pastorsblog

Engravings Of The Heart

I was a very creative child.  I have to admit here that I was also a little mischievous.  Combine the two and and you sometimes have a recipe for disaster, as the following story illustrates.

I was in the third grade and Mrs. Green was my teacher.  These were the 60's and, well, if you know anything about the 60's you'll understand.  I can't remember exactly what prompted me to do this, but somehow I got the bright idea to bring a jackknife to school.  I do not remember there being any restrictions against that in particular back then, however, it was what I decided to do with it that brought much misery to my soul.  Our desktops were made out of solid wood back then and not the cheap fiberglass impostors of today's classrooms.  At any rate, I got the bright idea that I would leave my permanent mark for all future generations to admire by carving a "Peace Sign" and the words PEACE and FLOWER POWER into my desk top (remember, these were the 60's).  Well, to make a long story short, as much as I admired my artwork, Mrs. Green did not, and after being "ratted out" by a fellow classmate (who was obviously jealous of my work), I spent the next 3 weeks after school watching my masterpiece disappear under a block of wood and sandpaper that had become permanently attached to my hand and arm.

In similar fashion, many have attempted to leave something behind for future generations by carving into old fences, bark stripped trees or pieces of lumber.  Whether it is in the form of "Joe was here," or two lover's initials ("DB + HF") encompassed by a heart, these engravings represent something significant, something we want to always remember and be remembered for. 

I once heard about a woman who asked her husband why he never told her that he loved her anymore.  His reply was, "I told you I loved you the day we got married and that ought to be good enough."  Whether this story is true or not, a one time expression of our love is not good enough.  Christ's death on the cross was the greatest expression of love the world has ever known.  But He didn't stop letting us know He loves us with just that, as great as it was.  His word tells us that our lives are a letter from Christ, "written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Cor 3:3 NIV)  He has engraved "I Love You" on our hearts and reminds us of that every day through His manifold blessings.

Today is my wife's birthday and I dedicate this entry to her.  May I always be worthy of her love and never cease expressing mine to her.  Happy birthday, Heather.  I love you... again... and again...

How Do You Measure Up?

I had a life changing experience while working as a suit salesman for JC Penney's many years ago.  Our store was having one of our largest sales of the year and we were particularly busy that day.  Customers had already occupied every salesman's time, including me, when I noticed a man trying to get several other salesman's attention. 

I have to admit that working on commission sometimes forces a sales person to qualify a customer's potential to purchase by their appearance.  This particular man did not look like a cash cow, to say the least.  He had one withered arm and limped, which suggested a withered leg to match.  His appearance wouldn't have won him a spot on the cover of any fashion magazine, for sure.

I watched from a distance as this man became more and more frustrated while he tried to get various salesman's attention.  In a moment of compassion, I finally decided to walk over to the man and offer my assistance.  He was very appreciative and seemed relieved to finally have someone helping him.  He asked about a particular suit that was on sale and then went into the dressing room to try it on.  When he returned he asked me to pin it for alteration.  While I was on my knees pinning it up, he looked at me through the mirror's reflection and with a a touch of glee in his eye said, "I would also like one in every color."  You can imagine that this kind of news brought a smile to my face and I spent the next 30-45 minutes pinning up the remaining 7 suits.  However, when it was time for him to pay, I received one of the most profound lessons I have ever received.  This man, who I learned in the course of our conversation was a NASA scientist for EROS Data Center, looked at me and with a seriousness in his voice said, "Let this be a lesson to you young man.  Never judge a book by its cover."  He didn't need to say any more.  I knew what he meant.

I've thought about his words long and hard over the years and their meaning has grown with each passing year.  So often our human nature is to judge by external appearance.  From height and weight to clothing and cars, we place value on a person by what we see physically.  But let us pause and remember, that there is always more than meets the eye.  Someone once said, "when God wants to measure a man, He doesn't measure the size of his head, but the size of his heart."

Let us also remember the words of Isaiah when he prophesied about our Savior by saying, "he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him." (Isaiah 53:2) 

This same Jesus has become glorious to me!

Counted Your Marbles Lately?

