Placeholder

Citing family concerns a pseudo-candidate for the local County Commissioner race in November just dropped out. His decision to withdraw is no surprise. It has been obvious from the beginning that his candidacy was merely a placeholder for another politician who needed more time to set the stage and test the political waters before entering the race. Unfortunately in the church we occasionally see a similar bit of maneuvering. There are those whose lives have never been invested in the Lord, yet they are depending on someone or some circumstance to hold their place in line at the pearly gates. My life on earth is the only opportunity to choose whether I will stand at the right or the left hand of God. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matt 25:34 NIV)

American Arrogance

I’m taking an on-line Old Testament Survey class and the text highlights the pride and self-sufficiency of the Hebrews who opted for political treaties with neighboring countries rather than seeking help from the Lord. There seems to be some parallels with the Hebrews of old and today’s Americans. Rather than going to the Lord for help, we implement treaties with other countries, look at different economy theories and hold out hope for the November election. Hosea’s rebuke of the northern kingdom of Israel can easily be applied to the US. “Israel’s arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the LORD his God or search for him.” (Hosea 7:10 NIV)

Old Dog, New Trick

Sometimes our older generation is laid back and can be seen as being sweeter and mellower than they were when they were middle age. However, there are also others who figure their age has given them to the right to be outspoken and say whatever they want to say, whenever they want to say it. Regardless of the various aging personalities, I have to laugh at the visual of our older folks, or even those of Paul’s time, attending a class which is intended to teach them to how to be temperate and self-controlled. “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self–controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.” (Titus 2:2 NIV)

Entitlements

Because of the weak economy the shelves of many food banks are beginning to look pretty sparse. Although these organizations feed the hungry, I can’t help but wonder if they aren’t also helping to feed the sense of entitlement that so many people are coming to expect. In his warning about people who are idle Paul said, “Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.” (2 Thes 3:12 NIV) Paul doesn’t specify when a person should earn their bread, so I’m assuming it could be before, or even after, they have eaten. I can’t say that I’ve ever actually known anyone to go hungry, but neither have I known an organization to ask their clients to earn the bread they eat.

Repetition

It’s been so warm the last couple weeks that at night I’ve left the bedroom window open to get a light breeze. Then every morning at dawn I’m serenaded by a couple of birds perched in the tree next to the house. These guys are really, really happy at first light. I’m no expert on bird songs, but it sounds like one bird will keep repeating the same notes and cadence over and over again, while the other bird will chime in only occasionally. Interestingly, every morning it’s the same song. “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev 4:8 NIV)

Ashes to Ashes

Now that I have the ability and the control to discard some my loved one’s earthly possessions, I’m on a cleaning binge and nothing is sacred. For instance my sister Shelly lived with us for awhile before she passed away in ’09 and still sitting on a shelf in her bedroom were the cremated remains of her beloved dog Cowboy. I certainly mean no disrespect to those who have passed away, but their treasures are not my treasures, so yesterday I unceremoniously put Cowboy in the trash. I can picture the Lord viewing all of my earthly possessions in a similar fashion. “Do not love the world or anything in the world….The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”  (John 2: 15-17 NIV)

Getting Our Affairs in Order

For many years I encouraged my mom to sort through her things and get rid of stuff she didn’t need. Her solution was to put everything in storage and keep on accumulating. The last couple weeks of her life I begged and pleaded with her to not leave me with piles of stuff to sort through. Selfishly I didn’t want to be dealing with all her stacks of papers and plastic bags while I should be considering her end-of-life issues and grieving. Since my mom passed away a little over a week ago it has crossed my mind that she found it easier to go home to be with the Lord than to dispose of any of her treasures. Very few of us have our affairs in order for when we die and we give little thought to the fact that someone is going to have to clean up our mess. Jesus on the other hand, always practiced what He preached. Not only were His affairs in order, but Jesus also made arrangements for John to take care of His mother when He was gone.“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”  (John 19:26-27a NIV)

Trashing Your Treasures

I am in the process of sorting through my mom’s things and my emotions run from grief to anger to laughter. Mom was a hoarder, so the magazines and stacks of papers that were near and dear to her heart are simply heartburn for me. I really am trashing her treasures. Mom was a believer, who obviously didn’t struggle with storing treasures on earth vs. storing treasures in heaven. For her it was not a matter of either or, but rather a matter of being able to do both. Interestingly Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us and yet He never mentions our being surrounded with any earthly possessions that once brought pleasure and comfort. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2 NIV)

American Pickers

I enjoy watching American Pickers, a TV show where Mike and Frank travel across the country picking through peoples treasures trying to buy pieces for their antique shop in LeClaire, Iowa. On a recent episode in the south they came across a man who had a collection of over 50 VW busses on acreage behind his house. As the pickers wandered through the graveyard of neatly positioned busses, not one bus appeared intact. All of them, exposed to the elements, had rusted bodies, dilapidated doors and broken windows. The busses were not only the habitat for birds and small rodents, but trees and weeds were also taking up residence growing up, around and through the vehicles. What a great visual for believers. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19-21 NIV)

No Pain, No Gain

There is an old joke about a man going to the doctor complaining that his finger hurt when he moved it. The doctor said, “Well if it hurts when you move it, don’t move it.” Unfortunately many people of faith take the doctor’s advice. Being a Christian is often painful – physically, emotionally and financially. Actually, accepting Jesus is painless, it’s the following Him that can be painful and some of us are just not willing to endure any discomfort. Jesus said, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matt 19:29 NIV)

Independence Day

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 NIV)

Emotional Whiplash

Even though my mom’s funeral will be today, other activities of life are still scheduled and moving forward. On Saturday I went to a 50^th Anniversary Celebration, but it was awkward trying to celebrate while I was being comforted with sympathy. On Sunday I opted to stay home from church because sympathy from my church family would likely have overridden my worship. Grief co-mingling with celebration is a strange concoction. “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor 1:7b – 8 NIV)

