My name is nobody

Years ago we watched a cute spaghetti western by the name, "My name is nobody."  It was poorly done, but a lot of fun.  The title is catchy.  It deals with the one thing we all fear most- being nobody.

We all want to be known, to be important in some way.  No one wants to live and feel their life made no difference at all.  If that were the case why are we even here?  Why are we living if life doesn't make any difference? 

So we all look for meaning, purpose.  But in a world of celebrities how do we find our place?  How do we become somebody?  And who are we living for anyway?

If the stage is the world nearly all of us will be bit players in a bigger play.

If the stage is someone special, someone we care about, then we become the center attraction.

I love the words of Paul as he describes how God sees all of this in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 when he writes,

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

God is telling us that our roles in this play are vital for the story to unfold as he wishes.  Every part of his grand play has purpose, every player, every person matters.  No one in God's great drama is a nobody.  

On a planet with nearly 8 billion people we can easily disappear, but the one who made us has a role for us in his grand production and he knows us by name.  All of it is meant for one great crescendo- the glory of God.

Are there days when you feel invisible, feel like you don't matter...that no one cares?  Nothing could be further from the truth! 

You might feel like a nobody, but all of that changes because of the one who loves you.  He makes all the difference.

Living in the surprise of God

This morning, as we met in our staff meeting,  a question was asked by one of our pastors,

"When has God surprised you?"

I thought about it and my thoughts wandered to all the encounters that I have had in recent days.  They were encounters where I've seen God work.  For me the most surprising encounters are how God works in the lives of people.

A month ago I went to the store to get a few things and a $2.00 item rang up $200.00.  The cashier had to get help.  The manager of the department came to fix it, but clearly something was wrong with her.  I asked, "Are you ok?" and she simply replied, "No." 

I waited as she corrected the mistake and then I asked this stranger, "What's going on?" She began to weep.  Her father was dying.  I listened as she talked about what was happening and then I asked her,  "Can I pray for you?"  She shook her head yes, we prayed and I left.

We live in the surprise of God all the time if we could only see it.   The surprise of encounters with broken people, needy people.  In each of these encounters I'm constantly surprised at how God suddenly shows up to be in the midst of these encounters giving us an opportunity to love them in Jesus name.

A couple weeks ago I was on a flight back from Miami and on my right was a young Muslim man.  He looked like all the photos of terrorists on TV.  I listened as he looked at his phone and mumbled the Koran under his breath.  Not wanting to waste the opportunity to see God work I leaned over, said hello and introduced myself, "Hi, my name is Mike."  He shook my hand, told me his name was Mohammed and that he was from Egypt studying engineering in Dallas.  We talked about Egypt and a few other things and then I told him, "I'm a Christian, what do you think of my Isa (Jesus)?"  He replied that he had some Christian friends and had talked about it with them a bit.

Living in the surprise of God is quite easy.  We simply need to see what's happening around us.  God is waiting to surprise us with encounters, needs, blessings, and so much more.

When has God surprised you?  Are you looking for him as you live your moments?  Do you realize he's in every encounter of one of his children?  

Live with the anticipation that God is about to surprise you with his work in your life, through your life.  He is an amazing God!


When has he surprised you with what he has done?

Random thoughts on a Tuesday

This morning my thoughts are all over the place.  I'm thinking about world events, bills, the day ahead, people I love....I'm fretting and worrying over other things.

How can our minds cause us such confusion and frustration?  

As I look at the world events, the chaos around and the wars on every continent I see men and women cringing in fear.  Fear is, at the moment, the dominant emotion of our culture.  We anticipate the worst and live in fear that it will really happen.

As I look at my bills I realize I constantly make mistakes and spend more than I should.  I don't want to live that way.  Needs come, money goes.  Problems happen, money goes.  Doctor visits, money goes......it seems to go much faster than it comes.  

