So What Now?

 

At the beginning of 2024 I designed to blog at least once a week. This will be the final post for the year. Yah! I made it. So what is next? Well, since I have gotten this far it seems a shame to stop now. As I reflect over the year, I can see that I have written some (at least in my reading) memorable posts. Some were entertaining; others were insightful and encouraging. I’m sure there were a few that were mostly ramblings and better off left to be read only once. Since I eventually desire to put these into a collection called “The Musings of a Left Hand Man”, I will leave that decision to some more deserving editor. I think my most visited post was one about my wife. She is most definitely more interesting than myself. The second most visited was a fishing story. (Hey this one was true!) 

I have found it insightful, cathartic, and relaxing to spend time writing. It has also caused me to read a little more. My last post spurred me to reread The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. If for no other reason, this alone would keep me blogging. But I also want to leave something to inspire my children and grandchildren in future years.

With this in mind, I think 2025 will be more of a weekly devotional vibe. When I was growing up, my mom would read a little booklet called “The Daily Bread” to us at the breakfast table. It wasn’t heavy table fair, but it did leave a “good taste in your mouth” and gave you something to think about for the day, much like a morning homemade Saturday cinnamon roll would do. I think I will aim it toward my grandchildren, since they have become one of the major focuses of our life at present. As we bring 2024 to a close, I pray that the New Year will be filled with blessing, not just for you, but also so that you will be able to share the goodness of God with your fellow man. Find someone to help, someone in need, someone who has nothing to give back, and share the blessing. In the immortal words of Tiny Tim, “God bless us, every one!”

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

The rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

                                                                An Irish Blessing

Why Just Christmas?

 

I cannot say that Dickens is my favorite author. I’m really not sure I can decide on just one. But I do love many of his writings, must notably A Christmas Carol.  One of the many themes found in the book is the idea of keeping Christmas all year long. Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, alludes to this as he visits his uncle on the day of Christmas Eve. To him, Christmas is…the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"

(Scrooge’s Nephew, A Christmas Carol)

 I do notice that most people tend to be a kinder, more tolerant, and helpful at this time of the year. It also helps that in the Northern Hemisphere that it is our winter. That alone seems to bring out some compassion for those struggling in the cold. But the weeks around Christmas seem to be special, magical. People tend to think of others above themselves, well most of the time. They give gifts to strangers. They visit the elderly. They sing Christmas carols. For some, it’s the only time they go to church all year. Sure, you can still run into a few Scrooges and those that want to get in line first to fight for new toys or gadgets coming out. But for the most part, it’s peace and Joy, Smiles & hot chocolate all around.

If Christmas is such a magical season, why can’t we keep this idea forefront all year round? I suppose it is a change that must happen from inside. It can’t come from advertisements, from events, or programs. It’s a change of heart. It is seeing our fellow man as they are, and caring for others like we care for ourselves. It’s loving people as God loved us. Imaging if we could make it last?

 So it stands to reason that one of my favorite Christmas movies is the Muppet Christmas Carol. I like it because, well, I’ve always liked the Muppets, and that there are many quotes directly from the book. But the songs have a message to. I will leave you with the chorus of one called, It Feels Like Christmas.

 “It is the season of the heart

A special time of caring

The ways of love made clear

It is the season of the spirit

The message if we hear it

Is make it last all year!”

I wish you a wonderful Christmas Season full of love, compassion, and caring for others –

For the whole year through!

The __________________ Survivor’s Group

 

Lately I have come across several friends, past colleagues, or students who have either formed or joined Facebook or other online “survivor’s clubs. Now these are not the kind of groups like surviving cancer. a traumatic attack or other unwanted events. These are saying they survived the “trauma” of a specific Christian School, some religious College, a religious denomination, a job, or even being raised by their parents. Please understand that I recognize that there have been some legitimate traumas associated with some families, social or religious organizations. But what I am seeing are complaints about strict rules, regulations, and or practices at these places. I remember talking to a person about their schooling experience under a good friend and mentor I once worked with. Their whole beef was that that person had told them that they were a rebellious and undisciplined child, and it hurt their feelings. After I hear how they had acted at the school, I tended to agree with my colleague. It wasn’t a matter of abuse (verbal or physical); it was a matter of being brutally honest in order to help the student see where they were heading. I have heard the same arguments used against parents. “I have trauma because my parents disciplined me”. Again, I am not talking about real physical abuse. I’m talking about making a child do what is required/expected. In my view, all this complaining about good discipline can also make it harder to sort out cases of real abuse.

So before I trigger anyone who might misunderstand, let me give some examples. I have heard people complain about the rules of the Bible College from which I received my undergraduate degree. We had specific dating hours. (We even had to have chaperones.) We had to wear ties in the main building. We had restrictions on where we could go alone. They did room checks for cleanliness. They made you attend Chapel daily. The men wore suitcoats to evening meals. Ladies had to wear dresses. At that time the ladies could not wear jeans. The key was, all these rules were know about ahead of time. So if someone was traumatized by the “excessive rules”, they were warned ahead of time. Every Christian school I have worked at had a student handbook that enumerated the rules. The students and the parents both signed them Unfortunately, that didn’t mean they read them.

