Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Hold That Line!


F
riday evenings were sacred in my hometown, especially from August to November.  This small slice of the calendar was affectionately known as football season and our entire community arranged its activities around the local high school football schedule.  No matter what occurred during the week, if the ballgame was being played at our stadium, chances were that the vast majority of the community would be in attendance
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My dad used to take us to the ballgames when we were small.  I loved going to the stadium, seeing the game, listening to the band, eating hot dogs, and playing on the sidelines.  It was an experience I cherish to this day.  Even now, when the autumn winds begin to blow, I think about my days in high school and the football games we used to watch.  If you were to visit Cherryville today, you would find that this tradition hasn’t changed.  Friday nights still find the stands filled with local fans and the traffic around the high school stadium is still tedious, challenging, and sometimes impossible to navigate.

In addition to the players on the field, there are other participants who contribute to the atmosphere at a high school ballgame.  The band performs on the field during the halftime festivities.  They also provide music during the game, especially if the team scores a touchdown!  The hometown fight song is played with each successful drive and the fans stand to their feet, clap their hands, and become rather boisterous.  The band also provides snappy tunes to entertain the crowd and to spur the team on to victory!

Lastly, there are the cheerleaders who stand in front of the crowd in all kinds of weather, leading them in cheers, raising their spirits, and maintaining positive momentum, even when the team is losing.  That’s the real test of a fan isn’t it?  It is easy to support a team when it’s winning but it takes real dedication to remain positive when defeat is certain.  The crowd usually joins in, following the cheerleaders example, repeating and participating in the various cheers the girls are performing.  New cheers are introduced each year but there are some old, traditional standbys that are always popular.

One of these is a cheer written to encourage the defensive team.  It is very simple and is composed of only three words: Hold That Line! This is repeated over and over again with the crowd joining in.  It is especially effective when the home team is trying to prevent the opposite team from scoring.  The cheerleaders begin that cheer, starting off with gusto and the crowd takes up the chant and the sound becomes deafening.  Hold that line!  Hold that line! Hold that line!  Clearly, the cheerleaders and the fans don’t intend for the defensive players to allow the opposing team to gain one inch of ground.  Thus, the pressure falls on the defensive team to make sure that the line holds firm and is not broken.

            The Apostle Paul was not thinking of high school football when he wrote his letter to the Ephesians.  However, there is a striking parallel between the defensive line on a football team and Paul’s admonition to Christians.  At the end of Ephesians 6, Paul writes his often quoted commands to his fellow Christians to put on the whole armor of God.  He describes each piece of the armor, explaining its purpose and use.  However, he then makes an interesting and somewhat startling statement.  Paul simple writes in Ephesians 6:14 “Stand firm, then…”

Yes, you read correctly, “Stand firm, then…”  This seems to be contradictory, doesn’t it?  Why would a soldier put on his armor, prepare himself for battle, and take up his position only to stand?  It doesn’t seem logical, and standing still seems to guarantee that the soldier will become injured in the battle.  But remember that defensive line.  Its job is just to “Hold that line!”  The coach on the sidelines calls the plays, he has the master plan in mind, and he knows exactly how the line should be formed in order to stop the opposing team.  It is not up to the individual players to decide how the game should be played.  Instead, they are to follow their training, put all their effort into standing firm, and they are to present a united front so that the line will not break and the opposing team will not gain ground.

This is exactly what our Heavenly Father tells us today.  In Paul’s words, we find God’s admonition to us to stand our ground, to remain faithful in the fray, to lock our feet and our shields into position, and to “Hold that line.”  It may seem a difficult task.  We want to run ahead, to get into the thick of battle, and to participate in the campaign.  However, the place God has given you may be one of the most important areas of the battle line.  The enemy must not gain ground, he must not be allowed to move forward, and he must never be given the chance to do an end run and come up from behind.  Holding that line is important, it is essential, and it is vital to your walk with God.

We do have an enemy.  He is relentless and would like nothing better than to cut you off from the ranks and break your line of communication with God.  Don’t you dare give him that opportunity!  Stand firm!  God knows where you are, he is familiar with your position in the line of battle, and he knows that the enemy is coming against you.  Moreover, he knows you are able to hold your position or he would not have placed you in your present situation. 


Today, take a moment and listen!  God is sending in orders from the sidelines of life.  He has all the confidence and faith in you and your ability to stand firm for him in life’s battleOver the bustle of battle, over the clanking of spiritual swords, over the drumming sound of the enemy’s approaching march, you can hear his command to you.  “Hold That Line!”

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Remember Me!

T
he last year of high school is one of the most memorable and most challenging for students.  All during the year, students constantly speak of their ardent desire for the school year to end.  They can't wait to receive their diplomas, leave home and family, attend university or get a job, and finally be out on their own.  These sentiments usually last until April and then, as the final six weeks of school approach, they suddenly realize that this portion of life is over.  Frantically, they seek some way of applying the brakes, of slowing life down, and avoiding the inevitable.  The excitement of finishing school and breaking all ties with home is replaced by the anxiety of what the future holds and the fear that they will be forgotten.

One of my former high school students embodied these very emotions with frightening precision.  At the start of his last year he was overjoyed to be finishing school and wanted nothing more than to be done with his studies and his hometown.  Yet, on graduation day, he stood before me with tears in his eyes and streaming down his cheeks asking me over and over not to forget him.  He had this terrible fear that no one would remember him, that his life to that point would have had no significance for anyone. 

This student, however, is not alone.  We all suffer from this same fear.  We are afraid that after we have served our purpose, we will be forgotten, thrown out, discarded, much like we discard containers after we have emptied them of their content.  Such a view of life, though extremely common, fails to take into account God's thoughts toward us.

Genesis 8:1a at first seems to be just an introduction to a new chapter.  But if you read it carefully, you will discover just how much God cares for you.  The opening line of chapter 8 begins with these words, "But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him on the ark..." But God remembered?  No, God never forgot Noah.  He knew where he was and he knew what Noah was doing.  I believe the verse might be better understood if read this way, "But God was thinking about Noah...."  That's right, thinking about him.

