Why He Came

There was once a man who didn’t believe in God and was vocal about it. His wife, however, believed and raised their children to have faith in God and Jesus, despite his disparaging comments.

One snowy Christmas Eve, his wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him to come. He refused, adding, "That story is nonsense! Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth as a man? That’s ridiculous!"

A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. The man sat down to relax before the fire. He then heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He looked out, but couldn’t see more than a few feet.

When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what was hitting his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese. Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn’t go on.

They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed.

The man felt compassion for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It’s warm and safe. There they could spend the night and wait out the storm. He walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside.

But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn’t seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they moved further away. He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a breadcrumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn’t catch on.

Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe.

"Why don’t they follow me?" he exclaimed. "Can’t they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?"

He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn’t follow a human. "If only I were a goose, then I could save them," he said aloud. He had an idea.

He went into the barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn--and one by one the other geese followed it to safety.

He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: "If only I were a goose, then I could save them!" Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. "Why would God want to be like us? That’s ridiculous!"

Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese – blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son become like us so He could show us the way and save us. That was the meaning of Christmas, he realized.

As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood what Christmas was all about, why Christ had come.

Years of doubt and disbelief vanished like the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow and prayed his first prayer: "Thank You, God, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!"

Be in that number

Why do I like to number things? I’m not really sure. I think it’s because I like numbers and data.

I can tell you exactly how many miles I have run this year and how many miles I have ridden my bike and exactly how many hours it took, thanks to GPS technology. Hey, some of us like are like that!

God is into numbers! There are numerous examples of it. There is even a whole book called "Numbers."

Matthew 1 has an interesting genealogy of Jesus, as does Luke. Matthew sums his up in a rather tidy numerical way.

Matthew 1:17 — Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

More interesting to me than the number is who is in that number. There are lots of flawed, deeply flawed people, people who did some really terrible and terribly immoral things, yet they turned back to a God who loved and loves them.

Matthew’s genealogy, strategically placed before the birth of Jesus, invites all of us, no matter what we have done, to understand God has come to us and is with us. Immanuel. Jesus came to save us from our sins.

Lord, I want to be in that number!

Christ Was Love

A few years ago a school in California was having its "Winter Program," performed by the kindergarten class. One mother, Candy Chand, described what happened.

Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song. Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.

So, when my son’s class rose to sing "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken back by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, all adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row, center stage, held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.

As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love." The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her, a small quiet girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down, totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W."

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one’s mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.

In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

CHRIST WAS LOVE

He still is!

What's in a name?

What parents name their babies interests, and sometimes amuses, me. My wife and I were careful in naming our four children. Three of the four share the name of Bible characters but also of someone significant in our extended family. One of four is named after a great grandfather who was great.

Recently I saw the list of the top names for 2013. The most popular names for boy were: Jackson, Aiden, Liam, Lucas, and Noah, and for girls it was Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Isabella, and Mia.

The same website also posted a list of the most unusual names. It was fairly long, so I’ll just share a few that caught my eye.

Girls: Blip, Duda, Ezgi, Kukua, Nyx, and Zona.

Boys: Ajax, Baobao, Cheese, Chow, Hurricane, Rocket, and Tintin.

Alrighty then! You have to wonder what impact a name has on the child’s behavior. Watch out for Hurricane!

In God’s Story, naming people is significant. That’s a good thing to remember at this time of the year.

Matthew 1:21-23

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

No Time for That

Christmas Day was drawing near, and a young mother was moving quickly from store to store in a stressful way. Suddenly, as she juggled bags and boxes, she became aware the little hand of her three year old son was no longer clutched in hers.

In a panic she retraced her steps and found him standing with his little nose pressed against a window. He was staring intently at a manger scene. In his excitement, he missed his mother’s frantic tone.

With innocent excitement he shouted, "Look mommy! It’s Jesus, baby Jesus in the hay!"

Missing his joy and wonder, she impatiently jerked him away saying, "We don’t have time for that!"

It's Possible

Letters to Santa Claus are pretty common at this time of the year.

