Daddy

So, last week I shared with you a bit about my family. This week marks a most important anniversary for us. On May 6, 1987 I received a phone call from the Department of Family and Children’s Services telling me that they had a little blond-haired boy who needed a home.  He was two and half years old. Were we interested?

The call came around 11 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. Keep in mind that the previous Friday we had completed all of the requirements necessary to be Foster Care/Adoptive parents in Georgia. But we were told that it would be a minimum of six months, and more likely a year, before we would have a child placed with us. 

 I picked Tina up from her job, we drove to the office, and in less than three hours we were on our way home.  We stopped at “Toys R Us” and bought a Big Wheel, some Hot Wheels cars, and a plastic ball and bat.  Later than afternoon my mom arrived with $50 worth of clothing.  And just like that, we were a family.

Most of you had nine months to prepare for your first child.  And that probably felt rushed. We became a family in a whirlwind. 

The Bible uses many methods to describe becoming a Christian. There is conversion, being born again, and then there is adoption.  In Romans 8:15 we read, “You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”  You may have been told that the word Abba is very intimate, much like “Daddy” in our language. 

I mentioned this last week, but on the ride home from the DFCS office my son asked, “Can I call you Daddy?” And then, before I could answer he said, “I think I’ll call you Daddy.” I turned on my windshield wipers before I realized that the water was not outside the car.  I had to pull off the road for a moment.

The love I felt for my son in that moment was real and powerful. And yet, it was only a fraction of the love that God feels for you and for me.  If you are a child of God, it is because He has adopted you. He did not have to do this. He chose to do so.  I pray that we will come to realize the power and the might of God’s love, and that we will live in a way that expresses our gratitude to Him. To Him be the glory forever!

Love the Baby, Love God

My wife and I are the parents of two sons.  Our family did not come to be in the normal manner. After having been married for several years, Tina and I came to realize that we could not give birth. So, we adopted our boys. Neither was a baby. In fact, both were walking and talking when they entered our home. I’m the only man I know whose son called him daddy on the day I took him home for the first time. But I digress.

            Last July my son and his bride welcomed a baby girl into their home. To say that Tina and I were thrilled would be an understatement. Before she was born she had enough outfits that she did not have to wear the same thing for the first three months (I might be exaggerating, but not by much).

            We get to keep our precious baby girl a couple of days each week.  Her smile causes me to melt.  If she asked, I’d probably borrow the money and buy her a Ferrari tomorrow. 

            But here is what is interesting.  Mary Violet is the first and only baby that Tina and I have ever had to call our own.  Of course, we have seen babies grow and develop. But not up close and personal.  Now we are watching as she has learned to roll over, crawl, play with various toys, and move around the room in her “Batgirl” walker.

            We are still waiting for her to walk and to say her first words (Please, don’t tell anyone, but I keep whispering Papa in her ear over and over).  With every new skill she learns, we are impressed and excited.  We show pictures and videos and tell others more than they probably want to know.  We are not the least bit embarrassed to brag on her every chance we get.

            I love that little girl more than I can express.  And I wonder.  Do I love the Lord as much as I love her? Do I tell others what He has done for me? Do I tell them what He can do for them? 

            When I consider the world in which we live, I know that we have many problems and needs. I also know the solution to those problems. His name is Jesus.  The old song says it best. “People need the Lord.” I pray that we will be faithful to share Him with others. I pray that I might speak as often about Jesus as I do about my grandbaby. 

Lift Him Up

  When I was 14 I got my first job umpiring youth baseball games. I was young to be given that responsibility, but I took it very seriously.  I purchased the equipment I would need, as well as a rulebook.  I studied it with great care so. 

            I will never forget the “pep talk” my dad gave me the night of my first game. I was confident I would do well, but fearful of making a mistake at the same time. As we were getting out of the car he said to me, “Son.  One thing.  Remember, nobody is coming tonight to watch you umpire.”

            Wow!  I had played the game since I was six, and there were people who came to watch me play. But this was different. And he was right. Parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends came to watch players, not umpires.

            Later he would remind me, “It’s in your best interest to be invisible.  If they are talking about you after the game, it’s never a good thing.”

            Again, he was right.  People don’t talk about all of the good calls made by a referee or umpire. The only time they are mentioned is when they mess up. 

