Oct 2011
LEDs
Monday, October 31 2011
It was a bit strange to have a foot of heavy snow cover our trees before they lost their leaves for the year. The trees bent low and branches started snapping so it was not strange that we lost our power for over a day. We are so blessed because a million people are still powerless. But at 5:30 this morning we were awakened to our house coming alive. The refrigerator and the furnace came on and little red and yellow LED lights (phones, clocks, computer and wireless modem) decorated the room. I was surprised by how much those tiny lights changed the room. Without them it was pitch black and one had to cautiously feel one’s way from place to place. But with those tiny lights radiating their warm glow it became fairly easy to move about.
Sometimes most of us feel pretty insignificant. The more we understand about infinity and look at a photo of distant galaxies we don’t just feel insignificant, we are insignificant. Our tiny little light is so small surely it can’t make a difference. But, it didn’t take much light to transform my dark house. A tiny light does make a huge difference. When your little light joins with my tiny light and other tiny lights we make it possible for others to walk out of darkness and find their way.
So regarding that insignificant feeling – I don’t think we are as insignificant as we first thought. According to Galatians 4 we are sons and daughters of the Most High. Humm? That’s pretty significant. Surely everyone must know the song, “This Little Light of Mine, I’m Going to Let It Shine.” God is counting on us to light up His kingdom.
Sometimes most of us feel pretty insignificant. The more we understand about infinity and look at a photo of distant galaxies we don’t just feel insignificant, we are insignificant. Our tiny little light is so small surely it can’t make a difference. But, it didn’t take much light to transform my dark house. A tiny light does make a huge difference. When your little light joins with my tiny light and other tiny lights we make it possible for others to walk out of darkness and find their way.
So regarding that insignificant feeling – I don’t think we are as insignificant as we first thought. According to Galatians 4 we are sons and daughters of the Most High. Humm? That’s pretty significant. Surely everyone must know the song, “This Little Light of Mine, I’m Going to Let It Shine.” God is counting on us to light up His kingdom.
It's All About Family
Friday, October 28 2011
My last several days have been filled with digitizing very old slides of visits to Disneyland, Sea World, Yellowstone and other memorable trips with two little boys. I noticed something. I couldn’t care less about the pictures of these places that do not contain one of my boys or my wife. I have some really pretty pictures of things and I don’t want to keep them. If I want to see pictures of those things I can find them on the web. What I want to keep are images of my most precious ever people. These are the pictures I want to Photoshop and turn into computer screen wallpaper.
My sons are grown men now with their own precious people. They have no idea how I feel as I look at these old photos. They will some day. I have come to think that God has some great photo gallery filled with perfect pictures of us at every stage of our lives. He has videos of our first steps and audio of our first words. I think He must really love the audios of our first memory verses.
With God it is all about family. That’s why Galatians 4 contains such meaningful verses. “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” This is what it has been about from the beginning. Adam and Eve were His children. He wants us to be His children and thus heirs; not tenets but owners of those mansions. Heaven is not a place to visit. It is HOME. There isn’t anything better than home.
My sons are grown men now with their own precious people. They have no idea how I feel as I look at these old photos. They will some day. I have come to think that God has some great photo gallery filled with perfect pictures of us at every stage of our lives. He has videos of our first steps and audio of our first words. I think He must really love the audios of our first memory verses.
With God it is all about family. That’s why Galatians 4 contains such meaningful verses. “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” This is what it has been about from the beginning. Adam and Eve were His children. He wants us to be His children and thus heirs; not tenets but owners of those mansions. Heaven is not a place to visit. It is HOME. There isn’t anything better than home.
Tom Sawyer
Wednesday, October 26 2011
It was a scene out of Tom Sawyer and I loved it. I had two thirty-something guys stop by my house today. They knew about my log-splitter and of course I wanted to show it off and tell them how much fun it was. They spotted a couple huge rounds left over from an elm that came down in an ice storm. The rounds were way too big for me to muscle around and I had wondered what I would do with them, but they jumped at the chance. So I sat down and watched them have fun. It was great. At one point I actually had to stop them from spending their day splitting all my wood. I think I am going to start charging admission. How grand!
One of life’s great secrets is how to get other people to do your work. It is the secret of success. It’s all about motivation. God motivates us to do His work here on earth. His motivation is love. It’s the best kind. The joy of working for God is because we want to share His love and the Good News. Considering how simple this seems I am somewhat puzzled when I hear preachers exhorting us to do good works. I’m not sure about you but that never works with me. Instead of exhortation, inspire me. Make me want to do it and you will not have to exhort. As a matter of fact, too much exhortation gets the reverse reaction from me. I won’t do it just because you said I had to. I know that is really immature but it’s the way I react. Are you different from me on this?
