I have almost always associated the Christmas and New Year’s holidays with some significant amount of traveling. As a child, we typically headed to South Georgia or to Michigan for Christmas with grandparents along with a regular series of gatherings at the homes of various aunts and uncles during the holiday season. As a preacher’s son, there was a veritable parade of travel to church events, class parties, and choir activities… or extended times baby-sitting younger brothers while our parents attended such events. We survived quite well, however, and saw the Christmas-New Year’s week as a special time to be with our family.
The years I sang in the Atlanta Boy Choir brought another series of special holiday memories, the annual December concert, or caroling at a series of tree lightings or Woman’s Club events and even singing at the smoke-filled Capital City Club in Atlanta. Other years brought singing for the officers at Fort McPherson, including a few Generals and their families.
In later years we traveled with college age church friends to a national student gathering in San Antonio, Texas. And when we were older, there were several fishing trips to Florida in the days immediately after Christmas. Whether our travel took us toward sledding and ice skating in the north, or dove shooting and fishing in the south, we often found times with cousins and kin that we seldom saw during the rest of the year.
But to get there took time on the road. And the weather wasn’t always the most cooperative. Getting to where we wanted to go could be downright challenging…there was the New Year’s eve when we hit the metal pipe on the Tennessee highway that punctured the gas tank and left us stranded for several hours waiting on a welder with a cigar hanging from his mouth to weld the gas tank …and yes, without blowing himself up. There was the December weekend when my mother went shopping with a friend and because of a sudden ice storm a ten mile trip home took almost 5 hours. Twenty hour road trips with a wife and four sons gave my dad many interesting challenges. In those days before car seats, one effort had him putting suitcases in the floorboards and covering them with blankets to make a bed all across the back seat so he could drive through the night while we slept most of the way. Travel was and still is a part of our holidays. Now we take the grandchildren to visit their grandparents and enjoy gatherings with them along with the many activities of our own household.
But like it always has been, the travel has in mind a destination. The journey is always a part of getting to where you want to go. The road, whether more or less traveled, is likely to present some dangers as well as joys. Such is life as we live each day, reflecting on our opportunities and embracing them in the celebration of every gift God provides along the way. Long roads allow for great conversations and sharing. Through the years, the places we visited and the people we shared our time and love with have all made the journey worthwhile. The days remain full and blessed and amazing as we continue to follow the road before us. It comes with recognizing the gifts of God’s providing in each moment. Thank Him for them. And as you listen to and sing the carols, riding down the road, remember a couple of folks traveling to Bethlehem so long ago…to sign up to pay taxes…and to share the birth of a child that makes all of life for us this Christmas a promise of joy as together we remember and look forward to His coming again. Make a point to share the good news of Jesus with those near you this holiday season. When you do so, they truly become “Holy Days.”
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Grace
The idea of grace in our times is a longed for, hoped for dream in the background of life’s often grim experiences. Perhaps that is where grace makes its presence most profoundly recognizable. We look for grace around every corner and then again, we don’t, because if we expect it we might not appreciate it when it comes. Grace is the power to change our lives. Grace is the open door to new beginnings. Grace is beyond us, beyond our doing, beyond our deserving, beyond our earning. Grace is more.
The seeking heart that understands life recognizes the place where grace is not present. Graceless days are oppressive, sapping joy and hope away from the thoughts of men and women who might pray for grace in the face of failures. Grace is strong in its capacity to uproot our anxiety and to cure our desperation. And yet, grace seems so scarcely accessible in times like ours.
Quotas, deadlines, regulations, demands, pressures, and imposed priorities…they are not the venues of grace. Threats, danger, war, deception, death and tragedy…they are not the anticipated avenues of grace. But God entered time and history in just such circumstances to bring just what we all know we need. He brought grace to us in the flesh and bones body of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grace to be received; Grace to be heard; Grace to be remembered; Grace to be applied to the pain and suffering of our hearts abandonment and brokenness. Grace made known in the touch of his healing, in the sound of his truth, in the laughter and joy of his presence. The grace of God has come to us. Hear the word: Repent and believe! Receive Christ in faith. Know the grace that sets you free. Know the grace that announces a new day for all who trust in God’s provision of mercy. Live in grace…for the Lord is gracious unto you.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Green Christians?
Every spring, many churches observe Soil and Water Conservation Sunday. It is a special day, often observed in rural congregations because of the close attachment that many farmers have to the land. As fewer and fewer of us make a living by farming, there seems to be a certain amount of diminished appreciation for the most basic of conservation practices.
That diminished concern can be observed in the comment of one young teenager in a large city who never made the connection between milk and cows. He thought milk came from the corner store as though it simply appeared in the dairy case. Before we laugh, we need to recognize that fewer and fewer of us have any significant exposure to the operations and efforts that bring us our daily bread, our fresh vegetables, our meat, our fruits and juices, or our many products made from trees and other fiber sources.
Land that once was ground for fertile fields is diminishing in acreage each year as cities swell and land is converted into subdivisions and office parks. Pavement covers what often served as a resource for food production and now creates significant storm drainage runoff and excess erosion and potential flood damage. As farmers learned to keep land from being destroyed, many others of us take such matters for granted. We ignore the necessity of appropriately disposing of everything from car batteries to used motor oil. We oftentimes see car tires tossed or see household garbage dumped in streams or along roadways. Chemicals from manufacturing and construction are often poorly handled and end up polluting wildlife habitat and reservoirs.
Does it matter? Check the number of health warnings associated with eating certain fish in our large tributaries and lakes. Visit the Environmental Protection Agencies list of toxic waste sites needing cleanup. Consider the ever increasing demand for purified water sources due to pollution, excess bacteria in wells and other water supplies due to sewage runoff and poor or insufficient sewage treatment options. Look at the numbers of endangered waterways filling with silt and sediment due to erosion and construction runoff.
Studies that measure global warming have given clear warning that without significant changes, average global temperatures can rise as much as 10 degrees in this century, melting large areas of arctic ice and creating entirely new landscapes along the coastlines of the earth. Hundreds of species of sea, plant, and animal life can be dramatically affected. Our persistent use of fossil fuels in every higher quantity, world-wide may create cataclysmic climate change. Does it matter? Without question. But does it matter that as Christians, we recognize God’s call to be stewards of the creation that He gave us? The time is now for all of us to recognize that stewardship begins in all the decisions we make about living in our world. God calls us to responsible stewardship, not to destroy the world.
Stop and think about your stewardship practices. Plant a tree. Recycle your newspapers. Consider giving account one day for your choices. Thank God for the daily opportunities to use wisely the resources over which you exercise stewardship. As you do so, remember to use your voice and your influence to encourage others to recognize that we share this planet with a world of people like ourselves who like to eat, sleep, live and breathe. Let’s show them God’s love in the way we take care of what He has entrusted to us.
