“Stop the presses!” I’ll bet that phrase used to trigger an adrenalin rush in type setters, back in the days when newspaper type was hand set. It is a phrase, used in the news media industry as an exclamation indicating the arrival of extremely significant news or an extremely grave error. The term signified the discovery of the need to change the content of an issue just before, or during its printing. Since this meant that the printing press literally had to be stopped, or delayed, much of the existing copies of a publication, which had already been printed, would have to be discarded at great cost. Today print type is no longer set by hand, but stopping the presses is still a costly adrenalin rush; revising computer layouts, burning new ink plates and resetting the presses. Mostly, today, the phrase is used in a sarcastic way when a discovery prompts the need to immediately stop work on a project in any given industry. I had my week planned which included preparing a lesson to preach from the pulpit on Sunday morning in the absence of our resident preacher. Tuesday afternoon I was finishing a repair project in the church building when I was notified a member of the congregation had passed away, a friend and mentor of mine. “Stop the presses!” No one else was available to preach his funeral and I felt honored to be able to do it, so volunteered. I was told I did well, but believe me, preachers and ministers don’t receive enough praise for the work they do. The demand on their time, at times, is very stressful and I for one am happy I don’t have to do it every week. I’m not as young as I used to be.
A preacher spoke a little longer than usual one Sunday morning. A little old lady approached him after worship and asked “Has anyone ever told you that you’re a wonderful speaker?” (He immediately thought to himself, “Now isn’t that great. It’s always encouraging when the members recognize my abilities.”) He told her, “No, as a matter of fact no one has ever told me that I’m a wonderful speaker.” She quickly responded with, “Well then, whatever gave you the idea that you are?”
The preacher was opening his mail one morning. Taking a single sheet of paper from an envelop he found only one word written on it, ‘FOOL’. The following Sunday he announced to the assembled congregation, “I have known many people who have written letters to me and forgotten to sing their names. But this week, I received a letter from someone who signed their name and had forgotten to write the letter.”
[Isaiah 6: 8] Isaiah has learned of the judgment the Lord is going to bring upon Israel and in a vision, which he finds himself in the presence of the Lord, and like the lost son (Luke 15:17-20), Isaiah comes to his senses and confesses to the Lord he is one of the people God is distressed with. Because of his confession God takes away his guilt and gives atonement for his sins. The Lord needs someone to go to His people preparing them for His coming wrath. “…Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah has a decision to make about his new relationship with God. God has forgiven him of his sins, separating him from those he once associated with. He said, “Here am I. Send me!” When life screams out, “Stop the presses!” the dedicated minister will always answer the call. We all need to confess our sins to the Lord, come into His presence and be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins. When we do this, we establish a new relationship with God, and when the need arises, we’ll ever say, “Here am I. Send me!”
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Tap, Tap, Tapping
It is said that when pointing a finger at someone, three fingers are pointing back at you. I look out into the world today wondering why people can get so upset over the things of life that to me are quit meaningless. In retrospect, I have to confess I once had the patience of a junk-yard dog, which still has the presence of mind to pop out now and then with no excuse. When I examine the activities of the world today, I discover nothing new, remembering the several upheavals of riotous reactions that have occurred in this country’s past during my lifetime alone. It is said that age mellows the savage beast within us and I think that holds some validity when those lives are held up to the Light. I’m happy I have been blessed to live long enough to understand peace.
New tenant complaining to his landlord: “The people upstairs are very loud. Last night they stomped around and banged on the floor until after midnight.” Landlord: “Did they wake you?” Tenant: “No, I was still practicing my electric guitar lessons.”
A woman in a supermarket had been walking behind a grandfather and his badly- behaving three-year-old grandson. It’s obvious to her he has his hands full with the child, screaming for sweets in the candy aisle, cookies in the cookie aisle, and for fruit and cereal and soda in the other aisles. While granddad is working his way through the store, in a controlled voice he could be heard saying, “Easy, William. It won’t be long now.” Another outburst and the granddad says, “It’s okay, William. Just a couple of more minutes and we’ll be out of here. Hang in there boy.” At the checkout, the little terror is tossing items out of the cart and granddad repeats his calm statement, “William, William, relax, don’t get upset, we’ll be home in five minutes. Stay cool, William.” Very impressed, the woman goes outside where the grandfather is loading the groceries and his grandson in the car. “It’s none of my business, but I must say, you were amazing in there, I don’t know how you did it. The whole time, you kept your composure and no matter how loud or disruptive he got, you just calmly kept saying things would be okay. William is blessed to have a grandfather like you.” “Thanks”, said the grandfather, “but I’m William …the little brats name is Kevin.”
