place for everything and everything in its place.” All of these indicate that there is an order or sequence to most things we do in life. God also has an order for things. This is seen in the birth of Jesus. The ruler of the known world ordered a census to be taken for tax purposes. Compared to the birth of the Messiah, this seems a small thing. However when this small thing happened, many other things began to happen. The Bible records one of these seemingly little things. According to God’s plan, the big picture involved Christ coming into the world in a hamlet called Bethlehem. Getting Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem involved a census of the whole world. In God’s world, little things of life make up the big picture. Life is a carefully constructed building. Every brick has a place. Every window and door fits the plan. The big building is incomplete without every little piece in place. In God’s world, following God’s plan, the little things in life always make up the big picture. I wonder what might have happened if Joseph were to have been disobedient and not gone to Bethlehem? Perhaps he thought about sending a representative. Perhaps he thought he might go and leave Mary behind. Of course, that seems most unlikely to us looking back. But I wonder how many times we’ve failed to accomplish God’s best simply because we took a short cut. As you begin to let the Christmas story permeate your mind this year, think on those times when you may have done better with a little more effort or concentration. Perhaps it was a commitment you made last year and gave up before it was fulfilled. Perhaps it was a habit that you determined needed to be changed. Renew that vow this year and determine to stay on track, one brick at a time. The old adage is true: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” Follow God’s example of building one brick at a time!

Geting What You Deserve

I am speaking in familiar human terms because of your natural limitations. For as you yielded your bodily members [and faculties] as servants to impurity and ever increasing lawlessness, so now yield your bodily members [and faculties] once for all as servants to righteousness (right being and doing) [which leads] to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what benefit (return) did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? [None] for the end of those things is death. But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God, you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life. For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:19-23 AMP). We’ve all heard one or all of the popular expressions that call for fairness in our wages. Modern proverbs like “a honest day's pay for a honest day's work,” or “I just want what's coming to me,” or “she works hard for her money,” or “you should earn your keep,” or “another day, another dollar.” It is natural to be preoccupied with making sure that we get what is due us, that we are not short-changed, that we are treated fairly. And, there is nothing wrong with that in moderation. There are many people whose earnings are not static. These commission-based employees really must check their vouchers closely each month to insure correctness. It is strange though that when it comes to dealing with God, we begin to change our tune. Perhaps we no longer desire to be treated fairly. No one, when we begin to realize that all of our actions, when set before God have earned us the just and fitting wage of death, wants to get that paycheck! And thankfully, instead of allowing us to earn the results of our efforts, God has substituted something else. It is the gift of grace. The nature of a gift is that it is undeserved and unearned. A special gift is costly, extravagant and unique. The gift that God gave us is all this and more. It is the gift of life through Jesus Christ. It is easy in life to lose our focus on what is most important. We begin to think more about what we are doing and what we are earning, instead of what has been given to us and what has been done for us. That kind of fear robs us of our freedom. During the building of the Golden Gate Bridge over San Francisco Bay, construction fell badly behind schedule because several workers had accidentally fallen from the scaffolding to their deaths. Engineers and administrators could find no solution to the costly delays. Finally, someone suggested a gigantic net be hung under the bridge to catch any that fell. Finally in spite of the enormous cost, the engineers opted for the net. After it was installed, progress was hardly interrupted. A worker or two fell into the net but were saved. Ultimately, all the time lost to fear was regained by replacing fear with faith in the net. God has installed a net of grace under you. Be free and live knowing His life!

The Music of the Mountain

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:1-12 ESV). As some of you may know, our long standing vacation spot is Gatlinburg, Tennessee. There are so many memories to draw on from the time we have spent there. Mary and I do our best to go at least three or four times a year since we live so close now. I always enjoy the pace that is so welcome when we go. One particular tradition we follow is the drive through Cade’s Cove. When the boys were little they were not as interested in the scenery as we were and always wanted to have the radio playing. My response was to roll the windows down and instruct them to listen to the “music of the mountains.” It was my way of saying we’re here to slow down and enjoy the quiet. I still roll the windows down for myself to listen to the music of the mountains! Our world is hooked on speed. Even in Gatlinburg you’ll see the evidence of “fast-everything.” A sign will advertise: "Drive through wedding-$69." Some signs advertised "mountain chapel" weddings for $300-400. But a drive-through hitch up could be had for under $70. I suppose that’s just their way of "thinking outside the box" in terms of attracting those who are not happy with the institutional church. So we can compliment their motive if not the exact method. It certainly is a great saving over the thousands that a traditional wedding would cost! Think back to my opening illustration and the Great Smoky Mountains that surround Gatlinburg. These mountains have been around for eons. I won't get into the scientific debate, but I like the way the writer of Psalms 90 puts it, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. ... For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past." This is not so much about a thousand years passing in a flash, as saying the years build up in God's time to where a thousand years seem like only a day. Perhaps this clash of cultures, the culture of "instant everything," with things that can't or shouldn't be rushed, has brought you to the place where you are frustrated beyond control. Hooked on phones in our pocketbooks, instant messaging on the computer, drive-through hamburgers and next-day packages, when traffic jams up, we're out of control. When a slow driver in the fast lane jams up the freeway, we're hotter than a pistol! If you have fast-forwarded your life to the point where traffic always makes you boil and waiting for a return text feels like waiting for the Pony Express, take a long, slow breath. Ask yourself, what is my rush? Slow down and make the most of your time by listening to the music of the mountains!

