I’m definitely an amateur when it comes to social work. It seems irrational to say for I find myself in the midst of mild to tragic situations of life on a regular base. When my office phone or doorbell rings, very often it’s a stranger looking for help in some sort of way. All too often though, I can’t help them solve their dilemma, but I can generally steer them in a good direction to find the help they’re seeking. I can’t help but pour my heart into prayer for those who are dealing with all the victims of the Spring weather across the country. I deal with food and prescription meds and maybe helping with a water bill or two, but how does one deal with hundreds of families who have lost everything in a matter of minutes? They woke up one morning in the midst of all their possessions, comfortable and content, only to find they had no place to rest at the end of the day. I see the need, yet I rationalize my affordable donation won’t help much, my skepticism convinces me my donation will never reach those who need it and my self-preservation whispers to me I should hang on to my donation for I may be the one in need tomorrow. What an overwhelming web of uncertainty we live in.
A man and his wife are in bed when there is knocking on the door. He rolls over and looks at the clock – 3:30 a.m. I’m not getting out of bed at this time he thinks, and rolls over. Then, there was a louder knock. “Aren’t you going to see who it is?” asked his wife. So, he gets dressed, drags himself to the door, finding a man quietly standing there. It doesn’t take long to figure out the man is drunk. “Hi, there”, slurs the stranger. “Can you give me a push?” “No! Get lost! It’s half past three and I’m in bed!” says the man and slams the door. He goes back to bed and tells his wife what happened. “That wasn’t very nice of you”, said the wife. “Remember the rainy night we broke down with a carload of kids and you had to knock on a stranger’s door for help? What would have happened if he told us to get lost?” “But the guy is drunk!” says the husband. “It doesn’t matter”, says the wife. “He needs our help and it would be the Christian thing to help him the best we can.” So the man gets out of bed again and gets dressed to go help the stranger. He opens the door and not being able to see the man in need he shouts, “Hey! Do you still need a push?” From somewhere in the night darkness he hears, “Yes, please!” The man looks around and not seeing the stranger shouts, “Where are you?” A voice returned from the darkness, “I’m over here, on your swing.”
[Revelation 3:19-20] Jesus tells a story of a man awaken by a knock on the door (Luke 11:5-8). It was a friend looking for bread to feed another friend who has stopped by while on a journey. “…I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is a friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.” It does take boldness to ask when you’ve never had to ask for help before. I’ve had to do it, and it hurts. Do we have a problem with God because we lack boldness? Physically we are willing to do whatever it takes to get what we want or need. Spiritually we seem timid and lost as what to do (James 4:1-3). John says that we can approach God with confidence, knowing that what we ask for is heard by God and he will answer (1 John 5:14-15). A stranger may slam the door in your face, but a friend will always do what he can. Are you a friend of God? Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.” Invite Him in. Get to know Him. He wants to help in your time of need.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
The End? When?
If you’re reading this article I guess you already know the world has not come to an end, but then again, if you’ve witnessed the “rapture” of the church and you’ve been left behind, good luck. In case you missed it, Harold Camping had once again predicted the end of the Christian age to occur yesterday, May 21, 2011, the same as he predicted it to happen in September of 1994. He admits a slight miscalculation in his last prediction. I have no doubt that as I write today that Mr. Camping is going to miss the mark again. Of course, if he should get lucky, I wonder who’s going to pat him on the back and honor his success. I feel if someone is going to use the Word of God to preach and predict from, they ought to at least read the book first. Well, maybe I’m being harsh and insensitive again. To be politically correct I should allow Mr. Camping the right to disregard any part of the Bible he deems obscure and irrelevant. Has he erased Matthew 24:36? There’s a Greek word for the message Mr. Camping and others like him are delivering – “hogwash”. I think a different approach to life and living is more favorable to God. Be prepared, for we don’t know the hour of our Lord’s return.
A boy was watching his father, a preacher, as he wrote a sermon. “How do you know what to say?” he asked. “Why, God tells me”, answered his father. “Oh”, the boy said with a puzzled look. “Then why do you keep crossing things out?”
