Little things

Yesterday was a long day for us. We took my wife's mother home....340 miles each way. I told Joye that we should describe it as going 340 for lunch, and then coming home. It was a great day...huge rain storms all around us, lightning everywhere...we even saw a tree on fire from a lightning strike.

But the little things of a day come into focus when something goes wrong. Part way back home the car started to act up. It would flash a warning light on the dash, and then the motor would shut off for a moment. It was worrisome...suddenly, in southeast Oklahoma in one of the small towns, we saw a dealership for our car and pulled in. I told them about the light, and would they check to see what was wrong......and we headed for the waiting room.

And there we sit...waiting. How much will this cost? Are we stuck here for the night? What is wrong with the car? After an hour the tech support lady comes to see us, like a doctor after surgery..."You're ready to go." she said. They had hooked it up to the computer, checked out everything, drove it 11 miles to make sure, and we were ready.....then the bill....I went to the cashier to pay for their work and the cashier said, "there is no charge, have a blessed day." Now I'm confused....where am I? This isn't the world I live in....these people are nice, and telling me to have a blessed day! Where am I???

With relief, and a little joy over the encounter we get in the car for the 3 hours we have left....and I notice something. The car is running better. The mileage is better. Something is different....it's not so sluggish as it was. They did do something to the car and it was running great! So off we go...glad for little things... little blessings God gives us. Now I'm embarrassed for my worries in the waiting room. God is in charge....he likes blessing us with even the little things.

Quote of the day

This is a quote I used in my sermon this morning, and will again tonight. It was part of my closing comments and I think it speaks to the very heart of the Christian life....here it is:

"If it pleases you, always and only, to do what pleases God....you can do as you please." *

-Major Ian Thomas

*from The indwelling life of Christ by Major Ian Thomas, page 70

Time for a smile....

Praying for "eternal miracles"

I love words. I love words that don't always fit together. I love ideas that make me think outside of my box.

The other day, without thinking, I made a comment to someone using the phrase "eternal miracle." It was an accidental word connection, but it made me think....

I hear so much about wanting a miracle here and now...a healing, money, a car, an answer to a need in life....and yet I thought...most of what we want is temporal, earthly, temporary.

In using this phrase "eternal miracle" my imagination began to soar....what could that mean? For me it means a life is changed in such a way that there is an eternal result...an eternal miracle....it means that salvation for a lost soul IS that "eternal miracle"...a life changed for

eternity!

Physical healing is only for a few years...and then the one healed will die anyway! Money will meet a need for today, but then it's gone and we need more. I'm not saying we shouldn't pray for temporal miracles- healing, money, needs.... we should pray for those things, but I find myself suddenly more interested in praying for "eternal miracles."

I think I will focus my prayer time on those kind of miracles....I'll get to enjoy those miracles for millions of years....I'll be able to see those people forever to celebrate their "eternal miracle."

Getting ready for Sunday

I'm preparing a message for Sunday....it's such a challenge...to pray, study, think (hard for me), prepare, write, rewrite, pray, think some more (harder as I go), study......

I think a sermon takes me about 40 years to prepare....and near the end of a sermon prep time it feels like it's taken that long.

Trying to balance study, prayer, the role of the Holy Spirit and what I must do is always hard. I find that I pray like crazy, study till my eyes hurt, write, rewrite.....and then....as I get on stage to speak I pray, "Lord, here I am, use me for your glory, speak through me, say what you want to say..." And somehow, I don't know how.....God uses me. The understanding of all of this eludes me, but I'm thrilled to see what God does.

In my prep this week I came across a quote I wanted to share with you. It's a simple one, but I hope you will linger over the words for a few minutes...here it is:

“If it pleases you, always and only, to do what pleases God….you can do as you please!"
- Ian Thomas

God's blessings

I must admit that I am a techie nerd. I love gadgets, but I have come late to the ipod party. I just recently got an ipod and I love it. For me it's part entertainment and part education. I have about 10 gigs of music loaded- mostly Christian stuff and a lot of different kinds of music in addition to that....jazz, classical, instrumental, new age, world...but the bulk of what I have loaded are podcasts- sermons or teachings from guys I respect and want to listen to.

