A Hopeful Heart

I met Maurice my first day on the job.  The fact that he bought me lunch that day isn’t the reason we became friends (although it didn’t hurt), but the many common values we share have brought us close over the last three years. 

In 2004, he was blessed with quadruple by pass surgery.  I say blessed, because he did.  Only weeks after his surgery, he stood before his church congregation and spoke on “A Hopeful Heart”.  His comments included:

“Through a recent experience, I truly believe God can, and does, use difficult situations to strengthen us:  knowing this can bring hope.  This hope is the assured outcome of God’s saving purpose for us.” He went on “I truly believe this unexpected event in my life was a blessing from God.  The circumstances around how it all developed have led me to believe the Good Lord was watching out for me and has given me a new lease on life.”  

Don’t wait for God to bless you with what society might see as a curse to believe in Him and His care.  Have faith, as Maurice does, that God has a saving purpose for each of us. 

Forsaking all, I trust Him!

My wife Tracy once taught me an acronym for Faith:

F –       Forsaking

A –      All

I –        I

T –       Trust

H –      Him

Galatians 3:6-18 quotes from Genesis 15:6 where Abraham believed and God made him righteous because of his faith.  This is where God promised Abraham a son and that he would have more descendents than there are stars in the sky.  

As hard as that might have been for Abraham to believe, it was later that he truly demonstrated his faith to me.  Genesis 22 records the story of God sending Abraham out to sacrifice Isaac, his only son as a burnt offering.  At this point, I am ashamed to say I would have probably moved my church letter to the local temple of Baal.  But not Abraham. He was willing to forsake all that he had ever hoped for and trust God.  His faith proved to be valid and greatly rewarded!

I pray that we all continue to grow and learn to trust God as much as we think we do. 

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

That proverb has proven true many times in my life.  A car with a REALLY low price is probably going to have something wrong with it (blue smoke means a new motor, not an oxygen sensor).  Does, “Dad, I got ALL my homework done at school” sound familiar? 

However, there is one huge exception to that I have bet my eternity on. 

In Romans 10:9, Paul states “if you confess with you mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Salvation is through Christ only: we can’t earn it, buy it, or steal it.  God’s mercy and grace are the only way, and all we have to do is accept His gift. 

It sounds too good to be true, but it’s not.  Have we thanked Him lately for the faith He gives us to accept that gift?

Jesus Embodies Lordship

Paul says in Philippians 2: 9 that “God elevated (Jesus) to the place of highest honor”.  We can have no better mentor!

The Friday before the Forth of July holiday (yesterday as I write this), I was out early on my motorcycle.  I’d had breakfast with three Christian brothers at 6:00 and was now headed west on roads I’d never ridden before.  I usually ride to get my mind off work, but I found my mind replaying a conversation about our company mentorship program.  I suddenly realized a huge limitation.  A mentor can only take you where they have been – they can only teach you how to get to where they are – a Manager can’t show someone how to be a CEO.  

A Sunday School teacher or Deacon can’t show us how to be the best possible witness either.  Even a Pastor can’t show us how to be the perfect Christian.  We all must continually develop our own relationship with Jesus and let Him mentor us directly – He dwells in God’s highest places and is uniquely equipped to show us how to be more like Him. 

I ask myself - am I trying to learn as much as I can from Jesus every day?  Am I showing others by the way I live my life what I have learned so that others see Jesus living in me?  How would you answer these questions?  

Jesus Embodies Reconciliation

Romans 3:22, 23

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

I plead guilty – I have joined the Face Book crowd.  It started a year or so ago when a summer intern at work suggested it as a way to market our company to college graduates.  From there, Tracy encouraged me to do it so she could learn about her friends.  That lasted a short time and she got the addiction and went off on her own.  I’ve gone on though and reconnected with a lot of people.  I found out that a friend I went to church had married a guy I went to high school with and they didn't even know each other last I knew.  I’ve reconnected with youth I taught in Sunday School 25 years ago, who are well into their own adulthood now.  And today, I called up one of my dearest friends from over 20 years ago who had sent me a FB note.  It was amazing how in about 5 to 10 minutes we had covered the bases of changes, and fallen back into the same comfortable conversation I remember.  Shared memories and values. 

Have you left the relationship you had in the past with your Lord and Savior?  Did you ever develop that close friendship?  Reconciliation is waiting - Jesus has paid the price for us all in full, and is eager to spend time with you. 

Natural Instincts and Harmony

(NOTE:  This one is not in sequence with the other postings or related to my WTBC writings.  Next Saturday we'll pick back up with #4 in the series "Jesus Embodies".) 

