Tasting God?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2034:8&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter+2:2-4&version=NIV1984

There is a verse of Scripture that I have known for years but I’ve never really thought about it before.  Until recently.  It’s from one of my favorite chapters, Psalm 34.  In v 8 it says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”  Yesterday the Holy Spirit brought this verse to my mind.  As I thought about it I wondered something.  What does it mean to ‘taste’ the Lord?  I had to admit after all these years I had never considered this before.

At first glance I would say that this is a weird verse.  What does ‘tasting’ have to do with God?  After all, I wouldn’t have said to Beth when we were dating, “Taste me and see that I am good!”  If I did, she would certainly have thought that I was a little weird.  The fact is that we usually don’t use the word ‘taste’ in association with people.  (Unless you’re a cannibal!)  While we do use ‘taste’ to describe a person’s preferences for food, music, clothes, etc. we usually don’t use it to describe a relationship.  But that is exactly what David is doing here.  He is using ‘taste’ to describe a relationship with God.

Since my wife watches our grandchildren four days a week, they eat many meals with us.   Occasionally they will want to try something that Beth or I are eating.  Such as clam chowder or tomato juice.  So they ask for a bite.  Or a sip.  What they want is a small sampling.  A taste.  Why?  Because they want to find out whether they like it or not.  Until they know whether they like the particular food or drink they aren’t interested in large portions of it.  As it is, if they don’t like something they might just spit it back out!

So to ‘taste’ the Lord means to try Him.  To step out in faith.  To evaluate our experience with Him.  To discern whether it was good or bad.  The point that David is making here is that if we do ‘taste’ the Lord, we will be satisfied.  Why?  Because the Lord is good!  He is good for our spirit.  He is good for our mind.  He is good for our emotions.  And once we have tasted His goodness we will be ready for a much larger helping!

The question then for each of us is, ‘Have I tasted God?’  If not, then why not?  If you’re one of those people who has been interested in Him for some time but has never followed through on it, then today is your day!  Come to Him.  Take a step toward Him.  Taste and see that He is good.  He will never let you down.  Soon you’ll be hooked.  You’ll want more and more of Him.  The fact is that we can never get too much of God.  Never!

Perhaps you are already a Christian.  But maybe you haven’t been living for Him.  You became preoccupied.  Or got lost somewhere along the way.  Taste the Lord.  Let your heart and mind remember just how good He really is.  Chances are that when you do, you will wonder why you wandered off in the first place!

And for the believer who is playing it pretty close to the vest, God is speaking to you as well.  No, you haven’t wandered away from Him.  But you haven’t exactly been running toward Him either.  You’ve become stuck at a certain point in your relationship with Him and haven’t grown from there.  Take a taste.  Step out in faith.  Try witnessing.  Or serving.  Or whatever God has been putting on your heart.  When you do, you will see that He is good.  And the closer you come to Him, the closer you will want to be.

So, the next time you eat a meal, take a drink, or eat a snack, think.  'Have I tasted God lately?'  Don’t let one of the great pleasures of this life go by without partaking.  Taste.  Eat.  Drink.  Feast.  Devour.  For the Lord is good!

Lord, I thank you for the words in Scripture that You use to speak to me.  Words that stir my imagination.  And arouse my curiosity.  Like taste.  I have never thought about the richness of that word and how it applies to You.  Yes, I have tasted You over and over in my life.  And You are good.  All the time.  Give me an insatiable appetite for more of You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Got Bible Reading?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%20119:18&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+24:7&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy+4:13&version=NIV1984

This morning, before I left for the office, my 2 grandsons asked me if I would read them a couple stories from the Bible.  Would I?  Of course, I would!  So I grabbed our children’s picture Bible.  We have been reading through it for the past 8 months or so.  We are about three-quarters of the way through.  So I read them 4 stories.  They all happened to be parables that Jesus told.  Then I mentioned what the parables mean.  As best as I could to a 5 & 3-year-old.  The fact is that I love reading to my grandchildren.  I firmly believe that being read to is a precursor to becoming a reader.  And reading the Bible to children or grandchildren is a precursor to them reading it.

Yesterday I posted about reading and its advantages.  So, if reading is a very worthwhile activity and the Bible is the greatest book ever written, then reading the Bible would have to rank right near the top of things we could do with our time, right?  I would say so!  The Bible is a supernatural book.  It’s author is God.  The words are the words of God.  As such, the Bible is the greatest book that anyone can own.  And reading the Bible is one of the best activities we can engage in.  So what are the advantages of reading the Bible?

1 - Informational.  After 40+ years of reading the Bible I am still trying to get my mind around this.  In the Bible we have the very thoughts of God!  Isn’t that insane?  Scholars treasure diaries of great people from the past.  They pore over their pages, trying to understand the person.  And his or her times.  Want to know what God is like?  Who He is?  What He thinks about a particular subject?  What His desires are?  Read the Bible.  It’s right there for us to see.  A veritable treasure trove of information and insight on God.  And the ways of God.

2 - Recreational.  The Bible has a little of something for everyone.  Biography.  History.  Romance.  Drama.  Wisdom.  Poetry.  Letters.  It really does have a wide appeal.  Plus there is the fact of being able to look at life from God’s perspective.

3 - Relational.  There are hundreds of promises found in the Bible.  From God.  To us.  Promises to give us such things as courage.  Hope.  Strength.  Comfort.  And a host of other things we desperately need.  Then there is the fact that the Bible is the story of God great love for us.  A love that motivated Him to send His Son to die on the cross so that we could be redeemed.  Now that is love!

4 - Inspirational.  Who can not be inspired by the story of the teenaged David triumphing over the giant Goliath?  The Israelites successfully conquering Jericho by marching around it for 7 days and shouting?  Or Elijah calling fire down from Heaven to consume his sacrifice on Mt Carmel?  There are times when reading the Bible inspires us to step out in faith and trust God for great things.

5 - Transformational.  Fact = reading the Bible changes lives.  Our lives.  And the lives of others.  How many people have come into the Kingdom of God by reading the Bible is anyone’s guess.  Reading the Bible changes us suddenly as we put our faith in Jesus as our Savior.  And it changes us slowly, day after day, month after month, year after year, as its words take root in our heart.

It should come as no surprise that Jesus was a reader of Scripture.  In Luke 4, when He came back to His hometown of Nazareth, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath.  And He read from the scroll of Isaiah.  Many times Jesus questioned the Scribes and Pharisees with the phrase, ‘Have you not read...?”  Indeed, Jesus was a reader of Scripture.

So, in all of the reading that we do, let us remember that the most important book to read is the Bible.  There is no other book like it.  There is no other book that will have as great an impact on us.  There is no other book that can speak to us in the totality of life.

So read your Bible.  Enjoy it.  Soak it up.  Most of all, allow it to transform you!

