What If God Went On Vacation?

Whenever one of our school admins is out of the office either for vacation or some other kind of personal leave, they usually add an automated email message that tells you they are unavailable and gives a date for their return. It’s a way to know why your phone calls and emails are not getting answered. It’s pretty much standard in the business world. Vacations are nice and a good way to preserve your mental health. Remember the 17^th century proverb: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”?

Normally, there is always someone to fill in while you are gone. Unless it’s a small single owner run establishment, it would be a bad business model to have no one that can be there in a pinch.

Aren’t you glad God doesn’t take a vacation? He’s never “closed”; you never get a busy signal. I suppose He could put the universe on auto pilot. Still, not being able to pray for something or someone for a week or two. No Holy Spirit for guidance.  Satan and his minions are attacking? Hold on help is on the way – in a week. I really don’t like the sound of that.

No, there are no vacations to worry about. In fact we have His promise that He will always be there.

He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

 

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, Psalm 121:3-5

 

- The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. Proverbs 15:3

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

 

This week we had a week off for Thanksgiving Break. It was nice to get away, but I’m not optimistic about how much they will remember on Monday. Traditionally, very little studying happens on break. It got me thinking. How many times do we go on vacation and kind of forget about God? Do we skip reading the scriptures and spending time in prayer? Do we skip church? It’s so easy to just kind of forget while we are away. Yet God is still there. He’s always there. He will always be there.

 

I’m glad that God is God and we are not. He can hold everything together and still care for everyone else. And I’m eternally grateful for that.

The sun does not withhold its light

The sea does not withhold the tide

You won't withhold Your love and I

I am thankful

 

The moon will not forget to rise

The stars will not forget to shine

You won't forget me, Lord, and I

I am thankful

 

For all You've done, I am thankful

For all You do, I am thankful

For who You are, I am thankful

For You, for You

Paul Baloche - I Am Thankful

 

Satan's 4 Ds

This year, Dan Park, the Executive Director of our school, has been doing a weekly devotional about spiritual warfare. Now, I am not saying that everything bad that happens to us is a direct attack of the servants of the underworld, but the Bible does say that we are in a battle that is not part of this physical world.

 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

 

In one of our sessions, Dan explain 4 major ways that Satan tries to stop us, or at least make us ineffective. The following is my thoughts on his words.

 

Distraction

Distractions are all around us and each of us have our own personal set. It could be technology. Phones have become to be viewed as a basic necessity, yet much of our time spent on them seems to be mindless scrolling of pictures and trivial ideas. Television if not controlled can become nothing more than a mind-numbing pacifier for the stress of the day. Computers are a great tool to boost productivity, but they can also become a game-filled quicksand pit of wasted time. Even hobbies can become so obsessive that they keep us from the important things we need to do.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

 

Discouragement

Let’s face it. Life can be hard. It can feel like for every three steps you take forward, you slide back two. It is important that we keep good friends near us who can encourage us. Try not to dwell to heavily on the past. Learn from it, but don’t let it stop you from what you need to accomplish.

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

 

Deception

AI. Liberal reporting. Politicians. It is becoming harder and harder to find the truth. Falsehood can be shouted so loud, or so long that is can become believed. Guard against it. Know what the scriptures say and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. We have to know what we believe and confront falsehood when we come across it.

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16

 

 

Defilement

Defiled means to be Sullied, marred or Spoiled. One simple slipup can ruin a reputation. One laps of judgment can result in a lost friendship, job, or even bring legal consequences. Sin can defile us and cause us to draw away from God. We no longer are able to do the good works that God has intended for us to do. It is up to us to know our limitations and to set proper boundaries. Work tirelessly to remain pure so that you can be the hands and feet of Jesus for those that need Him.  

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

 

I hope this helps!

 

 

Activist or Activated?

Activist and activate. Two similar sounding words with very different meanings. The Oxford Dictionary defines activist as a person who campaigns to bring about political or social change. There are several types, but the most common are reformers, rebels, and so called change agents. Some use education, others may use confrontation, rebellion or even violence. Often, they can excuse their lawlessness because they feel “the ends justifies the means”. It has been my experience that when I see activists, whether singly or in a group, most of what gets done is either people standing around doing mostly nothing, disruption of the workforce, or just plain violence. Now to be sure, I support people’s right to freedom of speech and even an orderly protest, but that’s not usually the case. Closing freeways, burning buildings or otherwise damaging property really does little good. You can stand around and shout, complain and otherwise try to influence a group if you want, but as for me, I have better things to do.

