Month: May 2019

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Satan tries to distract us by putting obstacles in our way; sometimes they are small stumbling blocks to trip us up, but some seem like mountains. God tests our faith with storms and hardships as well. It isn’t always easy to tell the difference. Is it tests of our faith that will strengthen us for even bigger trials ahead; or is it an attempt to block our progress? Our first reaction is usually to turn to the scripture where Jesus teaches that with faith as small as a mustard seed you can move a mountain. (Matthew 17:20) Then pray for the stumbling blocks and mountain to be moved out of our path. And by faith, it will happen. However, if it is a test, it might not even be a test of our faith, but a test of our willingness to rely on God’s strength within us to overcome anything we encounter. If that is the case, the climb may seem difficult and treacherous, but like a real mountain climb, the rarified atmosphere and the view from the peak will take our breath away.

I heard a song by the Hopper Family gospel group that did not sound at all like something I would pray. The name of the song is “Lord, Don’t Move That Mountain”.  The chorus begins, “Lord, don’t move that mountain, just give me the strength for the climb.” Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not planning a trip to the Himialyas to scale Mt. Everest any time soon, but It has occurred to me that relying on the power of the Holy Spirit within me to climb and conquer a spiritul mountain just might be a greater miracle than causing it to move out of my way. One advantage of old age is there is a lot more of life to look back on. I have witnessed spiritual mountains move out of my path and I have climbed my share of them. In both cases, it is good to know who to praise for the victory. Faith and reliance on God make all things possible.  

It is easy to praise God from the mountain top, but as the words of another song tell us; “The God on the mountain is still God in the valley. The God of the day is still God in the night.” The Apostle Paul reminds us that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. (Romans 8:11) That is all the power we will ever need and it is always available to us no matter what situation we are in.

I have found a verse of scripture that could well be the key to understanding the process of aging. “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.”   (2 Corinthians 4:16) Inside every old person like me, there is a young one longing to continue making a difference in the world and confused by the new limitations on body and mind. In Christians, that young, healthy spirit finds means of expression that provide satisfaction. My wife kept her faith, love and sense of humor right up to the end. The twinkle in her eyes never faded away no matter what she was going through. That was her young spirit still seeing the world with the wonder of a young girl.

Those who have aged without Christ often become cranky and bitter as their spirit lacks expression and renewal. The earthly pleasures that once seemed to feed their spirit are no longer available or useful, so they are frustrated inside and out. They had not prepared for their bodies dying so their spirit is not renewed daily. I read a report of a woman who was 80 and announcing her fourth marriage. A reporter asked about the profession of her groom and she said, “He is a funeral director.” The reporter found that interesting, so he inquired about the profession of her other three husbands whom she had outlived. She smiled as she told him her first husband was a banker, her second husband was an actor and her third husband was a minister. He asked why she was drawn to such a diverse group of men. Her smile broadened as she told him, “One was for money; two was for show; three to get ready and four to go.”

I have been blessed with a clear mind in spite of my physical limitations. I cannot begin to think of the confusion, frustration and desperation of those affected by dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. More research is needed to eliminate those afflictions that rob a person of their final years. I thank God daily for a clear memory, the ability to pray and renew my spirit through God’s word and then express myself verbally and by writing this blog with the help of the Holy Spirit teaming up with my young, healthy spirit.

No matter what stage of life you are in now, accepting Jesus Christ and following Him is like discovering the fountain of youth for your spirit; no matter how your body reacts to the aging process.

It is 92.5 miles from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Imagine making that 185 mile round trip on foot in all kinds of weather several times a year for the Jewish festivals. Makes driving to church on Sunday seem like snap, right? I mention the half mile because I have a feeling that last half mile on the way home from a festival must have seemed unending as Jesus took one weary step after another with his family and then with his disciples. By the way, today you can take a vehicle on highway 6 from Nazareth and be in Jerusalem in an hour and forty minutes. Do we respect the hardships of New Testament times and appreciate our modern conveniences? Chances are we simply take them for granted without any comparison.

We know that Jesus understands every hardship, trial and temptation we face, but our minds have trouble wrapping around the additional suffering he endured in our place. On his last weary journey to Passover in Jerusalem, he rode a donkey colt that had never been ridden before for the last few miles into Jerusalem. You would think the crowds of people along the way paving the road with coats and palm leaves and shouting “Hosanna” would lift his spirit and cheer him. But he knows that most of those same voices praising and welcoming him will be shouting “Crucify him” in just a few days, as he fulfills prophesy and bears the sins of the entire world, including yours and mine, on his body as he sacrifices himself for us.    

Due to age and arthritic knees, I now walk with the help of a walker. I can make it for one city block, one eighth of a mile, before requiring rest. Every time I stand, I ask Jesus to walk with me every weary step of the way and help me make it to my destination. I know he understands my slow steps and is always there with me urging me on. He will walk with you every weary step of the way through sunshine and storm. All you have to do is invite him to join you on your journey.        