"Dear Santa, you did not bring me anything good last year. You did not bring me anything good the year before that. This is your last chance." -Alfred

"Dear Santa, there are three little boys who live at our house. There is Jeffrey; he is 2. There is David; he is 4. And there is Norman; he is 7. Jeffrey is good some of the time. David is good some of the time. But Norman is good all of the time. I am Norman."

I’m not Norman. Are you? You might relate more to the next story.

A boy was asked by his teacher, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

"I want to be possible," the boy answered.

"Possible? Of all the things you might be, why do you want that?" the teacher asked.

The boy replied, "Because my mom and dad are always saying I’m impossible."

Every feel that way? One of the beautiful reminders of Christmas come from the angel’s words to Mary, recorded in Luke 1:37.

"Nothing is impossible with God."

God makes possible dramatic change and salvation for any and everyone, including you. The result is peace and joy in the midst of a world that is often chaotic and destructive.

This is the message of Christmas.

Don't Miss the Point

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their flying machine off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine:

"We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas."

Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He totally missed the big news -- man had flown!

We often do the opposite. We focus on flying through this time of the year with all of its activities and miss the point of Christmas. How about we take some time to remember and reflect about the Incarnation of Jesus?

John can help out with his words found in chapter 1.


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Can you hear me now?

Think Along 294

Can you hear me now?

There’s a painting by Holman Hunt that hangs in the British National Gallery in London. You probably have seen it. It shows Jesus gently knocking at a door, a door that has not been opened for a long time. Notice the weeds. The painting is an illustration of Revelation 3:20.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
A little girl was standing in front of the painting with her father. "Daddy," she asks, "why don’t they answer the door?"

The father replied, "I don’t know why."

After a moment’s pause, the little girl said, "Maybe they’re making too much noise to hear him knocking."

I wonder, especially at this time of the year, if we are so distracted we fail to hear the message of the God’s entry into our world?

Immanuel, God with us.
I need to take time to be still and think about what all this means. Again.

Cold

The Cold Within

Six humans trapped by happenstance
In bleak and bitter cold.
Each one possessed a stick of wood
Or so the story’s told.

Their dying fire in need of logs
The first man held his back
For of the faces round the fire
He noticed one was black.

The next man looking ‘cross the way
Saw one not of his church
And couldn’t bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.

The third one sat in tattered clothes.
He gave his coat a hitch.
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought
Of the wealth he had in store
And how to keep what he had earned
From the lazy shiftless poor.

The black man’s face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight.
For all he saw in his stick of wood
Was a chance to spite the white.

The last man of this forlorn group
Did nought except for gain.
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game.

Their logs held tight in death’s still hands
Was proof of human sin.
They didn’t die from the cold without
They died from the cold within.

                                       -- James Patrick Kinney

Life Lessons in Poetry

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bile. It has more verses than 14 Old Testament books and more verses than 17 New Testament books. It is a 176 verse prayer celebrating living by God’s word.

Psalm 119 is an acrostic, a feature we miss in our English translations. The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters, so Psalm 119 has 22 stanzas, one for each letter. Additionally, each verse in each stanza begins with that letter. For example, all the verses in the A (Aleph) stanza begin with A.

Here is one of the stanzas (He). It’s a great prayer for the week, by the way!

Psalm 119:33-48 (The Message)

God, teach me lessons for living
so I can stay the course.
Give me insight so I can do what you tell me—
my whole life one long, obedient response.
Guide me down the road of your commandments;
I love traveling this freeway!
Give me a bent for your words of wisdom,
and not for piling up loot.
Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,
invigorate me on the pilgrim way.
Affirm your promises to me—
promises made to all who fear you.
Deflect the harsh words of my critics—
but what you say is always so good.
See how hungry I am for your counsel;
preserve my life through your righteous ways!

Do You Believe in Magic?

A doctor and an engineer entered a chocolate store. As they were busy looking around, the doctor stole 3 chocolate bars.

As they left the store, the doctor said to engineer, "Man! I'm the best thief ever, I stole 3 chocolate bars and no one saw me. You can't beat that."

The engineer replied, "Okay, you wanna see something better? Let's go back to the store and I'll show you real stealing."

