Digging For Great Treasure 5-9-21
As I looked across the vacant lot across the road from our home, I saw someone digging in the grass with a small garden spade. Since it is spring time, I thought she might be planting something. As I approached she told me she was digging for metal. She had recently purchased a metal detector. The vacant lot was near the the location where a church used to stand, so there was potential for coins or old keys to found in that location.
Soon my boys came over and they were excited about the potential of buried treasure. I was more interested in the metal detector's ability to locate our water shut off valve. Finding that would be worth more to me than old coins. The lady told me she would see if she could find it.
I left but when I came back my wife was talking to our new friend, and our boys had a bunch of holes dug in our yard. The valve had not been located, but our boys were as excited as if they had eaten a whole bag full of candy. The potential of finding something valuable had stimulated their interest.
Of course different people find value in different things. Finding the water valve would have gotten me excited. Fortunately we have not had to use it, but it would be nice to know where it is in case it was ever needed. The boys were excited about finding some old tools buried in our yard. Others would be happy finding jewelry or coins.
Some of the best gems are not buried in the ground. They are found by opening the Word of God. Psalm 119:162 says, “I rejoice at Thy word, As one who finds great spoil.” (NASB) Those who love to read have realized the treasures that can be found within the pages of a good book. The Bible is a book that was given to us by the creator of the universe. He guided the human authors so they could tell us what He wanted us to know. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16-17 NASB)
It was exciting for my boys to find the old tools in the yard, but the rusty drill bit and chisel were of little financial value. God's word however is profitable- not for financial worth, but for equipping us to do what is good.
One of the highlights for our family is the Monday night Bible study. We gather at the church with others and dig into God's word. As we do so, we find many treasures of truth that both encourage us and help us to better serve our Lord and savior. Don't just read God's word, dig into it and find great spoils of treasure. “Therefore I love Thy commandments Above gold, yes, above fine gold.”
(Psalm 119:127 NASB)
God Gave Much For Peace 4-25-21
When I was a kid my dad advised me to fight back against a bully. I was not afraid of the bully, but I did not want to hurt him, so I did not want to fight back. I just wanted peace. I tried to ignore him. I tried to appease him. Finally there was a small physical altercation and then there was peace. We actually became friends after that.
I am glad that I first gave peace a chance. Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” (NASB) In other words, if there is a lack of peace make sure it is not your fault. Psalm 120 is a song about wanting peace but the opponent wanting war. Such a situation can be very frustrating.
Psalm 120:1 (A Song of Ascents.) In my trouble I cried to the LORD, And He answered me.
2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, From a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, You deceitful tongue?
4 Sharp arrows of the warrior, With the burning coals of the broom tree.
5 Woe is me, for I sojourn in Meshech, For I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 Too long has my soul had its dwelling With those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war. (NASB)
The Psalmist makes it clear that he wants peace, but they want war. He has tried for peace but they do not want peace. Instead they keep lying. Finally in vs 3, he asks what can be given to them and what more can he do? That is a question we should all ask when seeking peace. Romans 12:18 makes it clear that a lack of peace should not be our fault. We should do what we can for peace without compromising Biblical truth. Finally he realizes that the sharp arrows and burning coals are all that can be given. There are times that justice demands a firm response.
Though we should not be hasty in our use of self defense, there are times when it is necessary. But before we jump to defending ourselves, we should look at the example of Jesus Christ.
All of humanity had lost peace with God through sin, yet Christ humbled himself and left heaven to be born as a man. That was a great gesture of peace. He then went even further. He actually gave His life for those who were not at peace with Him as he died on the cross. He then rose from the dead showing His amazing power, but also extending an offer of peace. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
Still, many still rejected that offer of peace and continued to lie about Christ. He has done so much to reach out to them and to appease them, but if they do not accept His peace offer, they will have to face worse than sharp arrows and burning coals. They will have to face fire for eternity. Revelation 20:15 warns, “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (NASB)
The good news is that we can all have peace with God. He has done all He can to make peace with us- including sending His son to die for our sins to satisfy His justice. If we have the faith to believe in Him as our Lord and Savior, then we have peace. “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1 NASB). If there is a lack of peace between God and us, it is not His fault. Do all you can to make peace with Him, by placing your faith in Jesus Christ.
Be Gentle With That Calf 2-11-21
When I was a kid, I played with a Chinese finger trap. The finger trap also reminds me of the calf who got its head stuck in the fence. The harder it pulled, the more frustrated it got. Since it got its head in the fence there should be a way to get it out, but simply rushing in and pushing would not accomplish that task. It would only make things worse.
Whether we are dealing with a calf stuck in a fence or any animal stuck in a trap, if we want to free them, things will go much better if the animal becomes calm and is able to trust us. In order for that to happen, we must remain calm and gentle.
The Apostle Paul wrote multiple letters to a young pastor named Timothy. In those letters, Paul made it clear that Timothy would have to confront both false doctrine and sinful behavior. Timothy would need boldness for this task, but he would also need gentleness. Paul writes in 2Timothy 2:24-26, “And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (NASB)
Calves get their heads stuck in fences, but people get their lives trapped in sin. As servants of God, we should want to help them get free. Often as we see them trapped in sin, it will be tempting to ask why they were stupid enough to put their head in the fence. We may even think we should run up to the fence and yell at them to get their head out of there. If we do that to the calf, it won't work out very well. Should we expect any different from a person.
Part of the problem is that when people are caught up in the devil's trap, they need to come to their senses. They are like the frustrated calf who doesn't realize that all he has to do is turn his head to the side and back away from the fence and be free.
Consider again the words to Timothy, “ with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil.” Timothy needed to be able to teach, but he needed to teach with patience. He also needed to give them the truth. The truth is they had been deceived by the devil, but that truth had to come in a gentle way.
We live in a culture where the lies of the devil are entrapping so many people. As Christians, we should care about those people and we should want them to follow Christ and be free from the lies of sin. As we guide them to the truth of Christ, we should not back down from what is true, but we should do it in a gentle and patient way. We need to give God time to work in their lives and to grant them repentance. We need to give time for the truth to sink in.
This does not mean that we tell them that the sin is okay. It does however mean that we make sure they understand we are there to help them and so is God. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
How Much Power Do You Have? 3-29-21
My neighbor, Dave, loved power. I'm talking about horsepower. He loved displacement. Displacement is a technical term that describes how much volume all the engine cylinders displace.
Dave had a car with a lot of displacement. His 66 Chevelle Super Sport had a 396 cubic inch engine under the hood. It could easily smoke the tires.
He had other ways to get more power though. I found out about turning up the pump on a diesel engine was when I heard him talking about turning up his tractor. This too gave it more power.
He still wanted more. He eventually put a V8 engine in his old Farmall. I learned a lot about engines and power from my friend Dave. He however would have been awed by the worlds largest internal combustion engine. It is a diesel that weighs 2300 tons and produces over 100,000 horsepower.
All that power is nothing compared to the power of God. Not only did God create the whole world and everything in it, He rose from the dead, healed the sick, fed thousands, parted the sea, and parted a river that was at flood stage. A 100,000 hp engine could move a lot of freight on a barge, but it still could not move a mountain all at once. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith, and do not doubt, you shall not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it shall happen.” (Matthew 21:21 NASB)
Who needs displacement if you have God's power? Faith is not just believing that God can do it, but also having an assurance that it is really God's will to do it. If we have an economy car with limited displacement, we may want the mountain out of our way so we do not have to drive uphill to get over it, but God may want that mountain there for a reason. We do not always understand God's reasoning and how He plans to use His power.
We are however given a glimpse into His purpose and promises of power as we look at the words of Jesus after His resurrection- just before He ascended into heaven. In Acts 1:8, He said, “but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (NASB)
The power Jesus promised was power to be witnesses about Him. That power however did not always look powerful. As the Apostle Paul used that power he was actually arrested. Still, God is so powerful that the arrest allowed Paul to witness about Christ to his guards, to the sailors on the ship that transported him to prison, and to the leader of an island where they were shipwrecked. After they were rescued from the island, Paul was taken to jail in Rome and he was even able to be a witness to members of Caesar's household.
God is so powerful that even an arrest could not stop His promises, purposes, or His power. Paul suffered, but God's purposes were accomplished. Once we recognize that our powerful God is in charge of the perfect plans, we can trust His promises and His power to accomplish what needs to be done. He is so powerful that He can use us in our weakness.
We might be like the engine without a lot of displacement, but with God's power behind us, we can be witnesses of the the wonderful good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose again. God is powerful enough to help us over the mountain so we don't need to move it. Don't be afraid to share the good news of Christ, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1:7) Let us not forget that the power Jesus promised was the power to be a witness about Him.
God's Power Over Fear 3-12-21
When I was 12 years old, I had to give my first public speech. I was very nervous as I stood in front of my 6th grade class. I was so anxious, that I got the giggles. I was not even able to finish the assignment that day.
My challenge was not over though. I was forced to reface my fears another day as I again stood before my class and was prompted to complete the task. As if that were not enough, I had to give another speech before a different teacher about a year later.
I was a year older and was hopeful that I could be a bit braver. I was still fearful and it showed on my face. Two of my best friends were sitting in the back row and one looked at the other and said, “lets make Jerry laugh.” When I looked at the friends I trusted most for comfort, I discovered that they were not invested in my success. The goofy expressions on their faces prompted a repeat of the previous years embarrassment.
Soon I was laughing again. I struggled to regain my composure and almost held my breath as I spoke in order to stop the nervous laughter. By this time I think the other students, including my best friends, were feeling a bit sorry for me and most were sitting quite respectfully even though it was difficult for them not to laugh too. But then the teacher could not contain himself any longer and he too started to laugh. He quickly apologized and assured me that I would not be penalized for the day and would get another chance to speak.
That other chance meant I would once again have to face my fears. Numerous times throughout high school I would have to give speeches and it got easier, but the fear was still there. I never expected that I would have a job where I had to speak publicly multiple times a week.
I have often said that it is a miracle that God was able to use me as a pastor. In Paul's second letter to Timothy, he writes about the gift of God that Timothy has that came after Paul laid his hands on him. We are not told all the details of that gift, but we are immediately told in verse 7 of the first chapter that “God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.”
As I think about God giving us power rather than fear, I cannot help but think what Jesus said after his resurrection, right before he ascended into heaven. “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8 NASB)
God's Holy Spirit gives us the power to be witnesses. Therefore, it should not surprise me that I am able to speak about God in front of people. I can do that because Jesus promised to empower us to do that. That is why it is so common for other Christians to lay their hands on people who are sent out to proclaim the truth of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection and that we can be right with God is we believe on Him.
We should all realize that we can overcome our fear to speak about God. He has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power. Use the power of God, to tell others about God sending his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Wisdom of the Wise 2-26-21
What is the difference between smarts and wisdom? Smarts is knowing the exact temperature at which your skin will burn and then blister. Wisdom is knowing not to touch anything that is that hot.
Here is the actual dictionary definition of wisdom: the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. I decided to restate that definition by saying, “Doing what is a good idea to do, based on what you have learned makes sense.”
At the most basic level, wisdom is pragmatic. You can be wise and not even know what pragmatic means. Pragmatism is doing something because it works. It is pragmatic to not touch a hot stove because you do not want to burn your hand.
The scripture says, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” (James 3:13 NASB) This is a reminder that wisdom is much more than knowledge. It is putting knowledge into action. Godly wisdom also includes good behavior. The next verse warns against bitter jealousy, selfish ambition, arrogance, and dishonesty. Notice what the scripture says about such behavior, “ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.” (James 3:15 NASB).
Being selfish and arrogant can help us get ahead. From a pragmatic standpoint it makes sense. In other words, it works. The problem is that this approach is not godly. It does not come from above. Instead it is evil- even demonic. It is the way that the Devil gets ahead, not the way that God wants his people to get ahead. It goes against the most basic commands to love God and to love our neighbor. Notice the contrast we see in this passage, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.” (James 3:16-17 NASB).
Godly wisdom understands that there is something way more important than just getting the best short term results. Godly wisdom understands that God's rules are the best for all members of society. That is why a child who understands and applies the difference between right and wrong is wiser than a powerful business executive who doesn't care about anyone but himself.
Some think it is wise to just ignore God and to do their own thing. Such an approach is the opposite of wisdom. “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. (Romans 1:21-23 NASB)
It is not wise to make other things more important than God. Instead we need to realize God is perfect in His wisdom and then follow Him. We need to trust Him as we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and live for Him. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10 NASB)
Don't Covet the Antiques 2-12-21
My wife and I love antiques. I do not like to buy them because then we would have to find a place to put them. Instead we like to visit antique shops and enjoy them for free while others pay to store them. Of course, the problem is that unlike a museum where the items stay there, the antique shops sell them. That is actually a benefit for us, because if we go back a year later, we get to see a new set of goodies on display.
Our antique shop experience is a great lesson on the difference between admiration and covetousness. We admire the antiques that we see, but we do not feel like we have to possess them. The 10th commandment says, “'Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbor's.” (Deuteronomy 5:21)
Notice that in the previous verse, both the word desire and covet are used. In the Hebrew, they are two separate words, but both have the idea to long after or to lust after. Consider the neighbor's house. A few years ago my wife and I went on a tour of homes around Sioux Falls. We saw some beautiful houses. We were able to appreciate the planning and talent that went into creating them. There is nothing wrong with appreciation or even deciding to buy a new home. The problem comes when obsession turns into a willingness to compromise what is right to get what you want.
Once a person begins to obsess over something, that something becomes the object of their affection. If the obsession were the neighbor's wife, it would soon lead to adultery of the heart even if the physical act never occurred. Jesus Christ warned in Matthew 5:28, “but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (NASB)
It is easy to see how wrong adultery is. That is also one of the 10 commandments. Discontentment is not so easy to see though. Hebrews 13:5 ties discontentment in with the issue of covetousness when it says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (NKJV)
We did purchase a few items from the antique stores and that was not wrong. It would have been wrong if we had wanted them so badly that we were willing to sin in order to get them. Further it would have been wrong if we were not willing to be content without them.
Knowing that Christ will never leave us or forsake us, we need to find our ultimate contentment with Him. Covetousness is really a sinful symptom of dissatisfaction with our circumstances and a willingness to go against God to change those circumstances. God loved us so much that he sent his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. There is nothing in this world that is as valuable as the love of God. Return that love as you trust Christ and then find true fulfillment, peace, and contentment with God and with life.
Sin, Snow, Snirt, & Savior 1-31-21
Growing up on a farm near a small town, there was not a lot for kids to do on the weekends, but snowstorms provided for special entertainment. After snowstorms, and before the plows had taken care of all the side roads- it became a tradition for the farm kids to gather in town with their 4wd pickups. They would go out to the side roads and see how much snow they could drive through. Even if the plows had already cleared the township roads, there were always a few minimum maintenance roads that never got plowed. Of coarse we also had the option of driving in our dad's farm fields or pastures.
Recently I drove through some snow with my family and it brought back memories of the good old days. It also brought back the memory that a little fun can bring some consequences. Eventually we would find a big enough drift that we would get stuck. Getting stuck could result in hours of work with an aluminum scoop shovel in order to get out. I also remember a time when so much snow was packed in front of a radiator that the air flow was restricted and the truck started to get hot in spite of the cold. Thankfully the problem was quickly rectified.
One of the things we learned was that soft snow had a lot fewer consequences than the hard snow. The snow that had settled for weeks on the minimum maintenance roads, or the snow that had been piled in hard drifts by the wind, was more of a challenge than the soft fluffy white stuff that had just fallen from the sky. Snirt- or snow mixed with dirt was especially challenging.