I’ve heard others complain about how they were “mistreated” at work, church or organization. They made them follow the group/corporate rules. They dinged them for being late. They pointed out laziness and substandard work. They make you do your job! They expected you to show up and join in.

The real key here is that, at least in America, you normally have the choice to leave a school, a job, a club, or organization at any time. Yes, it may be a bit scary, but why stay and suffer? Here are some ideas that may help.

1. Know the rules and what is expected. Read the fine print, or have someone review it for you.

2. Don’t blame others for your goof ups of failures. Take responsibility for your own actions.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

4. Be clear about your own values and stick to your convictions.

5. Don’t be afraid to say no and move on if you need to.

6. Be honest and give a full day’s work.

7. Don’t get complaisant; Don’t settle. There are many ways to get training if you need to change occupations.

8. Don’t repay evil with evil. Do Good, Always. 

9. Learn from life experience. I’ve always like the quote: When I started college I thought my dad was the dumbest man in the world. At the end of my first year, I couldn’t believe how much he’d learned”.

10. Lastly, don’t hang on to the past. Even though you may have experienced some horrors in your past, you can and need to go on. There are many avenues of help, but ultimately, it will be up to you.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

Good Enough For Government Work...

When I was in high school (back with the dinosaurs according to my students) a favorite phrase of my friends and mine was, “Good enough for government work.” It expressed a common sentiment of many of the people who were dissatisfied at the work (or lack thereof) of our government workers, especially those repairing the various roadways. It was meant to convey that the work that had just been done was barely adequate, not exceptional or exciting. Over the years I have met and worked with many government employees both state and local, public and private contractors, and private individuals. I am happy to say that any stereotypes that are put out there are just that. Stereotypes. I have met hard working, job conscientious workers in all categories who excelled at their jobs and continually put out a superior product. I have met and worked with people who only did the bare minimum, with a mundane product to match.

There will be days where everything you touch turns to gold. You are spot on and producing 100% quality work. Then there are times where no matter what you try, it’s just not good enough. But that’s ok as long as you do your best. And that is the key – Do Your Best! Grow, get better, and learn to be sure, but don’t punish yourself over it. If you have honestly done your best, you have done your job. Always strive to do your best, and them be happy with that. Even though you may think your work goes unnoticed, do it anyway. Even if you don’t feel they deserve it (whoever “they” are) push for excellence. God has a way of taking care of the rest. People see more than you think. A habit of excellence will always be rewarded in the end. Remember, we aren’t really working for people anyway. As a Christian, I answer to a higher authority. God sees what I do; He knows why I do it. Forget Santa Clause ( no offence intended). Work as unto the Lord. He is the real rewarder!

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. Colossians 3:23-24

Social Media: Blessing or Cursing?

Now don’t get me wrong. I love technology. I have a Master’s in Educational Technology. I can open my garage door from anywhere just using an app on  my phone. My wife has a crock pot that can be turned on, setup, and controlled by her phone. We have smart plugs in the house. Last night we had a friendly war turning the television on and off through Alexa and our phones. (I don’t recommend it; I really isn’t good for the tv.) In Arizona we had the house thermostat and the front door able to be remotely accessed. And that’s just the beginning. There are smart houses now that set the mood with music at dinner time, turn on lights as you enter, adjust heating and cooling according to whether the room is occupied or not, and even open the garage door as it senses you come down the street.

Technology by definition, is simple a tool of applied science. It in itself is neither good or bad. It’s how we use it. I remember when I was young that many preachers would rant about the evils of tv in the home. This was really confusing for me, because my father had a tv sales and repair business. When I asked him how he felt about it, he said, “I have never sold a tv that didn’t do what you wanted it to do”. It was up to the user to control it.

One of the newest technologies to change our lives is Social Media. And like any technology it has it’s good and bad sides. There are many that would be happy if it went away completely. There are those that are addicted and overuse it continually. It’s still about how you use it. I love seeing pictures and videos of my grandchildren. They live far enough away that we would never be able to stay in touch without it. I love connecting with people around the world on various projects. The key is control. Technology is only as good as the control parameters and settings that you give it. Here’s some hints to help you manage.

1 Know your technology – In this day and age, you can Google information about settings and configuration of virtually any app. There are sites that will help you decide if an app is for you, or if some other one might be more fitting.

2. Set you apps for safe search and pay attention to privacy settings. If you are not sure, ask a trusted friend.

3. Set limits on your app time. Your phone may have settings that track usage so you can see how much time you spend every day on an app. You might be surprised.

Ultimately, Security, content and amount of use are yours to control. Choose wisely!

