Remember the Poor…

            I somehow grew up with the idea that it was the church’s (or the government’s) responsibility to help those less fortunate than myself. This was especially true when it came to the homeless or the roadside beggar. It was beyond me – a decision for others wiser than myself. How could I judge whether they were really poor and needy or just lazy? What if I gave them money and they bought liquor or drugs with it? I did not want to be a part of that.

Still, this thinking did not come from my parents. I can recall my dad helping out others he noticed were in need. I am not sure where the ideas came from. I just do not think I paid much attention.

I remember being a newly appointed deacon in the church we were attending in California. One job we had was to decide whether or not to help those that came to the church seeking aid. As I recall, I think we were rather stingy.

(Photo from Microsoft Clip Art)

 I still can recall a conversation where the pastor* and I were discussing the church policy about the homeless. It bothered him. “No matter how I look at it” he said, “I still hear the Apostle Paul saying, ‘Remember the poor’.” I could never get that thought out of my mind. In the following years that I was with him, I witnessed a man who was always ready and willing to help others.

I have finally decided that I cannot judge others motives. To be truthful, I am not always sure why I do what I do. Here in Phoenix, I often see people with signs asking for food or “any help you can give”. So I help. Not because I trust them to use it wisely, but because Jesus would have helped. I have also found some fun ways to do it. 

<edit> We now help in a ministry in Modesto, CA. We help serve meals and pray with people. My wife speaks regularly. I take care of maintenance and run the video and sound for worship. And it never gets old. It is summed up in the words of one of our regulars. He was sitting across from my wife during Wednesday Groceries/Prayer time. "Who would have thought that a guy like me, would be praying with a lady like you?" I wish it happened more often.

All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. Gal. 2:10 (NIV)

*Smiling as I remember you, Pastor Dean A. Goddard. You are greatly missed.

Shortcuts or Cutting Corners?

With experience comes wisdom. With wisdom comes the inevitable shortcut. It is how the “older folks” get so much done. It is seen almost everywhere, especially in the trades. A shortcut can save both time and money. It could take the form of a template, a jig, or just the way you hold a tool. It is a way of increasing production, without sacrificing quality.

Then there is cutting corners. It can be much like a shortcut, but usually leaves something out that is perceived as “not necessary”. It is where the old adage “close enough for government work” comes from. Most of the time things work out OK. Yet sometimes, it can be disastrous.

I recently set up a 5 gallon freshwater tank to house a kind of colorful, red shrimp.  My son and I were out yesterday window shopping at a local aquarium store. There they were – pretty, lemon yellow shrimp. He asked if I wanted to get some for the tank. Yes! I wanted some, but I knew I should not get them right now.

Anyone who has set up freshwater tanks knows (or should know) that the tank needs to cycle before It can be stocked with all its different inhabitants. My tank was still cycling and the few shrimp I had in it were at the safe limit. I might have gotten away with it. Yet I have seen my share of tank disasters, some at the hands of others - some at my own hands. I decided not to chance it. Even though these shrimp are not the more expensive, deep red kind I will eventually get, I like the little guys too much. It is not worth the risk.

            How often do we cut corners in our daily lives? Do we take our relationships for granted and spend important time on our own selfish desires? Do we neglect our children’s emotional needs because we figure they will turn out all right anyway? Are we cutting corners when it comes to our physical or spiritual health? Each person needs to decide for themselves. Shortcuts or cutting corners. Which is it for you? 

Hope

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see… (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

            Hope is an amazing thing. It can be the difference between success and failure. It’s the little engine that keeps us from giving up. In the end, it’s what keeps us going.

I have many hopes for this upcoming year. One is that I will actually be able to add to this blog on a weekly basis. I hope that anyone who reads this will be encouraged and drawn closer to God. I hope that you and your family prosper. I hope that this year, good gains a little ground over the evil in this world. Most of all, I hope you never give up hope.

A little more than two years ago, the Holy Spirit impressed on my wife and I that we were to take a message of hope to those in need. It was at the birth of my second grandson. You may remember that he was an emergency delivery, born not breathing, and had gone without oxygen for approximately 15 minutes. There was little for those involved to hope for. In fact, many came close to accusing us of creating a false hope. The doctors were very emphatic. The mass of data, collected over a ten year period, showed that Caleb would never recover. If he lived, which was doubtful, he would spend his life in a vegetative state. “There is no hope for recovery”, one doctor said. I guess for most, that was all there was to it. He was at the top of his field. He was good at what he did. In, fact, he saw 200-300 cases like Caleb’s every month. Caleb was category 3 – the worse condition. I remember his words, “They do not recover from this.” Yet God had very clearly impressed upon us, “You are to taking a message of hope”.

