Patterns of Movement

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

An Amazing Gift

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

Who Are You?

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:14-18 ESV). We reveal our identity in many different ways. Clothes tell something about our occupation or the group with whom we associate. Accents reveal where we live or where we grew up. Business cards reveal our occupation and phone numbers. Bio sheets tell about our education and job experience. John says Christians are identified by one particular trait. It is the one unmistakably accurate way others can know we belong to him: If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves we have passed from death to eternal life. Recently I read a powerful story that illustrates this truth. On August 28, 1993, Mark Knutson was diagnosed with cancer. It was an especially bad form of cancer and he was already in the latter stages of it. He wasn’t given long to live. Mark was not well enough to receive visitors. He worried about his wife and two children. How would they hold up? Would they be loved and supported through his ordeal? On September 19, he received his answer. The Knutson family opened the window and saw the street filled with Christian friends. After completely encircling the house, the people joined hands and prayed. They prayed for Mark. They prayed for his family. They prayed for grace and strength. They let the Knutson family know they were loved. Unlike so many modern displays of concern, their care didn’t end with one public display. For the next six weeks, groups from 2 to 20 would pray for Mark and his family in the corner of the yard. They kept a prayer register on the back porch so Mark could know who had been there without disturbing him. Some faithfully sent cards of concern and support while others helped with transportation and other needs of the Knutson’s children. The Knutson family said, “We truly felt a hedge of love encircling our home.” In a world of self-interest, there is still one distinguishing mark for a Christian. It isn't the sign in front of our church building, the bumper sticker on our car, the fish ring on our finger, or the crucifix we wear around our neck. Our real identity is demonstrated when we actively and consistently love each other. Let’s make sure the proof of our discipleship is showing! Who do you know that needs your love today?

Assiciated Program Not Found

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

Chasing the Blues Away

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

Giving and Taking

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

God's Invirtation

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