Saturday, September 26, 2009

The Love Of God

We’ve sure had some great weather lately. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve been enjoying the cooler temperatures, especially in the early morning hours. And who can complain about the wonderful rains we’ve been receiving? It’s obvious our daylight hours are getting shorter as we watch the sunrise heading south for the winter and it won’t be long, we’ll be messing with the time again. I guess it’s just human nature. We’re never satisfied with what we have and any excuse will do to change the circumstances in our lives, if for no other reason but for the sake of change. We’re not like the rest of nature. We get bored with the mundane daily routine and feel we have to spice things up to exhilarate and stimulate “me”. That’s what sets us apart, isn’t it.
A film crew was on location in the desert. One day an old Indian walked up to the director and said, “Tomorrow, storm.” The next day there was a hailstorm. “This Indian is incredible”, said the director. He instructed his secretary to hire the Indian to predict the weather for the remainder of the shoot. However, after several successful predictions, the old Indian didn’t show up for a week. Finally, the director sent for him. “I have to shoot a big scene tomorrow”, explained the director, “and I’m depending on you. What will the weather be like?” The Indian shrugged his shoulders, “Don’t know”, he said, “my radio is broken.” Be careful of what or who impresses you, because when it comes to predicting the future, especially the weather, only hindsight is perfectly clear.
[Hebrews 9: 27-28] Here’s a prediction of life from God’s Word of truth we can all depend on. “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” In the 23rd Psalm, David wrote of his dependence on God to help him throughout his life. “The Lord is my shepherd” …Relationship; “I shall not be in want” …Supply; “He makes me lie down in green pastures” …Rest; “He leads me beside quiet waters” …Refreshment; “He restores my soul” …Healing; “He guides me in paths of righteousness” …Guidance; “For His name’s sake” …Purpose; “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” …Testing; “I will fear no evil” …Faithfulness; “For you are with me” …Protection; “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me” …Discipline; “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” …Hope; “You anoint my head with oil” …Consecration; “My cup overflows” …Abundance; “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” …Blessings; “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord” …Security; “Forever” …Eternal Life! In the song, “The Love Of God” by Fredrick M. Lehman and his daughter, Claudia F. Mays, the last verse testifies to the truth of God. “Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made, Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade, To write the love of God above, Would drain the ocean dry. Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.” If it were not for my proving the truths of God’s word day after day, finding a personal joy in life because of them, I would probably still be on my downward spiral spin into the abyss of eternal damnation. A daily righteous walk with God is far from boring. Try it!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Maggie

Several weeks ago, my siblings and I assembled at our baby sister’s side, knowing her fight with terminal cancer was about to end. Maggie’s goal while in the hospital was to be at home for her remaining days, which she accomplished. The week we spent together was excellent therapy for the totally dysfunctional family we’ve always been. My brother and I returned home knowing we would never see her again in this life, fully well knowing, and expecting, she could depart this life before we deplaned in Texas and California. As I said, that was weeks ago and she surpassed all expected goals we had set for her in our minds. Maggie managed to get out of the house to enjoy the wonders of her great God a couple of times, to be surrounded by and enjoy His creation, if only in her back yard. She insisted on attending a worship service at her congregation one more time and her faithful husband, Brian, saw to it that that happened. My elder sister answered the call last Saturday to be with Maggie in her last hours, as she had promised to do, also becoming a surrogate of sorrow for my brother and me. She passed away in her sleep on last Lord’s Day morning before sunrise. Maggie led a quiet life, but in many ways, she proved repeatedly that anything is possible and everything is worth trying. I don’t think as her siblings we fully understood how loved she and her husband were until her departure from this life. Those whom she left behind paid tribute to her life by the hundreds, as reported via email by our surrogate. The funeral director stopped counting signature book lines at 450, which would most likely put the count of people well over 1000, paying their respects to her family. Her funeral did not go off without a hitch, with stuck doors at the church building harboring their entrance and some unexpected road construction causing a detour on the way to the cemetery. As our surrogate reported, Maggie wasn’t leaving without a lasting impression, the unexpected happenstances injecting a little humor in the solemn proceedings. She is now at rest.
My sister, Carrie, for the past ten years, has been a blessing to the family. She was involved in our parent’s lives when it was hard to be involved. Even in death she was the one willing to tie up all the lose ends without complaint or expectant reward. I think all sibling pods have a “mother image” in one soul and Carrie is ours. I can’t thank her enough, nor would I know how, for exhibiting her unselfish love even when it hurt. She expressed in one email, “I guess this is the only time I don’t understand the Lord. Why would He have her lay there in the shape she is in?” Maybe one day I’ll have a better answer to that question, but for now, all I can feel is that it is for my benefit, to remind me how precious and how short life really is and that every minute counts. Thanks, sis, for being our pillar of strength. I pray for relief on your weary mind and soul.
[James 4: 13-17] James teaches we need to be very careful when we plan for tomorrow for we have no idea what tomorrow may bring. Is it wrong to plan? Not at all. In fact, it would be foolish for one not to plan, simply because we know life isn’t always a bed of roses. Moreover, there’s nothing wrong in planning a comfortable future. However, don’t leave the Lord out of your plans. The day will come, as a thief in the night to steal away all you had planned, leaving you with nothing. Personally, I want the Lord with me when I spend my last breathe. I want to go with Him to my paradise home.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