One of life’s great secrets is how to get other people to do your work. It is the secret of success. It’s all about motivation. God motivates us to do His work here on earth. His motivation is love. It’s the best kind. The joy of working for God is because we want to share His love and the Good News. Considering how simple this seems I am somewhat puzzled when I hear preachers exhorting us to do good works. I’m not sure about you but that never works with me. Instead of exhortation, inspire me. Make me want to do it and you will not have to exhort. As a matter of fact, too much exhortation gets the reverse reaction from me. I won’t do it just because you said I had to. I know that is really immature but it’s the way I react. Are you different from me on this?
Not as Smart as a Sixth Grader
Tuesday, October 25 2011
Today I heard about igneous rock. I learned about granite, obsidian, amphibole and pyroxene. I also learned I am not as smart as a sixth-grader while I was observing a science teacher working to upgrade her credential. The sixth graders were jumping up and down wanting to answer the teacher’s questions while I sat in the back of the room reading the glossary in their science text. I learned about intrusive and extrusive rocks. I also learned not to give much credibility to the next politician I hear harping on the quality of education in Massachusetts; especially since our students rank first in the United States and third in the world in science and math.
Having confessed my ignorance of sedimentary rock I do want to proclaim my knowledge of and confidence in the Rock of Ages. Paul wrote, “For other foundation no one can lay, but that which has been laid, which is Christ Jesus.” (I Corinthians 3:11) And again Paul wrote, “. . . they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that rock was Christ. (I Corinthians 10:4) Peter calls Jesus the Chief Corner Stone. (I Peter 2:4) Also over and over in the Psalms we find the metaphor of God being the Rock of our salvation.
So I might not be as smart as a sixth-grader and be like those whiz kids who are able to answer questions about magna, but I do know the importance of putting our trust in the One who loves us dearly and might respond to the nickname, “Rocky”; then again probably not. He is far too awesome for such commonality. He is the Rock of the Universe.
Having confessed my ignorance of sedimentary rock I do want to proclaim my knowledge of and confidence in the Rock of Ages. Paul wrote, “For other foundation no one can lay, but that which has been laid, which is Christ Jesus.” (I Corinthians 3:11) And again Paul wrote, “. . . they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that rock was Christ. (I Corinthians 10:4) Peter calls Jesus the Chief Corner Stone. (I Peter 2:4) Also over and over in the Psalms we find the metaphor of God being the Rock of our salvation.
So I might not be as smart as a sixth-grader and be like those whiz kids who are able to answer questions about magna, but I do know the importance of putting our trust in the One who loves us dearly and might respond to the nickname, “Rocky”; then again probably not. He is far too awesome for such commonality. He is the Rock of the Universe.
Number 6500
Monday, October 24 2011
This is devotional number 6500. That’s a lot of evenings sitting here staring at the computer screen. One would think about now I would run out of things to write about but life is so very interesting there usually is something. Someone asked me if I have ever repeated myself. I’m sure I have. I just can’t remember what all 6500 of them are about. Once in a while people ask me why I don’t write a book. I have. It has 6500 pages and adding.
I am excited that today’s devotional can be a celebration of something fun. Last week my wife and I were in a farm store. It is fun to look at all the things farmers use. On the way out my wife noted they were having a drawing so she filled out the slip and put it in the box. This afternoon they called. We won the grand prize. Now that is very awesome because this very week I was going to start splitting my pile of firewood for the winter. Guess what we won. A log-splitter. I couldn’t believe the timing and the blessing. This past week I put a new handle in my axe in preparation for a lot of swinging. That axe is going to feel neglected as I just push the button and watch. I hope we have a really cold winter because I am going to have a lot of wood to burn.
When I was very little I learned “my cup runneth over.” It does and with something so much more special than a log-splitter. I am surrounded by wonderful family and friends like you who once in a while read some of the 6500 devotionals.
I am excited that today’s devotional can be a celebration of something fun. Last week my wife and I were in a farm store. It is fun to look at all the things farmers use. On the way out my wife noted they were having a drawing so she filled out the slip and put it in the box. This afternoon they called. We won the grand prize. Now that is very awesome because this very week I was going to start splitting my pile of firewood for the winter. Guess what we won. A log-splitter. I couldn’t believe the timing and the blessing. This past week I put a new handle in my axe in preparation for a lot of swinging. That axe is going to feel neglected as I just push the button and watch. I hope we have a really cold winter because I am going to have a lot of wood to burn.
