Mar 2011
"I Wasted It"
Wednesday, March 30 2011
A little girl standing in line behind us at Staples this evening went over to a display and picked up a bottle of hand sanitizer. Looking at her mom she said, “I need a new one of these because I wasted the last one.” I wondered how she had wasted it. Had she sanitized the dog or the cat? I loved her honesty. I immediately thought of us being honest enough with God to say, “I need a new life. I wasted the old one.” The little girl’s mom said, “Yes, you can have it.” And how happy I am to report that God says the very same thing to us, “Yes, you can have it.” What is even better about God’s replacement is it lasts forever. The bottle of sanitizer will someday be gone.
God is a great parent. It is perfect that Jesus told us to call Him “Father.” Nothing could be better. Today one of my students told about her mother totally shocking her. According to my student her mother had always been a model of decorum and gentleness, until the day my student saw another child bullying my student’s little brother. Her mom went ballistic. Parents are that way. I can only imagine the fate of those who have harmed God’s children. There is an old expression about “hell to pay.” I don’t think that’s an exaggeration.
Going back to the wasted lives, I love Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.” The word “uttermost” means just that. A totally wasted life is totally replaced. Now I am hoping that each of us didn’t totally waste our lives. I sure each of us had some good days, weeks or years.
God is a great parent. It is perfect that Jesus told us to call Him “Father.” Nothing could be better. Today one of my students told about her mother totally shocking her. According to my student her mother had always been a model of decorum and gentleness, until the day my student saw another child bullying my student’s little brother. Her mom went ballistic. Parents are that way. I can only imagine the fate of those who have harmed God’s children. There is an old expression about “hell to pay.” I don’t think that’s an exaggeration.
Going back to the wasted lives, I love Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.” The word “uttermost” means just that. A totally wasted life is totally replaced. Now I am hoping that each of us didn’t totally waste our lives. I sure each of us had some good days, weeks or years.
Fear Day
Tuesday, March 29 2011
Today was “Fear Day” in my human development course. Having been given the weekend assignment of looking up various fear or phobia lists on the Internet my students were to come prepared to confess to their particular fears. You can imagine the liveliness of the discussion as we did the usual snakes, spiders, mice, high places and claustrophobia. One girl even said she was afraid to tell us what she was afraid of. There was a lot of joshing and laughing at each other but at some point the mood changed when people started to say, “I’m afraid of failure.” “I’m afraid to have my heart broken.” “I’m afraid one of my parents will die.”
Fear is a very real part of our daily existence; and rightly so because the world can be a very dangerous place. Our beautiful black lab is eighty pounds of tight muscle behind a set of the whitest of teeth. One would think with all that power and equipment she would not need to be afraid of anything. The truth is she startles very easily. The strangest noise that is new to her will create an explosion of protective ferocity. She can go from sleep to full bristled guard with the harshest and nastiest of growls in less than a second. No one in their right mind would try to get by her. If you only heard her you would think we had a guard lion.
One of the commonest commands found in the Bible is God telling us to fear not. The Psalms contain such wonders as “Yeah, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil.” Right now – open your Bible and read Psalm 27. You will not be sorry. It will be time well spent.
Fear is a very real part of our daily existence; and rightly so because the world can be a very dangerous place. Our beautiful black lab is eighty pounds of tight muscle behind a set of the whitest of teeth. One would think with all that power and equipment she would not need to be afraid of anything. The truth is she startles very easily. The strangest noise that is new to her will create an explosion of protective ferocity. She can go from sleep to full bristled guard with the harshest and nastiest of growls in less than a second. No one in their right mind would try to get by her. If you only heard her you would think we had a guard lion.
One of the commonest commands found in the Bible is God telling us to fear not. The Psalms contain such wonders as “Yeah, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil.” Right now – open your Bible and read Psalm 27. You will not be sorry. It will be time well spent.
Our Side
Monday, March 28 2011
Could switching to God’s side really save your soul? Do dogs chase cats? Did the little piggy cry, “wee wee wee” all the way home? Was Abe Lincoln honest?
Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
I guess it really boils down to whom you want to believe. Do you want to believe some television preacher who is clearly lining his pocket? Do you want to believe some scientist who clearly does not have all the data? Do you want to believe that something as complex as you exists because there were over a twenty trillion favorable mutations all in a row? Do you want to believe some preacher who uses God’s Word to promote hate?
I have a really good scientist friend who was let go from a major university because his colleagues discovered he was a creationist. Really now, if they are so sure of their position why did they feel threatened to keep him around? He would have made a great intellectual sparring partner. They could have scored points off him with their students if they were so sure.
It becomes fairly obvious that there are many reasons to become disenchanted with both sides. So how about starting a new side? Our side – one based upon our own common sense of logic, decency and honesty. Why not turn off the strident voices on either side and instead sit down quietly with God’s Word, read carefully and listen to what He has to say? Why not look at nature and see the incredible complexity of life? Why not believe because we believe and not because someone told us to believe?
Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
I guess it really boils down to whom you want to believe. Do you want to believe some television preacher who is clearly lining his pocket? Do you want to believe some scientist who clearly does not have all the data? Do you want to believe that something as complex as you exists because there were over a twenty trillion favorable mutations all in a row? Do you want to believe some preacher who uses God’s Word to promote hate?
