Monday, December 12, 2011

The Blame Game

I’m a big Dallas Cowboy fan. I have been since Eddie LaBaron was quarterback and as a Jr. High football player I could get end zone tickets for 50 cents each at the Cotton Bowl. At halftime we’d move on over to the 30 yard line since Dallas didn’t always draw big crowds in 1960. I was a fan before they became “America’s Team” in 1978. I’m still a fan after the defense blew another one last night against the “Giants”.
Most fans like the game but they know little about the strategy or can look at a game in its entirety to see why a team wins or loses. Unfortunately even “football savvy” analyst who are ex-ballplayers don’t help with their bias commentaries.
Dallas lost the last two weeks with a chance to win or tie on the last play of the game. One, the coach “iced” his own kicker before a crucial field goal. The last one the opposing coach called a timeout that allowed the defense to adjust some things and block a kick. Many “fans” say that lost the game for the Cowboys. But in actuality they were only the last thing that cost the game. A game is 60 minutes long with approximately 30 different activities happening at the same time on the field at the same time; a dropped touchdown pass, overthrowing a receiver, a penalty that negates a long gain or big loss, a missed block that kept a first down from happening. These are all events that can “cost” a team the game, however they are really not noticed much unless they are one of the last events on the field.  
However, the biggest game in the contest is the “Blame Game”. Everyone wants to find someone to blame for the loss; the kicker, the quarterback, the defense, the offensive line, the coach. Coaches who never set foot on the field are fired because the players can’t get it together. Players are criticized by the media, officials are raked over the coals and owners are told what to do by people looking for someone to blame. After all, we have to blame someone when things go wrong, don’t we?!
Unfortunately, Christians and churches are like that. When attendance is down we look for someone to blame. When contributions are low we look for someone to blame for their lack of giving. When things don’t go right we look for someone to blame.
In most cases the thing that we base our blame on is usually the most current event happening. In reality the problems may have been brewing for a long time. They are issues that have built up over time. The last event is the one that just took it over the edge.
So who do we blame when things go wrong? Who do we point fingers at to point out their faults? Who do we put up on the pedestal of shame?
Maybe the answer is not in who we blame but in how we approach things. Jesus once stooped down and wrote in the sand next to a woman who had been brought to him for being an adulteress. He spoke the words, “let he who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” In another place James asks the question about why should be concerned about the speck in our brothers eye when we have an entire plank in our own.
Everybody has a job to do and sometimes we make mistakes. Some of these mistakes will cost us dearly, while others will be of little consequence. So first if we are involved we should look at ourselves and see what may have done by “me” to contribute to the problem. If we have problems then let’s fix them. Second if we can’t do anything about it fill people with encouragement instead of blame and humiliation.
Most of all let’s just quit looking for a scapegoat and get on with the task at hand not waiting until the final play of the game to try and pull out from all our mistakes. That might just be too late.




Monday, November 7, 2011

God vs. “Dead Dudes in the House”


My brother-in-law and I sat down late one evening and began watching a 90’s horror movie entitled “Dead Dudes in the House”. The basic story is about these kids who come to fix up a house and are killed off one by one. However, they always come back as zombies and have to be killed again. It was so bad that we laughed all the way through it. I noticed it on line and saw where people were giving it an average of 4 ½ stars out of five on some sights! Four and a half!!! I would have had a hard time giving it one, but it was so bad it was funny.
Then I noticed something else. Moves like “Fireproof”, “Courageous” and “Seven Days in Utopia” were struggling to get 3 stars. God was definitely losing out to zombies. Faith and perseverance were fading in the light of blood and creepy killers. “Too much God and religion” was the theme that I was reading over and over. God was definitely fighting a losing battle, especially with the critics. This only confirmed why I pay no attention to the critics when I watch a movie.
It brought back memories of when “Silence of the Lambs” won best picture over “Beauty and the Beast”. I’ve seen “Silence” once. That was enough. “Beauty and the Beast” is in our film library. I never like movies where evil wins out.
I don’t always agree with movies with “religious” themes especially the endings; however it gets to me when I hear people so ready to criticize a movie which promotes good morals and offer complete acceptance to a movie that haunts the mind with terror and misery. Life may not be all that a “God” movie portrays, but neither is it a world full of cannibalistic serial killers. The choice that we can make is with what do we want to fill our hearts and minds?
I guess that’s why I like the old black and white movies. Sure they are sappy at times and make you shed a tear here and there. The endings usually end up on a bright note even if the real life event didn’t. But the majority of times the good guys won. More often than not the guy in the white hat saved the girl often without killing anyone. Lassie always came home, the Babe always hit the home run and the right guy always got the girl. I can watch them over and over and over because when it’s said and done, I always feel good afterwards.
Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” I believe he said this because he knew that what is on our minds is also on our hearts. If we fill our hearts and minds with God there is no room for Satan. He later told the church in Philippi, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -think about such things.”
I’m not sure why I wasted my time with “Dead Dudes in the House”. I guess it was more the fun of my brother-in-law and I having too good a time laughing and joking about it. I know one thing for sure and that is that there was nothing lovely, right, praiseworthy or pure about it.