So they both went up to the counter and the engineer said to the shop boy, "Hey, would you like to see some magic?"

The shop boy replied, "Yes!"

The engineer said, "Give me one chocolate bar." The shop boy gave him one, and he ate it. He asked for the second, and he ate that one as well. He asked for the third, and finished that one too.

The shop boy asked, "Okay, what are you trying to pull here? Where's the magic?"

The engineer replied, "Check in my friend's pocket. You'll find all three bars."

* * *

Hey, it’s Friday and a good day to smile a bit. This story did make me think of this verse.

1 Timothy 5:24 — The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them.

Persevere!

I really enjoy endurance athletics for lots of reasons, but one of them is learning about perseverance. Participants really learn how to keep going when they feel like quitting, especially when they feel like quitting. Perseverance. What drives them? Amongst several things, the reward of finishing.

One of my favorite passages is Hebrews 12:1-3, where the image is about persevering in running. The writer wants his readers, who are struggling and wanting to quit, to know many are cheering them on, encouraging them to persevere.

Ultimately he holds up Jesus as the example. Because he knew the reward of finishing his course, he was able to endure the pain of the course. Here’s Hebrews 12:1-3


Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

My prayer for you today, especially if you are in the midst of giving up on something you shouldn’t, is you will find the strength to continue. Listen to those around you encouraging you to continue, and look to Jesus. Persevere!

Your Body

It seems to me most people do not like their bodies. What do you think of yours? Most of us probably have a few things, a few spots we wish were different.

Let’s think about it in a different way.

Our bodies are wonderful things, and as one who enjoys endurance athletic events, I am amazed at what bodies can do. Truly, to use King David’s words in Psalm 139:14, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made."

Henri Nouwen has some great thoughts about our bodies, specifically encouraging us to respect and to take care of them.

In so many ways we use and abuse our bodies. Jesus’ coming to us in the body and his being lifted with his body in the glory of God call us to treat our bodies and the bodies of others with great reverence and respect.

God, through Jesus, has made our bodies sacred places where God has chosen to dwell. Our faith in the resurrection of the body, therefore, calls us to care for our own and one another's bodies with love. When we bind one another's wounds and work for the healing of one another's bodies, we witness to the sacredness of the human body, a body destined for eternal life.

1 Corinthians 6:19,20 — Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Honor God with your body. I like that.

Seldom is heard

Home on the Range is the state song of Kansas. Did you know that? I didn’t.

I like the chorus:


Home, home on the range,

Where the deer and the antelope play;

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

"Seldom is heard discouraging word." I like that, and I’d like to live there. You too? Where I live, some would say, "Seldom is heard an encouraging word."

Discouragement tends to dominate and draw the most attention. A while back someone told me discouragement always has Satan as its source. After thinking about it for a long time, I believe that’s right.

Encouragement is rooted in God and his goodness. Encouragement seems in short supply at times, so let’s make sure we are a part of the solution. Encourage someone every day in a meaningful way. You might just find that some of it comes back your way.

Hebrew 3:13 — But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

What do you want?

I am reading through the Bible this year, using Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase, The Message. Sunday’s New Testament reading was from 1 John and included verses 15-17.


Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

When I read this, I smiled at the timing of it. Here we are in the middle of the crazy commercialism of Christmas, where so much is driven by unhealthy desires to get or to gain something. All of that stands in tension with the "reason for the season."

We are simplifying again this year. Less gifts, no debt, and more focus on family time around the table. The stuff of this world is fleeting, but the relationships we strive for, modeled after the one God desires to have with us, will last. It’s also what we will remember as we grow older.

Give Thanks Always

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; GIVE THANKS in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Love

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.

Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help.

That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

1 Peter 4:7-11 The Message

Strength

"The Law for the Wolves" by Rudyard Kipling is worth reading and reading again.

Probably the most popular and quoted line is this:

"The strength of the pack is in the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is in the pack."

So true!

Be Careful What You Say

A 5 year-old girl goes to the hospital with her mother to visit her grandfather. When they get to the hospital, she runs ahead of her mother and bursts into her Grandpa's room.

"Grandpa, Grandpa!!" she says excitedly, "as soon as my mother comes into the room, talk like a frog!"

