Goodbye to Goodbyes

Goodbye to Goodbyes

This is a post I shared two years ago after visiting family in Michigan.  I just returned from a similar visit, and the sentiments expressed here seemed exceedingly poignant … at least to me.  But as always, I pray they bring some insight and encouragement to you.

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I hate goodbyes.  But then almost everyone does, don’t they?  Goodbyes to loved ones are rarely “good byes.”  In those situations, the word is the ultimate oxymoron.

This is a fresh and sensitive topic with me.  Recently I found myself saying goodbye to a number of family members. 

We had traveled back to Michigan to be with loved ones, and the good Lord allowed us to see many!  We spent time with both my parents and my wife’s parents.  We were able to visit with some of our siblings, their spouses and some of their children – our nephews and nieces.  In fact, the members of our entire immediate family (parents, children and grandchildren) were gathered together in one place for almost a week! 

(Because of various circumstances, many of these precious visits occur just once a year.)

Naturally, this led to multiple and heartfelt hellos.  Every day of our vacation brought joyful greetings of one kind or another; warm hellos springing from the shared bond of faith and family.  Hellos that reflect blood ties and past experiences, and which anticipate the wonderful things that the coming moments together will bring.

I love hellos.  Especially hellos to those people embedded deep in my heart.  But every hello in this world ultimately leads to a goodbye, doesn’t it?

Of course, there are a multitude of things to which we sooner or later bid adieu.  Houses, cars, places, experiences, jobs, schools … even previous health and appearance … can all merit “farewells” as we meander on through life.  And then there are those gut-wrenching goodbyes to our pets.  Make no mistake, some of these goodbyes can foster high emotion. 

But the worst goodbyes of all are the goodbyes to people we love. 

Why are goodbyes to loved ones so difficult?  Well, we thoroughly enjoy our time together.  Consequently, goodbye means a pause in those joyful moments, and often bounces us back to the reality of our other responsibilities and less enjoyable activities. 

However, that’s not the fundamental reason we hate goodbyes.  The real reason is very simple; we abhor goodbyes because we don’t know if we will be together again in this world.  The uncertainties of our earthly existence are ever-present in our awareness, and we all recognize that sooner or later there won’t be another hello. 

This inescapable fact rocks us.  It makes farewells to loved ones we rarely see agonizing.  But it even lurks in our consciousness with our day-to-day goodbyes … as much as we try not to think about it.  One can’t live a few years in this uncertain world without recognizing the uncertainty inherent in goodbyes.

My purpose in writing about goodbyes is not to bring anyone down.  Rather I want to underscore a few key points that I have fallen back on as I negotiate painful farewells.

Here’s the first one:  The fact that a person has agonizing goodbyes means that God has blessed them richly with dearly-loved family and friends.  Every close relationship in our life is a precious gift.  Each difficult goodbye we must endure simply emphasizes how profoundly blessed by God we are.

The second significant aspect of painful earthly goodbyes is that they encourage us to eagerly anticipate the day when there will never be any more goodbyes, but only hellos forever and ever.  This is such a foreign concept to us earthlings that we can barely consider it or comprehend it. 

But the day when God ushers us into heaven marks the end of experiencing goodbyes and the beginning of an eternity of hearing only hellos!  “Hello” to the Lord himself and Jesus our Savior.  “Hello” to the multitude of angels.  “Hello” to the great men and women of faith from the Bible and history.  “Hello” to our ancestors who lived and died in Jesus.  “Hello” to our family and friends who preceded us to heaven.  And “hello” to every family member and friend who follow us there!  Never again will we say “goodbye.”  Only “hello” over and over again forever and ever.

The Apostle John was given a glimpse of this wonderful heavenly home where goodbyes are gone and hellos predominate.

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look!  God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain [or goodbyes], for the old order of things has passed away.”  He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  (Revelation 21:3-5) 

A goodbye to goodbyes.  Now that really will be a “good bye!”

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Similes of Our Saving God: Our God Is Like … Our Phones

Similes of Our Saving God: Our God Is Like … Our Phones

I’m on vacation for a few weeks, but I wanted to still share new posts while I’m gone.  However, I didn’t necessarily want to create them while vacationing, so I cheated.  Kinda, anyway.  I pulled the concepts and words from a sermon series I preached a number of years ago and consolidated them into blog posts.  Consequently, these posts are a bit longer than usual.  However, as always, I pray you find them interesting and encouraging.  Dave

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When I was a young boy, my parents had one phone.  Yes, you read that correctly.  My parents owned and used just one phone between the two of them.

The phone was actually fastened to the wall in my parent’s house.  It stayed there … all the time.

They never carried it in their pocket or purse.  And the part of the phone that you listened to and spoke into was fastened to the phone cradle with a cord, and you couldn’t move beyond the length of the cord.

Some of you who are a bit older know exactly what I’m talking about.  It was the same way in your homes.  But some of the younger folks reading this are undoubtedly thinking, “What in the world are you talking about?”  And perhaps, “Where in the world did you live that had such isolated and challenging conditions when a boy?”

Some of you have trouble comprehending a world where there would only be one phone in the house.   Or that said phone would be attached to the wall!  Let me assure you that the phone in my parents’ house was just like the phone in everyone else’s houses at that time.  People only had one or maybe two phones, and they were all permanently connected in one way or another in the homes where they happened to live.

And here’s another thing about the old phones.  You didn’t push numbers on buttons or screens to call someone.  Rather, you had to dial a rotating gizmo.  You stuck your finger in the hole over the correct number on the phone and rotated the dial.  This was called a rotary phone.

Let me further astound the younger readers.  When I was young, my parents’ single phone was connected to a “party line,” as it was called.  Party lines were shared with other people.  We shared our phone line with our neighbors. If the phone rang in a series of one ring at a time, it was an incoming call for my parents.  If it rang twice in quick succession, that was a call for our neighbors. 

Consequently, one would know when calls were coming in for the neighbors, but a person did not know how long that call lasted or when the neighbors happened to be making a call.  Which meant that there were times when a person would pick up the phone off its cradle to make a call, only to hear one of the neighbors already speaking on the line.  At those times, unless it was an emergency, we would have to wait to place our phone call.  And, of course, the ongoing concern was who might be secretly listening in on your conversation.

Pretty weird, huh?  And no, I’m not a hundred years old.  That was the way it was just 50 years ago!

All of these things seem so strange to us today.  It’s hard for many to even comprehend living with a phone system like that.  But here is perhaps the strangest thing of all to the younger readers: back when I was a boy, people used their phones for one thing, and one thing only – to make or receive phone calls.  That’s it!  Fifty years ago phones had just one purpose – to talk with someone.  That’s all!  You didn’t use your phone for anything else.