I have a really good scientist friend who was let go from a major university because his colleagues discovered he was a creationist. Really now, if they are so sure of their position why did they feel threatened to keep him around? He would have made a great intellectual sparring partner. They could have scored points off him with their students if they were so sure.
It becomes fairly obvious that there are many reasons to become disenchanted with both sides. So how about starting a new side? Our side – one based upon our own common sense of logic, decency and honesty. Why not turn off the strident voices on either side and instead sit down quietly with God’s Word, read carefully and listen to what He has to say? Why not look at nature and see the incredible complexity of life? Why not believe because we believe and not because someone told us to believe?
Last Year's Buds - This Year's Blossoms
Friday, March 25 2011
Last summer the rhododendron plants set this year’s blossoms. The buds were formed and all winter they have slept and waited for this coming June. We have hundreds of blossoms waiting to overwhelm us with beauty. This afternoon I stood holding one in my hand and I understood much more about Jesus’ kingdom.
In Mark 1 we read, “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.’” If we were expecting an immediate change in government it didn’t happen and Jesus would have been a false prophet. But Jesus never sought to overtly overthrow any political establishment. Instead He was far more subtle and far more effective. Had He demanded the fruit of Christianity to immediately be established, anarchy would have ensued. But ever so slowly the internal principles, the fruit of the Spirit, matured in the minds of people. Civil rights, equality of women, religious liberty, the value of a single human life and the emancipation of slavery are a few of the revolutionary and radical changes that have blossomed in nations populated by large Christian populations. Our world is not the same world in which He said, “The Kingdom of God is within you.”
Most of us are impatient for moral change. We want to reform the world in our time. We want to see the fruit of our teaching manifest itself in our children. For Jesus it was setting the blossoms and knowing in due season the hearts of men would be aroused to do the morally right thing. We have a tendency to want to believe the world is getting worse and worse but a careful examination of history reveals that so much good has come to us and we can trace it back to the teachings of a Galilean carpenter.
In Mark 1 we read, “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.’” If we were expecting an immediate change in government it didn’t happen and Jesus would have been a false prophet. But Jesus never sought to overtly overthrow any political establishment. Instead He was far more subtle and far more effective. Had He demanded the fruit of Christianity to immediately be established, anarchy would have ensued. But ever so slowly the internal principles, the fruit of the Spirit, matured in the minds of people. Civil rights, equality of women, religious liberty, the value of a single human life and the emancipation of slavery are a few of the revolutionary and radical changes that have blossomed in nations populated by large Christian populations. Our world is not the same world in which He said, “The Kingdom of God is within you.”
Most of us are impatient for moral change. We want to reform the world in our time. We want to see the fruit of our teaching manifest itself in our children. For Jesus it was setting the blossoms and knowing in due season the hearts of men would be aroused to do the morally right thing. We have a tendency to want to believe the world is getting worse and worse but a careful examination of history reveals that so much good has come to us and we can trace it back to the teachings of a Galilean carpenter.
Light the Candles
Thursday, March 24 2011
It was May 19, 1780 America was brand new and state houses of legislature were busy forming government. But this day things were different. This day became known as the Great Dark Day. At noon the perfect combination of smoke from Canadian forest fires, heavy cloud cover and fog brought on night at noon. In the state house in Stamford, Connecticut some of the Puritan members cried out, “It is the Day of Judgment.” Andrew Davenport’s voice rang out in the darkness, “This well may be the Day of Judgment which the world awaits; but be it so or not, I only know my present duty, and my Lord's command to occupy till He come. So at the post where He hast set me in His providence, I choose, for one, to meet Him face to face, No faithless servant frightened from my task, but ready when the Lord of the harvest calls; and therefore, with all reverence, I would say, Let God do His work, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles."
This week’s issue of Newsweek magazine has the cover message, “Apocalypse Now – Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Nuclear Meltdowns. Revolutions, Economies on the Brink.” There is no doubt, it’s rough out there and it is not a time for the faint of heart. I do think the Puritan members might watch thirty minutes of the evening news and once again cry out. But it is Andrew Davenport’s message that needs to be repeated. Let’s be focused on the task the Lord has given us. God will do His work; we must see to ours. “Go ye therefore into all the world and preach the Gospel.” The Gospel is the Good News not all the bad news. Therefore, bring in the candles and let our light shine.
__________________
This week’s issue of Newsweek magazine has the cover message, “Apocalypse Now – Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Nuclear Meltdowns. Revolutions, Economies on the Brink.” There is no doubt, it’s rough out there and it is not a time for the faint of heart. I do think the Puritan members might watch thirty minutes of the evening news and once again cry out. But it is Andrew Davenport’s message that needs to be repeated. Let’s be focused on the task the Lord has given us. God will do His work; we must see to ours. “Go ye therefore into all the world and preach the Gospel.” The Gospel is the Good News not all the bad news. Therefore, bring in the candles and let our light shine.
__________________
Stunning on the Inside
Wednesday, March 23 2011
Every once in a while one of my undergrads delivers a great line. This morning we were discussing the value of personal appearance and the topic roamed to very plain people marrying spectacular looking people. One of the jocks on the back row spoke up and said, “The outside is a perk.” There it was – the perfect description for what really matters.
