Just Thinking . . .

What God Has Brought Together . . .

2012-01-29T15:37:00.000-07:00

Since the middle of October I have been preaching through Jesus' Sermon On the Mount (Matthew 5-7). This morning, our study brought us to Matthew 5.31-32, Jesus' statement on divorce and remarriage. I have been somewhat apprehensive about approaching this text, because of the trajectory my life has taken over the past 5 years. I did put a sermon together and preached it this morning. I humbly submit it to you, here, in written form. I pray that you will find these words a blessing. I would enjoy your comments and the wisdom you bring to this hard subject.

Did you read the Sermon On the Mount this week? This morning, we continue our study of this important part of the Bible. We come to a very difficult subject and one that is deeply personal to many of us here in this room.

But, first a little lightheartedness: A man visits a lawyer to seek a divorce. The lawyer asked, “Do you have any Grounds?” The man replied: “About three acres.” The lawyer tried again, “No, I mean do you have a Grudge?” The man answered, “No, but we have a carport.” The lawyer made one last effort: “Are you really sure you want a divorce?” The client replied, “No, I don’t, but my wife does. She says we can’t communicate!”

That’s about as humorous as the subject before us this morning gets.

DIVORCE. A scary word. A word that we’d rather not hear. A word that represents much pain and heartache, distress . . . even shame.Everyone of us here today has been affected by the sorrow of failed marriages. I have experienced divorce firsthand . . . my first marriage failed . . . many of you have walked in those same shoes . . . some of you have had children that have suffered divorce . . . some of you have experienced the divorce of your parents.

In 1999, thirteen years ago!, a study showed that 25% of adults in the United States have had a marriage end in divorce . . . one out of four adults in this country! Did you know that among those who call themselves “born-again” Christians the percentage of divorced adults is 27% . . . two percentage points HIGHER than the public at large.

Divorce is not merely “of the world” . . . it’s in the church, as well . . . indeed I would say that at least a third of the adults in this room today have been divorced, including myself.

So, what does Jesus teach about divorce? He addresses the subject in the Sermon On the Mount.

In Matthew 5.31-32, Jesus says, “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.’ But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Do you see the pattern? The pattern that Jesus has repeatedly employed in this section of His Sermon On the Mount?Notice, Jesus says, “It was also said,” similar to the refrain from earlier verses, “You have heard that it was said.” And that is followed by, “But I tell You” (as we also see in vv. 21 and 27). This pattern will again be employed in vv. 33, 38, and 43.

What Jesus is doing is taking portions of the Law (the writings of Moses) and reciting them to His audience as their teachers (the Pharisees and scribes) were teaching them during that time. And He contrasts those teachings with proper applications of them for His disciples to employ in their lives.

Remember, the Pharisees, and those like them, emphasized the letter of the law . . . their’s was a religion of rule-keeping . . . crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s. And they sought ways to skirt around God’s laws . . . to do JUST what was required and nothing more.But, Jesus is calling for a deeper obedience . . . He says that our righteousness must “surpass” that of the scribes and Pharisees. It’s not a matter of mere rule keeping, but a desire from the heart to BE the person God wants me to be. Jesus is emphasizing the spirit of the law over the letter of the law.And, so, He takes a portion of the Law that had been misapplied, or glossed over, and says let Me tell you what this principle truly means in the lives of My disciples.

And, so, Jesus says, “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.’” He is referring to something Moses said in Deuteronomy 24.

Deuteronomy 24.1-4a: Moses said, “If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds something improper about her, he may write her a divorce certificate, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. If after leaving his house she goes and becomes another man’s wife, and the second man hates her, writes her a divorce certificate, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house or if he dies, the first husband who sent her away may not marry her again after she has been defiled, because that would be detestable to the Lord.”

Notice, Moses neither encourages or commands divorce. He basically presents one long conditional sentence . . . saying that if this set of conditions occurs, then this is how the matter should be handled.Moses’ interest in the matter is not so much focused on “divorce” as it is on the treatment of the woman affected by the divorce.

As Moses is outlining this instruction, there was great disparity between men and women. A husband was the unquestioned master of the house and of marriage. If he chose to dismiss his wife, SHE had little recourse. He could throw her out . . . and, out on her own, she would be in a very precarious situation . . . especially if she sought to remarry. She could be accused of adultery for remarrying, and would have little ability to prove otherwise.And, in Moses’ day, the penalty for adultery was not merely the inability to remarry . . . BUT it was death . . . if you were guilty of adultery, you were to be stoned.

So, Moses says that the husband who divorced his wife MUST give her documentation, a “certificate of divorce,” declaring her purity. Moses also guards against further manipulation of the woman by saying that her first husband cannot then subsequently remarry her, if she has been divorced by another man. In effect, Moses is saying that you can’t go in and out of marriage at a whim.

People in Jesus’ day, notably the Pharisees, were using this instruction from Moses to JUSTIFY divorce. Thus, Jesus says, “You have heard it said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.’”

In fact, as Jesus sat on the hillside near the Sea of Galilee and delivered His Sermon On the Mount, a rather hotly-debated controversy was being fought between two factions of Pharisees over Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 24. It was a debate that broiled for many decades. The battle hinged on Moses’ words, “she becomes displeasing to him,” and “he finds something improper about her.”

On one side of the issue was the school of Rabbi Shammai, who took the conservative line. He and his followers taught that Moses allowed for divorce, but only because some “grave marital offense” had been committed. Shammai argued that this offense was an act of “absolute indecency”—basically, an act of infidelity . . . not necessarily limited to promiscuity, but a “major” offense.

On the other side of the issue was the school of Rabbi Hillel, who adopted a much more lax position . . . and, the more widely-accepted view during Jesus’ day. Hillel and his followers argued that Moses gave permission to a husband to divorce his wife for any action of hers that upset him. For instance, Hillel argued that a man could divorce his wife if she spoiled his dinner by adding too much salt, or if she were seen in public with her head uncovered, or if she talked to other men on the street, or if she spoke disrespectfully to her husband’s parents, or if she became “plain-looking” compared with other women who seemed more beautiful in her husband’s eyes. These are laughable, but they were viewed as legitimate reasons for divorce in Jesus’ day.

The situation isn’t much different today, is it? Don’t people still divorce for just about any and every reason imaginable? A man in Hazard, Kentucky divorced his wife because she “beat him whenever he removed onions from his hamburger without asking for permission.” A deaf man in Bennettsville, South Carolina filed for divorce because his wife “was always nagging him in sign language.” A woman in Canon City, Colorado divorced her husband because he forced her to “duck under the dashboard whenever they drove past his former girlfriend’s house.” And a woman in Hardwick, Georgia divorced her husband on the grounds that he “stayed home too much and was much too affectionate.” These are actual statements made by plaintiffs seeking divorces.Did you know that every state in our union except South Dakota has some sort of law in place allowing for what is commonly called “no fault divorce”? It essentially means that either spouse in a marriage can file and petition for divorce for any and all reasons, or no reason at all.

This was essentially the view of the School of Rabbi Hillel . . . although it was a prerogative of only the husband . . . the wife had no legal standing to divorce her husband. She was at his mercy . . . or lack thereof!

Jesus is called into this debate between the schools of Shammai and Hillel. In Matthew 19 we have recorded an exchange that took place between Jesus and some Pharisees.

Matthew 19.3: “Some Pharisees approached Jesus to test Him. They asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on any grounds?’”

In other words, they are asking, “Which Rabbi do you side with, Shammai or Hillel?” They might as well have been asking Jesus, “Are you a conservative or a liberal on the matter of divorce?”

Jesus responds in vv. 4-6: He said, “Haven’t you read that He who created them in the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate.”

Jesus’ answer must have surprised the Pharisees. Undoubtedly, they expected Him to cite Moses in Deuteronomy, but He doesn’t . . . Jesus goes all the way back to the beginning . . . to the creation of man . . . and in doing so, stresses the permanence of marriage.

Jesus says that God’s ultimate plan, the ideal, is that marriage: (1) is between one man and one woman; (2) is for life; and (3) is an institution created by God.

The Pharisees shout back: “Why then did Moses command us to give divorce papers and to send her away?” (v. 7).

Notice the attitude. The Pharisees saw Moses’ instruction as a license to divorce. They totally missed the point that Moses was simply speaking in the woman’s defense.

Jesus responds. In vv. 8-9, he says, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of the hardness of your hearts. But it was not like that from the beginning. And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

Jesus doesn’t take the bait . . . He’s not going to referee the controversy that was waging between Rabbis Shammai and Hillel. They were all about the permissiveness of divorce . . . that was their focus . . . whether it be the conservatives who limited it to some serious sin on the part of the woman, or the liberals who said it could be because of any offense brought to the husband . . . their focus was merely on the rights of the man to the end the marriage.

Jesus dismisses that battle as essentially a misreading (or, misapplying) of Moses’ instruction. And, in a manner of speaking, Jesus says, “Back up a moment, and remember what marriage is. It is a relationship created and given by God to a man and woman . . . it isn’t some trivial matter. It is a serious relationship that can’t just be thrown away on a whim. The cause of the failure of a marriage must be isolated to an act that in and of itself desecrates the very bond of marriage . . . like adultery.”

And, this is what Jesus also says in the Sermon On the Mount. Again, in Matthew 5.31-32, Jesus teaches, “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.’ But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”

First of all, notice, the focus of Jesus’ teaching is on the MAN . . . the husband . . . HE “causes her to commit adultery,” and the man who “marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”Now, certainly, Jesus’ teaching applies to both men and women, to husbands and wives, especially in our day and time when there is a certain equality of rights and actions for men and women, BUT, it seems to me, that Jesus is not-so-subtly leveling the “gender” playing field.

Remember, in Jesus’ day (and in Moses’ day), it was the men who had the power . . . whether it be in society, or in the family. According to the customs of the day, a MAN could divorce his wife, but a WIFE had no such ability. And, at least in the eyes of the more progressive-thinking Pharisees, a man could dismiss his wife for ANY reason.

To this mindset, Jesus puts the SIN of the divorce squarely at the feet of the husband . . . YOU cause “her to commit adultery,” he says. And, it would seem, the one who seeks to benefit from the callousness of the first man “commits adultery” when he “marries a divorced woman.”

In Matthew 19.9, Jesus’ focus is even more squarely on the man. He says, “And I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

And, in Mark 10.11, the point is even clearer. There, Jesus says, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against HER.”

I see this focus on the MAN as being a primary reason for the strength of Jesus’ statement about divorce and remarriage. He’s employing a bit of hyperbole here to make a point . . . to stress the seriousness of the subject . . . much like what He says in the preceding verses about the temptations we have. Remember, Jesus says in Matt. 5.29, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away,” and, in v. 30, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” Gouge out your eye . . . cut off your hand . . . obviously exaggerations to make a point about the seriousness of temptation.

And, so, likewise, here, Jesus is using a rather pointed statement to get the attention of those men who thought they had license to summarily dismiss their wives without much cause or concern for their plight.

But, there’s more.

The debate between Rabbis Shammai and Hillel was much more a battle of semantics than anything else. They were debating the meaning of words that Moses used many centuries before.To Shammai, Moses meant something akin to adultery. To Hillel it was anything that brought displeasure to the husband. These two rabbinical schools could not agree . . . and so in their struggle to be RIGHT on the subject they forgot the true importance of Moses’ instruction. In a battle over semantics (the meaning and use of words) the Pharisees reduced the sanctity of marriage to just another issue to fight over.

But Jesus, in both the Sermon On the Mount and especially later in Matthew 19, returns the focus to the sanctity of marriage.

Remember, when the Pharisees come to Him and ask Him to pick sides in the Shammai-Hillel debate, Jesus ignores the controversy over semantics and instead makes an appeal to what was true at the very beginning . . . that God had given marriage to a man and woman . . . it was not a relationship of convenience . . . but a holy bond.

The Pharisees debated when and how they could break that bond, BUT Jesus is saying, in essence, treasure that bond . . . value it . . . don’t be wrapped up in how can be nullified.

Today, sadly, the battlefield has shifted. Instead of fighting over the semantics of “adultery,” and trying to determine what is meant by “grave marital offense,” we fight over the “semantics” of “remarriage” . . . over when it is permissible for a divorced person to remarry.

Wouldn’t you agree? There’s been a lot of ink spilled (and probably more than a little blood, too) over the subject of divorce and remarriage. Families have become divided over it . . . churches, too. And the differing camps are as impassioned about their stances as were Rabbis Shammai and Hillel in Jesus’ day.

But, sadly, the battle is fought in the midst of half-truths and innuendos and speculations . . . in other words, we place ourselves as judges of relationships that are not our own and that we only view from the outside.

Do we get as worked up when somebody lies and sins? . . . treats another rudely and sins? . . . is improper with finances and sins? . . . dishonors his parents and sins? . . . withholds from God and sins? Do you catch the drift of what I am saying? We’re so quick to point fingers at another and question the validity of their divorce and remarriage, that we forget to notice our own sin.

Yes, divorce can certainly be sinful . . . but, it can also be that act of last resort that must be taken in a relationship that has become fractured beyond repair, and, worse, has become dangerous to one’s health and well-being. But, God is the judge of the merits of that . . . not me, not you.

Yes, remarriage after divorce can be sinful, but it also can be permissible in the judgment of God . . . and, I emphasize that, “in the judgment of God.”

I like the words of John Stott. He writes, “To be preoccupied with the grounds for divorce [and remarriage] is to be guilty of the very pharisaism which Jesus condemned.”

It is important to realize, we cannot undo the past. We can simply live this day forward in the best way that we can.

Let me say that again: we cannot undo the past, we can simply live this day forward in the best way that we can.

We all have past regrets . . . mistakes . . . things that we wish we had done differently. And it’s not always a matter of ruing over past sins. Sometimes it is a desire to have made wiser choices than were made . . . taking a more constructive course in life.

For some of us, those regrets involve the choices over who we married, or how we conducted ourselves in that marriage, or how that marriage may have come to an end, or what happened in the years that followed.But, no matter how strong our regrets are, we cannot go back and undo what has happened . . . the pieces cannot be reassembled as if nothing had happened.

We can simply take this day, TODAY, and live it to God’s glory, knowing that the past is gone, forgiven by a gracious and merciful God, but realizing, too, that there are ongoing consequences from past choices . . . the issues related to divorce LINGER (especially if you have children involved) . . . but taking TODAY and committing ourselves to honoring God with the rest of our days.

I am reminded of the words Jesus shared with a woman caught in adultery.

He said, “Go and sin no more.” Jesus didn’t dwell in the woman’s past, or grill her over past choices and past sins. He simply helped her in the present and said, “Go and sin no more.”

Make TODAY a turning point, Jesus says, and live the rest of your days honoring God.

For those of us who have been personally affected by divorce and remarriage, those are encouraging words!

In His Sermon On the Mount Jesus says to those who want to be His disciples, “Your righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees.”

The Pharisees were caught up in semantics, the meaning use of words . . . there’s was a religion of rule keeping. Jesus is calling us to something more.

Instead of debating when and how a person might get out of marriage, Jesus says VALUE marriage . . . HONOR that bond.Instead of fighting over the subjects of divorce and remarriage and the semantics that surround the issues, we should be much more focused on promoting marriage and creating marriages that last.

Very quickly, here are some basic strategies for creating marriages that last. I offer these especially to the kids that are in here today and to those who are unmarried.

(1) View marriage as a sacred institution created and given by God.

(2) Find a mate who is committal in ways that extend beyond marriage.

(3) Look at yourself: value the commitments you make.

(4) Know that love is not the absence of conflict.

(5) Marry a Christian.

(6) Develop a mutual faith with your mate.

(7) Be humble. Always put the needs of your mate above your own.

One of the greatest gifts I have been given in life are the examples of my parents and grandparents. In July, my parents will celebrate 43 years of marriage. Yesterday would have been the 67th wedding anniversary of my mother’s parents, were my grandfather still living. Indeed I was blessed to have been at the Golden Anniversary celebrations of both sets of my grandparents.

We are blessed here in this congregation to have couples who have stood the tests of time . . . and provide to us such an example of love and commitment. They are the ideal! They are what its all about. Let’s honor them. Let’s be encouraged by them. Let’s learn from them . . . as we each strive to honor God each day forward.

Budding Photogs?

2011-10-11T16:35:00.000-06:00

My youngest daughters, Hannah (11) and Grace (9), celebrated birthdays recently. I gave each a digital camera. They have been having fun taking photos with their new cameras. As you can tell from these sample shots they are still trying to figure out things like "focus" and "framing," but I am impressed with their budding artistry.

Mack Brown on Conference Realignment

2011-09-19T14:13:00.001-06:00

I am an Oklahoma Sooner fan, but I greatly respect Mack Brown of the University of Texas. His take on the conference realignment talks is a view worth hearing. The following is from an article posted on espn.com.

Mack Brown:

"What I'm concerned about is the players and their parents," Brown said. "As much as we talk about money, as much as we talk about college football, as much as we talk about realignment, as much as we talk about great games, playoffs and all that stuff, we better go back and make sure that we're taking care of the players and that the players and the high school coaches are always considered in the equation.

"Because if not, we're not going to have a game, and they're the ones that are playing. And, for parents to travel all the way across the country is going to put a bigger burden on them," Brown added. "It's going to be more difficult. And right now with the regional leagues the parents can go see their kids play and that's really important because these kids are working their guts out year-round for us to have a show on Saturday that everyone enjoys.

"College football's as great as it's ever been, but we better keep considering what's in the best interest of the players or at some point they're going to get so frustrated it won't be fun for them."

Acts 8.4 . . . A Calling for Today

2011-09-15T16:51:00.002-06:00

It seems that the common strategies for church growth consist of a polished and charismatic preacher, a large and ultra-modern facility, and dozens of active programs, among other flashy qualities. The mega-church model is certainly effective, and it is a good thing that these groups are making large impacts for the sake of Christ. BUT, there is another way to share the Gospel . . . more subtle, and even under the radar, but no less important and necessary.

Vocational ministry has been around a long time, even since the beginning days of the church. In fact, vocational ministry certainly predates the professional variety. I doubt Peter ever took much of a paycheck for his preaching . . . perhaps he benefited from the provision of a meal here and there, and perhaps the use of a "bed" to lay his head. And, Paul, often labored with his hands to make possible his evangelistic work. Certainly, the prospects of a consistent salary, housing allowances, IRAs, health insurance, and the like, were centuries away from becoming reality, and, it may seem now, the norm, and expected. BUT, in the beginning days of Christianity, the Gospel was shared, for the most part, by neighbor to neighbor, from one layman to another.

Christianity has made impressive gains in the past 20 centuries. Millions upon millions of people profess faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. And, professional ministry has surely played a big role in this spread. BUT, how much of the growth is the product of ordinary men and women sharing their faith with family, friends, neighbors, and strangers? Surely, a considerable amount.

The example of Acts 8.4 is often overlooked . . . a quick bridge verse connecting the stoning of Stephen with the remarkable ministry of Philip. The verse reads, "So those who were scattered went on their way proclaiming the message of good news." This description comes following a statement that the apostles had remained behind in Jerusalem. The church continued to grow, despite the persecution. The church continued to grow, because of the testimony of the laity . . . average, ordinary men and women convicted in their faith and devoted to sharing what they had discovered in Jesus. Yes, the professionals hit the paths to the mission fields, as well, and educated preachers would make their mark for the sake of Christ. BUT, the church grew, largely, because of the efforts of countless nameless believers.