"Well okay dear, but why?" replied her Grandpa.

"Talk like a frog because mommy said that as soon as you croak, we're all going to Disney World!"

Precious Memories

The other day I was going through some books and found this sweet little note from my sweet little girl. Still so sweet, she’s 20 now, so this note is several years old. It warmed, and continues to warm, my heart.

I have little notes and cards from all my children, scattered in books and in drawers. I love bumping into them from time to time, even though they sometimes make my eyes mist a bit.

Soon we will decorate our Christmas tree. On it will be crudely crafted ornaments made by little loving hands. The cards and crafts transport us back to days of loving and adoring innocence.

Good days from back then provide precious memories now. It reminds me of that old hymn.


Precious memories, how they linger,

How they ever flood my soul;

In the stillness of the midnight,

Precious, sacred scenes unfold.


As I travel on life's pathway,

Know not what the years may hold;

As I ponder, hope grows fonder,

Precious memories flood my soul.

My hope is to live forever in the presence of a God who highly values childlike innocence and love.

Can you see it?

Earth’s crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes —

The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "Aurora Leigh"

Lord, open our eyes!

Old Farmer Wisdom

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered not yelled.

Meanness don't just happen overnight.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

Good judgment comes from experience and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

God is our Refuge

Let’s get the week off to a good start! You know there will be all kinds of challenges and tests this week, as usual. Remember, you are not alone.

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

Two Boy Two Views

Once there were five-year-old twin boys, one a pessimist and the other an optimist. Wondering how two boys who seemed so alike could be so different, their parents took them to a psychiatrist.

The psychiatrist took the pessimist to a room piled high with new toys, expecting the boy to be thrilled. Instead he burst into tears. Puzzled, the psychiatrist asked, "don't you want to play with these toys?"

"Yes," the little boy bawled," but if I did I'd only break them."

Next the psychiatrist took the optimist to a room piled high with horse manure. The boy yelped with delight, clambered to the top of the pile, and joyfully dug out scoop after scoop, tossing the manure into the air with glee. "What on earth are you doing?" the psychiatrist asked.

"Well," said the boy, beaming "There’s got to be a pony in here somewhere!"

~ Author unknown ~

Throwback Thursday

To participate in Throwback Thursday, using social media, on Thursdays you post a picture of yourself from the past. It’s fun and funny in lots of ways. I suppose it is a healthy way to remember the past.

A lot of us participate in another kind of throwback, which is not healthy and is every day, not just Thursdays. We remember the wrongs others did to us. We become amateur archeologists, digging up the painful past, demanding wrongs be made right.

One day a man was talking to his friend about his wife. "Every time we argue, my wife gets all historical." His friend, correcting him, said, "You mean hysterical." "No, I meant what I said. She gets historical. She brings up everything from the past."

Grudges are heavy things to carry, harming mostly the carrier, but also destroying the possibility of relationships being restored. What’s the answer? Forgiveness.

Forgiveness in many ways is complicated, yet in other ways it is fairly simple. Jesus provides the perfect example. Peter, writing to persecuted people, reminds them they are following in the steps of Jesus. I love what he says in 1 Peter 2:23.

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Jesus absorbed the pain and the injustice of people behaving sinfully. The key, it seems, is found at the end of the verse, "He entrusted himself to him who judges justly." To forgive, I must follow the model of Jesus absorbing pain and injustice, while trusting in a God who will make things right.

Great Qualities

Two of the greatest qualities in life are:

1. Patience

2. Wisdom

The Other Side

A terminally ill man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

The doctor humbly and quietly said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You're a Christian man and don't know what's on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door. On the other side was scratching and whining. As the doctor opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him, clearly delighted to see him.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. All he knew was his master was here. When the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death. But I do know one thing. I know my Master is there and that is enough."