I’m guessing this is a difficult concept for some to fathom.  To only use a phone to make phone calls seems ridiculous.  Unimaginable.  Preposterous.  Unbearable even!

If you’ve ever been in a public place and looked around, you know how many people are using their phones …and almost constantly!

Here are just a few ways that people use their cellphones today:

Keeping track of time – many people use their phones as their watches

As an alarm clock or a stopwatch

Weather reports … locally or anywhere in the world

Taking pictures and movies

Staying up-to-date by reading the latest news articles

Staying organized – one can put their entire schedule on their phones now

Taking notes – people can even write on their phones these days

For navigation – there’s a GPS on your phone

For tickets – for movies, concerts … even plane tickets

For a personal assistant – instant answers

To purchase items … to scan bar codes … to pay bills … or to deposit money

Calculators – phones come with them now

Magnifying glasses – yup, there’s an app for that too

Playing games – choose your favorite game and you can find an app for it

Watching television shows or movies

Listening to music

Reading books

As a mirror – you can get an app that will provide you with the ability to see yourself on your phone screen

To control functions in your house, like your lights and appliances

To monitor functions in your home – is someone trying to break in?

For unique functions like tuning your guitar … or finding studs in the wall … or as a metal detector … or to measure something

As a recorder

To hold a video conference – to be able to see and talk with someone at the same time

To send instant text messages

Oh yeah.  You can also use your phone to make a phone call

That’s a list of 25 different ways people can use their phones.  And there’s so much more that our phones can do today.  That’s why they are called “Smart Phones.”  And many people … especially younger people … can’t imagine getting along without their phones.

In a very real way, our phones have become like gods to us.  If there is something one needs, the first thing they typically wonder is if their phones can help them. 

Is the information they desire on their phones already?  Often it is!  If not, there’s probably an app that they can get which will allow them to fill whatever need that they have

Have a question about something?  Ask Siri or Google.

Want to know the time?  Need to know the weather tomorrow?  Interested in the stock market prices … or the score in the game?  Check your phone!

Desiring to order a pizza?  Need to burn some time playing a game while waiting?  Interested in a movie for you or your children?  Use your phone!

If the typical person has a need, what’s the first thing they tend to go to for a solution?  Their phones!

People look to their phones as the ultimate life-managing, life-entertaining, life-fulfilling, and even life-rescuing tool.  And honestly, it’s hard not to!  Modern technology has made our phones so extremely useful that it’s very easy to get sucked into the idea that they can provide anything we need.

Which brings us to our simile of the day.  Our Saving God Is like Our Phones … only much better!

We think that we can access the deep pools of wisdom through our phones.  Well, the knowledge on our phones is nothing compared to the wisdom of God.

“Where then does wisdom come from?  Where does understanding dwell? … God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens” (Job 28:20, 23-24).

Furthermore, all the “wisdom” we find through our phones is not necessarily wise.  There’s a lot of human philosophy and anti-biblical thinking that is presented as truth when it really isn’t. 

Remember what Jesus prayed just before his arrest and crucifixion?  Speaking to his Heavenly Father, Jesus said, “Sanctify them (the believers) by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).

So here’s the first thing we should take to heart.  If we need basic information like the weather forecast for tomorrow or the hours when a store is open, by all means we should use our phones. But if we need life answers, we should put our phones in our pockets and open our Bibles.

If we want to know who the true God is, and how he feels about us, and what he has done for us, and how to act towards others, and what to do in different situations, we should search the Scriptures.

If we want to know the answers to anything significant in our lives, we should NOT go to our phones.  Rather we should go to the absolute truth … the Word of God.  We don’t need any extraneous teachings; all we need to learn is what our God tells us.

We don’t need our phones for that, though it’s awesome if you have the Bible on your phones!  If you have the Bible on your phones – and you use it – then at those times your phones actually become wonderful tools for holding the absolute truth.  But otherwise, your phones should be secondary to God’s Word.

And what about our day-to-day needs?  Are our phones the answer?  We are tempted to say “yes,” but the correct answer is “no!”  The true source of provision for what we need in life is much better than our phones.  It’s the Lord!

David makes this clear in Psalm 36: “Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.  How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!  People take refuge in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 36:5-7).

Do we need assistance with something?  Do we need provision or protection?  The first place we should approach for our life needs is NOT our phones, but our Lord, who is like our phones, only much, much better!  In fact, the Lord himself tells us unequivocally, “Call on ME in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psalm 50:15).

And who is hearing and answering our prayed calls for assistance?  The Lord who loves us and who has saved us!  As Paul reminds us, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

The Lord is so much better than our phones!

If you are skeptical about that concept, give some thought to this: what will happen someday if or when the phone networks crash?  What good will your phones do you then? 

Or maybe something more easily considered.  What happens when our phones stop working?  I’m sure you have been there. It’s horrifying when our phone croaks, isn’t it?  It can absolutely shut down almost every aspect of our lives.  Dead phones can paralyze us.  And sooner or later, every phone gives out, doesn’t it?

Well, our God never dies.  Our God never stops working.  He never stops providing for us and protecting us.  He never stops guiding us.  God’s Word never goes out-of-date.  The Lord is always faithful; always reliable.  Long after our phones are discarded, our God is still taking care of us.

How incredibly comforting this truth is!  Our God will always be taking care of us; his truths will always be true.  In that way, our Lord is far better than any phone we have, or any phone we ever will have.

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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Similes of Our Saving God: God Is Like … Our Golden Retriever

Similes of Our Saving God: God Is Like … Our Golden Retriever

I’m on vacation for a few weeks, but I wanted to still share new posts while I’m gone.  However, I didn’t necessarily want to create them while vacationing, so I cheated.  Kinda, anyway.  I pulled the concepts and words from a sermon series I preached a number of years ago and consolidated them into blog posts.  Consequently, these posts are a bit longer than usual.  However, as always, I pray you find them interesting and encouraging.  Dave

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Perhaps the words, “God Is Like … Our Golden Retriever” seems a bit of a reach, and perhaps even bordering on sacrilegious.  But remember, this is a simile.  I didn’t say the Lord IS a dog; I said he is LIKE our dog … which happens to be a Golden Retriever named Bailey.

Please realize that I am not looking for an excuse to write about our pet.  I like our dog a lot, but he and I have had our moments.  My family can tell you that there have been times – especially when he was younger – that I would just as soon have gotten rid of him as have him around.

So how is God like our Golden Retriever?  Well, Golden Retrievers are fairly unique in some ways.  Here is how they are described by Linda Whitwam in “The Complete Golden Retriever Handbook:”

“This strikingly handsome dog with a wonderful temperament, intelligence, love of humans and great desire to please his owners has become one of the most popular breeds on the planet. … [Goldens are] affectionate and loyal, gentle, honest, good-natured and gets on well with people of all ages.”