            As a preacher I often ask the Lord to hide me behind the cross as I preach.  I want people to see Jesus, not me, as I speak or write.  I often tell stories (like the preceding one) to help illustrate a point.  But the goal is always the same. Elevate Jesus. 

            John wrote of the Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The Lord Himself said, “If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men to myself.”  That was clearly a reference to the cross, but it remains the same today.  As Christians, we are to lift up the name and the glory of Jesus.

            Here’s the deal. You can’t be entirely invisible. But if you are distracting others from Jesus, then you are not doing what you have been called and gifted to do.  We need believers who are willing to stay in the background as we point others to the Lord. He is the only one who can save. Let’s be careful to put Him first in all we say and do. 

We Can Live Forever

            Earlier this month we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus.  In reality we do that every time we gather for worship on Sunday.  The early Christians referred to the first day of the week as, “The Lord’s Day,” and it is the resurrection that caused them to move their main day of worship to Sunday.

            But Easter Sunday is the biggest and most significant day of the Christian year.  We all love Christmas, and we are grateful that God entered our world. Pentecost is also a great day as we remember that the Holy Spirit came to be with us at all times. Good Friday is a reminder of the great sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf.

            But Easter is the day when God defeated death.  There are still battles to fight, and there will be until Jesus returns. But on the very first Easter Sunday we know that death was put on notice.  God is more powerful than all of the forces of evil. Jesus is alive, and because of that we can live forever.

            I know that many find this incredulous.  How can people living in the 21st century believe in something so fantastic?  Are we not beyond that?  Seriously!  The idea that a dead man walked out of a grave is unacceptable to many in our world today.  Science would seem to have ruled out such an idea.

            And yet, think about this with me.  First century people did not have the knowledge that we have today in science or medicine.  But they knew certain things, and one of them is simple. They knew that dead people did not rise from the dead. 

            And let’s make this clear. The early Christians certainly believed. Time after time they gave their lives for the cause.  They would not have done so for something they knew was a lie. No, they believed, because they had seen the Lord. The church exists today because Jesus is the risen Lord. He was alive then, and He is alive today.

            That is why Easter matters so much.  As we approach this Sunday, and every Sunday, let us keep this in the forefront of our thoughts. Jesus is alive!  That changes everything! Because He is alive we can live forever!  For that we give thanks and celebrate.

Attendance

Well, Easter is over.  So now we move along with life, right?  Some schools may be on Spring break this week.  That often means that this coming Sunday, following on the heels of such a big day, our churches will be emptier than normal.

            Can I be blunt with you? The fact is that I do not know the readers of my column the way I know the members of my church family.  But I would like to be real with you.  I want to encourage you to do something that I think matters greatly.

            Your presence in your church is important.  I am aware that we all take vacations.  I know that sicknesses come. And I know that things happen, both at work and at home, that may preclude you from attending every week.

            But again, I say that your attendance matters.  First, I believe it matters to God.  He tells us in the book of Hebrews not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together.”  That tells me that God cares when we gather for worship.  He is pleased when we offer Him the worship and praise that He deserves.

            Then it matters to you and your family.  Some folks say that they don’t get much from worship But there is something about hearing the Word of God taught and preached, as well as singing songs of worship, that energize you and encourage you in your life. And certainly it benefits your children as well.

            Then your attendance matters to your friends and neighbors. They may never say anything, but the fact that you drive away from your home every Sunday is a silent witness to your faith.  I assure you that people notice.

            And then I want to share one more thing to you. Your attendance matters to your pastor.  We are deeply encouraged when we see members of our church eagerly arrive, excited about meeting with God, and happy to share their love with others. It may be a small matter to many of you, but your pastor lives and breathes the things of church.  To see the church alive and vibrant is a joy to us.  May I encourage you to make church attendance a priority in your life?  It really does matter. 

The Hope of the Resurrection

This is holy week.  This is the time when followers of Jesus remember and celebrate the events leading up to His death and resurrection.  This coming Sunday, churches around the world will gather to worship the risen Savior, knowing that He is our hope.

This is also a week that holds difficult memories for me.  Sixteen years ago this Friday I held my mom’s hand as she took her last breath on this earth.  She was only 67. 

So, why would I bring this up at this time?  Quite frankly, the two events speak clearly and deeply to our life situation today. 