Muster

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:6-8 ESV). Loving one another is one of the essentials of the faith. It is a basic evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Today is a special day for former students of Texas A&M University. It is “Muster.” Muster is a time of gathering of Aggies wherever they are to remember those who have gone before them. It began when Aggies gathered together on June 26,1883 to live over again their college days, the victories and defeats won and lost upon the drill field and in the classroom. By April 21, 1903, this annual gathering evolved into a celebration of Texas Independence on San Jacinto Day. These early meetings included field games and banquets for Aggies to reflect and celebrate their memories of Aggieland. 'Let every alumni answer a roll call' wrote the former students. It was not until 1922, however, that April 21 became the official day of events for all Aggies, thus, the annual tradition of Muster was born. The March 1923 Texas Aggie urged, 'If there is an A&M man in one-hundred miles of you, you are expected to get together, eat a little, and live over the days you spent at the A&M College of Texas.' It has grown significantly through the years. Still remembering and honoring the time spent in Aggieland, the tradition of mustering has grown in strength, meaning, and spirit. By 1929, meeting had grown worldwide, and in 1942 Aggie Muster gained international recognition. Twenty-five men, led by General George Moore '08, mustered during the Japanese Siege of the Philippine Island of Corregidor. Knowing that Muster might soon be called for them, these Aggies embodied the essence of commitment, dedication, and friendship, what we call “the Aggie Spirit.” They risked their lives to honor their beliefs and values. That small group of Aggies on an outpost during World War II inspired what has developed into one of our greatest traditions. Today Muster is celebrated in more than four hundred places worldwide, with the largest ceremony on the Texas A&M campus in College Station. Century-old roots provide the basis of Muster, as Aggies know it today. It has changed, yet the Spirit in which it was established remains the same. Since the beginning, every Aggie has lived and become a part of the Aggie Spirit. What is felt today is not just the love of a fellow Aggie; it is the spirit of hundreds of thousands of Aggies who have gone before. Muster is how that Spirit is remembered and will continue to unite Texas A&M and the Aggie family. A&M may change, but the Spirit never will. If such a tradition could rise out of a state school, shouldn’t we be mindful of that same Spirit that lives within us through Jesus Christ and look for the opportunities to love one another? The Church has changed through the centuries, but the love we have from God and toward one another should only grow deeper and broader. John said it like this: “…let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”

The Stone

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. (Matthew 28:1-6 ESV). That first Easter morning was not anything like we might have imagined it to be. There were three ordinary women who had a friend that had been murdered. Soon after his death, they took some aromatic spices and went to his graveside. It was a normal task to be performed. As they walked into the garden where the tomb was, they could not have known on that seemingly insignificant day, they were about to witness the greatest event in history. This event was so significant that it would shake the whole world and eventually every person who ever lived would have to come face to face with its significance. Quietly, the women were discussing whom they could get to roll away the huge stone that had been placed over the opening of the tomb. It was clearly too large for the three of them to push aside. The pre-dawn hush was suddenly broken as a violent earthquake shook the ground beneath their feet. Imagine their fright when, on the heels of the earthquake, an angel appeared. "Do not be afraid", he said, "for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said." It was not for Jesus in His resurrected body that the stone needed to be rolled away. It was for the women, so that they could see the empty tomb. When we ask Him to, God will remove the "stone" that keeps us from seeing and receiving the present and eternal benefit of Christ's death and resurrection. As the children of God, we often miss the significance of His present work. I often tell people that missing the “ordinary” while searching for the “extraordinary” is a grave mistake. We take for granted the miraculous works of our Father in each day of our lives. When I awake in the morning, I know the miracle of God’s grace. When I retire in the evening and sleep overtakes me, I know the grace of His forgiveness and rest in the provision of His promise. There are no more stones to be rolled away. That has already taken place once for all. In that one work, God opened our eyes to the work of the Holy Spirit. It is an extraordinary work of grace! Celebrate that work today… Happy Easter!

Faithful and True

Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. (Psalm 33:1-5 ESV). Today is a very special day in the lives of Christians all over the word. It is a quiet day. Jesus has died and is awaiting the resurrection. It is a time to focus on the work of Christ on the cross. As I began to think about the days, I discovered that there are two words that seem to come to mind more than any others. They are “faithful” and “true.” For most people, the word faithful is a difficult word to get a handle on. We can list the synonyms: trustworthy, reliable, dependable, stable, secure, steadfast. We even know in our minds what it means to be faithful. But it is hard to find examples in the world around us. We see marriages fail when we thought they were strong. We see jobs lost when we thought they were secure. We see relationships broken that we thought were solid. We know from our own lives how hard it is to be faithful. The best example comes from the life of Jesus. What better time to focus on that than this week Here are some random thoughts to help you in your meditation on the faithfulness of Christ. He is Faithful... When the world around us lacks examples of what it means to be faithful, Jesus can be that example.  He is Faithful... when He was denied by his friends, when He was despised in His hometown, when the stormed raged around Him, when the world needed a Savior, He is Faithful.  He is Faithful... when we are tired and frustrated, when the relationships around us are stretched to their limits, when we put our schedule above His, when we are prone to wander or prone to leave the One we love, He is Faithful.  He is Faithful... the three words that assure us of the forgiveness of our sins. Not because of our goodness or our efforts, but we are forgiven because He is faithful. In all things, in every way, He is faithful.  He is Faithful… these three words define the very nature of God. The whole Bible is a testimony to this truth. The message our world needs today is simple: He is Faithful. Take the time today to apply the faithfulness of God in your life. Count the blessings you have been given and praise Him for them. No one has deserved the great gift of God’s only begotten Son, yet we have been given that and much more. It causes me to ask myself what I could be giving to others!

