Posted by David on August 7, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Some choices are understood to be critical and contain significance that is obvious. Other choices are routine and happen almost habitually. Some choices are extremely serious. They demand time and thought. Other choices are “no brainers.” They are made as almost a reflex response to the immediate situation.
Choices are peculiar things. All of them set in motion events that touch lives and produce events beyond our imaginations.
Years ago in another state I knew a teen extremely close to his parents. Whenever possible, the three were together. When he did anything, one or both parents were present. One day, he and a couple of friends agreed to haul some hay to help someone out-a harmless, small, good choice. As they returned, he decided to ride in the bed of the truck-a harmless, small choice. He decided to get atop the cab and put his hands on the wind shield-no harm intended. His friend touched the brakes-no harm intended. The boy on the cab fell and lost his life. Wonder how many lives were affected for many years to come because of that series of choices which intended no harm?
I have not kept a record of funerals I have been a part of for over 50 years. Some involved people who lived long, full lives. Some involved tragedies that were unexpected. Often I heard grieving people say, “If only I had done this,” or, “If only that had happened!” Typically, one small difference, one small choice made differently, would have altered (at least temporarily) the situation in powerful ways.
It is not just the sorrow in death, but also the living of life. Most of us can look at a number of events in our lives that would have impacted the direction of our lives and the lives of others tremendously if only our decision had been made differently.
Few things say as much about who we are and what our values are as do our choices. It is amazing how a single, innocent, insignificant choice can forever determine someone’s opinion of what we are, or alter the direction of our life, or impact someone else in ways we never intended, or change lives that were not involved in our choice. When we realize the impact of a poorly or thoughtlessly made choice, often our only recourse is a declaration of sorrow. However, regardless of our genuine sorrow, our sorrow does not alter the sequence of events we set in motion by a poor or thoughtless choice.
Thank You, God, for Your forgiveness! Give us the patience and the wisdom to make better choices. Help us be responsible when we recognize the hurt of our choices.
Posted by David on July 31, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Before Paul was a Christian, he knew Jesus was not the Messiah (Christ). He was so certain he was correct in his conclusion, he arrested his own Jewish people, knowing their arrest could lead to death (see Acts 8:1-3 and 9:1, 2). After the events of Acts 9:3-9, Paul knew the exact opposite-he knew Jesus was the Christ.
When the disciple, Ananias, was hesitant to deliver the Lord’s message to Paul, the Lord told Ananias, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15, 16).
No one valued more the gift of God’s grace through Jesus Christ than did Paul. The Lord’s mercy and forgiveness overwhelmed him! He once wrote of himself, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:12-16). In Paul’s estimation, he had been the greatest sinner alive. He received mercy because (a) he acted in ignorance of who Jesus actually was, and (b) he could be used as proof that if God could forgive him, forgiveness could be extended to anyone.
Paul clearly understood that he was not in a saved relationship with God because he, Paul, was wonderful and talented. Paul was in a saved relationship with God because God is wonderful. The fact that God is wonderful is seen in what God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The fact that Jesus was Lord was seen in his total surrender to the Father to achieve the Father’s purposes. Paul was more than willing to serve as God and His Christ’s example of the power of divine mercy and grace in forgiveness. Paul was deeply appreciative of the forgiveness he received; he was more than willing to demonstrate God can save anyone.
2 Corinthians 11:24-33 and 12:1-10 declare some of the prices Paul paid for the blessing he found in Jesus Christ. Do not look at Paul’s sufferings as retribution from God. Look at them as the prices he paid to confront evil. Do not complain when your blessings cost you. Instead, focus on the value of your blessings. Never forget, evil confronts godliness.
Posted by David on July 24, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
The following are words from Joyce Chadwell without David’s editing.