I live in the western United States, near the shared border of New Mexico and Arizona. Churches here are, for the most part, small, aging and struggling. The mega-church model exists hundreds and thousands of miles from us; it is a model that does not mesh with reality here. The growth strategies of a highly skilled and polished preacher, an imposing facility, and around-the-clock programming are often qualities that are unrealistic here. So, how is the church to grow? Through simplicity, basically, and because of the labors of ordinary men and women. In other words, the ones sitting in the pews must get up and work, and lead, and follow in the steps of Acts 8.4.

BUT, here's a thought and a modern calling . . . how much good could be done by couples trained in various fields--teaching, medicine, business, etc.--relocating from large and effective churches to small and struggling ones? What I am suggesting is that couples and individuals, mature in their faith, and from communities where the church is strong, relocate to areas in the West (and other parts of the country) where the church is weak. For example, a couple graduating with education degrees from Abilene Christian University might choose to find jobs in a town like Aztec, New Mexico or Holbrook, Arizona or Blanding, Utah for the expressed purpose of becoming active in the local church and being a boost to that congregation . . . taking this course, instead of finding employment in Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio, cities where the church is strong, and where one's addition to a congregation would be largely inconsequential (in terms of that church's effectiveness in ministry and outreach).

I call this a modern calling inspired by the example of Acts 8.4, and I find it an important and necessary strategy for church growth in areas where the church (and the Gospel testimony) does not have the footprint it does in other places.

Join me at my new blog, http://acts84.blogspot.com. I devote this blog to what I am terming the Acts 8.4 Calling. This blog will be a sounding-board and bulletin board with the expressed purpose of encouraging and facilitating vocational missions (and, particularly, of the variety described in this article). The articles I post there will include profiles of communities where the church is alive but in need of help; in other words, an introduction to places where "transplanted" Christians could be a big help. These profiles will include a description of the communities at large, a survey of employment opportunities, contact information (where known), and other vital information. I invite your feedback and contributions.

Help me make this Acts 8.4 Calling a meaningful and productive ministry.

Pray for Rain!!!

2011-09-06T18:00:00.001-06:00

A photo certainly worth a 1,000 words . . . and some tears!

(Photo of wildfire burning near Bastrop, Texas)

Please pray for rain to come to Texas and drench these awful fires.
Our God is much greater than any wildfire.

Now is the time for a well-placed tropical depression!

Predictions for NFL 2011

2011-09-06T16:18:00.004-06:00

Are you ready for some football? I must admit that unlike most seasons, my enthusiasm is lacking for this NFL season. But, come Thursday, I'm sure the excitement will have returned. So, here are my predictions for the upcoming season. Don't run to Vegas with them, 'cause if it's like most seasons . . . these will look fairly ridiculous by season's end.

NFC Playoffs

Philadelphia Eagles

New Orleans Saints

Green Bay Packers

San Francisco 49er's

WC-Dallas Cowboys

WC-Detroit Lions (and, no, I'm not smoking anything!)

AFC Playoffs

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

Houston Texans

San Diego Chargers

WC-New York Jets

WC-Indianapolis Colts (unless Peyton misses 4 games)

Super Bowl

Cowboys def. Jets (and, no, I'm still not smoking anything!)

And, yes, I still miss the man in the hat!!!

Thriving In a Certain Place

2011-09-02T16:17:00.008-06:00

Last week I stood in front of the largest and one of the oldest living things on earth. This is little old me standing in front of the General Sherman Tree, growing high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.

The General Sherman Tree stands 275 feet high. Its trunk has a circumference of over 100 feet. At its base, the tree has a diameter of 36 feet. It weighs over 2,100 tons, the equivalent of 50 blue whales. If placed in the middle of an interstate highway, it would totally block both lanes of traffic and hang out over the shoulders.

This tree, the king of all Giant Sequoias is estimated to have sprung forth as a sapling 2,500 years ago. Think about that . . . this tree began its long life over a century before Alexander the Great was marched his armies across the steppes of Asia. It was already 400 years old when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It's as old as the oldest sections of the Great Wall. It has weathered the lifetimes of 120+ generations of humans. It has "seen" Halley's Comet come and go 33 times.

The Giant Sequoias grow so large and old because of their great resilience. These trees are basically impervious to disease, rot, and ravages of fire. It's thick skin (the bark is 3 feet thick in places) and wide spread (but shallow) root system make it largely resistant to the stresses that bring lesser trees down.

There's another important key to its growth and longevity. The Giant Sequoias ONLY grow in a certain, specific and limited environment. They can only be found growing on the west facing slopes of the Sierra Nevadas between an elevation of 5,000-7,000 feet above sea level.

And, herein, I find a parallel.

In Matthew 6.25 & 33, Jesus tells us, "Don't worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food and the body more than clothing? . . . . But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and ALL these things will be provided for you."

In a way similar to the Giant Sequoias thriving only in a certain place, true prosperity and peace in our lives can only be found in Christ and the good things God gives to his children. So, take care in where you put your roots and from where and in what you draw your sustenance. May we ever grow tall and strong in the care of our God.

(The top photo was taken by Nancy Foster on 8-22-2011 at Sequoia National Park. The bottom photo is borrowed from Wikipedia.)

Take It One Day At A Time

2011-09-01T17:38:00.005-06:00

Jesus said, "Don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6.34 HCSB).

Isn't Jesus telling us to live one day at a time?

But, do we not often burden ourselves with the decisions of yesterday?

The power of regret is one of the most intimidating opponents we face in life. Second-guessing ourselves. Playing the game of "What if?" Wishing we had taken the other fork in the road. Looking at the past through rose-colored glasses while staring at today through the lenses of disappointment and despair.

I occasionally watch the TV show "Hoarders" on the A&E Network. I am struck by the stories told by and about the people featured on the show. They are people whose homes (and lives) have become so cluttered that they can't function adeptly in the present. They are people with houses filled so highly and tightly that movement from room to room is greatly impaired if not difficult--piled with collectibles, mementos, and even valuables, but also the discarded items of others and by junk and filth that seriously threatens the health of the residents . . . clutter that often accumulates because of an effort by the hoarder to either recapture the past or cope with some regrettable circumstances of the past. There is a dwelling on the past that makes living in the present very difficult.

So too, there can be a hoarding of the past, where regrets, failures, disappointments, and haunting memories cloud our today, rob us of present joy, and make looking toward the future a difficult endeavor.

Yet, Jesus tells us to not worry about tomorrow, for each day has its own trouble; take it one day at a time.

But, do we not often become disillusioned by the stresses of today?

Too often, it seems, our lives are so busy and complicated that it is too much for us to simply stop and smell the roses, to enjoy the moment, and to find some peace in today.

Of course, it's usually because we have over extended ourselves. We have put too much on our plates. In the desperation of getting ahead and of living comfortable lifestyles we do too much and allow ourselves no time to breathe. Our daily lives become so cluttered with appointments and obligations that we can't sop and simply live.

I am reminded of the song "Cat's in the Cradle," by Harry Chapin.

My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew
He’d say, “I’m gonna be like you dad
You know I’m gonna be like you”

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home dad?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, “Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let’s play
Can you teach me to throw?” I said, “Not today
I got a lot to do.” He said, “That’s ok”
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah
You know, I’m gonna be like him”

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home dad?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
“Son, I’m proud of you, can you sit for a while?”
He shook his head and said with a smile
“What I’d really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?”

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home son?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then dad
You know we’ll have a good time then

I’ve long since retired, my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, “I’d like to see you son if you don’t mind”
He said, “I’d love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job’s a hassle and the kids have the flu
But it’s sure nice talking to you, Dad
It’s been sure nice talking to you”

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home dad?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then

And the clutter in our daily lives often makes it hard to see the next moment. The road ahead is hidden from view. In our desperation to get ahead we often don't realize that the grass on the other side, the grass in the pasture we work so hard to get to, is not always greener than that which is already at out feet. Or, in the anxieties we feel over today's troubles, we don't realize that just around the bend in the road the path evens out. Just a little farther, and life will become easier.

Yet, Jesus tells us to not worry about tomorrow, for each day has its own trouble; take it one day at a time.

But, do we not often allow the fears about tomorrow to storm into today?

We often paralyze ourselves about thoughts of what MIGHT happen and what MIGHT be. Anticipation. Uncertainty. The dilemma of "I don't know" often opens a quagmire in our lives.

A humorist once jested, "Lloyd's of London has gotten rich by betting that people will worry about what will never happen."

How many plans have been scrapped because of a fear of costs? How many dreams have been forgotten because of a fear of failure? How many steps haven't been taken because of fears of unseen traps? How many love affairs haven't been realized because of an apprehension to pop the question?

Yet, Jesus tells us to not worry about tomorrow, for each day has its own trouble; take it one day at a time.

Dine'tah: An Appeal

2010-09-22T19:36:00.001-06:00

Six years ago, I knew very little about the Navajo people (Dine') and the vast and beautiful Navajoland (Dine'tah). My education on these matters is still a work in progress, but in these past 6 years I have come to have a great respect and love for the Navajo. I find their history fascinating. I admire their triumphs (Navajo art, in particular, is among the most creative and beautiful of that of any culture in the world). I grieve over their challenges. I am anything but a "bleeding heart," but I am ashamed of the way earlier Americans treated the Navajo and other native peoples.

After six years of living close to the Navajo Nation reservation, I have witnessed firsthand the foolish (and, I will add, racist) policy of generations past of rounding up native peoples and driving them to "reservations." Often, our government placed these peoples on lands that were the poorest and most remote. No walls were built, but once the reservation boundaries were determined (and changed many times, by the way, by the bureaucrats in Washington), little effort was made to teach the indians new skills, or to provide modern infrastructure that would make assimilating into American culture easier. There were some basic and noble efforts made, to be sure, but these were few and far between. Most cruel of all, perhaps, our government brought in alcohol to "pacify" the indians and to quell dissension and revolts. Oh, what great tragedy alcohol has brought to the reservations.

The past cannot be undone, but the present and future can be better, much better. As I live and work among the Navajo, I see a people who love life, who are bright and industrious, who are honest and good-natured. I see a people who, when given half a chance, can excel and do great things. I continually pray that the resources and opportunities needed for continued and accelerated advancement of the Navajo will come. Share this prayer with me.

Of course, my primary interest here is with the children of the Navajo nation, particularly those children who are in crisis, whose families are beyond dysfunction and who are in great need. We at the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home are striving to help these children and families. We need partners in our ministry to enable us to extend our reach and to take more children into our care. Will you help us? Please make a contribution to our cause today.

As you consider this plea, let me share with you some statistics that describe, in some small measure, life on the Navajo reservation:

There is 58% unemployment on the Navajo reservation
Annual per ca pita income is around $7,300 (try feeding and housing a family on $7,300 a year!)
32% of houses lack plumbing
20% of houses lack electricity
50% of children drop out of school
Fewer than 7% of adult Navajos have college degrees
90% of the population is impacted by alcoholism (either personally or through a close family member)
The median lifespan among men living on the reservation is 46 years (read this sentence again! . . . that's over 30 years shorter than in the wider American society!)
20% of families are intact; 80% of families are fractured!

Manuelito Navajo Children's Home is just one of the efforts by Churches of Christ to share the love and message of Jesus Christ to the Navajo. Today, churches can be found in at least ten communities on the Reservation. Many of these congregations are being led by Navajo preachers. In the coming days and weeks, I will introduce these workers here on my blog and on my Facebook group, Churches of Christ Navajo Mission. Please pray for these men, their families, and the churches with whom they work. Pray for the effort to bring Christ to this beautiful and noble people. Do more than pray, become involved personally and financially.

My Autumn Grace

2010-09-10T19:35:00.002-06:00

Note: I wrote this article in the days before the first anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on our nation. My youngest daughter, Autumn Grace Foster, was born on September 10, 2002, just 43 minutes shy of 9/11/02.

It was not planned, but it seems to be happening. Tomorrow, Tuesday, if everything goes well, my wife and I will be welcoming a third child into our family. It wasn't until this week that I thought of the coinciding anniversary.

Wednesday marks the one year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. It will be, in many quarters, a day of somber reflection, with thoughts given to those 3,000 innocent lives brought to an end on that harrowing day. How awkward it will be rejoicing over the birth of a child.

But should it be awkward? From death comes life. Is this not the message of the Gospel? Paul said the message would be met with ridicule and disbelief, for it is foolish to believe that life comes from death, that the cross represents an object of power and not shame; but such is the case with the Gospel.

When all is bleak, when the world seems to be crumbling down all around, there can be hope of a new day dawning. peter says that men and women of faith have a "living hope," a hope realized in Jesus Christ and the new birth found in him (1 Peter 1.3-5). So, is it awkward to be rejoicing over a new life on the anniversary of a day of death?

Christians look forward. Doesn't this attribute set us apart from the world? We have a tomorrow that is certain, that is real, that cannot be shaken or taken away.

My heart goes out to those whose lives were tragically affected on that Fall day one year ago. My prayer is that they find peace. My prayer is that they find peace. My prayer is that they come to know God's abiding presence and his autumn grace.

Blame To Go Around?

2010-08-20T14:47:00.005-06:00

The indictment of Roger Clemens for lying to Congress has been the major sports' headline of the week. I wrote the following piece a couple of years ago, in response to the issuance of the Mitchell Report detailing steroid use in Major League Baseball.

I wasn't surprised. Disappointed, yes. Angry, a little. Surprised, unfortunately not.

I'm speaking of the Mitchell Report on steroids in Major League Baseball released yesterday. The long list of names did not surprise me . . . even Roger Clemens.

I've been a Clemens fan since he came up with the Red Sox in 1985. The '86 Red Sox club remains one of my all-time favorites . . . even Bill Buckner! Like Barry Bonds, Clemens was a potential Hall of Famer before he began taking steroids. According to the Mitchell Report (and its voracity seems ironclad to me), Clemens began to "juice" during the 1998 season, while he was pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays. Bonds, according to the allegations made against him, started his steroids regimen following the 1998 season, that "magical" year when Mark McGwire and Sammy Soso were pursuing and ultimately passed Roger Maris for the single-season home run record. Before 1998, both Clemens and Bonds had already posted numbers that guaranteed their induction into Cooperstown. Clemens had already been awarded 4 Cy Young Awards, as many as any pitcher in history (to that point), and Bonds was already a 4-time M.V.P. Before 1998, both Clemens and Bonds had been in the Major Leagues for over 12 seasons. But, when most players should be satisfied with their careers and looking forward to retirement, Clemens and Bonds were searching for an edge, for something that would keep them competitive for years to come.

Was it for the money? It is a fact that Clemens and Bonds have earned millions more in the years since 1998 than they earned in the 12+ years before. Their motivation to juice could simply be a case of greed . . . wanting an ever increasing series of contracts.

Was it the need for acclaim? It is true that those we place on pedestals often get addicted to the praise and adulation we give them. We've all heard stories of the washed up athlete everyone has forgotten. Does anyone remember Danny White? At one time, he was the highest-rated passer in the NFL. He led the Cowboys to three straight NFC Championship Games. Yet, today, when people think of the Dallas Cowboys and the great quarterbacks that the franchise has had, the list usually includes Meridith, Staubach, Aikman, and, now, Romo. White is conspicuously absent. My point? Simply that our athletes, once they leave the playing stage, are often forgotten. Perhaps Clemens and Bonds could not bear the fact of being pushed off the stage, so they sought to prolong their careers as long as possible.

Was it jealousy? In the book written a few years ago outlining Bonds' purported steroid use, the authors claim that Bonds began his usage following the 1998 season because he was angry and jealous over the acclaim given to McGwire and Sosa, both of whom he was convinced had used performance enhancing drugs. The book claims that Bond was angry that his hard work was being overshadowed by those who, in his mind, cheated. The authors claim that Bonds decided to sell himself out and show that he could outdo anyone. He had done so clean (before 1998), and now he would do so on a level playing field with McGwire and the others.

By speculating as I have, I am not trying to rationalize the behavior of Clemens and Bonds and others like them. They cheated. Major League Baseball should respond accordingly. If I were a Hall of Fame voter, I would refuse to induct anyone who is shown to have purposefully and systematically used performance-enhancing drugs. That hurts to say, because I was as much a fan of Mark McGwire as I have been Roger Clemens. I was never a fan of Barry Bonds, but I acknowledge him as the greatest ballplayer of my generation (and that was before 1998). But, cheating should carry with it consequences.

My larger point, however, is that society at large has helped produced the circumstances that fueled these men in their excesses. Perhaps the publication of the Mitchell Report should cause all of us to pause and reflect on how we put too much emphasis on athletes and athletics. Instead of making the sports stars stand at the pinnacle of our pedestals, why don't we place much of the acclaim we give them to our school teachers, public servants, those who keep the peace and security of the community, and the blue collar workers who have built this country and keep it running?

Life Is Worth the Effort

2010-08-18T17:37:00.002-06:00

You know, life is a lot like scaling a rock-climbing wall. Commitment/choice. Effort. Strategy/forward thinking. Concentration. Assistance. Exhaustion. Exhilaration. Failure. Success. All of these are involved in the rock-climbing experience and also with life.

A lot of life is grounded around the choices and commitments we make and don't make. For some, even many, choices can be confounding, perhaps crippling. But, life cannot be taken for granted, we must place one foot in front of the other. Life isn't a conveyor belt. We can't sit around hoping life will come to us (in the form of a great paycheck, a hot date, a thrill of a lifetime, whatever our anticipation is centered on) . . . we have to take a step and go after it. When climbing a rock-wall, you must reach your arm up to a handhold and lift your foot up to a foothold and pull your body up; the apparatus isn't going to do the work for you. You must decide to go!

Effort is certainly a component of life. Life is work. It doesn't come easy, even to those who seem to live on Easy Street. Life is a marathon (actually, a series of marathons); it is not a sprint; it is not a casual Sunday stroll. There will be some lulls along the way. Even moments where we can stop and smell the roses. But, there are gonna be some long, rough slugs as well. Moments (or, years!) when we're trudging up a 9% grade (on a good day!), with the wind howling around us and rain beating in our face. But, there is a summit, and then it is all down hill . . . that is, of course, until we hit the next hill! Yet, I'm told hat with age and maturity, life begins to level out to a more consistent plain. Hills and plateaus, even mountain ranges, remain, but or aptitude for life grows. Our efforts pay off.

Life requires thought. Mindlessness leads nowhere (or, rather, to some serious pitfalls). Life doesn't come equipped with Autopilot, or cruise control, but with big signs, "Lots of Assembly Required," and "Proceed with Caution." Life is much easier and productive when we look ahead to the horizon (and beyond) and set out goal and then plot the course required to reach that goal. In scaling a rock-climbing wall proficiently, the climber looks above and finds the ideal handholds and footholds, she plots her course with a distinct strategy guiding her way.

Pay attention! How many of life's travails could be avoided, or be made much-less destructive, if we simply paid attention to what we were doing, to our surroundings, to those around us, and to the course before us? Effort is not simply a matter of physical application and force, it is a lot of brain power, as well. Was it Lombardi that said, "Football is 90% mental"? Put "life" in the sentence, and it would be as true.

