The Tasks Of Man

I’ve collected many stories over the years via email, snail mail and published materials. Most everything I use has no author attached to it, but I do save all my sources for future reference. Some of them sit around for some time before I use them. Then suddenly they seem to fit the thought of my column perfectly. I received a story the other day, that made another story stand out, and I thought it appropriate to use them together. They are love stories, one for the body and one for the soul. They are rather lengthy, so we’ll share one this week and the other next week.
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. “Your son is here”, she said to the old man. She repeated her statement several times before the patient’s eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. Reaching out his hand, the Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man’s limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night, the Marine sat there in the dimly lit ward, holding the old man’s hand and offering words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested the Marine move away and rest awhile, he refused. Whenever the nurses would come and go, the Marine was oblivious of their presence. The noises of the hospital – the clanking of oxygen tanks, the laughter of the night staff as they greeted one another, the cries and moans of other nearby patients, did not move him. Now and then, the nurse heard him say a few gentle words; the dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night. Towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. When she returned she started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her. “Who was that man?” he asked. Startled, the nurse said, “I thought he was your father!” “No, he wasn’t,” the Marine replied. “I’ve never seen him before in my life.” “Why didn’t you say something when I took you to him?” inquired the nurse. “I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he need his son, but his son wasn’t here. When I realized he was too sick to tell whether I was his son, or not, and knowing how much he needed me I stayed. I came here last night looking for a Mr. William Gray. His son has been killed in Iraq, and I have been sent to inform him.” The eyes of the nurse filled with tears, “The hand of the man you held and comforted all night is Mr. William Gray.”
[Acts 17:-28] Paul was speaking to a group of Greek philosophers about their concept of “The Unknown God”. He told them that all things came from God and that God is not served by human hands or is in need of anything, “ …because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” “…and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” As an earthly father determines what is best for his family and moves to locations that will most benefit the family, so God directs us to places where we will seek and serve Him to the benefit of others, in His name. Like the Marine, we all have physical responsibilities. I have learned to let God sidetrack me, because when He directs my footsteps I receive a physical and spiritual reward. Plus, the task at hand gets completed in a better way, than my way.

The Hybrid

“It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” is a 1963 American comedy film directed by Stanley Kramer about the madcap pursuit of $350,000 in stolen cash by a diverse and colorful group of strangers. The movie portrays the insane length of infatuation people will subject themselves to, to attain something they’re not even sure exists. The local, national and world news of late tends to make one think the world has gone mad. “The whole world is crazy, except you and me, and I’m keeping a close eye on you”, seems to be the untrusting thought of the day lately. As we plan our every move day after day, we also tend to find ourselves looking over the shoulder of our colleagues to see what they have planned, so we can get one-step ahead of them, or at least attempt to thwart their threatening advances on our person. People are so wrapped up in themselves and their personal gain they can’t stand to be without some sort of information coming in to be processed. A new statistic shows that the cell phone is causing more accidents on our highways today than drunk drivers. Personal vehicles are dangerous enough, having been filled with too many creature comforts already, without adding the total distraction devise called the cell phone. Sure, I can multi-task, but entering a room and temporarily forgetting why I went there, and entering a busy intersection not knowing whether the light was green or red, isn’t the same thing. Maybe it’s time for Hollywood to make a movie called, “It’s A Me, Me, Me, Me World”, a satire on the invention and use of more and more sophisticated electronic devices that gather information at faster and faster speeds. At the end of the movie the planet is spinning so fast, everybody flies off into space to be by themselves forever and ever. Almost sounds plausible.
I find a lot of truth and wisdom in the Sunday Funnies. “The Better Half” by Glasbergen, features a couple, Harriet and Stanley Parker, with a puzzled-look yellow cat. Harriet and Stanley are always dealing with the issues of the day, rationalizing and fitting in the “me society” the best they can, all the while maintaining a marital relationship. One of the January 31st quips showed the couple sharing a meal at home, staring across the table at each other. Stanley was saying, “Sorry, I wasn’t listening. I figured if it was important, you’d text me.” In the last panel, Harriet says to Stanley, “I got the test results from your ear doctor. You’re not hearing-impaired, you’re listening-impaired.” Is your world spinning so fast it’s getting harder to hold on?
[James 3] I’m certainly not out to point a finger at anyone for I sometimes stand at the head of the class consuming information just trying to keeping up with the ideals and thoughts of the world. I feel outright ignorant sometimes. I need the ideals of other people and I will use them for person gain, not at the expense of others, but to help edify others. I received an email the other day containing a philosophical statement that fits what I’ve been trying to say for years. “We are not human beings going through a temporary spiritual experience; We are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience.” Look at yourself as a “hybrid” being. A hybrid is something that uses two or more things to form one even better thing. A car that uses both a gas engine and electric motors is a “hybrid” automobile, but the gas engine is still not wanted. The human is physical and spiritual. The physical cannot improve the spiritual, but the spiritual can enhance the physical. Together it’s a good life, even though the body fails.

