Follow The Recipe

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ne evening, I invited a couple over for dinner.  It is so much fun now that I have a kitchen where I can cook and bake and make my own mess!  Being domestic is great and I am enjoying it very much!  At any rate, I was wondering what to prepare.  I have very few cookbooks and the recipes that I use frequently I have memorized.  So, naturally, when I needed an idea for something new I went to the best resource I know for recipes, mom!

I called her up and told her what I was planning to prepare. I wanted to know if she could send me a few recipes via email (I just love technology) and she happily agreed.  In just a few minutes, the recipes I asked for were sitting in my mailbox, ready for the making.  I perused the list of ingredients and re-familiarized myself with the procedures.  My first reaction with one of the recipes was one of doubt.  It appeared as if there were too much of a particular ingredient and not enough of another.  But that is what the recipe called for and mom always said, follow the recipe!

I made my list, went to the grocery store, bought all the required items, then came back home to begin assembling my meal.  I put all the groceries away, leaving out all the ingredients I would need to make my salad, my main dish, and my dessert.  I got the recipes from the computer and began making the meal ahead of time so it would be less stressful when it came time to set the table and entertain my guests.

I followed the recipes exactly.  Mixing where it said to mix, stirring where it said to stir, and cooking when it said to cook. I added the ingredients in the exact proportions the recipe called for.  Even when I felt that the measurements might not be quite right, I went against what I felt and followed the instructions.  The result was amazing!  Everything turned out just as it was supposed to and all the food tasted just right.  Now, it wasn’t as good as mom’s, but things never are.  However, her recipe gave me the correct measurements and the proper instructions for making all the things I needed for my meal.  I had to trust the recipe and its author despite my feelings or questions.

Would it surprise you to discover that God has given us the exact recipe for a happy and fulfilling life?  Would you be shocked to know that if you follow His recipe, you will find your life becomes a wonderful blessing to others and a source of praise and glory to God?  To the Christian, none of this should be new; yet, our lives and our relationships with God are not always what we want or what they should be.

In Deuteronomy 6:5, we have God’s recipe for living the kind of life he wants all his children to enjoy.  “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”  As with all recipes, the measurements of the ingredients are all important.  Too little of this or not enough of that leaves the dish incomplete and unsatisfying.  God’s ingredients are heart, soul, and strength.  But pay careful attention to their measurements. God does not ask for a pinch of heart or a dash of soul.  No!  He asks for all of it.  Essentially God says to us, “Empty the cupboard.  I want and require everything you’ve got.  Hold nothing back!  Do not skimp on the ingredients!”

When asked to give the greatest commandment, Jesus, himself, quoted this very scripture.  God’s recipe always calls for us to give our all.  Even when we don’t feel like it, even when we think that all our heart is too risky, even when we think all our strength is too much, and even when we think that all our soul is just too high a price.  Despite all these “feelings” of ours, God’s command rings clear:  “Follow the recipe!” 

How long has it been since you spent time with God in your kitchen?  How long has it been since you asked Him to give you his recipe for living a life pleasing to him?  You have the ingredients but are you measuring them out correctly? Are you following the recipe?

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!

Calling Home

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ne Saturday morning around 6:30 a.m. Texas time, I picked up my cell phone and dialed my parents’ number.  My mom answered the phone on the second ring she wanted to know if everything was all right with me.  You see, it had at least two days since we’d spoken and when that happens it usually means I’m too busy.  Not to be outdone, my dad picked up one of the extensions and chimed in with a cheery good morning. 

As I balanced the phone in one hand, I attempted to fry sausage patties with the other.  This proved to be much more difficult than I anticipated but the sausage survived with no burns or blemishes to speak of.  We continued to speak for a few minutes and after catching up on all the news, we said our goodbyes and I finished cooking breakfast.

As I lay the phone on the counter, I couldn’t help but thinking how fortunate I am to be able to speak with my parents on almost a daily basis.  I say almost, because sometimes I get too busy and the call just doesn’t get made!  Now, I don’t call because I have to and I don’t call because I can’t make my own decisions or live my own life.  I call because I want to and because I know that keeping in touch with home is always a good idea.  Always!

David knew the importance of calling on the Lord and he understood that we need to have constant and consistent contact with him.  Without this contact, we are left wandering in the dark and wondering what God is doing in our lives.  That’s why David penned the following words in Psalm 145:18: “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth”

Who better than David, a man after God’s own heart, to remind us of how near God is to those who love him, to those who have accepted his gift of salvation, and to those who know him as their Heavenly Father.  Two words stand out from this passage today.  The first word is near.  God is near to us, he is as close as our thoughts, as close as our pulse, and he watches over us and cares for us from second to second.  It was David who also wrote in Psalm 139 that there is nowhere we can go to escape God’s presence. Yes, God is very close.

The second word from this verse also happens to be the last one in the sentence.  Notice that David says we must call upon the Lord in truth, meaning with all sincerity, with all we are, from the depths of our hearts.  Only when we seek God in this manner, only when we worship him in spirit and in truth, only when we earnestly seek his face, will he answer us.  This does not mean God plays games with us; on the contrary, it means we must not play games with him.  We must be earnest and determined in our desire to call upon the Lord and we must realize that it is no small thing to call upon his name.  It is the most important thing we can do!

