Just Trust Me

His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:29-33 ESV). Without quoting actual portions of various politician’s speeches, I think all of us would agree that a general theme in them is how much they should be trusted with our support for the office they are seeking. In one way or another they will implore us to “just trust them.” Or, it may even be said by implication that since we obviously can’t trust their opponent, we certainly ought to be able to trust them. And, it is not unusual to see this in our daily relationships. We ask our spouse or our children to do a task for us and simply trust that it will be done. I’ve heard it numerous times since we have been around our grandchildren through parts of the school term when asked if they have completed an assignment, the confident reply is, “Sure, trust me!” Interestingly enough, our experience in trusting these people, especially those whom we don’t know well, is often disappointing. Sometimes they simply are not true to their word. You may remember that we are in the process of getting the house built in Texas. It has been an adventure in some ways. Not long ago we saw the foundation finished and ready for the framing. The materials were delivered and the crew was set to begin on a Thursday. It is certainly not a big job, though it is important to us. The General Contractor, who is quite wonderful, received a call from the framers that they would not be able to keep the original schedule as they had fallen behind in another job. They would, however, be there to start on Saturday with no more than a two day delay. The promise was “just trust me.” A mere ten hours before they were to arrive and begin work he received another call saying they couldn’t come. Other jobs had come up and he was going to need to just fit our job in somehow, but he confidently assured us that we should “trust him.” Well, we didn’t. He was dismissed from the job and others had to be hired to do it. Like so many others, his actions belied his words. He couldn’t be trusted. God has promised us that we can trust him, and we can’t even see him. Jesus’ disciples could see him and had the same questions. In our reading today, Jesus was preparing them for the great shock of his impending death. He knew they would need to have peace in the face of turmoil. It’s the same for us today. But we have the Gospel’s declaration of Jesus’ victory over death. He keeps on declaring to us, “I have overcome the world!” He is not like someone who shouts, “Trust me!” but can’t be trusted. His actions prove his trustworthiness. Because Jesus has overcome the world, we can fearlessly trust him.

Bad News

Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor. The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish! (Psalm 112 ESV). July has been a disturbing month. While some of the terrorist attacks have been more widely publicized than others, it may be a surprise to you that there have been 151 attacks in the month of July resulting in the death of at least one person. Executions, bombings, shootings, rocket attacks, and vehicular attacks have all been in the headlines. It makes me wonder what bad news will be making the headlines in August. If you are much like I am, you are ready for some good news. I suppose we could look for a place in the world that is isolated from all of the bad news of our world. However, I haven’t found such a place yet. So, it begs the question, where can we turn to escape bad news? The truth is that we should not seek to escape the bad news as we should learn to face it fearlessly. No matter where we live on this tired old planet, bad news will always be there. Freedom from fear is one of the blessings of trusting God. Our reading today makes that abundantly clear. That trust does not make all the awful things go away. It teaches us that we must trust in God’s sovereign rule because we know that he bends evil to accomplish his good purposes. So we are not ripped by a maelstrom of seemingly random bad circumstances. Our reading uses some words that bring great hope to me. They are long range words like “generation” and “forever.” They call to us to view life from a broader perspective. Now might be a bad news kind of world, but there is a time promised where all of those things that cause us to wince with the blow of more destruction and death will certainly and forever be done away with. In the midst of this kind of world we can focus on the big picture. When our focus is on that world, we see God’s news which is always good news. This is how John sees it: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4 ESV).

Safe at Home Plate

Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. (Daniel 6:16-23 ESV).

The Texas Rangers are doing very well this year. They are still in first place in the American League West leading the Houston Astros by two and one-half games. We try to watch as many games as we can. I always enjoy a good play at home plate. One particular play came as the result from a great hit moving Elvis Andrus from first all the way around toward home. I saw it unfold in real time as we watched. As he neared third base, he saw the ball scooped up. The base coach is being conservative and trying to hold him at third; but Andrus wants to score. He wheeled around the base and headed for home. In a cloud of dust, he slid into home just as he heard the ball smack into the catcher’s mitt and the umpire called, “Safe!” Sometimes we have close calls in life. They are exciting in games, but when larger issues press us, they can be daunting at the least. Our reading describes such an experience in the life of Daniel. As a result of his refusal to worship any other god but the God, he is cast into a den of lions. It must have been an incredible emotional experience. He had to feel the whole gambit of emotion, from fear and terror to peace and acceptance. None of those emotions would subside until the doors were opened and he was released. The king had declared him “safe.” Perhaps of greater interest to us as we face our own “lion’s den” in death is to understand that the decision whether we are safe or not has already been determined. Jesus’ death and resurrection has already won. We don’t have to run for our life. Just a little trot on to home plate will do. Jesus is safe!

Knowledge

I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. (Proverbs 8:12-17 ESV). I am amazed how often I am told I need to know something new. In less than a week I will have another birthday. At sixty-seven you would think I had learned just about all the stuff I need to know. A recent exchange with my son proved that to be an error. Kyle was working with the remote to access the computer that controls the programming of the pool pumps and cleaners and asked me a question about the variable speed pump. My response was that I didn’t know and didn’t want to know. His comment was that I was not old enough to stop learning new things. I hate it when my kids are right. Knowledge is exploding more quickly than any of us can keep up. It seems that the more there is to know, the more we “need to know.” Many people have felt the pressure of acquiring more knowledge. Sometimes we just aren’t satisfied until we know more. The best grades and the most certificates of training are prized. In fact, sometimes it’s almost as if we worship knowledge. It is good that we desire to know more. However, when we begin to trust knowledge to keep us safe, to keep us ahead of the pack, to get the best deals and the best jobs we fall into a dangerous trap of our world. Please don’t misunderstand, knowledge isn’t bad. However, there can be a dark side to it. When we want to know the inside story about people so we can talk about them, it can only lead to our destruction as well as others. When we want to know certain facts about others so that we can control them; that will always end badly for both parties. Look at our reading today. The writer simply states that wisdom can be found (v. 17). It does require effort. He uses the word “diligently” in talking about the search. I have found that to be true in my life about every subject. If it is worth knowing, it usually comes with a greater price than merely opening a file on the computer and watching a video. Once we get this knowledge there are some good things that come with it. The writer says we gain insight and strength. We bring honor to God when we seek to know the things he has shown us. We bring honor to him when we trust him for what he has shown us of himself in his world and his word. Now, I don’t know if I’m convinced I need to know all the parameters of the variable speed pool pump and how to program it for maximum benefit. I do know that learning is a process that should never stop. Renew your commitment to gain wisdom and knowledge. You’ll be better for it.