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Halloween: Behind the Masks

When the knock came on the door just as it was getting dark I was taken by surprise when I saw two people about my size staring at me through plastic masks covering their faces. I was around three and it was the first Halloween that I remember.  I remember at that point my mother decorating my face with rouge and lipstick so I would look like a clown; then we went to about a half dozen neighbors for my first “trick or treat” experience.
Nowadays when I open the door there are witches and goblins, ghosts and ghouls, clowns and princesses and stormtroopers and super heroes. Masks cover their faces as they portray some fictional character they have come to know.
I know there are some who don’t like Halloween. I’ve heard preachers preach against dressing up as ghosts, witches and monsters. What effect will this have on our kids! Well, in my opinion, if it means anything, not much. You see I’ve been passing out candy now for close to fifty years, about the time I was too old to go collecting it for myself. I have greeted many a ghost, skeleton, princess, pumpkin, monster and such at the door. Some of them have been scary and ugly while others have been cute or pretty. What I’ve found out that almost without exception, no matter how they looked on the outside every one of them told me “thank you” when I put candy in their bag, even the big ones!
You see who we are is not based on our outward appearance it’s what is in our hearts that counts. Without a mirror I can only see myself from the inside, so I don’t really know what you see when you look at me physically. Maybe you see mustard on my mouth, messed up hair or a scar where I had chickenpox as a child. You can see it, I can’t. But no matter how I look on the outside that doesn’t matter as long as you see the true me when I say “thank you”.
Oh wait! Remember the masks? What bothers me much more than Halloween masks are the masks that people wear on Sunday morning. These are those that have a pretty mask on that makes them look like Jesus for a short period of time. Then on Monday morning the mask is removed and they retreat back to the ways of the world.  The face may look okay but the heart has a long way to go.
The word “hypocrite” actually refers to an actor, one who wears a mask. It is someone who is playing a part by looking and acting differently than they are on the inside.
Jesus confronted the Sadducees and Pharisees and told them, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:25-28)
If I get right to it, I’d rather be told “thank you” by a ghost or kind witch anytime over the other. Mainly because behind the ugly mask usually lies a beautiful heart.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

One Hour

Courtesy Clker.com
Cade was born this week. Born with a major birth defect his life on this planet would be short; approximately one hour. But for that one hour Cade knew that he was loved by so many people. In that one hour a family was able to pour out their affection to their little boy.

On December 26th of this last year I spent an hour with my mother. She didn’t know me but Kathy and I sat by her and my dad as he held her hand, kissed her and sang to her. Before we left I leaned over kissed her on the forehead and said, “I love you mom.” That was the last hour I would ever spend with her.

An hour seems like such a short time, but to some it’s a lifetime. These two events got me to thinking. How do I spend the hours that God has given me?

Phil Ware illustrated in a sermon not long ago how many days we have with our children before they are grown. We can use the same analogy with life. The average lifespan is 78.7 years as of a 2009 study. That gives us a total of 689,412 hours in our life more or less. I’ll be 64 next month so that gives me around 128,772 hours left on the average, Lord willing. Take from that the fact that sleep, getting ready for bed and getting ready when I get up will take about 9 hours a day or 48,290 hours I have 80,482 hours left. I’ve already used up including the future bedtime hours close to 90 percent of the time God has given me.

So the question is how do we plan to use the hours left that God has given us?

Again, what would you do if you knew you only had one hour left?

Watching TV? Arguing over some silly subject? Complaining? Sleeping?

Or…

Is there someone you’d like to call and tell them you love them?

Is there someone you’ve been working with on a problem that you’d like to help one last time?

Is there someone who isn’t a Christian with whom you’d like to share the gospel?

Is there someone with whom you need to make things right?

Would it be to take care of one final need in the church?

Would it be to be around those that we love and know love us; surrounded with God’s affection and the love of our family and friends.

How often do we wish we could go back and change the last hour with someone? To love more? To encourage more? To change what we said or what we did?

One hour.

Sixty minutes.

Thirty-six hundred seconds.

You know what? This could be our last hour. Any hour could be our last one. So we should make the most of it before the next 3600 seconds have passed. I’ve already spent over 1000 of those 3600 writing this. It’s a short time; then again maybe a lifetime.

Make your next hour count.

Tell someone you love them before it’s too late. Tell someone you care for them before the hour is up. Pick up the phone and call them. Go on Facebook and write on their wall. Email them. Go by to see them. Text them.


But do it before your hour is up. You may never get another chance.

The clock is ticking.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Leave Tomorrow 'Til It Comes


Image from New Line Production of The Nativity Story
Several years ago there was a movie produced entitled “The Nativity Story”. As you can tell by the title this is a recounting of the story of the birth of Jesus. There is one scene in particular that has always stood out to me, mainly because I had always looked at the story as an outside observer but never through the eyes of Mary and Joseph. In this one scene Mary and Joseph have stopped for the evening. They are by a lake cooking a fish they had bought for supper and Joseph has just told Mary what the angel had told him about the conception of the child Mary was carrying.  The young couple, scared about what the future may hold, is sitting talking when Mary asks a question.

Mary: “Do you ever wonder when we will know?”
Joseph: “Know? Know what?”
Mary: “When he is more than just a child? Will it be something he says? A look in his eye?”
Joseph: “I wonder if I will even be able to teach him anything.”

