On The Job Training!

 

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hen I was sixteen years old, my dad agreed to let me hold a job.  There were certain parameters I had to observe and as long as I remained within them, I could hold the job.  Daddy wanted to make sure I made school work a priority so I could only work on the weekends.  However, in the summer months, he said I could work as much as I wanted.  The trick was finding a place that matched my dad’s requirements for a job.

One of the local hospitals was advertising for a weekend receptionist/data entry clerk in the x-ray department.  I went for an interview and the supervisor offered me the job.  My main responsibilities were locating patient records and updating them whenever an examination was performed.  The job put my typing skills to good use.  In fact, that job greatly improved my typing and enhanced my computer skills as well.  I had acquired both of these in high school but instead of using them for a grade, I was using them to help people get well.  It was very rewarding to know my typing and computer skills were actually being used for a much higher purpose.

Before I was ready to run the front desk on my own, I had to undergo training.  All the training was done on the job because that was the best way to learn.  By working with patient records, I soon learned how to locate any file in the department quickly and efficiently.  The computer soon became a joy to use instead of something to be feared and the filing procedure became second nature to me.  Everything I learned in school helped me in my job but I never dreamed I would use these skills to potentially cure someone or save his life.

            Jesus knew the value of on-the-job training for his disciples.  In fact, when he calls Peter and Andrew away from their life’s work, on-the-job training is exactly what he had in mind.  Look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 4:19, “Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."  This one statement speaks volumes to us and it should encourage us in our daily walk with the Lord.

First, this statement tells us that Peter and Andrew were both fishermen by trade.  In fact, the Scriptures teach us just prior to this verse that these two brothers were indeed fishermen.  They know how to catch fish, how to choose the appropriate bait, where to find the best spots to fish, and they knew how to care for and repair their nets.  Yet when Jesus finds them, he begins teaching them where they are.  He uses the abilities they have but he applies them in a completely different way.  Notice that Jesus promises to make Peter and Andrew fishers of men.  The Greek text reads very interestingly here.  It says that Jesus will teach them to become fishers of men.

Although they knew a lot about catching fish, Andrew and Peter knew precious little about catching and winning souls for Jesus.  Nevertheless, Jesus took what they knew, and through careful teaching and hands-on instruction, he taught these two brothers to catch the souls of men.  Everything Peter and Andrew had learned through fishing was of use to them.  Now, however, they were to apply their knowledge of fishing to harvesting souls for the kingdom of God.

This is one of the most encouraging passages of Scripture I know.  No matter what my background, no matter what I have learned, God can use it for the furtherance of his kingdom.  Even when my attempts seem so feeble and so ineffective, God uses them to achieve his purposes.  God gives me on-the-job training every day because every day is different.

So, wherever you are today and whatever your assigned task, know that God is working with you and through you, teaching you how to win the souls of those around you.  Not all of us are called to the pulpit, or the mission field, or the Sunday school classroom.  But all of us are called to share our faith with those around us and to live a life that indicates the presence of Christ.  Remember, God called Andrew and Peter to on-the-job training and he taught them how to accomplish the goal he had in mind for them.  The same is true of you today.  God knows what he wants to do with you and your life.  All he needs is for you to trust him, to be willing to learn how to be an effective witness to all those around you today.  So, what are you waiting for?  Throw out those nets.  The fish are waiting!

Boy Am I Thirsty!

 

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ike most people, I love a good pizza, and the more toppings, the better.  I especially love pepperoni and, if I am not careful, will over indulge.  It’s just so good that unless I apply the culinary brakes, I will eat my fill and then some.

One weekend I my neighbors invited me to dinner and we had homemade pizza!  It had the works and I had to pace myself or I would have eaten the entire thing without any assistance.  The meal was great but later on that evening, I found myself making several trips to the kitchen searching for a glass of water.  For those pizza aficionados out there, you understand my search for water.  While pizza is a wonderful meal, it leaves you parched and thirsty.  It’s all that salt that makes your body crave water.

David was no stranger to thirst.  In fact, the Psalms speak about his longing for water to ease the burning dryness of his body.  However, David also addresses another type of thirst, a thirst of the soul for God.  Far beyond the need for water, David understands the soul’s need for God and the necessity of drinking from the fountain of His word.

In Psalm 63:1 David writes, “ You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”  Notice the words, earnestly, seek, thirst, longs, dry, parched, no water. All these are an indication of David’s inner condition. The dryness of the land around him only reflects the dryness and parchedness of his soul.

In order to slake his soul’s thirst he earnestly seeks the Lord with his whole being. He longs for God as a man in the desert longs for water.  Now what does that mean exactly?  In the desert, where water is scarce, where the land is parched, a man’s only thought would be for water. He needs that water for his very survival and without it he will die.