Christmas Surprises

And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” (Exodus 33:17-23 ESV). Today’s reading is one of my favorite Old Testament passages. I often return to it when I need the encouragement that God has never secreted Himself away from me, even when the days seem to be darkest. He has always planned for a “cleft in the rock” that I might see Him and experience the knowledge of His goodness and glory.

And, as crazy as that might sound, that thought brings me to thoughts of Christmas. I know, that’s not a very apparent leap, but stay with me. I am not good at waiting for a specified time to open gifts. My curiosity seems to get the better of me most of the time. I am a “peeker.” Some of you may be a “shaker.” Either way, it almost always spoils the surprise of the gift. Even when just a small bit of the gift is revealed, it always collapsed our anticipation at the moment of the actual opening of the gift. Maybe that’s the reason I am always tempted to give others their gifts early encouraging them to go ahead and open them. The immediate gratification of seeing their surprise is worth it. That’s exactly what God did for Moses. He let him open his “gift” early. That glimpse of God’s glory as it passed Moses and began to fade was not to be the final gift; however, it was enough of a revelation to settle the hope of his ultimate victory. Remember that he would ultimately appear at the transfiguration with Elijah and Jesus. That certainly was the great moment of revelation of God’s glory. It also reminds me that God has shown me all I need for this day through Jesus and the Scripture. With the gift of his Spirit living in me, I shouldn’t need God to reveal anything more of Himself than that. I know that it is still a great temptation to ask God to prove himself through miracles and works; but, really, have you seen a sunset lately? Check it out. God is there in mighty glory every evening! Don’t give in to peeking or shaking. The gift is being revealed more and more each moment of the day as we are drawn closer to our heavenly home. Just enjoy!

URGENT! Read This First!

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. (Psalm 25:1-5 ESV).

URGENT! Read This First! These were the words written in bold red letters emblazoned on the first page of the instructions of my new saw. Some months ago I bought a 12” sliding compound miter saw. I needed to mount it on a portable stand in anticipation of some of the requirements of the new house and my “shop.” The stand I chose to purchase came in an awfully small box considering the display model. There were lots of “pieces and parts” packed perfectly in the box, all of which required that I read the instructions to determine how to put it together. Being the experienced man that I am I was tempted to skip the first page with the warning. That would have been a grave mistake. Among other things, it cautioned against using any sort of mallet to force the axles through sleeves for the wheels. It seems they are made to twist on rather than slide on. Sliding them on causes the wheels to become frozen to the axles and not roll. What would be the use wheels that don’t roll on a portable stand! Rushing through the process would have been a disaster. But, waiting is always so difficult. We rush, all excited and eager, for whatever reason. Our eagerness to plunge ahead without waiting is usually a sign of trusting the wrong thing, or not trusting at all. This is at the heart of our reading today. By waiting on God, the psalmist asks God to do several things for him. He is asking to be shown, taught and led. He knows there would be disastrous consequences to rush headlong into life without waiting on the Lord. Abraham learned that lesson as well. When he was 75 years old, God told him he was to become a father. That was great news; however, the timing was to be extended. It would be twenty-four years before the promise was fulfilled. Think about being 75 years old and being told you’re about to become a parent and then waiting 24 years. God told Israel that they’d be a nation, able to leave the slavery of Egypt and be independent, but they had to wait 400 years. And then God told Moses he would lead the people to the Promised Land, but they had to go to the wilderness and wait 40 years. Then came the great promise that the Messiah would come. God’s people waited. They waited generation after generation, century after century, when God seemed silent. Then when the Messiah came, he was only recognized by a few. In fact, he was only recognized by those who were waiting for him. Are you being tempted to plunge ahead of God’s direction? Pause now and ask for God’s guidance and instruction today.

Whataburger

Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! (Psalm 111 ESV).

Having lived in North Carolina and Tennessee and now returning home to Texas, one of the great things about being back is being able to get my favorite fast food meals, the Double Cheeseburger. I know that I may start a firestorm of response about the worth of other regional burgers; however, for me Whataburger is the best! It’s just juicy enough, has the right size bun, and all the vegetables you could want. Rarely does a week go by that I don’t swing through our local Whataburger and order my version of fast food heaven. About the only thing I would change is the color scheme of their restaurant. As you know, orange and white are not my colors. I know that it seems double meat cheeseburgers don’t really have much to do with the Bible, but our reading today is arranged a bit like a double cheeseburger. It starts and ends with praise (the bun). Verses 2 to 4 are the pickles, mustard, and ketchup reminding us of his wonderful work. Then there is the lettuce and tomato, verses 5 and 9, assuring us that God’s covenant promises are forever. And, best of all, are the verses in the middle, the meat, picturing the out-working of God’s promises in providing food, land, law and redemption for his people. So, read this psalm again and reflect on it intently. Chew on the words and their implications for your life. Ingest God’s good word and see how delightful it is. As you do so, ask yourself, what is the most trustworthy thing in your life? Is it the internet? Is it your system of rules and laws? Is it your personal ideas? Many times we make decisions based on what we see because we trust what is visible and material. God has revealed his faithfulness in his Word and in the world. Look around you and see his hand. Look in the Bible and see his heart. He alone is worthy of your complete trust today. In fact, He is the best at everything. Come on back to Him.

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Yards

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:13-18 ESV).

It has often been said that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” That phrase is an English idiom that refers to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image or that an image of a subject conveys its meaning or essence more effectively than a description does. It is believed by some that the modern use of the phrase stems from an article by Fred R. Barnard in the advertising trade journal, Printers’ Ink, promoting the use of images in advertisements that appeared on the sides of streetcars in the early 1900’s. Regardless, no one would doubt our age as being one of visual aids, TV, videos and multimedia computers. They have made such an impact that without such aids any form of presentation seems ineffective. This practice often is an obstacle for Christians. When they see they have enough money, a fine house, a good job and future security they feel they can worship God better who, as it were, is seen behind these things. Gradually the function of faith is being taken away by the visible things though we know visible things are entirely temporary. It is a strange dichotomy we face. On the one hand we believe in a God who has revealed himself in human form and somehow forget the incredible revelation of God in creation and history itself. Our experience is one of the great definitions of the person of God. During those times when our faith wanes we should remember the countless times God has shown himself. Every one of these revelations proves his consistency. The pictures of God are all around us. Take a moment and inventory how you have seen Him today. Was it first in the sunrise? Perhaps you saw him in the faces of you children as they slept. Or, it might have been in a more demonstrative means as God reached into your life and worked on your behalf miraculously. Whatever picture comes to your mind, remember it is not the whole of God. There is even more ahead! Center your faith in that knowledge. It will stay you in these days.