With all the wind, snirt was not uncommon in our area. Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
When God takes care of our sin through the Lord Jesus Christ, He does not turn our lives into snirt, he makes them as clean as fresh white snow.
When I would scoop through the snow drifts that were mixed with dirt, I might find a layer of clean snow between a few layers of snirt. As my truck drove through the drift, however, all those layers got mixed up until I found myself stuck in a mess. Although I could work to get myself out of the immediate predicament, all my shoveling could not make the pile of snow and snirt I left behind clean snow again.
Our lives are kind of like that. We might be able to get ourselves out of an immediate predicament caused by our sin, but the dirtiness of sin is still there. In fact, our lives started out with dirty snow. That is why we need the payment of Christ to make us clean. Just as God sends fresh clean snow to fall from the heavens, He sent His son to come down from heaven to forgive our sins. In order to receive that forgiveness, we must simply believe on Him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Thankful For Daily Bread 1-17-20
Our boys love watching “Modern Marvels” from the History Channel. They love seeing how things work and how these innovations have affected the world as we know it. Recently we have taken a step back and began to look at what life was like before some of these modern innovations.
During Bible times, people did not have refrigerators, freezers, mass canning, or industrial packaging capabilities. In fact, even 150 years ago, food preservation was more similar to Bible times, then to modern methods.
This spring we got chickens and it has been good for our boys to see where eggs actually come from. Even with a refrigerator, these eggs should be used fairly soon. When we started looking at past history, we discovered that before refrigeration, eggs were kept for over a year by immersing them in a water/lime solution.
We then began to look at meat preservation. I have always liked the taste of smoked meat, but knew little about how to do it. We realized that other methods were also available. Salt was used to make brine and meat could be preserved for up to ten years. I'm not sure I would be comfortable eating meat after that long and we also found out the salty taste was not all that pleasant.
We did find out however that pressure canned meat tastes amazing. Meat that was cooked and preserved in lard could last for months if it was kept cool. Reports say that it also tasted great. Our oldest son began to experiment with making jerky, but we have not tried the other methods. We do plan to try some meat canning though
All this study of food preservation reminded me of how easy it is to take food for granted. I think of the Lord's prayer where he tells us to ask God for our daily bread. Even if our cupboards were bare, the grocery store has always had food. When some things were in short supply due to Covid disruptions, there was still other food available.
Even beyond the grocery store, we must also think of the farm fields. A few years ago there was too much rain for many of them to be planted. Now many fields are extremely dry. If God does not send proper proportions of rain, sunshine, and heat units, then the fields will not yield well. Further, if frost comes too soon, the growing season could be cut short before the crop is ready to harvest. All these things remind us of how dependent we are on God for our food.
Just as our chickens remind us that eggs do not grow in cartons, these mild food disruptions should remind us that all our food ultimately comes from God. He allows the plants to grow and the animals to reproduce. Then He gives us the food to harvest, preserve, and use. Even with challenging growing conditions and increasing world population, God has still blessed us with food. We should thank Him for that.
Let us remember that not only has God provided salvation from sin through Jesus Christ, but He also provides our daily bread through the food we grow. We truly have a gracious God and we should not take His grace for granted.
Friends at The Gas Station 1-3-21
There are not that many businesses in our little small town, so we are thankful that we have a gas station with a small convenience store. This summer our boys did some lawn mowing and a few other small odd jobs. That meant that they had a little bit of spending money. Our gas station has candy. Soon they became regulars at the store.
Just as they were becoming regular customers, the gas station had a change of ownership. The new owner is very involved in the day to day operations of the business, and often runs the store by himself. It did not take long for the boys to think of him as a friend. Soon the boys were stopping in just to say hi- even if they were not planning to buy anything.
Both the store owner and the boys had learned the reality of a wonderful biblical truth that says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly” (Proverbs 18:24a). I realized one of the benefits of the friendship when I walked into the gas station and saw pictures that the boys had made hanging on the wall behind the counter. The owner got to enjoy a gift, and the boys got to see their work displayed.
I do not want to suggest that there is never conflict in a small town, but those pictures on the wall are a great reminder that our little dot on the map is a wonderful place to see the love for our neighbors on display.
Still it is not unusual to walk into the gas station and see a complete stranger and then realize that they live right here in Worthing. Nevertheless, it is nice to have that little store on the corner so that we can have those contact points. In little ways we can reach out to those around us so that they are no longer strangers. We don't have to draw them pictures to hang on their walls, but we can smile and say hi.
For example, I stopped into the gas station one evening and decided to try their cinnamon popcorn. There was a grandmotherly lady standing at the counter and she smiled and said a few words to me as I made my purchase. I had talked to her before, but did not know here well. Soon the lady behind the counter, this other customer, and I, were all sampling the popcorn together (I carefully poured it out of the new bag without touching it to respect Covid considerations). Although I do not know these ladies well, like the gas station owner, they have become my friends.
When we love our neighbors as ourselves, not only do we get to fulfill the biblical command to love, but we also get the added benefit of more friends. Having friends is fun.
As fun as it is to talk to the friends around town, it is even more fun to know that God can be our friend. James 2:23 speaks of Abraham being the friend of God. The problem is that sins makes us God's enemies. The only way around that is to trust Jesus Christ as our savior as we trust His payment for our sins. He died on the cross to forgive our sins and then rose again and is now alive. God loved us enough to send His son and whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Believe on Him and realize that making friends with God is even easier than making friends at the gas station.
2021: A Year To Live For 12-20-20
When I called my cousin it was good to hear his voice. I had texted him before I called to see if he was up to talking. He quickly texted me back and said that he was. Once I called, I was relieved to hear that his voice sounded strong. He has been battling cancer for several years and now he was just getting over Covid.
He is several years older than I am and has always been there for me when I have needed him. When I first went deer hunting, he took me under his wing and watched out for me, making sure I hunted safely. Just recently I was considering a financial purchase and I went to him for advice before making my decision. His advice was good.
He is a reminder of how easy it is to take the ones we love for granted. I am happy that he is doing well, but I also realize that any of our loved ones could be gone so quickly. In Philippians 1:3 the apostle Paul says, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (NASB). That is how I feel about my cousin.
As we talked he said that we should go out for supper. Since he and his wife and myself and my wife have all had Covid, he feels safer going out and about now. I do not want to take for granted the time I have to spend with family and friends.
I also talked with my aunt the same day. Her husband was an uncle to myself and the cousin who is fighting cancer. We had thought he was the healthiest of all the uncles, yet several years ago he suddenly died before he even turned 70.
Hebrews 9:27 says, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” (NASB). Although I hope my cousin lives for many more years, I realize that his time is limited. In fact, all our time is limited. He may beat the cancer and outlive me. None of us know for sure how long we have.
With all the uncertainty that 2020 brought us, we know that very little is certain for 2021. Regardless of what the next year brings, we can take comfort in the certainty of God's promises. Although judgment comes after death, Jesus promised, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB) The meaning of that promise is further clarified by what Jesus said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (NASB)
Although we can all expect death, God has shown us His love through Jesus Christ, so that if we believe in Him, we can have eternal life. That gives us hope for the future. Still our focus should be on living not on dying. We were put here to glorify God as we show our love for Him. We should also live to show our love for others. The apostle Paul stated, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Within just a few verses he then clarified, “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. (Philippians 1:23-23 NASB)
Regardless of how much time we have, let us use our time in the year ahead, and beyond, for God's glory.
Your Life as a Gift 12-6-20
During a recent Children's Church presentation I brought out a box. It was about 8” high, 2 feet long, and about a foot wide. Since Christmas is coming soon, I asked the kids for ideas of what could be placed in the box as a gift for their grandmothers. Ideas ranged from a notebook and pens to candy. Someone suggested a Bible and I mentioned an apple pie.
As the children were brainstorming, one of them suggested a card with something nice written on it. That child had actually ventured where I was hoping to take the conversation. I then put the box behind my back and asked the kids what they could give their grandma that would not have to be put in a box. Suddenly we had ideas like hugs, kisses, and songs. We talked about how we could do some chores for her instead of giving her a wrapped up gift.
Many grandma's already have a lot of “stuff” so doing things for them is often better than giving things to them. We should not just do special things for others at Christmas though. We should show our love all year round. Showing grandmas that they have our love is one of the best gifts of all.
If that is true of grandma, is there also a lesson we can learn about giving to God? God made the whole world, so He does not need more stuff. Psalm 50:10-14 says, "For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. "I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all it contains. "Shall I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of male goats? "Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High;” (NASB)
Instead of giving God stuff we should give Him our thankfulness. One of the ways to show our thankfulness is to give God ourselves. Although it would be fun to wrap one of our boys up in a big box and have grandma unwrap it before she gets her hug, that is not what I am talking about. I am talking about how we as Christians should all be living sacrifices for Christ. That means that we live our lives for Him instead of for ourselves.
Romans 12:1 challenges us, “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (NASB) As the chapter of Romans 12 unfolds we see that Christians are encouraged to figure out what God wants them to do and then to do it. We also further understand that doing God's will involves loving Him with our all and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
If we really want to show God how thankful we are, then we should be making sacrifices in our life for Him and for others. In other words, a great gift for God is to put aside selfishness and put God and others ahead of ourselves.
As the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas come together, realize that giving is often the natural result of a sacrificial life of thankfulness. Let us also remember that one of the best ways to give to God is to give to others. "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'” (Matthew 25:37-40 NASB)
Parts From the Creator 11-20-20
I could hear a clanging sound coming from the front of my pickup. I did not notice it as I drove down the road, but I could hear it echoing off the walls as I drove by buildings. It was especially noticeable as I went though a drive through.
I thought it was coming from the front driver's wheel, so I drove home and jacked it up. As I turned that wheel, the front drive shaft for the 4wd also turned. I could tell right away where the problem was. The rear U-joint on the 4wd drive shaft was worn out. Because the needle bearings in the U-joint were gone, there was excess movement in the parts and thus a clanging sound. It was past time for an immediate repair.
I am definitely not a professional mechanic, but I do try to do a lot of my own repairs and I have replaced many U-joints. I figured this would be a typical repair. I stopped at a local auto parts store and picked up the new pieces. I decided to replace all the joints on the shaft and most of them slipped right into place. The rear one, however would not fit. No matter how I tried to place it within the yoke, it was too big to fall into place. I came from many different angles but it just would not go in.
I felt like I was playing with one of those mind puzzles and I was unwilling to give up. Finally I had to admit defeat. It was not going to work. I concluded that I must have gotten the wrong part. I went back to the store where they looked it up and told me they had given the right part. I decided to try a different store. After trying multiple brands of the same part, I could still not make any fit.
I was quite frustrated. I did not want to lose the use of my 4wd, simply because there was no apparent solution to my problem. I called a friend who is a professional mechanic. He suggested that I go to the Dodge dealership and see if the part from the original manufacturer would fit. Sure enough, the Dodge part slipped right into place without any problem. Sadly the cost was $100 higher than the generic part, but I realized that my solution had to come from the creator of the truck.
Our vehicles are not the only things that get messed up though. Our lives are messed up by sin. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. God is our creator and He is the one we have to go to for our sin problem. Unlike Dodge, He does not charge us a huge markup. Instead He gives us His solution to our problem for free. In order to have our sins taken care of, all we have to do is exercise faith as we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
If you are as frustrated over your sin as I was over the U-joint, realize that the creator has the solution. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9
Reach Out to Those Alone 11-8-20
A year ago I had not heard of Covid-19. Today it has become a part of our lives. Even the experts cannot agree about how dangerous it is, but they all agree that it has cost lives. I was recently with two men who began to calmly discuss Covid-19. Although they had different views about it, they respected each other. I stated that it should remind us of the reality of death and that we should make sure that we have trusted Christ so that we know where we would go when this life is over.
Covid is not the only thing that should cross our minds as we think of the reality of mortality. My father died of cancer when he was only 57 years old. In the United States over 600,000 people die of cancer each year. This is a far greater number than the deaths from Covid-19 so far this year.
Later that same day, I had a conversation with my wife and another woman about Covid. They pointed out that they did not know anyone personally who had died of Covid but they knew of 3 people who had committed suicide because of the added challenges in their life related to Covid-19.
Suddenly it dawned on me that I needed to encourage people to trust Christ, not just for the next life, but for help in getting through this life.
Part of the reason I do not spend too much time worrying about cancer is because I know that if I get it, I will not have to go through it alone. I find comfort in the words of Hebrews 13:5 where we are reminded that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us.
Still, I take care to live a healthy lifestyle. I eat healthy, drink plenty of water, get exercise and plenty of sleep, avoid too much unhealthy food, get sunshine, and do not intentionally put poison in my body. These steps should help all of us whether the danger is cancer, Covid, or any other ailment. Nevertheless, they do not guarantee that we will remain healthy.
Further, Covid has reminded us that trials come whether we get sick or not. We are not supposed to go through trials alone. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
When we had Covid, so many came and helped us, but what about so many who never caught the virus, but are struggling with the trials of isolation? What about those who we do not even know about? Don't be afraid to reach out to those who are isolated while still respecting their choice to protect themselves. Further we should remind people that even if we are isolated from others we never have to be isolated from Christ. Jesus promised, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB)
Basketball and Perfection 10-25-20
My 10 year old is tall and lanky. He looks like a basketball player, but he has not learned very much about the game. Recently our teenage neighbor began to teach him a little bit about basketball shooting techniques. Soon he was having much greater success at making baskets.
His new coach is actually pretty good at it, but he is definitely not a professional player. As we watched them we saw that all of the boys made some baskets and all of the boys missed some. That was not a surprise. Even the professional players do not make every basket.
When I was younger, I watched the Harlem Globe Trotters. Their ability with a basketball was nothing short of amazing. Still they were not perfect. No matter how much the boys practice, they cannot expect to make a basket every time. All it takes is a brief game of HORSE to show that there are some positions where the basket is more difficult to hit than others.
Sometimes people approach Christianity like basketball. They expect that once they come to Christ, then they will be able to deal with sin like the Globe Trotters deal with basketball. No doubt sin should have less of a pull, once we follow Christ, but that does not mean that we will suddenly lose our struggle with sin. The Apostle Paul expressed his own struggle in this area as he wrote Romans 7:19. Notice what he says, “For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish.” (NASB)
What Paul is saying is that he sins even when he does not want to sin. We must not forget what he also wrote to the Corinthians. “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” (I Corinthians 10:13 NASB) There is a way to avoid sin. The problem is that we come short of the glory of God and do not always see the way until after we have fallen into the evil behavior.
Sometimes we just react without thinking through what we are doing. Hebrews 12:1 gives this encouragement. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1 NASB). The sin so easily entangles us, but we should strive to set it aside. As we strive we will come short, just like the kids came short of the basketball hoop so many times. When we do, our only hope is Jesus Christ. He died for our sins because we were not able to meet God's requirements on our own. Romans 5:20 tells us, “And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,” (NASB) In the next chapter the question is asked, “should we sin that grace may abound?” The answer comes back, “God forbid.”
We need to look for the way to escape sin and set aside the sin that so easily entangles us. Still we must realize we will not be perfect. That is why God so loved the world and sent His son. That is why we need to follow Him. When we do come short, we can take comfort in these words, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NASB)
Good Old Doc Cassle 10-11-20
Living near Sioux Falls, it is easy to take state of the art medical care for granted. I have not always lived close to such large hospitals though. Years ago while living on a farm in Southwest Minnesota I needed stitches after cutting my finger.