The Twenty-Third Channel

Ooooo, what beautiful rains we’ve received. It’s been a long time since its rained any sort of measureable amount. Areas all around us have gotten a lot more rain than we have but the rain itself is a blessing. I could tell it was very much appreciated by everyone locally. How do I know, you ask? Well, I failed to see anyone running to escape the rain and avoid getting wet. Even when I was at the grocery store, nobody was running through the parking lot. In fact, it seemed most people were enjoying the rain walking from their vehicle to the store. I know I didn’t care how wet I got as I strolled from car to store and back again, all the while thanking God for all he blesses me with. I don’t know if we can call this rainy weather pattern a drought breaker or not, that we’ll have to wait on, but the grass and weeds sure have come alive. I think my grass has grown one inch over night and the weeds have shot up six inches. What seemed to be near unrecoverable dead vegetation has been resurrected with waters from heaven, which as we all know is much better than chlorinated well water from the city.
Not to change the subject, but I’m going to anyway, what in the world is happening to television? The whole country just finished spending millions of dollars converting to all digital transmission and reception of television airwaves and here I sit, like so many others, with 200 plus channels and nothing-worthwhile watching, most of the time. If it weren’t for the Discovery channels, car racing and an occasional good team sport match-up, I’d probably dump this whole satellite thing. It’s a shame what the entertainment industry is offering today. I don’t think there’s a program airing that isn’t locked into the “me” syndrome. The only consolation I gain any comfort from is the fact that at least there is still a message that crime has it’s punishment and bad guys do get caught.
I came across a little poem I’ve had for years, which I wish to share, titled, “The Twenty-Third Channel” The TV is my shepherd, my spiritual growth shall want. It maketh me to sit down and do nothing for His name’s sake, because it requireth all my leisure time. It keepeth me from doing my duty as a Christian because it presenteth so many good shows I must see. It restoreth my knowledge of the things of the world and keepeth me from the study of God’s word. It leadeth me in the paths of failing to attend worship and doing nothing in the Kingdom of God. Yea, though I live to be one hundred, I shall keep watching my TV as long as it will work, for it is my closest companion. It presenteth entertainment before me and keepeth me from doing important things with my family. It fills my head with ideas, which differ from those presented in the Word of God. Surely, no good thing will come of my life because of so many wasted hours, and I shall dwell in my remorse and bitter memories forever.
[Hebrews 6: 7-8] How much rain is falling on you? What kind of crop are you producing? Is it useful to others? If yes, the Hebrews writer says you will receive blessings from God. However, if what you’re taking into your brain, what you’re educating yourself with, is producing thorns and thistles, worthless to anyone, you’re in danger of being cursed and you could find yourself burned in the end. It always amazes me how productive, even the most dried up person you can think of, can become when the water of life, God’s truth, is applied to a fertile mind. God’s Word is entertaining too.

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Golden Rules For Living

It would be an understatement to say I have a tendency to express my opinion now and then. I even have a tendency to, how can I put it, stroke some people’s hair the wrong way? That’s mainly why you won’t find me at “tea parties” or “town hall meetings” or “meet your Representative” type gatherings. And yes, a good reason for me to quit drinking 15 years ago. I’m sort of like that Chihuahua with a Rottwieler attitude. I’m not afraid to speak up for what I feel is right, but I can’t think fast enough to keep the big dogs off my tail, so I stay on the porch and observe from a distance. Now, my opinion about all that’s going on in our Capital has always been pretty simple. I don’t think there’s a person in Washington with a lick of common sense. I think the biggest fear of the American public is that our genius lawmakers will, once again, totally complicate a simple solution to a not so complex problem, to a point, not even they can explain the plan to you. Why couldn’t they simply build on already existing programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and phase those programs out? Oh yeh, the lack of common sense thing keeps getting in the way, along with a ladle full of greed gravy, topped off with an opt out cherry for any plan that’s good for the goose only.
Have you ever heard of the “Golden Rules For Living”? They’re sort of natural common sense. If you open it, close it. If you turn it on, turn it off. If you unlock it, lock it back. If you break it, admit it. If you can’t fix it, call in someone who can. If you borrow it, return it. If you value it, take care of it. If you make a mess, clean it up. If you move it, put it back. If it belongs to someone else and you want to use it, get permission. If you don’t know how to operate it, leave it alone. If it’s none of your business, don’t ask questions. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. If it will brighten someone’s day, say it. If it will tarnish someone’s reputation, keep it to yourself. If you start a fire, put it out.
During a facts-finding visit to the mental institution, a visitor asked the director what criterion defined whether, or not, a person should be institutionalized. “Well”, the director began, “We fill a bath tub with water, give the person a bucket, a cup and a teaspoon, then instruct them to empty the tub.” “Oh, I get it”, said the visitor, “A normal person would chose the bucket because it’s the biggest.” “No”, replied the director, “A normal person would pull the plug. Would you like a bed near the windows?”
[Proverbs 18] The wisdom in God’s Word shows the truth and love of his teachings for man’s health and well-being. Suppose, in this day and time, the book of Proverbs had just hit the shelves. What do you think the reaction to this book would be? Would it be embraced as common sense logic or outlawed as impossible to attain because it would be offensive to certain people? Probably the latter and that’s exactly what’s happening to the complete works of the Holy Spirit. The Bible and the Constitution are each being picked apart and devoured by the devils vultures. Special interest groups are squawking, “We can’t allow special interest groups in this country, everybody must be equal in thought.” WHAT? Where’s the common sense in that? I see a very bleak future for this country if Christians don’t stand up to be recognized and glorify the God they profess to be emulating. You can’t get into Washington, but you can pray. Prayer is powerful and the will of God is for you and me to live righteously, and pray for others. (John 15: 5-17)