Hero

Matthew 25:40 “"And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'”

When I was a kid, I loved to read stories about superheroes.  People that could jump over buildings… or melt steel with their eyes… or climb walls.  I dreamed that one day I would have superpowers just like they did… but that never happened.   As I was reading the other day I ran across a story about a man that didn’t have “super” powers… but he’s a hero nonetheless…

“Steve Weidner, a custodian at Alan Shepard Elementary School in Bourbonnais, Illinois, said it made him feel great to see that each and every second grade student lined up near the playground in hopes to have him autograph their yearbooks. …

Last week, Weidner said he signed all 104 of the second graders' yearbooks after lunch -- in addition to 200 more from other classes. …”

Why did the custodian sign hundreds of yearbooks?  Why was Steve Weidner’s signature so high in demand around the school?  Was he a former TV star?  An athlete?  Friends with the ice cream man?   No.  Steve’s claim to fame didn’t come in the form you’d expect… 

Steve was famous to the children because he cared.  When they hurt, he’d help them.  When they needed an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on, he was available.   He assisted with homework, cleaned up their messes, talked with parents, played games, and anything else you could think of that would help an elementary school-aged child get through their day-to-day.  

Steve was not a Pastor… or a principal… or a parent to any of those children.

He didn’t have to be. 

He was just someone with a heart to help.

Steve loved people.  God’s people.  Young or old, He saw the value in God’s precious creations… and dedicated himself to serving them.  

Wherever you are today… be that person.  Rise above the disinterested and show God’s love, mercy, and heart to those around you that need it.  Help those that can offer you nothing in return.  Stop and pray with those that look like they need it.  Like today’s verse tells us, God calls us to serve others and when we do so, we are really serving Him. 

Today you can change the world.  And it starts with changing your home.  Or your office.  Or your classroom.  Be kind.  Choose love.  Be compassionate with challenging family.  Extend an open hand instead of a closed fist to the needy.  Turn the other cheek.  Again.  Forgive those that haven’t asked for it or deserve it.  Be patient.  

Your reward?  You may not be signing a bunch of elementary school yearbooks… but you’ll be leaving indelible marks on the hearts of those that don’t think there are any Godly people left in this world… and honoring God in the process.   

(quote above originally posted in Yahoo! News via Good Morning America, June 8, 2015)

This One Is For You

It didn’t matter what the weather was in Detroit… financially-challenged James Robertson did what he did every other day.  He hit the alarm clock and went to work.  But James’ story was a little bit different.   You see, James didn’t have a car.  No problem… take the bus, right?  Nope.  No bus routes were even close.   So Mr. Robertson did the unthinkable…. he walked.  Every single day… regardless of the weather… James Robertson traveled the 21 miles round trip on foot.   For 10 years, James did whatever it took to get him to his job… in fact, he had perfect attendance!

One day, financial executive Blake Pollack had seen enough.  He had passed James every day on his way into the city and made the decision to do something to help him.  He started picking him up and taking him to his job each day.  Pollack shared the story with a friend of his, Evan Leedy… and together they started a GoFundMe page on Robertson’s behalf.  Hoping to raise the $5000 needed for a used car… the result surpassed even their wildest dreams.  They didn’t raise five thousand to help James… they raised $300,000!  Just recently they presented the car of James Robertson’s dreams to him… a 2015 Ford Taurus.   James said he loved that car because it was “plain on the outside and tough on the inside…just like him.”  The rest of the raised money was given to Robertson as a reward for his decade of diligence and great work ethic.  

Total strangers reaching out to reward the faithful diligence of someone they didn’t know.  

Now take a minute today and imagine your situation.  You may feel like James Robertson.  You’ve been working hard… plugging away… staying faithful when those around you have quit.  You spend your weekends serving and your nights making ends meet at a second job.  Your month seems to last longer than your money… your children are draining your patience and your health isn’t what it used to be.  Yet you keep on walking.  You keep getting it done.   You won’t accept not having something as an excuse to not get where you need to get in life.  

If that’s you… keep going.  God’s got you.  Steph and I have been there and know that it’s hard.  But you can do it.  

Keep honoring God with your resources… keep sacrificing temporary comfort for long-term gain.  Keep pouring out love and forgiveness to others when they haven’t earned it or deserve it.  