Of course we know how the story unfolds, but to this young couple it was something that they could only wonder about.
Life is that way to all of us. We never know what tomorrow may bring. We never know what will unfold as our story continues. Many of us take life with ease and even flow while others struggle and worry about what will happen next.
There have been many nights that I have opened my eyes at 3:00 a.m. and found myself wide awake. It's in those wee hours of the morning that it often creeps in. It takes me by surprise, but when it does I may lie awake for a good while. I hate it when it comes in. I hate it that it lingers around. I hate it that it often returns night after night. I wish it would go away and sometimes it does. I wish it didn't exist, but it pops its head up at these convenient times. It changes shapes. It changes ways in which it attacks. It's hard to shake off. 
What is it?
Worry! 
We all have things that weigh heavy on our hearts. We have issues in our lives that cause us to be anxious and wonder how we're going to get out of the undesirable place in which we find ourselves. 
Long before "The Lord of the Rings" there was another little animated movie based on the Hobbitt. It was called "The Return of the King". It had several songs sung in the background. One of these was a little song that dealt with worry. It's entitled "Leave Tomorrow 'Til It Comes" by Glen Yarbrough. It's a simple song with a message that tells us to sleep easy; Tomorrow may help us look at things much more differently. 

Leave tomorrow till it comes
Sleep will ease your mind.
With the dawn you'll find
Problems realigned a different way
Than yesterday.
Leave tomorrow till it comes
Time is moving fast.
Don't go pushing past
Endings of the day
Till yesterday.

Tangled dreams unfold
And webs may disappear
Stories are retold
And cloudy thoughts will clear.
Leave tomorrow till it comes
Sleep will ease your mind.
With the dawn you'll find
Problems realigned a different way
Than yesterday,
The key to making it through these times is to remember that “The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts in Christ Jesus”. If we do this then we will always know how the story will end.


Thursday, September 15, 2011

Reminders of the Cross

 


Laminins are major proteins in the basal lamina also called the basement membrane, which is a protein network foundation for most cells and organs. The laminins are an important and biologically active part of the basal lamina, influencing cell differentiation, migration, adhesion as well as phenotype and survival. Without Laminin we could not live.


Far out in the universe there is a spiral galaxy much like the one in which or planet exists.



If you travel to the center of the galaxy you'll find a black hole. In the black hole you'll see this.



Coincidence? Maybe...

By Plan? Again, maybe...

However they got there it's interesting that no matter where you go in the universe, from inside our own bodies to the far corners, you can never get away from the Cross.

It's a message that will be there for generations to come. 

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Collision Course

I believe it was Marshall Keeble who used to tell the story about an air traffic controller. It went something like:

Atlanta Pilot: Houston, this is flight 115 coming in from Atlanta, requesting permission to land.

Houston: Yes Sir. Flight 123, you’re clear to land going west there on runway 29.

Atlanta Pilot: Roger that.

L.A. Pilot: Houston, this is flight 97 coming in from L.A., requesting permission to land.

Houston: Yes Sir. Flight 97, you’re clear to land going east there on runway 29.

L.A. Pilot: Houston, didn’t I hear you just tell flight 115 to land west on that same runway?

Houston: I guess I did, flight 97.

Pause

Houston: Ya’ll be careful, hear!

Life is like that. We never know when we may be on a collision course with some unexpected event. Most of these instances can be avoided, but there are instances when we have no control over what occurs. 

People react in all sorts of ways when the unexpected occurs. Some get angry, others confused, some fall into depression and still others may just ignore it and go on. So how should we react?

How should I face the brick walls that seem so great I can’t get over or around them? What do I do when I come to the edge of a river that seems too wide to cross? These walls and rivers may be financial problems; they may be a devastating illness; they may be a family crisis; they may be a death.

The first thing we have to keep in mind is that we are never alone. Jesus promised “I am with you always”.  We may feel abandoned at times. We may feel that God doesn’t care. We may feel alone. But in reality God is always there beside us ready to comfort us and help us safely land if we will only let Him. It is difficult to trust in someone we cannot see or hear, but he’s there just the same.

In the movie “Spirit of St. Louis” Jimmy Stewart is portraying Charles Lindbergh. As he struggles to land his plane in Paris, he becomes confused and disoriented. Fighting the lack of sleep, glaring lights and fatigue he finally blurts out in despair “Oh Lord, help me.”

So, when we are in situations that seem to be impossible to overcome we can call upon our Lord for strength and as Paul promised “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Timmy's Valetines...Love is Not Self Seeking

When I was growing up one of our favorite times in school was Valentines Day. I remember my mom helping me decorate an old shoe box with crepe' paper and then we'd go out and buy a package of Valentines for me to give away. I had to be careful who I gave them to since you sure didn't want to give a girl in the second grade some mushy card. The exciting thing was to bring your box home and look at all the cards you received from your classmates.

I read a story of a little boy, Timmy we'll call him, who was not very popular in school. In fact he was made fun of and often left out of games and kids parties. When Valentines Day rolled around he couldn't wait to get his box and Valentines together. He took a long tedious time picking out the right Valentine for each classmate.

As he left for school the next morning he took care in packing the Valentines and carrying his box out the door and to the bus. His mother knew Timmy was not very popular and as he left she couldn't help but have a heavy heart knowing that he would probably get few Valentines from the other children. She decided that he would need some extra love when he came home so she spent the afternoon making cookies and waiting for Timmy to return home on the afternoon bus.

