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Get Out of Jail Free
2007-11-16 10:49:00
In the game of monopoly there are cards that may be drawn when landing on the right spot. One of them is a "get out of jail free" card. It may be used when a player is sent to jail to avoid paying the penalty to get out of jail. No one wants to stay in jail.Thirty-one years ago today in 1676 On Nantucket Island, located in the English colony of Massachusetts, local authorities hired William Bunker to establish the first prison in the America colonies. Ever since then lawyers have been hired to help keep people out of jails or get them freed when they are in jails. Yet, according to the Washington Post a record 7 million people -- one in every 32 U.S. adults -- were behind bars, on probation or on parole by the end of 2005.However, far more people are in prison than that. Every day we encounter people who are prisoners. The Bible says in Romans 6:16 "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of ...
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Just A Dash
2007-11-15 10:51:00
One of the most exciting times in life is the arrival of a new baby. I have just been informed that I am to be a grandpa again next July. Everyone is excited. My wife has called everyone on the phone to inform them of the great news. One of the saddest times in life is the departure of a friend or loved one. Family and friends gather to comfort and encourage one another and to express goodbyes and last respects to the departed. On the tombstone both of these events are noted with a date. But what about the dash in between the dates?That dash represents all the joys and sorrows of the person's lifetime. Just as in a recipe that calls for a dash of this and a dash of that, the outcome of a life is determined by what is in the dash. Each of us is living that dash right now. The decisions we make, the attitudes we express, the relationships we develop will all determine what is in the dash and whether it produces a life of fulfillment or emptiness.The Bible give us some insight on what...
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Don't Get in a Wreck!
2007-11-14 11:09:00
Many of today's drivers are an accident looking for a place to happen. As I drive around town I notice drivers talking on the cell phone, trying to eat their lunch and tending to their children. As a result they roll through stop signs, run red lights and turn at intersections where no turn is permitted. As a result they endanger their own lives and the lives of innocent people around them.The spiritual highway is very similar. We can get so involved in distractions that we miss the signs God has for us. He tells us as Christians that we are to STOP certain things. He admonishes us to YIELD to Him in our daily decisions. We are commanded to GO to others and share our faith and encouragement. The directions are for our protection and spiritual success.Today we can experience God's direction and have peace or ignore it and face confusion and disaster. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledg...
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Handwriting on the Wall
2007-11-13 10:47:00
Often we engrave important words so that they can be seen by everyone. They can mean very different things. Twenty-five years ago on this day in 1982 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. The names of more than 58,000 lost solders were inscribed on a long wall of polished black granite. This writing on the wall was so that no one would ever forget what they had done in Viet Nam.Usually on our tombstones we write something in the granite. On my father's headstone the words "God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform" is written. We chose those words because they were my father's favorite expression and also because the spoke of the faith he expressed frequently in God to work out circumstances in his life.In the book of Daniel God himself engraved words on the wall of the banquet hall. This is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN." Daniel read the words off of the wall before turning to face the king and solemnly announce, "...
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An Honorable Profession
2007-11-12 11:23:00
Today is a day set aside to show our appreciation, respect and thankfulness for our veterans. While there are always many complaining about our country's involvement in war, the objections don't come from those who have been there. My father, step-father and father-in-law were veterans of World War II. My brother-in-law was a veteran of Viet Nam. My son is a veteran of Iraq. I have never heard any complaints from any of them. Each has been proud to served his country and committed to the purpose for the war in which they were involved. May God bless and be thanked for our veterans.There is another war that many see as unpopular as well. The enemy is a relentless terrorist who gets his satisfaction out of destroying everyone he can. God describes this battle in Ephesians, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Paul tells of his involvemen...
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Reflections
2007-11-09 10:29:00
Reflecting may imply many different activities. We may think of looking in a mirror, peering into water or thinking of past times. How would you describe your reflection? Our opinion of our physical appearance or our mental image of our self is tied closely to what we are inside. When we are not pleased with our reflection we may try all manner of products to make the physical appearance look better. Of course, there is a certain amount of "fixing" that we can do on the surface. However, the improvement of our reflection must begin within. What we are inside not only affects our view of our self but also of the challenges we face daily.Whenever God was about to lead his people into a new situation He used his past goodness and faithfulness to build anticipation of further blessing and success. When Israel came to the edge of the promised land Joshua rehearsed all that God had done for them to bring them to that point. Then he challenged them to go forward. When God spoke to Israel t...