When I learn about someone in sorrow and distress, as a Christian, I immediately want them to know that they are in my thoughts and prayers. When disaster strikes, hundreds or even thousands of us reach out to those involved with our thoughts and prayers. Those who do not know the power of prayer or the power of the God we serve, mock us as if we are doing nothing to solve the problem or prevent added tragedy. They evidently have never been comforted by God through the prayers of others as I have. They see it as just giving meaningless lip service. What they fail to realize is that attention to spiritual needs is our first priority, but not our only one. When there is a need for help or financial assistance, Christians generously give of their time and resources to help those in need as the Holy Spirit leads us.

Instead of offering moral support or personally getting involved, those scoffers turn to government (their God) for solutions. They petition (pray) for government to take action to control climate change, enact stronger gun control laws, or do whatever they feel is needed to prevent similar disasters. That gives them the feeling of accomplishment, without the need for them to roll up their sleeves and get personally involved physically or spiritually.

 The scriptures tell us to respect governmental authority, pay taxes and obey laws (Romans 13:1-7), as long as those laws don’t require us to disobey God. The story of the three Hebrew young men refusing to worship the statue the government had erected (Daniel 3) illustrates that we must always obey God first, even if that means breaking man’s law.  Jesus teaches us to love others and gives us the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) to show us how to put our love into action by personally getting involved. The Samaritan didn’t petition the Roman government to make the road safe from robbers or to provide medical and financial assistance to victims. He got personally involved, giving of his love, compassion, time and money to help a stranger in trouble. I might be missing something, but I cannot find one verse of scripture that tells us to let government do what we are instructed to do.    

Back to the importance of thoughts and prayers; you and I are in the thoughts and prayers of God’s Son. When Jesus describes His mission on earth (John 3:16-17) it is with you and me in mind. When He prays for the disciples before going to the cross, He includes us in His prayer (John 17:20). He even mentions us when doubting Thomas finally believes He has risen from the dead (John 20:29). Just as Jesus keeps us in His thoughts and prayers, let us continue to do the same for others.  

I just listened to a video of the Kingsmen gospel quartet singing “I just stopped by on my way home.” It was a reminder that the closer I get to the end of my life here, the more I realize how temporary this life is and how precious is the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. As the writer of Hebrews puts it, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” (Hebrews 13:14) The gift of eternal life is not just a path to heaven some day; it is a journey with God that begins the minute we accept Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and begin to live with His Spirit within us. It is the Holy Spirit who guides us every step of the way. I have been on this spiritual journey for nearly 65 years now. I thank God that this world is not my final destination. God gives us His joy here and now, but it is only a shadow of the complete joy we will experience when we arrive home to live with Him.

I have mentioned before that after my wife died, I found peace at night by “performing a concert” of recitations, hymns and gospel songs before bed time. My old dogs seemed to find it relaxing too, but now it is just the Lord and me. I have noticed that lately nearly all of the songs and recitations are about heaven. One hymn in particular is “When we all get to heaven”. It takes me back to the church in St. Louis where I worshipped with my parents and then with my bride. When someone would answer the invitation to come forward and accept Christ, the entire congregation would file past congratulating them on their decision. That hymn is one of the songs we would sing as we moved along in line. It brings tears of joy to my eyes to think that nearly all of those precious people, including my parents and wife, have already arrived there, experiencing the words of that old hymn for real. “Sing the wondrous love of Jesus. Sing His mercy and His grace. In the mansions bright and blessed, He’ll prepare for us a place. Onward to the prize before us, soon His beauty we’ll behold. Soon the pearly gates will open and we shall tread the streets of gold. When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be. When we all see Jesus, we will sing and shout the victory.”

Forgive me for becoming overly spiritual in my perspective for this blog post. It’s not that I’m in a rush to travel on past this life with my current brothers and sisters in Christ; it’s just that I am ready, whenever it is time, to continue my journey to my eternal home to reunite with all of my other friends and family; joining them in a song of praise before God’s throne.

On this Mothers’ Day, 2019, my loving thoughts are of three women who helped me survive to old age and made me the man I am today.

In 1930, Dorothy Musgrave experienced an unplanned pregnancy just a year before earning her nursing degree. She dropped out of school, married my father, and provided a loving home for my brother. When he was entering his teens, she experienced another unplanned pregnancy. I was a “bonus baby” neither she nor my father planned on. She used all of her nursing skills and love to get me through Measles, Mumps, Chicken Pox, Whooping Cough and Histoplasmosis. She was TLC (tender loving care) personified. I was entering my teen years when God called her home to be with Him. She is gone from this life, but never forgotten.

Macel Martin was a widow who grew up on a farm. She had raised two children both of whom were married with a child of their own. She was working and living alone in the city, feeling unneeded and unfulfilled. At that same time, my father was overwhelmed with grief, loneliness and the responsibility of maintaining a home for the two of us. A mutual friend brought them together and they were married about six months after they met. She lovingly took on the job of caring for my father and me through my high school years. She made sure we always had clean clothes, a neat and clean home and delicious home cooked meals on the table. She was a wonderful, loving, Christian woman who put up with this teenager who was still struggling with the loss of my mother. She qualifies as a saint for what I put her through and I now fondly remember her as my second mom.