When I was very little I learned “my cup runneth over.” It does and with something so much more special than a log-splitter. I am surrounded by wonderful family and friends like you who once in a while read some of the 6500 devotionals.
The God of Opportunities
Friday, October 21 2011
Do you ever feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football? Opportunities appear before you and you take a deep breath and go for it only to have Lucy yank it away at the last minute. So you pick yourself up, brush yourself off and keep on keeping on, waiting for, hoping for another opportunity. Maybe, just maybe, the next time Lucy will forget to yank the ball. Do you ever look at the news and see masses of people and wonder what opportunities they have or have not had? It is so easy to be critical of illegal immigrants but maybe this was their only chance.
Those of us who were born hearing the Gospel often smugly write off the billions who have never heard. Or if they did hear they heard it through us flawed messengers who failed to make it attractive. The Good News is so wonderful when rightly presented. However, our actions so outweigh our words, we nullify attempts to share with others. Instead of being the one trying to kick the football we become Lucy. We are the one who yank it away just when someone begins to consider.
During the time it took to read this far another thousand people died without hearing the Good News. Are they lost? Do they not have an opportunity to rejoice with us on resurrection morning? There is a text in Romans 1 that hints to us there might be many more opportunities in this universe than we know. God can’t be put in our small mental box. He is way too big and far more loving than we. I believe He is the God of opportunities. Lots of opportunities.
Those of us who were born hearing the Gospel often smugly write off the billions who have never heard. Or if they did hear they heard it through us flawed messengers who failed to make it attractive. The Good News is so wonderful when rightly presented. However, our actions so outweigh our words, we nullify attempts to share with others. Instead of being the one trying to kick the football we become Lucy. We are the one who yank it away just when someone begins to consider.
During the time it took to read this far another thousand people died without hearing the Good News. Are they lost? Do they not have an opportunity to rejoice with us on resurrection morning? There is a text in Romans 1 that hints to us there might be many more opportunities in this universe than we know. God can’t be put in our small mental box. He is way too big and far more loving than we. I believe He is the God of opportunities. Lots of opportunities.
My Time Machie
Thursday, October 20 2011
I bought a time machine. It is a wonderful device by which I am digitizing 45 years of slides. Before me on my computer screen are these two very thin dark-haired people with two little boys. Who are they? They are very good looking and appear to be very happy. Oh! I know who they are. It’s us – my wife and boys. Wow. We looked good. So what happened?
Even though the slides have lost much of their original color and are often covered with dust spots there is the wonder of Photoshop. A few clicks of the auto color button and the pictures look like I took them yesterday. A few clicks of the replace button and the dust specks disappear. Oh, this is grand. I wanted to say this was as easy as getting the spots off my record in heaven. But this is much easier. This photo process cost a few dollars while the spots on my record required the cross of Jesus. That was the most expensive price ever paid for anything.
Hopefully, though we might not look as good on the outside as we did decades ago, we are much better looking on the inside. Hopefully our characters have been steadily improving and behavior-wise we are much nicer, much kinder, much more generous people than we were. Sometimes we shudder when we think of some of the things we did and said to others. Hopefully, should we be in similar situations we would react in a much more loving way. This growth is what life is all about. To be more today than we were yesterday and yet more tomorrow. Here’s looking forward to the day when we will never again need to be Photoshoped.
Even though the slides have lost much of their original color and are often covered with dust spots there is the wonder of Photoshop. A few clicks of the auto color button and the pictures look like I took them yesterday. A few clicks of the replace button and the dust specks disappear. Oh, this is grand. I wanted to say this was as easy as getting the spots off my record in heaven. But this is much easier. This photo process cost a few dollars while the spots on my record required the cross of Jesus. That was the most expensive price ever paid for anything.
Hopefully, though we might not look as good on the outside as we did decades ago, we are much better looking on the inside. Hopefully our characters have been steadily improving and behavior-wise we are much nicer, much kinder, much more generous people than we were. Sometimes we shudder when we think of some of the things we did and said to others. Hopefully, should we be in similar situations we would react in a much more loving way. This growth is what life is all about. To be more today than we were yesterday and yet more tomorrow. Here’s looking forward to the day when we will never again need to be Photoshoped.
Colossians 2:3
Wednesday, October 19 2011
One of my richest blessings in life is I have always been surrounded by very smart people. One of my aspirations has always been to be the least informed person in the room thus giving me the opportunity to learn something new and wonderful from each person around me. To be hungry to know is a great blessing. I have friends who are wonderful artists and some who are scientists and some who are theologians and some who understand psychology. It is a treat to be with them. There is so much to gain.
