A Cheerleader
I once heard a story about a church that was looking for a pastor. When asked what they were looking for, the chairman of the search committee said that they only had two criteria. They did not want a pastor who had studied Greek, and they did not want a pastor who had ever been to the Holy Land.
They had heard way too many explanations about the Greek in the New Testament, and way too many stories about the Holy Land. They were tired of it. But seriously, those two criteria would not be the best way to choose a pastor.
It is easy for any pastor (or any Sunday School teacher) to use too many stories or illustrations from an area they enjoy. I could talk about sports for hours, and sometimes I probably do. I could talk about my family longer than most people would want to listen. The fact is that we all have things that interest us more than they do others.
The differences we have can cause division. Perhaps you are not interested in hearing another story from me about something that deeply matters to me. And it may be that you think less of me because of what I deem important. But I think about this.
Do you suppose that God made us different, with different talents and interests, for a purpose? Do you think that might be what Paul had in mind when he spoke of the variety of spiritual gifts that he mentioned in 1 Corinthians? I do.
One thing I believe about the church is this. God brings different people with different gifts together so that working together they might accomplish more. We need people from every walk of life to cooperate, and to encourage one another in using those gifts and talents that God has given to us.
What would happen if we became each other’s biggest cheerleaders instead of being jealous or overly protective of our own turf? Do you think we could make a greater impact in our church…in our communities? I think so, too.
I don’t know what your gifts are. But I am confident of this. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ there is something you can do to strengthen your church, to help others, and to honor God. Discover your gift (or gifts). Use what God has given you to bless others and to worship Him.
Gifts
This column is not intended for true confessions, but I have one to make to you. I am artistically challenged. I can’t draw. I can’t paint. I don’t work well with clay. I’ve never considered the possibility of sculpting. To be honest, I don’t even take very good pictures.
I admit to you that there are times when the green-eyed monster rears its ugly head when I see the talents of others. I am amazed at the beauty of a painted portrait. When I see creative artwork I wonder why I can’t do something like that.
Perhaps you feel that same way when you hear someone sing or play an instrument. Maybe you are jealous of someone who can swim or run faster than you can. Or maybe you would simply like to be able to bake a delicious pie.
Whatever it may be, we all have something we wish we could do. Some are gifted cooks while others have a green thumb in the garden. Some sing like beautiful songbirds while others paint. And you may wonder if you have any gift to offer at all.
The Bible makes it clear that God gives gifts to all of His children. Paul describes this for us in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. There are many gifts, and I am of the opinion that the lists in the Bible are representative rather than exhaustive. Each believer has at least one of these gifts. Therefore you cannot honestly say that you have no gifts.
Some gifts are used more publicly than others. But make no mistake about it. Every gift matters.
I think if I could emphasize just one biblical truth to Christians and churches this might be it. You are gifted, and your gift is important. You can use it to bless others. You should not envy what others have and do, for yours is an essential part of the church, too.
When you and I use the gifts God has given to us, the church is blessed and built. And we make a powerful impact on the world around us. I encourage you to do two things. First, discover your gift, or gifts and practice using them. And then, rejoice as others do the same. As we turn away from jealousy, and cheer each other on, the church will grow and God will be glorified.
Father's Day
This Sunday is Father’s Day. As holidays go, it is a bit underrated. Much more money and effort is spent in celebrating Mother’s Day, and there is nothing wrong with that. Still, we need to see the importance of this day.
Billy Sunday, the baseball player turned evangelist once said, “Give a child a good mother, and any old stick will do for a father.” On the other hand, Billy Graham said, “I believe that fathers may be the most underrated and unappreciated persons living today.”
I know that I am grateful to have grown up in the home of a Christian man. My dad taught me all of the things a dad should teach his son. I have learned from him how to throw and hit a ball, how to tie a hook on a line, how to drive a stick shift, and even how to memorize long passages of writing.
But there are many other things he taught me that are even more valuable, and some came quite late in life. I was 46 when my mom got sick, and I watched my dad keep his wedding vows to her, caring for her to the very end. I’ve watched his interaction with grandchildren, and now great grandchildren, and I have a better plan for how to love my own.