As I look at the days ahead I see the Lord on the horizon.  He's coming soon.  I look forward to his return, but it increases the urgency of my desire to share the gospel with everyone I meet.

As I look at those I love I find myself in prayer.  As the patriarch of my little clan I see my most important task is to love well and pray like crazy!  I'm sure that's what my parents did.  It's clearly the need of those around me.  

I think of the passage in the Old Testament about a group of men who knew the times and knew what to do.  I pray I am one of those men in these last moments of human history.

Death and dying

I  have to admit I am very weary of all the killing. 

I don't think, in my entire life, there has been a moment of time when there has been peace on earth. 

We have mastered the art of killing one another. 

And, sadly, we are used to it. 

The killings in Syria, Colorado and other places noted in the morning news, are just a normal morning for us. 

I can't wait for Jesus to return, when death and dying will be no more. Sin has had a much higher price on our poor race than we will ever know!

My help

Who helps you when things get tough?  

Who is there to help when you are discouraged, depressed, lonely?  

Who helps you when you feel all alone?

I was thinking about this in the night.  As I thought about what I face, what others deal with, the pains of our world; the question came to my mind, "who is my helper? who will help me with the things I face? Who will help those who are broken by their loss?"

And then I remembered Psalm 121:1-2 (listed below).  It struck me that our country, my friends, people around the world are looking for help from man.  If we only get the right leader, the right person to govern, all will be well.....but it won't.  Man cannot help with these things.  Our help, real help, must come from somewhere else and so where do we go?  Who can really help us?  David wrote these words,

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Ps. 121:1-2

I wonder how long it will take me to really get this? To really believe and depend on the only one who can help me?  I still, like so many, look to the wrong places for help.  

It's easy to look to government for help (many in our country think it's the government’s job to care for them.)  

It's easy to trust your company to meet your needs, but that might change tomorrow.

We often look to the wrong things for help, the wrong places....to those who really can't help us at all!

Only one calls himself "my helper" and it's God.  He is my help when I don't know where else to go, when I have no other.  My help comes from God, the one who made heaven and earth.  Why did the author add that commentary to the end of the verse?  Because we need to know he's big enough to help us when we have needs bigger than we are.

My help comes from God, the maker of heaven and earth.  

Where do you go for help when you are overwhelmed?  

Who is your helper?

Thank you!

That's it.  That's all I wanted to say.  Thank you.  The list of reasons is more than life will allow, but all I have, all I am, all I will ever have is from your kind and loving hands.  Thank you.

Imitating God

All around me fear is the response to the events in the world.  Jesus told us this would happen.  He even told us men would respond in fear, but then he said, "Don't fear!" 

Fear is the response of people overwhelmed by the circumstances, people who have lost sight of the Lord.

This very thing happened to Peter as he walked on the water to Jesus.  Matthew 14 says about Peter,  "but seeing the wind he became afraid and beginning to sink he cried out."  And in the next moment Jesus reached out and caught him, he was that close.  Peter had taken his eyes off of Jesus and was focused on the storm around him.

All around me are Christians focused on the storm.  All around I hear the voices of fear.  Somehow they have lost sight of Jesus and are beginning to sink.  Instead of crying out for help they magnify their fears and create fear for others as well.

But God invites us to imitate him, to emulate his personality in the midst of a world out of control.  His men and women look completely different from the fear driven religious people all around us.

Here's the nature and personality of God lived out, 

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

These are the very things that come out of a person allowing the Spirit of God to live through them.  They are described as God's "fruit".  The result of being connected to him.  This is the personality of God, the lifestyle of Jesus, the fruit of the Spirit of God in a life lived through him.

This is what should come out of a Christ follower.  And, to be honest, I don't see fear in there anywhere.  In fact, when Jesus caught Peter as he sank he asked, "Why were you afraid? Where's your faith?"

We need a community of people living by faith, living out the nature of God, imitating him.  We need people who are not afraid of the storms around them.  Men and women who know their God and trust him to live through them, to take care of them.

