Are You A Stumbling Block?

A man was watching his neighbor as he plowed a field with his old mule. Finally, he said, “It would be a whole lot easier if you would just say “gee” and “haw” instead of pulling so hard on the harness trying to control your animal.” The old farmer replied, “This mule kicked me six years ago and I ain’t spoke to him since!” Well, thank goodness we don’t have to contend with hard-headed ole mules out in the field anymore, but I’ll bet you’ve known a few stubborn old two legged mules. I think we all pass through a stubborn streak in life, but for most it doesn’t last long because stubbornness becomes a stumbling block to ones self. It’s not long before we figure out we can get a lot more done with kind words than we can with a “my way or the highway” approach.
A family of four went to worship one Sunday. After they returned to their home and were sitting around the table eating their noontime meal, the father said, “Well, I just didn’t like the preacher’s sermon today.” The mother said, “I liked the sermon alright, but the song leader was all out of tune.” Teenager Frances said, “I enjoyed the singing, but that sermon was long enough to wear out the patients of Job.” Little Johnny piped up, “Daddy, I thought it was a great show, for the dollar you paid.”
[Romans 14: 1 – 15: 6] Do you see the glass half full or half empty? Are you a positive thinker or a negative thinker? Are you a building block to those around you or a stumbling block? As a congregation of God’s people, our theme for the year is “Lead Someone To Heaven” and is a challenge for each member to accomplish in 2007. To get started, we are, at the beginning of this year, working to become more positive, especially in our speech to one another. That means keeping our negative thoughts to ourselves and, stop the gossip. We really need to stop acting like the world. And, maybe our attitude adjustment needs to start before we gather with the church. The following is probably not a positive way to start the week. Wake up late on Sunday morning. Fuss at the children for not getting out of bed rapidly. Hurry through breakfast. Look for your Bible. Yell at your companion, “We’re going to be late!” Fuss at the children for not getting ready fast enough. Drag them to the car. Honk the horn at your spouse. Go back in the house for your contribution check. Arrive late at worship and stumble over people getting into a pew. Glare back at those staring at you. Then focus on the things you don’t like: The temperature is too hot/cold; The songs are too new/old, or too fast/slow; The preacher said “git” instead of “get”; The usual order of worship was changed; Somebody needs to turn the sound up/down; Why can’t the mothers do something about those noisy children; If this service lasts much longer I’m going to miss the kick-off of the football game. Be sure to leave the building without speaking to anyone, but rejoicing in your heart that you fulfilled your duty in worshipping God, and setting the good example to your family. Also, on the drive home, be sure to point out the people playing golf when, “they ought to be in church”. I pray this is not your house, but maybe that’s where some of us need to start with our positive thinking. With this sort of attitude do you think you’re helping others grow the spirit of David when he said, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’” Are you building people up with blocks of love and praise or tripping their faith with stumbling blocks of judgment? Think about it.

To Serve or Be Served

I know it’s the time of year for joy and happiness, office parties and family gatherings, but take a little time this week or next to seek out a family which has a member in harms way serving in the Armed Forces overseas. Many have had their income drastically reduced with the major bread winner away from home. I know there are agencies in every community who know the needs and are helping such families through private donations from people who want to help but don’t know how. Here’s a poem I’ve received from several readers and thought this might be the time to share it.
‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone, in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone. I had come down the chimney with presents to give, and to see just who in this house did live. I looked all about, a strange sight I did see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stocking hanging from the mantle, just boots covered with sand, and on the wall pictures of far distant lands. With medals and badges, awards of all kinds, a sobering thought came to my mind. For this house was different, so dark and so dreary, the home of a soldier, I now could see clearly. The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone, curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home. The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder, not how I pictured a United States soldier. Was this the hero of whom I had just read, curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed? I realized the families that I saw this night, owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight. Soon ‘round the world the children would play, and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day. They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year, because of the soldiers like the one lying here. I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone, on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home. The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice, “Santa don’t cry, this life is my choice. I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more, my life is my God, my Country, my Corps.” The soldier rolled over and soon drifted to sleep, I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours, so silent and still, and we both shivered from the cold evenings chill. I didn’t want to leave on that cold dark night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight. Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure, “Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all is secure.”
[Matthew 20: 20-28] To serve, or to be served, that is the question; Whether ‘tis nobler to give or to receive. We live in a great country and most of us have not earned, nor are willing to pay for, the rights we demand, because it may very well result in the giving of our life. Jesus came to earth to serve and to teach. When offering to you and I the Kingdom of God, Jesus express that very thought. His sole purpose of being born, leaving heaven to live among men, was to die on a cruel cross producing freedom from sin and guilt for all mankind. Jesus opened the way to a new and personal relationship with God by taking away the sins of the world, bringing man and God together as one, once more, through the Holy Spirit. This new relationship is entered into voluntarily, but it takes a passport to become a citizen of the Kingdom of God. It requires that one must believe Jesus is the Son of God, repent of all sins and be baptized, receiving the Holy Spirit. Are you willing to serve God for the freedom He gives? Will you teach others?

