Bridging The Chasm

Isn’t this weather crazy? The first day of Spring rolls around and the temperature drops lower than it’s been all winter. In light of our natural gas bills, I for one am thankful for a mild winter. I just hope it’s not like a few years back when we had a freeze in April. I think it was the same year we had a one hundred degree day in the middle of February. Hey, we can’t control the weather but thankfully we can adapt to the conditions. So, it’s that time of year when you leave the house early in the morning all bundled up against the cold and arrive back home in the evening in short sleeves, discovering you forgot your jacket at work. Before you know it there are three jackets at work and none in the closet. Wait a minute; I think there’s one in the car. Well, it’s also time again to mess with the time. Don’t forget to Spring forward one hour next Sunday morning. Remember something else. When your pets look at you like your some kind of nut getting up so early in the morning or for the first few mornings they’re jumping up and down and running all over the place thinking you’ve awaken early to take them on another car trip, give them a little slack. They’re not clock-eyed you know.
Billy Bob and Jethro decided to go fishing on a cool spring day. They arrived at the lake early in the morning and dropped their lines in the water. After fishing for several hours Billy Bob caught dozens of fish, while Jethro hadn’t even gotten a bite. Jethro asked, “Billy Bob, what’s your secret?” Billy Bob answered, “Mmu motta meep da mmrms mmrm.” Jethro asked, “What did you say?” Billy Bob replied, “Mmu motta meep da mmrms mmrm.” Frustrated, Jethro again asked, “What?” where upon Billy Bob spit into his hand and exclaimed, “You’ve gotta keep the worms warm!”
[Luke 9: 23-26] As disciples of Christ, we have been called to be “fishers of men” and we “keep the worms warm” by setting a good example for our families, friends, colleagues and others with whom we come in contact with each day. In 1948 someone had the bright idea of a suspension bridge spanning the Niagara River connecting the United States and Canada, saving hours of travel time between the countries. However, nobody was sure how to get the first cable across the chasm. Someone had an idea, “Let’s offer a ten dollar prize to the first kid that can fly a kite from one side to the other.” Engineers scoffed at the idea, but in 1948 history had the last laugh. A young boy by the name of Homan Walsh flew his kite from one side to the other. His kite string was tied to a larger string and pulled back across. The larger string was tied to a small rope, which was attached to an even larger rope each time being pulled from one side to the other. Eventually the ropes turned into steel cables until finally the strong steel cable that began the construction was strung across the Niagara. What began with a small kite string eventually became the supporting cable of a suspension bridge that nobody thought was possible. Amazing things can happen in our spiritual life if we will allow the little things to add up. The impossible has already been accomplished. Jesus has linked man to God the Father once again through His sacrifice of life bring about forgiveness for sin. But, baptism and faith are not enough. We must grow in spirit to be approved of God. (2 Peter 1: 3-11) We must finish building the bridge, with Jesus as our main support. A crown of life awaits those who are spiritually linked to heavenly land.

One Day Closer

Well, as any optimistic Texas philosopher will tell you in the middle of a drought, “We’re one day closer to the next good rain”. I’m sure if I live long enough I’ll hear the people who are now saying, “I wish it would rain” turn their attitude to, “I wish it would stop raining”, because, as in the past, that seems to be the weather pattern for this part of the country, like it or not. After a rather uneventful mild winter, spring seems to be popping out all over. Trees are budding out new leaves and a patch of bluebonnets and other wildflowers are already being seen here and there showing off their colors. New plowed and bedded ground is evidence of freshly planted crops by faithful souls who are still willing to risk it all. I guess that’s what keeps us all going day in and day out. We all have an investment in this life of one sort or another and it tends to drive us to protect it no matter the environmental crisis. We’re always one day closer to a better tomorrow.
“I Know Why” by Shelby Cannon; age 8; 3rd grade; Longview, Texas.
I wonder why we have flowers? I wonder why we have showers? I wonder why we have trees? I wonder why we have seas? I wonder why we have hills? I wonder why we have meals? I wonder why we have fathers and brothers? I wonder why we have sisters and mothers? I wonder why we have seasons? I think I know the reasons.
I know why we have flowers. I know why we have showers. I know why we have trees. I know why we have seas. I know why we have hills. I know why we have meals. I know why we have fathers and brothers. I know why we have sisters and mothers. I know why we have seasons. I did not look hard for the reasons. You can see the answer clearly. It is because God loves us so dearly.
[Romans 8] Corrie ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor and writer, used to say, “When the train goes through the tunnel and the world gets dark, do you jump out? Of course not! You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through.” Dark and unsure times do enter our life from time to time, like it or not. And our investments tend to make us our own engineer as we force more wood into the boiler to produce more steam powering us forward. The question is, to what? “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:25)(NIV) Don’t get me wrong now. I’m not trying to plant couch potatoes here. Everyone should do their best to be productive earning a living and everyone has the right to pursue happiness in this world, but as Jesus asks, at what cost? I hope you read the chapter indexed. Consider for a moment the investment God has made in you. First, you’re made in His image, spirit. This spirit is the “self” that Jesus talked about. Our place in the universe, which God made, is in a body that God also made. God did not want man to be a robot to Him, so gave man the ability to choose. This ability makes us do some pretty stupid things at times; David compares us to sheep needing a Shepard. God gave us rules, which helped, until the rules became more important than the rule-giver. God’s greatest investment in man was Himself. Jesus, the Word of God, became flesh and lived as a human. To show us how special we are to Him, he took the sins of the world upon himself and died as a ransom for all sin. Are you convinced, as Paul is, that because of these things, “…nothing can separate me from the love of God.” You’re now one day closer to your eternal choice.