I quickly realized I would be treated by a country doctor when the nurse said they had contacted him but it would be a bit before he got there since he was finishing up with his farm chores. I wasn't too worried since I knew who he was and that he lived fairly close by. There were no concerns about traffic on his way to the hospital either. Further, although I needed care, it was not a pressing emergency. In the meantime, the bleeding had stopped and my finger was soaked in an antibiotic solution.
Once the doctor arrived, he began to fumble through his tool chest, looking for the supplies he needed. He said he needed to find his grill igniter. I knew things were kind of casual at this small town hospital, but I said that I was there for stitches, not a barbecue.
Once the grill igniter was located, he then asked for a paper clip. I was really confused now. He still needed one more item. It had a technical name that I did not recognize, but once the item was located I reached into the pouch on my belt, pulled out my pliers and said, “if that is all you needed, I could have let you use this.”
The doctor then proceeded to hold the paper clip in his fancy pliers and heat it up with the grill igniter. I needed stitches through my fingernail, so he simply melted holes with the paper clip so he could sew it up like lacing a shoe. I was thankful for the Novocaine.
It did not take long for the finger to heal. I do, however, still have a small scar. Though the hospital was small, the doctor was quite competent and I got the help that I needed.
I needed stitches because of an accident while cutting a piece of wood. I am confident that my doctor had enough down home ingenuity, to stitch the two pieces of board together as efficiently as he stitched my finger. Once he walked away, however, the wood would not heal like my finger did. The wood was not alive. My finger was.
Not only has God breathed life into us, but He has given us the ability to heal. I am reminded of Psalm 139:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
As amazing as it is that my finger healed, it is even more amazing that Jesus came to life again by the power of God. Further, even after I die like the tree that turned into that piece of wood, I will live again if I have trusted Christ. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
It is comforting to know that the God who is powerful enough to create us and to heal our wounds is also powerful enough to raise the dead. It is even more comforting to know that such a powerful God loves us.
God's Love & Feral Cats 9-13-20
It was a warm sunny day. We were at the edge of a bean field bordered by grassland and trees. It was a pretty setting with a steep hill dropping to some flat ground to the south. A breeze rustled in the trees and the grass sounded like a straw broom on a wooden floor.
Suddenly there was a sound that did not seem to belong. It was not a bird. It had the sound of the meow of a lonely kitten. Soon we realized where the sound was coming from. The creature making it was in fact a lonely kitten. It was not even wild. It immediately began to follow my son. It seemed to hope for the slightest bit of attention. There was no sign of other cats or humans around. We had a little a jerky in the truck so we fed this fragile beast. We also fashioned a makeshift dish and poured it some water.
We returned a week later and sure enough our little friend emerged from the bean field. It seemed more interested in our attention than in our food. The kitten had taken a risk in approaching us. What if we had been a predator? What if we had disliked cats and harmed the little animal? Still the kitten took a chance and was rewarded as it received our grace. We again gave it food and water.
Some people approach God as naturally as the kitten approached us. There was no hesitation. Other people are like the feral tom cat I once attempted to coax from hiding. He did not trust me. He watched me closely and was quite eager to be on his way. That feral cat was hardened by battle scars and did not want to get hurt. Not everyone likes feral cats. They eat pheasants so they have a reputation of being evil enemies of the innocent bird. Like Sylvester from the old cartoon, the tom cat was not unwise in his caution.
Even if we have never tried to eat a tweety bird, we have all done more evil than that old tom cat. Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Adam and Eve did not hide in a bean field after sinning, but they did cover themselves in leaves. They were fearful to approach God.
Today, some people are still afraid, but they do not need to be. Jesus died for our sins and He is now alive again so that He can defend us before the Father if we first repent. Because God loved us so much, He sent his son so we could have eternal life if we believe on Him. That means that in spite of our sin, we can have both peace with God and access to Him once we have faith to come to Him. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2 NKJV)
Knowing you are a sinner, it can be scary to come to God in faith, but notice what we are told just a few verses later in Romans 5: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” (Romans 5:8-9 NKJV)
God loved us even though He knows about our sin. We can come as confidently as that little kitten did. Consider the promise that Jesus made when He said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37 NKJV)
Ice Cream & a Good Deal 8-30-20
I love ice cream. It was a hot day and I was thinking of stopping at the gas station and getting a cup of ice cream. I hesitated because a couple of scoops would cost over $2. I walked into the grocery store and I saw a gallon and a quarter for $5. A package of plastic spoons cost 89 cents. I did not have to be a math genius to know that it was a better deal to buy a large quantity.
Of course I understood that during the half hour drive home, the ice cream would start to melt. I had a plan though. I would eat around the edges as it melted and still have a cold center to place in the freezer once I got home. Everything went according to plan except for one thing. Instead of eating 2 scoops if ice cream I ate at least twice that amount. I was not complaining though. Further I had most of the container left for many more treats in the future. I also had a bunch of extra plastic spoons.
Knowing God is good should be a great encouragement to all of us. If you had never tasted ice cream you would not know why I was so happy to dig in with my plastic spoon. If you do not like ice cream you will not fully grasp my pleasure either. Some do not understand why I get so excited about God either. Psalm 34:8 challenges us, “O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (NASB) The ice cream was a blessing on a hot day, but God is a blessing everyday. Some days we will be challenged by heat. Other days it will be cold. Other days the trials of life will have nothing to do with the weather. Regardless we have a good God that we can turn to.
As good as God is, He is even better than we could have expected. He loved us so much that He sent His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. That is a really good deal, but it gets even better. “But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (I Corinthians 2:9 NKJV)
God is good and He is much more than the best deal we could ever find. He is our only hope for eternity. He is not just a refuge for the troubles we face now, He is our refuge for the next life as well. Trust Him and realize that you get more than just a couple of scoop fulls of ice cream- you get a good God that is there for you for forever into the future.
Saddle Pass & A Narrow Gate-8-16-20
We have four boys and they love to climb and hike, so when we found Saddle Pass Trail we were excited. The trail is located in the Badlands of South Dakota near the town of Interior. The modern road that most tourists take goes past a parking area that is just below the pass.
We saw the beautiful scenery and decided to stop, not knowing that the trail headed up this pass. As we set out on the trail, we saw a sign that explained the history of the pass. Before the modern roads were built, this trail was used as a shortcut to get to the town of interior. The early settlers would have to dismount and lead their horses down this steep path.
As we climbed we questioned whether just any horse could navigate this trail. Although it was only moderately difficult for our two legs, we often had to use our arms as well. Once at the top, we felt a sense of accomplishment. We had reached our destination without falling and without meeting any rattle snakes. We had proceeded with caution after seeing a warning sign about the danger of the snakes.
We were not the only ones to take our chances though. Others had set out on this trail as well. We met a number of people as we hiked and a friendly family had even taken a picture for us so we could have a photo of our whole family from the astounding heights we had conquered.
As we sat on our perch above the town of Interior, we could see our vehicle far below us. It was a reminder that our journey was not yet complete. We still had to get back.
The descent was nearly as difficult as the climb. Even on the smooth parts we had to be careful not to go too fast or we would gain too much momentum and would fall. At other times we had to carefully navigate slight drop offs.
We were thankful to get back to our vehicle with its air conditioning and comfortable seats. We were soon driving down a paved two lane road in comfort. There was definitely a contrast between our trip and that of the earlier settlers.
As I think of that narrow trail I think of the words of Jesus Christ where he says, "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NASB)
Saddle pass is such a small trail that had it not been for the parking lot and the signs, we would have missed it. It was not really that difficult to navigate though. We just had to know the way. The same is true about the path to eternity with our Lord. Jesus said the gate is narrow, but He also told us the way. He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB)
The gate of Jesus is small, but anyone can go through if they believe on Him. He promised, "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37 NASB)
The difficult part is not that you have to crawl through a small gate. The difficult part is that you have to trust Jesus and His authority over your life enough to follow Him through that gate. Still, He is the only way. Follow Him.
There is a Lot of Good News 8-3-20
I looked over the headlines on a past issue of our local paper. One of the headlines read, “Experts Express Optimism On Future of Small Towns During Virtual Town Hall Discussion.” Another stated, “Canton Helping Canton, We Are In This Together.” The front page had an article about a new business that was opening in Canton.” The back page had pictures of locals enjoying an open air market. It was encouraging to look at the Sioux Valley News because it was filled with good news.
This small town paper stood out because good news is so rare lately. I looked at some online news sources and I had to look hard to find good news. Bad news was easy to find.
When we are discouraged it is good to have a paper like the Sioux Valley News around. It is also good to have my Bible near by. I love reading through the pages of scripture and seeing the happy endings in spite of the tragedy. Joseph is sold into slavery by his own brothers, but then rises to a high position and is able to rescue those same brothers and their families from a famine. Job loses nearly everything but in the end has more than he started with. Jesus dies for our sins, but then comes to life again.
No doubt there is some bad news in the Bible. Romans 6:23 warns us that the wages of sin is death. That is only part of the story though. The rest of the verse tells us that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
At the beginning of the book of Romans, we are told that the letter of Romans is about the gospel. The Greek word translated “gospel” literally means the good message or the good news. Often when people hear the word, “gospel,” they think of truth or even the plan of salvation from God. Although God's salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is good news for the sinner, there is even more good news in the scriptures. The good news includes the truth that God loves us so much that He sent His son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The good news includes the fact that God is not just our all powerful creator, but He also knows the very hairs of our head and is loving, patient, and merciful.
The scriptures are full of good news and that good news leads people who are far from God to God. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (NASB) The good news (gospel) is the power of God to bring people to salvation as they believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.
As Christians we have a lot of good news about God. Let us share that good news with others so that they might have hope. As others become assured of the good news about God then faith is developed. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (NASB) In order to develop faith with conviction we need to grasp the good news of God. For others to have that faith they must hear the good news about God. Our God is good and that is good news. There is a lot of good news about God. Let us share that good news as we let our lights shine.
Let That Cat Cross My Path 7-16-20
As I sat visiting with my aunt and her husband, my son played with their cat. It was a friendly cat and it was black. It was a hot day, but the cat did not seem to mind the sun. Instead it rolled on its back and waited to be pet.
As we got up to leave there was a light hearted comment about making sure that the cat did not cross our path. I kind of chuckled as someone made a comment about not believing in such superstitions. I assured them that I did not believe that the black cat crossing my path would be problem. I then went on to say that even if it were true I was not worried.
As a believer in the sovereignty of God, I am not a promoter of luck. I did however relay how what some may regard as bad luck had recently turned out good.
A few years ago I was driving down the interstate pulling a trailer with my mini-excavator. Working as a pastor is not my only job. As I looked in the mirror I could see a cloud of oil vapor. I quickly pulled to an off ramp and realized that an o-ring on the pickup was leaking oil. Thankfully I had stopped before the oil level had dropped below the safe level. That was good, not bad. Further, I was close to home and my wife was able to bring the part and we fixed it right there.
If that were the end of the story we could still say that things worked out in the end, but the story gets even better. A farmer who lived near by stopped to see if we needed help. He saw the excavator and realized that I did farm drainage work. He got my number and ended up calling me to do some work for him. A year later he had me do more work. Next year he wants me to do even more. In addition his hired man and his neighbor also want me to do some work for them.
Now not only do I have new customers, I have new friends. The profit I made from the jobs I have done so far is far greater than the repair expense and time lost on my pickup. The perceived “bad luck” of the pickup breakdown turned out to be good.
I recently wrote about having flat tires and meeting a new friend. I told my aunt that I was not worried about the black cat because it seems like even when bad things happen to me it ends up working out eventually. Romans 5:3-5 says, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (NASB)
It is fun when we can look back on our trials and see how God was actually pouring his love on us even though we did not see it at the time.
I do not know what trial will challenge us next, but I hope I can approach it with faith, knowing that I will not be alone. I pray that it will help me persevere and build my character realizing that I have hope (the idea of full assurance) that God will not forget His love for me. I know that even when I am disappointed with my circumstances, I should not be disappointed with God or His love for me.
I do not have to worry about black cats or bad stuff happening to me. I understand that bad things will happen, but that is okay. I can just pet the cat as I pray.
Power In the Clouds 7-3-20
When I was a little kid, I thought it would be fun to sit on a cloud. I could enjoy the soft perch and look down on the beautiful scenery below. Of course I would have to be careful not to fall off. As I got older, not only did my respect for heights put a damper on that fantasy, but I also learned that fog was simply a cloud on the ground and that the cloud would not hold me.
Looking back at my early childhood I have to wonder how much my 4 year old mind had been influenced by cartoons. In these make believe worlds, people would come in contact with angles upon clouds and may even meet a godlike figure. As I got older I realized that when God became a man he did actually walk on water. We do not have a record of Jesus ever walking on a cloud but we do have a record of God in a cloud. Exodus 13:21 tells us, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way.” In Exodus 16:10 we are told that the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
Then in Exodus 34 we actually see God coming in the cloud and standing before Moses. “And the LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the LORD. Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;” (Exodus 34:5-6 NASB)
Although God's love and kindness is expressed in the verse, he also warns of the consequences of sin later in the same passage This should not surprise us because right after the world wide flood that was a global consequence for sin, God sent a symbol of mercy in the clouds as He gave us the rainbow- a promise that a flood would never again cover the whole earth.
Sadly the cartoon versions of God on the clouds have too easily distracted us from the true relationship of God with the clouds. Notice that the verses in Exodus show God's power in the clouds. After witnessing some powerful thunderstorms, I can understand the connection between clouds and power. Psalm 104:3 tells us that God makes the clouds His chariot. Rather than the cartoon version of the cloud being a fluffy couch, the scriptures show that the cloud is a powerful vehicle for God's power.
As I hear the thunder and watch the lightning, it is easy for me to tremble. If I look to the clouds and see their power and then the weather radio gives out a warning I tremble even more. The clouds are a reminder that we should tremble before the power of God. The clouds remind me of something else though. God is merciful. He sent a rainbow and in the Old Testament we read that the cloud where He dwelt was above the mercy seat. That reminds me that God is a God of mercy.
Finally, clouds remind us of His future judgment and mercy as Christ returns. "And then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:27-28 NASB)
As we see the storms this summer, let the clouds remind us of God's power. Rather than resisting His power, look to Him for mercy.
A Slow Drive To Blessings 6-19-20
I love the interstate. At South Dakota speeds we can travel 20 miles in 15 minutes. There are no stop signs to slow us down. It is a quick and efficient way to get from point “A” to point “B”. There are times however that it is nice to slow down a bit.
Recently my son and I took a drive with a farm tractor. Twenty miles took about an hour. It was a much slower pace. We were able to watch a farmer digging a waterway by hand. We didn't just see him out in the field, we had time to watch what he was doing. On one such drive we watched a raccoon run across a field but also had the vantage point and time to see that it crawled into a culvert as we came closer.
Our slower pace allowed us to see so much that we otherwise would have missed. Sometimes it is good to slow down and enjoy the beauty of God's creation. Sometimes we are forced to slow down even more. As we drove, the trailer we were pulling had 2 flat tires. We were going so slow we did not even notice. We did however notice another farmer working on a sprayer in the farmyard we were approaching. He noticed our flat tires. We smiled and waved as we went by- oblivious to problem following us.
Rather than returning our smile and wave, his hand made a quick pointing motion as he observed our problem. Once I looked back I realized what had happened and quickly pulled to the side of the road. He allowed us to park in the farmyard until we could get the tires fixed.
It was the next day before we were able to return with replacement wheels and tires. An hour drive had turned into a whole day delay. Our plans had been changed. The day before we were not expecting to be replacing tires on that day. I had planned my schedule for that week, but the schedule had been altered. I cannot help but think of James 4:13-14, “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” (NASB)
No matter how slow we drive, our lives go by quickly. The next verse says, “Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.'" (James 4:15 NASB) Sometimes God has other plans for us.