Hello My Name Is

Hello, my name is regret
I'm pretty sure we have met
Every single day of your life
I'm the whisper inside
That won't let you forget

Hello, my name is defeat
I know you recognize me
Just when you think you can win
I'll drag you right back down again

‘Til you've lost all belief
These are the voices, these are the lies
And I have believed them, for the very last time
Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I've been saved, I've been changed,
And I have been set free
"Amazing Grace" is the song I sing
Hello, my name is child of the one true King

I am no longer defined
By all the wreckage behind
The one who makes all things new
Has proven it's true
Just take a look at my life

What love the Father has lavished upon us
That we should be called His children
I am a child of the one true King
                                             –Matthew West

Be Real

Bill grew up in a small town and moved away to attend college and law school. He decided to come back to the small town, thinking he would be honored for doing well. He really wanted to impress everyone, hoping to find significance from the praise of others.

He opened his new law office, but business was very slow. One day, he saw a man coming up the sidewalk. He decided to make a big impression on this new client. As the man came to the door, Bill picked up the phone, motioning the man in. Bill began talking.


"No. Absolutely not! You tell those jokers in New York that I won't settle this case for less than one million."

"Yes. The Appeals Court has agreed to hear that case next week. I'll be handling the primary argument and the other members of my team will provide support."

Bill continued in similar fashion for about five minutes. The man sat patiently through it all. Finally, Bill put down the phone and turned to the man. "I'm sorry for the delay, but as you can see, I'm very busy. What can I do for you?"

The man replied, "I'm from the phone company. I came to hook up your phone."

A lot of us spend a fair amount of time trying to find significance and validation by impressing others. I’m guilty. Perhaps you are too.

If we belong to Christ, then our significance and validation are found in being his brother and being a beloved son or daughter of our Heavenly Father.

Galatians 3:26,27 — So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Facing Fear

Recently a few friends and I volunteered at Ironman Florida. An Ironman is a long course triathlon consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, a bike ride of 112 miles, followed by a 26.2 mile run. It’s truly an endurance event lasting all day and, for many, into the night.

Some of my friends have done them, and I want to do one too. (Insert "Crazy!" "Nuts!" comments here.) I can ride and run the distance. My problem is swimming. Two years ago I couldn’t dog paddle to save my life. Literally. The water terrified me, but my desire to learn to swim was greater than my fear of drowning.

It has been a long journey and I’m still not there, but I’ve never been alone. From the first frightful night in the pool, my friends have encouraged and helped me. While at Ironman, I donned my wetsuit and made my way into the rough water. Two friends went in with me, while two watched from the shore.

The nearby presence of accomplished swimmers, coupled with watchful eyes on shore, took away (most of) the fear. I gained confidence and believe, a year from now, I will complete the open water swim.

Reflecting on this experience, I see a picture of God’s presence and protection. God, I believe, often makes his presence known through other people, reminding us we don’t have to face our fears alone. I am thankful for supportive and protective friends. I’m sure you are too.

I am thankful to receive support and protection, and I hope to be representative of God’s support and protection in the lives of others facing fears. Maybe you would like to too? Let’s keep our eyes open for opportunities today.

What do you think?

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends.

Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.

— Philippians 2:1-5a

All sin and all problems are rooted in selfishness. Jesus was selfless and sinless, thinking of others before himself. A friend of mine once said, "I’m not much, but I am all I think about."

That made me laugh, but there is a lot of truth in it for most of us. Read those words from Paul again. Wow! This could really change the world.

In This House

What’s your home like?

We are getting closer to experiencing the empty nest, but that transition will not exert its full-force thanks to the arrival of a grandchild before our last child flies the coop. Regardless of how all that plays out, it’s a time in my life to reflect a little about how we did "home."

The picture is pretty close to what we intended to do. One key element in our home was/is the table and simple meals shared together with a loving prayer. No TV; no distractions. Our intention was/is to reflect the love of God and his way of dealing with us. We want our kitchen table to reflect the communion table.

Centering a home on a table that reflects the unconditional of God allows it to be a place of peace and joy, a place of security. It’s not easy, but with God’s help and intentional practices, like the ones pictured, it can be done.

May God bless your home.

Waiting in Hope

Lamentations 3:28-33


When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions:
Wait for hope to appear.
Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The "worst" is never the worst.

Why? Because the Master won’t ever
walk out and fail to return.
If he works severely, he also works tenderly.
His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.
He takes no pleasure in making life hard,
in throwing roadblocks in the way.