To activate means to make active, functional, or ready to work. I can cry aloud and carry signs decrying the plight of the poor and the homeless. I can write to my “congress person”. (There, now wasn’t that nice and polite of me?) Honestly, lately none of them seem to be there to answer, but I digress… I prefer a hands on approach. Find someone or some group that is actively doing something about the problem you are concerned about. Join them. Drag someone (not literally) with you to help. Activate the Love of Christ inside you and be a change for good. Jesus would do it lawfully, and by the book, but most importantly, He would do it! Not talk about it, not picket, not get in the way. My wife and I have chosen to help the homeless and under resourced. We spend 3 to 4 evenings a week helping in a local ministry. We are not an army or mobilized hoard. Just two humans actively working together. And it makes a difference – one life at a time. I won’t hush the activist. They have their place. But I have work to do. So, wanna come with me? Who knows what we can accomplish in the end…

 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 NIV

Veterans Day

This coming Tuesday is Veterans Day. It is celebrated every November 11^th to honor all our military veterans, past and present. It started as the celebration of the end of WW1. At that time in 1919, it was called Armistice Day. It became Veterans Day in 1954. The reason it doesn’t have an apostrophe is because it doesn’t belong to veterans, it honors them. Many of my extended family members are military veterans. My Dad and his brother server in the Korean War. My grandfather was in the Battle of the Bulge in WW2. Several other uncles served in various branches. My wife’s father was an Air Force mechanic at Colorado Springs.

Growing up in a small town, many of the special days like veterans Day were celebrated with barbeques & parades. It could have been because we had nothing better to do, but I like to think it was because we loved our country. I especially love the horses, the flags, and the marching bands. I had always wondered why the horses were last; they always made me wait. Then my dad explained about the cleanup problem. I guess there is nothing dignified about marching through that.

My all-time marching band number has to be the Stars and Stripes Forever. I love all the music of John Philip Souza, but the that one is special. It just seems to summarize American patriotism. So much so, that it was adopted, by act of Congress, as the national march of the United States in 1987. Many people are not aware the it also has lyrics. The last part, you know the one that is sometimes sung, “be kind to your web footed friends” (ya, thanks mom and the USO) has these words:

“Hurrah for the flag of the free!

May it wave as our standard forever,

The gem of the land and the sea,

The banner of the right.

Let tyrants remember the day

When our fathers with mighty endeavor

Proclaimed as they marched to the fray

That by their might and by their right

It waves forever.”

  I found this quote in a article on the Marine Band Official website (https://www.marineband.marines.mil/)

Someone asked, “Who influenced you to compose ‘Stars and Stripes Forever,’” and before the question was hardly asked, Sousa replied, “God–and I say this in all reverence! I was in Europe and I got a cablegram that my manager was dead. I was in Italy and I wished to get home as soon as possible. I rushed to Genoa, then to Paris and to England and sailed for America. On board the steamer as I walked miles up and down the deck, back and forth, a mental band was playing ‘Stars and Stripes Forever.’ Day after day as I walked it persisted in crashing into my very soul. I wrote it on Christmas Day, 1896.”

I leave you with the Marine band version of The Stars and Stripes Forever. Enjoy!

Blessings!

Pray for Your Enemies

 

Lately, I have been grieved by the actions of my fellow humans. Politicians (all parties!) using other fellow humans as pawns. Hate, greed, selfishness, and disobedience abound. Lying, cheating, anarchy, are not hard to find. Now before you get on the train of “The world is worse than it ever has been”, one needs to be a student of history. There have always been corrupt leaders. Abuse was happening then, it was just covered up or not talked about. Whole groups of people treated like mere animals. The list goes on. It makes one almost wish that they had the super power to zap the offenders in their heinous acts. The current political climate especially irritates me. I have even heard some who have said crazy things like “Someone just needs to take them out”. It’s kind of the superhero conundrum. I feel like there are lots of rules for us, but none for the bad guys. It’s a mess to be sure.

What is really amazing is that we feel this way, and we have it good. According to a report from Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Over 22,000 Christians have been killed in Africa just this year. In Somalia totals are harder to find, mostly because Christians have to stay hidden there, but it seems thousands have been beheaded for their faith there also. North Korea, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, all are also facing terrible persecution. Yet they continue steadfast and still try to show love and compassion. I fear they are more righteous than most here.

Jesus was no stranger to such things. He saw oppression, treachery, false accusations, and neglect first hand. If anyone had the right to zap someone, It would be Him. As the creator of the world he understood that violence and retribution are not the answer. In part of the Sermon on the Mount he said,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5: 44-48 NIV

Here’s where it hit me. I have whined, complained, argued, quoted statistics, and talked to others about what should be done, but there has been very little prayer about it. Do I think some of our elected officials are doing the wrong thing? Love & Pray. Do I feel persecuted by unfair taxes, laws or rules? Love and Pray. Has someone made a personal, unfounded attack on you? Love & Pray. It sounds counter intuitive, but it’s God’s way. Its’s the only way. I think the Apostle Paul summed it up well for us.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 NIV

Blessings!

Waiting for Something?

 

Waiting. It’s an American pastime. In fact, I think we 21^st century Americans are trying to monopolize it. There are so many fun phrases about waiting.

Waiting for the paint to dry. Waiting for the dust to settle. Waiting for the right moment. Waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Waiting for something to turn up. Waiting on pins and needles.  Waiting in the wings.  An accident waiting to happen. Waiting with bated breath. (That one caused quite a stir with one of my bilingual friends. They had no idea what I meant!)

It didn’t used to be that way, at least from what I have read. Oh, you might have been waiting for the pot to boil, but there were a thousand other things to do so that you didn’t hear “a watched pot never boils”.

