Month: November 2018

Sunday evening a blizzard blew into the Chicago area. Because I have trouble with stairs these days I have been sleeping in my easy chair which lies flat out. I woke up at three Monday morning to go to the bath room. My lamp was out and it was pitch black. I always pray for the Lord to walk with me before I try to stand, but this time my prayer was a little more serious. I stood, grabbed my canes and felt my way with them like a blind man through the living room, around the staircase, down the hall and into the bath room. I spent a little extra time there waiting for the power to come back on, but when it didn’t I said another prayer and retraced my steps to my chair. I tried to call the electric company to make sure they knew I was without power, but the phone was dead. My laptop was fully charged so I tried to contact them with that, but there was no wifi (which explained why my phone was dead since AT&T switched it to Uverse to save me some money). Finally, I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and it beeped “low battery”.

There I was, in the dark, cut off from the world, but surprisingly I felt no panic or fear. Then I started to get cold with the thermostat and furnace blower out too. I knew there were some towels and blankets folded on my couch so I again said a prayer, got up and navigated around the coffee table to grab the first large, heavy towel I touched and head back to my chair. That extra layer was just what I needed to retain my body heat, so I stretched out and went back to sleep. I woke at eight o’clock when the phone rang. It was a recorded message from the electric company announcing that power had been restored (something I already knew because my lamp was on again and the phone was working). What a way to start this week!

I am sharing this experience with you because I want you to know when you feel like you are in the dark and the cold, cut off from friends or family, there is no need to panic or let fear overcome you. God is there by your side to guide your timid steps and keep you from tripping or falling. He will provide warmth and comfort and will give you peace and rest even in the midst of the storm (or blizzard) around you.

This experience strengthened my prayer life and my faith. It reminded me of the words of one of my favorite gospel songs, The Promise. “I never said I’d give you silver or gold, or that you wouldn’t feel the fire or shiver in the cold, but I did say you’ll never walk through this world alone and I did say don’t make this world your home. I didn’t said that fear would never find you in the night or that loneliness is something you’d never have to fight, but I did say I’ll be right there by your side and I did say I’ll always help you fight. You know I made a promise that I intend to keep. My grace will be sufficient in every time of need. My love will be the anchor you can hold onto. This is the promise I made to you. So just keep on walking, don’t turn to the left or right and in the midst of darkness let this be your light; hell can’t separate us and you’re going to make it through. This is the promise I made to you.” Those words ring so true to me because they are echoes of so many verses of scripture assuring us of God’s unfailing love, constant care and presence.

Carol and I were not blessed with children or grandchildren. I think that is one reason I feel the need to share what I have learned over the years on my blog, so that members of my generation will be reminded and younger generations will hopefully benefit as they read my posts. A friend from Knoxville, Tennessee, who has spent 30 years on the road as a salesman, recently posted a list on Facebook of the things he has learned over those years and that he intends to pass on to his 9 month old grandson. I think his wisdom is worth sharing.

“There are things that matter – and things that don’t. There are three big teachers in life: heartbreaks, empty pockets and failures. Pay close attention to people who don’t clap when you win. Take risks; if you win you’ll be happy and if you lose you’ll be wiser. Let your faith always be bigger than your fears. Don’t quit too soon. Good things take time. Don’t talk too much. Pray daily and pray often. When you’re learning to walk and you fall down 100 times, you’ll keep pulling yourself up and try again. Remember this when you’re older and facing adversity.”

I’m sure any of us who have been blessed with a long life could compile a list of our own bits of wisdom we have acquired through the years; usually learned the hard way. Are we sharing that hard earned wisdom with the next generations? Those of you with children, grandchildren or even great grandchildren have the awesome duty and responsibility to pass on to those generations the wisdom God has given you.

God granted Solomon wisdom. In fact, he is considered to be the wisest man who ever lived (other than Jesus, of course). My daily devotions almost always include a verse or two from Proverbs, Solomon’s book of wisdom to future generations. Life is not long enough for us to learn all there is to know, but I still crave more wisdom after all of these years to apply to my everyday life and to share with others.