Although Noah was locked in the ark without knowing what the situation was on the outside, although he tended the animals day after day and week after week, and although he may have believed God had forgotten him, the scriptures tell us that God remembered him.  God's promise to Noah was that he would be saved and God kept that promise.  All the time Noah spent in the ark seemingly forgotten, he was in the process of being saved and perfected for the purpose God had for him.  God thought about Noah.  He saw him in the ark.  He saw him as he performed his daily duties.  He heard him when he prayed, and he sheltered him during the storm.

God does the same things for us on a daily basis. God thinks about us all the time.  He makes plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), he knows how many hairs are on our heads (Matthew 10:30), his thoughts toward us cannot be counted (Psalm 139:17-18), he hears our prayers (Psalm 55:17), and he shelters us (Psalm 61:3).  When we consider all that he does on our behalf we understand better what Genesis 8:1a means.  Although it may appear that God has abandoned us and that he has forgotten us in our moment of need, nothing could be farther from the truth.  Isaiah 43:3 assures us that whenever we pass through deep waters or walk through fires God is with us.  It is impossible for him to be with us and forget about us.  It simply will not happen. 


Today as you go about your routine and it seems to you that God is nowhere in sight and that he is very far away, let these words from Isaiah 49:14 -ff comfort and reassure you: "But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.' 'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."  He who remembers Israel and who keeps all his promises is faithful to remember you today!!

Monday, May 29, 2017

Roll Up Your Sleeve


O
ne of the fun things about being a high school teacher is the variety of duties you are asked to perform in addition to teaching in the classroom.  In the contract, this is affectionately referred to as the “catch all” phrase.  Essentially it says that the teacher will perform all other duties assigned by the principal or other administrative personnel.  Essentially, you are legally bound to sponsor clubs, coach sports teams, attend all types of meetings, and sit on several different committees.

I fulfilled several of these roles during my years as a high school instructor.  However, one of my favorite duties was the annual blood drive held at our school.  It took several days of planning to make sure this was done correctly.  The library or the gym had to be reserved, the local blood center had to be contacted for an appointment, and the local papers and radio stations had to be provided with all the pertinent information.

People came from miles around, voluntarily rolling up their sleeves, pumping a pint, and then resuming their normal activities.  We always had a large turnout and consistently collected between 90 and 120 pints of blood each year.  The people of that community were generous givers and looked forward to the bloodmobile’s arrival at our school.

Several years ago, our church sponsored a blood drive.  Our pastor set the example by rolling up his sleeve early in the morning and pumping a pint.  He encouraged all those at our early service to do the same and he also requested those in the late service to stop by the mobile collection center on their way home.  He told us that one pint of blood could be used to help as many as six people.

Now, stop and think about that for one minute.  If you’ve ever been in the hospital and needed blood, you were only able to receive a transfusion because someone voluntarily gave a pint.  Blood cannot be manufactured and it doesn’t appear out of thin air.  No!  It must be given by a volunteer so that others may live.  This fluid that courses through our veins and arteries is so important.  Without it, there would be no life, only death.

This truth was not lost on the people of Israel.  Their entire law centered on the concept of sacrifice.  Sacrifices were performed for various aspects of life.  There were sacrifices for births, for thanksgiving, and for forgiveness.  On the Day of Atonement, known as Yom Kipuur in Hebrew, a sacrifice was made for all the people to cover their sins.  Nothing short of the blood of a spotless animal would fulfill God’s requirements.  His command was very clear about the use of blood for this ritual.  The people were not to eat meat with blood in it nor were they to drink blood.  Blood represented a life that had been poured out sacrificially to purify their sins.

Leviticus 17:11 gives us God’s command concerning the role of blood: “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.”  Look at the importance God himself places on blood.  It is to be used to make atonement, to bring the people back into a right relationship with God.  In order for this blood to be used, an animal had to die, to be sacrificed, and to give of itself so that others could live.

All of this prefigured the coming of Jesus and his sacrificial work on Calvary’s cross.  Christ is the perfect lamb of God, without spot or blemish.  He sacrificed himself, spilled his blood, so that we could have eternal life.  God says there is life in the blood, and only in it.  It is the blood that makes atonement possible.  The sacrificial system in the Old Testament had to be repeated yearly.  The blood of an animal only covered sin; it did not destroy it or remove it from the people.  No animal’s blood could do that.  Instead, God sent his son, innocent and perfect, to give his blood for us.  Through his death, through his gift, through his blood, God made a way for us to be forever freed from sin and its hold over us.  The blood of Jesus does not cover our sin; it cleanses us from all sin.

Each time someone donates blood, pain is involved.  There is momentary discomfort while the blood is being donated.  However, after the pint is collected, the donor is free to leave and resume normal activity.  Yet, when Jesus gave his blood, great pain was involved.  Not only physical pain, but spiritual and emotional pain was part of the process.  In addition, Jesus didn’t give just a pint of blood, he gave all he had.


This is always God’s way.  God always gives his best to us and for us.  When mankind needed a blood transfusion to save him, there were no flyers, no advertisements, no phone calls, and no one begging for donors.  Instead, God rolled up his sleeve and willingly gave his own blood, all of it, so that we might have life.  There is life in the bloodWon’t you roll up your sleeve and receive your transfusion today?

Friday, May 26, 2017

Rest, Two, Three, Four


A
 few Christmases ago, a good friend gave me a collection on CD of Beethoven's symphonies.  They have been good companions while studying, writing, or just relaxing and reflecting.  Of course, I have my favorite symphony, the fifth.   The opening of this symphony is unmistakable and once heard, becomes unforgettable.

The entire symphony is built upon just two notes with the rest of the music exploring the various themes that Beethoven creates from them.  However, it is not so much the notes you hear that make the opening of the fifth symphony so remarkable, it is also the notes you don't hear that also make it memorable.  The opening goes like this: Ta, Ta, Ta, Dah, REST, Ta, Ta, Ta, Dah, REST.  It is those rests that grab our attention because they prepare us for what is to follow.