On that Saturday morning, my parents spoke to me because I am their son.  The relationship we share is special and cannot be erased or altered by time or distance.  The only thing that can change it is if I don’t pick up the phone and call home.  When I refuse to do that, our relationship suffers because there is no sharing between us.  Is it any different with the Lord?  I think not.  If it is important to maintain contact with our families, how much more important is it to maintain contact with our Heavenly Father?  How long has it been since you called home and talked with your Heavenly Father?  Don’t you think you should make that call today?

That Little Something Extra

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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.

A few years ago, during my annual pilgrimage to North Carolina to spend the Christmas holidays with my family, I had the most wonderful experience.  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?

My first home-cooked meal was a wonderful lunch that included homemade macaroni and cheese. I watched as mom prepared the ingredients for the macaroni. She made the pasta, drained it, and then placed all of the ingredients into a casserole dish.  The recipe required a certain amount of liquid before being placed into the oven to bake.  After adding the correct measure of milk, mom made the following statement, “I’m going to add just a little more milk.  It gives it a better texture and a better flavor!”

She was right.  When the dish came out of the oven, piping hot and ready for our table, the taste surpassed anything I could have made or purchased off the shelf.  So what was the difference?  It wasn’t the pasta, it wasn’t the cheese, and it wasn’t the milk.  All of these I could have measured and added myself.  What made the dish unique and beyond compare was that little extra something mom added to the dish.  That little extra something represented all the experience and knowledge that years of preparing meals had given her.  It was a part of her, a part of who she was that she placed into the dish that set 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 added to her casserole was not in the recipe.  It wasn’t written in the instructions; it wasn’t suggested in footnote at the bottom of the page. In fact, nothing about the recipe even hinted that something extra needed to be added.  However, without that little extra something, the casserole would have been just that, a casserole and not one of mom’s great homemade dishes.  It would have been 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 us 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 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 are?  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 die for our sins, He opened up the storehouse of His 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.

Does your life have wonderful flavor and texture?  Is your life different from those around you?  Does your life have a different aroma and taste from those who are not believers in Jesus Christ?  Do you have that little something extra in your life today?

Esse Quam Videri

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he year, 1973. The place, South Elementary School.  The teacher, Mrs. Sarah Beam. The mission, create a notebook containing information on the fifty US states.  Opportunity to reject the mission, non-existent!  And so my adventure in the fourth grade began.  Every kid in my class was offered the same deal, do a notebook or else.  To my knowledge, no one ever explored the “or else” option.  Mrs. Beam assigned the project at the beginning of the school year and gave us deadlines for the different sections.  The rest was up to us. Oh yeah, and our parents!

My mom and dad were very instrumental in this project.  Mom and dad made the cover for the notebook using wood, hinges, and brackets. It really was quite pretty with its red, white, and blue paint, the decals of the U.S. Constitution, and the added touch of a small feather indicating the document had just been signed.  The cover, however, was nothing without the information to go inside and this is where mom and I spent hour upon hour writing the reports on the various states.

For each state, we would make a fact sheet.  This sheet contained basic information concerning population, location, major products, the capital, the year it entered the union, its nickname, and the state’s motto.  Mom would read the information from the encyclopedia and I would write what she dictated.  We did this for each state. Some states had long entries and some were less involved but it was a great learning experience, even though I thought differently at the time.  I wanted to watch Gilligan’s Island, not talk about the soybean products of Midwestern states!

Finally, we came to my home state, North Carolina.  I wrote the now familiar information on the pages.  Raleigh was our capital, our population was a few million people, we produced tobacco, furniture, etc. and our motto was “Esse Quam Videri” Latin for to be, rather than to seem.  At the time, I didn’t think much about our state’s motto.  I simply wanted to finish the entry and watch Gilligan’s Island.  I was so glad the motto was short and to the point.  I really wanted to be in front of the television rather than seem interested in my project. 

Jesus touches on the message of being rather than seeming in the twenty-third chapter of Matthew’s gospel.  In this chapter, Jesus addresses the Pharisees and warns his listeners against duplicating their religious lifestyle and piety.  In Matthew 23:2-3 our Lord says, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”  Notice the charge against the Pharisees.  They do not practice what they preach. In other words, they seem to be one thing but in fact are something else.  This is what we call being a hypocrite and that is just how Jesus addresses them in the remaining verses of the chapter.

How does this apply to us today?  It applies directly!  One of the consistent criticisms against Christians is that we claim to be followers of Jesus but live like everyone else.  We are willing to tell others what they should do or more likely what they should not do yet we do not practice what we preach.  Jesus accused the Pharisees of working very hard to gain one single convert and then living a life completely opposite to their profession of faith.  He accused them of wanting to bask in the limelight and to receive recognition for their religious service and devotion and he accused them of worshiping the Temple more than the one who lived therein.

 

Lest we be too hard on the Pharisees, we need to take a good look at ourselves today.  Everywhere we are erecting huge buildings with tall steeples, air conditioned auditoriums, and state-of-the-art systems.  We can tell someone the square footage and the price of the building as if they were indicators of the church’s effectiveness.

On a more personal note, we attend church each time the doors are open, we serve on all the committees, and we raise money and collect items for different projects in which the church is involved.  We pat ourselves on the back and enjoy the recognition of our peers for the service we have rendered.  But do these activities make us effective Christians?  That is the question, isn’t it?  That’s where the rubber meets the road, doesn’t it?  Jesus has called us not to “seem” Christ-like but to “be” Christ-like and there is a world of difference in these two small words.  In fact, they are completely opposite!