Politicians talk about their legacy. Each of us will leave behind a legacy of our own created with what mattered most to us. For some, it will be material wealth. For others, it will be fame or notoriety. But the greatest of all legacies are love, a personal relationship with God and wisdom.

 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. It is a tradition that is uniquely American. What we normally think of as the first Thanksgiving was a feast put together by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in 1621, nearly 400 years ago. One attendee wrote that the feast lasted three days and was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims.

In 1782, Congress declared November 29^th of that year, “…a day of SOLEMN THANKSGIVING to GOD for all of His mercies…” In 1789, President George Washington made a proclamation establishing the first Thanksgiving Day officially recognized by the newly formed United States of America. The proclamation stated that the day was, “…to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.” Subsequent presidents also declared a day of thanksgiving, but it was Abraham Lincoln in 1863, during the Civil War, who proclaimed an annual day of Thanksgiving to God.

So the history of this holiday is rooted in our thankfulness for the blessings of God. Some have said that the commercialization of Easter and Christmas have left Thanksgiving as the most religious American holiday. One of the great benefits we have as Christians is that we know who to thank for all that is good in our lives. The anthem still rings true, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” A grateful heart has no room for fear, doubt, depression or self-pity. Gratitude strengthens our relationship with God.

May each person reading this (American citizen or not) have a blessed day of reflection and gratefulness for all that God has done not just tomorrow, but every day.  As several of my Facebook friends have shared, “No matter how bad things get, there is always, always, always something for which to be thankful.”

 

 

Have you ever known someone who is suffering from bipolar disorder? It is very disconcerting. Their demeanor can change in an instant. They may be happy, friendly and even jovial one minute and then become serious, angry and even hateful the next. It is like taking a shower with someone turning the faucet from hot to cold and back to hot again. When they enter the room you never know what to expect from them so you carefully feel them out for a reaction. As hard as that is for those around them, it must be horrible for them. It makes it almost impossible for them to develop and maintain lasting relationships.

You and I also have mood swings at times as a result of our circumstances, but we have a default mood or personality to which we return and it is that normal us others expect. When we aren’t reacting normally, they sense something is wrong and ask if there is anything they can do to help. Even our mood changes become predictable and understandable to those with whom we have a relationship. Being consistent and predictable is good, but how do we maintain it and avoid the extremes?

As always, Jesus is the answer. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) We can rely on Him no matter what happens. He is consistently loving and merciful. He is also predictably stern when we need correction. We need someone on whom we can always depend and He is that someone. His Spirit within us prompts us to be consistent and predictable like Him so we can be there for others as He is there for us.

Preparing to cross the street at a busy intersection, a mother told her young son to take her hand. He said, “No mommy, you take my hand” She asked, “What is the difference?” He said, “If I hold your hand I might lose my grip and let go, but if you hold my hand I know you won’t let go of me.” That exchange brings to mind the words of a song. “Precious Lord take my hand. Lead me on. Let me stand. I’m tired. I’m weak. I’m worn. Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light. Take my hand precious Lord lead me home.”

 

I had a brief text conversation recently with a good friend who is seven years younger than I am and is recovering from some physical problems including the flu. This is how the conversation went.

She: I’m feeling much better. I have the desire now to get things done, but I just can’t find the strength yet to do it. Getting old is not for sissies.

Me: Where is Geritol when we need it for our tired blood?

She: Do you drink it or apply it to your muscles?

Me: You drink it, but I would take a bath in the stuff if I thought it would help. Guess I’ll have to start brewing coffee again.

She: LOL

I share this with you to illustrate how frustrating it can be to feel weak and tired all the time lacking the energy needed to do the things we want or need to do. The writer of Hebrews gives me some good advice on the subject, “So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.” (Hebrews 12:12-13) My tired hands and weak knees can always use that kind of encouragement. I also turn to one of my favorite verses of scripture when I am feeling weak. “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

My strength is found through my trust in the Lord and my desire to press on for Him. The enemy would love to get me to give up and continue to grow weaker and weaker as a result of inactivity, but I am encouraged by the Holy Spirit to gain strength by continuing to walk the path God has laid out for me one weary, painful step at a time. That is a much more effective way to get peppier than drinking any energy drink, Geritol or even a pot of coffee. God is so good.