Flash

I found our communion meditation a couple of weeks ago very thought provoking and comforting. The speaker contemplated death and suggested that when our loved ones die in Christ, they’re really not dead. They have simply, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, gone from life to life – from physical life to eternal life. I like that image. It sure beats the reports from some people on their out of body experiences of walking down a dark tunnel towards a light. (1Cor 15:52)

The Unexpected

It was expected, but yet when my mother passed away early yesterday morning it was oddly enough, unexpected. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55 NIV)

Citizenship

This year there seems to be a multitude of crises, both in my personal family as well as in the church family. This is one of those seasons in life where there are so many situations going on that I can’t even prioritize which one deserves more of my attention. I can easily start beating myself up over my earthly responsibilities, but thankfully Paul puts things in the proper perspective when he says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Phil 3:20 NIV)

Tuned Out

I have a friend who is a political activist and while I would agree with most of what he says, I’m tired of hearing it. It’s the same thing over and over. Normally I just let him go and blow, but if he wants my attention he needs to get a new script or come up with a new platform. It’s dawned on me that we believers may do something similar when we witness to our family members. Is it possible that our scripted gospel message is delivered it in the same manner, with the same judgmental tone and same worn out phrases? “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Col 4:5-6 NIV)

Fading Authority

I see an interesting common denominator with some of our community agitators. Many of them come from a career in the military where they retired as either officers or high ranking enlisted personnel. These folks are accustomed to giving orders and having subordinates jump-to. When civilians fail to respond, the old-timers get indignant, demanding and assertive. It’s a good lesson for those of us in the church. If the Lord moves you to a new position in building the kingdom, don’t just assume that your past authority moves with you.

Fading Authority

I see an interesting common denominator with some of our community agitators. Many of them come from a career in the military where they retired either as officers or high ranking enlisted personnel. These folks are accustomed to giving orders and having subordinates jump-to. When civilians fail to respond, the old-timers get indignant, demanding and assertive. It’s a good lesson for those of us in the church. If the Lord moves you to a new position in building the kingdom, don’t just assume that your past authority moves with you.

Saving Business

I find that environmental groups often push their agenda and burden the public with their demands. Recently I attended a public meeting that was designed to get feedback on community recycling. There was an ecologically zealous crowd and the majority in attendance wanted to force city residents to not only recycle, but those who refused to recycle should be charged more. One woman said, “We have to save the world, we must save the world.” It wasn’t the place to burst her bubble, but I would have loved to tell her that the world cannot be saved. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.” (Rev 21:1 NIV)

Hospice

Since the first of the year I’ve had four family members admitted to Hospice. It’s interesting to me that none of them thought it was time for them to make such a decision. Apparently we don’t always see things clearly for ourselves and in order to fully accept our situation it takes someone in authority to tell us that all of our options have been exhausted. From Mount Nebo God showed Moses all the Promised Land and then told Moses, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” (Deut 34:4 NIV) Moses was 120 years old, however his eyes were not weak, nor was his strength gone. I can imagine Moses thinking, “Really. It’s time for me to be in hospice?”

Scratching the Itch

As I read and listen to campaign ads I’m struck by how many politicians run their race on what they are going to do, rather than on what they have done. It’s amazing that we voters often buy the rhetoric and cast our vote for a future promise, rather than a past track record. Unfortunately the church is not immune to such tactics. “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV)

Unwashed vs. Unclean

We took our grandkids to the Father’s Day picnic where they picked clover leaves, dueled with tree branch swords and played hide-n-go-seek. Seven year-old Lydia brought her home hygiene rules to park with her and when it was time to eat she was concerned about washing her hands. We told her that this time, because it was an outdoor picnic, we were making an exception and she didn’t have to wash. “Oh yea. I get to eat with dirty hands!” After living under the critical eye of the Pharisees I can imagine the disciples had a similar reaction when Jesus said, “…eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean’.” (Matt 15:20b NIV)

The Perfect Gift

Our communion meditation on Sunday was a walk down memory lane as the speaker recalled being a child and looking for the perfect Father’s Day gift. His question was, “So, what could I give to the father who has everything?” Then answering the same question for the believer he said, “You give the Father what He wants most, what He has ask you to give, you give Him yourself.”

In Defense

Recently I worked with a group of women for a couple days and one seemed to go out of her way to throw barbs at me…all under the guise of making a joke, of course. Because we were working in one room there was no escaping her jabs and by the end of day two I felt like I was back in junior high. She eventually stopped, I suppose because she wasn’t getting the reaction she wanted. As I rehashed the situation in my mind I think what bothered me more than her playground antics was the fact that none of the other women stepped forward to defuse or deflect any of the comments. If we believers can’t even come to one another’s defense, it’s no wonder we fail miserably to follow the Lord’s example, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 NIV)

Follow the Rules

I’m serving on the elections Credentials Committee for a local utility and part of my job is to determine whether or not a returned ballot is valid.  A few people don’t follow the voting instructions, causing their ballot to be invalidated. Interestingly most of the invalid ballots are the result of the voter simply failing to put the ballot in the secrecy envelope, but others fail to sign the ballot or sign for a deceased person. Somehow we voters think that the only thing necessary is getting the ballot to the polling place on time and that it really doesn’t matter if we follow the rules. Wrong. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor 6:9-10 NIV)

Where Does it Hurt?