My father was a teacher and he would read to me. Perhaps that is what made me hungry to absorb all I could. We had a set of World Book Encyclopedia and I would take A or D or K, it didn’t matter which one, and turn each page looking at the pictures and wishing I could know all those things. You could imagine my excitement the day I first read Colossians 2:3. “In him are stored all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” To know God, to spend time with Him, is the secret to an ever-expanding understanding of life and the mysteries of being. He knows all that is known and because He is a creator He continues to think new thoughts and create new knowledge. Spending eternity with Him means we get to share not only His old ideas but also His new ideas.
Someone once tried to convince me that God knows all that can ever be known or thought and I could not accept that. It would mean He would be bored. But He can never be bored because forever He will be thinking of new ways to bless us and shower us with His mercies. See Ephesians 2.
My father was a teacher and he would read to me. Perhaps that is what made me hungry to absorb all I could. We had a set of World Book Encyclopedia and I would take A or D or K, it didn’t matter which one, and turn each page looking at the pictures and wishing I could know all those things. You could imagine my excitement the day I first read Colossians 2:3. “In him are stored all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” To know God, to spend time with Him, is the secret to an ever-expanding understanding of life and the mysteries of being. He knows all that is known and because He is a creator He continues to think new thoughts and create new knowledge. Spending eternity with Him means we get to share not only His old ideas but also His new ideas.
Someone once tried to convince me that God knows all that can ever be known or thought and I could not accept that. It would mean He would be bored. But He can never be bored because forever He will be thinking of new ways to bless us and shower us with His mercies. See Ephesians 2.
"It ain't over 'til it's over"
Tuesday, October 18 2011
I had lunch today at McDonalds and ended up sitting in a booth behind two quite elderly silver-haired ladies who were very engaged in a rousing discussion. It was very easy to hear and I was amused at the exchange. I can’t print much of it here but I will quote to you this great line. “I know the old biddy is trying to get him. But I won’t allow it. He’s mine!”
Ah, hope springs eternal. As well it should. As Yogi Berra once said, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” Never stop living for the future and I mean both here and then. Unfortunately, I do know some people who have stopped living for now and have all of their hopes and plans in the “Then.” Everybody needs something to look forward to “now” and “then.” I think we start to run out of steam and can’t do as much as we used to. Okay. We understand. But that is not an excuse to do nothing.
In Ephesians 2 Paul tells us that God has specific things for us to do. We don’t know if they were for us in our twenties, thirties or nineties. How distressing it would be if we gave up in our seventies and found out when we are in heaven that we missed the really big task that God had for us. “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” “It’s ain’t over ‘til it’s over” and as long as God gives us a mind with which to think and ponder we should be creatively planning things to do with our families and our communities.
Ah, hope springs eternal. As well it should. As Yogi Berra once said, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” Never stop living for the future and I mean both here and then. Unfortunately, I do know some people who have stopped living for now and have all of their hopes and plans in the “Then.” Everybody needs something to look forward to “now” and “then.” I think we start to run out of steam and can’t do as much as we used to. Okay. We understand. But that is not an excuse to do nothing.
In Ephesians 2 Paul tells us that God has specific things for us to do. We don’t know if they were for us in our twenties, thirties or nineties. How distressing it would be if we gave up in our seventies and found out when we are in heaven that we missed the really big task that God had for us. “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” “It’s ain’t over ‘til it’s over” and as long as God gives us a mind with which to think and ponder we should be creatively planning things to do with our families and our communities.
The Foolishness of Preaching
Saturday, October 15 2011
Last weekend we sat through an 80 minute sermon on the state of the dead. He started preaching at 11:40. At 12:50 I leaned over to my wife and said, “He hasn’t even gotten to the resurrection yet. Let’s go.” “No,” she said, “I have to know how long he can go.” At one point he said, “This is a long subject.” A man sitting beside me said out loud, “It sure is.” He finally sat down at 1:00 without ever getting to the resurrection. I believe there is a text about the “patience of the saints.” Yes, it is Revelation 14:12. On the way out an elderly lady (someone older than me) took my hand and said, “Come back again. It isn’t always like this. He is a good young man.”
I was delighted with the “patience of the saints.” Only one family left and they had small children. Everyone else politely listened because they cared about the young man. Often times the best way we can show our love and appreciation for someone is to quietly endure their impositions and idiosyncrasies. While I did feel the need to stand up and stretch the truth is I didn’t have a very pressing schedule for the afternoon. The imposition was minor to say the least. I think it has a lot to do with what you are used to. I like 30 minute sermons. Recently someone told me if I didn’t speak for 45 minutes the saints would feel cheated. But I sat down at 25 because I was finished. To have lingered would have been redundant.