That week His plans included flat tires. They also included a farmer who was fixing his sprayer. As we replaced the tires he came over and talked with us. I found out that we were close to the same age and that we were both Christians. Although we had grown up hours from each other, we had both taken the same Bible Instruction Course as kids. Not only did we share a common faith, but we were now able to share a new friendship.
Through the years I have learned that friends are more valuable than tires or time. If God's plans slow us down to bring new friends into our lives, we should view that as a great blessing.
Praying For Our Enemies 6-7-20
My 12 year old son said, "I realize I really need God's help to pray for that police officer." As upset as he was at that man, he still wanted to pray for him, but needed God's help to do it. What a reminder of how much we need God's mercy and His help to be merciful ourselves.
About a week earlier this son had been asking me a lot of questions about prayer. He had been spending a lot of time praying, and was explaining how he came up with subjects to pray about. He even talked about singing songs in prayer. We talked about how many of the Psalms are prayer songs. I felt like I was learning as much as he was as I listened to him.
Then he told me about praying for the officer. I could understand how hard it would be to pray that prayer. I have had to pray similar prayers throughout my life.
When I was in high school, there was another student in the school that was a real jerk- actually there were a number of them, but one in particular that I had trouble getting along with. He had trouble getting along with others as well.
After he graduated, I do not remember seeing him again, but I heard that he had gotten involved with drugs. I have to admit that I do not remember any pleasant memories of this person, but he does come to my mind from time to time. As he does, I usually pray for him. At first, it was not easy. As time has gone by however, it has become a habit. I pray that after all these years he has become a changed person and has blessed many lives.
As I think of the drug use, I cannot help but wonder if he was struggling with things that the rest of us had no idea about. Was his bullying because of his own insecurities? Was he an abuse victim himself? Decades later I find myself having compassion for him even though I would never condone his behavior and his hateful actions toward others.
We do not have to excuse evil in order to pray for others. Jesus told us, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44 NKJV)
There is another passage that applies even more specifically to my son's prayer. The police officer did what he did while exercising his authority. Accountability must come with authority and I pray justice is served, but we are also reminded to pray for those in authority. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV)
As hard as it is to pray for some people, I am reminded that Jesus did not just pray for His enemies, He died for them.
Like a Frustrated Horse 5-22-20
When I was a teenager, I rode a beautiful dun mare along the edge of the road. She had never bucked, but was still not a seasoned riding horse. Not only was she just getting used to having a saddle and a person on her back, she was getting used to being ridden in unfamiliar surroundings. Looking back, it must have been both exciting and a bit stressful for her to go on these adventures.
On one such day, as we rode along the edge of the road, she would turn her head and twitch her ears as a car would go past. She had seen cars before, but these were new surroundings. Soon a motorcycle was coming down the road. She raised her head and picked up her step as this two wheeled machine came towards her with a rider on its back. Just as it came even with her, the rider shifted down and laid into the throttle. The machine made a threatening noise that caused the horse to shudder from top to bottom.
I could tell that she wanted to run, but I held her back. She did not run or buck, but I could feel the tension inside her as I sat upon her back. The feeling came though the saddle and up each of the reins. She was feeling panic and wanted to do what her instincts told her to do. She wanted to run. There was a problem though. I had come between her and her instincts and would not allow her to do what she wanted to do in order to relive her stress.
We continued on the same direction at a slow pace until we met another car. The tension was still there. Before the motorcycle incident, she had noticed the cars but was not panicked by them. That had changed. Her stress had not been relieved and she exploded. Suddenly I was not able to keep her under control. Soon I was on the ground and she was headed back to the barn.
If I had simply taken her out in the field and let her run after the motorcycle incident, she could have burned off her tension. She would have known that I would allow her to get away from danger. As time passed I could have then trained her that she does not have to run every time a noise happens. She was not ready for that yet. She and I both had a lot to learn.
As a pastor, I sometimes notice something similar happening in the pews. Instead of trying to wrangle a young horse, parents are trying to corral their toddlers. Like the horse, toddlers quickly feel the pent up frustration as they feel restricted. They are much less likely to explode if they are given a little room to run. I noticed that when we had wider aisles between the rows of chairs. The littlest kids seemed so much calmer. They were able to walk around in the isle in front of their parents and even get down on the ground and move.
I told an older pastor about this and he went on to inform me that in the 1700's (he is not quite that old, but he had heard about it) some of the churches had the pews facing each other and then had a door on the end. This allowed the children to essentially have a supervised play pen within the pews.
Colossians 3:21 says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.” (NASB) I learned how easy it was to exasperate a young horse and how doing so actually caused me to lose control of the situation. As I learn from the Christians from 300 years ago, I understand as well that exasperating our children and expecting them to sit perfectly still at all times can also backfire. Let us expect that our kids eventually learn to sit still, but let us not cause unnecessary frustration for them until they are old enough to understand and and have the maturity to follow through. Usually that doesn't happen until they are about 5 years old.
Signals that Shape Virtue 5-8-20
When I was a child I had a very talented phy ed teacher. He came up with a lot of really neat games. One of my favorite games was “steal the bacon.” Hockey sticks were used as “bacon” and were placed in a marked off area under the basket ball hoops on each end of the court. Once the half court line was crossed you were on the opposing team's side and if you were tagged you had to go to jail. The jail was the out of bounds line behind the “bacon.” You could get out of jail if a teammate tagged you without getting tagged themselves. The object of the game was to steal all the other team's “bacon” before they stole yours.
As these games were developed by our teacher, he would often tweak the rules as he went. Since our teacher was the one making the game, he had the right to make the rules.
We did not always like his rules and sometimes we even resented them. Still those rules brought stability and were much better than the games at recess that were largely unsupervised. During those times it was not unusual for one of the children to want to change the rules. The problem was that others did not agree with those rule changes. Further the rule changes were often for selfish reasons.
I am no longer a child playing during recess, but as I interact with other adults on social media, I sometimes feel a sense of deja vu. Rather than trying to change the rules about stealing the bacon, it seems that some want to make their own rules about what is right and what is wrong. In fact the term “virtue signaling” has developed as way to share frustration with this phenomena.
As a Christian, I am all in favor of reminding people to live lives of virtue. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.” (NKJV)
The problem is not in reminding people of the importance of virtue. The problem is that we as a society are not able to agree about what positions are virtuous and which ones are not. I feel like we need the teacher to step in and to tell us which rules to follow.
Fortunately we have such a teacher. He cares about us even more than any teacher we have ever had. He cares about us so much that he went to the cross and died for our sins. That teacher is Jesus Christ. As God, he has the authority to set the rules and to tell us what they are. Some do not want to accept his authority or his rules, but if we reject his rules, why should we accept theirs?
An ordered society needs to have someone setting some basic rules. I want that somebody to be God. If someone other than God makes all the rules, it will be too easy for the rules to be made for selfish purposes.
Jesus warned about getting our rules from man rather than God. “'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.' "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men." (Mark 7:7-8 NASB)
For years we have warned about legalism from within the church, but we are also seeing legalism from outside the church. Although we should have rules and virtue within an ordered society, let us make sure that those standards are coming from God and not from some condescending signals apart from God.
Donuts With Dad's Truck 4-25-20
It will be a few years before my son is old enough to drive on South Dakota roads, but I want him to have some driving experience before that time comes. While working in the field, I had him move the pickup. I looked up from my work to see the pickup driving much too fast in a tight circle with dirt flying up from the wheels. I quickly grabbed my walkie talkie and and said, “knock it off or you won't be driving that truck again.”
It was a beautiful spring day. The wind was blowing, the sun was out, and the temperature was in the low 70's. I was glad to be outside. As a bi-vocational pastor, I get to work on drainage challenges in farm fields. My son came out to help me. I joked with my wife that I thought he was auditioning to take over the business since he was being so helpful. That was before he started doing donuts.
Then I saw the 4wd pickup flying through the field and I needed to use the radio to reign him in. As soon I gave my rebuke, the truck slowed down and he drove like he was supposed to drive. Once he parked the truck he got out and stood beside it with a sheepish look on his face.
I informed him that his wild driving was unacceptable behavior and he was not to do it again. I warned of the dangers to his safety as well as the unneeded abuse to the truck. No punishment was given. None was needed. I needed to give him the warning not to do it again, but I realized I had not told him he was not allowed to do what he had done.
In other words, he had not disobeyed me. In fact, as soon as he heard my warning over his walkie talkie, he instantly did obey. That deserved a commendation rather than a punishment. Fortunately this time I recognized that. I do not always see those things however.
There have been times when I have not been so reasonable with my children. The next day my older son was helping me. I rebuked him for going and sitting in the vehicle when he was supposed to be helping me. I laid into him pretty hard. He was crushed and explained that he went to the vehicle because usually the next step in the process of the job we were doing was to move the trailer with that truck and he did not want me to have to wait for him. He was correct and I had to apologize.
Parenting is not always easy. Ephesians 6:4 warns, “And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (NASB) I want my boys to understand my expectations for them, but more importantly I want them to understand and obey God's expectations for them.
I have not been a perfect father and they have not been perfect sons. I had to apologize to my oldest son and I am thankful that he forgave me. I have also had to forgive them when they have done wrong. We have all had to apply Ephesians 4:32, “Eph 4:32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (NASB)
When I consider how much grace God as shown us as we sort out his expectations for our lives, I realize how much grace we must show to one another. I also realize that God does have expectations for our lives and that He makes them clear in His word. Just like I do not want my boys to ignore me, we should not ignore God either. God has not told us not to do donuts out in the field, but we should not neglect what He has told us either.
The Restaurant of Love 4-10-20
We found a new restaurant last week. It was literally in our back yard- literally. Our 9 year old son, decided it would be a good idea to grill some pork chops. His brothers, ages 8-12, had joined in the effort. One of the boys came into my office and said that they were ready for their mother and I to come to the back yard, but we had to come out at the same time.
I realized that something was afoot since he seemed to have a bit of a twinkle in his eye. We looked out our back window. We could see the boys hovered around a card table that they had set up near the grill. Farther away in the back yard, they had set up a couple of saw horses with a sheet of wood over the top held in place by a C clamp. Two chairs were available for seating at the saw horse table.
As we stepped onto the back step, we were greeted into our backyard and escorted to our special table. Although the seating arrangement was a bit primitive, it was just the two of us. That was quite special. Still, we could see that much was abuzz on the other side of the backyard fence where the grill was set up.
Our oldest son approached us with a clipboard and two handmade menus. A list of available food options with pictures drawn were listed. We could have pork chops, carrots, onions, and either a sweet potato or regular potato. We each selected everything offered other than I chose the potato and Crystal chose the sweet potato.
We could see our 9 year old manning the grill as the 8 and 11 year old boys delivered the food to our table. We had each been provided a glass of water as well. I had put on a coat since it was a bit cool out. One of our servers noticed that my wife was a bit cold and quickly retrieved a blanket for her.
As we enjoyed our wonderful date, we realized that the food was actually magnificent. They had done an excellent job. They had gotten pointers on grilling from our next door neighbor across the other fence. It was one of the best dates we have had In a long time.
Not every day has gone that smoothly at the Miller household though. The boys have sometimes gotten frustrated at being cooped up and not being able to see many of their friends. Crystal and I have as well. Still our boys taught us a valuable lesson during these challenging times. Sometimes we need to take the focus off our ourselves and instead look to serving others.
Philippians 2:4 says, “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” NASB) Our boys did that. The Philippians passage however continues. It gives an example of someone who did put others ahead of himself. His name is Jesus Christ. Consider the next verses,
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV)
Even though Jesus is God, he put our interests ahead of his own and humbled himself. He set a wonderful example and died for us. He is not dead though. He is alive and I want to serve Him.
As we put others ahead of ourselves, lest us make sure we put Christ first.
The Gifted Blessings 3-27-20
Our phone rang. We were told there was a box of candy on our deck. As my wife went to retrieve it the people on the other end of the phone line were sitting in their vehicle at the end of our driveway waving at us. Earlier another couple had dropped an ice cream pail with soup in it on our driveway and waved as our boys went out to retrieve it. Soon a pie and more soup were dropped off. We also received ice cream, pop, and groceries- including some homemade applesauce. We already had plenty of toilet paper.
Our family had been sick and we decided to self quarantine. Our family and friends quickly learned about it and poured their love upon us. 1 John 3:18 says, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” (NASB)
We got to witness the love of others and it helped us out a lot. For years I have heard people say things like, “if you need anything just let us know.” Of course that is the polite thing to say and usually saying such things holds little risk since many of the people around here don’t often ask for help. Many of our friends however stepped up before we even asked them. Those who we did ask actually went over and above what we asked for.
Years before I became a pastor I was spending a lot of time volunteering at church. I was single at the time, so I could afford to do it, but for a time, I was putting in as much time there as if it were a full time job. I wanted to give and felt it was a blessing to do it. One day a man met me outside of church and wanted to hand me some money for the time I had put in. I refused it. I did not need it. He looked sad as I did so. Another friend saw what was happening and told me that I was depriving our friend of a blessing by not accepting his gift. I realized I had been wrong in not taking it.
Much of my refusal to take the gift had been rooted not just in my lack of need, but also in my pride. Even if I did not need it I could graciously take the gift and then pass it on to someone else. A doctor named Luke wrote the book of Acts. He reminds us in, Ac 20:35 "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (NASB)
Knowing that it is more blessed to give than to receive, I can understand all the smiles we saw from the vehicles in our driveway. Their joy was an uplift to us, but we could tell that their joy was not fake. They really were feeling blessed.
It is fun watching people open packages at Christmas time, but the people in our driveway looked way more excited and happy about helping us than what most people do as they unwrap their gifts.
In the days ahead I expect a number of us will be facing new challenges. I understand that there are some who are always taking advantage of others, and many fear becoming like them. Let us be careful that we not overcompensate in the other direction and not take the help that many really desire to give. Not everyone has lost their jobs. Many will have the ability to share and will want to do so. Let us not be too proud to let others have a blessing by graciously accepting their help.
We are so thankful for God’s provision to us through these wonderful people. We are also thankful for the joy they got in helping us.
It’s Not Over Yet 3-13-20
As I drove into my hometown on a beautiful March morning I could see a fire truck sitting on the side of the road with it’s flashers on. Before long, every intersection along that road would be blocked by fire trucks from across multiple counties.
As I drove by my old High School, I saw a large firefighting ladder truck with the ladder extended over main street. From that ladder hung a huge American Flag with the stars and stripes blowing in the wind. Any car that traveled on that street had to pass under that flag.
We crossed main street and proceeded to our destination- a church that was much too small to hold all the people that would be arriving. As we looked up the hill from the church, we could see firetrucks taking up multiple lanes. The church was filled with firefighters in uniform, but they were not wearing their firefighting gear. There was no fire to fight. Instead there were tears.
There was another truck parked outside the church as well. A white semi that had been driven by a man that so many in the community were remembering.
The man was more than someone who had driven a white truck and had worn a fireman’s uniform. He was someone who had spent time with people. He was part of a community. He had not yet reached 50 years of age when his life ended, but in that short time he had touched many lives. He was more than a volunteer fireman, he was a volunteer at heart. He was willing to help others,
Matthew 22:37-40 has these words, “Jesus said to him," 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' "This is the first and great commandment. "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
During the eulogy we heard of his love for others. During the message we heard of his salvation through Christ. What really matters in a life are not the firetrucks and flags, but the love for God and others and a trust in Christ.
The man we were remembering had been to the doctor, but so have so many of us. It was hard knowing that he had eventually taken his last breath.