If You Had a Time Machine

 

Going back in time is a SiFi staple. The stories take a hundred turns, mostly because we really do not have any idea how it would really work. Would we just be observers? Could we change our destiny? If we changed enough that we never existed, would we just be back at square one again, or not exist at all? It’s probably even more complicated than that. I think the 10^th Doctor, David Tennant, summed it up quite nicely when he said, "People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff". (Blink 2007)

So assuming the safest scenario, viewing but not changing, where would you go? I’m going to stick with going backward because going forward would be, well, “Spoilers”!

Here are some of my possible destinations.

1. Birth/Death of Jesus Christ

2. Machu Picchu

3. The building of the Pyramids

4. Ancient Rome

5 JFK Assassination

6. Ancient Babylon

7. 9/11 Twin Towers

8. Roswell 1947

9. Forming of the Grand Canyon

10. Ancient Atlantis

 

Interestingly enough, one poll on Reddit had the 2000s as the most chosen destination. I’m assuming it would have something to do with undoing past stupidities. I’ll admit it might seem like going back to stop ourselves from doing certain things might be inviting, but what would be the real result? If we are, among other things, a collection of our experiences, actions, & memories, wouldn’t it change who we are? Would our lives take a drastic detour? Who would be affected? It’s fun to play the “what if?” game, but I’m not sure I would want to live it out. I think I’ll join the Apostle Paul when he said, 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

The Spirit of Lawlessness

As a fisherman, I am astounded by the myriad of laws that are made just to preserve the fisheries. Well, until I see people in action. I think there is more cheating in fishing than any other sport. People say things like, “It won’t matter if I take an underside one. There are lots to go around. It’s only one. How can that hurt?” Oddly enough, there are usually very good reasons for the laws we have. Most laws have the goal of preserving the things we have for future generations. Some seem to just be there to help people from being stupid. Then there’s a few that just seem to be about control. But let’s not get political, shall we?

Years ago when I lived in Sothern California, I would always be there for the opening of lobster season. At 11:45 pm every March on the first Wednesday after the full moon, we would set up on the pier and throw out our hoop nets At midnight the nets could begin to be brought up. All lobsters had to be checked with a gauge, and any undersized ones returned to the ocean. The ones that were only 1/8” short were the hardest to release. So much so, that I finally asked one of the Fish & Game officers why there was a minimum size. He explained that this was to make sure that that lobster was assured at least one year of maturity in order to reproduce. Ah, so its’s to conserve the fishery. One the group on the pier heard that, it made it much easier to return the little guys. (They started calling me the “teacher” after that)

So what’s up with humans and their resistance to laws? I think it’s because none of us like to be told what to do. In fact I would submit that it is hard wired into us from birth, that and selfishness. Probably the two most repeated lines from children are “Mine!” And “Don’t tell me what to do!” Like selfishness, it comes standard in the normal human condition. There seems to be a pervasive idea that says, “Since it’s not hurting anyone else, what’s the big deal?” We cannot be sure no one else has or will be hurt until they are. Instead, we need to be Human 2.0, the “New Creation”. God calls us to obedience.

Whenever you come across a law that you don’t understand (or don’t like) try this.

1. Find out why the law is there in the first place?

2. Think about what caused it to be created and what would happen if it were not there.

3. If you think the law is unjust or meant to just control, there is a process for that. It might be time to contact those you have elected…

Hebrews 13:17 says, Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

What Is Your Niche?

When I was in Bible College, we would often get asked what our “life verse” was. In retrospect it was really kind of silly, nay, almost pointless. People would scour the Bible for that “perfect verse” that would define then, set them apart. Proverbs 3:5-6 was one of the most used. Ya, like you could put a whole life into one verse. Even Jesus needed two commandments to sum it all up. We’re gonna need a lot more Scripture than that.  

Enter, my friend Jim. He would unceremoniously volunteer his life verse to anyone who ask. It was 1 Chronicles 26:18, “At Parbar westward, four at the causeway and two at Parbar” (KJV). Now that’s a show stopper! Incidentally, It is often touted as one of the most obscure verses in Scripture. It is found in the middle of the area designations for the porters (gatekeepers) during King David’s reign. No one seems to know what or where Parbar refers to. It is often translated “court” in other translations like the NIV.

So what’s the big deal? Why is it even there? It shows us the importance of the individual. Each porter had a place and a certain job to do. On the surface it doesn’t seem like much. Well, that’s until someone doesn’t do their given job. Then it could be catastrophic. In war, just one weak spot could spell disaster.