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” – Genesis 1:31 NIV
That diminished concern can be observed in the comment of one young teenager in a large city who never made the connection between milk and cows. He thought milk came from the corner store as though it simply appeared in the dairy case. Before we laugh, we need to recognize that fewer and fewer of us have any significant exposure to the operations and efforts that bring us our daily bread, our fresh vegetables, our meat, our fruits and juices, or our many products made from trees and other fiber sources.
Land that once was ground for fertile fields is diminishing in acreage each year as cities swell and land is converted into subdivisions and office parks. Pavement covers what often served as a resource for food production and now creates significant storm drainage runoff and excess erosion and potential flood damage. As farmers learned to keep land from being destroyed, many others of us take such matters for granted. We ignore the necessity of appropriately disposing of everything from car batteries to used motor oil. We oftentimes see car tires tossed or see household garbage dumped in streams or along roadways. Chemicals from manufacturing and construction are often poorly handled and end up polluting wildlife habitat and reservoirs.
Does it matter? Check the number of health warnings associated with eating certain fish in our large tributaries and lakes. Visit the Environmental Protection Agencies list of toxic waste sites needing cleanup. Consider the ever increasing demand for purified water sources due to pollution, excess bacteria in wells and other water supplies due to sewage runoff and poor or insufficient sewage treatment options. Look at the numbers of endangered waterways filling with silt and sediment due to erosion and construction runoff.
Studies that measure global warming have given clear warning that without significant changes, average global temperatures can rise as much as 10 degrees in this century, melting large areas of arctic ice and creating entirely new landscapes along the coastlines of the earth. Hundreds of species of sea, plant, and animal life can be dramatically affected. Our persistent use of fossil fuels in every higher quantity, world-wide may create cataclysmic climate change. Does it matter? Without question. But does it matter that as Christians, we recognize God’s call to be stewards of the creation that He gave us? The time is now for all of us to recognize that stewardship begins in all the decisions we make about living in our world. God calls us to responsible stewardship, not to destroy the world.
Stop and think about your stewardship practices. Plant a tree. Recycle your newspapers. Consider giving account one day for your choices. Thank God for the daily opportunities to use wisely the resources over which you exercise stewardship. As you do so, remember to use your voice and your influence to encourage others to recognize that we share this planet with a world of people like ourselves who like to eat, sleep, live and breathe. Let’s show them God’s love in the way we take care of what He has entrusted to us.
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” – Genesis 1:31 NIV
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
The Slow-Food Movement
When Jesus entered the home of Mary and Martha, there arose a “family dispute” when Mary sat and listened to Jesus while Martha busied herself with taking care of preparations for the meal and guests. Jesus chided Martha for her failure to recognize the importance of “presence” and “learning” in the midst of her busyness.
Today there are many who speak of our overemphasis upon speed in the specific concern to have food available in rapid fashion, to be consumed in rapid fashion, for the purpose of pursuing the next “important” work of the day. Those who follow the “slow-food” movement relate to a concern that moves from human need to health and needed social contexts for sharing life, to diet and nutritional benefits, to family and relational opportunities to learn and grow.
“Slow-food” has in a fashion, become a watchword for those who might recognize the true value of savoring the elements of preparation of a meal, and while doing so, might invite other family members to enjoy conversation and exchanges regarding their lives. The benefits and joys of expressing thanks and comprehending the true blessing of beautiful fruits and vegetables and savory dishes prepared with loving attention to detail --- simply and assuredly opens the way for a richer expression of appreciation for life. It matters that we live in a world with many demands and challenges, but like Jesus warned Martha, our busyness alone should not exclude the recognition of those important things that matter most.
Families, friends, teachers, special guests and those who might open up our minds and hearts to new life and joy are worth our time and attention. As Jesus entered the house, he was worthy of Mary’s focus and listening ear and comprehending heart.
Slow-food may sound like a simple way of expressing the value of “taking time” for many things, but it also connects well to the matter of receiving those things from God that he provides for our nourishment and spiritual growth each day. Slowing-- reading the bible for careful learning and attentive listening; slowly- breaking bread and sharing time with loved ones and friends around the table enriches our lives with the wealth of shared experiences and the delights of learning from different perspectives; slowly –acknowledging with thanks to God our blessings…is worth the time and then some.
Today there are many who speak of our overemphasis upon speed in the specific concern to have food available in rapid fashion, to be consumed in rapid fashion, for the purpose of pursuing the next “important” work of the day. Those who follow the “slow-food” movement relate to a concern that moves from human need to health and needed social contexts for sharing life, to diet and nutritional benefits, to family and relational opportunities to learn and grow.
“Slow-food” has in a fashion, become a watchword for those who might recognize the true value of savoring the elements of preparation of a meal, and while doing so, might invite other family members to enjoy conversation and exchanges regarding their lives. The benefits and joys of expressing thanks and comprehending the true blessing of beautiful fruits and vegetables and savory dishes prepared with loving attention to detail --- simply and assuredly opens the way for a richer expression of appreciation for life. It matters that we live in a world with many demands and challenges, but like Jesus warned Martha, our busyness alone should not exclude the recognition of those important things that matter most.
Families, friends, teachers, special guests and those who might open up our minds and hearts to new life and joy are worth our time and attention. As Jesus entered the house, he was worthy of Mary’s focus and listening ear and comprehending heart.
Slow-food may sound like a simple way of expressing the value of “taking time” for many things, but it also connects well to the matter of receiving those things from God that he provides for our nourishment and spiritual growth each day. Slowing-- reading the bible for careful learning and attentive listening; slowly- breaking bread and sharing time with loved ones and friends around the table enriches our lives with the wealth of shared experiences and the delights of learning from different perspectives; slowly –acknowledging with thanks to God our blessings…is worth the time and then some.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Family Meals
Miriam Weinstein has written an interesting book entitled, “The Surprising Power of Family Meals.” The basic focus of the book relates the benefits of regular family meals on the health and well-being of the individuals in the family. With all the obvious challenges that many face in making such a practice a part of their family agenda, the arguments for doing so are most convincing.
Families that spend regular time with one another at family meals have better communication and children have a time when their parents are “available” to them. It is a time for sharing the events of the day, the upcoming responsibilities or obligations, the reminders about what is happening in each person’s circle of daily activity.
Weinstein notes that there are strong favorable results attached to family practices of having regular family meals including: fewer incidents of substance abuse in children who have homes where family meals are a regular event, better nutrition, fewer occurrences of health problems such as obesity or eating disorders. Even asthmatic children who share family meals have fewer hospital visits than those who do not. Children of kindergarten age who have regular family meals show higher readiness for reading than those who do not have that time with family at the table.
Meal times with family affirm and encourage children in ways that help them to be more resilient in the face of challenges and problems in life. Emotional stability is more favored in those who share family meals together. It promotes a stronger recognition of acceptable moral and ethical behaviors. It encourages faith development, and is a place for teaching basic manners and courtesy. It is an environment that sets the stage for all types of social relationships with others. Family meals matter because family matters and in the face of even the most challenging settings, that time and energy spent in breaking bread one with another is the place were life is well-spent.