Only God

For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. (Psalm 18:31-35 ESV). We all know that believers, though they might have been walking with the Lord for many years, become shaky sometimes. The reason is that their faith is not resting securely on three basic facts concerning God: his perfect love, absolute power and perfect wisdom. If we are convinced about his love, we must be equally convinced about his sovereign power as well. That is why Jesus taught us to pray addressing God as “Our Father in heaven.” “Our Father” reminds us of his perfect love, with which he has made us his children and directs our ways. “In heaven” reminds us that he is God ruling over everything that happens on earth through his absolute sovereign power. Being God, he is also perfectly wise and so orders our ways perfectly according to his wisdom. If God were not perfect in love, power and wisdom, our faith would not rest upon an adequate foundation. But because he is all three, we need never be shaken. Faith is a human personality leaning on God with total confidence in his perfect love, absolute power and perfect wisdom. God said, “My ways are higher than your ways” (cf. Isaiah 55:8,9). Only God by his grace can enable us to understand the traits of God’s character. I am often asked “why” God does things. This query is often referencing some tragic event or natural calamity. Certainly it is natural for us to wonder about all of these things; however, asking “why” is really asking the wrong question if we desire any comfort or encouragement in the face of such difficulties. The relevant question is “who?” That’s why the psalmist begins with the declaration of “Who is God, but the Lord.” It is his way of reminding us that there are no deities except the God of Israel. Jehovah is the only God, there is no other. To try to hide behind any other person or thing in the face of such peril is to guarantee failure and disappointment. The conundrum is stated well by Thomas E. Dewey: "Our problem is within ourselves. We have found the means to blow the world physically apart. Spiritually, we have yet to find the means to put together the world’s broken pieces." That answer can only be found in the One greater than ourselves. He is Jesus. Whatever you may be facing today only God is sufficient an answer. History makes it very clear that the promises of God will be inviolate. If you want a steady, unshakable position in the face of trial and challenge, trust the One who is able to make your feet swift, your hands strong, and your soul secure.

The Friend of God

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb. (Genesis 12:1-9 ESV). The story of Abraham’s beginning is one that clearly shows the flow of God’s grace to he and his family. God came to him and directed him to go to a new country where he and his family would receive great blessing. He was not chosen because of anything he had done, though what he would do in the future would be a direct result of God’s choice upon him. This is not to say that Abraham was devoid of his will. He did respond and later it would result in a title that would become synonymous with the followers of Christ. He would be called the “friend of God.” Friendship is so often misunderstood. Friendship requires that one sacrifice his own interest, life style and even future prospects to come closer to another person. Becoming a good friend is not easy when we think of life as we know it. The characteristics for becoming a friend of God are identical. This principle is exemplified in the life of Abraham. Within a period of forty years God appeared to Abraham ten times. At every appearance he revealed a new secret of this divine friendship. Abraham accepted that willingly. At the first appearance God told him to leave his country, kindred and father’s house. It was a costly directive but he did not hesitate. This new relationship with God gave Abraham joy, all God’s blessings and the knowledge of his purpose in history and the created order. The same status is available to us also. Jesus said, “I do not call you servants but I have called you friends.” (cf. John 15). As in the case of Abraham God wants to honor his friendship with us by his promise, “I will bless you… you will be a blessing.” It is a cycle that begins and ends in the mid and heart of God. Trust yourself to that call today.

An Empty Marker

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:1-6 ESV).

While driving through Cades Cove in The Smoky Mountain National Park this summer, Mary and I decided to stop at the churches in the cove. Each of them have been restored and maintained to allow visitors to get a feel for the life of the period when the cove was still a thriving community. Today they are little more than empty markers of a time long past. They are a testament to the real nature of the church. Our reading today is a stern warning against the temptation to assume that a building can describe the life of the community of faith. The church at Sardis was described as being “dead.” It appeared to be alive; it had a reputation of being alive and looked spiritually vibrant on the outside, but was spiritually lifeless. Sardis was Christian in name only. This recalls Christ’s scathing rebuke of the Pharisees who “look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean” (cf. Matthew 23:27). G.R. Beasley-Murray wrote: “The appearance [of the Sardis church] is that of a beautifully adorned corpse in a funeral parlor, and the Lord is not deceived.” In our day we have as many different kinds of churches as ever in the history of the church. Each one has a place in the plan of God for the mission of the gospel; however, we all should take great care in what we consider essential. The music, whatever genre is preferred, is not essential. The teaching, however interesting and current in content, is not necessarily essential. The furnishings, whether Spartan or elegantly ornate, are not essential. Jesus urges the Sardis church to “Remember, then, what you received and heard.” He is talking about the Gospel. A Christian church without the Gospel spoken clearly is little more than an empty marker. That is not the responsibility of the leadership alone. We all share in that mission. Make that your mission.

Brooks of Water

For thus says the LORD: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. (Jeremiah 31:7-9 ESV).

Vacationing in the Smoky Mountains always affords me the opportunity to explore some of the quiet paths leading to the streams flowing down the mountains. It is always a peaceful, relaxing experience. I am not a professional photographer. In fact it could be said rather accurately that I’m not a very good amateur photographer. However, my mind’s eye captures the beauty that the camera doesn’t. This year I was struck with the quiet rushing waters and the contrast of God’s natural beauty with the noise and confusion of our world. It brought me to the reading of our devotional today. It is primarily a word to the people of Israel in their Babylonian captivity; however, there is an element of future prophecy now fulfilled in Jesus for all men. It is a message of assurance that God will again take them into covenant relation to himself. I find it particularly comforting to recognize that when we find ourselves in a position of great trial and difficulty, God has already provided a place of safe rest. I understand how perplexing that might seem. Perhaps Matthew Henry’s commentary will help a bit: But it is hard under present frowns to take comfort from former smiles; yet it is the happiness of those who, through grace, are interested in the love of God, that it is an everlasting love, from everlasting in the counsels, to everlasting in the continuance. Those whom God loves with this love, he will draw to himself, by the influences of his Spirit upon their souls. When praising God for what he has done, we must call upon him for the favors his church needs and expects. When the Lord calls, we must not plead that we cannot come; for he that calls us, will help us, will strengthen us. There is no terror for those in Christ. There are no calamities that will not work together in the will and purpose of our God for our good. We are tempted to turn to more laws and government’s might to protect us. As good as those things are; as much as they are ordained and directed by God; it is not those things that save us. It is the grace and love of God through Christ who is drawing us nearer to our home prepared for us by His hands. There will be the eternal brooks of water! Come on… take a little walk with me to that place.