He continues to teach me today. He is showing me how to grow old, and then to die gracefully. He has been on hospice care for longer than expected, and we know the day is coming, but until it does he continues to live. He recently told me that he was enjoying life, though it is filled with pain and a dependence on others that is difficult for him.
I have two fathers, one earthly, and one heavenly, who have given me more than I deserve, and for that I am grateful. I hope that, in some small ways, I can live up to the standards that have been placed before me.
The Original Message
Billy Graham was perhaps the most influential preacher in the 20th century. I’m not sure how many people heard him preach, but it was well into the millions. Dr. Graham’s pet phrase was, “The Bible says…” He understood that the authority for his message was the Word of God revealed in Scripture.
Billy Graham had his critics. There were the fundamentalists who disagreed with his willingness to work with all churches. They were dissatisfied with his failure to separate himself from those who did not believe everything he believed.
Those on the other end of the spectrum were dismayed that Dr. Graham believed the Bible. One liberal theologian said, “I fear that Billy Graham has set back Christianity some 100 years.”
Of course, the media went to Dr. Graham with this report. His response was classic. “I’m sorry to hear that. It was my intent to set it back some 2000 years.”
As Christians and churches we do want to follow the original teachings of Jesus. We want to live out first century Christianity. But how do we do that? Some argue for the “old hymns,” forgetting that many of the old hymns were written in the 1800’s. They are indeed old, but they do not go back to the days of Jesus. Some say that we should have only the traditional musical instruments like the organ and piano, again forgetting that neither Peter nor Paul ever saw either one.
The problem with all of these ideas is that we are not really at the heart of true Christianity. The methods and music we use change. They always have. The songs we sang in the 1970’s were not the songs they sang in the 1600’s.
But the message of Christ and His Gospel are still the same. God became flesh and dwelt in our midst. Jesus lived a perfect sinless life, and died in our place as a sacrifice for our sins. He was raised from the dead, and He will come again at the proper time to complete what He started. It is all quite simple, and yet it is all quite radical. Still we trust Him to do what He promised. That is our only hope.
The Troubles I've Seen
You may have noticed, but if not, I’m going to let you in on a secret. Life is hard. Oh, there are many good times. And I am convinced of this. Most of us have far more reasons to give thanks than to complain. Nevertheless, life is hard.
I’ve faced my share of hard times. When we first married, Tina and I were poor. And I don’t mean that we didn’t have the money to eat at fine restaurants in New Orleans when going to school there. No, I mean that we ate mac and cheese from a box, and pork and beans from the can as our main course more than once. Oh, and I did everything but stand on top of the clothes to get them in the washer because I only had two quarters; one for washing and one for drying.
Then we discovered that we could not conceive children. And then, far too early my mother died. And then, to top it off, we stood by his bedside in Charleston, South Carolina as our son fought for his life, and when he did live we had to inform him that he would never walk again.
And then last week my sister and I took our dad to an assisted living home where he will likely live out his days. He has lived with her for two years, having been told then that he had only six months to live. His care is more than she and her husband can do. It was Dad’s idea, but still it was not an easy thing to do.
I’ve been asked, “How and why do you keep trusting in God when He has let you go through so much?” My response? How could I go through those things without the Lord by my side?
No, God has been good to me. With Job I can say, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” And also with Job I say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”
You see, our God has been through troubles and toils Himself .He has shown us how to face adversity. And He has promised to be by our sides all the way home.
I don’t relish trials. I wish life was easier. But I trust the Lord, for He has been good to me. I pray that you will trust Him, too.
How Can I Know God's Will?
I was 17 years old, nearing the end of my senior year in high school, when I came to believe God was calling me to become a pastor. Since then I have been asked often, “How did you know that God was calling you?” The funny thing is, prior to making this commitment, I asked the same question of several pastors.
It is a question that begs an answer. How can I know God’s will for my life?
There are some who say this question cannot be answered. They say God is not that interested in the lives of individuals, so we should not bother Him with such questions. Still others say that seeking a specific will of God for myself is rather narcissistic. God’s will for all of us is to obey Him, and then to do what we want to do. As long as we are seeking to obey Him, we cannot go wrong.