Christians believe and teach that Jesus is alive. He truly died on the cross on that Friday long ago, but on Sunday morning He walked out of the grave, very much alive. This was not some “spiritual resurrection.”  Jesus was literally and physically raised from the dead. All of the Christian faith hangs on that fact.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” And then He declared, “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”  In other words, if the resurrection is not real, then nothing about Christianity is true. 

I believe in the resurrection.  I am convinced that it is true. I believe this so much, that sixteen years ago this Sunday I stood before the congregation gathered at my mom’s funeral and declared, “She is more alive today than she has ever been before.” I still believe that is true.

Because Jesus is alive, we can live forever. That is the good news of the gospel. That is the good news of the resurrection. Jesus is alive!  As Paul wrote later in the same chapter of 1 Corinthians, “Thanks be to God!”  We have hope for now and for all eternity because Jesus is alive. 

He Knows My Heart

I suppose I’m pretty fortunate.  I certainly have done nothing to deserve it.  But I’m eligible for “senior discounts” in many places of business and still have a full head of hair.  My dad ,all of my uncles, my mom and dad’s brothers, as well as both grandfathers all died with full heads of hair. 

            A few years back, following a Sunday morning service, a church member came to me laughing so hard she couldn’t stop. Between fits of snickering I was finally able to understand what she was saying. She had brought a friend to church that morning, and the friend had asked her, “Where do you think your pastor gets his toupee?” Ha ha.

            Actually, it really is funny.  Toupee indeed! 

            It’s funny the things we do to hide our flaws.  Hair color.  Lifts in shoes.  And many even go to the extreme of undergoing plastic surgery.  All to hide the truth that we are aging. 

            I’ve thought about that incident since that day. I’m glad I still have my hair.  But what would I do if I lost it? To what extremes would I go to hide the truth?

            And not just with hair?  How many times a day am I fake?  What am I trying to keep secret from you? 

The Bible tells us that God knows everything about us. There is nothing hidden from Him.  Psalm 44:21 says, “He knows the secrets of the heart.” 

            You and I might very well hide things from our bosses, our neighbors, our children, and even our spouses.  But we can hide nothing from the Lord.  That is a very sobering thought.  He knows my heart.

            I need to learn two lessons from this. First, I need to confess to God those sins about which He already knows. He already knows.  I need to be honest with Him. Second, I need to live in the power of the Spirit and avoid those sins.  The Bible says that I have the power within me not to sin. 

            What are you hiding? Why don’t you confess it to the Lord? He already knows. There is freedom and power in confession.  God is waiting to forgive.  It’s up to you. 

The Word

Last week I wrote about the power of words. I want to pick up on that theme one more time, because I think it matters so much. As I write my column each week I use words.  Not exactly a revelation, right?  Still, I must choose words that communicate, words that help you understand what I intend to say.

            When I was young I learned the little ditty, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.”  As best I can remember, that is the only lie my mother ever told me. She was trying to teach me to move on and to ignore mean things that others said.  But the fact is that words have the power to help and the power to harm.

            You don’t think words matter?  Do you realize that John, the Apostle, referred to Jesus simply as, “The Word.” John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  I couldn’t possibly exhaust the meaning of that one verse in this column.

            But I do want to point out this one thing. If nothing else, John was making clear that Jesus was, and continues to be, the most important means by which God communicates to us.  God shows us who He is in the life of His Son. 

            The author of Hebrews said pretty much the same thing in 1:1-2 of his book.  “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.”  The Bible tells us many things, but this one thing is certain. God wants to speak to us. He wants us to hear. So, He has spoken most clearly by coming to live in our midst. 

            A little boy was asked by his mother, “What did you learn in Sunday School today?”  He replied, “We learned about Jesus.” And what did you learn about Jesus? Who is He?”  The little boy said, “As best I can tell, Jesus is God with skin on His face.”  And I’m not certain I can say it any better than that. 

Words

Are you on social media?  The various methods for communicating today have multiplied.  Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Tumblr, Instagram, Tik Tok, and on it goes. You can communicate with friends or perfect strangers in more ways today than ever.  And that can be a good thing.

            I have caught up with a number of high school and college friends.  That’s been a lot of fun.  I’ve also learned of the deaths of a couple of old friends.  Of course, that is not good, but at least I have heard the news.

