Well, I’ve done it again. My office (man cave) has become so cluttered, the only part of the floor that’s visible is a path between the door and the chair. It doesn’t take long to decide whether I want to drag something home for “future use” but it seems to take forever to decide where to store it until that time comes. “Oh, I’ll just put it here for right now and get to it later.” How many times have you said that? If I were to sit down right now just to read all the stuff I want to, it would probably take to the end of the year. That isn’t half the mess. I’ve printed out hundreds of stories that need filing away in my big, nearly empty, filing cabinet. The problem is, every time I get started I run into the decision of what to file each item under. It’s going to take some determination and zeal to get this mess cleaned up and organized. If I’m going to git’er done I’m going to have to stop self-defeating my purpose and press on with a firmer grip on the goal.
As a very young child, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. had a peculiar and memorable fear of church, according to David McCullough’s book, “Mornings On Horseback”. Teddy was so terrified that he refused to set foot inside a church building if alone. Finally, his mother so insisted that he told her he was afraid if something called the “zeal”. Using a concordance, his mother read aloud the passages containing the word “zeal” from her King James Bible. Suddenly he told her to stop! The passage was John 2: 17 (Psalm 69: 9). “And His disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” When asked about this “zeal”, he admitted he was not sure what it was, but thought it was probably a large animal like an alligator or a dragon. Needless to say, Teddy Roosevelt’s attacks of asthma occurred more often early Sunday mornings.
[Romans 12: 9-21] zeal: n fervent devotion, fanaticism. Did you notice it’s a noun? Zeal is something you possess. Most people treat it as a verb, something you must do. Let’s look at it this way. Have you ever truly wondered why Jesus loved to have the little children around Him, or why He said, “…anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it”? I think because children are full of zeal. What sort of heart does it take to learn how to walk? To learn how to talk? To endure the first day of school, and the many years to follow? To live with siblings? To love abusive parents? It takes a heart full of zeal. The heart of a child picks them up when they fall, starts them over and over again when they fail, until they get it right, and allows them to see, and seek to comfort, the pain in others. But alas, we allow the trials and tribulations of life to change our zeal, from a joyous possession, to a chore of drudgery. So, Jesus encourages us to return to our childhood, to both help us endure the trials of life and embrace the Kingdom of God with an attitude of complete devotion and love. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he uses words like, must, sincere, hate, cling, devoted, never, fervor and so on. He teaches with zeal. He’s fanatical about how those in the Kingdom should live daily and treat one another. Jesus didn’t hide His feelings for those buying and selling in the temple courts the day He upset their applecart. He felt the pain of his Father and was embarrassed with shame for what the people were doing. Does your idea of zeal grow your faith as a chore, or is your faith growing and sharing because zeal for eternal life fills your heart? The heart of a fighter is “eaten up” with zeal. Get up and live.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Imitate Truth And Love
Oh, I hate to admit it, but the years are beginning to add up. I get reminded of this on anniversaries of major events in history that I’ve experienced. The news media will remind us of an event that seems like it happened only a few years ago, but we’re given the factual date of decades making one wonder where the time has gone. Well anyway, isn’t it weird how some world events can be so rooted in our memory and even bringing about great emotion when contemplated? One such event surfaced just this past week that still impacts the generation of “baby boomers” like no other. Up front I want you to know, that I know, Elvis is dead. I kind of fell in the years when Elvis and “rock ‘n roll” didn’t mean anything to me. If it didn’t have a big engine, chrome and wheels, it didn’t turn my head. So, the day Elvis died, I was busy working, customizing a ’68 Vette, when my boss, a few years older than me, announced with tears, Elvis had died. Sorry, but I didn’t shed a tear. Now, thirty years later, thousands of people stood in line outside “Graceland”, the Presley estate, for upwards to fifteen hours, just to walk past the burial place of Elvis Presley. There are hundreds of impersonators around the globe entertaining millions of people, keeping the memory of ‘Elvis’ alive for as many years as possible. Elvis literally changed the world with his life, even as short as it was.