Keep going.  Regardless of the weather… keep going.  I can promise you this… someone is noticing your efforts.  Someone has been driving by and sees you climbing yet another mountain on your way to your destiny.  Someone has been walking by you and taking notes.  Someone sees the tears of frustration and lifts you up.   Someone you already may know. 

It’s God.

God knows.  He sees you.  He will provide a way.   He will provide reward.  He will make things right.

You just can’t give up.  

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9)

James Robertson walked to work for 10 long years.  That’s 54,600 miles before his situation changed… 

Every day wondering if it was worth it.  Each footstep crying out for him to turn back.  But he kept on.   It’s time for you to keep going too.  You may be facing the blizzard of divorce… or the flood of financial instability…. or the hailstorm of bad relationships… or the blistering heat of loneliness and isolation.   

Keep on.  One foot in front of the other.  

God is sending a driver to pick you up soon.  

His blessings are on the way.  

Breakthrough is coming.  

You just can’t quit.   

Walk on friend.  Walk on.  For someday the journey will shorten but the character built by the trials will last forever.  

Long Life

Longevity runs in my family.  The Gramlings have traditionally been blessed with long lives.  I never thought that our family was above average until I was researching for one of my past weekend teachings.  I discovered that, on average, people live about 75 years.  And while that seems like a long time… let’s break that down.   That’s around 3900 weeks… 27,000 days… or about 648,000 hours.  Now let’s remove the time we spend sleeping (about 1/3 of that if we’re doing it right…).  That leaves us with about 112 hours a week that we are awake.  Now back in the day, the human race spent 70 of those 112 hours per week productively working.  Today is quite different.  In fact, due to some productivity improvements through technology, the average work week is 30 hours.  

And what do we do with all of that remaining time?  The 82 hours that we are awake and active?  Would you believe that the biggest part of that time is squandered in front of a flat screen?  It’s true. According to statistics, the majority of people passively watch television 4-5 hours per day… and spend many more hours staring at tablets, smartphones, and laptop screens.  YouTube logs in billions of views a day… in fact, the average person watches 15 hours of YouTube videos per week.  

What are you doing with your life?  All of those hours… those ticks of the clock… are you leveraging them to change the world?  Or using them to change the channel?  

Did you know that Einstein, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Abraham Lincoln, and your hard-working great-grandparents all had the same 24 hours per day… they all had time management issues… and they all had to decide what they were going to do with their time awake.  

Some make a difference… other make excuses…all have the same amount of hours per day.  

The Bible addresses this issue of time in the parable of the talents.  Three servants are given some money by their master to manage for him.  Two make more money… while one buries it to keep it safe.  Here’s the master’s reply to the one that squandered his chance: 

“But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it'" (Matthew 25:26-27, NLT).  

The Bible is clear that we are to maximize our time… to see our lives as something given to us by our Creator to invest in His Kingdom and others.  To serve the world… to love those that can do nothing for us in return… to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ… and to enjoy those that God has put around us as friends and family.  

Maybe it’s time to take a technology fast.  Live in the now.  Maybe it’s time to stop seeing the world as photo ops for instagram and maximize your minutes for Christ.   We’ve got one chance on this side of Heaven to change the world for God.  Let’s take today seriously.  There will never be another day just like today.  And there will never be another you.  Ever.  Get out there and seize the chance to shine God’s light into a world that is blanketed with darkness.  You’ve got 24 hours… let’s go make a difference. 

Worry Free?

Have you ever tried to go one full way without worrying?  I have and it isn’t easy.  I’d like to tell you that I give it all to God and never take it back.  Or I stay calm under very stressful situations without trying to fix the problem all by myself.  But I can’t.  You know why?  I’m human.  We worry from time to time… or at least most of us do.  As I was studying for a weekend, I ran across this interesting story about a woman with an extremely rare condition…

So rare, in fact, that only 400 cases have been reported worldwide.  It causes her to speak without hesitation… jump when others pull back… boldly face danger… and do it all with a smile.  Her condition?  Urbach-Wiethe syndrome… also known as “no fear” disease.

This woman lives with absolutely no external fears.  No sweaty palms.  No elevated heartbeat.  No worry.  She still logically senses incoming danger…  for example, if a car is heading toward her, she knows to get out of the way.   She is able to face external stresses with no fear.  But the internal ones?