This is the very point David is making.  For the soul of man, the world is a parched and dry land.  There is no water that can slake his thirst. The world offers many wells, but they are dry or putrid. Drinking from them does not satisfy and leads to the death of the spirit.  Only God provides the water of life that we need. Only His well contains the cool water that will completely satisfy and remove the thirst and the longing of the soul.

On that Saturday evening, I had to return to the kitchen over and over again to drink water.  Every glass left me thirsty for more and even during the night I had to get up and drink water.  I kept thinking and wishing that only one glass would be enough to quench my thirst but I had to keep coming back.

When we drink from God’s fountain, one trip satisfies us.  The water He gives us goes straight to the soul and quenches and removes our deepest thirst.  So, I have one question for you this morning, Are you thirsty?  If so, open your Bible and take a long, cool drink.

Camping With God

 

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ne of the things I loved most about our house was its backyard.  We had several trees, a row of bushes that separated our property from one set of neighbors, a neat ditch that separated us from the neighbors behind us, and a common driveway creating the property line with the neighbors on the other side of our home.  There was enough mischief in the backyard for an inquisitive, growing boy like me.  Needless to say, I took full advantage of the opportunity and got into more than my share of trouble.

The kids in our neighborhood also liked our backyard.  We would gather there for games of hide-and-seek, or to play basketball on our goal, or to play baseball, or just to swing on the swings.  One time, my dad erected a huge tent for us and all of the neighborhood boys came over and we camped out. 

Being in that tent was a big adventure. Here we were out in the big outdoors, sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags, eating chips, watching television, and going into the house anytime we wanted to raid the pantry.  So much for braving the great outdoors!  We were really roughing it, weren’t we?  Indiana Jones had nothing on us!

I have often thought of that night long ago when six boys got to spend the night in that tent.  Although we were camped in the backyard, we knew that anything we needed was just a few steps away.  Mom and Dad left the backdoor unlocked so that we could have direct access to the house.

Camping was not a foreign concept to the peoples of the Old Testament.  In fact, several of the patriarchs lived in tents and moved from place to place, following God’s leading and direction.  But their needs were always met and God provided for them and for their families.  This is nowhere more evident than in the story of Abraham, especially when God promised to give him all the land he could see.

In Genesis 13, we find the account of Abraham and his nephew Lot.  They were travelling and living together in the land God promised to Abraham.  Their families and possessions soon grew too large and they were in conflict with each other.  So, Abraham gave Lot his choice of the land and told him to settle where he wanted.  After making his choice, Lot and Abraham separated.  It was at this time that God came to Abraham and promised to provide for him and his family.

Genesis 13:17 is a small verse; but packed inside is one of the most wonderful promises in all the Scriptures.  God makes the following promise to Abraham: “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”  Wow! What a promise and what a command!

Did you notice the first word of the verse?  Abraham was not to sit idly by, looking at the land.  Instead, he was to “arise” and “walk” in the land, to explore its length and width, to live in it, and to enjoy it.  As long as Abraham remained in the land, he remained in the center of God’s provision for his life.  Wherever he went, he was in God’s provision.  Whatever he saw, it was in God’s provision.  Everything he touched, smelled, ate, and did was in God’s provision.

Abraham’s life was full because he lived it completely upon the land that God provided.  God’s own words were for him to walk its “length and width.”  A few verses before, God told Abraham to look as far as he could see in all four directions and all the visible land would belong to him and to his descendants.

This story has wonderful implications and applications for us today.  God’s promise of provision remains. God never calls any of us to a place of service unless He first provides all that we need for the task at hand.  God never leaves us holding the bag and He never fails to meet every need we have. As long as we remain in the land, that is, in His provision, then everything we do, think, and touch comes directly from our Heavenly Father.  The secret is to remain in His provision, wherever that may lead.  Abraham lived in several places after arriving in the Promised Land.  However, wherever he pitched his tent, he was always living in God’s provision and so was his family.  God provided for them all.

That evening in the backyard of our home was a wonderful experience.  We stayed in the tent but we also had full access to the pantry!  Whatever my dad had in the house he gave to us to enjoy.  Our Heavenly Father is the same way.  As long as we seek to live in the center of His will and as long as we are content to live in His provision, we will always be satisfied and will always have all that we need.  So, when was the last time you slept in a tent?  Don’t you want to go camping with God?  I highly recommend it!

A Touch Makes All The Difference

 

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hen you’re sick, nothing makes you feel better than a touch from mama’s hand!  I remember so many times when I missed school due to an upset stomach, the flu, chickenpox, or whatever else was being shared at elementary school.  No matter the illness, if I didn’t fell well, mom always did the same thing; she felt my forehead and my cheeks to see if I had a fever.

