Posted by David on May 5, 2002 under Bulletin Articles
When in my twenties, I marveled at the way retired men used their time. In the typical short-sightedness of my youth, I thought of the things I would do if I had their flexible time and opportunities. I never had time or opportunity to do things I dreamed of doing. They (from my perspective) had the time I never had–and the flexibility to use time as they chose! Now I understand realities I never considered in my twenties.
Everyone occasionally thinks about “what I would do if …” Some think of it as they look at their past. “If I had it to do over again, I would …” Some think of it as they attempt to see into the future. “If I ever have the opportunity, I will …” All of us are victims of the deception that “just right” decisions, opportunities, and choices produce the “ideal life.” “It is there! I just have to open the door!”
Some think wealth is the key. Some think the key is lifestyle. Others think pleasure, or self-indulgence, or a specific physical body is the key. Every teen, every man, every woman decides a key exists (for him or her) and decides (for him or her) what that key is.
A person enters adult life thinking there is one key. He or she expects to pursue (and acquire?) “ideal life” with one key. He or she does not live adult life long before one key becomes two, two keys become three, and a few keys become a key ring filled with keys.
You question that fact? The key at sixteen and twenty-five are not the same. Twenty-five’s key is not fifty’s key, and fifty’s key is not seventy’s key. We Americans collect keys. We just add new keys to our key ring.
The key to “ideal life” is not wealth, or lifestyle, or pleasure, or self-indulgence, or physical attributes (skin tone, physique, physical presentation, weight, or sexual magnetism). The “ideal life” does not even exist in the context of this life. The key to acquiring the “ideal life” is God. That is the point of the lives of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Elijah, Peter, Paul, and John. Jesus revealed “ideal life” because he opened our access to God, the key.
Jesus declared, (Matthew 6:25) For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Life is more than survival (even if we live well). When we meet God (and we will!), may we feel no need to think, “If I had known …”
Posted by David on April 28, 2002 under Bulletin Articles
The creative process attempts to make a mental picture or mental concept and make thoughts become reality. How often have you said, “I know what I have in mind, but it is hard for me to explain it”?
Many things begin as “an idea.” The “idea” exists in your mind and thoughts, but you do not know where your “idea” exists as a reality. Therefore you do one of three things. Either you “make” what you “have in mind”; or you find someone else who can “make” what you “have in mind”; or you “search” for what you “have in mind.”
All of us commonly use this process. You want a different house. You “have in mind” exactly what you want. You look for “what I have in mind.” You want a different car. You “have in mind” exactly what you want. You look for “what I have in mind.” That is the common process used when we need a unique tool for a job, a unique machine for a need, a special article of clothing, a computer system, etc.
When you “know what you want,” you explain to someone who does not “see” your mental picture, “I will know it when I see it.” When you see it, you declare, “Now that is what I had in mind!” What joy when we locate “what I had in mind!”
When God created the universe, He had something “in mind.” When He brought humanity into existence, He had something “in mind.” When temptation won in the garden of Eden, God did not abandon what He had “in mind.” When evil perverted His creation and people, God did not abandon what He had “in mind.” God pursued what He had “in mind” with great patience, mercy, and love. God used Jesus’ death and resurrection to create the renewed opportunity for what He had “in mind” for humanity.
But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Ephesians 4:20-24).
QUESTION: Does God look at your heart, your mind, your emotions, your commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, your dedication to godly living, and the way you treat other people and say, “Now that is what I had in mind!”
Posted by David on April 14, 2002 under Bulletin Articles
Recently as we went to bed, we opened the bedroom window “a crack” to enjoy the cool, fresh air of early spring. The next morning before our alarm clock sounded, it was daylight. As morning light arrived, the birds held a choral convention in my yard. The sky was clear and blue. The sun filled the new day with its soft early light. It sounded and felt like spring! The sunlight intensified the meaning and feeling of life!