Lord, I thank you for Your Word.  How it has spoken to me over the years.  Challenged me.  Inspired me.  Strengthened me.  Comforted me.  Transformed me.  In the midst of all my reading, let me not neglect Your Word.  In fact, may I give it priority in my life.  As I do so, continue to help it mold me into the person You created me to be.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Got Reading?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+29:12&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+15:31&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians+5:27&version=NIV1984

I have had a love affair for most of my life.  I think my wife suspects it.  It’s a love affair with reading.  I remember when I was in elementary school and the book club papers came out.  I immediately wanted about 10 of the books listed.  There may have been 20 total.  I would take the paper home and circle the books I wanted.  Then my dad would send the money, along with the order, with me to school.  You know that I made sure that nothing happened to that envelope!  I went and grabbed one of those first books from my shelf.  Yes I still have them.  A book lover would never get rid of a book!  The title is The Little Fish That Got Away.  The book was published in 1962.  And cost all of 35¢.  Just the fact that I still have the book tells you that I took care of it.  The last year or so I have even read it to my grandchildren.

Yes, I love to read.  I don’t know why some people take to reading and some don’t?  Sometimes it’s because people are poor readers.  They just don’t recognize words very well.  Maybe they even have a little dyslexia going on.  Or perhaps they have short attention spans.  But there are other people who are good readers who simply don’t like to read.  In fact, according to one article that I read, an Associated Press poll in our country found that 25% of all Americans surveyed didn’t read a single book in 2006.  Not one.  Of the remaining 75%, the average amount of books read was 4.  It depends on the year and the length of the book but I usually read between 16 to 20 books per year.  I would probably read more but so much of the reading that I do is for ministry.  With these kinds of books, and all the information and thinking required, I usually can only read 1 chapter a day.  Now, give me a biography or a historical book and it’s a different story.  I can barely put the book down.  Yes, count me in the reading camp.  In fact, I would much read than watch TV.  Seriously.  There is nothing I love more than curling up with a good book.  (OK, curling up with my wife ranks right up there too!)  Someday when I retire I’m hoping to do a lot more reading.

I have heard it said often over the years that people who love to read are generally smarter and better equipped to handle life than those who don’t.  Intuitively I know this to be true.  In my own life I couldn’t even begin to assess how much benefit I have received from reading.  So I decided to do a little research on the subject and found quite a bit of information.  The following are some of the advantages of reading - which is what you are doing right now!  Way to go!  (Some of the information came from the website, Persistence Unlimited by Brad Isaac.)

1.    Reading makes you smarter.  In study after study people who read have higher GPA’s, higher intelligence, and general knowledge than those that don’t.  Enough said.

2.    Improves thinking.  Being able to grasp ideas, concepts or scenarios that are presented in a book requires that we think.  All the time we are reading our mind is constantly working.  It is trying to absorb new concepts or ideas.  We also critique what we are reading.  Is it true?  Does it line up with what I already know?  How is the story going to end?

3.    Improves concentration.  When you read you have to focus.  That takes discipline.  Whether it’s a technical book or a novel your mind is continually concentrating in order to follow the ideas or story being presented.

4.    A better vocabulary.  The more you read the greater your vocabulary.  If you are like me, when you come across a word you don’t know you look it up.

5.    Better writing skills.  The more you read the better you can write.  You know instinctively how to construct a sentence.  When it looks good and when it doesn’t.

6.    Increases creativity.  How many of us have read a book only to have it later made into a movie - and we are disappointed?  Part of the reason why is that when we read, our mind supplies mental images of the characters and/or places we are reading about.  Then the movie comes out and they have it all wrong!

7.    Can change our life.  There are millions of people whose lives were seriously changed all by reading a particular book.  It gave them an idea.  Or a new perspective.  It helped launch a whole new career path.

There are other advantages to reading as well but I think you get the point.  Tomorrow I want to take reading and couple it with God’s Word.  That is a powerful combination!

Lord, I thank you for reading.  What a wonderful way to learn.  Grow.  Dream.  Relax.  I thank you for the ability that You have given me to read.  And the books that You have brought my way.  How they have helped enlighten me.  Challenge me.  Inspire me.  I especially thank you for Your Word.  The greatest book I have ever read.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Truth: Non-Stretchable

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4:15&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8:32&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:6&version=NIV1984

Elasticity.  I don't know if you've ever thought about it but it's pretty important.  Without elasticity we wouldn't have rubber bands.  Or balloons.  Or bungee cords.  The same with tires.  Or rubber gloves.  And think about all the clothes that contain elastic.  Coats.  Pants.  Blouses.  Skirts.  Yes, elasticity is a pretty important commodity because it allows things to stretch.  When it needs to be flexible.  Or cover just a little bit more.  Unfortunately, some people think that the truth has elastic-like qualities to it.  They are wrong.

One of the qualities about truth is that it is completely inflexible.  Non-elastic.  In other words, it doesn't stretch or bend.  Now most of the products that I've listed above would break if they didn't have any elasticity.  Or they would become very uncomfortable.  Or their usefulness would be seriously diminished.  Truth is the same way.  Stretch it and it breaks.  Let me explain the diverse nature of truth.

On one hand truth is very durable.  Solid.  Like a rock.  Truth doesn't change.  While rocks can erode over the centuries truth remains exactly the same.  It doesn't change one bit.  Now, it might expand as we discover more of it.  But it doesn't change.  Unfortunately, in our age of being 'honest' and transparent, sometimes people hammer others over the head with the truth.  This is one of the reasons why I don't like many of the reality shows.  Show such as Survivor or The Bachelor.  People say the meanest, nastiest things about others and to others.  In front of tens of millions of people.  And even though some of what they say is true it still doesn't give them the right to bludgeon somebody with it.  So truth is durable.  In fact, it is eternal.

On the other hand, truth is also very fragile.  As durable as truth is, when you try to stretch it, it breaks.  Into a millions pieces.  We see this every day.  People try to stretch the truth to a spouse.  Or an employer.  Or a friend.  They think that they can stretch the truth just a little bit in order to cover some misdeed.  But it never works.  The truth eventually breaks.  And when it does, the lie is exposed.  For all to see.  As the saying goes, honesty is always the best policy.

Now the irony is that people who try to stretch the truth don't want others to do it to them.  So the person who stretches the truth about a vehicle they are selling wouldn't be too happy if someone did the same to them.  The employer who stretches the truth to an employee wouldn't want that employee to do so to them.  The drug dealer who stretches the truth to the law wouldn't appreciate the law doing it to them.  Isn't that funny?  We do unto others but we don't want them to do unto us.  Why not?  Shouldn't be expect it?