Today, it is my prayer for us all that we are being Christian instead of seeming Christian.  Jesus had one word for the Pharisees because they did not practice what they preached. That word was hypocrite and he had no tolerance for hypocrisy.  Where are we today?  Are we being or seeming? Esse Quam Videri!

But I Cant See Where I'm Going

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t is one thing to know what the Scriptures say; it is another to see them lived out in the lives of people around us.  One particular afternoon brought one of those rare occasions when the meaning of the Bible was brought into sharp focus.

I exited the building in the late afternoon as I do every time I leave the university.  Our building is about a ten-minute walk from the parking lot and there is always a sea of people scurrying around campus on their way to class, from class, headed for the library, or going to the ever-popular students’ center with its cafes, recreational rooms, and TV lounges.  That afternoon was a little unusual, however, on at least two fronts.  One, there didn’t seem to be that many people clogging up the sidewalks; and two I encountered a gentleman who taught me a great lesson even though we didn’t speak and he wasn’t aware I saw him.

This man was standing on the corner, looking at the traffic whizzing past him.  There are always cars on campus and this afternoon, despite the smaller number of walkers, was no different.  I really took no notice of this man standing guard over his corner until I walked closer to him.  It was then I noticed the large cane he held in his hands.  The man took no notice of my approach because he couldn’t—he was blind!

I crossed the street on my way to the car but couldn’t shake the image of the man with the cane.  He lives his entire life in darkness, never seeing the beauty of the sunrise, not knowing the trees change color during this time of the year, and being unable to see the smiling faces of people walking on campus.  Yet, there he stood on a corner waiting for traffic to die down so he could cross the street and continue on his way.

Every step he takes is a step of faith.  His faith rests in his senses, in his cane, and in the knowledge that as long as he has those two things, he can and will continue to move forward in life.  Not a bad lesson in faith is it?  We Christians talk about faith a lot but when it comes right down to it, we want to see where it is we are going.  We want God to draw us a map for the road ahead and to label carefully and clearly where all the pitfalls, hardships, potholes, and rough places will be.  As long as we can see what’s coming we have no problem talking about how we walk by faith. 

But the type of walk with the map I’ve just described is a walk by sight not by faith.  In 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul has this to say about our walk with the Lord, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  Small verse, big message!  In these eight words, Paul makes it clear that nothing about our walk with the Lord involves a detailed map. In fact, Paul never mentions “seeing” anything at all.  He understands that as long as we “see” what lies ahead, we put faith in our own abilities and that always leads to trouble.

The cold hard fact of the matter is that we don’t have an option when it comes to walking with God.  We either believe and trust that God is who he says he is and that he in fact will do what he says he will do or we don’t believe that—it’s that simple!  The man on the corner crossed the street, trusting in his cane and his heightened sense of hearing to safely land him on the other side.  The cane was his contact with his surroundings and his ears alerted him to the dangers and pitfalls around him.

As God’s children we need to hold on to him with all our might. He and he alone is our contact through life.  By holding on to him we have the assurance that no pitfalls, no challenges, no unforeseen circumstances, (and they are all unforeseen folks) will prevent us from living the life God has called us to.  Our spiritual ears must remain attuned to his voice, knowing he will alert us to the dangers around us and will call to us when we wander and stray from him.

What a lesson I learned that day. I found myself thinking about that man all afternoon, all evening, and when I woke the next morning, his image was still etched on my mind.  He would tell us today to keep moving, to put one foot in front of the other, not to be afraid but to step out.  As long as we maintain contact and listen the darkness is no threat and not obstacle.  Are you walking today even when you can’t see where you are going?  I hope you are!  It’s the only way to go!

Winding The Clock

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aturday morning when I woke up I noticed something very different about my house.  Everything in my room was just where I left it when I went to bed last evening.  Nothing in the living room or the kitchen had been disturbed.  My cat, Trixie, was snoozing for a few more minutes before my activity roused her from a sound sleep and the door was tightly closed and locked as it had been when I checked before retiring for the night.

Although everything appeared normal, I knew something wasn’t quite right.  You know how it is, don’t you?  Despite outward appearances, something things aren’t the way they ought to be and the thing that bugs you is, you can’t figure out the missing piece to the puzzle.  As I ran through my checklist, it suddenly dawned on me what amiss in my house—it was too quiet! 

Now don’t get me wrong.  Since I live by myself, it is never noisy here and Trixie never makes that much noise except when she wants to get my attention.  There is, however, a sound that goes unnoticed except when it is absent.  That sound, is the ticking of the clock hanging on my living room wall just beside my television.  No matter where I am in the house, if I pause and listen, I can hear it ticking, just as it is right now.  Saturday morning, however, there was no such sound because during the night, the clock had stopped.  Time ceased to exist in my house at exactly 10:58 p.m.

Later Saturday morning, I finally had time to wind and set the clock and get things back to normal in my home.  I took the key from its hiding place, opened the clock’s casing, and began to wind both the pendulum and chime springs.  That clock has been apart of my life for the past 30 years and has faithfully marked the time through all of them.  My mom and dad gave me the clock as a Christmas present in 1985 and I have treasured it ever since and when it stops I want to get it running just as soon as I can.