A friend and I were discussing the many people we know who are fighting cancer and she remarked, “Most people I know are suffering more in their mind than in their body.” She made a good point and I wondered if the same could be said of Jesus. Certainly crucifixion is a horrible, painful death, but beyond the Lord crying out in a loud voice as he breathed His last, there is no record of Him expressing the physical pain He endured. However there is evidence of His mental suffering, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46b NIV)

Tomorrow

Yesterday in the VA medical clinic waiting room there was an old WWII Veteran and his wife. Each had matching wheeled walkers and they were accompanied by their elderly friend who brought them in for a doctor’s appointment. The vet came back from seeing the doctor looking dejected and a solemn, halting conversation ensued.

Vet: “The doctor said I can’t drive anymore.” His wife gently patted his knee.

Wife: “I guess we knew this was coming.”

Friend: “But it still hurts.”

Vet: “We’ll have to sell the house.”

Wife: “We could move closer into town where we can walk to the store.”

Vet: “Neither one of us can walk.”

Wife: “Well at least we won’t have to buy gas for the car since we can’t drive it.”

Vet: “We’ll have to buy gas for the car if we keep it…I guess we could sell the car.”

Wife: “Well, I think we can cancel the appointment with eye doctor, don’t you?”

From my bird’s eye view my heart went out to all three of the old-timers as they grieved the loss of a driver’s license and tried to formulate plans for the future.  Jesus reminded me, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matt 6:34 NIV)

In a Bubble

The space shuttle Enterprise never went on an actual space mission, but it was used for flights in the atmosphere. The new home for the Enterprise is the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York and as per the requirements from NASA, a climate controlled environment is to be built around the space shuttle. Say what? A shuttle that is designed for space travel must now be protected from the earth’s environment. Sounds remarkably like some of us on the religious landscape. Believers are designed for reaching the lost, but some of us just want to stay in the climate controlled environment of the church.

Holding Down the Fort

There are some of us who are always at church on Sunday mornings. We seldom take vacations and we make every effort to schedule out of town activities so they don’t coincide with church. Then there are those members who are sporadic in attendance and they seem to just drop-in every once in awhile to say hello and then you won’t see them again for another month. I have to tell you that it does occasionally yank my chain. However, I recently did an interview with a woman who is out of town a lot because of business travel. Donna said, “It’s such a blessing to be in a church where we take to heart the meaning of being a church family. God keeps me grounded here even when I’m out of town and can’t be here each week.” OK, so holding down the fort is a blessing to others…I can live with that.

Supposition

In his book How We Think, author John Dewey says, “To say, ‘I think so’ implies that I do not as yet know so. The inferential belief may later be confirmed and come to stand as sure, but in itself it always has a certain element of supposition.” I’m still digesting Mr. Dewey’s statement because I have never considered that saying I think means I don’t yet know. However, it does make sense. Jesus was always asking others, ‘What do you think?’, but He himself never told others, ‘I think so’. I’m going to work on changing my vocabulary. I think I may have to stop thinking about things I already know.

To Keep Us from Speaking

I get angry at those who attack the public displays of the Ten Commandments, who demand that memorial crosses on government land be removed and who want to take Christ out of Christmas. I just realized that the folks who are trying to stop the Gospel message have a lot in common with the Jews who killed the prophets. Paul views such craftiness as an effort to keep people from being saved. “They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved.”  (1 Thess 2:15b – 16a NIV)

Always in Season

Last Sunday I had empathy for the man who was scheduled to do the communion meditation. Apparently there was a snafu and he didn’t get the word that he was to give the meditation until he walked in for Sunday worship and read it in the bulletin. Since he was not prepared he ask another man, who also was not prepared, to take his place. Interestingly both of these men are Biblically equipped and spiritually qualified for an impromptu meditation. However, one did not feel prepared in his own strength and declined to speak, but the other man spoke relying on the Spirit’s strength. “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Tim 4:2 NIV)

Blood Cry

Recently there was a report of a medical facility worker who couldn’t bring herself to destroy aborted fetuses so she preserved them in jars. One has to consider the reaction of women in the area who had abortions, believed that their deed was simply past-history and now have to wonder if one of those children sitting on a shelf all these years is their child. I thought of Cain killing his brother Abel. Even though Able was dead, his blood continued to be heard. “The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” (Gen 4:10 NIV)

Preaching to the Choir

I get a lot of politically charged email forwards from people who are blowing the trumpet and trying to rally the troops for their cause. I’m not against their efforts, but they are wasted on me because I’m already politically pro-active and armed for battle. I think it’s like hearing a salvation message preached each Sunday morning when everyone in the audience is already a confessed believer. The message we put out, whether political or spiritual, needs to hit the right audience. We can’t simply spend our time looking for lost sheep amongst those who are already in the fold.

Temptation

Bill confessed to eating not one, but two lemon bars. “I just couldn’t resist. No…I didn’t resist!” I think we all give temptation a lot of power and authority that it really doesn’t deserve. Temptation isn’t really in the sin category, it’s merely a precursor to sin. As often as temptation comes our way you would think that we would be able to recognize it by seeing the red flags, hearing sirens go off and feeling the change in the atmosphere. But no, we take the bait and then blame temptation for the sin that follows. I’m not suggesting Bill’s second lemon bar was a sin, I had two myself. However, the thought of resisting never entered my mind. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Cor 10:13 NIV)

The Squeaky Wheel

A shopping cart with defective wheels drives me nuts. I usually grab a cart, take a few steps with it and then turn around and swap it for one that rolls smoothly and doesn’t carry on a conversation with itself. If I have to settle for a noisy cart, by the time I’m finished shopping I have a really bad attitude - I’m mad at the store, the clerks and the other shoppers. Recently a friend told me that she really doesn’t mind a cart with a squeaky wheel, “I look at it like this, people can hear me coming and they get out of my way.” The next time I went to the store I decided to give her outlook a try. She was right. Even people standing in the middle of the aisle who were oblivious to other shoppers heard me coming and gave me a wide berth. It was like the parting of the Red Sea. I also found that I connected with fellow shoppers, even if it were simply a sympathetic look of, ‘you poor dear, I understand your pain.’