Finally the bus drove up and Timmy stepped off the bus with head bowed and shaking it back and forth. As he approached his mother she heard him mumble "not a one". At this her heart sank and tears began to well up in her eyes with concern for her disappointed child. As he approached her, he looked up smiled and said, "Not a one, I didn't forget a single one."

Love is not self-seeking. When we love the way the Jesus wants us to love it means that we want the best for others. It means that we are just as concerned about others feelings, others needs, others wants and others welfare just as we are ours.

When we think of others we hurt when they hurt, we rejoice when they are happy, we weep with them, laugh with them and truly want the best for them. Love that is not self seeking has no room for jealousy. It has no room for harboring ill will. It puts others ahead of ourselves. As a result it makes us a better and happier person.

A man once died and was given a tour of Hell. When he walked into the room he saw a long table with everyone sitting around it. The table was full of the most delicious food imaginable. The problem was that each person had one arm tied behind their back and a three foot spoon tied to the other hand. They were crying and angry because even with all the food it was out of their reach.

The man was depressed with the scene so he asked to see Heaven. When he walked into the room he saw the same scene, table, food, spoon and hand behind back. But they were all laughing and having a great time. The difference was that they were feeding each other.

Love that is not self seeking is love that feeds each other.

Friday, August 5, 2011

How Ruuuuude

One afternoon I called the phone company to check on an issue with my bill. It was about a quarter before 5:00 when I called and was put on hold by their computer. The wait was to be several minutes and intertwined with the music was an occasional, " We're sorry for your wait. Someone will be with you shortly." This went on for fifteen minutes then at 5:00 the recording came on, but this time it was different, "Thank you for calling. Our office hours are Monday through Friday 8 to 5. Please call back during our normal business hours. I thought, "How Rude". I had patiently waited to talk to someone then was abruptly dismissed by an insensitive computer.

I genuinely despise rude acting people. I really feel sorry for restaurant waiters, clerks at return desks, customer service representatives and just about anyone who has to spend their day dealing with people on a personal basis. People can be rude at times, sometimes on purpose and other times out of frustrations. Of course the people behind the counter can also be just as rude to their customers.

I've been to restaurants where people complained about the prices, berated the waiter for slow service or because something wasn't cooked right. One time I was with a preacher at a breakfast and he was so rude that I almost changed tables rather than be seen with him.

I read the story of a man who went into the athletic store to buy a baseball bat for his son. He spoke rather rudely to the clerk and then realizing what he had done apologized to her. "I've been at the Department of Motor Vehicles all morning dealing with a rude lady over my auto registration and I'm sorry I've taken it out on you." The clerk looked at him holding the bat and smiled "Do you want this gift wrapped or are you going back there this afternoon?"

Love means that we treat people like we want to be treated. Waiters don't cook the food, clerks don't set the return policies and customer service reps don't make the products that are giving you problems. They are there just doing their job in spite of how they may be treated.

Unfortunately in today's society rudeness appears to be on the rise. People are impolite to each other. We make degrading remarks about people. We talked down to those that serve us. We're quick to tell people exactly what we think without giving their feelings any thought. We ridicule, cut down, demean and often have a "better than you" attitude. We are impolite, have bad manners, bad attitudes, yelling, screaming, griping complaining and display snobbish noses.

Love is not rude. In other words love treats people like people and not things. It approaches people with the feeling "I care about you". Love listens. Love opens doors. Love says thank you and you're welcome. Love shows appreciation. Love makes people glad they passed out way. Love is not rude.

Remember Rudy on "The Cosby Show"? When her friend would treat her wrongly she'd always say, "How ruuuuuuude." Just maybe if we started telling ourselves this every time we stepped out of line it would help us to make everyone else's world a better place to live.

As the old saying goes, "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar." So trying being nice to each person you meet and see how it changes people's lives.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Do You Know Who "I" AM?

In  All the President’s Wit by Gerald Gardner he relates a story of a visit of Ronald Reagan to Mexico City. On one occasion President Reagan stood before a large crowd and gave a speech, which on conclusion he sat down to a rather unenthusiastic applause. The next speaker approached the podium and began receiving enthusiastic applause after just about every paragraph. Reagan, not knowing Spanish did not understand what was being said but joined the crowd in applause. After a bit to show his enthusiasm he began to applaud even before the crowd would start. At one point our ambassador leaned over to Reagan and said “I wouldn’t do that. He’s interpreting your speech.”

Pride is like that. Without meaning to we get caught up in ourselves; what we have; who we are; how important “I” am. It becomes all about us.

Years ago my wife, Kathy, worked for Public Relations at a Christian College. On one occasion she was in charge of booking people into motels and hotels for a lecture series that brought in thousands of people. All the nicer places had been booked when one prominent preacher called in late and asked for a room. She assigned him one that was available in what might be considered a 1 or 2 star motel nowadays. When he saw where he was placed he became angry and approached her saying “Do you know who I am?”

Bell Telephone performed a survey years ago to see what people talked about over the phone. It was discovered that the most used word in phone calls was the word “I”.

Love is not proud. This follows “Love does not boast”. Love doesn’t continually point to “me”. It doesn’t set “me” on a pedestal. It doesn’t make “me” the center of attention. It is less concerned about “me” and more concerned about “you”.