As Christians, our relationship to the truth is very important.  In fact, you might say that truth is central to everything we believe.  Because if what we believe isn't true then it is a lie.  This is what the Apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 15.  He said that if it wasn't true that Jesus had risen from the dead, then we are still in our sins.  And our faith is useless.  It would all be a lie.  A sham.  Fortunately, what we believe is true.  Jesus did rise from the dead.  And He is true.  He is the very embodiment of truth.  As I said, as Christians, we have a very special relationship to the truth.  We seek the truth.  We know the truth.  We treasure the truth.  We love the truth.  And we seek to share it with others.  Boldly, yet gently.

So the next time that you are tempted to stretch the truth, even just a little bit, don't.  It won't work.  It won't stretch.  God designed it that way.  Instead, realize that the truth is your friend.  People who tell the truth never have to keep track of what they've told others.  They never have to worry about someday being found out.  They are are able to live life with a clear conscience.  As such, they are a blessing to others.  Family.  Friends.  Society.  They also reflect the image of God.  That is a very good thing.

Lord, I confess that I don't always see truth as being ultra-valuable.  But it is.  It is one of the most valuable things that You have entrusted to me.  So help me to take care of the truth.  To treasure it.  To continue to seek it out.  And love it.  In so doing, may I be a blessing to others.  And a reflection of You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Real Cheapskate!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%203:8,9&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians+9:6&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=COl%203:23-24&version=NIV1984

I happened to catch part of another program that Beth was watching on TV the other night.  It was called Extreme Cheapskate.  Enough said.  On this particular episode a couple was going to celebrate their 25th anniversary.  So the husband, Roy Haynes, starts looking for some gifts for his wife.  Good, right?  Not so fast.  This guy looks for gifts in trash dumpsters.  Yeah, you read that right.  He dumpster dives trying to find something to give his wife.  Wow. 

Now I’m not sure, but I think that if a wife were to receive something her husband had retrieved out of a dumpster for her 25th wedding anniversary (or any anniversary for that matter) she would be greatly offended.  If that was the case, most wives might wish that their husbands had simply forgotten about their anniversary altogether.  But you say, “It’s the thought that counts.”  That’s the point.  If you go out ‘dumpster diving’ to find a gift for your wife (when you can afford something better) the ‘thought’ is that she isn’t worth spending much money on.  Ouch!  There’s more.

Roy doesn’t take his wife out to eat at a fancy restaurant.  Oh, no!  That would cost too much.  So he takes her out to a local dinner.  Some place that looked like a truck stop.  Then he gives his wife some flowers.  Great move.  Every woman likes flowers, right?  Yes.  But when they are fresh and pretty.  Roy presents his wife with flowers that he also found in the garbage.  They were half-wilted!  Personally, I would be embarrassed to give my wife flowers in that condition.  (And I don’t think she’d take them either!)  I would rather give her a picture of a flower than to give her flowers that someone else had thrown away.

I am sure that after 25 years this woman was used to Roy’s penny-pinching ways.  After all, this behavior goes all the way back to their honeymoon.  On the day of their wedding Roy went back and picked up all the rice from the sidewalk that had been thrown at them as they exited the church.  Then he went home, cooked it, and offered it to his wife as her meal.  Are you kidding me!  On her honeymoon.  Of course, his wife refused to eat it.  (I don’t blame her.)  By this time she is wondering whether she had made a mistake.  I’m certain that would have been running through my mind as well.  But, here they are, 25 years later and they’re still married.  All I can say is that she must be able to overlook an awful lot.  Like his reusing paper towels 5 times.  Or separating 2-ply toilet paper into 1 ply.  So that it will last twice as long.  Maybe this is why they say love is blind.

I don’t even know why they put people like this on TV?  When they do all they are doing is rewarding and celebrating stupid or obnoxious behavior.  The worst part about all of this is that this guy was probably paid to be on the show.  How’s that for irony?  A cheapskate is paid for being cheap.  And displaying it for the whole world to see.  At times like this I wonder exactly how I fit on this planet?

Unfortunately, some people have the same approach toward God.  (There’s a scary thought!)  They completely dishonor Him by giving him the leftovers.  The crumbs.  If they give Him anything at all.  Really?  The majestic, almighty God who created the Universe (and every human being on the planet) and He gets leftovers?  Why He ought to get the best.  In everything.  In the OT God specified that the lambs that were brought as sacrifices had to be without defect.  Or blemish.  Part of the reasoning behind this was that the lamb represented the sinless Lamb of God, Jesus.  The other part is that God is worthy of the best.  He deserves the best.  Of our money.  Possessions.  Time.  Love.  This is how we honor Him.  This is how we display our love for Him.  This is also how He gives to us.  Generously.  Extravagantly.  Over-the-top. The absolute best.  Can we give Him anything less in return?

Lord, You are the most wonderful, worthy, magnificent Being in the entire Universe.  All of Your attributes are positive.  And they are without limit.  As such, You deserve the best from me.  The best of my worship.  Time.  Service.  Money.  Love.  Thank you for the rich, extravagant, generous way that You give to me.  May I give freely and generously back to You.  May I give You nothing but the best.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Illusion: A Problem-Free Life

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Peter%201:6-7&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hab%203:17-18&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rom%208:28&version=NIV1984

My devotional reading for today got right to the point.  In the very first sentence!  “Give up the illusion that you deserve a problem-free life.  Part of you is still hungering for the resolution of all difficulties.  This is a false hope.”  Wow.  That is me alright.  I’ve never been a big ‘problem’ guy.  I mean if I could go through life without having any problems I’d do it.  In a heartbeat.  Yeah, all that ‘problems make you better’ stuff is overrated.  All problems do is slow you down.  Cause you stress.  Wear you out.  Problems - who needs them?  I don’t!

It wasn’t until I read that first sentence that something clicked.  That is me in a nutshell.  I keep hoping and praying that my current problem will be my last.  That after I have gotten beyond it I will be home free.  Unfortunately, the problems keep coming.  Day after day.  Like the relentless waves of the ocean crashing upon the shore problems keep surfacing in my life.  Sometimes I wonder, with my general dislike of problems, how in the world I came to be in ministry?  Ministry is nothing but problems and helping people deal with them.  What was I thinking?  Was I even thinking?  Yes, I was.

That’s what I love about God’s Word.  It often goes against my inclinations.  My idea of what would be best for my life.  I keep holding on to this ‘illusion’ that a problem-free life is obtainable.  And optimal.  Unfortunately I am wrong on both counts.  There is no such thing as a problem-free life.  Never has been.  Never will be.  Even Jesus, the perfect Son of God, had to deal with problems.  And I must admit, after reading Scripture, that having a problem-free life isn’t even preferable.  Ouch!  My selfish desires die hard.