There are actually a number of characteristics Golden Retrievers exhibit that beautifully picture our loving Lord.  But there is one trait specifically that I would like to use as a simile to God.  It’s a trait that I have not seen as strongly in any other dog we have had, either when I was a child or with any dogs I have owned as an adult.  (But then none of the other dogs we had were Golden Retrievers either.)

Here’s what Bailey does that I have never seen demonstrated so strongly in any other dog we have owned.  This is the trait that reminds me so much of our Saving God: Bailey’s greatest desire in life is to be as close as he possibly can be to anyone in our family!  He would choose being close to people over any other thing.  And I mean any other thing!

For example, when we take his food out to him, he would rather be petted and close to us than eat his meal.  I am convinced that he could be ravenously hunger, and he would still ignore his food if he has the opportunity to be petted instead.

Since he stays outside, (almost a necessity due to his constant shedding), he will always try to lie down by the door nearest to family members.  Ideally, he will park himself outside the sliding door on our deck or by our living room where he can actually see us and be as close to us as possible.  Or if I am working on something in the back yard where he stays, he will remain as close to me while I am working as he possibly can.  If I am in the garage, Bailey will be in the garage too.  If I am in the front yard, Bailey will be lying by whichever fence is the closest to where I am.

I have actually had to train him to give me space so I could work.  If he had his choice, he would have his face right in the middle of whatever I am doing.  I mean that literally!  I had to train him to lie down nearby.  If I didn’t, he would never let me get anything done.

And those of you who are dog owners are perhaps thinking, “Well, that doesn’t sound much different than my dog.  Dogs always want to be close to their owners.”

To which I would reply, “Yes, I know that is the case.  But this is different.  This is a whole different level of longing to be close than most other dogs exhibit.”

Perhaps this will illustrate the degree to which Bailey longs to be close to us.  When we took Bailey on his first camping trip, he loved it.  So many little animals in the forest to smell.  So many other dogs to interact with.  So many other people to pet him.  A lake to splash in.  Forest trails to walk on. 

And the best thing of all – his family all stayed outside with him!  We cooked outside, ate outside, played games outside, and even slept outside in tents.  So Bailey was able to be close to us the entire time!  He loved it.

But he was not content to simply lie nearby.  Bailey continually plopped himself as absolutely close to us as he possibly could.  And I don’t mean simply settling down comfortably at the end of his chain.  That’s what most dogs would do.  They would get as close to their people as their leashes would allow and settle comfortably there.

But that’s not what Bailey did.  We had his chain anchored so that he could reach most of our campsite.  However, the length was set so that he couldn’t quite reach our picnic table (and be “obnoxious” while we were sitting there).  So this is what Bailey did: he stretched his chain to its absolute limit and laid down behind our feet.  And when he laid down, the chain was actually suspended in the air!

Can you imagine how uncomfortable that would be?  Yet he did this repeatedly.  And he would sleep there like that while we did other things at the table, lying as close to us as he possibly could with his chain suspended in the air!

I’ve never seen anything like it before.  But Bailey did it because that allowed him to be as close to us as possible.  And this isn’t just a Bailey thing; this is a Golden Retriever thing.

I think it was on that camping trip that I first thought of the simile that our God is like a Golden Retriever.  Just like Bailey longs to be as close to us as possible, so our God longs to be as close to us as possible.  And not just occasionally, but constantly!   Always!  If Bailey had his way, he would never be further than a few feet away from anyone in our family.  So it is with God.

If our Lord had his way, he would always be as close to us as he possibly could be.  God’s greatest desire is to be close to us … to be embraced by us.  God wants that to be the case throughout our lives here on earth, and throughout all of eternity in heaven.

“But wait a minute” you might say, “the Bible shows us that God is omnipresent (present everywhere).  If God is present everywhere, then by definition isn’t he always close to us?”  Perhaps you would even quote the words of Psalm 139 (below) or the Apostle Paul’s words to the Athenians?  “‘God … is not far from any one of us’” (Acts 17:27).

Yes, God is indeed always close, technically speaking.  But not necessarily close like God desires.

It’s like this.  If you attend a concert or a ballgame with your spouse, the two of you are sitting side-by-side.  You are close to each other.  You can chat, hold hands, even kiss.  Meanwhile on the other side of each of you is another person … a stranger.  You are as physically close to them as you are to your spouse, but you aren’t really close to them at all, are you?

And so it is with our Lord.  He is always close to us.  But he isn’t always “close.”

He longs to talk with us through his Word.  He longs to hear from us in our prayers.  He longs to touch us in his love.  He longs to surround us with his care and presence.

So why then isn’t God “close” to us?  Because we distance ourselves from him.

We don’t read his love notes to us in his Bible.  We don’t listen to his messages of love in his Word.  We don’t bring ourselves into his presence in God’s House.  We don’t communicate with him regularly in prayer.  We don’t avail ourselves of the opportunities to allow him to draw closer to us.  We keep ourselves so busy and distracted that we don’t have time for our Lord.  Our God is longing to come closer to us, but we hold him at a distance.

Just like Bailey wants to be as close to our family as he possibly can, so our Lord wants to be as close to us as we will allow.  Yet all too often we tell God to “lie down” nearby.

Now this is a necessary and good approach with dogs.  But this is NOT a wise or good approach with God.  Yet we do it all the time!

“God, I’ll give you attention when I have time.” 

“Lord, I’ll spend time with you soon.”

“Savior, I know you long to be closer to me, but I can’t be bothered with you at the moment.”

You know what we should be saying to the Lord?  Each and every one of us should be saying,

“Jesus, I repent for not longing to be as close to you as you long to be close to me!”

“Savior, forgive me for my negligence of your Word!”

“Lord, have mercy on me a sinner!”

Dear Christian friends, thanks be to God that he has had mercy on us.  Our Heavenly Father has forgiven us because Jesus made everything right with him for us.

The sinners on earth (you and me!) continually push God away.  We repeatedly distance ourselves from God with our incessant sinning.  But instead of saying, “Fine, if you want no part of me, so be it,” the Lord said, “That’s not fine with me; I will intervene.  I will come close to you!”

And that’s what Jesus, the Son of God, did!  He came to earth, born as a little baby boy, in order to live a perfect life of complete dedication to the Lord, and then to offer his holy life as a perfect payment for our neglect of God and sin against God.  On that bloody Roman cross is your Savior, come to earth to you, to restore your relationship with him.

God is God, and he not only longs to stay close to us, he actually does stay close to us.  God’s love and his presence are always with us.  As the Apostle Paul writes so beautifully:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35, 37-39).