As we left the church we joined a procession of firetrucks and vehicles filled with mourners. The highway that went past the cemetery had been shut down just for this occasion. As we proceeded to the graveside a different firetruck had been placed at each intersection reminding us of over 2 decades of service as a volunteer fireman by a man who would be missed.
Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.” The man who was remembered that sad March day, was not perfect. But the testimony of his community showed that he left this world with something precious- a good name that will not be forgotten.
It is even more important that we not forget that we must not leave this world without the salvation of the one who is perfect. He loved us so much that He gave His life for the whole world. Let us love Christ and others as we trust His loving payment for our sins. Then we can know that if we do trust Christ it will not be all over at the end of a magnificent funeral processional. Eternal life with the Lord will await us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Hope For the Scrap Lumber 2-16-20
My wife asked me to build her a shelf. She did not want anything fancy and she even had a scrap piece of wood that she suggested I use. I informed her that I had some even nicer scrap wood. The piece of wood I chose did not look all that nice at first glance. It had some dings and scratches and was stained with dust and dirt. At first glance her piece of scrap looked much nicer than mine.
Her board was a re purposed portion of chip board that had been painted. Mine was an unused cedar board that had been in storage far too long. An extra coat of paint would have made her board look even nicer. I took a different approach with mine. Rather than covering up the blemishes, I decided to literally remove them. I ran it through my surface planer-removing a small layer of wood along with the blemishes and stains.
After I resurfaced the wood, I built the shelf. My wife was very happy with the results.
I got to thinking that sometimes the best approach is to cover a blemish and other times the best approach is to remove it. There are however some blemishes that cannot be hidden or removed. Even with the added layers of paint, the defects of the chip board would still show through. Running it through the planer would only reveal more layers of defection. Some of my boards have knots that go all the way through them. Some of those knots are lose and planing would cause an ever greater defect to be revealed. Some boards just have to be thrown away or are not fit for anything nice.
Sometimes we can end up feeling like a scrap piece of wood that no one would ever want. Our lives are so marred by sin that we cannot cover it up and there is no way to remove the scars left behind. Who would ever want something so worthless?
I recently watched an artist take a chunk of wood that I would have only used for a campfire and he made an amazing bowl out of it. He saw the beauty in God's creation and used the knotted up portion to create an artistic accomplishment that could not be duplicated.
Let us not forget, that we are all part of God's creation. Some of us are like the tree that has been twisted in the wind and then grows that way. Just because we have been twisted in the wind does not mean God does not have a purpose for us.
Our Lord is like that artist who sees the defect but loves us enough to work with us in spite of that. In fact, He loves us so much that He gave His life to redeem us from the curse of sin. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
Christ did not just paint over our sin. He did not plane it off of us. Instead He covered our sin with His blood and washed it away. Like the the board with the deep knot, the scars of the sin still remain, but when we trust Christ He is still able to use us. Often He uses us for a special purpose that the “typical board” wouldn't be suited for.
Because of the love of Christ, we are able to be like the twisted up branch that is made into the special bowl. We should never glory in our sin, but we should also realize that once we die to self and live for God, we can be like the knurled tree that gave up its life to be used in a special way.
From time to time, Menards has an unadvertised clearance sale. Recently they had a sale on Queen Anne cordial cherries. I am not certain what the regular price was, but they were selling them for a dollar a box. With 10 chocolate covered cherries in sweet sauce, that meant that each once only cost a dime plus tax. I bought a whole stack of them.
As I savored the taste of milk chocolate with a fruity center, I quickly realized that they would not last nearly as long as I had hoped. The box was quite large, but upon opening it I was reminded that most of the container was filled with extravagant plastic packaging and little was filled with the dainties I so desired. Still, upon eating my treat, I was not disappointed.
Sadly the pleasure did not last long and soon the joy had left my mouth and had settled within my stomach leaving me with but a fleeting memory of the goodness. Fortunately there were still 9 more left in the box. The first 5 were quickly eaten before I instituted a measure of restraint.
I quickly realized that if I wanted the enjoyment from these treats to last longer, I would need to limit myself to 1 or 2 per day. Of course, even with that, they would soon be gone.
I had another option available. Since I had purchased so many of them, I could eat to my hearts desire and have a lot of immediate pleasure. The thought of placing another cordial cherry in my mouth just as the last was entering my stomach was exhilarating. After eating 5 of them, however, my stomach was feeling a sensation that had not been present after the first one. I understood the importance of self control and restrained myself.
The scripture actually speaks about a temptation similar to mine. Proverbs 25:16 warns, “Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit.” (NKJV) I remember my Dad talking about liking sweet corn so much as a kid that he ate it until he was so sick of it that he couldn't eat it for years. I did not want that to happen with my chocolate covered cherries.
I also realized that it would not be a bad idea to share them with others. Of course my wife and children got to enjoy some as well. I also decided to give a box to my aunt when we went to visit her. Upon receiving them she went on and on about how much she loved them. Of course I got a big hug from her that day as well.
Suddenly it occurred to me that the joy on my aunt's face was just as sweet as the chocolate on my lips. Further the memory of her joy was much sweeter than the memory of eating the treat. "And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." ( Acts 20:35 NKJV) Further by giving to others, I was able to show love for God and to fulfill a high purpose of fulfilling the royal law of God. James 2:8 says, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;” (NKJV)
Eating cordial cherries is definitely fulfilling, but living out the high purpose of loving God and others has a much more lasting joy.
Ice Cream and Bad Drivers 1-20-20
I love ice cream. My boys love ice cream. My mom loves ice cream. We were recently able to get together for ice cream. As we went up to the counter we were given a variety of selections and the server patiently waited for us to make our choice. She was very nice as she dished up our treat.
As I sat down to eat my delicious bowl of cold goodness, I glanced back up at the counter. The server did not look quite as friendly as she had before. In fact, there was no smile on her face. Suddenly someone approached the counter. As she interacted with them, she again was quite pleasant.
I began to pay more attention to the surroundings. I noticed that a knee cart was parked behind the counter near where she was working. Although I did not get all the details, I found out that she was recovering from a physical condition. That explained why the knee cart was there.
I did not press her for any personal information, but the thought crossed my mind that she could have easily been in pain. That could have explained the strained expression on her face.
That same day I read a meme about a person who was following a car that had a sign in the back window that said, “please be patent with me, I'm learning to drive a stick.” The author went on to explain that the person in the car ahead of them seemed to be doing quite well for someone who was just learning to drive a manual transmission. He also shared that had he not seen the sign, he would have easily become upset by the erratic driving. The meme went on to challenge us to remember that we do not know what others are going through.
Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (NASB)
As I observed the ice cream server, I was not trying to be nosy, but my observation made it much easier to understand that her interests were much more serious than ice cream. It reminded me that we need to get out of our own bubble of life and realize that the people around us are also facing challenges. We are commanded by God to love others, but often we do not pay enough attention to their struggles- their interests- to even know how to act in a loving way.
It is also a reminder that sometimes it is okay to let others know what we are going through so that they can display the love that they desire to display. I love how the person put the sign in their car window. It allowed other drivers to give a thumbs up rather than a scowl.
I am not suggesting that we should be scowling at other drivers, but often we have no idea what is really going on around us. As Christians, let us be humble enough to not think the worst of other people, but let us also be humble enough to share our struggles so that others can share their love.
The Philippians passage continues with these words: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (NASB)
Let us follow God's example of love, humility, and care for others.
Don't Face the Fog Alone 1-6-20
We spent Christmas Eve with my in-laws. They only live about 3 hours away, but we had to drive through the fog to get there. The trip over was not that bad. It was daylight and there were a few breaks in the haze. On the way back, the blanket had descended much more thickly and we did not have the daylight to cut through it.
Fortunately it was not as thick as it has been at other times, but we still drove with caution. We realized that even on a familiar road, we could easily miss our turnoff. The landmarks we were used to seeing could not be identified. It gave me a bit of a feeling of helplessness and a huge feeling of uncertainty.
I am thankful that we were on a familiar road. Imagine how troubling it would have been to have to take a detour on a road we had never driven on in a thick fog. Imagine if we missed a turn because we could not see the signs.
Sometimes life is like that. We end up facing situations that we never had to face before. We have no idea what lies ahead and we cannot see the next turn coming. Even if your life is fairly predictable and is like driving on a familiar road on a cloudless day, there are the times of fog and detour that come upon us.
Must of us are able to handle the bumps along the road without too much trouble. Even a detour or a bit of fog is not that big of a deal. But from time to time there are circumstances in life where the fog detours and bumpy roads all come at the same time. Imagine being on such a road and you are already behind schedule. Driving fast is too dangerous, but being late will also mess up your life. There is no good option, but slowing down and being safe and considering the safety of others is the best option.
In life we often have to chose the best option by asking what would best show my love for God and others and then realize that we cannot go through the fog alone.
As I was driving on Christmas Eve, I was thankful that my wife was there to help me watch for our exit from the interstate. As I go through life I am thankful for those who I can look to for guidance. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
One of the huge advantages of a church family is the ability to get together with other people who love God and get their advice as we travel through the fog. Still there are times when none of us can see where to go. That is when we must all call out to God in prayer. We plan out our route, but God puts us where He wants us and is there to guide us along even when we cannot see the way. “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 NASB)
As we face the new year, we have no idea what fog or detour lies ahead. Let's not face it alone. Face it with Christ and other Christians.
A King is Born and He Reigns 12-23-19
Christmas is the time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Although he was laid in a manger, he was born into a royal family. Both his mother Mary and his step father Joseph were descendants of royalty. They were both from the lineage of King David. In fact, that was the reason that Joseph went back to Bethlehem before Jesus was born. Luke 2:4 tells us, “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)”
Things had changed though. The kingdom had been lost. The royal family no longer had power, but there was hope that an heir would ascend to the throne and bring justice back to the nation. In fact such had been prophesied. Zechariah 9:9 foretold, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (NASB)
The baby in the manger would grow up, to ride the donkey into the capital city as their king and savior, but he was not just king of the Jews. He was something more. As the son of Mary and the stepson of Joseph, he had a special place in the royal family, but as the son of God, he had an even higher position.
In the Jewish tradition, a young man would start an apprenticeship after his 12th birthday. Joseph was a carpenter, and Jesus would be involved in that occupation as well, but he followed in his heavenly father's footsteps. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. On their way home, they realized he was not with them. Notice where they found him. “And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.” (Luke 2:46-47 NASB)
Rather than just working on carpentry, he took his apprenticeship working on spiritual matters. He was working on his heavenly father's business, not his step father's business. “And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49 NKJV)
Saving Gum For a Month 12-5-19
I became a bit concerned as I listened to my boys talking. My 10 year old was saying that he had the same gum for over a month. His brother asked how he had it for so long and he replied that he just saved it. I was imagining him sticking it on his bed frame at night and then retrieving it the next morning. I was just getting ready to give him a lecture about hygiene and sanitation and the problem of germs, when I suddenly realized that I might be jumping to the wrong conclusion.
I asked him if he was talking about gum that had already been chewed or if he meant that he had been saving gum that was new in the package. He gave me the wrinkled up face “oh gross” look and said that he had been saving it new in the package.
His face made it clear that there was no need for any lecture. He could have given a more passionate lecture on that subject than I could have. It was a reminder that I need to be careful not to create unnecessary conflict by jumping to conclusions. The scripture reminds us in James 1:19, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;” (NASB) We as Christians ought to be careful how we act and that includes being quick to hear and slow to speak.
The gum incident and the words from the book of James remind me to listen before jumping to conclusions. The book of Proverbs actually gives the example of a person who took hasty action and ended up with egg on their face. Proverbs 25:8 says, “Do not go out hastily to argue your case; Otherwise, what will you do in the end, When your neighbor puts you to shame?” (NASB) The next verses tell us that instead we are to go and talk to our neighbor directly. “Argue your case with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret of another, Lest he who hears it reproach you, And the evil report about you not pass away.” (Proverbs 25:9-10 NASB)
If you jump to a wrong conclusion and you act accordingly and start to spread wrong information, you will end up hurting your own reputation. Talking to your neighbor and listening can resolve a lot of misunderstanding. Imagine how silly I would have looked if I started to tell others how gross my son was for saving his gum. Once the truth came out and everyone could see how disciplined he was in not just using up the gum, I would have been the one who looked ridiculous, not him.
Often when we jump to conclusions the damage is much more serious than looking silly over gum. We run the danger of hurting the reputations of others and of ourselves. Further we might end up causing strife between others when it could have been avoided by simply listening after sharing our concerns.
I
shared my concern about gum with my son and then listened. His
response cleared up the matter immediately. A lot of tension between
people could be avoided if we applied this principle on a regular
basis.
Thankful For God's Provision 11-22-19
I like getting a good deal at auctions. Recently a pickup came up for sale on an online auction and it was not too far away. It was newer than any of our current vehicles, but it had a dent in the drivers door and a few other minor issues. I noticed that the bidding was not going very high so my wife and I talked about it and decided that if it went cheap enough that it would be a good investment. Of course it would have to be a really good deal for us to make that investment.
Once the final auction day arrived, the pickup was still priced within our budget, but I realized that all it would take is one other bidder for the price to be beyond our reach. I also knew that God has a way of supplying for our needs. I do not demand that God give me what I want, but I do bring my cares before Him knowing of His love and unlimited power.
I prayed about the truck and asked for wisdom about how high of a bid I should make. I settled on a price that would make it easy for me to be outbid if God did not want us to have the pickup. I put in my maximum bid a few minutes before the auction was to expire and waited. If another bidder upped their bid, the auction would go into overtime. With 40 seconds left, we were still the high bidder. My boys were excited as they sat next to me waiting for the result. Another bidder upped their bid, but it was not over our high bid.
Finally the auction expired and and we got the truck for about $455 less than my top bid. We ended up getting the truck for about half of what other comparable trucks were selling for. My boys were very excited. We would be getting a newer truck and they did not have to worry about paying for it. I was excited as well. I was also thankful and shared my thankfulness in prayer, but I was the one who had to write the check.
I began to worry a bit. Although God had provided for us in an amazing way- a way that was so reasonable that we actually had the cash on hand to pay for it- that meant that our emergency fund was nearly depleted.
The next day I began to read Matthew ch 6 because I was interested in the first part of the chapter, but then I came to last few verses where it said,
"Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:31-34 NASB)
Not only had God provided an inexpensive vehicle, but He had also provided the reassurance that I needed from His word. He reminded me not to worry about tomorrows unknown emergencies and instead trust in His provision.
These reassurances are not an
excuse to be careless with our finances, but we had made a very
conservative financial decision where God had provided in an amazing
way. There was no need to worry. It is encouraging to know that God
cares for us and is concerned with our daily needs of food and
clothing. He even cares about our vehicle needs. Best of all, He
knows what we need for daily encouragement from His word. We have
much to thank God for.
Thankfully Jingling the
Bells 11-7-19
We are entering the holiday season. Soon we will celebrate Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and finally the new year. Recently one of our boys wanted to sing Away in the Manger and his older brother said that since it was almost Thanksgiving, we could start to sing Christmas songs. Another friend chimed in and said that she had been listening to Christmas songs since July.
My oldest son who has become somewhat of a walking encyclopedia, then went on to explain that although “Jingle Bells” is often thought of as a Christmas song, it was actually written in reference to Thanksgiving.
“Jingle Bells” does not reference God or religion, but the song is about rejoicing as it glorifies the fun of riding and singing. Rejoicing in prayer and thanksgiving is really what the November holiday should be all about.
The song about the one horse open sleigh reminds us that singing and giving of thanks should go hand in hand. The Bible reminds us of that as well.