Greatness Helps

Well, even after all the precautions I’ve been taking, I finally caught this miserable winter cold that’s been going around. I haven’t coughed this much since I quit smoking over ten years ago. Speaking of sharing things with one another, I experienced a pleasant encounter the other day. I didn’t know it at the time, but one of our local schools was engaged in “Please and Thank-You Week”. I was driving through the parking lot of a busy supermarket and near the main entrance there’s always congestion with both pedestrians and moving vehicles. A young mother with her grade school daughter stood patiently wanting to cross through the moving traffic with their basket of groceries. I stopped and motioned them to cross in front of me. While doing so the mother leaned down saying something to her daughter. With that the little girl turned toward me, with a big grin on her face, front toothless I might add, and said, “Thank-You!!” to which I replied, smiling “Your Welcome”. I certainly wanted to help mom, sharing the lesson.
Bob Richards, Olympic athlete and pole-vaulter, says, “Greatness is all around us. It’s easy to be great because great people will help you. What is fantastic about all the conventions I go to is that the greatest in the business will come and share their ideas, their methods and their techniques with everyone else. I’ve seen the greatest salesmen open up and show young salesmen exactly how they did it. They don’t hold back. I’ve also found it true in the world of sports.” Bob goes on to say, “I’ll never forget the time I was about a foot below Dutch Warmer’s pole vault record, which I was trying to break. I called him on the phone. I said, “Dutch, can you help me? I seemed to have leveled off. I can’t get any higher.” He said, “Sure Bob, come on up to visit me and I’ll give you all I’ve got.” I spent three days with the master, the greatest pole-vaulter in the world. There were things that I was doing wrong and he helped me to correct them. To make a long story short, I went up eight inches. The great guy gave me the best that he had. I’ve found that sports champions and heroes are willing to do this just so you can become great too.”
[Philippians 4: 4-9] Why did God send His son to dwell among us? To be the greatest of God’s prophets. Jesus was sent to share with all the world the loving peace and grace of His Father in heaven. People called on Jesus to heal them and listen to what He preached about the kingdom to come. He picked twelve men to become great orators of salvation and God’s saving grace. They would be instrumental in the establishment of the church and would share God’s plan for righteous living. In the beginning this new way of living was simply called “The Way”, but before too long, people began to tag the followers of Christ, Christians. Jesus taught that the greatest in the kingdom of heaven would be humble, a servant to all and the last in self-indulgence. So how does one become a great Christian? Seek out greatness, the Holy Spirit, who inspired men of God to write things of God. The Bible is our greatest source for guidance toward living a righteous life. Call upon the Master and spend some time with Him, like the rest of your life. He’s willing to help you correct the problems you might have that are holding you back from living a righteous life. Have you leveled off at just being good and helping others? Become great and share God’s plan of salvation with someone who is struggling.

Try A Little Kindness

Cornfucius Say: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaking tire.” I had already kicked off my shoes and climbed into some comfortable clothing, looking forward to relaxing for the evening, when a knock drummed on my door. Sounds like the beginning of a mystery novel, doesn’t it? Well anyway, it was a brother from church needing advise as what to do with a stranded motorist. He sort of really wanted my eyes and ideas as to solving the problem with this vehicle. Visions of a broken down clunker, needing yards of maintenance long before breaking down that night, flashed through my mind, instantly discouraging any thoughts of volunteering my services. Of course it didn’t take much conversing to get my shoes back on, because as you well know it’s hard for me to say, “No”. I was instantly rewarded to see a late model pick-up that has obviously been well maintained. I listened to the story about battery replacement and such, and with a few diagnostic checks I was almost certain of a blown fuse disabling the alternator. That’s exactly what the problem was and after a period of time charging the batteries, they were totally dead, we sent the couple on their way.
Try A Little Kindness by Glen Campbell. If you see your brother standing by the road, With a heavy load from the seeds he’s sowed. And if you see your sister falling by the way, Just stop and say you’re going the wrong way. You got to try a little kindness, Yes, show a little kindness, Just shine your light for everyone to see. And if you try a little kindness, then you’ll overlook the blindness, Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets. Don’t walk around the down and out, Lend a helping hand instead of doubt. And the kindness that you show every day, Will help someone along their way. You got to try a little kindness, Yes, show a little kindness, Just shine your light for everyone to see. And if you try a little kindness, then you’ll overlook the blindness, Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets.
[Luke 10: 25-37] I don’t think most of you need to be reminded of this story. And I don’t think most people would pass by their neighbor in need, without at least trying to do something for them. I don’t tell you my little story to boast or impress you, because I know you have a hundred acts of kindness to share also. But I do want to share the rest of the story with you. It all began with a simple waive, a smile and a “Hello”, to the brother who later knocked on my door, as he was taking his evening walk through the neighborhood. A short time later, as he continued his walk, he noticed the gentleman who greeted him at the side of the street with the hood up on his truck. Well, you pretty much know about fixing it, but you don’t know about God’s hand in all of this. This man and his wife in the broke-down truck are God fearing folks and had no doubt in their minds that God had sent my Christian brother their way and that he led them to me. I don’t know about you, but I get chills and feel totally honored to serve my great and gracious God when He sends people my way. I have to admit, the devil jumped right in, trying to discourage me with improper thoughts, but I’m glad I didn’t send my brother away empty handed. During the hour and a half we spent together my brother and he found out they knew several people and places in common. That was weird. But all in all, what I want to impress on you is this: God is alive and active in your life. Fear not!