Are you making time for family meals at your house? Do you set aside quality time to “be with one another” emotionally, relationally, and in the context of a warm and accepting provision of food and fellowship? If you are missing that in your home, consider making it a priority. After all, the point is not so much the mealtime as it is the priority of family time in genuine interaction and sharing. Meals are just the practical centerpiece for such sharing. Make a place for such in your life and discover the benefits. They are many.
Families that spend regular time with one another at family meals have better communication and children have a time when their parents are “available” to them. It is a time for sharing the events of the day, the upcoming responsibilities or obligations, the reminders about what is happening in each person’s circle of daily activity.
Weinstein notes that there are strong favorable results attached to family practices of having regular family meals including: fewer incidents of substance abuse in children who have homes where family meals are a regular event, better nutrition, fewer occurrences of health problems such as obesity or eating disorders. Even asthmatic children who share family meals have fewer hospital visits than those who do not. Children of kindergarten age who have regular family meals show higher readiness for reading than those who do not have that time with family at the table.
Meal times with family affirm and encourage children in ways that help them to be more resilient in the face of challenges and problems in life. Emotional stability is more favored in those who share family meals together. It promotes a stronger recognition of acceptable moral and ethical behaviors. It encourages faith development, and is a place for teaching basic manners and courtesy. It is an environment that sets the stage for all types of social relationships with others. Family meals matter because family matters and in the face of even the most challenging settings, that time and energy spent in breaking bread one with another is the place were life is well-spent.
Are you making time for family meals at your house? Do you set aside quality time to “be with one another” emotionally, relationally, and in the context of a warm and accepting provision of food and fellowship? If you are missing that in your home, consider making it a priority. After all, the point is not so much the mealtime as it is the priority of family time in genuine interaction and sharing. Meals are just the practical centerpiece for such sharing. Make a place for such in your life and discover the benefits. They are many.
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Lost and in the Bible
More than a few contemporary individuals find themselves so unfamiliar with the great narratives of the Old and New Testaments that they find themselves often “lost” when it comes to comprehending the meaning and purpose of many of the biblical texts.
Don’t be dismayed. The Bible is not a book of mystery so much as a book that is underutilized and unfamiliar. Many would like to treat the scriptures as a great source for Bible Trivia and have at times done exactly that. The problem lies in our failure to link the scriptures in their historical context, meaningful application to life, and intentional purposeful revelation of God.
Studying the scriptures is not accomplished in the Reader’s Digest condensed version. Even a good children’s bible story book provides more essential guidance and understanding than many persons on the street have in their knowledge base. Without
attempting to suggest that God cannot reveal himself to those with little scriptural background, it begs the question for us to suggest that mature Christians will not have at best some intrinsic religious experience of faith that connects them to a purposeful and willing desire to follow the way of Jesus Christ. For those with access to the scriptures and who have the ability to read, there is a place of opportunity and the strong capacity for significant personal growth and maturity to be found in the rich words of these holy texts. God has blessed us with a written record of his revelation to mankind. Through the vast variety of literary expressions and the chronicled stories and history of the people of God, we have in the Bible a capable collection of writings that will point us to the way of Christ and the calling of God upon our lives.
Begin with a good study bible and a translation that utilized committed biblical scholarship to bring in the various annotations and study helps a greater understanding of the biblical languages and the meaning of those passages that are in need of interpretative analysis. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you as you seek understanding and truth. Explore the powerful witness of these words as they speak to your heart and life. 2 Timothy 2:15 was written to a young preacher as a reminder of the opportunity to pursue the truth of God’s witness in the Holy Scriptures. I hope you will read it and learn with joy.
Don’t be dismayed. The Bible is not a book of mystery so much as a book that is underutilized and unfamiliar. Many would like to treat the scriptures as a great source for Bible Trivia and have at times done exactly that. The problem lies in our failure to link the scriptures in their historical context, meaningful application to life, and intentional purposeful revelation of God.
Studying the scriptures is not accomplished in the Reader’s Digest condensed version. Even a good children’s bible story book provides more essential guidance and understanding than many persons on the street have in their knowledge base. Without
attempting to suggest that God cannot reveal himself to those with little scriptural background, it begs the question for us to suggest that mature Christians will not have at best some intrinsic religious experience of faith that connects them to a purposeful and willing desire to follow the way of Jesus Christ. For those with access to the scriptures and who have the ability to read, there is a place of opportunity and the strong capacity for significant personal growth and maturity to be found in the rich words of these holy texts. God has blessed us with a written record of his revelation to mankind. Through the vast variety of literary expressions and the chronicled stories and history of the people of God, we have in the Bible a capable collection of writings that will point us to the way of Christ and the calling of God upon our lives.
Begin with a good study bible and a translation that utilized committed biblical scholarship to bring in the various annotations and study helps a greater understanding of the biblical languages and the meaning of those passages that are in need of interpretative analysis. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you as you seek understanding and truth. Explore the powerful witness of these words as they speak to your heart and life. 2 Timothy 2:15 was written to a young preacher as a reminder of the opportunity to pursue the truth of God’s witness in the Holy Scriptures. I hope you will read it and learn with joy.
Wednesday, November 2, 2005
Thinking Theologically
More than a few people figure that the easiest way to find the truth about life is to catch the evening news or to read the morning paper or to listen to the latest on NPR.
The truth that we seek may indeed be a reflection of “the news” but more often the greatest capacity we have for seeing the truth about a situation lies in the opportunity we share to learn from the scriptures in grasping the eternal truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the best expositor of truth we can have. The Holy Spirit is promised to be our guide in discerning truth as we open our hearts to receive that which God gives to us.
Our problem lies in applying the truth we have heard and known about. We can read the Ten Commandments and have a good idea of what they mean. They mean to lay a foundation for civilization, for relational appropriateness toward God and our fellow man. The nature of the entire biblical record is to reveal the witness of God in bringing “light” to our darkness. Yet the reality is, we often head for the dark instead of the light.
Thinking about “God’s way” as often in contrast to “our way” requires both repentance and action. Repentance is the acknowledgement of our own “wrong-headedness before God” and an honest and earnest desire to choose a new direction of faith and trust in Him. But trusting God requires a willing disciple…a student of God’s way and a person looking for the right, looking for the way of the Lord he or she serves.
That’s a good time and place to begin thinking theologically…considering the things of God as they apply to you…every day…in all the ordinary and extraordinary moments of your life. Principles of faith, actions of love, expressions of mercy, acts of kindness, words of blessing and hope, all are meant to be a part of the Christian’s life and witness.