I remember watching a documentary about what it was like to homestead in the northern states. The man helping them prepare for the coming winter gave them this advice. If you have any spare time at all, chop wood. Done with laundry? Chop wood. Chores done. Chop wood. Done chopping wood? Chop some more. It seems now that we have so many modern conveniences, all designed to save time, we now have loads of spare time on our hands. We don’t have to garden, we stand in line at the local grocery store while we wait to purchase our goods. We don’t have to wash clothes down at the local creek, we let the machines do it, while we wait. Because we like the luxuries of living in the city, we get to wait for the stoplight to change.

Truthfully, because of our own lifestyle choices, the waiting game is not going away soon. But there is something you can do. Find something to do. But please, make it productive. I’m not advocating numbing your senses with mindless phone app scrolling. I mean something real, helpful, and fulfilling.

Find something to learn in those downtime moments. Carry notecards. Bring a good book - a classic or something aimed at self-improvement. Imagine how the world would change if we used some of that dreaded “wait time” to memorize or meditate on scripture? For those more outgoing, what if we used that time to connect with those around us? Grand children need to hear grandpa and grandma’s stories. There are many who could use some encouragement. They’re doing fine and headed in the right direction, they just need a little reassurance on their journey. There are some who would just love for someone to acknowledge that they exist.

Even though we seem to have everything we could ever need, there may be times when we find ourselves “waiting on the Lord” for Him to bring about change, an answer to a prayer, or some provision. Don’t let these be idle times either. There is always plenty of work to do, and it also helps to take our mind off of the worrying. So next time you are “stuck waiting”, look for those “good works” that God has for us to do. You will find the waiting is transformed into activity and the time will begin to fly by!

When You’ve Seen the End of the Story

Those that really know me would agree that I like fantasy fiction (Lord of the Rings et.al.) but they may not know my dirty little secret. I like to read ahead to make sure that a character isn’t going to die. Whereas my wife hates spoilers, I will purposely look them up. Like who’s going to win Top Chef this season kind of peeking.  Kind of cheating I guess. Still, I am smart enough not to say anything. Not because I don’t like spoilers, but because I would like to eat something besides my own cooking. (If I have to explain, don’t ask.)

For a Christian though, it is a necessity. Jesus reassured us that the end is already written and that He has overcome. Without that assurance, I don’t think many of us could carry on. Knowing that heaven is assured and good will overcome evil allows us to serve Him no matter the cost. Paul said “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Knowing our final future removes the fear of death. And that’s what Jesus did.

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV

This kind of thinking, Kingdom Mindedness does not fit in very well will this current world’s philosophy. In fact, they basically think were crazy.

Case in point. The Modesto area has a rich history of Dutch immigrants, many of who are descendants of the Dutch Anabaptists. They did not choose this name willingly. It came as a slander from their enemies. Although I don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye with them in all of their practices, I guess in some form I would be called an Anabaptist too.  An account from 1569 recently caught my eye. Dirk Willems lived in what is now the Netherlands during a time where they were governed over by The Holy Roman Empire (AKA the Catholic Church.) The Catholic church and many of the local protestant groups where practicing infant baptism. Dirk and others were considered Anabaptists because they believed you should be baptized after a pledge of faith in Christ, not as a baby. Because if this and because he had helped others to be “rebaptized”, he was tortured and jailed. Here’s where the unusual mindset occurs. He fashioned a rope of rags and escaped through a window. Unfortunately he is spotted, and the “catcher” is sent after him. He made his way across a small frozen lake and because he was thin from his meager prison rations, manages to not break the ice. His pursuer however, was not so lucky. The jailor fell through the ice and was in peril of drowning. Dirk, the godly man that he was, could not let go of Christ’s admonition, “Love your enemies”, and so went back and pulled him out. The man did not want to arrest Dirk, but at the chastening of the burgomaster (kind of like the mayor) to “remember his oaths”, he was rearrested and brought back to trial. Because of his confession of rebaptism, his crime aiding and abetting others to get rebaptized, and his unwillingness to recant, he was sentenced to be burned at the stake. He was executed the 16, of May, 1569, a long and torturous ordeal I might add. You can read about it here. https://anabaptistfaith.org/dirk-willems/

What I found so interesting were people’s comments about his actions. Most thought he was unwise, nay stupid, for saving the guards life. Phrases like, “He was the enemy. You never help the enemy” abounded. Some used the old adage, “No good deed goes unpunished”. Very few thought it was a noble gesture.

Dirk Willems did not fear death. What he feared was doing the wrong thing - disobeying the commands of Christ. I think he knew if he went back, that would be the end. Yet he did. We are not told what happened to the guard. I’m sure he thought long and hard about what Dirk had done. Will we meet him in heaven? There’s no way to be sure. At least Dirk’s sacrifice gave him another day to think about it.

No, like Dirk, we shouldn’t fear death. Not because we are stupid, but because we have read to the end of the story, and we know who wins.

When the Story Doesn’t End (But Should!)