“It is so easy to find fault with others. A couple of days ago I found a shirt button in my bedroom floor. I wondered why David didn’t tell me he had lost a button. I thought, ?Now I am going to have to go through all his shirts and see where it belongs.’ I laid the button on my dressing table to put off going through his shirts or asking him why he didn’t tell me he lost a button. I guess I preferred to stew about it. Well, this morning I decided to put on a denim shirt I wore Monday and guess what. It was MY button all the time. When I started to button my shirt there was a missing button and it matches the one on the dressing table. To paraphrase what Jesus said, ?You should make sure your own shirt has a button before you tackle a closet full of someone else’s shirts,’ or something like that.” (Used by permission.)
Whew! Narrow escape! I would not notice a missing button until I put on a shirt she had washed and ironed! Only then do I say, “Could you fix this shirt?”
Why is it so easy to see others’ faults and flaws and so hard to see our own? May I suggest two reasons. First, as long as I look at you, I do not have to look at me. A focus on your mistakes often means I never have to look at my own. All of us like that! All of us had rather be an expert on others’ flaws rather than dealing with our own flaws. When someone calls attention to our flaws, we are shocked. We are the experts! How could anyone see flaws in us? If such flaws exist, they have a justifying reason for existing-just listen to my reason and you will ignore my flaws!
Second, it is much easier to judge than encourage. Encouragement is just plain hard! It takes gentleness, understanding, and helpfulness. People are so uncooperative and suspicious! “What is in it for you?” “What are you up to?” “What’s your real motive?” What a world-we are more suspicious of kindness than we are of harshness! However, judging is simple. Package it as “constructive criticism” from an “insightful person,” smile, shape opinion into fact, and say anything. The judged should be “grateful” for the “constructive criticism.”
Aren’t you glad God is not a human? Aren’t you glad He continues to “go to the trouble” and “makes the effort” to encourage us in Jesus Christ? God encourages in spite of our flaws and failures (and He truly knows what He is talking about, sees honestly, and accurately understands motives). We, too, should seek to be encouragers because it is godlike, and we wish to be like our spiritual Father who creates us in Jesus Christ.
Posted by David on July 17, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
There are numerous stories that serve as illustrations. You probably have heard all of them in some version: the farmer who put a latch on his barn door after a fire in his barn scattered his animals never to be found; the man who put house locks on his doors after a thief stole everything he owned; the man who never left his keys in his new car after his older car was stolen because he always left the keys in it.
All the stories make the same point: it is too late to prevent a tragedy after the tragedy has occurred. I have wondered (many times) the feelings that Paul the Christian felt when he passed places where Paul the persecutor had harmed others. Remember Acts 8:1-3? Saul (Paul) was in hearty agreement with putting Stephen to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
After he knew Jesus was in fact God’s Christ (Acts 9:1-9), it had every impact on what he did in the future, but it changed nothing he did in the past. In past acts, Christian men and women were still dragged from their homes, wives still saw Christian husbands killed, and orphans still existed because of what happened to Mom and Dad. Nothing Paul did could undo what he had done before his understanding that Jesus was the Christ. Unfortunately, we all have to live with our past. No matter how we use our future (read 2 Corinthians 11:22-33), our past still occurred.
No matter what we do after we learn Jesus is the Christ, we still are what we are because of God’s mercy and grace. Wise is the person who never forgets that truth. The Christian Paul never did!
Yet, the wise, mature Christian who gladly accepts God’s forgiveness of his or her past, uses an understanding of the past to demonstrate the incredible blessing God gives us through Jesus Christ. The same incident which causes us intense shame or grief becomes the incident that communicates God’s love and forgiveness.
Oh, the arrogance of the person who convinces self that acts of obedience obligate God by somehow intimidating Him! With all Paul did, he never forgot that he was least of the apostles and did not deserve to be called an apostle. Never did he forget he was what he was through God’s grace.
We each are what we have become in Christ, not because we are self-made, but because we are God-made in Jesus Christ.
Posted by David on July 10, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Our society builds financial industries on the uncertainty of life, while the same society convinces people that they will live indefinitely.
Consider the prepaid funeral. The salesperson in numerous ways focuses people on life’s uncertainty. Your attention likely will be focused on the tragedy generated by loved ones having a funeral expense at a horrible, emotional time. In no way would you burden loved ones with a major expense at an emotional time that rejects rational thought.