Blood is not a subject we enjoy discussing. The most shocking scenes of a horror movie are bound to include lots of fake blood. Some people swoon at just the sight of blood. I’m not that bad, but I do get a little uncomfortable seeing my own blood, so I look the other way when they draw blood for lab work and I quickly apply pressure to stop any bleeding, keeping my blood out of my sight.

There is a story that circulated on social media a couple of years ago about a very young girl with a potentially fatal disease. Her brother, who was two years older than her, had survived that same disease and had the antibodies in his blood that she needed. The doctors explained to the young boy that his blood could save his sister and he immediately agreed to it. Right after they took a pint of his blood he asked the nurse how long it would be before he died. He thought she needed all of his blood and yet he was still willing to go through with it to save his sister’s life.

One of my favorite young Pastors tells of being diagnosed with a serious blood disorder and how he was miraculously healed by God through answered prayer. As he describes it, “The blood of a Jewish carpenter now flows through my veins.”

Under the Old Testament covenant, the shedding of the life’s blood of flawless and innocent animals offered with a repentant heart was required annually to temporarily cover a person’s sins. It was the blood of a sacrificial lamb smeared on the door posts of Israelite homes in Egypt that caused the angel of death to pass over them sparing their first born sons. All of that was a shadow of the new covenant and the perfect once and for all sacrifice of God’s only Son; “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)

Jesus was not just a blood donor. He knew it would take every drop of his blood in order to save a sinfully sick world; yet He was still willing to give His life as the perfect and acceptable sacrifice for us while we were still under the death sentence of sin; so that everyone who believes in and follows Him will receive new life. One of my favorite hymns tells about the power of His shed blood. “Would you be free from your burden of sin? There’s power in the blood, power in the blood. Would you o’er evil the victory win? There’s wonderful power in the blood. There is power, power, wonder-working power in the blood of the Lamb. There is power, power, wonder-working power In the precious blood of the Lamb.”

The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus not only shed His blood and gave His life so that we may live; He rose from the tomb to prove the life He gives us is eternal. I could never repay Him or even thank Him enough for the blood He shed and His gift of eternal life, but I can and will dedicate my life to eternally serve and worship Him.

We all need help of one kind or another at times. The older I get it seems the needier of help I have become. Needs range from information, advice and encouragement to physical aid and prayer support. Not every difficulty or trial can be overcome without help, but where can I turn for the help I need?

When I was young I would turn to the library for information and to my parents for advice and encouragement. I would consult a map for needed directions. Now we just “google it” with seemingly endless search options and let GPS guide us to our destination. Have you ever searched and found a promising website, clicked on the help icon only to be presented with a list of answers to frequently asked questions none of which pertain to your particular need? I seem to run into that a lot and have to go back and start my search from scratch.

I have a cataract that has gotten worse in my right eye. I contacted my insurance carrier for my Medicare Advantage program and was pleased to find that they will cover the procedure without deductible or copay. The surgeon, who removed a cataract from my left eye ten years ago, does not take my current insurance, so I began a search for one who does and who isn’t too far from home. I finally found a promising doctor and called his office only to find out he does take my insurance but doesn’t do cataract surgery. His receptionist kindly recommended another local surgeon. I called his office and gleefully discovered he takes my insurance. Then I was told the first open appointment is five weeks from now. My first thought was, “At this rate, I probably won’t get the surgery scheduled before the first of the year.” Then, I thought, “If he is that popular, he must be good.” The point of all of this is that help isn’t always easy to find. Sometimes it takes a lot of perseverance and patience.

What about other material needs or emergencies? To whom can I turn? I have found the first one to ask for help is the only one who knows my needs before I do. He is always willing and able to help me. Of course I’m talking about going to God in prayer. His promise to me is this; “For I hold you by your right hand – I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’” (Isaiah 41:13) Now that is what I call a helping hand!

The Lord doesn’t always answer my call for help with a miracle. Most of the time, He prompts others with His Holy Spirit to help meet my needs. Just as I, when I was younger, was prompted to reach out a helping hand to others, now I am the recipient of such help. But there is never a doubt that the source of my help is the Lord. I could give you hundreds of examples, but I have a feeling that you already know what I mean. In a very real sense, when God uses my brothers and sisters in Christ to help me, it is still a miracle of Christian love. He continues to bless me every day and He will bless you if you come to Him for help.

