Week 50 2013 Thanksmas

During the last two months of the year we celebrate two of the best family holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Both of these events bring family and friends together like few others.  We eat together, share together, love each other, and at least for one day in each of these months, we get along.  I thoroughly enjoy these times.  Taking time to reflect on what we are thankful for, while knowing that we should be doing this every day, is good.  Sometimes the feeling lingers for awhile.  We might even go to church in order to express our thankfulness toward God.  It gives us a warm, fuzzy feeling.

While we complain about the commercialism of the Christmas season, we take our part in promoting the frenzy.  The joy of giving is alive and well.  It seems we cannot give enough, as we max out our credit cards, spend hours in long lines, and fight holiday traffic.  Many of us will reflect on the greatest gift given and the night of His birth.  Even though the Christmas dinner will be enjoyed, the highlight will be the opening of gifts and the stockings that were hung with care.  Pictures and videos will be snapped and memories made.  It’s all good!

There is no excuse for spurning either of these holidays.  Fortunately, the number of real-life Scrooges are few in number.  Whether one is a believer or not, these holidays are just plain fun.  Aside from the frivolity, and the warmth between family and friends, these point to the end of the year, promising a new beginning with the coming year.  Everyone looks forward to a fresh start, the opportunity to enjoy what a new year has in store.  So, I am thankful for Christmas, following Thanksgiving, hoping that everyone has a Happy New Year!

Week 49 2013 Phil Needs to Duck

Phil Robertson is a dedicated Christian with a college degree who has taken a simple product and turned it into a multi-million dollar business.  Duck Dynasty has become one of the most marketable television shows in recent history.  It is also currently one of the highest rated television shows.  Yet, A&E, the network that airs the show, is actually threatening their future by suspending Phil because of his comments during an interview with GQ, Gentleman Quarterly.  It has caused a firestorm of controversy, with lines being drawn over homosexuality.  And now, grandstanders, like Jessie Jackson, are attempting to bring racism into the forefront.  It is a remarkable fiasco.  It is also an indicator of where the moral compass of our nation is pointing.

There is an old adage that proclaims, “If we don’t learn from history, we are bound to repeat the same errors.”  Throughout history every major world empire embraced sexual immorality shortly before its collapse.  Our current world empire is centered in America and there are multiple indicators pointing to an end.  The unfortunate part is that history also demonstrates that the culture emerging from the collapse always moves the pendulum to the extreme right, oppressing different segments of the population through arbitrary criteria decided by a small minority.  Nobody benefits from such a scenario.

Having said this, it is my conviction that the unredeemed have a difficult time understanding God’s will.  Jesus makes a profound statement in the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”  Matthew 7:6 We have witnessed the truth of this statement in recent times over the abortion issue and gay rights.  Rather than projecting the pearls of truth found in scripture to a lost world, we should be proclaiming the gospel, loving the lost with an unconditional love.  Once they obey the gospel and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, they will be better equipped to understand and embrace these pearls.

Even though I agree with what Brother Phil said, I believe the venue he used was not the best.  He is an intelligent man.  Thus, he should know what the liberal media is going to do with any interview he grants.  They would love to tear this godly man down because he and his family are having such a dramatic impact for Christ.  It is my prayer that everyone will take a step back and consider the love this man has for everyone, including the sexually immoral.

Week 48 2013 Battlegrounds

We visited several battlegrounds this summer, both Revolutionary War and Civil War.  Gettysburg, Antietam, Harpers Ferry, Fredericksburg, Manassas, just to name a few, are sites where thousands of men lost their lives fighting for a cause for which they believed had value, a cause worth sacrifice.  One is humbled by the sheer enormity of life lost on these fields.  In virtually every battle, nearly every soldier believed that God was on his side, believed that He would bless their troops with success.  There were prayers to the same God in every camp site.  Chaplains, serving the same God, held services for troops on both sides of the line.  Churches in both camps held prayer meetings for their boys gone off to war, believing they were fighting for the cause of Christ.

The same could be said about most every war over the centuries.  So, what shall we conclude?  Was the losing side deluded?  Or, were both sides confused?  Who is to say that one side was closer to God than the other?  I’m not really sure I have the answers to these questions.  Furthermore, I’m not sure that anyone else does either.  I am sure of one thing.  God stands ready to bless any who put their complete faith and trust in Him.  This doesn’t mean that He will fight and win our battles.  It does mean, however, that He will be with us through those battles, regardless of the side we have pledged our allegiance.

These are battlegrounds where flesh and blood are destroyed.  There are other battlegrounds where spirit and soul are sacrificed.  These are battles with eternal consequences.  When engaged in these struggles there is a clear separation of right and wrong, good and evil, God and Satan.  Unfortunately, there are untold millions lost in this war.  Our weapons are those provided by the Lord.  They are powerful and able to take out the evil Satan wields with great expertise.  The battlegrounds are all around us.  We can be fighting these battles on the streets where the homeless and hopeless reside, or in our church buildings where the wheat and tares await the winnowing that will take place in that great judgement day.  The weapons are the same, regardless of the battleground.  The Lord provides these gifts abundantly to any who are willing to use them to His glory.  The Apostle Paul tells us that the greatest of these are faith, hope, and love, with love trumping all of them.  If we will let these be our weapons of choice, refining our ability to wield them, we will be victorious, and we can rest assured that God is truly on our side!

Week 47 2013 Floral Fun

Since we bought a DSLR camera, we take more pictures.  Some of these turn out so well we wonder if there is some way to protect them from other people marketing them.  I must admit that I have absolutely no idea how to do that, and I’m not really sure that I care that much.  However, I do enjoy the pictures.  One of my favorite settings on the camera is the flower setting.  It takes advantage of one of natures most beautiful occurring events.  The variety and depth of color are simply amazing!  I really need to take a course in botany in order to identify the masterpieces God has provided.  Perhaps with that knowledge I could put together a book that could be used by others to share the beauty we have experienced.

As enjoyable as photography can be, the very best pictures can’t be printed, because, the most excellent visions are in my memory banks.  These are those that come so quickly and spontaneously I don’t have the opportunity to shoot them with my Nikon.  They also involve more senses and dimensions than my camera can offer.  Furthermore, these engage the most beautiful of all of God’s creations, people.  People offer an insight into the Creator.  We are made in His image.  The vision we exhibit is deeper than what our eyes can develop.  The best book to view these images was written thousands of years ago.  It is accessible to anyone.  You can pay as little as nothing, or as high a price as you might think is desirable.  The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, and its images are beyond incredible.

Enjoy the creation found in nature.  To use the cliche, take time to smell the roses.  But, don’t limit yourself to these beauties.  Take in the full picture by learning about the One who created nature.

Week 46 2013 Bridges

In our travels we have crossed over many bridges.  Our fascination with these edifices has been evident throughout our lives.  We have seen and photographed several kinds of bridges, including the longest covered bridge still in use.  Each bridge is unique in design, length, height, and character.  Many are architectural wonders.  Unfortunately, there are some people who find bridges to be perfect canvasses for their graffiti.  We find ourselves looking for creative ways to photograph these without the ugliness.  And then there are the crumbling, unsafe structures.  These have a beauty all their own.  However, when they are still being used, one shudders to imagine the disastrous prospects.  For instance, the I-35 bridge collapse in Minnesota in August of 2007.  We had driven our fifth-wheel across that bridge the day before.  One could say that bridges have played a very significant part in our lives.  However, their primary purpose is to connect two sides that are separated by an expanse.