            Now if you follow my blog at all, (see The-god-of-impossible) you know that he not only lived, but has been pronounced “normal” in all developmental areas - a miracle, an anomaly. At a recent visit, my daughter was told that in over 70,000 cases as bad as Caleb’s, only 5 children had lived. Only one had fully recovered.

            An amazing thing happened at their last visit with the head neurologist. He told them that Caleb’s case is always in the back of his mind. It had given him the possibility of hope. He now at least has a glimmer of hope to give to distraught and anguished parents. He asked to see Caleb once a year, just to see how he is doing as a reminder. He is still amazed, and curious about the whole thing. Hey, in fairness, my wife warned him. The first day we had arrived he had condescendingly told her, “I don’t think you understand how serious Caleb’s condition is”. I remember her gently wagging a finger in front of his face and saying, “And you have no idea what our GOD can do”. I think he understands a little better now. God can do what man thinks is impossible. As for me, I hope this is only the beginning…

To Mom: Connie Cross, Legacy Builder.

Since tomorrow is Mother’s Day, I thought it would be fitting to spend some time remembering all that they do and have done for us. Yet today, I am going to wax somewhat selfish in my posting. I have been reflecting this week on all the things my mother has done for the 5 of us. I might add that, most or all of these things hold true for my Mother-in-law, Judy Morris, also. They have both helped me tremendously! Thank you ladies!

            My mother was, and still is, a legacy builder. She started us out on the journey of life with many invaluable skills. And as I look around me, I realize that she did a fantastic job.

·         She taught us about God.

Some of my very first recollections are of sitting in church with my family. But that is not where it happened. She lived it in front of us. She was not perfect; she was honest and devoted.

·         She taught me to do the right thing, even when no one was watching, but simply because it was the right thing to do.

·         She stood up for us when we were in the right, and “upended us” when we did wrong. (Enough said.)

·         She taught us how to be creative without having to buy everything.

She decorated cakes, taught us to make frosting flowers, sugar molded bells, candles, and do many other crafts and fun activities.

·         She taught us how to recycle when it was not even popular.

I remember the summer when she made a town for us out of television boxes. We had a house, complete with painted on bricks across the front. There were stores, and a lemonade stand with a counter and a pull down window. They were all hand-made, with love.

·         She taught us how to help others – often for free.

·          

·         She taught us how to read – well. There is a reason all of us have educational degrees.

·         She gave us a love for music. She always sang to us and encouraged us to pursue music lessons.

·         She gave us the freedom to be children. I suppose we would have been called “free range” children by today’s standards, but she did know where we were, and most times, what we were up to. Sometimes I still wonder how she knew.

·         She taught us not to steal. I remember going back to a shop and giving back the tiny pen I had pocketed. When the shopkeeper said, “oh, that’s alright”, she proceeded to explain to him how “alright” it wasn’t, thus helping his character also, killing two birds with one stone. We probably both still remember it.

·         She taught us how to love. My parent stayed together through thick and thin. I know a good marriage takes two, yet I know she did her part.

·         She continues to be a wonderful grandmother and great grandmother. FaceTime is a wonderful thing. (Hm, maybe that’s how she knew…)

I am sure I have left things out. Some things I will not realize for years to come; others will return to mind as life moves on.

Bless you mother. on your special day. I can only hope that I can give as many things to my children as you have given to me! 

What Would You Do With $1,000,000?

What would you do if someone gave you one million dollars?  I have heard this question asked many times in many different venues.  I will admit, I have thought about this myself on more than one occasion.  My answer was very different when I was young and newly married than what it would be today.

Originally, my thoughts revolved around taking care of my family. I thought about better vehicles, a house of our own, and travel vacations that would enhance the education of our children.  Later, it revolved around making my job of teaching more efficient, more comfortable. I wanted to add the latest technology to my classroom, to raise teacher salaries, and to have the resources I saw in other schools.

It is amazing how time can change your perspective.  My wife and I have really felt the need to begin reaching out to others that are less fortunate then ourselves. I believe God is moving us that direction; we just do not know where that will finally end up.  We have finally reached a point financially where we can be the one to pick up the tab, say, when I am out to coffee with a buddy or my wife is out to lunch with one of her friends. I have to admit, it is a nice feeling to be able to help others instead of them helping me.