Spoon-Fed Love

This is the time of the year I do not look forward to coming. No, I’m not talking about the holiday season, but rather the change of weather season. Here in South Texas, it’s either summer or winter, and that can, and does, switch back and forth day by day. Two days ago the temperature was near 8o degrees and yesterday sleet fell from the cold overcast sky all afternoon. Gee, I wonder why everyone’s sick? That’s the part I don’t look forward to. I generally make it through the first two cold fronts with only a few sniffles caused by cedar pollen, but the third cold front, most of the time, is the one that gets me. A good artic blast of cold will come through, chilling me to the bone and I know the next morning I’m going to wake up sick. Well, that’s where I’ve been for the past week, sick. I’ll keep spoon-feeding the medicine down, for this too shall soon pass.
In a dream, a man was having a conversation with the Lord and asked, “I would like to know what heaven and hell are like.” The Lord led the man to down a hall to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the man looked in. There in the middle of the room was a large table and in the middle of the table was a huge pot of stew, which smelled delicious, making the man’s mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly looking. They appeared to be famished. Each person held a very long handled spoon which was strapped to their arm. It was possible to reach into the pot of stew and get a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arm, they could not get the spoon to their mouth. The man shuttered at their misery and suffering. The Lord said, “You have seen hell.” They went to the next room and opened the door. The scene was exactly the same as the first, big table, big pot of stew and long handled spoons strapped to each person’s arm. The only difference was the people looked well nourished, in fact a little plump, and they were laughing and talking as though enjoying themselves. The man turned to the Lord and said, “I don’t understand.” “It’s simple” said the Lord. “It requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy next door think only of themselves.
[John 17: 20-25] No, I don’t have the seasons mixed up. I know the birth of Christ is the reason for this season, so why would I pick a scripture from the time of His death? In the garden Jesus prayed for himself, the disciples and for all the believers to come, that’s you and me. And “…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” Then Jesus gave His all for you and me. God the Father gave us His son without a thought of gain. Jesus gave himself without a thought of gain. When you give this season, will you give without thought of gain? While teaching the birth of Christ to others and expressing your love with gifts, don’t forget to reach deep in the pot and feed them also, the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. For Jesus was born to die on a cruel cross, the perfect sacrifice to God for the sins of the world, saving us from ourselves, and that’s a spoon-full of love we could never get for our self, nor can we ever repay. Feed someone from God’s Word.