Rest is so important!  When I was taking piano lessons, the idea of the rest was very hard for me.  I didn't want to stop playing, I wanted to barrel on through and play all the notes until I finished the piece.  However, when I skipped or ignored the rests, the music didn't come out right.  It didn't sound as pretty or as wonderful as the composer intended.  All notes were there but they weren't played correctly and I ended up starting over until I learned to play it exactly as it was written, rests and all.

Life is a lot like this, isn't it?  We are constantly up and doing something.  We believe that every moment of every day must be filled or it is wasted.  This is especially true for Christians.  From the time we wake until the time we sleep, we feel we must be busy doing anything and everything we can think of for God.  We decide to spend so much time in prayer, so much time in volunteering, and so much time studying the Bible.  We are so "busy spiritually” that we need a secretary and a day planner just to ensure we meet all the "spiritual" appointments we have set for ourselves.  And, heaven forbid we arrive at the end of our day without completing all the "spiritual" tasks we have set for ourselves.

God looks at this, at the music of our lives, and says, "We need to put some rests in here.  This music is too busy, too fast, and too noisy!"  Have you ever stopped to think that your life is a piece of music?  Have you ever stopped to consider what your life would sound like if played on an instrument?  Mine would be one continuous run of notes, with no breaks and no slow downs at all.  It wouldn't sound very pretty and, quite frankly, I don't know that I would enjoy listening to all of it.

Jesus talked about rest.  He knew that rest was important because rest prepares us for what is to come.  It is during rest that we rejuvenate our minds, it is during rest that our bodies become stronger, and it is in during rest that our souls can communicate with God.  Looking around him, Jesus knew that people were tired, that they were weary, and that they were looking in the wrong place for rest.  That is why in Matthew 11:28, he talks about rest: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."


The next time you are listening to Beethoven's fifth, or any other piece of music, pay attention to the notes that are not there.  Listen for and learn to appreciate the rests in the music.  They serve a very important purpose.  Now, apply that to your own life.  Is it too busy?  Are you running through all the notes without taking a pause?  Does your life sound out of tune, too noisy, and too rushed?  You are probably ignoring the rests God has placed there.  He is the great composer and knows how the music should sound.  Let's learn to play it just as he has written it.  I believe we'll find it sounds perfect every time it's played.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Salvageable


G
rowing up in a small town had several advantages.  One of these perks was knowing most of the people by name and where to find help when you needed it.  Although our downtown area was small, you could find most anything you needed.  Mr. Ferguson ran a local hardware store, Mr. Eaker, Mr. Doty, and Mr. Hudson sold men’s clothing, Mrs. Costner ran a dress shop for women, Mr. Mabry ran a home and auto store, Mr. Roy Carpenter and his cousin Troy ran a small grocery store, and there were several other shops, including three barbershops, a café, and a hotel.

In time, some of these businesses closed and others took their place.  New business also opened, offering more variety to the downtown area.  One of these stores was simply known as, “The Salvage.”  This store was opened in the late 1980’s by the local trucking company.  Refused freight made its way back to the salvage to be sold to the general public for reduced prices.

The Salvage opened every Wednesday morning.  As soon as the door opened, people piled in, rummaging through boxes, flipping through containers, and examining all the items on the display floor.  Sometimes there were very good bargains to be had, and at other times there was very little to get excited over, but every time you could find something you could use or just wanted.  Something of very little value to one person was a treasure to another.  This was the allure and the magic of The Salvage.

Would it surprise you to know that the concept of the salvage store is found in the New Testament?  In first letter to the Corinthian church, the Apostle Paul, spells out in great detail the activity described above.  It’s almost as if he was peering through the window of “The Salvage”, watching people do their rummaging.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 reads, “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

Have you ever thought about God this way?  Paul’s description of these believers is not flattering.  They were not the most intelligent, not the most influential, and they were not noble.  Yet, God chose them to be his servants.  That is just like God, isn’t it?  What the world calls junk, he calls worthy.  What the world rejects, he openly accepts.  What the world despises, he loves.  And the result is the world’s confusion and God’s glorification.  God just doesn’t do things the way the world thinks he should and I, for one, am so glad.


Yes, God visits salvage shops.  Instead of rejecting mankind because of his sin, God accepted him.  He decided we were salvageable.  So, he blew off the dust, gave us the once over, saw the worth that his son could bring to us, and he salvaged us!  What a wonderful thought and blessing for us todayWe are no longer on the shelf collecting dust; we are now on permanent display in God’s trophy case!  Not bad for a piece of junk, is it?

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Look After Your Brother


W
hen I was a small boy, my brother and I played together, went places together, shared toys together, and looked out for each other.  Like all brothers, we had our share of fights and scuffles, but there was always a bond between us.  If I got a new toy, I wanted him to have one too.  If someone gave me something, I shared it with him.  When went to birthday parties or to new places, I looked after him and took up for him.  My parents always told me that I was to look after my brother and set a good example for him.  I didn't always set a good example but I never forgot their admonition to look out for him and care for him.  Their words consistently played over and over in my mind as a constant reminder of my responsibility to and for my brother.

The book of Genesis records a similar understanding between Jacob and his father-in-law Laban.  These two men made a covenant with each other and erected a pile of stones as a reminder of that pledge.  They gave different names to the place where the covenant was reached.  These names served to remind them of their collective responsibility to and for each other.  The covenant was sealed with the understanding God would keep both these men safe when they left each other.  Laban's words to Jacob regarding God's care for them both are recorded in Genesis 31:48-49, “And Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore, its name was called Galeed, also Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another."

In May of 2001, I participated in a covenant identical to the one between Laban and Jacob. I graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity Degree along with more than 300 classmates.  We came from many states and other countries, yet we were all brothers and sisters in Christ.  As we walked across the stage, we each received a diploma, a document which reminded us of our mutual experience at seminary.  Our speaker also reminded us that we were to pray for each other and that we all had the same mission whether together or apart. 