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six-year-olds. After explaining the commandment to “honor thy father and thy mother” she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a beat one little boy answered, “Thou shall not kill!”
There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew his corn. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” asked the reporter. “Why sir”, said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.” The farmer is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve if his neighbor’s corn does not improve.
[Proverbs 11: 24-25] So it is with our lives. Those who chose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who chose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who chose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all. The lesson for each of us is this: If we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbor grow good corn. It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself. God’s love will cost you everything, but the trickle down effect for being obedient to his word is happiness. I’m not worrying about when the end will come; I’m prepared; waiting on the Lord.
A boy was watching his father, a preacher, as he wrote a sermon. “How do you know what to say?” he asked. “Why, God tells me”, answered his father. “Oh”, the boy said with a puzzled look. “Then why do you keep crossing things out?”
A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six-year-olds. After explaining the commandment to “honor thy father and thy mother” she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a beat one little boy answered, “Thou shall not kill!”
There once was a farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew his corn. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” asked the reporter. “Why sir”, said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.” The farmer is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve if his neighbor’s corn does not improve.
[Proverbs 11: 24-25] So it is with our lives. Those who chose to live in peace must help their neighbors to live in peace. Those who chose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who chose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all. The lesson for each of us is this: If we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbor grow good corn. It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself. God’s love will cost you everything, but the trickle down effect for being obedient to his word is happiness. I’m not worrying about when the end will come; I’m prepared; waiting on the Lord.
Saturday, May 07, 2011
A Mother's Love
“A Mother’s Love Is A Haven In The Storm Of Life” by Helen Steiner Rice. “A mother’s love is like an island, in life’s ocean vast and wide; A peaceful quiet shelter from the restless, rising tide. A mother’s love is like a fortress, and we seek protection there; When the waves of tribulation, seem to drown us to despair. A mother’s love is a sanctuary, where our souls can find sweet rest; From the struggle and the tension, of life’s fast and futile quest. A mother’s love is like a tower, rising far above the crowd; And her smile is like the sunshine, breaking through a threatening cloud. A mother’s love is like a beacon, burning bright with faith and prayer; And through the changing scenes of life, we can find a haven there. For a mother’s life is fashioned, after God’s enduring love; It is endless and unfailing, like the love of Him above.”
Our concept of our mother took dramatic changes over the years. How surprised we were when we discovered that she once was a little girl with a mother of her own. What a surprise to know “mom” actually had a first name. We began to understand the family tree when we found out her last name used to be the same as one of your grandparents, after we discovered they actually had names of their own. Can you remember that age when discovery actually brought about confusion that made perfect sense in your mind only to find out later nothing makes sense? Yeah, second grade.
Some second graders were asked questions about their mothers. Here are some of the best answers. Q: Why did God make mothers? A: “She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.” Q: How did God make mothers? A: “God made my mom just the same as he made me – just with bigger parts.” Q: What ingredients are mothers made of? A: “God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world, and one dab of mean.” Q: What kind of little girl was your mom? A: “I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be, pretty bossy.” Q: Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom? A: “We’re related.” Q: What did your mom need to know about your dad before she married him? A: “Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?” Q: Why did your mom marry your dad? A: “My grandma says my mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.” Q: Who’s the boss in your house? A: “Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because dad’s such a goof ball.” Q: What’s the difference between moms and dads? A: “Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.” Q: If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be? A: “I’d like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes in the back of her head.” Q: What would it take to make your mom perfect? A: “Diet. You know; her hair. I’d diet; maybe blue.” Q: What does your mom do in her spare time? A: “To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.”
[Proverbs 31: 10-31] These passages are often used to praise a woman as a wife and mother. Of course, as one reads these lines of prose, one soon discovers this perfect woman would be very hard to find. She is a wife and a mother, but I suspect she has many servants and employs many workers. Nevertheless, she is Godly, as I believe her husband is also. They could very well be the “Ozzie and Harriet” of the Old Testament. All mothers are super special in the heart of God and I contend that mothers have a special spiritual bond with God that men lack. Bless and thank God for our mothers.