Wind And Sunshine

My spouse and I are coming up 21 years together the 12th of this month and to be honest, it doesn’t seem to be that long. Paula may want to argue that, but I’ll try to avoid the confrontation. Like all families, we’ve had our ups and downs, but our faith always carries us through and keeps us aimed in the right direction, for that I’m thankful. We’re a low maintenance couple, happy with, and proud of, the possessions we’ve been blessed with to steward for a short while. We’re the couple songs are written about. We were literally two ships passing in the night, running our own course of life without the love and security of a helpmate. I’m far from being a romantic and Paula has a hard time making a decision about anything, so I guess when she insisted we go to the judges chambers to get married, I must have said or done something right. We have no debt to speak of, although she still works because health insurance would be difficult for me to obtain since my illness a few years back. But, not too many years from now we’ll be “boomer seniors” when the whole insurance scene completely flips, throwing life into a brand new fit of turmoil. Paula will watch over that, and maybe I’ll write a book.
The children begged for a hamster, and after the usual fervent vows that they alone would care for it, they got one. They named it Danny. Two months later, when mom found herself responsible for cleaning and feeding the creature, she located a prospective new home for it. The children took the news of Danny’s imminent departure quite well, though one of them remarked, “He’s been around here a long time – we’ll miss him.” “Yes” mom replied, “But he’s too much work for one person, and since I’m that one person, I say he goes!” Another child offered, “Well, maybe if he wouldn’t eat so much and wouldn’t be so messy, we could keep him.” But mom was firm. “It’s time to take Danny to his new home now”, she insisted. “ Go get his cage.” With one voice , in a tearful outrage the children shouted, “Danny? We thought you said daddy!!”
[Genesis 2: 19-25] One day the wind and the sun were arguing about which of them was strongest. “Look” said the wind, “I’ll prove to you that I’m more powerful. See that man down on earth? Let’s each exercise our power, and whoever can make the man shed his coat fastest will be acknowledged as the most powerful.” “Fine” the sun replied, smiling. “You go first.” So the wind howled as he huffed and puffed. Pulling out all the stops, the harder he tried, the more the man pulled his coat closer to him to shield himself from the cold. Finally the wind died down, exhausted from his efforts. Then the sun began to shine, gently but persistently, until the man began to unbutton his jacket. Before long, he had shed not only his coat, but rolled up his long sleeves as well. The wind had to admit he was beaten. Selfishness and unkindness are like that wind. While there’s a certain kind of power in them, they do not have the power of love and kindness, which can open the hearts of people just as the suns’ rays can cause people to shed their overcoats. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I can honestly say this. I know I’ve blown a lot of wind in the direction of my wife over the years, but what I got in return was mostly sunshine. I’m thrilled that my God is big and powerful enough to put me with a good woman whose sunshine has shed me of some pretty selfish ways. I’m also thrilled that the sunshine of Jesus’ love has shed me of the sins I’ve committed against my God.

Nouns And Adverbs

Tis’ the season to be good and kind to others less fortunate than yourself. I have a hard time understanding why it’s only for a month out of the year though. People have needs all year ‘round, but seem to be invisible in the sunshine of summer. You’ll seldom hear me boast or brag about anything, but I’ve got to tell you, it doesn’t take much to bring a smile to a deeply discouraged life. I’ve seen such things as a little food, some clothing, a ride to a doctor’s appointment or a simple conversation of encouragement, begin the recovery process of a lost lifestyle. I also know you can’t help a little today and expect everything to be o.k. tomorrow. Don’t get me wrong now. If your heart is touched by someone in need, do what you can to help, and when you reach your limitations, find a service or program to continue your good work, but follow up on the progress. There’s no better medicine or encouragement, than to show you really care.
The school system in a large city had a program to help children keep up with their school work during extended stays in the city’s hospitals. One day a teacher who was assigned to the program received a routine call asking her to visit a particular child. She took the child’s name and where he was located, then spoke briefly with the child’s regular class teacher. “We’re studying nouns and adverbs in his class right now,” the regular teacher said, “and I’d be grateful if you could help him understand them so he doesn’t fall too far behind.” The program teacher went to see him that afternoon. No one had mentioned to her that the boy had been badly burned and was in great pain. Upset at the sight of the boy, she stammered as she told him, “I’ve been sent by your school to help you with nouns and adverbs.” When she left she felt she hadn’t accomplished much. Arriving at the hospital two days latter with another lesson for the boy a nurse confronted her asking, “What did you do to that boy?” The teacher felt she must have done something wrong and began to apologize. “No, no,” said the nurse. “You don’t understand what I mean. We’ve been worried about that little boy, but ever since your visit his whole attitude has changed. He’s fighting back and responding to treatment. It’s as though he’s decided to live.” Two weeks later the boy explained that he had given up all hope until the teacher arrived. Everything changed when he came to a simple realization. He expressed it this way. “They wouldn’t send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?”
[John 6: 25-59] The teacher, with good intentions, was tending to the boys’ growing mental needs so as not to fall behind his peers, but unintentionally, the teacher touched his spirit with hope. And that’s what it’s all about. I can’t perform miracles in other peoples lives, and if I could I’m not sure I’d want to, because I’d probably tend to try to make them just like me. Tend to the body of others, but don’t neglect the spirit, for it’s the spirit that brings life to the body. Yes, I understand that we’re all going to the grave one day, and personally, I going with a happy heart and a spirit full of life, because I’ve been obedient to the will of God. Ease the hurts of life the best you can in others with a loving, caring spirit and you might just be rekindling a dying spirit. Remind, or teach them of Jesus, and the promise of life eternal in the love of our heavenly Father. Life isn’t fair, but with a healthy spirit eating of the bread of life, I’ll be strong in the Lord.