The funny thing is that I just noticed I have over 350 podcasts on my ipod now and I don't think I have had time to listen to even 30 of them, but they are there when I get time. I guess my goal is to listen to all I have stored on this little unit before it wears out....that's a good goal, right?

All the new technology is great...it's a great tool to use and I will...when I get some time....

Encouragement

Heb 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

One of the realities that I am keenly aware of is that I cannot live the Christian life in a vacuum. It is a life that must be done in community. I need other people....both to encourage me, and for me to encourage.

I'm in a community of believers that has been strengthened and challenged by adversity, but I am still amazed at those "sheep" I meet who have wandered off from our church family, and blame someone else for their isolation. THEY were the ones who left the body, and yet they blame someone else? What this tells me is that they have allowed sin to harden their hearts, and they blame others for their loneliness and isolation from the body of Christ....it's very sad to see.

We need to encourage others to "keep going", "don't give up", "trust the Lord", "I'm with you." The tendency to wander off and harden our hearts is more common than most of us realize, so, in your own life, look for ways to encourage others in their faith, encourage them to stay involved in the fellowship of other believers. We all need the love and encouragement of others. We are in this together. So, let me encourage you- don't give up, trust the Lord and keep going, God will help you and so will the body of Christ...don't wander off from the fold.

1Th 5:14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Animusic - Resonant Chamber

Something fun for your eyes and ears.

Monday's cartoon

The dreaded comment of encouragement- These kind of comments are always meant well, but...they come to compensate for other comments we may never hear. It's one of the battles of our culture....one of the challenges of a pastor....I'm sure that if the congregation had remotes they would be pushing the next channel button....or more likely the mute button in some of our services. This is a funny cartoon, and it made me smile, so it's Monday's cartoon....have a great day.

The hand of God

There is a term used in the bible to describe God's work in the lives of man. It's the term "the hand of God." The exact phrase is used in the bible only 14 times, but the idea is clear- God works in the lives of men and women on planet earth.

It's also clear from scripture that God is spirit. He does not have a body as we do, so the term "hand of God" is simply a metaphor to describe God's work in our lives.

In 1 Samuel this text is found- 1Sa 5:11 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people." For there was a deadly confusion throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. For the Philistines it was not a good experience to be under God's hand...he was judging them for taking the ark of the covenant. This is the experience of some today....they sense they are under "the heavy hand of God" and according to John 3 they are. What they need is to turn to the pierced hands of Christ to receive the wonderful gift of salvation from the loving hands of God.

In 2 Chronicles God works in a different way- 2Ch 30:12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD. This verse gives me the sense of a shepherd gently working in the lives of his people to move them together and work in their midst. It would be great to be part of God's work in his body as his hand touches us in this way.

And, finally, Solomon describes the work of God's hand in this way- Ecc 2:24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. This describes God as the provider, and his hand as the source. What a beautiful picture....God providing, by his hands, all our needs.

But somehow we corrupt this wonderful picture in scripture of God's hand touching and working in the lives of men....we look for ways to get him to do what we want....we have an agenda! I read this quote a few years ago in a report written about a prayer meeting held in the Dallas area, "There was enough power in that room to move the hand of God." Who do we think we are? How arrogant we have become....God is not forced into any action by man. He is the sovereign of the universe!

I prefer these verses as I interact with the hand of God-

Psa 31:5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth.

Psa 31:15 My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.

Psa 119:173 Let Your hand be ready to help me, For I have chosen Your precepts.

Psa 139:5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.

Psa 139:10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

Lord, I willingly desire to be in your hands, led by your right hand, provided for by your gracious hand.....by your hands I am blessed, and one day I will see those nail pierced hands for myself....for your hands show your heart....your hands show your love for me. I welcome your hand in my life, oh wonderful Lord.