Our concept of our mother took dramatic changes over the years. How surprised we were when we discovered that she once was a little girl with a mother of her own. What a surprise to know “mom” actually had a first name. We began to understand the family tree when we found out her last name used to be the same as one of your grandparents, after we discovered they actually had names of their own. Can you remember that age when discovery actually brought about confusion that made perfect sense in your mind only to find out later nothing makes sense? Yeah, second grade.
Some second graders were asked questions about their mothers. Here are some of the best answers. Q: Why did God make mothers? A: “She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.” Q: How did God make mothers? A: “God made my mom just the same as he made me – just with bigger parts.” Q: What ingredients are mothers made of? A: “God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world, and one dab of mean.” Q: What kind of little girl was your mom? A: “I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be, pretty bossy.” Q: Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom? A: “We’re related.” Q: What did your mom need to know about your dad before she married him? A: “Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?” Q: Why did your mom marry your dad? A: “My grandma says my mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.” Q: Who’s the boss in your house? A: “Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because dad’s such a goof ball.” Q: What’s the difference between moms and dads? A: “Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.” Q: If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be? A: “I’d like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes in the back of her head.” Q: What would it take to make your mom perfect? A: “Diet. You know; her hair. I’d diet; maybe blue.” Q: What does your mom do in her spare time? A: “To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.”
[Proverbs 31: 10-31] These passages are often used to praise a woman as a wife and mother. Of course, as one reads these lines of prose, one soon discovers this perfect woman would be very hard to find. She is a wife and a mother, but I suspect she has many servants and employs many workers. Nevertheless, she is Godly, as I believe her husband is also. They could very well be the “Ozzie and Harriet” of the Old Testament. All mothers are super special in the heart of God and I contend that mothers have a special spiritual bond with God that men lack. Bless and thank God for our mothers.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Death and Life Combined
I looked about this morning in total amazement at the wonders of this world. Birds are chirping and busy finishing nests to the specifications of the one who will lay eggs and sit in the nest protecting her offspring. Squirrels are busy running around doing what squirrels do. Bees are buzzing around any flower they can find and are busy pollinating my neighbors’ vegetable garden. I curiously traced an ant trail for about twenty-five feet, looking like a crowded rush hour freeway with hundreds of ants traveling both ways, not finding a beginning or final destination point. I’ve noticed small holes dug in my yard, the evidence a possum has left behind digging for grubs and whatever else they dig up for food. I know one thing for sure. They will all be desperately looking for water before long. It hasn’t rained enough to talk about in this area for more than eight or nine months, yet the grass is growing and the trees have redressed themselves with leaves. Unfortunately, we all know what’s coming in the not too distant future, summer. With burn bands and water restrictions already in place, without rain, and a lot of it soon, things are fixin’ to dry up and wilt. The wildlife is also going to suffer. Chlorinated city water just can’t do the job properly. Pray for rain. Then pray again. I don’t want those pesky ants in my house looking for water.
The minister asked the little girl, “Do you know what’s in the Bible?” “Yes”, she responded. “I think I know everything that is in it.” Surprised, the minister said, “That’s a pretty big claim for someone your size. Go ahead and tell me.” The little girl started out, “Well… let’s see… there’s a picture of my brother’s girlfriend, a ticket from the dry cleaners, one of my curls and a Pizza Hut coupon.”
A four-year-old was at the pediatrician for a check-up. As the doctor looked in her ear he asked, “Do you think I’ll find Big Bird in here?” The little girl stayed silent. Next the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. “Do you think I’ll find the Cookie Monster down here?” Again the little girl was silent. Then the doctor put the stethoscope on her chest. As he listened to her heartbeat he asked, “Do you think I’ll hear Barney in here?” “Oh no!” the girl replied. “That will never happen! Jesus is in my heart, Barney is on my socks!”