In Biology we talk about habitats and niches. A habitat is where an organism lives. It could be in a tree, down a hole, under a rock, or even in the water. For the Christian, habitat is merely a location. Our Great Commission is valid anywhere we go. It’s our niche that is vitally important. A niche is basically our job or jobs in our habitat. You can even fulfil several niches concurrently. I am a father, a grandfather, a son, a brother, a husband and a teacher all at the same time. The important thing is that I do the best job I can at whatever I do.  It doesn’t matter whether you’re a pastor, a music leader, a mom, a dad, a brother, or even that favorite aunt from Toledo. God has a plan for each of us. Big or small, our duty is to be faithful.  Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV). Are you fulfilling your niche or just occupying your habitat? Remember, there is no such thing as a small job in God’s Kingdom. All He asks is that you faithfully do your best.

Certainty of Apprehension vs Punishment

This week in one of our teacher’s meetings, one of the Admins said something to the effect of “It’s not the severity of the punishment but the certainty of punishment that is the deterrent.” Having somehow no memory of ever hearing this quote, I was put into mental processing mode. (This is where the musing comes in.) Being in education, I hear many things - some amazingly insightful, others amazingly stupid. Some seem odd on the surface and then, with a little thought, make total sense. Others sound really astute, but upon inspection fall all apart. Then there are those statements that are simply the idle sputterings of raving lunatics. This one fell into the first category. As he explained, my mind began to comprehend what he was saying. A search for the source of this quote led me to, of all places the National Institute of Justice, part of the DOJ. This is statement #1 from their web page “Five things About Deterrence”.

“The certainty of being caught is a vastly more powerful deterrent than the punishment.” https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/five-things-about-deterrence

Knowing that not everything the government says is aligned with Christian values (I’m sure that’s a shocker for you) I decided to compare it to scripture. A verse memorized in one of my college secondary education classes instantly popped into my head. ( Thank you Mr. Holland!) Ecclesiastes 8:11 reads, When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. Not exactly the same since getting caught and sentencing are two separate things, but the results are basically the same. If you are certain to get caught and sentencing is swift, it surely gives one reason to pause. Hey, even Google AI got it right this time.

Passages like Galatians 6:7 ("Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap") and Proverbs 11:21 ("Be sure of this, that the wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will escape") clearly state the idea that punishment is certain for wrong actions.

Well who’d have thought…

For the Christian it makes total sense. If we know that there is a “payday someday” then it should change the way we do things. I think this is one of the reasons so many people are against all the cameras and face recognition. They still want the possibility of not getting caught. (people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. John 3:19) Privacy is nice, and I still don’t want to end up on the evening news (unless I win an award or something) but cameras are not a big deal to me. If you live your life knowing God is watching you really do not have anything to worry about.

having your way of life honest among the Gentiles, that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:12

Quality or Quantity?

Last weekend my friend John and I decided to do an impromptu fishing trip to Caswell Memorial State Park on the Stanislaus River. The water was a little higher than usual for this time of year so we weren’t able to get to our favorite area to fish. That, coupled with the water being surprisingly cold, kind of put us at a disadvantage. We set up as best we could and hoped for the best. After about an hour without even a bite, the conversation turned to the classic fishing scenario: Would you rather wait all night for just one big one, or catch a lot of smaller ones throughout the evening? We both rather reluctantly agreed to the first. About two hours into the evening John was casually contemplating changing his mind. I mean slapping mosquitoes and watching the local muskrat swim back and forth across the river can only entertain a guy so long. Suddenly everything shifted. John’s pole bent so low it looked like it was going to end up in the water, and as he ran slipping and sliding down to get it, I kind of figured he would end up in there also. After a pleasantly drawn out battle with what I was sure was a killer striped bass, we netted a monster catfish that ended up being his personal best. 9lbs 8oz - (John says 10 because he rounded up.) Quality always wins. Making it even sweeter was the fact that I got "skunked" this time, something that rarely happens to me. I guess this was my evening to play "fishing guide". 

It got me thinking about our throwaway, instant gratification, I-want-everything-now way of life. How many times do we settle for quantities of small when we should be saving up or patiently waiting for that quality experience?  Now don’t get me wrong. Sometimes it nice to just enjoy the small. But have we lost the patience and tenacity to work toward a bigger goal that might take months or years to fulfill? There’s something to be said about saving up, putting time and effort into a long term goal, and finally see it realized. 

What about spiritually? Are you storing up incorruptible treasure in heaven or just spending all your time working for things that will fade in time? In the long run, quality will always trump quantity. It just takes a little patience. 

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:19-21

Scars

Scars. We all have a few. They come in many different types. Honestly, most of mine are from “stupid”. I have scars from the misuse of the correct tool. I have some from cutting towards myself. I think every child has been told to cut away from themselves; but do we listen? I have scars from cutting away from myself. (I used a dull knife.) I have scars from using the wrong tool. I have them from not wearing the proper PPE. I even have some from the classic “Hey Earl, watch this!” episodes of my life.

I have a few scars that were from surgeries. Some were to correct a problem; others were from accidents that didn’t fall in the category of “stupid”, but were really just, well, accidents. We as humans tend to try to hide most of these scars.