While winding the clock, I had occasion to think back over the last 30 years and consider how I had spent all that time.  I came to the realization that some of my time had been well spent, some of it had been wasted, and for a lot of it, I had absolutely no idea how I had spent it.  30 years represents a bunch of pendulum swings, an incalculable number of tics and tocks, and thousands of seconds that can never be recaptured.  Once passed, they are forever gone, never to return.

Moses knew the importance of making the best of the time God has given us.  In Psalm 90:12 he writes these words, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  Notice that Moses recognizes several truths in the brief passage from his prayer in Psalm 90.  First, our days can be numbered and are numbered.  We only have a certain number of them so each one must count.  As Christians, we recognize that God gives us our days and we are to use them for His glory, living each one of them in such a way as to share the good news of Jesus Christ with all those around us.

Second, our days have a purpose.  That purpose, Moses reminds us, is to gain a heart of wisdom.  The writer of the book of Proverbs reminds us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  So gaining a heart of wisdom and living our lives accordingly means we learn to fear, that is to revere, honor, and worship, the Lord in all we say, do, or think. 

Third and last, Moses realizes our days can be wasted and our time here lost and unaccounted for.  That is why he asks the Lord to teach us how to number our days correctly.  That is, how to use them for God’s glory and for His intended purposes instead of our own.  This is a very difficult thing for us to learn because we want to believe our time is our own to spend as we will.  In reality, our time is borrowed from God and we will give an account to Him for the manner in which we have spent it.

As I wound the clock in my living room I wondered just how correctly I have spent all the seconds of my life.  Have I used them for God’s glory or my own?  Have I spent my time wisely, telling others about Jesus and the hope that he gives?  Or have I squandered my days, letting untold opportunities to share the love of God go by perhaps forever without another chance of sharing Jesus with another?  What does the clock of your life tell you today?  Are you counting the days of your life aright? 

In A Holding Pattern

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nyone who has ever flown is familiar with the concept of the holding pattern.  This is always the fun part of the flight.  You are sitting on the tarmac waiting to take off, or you are in the air circling waiting to land.  Either way, you are making no progress toward your destination; you are merely waiting.  And, if you’re like most people, you hate waiting.

The worst case of “holding patternitis” I ever had was in June of 1984.  After spending 10 months living in France, the day had finally arrived for my return to the United States.  The flight left Brussels on time and was very uneventful as we made our way over the Atlantic Ocean.  The day was spectacularly gorgeous and there were practically no pockets of turbulence anywhere along our flight path.  Everything went smoothly until we got to Atlanta.

As we approached the airport, the captain informed us the control tower had placed us into a holding pattern. It seemed that a large number of planes were waiting to take off, ferrying people away from Atlanta in record numbers.  Why everyone wanted to exodus Atlanta in such mass numbers was beyond me. There hadn’t been an evacuation like this since General Sherman visited the city during the civil war!

We were in the holding pattern for over 30 minutes.  It was the most disheartening and cruel thing I’ve every experienced.  I mean home was a few hundred feet below us.  We could see cars, houses, trees, McDonald’s signs, everything we had missed.  It was right below us and we couldn’t get there.  My friend, Roland, was having conniptions.  He couldn’t believe that after surviving Europe for almost a year, he couldn’t even get back home!

But the holding pattern did have its purpose.  Although we didn’t like it, circling the Atlanta area was far better than risking a head-on collision with an airplane that was taking off while we tried to land.  The people in the control tower made the appropriate call but none of us in the airplane liked it at the time. 

The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who experienced holding patterns in their lives.  Abraham was promised a son.  He was 75 years old when he received the promise and 100 years old when Isaac was born.  You want to talk about a holding pattern! But the holding pattern we want to consider today is found in Luke’s gospel.

Just before his ascension, Jesus speaks with his disciples.  In the course of his final instructions he makes this statement found in Luke 24:49, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."  This statement comes after Jesus has already told his disciples to go into the whole world and share the good news.  You know they were excited about sharing the good news of Jesus with those around them, yet Jesus’ command was clear, “.,,,but stay in the city…” 

What could he mean?  There was so much to do, so much to say, so many people to reach.  How could they do that by staying put?  It just didn’t make any sense.  But they did what they were told.  I can imagine they returned home, becoming jittery and perhaps somewhat impatient.  Someone probably drew a calendar on the wall and counted down the days until they could leave, marking each day off as the sun was setting.

But the holding pattern did have its purpose.  They weren’t yet ready and the Holy Spirit had not yet come to them.  So as they waited, they gathered together and prayed.  What seemed to be no progress was in fact time for preparation.  Trying to accomplish the work Jesus gave them without the Spirit, would have been disastrous and they would have failed.  They could not go forward in their own strength because they would never have been strong enough.  But when the time was right, the Holy Spirit came, they were filled with his presence and 3000 people were added to the church the first day.

Let us draw great encouragement from this passage today.  If you are in a holding pattern, take heart.  God knows exactly where you are.  He has not forgotten you and He has not forsaken you. He is preparing you for the road ahead, the road which He always sees but which you cannot.  Use this time to rest and gather your strength because the day is coming when the holding pattern is over and the work begins.  Will you be ready for that day?  