New Location

I read about a law firm that sent flowers to an associate in another city to celebrate the opening of a new law office. Through some mix-up, the card that accompanied the floral piece read, "Deepest Sympathy."

When the florist was informed of the mistake, he cried out, "Oh no! That means the card that went to the funeral home reads, ‘Congratulations on your new location’!"

If we are in Christ, then that is appropriate!

2 Corinthians 5:8,9 — We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

I don’t know fully the nature of the New Heaven and the New Earth, but I know people who have seen it. Jesus, Paul, and John all saw it and communicated it is the ultimate place to be. I’m staking my whole life on it, living in preparation and anticipation.

He's All I've Got

Poor old Jeremiah! He had such a hard task and received such a hard time. He lived and worked for God in the 6^th century B.C. He was a prophet of doom, and his message was the last thing the people wanted to hear.

They turned on him, and he felt God had done the same. Lamentations 3 is hard to read. Jeremiah accuses God of lots of things. He vents! But then, in his utter brokenness he turns back to recognizing God as good.

Lamentations 3:22-27


God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He’s all I’ve got left.

God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It’s a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.
It’s a good thing when you’re young
to stick it out through the hard times.
There are some powerful messages there for us, wherever we are.

Gossip

Proverbs 26:20 (The Message)

When you run out of wood, the fire goes out;
when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down.

Be. . .

"Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."

- John Wooden

Prayer for the Week

I need to start the week off with prayer, a prayer that encourages me to consider the amazing dimensions of God’s love. Here is one that works really well. Wow! It’s Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, but I’m pretty sure it’s for us too.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:16-21

Read, say, and pray this a few times each morning before starting your day. It will change things and change you for things!

Men & Women

A husband and wife’s journal from the same day:

HER JOURNAL:

Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset I was a bit late, but he didn’t mention it.

Conversation wasn’t flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet to talk. He agreed, but he didn’t say much. I asked him what was wrong; He said, ‘Nothing.’ I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn’t upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it.

On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can’t explain his behavior. I don’t know why he didn’t say, "I love you, too." When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent.

Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep. I cried. I don’t know what to do. I’m almost sure his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

HIS JOURNAL:

Boat won’t start; can’t figure out why.

I Love Her

Think Along 262

I Love Her

I bought a dress this week! I’m not one to buy dresses, but I saw this dress in a store that I’m associated with and just had to have it! It’s for my granddaughter who will be born in January.

Even though I’ve not met her, I have a love for her that almost makes me melt when I think about it. How can I love someone so much?

I love her because she is a part of me and related to me. I love her at a very deep emotional level, and later on, when I may not feel all these feelings, I will still love her unconditionally. I’ve made that decision.

It’s very helpful to realize God loves us like that! From the moment of your conception he has loved you and will love you forever. Look at these interesting passages of Scripture.

 Psalm 139:13-16

. . .You created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Job 10 (The Message)

Oh, that marvel of conception. . .
What a miracle of skin and bone, muscle and brain.
You gave me life itself, and incredible love.
You watched and guarded every breath I took.

Oh, how he loves us!

So Simple

Karl Barth, who died in the late 60s, was a famous theologian of the 20^th century. He is known, among other things, for his thirteen volume theological work, Church Dogmatics. He was a brilliant thinker and thoroughly thorough, probing depths of knowledge beyond many.

On his only trip to the U.S., in 1962, after a lecture that wowed the crowed of theologians, someone asked him what was the most important and profound thing to consider. The audience waited, anticipating some great truth to be eloquently articulated.

It was indeed a great truth eloquently articulated, but it was not what the crowd expected. After a short, but dramatic, pause, Barth said, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

God’s love is beyond full comprehension yet it is accessed simply by the simplest.

John 3:16 — "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

What's Your Focus?

A small town chamber of commerce invited a speaker for its annual dinner. The community’s economy was bad and people were discouraged. They wanted this motivational speaker to give them a boost.

During her presentation, the speaker took a large piece of white paper and made a small black dot at the center. Then she held the paper up and asked the audience what they saw.

"I see a black dot."

"Okay, what else?"