Relationships often require bridges.  The expanse often seems insurmountable.  The bridges needed to overcome the chasm is as varied as the bridges we have experienced in our nationwide travels.  The planning, preparation, and expertise required to make them successful should never be taken lightly.  Because, when one of these bridges collapse, the devastation can be life-changing.  Yet, when done right, these are the most beautiful of all bridges.  They are also the most important.  Overcoming those things that separate us involves creativity, but most importantly, they must come from a caring heart.  In fact, love is the primary material required in the construction of these bridges.  Prayer is excellent for blueprinting, pulling on God’s resources for strength.  Commitment is a factor needed to maintain the integrity of these structures.  When made a priority, these bridges can span divisions in churches, family and friends, and the beauty exceeds any physical structure found on earth.

Week 45 2013 Thanksgiving

Our worship leader got on his soap box at our last practice, giving a mini-sermon on Thanksgiving.  I am so thankful for this young man and the heart he has for Jesus and family.

Going from there, I wonder how many things for which I am thankful?
1.  Of course, I am most thankful for the Lord.  Psalm 106:1
2.  My wife is the single greatest blessing God has given me.  Ecclesiastes 9:9
3.  I have been blessed with three of the most wonderful children.  Psalm 127:3
4.  Our daughters have provided five fantastic grandchildren.  Proverbs 17:6
5.  From our first church family to the many we share today, our fellow Christians.  1 John 5:1-3
6.  Many wonderful and cherished friends.  Proverbs 18:24
7.  An education that has been pursued throughout life and is ongoing.  2 Timothy 2:15
8.  The opportunity to provide for my family.  1 Timothy 5:8
9.  The physical provisions God has supplied.  Matthew 6:25-34
10. A place to share in worship with other Christians.  Hebrews 10:25
11. Living in a nation where we are free to worship as we choose.  Romans 13:1-7
12. For those who devote themselves to our protection.  Matthew 5:9
13. Those who have lived before me and share their experience.  Job 12:12
14. The pleasure of being able to sing.  Psalm 100:2
15. Joy in witnessing those who can and do dance.  Psalm 150:4
16. The wonders of nature.  Colossians 1:16-17
17. Ad infinitum.  James 1:17

In each of these listed I could break them down to several individual blessings, thus making my list inexhaustible.  It is my conviction that nearly all of us could say the same thing.  So, let me encourage everyone to be thankful, not just on the appointed day but every day.

Week 44 2013 Persistence

I have been watching a documentary on Diana Nyad and her swimming from Cuba to Miami.  She has lived a life of persistence.  From failing to swim around Manhattan to her latest conquest, she has always persevered, not giving up until she has accomplished her goal.  As such, she has been successful.  Instead of giving up when she has failed, she comes back again and again until she succeeds.  She learns to overcome the obstacles, persists in her attempts, and finally enjoys success.

I once heard read that a baby will fall 600 times before finally learning to walk.  They don’t seem to know failure.  They just keep getting up, pulling themselves to a standing position, and trying again to make that first step, followed by the second, and then the third, until they are walking.  And, as we all know from experience, they always succeed.  Failure is not an option.

And then, of course, we’ve all heard how many failures Thomas Edison experienced before finally basking in the light of his first sustainable light bulb.  Aren’t we glad that he didn’t give up?  Because of his perseverance we enjoy light in the darkness, not to mention all of the advances that have come on the back of the electric light bulb.  It is the grand-daddy of the television, stereo, microwave oven, ad infinitum.

Given these successes, one might wonder why any of us ever give up on a goal.  But, the sad truth is that we very often give up with just a few attempts.  In fact, many of defeat ourselves before we even try.  We tend to look at all the obstacles, instead of looking at the ways those obstacles are overcome.  Truth is, there are very few things we cannot accomplish if we have enough faith.  Jesus said that if we have the faith of grain of a mustard seed we could move mountains.  Some have taken this to heart and accomplished amazing feats, while others go throughout their lives never realizing any of their hopes and dreams without ever trying.

Week 43 2013 Doing Laundry

My wife is diligent in her pursuit to keep us in clean clothing.  I often find it alarming how much dirty laundry the two of us produce, as long as how often it needs attention.  Even though our motorhome has hookups for a washer and dryer, we have chosen to utilize that space for inside storage, a commodity in short supply when living in a recreational vehicle.  Thus, she carries our dirty clothes to the Laundromat located in the RV park where we stay.  This also involves the use of several quarters obtained in various locations under many different circumstances.  She has a special container for quarters.  Even though I save change, quarters are off limits with all of them going into her quarter jar.

What does this have to do with anything?  Aside from my deep appreciation, her pursuit of cleanliness is a clear picture of what each of us should be engaged in with our lives.  Instead of cleaning up our lives and the messes we make, we often look for ways to cover it up or we continue to revel in the filth, much like putting clean clothes over dirty ones, or simple wearing the dirty ones over and over again.  Most civilized people would not dream of wearing dirty clothing or covering it up with clean clothing, unless there was no other choice.  Fortunately, there is another option.  We can clean up our act.  The choice is ours, live dirty or live clean.  If we choose the clean option, it will take diligence.  When we discover filth, it will take work to remove it.  However, the end result is worth the work.  And, we must be aware that, just as my wife will sometimes need to wash a piece of clothing more than once to get it clean, we may to work harder on some stains in our lives.  Furthermore, it may take a lot of preparation, sorting through the various aspects and dealing with each accordingly.  Much like our laundry, this process never ends.  If we are honest, we will always find areas of our lives that need cleansing.

There is one major difference in these two scenarios.  My wife works alone and really does an amazing job.  On the other hand, when attempting to clean up and cleanse my life, I know that I cannot do it alone.  The job is too big.  I need help.  Fortunately, help is available!  I am surrounded by friends and family, as well as my Christian family.  These are all useful and generally quite willing to help.  But the greatest asset any of us can possibly have in cleaning up our act is the One who is responsible for our existence.  God provides aide in this most important part of our lives.  In fact, there are stains that only He can handle.  Welcome to laundry day!

Week 42 2013 Hats

One of my best friends recently conducted an interesting experiment at a mens retreat.  He carried fourteen different baseball caps to the retreat in his luggage.  Then, beginning Friday afternoon, he would wear a different hat periodically throughout the rest of the day and the rest of the weekend until someone noticed that he was wearing a different hat than he had been just a short time before.  It finally happened Saturday afternoon.  He was wearing a 49er hat, a young man commented on it, my friend went to his barracks, changed to a Raiders hat, went to play volleyball, and the same young man said, “Weren’t you wearing a different hat?”  My friend awarded him with a handmade pen.  He enjoyed his little game, as well as the giving of the pen.

Just how observant are we?  My wife will often ask me about someone at church or some other activity with friends and she is amazed at how little I know about what they were wearing or some other physical characteristic.  I have wondered if there is something wrong with my memory.  Then I ask her about something that I’m sure she will remember only to discover that she doesn’t.  Just about the time we begin to think old age is catching up with us, we ask our grandchildren about a recent event and discover that they don’t remember salient details that we think are so obvious anyone would be able to recall them.

Other than the few savants who are able to recall every detail of everything their five senses have taken in, most of us simply remember scattered details.  We seem to prioritize.  This is not a bad thing.  It is just a reality.  It actually speaks to our individuality.  God has made each one of us to be unique.  Which means we are all different and quite diverse.  It also means that we should never judge another based upon our own personal experience, because we will nearly always be wrong.  Let’s celebrate our diversity while learning from others’ observations and sharing our own for their edification.

Week 41 2013 Mom and Dad

At what age do we finally come to the realization that Mom and Dad actually do know something?  I don’t have the answer.  It has been my experience that it is different for everyone.  Some of us come to appreciate our parents at an early age, while others either never figure it out, discover it at mid-life, or receive the message after their parents are in the grave.  That is extremely unfortunate.  Much is lost through not learning this truth at a young age.  For some reason we don’t get it that experience has served to teach our parents lessons that can only come with age, unless we decide to learn from their experience.  Instead, we often insist on learning through our own hard knocks.