Thus, the insurers want to insure you against death because they think you will live long — long enough to make the insurance profitable. However, in this instance, you buy the insurance because you do not think you will live long enough to accumulate the funds your burial will require. Thus, your awareness of life’s uncertainty produces an industry.
Take a moment to think in the opposite direction. Think of how much of your life is based on your confidence that it will be long. You spend as if you will live long. You buy as if your income always will be the same or better. You plan as if you have much marketable time before you.
If asked, “When are you going to die?” you look at the person as if he (or she) is crazy. If asked when you are going to be laid off, you think, “Have you lost your mind?” If asked, “When will your business fail?” you ask, “Do you know something I don’t?”
Last weekend I attended the 50th reunion of my high school graduation. (No comments about my age, please-be respectful to the elderly!) Of the 19 who graduated then, 14 were present. Only 3 had died, and only one (me) used a cane.
I spent time with my science teacher to whom I owe a lot. He also preached and was a Christian encourager. Though a science teacher, he taught me (a) the importance of studying scripture in context and (b) there is (was) more to obedience than facts.
In his 80s, he walks with difficulty. Parkinson’s disease makes it impossible for him to write or type. Though he still thinks deeply and clearly, his means of expressing himself are limited. Twenty years ago, I would not have predicted this for him in his later years.
James says, “Assume nothing! The right thing to do is accept the uncertainty of your humanity.”
Posted by David on July 3, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Since I learned a few years ago that continual exposure to bright sunlight was, in many instances, a contributing factor to developing cataracts, I have worn a set of clip-on sunglasses. It was an easy transition to make-bright sunlight hurt my eyes, and I did not enjoy squinting. (Squinting can make you look angry.)
The other afternoon as usual, I reached into my shirt pocket, pulled out my sunglasses, stretched them to pop them on my regular glasses, and the sunglasses promptly broke! (Not a lens but the “bridge.”) At first I was just plain startled-something I did hundreds of times without thinking did not work! (That is NOT supposed to happen!) After my bewilderment ended, I examined the situation to determine what was wrong. Though I had carried these clip-ons for years, I quickly concluded the sunglasses were broken beyond repair, put them in a cup holder, and drove away. That pair of sunglasses have been in that cup holder many times-they don’t even know they are broken!
I have spent my life working with people. Through those years, I have heard about many situations. A common thread in different circumstances caught my attention years ago. Often, in differing situations, a person was mystified because he or she encountered consequences as a result of a decision. It was as though the situation was 100% something or someone else’s fault, and the person enduring the “problem” was 100% innocent. “Why me? I am responsible for nothing! None of this is my fault!” There was no awareness that “I am broken and need healing!”
The ability of the resurrected Jesus to heal us inwardly is beyond exaggeration! I regard Jesus’ above statement as being his great invitation. Jesus offered rest to those who were burdened under destructive loads. He did not expect the impossible-he was and is not into “crushing” us. However, he is into our developing his servant heart. It is not the promise that we will have all our physical desires-it is the promise that we will find a restful direction for our lives. We would exchange slavery for commitment!
What is the difference between slavery and commitment? If we are looking for freedom from all responsibility, that will not and can not happen. In slavery, a person is used because he or she is property. In commitment, a person knows the values and the price of being free. In the first, there is exploitation inflicted by another; in the second, there is personal direction and purpose. The first inflicts regardless of our personal motive. The second surrenders because of our personal motive.
Shh-my sunglasses do not know they are broken! Do you know you are broken? Have you allowed Jesus to give you rest?
Posted by David on June 26, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Allow me to begin by paraphrasing Paul’s encouragement to a distressed congregation:
I want to remind you who are now family in Christ of the good news you heard from me. Please remember some essential facts about that good news and you:
- You decided to accept that good news.
- You continued by choice in that good news-it grants your life stability!
- This good news is the source of your confident relationship with God.
Your salvation relationship with God continues as long as you remember and remain in that good news. Remember, three truths lie at the core of that good news:
- Jesus Christ died for all of us-his death makes our sins history!