Then there are scars of honor. They could be battle scars, proud trophies of heroic deeds. I had an acquaintance in high school who was scarred while saving his little sister trapped in their burning house. I know he felt self-conscious about them, but to most of us they were a mark of true courage. I’m sure his sister feels the same way. Scars can tell stories of greatness and wonderfully unselfish acts.

Although our culture for the most part still prizes the perfect skin look, there is a set of scars that will always stand as a reminder of the most heroic deed ever. I’m thinking of the scars of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are told in scripture that we will receive “glorified bodies” in heaven. And though I really don’t know what that will entail, I know I want one. There will be no more pain or suffering, no more tears. One would assume the past and all of its mistakes will be wiped away, not like Betelgeuse bodies where the way you die is the way you stay.  (Sorry for the weird movie reference, but it makes the point.)

So even after He was glorified, why did Christ still have scars? His scars are the ultimate battles scars. He overcame DEATH. Sin’s penalty is paid and we are free to enter heaven as His adopted children. He even makes Chuck Norris look weak. (Sorry, Chuck.) They are His Badges of Honor and will forever be a reminder of His self-less sacrifice for us – the Lamb that was slain to redeem us!      

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 

Jaded

 

Merriam-Webster defines Jaded as “made dull, apathetic, or cynical by experience or by having or seeing too much of something.” To be honest, that’s how I have been feeling lately about my fellow humans here on planet Earth. I guess you could say that some days, I’m just not a fan. In the past month I have witnessed more people run stop signs than I can count. (Well that’s on two hands at least. I refused to take off my shoes while driving just to count.) Shoplifting seems to be at an all-time high. No one seems to even know what the “right of way” rule is anymore. Half of them speed, weave, and dart any which way, while the other fraction are 15 mph under the speed limit checking their Instagram. Don’t even bring up the political climate this election year. I can neither confirm nor deny that the words, “If we all get hit by a comet, I think we probably deserve it” have come out of my mouth in the last month.  

This would all be fun and games if it were not for the nagging reminder in the back of my head (yes, the same place my craw is located for those of you who read my September posts) that keeps saying “Love your neighbor as yourself”. It can be quite a quandary. Jaded by my fellow man and loving your neighbor as yourself are not synonyms.

So what is a person to do? Me, I like to get away somewhere that I can, well, get away. This weekend we got to go to Calaveras Big Trees State Park near Arnold, CA. No, bears this time, but lots of fresh air and relaxation. I did lots of nothing. This time on a trip to the town of Arnold to get ice, I casually remarked about the Giant Burger restaurant there. By the time they came out of the store, they were all talking about how they too wanted a burger. Score one for the driver! (Hey, sometimes you just gotta know when to sneak it in.) After a little bit of a wait, I’m really not sure if it was our fault, their fault, or a little of both, the order got a little messed up and we were short a fry and some bacon for the grandson. Nevertheless, the manager took full responsibility. He not only apologized and made it right, he went above and beyond. Let’s just say the little bacon lover was pleasantly surprised! I needed some faith in my fellow man and the manager came through beautifully. I can guarantee you that Giant Burger will now be a destination stop while we’re camping there again. (By the way, you’ve gotta try the Jalapeño Burger!) Our faith in humanity restored, we came home refreshed, recharged, and ready to press on. (Funny how such a little thing can change one’s perspective.)

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”. 

Let’s face it, if we look to people, we will be disappointed. We must not forget that Jesus wants us to be the people helping to “recharge” others. If we look for the good, we will find it. We just can’t give up!

What Do You Do When You’ve Got Nothing?

 At the beginning of the year I made a commitment to blog once a week. So far so good. This week has been different. (Spoiler: there may be a lot of car mechanic comparisons so if you get confused, don’t worry, so am I.) Monday felt like an uphill battle, both directions. The rest of the week seemed like someone took everything apart and put it all together just one tooth off. I wasn’t the only of feeling this. There just seemed to be a general consensus of “What the What?” All week. It could be that we are still in the 100s in October when it should be cooling off. It might be just end of the quarter let down. Whatever it is, I don’t like it. All that to say, that when I got to the weekend and it was time to write, I had nothing. So what do we do when you get to “nothing”?

I consider myself somewhat gifted when it comes to troubleshooting. My dad helped me discover my talent. My father-in-law, John Morris, helped hone it as we worked on various cars. So where do we start? Here are a few of the steps I use to find out the problem and work toward a solution.

1.  Is the power on? This sound oversimplified, but it can save a whole lot of headache. Have you got power? Check that the batteries are placed correctly. Is it plugged in? You would be surprised how many times I have solved problems with only one step.

2. Start from the beginning. This is extremely helpful if someone else has been working on it already. Sometimes you need to unplug everything and start from scratch. Assuming that others have done everything right can lead to wasted time.

3. Take a break. Sometimes you just need to step away and work on something else. Your subconscious will still work on the problem for you. More than once I’ve had an Ah Ha! Moment while working on something else.