The last two posts about stories were looking at timelines that had reached their finale. This one takes it in the other direction. For some reason over the last week or so, I have been bombarded with memories of past mishaps, failures, and many the times I have let people down. They mostly started in the form of dream events. But once you start rehearsing the past, it has a way of continuing in your thoughts. To be honest, none of them are the Earth-shattering things that you would think would haunt your dreams, but none the less, if you dwell on them, they can get you down. The time in 1^st grade that I led the group in “Chicken Little” too far to the side of the stage so that some of them were running into the curtain. (In my defense, I was the understudy so I never really got to practice.) Or the time the speaker system I had borrowed for homecoming music wasn’t good enough. Not “being a fit” for the job I was in. The time I forgot some equipment on a camping trip. Pressing “buy”, and then realizing I had checked $100 instead of $10. And on and on.

None of these were really that important. So why was it bothering me? I’ve tried to narrow down the causes and here’s what I came up with.

1. It is a direct attack of Satan because I’m getting too spiritual. Ya, don’t think so.

2. I have some deep trauma that I need to face through regression therapy. Serious doubt it. 

3. It was the pizza. Ok, could be part of it, but kinda shallow.

4. We are all in a spiritual battle with the forces of this world, and as long as I focus on what’s wrong with me, I’m not much good for helping others.  There, now I think we are getting somewhere.

My wife and I have a passion for the homeless and under-resourced in our area. I do notice a correlation between successes at the ministry we volunteer at and the spiritual battles we face. We have seen some great life changing stories lately.  I really get the feeling that the side of spiritual wickedness does not like this.

I think the Apostle Paul went through the same thing. And he had some major regrets. He had persecuted Christians in Jerusalem and beyond. He had tried to destroy the early Church. He had consented to the death of Stephen, and was there when it happened. I’m sure he battled with memories from the past.

So how did he handle it? Philippians 3:13-14 says: Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. NIV

Because of God’s wonderful forgiveness, we are allowed the luxury of forgetting the past and it’s failures and looking forward to the end of the race that really matters. If Paul, who called himself “the least of the Apostles” can do it, we can too. Let us leave out past failures at the foot of the cross and continue ahead to hear that “Well Done” at the end of the race. The past is past, unchangeable, to be learned from but not dwelled on. It’s what we do now, today, that can change those around us and possibly, even the world. Let it go. Press on soldier, press on!

Going Nowhere Fast

 Most of us have been in situations where we realize that no matter what we do, the forward progress seems to come to a grinding halt. It’s 3 steps forward, two steps back. It’s spinning your wheels. My dad used to call it going nowhere fast. I experience this recently at 6^th grade science camp. Most of the time the students were running full steam ahead, mostly because they were doing things that they already knew and were already good at. They ran. They played games. They snacked. Then there was kayaking.

I found myself riding with a very inexperienced 6^th grader who, through no fault of their own, knew absolutely nothing about kayaking, let alone how to steer while paddling. I found myself surrounded by students vigorously trying to get across the water, yet going in circles or accidentally ramming into one another and myself. Again, not their fault. For most of them it was their first time in a boat, let alone a kayak that they were supposed to move in a specific direction. This is one of those situations where you really shouldn’t take life too seriously. You try to explain, demonstrate, cheer, and hope for the best. Needless to say, I did most of the heavy lifting on this one. We were going nowhere fast, but we were having fun, well I guess most of us were.

So what is your response when you feel like you are spinning your wheels? It’s taken me many years, but I have grown to understand that when this happens, you need to look for a cause. Sometimes we will just find out we’re doing it wrong. But as a believer in “divine appointments” - those times where God has put you in the right spot, at the right time, with the right tools to be a help to someone. I’ve noticed that very often, if you really pay attention, there is someone or something that God wants you to notice. It might be a situation that is totally unrelated to you current predicament that He desires you to notice. Call it a side-line if you will, but it might just be the best thing you do all day. It could be a need, a project, or a hurting person. It just might be that God needed to slow you down from you 90 mph day so that it/they would get your attention.  So if you ever have that feeling of going nowhere fast, try this.

1. Stop and take notice. Are you doing something wrong, or is there someone in need.

2. Pray that God would guide you to where you need to be, both physically and in your awareness around you.

3. Look for those “divine appointments”. They happen more often than you think.

4. Leave those people and places you touch that day a little better for you being there.

5. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. (And don’t argue with him in your head. You will find out that God also has a sense of humor.)

It takes being in the moment, being aware of what is happening around us. It takes a little work on our part, but being someone’s hero for the day is a great place to end up. It might just help you stop spinning your own wheels and get you on with your day – only this time with a smile on your face. 

When The Story Ends (part 2)

Yesterday we went to a Celebration of Life for my wife’s aunt and uncle. He passed away a couple years ago, but they wanted to have the celebration for them together when she passed. It seems that I am at a point in my life where I am losing friends faster than I am making new ones. This probably isn’t true, but it feels like it.

It wasn’t really a sad time; they both lived into their 80s and had a good life. It just isn’t the same without them. Their youngest son gave a wonderful life summary. As crazy as he is, he has always been good with words. He ended with a quote from, of all people, Dr. Seuss.

