Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

I’ve been involved in some organizations where the Past President stays on the board for the coming year to add continuity to the group. It’s a nice gesture and in a sense it also helps the outgoing leader adjust to his new role of having less authority and official respect. In the arena of elected officials it’s somewhat shocking and yet humorous, at how quickly people are shuttled into and out of office. The phone starts ringing the day you’re sworn into office and abruptly stops the day your term is over. Paul reminds us about our temporary positions in life, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (Romans 12:3 NIV)

Expanding vs. Planting

It’s interesting that we seem to have a different standard for growing the church in the US than we have for growing it in a foreign country. On the mission field we want to plant as many churches as possible, but when it comes to the American church our business and marketing juices kick in. We think in terms of expanding churches rather than planting them. Certainly God’s kingdom can grow in either case, but I sometimes wonder if by building big churches we’ve somehow missed the big picture.

Little Black Book

I have a family member with a very long memory when it comes to slights, grudges and vendettas. I can’t imagine how much time and effort it takes to mentally file away all those perceived injustices, let alone the ability to retrieve them at every opportunity. Recently I came across an associate who has a similar personality, but a different filing system. She records infractions by others in a little black book - person, date, time and place. I suppose that’s one way to compensate for having a short term memory. Love… “It is not rude, it is not self–seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Cor 13:5 NIV)

Entrée

My son is allergic to shellfish, my grandson to peanuts and my daughter to wheat. Add to that, at any one time two or more in the family are always dieting…and none of us choose to be on the same diet. It’s a cook’s nightmare because it seems impossible to meet everyone’s needs. I think God had the right idea to put manna on the menu during the 40 years in the wilderness.

Prayer Value

Amongst believers I’ve heard criticism that when someone is in need we should do more than simply offer to pray for them. I’m sure the intent is meant to say that actions speak louder than words; however I think we need to be cautious with that train of thought. Prayer is powerful, but if we imply to one another that it is just a token gesture, then we devalue its worth. Jesus chose prayer over action with Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32 NIV)

'Tis the Season

For many grocery shoppers the harvest season loses its impact because most foods are always available. I recently learned that in Afghanistan the end of the harvest season is simply the beginning of the fighting season. For these folks once the work of the harvest is completed they pick up their weapons and return to the battle field. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…” (Ecc 3:1 NIV)

Profiling

The best way to stop a discussion on immigration is for someone to toss in the ‘racial profiling’ remark. Something similar happens in the church. When we talk about one another’s spiritual characteristics invariably someone will toss in a cautionary ‘thou shalt not judge’ and thus ends discussion. The truth is that the Bible offers spiritual profiles on believers, as well as unbelievers. “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.” (Matt 24:24 NIV)

Bind Us Together

I’m still on the prayer chain of XYZ Church and I appreciate being able to remain connected to them in a prayerful way. When a recent email request came through, my eyes were drawn to the list of addressees and I discovered that more than half of those on the list were no longer affiliated with that church. While a few had moved out of town, others had moved to various local congregations in the community. I love the fact that even though we no longer physically worship together, we can still be brought together by a call to worship in prayer.

Out of Sight

When my kids were eligible to drive I taught them my version of defensive driving, ‘Always expect the other guy to do something stupid.’ Recently as I was preparing to turn right on a red light, I had to pull out a little into the crosswalk to see around the cars waiting for the green light. From out of nowhere a man in an electric scooter whizzed past my bumper and up onto the sidewalk. It was a close enough call that I immediately began thanking God for my guardian angel. It dawned on me that conceivably there were actually two guardian angels…one for me and one for my wheelchair bound friend. “When did we see you…” Matt 25:37-38

Unanswered

I just discovered a couple of unopened emails that dated back to March. Both messages were partly scrambled and the ‘sent from’ names were not the names of the sender. Obviously Bresnan and/or Outlook had a glitch. I emailed the senders, explaining and apologizing for the three month delay in responding. I can imagine the possibility that when I die I’m going to discover that my heavenly email account has more than a few unopened messages from the Holy Spirit.