As a small child our parents are super human.  They can do anything, and they know everything.  Mom and Dad have the greatest impact on our development.  Our provision is dependent on them and we give little thought to the cost, because they are only doing what comes natural.  We offer them our complete, unadulterated love and devotion, regardless of their flaws and imperfections.  However, for many of us those times are short-lived.  As we grow into our puberty, many of us decide that we know more than anyone else, including our parents.  Our parents are no longer the super humans they once were.  In fact, for some, they are actually seen in a completely opposite light.  They know nothing, and they could learn a great deal from us.  For years they had made us the center of their universe, and now we become the center of our own universe.

The lyrics to an old song offer this bit of wisdom: “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.”  Most of us come to a point in our maturity when we realize that our parents, although not perfect, actually do know some things that would be of benefit in our lives.  Through our own process of learning through experience it suddenly dawns on us that our parents have even more experience from which to have gained knowledge.  Once again, we begin to revere them and dread the day of their departure from this world, our world.  Unfortunately, some don’t come to this realization until it is too late.  Dad and/or Mom have already died and they are missed.  For those who are in this position, the grief is greater.  Praise God if you are among those who are able to discover your parents wisdom before they are gone.

Proverbs 1:8-9

Week 40 2013 Brian's Song

My friend and brother in the Lord, Brian E. Kessler, “graduated” from this life into his eternal reward last Saturday.  Brian lived the last twenty years of his short fifty-nine years of life with multiple sclerosis.  From the beginning of his end, Brian demonstrated how to die well.  His faith throughout this ordeal has left a lasting testament to God’s grace and love.  The profound affect he had on others could easily be seen in the many people who attended his memorial.  Una and I had a wonderful time sharing memories with many of them.  Phil Booe, a young man the Lord used me with his conversion about twenty-five years ago, shared that he would visit with Brian and read to him.  The last time he was there he told Brian that he had just went through a shift change at work, to which Brian responded in his wonderful wit, “Well, at least you’re not shiftless.”

Brian planned out his own memorial right up to the last detail, understanding that there would be a lunch following, he had ordered a “graduation cake” with the words: “ Welcome to my graduation. – Brian.”  I have asked his wife, Sheila, permission to share Brian’s words from that memorial.  So, I am letting Brian write this blog entry.

The gift that God gave is almost too good to be true. Knowing you and I and our sinfulness, God gave his son to pay for our sins. He took our sin and believers received Christ’s righteousness. What a trade. Glory to God.

Believers have been made perfect in God's sight. Believers have been made righteous. Believers have been justified. Believers have been forgiven. And believers have received every thing else that God has promised us. Like I was, in yourself you might be dirtier than a dog, but in Christ we believers are both made righteous and thus saved.

Certainly other folks can legitimately find fault, but in God 's sight we are perfect. Regardless of their stripe, we should strive to see those who declare belief in Christ as made right, as forgiven. We should try to see fellow believers as God says he sees them. We who are in Christ are all forgiven and thus are all saved. We have all been made perfect. In Christ we have been made sinless. We should strive to see others that way.

The study of the subject of "righteousness" was absolutely astounding to me. I was amazed. I found that Jesus Christ had left his dimension of being beyond time, and entered my dimension, our dimension of time. He lived for me. He died for me. He lived for you. He died for you. It amazed me when I found that the Bible told that I could be righteous. It taught that I, as sinful as I had been, could be righteous before God. This was a great relief to me. After all, I knew I could not be good enough. I had to have forgiveness for the sins that I had committed and was prone to commit. Thank God he provided that. Understand that you can be righteous too. Maybe you already are. Regardless, let us all rejoice in the promise of Christ. For he has lived and died for you and me.

We who have named Christ, we who are Christians gain life, both here and eternally. We gain hopefully better life here, and eternal life beyond time, where I am. Even if someone does not get a better life here, they can look forward to having eternal life, being with God, and being perfect in every way.

It amazed me when I found that the Bible told that I could be righteous. As sinful as I had been, I could be righteous before God. This was a great relief to me. It made me happy. It was good news. After all, I knew I could not be good enough. I had to have forgiveness for the sins I had committed. Not only that but I learned that forgiveness would continue throughout my life, and continual forgiveness would be desperately needed. Understand that you can be righteous too. Maybe you already are. Regardless, let all rejoice in the promise of Christ. For he has died for us. Unlike me, who owed payment, Christ could afford to pay the price for all believers freedom, and he did. Not only did he pay the price, he traded his perfection from my and our imperfection.’ "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This is the good news in a nutshell.

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith’." This Bible passage said that I could somehow be innocent before God. It was really good news for me. It is really good news for you.

The letter to the Roman believers by Paul, regarding the righteousness that comes by belief, was great news to me. It said "The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him (Abraham) alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness -for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood." (Romans 3:22-25).

Now suppose I am wrong? Then I’m gone and have not lost a thing. But if one who does not believe is wrong then they lose everything. I do not believe I am, but what if I’m wrong? What do I lose? Would doing more evil have provided more fun? No. For me and others it would have made life a miserable thing, or made life a failure. As it was, I have had a really good life. My children have all been true to Christ. My wife has been true to Christ. All of us have hope. I have had physical pleasures. Beyond that I have had absolute spiritual assurance. So in life I lost nothing. In Christ I have gained everything. Wonderfully I have gained Christ’s righteousness. In Christ I gained the promise of eternal life. I have lost nothing in life, and nothing beyond time. God has given me everything. We who have named Christ, we Christians gain life, both here and eternally. We gain hopefully better life here, and eternal life beyond time, where I am.

I will see you later.

When I (Brian) was in my late 20s, I had opportunity to sing to an old lady. She was 93. We sang regularly. The last time I sang with her she asked that I sing the song, "Till We Meet." She graduated from this life after we sang. She was holding my hand when she graduated. I believe I have met her again. After all, I doubt that time as we know it is relevant to those who are beyond time with God, which is where I am. What I ask of you, still in time, is that you sing this song with my family, and sing the last verse with me in mind. This is our closing song. From your time perspective, I hope to see you "soon." Maybe from my perspective we are together, since I am convinced that God's present includes all of history. But you are still in time. Tell others about his Good News. I love you Sheila. I love you Edwin I love you Matthew. I love you Nathan. I love all here. Thanks for coming. I look forward to seeing you. --Brian

Whether or not you have known Brian, it is my, and his, sincere desire that you would give heed to his wonderfully wise words, and that you would keep his family in your prayers as they learn to deal with the void.

Week 39 2013 The Prime Directive

It seems like forty was the magical age where my health took a turn and I started a daily regimen of medication needed to extend and improve my life.  I was diagnosed with hypertension through hereditary channels, meaning that if I do not take my medication daily I put myself at severe risk of having a stroke.  That was twenty-four years ago.  Since then, there have been various maladies that have added various medications to my daily routine.  Most of them are taken once daily.  However, there is two that are taken twice a day, and one that is taken three times a day.  As frustrating as it is, without these medications I would likely have already either died or been debilitated because of the effects of aging and the natural progression of life that results in death, which, of course, we will do most anything to avoid.

As important as it is to maintain my daily regimen, I can be distracted causing me to miss taking my meds at their scheduled hour.  When this happens, my body reveals my indiscretion through the negative impacts the meds are designed to suppress.  Therefore, I take measures to keep me focused on these life-giving/improving measures.  I keep a pill box on my night stand, and I set out pills that I need to take before bed and soon after I wake up.  I also set alarms on my phone to remind me when it is time to take various medications.  Yet, even with these safeguards, I am sometimes distracted because of being involved in one project or another.  Therefore, my wife acts as another safety net, asking me if I have taken my meds.  She worries that I will feel myself being nagged.  But, that is not the case.  I am grateful that she cares enough to ask.