Life is not lived in a vacuum, with merely ourselves and immediate surroundings. No, life is full myriad things, especially those people close and far. A rock climber rarely will set out on his own; to do so can often be suicidal. Someone is needed to hold the guide rope, to help plot the course, to share in the work of setting spikes and giving a helping hand. Life is best lived when in tandem or association with a partner or partners. After all, God Himself, our Creator, declared, "It is not good for man to be alone." Interconnectedness is a key to life.

Life will be tiring, even exhausting at many points along the way, but there will also be ample exhilaration, when our weariness will drop away and new found energy and excitement will rush over. Remember the exhilaration of scaling a high mountain--the course up filled with tightened muscles, thirst (and, in my case, heavy panting!)--and the moment of finally looking out from the peak onto the valley and plains far below. That's a lot like a new mother and father staring down at their beautiful new child in the moments following a very difficult pregnancy. Or, the proud parents applauding a son as he walks across the graduation stage following the many years of the awkwardness and challenges of raising a child.

Success and failure. Failure and success. Life is filled with both. A rock climber is not always going to find the best hold. He may slip a time or two. H may even have to descent before a successful ascent can be mounted. Keep going. That's the key. Learn from mistakes. Observe the success of others. Try, and try again. Life is worth the effort.

Did I Really Stand In 4 States At Once?

2010-08-16T22:08:00.004-06:00

I have called the Four Corners region home for the past 6+ years. The region is so-called, of course, because the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah come together at a point, the only place in the country where 4 states meet together. The Four Corners Monument is a popular tourist attraction, and each year thousands of people come to have their picture taken standing on the Monument marker, the point where people are told the states come together.

BUT, the "locals" know that ain't necessarily so, or at least many of us thought it wasn't so. I have told people for years that the Four Corners Monument was actually off by several hundred yards (2 1/2 miles, in actuality). But, the article I found and attached below contains the full story. I'm excited to say, I learned something today, and happy to know that the $3 I paid to the Navajo Nation to stand on the Monument marker was not wasted money (actually, I've been there 6 times and taken guests each time, so the money "contributed" to the Navajo Nation is substantial . . . especially when you include the "marked up" fry bread you can buy at the sight . . . and who can pass up fry bread?).

Enjoy the article.

Four Corners monument not historically correct

April 20th, 2009 @ 10:17pm
By Alex Cabrero

SALT LAKE CITY -- It's a place where thousands of people a year come to have their picture taken. It's also the only place in America where you can stand in four states at once, or can you?

It turns out the Four Corners Monument isn't exactly where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona were supposed to meet.

"Congress established the 109th Western Meridian as the boundary between Colorado and Utah," said Utah Historian Craig Fuller.

In 1878, the surveyor commissioned to map the boundary line between Utah and Colorado from Four Corners to Wyoming recognized the lines where the four states meet happened to be on the top of a steep plateau.

"He thought it would be a lot easier to survey a point on the flatlands," explained Bill Case, a senior geologist with the Utah Geological Survey. "They tried to get as close to 37 degrees latitude and 109 degrees longitude. That was where the corner of Utah was supposed to be."

However, because of the difficult terrain, the current spot recognized as the Four Corners was chosen. It's nearly 2 and a half miles west from the actual spot.

All four states, and the U.S. Congress, recognized the mistake but decided to allow the current boundary lines to be drawn. That means Utah lost some land, while Colorado gained some.

"What is legal is political, not scientific," Case said. "And it doesn't matter if you make a mistake or not."

Since all the states and the U.S. Congress agreed on the boundaries, it is now the official boundary, which means all those families who take their pictures at the monument are doing so in four states and don't have to climb that plateau to be in the historical spot.

"Yes. Legally, it counts," Case assured.

Recently, a survey done by the National Geodetic Survey found the mistake. The group recognized it using GPS technology and satellite imagine.

Chances are, all four states won't ask to have their boundaries changed, but Fuller says it is always possible.

For example, Fuller says in the past two years there was talk Wendover, Utah, would be ceded to Nevada. That way, West Wendover, Nev., could help solve economic problems and allow for more growth for the Utah city. However, because of money concerns, that deal never happened.

Fuller says it's likely Four Corners won't be moved either. The land in Utah is owned by the Navajo Nation, while the land in Colorado is owned by the Ute Mountain Indian Tribe.

"It's been that way for decades, and the current location where the monument is located is the acceptable spot to be in four states at once," Fuller said.

Case says another way to look at it is that now the old survey marker on top of the plateau is wrong.

"If all the states involved and the U.S. Congress get together and say the current recognized Four Corners is the actual Four Corners, then that's that." Case said. "And since they all did agree on it, the current location of the Four Corners National Monument is the correct location."

Much Of Life Is . . . Waiting!

2010-08-08T22:58:00.001-06:00

Waiting . . . I'm not very good at it. Usually, I'm downright awful at it. Patience is certainly a virtue . . . that I find very difficult to master.

How much of your life is spent waiting? You stand in a line to order a Big Mac. You wait for the light to turn to green. Your phone call is placed on hold. You are waiting for your pay check. When is that child coming home? When will the boss notice my hard work? Will the Cubs finally win it all this season? You get the point. Much of our lives are spent waiting.

You've been there, I'm sure. You can relate.

But, waiting can be as instructive as it is frustrating. Waiting can help us refine our thoughts, to clear our resolve, to give us time to come up the answers that have been eluding us, to allow for an opportunity for solutions to make themselves known and for resources to be realized. Waiting can build our faith in God, deepen our trust in Him to see us through, to deliver us to a place of peace and wellness.

Waiting can help me realize that rashness is rarely well-grounded.

A Blessed Father

2010-08-07T22:56:00.001-06:00

Garden of the Gods @ Colorado Springs, Colorado
August 7, 2010

Some Thoughts on Church Buildings

2010-08-06T00:08:00.002-06:00

I am in and out of lots of different church buildings each week as I make visits for Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. It is obvious that Churches of Christ have been in the midst of a building boom over the past couple of decades, or so. I am surprised at the number of new facilities I am seeing. I am impressed by the architecture and practicality of these new structures. It is obvious that there is an intent to make church buildings attractive, accessible, and usable throughout the week and for a variety of activities, and not just Sunday worship. But, I do have some observations to make.

To build a church building on the same block as another church building seems wrong to me. You've seen such places, where two or more churches are located on the same intersection. I've seen more than one intersection that has a church facility built on each corner! Does this sight not send a negative message to the community at large? It is certainly not a picture of unity. It is too much like the sight of competing filling stations or fast food restaurants and presents an image of the church that is not consistent with the Gospel.

A church building without windows is one of the most unattractive sights I see. Maybe I'm being too particular, but a church without windows suggests one thing to me . . . a group that is closed off from the world about it. Or, put another way, a group that is closed-minded and unwilling to look beyond itself. Now, I know, that architecture is not necessary a reflection on theology, but perception . . . the analysis of those looking at us . . . is important. A church without windows (and a hard to find, or unwelcoming entryway, by the way) is uninviting to outsiders.

A church facility that is left to deteriorate and is unkempt suggests a lot to people passing by. A dead lawn, as superficial a thing as that is, communicates . . . and not positively. A few flowers and a kept lawn can brighten up a place as much as, and perhaps more than, a multi-million dollar face lift!

When the church building supplants the home as a center of activity, then I think something is wrong. I know many churches where the vast majority of fellowship activities are held at the church campus, so much so that families are no longer entertaining others in their houses. I grew up in a large congregation with a large building, including a youth center that would accommodate a hundred people. And, we had many activities there, BUT the activities I looked forward to were the ones held in someone's home. Those Sunday night devotionals hosted by various families were some of my favorite youth group activities. Sadly, it seems that in many places such activities are a thing of the past. There's a point where our buildings become too practical.

It is sad, and I believe sinful, when a congregation mortgages their mission obligations to build a new meeting place. I know of so many evangelistic and benevolent works that have lost much needed support because some church wanted to build a gymnasium. I believe God mourns over these frivolous choices.

I have been in many multi-million dollar places of worship, BUT my favorite places to worship include a rustic log chapel at Pine Springs Youth Camp, Fisher Hall at Quartz Mountain Christian Camp (basically a roof over some hard metal "pews", a lakeside amphitheater at Camp Blue Haven, and a 15-passenger van I once wrote about. I love the words of Jesus, "Where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I among them" (Matthew 18.20). (Yes, I acknowledge that the immediate context of this statement is not worship, but there certainly is a principle implied that guides our worship.)

Cleaning Up Another Man's Trash

2010-08-04T15:44:00.004-06:00

Nancy and I have spent the past two evenings cleaning up a big mess . . . one we didn't create. We have a house in Luther, Oklahoma that we rent out. Our most recent tenant left on July 24, cutting his lease short by 21 months . . . and leaving the house, to put it mildly, trashed out. Every room was literally covered in old clothing, broken toys, busted furniture, wadded up paper, empty (and not so empty) food cartons and containers, dishes, clothes hangers . . . and a few (actually, several) dirty diapers. I won't even begin to describe what we found piled in the storm cellar.

Have you ever cleaned up a mess left by others? If you have lived any length of time, at all, I imagine you have. It is not pleasant, is it? And a bit (or a lot) irritating! And, hopefully, it should cause us to stop and think.

Stop and think, that is, about our own actions and the affect they have on other people. Because, it seems likely (and, sadly, I am speaking to myself as much as anybody else) that at times we have left messes for others to clean up. And, I'm not just speaking literally, but figuratively, as well. Perhaps it was some instance of irresponsibility on our part, when other people suffered because of work we left undone, or underdone. Or perhaps it was when we weren't thinking, when we were distracted, when we were thinking way too much about ourselves than about anybody else. Maybe it was deliberate--we knew what we were doing, and we knew that our actions would adversely affect others, and . . . we just didn't care!

We do not live life in a vacuum. What we do affects other people. Maybe only slightly. Sometimes, and even often times, significantly! Hopefully not to the level of a house filled with stinking garbage, but certainly to the point where we should stop and think about how what we are doing will affect those around us.

Let us all live our lives with the desire to give and not take, to serve and not be served . . . to love and not disregard!

It is so nice to report that our house is now clean and, as of next Monday, newly occupied!

Another Far Side Favorite

2010-08-03T22:16:00.000-06:00

In the Place of Abel

2010-08-02T21:30:00.000-06:00

Genesis 4 begins and ends with a birth announcement, the news that a son had been born to Adam and Eve. In v. 1, the son is Cain, at whose birth Eve declares, "I have made a man equal with the Lord." In v. 25, the son is Seth, at whose birth Eve declares, "God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him."

The significance of these birth announcements is found in the two responses of Eve. Do you notice a change in attitude as Eve names Seth? Doesn't Eve seem a bit prideful as she names her firstborn son, Cain? "I have made a man equal with the Lord," she declares. This, contrasted with the naming of Seth: "God has appointed for me another child." As she welcomed her first child, she shouted, "I did this!" As she welcomed her third son, she was humble: "God did this."

To understand the birth announcements and the reason for Eve's change in attitude, we must look back to Genesis 3. You remember the story. The serpent tempts the woman, the woman eats the forbidden fruit and gives to her husband to eat, and he eats. God comes in judgment. His words to the serpent are striking: ". . . he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel" (vv. 14-15). What do these words anticipate? They prophesy that the serpent will eventually be destroyed by the seed of the woman.

Might the woman have thought that she could get even with the serpent who had deceived her and cost her so much? Might the woman have thought that her own seed (her son) would be the source of her redemption? Eve's arrogance at the birth of Cain seems to suggest this. She had the view that she had produced the child . . . the seed that would get vengeance. But, then tragedy unfolds as Eve's son of promise kills his brother, Abel, and is driven away to a foreign land. Eve, in essence, is left without a son and the hope of her redemption seems to be shattered.

Then, in the depth of this despair, God blesses Eve with another son, whom she names Seth, declaring him to be "in the place of Abel."

At the birth of Seth, Eve is humble. She says, "This is God's doing." This is interesting. At Cain's birth, she claimed credit. At Abel's birth she had said nothing (indeed there is no reference to Abel being named; see Gen. 4.2). But now Eve credits God withe the birth of her son, one to replace Abel.

Remember, God had favored Abel and his offering, but not Cain and his offering. Is there a connection between this and Eve's hope that Cain would be her redeemer? Consider: the one whom Eve thought was the source of her salvation, her son Cain, was not the one God had appointed; he favored Abel. And, it is ultimately through the lineage of Seth that the redeemer will actually come. Jesus is the promised seed spoken of by God in his judgment of the serpent, the one through whom Eve's (actually, mankind's) redemption will be realized.

With this account of Eve and her sons a theme begins to develop that will continue to be woven throughout the Biblical story. Abel was favored by God, not Cain; Isaac was chosen, not Ishmael; Jacob was blessed, not Esau; Rachel was loved by Jacob, not Leah, but it is through Leah that God's blessing is passed; Judah was blessed, not Reuben; the youngest son of Jesse was chosen, not the eldest; and, so forth.

The significance of this trend: God brings his favor, salvation, redemption by his initiative and doing. Man has no room to boast.

Do we place ourselves in Eve's sandals (or, did she go barefoot?)? She put her reliance in Cain, only to see her hopes shattered when Cain murdered his brother. Can we relate to Eve's folly? To her lost hope? To the despair she must have felt? When we rely on ourselves and the things and power and status we accumulate, we will in time, be disappointed.

Let us have Eve's attitude as she welcomed her youngest son: "God has appointed for me another child in place of Abel."

Great Photo

2010-08-01T20:43:00.001-06:00

Is Your Fish In Clear View?

2010-07-31T21:33:00.000-06:00

Recently, I was asked about the significance of the "fish symbol." You know to what I am referring, the simple outline of a fish you see displayed on car bumpers, clothing, bookmarks, and the like.

The symbol of the fish was a mark or sign employed by early Christians. These believers, especially during times of state persecution, were often hesitant to let their Christian identity be publicly known and employed a variety of methods to "reveal" themselves to fellow Christian bothers and sisters in a discreet manner. One method was the use of the "fish symbol," and it was employed in a number of ways, including as embroidery on one's clothing, a symbol painted or affixed to one's dwelling, and a mark placed so as to direct worshippers to a secret assembly place.

The choice of the fish as a Christian symbol was not without meaning. The Greek word for fish, ichthus, was used as an acrostic. Each letter from the word signified a title: the iota ("I") stood for Iesous, or "Jesus"; the chi ("Ch") stood for Christos, or "Christ"; the theta ("Th") stood for Theos, or "God"; the upsilon ("U") stood for Huios, or "Son"; and the sigma ("S") stood for Soter, or "Savior." So together, the acrostic formed a simple Creed: "Jesus Christ, God's Son and Savior."

Today the display of the "fish symbol" has lost its significance for many. It has become a decorative piece more than an icon. The fear of violent persecution is not present, at least in this country, and so men and women of faith are not as fearful to let the world know their mark--to pronounce that they bear the name of Christ. Times have changed: instead of a fish symbol discreetly sketched into the bark of a tree, we are able to erect a noticeable sign on the curb of our public property.

However, have the times really changed that much? Do many not seek to hide their Christian identity, not purposely to avoid persecution, but to purposely avoid embarrassment? How many people live their lives "for God" one or two days a week only to devote the balance of the week "for self"? Certainly, by many, the identity of Christ is hidden from co-workers, fellow students, and family members; it is tucked away so others will not laugh, be offended, or exclude one from "fun." And the Christian name is checked at the door so as to allow one to "live it up" and "let loose" without the burden of a guilty conscience.

I hope that we can sing the lyrics of Isaac Watts with the passion they are due; "I'm not ashamed to own my Lord, nor to defend his cause; maintain the honors of his Word, the glory of his cross."

Dads, Are We Serious?

2010-07-30T22:12:00.002-06:00

It is factual to say that most churches are made up of more women than men, usually by a ratio of nearly two to one. This has certainly been the trend for the past 50 years, and perhaps for much longer. Women, by and large, are more spiritually-inclined and more committed to Christian duty than their male counterparts.

God, however, primarily entrusted men with the role of spiritual leadership in the household. It was to fathers that Moses, speaking the words of God, said, "Hear, O Israel: Yahweh is our God, Yahweh alone. You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lied down and when you arise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6.6-9).

These words form the Shema, a constant reminder of God's sovereignty and one's personal commitment to God, and of the father's obligation to instruct his children to honor God and his law. The Rabbis taught that these words were to be recited by husbands and fathers with the evening prayers at the close of each day, and again with the morning prayers at the dawning of each new day. The importance of religious instruction in the household was not to be dismissed.

Today, many men have dismissed their obligation to provide spiritual leadership in the household. Religious instruction is left to wives and mothers, or to ministers and teachers. And, we wonder why so many have forsaken God and why our culture has become so corrupt and evil.

Fathers, it is said by sociologists that we have the greatest influence over the spiritual development of your children. The children of a father who dismisses church involvement and spiritual disciplines are much more likely to forsake such values, themselves, when they reach adulthood. These findings represent no trend, but are founded upon God's creative order. Husbands and fathers, God has given us a responsibility. Have we taken it seriously?

A Most Overlooked Passage

2010-07-29T21:55:00.001-06:00

"John answered, 'Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.' But Jesus said to him, 'Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you'" (Luke 9.49-50).

Is this the most overlooked passage in the Bible? I believe that a case can be made that it is one of the most forgotten passages in Scripture. The episode is brief, and this may contribute to the disregard shown it. The episode is challenging, and perhaps this is a more likely reason it is overlooked.

What are the implications of this short encounter between John and Jesus? Do we dismiss the story as incidental and not worthy of much attention? Or do we see this brief exchange between Jesus and a disciple as a teachable moment filled with some far-reaching principle?

"We tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us," John complains. "Do not stop him," Jesus responds, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

Certainly too much can be read into this dialogue and our interpretation of it can be too extreme if not tempered with reason, but surely it offers us some advice on how to relate to others who act and speak in Jesus' name. Let's consider the implications.

Is Jesus condemning all criticism and ostracism of anyone who operates under the guise of Christianity? After all the agent of John's ire was "casting out demons in his name." What is meant by John's objection, "he does not follow with us"?

We are certainly expected and, I believe, obligated to counter false teaching, teaching that perverts the gospel and places the souls of people in peril, but we are to do so reluctantly and cautiously while making absolutely certain that the grounds of our objection to what we deem as false is secure and not based solely on our "own" sense of right and wrong. We can be too quick to judge, and we often judge others on the basis of what we feel is right or according to that which with we are personally comfortable. Our judgments are most often made according to our personal experiences and traditions, and so we are quick to condemn anything that is new, innovative, or different from our own practices.

Are not many of our criticisms of other religious people and groups focused on trivial matters, matters of opinion, and matters where we cannot quote chapter and verse with gravel-pounding authority? Yet are not the criticisms of false teachers in the New Testament always centered on bedrock theological principles--matters such as a proper understanding of God the Father, Christ, and grace? Where are the controversies that are so prevalent today, controversies that are given so much of our focus today? Certainly the controversies of yesterday will differ from the controversies of today--the passing of time necessarily redefines the sources of conflict. Yet should we not take some guidance from the approach of Paul, Peter, James . . . and yes from Jesus? "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

A Prayer to the God Who Sees

2010-07-27T21:55:00.002-06:00

Father God, help me to see as you see, or at the very least to realize and be comforted by the fact that you see all when my vision is often very limited. My perspective is often quite small, Father. My sight is obstructed by time and place, by the limitations of my physical presence, by my intellect and understanding (which are both quite human and not omniscient like you), by my prejudices and hangups, by my sin and stubbornness, and by the sin and deception of others. But, you, Father, can see past through all of these things to see the Big Picture. Thus, I must trust you and depend upon you . . . to accept the guidance you give. I get so impatient. I want a resolution now to the trials I experience. But, you are the one who sees, and I will trust in you to see me through.