Only a Theologian

A Sunday Morning news show was discussing the scandal of Pope Benedict XVI’s butler leaking documents to the media. Implying that Pope Benedict is not minding the store an observer said, “Pope Benedict’s failing is because he is only a theologian and not a ruler.” I’m surprised. I thought all the hoopla surrounding the selection of the Pope has the appearance of it being a decision on whether or not the man is a theologian and spiritually qualified…not whether he is qualified as a ruler. According to Catholic tradition the first Pope was the Apostle Peter. I don’t think Scripture paints him as either a theologian or a ruler, Jesus just considered him to be a fisher of men.

In Remembrance

Memorial Day is a time to remember our fallen. However as believers the significance is not just about the fallen, but it’s also about those who will rise again. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Col 3:1 NIV)

Those Were the Days

For me it’s easier to look back on my life if I have a few photos to jog my memory. I remarked to Bill that we just aren’t taking pictures like we used to and someday we may regret not remembering the way we were. Bill’s thought processes took a complete 180, “I don’t need photos to remind me I’m not who I used to be.” He laughed, “When I die I want you to do like everyone else does with the obituaries. I want you to find the best looking photo of me in my 20’s so people will remember what I looked like then, not what I look like today.”  I’m not sure if the Spirit is into reading obituaries, but if He were I’m sure He would say Bill is much better looking today than he was in his 20’s.

Finding Your Way

When I break a routine it’s a real struggle to get motivated again. At the fitness center the other morning one member who hadn’t been working out for sometime was greeted by another member, “We’ll, you found your way back.” I was struck that the man returned of his own accord without the involvement of others.  No one called him up, sent him a card or tried to remind him that he has been missing in action. In fact, he wasn’t even greeted with a, ‘we’re glad your back’. I’m wondering if believers put too much emphasis on dragging missing sheep back to church, when we really should be focusing on being at peace while they find their own way back.

High Centered

The drainage ditch running past my house is home to a pair of Mallard ducks who recently became parents of quads. The other afternoon little ones were out for a swimming lesson and all lined up behind mom and dad. Because they were going with the flow it should have been an easy float trip, but the last little guy in line got high centered a cattail reed coming out of the water. By the time he dislodged himself his parents and siblings were around the bend and out of sight. I’ve been there. I can get hung up on a verse of Scripture that I just heard in the sermon and while I’m wrestling with it the rest of the folks have already moved on.

Refreshed

When I think about something being refreshed my mind goes to the icon on my computer, the pine scented air-freshener hanging from a rear view car mirror or to Sunday morning worship. I’ve not really considered that some of my fellow believers are actually in the refreshment business. In writing to Philemon, Paul said, “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.” (Philemon 1:7 NIV)

Knock, Knock

My mind was elsewhere when I came up to the big glass door of an office building. I fully expected the manual door to open automatically, but by the time I realized I was my own doorman, I had to do a stutter step and to keep my nose off the glass. I sometimes do something similar with Jesus because there is this expectation that once I’ve accepted Him as Lord and Savior the door opens automatically. “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matt 7:8 NIV)

Tailgater

The other day when I was on the highway driving to another town the SUV behind me was matching my speed and staying right on my bumper. After about five miles I picked up speed and went around the truck in front of me just to see if I could shake the tailgater. The SUV then snuggled up tightly to the truck and seemed to be content in the trucker’s blind spot. It finally dawned on me that the driver of the SUV was probably trying to conserve his own gas by drafting other vehicles. I’ve known believers whose actions resemble that of the tailgater. Rather than exerting any energy on personal Bible study, they come to class content to just draft off those who have done their study and are prepared to discuss the lesson.

Please Pass the Meat

Most of us can look at our past and realize that, generally speaking, the focus of maturing spiritually was better in our yester-year than it is currently. Today we seem to be satisfied with Bible-Lite – a watered-down version of the Word. Certainly Paul dealt with something similar when he told the Corinthians, “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” (1 Cor 3:1-2 NIV) At one time we were all infants in Christ, but leave it to Paul to burst that contentment bubble by suggesting that being an infant in Christ is no different than being worldly.

Politically Correct

Sometimes when we teach, lead or preach we inadvertently try to please our audience and we become politically correct. Recently a preacher presented some good, well founded thoughts, but then he lost me when he said, “I hope I didn’t offend anyone…” The conversation in my head began, ‘Why are you apologizing? You just spoke a message of truth from the Word of God’. People in the world often look for ways to be offended by the truth of God’s Word, but as believers we should never be offended when the truth is presented. James says, “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” (James 1:18 NIV)

Possessed

Jesus may have been referring to Jewish exorcism when he talked about an evil spirit seeking a place to rest after it had come out of a man. When the evil spirit does not find rest it returns to the house it left. “When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits... and they go in and live there.” (Luke 11:25-26 NIV) This certainly sheds a new light on re-possession.

Enough is Enough

Six year-old Lydia decided she wanted long hair, so for the last few months she hasn’t had her hair cut. However recently she told her mother, “I think it’s time to get my hair cut, it’s been growing long enough.” We believers are so much like Lydia. We ask God for patience and self-control and then a week later we do our own assessment and think we’ve been patient-ing and self-controlling-ing long enough.

Lucifer

A recent edition of the Daily Sentinel newspaper shows a photo of a young man on his knees at an Interstate off ramp holding a sign that says, “Please Help Hungry”. When the reporter asked why he was on his knees, the young man said that he was begging and praying. The kneeling man didn’t have any trouble telling the reporter his first name, ‘Lu’, but then made reference that he had changed his last name to ‘Cifer’. You can’t help but wonder who the young Mr. Lucifer is praying to and kneeling before. No doubt some unaware Christian travelers do support his begging, but personally I think the young man’s solicitations are misdirected. “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35 NIV)

Really?