Are significant life changes on the horizon for us?  Is our employment status changing?  Are money problems stressing us out?  Are health difficulties, hospital visits, or surgery in our future?  Are we concerned about car troubles or major house repairs?  Are we facing a family crisis?  Are we emotionally frayed to the breaking point?  Our loving God is with us!

No matter where life may take us, or where we may have to journey.  No matter what we face or where we are.  No matter our situation, our loving God is close by.  In fact, he is with us!  Even closer – much closer – than a Golden Retriever!

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Psalm 139:1-10

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

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To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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A Certain Hope

A Certain Hope

Twenty seasons of futility.  That’s how long it has been since the Seattle Mariners participated in Major League Baseball’s playoffs.  Their last appearance in the post-season was 2001. 

In case you missed it a few sentences ago, let me restate it – that’s 20 years and counting of no October baseball!  Or two decades; an entire generation!

My second-youngest son was only 3 when it happened last.  My youngest son, who will be a senior in high school this fall wasn’t even born.  No wonder they are both rather cynical when it comes to the Mariners.

This was supposed to be the year they competed.  The playoff spots increased by two, opening more opportunity.  Furthermore, the M’s general manager rebuilt the team, stocking up on fantastic young prospects.  They have nurtured those prospects for years, and in this off-season added several players with strong major league resumes.

Before the season began, Mariners’ office personnel, local sports talk hosts, the players themselves, and almost the entire fan base were certain this would be the year that their reign of futility would end.  And perhaps it will be yet.  (Last year they made an exciting run in the second half of the season, finishing just a few games short of qualifying for the post-season.)

But key injuries, performance setbacks from some of the young players, and underwhelming play by expected contributors with “track records” have the Mariners in fourth place in the American League West Division, and seven games back from qualifying for a wildcard berth.

As I write this, teams have played about 70 games, with approximately 90 games remaining.  Hope isn’t yet gone, but it’s waning.  At this point the climb into the playoffs for Seattle’s baseball team will be a daunting task.

A person’s favorite team having a strong season is anything but certain.  No matter who is making the team player decisions and how astute he or she may be, and regardless of how talented the players may be on the team, there is no sure thing in the MLB. 

Nor is there in life really.  Actually, in any aspect of life!

Injuries occur.  Unexpected events transpire.  Extenuating circumstances pop up.  Setbacks set us back.  The bottom line is that none of us are guaranteed a rosy tomorrow.  We aren’t even guaranteed tomorrow itself!

How wonderful it is, then, that as Christians we are guaranteed eternity in a heavenly paradise!

How do we know heaven is ours?  How can this wonderful sounding but seemingly abstract blessing possibly be a certain hope for you and me?

Because it’s handled by a Sure Thing … by the very Son of God himself!  Jesus secured a place in heaven for every single person who clings to him in faith! 

The recurring theme throughout Scripture is that Jesus saved us.  Salvation certainly isn’t something we sinners deserve, and we can’t secure it by anything we do.  Rather we deserve quite another fate.  The Bible lays it out simply and clearly: “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Let those magnificent words sink in and settle comfortably in your soul.  The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Is it really possible that you and I who are imbedded in an uncertain life in uncertain times in an uncertain world can actually have a certain hope of heaven?  Yes!  It’s beyond “possible;” it’s reality!

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life … I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-13).

Will the Mariners miss the playoffs for the 21st year in a row, and extend the longest streak of futility in all the primary professional sports leagues?  It remains to be seen.  Their future is uncertain.

Our future as believers in Jesus, however, is anything but.  We have at least one certain hope, and it trumps all others!  We are headed to heaven!  And when the Lord brings us across “home plate” and into our eternal home, we will see that certain hope fulfilled … forever.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you …” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

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Will God’s People Fight for Him? (A Story with Alternate Endings)

Will God’s People Fight for Him? (A Story with Alternate Endings)

Prelude to Story One and Story Two

The glowing cross dominated the pinnacle of the hill, illuminating the slopes sweeping downwards.  The military tents and soldiers spread across the hillside’s flanks were clearly visible in the light of the cross.  A captain and his lieutenant perched on a ledge above the camp.

Camped in the heights, the unit of soldiers held the high ground, and had the cross above them, but the commander was concerned nonetheless.  The heavy, roiling darkness was distinctly evident in the distance, casting a dismal shadow over the territory below, and on the people moving about in that lower land.  There was power – a great and evil power – spawning that swirling mass; a lurking and ever-present threat.  It was drawing closer.

The lieutenant noticed where the captain’s attention was directed.  “Our Lord is greater than the enemy,” he stated quietly.

“Oh, I know,” replied the captain.  “Much greater.  And the Lord definitely fights for his people.  But he typically chooses to fight through his people.” 

The captain turned to his second.  “And that is the crucial point.  How many of our warriors are ready to battle?”  He paused, then added, “And how many are ready to battle together?”

“I presume all of them,” was the startled reply.

“That’s a dangerous and probably faulty assumption.  Despite our attempts to train them, some might think they can battle better alone.  Others might not be prepared for the realities of conflict.  Still others may not think it is even necessary to fight – that there is no danger.”

“What should we do?”

“Try to warn them.  Try to prepare them.  Try to train them.  Try to mobilize them.”

“That’s what we’ve been doing!”

“Yes, and that’s what we must keep doing.  Either they will respond and engage, or they will not, and this hill will be overrun.”

The lieutenant’s eyes grew wide.   He swallowed and shifted uncomfortably.  “Would the Lord actually let that happen?”

“If these soldiers will not unite and fight for him, he will turn his attention … and his blessing … to others who will.”  A chill ran through the young lieutenant.  The commander put his arm around the other’s shoulder.  “It is a hard truth, but a truth nonetheless.  Why don’t we assess the troops?”

The Battle – Story One, Part Two

The commander and his assistant quietly dropped down the slope and into camp.  The soldiers, men and women, young and old, were gathered around fires, facing the flickering flames and one another. They discussed innocuous matters intently; a number of them were even bickering.  Only a few actually wore their armor; most had carelessly strewn their protective gear around the camp.  Fewer still had their swords strapped to their hips.

The captain shook his head and hissed in frustration.  Taking a deep breath, he barked out, “Attention, everyone!”  The soldiers casually stood up and turned their attention to him.  A few in more removed positions actually rolled their eyes.

The commander slowly shifted his gaze across the troops.  “My first question is, why is no one guarding the perimeter, as commanded?  My second question is, why are most of you without your armor and your weapons?”

Most dropped their eyes, but one arrogant man stared straight into the captain’s face and replied, “The answer to both is the same: because we are on the hill and in the light of the cross.  We are completely safe from attack here.  No special measures are needed.”

The captain stared at him, then said, “Do you not see the cloud of evil approaching for attack?  Have you not noticed that the dark shadows and the people living in them are encroaching on our slopes?  Our portion on this hill has shrunken; our purchase here has become more tenuous.”