All Applications Will Be Accepted

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rying to find quality television programming on Saturday morning is the equivalent of a man standing at the ocean with a bucket trying to drain it dry.  In other words, it is an impossible task.  Nonetheless, I find myself each Saturday morning on the couch, remote in hand, flipping through the channels, hoping against hope that something will stimulate my still sleepy brain cells and jolt them into reality.  Several minutes later I come to the realization that I will have to be a self-starter if I am to have any success waking up!  Bummer!

One more jog through the channels provides me with enough motivation to get up off the couch and start my day.  The shows run the gamut from how to cook a perfect cheese soufflé to infomercials for must-have items for your home all of which carry a price tag of just $19.95 if you call within the next 5 minutes. 

But my favorite shows, hands down, are the car dealerships who try their best to entice people to pick up the phone, dial the number on the screen, and buy a car.  All of them promise the same thing, that all applications for credit will be accepted.  If a bank has turned you down, they have the solution you’re looking for.  Low payments and any car you wish are just a phone call away, regardless of your past credit history.  Bad credit, no credit, bankruptcy, slow pays, blemishes, you name it, they stand ready to help.

I can only take so much of this and I have to turn off the television.  Yet there is a kernel of truth in what they are saying.  Unbeknownst to these car dealers, they are actually wonderful examples of a great biblical truth and one we need to understand and share with those around us who do not know Jesus Christ as savior and lord.

Most people have difficulty with the concept of salvation because they believe God can’t and won’t forgive them.  They are convinced they what they have done in the past is so bad that God can never overlook what they’ve done much less forgive them for it.  Only those who come from a certain background, social class, or certain economic levels are ever good enough for God’s salvation, they believe.  And that is where people have it wrong—dead wrong!

In Romans 10:12-13, Paul writes these wonderful words, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  What a deal!!  Paul states categorically there is no difference in standing, either socially or economically, for those whom God forgives.  The words all and everyone are all-inclusive, not mutually exclusive.  In short all are accepted; no one is denied at the throne of God! 

This is great news!  Regardless of our pasts, God offers us His salvation.  It is not based on what we’ve done or not done, who we know or don’t know, how much we make or don’t make, or how much we try or don’t try.  God’s salvation is based on the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ and the infinite resources found in him.  No matter what’s in your past, God stands ready to forgive your sins and extends His salvation to all (not just a select few) who ask for it!  But that is the key, we have to ask and when we ask, Paul tells us God will save us!

I never believed a used car salesman would ever preach the gospel.  But in their own unique way on my screen each Saturday morning, they allude to a true biblical principle.  Salvation is offered to all, it is a gift from God, and in order to obtain it, all we have to do is hit our knees, call upon the Lord, confess our sins, and accept Jesus Christ as savior and lord.  And, by the way, all applications are accepted! Have you applied today?

A Striking Experience

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rowing up on Main Street was a wonderful experience!  Everything I knew and learned about the world happened there.  I learned how to trust, I learned how to be honest, I learned the importance of sharing, and I learned how to get along with others.  Of course, there were the other lessons as well.  On Main Street I also learned that you don’t always get your way, that sometimes friends let you down, that life happens and it isn’t always pleasant, and that there are always consequences to the choices we make and they affect not only us but those we hold most dear.

My father’s place of business was located just up the street from our home. In fact, I could see it from our backyard and I passed it on my way to school, when I visited a friend, or when I went uptown.  What I remember most about its location are the two giant oak trees that stood on its property lines, one to the west and the other to the east. 

Those two trees were huge, standing like great pillars holding up the sky. I remember, as a kid, looking up at them, almost breaking by back as I bent tried to see their tops.  Putting your arms around them was as impossible a task as emptying the ocean with a bucket but I tried anyway on several occasions.  I was an eternal optimist!

Those trees are forever etched into my memory because they played such an important part in my childhood.   There were always there, in summer, in winter, in spring, in fall, in heat, in cold, in rain, in drought, and when the wind blew, they creaked and groaned, bending but never breaking. 

There was one day, however, when the impossible happened.  Lightening struck one of the trees and laid the bark open from the fork of its trunk where its branches began to the roots which entered the ground.  The gash was deep, ugly, and threatened to destroy the tree if it weren’t repaired.

I came home from school one day to find a tree surgeon repairing the damage left by that lightening bolt.  I remember my grandfather telling me the man in the bucket truck was a surgeon. I trusted my grandfather even though I found it odd that this surgeon had no nurse assisting him and didn’t wear green surgical scrubs like the doctors on TV. After a few hours, however, he had repaired the tree, filling the scar with some mixture that hardened, protecting the tree’s interior and removing any possibility that it would die from its wound.

He was a great tree surgeon!  In time the bark grew back around the wound.  The tree continued to bud and grow leaves year after year.  Eventually, it became impossible to tell that anything had happened to that tree but the fact remained it had been wounded and inside, down deep where you couldn’t see it, the surgeon’s work remained, forever changing the tree, giving it life in spite of its past wound.