The Great Storm

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:22-25 ESV).

The third worst storm in US history made landfall in September, 1961. It actually came ashore at Port Lavaca, Texas, though its immense size carried 180 mph winds and spawned 29 tornados over the island of Galveston, Texas. I was only twelve at the time, but living on 10th Street gave me a bird’s eye view of devastation the likes of which I have never seen before. I watched from the second story home we lived in at the time as the water rose to over 12 feet, completely flooding the first floor. Winds howled for three days as it crawled across the island leveling most of the structure in its path. It took months to recover from the storm. Our reading today reminds me that life’s stormy waters crash over all of us. The disciples weren’t immune from the raging waters of life. They got caught in a violent storm one evening on the Sea of Galilee. Even with the creator of the wind and the waves in the bottom of the boat, the threatening squall still blew in. Couldn’t Jesus have commanded the storm to die down even before it started? He could have, but he didn’t choose to do so. I think the reason he let the storm toss that little boat around for a while was to give his disciples a clear picture that he would be with them no matter what. Do you find yourself in the middle of one of life’s storms? As loud as the wind may be howling in your life; as high as the floods may be rising; as devastating as the storm may seem we can be assured that the Lord is in the boat with us. Had I been alone during Carla I’m sure I would have much more terrified than curious. However, my dad was with us assuring us all along that regardless of how terrible it might seem, we were going to be okay. I remember one particular event that week. When the electricity went out all the freezers in the store also went out. That meant all the ice cream and popsicles would melt and go to waste. So, Dad simply told us to “eat all we wanted.” Now that’s a twelve year old’s dream come true! Well, Jesus would tell us to relax during the storms. Eat a popsicle. It’s going to be just fine!

Despised and Rejected

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50 ESV). The pharisee, a duly installed Jewish religious professional, and his guests were shocked when this sinful woman crashed their dinner party. Uninhibited, she headed straight toward Jesus, knelt beside him, wet his feet with her tears, tenderly wiped them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them with expensive perfume. Shocked at this public display by such a woman, the pharisee murmured, “If he were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman she is!” The Son of God was a prophet and knew about her lifestyle, but he did not pull his feet away and condemn her. No, he welcomed her act of love and forgave her. I admire her because, despite her reputation as a prostitute, she took Jesus at his word and just came. She undoubtedly heard Jesus preach and give an open invitation to weary, burdened people. Fully aware that she was a despised offender didn’t keep her away. She understood the love of God. The pharisee did not. Philip Bliss knew something about the feelings of rejection and shame. In 1875, just a year before his tragic death in a train wreck while trying to save his wife, he wrote one of our most beloved hymns: “Man of Sorrows, What a Name.” The first verse goes: “Man of sorrows what a name for the Son of God, who came ruined sinners to reclaim: Hallelujah, what a Savior!” Now that a truth that will give us hope and freedom! Come to Him. You will not be rejected.

God Is Love

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. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-12 ESV). Many years ago when I was in seminary, my New Testament professor began the section dealing with the writings of the Apostle John by saying, “The apostle’s writings are like a river in that they are narrow and swift; and, they are like an ocean in that they are deep and profound.” Over the last four decades I have found that to be an apt description of John’s work. In our reading today John simply states: “For love is from God.” It certainly sounds simple; however, the depth takes us to much more than at first thought. There are two points to look at today: First, we see that God literally is love. It is essential to his nature, for God in himself is a relationship. We do not make God loving, as if God needed to create us in order to have someone to love. In a healthy home, love flourishes long before children arrive because husband and wife love each other. Love flourishes within God, too, for the triune God is one in community. From all eternity, through all eternity, the Father, Son, and Spirit love one another. John therefore rightly proclaims that God is love. Second, God’s love is dynamic. God is love in another way. He actively loves us, the crown of his creation; this relationship is not static, it is active. His love for us caused him to send his Son to earth as a sacrifice for our sin. Jesus suffered for our salvation; he died so that we might live. He took our place to spare us from endless shame, torment, and misery. That God is love shows us the reason why God went to such lengths to love us. Then we read John’s conclusion. It is elegantly simple and clear: “Let us love one another because love is from God.” It’s amazing to me how some professing Christians can miss this point. I understand the temptation to judge the behavior of those who disagree with us. There are those who stand for everything we would stand against. However, our call is to love them whether friend or foe. Because God is love, we can love as well. We are not called to love that which we disagree with, but those are things not people. I have found that it is easier to accomplish this in practical living when I am intentional about who I am. Judgment is above my pay grade. Only Jesus has paid the price to be able to judge the hearts and minds of others. Let’s be careful to love as he does.

The Pivotal Moment

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. (Luke 9:28-36 ESV). There are always those moments in history when seen from the perspective of the passing of time that we can say it was a pivotal moment. This is true for individuals and groups. You have had those times in your life - a career move, marriage, the birth of a child, the death of a loved one, even a chance meeting – which has had a huge impact in your life. For our nation it was December 16, 1773. It was then that the Sons of Liberty organized a protest over unfair taxation and destroyed the shipments of tea in Boston Harbor. The protestors were labeled traitors and the seeds of revolution had taken root. It was indeed a pivotal moment. For every Israelite in Biblical days it was that moment in history when Moses led the people to their freedom from Egyptian slavery. There were many events that led up to that moment, but the actual moment when they crossed the Red Sea miraculously on dry land and were delivered from Pharoah once and for all was a pivotal moment. It was then that God gave them new lives unlike anything they could have hoped or dreamed about. Our reading today is such a story. It is equally significant for God’s people today because we too look back to just such a new beginning. When on the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus was revealed as he truly is, he was speaking with Moses and Elijah about his imminent death on the cross. It was no accident that he called it “his departure (literally, his exodus) which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” Christians look back to the crucifixion as the event which rescued them from an old life and opened up a new one before them. As Jesus is the true bread and the true vine, so his death is the true exodus, ever to be recalled with thanksgiving. I can’t help but wonder if you have had such an experience personally? Has there been a time when Jesus’ death and resurrection became more than just a story to you? If not, may I encourage you to spend a moment and express your trust in that accomplished event? It will change your life. Make a pivotal moment for yourself today!