We don't need the perfect president, there isn't one.

We don't need to keep refugees out of our country for fear of what they might do, these are people who need Christ coming to our land for help.  

We need bold Christ followers allowing Christ to live through them, we need men and women imitating God in the midst of a lost world sinking in the storms of these last days.  

Fear should never be our response in these days.  We serve the king of glory, we are sons and daughters of the sovereign God.  Imitate Christ, allow him to live through you, be bold!  Christ is coming!

Thankful

Thankful

It's a time to be thankful for what God has given, the things and people of our lives

As I write this my house and life is full

Literally

This morning, as I look around our small abode, I see five grandchildren, a mother in law, daughter and her husband and three dogs

How do we experience so much wealth and poverty at the same time?

We have a wealth of people, smiles, laughter, tears, dogs barking, and conversations all around,

But a poverty of resources

When I look at the lives we touch, the people who clutter our home, I see a wealth of lives woven into ours.  I see people we love and care for, people who love us as well

And yet, like so many around the world, the bank account is empty, the savings are small but it doesn't seem to matter.

We are richer than we could ever imagine!

42 years ago

42 years ago on this date was a Sunday.

I know that because one of the most important meetings of my life happened on that day.

42 years ago today I met a cute young lady in church as she came forward to trust Christ as her savior.

On that day, 42 years ago, she met Jesus and me.  Both of our lives were changed on that day.

Now, 42 years later, I'm honored to call this amazing lady my sweet wife, Joye.

You never know how the people you meet will change your life, but 42 years ago this morning is a day I will never forget.

Syrian refugees

We are called, as Christians, to love others and tell them about Christ because he is the only solution to our universal sin problem.  

Now, instead of going to Syria and all the dangers there, God has brought Syrians here!  

How exciting!  

Pray for them.  Pray for an opportunity to show them the love of Christ.  Pray that you can tell them about the Jesus who saved you.

Sunday morning

It's Sunday morning.  

I'm reading, thinking, praying, getting ready for a day with the family of God,

But my thoughts are distracted with the events of the week.  Paris, Indonesia, and many other places on the globe are feeling the effects of Satan's work in the lives of evil men.  

Jesus said, "The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy."  

He's demonstrating his skills like never before.  Now, in our day, men and women all around the globe are willing to die for a lie. And in their dying they take the lives of many more.  This religion of fear and death is causing chaos on every continent.  

It's Sunday morning.  This morning I plan to join others to worship the one true God, the God who offers life, peace, joy, and hope.  But all around us others worship a god of death, fear, sorrow and despair.  These are difficult days indeed!

In these days of despair pray for the hurting, the dying, reach out to the lost, the fearful.  These are those days Jesus talked about.  The last days of fear.  But if you know Christ, if you have a hope, then these days cause us to look up.  The Lord is coming!  

Come, Lord Jesus! 

Observation #3- Broken people

I am in the people business.  

I work with people all day and I love it. 

People are my object of care and study.  I watch, I listen, I care, I cry.

The third observation I want to make is this- everyone I meet is broken, scared and hurting.  We live in a world of broken people trying to survive, trying to act like they are doing well.

The bully, the actor, the boss....all of them are broken, struggling, hurting, lonely, wounded.  I have not yet, in 65 years, met a person who isn't broken and struggling to find health and help.

Yesterday, I had lunch with a dear friend, who told me of an encounter with a new coworker.  The new employee took a verbal "shot" at him for no reason.  My friend still struggles with the comment.  Why do we let other broken people hurt us?  They are hurting just like we are.  Can we see them as God does?

Last week a friend of my sister said a terribly cruel thing to her in a text.  I don't think I've read a crueler comment in years.  You couldn't hurt a person more if you stabbed them in the back.  I'm sure that's what it feels like to my sister.  More broken people showing how broken they are.