[1 Thessalonians 1] I’m reminded that school starts again very soon, yeh, that’s been many years ago too, and I can’t help but think, and maybe worry a little, about who and what is influencing our children, filling their memory banks and shaping their future. Our children are like computers, starting out with the basics, allowing them to function, but unable to produce anything due to the lack of input, or knowledge. I can’t help but to repeat what every computer expert agrees on, “garbage in – garbage out”. I’ve got to express this. School is opening the eyes of our children to the world. Who is opening their hearts to the truth? Youth is a precious period of life and is the time when our habits of life are made. It seems in too many cases, parents tend to drift away from their children after they start school. Too many parents follow the ideology of allowing children to sow their wild oats, believing that when they get older, they will get better. All children are out to please someone in their life. Throughout life we’re all looking for praise for our accomplishments, that’s what motivates us to press on to higher ground. Who will your children most want to be like while growing in the truth they are being taught? Who would you most like to see your children imitate in life? Now is the time to instill the great values and principles of truth and righteousness. Now is the time to teach them Jesus and the truths taught by Him and the Apostles found in the New Testament of the Bible. When children are taught of authority and of God when they are young, they will have a foundation upon which they can stand when they get older. They must learn honesty, above all. Honesty will allow them to see the truth, when otherwise they might be blinded by the prejudices of the world. Just what is being input to the memory of your child? How will your child function on his own when it comes time to compute a right or wrong decision? Jesus, as short as His life was, changed the world. Are you willing to hold your child’s hand and show him the cross of Jesus, the one who died for our sins? Can you imitate Jesus in order to open his heart to the truth and love of life?
[1 Thessalonians 1] I’m reminded that school starts again very soon, yeh, that’s been many years ago too, and I can’t help but think, and maybe worry a little, about who and what is influencing our children, filling their memory banks and shaping their future. Our children are like computers, starting out with the basics, allowing them to function, but unable to produce anything due to the lack of input, or knowledge. I can’t help but to repeat what every computer expert agrees on, “garbage in – garbage out”. I’ve got to express this. School is opening the eyes of our children to the world. Who is opening their hearts to the truth? Youth is a precious period of life and is the time when our habits of life are made. It seems in too many cases, parents tend to drift away from their children after they start school. Too many parents follow the ideology of allowing children to sow their wild oats, believing that when they get older, they will get better. All children are out to please someone in their life. Throughout life we’re all looking for praise for our accomplishments, that’s what motivates us to press on to higher ground. Who will your children most want to be like while growing in the truth they are being taught? Who would you most like to see your children imitate in life? Now is the time to instill the great values and principles of truth and righteousness. Now is the time to teach them Jesus and the truths taught by Him and the Apostles found in the New Testament of the Bible. When children are taught of authority and of God when they are young, they will have a foundation upon which they can stand when they get older. They must learn honesty, above all. Honesty will allow them to see the truth, when otherwise they might be blinded by the prejudices of the world. Just what is being input to the memory of your child? How will your child function on his own when it comes time to compute a right or wrong decision? Jesus, as short as His life was, changed the world. Are you willing to hold your child’s hand and show him the cross of Jesus, the one who died for our sins? Can you imitate Jesus in order to open his heart to the truth and love of life?
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Melanie
I’ve been greatly tempted to just skip writing this week because of a tragedy of life that entered our home this past Tuesday. But then again, I feel that not writing because of personal sorrow, I would be betraying the whole purpose of this column to begin with. We’re all on the road to forever and it comes a time when even loved ones will depart from this world unexpectedly. Our daughter Melanie went to be with Jesus on the morning of October 1st . She was 43-years-old with the mental capacity of an innocent 6-year-old, always full of joy and at times finding it hard to deal with the world when things didn’t make much sense to her. She had a stubborn independence about her, but was always willing to share every ounce of her love through a great big smile, a heart-felt boisterous greeting and a hug. She was generally the center of attention and it was always fun for me to just step back and watch her take over a room with greetings to each individual present. Her queries to adults about children and newborns in their families were real and of much concern to her. You see, Melanie was given a talent of extraordinary memory and recall. When it came to names, addresses, birthdates, relationships, and wedding anniversaries, she always had the answer. Well, Melanie was born with an abnormal heart, which was her demise, stealing her life away. We’ll miss her greatly, but when you look at the big picture, we’re not far behind.