David was one of the beautiful people set. The Bible even says, “He was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to.” David also had an eye for beautiful women. Remember Abigail, “A woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” All this has a bit of irony in it considering the context of Samuel selecting David after the Lord said to Samuel, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him (Eliab): for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
However, even as good looking as he was David knew the truth about what really counts. After his almost unforgiveable sin against Uriah, David wrote, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Realizing that very few of us have ever seen ourselves in 3-D, (photos and the mirror being 2-D) let me help you to feel better about yourself if you are as common as the rest of us. You look much better in 3-D than in 2-D. That’s very good news. You are better looking than you think you are and hopefully absolutely stunning on the inside.
David was one of the beautiful people set. The Bible even says, “He was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to.” David also had an eye for beautiful women. Remember Abigail, “A woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” All this has a bit of irony in it considering the context of Samuel selecting David after the Lord said to Samuel, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him (Eliab): for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
However, even as good looking as he was David knew the truth about what really counts. After his almost unforgiveable sin against Uriah, David wrote, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Realizing that very few of us have ever seen ourselves in 3-D, (photos and the mirror being 2-D) let me help you to feel better about yourself if you are as common as the rest of us. You look much better in 3-D than in 2-D. That’s very good news. You are better looking than you think you are and hopefully absolutely stunning on the inside.
Our Grandfather Clock
Tuesday, March 22 2011
Our grandfather clock has boldly reminded me that another hour of life is gone. I have silenced the quarter hour reminders and will most likely soon silence the hourly herald of the coming of the grim reaper. But wait, that’s really morose. There is a completely different way to understand this. When we were children we wanted time to rush by. When asked how old we were we proudly said, “I am three and a half.” I wanted to be six so I could go to school. (Only rich children went to kindergarten.) I wanted to be sixteen so I could get a driver’s license. I wanted life to rush onward.
Something strange happened when I became a father. I no longer wanted time to rush to my boy’s first birthday. I wanted to savor every hour. My wife and I never accepted invitations to dinner or go to anywhere the boys were not invited. Why should we spend precious hours with others who didn’t mean nearly as much to us as our boys?
Now I sit in a very quiet house. The dog occasionally stirs. Other than that there is no sound. The sounds have all moved to other homes. I need to reorient myself to the realty of Jesus’ promises? In John 5 He promised that when we accept Him we have already crossed over from death to life. Is not our grandfather clock ticking off the hours until we will move beyond this pale of sorrow and pain? Should I not be excited about the coming of a whole new experience when the only use for time will be to make sure we meet together somewhere?
I think I shall reset the grandfather clock to announce the passing of the quarter hours.
Something strange happened when I became a father. I no longer wanted time to rush to my boy’s first birthday. I wanted to savor every hour. My wife and I never accepted invitations to dinner or go to anywhere the boys were not invited. Why should we spend precious hours with others who didn’t mean nearly as much to us as our boys?
Now I sit in a very quiet house. The dog occasionally stirs. Other than that there is no sound. The sounds have all moved to other homes. I need to reorient myself to the realty of Jesus’ promises? In John 5 He promised that when we accept Him we have already crossed over from death to life. Is not our grandfather clock ticking off the hours until we will move beyond this pale of sorrow and pain? Should I not be excited about the coming of a whole new experience when the only use for time will be to make sure we meet together somewhere?
I think I shall reset the grandfather clock to announce the passing of the quarter hours.
God Loves New Things
Monday, March 21 2011
After every winter comes a spring. It is the natural order of eternity. Crocuses have braved to pierce the brown lawn still decorated with patches of white in places the sun cannot quite reach. Beautiful heralds of daffodils promise green grass will timidly follow. It’s a fine time. It’s a time to know our heavenly Father loves new things. Thousands of years ago He spoke and by the breath of His mouth the heavens became. Earth with all its abundance and verdancy was made ready for something new - us.
“There went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
We have not been the best caretakers of either our souls or our earth. I do not want to say that has been all right because the redemption cost was horrific. Yet on this side of the cross there is so much hope, so much assurance, so many promises that this will pass away as last year’s fall -- and spring will come anew.
“He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
The really good news is we get to taste it now. It is not all future tense. This very moment we can experience the newness that God loves so much.
“We are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
“There went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
We have not been the best caretakers of either our souls or our earth. I do not want to say that has been all right because the redemption cost was horrific. Yet on this side of the cross there is so much hope, so much assurance, so many promises that this will pass away as last year’s fall -- and spring will come anew.
“He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
The really good news is we get to taste it now. It is not all future tense. This very moment we can experience the newness that God loves so much.
“We are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Caring
Friday, March 18 2011
In the emergency room after President Reagan had been stabilized from his gunshot wound, humorously he asked if the doctors were all Republicans. Dr. Stat wonderfully replied, “Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans.” This week and for weeks to come we are all Japanese. We have come so far since the 1940’s.
On one of the “all news all the time channels” this afternoon one of the commentators remarked that we should care about what happened because it could happen to us. Really? Really, is that the reason? Does it always have to be about us? Couldn’t we care about others and others’ pain even if we lived in an earthquake free zone? (There is no such place.) Can’t we look at another human no matter what color or whatever and just care?