“Are you saying the Lord is losing his power?”

“Absolutely not!  I am saying the soldiers’ dedication to the Lord is waning!”

The insolent soldier smirked.  “Some leader you are!  This hill and this cross will always be here and will always be ours!”

The commander shook his head sadly.  “Turn your eyes outward, soldiers.  Look over the shadows!  Do you see the other hills out there?  Some are still lit by the cross; a few bear brilliant shining ones.  But most of the hills that used to be lit are now dark.”  The soldiers shifted their views outward; a few actually seemed shaken by what they saw.  The captain continued, “The cross of Jesus will always shine somewhere, but there is no guarantee it will always shine here!”

A few took their leader’s words to heart and began strapping on their gear, but most clearly dismissed his admonition.  The captain rested his hands on his hips.  “So tell me, what are your concerns – besides dismissing the danger?”

A quiet murmuring arose, as soldiers furtively glanced at one another.  Finally a young woman spoke.  “There is no one my age or like me to fight beside, so I’m not really feeling it.”

Another stated, “A fellow soldier upset me, so I don’t really want to fight alongside him.”

The individuals got bolder, and more comments were given voice.  “I’m clearly too old,” said one. 

“I’m too young for serious warfare,” said another.

“I’m disabled; there is nothing I can do,” offered someone.

“I’d be glad to battle for the cross, but I’m just too busy,” said a shrugging soldier. 

“I’m looking for fun, not conflict,” said another. 

“I don’t think this hill and the lighted cross on it are really that relevant anymore,” stated yet another. 

A voice from the back added, “You’re the captain; you will do what needs to be done to keep the cross lit here.  You don’t really need us.”

Tears of sorrow rolled down the captain’s cheeks.  So many potential soldiers; so few determined to fight for the Lord.  He watched as small groups from the ranks broke away and trudged down the hill, their armor disregarded.  As they approached the shadows, arrows erupted from darkness and viciously cut them down. Suddenly a hideous roar arose from the gloom, and a huge mass swelled up the hill in attack.  The darkness advanced and the boundary of the light on that hill diminished significantly.

The Battle – Story Two, Part Two

The commander and his assistant quietly dropped down the slope and into camp.  The soldiers, men and women, young and old, were all fully armored, with their swords by their sides or in their grasp, being sharpened.  Sentries were stationed at key spots around the camp, watching alertly for danger.  Everyone’s attention was focused outward, at the potential danger in the shadows, but also keenly watching for opportunities to recruit to their numbers.  Their conversations focused on the most effective battle techniques.

The captain shook his head and smiled in satisfaction.  Taking a deep breath, he called out, “Attention, everyone!”  The soldiers briskly stood and turned toward him.

The commander slowly rolled his gaze over the troops.  “My first compliment is that you are guarding the perimeter, as commanded.  My second compliment is that you are fully armored up and properly armed.  Well done!  You are prepared for battle, as you should be.”

Most smiled silently, but one confident man looked with large eyes into the captain’s face and replied, “Just because we are on the hill and in the light of the cross does not mean that we are completely safe from attack here.  Special precautions are always needed.”

The captain looked back at him, and nodded, “You see the cloud of evil approaching for attack.  You have noticed that the dark shadows and the people living in them are trying to encroach on the slopes.  Our portion on this hill can certainly shrink; our purchase here can always become more tenuous.”

“The Lord will never lose his power!”

“Definitely not!  But he is pleased to use warriors who are willing to fight for him!”

The sincere soldier smiled.  “You are a fine leader!  With God’s help, your leadership, and our willingness to fight with you, this hill and this cross will always be here and will always be ours!”

“Thank you for your kind words.  But thank you especially for your readiness and eagerness to fight with me for our Lord.  With his blessing, the cross will always shine brightly from this hill!”

The gathered soldiers were nodding solemnly.  The captain rested his hands on his hips.  “So tell me, what are your concerns in the face of the constant danger?”

A quiet murmuring arose, as soldiers furtively glanced at one another.  Finally, a young woman spoke.  “There is no one my age or like me to fight beside, but I am committed to recruiting some others.”

Another stated, “A fellow soldier upset me, but I am determined to let it go for the greater good.  I will fight for him and with him.”

The individuals got bolder, and more comments were given voice.  “I’m clearly too old to do much,” said one, “but I will stand watch and blow the warning trumpet when needed, and I will fill a gap in the ranks as best I can!”

“I’m too young for serious warfare,” said another, “but I will bring food and encouragement to the fighters.”

“I’m disabled, but I will find something I can do,” offered someone.  “And I can still pray for the other warriors!”

“I’d be glad to battle for the cross, but I’m so very busy,” said a third.  “But I will reset my priorities and adjust my schedule so I can fight with the rest.  And I will give generously of my profits to support this crucial war.”

“I’m looking for fun, not conflict,” said another.  “So I am looking forward to celebrating with everyone when the victory is won!” she announced with a grin.

“I have wondered if this hill and the lighted cross on it are really that relevant anymore,” stated yet another.  “But as I see the approaching shadows, I recognize that it is.  I will fight!”

A voice from the back added, “You’re the captain; you will do what needs to be done to keep the cross lit here.  And we will follow you and battle by your side to make sure it does!”

Tears of joy rolled down the captain’s cheeks.  So many potential soldiers, and everyone determined to fight for the Lord in whatever way they could.  He looked on as the guards continued their diligent watch, and as the warriors in camp readied themselves for conflict.  Lower on the hill, a band of warriors drove suddenly into the darkness, swinging their swords.  Suddenly a joyous roar arose from the hillside, and more warriors swarmed down the slope and joined the attack.  The boundary of the light on that hill broadened significantly.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Obviously, this is an oversimplification of complex dynamics and spiritual warfare.  Yet it’s not altogether inaccurate to the realities.  Where God’s people are prepared to fight for the Lord’s Kingdom, there God bestows profound blessings on their battles for Him.  Where excuses reign, there the darkness advances.

Simple as these stories may be, I pray that they provide the opportunity for serious contemplation.  I have always maintained that simple stories can sometimes carry powerful messages.  God grant that these stories are exactly that!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1 Peter 5:8-11
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

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Finally Done with Learning!

Finally Done with Learning!

It’s graduation season!  It’s that time of year when students, after a lengthy academic journey, formerly move on from elementary school, high school, or college … often reveling in the occasion of finally processing to the swelling sound of “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Many churches also celebrate “Confirmations” in the spring months, which is in essence a spiritual “graduation” of individuals within the Church after learning key truths of the Bible.

In either case, after reaching that point in the educational path, a typical response of the graduate or confirmand is to exult in the idea that he or she is finally done with learning. 