On the surface, Dr. Seuss is known for a collection of children’s books that are silly, thoughtful, fanciful, outrageous, and educational, all at the same time. Some books like Green Eggs and Ham are just plain silly. I am told that book was written as a challenge to use only certain words given to him. But others taught us about prejudice (Sneetches) care for nature (The Lorax) forgiveness & redemption (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) and even counting & colors (1Fish 2 Fish). There was much more to the man than is seen on the surface.

The quote he used was “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” It’s an amazing little quote if you really ponder it. Things end. Situations change. If we dwell on the loss, we will always be sad. Today was the last day of this year’s work season for me at the State Park. It will be strange not working, but oh the stories I have from this year! It is in remembering the fun times, the journeys, the serendipitous happenings, were we can smile and be glad we were part of it. Grieving is a part of healing. But don’t settle there. Take time to recall the joy, the laughter, and the triumphs in the season you just finished. Many times what seems to be extreme chaos looks totally different when viewed from the hindsight vantage point. Take time to reflect, admire, and appreciate where you have been. God promises the journey will be worthwhile.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good

of those who love him, who  have been

called according to his purpose.”  

Romans 8:28 NIV

When the Story Ends

Have you ever had a book with a story so inviting, so captivating, that you struggle to put it down? I have a student in one of my classes that is never seen without his book. I joked with him today when I had to ask him to put it away during science class that "I know his pain". There have been times that a book is so intriguing that I struggled to put it down. I would think about it as I did other chores. Sometimes I might even dream about it. Books can be amazing, how they can captivate the mind. Yet there was one moment that I always dreaded - The end of the book. Oh, I was glad the hero finally won, that there was plot resolution, and that the evil characters had been thwarted. But there was also that feeling of sadness that it was all finished. It sounds silly, and it may be a reason that I really enjoy book series, but it is still a real thing.

And that’s how I am feeling now. Once again, life’s relentless forward motion has gained another of my friends. Two days ago, one of our volunteers at the homeless and under-resourced ministry we help at, passed away. Louis was a joy to be around. He and his wife really needed the groceries, meals, extras that we gave out every week. But I think he came mostly because he wanted to help. He would always be there on Wednesdays to help pack and hand out groceries. He would sing the songs with a gusto usually reserved for worship leaders. One of his favorite songs was “Oh There’s Nothing Better Than You”. He would say the verse of the month almost every time we met. You could get a $10 gift card to the Dollar Store if you could quote it from memory. You can only get one gift card a month, but that never stopped him. He would even help others, especially children, learn it. I don’t think I ever saw him complain. Even though he had lost part of his leg to an infection, he always had a smile and something good to say.

And now he’s gone. His story with us has ended. But it’s really not The End. He has started a whole new story. Happily, this one will last a good while! For eternity! God speed Louis! Save a spot at the table for us!

Have you ever had a book with a story so inviting, so captivating, that you struggle to put it down? I have a student in one of my classes that is never seen without his book. I joked with him today when I had to ask him to put it away during science class that "I know his pain". There have been times that a book is so intriguing that I struggled to put it down. I would think about it as I did other chores. Sometimes I might even dream about it. Books can be amazing, how they can captivate the mind. Yet there was one moment that I always dreaded - The end of the book. Oh, I was glad the hero finally won, that there was plot resolution, and that the evil characters had been thwarted. But there was also that feeling of sadness that it was all finished. It sounds silly, and it may be a reason that I really enjoy book series, but it is still a real thing.

And that’s how I am feeling now. Once again, life’s relentless forward motion has gained another of my friends. Two days ago, one of our volunteers at the homeless and under-resourced ministry we help at, passed away. Louis was a joy to be around. He and his wife really needed the groceries, meals, extras that we gave out every week. But I think he came mostly because he wanted to help. He would always be there on Wednesdays to help pack and hand out groceries. He would sing the songs with a gusto usually reserved for worship leaders. One of his favorite songs was “Oh There’s Nothing Better Than You”. He would say the verse of the month almost every time we met. You could get a $10 gift card to the Dollar Store if you could quote it from memory. You can only get one gift card a month, but that never stopped him. He would even help others, especially children, learn it. I don’t think I ever saw him complain. Even though he had lost part of his leg to an infection, he always had a smile and something good to say.

And now he’s gone. His story with us has ended. But it’s really not The End. He has started a whole new story. Happily, this one will last a good while! For eternity! God speed Louis! Save a spot at the table for us!

There’s Not an App for That

 We live in a world that is changing quickly. In my lifetime I have seen the telephone go from a wall hung device that you had to rotary dial (oh, and Google “party line” sometime) to a pocket friend who can find anyone on your list with just a voice command. When I was in grade school, if I wanted to find my friends, I road my bike to various locations and searched. When I found the other bikes, I knew where everyone was. Now they can send me their location by dropping a pin on a virtual map. Speaking of maps, we all used to have various maps in the glove compartment of the car. Funny, I never ever remember finding gloves in there. When we were first married, my wife liked to plan these awesome summer road trips for the kids. She had this ginormous atlas (her word not mine) that covered the whole United States. It would have pencil tracings, towns and locations circled, and even notes in some places. Now we just type in an address and Seri tells us how to do the rest.