[1 Corinthians 15: 50-58] Do you truly know what’s in the Bible? Is Jesus in your heart? Does your hope rest in the resurrection or are you afraid of death? Jesus went to the cross to fulfill God’s will to redeem man from his sins. In the garden, as he prayed, Jesus asked if it were possible there be another way, but he also knew, for the new covenant of reconciliation for man and God to be enforced, a blood sacrifice had to be made. Jesus was that sacrifice. His love for you and I brought forth death and life at the same time. Jesus’ blood washed away the sins of the world and His resurrection to life has opened the way for sinners to be with God forever. I, like Jesus, don’t especially look forward to my time of death, but I’m not afraid, for He has proven to me there’s more to come. My hope of glory rests in His resurrection. Like the farmer, who plants dead seed, and patiently waits for the soil to yield it’s valuable crop (James 5:7), I rest in the fact that I have died to sin, through baptism, and patiently await the coming of my Lord when I will be clothed with immortality to live with God eternally. I pray you will thirst after righteousness and seek God before it is everlastingly too late. (James 3)
The minister asked the little girl, “Do you know what’s in the Bible?” “Yes”, she responded. “I think I know everything that is in it.” Surprised, the minister said, “That’s a pretty big claim for someone your size. Go ahead and tell me.” The little girl started out, “Well… let’s see… there’s a picture of my brother’s girlfriend, a ticket from the dry cleaners, one of my curls and a Pizza Hut coupon.”
A four-year-old was at the pediatrician for a check-up. As the doctor looked in her ear he asked, “Do you think I’ll find Big Bird in here?” The little girl stayed silent. Next the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. “Do you think I’ll find the Cookie Monster down here?” Again the little girl was silent. Then the doctor put the stethoscope on her chest. As he listened to her heartbeat he asked, “Do you think I’ll hear Barney in here?” “Oh no!” the girl replied. “That will never happen! Jesus is in my heart, Barney is on my socks!”
[1 Corinthians 15: 50-58] Do you truly know what’s in the Bible? Is Jesus in your heart? Does your hope rest in the resurrection or are you afraid of death? Jesus went to the cross to fulfill God’s will to redeem man from his sins. In the garden, as he prayed, Jesus asked if it were possible there be another way, but he also knew, for the new covenant of reconciliation for man and God to be enforced, a blood sacrifice had to be made. Jesus was that sacrifice. His love for you and I brought forth death and life at the same time. Jesus’ blood washed away the sins of the world and His resurrection to life has opened the way for sinners to be with God forever. I, like Jesus, don’t especially look forward to my time of death, but I’m not afraid, for He has proven to me there’s more to come. My hope of glory rests in His resurrection. Like the farmer, who plants dead seed, and patiently waits for the soil to yield it’s valuable crop (James 5:7), I rest in the fact that I have died to sin, through baptism, and patiently await the coming of my Lord when I will be clothed with immortality to live with God eternally. I pray you will thirst after righteousness and seek God before it is everlastingly too late. (James 3)
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Appomattox Courthouse
Most of the commercials on TV have always dealt with our sense of vanity and our appearance in the presence of others. We have to drive the right vehicle and wear the most recent, fashion correct, clothing. We don’t seem to fit in if our waist line is a little larger than others or we have a little less hair than everyone else. Heaven forbid if we don’t smell right or display a few wrinkles here and there. And if you don’t know exactly how to correct all your flaws, simply, “ask your doctor”, who probably can prescribe a pill you can take. We are so self conscience and spoiled in this country even our leaders and representatives in government can’t tell the difference between wants and needs, image and thrift. Our blatant waste of money is about to take US down and it doesn’t seem like we can get our vanity out from in front of our eyes to see it coming. I think our rags to riches greedy society is about to return to rags again.
A woman went to the police station, with her next-door neighbor in tow, to report her husband missing. The policeman asked for a description. She said, “He’s 35-years-old; 6 foot, 4; dark eyes; dark wavy hair; an athletic build; weights 185 pounds; is soft spoken and is good with the kids.” The neighbor protested, “Your husband is 5 foot 4, chubby, bald headed, loud mouthed and is mean to your children!” The wife replied, “Yes, but who wants HIM back?”