When I see a kid come into one of my classes with his ball cap sitting cockeyed on his head, his boxer shorts showing six inches above his belt, his shades and a pair of ear plugs pumping rap into his brain, should I not care? I do. He doesn’t know it. He looks at me as an old white man who doesn’t know the time of day. Guess what? I do know the time of day. I do know that if I can keep this kid in college for four years he will walk across the platform accomplished and proud because he is most likely the first person in his family ever to go to college.
It’s about care. It’s not about you or me. It’s about them. It’s knowing they are dearly loved by the same Jesus who dearly loves us. It’s being a Christian.
__________________
On one of the “all news all the time channels” this afternoon one of the commentators remarked that we should care about what happened because it could happen to us. Really? Really, is that the reason? Does it always have to be about us? Couldn’t we care about others and others’ pain even if we lived in an earthquake free zone? (There is no such place.) Can’t we look at another human no matter what color or whatever and just care?
When I see a kid come into one of my classes with his ball cap sitting cockeyed on his head, his boxer shorts showing six inches above his belt, his shades and a pair of ear plugs pumping rap into his brain, should I not care? I do. He doesn’t know it. He looks at me as an old white man who doesn’t know the time of day. Guess what? I do know the time of day. I do know that if I can keep this kid in college for four years he will walk across the platform accomplished and proud because he is most likely the first person in his family ever to go to college.
It’s about care. It’s not about you or me. It’s about them. It’s knowing they are dearly loved by the same Jesus who dearly loves us. It’s being a Christian.
__________________
The One Who is Worthy
Thursday, March 17 2011
A son of the dictator of Equatorial Guinea has a $35 million dollar home in Malibu to which he commutes in his $35 million Gulfstream. Recently he has authorized the construction of a $380 million dollar yacht. The average income of the 700,000 citizens of Equatorial Guinea is less than $2 a day and most have no clean water. Equatorial Guinea is an oil rich nation. Could we possibly feel more disgust?
Now let’s talk about Jesus. The following is from Philippians 2 paraphrased in The Message. Jesus “had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.” Could we possibly feel more pride?
There are some individuals who deserve to be the king. They have earned the right to receive our respect and adoration. The Book of Revelation describes a heaven filled with various forms of intelligent life. They gather around the throne and give worship to the One who not only created all life but astonished the universe by sacrificing Himself to bring back those who deliberately turned away. Jesus came as a poor man. Jesus lived as a poor man. Jesus died a poor man. Jesus resurrected as the richest man ever who now reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How grand!
____________
Now let’s talk about Jesus. The following is from Philippians 2 paraphrased in The Message. Jesus “had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.” Could we possibly feel more pride?
There are some individuals who deserve to be the king. They have earned the right to receive our respect and adoration. The Book of Revelation describes a heaven filled with various forms of intelligent life. They gather around the throne and give worship to the One who not only created all life but astonished the universe by sacrificing Himself to bring back those who deliberately turned away. Jesus came as a poor man. Jesus lived as a poor man. Jesus died a poor man. Jesus resurrected as the richest man ever who now reigns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How grand!
____________
Valor and Courage
Wednesday, March 16 2011
We would be remiss we if failed to recognize the valor of the Japanese nuclear plant workers that are this very moment striving to contain the radiation they know has already made them dead men. For the sake of their nation, for the sake of their neighbors, for the sake of their children they are giving the last amount of life they have before radiation will steal away their strength and cause them to die a most unpleasant death. They could have fled but instead they have chosen to make their lives count by giving all they have for others.
Courage comes in many forms. One does not need to look like a John Wayne film star to be a hero. We have so overused the word “hero” since 9/11. I have heard it used for individuals who used their cell phone to report an emergency. Somehow that pales in the light of individuals who knowingly place their lives in real jeopardy to help another. Jesus summed it up in John 15:13 when He said, “There is no greater love than giving your life for another.”
Sometimes I despair over those who somehow think they have God all figured out and know exactly who is going to be saved and who is going to be lost. Most often their criteria for salvation are not so much salvation by grace but salvation by ascribing to a certain ism. Rarely, actually never, have I seen a direct correlation between doctrine and love or dogma and character. God is not looking to fill heaven with theologians or doctrinarians. He is looking for people like Himself. He is looking for givers and lovers and people who don’t need to be “right.”
Courage comes in many forms. One does not need to look like a John Wayne film star to be a hero. We have so overused the word “hero” since 9/11. I have heard it used for individuals who used their cell phone to report an emergency. Somehow that pales in the light of individuals who knowingly place their lives in real jeopardy to help another. Jesus summed it up in John 15:13 when He said, “There is no greater love than giving your life for another.”
Sometimes I despair over those who somehow think they have God all figured out and know exactly who is going to be saved and who is going to be lost. Most often their criteria for salvation are not so much salvation by grace but salvation by ascribing to a certain ism. Rarely, actually never, have I seen a direct correlation between doctrine and love or dogma and character. God is not looking to fill heaven with theologians or doctrinarians. He is looking for people like Himself. He is looking for givers and lovers and people who don’t need to be “right.”