Humans Are A Lot Like Turtles

2010-07-26T14:12:00.001-06:00

Humans are a lot like turtles: we have shells. Not a physical shell that protects us from the elements or from predators, but a shell we create and modify throughout the years of our lifetime--an emotional sphere in which we can feel comfortable, secure, and unthreatened.

Sometimes we call our sphere a comfort zone. We are careful to engage in activities that don't overly stress us, to accept those beliefs that do not overly challenge us, and to relate to people that do not overly intimidate us. New activities, beliefs, and people often present us with a challenge.

Do you remember when a new student was introduced into your classroom at school? There was a nervousness in the air, wasn't there? "Is he going to be weird?" you asked yourself. "Will I fit in?" he wondered to himself. In time, however, these anxieties dissipated as the "new kid" gradually became incorporated into the life of your class. Fear was weakened through the expanse of knowledge and experience.

We live in a time when the culture about us is changing at an unprecedented rate. It is easy to become intimidated by the evolution of society. It is easy to shrink back into our shells and desire to live as if it were yesterday. But, adaptability is an essential component of life.

If you were to take a snapshot of the church standing on the threshold of the 21st Century and compare it to one taken of thew 1st Century Church, would the pictures be a mirror-image of one another? In certain respects, yes: we share in the fundamentals of Christian faith. In certain respects, no: we may differ in terms of methodology and practice. The passage of time results in the transformation of any organism or institution.

The Gospel of Jesus is timeless and the faith we express and practice is not affected by the transformation of society and culture. However, our methods of teaching and worship, service and fellowship, are often affected by time, and rightfully so. And, thus, when certain circumstances such as lessened effectiveness demand change let us not fear new things, but approach them with a rationality founded on the Spirit's direction, study, and prayer.

Remember the 1st Century church as it wrestled with the inclusion of Gentile converts within the boundary of Christian fellowship. The church was faced with a dilemma and the specter of newness. Many sought to withdraw within their shells--within their established comfort zones--and not attain to a new plateau. Many sought God's guidance, stepping out of their shells, and becoming transformed into a people ready to confront the next challenge.

Where do we stand today?

What Is Prayer?

2010-07-25T13:41:00.001-06:00

Prayer is a conversation with God. A conversation requires at least two parties engaged in shared thought and expression. Prayer occurs within a context of God speaking to us through his word, history, other people, and his creation.

Prayer is a product of faith. Prayer is predicated on the belief that someone is listening. In Matthew 6.5-8, Jesus condemns two falso approaches to prayer: (1) religious ritual for the show of it, and (2) calling on God out of habit and custom. Prayer must be passionate and come from an active faith that God is the Father who loves his children.

Prayer is an act of humility. We come before God acknowledging that he is the Creator and Sustainer of life. In Matthew 6.9-10, Jesus prays, "Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is done in heaven."

Prayer can be spoken or unspoken. Prayers do not have to be articulated, they can be thought. And, in Romans 8.26, Paul says, "We do not not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."

Prayer can be private or public. We should have a daily habit of personal prayer. We should pray regularly with our family, friends, and the church.

Prayer can be temporal and unceasing. We pray at isolated moments, but prayer should envelope the whole of our lives. In 1 Thessalonians 5.17, Paul commands, "Pray continually (without ceasing)."

Prayer can be self-centered or focused on others. We should pray for ourselves and for others. Paul's description of Epaphras is beautiful: "Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured."

Prayer must be a work in progress. Like our faith, we must grow in prayer. Our understanding and practice of prayer must progress and mature during the course of our lifetime. If we are saying the same prayers at 65 that we said when we were 25, something isn't right.

To the righteous man, prayer is effective. James says, "The prayer of a righteous man is pwoerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again, he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops" (Jas 5.16-18).

Prayer is a blessing. The psalmist praises, "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live" (Ps 116.1-2).

What Are Your Treasured Possessions?

2010-07-23T21:19:00.001-06:00

We collect a lot of stuff over the course of a lifetime.

From time to time, every family has a garage sale or yard sale. The time comes to part with many of the things acquired over the years. The lack of use and a shortage of storage are usually the reasons for the effort to downsize.

I have found that the process of selecting items to post for sale is difficult. It is odd how attached we become to things. I know that certain items have a sentimental value—they remind us of special people, of fond occasions, and the like—but they are things, they are things of this world.

Are we as attached to the spiritual treasures we have?

Prayer is a wonderful blessing. The opportunity to stand (or sit, kneel, lay, etc.) before God and communicate to him our thoughts, praises, feelings, and longings is a treasure beyond value. Yet, how often do we relegate prayer to a 30-second corner of our day? How many times is prayer left at the mercy of work schedules, family fun, and allure of the living room idol (TV, of course)?

The study of God’s Word is a wonderful blessing. The Creator of the Universe has expressed himself to us in the pages of the Bible—contemplate the great treasure that has been placed in our hands. Yet, do we cherish moments spent reading and listening, meditating and learning? A three-hour sporting contest doesn’t eat up too much our day, but 30 minutes of reading is thought too much?

Togetherness with men and women of common faith is a wonderful blessing. God has blessed us with those who can strengthen our faith, but how often do we neglect meeting together, sharing together, working together? Do we under appreciate time spent with our spiritual family?

How sad it is that we often value more the piles and piles of stuff stored in our garages than we do the countless blessings God has give to us.

Do you know this song?

2010-07-22T23:01:00.003-06:00

I have spent the week editing and updating my devotional song book. I started the project back in 1990, the summer I began as youth minister for the University Church of Christ in Denver, Colorado. Every 3-5 years, I try to update and enlarge the book, adding songs that are "new" or "newly discovered."

This week, I discovered a song new to me. It is a song with beautiful and meaningful lyrics. But, unfortunately, I do not know the tune. Can you help me out?

Here is the song:

Mighty God
Author Unknown

You are the sunshine and I am a candle
You are the mountain and I am a hill
You are the ocean and I am a river
Winding and swirling and never quite still
Winding and swirling and never quite still

You are a Mighty God, Your deeds are so awesome
Mighty God, I stand amazed
You are a Mighty God, I worship You only
You are so mighty and worthy of praise
You are so mighty and worthy of praise
You are so mighty and worthy of praise

You are the canyon and I am a crevice
You are the heavens and I am a star
You are the thunder and I am a whisper
Quietly longing to be where you are

You are a Mighty God, Your deeds are so awesome
Mighty God, I stand amazed
You are a Mighty God, I worship You only
You are so mighty and worthy of praise
You are so mighty and worthy of praise
You are so mighty and worthy of praise

To the Teachers of My Children

2010-07-21T17:00:00.000-06:00

I did not write the following. I'm not sure who did, but the sentiment is certainly shared by me and the countless others who are continually blessed by Bible class teachers.

An Open Letter to the Teachers of My Children

Two or three times a week I trust you with my most prized jewels, and those two or three times a week, you live up to that trust and return them to me—though not quite the same. Somehow you manage to take them and gradually, week by week, polish them to make them shine a little more than I sometimes think possible. You are patient and wise enough to see the potential for riches in what others may see as only rough ore.

I know you spend much unnoticed time in preparation to teach my children about Jesus. I’ve seen the literally hundreds of objects they bring home to remind them of your object lessons. You always win when I prematurely suggest discarding certain Bible class memorabilia. Much of it has a lot of your TLC, not to mention time and creativity, behind it.

I saw a note one of you wrote to my children, challenging her to be the great Christian leader and example you expect her to be. You even promised to pray for my daughter and reminded her that you are always there if she needs to talk.

Thank you for the time, the love, the prayers, the expectations and the support you devote to my children. And thank you for being a constant reflection of Jesus. They notice. And when they do, so do I.

Please resist the temptation to feel unappreciated. You’re not only appreciated but needed—and not just by my children but by me. And please don’t underestimate your influence or your teaching role on them or me as a parent. My children echo much of what you teach them, probably more than you think they hear. In fact, they remember some of your stories and illustrations long after they are promoted to another class.

As a Bible class teacher, you give my children Christ and yourself. I can’t give you enough thanks.

The Gift of Singing

2010-07-20T11:48:00.000-06:00

I wrote this article in August 2002, following a camp session at Quartz Mountain Christian Camp in Oklahoma.

At camp two weeks ago, I was reminded of the gift of song. In attendance was a young camper, Brian, who loved to sing. He was not familiar with most of the words to the songs we sang, but still he sang. He was always out of tune, but still he sang. And, on his face, as he sang as loud as could be, there was a beaming smile.

Have we forgotten the gift of song? As we gather to worship, I look around as the songs are sung. The faces I see are often expressionless. Eyes are downcast. The words are more mumbled than spoken. Many just sit there, silent, thoughts wandering to who knows where. We hurry through the songs, to get to the real reason why we came. The songs are made an afterthought . . . a way to pass time? Have we forgotten the gift of song?

“Come, let us sing with joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation.” These are the words of Psalm 95, a beautiful song of praise. Little Brian reminded me of these words as he sang with such passion.

What a wonderful gift God has given to us: the ability to lift our voices in song. We are commanded to sing to one another, but not in order to pass the time, or as a means to transition from one act of worship to another. We are commanded to sing to one another in order to encourage and to teach and to inspire and to uplift one another.

Singing is a rather unique act of worship in that we are called upon to join together in one action. A preacher preaches, the congregation listens. A prayer leader words a prayer, the church is present in spirit, but the words remain those of the leader. And, at the Table, our reflections are usually to ourselves. But, as we sing, our voices are lifted as one. We may sing different notes, and the words may not be the same for all, but the effect is singular . . . it is communal: a song from all those present is offered to God.

Come, let us sing with joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation.

He Left the Throne of Heaven

2010-07-19T12:18:00.001-06:00

Is it not the most beautiful sentence that has even been written? “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3.16, ESV).

He left the throne of heaven to become a man. He became a person like you and me. Not for a few hours, or a day, or a week did he come, not even for a month or a year. No, he experienced the fullness of humanity, from birth to death, and he assumed all that is common to life.

He left the throne of heaven and came into the world through the same means that you and I are introduced to life. His conception, albeit miraculous, was followed by a birth that was rather natural. He came not to the halls of kings, but came forth into this world in a stable, in the most humble of places. His birth was heralded not by the wealthy and powerful but by shepherds coming in from their fields. His childhood, implied from the scarcity of information given to us, must have been rather ordinary. He went through the same stages of life that we all experience. He grew to be a man.

He left the throne of heaven to live an ordinary life. I doubt that he was physically imposing. His looks must have been rather plain. I imagine that he appeared a lot like his neighbor across the street. I imagine his hands bore the calluses of a carpenter. The Gospels speak of times when he was hungry, when he grew weary, we he felt sadness and wept.

He left the throne of heaven to accomplish a mission that was anything but ordinary. He came to live a life that pleased God, to show a way that no man could walk on his own. He came to teach and to inspire, he came to serve and to heal, he came to offer himself as the perfect sacrifice no other could bring.

He left the throne of heaven and gave himself into the hands of evil men. These men took him and nailed him to a cross. He did not resist them. He did not curse his enemies. He did not call 10,000 angels to rescue him from death. He simply bowed his head, lifted his cross, and died on a windswept hillside.

He left the throne of heaven to show us beyond a doubt of God’s great love for mankind. He became one of us to show us the will of God and to provide a way for us to stand before heaven’s throne for eternity.

A Far Side Favorite

2010-07-18T12:50:00.001-06:00

Our Amazing Bodies

2010-07-17T12:40:00.001-06:00

I am not sure who wrote the following article, but it is good. What a wonderful God we have!

It was a familiar scene. The young couple were going over the monthly bills, trying to stretch their money to cover their obligations. There will bills from the drug store, mall stores, gasoline companies, electric and water bills, etc. In an effort to break the tension, trying to be humorous, the husband said, “Isn’t it s good thing that God doesn’t bill us for the air we breath?”

A most serious thought was spoken lightheartedly. What if God decided to bill us for the wonderful body he has given us? The Psalmist said, “I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139.14).

What if God billed us for . . .

Our ears? A piano has 88 keys, but our ears have a keyboard of 1,500 keys. They are so finely tunes that you can hear the blood running through your vessels. The outside of your ears can catch up to 73,700 vibrations a second.

Our eyes? They are both microscopes and telescopes. They can gaze into the heavens and see a star millions of miles away, or inspect the smallest insect.

Our feet? Each foot has 26 bones, none of which is wider than your thumb. The foot is so manufactured (arched) with its ligaments, tendons, muscles and joints that a 300 pound man can put all his weight on these tiny bones.

Our heart? Its size is about the size of your fist, but pumps (beats) 4320 times an hour. In a year, your heart beats about 40 million times. A drop of blood can make a round trip in your circulatory system in only 22 seconds.

Yes, what if God sent us a bill for this marvelous body in which we live? Staggering, isn’t it? But God does not send bills. He just loves us and cares for us. Can we do any less that to return his love? We show him our love by obedience to his Word and by faithful stewardship of that which he has entrusted us.

What You Can't Control

2010-07-15T13:50:00.005-06:00

I do not know who wrote this poem. It is short, but it says so much!

You can’t control
The length of your life,
But you can control
Its width and depth.

You can’t control
The contour of your face,
But you can control
Its expression.

You can’t control
The weather,
But you can control
The atmosphere of your mind.

Why worry
About things you can’t control,
When you can keep yourself busy
Controlling the things
That depend on you?

Church Rock, south of Moab, Utah, with La Sal Mountains in background.

Equipping Our Children to Make Wise Decisions

2010-07-14T12:40:00.002-06:00

I read an interesting article a couple of years ago, and though somewhat dated, it remains relevant. The article: “Adolescent Pregnancy: Current Trends and Issues.” It was authored by Dr. Jonathan Klein, and was published in the July 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In his article, Klein presents some startling statistics. He writes, “Currently, more than 45% of high school females and 48% of high school males have had sexual intercourse. The average age of first intercourse is 17 years for girls and 16 years for boys. However, approximately one fourth of all youth report having had intercourse by 15 years of age.” He continues, “Involuntary sexual activity (rape, assault, foundling, etc.) has been reported by 74% of sexually active girls younger than 14 years and 60% of those younger than 15 years.” And, perhaps, most shocking: “Current surveys indicate that 11% of high school females and 17% of high school males report having had 4 or more sexual partners.”

Klein argues that there a number of “predictors of sexual intercourse during the early adolescent years.” They include “early pubertal development, a history of sexual abuse, poverty, lack of attentive and nurturing parents, cultural and family patterns of early sexual experience, lack of school or career goals, substance abuse, and poor school performance or dropping our of school.”

Klein lists a number of “factors associated with a delay in the initiation of sexual intercourse.” These include “living with both parents in a stable family environment, regular attendance at places of worship, higher family income, parental supervision, setting expectations, and parent/child connectedness.”

Parents, you would do well to consider the information in this article. Let us equip and empower our kids to make wise decisions.

The Greatest Mission of the Church

2010-07-13T13:23:00.001-06:00

Our window of opportunity is narrow. They are with us for only a short time. Our obligation to them should be at the top of our list of priorities. For, if we allow the opportunity we are given to slip from our hands, another generation of the church will be lost. I am speaking of our youth and our responsibility to teach them and guide them and prepare them for a lifetime of faith and service to God.

Pardon my bluntness, but the evidence of our weak resolve and shallow commitment to the spiritual instruction and development of our youth is stark. There are so many churches in our land, including our own, that are filled with senior adults but are so visibly short of middle-aged and younger generations. I applaud the faith of those in the twilight of their years, but I lament the absence of those between the ages of 20-50. I attribute their absence, in part, to a neglect of our children, a neglect particularly visible in smaller congregations like our own.

We neglect our children when we invest little time or resource in our program of Bible classes. Those who teach our kids need to be constantly affirmed by the whole church, and more of us need to be involved in teaching. Our classrooms need to be comfortable and spacious places where it is easy to teach and to learn. Our curriculum needs to be practical and meaningful and contemporary. We need to make available resources that facilitate visual and experiential instruction, for a child will effectively retain only 10-20% of what they hear, but as much as 90% of what they see and feel and do. We need to understand the different maturity levels of our children (herding 7th graders and 12th graders into the same class environment is usually counterproductive).

We neglect our youth when we fail to appreciate the constant pressures that they are under. Adolescence is the most difficult and formative stage of a person’s life; it is said that 90% of a person’s “value system” is formed before the age of fifteen. So, the church must help parents equip children to make right decisions, to place themselves in proper environments, and to nurture healthy relationships. The church can do this by programming alternatives to the unwholesome activities that are so pervasive in our society. An active and vibrant youth group experience can provide a young person with a safe haven in which faith can grow and a person develop in a nurturing environment.

As I was growing up, the youth center of the Green Lawn Church of Christ was the safest and most encouraging place I knew to go. I would go there after school and hang out with my friends, I would go there on Friday and Saturday nights; it was my home away from home. I did not have to worry about being tempted to do unwholesome things while I was at the youth center. I knew that I was surrounded by people who cared about me and loved me and who shared my faith in God.

We neglect our youth when we do not prepare them for service and leadership in the church. We need to teach our young men to lead in worship. We need to instruct our boys and girls on how to teach a Bible class, on how to serve the needs of others, on how to use their artistic and creative skills to enhance the education programs and aesthetics of the church. We encourage our youth when we show them that they are not alone in this development (our kids need the affirmation of seeing their peers from other congregations engaged in the same activities).

The most important mission of the church is to raise up its own young to be faithful to God. For, if we cannot teach our own, how can we proclaim the Gospel to the world?

Often times we talk a good game, but are we serious about the task?

What's On Your Account Ledger?

2010-07-12T12:36:00.001-06:00

Love “does not take into account a wrong suffered” (1 Corinthians 13.5). Of all the descriptions of love contained within the apostle Paul’s masterful treatise on the subject of love, this concept is the most challenging to me. In a way, Paul is saying that love is blind, and that love has no memory.

We have all been hurt by the words and actions of others. We have all be treated unfairly, and even many of us have been cheated, lied about, or falsely accused. Paul says that our love must extend beyond such ill treatment.

Surely, Paul is exaggerating the issue. Isn’t he simply painting the ideal picture of love and not that which is possible or even likely? Surely, Paul knows that love can only extend so far, and that it must be conditioned upon reciprocal treatment and returned love. No, Paul is most certainly serious. The standard for love he describes is the standard to which our love must be measured.

What Paul describes is the love our Lord showed. I stay amazed at the event described in John 13, where Jesus took the position of a lowly household servant and washed the dirty, stinky, ugly feet of his disciples. In that room, and among the men whom he served, were Peter and Judas, men who would betray and deny him only hours later. Yet, Jesus loved them despite the knowledge of what they would do. And, even more amazing than this, he looked down from the cross upon those who had hung him there, and he prayed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

Love “does not take into account a wrong suffered.” I am challenged by these words. For about three years, I have been mistreated by a person close to me. The details of the abuse are not important, but I have been repeatedly misjudged by this person and have been accused unfairly, without being given the recourse to show my innocence. My responses have been human. I have been angry. I have been bitter. I have said things that I shouldn’t have. I have struggled to forget the ill treatment and disrespect shown to me. I have kept an account of a wrong suffered.

