Stop and Go
Thursday, May 23 2013
For two hours yesterday I crept southward through southern Connecticut. The car in front of me was a red Ford Escape and the car to my right (I was in the left lane.) was a black Audi. I know this well because of how long I stared at them. I should have lowered my right window and gotten acquainted with the man in the Audi. We have all had these patience trying experiences. Stop and go. It is much like life. We make some progress toward certain goals and then stall for a while until we either get a good break or motivate ourselves into action. Some people finish college in three years while others take six or more. Some people finish their dissertation in a few months and others never do. They are called ABDs. (All but dissertation.) They ran out of gas.
In 1678 John Bunyan published Pilgrim’s Progress. It is the story of the stop and go progress of Pilgrim on his way to the Kingdom. It is the tale of all who set out for the Kingdom. Each of us has our moments of despair and doubt. We get flat tires and we run out of gas. We fear that scary word “lost.” However, Jesus declared Himself to be the Way. John 14:6. While we might experience stop and go we never have to fear being lost. He holds us in His hands and no one can snatch us from Him. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10. Don’t despair if you find yourself caught in a stop and go life. It happens to all of us.
In 1678 John Bunyan published Pilgrim’s Progress. It is the story of the stop and go progress of Pilgrim on his way to the Kingdom. It is the tale of all who set out for the Kingdom. Each of us has our moments of despair and doubt. We get flat tires and we run out of gas. We fear that scary word “lost.” However, Jesus declared Himself to be the Way. John 14:6. While we might experience stop and go we never have to fear being lost. He holds us in His hands and no one can snatch us from Him. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10. Don’t despair if you find yourself caught in a stop and go life. It happens to all of us.
Different Times - Different Laws
Wednesday, May 22 2013
A series of unprosecuted misdemeanors is occurring in our city. Lilacs are blooming. We have a neighbor with a hedge of lilacs that buffers their home from a busy street. As far up as one can reach the unresistible blossoms are gone. Not only have I seen walkers plucking these beauties, I have seen cars stopped with people boldly taking handfuls.
In Mark 2 we read, “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” Note they were not accused of stealing because it was lawful that a person could take what was necessary to satisfy one’s hunger.
Different times – different laws. In Ecclesiastes 3 Solomon says there is a time for loving and a time for hating, a time for making peace and a time for making war. He even goes so far as to say there is a time to kill.
In Luke 10 we read, “An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life? “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
One of the most difficult but liberating moments in our lives is when we are able to understand and move from merely being law keepers to living by these two great principles. Please carefully and prayfully read Galatians 4 and 5.
In Mark 2 we read, “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” Note they were not accused of stealing because it was lawful that a person could take what was necessary to satisfy one’s hunger.
Different times – different laws. In Ecclesiastes 3 Solomon says there is a time for loving and a time for hating, a time for making peace and a time for making war. He even goes so far as to say there is a time to kill.
In Luke 10 we read, “An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life? “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
One of the most difficult but liberating moments in our lives is when we are able to understand and move from merely being law keepers to living by these two great principles. Please carefully and prayfully read Galatians 4 and 5.
We Know
Tuesday, May 21 2013
The same week my older son was admitted to a burn unit in Southern California my younger son’s wife was diagnosed with a brain tumor. To say it wasn’t our best week would be an understatement. However, the news is good and we are blessed. Both my older son and my younger son’s wife will be discharged in a few short hours. My older son’s skin grafts on his hands are doing very well and he is flying home to New York. My younger son’s wife’s tumor was removed and it is benign. To say that we are very happy would also be an understatement. But, my joy is marred by the news from Oklahoma. I cannot imagine the pain of those who will have to bury their loved ones.
Today in our supermarket I saw a delightful little boy being pushed about in a shopping cart designed to look like a car. He was beaming as he spun the steering wheel in the direction his mom was pushing the cart. His total innocence had to be reminiscent of Adam and Eve’s joy in Eden. The little boy has no choice. He will grow up. Adam and Eve thought they were growing up when they choose so badly. As I looked at him I wanted something bad. I wanted him to stay small. But, we know that isn’t what it is all about.
What it is all about is growing. Had Adam and Eve obeyed they would have grown to heights one can only imagine. It is God’s goal for each of us. It is what eternal life is all about. We are going to grow in innocence, but definitely not in ignorance. We know.