Worldly Things

Last week I had some really stressful meetings and I kept replaying them in my head during Sunday morning worship. My thoughts wandered away during the singing, were unfocused through communion and were distracted by side trips during the sermon. I have to give the Spirit credit for trying to get my attention…more than once He called me Martha. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.” (Luke 10:41 NIV)

Body Building

My Sunday School class is doing a video series about the exodus of the Israelites. Our trek had us wandering around in the dessert for 40 years and we’re just now entering the Promised Land. Scripture is pretty plain that the dessert experience was a time of testing for the Hebrews, however the narrator went a step further and had us consider how the Israelites were strengthened because of the experience. I’m always relieved to have survived a personal dessert trial, but I had not thought about the strength I’ve picked up along the way.

The Last Drop

I had a pew partner, a lifelong believer, who is suffering from dementia. As the communion emblems were passed he took the bread and ate it and then took the cup. Similar to sipping tea, he sipped the grape juice by putting it to his lips and then moving it away. Each time he moved it away he looked at the juice that remained. Somehow he just couldn’t manage to either tilt his head back or tip his wrist so that he could fully drink the juice. Patiently and quietly his wife tried to get him to just return the cup to the tray and pass it on, however he was focused on finishing the juice. Often the emblems are quickly passed from person to person with no thought that every drop of the Lord’s blood is precious…His cup was indeed emptied for us.

Leaning

Since I want to be a better writer, I take every opportunity to learn more about the craft. However I now have to get educated in areas for which I have no natural interest. For instance my Airport Advisory Board has me learning about enplanements and fuel loads. My NIMS class, through FEMA, is trying to prepare me for disasters. And the Economic Development folks are teaching me how to package and sell our community to prospective businesses. I often must lean on the understanding of others until I’m comfortably educated and feel confident in being able to converse and make correct decisions. It sounds remarkably similar to, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

Sticky Sweet

A comedian gets me to laugh or a teacher causes me to learn, but I’ve never understood what I’m supposed to get from a presenter that oozes sweetness. What I find remarkable is that the only place I’ve encountered such affliction is within the church setting. Whether it is a television evangelist or a retreat speaker, it’s as though they think dramatizing their words will produce an emotional response. For many of us the results are just the opposite. When a speaker forces a sigh or a sob that fail to come from the heart, it is merely sugar coated hypocrisy.

Repeating What I Heard

My husband is the middle child of three brothers very close in age. During their teens and pre-teens, the youngest brother Jim got mad at the other two and decided to run away from home. Bill said, “Ray and I just parroted back what we’d always heard Dad say…‘let me help you pack’.” Sure enough Jim ran away and walked over 15 miles before a family friend (State Patrolman) found him and brought him home. Obviously in this case egging Jim on by offering to help him pack was no help at all. However, in the believer’s world there is merit in being able to know and repeat back what the Father says. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4 ESV)

Body Parts

I just had arthroscopic surgery done on a knee. I’ve discovered that by favoring the knee that was operated on, I’m developing aches and pains other parts of my body. My back is strained, the left hip is rebelling from carrying more weight and the right foot is weary of having to be the first foot forward. Paul compares the church body to the human body. I can attest, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it…” (1 Cor 12:26a NIV)

Memorial Day

While all Veterans have given a ‘portion’ of their life in the service of their country, in battle many have actually given their life. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16 ESV)

Broken Pieces

When I think about Jesus picking up the basketfuls of broken pieces of loaves and fish after the feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000, I’m reminded that He also picks up the broken pieces of our lives. After a crisis is over many of us move on with the busyness of life and often forget what the Lord has brought us through. As Jesus was trying to warn the disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, they had forgotten the lesson of the leftover loaves and fish. To their forgetfulness Jesus said, “Oh you of little faith…” (Matt 16:3-12)

Regain My Sight

There are many references in Scripture to being both physically and spiritually blind. When those who were physically blind came to Jesus their request was, “Lord, I want my sight.” The Pharisees on the other hand were spiritually blind didn’t even know well enough to ask for their sight. Growing as believer I know I still have a certain level of immaturity in some areas of my walk. I know I may not always see perfectly well, however it’s never crossed my mind that in some instances I could be spiritually blind. I might do well to begin my day by saying, “Lord, I want my sight.”