Still there. 

Isn’t it interesting that this condition blocks her from being afraid of what she can see… but still allows the mind to process fear on the inside?   The mind is powerful… and if we let it, it will paralyze us in worry and strife.  It causes us to fear externally and internally… spending our days stuck in neutral waiting for things to change.  But did you also know that you don’t need a rare condition to numb you to worry and stress.  In fact, God has already given you the plan.

A plan for you, the worrier.  A hope for you, the stressed.  A peace for you, the burdened.  His plan?  He wants you to get up everyday and internalize these two verses:

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

“So do not fear, for I am with you;

    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

No fear.  No wringing  your hands over an empty bank account.  No more late night crying sessions over children that have lost their way.  No more feeling the dread of upcoming evaluations… or examinations… or loss.  You weren’t sent here to fear.  You weren’t designed to live in denial.  You weren’t meant to spend every day grasping for control of situations that you can’t possibly bend to your will.  

You were meant to trust.  

You don’t need more faith.  You need to live out the faith that you already have.  Even if all the faith you’ve got left is the size of a pebble… God can move mountains with it.  Take the two verses from today’s devotional and write them down on index cards.  Keep those cards with you everywhere you go… purse, wallet, dashboard, vanity, mirror, etc.   And when the enemy tries to take you down by buckling your knees,  stand strong in the power of these truths from our Heavenly Father.  

Life’s coming at you… and because of these verses, I can assure you that you’ll be ready… not in your own strength, but through the One who walks with you in the valley of uncertainty and challenge.   He’s more than enough and He’ll never let you go.  

A New Way

For years, Rob Goodhue watched his wife cut grapes one at a time… laboriously slicing them individually.  Some slipping from her fingers and others falling onto the floor.  He knew that there had to be another way.  Rob was an executive chef for many years at a country club and had developed a method that he now chose to pass along to his beloved.  He told her to take a plate and place it onto the plate of grapes she was trying to slice.  Then simply slip a knife between the plates and pull it across.  Voila!  Sliced grapes!  No mess, no injury, and very little effort.  Rob’s method has since gone viral across the internet leading one commenter to call him “the most genius husband in the universe.”

Maybe not the “most genius” but certainly willing to think differently.

What is it in your life that needs a little different way of looking at it?  What hasn’t been working that could with a little thought and prayer?  Is there an outdated method in your life?  Have you been doing it the same way for so long that you’ve concluded that it’s the only way it can be done?  If so, God has a word for you today… It’s found in the book of Isaiah 43:19.  God said: 

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”  

I love that passage.  Whenever I get discouraged, I turn to that verse and it reminds me that just because I don’t see it… doesn’t mean that it isn’t going to happen.  God is working ahead of me, Steph, and our kids.  He will make a way… a new way… when the world tries to convince us that things are impossible.  

God is the God of new… of growth… of change.  He wants us to pursue His ways with everything we have… to see the desert as opportunity and not a burden.   Feeling stuck today?  Not making any progress?  Turn to God who wants to reignite the creativity and passion in your life!  Don’t settle for the way things are if they aren’t the best they can be.  

Take a minute… grab a plate… and ask the question “What if?  What if the way I’ve been doing it isn’t the way God wants it done?”  Accept the challenge of God’s “new” over your “routine”  Refuse to settle for mediocre and chase magnificent.   He has a new thing for your life…a new way of thinking or doing… that if you are bold enough to embrace it will change your forever.  

Soon enough you’ll find yourself doing more than just painlessly slicing grapes… you’ll be reaching your God potential.  

Spiders

I've never been a big fan of spiders.  We get them once and awhile in the house (as most in South Florida do…) and they give me the creeps.  People tell me that they are actually good to have around as they like to eat problem insects… but I still don’t like them too much.  The other day I read a report that a Seattle man accidentally burnt his house to the ground after trying to kill a spider with a cigarette lighter and a can of spray paint. The man later told police that the spider had been lurking in the laundry, and he had accidentally lit the wall on fire with his makeshift flame thrower.  Just a few weeks earlier, Ginny Griffith of Hutchinson, Kansas, lit her laundry on fire after seeing a spider crawl into a pile of towels. The fire quickly got out of hand, and her home went up in flames. She's been charged with aggravated arson.