On other occasions, from many a hospital bed, the touch of her hand has worked far better than any medication prescribed by my doctors.  I distinctly remember coming out of the dense fog provided by my anesthesiologist on several occasions.  Each time, mom’s hand on my forehead and on my cheeks let me know everything was all right.  The worst was over, the surgery was in the past and the healing had begun.  I am indebted to many physicians over the years and thankful for their medical expertise but none of them hold a candle to the curative power of mama’s hand.

The New Testament places great weight on the power of touch.  Who can forget the story of the woman with an issue of blood who had been sick for 12 years?  She simply told herself that the slightest touch of Jesus’ garment would make her whole, complete, and healed.   The Lord’s touch makes everything right. It tells us the worst is over It assures us in our hour of need and uncertainty, and his touch means that healing has begun.

This is nowhere more evident than in Matthew’s gospel.  In Matthew 14:35-36 we find this passage, “And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.”

This passage finds Jesus after his feeding of the five thousand.  He has walked on the water and crossed the Sea of Galilee.  As he comes down out of the boat, the people of the region recognize him and at once begin to spread the word of his arrival.  Yes, there was something about Jesus that caused people to come from near and far to see him and to listen to his words.  But on this particular day, the scripture tells us the people came for another reason—to be healed!

Notice the last seven words of this verse,” and all who touched him were healed.”  They came from near and far just to touch Jesus.  No doubt, these people had tried all types of cures, they had seen numerous physicians, and they had spent who knows how much money on all types of fad cures, systems, potions, ointments, you name it.  Yet, all they really needed was to touch Christ; to reach out their hands and touch the only one who could heal their disease, cleanse them, and make them whole.

With all the people crowding around him that day, it would have been impossible to get next to him for more than a few seconds.  People had to jockey for position and force their way through to him, yet when they did, when they touched him, when they reached their goal, they were healed.

It is my prayer for all of us that we would do as these people did.  When we make Jesus our goal, when we will not be denied or deterred from getting close to him, when we refuse to let our circumstances get in the way of our touching him, and when we make touching him our only aim, then we will receive God’s best.

No matter what our circumstances in life, what we need is a touch from the Master’s hand.  His touch brings strength, his touch brings peace, his touch brings assurance, and his touch brings hope to life.  Have you touched him today?  Remember, a touch makes all the difference!

I Appreciate You!

 

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hen I was a small boy, my father impressed upon me the importance of affirming and valuing people.  He taught me always to shake people's hands and to introduce myself to them.  Furthermore, at the end of any conversation, he taught me to shake their hands again and to tell them I appreciated them.  Now, as a little tike, the word "appreciate" posed a bit of a problem.  The word was clearly bigger than I was and I had no idea what it meant.  I only knew that it was important to my dad and that meant it was important to me.

Only later did I fully understand the great lesson he was impressing upon me at such a young age.   I was in college when it finally dawned on me exactly what my dad had taught me.  College, you know, is the time when parents suddenly become extremely intelligent and their IQ levels increase astronomically overnight. 

Appreciate means to "increase in value."  Wow!  What an incredible lesson he had given me so many years earlier.  Essentially, what my dad was telling me was that people increase in value as you tell them and show them you value them.  That means I actually play a role in increasing the value of another person.  Things, like cars, tend to depreciate, or lose their value, over time.  However, people increase in value over the course of a lifetime.

This lesson has a solid biblical foundation.  Today's scripture is short but it demonstrates in a very real way this idea of appreciating people.  2 Samuel 9:11b reads, "And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly with David, as though he were one of his own sons."  So, what does this have to do with valuing a person, you ask?  Well let's take a quick look at this man, named Mphibosheth.

Mephibosheth's father was Jonathan, the best friend of King David.  Before his death, Jonathan made a pact with David, asking David to care for his family.  When David became king, he asked if there were any of Jonathan's descendants still living.  He learned of Mephibosheth, who lived in Lo-debar, a town meaning "not a pasture."  David sent for Mephibosheth.  Mephibosheth was reluctant to see the king because he probably feared David would kill him and because had been dropped at a young age and was crippled in both feet.  Instead, David provided for Mephibosheth, bringing him to the palace to live, restoring all his lands, and having him dine at the king's table.

Here, we have a small snapshot of the plan of salvation.  Before Christ's death, we were the enemies of God.  We were imperfect, crippled, and ashamed to approach God's throne. Just as Mephibosheth was marred because of his relation to King Saul, we were marred because of our relationship to sin. Because of his relationship to Jonathan, King David looked favorably upon Mephibosheth and raised him from a lowly position to one of prominence.  He took a man who had no hope, who lived in a barren land, who was lame and ashamed, and raised him to a place equal with his own sons.  What a great representation of what God did for us.  Because of Christ, we sit in heavenly places now.  We have all of God's promises and resources at our disposal because we are joint heirs with Christ. What a wonderful, glorious truth this is!

So, today, as you go about your busy schedule, remember to tell someone you appreciate him or her.  Raise his or her value today and as you do, recall that God appreciates you.  Your value to him is beyond measure!!