I tell you this, to share with you this. Melanie had been on a medically challenged roll-a-coaster ride for about the past three years raising the fear of her having to be locked away from the general public. She had been living away from home, in group homes for the mentally challenged, for many years, because she demanded needs we could no longer supply at home. She lived many miles away, but we had her home weekends and holidays as often as possible. Then even the group home couldn’t supply all her needs anymore. My wife Paula, her dedicated mother, worked tirelessly searching for alternatives and it seemed nothing was working. With prayer, much tears and the hope that the Lord would solve our dilemma, a new facility was found and Melanie was moved one more time, the fourth in two months. At this point in time, Melanie’s participation in any joy and happiness had dwindled to nothing. So sad to see.
[1 John 4: 7-12] We do not always see God’s love when it is shadowed in earthly fears. My wife has a sentimental streak and birthdays are at the top of her list. When the family has a clump of birthdays she gets us all together on a convenient weekend to celebrate, Melanie always included. It so happened three Sundays ago, so the family loaded up two vehicles and went to celebrate with Mel at her new residence. What we experienced, as we now can see clearly, was a gift from God. Melanie was in true form. A transformation had taken place and we were greeted with an all to familiar, and almost forgotten, booming voice as each of our names was announced followed by a hug and a smile from the heart. Our son-in-law even provoked a little jig from her, which we had never seen her do before. We told her we were there to celebrate birthdays and she commenced to tell who’s and their date born. What a wonderful visit and a great hope arose that once again her life would be filled with laughter. But alas, that is our selfish will and not God’s. I’m sure of one thing. She’s now perfect and announcing, JESUS!
I tell you this, to share with you this. Melanie had been on a medically challenged roll-a-coaster ride for about the past three years raising the fear of her having to be locked away from the general public. She had been living away from home, in group homes for the mentally challenged, for many years, because she demanded needs we could no longer supply at home. She lived many miles away, but we had her home weekends and holidays as often as possible. Then even the group home couldn’t supply all her needs anymore. My wife Paula, her dedicated mother, worked tirelessly searching for alternatives and it seemed nothing was working. With prayer, much tears and the hope that the Lord would solve our dilemma, a new facility was found and Melanie was moved one more time, the fourth in two months. At this point in time, Melanie’s participation in any joy and happiness had dwindled to nothing. So sad to see.
[1 John 4: 7-12] We do not always see God’s love when it is shadowed in earthly fears. My wife has a sentimental streak and birthdays are at the top of her list. When the family has a clump of birthdays she gets us all together on a convenient weekend to celebrate, Melanie always included. It so happened three Sundays ago, so the family loaded up two vehicles and went to celebrate with Mel at her new residence. What we experienced, as we now can see clearly, was a gift from God. Melanie was in true form. A transformation had taken place and we were greeted with an all to familiar, and almost forgotten, booming voice as each of our names was announced followed by a hug and a smile from the heart. Our son-in-law even provoked a little jig from her, which we had never seen her do before. We told her we were there to celebrate birthdays and she commenced to tell who’s and their date born. What a wonderful visit and a great hope arose that once again her life would be filled with laughter. But alas, that is our selfish will and not God’s. I’m sure of one thing. She’s now perfect and announcing, JESUS!
The Race Home
I’d like to start with a personal note of thanks from my wife Paula and I, to all those who have expressed their love and support in our time of distress. Melanie’s going home celebration was well attended, which did her mother’s heart good. Many sympathy cards and notes have been received, several from unexpected sources bringing comfort that the sender may not comprehend. Emails and phone-calls and knocks on the front door all added to the healing process and lifting our spirits to carry on with what we must do. Once again, we just want to say thanks for your kindness, it’s meant a lot.