Ladders or Acorns

On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.” (Luke 5:17-26 ESV). Climbing trees is for the young, not merely the young at heart. While doing some cleanup at the back of the property in preparation for construction to begin, I needed to cut a broken limb from the top of one of the trees. It required a 20 foot extension ladder to get up high enough. Of course, we have one in Smyrna (there’s that curse word again)! Kyle and I were surveying the problem and I simply said that if could hand me the saw when I got up to the middle limbs, I could climb the tree and cut the broken limb from there. Of course that thought was immediately vetoed. And, I was questioned as to my sanity as well. So, we asked around the neighborhood and found a ladder to get the job done. In doing so we did receive some very sound advice. One of the neighbors said that the easiest way to get to the top of a tree was to just sit on an acorn. I remarked that I didn’t think my wife would let me wait that long to get the job done. He then said, “Well, I reckon you’re stuck climbing a ladder.” This is something of what was going on in our reading today. Four friends bring their sick friend to see Jesus. When the way is blocked because of the crowd, they climb up onto the roof, tear open a hole, and lower him down to Jesus. Faith always finds the opening that doubt would never have guessed was there. These guys don’t sit on acorns. They are industrious, ingenious, daring. And not too concerned with protocol. Notice that they don’t ask permission. They don’t form a committee to study this matter and report at the next congregational meeting. Their sick friend is going to see Jesus, and that’s that. Isn’t that a picture of the church at its best—a group of folks who bring the needy to Jesus? And isn’t the church at its best when it emulates the resourcefulness and persistence of these four friends? If one way is blocked, try another way. If the conventional approach doesn’t work, try the unconventional. Isn’t the church at its best when it is more interested with redemption than with rules, more interested in people than in property? Let’s not sit on acorns. We’ve got ladders to climb!

That Apple Looks Good

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. (Luke 4:1-13 ESV). Temptation has been with us from the beginning of time. God created us as creatures with the power of choice. Adam and Eve had the perfect blend of freedom and choice. They were tempted with the beauty of the fruit and the reasonableness of taking it. Temptation is always like that. The apple always looks very good! Sin has a way of sounding so reasonable, so plausible. The devil cloaks himself in the guise that is most appealing to our most vulnerable points. To the student he comes as an easy grade. To the business person he comes as easy money. To the spouse unfulfilled in marriage he comes as an easy affair. To the Christian he comes as the self-satisfied voice of the Pharisee, saying, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people” (Luke 18:11). And to Jesus, he comes as the enticing possibility that he, Jesus, does not have to suffer and die. Jesus withstands the wilderness temptations. But the battle is not over. The devil doesn’t quit; he merely “departed from him until an opportune time.” Jesus came out of the wilderness, but the wilderness never came out of him. Again and again, Jesus would hear the voice of temptation whispering seductively, urging him to sidestep the cross. It is easy for us to win a battle against temptation, and we think it’s over. It’s not. The devil awaits an “opportune time” to pay another visit when he can appeal to our injured pride, our fragile self-esteem, our anger at being passed over. Because of sin we cannot claim the same freedom of Adam and Eve. However, we can claim the same power to resist temptation as Jesus, simply because we have access to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. So, the answer to sin is to stay vigilant. Jesus triumphed over temptation. The apple is not nearly as good as it looks!

A Good Shower

Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil. Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. (Psalm 36:1-9 ESV). I am always a little amazed how easy it is to overestimate my personal goodness. It is easy to compare myself to others of my own choosing and come out looking like I’m doing pretty well. In our reading today the psalmist says we “flatter” ourselves so much that we cannot recognize our sin. The answer for this is prayer. For the child of God, prayer is like taking a shower. Over the past few months, especially as it has gotten Texas hot, working at all outside results in a serious dirt problem. It isn’t hard to miss unless I compare myself with some of the construction workers who really are doing the hard labor. Compared to them I’m pretty clean. Oh, there may be a smudge or two, but nothing like the caked on dirt of foundation and concrete workers. Well, it only takes a moment of conversation with Mary for every bit of the dirt and grime to appear as if by magic clearly fluorescing in the light of her examination. The answer is to get a shower… immediately. So it is with our prayer life. When we submit ourselves to a relational conversation with our Father, it is easy for us to recognize that our comparison with others simply is not effective. They may be dirty, but so are we. It is then that I can get bathed in his love and I am “as white as snow” again. Of course we have been made clean in the work of Christ, but like Peter, we need the traveling dust washed from our feet (cf. John 13:1-10). When I take a shower I submit to the water and soap that makes me clean. When I pray I surrender to God allowing the living water, Jesus Christ, to cleanse me of all that hinders my relationship with God. I step into the shower of God’s love and grace. A quick shower is better than none. But I have to stay in the shower long enough for the cleansing and renewal I need to take place. I let go of all else for the moment as I receive the presence of God. As I consent to God’s presence I am refreshed. My soul is renewed in faith, hope, and love. In prayer we become persons who express the love of Christ. We are called to demonstrate the grace of God. When we are cleansed by grace, we can be gracious. Immersed in the love of God, we become people of loving compassion ourselves.

God's Arms

O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 131 ESV). I was doing some research recently and in pursuit of a thought concerning the “bosom” of God, I ran into a little quote from Calvin. He wrote that prayer draws us into God’s “bosom” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, III.xx.5). I know for some that might be considered “light” reading, however, it is deeper than at first glance. Calvin went on to say that it is “when we are embraced by loving arms, held close to the heart of God, that we pour out our souls.” Our reading gives us that image. It is in prayer that we are held in God’s arms much like a parent would soothe their child close to their heart. This image is especially poignant to me. When Kyle was little he had reflux and was a very difficult baby to feed. It was not unusual for me to come home in the evening and give him his last bottle while holding him in my arms and rocking him to sleep. Because of the reflux he wouldn’t stay asleep very long, so my solution was to simply lay him on my chest, lean back in the recliner and fall asleep with him in that position. It seemed the only way to comfort him. Imagine that same comfort and quiet should we be the child and God holding us near him. This is Calvin’s insistence. Calvin taught that prayer is how we develop an intimate relationship with God. We respond in love to the God who first loved us. We receive the blessings of the One who is the fountain of goodness. In the attitude of prayer we realize that God is “wholly present to us” (Institutes, III.xx.2). Our prayer then flows from “this sweetness of love” (Institutes, III,xx.28). The reformer used the same word to describe our intimacy with God—dulcedo, “sweetness”—as did Catholic mystics like Bernard of Clairvaux or Richard of St. Victor. In prayer all who love God rest in God’s loving arms. I know you must be thinking, “thanks for the theology lesson, but what does that do for me?” Well, let’s get specific. It gives you the real means of not only praying, but knowing that your prayers are heard and answered. Don’t get turned toward whether the answers are positive or negative; it is the answering of God that is the real miracle. After all, isn’t it amazing that the Creator of all would stoop at all to listen to us and comfort us in our plight? We have that kind of loving heavenly Father. That instills confidence as we pray; and, it gives us comfort as we suffer through our plight. Your prayers are never too lofty for Him; your requests are never too great. Pray often. Believe always. Trust implicitly. You are in God’s arms forever.