I think the truth of knowing God’s will is a bit more complicated than that. Still, there are parts that are simple. I am convinced that the first step is to obey what He has told us in Scripture. We live in a time when many seek to redefine what is right and wrong. The Lord has given us instruction in the Bible, and we do well to do what it says.
A second step is to seek good counsel. This can be from our parents, our spouses, a pastor, or a trusted friend. But it is true that wisdom is found in counsel. This is one role the church can play. A Sunday School teacher or small group leader can guide us in the right way. Certainly we should seek the advice of others.
Obviously we need to pray and read the Bible as we seek the Lord’s direction. He is not in the business of leading us astray. He wants us to follow Him.
Finally, we need to make a decision, based on the best information we can gather, and go with it. Jesus was a man of action, and we need never be paralyzed by fear when it comes to doing God’s will.
I am confident I heard correctly from the Lord 44 years ago this month. I have served as a pastor for almost 39 years now, and the Lord has been so good to me. I trust you can discover and do His will in your life. It is the best road for peace and happiness you can find.
Jobs
I would like to introduce you to a rather obscure New Testament character. His name was Tychicus. He’s mentioned five times overall, four of them in the letters of Paul. We learn in Acts 20:4 that he was from Asia Minor, and that he travelled with Paul on the third missionary journey.
At some point Paul sent Tychicus to Colossae (Colossians 4:7-9) and to Ephesus (Ephesians 4:7-9), and there is at least some evidence that he was the one to deliver those two letters on Paul’s behalf. The only other times we read his name are in 2 Timothy and Titus, each time when he was sent as a messenger by Paul.
Why would I bring this man to your attention? At best we can tell he never did anything of great note. He was not called a preacher. In fact, it may be that the most important thing that he ever did was to deliver Paul’s letters to the churches. Not a big deal, right?
And yet, what if Tychicus had failed in his job? What if he had not taken it seriously enough? What if he had been distracted? The Ephesian and Colossian letters are of such great value to us today. They are significant parts of the Word of God. Perhaps God would have used other methods to make sure they were included in the Scriptures.
But the good news is that Tychicus did his job. He did not complain that it was a menial task. He faithfully did what he was asked to do.
Can I just say this? We need more people who are willing to serve in the manner that Tychicus served in our churches today. The fact is that there are no small jobs in the kingdom of God. Whatever God calls you to do is your mission. He will gift you and prepare you for the task.
The Bible is clear on this. Every believer is to be a servant of the Lord, and most often this means some type of service within a local church. I’m praying that you will find the place and the job for which God made you, and that you will boldly and confidently serve Him as He leads.
Showers and Storms
“April showers bring May flowers.” We’ve all heard it. And we will now see that it is indeed true. The rains of April are having their desired impact on our gardens and our grass. Greener. Brighter. And in some cases, moving quickly to produce food for us.
Isn’t it funny that we often complain about the rain? Rain disturbs our picnics, our beach outings, our golf games, and our yard work. We want it to rain, but ideally it would only rain at night. Wouldn’t it be great if it only rained while we were sleeping? Then we could enjoy the sunshiny days, and still have well-watered lawns and gardens.
The truth is that we need the rain. Without it we would not survive. The rain can be dangerous. It can be frustrating. But it is life giving. It is essential.
And so the storms of life can slow us down, and even bring us to a complete stop. We do not enjoy these storms. We would often do anything to avoid them. And yet those storms make us stronger. Those storms can even bring life.
I have heard it said that there are only three kinds of people. Those in the midst of a storm. Those just coming out of a storm. Or those about to enter a storm. That may not sound like good news to you. But as the country song tells us, “Some of God’s greatest blessings are unanswered prayers.”
I don’t know where you are this day, but I want to remind you of this. God never leaves us to weather the storms alone. Another song reminds us, “In the eye of the storm, He remains in control.” We can trust the Lord. He is faithful. He is trustworthy. He is good, even in the rain.
Mother's Day
Mother’s Day is upon us. This coming Sunday we will celebrate motherhood all across this great country. Our church will recognize the mothers present with a small gift, and we will give thanks. I will seek to do something special for both my wife and my daughter-in-law. We will either eat out at the place of their choice, or I will seek to show off my grilling skills.