Like Laban and Jacob's agreement, our diplomas all looked alike, similar to that heap of stones.  However, just as Laban and Jacob assigned different names to the place of their covenant our diplomas all had different names.  Each time I look at my diploma, I think of and pray for my classmates, serving in different parts of the world and I know when they look at their diplomas, they are thinking of and praying for me. 


My diploma represents so much more than just writing on a piece of paper and more than my individual effort.  It is a testimony to the faithfulness of God, of family and friends who faithfully love me and pray for me.  It is a testimony to the spirit of Jacob and Laban's agreement so many years ago, to look after each other, and, when absent from each other's presence, to pray God's guidance, blessing, protection, and sustaining love for all those we call friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.  It is my prayer for each of you today that God will keep you in his care, gird you with his strength, comfort you with his peace, and enfold you in his love, "while we are absent one from another."

Tuesday, May 23, 2017


O
ne morning, before leaving the men’s dorm at seminary to go to work, I stood outside my door, making sure I hadn't forgotten anything important.   A quick checklist ensured me I had everything I needed so I locked the door, took out my car keys, and turned to go.  As I turned to walk down the hallway, I noticed that one of the guys who works in the housing office was staring at me with a rather comical smile on his face.  Who knows how long he had been watching me; but I'm sure the sight was entertaining, as I stood there, motionless, staring at my door, seemingly "out to lunch!"

When I realized I had been under surveillance, I had to laugh, imagining what my reaction would have been if our roles had been reversed.  He never asked me what I was doing so I volunteered the information, explaining that usually I forgot to do something and realized it only when I had driven twenty-five miles to work.  At that point, it's a little too late to go back and retrieve something I left behind or to do something I had meant to do before leaving work.

 I got into my car, inserted the key, and started the engine.  A quick glance at the gasoline gauge demonstrated I hadn't forgotten to fuel the car.  The tank was at least three-fourths full, which meant I could make the trip to work with no worry about stopping for gas. That simple little gauge on my dashboard revealed a great truth about the Christian life.

In order to keep my car running, I must keep fuel in it.  Without gasoline in the tank, the engine will not run and the car simply will not go.  No matter how much I plead, cajole, push, or prod the car, without the right type of fuel it will not be able to fulfil its function.  However, knowing the right type of fuel and having a sufficient amount constantly on hand are not the same thing.  If I know where to find gas but never place gas into the tank, that knowledge is of no use to me.  I must act on my knowledge and keep enough fuel in my car so it will always be ready when I need to go somewhere.

The children of Israel learned first-hand the necessity of maintaining an adequate supply of fuel on a daily basis.  Each morning when they emerged from their tents, they found the ground covered with bread they called manna.  God's instructions to them were specific.  They were to gather enough bread to meet their daily needs. Exodus 16:4 records God's instructions with these words: “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not."  

According to God's own words, there would be enough bread for all the people and this provision would come daily.  The people, however, would have to glean the manna themselves.  God provided the bread, He made sure there was ample supply, and He was faithful in His provision. However, it was the people's responsibility to gather the manna.  Simply knowing the manna was outside the tent flap didn't fill their containers nor provide the day's supply of food.  Each family was responsible for providing for its own needs.  The jar, like the gasoline gauge in my car, indicated the level of their supply.  When they ran low on manna, and this happened each day, they simply had to replenish their stock.  Failure to do this on their part did not constitute unfaithfulness on God's part. 

There is great truth in this short passage from the book of Exodus.  God provides for us on a daily basis.  All the spiritual nourishment we need is to be found in his word.  It is right there, as close as our bookshelves, or our desks, or our coffee table.  All we have to do is open it and receive our daily bread from it.  Our tanks need refilling each day.  We must ensure that we maintain our spiritual fuel at an optimal level so we will be ready at a moment's notice to meet the challenges that life places in our paths.


What does your spiritual gas gauge tell you?  Is your tank full?  Are you ready to handle the road of life today?  Can you say with all confidence that you have enough of God's word in your tank to complete the day's journey or do you need to fill up?  Why don't you open God's word and fill your tank today?

Monday, May 22, 2017

All In One Place


I
 was fortunate to grow up in a small North Carolina town.  It wasn’t exactly Mayberry, few towns are, but it did provide a nice environment in which to grow up and learn about life.  One of my favorite things to do was to go downtown.  Most of the activity in our community centered around the small stores and shops located on Main Street.  Here, you could find just about anything and everything you wanted. 

There were two drugstores, two men’s shops, two ladies’ shops, a dime store, a movie theater, a hotel, a small family-owned grocery store, three barber shops, a bank, a savings and loan association, a hardware store, a general mercantile, and two department stores.  You could spend all day downtown, browsing through the shops, pausing to talk to the store owners as well as the people on the street.  Everyone knew everyone else and there was always something to talk about and news to catch up on.

Usually, I would accompany one of my parents on these little jaunts downtown.  My mom would go to the grocery store or to one of the clothing stores to get something she needed.  My dad usually went to the hardware store, the general mercantile, or one of the men’s shops to find what he wanted.  I never gave much thought to the fact that we visited different stores for different things.  It just seemed to be the way things were done.  If my dad needed nails or screws, we went to the hardware. If my mom needed bread and milk, we went to the corner grocery.  And if we needed clothes, we went to one of the several shops downtown.

However, when I turned sixteen and was able to chauffeur myself around, I began to notice a difference in the way people shopped.  In the towns to the west and east of us, several large department stores had been built.  It was possible to go to these stores and purchase a number of different items under one roof.  The stores offered everything from house paint to shoestrings, from ink pens to motor oil, and cassette tapes to chewing gum.  In time, these large stores gave way to the super, mega stores we are accustomed to today where you can have your prescriptions filled while you wait to have new tires placed on your car.