Psalm 42:1-2

For the director of music.   

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

My wife has recently been blessed with a new job at a zoo.  Beyond the oft made comments about her vast amount of experience living with me for almost 20 years giving her impeccable credentials, she is being exposed to many new things and new ways of thinking about old things.  Yesterday, as we were in the car riding across the state on a beautiful fall day, we had a great conversation about many facets of her new job.  One of her lessons struck a spiritual chord with me.

She was telling me how she learned from the zoo keepers how adolescent animals have to be removed from the cages they have always called home once they reach a certain age.  They can never return to live with their parents due to a risk of the parents coming to view them a threat and the potential for fights and animal injury.  These actions are driven by instincts not learned, and cannot be trained away.  Despite the natural correlation to adult children who resist leaving home and the common tendency for them to come back that has become rampant in our culture, that's not the new note in the chord I heard (I've heard and sang that note way too often, but that's another story). 

If God cares about the lemurs and servals enough to give them natural instincts for survival in the wild that generations of captive breeding can't take away, He has no doubt put the longing for the spiritual dimension of life inside every person - and that longing is really a hole that only God can fill.  I'm no theology student, and have long ago accepted my limitations on understanding everything God does.  I don't know how He does it, and I have no need to understand it before I believe it.  A clear and beautiful tone.

But the music isn't over; it is always playing.  I have a friend who has a coworker who is more conspicuously adamant about separation of religion and faith from the workplace than what is common in our Midwestern community.  I believe there are two things going on.  The first is that I believe that someone is hearing that natural instinct that God has put inside them, and it's manifesting itself as resistance to Him, to His presence in their life and to other people who demonstrate their faith (even if that demonstration is unintentional).  The second is my friend is an instrument in God's hand.   Can you hear the crescendo swelling as our God directs His chorus and orchestra to participate in an eternal and ever changing  musical involving all creation?

And I ask myself - am I suitable to be an instrument in God's hand?  Am I aware of His presence in my life daily?  Am I aware of the people around me who lack His presence and my opportunity/obligation to play a note in God's symphony that I may be the only one who can?

Jesus Embodies Redemption

John 1:10-12 (NIV)

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

I feel it a real honor to be allowed to prepare these devotionals, but I have to admit to sometimes struggling with the actual writing.  For instance, today’s:  I found that I just couldn’t make it work.   I’d written at least three different devotionals plus many drafts and pieces in my head for today and discarded each.  I’d pulled references from biblegateway.com and the dictionary (8 definitions for “redemption” if anyone’s counting).  Yet today as I re-read verses 10-12, it’s as new and fresh as if the words were added last night.  He is with me always (work, family, recreation, trying to write) and I too often fail to recognize Him.  I am given the right to become His child, if I just believe.  But I get too busy, too independent, too afraid to ask, and have any number of other distractions, yet I long to see His glory. 

Where are you today?  Are you conscious of how He made the world?  Do you recognize Him and receive Him?  Do you enjoy all the rights that come from being His child?

Our Burden vs. My Load

(NOTE:  This one is not in sequence with the other postings or related to my WTBC writings.  Next Saturday we'll pick back up with #3 in the series "Jesus Embodies".)


Galatians 6:2-5

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. 

Last Friday at breakfast, my friend Chuck shared this passage with our group.  When he did, I noticed notes in my bible that addressed the difference in the burdens we are to share and those we shoulder alone.   

The word translated "burden" refers to a load that cannot be borne alone.  It reminded me of carrying 25 large sheets of 3/4" plywood with about 25,000 springs on the back that make up the floor that gymnasts perform on - that can't be carried by one guy - at least not by this one.  I need help to set up that floor.  And I'm extremely grateful to the other gymnast's parents who help. 


The words translated "his own load" above refers to that which one person can and should carry for himself like a soldier's back pack.  I don't need help carrying my laptop to work.  There's no reason anyone should carry it for me, and it's not good for me to depend on others for such simple things.  


Bottom line - there are things we need help on/need to help others with, and things that are our own responsibility.  By having both, the body of Christ develops and functions as we should.

-------------------------------Warning -----------------------------------

POLITICAL COMMENT AND PERSONAL OPINION AHEAD:

I believe this scripture is one of the foundations America was built on.  There are people who need help with their burdens from their neighbors.  I believe there are roles for the organized church, community groups, individuals, and even the government in helping those who need temporary help due to events beyond their control.  I even more strongly believe we all have a duty and responsibility to carry our own load - to do those things we can for ourselves and for others.  Enabling people to be lazy is not God's plan for anyone. 