Having said that, I know that Mother’s Day can be difficult for some. There are those women who, for a variety of reasons, never became mothers. This day reminds them of the pain and hurt they experience all year long. There are also those who had mothers who did not love and serve their children in the way we would expect. Some mothers have simply failed.
And then there are those in the same boat as I am. We’ve lost our moms. It’s been just over 16 years since my mom succumbed to cancer. I struggled for such a long time in dealing with that. I probably hid it well from most people, but my grief changed me greatly, and not in a good way.
I was blessed to have a mother who loved my sister and me, who was faithful to my dad, who was a hard worker, and who served the Lord. She was an athlete with a competitive spirit, and she passed that along to the next generation. I even remember the time she refused to let my oldest son win a board game, because she thought he needed to learn how to lose with grace. He was getting a bit “uppity,” to use her terminology, and a lesson needed to be taught.
I miss her, even today. But I have hope for the future. As a Christ-follower I am counting on the promises made in the Bible. God has said that those who know Him by faith will be raised from the dead, just as Jesus was. Without the resurrection the Christian faith is pointless.
I hope you have this same hope. It is not merely wishful thinking. It is trust in the One who created us and who sustains us day by day. He is more powerful than even death. He will keep His promises. We can trust Him.
Lessons from my dad
Later this week my dad will turn 84. That is an amazing thing. Some of you are older than 84, and may wonder why I say that. Well, 23 months ago my dad was placed under hospice care and given six months to live. He had been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma seven months prior to that, and after struggling with reactions to the treatment had told the doctor he was done with it.
Dad has many limitations. He can’t walk at all due to a broken foot that will never heal. He has grown weaker, and needs assistance for many things. But in other ways he is doing well. I spent time with him earlier this month, and we watched Braves’ games, the first two rounds of the Masters, and “Swamp People” together. I also watched as he slept much of the day.
I am reminded of a couple of things as I think of what has happened with dad over the last two years. First, as Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, “Man knows not his time.” The doctor was very confident that dad could not live much past Christmas of 2019 without further treatment. At this time we have some hope that dad could enjoy another Christmas.
My second lesson is this. Be grateful. For every moment and every day that we are able to spend together, for every phone call we enjoy, and for every laugh and every tear, give thanks.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “In everything give thanks.” Notice he did not say, “For everything…” but “in everything.” That means, even in the midst of a pandemic, you can give thanks. When things are going well, and when life is hard, give thanks. God is good. He can be trusted. Give thanks
God's Creation
From my front porch I can watch a small pond where several different kinds of birds have gathered. We have seen Canadian geese, egrets, blue herons, and a couple whose identities I do not yet know.
From the back deck I view a wooded area where we have seen deer and turkeys, along with several songbirds that are now gathering around the feeders I put there. Of course, a little beagle and Pomeranian do their best to keep me safe by barking and running after the squirrels.
I read in the Scriptures, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof…” I am reminded that God is both the creator and the sustainer of all that is. He made it, and according to His words in Genesis 1, He is pleased with it. More than once, having spoken something into existence, the Lord said, “Behold, it is good.”
Later in Genesis God created Adam and Eve, and the words He spoke there astound us. When God looked at the first human beings He said, “Behold, it is very good.” Notice that small word, “very.”
This is controversial to some today, but I am confident that it is true. Human beings are the crowning jewel of God’s creation. We are of greater value to Him than the animals, the plants, the stars, or the planets. Now, that does not give us license to spoil God’s creation. He gave us charge over it to care for it, to cultivate it, and to use its resources for our own good.
The value of human life is great. In fact, God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us. I pray that we will look at each other and that we will learn to love as God does. We are to love Him. We are to love each other. God grant that it would be so.
Planting
I told you a couple of weeks ago that we have moved into our home, and we are now truly settling into place. Folks have asked if we have everything in place, and I have responded, “Well, if Tina would just work a little harder we probably would.” I’m probably fortunate that Tina has a good sense of humor.
Anyway, we are getting there. For the most part Tina is decorating the inside, and I’m handling the landscaping. I’ve laid sod, planted azaleas, camellias, boxwoods, lantana, and several shrubs for which I do not even know the name. I’ve spread more bales of pine straw than I care to consider. And I’ve drug hoses and sprinklers around to make sure that everything gets watered.
