Working and Watching

I think my precious little dog, Bella, is harboring the spirit of an extra-terrestrial fugitive being sought after by inter-galactic bounty hunters. She has recently displayed fear in certain sounds like never before. Wind in the trees making rustling and whooshing sounds, and thunder. I woke up the other night with her shaking nervously right next to my face – must be rain coming, I thought. Then the smoke alarm went “BEEP” (weak battery) and she jumped. This happened several times and I had to get up to remove the battery in order to get back to sleep. What really tipped me off was the “Si-Fi” alert sound on my phone for in-coming text messages. It sounds weird, like a laser gun or something, and she runs scared every time it sounds off. I don’t know. Naw – Can’t be!

[Luke 12:35-40] “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes...” After more than 100 years brother Charles Hodge remains one of the most famous preachers in our brotherhood. He is reported to have baptized more than any other man in the late 19^th and 20^th centuries. His quips, answers and comments are still quoted in many sermons today. Near the end of his life, Brother Hodge wrote: “As I come to the end of my ministry and life, I have never been more committed to Scripture! What an awesome privilege simply to possess a Bible! Our hands must tremble in reverence as we hold our Bibles (Isaiah 66:5). Is the Bible the Word of God? This question must be answered. We must teach our children this. What good is a “talking God” without “listening ears”? The need of the world is to listen to God. The Old Testament is full of “...But they would not listen.” “...Thus saith the Lord.” “...It is written.” Start with the Bible; Stick with the Bible; Stay with the Bible! . . . . “Oh earth, earth, earth, Hear the Word of our Lord! (Jeremiah 22:29).” — Gospel Advocate, August 2007. Greatly are these words of brother Hodge needed in the brotherhood and in world today! Far too many are like the Israelites after the death of the last judge following Israel’s deliverance from Egypt: “In those days there was no king in Israel‘ everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21 :25). Doesn’t that sound like the world today? Why do we expect God to hear and answer our prayers, if we refuse to listen to Him? Jesus said, “the sheep follow Him (Good Shepherd), for they know His voice” (John 10:4). Watching is also an important spiritual exercise denoting a perpetual state of vigilance and readiness (Matthew 26:41; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Colossians 4:2). It denotes a constant condition of soberness (2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 4:7). The following are some whom the Lord will NOT find working and watching: * The Slothful: The slothful person spends much time in bed (Proverbs 26:14). The lazy and lukewarm are reminded to watch and repent (Revelation 3:2-3; 19). * The Sleeping: The disciples slept while Jesus suffered (Mark 14:37). Some are still sleeping while the Body of Christ suffers (Ephesians 5:14). Paul admonishes, “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). * The Side-tracked: Distractions can destroy us. A distracted pilot can take hundreds to their death. A distracted driver can lose his own life and cause others to lose theirs. A diversion is the oldest trick in the world (Genesis 3). It is still being used today by criminals and the devil. Our eyes must be taken off the world and focused squarely on the Lord (1 John 2:15-17; Hebrews 12:1-2).When Jesus comes, will He find you working and watching? Are you ready for Him?

Ticks & Sins

The summer reminds me of a season when all my spare time was spent in the out-of-doors. My mother started the whole thing by not allowing her children to spend but very little time in the house, and then it had to be pouring down rain or a howling blizzard in progress. I did Boy Scouts and camping for many years and family camping into the mid 70’s. Then it seems the whole world wanted to get in on the fun and it wasn’t fun anymore. The serenity and solitude was lost in the sea of people crowding in all around our campsites with noise and drunken excessive expletive exploits that neither spouse nor children need be exposed to, so ended the tent weekends. Of course some trips were cut short due to weather, but more likely, accident of some sort. One such ER trip was for a friend who hooked his water-ski in the shallows while gliding into shore, at about a hundred mile an hour, landing on the beach, dislocating his shoulder and cracking his collarbone. Another run was needed when my son ran through an unmarked sand-covered fire-pit being used to bake potatoes and cook something else. Anyway, the bottom of his bare feet got cooked pretty badly. Some quick thinking with a bucket and some ice stopped the burning on our journey to the ER. All was well in a couple of weeks. Bugs and fishing hooks, cuts and burns were always a part of camping and all-in-all still one of life’s better experiences. My son and one of his son’s are active in Scouting and enjoy their regular encounters with nature. In fact his whole family regularly gets out-of-doors.

