Why Worry?

I’ve been rather amused watching the national news and all the hoop-la about the weather. I grew up on the shore of Lake Ontario and experienced many “lake affects” winter storms. Most of them arrived unannounced as there was no satellite imaging to help predict the weather and forewarn the population. Such storms could lock down everything for several days. Snow wasn’t measured in inches of accumulation but in feet, leaving the tips of automobile radio antennas looking like mini submarine periscopes sticking up out of the deep. I think we worked harder moving snow around all winter than any effort we put forth for our employer, but don’t tell anybody. Some people were pretty good at knowing a storm was coming in by observing the sky. It had this funny blue-black look to it. I shiver just thinking about it. Well, we’ve certainly had our share of cold winter weather so far this year. It’s been several years since we’ve seen it this cold. My five-month-old Chihuahua doesn’t seem to be phased by the weather. As soon as the sun shines, she wants out to play in the yard in spite of my objections to the fact it’s too cold and, or, it’s too wet. So, I put two sweaters on her and two jackets on me and outside we go. I’m the one that gets cold feet first and insist we go back inside where it’s warm, but she thinks it’s a game of keep-away as I try to gather her up. With a little stern persuasion the game is declared and warmth is soon consumed. Her first move is to cuddle up to the heat register in the floor, which takes precedence over all things when air is blowing out. Like little Bella, no matter the weather, I also wanted to be in the out of doors when I was young. I suppose I was comforted by the fact that a warm house awaited me no matter how cold or wet I got.

“Why Worry?” …an Irish proverb. “There are only two things in life to worry about: Whether you are well, or whether you are sick. If you are well, then there is nothing to worry about. But, if you are sick, there are two things to worry about: Whether you are going to get well, or whether you are going to die. If you get well, then there is nothing to worry about. But if you die, there are only two things to worry about: Whether you are going to heaven or whether you are going to hell. If you go to heaven, then you have nothing to worry about. But, if you go to hell: You will be so busy shaking hands with your friends that you won’t have any time to worry. So, Why Worry?"

[Matthew 12:38-42; 16:1-4 & Luke 11:29-32] Today, is the tomorrow, we worried about yesterday. Jesus was approached by folks, who already had all the facts through the writings of the prophets, for a sign from heaven about what was to come. Jesus was that sign from heaven, yet they did not recognize him, or refused to accept him. They were standing out in the cold, unforgiving world, buried in the law with rituals and sacrifices as the only sign left of being the people of God. Jesus came with a message of repentance and forgiveness far greater than any man of God that had come before him. God’s message is to come in out of the cold. Jesus said he is going to prepare a place for those who love and obey God, and he is coming back to take the saved to God’s warm house (John 14:1-4). Most of the world today is playing a game of keep-away, selfishly thinking the one with the most toys is going to be the winner. Jesus said, “Love one another” (John 13:34-35) and “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16). I’m comforted in knowing I’ll be safe and warm for eternity.

The 23rd Channel

I can barely remember when my dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer, and soon invited him to live with our family. As I grew up I never questioned his place in our family. The stranger was our storyteller. He could weave the most fascinating tales. Adventures, mysteries and comedies were daily conversations. He could hold our whole family spell-bound for hours each evening. If I wanted to know about politics, history, or science, he knew it all. He knew about the past, understood the present, and seemingly could predict the future. The pictures he could draw were so life-like that I: would often laugh or cry as I watched. He was like a friend to the whole family. He took us just about anywhere we wanted to go. He was always encouraging us to see the movies and he even made arrangements to introduce us to several movie stars. The stranger was an incessant talker. Dad didn’t seem to mind, but sometimes Mom would quietly get up while the rest of us were enthralled with one of his stories of faraway places, go to her room, read her Bible and pray. I wonder now if she ever prayed that the stranger would leave. Our longtime visitor used occasional four letter words that burned my ears and to my knowledge the stranger was never confronted. The stranger also felt 1ike we needed exposure and enlightened us to other ways of life. He often offered us beer and other alcoholic beverages. He made cigarettes look tasty, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (probably too much, too freely) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I know now that my early concepts of the man-woman relationship were influenced by the stranger. As I look back, I believe it was by the grace of God that the stranger did not influence us more. Time after time he opposed the values of my parents. Yet he was seldom rebuked and never asked to leave. More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in, and to be totally honest, I confess that I found a stranger like him, and took him into my own home. I worry about his influence on me, but what can I do? He lives with me! What’s his name? We just called him T.V.