Finally, I’ve prayed, and I’ve given thanks. The truth is that I have worked very hard in the yard. I’ve tried to follow proper methods for planting and mulching. But I’ve also remembered this. I can do all of these things correctly, but I cannot make anything grow. I am fully dependent on the Lord for His grace.
To the Corinthian church Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” He was speaking of the growth of churches, but the principle is the same. Both in the church, and in the yard, I have work to do. I need to be faithful to do my part. But only God can give the growth. Only God can change lives.
We are stewards for the Lord, whether in the church or the yard. God could have done it all without us. But He allows us to participate in His work. And He makes this one request. As Paul said to the Corinthians, “It is required of stewards to be found faithful.” May we be faithful as we serve the Lord.
"Jesus is Alive!"
It was sixteen years ago today. I slept in a chair, though fitfully, that night, waking several times to see if she was still with us. My mom had been diagnosed nine months earlier with a primary brain tumor, and on Monday I was advised to come home. I caught a plane from Detroit to Atlanta, and it was my second night there. We knew she could not last much longer.
I awoke around 7 a.m., and her breathing was extremely shallow and labored. And then, quietly and peacefully, it just stopped. I held her hand, I cried, and I prayed. A short time later my dad emerged from his bedroom and I simply whispered, “It’s over.”
In my years as a pastor I’ve been in the room several times as people have taken their last breaths. Hospital ICU’s, hospice houses, and their own homes. But this was my mother. I cannot explain the full gamut of emotions I felt that day. I didn’t cry as much then as I had when I first heard the diagnosis. Still, the pain was real.
Two days later I stood before Mom’s church, and our family and friends, and preached the glorious news that because Jesus is alive, we can live forever. We will be reunited with loved ones. We will see the Lord.
That is the truest and fullest meaning of Easter. This past Sunday our churches were fuller than normal, some of us attended sunrise services in the dark and the cold, and we sang and celebrated that Jesus is alive. And we know it is true.
All of Christianity rises or falls on the resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul said, “If Christ be not raised, you are dead in your trespasses and sins.” And then he declared, “But indeed, Christ is alive!”
And because He is alive, we can live forever. I challenge you to live in the light and the glory of this truth. Jesus is alive! Jesus is alive! Indeed, I will say it one more time. Jesus is alive!
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
It’s Holy Week. That’s not something that Baptists emphasize as much as other Christians do, but we recognize it for what it is.
Some 2000 years ago, in the early part of this week Jesus cleansed the Temple, clearing out those who were cheating others for their own profit. He ate a final meal with His disciples and took them with Him to a garden to pray.
It was in that garden that He was arrested, and by Friday of that week He was hanging on a cross. It seems odd that we call Friday of this week, “Good,” and yet we understand that the death of Jesus was for our good. He died for our sins, and that is good.
But all Christians would agree with this sentiment. The most important event in all of human history took place early on the first day of the next week. Jesus had died on the cross, and His body was placed in a borrowed tomb. His body lay there all day Saturday and into the next morning.
But sometime early on Sunday morning, Jesus walked out of the grave alive! I’ve been asked more than once if I truly believe that. Let me assure you that I do. There is nothing more important than this one thing. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then you are still dead in your trespasses and sins.” He also said that we are guilty of lying about God, and that we are the most miserable of all men if the Lord is not alive.
A little boy once described faith as, “believing in something you know isn’t true.” He could not have been more wrong. Faith is believing that something is true even when you cannot see the whole picture. Still, it is trusting that God has been true, and that He can be trusted at all times.
This Sunday, in churches around the world it will be said. “Jesus is risen. He is alive.” And because this is true, we all have hope for the future. You can live forever, too, because Jesus is alive!
New Home
Well, we are moved in. Or perhaps it would be better stated that we have moved all of our stuff. The idea of moving in would seem to indicate that we have everything where we need and want it to be, and that we are settled as we want to be. And boy is that far from the truth!
Still, we are in our new home. We bought property last January, agreed to terms with a contractor in April, broke ground in May, and have since that time watched as a house has been constructed just for us. Now we are eating and sleeping there. I’ve spilled my first drink in the kitchen. It’s home.