Thinking theologically will cause you to reflect and act in new ways…if you follow the leading of Jesus. It will change you and the world you are a part of. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on you own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NRSV
The truth that we seek may indeed be a reflection of “the news” but more often the greatest capacity we have for seeing the truth about a situation lies in the opportunity we share to learn from the scriptures in grasping the eternal truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the best expositor of truth we can have. The Holy Spirit is promised to be our guide in discerning truth as we open our hearts to receive that which God gives to us.
Our problem lies in applying the truth we have heard and known about. We can read the Ten Commandments and have a good idea of what they mean. They mean to lay a foundation for civilization, for relational appropriateness toward God and our fellow man. The nature of the entire biblical record is to reveal the witness of God in bringing “light” to our darkness. Yet the reality is, we often head for the dark instead of the light.
Thinking about “God’s way” as often in contrast to “our way” requires both repentance and action. Repentance is the acknowledgement of our own “wrong-headedness before God” and an honest and earnest desire to choose a new direction of faith and trust in Him. But trusting God requires a willing disciple…a student of God’s way and a person looking for the right, looking for the way of the Lord he or she serves.
That’s a good time and place to begin thinking theologically…considering the things of God as they apply to you…every day…in all the ordinary and extraordinary moments of your life. Principles of faith, actions of love, expressions of mercy, acts of kindness, words of blessing and hope, all are meant to be a part of the Christian’s life and witness.
Thinking theologically will cause you to reflect and act in new ways…if you follow the leading of Jesus. It will change you and the world you are a part of. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on you own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NRSV
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
When One Person Believes
Rosa Parks died this week. Mrs. Parks made a decision one day many years ago that led to her arrest for refusing to change her seat on a bus. She had worked a long day and was on her way home, when a white man boarded and insisted that she and two other black riders stand in order for him to sit. Mrs. Parks kept her seat. In interviews she simply said, I didn’t think it was right. History records that event as the beginning of the civil rights movement in America. It was the spark of an idea that allowed a flame of thinking to take fire in the minds and hearts of a generation of people who began to say and practice a new way of relating to those of other races. The “movement” that took shape carved slowly a new reality into the ideals of Americans. The realities of prejudice, hatred, and social isolation that fueled ignorance and brutality were difficult to face and have never been easy to change. Yet, changes have come and as new generations of men and women have taken hold of an idea about the humanity that God created in his own image and that God gave worth and value and hope to in every expression, we have begun to dream. Our dream recognizes the love of God for every man, woman and child. Our dream sees the opportunity for God’s love to be expressed in our own actions and attitudes. Our dream is a God-given dream for a day and a time when we shall be joyously celebrating together the fact of our common brotherhood in Christ Jesus our Lord. Every man, every house, every tribe, every nation, every one of us must understand our hope is in our Savior, Jesus. “As you have done unto the least of these, you have done it unto me.” Those words of Jesus should echo in our hearts as each day we relate to one another in the Spirit of His mercy and grace.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Planting Trees
More than a few persons have elaborated on the importance of planting trees in a world that is often most interested in cutting them down. The idea is not just applicable to the reforestation efforts of businesses dependent upon trees for profit, but also for communities that appreciate the value of oxygen producing foliage in the midst of smog and exhaust from cars, buses, trucks, and planes in ever growing quantity.
The idea is that people recognize the importance of stewardship of resources and their use in responsible ways, but also the consideration of the next generation’s needs. Many a property owner has started an orchard or a vineyard or a forest with the knowledge that much of their effort might not be recognized in their own lifetime, but they acted to provide a future possibility by their diligent work and their intentional consideration for those who would follow them.
That basic element of consideration for the future comes into play in many other arenas of life as well. Do we value clean water and air as much as we value profit? Do we care enough about the future not to pollute the earth for our children and grandchildren? Do we recognize the importance of “cleaning up some of the messes we have made with redemptive action?” Whether it is wisely dealing with outdated nuclear weaponry or stored and rusting supplies of munitions and poisonous gas left over from wars past, we have an obligation to consider the future. Do we care to do more with our solid waste than to dump it into the ocean or to put our untreated sewage in the water supply of someone downstream? Do we care enough to be a good neighbor in our own community and to take an interest in the one near us that needs our friendship?
Some people “plant trees” every day…in their conversations, in their encouragements, in their commitment to act in positive ways toward the world in which they live. Won’t you consider joining them in the spirit of Christ who taught us to love one another, to go the second mile, and to pray for our enemies? Consider planting the seeds of the gospel and watching faith grow as together we look to our Lord for his sustaining mercies and grace.
The idea is that people recognize the importance of stewardship of resources and their use in responsible ways, but also the consideration of the next generation’s needs. Many a property owner has started an orchard or a vineyard or a forest with the knowledge that much of their effort might not be recognized in their own lifetime, but they acted to provide a future possibility by their diligent work and their intentional consideration for those who would follow them.
That basic element of consideration for the future comes into play in many other arenas of life as well. Do we value clean water and air as much as we value profit? Do we care enough about the future not to pollute the earth for our children and grandchildren? Do we recognize the importance of “cleaning up some of the messes we have made with redemptive action?” Whether it is wisely dealing with outdated nuclear weaponry or stored and rusting supplies of munitions and poisonous gas left over from wars past, we have an obligation to consider the future. Do we care to do more with our solid waste than to dump it into the ocean or to put our untreated sewage in the water supply of someone downstream? Do we care enough to be a good neighbor in our own community and to take an interest in the one near us that needs our friendship?
Some people “plant trees” every day…in their conversations, in their encouragements, in their commitment to act in positive ways toward the world in which they live. Won’t you consider joining them in the spirit of Christ who taught us to love one another, to go the second mile, and to pray for our enemies? Consider planting the seeds of the gospel and watching faith grow as together we look to our Lord for his sustaining mercies and grace.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Beyond Help?
Following the recent earthquake in Pakistan, some international officials declared areas of the disaster zone “beyond help.” They were referring to conditions of roads and weather that prevented access to isolated regions. When we use that phrase
“beyond help,” we do so out of a sense of our own exacerbation with the circumstances that seem to be out of control or beyond our capacity to respond. In fact, that moment is perhaps the best time to rethink our position. Alone, we may be ourselves “beyond help.” Alone, those we would attempt to aid may be “beyond help,” but the witness of the scriptures give repeated testimony to the fact that God has the capacity that we do not have. God has the provision that we do not know or comprehend in our limited view. God has the means and the willingness to meet needs that we identify readily as “beyond our reach.”
How often have you come to that point in life when your conclusion about a situation was to declare it or the people involved, “Beyond help?” We must not forget that each and every individual is well within God’s capacities to help meet their need.
Our problem is perception. We look at the short-sighted view. We look at ourselves and see our limitations and forget God. God is able to abundantly provide above all that we ask or think, as we recognize in Him, the life we are called to live.