You're Going To Be Sick!

 

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lake Carpenter, you’re going to be sick!  Get in this house right now and put on a jacket!”  If I had a dime for every time I heard these words, I would be a very rich man!  Wearing a jacket was never a priority with me.  As long as I had on a sweater or sweatshirt, I was just fine.  The cold wouldn’t bother me; after all, I was just going to be outside for a few minutes. 

My mom and dad, however, saw things just a bit differently.  Every time I left the house they would always ask if I had a coat or a jacket on.  Reluctantly, I would head to my closet, open the door, pull out a jacket, put it on and then leave.  Most of the time, I wouldn’t zip up the jacket, just to be a little rebellious and stubborn. 

I never understood why wearing a jacket was so important.  I felt good, I wasn’t’ sick, and it really wasn’t all that cold outside.  Despite my best efforts and my eloquent arguments, my parents always trumped my hand and insisted on my wearing a coat.  On those occasions when I “forgot” to wear my jacket and came down with a cold or the flu, my mom would then say the words no one likes to hear, “I told you so!”  There simply was no way to win unless I heeded my parents’ advice.  Which is exactly what I should have done!

The Apostle Paul wanted his readers in Ephesus to know that jackets and protective coverings are very important to our spiritual walk as well.  Paul understood that being in the world without spiritual protection leads to sickness in the soul and causes our relationship with God to suffer and grow cold.

In Ephesians 6:10-12, Paul admonishes his readers with these words, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

In this passage Paul uses the image of armor to stress the importance of protecting our journey in the world.  Please take note that the soul’s enemies, just like bacteria, viruses, and other germs, are not visible.  We do not have an enemy we can see, we have one who remains invisible and for whom we are no match without protection.  Paul, therefore, commands us to dress ourselves completely in God’s armor—not our own armor—so that we can stand against the constant attacks coming against us.

Wherever you are in your walk today I pray you are wearing your armor.  I trust before you left your home you dressed yourself in it, leaving no part of your life exposed to the enemy’s attack.  The world in which we live is filled with danger and if you are not protected and well covered, sin’s germs can and will creep into your life.

So, are you wearing a jacket today?  No matter how nice and inviting it looks on the outside, without your jacket—that is your armor—you are going to get sick.  Grab that jacket before you leave, and please remember to zip it up!  Have a great day!

What Do You Want?

 

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ne afternoon I arrived back in my dorm room to find an e-mail inviting me to attend a dinner in Irving, Texas, about twenty-five minutes away from the seminary.  I was to join a group of men who would serve the Boy Scouts of America as chaplains at Philmont Scout Ranch that summer. Now, being a seminarian, and not having many opportunities to attend fancy restaurants, I immediately notified the BSA to expect me for dinner!

I arrived a few minutes early and the others were not far behind.  After being seated, we were given menus and told to order whatever we wanted. I found it difficult to believe I could have whatever I wanted and immediately began to base my decisions on price. You know how it is, you make a decision but you are worried what others will think if you order a certain item. So, after much debate, I decided on my dinner entrée and promptly ordered. 

Why is it we spend an enormous amount of time talking or dreaming about what we would do if we could have whatever we wanted; but when faced with an opportunity to do so, we have a very difficult time making that decision?  Everywhere we are surrounded by get rich-quick schemes, sweepstakes entries, and lotto competitions. All of these things promise the possibility of fulfilling our wildest dreams but none of them offers true happiness.  Could it be that we really don't know what we want?

The book of 1 Kings provides great insight into the life of a man who literally could have had anything he wanted.  King Solomon is noted for his riches and his wisdom.  However, a close observation of how he obtained both of these provides a great lesson in how we should approach God when making requests of him.

1 Kings 3:5-14 records Solomon's response to God's question. Solomon's father, King David, has died and the responsibility of governing Israel has fallen to Solomon. In verse 5 God says to Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." Wow!  Solomon could have anything his heart desired, and therein lies the great secret.  Solomon had rank and standing, after all he was the king.  He also had wealth and power. He could have asked to increase any or all of these things but instead, he makes a very uncommon request for someone in this position. Verse 7 records his answer, "Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties…So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong."

What was the desire of Solomon's heart?  It was to please God.  Notice that Solomon prayed, not out of his want, but out of his need.  This is the secret of effective prayer.  He recognized that the task to which God had called him was too big for him alone.  In addition, Solomon recognized that the people he had been called to govern were not his people but God's people.  This is what we, as God's people must do today.  We must realize that we are children, that we don't know right from wrong, that we can't effectively govern our lives without God's help.  Solomon asked for wisdom, not for himself, but for the task he had been assigned.