It seems that now there is an app for anything you need. Need insurance? There’s an app for that. Need a discount coupon? There’s an app for that too. My phone is filled with little apps to do all the little things I want to do. From email to Big Box stores, theme parks to current weather, there’s an app for that.

And that’s where the problem occurs. Apps are fine for the mundane, trivial, and inconsequential parts of our lives. Yes, they do often make things easier. but they can often get in the way of what’s really important. Relationships are still build on day to day personal communication, trust, and commitment to growing together. Husbands and wives need to be able to communicate without distractions. Our children need to know that they are more important than technology. They need us to listen. There’s no app for that. Our relationship with God is not something you can put into an app. A schedule can be a reminder, but it is still up to us to pray, search the scriptures, and meditate on spiritual things as we worship with single-hearted devotion with our Creator. No, there’s no app that can cover that. Just the Scriptures, a lot of prayer, & Jesus. So use the apps, by all means. Just don’t forget 

National Read a Book Day

 

Today is National Read a Book Day. So when was the last time you read a book? For children, it is not as big of an issue. They still have book time in their school schedules. Even those too young to read usually don’t have trouble finding someone to read to them. I mean, what grandparent doesn’t want to read their grandchildren a book? It’s part of what we do.

I remember when the Harry Potter books came out. Everyone was talking about them. People ordered them months ahead or stood in line for hours to get one. I casually ignored it, like water off a duck’s back. Then the first movie came out and I did find it interesting. I think I liked the creatures best. One of my 7^th grade students, Sarah,  was a huge fan so we often talked about it at break or other times. Her father was a good friend and our school IT guy so even we sometimes talked about it. She said that the movies missed so much, as movies often do. I was encouraged to read the books. I laughed and told her that I had no intention of buying a whole set of children’s books. The kind, young student that she was, she offered to loan me the books so I could read them. I read the first book in about a week and a half. Slow by her standards, but not bad for a science teacher who had to shuffle around time slots to read and still grade papers. Then I read the second and the third. By the time Christmas rolled around, I found myself in that terrible book limbo world dreaded by all book aficionados. I had to wait for the last book to be written! Yet I found myself craving more. I realized this was the first time since college that I had read a book for sheer pleasure. All my reading had become texts, books, and journals related to my teaching. So I looked for more. I read a trilogy about Nicholas Flamel and a series called The Dragon Keeper Chronicles (again, courtesy of Sarah). I started searching through my wife’s collection. I read the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, all in one summer. I even started Moby Dick before I had to come up for air. (Moby Dick is a great read, but not one to take lightly!)

Nowadays I do mostly Audible books because reading has become more tedious with trifocals. I have also decided to not start a series until all the books are written. A few years ago my son-in-law got me excited about a series of books that he had read. It wasn’t until after I had finished the first book that he decided to tell me that the author had written 10 books and then died before finishing the last one. Fortunately his widow found another author who compiled his notes and finished the series. It turned out all fine and good in the end, but, never again. I’m sticking to one shot wonders now. (Ok, maybe a trilogy, but no more than that.)

So when was the last time you read something for fun? I encourage you to find you genre, and whether by old style book or modern mp3, make a goal to read at least one book before Christmas. You can thank me later.

(Oh, and thank you Sarah.)

Work Like Someone Is Watching

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24. 

One day when I was a new teacher the principal came into our Wednesday chapel waving a $5 bill. Now it may not sound like much, but back in the 80’s that was actually worth something. He said he had left a candy wrapper on the ground as an experiment. Almost everyone walked right by it. There was one jr. high student who didn’t. The principal called him up the front, shook his hand and handed him the fiver. The young man was both ecstatic and embarrassed at the same time. He didn’t pick it up because he thought he was going to be rewarded; he did it because it was the right thing to do. 

It left an impression on me. As I walk around our high school campus I try to do the same thing. I figure if it’s in front of me, it’s part of God’s good work for me to do today. (See Ephesians 2:10.) Sometimes kids say, “Ew, that’s gross!” I just smile, and tell them hands wash, and you’re not supposed to put your fingers in your mouth anyway. 

I’m glad my mom and dad taught me to always work like someone is watching, because, well, God is always watching. But more importantly, you never know who else might be watching. You can be an example to those around you. I’ve noticed that if you start cleaning up, people will often stop what they are doing and help. Maybe it’s out of guilt, but that doesn’t matter to me. I’m not doing it for them anyway. Noticed or not, let’s just keep doing the right thing day by day. Eventually, it will start to make a difference. 

You Do Worship

 

“Snitch’s get stitches.” “Mind your own business.” Why are we always on the extremes? When it’s important people don’t say anything because “they don’t want to get involved”. Yet the minor things all get air time.

 This is especially true in worship. Have you ever had someone grill you about your church worship? Why don’t you raise your hands? Why do you only raise one hand? Why aren’t you singing? Why aren’t you doing what we do?

