Simple Thoughts from a Simple Man

Whose Battle Is It?

2011-11-22T22:29:00.000-06:00

David and Goliath is a favorite story of the Bible. We like the story because young David has a level of courage and faith that we long to have. While everyone else is trembling in fear of the giant, David is angered by his defying words and taunts. After a brief interview with King Saul, David begins the short journey into the valley to meet the Philistine giant armed only with a staff, a sling, and five stones. Behind him the army of Israel watches from behind rocks and boulders. Can you imagine the murmuring that must have been going on behinds those rocks? And in his tent, King Saul waited to hear the news of the gruesome death of the young lad.

Everyone else saw a giant of a man. David saw a pagan Philistine who was cursing his God. Everyone else saw the large spear, the big sword and the huge hands which held them. The others saw the big shields and the heavy armor of the Goliath. David saw a big man with an even bigger weakness; he did not know the Lord. David knew that the God he worshiped and served was much bigger than Goliath from Gath.

How could this boy walk toward the giant with such confidence while those who been trained to fight were hiding behind him? The answer is found in David’s response to Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:45-47.

⁴⁵But David told the Philistine, "You are coming against me with sword, spear, and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel's army, the one you've insulted. ⁴⁶Today the Lord will hand you over to me. I will strike you down and cut off your head! Today I will feed your dead body and the dead bodies of the entire Philistine camp to the wild birds and the wild animals. Then the whole world will know that there is a God on Israel's side. ⁴⁷And all those gathered here will know that the Lord doesn't save by means of sword and spear. The Lord owns this war, and he will hand all of you over to us."⁽¹⁾

David did not accept Goliath’s challenge out of national pride. He didn’t approach the giant in the name of Israel. David stood before Goliath in the name of the Lord. David stood before the giant not for his own glory, but so that the whole world will know that there is a God on Israel's side.⁽²⁾ In his brief testimony David is fully focused on the power of God. David is fully engaged in the holy battle; one that is owned by the Lord.

The giants on our lives frighten us because we lose sight of who is actually fighting the battle. Too often we try to use the weapons and armor of others and we are defeated. The weapons God gives us may not be impressive in the eyes of people. When God defeats our giants only he can receive the glory. Let’s keep our eyes on the God of universe!

⁽¹⁾Common English Bible (2011-06-15). CEB Common English Bible with Apocrypha (Kindle Locations 10494-10499). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.

⁽²⁾ I Samuel 17:46

God is with Us

2011-10-19T16:57:00.000-05:00

God is with Us

Have you ever been close to a destination only to find that you can’t get there? My family went to Grand Teton National Park for a vacation. The mountains were beautiful! We had never seen anything like the Tetons. We went in late May so the mountains were still covered with snow. In fact most of the trails were closed due to snow. Nevertheless, we enjoyed their majestic beauty. While we were there, I wanted to go to the top of Signal Mountain. Many people had told me that the view from there is magnificent. So, one day, we decided to drive to the top of Signal Mountain. We found the road that goes up the mountain. We drove a very distance to discover that it was closed with a big gate. On the gate was a sign which read, “Closed Due To Snow.” I was very disappointed.

I wonder if Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb had a similar feeling when the ten scouts gave a bad report of the Promised Land to the Israelites. I wonder if some of the Israelites were disappointed that they couldn’t take possession of the land. Caleb and Joshua were ready, as were Moses and Aaron. However, ten men changed the plan. In fact, they completely smashed the people’s dreams of The Promised Land. Like the gate that stood between us and the top of Signal Mountain, those men barred the entrance into The Promised Land.

The scouts returned with good news and bad news about The Promised Land. It was a good land with plenty of space for everyone. The fruit of the land was plentiful and delicious. However, there were two problems—the cities were fortified with strong defenses and giants lived in the land. You don’t have to live long to discover that the good things in life often require negotiating some difficult terrain to get there. There are always obstacles between us and the prize. Many times we are like the Israelites thinking that God will simply give us whatever he has promised without any cost, effort, or risk on our part. The truth is God is not a play-it-safe God. The Israelites should have figured that out after witnessing God’s power in Egypt through the ten plagues and opening the Red Sea for them to cross through on dry ground. They were given water and bread from the hand of God. They saw God descend on Mount Sinai. They saw the cloud and fire that led them. So why did they freak out about fortified cities and giants?

Let’s not be too quick to condemn the Israelites for their lack of faith. When was the last time you told God that what he was asking you to do was impossible? Last month? Last week? Today? We want to receive the promises of God, but too often we are afraid of the obstacles. I pray that you will be encouraged by the counsel of Caleb and Joshua:

“The land we crossed through to explore is an exceptionally good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, he’ll bring us into this land and give it to us. It’s a land full of milk and honey. Only don’t rebel against the Lord and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are our prey. Their defense has deserted them, but the Lord is with us. So don’t be afraid of them.” (Deuteronomy 14:7-9, CEB)

Distinctly Different

2011-10-11T06:02:00.000-05:00

People are unique. Every person is uniquely different from everyone else. No two people are exactly the same; even identical twins have subtle differences that distinguish one from the other. Not only are individuals unique, so are people groups. Whether the group is a family, business, school, community, congregation or nation, each group is uniquely different. Customs, traditions, language, ideals, and many more distinguish one group of people from another.

In the Book of Genesis God called Abraham to leave home and his family to go to a new land. God’s covenant with Abraham was that God would make a mighty nation of his descendants. He would be unique from all other nations in that God would bless all nations through Abraham. The sign of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants was that every male would be circumcised. And, thus, God began making his people distinctly different from all other peoples.

The Book of Exodus is the continuing story of how God’s people will be distinguished from all other nations. No other nation has been delivered from the bonds of slavery in such dramatic displays of power than the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God miraculously provided them water and food in the desert. He led them by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. These manifestations of all mighty God distinguished Israel from all other nations. However, there was one distinction that stood out from all the other distinctions.

Exodus chapter thirty-three begins as a sad moment in the relationship between God and Israel. God was angry with Israel because they made a golden calf and worshiped it while Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from God. Moses interceded on behalf of the people and asked God to forgive them for their sin. God forgave them and punished them in chapter thirty-two. In chapter thirty-three God told Moses to leave the mountain and lead the people to the land he promised to give them. In verse three God told Moses, “But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy on the way.” (Exodus 33:3 NIV; The Story, pp. 66-67) The people were very sad when Moses told them the bad news and they grieved (Exodus 33:4-6).

Moses met with God later in the tent of meeting and asked God who would go with him as he led the people to the Promised Land. He also asked God to teach him God’s ways so that he would continue to be in God’s favor. (Exodus 33:12-13)

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Then Moses said to him, “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know your name.” (Exodus 33:14-17 NIV; The Story, p. 67)

Moses knew that only one thing could truly make Israel distinctly different from the other nations—the Presence of God. This is true today as well. God has called his people to be distinctly different, holy, set apart, unique, even peculiar. Even though we are uniquely different for all the reasons and more that I mentioned earlier, if only we could fully grasp what Moses knew. It is the Presence that makes us distinctly Christian. It is the reality of God with us that sets apart, not in holier-than-thou ways, but in ways that people know they have been in the presence of God when they are around us. In fact, when Christians gather all the other things that make us different fade away as the Presence of God unites us (Galatians 3:25-29), so that we, the people of God in Jesus Christ, will be distinctly different from all other people. And people will know it.

The Power of God

2011-10-04T12:09:00.001-05:00

The story of Moses and the exodus from Egypt has intrigued people for centuries. There is so much in this story to like. The birth narrative of Moses, the burning bush, the ten plagues, and the crossing of the Red Sea are among the favorites. We are attracted to the strong leadership qualities of Moses, which are not his own, but the work of God through him. We connect with the people of Israel because we have experienced bondage and slavery. We look for someone to deliver us from our hard labor and abuse. We are drawn to the dramatic displays of power from God and wonder if God would ever perform such miracles through us. The exodus isn’t just the story of the Hebrew people; it is our story as well.