The Apostle Paul can close this thought better than I can (II Thessalonians 3:6-15)

Warning Against Idleness
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Jesus Embodies “Justice, Mercy and Faith”.

Matthew 23:23 (NIV)

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

This morning, as I have done pretty much daily for the last 14 plus years, I slipped in and kissed my daughter’s cheek as she slept.  As I did, I specifically prayed for her day to be filled with mercy, grace, peace and love.  I know the world is filled with pain, sorrow and challenge, yet in those few words I asked God to keep bad things from her, to bless her with good things, to let her feel her Father’s love and to know the peace that only our God can bring. 

I’ve never asked God to bring His justice on her (or on me for that matter), and it will be her own growing faith that will determine her adult relationship with God.  But as her daddy, I can pray for her to know mercy – and to give it to others. 

Who do we know that needs to be shown mercy?  Whose faith are we helping to grow?  Are we staying focused on the important things Jesus taught about here? 

Joy in His Presence

(NOTE:  This one is not in sequence with the other postings or related to my WTBC writings.  Next Saturday we'll pick back up with #2 in the series "Jesus Embodies".)


Psalm 43:4

Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.

We are blessed at my house to have a small rabbit officially named Samson (I think my daughter named him after the story of the Lion's Den in the bible, so we will be working on remedial bible story characters with her soon). He's about four pounds and has always been a house pet. Our two cats raised him, and I call him Puppy. He's well trained and stays loose in the house most of the time, but spends his nights in his cage.

Our workday morning routine usually involves my wonderful wife letting him out while I'm in the shower. Most mornings, he hears me open the closet door, and comes tearing down the hall, into the bedroom making a huge sweeping arc because he is going too fast to turn quickly. He skids to a stop at my feet and looks up. Sometimes, he is so excited he literally jumps straight up in the air and quivers. Always we do a dance where he circles my feet - around in one direction. I take a step - and he goes around the other way. I put my feet together, and he runs really close. I open them up, and he ducks between. A different pattern, but the same steps daily - and always with pauses for him to jump and tremble. And he always stops at my feet long enough for me to reach down and pet him. His joy is overflowing - and contagious. Such a nice way to start a day!

This week, as I shared his joy, I realized how much I want to be like Puppy. I want to watch daily for signs of my Master's presence. I want to listen intently and hear God walking near me. When I sense Him, I want to eagerly run to Him and be overcome with excitement and joy at the opportunity to just be in His presence. I want to tremble inside because my God loves me. I need to know He smiles, and reaches down to touch me. It is such an awesome thought that God loves me - much more than I love a small rabbit. Even more than I love my family and friends. More than anyone can imagine.

I also thought about how much I have come to look forward to Puppy coming in every morning. The dance, the jumping, the petting. Wiping the shedding hair off my hand. But some mornings he gets distracted, and most Friday mornings I leave early so he is still in his cage. And I miss him. And I realize another lesson - God is eager for me to come to Him. He wants to see me. He wants me to run to him. See my excitement. Demonstrate my love for him. And bless me when I do. And When I don't come to Him, He misses me.

And so I wonder - Why do I struggle so much to have a consistent quiet time?

Jesus Embodies Restoration

In Matthew 11:3 John the Baptist asks of Jesus “Are you the Messiah?"

   ¹When Jesus finished placing this charge before his twelve disciples, he went on to teach and preach in their villages.
 ^2-3John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples to ask, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?" ^4-6Jesus told them, "Go back and tell John what's going on:

   The blind see,
   The lame walk,
   Lepers are cleansed,
   The deaf hear,
   The dead are raised,
   The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side.
"Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!"  (Matthew 11:1-6, The Message)

Do you ever doubt?  I sure do.  When I spent six months looking for a job a few years ago, I wondered where God was.  I have a friend today who is unable to work because of her cancer treatments.  I remember my friend Bryan dying with a young family almost nine years ago.  In raising my children – well, I know you parents relate to that.  Today as my family struggles to find a church like Williams Trace after leaving Sugar Land over five years ago, I often doubt that God will provide us with another church family like that one. 

Then I see in this scripture that Jesus responded to the one who had baptized him with understanding.  His response can be paraphrased “See the things I have done” – then He reiterates them just in case we can’t remember.  For each of my doubts above, I have many more examples of blessings and confirmations of His love and care. 