The second greatest commandment is to “Love your neighbor as yourself”. To do this we take pride out of the picture. Our focus changes to others instead of self.

I like the old saying “Be kind to people on your way up, because you’ll meet the same people on your way down.” When our lives are filled with pride and arrogance we cut relationships. It turns people away. The “better than you” attitude severs ties with those around us and basically asks people “Do you know who I am?”

Solomon wrote, “A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.”

In other words the only way to really love “me” is to love “you” more.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Stripes All Over - Love Does Not Boast

In the ‘50’s there were a lot of stories still hanging around from the World War II years. I remember one in particular about three little boys. One day these three boys were sitting around and began to argue about their dads and the war. The boys were boasting, as we may have done ourselves, about how great their dads were during the war. Each boy wanted to do his best to outdo his buddies.

The first boy proclaimed, “My dad shot down 3 enemy planes and they gave him a stripe for it.” Not wanting to be outdone the second boy said, “That’s nothing, my dad shot down 4 planes and sunk a battle ship single handedly and got two stripes.” Finally the third boy sat up and smiled a huge smile, “My dad’s got both your dad’s beat. He robbed a bank and got stripes all over him.”

We all get caught into the trap of boasting from time to time. We proudly say, “Look at what I have”, “Guess where I’m going”, “Let me show you.”, “Let me tell you.” And so on and so on.

We all do it. I do it. In fact, let me tell you about my grand-daughter. I can open my wallet and show you her picture, let you look at my Blackberry or the background on my computer. She’s the prettiest, cutest, best grand-daughter anyone could ever have. Now that’s not boasting; that’s a fact!

So why does Paul say, “Love does not boast”? Simply it’s because when we boast of what we have it puts on an air of superiority over those who might not have what we have. It in a way is a way of belittling someone else by calling attention to what you have and how much better it is than what they have.

I’ve learned not to boast in certain situations. I’ve learned not to boast about my grand-daughter around certain people who have lost a grandchild or are older and don’t have any grandchildren. I don’t boast about what I have or what I’m going to do around people who are less fortunate than I am. Love means considering others feelings before you speak or act.

It’s interesting how this follows, “love does not envy”. In other words we learn to be content without desiring what others have and not boasting of what we have. In turn, both follow “love is kind”.

A man once owned a home and because his friends kept boasting of what they had, he became envious of them and decided to sell his home and buy a bigger one. He called a real estate agent who came and looked at his house and listed it on the market for him. He then proceeded to search the paper for a house he could be proud of and boast about. Finally he found one. The description sounded perfect, exactly what he wanted. He quickly picked up the phone and called his realtor. The realtor took his information to make an appointment, then paused and said, “Sir, that’s the house you’re living in now!”

Philippians 4:12 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

Thursday, July 7, 2011

The Envious Eagle

I once heard the fable of an eagle who was envious of another eagle who was larger and could fly much higher than he could. The only way to be the best eagle again was to have the larger eagle killed. So one day the eagle went to a bow hunter and showed him the great prize he could have if he shot down the eagle flying so high. The hunter agreed to but needed a feather for his arrow. The eagle obliged, giving him one of his feathers. The hunter shot an arrow that sailed high and straight, but fell short since the eagle was so high. The eagle again gave him a feather to try again. Again he failed. This continued on until the eagle had no more feathers to give and he, himself couldn’t fly. When the hunter saw the dilemma he saw his prize and turned and shot the eagle sitting beside him. The moral of the story was when you envy the only person you hurt is yourself.

Love does not envy. Envy goes beyond simple jealousy. It is the desire to have what someone else has no matter what the cost. Kind David did this when he lusted after Bathsheba and then had her husband killed to cover his sin and gain his prize. Cain did this when he killed Abel. Ahab did this when he had Naboth killed to obtain Naboth’s vineyard for his wife.

The opposite of envy is to be content. Contentment means that I can be happy with what I have no matter what everyone else around me has. I don’t have to have a house as big as yours. I can drive an older car while you’re in a newer one. I will not wish you harm because you are better off than I am. I will not wish ill on you because of your success.

Love means you want the best for others. You want them to succeed. You want them to be happy.

Two men were once stranded on a dessert island. In order to co-exist they divided the island in half and they lived separately. The two men knew their only hope was to pray. The first day they prayed for food. The next morning one man had an abundance of food and the other had only enough to sustain his life. The next day they prayed for shelter. The man who had all the food was given a grand place to live while the other was stuck to living under a tree. After a week the first man prayed for a wife and it was granted to him. The other man remained alone on barren soil with little shelter. Finally the first man prayed for a ship to come by and take his wife and him away from the island. The next day the ship arrived and the man and wife boarded the ship and decided to leave the other man behind.

As the ship sailed a voice came from heaven, “Where is your shipmate that was on the island with you?” The man said that the he did not deserve to be saved, which was obvious by none of his prayers being answered. “On the contrary,” the voice came back, “while you asked for food, shelter and a wife, he prayed that all of your prayers would be answered. It was his prayers that gave you what you had not yours.”