- He actually died-his dead body was buried!
- He was resurrected-whereas he was for certain dead, he is now alive.
Paul continued his emphasis on the importance of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Paul said a lot of people saw Jesus alive after he died, including Paul. Jesus’ resurrection was not a Jewish phenomenon affecting only Jewish people-Jesus died for everyone’s sins.
Very young people respond to God because He is the living God who loves them. As adolescents become adults, conversions to God through Christ plummet.
Life often goes through stages for many people. Stage one: you can do anything you desire because you are young and have opportunity. Stage two: you race breathlessly, trying to manage all your responsibilities, get weary doing so, but never admit weariness. Stage three: you have a tinge of fear as you wonder if “this is what life is about” and if “life has passed you by.” Stage four: life is all about your physical future, and your physical future looks less than wonderful (doctors increasingly replace ambitions). Stage five: you are deeply aware that you “cannot go back”; there is neither time, strength, nor energy to “do” your life over; and experience and observation teach you how uncertain anyone’s future is. Sounds increasingly dismal, does it not?
It is-unless… Unless what? Unless you are aware that death does not win! Regardless of what age you are, you have choice. Yes, 20-year-olds and 70-year-olds have the same choice! Is life about physical indulgence with death the unavoidable end, or is life an investment that destroys the fear-hold of death? Amazingly, life often is only about the physical until our death is on our horizon. Then, suddenly, Jesus’ resurrection becomes very relevant, things are just things, and death’s defeat is relevant to the meaning of physical life. Do not waste your collateral! Life is an investment! Invest the only thing that is yours for now-yourself! Good news-God welcomes your investment!
Posted by David on June 19, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
I seemed to be cursed when it comes to growing sunflowers! It happened again! (Yes, it has happened before.) I planted a 16 foot long row of sunflower seeds. They all came up-were about 1? inches high and THICK. The way they came up, I suspected there were too many for all of them to disappear.
I made a plan to protect them by making a small, convenient fence around the flower bed (18 inch chicken wire). Bill and Toka Beall stopped by to see us Thursday night. Bill confirmed that what I planned to do would work. My Friday project was set! I knew where to get what I wanted-by early Friday afternoon my solution against past harm would be in place! I saw the potential problem, in my head I solved that problem, and my reasoned out solution should work!
Friday morning I left for the gym about 6 a.m. (as usual). For some reason, I decided to check my sunflower plants one more time before I bought my supplies. You guessed it-Thursday night a critter ate the whole row (all but one-left to taunt me?).
Oh, well, I could be philosophical and say it happened before I bought the supplies. However, at that moment, I did not feel philosophical. All I felt was this: the critters won-again! I cringe when I think of how many times “dumb” animals made me feel dumb! Good intentions and well-made plans do not produce protection just by thinking!
The lessons in this silly incident are rather profound. It is amazing what we can learn from squirrels, rabbits, or nocturnal critters in general.
- Never take tomorrow for granted. It is so easy to decide whatever is will always be. Do not assume that what should be done now will wait on you to do it later. Simply because you see and understand the potential problem does not mean you have solved the problem.
- When you know enough to think the situation through, act. Surely, there are consequences to taking action before you know what you need to know. Surely, (also) there are consequences to procrastinating. Rarely will there be a “perfect” time to make a difficult decision. However, making a difficult choice is almost always better than making no choice at all, thus allowing “accident” or “random happenstance” to make the choice for you.
- Never ignore the “God factor.” We are not as big as we think we are!
Could we call this the parable of the sunflower plants and lessen my disappointment?
Posted by David on June 12, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
I have no desire to be an alarmist. In fact, I am convinced that a continuing sense of alarm (just of itself) is useless. I certainly am not against sober thinking or recognizing real dangers. However, spending life focusing our physical existence on “what if” as the latest thunderhead appears on our horizon commonly wastes time and misses opportunity. Life is not to be wasted, nor is it to be spent in a continuing state of alarm.