4. Bring in a second pair of eyes. Have you ever lost your glasses and found them on your hat? That’s what that second set of eyes can do – see the obvious that we can’t.

5. Pray. This man sound trite, but honestly, it probably should have been step number one. God says If we ask your wisdom He will give it. Don’t leave Him out if the equation!

6. Don’t be afraid to get a professional. There are time you may realize that this problem is “above your pay grade”. Time to lose the pride and check with a professional. It’s humbling, but sometimes necessary. Just be sure to take good notes!

Even though this has all been about solving physical problems, there are spiritual analogies for each step.

Have you recharged spiritually?

Are you following the basics of Scripture?

Are you getting proper spiritual rest?

Do you follow good counsel for trustworthy companions?

Do you daily commune with your creator?

Do you need spiritual counseling from a mentor?

We all hit the “got nothing “ barrier at one time or another. The key is that we take steps to not stay there.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 NIV

It's Easier to Ask Forgiveness?

 Welcome back to “things that get stuck in my craw” volume 2. The phrase, It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission  has bothered me from day one. It’s arrogant, selfish, and down-right lazy. It smacks of “I don’t care about you enough to plan ahead or even consider how you or others feel. It’s typically used to justify getting or doing something without having to do the work of checking it out first. I have seen many a good fishing hole shut down because no one was considerate enough to ask first. It’s an easy way to get a temporary desire, but a terrible way to build trust.

So where did this less-than-desirable phrase come from anyway? Turns out, it really is a bad interpretation of the phrase, Ask forgiveness, not permission. This has been attributed to Admiral Grace Hopper

Grace Hopper an American computer scientist, mathematician, and United States Navy 

rear admiral. She was a pioneer of computer programming. Hopper was the first to devise 

the theory of machine-independent programming languages, and used this theory to develop

the FLOW-MATIC programming language and COBOL, an early high-level programming language still in use today.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Hopper  

 Quite an amazing woman, really. But what did she really mean by it? She explains it as, Do the right thing within the organization, whether or not they know it. That way you can help the people that you work for. You see the military has many levels of bureaucracy, some of which are frustratingly slow. She was trying to get people to look past all the red tape and do the right thing. https://changelog.com/posts/what-admiral-grace-hopper-really-meant

So how did it get so convoluted? Human nature I suspect. We seem to always be looking for the easy way out. We take something good or reasonable and use it for our own devices. So what does the Bible have to say about it?

2 Timothy 2:15 says, Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

Seems to me, if we are going to do the right thing in the eyes of man, we need to take the high road a lot more often. It’s going to take more than just an apology. It’s going to mean asking permission occasionally.

Snitches Get Stitches?!

 Have you ever had something that you just can’t get out of your mind? It hangs there in the back of your brain like a chicken string in-between your teeth. You know, the kind you have to saw out with dental floss. Where I grew up it’s called, “having something stuck in your craw”. That how I feel about the phrase, “snitches get stitches”.

I guess part of the problem resides in knowing the difference between letting someone know about a problem or injustice that needs to be righted, and a tattle-tale. A tattle-tale’s main motivation is to get someone else in trouble, either because of revenge or to draw attention away from themselves. The real motive is selfishness. This is the total opposite of informing authority (parent, teacher, police, whatever) because someone or their property is at risk. The motivation of the informer is to protect, or stop injustice.

So why would someone not say anything? I think the main reason is fear. It could be fear of being labeled as a tattle-tale or fear of retaliation. We live in a society where revenge is a real thing, and sometimes even celebrated by some. We see it in movies; it’s dramatized in police shows. But what is God’s view on this?

The Bible says in Philippians 2:3-4 that we should “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others”. James tells us “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (2:14-17) If it’s that important to the way a Christian should act, It follows that God can also protect use as we do the right thing.

History tells us the same thing. You may remember the quote: "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing". No one really know who said it, but President John F. Kennedy famously attributed the quote to Edmund Burke, an 18th-century Irish philosopher and statesman. Burke or not, history is riddled with times when silence caused great distress and people standing up helped pave the way for change. Too many times people just looked away because “they didn’t want to get involved”. The Holocaust, American racial atrocities, and reports of world genocide are just a few examples. 

So what will you choose? Myself I would rather be persecuted for standing in the gap and doing what’s right than cowering in a dark corner as a coward. But hey, I’ve made my choice.

Is Christianity a Crutch?

I have had a few acquaintances that have told me they thought Christianity was just a crutch. So this week I have decided to ruminate about this idea for a little bit. 

A crutch  in this instance is a device to help us stand or walk without falling. In this case I’m going to visualize a cane. The most common use of a cane is to help someone who has trouble walking. In this sense, I say yes they are comparable. I chose to become a Christ follower because I knew I couldn’t do it myself. He holds me up. I know it’s not politically correct, but we are broken. Without Him, I’m going nowhere fast. Truthfully, it’s more like a wheelchair. I’m nothing without him. 

