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In a Different Light

January 28, 2016 0Comment

After I wrote my last blog, I started thinking about how that dog made me want to rescue him. I thought how helpless and hungry he looked. Then I started wondering why I don’t feel the same way about homeless beggars…..

Everyone has seen that guy or girl, holding a sign and begging for money. Why doesn’t it strike the same feelings as a lost, hungry dog? Well, I’l be the first to admit it. The situation is complex. For instance, we don’t know if it’s a scam. Frankly, I’ve seen my share of them. I once saw a guy at the entrance of a shopping center with a nearby McDonalds. He was holding a sign that read, “Help, hungry”. Beside him was a power pole with a large concrete base. Behind the concrete base he had hidden 4 or 5 bags of McDonalds food. Apparently, some wise people had decided to buy him food instead of giving him money. However, undaunted, he had hidden the food and was still trying to coax cash out of people.

We’re called to be charitable, but we’re not called to throw money away either. Yet, we’re called to serve; we’re not called to judge. As I said before, it’s a complex issue. However, I think the most important issue for me is viewing the person in a different light. When I look at a beggar, I should see a fellow human being. I should see a person created in God’s image just like me. I should remember that God loves that person just as much as he loves me. If I view the person in that light, then the answers become clearer. It still might not mean that I give the person money. It may mean that I refer him to church. It may mean that I take him to a shelter. It may mean that I help him find a job. It may mean I that find him some drug treatment. It may mean many different things, but it’ll mean more if I view him in a different light.

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Everything New

January 4, 2016 0Comment

I’m tired. I’m tired of seeing bad things happen. And I bet that I’m not the only one. Anyone who has a tv or a computer knows that bad things happen. It’s all over the news: a shooting here, a disaster there. I think sometimes we become numb to bad news. It’s so commonplace that I don’t even give it much thought at times. However, something happened to me a few days ago that got my attention. It got my attention in the simple and prefect way that only God can.

I was travelling down a road that runs parallel to I-75 when I noticed something in my peripheral. In the small patch of grass that separated my road from the interstate was small, beagle pup. By the size of his skinny frame, he was no doubt searching for some food in the few bags of garbage that people had littered from their cars. Now, I’m from the country. I am not proud to say that I’m quite accustomed to seeing stray dogs. Furthermore, I generally don’t have a bleeding heart for dogs. However, this time was different. This was a pup, and he was starving. I could see that by his protruding bones. I could also see that he’d never make across six lanes of I-75. If decided to cross my road, his chances weren’t much better. The road I was on lead to a shopping center…..and it was Christmastime.

So, the only place I could park is a church on the other side of the road from the dog. I crossed four lanes of Christmastime traffic to save the dog. Oh yeah, it was raining too. However, when I got close enough to call him, he took off like Clark Griswold’s sled. After being thoroughly out-ran by a beagle pup, I had to cross the same four lanes of traffic back to my truck. I then drove to the interstate where I met him on the exit ramp. However, there was no room to pull off and several vehicles were behind me. I had to leave him, and by the time I circled back, he was gone. I made a couple of passes to look for him, but there was no sign of him: alive or dead.

I’m somewhat bummed. I still have no idea what happened to the little guy. But two things come to mind. One is 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love”. This verse applies to more than just lost dogs. It applies to all of the bad things that happen in this world.

The second thing that comes to mind is the song lyric by the band Crowder: “Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t cure”. It too applies to all of the bad things that happen in this world. We understand that bad things happen, and we should be righteously angry when they happen. But we also understand that God is making everything flawless, just, and NEW, …..so, someday we won’t have to put up with this crap.

I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like to accept Jesus, simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.

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Birthday Inventory

December 17, 2015 2Comments

I’ve come up on another birthday, and it’s time to take inventory. I think back at things I wanted to accomplish as a teenager going into college. I can’t remember much. I do, however, remember a few goals. I wanted to make a lot of money. I wanted an exciting career. I wanted a big house, a mansion, in fact. It’s been about 23 years since I graduated high school. Did I accomplish any of my goals? Well, I make good money, not a lot. I have a career that can be exciting sometimes, and I live in a modest house.

So, I accomplished 1 out 3…..if we stretch it a bit. I think many other people also have birthdays and take inventories. However, when their accomplishments don’t match up to their goals, they get depressed. I haven’t reached all of the goals I made when I was younger, but it hasn’t depressed me. I simply learned that my goals were misplaced.

The Bible says in Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. Let’s face it. These verses are easier said than done. Nevertheless, living into them adds an immeasurable amount of peace to one’s life. I found that if I try to store up “earthly” treasures, I’ll never make enough money, my 401k will never have a big enough balance, and my house will never have enough square feet.

Now, I’m not saying that I live completely and whole heartedly by Mathew 6:19-21. However, each small step I make towards living into those verses, adds more and more peace to my life. So this year, instead of taking an inventory of my earthly treasures OR instead of taking an inventory of the misplaced goals I’ve reached….or failed to reach, I’m going to take a birthday inventory of my blessings: Jesus, church, family, friends, peace, health, contentment,……….and the list goes on.

I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like to accept Jesus, simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.

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No Sheep Left Behind

December 7, 2015 2Comments

My church is currently in the middle of a series called “Kingdom Come”. As part of that series, families are required to read certain Bible passages and to reflect on them. A few nights ago, my family read Luke 15; 1-7, the parable about the lost sheep:

All the tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus. ²But the Pharisees and the experts in Moses’ Teachings complained, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ³Jesus spoke to them using this illustration: ⁴“Suppose a man has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the 99 sheep grazing in the pasture and look for the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵When he finds it, he’s happy. He puts that sheep on his shoulders and ⁶goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says to them, ‘Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ ⁷I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval.”

I asked my seventeen year old son for his take-a-way on the preceding verses. He responded, “No sheep left behind”. I am assuming that he was making a connection to the educational act, No Child Left Behind. Nevertheless, after I stopped laughing, I realized that his response was not only comical, but it was also brilliant. “No sheep left behind” precisely sums up God’s intentions with us, His sheep. When we are lost, He leaves His other sheep grazing safely in the pasture, and He searches for us. When He finds us, He is happy. Then He puts us on His shoulders and carries us home. Notice, however, how much effort He puts into one sheep. He could have said, “Well, I have 99 others, why should I waste time on one stupid, little, lost, sheep…who should’ve known better than to wander off like that”. But He loves ALL of His sheep, and when He finds us, He does not scold us for getting lost. He does the opposite. He throws us a party!

If you’re a lost sheep, call out to Him. He’s looking for you right now. Let Him put you on His shoulders and carry you home.

I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like at accept Jesus simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.

In a Different Light

Everything New

Birthday Inventory

No Sheep Left Behind

You Missed

Child-Like

Inverse Hypocrisy

Spread it out before the Lord

This is the Site of a Great Victory