I must learn how to love as Paul says I must love—blindly and without memory. Please pray for me as I struggle in this. For, it truly is only through the strength that God supplies that this love is made possible.

How Much Time Had Passed?

2010-07-11T13:47:00.001-06:00

He returned home, but how much time had passed?

Jesus’ narrative (Luke 15.11-32) gives the reader no firm clue. He simply indicates that in time the young man awoke to his senses and returned to his father.

The he, of course, is the man often called the prodigal son. And, it is an interesting and instructive question to ask: how much time had passed before he returned home? Was it six months? . . . A couple of years? . . . A decade? . . . Most of a lifetime?

His story has been relived countless times in the course of human history. How many have walked in his shoes? How many fathers and mothers have stood at the gate waiting anxiously for their prodigal child to return?

I know many parents who stand today waiting for a wayward child to return from a place of faithless living far removed from God. Time after time, efforts to instruct and direct and correct are rebuffed. The promise of the wise man seems shallow—“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when old, he will not depart” (Proverbs 22.6), the wise man wrote.

But, the promise is not founded on immediacy, is it? “And when he is old . . . ,” the wise man explains. Old is certainly an abstract term, but it is significant that he did not write, “and he will never stray.” Does the promise allow (perhaps anticipate) a time of waywardness followed by a return?

My point is simple: parents, there is hope, so don’t give up waiting at the gate. It is possible that the prodigal returned after being away for only six months. It is just as likely that he was gone for years upon years. After all, he did spend away an entire inheritance.

So, to the fathers and mothers waiting anxiously at the gate: be concerned, but do not despair; be concerned, but do not be overly critical of your parenting; be concerned, but do not give up hoping. Be patient, and allow the seed so faithfully planted to take root and grow and transform a life. Remember: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when old, he will not depart.”

Chocolate 'n Vanilla

2010-07-10T01:20:00.002-06:00

Thanks to the crews from Tecumseh, Oklahoma and Oregon City, Oregon who have painted my house this week.

May Our Shouts Be Reduced to Civility

2010-07-08T23:07:00.001-06:00

There seems to be a lot of shouting these days. I am not speaking of the arena of politics, nor am I speaking of the cultural clashes, or the roar of thousands gathered to see a sporting contest. Sadly, I am speaking of conflict within the church.

Throughout our land, churches are best with turmoil and division. Factions of Christians have lined up against one another. You have heard the labels, they sound as if they are names for sports teams or political parties: Liberal, Conservative, Progressive, Legalistic. Voices are raised, tempers flare, feelings are hurt, and brothers are divided.

“You’re violating my conscience,” shouts one. “You are weak in your understanding,” responds another. “You’re seeking to destroy the church,” one levels. “You’re just holding us back with your stubbornness,” chastises another. “It’s my way or no way,” argues yet another.

The fighting seems to make a mockery of Jesus’ words, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13.35). The shouting seems to dismiss the prayer of our Lord: “I ask . . . that they may be one” (Jn. 17.20-21).

It is human nature to defend what seems to be right and to promote that which is personally beneficial or comfortable. However, our identity as Christians and as joint heirs of the eternal blessings of God demands that we defer to one another in love. Paul’s words are clear: “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. . . . Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which you were called in the one body” (Col. 3.12-15).

In this spirit, may each of us defer to one another in love. May our shouts be reduced to civility. May our separate agendas be replaced with the unified agenda of proclaiming God’s eternal love to a lost and dying world. We can get along, we can be one, and we can impact our world with the Gospel of Christ, but we must begin by humbling ourselves.

Classic Calvin

2010-07-08T00:51:00.001-06:00

He Set His Face

2010-07-07T17:24:00.000-06:00

Staying the course is not always easy.

The Gospel writer describes the resoluteness of Jesus as he set out for Jerusalem, despite knowing the tragedy that would occur there. In Luke 9.51, the description is given, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” A rather matter-of-fact statement. A statement that subtly underscores the determination with which Christ set out on the path that would lead to his death.

The statement should remind one of the words Isaiah spoke about the one called the “Lord’s Servant.” This servant is the Messiah, the one God would send as deliverer and redeemer.

The Lord’s Servant speaks of the difficult and trying times he would face, of the opposition that would be pitted against him, and he concludes in Isaiah 50.7, “The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near.”

The Lord’s Servant affirms that God will be with him during his time of trial and that he will overcome, with God’s help, the opposition he will face. The Servant is able to declare, “I have set my face like flint,” a statement declaring his resolve to be faithful to the task given him by God.

Jesus, writes Luke, “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” He would go to the place of the cross with the same spirit of resolve exhibited by God’s Servant.

Do we share in Jesus’ resolve as we follow in his steps and obey the will of our Father? So many distractions vie for our gaze; it is so difficult, at times, to concentrate on the task at hand . . . faithful service to God.

Let us refocus and become more resolute as we follow the steps of our Savior and Lord. Our God will surely provide us with the strength we need.

Worship In a Van

2010-07-06T14:33:00.001-06:00

The plan: worship together on the slopes of a majestic mountain under the bright blue sky. The reality: a memorable two hour service of prayer and praise in a cramped Ford van. The lesson: the church is not made of bricks and mortar, and it is not a place on a map, but it is men and women who have been purchased by the blood of Christ.

The occasion was a camping trip I put together a number of years ago. I had taken about 25 youth and parents to a camping area a few miles south of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. We arrived on Friday, with plans to return home on Monday. The highlight, for me, would be worship on Sunday—gathered around a roaring camp fire, with the beauty of nature as the backdrop, sitting on naturally-hewn pews singing, praying, hearing God’s Word, and sharing in the thanksgiving of communion.

Yet, Sunday “dawned” with a thunderstorm the likes of which this boy from the plains of Texas had never seen. There was torrential rain, hailstones, lightning, thunder, wind, but no campfire, no pews of rock and timber, no picturesque setting in which to “have church.”

So, we huddled together, all 25 of us, in a 15-passenger Ford van. We sang, we prayed, we read God’s Word, and we partook of the Lord’s Supper. For two hours, we joined in worship to the God who created all that was about us and all that was in us. At least one important lesson was made clear: the church is not made of bricks and mortar, and it is not a “place” on a map, but it is men and women who have been purchased by the blood of Christ.

How much of our energy and resources is given to bricks and mortar, and to places “on the map”? Much of the attention has become a necessity: the wise steward in us dictates that buildings that “have been built” should be kept in working order. Yet, how easy it is to forget that the church is “people” is that our calling is not to build buildings, but “relationships.”

We must remember, we are in the business of building relationships with God and among men. When buildings and properties and physical concerns occupy the bulk of our energies and resources, then I believe we have compromised our identity as the church of Christ.

Chocolate Cake

2010-07-05T17:19:00.001-06:00

A slice of chocolate cake. What brings more joy than a slice of chocolate cake?

It really is the simple things in life that bring the most joy. A child's laugh. Freshly baked cookies. A hug. A newly bloomed rose. A smile. A snow-capped mountain peak. "Jesus Loves Me."

What brings more joy than a slice of chocolate cake? Okay, okay . . . you gotta have a dip of vanilla ice cream on top! Blue Bell homemade vanilla ice cream!!!

Life's Legacy: She Loved KFC?

2010-07-04T14:00:00.002-06:00

Over the years, I have been asked to officiate a lot of funerals.

Many times, these occasions, while sad, can be times of joy and a blessing to the preacher. Death is a natural part of life, it is inevitable, and for many it marks the ending of a time of sickness and physical discomfort and pain and the passing to a life of wholeness . . . a life lived in the eternity promised to those in Christ. Those who are left to grieve, while sad, are comforted in the faith that God blesses his people. (For the minister, blessing can come in his contact with the family, the pastoral care that is given, and in the joy of bringing honor to the one who has passed, through the words that are spoken. An older minister told me long ago that the experience of a funeral can bring you closer to a family than just about anything else.)

There are times, however, when death is altogether sad . . . and final.

A few years ago I directed a funeral that was altogether sad. It was for a woman I did not know. As I prepared my remarks, I was told that she had a brief relationship with the church many years ago, and may have even been baptized at some point, but for 50 years had no obvious life of faith.

When I meet with a family to plan a funeral, I ask for memories of the one who has passed and for special reflection on their character. As I met with this particular family, in preparation for my remarks at the woman's funeral, I was given just one statement about the person (beyond the bare details of the obituary). A son-in-law simply said, "She loved KFC." That was it. That was all the family could tell me about this person . . . their mother, sister, aunt, friend.

She loved KFC. That was the one memory her family had of her. How sad.

Now, perhaps I am being too cold . . . too harsh. Perhaps the family was too steeped in grief to be able to articulate anything more. I truly hope that there was something more, much more, about this woman than that she loved fried chicken. But, sadly, many live their lives focused on the superficial. Despite the potential for a deeper and more meaningful legacy, some devote all their attention and energies on things that will not last . . . things that will go to the grave with them.

I am reminded of Esau. You know, the one who sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. Give me some of that "red stuff" he demanded of his brother. The writer of Hebrews warns: "See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears" (Hebrews 12.16-17).

Life in this world is never certain. Make your legacy be something substantially more than "She loved KFC."

Father, Give me a Good Kick!

2010-07-02T17:28:00.001-06:00

Father, in the abundance of your blessings, you give me opportunity. Opportunity to serve, to love, to share, to give, opportunity to bless others. But, so much of the time, my fervor to serve, to love, to share, to give, and to bless wanes. I am so preoccupied with my own concerns, needs, activities, and ambitions. With the opportunities you give me, grant to me also a willing heart, motivation, give me a good kick and move me out of my comfort (or my rut) so that I may be about your business, your concerns, to share the blessing of your love with others.

At Home In a Small Church

2010-07-01T22:23:00.000-06:00

In my life, I have been apart of many different congregations ranging from the very large to the very small. If I have learned anything from this experience it is that I am most at home in a small church.

I have been apart of churches that had a membership of 50, and those that had a membership of over 1,000, and those with memberships somewhere in between these extremes. There are advantages and disadvantages to all sizes of churches. Here are some of my observations.

Larger churches . . .

1. . . . can usually afford to address every demographic in the congregation in effective and specialized ways.

2. . . . can usually have a significant profile in the community.

3. . . . are usually less hung up on traditions that stifle progress.

4. . . . are oftentimes a collection of cliques and several people who are overlooked.

5. . . . sometimes facilitate the performance of the few and the spectatorship of the many.

6. . . . sometimes become so consumed with meeting the needs of the congregation that they forget the wider mission field.

7. . . . sometimes reduces leaders to acting as mere managers and caretakers.

Smaller churches . . .

1. . . . often behave and function as an extended family.

2. . . . often require the service of the many and few are left inactive.

3. . . . often excel at ministering to those in crises and deep need.

4. . . . often are less consumed with finances than are larger churches.

5. . . . often are more ready to give an ear to missionaries and mission efforts (I'm learning this from personal experience as I travel the country on behalf of MNCH).

6. . . . sometimes are beset with the inter-familial conflict that roils in too many families.

7. . . . sometimes are beset with reactionary mindsets and are stifled by tradition.

8. . . . often lack a healthy balance of demographics.

What are some of your observations regarding small churches and large churches? Which do you prefer?

Mind Over Matter

2010-06-29T22:29:00.000-06:00

You find yourself in a set of circumstances you wish were different: the choices are (A) to be disappointed and bitter, or (B) to grin and bear it. Most seem to choose (A), but (B) is certainly the choice of character.

I played football for Lubbock Christian School from the 7th grade through the 12th grade. Early into that first season, I was pegged as a lineman . . . much to my chagrin. I wanted to be a running back. But, the coaches assigned me to the offensive and defensive lines, and that is where I played six seasons. I had some success as a lineman (in between some awful performances), but all the time I longed to be a running back. I wasn't all that bitter, but I did allow the circumstance of not being in the position I wanted to inhibit the effort I gave the position I was assigned. In other words, I was half-hearted in my play as a lineman, and was a rather mediocre player because of it. To this day, I wonder how good I could have been had I played with more enthusiasm.

How much productivity is lost because we are moping around over some disappointment or perceived slight? How many good experiences are forfeited because we are pouting over something that did not go our way? How much potential goes unrealized because are wishing to be somewhere else or doing something different?

Grin and bear it. Not a faint smile, but a genuine optimism that carries us through all situations and accompanying us through moments good and bad. It is the attitude of Paul when he wrote in Philippians 4.12-13: "I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content--whether well-fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all thing through Him who strengthens me."

Let us begin each day with a smile on our face and keep that smile until the day draws to a close. Let us remember that each day is a blessing, filled with opportunity. Let us face each challenge and engage in every task with enthusiasm . . . with the attitude, "I will do my best, give my best, be the best I can be."

Life Is Full of Opportunities

2010-06-28T23:42:00.000-06:00

The story is told of a young man who wished to marry a farmer’s beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask for his blessing. The farmer looked him over and said, “Son, go stand out in that field and I’m going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter.”

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out rant the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate.

The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood, pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber, eyeing him. Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture, out the back gate.

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest, scrawniest little bull he had ever seen. Here was his opportunity! As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at the exact moment. He grabbed . . . but the bull had no tail!

Life if full of opportunities. Some will be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult. But, once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better), those opportunities may never again be available.

The same thing is also true of opportunities to serve Christ. God often opens doors—opportunities to speak up for him, opportunities to minister to someone who is hurting or in need, opportunities to leave a lasting influence on those around us. If we allow them to pass by (perhaps because we are waiting for something easier to come along), we may miss out on them altogether.

Consider the words of Paul: “Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thinking God. Also, pray for us that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message” (Col. 4.2-3). “Therefore, as we have opportunity , let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6.10).

Take advantage of the doors God opens for you today!

I'm Afraid to Ask

2010-06-25T23:14:00.001-06:00

Cliff or Homer?

2010-06-16T14:47:00.002-06:00

This week, as I have thought about what to say today about fathers, I've considered the future and wondered how those in centuries from now would evaluate the idea of fatherhood held by people of our generation.

Anthropology is the study of peoples and societies, particularly of the past, and is a discipline that often looks to art, music and literature from the time period in question to get a bearing on the practices and values of the time. In the future, as anthropologists look back to our time, it is quite likely that they will consider the various entertainment mediums prevalent today to gain an understanding of our time . . . analyzing venues such as television, movies, and popular music. If their subjects are fathers and fatherhood, what sort of images will come out of the media of today?

The television shows of our day portray fathers of different sorts. I grew up with the likes of Ben Cartwright, Andy Taylor, Mike Brady and Cliff Huxtable . . . mostly, positive portrayals of fathers . . . but what is the most iconic image of a father in today’s television? Is it Homer Simpson? The dad from That 70's Show? George Lopez? Dan Conner? Hannah Montana’s father? Short of news and sports, I don’t watch too much TV these days, but I could not think of many, if any, positive father-figures in TV shows on today. Can you?

There’s an interesting, but troubling, parallel from 20 years ago. In 1989, the year after I graduated from high school, The Cosby Show was the top rated show on television, but it was nearing its end run. At the same time, another show was introduced to TV, The Simpsons. A startling contrast was offered . . . Cliff Huxtable verses Homer Simpson. The former: hard-working, disciplined, conscientious, an involved and loving father, the epitome of a good and wise dad . . . the later: clueless, foul-mouthed, undisciplined, a lout, and though present in the home, an altogether poor father. I’ve wondered: which TV father has had the greater impact on society’s understanding of fatherhood? Which one will have the longer-lasting legacy?

Greatest Coaches of All Time

2010-06-05T15:19:00.003-06:00

In honor of John Wooden, the Sporting News has published this list of the greatest coaches of all time. It is difficult for me to argue with any ranking, except on the basis of sentimentality. I would have listed Tom Landry as #3 or #4, and would have put Joe Paterno as the top-ranked college football coach. I would have also put Phil Jackson a bit lower on the list, but would still rank him very high on the list, and would put Tony LaRussa MUCH higher than #41. I would also have included Mack Brown, urban meyer, and perhaps Bob Stoops on the list, as well as larry Brown (but, I'm not sure who I would put off the list to make room for them).

1. John Wooden, college basketball
2. Vince Lombardi, NFL
3. Bear Bryant, college football
4. Phil Jackson, NBA
5. Don Shula, NFL
6. Red Auerbach, NBA
7. Scotty Bowman, NHL
8. Dean Smith, college basketball
9. Casey Stengel, MLB
10. Knute Rockne, college football
11. Pat Summitt, women's college basketball
12. Paul Brown, NFL
13. Joe Paterno, college football
14. George Halas, NFL
15. Chuck Noll, NFL
16. Bob Knight, college basketball
17. Joe Gibbs, NFL
18. Tom Landry, NFL
19. Mike Krzyzewski, college basketball
20. Bill Belichick, NFL
21. Adolph Rupp, college basketball
22. Joe McCarthy, MLB
23. Eddie Robinson, college football
24. Bobby Bowden, college football
25. John McGraw, MLB
26. Bill Walsh, NFL
27. Woody Hayes, college football
28. Connie Mack, MLB
29. Bud Wilkinson, college football
30. Pat Riley, NBA
31. Pete Newell, college basketball
32. Joe Torre, MLB
33. Bill Parcells, NFL
34. Tom Osborne, college football
35. Walter Alston, MLB
36. Bo Schembechler, college football
37. Toe Blake, NHL
38. Sparky Anderson, MLB
39. Al Arbour, NHL
40. Amos Alonzo Stagg, college football
41. Tony La Russa, MLB
42. Geno Auriemma, women's college basketball
43. Dick Irvin, NHL
44. Ara Parseghian, college football
45. Chuck Daly, NBA
46. Bobby Cox, MLB
47. Hank Iba, college basketball
48. Tommy Lasorda, MLB
49. Gregg Popovich, NBA
50. Herb Brooks, NHL

Building Character

2010-04-23T17:58:00.000-06:00

From Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Do We Measure Up?

2010-04-21T22:23:00.001-06:00

A most amazing description of the early church is given in Acts 4.32: "Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. . . . There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet and it was distributed to each as any had need."

The spirit of benevolence exhibited by the first Christians is truly extraordinary. Their focus was not directed toward themselves, but toward others--the poor, the hungry, the ill, the homeless, and the lost. Throughout the book of Acts, the church is seen in action, helping those in need, caring for those in difficult circumstances, and using their resources--all of their resources--to ease the suffering of those they encountered.

The spirit of benevolence exhibited in the early church is reflected in their sense of mission. The first Christians were fully aware of the lost condition of the world about them. The compassion that motivated them to care for the poor led them to reach out to those stricken with spiritual poverty--those estranged from God and distant from his grace. Indeed within a generation the Gospel of Peace had been carried from the hill country of Judea to the hills of Rome and beyond.

If Luke were writing the story of our modern times, would he portray the church as a people of compassion, motivated to address the needs, not of themselves, but of the poor and lost? Is our concern for the world about us, or are we focused on bringing comfort to our own lives? Consider: we have built nice, comfortable buildings used as places of assembly--indeed many such buildings grace our communities--yet many around the world are left to worship with much less comfort; and worse, many will go to sleep tonight without the benefit of warmth or security. Consider: we employ preachers and pay them handsomely--indeed in our communities several "professional" ministers are at work--yet much of the world is left without the presence of missionaries and proclaimers of the Gospel. Conder: we collect thousands upon thousands of dollars each year, money earmarked for the service of God's Kingdom, yet a large percentage of the collection is used for ourselves; and when we have been taken care of, we help the needy and lost with the leftovers.