Really now, who didn't like playing marbles as a kid?  I vividly remember the small sturdy brown marble bag, with its shoe string cinch strap, that my mother lovingly sewed for me as a child.  This allowed me to carry my marbles to school for intense before school and during recess marble challenges that would ensue each day over the entire gamut of Gettysburg Elementary School's fenced in yard.  Yes, I cherished my Plain Janes, Black Eyes, Rubies, Cat's Eyes, Clearies and my favorite of all, Steelies.  I suppose I am speaking to generations gone by rather than to the children of today, for I do not hear much talk of marbles among children anymore.

I was watching the movie, Hook, with my children several years ago and one of the characters reminded me of those childhood days.  In the movie, Toddles, one of Peter Pan's friends who has grown up, but clearly lost his mind in the process, is searching for something on the floor.  "Lost, lost, lost!" says Toddles frantically  "Lost what?" responds Peter Banning (Peter Pan).  "Lost my marbles," Toddles boldly declares.  Having grown up in an era when marbles held their weight in gold (at least on the playground) I understand Toddles' despair.  Marbles can have a way to put all of life into perspective as the following story illustrates.

I once heard about a about a man who wanted to find a way to put his life and its brevity back into focus.  Having full cognition regarding God's Word through James that says that life is "a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away," he decided to place a clear reminder before him that he would see each day.  After reading in the Bible that a man's life consists of threescore and ten years (70 years), he subtracted the number of years he had lived from the 70 years he hoped he would have.  He then divided the difference, or the number of years he hoped he would have left, should God be so pleased, by the number 7 (representing a week) and came up with a final figure.  He then took that sum, purchased the same number of marbles and added them to a clear jar and set it on his desk.  Then, each Saturday, the one day of the week that he could pretty much do what he wanted with the day, he would remove one marble to represent that another week had passed.  As he held the marble in his hand, he would say to himself outloud, "Now, what did you do with that one?"  And as he watched the jar begin to empty, his life became more focused with each passing week.

The psalmist of old must have had similar thoughts when he penned, "So teach us to number our days , that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." 

I close with this simple admonition - plan now to spend your life on things of value, for none of us want to get to the end and have to admit we have "lost our marbles" on things that did not matter.

Who Are You?

One of the classic comedy routines of all time is Abbott and Costello's Who's On First in which a fictional character named Who, is the main subject.  Maybe you've heard it enough times and it isn't funny to you anymore, but I still laugh every time I hear it.  The point I want to make here, though, is that Who is not a fictional character.  Who is you!

I know I've said it before, but growing up in the late 60's and 70's was, to say the least, a very interesting time.  Much of the secular music I listened to then was akin to casting your voice into a vast empty cavern only to hear the sound of your own echo in return.  One of the songs that illustrates this point was by a band called The Who.  In one of their most popular songs, Who Are You the question is resoundingly asked, "Who are you?  Who, who, who, who?  Who are you? Who, who, who, who?  Though a big hit, the question asked is never answered in the song.

Along with eastern religions and new age philosophies, songs like this surely prompted many to go out "in search of themselves" to find out "who" they really were.  Heard often was the phrase, "I need to go find myself," with the same kind of emotion a person expresses when they lose a hubcap from their car and now need to go down into the tall grass in the ditch to search for it.

Things have not changed a whole lot since I was a teenager.  Many of the newer secular songs continue to express a longing, a searching, an emptiness, a deep void.

When Jesus asked Simon the question, "Who do men say that I am?" He was also answering the question of every man, woman, boy or girl who has ever lived.  When Simon answered, "Thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," his response prompted these words from the Savior, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah...,  and I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church (Mattew 16:17-18).  In other words, when Peter made the bold proclamation that Jesus is Lord, he found out just who he was, and his life and his name were never the same!   

And so with us.  When we find Him, we find ourselves.  No more searching.  We are complete in Him.  So the next time you're in the woods and hear the wise ol' owl say "Who?" just look him in the eye, shout out your name, and follow it with, "And I am a child of God!  That's Who!"

An Attutude of Gratitude

"And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks..."  Luke 17:15-16  KJV

I recently received a letter from someone my wife and I have spent hours with teaching, encouraging and supporting.  The communication was quite unexpected, nevertheless, especially meaningful to both of us.  Many of us pour our lives out to others on a regular basis.  Sadly, our sacrifices are often not even acknowledge with something as simple as a thank you.  As I read the letter in my wife's presence, tears welled up in both our eyes, while our tacit expressions conveyed the message:  This makes it worth it all.  Worth all the time.  Worth every dollar.  Worth every prayer.  Worth any turmoil.