In a way, our spiritual lives resemble my hometown during my childhood. We are constantly looking for answers to all of life’s questions.  We visit one place to find answers about life’s trials and challenges, we look in certain books to discover our “inner child”, we turn to various spas and exercise establishments to “feel good” about ourselves, and we chase after anyone who can teach us how to “take control” of our destinies.  However, all this running around trying to find satisfaction only leaves us unfulfilled and more confused and frustrated.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could find what we really needed and wanted in one place?  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could locate everything under one roof without having to run all over creation looking for an answer?

Well, there is such a place and the Apostle Paul knew just where to find it.  In his letter to the Philippians, he makes the following promise to his readers: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) Notice that Paul does not encourage the Philippians to seek the answers to their questions in various places.  He never tells them to explore a certain new idea, or to run after such and such a promise.  Instead, Paul states very plainly that the answer to all of life’s questions is found in one person, Jesus Christ.


Not only does Jesus hold the answers to all of life’s most pressing questions, he is also the source that supplies all our needs.  Notice Paul’s words in this verse.  God meets all our needs—not some, but all—according to his riches in Jesus Christ.  You want to talk about finding everything under one roof, here it is.  No matter what your need, physical, emotional, financial, social, spiritual, relational, marital, etc., Jesus Christ stocks everything necessary to address and fulfill all of them.  There is no need too small or great that he cannot completely satisfy.  He has everything we need all in one placeWon’t you pay him a visit today?

Friday, May 19, 2017

Give Me A Printout


W
orking on a computer has taught me a very valuable lesson—make several copies! I usually place a copy on the hard drive of my computer, I place several copies in the cloud, and I produce a hard copy that I keep in a file.  Of all the ways I store information, the hard copy is perhaps to me the most amazing.  The computer stores all of this information in its memory, not in the actual form of words, but in a language it understands.  Whenever I reopen a file, however, I see it in a form recognizable to me.

Most of the files I save are in English but some are in French, especially the notes and tests I use for the classes I teach.  Other files contain information about my finances including my personal budget and my checking and savings accounts.  Whenever I need to produce a hard copy for myself, I simply open the file I need and press the print icon and the computer does the rest.  Whatever is in the computer comes out on paper in exact detail.  In fact, I can only print what is stored in the computer's memory. 

Do you realize that we operate on the same principle as the computer?  Would it surprise you to realize that Jesus spoke of this process almost 2000 years ago?  Without the advent of electronic filing systems, floppy disks, or printers, Jesus described in precise detail the functioning of today's computers.  However, Jesus spoke of this, not in terms of electronics, but in terms of the human heart.

In Matthew 12:34-35, Jesus says, “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things."  

The message here is simple and straightforward: what goes in, comes out!  Jesus was addressing his listeners and teaching them that our words and our actions are the indicators of our true selves.  Just as an apple tree produces apples and not peaches, the human heart can only produce what has been planted in it.

Look at the second sentence in this passage from Matthew. The source of our words, our thoughts, our actions, and our motives is the heart.  Jesus says that our words indicate the condition of our hearts.  A direct connection exists between what we say and who we are.  Much like the hard drive on our computers, our hearts store the files of our life.  But the heart can only produce what we put into it!!!  There are no files written in Russian on my computer because I have put none in there.  Likewise, if I haven't placed God's word, God's love, God's mercy, and God himself in my heart, I cannot share him with others nor retrieve anything about him.  There simply is no file inside my heart labeled God!

This is a very sobering thought!!  When I open my mouth and speak, other people know exactly what kind of person I am.  If, as Jesus said, my mouth speaks from the overflow of my heart, then what I say reflects that with which my heart is filled!!  Every time I open my mouth, I am giving someone a printout of the files contained within my heart!  Ouch!!!  That hurts, doesn't it?

Today, let's take an inventory of our heart's hard drive.  What files are stored there?  When someone speaks to us, what kinds of printouts are we giving them?  Do our lives contain enough files about God and His love for us?  Do we have the necessary information to share Jesus with someone today?  Is there enough information buried in our hearts to produce good quality printouts about God and all he has done for us?


Thursday, May 18, 2017

Because I Said So!


T
he teenage years are anything but a joy ride for parents.  The darling little children who used to be so cute and sweet suddenly metamorphose into people hardly recognizable by their parents.  Their taste in clothes begins to change, their taste in music becomes more interesting, and the time they spend on the phone seems to increase daily.  In fact, the only people who receive phone calls are the kids and they call each other about everything, at any time of the day or night.

I remember these years very well.  They were challenging for both my parents and me.  The one thing I wanted most was to be independent, to do my own thing, to be my own person, and to make my own decisions.  This led, at times, to a contest between my mom and me.  She always won, by the way.  When she would tell me to do something, I would question it, wondering why I had to do what she told me.  The response I often got and liked the least was, “Because I said so!”  Although I didn’t know it then, she was teaching me a very important lesson.  That lesson was listening to and obeying those in authority.

That was a hard lesson for me to learn, not because my mom wasn’t a good teacher, but because I wasn’t a good student.  I wanted to believe I knew what was best for me when all along my parents were far wiser and more insightful than I.  If I had learned this lesson earlier, I could have saved myself a lot of heartache and difficulty.  But part of learning is discipline and discipline is never fun or easy.

This is a lesson that spills over into our Christian lives as well.  We often find ourselves holding conversations with God about things happening around us.  We want an explanation for our situations or we want to know exactly why God requires us to face a certain trial or to do a certain task.  We also believe that we know what is best for us and we do our best to be independent, to exert our will above our Heavenly Father’s.  But we learn, through much heartache and difficulty, that He is much wiser and more insightful than we.  He is the parent, we are the teenagers. 

In Deuteronomy 6, God addresses the Children of Israel before they cross over into the Promised Land.  He impresses upon them the importance of keeping His commands and teaching them to their children.  The commandments He gives serve to protect them, to preserve them, and to give them the means to live a life pleasing to God.  Deuteronomy 6:24 provides the reason behind God’s instructions.  This verse reads, “The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.”