Camp Cooking and Good Friday

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:3-5 ESV). I have tried on several occasions to duplicate the meals from hunting camp at home. Somehow it never turns out the same. I tried the cobbler “recipe” once. It didn’t seem to be too difficult, just some Bisquick and canned peaches. How hard can that be? So, armed with half the necessary knowledge and none of the tools, I tried to make do with what I had on hand. I opened a box of Bisquick and dumped some into a cake pan. I glopped a can of sliced peaches on top of that. I thought that maybe I should add some sugar, so I grabbed the sugar container and poured a scientifically measured amount (a small gob) in the pan. I swirled the ingredients of my concoction with a big spoon until it was fairly well mixed up. Time to preheat the oven. I asked Mary, "Sugar, what temperature should I use to cook this?" She knows this stuff. My wife replied from the other room, "I'm not sure. I usually follow the 'recipe' when I cook.” I baked my cobbler at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. I raised the temperature to 350 for the last 10 minutes. Sometimes I tinker. It didn't look done, so I baked it for another 10 minutes. I used a timer to make sure I didn't make any mistakes. The top was almost brown so I set the timer for 5 more minutes. Still not done. The timer must be defective. I kept baking, opening the oven door every 5 minutes to check the progress. By now, my wife was getting fidgety. I waited until the top of the cobbler was brownish and loudly declared; "It is finished.” My camp peach cobbler tasted great. Some are guilty of “Cobbler Christianity.” They add a pinch of scripture and a dash of good deeds, then expect grace to bake them into a spiritual delicacy. You can't wing it with critical ingredients like faith and obedience. Don't ignore the directions when your soul is at stake. Others quickly justify their custom concoction, quoting that we are no longer under the law. They say, the law was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. I know that that is scriptural, but quoting scripture out of context is dangerous. It's sort of like reading only one line of a recipe. You can't just say sugar makes a good cobbler. You need other ingredients. The law was fulfilled, but what does that mean? It means that the strict adherence to the law was finally completed and the perfect sacrifice was offered and accepted for the sins of the world. That fulfillment is offered to us by the grace of God. Reading the rest of the scriptures, we find that we are still responsible for faith, obedience, loving our neighbor and many other ingredients. I am not sure who decides which laws are no longer in effect. Some say that certain food preparation laws are no longer valid. Some laws were absolutely never rescinded. No one will argue the Ten Commandments are still in effect, right? If someone is "no longer under the law", how about that whole adultery thing? How many cups of grace does it take to cover that? It may not be spiritual, but the law of gravity is also in effect. Try violating that one and let me know how grace works for you. Yes, we are saved by grace. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation. Our righteousness is as filthy rags in God's sight. But that doesn't let us off the hook.

Passion Week - Pt 3

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:37-39 ESV). That same day Jesus engaged in many discussions with the religious leaders. At the end of that day, Jesus looks over Jerusalem and weeps with the lament in our reading today. "The best way to send an idea," observed atomic scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, "is to wrap it up in a person." On the basis of that thought, Glendon Harris wrote that on Passion/Palm Sunday we see how God sent to the world His idea of love: "Love was wrapped up in a person and came to us. When we see the end of that brief life of 33 years suspended between heaven and earth on a cross, we behold divine love, and in a deep sense of awe realize that it is directed to us." In recent years, there has been an ongoing debate about violence in movies and on TV. I occasionally have some difficulty with the news, but when I watch fiction, something in the back of my brain tells me that these people are actors. However realistic it may appear, what is happening is only "make-believe." I wonder how many people view the Passion of Jesus that way. Do you believe, or do you make-believe? The Apostle Paul describes the "mind" or attitude of Christ, humility leading ultimately to a humiliating death (Philippians 2). The phrase, "even death on a cross," may slip by us for a variety of reasons. We may think it refers to the gruesome nature of His death. Even if we see its humiliating nature, that it was the means of executing public criminals, naked and in full view of everyone, we may still fail to think about the alternatives. Jesus might have resisted in the Garden of Gethsemane, as did Peter. He could have died privately, and with some dignity, from a swift thrust of a sword or spear. He might have even waited a few centuries and fallen from a sniper's bullet, never looking into the face of His assassin. But you see, that also would have meant that the assassin could have zeroed in on a fold of His robe, avoiding the Person and the real Target of hatred and evil and sin. Jesus chose no shortcut, no easy way out, no semblance of dignity. Likewise, we do not have the opportunity of the sniper, to stay at a distance and create for ourselves a make-believe target and a make-believe savior. We must stand at the foot of the cross and look into the face of Him who is at the same time our Accuser, our Judge and our Victim. But don't stop there! He is also our Creator, our Lover and our Savior. Believing we have been so loved, let us love one another. Believing He died on the cross for us, to save us from death and damnation, let us tell that Good News to everyone else. He also died for them. He weeps for this generation too!

Passion Week - Pt 2

“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet. (Matthew 21:33-46 ESV). Today’s reading points to the judgment of the religious leaders in Jerusalem. There is a wonderful lesson here. For many people in America, from the time that we were little children, many of us learned to say, "Jesus died for me." Sometimes I wonder what that means to some of the people that I have heard say it. I especially wonder when I occasionally hear the phrase, "Jesus died to save our sins." Even when it is correctly stated that Jesus died to save us from our sins, what does that actually mean to us? This week and this day bring us face to face with the Biblical and other images of the atonement, the act of God that reunites us with Him as His children. But consider also the part that others played. What possessed the scribes, priests, elders and Pharisees to want Jesus dead? Who declared that war and why? Caiaphas and the others were concerned that Rome would get wind of Jesus' popularity and make trouble for the Jews. They were afraid that Judaism itself would be blamed and the Temple desecrated. They didn't even want God to mess with their religion, let alone Rome! Even with that understanding, and with the advice of Caiaphas that it was better that one man die than that the whole nation perish, I have a hard time imagining why they would become so blood-thirsty. I agree with the sniper's instructor. Killing doesn't make sense. Then again, it never does, but when I pick up the newspaper or turn on the TV news, I hear one account after another of someone being killed. People die every day over politics and national causes, let alone over dope, or for a few dollars in a cash register. As impossible as all of that is to understand, the bigger question comes when we consider that Jesus went to Jerusalem knowing what would happen there. When they arrested Him, He did nothing to stop it. When they accused Him falsely, He didn't defend Himself. And when they went through with their plans, He didn't stop them. It staggers your imagination even more by knowing that Jesus let it all happen...all the suffering and the dying...for you. You matter that much to Him. Now repeat that phrase, "Jesus died for me." What a reason to celebrate in humility and awe!