I ask again: If Luke were writing the story of the modern church, would he portray us as a people of compassion, motivated to address the needs, not of ourselves, but of the poor and lost? Is our concern for the world about us, or are we focused on bringing comfort to our own lives.

God's Taking Pictures Of Me!

2010-04-19T15:57:00.002-06:00

A favorite story . . .

Almost without notice, a massive storm began to build on the horizon. Soon winds began to puck up in and around the town, and flashes of lightning could be seen and the distant roll of thunder could be heard and felt.

In this climate a mother worried about the safety of her child, the little girl who would be walking home from school at just this moment. She quickly got into her car and began to drive the route from her house to the school yard.

Before long, the mother spotted her daughter. Surprisingly, the little girl was not frightened by the approaching storm. Instead, she seemed gleeful, and at each flash of lightning and roar of thunder, she would stop, look, and smile. One lightning bolt followed another and with each the little girl stopped, looked at the streak of lightning, and smiled.

By the time the mother reached her daughter she was quite curious. Calling for her daughter to get in the car, she asked, "Why are you smiling at the storm?"

The little girl answered with a smile and a giggle, "Because God keeps taking pictures of me."

Good Guys Really Do Finish FIRST!

2010-04-12T15:35:00.000-06:00

Resurrection Power

2010-04-02T21:29:00.001-06:00

Three years of hope lay shattered. In its place gloom and despair had crept in, rather stormed in. The exaltation of the promised king entering the capital was now a distant memory, even thought the crowds were shouting, "Hosanna! Hosanna!," just a few days before. The future looked to be so bright, but now confusion reigned. What would happen now? Would the authorities come in search of the followers of this so-called pariah? Would they come to erase every hint of the euphoria that had been on display for the past three years?

These thoughts must have entered the minds of those huddled in the small room. These men and women who had left homes and businesses to follow Jesus of Nazareth were dismayed, frightened, and confused. Had their hopes been misplaced? Was this all a frightening nightmare? How could things go so wrong, when so much had been promised?

Then it happened! Jesus, the one they thought to be lost, appeared, standing in their midst! "Peace be with you," he says. "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have" (Luke 24). Seeing the doubt that lingers in the hearts of those present, Jesus takes a piece of fish and eats, showing them he is truly alive.

Doubts and fears give way to joy and exaltation. The hope, once shattered, is renewed. Jesus is alive!

A remarkable transformation took place within that group of disciples on that day. What had hours earlier been a group of frightened and distraught men and women, was now a gathering of excited and joyous people. Their Lord, the one they thought to be dead, was alive--Jesus had arisen! All of the energy and resource that they had devoted to this man had not been in vain--Jesus was alive! Their hope in him as the Messiah, thought to be destroyed by the Cross, was renewed--Jesus was alive!

The power of the Resurrection transformed fearful and dejected disciples into joyous men and women who went on to change their world for Christ. Has the power of the Resurrection affected you? Has the reality of Jesus' life changed your life?

My Favorite Athletes

2010-03-20T12:40:00.003-06:00

I have several lists of "Favorites" on the right hand column of my blog. One of the categories is "Favorite Athletes." I am a sports nut. I was never a great athlete (in fact, I was rather sub par), but I love sports . . . as a spectator!

My favorite sports are football and baseball. I also like golf, tennis, and basketball. If playing is involved, add volleyball to the list.

From my list of favorite athletes, it should be obvious who my favorite teams are: the Dallas Cowboys (pro football) and the St. Louis Cardinals (pro baseball). Add the Oklahoma Sooners to the list if we are talking college football. And, don't forget the San Antonio Spurs (pro basketball). Of course, to throw a bone to my Colorado friends, I must add the Denver Broncos as a distant second NFL favorite, and the Arizona Diamondbacks have supplanted the L. A. Dodgers as my second favorite baseball team.

Now back to my favorite athletes . . . .

I love athletes who are first and foremost gentlemen away from the game . . . good sportsmen, great husbands and fathers and members of the community. I root for those who have overcome great difficulties to become what they are today. Of course, it helps if they wear a star or a redbird on their uniform/jersey!

My favorites . . . .

#1- Roger Staubach . . . would any self-respecting Cowboy fan have any other at the top of his (or her) list? Simply the greatest . . . a legend! My only regret? I was only 10 years old when he retired from the NFL (I still remember his announcement . . . broadcast on the radio as I was in the car with my family returning from a trip to Oklahoma). The only game I remember vividly with him playing at quarterback is the 1978 Super Bowl . . . vs. Denver . . . Dallas creamed them, 27-10!!! And, against an old Cowboy at that . . . Craig Morton.

#2- Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean . . . Hall of Fame pitcher for the "Gashouse Gang" St. Louis Cardinals of the 1930's. I was born in 1970, so how did "Dizzy" make the list? Strat-o-matic Baseball gets the credit (my junior high through high school years were spent playing Strat-0-matic!). My team? The 1934 Cardinals. Dizzy was 30-7 that year and won two games in the World Series against the Detroit Tigers (his brother "Daffy" won two more to hand the Cardinals the Championship).

#3- Bill Bates . . . simply the toughest Dallas Cowboy to ever wear the uniform. And, that says a lot for a franchise that boasts the likes of Randy White, Bob Lilly, "Too Tall" Jones, Darren Woodson, Roy Williams, and Charles Haley. I am wondering when Jerry Jones is going to get around to retiring #40 and installing Bates in the Ring of Honor.

#4- Nolan Ryan . . . I was already a big fan the night I saw Ryan interviewed following his record 7th no-hitter (his closest competitor has only 4!). Instead of celebrating with champagne or a night out on the town, Ryan was interviewed while he was riding an exercise bicycle . . . his work was not done for the night. Hard work. Perseverance. Nolan Ryan knew the secret to success. (Another Ryan highlight: beating Robin Ventura senseless when the White Sox 1B charged the mound on him.)

#5- Jack Nicklaus . . . even with a Tiger on the prowl, the "Golden Bear" is still the definitive golfer of all time . . . and a class act off of the course.

#6- Pete Sampras . . . quiet, unassuming, "lights out" on the tennis court. Never the showman, always the professional.

#7- Joe "Ducky" "Muscles" Medwick . . . another "Gashouse Gang" alum. One the of the most forgotten greats of the game. He was the best all-around hitter in the National League during the 1930's. He is the last NL batter to win the Triple Crown (1937). His picture graces the top of this post.

#8- Satchel Paige . . . if it had not been for the blatant racism in baseball during the 1920's, 30's, and 40's, Satchel would have gone down as the single greatest pitcher in the history of the Major Leagues. His stuff was unbelievable. He comes as close to a pitcher being able to "call his pitches" and get anyone out at anytime.

#9- Albert Pujols . . . another Cardinal . . . perhaps, by the end of his career, the greatest hitter the Cardinals have ever had. And, that says a lot for a team that has boasted Stan Musial, Ducky Medwick, Johnny Mize, and the incomparable Rogers Hornsby.

Beyond my Top 9 . . . Tim Duncan, Tony Romo, Randy White, Tony Gwynn, Francis Oimet (thanks to the Shia LaBouf movie I recently saw), Chris Evert (had to have a female on the list), George Foreman, David Robinson . . . .

Of course, no list of athletes would be complete without mention of a coach. My favorite coaches list begins and ends with one name . . . no either need apply. His name? Tom Landry. Who else's name belongs there?

Simple & Reverant Worship

2010-03-18T21:32:00.000-06:00

As Israel came to worship, God demanded simplicity. In Exodus 20.24, he told his people, “You need make for me only an altar of earth.” It was not to be made of dressed stone. It was not to be atop a platform standing high in the sky. A simple earthen altar is all that God wanted.

Israel’s neighbors had erected elaborate and ornate temples in which to worship their gods. Pagan religion was a spectacle, a show, an event! Yet, Yahweh, the Lord of heaven and earth, demanded simple and reverent worship from his people.

I am reminded of the churches without walls that are so common in Third World countries. They are simple structures; basically, a few columns and a thatched roof—enough to keep worshipers shaded from the sun and protected from the rains. These structures are not much to look at, but they provide a place where Christians can gather and worship God. Each Sunday, thousands from all over India come to these place to pray, sing, study and commune.

Our world is filled with ancient cathedrals and modern arenas—ornate and imposing buildings constructed ostensibly to facilitate worship directed to God, but are they not really more for our sensibilities and comforts? I cannot comprehend the millions upon millions of dollars spent to build these structures and to keep them operating.

And, worship has become an event for so many, a show, great spectacle. Praise bands, graphic arts displays, Hollywood-style productions—and, yet, the Israelites were told, “You need make for me only an altar of earth.”

It is in the simplicity of our worship that the heart shines forth and the passion of our faith is most clearly seen. As we gather each week, let us join our voices in pure song, let us join our hearts and minds in prayer, let us open our ears to the honest and straightforward Word of God, and let us share at the table our remembrances of our Lord.

Calvin on Writing

2010-03-17T09:50:00.002-06:00

Acts 8.4 . . . A Calling for Today

2010-03-16T11:18:00.005-06:00

I opened a new blog today, entitled Acts 8.4. The following article explains what it is about. I would love for your input, involvement and prayerful support.

It seems that the common strategies for church growth consist of a polished and charismatic preacher, a large and ultra-modern facility, and dozens of active programs, among other flashy qualities. The mega-church model is certainly effective, and it is a good thing that these groups are making large impacts for the sake of Christ. BUT, there is another way to share the Gospel . . . more subtle, and even under the radar, but no less important and necessary.

Vocational ministry has been around a long time, even since the beginning days of the church. In fact, vocational ministry certainly predates the professional variety. I doubt Peter ever took much of a paycheck for his preaching . . . perhaps he benefited from the provision of a meal here and there, and perhaps the use of a "bed" to lay his head. And, Paul, often labored with his hands to make possible his evangelistic work. Certainly, the prospects of a consistent salary, housing allowances, IRAs, health insurance, and the like, were centuries away from becoming reality, and, it may seem now, the norm, and expected. BUT, in the beginning days of Christianity, the Gospel was shared, for the most part, by neighbor to neighbor, from one layman to another.

Christianity has made impressive gains in the past 20 centuries. Millions upon millions of people profess faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. And, professional ministry has surely played a big role in this spread. BUT, how much of the growth is the product of ordinary men and women sharing their faith with family, friends, neighbors, and strangers? Surely, a considerable amount.

The example of Acts 8.4 is often overlooked . . . a quick bridge verse connecting the stoning of Stephen with the remarkable ministry of Philip. The verse reads, "So those who were scattered went on their way proclaiming the message of good news" (HCSB). This description comes following a statement that the apostles had remained behind in Jerusalem. The church continued to grow, despite the persecution. The church continued to grow, because of the testimony of the laity . . . average, ordinary men and women convicted in their faith and devoted to sharing what they had discovered in Jesus. Yes, the professionals hit the paths to the mission fields, as well, and educated preachers would make their mark for the sake of Christ. BUT, the church grew, largely, because of the efforts of countless nameless believers.

I live in the western United States, near the shared border of New Mexico and Arizona. Churches here are, for the most part, small, aging and struggling. The mega-church model exists hundreds and thousands of miles from us; it is a model that does not mesh with reality here. The growth strategies of a highly skilled and polished preacher, an imposing facility, and around-the-clock programming are often qualities that are unrealistic here. So, how is the church to grow? Through simplicity, basically, and because of the labors of ordinary men and women. In other words, the ones sitting in the pews must get up and work, and lead, and follow in the steps of Acts 8.4.

BUT, here's a thought and a modern calling . . . how much good could be done by couples trained in various fields--teaching, medicine, business, etc.--relocating from large and effective churches to small and struggling ones? What I am suggesting is that couples and individuals, mature in their faith, and from communities where the church is strong, relocate to areas in the West (and other parts of the country) where the church is weak. For example, a couple graduating with education degrees from Abilene Christian University might choose to find jobs in a town like Aztec, New Mexico or Holbrook, Arizona or Blanding, Utah for the expressed purpose of becoming active in the local church and being a boost to that congregation . . . taking this course, instead of finding employment in Dallas, Houston, or San Antonio, cities where the church is strong, and where one's addition to a congregation would be largely inconsequential (in terms of that church's effectiveness in ministry and outreach).

I call this a modern calling inspired by the example of Acts 8.4, and I find it an important and necessary strategy for church growth in areas where the church (and the Gospel testimony) does not have the footprint it does in other places.

I devote this blog to what I am terming the Acts 8.4 calling. this will be a sounding-board and bulletin board with the expressed purpose of encouraging and facilitating vocational missions (and, particularly, of the variety described in this article). The articles I post here will include profiles of communities where the church is alive but in need of help; in other words, an introduction to places where "transplanted" Christians could be a big help. These profiles will include a description of the communities at large, a survey of employment opportunities, contact information (where known), and other vital information. I invite your feedback and contributions.

Help me make this Acts 8.4 calling a meaningful and productive ministry.

More of Franklin's Words

2010-03-16T08:40:00.003-06:00

There are three faithful friends: an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.

We must all hang together, else we shall all hang separately. (On signing the Declaration of Independence)

In humility imitate Jesus and Socrates.

After crosses and losses, men grow humbler and wiser.

Pity and forbearance should characterize all acts of justice.

Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed. (Poor Richard's Almanac)

A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. (Poor Richard's Almanac)

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safetey deserce neither liberty or safety.

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. (Poor Richard)

If you would be loved, love and be lovable.

Where there's marriage without love, there will be love without marriage. (Poor Richard)

God heals and the doctor takes the fee. (Poor Richard's Almanac)

He's the best physician that knows the worthlessness of the most medicines. (Poor Richard's Almanac)

If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some. (Poor Richard's Almanac)

Let thy child's first lesson be obedience, and the second will be what thou wilt.

Plough deep while sluggards sleep.

He that can have patience can have what he will.

Even peace may be purchased at too high a price.

Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt.

A Sooner Pantry

2010-03-13T23:24:00.004-07:00

We are moving from room to room in the cottage that we are calling home and sprucing up this big house little by little. The first room to receive a make-over was the pantry. The fresh color scheme will be heart warming to the fans of the best college football program in the country. The colors were my wife's choice, and she isn't even a sports fan! The scheme will be extended into the kitchen. We might have to celebrate by having some Longhorns over for a BBQ!!!

And, yes, that's red paint on the window! My roller got away from me . . . ugh!

Words of Wisdom from the First American

2010-03-11T23:10:00.005-07:00

These are a collection of musings uttered by Benjamin Franklin, the first great American.

At 20 years of age the will reigns; at 30 the wit; at 40 the judgment. (Poor Richard's Almanac)

A single man has not nearly the value he would have in a state of union. He is an incomplete animal. He resembles the odd half of a pair of scissors.

A Bible and a newspaper in every house, a good school in every district--all studied and appreciated as they merit--are the principal support of virtue, morality and civil liberty.

Carelessness does more harm than a want of knowledge.

Little boats should keep near shore.

Teach your child to hold his tongue, he'll learn fast enough to speak. (Poor Richard's Maxims)

As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and His religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see.

Constant complaint is the poorest sort of pay for all the comforts we enjoy.

A good conscience is a continual Christmas.

Creditors have better memories than debtors.

It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.

Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others.

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. (Poor Richard's Almanac)

Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.

If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him.

The body of Benjamin Franklin, Printer, (Like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out and stript of its lettering and gilding), Lies here, food for worms; But the work shall not be lost, for it will (as he believed) appear once more in a new and more elegant edition, revised and corrected by the author. (Epitaph on Himself, written in 1728)

None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.

A cheerful face is nearly as good for an invalid as healthy weather.

If you would not be forgotten as soon as you were dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing.

Random Verse

2010-03-05T14:15:00.002-07:00

Time is
Too Slow for those who Wait,
Too Swift for those who Fear,
Too Long for those who Grieve,
Too Short for those who Rejoice,
But for those who Love
Time is not.
--Henry Van Dyke

Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls:
Who steals my purse steals trash;
'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.
--Shakespeare, Othello

For want of a nail the shoe was lost;
for want of a shoe the horse was lost;
and for want of a horse the rider was lost;
being overtaken and slain by the enemy,
all for want of care about a horseshoe nail.
--Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac

Have you had a kindness shown?
Pass it on;
'Twas not given for thee alone,
Pass it on;
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another's tears,
'Til in Heaven the deed appears--
Pass it on.
--Henry Burton

God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine--
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget--lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies,
The captains and the kings depart;
Still stands thine ancient sacrifice,
A humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget--lest we forget.
--Rudyard Kipling, Recessional Hymn

Texas Panhandle Plains

2010-03-05T01:59:00.000-07:00

An Indian Version of the 23rd Psalm

2010-02-27T14:03:00.004-07:00

The Great father above a Shepherd Chief is.
I am His, and with Him I want not.
He throws to me a rope, and the name of the rope is love.
He draws and draws me to where the grass is green and the water is dangerous not.
I eat and lie down and am satisfied.
Sometimes my heart is very weak and falls down,
but he lifts me up again and draws me into a good road.
His name is Wonderful.

Sometime, it may be very soon, it may be many many moons,
He will draw me into a valley.
It is dark there but I'll be afraid not,
for it is between those mountains that the Shepherd Chief will meet me
and the hunger that I have in my heart all through this life
will be satisfied.

Sometimes He makes the love rope into a whip,
but afterward He gives me a staff to lean upon.
He spreads a table before me with all kinds of foods.
He puts His hand upon my head and all the "tired" is gone.
My cup He fills till it runs over.
What I tell is true. i lie not.
These roads that are "away ahead" will stay with me through this life,
and afterward I will go to live in the Big Tepee
and sit down with the Shepherd Chief forever.

Author Unknown

I Miss This Place!

2010-02-26T08:51:00.015-07:00

I have a lot of favorite places that I have visited in my lifetime. One of those special places is represented by the photographs above. The first pic is a photo of the old barn that stands in Eloy's Meadow, the second image is a view of Hermit's Peak. Both are "landmarks" that any Camp Blue Haven alumnus would know well.

Camp Blue Haven was my home away from home during the summers of 1986, 1987, and 1988. During these summers I worked at Blue Haven as a pot washer. For 10 weeks during each of these summers I had the time of my life. I washed lots and lots of pots and mopped lots and lots of floors, but I made many lifelong friends, and have countless special memories of campfires, hiking trips, volleyball games, practical jokes, zip lines, Hobo meals, talent shows, singing nights, pretty girls! and so much more.

The past 20 years haven't given me much time to get back to Camp Blue Haven. I do drop by every so often, usually only to drive through the campus, but my love for the place is still as warm as it was on that day in June 1986 that I first arrived there. My goal for years has been to return as a teacher during one of the sessions, and hopefully at some point that dream can be realized.

And, yes, that's me! A long, long time ago!

Tomorrow's Way

2010-02-25T08:21:00.005-07:00

I know not if tomorrow's way
Be steep or rough;
But when his hand is guiding me,
That is enough.

And so, although the veil has hid
Tomorrow's way,
I walk with perfect faith and trust
Through each today.

The love of God has hung a veil
Around tomorrow
That we may not its beauty see
Nor trouble borrow.