The key character in the exodus from Egypt is God. Everyone else are supporting cast. It is God who hears the cries of his people who are slaves in Egypt. It is God who calls and sends Moses to lead them out of Egypt. It is God who hardens the heart of Pharaoh so that his power may be shown. It is God who declares that he is “I AM.” It is God who performs the miracles and sends the plagues. It is God who led Israel by a pillar of cloud in the day and pillar of fire at night. It is God who opened the waters of the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross through on dry ground. It is God who stood between Pharaoh’s army and the nation of Israel while they walked across the dry seabed of the Red Sea. It was God who released the waters to crush and drown Pharaoh’s army. It is God who provided Israel with water and food in the wilderness. As dramatic and awe inspiring all these acts of God are, there is one action of God that surpasses all these.

The tenth plague that God sent upon Egypt was the death of all the firstborn of the Egyptians and their livestock. But God provided a way for the destroyer to distinguish between the Egyptian homes and the homes of his people. The Israelites sacrificed a lamb and smeared its blood on the door posts of their homes. They were saved from death because the blood applied to their doorposts was a sign for the destroyer to pass over their homes. God is putting his plan for redemption for all humanity into play. The first Passover pointed to God’s ultimate plan for delivering his people from slavery to sin and death. Many centuries later, God’s Son, Jesus Christ would die on a cross and be our Passover Lamb. His blood would be applied to the doorposts of the souls of those who accept God’s plan of salvation and life with him. No power on earth can rescue us from the death-grip of sin. Only God has the power to perform this mighty act in your life. Have you asked Jesus to apply his blood to the doorposts of your soul?

God's Pick

2011-09-21T13:24:00.000-05:00

A religious terrorist. Fishermen. Tax collector. Murderer. Deceiver. Womanizer. Coward. What do all these have in common? These are the traits of men God used for his mission in powerful ways. The Apostle Paul, Peter and Andrew, James and John, Matthew, Moses, Isaac, Samson, and Gideon would not be our first pick of someone to lead to a religious movement. Yet, God chose all these men to accomplish his purpose among the Israelites. Chapter two of The Story introduces us to a couple whom we would never pick to be the parents of a nation—Abram and Sarai.

If we were looking for a couple to be the parents of a new nation, most likely we would look for a couple who are young, energetic, strong, smart, and nice looking. We want a good gene pool to draw from. God, however, chose a couple who was old. Abram and Sarai must have still been energetic and strong for their age because God told them to follow him to a new land that would one day belong to them. If cunning is the same as smart, then they had that had that one covered. We don’t know about Abram, but Sarai was beautiful. But, they were old, well beyond the normal child bearing years and they had no children. So, why would God choose them to be the parents of a new nation?

God has a way of calling the most unlikely people to do great things for him. God sees within people what others do not see. He sees humility and a willingness to learn; most of all, he sees potential. God is searching for people who will yield their will to his and trust him for everything. Abram and Sarai were such people. They responded to God’s invitation to follow him. They believed God’s promise of a son would come true. Nevertheless, they were impatient and tried to make things happen themselves. They made a lot of mistakes along the way, but they never gave up on God and God never gave up on them.

As you read the story of Abram and his family, listen closely to God’s invitation to Abram to follow him. You may hear God whisper your name.

Beginnings

2011-09-19T11:13:00.002-05:00

Genesis is a book of beginnings. The pages of the book give explanation of why thinks exist and how they became as they are. Creation. Sin. Judgment. Punishment. Redemption. Grace. All these themes and others are in the first nine chapters. The story grabs the reader’s attention with the opening words: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

The explanation of our world and everything in and beyond it begins with God. Genesis is clear about this. There is no discussion of whether God exists. No, God is the creator. God is the one who orchestrated all of creation. God acted with initiative and intention. Neither the universe nor life is accidental. There is purpose in everything. There is meaning to life. God created humans in his image so he could love them and have a relationship with them.

Everything God did was evidence of his grace and love, even when he ran Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. He created us in his image. He gave us the power to choose him or reject him. In fact, this question will be asked many times as we read the bible. God poses the question in various ways to everyone in the bible…and today. It is a question that we are confronted every day. Will you choose God? He has chosen you.

Finding Your Story in His Story

2011-09-12T13:00:00.000-05:00

Do you know the story of your ancestors? Do you know their names? What were they like? Were they good people? Were they criminals? Were they respected by their neighbors? Do you know your family’s story?

I know very little about my family. I have a copy of my dad’s family tree which goes back to our first ancestor, Phillip Armbrister (no, I didn’t misspell it), to step on American soil. I know their names, but I know very little about them. Passing down the stories of one generation to the next has never been a priority in both of my ancestral trees.

However, there is a third ancestral tree that I do know more than just the names. I know their stories. I know their strengths and their weaknesses. I know who was faithful and who was not. I know their personalities, their successes, and their failures. In fact, you may know them too. They are your ancestors too. We do not share the same biological ancestry, but we are all members of the family of God. Your life story is part of a much larger story. Your family’s story is part of a larger story—the story of God and his people.

God wants us to know his story. His story provides the foundation for us to understand our story. In God’s story we will meet our spiritual ancestors: a family patriarch named Abraham who had great faith; a strong and courageous matriarch named Ruth; a stubborn prophet named Jonah; an impetuous disciple named Peter; and a very persistent missionary named Paul. Most of all, God wants us to get to know his Son, Jesus.

If you want to get to know your spiritual ancestors, then read The Story. You may just find yourself in the story as well.

Invitation to The Story

2011-09-12T12:29:00.004-05:00

Our congregation, Toney United Methodist Church, is embarking on a journey of reading through the bible beginning this week through the end of April 2012. We will be using The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story (www.thestory.com). The Story is an abridged version of the NIV Bible that reads like a novel. It is arranged in chronological order and covers the story of God’s relationship with humanity from Genesis to Revelation. I invite you to join us in this journey into the God’s story and our stories and how they are intertwined. You may purchase The Story from Amazon.com, Christian Book Distributors, and most retail Christian book stores as well as Books-a-Million and Barnes & Noble. There are bibles available for preschool aged children through adults, so it is a great we to read the bible together as a family.

I will be preaching from the readings for the next 31 weeks beginning this Sunday (9/18/2011) and teaching weekly Sunday School classes and bible studies which will focus on the readings from each week. I will also post my thoughts, notes, and weekly articles on The Story page (click on the link above) each week.

I am excited about this opportunity to read the bible together with my brothers and sisters I Christ. Most of all, I am looking forward to all the God will do in and through us as we read his story together. My only regret is that I will not be able to have face-to-face conversations with most of you. However, we can share our discoveries and struggles together through this forum or email (pastor@toneyumc.org). Will you join me in this journey through The Story?

A Time for Everything

2010-12-27T11:58:00.001-06:00

I have heard many people comment that this year (2010) has gone by so quickly. It seems that way to me as well. The pace of time does not change; only our perception of it changes. One thing is for certain, there never seems to be enough time to do all that we want to do. The wisdom of ancient king of Israel, Solomon, can help us. We find this wisdom in his book, Ecclesiastes. Here is what he wrote in 3:1-15.

¹For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

² A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.

³ A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.

⁴ A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.

⁵ A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

⁶ A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away.

⁷ A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

⁸ A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.

⁹What do people really get for all their hard work? ¹⁰I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. ¹¹Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. ¹²So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. ¹³And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

¹⁴And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. ¹⁵What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again. (New Living Translation)

Solomon’s first bit of wisdom is that there is a time for everything. Notice that he did not say, “There is time for everything.” He said, “There is a time for every activity under heaven.” (3:1)There is a time and a season for everything.