The world is full of distractions.  We are bombarded with them.  It can be very difficult to maintain our focus on those things that are truly important.  I’m reminded of the Family Circus comic strip segment tracing the little boy’s distracted journey taking him through all sorts of places while attempting to reach his goal that could have been reached in a short period of time through a direct route.  We have all seen this happen in real life.  As parents we are constantly reminding our children to stay focused.  The television is turned off, music is forbidden, and friends are not allowed while our grandchildren are doing their homework.  Distractions are held to a minimum to help assure their success.  Those who would purposely place distractions in their way are not true friends.  In fact, they are enemies, intended or not.

In my Christian walk my primary focus is on the Lord Jesus.  His primary directive for my life is to seek and save the lost.  There are various strategies offered to keep me focused.  Daily Bible study, regular church attendance, active participation in related activities, and making myself accountable all help to keep me focused on Jesus.  My love for Him helps to maintain my focus on seeking and saving the lost, for that is my prime directive.  I need these safeguards, because Satan is always looking for ways to distract me.  There are challenges to my faith every day.  If I am not actively engaged in the aforementioned activities, my faith could easily be weakened.  Over time, if not checked, my faith could crumble and be lost.  Realizing the consequences of no faith, I take measures to keep myself from being distracted.  It is imperative to remember my first love, that being Jesus, nurturing that love and keeping it strong.  If someone challenges my faith, it is equally important that I have a ready answer to that challenge.  When I don’t have that answer, there are others within the family of God who are able to help me find that answer.  We are not left on our own.

What about the second part of our Christian walk?  If we are maintaining the first aspect, focusing on Jesus, we know how to fulfill the second.  Seeking and saving the lost will become second nature, no pun intended.  What could possibly distract us?  Everything!  However, there are some distractions that disguised as good things.  Scripture tells us that Satan masquerades as an angel of light.  Thus, issues that are important can be used to distract us from the prime directive.  I lean toward believing in a literal six-day creation, and find much of the current thought on evolution to be offensive and an attack on my faith.  But, I wonder if Satan isn’t using this issue to distract me from fulfilling the prime directive?  When I have the opportunity to discuss the gospel with an unbeliever, I would rather not discuss evolution versus creation, gay marriage, abortion, or any other worthwhile topic that has the potential to distract us from the prime directive.  These are all topics of which I hold passionate opinions, and they make good conversation with other Christians.  We may be able to come up with helpful strategies to overcome.  There is nothing wrong with being proactive in matters that are clearly unbiblical if done so in view of the prime directive.  Satan is a master of distraction.  The best way to keep him from gaining the upper hand is to stay focused on the prime directive, not being led astray while promoting the gospel to the lost.

Week 38 2013 Judge, Jury, and God

I’m a Christian.  Furthermore, I am happy to be a Christian.  This identity places me in an isolated community of other somewhat like-minded people.  Like any family we have our spats and disagreements.  But, when the rubber meets the road, extreme persecution takes place, areas of agreement are attacked, we come together in support of our common ideals, our communal identity.  We are generally our own worst critics.  We tend to tear each other down, exposing perceived faults, in essence, becoming judge and jury in our condemnation.  Unwittingly, we take the position reserved for God, separating the wheat from the tares.  To make matters worse, we do all of this in the presence of unbelievers, bringing shame upon ourselves, presenting an ugly portrait of the very God we extol, and leaving the door open for well-deserved criticism from those who love to discredit any belief in a Creator.

When an atheist stands in the place of God, becoming judge and jury in condemnation of the church, they do so with the proper credentials.  Not having a perceived faith in an eternal being, they have no fear of being condemned by the One who is able to ultimately bring that condemnation.  When judgment day comes and they are forced to bow the knee their only shock will be that He really does exist.  On the other hand, when those who have known that God is real stands before His throne and hears the words, “Depart from me, I never knew you,” the shock will come having to acknowledge that they have wrongly taken the place of God in judgment of others and excluding them from a place in the kingdom that citizenship is only founded in and by the Lord.  These will discover that their pious position of judge, jury, and God has resulted in their own exclusion from the kingdom of which they had presumed to have exclusive control, refusing or offering membership to those of their choosing based upon their interpretations of God’s word.

Therefore, I am a Christian.  The only reason I find myself in God’s kingdom is because He chose to add me.  Membership in His church has never, nor will ever, have anything to do with what anyone else deems to be proper credentials.  I am fully aware that as I walk the streets of this kingdom I am walking side by side with some who will ultimately be removed.  And, that that removal will be done by the only One qualified to do so.

Week 37 2013 So, Are You Really Conservative?

My wife and I had a good discussion this morning on government policy and our national economics.  She is trying to understand all the hullabaloo over the debt ceiling.  I’m not sure that I have the answer.  From my simple mind it simply means that the more we borrow, the more we have to pay back, along with more interest.  So, it seems like a bad idea.  Having said that, it is also a bad thing when we can’t pay our debts.  Long term, it would seem that if our nation will make cuts in the budget we will have the means to pay our debt down.  Short term, the cuts can’t come fast enough.  This is where it goes beyond my simple mind.  The numbers are too staggering.  Which leads to a broader discussion on what it means to be a conservative.

The rhetoric coming from most conservatives would have one believing that we support less government.  I hold this position.  However, what do we do when the rubber meets the road?  For instance, when fuel prices starting increasing, how many of us echoed the mantra saying that our government needs to intervene?  Issues like this seem to be so overwhelming we feel helpless, so we turn to something bigger than ourselves.  Hence, the government becomes our big brother who will go to bat for us and force the bullying oil companies to quit beating up on us.  Thus the real question is, how do we accomplish this without big brother?

In a free-market economy the consumer has the power to regulate prices and quality.  In order to exercise that power, consumers must come together.  Unfortunately, we aren’t very good at doing this.  In the early eighties car manufacturers were alarmed when consumers quit buying new cars.  By not buying Americans were saying that prices were too high.  As it started to become critical for the suppliers, they came up with a strategy to encourage the public to start buying cars again.  They offered rebates, and people started buying new cars again.  I was shouting, “Don’t do it!  Rebates aren’t enough.  They need to lower prices!”  However, even though we didn’t go far enough in our boycott, it did demonstrate that we can have an impact when we will work together.  As to fuel prices, we obviously cannot boycott the oil companies collectively.  But, we could choose to target one at a time for limited periods of time.  You can be assured that a month long boycott of Shell would hurt enough to give all oil companies pause.  These corporations have the financial resources to hire lobbyists that can effect legislation barring the use of our own natural resources, thus impacting our government in ways that we are not able.  The end result is less government, lower fuel prices, and less dependency on nations that delight in hurting the American consumer.

The government bailout of General Motors was fueled by another American consumer boycott.  This one came about in response to inferior products.  Foreign manufacturers were putting out higher quality vehicles with better fuel economy at competitive prices.  Instead of responding to this crisis by giving the buying public what we were demanding, GM looked to the government for a handout and got it.  Ford, on the other hand, didn’t take government money.  Instead, they began producing cars that can compete with the foreign producers.  The new Fords have gone head to head with Toyota with vehicles that match or exceed in quality, fuel economy, and price.  The end result has been a win win for consumer and producer.

These examples challenge us to either live out our conservative views or quit calling ourselves conservative.  Or, the reality that true conservatism is merely an ideal.  My purpose is to merely encourage each of us to examine ourselves before we start using labels to provide our personal identity.