A cane can be used to help pull others out of a bad situation, quicksand, a canal. Hey, let your imagination run wild. Again not a bad idea. 

Other people use canes to hit people, pets, or whatever. Some Christian seem to use Christianity in a like manner. Yet it was never intended to be a club. 

Then there are those who view canes as a fashion statement. They feel it makes them look sophisticated, more important than they really are. Again, I know people that view Christianity in the same way. So what is your “Christianity” to you? We can’t do it by ourselves. But are you also helping others? I hope so. 

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Why Doesn’t God Do Something?

Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t immediately punish evil doers? Why does He let their deeds continue and sometimes even be covered up?

I think it may be rooted in the notion that, even though we may do some wrong things now and then, we look at ourselves as not as bad as “those others”. I mean, 5 miles over the speed limit is not that bad. At least I wasn’t racing. It’s only human to categorize and rank sins. But to God, disobedience is disobedience. Jesus explained in Matthew 5:27 that even thinking about an adultery and doing it were both grievously offensive.

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully

has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  Matthew 5:27-28

So why not immediate justice?

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness,

forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness

is intended to lead you to repentance?   Romans 2:4

The truth is, none of use deserve any mercy. We all deserve to be judged & prosecuted, and sent to punishment as soon as we become offenders. But God desires a relationship with us. He gives us a chance to realize our actions and either repent or reject. And that takes time. There will be a “payday someday”, but God’s patience is intended to lead us to him.

When I was young I thought that God had a club or lightning bolt and was just waiting for me to step out of line. I’m not sure where I got this image. It wasn’t from my parents, nor from scripture. What I have noticed is that when God wants to get my attention, He does something good. If things aren’t going right, I might think that I deserve it. But when God does something very good, it really makes me stop and reflect. It draws me to Him.

So instead if fretting over other’s unpunished evil deeds, thank God for his patience, mercy, and grace.

What Was the Question?

One of my crazy college friends recently posted this.

My teacher once went around the room giving us a problem to solve. She said, "Eddie, tell me something you are not good at using the letter "N"." I said, "Spelling."

On the surface, it may seem kind of confusing. Well, unless you know him. Then you just kind shrug your shoulders, turn it sideways, and finally decide that he was serious. I mean there is an ‘N” in spelling. As a teacher, it makes total sense. He answered the question, just not in the way the teacher intended. It actually happens pretty often. Most of the time the fault rests with the actual question. I have seen many test questions that on the surface are fine but can truly be quite ambiguous.

Math question during Covid:

23 students are at the beach. 34 more students come. How may students are at the beach?          

Answer:  Too many for Covid 19

I mean they’re not wrong…

Last week on a test I asked a question about possible interactions of two environmental factors. What I hadn’t planned for was one student’s answer of “they might not interact”. Touché! He got the points.

One of the best classes I have ever taken in college was Tests & Measurements with Miss Pohl. It taught us about using data, how to display it, and even how it is often manipulated. Yet for me, the most productive part was learning how to write clear, pointed, unambiguous questions to measure what had been learned. Too many times we ask questions that don’t really reveal what we are looking to find. We also need to carefully analyze the answers we are given. Often, they are more telling than they seem on the surface.

It’s the same with rhetorical questions. Parents & teachers often ask, “What were you thinking?”. Focus on the answer. It might just make sense in a youthful convoluted way. It may not have been what we wanted, but usually there is a solid thought process going on.

So how can we help others communicate with us? Here are some suggestions.

·       Think out your questions carefully. This takes work!

·       Repeat the answer back so they know you understood. It may be when they hear it out loud, they realize they need to add clarification.

·       Ask additional questions if necessary to make sure you have their whole answer.

·       Try to see the question from their perspective.

You can learn a lot from asking questions. Just make sure you are asking the right ones!

 “Ask and it will be given to you;

seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7 NIV

What Is Your Secret? Hidden In Plain Sight.

Everyone likes a secret. It makes us feel special when we know something that others may not know. Who wouldn’t want to know KFC’s “secret recipe”, the formula for Coca-Cola, Ford’s trade secrets, or Mr. Crab’s recipe for Crabby Patties? The list goes on. If we can just find the recipe, the solution, that hidden secret, then our lives will be changed.

The fact of the matter is that most secrets aren’t secrets. They are just good ideas hidden in plain sight. We can often overlook the obvious while straining to find “the answer”. Our new HS Principal, Don Davis shared his “Secret of Success” with our students at our first Chapel.

1. Get to class on time in the morning.

2. Do what the teacher says.

3. Get to your next class on time.

4. Do what the teacher says.

5. Repeat

 

Some secret, isn’t it? It is actually just an often ignored piece of common sense. That what most good secrets are – common sense hidden in plain sight.