  Now I don’t recommend that you answer with “get out of my face” but really, why is it their business? They have no idea what is going on inside. If I want to stand quietly, it’s my choice. If I want to raise one, two, or no hands, it’s my choice. I have seems so many people turn away from church because someone was tried to be made to worship a certain way. Sometime it’s blatant, almost a shaming thing. Sometimes it’s more tacit, only a subtle hint. Frankly the great majority of us have no room to talk. We have major business to do with God and should focus on that. (Interestingly, the small minority seem to know how to keep quiet.) How ‘bout we educate ourselves about what worship really is and confidently come before God with an our heart. Here are some ways to do that.

1. Do a Bible study about worship
2. Ray and seek God’s guidance
3. Worship God in spirit and in truth.
4. Practice being in the moment - avoid distractions.
5. Talk about it with a trusted friend.
6. Decide for yourself.
7. Be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading.

 Find your way of worship (according to the scriptures please) and come before God as a loved child. But remember, allow others to do the same thing!

 Ok. Rant over.

Blessings!

National Authenticity Day

 

National Authenticity Day is celebrated on August 16 every year. This is the day of recognition of the power of authenticity, a term that goes beyond just “being yourself.” It is dedicated to people who decide to do things their way rather than simply check the box. (http://nationaltoday.com/national-authenticity-day)

Being yourself. What does that really mean? Is it even a good thing? It brings up many questions. We live in a world of many masks. Ask someone, How’s it going? The answer is almost always, “good”. Even if the world is falling apart, most people will not admit it. On the other hand, most people who ask that question really don’t want to know the truth. They are just using it as a greeting. Finding a person who is truly “what you see is what you get” is a rare thing. We often think we have to “be” something else for other people. I think it’s a good thing that we can encourage one another to “be yourself” and stop faking or hiding. There would surely be less mental illness. When we let the masks drop, we are able to forge deeper lasting relationships. We not only find out who others are, but we find out who we really are. We will become stronger, wiser, and more stable. We will form bonds greater than we could imagine. Hey, my wife has seen me at my worst and still loves me. That’s gotta mean something.

Unfortunately, some use “just be yourself” as a reason to not grow or better themselves. Yes, there are too many boxes we are expected to check. Yes, many times people want us to do things their way. As a teacher I have to always be conscious of the fact that there are students who don’t process things like the rest of us. I recently had a chemistry student from another country get excited that I would let them show their work in several different ways. I their country, they said it was usually “my way or the highway”.

Yet, as a Christ follower, I need to yield who I am and give in to God’s plan. I may have to change some things. I may have to add or leave something behind. All the while I can be sure that I am not giving up my authenticity, but instead creating a new and better “self”. Today, spend a little time to refresh “who you are” for yourself. Be authentic, just like God created you!

Fits Like a Glove

 

This week at school our campus pastor used a glove as a visual aid. It got me thinking, then musing, which led to writing. That's usually how it works for me. There are many types of gloves. They are all made and tailored to fit their use. There are protective gloves like disposable medical gloves and leather work gloves. There are gloves for the various sports. Sign language interpreters, traffic cops, and ushers often use white glove so that the signals they each give are more readily seen. Then there are gloves just for show.

A glove is really a good example of our lives. Each of us have different talents that we use throughout our lives as we relate to those around us. Gloves are nice and all, but they can’t really do anything on their own. They need a force on the inside guiding it. And just like the glove, we are of no use unless we are, well, also being used. The glove is best used when it is correctly fitted to the user.

The important thing is who is doing the controlling. Put a baseball glove in my hand, and it becomes amateur night. Put the glove on Paul Goldschmidt, and first base is covered. (He was one of my favorites when he played for the D-Backs.) We all have at least one strength. Some of us may even represent multiple gloves. We can try to do it all ourselves (and fail miserably) or we can allow God to fill us and direct our lives.

Ephesians 2:10 says, For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Each of us are created with talents (gloves) for the projects God has for us. He already has them waiting for us. He know the plan. He knows the curves and blind spots. He will guide and empower us. All we have to do is look for them, and be willing to let God “wear the glove”. 

Grandpa's Music

Growing up, we lived across an alley from my grandparents. During the summer I would often go over to their house, especially in my high school years, and play various games. They were already both retired by then. We might play Yahtzee, various forms of solitaire, or even a card game called “poop on your neighbor” where you try to dump all your cards on someone else. If we weren’t playing games, we often went with my grandpa to the bowling alley for a few games. He even took us flying remote control airplanes a few times. Oh, the time we spent wandering corn fields looking for model airplanes…

Grandpa Kerley was my step grandpa, but he’s the only one I remember. My mom’s real father died of tuberculosis when my mom was young. Grandpa was also a pretty good musician. He played guitar and piano. He loved to do duel “Boggie Woogie” sessions with me. I can’t say I loved it, most likely tolerated it. Hey, it made him happy.

In his later years through the influence of my dad, he gave his life to Christ. I vividly remember him telling me that he went through the “Battle of the Bulge” mostly in WW2 foxhole. He said, “They say there are no atheists in foxholes, but I never really thought about it. I just tried to stay alive”. Now it was different. He started playing in the worship band at the Sothern Baptist Church. Just a guitar a drummer and a piano. Still, he loved it. He started helping other “older“ people. He said it kept him young. When he invited me to join him on Saturdays to help sing (by that time I knew most of the old hymns by heart) I joined him. I really didn’t want to be there, but it meant a lot to him, so I went. Looking back, it is one of my fondest memories of him.