Speaking personally, after four years of Christian high school, four more years of pastor-training college, and then another four years of studying and “apprenticing” through the seminary … I was so done with school!  I definitely rejoiced that my learning seemed to finally be completed.

How wrong I was!  My education was just beginning!

That’s not to say that I didn’t learn during all those years in the classroom.  Rather, that is making the point that practical (and spiritual!) learning continues on a daily basis in the school of real life, the classroom of worship, and the textbook of the Bible.

It’s often been stated that when God is done using us here in this world, he takes us to heaven.  I believe that to be absolutely true.  When we have fulfilled God’s purposes for our lives, he brings us Home. 

In a closely related application, I suspect that when we are done learning … especially spiritually … God transitions us from this world to the next. 

I do understand that sadly sometimes some lose degrees of cognitive ability.  But that doesn’t necessarily affect their soul, or the increase of their spiritual growth.  Especially when faith is rooted in their heart and God’s Word continues to be shared with them.  Who knows what wonderful spiritual insights the Lord is giving them in those difficult days?  Perhaps they are transitioning from a somewhat skeptical mindset back to the childlike faith Jesus praises in Luke 18:17?

When I was a teenager, I rejoiced that I was so much wiser than my father and mother, not only academically, but spiritually as well.  The older I became, the more my ignorance seemed to grow and the smarter my parents seemed to become.  Now I wish with all my heart that my parents’ accumulated knowledge – especially their spiritual wisdom from a long life lived in the Lord – could somehow be transferred to me!  How much wiser I would be!

Are you desiring to be done with learning?  I understand, but please reevaluate!  The wisest man who ever lived devoted the majority of two books in the Bible to the importance of wisdom … not just practical wisdom, but especially spiritual wisdom!

Here’s a good synopsis of Solomon’s point of view and advice: “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:9-10).

The wise king also provides the source of ultimate wisdom: “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).  Despite the predominant point of view of much of the world today, there is indeed an absolute truth, and it is found in the Absolute Lord and the words he has provided for us (the Bible!).  Consequently, God’s absolute truth is also the basis for the highest wisdom.

And recognize this: spiritual wisdom isn’t merely academic or intellectual!  Spiritual wisdom goes deeper – to the very heart and soul of a person.  A growing understanding of God’s truths feeds one’s faith and fosters spiritual (and thereby emotional) peace.  Jesus himself states this clearly: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

Finally done with learning?  May that never be the case for any of us while we live here in this world! 

No, today is just the first day of spiritual education for the rest of our lives.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Psalm 78:1-4, 6-7
My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old — things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done … and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Colossians 1:9-14
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:15-19
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

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An Understood, but Often Unapplied, Truth

An Understood, but Often Unapplied, Truth

A year ago on June 6, on the morning of what was supposed to be Student Confirmation Sunday at the congregation where I serve as pastor, I tumbled down the bottom steps of the stairway from the balcony to the main floor of our church.  When I tried to pick myself back up, I couldn’t. 

Consequently, I experienced my first (and hopefully last!) ride in the back of an ambulance.  I was about to learn that I had a Grade 3 (severe) quadriceps strain in both of my legs.  In laymen’s terms, I had torn the muscle fibers of my upper thighs.

Through the years, I have been drilled by line drives on the baseball field, had my forehead split open in a car accident, and been achingly sore from long days of grueling physical labor in fields and factories.  I have broken bones and even had my left kidney removed via five incisions in my stomach.  But I have never experienced such excruciating … and lingering … pain in my entire eventful life!

I literally lost the ability to move my legs without extreme pain.  (Actually, they even ached when they weren’t moving!)  I was unable to take steps or even stand without the assistance of a walker.  I wasn’t only a “prisoner” in my house, but in my bedroom for well over a week before I trepidatiously, (and with strong support from my sons), attempted to navigate down and back up the stairs to our bedroom.

A year later I am still experiencing the lingering effects of the fall.  Though much better in every regard, I’m still not fully recovered.  My legs are still weak, which is rather frustrating for someone who enjoys being active in the outdoors. 

Three weeks ago, on the day before I was to lead worship and Bible study at two different congregations, I discovered I had COVID.  Once again, I was unable to carry out my pastoral responsibilities due to physical complications.

The most significant result of the virus, besides being fairly miserable for three days and being largely shut down in regard to ministry?  I lost my sense of taste for some wonderful foods (like, for example, ham and bacon)!  Thankfully I seem to be regaining this wonderful Sense.

The point of sharing these things is not to complain.  Nor is it to solicit sympathy from anyone. Rather it is to remind you and me that we take so many things – far, far too many things! – for granted. 

Before careening down the stairs, I never once bothered to thank God for the ability to stand or walk.  Before the virus, I never considered the simple gift of taste.  I used to take these abilities completely for granted; never even thought about them.  Now I count them as profound blessings!  In fact, there hasn’t been a day since my fall that I haven’t been filled with gratitude for the capacity to take steps.

The expression, “you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone” is absolutely true.

I am certain that we all recognize this concept on an intellectual level.  But do we approach our lives embracing the realities of this principle?  I would suggest that fully appreciating our profound blessings is an understood, but usually unapplied, truth.

Frankly, I believe it is beyond our ken.  As humans impacted continuously by our sinful natures, it is not only difficult for us to do, but virtually impossible.  Until a loved one, or an ability, or an opportunity, or a possession, or whatever it may be is no longer available to us.  Then we recognize with regret what we used to have, and that we failed to properly value it.

I stated that continually rejoicing in our countless blessings is virtually impossible for sinful humans.  We tend to simply assume they will always be ours.  But that is not to say that we should abandon the fight.  Rather, a goal of building and maintaining an attitude of gratitude for everyday blessings is a goal worth pursuing! 

Certainly the Lord encouraged this approach to life.  Speaking to the Israelites as they were preparing to inhabit Canaan, the Lord urged them to remember their great gifts and the source of those gifts.

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God … Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God …  You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth …”  (Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 17-18).

In short, God’s message was, “You will be tempted to forget the Source of your salvation and the Source of your bounty, and to take it all for granted.  But don’t!  Because you wouldn’t have it without me.”

This is a critical message, not just for the people of Israel, but for you and me as well!  We wouldn’t have any of the boons we enjoy … even the simplest and most unappreciated ones … if God had not given them to us.  Wise ones recognize this fact and act and think toward God and about life accordingly.

Which is why the psalmist writes these encouragements:

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:2-5).

In other words, realize what you have while you have it … and Who provided these blessings to you … and give thanks to your gracious God and praise him for his goodness.  Then God’s provision becomes not only understood, but our gratefulness is properly applied!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A few weeks after my fall, I shared this list on my blog.  It seemed appropriate to include it in this post as well. 

Things for which I’ll always be thankful and will never take for granted again.  (Or at least I shouldn’t!)