One million dollars: It does not go as far as it did when I first thought about it.  Still, I know what I would do.  I would continue to look for ways to help.  And I think I would like it to be anonymous - kind of like an unknown super “Do-Gooder”.  My wallet would always have a several gift cards in it that would be ready to help in a situation of need.  It could be a grocery card, Walmart, or a Visa gift card. I could pay off a doctor bill here, a tuition payment there, a car repair bill that has someone wondering how they will get to work on Monday. There would be more gas for the stranger trying to get home, and food for the truly homeless guy that you pass every day to work. Christmas could still happen for the mother who works two jobs and is still barely keeping her kids fed.  

I am Fifty-Four. I have seen much and had many great experiences. But now I see there is more.  There are hundreds, no, thousands of people around me who need loved, who need hope. And in the best way I can, I just want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, $1,000,000 or not.

So, I shook my fist at Heaven

Said, "God, why don't You do something?"

He said, "I did, I created you"

“Do Something”

Songwriters: Matthew West

Published by Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Of Bugs and Men

Have you ever wondered why the infinite, all-knowing, all-powerful GOD of the universe would bother with silly humans?  I have; I still do. God has been kinder, more gracious, and more merciful to me than I will even deserve.  I find the words “I deserve” to even be inappropriate. I deserve nothing good.

In my years of science teaching, I have collected and kept many strange things. Most would say that the strangest would have been a fairly large collection of Madagascar hissing cockroaches. At one point the colony numbered in the hundreds. Although mostly raised as a food source for my bearded dragons and other lizards, they also served as an interesting diversion. For some of my colleagues, they were the ultimate in disgust; in my eyes, they were, well, entertaining. As I look back on the experience, a thought has occurred to me. Why had I fancied some, and yet speedily dispatched others to a fate of being crushed between the jaws of a hungry lizard? I  guess it had something to do with their individual personalities. I realize that for the non-cockroach aficionados, this seems like a wild and even absurd idea.  Still, they had their subtle, yet distinct differences. Some would instinctively run and hide; others would linger as if to try to fathom the great shadow that loomed above them. Some even seemed to look up. I think my favorites would be the ones that actually seemed to notice me. I cannot say I felt love for them, but I did feel compassion. They got a special lettuce leaf, a choice morsel of fruit. But most of all, they avoided the gaping jaws.  All it took was for them to look up.

God has done some very wonderful things for my family, and myself. We have seen him provide everything we needed, when we needed it, in crazy and wonderful ways. Why me God? Why so much favor on such an insignificant thing? There is nothing good in me. I am not special, lovely, or extraordinary. There is not, nor has there ever been, any reason for the Great Creator to have favor on me. Yet HE does, I think I now know why. Yes, I understand HE is the one who calls to us, who quickens our hearts. Still, I am grateful that at an early age, my parents to taught me to just look up.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

James 4:8

Just A Walk On The Beach

"In their hearts humans plan their course, 

but the Lord establishes their steps." 

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

It was just supposed to be a lazy walk at the beach.  We were returning home from visiting our children in central California and a day on the beach was too long coming and sorely needed. We decided to stay in Camarillo, CA for the evening and visit the beach the next morning.  After a warm breakfast and a purposeful late start, we headed toward McGrath State Beach. It was a good plan, a great plan, and really poor timing, or so we thought.  For some reason, the beach and campground were closed. Being the efficient, thoughtful (lazy) man that I am, I Googled the next nearest place. We drove down S. Harbor Blvd (much less exotic than it sounds) and turned up a dead end patch of W. 5th Street.  To our pleasant surprise, we ended up on a lovely stretch of sand and water known as Mandalay Beach. It really was just what we were looking to find. We walked along the shore, snapping action shots of the pelicans, listening to the gentle break of the surf, and even spotting dolphins as the occasionally surfaced for air. Pat looked for shells, while I looked for small, flat, ocean polished stones to use for carving. We passed a couple sitting on a blanket, enjoying the warm sun, and even received a smile and a wave.  Since it was already afternoon, we thought it might be nice to spend some time looking at the shops and then grabbing a bite to eat. We decided to ask the local couple if they knew anywhere nice in the area. After a brief introduction and some casual small talk, we found out that they were both Christians and a bond of friendship was instantly formed.  We ended up sharing the story of Caleb, our miracle grandson, and they told us about their daughter who was going through some tough times physically. Soon were joining hands in prayer for each other right there on the beach. Two hours can pass by so quickly with friends. We both ended up encouraging each other, sharing what God had done, and what we hoped He would do in the future. It was like we had known then for years.  It never ceases to amaze me how God can put you just in the right spot at just the right time.  It reminds me to stop and look around. Those little accidents are not really accidents. That little voice is not always just in your head. When your plans get changed, it is time to put your spiritual antenna up. When God changes your steps, It's time to start asking, "Who does God want me to be light to today?"