Week 36 2013 Mr. Potato Head Jesus

“Mr. Potato Head is an American toy consisting of a plastic model of a potato which can be decorated with a variety of plastic parts that can attach to the main body. These parts usually include ears, eyes, shoes, a hat, a nose, and a mouth. The toy was invented and developed by George Lerner in 1949, and first manufactured and distributed by Hasbro in 1952. Mr. Potato Head was the first toy advertised on television and has remained in production since its debut. The toy was originally produced as separate plastic parts with pushpins that could be stuck into a real potato or other vegetable. However, due to complaints regarding rotting vegetables and new government safety regulations, Hasbro began including a plastic potato body within the toy set.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Potato_Head)  This is an interesting bit of trivia about a child’s toy.  The allure of Mr. Potato Head is the ability to make him into what you want him to be.  How can we forget that wonderful line in Disney’s “Toy Story” where Mrs. Potato Head tells her husband to pack his angry eyes?  Mr. Potato Head can be made to look angry, sad, happy, amazed, or disguised to look like someone he isn’t, all with a simple change of a plastic piece.  It’s difficult to know who the real Mr. Potato Head is, and what his intentions are.  The truth lies hidden in the one who controls the pieces.

Unfortunately, many people “play” with Jesus in much the same manner as children play with Mr. Potato Head.  These take parts of Jesus to establish His identity while either changing some of the other parts or simply ignoring them.  Thus, the image people have of our God has changed over time.  God has never changed.  But, the way people see Him has changed, largely because of people treating Him like Mr. Potato Head.  The changes made often reflect the current culture with its ideals and mores.  For instance, when the culture was predominately led by monarchies, God was viewed as a king who controlled his kingdom with force.  His subjects were meant to be afraid of Him because of His wrath.  The concept of a personal relationship with this heavy-handed dictator was unheard of.  Those who fostered this perception would point to passages of scripture that demonstrated God’s terrible power and horrible judgment on people who wouldn’t submit to His leadership, much in the same way most monarchs dealt with people in their kingdom.  While the Bible does show us a part of God that metes out justice in a decisive manner, to limit his character this narrowly does injustice to Him.  It’s Mr. Potato Head with just his angry eyes.  The kind, benevolent, gentle eyes have been discarded.  Jesus is only seen with the whip in His hands driving the money changers from the temple.

Our culture today is much more enlightened.  In America we have rejected the concept of the monarchy with its dictator looking for obeisance from his subjects.  Punishment has been changed to rehabilitation.  Jesus is now viewed as our brother.  We are able to have a strong personal relationship with Him.  He is the friend of sinners, forgiving those who have committed grievous acts.  God is pictured as a tolerant, benevolent, father.  He has lost His angry eyes.  Many are questioning the reality of Hell and the final judgment.  These read where Jesus forgives the prostitute, but fail to see where He admonishes her to sin no more.  Our Mr. Potato Head Jesus looks upon the sinner with tolerance, not rebuking them for the sin in their lives, because that might alienate them.  Rather than convict them of their sinful way of life, Mr. Potato Head Jesus loves and accepts them without requiring repentance.

The truth is that Jesus is not Mr. Potato Head.  He does not come with interchangeable parts.  He is the same as He always has been.  He is a monarch who will mete out judgment, condemning some to Hell, while rewarding others with eternal life in Heaven.  He does seek out a personal relationship with each one of us, not wanting any to perish.  He does forgive, restore, and cleanse.  However, He also requires repentance.  The good news is that He also gives us the tools and strength to repent and overcome.  He realizes that those who refuse to repent will be lost.  Therefore, with amazing love and grace, He encourages the sinful to turn from their sinful lifestyle to a life in Him where overcoming sin is not only possible, but probable.  He never accepts someone who refuses to repent!  Tolerance ends where sin begins.  Mr. Potato Head is a fun toy.  Jesus is so much more.  Regardless of what our culture calls right or wrong, Jesus is the final authority.  If you want to really see how much He goes against current thought and cultural mores, engage in a close reading of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew five through seven.

Week 35 2013 Profound or Pro Found

I love to write.  However, I have no illusions about my writing.  I am neither gifted nor profound.  While I may be able to occasionally come up with something that is interesting or amusing, there are many others who do it a lot better.  My reading list includes many of those who are truly profound.  These are gifted people who are able to take those things that many of us see as ordinary and discover the hidden spectacular, and then open those secrets to the world in a comprehensible manner that amazes and amuses.  These are those I refer to as the pro found.  In other words, the professional who is able to utter those prophetic phrases that help to influence my thought processes.  Yet, they would not be recognized if they had not honed their talent through an educational process that includes a great deal of time reading and studying the gifted ones from the ages.  Thus, in one sense, much of what they do is an amalgamation of what others have already proclaimed, giving credence to Solomon’s dictate that there is nothing new under the sun.  Put in its proper perspective, this truth takes nothing from the truly profound.  They would be first to confess that much of what they have to say has been said before, albeit in not the same manner or context.  It is this latter truth that aides in the profundity of these gifted writers.

I once had a friend who, while talking, would stop and repeat something he had just said and say, “See, I come up with these profound statements all the time.”  I would have to use extreme self-control to keep from laughing and hurting this fellow’s feelings, because I knew he was serious.  He truly believed that he was profound, when, at best, he was just repeating what someone else had already said, and, at worst, saying something that was so ordinary that even a stretch of the imagination would find nothing profound.  It sort of reminded me of some of those poor souls who try out for American Idol.  One finds themselves asking if they really believe they can sing?  I know from personal experience that many of them do believe just that.  The same is true with writers and public speakers.  There are many who are self-deluded into believing they are profound, when, at best, they are pro found.

Week 34 2013 God is Great, Beer is Good, People are Crazy

I’m not much of a country western fan, but this song caught my attention.  What an interesting sentiment.  The lyrics tell the story of an old man who has suffered the indignities of life, having gone through two wars and a divorce.  His prophetic piece of advice to his younger protégée is that God is good, beer is great, and people are crazy.  It is a different kind of wisdom.  One that some might find offensive, while others may laugh, and still others finding it to be profound.  I’m not sure which category I fall into.  I must admit that his sense of priority is appealing, only because it is so different from anything I have heard before.  Yet, when I really put my mind to it, I must come to the conclusion that is flawed.  As much as we may tend to dwell on the negatives of our society and the people who seem to be falling into a morass of sinful and difficult to understand behavior, I can’t escape two truths that have helped guide my life.  We are made in God’s image, and, as my mother used to say, there is good in everyone if we will only look deep enough to find it.  The second truth is found in the Lord’s prioritization of God’s commands, giving us the mandate to love others as we love ourselves.  Understanding that some have a difficult time loving themselves, it is still true that God has found something within us that is very lovable.  So much so, that He provided the life of His only begotten Son out of love for each and every one of us!

Therefore, as crazy as people might often be, we have been bought with an indescribable price, the cost of which is far greater than beer, or anything else for that matter.  Yes, God is great!  Whether or not beer is good, I will leave that up to the individual.  However, I must conclude that, at base, people are not crazy.  Yes, we are a sinful lot, filled with idiosyncracies that befuddle each other, but we are still chosen by God to be with Him forevermore.  I, for one, cannot and will not call that crazy.  Having said that, I will probably continue to enjoy the fanciful lyrics of this song, along with its catchy tune.

Week 33 2013 Lifestyle Choices

My wife and I are constantly trying to overcome the effects of aging.  We try and eat right and less.  Our daily routine includes an exercise routine that works on our muscle structure and, combined with our diet, attempts to keep our weight under control.  All in all, it seems to be effective.  With the realization that we will never again enjoy our twenty-something bodies, we are content in the knowledge that we will not be grossly obese and that our health is as good as can be expected at our age.  However, we also know that if we fail to keep up with our routine we will quickly become flabby, overweight, and less healthy.  So, this will continue to be our lifestyle for the rest of our lives.  And, that is a good thing.  We have discovered that with regular workouts and proper diet we have more energy and life is just better.  Unfortunately, some of us didn’t get this message when we were young, so we are working off the flab of our youthful indulgences.  I am impressed by young people who have established a healthy routine in their early years.  They will be glad they made that choice when they reach my age.  It takes less effort to stay in shape when you are already in great shape.