I am delighted “light” is the symbol of the highest good people know. God is light (1 John 1:5). He is pure light, light completely free from any influence of darkness. I am delighted there is no conflict between loving God and loving light. Years ago I was in a graduate Bible class studying Matthew 5:14. My teacher reminded everyone that light is manifested in many forms. Some of those forms are not helpful. People often use light in threatening or hurtful forms.
Concentrated light misused blinds temporarily or permanently. Bright headlights are wonderful on the road at night. When flashed in our eyes at night, they temporarily blind us. Sunshine blesses us in more ways than most of us can count. Staring directly into the sun can blind us permanently.
I walk several times a week. The winter months are the greatest challenge to my walking. No, it is not the cold or the wind that makes my winter walking a challenge. It is the darkness. Street lights are truly helpful, but nothing can compete with sunshine! Sunshine brings a unique, special feeling to my life. I never take it for granted!
God, the eternal light Who is free from all evil influence, sent Jesus to be light of the world (John 8:12). Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” The man or woman willing to be Jesus’ disciple becomes a light who sees how to live. The source of his or her light is Jesus. A Christian is a light only when he or she reflects Jesus.
Let your light reveal God’s goodness. Never reflect Jesus in an attempt to blind others. Always reflect him in ways that help others see. When they see, they will understand God’s works are good. They will understand God is the source of your good works. They will see God is responsible for the good that exists in you.
They, too, will learn to love the light because they understand the wondrous benefit of seeing. Reflect light so that people may find life in Jesus and good in God.
Posted by David on April 7, 2002 under Bulletin Articles
While driving recently, I noticed a street was closed. A large orange sign with black lettering stood at the barricade. It said, “Fresh Oil.” I knew exactly what it meant. I was grateful the street was closed–I did not wish to splatter liquid tar on my car. I had no confusion about “why” the street was closed. I had no complaint to make.
However, the sign would confuse those who knew the words but not the meaning. Some would not call the layer of gooey, black liquid recently placed on that road surface “oil.” “Oil” is the liquid one places in a car engine, or squirts on a moving part, or uses to be a protective coating, or uses as a fuel. (Any of you remember “coal oil”?) That gooey liquid often used in road construction is called “tar.” “Oil” is fairly easy to remove. Have you removed “tar” from a car’s surface recently?
What does “fresh” mean? “Fresh” as contrasted to what? To “stale”? “Oil” or “tar” has an expiration date? Have you ever read an orange sign with black letters at a road construction site that said, “Stale Tar”?
Okay! That is a ridiculous observation. Never mind that “Fresh Oil” and “Stale Tar” contain the same number of alphabetic letters. The point is simple: we know what a “Fresh Oil” sign means at a road construction site. We always have known the meaning of that sign. Some of us learned that meaning “the hard way” before signs were used.
The Christians at Corinth were the kind of church that could fill a preacher with joy one minute and break his heart the next. Paul said to them, “If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 9:2). In another letter to the same Christians, he wrote, “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men” (2 Corinthians 3:2).
Ouch! What preacher would want people who were not Christians to “read” Christians at a place and conclude he taught them internal rivalry, adultery, law suits, prostitution, mutual contempt, marital stress, and worship wars? What preacher would want people to “read” the church and conclude, “That congregation of Christians threatens our society!”
Christians must realize we do not exist in a vacuum. We must understand others “read” us all the time. Too often we understand ourselves, but to those who “read” us, we look, sound, and act unattractively ridiculous. May our “signs” clearly declare Christ’s value.
May we help hasten the day when “Christian” commonly means blessing. As we are “read” by all people, may our “signs” be as clear to others as they are to us.
Posted by David on March 31, 2002 under Bulletin Articles
Bible students regard falling walls as a positive happening. Likely the first incident involving falling walls was the collapse of Jericho’s walls. The fall of Jericho’s walls was a positive event. Good prevailed over evil. Good was outside. Evil was inside. Those walls protected evil. When they fell, good assaulted evil and prevailed over it.
Perhaps the events at Jericho symbolize God’s assault on and victory over evil in our lives. Before we enter Christ, God is outside and evil is inside. Our “walls” keep God “outside” to protect the evil “inside.” Good assaults and prevails over evil in us only if we let our walls fall.