Would it surprise you to know that the work of a tree surgeon is described in the book of Psalms?  It is amazing what we can find in the Scriptures when we take time to read them closely and let them speak to us.  In Psalm 147:3 David shares this thought, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” 

This passage speaks to all of us.  Who among us has not had a broken heart?  Who among us has been able to escape the lightening strikes of life?  We’ve all had our hearts broken and none of us has escaped life’s storms.  But God stands ready to heal our wounds and to make our hearts whole.  The greatest strike that rips into our lives is sin.  None of us is immune to it.  In fact, the Scriptures tell us very plainly that we have all sinned and fallen woefully short of God’s glory.  But that wound can be healed by accepting Jesus Christ as our savior and lord.  Only when we accept God’s free gift of salvation can the wound in our heart be truly healed.

God places His balm of love, mercy, and grace into our hearts.  He binds up the wound and heals us from our sin.  We are then able to live, truly live and produce fruit for His glory.  Even when our outsides look the same, we are forever changed on the inside because God works in our hearts, the very essence and core of our being.

It has become very unpopular in today’s world to speak of Christ Jesus as being the only way to salvation.  Yet, that is what the Bible teaches.  My prayer today is that we will share the good news of Christ with those around us, that we will share with them the joy of having the wound in our hearts healed, that they too will know that true life exists beyond the most striking experiences and painful gashes we encounter.  Has the heavenly surgeon healed your wound today?  Why don’t you make an appointment to see Him?

About Face

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asic training had been just that—basic.  Joe wasn’t too impressed thus far with army life.  Ever since his arrival all he had done was go to bed early, get up early, run laps, hike endless miles, crawl on his belly, climb over obstacles, and eat bad food.  Not quite the adventure he had signed up for but it could have been worse.  How, he wasn’t’ sure but he kept telling himself that just to make life in boot camp bearable.

One thing he had learned, and learned well, was how to follow orders.  He knew what forward march meant, he had no problem with right or left face, and the words “Company halt” were a welcome relief after stomping out a heavy cadence over fifteen miles carrying a full pack.  Today, the march had been particularly grueling as his platoon and two more joined together in a 25-mile hike in full gear.  There had been several of these hikes lately and Joe felt sure that his time in boot camp was rapidly coming to an end.

The next morning his inklings were confirmed as his platoon was rousted out of bed much earlier than usual and told to be packed and ready for transport in half an hour.  Joe jumped out of his bunk, pulled his uniform on, threw all his belongings, which weren’t much, into his duffel bag and joined his buddies on the pavement in front of the barracks.  Fifteen hours later, his life would be drastically different but for now he waited for the bus to take to destination unknown.

Fifteen hours later, Joe emerged form an airplane into a completely different world.  Foxholes and trenches replaced barracks and the sound of drill sergeants barking commands were no match for the sound of shells and ammunition whizzing through the air.  As the team assembled a man stepped forward and barked an all-to-familiar order, “About face!” Instinctively, Joe snapped around on his heels, stood at attention, and looked ahead, seeing for the first time a true front line with a true battle raging.  As long as his back was turned, he hadn’t seen the fighting, now that his perspective had changed, he knew there was no looking back.  The only way to win this battle was to march straight into the fray—retreat was not an option!

Would it surprise you to learn that the order “About face” existed long before the concept of basic training?  The modern military was not the first to use this command nor did a drill sergeant first bark it at a group of new recruits.  Actually, one of the first recorded utterances of this command came not from a drill sergeant, a general, or any commander.  It came from the mouth of Jesus of Nazareth.

In Luke 9:62 we read these words of Christ, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."  This passage of scripture is taken from a conversation Jesus had with some of his followers.  Some who wanted to follow Jesus wanted to take care of other concerns before following him.  Jesus listened to them and then made the above observation.  He knew that only those who are dedicated, who follow wholeheartedly, who abandon everything for the cause of God, and who forsake everything are truly fit to serve in God’s kingdom. 

Jesus called everyone who followed him to do an about face, to leave their former way of life behind, to forget all that had gone before, in order to follow him into battle.  Jesus wanted his followers to understand that no battle can be won if those who are fighting it constantly look behind them.  He did not call his followers to what used to be; he called them to what would be, a definite about face, a change in direction, a change of heart and mind.

This call still comes to us today as Jesus enlists followers for his cause.  We are the solders and like Joe the time has come for us to do an about face and head toward the front line.  We only have one decision to make; will we follow Christ or not?  Will we trust him to lead us and protect us in life’s battles? Will we place our very lives in his hands, knowing he will never leave us or forsake us?  Are you ready for battle?  Are you ready to receive your orders?  Are you ready to do an about face today?

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!

A Slice of Watermelon

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he mere mention of the word was enough to cause every kid in the neighborhood to abandon his activity and come running at full gallop.  All of a sudden, saving the world from the forces of evil, laying siege to an imaginary castle, climbing to the perilous summit of a dirt mound, or crossing the finish line of our equivalent of the Indy 500, paled in comparison to this one word.  Kids weren’t the only ones affected either.  Adults got into the act, leaving their responsibilities behind, sneaking away from their desks, and putting off that important phone call for just a few more minutes.  What could make all these activities come to a screeching halt?  One thing—watermelon!

In the burning and humid heat of a North Carolina summer, an ice cold watermelon was just about the closest thing to heaven we could experience.   Usually late in the afternoon, word would spread that several watermelons had been delivered to my dad’s place of business.  My granddaddy, my parents, my brother and sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, passers by, etc. were all invited when we cut a watermelon.