Jesus intends His disciples to be in great shape.  Thus, the Bible is openly provided to all.  Even more, the revelations of the Divine in nature are inescapable.  That is, unless we choose to ignore Him, or lack interest in His teachings.  If, on the other hand, we choose to know more about Him, learning all we can about His will and ways, we can establish a routine filled with prayer, meditation, reading, and study, that will strengthen our spiritual beings, causing us to be more Christlike.  Fortunately, this exercise regimen takes little effort and tends to fill one with great joy.  Just as a healthy physical lifestyle requires one to voluntarily avoid unhealthy choices, so too a healthy spiritual lifestyle.  However, as anyone who is physically and/or spiritually fit can testify, the benefits far out weigh the sacrifices.  What we gain in return for what we lose is so beneficial that we soon lose interest in the “forbidden fruits.”

Week 32 2013 New Devices

We are blessed with many “toys.”  In fact, one of our close friends once told me that I had too many toys.  Just recently we updated our phones with new iPhones.  These are slick, reliable, pieces of technology that are useful and enjoyable.  Yet, when one breaks it down, they still only provide the basic tools we have always had in our modern world.  Smartphones are telephones that have features we have been able to access in one form or another for many years.  The only thing that’s changed is the ease and convenience.  Because of these those tools are used more frequently and efficiently.  That has been the beauty of technology and human advancement.  Fortunately, we live in a nation where almost everyone has access to these luxuries.

Knowledge of God’s word is more readily available through many “new devices.”  Over the past two centuries archaeological discoveries, along with technological advances, combined with higher literacy rates, have made the will of God more understandable for everyone.  The truth of the Word has always been around, and it hasn’t changed.  I have known Christians who came to a saving knowledge of Christ before they learned to read.  Many of our ancestors received the word from itinerant preachers who were able to read and deliver the message.  Unfortunately, many were dependent on human reasoning outside their own understanding for their comprehension of God’s word.  However, because of the advancements in education, technology, scholarly research, and archaeological discovery, we are not nearly so dependent on fallible human instruction.  Each is able to interpret for themselves through readily available resources the truth of God’s will and nature.

The downside is willing human ignorance.  I cringe when I hear someone proudly proclaim that they are free from technology, because I know how much they are missing.  Even worse, are those who boldly proclaim that they don’t need modern translations and extra-biblical books, software, or other advances, because I realize how they are depriving themselves of much of the meat of the Word.  Truth doesn’t change.  Accessibility to truth, however, does change.  Just as we can choose to not avail ourselves of the benefits offered with new technological devices, we can also choose to stay in the dark ages when it comes to the Bible.  The primary reason for either is laziness.  It takes effort to learn how to use new devices.  Are you willing to be diligent in learning to gain deeper knowledge of God’s truth?

Week 31 2013 Smiling Faces

“Smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend

Smiling faces show no traces of the evil that lurks within

I'm telling you beware, beware of the handshake
That hides the snake
Listen to me now, beware
Beware of that pat on the back
It just might hold you back”

These are words from an old song demonstrating the truth of racial discrimination.  Very often those who are pretending to be a friend have a hidden agenda.  There are those who offer handouts only to keep one from advancing themselves.  Some of these are devious.  Others are acting in ignorance.  Our national welfare system is a prime example.  By providing unlimited welfare we have developed a group of people who no longer have any incentive to better themselves.  They are being held back, having become dependent upon their master, the government.  Instead of limiting welfare and helping its recipients get job training and jobs, the system actually rewards those who choose to remain on welfare by making it more financially lucrative than an entry level job.  With food stamps many of them are able to eat better than a working family.  Even though history has proven the failure of these types of social programs our politicians continue to fund and promote them.

Back in the early nineties Una and I lived in Tulare, California.  We bought a tract home in a new housing development.  The total cost for building the home was $64,000.  Soon after we moved in there was an article in the local paper about a proposal for low-income housing.  It was to be an apartment complex at a cost of $68,000 per unit.  Since I had been involved in local politics, I knew all of our city council people and the mayor.  So, I called each one to make a case against this development.  My argument went as follows: If you build an apartment complex, filling it with low income people, it will turn into a slum because they will have no respect for the property.  However, if you take that same money and use it to build single-family houses and then subsidize the payments for low-income families, giving them a stake in the property with the hope and possibility of one day owning their own home, you will have provided them a hand up, helping them to become productive citizens instead of dependent citizens.  The cost would be the same, but the outcome would yield greater benefits for everyone concerned.  My argument fell on deaf ears.  They went ahead and built the apartment complex and it stands today as a slum filled with people who have been robbed of their honor and self-respect, becoming dependent upon those “smiling faces.”

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”  1 Thessalonians 3:10 NIV

Week 30 2013 Whitewashed Tombs

One of the last regular jobs I held as a television technician was in the cleanest, most efficient shops I had ever worked in or seen.  This store sold used consumer electronics, and, while there was not a particular brand name for sale, it was a warranty station for nearly every brand on the market.  We repaired anything that was brought to the shop.  The owner ran it like a finely-tuned machine.  Each technician had his own workspace with everything at his fingertips.  Large, expensive, diagnostic equipment was on wheels and easily moved from station to station as needed.  The foreman saw to it that parts were quickly delivered to each tech as required.  When we repaired a piece of equipment, be it a television, stereo, VCR, or anything else, we listed the parts used and the work done on a blank piece of paper.  The foreman filled out an estimate worksheet, delivering it to a salesman who would sell the repair to the customer.  All work was guaranteed with a quick turn around in order to please the customer.  As I said earlier, a very clean operation with an eye to detail.  Everything was geared to maximize profit.

Unfortunately, there was a dark side to this shop.  For starters, while there was a parts room with new parts, there was also a warehouse with row after row of used parts.  This would not be a problem if it was disclosed to the customer when a used part was put in their set.  However, this was not the case.  Not only were all parts listed as new, there were often parts billed that were not used in the repair.  I once saw the foreman scurrying about looking for the old parts that were not actually taken out to give to a customer who asked for them.  As stated earlier, the foreman put together the estimates.  All of these were skillfully written as to make them major repairs, regardless of how minor the repair actually was.  He depended on his salesman to sell the job.  If the repair was covered under a manufacturer recall policy, and the customer was unaware of the policy, both the customer and the manufacturer would be billed and collected from.  Televisions that were too old and not worth repair were still repaired because the customer would be sold on the merit of repairing versus discarding.  Thus, while the repair work was completed efficiently and done well, the customer was nearly always being overcharged or ripped off.  Yet, this shop continued to flourish and prosper!

I was reminded of the Lord’s words concerning whitewashed tombs.  He was referring to the Pharisees and teachers of the law who self-righteously displayed all of their righteous deeds while they were rotting internally.  They stood in judgement of others who didn’t live up to their standards, while those under their scrutiny humbly put their lives in the hands of a loving God who is able to forgive, cleanse, and sanctify.  Beware of pharisaical religious people who force their letter-of-the-law doctrines on others.  Jesus welcomed those who were rejected by the law keepers.  He was reviled for doing so, but it didn’t stop Him.  With Him and His followers what you see is what you get.  There is no deception or hypocrisy.  Love, not law, is their guiding principle.

Week 29 2013 Walking in the Light

I love the passage in 1 John 1:5-10, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.”