Others said: "A black dot."

"Don’t you see anything else?"

A resounding "No!" came from the audience.

"What about the sheet of paper?"

Then she added this:

"We tend to overlook and take for granted many wonderful things we have or happen around us, focusing our attention on small, dot-like failures and disappointments. The problems we have are usually like the black dot on the paper: small and insignificant if we can widen our horizon and look at the whole picture."

– Author Unknown

As Paul followed Jesus in this world, he suffered a lot, but instead of focusing on black dots, he saw them against the backdrop of God’s love, knowing God would use those dots for eternal purposes.

We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Lord, help me keep the dots in perspective, focusing on you.

Get Over Grouchy!

In our last post we talked about being grouchy. Two days later I saw an article entitled, "6 Ways to Un-Grouch a Grump." Wow! Timely.

Here are the 6 ways listed:

1. Schedule grouchy time. Get by yourself and let it rip. Complain and enjoy your misery. Then stop.

2. Do something silly. Intentionally. Jump in a rain puddle.

3. Eat happy food. Some foods can change your mood: muscles, seafood, eggs, and leafy greens.

4. Do something kind. Think of ways to bless the lives of others. Acts of kindness, random or otherwise, can help you.

5. Name your grouch. Give your grumpy side a name. Naming it helps you to realize it is not your true identity.

6. Be good to your gut. One word: fiber.

OK, what do you think about that? I’m not sure about all of them. Jump in a puddle? Silly for sure.

The one that stands out to me is #4. I have learned that when I think of others and do something for them, I feel better. Consider this:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 2:3-5

You get over grouchiness by following Jesus! Have a grouch-free week!

Grouchy?

I didn’t see until late in the day, but it didn’t really matter. Last Tuesday was National Grouch Day! I’m usually not grouchy (that’s my perception of me, anyway), but I felt that way a little on Tuesday. When I feel that way, I try to avoid people. You’re welcome.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a grouch is described as a person who complains frequently or constantly or a habitually irritable or complaining person. Do you know anyone who is chronic grouch? They don’t celebrate it once a year. No, it’s their way of life. Gripe, complain, grouse, mutter... Grouch! And they are not as much fun as Oscar on Sesame Street.

There are lots of reasons, I suppose, for people to be grouchy, but for the followers Jesus, well, we shouldn’t be that way. Sure, we have our moments, but we have been baptized into peace and joy.

One time someone said, describing a grouchy church member, "I think they were baptized in vinegar." That’s pretty funny and, sadly, an accurate description! I hope you will join me as I strive to live by the song that is rooted in deep theological reflection:


Booster, be a booster, don’t be grouchy like a rooster. . .

Have a great weekend!

Vacation!

It’s Fall Break where I live. It sure seems a lot of people took off to go somewhere. I am a bit envious ( in a God-honoring way, of course).

Why is that we want to get away, to go somewhere, anywhere but here? As soon as an opportunity presents itself, vroom vroom, we are gone! Out of here! G.O.N.E.

Since I’m stuck here, wishing I was somewhere else, I’ve been thinking about this. Is our desire to vacate tied to the way we live? Probably. Alabama captured it pretty well:

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why

We proudly embrace a self-validating "busyness" and take so little time to experience reflective rest. That’s the way it seems to me anyway.

Jesus knew about busyness at a level beyond our imagination. He even tried to control the crowds, it seems, by telling people he healed to not tell others.

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. (Luke 5:15)

Can you imagine the crowds? Jesus was compassionate and loving dealt with them. I don’t think he took vacations, so how could he do it? Maybe this is the key:

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16)

Key words: Often, Withdrew, Lonely Places, Prayed.

I need to work on this. Maybe a vacation would help? Oops, there I go again.

Adding Insult to Injury

Over the weekend, Matt Schaub, the quarterback for the Houston Texans, went down in the third quarter of the game with an ankle injury. To add insult to his injury, some of the fans in the stadium cheered! They were happy he was hurt.

Who cheers for a man who is injured? In Houston it was people frustrated and angry with him, disappointed because of unmet expectations regarding his performance and that of the team.