 

For our last anniversary, my wife and I took a trip to Bodega Bay. I love the ocean; she loves Alfred Hitchcock. It was a wonderful win-win. While we were there, we stopped by at Jack London Ranch State Park. Mr. London was an interesting enigma to be sure, but he had many great ideas that some would call his “trade secrets”. The funny thing is that he would willingly share them with anyone who would listen. As we toured the house, we were taken to the room where he often slept. Above his bed was a length of twine just within arm’s length, with clothespins every few inches. When he woke up in the middle of the night with a great idea, he would write it down so he didn’t forget it. It was a great system, but not much of a secret. So what secret are you searching for? Victory over a habit? A more powerful prayer life? A more effective Bible reading schedule? Maybe it’s time to get back to the basics. The ones hidden in plain sight – in the scriptures!

Why Do We Say Thank You?

 

Everyone likes a thank you. It pleases us. It makes us feel appreciated. We consider it polite. You hold open a door, “Thank You”. Give a little child a piece of candy, “Thank You”. We are usually taught from an early age to say these words. We often look at it as a requirement or necessity. So is there a chance we can over use it – that it becomes “expected” instead of freely given? I have seen people get really bent out of shape because they did something (usually trivial at that) and the person ”forgot” to say thank you. Never mind the fact that the other person may be stressed, deep in thought, or otherwise distracted. Their silent “lack of gratitude” is often met with a very loud and somewhat haughty, “You’re Welcome!” Seems a bit self-serving and nitpicky to me, but hey, I’m just a country boy at heart. So is a thank you required all the time?

A thank you is really meant for extra, unexpected, or undeserved favors. We thank others for helping us or doing something nice. We thank God because He freely gives us everything we don’t deserve. We should serve Him not to gain favor, but to say thank you. Nothing we can ever do will come anywhere near to repaying what He has done for us.

Does obedience deserve a thank you? No, not really. But it can be encouraging non the less. I don’t really expect a thank you for simply doing my expected duties. In fact I find it embarrassing that we have gotten to the point where people are surprised when you actually do what you are told and complete the expected task. If it’s expected, why would I need a thank you? After all, I am getting paid to do the job. Nevertheless, I will always graciously accept any thank you I get, I just think it’s kind of silly.

The Bible talks about this in the light of us being servants. We can never repay what Christ has done for us. He doesn’t say, “Thank You, He says, I Love You.” We are the ones that should be saying thank you. And we can, by being good servants. (The “well done good and faithful servant” comes later.)

“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’ . Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Luke 17:7-10

What do You Fear?

 Fear is an interesting concept. It can keep us alive; It can paralyze us. Healthy fear starts with a correct fear of God. Proverbs 9: :10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”. When we fear God, it leads to understanding and obedience, which leads to preservation of life, both physical and spiritual. A healthy fear of electricity can lead to understanding, which can lead to being able to harness its power safely. I fear gravity, so I am careful when walking high trails or working on roofs and ladders.

Understanding fear can be very freeing. I often summarize a situation and enumerate all the possible outcomes I can imagine, both good and bad. Think: What’s the worst that can happen? If I can accept any outcome, It allows me to go forward and work through the problem rationally. Sometimes the answer is to not do something, but now it’s out of caution and wise thinking, not based on fear.

Fear can also be crippling. It can make people freeze, causing them to not act at all. This leaves then at the mercy of whatever is happening. It robs us of experiences and adventures. It can cause us to not do the right thing. We can be bound by the fear of what people think, fear of failure, and even the fear of death.

One of the things Jesus did when He died for us was free us from the fear of death.

  ^“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

With no reason the fear the shadow of death, we are free to follow Him and serve Him wherever we are needed. There are some things I choose not to do (like skydiving or alligator wrestling) but I still don’t want to let fear master me. So what are you afraid of? Let’s get out there and live freely!

What’s In It For Me?

At the end of Field of Dreams, Ray finally has to ask, “What’s in it for me?”. Yes, it was his whiny, selfish moment, but it needed to be asked. It finally let him find out what his whole journey was about. 
I recently had a similar moment. I had to choose between a possible financially beneficial job change, or stay where I was and step out in faith. God was more than clear that I needed to stay. But that still didn’t stop me from asking, “What’s in it for me?”. 

So what did I find out?

1. I get to continue to rely upon God for my provision instead of being self-sufficient. (God has been providing for us all these years. Seems a shame to stop now.)

2. I get to be a foundation stone as we rebuild. (It’s actually nice to be needed.) 

3. I get to lay up treasure in heaven instead of building a corruptible kingdom on Earth. 

4. I get to be a help to others. 

5. I get to see lived changed on a daily basis. 

6.I get to do what I love. 

Yesterday the cheerleaders were practicing. As I walked by reviewing my “1000 things to do today” list in my head, two of the young ladies yelled, Hi Mr. Cross! Later, two of the football players walked by and said “Hey, Mr. Cross”. They noticed me and were happy enough to see me and send a greeting! 
Ya, that’s what’s in it for me. 😊

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