Passion Week - Pt 1

Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:8-11 ESV). Last Sunday was "Palm Sunday." It is thought to begin the observance of “Passion Week.” The original title comes from the fact that Jesus entered Jerusalem on the Sunday before His death and resurrection, in a kind of First Century "ticker tape" parade. People put palm branches and pieces of clothing in His path and sang "Hosanna" to welcome Him. Even while the fanfare was going on, however, others were planning to arrest and execute Him. The name "Passion" has to do with Jesus' emotional, spiritual and physical suffering. The traditional name, with its emphasis on the palms, is less offensive. We prefer to repeat the hosannas, rather than the later cry: "Crucify Him!" I have often heard the reading of John's passion account in dramatic fashion on Good Friday. Worshipers shared the reading by participating as the "crowd" at the trial and crucifixion. It is difficult to choke out the words, "Crucify Him! Nail Him to the cross!" During the Second World War, a sharpshooter was being trained as an assassin. At one point, the trainee began to question his role as a sniper. He was not sure that when the time came he could actually kill another person in cold blood. The instructor said that if he had not brought it up, they would not have used him for the job. Anyone who might actually enjoy, or look forward to what could amount to cold-blooded murder is a psychopath who cannot be trusted. Such a person would be dangerous to the other soldiers sent in to support him and back him up. The instructor also said that, when the time actually came, it would be necessary to remember that the "target" was a vicious and evil enemy. The trainee said it would be different if the "target" were in the process of some evil deed when the execution occurred. If the enemy were holding a gun, about to shoot an ally, it would make sense to "drop him." The instructor snapped back: "No, it wouldn't! Death never makes sense." He went on to say that there is nothing sensible about killing an enemy even to save an ally. He said, "Killing doesn't make sense. War doesn't make sense. If we had any sense, we'd all go home!" The final training instruction had to do with avoiding those "second thoughts" when the time actually came. Once he had identified his "target," the trainee was no longer to think of him as a person. The fact that the "target" was a psycho, who enjoyed torturing prisoners, would not make the task any easier. The sniper was not to think of him as a person at all. The job was to zero in on a shirt button, or something similar, in a fatal zone. Make that the target just like a dot on a piece of paper and shoot it. Over and over, in his dreams, the sniper zeroed in on that button, his make-believe target. A twist of fate came when he finally had to do his job and the enemy appeared wearing no shirt. On those Fridays when we did the dramatic readings, we did not actually see Jesus, or hear the so-called "death rattle" when He breathed His last. We were not there and we cannot go back in time to be there. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to be there. I have never attended an execution and I have no desire to attend one. I can't imagine wanting to watch even a guilty person die. It is particularly painful to imagine the death of the Innocent One. This weekend, think about the sacrifice Jesus made for you. What does your cry really sound like? Is it “hosanna” or “crucify Him”?

The Magic Eye

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:21-23 ESV). Most of us love to be fooled. We know that illusionists like David Copperfield do not really fly. Those magicians like Paul Daniels can always work that impossible trick. Or those escape artists, following in the steps of the great Houdini, will beat the clock. And do you know the 'impossible' drawings of M.C. Escher? In the world of optical illusion, we know that we are being tricked, but we are not always sure how! You have surely seen those 'Magic Eye' computer-generated pictures which, if you can focus your eyes correctly, turn into a real 3-D picture. Unless you look at them in the right way, they are meaningless. Many things in life are just the same! Looked at in one way, they just don't make sense. However, when you look at it correctly, it makes perfect sense! I am always amazed at how some folks never seem to read the owner’s manual of their new purchases. Not long ago Mary remarked to me that she had “found” the switch for her heated steering wheel. She asked, “Did you know that it had that?” I said, “Yes. Did you not read your manual?” She simply said, “No. That’s what you’re for.” I think that was a compliment! Perhaps she could have been enjoying this feature long before had she read the manual though. There is often more than one way of seeing something, or understanding it. And a lot of times the one way we didn't think of looking is the most important way of all! Sometimes, we only see what we want to see. Or think that we see! It's so easy to miss the key to the whole situation! "The stone which the builders would not use is now the chief cornerstone." Many people today are finding their way into a whole new world. They start off by realizing that they had been missing something all their lives. They're finding a handbook to life that makes sense and a new Friend to take them through that life and beyond. Jesus is that missing key, the Stone that was missed by the builders, waiting today for you to open the door to Him. The Scriptures are your handbook, you owner’s manual. Trust Him and read the book today!

Lesons from the Beach

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, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:18-23 ESV). Since I am recuperating well after surgery, Mary is dropping hints about going on a cruise. She has been before and loves the sun and beach in the Caribbean. The beach isn’t quite as exciting to me as it is her since I grew up on the island of Galveston. The beach wasn’t ever very far from my house! She’s done a little research into the sights and activities that might be of interest. It seems some of the islands are better than others. Perhaps we will go. If I do, I think there will be lots of quiet to enjoy. The more I think about it, the more it brings me to a principle of life. The waves are like life in some ways. They build up under the surface of the water, becoming larger and larger as the moments tick away. Then they crest, roll over, and make a very loud noise, bubble and foam, then finally dissipate. This is the pattern of the wave as I have observed. Waves at the beach are never ending. One is gone, and the next rolls in, one after another. Some are larger and louder than others are, but they keep rolling into shore. I believe life's problems are like that. They build up, peak, and dissipate. They may be large, small, or in-between, but they keep on coming. They may crash your life with a resounding bang or make a more soft and subtle noise, but they keep on coming. They may deal with emotions, health, finances, family relationships, or a variety of other difficulties one must face in a lifetime, but they keep on coming. As long as we live in this world, we will face one dilemma after another, be it large or small. The unending load gets heavy after a while, and the waves of life can beat away at a person the same as ocean waves pound at the shoreline. Jesus has told us to come to Him with our burdens and He will give us rest. He said to cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. He said He would send the Holy Spirit to be our comforter and guide; to give us wisdom and the strength to survive the battering waves of life. He promised this in the Bible to all who will reach out to Him and believe in Him. If the constant waves of life are beating you down, depleting life's energy out of you, like the grains of sand that are pulled back into the ocean with each wave, call upon Jesus. He will answer the call - you can count on Him.