Recently one of our young men gave an exceptional communion meditation. After the service I overheard a woman asking him if he had written it himself and he said, “Yes”. Showing she underestimated the young man’s talents she said in disbelief, “Did you really write it?” The young man again said, “Yes”, but I’m not sure the woman was convinced. No doubt many of us do something similar when we hear God’s response loud and clear and yet we ask Him, ‘Did You really say that?’

Leave a Message

The first thing many of us do when we come into our house is to check the answering machine for messages. I have friends who, when they don’t have any messages will joke, “Well, I guess nobody loves us.” But when there are no messages, they also breathe a sigh of relief that there is no crisis in the family to worry about. I have to wonder about the messages we leave for God. Do I send as many messages of love as I do for crisis intervention?

Shy Guy

In my last few newsletter interviews the subjects were one man and two women who ranged in age from 64 to 22 years. All three are active in the church, well founded in their faith and they all described themselves as shy. Normally when someone confesses to being shy, or even painfully shy, we consider it part of their character and accept them as they are. We work around their shyness to help make them feel more comfortable and we go out of our way to be inclusive. I’m now wondering if people ever consider their shyness as something to put at the feet of the Lord or do they simply plan on carrying it with them to the pearly gates.

Your Sins Will Find You Out

Using the passing lane on an uphill climb I zipped past a small car in my van. Almost immediately my hands free phone rang and when I answered the voice at the other end said, “Don’t you think you’re going a little fast there?”  Squinting in the rearview mirror I tried to connect the voice with a face, but I finally had to ask who I was speaking to. I was relieved to learn it was a former colleague who was driving her mother’s car. We had a good laugh, but the situation reminded me that God isn’t the only one keeping an eye on us.

The Voice

Sometime back there was a story in the media about a dog that was put up for adoption because the owner, a Korean, could no longer care for him. The dog found a new home, but appeared to be struggling with depression. No matter what the adoptive family did or said the dog just moped around. Four and a half years later the original the owner reappeared and the dog was immediately transformed when he heard the Korean language spoken. As the Good Shepherd Jesus says, “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:4-5 NIV)

Relocating

While playing on the school swings nine year-old David got a rock in his shoe. He took off the shoe and then as he was retying his sneaker his aunt asked if he’d gotten the rock out. “No,” said David, “I just moved it to where it doesn’t hurt.” I have to say that in spite of all the thoughts running through my head I was speechless. I can’t help but wonder if the Spirit doesn’t sometimes feels the same way with us when we just move our sin to a place where it doesn’t hurt.

The Unnamed

I just heard a report on an atheist group trying to force a community to remove a war memorial that has been standing in the town square for 91 years.  The offending memorial is of course in the shape of a cross. I think it is unfortunate that we simply refer to these people as ‘an atheist group’, rather than exposing the names of the individuals involved. Certainly Satan gets more embolden when he has anonymity. Judas Iscariot had eaten with Jesus and claimed to be his friend, but he was identified as the betrayer. I can’t help but wonder if some of those from the atheist group have also dipped their hand into the same bowl with believers.

As Far as the Gate

My cousin had gone to the funeral of a friend and was so moved by the eulogy written by the husband for his wife that she asked him for a copy. Sixty-four year old Linda, who struggled with a rare form of cancer, passed away last week. Her husband Ken fought the disease with her every step of the way and when she died he was by her side holding her hand. He said of her last moments on earth, “I held her hand all the way to the gates of heaven.” And there is no doubt that Jesus was waiting at the gate to take her hand.

Cover Up

I changed our sheets on the bed and put them into the washer and then the dryer. However when I took them out of the dryer the fitted sheet was missing. Being bigger than a sock I knew it couldn’t walk away by itself. I finally discovered that rather than taking the old sheet off the bed I absent mindedly put the clean fitted sheet over the dirty one. As new believers many of us tried to do something similar. Rather than getting rid of the old sinful nature we thought we could simply cover it over with the new self. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph 4:22-24 NIV)

Man of the People?

A person in our community is basking in the light of his new leadership role and he says he tries not to think about his new title. “The title didn’t change who I am, for I am no different today than I was two weeks ago.” Rats! I was hoping for a little bit of change, including a change of heart. “By their fruit you will recognize them…Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matt 7:16a, 17, 20 NIV)

Grudgingly

I really don’t like fund raisers that ask you to make a pledge, because it’s always in the back of my mind that some emergency might come up where I couldn’t fulfill my obligation. I have to laugh at Paul’s method of collecting on a pledge from the Corinthians. He expected them to honor the pledge…but how the gift was labeled would be entirely up to the Corinthians. “So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.”  (2 Cor 9:5 NIV)

Territorial

Although Charlie belongs to my daughter, he is somewhat of a family dog so I occasionally take him for walks. When Charlie gets to pick the path we take, he often chooses to go past one particular house where a black lab in a fenced yard lives. As each dog sizes up the other I can’t help but wonder if they might envy the other’s freedom. One dog is free to roam in the confines of the yard, the other is free to go as far and as wide as the leash allows…and yet both lay claim to their own territory. “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” (Psalms 119:45 NIV)

Bean Counter

Last Saturday I spoke about the Fruit of the Spirit at a Women’s Tea and I used the pomegranate as an illustration of a fruit with multiple characteristics. In doing research on the pomegranate I was surprised to learn that each fruit contains exactly 840 seeds. I immediately had two questions, ‘Who would even think to count all those seeds and how many did they have to count to know that each and every one contained exactly 840 seeds.’ I can only imagine the joy God has watching us explore His creation. “Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’ And it was so.” (Genesis 1:11 NIV)

The Price is Right

Reflecting on the last four years on City Council I realize that along with making a lot of new friends I’ve also made some enemies. No one intentionally sets out to make enemies, but we believers should be reminding one another that there is a price to pay even if you accidentally make an enemy. “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44 NIV)