A makeshift blowtorch to kill a tiny and very scared arachnid.  Unnecessary force in a manageable situation.  The result?  Catastrophe.  

Sounds a lot like what many of us do when problems erupt in our lives.  Something rears its head and instead of a calm and appropriate reaction… we go off.  Raised voices… flailing arms… blood pressure creeps up and tolerance levels drop down.  We overreact.  It’s common but it’s not Biblical. 

The Scriptures tell us in the book of Proverbs 17:27… “A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.”   This verse tells us that it’s the truly wise person who sees challenging circumstances as an opportunity to grow in good judgment and gain an understanding of God’s will for their lives.  

You don’t need a sledgehammer to kill a fly.  The next time things start to heat up in your corner of life… take a deep breath and think.  Just think.

Allow your mind to play out the scenario of what might happen if you discharge an impromptu blowtorch on cotton towels… or what might happen to your relationship… or to your reputation as a follower of Christ.  If you are a Christian, people are watching.  Do they see even-temperedness and control in time of stress in your life?  Or are they calling the fire department because you couldn’t control your reaction to a spider?   Think first and act (not react) second.   And if “ready, fire, aim” is your standard… be bold enough to make a change today. 

God Jersey

After church one Sunday afternoon, a four-year-old boy said, very seriously, "Daddy, will you let me baptize you?" The father laughed it off as a joke but then realized that his son was serious, because he kept asking him, "Daddy, will you let me baptize you?" Finally, not knowing if his son even knew what "baptism" meant, the father said, "Okay son. You can baptize me." The son then came very close to his father, looked intently into his eyes, and said, "You're getting sleepy. You're getting sleepy. . . " 

So many are confused by what baptism is.  The boy in our story thought is was a form of hypnosis…  Others see it as a way to wash off a sinful weekend… still others as a method to get to heaven.  So what is it?   None of these.  

Instead, baptism is an outward expression of an inward decision.  It’s what comes after you pray the prayer of salvation.   Steph and I often refer to it as putting on your “God jersey”… showing the world that you are on God’s team.  We do it by immersion (dunking underwater) because that’s what they did in the Bible… and any believer can do it (or do it again).  It doesn’t get you to heaven… it doesn’t wash off a bunch of bad choices… it’s simply a chance to express the decision you’ve already made to follow Christ with your life.  It’s showing the world that you belong to Jesus… in a very public way.

Many ask me if Christening counts….  They want to know if the baptism that happened to them as little babies still holds up.  Yes.  Baptism as an adult by no means negates the Christening that your parents did for you when you were too young to remember.  In fact, it completes it.  When they had you sprinkled as a baby, they were committing to raising you in a way that honored God.  And now, as an adult, you are confirming their intent.   When you enter the waters of baptism by your own decision, you are telling them… yes… you wanted me to follow God in my life… and I have… and now I’m telling the world.  

If you have yet to be baptized, and have already prayed the prayer of salvation…. what are you waiting for?  Jesus Himself did it.  And why?  Because He wanted us to follow in His beautiful footsteps and be baptized as well.  Ready to follow Him in obedience?  Ready to put on your God jersey?  Let me know in the comments below.

Driving

I was talking with Steph a few days ago about my driving.  She says it’s… how should I say this…not my greatest strength.  I’m not that bad!  My hands may not be at 10 and 2 all the time  but I keep the car on the road and get us where we need to go safely!  It’s funny how things work.  Just after we finished chatting about my driving, I ran across this story about a woman and her unusual driving choices… 

On a dark Friday evening, Prionda Hill made a choice.  She decided that she was going to release the wheel of her car and let God steer.  Literally.  She completely removed her hands from ten and two and told God to guide her vehicle through traffic.  The outcome was less than ideal.   A motorcyclist by the name of Anthony Oliveri was the unfortunate victim of Prionda’s decision.  He later told police that when he saw the car coming directly toward him, the only thing he thought was  “This is the day I die.”   Fortunately, he didn’t.  While his injuries were serious, Anthony survived that crash… and Prionda is now facing several serious charges.  

Is that how God operates?  Does He tell us to completely remove our hands from the wheels of our lives?  Is He apt to recommend that we just “let it go?”  Many would say yes.  We say “Jesus… you do it!”  or “God… he/she’s all yours…”  But is that Biblical?  Does God tell us to release total control and let Him do it?  Is “Let Go and Let God” legit?  