We would do well to consider Solomon’s wisdom here. Life is filled with seasons or phases as some prefer to call them. We live in a culture that rushes these seasons. Growth hormones are feed to livestock and poultry to shorten the times of their lives so they can be rushed to the market sooner. Most of our crops are hybrids so they will grow faster. Parents dress their little girls and boys to make them look like little adults. The pace of our children’s education has accelerated with hopes to give them an advantage when they graduate. We are constantly looking and longing for the next time of our lives. Could this be why time seems to move so quickly for us?

Solomon’s second bit of wisdom is in verses 9-13. He reached the conclusion that even though life has its burdens, “there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.” (3:12) Some people have figured this out. They have a proper balance of living in the present and living in the past or future. Unfortunately, most of us are too busy planning and achieving the next season or longing for the return of a past time to be happy and enjoy the moment. In verse 13 Solomon goes on to say that we should enjoy the fruit of our labors. Why? “For these are gifts from God.” Are you taking time to enjoy the gifts from God?

Solomon has a third bit of wisdom for us in verses 14 & 15. God is the master of our schedules. God created the seasons of the year for the overall health of all living organisms. God also created us with times or seasons for our overall health as well. What happens to tender buds and shoots when a late frost hits? They are killed or severely stunted. Every time and season has its purpose. We are to give each time the time needed for it to mature before rushing to the next.

What time is 2011 for you? Don’t rush the gifts of God.

Seth and Rex

2010-10-21T14:07:00.004-05:00

My youngest son, Seth, had his first experience with real grief Monday (10/18/2010). We were going about our morning routine as usual, except I was preparing to leave for a two-night retreat at Camp Sumatanga with the other clergy from our Conference. I was just about ready when Seth came outside to find me. He told me that Rex, his guinea pig was behaving strangely. Now, Rex has been sick for about four months. He has had a bronchial infection (yes, we took him to the vet... twice.) We gave him two rounds of antibiotic, but, he never got better.

I followed Seth to his room. I picked up Rex out of his cage and he grunted. He was very thin. He had not eaten well for several days. I handed him to Seth and he put him on his bed. "See, Dad. He isn't moving. He isn't running around like normal." I watched him for a moment. Seth was kneeling by his bed not knowing what to do for Rex. ''I'm afraid he's dying. Why don't you pick him up and hold him?'' I said. After a moment or two, I left Seth and Rex to finish packing for my trip. Less than five minutes passed when I heard Seth scream and begin weeping. Lisa and I rushed to Seth's room. Rex had died in Seth's hands. He went completely limp and fell out of Seth’s hands onto his bed. We sat there holding Seth as he wept and we watched Rex take his last breath.

Grief is strong. It rends the heart. It leaves one feeling vulnerable. Grief is the deepest pain we feel. Kneeling beside Seth and holding him as he wept, I, too, shed tears. My tears were not for Rex. They were for my son, Seth. He kept asking me, ''What can I do?" All of us felt helpless in that moment. Grief does that to us. It robs us of all joy and hope.

This was a landmark day for us. Seth had lost his first pet. Adam and Aaron have not experienced this either. It was their first real experience of grief. It was a first for Lisa and I as well. Watching and listening to our son experience the depths of grief and loss was heart wrenching. Like Seth, I was asking my heavenly Father, "What can I do?" "Just hold him. Comfort him. Share his loss."

I have stood with families as they watched their loved one take that final breath. I have watched and shared their grief. I was amazed to see the same responses in Seth. He grief was real. He asked the same questions. "Why? Why did he have to die?" "What could I have done?" "Did I cause this happen?" Grief has no respect for the tender hearts of the young.

And yet, grief is a sign of love. If Seth did not love Rex as deeply as he did, there would have been no tears, no pain, or sorrow. It would have just been the death of a pet. We do not weep over the death of the fish in our aquarium. We enjoy watching them. We feed them and keep their tank clean. But you can't hold and caress a fish. Fish do not squeak with excitement when you pick them up. They do not purr while you pet them. In fact, they don't want to be picked up. They only look to you for food. Grief hurts, love heals. Seth will miss Rex. He will always remember his first real pet. He will also remember his death.

By the way, Seth now has a new guinea pig named Lucky.

Monuments to Christ

2010-03-11T10:22:00.004-06:00

Joshua 4:6

We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, "What do these stones mean?" (NLTse)

Monuments play an important role in our lives. They remind us of important events. Historical markers are placed in locations where events of historical significance have occurred. They serve as reminders to the future generations of what happened there.

The Lord instructed Joshua to build a monument of stones collected from the bed of the Jordan River. The momnument would be a reminder of how God opened the waters of the Jordan for the people to walk through.

Monuments may be built of stone, or wood. They may also be built of pictures and papers. The stories of God's actions through people may be memorialized in books, pamphlets, and on web sites. All serve as testimonies to the goodness of God.

The best monuments built to preserve the memories of what God has done for us are the lives of people who have been transformed by the grace of God. People notice when people change and they want to know how the change happened, which opens doors for us to tell others about the grace of our Lord.

There are two memorials that God established to remind humanity of his love for us: the cross and the empty tomb. The cross has become the memorial of God's act of redemption through Jesus Christ. Wherever a cross is displayed, it invites people to ask, "What does this cross mean?" And we are given the opportunity to tell them about God's love and forgiveness. We are also given the opportunity to tell them about the empty tomb. "I serve a risen Savior" the old hymn begins, so we can proclaim to all the world, "He Lives! He Lives! Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know he Lives? He lives within my heart."

A Baby Changes Everything

2009-12-24T11:24:00.020-06:00

Last week I heard a song sung by Faith Hill that caught my attention. The title of the song is "A Baby Changes Everything". The was published on her 2008 Christmas CD, "Joy to World." God used this song to inspire me to write the sermon below.

A baby changes everything.

I remember when our first son, Adam, was born. Throughout the pregnancy, it was hard for me to believe that there was actually a baby growing inside Lisa. Now, Lisa had no problem knowing this, especially once he started kicking her in the ribs or lying on her bladder. The miracle of birth is truly a miracle. Prior to Adam being born, the only births I had witnessed were calves, pigs, and puppies. As exciting as that was, nothing compares to witnessing the birth of my sons.

I’m sure Joseph and Mary had witnessed the births of lambs and goats. But nothing compared to the birth of their first son, Jesus Christ. When the baby is born, and placed in the arms of his mother, all time stands still. Every pain goes away. All the problems of life disappear. For a little while, life stops and there is joy.

I remember holding each of our sons and just looking at him, counting fingers and toes, and realizing how helpless they were. They needed us to feed them change, their diapers, and clothe them. They couldn’t even turn over on their own. They were totally dependent on Lisa and me. I also remember looking into their eyes. I’ll never forget look in their eyes as they looked back at me. They were looking at every detail of my face. They knew the sound of my voice, but now they were getting familiar with my face.

At some point the realization hit me that God had given these boys to Lisa and me to raise. My ability to be a father to them would determine the kind of men they would grow to become and the kind of fathers they would be. I felt so inadequate to be the father of these boys.

Then we brought them home. Everything changed. Our schedules revolved around feedings and naps. We said goodbye to sleeping all night. No longer could Lisa and I just hop into the car and take off for a trip. Packing for an overnight trip was like moving.

A baby changes everything.

Not only does a baby change everything, the baby changes. We are so excited when he roll over and then begins to crawl. Now we don’t know where he is because he doesn’t stay where we put him. We rejoice when he takes his first step. A few weeks later he is running from us when he is in trouble. We are so excited when he says “Momma” or “Dada”. But somehow he learns to say, “No!” and other words he hears us say that we wish he didn’t hear.