Here’s what James had to say about problems, aka, trials in life.  In Ch 1:2-4 it says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  So, apparently the only way that I am going to grow in my relationship with God is by experiencing problems.  Difficulties.  Trials.  As I am tested by these, I am forced to rely upon God.  For His wisdom, strength and patience.  So, the more problems I have, the more I have to rely upon God, the closer to Him I become.  Now when problems are cast in that light I can be OK with them.  I haven’t exactly got to the point where I am ‘counting it pure joy’ yet, but it may come.  After all, I am a pretty slow learner.

I guess what I can take away from my devotions today is that I just need to give up my illusion, or rather my delusion, that I deserve a problem-free life.  It just sounds so nice.  And there are times when dreaming of it makes my present reality seem so much better.  But the fact is that my illusion is not helping me.  It is only serving to make me ‘soft’.  It is only serving to discourage me when problems do arise.  It’s like I’m not expecting them.  So I need to quit living in denial and face the facts.  Problems are as much a part of life as breathing is.  Once I accept this I won’t resist them so much.  I won’t make them out to be bigger than they actually are.  I will also find myself mentally and spiritually prepared for them.  Instead of constantly being taken by surprise.

I don’t know where you are in relationship to problems.  My guess is that you don’t like them very much either.  But we aren’t doing ourselves any favors if we aren’t dealing with reality.  If we choose to hide our heads in the sand.  Or live in a fantasy world.  Ultimately, when we do this, we are dishonoring God.  Because He’s obviously making a mistake by allowing problems to invade our lives.  He must also be pretty weak if He can’t prevent them.

Yet the exact opposite is true.  The fact is that our God is strong enough to help us in the real world.  To deal with real problems.  Any problem.  Victoriously.  He is also a very wise God.  He knows that if life were a bed of roses (without the thorns!) that we’d become lazy.  Weak.  Soft.

So I guess I’m going to have to readjust my expectations.  I should expect problems.  And I should expect God’s help with each of them.  If this is the case, then maybe somewhere along the line I just might welcome them.  Because, after all, it helps me get closer to my Father.  That is always a good thing!

Lord, You know how much I hate problems.  How I long to have an easy, quiet, problem-free life.  Unfortunately this isn’t Heaven.  And the fact is that You use problems in my life to help me grow.  To mature me.  To help deepen my relationship with You.  So help me to readjust my thinking. To expect problems.  And to expect You to help me with them.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Fatherhood, God & Me

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:19&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:13-14&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20John%203:1&version=NIV1984

Today is a special day.  I suppose that, as a Christian, every day is special.  But today is extra special.  It was 35 years ago that our son, Brian, was born.  It was an amazing day if anti-climatic.  For a couple weeks I was eagerly awaiting the phone call at work to hurry home to get Beth.  To make the mad dash to the hospital.  It never came.  The doctor induced her at 8 AM on a Tuesday and Brian was born several minutes after 3 PM.  Although there was no drama involved it was a great day, just the same.  A son!  And a very little son at that.  Not that he was a preemie or anything.  It’s just you forget just how small a newborn really is.

Being the oldest in a family of 8, I was used to children.  In fact, my youngest brother was born when I was 18 ½.  So being around children was very normal for me.  I know that Beth and I must have discussed having children before we got married but I really don’t remember.  I knew that she was good with children so I figured she would make a great mom.  About 3 days after we were married I mentioned to Beth that we ought to try to have children.  I suppose that a lot of guys would want to wait on this and just enjoy married life for a while first.  Even some women might opt for this.  I knew 2 things.  I wanted to get married.  And I wanted to have children.  With one already done I guess I was ready for the second.  Such is the life of a Type A person!

Now it is 35 years later.  Beth and I have 3 children.  I wish we’d had a few more.  I love them all very much.  In all those years there were only a handful of days where they gave me trouble.  And there was not one single day that I wished I wasn’t a dad.  Not one.  I wanted to be a father and it was exactly what I thought it was going to be.  Now, for the past 5 years, I have experienced being a grandfather.  That surprised me.  I guess my vision of children was incomplete.  You raise them until they go off on their own.  After that I had no thoughts.  So now that 2 of them are married and we have 5 grandchildren, I am ecstatic!  It turns out that being a grandparent is even better than being a parent!  Who knew?

As I think about it now, one of the reasons why I wanted children was to share my life with them.  To be with them.  To take care of them.  To help them develop and grow.  To love them.  In many ways, I suppose that these are the same reasons why God created us.

Since God is perfect in every way, we understand that He has no needs.  Not in the past.  Not now.  And not in the future.  And we understand that, as Trinity, God has fellowship within Himself.  Yet God decided to create angels.  And other Heavenly beings.  And then He decided to create humankind.  Again, not because God needed fellowship.  But because God wanted to share His life with others.  He wanted millions of people to spend time with.  To look after.  To help develop and grow.  To love.  And to love Him back.  And worship Him. 

Isn’t that pretty amazing to think about?  Almighty God, Creator and Ruler of the universe,  created us because He wanted to spend time with us.  With little ol’ you and me.  To take care of us.  And love us.  If that doesn’t make you feel significant, I don’t know what will!  This is precisely why God couldn’t scrap humankind when Adam and Eve fell into sin.  It went against His whole reason for creating us in the first place.  It was His love for us that motivated Him to find a way to redeem us.  At the cost of His own Son.  See John 3:16 on that one.

Wow!  I don’t know that words can describe how I feel.  Special.  Significant.  Honored.  Loved.  Unworthy.  When I think of God wanting me so much, why wouldn’t I want to spend time with Him?  Seriously. 

And so it is, on this 35 year anniversary of becoming a father, I find that I share something very special with God.  Fatherhood.  As such, God knows my dreams, fears and hopes for my children.  And, since I am a father, I find that I understand Him a little bit better, too.  I understand some of His motivations.  Some of His heart.  Some of His desires for me.  How I make Him happy when I worship, and obey, and serve Him.  How I make Him sad when I sin, or get too busy to spend time with Him.  These help me to see God in an entirely different light.  A good light.

Lord, thank you for the privilege of being a father all these years.  Thank you for the incredible journey that it has been.  And how well my children have turned out.  I thank you that I share the Fatherhood experience with You.  Being a father helps me understand some of Your thoughts and feelings toward me.  How blessed I am to have You for my Father.  May I live a life that will make You proud of me.  And bring You glory.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A World Of Me

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2012:14-26&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5:14&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+7:9&version=NIV1984

I don’t know about you but every once in a while I wish more people were like me.  This is not to say that I’m anything special.  But at least there would some consistency in life.  Like when I’m driving.  It seems that people either drive 20 mph over the speed limit or 20 mph under it.  What’s wrong with just doing the speed limit?  And there are people who go through lights when they are red.  Or they take up 2 parking spots when they park.  I don’t do any of these things.  Therefore people should be more like me.