No.  In fact the Bible says just the opposite.   2 Timothy 2:3 tells us to “Endure hardship…”  Ephesians 6:11 tells us to “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand…” Finally, 1 Peter 1:7 says that our trials reveal our level of faith.   

Our challenges strengthen us.  They burn away what doesn’t belong and reveal our toughness.  What we see as pain… God is using for our eventual good.  We read many times in scripture that Jesus promises to never leave us in our struggles… that He wants us to persevere through them… and why?  Because they are the very things that will cause us to build faith muscle that we will need later in life.  So the next time you feel like just letting God do it… don’t. Keep both hands on the wheel… and God will put His nail-scarred hands on top of yours… and help guide you through the traffic to your destination.

Can't Forget

Famed surgeon, Dr. Paul Brand once said, ”In the human body, when an area loses sensory contact with the rest of the body, even when its nourishment system remains intact, that part begins to wither and atrophy. In the vast majority of cases—95 of 100 insensitive [unfeeling] hands I have examined—severe injury or deformation results. The body poorly protects what it does not feel. And in the spiritual Body, also, loss of feeling inevitably leads to atrophy and inner deterioration. So much of the sorrow in the world is due to the selfishness of one living organism that simply does not care when another suffers.”

When a part of the body is neglected… it withers.   That neglect leads to deterioration… collapse… and an utter breakdown in an important part of God’s creation.  

If we’re not careful, we too can become insensitive.  Unfeeling.  Incapable of putting ourselves into the shoes of another.   When we stop feeling the pain of others, our hearts begin to wither.  And that neglect leads to unflinching apathy… and an all out indifference to the plight of those less fortunate.

We can’t forget that Jesus Christ cares about and loves everyone.

Those in your home and those people you don’t think about.  The ones on the streets and the ones in your office.  All matter.  Everyone.  The free man and the prisoner both count under God.

It’s up to us to remember that… and to make sure that no part of the body of Christ falls under neglect.   Why do we conduct services in the prison?  Why do we reach out to those who have made mistakes and are now paying the price behind bars?   Because they matter.  Because their hearts beat and their lungs take in air.  Because in God’s eyes, their sin and our sin is no different.  Because they are a part of the body.

And we won’t let them wither away… 

Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

When one part of the body hurts… we all hurt.  When one is forgotten, it affects us all.  Are you ready to join us as we reach out to those in danger of being neglected?  Will you stand with us as we minister to those in need?  If you are interested in serving on our prison ministry team, let me know in the comments below and we’ll connect you.

Casting

John 21:6 “Then he said, ‘Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!’ So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.”

The disciples had fished all night with no luck.  They’d thrown out their nets and been unsuccessful in catching even the tiniest brim.  But why?  These were some experienced men of the sea… they were used to pulling in thousands.  What could have possibly caused this lack of success?  

It was pretty simple.  The net was on the wrong side.

Sometimes we fish for things with our nets on the wrong side, too.  

Some are fishing for the right mate in a sea filled with wrong people.  Some are seeking God’s blessing in a life filled with disobedience.  Others confess that they want to share their faith, but only hang around other Christians.  

Sometimes it requires moving the boat.   Most of the time, it’s simply a matter of putting your net on the right side… on the side Jesus instructs us to put it on. 

Want a Godly relationship?  Cast your net among those that honor God with their lives.  Christ tells us in His word that bad company corrupts good character (1 Cor. 15:33).  Too many are looking for deep-water fish in canals.  

Want God’s blessings?  Cast your net into the river of generosity and servanthood.  When we give of our time, talent, and resources… God blesses our efforts.  Too many are asking God to give His stamp of approval on life plans He had no part in creating.

Want others to know about Christ?  Cast your net right where you are.  There are plenty excuses to stay silent… dare to be bold… tell others (starting with those that share your last name).  You may not have all the answers… and you may not be a Bible expert… but God has done something big in your life.  Share it.  And if the nets come back empty the first time…don’t quit.  Keep casting them out on the right side… and big things will happen.  

Ready to go fishing?  Cast away!

Are You Ready?

As I was reading through God’s word, I came across this important instruction from the Apostle Paul.  