The disciple of Jesus discovers the rich provision of God’s mercy and grace and forgiveness. We have in Christ, a Savior, who redeems us from death and the grave. We have a risen Lord that redefines our future in terms of fellowship with God for all eternity. We have in Jesus the one who will supply our needs in accordance with the will of God and with the promise “to never leave us nor forsake us.”
Life in Christ is to never be “beyond help.” Life in fellowship with our Lord is full of the capacities of God to enable and supply our needs and the needs of others. The real question before us is the question of faith. Do we trust God? Do we recognize that He is the source of our hope? Do we understand that kingdoms of this world will shatter and fall, but the Kingdom of God and His rule, as it is known in the hearts and lives of His people, will endure forever? Our cry should be “God help us!” For those we seem so helpless to aid, let us pray, “God help them!” And with earnest and willful acts of intentional love ….in the name of Christ; let us do what we know we can do, trusting God and seeing Him work in and through us.
“beyond help,” we do so out of a sense of our own exacerbation with the circumstances that seem to be out of control or beyond our capacity to respond. In fact, that moment is perhaps the best time to rethink our position. Alone, we may be ourselves “beyond help.” Alone, those we would attempt to aid may be “beyond help,” but the witness of the scriptures give repeated testimony to the fact that God has the capacity that we do not have. God has the provision that we do not know or comprehend in our limited view. God has the means and the willingness to meet needs that we identify readily as “beyond our reach.”
How often have you come to that point in life when your conclusion about a situation was to declare it or the people involved, “Beyond help?” We must not forget that each and every individual is well within God’s capacities to help meet their need.
Our problem is perception. We look at the short-sighted view. We look at ourselves and see our limitations and forget God. God is able to abundantly provide above all that we ask or think, as we recognize in Him, the life we are called to live.
The disciple of Jesus discovers the rich provision of God’s mercy and grace and forgiveness. We have in Christ, a Savior, who redeems us from death and the grave. We have a risen Lord that redefines our future in terms of fellowship with God for all eternity. We have in Jesus the one who will supply our needs in accordance with the will of God and with the promise “to never leave us nor forsake us.”
Life in Christ is to never be “beyond help.” Life in fellowship with our Lord is full of the capacities of God to enable and supply our needs and the needs of others. The real question before us is the question of faith. Do we trust God? Do we recognize that He is the source of our hope? Do we understand that kingdoms of this world will shatter and fall, but the Kingdom of God and His rule, as it is known in the hearts and lives of His people, will endure forever? Our cry should be “God help us!” For those we seem so helpless to aid, let us pray, “God help them!” And with earnest and willful acts of intentional love ….in the name of Christ; let us do what we know we can do, trusting God and seeing Him work in and through us.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Preparation
In Matthew 16:2-3, Jesus cited the weather as a reminder that we can look at the sky and anticipate the coming day’s forecast. Yet he noted that many people fail to take as much notice of the times as it relates to their spiritual condition.
What about your “readiness” status? One Senior Adult Sunday School teacher shared that for a while they had a sign in their class that said from Age 75 to Heaven. She said people didn’t want to come to that class. So they took down the sign.
Too often, we resist thinking about the future. At the same time, we have the need to urgently prepare ourselves and others for the future that certainly is coming. We must recognize the difference between temporary and eternal. Setting our aims on only the temporary concerns of life will leave us unprepared for the eternity that lies ahead. On the other hand, to prepare ourselves daily for an eternity with our Lord, is to have both the resources and the relationship that will enable an abundant life now and forever.
Psalm 32:10 reminds us that “the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.” Psalm 62:10 says “…though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” The recent weeks of storms in the Gulf and fires in California and floods in many places should remind us of that reality. All the things we might attach ourselves to are temporary, but in trusting God, we find our source of eternal provision.
Preparation is needed by everyone who would comprehend the times. It is time to “prepare the way of the Lord.” It is time to be in anticipation of what God is doing and will do in our time. By faith, we can respond to the revealed love of God made known through Jesus Christ. By faith, we can receive forgiveness of our sins, and as we turn from our sins, and turn to our Savior, we will find life’s provisions for every day. We will then “be prepared.”
Let us join the Psalmist as he thought about the brevity of life in this world, who prayed to the Lord: “So teach us to number our days that we may gain a wise heart.” (Psalm 90:12). It is time to prepare!
What about your “readiness” status? One Senior Adult Sunday School teacher shared that for a while they had a sign in their class that said from Age 75 to Heaven. She said people didn’t want to come to that class. So they took down the sign.
Too often, we resist thinking about the future. At the same time, we have the need to urgently prepare ourselves and others for the future that certainly is coming. We must recognize the difference between temporary and eternal. Setting our aims on only the temporary concerns of life will leave us unprepared for the eternity that lies ahead. On the other hand, to prepare ourselves daily for an eternity with our Lord, is to have both the resources and the relationship that will enable an abundant life now and forever.
Psalm 32:10 reminds us that “the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.” Psalm 62:10 says “…though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” The recent weeks of storms in the Gulf and fires in California and floods in many places should remind us of that reality. All the things we might attach ourselves to are temporary, but in trusting God, we find our source of eternal provision.
Preparation is needed by everyone who would comprehend the times. It is time to “prepare the way of the Lord.” It is time to be in anticipation of what God is doing and will do in our time. By faith, we can respond to the revealed love of God made known through Jesus Christ. By faith, we can receive forgiveness of our sins, and as we turn from our sins, and turn to our Savior, we will find life’s provisions for every day. We will then “be prepared.”
Let us join the Psalmist as he thought about the brevity of life in this world, who prayed to the Lord: “So teach us to number our days that we may gain a wise heart.” (Psalm 90:12). It is time to prepare!
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Music Makers
Reading the Psalms quickly reminds those who worship God that the tradition of musical expression is strong in our past and reasonably should be strong in our present.
The call to praise the Lord is a call to “sing a new song” and to praise God for his mighty acts. The methods and means for praise appear largely unlimited in scope as we hear the Psalmist call upon all of creation to praise the Lord utilizing all available means…the sound of the trumpet, the psaltery and harp, the timbrel and dance, stringed instruments and organs, cymbals and high sounding cymbals. Vocally and instrumentally, we have every reason to praise our God and that begs the question…Do you share in making music unto the Lord? Do you participate in singing and praising and yes, dancing for the glory of God? Do you have a heart of thanks and gratitude that abounds with rejoicing and witness to the God of our salvation? Do you use musical abilities to play instruments and offer expressions of worship through music?
On any given Sunday, I must confess that what I see in congregational singing participation is at best weak and often lethargic! And we are honestly regarded as “musically blessed” in light of the capacity and abilities of many of our members to sing. May I suggest that what is lacking may be one of two things. First, some think they do not have the ability to “make a joyful noise” unto the Lord. Some feel they lack the ability to “keep a rhythm.” Some think that the sound they make is too lacking in melodic expression. It is true that for many these are challenges, but all can be overcome.