Babies don’t stay babies. Babies become toddlers. Toddlers become children. Children become teenagers. Teenagers become adults…we hope. All this takes place in a mere 18 to 20 years.

A baby changes everything.

We gather today to celebrate the birth of a baby who changed everything. He didn’t just change the things that babies normally changed. He changed the world. He changed the way relate to God. He changed what love one another means. He changed history forever.

Most people are not fond of change. Some adapt to it easily, others adapt eventually, and a few never accept the change. The story of the shepherds in Luke chapter two reminds us of how most people respond to the news of the birth of a child and the changes the baby makes in our lives.

Luke 2:15-20 (NLT)
15When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

A Baby Interrupts our Schedule (2:15)

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

It’s amazing how we’ll drop everything to go see a new baby. When contractions hit, everything planned for that day is put on hold. The only thing on our minds is getting to the hospital before the baby is born. When our boys were born, mine and Lisa’s parents dropped everything and drove to the hospital to see their new grandsons. Nothing was more important than seeing their grandchildren.

After the angels announced the birth of the Messiah, the shepherds left work and ran to Bethlehem to see the baby. They left the sheep. The only thing on their minds was getting to Bethlehem to see the baby Messiah.

When God interrupts your schedule, do you stop for him? We will interrupt our schedules for all that is important to us: doctor visits, auto repairs, TV shows, and people. God often comes to us unannounced. He didn’t send Moses an email telling him to meet him on the mountain at 1:00 PM on Tuesday. No, he showed up in a burning bush. God didn’t send an invitation to Gideon requesting that Gideon meet him in the wine press at 10:00 AM on Friday. God didn’t instant message Mary and arrange a time for Gabriel to meet with her. God just shows up. No warning. No prior announcement. He just appears.

The shepherds weren’t looking for the Messiah to come that night. From time to time they talked about the Messiah coming and defeating the Romans and all their enemies. But, they never expected him to come during their life time. So, when the angels announced his arrival, they were shocked.

Have you ever wondered why the angels chose to tell them rather than another group of shepherds? Why didn’t they tell the local priests or rabbis? Why didn’t they appear to King Herod or Augustus, the Emperor of Rome?

The shepherds were willing to let God interrupt their schedule. Although they didn’t expect God to split the night sky and send angels, they were looking for God to arrive.

Are you willing to let God interrupt your busy Christmas schedule? Do you really expect him to show up at your house? Will you be watching for him at your family gathering? If you are not looking for him, you will miss him.

We go see the baby. (2:16)

They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

When our boys were born, the first people we called were our parents. They did not say, “Congratulations! When are you going to bring the little fellow to us so we can see him?” No, they came to us. They loaded their suit cases and drove to the hospital to see their new grandson.

When God speaks to us, he will often beckon us to come to him. Moses saw the bush burning but not being consumed and went to this strange sight. Abram left his home in Ur and set out for an unknown destination. Saul met the Lord in a blinding light and was told to go to Damascus and wait for further instructions. Worshiping the Lord will always involve going to where he is.

It’s a good thing that the angels told the shepherds about the birth of Jesus. Joseph and Mary were alone. There were no grandparents. There were no friends. Their rabbi wasn’t there. The shepherds were the first visitors to see the new-born Messiah, the Anointed of God.

We never know who we will see when we follow the Lord. I have never seen angels in the sky. I have not seen a burning bush. I have not been blinded by a light from heaven. Nevertheless, God has called me to meet him in some unusual places: in a deer stand, driving down the road, in the middle of the night.

When you’re willing to let God interrupt your schedule, you may have to go where he is to see him; the lonely widow down the street, a person in the hospital, your child who is asking you that ten millionth question for the day, or a quiet place to worship and listen to God.

Will you go to where the Lord is waiting for you?

We tell everyone about the baby. (2:17-19)

Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.

They were excited. Have you ever been around person who has a new grandchild? They will whip out the pictures so quick it’ll make your head spin. They have wonderful news to tell.

When the shepherds arrived in Bethlehem they told whoever they saw about the angels and about the baby. They couldn’t keep the good news quiet. They had to tell everyone they met.

One of the things we did in preparation for the birth of our sons was to make a list of who to call. After Lisa and the baby were settled into their room, my job was to call everyone on the list. We even had people on the list who were to call other people. The news of the birth of our boys was too good to keep quiet.

When you encounter God, regardless of how spectacular or mundane, you have good news to tell.

Who are you telling about the birth of Jesus?

They returned to their routines changed men. (2:20)

The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

We do not know how long the shepherds visit lasted. It may have been brief or they may have lingered for a while. But one thing is for certain, they were not the same when they returned to the pastures.

Many people told me that my life would change when we had children. I knew it change some. I wasn’t prepared for just how much my life changed when each of our sons was born. The circumstances of my life have definitely changed. Lisa and I have little time to sit alone on the coach to talk or cuddle. The mornings I want to sleep late are the mornings Seth wakes up early and comes to our bedroom. Packing for a trip can’t be done in a few minutes. Lisa cooks meals that the boys will eat. It’s a good thing I’ll eat almost anything. Money I used to spend on tools, hunting, or fishing is spent on toys, clothes, doctor and dentist visits, and eye glasses. But no one told me about the changes that would take place within me.

All of the changes have been for the good. I am a better person today because of the births of my sons. Some of the changes have been easy. Many of them have been hard. Some of them are still in the works.

• My sons have taught me many lessons in patience. I have passed a few of these tests and have failed many of them.
• My sons have taught me to communicate in simple words and to repeat them frequently.
• My sons have taught me that being a man of God means being the best dad I can be.
• My sons have taught me that doing what’s right isn’t always easy.
• My sons have given me many lessons in shaping and molding the character of another person.
The shepherds were not the same when they left. Their night of tending sheep had turned into a night of miracles, worship, and praise. Rather than merely watching sheep and finding some way to whittle away the night, they now sang and worshiped God as they watched the sheep. They retold the story of the angels to one another many times. They told about searching for and finding the baby.

Don’t you wish we knew what they told their families when they returned home? Wouldn’t it be great to hear more about how they were changed because of the events of that night?

We may not know the rest of the shepherds’ stories, but you can do something about the rest of your story. You can continue to watch sheep in the mundane routine of life. Or, you can allow God to interrupt your life-schedule, go where he tells you, and be born again.

If you have experienced the new birth of Jesus Christ within you, then you have great news to tell everyone. The baby that has been born is you.

If you have not experienced the new birth of Jesus Christ within you, will you allow him to work a miracle of new birth in you? Christmas would be a wonderful time to receive the greatest gift ever given—the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Advent Revisited

2009-11-24T10:37:00.001-06:00

The season of Advent is only recognized in a few parts of the Church family. Why? Why do we skip past this much needed season? The emphasis on the commercial aspect of Christmas has pushed Advent out of the way. With each passing year, fewer and fewer people know anything about Advent. I must confess that I, too, have gotten caught up in the pattern of the secular world around us. However, this year I am drawn to the themes of Advent: love, joy, peace, and hope. Hidden within each of these themes is anticipation; the longing for something great to happen.

We have not lost the anticipation of Christmas. Lights are strung on houses and trees with anticipation of a festive holiday. Gifts are purchased with the anticipation of watching the excitement in the eyes of the one opening the gift. Meals are cooked with the anticipation of children coming home for Christmas. Christmas parties are planned with the anticipation of enjoying an evening with friends.