The Red Wolf

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9 ESV).

The Red Wolf was once a prominent part of the landscape at Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains. However, they are now gone. While a reintroduction of the wolf was attempted in the late 1990’s, it was relatively unsuccessful. The last remaining pairs were trapped and relocated to North Carolina. It is not unusual to see coyotes in the park though. While much smaller they are still startling as they lope across the cove in search of their next meal. I have seen them in other places, of course. They are very prominent in Texas. It is not unusual to see them cross open areas near us. In fact, not long ago I had one move between the houses about fifty yards from us. They rarely threaten humans and are nocturnal for the most part. They do present a threat to small animals and young or weak deer. In our reading today, the prophet sees an amazing time ahead. He sees the day when the predator and prey will “dwell” with one another. Ours is a world where the young and weak do not get close to wolves and live to tell about it. Isaiah gives us a picture of a time when the created world will be turned upside down. Better yet, it will be turned right side up, and restored to its intended condition. Redemption won’t just affect wolves and lambs, but leopards and goats, calves and lions, and most of all, human beings. It will be an amazingly different world. It’s no secret that our world is not in balance. While every effort may be made to preserve and restore that balance, our well-meaning attempts to fix things often create more problems. A part of the purpose of God’s redemption includes all of his creation. The reason for this is simply extolled: the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD. It is another reminder that man does not initiate redemption of any sort. This can only be accomplished by the will and work of the Lord. I often wonder what a difference it would make in our churches and homes if we could simply understand our weakness and God’s strength. I wonder how many of our failures could be avoided by that one change. I do know that it makes an enormous difference in my personal life when I accept that truth. My strivings now become reasonable and reachable. Don’t become “extinct” like the wolf in the Smokies. Trust God alone!

God's Construction Project

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they fled; at the sound of your thunder they took to flight. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down to the place that you appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth. (Psalm 104:1-9 ESV).

We travel to the Smoky Mountains today. I know there are other places that are just as beautiful and majestic. I have traveled to some of them. The Rockies are majestic; the Kenai Peninsula is incredible; however, The Smokies have always been my favorite place. Thinking of what awaits us for the next few days I am reminded of our reading today. This psalm is one of many hymns that paint a vivid picture of God’s creation. Wendell Berry, the Wisconsin farmer-poet, said the Bible is meant to be read outdoors, and this psalm is one that illustrates what Berry was talking about. When we read passages like this, we realize that the Bible is not a science textbook. The picture of the heavens as a tent stretched out on beams resting on the foundation of the earth is not an accurate scientific description of the structure of the earth and sky as we know them to be. But it’s wonderful poetry, and poets throughout the ages have sought to express their understanding of the world in imagery that sparks our imagination and touches our hearts. The psalmist does the same and uses these images to show that God gives order and structure to the world he has made. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, it is Christ’s word of power that upholds the universe (cf. Ephesians 1:15). Our creation hymn reminds us that the order of the world we live in points to the majesty and power of its Creator. Being in the midst of our own construction project, I am more and more struck by the immense grandeur of our God. Without countless laborers or meticulous coordination, God made it all with the simple spoken word. No wonder it becomes easier to trust him as I sense this greatness. He is able to do and perform every promise spoken to us. It’s probably as hot where you are as it is for us. Brave the heat and sit through the setting of the sun tonight. Watch God as he shows his greatness once again.

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions! Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. (Psalm 20:4-8 ESV).

Forrest Gump is waiting with Forrest Jr. for the school bus on little Forrest's first day of school in Greenbow, Alabama. The bus arrives and little Forrest is about to board it. Forrest says, “Forrest, don’t…” and he pauses. He continues and says, “I just wanted to tell you I love you.” Forrest Jr. smiles and replies, “I love you too, Dad.” It’s one of the great moments in the movie. Out of all the travail, that one moment seems to be the summary statement of his life. I have been blessed to have those moments with my sons. I wish I could honestly say that I planned for those moments, but that would be incorrect. Most of the time they were serendipitous. As I come to this birthday celebration for Kyle, who is forty-two today, I remember one such moment. We were on a ranch in Mason, Texas. We had been out that morning early to hunt. Kyle had harvested a nice buck and we had returned to the camp house to clean it and prepare it for transport for final butchering. I was getting ready to cook some eggs and bacon for late breakfast and discovered the propane tank was near empty. So, I got out the old grill and made a hot bed of coals to cook on. I fried the bacon and scrambled the eggs. We sat out on the steps of the old house serving as our camp house enjoying the food and the success of the hunt. I started to say something but hesitated; and, Kyle who was in his teens at the time merely said, “I know Dad. I love you too.” Nearly thirty years later I am still astounded that God has granted me all my plans. I am aware that not every parent has had such a protected and blessed life. There are many who have suffered rejection and pain in the rearing of their children. So, today I must say two things. First, thank you Kyle (and David and Aaron) for making my life so rich and full in so many ways. God has used you to bless me in ways I could’ve never dreamed possible. Second, to those who cannot say that, I pledge to pray for you and your family. The end of the story is known by God, though it has not been written in history yet. Trust Him for your children. With the psalmist I cry out, May the LORD fulfill all your petitions! Happy Birthday, Kyle!

Singing as We Go

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same. (Mark 14:26-31 ESV). It is easy to skip. However, when we read this story the first thing Mark says is they “sang a hymn” before leaving for Jesus’ betrayal and arrest. I wonder what hymn they sang. It could have been any number of the psalms. Perhaps it was the 23rd Psalm as David recalls the walking through the valley of the shadow of death and not fearing anything; maybe it was Psalm 100 and the declaration of the glory and goodness of God. We shall never know this side of heaven. However, we can know the incredible strength in that activity. I’m not a trained or accomplished vocalist, but I like to sing. I often listen to music as I write. I have one collection called “Country Gospel.” They’re all good songs, but one of my favorites is Johnny Cash and the Carter Family singing “Amazing Grace.” Sometimes I find myself singing along with these songs. I like to think about the words. And as must have been the case with Jesus and his disciples, I often find that singing a hymn has a way of calming me and making me ready for whatever lies ahead. I have been privileged to be with people in some of the most wonderful of times. I have also been called on to be them in some of the most difficult. Some years ago, I was with a wonderful family as they stood beside the bed of the patriarch of the family during his last moments of this life. He was in his nineties and had lived a full, productive life of faith. However, the time had come to say their goodbyes. There were several of the family in the room; there was a moment of silence, some soft sobbing, and the last breath was heard. Then an amazing thing happened. Spontaneously someone started singing, soft and slow, “Amazing Grace.” One by one we all joined in. When we finished singing, someone said: “Now I feel better.” Perhaps you are going through such a time in your life today. With technology as it is, we can always have music with us. Whether you are gifted to sing or not, please take the time to use the wonderful truths expressed in some of the Christian music of your preference to reenergize your heart and mind. In case you have a hard time finding one to lift your spirit, try this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsCp5LG_zNE.