The second and significant problem may be a spiritual one. If you do not prepare yourself to worship the Lord, then likely you will not. To worship is to offer something of yourself. Part of your worship of the Lord your God is your witness, your expression of praise, your prayer, your offering, your giving from your heart the testimony of your thanks. If you do not sing, because you seem not to have the heart for it, then consider the need for a “spiritual check-up.” Is unconfessed sin stifling your spirit? Is broken fellowship hurting your witness and capacity to worship?” Is there a lack of spiritual attentiveness and focus in your daily walk with God? Are you reading the scriptures and learning to follow the way of Jesus? As you consider such matters, talk to God about your needs and struggles and ask for His help to give you a rejoicing heart.
In worship, begin with using your hymnal. Pick it up and turn to the page of music as we sing. Take note of the words. They are broken down by syllables to follow the phrasing of the music. Listen to the song as it is sung or played, the next verse will follow the same pattern. By the third or fourth verse, you can learn the song, even if you did not know it at the start. Many who do not read notes can listen and learn. Reading notes is not that hard either. My mother taught six year olds how to do it and they learned to press keys on a piano to match. You can learn too. Teach your children to follow along in the hymnal the same way, it will help them learn to read more proficiently and to sound out words. The hymnal is a tool for worship that includes songs of many types relating to many subjects, but the focus of them all is the worship of God.
A scripture passage that has long been one of my favorites was imprinted on the dedication page of the 1956 Baptist Hymnal and is a strong reminder to us all:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” - Colossians 3:16
The call to praise the Lord is a call to “sing a new song” and to praise God for his mighty acts. The methods and means for praise appear largely unlimited in scope as we hear the Psalmist call upon all of creation to praise the Lord utilizing all available means…the sound of the trumpet, the psaltery and harp, the timbrel and dance, stringed instruments and organs, cymbals and high sounding cymbals. Vocally and instrumentally, we have every reason to praise our God and that begs the question…Do you share in making music unto the Lord? Do you participate in singing and praising and yes, dancing for the glory of God? Do you have a heart of thanks and gratitude that abounds with rejoicing and witness to the God of our salvation? Do you use musical abilities to play instruments and offer expressions of worship through music?
On any given Sunday, I must confess that what I see in congregational singing participation is at best weak and often lethargic! And we are honestly regarded as “musically blessed” in light of the capacity and abilities of many of our members to sing. May I suggest that what is lacking may be one of two things. First, some think they do not have the ability to “make a joyful noise” unto the Lord. Some feel they lack the ability to “keep a rhythm.” Some think that the sound they make is too lacking in melodic expression. It is true that for many these are challenges, but all can be overcome.
The second and significant problem may be a spiritual one. If you do not prepare yourself to worship the Lord, then likely you will not. To worship is to offer something of yourself. Part of your worship of the Lord your God is your witness, your expression of praise, your prayer, your offering, your giving from your heart the testimony of your thanks. If you do not sing, because you seem not to have the heart for it, then consider the need for a “spiritual check-up.” Is unconfessed sin stifling your spirit? Is broken fellowship hurting your witness and capacity to worship?” Is there a lack of spiritual attentiveness and focus in your daily walk with God? Are you reading the scriptures and learning to follow the way of Jesus? As you consider such matters, talk to God about your needs and struggles and ask for His help to give you a rejoicing heart.
In worship, begin with using your hymnal. Pick it up and turn to the page of music as we sing. Take note of the words. They are broken down by syllables to follow the phrasing of the music. Listen to the song as it is sung or played, the next verse will follow the same pattern. By the third or fourth verse, you can learn the song, even if you did not know it at the start. Many who do not read notes can listen and learn. Reading notes is not that hard either. My mother taught six year olds how to do it and they learned to press keys on a piano to match. You can learn too. Teach your children to follow along in the hymnal the same way, it will help them learn to read more proficiently and to sound out words. The hymnal is a tool for worship that includes songs of many types relating to many subjects, but the focus of them all is the worship of God.
A scripture passage that has long been one of my favorites was imprinted on the dedication page of the 1956 Baptist Hymnal and is a strong reminder to us all:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” - Colossians 3:16
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Literacy
I learned this past week that approximately 29,000 people in our county did not complete High School or a GED. Hundreds do not read well enough to read a newspaper. Literacy is a necessary step for those who would be able to read the Bible. If you can’t read the newspaper, or the bible, or help with your child’s homework, how awkward it might feel to be a part of a Sunday School class or group in which you were “assumed to be a reader.” It might be the reason some people stay away. Might you become a bridge toward someone being able to read in this community? Volunteers may become involved in literacy efforts throughout the county. Basic skills programs through the community college can assist you in your efforts to volunteer in this way.
Hundreds of language groups across the globe do not have the Bible in their own language in any form. Imagine the work necessary to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those people. It requires going to the people, learning the language, and translating the scriptures. This work continues in many places today. In addition, efforts often include developing means of biblical story-telling and developing audio-visual means for sharing the story of Jesus. The Jesus film has been translated into many languages and has had a powerful impact in communicating the Gospel. Your support of world missions through your local church makes an impact in these ways. You can be a bridge to help bring the Good News of Jesus to unreached people groups.
Poverty throughout the world is often linked to war, ethnic and cultural division, the absence of education and resources for learning, along with geophysical factors such as land availability and climate that often undermine efforts to develop communities. As we consider ways to address such issues in our own community, we would do well to recognize that the message of Christ is for every economic group, every nationality, and every person to hear. You can be a bridge to bring that good news to others. And as we do so in the name of Christ, we bring glory to God and discover joy in our own hearts as we do it.
Hundreds of language groups across the globe do not have the Bible in their own language in any form. Imagine the work necessary to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those people. It requires going to the people, learning the language, and translating the scriptures. This work continues in many places today. In addition, efforts often include developing means of biblical story-telling and developing audio-visual means for sharing the story of Jesus. The Jesus film has been translated into many languages and has had a powerful impact in communicating the Gospel. Your support of world missions through your local church makes an impact in these ways. You can be a bridge to help bring the Good News of Jesus to unreached people groups.
Poverty throughout the world is often linked to war, ethnic and cultural division, the absence of education and resources for learning, along with geophysical factors such as land availability and climate that often undermine efforts to develop communities. As we consider ways to address such issues in our own community, we would do well to recognize that the message of Christ is for every economic group, every nationality, and every person to hear. You can be a bridge to bring that good news to others. And as we do so in the name of Christ, we bring glory to God and discover joy in our own hearts as we do it.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Bible Reading
On more than a few occasions, people have asked for helpful ways to incorporate daily bible reading into their busy lifestyles. The frustration of many has often concluded that“I just don’t have the time.”
Let me offer a few suggestions that you might utilize as regular ways of “finding time”for bible reading and prayer.