Love does not envy means we want the best for those we love and would do nothing to cause harm.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Love is Kind

It’s interesting that “Love is Kind” follows “Love is Patient”. Several years ago a study was done by a TV program on how people respond behind someone at a red light that doesn’t go. In the study they had someone stop a car at a red light and wait for someone to come up behind them. When the light turned green the test car remained in position and did not move. They did this in three areas of the country, South, East Coast and West Coast. They started in a city in the South. The car behind waited through two red lights before just going around the car in front. On the West Coast the car behind waited through one light then honked their horn when the light changed green again. On the East Coast the car behind honked their horn as soon as the light turned. Patience and kindness often work together. I think that’s why Paul probably put them together.

Four years ago while I was making some hospital visits I went by the room of an older lady whose son was dying from AIDS. It was sad to see him wasting away and his mother with eyes swollen from tears watching him slowly dying. There wasn’t anything I could do for him but pray. Instead of just saying the prayer I reached out and took his hand. It was a surprise to his mother since most people were afraid to touch someone with a disease such as this. Not long after the young man died.

A couple of months ago his mother came up to me after Bible class. “I still remember and thank you for when you came to the hospital; took my son’s hand and prayed with us.”

It was a simple gesture, but an act of kindness that she cherished four years later. Kindness is one thing that can be given away and doesn’t have to cost us a dime. I remember the time that one of the ladies at church was too short for her feet to reach the floor. One of the men of the congregation saw this and decided to do something about it. The next time she came to worship there was a stool for her to rest her feet upon. She never knew who put it there.

We recently stayed at a hotel in San Antonio. As we left the first morning we left $5 for the maid and thanked her for doing so well in cleaning our room. We came back later that day and as we were leaving a housekeeper stopped us and asked if we were room so and so. We said we were and she proceeded to thank us for the gift.

Kindness may just be saying thank you to a waiter or waitress who serves you at a restaurant. It may be picking up merchandise on the floor of a store and returning it to the shelf. It may be holding a door open for someone or passing up a parking place so the people behind you can have it even if you have to walk an extra distance yourself. It may be waiting patiently as a new person is trained at the cash register or simply telling someone you appreciate how they helped you.

The writer of proverbs wrote, “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” A kind word can make a person’s day. It can give them hope that life is better than they thought.

The story is told of Abraham Lincoln visiting a battlefield hospital during the Civil War. He approached the bed of a soldier who was dying and who did not recognize Lincoln. The young man asked Lincoln to write a note to his parents expressing his love to them and his family. The young man weak and dying could say very little so Lincoln concluded the letter, “written for your son by Abraham Lincoln.”

The young man asked to see the letter and upon seeing Lincoln’s name apologized for not recognizing his commander in chief. Lincoln then asked if there was anything else he could do. He requested that Lincoln hold his hand during his final moments of life. Lincoln sat holding the young man’s hand until sunrise when the young man passed away. It was a simple act of kindness from the most powerful man in the country for someone he had known less than 24 hours.

Simple acts of kindness are free to give and valuable to receive.

So today, hold a hand, open a door, and say thank you, praise good work, smile and share the gift of kindness with everyone you meet.

Next Week: Love Does Not Envy

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Love is Patient

I was feeling really good when I drove into the bank drive-in. There were six lanes open with two cars in each. As I drove up one car went on through so I pulled behind the single car. Fifteen minutes later I was still sitting in the same spot. All the other lanes had fulfilled the needs of the two cars in line and were now servicing the second influx of vehicles. By the time I moved up after twenty minutes of waiting I had seen more than a dozen other cars come and go and I think the leaves start to change on a tree or two.
 
So I decided from that point on to do a study of cars in the bank drive-in and see if there was a way to tell which line to choose. Through months of study I found out there are certain vehicles you avoid. 
  1. Never get behind a pick-up with more than just the driver if it’s a man. This is probably a construction crew and each man wants to cash his check and they must all be done separately. Each man in the pick-up equals a car and a half. The half is because it takes longer to do cash transaction than a deposit.
  2. Never pull up behind a mini-van driven by a woman with kids inside. This is a mother who is probably frustrated with everything that is going on and will probably not have her deposit slip ready. And when she’s done she’ll have to send the carrier back because all the kids will want a sucker.
  3. Never pull up behind an automobile with a business sign on the side. These are normally business people who don’t want to go through the commercial line. Their deposits are usually large and take up the time of two or three cars.
  4. Never get behind a full size vehicle with someone with gray hair. I fit the gray hair part but don’t drive a full size vehicle by the way. These are usually older people who need help filling out their deposit slip. In addition they don’t trust the teller so they make sure to turn off their engine and count all the cash before they leave. It also takes longer to get the driver’s license back in their wallet.
  5. Never, ever pull up behind someone who is shaking his head. This means he knows what he wants and why he’s here. He’s done his duty by filling out his deposit slip, added everything correctly and just wants to get through. He’s shaking his head because the teller is new and has no idea what he or she is doing and wonders why the person on the driver license picture has different color hair. 
So having all this knowledge I pulled into the drive-in, studied the situation and pulled up behind a vehicle that met my new criteria and proceeded to wait while all the other cars in all the other lanes went through before I did. It was at that moment I realized I needed to work on the one factor I had left out; my lack of patience.
 