Notice Moses’ words here.  God gave them commands for them to obey!!!!  That’s the rub.  We are to listen to God’s voice and obey His leading because He says so, and for no other reason.  He knows what is best for us, He knows the road ahead, and He alone knows what we need to face all of life’s circumstances.  However, Moses continues by giving the result of following God’s commandments.  God’s decrees always give life.  Notice the closing part of this verse.  Obeying God’s commands insures prosperity and keeps us alive. Prosperity here does not mean hitting the jackpot.  Instead, it means the ability to continue living and to continue in the relationship we have with God.


So, the next time a teenager challenges your authority by asking why, simply say to them in all love, “Because I say so!”  Then, when you are alone with God, practice what you preach!  

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Beaded Fruit


A
rts and craft projects never really interested me as a kid.  They required patience and the ability to work long hours poring over tedious details.  After five minutes or so, it was impossible for me to keep my focus and I’d start fidgeting and looking for any excuse to stop what I was doing and being another activity.  The sole exception to this was Bible school during the summer.  I enjoyed the arts and crafts there because we concentrated on one or two projects and had several days to complete them.  They didn’t try my patience nor frustrate me.

My grandmother, however, was just the opposite.  She always had some sort of project going.  She wrote children’s plays for our church and spent untold hours making costumes and props.  She also enjoyed making the decorations and writing the narration for the annual Christmas tree decoration at church.  She always gave one hundred per cent to all these activities and the finished products bore witness to that fact.

However, there was one project she did that I will always remember. Grandmother took pieces of plastic fruit and transformed them into beautiful arrangements that she placed in her kitchen and in her living room.  The project was very simple and the results were fantastic.  She would take a piece of fruit and, using straight pins, would attach colored beads to it.  When she finished, the fruit had a very different look.  It was much prettier and more attractive than it had been lying on the store shelf. 

She made arrangements for her kitchen, her dining room, and her living room.  Several people saw the fruit and started the project for themselves.  My mom did some for our house, making arrangements for our kitchen and den.  The project was so simple, that I enjoyed helping.  There was nothing to make, cut out, or glue together.  Instead, we started with a piece of plastic fruit and changed its appearance into something more pleasing and attractive than when we first began.
           
Would it surprise you to learn that this is the same process Jesus used when he called the disciples?  They were rough, rugged men, set in their ways and accustomed to a certain way of life.  They had careers, they had families, they had their habits, and they had some different ideas concerning living.  They were diamonds in the rough, just waiting for someone to see their potential, to spend time teaching them, molding them, and changing them into something more attractive and beautiful than they were. 

That someone was Jesus!  He chose these men, not based on what they were, but based on what they could and would become after he finished working with them.  Mark 1:16-17 gives us an important glimpse at these men as Jesus calls them from their every-day lives and invites them to begin serving with himAnd passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men."

There are three interesting points we need to see in this brief passage of scripture.  1) Jesus was walking by the sea.  He didn’t go the financial center, he didn’t visit the universities, and he didn’t visit the religious center in the area.  Instead, he walked by the sea, looking for common men to accomplish an uncommon task. 2)  Simon and Andrew were casting their nets into the sea.  They were doing what they had done for years; they were practicing their livelihood, providing for their families.  Yet, Jesus knew he could take them and teach them to use their talents in ways they never dreamed possible.  3) Jesus called them to change the focus of their lives, to concentrate on catching men rather than fish.  He took them as they were and promised to make them into what they could become.

As I think about those pieces of plastic fruit that my grandmother transformed into beautiful arrangements, I can’t help but understand that God wants to apply that same process to our lives.  He takes us as we are despite our blemishes, faults, and weaknesses and he promises to make us become something else. He patiently and painstakingly works, until we have a new appearance and are ready to be placed into a new arrangement that he has designed for us. 


Instead of an ordinary piece of fruit lying on a shelf, God makes us over, giving us a new look and a new life.  The process is not always easy; but it is worth it.  Each test, each trial, each blessing, brings us one step closer to being what God wants us to be.  Remember, Jesus told Andrew and Simon that they would become fishers of men, not that they were fishers of men.  We can’t be what God intends for us to be without change.  Only he can change us and only he knows what we can become when he has finished working in our lives.  Won’t you let him work in your life today?    

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Because I Love You


I
t’s amazing what you can learn while eating lunch!  One particular Wednesday, I was looking for something really good to eat and that meant I had to get out of the kitchen and visit a place that offered wonderful food.  I went to Julie’s Fresh Kitchen (this is the restaurant where I worked while attending seminary) and, as usual, the place was packed.  I grabbed a menu, located an empty table, seated myself, and began making the agonizing decision of what to have for lunch.  Everything looked exceptional; but I could only select one thing to eat.

While I sat there musing over the menu, Jody, the owner, came over to say hello.  He indicated that a good friend of mine was sitting in the next section and asked if I’d like to join him.  Not fifteen minutes prior to that I had tried to call Chris to see if he wanted to meet me at Julie’s for lunch.  Isn’t it neat how God just works things out for us?  I picked up my menu, silverware, and iced tea, and went to join Chris at his table.  Fortunately, he hadn’t ordered yet, so our food arrived at the same time.  Chris opted for the pot roast and I went for the turkey and dressing.

After our food arrived, Jody came over and sat down with us for a chat.  He always did this with his customers and I loved it.  His youngest son, Jonathan, joined in our conversation.  Jonathan was wearing a new T-shirt that his dad bought for him.  Jody told us about purchasing these items for Jonathan.  They just happened to be directly related to Jonathan’s favorite hockey player.  So, he bought them for him, and, as you can guess, Jonathan was very happy.

When asked why his dad had purchased the items for him, Jonathan simply answered, “Because he loves me!”  And in that statement, was the focus for a Tidbit.  You never know what God will teach you over a plate of food.  God’s lessons are all around us and he takes every opportunity to teach us about himself if we will just open our eyes, ears, and hearts and listen to his voice.