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Become Part of a Team
2007-11-08 11:23:00
In every aspect of today's society we have forgotten the truth of John Donne's words, "No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent." In our families everyone has their own schedule and it is seldom that everyone comes together at the same time. The daily opportunity to sit together at the evening meal and share the day's events has disappeared. In our churches the mark of success seems to be when something is planned for every night of the week. In trying to be loyal to the church we become disloyal to one another. In the workplace personal accomplishment and recognition leading to that pay raise or promotion overshadows teamwork.We need to be reminded that our God-given goal in life is not to focus on ourselves but as a result of our relationship with him we are to reach out to others and develop meaningful relationships that will change lives and our world. As Jin Kwon has said, "One piece of log creates a small fire, adequate to warm you up, ad...
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Annoyances
2007-11-07 10:53:00
We all have those little things that really bother us. As a junior high school teacher I have learned to endure many of them. However, I have my share of pet peeves. This morning I was particularly annoyed at my cat Ginger. She was in the kitchen at 3:00 in the morning scratching at the bag of cat food. Upon checking it was noted that she did have food in her bowl. Why was she scratching? She wanted attention! She has learned that when she makes an annoying noise someone will come and she gets attention.Of course, most of our annoyances come from other people. But I wonder how many of the things that people do that we consider annoyances are simply their way of getting some attention. All of us are filled with needs and we desperately want someone to respond to us. We have found that to be the cause of most misbehaviors in our students at school.We are encouraged in the Bible to be burden-bearers. In order to do so, however, we must be both spiritual and meek. As spiritual people we...
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Where's the Sun?
2007-11-06 11:12:00
One beautiful summer day our family went exploring near our home. We were examining some petroglyphs that were on the edge of a large parcel of state-owned land. There was a small creek nearby and my son and I wandered off to have a look. Curious as to where the creek might lead us we began to follow it. Before we realized it we were in the middle of a huge 30 acre swamp filled with shrubs that all looked alike. Our wandering had gotten us lost.We went round and round for a long time wading through the water and tripping on the roots under the water. The sun was hidden by clouds that day and we couldn't determine which way to go. I carried my son who was ten at the time on my shoulders. We had almost come to the point of despair when suddenly the sun came from behind the clouds. We determined the direction and walked straight out onto an old logging road which led us out of the state-land and back to the road. We were two miles from our starting point. Later we learned that in form...

Monday Has Come
2007-11-05 11:03:00
Every weekend begins with a cheer and ends with the realization that the time to go back to work has come. Most people do not look forward to Monday s. We try to put it out of mind, but it pushes its way into our lives every week. Usually, once we face Monday and plunge into it that dreaded day and the whole week sails by and we are able to look back upon our accomplishments with satisfaction and fulfillment.Actually, we tend to procrastinate in facing any undesirable event or circumstance. Somehow we convince ourselves that maybe we will never have to face the issue if we can just put it off another day. Mignon McLaughlin said, "Don't fool yourself that important things can be put off till tomorrow; they can be put off forever, or not at all." Whatever seemingly difficult thing you may be facing today is either not important and will fade away or it is something that will be there until you take care of it. So whether it is a job that has to be done, a relationship that has to be r...

Your Wish Is Granted
2007-11-02 10:50:00
We all have wishes. Some are expressed when the birthday candles are blown out. Some are expressed in the form of New Year's resolutions every January. There is one wish that all of us have expressed over and over. We've all said, "I just wish I had a little more time." Or maybe, "The day is just too short."Tomorrow night we will all get our wish. It is the day every fall when the clocks are set back one hour, giving us sixty more minutes. How will that extra hour be used? Carl Sandberg said, "Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent." Probably, most of us will waste the extra hour watching TV or sleeping in the next morning.We are advised in the Bible that we should redeem the time. While the extra hour we will get tomorrow will be taken away from us next spring, the time we have in life is ours to use as we choose. We cannot manufacture extra time. We cannot reclaim the wasted time of the past. But we all are g...

A Holiday For You
2007-11-01 10:09:00
Most of us look forward to various holidays. When they fall during the week it usually means a day off from work with pay. Holiday s provide a time for a little rest from hard work and in many cases a time of celebration with family.Today is a special day on some church calendars. It is "All Saints Day" when recognition is given to "all saints known and unknown." Of course the saints in mind are those who have been recognized by men as having made some special accomplishment during their lives.The important question is whether we are saints in God's eyes or not. Anyone can become a saint of God. He made that possible by offering his own Son as payment for us on the cross of Calvary. When a person accepts that free gift and give Jesus the control of his life he becomes a saint or set apart one unto God. From then on every day is a holy day.Are you celebrating your sainthood? As saints we have a special rest every day. We rest in the peace of God. And, we have extra pay as saints also...