The Greek tense for purify is a flowing tense, signifying that God’s purification is ever-flowing like a river.  He is continually cleansing us of our sin.  Wow!  This is so awesome, because I know that I need that continual cleansing.  However, there is that troubling part in context that adds an if.  “If we walk in the light . . . Jesus . . . purifies us.”  So, what does it mean to walk in the light?  Well, I have always been told that it means to be obedient.  On the surface this doesn’t sound bad, except that I, like Paul and many others, have a difficult time always being obedient.  Indeed, this same passage says that if we claim to have no sin we make God out to be a liar!  So, we are back to what it means to walk in the light.  It also says, “as he is in the light.”  Well, again, if this means obedience I’m lost.  Jesus was perfect, obedient in every way.  Sorry, I am not able to be perfect in complete obedience.  Not that I don’t try, but I fall short every day.  I am beginning to think that this walking in the light involves something other than obedience.

We are called children of Abraham, and he was commended for his faith.  He was far from perfect, but he did trust God.  When tested with his son Isaac, Abraham was willing to sacrifice him, if that was God’s will.  Yet, he trusted that God would provide an alternative.  I wonder, do you suppose that trust has something to do with walking in the light?  I think we may have hit on something here.  Jesus is called the son of David, and David was called a man after God’s own heart.  However, he was far from perfect.  In fact, his sins were extremely grievous.  However, he trusted that God would create in him a new heart, a clean heart.

Throughout the Lord’s ministry He was dogged by the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law.  These were extremely righteous men.  They were constantly pouring over the scriptures, endeavoring to be completely obedient in every facet of God’s word.  Jesus even challenges his followers to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees.  “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 5:20) And then, in that same sermon, He says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Uh-oh, now I’m really in trouble.  I not only have to be more righteous than the Pharisees, I have to be as perfect as the Father!  What am I to do?

Well, the Lord provides a parable and examples of what we can do.  However, before we get to these, let’s go back to this trust idea.  If we are to understand Jesus walking in the light as having to do with trust that might be doable.  He had to trust that the Father would raise Him on the third day.  He had to trust that the pain He was going to endure would truly be enough to pay the penalty for the sins of the world.  In other words, Jesus continued to walk in complete trust of the Father who sent Him.  In fact, He is constantly reminding his listeners that the words He speaks are the words of His Father, that the life He is living is life in His Father.

In Matthew 8:5-13 there is the story of a centurion who was so painfully aware of his sins that he felt unworthy to have Jesus in his home.  However, he trusted that Jesus could heal without entering his house.  Jesus said that He had not found such great faith in all of Israel.  He exalts this sinful man above the Pharisees!  Did his righteousness somehow exceed theirs, and if so, how?  He trusted Jesus.  He put his complete faith and trust in the One who could save him.  Along with this story, there is that famous parable in Luke 11:9-14.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

When I read those passages in the sermon on the mount telling me that my righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, and that I must be perfect as my heavenly Father is perfect, I can only be driven to my knees, saying, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”  Thus, I come to the conclusion that walking in the light has much more to do with trust than obedience.  I must trust that God will be faithful and save me in the end.  I must trust that He will continually cleanse me of my sin.  Does this mean that I should not live an obedient life?  In no way!  Obedience is my response to a loving Savior who is faithful to forgive and cleanse.  Obedience is my privilege to a God who has graciously offered me eternal life, providing the only perfect sacrifice for my sins.

It is unfortunate that we are still inundated with modern-day Pharisees who believe they can claim a place in God’s kingdom based upon their own righteousness.  It is this belief that they are right and others are wrong that is at the root of the many divisions in the church.  Mankind’s pride has always led him to believe that he is better than another, that he is more right than another.  Walking in the light means that we humbly admit that we are sinners, that we are completely dependent upon Jesus and His righteousness, that we must trust in Him and Him alone, if we are to be saved.

Week 28 2013 Seeing Through My Glasses

Before I had to wear glasses I would be visiting with someone wearing glasses, and wonder how they could possibly not be distracted by the spots on their lenses.  That was twenty-seven years ago.  With these several years of experience, I now understand.  As I type this, my glasses could use a good cleaning.  And, would you believe I have no problem seeing without being distracted?  Of course, I will clean them when it’s convenient.  However, in the meantime, I have no trouble seeing.

Now, you might wonder why I would write a blog post about glasses.  Well, I’m not writing about glasses.  I am writing about experience.  The old saying about walking in another man’s shoes, comes to play in my little story about glasses.  We often have our own ideas the life of another person, thinking that we can apply our own set of principles to make judgements.  Quite often, we end up finding out that we were mistaken with our original assessment.  As much as we might pride ourselves on being a good judge of character, there is only One who can judge the thoughts and intents of the heart.  With such limitations, I have always found it to be advisable to give others the benefit of the doubt, putting a positive spin on my assessment until they prove otherwise.

I have always hoped that others would reserve judgement on me, giving me the benefit of the doubt until I prove otherwise.  Unfortunately, that has not always been the case.  But, that does not relieve me of the responsibility to reserve my judgement until I get a chance to look their glasses.

Week 27 2013 Racism

As we travel the country, we have come across numerous sites dedicated to those who have valiantly worked for racial equality.  Having grown up in the sixties, this is a subject that is near and dear to my heart.  I was raised in an all-white neighborhood and had little experience with people of color.  My parents taught me that all people are equal regardless of their skin color.  However, my grandfather was very prejudiced.  Being from Texas, with a very limited education, his ignorance was easily seen when he discussed African-Americans.  He would say that it was obvious that a black man was an animal, because if you skinned a bear you would end up with a black man.  His logic was so ridiculous that it surpassed hilarity.  Yet, he was a good man, who never mistreated anyone, regardless of color, and he worked alongside many men of color.  He would even give these fellow workers credit for being hard working, decent people.  This sort of racism is easily understood.  People like my grandfather are simply ignorant.

However, there are those who move from ignorance to oppression, and violence.  This sort is criminal and our society rightfully rejects these people until they come to terms with their racism and make changes.  Substantive change began in the United States with the Emancipation Proclamation.  But, real change didn’t take hold until the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.  The greatest leader of that time was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  His message of overcoming through peaceful negotiation and protest began the educational process that helped to bring untold millions of white people out of their ignorance to an understanding of racial equality.  Has racism been eliminated?  No.  Will it ever be eliminated?  Again, no.  There will always be ignorant people who are either unwilling or unable to get past color.  There will always be people who feel the need to bolster themselves by stepping on others.  There will always be prideful people who need to feel superior to others.  But, we have come a long way.

In the early seventies, I started taking college courses at American River College in Sacramento.  I registered for an English class in my second semester.  When I showed up for the first day of class, I discovered that it had been changed to a Black Literature course.  I decided to stay in the class, because I knew and liked the instructor.  As I look back over all the courses of instruction I have received through my lifetime, this course will always remain at the top, not only for its importance, but for its enjoyment.  I was able to learn much about the black experience from people, such as, Phyllis Wheatley and James Baldwin.  Along with the classroom instruction, Mr. Mehaffy introduced us to other venues.  I went to see “Cotton Comes to Harlem” at the Starlight Drive-In.  While the movie was enlightening, an experience at the snack bar was unforgettable.  During intermission, as I stood in the crowd of mostly black people at the counter trying to place an order, a young black man who was obviously in his early to mid-twenties was trying to buy a pack of cigarettes from the young white girl behind the counter.  She asked him for his identification.  He explained that it was in his wallet, and that his wallet was in his car.  Nonetheless, she insisted.  Assessing the situation, I asked him what brand he wanted.  I then turned to the girl behind the counter and asked for a pack of Kool cigarettes.  Even though I was obviously younger than him, and she had witnessed me asking him what brand he wanted, she didn’t hesitate to sell me the cigarettes, without asking for my identification!