In 1959, Carol Marenholtz was about to start her senior year of high school at a strange new school. A girlfriend from her home town came to visit her that summer and to see her boyfriend who had also moved from Indiana to Missouri. The boyfriend arranged a blind date for Carol so she would feel included and that is how I met the love of my life. She and I not only shared the same home town experiences and the move to another state because of our father’s job, but we also shared a strong Christian faith. In 1962, she agreed to marry me when I returned from Okinawa and on December 7, 1963, she became my wife. Carol always told me she wanted three sons, although I know she would have been happy with daughters instead. In spite of our desire to be parents, we were not blessed with children during our fifty years of marriage. I know she would have made a wonderful mother because she too was tender loving care personified. I can’t help but think that God is putting her to work in heaven caring for all of those nameless, motherless aborted babies.

I hope each man reading this will pay a special tribute today to the mothers in his life. I wish each woman reading this, whether she is a mom or longs to be one, a very special and blessed day.

Every Christian goes through struggles in life that test us. Even Jesus Himself was tested by Satan in the wilderness right after His baptism. My first real test of faith came just two years after I accepted Christ. My mother died from leukemia after many prayers for her healing. I was only thirteen and could not understand why God didn’t answer my prayers or hers because I knew her faith was strong. As I get older the tests seem to be coming one right after another. Maybe it is because time is passing faster; or maybe because my increased faith is met with increased resistance. Right now, I’m in the middle of another big challenge testing me and threatening my home.

Many people have written about those tests of life. So many that it is hard to tell who said what first, so I will just go with “anonymous” for these.  “The difference between school and life is that in school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.” “There is no victory without a battle; no testimony without a test; and no miracle without an impossible circumstance.” “When you’re going through something difficult and you wonder where God is, remember the teacher is always quiet during the test.” “If God brought you to it, He will bring you through it.”

What does scripture say about life’s trials and tests? “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.” (Proverbs 17:3) The Psalmist asked to be tested. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” (Psalms 139:23) “Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.” (Psalms 26:2) It takes a lot of confidence to offer ourselves to be examined by God and put to the test like that. It is the Apostle Paul who gives us the most hope that we can get through the tests successfully. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) 

Whatever happens in your life, be confident that God is with you and will bring you out of the storm, tested and victorious. He will provide answers we never thought of and open doors we didn’t even know existed, even when we have brought the problem onto ourself.

Everyone who attends church or reads Christian literature has probably encountered the statement, “If Satan can’t make us bad, he will make us busy.” It has been used by so many pastors and writers that it may almost begin to sound scriptural. It isn’t, but that doesn’t make it less true. Actually, Corrie Ten Boom was the first to say it. Just how does keeping us busy serve the enemy’s purpose?

Satan doesn’t urge us to do good works – he urges us to take on too many good works. Good works are part of the Christian life, but they are not the most important part. The foundation of a Christ-centered life is a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior. That personal relationship only develops through daily time spent with God in prayer and the study of His word. When works – even good works, crowd out that time of fellowship with God, those works become hollow and meaningless. Jesus tells us, “On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.” (Matthew 7:22-23) I used to have trouble understanding why Jesus rejected them, but now I get it. They were so busy doing what they thought was pleasing to God that they had no time for a personal relationship with Christ and that is why He never knew them. So, since Satan can’t come between you and God, he will put something else in the way, even what appears to be Christian service.

When we first come to Christ for salvation, we feel so empowered with the Holy Spirit that we want to do it all for Him. I think pastors especially have that problem when they answer God’s call to full time ministry. The best example of this in scripture is when Moses became so busy judging minor disputes; he had no time for leadership. His father-in-law pointed out to him that he should delegate those duties to others who are capable, so he would be free to do as God commands him. (Exodus Chapter 18) Only God can “do it all”. That is why He calls each of us to specific works for which He has prepared us. When each of us obey and follow Him, it will all get done.

Jesus has a lot to say about forgiveness. “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14-15) He even taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” (Luke 11:4) In His torment on the cross, Jesus gave us the supreme example when He asked His Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him. How can we possibly forgive others as God has forgiven us? The answer is found in God’s love.

The best definition of God’s love is found in the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians where we find that love “keeps no record of being wronged.” Corrie Ten Boom put it this way, “God takes our sins – the past, present and future and dumps them in the sea and puts up a sign that says NO FISHING ALLOWED.” It is much easier to forgive something that has been put out of sight. (My favorite phrase in my old age has become, “Out of sight – out of mind.”) Satan, the great accuser, loves to fish up not only our sins to accuse us, but all of the things others have done to us to keep us accusing them. Without a record of wrongs, he is out of ammunition.

I’ve quoted Corrie Ten Boom before. She and her sister helped Jews escape from the Germans during World War II, but they were eventually caught. After her sister died, she was sentenced to be executed. The day before her execution, there was an administrative foul up and instead of being executed, she was released. She spent the rest of her long life telling others of the marvelous power of God and the lessons she learned in the midst of hardship. I love the way she described her battle with forgiveness for one particular German. “Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him….Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness….And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on his. When he tells us to love our enemies, he gives along with the command, the love itself.”

Lord, let us continually allow your love and forgiveness to flow through us into the world and onto those around us who deserved them the least but need them the most. Amen.