Let us follow his lead.  Whatever God has called you to do and wherever he has placed you, seek his guidance.  Ask for wisdom to know his will so that you may bring glory to him and be a blessing to the people you serve.  It has been said that when we get what we want, we rarely have what we need; but when we get what we need, we have what we want.  This is Solomon's testimony and because he asked of God wisely, he received the full extent of God's blessings.  So, what are you asking God for today?

"I Don't Haul Gas!"

 

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he motor pool at Philmont Scout Ranch is one of the busiest and most popular places during the summer season.  The doors open early in the morning and the sound of hammers, air compressors, and hydraulic lifts can be heard almost non-stop.  Inside, Jim Johnson and his team maintain and repair the fleet of vehicles used by Philmont’s staff.

Each summer as the staff assembles, Jim explains to them the “do’s” and “don’ts” of driving at Philmont.  Jim comes to this meeting equipped with a wonderful slide show that demonstrates just how dangerous mountain driving can be.  All of the accidents shown demonstrate how drivers failed to obey even the simplest of Philmont’s rules.

Jim does a wonderful job of explaining the purpose of the motor pool.  He wants to make sure vehicles are maintained in top condition and he also wants to assure the drivers that should they have difficulty, he and his staff will come to their assistance.  However, there is one thing Jim won’t do and he is straightforward about it.  Philmont provides the gasoline necessary to run the fleet and every one has 24-hour access to the pumps.  So Jim pulls no punches when he says, “I don’t haul gas!”  That is our responsibility, not Jim’s.

In our Christian lives as well, we need to be reminded that God does not and will not do everything for us.  He expects us to do what we can for ourselves and what we can’t do, He willingly and lovingly supplies.  God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations and dwell in his own land, but Abraham had to walk!  God provided the Children of Israel with manna on a daily basis but they had to gather it.  God brought the people into the Promised Land but they had to conquer it.

Christians today run the risk of falling into the trap that is so prevalent in some of today’s preaching, namely that once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our savior, life becomes easy and problem-free.  We believe that if we offer up a prayer to God, making a request for something we want, that God will simply open up the heavens and send it to us or perhaps have it delivered in the mail.  What a narrow and childish view of God we have.  God is not a warehouse supervisor waiting to meet our every whim.  He is the sovereign creator of the universe, the Lord of all there is.

In Matthew 6:11, Jesus taught his disciples to pray.  In the middle of that prayer, he makes the following statement, “Give us today our daily bread.”  Jesus reminds us that our daily bread, our sustenance comes from God’s hand.  God provides what we need but how we use it speaks volumes about how we view God and our relationship with Him.  God is always near and he always supplies our needs but God will not do for us what we can do for ourselves.  Keeping our spiritual tanks filled by spending time in his word and in prayer is our responsibility.  God will not haul gas to us at every twist and turn, nor should he.  He has provided everything we need, but we must take the initiative and keep our tanks full.

Wherever you are in your walk with the Lord today, I trust you are in constant contact with him.  His word is filled with all the fuel we need to live life on a daily basis and be pleasing to him.  How full is your spiritual tank today?  Are you in need of a refill?

Leave the Light On

 

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 grew up in a small town nestled in the Piedmont of Western North Carolina.  Our house on Main Street was the place I called home, and the place where I learned so many of life’s important lessons.  At the time, I didn’t know how important they were nor did I understand the role they would play later in life.  But now, as I look back on those years and on that house, so many sights, sounds, and experiences come sharply into focus and I see my childhood in such a different light.

Our home was wonderful. I always felt secure and safe within its walls, especially at night when I had climbed into bed and daddy closed the front door.  I can still hear that door and remember how deeply I slept, confident that door would remained closed and that mom and dad would take care of me.

Before going to bed themselves, mom and dad would check in on each of us and they made sure that the bathroom light was always on.  Although the sleeping arrangements changed for me as my brother and sister came along, that light in the bathroom never changed. It burned each night, standing watch over us and no matter how dark it grew outside my window, the light from our bathroom reassured me that everything was and would be all right until sunrise the next morning.

The gospel of John has much to say about light and darkness. He mentions the word light no fewer than 15 times in his gospel. It is here that Jesus says of himself that he is the “light of the world” and John begins with the notion of a “light shining in darkness” that the “darkness can never put out.”  What a wonderful promise this is because, no matter our age, we are all afraid of the dark.

In John 12:46 Jesus says, “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” Please notice the two truths that are in this statement. First and foremost, Jesus makes it very clear that the world is a dark place.  We need look no further than the front page of our newspapers to understand this truth.  But Jesus does not leave us in the dark! He says that his purpose in coming was to be the light to dispel the darkness so we would no longer have to live in fear or in the darkness of sin.

Back on Main Street, if I woke up during the night because of a bad dream, or if I needed a drink of water, or if I just thought there was something lurking in the corner of my room, the bathroom light provided comfort, reassuring me that all was well, that nothing in the darkness would harm me and, that if I needed to get out of bed, I would be able to see where I was going.  What a wonderful picture this is of Jesus.  He watches over us constantly, protecting us from things we can’t see, providing light so we won’t stumble, and making sure that when we feel alone and afraid, that we see and feel the comfort of his presence.  Do you know the security of having Jesus as your nightlight today? He will always leave the light on for you!