As encouraging as the Jericho incident is, collapsing walls are in “our best interest” if your walls fall, not mine. Ask these questions. Is God good? Reflex answer: “yes.” Is your eternal best interest on God’s heart? Reflex answer: “yes.” Is evil bad? Reflex answer: “yes.” Does evil seek your eternal best interest? Reflex answer: “no.”
Why do reflex “head” answers calm the conscience but terrify the heart? We defend our walls. Our sentinels sound the alarm if God threatens to breech our walls. Our inner resources repair and maintain our walls. Our heads say we have no walls, but our hearts know better. Our walls are in place to limit God’s access and influence.
A serious objective of most of our spiritual activity is “breaking down the walls.” Bible study, prayer, worship, and fellowship all assault my walls. Collectively we declare when anyone’s walls collapse, it is good, not bad.
Then why am I fearful, even terrified, when I feel my walls crumbling? If I choose to allow God greater access to my heart and influence on my mind, why am I fearful? Why do I feel so vulnerable and at risk?
Consider two of many reasons. (1) When God prevails in me, evil dies in me. We are extremely uncomfortable when any part of us dies. The deception that God and evil can co-own and co-control us feels good. (2) Evil is more comfortable in an unrighteous world than is good. Our evil world often causes good enormous discomfort.
If God influences me as He wishes, my walls must fall. Yet, it is hard to let my walls crumble. My head may tell my tongue to say it is good for my walls to collapse. However, when my heart sees the rubble, it is terrified. Why? My walls limited my faith in God. Living by faith in God without walls is a demanding challenge that begins in my heart.
Posted by David on March 24, 2002 under Bulletin Articles
My mother called early Sunday morning. Her oldest living brother, Willard Martin, died Saturday night. He was 96 years old. His wife, Freda, died several years ago.
When I was a child, we lived a hundred miles from Uncle Willard. Today that is no trip at all. Then it was a long, tedious trip over curvy, two-lane mountain roads passing though many small towns. While we lived only a hundred miles from most of our Nashville, Tennessee, relatives, we did not spend much time with them.
When I was five, I was sick much of the time. Dad moved our family fifty miles from his job to change climates. Five days a week he rode or drove a hundred miles round trip to work and back. Understandably, on weekends he rarely wanted to drive a hundred miles in the opposite direction to visit. Only occasionally did we take trips to Nashville.
Occasionally Uncle Willard and Aunt Freda would visit us on a weekend. My brother and I joyfully anticipated his visits. He serviced vending machines, and he always brought us a whole box of Heath Bars. He also, almost always, took us fishing. Probably because of those fishing trips, I called him Uncle Wormy. I still can hear him laugh, and still hear him say, “Boys, what you need to do is …”
Memory is a peculiar thing. Often I struggle to recall the details of what happened a month ago. Yet, I easily recall fishing spots we visited fifty years ago. Memories of “then” stick to my mind as if they were made of velcro, but memories of “now” often slide away on skis coated with teflon.
Memory is a powerful force in life. It can refresh us with images that renew our hearts. It can torment us with images that refuse to disappear. It can demand honesty, or it can encourage deception. It can use our yesterdays to bring hope to our todays, or it can use our yesterdays to bring doubt to our todays. It can be all embracing, or it can be highly selective. It can focus only on the good or the bad, or it can accept the good and bad.
How fortunate are people who have memories created by those who loved! How fortunate is everyone who has a past ruled by a loving God! Never forget your present interactions are building someone’s memories. Never forget that if you have a “now” ruled by a loving God, in the future you will have a “past” ruled by a loving God.
Posted by David on March 17, 2002 under Bulletin Articles
When do we say, “What a dreary day!” Oh, we said that in the past! And, we will say that again! When? When will we say that? On a day when the temperature is 78 degrees; the sun is shining; the sky is a clear, deep blue; spring’s new leaves cast their first shadow; birds sing; and flowers accent the bright green with color?