Patience is a virtue that almost everyone struggles with at some time or another. It’s used 25 times in the New Testament and self-control another 5 times. The lack of patience is a result of our worrying about things or in many cases just being in too big a hurry. It comes mostly because we put ourselves in a tight schedule and leave no room for enjoying life around us.
 
Several years ago I heard a song by AGAPE that has always stuck with me:

Have Patience, Have Patience 
Don’t be in such a hurry 
When you get impatient 
You only start to worry 
Remember, Remember 
That God is patient too 
And think of all the times when others 
Have to wait on you. 
 
Now when I sit in line at the bank drive-in I tune to XM Radio Classics and listen to a story while I wait. When I sit in a doctor’s office for two hours past my appointment time I carry a book to read. When I stand in a long grocery line I laugh at the tabloid headlines and watch how people react and tell myself, “I use to be one of those”. I’ve learned to give myself an extra hour or two if I’m driving through Dallas on a Friday afternoon at 4:00 during football season.
 
But most of all I’ve learned to be more patient with people. They may not move as fast as I want them to, but that’s okay, sometimes I move slowly myself. They may have a hard time with change when I want it to happen more quickly, but sometimes it takes me longer also. Everyone moves at his own pace and I have to be patient with those all around me that are moving at different speeds whether faster or slower.
 
Paul said “Love is Patient”. He said that because people are more important than the entire hullabaloo that goes on around us. Learning to be patient forces us to be more aware of the world around us. Learning to be patient forces us to realize that people are people just like us who have good days as well as bad. Learning to be patient is an act of love.
 
So next time you feel a little impatience coming on remember the last line of the little song above, “And think of all the times when others have to wait on you.”
 
Next Week: Love is Kind
 

Thursday, June 2, 2011

The Legend of Gelert

Lying in a remote part of North Wales is a small community called Beddgelert with a population of only a few hundred. The one big attraction to tourists as they pass through the town is a well maintained grave. It’s the grave of a dog whose name was Gelert. On the monument is the story of how he came to rest in this place. Some call it fact while others call it a mere legend. Any way you look at it the tale inscribed upon the stone is a sad one.

"In the 13th century Llewelyn, prince of North Wales, had a palace at Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert, "The Faithful Hound", who was unaccountably absent.

On Llewelyn's return the truant, stained and smeared with blood, joyfully sprang to meet his master. The prince alarmed hastened to find his son, and saw the infant's cot empty, the bedclothes and floor covered with blood.

The frantic father plunged his sword into the hound's side, thinking it had killed his heir. The dog's dying yell was answered by a child's cry.

Llewelyn searched and discovered his boy unharmed, but nearby lay the body of a mighty wolf which Gelert had slain.

The prince filled with remorse is said never to have smiled again. He buried Gelert here".

It reminds me of another incident. One in which a man was beaten, scourged and hung on a cross when all he was trying to do was save those who killed him.

However, the monument left behind is not made of granite, but of flesh and blood. His followers, the church, stands as a reminder that we, His heirs, live because of Him.

“For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Birds in the Church Building


Yesterday there was a bird flying around in the church building. It was just a common ordinary sparrow, but it reminds me of many other birds that I’ve seen in our building. Most of them come flying through during worship. Here are a few I’ve seen lately.

Punctual Late Landers

Capistrano has nothing on this type swallow that always or invariably lands in the services about 8-10 minutes late. It is uncanny how they can do it consistently and not be a second off! Mother Nature has perhaps provided them with a timing system that defies man’s description. It is too bad that it cannot be set up about 15 minutes so they could arrive on time. But alas! Nothing can be done; it seems, to hurry them up.

Scarlet Throated Blabber Beaks

A bird found in almost any church building during services. He roosts any place and is unconcerned about the rights and desires of others. His head swings to the right or left but seldom toward the front. His throat has the identifiable scarlet color from much chatter, and you will notice the smallness of his ears for he seldom listens.

Flocking Scribble Scratchers

When the sermon is of a serious nature, these strange fowls begin to scribble and scratch with pencil and pad writing notes hurriedly to each other in order to distract those nearest. They seldom speak though’ they are animated and make funny faces. They are known by the groups in which they congregate. It can be told where they have nested after services are completed because the janitor has to remove the trash from the general area. Color them purple with rage.

Roaming-Eyed Rifflers

This strange visitor to places of worship is not content with that which is transpiring but compulsively allows his eyes to roam about. Some varieties count bricks on the wall, cracks in the plaster, and panes in the windows or holes in the ceiling tile. Another variety (for which the group finds its distinctive name) is the riffler of song books. This type also has a deep interest in some dusty book of the Old Testament. A strange breed the Roaming-Eyed Riffler.

Chirping Beep Tweeters

This is a relatively new variety of fowl. They are almost unrecognizable but for the faint sounds that come from where they nest. The interesting thing is that most have distinctively different sounds: Some beep, some chirp, some buzz while others are completely silent. They are distinctive however in that though they sit perfectly still while their eyes are constantly moving up and down, but rarely forward with the tips of their wings moving at a rapid pace. Occasionally one will turn and interact with a Scarlet Throated Blabber Beak.

When you enter into worship with God, where are you really? Are you there communing with Him or are you flying around here and there like so many of these birds?

Psalm 29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

Oh! By the way there is one other bird in worship with which I have no qualms.