In the Old Testament, the ark of the covenant reminded the people of God's covenant. It also reminded them of His presence with them. Since the ark was covered with the mercy seat, it also reminded them of God's mercy. Inside the ark was Aaron's rod and manna from heaven, which reminded them of God's deliverance and provision. The ark of the covenant was a reminder that they had a lot to be thankful for.
God called King David “a man after mine own heart.” As the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem David gave the nation's choir leader a song to sing for that special occasion. It begins with these words: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders. Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.” (I Chronicles 16:8-10 NASB)
The context of that song was the ark of the covenant coming to Jerusalem. The ark was a reminder of God's promises, presence, mercy, deliverance, and provision. It was also a reminder of God's power. It reminds us that there is so much to thank God for and that the thankfulness should lead to rejoicing. That rejoicing took place as Asaph, the choir director, used the song we find in I Chronicles so that he could lead the people in singing a song of praise.
As I heard about our friend who
has been listening to Christmas songs since July, I thought about the
reason we as Christians celebrate Christmas. It is about God coming
to earth as a baby to bring His promises, presence, mercy,
deliverance, provision, and power to the world as He showed His love
by dying on the cross for our sins. We get to rejoice with
thanksgiving because our God is not dead, He is alive. He rose again
and lives and reigns with power and mercy. We have a lot to be
thankful for.
God is Greater than Determination 10-27-19
Our boys are getting taller. My wife informed me that our 9 year old is wearing size 10 jeans but they are about 8 inches too short for him. Our 11 year old told me the other day that he keeps bumping his head. He is growing so fast that places he used to walk under are now too low for him.
They like getting taller and look forward to being taller than their mom. They might even end up being taller than I am. I have no idea which one of my boys will end up being the tallest. Although good nutrition may help them gain some stature, pure determination will not. I am thankful for that, because my sons are very determined and I cannot imagine how tall they would end up being if they waged a contest over who would be the tallest.
There are certain things that we can accomplish by sheer determination. I have watched my sons build some amazing forts. Still those forts pale in comparison to some of the amazing cathedrals around the world.
In Genesis 11, we read about how after the world wide flood, the people of the world got together to build a huge city and tower. “And they said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name; lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:4 NASB)
God saw what they were doing and realized that man's determination would cause him to set even higher goals and that they would achieve those goals. God wanted to slow things down, so He made different languages and thus the tower was called The Tower of Babel. It is a reminder that as determined as man is, he is not more powerful than God.
Some determined men have build great structures. The pyramids in Egypt and the Great Wall in China are examples. Legends tell of other's determination leading them to search for the fountain of youth. Advances in medicine have allowed us to feel more youthful for a time. Hip and knee replacements are examples. Stints and surgery can even extend the effectiveness of the heart. Still there are limits. Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” (NASB)
Although we have not found the fountain of youth or even a medical technique or exercise program to stop all aging, there is a way to find eternal life. It is not found through determination though. It is found by recognizing that God is greater than we are and that He is our only hope for eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” (NASB)
Eternal life is a gift from God when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what John 3:16 is about. It is not something we get through achievement or determination. Rather it is something we get when we realize we cannot get it on our own and that we need God. As we realize He is all powerful and believe on Him and His payment on the cross, we are given a wonderful gift. It is not about determination. It is all about a loving merciful God.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
What Does it Mean to Believe? 10-11-19
I am not a big sports fan, but because I am a Christian I have heard of Tim Tebow. I am just familiar enough with him to realize that like so many other athletes, there are continued debates about his talents. Some believe in him others do not.
The same could be said about Tom Brady. Although his talents are not as debated as Tebow's the controversy over his support among football fans is even greater. Many avid Patriot fans believe in Brady, others hate him.
When I talk about belief in these athletes, I am not talking about a belief in their existence. All we have to do is watch replays of their games to know they are real. When I speak of belief in Brady or Tebow, I am talking about belief in their abilities and their worthiness to be on the field playing the game.
Belief also has the idea of an alliance. If you believe in the New England Patriots, that means you are on their side- rooting for them to win. Throughout history people have taken sides and it was often more serious than wearing the colors of their favorite sports team. Often it meant taking sides in a military conflict or even choosing which king to form an alliance with.
For example after the famous king Solomon passed away, his son Rehaboam dealt harshly with his people. That caused many of them to no longer want to follow him. When they found someone else that they could believe in, many of them followed a man named Jeroboam instead. Soon the kingdom was divided with some people believing in Rehaboam and following him while others believed in Jeroboam, making him a king and following him instead.
I am not a sports fan, so I have not found an athlete to follow and believe in. I have however found a king. The king I have found is a king worth believing in. Not only does he have the abilities and the right to be my king, he is the sort of king that I want to be faithful to. He is concerned about justice and cannot be bribed. He cares about those under his care. In fact he cared so much that he gave his life for his people.
Some may be disappointed to learn that such a great king has died. I too would be disappointed if it were not for the fact that he is now alive again. The Apostle Paul wrote of the good news about my king: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” (I Corinthians 15:3-4 NASB)
My king is alive and I believe in Him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) A Christian belief in Jesus is more than a belief that He exists. It is an alliance with a king. I am following my Lord and savior as His humble servant. He as my King and master. I believe in Jesus Christ.
Family History of the Heart 9-27-19
Grandpa Miller died when I was 6 years old. I remember coming home with Mom and seeing Dad's John Deere tractor with its front wheels up on the silage pile. The plow was still hooked to the back of the tractor. Grandpa Miller had been plowing with that tractor earlier in the day.
We found out that Grandpa had a heart attack and had died in the tractor trying to make it back from the field. He was only 68 years old. Years later, my dad had a heart attack in his 50's. His brothers also had heart problems. I had a cousin on the Miller side, who died in his 30's after multiple heart attacks.
When my dad went to the doctor for his heart attack they told him that his heart was already damaged from an earlier attack. Friends have warned through the years not to ignore symptoms and that something as simple as a feeling of heartburn might actually be the heart, not the stomach.
I recently had some strange symptoms. I had a heartburn type feeling that radiated into the jaw. I also had some chest tightness along with it. It soon passed. Days later, I went to move some sandbags and I lost my breath much quicker than I normally do. This was followed by pain between and behind the shoulder blades. I decided to go to the Avera Heart Hospital.
They hooked me to a bunch of wires and did an EKG. The EKG was normal, so was the blood test. Because of the symptoms and the family history, they decided to do a stress test- especially since the chest pain was continuing. They did another EKG while I ran on a treadmill. They also did 2 different nuclear die tests- one before and one after the treadmill. The tests were inconclusive, so they followed up with an angiogram. That test showed that there were no blockages, but if there had been they would have fixed them with a stint while they were there.
Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (NASB) Although this passage is not talking about the physical aspect of the heart, I thought of this verse. The symptoms can be deceptive and the tests inconclusive, but the staff at Avera was doing all they could to know the heart. They even did an ultrasound to see if there was inflammation.
I was both surprised and relieved to discover that I did not have any blockages in my heart. The EKG was good and the blood test showed there had been no damage. They told me to take medication for heartburn and to follow up with a general practitioner.
I am glad I did not ignore the symptoms. I wonder what would have happened if Grandpa had responded to his symptoms earlier or if he had even had a cell phone to call for help.
I hope that others do not ignore their hearts. I also pray that we all respond to the spiritual aspect of the heart. Christ warns in Mark 7:21-23 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." (NASB)
All of us have a family history of the heart problem of sin. That is why we need Jesus Christ. Our sin has separated us from God, but Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. He died there, but then rose again. If we believe on Him as our Lord and savior, He heals our sin problem and makes us right with God. He is able to deal with the parts of the heart the hospital does even test for.
I'm Not In the Hurricane 9-13-19
One of the advantages to living in Worthing is that we do not have to fight traffic. The other day I found myself on Cliff Avenue in Sioux Falls between 5 and 5:30. It took way longer to get from Avera to 229 than it did to get from 229 to Worthing. We found ourselves in stop and go traffic. Further the air conditioning was not working.
Because the air was not working I had to roll down the windows- well actually I had to push a button so that an electric motor would roll down the windows. It was such an inconvenience. I had to spend some extra time sitting on a cushioned seat as I listened to the radio while waiting for the traffic to progress.
Of course you can see how trivial my concerns were. While I sat in comfort, many had recently lost their homes to a hurricane. Others had recently lost their lives. Still I am not used to so much traffic, so it was hard for me to find the contentment that I needed. It reminds me of I Timothy 6:6-9 which says, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.” (NASB)
By historical standards we in the USA are quite rich. Even some of the worst cars on the road today would be luxury compared to transportation in Bible times. Notice verse 9 again. “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”
After the Bahamas were hit by Hurricane Dorian, it was understandable that people would be concerned about having food and clothing. But the more we have, the more we want and the more trivial our concerns become. The evidence of how prosperous we have become is that instead of worrying about if we will have enough to eat we are worried about if our car gets a scratch on it.
I am not suggesting that we be careless with our possessions nor that we should not respect what belongs to other people. Still it is so easy to let the trivial things of life cause needless conflict.
If you are a parent or grandparent you have likely had a couch cushion damaged by a child. If the child was naughty or careless, then that issue must be addressed, but often these things happen without sin or malice of any sort.
Throughout history and even throughout the world today, most people did not have fancy enough furniture to even worry about stains. So many of the things we worry about are quite trivial.
Instead of worrying about getting a nicer couch or car, let us focus on being more godly. If we can learn to be content with what we have, then we will be able to see that godliness is much more important to gain than any riches. “But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.” (I Timothy 6:6)
As followers of Christ, it may be tempting to just live on the streets and be content to get free clothes and food at the shelters. But as we are content with what we have and as we grow in godliness, we should want to help others. That is why we should have jobs if we are able. Ephesians 4:28 challenges, “Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.”
Our godliness and contentment should be evidenced as we show love for God and others.
We Found the Old Mill 8-30-19
Our boys like hiking trails. On a recent visit to a state park, I decided to look at a map and ignore the trails. The map showed a trail leading to the site of a long abandoned grain mill that had been built along a river in the early 1800's. All that was left was a number of rocks that made up the original foundation. Still, once we reached it, we were able to see the remnants of the mill.
Reaching it was not as easy as we expected though. We looked at the map and the trail that led to the mill seemed to take a longer route than necessary. We concluded that if we took a shortcut and left the trail and headed west instead of south, we would soon reach the river and then we could follow the river to the mill and save a lot of time.
We crested a small hill as we took our shortcut and found that the ground abruptly turned downward in steep grade that led to the river. It was too steep to even walk down. We followed this embankment to point where a ravine diverted runoff into the river. The 25 foot descent was much gentler at this point. As we neared the river, the drop became much steeper. We could see the river flowing at a brisk rate below and watched the rapids spew water giving evidence of dangerous currents. As we approached, we saw that it would be very difficult to walk along the edge of the river, since the banks of the river were extremely steep. There were so many trees that in order to get close enough to follow the river we would have to cling to the trees themselves so that we did not fall in.
After assessing the situation we decided that it was too dangerous to take our shortcut and that it would actually take much longer than the trail that was shown on the map. In order to get back to the trail we took yet another route back up the hill. The climb was so steep we had to hold onto trees to make the trek. Once we reached the top, we found ourselves on a narrow ridge with another steep drop off on the other side. We were able to follow that ridge back to safer ground and soon found the trail.
The trail was marked well and had signs to show us where to go. Soon we found the mill site. We read a sign that said the mill likely failed because it was so difficult to get to. We agreed. The well marked trail we followed was steep and narrow. The way we attempted without the trail was quite wide in the sense that as we headed out, we had not limited ourselves other than heading west and staying on our side of the river. Had we fallen into the river, our way could have easily led to destruction.
The way to God is narrow as well. We cannot just choose our own path. We need to go the way He tells us to go. "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-4 NASB)
The path to God must go through Jesus Christ as we trust Him as our Lord and savior. “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6 NASB)
I am glad we finally found the
site of the old mill. I am even more glad that I found God.
A Good God Allowed Evil? 8-16-19
As I neared my driveway I saw my son riding his bike through the ditch, pedaling hard in my direction. I watched him veer slightly as his front tire lined up with the culvert that went under the driveway. Quickly his body continued forward as the bike came to a complete stop. I wondered what I would find as I got there. I found a smiling son rubbing his arm and simply stating, “that hurt.” He was fine and I was relieved.
He learned something through that experience. He learned that riding a bike and taking risks can be both fun and dangerous. He learned the reality of life. Life in general can be both fun and dangerous. It has both pleasures and regrets. It has times of joy and times of sorrow.
Not only did my son gain some excitement, he gained some knowledge. His ancestors have gained knowledge and experience through the generations as well. Those experiences began with Adam and Eve. The first people were created by God and so was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God told them not to eat of that tree, but He also allowed them to do it and the world has been plagued by evil ever since. Many have asked why God even allowed such a thing to happen. Why did He even create the tree? Why didn't He destroy it or put a wall around it so that Adam and Eve could not reach it?
As I allow my children to ride their bikes, I tell them to be careful. I give them warnings about what not to do. Still I know that they will do a lot of stupid things and that they will learn from those events. For example a few years ago another one of my sons rode a tricycle off the deck and onto a ramp and broke his arm. No matter how many warnings I give about not doing things like that, I also realize that such events are part of growing up and learning.
When God allowed Adam and Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit, He also allowed them to learn. He allowed a very significant event to take place that gave humanity much more knowledge than what mankind had possessed previously. Although Adam and Eve were innocent before eating the forbidden fruit, they were also much less knowledgeable.
Genesis 2:9 & 17 calls the tree with the forbidden fruit, the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Although eating of the tree led to sin, it also led to more understanding. Before eating of that tree, they did not even know or care that they were naked.
Sin has brought a lot of trouble into the world, but it also gives mankind much more understanding. Without sin and evil- without pain and suffering- we would not be able to understand love and mercy the way we now do. God could have created a world where everyone's needs were always met and where no one ever hurt anyone else. In such a world, there would then be no need to help others because without any troubles, no one would ever need help. Without a need for help, there would be no way to show love by giving up ones own comfort. In such a world there would be comfort no matter what happened.
Instead God gave us a world where we understand the difference
between good and evil and where we also get to understand the
difference between love and hate. We get to show love for one
another. We also get to understand what it means to love God and for
Him to love us. Because of a sin cursed world we get to understand
John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.” Although I do not want to glory in the
fact that we are sinners, I am thankful for the knowledge of good and
evil, because with that understanding, comes the knowledge of God's
love.
Fury and Forgiveness 8-6-19
We once visited the zoo and saw a warning sign by the wolf pen. It warned that the wolf was territorial and that visitors should not put their hands in the cages. Rather than wanting to be pet, the wolf could become very angry that his territory had been invaded. We felt quite safe on our side of the fence, but I would not want to run into a wolf in the wild and I would definitely not want to do anything to make it angry.
Angry wolves can be so dangerous that the scriptures even use them to illustrate the dangers of the enemies of God. I am glad that my God is not like the wolf. Still, God does get angry and does defend His commands. Remember that He created the whole universe so everything belongs to Him.
God does not bite simply because we put our hand through a fence, but He does hold us accountable for sin and unbelief. John 3:36 warns, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (NASB)
During the time of Danial, the nation of Israel was taken into captivity by the nation of Babylon. This was a result of their sin. It was during that time that Daniel was thrown into the lion's den. Lions are a lot like wolves, yet God protected Daniel. Incidentally, Daniel was thrown in with the lions, not because of his sin, but because of his faithfulness to God. Although Daniel was in Babylon because God was chastening the people for their sin, God was still showing mercy to those who were faithful to Him.