Delete

As I wind down my term on City Council I have literally deleted thousands of emails that have accumulated over the last four years. The in-box and the sent-box are now empty, as well as all the folders. I had kept many of those emails because they were a paper trail of sorts and some of them were positive and others negative. However, the computer screen is now wiped clean and I can no longer remember what was written or said. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.” (Acts 3:19-20 NIV)

Ready, Fire, Aim

My husband is a member of the DAV Memorial Honor Guard and this voluntary group of old timers aren’t always in sync when it comes to giving a 21 Gun Salute. Every once in awhile a member will get trigger happy and pull the trigger prematurely, or the opposite can happen. The signal from the ear to the brain to the finger is slow to respond and a round goes off late. Actually there are times when the salute is only a 15 Gun Salute because some member wasn’t on time, or they forgot to show up at all. Thankfully those at the memorial service aren’t able to count the total number of shots that go off.  I have to laugh when I think about how many misfires the Israelites may have had when they marched around Jericho. “The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. But Joshua had commanded the people, ‘Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!’” (Joshua 6:9-10 NIV)

Defending

When someone goes on the attack after our child, our parent or our spouse the gloves come off and we rush to the rescue. We won’t let anyone say something bad about our loved ones without responding. And yet, how often do we hear people in all walks of life go after our Heavenly Father without coming to His defense. Certainly we know that God can take care of Himself, but defending Him is part of our family relationship.

Blessed

Two of my political colleagues speak freely and publically about their relationship with the Lord and it’s not unusual to hear criticism of their witness in letters to the editor, on the gossip circuit and behind their backs. Fellow believers often resist running to their defense because they themselves don’t want to become community targets. Jesus however offers support and encouragement. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt 5:11-12 NIV)

Natural Disaster

Some areas are just prone to natural disasters and when I hear of devastation the first thing that comes to my mind is, ‘Thank God where I live is not like other areas.’ That phrase has a familiar Pharisaical ring to it, “…God, I thank you that I am not like other men…” (Luke 18:11b NIV) Whether it’s the weather or one’s righteousness, it’s seems so easy to slip into comparing ourselves with others.

Walk on By

In trying to connect with the youth in the community we instituted a Youth Council for teens that is patterned after the City Council. One of their projects was putting on a job fair for teens, and for a first annual event I was really impressed with their efforts and the organizations that participated. However, I was unimpressed with the US military representation. Their booths were set up, brochures were displayed, but all the personnel were standing around talking to one another. I went past their tables twice, but no one even made eye contact with me. When I finally forced myself into their conversation I told an Army sergeant I was disappointed they weren’t engaging the students. Her excuse was, “Well Ma’am, I’ve been talking to two new recruits who are signed up and will be going to basic training as soon as they graduate in May.” As a believer I think I have a tendency to do something similar when it comes to spreading the gospel. I gravitate to groups of seasoned believers or try to reach out to those who are new recruits and babes in Christ…all the while the unsaved may be walking by and I don’t even so much as make eye contact with them.

Gender Neutral

I’m working on a presentation for a women’s tea and the requested topic is the Fruit of the Spirit. Over the years I’ve attended many talks on the Fruit of the Spirit, but it just dawned on me that it’s always been the topic for women’s groups. I don’t think I’ve heard of a men’s retreat featuring a keynote address on the Fruit of the Spirit. You have to admit that the Fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – really doesn’t have that dragon slayer feel to it. I’m wondering how Paul’s masculine audience reacted to his teaching…I think I’m sort of glad my audience will be women. (Gal 5:22-23 NIV)

Administering

While serving on City Council the biggest policy decision to be made is approving the budget. The elected body ultimately determines how and where taxpayer funds will be spent. In essence the City Council is spending money that is not their own and it is their obligation to administer it properly. As believers I’m not sure we realize what a huge responsibility it is to administer the assets of others. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (I Peter 4:10 NIV)

The Competitive Edge

In a recent letter-to-the-editor a writer said, “I believe that God takes a neutral position in all competitions….that God only takes sides when the issues involve good and evil.” Really? I have to laugh at the thought of keeping God confined to only issues involving good and evil. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

Mocking

Recently one of my colleagues was publically scorned and she made the observation that believers don’t often take a stand on issues because they are afraid of being mocked.  “If you can't withstand a little mockery during these days, how will you stand strong later?” She makes a great point. Jesus, in predicting his own death told his disciples, “He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.” (Luke 18:32 NIV)

Unsubscribe

In the past our local newspaper seemed to be pretty relaxed in the publication of anonymous comments on their web site. I always assumed because the comments were allowed that the readership liked the dissention and angst. When the paper tightened up their blog guidelines, those wanting to vent had to look for other venues to get their message out. A local community group appeared to be trying to fill the void and sent an email to all their subscribers that they would be open for ‘lively discussion’. I had to laugh when the first person to spew on the site brought a flood of people asking to be removed from the distribution list. It’s refreshing to know that the majority of people in the community do not want to engage in, or read trash talk. “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.” (Proverbs 4:14-15 NIV)

Well Done

Most of us can look back over many years of service to our church, our community and our country. My four years on City Council are coming to an end and although I am weary and looking for a time of rest, I confidently lay claim to Jesus’ words in the Parable of the Talents, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Well, I was confident until I let the complete verse register in my mind, “…Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things…” (Matt 25:23 NIV) Now I’m getting nervous. Exactly what does it mean to be put in charge of many things?

Fodder

Yesterday we had City Council elections and I lost my bid for re-election. Certainly I’m disappointed, but I trust the Lord has me where He wants me for this moment in time, so all is good. Actually my husband, friends and family are looking forward to having me back. I do think one of my biggest regrets will be the loss of great fodder for my blog.