That Wednesday was such a day for me.  After Jody left our table and long after I left the restaurant, I mulled over in my mind the conversation that had taken place during my lunch hour.  Without Jonathan ever mentioning the T-shirt and other items, Jody knew he would be happy with him. He knew this because he knew Jonathan.  He knew what would make him happy, he knew what his interests were, and he also knew Jonathan couldn’t get those things for himself.  So, as any good father would do, Jody purchased the things for his son and gave them to him.   He did this just because he loved Jonathan and wanted him to have that T-shirt.

What a wonderful picture of what God has done for us.  Long before you and I were ever born, long before our great, great, great, great, grandparents were born, before the earth was even created, God made provision to give us something just because He loves us.  To understand God’s gift, we need look no further than the most often quoted verse of scripture in the Bible, John 3:16.  Here, Jesus tells us plainly, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Although this verse is well known, don’t be in such a hurry that you neglect to understand its full meaning.  Look at the ninth word in the verse.  That word is “gave.”  Stop and think about that word for just a minute.  Think about its implications and meanings.  When you give someone something, you think about them and select the gift with them in mind.  You only want the best for them and you purchase the very best gift you can because they mean so much to you.  Now, if that is how we feel and act when we give a gift, just imagine how much more wonderful God’s gift and reasons for giving are.

God sent Jesus to pay for our sins because he had our best interest in mind.  He knew us before we were ever born and he determined to give us the very best he had to offer.  He did not do this because we deserve it, we don’t.  He didn’t do it because we are worthy, we aren’t.  He didn’t do it because he had to, he didn’t.  He did it because he loved us and for no other reason!  That is so hard for us to understand because we don’t understand pure, unconditional love.  But that is just the way God loves you and me, unconditionally.

Furthermore, God did not send Jesus to save us because he needed us; he sent him to die because he wanted us!  What a humbling thought that is.  The God of the universe sacrificed his own son because he wanted us!  he wants us despite the fact that we are sinful, despite the fact that we are selfish, despite the fact we are imperfect, despite the fact that we are arrogant, despite the fact that we fall so far short of what we were meant to be.  Like Jonathan’s father, God knows we could never save ourselves, never pay the price for salvation, never find our way in the darkness.  So, he paid the price, he lit the path, and he gave us salvation through his son. He did all this because he loved us.  What a wonderful God we serve!


In closing I want to leave you with something I heard a pastor say in a sermon.  I think it speaks directly to what God did for us on Calvary all those years ago.  It is possible to give and not love but it is impossible to love and not give.  

Monday, May 15, 2017

Anchored

I
 performed my first wedding ceremony for a couple I met while working as a chaplain at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.  The ceremony went very well with both the bride and the groom repeating their vows with no fumbles and no tears.  I had been warned by a good pastor that in a wedding, something always goes wrong.  This was not my experience; the service went off without a hitch.

The evening before the wedding, however, we were all very concerned.  Severe thunderstorms passed through the area all night bringing very strong winds, keen lightning and rain.  I went to sleep with the sound of distant thunder and I awoke to the same sound several hours later.  But there had been no power outages nor any damage in the area so there were no delays in any of the wedding plans.

As I made my way back to Fort Worth after the ceremony, the sun was shining, the skies were clear, and the drive was absolutely beautiful.  I picked up my cell phone and made quick call home just to check in with my parents and to let them know I was on my way home.   That’s when I noticed it.  In the distance, just over the horizon, loomed a large cell phone tower.  I don’t know how many of these towers I pass during a given day, but I never take notice of them.  They have just become a natural part of the landscape.  This tower, however, caught and riveted my attention.

The height of the tower amazed me, and I couldn’t help but think about the seventy-five-mile-per-hour winds that had passed through the night before.  Yet, the tower stood firm, unshaken, unaffected by the wind.  Attached to it, on various sides, were large, thick cables.  They were visible from a good distance and grew in size and prominence as I approached the tower.  The wires were connected at several levels to the structure and gave the tower solid support on all sides.  These guide wires were anchored several feet into the ground, providing a firm grip, keeping the tower standing even in the most adverse conditions.

This is an exact picture of God in our lives. Like that tower, we need something to anchor and hold us firm through the storms of life.  When the winds blow, when the rains come, when everything around us is in turmoil, what keeps us standing? What prevents us from falling?  The answer is to be found in Hebrews 6:19, “ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul.” 

The hope we have is in Christ Jesus alone.  He anchors us, protects us, strengthens us, and helps us through all the difficult storms of life.  When we place our faith in him and accept him as our savior, he becomes our strength and our hope.  The more we spend time in his word, the more anchored we become in him.  Jesus is the guide wire that gives us protection and strength on all sides.

Today, the winds of adversity may be blowing.  It may feel as though the very ground will give way around you and you will fall over.  But, if Jesus is your savior, you are firmly anchored in God. The winds will come, the rains will fall, and the ground will shake, but you will stand firm, anchored in Christ Jesus.  Those guide wires held the tower in place so it could deliver its signals and allow me to communicate with my parents.  In the same way, Jesus allows us to stand firm so we can send the signal of his love and salvation to a lost and dying world.  How firmly are you anchored today?

Friday, May 12, 2017

All Night Long

I
sn’t it funny how a photograph can catapult you back in time and take you to a specific place or memory?  It is a moment frozen in time, captured on paper, eternally the same.  I have a special photo that does just that.  In this photo, five of my former students stand, smiling, side by side, with the Parisian Latin Quarter serving as background.  Although all of them have graduated from college, and have gone on to lead lives of their own, in the picture they are still teenagers, full of excitement and anticipation of all that life has to offer. 

Each time I look at this picture, I notice things I never noticed before.  For instance, there is another person, whom I don’t know and never will, walking down the street.  There are several shops advertising their wares and I know there are people in those shops.  The more I look at the photograph, the more I think and wonder about all the things going on that day, in those shops, and in the lives of the people captured on film.

Have you ever thought of the Bible as providing snapshots from the lives of the people who walked and talked with God, who saw His miracles and heard His voice?  They are moments frozen in time, providing us the opportunity to look deep within them, learning and seeing things we hadn’t seen before.  One such snapshot with several lessons is found in Exodus 14, when the Children of Israel camped before the Red Sea, positioned to witness the greatest miracle God would perform to that point in their history.  Let’s enter that photograph and see what God has for us to learn.