Sweet Rolls
Tuesday, March 15 2011
Fifty years ago my mother-in-law made the world’s most amazingly scrumptious sweet rolls every Friday afternoon. The weekend house was olfactory heaven. I think my wife thought I was coming to visit her. I will never admit that I didn’t want to miss Friday evenings for another reason. Recently my wife has been trying to replicate those rolls. She can almost get them that good, but not quite. I think if she does get it I will not let her know. The longer she tries the more sweet rolls I get.
I wonder if she already has reproduced them but is it our older taste buds that are the problem? Could it be that things were just not as sweet as we remember? When we visit wonderful places we remember from childhood those places are rarely as big or grand as what we recall.
However, there is something that does grow better. Our walk with the Lord can actually be sweeter as we age. Because I teach human development, I think I know the reason why. As we mature so does the complexity of our mental gifts. There are some ideas that young minds cannot fully grasp. Some ideas need the experience of years in order to move to a higher level - thus the reason one cannot be President of the United States until one is thirty-five or older. According to cognitive experts that is being generous.
The story of our redemption and the nuances of God’s plan to rescue us will fascinate us forever. As we grow so will our grasp of God’s love. We will never tire of this study. It is a story that will grow sweeter as millennia roll by.
I wonder if she already has reproduced them but is it our older taste buds that are the problem? Could it be that things were just not as sweet as we remember? When we visit wonderful places we remember from childhood those places are rarely as big or grand as what we recall.
However, there is something that does grow better. Our walk with the Lord can actually be sweeter as we age. Because I teach human development, I think I know the reason why. As we mature so does the complexity of our mental gifts. There are some ideas that young minds cannot fully grasp. Some ideas need the experience of years in order to move to a higher level - thus the reason one cannot be President of the United States until one is thirty-five or older. According to cognitive experts that is being generous.
The story of our redemption and the nuances of God’s plan to rescue us will fascinate us forever. As we grow so will our grasp of God’s love. We will never tire of this study. It is a story that will grow sweeter as millennia roll by.
Eight Feet
Monday, March 14 2011
In just a few seconds the entire nation of Japan moved eight feet from its former location. It is almost incomprehensible to realize the amount of energy expended in such an event. It doesn’t take a 140 IQ to see the shape of South America and Africa to see that long ago they were not separated by the Atlantic. Our little planet is a dynamic place that can alter itself in very short periods of time. Geologic time tables are guesswork at best. Sometimes continents don’t just creep. While Genesis 7 is not a scientific account of what happened to our little world, it is the sure Word of God that something extremely violent rearranged almost, if not, everything in a very short period of incredible upheaval.
Good science is based upon very careful observation and data collection. Our difficulty is our ability to only see and record in very limited segments. One could learn how to play the game of chess by careful observation and never see a castling move if one did not occur in the games observed. One could then assume that it was impossible for a king to ever move more than one space at a time. One would be very wrong.
We are intellectual ants in a giant cosmos feeding on a miniscule amount of data. For one to arrogantly think we know much and thus cast away one’s faith that there is an all knowing, all powerful, all present, Father God would be foolish indeed. Faith continues to be a vital ingredient to our health and well-being. Wise is the person who takes Moses at his word when he says, “In the beginning God.”
Good science is based upon very careful observation and data collection. Our difficulty is our ability to only see and record in very limited segments. One could learn how to play the game of chess by careful observation and never see a castling move if one did not occur in the games observed. One could then assume that it was impossible for a king to ever move more than one space at a time. One would be very wrong.
We are intellectual ants in a giant cosmos feeding on a miniscule amount of data. For one to arrogantly think we know much and thus cast away one’s faith that there is an all knowing, all powerful, all present, Father God would be foolish indeed. Faith continues to be a vital ingredient to our health and well-being. Wise is the person who takes Moses at his word when he says, “In the beginning God.”
Tased
Friday, March 11 2011
While dumping a can of coins into a coin machine at my bank I struck up a conversation with a policeman. Just then the coin machine broke. Laughingly he said, “Hang on for a moment I’ll tase it for you.” This prompted me to ask him if he had ever tased anyone. “Yeah,” he said, “me.” He went on to tell me about tussling with someone and while trying to taser the bad guy, the policeman ended up tasering himself. Then because the taser immobilized his muscles he couldn’t move it off of himself. Ouch! So much for being our own worst enemy.
So often in life we do it to ourselves. We overeat. We don’t exercise. We speed. We tell tales about others. We don’t get enough sleep. The list can go on and on. In the course of a life most of the damage we have occurred has been self-induced. True, on occasion we are genuine victims, but those events are not as common as we would like people to think. It is so much easier to find someone else or something else to blame than to be brutally honest with ourselves. Being a teacher I hear endless excuses for why work is not on time. No one uses “the dog ate it anymore.” Now it’s the computer’s fault. If computers were as culpable as we tell it none of us would dare use one.
If we really want God’s grace, if we really want forgiveness, if we really want real inner growth, we have to own-up. That doesn’t mean running around telling everyone how bad you are. What it means is quietly telling God how bad you are. The two of you can work it out.