[Galatians 5: 16-26] “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” A pediatric nurse, as she often did, gently tucked the stethoscope into a little boy’s ears and placed the disc over his heart. ”Listen,” she said, “what do you suppose that is?” David drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap, tap, tapping deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin and he asked, “Is that Jesus knocking?” The book of Revelation is centered on overcoming the trials of life, through faith in Christ Jesus, and if one pursues this endeavor throughout their life, the promise of everlasting life, by the grace of God, will be their reward. Revelation 3: 19-22, tells us that Jesus is ever knocking on our door. He’s not begging attention, nor will He try to force his way into our life. He just wants us to know he’s there; waiting. In our trials we cry out, “Oh, Lord!” but do we really believe he’s there to help us in our time of need? Remove the door of your heart from its hinges. Seek Him first in all you do and praise Him in the troubled times, as well as the good times (1 Peter 4: 12-19). When our patience and our faith are cultivated, our love for others will grow (James 5: 7-20).
New tenant complaining to his landlord: “The people upstairs are very loud. Last night they stomped around and banged on the floor until after midnight.” Landlord: “Did they wake you?” Tenant: “No, I was still practicing my electric guitar lessons.”
A woman in a supermarket had been walking behind a grandfather and his badly- behaving three-year-old grandson. It’s obvious to her he has his hands full with the child, screaming for sweets in the candy aisle, cookies in the cookie aisle, and for fruit and cereal and soda in the other aisles. While granddad is working his way through the store, in a controlled voice he could be heard saying, “Easy, William. It won’t be long now.” Another outburst and the granddad says, “It’s okay, William. Just a couple of more minutes and we’ll be out of here. Hang in there boy.” At the checkout, the little terror is tossing items out of the cart and granddad repeats his calm statement, “William, William, relax, don’t get upset, we’ll be home in five minutes. Stay cool, William.” Very impressed, the woman goes outside where the grandfather is loading the groceries and his grandson in the car. “It’s none of my business, but I must say, you were amazing in there, I don’t know how you did it. The whole time, you kept your composure and no matter how loud or disruptive he got, you just calmly kept saying things would be okay. William is blessed to have a grandfather like you.” “Thanks”, said the grandfather, “but I’m William …the little brats name is Kevin.”
[Galatians 5: 16-26] “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” A pediatric nurse, as she often did, gently tucked the stethoscope into a little boy’s ears and placed the disc over his heart. ”Listen,” she said, “what do you suppose that is?” David drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap, tap, tapping deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin and he asked, “Is that Jesus knocking?” The book of Revelation is centered on overcoming the trials of life, through faith in Christ Jesus, and if one pursues this endeavor throughout their life, the promise of everlasting life, by the grace of God, will be their reward. Revelation 3: 19-22, tells us that Jesus is ever knocking on our door. He’s not begging attention, nor will He try to force his way into our life. He just wants us to know he’s there; waiting. In our trials we cry out, “Oh, Lord!” but do we really believe he’s there to help us in our time of need? Remove the door of your heart from its hinges. Seek Him first in all you do and praise Him in the troubled times, as well as the good times (1 Peter 4: 12-19). When our patience and our faith are cultivated, our love for others will grow (James 5: 7-20).
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Pssst! Did You Hear...?
Well, it finally happened in a big way. The “freedom of speech” plus media of the “free internet” have combined to cause international upheaval over religious beliefs. Even at family reunions, everyone knows, there are two subjects one should not start as conversation; politics and religion. The anti-Islam, low-budget, short film, “Innocence of Muslims” by, as yet an unidentified or confirmed producer, has emerged out of California and onto the internet, essentially pouring gasoline on the smoldering ashes of burnt Korans and eleven-year-old crashed airplanes. The film portrays the prophet Muhammad as a womanizer and religious fake. I’m smart enough to know I’m not educated enough to comment, but I am concerned to what extent will people go before they realize that their “freedom of speech (expression)” has become totally detrimental to the coexistence of mankind? Even every computer questions your rationality from time to time when you’re about to do something that could damage it; “Are you sure?”