The issue is not, “How can we keep the worst from happening?” The issue is, “Are we devoted to godly existence regardless of what happens?” In the western world, things were deteriorating in the first century. Things did not suddenly get better because Christianity became a part of the physical scene. In fact, many Christians suffered as the western world continued to deteriorate.
Christianity was not a “fix” to cure the consequences of many bad decisions. Christianity was a way to see physical existence through the Creator’s eyes. Because of God’s act, the hopelessness of physical life was not humanity’s only option, and physical death was no longer the ultimate enemy of human existence. The human decisions of the godless could not destroy the eternal options of those in Jesus Christ.
For decades, Christians in this country seemingly had the option (1) in numerous ways to live the lifestyle of the godless and (2) to do so while devoting themselves to traditional expressions of Christian existence. We were prosperous enough to do both. We did so convinced that God protected us from the physically undesirable and prospered those who espoused His values. We did so even though our Savior was crucified, apostles like James and Paul were killed, and numerous early Christians were killed.
What will happen if there is a severe recession in this country? What if businesses fail in unbelievable numbers, and our homes continue to decline in value? What if the job market continues to decline? What if the entire world enters a recession? What if there is massive starvation worldwide?
Believe it or not, Paul understood 2000 years ago that there is an issue more important than any reflected in those questions. He even said that to believe in resurrection if there is none is simply pitiful. He knew godliness was real only if Jesus was resurrected by God.
Resurrection exists for us only if Jesus was resurrected. Life after death exists only if Jesus is the Christ through God raising him from death. Godliness has power only if Jesus is alive. Christianity is worthy of a life investment only if Jesus is enthroned. Eternal mercy, grace, and forgiveness are genuine only if God made Jesus the Christ.
The hard choice: will we invest our lives in Jesus regardless of what happens in our world? Will we be a godly people even if our world enters another period of chaos?
Posted by David on June 5, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
In May I had the joy of visiting again a remote region of northern New Mexico. This area is a National Park built around an ancient volcano called Capulin. A roadway and parking area has been built near the summit of the old volcano (it is 8,182 feet in elevation at its highest point). Then a paved, wide path circles the top of the volcano (about a mile in length), and another paved path goes down to the ancient core.
In the past, I loved to walk the rim! It is lined with fragrant Juniper and Western Cedar trees, the air is crisp, and you can see forever around the 360 degree path. As you look, you hardly see any evidence of human activity, only the footprints of God. The views are incredible! Though I enjoy this place a lot, I did not think I would ever see it again.
To our blessing, Ron and Debbie Belote made this trip with us. The night before we went to the park, they decided I needed to walk the rim path with them. I had been walking a mile and a half in Fort Smith, so I figured I had the strength to do it. They made a human sandwich with Ron in front (so I would have someone to fall on if I fell), Debbie behind me (so she could try to catch me if I fell), me with my “trusty cane” in the middle,” and Joyce with the camera to verify I did it. (By the way, I did not even stumble.)
When I got back, “I” had done the impossible (and much enjoyed it), but only because three people encouraged and helped me do the impossible. Three Christians knew what the opportunity meant to me, and they made the “impossible” quite “possible.”
The thought occurred to me immediately, “That is the core of Christian existence!” There are many of life’s experiences that are “impossible” if faced alone, but which become infinitely “possible” when you are encouraged and aided by those who share and understand your faith and commitment.
The issue is never, “Am I weak and flawed?” We all are weak and flawed–never more so than when we pretend to be “strong” and without defects. The issue is, “Will I as a Christian help someone else with their weakness, and let them help me with my weakness?”
Two observations I regard to be important. (1) I must never expect the truly impossible of others. (2) It is as important for me to accept help as it is to give help. (In fact, our help becomes more powerful when we also accept our weakness.)
If you are Christian, you are not committed to do the impossible, but you are committed to do what you are able to do. One of the most powerful things we all have to give is encouragement. With encouragement, God’s help, and the help of those who place their confidence in Christ, it is amazing what a person can do. The combination of faith and encouragement is powerful in a human being! Each of us always can supply the encouragement!