In the story above, from Luke chapter 17, we read that Jesus healed 10 lepers, yet only one came back to express his gratitude.  Not a very good ratio if you ask me.  Was his attitude of gratitude important?  I have to believe that from the mere evidence that this story was recorded in the Bible, it was especially meaningful.  While this man's thankful expression made the heart of the Savior glad, His question, "...Where are the nine?" suggests a very different emotion.

Someone once remarked, "The happiest people in the world are also the most thankful people."  It is very easy to take what others do for us for granted.  Maybe it's time to take a moment and reflect on anything or anyone you have taken for granted lately.  It might not hurt to pick up the phone or write a short note just to say, "Thank You."  They'll be glad you did, and so will you!

The Missing Piece

I wonder how many of us have had the experience of working intensely on a puzzle only to get to the end and find one or more of the pieces missing.  This has even been known to happen with a brand new puzzle right out of the box.  Although we can take pride in what we have accomplished, if you are like me, there is something that grinds you the wrong way as you stare, not at the mostly completed puzzle, but at that one area with the missing piece.

This analogy reminds me a lot about my own life.  I am fortunate to have been raised by loving parents in a wonderful home filled with love.  All my needs were taken care of and I had a lot going for me at a young age.  I was successful in sports and had a good degree of small town fame.  My future should have looked bright as I headed off to college after graduating from high school.  But something was missing.  Something my parents couldn't give me no matter how hard they tried.  Something fame and pleasure could not give me no matter how hard I sought it.

As it turned out, I found the missing piece.  You see, it had been there all the time, or should I say "He" had been there all the time.  I also learned that He was not only the missing piece, but the "Great Puzzle Putter-Together" Himself.  I learned that each piece of the puzzle of my life was important and belonged in just the right place.

And now, after many years of letting Him guide me as all the puzzle pieces continue to be fitted together, I am reminded daily, that things only make sense in this life when I know that all the pieces are there, especially the one that matters most... the Center Piece on which all the other pieces depend. 

You know who I am talking about...  His name is JESUS!

"And ye are complete in him..." (Col 2:10)

Life's Simple Pleasures

Although I have cut down significantly on my caffeine intake the past few years, I have to admit that drinking a good cup of coffee is still one of my favorite things in life, especially when enjoyed in the company of a friend.  I wouldn't say I rank it up there with the best life has to offer such as God, family, friends, health and other core things most of us tend to value most, but as one of my friends described the small things we learn to enjoy, it is definitely one of my "life's simple pleasures."

I remember the day I first heard him say those words.  We were getting ready to tee-off on one of those rare occasions when we were actually able to get out to the golf course.  He walked over to the red Par Aide golf ball washer, pulled the brush and agitator handle up out of the ball washer body, inserted a grass and dirt-scuffed golf ball into the round slot and worked the agitator until the ball was glistening white again (as if that would be the catalyst to get his game on track).  Drying it off with the attached towel, he then looked at me and holding up the like-new ball between his thumb and forefinger remarked, "Ahhh, one of life's simple pleasures."  Now, I realize that you may need to be a golfer to completely understand what I am saying here, nevertheless, it does help to illustrate my point.

I am firmly convinced that the great God who created us, wants us to enjoy life.  It does not mean life will not be filled with challenges and sometimes even heartaches.  It does, however, mean that God wants us to find joy in our everyday journey.  Sometimes we get so focused on attaining the prize that we miss the small, but significant gifts God gives to us each day. 

So whether your simple pleasure in life is the sight of a beautiful red Par Aide golf ball washer, a smooth cup of coffee or licking the Cheetos Cheese Puffs salt off of your fingers after munching down several handfuls (another simple pleasure of mine), take time to proverbially, "stop and smell the roses," or the coffee, whichever pleases you most.  You'll be glad you did!

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy , and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."  (Acts 20:24)

When The Light Finally Comes On

You've probably heard the joke where the person telling it asks the question, "How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?"  After several guesses and a long pause the jokester finally answers, "Just one, but the light bulb really has to want to be changed."  Leo Tolstoy succinctly wrote, "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."   