Live and in Concert

 

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ighty-eight keys.  That's the number of individual keys on a piano, eighty-eight, no more, no less.  In November of 2001, I realized one of my lifelong goals.  For years I had wanted to hear the Vienna Boys’ Choir in concert, however, short of hopping a plane to Vienna, I seriously doubted I'd ever have the chance.  Nevertheless, the choir came to Fort Worth for one performance and I was fortunate enough to get tickets.

The concert was wonderful and met all of my expectations.  I was amazed at the musical abilities of these boys who ranged in age from 10 to 14 years.  They sang all types of music from contemporary pieces to a Gregorian chant from the 14th century.  Their lyrics also represented at least 5 different languages, all sung without hesitation or difficulty.

One of their final numbers represented songs from four different countries.  In the space of 15 minutes, we heard music from China, Argentina, Austria, and South Africa.  Each of these pieces had a distinct sound, rhythm, and style that separated it from all the other pieces performed that evening.  Yet, all of this music was composed from only eighty-eight notes.  The composer, whether he was Chinese, Austrian, American, or French produced his work using different notes.  However, when these pieces were played on a piano or sung by a choir, they always sounded the same.  A French composition played by a Chinese pianist will sound the same even if the piano player speaks no French.  The music, the notes written on the page, carries the same tune no matter the player or the instrument used.

As I sat there and listened to these wonderful pieces from around the world, the thought struck me that God's word is just like the music I was listening to.  The Bible has been translated into most of the world's languages.  In the library at Southwestern, there are copies of God's word in many languages.  Occasionally as a student, I would stroll through the section of Bibles, pick one off the shelf, and just look at the words that are there.  Sometimes I would look at a copy in Spanish, sometimes in German, and sometimes it would be in French.  In addition, students from Korea, some from China, and some from many African countries studied at the seminary.  Their copies of the Bible, written in different languages using different letters or characters from different writing systems, all communicated one message!

God's word does not change!!!  The message is always the same no matter what language it takes.  When someone in Kenya reads the scriptures, the message they receive is the same as the person reading the Scriptures in Brazil or in South Korea.  Although the linguistic keyboards change, the music never does.  God's word, His thoughts, and His love are communicated to us without error or diminishment of meaning. 

Isaiah 55:11 reveals why this is true.  The prophet writes, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please,  And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."  I like the beginning of the second sentence where God says His word will not come back to Him empty.  It will and does accomplish His purpose, whether in English, Thai, or Swahili.  Don't you find that amazing?  Don't you find that simply wonderful?  Don’t you find that to be just like God?

As I listened intently to the music, its message spoke to me.  I was uplifted and inspired by pieces of music written several hundred years before my birth.  If a piece of music, written by someone hundreds of years ago still inspires us, how much more inspiration is there to be found in the word of the living God?  We are His instruments, used for His purpose, sharing His love to the world around us.

What does the music of your life sound like today?  Is it inspiring someone?  Are the strains of God's love and mercy flowing from your life so that those around you can hear them?  Music was written to be played and shared and so was God's word.  So, pick up your instrument and play!

Under The Blankets

 

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he blanket on my bed is one of my best friends.  Now it may seem odd to you that I have befriended a blanket but we have a very close relationship!  Each night I stretch the blanket over my bed and hop it.  The weight of that blanket reassures me and gives me a wonderful feeling of security and protection.

Whether in January or in September, the blanket faithfully covers me. It keeps me warm and guards against anything that would disturb my sleep.  When I go to sleep the blanket is there and when I awake in the morning, it is still spread across the bread standing guard over me.  The faithfulness of that blanket has shielded me through many nights and I know it will do so in the many nights yet to come.

David, the shepherd king of Israel, fully understood the protective comfort of being shielded by God.  In Psalm 91:4 he penned the following words, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Can’t you just feel the comfort, warmth, and security of God’s wings in David’s words?  Throughout his life and trials be it in front of Goliath, being chased by Saul, or facing down his enemies, David knew the comfort and assurance found under the protection of God’s wings.

He says very plainly that God’s wings provide refuge and that God’s faithfulness, not ours, will be our shield.  God is always faithful. His eyes are always on us and he fights for us even when we are unaware of the enemy’s presence.

Are you living under the covers today?  Do you know the wonderful privilege of being gathered under God’s wings?  Do you feel the warmth and security of his presence in all of life’s situations?  If not, it is my prayer that today you would ask God to come into your heart, to be the king of your life, and to surround you with his wings today.  There is nothing like being under the cover of God’s wings.  Won’t you ask him to cover you today?