I remember watching as the knife was plunged into the heart of a huge melon.  As my dad carefully cut through the heart of the melon, I could hear it beginning to separate.  It popped and creaked and then with one final snap, the melon split, exposing the luscious red fruit inside. For a moment everyone stopped.  All conversation ceased and silence fell over the whole group as the watermelon came apart.  Everyone stood mesmerized, anticipating that first bite of succulent fruit.

The pieces were cut into smaller portions and served to everyone there.  Finally, I received my piece of watermelon and I knew exactly what to do with it.  The only way to eat watermelon is to put your face completely into it.  No worries about getting sticky or having juice dripping from your chin because that’s the way you eat watermelon.  That first taste was always the best but it was never sufficient.  The more I ate, the more I wanted and the more I wanted, the more I ate.  You get the picture I’m sure; you’ve probably done the same thing yourself.  

Almost as good as the watermelon, however, was the wonderful fellowship I enjoyed with my family.  We laughed, exchanged stories, had seed-spitting contest, and spent hours just enjoying the simple pleasures of family friends, and watermelon.  There was nothing better in the world.

I believe David must have understood and appreciated the feeling of eating watermelon.  Whether or not he actually had access to the same melon we eat today, he surely captured the essence of the experience in Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”  Now I know David is not talking about watermelon here but there are, I believe, some striking parallels in eating watermelon and enjoying the Lord’s presence in our lives.

David does not tell us to look at the Lord to see that He is good, he tells us to taste!  No one looks at watermelon; they eat it.  We can only enjoy the fruit once we take it into ourselves and enjoy all it has to offer us.  God is exactly the same way.  What a shame it is that we don’t experience Him to the full.

Like watermelon, God wants us to cover ourselves with His presence.  He wants us to dig in until we have our fill.  God’s love, mercy, grace, and peace should drip from us, from every fiber of our being, in the same way that watermelon juice drips from us when we eat it.  It should cover us, stick to us, fill us with joy, and bring the peace and the contentment found only in God alone.  He alone is our shelter and our refreshment when life grows difficult.  He alone brings joy, security, and contentment by filling us with all His goodness.  

Like that watermelon, the more we partake of the Lord, the more we want, and the more we want the more we partake.  Taste and see, David said, not look and wonder!!  God is good, all the time.  In life’s ups and downs, ins and outs, mountains and valleys, He is our strength, He is our comfort, He is our protector, and He is our life.  Are you enjoying a slice of watermelon from God’s table today?  Go ahead; put your face right in the middle of it!  You’ll be so glad you did!

            

What's In The Freezer?

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n Labor Day, I went one a cooking binge.  The day started off overcast, just the perfect weather for staying indoors and working in the kitchen.  A quick perusal of my pantry and cabinets indicated I would need a few items before I settled in to an all-day cooking bonanza.  So, I made a list, went to the grocery store, fought the incredible hoards storming the shelves, and finally jockeyed myself into a decent position at the check-out counter where I paid for my items and promptly left.

Once I was outside the store, I was able to breathe a little easier and I actually felt sorry for those oblivious shoppers who were about to enter the fray of battle.  I could have warned them as to the hazardous conditions awaiting them on the inside but then I figured I had to face the dragon, so they could as well. I arrived at my car, placed my groceries in the trunk, and headed for home.  I spent the rest of the afternoon cooking food for this coming week, placing it into containers destined for the refrigerator and the freezer.  When I finished, I had quite a stash of scrumptious items for the coming week and beyond.

My hard work paid off Friday afternoon. I arrived home early in the evening, walked over to the freezer, took out some chicken, and placed it in the microwave.  From the refrigerator, I removed some beans and some wild rice that I prepared on Monday.  In fewer than 15 minutes I had a complete meal, all because I had spent time making preparations for the week ahead.  Had someone dropped by unexpectedly for dinner or if I had decided to invite a guest over to eat, I would have been prepared, not having to stop and worry about what I would offer him/her to eat.  I would have been ready for any situation requiring the preparation of food.

           

Preparation is an idea that is key to our walk with the Lord.  Indeed, we are encouraged on more than one occasion to be prepared, ready to share the gospel at any moment, with any one, at any given place and time.  No where is this more evident than in Peter’s admonition to the reader’s of his first epistle or letter. In 1 Peter 3:15 the Apostle encourages us with these words, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 

This passage is actually composed of two different commands that Peter wants his readers to follow and understand.  The first command is that we set our hearts on Jesus Christ.  We are to dedicate our hearts, our very lives, to Jesus Christ.  We do this by accepting him as savior and lord and looking to him as our only means of salvation.  When we set our hearts apart to his service, when we make him the focus of our lives, then we want to share him with those around us. 

This is where Peter’s second command comes into play.  Peter encourages his readers to be ready at a moments notice to share the good news of Jesus Christ with any and all who ask.  Peter knew that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings hope to the hopeless and brings a true sense of belonging and purpose to the life of the believer.  These attributes cannot be hidden and will attract people from every walk of life who will ask us about this hope we have.  But if we have not spent time with our lord, if we have not studied his word, if we have not experienced the depths of his love and mercy, then we will find it difficult to share with those around us.  Peter tells us we are always to be ready.  We do this by spending time in God’s presence on a consistent basis and feeding on His word.  We are to be about the business of storing up these glorious truths so we can take them out and share them regardless of the circumstance, the place, or the time of day.

