Saturday, January 30, 2016

A Competitive Life

Time has a way of slip-slipping away and in the light of Super Bowl 50 I found myself cruising a nostalgic highway of daydreams a few times of late. Hindsight, being the exact science that it is, always leads to the thought, “If I had only known then what I know now” and the imagery of all the passed-up opportunities that had drifted in and out of my life. In 1957, ten years post WW II, man had not yet been to the moon, that wouldn’t take its place in history until 1969, but the space race started that year with the Russian launch of Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit the earth. I remember the fear and uncertainty of this new technology prevalent in the hearts of people. One only needs to remember this was happening in the shadow of nuclear weapon anxiety and the Cold War. Eisenhower was starting his second term as President of the United States. The first Boeing 707 flight took place. First Class postage was .03 cents. The Ford Motor company introduced the Edsel automobile, which flopped miserably, and after a two year run was discarded. Civil Rights issues exploded in Arkansas and integration of schools was enforced by the government and armed Army Reserve troops. John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time (no Beatles yet). Elvis Presley was HOT in the theaters and on the radio, and buys Graceland for his mama. The Hamilton watch company introduced the first electric watch. Ten years later I graduated from high school and was drafted into Uncle Sam’s service two years after.
I have never been a real sports fan. I certainly wasn’t a jock in school, skinny as a rail and weighing less than a sack of potatoes. The closest I’ve come to being a fan-addict is following the auto racing scene. In most sporting activities it takes a team of individuals to accomplish the goal set forth by the competition of the sport. I think I liked auto racing over most team sports because performance dictates rewards. Perform poorly and go home with little or nothing. Perform at the pentacle of excellence, out performing all the competition and one goes home with the top prize and bragging rights. I’ve really become disinterested in professional sports over the past ten years for the mere fact that too many participants are being paid way too much money for poor performance. Money is even putting to ruin the Olympic Games and College sports, of which both are suppose to be reserved for amateurs who just love the game. Oh well.

[1 Corinthians 9: 24-27] “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” The church has always intrigued me as writers like Paul encourage Christians to train for the competitiveness of life, but to never be in competition with one another. Too many people in this world see the church as a competitive social entity, when in truth, it is a spiritual kingdom filled with spiritually like-minded physical humans in a race to see how many people they each can take across the finish line with them. Crazy, isn’t it? Our faith and obedience in Jesus as our coach in this life will bring the reward of everlasting life with God in the true spiritual world after leaving this body. The stands of heaven are full of all the faithful souls who have gone on before us, cheering us on (Hebrews 11:39-40) so they may also receive that same reward. Remember, when you “go to church” Sunday, it’s really a huddle of the players (Christians) listening intently to the instructions of Jesus as he coaches us in the game of life. Resist the devil. At times the play is – RUN!

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Are You Insured?


To insure the masses from being mistreated or disrespected, our elected officials throughout the country, from the lowest to the highest levels of government, are constantly writing laws and ordinances in an attempt to protect us from one another. I believe all this legislation has brought about more ridiculous accusations toward one another, filled our courts system with more frivolous lawsuits than ever before and has backed more people into a corner with no option but to surrender. The American dream is on the lamb with legislators and lawyers chasing after it to lock it up and shut it down. The one world order plan being played out right now will bankrupt freedom as you know it today. The battle front is in the voting booth, not social media. Use it!

After a long illness, a woman died and arrived at the Gates of Heaven. While she was waiting for someone to greet her, she peeked through the gates. There she saw a beautiful banquet table. Sitting around the table were her parents and all the other people who she had known and loved, and died before her. They saw her and began calling greetings to her, “Hello! How are you!” “We’ve been waiting for you!” “Good to see you!” When Peter came by the woman said to him, “This is such a beautiful place! How do I get in?” Peter said, “You have to spell a word.” She asked, “What’s the word?” Peter said, “Love” She replied, “L-O-V-E!” Peter opened the gates and welcomed her in. Some time later Peter asked the woman to watch the gates for him as he had some business to tend to. While she was guarding the gate her husband arrived. “I’m surprised to see you,” she said. “How have you been?” “Oh, I’ve been doin pretty well since you died,” the husband said. “I married the beautiful young nurse who took care of you while you were ill. And then I won the lottery. I sold the little house you and I lived in and bought a big mansion. And my wife and I have been traveling all around the world. I was water skiing in the Mediterranean today. I fell, a ski hit me in the head, and here I am. How do I get in?” She grinned and said, you have to spell a word.” “Is that all?” he asked. “What’s the word?” “…Czechoslovakia

[Romans 4:7-8] “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him”. Laws and ordinances may protect us from one another, but we also purchase insurance to cover us in times of disaster, poor health and even in death. Of all the possessions to insure, and disasters to insure against, the greatest catastrophe is to have no provision relative to eternal life. Some things we guard against in this life may never happen. However, the fact this life will have its end is something we cannot avoid and therefore need to be prepared. For that we need the coverage only God can provide. There is an “Eternal Life Insurance” policy already paid for by our Lord, but we must be in Him in order to receive the benefits. Are you covered? “…don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-14). “…for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Albert Camus said, “I’d rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn’t, than live my life as if there isn’t, and die to find out there is.”

Saturday, January 02, 2016

Close and Latch The Gate

Well, 2015 is behind us and we’ll never pass that way again. The first thing I learned when moving to Texas was, “If the gate is open, leave it open. If the gate is closed, close it behind you.” If it is in any way possible, it’s time to close and latch the gate on whatever negative menial trash that might have been in your life last year. Don’t let it get out and into the new year to spoil it. 2016 is the beginning of a new adventure since we’ve never been this way before. Life’s experiences should take center stage in a positive way, not to worry over or be troublesome. Mistakes are something we don’t have to beat ourselves up for the rest of our life. Let it go, stand up proud and move on.

I came across some old church bulletins the other day and I so enjoy the thoughts of those who have now gone on to be with the Lord. I especially take comfort in the fact they were not so different than I am today. I would like to share an article printed on March 9, 1975, no author found, most fitting and appropriate for our thoughts today.

“Freedom From Care” “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7). The words of this command are neither hard nor exacting, but come to us as if the Father had put his loving arm about us and pulled us up close to him and bidden us, like little children, to forget our cares and leave everything to him as he tries to help us worrying pilgrims along. They are precious and comforting words, but hard to obey. Yet those few who we have known, who walked by this rule, always appear to be happy. “Do not be anxious;” it seems to be impossible! The text does not mean that we are not to be industrious and fore-thoughtful. This same apostle also said, “…If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The thing He seeks to deliver man from is the worry and over-solicitude of world affairs with which they struggle, trying to be their own providence, wearing themselves out in anxieties of future events which they cannot remedy or control, if indeed they are ever to happen. “...present your requests to God” He did not create this world and all things therein and go far away and forsake it until time shall be no more, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer” (Psalm 34:12-16; 1Peter 3:12), and as surely as there is a God in heaven, he wants his children to be happy, untroubled and unafraid. Sometimes we would give everything to attain this ideal. Perhaps it is not so difficult if we would really try. The great essential is a real trusting faith in God. The avenue is through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Prayer is the great lever of spiritual life; the lung by which it breathes. If we pray with thankful hearts, half of our troubles will disappear. He has not promised us miracles nor that every request shall be granted, but his loving watch, care and “…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” and “...my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). Many are the hearts that have found this peace by faith and obedience to His holy will. Many are the hearts that are weary this day, when in his blessed kingdom they might have rest (Psalm 62).” I pray your year be blessed above all in Christ Jesus.