Have you ever thought about that?  A world exactly like you?  At first, it sounds like it has a lot of advantages, doesn’t it?  Everyone would dress like us.  No outrageous clothing.  No  dresses or blouses that reveal too much.  No dressing in sweats all the time.  No wild hairdos.  No tattoos that run up our neck.  Or cover our entire arm.  No one driving a gas-guzzling Hummer.  Or the pint-sized mini-Cooper.  No drunkenness.  No addiction to drugs.  No gambling.  No swearing.  Everyone would take care of their homes and apartments.  Inside and out.  They would take care of their children.  And their pets.  They would read their Bibles.  And pray.  And churches would be packed and have to build additions since everyone would attend.  Crime would drop to zero.  Along with the divorce rate.  Communicable diseases would practically disappear.  And since everyone was exactly like us, we would all be able to get along together.  No more misunderstandings.  No difference in skin color.  Or nationalities.  No gender barriers.  Or language barriers.  Yes, if the entire world was only like us it would be much better.  Pretty close to Heaven, don’t you think?

Yet, even as we look at all of the upside of a world exactly like us, we would be faced with the fact that there would be an immense amount of downside, too.  For starters, if everyone was exactly like us, one of the genders would be missing.  That would mean no marriages.  No children.  No complementation where our spouse brings talents and gifts that we are missing.  Speaking of talents and gifts, about 90% of them would disappear.  All the talents and gifts that we don’t have would be gone.  Depending upon just exactly what gifts and talents we have, the medical profession could disappear entirely.  No doctors, nurses, surgeons, pharmacists or X-ray technicians.  No educators - teachers, professors or administrators.  No engineers.  No waiters or waitresses.  No business owners.  No salespeople.  No construction workers.  Or architects.  No assembly-workers.  No artists.  Or comediennes.  No actors or actresses.  No musicians.  Or authors.

The fact is, that since everyone would be exactly like us there would little or no variety.  Everyone would pretty much look the same.  Act the same.  Talk the same.  Think the same.  As much as we like our own personal style and tastes, pretty soon it would get boring.  No one to stimulate us.  Or challenge us.  Or confront us.  A world of me’s.  Just exactly what kind of world would that be?  Well, it wouldn’t be paradise, that’s for sure!

The truth is that while others are often the source of our problems and difficulties they are also the source of our joy and happiness.  That’s the way it is.  The good with the bad.  We can’t have one without the other.  So different is good.  Variety, as they say, is the spice of life.  Apparently God knew what He was doing after all when He created humankind.  And to think that, at times, we feel that we could have done it better!  Not a chance!

I hope that we appreciate the differentness and uniqueness of others around us.  Type A personalities and Type B.  Tall and short.  Serious and funny.  Male and female.  Young and old.  They all are a part of God’s fantastic creative genius.  Every one of them bears His image.  This means that we ought to do far less complaining.  And far more thanking.  Thanking God that the world is not exactly just like us.  That He had a better plan.  A plan to take that all that uniqueness and unite it in His love.  It’s a plan that’s still in the works.  A plan that will finally be realized in Heaven.

Lord, while I thank you for my unique gifts, talents and personality I also thank you that everyone is not like me.  Thank you for kindred spirits and people who are polar opposites.  Thank you for people whom I agree with and people whom I disagree with.  Thank you for the incredible variety that there is in humankind.  How it speaks to Your creative genius.  Help me not to complain about the different-ness of others but to thank You for how others make my life fuller.  Richer.  Better.  In Jesus' name, Amen.   

When Tragedy Strikes

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2034:18&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208:28&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2016:33&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Cor%201:3-4&version=NIV1984

There is a word that strikes fear and terror into every human heart.  It is the word that we all dread to hear.  That word is tragedy.  The reason this word is so feared is that it is altogether negative.  More often than not it involves death.  An unexpected death.  A premature death.  A death that shouldn’t have happened.  A death under circumstances that were cruel or unjust.  As such, there is nothing good about tragedy.

There are examples of tragedy all around us.  A father falls to his death at a baseball game while trying to catch a foul ball for his son.  A pregnant woman is killed by a drunk driver.  An elderly man kills his dementia-affected wife.  And then kills himself.  13 people die when a bridge collapses in Minneapolis.  30 American soldiers, many of them Navy Seals, die when their helicopter is shot down in Afghanistan.  Overseas, thousands of people die in an earthquake.  Or a flash flood.  Or a typhoon.  Yes, tragedy is everywhere we look.  Sooner or later it touches us.  Or someone we love.

A couple weeks ago we held a memorial service for a woman who attended our church for several years.  Until she could no longer drive.  She was 88.  So God had certainly blessed her with a long life.  Unfortunately that life was filled with tragedy.  She lost not just one husband, but two, to cancer.  Both died at home.  And this woman faithfully cared for them until the end.  Then she lost a son.  And a daughter.  And a grandson.  There are people in our church have also suffered their share of tragedy.  A couple lost their grandson in a freak pole-vaulting accident.  Another couple lost their teenaged daughter to an accident 3 days after Father’s Day.  A man who lost his wife to breast cancer and 2 of his children (17 & 21) to accidents.  A woman lost her late-20's husband as a result of a drunk driver.  Another woman lost her 20-something son-in-law when he fell from a roof.  As I survey my congregation I see a lot of tragedy.  One thing is very apparent.  Life is unfair.

Such is our fate in a sin-filled world.  If Adam & Eve could have only seen how much heartache and suffering their single, disobedient act has caused they would have run from that forbidden tree and never went near it again.  But they did sin.  And we suffer.  Tragedy is common to the human race.

The good news is that Jesus is greater than tragedy.  While He doesn’t undo tragedy, He does give comfort.  And peace.  Strength.  Victory.  I know.  Because I have seen it in the lives of my flock.  This 88-year-old woman was a joy to be around.  She continued to love and serve others.  The man who lost his wife and 2 of his young adult children is always smiling.  He has a great attitude.  One would never guess in a million years the kind of tragedy that he has endured.  His faith in Jesus has made him an overcomer.  Instead of becoming an angry, bitter, joyless man he has become a happy, joyful man who enjoys serving others.  And who radiates the love of Jesus.  Others have the same story.  Instead of being overcome by tragedy they have allowed Jesus to help them overcome tragedy.  To continue to love and serve Him.  Though it might be with tears at times.  And the occasional heavy heart.

I suppose that many of us live in fear of the dreaded phone call.  The one that tells us that a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer.  Or has been involved in an accident.  Or was the victim of a crime.  How will we handle that news when it comes our way?  In my case I can honestly say that I don’t know.  I hope that I will pass the test.  That I will cling to Jesus at the time.  And let Him carry me through.  Could I survive a tragedy at this very moment?  No.  I couldn’t.  But I am convinced that when and if one does come my way, that the potential for me to overcome it will be there.  Through Jesus.  You see, the grace of God is a lot like adrenalin.  We all have adrenalin in our bodies but it doesn’t really kick in until we need it.  That’s when we see people doing super-human things.  Such as lifting a vehicle off of someone.  It’s the same way with grace.  We all have a measure of God’s grace in our lives.  But when tragedy strikes God gives us extra-grace, overcoming grace, which enables us to rise about our circumstances.