One of the more shocking things I’ve discovered lately is the author, Madonna. Yes, I’m talking about the performer I would not walk across the street to sit in the presence of, even with a free ticket in hand. Among her thirty titles, many have been #1 sellers and of those, children’s books. One children’s book, “Mr. Peabody’s Apples”, an exception to my low esteem of the author’s livelihood, presents a great lesson about the damaging properties of gossip and lack of knowledge. Mr. Peabody is a school teacher and summer-time baseball coach of youngsters. Tommy, a student and ball player, witnesses Mr. Peabody taking an apple from the display while exiting the grocery store. Tommy reports to his friends that Mr. Peabody is a shoplifter. Gossip spreads that Mr. Peabody is a thief. Consequently, none of the boys will any longer play ball for Mr. Peabody. One of the boys tells Mr. Peabody about the rumor and that Tommy says he is a witness. Mr. Peabody takes Tommy to the grocer who explains that Mr. Peabody always pays for his apple before he leaves the store. Tommy apologizes to Mr. Peabody and says he will tell everyone he was wrong about him being a shoplifter. Then Mr. Peabody asks Tommy to meet him at the baseball field and to bring a feather-filled pillow with him. The feathers are released (like gossip), and instructions are given to recollect all of them. Tommy realizes the impossible nature of the task due to the wind blowing the feathers away. The moral is clear: gossip pollutes the world in a way that cannot be fully remedied, no matter how hard we try to clean it up.
[Proverbs 18: 1-8] “…A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, they go down to a man’s inmost parts.” Is it better to stop and investigate an alleged “fact” that doesn’t sound right, or add my personal thoughts and pass it along? How would I feel if an untrue rumor was circulating about me? “But, it’s not gossip if it’s true!” Really? Stop to consider if a negative truth about another person even needs to be spread at all. Often, the motivation for doing such is nothing more than retribution or joy over the sins of another. I recall, “People who live in glass houses ought not to throw stones.” How happy would you be, if while Jesus was on the cross, dying for your sins, he told the whole world the kind of person you really are? Sow the Seed; feed the Sheep; love the unlovable; forgive and be forgiven.
One of the more shocking things I’ve discovered lately is the author, Madonna. Yes, I’m talking about the performer I would not walk across the street to sit in the presence of, even with a free ticket in hand. Among her thirty titles, many have been #1 sellers and of those, children’s books. One children’s book, “Mr. Peabody’s Apples”, an exception to my low esteem of the author’s livelihood, presents a great lesson about the damaging properties of gossip and lack of knowledge. Mr. Peabody is a school teacher and summer-time baseball coach of youngsters. Tommy, a student and ball player, witnesses Mr. Peabody taking an apple from the display while exiting the grocery store. Tommy reports to his friends that Mr. Peabody is a shoplifter. Gossip spreads that Mr. Peabody is a thief. Consequently, none of the boys will any longer play ball for Mr. Peabody. One of the boys tells Mr. Peabody about the rumor and that Tommy says he is a witness. Mr. Peabody takes Tommy to the grocer who explains that Mr. Peabody always pays for his apple before he leaves the store. Tommy apologizes to Mr. Peabody and says he will tell everyone he was wrong about him being a shoplifter. Then Mr. Peabody asks Tommy to meet him at the baseball field and to bring a feather-filled pillow with him. The feathers are released (like gossip), and instructions are given to recollect all of them. Tommy realizes the impossible nature of the task due to the wind blowing the feathers away. The moral is clear: gossip pollutes the world in a way that cannot be fully remedied, no matter how hard we try to clean it up.
[Proverbs 18: 1-8] “…A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, they go down to a man’s inmost parts.” Is it better to stop and investigate an alleged “fact” that doesn’t sound right, or add my personal thoughts and pass it along? How would I feel if an untrue rumor was circulating about me? “But, it’s not gossip if it’s true!” Really? Stop to consider if a negative truth about another person even needs to be spread at all. Often, the motivation for doing such is nothing more than retribution or joy over the sins of another. I recall, “People who live in glass houses ought not to throw stones.” How happy would you be, if while Jesus was on the cross, dying for your sins, he told the whole world the kind of person you really are? Sow the Seed; feed the Sheep; love the unlovable; forgive and be forgiven.