Left Lane Closed

 

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he construction crews continued to work next door to my apartment complex. For the past year, they had been building a new community of townhouses that would be available to the public.  The progress of this team had been staggering.  Almost overnight, the vacant lot adjacent to our complex had grown into a beautiful, vibrant community filled with beautiful new homes.

At times, it had been a challenge negotiating around heavy equipment including graders, bulldozers, steam shovels, and the scores of workers charged with the responsibility of constructing these homes.  For the most part, everything had gone smoothly with very few interruptions to the flow of traffic on our street.  But one day, that changed just a little bit.

As the crew completed the construction, they had been busy reshaping the road outside my complex.  This was no small task as were six lanes of traffic which constantly used this road.  The project involved creating a turning lane so that westbound traffic could make a left-hand turn into the complex.  In order to do this, the island separating the westbound traffic from the eastbound traffic had been isolated and was being reconfigured.  This meant that the left-hand lane on the westbound side was closed.  Signs in the road gave ample warning that the left lane was closed but traffic still piled up.  I had to make a left-hand turn myself just after the construction site so you can imagine how fun it was to maneuver from left to right and back to left just to get home.  I was ready for the Indy 500.

The project was completed by the following week and things once again returned to their normal, hectic pace.  But the sign indicating the left lane was closed had given me great cause for reflection about the road signs we often encounter along life’s highway and the changes we have to make in order to arrive safely home.  The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, understood road construction; but he also knew it wouldn’t last forever.

In Isaiah 40:4 we read these words, “Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and will made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.” As is usually the case in Israel’s history, she found herself in the middle of a construction zone.  The direct lane of traffic had been cut off, barriers had been erected, and the long process of road construction had begun.  Although God had promised a Messiah would come, there was much construction necessary to prepare the way for his arrival.  Isaiah was in the middle of this construction but he knew it wouldn’t last forever.

Notice that his words look forward to the coming of God’s chosen Messiah, Jesus Christ. His speech is full of optimism and expectation.  The difficulties Isaiah encountered could not deter him from looking ahead to the day when the road work would be completed and God’s promise would be fulfilled.  Every pot hole, every dip in the road, and every low place would be raised and filled and all the rough places would be smoothed over.  In God’s perfect timing, Isaiah knew the road would be completed and traffic would flow unhindered.

Are you in a similar place as Isaiah?  Do you see signs telling you that the left lane is closed, forcing you to alter your course and switch lanes?  Does it seem the construction will never end and that the road conditions grow worse and worse instead of improving?  Take heart, trust the Lord, and know that the road construction is necessary so your journey can continue unhindered at a later time.  The work God does today will be invaluable to you in the future.  New construction always requires some demolition but in the end the new additions are vastly superior to the current situation.  If the left lane is closed, just change lanes and keep going.  The project will be finished and much sooner than you think!

Just A Little More Milk

 

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acaroni and cheese is one of my all time favorite things to eat, especially if it’s homemade.  It’s not that the store-bought brands aren’t good, they are just lacking that little something extra that makes homemade food taste so much better.

Each December, I return to North Carolina to spend the Christmas holidays with my family.  Now, all of you know what a trip home for the holidays means, right?  You guessed it, mom’s homemade cooking and plenty of it!  Of course, I am under considerable pressure to eat everything that is set before me!  I wouldn’t want mom to be disappointed now, would I?

Home-cooked meals are always a wonderful experience. As I said in the opening sentence, homemade macaroni and cheese is one of my all-time favorites and I love to watch as mom prepares the ingredients for this dish. She cooks the pasta, drains it, and then places all of the ingredients into a casserole dish.  The recipe requires a certain amount of liquid before being placed into the oven to bake.  After adding the correct measure of milk, mom usually makes the following statement, “I’m going to add just a little more milk.  It gives it a better texture and a better flavor!”

She’s right!  When the dish comes out of the oven, piping hot and ready for our table, the taste surpasses anything I could make or purchase off the shelf.  So what is the difference?  It isn’t the pasta, it isn’t the cheese, and it isn’t the milk.  All of these I could measure and add myself.  What makes the dish unique and beyond compare is that little extra something mom adds.  That little extra something represents all the experience and knowledge those years of preparing meals has given her.  It is a part of her, a part of who she is that she places into the dish that sets it apart from any other.

The same can be said about those of us who are Christians.  What is it that sets us apart from the rest of the world?  What is it within us that causes us, or should cause us, to be different and to live lives that are distinct from those around us?  I would like to suggest it is a little extra something, namely the presence of God’s son, Jesus Christ, living within us, that distinguishes his followers from those who are not believers in Christ.

The extra measure of milk mother adds to her casserole is not in the recipe.  It isn’t written in the instructions, and it isn’t suggested in footnote at the bottom of the page. In fact, nothing about the recipe even hints that something extra needs to be added.  However, without that little extra something, the casserole is just that, a casserole, and not one of mom’s great homemade dishes.  It’s just like every other casserole made from that recipe!