The entire process is very arrogant. Why would one person think others should sit and quietly listen to him? Paul called it the “foolishness of preaching” that somehow pleases God. I Corinthians 1:21.
I was delighted with the “patience of the saints.” Only one family left and they had small children. Everyone else politely listened because they cared about the young man. Often times the best way we can show our love and appreciation for someone is to quietly endure their impositions and idiosyncrasies. While I did feel the need to stand up and stretch the truth is I didn’t have a very pressing schedule for the afternoon. The imposition was minor to say the least. I think it has a lot to do with what you are used to. I like 30 minute sermons. Recently someone told me if I didn’t speak for 45 minutes the saints would feel cheated. But I sat down at 25 because I was finished. To have lingered would have been redundant.
The entire process is very arrogant. Why would one person think others should sit and quietly listen to him? Paul called it the “foolishness of preaching” that somehow pleases God. I Corinthians 1:21.
Joy is Contagious
Friday, October 14 2011
If we keep our eyes open we can find truly delightful moments as life passes by. Yesterday afternoon as my wife and I were driving on a residential street we saw two of the most precious little girls standing at the end of their sidewalk at the curb. They looked like they were 4 and 6 years of age. The mail truck was coming toward them and they were bouncing up and down with smiles so big you would have thought their faces would crack. They were clapping. I’m sure the mailman must have been happy to see such a welcome. Did he have a birthday card or a package from Sears or Amazon.com? Was the mailman their daddy? Whatever it was they couldn’t contain their joy. Their joy became my joy.
There are so many things in life that are contagious and I am not referring to germs and illnesses. A genuine smile is catchy. Yawning is infectious. A pleasant demeanor is transmittable. Generosity and sharing are communicable. It is amazing how we can and do have power over our environment. Nothing spoils a gathering like gloom and doom. But someone with hope and an energetic vision can overcome the downers and fill a space with so much happiness.
At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives us a model for happiness. We call them the Beatitudes. The word “blessed” can just as well be translated “happy”. “Happy are the peacemakers.” “Happy are the poor in spirit.” Each one is our Creator’s secret to a contagious life of joy. Granted it is a bit more difficult for us as adults than two sweet little girls by the side of the curb, but none-the-less we can do it.
There are so many things in life that are contagious and I am not referring to germs and illnesses. A genuine smile is catchy. Yawning is infectious. A pleasant demeanor is transmittable. Generosity and sharing are communicable. It is amazing how we can and do have power over our environment. Nothing spoils a gathering like gloom and doom. But someone with hope and an energetic vision can overcome the downers and fill a space with so much happiness.
At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives us a model for happiness. We call them the Beatitudes. The word “blessed” can just as well be translated “happy”. “Happy are the peacemakers.” “Happy are the poor in spirit.” Each one is our Creator’s secret to a contagious life of joy. Granted it is a bit more difficult for us as adults than two sweet little girls by the side of the curb, but none-the-less we can do it.
The Ultimate Reboot
Thursday, October 13 2011
After the mail came today I sat down in “my” chair to browse one of the just arrived magazines. I don’t recall much after settling into the comfort of one of my best friends. About forty minutes later I heard a door close as my wife came near. I had the strangest experience. Sometimes when we take a nap, it’s just a nap and when we awake the day goes on. But this nap was different. Just two hours before I had lunch with the conference president. When I awoke from this nap, it was if a whole day had passed. My day after the nap was starting all over as if someone had pressed a reboot button. I reboot my computer often. Rebooting is wonderful. All manner of computer snags can be resolved by just rebooting.
Beginning a relationship with Jesus is like rebooting one’s life and not just the day. We learn to forgive and negative feelings about past experiences go away. We learn to look for good things in others and old friendship are revitalized. We receive external power from the Holy Spirit and begin to experience victory over old temptations. We realize that instead of twenty or so more years of life we have an eternity of life ahead of us. It is the greatest reboot ever.
I often wonder why it is so difficult for some people to accept what Jesus offers. Perhaps it is because we have been taught that if something sounds too good to be true, it isn’t. This time it is true. One of the things I learned in statistics class is rare events occur that do not fit the pattern. Jesus is one of those rarities. He is the ultimate reboot.
Beginning a relationship with Jesus is like rebooting one’s life and not just the day. We learn to forgive and negative feelings about past experiences go away. We learn to look for good things in others and old friendship are revitalized. We receive external power from the Holy Spirit and begin to experience victory over old temptations. We realize that instead of twenty or so more years of life we have an eternity of life ahead of us. It is the greatest reboot ever.