No Skeletons Please
2007-10-31 10:22:00
Have you noticed the common thread behind skeletons? At this time of year they are in every "haunted house", hanging on windows, erected on lawns and even marching to our doorsteps. Often we refer to them in our conversation. When someone has been ill or lost a lot of weight we might say they are nothing but skin and bones. When a company has cut back on a project they are said to have only a skeleton crew.The concept of skeletons seems to be always connected with death. They are associated with undesirable situations because we see death as our worst enemy. Skeletons evoke fear from within us. The "skin and bones" look is seen as a step toward serious illness or death. The skeleton crew is a sign of the death of the project or even the company. No one is attracted by death or the appearance of deadness.The same principle is true in communicating our faith to others. People are not attracted to dead Christians. We are to exhibit the life of a "new creation in Christ" for all to see....
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Artist At Work
2007-10-30 10:57:00
Recently my artist daughter was asked to paint a mural for a church baptistery. Some in the church were a little hesitant about hiring her because they weren't sure about what the finished product would look like. As the days of painting went by one elderly man came by to inspect each day. Finally, he made a comment. He said, "Well, it's looking much better than I thought it would." When the mural was finally completed everyone in the church was pleased with the results.Our lives are much like that mural. God is the artist. At the beginning of His work we might feel uncertain as to what He can do with us. Along the way we might even wonder if the picture will turn out very well. But if we just allow him to work day by day in our lives the end result will be a testimony to the Artis t s skill and careful plan. The acronym PBPGINFWMY (Please be patient, God is not finished with me yet) is true for ourselves as well as others.All along the painting of our lives people are watching. Man...
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Turn On The Furnace
2007-10-29 10:23:00
Jack Frost touched his fingers to the windows of my car for the first time this morning. Now I face the daily task of scraping away the frost. For the next five months the life will be zapped out of everything. The trees will shed their leaves, the grass, plants and flowers will no longer put forth their joyful colors. Except for the brave lovers of winter sports we will hover in the house where the furnace has been turned on to avoid the nip of winter's cold.As I thought about the frost and its affect on the living world I was reminded about the wintry affect that frosty words can have on relationships. Words are not so easily scrapped off as frost from a window. They can rob the life of a relationship just as quickly as winter kills off the grass and plants but without the promise of spring a few months later.We can, however, force that winter away by choosing words of care and kindness. A Japanese proverb says, "One kind word can warm three winter months." Our properly chosen wo...
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Let Your Pumpkin Glow
2007-10-26 12:32:00
For the last two weeks my Bible class has been memorizing the similitudes. They are the verses following the beatitudes that compare us to salt and light. As salt our nature is to be preservative, seasoning and healing. As light we are to drive away the darkness and provide illumination for people to see. As a result people will glorify our Father.I received another similitude in my inbox the other day. It compares believers to pumpkins as follows. "God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off you may have gotten from the other pumpkins. Then he cuts the top off and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."I hope that you have been "picked from the patch" already. However, we may be at any stage in the process after that. But only after we have been washed, cleaned and molded by his grace will we become the ligh...
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Trick or Treat
2007-10-25 11:42:00
Just a week from now little voices will be calling out that familiar phrase "trick or treat" expecting to receive some candy. Our grandson came over last night to show off his costume and practice his technique. We knew he was coming and prepared by getting him two of his favorite treats, peeps (the little marshmallow treat) and sugarless gum. He was elated.While not everyone participates in Halloween activities we all give out tricks and treats on nearly a daily basis. People around us come expecting to find a source of help or understanding. Some come with the need for friendship or just a listening ear. Knowing this we must choose to be prepared with answers that will bring peace and joy to their lives. The Bible instructs us to be prepared with an answer for the hope that we have and to share it with those around us.Unfortunately, some trick or treating turns out to be disastrous because of the bad treats given out. That is why folks tend to take their kids to only friends and r...
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Be A Winner
2007-10-24 11:36:00
The World Series of baseball begins tonight. My team didn't make it. They wanted to be in the series and they worked hard to get to that point, but they fell short. Something was missing that kept them from their goal. The same is true of all the other teams that didn't make it. Regarding team sports Bobby Night said, "The key is not the "will to win" - everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important. Somewhere along the line all the teams but two didn't do what was required to prepare to win.The game of life is much like baseball in that respect. Every one of us want to win but we don't always have the will to do what is required to be a winner. The difference between baseball and life is that we can all be winners. Simply by making the choice to be prepared we are guaranteed a spot in the winner's circle. We are told in the Bible, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:1,2). All we need to do to be a wi...