The MSC

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. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (John 15:9-17 ESV). Many of you are aware that I am a former student of Texas A & M University. That being said it brings me to a thought this morning from the days I spent on campus. The student center, or the “MSC,” is a central building in the life of the student at A & M. The Memorial Student Center is “hallowed ground.” It memorializes the sacrifice of life made by Aggies in the military. Inscribed on a bronze plaque in the entrance are the words from our reading this morning: “Greater love hath no man than this that he would lay down his life for his friends.” Especially in these days, we ought to be reminded of that great sacrifice given for our freedom. However, there is an even greater sacrifice made for our freedom. It is that of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In the Civil War, Jefferson Davis had to flee from Richmond, from the force of the oncoming troops. When Davis left, he took with him three wagonloads of Confederate money that were later captured by a handful of Union soldiers. That night, tired, hungry and cheerless, the soldiers decided to play poker with the Confederate money for $100,000 per game. That is the way it is with the world, one great hustle for worthless tender. Jesus came to say, "Look! You're missing the reason why you were created. You're wasting your life." At that, the world looked up from its poker game. One player took a black cigar out of his mouth, pulled out a gun and shot Jesus dead. It is dangerous to utter His truth in the world. His truth says that, in order to recognize God's sovereignty, men and women must give up their own. You either accept the truth or you kill it. Truth was crucified on Calvary. Truth was placed in the tomb. And when Christ got up and walked, His truth was loosed on the world, where no cross will ever stop it. Jesus had to die because love cannot stand in the face of aloofness: “…the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. You are my friends." (John 15:13-14). A while back, I talked to a man on the phone that didn't want his son to marry the woman of his choice. He said, "I'll tell you what, if he marries her, he will no longer be a part of my family." I said to the man, "There isn't anything that my sons could do that would cause me ever, ever to say anything like that." He said, "Don't get me wrong, I love my son." I had to say, "No, you don't. What you're saying is that you will love him just so long as he does exactly what you want him to do." You have to check out love. If there is no expression of love, there is no love. A lot of things are defined by what they are; a few things are defined by what they do and love is one of those. Love is not just a word. Love must be expressed or it isn't love. At the cross, Christ came and He died, all because of love. Reflect on that thought today as you worship Him.

Lesswons from the Serengeti

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV). Wildebeests, a type of African antelope also known as gnus, migrate yearly in huge herds to the plains of Tanzania's Serengeti to mate and to birth their young. Also on the Serengeti Plain roam vicious predators, including the hyena. In this hostile setting a newborn wildebeest has about 15 minutes to get up and run with the adult herd. Slow starters risk becoming easy prey for the hyena. National Geographic Magazine did an article recently in which a series of pictures were published of a wildebeest giving birth on the Serengeti. Her baby barely had time to get used to breathing when the mother nudged it to get it standing. Picture the newborn on wobbly hind legs with its forelegs still bent underneath its bobbing head. Between the mother's nudging and the baby's inexperience, the newborn is worn out after five minutes of repeated attempts to stand. Then the camera picks up a hyena approaching stiff-legged with lowered head and slightly bared teeth. The mother wildebeest bravely steps between the hyena and the baby, but another hyena appears, followed closely by a third. The mother lunges at the newcomer. Although it backs away, another skulks in closer to the helpless infant. Before long a circle of hyenas occupies the mother wildebeest while other hyenas eat the baby. Meanwhile, spread out nearby, literally thousands of other wildebeest graze, now and then lifting their heads to watch the desperate mother attempt to fight off the hyenas. Any of them could easily help save the newborn, but not a single one does. Satan, like the hyena, is on the prowl. He also has lots of help. If you try to stand up to him alone, you're almost guaranteed defeat, just like that mother wildebeest. You can't survive spiritually without other Christians who support you, encourage you, pray for you, and help you grow into a strong follower of Jesus Christ. That's why Jesus established the church. Our habit in today's world is to live our lives alone. To stay out of each other's affairs, to keep our distance. That's not God's way, though. He asks us to love each other and to care for each other, as brothers and sisters in Christ. We weren't made to be like all those wildebeest in the herd that stood off to the side watching one of their own get eaten alive by hyenas.

Three Wishes

There are many stories that surround the fable of the genie in the bottle and three wishes. The following is an ancient Jewish parable with the same theme: One night a poor farmer was awakened by an angel of the Lord who said: "You've found favor in the eyes of your Maker. He wants to do for you what he did for your ancestor Abraham. He wants to bless you. Therefore, make any three requests of God, and he will be pleased to give them to you. There's only one condition: your neighbor will get a double portion of everything that is given to you." The farmer was so startled by all this that he woke up his wife and told her all about it. She insisted they put it to the test. So they prayed, "Oh, blessed God, if we could just have a herd of a thousand cattle, that would enable us to break out of the poverty in which we've lived for generations. That would be wonderful." No sooner had they said these words than they heard the sound of animal noises outside. Lo and behold, all around the house were a thousand magnificent cattle! During the next two days, the farmer's feet hardly touched the ground. He divided his time between praising God for his great generosity and making practical provisions for his newly found affluence. On the third afternoon he was up on a hill behind his house, trying to decide where to build a new barn when, for the first time, he looked across at his neighbor's field, and there on the green hillside stood two thousand magnificent cattle. For the first time since the angel of the Lord had appeared, his joy evaporated and a scowl of envy took its place. He went home that evening in a foul mood, refused to eat supper, and went to bed in an absolute rage. He couldn't fall asleep, because every time he closed his eyes, all he could see were his neighbor's two thousand head of cattle. Deep in the night, however, he remembered that the angel had said he could make three wishes. With that he shifted his focus away from his neighbor and back to his own situation, and the old joy quickly returned. Digging into his own heart to find out what else he really wanted, he began to realize that in addition to some kind of material security, he had always wanted descendants to carry on his name into history. So he prayed a second time saying, "Gracious God, if it please thee, give me a child that I may have descendants." It wasn't long before his wife came to him with the news that she was bearing in her body a life not her own. The next months were passed in unbroken joy. The farmer was busy with his newly acquired affluence and looking forward to the great grace of becoming a parent. On the night his first child was born, he was absolutely overjoyed. The next day was the Sabbath. He went to the synagogue and at the time of the prayers of the people, he stood up and shared with the gathered community his great good fortune: now at last a child had been born into their home! He had hardly sat down, however, when his neighbor got up. "God has indeed been gracious to our little community. I had twin sons born last night. Thanks be to God." On hearing that, the farmer went home in an utterly different mood from the one in which he came. Instead of being joyful, he was filled with the canker of jealousy. This time, the dark emotions didn't go away. Late that evening, he made his third request of God, which was, "Lord, please gouge out my right eye." No sooner had he said these words than the angel who started the whole process came again. "Why, son of Abraham, have your turned to such dark desiring?" With pent-up rage, the farmer replied, "I can't stand to see my neighbor prosper! I'll gladly sacrifice half my vision for the satisfaction of knowing that he'll never be able to look on what he has." Those words were followed by a long silence, and as the farmer looked, he saw tears forming in the eyes of the angel. "Why, O son of Abraham, have you turned the occasion to bless into a time of hurting? Your third request won't be granted, not because the Lord lacks integrity, but because he is full of mercy. However, know this, O foolish one, you've brought sadness, not only to yourself, but to the very heart of God." The moral of this story? If you want to be miserable, then compare what you have with what other people have. There will always be somebody with more than you, and they will always be (in your opinion, anyway) less deserving. Jesus told a similar story in Matthew 20:1-16 about a vineyard owner and a few workers who grew resentful of those who had received equal pay for less work. Rather than being grateful for the good pay they had been promised and had received, they were unhappy and critical of the vineyard owner for not giving them more. No wonder God instructs us: “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.” Exodus 20:17 ESV).