So often in life we do it to ourselves. We overeat. We don’t exercise. We speed. We tell tales about others. We don’t get enough sleep. The list can go on and on. In the course of a life most of the damage we have occurred has been self-induced. True, on occasion we are genuine victims, but those events are not as common as we would like people to think. It is so much easier to find someone else or something else to blame than to be brutally honest with ourselves. Being a teacher I hear endless excuses for why work is not on time. No one uses “the dog ate it anymore.” Now it’s the computer’s fault. If computers were as culpable as we tell it none of us would dare use one.
If we really want God’s grace, if we really want forgiveness, if we really want real inner growth, we have to own-up. That doesn’t mean running around telling everyone how bad you are. What it means is quietly telling God how bad you are. The two of you can work it out.
It's About Character
Thursday, March 10 2011
About a month ago I replaced a wall switch. Last night a circuit breaker kicked off and would not reset. We hired “Sherlock Holmes Electrical Services.” Well, not really by that name. But the solution did require an hour of sleuthing on the part of the old guy who came to help. It is so nice to have experts around. The fault was my wiring job a month ago. It just did not reveal itself until we flipped another switch on the opposite side of the room. As the electrician pulled out of sight I realized that so often in life we think we have fixed something or gotten away with something only to have it pop back up at a later time. It is merely a matter of circumstances.
I remembered a childhood story about a little guy who, instead of putting his father’s seeds in the garden row, put them all in one hole at the end of the row. He got away with it, that is, until the seeds sprouted.
How much easier life is when we do things right the first time. Paul understood. That’s why he wrote in Galatians 6, “Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you'll harvest.” Sometimes we think this means it will become public. Not so. There are many secrets that go to the grave. The issue is not public revelation. The issue is character growth, which is far more serious. Character is all we really have in life. Material goods and reputation can be taken. It is character that counts. It’s permanent. It’s the person we have to live with when everyone else has gone away.
I remembered a childhood story about a little guy who, instead of putting his father’s seeds in the garden row, put them all in one hole at the end of the row. He got away with it, that is, until the seeds sprouted.
How much easier life is when we do things right the first time. Paul understood. That’s why he wrote in Galatians 6, “Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you'll harvest.” Sometimes we think this means it will become public. Not so. There are many secrets that go to the grave. The issue is not public revelation. The issue is character growth, which is far more serious. Character is all we really have in life. Material goods and reputation can be taken. It is character that counts. It’s permanent. It’s the person we have to live with when everyone else has gone away.
Pruning
Wednesday, March 09 2011
Jesus was with His disciples for the last time prior to the cross. They had left the upper room, left the east gate of Jerusalem, crossed the Kidron and were nearing the garden when He saw a vine growing along a stone wall. Gathering His men near Him in the light of the Passover moon He lifted the vine and said, “I am the vine. My Father is the Farmer and He will prune the branches that do not bear grapes.”
My closest neighbor in Uganda grew coffee for his livelihood. One evening when I came home from classes I saw him cutting down his trees. Running to him I asked what was wrong. “Nothing,” he said. “I’m pruning.” “No Bwana,” I said. “You are destroying them.” He just laughed at me and told me to be patient. Months later I watched him put props under his newly grown branches to hold up the heavy load of coffee berries. I never saw such a crop. He knew.
Sometimes God needs to prune us. It might be painful. We might think it is way too much and it is killing us. But if we are patient as time passes we will soon come to realize the fruit in our lives is so rich and so abundant and it never could have happened with the old branches. Jesus was right. His Father is the farmer. He knows just how much to take. It is a matter of our trusting Him. And why should we not? No one ever anywhere has ever loved us as much as He loves us. Be careful how you pray. If you ask He will do it.
My closest neighbor in Uganda grew coffee for his livelihood. One evening when I came home from classes I saw him cutting down his trees. Running to him I asked what was wrong. “Nothing,” he said. “I’m pruning.” “No Bwana,” I said. “You are destroying them.” He just laughed at me and told me to be patient. Months later I watched him put props under his newly grown branches to hold up the heavy load of coffee berries. I never saw such a crop. He knew.
Sometimes God needs to prune us. It might be painful. We might think it is way too much and it is killing us. But if we are patient as time passes we will soon come to realize the fruit in our lives is so rich and so abundant and it never could have happened with the old branches. Jesus was right. His Father is the farmer. He knows just how much to take. It is a matter of our trusting Him. And why should we not? No one ever anywhere has ever loved us as much as He loves us. Be careful how you pray. If you ask He will do it.
Such a Nice Bone
Tuesday, March 08 2011
Prosperity isn’t everything it is cracked up to be. I just gave my beautiful black lab the biggest, most lush bone. It is great and should provide her with endless hours of pure pleasure. Instead she is walking around the house, clutching it between her bright white teeth, crying. Instead of lying down to enjoy it she wants to hide it somewhere and cannot find a secure place. She is fretting like a rich man wondering where to safely stow his riches. I am reminded of the song “I’ve got plenty of nothing and nothing’s plenty for me.” “Folks with plenty of plenty, they got a lock on the door afraid somebody’s gonna rob them while they’re out making more. What for? I got no lock on the door that no way to be. They can steal the rug from the floor, that’s OK with me cause the things that I prize like the stars in the sky are all free.” I thought I might mention this just in case you filled your car with gas today and are feeling a bit panicked about the future.