There are still things to do to complete the place. I am doing most of my own landscaping, and I have several more trees and shrubs to plant. We will likely move furniture around a couple of times. And I’m sure there will be something we find that needs to be completed.
But as I said earlier. It’s home.
Still, here’s something to ponder. If we live in that house for five years (and oh how I pray that this will be my last earthly home), we will change something. We will replace carpeting, paint a wall, or do some other kind of renovation. It’s inevitable. The simple truth is that no home is ever fully completed.
In the same way, my life requires adjustments and changes on a regular basis. In this life I will never fully be the man God created me to be. And yet I count on His promise. “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it at the day of Christ Jesus.”
There are two things that stand out in that verse. First, God will complete in you and me what He has started. And second, I don’t have to do. It is His work.
I’m glad to be in my new home. It is truly a beautiful place. It’s comfortable. It’s where we belong…right now.
But there is something far better for the follower of Jesus, more beautiful and comfortable, and made just for us. And we can trust the Lord to take us there when the time comes. He is faithful. He is true. You can be sure.
Heroes
Recently I read biographies of two preachers. David Ring is an evangelist who was born with cerebral palsy. He lost his mother and father before he finished school. He was clearly disadvantaged. But God has used him in powerful ways. I’ve heard him preach. He challenges his listeners who make excuses with his classic line. “I have cerebral palsy. What’s your problem?’
The other book was about Erwin Lutzer, long-time pastor of Moody Church in Chicago. He was born to a poor farming family in Canada. His parents were of German descent, immigrants from the Ukraine. They were married for 77 years before his father died at age 106.
Among other biographies on my shelf are those about Charles Colson, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, Ronald Reagan, Christopher Reeves, and Billy Graham. And then there is Pete Maravich.
I idolized Pistol Pete. In high school, I wore my hair like his, cut the elastic out of my socks so they would droop around my shoes, and tried to play the game with flair. More than once I sent behind the back passes to my teammates, some of which landed in the laps of cheerleaders or fans in the first row. I tried to avoid eye contact with the coach when that happened.
In reading about Maravich I learned something that I did not know. He was miserable throughout most of his pro career. He did not enjoy basketball. He did not enjoy the money or the fame. He became addicted to alcohol and drugs.
Later in life he came to faith in Jesus Christ, and his life was changed. Until that time, he had no real hope for the future. Think about it. I was jealous of someone who really did not have as good a life as I did. I know that the treasures of this world do not suffice. There is a God-shaped hole within each of us, and we are never satisfied until it is filled with God.
We can learn from the lives of others. But we need to be careful to remember that all of our heroes are fallen. There is only one who has lived a perfect life, and we are called to worship and serve Him. His name is Jesus. I pray that you know Him.
Stability
As I sit here at my desk, the radio plays softly in the background. Actually, I listen to the radio online through my tablet. Can you imagine if I had spoken those words to my grandparents? In their day “online” was where clothes were hung to dry. You “did your lessons” by writing on a tablet (it was paper, just in case you didn’t get that).
I am overwhelmed by the changes that have taken place in my lifetime, especially in the area of electronics. I remember the joy when we got our first color television. I’ve been through long-play albums, eight-track tapes, cassettes, compact discs, and I-pods.
I have more luxuries and features in my car than we used to have in our homes. My phone is a more powerful computer than the first one I ever saw at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. The “computer room” was indeed a room filled with one computer.
The whole situation is dizzying. Life moves so fast, and is so complex, that one could give up. I know that I feel the need for some kind of stability.
I am grateful for my wife of 41 years. Knowing that I can count on her, that I can trust her, means more than I can express. I am thankful to be the pastor of Shellman Bluff Baptist. The love they give has been such a joy.
But the one constant that means the most to me is that God is with me. When everything around me is in flux, I remember this. According to Scripture he is, “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” That simply means that He is faithful. We can count on Him.
In Exodus 3, God revealed His name to Moses. “I am who I am” My Hebrew professor said that phrase could be translated, “I will continue to be what I have always been.” Another reminder of the trustworthy nature of God.