            Of course, social media can be both a blessing and curse.  My dad used to tell me something that I tried to teach my sons.  “Sport,” (yes that was his nickname for me) he would say.  “You don’t have to say everything you think.”  That was some of the best advice I ever received.  Just because it comes into your mind does not mean that it should be shared.

            I’m on Facebook.  I don’t post a lot. But I do get on it and read once or twice every day.  There are times that I learn things that I really do need to know. But I also read much that I ought not see.  Sometimes people post things on social media that they really ought not to say publicly.  It is almost as if they think they have anonymity when that is not the case. Your name is attached to everything you say (and sometimes to things others say).  You need to be careful.

            The Bible says, in James 3:6, “The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.”  And how true that is.  Later in the same chapter James writes, “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”  Recently my youngest son posted, “Wise men are not always silent, but they know when to be.”  To that I respond, “Yep.”

The old children’s song says, “O, be careful little tongue what you say.”  And better advice has never been given.  Whether on social media, on the telephone, or face to face, be careful what you say.  Words are powerful.  Speak words that bring life and peace and hope.  Even when you reprimand, do it in love.  What a difference you can make as you do.

Pay Attention

I continue to be fascinated by the advances in technology.  From HD televisions to cell phones to tablets to computers, the power and ability of these devices continues to grow.  In many ways they dominate our lives.

            I am grateful to have a computer.  Mine is only a few months old, and I can carry it in my book satchel.  Yet it has the ability to store more documents than any other computer I have ever had. 

            Computers can help us in so many ways.  We can look up information in a flash. We can communicate with people on the other side of the planet.  We can pay bills and sell stuff as well.  They can be a blessing.

            But as I already mentioned, they can dominate our lives. How many times have I seen families eating together in restaurants, but they are not talking with each other? All of them are texting someone else on their phones. They are together, but they are not together.

Many years ago, the preacher who did pre-marital counseling with my then fiancé and me taught us an invaluable lesson.  We were sitting in his living room, talking about our upcoming marriage.  His phone rang. But Brother Smith continued to talk to us.  The phone rang again, and Tina and I looked at it and then at each other. We wondered when he would answer it. By the time it rang the third and fourth times you could tell that the two of us were a bit tense. And that’s when the lesson took place.

            Brother Smith looked at us and said, “You know what I have learned?  When that thing rings, if you just sit still and stay quiet it will eventually stop.”  In that moment he told us, “Right now I am with you, and you are more important.  Whoever is calling will call back if it matters. But now you are my priority.”

            I have not always lived by that lesson. But I know I should.  When you are with your family or friends give them your attention. When you are in worship or prayer, concentrate on the Lord.  Have priorities and live by them.  You’ll be glad you did.

Whiny Season

Spring has sprung in south Georgia.  My gray truck has turned yellowish green.  My eyes are scratchy.  I’m not sneezing non-stop, but that is probably because of preventive allergy medications I take.  Last Friday we experienced  three seasons in one day. Oh, and from the tone of this paragraph, whiny season is in full swing, don’t you think?

            Why is it that our first response is often to complain? Yes, the pollen is difficult, but that means that the trees and flowers will soon be in beautiful full bloom.  Not only that, but soon we will be able to plant our vegetable gardens to enjoy.  And even more, rarely does a day go by at this time of year that we cannot get out and walk, sit in a swing, or take a ride on a bike, or in a boat.

            What I’m trying to say is simple. We are blessed.  We are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful and serene places on the planet.  Last night (from the day I am writing) I sat in the river house of my neighborhood, and was able to watch the sun set over the marsh. The brightest orange and red sat directly over the horizon.  I was awestruck. 

            I’ve lived in several climates in my lifetime. I’ve enjoyed the beauty of new fallen snow in Indiana and Michigan.  I’ve observed the fall colors in the foothills of north Georgia. And now I’m privileged to experience coastal southeast Georgia and all of its beauty. And I am truly blessed. 

            The psalmist wrote, “Great are the works of the Lord…full of splendor and majesty is His work,” (Psalm 111:3).  And it is true. God’s wonderful creation is a blessing to us all.

            But let me remind you of this. The pinnacle of God’s creation was the making of mankind.  Human beings (that’s you and me) are precious in His sight.  He loves us, and He longs to have fellowship with us.  I pray that you will know and experience the love of God in your life today.