Has anyone ever "cheered" for your misfortune/pain, adding insult to an injury? Yeah, me too, but I also know this. I have celebrated the pain of others, and I’m guessing you have as well. Whether adding insult to another’s injury or receiving it from another, it’s probably for the same reasons the fans in Houston cheered. Disappointment. Anger. Unmet expectations. Lots of other stuff.

Sometimes we like to see others suffer, just a little at least. We need to repent, realizing that our Lord does not add insult to our injuries, even though, I’m sure, we disappoint him a lot. What does he do? He invites us to bring our injuries and insults, and the burdens they bring, to him.

Matthew 11:28,29 — "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

I want to continue to grow, becoming more like that, more like him.

One

One SONG can spark a moment

One FLOWER can wake the dream

One TREE can start a forest

One BIRD can herald spring

One SMILE begins a friendship

One HANDCLASP lifts a soul

One STAR can guide a ship at sea

One WORD can frame the goal

One VOTE can change a nation

One SUNBEAM lights a room

One CANDLE wipes out darkness

One LAUGH will conquer gloom

One STEP must start each journey

One WORD must start a prayer

One HOPE will raise our spirits

One TOUCH can show you care

One VOICE can speak with wisdom

One HEART can know what is true

One LIFE can make a difference.

Author Unknown

You are important! Your life is important, and you can make a difference for good or bad. The choices you make, one at a time, are the determining factor.

Focus on following The One, the one and only Son of God, and be aware of the ones around you watching the way you live.

One life, your life, can make a difference forever.

Friday Funny

The local news station was interviewing an 80-year-old lady who had just married for the fourth time. The interviewer asked her questions about her life and what it was like to marry again at 80. Then he asked about her new husband’s occupation.

"He's a funeral director," she answered.

"That’s Interesting," the newsman responded. He decided to ask a follow-up question.

"What occupations did your first three husbands have?"

She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years. A smile came to her face as she explained she married a banker in her 20s, then a circus ringmaster in her 40s, and a preacher in her 60s, and now, of course, in her 80s, a funeral director.

The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.

She smiled and explained, "I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go."

Have a great weekend!

What time is it?

It’s getting about time to craft your Christmas wish list. How about this? A Tikker Watch!

This watch is really different. You enter your age, weight, eating habits, exercise patterns, vices or lack thereof, and family history. It considers, calculates and then displays years, months, days, minutes, and seconds, counting down until your death!

Fredrik Colting, the inventor, explains it is not meant to be a morbid reminder of death but a way "to cherish the time and the life that we have been given, to honor it, suck the marrow from it, seize the day and follow our hearts. And the best way to do this is to realize that seconds, days and years are passing never to come again."

An investor in the project says it is not about how time you have but what you do with it. OK, I like that. I like the idea of living with an awareness of my mortality and the promise of eternity.

From Hebrews 9:27,28, I know this:

Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation.

So I/we say this everyday:

Psalm 118:24 — This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

I don’t need a Tikker. I can live each day joyfully and with confidence in the future. How about you?

Silent Presence and Protection

During the long dark nights of suffering and uncertainty, we long to see, hear, or feel the presence of God, but sometimes we feel nothing but the silence and the darkness. Here is a story I found and find helpful.

A tribe of Native Americans had a special rite of passage that transformed boys into young braves. When a boy turned thirteen he was blindfolded and taken deep into the woods. There he was left to fend off the fears of the night.

The young man had never been apart from his family until that night. He had been thoroughly taught about the night, its dangers, and how to survive. The training was now put to the test. Would he trust the training and be courageous?

After being placed in the middle of unfamiliarity, he removed his blindfold and saw nothing but loneliness barely illuminated by the thin slice of the moon and distant stars. The darkness and solitude magnified every sound of the woods. What dangers lurked nearby?

After a very long night, the first signs of daylight broke through heavy tree canopy. The young brave, successfully enduring the night, began to see trees and then a path. As his eyes began down the path, he was startled.

His eyes focused on a fierce warrior only a short distance away. The warrior had bow and arrow in hand, ready to stop any threat. It was the boy’s father. He had silently kept watch through the night.

Silent presence and protection. Thank you, Father.