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When It Rains It Pours
2007-10-23 11:33:00
After a summer and early fall of dry, hot weather everyone in our area was wishing for rain. Now it is raining with a forecast for the same for several days and everyone is wishing it would stop. That is usually the way we respond to the weather. We are never satisfied with what we get.Our attitude toward the storms of life may be similar. It seems that at times the storms rage with no sign of an end. It is at those times we can demonstrate our dependence on God and our patience with others. We might feel like Mother Teresa who said, "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." Another writer has suggested, "We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, "Why did this happen to me?" unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way. So when it seems to be pouring in our lives let us recount the days of sunshine that God has given and promised to give. At the same time let us be reassured that He kno...

Written In Stone
2007-10-22 12:12:00
Have you ever listened to someone share future plans and then say, "It's not written in stone"? We have all had plans like that. We never know what will take place to change our plans. We might discover a more attractive alternative. We may find a less expensive option. We may just lose interest. Then what was so exciting is suddenly forgotten.While that scenario is acceptable for personal plans and activities, it is destructive to personal relationships. A story tells of two friends who got into an argument. When one slapped the other, the person who was slapped wrote in the sand, "My friend slapped me today." Later that same person fell into some quicksand and was rescued by his friend. The rescued person wrote in stone this time, "My friend saved my life today." When asked why he wrote in sand one time and then in stone the other, he said, "When someone hurts us we should write it in sand, but when they help us we should write it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."That is...
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Try On A Different Pair of Shoes
2007-10-19 11:26:00
When I go shopping I like to go in the store, pick up the item I want and get out quickly. I guess that's a man thing. There are some times when that technique just doesn't work. When buying shoes or clothes there is a time-consuming process of trying things on to make sure they fit. Failing to go through the process results in the extra bother of having to return and exchange items.Sometimes we want relationships to work the same way. We think that unless a person instantly matches our expectations something is wrong with them. Often the problem is that we simply haven't been in their shoes. We haven't experienced their circumstances. A story is told of a King of a country who wanted to identify with his people. So he dressed up in old clothes and spent time down in the coal mines where many of them worked. As a pastor I sometimes could not understand why people would not come to some of the church services. Then I worked in the secular world and discovered what they were exper...
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Never Give Up
2007-10-18 11:25:00
Sometimes it takes real determination and stamina to keep on task. In our recent "battle" with all the paperwork required by insurance companies, attorneys and our health co-op, it seemed like there was no end in sight. I just wanted the process to be over. Finally, yesterday the last form was filled out and the last set of material was mailed. The sense of accomplishment was rewarding. Our perseverance is often related to the value of the task.A man joined a monastery with the understanding that he could only speak two words once every five years. They expected him to put forth some effort to make his task a success. At the end of the first five years he met with the head of the monastery and said his two words, "Hard beds." Five years later his words were, "Bad food." and after fifteen years his two words were, "I quit." Now that was some valiant effort that was defeated only due to inconvenience.In a cartoon a frog is being eaten by a pelican. The frog is completely inside of the...
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What Will I Give?
2007-10-17 11:10:00
The number of occasions on which we are supposed to give a gift seems to increase every year. We are constantly having to decide what would be appropriate. One popular gift is a restaurant gift certificate. Another possibility is a bouquet of flowers. However, both of these are gone in a short time and forgotten. While they are nice they need to be accompanied or replaced with something that will last.I received this quote in an email recently: “Appreciation is a free gift that you can give to anyone you encounter – it is completely your choice. And each time you choose to thank someone for a job well done, you are making the world a better place.” (The Simple Truths of Appreciation, Barbara Glanz).I can affirm that appreciation is a much better choice than the flowers or free meal. While I enjoy both of those gifts, it is appreciation that motivates and satisfies. Sometimes my boss takes me out to lunch, but when he expresses his appreciation for a job well done that means mu...
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Let Go of The Hatchet
2007-10-16 11:44:00
In life there are always disagreements and conflicts. In haste we say or do things that we wish we could undo later. Sometimes when we resolve the conflict or at least agree to set it aside we say, "Let's bury the hatchet. Let's just forget about this confrontation." However, many times we don't really mean what we say and we leave the hatchet handle sticking out so that we can easily retrieve it later.Thankfully, God doesn't work that way. When God says that he forgets our sins we can rest assured that He will never bring them up again and He will not hold them against us. Our enemy may bring them to mind in order to hold us in a prison of guilt, but as far as God is concerned the hatchet, handle and all, has been buried.We would do well to pattern our forgiveness of others after God's forgiveness of us. We can't erase something totally from our memory, but we can choose to set it aside. I can remember several situations and the people involved in them that offended me, but I...