Another incident took place on a field trip to Chinatown in San Francisco.  Our bus had stopped in Fairfield for lunch at a restaurant that was commonly used by the college for such trips.  I sat at a table with four of my black friends.  We were ignored and refused service!  There were no apologies, even after the instructor informed the manager that American River College and, likely, every other college in Sacramento, would now boycott his restaurant.

Unfortunately, lest you might think it was all one way, there was another incident that demonstrated racism coming from the other direction.  As an extracurricular assignment, a friend and I attended the opening night of “Tabernacle,” a play at Sacramento State University.  The theme of the play was an expression of racism in the south, depicted through the eyes of a black minister.  The message was equality of races.  At the end of the play, the lead character invited everyone who agreed with the message to come up on the stage.  The very first person was a young black girl, who threw her arms around the minister and shouted, “Come on all you brothers and sisters, get away from all those white honkies out there!”  The minister gave her a look of horror.  My friend and I chose to ignore her and join the others on stage.

There are some who believe that racism can only come from white people.  That’s unfortunate.  Racism doesn’t know any specific color.  I have met racists in just about every race of people.  I have been snubbed by Asians, Mexicans, Native Americans, and African-Americans.  While it is rare, it does happen.  I once had a Mexican student who brought race into every classroom discussion.  I finally told him that he was the most racist person in the room.  He said, “I can’t be racist, I’m Mexican!”  Of course, this produced a lot of laughter from his fellow students.

While it can often be mildly humorous, racist views and actions are generally hurtful.  The worst racist action against me came from a black friend who decided to blast me with racial epitaphs because he wrongly interpreted something I had said as being racist, even though I had made no mention of race.  I can only guess that what I had said touched a nerve that I don’t know about or understand.  Unfortunately, he closed the door to any future dialogue, so it will remain an unsolved mystery to me.  However, I have had other experiences that are not mysterious at all.

It the workplace, when a white person is rejected because of color it is referred to as “reverse discrimination.”  This is a misnomer.  There is nothing reverse about it.  Discrimination is discrimination, regardless of which direction it comes from.  I was going to apply for a job with the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District when I was discharged from the Navy.  I was eminently qualified, however, before I could hand in the application, a fellow pulled me aside and told me I was wasting my time, because I was the wrong color.  While these incidents are mild, compared to the injustice that many people of color have suffered, they are still wrong.

Not wanting to end this post on a negative note, I would be quick to point out that our nation has grown so much in this area that it defies what many thought possible.  I know of no one who was active in the civil rights movements of the sixties and seventies who would have thought it feasible to believe that a person of color could be elected President of the United States in their lifetime.  The election of President Obama demonstrates how far we have come.  The only negative to his election is that there are those who believe anyone who didn’t vote for him, didn’t because of race.  That is truly unfortunate.  In an election where 98% of the registered black voters voted for Obama, one might want to consider who truly voted because of race.  In the election year of 2008, I was teaching high school.  I asked a black student wearing a t-shirt in support of Obama why he wanted Obama to be president?  He started to try to come up with some political reason, and finally said, “I won’t lie.  It’s because he’s black.”  I can respect that.  He was being honest.  There were many people, of all races, including white, who voted for Obama for the same reason.  That is not to say that there weren’t a lot of people who voted for him because of his political ideologies.  However, we should be honest enough to admit that many voted for him because of his race.  It is the first time I have ever heard of anyone voting for someone because of their race.

It is my prayer that in the future we will grow to the point that race ceases to be an issue.  I have hopes that one day my children and grandchildren will not be under the weight of racial suspicion that people will cease to refer to themselves with a hyphen that we will all view one another as God’s highest creation, that the only color will be that of the spirit and soul of our shared humanity, that instead of being quick to judge we might be quick to love and understand, giving each other the benefit of the doubt.  In the words of Dr. King, “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

Week 26 2013 Sonshine

Currently, we have been enjoying sunny weather.  It has been a little balmy in New England, but after so much rain during May and June, the sun is nice to see.  Having grown up in Sacramento, California, we are not really used to rain in the summer.  As we travel the country, it has become abundantly clear that our youthful experience is in the minority.  So, we are adjusting.  The rain is often followed with warm, humid air.  It’s uncomfortable, but air-conditioning makes it bearable.  The primary benefit is the sun.  Not that we are sun worshipers, quite the opposite.  Rather, we are son worshipers.

It’s all about the light.  Light overcomes the darkness, exposing the beauty of God’s creation.  Following a storm, the sun brings out all the vibrant colors.  The creek behind our motor home is flowing faster, providing soothing music for the soul.  The sunlight generously gives of itself so that plants can grow and flowers bloom.  The sky is blue and the clouds are white.  The consummate beauty can be enjoyed by all who will take the time to appreciate it.  However, for many, it’s just another day.  They miss a blessing that is free for all.

The Son also provides light, exposing the awesome beauty of God’s grace.  Again, this light is a gift that can be enjoyed by all who will take the time to appreciate it.  Unfortunately, there are many who miss this blessing, not understanding this free gift of love.  The primary difference between this Son and earth’s son is that we can have His light 24/7!  “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10

Week 25 2013 Copper Pearl

While watching an episode of Overhaulin’, a cable program where Foose and company build and restore cars to surprise their owners, I found it interesting that paint could cost $2,000 a gallon.  True, it was a special mixture, and copper pearl is a very rare color that requires a special formula with exacting proportions, but $2,000?!  As the work on this car progressed throughout the show, the obvious extravagance from custom frame work to body and interior, as well as, a top-of-the-line 200 horsepower engine that required compartment modifications to make it fit, the costs kept mounting up.  The end result was a car that exceeded factory specs by leaps and bounds.  It was new from the ground up, and it was beautiful.  I really hope that the recipient appreciated the lengths and cost of the Foose customization on his VW Beetle.  From all indications, he was.  I have never seen such a tricked-out Volkswagon.

However, if you have ever watched this show, you know that their creations are always spectacular.  Each job requires the work of dozens of people who are specialists in their particular fields.  These are craftsmen who take pride in their work.  It is obvious that they are passionate about their jobs.  It’s difficult to put a price on this kind of workmanship, although they do.  It is a small minority who has the financial resources required to finance this type of art.  The materials and labor can be tens of thousands of dollars.  The show leaves one believing that each completed project is a gift to the owner who is being surprised.  That seems to be the case.  Yet, the television production company doesn’t get off for free, neither do the sponsors.  Furthermore, the show helps to promote business that isn’t aired on national television.  That being said, no one, regardless of their gifts and talents, goes hungry on Overhaulin’.

Now, consider another customization, one that transforms what was once broken, deteriorating, and flawed beyond repair.  This rebuild can only be done by one person.  He is the only one with the skills and necessary materials.  Much like Jim Foose, this rebuilder is an artist.  He has a mental image of what the final product will look like and how it will function.  Unlike Foose, however, this artist has unlimited resources.  Furthermore, the recipient doesn’t need to pay anything.  In fact, the benefactor could not buy this restoration with all the money in the world.  I’m sure by now that you have figured out the artist I’m talking about.  That’s right, God has taken this worthless piece of clay and transformed him into someone of infinite value.  And, while He didn’t need anyone’s help, He enlisted many to accomplish His work.  All of the changes have been precise, being overseen by Perfection, Himself.  And, while it didn’t cost me anything, it cost Him everything!  Jesus gave up His life in order to transform mine.  He allowed His blood to be shed on a cross of shame, and then demonstrated His magnificence by overcoming the grave, and allowing me to see that this transformation will not fade or deteriorate.  No, this overhaulin’ is infinite.  I am a new creation from the ground up!  My pearl copper paint job will never peal or crack, and my Creator will always keep me fresh and new.