In Turn

At a retreat I attended with 20 others one participant bemoaned that his opinions are often ignored because he’s the ‘old man of the group’. By the second day it became obvious that age was not the culprit. My talkative colleague dominated all the discussions by giving lengthy opinions on every agenda item. As I consider Paul’s guidelines for orderly worship, I’m wondering if his thoughts were more than just wanting to avoid confusion. I think it’s possible he also saw the need to keep one speaker from dominating discussions. “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.” (1Cor 14:29-31 NIV)

Choosing Life

This last weekend my mom, who is almost 88 years and in a nursing home, had a heart problem and was given the opportunity to choose life or death. Her choice was to have a pacemaker installed or, as the doctor said, “let nature take its course”. Mom has been an unhappy nursing home resident for over four years, so I find it interesting that she opted for the pacemaker. Paul says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” (Philippians 1:21-24 NIV) When mom is feeling better I can hardly wait to remind her that she chose fruitful labor over being with Christ.

Coincidence

For my weekly church newsletter I debated about swapping two interviews around.  One is a great story that has a warm fuzzy feel to it where the interviewee reminisced about Easter as a child. The other is captivating story of a physically and mentally abused woman who struggled raising two boys and wrestled with God over issues she didn’t understand. I decided to publish the stories in the order of the interview, which meant that the feel good story will run this week, a week prior to Easter. The overcoming abuse story will be published for Easter Sunday. As I proof read the Easter Sunday edition I was blown away by God’s perfect timing and messaging. The interviewee’s favorite passage of Scripture is the perfect Easter story rolled up into one tiny verse, “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies…” (John 11:25 NIV)

Mistaken Identity

A local newspaper reported that a woman survived a gunshot wound to the head and has apparently resumed her transient life style, while the shooter on the other hand is answering questions about some past brushes with the law. The real story however, is that the woman wore a red Mohawk hair style and the shooter, from 90 feet away, mistook her for a bird. I can understand the shooters confusion. We have all fired off shots at others who are acting out of character and then we’re shocked to learn they are a fellow believer. Of course, if people can’t tell whether or not we are a Christian, maybe we deserve to be shot at.

Repairs Done Here

The marquee at a local home decorating business reads, ‘Blind Repair’. Actually, I think the sentiments would be more fitting if they were displayed on the church marquee. Reading from the scroll of Isaiah the prophet Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed…” (Luke 4:18 NIV)

Arriving At Your Destination

I am in Toastmasters and one of my observations is that speakers and presenters almost always begin their talk justifying to the audience why they are speaking and explaining their job. ‘I’m here because I’m the evaluator’ or ‘this is my Ice Breaker speech’. They then tell us how they arrived at where they are, ‘this thought came to me in the middle of the night’, or ‘I spent a week in trying to think what I wanted to say’. We who speak in the church have the same habit. For instance speakers will say, ‘Today I am giving the Communion meditation’ – actually the audience already knows that you are doing the meditation because you are listed in the bulletin. Presenters will then continue on and tell us when, where, how and why they arrived at their particular text for this particular meditation. I wonder if we do something similar when we present the Gospel to others. I think it’s possible that we spend more time telling people how we arrived at the Gospel, than we do in actually sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Bon Voyage

My friend Sharon was recently diagnosed with severe, inoperable heart problems and she has only a short time to live.  “Ninety-five percent of my heart is blocked.” She smiled, “So I’m running on only five percent fuel.” As Christians we should never be afraid to die, but Sharon’s attitude is remarkable. “I can hardly wait to see the Lord and sit on His lap. It’s marvelous, it’s wonderful. The Lord has given me a plan and I have time to get my affairs in order.” I laughed with Sharon when she told me that even knowing she had six months to live didn’t stop her from suggesting a timetable to the Lord. “When I have chest pains I tell Him, ‘I’m ready, this would be a good time for me to go!’”

Reminder

I am attending classes on Emergency Preparedness and we had a chance to visit the Emergency Operations Center, but only six of us took advantage of the opportunity. Some people in the class said they didn’t get a notice. At our last meeting the attendance was down and one classmate told the facilitator, “I had it on my calendar so I knew about the class, but you didn’t send out a reminder, so some people may have forgotten.” The facilitator replied, “At the last meeting we all agreed on the time and the place for this meeting. Everyone has a calendar and it’s not my job to send out a reminder.” He then added, “In an emergency no one will be sending you a reminder.” Can’t you just see people standing before the Lord on Judgment Day saying, ‘But You didn’t send us out a reminder’?

Old Wounds

As I get older there are a few places on my hands and arms that are now showing up as scars. I don’t always remember how I got those wounds, but I can vaguely remember as a child picking at the rough scab and pulling it off before the wound was healed. When I was young in faith I’m fairly certain that I did something similar in my spiritual walk. No doubt some of my spiritual scars are of my own making because I kept pulling off the scabs before I was healed.

Pre-Planning

I’ve noticed that when I have a housekeeper coming in I’ll do some tidying up before she gets here. Or when I have a dentist appointment, I’ll spend extra time brushing and flossing before the appointment. I also try some dieting before it’s time for my annual physical because I know I’ll have to get on the dreaded scale. It’s no wonder that the Lord has kept the Second Coming a secret. “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matt 24:44 NIV)

Laodicea

Our upcoming election is a non-partisan race and some candidates come from opposite political parties. A few days ago I learned that one candidate declares a party affiliation just long enough to participate in the party caucus then he switches to become an Independent. I’m not sure how his party feels about people who are on again-off again, but the Lord certainly has an opinion on those of faith who have Laodiceian tendencies. “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:15-16 NIV)

Perfect Body

At the fitness center I can see people of all shapes, sizes and ages working out and I admire their efforts. However, if anyone were to see these folks on the street or in their work place, they would have no idea how much time, energy and sweat has been expended in order to keep fit. I’m wondering if something similar can be said of the Body of Christ. Very few people see our perfect body because for many of us, the only time we exercise our faith is when we are in the church setting.