The guiding, blessing hands of our loving God.

The powerful protection of God’s guardian angels.

The professionalism of medical responders.

The kindness and caring of God’s people.

The blessing of gracious, giving friends.

The unselfish love of family.

The applicability of God’s Word to all situations at all times.

The significance of a little bit of human encouragement in difficult situations.

Self-sufficiency.

The blessing of everyday freedom of decisions.  This list is long and includes such things as roaming the house at will, stepping onto the deck to grill, ambling around the yard to look at the flowers, running out on a whim of an errand or attending my son’s ballgame.

The importance of leg muscles in almost everything one does, and the necessity of a strong base.

Legs that don’t constantly ache.

Walking!  Walking upright.  Walking without pain.  Walking around.  Taking a walk.  Just walking.

The ability to take stairs.  (I say this in reference to mobility, not falling down them!)

Taking a shower.

Working from my desk.  (As opposed to working from a card table.)

The capability of standing up unassisted after falling down.

The ability to get into and out of bed without help.

Sitting down, and rising back up again, without pain. 

Stooping down to put on socks or pick items up off the floor.

WIFI, television and a restroom in our remote bedroom in the house.

Godly leaders and workers who don’t hesitate to step up and into the gap for God.

Leading worship on Sunday, and the privilege of preaching God’s Word to God’s people.

The preciousness of time, and how quickly it can potentially be taken from you.

“Wake up calls” from God, teaching us lessons we should have already known.

All of which seems to be summarized beautifully by the Apostle Paul.  “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

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An Obnoxious Noise

An Obnoxious Noise

It seems I experience it at least once a day as I’m out and about around Tacoma.  Someone parked at a gas station or quick-stop has their music from their car stereo cranked up to 120 decibels and their windows down.

Generally, it seems to be the same type of music that is bomb-blasting from vehicles.  And generally that type of music includes lyrics of disgusting morals and despicable language.  (I don’t appreciate being compelled to hear words like that.)  However, other genres of music occasionally make an audible appearance as well. 

Call me old-fashioned and out-of-touch, but it doesn’t matter to me what type of songs are being broadcast for all to hear for several blocks around, (not to mention the unfortunate individual purchasing gas on the other side of the pump!), to insist on sharing one’s music with everyone in the vicinity is blatantly rude.  To assume that others are fine with your music preference and the volume of said preference strikes me the height of selfishness and incivility. 

But there is an even worse offense, in my opinion.  (I apologize in advance to everyone whom I am about to offend.)  To my mind, an even more despicable transgression is blaring one’s music in God’s great and generally soothingly-quiet natural settings. 

Like in a campground.  Loud enough for several loops to hear.  At 7:30 in the morning while most are still in their sleeping bags or at 10:30 at night during campfire time.  Or any time!

Or at or on the lake, with a volume sufficient for the lyrics to be discerned on every shore.  While some are resting in lawn chairs longing to hear the waves while watching their fishing tackle, or simply trying to relax in their cottage or on their dock.

Or the most contemptible offense of all – jamming one’s music in what should be the peacefully serene backdrop of a backcountry trail!  (I have personally experienced this a number of times, and every time it has been a challenge to maintain my Christian demeanor.  I’m not proud of this; simply stating the truth.)

A good friend is a caretaker of a Christian retreat center in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, and she has shared with me that it is not uncommon for folks from the city to be out in the extreme stillness of the center … and be “freaked out” by the quiet.  Maybe that is why some insist on projecting their tunes even … perhaps especially … in the calmness of God’s creation.

How sad to insist on listening to the squawking of people when the loveliness of God’s creation hums a soothing natural melody.

I suspect that a least some of you can relate to what I’m sharing, and you find unsolicited music from strangers obnoxious as well.

However, it occurred to me the other day while being inundated by yet another blaring stereo, that we as Christians hold the God-given and challenging task of broadcasting a message that is also often ill-received.  Our God instructs us, “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done” (Psalm 105:1).  That would be not only giving us life, but giving us a Savior!

Sadly, that’s an “obnoxious noise” to many who hear it.

Here’s how the Lord described it through his prophet Jeremiah: “To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it” (Jeremiah 6:10).

The Holy Spirit provided a similar message through Paul: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. … For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:18&21).

Most don’t want to hear the gospel.  They find it “offensive” and “foolish.”  Yet the Lord instructs us to share his truth with them anyway.  (However, I recommend doing so in a kinder and more thoughtful manner than the boom-blasters.) 

The Lord concurs.  “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect …” (1 Peter 3:15).

Just a verse earlier, the Lord also acknowledges that we might catch some flak for sharing an “obnoxious noise” with unbelievers.  Still he encourages us, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened’” (1 Peter 3:14).

So I urge you and me and all Christians everywhere … be lovingly obnoxious!  Share the soul-saving, life-changing, self-esteem-altering, hope-giving message of Jesus.  It’s infinitely better than the message most stereo speakers are broadcasting!  And though some will find your “music” obnoxious, there will be others who will thank you forever in heaven.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Romans 10:12-15
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone [talking] to them? … As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 18-21
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

‘All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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Before They Call

Before They Call

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The sheer brilliance was blinding.  It radiated from the three thrones; the glory of God emanating everywhere and illuminating everything.  No forms or figures could be discerned at its source; just billions of twirling, multi-colored, needle-sized beams exploding outward while pulsating waves of glory rotated rapidly around the thrones’ inhabitants.

Meanwhile ranks and ranks of angels in tidy rows circled the Lord, barely discernable in the brilliance – sheer shadows of white in the brightness.  They were arrayed in ascending rows, as in a massive amphitheater, though there was no structure beneath them. 

At the Lord’s command, an angel would drop through the “floor” and streak away on the Lord’s task.  Shortly thereafter another would fill its spot, the ranks being continually depleted, resupplied and reshuffled.  Their numbers were beyond count, yet each had a unique name – every angel’s name and current location known by the Lord.

Hundreds of thousands of silent and personal commands were issued simultaneously from the throne, evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of angels simultaneously dispatched.  The entire process presented a dazzling display of heavenly choreography.

While the Lord’s messengers carried out a multitude of different tasks, at least some of them were sent in answer to prayers.  They awaited the King’s commands and carried out his will immediately and perfectly.

“Leonine, Candice’s car broke down in a rough part of town and she has asked me for help.  Go!  Protect and provide for her!”  Leonine uttered a “Yes, Lord!” as she sped away at an unimaginable speed.

“Semptor, Brian has a long drive and a tight timeline to arrive at his destination.  He is praying that all goes well.  Ensure that it does.”  “Gladly!” replied Semptor as he rocketed to the freeway.