Under Spiritual Control

I’ve had a rather challenging and fulfilling seven days this past week. Several tests crossed my path, one of which I was looking forward to. Sunday evening I visited a sister congregation of God’s people in a neighboring city on an invite to speak. It was my first time away from home, so to speak, as I had never taught or preached outside my home congregation before. I’m afraid I spoke too long, but I guess that’s better than running out of material in ten minutes; not good at all. My lack of experience does not yet allow me to judge amount of material and its equivalency to length of time to present it, but I was close. It seems my organizational skills came up a little short in several areas throughout the entire week and to my amazement, it didn’t upset me that circumstances derailed my planned schedules. My wife was scheduled for eye surgery on Friday and a pre-op appointment on Tuesday. We had been down this road before and figured about one hour at the most and we’d be on our way home. Three and one half hours later would have been a closer estimate. On surgery day, past experiences for this type of outpatient activity have averaged four hours, but not this time. A personnel shortage in the surgical suite pushed everything back four hours making for a long day of waiting. The waiting game can bring out the best and the worst in some people. Some become boisterous, just talking aloud hoping someone will hear their complaint and help them. Some voiced their displeasure to the office receptionist, who has no control over the situation. Some simply take the delay in stride, settling in for the duration having come prepared with a book to read. Waiting also opens the door to personal cell phone conversations and a couple of, full, life histories of people sharing stories; way too much information. Needless to say, all my buttons had been pushed several times during the week, yet I maintained outward control. I give myself a B+.
While sitting in the reception area of her doctor’s office, a woman witnessed another rolling an elderly man in a wheelchair into the room. As the man’s assistant went to the receptionist’s desk, he sat there alone and silent. The woman felt compassion to start a conversation with the man, but was intercepted by a little boy who slid down from his mother’s lap and walked over to the wheelchair. Placing his little hand on the man’s, he said, “I know how you feel. My mom makes me ride in the stroller too!”
There was a brother in the church who couldn’t sing a lick and always sang at the top of his lungs. A few members complained asking him if he could sing a little softer. However, the brother continued to sing as loud as he could until a few members went and to the preacher and voiced a complaint. The preacher suggested to the brother that maybe he should sing a little softer. The man asked, “Why should I sing softer?” The preacher said, “Because five or six members told me you can’t sing in key.” “That’s nothing”, replied the man, “fifty or so members have told me you can’t preach.”
[Romans 8: 5-8] In the letter to the Romans, chapters 7 & 8, Paul speaks of the distinct characteristics of the carnal mind and the spiritual mind. When the body controls the mind there is a selfish sinful attitude, but when the mind controls the body there is life and peace. The sinful mind is hostile to God and it cannot please God. The sinful mind is poison to ones self, hostile toward others and not pleasing to our fellow man. Unconditional love for one another pleases God. (1 Timothy 2: 1-4) Love and live.

Just The Bible, Please!

It seems everybody is vying for your attention with whatever ammunition they can come up with to fire at you, hopefully hitting a bull’s eye. You think I’m crazy, right? Let’s just start with the mailbox. The only thing you even look for in the mail anymore is the utility bills and a few Christmas cards. The rest of it is junk headed straight for the trash. Then you probably don’t even want to think about the ringing of the telephone. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting a little tired, no, a lot tired, of the same companies calling me at the same time every day, with the same recorded message that I don’t want to listen to the nine hundredth time, any more than I wanted to listen to it the first time. Now, the advertizing on the major TV networks is totally out of control. A one-hour show is probably less than forty minutes long and the rest of the hour is devoted to prying money out of your wallet. Did you know the good ole USA is the only country that advertises medicines? Magazines are another thing all together. If you can think of an activity, I’ll bet there’s a magazine devoted to it. We are a consumer driven society where one size does not fit all and if I can’t find a size comfortable to fit my needs, I’ll simply develop a new performance package and market it to others, as fashionably new.
People are like potatoes. Some people never seem motivated to participate, but are content to watch others. They’re known as “Speck-taters”. Some people never do anything spectacular. They just lead simple lives. They’re known as “Common-taters”. Some are always looking to cause problems and get under your skin. They’re known as “Adja-taters”. There are those who always say they will, but somehow never get around to doing. They’re known as “Hezza-taters”. Some people put on a front, acting like someone else. They’re known as “Imma-taters”. Then there are those who walk what they talk. They are always prepare to stop what they are doing, to lend a hand and bring real sunshine into the lives of others. They’re best known as “Sweet-taters”.
Magazine Editor: “So, you wish a position as a proofreader, is that right?” Applicant: “Yes sir.” Editor: “Do you understand the requirements of this position?” Applicant: “Perfectly sir. Whenever you make any mistakes in your magazine, just blame them on me, and I’ll never say a word.”
[Jeremiah 10: 21] “I know, oh Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” Even God’s Word has not escaped cultural fashion grooming, being specifically designed for certain groups of people. I receive Bible catalogs that offer an array of Bibles, the like of which I’ve never seen. Just a few examples are: A Military Bible, A Bible for Military Families, A Sports Bible, and A Bible for Urban Teen Outreach, A Bible for Small Groups, A Bible for Women, A Bible for Kids, A Bible for those Turned off by Religion, A Bible for The Muslim World, A Bible for Those Who Grieve, etc. The list seems endless. There’s a Bible for Racecar Fans, Basketball Fans, Baseball and Football Fans, Police, Cowboys, Campers, Naturalists and a Bible for those Who Face the Challenge of Forgiving. Why? God’s message is not to the physical man of the world, rather the sinful spirit of the man. God’s message is designed to speak directly to the spirit, not through your profession or hobby. We must separate ourselves from the world to understand the will of God for our salvation.