 

Most married men are aware of what has become known as the “honey-do list”. Those of us who have been blessed with long marriages are very familiar with it. It must have been the first form of the to-do list. I can visualize Eve listing for Adam the things that needed to be done around the Garden. No matter how many items I checked off of that list in my fifty year marriage to Carol, the list was never completed. New items seemed to appear as fast as (or faster than) I could accomplish them, but my love for her made me want to give it my best effort.

I have found that one of the many differences between men and women is that women are more aware of what needs to be done and to their credit most of them quietly do those things they can do, while compiling that list of things they need their man to do for them. Men, on the other hand, are usually more concerned about the things we want to do rather than the things that need to be done.

Sometimes I think our prayers become a honey-do list for God. A list of the things we feel that we can’t take care of on our own. He is already well aware of our needs and he will lovingly check them off one by one, but He has a list for us as well. There are things that need to be done in our realm of influence that He has assigned for us to do.

The Ten Commandments and the law God gave his people appear to be more of a honey-don’t list. Jesus turned that all around when He put two things at the top of His list for us; “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)  We can avoid all of the no-no’s if we love God and others, but these are not single actions we can check off our honey-do list from God. They are things we must continue to do every day of our life.

Sadly, we could never love God so completely or love all of our neighbors as we love our self on our own. The good news is that God has provided us with His Holy Spirit to give us both the desire and the strength to do those two things and much more. The Holy Spirit also prompts us to do the more specific things God has on His honey-do list for us. I have said and written many times that when the Holy Spirit prompts me to do something I only have two choices; do it or regret it. I can tell you from experience that doing it is best.

Just as love inspired me to do the things on Carol’s honey-do list, love is what drives me to accomplish the items on God’s list of things He wants me to do. (See John 14:15)

 

 

The sermon series at CLC the month of November is “No longer”. It will take a close look at those things that have been used to divide us; race, social class and economic status. I’m looking forward to honest discussions about those things which God uses to unite rather than divide us. I have shared some of these experiences before but I think they bear repeating.

Having lived through the civil rights movement of the 50s, 60s and 70s; I have a different perspective about race relations than some younger folks. As a young Christian, I watched the opposition Billy Graham overcame when he demanded that his crusade meetings be fully integrated in 1954. In 1957, he held nightly crusade meetings all summer long in New York City and every one of them was integrated. I cherish the television memory of Billy Graham and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. standing side by side on the platform at Madison Square Garden and proclaiming there is but one race – the human race. I will never forget the beautiful sight of people with every shade of skin coming forward together to accept Christ as their Savior. Jesus unites us when others try to separate us.

As a young airman training in Biloxi, Mississippi, I experience fear of racial violence, not from those in the black neighborhoods, but from police enforcing segregation. I developed a personal relationship across racial lines on Okinawa with Ernest Lawrence, Jr. of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As we worked together and got to know each other, we found very little that separated us. I got a taste of the prejudice he faced when I was called names and threatened by some “good old boys” from the south that couldn’t even bear to see us talking over breakfast.

Many years later, as the trainer for a pest control company, I saw young black men and women enter my classroom and immediately become defensive when they saw me and detected a slight southern accent. It was always gratifying to see those defenses drop within just a day or two when they realized that I wanted them to succeed and they would be treated fairly like anyone else I trained. The owner of the company was truly an equal opportunity employer long before that term became popular. I trained people from Mexico, South America and even one Polish immigrant. I am still in contact with many of them on a very friendly basis. We learned to overcome our superficial differences in order to get them started in a new career.

When my wife passed away, I found CLC and held her memorial service there. Entering the sanctuary on Sundays was like returning to those integrated Crusade meetings where people of all races are welcome to worship together and receive the unadulterated Word of God. I have developed so many deep and lasting relationships with my brothers and sisters in Christ, not for a lifetime, but for eternity. We are united in our love of the Lord and our love for each other.

God appreciates and celebrates the variety of skin color, hair color, eye color, size and shape of His human creations and so should we. We are each uniquely made, but united by our common Creator.