Sheltered

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. (Psalm 91:1-4 ESV). When we moved to Weatherford, Texas nearly 27 years ago, I decided that we needed to have a feeder for the back yard. I have had one at nearly every home since then. We have one now in our front yard. Over the years we have seen deer, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, foxes and many different varieties of birds visit the feeder. In fact, just this week I looked out the window and a large crow and several doves were chasing one another for room at the trough! Most of the time, I simply enjoy their amusing antics, but every so often, they have a lesson to teach to me. Today is one of those days. In our reading today, the Psalmist declares, He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. The types of birds who frequent our feeders do not vary much from year to year. However, not long ago, several Canadian geese decided to fly down to the spot. We are fairly close to water where there is a large year round flock of the geese. However, they have never come into my feeder before. These geese were obviously off course. Perhaps the cold weather had somehow disoriented them. Or perhaps it was just the fact that there was an easy meal waiting for them here. That image reminded me that we encounter times when we need a safe and easy place to rest and eat in our spiritual and emotional lives. How good it is to know that God also provides a safe haven for us! You may be walking through such a time now. The following prayer may be a guide for you to the safety of God’s presence. May the Holy Spirit, the light of your soul, guide you. May the light of your soul bless the work you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart. May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul. May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light, and renewal to those who work with you and to those who see and receive your work. May your work never weary you. May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration, and excitement. May you be present in what you do. May you never become lost in the bland absences. May the day never burden. May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities, and promises. May evening find you gracious and fulfilled. May you go into the night blessed, sheltered, and protected. May the Holy Spirit in your soul calm, console, and renew you. 1 1. Anam Cara, p. 160-161; by John O’Donohue

Scrapbooking

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15 ESV). Perhaps it is not as new as I think, but when I did a search recently on the word “scrapbooking” there were 18,800,000 entries! There were many places where I could find books and supplies to make my scrapbook. There were communities where I could go to exchange ideas and advice. There’s even one site that touts it is “the premier online scrapbooking magazine.” All of them were dedicated to the chronicling of our lives through a scrapbook! I must admit that we have done some of this too. Mary still has each of the boys’ “baby books.” In each she has various pictures and mementos of their early years. Each of them makes quite a nice early biography of them. Several years ago, Kyle and Brandy asked if they could have some of the old family photos to copy and place in their home. I had no idea how many of these we have collected through the years! As we went through them I began to recall the many memories of each of the images. This was especially true of the photo albums we had of various trips we had taken when our children were young. It was quite a “trip.” The more I began to think about this, the more I began to wonder how would a biographer write about my life? Pictures don’t lie! They may not tell the entire story, but whatever is captured in that moment of time is held for all to see. Oh, I know that these images can be manipulated digitally and changed. But, on the scale of my home photos, what you see is what it is. It is a permanent record of our lives. There is a biography being written about our lives. It is the grandest “scrapbook” of all time. It is called the Lamb’s Book of Life. Our reading today tells us of this book and the repercussions of not being included in it. Those names are written in it will live and those names are not in it will not live in heaven. God knows all about you, and you will be judged by him. Where’s your name written? If there were a scrapbook developed of your life, what would it communicate? If you are reading this, it is not too late to change the ending of your book. Turn your attention toward Jesus Christ as Savior!

Death to Live

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” (John 12:20-28 ESV). There are many paradoxes in the world. This is especially true in the teachings of Christ. Our reading today is one of those vivid illustrations of the paradox of life. In order to live we must die. In 1799 the famous Prussian explorer and scientist Baron Von Humboldt discovered a potent drug called curare. On an expedition into the jungles of Venezuela, he watched an Indian hunter bring down a large animal with a single shot from his bow and arrow. The arrow had been poisoned with curare, a potion with two curious properties, derived from the jungle plants. Curare injected into the bloodstream, as it was when hunting animals, was deadly. It immobilized the body, attacked the vital organs, and caused death almost instantaneously. Humboldt discovered the second property of curare in a more dramatic fashion. He became sick, and a native witch doctor forced Humboldt to drink some curare that had been diluted with water. Terrified that he was going to die, Humboldt was surprised to find that after drinking the curare, he felt significantly better. Curare, when it was diluted and taken orally, he discovered, could have a positive medicinal value without causing any damage to vital organs. The key to curare's impact lies principally in the way it is taken into the human body. Injected into the bloodstream, it's a deadly killer. Ingested orally, it's a soothing muscle relaxant. Faith in Christ is a lot like curare. Its impact depends chiefly on how it is received. Many people choose to take it orally, diluted as much as possible, so that it has few side effects and makes them feel better but that's not the purpose of true faith. Christianity's purpose is to change us into new creations. In order for us to become new creations, we must die to our old selves and be born again, trading in our old lives for new ones. Those who want a "safe" faith that costs them little have a difficult time accepting death and new birth. True Christianity is not safe; it costs you your life. It cost God His only beloved Son, and it will cost you everything to follow Him.