The most used cliché of comfort by people, and I can’t leave myself out, about a dearly departed loved one is, “But I know he/she is in a far better place now, without pain or distress.” I honestly believe that most people believe what they are saying, but sometimes wonder if they’re ready for that day to arrive at their doorstep. I’m reminded of a story, I think a preacher story, found in the book, Thinking And Acting Like A Christian by D. Bruce Lockerbie, that goes like this. A world-class runner was invited to compete in a road race in Connecticut. On the morning of the race, she drove from New York City following directions given to her over the phone weeks before. She got lost, stopped at a gas station and asked for help. She knew the race started in the parking lot of a shopping mall. The attendant also knew of a race starting in a nearby mall and directed her to it. When she arrived she was relieved to see a modest number of competitors, but far from the number she’d expected. Inspecting the course map, the race was also easier than she had been led to believe. At the registration desk she was surprised by the reception of the race officials’ at having such a renowned athlete show up at their race. No, they had no record of her entry, but if she’d hurry and put on this number, she could just make it before the gun goes off. She ran, and naturally she won easily, some four minutes ahead of the first male runner who finished second. Only after the race, when there was no envelope containing her sizable prize and performance money, did she confirm that the event she had just run was not the race to which she had been invited. That race was being held several miles up the road in another town. She had gone to the wrong starting line, run the wrong course, and missed her chance at winning a valuable prize.
[Hebrews 12: 1-3] Each of us is running a race on our road to forever, and many are expending a lot of time and effort in completing the course. How sad it would be to learn at the end that we have run the wrong course. There are many races out there, worldly and spiritually, that people are running, looking for a prize at the end of the course. I’ve chosen to run the race of a Christian, worldly and spiritually. Here are two reasons why. I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, protected by the Holy Spirit, and will be till the last day. The Bible, unlike other spiritual teachings, teaches of love for the Creator, for one another and ones self, not of hatred and retaliation. Secondly, I believe Jesus is the son of the living God. I believe He was resurrected from the dead and witnessed rising into the heavens. I’m not alone. His influence on mankind was so great and man’s new relationship with God so strong, even time was started over again. God has invited you to a race home. Don’t go to the wrong starting gate. (Matthew 7: 13-14)
The most used cliché of comfort by people, and I can’t leave myself out, about a dearly departed loved one is, “But I know he/she is in a far better place now, without pain or distress.” I honestly believe that most people believe what they are saying, but sometimes wonder if they’re ready for that day to arrive at their doorstep. I’m reminded of a story, I think a preacher story, found in the book, Thinking And Acting Like A Christian by D. Bruce Lockerbie, that goes like this. A world-class runner was invited to compete in a road race in Connecticut. On the morning of the race, she drove from New York City following directions given to her over the phone weeks before. She got lost, stopped at a gas station and asked for help. She knew the race started in the parking lot of a shopping mall. The attendant also knew of a race starting in a nearby mall and directed her to it. When she arrived she was relieved to see a modest number of competitors, but far from the number she’d expected. Inspecting the course map, the race was also easier than she had been led to believe. At the registration desk she was surprised by the reception of the race officials’ at having such a renowned athlete show up at their race. No, they had no record of her entry, but if she’d hurry and put on this number, she could just make it before the gun goes off. She ran, and naturally she won easily, some four minutes ahead of the first male runner who finished second. Only after the race, when there was no envelope containing her sizable prize and performance money, did she confirm that the event she had just run was not the race to which she had been invited. That race was being held several miles up the road in another town. She had gone to the wrong starting line, run the wrong course, and missed her chance at winning a valuable prize.
[Hebrews 12: 1-3] Each of us is running a race on our road to forever, and many are expending a lot of time and effort in completing the course. How sad it would be to learn at the end that we have run the wrong course. There are many races out there, worldly and spiritually, that people are running, looking for a prize at the end of the course. I’ve chosen to run the race of a Christian, worldly and spiritually. Here are two reasons why. I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, protected by the Holy Spirit, and will be till the last day. The Bible, unlike other spiritual teachings, teaches of love for the Creator, for one another and ones self, not of hatred and retaliation. Secondly, I believe Jesus is the son of the living God. I believe He was resurrected from the dead and witnessed rising into the heavens. I’m not alone. His influence on mankind was so great and man’s new relationship with God so strong, even time was started over again. God has invited you to a race home. Don’t go to the wrong starting gate. (Matthew 7: 13-14)
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