Will we say that in the fall when trees put on fall colors; the first crisp 50 degree morning arrives; the sun shines with such brightness one can hardly see; the sky is a clear, deep blue; and the bright, fall sunlight highlights every delicate hue of nature’s kaleidoscope?
In our late summer’s heat when 100 degree days make the air still and heavy, turn green to brown, and transform the ground to concrete or dust, we talk about “oppressiveness.” A blue sky with its sunshine merely adds to the “oppressiveness.”
In our “dead of winter” cold when 30 mile-an-hour northern winds blow air chilled to temperatures under 20 degrees, we talk about the “penetrating” cold. A blue sky with its sunshine is no more than an empty appearance playing tricks on expectations.
So, when do we say, “What a dreary day!” Dreary days come any time of the year when cloudy days follow cloudy days. We associate dreariness with cloudiness. How strange! Clouds raise our water levels in the winter. Clouds make possible the spring’s life. Clouds break summer’s drought. Clouds produce fall’s rest. Clouds bring life. Why? Clouds bring water.
A few days ago I talked by phone to a person whose body is able to do little. With joy and purpose, he shared his dreams and projects. His actual world is quite small. Yet, he discovers ways to share Jesus Christ to other countries. He expressed gratitude for his strength and health as he told of others living with horrible limitations. I wondered, “Were I in his condition, would I see only dreariness? Or would I see clouds offering me life? Would I stop living or live fully?”
May all of us see the clouds. May all of us see the life they bring. May those clouds bring us the water of life. May we drink and live.
John 4:10 “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
Posted by David on March 10, 2002 under Bulletin Articles
The winter was mild. February’s final weekend had seventy degree temperatures. Then March’s first weekend slaughtered expectations! Saturday’s predicted “dusting” of snow became significant accumulations that buried roads. Saturday’s early mid-thirty degree temperatures plunged to eleven degrees by Sunday’s sunrise. The coldest air of our winter brought many things to a quick halt.
Friday my yard had early spring flowers. In the back, giant buttercup blooms gaudily demanded attention. In the front, smaller buttercup blooms stood as strong sentinels of an early spring. I almost could hear them defiantly declare, “Cool days may come, but they cannot hurt us! They may bend our stems, but our radiant blooms will shine!”
Then the unexpected rapidly roared through. Tolerable temperatures became intolerable. As mid-thirties quickly fell to mid-twenties, my giant butter cups in the back bowed to the ground. Snow covered them completely–they disappeared! The smaller, front butter cups stood defiantly erect as the snow fell. The snow stopped. The temperature continued to plummet. They, too, bowed. They were visible, but defiance became weakness as they fell on top of the snow. The unexpected humbled them.
When favorable conditions are in control, our faith does “marvelous things.” Defiantly, it says, “Difficult days occasionally may come. But when they do, they will be temporary. I will endure spiritually! I will survive spiritually! I will triumph spiritually regardless!”
Then the unexpected comes in unimaginable forms and ways: a catastrophic illness; the failing health of someone we love; the loss of a “secure” job; radical, necessary changes in lifestyle; a permanently weakened body; the death of someone who was not supposed to die. Maybe we are quickly “on the ground” hidden from view. Maybe we defiantly stand erect until overwhelmed. Regardless, the unexpected humbles us. Doubts, questions, and confusion flood our minds. The line separating humility and despair blurs.
When favorable situations exist, often our faith draws its substance from our strength. When the unexpected happens, strength depending on “self” is never enough to sustain faith. A strong, defiant faith nourished by favorable conditions wilts fast under the control of the unexpected.
Our Lord wants us to accept our weakness. He knows it is there even when we are confident in our strength. Why does He want us to be aware of our weakness? Struggling disciples depend on His strength instead of their strength. “My grace is sufficient for you; for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The strength Christ wants in us is the strength of dependence. That is faith.
Posted by David on March 3, 2002 under Bulletin Articles
Recently a brief commentary by a national television network focused on Christian faith. It asked, “How did September 11, 2001 affect faith in God?” Included was a statement from a member of a Christian rock group. Before September 11, he toured America using songs to urge people to trust our good God by placing full confidence in Him. The events of September 11 resurrected an ancient question in his thinking: “How could a good God allow us to suffer such incredible evil?”