Saturday, September 08, 2012
God Is Still On the Throne
Well, the national political party conventions are over and done with, the new school year has started, football frenzy has begun and it’s time to start the search for your long sleeve shirts and blouses in anticipation of the first cool-front of the upcoming fall season. The temperature is predicted to plunge into the sixties in the early morning hours this coming week, which seems silly to say, except for the fact that we’re used to starting the day near eighty degrees and finishing the afternoon hours at and above the century mark every day. The daylight hours are already noticeably waning and it won’t be long we can say good-bye to the hot weather and high electric bills for a while.
One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, the florist asked how much he owed the barber. The barber replied, “I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.” The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning he found a thank-you card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door. That day a policeman came in for a haircut and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber said, “I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.” The policeman was very happy and went about his business. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there waiting on his doorstep was a thank-you note and a box of donuts. That day a Congressman came in for a haircut. When he tried to pay his bill the barber once again stated, “I cannot accept your money. I’m doing community service this week.” The Congressman was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there was a dozen Congressmen lined up at his door waiting for their free haircut.
[1 Peter 2: 13-17] As I continue to “…seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) I am resigned to accept God as the ultimate ruler over all things. Many rule over us in government and employment alike, yet even Jesus laid this on Pilate, “…You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:11). This, however, does not relieve me from my duties as a citizen of heaven and an alien citizen of the country I live in. The laws of both heaven and earth govern my daily living, that I may live worthy of the benefits bestowed upon me in my citizenships. I’m not a worthy politician, because everything to me is either black & white or true brilliant color. Sticking to my true colors, I’ll hold up those running for the offices of government in this country, to the precepts of God and his will for mankind, then vote my conscience. God is still sitting on the thrown and he alone is governing the future of this country and the world in accordance to the degree of obedience mankind displays toward his authority. The history of the world, be it secular of Biblical, has shown that when man attempts to wrestle the helm away from God, to govern himself and establish self-righteous living, God appoints rulers and authorities to squelch the mutiny. The greatest powers, the biggest kingdoms, the mightiest military forces have all been miraculously brought to their knees by unsuspecting forces. I expect to remain a remnant of God’s people who established this country and that my ways of living will continue to parallel that of God’s Word, the Bible, and not of man’s. I’m not rebelling against the government. It’s still the greatest in the world. Just a little reminder – You can ignore God, but you can’t dethrone HIM.
One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, the florist asked how much he owed the barber. The barber replied, “I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.” The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning he found a thank-you card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door. That day a policeman came in for a haircut and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber said, “I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.” The policeman was very happy and went about his business. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there waiting on his doorstep was a thank-you note and a box of donuts. That day a Congressman came in for a haircut. When he tried to pay his bill the barber once again stated, “I cannot accept your money. I’m doing community service this week.” The Congressman was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there was a dozen Congressmen lined up at his door waiting for their free haircut.
[1 Peter 2: 13-17] As I continue to “…seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) I am resigned to accept God as the ultimate ruler over all things. Many rule over us in government and employment alike, yet even Jesus laid this on Pilate, “…You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:11). This, however, does not relieve me from my duties as a citizen of heaven and an alien citizen of the country I live in. The laws of both heaven and earth govern my daily living, that I may live worthy of the benefits bestowed upon me in my citizenships. I’m not a worthy politician, because everything to me is either black & white or true brilliant color. Sticking to my true colors, I’ll hold up those running for the offices of government in this country, to the precepts of God and his will for mankind, then vote my conscience. God is still sitting on the thrown and he alone is governing the future of this country and the world in accordance to the degree of obedience mankind displays toward his authority. The history of the world, be it secular of Biblical, has shown that when man attempts to wrestle the helm away from God, to govern himself and establish self-righteous living, God appoints rulers and authorities to squelch the mutiny. The greatest powers, the biggest kingdoms, the mightiest military forces have all been miraculously brought to their knees by unsuspecting forces. I expect to remain a remnant of God’s people who established this country and that my ways of living will continue to parallel that of God’s Word, the Bible, and not of man’s. I’m not rebelling against the government. It’s still the greatest in the world. Just a little reminder – You can ignore God, but you can’t dethrone HIM.