You have to think about this in order to see it.  The Isarelites are camped in front of the sea.  Behind them, coming at full gallop is Pharaoh and his entire army.  There is panic in the camp.  People are fraught with despair and anxiety as they see, hear, and feel the approaching chariots.  There is no place to go, no place to run, and no place to hide.  They are trapped, exposed, and extremely vulnerable.  Suddenly, the pillar of cloud disappears, only to reappear behind them.  No longer does God seem to be leading them, He has taken up station behind them.  Does this mean He is leading them back to the Egyptians?  What is going on?

At that moment, the pillar becomes a barrier, giving light to the Israelites and darkness to the Egyptians.  For the moment, Pharaoh’s attack is halted but they still have nowhere to go.  Suddenly, from nowhere, a strong wind begins to blow, a wind stronger than anything ever experienced.  It blows over them and around them, almost knocking them to the ground.  It is so strong that the sea responds by dividing in half from one side to the other, the way of escape is made known but it lies through the sea.  As they begin their crossing, they find that the ground below their feet is dry and all night long, as the wind continues to blow, they walk across on dry ground.
Can you see this picture in your mind?  Can you understand the great lesson God gives us here?  The lesson is that God is present and in control of every situation.  He knew Pharaoh’s position.  He knew the Israelites were caught between his army and the sea.  And God also knew how to provide a way of escape and rid Israel of her enemy, all at the same time.  While the Children of Israel stood there panicking, God was working, preparing the way of escape and the means of the enemy’s destruction.

Verse 21 simply says, “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land.”  Please notice the words, “all that night.”  It was dark, the wind was blowing, the fire of God was behind them, and it seemed the darkness would never end.  There was the darkness of night, the darkness of the sea, and the darkness of moving into the unknown, but God was there.  His presence was all around them during this trying time.  He was in the fire giving light, He was in the sea holding the water back, and He was in the wind, making the ground dry, maintaining this miracle until the last person was safely across.


Is it night where you are today?  Does it seem you are caught between impossible situations?  You can’t go backward, for that means losing ground, and the way ahead is hopelessly blocked.  You panic, become anxious, and grow more and more fearful.  Take courage!   God is there!  He knows all about your situation and He is in control.  The way out, the way to safety and to God’s promises lies before you, never behind you!  He is working in the middle of all this chaos to bring you through on dry ground?  Look around you and you will see Him working, holding your enemy back while the sea opens in front.  Do not be afraid to walk through it, the waters will hold and the ground will be dry.  No matter how long it takes, a few minutes, a few hours, a few days, or longer, God will never leave you.  Just as He was with the Israelites, He will be with you.  That’s right, all night long!!!!  Forward march!!

Thursday, May 11, 2017

New and Improved

M
y most recent visit to the grocery store proved to be quite a learning experience.  As I pushed my cart up and down the aisles, several items caught my attention.  Every shelf, it seemed, was dotted with little tags indicating a bargain buy or a new item.  On one aisle, in particular, almost every item had one of these small tags attached to it.

At first I was overwhelmed.  It was almost impossible to distinguish which tag went with which item.  In no way, I thought, could these many items be on sale.  Upon closer inspection, I discovered I was right.  While some of the tags indicated discounted items and others indicated new items to the store, there were several tags that had a very different message.  These tags carried the slogan “New and Improved!” 

As I continued to shop, I noticed several of these tags were affixed to some of my favorite items.  I finally arrived at the aisle where the cereals and breakfast foods were stocked.  A broad smile spread across my face as I noticed that not only did my favorite cereal have a tag indicating it was on sale, but the box also indicated it had a “new and improved” taste.  I was so excited I could hardly contain myself.  Not only was my cereal discounted, it was new and improved.  What more could a guy ask for?

I quickly finished my shopping, checked out at the register, loaded my car, and went home.  All I could think about was that box of cereal and its new taste.  My taste buds were already exploding with anticipation and excitement as I considered what the “new and improved” taste would be.

After unloading my groceries and putting everything away, I grabbed box of cereal, poured myself a large bowl, doused it with milk, and took my first bite.  Something wasn’t quite right.  The cereal did taste “new” but I didn’t consider the taste to be “improved.”  A few more mouthfuls proved my point and I finished the bowl with much less enthusiasm than when I began.  “New and Improved” the tag had promised.  Well, it was new, that much I had to agree with but it was most definitely not improved.

Every day people from all walks of life experience the very same thing.  However, instead of shopping for groceries, they are shopping for meaning and substance in life.  Everywhere, the shelves of life are full of ideas, beliefs, and promises.  Some of these notions are new, some are discounted, and others claim to be new and improved.  All of them look appealing, all of them come wrapped in flashy packaging, and all of them claim to offer what we are looking for.

Most people are reluctant to try something totally new, but they will select ideas and beliefs that are labeled “New and Improved.”  This is true of Christians as well.  And therein lies the great danger for us. We become frustrated with our personal walk with God, believing that if we don’t feel anything spiritual, then our relationship with God is not what it should be.  In order to correct this, we begin looking at the latest trends in worship, the latest releases from our favorite authors, and the most inspiring music we can find.  We get excited about all of these things but soon realize they do not satisfactorily meet our needs.  They are new but are they improved?


We need to understand that we serve a God who cannot be “improved upon.”  He is perfect and His ways are perfect.  In Malachi 3:6a, the prophet records God’s words concerning Himself: “I am the Lord, I change not!”  There you have it.  

In a world that is constantly changing, constantly adrift in the sea of new ideas, new belief systems, and new solutions to life’s problems, isn’t it nice to know that we serve a God who doesn’t change.  His love for us is constant and all His promises remain eternally true.  No matter what changes come our way, He is the one mainstay of life, the one anchor that holds everything in place, and the one who always protects us no matter what. New and improved!  I think I’ll stick with the tried and tested!  How about you?