“Bronho, Jim is praying for the extra funds to pay for his unexpected vehicle repair.  Make it happen.”  “Of course, Lord!” as he dropped from the “arena.”

“Sosooth, Liz is heartbroken and begging for comfort.  Bring her some.”  “On my way!”

Occasionally the dispatches involved more than lone angels.  Then the discourse sounded more like this: “The entire congregation at Amazing Grace Church is praying earnestly for a revival in their ministry.  Satan is working against them furiously.  Level 4, positions 45 to 245, bring the counter-attack, drive back the demons, and smooth the path for my people there!” “To the battle!” they roared as 200 angels swooped in impressive synchronicity from the arena, their blazing swords already drawn.

But not every situation was quite as straightforward as these.  Sometimes God’s instructions were a bit different.

“Savrath, Tammy is pleading for a certain ‘door’ to ‘be opened.’  Keep it securely closed.  It would be disastrous if she went through it.  We will address her need another way – a better way.”  “Certainly, O King!”

“Aaolor, Sheila continues to beg for an answer to her dilemma.  As you know while awaiting my instruction, she has been praying for weeks now.  She hasn’t yet gained the full insight she needs, and circumstances aren’t quite right yet.  But we are much closer now.  Be prepared to bring her long-awaited answer!” “Absolutely, Lord.”

“Brixon, Ben is about to experience an accident.  When it occurs, he will be praying for help.  You will go when he calls.”  “I’ll be ready, Lord.”

“Tomtor, Greg is really struggling.  He knows he needs help and is exhausting every avenue he can find, but still hasn’t turned to me.  He should know better, and he will eventually realize he needs assistance that only I can provide.  Stand by.”  “Of course, Lord.  When will he finally pray?  “Two weeks from now.  Be prepared.”

“Zuzang, as promised Amy has finally prayed about her broken relationship.  You have been waiting a very long time to bring some resolution there.  I am finally able to answer her prayer.” “How long have I been waiting, Lord?” “We have both been waiting, Zuzang.  And the answer is 65 years.  Still, you have waited patiently and faithfully.  Now go!”  “At last!” the angel shouted as she finally left her place.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

How does the Lord answer believers’ prayers?  Does he sometimes miraculously intervene from heaven independent of the angels?  Undoubtedly!  Are there other times he utilizes the angels?  Again, I say, undoubtedly.  Can we fully understand the process?  Of course not.  The Lord answers our prayers as he sees fit in his timing and in his manner.

Consequently, I recognize that this story is over-simplistic.  For example, I suspect that when the Lord sends angels to bring answers to his people, he gives them much more specific instructions.  But then, perhaps not.  Perhaps the angels don’t need more details; they already understand what the loving Lord wants done.  Or perhaps the Lord guides their ministrations.  But finally it’s not important.  We trust our trustworthy God to care for us.

The primary point of this presentation is this: Our God is always eager to answer our prayers.  He has commanded us to bring our prayers to him and promised he will answer them.  (Sometimes with a “Yes,” sometimes with “No,” and sometimes with “Wait.”)  But God always answers every prayed prayer! 

How unfortunate that God’s people don’t bring their requests to him more regularly (and more quickly!) so that he can faithfully answer them.  Because he will when we do.  In fact, he already has answers waiting for prayers we haven’t even lifted to him yet. 

So pray, God’s people.  Pray!  And rejoice that the Lord responds to every single request in infinite wisdom, boundless power, and unending love.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Psalm 17:6)
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

(Psalm 34:15)
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;

(Psalm 62:8)
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

(Psalm 145:18-19)
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

(Jeremiah 29:11-13)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

(Jeremiah 33:2-3)
“This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you …’”

(Matthew 7:7-8)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

(John 16:23-24)
“Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.  Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

(Philippians 4:6-7)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Pray continually,

(Hebrews 4:16)
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

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Picking Up Pennies

Picking Up Pennies

I always pick up any pennies I see.

Technically they are not pennies, but cents.  (If you dispute this, look at the back of the coin.  There you will see clearly printed, “ONE CENT.”)  Indeed, numismatists (coin experts) will insist on the proper term, but most people still call them pennies.

Just as most people don’t care what the coins are called, most also don’t care to have them.  If the change after a purchase happens to be pennies, it’s not uncommon for customers to toss the coins in the spare change containers on the store counters, or to tell the clerks to keep them.  If a penny is dropped, many leave it where it falls.  If a penny is sighted on the ground, few will take the effort to bend over and retrieve it. 

At least, that’s my observation from years of picking up pennies in parking lots and retrieving them from the ground with my metal detector.

Why does it make sense to me to retrieve cents?  In short, picking up pennies is always a joyful reminder to me of my faithful God, and of a number of comforting spiritual truths he shares with me in his Word.

The most obvious reminder is actually cast into the coins themselves: “IN GOD WE TRUST.”  Despite an atheist petition to the Supreme Court in 2019 to have the phrase removed from our currency, as well as the current American malaise toward God, the phrase remains stamped into our cents.  (As well as our other currency.)

Yet to someone like me who does trust in God, every penny I pick up is a reminder that I have a loving Lord who takes wonderful care of me.  In fact, almost without fail as I pluck a penny off the pavement, those words flow through my mind … “IN GOD I TRUST.”

Which is a blessing to me, as the Bible attests, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him” (Jeremiah 17:7).

There are actually multiple aspects to this slogan and this concept.  I don’t reflect upon them all every time I retrieve a cent, but I am certainly aware of them.

For example, there are Jesus’ thought-provoking and comforting words, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).

There is also the poignant example of the poor widow and her offering.  Mark records the event. 

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on’” (Mark 12:41-44).

Did the widow trust the Lord?  Implicitly!  Did she give to God gladly and generously despite her poverty?  Absolutely!  Can we be confident the Lord provided for her?  Undoubtedly!

Will he also provide for all his people?  He already has, and he always will!  The Apostle Paul states the obvious: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31).

Furthermore, I have often recognized this simple truth: little blessings add up to great blessings.  5 pennies equal a nickel and 10 a dime.  And between scanning parking lots and retrieving buried coins while metal detecting, I’ve picked up literally thousands of pennies.  Those add up!

And some of those pennies … even many of those pennies … were worth more than 1 cent.  A few much more.  Seemingly insignificant, often disregarded “trinkets” by many sometimes might be treasures.  Some rare cents found in circulation can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.  So I check my change and I pick up dropped coins.  Even pennies.

Every time I spot another cent on the sidewalk, I consider it just another blessing from God.  An unexpected reminder that God loves me and provides for me.  A beneficial reminder that “my God will meet all [our] needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Philippians 4:19-20).  

So I pick up pennies.  Always have; always will.  They remind me that IN GOD I TRUST!  And that’s always a smile starter and a morale booster.

“Praise the LORD.  Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalm 106:1).

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