Now, think about that for just a second and apply it to your life today.  As a believer in Jesus Christ, God has placed within you a little extra something.  He has placed a part of himself within us, a part not on the recipe, a part we were not looking for, but a part that makes all the difference in the world.  Without Christ, we are just like store-bought items off the shelf. We look alike, we sound alike, and we taste alike.  But there is something missing!  We need that little extra measure in our lives to make us what God knows we can be.  God has the necessary ingredient and he knows just how much to add.

In Ephesians 3:20, Paul tells us about God’s measurements, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Did you catch that?  Did you see how large God’s mixing bowl and his measuring cup is?  They are immeasurable!  That little extra something isn’t so little.  It represents the full extent of God’s love and grace toward us.  

When God gave his son to shed his blood for our sins, God opened up the storehouse of love, mercy, and grace and dumped the whole thing in!!!  So great is his love for us that he is not content to leave us as we are. Instead, when we become his followers and his children, God places in us that little something extra that makes our lives wonderful and unique.  That little extra something is the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, his son and our Lord. Do you have that little something extra in your life today?

Recharge Your Batteries

 

B atteries!  The world runs on batteries!  If you don’t believe me, just look at the watch on your wrist, the radio on your desk, the smoke detector on the wall, the cell phone in your purse or pocket, and your car in the parking lot!  They all have one thing in common—they require batteries to function.  No matter how sophisticated we become, no matter how powerful new sources of energy prove to be, it seems we find ourselves increasingly dependent on the lowly battery.  What would we do without these little guys?

When I was growing up, I remember finding batteries all over the house. We stored them in drawers and there were several under my bed as well as in my closet.  The problem, however, was that when I needed a battery, the ones I found were no longer useful.  They had lost their charge through proper use, overuse, or no use.  Whenever I needed a battery for a new gadget, a new toy, or for something more useful, I usually had to go out and purchase new batteries, or better yet, tell mom I needed them. This usually meant a trip to the store, a wait in line, and being stopped by every traffic light between our house and the nearest convenience store.

But all that changed when my dad bought a battery charger with rechargeable batteries.  I remember him bringing the charger into our kitchen, plugging it in, and filling it with these special batteries.  The instructions were very clear.  The batteries had to be left alone for several hours while electricity traveled through the terminals to be stored inside.  I was fascinated by this process and walked by several times to see if the batteries were “done.” 

During this time of recharging, the batteries didn’t look as if anything was happening to them.  They simply lay there in their charger, soaking up the power being poured into them.  Finally, after several hours, the indicator panel informed me that the batteries were fully charged. I took them out and put them into one of my toys and, presto! The energy stored in them provided the necessary power the toy needed in order to work properly.  The hours of waiting during the recharging process paid off.

Jesus knew the importance and the necessity for recharging his disciples.  Long before the advent of the battery, long before the discovery of electricity, and long before the invention of portable electric devices, Jesus taught his disciples the need for rest.  He knew there must be time of inactivity and a time of drawing from God, and a time of renewing their strength.  Without this time, Jesus knew that burnout and ineffectiveness were inevitable.

On several occasions the Scriptures tell us that Jesus withdrew by himself to spend time in prayer, talking to God.  Jesus knew that in order to minister and demonstrate God’s love, he would have to spend time in God’s presence, recharging his mind and spirit for the work ahead.  Likewise, the disciples also needed times of spiritual renewal and refreshment and Jesus made sure they received them.

In Mark 6:31, Jesus tells his disciples, “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” This takes place just before the feeding of the five thousand.  The disciples had been following Jesus and working with the press of people all around them.  They hadn’t even had time to eat and they were physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted.  Ever been there?  So Jesus took them to a quiet place to rest, to relax, and to refresh their souls and their bodies.

So many times in our day-to-day-struggle on life’s road, we find ourselves completely worn out.  We are so tired and irritable that the witness we give for Christ seems to do more harm than good.  We don’t feel like being Christians, we don’t feel like praying, and quiet time is completely out of the question.  God fully understands these moments in our lives. He doesn’t get angry with us, he doesn’t figure out ways to make our lives more unbearable, and he doesn’t get offended when we are like this.  Instead, he makes a place for us—a place off the beaten path—where we can rest, sleep, and recharge our batteries.  Psalm 23 provides a wonderful picture of this as God makes a place in green pastures and beside still waters for the purpose of restoring our souls.

Today, you may be completely on the edge and at your wits’ end.  If this is so, take heart.  It may be that you will soon hear the voice of God calling you to rest.  When you hear that call, obey it.  Rest has its purpose and its place in the Christian walk.  It is the time when God does some of his best and most important work on us because that is the time we are still. Is it time for you to recharge your batteries today?