I can’t say that I know all the reasons why God allows tragedy in this life.  But I do know that, with His help, we can overcome it.  I know this because I have seen living examples of it in my congregation.  Ordinary people who rely on an extraordinary God.  And He doesn’t let them down.

Lord, I confess that, at the moment, I could not endure tragedy.  But I know that if and when it comes, that Your grace will be sufficient for me.  Thank you for the many examples of triumph over tragedy that I see around me.  Thank you for the inspiration and courage that they give me.  For the inspiration and courage that I find in Your Word.  You are a Faithful God.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Renewing Our Vows

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Rev%202:4-5&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2015:1-%204&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119:106&version=NIV1984

"We honor our commitments, even when it is difficult, expensive, or inconvenient.”    (Core Value at Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Today I had a very special privilege.  Someone who is not a part of our church asked me earlier in the week if I would help them renew their vows.  They just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary the previous Sunday.  The husband wanted to surprise his wife.

So mid-afternoon Beth & I arrived back at church.  We’d just left there not more than 90 minutes earlier!  Then the couple came in.  Beth & I know them very well.  I proceeded up to the front of the sanctuary with the couple where I made a few comments regarding the sacredness and specialness of marriage.  Then I read I Corinthians 13:4-7.  After that I led them as they renewed their vows to each other.  After a short prayer I prayed a blessing over their marriage.  Meanwhile Beth took several photos of the occasion so that they would have a record of it for the future. 

What a great privilege it was for me, as a pastor, to be present and to assist this couple in renewing their vows.  After all these years they are essentially saying, “I’d do it all over again.  The promises I made all those years ago are still in effect.”  Isn’t that great!  Would that more people would take their vows seriously.  This is something that I have been thinking about myself.  It’s one of those, “Someday I’d like to....” kind of things.  Because I would marry my wife again.  I still want to keep the promises I made to her 36 years ago.  And to God.

I guess what I take away from this experience is that it is good for us to occasionally revisit and renew our promises.  Not just to our spouse.  But to God.  To our family.  And to any other people we might have made promises to along the way.  The reason why this is a good idea is that sometimes these promises fade into the background of a busy life.  We make them and then we move on.  And if we are not careful, they can become distant memories.  Or we can forget them entirely.  Forgetting one’s promises, one’s vows, one’s commitments is always a dangerous place to be.  That’s why renewal and recommitment are necessary parts of our lives.  We revisit the promises that we made and reaffirm them.  Yes, we are going to keep them.  We meant it then.  We mean it now.  We’ll still mean it in the future.

I would encourage you to take few minutes to think about the promises that you have made.  Reflect on them.  Then recommit to them.  Renew them.  Ask God to enable you to keep your promises.  And fulfill your vows.  You can do this privately or publicly.  Or both.  You may also want to write them out and sign them.  There is something powerful about signing our name to a promise or a vow.  It seems that most of us are hesitant about putting things down in writing unless we mean them.  Whatever way you choose to do this, the main thing is that your heart and mind are involved.  This is where commitments are made.  And kept.

Lord, I thank you for the privilege today of helping a couple renew their vows.  To each other.  And to You.  I want to do the same to You.  I renew my vow to serve You to the best of my ability.  To give You first place in my life.  To live a life that brings glory to Your name.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Guest Blog - Children & Faith

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2010:15&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+22:6&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+19:14&version=NIV1984

I recently ran across this post on http://www.mommafindings.com/  It was very good.  And inspirational.  Great insights.  And whatever she is teaching her kids about God - it’s working!

3 Things I Learned from My Preschooler About Faith in God - by Sara Patterson

"Faith is a tricky thing.  The word, in itself, is defined as a firm belief in something for which there is no proof.  It's a complete trust in something or someone even if you haven't seen them, like God.  How can you love and trust a God without having, first, seen Him?

It's difficult for me to explain my faith to a stranger on the street much less my own young children. They have so many questions, so many wonders of this almighty King of Kings.  I have faith in God because He first loved me, because I feel Him in my heart, because I've felt His spirit within me.  I don't have to see Him to believe.  The thing is, that explanation is good enough for my children, because they are filled with an innocence where believing makes them feel safe and loved.  A few weeks ago, my 4-yr-old reminded me just how sweet a child like faith can be.

My son is about to be five in February.  He's witty.  He's cute.  He's charming.  He's everything I am not.  Funny how you have children the exact opposite of yourself, huh?  One thing is for certain, though, he is a big ball of faith and has taught me three very essential, yet simple, things I MUST remember on a daily basis so that I can be an example of God's light as I parent these children.
 
1. He takes you as you are: Yup.  My child would go to church in pajamas if I let him.  He begs me to wear wind pants on Sunday mornings and throws a wrinkled t-shirt on before Wednesday night church.  I, however, fret over my hair, my make-up, my shoes, oh and the CLOTHES.  While I respect the sanctity of the Church and WANT to look my best for God, it's not about that.  My child reminds me that God made me the way I am.  My preschooler is happy in his skin, in his clothes, and his personality.  He goes to church full of questions and curiosities, and comes out full of wonder and excitement for, not his church, not his friends, but for God.

2. He protects you: The other day we had some pretty bad storms hit the Houston area.  The loud thunder and lightening were horrible.  My son ran to me and shouted, "Mom! Please can I lay with you and Dad? I'm scared."  Holding him tightly, I whispered, "Don't worry. I got you. I'm here and I won't let go."  He wrapped his little arms around my neck, closed his eyes and said, "Just like God. He holds you too Momma."  Then, this sweet child drifted back to sleep... and left me in tears.

3. He is your best friend: My preschooler loves his XBOX 360.  I'm not talking Kinect, I'm talking down-and-gritty-finger-moving-remote-style playing.  His favorite game is a wrestling game called WWE Allstars.  He fights the biggest and baddest and gets to play iconic roles like Hulk Hogan and, his favorite, The Big Show.  The other day, at lunch, I had such an amazing conversation with him:
 
    Rudy: "Mom, I can't WAIT to get to Heaven."
    Me: "Why is that?"
    Rudy: "Me and God are gonna play XBOX together.  I'll even let Him be Big Show."
    Me: "Do you think God is good at video games?"
    Rudy: "Duh? He's God."
    Me: "Do you think God will want to play video games with you?"
    Rudy: "Mom. He's my best friend."

God is our best friend.  I have to remember that when I'm embarrassed to confess my sins, admit when I'm wrong, and ask for blessings that I feel unworthy to receive.  He already knows what's in my heart.  He just wants me to talk to Him about it...side by side...maybe over a video game."