The 23rd Channel: The T.V. is my shepherd. I shall not want. It makes me lie down on the sofa; It leads me away from the faith; It destroys my soul. It leads me in the paths of sex and violence for the sponsor's sake. Yea, though I walk in the shadow of Christian responsibilities, there will be no interruption, for the TV is with me; Its cable and remote control, they comfort me. It prepares a commercial for me in the presence of my worldliness; It anoints my head with humanism and consumerism, my coveting runneth over. Surely, laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house watching T.V. forever.

[2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1] Please don’t get me wrong here. I do have giant objections to most of the programming on television today, yet I own computers and have internet service. I own several televisions, VCR/DVD players, and have satellite service with over 200 channels to choose from, and I often cannot find a decent thing to watch. All I find worthwhile watching is some sports and learning/informative programming only available on pay T.V. But, this idol of degradation is destroying the intellect of God’s wisdom and truth. I pray your choices of viewing are not in conflict with God’s Word.

His Love Endures Forever

The cold weather we endured lately rustled up some old memories of grandma’s kitchen and the smells that escaped into the whole house in the early morning hours. It might have been snowy and cold outside, but the oven full of baking goods warmed the kitchen to perfection. I think grandma must have gotten out of bed about four in the morning most of her life because by seven she had more done than most folks do all day. Cookies on waxed paper would be cooling on the table in the closed-in back porch and a pie or two could be found sitting next to them. She always baked with others in mind, and after a completed inspection of her finished products, the best were placed into grandpa’s care to be delivered with love to the home of someone else. She always knew of someone in need of a little sympathy that only a fresh apple pie can express. Grandpa’s report of how he found things at the delivery point would inspire grandma to extend her compassion with more backed goodies or a feeling of content that things are better and God will take it from here. Her kindness reached everybody in a quiet subtle sort of way including the mailman and the trash man. Grandpa loved her dearly.

Six year old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad. He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove, (and he didn’t know how the stove worked)! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas dirty. And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon’s eyes. All he wanted to do was something good, but he’d made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a smacking. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas dirty in the process. True love has no boundaries.

[Psalm 107] That’s how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but sometimes it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky, or we insult a friend, or we can’t stand our job, or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can’t think of anything else to do. That’s when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. [Ephesians 5:1-2; Galatians 6:1-10] In my memories, I find a great example of Christ-like living in my quiet selfless grandmother. I’ll bet she had her personal problems and defeats in life. I’ll also bet she looked to God for comfort and compassion. I live in the comfort that God loves me, cares for me and is willing to forgive me of the selfish deeds in my life all because I try my best to live a Christ-like life. I am also comforted in that Paul, an apostle, even says he continues to “press on” in his pursuit for perfection, relying on God to carry him through (Philippians 3:12-4:1). His Love endures forever (Psalm 136).

Happy New Year

Well, here we are, another year has started, and to my knowledge, so far, I haven’t chalked up any notable demerits. Over the next 360 days I ‘spect to end up with a few black marks, and I’ll try my best to keep them as small as possible. My philosophy on New Year resolutions has changed a lot over the years. I used to make myself a lot of promises at the beginning of the year, which I either failed miserably at or gave up on before my birthday in February. Each birthday I would renew my resolutions, which normally got pushed aside by springtime. I think the only time I’ve ever accomplished a task of self-improvement is when I got sick and tired of being sick and tired, put my foot down and made a change of mind. Hoo-ra! I think I’ll work on a change of mind and have a New Year revolution. ‘Opportunity knocks; Persistence keeps knocking; Passion knocks the door down!’ I don’t have very many more years to be passionate, but it can’t hurt to try. On the other hand, maybe I ought to think before I leap too high.