But oh! tis sweeter far to trust
His unseen hand,
And know that all the paths of life
His wisdom planned.

Author Unknown

Calvin & the Raccoon

2010-02-23T22:58:00.004-07:00

I stopped reading the comics page in the newspaper when Bill Watterson and Gary Larson retired their Calvin & Hobbes and The Far Side strips, respectively, and following the death of Charles Schultz. These three geniuses of the art have no peers.

Here is one of my favorite Calvin & Hobbes strip series.

Wisdom from the Ages

2010-02-23T10:02:00.004-07:00

A collection of old proverbs as published in Five Thousand Quotations for All Occasions, 1945.

I find the medicine worse than the malady. (Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher, early 17th C.)
First come, first served. (Beaumont & Fletcher)
One good turn deserves another. (Beaumont & Fletcher)
Hit the nail on the head. (Beaumont & Fletcher)
Curses are like young chickens, and still come home to roost! (Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 18th C.)
Set a beggar on horseback, and he will ride a gallop. (Robert Burton, early 17th C.)
No rule is so general, which admits not some exception. (Burton)
Look before you ere you leap. (Samuel Butler, late 19th C.)
He that is down can fall no lower. (Samuel Butler)
Better halfe a loafe than no bread. (William Camden, late 16th C.)
No man is a hero to his valet-de-chambre (slave). (Marshal Catinat)
All that glistens is gold. (Miguel de Cervantes, late 16th C.)
Leap out of the frying pan into the fire. (Cervantes, Don Quixote)
Imitation is the sincerest of flattery. (Charles Colton, early 19th C.)
The mill cannot grind with water that has past. (Sarah Doudney, late 19th C.)
Life is short, yet sweet. (Euripides, 5th C. B.C.)
Tall oaks from little acorns grow. (David Everett, late 18th C.)
If you would be loved, love and be lovable. (Benjamin Franklin, 18th C.)
Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today. (Franklin)
Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead. (Franklin)
Where there's a marriage without love there will be love without marriage. (Franklin)
Silence gives consent. (Thomas Fuller, 17th C.)
Handsome is that handsome does. (Oliver Goldsmith, 18th C.)
Out of sight, out of mind. (Barnabe Googe, 16th C.)
Go West, young man, and grow up with the country. (Horace Greeley, 19th C.)
Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it? (George Herbert, early 17th C.)
God's mill grinds slow but sure. (Herbert)
Half the world knows not how the other half lives. (Herbert)
Whose house is of glass, must not throw stones at another. (Herbert)
Robbe Peter and pay Paule. (John Heywood, early 16th C.)
Set the cart before the horse. (Heywood)
Two heads are better than one. (Heywood)
Give an inch, he'll take an ell. (Thomas Hobbes, early 17th C.)
Fitted him to a T. (Samuel Johnson, 18th C.)
Man proposes, but God disposes. (Thomas 's Kempis, early 15th C.)
Facts are stubborn things. (Alain Rene' Le Sage, early 18th C.)
There can no great smoke arise, but there must be some fire. (John Lyly, late 16th C.)
Hold their noses to the grindstone. (Thomas Middleton, early 17th C.)
Strike the iron whilst it is hot. (Francois Rabelais, early 16th C.)
Every man is the architect of his own fortunes. (Sallust, 1st C. B.C.)
Blood is thicker than water. (Walter Scott, early 19th C.)
All's well that ends well. (William Shakespeare, late 16th C.)
Brevity is the soul of wit. (Shakespeare)
It is a wise father that knows his own child. (Shakespeare)
A rolling stone gathers no moss. (Publius Syrus, 1st C.)
Familiarity breeds contempt. (Syrus)

Old Quotes

2010-02-22T22:33:00.003-07:00

As I was unpacking my library for our move into our new residence, I ran across a book of quotations published in 1945. Here follows a listing of interesting quotations from this book.

You cannot make a crab walk straight. (Aristophanes)
No one can build his security upon the nobleness of another person. (Willa Cather)
No one can be made a patriot on an empty stomach. (W. C. Brann)
Peace rules the day, where reason rules the mind. (William Collins)
He who is the most slow in making a promise is the most faithful in the performance of it. (Rousseau)
You may prove anything by figures. (Carlyle)
The instinct of ownership is fundamental in man's nature. (William James)
I hate the man who builds his name of ruins of another's fame. (Gay)
Fatigue is the best pillow. (Benjamin Franklin)
Learning without thought is labor lost. (Confucious)
The mind grows by what it feeds on. (J. G. Holland)
It is better to have a hen tomorrow than an egg today. (Thomas Fuller)
I recommend you to take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves. (Chesterfield)
Whatever we conceive well we express clearly. (Boileau)
The remedy for wrongs is to forget them. (Syrus)
In God we trust; all others must pay cash. (American saying)
Some statesmen go to congress and some go to jail. It is the same thing, after all. (Eugene Field)
Democracy arose from men thinking that if they are equal in any respect they are equal in all respects. (Aristotle)

Some Favorite Calvin & Hobbes' Stips

2010-02-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

Contriteness Doesn't Often Get a Fair Hearing

2010-02-20T00:06:00.002-07:00

Contriteness is a rather personal feeling (and behavior), isn't it?

Contriteness is the recognition of a personal error, a misstep, a mistake . . . of sin. More than mere acknowledgement, though, it is sorrow expressed for committing the action that was out of bounds and hurtful and offensive to others. Contriteness is complete when that sorrow motivates change . . . corrective action.

Contriteness is rather personal, however. Genuine sorrow, though deeply felt, cannot always be adequately expressed to others or be received by them enthusiastically. There are always cynics and those quick to dismiss the contrite of heart as insincere, opportunists, and calculating.

Consider Tiger Woods. His predicament is well known and the details need no re-airing here. Is he contrite? Were his words of apology sincere, today? Is the shame he spoke of real? Is he committed to changed behavior? Or, was he merely seeking to defuse the situation? . . . finesse his way out of a tight spot? . . . somehow manage to rebuild his shattered image?

Many have been quick to dismiss Woods entirely and give him no room for penance. Many are quick to castigate him as an incorrigible liar and as someone beyond rehabilitation. Will Tiger Woods ever be able to recapture the esteem he once enjoyed? Can the pieces ever be put back together, again? What will it take to win over the hearts and minds of the general populace? And, more, will he win over the heart of the women he so hurt?

I suppose the point I'm getting to is this . . . is the measure of one's contriteness the product of public opinion? Is the genuineness of one's sorrow left to the perspective of others to determine? For the sake of us all, I certainly hope not. Public opinion is often uninformed and almost always emotional, not rational . . . selfish, not out of real concern for the other. The perspective of others cannot easily see within the confines of your heart . . . or, of mine . . . or, of Tiger Woods!

Again, I don't know if Tiger Woods is genuine in his sorrow over the sins he has committed against his wife and family, or not. And, that lack of knowledge is my point: I don't know one way or another! I cannot know. I am not the reader of man's souls. I am not God!

Of course, the application of this point goes much farther afield than Tiger Woods. It is relevant to everyday living and germain to all the relationships in which we find ourselves.

Remember, Jesus taught, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6.37-38).

When David cried out in Psalm 51, "Create in me a clean heart, O God" (v. 10), I am certain the family of Uriah scoffed! But, God heard him! And, he hears and sees the contriteness of our hearts, as well! Even if so many others refuse to hear and see themselves.

Fortunately, for you and me, contriteness is not reliant upon public opinion, it is a matter between myself/yourself and God. And, let us show that deference to those who sin against us!

Some Questions

2010-02-12T23:47:00.005-07:00

Some questions are filling my mind today.

Will the skies stay clear for our trek back to New Mexico on Sunday? And, will I enjoy more snowfall during my two weeks back in Gallup?

Facebook now claims 400,000,000 distinct and active users. Can it be true that approximately 1 out of 18 people on the planet is a Facebook user? Short of religion, has there ever been such a large percentage of the world's populace engaged in a similar activity?

What happens when policies and procedures are made to take precedence over people. Some efficiencies may be gained, and perhaps some profit realized, but at what expense? The loss of morale? The loss of genuineness? The loss of soul? What is gained that outweighs these?

Why does a $50 a night hotel offer a scrumptious breakfast buffet while a $100 per night outfit charge another $10 for a bagel and coffee (oh, and a banana for added comfort)?

Am I gonna make it to Taco Villa tomorrow? I MUST have my Villa fix before returning to Dinetah on Sunday. Fortunately, Rosa's is already on the itinerary. But, I must carve out a time for the next best thing in fast-casual Mexican food!

How can a boss lead and inspire a staff when he sits behind a wall and orders his staff by memo?

Why has God blessed me so richly when I have so often strayed from the course that brings honor to Him?

Things I Miss about the Lubbock of My Childhood

2009-11-21T12:48:00.003-07:00

Lubbock, Texas will always be my home, even when my address is hundreds and thousands of miles away. A blog post I authored years ago listed some of my favorite things about Lubbock. In this blog post, I remember a few things I remember about the Lubbock of my childhood, fond memories and small blessings that are no longer enjoyed, but a great part of my childhood.

Ham's Convenience Store at 29th Drive & Slide Road. My friends and I would drive our bikes down to ham's several times a week, and daily during the summer, to buy soda pop and baseball cards. Great times! Sadly, Ham's has stood vacant for many, many years.
The Rocket Ship playground at Maxey Park. The contemporary Legacy Play Village is probably much grander, but I remember so many afternoons playing at Maxey park when I was 4 or 5 years old. That rocket ship was so cool.
The big fountain at South Plains Mall. It was always the highlight of visiting the mall, especially at Christmas time, when Santa Clause sat on his big chair right in front of the fountain.
The cotton fields surrounding the L.C.C. campus. It's all developed now, but all that "open" space made for a great playground when I was a kid.
Jose's Cafe. I can still taste the enchiladas after all these years. Muy Beuno!
The Naval Reserve Center on 4th Street. My dad's office for many years. I waved at the President (G.F.) from the curb outside that building and can remember running through the corridors and playing in the gym.
Furr's Pie Kitchen. Is any explanation needed?
The Traffic Circle on old Avenue Q. I know the grown-ups hated it, but as a little kid I was fascinated by it.
The Golden Horseshoe Drive-In. I still remember watching Caveman and many other movies there from the front seat of my parents Ford LTD.
The old Southside Church of Christ. That's where my family attended until I was 10 years old. I remember a lot of fun times spent with the church.

We Need Your Help

2009-10-29T00:33:00.006-06:00

For over 50 years Manuelito Navajo Children's Home has been providing care for children and families in need. We offer a 24-hour residential care facility for children in need of a good, secure, and wholesome place to call home. We give assistance to single mothers and their children. We operate a school for children preschool through high school. And, we do all this with the assistance and generosity of many churches and individuals throughout the country. We accept no public funding, but rely on many partners to make our ministry possible.

People and churches help us in many ways, but regular financial contributions to our work are the most significant and beneficial to us. Like any organization, business, or family a regular and consistent source of incomes helps us to budget efficiently and plan accordingly. To put it bluntly, when we take a child into our care, we would like to know with fair certainty that we will be able to feed and clothe that child six months from now. To be honest, however, we often find ourselves acting on blind faith, accepting care of the child and hoping the funds will be there at the end of the day.

Manuelito Navajo Children's Home is remotely located, especially in relation to most Churches of Christ, which have traditionally served as the bedrock of our support. At present, we are the westernmost childcare facility sponsored by Churches of Christ. Because of our remoteness and little resource to advertise, we often find ourselves at the end of train when it comes to finding support for our work.

We need your help! Can you become a partner in our work and contribute financially and regularly to our ministry? Can you encourage your congregation to support us monthly? Can you introduce our good work to your friends?

I serve Manuelito Navajo Children's Home as director of development and church relations. I am willing to travel to your town and speak to you and your church about our ministry and the needs we have. If you would like for me to come, please contact me at jeffrfoster@gmail.com.

Contributions to Manuelito Navajo Children's Home can be mailed to M.N.C.H.; P. O. Box 58; Gallup, NM 87305. You may contact us at (505) 863-5530.

Walk a Little Plainer, Daddy

2009-10-12T00:35:00.002-06:00

Walk a little plainer, Daddy,
Said a little boy so frail,
I'm following in your footsteps
And I don't want to fail.
Sometimes your steps are very plain,
Sometimes they are hard to see;
So walk a little plainer, Daddy,
For you are leading me.

I know that once you walked this way,
Many years ago,
And what you did along the way
I'd really like to know,
For sometimes when I am tempted
I don't know what to do;
So walk a little plainer, Daddy,
For I must follow you.

Someday when I'm grown up
You are like I want to be,
Then I will have a little boy
Who will want to follow me,
And I would want to lead him right
And help him to be true;
So walk a little plainer, Daddy,
For we must follow you.

Author Unknown

All People Shall See It Together

2009-10-10T20:11:00.002-06:00

If I was not a preacher I could very easily have been a cartographer. I love maps. Since I was a child, I have collected maps of various sizes, shapes, and types. I own maps of the world, of continents and countries, of states and cities, or forests and mountain ranges, and of national recreation areas and amusement parks. I am fascinated by the shapes of continents and oceans, by the texture of terrain, by the winding borders of countries and states, and by the vastness of the world.

The maps I won represent more than the elements of geography and physical science. Indeed they represent the vast numbers of people that live on this globe. Each corners of the world is unique and special. Each nook and cranny is home to a group of people--nations, races, tribes . . . and families. Cultures vary from border to border, from continent to continent. traditions, heritages, world vies, languages, and the ways of life change as you move across the lands and over the seas. Diversity is the rule of the world; a wonderful blend of color, personality, and thought.

However, the diversity of the world has been offered common ground. The prophet Isaiah declared:

A voice cries out:
"In the wilderness prepare the way of Yahweh,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of Yahweh shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken" (Isaiah 40.3-5).

With these words John the Baptist proclaimed the imminent coming of the Messiah (Luke 3.4-6)--God's anointed One, Jesus Christ--who would bring all faithful men and women into one family, one household, one nation, and one body. Boundaries would be dissolved, differences would be blended, peoples would become a people. One community would be formed from many (Ephesians 2.14-17).

The next time you look at a map, consider the diverse peoples who call our world home. Then, remember the Gospel of peace that calls all faithful men and women into one fellowship.

There He Goes Again!

2009-10-09T15:13:00.002-06:00

There he goes again!

These likely were the words of bewilderment uttered by Peter, or Thomas, or Judas, or any one of the Twelve, as Jesus associated himself with yet another outcast. The Rabbi had established a tendency of encountering and even searching out such people . . . lepers, cripples, the blind, the demon-possessed, prostitutes, Gentiles, tax collectors, the poor, and others.

Nothing and no one seemed to hold Jesus back. He did not recoil in horror as a known "woman of the street" wiped his feet with her hair. He did not flee as lepers came toward him--on one such occasion he even reached out his hand to touch the unclean. He did not look with disdain upon a Samaritan woman he met at Jacob's well. He accepted an invitation to dine with a tax collector. He was not horrified when a wild, demon-possessed man charged at him and his disciples as they disembarked from a sea voyage.

Jesus did not avoid contact with people because of physical ailment, or ethnicity, or occupation, or social standing, or morality. Jesus went freely with all sorts of people--people considered to be outcasts, people considered to be unclean, people considered to be sinners, and even people considered to be popular and respectable.

Jesus cared about people, and his mission was not reserved for only the well-to-do or for the righteous. Jesus came to love and to make a difference in the lives of people from all walks of life. And he calls us to do the same. Will you love as he loved?

Dinner with the 43rd President

2009-09-30T16:26:00.003-06:00

What an evening! I was among the 1,000 friends of Lubbock Christian University who had dinner with President George W. Bush last night. It was great to see so many loyal supporters of L.C.U. and to see so many people who appreciate the presidency of a man who remained firm in his convictions and in his love for country and God during his eight years in office.

My prediction: 50 years from now, historians will look back at the presidency of George W. Bush and rate him as one of the best presidents in modern American history. I hope this esteem comes sooner, but history is only seen clearly from the perspective of distance.

Bush is a good and decent man, and a man of strong faith. His character was on full display last night, and even this enthusiastic supporter of his came away deeply impressed by his humility, engaging personality, intelligence, and humor. His love for country is obvious, and when one hears him unfiltered, it is so clear that his motives and intent as he led this country were pure and selfless. He was not after power, but sought to serve this country for a time and then return quietly to private life. His love of freedom and his desire for all peoples of the world to enjoy freedom is grounded in sincerity and served as the driving force of his diplomatic agenda. And, that is the greatest calling of an American President.

Bush is a man of faith. I was moved greatly by his discussion of faith and spirituality and his commitment to prayer. His policies can be questioned, and I was disappointed by some of the decisions he made during his presidency, but our nation now sorely misses a man of prayer in the Oval Office.

What Was Eden Like?

2009-09-28T09:32:00.003-06:00

What was Eden like? I have been to many beautiful places in my life, but I don't imagine any of those places could equal Eden. Eden was truly a paradise: a place of comfort, a place of security, a place of fulfillment, a place of no need. Eden was truly Paradise: a place where God and man were close and at peace.

Then, man wanted more. Adam and Even, though God had given them everything they could ever need, wanted more. You remember the sales pitch: "You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3.4b-5). The pitch worked: "the woman saw . . . that the fruit was a delight to the eyes, and that it was to be desired" (3.6). Adam and Eve had all of their needs provided for--they lived in a paradise created for them, yet they wanted more.

Isn't that desire--the desire for more--a motivation behind sin? That is the temptation that we face daily. We are always looking past what we have to view, and desire, more appealing things. "If I could only have that," we say, "then I could be happy"; this said, despite God's blessings that fill our lives.

Rules for Happy Living

2009-09-27T11:09:00.002-06:00

Some rules for happy living . . .

Count your blessings, not your troubles.
Live one day at a time.
Learn to say, "I love you."
Learn to be a giver and not a getter.
Seek for good in everyone and everything.
Pray every day. Reserve time in your day to thank God for his many blessings and ask for his guidance.
Do at least one good deed each day.
Learn to prioritize; all things have a place in life.
Don't let the little things in life bother you.
Don't procrastinate.
Clean out the trash and fill your life with good thoughts and good deeds.
Learn to laugh and learn to cry.
Learn to smile--the world will smile with you.
Learn to fear nothing or no one.
Let go and let God!

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4.8).

How Many Hats Do You Wear?

2009-09-26T18:18:00.002-06:00

How many hats do you wear?

Hats were once a very popular clothing accessory, and huts usually served not just as a fashion piece, but also as an identifying mark. A policeman wore a policeman's hat. A baker wore a baker's hat. A cowboy wore a 10-gallon hat. A person of prominence often wore a top hat. That hat you wore identified the role you had assumed.

Most people have many different roles. A person, during the course of life, might be a son or daughter, a spouse, a parent, a business person, a church deacon, a Bible class teacher, a Little League coach, a room mother, a Lion's Club member, a gardener, a handyman, and so on. The roles might be spread out a little, but the chances are you play more than one role at a time. And, if you are like most people, you play many of the roles all at once.

Hopefully, as you play each of your life roles, you remain consistent--consistent to your true self and to your true identity. many make the mistake of altering their personality, beliefs, and values as they go from role to role. The church deacon might also be the unethical businessman. The caring mother might also be the town gossip. A person takes one hat off and puts another on, assuming a different persona.

