Saturday, August 26, 2006

How Do You See God?

I suppose the discussions and arguments about how stupid the boss, or someone else in authority is, will never end. I guess at one time or another we’ve all had trouble understanding those ushering instructions into our lives as to how we need to go about doing things. Then we find ourselves in a decision making position and begin to understand just how difficult leadership can be. The prime example most of us got hit up side the head with was having our own children. Yeh, mom & dad all of a sudden became real smart and adopting much of their wisdom became paramount. My son called me the other night just to say he admired me for the years I spent in my entrepreneurial endeavors. That was nice. He’s investigating self-employment, but on a much bigger scale than I would have ever attempted, yet is finding being the boss isn’t going to be easy. Then there are people like Edward (he keeps bugging me to write about him). He can buzz about the restaurant my wife and I frequent, interacting with customers, seemingly goofing off, but watch closely and you’ll find he’s constantly surveying the movement of all the workers ensuring a smooth operation of what he has been assigned to oversee. That’s a good supervisor. How do you see your boss?
Here’s an aptitude test to see if you’re qualified to become a “Supervisor”. 1. How do you get a giraffe into a refrigerator? Answer: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do things in an overly complicated way. 2. How do you put an elephant into the refrigerator? Wrong Answer: Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant and close the door. Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your actions. 3. The Lion King is hosting an Animal Conference. All the animals attend except one. Which one? Answer: The elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. This tests your memory. 4. There’s a river you must cross. But it has been known to be infested with crocodiles. How do you manage the crossing? Answer: You swim across. All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Conference. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes. 90% of professionals tested got all the questions wrong. But many preschoolers tested got several questions correct. Does this mean most supervisors don’t have the brains of a four-year-old? It’s not easy being the boss; don’t be a hindrance, speak nice of the boss.
[1 John 4: 8] What is your image of God? Do you see God seated on His throne in Heaven just waiting for you to mess up so He can zap you with some brimstone and lightning? Perhaps you see God making check-marks next to your name every time you sin. Too many marks and you go to hell. Maybe with all the technology we have at hand you’ve simply outgrown God and just ignore His existence. We are all prodigal and becoming more so every day. We will all experience trials we don’t understand. We will all suffer pain at the most inopportune times. The Apostle John writes, “…God is Love”. Love forgives and forgets. Love helps and encourages. He who puts God first will find God with him at last. God has never asked us to be the best – just do our best. As I strive to manage my life under the authority of God’s Word, I see Him as a caring God, with arms outstretched, waiting for me to return from a distant land. How do you see GOD?

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Living Christianity

Sometimes, like this week, I sit to write and find that my brain is in neutral. I’m guessing I must have had a rather quiet week even though I’m always busy. One thing exciting happened Friday evening. Thunder and lightning with about thirty minutes of rain, the first in over two months. Water almost ran down the street. Well anyway, like waiting on the rain, a little patience goes a long way knowing that sooner or later my brain will kick into gear, whereupon I’ll simply start with what I’ve got and go from there. I love sharing a message with you every week and even though I sometimes draw a blank, I will never grow weary in my well doing, sharing my blessed life with others.
This is the story of a missionary attending language classes in China. The first day of class the teacher entered the room and, without saying a word, walked down every row of students. Then, still without saying a word, she walked around the room again. Finally, she stopped at the front of the room to address the class. “Did you notice anything special about me?” she asked. Nobody could think of anything in particular. One student finally raised his hand. “I noticed you have on a very lovely perfume”, he said. The class group-chuckled, but the teacher said, “That is exactly my point. You see, it will be a very long time before any of you will be able to speak Chinese well enough to share the gospel with anyone in China. But even before you’re able to do that, you can minister the sweet fragrance of Christ to these people through the quality of your lives. It is your lifestyle, lived out among the Chinese people, that will minister Christ to them long before you will be able to share one word with them about your faith in Jesus.” The same is true for all who believe in and want to share the saving grace of God’s love. Though you may not be an eloquent speaker, unbelievers you encounter will be ministered to by the Christ-likeness of your daily life, if indeed you live Christ-like.
Walking down the street the preacher noticed a very small boy trying to press the doorbell button on a house nearby. The boy wasn’t tall enough to reach the button. After watching the boy’s efforts for a minute, the preacher decided to assist the youngster. Walking up behind the little fellow and placing a reassuring hand on the child’s shoulder, he then gave the doorbell a solid ring. Crouching down to the child’s level the preacher asked, “And now what, my little man?” The boy replied, “Now we run!”
[Galatians 6: 6-10] (NIV) v.9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (NAS) And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. Where would the Lord find me if He were to return today? What would I be doing? What would I be saying? What would I be thinking? These are questions that should be in the forefront of our minds. Too often we fail to see the urgency of living a Christian life. Yes, it is a life that must be lived, (James 1: 19-27), and not a life that is just talked about. Complacency and the status quo have robbed many Christians of their God-given ability in being a vital asset to the growth of the Lord’s church. The God we serve is too extraordinary for His people to live ordinary lives. Paul writes in Ephesians 2: 10, For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Are you a “talker” or a “doer”? Don’t draw a blank! The Lord is coming!

Sunday, August 13, 2006

P.U.S.H.