God showed grace and mercy to many others during that time as well. For example, Daniel had three friends who survived being thrown into a fiery furnace by the power of our almighty God. Years later, God showed mercy on the whole nation of Israel by allowing them to return home after more than a generation of captivity. Psalm 85 is actually a song about how God's anger over their sin did not last forever and neither did their captivity in Babylon. Psalm 85:2-3 says, “Thou didst forgive the iniquity of Thy people; Thou didst cover all their sin. Selah. Thou didst withdraw all Thy fury; Thou didst turn away from Thy burning anger.” (NASB)
God does get angry over sin. Jesus demonstrated that when He overthrew the tables of those who were cheating people in the temple. His anger at sin was also shown in the world wide flood, but then His grace and mercy was shown as He gave us the rainbow promising never to send such a flood again.
God does get angry over sin and there are consequences for our actions, but God also forgives. We see that clearly in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NASB) As John 3:36 above explained, eternal life comes through Jesus Christ, but the wrath of God abides on us without Him. That is why we must humble ourselves before God as we believe that Jesus died for our sins and rose again. Then we must recognize that our risen savior has authority over our lives.
Both God's wrath over
sin and God's forgiveness help us to understand His goodness. Sin is
bad, so God has to deal with it, but God forgives, and His wrath
does not have to continue. He is not like a wolf that will not back
off from the attack. 1 John 1:9 explains, “ If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NASB) Confess your sins
before God. He does not stay mad, but instead forgives.
Don't Brag When Doing Right 7-19-19
I have a neighbor who has a very good reputation around town. When I first met him, I found him to be a very friendly man. During that first conversation we had, I talked about Christ and this neighbor assured me that he too was a Christian. His behavior since that time has supported his testimony. In fact, others who know him have also said that he is the real deal when it comes to his faith. He reminds me of what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:17, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” (NASB)
I understand that my neighbor is not perfect, but it is encouraging to have someone who sets a good example for others to follow.
I know of another man who talks a lot about Christ, but does not have the same reputation that my neighbor has. Like my neighbor I have heard multiple times how godly this other man is, but there is a difference. Instead of hearing from other people how godly this other man is, I keep hearing it from that man saying it about himself. Proverbs 27:2 warns, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.” (NASB) I remember going to a memorial service and during the eulogy, this man bragged about how much he had helped the deceased .
My godly neighbor does not have to praise himself. Others do it for him. The other man seems to have missed the importance of verses like II Corinthians 10:18 , “For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” (NASB) "When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:2 NASB) "And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:5 NASB) "And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full” (Matthew 6:16 NASB)
Though Paul encouraged others to follow his example in Philippians 3:17, just before that he stressed how although there was a lot he could brag about, his true boast was in Christ. Philippians 3:9-10 says, “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;” (NASB)
As Christians if we are ever asked about what we are most proud of spiritually, our answer should always be that Christ is our savior. Let us brag on Him, not on ourselves. Bragging on ourselves can actually confuse the gospel message of Jesus dying for our sins and raising from the dead and how it is about Him saving us rather than us saving ourselves. Titus 3:5-6 summarizes it very well when it says, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,” (NASB)
We ought to live godly lives. My neighbor is a good example. Christ is an even better example. As we follow good examples, don't brag about it- just do it.
God & the Sinkhole Mystery 7-6-19
This spring a large sink hole opened up in Rapid city. According to reports, it was nearly 30 feet across and up to 40 feet deep. A road and sidewalk were closed and a large amount of material was hauled in to fill the hole. Officials stated that they expect that the material will not continue to sink, but they still do not know the cause of the sink hole. It remains a mystery.
There is a lot in this world that still remains a mystery. Some of those things- like sinkholes- can become dangerous. With all the unknowns in the world and with all the potential dangers, it is comforting to know that God understands what is happening and that we can trust Him.
Just as we cannot see what is going on under the ground, we cannot see all that God is doing behind the scenes. Events of life and even God's plans for them are some of the greatest mysteries that we face.
A man named Job faced a lot of trials in his life. Some of his friends thought they had solved the mystery about why he was facing so much hardship. They however were wrong. Job himself tried to figure things out and also came to many wrong conclusions.
Job actually had the advantage of hearing from God himself. What he heard, however, was quite humbling. God begins by saying, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2 NASB) In other words, God tell Job that Job does not know what he is talking about. God then asks Job a series of questions beginning with, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements, since you know? Or who stretched the line on it?” (Job 38:4-5 NASB) God is making it clear to Job that man does not know more than his creator and really is not in a place to question the creator's decisions.
God says something very similar in Isiah 45:9, "Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker--An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands'?” (NASB)
As God speaks to Job, He talks of so many of the mysteries of creation including the stars, the seas, the clouds, the behavior and strength of animals, wind, rain, thunderbolts, water turning to ice, death, and birth. God set up all these things. He understands them, we do not. God then asks Job another very direct question when He says, "Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it." (Job 40:2NASB) As we read the Psalms we find many of the writers questioning what God is doing and trying to understand the trials they are facing. Of course it is good to go to God with our concerns, but it is quite another thing to accuse God of fault for what He is doing. God is also quite direct with Job in vs 8-9, "Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified? Or do you have an arm like God, And can you thunder with a voice like His?” (Job 40:8 NASB)
After hearing all of this and the rest of what we read in chapters 38-41, Job repents and his answer is quite humble as he says, "I know that Thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' "Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." (Job 42:2-3 NASB)
Job is a reminder that even when what God is doing is a mystery that baffles us, we can still trust Him. He is the creator who is powerful enough to do what is right even when it is a mystery to the rest of us.
What Do You Look Like? 6-21-19
As I drove down the road I saw flashing lights and a trailer in the ditch. Once I got closer I saw a man in a uniform. The protective vest, radio, and firearm, in addition to the rest of what he was wearing, quickly identified him as a police officer.
When I walk into Walmart and see someone with a blue vest with yellow on the back of it, I recognize them as a Walmart employee.
In a similar manner if I see someone with a yellow reflective vest and a hardhat, I figure that they are a construction worker.
Although farmers do not have a specific uniform, if I see someone wearing a pliers, a Pioneer seed corn hat, and cowboy boots, I have a pretty good inkling about their profession.
Although appearances can be misleading, we can often get some clues about people simply by how they appear. If that is the case, then what should a Christian look like? If that Christian is a Lincoln County Sheriffs Deputy, then he or she should look just like the officer that I saw the other day. If the Christian works at Walmart, then the answer is obvious.
Of course not all farmers wear pliers and cowboy boots nor do they all plant Pioneer seed. Furthermore, all Christians are not going to wear the same kinds of clothes or even cut their hair the same- nor should they.
Still there are things that we should all be able to see as we look at Christians that should make them stand out just as much as a construction worker with a hardhat. These are the sorts of things that should transcend time and culture.
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (NASB) These are the sorts of things that should stand out in the lives of Christians so that they will be set apart in any country or any point in history.
Romans 12:2 reminds us that as Christians we are not to be worldly. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (NASB) Notice that in order to avoid being worldly there is nothing said about a “Christian uniform.” Instead the focus is on the renewing the mind to God's will. As we trust Christ, His Spirit comes to dwell within us and the fruits of our doing His will are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Philippians 2:14-16 says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.” (NASB)
Notice that by doing things without complaining and arguing, Christians stand out from the rest of the world and shine as lights. Godly behavior is a far better way to identify a Christian than any outward uniform could ever be. Our behavior is not what rescues us from the wages of sin. Trusting Jesus and His death and resurrection for our sins is what saves us. Still, once we are saved, He will transform us and we should stand out.
Therefore, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 NASB)
We Don't Have to Fight 6-9-19
We were able to attend the grand opening of Mill's Fleet Farm in Sioux Falls. I had been in their stores in the past, so I had an idea of what to expect. Still I was pleased with the large selection of items in the store.
I already have a friend who prefers Home Depot over Menard's and now we have yet another store in the mix. Now the debate will not just be between Home Depot, Menard's, and Fleet Farm, but also between what is better, Fleet Farm or Walmart.
Knowing human nature, it would not surprise me if the debate became quite heated, but my prayer and request is that no one use this article to begin that debate. Instead let it be a reminder of how easy it is to find something to argue about.
I recently watched an episode of “When Calls the Heart” where two of the students were given an assignment to debate about whether the car or horse was a better mode of transportation. Rather than having calm debate, two girls ended up getting really mad at each other. It ended up being an opportunity for the teacher to give further instruction- not just on debate, but on character.
As I think about those two child actresses playing the part of the contentious debaters, I realize how closely they were portraying what can happen in real life. I remember my dad talking about 2 of my uncles getting into a fight as teenagers about whether or not to use the tractor or the horses to haul manure. I also think of my childhood and the ridiculous fights I had with my own brothers about Fords and Chevys.
As I think about fighting with my brothers about vehicles, what really motivated me was the desire to win the debate. Not everyone fights for such selfish reason, but my pride kept me in the conflict.
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi where two Christians where having a conflict. Both these people had been faithful to the gospel but were not getting along with each other. In chapter 4, Paul encourages the rest of the people in the church to help them to get along.
Before that he had challenged them all to, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NASB). In other words, they were to apply the second greatest command and love their neighbor like themselves. That is the essence of the golden rule of treating others like you would like to be treated.
We are to set aside our own self interest and be more concerned for others. If we did that each time we had a conflict, then most arguments would end quickly.
God's word then goes on to show the Philippians- and us- that Jesus is the great example of putting others ahead of oneself. Philippians 2:5-8 shows us that He was and is God, yet He became a servant and died on the cross for others. We ought to follow Christ's example and be humble enough to put others ahead of ourselves instead of wanting to always win every argument.
Of course many of us are hoping the one we are arguing with will read an apply this, but remember that Philippians 2:3-4 tells us to think of others. In other words, consider the one you are arguing with as more important than you are and put yourself in their shoes. If that becomes hard to do, then remember what Christ did for you as He humbled Himself and became a man who was a servant who died for your sins. Also remember that He is now alive, so live for His glory, not your own.
Singing Life's Lessons 5-24-19
Music is all around us. Early in the morning I can hear the birds singing. I walk into stores and can hear music playing in the background. Each of our vehicles has a radio with multiple music stations to choose from.
Much of the music that we hear is quite entertaining. I even enjoy hearing the birds, but music also has value in helping us to learn. For example, if not for the ABC song, I would have struggled much more with my letters. I still find myself singing it in my mind as I go through the alphabet.
As I grew older, music continued to be a great teaching tool. I remember learning about how a bill became a law as I watched “Schoolhouse Rock.” Throughout life music has taught me about history and culture. I became aware of a terrible shipwreck on one of our Great Lakes as I listed to Gordon Lightfoot sing about “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” As I listen to the words of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” I get a glimpse of a culture looking for optimism in the aftermath of the devastation of war.
Even listening to the birds can be instructive. It can tell us morning is coming and can even give us some indications about the weather.
Music can also be very instructive in helping us to learn more about God. The song, “Jesus Loves Me,” teaches an important basic truth that we also find in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The song, “Amazing Grace,” is a somewhat autobiographical song about John Newton. The author, had been a slave trader, but had found Christ and the grace of God that comes with trusting Jesus Christ as savior. The words were originally written as a sermon illustration. In other words, they were a teaching tool. Consider these words from his song;
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd
a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was
blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to
fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How
precious did that grace appear
The hour I first
believ'd!
Before trusting Christ, Newton was lost and blind in his sin, but after coming to Christ, he found the grace of God as he believed.
Music as a teaching tool is not new. The Psalms in the Bible were actually songs. Although we only have the words and not the music, they are still instructive. In fact, in verse one of Psalm 78, we are told why this song was written. “(A Maskil of Asaph.) Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.” (Psalm 78:1 NASB) Asaph (the song leader) asks that his instruction be listened to. In other words this song will teach something. The song then goes on to speak of the history of the Children of Israel, but more importantly it speaks of their interaction with God. It teaches that God holds people accountable for their sins, but it also teaches that He extends mercy.
Psalm 78 is a great summary of the
gospel message that John Newton also wrote about. Psalm 78 teaches
that although God must judge sin, His compassion of grace and mercy
is still available. This is what John 3:16 is all about. God loved
the word so much that He sent His only begotten son to pay the
penalty for sin as Jesus died on the cross and then rose again. In
order to receive the grace from God we must believe on Jesus Christ
as our Lord and risen savior. These songs teach us about God and His
love and how we ought to respond to His love. As I read Psalm 78, I
learn from a song that was written thousands of years ago, but more
important, I am learning from God's word.
Exciting New Discoveries 5-12-19
I recently helped a homeowner dig down near his house to install some drainage to get the water away from his basement. As we dug we found a large amount of rock about 20 feet from his house. Soon we discovered that they were not just random rocks, but that the rocks had been arranged in a specific order. Further we noticed that there was some white powdery substance between the rocks and that the rocks and powdery substance were arranged in a consistent width. It appeared to be an old foundation of some sort.
I asked him if he knew of anther house that had been on the property before the current house was built. He was not aware of any, but knew that the current house had been built in 1912. There was also a barn on the property that had been built well before that. He knew the date the barn was built based on the fact that it had been carved into the wood on the inside. Combining clues from observation and history we were able to come up with some theories about what we had found as we dug. Still, without further information, we could not come up with any definite conclusions. Was the old rock wall part of a basement of an old house? Was it an old root cellar? Had it been a cistern for holding water?
Without further details, we were simply left guessing. If however we found some historical writing or some real old pictures, then we could come to some further details. Even verbal testimony from someone who had talked to someone who lived back then would help us to fill in the details.
Our little archaeological dig was interesting, but there are many more digs going on across the world. For example I recently watched a PBS program where archaeologists were looking for evidence for an old school that used to be in a town that is no longer in existence. They found the decayed remnants of what looked to be posts in the ground and at first assumed they were part of the foundation. After further investigation they decided that the holes were too round for that era and were probably the remnants of fence posts since the area had long been a farm field.
Since there was such limited written history on the area, they were trying to fill in the gaps with their archaeological discoveries.
There are ,however, regions of the world where there is much more historical writing to aid in archaeological investigation. The Bible provides a written history that focuses a lot on the region of the Middle East. Not only is the nation of Israel at the center of the Biblical account, there is a lot of history about the region of Babylon. For example the city of Mosul in Iraq, is at the same location as the Biblical city of Nineveh where the prophet Jonah ministered.
Digging in that city had been limited until world events changed things. About 5 years ago ISIS forces took control of Mosul. In order to finance their efforts, they wanted to find artifacts that they could sell, so they dug tunnels. A few years later, ISIS was defeated and driven out of Mosul. Within the tunnels they had left were ancient inscriptions with the names of ancient kings. They matched the names of the kings of that region that were listed in the Bible. By combining archaeology with the historical account of the Bible we are able to put the clues together in a way that gives us a lot of information.
It is exciting to see that modern day observation shows us that we can trust what the Bible says. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”(NKJV)
Our faith is based on solid evidence/proof of what we believe. Faith in Christ and His word is not blind. There is a lot of evidence to support our Bible.
When Prayer Disappoints 4-25-19
What if prayer doesn't work? Imagine that you are facing a time of discouragement, so you lie awake at night and pray, but it doesn't help. You still feel discouraged. You may began to wish that you were more like the great spiritual leaders of the past, so that you did not have that problem.
What if I told you that one of the great spiritual leaders in the Bible faced that problem. His name was Asaph and he was the choirmaster in Jerusalem. He was one of the great ministers leading the worship of God in music. Not only did he lead the music but he wrote songs. Some of those songs became part or our Bible. One of them is recorded as Psalm 77.