One More Thing

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:17-22 ESV). Our reading today contains one of the saddest verses in the Bible. The rich young ruler has it all, or at least almost all. He has wealth, youth, power, yet he feels an inner emptiness. He knows he is lacking something. Jesus acknowledges the truth of that feeling. He says, “You lack one thing.” Unfortunately the solution for the young man is too great for him to accept. Mark recalls for us: Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. How tragic that his possessions kept him from eternal life. Naturally we ask if the same admonition applies to us. Are we supposed to sell all our possessions and give the money to the poor? The answer is not necessarily. The answer to our need is not in what we do, but what Jesus has already done. Nicodemus wasn’t told to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor.” Nor was Levi; nor the woman at the well. Jesus sees in the rich young ruler a potential for discipleship that is being impeded by the love of wealth, so he says, in effect: “If your wealth causes you to sin, get rid of it!” The difference between the doing of good works and the resting in the provision of God is often subtle. In this case it had much more to do with the young man’s inability to believe he could be okay without his possessions. I suppose I am learning that principle more so in these past few months than ever before. You may recall that we sold our home in Tennessee almost a year ago. When we moved we anticipated a brief time before moving into our home in Texas. Through a series of unavoidable circumstances we are yet to be in that home. So, most of our “stuff” is still in storage in Smyrna, Tennessee. We have a bit of a joke around the house now. Anytime we need to do something and we don’t have the exact tool to do it with, we now have a new “curse word.” We just simply say, “Smyrna!” I am reminded that while it might be easier to do things with my “stuff,” it certainly is not necessary to get the job done. In fact, it has been helpful to learn reliance on others. So Jesus teaches us that our reliance is not centered in anything or anyone but him and his work of grace. After all, that is the one more thing we need!

Like Children

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mark 10:13-16 ESV). Children can be both wonderfully positive and terribly challenging. The disciples must have felt more of the latter as the children were being brought to Jesus in our reading today. I have often seen both sides. It is true that children present both the best and worst of human nature. That may be one of the great frustrations of parenting and working with children. Jesus makes it clear that children are the standard we measure our faith. That’s how we are to receive the Kingdom of God. That’s an incredible declaration. To understand it we should do a little digging. Perhaps Jesus is referring to the sense of wonder children possess. Or maybe Jesus was thinking about how children are dependent. Children look to their parents to fulfill their needs. Of course we are to look to God to meet our needs as well. And, there is also the thought that Jesus was referring to the spontaneity children often exhibit. Most adults strangle their impulses with calculation and caution, but children are so wonderfully impulsive. Granted, there are times when we wish our children would look before they leap. But isn’t it true that if you always look before you leap, you’ll never leap? When Jesus saw Simon and Andrew on the seashore and said “Follow me,” the brothers dropped their nets and followed (cf. Matthew 4:18-22). What an impulsive, childlike thing to do. Can you imagine just walking off your career to follow a man who you have never met before? You’ve heard of this teacher, but you’ve never met him; and, now he asks you to drop everything and follow him. What a leap of faith that would be! And there is the key to understanding why the Kingdom of God belongs to such individuals. God doesn’t ask us to be qualified. He does not demand that we know the future. He doesn’t even require that we do anything other than trust to follow Him. That is incredibly freeing to a world that requires so much from us for so many things. Our world of bigger, better, faster is a terrible taskmaster. I know I often feel so inadequate for the path I am walking. It is during those times that remembering I am only asked to be a child in the care of my heavenly Father. Trusting him will get me where I need to be every time and on time. Like children we have success in our lives. How’s your trust today?

At the Summit

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. (Mark 9:2-8 ESV). You may be aware that Mary and I have taken a little vacation to visit with friends and family. In a day or so we will travel back to Tennessee and visit with some of our friends in Middle Tennessee. Then, we will travel to the Smoky Mountains to spend a little time in our favorite destination. Mary has been exercising a great deal since her retirement. We have talked about taking an easy trail through the mountains. One of those will not be the Alum Cave Trail. While it is the most hiked in the mountains, it is also one of the most difficult. To reach the 6,593-foot summit of Mount LeConte (third highest peak in the Smokies) from the parking area on U.S. Highway 441, you'll climb 2,853 feet and 5.5 miles on the Alum Cave Trail. If you hike to the two great viewpoints on top of Mt. Le Conte, that will add almost two miles to your hike, so you're up to a 13 mile roundtrip hike. It typically takes 8-9 hours for the hike. I know we are not ready for that kind of excursion! Perhaps one of the “easy walkways” will better suit our ability and stamina. Mountaintops are often like that. They are hard to get to, but so worth it when you do. Often you do not want to leave. Jesus’ mountaintop transfiguration is a moment of majesty and mystery, and Peter doesn’t want it to end. “Let us make dwellings,” he says. Peter wants to stay on the mountaintop. He wants to prolong the experience. It is natural to want to freeze our mountaintop experiences and make them permanent. Instead of moving on to new achievements, new growth, we spin in a tight orbit around one certain event. I have heard it said this is the “halting of the parade.” Instead of being pioneers, always moving forward, always making new discoveries, we become settlers. A mountaintop is a nice place to visit, but you wouldn’t want to live there. For Jesus to fulfill his mission he had to go back down the mountain and continue his ministry. So should we. Even when this means going through difficult times, the way forward is better than the alternative.