Isn’t this a great post!  Wow!  No wonder Jesus said that unless we become like children we cannot enter the kingdom of God.  The simplicity and faith to see God as his friend.  What a beautiful view of God.  If only we could see Him in the same way.

Lord, I thank you for the simple faith of children.  How I am encouraged by it.  And challenged.  Help me to have simple faith in You as well.  That You care for me.  And love me.  Despite my shortcomings.  Despite my failures.  Despite my doubts.  Help me to realize that You are my best friend.  Today and always.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Who's Your Helper?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+118:7&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+54:4&version=NASB

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13:6&version=NIV1984

Let’s get straight to the point.  We all need help in life.  All of us.  I don’t care how talented you are.  Or how capable you are.  Or how energetic you are.  There are times when you need help.  In fact, those times are much more frequent than most of us care to admit.

We need help when we have our hands full and need a door opened.  Or when something is too heavy for us to lift by ourselves.  Or when our kids are out of control.  When we’re on top of a shaky ladder.  When we’re taking something out of the oven and the phone rings.  We need help understanding a recipe.  Or putting something together.  We need help when we have 3 children who need to be in 3 different places.  All at the same time.  We need help when our vehicle won’t start.  Or we’re involved in an accident.  Or sick with the flu.  Or simply overwhelmed by life.

Just recently I have become aware that when I need help, I immediately look for the closest human.  So if I have my hands full and need the door opened, I ask the nearest person I see for help.  Or if my vehicle breaks down by the side of the road I immediately call a friend or family member.  Or flag down a passing motorist.  At work I seek out the nearest staff member.  At home I immediately begin to look for my wife.  “Honey, could you please come here for a moment.  I need your help.”  When my children were younger and still lived at home I looked for one of them.

Now looking for a human to help isn’t bad.  After all, they are close by.  They often give tangible, immediate help.  And many times they are glad to do so.  But what I’ve recently discovered is that when I have a need, my first instinct is to look for human help.  Instead of looking to God.  Of course, we all know that if the dirty dishes are piling up that God probably isn’t going to miraculously wash them for us.  Or fix our flat tire.  But just the same, there are many times when God could help.  And wants to help.  But we don’t ask.  And He won’t butt in.  So we either substitute someone else to help us in His place.  Or we forgo His help altogether.

I must say that this revelation is a bit embarrassing.  I keep thinking that I am farther along in my relationship with God than I actually am.  Then God reveals the true state of things in my life.  I have to admit that often times God’s number is not on my speed-dial.  But everybody else’s is.  Why is this?  Why is God often the last person that I call on for help?  Part of the reason has to be that I am not living as close to Him as I should.  How sad.  Filled with thoughts of things I need to get done, and the worries and concerns of my day, I often don’t give Him a second thought.  If this is the case, it’s only natural that when a mini-emergency comes my way that I look elsewhere for help.  Shame on me.  I need to be more aware of God’s Presence in my life.  And His willingness to help.  Because that is His nature.

Over and over, the Bible says that God is our Helper.  He can help us with physical needs.  Emotional needs.  And spiritual needs.  In fact, Helper is one of the names of the Holy Spirit.  In John 14:16, Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.”  God as Helper.  That’s kind of a unique thought in many religions.  God is seen as a demanding God, one who is looking for servants.  Not for people to help.  But the Bible tells us that our relationship with God is a 2-way street.  While He is, indeed, looking for worshipers and people who will serve Him, He’s also looking for people to help.  Because He wants to help.  Because He knows that we need it.

So the next time you get to the end of your rope, the next time you get overwhelmed and need assistance, ask yourself, “Who’s my helper?”  The correct answer is God.  He is your Helper.  And mine.  And He is available just for the asking.

Lord, I confess that many times I look to others to help me instead of You.  Now while the help of others is valuable, the help You want to give me is infinitely better.  And it’s not just the help.  It’s the relationship.  It’s the fact that You want to help.  That You care about me so deeply that You wouldn’t want it any other way.  May I look to You more and more as my Helper.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Answer To Black & White: Discernment

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1:9&version=NASB

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5:20&version=NASB

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Col%203:12-14&version=NIV1984

In yesterday’s post I wrote about people who are black-and-white in their approach to life.  These kind of people can be very judgmental.  And self-righteous.  Unfortunately the church has helped breed these kind of people.  Unwittingly.

As the church preaches and teaches God’s Word, black-and-white people truly want to serve God.  Like the Apostle Paul before his conversion, they are very zealous.  They want to obey all of His laws.  Which is good.  Very good.  Unfortunately, God’s commands becomes their sole focus.  In the process, they lose sight of people.  They are so concerned with the proper application of God’s commands that they forget the reason for the command.  They unknowingly become like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day who were more concerned over keeping the Sabbath holy than they were seeing someone healed on that day - by God!  It was to the Pharisees that Jesus said the following in Mark 2:27, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”  In other words, God’s laws always need to be kept in proper perspective.  While He did not want people to work on the Sabbath, He certainly was OK with someone being healed on the Sabbath.  In fact, what better day to be healed than on the Sabbath, the Lord’s Day?

And so it is that black-and-white people have trouble separating the sin from the sinner.  In their simple way of thinking, bad people do bad things.  So when a Christian sins and does something bad, they must be a bad person.  Certainly they are back-slidden.  Why they might not even be a Christian!  You never know!  As a result, black-and-white people have a difficult time showing things such as grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion to others.  In a black-and-white world, the offender doesn’t deserve these things.  They deserve judgment!

What it all boils down to, in my opinion, is a lack of spiritual maturity.  Black-and-white people are uncomfortable with gray areas.  They don’t know how to handle them.  They feel totally unequipped on how to deal with people and/or situations that don’t have a specific verse that can be cited.  So they retreat to their rules.  To their categories.  It’s safe there.  Neat.  Organized.  But it’s also unhealthy.  Dare I say unbiblical?

When a person becomes a Christian, they receive the Holy Spirit.  The Counselor.  The Guide.  One of the ministries of the Spirit to each believer is to give them discernment.  This means that He gives them the wisdom to adequately size up a situation.  And to know how to respond to it in a Christ-like manner.  This is the path to spiritual maturity.

As a pastor, I frequently come across situations that aren’t covered specifically in the Bible.  The reason why is that the Bible was never intended to be an answer book.  This is a source of alarm to black-and-white people.  They assume that God addresses every situation in life in the Bible.  Specifically.  Chapter and verse.  Instead of being an ‘answer book’, however, the Bible was given to us as a guide.  Thus the Bible is full of principles.  These principles cover every situation.  And they are there for us to use.  Aided by the Holy Spirit.