[Luke 18:9-14] Ever had a tick on you? Ticks are small blood sucking mites. They spend a good bit of time just waiting in bushes, grass and woods for a victim – you! Once you happen by, they jump on and attempt to quickly crawl to a protected spot on your body. Then they sink their mouth parts into your flesh and begin to feed on life blood. If undetected, a tick will fill itself full and then drop off, often leaving its host inoculated with some sort of harmful or debilitating disease such as spotted fever, relapsing fever, Lyme disease, tularemia, encephalitis or rickets. The tick is a lot like many kinds of sin:  * It may get on you when it is small and almost undetectable. * It doesn’t demand much sacrifice, but it may cause a little irritation. * Once embedded, it’s hard to get off. * It gets bigger the longer it stays on you. * It can leave you very seriously ill. Some advice for dealing with ticks and sins: * DON’T WALK IN PLACES THAT ARE INFESTED. “Be very careful then how you live - not as unwise, but as wise...” (Ephesians 5:15). * EXAMINE YOURSELF DAILY. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). * HAVE OTHERS EXAMINE YOU, AND HELP EXAMINE THEM TOO. “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today’, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:12-13). * IF ONE GETS ON YOU, GET IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. “Therefore confess your sins to each another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). * IF YOU REALIZE YOU ARE GETTING SICK, SEE THE DOCTOR. Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32). Thank-You Jesus!

Don't Be Afraid - Don't Be discouraged

As an automotive and small truck mechanic for many years I prided myself in returning vehicles to their owner in like manner I received it or even better. Of course it was repaired, which made it better, what I meant is, if I saw something in need of repair and determined it would only take a minute or two at no cost to me or the customer, I did it, most of the time without mention. I always made sure and instructed any employees to clean up thoroughly at the completion of any job and always double check for lingering tools and parts left in and around vehicles. Very rarely, but inevitability, a small tool would come up missing, seemingly with the ability to vanish into thin air never to be seen again. Then there were a few times when on a test drive a faint clink-catty-clank sound would start from under the hood and travel along the floorboard to the rear bumper as a wrench would bouncing between the highway pavement and the bottom of the vehicle. If it was big enough and rested on the highway I found the elusive wrench but if it landed in the grass and weeds along side, someone else found it. I have also found wrenches that didn’t belong to me and sometimes found the owner to be fellow mechanics. Some people might not understand but our wrenches are like children and we hate to lose them.

[Psalm 26:2-3; Galatians 6:1-10] A surgeon was very selective with the people he wanted to work with. It was the first day on the job for a young nurse and the surgeon decided to issue a test. As the young nurse assisted the surgeon during a procedure, she noticed a problem. “You’ve only removed eleven sponges, doctor,” she said to the surgeon. “We used twelve.” “I removed them all,” the doctor declared. “We‘ll close the incision now.” “No,” the nurse objected. “We used twelve sponges.” “I’ll take full responsibility,” the surgeon said grimly, “Suture!” “You can’t do that!” blazed the nurse. “Think of the patient.” The surgeon smiled, lifted his foot, and showed the nurse the twelfth sponge, and said, “You’ll do.” It can be difficult to stand up for what is right, especially when we meet resistance. As for the young nurse, she was willing to risk disapproval and possibly even her job to stand up for what was right. Thankfully, she was working for a person who also valued integrity. It takes courage to expose ourselves and come under the heat of the spot light. In John 12:42-43, we see some people who weren’t willing to stand out, “Yet at the same time many even among the rulers believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God” Which do we love more, God’s approval or man’s? It feels really good when people like us, praise us, and agree with us. Many people are even willing to sacrifice their morals and ethics in order to lay low and run with the crowd. It can be scary to be disliked, made fun of, and disagreed with. It can be hard to stand up for honesty and integrity as Christians, especially when those around us do not. Moses told all Israel and Joshua before his death, “...Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you ...Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:1-8). People may dislike or disagree with us, but only one approval really matters anyway; God’s. When we stand with God - God will stand with us. Therefore, let’s be courageous Christians and pursue God’s approval above all others. God hates to lose one of his children on the highway of life (2 Peter 3:1-18). Amen.

Am I Giving My All?

Last Saturday morning, Bella, my little Chihuahua, was out in the yard by herself just nosing around unsupervised, when all of a sudden my wife heard her wailing and screaming like she had just been struck by lightning. She rushed out-doors and picked her up, then brought her to me in my office. I hadn’t heard all the commotion and found nothing out of the ordinary, so chalked it up to another go-around with the neighbor cat, which comes in my yard to harass Bella now and then, or maybe, finally caught the squirrel and didn’t know what to do next. About ten minutes later, Bella scratched at my door to be let in. I opened the door, looked at her, and one eye was swollen completely shut. Closer examination revealed a bee stinger stuck in the upper eyelid; poor thing. I got some tweezers, removed the stinger and medicated her with liquid Children’s Tylenol. We medicated a couple of more times over the next few days and noticed the upper eyelid was not functioning, but finally, it seems to be coming to life again.