How about it - Is your glass half empty today, or overflowing?   If you need reminded, just ask Him – He doesn’t mind, and He has abundant answers

Judging Injustice

We started the series in Genesis, and I want to end our journey together in Revelation. We’ve looked at parables and true stories – Old and New Testament. We’ve seen injustice everywhere, and heard a call for Christians to act and help those who can’t help themselves. 

There are other examples of Jesus personally sacrificing for us (I John 3:16)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

And of Him healing people such as the man at the Pool of Bethsaida (John 5:1-9)

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"  "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

And Lazarus (John 11:40-44)    

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"   So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."  When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.   Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

but look with me now at Jesus in Revelation 19:11 and 16:

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice He judges…  on His robe and on His thigh He has this name written:  King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

If not for God’s mercy and grace and the actions of people who loved me, I’d still be a lost sinner, unable to save myself.

Am I ready to take action now to save others from judgment?  Are you ready?  Are your friends and family? 

Preventing Injustice

Not all the bible stories are rated PG.  Like the story in Judges 19:16-25 (NIV):

That evening an old man from the hill country of Ephraim, who was living in Gibeah (the men of the place were Benjamites), came in from his work in the fields. When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, "Where are you going? Where did you come from?"

 He answered, "We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim where I live. I have been to Bethlehem in Judah and now I am going to the house of the LORD. No one has taken me into his house. We have both straw and fodder for our donkeys and bread and wine for ourselves your servants—me, your maidservant, and the young man with us. We don't need anything."

 "You are welcome at my house," the old man said. "Let me supply whatever you need. Only don't spend the night in the square." So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.

 While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him."

 The owner of the house went outside and said to them, "No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don't do this disgraceful thing. Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But to this man, don't do such a disgraceful thing."

 But the men would not listen to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go.

This man chose to take strangers as guests into his home.  Later that night, his home was surrounded by evil men who wanted to harm the guest.  The home owner tried as best he could to pacify them or to drive them away but to no avail.  Finally he offered his own virgin daughter to them for their pleasure.  Still unappeased, the guest’s concubine was pushed out the door, and left for the men to abuse throughout the night.  This act protected the man who was traveling, but it certainly wasn’t a good thing for the young woman.  (And it got even worse for her if you read the rest of the chapter.)

Am I willing to do all I can to prevent injustice to strangers?  At what cost? 

Resolving Injustice

Another of my favorite Old Testament stories is David & Goliath in I Samuel 17: the simple shepherd boy against the evil giant. 

Then [David] took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.  Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.  David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

Picture the boy delivering pizza to his brothers in the army winding up facing the one intimidating an entire army in front of an audience of thousands.  The Israelites were paralyzed.  The king was not leading, but trying to bribe someone else to take care of the problem (first historical attempt to hire mercenaries?).  Someone had to take action.  David wasn’t able to do this on his own, but as God’s servant, he was and he knew it.  With five small stones (and I love the humanity displayed when he picked up four more than needed) he resolved the problem. 

Am I willing to be used by God in intimidating circumstances to do impossible things?  Are you?

Recognizing Injustice

The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37 was one of my favorite stories as a child.  

Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.  "A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'  "What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"  "The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded.   Jesus said, "Go and do the same."   msg

It still is.  Today we’d say the poor traveler was mugged or carjacked - probably selected at random, and fortunate to have survived the attack.  Then the plot get’s interesting – respected people who are normally expected to help don’t.  A great church leader sees the need, and asks his GPS for an alternate route.  A well known church lay leader comes on the scene, and checks her BlackBerry as she passes the scene.  The drama swells as we await a hero.  And then a “Samaritan” (plug in a group you choose here – a fundamentalist, a Muslim, someone from the other political party, – get the idea?) recognizes the problem, and takes action. 

I have two challenges – one is to open my eyes and really see the needs around me.  The second, harder one is to take helpful action at some cost to myself.  How about you?

Understanding Injustice

The topic “Act with Integrity” has me thinking about my responsibility to act and care for those who can’t care for themselves. As I ponder that challenge, my mind drifts back to Old Testament stories learned so long ago. I love those stories and the rich lessons they hold. Today, let’s look in on God’s conversation with Cain in Genesis 4:13-16.

13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." 15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.  NIV

Note that after God confronted Cain, He also put His mark on Cain to protect him. At this point in Cain’s life, there was nothing he could do to protect himself. He was paying the consequence of his actions, and the cost was potentially life ending. But God, in his compassion and mercy spared him. I need to see those who are suffering from their choices and throw them a life line. Is there someone in your family or circle of friends who needs your intervention?

Jim...