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Let God Pave The Way
I was returning from San Antonio recently, cruising on down the road, listening to the oldies, scoping out the landscape as it whizzed past, with all the changes brought on by the oil boom influx of new residence, when in happenstance, what should start playing on the radio but, “Big Yellow Taxi” (They Paved Paradise). The song is from 1970 written by Joni Mitchell after taking in the breath-taking view of the mountainous Hawaiian skyline from her hotel room, then looking down to the ground where she saw nothing but buildings and parking lots. Several groups have recorded the song and some have twisted the lyrics a little, but the message has remained the same. “…Don’t it always seem to go; That you don’t know what you got till it’s gone; They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” The big yellow taxi, of course, is the scene of the big break-up and the boy or girl is leaving in the taxi. “…you don’t know what you got till it’s gone.” The group, Counting Crows, early “Earth Day” environmentalists, added a verse to the song when they recorded it, to fit their agenda, “…They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum; And they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them; Don’t it always seem to go; That you don’t know what you got till it’s gone; They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” We’re in a place in history where mankind has lost a lot of things and I think we’re all seeking to find it again.
A man went to a fast-food restaurant and saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9, or 12 chicken nuggets. He ordered a half a dozen nuggets. “We don’t have half a dozen nuggets,” said the teen behind the counter. “You don’t?” question the man in astonishment. “We only have six, nine, or twelve, sir,” was the reply. “So, I can’t order a half a dozen, but I can order six?” “That’s right, sir.” He shook he head in disbelief and ordered six nuggets. Clearly, something’s been lost here.
A lady was checking out at a local retail store with just a few items, and the lady behind her began placing her many purchases on the conveyor belt close to hers. She picked up one of those square tube “customer dividers” and placed it on the belt. When the check-out girl got to the divider, she looked it over for the bar code so she could scan it. “Do you know how much this is?” asked the clerk. The lady said she changed her mind about purchasing that item anyway. The clerk said, “OK”. The lady paid her and left. The clerk had no clue what just happened. Clearly, something’s been lost here.
[Romans 1:18-32] (v.28) “…since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” Our Creator is not a puppeteer. Each and every one of us has the right to live as we see fit, but, that does not please God in the least. As mankind continues to press his will upon the world he is literally paving over the will of God for man, building a parking lot for all his toys and boasting, “Look at all my stuff; all the things I have made.” Earthly treasures are here today and gone tomorrow (Matthew 6:19-24). Me-ism and worry is not trusting in God (Matthew 6:25-34). Because mankind is not retaining the knowledge of God or practicing the wisdom of God, clearly, something’s been lost. In the Greek, paradise is a place of blessedness. The church is blessed of God and man’s rules and regulations are slowly turning it into a parking lot. You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. God has paved the way to healthy righteous living.
A man went to a fast-food restaurant and saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9, or 12 chicken nuggets. He ordered a half a dozen nuggets. “We don’t have half a dozen nuggets,” said the teen behind the counter. “You don’t?” question the man in astonishment. “We only have six, nine, or twelve, sir,” was the reply. “So, I can’t order a half a dozen, but I can order six?” “That’s right, sir.” He shook he head in disbelief and ordered six nuggets. Clearly, something’s been lost here.
A lady was checking out at a local retail store with just a few items, and the lady behind her began placing her many purchases on the conveyor belt close to hers. She picked up one of those square tube “customer dividers” and placed it on the belt. When the check-out girl got to the divider, she looked it over for the bar code so she could scan it. “Do you know how much this is?” asked the clerk. The lady said she changed her mind about purchasing that item anyway. The clerk said, “OK”. The lady paid her and left. The clerk had no clue what just happened. Clearly, something’s been lost here.
[Romans 1:18-32] (v.28) “…since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” Our Creator is not a puppeteer. Each and every one of us has the right to live as we see fit, but, that does not please God in the least. As mankind continues to press his will upon the world he is literally paving over the will of God for man, building a parking lot for all his toys and boasting, “Look at all my stuff; all the things I have made.” Earthly treasures are here today and gone tomorrow (Matthew 6:19-24). Me-ism and worry is not trusting in God (Matthew 6:25-34). Because mankind is not retaining the knowledge of God or practicing the wisdom of God, clearly, something’s been lost. In the Greek, paradise is a place of blessedness. The church is blessed of God and man’s rules and regulations are slowly turning it into a parking lot. You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. God has paved the way to healthy righteous living.
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