He starts this Psalm by saying that he cried aloud to God. He is praying out loud, and talks of stretching his hands out at night as he seeks the Lord. Then at the end of verse 2, he makes this revealing statement, “my soul refuses to be comforted.”
Even though he is crying out to God in prayer and even though he acknowledges that God hears him, he is not able to find comfort. Verse 3 is especially revealing, “When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah.” (NASB)
The word “Selah” is a word that means to pause. It is worth pausing to think about what Asaph was saying. He was saying that he was disturbed and discouraged when he remembered God. That may sound strange coming from a great worship leader who wrote part of the Bible, but it is also a reminder of the reality of our human emotions. It should not surprise us if we end up feeling the same way when we face times of trial.
Verses 5-9 explain why he is discouraged as he thinks about God. Asaph remembers what God has done in the past but recognizes that what he wants to happen is not happening now. He quite bluntly asks in vs 9, “Has God forgotten to be gracious? Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah.” (NASB)
Imagine trying to encourage a farmer who has not yet gotten into his fields because it is so wet out. Talking about the years that everything was planted before the first of May will not likely be a comfort. In a similar way, when you feel like your back is against the wall, reading about the parting of the Red Sea may not bring you comfort, since you are not seeing any way opening before you now.
Asaph knew how that felt, but he also understood God as he was praying to Him. As discouraged as he had become he continued to think about God and the more he thought, the better he understood. Notice what he says, “I will meditate on all Thy work, And muse on Thy deeds. Thy way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? Thou art the God who workest wonders; Thou hast made known Thy strength among the peoples.” (Psalm 77:12-14 NASB)
He even reflects on God opening up the way through the Red Sea as he says, “Thy way was in the sea, And Thy paths in the mighty waters, And Thy footprints may not be known. Thou didst lead Thy people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (Psalm 77:19-20 NASB)
When praying doesn't seem to help, do not stop reflecting on how great God is. Asaph did not forget that he could trust God, even when he did not “feel” comforted. In our humanity we are not always going to feel like we wished we felt, but we should always remember that our God is not only powerful enough to help, but He loved us enough to die on the cross for our sins and then He showed His power in raising from the dead. We can trust Him. Trust Christ even when you do not feel like it.
Handle the Worst Stain 4-12-19
With 4 boys in the house we end up with a lot of spills. To be honest, not all the spills are caused by them. I spill too. We are happy that the main living areas of our house (kitchen, dining and living room) do not have carpet. It is much easier to clean up spills on a solid floor.
The church, however does have carpet. Not only do we have spills, but this time of year we also have mud. At church, food and fellowship go hand in hand and like at home, it is not only the kids that spill.
We recently found a refurbished Rug Doctor online that was purchased to be used to keep the church carpet clean. It quickly conquered a couple of stains in the hallway from the foyer to the main meeting room.
The first Sunday we had it, I announced our new purchase and said that spills would be easy to clean up now. Since we have snacks and juice right after the service, there is always a potential for a spill. We were not disappointed. Had the person who spilled not been so young, I would have wondered if it was planned just so we could see the new tool in action.
The Rug Doctor efficiently tackled the juice spill as one of the mothers got to try it out. Although the Rug Doctor did not reverse the incident, it did take care of a big problem -the messy carpet. Stained carpets are a concern, but they are not nearly as serious as stained lives.
Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, all our lives have been stained by sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) A Rug Doctor will not work for every kind of carpet stain, and it definitely can not get rid of the stain of sin.
God however can. He knew that Adam and Eve would sin and He planned how to deal with sin so that we could be washed and cleansed from our sin stains. God said in Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” (NASB)
When we trust Christ as Lord and savior, our sins are washed away just like the juice was washed out of the carpet. There may still be some affects on our lives because of our sin. In our carpet example, there was less juice to drink even though the carpet was clean. In a similar way, our lives are still affected by past sin even when we are forgiven.
The most important consideration, however, is about the next life. If we trust Christ, the stain of sin does not follow us. Instead we are given forgiveness and eternal cleansing along with eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
You may not have had any juice spilled on your lap today, but your life has been stained by sin. The only way to take care of that sin is through Christ. Trust Him and then strive to not spill anymore sin into your life. Realize however that it will still happen. 1John 1:8 reminds us, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” And then we are told in the next chapter, “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;” (I John 2:1 NASB)
Flooded With Complaints 3-29-19
We have had some flooding in our immediate area, but my sister lives in Nebraska. Many there have faced very serious challenges. My brother in-law was not even able to make it into Columbus to work for multiple days because some of the main roads were either under water or washed out. They were more fortunate than others. Whole towns were under water. Not only were homes lost but so were businesses. Many who lost homes also lost jobs. Some lost their lives.
Quite a few people had a lot to complain and feel bad about. Many of them were too busy figuring out what to do next to even process all of their feelings. As the flood waters receded they had time to realize the fuller impact of what had happened. For some, discouragement began to set in.
It is easy to feel guilty for being discouraged when you look at others that have it a lot worse. If you have lost your house, but still have a job, you may be thinking of others that have lost both. Perhaps you lost both, but have insurance, while others have nothing. Making such comparisons can remind us that we have much to be thankful for, but they do not negate the reality of our own loss.
As Christians we understand that we can loose all material possessions and even lose our health, but we still have God. We may even reflect on Job and his trials and realize we do not have it as bad as he had it after losing all his children, his wealth, and then becoming sick. Compared to Job, we may feel that we have no right to complain. Still, those thoughts do not always take away the despair.
This brings us to a more pointed question: Should we as Christians ever complain? Consider the introduction to Psalm 102 along with the first verse which reads, “(A Prayer of the Afflicted, when he is faint, and pours out his complaint) (before the LORD.) Hear my prayer, O LORD! And let my cry for help come to Thee.” (NASB)
Notice that the introduction to this Psalm shows us that it was to be a prayer for those in trouble when they are weary and needed to complain. When we are discouraged, the best place to bring our complaints is to God. Notice that the introduction even shows that these complaints were to be brought to HIM.
When we are overwhelmed we should pray and let our cries for help come to God. We should never feel guilty about talking to Him about our heartaches and fears- even if those talks include complaining about our circumstances. Who better to complain to than the one who can actually help in the most hopeless of situations.
“I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou didst know my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul. I cried out to Thee, O LORD; I said, "Thou art my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.” (Ps 142:2-5 NASB)
David did just that in Psalm 142 as he states that he brings his complaints to God because God is his refuge.
In both these Psalms, the writer is complaining about his circumstances, not about his God. He is complaining to God because he trusts God, not because he hates God.
Realize that God is powerful
enough to create the whole world and that He loves us enough to send
His son. With that realization, who better to bring our complaints
to than God. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Should We Bring Bacon? 3-15-19
I like bacon. Bacon is an amazing addition to a cheeseburger. Without bacon a filet mignon is just another chunk of beef. I did not realize how obsessed some people were with bacon until I realized that you could buy bacon scented cologne, sunscreen, pillow cases, and even envelopes. You can even get bacon flavored coffee, soda, jelly beans, toothpaste, chocolate, and lollipops. No doubt, bacon has become a marketing bonanza.
In the Bible, Leviticus 11:1-8, tells what animals may be eaten and it also makes it clear that pigs are not to be eaten. Still most Christians eat pork- including bacon. In fact, ham is one of the most popular meats eaten during Christian fellowship meals. So why are Christians doing this when so many of them claim to be following God and living their lives to please Him?
We often hear statements like Leviticus is Old Testament and we follow the New Testament. The problem is that we should follow the whole Bible and only disregard specific commandments if there is a good reason to do so. Jesus made it clear in Matthew 5:18 that the smallest letter or stroke of the law would not pass away until all was accomplished. In order to decide if we are released from the law that Moses gave, we need to find out if all was accomplished.
John 19:30 tells us that when Jesus hung on the cross, He said, “It is finished!” The Apostle Paul helps us better understand what that meant in Romans 7 as he explains how law works. He uses the example of a married couple and how the marriage bond is dissolved when one of them dies and then they are free to marry someone else. He then explains how that relates to the law for the Christian.
“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.” (Romans 7:4-6 NASB)
Because of Jesus death and resurrection we are now under a new law. Galatians 3:23-25 shows how the law was an instructor to bring us to Christ and how once faith comes, we are no longer under the law since we are no longer under the instructor. Further, Colossians 2:14-17 shows how since the cross, no one should judge us in what we eat.
Christians are able to eat pork because the law that Moses gave was replaced when Jesus died. Some argue that God has always wanted people to avoid unclean animals and that we should still avoid pork. The problem is that when we go back to the Old Testament, we find what God's position actually is. In Genesis 9, God gave specific instructions to Noah right after the ark landed when He says, "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.” (Genesis 9:3 NASB)
Other religions do still impose
dietary restrictions on certain animals. Christians traditionally do
not. The reason they do not is because of what the New Testament
scriptures have taught and how they explain why we have been released
from certain portions of the Old Testament law through Christ.
A Reminder From A Faucet 3-1-19
Our 11 year old son wants to be a plumber, so when it was time to replace our kitchen faucet, we asked him to do it. He was happy to take on the challenge. I was happy that I did not have to crawl into the the tight space under the kitchen sink.
He said that the hardest part was taking out the old faucet. Once the new faucet was installed and the valves were turned on, the water began to flow. Our ancestors also had running water, but instead of having their 11 year old's do a minor plumbing job, they had them run to the creek to fetch it.
Water is quite important. It is used for washing, cooking, and drinking. We could not live long without water. As we consider how important water is, it is not surprising that Christ would use water as an object lesson to talk about other important matters. As He spoke with the woman at the well, He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." (John 4:10 NASB)
As we consider the historic events recorded in the Bible, it is not surprising that Jesus would make that statement. When the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness is was God who provided water from a rock so they could drink. Jesus is God, so the point He was making is that if the woman at the water well really understood who He was, then she would understand that He could supply all her needs.
All my son had to do was replace a faucet, turn on the correct valves, and we had water. All Jesus has to do is to decide that water can come out of a rock.
Not only did God provide water in the wilderness, but He also provided food. After the fall harvest the Hebrews observe the Feast of Booths. They dwell in tents for a week as they thank God for the harvest and for His provision as the children of Israel left slavery in Egypt and journeyed to the promised land.
It was during this feast, that Jesus again talked about water. John 7:37 tells us that on the last day of the feast Jesus stood up and cried out, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:37-38 NASB)
While the people of Israel were celebrating God's provision- a provision that included water from the rock- Jesus showed that He can supply water from within. The next verse clarifies that He was talking about the Spirit which those who believe in Him would receive.
The next time you turn on a faucet and water comes out, remember that there is something more important than water. Remember that we need Christ Himself and that just as we need water to live, we need Jesus so we can have eternal life. "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36 NASB) Trust Christ for the living water and eternal life.
Not Too Cold for Christ 2-15-19
A friend of ours recently took a trip to Florida. Their family chose the perfect time to go. While it was below zero here in South Dakota, they enjoyed the warm southern temperatures. Still, it was colder than usual there as well. She noticed that the “tourists” from the north were in shorts and T shirts while those from the south were in heavy coats and hats.
I have often thought that the idea of cold was quite relative. When I have worked outside on a 95 degree summer day and then come into a 70 degree building, I feel cold. Still that is nothing like the negative 40 degree temperatures I heard about in Alaska.
I recently attended an outdoor farm auction on a 10 degree day. I was dressed in 8 layers of clothing: T shirt, insulated shirt, sweat shirt, 2 flannel shirts, hooded Carhart, bib coveralls, and parka. Had the wind not been blowing, I could have stayed warm, but I got very cold and so did many others who were there. After I got home the temp had dropped even more and my son came in from outside and said, “It's too cold out there to play, I already tried.”
As I reflected on the cold, I looked up Psalm 147:17 where it says, “He casts forth His ice as fragments; Who can stand before His cold?” (NASB). A few weeks ago we had below zero temps with dangerous wind chills. Warnings were issued and I remember one that said that a person could only last for about 4 minutes out in the open in those conditions. I assumed that they meant that they could only last that long if they were not dressed in multiple layers. Still it was a reminder of the reality of the question, “who can stand before His cold?”
When I think of the fear of God, I often think of hell and the lake of fire and all the heat that is there. But on these cold days, I start to think of how scary it would be if hell really did freeze over. If it were that cold, no one could stand before that cold.
As frightening as the cold can be, the next verse of Psalm 147 gives us some wonderful encouragement. “He sends forth His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.” (Psalm 147:18 NASB) The same God who sends the cold is the same God who sends the blessings of thawing temperatures. This should help to remind us that the same God who sends punishment for sin is the same God who sends deliverance from the wages of sin. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NASB) That free gift was provided as Jesus went to the cross. In order to accept that gift, you must believe on Him as your lord and savior. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:13 NASB)
The night before Jesus died on the cross, He was arrested. It was also cold on that night. “Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. The high priest therefore questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. (John 18:18-19 NASB)
As you stand before the cold,
remember God's power and judgment, but then also remember that on a
cold night, Jesus was getting ready to go to the cross to pay for
your sins.
Defending My Brothers 2-2-19
As a kid I used to joke that I was the only one who was allowed to fight with my brothers. What I meant by that statement was that in spite of the fact that my brothers and I would have an occasional conflict, we still had each others backs. After all these years, we still do. Because of my love for my brothers, I will quickly come to their defense. I am reminded of Proverbs 10:12 which says, “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.” (NASB)
When we don't like someone, it is not natural to come to their defense- even if they have done nothing wrong. Hate stirs up strife. When we love someone- like I do my brothers- it is easy to overlook something they did wrong and come to their defense even when we should not.
How we feel about others can affect how much slack we give them. Not only are we more likely to give the benefit of the doubt to those we love, but we are often too ready to condemn those we hate. Often our reaction to an offense is based more on who committed the offense than on what the offense actually was.
When our love covers transgressions in a way where we are merciful rather than condemning that is a good thing. We should remember the mercy God showed toward us in sending His son to die for us when we deserved the punishment. His love covered the sins of the world. Still love should not cause us to ignore sinful behavior. God did not ignore our sin when He sent His son. He understood that our sin was so serious that it had to be dealt with on the cross. Further God's word challenges us in asking, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2 NASB)
So when we are tempted to give those we love a pass on sinful behavior we should consider the context of 1Peter 4:8 where it says, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (NASB) In the verses leading up to this statement the apostle warns of that an account must be given to God for sinful actions. He then shows that the gospel is given so that we can live in the spirit according to God's will. Love should not be an excuse to sin, but love provides both mercy and accountability when we do sin.
As much as I love my brothers, if they ever do wrong, I need to love them enough to tell them to repent. Further, I am not to just love my brothers, but others as well. Love should not show partiality.
In Luke chapter 10, a lawyer is asking Jesus questions. When they agree that God expects us to love Him and our neighbor, the lawyer asks who our neighbor is. Verse 29 tells us he asked that question in order to justify himself. The implication was that there were some people he did not love as much as others. During that time in history the Jews and the Samaritans did not get along very well. There was not much love between them. Jesus uses this tension to make a point. He gives the parable of the good Samaritan stopping to help a man when others would not. The Jewish lawyer got the point that the one who showed mercy was his neighbor. Even though the Samaritan was not the one who the lawyer would have naturally loved, he needed to get past his bias and judge the actions, not his predetermined feelings.
Often the level of outrage we see
towards others is not based so much on what was done, but on who did
it. I fear we are too much like the lawyer. We have missed the
point if we have forgotten that the Samaritans are also worthy of our
love. Let us remember to love God and our neighbor even when it
doesn't come naturally.