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The Bear Facts
2007-10-15 11:13:00
The Bible says "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise..." But the ant isn't the only animal that can teach us something important. Yesterday, I was watching a nature program on the Travel Channel. At first I thought the examination of a bear's jaw to determine its cause of death was rather irrelevant to anything important, but soon discovered a significant lesson.The narrator explained that a loose tooth in the jaw gave insight into the cause of death. He went on to give the probable scenario. The problem likely began with a cavity and eventual tooth decay resulting in infection. Then there was a loss of appetite which led to weakness and vulnerability. Finally the bear was attacked by an enemy and faced death.Immediately, the parallel to our spiritual condition became evident. Sin captures us in much the same way. It begins small and leads to spreading infection. If not stopped we become careless in our spiritual diet and weak in our faith. At that point we...
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An Insider Tip
2007-10-12 12:03:00
From time to time a news story breaks about someone who had information ahead of time that enabled them to profit when others without that information did not. In the financial world that is called insider information. It is illegal and some have served time in prison for using it to their advantage. We all like to have an advantage and make a profit, but we must be ethical about our actions.I have an insider tip that will profit you and others at the same time. It is not illegal and will not send you to prison. Actually, it will free you from a prison of sorts. The tip: give something away. No longer needing our water bed, I took it apart and stored it on our back porch. I advertised it in a free place for $60. After a period of time with no responses, I decided the bed was just cluttering up my back porch so I advertised it as free to be picked up. Yesterday, a young lady called and agreed to pick up the bed. When she came she was elated at the opportunity to get this bed. She had...
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Goodness Gracious
2007-10-11 11:59:00
Have you ever responded to an incident or some one's statement with the words of the title? Usually this response expresses either a pleasant surprise or a shocking unpleasant revelation. In the first case we recognize something good that has happened. This good thing may have been an unexpected act of kindness, the receipt of some good news, or possibly an unexpected material blessing. In the second case we are expressing our dismay. Perhaps we have heard of a new atrocity in the news, an unexpected turn of personal events or the personal downfall of a friend or acquaintance.Obviously, we prefer to hear those words in a positive framework. So do others. When we hear someone say "goodness gracious" in response to something we have said or done, is it because we have been good and gracious or because we have failed in that area? We are encouraged in the Bible to let our light shine in such a way that people will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. In order to do tha...
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How To Become Rich And Famous
2007-10-10 11:24:00
At one time or another we all dream about what it would be like to have a lot of money or be a popular star. I received an email today that asked the following questions among others. Name the last five Miss America winners. Name five people who taught you something worthwhile. Which were you able to answer?There is a similar comparison regarding biblical characters. Name one of the ten spies who brought back a bad report when Israel was at the boundary of the Promised Land about to go in and claim the land. Name one of the spies that brought back a good report. If you don't know your Bible both of those may have been difficult to answer, but most people know that Joshua and Caleb returned the good report. I have never met anyone who could name one of the ten who brought the bad report.The whole point of both comparisons is that people who make a difference are the people who are remembered. They are the ones who should be labeled famous. So you can be famous also. Just be someone ...
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How Do I Get There From Here?
2007-10-09 12:19:00
Sometimes it seems impossible to get from one point to another. Perhaps the streets don't run continuously through and suddenly you must detour to get to another section of the same street. Often a river or railroad track separate parts of the city so that you must go way out of your way to get to your destination. In desperation you might declare that you can't get there from here.In life we may feel the same way. We have a desire to please God and bring grace to others but it seems as if there are numerous "road blocks" in our path. We want to know God's will but it seems to be hidden from us. In Romans 12:1,2 God gives us a guideline for knowing his will that also may be applied to bring direction for many situations in life. Basically, the instruction is to give yourself to God, refuse to be distracted by the world, and to think God's way. The promise is that we will then be able to prove (discover) the will of God.If there is a situation in life that you cannot seem to reso...

Mixed Emotions
2007-10-08 11:54:00
Often mother-in-laws are the object of complaints. One joke aimed at them provides the definition of mixed emotions. It states that mixed emotions are what you have when you see your mother-in-law drive over a cliff in your new car. Now that might apply to some mother-in-laws but not mine. She has been a blessing ever since I married her daughter.However, yesterday I did note a real illustration of mixed emotions. It compares the bad with the worse. I was contemplating the past year which has been filled with medical problems for me and my wife. Just as I was beginning to feel sorry for myself the TV program "Home Makeover" came on. A new home was being built for the family of an 8 year old girl who had fought cancer into remission and then discovered that it had returned. Immediately, I sensed the feeling that prompted the comment, "I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet."I realized how much God has blessed me in spite of the past year's experiences. The ...
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