I often wonder why it is so difficult for some people to accept what Jesus offers. Perhaps it is because we have been taught that if something sounds too good to be true, it isn’t. This time it is true. One of the things I learned in statistics class is rare events occur that do not fit the pattern. Jesus is one of those rarities. He is the ultimate reboot.
If You Love Yourself
Wednesday, October 12 2011
Jesus said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15. If I may I would like to alter the text to say, “If you love yourself you will keep His commandments.”
It is very safe to assume that we love ourselves. There are a few people filled with self-loathing but it’s rare. Most of us think we are the greatest. When things go wrong it usually is someone else who messed up. When we don’t get what we want it isn’t our fault; someone doesn’t like us. Therefore, I want to make a case for obeying God based totally on what is good for us.
In God’s great wisdom He shared with us the secrets to a good life. If we don’t kill we rarely have to fear someone wanting to kill us. If we don’t steal we rarely have to worry about being arrested for shoplifting. Black and white cars don’t make us pause to see if they are coming for us. If we don’t tell bad stories about others people will rarely tell bad stories about us. If we keep the Sabbath we get one day each week when we don’t have to go to work. If we don’t curse we don’t have to worry about offending someone.
We are talking about the quality of life. Jesus was not in error when He spoke of coming that we might have the abundant life. John 10:10. Sometimes we err by thinking the abundant life is a big bank account; not so. The abundant life is a life that is as stress free as possible and obeying God is the surest way to accomplish that goal.
It is very safe to assume that we love ourselves. There are a few people filled with self-loathing but it’s rare. Most of us think we are the greatest. When things go wrong it usually is someone else who messed up. When we don’t get what we want it isn’t our fault; someone doesn’t like us. Therefore, I want to make a case for obeying God based totally on what is good for us.
In God’s great wisdom He shared with us the secrets to a good life. If we don’t kill we rarely have to fear someone wanting to kill us. If we don’t steal we rarely have to worry about being arrested for shoplifting. Black and white cars don’t make us pause to see if they are coming for us. If we don’t tell bad stories about others people will rarely tell bad stories about us. If we keep the Sabbath we get one day each week when we don’t have to go to work. If we don’t curse we don’t have to worry about offending someone.
We are talking about the quality of life. Jesus was not in error when He spoke of coming that we might have the abundant life. John 10:10. Sometimes we err by thinking the abundant life is a big bank account; not so. The abundant life is a life that is as stress free as possible and obeying God is the surest way to accomplish that goal.
Lily of the Valley
Tuesday, October 11 2011
Living in New England is a delightful experience of constant change. This coming week our maples will turn scarlet reds and yellows followed by the rust colors of the oaks. The birches are already yellow. Then November will be a beautiful worstered gray as we wait for December to turn us white. I relish knowing that under that layer of snow, life is getting ready to once again turn us green. Each spring we have a pleasing patch of Lily of the Valley. For years I have been picking small bunches for our breakfast table. They smell so good.
Well, you can imagine my horror just today to learn that Lily of the Valley is extremely poisonous. According to the Wikipedia website Lily of the Valley contains about thirty-eight cardio glycosides and we should wash our hands after handling it. How could it be that something so lovely, something that smells so good be so dangerous?
When we are first born our sense of right and wrong is completely based upon our feelings. If it feels good it’s right. If it hurts it’s bad. If it’s pretty and smells good it is right. It’s a very low standard of morality. Unfortunately occasionally we meet people whose morality has never advanced from that of a newborn. The closing words to the romantic song “You Light Up My Life” are “How can it be wrong when it feels so right?” It is difficult to grasp the truth that some seemingly beautiful relationships can be absolutely toxic. Paul exhorts us in 1 Corinthians 13 to stop thinking like a child and think like a grownup whose sense of right and wrong are based on God’s Word.
Well, you can imagine my horror just today to learn that Lily of the Valley is extremely poisonous. According to the Wikipedia website Lily of the Valley contains about thirty-eight cardio glycosides and we should wash our hands after handling it. How could it be that something so lovely, something that smells so good be so dangerous?
When we are first born our sense of right and wrong is completely based upon our feelings. If it feels good it’s right. If it hurts it’s bad. If it’s pretty and smells good it is right. It’s a very low standard of morality. Unfortunately occasionally we meet people whose morality has never advanced from that of a newborn. The closing words to the romantic song “You Light Up My Life” are “How can it be wrong when it feels so right?” It is difficult to grasp the truth that some seemingly beautiful relationships can be absolutely toxic. Paul exhorts us in 1 Corinthians 13 to stop thinking like a child and think like a grownup whose sense of right and wrong are based on God’s Word.