Truth

As a playwright, George Bernard Shaw included humor in his craft. Personally I am not a fan of Shaw’s, but I find his quote interesting, "My way of joking is to tell the truth. It is the funniest joke in the world." In my world truth is serious business and I just can’t wrap my head around it as being humorous or a joke. No doubt there was humor in Jesus’ life, but he prefaced much of his teaching and remarks with, “I tell you the truth…” Somehow I don’t think anyone in His audience was laughing at the time.

In Need

A middle aged woman, accompanied by her quiet and unassuming boyfriend, would occasionally attend our worship services and then she would ask for financial assistance. Eventually our leadership stipulated that the church would give her a hand-up, not a hand-out, but only if she attended regularly and become a part of the fellowship…and for a time she did. The woman has now moved on, but every Sunday the boyfriend slips quietly into a seat and joins us for worship. We use our human wisdom to identify those in need, but Jesus has His target audience and it’s not always who we think it would be. “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:5 NIV)

Being Counted

Yesterday the activity on the Christian Ear was off the chart. Actually at first I thought it was a glitch with the counter, but no, someone is going through old blogs. More than likely my campaign opposition is sorting through old posts hoping to find something disparaging that I may have said. I really do have to laugh, because if someone is looking for dirt then they have to read through six years of Scripture and Christian thoughts. We know the Word of God does not return void. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double–edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb 4:12 NIV)

Persuading

I’ve just read an interesting little book, Your Mind Matters, by John Stott, who observes that when a person comes to the Lord we tend to think, ‘thank God he was converted’ rather thinking, ‘thank God he was persuaded’. Stott notes that persuading is an intellectual exercise, “To persuade is to marshal arguments in order to prevail on people to change their mind about something.” Most of us don’t feel equipped to persuade a sinner to accept Jesus as his Savior…and that’s exactly Stott’s point.

Dearly Departed

I’ve often heard it said that a funeral service should be for the living, rather than for the dead. At a recent funeral the casket with the body was present, but there wasn’t a lot that was actually said about the deceased. The service really was more about the pastor, the family in video slides and the messages through prerecorded songs. For me there seemed to be a void because so little was said about the deceased. But then I remembered the words of the angel at the tomb, “He is not here, he has risen, just as he said.” (Matt 28:6 NIV) Certainly my dearly departed had already departed and it really was about the family that was left behind.

No Pressure

Each week for over two years I’ve interviewed a member of the congregation and then written a mini-bio about them to share with the congregation. It’s been a great tool for helping us get better acquainted with one another. However, I’m now struggling to find folks to interview. Some people are very private and don’t want to share their lives, while others want more time to collect their thoughts and will say, “Not now, call me back in a couple of months.” I don’t want to pressure people to share, but I hate to see anyone pass up an opportunity to tell others about how God has worked in their life. “Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.” (Psalm 66:16 NIV)

Second Cousin Once Removed

It seems we believers often look for ways to divide ourselves and then show our independence. I certainly mean no disrespect to this congregation, but I cracked up when I read their name, the Third Christian Reformed Church. I can only imagine the history and lineage for this body of believers. The name alone entices me to want to know more about their genealogy and if we might somehow be related.

You Are Here

A frustration I have with my computer is that I don’t always know where I am. Am I in the library, in a folder or in a sub-folder? Every once in a while a family member will have to lead me out of the maze, but that still doesn’t register with me as to how I got to where I was in the first place and more importantly, how to get out on my own. I recently sent up yet another distress call to Bill saying, ‘where am I?’ and he finally had the answer I was looking for. “Just look up on the tool bar at the top of the screen and it will show you where you’ve been and where you are now.”  As believers we sometimes fail to realize where we are in our Christian maturity – for better or for worse. I would love to have a spiritual tool bar that showed me where I’ve been and where I am now. “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Heb 5:13-14 NIV)

Benefit of the Doubt

To me, giving someone the benefit of the doubt has meant saying, “I’ll trust you because I want to be fair and not jump to conclusions”. I recently did a double take when I read the definition on the internet as, "I can't prove you're wrong (or lying), but I suspect that you are, so because of this doubt I'll accept what you say."  Wow….I find it interesting that we seem to give one another a pass on what we say or do just because we don’t want to take the time to prove whether or not their statements are true.

Classification

There are situations in life where I resolve to put something in God’s hands, but then I can’t let it go and I keep trying to help Him out. I fall into this trap is because I can, for good or bad, actually impact the outcome of a situation by my actions. However, there are other times when I have absolutely no power, such as when a loved one has terminal cancer. I can let go then because I know I am limited and God is unlimited. I’m thinking I need to recategorize what problems I give to the Lord. In order to completely turn something over to Him, maybe I should classify it as “terminal”.

Savings and Loss

A few months ago I heard a presentation from Colorado Supreme Court Justice Gregory Hobbs, a water court judge. He noted that conserving water on the western slope really doesn’t help Colorado, but rather benefits communities downstream, like San Diego.  The aquifer, a water-bearing layer of rock, sand or gravel that absorbs water, needs to be replenished, but in our efforts to save water by lining irrigation ditches, we are actually keeping the water from going into the local aquifer. On a spiritual level Jesus has a similar thought, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:24 NIV)

Stealing Wheat

I purchased 50 campaign yard signs for the upcoming election and then I had to come up with friends who would let me display the signs in their yard. I’m pleased to report that I do in fact have 50 friends. I put the signs out on Saturday, but during the night on Monday one of the signs mysteriously disappeared. I’m now seeing shades of the Parable of the Weeds. “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.” (Matt 13:24-25 NIV)