I had a wonderful dinner last evening and I will be able to have many more because I took the time to put things in my freezer.  There is a supply that I can draw from for several days before I have to replenish my supply.  And therein lies the secret.  As long as I continue to prepare food ahead of time, I will always have something to eat and something to share with others.  The same is true about my ability to share God with those around me.  As long as I spend time with Him, learning from His word, feeding on His promises, storing up His truths in my heart, I will have a vast reservoir from which to draw.  From this reserve, I will be able to share my faith and my hope with those around me.  However, if I don’t spend time with God and study His word, there will be very little in my freezer and my ability to share with others will be greatly compromised.

So, what’s in your freezer today?  If someone unexpectedly dropped by for a spiritual meal, would you have anything to offer them?  Would they go away hungry or satisfied?   

Sit Back And Enjoy The Ride

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ne particular Saturday morning, the weather was perfect.  The sun was shining, there were no clouds in the sky, the temperature was very mild, and there was little humidity to speak of.  It was the perfect day to tend to some much-needed errands before jetting off to attend a wedding Saturday evening.  So I got up early, made a few phone calls, ate a late breakfast, dressed, and headed out the door to tackle the day ahead.

First stop, the car wash.  My car was in desperate need of a bath and I don’t mean a quick suds and rinse.  What it needed was more like a blast from a water canon in order to remove all the “little surprises” left by several flocks of birds passing through the area.  So I headed down the road to visit a brand new carwash that opened only a few weeks ago.  I had a coupon and figured it couldn’t hurt.  Anything would have been an improvement in the appearance of my car.

I arrived at the car wash, spoke with the attendant who explained the different levels of service offered, made my selection, and drove around to wait my turn in line.  Finally, I was given the go ahead to maneuver my car into position.  I approached the entrance very slowly until the attendant motioned for me to stop my vehicle.  I complied with his request and he immediately applied a thick coat of suds and gave my car a thorough hand washing.  He then instructed me to inch forward and place my front tires into an automatic conveyer system that would conduct my car through the remaining portion of the wash.  He was very clear with his instructions:  “Place the car in neutral.  Take your hands off the wheel.  Don’t apply the brakes until you reach the end of the line.”

It had been a long time since I remained in the car while the car wash machines did their thing.  I noticed that as the conveyor system took charge, the car moved forward on its own.  The steering wheel moved but the car maintained its steady, forward pace.  I was no longer in control.  A sudden noise jolted in my seat.  Strong water jets pummeled my car with pressurized streams removing all the dirt and grime caked on the outside.  Then I was under attack by several blue swirling brushes that scrubbed the dirt from the sides of my car.  The windshield was also a prime target as huge, soapy strips of material covered it, totally obscuring my view.  The car continued to inch forward in spite of the fact I didn’t know where I was going and could see nothing. Finally, I arrived at the end of the line where my car was dried by several strong automatic fans.  When I exited the car wash, my car was clean.

As I drove a way, however, I realized I had just experienced something the Apostle Paul spoke of over two thousand years ago. In his writings, Paul used the term “in Christ” on numerous occasions.  I use this term myself at the end of every Tidbit. But I wondered if I really had a true grasp of what Paul really meant.  After the car wash, I believe my understanding of that term has greatly deepened.

Like the car wash, being in Christ has certain elements that go along with it.  The first is relinquishing all control of our lives.  Jesus must take the wheel, steering us in the proper direction, even though we can’t see where we are going.  There will be sights and sounds along the way that frighten and worry us.  The path ahead may be completely obscured and at any moment the rough circumstances of life may brush against us, causing us pain and discomfort.  But none of these things can harm us as long as we are in Christ.  As long as I remained in my car, I didn’t get wet, I wasn’t’ beaten around by the brushes in the car wash, the killer soapy strips didn’t beat me about the head, and although I couldn’t see where I was going, the conveyor system had a firm grip on the car.  As long as I remained in the car, I was safe.  Although I was aware of all the commotion and the scrubbing action against my car outside, inside I was safe, comfortable, and dry.

In 1 Corinthians 1:4, Paul writes, “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”  This is such a comforting and revealing statement by the Apostle Paul to his readers.  Paul makes two wonderful observations in this sentence. Paul speaks of God’s grace and being in Christ in the same breath.  He rightly observes that we only receive God’s grace when we are in fact in Christ Jesus.  Being in Christ means that we have placed our lives in his hands and that we relinquish utter and total control to him. We go where he leads, when he leads, and obey his commands, trusting in him at all times.  When we place ourselves in Christ, he surrounds us and protects us from the things in life that would separate us from God.  This does not mean life will never be difficult.  It does not mean we will never be tempted again or that we will never have any trying circumstances in life.  But it does mean that we will never go through these times alone and it does mean we can and will come through them with God’s help.

On that Saturday, I did indeed learn a lesson about God’s grace and being in Christ.  Had it not been for the car, I would have been soaked, sprayed, scrubbed, soaped, and washed up.  However, inside the car, although aware of all the commotion on the outside, I was safe and calm on the inside.  The ride may not have been one I would have chosen on a daily basis, but I was able to sit back and enjoy it.  I was not upset by it because I knew that I was secure in the car and that nothing on the outside could penetrate its protection.  Keeping this in mind, we must ask ourselves one question:  Are we enjoying our ride down life’s highway today?  If we are in Christ, the answer is yes.  If not, help is just a prayer away!