Justice and Goodness

I have a very large extended family. Dad was the eighth of nine, and Mom was the ninth of ten children.  On both sides those brothers and sisters obeyed the biblical command to, “be fruitful and multiply.”  I have 52 first cousins.

            It is sobering to note that three of us graduated together in the class of 1977.   Scott and Carol have passed away.  There were only 59 total students in that class. I know that at least ten of them are gone. 

I realize I’m past sixty.  I get the senior discount today without asking.  But it still takes your breath away when you think of lives taken too soon. 

            Something within us cries out at the injustice of an infant facing heart surgery, or a toddler dealing with cancer. It bothers us, and we cry out to God.  Some have given up on Him because of such tragedies.  Often the first reason many give for atheism is the existence of evil and suffering. 

            Two things stand out to me. The first is simple, but often overlooked. If there is no God, that is if there is no standard, then the very existence of good and evil is called into question. In other words, if there is no God, then death is neither good nor bad. It just is.  If we are nothing more than a cosmic accident, then pain and suffering simply do not matter. 

            Clearly I disagree with that line of thinking. So that leads to my next thought.  There has to be something more than what we see and experience in this world. As a Christian I point to this placed called Heaven. I do believe it is real.  I long for it to be real.  There has to be a greater purpose in life.  I’m counting on it.

            This brief article will likely not have the power to change the mind of the committed atheist. But I hope that it will encourage if you sometimes have doubts and questions. The very idea of good and evil cries out for the existence of God.  He is the standard by which we measure good. And He can be trusted, even in the midst of suffering, to care for His children.  I hope you have trusted in Him.  He is faithful, no matter what you are facing. 

A Servant

When is the last time you received an actual letter? Do you remember those? When I was in college my mother wrote me faithfully every week. Her letters meant the world to me.  I looked forward to finding one every time I went to the mailbox.  What I would give today to receive a letter from Mom!

            Much of the Apostle Paul’s life consisted of writing letters to churches and friends. In Romans 1 he introduced himself to a church where he had never been. He was planning a visit, and so wanted to share some things about himself.

            Paul referred to himself as a “servant,” a word that could also be translated “slave.” That is a politically charged word.  It is impossible for many of us properly to understand the full meaning.  But there are those who estimate that up to 90% of the population of Rome was enslaved.  So, Paul was writing to people who understood the term.

            Keep this in mind. Paul was a Roman citizen, though he never been to Rome.  But he called himself a slave of Christ Jesus.  In doing so he was saying that he was fully committed and submitted to Jesus. He was completely at the disposal of His Savior. He would do whatever he believed Jesus wanted him to do.

            May I confess something to you? On more than one occasion I have willfully and intentionally done something or said something that I knew Jesus would not approve.  I call myself a Christian, but too often I choose to do my own thing.

            Our culture encourages that sort of behavior.  We live in a day when “doing your own thing” is a sign that you have arrived. But again, that is not such a modern attitude.  The very last verse in the book of Judges says, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” 

            God has called us to obey Him. James tells us that we prove our faith by the things that we do and say.  It is true that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone. But we are called to submit to the Lord’s will.  It is my prayer that you and I will be more faithful in doing just that.

Fruit

  Over the Christmas season we had quite the cold snap.  It stayed colder longer than anytime I remember since I moved back to south Georgia.  For several days, late each afternoon my wife and I went out and put sheets and blankets and tarps over many of our trees and plants. We laid blankets around the roots of our citrus trees.  And then each morning, once it warmed up, we would go and take those coverings down so that the sun could do its thing.

            Here we are, more than a month later, and I have to tell you something.  I do not know if our efforts were successful.  We have two orange  trees, one lemon and one lime tree. Most of the leaves have turned brown and fallen off each tree. But there seems to be green, and flexibility, in at least some of the branches.  I remain hopeful. But until spring I guess I will not know if they are going to survive, much less thrive. 

Two quick lessons occur to me as I ponder my trees. One, outward appearance does not always tell the whole story.  The old phrase says, “You can’t tell a book by its cover.” God said to Samuel, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.”  My trees might still be alive. But at this point I just can’t tell.

            Lesson number 2 is this.  I will truly only know if the trees are healthy when, and if, they produce fruit. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruit.” He was speaking of us.  A godly person is known by the godly things she/he does.