This is a very good time to remind ourselves of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount. “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are ye not much better than they?” “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Sometimes Jesus’ words are challenging to our common sense. But let’s trust Him. He means what He says. First things first and the rest will be cared for. He knows. He is our Creator.
This is a very good time to remind ourselves of Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount. “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are ye not much better than they?” “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Sometimes Jesus’ words are challenging to our common sense. But let’s trust Him. He means what He says. First things first and the rest will be cared for. He knows. He is our Creator.
The Key to Happiness
Monday, March 07 2011
One of my favorite authors speaks of the purpose of education as preparation for service in this world and for wider service in the world to come. Long have I considered the concept of service in the world to come. To me an act of service is something we can do to supply a need for another. I can understand that here. There is so much need here. But what need could exist in a universe without pain, heartache, starvation and sin? There is so much yet I do not grasp.
What I do know is service is the key to growth and happiness. When we live only to ourselves and see others only as a means to satisfy us, not only does our character shrivel but does also our joy in living. The fullness of life comes from finding someone who needs us. It is basic. We need to be needed. The one who needs us is providing service to us.
Recently I spoke with an older person who lost most of what he had labored for all his life. When wondering how this could have any meaning at his stage of life we pondered together the concept that it was a preparation for his wider service yet to come. We must not limit our scope to now and here. If we truly believe what Jesus promised in John 5 that when we accept His gift we step into eternity, then there is so much more for us, so many things to do, so many tasks to accomplish, so much service that needs us. If we ever wanted to feel needed all we must do is to become a citizen of God’s Kingdom.
What I do know is service is the key to growth and happiness. When we live only to ourselves and see others only as a means to satisfy us, not only does our character shrivel but does also our joy in living. The fullness of life comes from finding someone who needs us. It is basic. We need to be needed. The one who needs us is providing service to us.
Recently I spoke with an older person who lost most of what he had labored for all his life. When wondering how this could have any meaning at his stage of life we pondered together the concept that it was a preparation for his wider service yet to come. We must not limit our scope to now and here. If we truly believe what Jesus promised in John 5 that when we accept His gift we step into eternity, then there is so much more for us, so many things to do, so many tasks to accomplish, so much service that needs us. If we ever wanted to feel needed all we must do is to become a citizen of God’s Kingdom.
Communication Challenges
Friday, March 04 2011
Communication is without a doubt one of the most challenging tasks of humanity. Wars are started because of miscommunication. Marriages are shattered because of miscommunication. Parents and children stop talking because of miscommunication. Today in the twenty-first century we have so many tools for communicating. We can talk face to face. We can send snail-mail or email. We can Twitter or just plain scream at each other. This day at an institution that shall go unnamed there was a communication problem. The voice mail went down. Thus we were notified that it was not working. We were notified by VOICE MAIL.
Surely God must be frustrated on so many occasions while trying to send us a message. While it is true He could send an angel that’s pretty scary. I’m sure you have noticed in the Bible stories when an angel appears he (she) usually begins with “Fear not.” Hebrews one begins with “in past times God spoke to us via various prophets but in these last days He has spoken to us through His Son.” Nothing ever has surpassed the life and ministry of Jesus for revealing to us the true nature of the Father. Recently, someone expressed to me that Jesus and another prophet of a very large religion were really the same. Apparently they never noticed that one began his movement with acts of extreme violence while the only time Jesus ever became the least bit violent was when He drove the money changers from the temple because they were abusing the poor.
If we want to hear from God, if we want to hear what He has to say to us, if we want to know how to live our lives, we need to look to Jesus. He is the ultimate communicator of what God wants us to know.
Surely God must be frustrated on so many occasions while trying to send us a message. While it is true He could send an angel that’s pretty scary. I’m sure you have noticed in the Bible stories when an angel appears he (she) usually begins with “Fear not.” Hebrews one begins with “in past times God spoke to us via various prophets but in these last days He has spoken to us through His Son.” Nothing ever has surpassed the life and ministry of Jesus for revealing to us the true nature of the Father. Recently, someone expressed to me that Jesus and another prophet of a very large religion were really the same. Apparently they never noticed that one began his movement with acts of extreme violence while the only time Jesus ever became the least bit violent was when He drove the money changers from the temple because they were abusing the poor.
If we want to hear from God, if we want to hear what He has to say to us, if we want to know how to live our lives, we need to look to Jesus. He is the ultimate communicator of what God wants us to know.
First Graders
Thursday, March 03 2011
I feel like I’m adding to Art Linkletter’s “Kids Say the Darndest Things” when I tell you what happened to me in a first grade classroom today. While supervising a student teacher a little girl approached me and asked, “How old are you?” I told her and she seemed satisfied for about five minutes. Upon returning she said, “You look like my mother’s boyfriend.” “Hum,” I thought. Either her mother is dating a very old man or I’m looking “good.” I prefer the latter explanation. On the way out I laughingly mentioned it to the room teacher and she told me that yesterday a little girl came up to her and put her hand on the teacher’s tummy and said, “When are you going to start birthing children?”