In recent years our American culture’s growing emptiness motivated many to renew their search for God. That is good. Many began that search with seriously distorted views of God. That is bad. Why? Seriously distorted views of God produce flawed expectations. Failed expectations attack faith. Consider some insights.
Insight # 1: In many somewheres on earth, horrible evils of great magnitude occur daily. The AIDS epidemic in some African nations daily results in unbelievable acts. Atrocities in nations torn by warring factions produce acts of horrible violence we never experience. The realities surrounding starvation in some nations exceed our comprehension. Injustices within some South American nations add layers of intolerable misery on top of intolerable misery. Americans may not be accustomed to acts of great evil, but much of the world is. For many people, faith in God must exist as great acts of evil occur.
Insight # 2: Too many American Christians are prey to a spiritual predator. Too many hold a uniquely American definition of salvation. Our definition produces a uniquely American view of God. While we pay verbal tribute to eternal aspects of salvation, our salvation expectations focus on “life now.” Salvation expectations commonly include these: no “untimely” physical death in my family; no catastrophic illness in my family; no poverty; steady lifestyle improvement; constant upgrades in my opportunities; and achieving my basic “this life” goals. We resent public appeals to a “health and wealth” gospel, but often we cling to a “health and wealth” gospel privately.
Insight # 3: Too many American Christians believe they have the divine right to a physically desirable “good life.” Physical life is not a journey through this physical world to a home in God’s world. Physical life is the destination. Since “we only live once” we must make physical life enjoyable. A sobering statement: “Child, remember that during your life you received your good things …” (Luke 16:25).
Perhaps great acts of evil terrify us because we distort God and redefine salvation.
Posted by David on February 24, 2002 under Bulletin Articles
Life in our world without rearview mirrors or binoculars at the best would be awkward. At the worst, it would be disastrous. Daily we depend on rearview mirrors. Life radically would change if no vehicle had a rearview mirror! Many of us would be dead if there were no rearview mirrors! Binoculars radically alter our world daily. You may not own a pair, but every day of your life is blessed because binoculars were used that day.
Spiritual disaster strikes when Christians fail to use both rearview mirrors and binoculars. With rearview mirrors we see what is behind. We see the roots of the American restoration movement. Keep looking. We see Jesus’ death and resurrection. Keep looking. We see Jesus’ ministry. Keep looking. We see Israel’s failures. Keep looking. We see Israel’s formation. Keep looking. We see Abraham receive God’s expression of intent. Keep looking. We see God forming life from nothing. In our rearview mirrors, it is absolutely necessary to see all of that (and more!).
With binoculars, we see immediately ahead. Binoculars help us see what is happening right now more clearly. They do not show us the future, or what has not yet happened. They show what is occurring right now more clearly. They help us clearly identify what might be unnoticed. They diminish surprises and aid preparation.
With spiritual binoculars we see more clearly the moral impact of September 11, 2001. We see more clearly the ethical and moral impact of Enron. We see more clearly the destructiveness of the global AIDS epidemic. We see more clearly the impact of so many things: the winter drought occurring in many states; the changing weather patterns of our altered climate; the suffering caused through economic decline; the conflict between the need for security and the loss of privacy; choices forced by priorities globally, nationally, statewide, citywide, and within families; and on and on.
One image we must see in every scene in our spiritual rearview mirrors or binoculars is God. Not the God we reshape and mold to fit our reasoned conclusions or current lifestyles. Not the God who gives us the security we demand in the forms we desire. Not the God who “takes care of us” while He forgets the rest of the world. Not the God who knows we are the righteous because we told Him so.
Then what must we see? The God who created life; who made promises to Abraham; who formed Israel; who refused to desert that nation when they failed; who gave the world Jesus; who made salvation available to all. We must see the sovereign God as He is — and more clearly! As we see Him, we must realize He is not responsible for our world’s wickedness, but for His world’s righteousness.