The Father's Love

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4-5 ESV). Our reading this morning comes from the calling of Jeremiah to be a prophet. He is reluctant to accept God’s call since he is so young. God’s encouragement to him is also an encouragement to us. The following story was sent to me recently. I think it will touch you as it did me. A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the doctor walked into the hospital room of Diana Blessing. Still groggy from surgery, her husband David held her hand. That afternoon, complications had forced Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency cesarean to deliver the couple's new daughter, Danae Lu Blessing. At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound and nine ounces, they knew she was perilously premature. Still, the doctor's soft words dropped like bombs. "I don't think she's going to make it," he said. "There's only a 10-percent chance she will live through the night, and even then, her future could be a very cruel one." Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Danae would likely face if she survived. She would never walk; she would never talk; she would probably be blind; she would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation; and on and on. "No! No!" was all Diana could say. She and David with their 5 year-old son Dustin, had dreamed of the day they would become a family of four. Now, in a matter of hours, that dream was slipping away. "David said that we needed to talk about making funeral arrangements," Diana remembers, "I felt so bad for him because he was doing everything, trying to include me, but I just couldn't listen." I said, "No, that is not going to happen, no way! I don't care what the doctors say. Danae is not going to die! One day she will be just fine, and she will be coming home with us!" Danae clung to life with the help of every medical machine and marvel her miniature body could endure but as those first days passed, a new agony set in for David and Diana. Because Danae's underdeveloped nervous system was essentially "raw," the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort - so they couldn't even cradle their tiny baby girl against their chests. All they could do was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little girl. As the weeks went by, she slowly gained weight and strength. When Danae turned two months old, her parents were able to hold her. Two months later, though doctors continued to warn that her chances of survival--much less living a normal life--were next to zero, Danae went home, just as her mother had predicted. Five years later, Danae is a petite but feisty young girl. She shows no signs of any mental or physical impairment. But this happy ending is far from the end of her story. One blistering summer afternoon, Danae was sitting in her mother's lap watching her brother's baseball team practice. As always, Danae was chattering non-stop with her mother. Hugging her arms across her chest, Danae asked, "Do you smell that?" Detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana replied, "Yes, it smells like rain." Still caught in the moment, Danae shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced, "No, it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest." Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Danae then hopped down to play. Her daughter's words confirmed what the Blessing family had known all along. During the first two months of life, when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was holding Danae on His chest, and it is His loving scent that she remembers so well. Can anyone doubt that it was God that formed Danae, that He knew her, and that He sanctified her for a specific purpose. I don't know what all God has in mind for Danae, but part of her purpose in life spoke to me today. I trust it has for you too.

Charlie Brown

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). The following is a true story about a boy who, the world might say, was a terrible underachiever. While in the eighth grade, he failed subjects repeatedly. High school wasn't much better; he flunked Latin, Algebra, English, and received a grade of zero in Physics. The boy managed to make the school golf team, but he lost the most important golf match of the season, and even though there was a consolation match, he failed miserably in that too. It's not that his peers disliked this boy; it's just that they never really seemed to notice him much. Even "Hellos" in the hall were a rarity. Out of all the failures in his life, there was something that did hold great importance to this boy, his love of drawing. Although in high school, the cartoons he submitted to the yearbook were rejected, once out of school, the boy was so sure of his artistic talent that he approached Walt Disney Studios with drawing samples. I wish I could say the studio execs loved his work and immediately hired him, but such was not the case. He received another huge rejection. Despite his many lack of successes, this boy did not give up. He then decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons, about a little boy who was regarded as a loser and nobody. The name of this boy was Charles Schulz, the creator of the famous Charlie Brown and Peanuts comic strip. In life, it is sometimes easy to feel like a nobody. We pass hundreds of people on the street on our way to work, or walk through a faceless crowd in a mall, and no one seems to notice or care. Deep inside, we may know we are special and unique and have lots to offer, but unless someone takes the time to look our way and give us a chance, we may feel worthless and mediocre, just like Charlie Brown who couldn't even manage to fly a kite or kick a football properly. Just as Charles Schulz had faith in his artistic talent, so too, we ought to realize that nobody is a nobody, especially in God's eyes. We all have special gifts and talents, and every human being is deserving and capable of being loved and appreciated. Today, I invite you to look deep within yourself, and rather than see what you can do to improve yourself, as all the many self-help books suggest, find what you already "like" about yourself! Do you have an awesome laugh or smile? Are you thoughtful and sensitive to the needs of others? Are you down-to-earth and practical? Do you enjoy your ability to dream and hope? Our heavenly Father does not see with external eyes, but sees to the very core of our foundation. There is nothing we can hide from Him, and He alone, knows our motives and most secret desires. Learn to love yourself the way our Creator does, and learn to reach out to others the same way God is awaiting you with open arms.

Dumped On

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). Recently, someone wrote to me and remarked how they felt God had dumped all of this garbage on them. They even said that when they prayed, He only dumped on them more. My response was to take them to our reading today. God simply doesn’t dump stuff on us. Either others dump it on us or we pull it down on ourselves. That’s the whole point of being creatures with a will. We do have choices. God doesn't break up marriages, shoot people, or steal from people. Unless it's the result of a natural disaster, it's not God's work, except in that He has allowed us to fully exercise our will, even when contrary to His will. As a result, sometimes we hurt ourselves, sometimes we hurt others, sometimes others hurt us, but it is our own doing, not God's. What He DOES do is give us the strength to get through it all one way or another. Please note, I did not say "comfort," I said "strength." I've had some of those miserable lonely terrifying times when I've been so emotionally hurt and in need of comfort that it was like a physical ache. God did not come down and make me feel “comfortable” by taking it all away immediately. What He did was simply give me strength and the assurance that I would get through whatever it was that needed getting through. He also gave me a way out of the hurt and ache that I was experiencing. I've learned to simply ask Him to do His will and make me okay with whatever happens. Each time I pray, I ask Him to make me more willing to go along with His will. Even when things are going a little ragged for me; I still have peace knowing that whatever happens, God is going to get me through it, no matter how painful and unpleasant the process. God doesn't cause our problems; He doesn't "dump" on us; He doesn't cause our pain. He DOES love us and wants to help us through our trials with His heavenly presence. Just ask Him.