As I am writing this, I realize that the world around us does participate in Advent. The themes of love, joy, peace, and hope are evident in the commercials we see on TV. We shop for gifts that will express our love for others. Evidence of the Christmas spirit is joy and peace. People tend to be kinder and gentler. And, yes, there is hope that the next year will be better than the current one. Then, why does the Christmas spirit fade away when January comes? Many people experience the post-Christmas blues when life returns to normal. Adults return to work. Kids return to school. Within a couple of weeks, it is as though Christmas never happened. Why? Why can’t we continue to live in joy and peace? Why can’t we demonstrate love year-round? What happens to hope?

The answers to these questions are found in how we engage Advent. Advent prepares us for the coming of the One who gives us love, joy, peace, and hope that goes beyond the holiday. Advent helps us look beyond the surface anticipation of family and gifts to our deeper need of salvation. There is no greater joy than a restored relationship. There is no greater peace than experiencing forgiveness. There is no deeper love than that which is born through the process of reconciliation. There is no greater hope than believing in miracles. These are the reasons Jesus was born. These are the reasons that God became human.

Rites of Passage

2009-08-30T09:14:00.001-05:00

There are significant events in our lives that mark rites of passage to maturity. I can recall several events that marked the passage from one level of maturity to the next. When Daddy sat me in the seat of his old Willys Jeep to teach me how to drive it, I must have grown six inches. I will always remember riding home from work in my dad’s work van proudly holding the 20 gauge shotgun he just bought me from Woolworth’s Department store. That event marked the transition from my pellet gun days to hunting with a “real” gun. The day Mother took me to the court house to take my driver’s license test mark the day when I became a legal driver. I will never forget the day I left home after graduating from high school. As drove out of the yard, I glanced in my rearview mirror to see Daddy watching me as I drove away. I have often wondered what he was thinking as I drove away.

Significant events such as these and many more become rites of passage because someone we admire and respect allows us to step one closer to their world. They trust us with more responsibility. They share more of themselves with us. One day we cease being a little boy or little girl in their eyes and they welcome us into their world.

This weekend I experienced another rite of passage. As I sat on the back seat of my dad’s van while we drove to Rantoul, Illinois for an antique tractor show, for a few moments I felt like a little boy again. Daddy was in the driver’s seat. His life-long friend, Boyd, sat in the passenger seat. Daddy’s brother, Tommy, sat in the left middle seat and another good friend of my dad, Ronnie, sat in the right middle seat. Three of these four men shaped and molded me as I grew from a boy to a young man. And for a few moments, I felt like that little boy who longed to be with them as much as I could. Then I realized something very important. They no longer see me as that little brown haired, blue-eyed boy. They no longer accept me a little boy. No, now they accept me as one of them. I have become a man, just as they have always been to me.

I pray that I will make significant events in the lives of my boys become rites of passage that instill within them my love and trust of them so that when they are forty five years old they will know that I accept them as men and longer boys.

Philmont Scout Ranch

2009-07-23T15:32:00.011-05:00

I recently spent ten days hiking at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico with our Boy Scout troop. This was something I have always dreamed of doing. Backpacking in the wilderness may not the aspirations of some, but for many Scouts, it is a love and joy. I have always enjoyed being the woods. I enjoy everything about it; the scenery, the animals, the plants, and, yes, the weather. My trip to Philmont was different from any trip to the backwoods I have ever taken. It was my first extended backpacking trip and the first time I have ever been to New Mexico. I have never hiked in mountains at the altitude of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

I was amazed at the beauty of the mountains. They were very different from the mountains of Alabama, north Georgia, and the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Due to a fire in 2002, which destroyed ninety-eight thousand acres, the mountains were rock with little vegetation. Yet, the absence of the trees allowed the rocks to be seen. And how beautiful they are! When we hiked into places that were not burned, the Ponderosa Pines, Juniper, and Aspens were gorgeous. Not only were they beautiful to see, they also provided much needed shade on the trail. The mountains also had beautiful meadows filled wildflowers and grasses. The pictures taken with my camera will never compare to those burned into my memory.

As I mentioned earlier, I love seeing wildlife, especially something new. I have trained my eyes to notice movement and anything that looks odd while I am in a wooded area. So, while we were walking, I was constantly looking and scanning the rock ledges for a mountain lion or the edge of a meadow for a bear or elk. I will have to confess that there were times I only saw the trail immediately before me due to exhaustion, the pain in my feet, or rocky terrain. Never before have I seen so many mule deer bucks! They were so accustomed to seeing people that they paid us no mind. In fact, I thought one buck was going to walk over my friend, Randy, when about ten yards from Randy the buck changed his course and walked around him. The animals are truly amazing to watch.

Our crew number was 703-G2. The crews are numbered by the date of their arrival at Philmont. We arrived on July 3rd. They are then designated a letter of the alphabet. Should a troop have more than one crew, each crew is given a number. Thus, our number was 703-G2. Now, enough about that. I enjoyed the time I spent with these young men on the trail. They were all fourteen years of age. One of the boys, Simon, celebrated his fourteenth birthday at Philmont. He will always remember that one!

The only real problem we had with the boys was their pace. We couldn’t slow them down! Not only were these young men in good physical condition, they had youth on their side. They were very patient with this old man. They encouraged me. They waited on me. They waited on me. They waited on me. I think you get the picture. What impressed me the most was that on their own, they had devotions every evening. Our Chaplain’s Aide, Parker, attended a training event for the Chaplain’s Aides at base camp. They were given a simple outline to guide their devotions and discussion. Each one shared a rose, a thorn, and a bud. The rose was something enjoyed during the day. The thorn was something challenging or not enjoyable about the day. And the bud was something looked forward to for the next day. I was blessed to hear them share with one another what they were experiencing from the trek, which leads me to share some of my roses, thorns, and buds from this experience.

I have already mentioned many of my roses that relate to the mountains of Philmont. However, there are some personal roses I must share. One rose is I did it. There is within me the male ego that constantly asks, “Can you do it? Can you survive? Do you have what it takes?” We hiked Trek #13, which tested me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It also tested my wisdom. There was one time on the trail that I declined to climb with my crew. The second day on the trail I began feeling hot spots on the balls of my feet. By day three, there were blisters. I did everything I knew to prevent them and then to care for them. Every step hurt. The plan for day seven was to climb to the top of Mount Baldy, the highest peak in Philmont (12,441 feet), which was about a 1500 feet climb from our camp. The trail would be steep and rocky. As much as I wanted to make the climb, I knew that I needed to give my feet rest. We still had four days of hiking before us. So, I decided not to make the climb. The boys tried to encourage me to go with them, but I knew I couldn’t. I told them I would enjoy the beauty of Mount Baldy from camp and that I would meet them at Baldy Town.

Another rose is the depth of friendship that grew between us on the trail. The other adults (Randy & Louis) and I know each other better and will always share the memories for our trek through Philmont. I also feel closer to the six young men who we followed through those mountains. They learned from us and we learned from them.
A third rose is that I lost five pounds before I left for Philmont and another eight pounds on the trial. I logged in sixty-five miles with my pack on my back according to my GPS. In addition to those miles, I walked many more while in each of the camps. Even though I was burning a lot of calories, I was reminded that my forty-five-year-old body doesn’t need as much food as I think I do. So, I pretty much snacked all day. I also discovered that I had more energy for hiking if didn’t eat all the food that allotted to me at one time. In fact, it was rare that I ate all of it at any time. I feel so much better without the extra thirteen pounds. I plan to keep it off and hopefully lose some more.

My thorns were few: blistered feet, constantly catching my breath while climbing the mountains, and sleeping on a one-inch thick pad. I am as young as I used to be. I do not consider myself old either. However, I do know that my days of hiking, backpacking, hunting, and fishing are decreasing. I do not rebound from sleeping on the ground like I once did. I do not recover from the loss of sleep as easily as I did in my younger years. I have many more years that I can enjoy these activities, if I take care of myself. I may never be as strong as I was when I was eighteen. I may never again have the stamina I had when I was twenty. But I can be in better shape than I am now.