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;

If you must be a bird in worship, be an Eagle!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Memories of Yesteryear

I'm a nostalgic person. Kathy and I both like to go to flea markets, garage sales and antique stores searching for treasures from the past. Sometimes they'll be things I can sell on EBay but mostly it's stuff we like from the "old days". Most cost a buck or two, some less, some a little more. I don't live in the past but I like the memories that things can bring. So here's a little test of a few things for those moving on in years. See if they bring back thoughts from years ago...

1. Use _____ the foaming cleanser. Gets out stains even bleach can't reach.
2. You'll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with _________.
3. Let _________ put you in the driver's seat.
4. Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is. _____________  ____________.
5. See the USA from your _______________.
6. Oh, I wish I were an ________ _________ __________.
7. I'd walk a mile for a ____________.
8. ____________, a little dab a do ya...
9. Cigars, Cigarettes, ______________.
10. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____________ makes the very best......cho....colate.
11. The best of waking up is _____________ in your cup.
12. A Guy -- Who Drives -- His Car -- Wide Open -- Is not thinkin' -- he's just hopin' -- ______ ______
13. I want my __________.
14. _______ soap, the soap that floats.
15. Does she or doesn't she? _____________
16. You can trust your car to the man who wears the star. The big bright ____________ star.
17. The breakfast of champions.  __________
18. I love _______ it's rich and choclaty
19 All the kids in the neighborhood say __________ ______ ______ are triple good
20. Mother's love it. Kid's ask for it by name. _______________

Things change. Every generation looks back at those things that remind them of their youth. We go to class reunions to see old friends who we may or may not recognize in a crowd as we once would. We watch old movies with people of different clothing styles and hairdos, we listen to old songs with words that only our generation relates to and visit places from our past that are overgrown with what were once small plants and in need of repair. Life goes on.

The one constant that every generation shares however is Jesus Christ. Worship styles may change. Buildings look more modern. Communication methods are different. It's not the same place our parents drug us to when we were little.

But inside with the unseen it is different. "Jesus Christ is the same Yesterday, Today and 
Forever." With this we have no need to look back, only forward.

1. Ajax 2. Pepsodent 3. Hertz 4. Alka-Seltzer 5. Chevrolet 6. Oscar Meyer Weiner 7. Camel 8. Brylcream 9. Tiparillos 10. N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestles 11. Folger's 12. Burma Shave 13. Mapo 14. Ivory 15. Clairol 16. Texaco 17. Wheaties 18. Bosco 19. Tootsie Roll Pops 20. Ovaltine

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

He's Dead Now: The Man Who Hated Christians

He’s dead now: the man who hated Christians. He’s dead now: the man who sought to destroy the church and all for which it stands. He’s dead now: the man who threatened innocent men and women throughout the world. He’s dead now: the man whose followers obeyed his every command, murdering those whom they were directed to kill. He’s dead now: the man who didn’t care if he killed men or women. He’s dead now: the man who watched while thousands of men, women and children were brutally killed. He’s dead now: the leader who let everyone else perform his dirty work. He’s dead now: the man that many attempted to kill but he always eluded them. Yes, he’s dead now.

Oh, you’ll see him again: on the day we all stand before God to face our fate for eternity. And on that day I have no doubt that God will look at this man, the murderer, the Christian killer, the man who the world feared and say, “Come in my good and faithful servant”. And with wonderment we’ll step aside and watch as Saul of Tarsus, better known as Paul moves forward to stand side by side with those he at one time stood by and watched being murdered.

I did not hate Osama Bin Laden. I hated what he stood for and what he did. I believe he deserved to be punished for the atrocities and crimes he committed. I’m glad he’s not around to continue his leadership of an extremist group bent on destroying innocent people. He was an evil man with evil motives. The world is better off without his influence.

But you know what. Angels would have been rejoicing in heaven if he had turned as Paul did and changed his life. Can you imagine the impact on the world if the one who was the persecutor of Christianity had become the protector of Christianity?

It’s happened before. A man named Jake Deshazer was a prisoner of war in Japan and hated the Japanese, until one day he read the Word of God and decided that after the war he’d go back to Japan and teach them about Christ. It happened before. A man named Mitsuo Fuchida, an atheist who hated America. He led the attack on Pearl Harbor that killed thousands of Americans. Then one day he picked up a brochure written by Jake Deshazer that introduced him to the love of Christ. He was converted and became a spokesman for the cause of Christ until the day of his death. It happened before when a man named Stephen while being stoned to death by his enemies fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." It happened before when a man nailed to a wooden cross looked down on a crowd that hated him and said “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” It’s happened many times before. God enters a man’s heart and changes him dramatically.

There are numerous things that we as Christians are taught to do. One of the hardest is found in the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:

5:44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I can think of nothing harder than to love those that hate me. Not only am I asked to love them but I’m also asked to pray for them. So I will. I’ll pray that they come “to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” As I pray I’ll remember the words of Peter when he said, “that God is not willing for any to perish”. Praying for them does not mean you accept what they stand for and what they do. It simply means you care for their soul just like the Savior cared for yours.

Two men are dead now: Two men who murdered men and women because they were Christians. Two men are dead now: Two men who hated and were hated. Two men are dead now: but, one remains dead while one lives on because of a changed life when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus.

In his words what changed him from being a persecutor to a protector are simply:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”