Today in our supermarket I saw a delightful little boy being pushed about in a shopping cart designed to look like a car. He was beaming as he spun the steering wheel in the direction his mom was pushing the cart. His total innocence had to be reminiscent of Adam and Eve’s joy in Eden. The little boy has no choice. He will grow up. Adam and Eve thought they were growing up when they choose so badly. As I looked at him I wanted something bad. I wanted him to stay small. But, we know that isn’t what it is all about.
What it is all about is growing. Had Adam and Eve obeyed they would have grown to heights one can only imagine. It is God’s goal for each of us. It is what eternal life is all about. We are going to grow in innocence, but definitely not in ignorance. We know.
The Invisible Christian
Monday, May 20 2013
On moonless nights my black lab disappears the moment we step into the yard. She becomes instantly invisible as she melts into the darkness. Care is essential as I move about lest I trip over her. She reminds me of someone who told me he is the only Christian in his workplace. I asked him how he is treated and he responded, “No one knows. I am an undercover agent for Jesus.” Really? And what does that mean and how does that work? I have no idea. He is the invisible Christian.
Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Does this mean he is just like everyone else with no distinguishing characteristics? There is another side to this. Some Christians are so advert they are annoying. Everyone knows they are a Christian because they are obnoxiously proselytizing all the time.
The challenge can be a very fine line to walk. How to be a good neighbor, a good colleague, a good friend, and a good person that attracts others to want to know more is often not easy. In James 3 we read, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” He also adds, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” The old maxim “cream rises to the top” works. If one is as described by James it is impossible to be invisible. Such a person shines – quite unlike my dog on a dark night.
Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Does this mean he is just like everyone else with no distinguishing characteristics? There is another side to this. Some Christians are so advert they are annoying. Everyone knows they are a Christian because they are obnoxiously proselytizing all the time.
The challenge can be a very fine line to walk. How to be a good neighbor, a good colleague, a good friend, and a good person that attracts others to want to know more is often not easy. In James 3 we read, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” He also adds, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” The old maxim “cream rises to the top” works. If one is as described by James it is impossible to be invisible. Such a person shines – quite unlike my dog on a dark night.
Suspected!
Thursday, May 16 2013
“Suspected tornadoes ripped through North Texas on Wednesday night, killing at least six people and injuring more than 100 others.” This is the beginning of a CNN news story this morning. Obviously I am not a meteorologist because I am puzzled by the word “suspected.” Is there some dispute over the definition of “tornado”? Six people are dead! Towns are destroyed and we are using the word “suspected.” This is akin to someone in heaven looking at Earth and saying, “People are dying. Wars are happening. Genocides are occurring. Prisons are full of criminals. I suspect there is “sin” on planet Earth.
Let’s try the other side of the coin. I see a home where the children are well cared for, there is respect for other’s feelings and people are nurturing each other. I suspect there is love in that home.
In Matthew 7 Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” It was very difficult for my father to tell me he loved me. I think it was a generational thing. Men just didn’t do that in the 40’s. But I knew he did love me. He worked two jobs to see to it that we were well cared for. On Sunday afternoons he took me somewhere special. We would go for walks in the mountains with our dog or if the weather was bad he took me to the movies. Even after I was married when I would visit he would take me into a back room in the house and give me forty dollars. Today it seems so little but it was big to me.
We do not have to ever write or read the following sentence. “Suspected love from heaven. John 3:16.” By its fruit you will know it.
Let’s try the other side of the coin. I see a home where the children are well cared for, there is respect for other’s feelings and people are nurturing each other. I suspect there is love in that home.
In Matthew 7 Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” It was very difficult for my father to tell me he loved me. I think it was a generational thing. Men just didn’t do that in the 40’s. But I knew he did love me. He worked two jobs to see to it that we were well cared for. On Sunday afternoons he took me somewhere special. We would go for walks in the mountains with our dog or if the weather was bad he took me to the movies. Even after I was married when I would visit he would take me into a back room in the house and give me forty dollars. Today it seems so little but it was big to me.
We do not have to ever write or read the following sentence. “Suspected love from heaven. John 3:16.” By its fruit you will know it.