My buds? I look forward to returning to Philmont with sons, Adam, Aaron, and Seth. I hope they have a chance for this adventure while they are young and strong. I hope that one day, they will take the trip with their sons. Who knows? I may put on my boots, pick up my pack, and take the trek with my grandsons.

2009-06-11T10:02:00.001-05:00

Straight from the Heart

The Fruit of Goodness

How do you define goodness? I asked this of my congregation and got some good responses. One person said that goodness is being good. Another said that goodness is the absence of badness. Everyone had a good laugh at each response. The problem is that we use many words that we understand, but do not know how to clearly define. This is how I define goodness.

Goodness is doing the right thing for the right reason.

Most of us do the right thing, but do we do it for the right reason? I have to confess that there have been times when I encouraged Lisa to buy something for herself because I wanted to buy something for me. I did the right thing by encouraging her buy whatever it was she wanted. You have to understand that Lisa does not splurge on herself very often. Me, on the other hand…well you get the picture.

Jesus was once asked about goodness. We find this story in Matthew chapter 19.

¹⁶Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"

17So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."(Matthew 19:16-17, New King James Version)

Pay particular attention to Jesus' response to the question. He did not want to be called good. Instead, he referred to the only one who is good and that is God. When we say that God is good, we are not saying that goodness defines God. Rather, we are saying the God defines goodness. After all, God does the right thing for the right reason.

Why did God create people? One answer that I frequently hear is that God created us to worship him. Meditate on the statement for a moment. God created us to worship him. On the surface this statement sounds truthful. Say it aloud this time. God created us to worship him. Do you hear what is being said in that statement? We are saying that God is self-centered and selfish. While creating us was the right thing to do, creating us to worship him is not the right reason. No, God created us to love us, even though he knew that we would rebel and reject his love. That is doing the right thing for the right reason.

The next time you receive Holy Communion notice the words that are carved into almost every Communion Table: In Remembrance of Me. Did Jesus ask us to remember him because he didn't want us to forget him? No. Jesus wants us to remember more than him. He wants us to remember what he did for us. He wants to remember that he died for us because he loves us. He wants us to remember that he did for us what we could never do for ourselves. Jesus did the right thing for the right reason.

Do you get tired of doing the right thing? I do. It's hard to keep doing the right thing when you seldom see the results of your hard work. It's hard to do the right thing when your acts of love and kindness are rejected. The Apostle Paul understood the work and energy involved in doing the right thing for the right reason. He, too, understood what it was like to be constantly opposed and rejected. Read his counsel to the Galatians in 6:9-10.

⁹So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. 10Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. (New Living Translation)

For whom will you do the right thing for the right reason today?

2009-06-10T14:06:00.001-05:00

It's the Little Things

The Fruit of Kindness

Mamie Adams always went to a branch post office in her town because the postal employees there were friendly. She went there to buy stamps just before Christmas one year and the lines were particularly long. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait in line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby. "I know," said Mamie, 'but the machine won't ask me about my arthritis."

Bits and Pieces, December, 1989, p. 2.

Kindness is more than an attitude. We do not think of people as being kind simply because they do not hurt anybody. We regard people as being kind if they go out of their way, with no public recognition, to perform deeds of kindness.

Kindness is love in action. Jesus' best parable that illustrates kindness is the story of the Good Samaritan found Luke 10:25-37.

²⁵Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. "Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?"

26He answered, "What's written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?"

27He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself."

28"Good answer!" said Jesus. "Do it and you'll live."

29Looking for a loophole, he asked, "And just how would you define 'neighbor'?"

30Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. 31Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. 32Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

33"A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. 34He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. 35In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'

36"What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"

37"The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded.

Jesus said, "Go and do the same." (The Message)

I have three basic thoughts on this story that relate to kindness.

First, we must know how to receive kindness. The main character in the story is presumed to be a Jew. Even though he had been beaten and was near death, he could have refused the help of the Samaritan since Jews and Samaritans did not get along. Instead, he welcomed the help this man offered. Do not quickly dismiss this by thinking that the man had no choice. He was near death. He may have even been unconscious. The injured man moved beyond any prejudice he may have had toward the Samaritan and received his act of kindness. Kindness is receiving acts of love.

Second, the Samaritan allowed his schedule to be interrupted so he could kindly care for the injured man. Acts of kindness are seldom premeditated. Often the opportunity for acts of kindness interrupts our schedule. They also take away some of our resources. The Samaritan put the injured man on his donkey and paid for his care. He even gave the inn keeper enough money to provide the man's needs until he got well. Kindness is love in action even when it costs me time and money.

Third, the Samaritan didn't look for recognition of his act of kindness. How many times have we done something kind for someone and then later point it out to the person? There have been many times that I have performed some act of kindness for Lisa and watch to see her reaction when she notices. If she doesn't notice or say something about it, when we lay down to go to sleep I'll hug her and whisper, "Did you notice that I washed the dishes for you?" Kindness is love in action even when no one notices.

The acts of kindness in Jesus' story are big acts of kindness. We do not have to look for big ways to be kind. No, kindness is in the little things: a cup of water on a hot day, a genuine smile, a phone call, a card, or holding a door open for someone. Who will be the recipient of your acts of kindness today?

2009-06-10T13:29:00.001-05:00

Looking Beyond One's Faults

The Fruit of Patience

A man's car stalled in the heavy traffic as the light turned green. All his efforts to start the engine failed, and a chorus of honking behind him made matters worse. He finally got out of his car and walked back to the first driver and said, "I'm sorry, but I can't seem to get my car started. If you'll go up there and give it a try, I'll stay here and blow your horn for you."

--James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 396. Copied from Bible Illustrator 3.0 by Parsons Technology.

When I was boy, we'd be helping Daddy work around the house or on my granddaddy's farm and he would send one us to get something he needed. He would send us to get a tool; a five-gallon can of gas, fresh water for the water jug, or something. I can't count how many times he would say as my brother or I was leaving, "Turn your hat around backwards so I'll think you're coming back."

Daddy was wise enough to know that sometimes boys get distracted along the way. He also didn't like waiting.

Patience. We want it, and we want it NOW! Some are afraid to pray for patience because there is only one way to get it. EARN IT! So we resign ourselves to merely wish for more patience. The good news is that patience is a gift from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit grows the fruit of patience in and through us. In fact, most of have more patience than we realize. I like this definition of patience, which I believe is what the Apostle Paul had in mind when wrote his letter to the Galatians.

Patience is the active endurance of opposition, not a passive resignation.

Consider these words from James 5:7-11.

⁷Dear brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They patiently wait for the precious harvest to ripen. ⁸You, too, must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

⁹Don't grumble about each other, my brothers and sisters, or God will judge you. For look! The great Judge is coming. He is standing at the door!

¹⁰For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord's plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy. (New Living Translation)

When you find yourself without patience for someone, consider how you can actively wait. One way to actively wait on someone is to try to see that person beyond his or her faults. As long as we focus on their faults we will only see them as people who irritate us. What are the positive qualities and traits about this person? What is their potential? Try to see them as God sees them. Who knows, God may have brought this person into your life so you that you can help them reach their full potential. Or, he may have let your paths cross because you need them to teach you patience.

2009-06-10T11:41:00.001-05:00

More than the Absence of Conflict

The Fruit of Peace

Conflict in relationships is common. Any time two or more people are involved with making decisions, there will be conflict. The expressions of conflict vary in severity. Conflict in some relationships is handled through cold wars of silence. One or all people involved refuse to talk to with one another. Some people address conflict through surprise attacks. When the person they are in conflict is not expecting it, they attack with full force. Others use cruel methods of torture to deal with conflict. They criticize the person in public or make fearful threats in order to control or manipulate the other person. They may even resort to intimidation or ugly sarcasm. And then there are those who deal with conflict in physical ways by throwing punches. All of these are wrong because they are unfair and they never lead to peace.