            You may find it funny, but I prayed about my trees.  I truly hope they will all survive and produce fruit in the days to come. But more than that, I pray that God will allow me to thrive and produce the fruit of righteousness in my life. And I pray the same for you.

Under Construction

I have a wonderful setup in my office at church. I have two desks, one of which faces the door, and the one with my computer, screen and keyboard facing the window.  So as I write, whether preparing a sermon or this column, I can peer over my monitor and see the property our church owns across the street.

            Today I have been watching masonry workers lay blocks for the new building we have just started. Last week I watched as they poured the footings.  Soon I will see the slab poured, walls erected, and the roof installed. It is our hope that, before the end of 2023, we will be able to cook, and then sit down to eat, a meal in our new building. In the meantime, I am enjoying watching the process.

            In the same way that a building is slowing constructed, people should be growing and progressing to become what God created them to be.  In this life I will never fully arrive at that status. But I should be growing more like Christ every day. 

Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of Billy Graham, once said she wished she could wear a sign around her neck that said, “Please be patient. Under construction.”  And she instructed Billy, and their children, to put the phrase, “Construction completed,” on her tombstone. 

I like that. It just makes sense.  We read in 2 Peter 1:5-7, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love.”  He understood that adding these character traits to our lives made us more like the Lord.

Just as I anticipate the completion of our new social hall and kitchen, I pray that my life is being constructed in a way that honors the Lord. Today, it is very clear that work on the building has just begun. But every day it looks more like a building. May our lives look more like Christ every day, as we continue the construction process!

"Grow in Grace and Knowledge"

Today is my wife’s birthday.  I’m not going to tell you which one. Because it is Wednesday we will probably not go out for dinner tonight. We have obligations at the church.  But some time this weekend we will celebrate with family, and hope that the next year we will continue to enjoy God’s blessings.

            This past year was a special one for our family.  Our newest grandbaby was born in July.  Now six months old, she has us wrapped around her tiny finger.  We get to keep her most Wednesdays and Fridays, and often see her at church and dinner on Sundays.  It is amazing to watch the growth, both in size and in abilities.

            I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. You’ve seen this with your own children and grandchildren.  But it truly is mind-boggling to watch the progress as it is being made.   

            I am convinced that God wants to see this same kind of growth and progress in our spiritual lives.  He wants you to be more faithful this year than you were last year. He wants you to “grow in your faith.”

            There are several things that you can do to help in this process. You can read your Bible and pray every day. You can be involved in your church, not just attending, but in service, using your gifts to bless others. You can minister to people.  You can seek to build your life following Jesus as closely as possible.

            Not one of us does this perfectly, and in this world, none will. But you can become more Christ-like each day. You can grow in your spiritual life. It will not come automatically. It will take effort. But it can be done.

            My prayer for you this year is that you will grow in your faith. I pray that this time next year you will be closer to the Lord than you are today.  If you do that you will be blessed, as will those around you. 

            “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18.

Deny Yourself

A couple of months ago I was startled when the dental hygienist said to me, “Whoa, that’s high!  I’m not sure we are going to clean your teeth today.”  She had just taken my blood pressure.  As best I remember, this was the first time I had ever had blood pressure taken at the dentist, and I certainly didn’t realize they might postpone a cleaning if it was too high.  The fact is, I had never had high blood pressure in my life.

            Fortunately, they were able to do my cleaning and examination that day, but I was left to consider why the numbers were so high. Over the next week or so I checked my numbers daily. They were not as high as that day at the dentist, but the numbers were still running higher than normal, so I realized that something had to be done.

            Since the first week of November, I have been taking a couple of supplements that claim to help with this issue.  I have reduced my intake of diet sodas from more than I am willing to admit, to just one each day.  I am drinking more water. And I have been much more careful with what I eat, especially when it comes to sweets and caffeine.

The morning I am writing this my pressure read 128/82.  Now that was encouraging.  I just hated the thought that I would deny myself things that I enjoy (cake and pie come to mind), to no avail. 

            Jesus said to us, “If anyone wants to follow me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.”  He also said that the way to gain life is to lose it for His sake.  What seems strange to some is the truth. We gain the most when we give ourselves, first to the Lord, and then to others. 

            I pray that you will learn the secret of giving and losing for the sake of receiving and winning. God has promised to bless when we give of ourselves. He can be trusted. He will keep His word.