You just have to love little children. It is no wonder Jesus’ loved to have them come to Him. I’m sure He must have a litany of wonderful things children have said to Him through the centuries. It will make a great afternoon of listening and laughing while Jesus tells us about them. I don’t want to miss the matinee program. Since He knows everything He can fill in great details.
Years ago someone tried to convince me that Jesus never laughed because His mission on earth was just too serious to have time for levity. To which I have to respond, “Nonsense.” It was Jesus Himself who created us to laugh. He knows how healing it is. “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” And a good laugh relieves so much stress and tension that is so destructive to us mentally and physically. It is true that life is serious but really “recess” is good for everyone. Balance in life is a tremendous quality.
You just have to love little children. It is no wonder Jesus’ loved to have them come to Him. I’m sure He must have a litany of wonderful things children have said to Him through the centuries. It will make a great afternoon of listening and laughing while Jesus tells us about them. I don’t want to miss the matinee program. Since He knows everything He can fill in great details.
Years ago someone tried to convince me that Jesus never laughed because His mission on earth was just too serious to have time for levity. To which I have to respond, “Nonsense.” It was Jesus Himself who created us to laugh. He knows how healing it is. “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” And a good laugh relieves so much stress and tension that is so destructive to us mentally and physically. It is true that life is serious but really “recess” is good for everyone. Balance in life is a tremendous quality.
Recalibration
Wednesday, March 02 2011
In order to put a new timing belt in my car the mechanic had to remove the front bumper assembly. Upon putting it back in place it is now necessary to drive it sixty or so miles before the onboard computers can calibrate distances required for the proper operation of the front radar sensors. Since I only live ten miles from our little college it will be two or three days for things to work as designed.
I had to remind myself of a time in my experience when I allowed my daily devotions to lapse. Life just seemed to unconsciously take over before I realized what had occurred. It was not a deliberate act. It was so easy to lapse. What fascinated me was when I realized what had happened and I began anew I had to bring myself back up to speed. I had to recalibrate my orientation to my walk with God. How fascinating it was that I could not just pick up where I left off. If you don’t use it you lose it.
Paul must have understood this because he wrote to the Romans (12:2), “Be not conformed to the world.” It was paraphrased by J. B. Phillips, “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” It is so easy to lose precious ground by the distractions around us. When I think about having to recalibrate it is like most everything in life. If we stop practicing the piano we have to recover. If I am out of the classroom for a week, I have to spend a bit of time getting back into a rhythm. Maybe it’s just me but I am suspicious it is the same for all of us.
I had to remind myself of a time in my experience when I allowed my daily devotions to lapse. Life just seemed to unconsciously take over before I realized what had occurred. It was not a deliberate act. It was so easy to lapse. What fascinated me was when I realized what had happened and I began anew I had to bring myself back up to speed. I had to recalibrate my orientation to my walk with God. How fascinating it was that I could not just pick up where I left off. If you don’t use it you lose it.
Paul must have understood this because he wrote to the Romans (12:2), “Be not conformed to the world.” It was paraphrased by J. B. Phillips, “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” It is so easy to lose precious ground by the distractions around us. When I think about having to recalibrate it is like most everything in life. If we stop practicing the piano we have to recover. If I am out of the classroom for a week, I have to spend a bit of time getting back into a rhythm. Maybe it’s just me but I am suspicious it is the same for all of us.
God's A-List
Tuesday, March 01 2011
It was a classic scene that could have been turned into a cartoon with a caption “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. My mother told me to pick the very best one and that is Y-O-U.” It was the side of a city building with tiered ledges. On the top ledge sat a beautiful peregrine falcon and on the second ledge below sat a row of a couple dozen pigeons. It was breakfast time for the hawk. I can’t imagine the pigeons didn’t know it was there. I think they were playing the “Don’t Move” game. “If I don’t move it won’t pick me. The first one that flinches gets it.” It’s a game my students often play when I ask a question and no one will make eye-contact with me.
This is so different from playing “Pick Up” before a baseball game where each child is jumping up and down saying, “Pick me. Pick me.” Some people think of salvation and eternal life in such terms. They are frozen stiff trying to hide from Satan and they are jumping up and down begging God to pick them. The good news is God is so much more powerful than Satan, so it doesn’t matter if Satan picks you. Well, actually he has. You have been on his menu for a long time. But you have also been on God’s A-List for a long, long time. Listen to this great text from Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee . . .” Now I know you are tempted to say that was a private message just for Jeremiah. So let’s read Acts10:34, it says, “God is no respecter of persons” which means all of us are treated just the same by God. You and I are chosen! Yeah! Double Yeah! Triple Yeah!
This is so different from playing “Pick Up” before a baseball game where each child is jumping up and down saying, “Pick me. Pick me.” Some people think of salvation and eternal life in such terms. They are frozen stiff trying to hide from Satan and they are jumping up and down begging God to pick them. The good news is God is so much more powerful than Satan, so it doesn’t matter if Satan picks you. Well, actually he has. You have been on his menu for a long time. But you have also been on God’s A-List for a long, long time. Listen to this great text from Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee . . .” Now I know you are tempted to say that was a private message just for Jeremiah. So let’s read Acts10:34, it says, “God is no respecter of persons” which means all of us are treated just the same by God. You and I are chosen! Yeah! Double Yeah! Triple Yeah!