After Christmas, a teacher asker her young pupils how they spent their holiday away from school. One child wrote the following: “We always spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa. They used to live in a big brick house, but Grandpa got retarded and they moved to Florida. Now they live in a tin box and have rocks painted green to look like grass. They ride around on their bicycles and wear nametags because they don’t know who they are anymore. They go to a building called a wreck center, but they must have got it fixed because it’s all okay now. They do exercises there, but they don’t do them very well. There is a swimming pool too, but all they do is jump up and down in it …with hats on. At their park gate, there is a doll house with a little old man sitting in it. He watches all day so nobody can escape. Sometimes they sneak out and go cruising in their golf carts. Nobody there cooks, they just eat out. And, they eat the same thing every night …early birds. Some of the people can’t get out past the man in the doll house. The ones who do get out bring food back to the wrecked center for pot luck. My Grandma says that Grandpa worked all his life to earn his retardment and says I should work hard so I can be retarded some day too. When I earn my retardment, I want to be the man in the doll house. Then I will let people out so they can visit their grandchildren.” I can’t wait to get retarded so I can go to a wrecked center to exercise.

[2 Corinthians 4:16-18] There is something thrilling about a new year. I think most of us feel a prospect of doing better, not making the same mistakes we made last year. It’s like a clean page, a fresh beginning, a clean start. So much of the Christian life is like that. We have begun with a ‘new birth’ and with Christ have entered into a ‘new covenant’ with God. Our hope is based on the resurrection and one day being in the presence of God forever. As an obedient Christian, the Word of God tells me, though I am wasting away outwardly, spiritually I am being renewed day by day. As I study the Word of God, I am growing daily in the grace and knowledge of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). As an obedient believer, I’m instructed to forget the things that are behind and press on toward the goal of a life dedicated to Christ (Philippians 3:13-14). The child of God who truly believes the Father’s promise, “…I will not leave you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5), cannot have anything but a Happy New Year. So, be of ‘good cheer’ for the One whom we love and follow has ‘overcome the world’. Amen!

God, Dog, Cat & Me

Adam and Eve said to God, “Lord, when we were in the garden you walked with us every day. Now we don’t get to see you anymore. We are lonesome here and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us.” God said to them, “I will create a companion for you that will be with you and will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even though you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish, or childish, or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves.” God created a new animal for Adam and Eve. It was a good animal, and God was pleased. The new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve, and he wagged his tail. Adam said, “Lord, I have named all the animals you have made, but I cannot think of a name for this one.” God said, “I created this animal to be a reflection of my love for you. His name will be a reflection of my name. You will call him Dog.” Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them. They were comforted; God was pleased; Dog was content and wagged his tail. After a while an angel came to the Lord and said, “Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well.” And God said, “I will create for them a companion who will be with them and who will see them as they are. This companion will remind them of their limitations so that they will know they are not always worthy of adoration.” So, God created Cat, and Cat would not obey Adam and Eve. When they gazed into Cat’s eyes they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings they thought they could be. Adam and Eve learned humility, and they were greatly improved. God was pleased; Dog was happy and wagged his tail; Cat didn’t care one way or the other.

My wife and I have adopted a, now three pound, Chihuahua named Bella, who has reminded us what it is like to have a dependent that is dependent on you for everything. It’s like bringing a baby into the house, and if one is not careful, is easily spoiled to the point that the dog rules the house, and its occupants. At four and one half months old, she is a new challenge and hopefully an enduring adventure of great companionship.

[James 4:13-17] Over the years I have experienced several major changes in life and lifestyle. Some have been fulfillment of dreams and aspirations, while others have been failure of the same. I’ve tried my best to hammer square pegs into round holes because it seemed the right thing to do. When that didn’t work I spent wasted time whittling at the square peg to make it fit the round hole only to discover in the end it wasn’t a very good fit at all. There have been times when I had no choice but to change; i.e. the U.S. Draft Board, illnesses and such. During those times attitude and direction can really alter one’s life; without God. As the song line goes, I’ve wondered as I wandered through life, but then I brought God into my life. I don’t know what it was like to walk and talk with God in the garden, but I do know what it is like to walk with God in faith and to talk with God in prayer. I strongly believe little Bella is a gift from God to help bring me back to a more loving servant attitude. Maybe some of us older folks lose our perspective on how much God really loves us when we get set in our ways. Thank you, Lord, for the changes in life and may I always remember to walk with you in love.