Don't treat your Christianity as just another role and as just another hat to be discarded and replaced with another. As you go from role to role, allow your faith to remain constant--an ever-present force in your life. Allow it to become the accessory that determines who you are.

The Testimony of the Wasp

2009-09-25T08:45:00.003-06:00

I was surprised one day to discover approximately 50 wasps flying around in my back yard. I have never been a big fan of wasps and my immediate reaction was to go to the garage and get a can of raid Wasp & Hornet spray. For the next 10 minutes I pitched a furious battle, desperately trying to kill as many wasps as possible. However, much to my dismay my attack was having little affect. The wasps seemed to be multiplying and appeared to be getting angry at my offensive against them. My only response was to retreat into the safety of my home.

I began to inquire about how to get rid of my uninvited guests. No productive solutions were offered, but an interesting explanation of the wasps' behavior was given to me. I was told that the wasps were searching for a warm place in which they might hibernate for the winter. This explanation intrigued me. These wasps, among the smallest and simplest of creatures, had the innate sense to know that winter was coming. By instinct the wasps knew to begin searching for shelter from the harshness of winter.

Many in our world claim that the universe, and the life contained therein, became through a random course of events. In my opinion the simplicity of the intuitive wasp offers protest to this view. The wasp appears to me to be a witness to creative design. A Creator, full of wisdom and insight, was needed to create a creature so simple, yet so complex.

The testimony of the wasp is not alone. Consider the ant that is able to build elaborate underground fortresses, the salmon that is able to swim hundreds of miles downstream from its home only to return to the spot with precision, the German Shepherd that grows in its affection for a human master. Consider the testimony of all that surrounds you each day.

Cultivate God's Precious Gift

2009-09-17T21:29:00.006-06:00

Loneliness . . . the word is one of the most frightening that I know. Imagine living your life apart from others. Imagine having no contact with anyone. Imagine total isolation. The picture is bleak and dreary, isn't it?

Friendship . . . the word is one of the most comforting that I know. Imagine living your life surrounded by a caring family. Imagine togetherness. Imagine a life filled with meaningful friendships. The picture is pleasing and encouraging, isn't it?

A part of human nature is the desire for companionship. We want, and must, be with others. God made us to be communal creatures. Do you remember the scene in the garden? "It is not good that the man should be alone," declared God. God's solution: he made Eve. God provided for the need of man, he provided companionship. It was God's first gift to man!

The world places a premium on wealth and power to the neglect of cultivating relationships. However, a truly successful person is the one who values relationships and friendships. the statement has been made that if a man is unable to love his fellow man, one is unable to love God.

Take time to cultivate relationships in your life.

New Children at MNCH!

2009-09-15T12:54:00.003-06:00

In the past couple of months, Manuelito Navajo Children's Home has welcomed seven more children into our care. Four have been placed in our residential program, in the care of our house parents. Three children have to live at MNCH along with their mother. There are three teenagers and four small children in the mix. We have welcomed these children on the faith that God will help us provide for them. To this end, we seek your prayers and assistance.

MNCH accepts no state and federal funding. We operate exclusively by the generosity offered to us by individuals, churches, and businesses. This arrangement offers us the flexibility and freedom to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the children placed in our care. But, with the economic difficulties besetting our country, we have been challenged this year in our ability to provide the care that is needed. We need your help!

Can you contribute to our ministry of providing care for children and families in need? Any contribution you can make will be a blessing. You may send contributions to M.N.C.H. at P.O. Box 58; Gallup, NM 87305. I am available to come speak to your congregation or business and share about the work of Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. You may contact me at jeffrfoster@gmail.com, or at 806-317-1282.

Have You Felt God's Chisel?

2009-09-15T12:37:00.002-06:00

The wise man declares, "The crucible is for silver, the furnace is for gold, but the Lord tests the heart" (Proverbs 17.3).

Have you been to Mount Rushmore? I have only seen it in pictures, but I am in awe of this monumental masterpiece. I am amazed at the craftsmanship of the sculptor, of his skill, and his patience as he carefully chiseled away useless rock to create an object of splendor.

I am amazed at the painter, the carpenter, the gem-cutter . . . the blacksmith. I am amazed at their ability to create an object of beauty and usefulness from something that is ordinary and common.

The crucible is for silver, the furnace is for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

Transformation is a powerful word and concept. Examples of transformation fill nature. A caterpillar, ugly and slow, is transformed into a beautiful and fleeting butterfly. A small see grows into a towering tree. A spark grows into angry flames.

The crucible is for silver, the furnace is for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

We often see transformation in the lives of people. The experiences and influences of life, positive and negative, work to mature the immature. Perhaps one would see that past mistakes are not a crippling handicap, but a manifestation of qualities which enable the individual to rise above mistakes and also to lift others. Perhaps the one who was raised in a broken home will grow to become a loving husband and devoted father. Perhaps the one who once hated will be motivated to love because she herself had been loved by God in the midst of her ugliness.

The crucible is for silver, the furnace is for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

God is often the sculptor chiseling away the worthless and useless, transforming willing people into men and women of faith. Do you remember Abraham? Moses? David? Peter? Paul? These men had imperfections, but God molded them into great men of faith and service.

Have you felt God's chisel? Have you experienced the flames of God's smelter? Has God worked to fashion your life into the work of beauty and use he desires? Have you allowed the hands of the sculptor to shape and fashion your life according to his plan?

The crucible is for silver, the furnace is for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

What Must His Feet Have Been Like?

2009-09-14T13:48:00.003-06:00

To the disciples the moment must have been beyond baffling and incredibly instructive. Kneeling on the floor before them, with a towel and basin of water in hand, Jesus began to wash their feet. He was their Rabbi, their Master, their Lord. One of his stature did not wash feet. It was even beneath the status of a student and disciple. It was a task reserved for the lowliest of household slaves.

Undoubtedly expressing the feelings of the others in the room, Peter protests, "You will never wash my feet!" "You are too important, too respectable," could have been the added rejoinder. But Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me."

Jesus finished his task of washing his disciples' feet and then explained his action to them. "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you" (John 13.12b-15; NRSV).

Jesus washed his disciples' feet to demonstrate the serving-love that must be a characteristic of the Christian life. We must serve one another. Service requires compassion, giving, friendship, unconditional motive, selflessness, humility, sincerity--in other words, service is a demonstration of love.

Serving others is not always pleasant, nor is it always rewarding. Washing the feet of another is not an enviable task. Peter was a fisherman after all--can you imagine what his feet must have been like? I'm certain that he did not own a pair of rubber waders! Washing feet in the 1st Century was most certainly a demonstration of unconditional, limitless, and selfless service. And, consider the presence of another man in that room as Jesus washed feet: Judas, the man who would betray Jesus. Yet, Jesus washed his feet, too.

So, this day, let us put these words to practice. Offer yourself to the service of another. Exemplify the love of our Lord Jesus.

A Few Cartoons

2009-09-13T21:13:00.001-06:00

Traditons Do Not Define Baseball . . . Or the Church!

2009-09-13T20:02:00.010-06:00

Note: I have been going through some of the bulletin articles I have written over the years. In the next few weeks, I'll be posting a few of the better ones here on my blog. I hope you'll find them worth reading. I published this article on June 22, 1997 in the Fairview Church of Christ bulletin; Childress, Texas.

During the past week history was made. For the first time the clubs of Major League Baseball's National League competed against clubs from the American League in official, in-season games. Since the beginning of the World Series' era in 1903 these match-ups had not occurred during the regular season. Many who identify themselves as baseball purists have cried afoul at the innovation. "The uniqueness of the game is being challenged," said some. "Another of baseball's long-standing traditions has been thrown by the wayside," bemoaned others.

Most certainly, Major League Baseball is a sport with a rich history and one filled with many revered traditions. It is a unique game in that it is both individual- and team-based. The dynamic of a lone batter facing an opposing pitcher and defense is unlike what you will find in any other sport. Young boys (and maybe a few girls, too) grow up knowing the stats, like Roger Maris's 61 homers in 1961, Big Train's 416 lifetime victories, DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak, and Nolan's 7 no-hitters. These individual feats, and other such marks, contributed to team success and triumph.

The uniqueness of Baseball is under assault claim the critics of inter-league play. These are the self-appointed guardians of the game who reviled expansion of the Major Leagues, the introduction of divisional play, the designated hitter, and the inclusion of wild card teams in the playoffs. They claim it is the traditions that make baseball great.

These purists are right to an extent. Traditions have enhanced the game's charm. However, traditions can lose their significance over time. Personally, I wish that the Major Leagues would not have expanded beyond the 16 clubs that played during the first half of the 20th Century, but I know that expansion has brought the game closer to millions of fans. I do not like the use of the designated hitter, but I must admit that it adds an element of excitement to the game. (And, writing in 2009, I long for the days when the Red Sox were as the Cubs, in the midst of a decades-long championshipless drought, but grudgingly admit that the rise of the Red Sox Nation since 2003 has been a boon to the sport.)

Traditions do not define Baseball. The essence of the game remains constant, despite the changes that come. As long as a tradition is beneficial to the play and enjoyment of the game it is benefactory, but once it outlives its effectiveness and logic it is outdated and should be modified or discarded. Tradition should not be an impediment toward progress. (Just think, expansion of the Major Leagues has provided many more teams who have taken advantage of the Cubs ineptitude!)

And, now, to a more important point . . .

The church, like any long-standing institution, is filled with traditions. Traditions do not define God's people, they simply can enhance who we are and make us more effective in our mission. However, even church traditions lose their effectiveness and become outdated. As God's people we must continually evaluate our practices, in the light of God's direction, and determine if our traditions make sense in a changed world. All living things change over time--it is the nature of life.

Tomorrow's Way

2009-09-04T23:37:00.002-06:00

Another favorite poem, borrowed from an unknown writer.

I know not if tomorrow's way be steep or rough;
But when his hand is guiding me, that is enough.
And so, although the veil has hid tomorrow's way,
I walk with perfect faith and trust through each today.

The love of God has hung a veil around tomorrow
That we may not its beauty see nor trouble borrow.
But oh! tis sweeter far to trust His unseen hand,
And know that all the paths of life His wisdom planned.

Things Undone

2009-09-03T22:57:00.002-06:00

A favorite poem. The author was Margaret Sangster.

It isn't the thing you do;
It's the thing you've left undone
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun--
The tender word forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent
Are your haunting ghosts at night.

All About the Numbers

2009-09-02T16:25:00.003-06:00

I have recently moved back to Lubbock, Texas from Gallup, New Mexico. I remain with Manuelito Navajo Children's Home as director of development and church relations. The reasons for the move were twofold: (1) to be nearer my three daughters, who live in Levelland, Texas, 30 miles to the west of Lubbock; and (2) to be more productive and efficient in my work for the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home.

It really is all about the numbers. Much of the funding base for Manuelito Navajo Children's Home comes from Churches of Christ. Consider:

The state of New Mexico has 142 congregations of Churches of Christ with a total membership of around 13,000.
The state of Arizona has 135 churches with a total membership of around 11,000.

In comparison, area code 806 (which is basically the Texas Panhandle, including Lubbock and Amarillo) has 181 churches with a membership of over 27,000. Add in the rest of Texas and the numbers are 2,114 congregations and 282,000 members. Oklahoma adds 593 churches and nearly 62,000 members.

Being in Lubbock, I am much closer to many of the churches that support our ministry in Gallup, New Mexico. Whereas, from Gallup, a trip to speak to churches on a Sunday would involve hundreds of miles, and many dollars for fuel, food, and lodging, travel from Lubbock to most of the places I go is much simpler and cheaper. It is all about the numbers (and the great blessing of being so much closer to my girls!).

Manuelito Navajo Children's Home exists because of the generosity of many churches and individuals throughout the country. We can not do what we are doing for children in need without the support of so many. Can you help us? Can you help provide a loving and secure home to children who are in need? Can you be a blessing?

I am able to come and speak to your church about the ministry of Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. If you can extend me an invitation, please contact me at (505) 488-3479 or jeffrfoster@gmail.com.

Children of MNCH: Past & Present

2009-08-17T17:57:00.001-06:00

The "children" of Manuelito Navajo Children's Home, past and present, who attended MNCH's 50th Anniversary Celebration on August 14-15. It was a great homecoming.

You Can Be a Blessing to the Navajo Nation

2009-08-09T23:17:00.003-06:00

Five years ago, I knew very little about the Navajo people (Dine') and the vast and beautiful Navajoland (Dine'tah). My education on these matters is still a work in progress, but in these past 5 years I have come to have a great respect and love for the Navajo. I find their history fascinating. I admire their triumphs (Navajo art, in particular, is among the most creative and beautiful of that of any culture in the world). I grieve over their challenges. I am anything but a "bleeding heart," but I am ashamed of the way earlier Americans treated the Navajo and other native peoples.

After five years of living close to the Navajo Nation reservation, I have witnessed firsthand the foolish (and, I will add, racist) policy of generations past of rounding up native peoples and driving them to "reservations." Often, our government placed these peoples on lands that were the poorest and most remote. No walls were built, but once the reservation boundaries were determined (and changed many times, by the way, by the bureaucrats in Washington), little effort was made to teach the indians new skills, or to provide modern infrastructure that would make assimilating into American culture easier. There were some basic and noble efforts made, to be sure, but these were few and far between. Most cruel of all, perhaps, our government brought in alcohol to "pacify" the natives and to quell dissension and revolts. Oh, what great tragedy alcohol has brought to the reservations.

The past cannot be undone, but the present and future can be better, much better. As I live and work among the Navajo, I see a people who love life, who are bright and industrious, who are honest and good-natured. I see a people who, when given half a chance, can excel and do great things. I continually pray that the resources and opportunities needed for continued and accelerated advancement of the Navajo will come. Share this prayer with me.

Of course, my primary interest here is with the children of the Navajo nation, particularly those children who are in crisis, whose families are beyond dysfunction and who are in great need. We at the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home are striving to help these children and families. We need partners in our ministry to enable us to extend our reach and to take more children into our care. Will you help us? Please make a contribution to our cause today.

As you consider this plea, let me share with you some statistics that describe, in some small measure, life on the Navajo reservation:

There is 58% unemployment on the Navajo reservation
Annual per capita income is around $7,300 (try feeding and housing a family on $7,300 a year!)
32% of house lack plumbing
20% of houses lack electricity
50% of children drop out of school
Fewer than 7% of adult Navajos have college degrees
90% of the population is impacted by alcoholism (either personally or through a close family member)
The median lifespan among men living on the reservation is 46 years (read this sentence again! . . . that's over 30 years shorter than in the wider American society!)
20% of families are intact; 80% of families are fractured!

Mr. D'z

2009-08-01T22:37:00.004-06:00

I'm spending the night in Kingman, Arizona. Tomorrow, I have the blessing of sharing the news about Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. Tonight, I indulged in a cheeseburger at Mr. D'z in Kingman . . . Yum! I've made 4 visits to this retro diner this summer, and each visit has been superb.

What Is a Home?

2009-07-23T15:49:00.000-06:00

(I found this wonderful statement in a 40-year old publication of the Manuelito Navajo Children's Home. It was authored by Ernestine Schuman-Heink.)

What is a home?

A roof to keep out the rain? Four walls to keep out the wind; floors to keep out the cold? Yes, but home is more than that.

It is the laughter of children, the song of a mother, the strength of a father. Warmth of loving hearts, light from happy eyes, kindness, loyalty, comradeship.

Home is first school and first church of young ones, where they learn what is right, what is good, and what is kind. Where they go for comfort when they are hurt or sick. Where joy is shared and sorrow eased. Where fathers and mothers are respected and loved. Where children are wanted. Where the simplest food is good enough for kings because it is earned. Where money is not so important as loving kindness. Where even the teakettle sings from happiness.
That is home. God bless it.

Promoting Harmony

2009-07-22T11:46:00.004-06:00

Note: I published this article on my blog back in 2007, but tumbled across it again this morning. It is worthy of a reprinting. It is entitled, "Excellent Rules to Promote Harmony Among Church Members." I am not certain of the author, and it is obviously quite dated (considering the language), but the points are good.

To remember that we are all subject to failings of one kind or another.
To bear with--and not magnify--each other's infirmities.
To pray for one another in our social meetings, and particularly in private.
To avoid going from house to house, for the purpose of bearing news and interfering with other people's business.
Always turn a deaf ear to any slanderous report and to lay no charge against any person until well founded.
If a member be in fault, tell him of it in private, before it is mentioned to others.
To watch against the shyness of each other and put the best construction on any action that has the appearance of opposition or resentment.
To observe the just rules of Solomon--that is, to leave off contention before it is meddled with.
If a member has offended, to consider how Godlike it is to forgive, and how unlike a Christian it is to seek revenge.
Remember that it is always a giant artifice of the devil to promote distance and animosities among members of the church; and we should therefore watch against everything that furthers this end.
To consider how much more good we can do in the world at large, and in the church in particular, when we are all united in love, than we could do when acting alone, and indulging in a contrary spirit.

Just Thinking . . .

What God Has Brought Together . . .

Budding Photogs?

Mack Brown on Conference Realignment

Acts 8.4 . . . A Calling for Today

Pray for Rain!!!

Predictions for NFL 2011

Thriving In a Certain Place

Take It One Day At A Time

Dine'tah: An Appeal

My Autumn Grace

Blame To Go Around?

Life Is Worth the Effort

Did I Really Stand In 4 States At Once?

Much Of Life Is . . . Waiting!

A Blessed Father

Some Thoughts on Church Buildings

Cleaning Up Another Man's Trash

Another Far Side Favorite

In the Place of Abel

Great Photo

Is Your Fish In Clear View?

Dads, Are We Serious?

A Most Overlooked Passage

A Prayer to the God Who Sees

Humans Are A Lot Like Turtles

What Is Prayer?

What Are Your Treasured Possessions?

Do you know this song?

To the Teachers of My Children

The Gift of Singing

He Left the Throne of Heaven

A Far Side Favorite

Our Amazing Bodies

What You Can't Control

Equipping Our Children to Make Wise Decisions

The Greatest Mission of the Church

What's On Your Account Ledger?

How Much Time Had Passed?

Chocolate 'n Vanilla

May Our Shouts Be Reduced to Civility

Classic Calvin

He Set His Face

Worship In a Van

Chocolate Cake

Life's Legacy: She Loved KFC?

Father, Give me a Good Kick!

At Home In a Small Church

Mind Over Matter

Life Is Full of Opportunities

I'm Afraid to Ask

Cliff or Homer?

Greatest Coaches of All Time

Building Character

Do We Measure Up?

God's Taking Pictures Of Me!

Good Guys Really Do Finish FIRST!

Resurrection Power

My Favorite Athletes

Simple & Reverant Worship

Calvin on Writing

Acts 8.4 . . . A Calling for Today

More of Franklin's Words

A Sooner Pantry

Words of Wisdom from the First American

Random Verse

Texas Panhandle Plains

An Indian Version of the 23rd Psalm

I Miss This Place!

Tomorrow's Way

Calvin & the Raccoon

Wisdom from the Ages

Old Quotes

Some Favorite Calvin & Hobbes' Stips

Contriteness Doesn't Often Get a Fair Hearing

Some Questions

Top Sports Stories of the Decade - 2000s

Things I Miss about the Lubbock of My Childhood

We Need Your Help

Walk a Little Plainer, Daddy