So what's the point?  No one has it all together. No one is doing great, healthy, and happy....not all the time....we are broken, hurting little children in need of our parent.  We throw temper tantrums, strike out at others, say mean things....all because of our brokenness.

Broken people need a healer, a helper.  That's what God offers. That's why a relationship with him is so important.  Without him all our broken bits remain a mess and hurt others around us.  With him the healing begins.  Broken lives are restored and we become what God designed us to be.

When you encounter a broken person, and you will today, don't be surprised at what they might say or do.  That's how broken people act.  Give them grace, pray for them, forgive them and know that you, apart from Christ working in you, are broken as well.

Observation #2- There is a designer

Is there a God or isn't there?  That debate rages around me, but in my mind it's the wrong question, the wrong debate.

It's obvious to anyone thinking that there is a grand designer, a creator....something or someone who made all of this.  It's simply too intricate and complicated to "just happen."  Chance is no explanation for the immense complexity of this Universe, of even our bodies.  

For all of this to exist there had to be a designer.  So, the real question we should be discussing is not his existence, but who is he? What's he like? How do we know him?

I use the masculine for this because this designer, whoever he is, is more brilliant than our greatest scientists, more artistic that our best artists, more musical that the most accomplished musician.  All of them reflect the attributes of the one who made us, who made everything. Everything about creation reflects personality, intelligence and creativity.

I won't go into great detail on my reasons for intelligent design, it should be obvious, but what I will do is name this grand designer.  I can tell you about him because I know him personally.  He's a friend of mine.  

This grand designer is the God of the Bible, Yahweh, Jehovah, Jesus Christ....he made everything.  

Observation #2- There is a designer and he is the God of the Bible.  

Yes, I know.  I'm taking great leaps in reason and logic.  But when you know someone personally and know what they have done you don't need a lengthy argument to tell about it.  He made everything.  

The challenge for us is not to get bogged down in the discussions of evolution and creation.  The very creation makes those arguments mute.  Of course there's a creator, so who is he?  What's he like? How do I get to know him? 

Those are the questions we need to be asking.  

Observation #1- Programmed for eternity

Observation #1-


We are programmed for eternity.  The very idea of it is programmed into our brains, hard-wired into our DNA.  We KNOW we were meant for more than just this life.  We all know, deep inside, that this is not all there is.

We were programmed for eternity by an eternal one.  In each one of us is the longing for meaning, purpose, a reason to live.  We want meaning.  Somehow we all know we are more than mere animals....we were programmed for eternity.

The truth is that everyone I have ever met knows, really knows, there is more than just this world, this life.  We look for it, we long for it, we hope for it.  In spite of some denying the God who made us they still have a longing in their hearts they can't escape....they can't avoid.  The reality that we were meant for eternity is hard-wired into our very being.  

We were designed for eternity.  We all know it.  No one can avoid it.  You have heard it or thought it, haven't you?  "This can't be all there is!  There must be more..."  And out of our longing for eternity our questions rise.  This can't be all there is....there must be more.

We were programmed for eternity.  We can't escape it.  Although some may tell you this  life is all there is they know that's not true.  Deep inside we all rebel at those words....there is more we think.  We know this isn't the end.

Observation #1- We were programmed for eternity, designed to live beyond this life, made to live for more than life on planet earth.  
The obvious question will be the topic of our next observation- who programmed us?

Reflections after 65 years

I can't believe it...really I can't, but I'll be 65 this week.  

I never imagined I would be this age.  

Who does?  

Life passes so quickly, so suddenly and it's over.  

Inside, at times, I still feel 16, but I'm keenly aware that my body is aging.  The pains of age never let me forget that time is passing and I'm rushing through this life with an eternity looming.

And so, I thought I would post a series of observations after 65 years.  In the days ahead I'll post one per day.  These are things I've learned, seen, and discovered from study, watching great men around me.  These observations will be as distilled as I can make them.  Agree or not, these are truths observed from a life lived.  Here we go.....