I’m into my third week of reducing the swollen parts of my body and waking up some of the unused slothful muscles that turning wrenches used to keep in shape. I had forgotten that strenuous exercise of the body also involves pushing the brain past the point of ‘no more’ into the zone of ‘no pain - no gain’ then pressing on to some sort of goal for the session at hand. I’m already losing weight and my blood-pressure is looking better. It’s funny how everything I’ve ever changed in my life for the better has produced a guilt trip of ‘Why didn’t I do this a long time ago?’ Anytime is a good time to start.

[James 2:14-26] T. B. Larimore (1843-1922), is quoted as saying, “When my hand is still, my tongue silent and my eyes closed; when friends come to look on my pale face, l want them to be able to say, at least, ‘He did the best he could.”’ Jesus told a parable in which one man failed to do the best he could (Matthew 25:14-30). Three men each with differing abilities were given talents. One received five talents, another two, and the last, one. Those who had received five and two talents increased their capital. Each was praised by his lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The one talent man was a different story. He failed to gain any more talents for his lord, and when his lord returned, he was rebuked, “You wicked, lazy servant.” He was cast into outer darkness. He had failed to give his best. The point of the parable should not be lost on any of us. The prophet Malachi rebuked the people of his day for their failure to do the best they could. They failed to bring God the best in sacrifice, but were content to bring the lame and sick (Malachi 1:13). God deserved and desired better. We must be careful that we don’t become content in offering God less than our best. Are we really doing the best we can? If we attend one service of the church during the week, is that the best we can do? Is our contribution to the work of the church the best we can do? Is our involvement in the local congregation, to the extent that it is, the best we can do? Are we living our life in such a way that it is the best we can do? Are our efforts to share the gospel with others the best we can do? Is our service in the kingdom the best we can do, or are we satisfied with half-way measures? Even when we do our best it is important to remember these words of Jesus: “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’” (Luke 17:10). God gave the best of Heaven (John 3:16). What will we give Him in return? Think about it, will you?

Parking On Someone Else's Nickel

It’s summer, I’m lazy and my computer is giving me fits, soooo, I’m borrowing a couple of articles from the Bulletin Digest to share with you this week. I’m also realigning my daily schedule a little bit to continue fitting in time for strength and cardio exercise. Any-Time-Fitness is a good deal. I’ll let you know how good in weeks to come.

Parking On Someone Else’s Nickel by Larry Fitzgerald: In the old days, cities regulated downtown parking with meters. (I can remember my father having a fit over parking meters when they were introduced in our small town and how he gave instructions to my mother on what to do if the time ran out and the red flag popped up before he returned to the car.) You park, drop in a nickel or dime and get some time on the meter. Then you’d go into the store and be sure to be back before the meter ran out of time. However, occasionally, you could find a spot with time left on the meter. In that case, you would “park on someone else’s nickel!” Someone has said: “We eat from orchards we did not plant. We drink from wells we did not dig. We reap from fields we did not sow. We are warmed by fires we did not kindle. We are sheltered by roofs we did not build. We are blessed by moneys we did not give.” In the Lord’s Church, each person has job. That’s Paul’s point in 1 Cor. 12. We have a responsibility to our congregation to use our talents to help the Lord’s Church grow. Are you using your talents, time and resources for the Lord? Or are you simply parking on someone else’s nickel? Consider these verses: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Hebrews 6:10). “… serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13b). “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1).

We Need Each Other by Jeremy Tucker: There is an indelible and universal truth as it pertains to the church. We need each other. In fact, the Bible is adamantly clear that without the contribution of each member, the church does not properly function. Thus is the substance of Paul’s discussion in 1 Corinthians 12. The church in Corinth struggled with supremacy. There were those who possessed the most coveted and thereby most respected spiritual gifts, and to those they bestowed greater honor. Within the church, they were considered the most important. To dispel such a divisive notion and to promote unity, Paul makes some assertions. Notice what he says in 1 Corinthians 12:19-22, “And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.” Why? Because truthfully, if we all possessed the same talents, the same abilities, the same strengths and even weaknesses; where would the body be? The answer is simple. It would be lacking what you can contribute whether great or small. You see brethren, the truth of the matter remains indelible. We need each other. Therefore, let us conclude that although you may not be able to do what others can; there is no gift given by God that is not both useful and beneficial to the grow and vitality of this congregation. So, by all means, contribute!