Spring Explosion

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. (Hebrews 11:26-28 ESV). This morning when I looked outside I noticed the evidence of a “spring explosion.” Perhaps you have too. It’s not really a matter of a date on the calendar, but some of the things that we see around us that announce spring. For me it’s when the peach trees suddenly blossom. Those pink flowers are the heralds of the changing of the season. Actually none of this spring explosion of color is really sudden. Those flowers have been getting ready to bloom for weeks; it's just that I couldn't see them until now. There's a basic principle in how our creator God works. A lot of what He does is invisible like the coming of spring, or the coming of a baby. It's quite a while before we can actually see any evidence of a baby developing. In fact it takes a test to verify that God's actually begun a new life. Again, God at work invisibly. If you based it on what you could see, you'd conclude that God isn't doing anything. In our reading this morning the writer encourages us by this “invisible” working of God on our behalf. The temptation to quit is so real that he wants us to know that when we can’t see God at work, He still IS at work. It is such a huge mistake to believe that God isn’t there just because we can’t physically experience His presence. Maybe you're making that same kind of mistake right now? Things seem increasingly out of control; you're nearly swamped! You've been praying about it but Jesus isn't doing anything about it. Or is He? His promise to us is that He “… is working all things together for good to those who love God who are the called according to His purpose." (Cf. Romans 8:28). Right now, through this ongoing process He is working them together. God is preparing your answer for you and you for your answer. But, like plants getting ready to bloom, and babies getting ready to be born, much of Gods working is invisible. We mistake God being invisible in our situation for God being inactive in our situation. He's never inactive when it comes to the concerns of His children. Just as He protected and provided for the people in Moses’ day, so He will provide for you. Don't lose hope, don't lose faith now! One day soon you'll be ready to shout out the window, "It's spring again!"

A New Belt

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (John 16:6-11 ESV). I usually do most of the floors in our house. Since I work out of our home, it is easy for me to run the vacuum. However, one of my pet peeves is when the vacuum doesn’t seem to work as it should. Usually that’s because the cylinder hasn’t been emptied or the brushhead is not adjusted properly. Sometimes it’s because the belt hasn’t been changed and has grown loose with age. That happened not long ago. As I turned it upside down I noticed many long strands of hair tangled in the wheel brush. A quick cut with a scissors cleaned up the tangled hair but the suction problem persisted. "Should I replace the belt?" With a screwdriver I disassembled the power head and yes, the old belt was very weak and worn. It was replaced and the power head roared into action, like a lion ready to devour it's prey. The carpet looked much cleaner. Our lives can be like that. We get used to the routine of things, the good, the bad, the ugly, the beauty and yes, the dust that lies around us. We remain unconvinced that our “carpet” needs cleaning up. Our worn out mechanisms that attempt to conquer the dirt and grit fail. Just as the power head needed a new belt, our lives need cleaning up with an outside Force, something that will never fail. The Scripture calls that “force” the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ death provides us the opportunity to be forgiven and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives provides us the wisdom and power to live godly lives. Of course it takes more than mere willpower to live that life. Today is our son, David’s birthday. He is 35. It hardly seems possible that so many years have passed so quickly. Many of you know that he has been an excellent athlete. In fact, when he was just two or three, a friend of ours who is a pediatrician remarked while watching him play that he had the natural attributes that would make him a good athlete. That evaluation turned out to be very true. However, it did not come without years of practice and drill. Today, David is a well respected and accomplished manager in a large business. Some years ago he decided to begin this career path. After countless months of preparation and study he has achieved this position. None of that could have happened without will power and commitment. Our spiritual lives are this way also. Fix the belt if it’s old and slipping, and then make the commitment to follow Him! What good is His power if you never use it?

Faithful Prayer

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:15-16 ESV). In his book Sit, Walk, Stand, Watchman Nee describes a preaching mission to an island off the South China coast. There were seven in the ministering group, including a sixteen-year-old new convert whom he calls Brother Wu. The island was fairly large, containing about 6,000 homes. Nee had a contact there, an old schoolmate of his who was headmaster of the village school, but he refused to house the group when he discovered they had come to preach the Gospel. Finally, they found lodging with a Chinese herbalist, who became their first convert. Preaching seemed useless on the island, and Nee discovered it was because of the dedication of the people there to an idol that they called Ta-wang. They were convinced of his power because on the day of his festival and parade each year the weather was always near perfect. "When is the procession this year?" young Wu asked a group that had gathered to hear them preach. "It is fixed for January 11th at 8 in the morning," was the reply. "Then," said the new convert, "I promise you that it will certainly rain on the 11th." At that there was an outburst of cries from the crowd: "That is enough! We don't want to hear any more preaching. If there is rain on the 11th, then your God is God!" Watchman Nee had been elsewhere in the village when this confrontation had taken place. Upon being informed about it, he saw that the situation was serious and called the group to prayer. On the morning of the 11th, there was not a cloud in the sky, but during grace for breakfast, sprinkles began to fall and these were followed by heavy rain. Worshipers of the idol Ta-wang were so upset that they placed it in a sedan chair and carried it outdoors, hoping this would stop the rain. Then the rain increased. After only a short distance, the carriers of the idol stumbled and fell, dropping the idol and fracturing its jaw and left arm. A number of young people turned to Christ as a result of the rain coming in answer to prayer, but the elders of the village made divination and said that the wrong day had been chosen. The proper day of the procession, they said, should have been the 14th. When Nee and his friends heard this, they again went to prayer, asking for rain on the 14th and for clear days for preaching until then. That afternoon the sky cleared and on the good days that followed there was thirty converts. Of the crucial test day, Nee says: “The 14th broke, another perfect day, and we had good meetings. As the evening approached we met again at the appointed hour. We quietly brought the matter to the Lord's remembrance. Not a minute late, His answer came with torrential rain and floods as before.” The power of the idol over the islanders was broken; the enemy was defeated. The difference was in prayer. Conversions followed. And the impact upon the servants of God who had witnessed His power would continue to enrich their Christian service from that time on.