I know that the world is changing at warp speed, and there is nothing I can do to stop that. But I know that there is one constant in whom I can trust and rest. That gives me peace and hope, both for today, and for the future.
She's Gone
She’s gone. Hall and Oates sang a song by that name in the 70’s but I have something else in mind. My mother-in-law passed away last week at the age of 96. She had lived with us for the last 7 ½ years. Her mother had actually lived to the age of 101, so her longevity was not surprising to us.
I am aware that “mother-in-law” jokes are a dime a dozen. I have none to tell. Chris and I got along very well. In fact, we shared a couple of inside jokes that we didn’t share with her daughters.
Life is so difficult to understand. My mother died at the age of 67. So Chris had almost 30 more years on this earth. Why is that the case? We simply do not know. The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote, “Man knows not his days,” a simple reminder that we do not know the length of our own lives. It is not in our hands to know the how or the timing of our death.
So, what do we do? In Psalm 90:12 we read, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” In other words, live each day so as to honor the Lord and to seek to know Him better.
As a Christian I have hope for the future beyond this world. I believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, and because He was, all who trust in Him will do the same. I believe that I will see Chris again one day, along with my own mom. My faith is based on the truth of Jesus’ resurrection and the promises of God.
Do you have that same hope? I pray that you do. The resurrection is the greatest hope of the believer. God is going to finish the work He started in you. You can count on it.
"Choose You This Day"
Moving day is quickly approaching for the Butlers. We began construction of our new home last summer, and the finishing touches are being applied. This is the first time that we have overseen the work of building a new home in this way.
We previously built a home in a subdivision in Bryan County, but on that occasion the contractor owned the lot, and the general design of the house was similar to all of the other homes. We were allowed to pick siding and brick color, carpet color, countertops, and a few other things. But others made many of those decisions..
For our new home we bought the lot, had it cleared, and then we had the plans drawn. Since then we have chosen everything from cabinet and door styles, to paint colors, and even the color and the design of the drawer pulls. Sink styles, faucets, ceiling fans, light fixtures, and I could go on for some time. I finally got to the point where I said to my wife, “You choose. I just don’t care.”
And I promise you this. I will not walk into the home and say to her, “I really don’t like the design on that cabinet knob.” Seriously. I will not do it.
There are some choices that we each need to make. We cannot leave them up to others. We might ask for assistance and advice. But in the end, you must do the choosing, because you alone must live with the consequences.
Near the end of his book, as he challenged the people whom he had led for several years, Joshua said, “Choose you this day whom you will serve.” He then offered several choices for his hearers, but declared boldly and proudly, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Years ago I made that same choice, and I must tell you this. The Lord has never let me down. I challenge you to think seriously about whom you will serve. You have many choices, but you will serve someone or something. Why not serve the Lord? He loves you and has your best interest in mind. I assure you of this. I’m going to serve Him for as long as He allows.
Remember . . .
I would like to apologize to both of my readers (I hope that is a joke) for my absence from these pages last week. Seems that I managed to forget that the time had come to write another article. And so the job simply was not done.
You know, we are all prone to forgetfulness from time to time. Sometimes that is not such a big deal. I am disappointed in myself that I skipped a week of sharing with you, but the world will not come to an end as a result.
Other things need to be remembered or there could be dire consequences. I still find the following hard to believe. If I open the back door of my truck before getting in and cranking it, when I park it has a feature where a bell dings and the dashboard flashes a message to me to check the back seat for “important objects.” Oh, like my granddaughter. As if I would forget she is riding with me. Except, based on this message it would seem that has happened before…with tragic results.
The word “remember” is used in a fascinating way in the Bible. Almost always it means, “remember, not just in recalling, but by doing something.” Several times in his book Nehemiah prayed, “Remember me.” He was asking that God act in such a way as to help him.
And in Ecclesiastes Solomon offered us this advice. “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” Again, that means more than to admit that God exists. It means to place your life in His hands and to trust in Him.
Finally, Jesus, at the Last Supper, told His disciples, “Do this in remembrance of me.” The fact is that we need to remember the Lord, and seek to follow Him. When we do, we can trust Him to remember us, no matter the circumstances.
Now, if I could just find my keys.