Since conflict is inevitable, then we must learn healthy ways of dealing with conflict. In fact, fighting among family members and friends is actually healthy, if each one knows how to fight. I am not referring to physical fighting or wars of words. Peace in our relationships is only possible when we work for it. However, before one can have peaceful relationships, one must be at peace with God and with one's self. This is the true source of peace. Our ability to have peace in our relationships with people begins when we are at peace with God through Jesus Christ. I encourage you to meditate on Colossians 1:19-23 as you think about your relationship with Jesus.

So, how do we resolve conflict when it arises? I do not like the phrase 'conflict management'. If we are to have truly peaceful relationships, then we must move beyond conflict management to 'conflict resolution'. In Ephesians 4:25-32 the Apostle Paul gives us Seven Rules for having a Good Fight.

²⁵So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

28If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

30And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (New Living Translation)

Rule #1: Keep it Honest (4:25)

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

There are two words that should be removed from your vocabulary when you are in conflict: always and never. Often we use these words to attack the person we are in conflict with. Let's be honest for a moment. Does the person always behave like we are accusing him or her of behaving? Does this person never do whatever it we want him or her to do? In the heat battle, it is easy to exaggerate the truth. Keep it honest. Be sure the facts are correct.

Rule #2: Keep it Under Control (4:26a)

And "don't sin by letting anger control you." (See Psalm 4:4)

Anger is a great exaggerator. When anger is not kept under control it will magnify everything. In fact, until anger is under control, conflict cannot be resolved. Anger may still be present, but it must be controlled.

Anger is not bad. Uncontrolled anger is bad. When used appropriately, anger is a very powerful motivator. We are able to enjoy many of our freedoms in the USA because someone got angry and allowed their anger to motivate them make changes in laws and in how we live.

Rule #3: Agree Together that the Time is Right (4:26b-27)

Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Don't let the anger build! Seek a time when the issue will be dealt with. Paul is suggesting that there is a time when arguments are to take place. They should not be avoided indefinitely. Conflict has to be addressed soon and timing is very important. So, when is a good time to resolve conflict? That depends on the people who are fighting. Here are some times to avoid dealing with issues that may escalate into arguments and fights.

Not when you first get home from work
Parents, not when your child first gets home from school
Husbands, don't point out a fault to your wife when it's late and she's facing a mound of dirty dishes
Not at bed time

Make an appointment to address the issue when everyone is rested and there is ample time to resolve the conflict.

Rule #4: Be Ready with a Positive Solution Immediately after taking a Swing (4:28)

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

When Paul addresses those who were thieves and spoke with foul language, those receiving the words could have taken his comments as stabs, jabs, or even Paul taking a swing at them. However, notice how he quickly followed not with another swing, but with a positive solution. When you must criticize what someone has done or is not doing, offer to help find a solution to the problem.

Rule #5: Watch Your Words and Guard Your Tone (4:29)

Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Be tactful! Choose the right words to use. Be sure to pay attention to the tone of your voice and your body language. Most our communication comes not from the words we use, but the tone of our voice, and our facial expressions. The louder our voices, the less people will listen. The uglier the words, the less we will communicate. Tactfulness is saying in effect, "I trust you and I trust that what I say will not hurt you unnecessarily."

Rule #6: Don't Swing at Your Loved One in Public (4:31)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

Keep your conflict private. Keep it between you and person or people with who you have the conflict. Swings taken is public are the sign of a coward, because you know the other person will not retaliate. There are two ways we take swings at people in public. One, we use open, bold embarrassment to attack the other person. Second, we swing with subtle, cutting sarcasm. Everyone around us may giggle and laugh, but this is devastating to the person we are swinging at. Constant sarcasm will erode a relationship until there is nothing left.

Rule #7: When It's all Over, Help Clean Up the Mess (4:32)

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Conflict is resolved until every person involved is at peace with the decisions made. Cleaning up the mess is when we exchange signs of reconciliation and peace that are appropriate for the relationship: a hand shake, a hug, or a kiss. Cleaning up the mess symbolizes the closeness of the relationship.

The Apostle Paul mentions three expressions of reconciliation: kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness. And why do we put forth so much effort to resolve our conflicts? Why do we work so hard for peace? God through Jesus Christ has forgiven us.

The next time you find yourself in the midst of conflict, remember that real peace is not the absence of conflict. Real peace comes when people who are in conflict resolve the conflict.

2009-06-10T10:15:00.001-05:00

More than Happiness

The Fruit of Joy

I knew a woman who was always laughing. She seemed to be so happy. She joked. She kidded around. She was always smiling. As Lisa and I got to know her, she slowly removed her mask to reveal all the pain and sorrow in her life. Her beautiful daughter was now mentally handicapped due to an ATV accident when her daughter slipped out at night to go riding with some friends. Her first marriage ended in divorce and we soon discovered that her current marriage was anything but good. Not long after that marriage ended, and her ex-husband married her best friend, we lost all contact with her. She continued to try to hide behind her mask. In fact, she moved out of the community to a new place where she could continue to play her masquerade. We were so saddened to hear that her son from her second marriage raped his half-sister who was mentally handicapped. Beneath her laughs, smiles, and God-talk, she was a broken, hurting woman. She seemed so joyful. But it was all a façade.

Joy seems to be very elusive. The harder we try to catch it, the more misery we feel. There are many people like the woman in the above paragraph. King Solomon made this observation about many people.

Laughter can conceal a heavy heart; when the laughter ends, the grief remains. Proverbs 14:13 (NLT)

When joy is equated with happiness, it is hidden. Real joy is not rooted in happiness. One can be filled with joy while at the same time be shedding tears of sorrow or grief. This seems odd, but it is true. Joy is different from happiness in that joy comes from within a person. It is not tied to one's outward circumstances in life. Listen to how Jesus described those who are truly joyful.

³"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

⁵Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

⁷Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3-10 (NKJV)

The word blessed is translated happy. It is a poetic word that means well off or fortunate. It may even mean well blest. Jesus is speaking of happiness that comes from deep within. It is a happiness that isn't affected by outward circumstances. Jesus suggests that what makes us joyful is just the opposite of what culture tells us will give us joy. Consider this paraphrase of the Beatitudes.

I have joy when I am humble in spirit because the kingdom of heaven is mine.
I have joy when I mourn because I know I will receive comfort.
I have joy when I am meek because I know I will inherit the earth.
I have joy when I hunger and thirst for holiness because I know I will be content.
I have joy when I am merciful because I have received mercy.
I have joy when I remain pure in heart because I know that is when I see God.
I have joy when I am a peacemaker because I am most like God when I make peace.
I have joy when I am persecuted for the sake of Christ because I know the kingdom of heaven is mine.

We need joy. Joy is what makes us contagious. Joy is what makes those who need Christ notice us.

As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It's a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians--and I am one of them."

Is Jesus the source of your joy?

More than a Feeling

2009-06-08T15:09:00.003-05:00

The Fruit of Love

The foundation of relationships is love. Poets and writers have penned pages about love. They have written of the joy of love and the pain of love. Love has motivated people to go beyond themselves to serve and help others. Love has also driven people into deep misery and depression when someone they love either dies or rejects their love. We need to know that we are loved and we need to love others. But there are so many ideas of what love is. What is this fruit called love that the Holy Spirit is producing in us?

We have one word for love in the English language. When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Galatia, he wrote in the Greek language. The Greeks had four words for our one word love. Here is a brief description of these four words.