Quote of the day

"The best evidence of the fallen heart of man is our desire to live according to law."
-Steve Brown

I was listening to Steve yesterday on the radio and he made this comment in passing. I thought it was profound so it's the quote of the day. What are your thoughts on this idea? In just one sentence Steve has created a cascade of thoughts for me.....our desire to please God OUR way, the core of any other faith but Christianity, the tendency of Christians to build a law structure....etc. Think about this quote for a moment, and tell me how it has played out in your life.

Powered by the unseen

Joh 3:8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

The Christian life is a strange thing- we are led and influenced by someone we cannot see to travel as he leads. It's a strange relationship....the unseen Spirit of God living in and directing the life of the Christ follower. I often feel like one driven by the wind...sometimes in a direction I don't want to go...and yet God is in charge of my life, he's directing me....leading me...blowing me towards HIS goals. It is, in many ways, a mystical experience, but it is a real one. The Spirit in me is not a ghost, he is the living Spirit of God working out his plans in my life. I don't always know where he's "blowing" me, but he has a plan, and I can't wait to see where we end up.

Years ago I went sailing with a friend. He had a 37' sailboat. We set out on a very calm day, but halfway across the lake a storm came up. The winds went from 10 miles per hour to 50 miles per hour. A fun day of sailing turned into a fearful ride. I still remember my fears....I had never been in a storm like this. 3' whitecaps rolling over the boat. The boat itself was leaning over at more than 45 degrees. I was holding on for dear life...then I looked over at my friend, the sailor. He was wet from the rain, but smiling! I couldn't believe it....did he see what I saw? This was a bad storm, and he's smiling? I asked him why...how could he smile...how could he be having fun? He said, "Don't worry, the keel weights 7,000 pounds. This little wind can't hurt us." And it didn't. We sailed back to port with a new lesson. Even in a storm if I have a good keel (God's word) and a good sailor (the Holy Spirit) I can sit back and enjoy the ride.

Pro 20:24 Man's steps are ordained by the LORD, How then can man understand his way?

Corn!

Corn, glorious corn!

We had a wonderful visit from friends of ours in the church, Bud and Brenda....they just got back from Iowa, and brought back several bags of fresh, just off the stalk, Iowa sweet corn. They made a home delivery and brought us some of their treasure. Being an Iowa boy myself I will tell you that fresh Iowa sweet corn is almost like a dessert....it's wonderful. This time each summer we anticipate an opportunity to get a few ears of this wonderful "gold".

So, tonight we feast! Iowa sweet corn....butter....a little salt....

.....sorry for such a "corny" post.

I've got nothing.....

Years ago I pastored a Quaker church. I still remember a specific week as I made preparation for the Sunday sermon. I remember that it was a busy week, and getting time in the word to prepare for the sermon was difficult. So it came down to Saturday......I worked all day Saturday pouring over the word, praying, sweating....and I got nothing! Panic set in! This was the day that I realized something very profound- Sunday always comes.....at 9:00 AM the next morning I would be in the pulpit......whether I had something to say or not! It was an agonizing night for me....I don't think I slept at all. I still remember the night....and then here it comes...SUNDAY.

I got dressed for church, no sermon. I went over to the building and unlocked it, no sermon. I got the coffee made, no sermon. I greeted the church family......knowing I had nothing to say....It was painful.

And then, the most horrible thing happened- church started! We sang....took the offering...prayed....had a sharing time....and there I sat......NO SERMON! It's a preachers nightmare.

Then it happened....it's my turn.....I walk to the podium and did the only thing I could do....I said, "I have studied and prayed all week and I got nothing. I don't have a sermon. God must have given it to one of you, because he didn't give it to me." Then I sat down......

For a moment...silence. Then one of our men stood up and said, "This is really exciting. I have been excited about sharing this all week, and wondered if I would get to." And he did. He preached the sermon. He did a great job.

I will never forget that week. The embarrassment of being on the platform without a sermon...and yet God worked it all out. He humbled me. He taught me to trust him. He taught me that he wants to use all of us in the church. He gave me a great story to share with you these 30 years later....and now I can laugh.

So, today....for this blog....I've got nothing. One of you must have the message for the day, because he didn't give it to me.....

What's God doing in your life today?

Monday's cartoon

The perfect cartoon for a blog titled "FINISHING WELL."