Hand in Hand

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. (Mark 6:7-13 ESV). Happy Independence Day! I hope you will be enjoying a holiday with loved ones. While I am not specifically writing about “freedom” today, I do want to follow up yesterday’s devotional a bit. In that devotional I wrote about the need we have to take some responsibility in our healing by encouraging you to reach out to Jesus just as the woman who touched Jesus’ garment did. Today I want to add another dimension to that principle. We are not alone in our journey. In our reading today the disciples are sent into the world in pairs. Aware of the importance of their mission, and aware, perhaps, of their feelings of inadequacy, Jesus pairs his disciples. It is strange to me that we often swing from one end of the spectrum of relationship. On the one hand we exercise fierce independence doing our best to stand alone to face our challenges. That often is commendable. At other times we seek the help of community. We find our help in the group at large. It seems to me, because we jump from the one to the many, from self to congregation, without ever forming a solid, soul-deep relationship with one other believer, we suffer for it. There are times when a Christian must stand alone. And there are times when it is good for us to gather in lavish numbers, reminding us that we are not alone in the Christian life. But the Christian life also rests on teams of twos. This allows a deeper knowledge of each other that our prayers might be more specific and efficacious. It allows for a greater degree of support and accountability. We may encouragement one another from a perspective unattainable otherwise. I hope you have someone like that in your life. I know that it is easier said than done. I have known many people to travel their journey never being able to “find” that common disciple to walk through life with; however, I am convinced that the Lord desires us to have such a person in our life. It is true that these two-by-two arrangements cannot be structured or programmed. It is also true that God desires to make that happen in our lives. They form by his mysterious work in our life. So, let me encourage you to look for that person. Be intentional in your search. Pray diligently that Gods would show you that person. Your journey will be much the better for having someone to walk hand in hand with through life.

A Healing Touch

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:24-34 ESV). It has been a long time since I have been able to wake to a pain free day. I don’t say that to gain a sympathetic word, it’s just the way that it is. It also helps to see the perspective of the principle character in our reading today. The truth is some people just seem to enjoy good health, while others don’t. The woman in our reading had a recurring hemorrhage. I am told that this is one of the most painful conditions a woman could endure. It certainly is not a problem anyone would want to have for 12 hours, much less the 12 years she had endured. I like to think I’m the kind of person who takes responsibility for my health. She certainly was such a person. She had spent all her money seeing every physician she could find to help her cure her condition. I can imagine she had tried every recommended treatment as well as all the home remedies she had been given by various well-meaning people. Had Web-MD been a part of her culture and experience she would have exhausted every possible diagnosis and treatment! She now hears of one more possibility. There is a young rabbi who has been traveling through the area. His teaching has been revolutionary; and, he has been reported to have worked many miracles, healing some and even raising others from the dead. It may have been a last resort for her; however, she would not be deterred from trying to reach Jesus. She finds where Jesus would next be and makes her way through the pressing crowds to get close enough to touch him. Notice that the woman doesn’t ask Jesus’ permission. She doesn’t tell him what she is going to do, nor did she plan on telling him about it afterwards. I am convinced this is not an example of false humility or deviant behavior. She simply believes that if she can get close enough to just touch the hem of his garment, she would be healed. Jesus seems to acknowledge this when he speaks to her, saying: “Your faith has made you well.” Of course it was a complete work of Jesus. It was his power that healed her; however, she was participating with her faith. I wonder how many times I’ve missed his power just because I thought it was too hard to reach out to him. How about you? He has the comfort we all need. Reach to him today!

Fluff

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:4-10 ESV). Recently I heard someone say that Pluralism was the new reality of our world. I wondered if they were correct in that assertion, so I did a little research. We certainly do live in an age of pluralism, where, in fact, the Christian church no longer holds a position of power and influence in the culture. Further, we can see the changing of the philosophy of a broad spectrum of religious leaders and organizations. Today the watchword seems to be inclusivism. The worldview to which one’s religious belief is not the sole and exclusive source of truth is prevalent in our culture. Religious tolerance has become the mantra of virtually every denomination and organization. Ecumenism and the promotion of unity regardless of belief are prominently held in our culture. And, there exists a multiplicity of religions in our nation as never before. Many Christians, “What can we do to keep our children in church and walking in our faith?” Some change their worship style to incorporate new music. Others try different methods of programming. There’s the remnant who stick to the ways of old. In all of this chaos lies the opportunity for compromise. We would do well to listen to the warning of James in our reading today. He simply says, “Don’t be friends with the world!” In this same conversation where the individual I was talking with lamented pluralism, they offered the simple solution of returning to “the good old days.” I wondered aloud what that looked like. They said we needed to retake our churches and schools with a return to strict discipline and remove ourselves from any worldly activities. In fact, they said the root of the loss of a fundamental belief in the “truth” was the development of technology. Their exact words were, “If we didn’t have a computer in every home and the internet, our country would not be in ruin.” Well, let me be quick in dismissing either that path or the one that says every path leads to the same goal of eternal life. Neither of those is correct. The answer is in the simplicity of the Gospel. God took on human form in Jesus; he died, was buried, and rose from the dead for the remission of our sin; and, He is coming again to judge the living and the dead. There is only one way to escape condemnation and that way is through the redemptive work of Christ. Forget all the other stuff; that’s mere fluff. Keep your eyes on Jesus. You won’t go far wrong from that perspective. That will certainly keep you from becoming a “friend with the world.”

Directions

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14 ESV). Technology is wonderful for those of us who are directionally challenged, which is a politically correct way of saying I’m lost most of the time. When I learned how to use the maps and Siri on my phone it made my life much easier. However, it has made the old method of giving direction relatively obsolete. I’m sure that you will remember this method if you are older than thirty. With a GPS mapping system you merely input an address, or better, let Siri do it for you, and then press “start”. A relatively pleasant voice will begin giving you turn-by-turn directions. You’ve heard this, I’m sure. The feminine voice says, “In 300 feet, turn right.” And, of course, if you miss your turn, the same voice, condescendingly says, “Recalculating.” By the way, I hear that a lot. I also miss the “old way.” Directions were a bit easier for me then. If I needed to go to an unfamiliar location I would ask for various landmarks by which to indicate a turn. “Go down the road and top the hill. You’ll see a big oak tree on the right hand side. Turn right into the gate and follow it to the house” was a familiar route in those days. I think that same kind of principle exists when we think about Paul’s instruction in our reading today. He desires that we “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” That becomes a landmark pointing others to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is those times when others are able to see what we do as a result of the change Christ has made in our lives that point them to the same grace we have been given. This may sound as if I’m advocating good works as a means of being justified. Nothing could be further from the truth. Good works are merely “signs” of our relationship with our Savior. Paul is clear about that following this verse. Grace does not exempt us from doing what is pleasing to God. It gives us the power to do so. Grace begins, continues, and finishes the work that produces the markers of the Christian life. It is not a passive experience. It is active and dynamic. So, how’s your landmarks?