Eros – physical love that is motivated by pleasure. Our word erotic comes from this word. This word is not used in the New Testament.
Stergo – the love one has for civic leaders or one’s nation. This word is not used in the New Testament.
Phileo – brotherly love motivated by affection or fondness. This type of love describes the friendship, compassion, and caring we have for one another. This word is used numerous times in the New Testament.
Agape – (pronounced ag-ah’-pay) unconditional love. This word was rarely used in ancient Greek literature. It was used even more rarely in conversation. God inspired the Christians of the first century to grab hold of this word and use it to refer to the unconditional love God has for us. This unconditional love seeks the highest good of the other person.

The Apostle Paul used the word agape when he wrote Galatians 5:22. Not only was this word used to refer to the love God has for us, but also to love we are to have toward others. The best description of this love was penned by the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians in chapter thirteen verses 4-7.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (New Living Translation)

The love that the Holy Spirit is producing within us is love that is not based in emotion. It is love that seeks the best for the other person. I encourage you to meditate on Paul’s description of love. Does your love focus on the good of others? Even when it may be painful for you?

Growing Lasting Relationships

2009-06-08T15:05:00.002-05:00

Relationships are wonderful. We need other people in our lives. We find meaning and fulfillment in the midst of relationships. However, relationships can be tricky, even hurtful. Nevertheless, we long for healthy, long-lasting relationships. Relationships that span a lifetime are possible…if we’re willing to work to make them last. Occasionally we’ll read or hear an interview with a couple who has been married for fifty years or more and the interviewer will ask, “What is the secret to making a marriage last fifty years?” We have heard many responses to this question. I believe the answer to this question is found in the teachings of Saint Paul in his letter to the Galatians chapter 5 verses 22-23. We typically refer these verses as The Fruit of the Spirit.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (New Living Translation)

These fruit are important qualities in all relationships. If we will allow the Holy Spirit to grow this fruit within us to maturity, we will have healthy, long-lasting relationships. The real secret is in not the nine fruit. The real secret to healthy lasting relationships is found in the first phrase of verse twenty-two: the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives. First, we do not grow this fruit on our own. The Holy Spirit grows it in us. We cooperate with the Holy Spirit to allow him to grow this fruit in our lives. Therefore, the growth and maturity of these fruit is not dependent upon others. Regardless of how others respond to the presence of this fruit in me, the Holy Spirit will continue to grow it to maturity. Second, we are to focus on the growth and maturity of this fruit in our lives. The only way I can grow healthy lasting relationships is grow myself. I may be able to point out need for the growth of one these fruit in someone else, but I can’t grow the fruit for them. As the Holy Spirit grows this fruit to maturity in me, then I encourage the growth of it in others.

I encourage you to think and meditate on these fruit, which are the secret to lasting relationships. I look forward to reading your comments and thoughts as well.

New Life

2009-04-08T17:47:00.001-05:00

My favorite seasons of the year are spring and fall. These seasons are the transition seasons between winter and summer. They bring us relief from cold weather or hot weather. They are a sign that something new is coming. Both seasons are filled with color. Spring brings colors of new life and fall gives us colors of harvest and the end of a cycle of life.

The warm sun of spring inspires us to plant vegetables and flowers. The smell of freshly tilled soil is a pleasing aroma to those who love fresh vegetables. The smell of freshly tilled soil brings excitement to those who plant flowers as they look forward to the sight and smells of the blooms. While I enjoy planting, I have noticed that with each passing year I am watching the trees as they transform from what looks like death to life. I get excited when I see the first buds appear. Then tiny little leaves break forth. Within a couple of weeks trees which are bare and appear to be dead come to full life. Soon, these trees will be baring the fruit God intended for them to bear.

We are a lot like the trees. Without the life that Jesus gives us, we are barren of fruit. We are not in our full color. We are not healthy. However, we reborn to new life when Jesus is our Savior and Lord. The Apostle Paul said talked about new life in 1 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV) What new life is Jesus birthing in you this spring? What old things is he asking you to let pass away?

Squirrel Logic

2009-04-08T17:38:00.003-05:00

Have you ever watched squirrels in the fall? They are busy scurrying around hiding acorns, hickory nuts, and other food items. They are comical to watch. While one squirrel is burying a nut, another squirrel will sneak up behind the first one and pounce on him. Then the chase is on! To be such small animals, they are very fast! They are fun to watch.

The squirrel doesn’t realize it, but it is doing more than burying nuts for food to eat later in the winter. Most of the nuts will never be found. A squirrel simply can’t remember where he hid all those nuts. So, the nuts he doesn’t find are found by other squirrels, chipmunks, or deer. The few nuts that escape becoming a meal for some hungry animal grow into oak trees or hickory trees. Even though the squirrel is thinking only of himself, he helps others as well.

There was time when we humans had to prepare for winter as well. We made sure we had firewood to keep us warm on those winter nights. Women would quilt quilts to keep warm and snug in our beds when cold winter winds would howl. The livestock would be brought into the barn to keep them warm as well. Vegetables were canned. Fruits were made preserved. And the family would get a new suit of clothes and shoes to protect their skin from the breath of “Old Man Winter”.

Preparation for winter is easier today. Most of walk down the hall to the thermostat, move the switch from ‘Cool’ to ‘Heat’ and set the temperature at a comfortable place. We buy most, if not all, of our food at the grocery store, so there’s no need to can vegetables and preserve fruits. The only livestock we have are pets and most of them live indoors anyway. We may buy a new coat and/or a couple of new shirts. Maybe a new pair of shoes. Our focus is more preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas than surviving the winter. Although, surviving the holidays can be a feat in its self.

I wonder what squirrels think while they’re scurrying around looking for acorns. Do they know if it will be a hard winter or a mild one? Do they worry about not having enough food? Do they ever consider having too much food? Are there members of the squirrel community who are lazy and rely on the others to gather food for them? I don’t think so. I’ve never seen a squirrel who sat on limb watching the others work. If he did sit there too long, another squirrel would sneak up from behind, pounce on him, and the chase would begin.

If God has given a squirrel enough sense to prepare for winter, don’t you think he has given us more? As I observe some people, I think the squirrel has more smarts than they do. Instead of preparing for winter, they squander away their time and money. You see we are preparing for winter everyday of the year. We never know when life will blow the cold wind of pink slips. We never know when an illness or injury will leave us frost-bitten. We never know when the freezing touch of death will take all the warmth from our bodies. Are you preparing for winter? Are you financially prepared for winter? Are you emotionally prepared? Most of all, are you spiritually prepared for winter? Death may steal the warmth from your body, but can’t steal the warmth of God’s love from your soul.

One more thought. Preparing for winter doesn’t have to boring or laborious. Watch the squirrels. One is burying an acorn while another sneaks upon him, pounces on him and the chase is on! Have fun preparing for winter. God would want it any other way.

Campfire Musings

2009-04-08T16:21:00.000-05:00

I was watching a campfire one evening. I have always been intrigued by the sights, sounds, and smell of a campfire. As I watched the flames consume the firewood, I had these thoughts.

A fire is started with one flame. If no wood is added, the fire goes out.
For a flame to become a fire, wood must be added.
The dryer the wood, the easier it burns.
The wetter or greener the wood, more heat is needed to make it burn.
If the wood is rotten, it'll burn but give off little heat.
If a piece of wood is removed from the fire, it will burn for a little while. Then, the flame will go out.
If a piece of wood is removed from teh fire and placed beside or under other wood, its flame will ignite the other wood into flames.
When a piece of wood is completely burned, it has given its self to the flame and other pieces of wood around it. The wood may be gone, but the fire continues to burn.
The Holy Spirit is the flame of God.
God is the fire-builder. He places the pieces of wood over the flame of the Holy Spirit just as he wants them. He sends some pieces of flaming wood to other wood that has not begun to burn to ignite them.