1. If you use a computer regularly, add your email address to a “devotional scripture reading site.” This service provides you a daily passage for reflection and thought. Rarely does it take more than three or four minutes to read and afterwards to spend time thinking about that passage during the day.
2. Get a small readable New Testament with the Psalms (and Proverbs) if you can find it. Keep it with you-- In your shirt pocket, coat pocket, pants pocket. When you are waiting in line, stuck in traffic for extended periods, waiting for food in a restaurant, or between appointments, take a few minutes to read. Consider reading the Psalm that begins with the date of the month. For example on the 20th of September, read the 20th Psalm and if you are able, then add 30 and read the 50th Psalm, add 30 more and read the 80th Psalm and continue that pattern until you have read 5 Psalms that day and one chapter of Proverbs, again reading the chapter that corresponds to the date. Proverbs happens to have exactly 31 chapters. Over time, the repetition of this devotional reading pattern will give you great insight into prayer and praise, petition and instruction from the scriptures.
3. Another great pattern is to Read one book of the Bible at a time, one chapter at a time. Some of the great books to read this way are Genesis, Romans, John, or Philippians. All are good, but some help you to quickly gain a better understanding of important themes for Christian understanding. You can buy scripture portions that highlight certain books from places such as the American Bible Society. These are also then easy to distribute in Sunday School Classes, to friends, or to distribute along with an encouragement to others to read the good news of Jesus.
4. Find a regular place and time for quiet reading and reflection. Whether early in the morning, in the moments prior to starting your work day, or at the close of your lunch break, or before you go to sleep. All are great times to set aside as best fits your work and activities. Select one and do your best to stick with that pattern faithfully for 3 weeks. After that time, it will be much easier to keep going.
5. If you have young children, include them in a time of nightly prayer and bible reading. The times spent sharing with your little ones in teaching them about God’s love will impact them forever.
6. Find a Bible translation you can reasonably understand, and keep a dictionary handy. Both tools will help you.
7. A dear pastor friend who was in his 80’s shared that as a boy, his mother had challenged him to read the bible through every year. He said he had done that and some years had gone through more than once, but he also said, never did he ever read the scriptures without profit and blessing from doing so. With every reading, he gained new insights and understanding. You will too.
Let me offer a few suggestions that you might utilize as regular ways of “finding time”for bible reading and prayer.
1. If you use a computer regularly, add your email address to a “devotional scripture reading site.” This service provides you a daily passage for reflection and thought. Rarely does it take more than three or four minutes to read and afterwards to spend time thinking about that passage during the day.
2. Get a small readable New Testament with the Psalms (and Proverbs) if you can find it. Keep it with you-- In your shirt pocket, coat pocket, pants pocket. When you are waiting in line, stuck in traffic for extended periods, waiting for food in a restaurant, or between appointments, take a few minutes to read. Consider reading the Psalm that begins with the date of the month. For example on the 20th of September, read the 20th Psalm and if you are able, then add 30 and read the 50th Psalm, add 30 more and read the 80th Psalm and continue that pattern until you have read 5 Psalms that day and one chapter of Proverbs, again reading the chapter that corresponds to the date. Proverbs happens to have exactly 31 chapters. Over time, the repetition of this devotional reading pattern will give you great insight into prayer and praise, petition and instruction from the scriptures.
3. Another great pattern is to Read one book of the Bible at a time, one chapter at a time. Some of the great books to read this way are Genesis, Romans, John, or Philippians. All are good, but some help you to quickly gain a better understanding of important themes for Christian understanding. You can buy scripture portions that highlight certain books from places such as the American Bible Society. These are also then easy to distribute in Sunday School Classes, to friends, or to distribute along with an encouragement to others to read the good news of Jesus.
4. Find a regular place and time for quiet reading and reflection. Whether early in the morning, in the moments prior to starting your work day, or at the close of your lunch break, or before you go to sleep. All are great times to set aside as best fits your work and activities. Select one and do your best to stick with that pattern faithfully for 3 weeks. After that time, it will be much easier to keep going.
5. If you have young children, include them in a time of nightly prayer and bible reading. The times spent sharing with your little ones in teaching them about God’s love will impact them forever.
6. Find a Bible translation you can reasonably understand, and keep a dictionary handy. Both tools will help you.
7. A dear pastor friend who was in his 80’s shared that as a boy, his mother had challenged him to read the bible through every year. He said he had done that and some years had gone through more than once, but he also said, never did he ever read the scriptures without profit and blessing from doing so. With every reading, he gained new insights and understanding. You will too.
Thursday, September 8, 2005
Storm Relief
Storms come in all kinds of ways. Jesus demonstrated his ability to calm the winds at his command. The storms we often find ourselves in need of calming are not always of the meteorological variety. Yet, our Lord is our best hope for finding calm in those storms as well.
Some storms are of our own making. We fret or fume about things or events or expectations that in one way or another were not in accord with our wishes. I’m sure the president felt a little storm tossed by the circumstances and critics of this past week. The natural disaster zone that the Gulf Coast presented sent multitudes of people into traumatic circumstances that overturned their expectations, plans, and preconceived ideas of the future. Yet, our Lord is the best hope for finding help in the midst of such horrific experiences.
We turn to government, world leaders, community helping agencies, and the local church to seek out help for times of despair and danger. Communities that have strong relational capacities to identify persons, to know their needs, and to offer resources for meeting those needs have been the most efficient centers of help in times of disaster. At the same time, such networks of support often falter in the context of more personal storms, like divorce, the death of parent or spouse, the trauma of a child in prison, dealing with mental illness, or suffering bankruptcy or business failure. The reason for many failing to find help in the midst of these “personal storms” lies in the natural tendency we have been taught by our culture to “keep such things private.” Individualism in America is a strong cultural tradition. At the same time it is not individualism that has been the bedrock of progress or the strength of our generation. The strength has come in the willingness of those sharing in community to recognize the necessity of sharing together in overcoming life’s storms. And in the community we call church, there is the center that is our resource, Jesus Christ our Lord. In Him we share our identity. In Him we acknowledge our Savior. In Him we confront our sin and find forgiveness. In Him we move from our darkness into the light of His truth and righteousness and love. Jesus was no stranger to storms. He faced them in every place that he took the Good News of God’s truth and love. He confronted bigotry, political schemers, hypocrisy, prejudice, disease, poverty, world powers, religious zealots, and the commercial interests of his day. He confronted them all with love, with truth, and with the witness of his touch, his healing, and his divine wisdom. His peace was his gift to those who had ears to hear, faith to believe, and hearts to trust and follow Him. Jesus is still our best hope for finding help in the midst of the storms.
Some storms are of our own making. We fret or fume about things or events or expectations that in one way or another were not in accord with our wishes. I’m sure the president felt a little storm tossed by the circumstances and critics of this past week. The natural disaster zone that the Gulf Coast presented sent multitudes of people into traumatic circumstances that overturned their expectations, plans, and preconceived ideas of the future. Yet, our Lord is the best hope for finding help in the midst of such horrific experiences.