According to John Maxwell in Thinking For A Change, most people's number one challenge when it comes to making positive personal change is their feelings. They want to change, but they don't know how to get past their emotions. But, Maxwell says there is a way to do it and that truth is contained in the following syllogism:

"If you are willing to change your thinking, you can change your feelings. If you change your feelings, you can change your actions. And changing your actions, based on good thinking, can change your life."

Someone once said, "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."  The real truth is, if you really want to change your circumstances, you first must go to work on yourself.

The great thing about a light bulb being changed, is it often goes from something of little or no use to something that provides beams of illumination that transcend its tiny little space.  I have seen the same thing with people time and time again.  When they finally decide they want to change bad enough to do something about it, they find talents, abilities and strengths they previously did not know they possessed.  Suddenly the bulb has not only been changed, but it has been turned on to provide a glow as radiant as the sunlight. 

Jesus said, Ye are the light of the world..."  To be that light requires great changes in our natural way of thinking and living.  Unfortunately, until then, there is not much anyone else can do, no matter how hard they try. 

A New Brand Of Righteousness

I recently began reading a new contemporary version of the Bible called The Message.  I have to admit that when it comes to studying God's word, I am a King's James man myself, believing it to be the most reliable version availble.  However, I do appreciate the insight I receive by reading in various other versions.

For instance, I was inspired today when reading from Philppians 3:9 in The Message where it says, "... I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ — God's righteousness."  When I read the words "inferior brand" my heart was pricked, as I was reminded what I was before my life in Christ.

A few years ago, my children purchased for me a special Father's Day gift.  It was a small branding iron with my own initials for use in branding the meats I cook on the grill.  I've used it several of times, however, must admit, it hangs in my office as a source of the kind of pride a father has when he thinks more about the children who gave the gift than the gift itself.

It is also a reminder to me of a life I once lived, something that will always be a part of me, but that controls me no longer.  Over 25 years ago, a new brand was burned into my soul over my own self-rightousness, a brand that was indelibly burned into an old rugged cross many years ago, and all who have followed that image have been forever changed by its mark.  What my old form of rightousness could never do, God's brand has done and more abundantly!

"What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven — and the future starts now!"  ( 1 Peter 1:3-5 The Message) 

Eyes In The Back Of Your Head

Those of you who know me may find this hard to believe, but when I was a child, I loved attention.  "Noooooooooooooh," you say.  Yes, yes, it is true.  Even as young as 3rd grade, I volunteered to sing a special at our all school concert and even hammed it up a little when I performed.  Much to my parents chagrin, the audience loved it.  I would go on to pull little stunts in my classes during the remainder of my elementary school years and throughout high school.  While I am not entirely proud of everything I did, I did learn one valuable lesson through it all.  That is, teachers really don't have eyes in the backs of their heads, because if they did, I would have gotten into even more trouble than I did!!!

However, what if God had created us with eyes in the backs of our heads?  Wouldn't we be better off?  Just think, we would be able to see oncoming traffic without turning around.  We could make "eye" contact with several people at the same time.  And the term "4 eyes" would take on a whole new meaning.  On a spiritual note, if the "eye is the light of the soul," just think how much more light our soul could project with more eyes to emanate from.

But the fact is, we were not created this way and for good reason.  God wanted us to learn to depend on each other.  I remember reading Charles Spurgeon's commentary on Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10-18 several years ago, where Paul the Apostle talks about the whole armor of God.  Mr. Spurgeon notes that while the armor of God is sufficient and covers most of our bodies, we had better take care to watch out, because no armor has been provided our backs.  He surmises that when God called us, he expects us to face the battle before us and never turn and run.  We read in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 39, "But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed, but we are of those who believe. (AMP)

Let us remember that we have a responsibility to each other as we fight the battle of faith and be admonished to always watch each other's back, knowing that even while we face the battle ahead, the enemy longs to get to us beyond our peripheral vision.  In those instances, our only hope may be that a fellow believer step in to defend us.  Then, the "eyes in the backs of our heads" will be the eyes of our Savior as He looks out through someone who loves us and will stand beside us to the end.