Ambulance Chasers
Friday, October 07 2011
Don’t you just love “ambulance chasing” commercials; bloodthirsty law firms preying on other’s miseries and making it extraordinarily expensive for doctors to treat us? Yesterday, I think I heard the most amazing one yet. “If you or a loved one has taken “A….” and died, dial 1-800 … immediately.” Really! I replayed it three times to make sure I heard correctly. I think we better start putting cell phones in coffins.
What is it about human nature that wants to blame others for our misfortunes? It is true bad things do happen to good people. But can we, in this world of sin, really expect everything to go our way? I guess that’s why people buy lottery tickets or smoke when scientific evidence of its detrimental effect on our health is overwhelming. We are optimistic and can’t imagine something bad happened because we made a bad choice or random mayhem occurred.
We have been blaming others ever since Adam said, “The woman you gave me made me do it.” Freud capitalized on it when he developed psychotherapy; it must have been my mother’s fault or my father’s. It is true that sometimes people do bad things to us and it is their fault, but that is where forgiveness comes in. If I don’t forgive you and dwell on your bad deed then I enable you to keep on hurting me every time I run the video tape in my head. But if I am wise enough to forgive you then you only hurt me once and now it is erased. Jesus was so wise when He told us to forgive if we desire forgiveness for our bad deeds. But why should that surprise us? He made us. He knows how we tick.
What is it about human nature that wants to blame others for our misfortunes? It is true bad things do happen to good people. But can we, in this world of sin, really expect everything to go our way? I guess that’s why people buy lottery tickets or smoke when scientific evidence of its detrimental effect on our health is overwhelming. We are optimistic and can’t imagine something bad happened because we made a bad choice or random mayhem occurred.
We have been blaming others ever since Adam said, “The woman you gave me made me do it.” Freud capitalized on it when he developed psychotherapy; it must have been my mother’s fault or my father’s. It is true that sometimes people do bad things to us and it is their fault, but that is where forgiveness comes in. If I don’t forgive you and dwell on your bad deed then I enable you to keep on hurting me every time I run the video tape in my head. But if I am wise enough to forgive you then you only hurt me once and now it is erased. Jesus was so wise when He told us to forgive if we desire forgiveness for our bad deeds. But why should that surprise us? He made us. He knows how we tick.
Lessons from Daniel Shechtman
Thursday, October 06 2011
When Daniel Shechtman first discovered a new crystalline chemical structure that seemed to violate what we thought were the laws governing crystalline structures he was ridiculed by his colleagues and ultimately exiled from professional circles. This week he won the Nobel Prize in chemistry.
There are so many lessons we can draw from this. First is the crowd isn’t always right. Second is stand firm when you know you are correct. Third is truth will ultimately be known. Fourth is we don’t know all the laws of nature and the ones we think we know can be very different than what we think.
I am sure there were very depressing days when Dr. Shechtman’s friends rejected not only his work but his very presence. His discovery was in 1982. Almost thirty years is a long time to wait for this kind of vindication. I’m sure there is great happiness in his home tonight.
The history of the world is filled with stories like this. Graves are filled with people who never received recognition for their work. Then there are martyrs who perished for believing and holding strongly to their faith. Hebrews 11 is a very impressive list of such. Hebrews 12 begins with “Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
There are so many lessons we can draw from this. First is the crowd isn’t always right. Second is stand firm when you know you are correct. Third is truth will ultimately be known. Fourth is we don’t know all the laws of nature and the ones we think we know can be very different than what we think.
I am sure there were very depressing days when Dr. Shechtman’s friends rejected not only his work but his very presence. His discovery was in 1982. Almost thirty years is a long time to wait for this kind of vindication. I’m sure there is great happiness in his home tonight.
The history of the world is filled with stories like this. Graves are filled with people who never received recognition for their work. Then there are martyrs who perished for believing and holding strongly to their faith. Hebrews 11 is a very impressive list of such. Hebrews 12 begins with “Seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The Zit
Wednesday, October 05 2011
I have a zit on the tip of my nose. I am a combination of me, W.C. Fields, Jimmy Durante and Karl Malden. When I was thirteen and this happened I would be mortified thinking all of my classmates were staring at it. Now I don’t think it really matters that much except for trying not to keep touching it. If someone does notice, so what. I think most of us lose our sense of vanity after our chin doubles, dark bags grow under our eyes and age spots show up on top of the saggy cheeks. So what’s a zit but just another blotch?