Bulldozers and Buildings

As I sit in my office this morning, I am watching a bulldozer scrape the ground and load dirt in a dump truck.  They are beginning the process of leveling the ground on our church property so that we can pour the foundation for our new Family Life Center.  It is an exciting thing to watch. 

            Now mind you, I’m not as fascinated today as I was as a little boy watching the work of a bulldozer.  When I was younger I had several Tonka trucks and tractors that I drove all over our backyard, moving dirt from here to there as I imagined building skyscrapers and mansions of every sort.  Given how much dirt was washed down the drain after my baths, I don’t know how any was left in the yard.

            No, the process of moving dirt is not the exciting part for me.  But I am truly excited about the next phase at our church.  We hope that, by the end of this year, we will be able to sit down as a church family to eat, all gathered in one room. We look forward to the well-stocked kitchen, and the outdoor cooking area that will be attached.  This is the culmination to a dream that many in our church have had for some time.

            And we are grateful to the Lord.

            It is true that we have dreamed and planned for this building. We have also given, and will continue to give until the work is completed. But we are aware that all that we have, and will have, is a gift from the Lord. 

            In our world of plenty (and even with a struggling stock market, most of us have enough), we are prone to think of all that we have accomplished.  How we need to remember that it is all a gift. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” All that we have comes from the Lord.  Remember to give thanks. God is truly good.

Habits

The New Year is less than a week old.  Have you already broken your resolutions? I have never been one to sit down and right out any resolutions, but I do like to take time in this season to assess life and seek to make needed changes.

            I would like to offer to you some possible habits to develop this year that I believe will help change your life for the better.

            These thoughts are based on the first half of 2 Peter 3:18 where the apostle wrote, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Practice these four habits this year and you will do just that.

            The first habit is simple. Pray more consistently.  Jesus prayed. That alone is reason for you and me to be more faithful to pray.  We often find ourselves so busy that we do not pray as we should.  Let me encourage you to be more consistent in your prayer life.

            Second, study more regularly.  I am talking about study of the Bible here.  Too many followers of Christ do not know much about the Bible.  It is our source book for any and all information that we need about Jesus and living for Him.  Make it a habit to read and study some every day.

            Third, worship more passionately.  I have two things in mind here. The first is to be in worship every time that you can.  You need the church, and the church needs you. And then, when there, be a part of what is happening. Sing, pray, listen, learn…and worship. 

            The fourth habit to develop this year is to give more generously.  Sure, as a pastor I would encourage you to give to your church. But there are other charities and individuals who need your help.  Giving generously is a distinctive Christian characteristic. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The older I get, the more I realize that to be true.

            This list of habits could have been 20 pages long, but I have a word limit.  Still I believe that you can grow to be more like Jesus as you pray, study, worship, and give.  I pray that 2023 will be a blessed year for you. 

Walking Daily

This is my final column for the year. It’s the last edition of the paper for the year. Why do we celebrate such milestones? We have parties for New Years,  birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, and many other events.  Why?  What is the point?

            The fact is that life is made up of daily steps that take us to the next steps that take us to the next steps.  The only way to live is to take each step, knowing that another is coming.  You go forward by putting one foot in front of the other.

In the Bible, and especially in the New Testament, Christian living is often compared to walking. “We walk by faith.”  “Let us walk properly…” “We ought to walk in such a manner…”  Each of these phrases come from the writings of Paul, and they express that living is a matter of walking, making daily progress, and moving forward in the way God has called us.

            We take walking for granted, do we not?  Six years ago at this time I was recovering from knee replacement surgery.  It took several months, and much therapy, before I could walk in the right way without thinking about it. I no longer take it for granted. 

            John wrote, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”  To walk in the light is to choose to live in a way that avoids darkness (a metaphor for sinful living).  When we live in that way it makes an impact in our relationships with others, and shows that God has truly forgiven us.

            We have those times when we wonder how we are going to make it another day, another hour, even a minute.  Making it through 2023 seems more daunting than we can consider.  But the way to make it this coming year is really simple. One step at a time.

            I pray that during this coming year you will walk daily with the Lord.  Start each day by praying a reading a portion of the Bible.  And then watch for those moments when you can help others.  God has called us to live in harmony with him and others. Love the Lord. Love your neighbor. Probably the best resolutions any of us can make for 2023!