Eureka! I finally got my wife’s car fixed. Before installing the new computer I took under advisement from some mechanic friends, to look real close for any wiring problems that could have caused my computer problem in the first place, thus avoid repeating the catastrophe. After almost an hour of looking real close, I discovered a pinched wire bundle with some frayed wires. After repairing the wires and installing the new computer everything seems to be just like new again. I’m glad I asked for some advise and followed it, probably saving myself some embarrassment in the long run. I’m also thrilled I didn’t have to pay a huge garage repair bill and my wife is on the road again. Travel safe.
Sitting at his desk, the nine-year-old boy snapped out of yet another day-dream to discover the front of his pants wet and a puddle of water on the floor. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he can’t possibly imagine how this could of happened. It’s never happened before! If the guys find out he’ll never live it down. If the girls find out they’ll never speak to him the rest of his life. The boy puts his head down on his desk and prays, “Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Two minutes from now my life will be over!” He looks up from his prayer and sees a student, Suzie, and the teacher walking toward him. Suzie is carrying a goldfish bowl full of water and just a she arrives at the boys desk she stumbles, tipping over the bowl, pouring out its contents into the lap of the boy. The boy pretends to be angry, all the while saying to himself, “Thank you Lord, Thank-You! Now all of a sudden, instead of being the subject of ridicule, the boy is the subject of sympathy. The sympathy is wonderful, but as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else- Suzie. As the clean-up begins, Suzie tries to help only to be pushed aside. “Haven’t you done enough, you klutz!” reprimanded her classmates. Finally, at the end of the day, as they were waiting for their bus, the boy walks over to Suzie and whispers, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Suzie whispered back, “I wet my pants once too.”
[2 Corinthians 6: 14-18] We’re always looking for a way out, always looking for an easier way, always looking to escape expense, failure, illness and even death. We seek advise from friends, family, physicians, bankers, lawyers and psychiatrists. Don’t get me wrong here. There’s nothing wrong with seeking help, but when do you know it’s the right help? When was the last time you prayed and asked God to help and guide you? Too many people are going to tell you prayer and God’s intervention in your life is a bunch of hogwash and I’m going to tell you, you’re not paying attention. Try this for one day. Get up and even though every bone in your body is screaming, thank the Lord for another day. Pray for His help and guidance for the day. Have your mind set that the Lord is going to be active in your life this day. Remove yourself from those activities that separate you from God, you know what they are, and look forward to what He’s going to do. I mean really look. Keep your eyes open for someone or something to change you life in some way. Believe me when I say, if it comes from God it will be good. Don’t get discouraged. I have a sign in my office; P.U.S.H.- Pray Until Something Happens. You can pray anywhere, any-time. God loves you, and wants to help you.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Hope For Rescue

When you’re used to being a two car couple, when one breaks down the other suddenly becomes busier. The computer in my wife’s car went crazy and to make a long story short, I’m having a little trouble acquiring a replacement part. So, my vehicle is doubling-up to handle the workload, but it’s not like it’s a chore or anything on my part, except having to know when I’m suppose to be taking her somewhere. I guess you know my wristwatch alarm is getting a good workout. No big deal. Seems everything we have to do is right here local in town anyway. Well, I placed my faith in a company in Florida which assures me they can help me with my problem and I hope to have my wife’s car back on the road very soon. I also hope the new box of wizardry fixes my brides car.
HOPE: To desire with expectation of obtaining; To cherish a desire; To have confidence; To trust or imagine. Hope: shines when the hour is darkest; motivates when discouragement comes; energizes when the body is tired; sweetens when bitterness bites; sings when all melodies are gone; believes when evidence is eliminated; listens for answers when no one is talking. Hope: climbs over obstacles when no one is helping; endures hardship when no one is caring; smiles confidently when no one is laughing; reaches for answers when no one is asking; presses toward victory when no one is encouraging; dares to give when no one is sharing; brings the victory when no one is winning. John Maxwell from “Think On These Things”
A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment to see what effects hope would have on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water and found that within one hour they had drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water then returned. With that happening, the second set of rats swam around in the tub for more than twenty-four hours. Why? Not because they had been given a rest, but because they suddenly had hope! Those animals somehow hoped that if they could stay afloat just a little bit longer, someone would reach down and rescue them. If hope holds such power for unthinking rodents, how much greater should its effects be on our lives?
[2 Corinthians 4:13-18] v.16 “Therefore we do not lose heart (hope), but though our outer man is decaying (drowning in sin), yet our inner man is being renewed day by day (being forgiven of sin).” Most of mankind has yet to admit to being spiritual first and physical second. The physical side of man has no hope what-so-ever, because we’re all going to the grave eventually. Yet, the spirit within the body gives us a constant sense of hopelessness because it’s swimming in a sea of sin, in need of hope that someone will rescue it. We try to rescue our struggling spirit by doing “whatever feels good”, but always fail miserably. (Galatians 5:16-25) V.24 “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Romans 6) Baptism destroys the sinful body and brings out the spiritual body that we may live anew, separated from sin. Why be baptized? V.23 “For the wages of sin is death (physically & spiritually), but the free gift of God (grace) is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Acts 2:38 & Romans 5:1-5) Baptism frees us from the slavery of sin to become slaves of righteousness. (Romans 13:11-14) You have hope in God’s eternal love. Christ will rescue you!