This week at H St, a homeless and under-resourced ministry we volunteer at, we sang one of the old songs by CeCe Winans, Come Jesus Come. It sounded just like the music he used to play. Memories came flooding in and I had to smile. We helped people in the nursing home have those memories too. Grangpa died at age 87 as I remember. Still, his music, his voice, and his care for the elderly are still with me. Thanks Grandpa.

Come Jesus Come

CeCe Winans

Sometimes I fall to my knees and pray

Come, Jesus, come

Let today be the day

Sometimes I feel like I'm gonna break

But I'm holding on

To a hope that won't fade

 

There'll be no war

And there'll be no chains

When Jesus comes

Let today be the day

He'll come for the weak

And the strong just the same

And all will believe in the power of His name

 

One day He'll come

And we'll stand face to face

Come and lay it all down

'Cause it might be today

The time is right now

There's no need to wait

Your past will be washed by rivers of grace

 

Chorus

Come, Jesus, come

We've been waiting so long

For the day You return

To heal every hurt and right every wrong

We need You right now

(Come and turn this around) turn this around

Deep down I know this world isn't home

Come, Jesus, come

Come, Jesus, come

Come, Jesus, come

 

 

Echoes from the Past

Yesterday, proudly perched on the gate to the Fence line Trail at Caswell Memorial State Park where I work as a summer maintenance aide, we found this curious item. It is an oak gall about the size of an apple with an array of various bird feathers suck into it. I can only assume it was made by one of our families that like to hike our trails. It seems very fitting since Caswell MSP has a rich Indigenous American history. It is thought to be the site of the first use of cannons on the Yokuts by the Mexican Army. Cannon balls have been found on the adjacent farmland. Items for grinding acorns and possible old dwelling sites, along with native gravesites have been found. We can’t even dig new holes in the ground without permission.

So it got me thinking. Is it possible that years ago, Yokut children made decorations out of the same materials during times of play or exploration? There are no items like this in any of the collections that I have found, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I even made one myself. I named it Cucunuchi, Estanislao’s real name in honor of the leader of Lakisamni tribe of the Yokuts people of northern California (c. 1798 – 1838). He was baptized in the San Jose Mission as Estanislao, It is from him the Stanislaus River, Stanislaus County, and the old town of Stanislaus City (now Ripon) got their names. If you visit the smaller day use area of the park, there is a plaque commemoration him.

This got me doing a little more research. Cucunuchi or Estanislao, Is really an intriguing figure to me. He spent some time at the mission learning to read and write. He was described as being “about 6 feet tall and as muscular as a horse”. He soon started leading raid on Mission San Jose and the area surround the Stanislaus River. What fascinates me was the way he carried out his raids. He sounds like a well-trained and an amazing battle tactician. His raids were sudden, usually with some kind of trap, and characterized by no loss of life. He is said to have even carved an “S” on things as his mark. It is thought that he may have even been part of the inspiration of the legend of Zorro. After the last battle using the cannons (which mostly killed or injured women and children) Estanislao briefly went back to Mission San Jose and was pardoned. It is thought he went back to the Lakisamni people to help lead them. Later there was another warrior named Yoscolo who continued raids but did not mind killing settlers if he thought necessary. It is said he wore a mask, another possible link to Zorro. After malaria struck the San Joaquin Valley in 1833, Estanislao went back to the mission to teach others the Yokut language and customs. Another name to put on the “who to visit with a time machine” list I should think.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estanislao?scrlybrkr

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=557

 

It was a Good Plan, a Great Plan…

 

Have you ever had a great plan that you got excited about and when you started to work through it, everything came unraveled? It could have been a job, a house, a trip, or even just a great idea. It all seemed to be going well. You thought it out. You prayed about it. You even crunched the numbers. And then, poof! It all fell apart. (No I’m not talking about those put together desks that most of you don’t read the assembly directions and then have issues.) I’m talking about a well thought out masterpiece.

I went through this a few days ago.  I was thinking about retirement pathways and what would come next. No, I do not plan on retiring at the moment, so no rumors please. This was thinking about the future. An “entity” beyond my control put the kibosh on the whole thing. And this was after a chance to appeal. It can be disheartening at first. Now my grandmother used to say, “When God closes a door He opens a window”. That might be so some of the time, and it sounds good, but sometimes that is not the case. I think that there are times that God closes all the windows and doors because he doesn’t want us going anywhere else at the moment. My wife simply said, “It wasn’t meant to be”. You know I like that. We have tried to live our lives doing what God wanted us to do instead of what we wanted (or thought we wanted) to do. The funny thing is, if you’re doing what God wants, it somehow syncs with what you wanted. It’s not usually like you imagined, but it works. And honestly, It has usually been so much better.

I don’t mind waiting for other doors or windows to open. God has always taken care of us. Who knows, at the proper time the door may reopen. I just know I’m where I’m supposed to be, doing what I’m supposed to do. And that is enough.