When we were thirteen we were the center of the universe. Now I am just grateful to be part of the universe. I realize the center is far, far away and people have much to think about other than me. It’s a good place to be in life. It was so difficult being the protagonist. I now realize center stage belongs to the One who really is the protagonist. Jesus is the center of the universe. He made it and He keeps it operating. It is not a clock all wound up. It takes attention. Paul wrote in Colossians 1, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
Please don’t fail to notice the last phrase. Things consist because He exists. We live and breathe because of His attentive care. After all do you really think Satan wants us around telling people how wonderful Jesus is?
When we were thirteen we were the center of the universe. Now I am just grateful to be part of the universe. I realize the center is far, far away and people have much to think about other than me. It’s a good place to be in life. It was so difficult being the protagonist. I now realize center stage belongs to the One who really is the protagonist. Jesus is the center of the universe. He made it and He keeps it operating. It is not a clock all wound up. It takes attention. Paul wrote in Colossians 1, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
Please don’t fail to notice the last phrase. Things consist because He exists. We live and breathe because of His attentive care. After all do you really think Satan wants us around telling people how wonderful Jesus is?
God Never Gives Leftovers
Tuesday, October 04 2011
I am eating an ice cream popsicle – vanilla dipped in chocolate. It would be a perfect gastronomic treat except my dog is sitting in front of me just staring with the most soulful eyes. Ever so carefully she watches every bite. There is a string of drool spilling out of the left side of her mouth. The tip of her red tongue barely protrudes from her black lab mouth. She is beautiful and pathetic. I am awash with guilt. How can I continue to do this? So I eat off the chocolate shell, since that is poison for her, and yield the vanilla ice cream. I must say she is a lady. Ever so delicately she cleans off the stick without once biting it. I feel good.
Whether it is my dog or a child or one of my students I have to say it feels so good to share. Since we were made in God’s image I believe we can safely assume He loves to share. Paul says in Ephesians 2 that God plans to shower gifts upon us throughout eternity. We will have no end of resources that we too can shower gifts on all we meet. One of my students once asked me why God made us. My answer was that it made Him feel good. When He pronounced at the end of creation week, “That is very good” it had to feel good.
One very big difference between God and us and me and my dog is my dog gets the remnants. God never gives us leftovers. Everything from His hand is first class, top of the line with all the bells and whistles. We don’t even have to stare with soulful eyes. No drool from the side of our mouths. How grand!
Whether it is my dog or a child or one of my students I have to say it feels so good to share. Since we were made in God’s image I believe we can safely assume He loves to share. Paul says in Ephesians 2 that God plans to shower gifts upon us throughout eternity. We will have no end of resources that we too can shower gifts on all we meet. One of my students once asked me why God made us. My answer was that it made Him feel good. When He pronounced at the end of creation week, “That is very good” it had to feel good.
One very big difference between God and us and me and my dog is my dog gets the remnants. God never gives us leftovers. Everything from His hand is first class, top of the line with all the bells and whistles. We don’t even have to stare with soulful eyes. No drool from the side of our mouths. How grand!
Itches
Monday, October 03 2011
I got three spider bites last week. I have no idea where I was when I became lunch for the eight-legged creature. A spider bite is a mosquito bite multiplied by twenty. An ugly blister rose surrounded by a large blood red erratic pattern. It’s not a pretty sight. Then there is the itch. The worst itch I ever had occurred while I was preaching. There I was holding forth in front of my congregation when suddenly on the bottom of my foot in the middle of my arch screamed this incredible itch. I tried my best to ignore it. I was sure if I concentrated on my sermon it would fade away. It only got worse. How could I stop and say, “Excuse me folks while I take off my shoe and scratch?” I’m sure it was not my finest hour as I hid behind the pulpit and tried to pull my foot out of my shoe by holding the edge of the sole firmly to the floor with the other shoe.
One of the two times the word “itch” is in Scripture is referenced to “itching ears” - not quite the same context. However, maybe there is a lesson here. Often our itching ears delight us when they hear something very unkind and usually unchristian about someone we don’t agree with and so we pass it on. My email box fills with some very unkind things about politicians passed on by people I know are good Christians. I assume their itching ears have been scratched and they want to delight others. But they are things they would, I hope, never say to someone’s face. Oh, it is difficult to be a really good person, especially when we itch.
One of the two times the word “itch” is in Scripture is referenced to “itching ears” - not quite the same context. However, maybe there is a lesson here. Often our itching ears delight us when they hear something very unkind and usually unchristian about someone we don’t agree with and so we pass it on. My email box fills with some very unkind things about politicians passed on by people I know are good Christians. I assume their itching ears have been scratched and they want to delight others. But they are things they would, I hope, never say to someone’s face. Oh, it is difficult to be a really good person, especially when we itch.