We turn to government, world leaders, community helping agencies, and the local church to seek out help for times of despair and danger. Communities that have strong relational capacities to identify persons, to know their needs, and to offer resources for meeting those needs have been the most efficient centers of help in times of disaster. At the same time, such networks of support often falter in the context of more personal storms, like divorce, the death of parent or spouse, the trauma of a child in prison, dealing with mental illness, or suffering bankruptcy or business failure. The reason for many failing to find help in the midst of these “personal storms” lies in the natural tendency we have been taught by our culture to “keep such things private.” Individualism in America is a strong cultural tradition. At the same time it is not individualism that has been the bedrock of progress or the strength of our generation. The strength has come in the willingness of those sharing in community to recognize the necessity of sharing together in overcoming life’s storms. And in the community we call church, there is the center that is our resource, Jesus Christ our Lord. In Him we share our identity. In Him we acknowledge our Savior. In Him we confront our sin and find forgiveness. In Him we move from our darkness into the light of His truth and righteousness and love. Jesus was no stranger to storms. He faced them in every place that he took the Good News of God’s truth and love. He confronted bigotry, political schemers, hypocrisy, prejudice, disease, poverty, world powers, religious zealots, and the commercial interests of his day. He confronted them all with love, with truth, and with the witness of his touch, his healing, and his divine wisdom. His peace was his gift to those who had ears to hear, faith to believe, and hearts to trust and follow Him. Jesus is still our best hope for finding help in the midst of the storms.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Self-Improvement
In the summer of 1972, I was an employee of the Southwestern Company of Nashville, Tennessee. Southwestern was a subsidiary of the Times-Mirror Corporation in that day and was the employer of thousands of college students from across the country.
At the launch of my summer job, I attended “sales school” in Nashville where I received a crash course in preparation for my summer’s work of selling books door to door. As a part of that sales school experience I was given a copy of the book, “The Magic of Thinking Big,” by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D. The focus of the book: “How to set your goals high…and then exceed them!” It was a great book of reminders about practical things such as positive attitude, personal discipline, overcoming obstacles, staying focused, and dealing with fears or failures.
At the age of 18, the following 14 weeks on the back roads of Buchanan County, Missouri were important learning experiences. It was a time of being responsible for finding a place to live, making enough to pay for all my meals, expenses, and managing orders and inventory and deliveries. But more than that, it taught me the value of persevering. Every day was a new start, with a new challenge. I had a good summer. I achieved my goal to earn enough to pay all my school expenses for the next year and to cover the costs of my transportation and living expenses for the summer.
Just a few months ago, I was attending a conference in Kentucky and by happenstance ran into another Southwestern Company alumnus from the same time I worked for them. We swapped stories and enjoyed our time sharing together, but what we remembered were the people and the principles that we learned along the journey toward those goals we had set out to accomplish. Looking back, we both thanked God for his divine hand in helping us through those days. And even more so, to recognize His divine leading toward those goals and dreams that have been provided for by His grace to this day. God is the one who challenges us to “think big” in terms of His promises to us. Believing in Him and following Him is the basis for achieving the things God dreams for us to accomplish.
Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”
John 14:12 NKJV
At the launch of my summer job, I attended “sales school” in Nashville where I received a crash course in preparation for my summer’s work of selling books door to door. As a part of that sales school experience I was given a copy of the book, “The Magic of Thinking Big,” by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D. The focus of the book: “How to set your goals high…and then exceed them!” It was a great book of reminders about practical things such as positive attitude, personal discipline, overcoming obstacles, staying focused, and dealing with fears or failures.
At the age of 18, the following 14 weeks on the back roads of Buchanan County, Missouri were important learning experiences. It was a time of being responsible for finding a place to live, making enough to pay for all my meals, expenses, and managing orders and inventory and deliveries. But more than that, it taught me the value of persevering. Every day was a new start, with a new challenge. I had a good summer. I achieved my goal to earn enough to pay all my school expenses for the next year and to cover the costs of my transportation and living expenses for the summer.
Just a few months ago, I was attending a conference in Kentucky and by happenstance ran into another Southwestern Company alumnus from the same time I worked for them. We swapped stories and enjoyed our time sharing together, but what we remembered were the people and the principles that we learned along the journey toward those goals we had set out to accomplish. Looking back, we both thanked God for his divine hand in helping us through those days. And even more so, to recognize His divine leading toward those goals and dreams that have been provided for by His grace to this day. God is the one who challenges us to “think big” in terms of His promises to us. Believing in Him and following Him is the basis for achieving the things God dreams for us to accomplish.
Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”
John 14:12 NKJV
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
In the Face of Death
An initial confrontation with the loss of a significant friend, family member, neighbor or co-worker often triggers a conscious and sometimes overwhelming sense of grief. Many who have studied the emotional trauma of grief have observed the wide range of emotions that often accompany such an experience. Christians are strongly advantaged in dealing with the loss of another Christian when we take hold of the promises of God and give witness in faith and trust to the provisions of God.
Familiar scripture verses such as John 3:16 remind us of the basic truth of God’s love for each of us. The Psalms are rich in their capacity to reflect our emotions of pain, to plea for God’s remedy to our crisis, and to complain honestly regarding our sense of helplessness in the face of tragic circumstance. These same Psalms likewise point us to the grace and mercy of God, bring forth an acknowledgement of His presence and power to sustain us and testify to the never failing love of God for those who trust in Him. Psalm 23, Psalm 121, Psalm 90, and many others call us to recognize God’s power to supply the needs of our lives in every generation.
Death is an experience that all will face at some point in time. In fact, those who make intentional efforts to avoid encounters with loss by engineering escapes from funeral home visitation, funerals, or memorial services, do themselves a disservice by pretending death will not “affect them.” It already has. The fear associated with the experiences of loss are a witness to our lack of preparation. Learning about life in Christ is the remedy, as we put our faith and trust in Him.
Familiar scripture verses such as John 3:16 remind us of the basic truth of God’s love for each of us. The Psalms are rich in their capacity to reflect our emotions of pain, to plea for God’s remedy to our crisis, and to complain honestly regarding our sense of helplessness in the face of tragic circumstance. These same Psalms likewise point us to the grace and mercy of God, bring forth an acknowledgement of His presence and power to sustain us and testify to the never failing love of God for those who trust in Him. Psalm 23, Psalm 121, Psalm 90, and many others call us to recognize God’s power to supply the needs of our lives in every generation.
Death is an experience that all will face at some point in time. In fact, those who make intentional efforts to avoid encounters with loss by engineering escapes from funeral home visitation, funerals, or memorial services, do themselves a disservice by pretending death will not “affect them.” It already has. The fear associated with the experiences of loss are a witness to our lack of preparation. Learning about life in Christ is the remedy, as we put our faith and trust in Him.
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