So, what can we do if we find that others around us are basically black-and-white?  First of all, we can pray for them.  Pray that they would be given courage.  Courage to step out of their nice, neat, black-and-white world and allow the Holy Spirit to guide them.  Toward this end, pray that the Holy Spirit would give them discernment.  A basic understanding of the situation and what God would have them to do.  Secondly, provide them with some good, Biblical principles.  These will serve as the foundation for future decisions.  Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, show them grace.  Remember that grace is a foreign concept to them.  If you treat a black-and-white person in-kind you are only reinforcing their behavior.  However, by giving them grace you can slowly break down their resistance to it.  They see it in action.  They begin to understand its power.  And how it can be used to help others.

Yes, life can get very messy at times.  And complicated.  There are no easy or ‘pat’ answers to many situations.  But this shouldn’t overwhelm us.  Or deter us.  As Christians, we know that God has a solution for every situation.  It may be a complex solution.  And it may take some time to implement.  But how rewarding it is to tackle a difficult situation, with Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and to see it work out.  For the glory of God!

Lord, I thank you that in the midst of difficult situations, You always have an answer for me.  I pray that You would open my eyes to see what it is.  Show me the principles from Your Word that apply to it.  And give me the courage and strength to implement it.  Help me to become spiritually mature.  To have the mind of Christ in every situation.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Welcome Aboard, Mason!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen%202:7&version=NIV1984

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This afternoon we welcomed our 5th grandchild into the world, Mason James Davey.  And to think that just over 5 years ago Beth & I didn’t have any grandchildren!  Our kids have been busy! :)  Mason entered the world at 2:15 PM, weighing 7 lbs. 1 oz. and 19 ½” long.  (I would say ‘tall’ but he was laying down when they measured him!)  Both mother and baby are doing well.  With the middle name of ‘James’ I am honored to now have 2 grandsons who have my name for their middle name.

Of course, everybody was excited over this long-anticipated event.  Mom was a little sore (she had a C-section) but Dad was absolutely beaming when he brought Mason out for us and Ava to see only minutes after he had been born.  Now they have a son and a daughter.  When possible, I think it’s always great for parents to have at least one of each.  As you can imagine, Beth & I were very excited as well.  And so were the other grandkids.  Brett and Jaydon couldn’t wait to get to the hospital to see their new cousin.  Being only 7 ½ months apart, Brett & Ava are very close.  Practically like brother and sister.  On the way to the hospital Brett mentioned that now his sister Kylee (8 months old) will have a playmate in Mason like he does in Ava.  A pretty good observation I would say.  Then our son Luke, even though he’s in Arizona, was excited as well.  We sent him a couple pics via cell phone and expect to send him some more.

What is it about the birth of a baby that brings so much excitement?  Several things, actually.  As I mentioned, first there is the anticipation.  Usually a couple finds out that they are expecting a child within a month of conception.  This means that they (and other family members) have 8 months to wait.  That can seem like a very long time.  So when the baby is finally born everyone is excited that he/she has finally arrived.  Another reason why the birth of a child is so exciting is that every child represents hope.  Hope for the future.  What/who are they going to look like?  What kind of personality will they have?  What types of talents and abilities?  What occupation are they going to pursue?  What are they going to do with their life?  How are they going to impact the world?   A third reason for being excited at the birth of a baby is that the wonderment that birth brings.  When a child is held only minutes after they have been born one can’t help but to be in awe of God’s creative genius.  A miniature human that you can hold in your arms!  Tiny eyes that can barely see.  Little nose, mouth and ears.  Big lungs!  Fingernails and toenails that are barely visible.  And people say that there are no such things as miracles.  In my opinion, every single baby that is born is a miracle.  A miracle of life.

And so today has been a wonderful day.  Another milestone in my life.  Another grandchild to care for.  And do things with.  And love.  And pray for.  And influence for Jesus!

Lord, I thank you for little Mason.  For the gift that he is to his parents.  His big sister.  And to us.  May he grow up to know You at an early age.  May He love and serve You all the days of his life.  And be a blessing to many.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Black & White: Is That All There Is?

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I am old enough to remember when all TV’s were black and white.  I don’t think it was until the mid-60's that I saw a color one.  In a store.  When I did, I was very impressed.  So were many others as well.  Because color TV sales soared.  And as far as I know, black and white TV’s are out of existence.  Except for a few relics that might still be around.

I can also vaguely remember the first time I saw a color photograph.  It was also in the mid-60's.  (I guess it was a very colorful decade!)  If I’m not mistaken, it was a photo that my grandmother had taken.  Once again, once color was introduced, the floodgates were open.  Everyone bought color film.  So they could have color photographs.  Black and white photographs became a thing of the past.  Except for some photographers who still like to take black-and-whites in certain settings.  Yeah, I can appreciate a few black-and-whites.  But I certainly don’t want to go back to that era.  I’m a color man, myself.  I guess that makes me a colorful person! :)

Unfortunately, in my time in the pastorate, I have met a number of people who are still in the black-and-white era.  Not in regard to TV’s or pictures.  But in regard to life.  They see life as having only 2 categories - black or white.  As a result, they see people as either good or they’re bad.  Behavior is either good or bad.  The same with books.  Music.  Clothing.  Technology.  And everything else they encounter in life.  Unfortunately, this black-and-white mentality has found its way into the church.  The result is that the music is either good or bad.  And so is the preaching.  And the curriculum.  And the decisions of the Board.  And so on.  I don’t know if this is the way that these people are wired or if it’s the way they choose to be.  Perhaps it’s a little bit of both. 

Now the advantage of viewing life in terms of black and white is that it is neat.  Tidy.  Organized.  You always know exactly what you’re dealing with.  And how to respond.  Unfortunately, life is nothing like that.  It doesn’t always fit nice and neatly into prearranged categories.  At times, life is messy.  Real messy.  People aren’t just good or bad.  They are usually a mixture of both.  Music can be good or bad.  Or somewhere in between.  The same is true of books.  Clothing.  Technology.  And just about everything else. 

The disadvantage of viewing life in terms of black-and-white is that it usually leads to being judgmental.  And self-righteous.  While other people might debate the merits of something, they don’t.  They already know if it’s black or white.  And they are always right.  Just ask them.  These people are also highly opinionated.  On just about everything.  Nothing is in doubt.  It’s either black or white.  End of conversation.

Now I am a firm believer that there is black and white in the world.  The Bible clearly teaches this.  There is sin.  And there is righteousness.  But I find that the black and the white is few and far between.  As I view life, it has a lot of gray.  In some situations there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to respond.  It truly is situational.  One person might choose to do one thing in a situation while another person might choose to do something different.  And neither choice is wrong.  They’re just different.

Since this is a big topic, and very important, I will continue my thoughts in tomorrow’s post.

Lord, how I wish at times that life was black-and-white.  Cut and dried.  But it isn’t.  It is messy.  It is fluid.  People and situations are constantly changing.  I confess that I don’t always know what to do or how to respond.  I am glad that You do.  Your Holy Spirit can show me the right course of action in every situation.  Thank you.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.