Marriage Counselor: “Please remember, Mr. & Mrs. Brown, that there are always two sides to every story.” Mrs. Brown: “Fine! I’ll tell you my side of the story first. Then, I’m going to tell you his side of the story!”
On Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, General’s Grant and Lee met at the home of Wilmer McLean in the village of Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, to discuss the surrender of Lee and his army bringing the Civil War to a conclusion. The contrast between the two commanders was striking. Grant was 42 years-old, 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with a full head of hair and beard, without a trace of gray. He wore a single-breasted, unbuttoned, dark-blue flannel blouse, ordinary top-boots with his trousers inside and without spurs. The boots and portions of his clothes were spattered with mud. He had no sword and a pair of shoulder-straps was all there was about him to designate his rank. In fact, aside from this, his uniform was that of a private soldier. Lee, on the other hand, was six foot in height and sixteen years senior to Grant. His hair and full beard were silver-gray. He wore a new uniform of Confederate gray, buttoned up to the throat, and at his side he carried a long sword of exceedingly fine workmanship, the hilt studded with jewels. His top-boots, fairly new, were clean and shown ornamental red silk stitching. He also wore a felt hat that closely matched the color of his uniform. Grant had walked in off the battlefield and Lee had had time to clean up to present himself in defeat to the world, sitting erect, awaiting his position in history.
[Hebrews 4: 12-13] When Jesus returned to heaven fresh off the battlefield he looked like he had been in a battle. I’ll bet that same day, even though defeated, Satan was all dressed up in his finest, ready to make history. There is coming a day when we will all have our Appomattox meeting. How will you appear to God on that day? Will you be coming fresh off the spiritual battlefield, tired and worn, or will you look like you’ve been hanging out with Satan and the world? What will you gain if you lose your soul?
A woman went to the police station, with her next-door neighbor in tow, to report her husband missing. The policeman asked for a description. She said, “He’s 35-years-old; 6 foot, 4; dark eyes; dark wavy hair; an athletic build; weights 185 pounds; is soft spoken and is good with the kids.” The neighbor protested, “Your husband is 5 foot 4, chubby, bald headed, loud mouthed and is mean to your children!” The wife replied, “Yes, but who wants HIM back?”
Marriage Counselor: “Please remember, Mr. & Mrs. Brown, that there are always two sides to every story.” Mrs. Brown: “Fine! I’ll tell you my side of the story first. Then, I’m going to tell you his side of the story!”
On Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, General’s Grant and Lee met at the home of Wilmer McLean in the village of Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, to discuss the surrender of Lee and his army bringing the Civil War to a conclusion. The contrast between the two commanders was striking. Grant was 42 years-old, 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with a full head of hair and beard, without a trace of gray. He wore a single-breasted, unbuttoned, dark-blue flannel blouse, ordinary top-boots with his trousers inside and without spurs. The boots and portions of his clothes were spattered with mud. He had no sword and a pair of shoulder-straps was all there was about him to designate his rank. In fact, aside from this, his uniform was that of a private soldier. Lee, on the other hand, was six foot in height and sixteen years senior to Grant. His hair and full beard were silver-gray. He wore a new uniform of Confederate gray, buttoned up to the throat, and at his side he carried a long sword of exceedingly fine workmanship, the hilt studded with jewels. His top-boots, fairly new, were clean and shown ornamental red silk stitching. He also wore a felt hat that closely matched the color of his uniform. Grant had walked in off the battlefield and Lee had had time to clean up to present himself in defeat to the world, sitting erect, awaiting his position in history.
[Hebrews 4: 12-13] When Jesus returned to heaven fresh off the battlefield he looked like he had been in a battle. I’ll bet that same day, even though defeated, Satan was all dressed up in his finest, ready to make history. There is coming a day when we will all have our Appomattox meeting. How will you appear to God on that day? Will you be coming fresh off the spiritual battlefield, tired and worn, or will you look like you’ve been hanging out with Satan and the world? What will you gain if you lose your soul?
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