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”  Ephesians 5:15-17

In this passage of scripture, he gives three distinct ways we are all to live our lives. 

1) We are to live wisely… How do we do this?  We should make choices that follow God’s direction instead of our own.   We need to apply past failures to move us forward into future successes.  We are to surround ourselves with friends who help us in our walk rather than pull us backward.   And finally, spend our time serving and giving to others.  Generosity and a servant’s heart are two pieces of evidence that reveal a life moving in the right direction.

2)  We are to make the most of every opportunity… This includes maximizing our lives.  Eat well, sleep enough, save some money, seek joy over happiness, do something that fulfills us, connect with others, grow, read, etc.  And we do these not for their own sake… but so that we can be prepared when God gives us opportunity to move forward.  There is nothing more unfortunate than something we’ve been praying for coming to light… and not being prepared to seize the chance to make it happen. 

3)  We are to understand and act on what the Lord wants us to do.  What is that?  What is it that God wants  ALL of us to do with our lives?  We talked about it a few days ago.. fulfill the Great Commission as explained in Matthew 28:18-20.  To go out and share the Good News with those that have never heard it…. to be the hands and feet of Christ serving others… to be the living church…. active, loving, and providing for others.  

Paul is telling us to live wisely following God’s example, be prepared for and seize opportunity, and fulfill the Great Commission… are you willing and ready?

No Replacement

A man named Dan Chen has created a machine.  A device so outlandish that you will struggle to believe it exists.  What is it?  It’s called an “End of Life Care Machine.”  Essentially it is a robotic arm that gently moves back and forth along the forearm of a patient in a hospital who is dying.  As it does so, it says “Hello [name of patient], I am the last moment robot. I am here to help you and guide you through your last moment on earth. I am sorry that (pause) your family and friends can’t be with you right now, but don’t be afraid. I am here to comfort you. (pause) You are not alone, you are with me. (pause) Your family and friends love you very much, they will remember you after you are gone. (pause).”

It’s hard to come up with the right words for this machine… but for the sake of today’s devotional… We’ll use the word: tragic.

Tragic that whatever person this is used on is left alone in their final moments… and even more tragic that someone thinks a heartless robotic arm can replace the tender touch of another person.  

I was thinking about this device as I read Hebrews 2:17-18 

"For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" 

Hebrews 2:17-18

The truth is… before Christ came…all of us were dying.  Bound for eternal separation from God because of our sin.   Taking the punishment for missing the mark that we deserve.  And then God sent His Son.  His glorious loving Son to pay the price for what we had done.    God didn’t send a note… or a statue… or a robotic arm to comfort us… Jesus put on our flesh.  He became a human being.   A person who we could recognize and One that could suffer pain.  Today as you spend time praying, thank God that He loved us so much that He sent His only Son… His compassionate and merciful Son… so that we would know how valuable we are to Him during our time here on the Earth.  

Fully Engaged

An insurance company studied 65,000 fatal crashes over a two-year period.  The results?  One in ten wrecks were the result of distracted driving.   Before you quickly blame texting or talking on the phone… 62% of those accidents where someone died came as the result of…

Daydreaming.  

Staring blankly into space… letting the mind wander… just letting go and mentally coasting.   It was daydreaming that killed 6 out of 10 in those crashes.   Psychologists tell us that when we are in a daydreaming state… our conscious “wanders off” and we let our sub-conscious take the wheel.  Has that ever happened to you?  Have you ever stopped at an intersection and wondered how you got there?  Asked yourself… “did I stop at that stop sign back there?”  Or the ever-popular “Where am I?”

It happens… but it shouldn’t.  Scripture tells us to be alert at all times.  Not just in traffic… but in other things.  Do we let our mind wander as we stare at a co-worker of the opposite sex?  Do we allow our brains to drift as we spend time in church?  Are we completely focused at our job?  In the classroom?  In conversations with our spouse or kids?  But who cares, right?  After all… daydreaming in those situations won’t cause a fatality…   

Well maybe not a physical death… but not focusing can cause a marriage to crumble…grades to fall… faith to be shaken…job loss…and so much more.  Scripture tells us in 1 Peter 5:8 that we should be “sober-minded” and “watchful.”  Why?  Because the enemy is simply pacing back and forth waiting for us to let our guard down… then he pounces like a roaring lion on our lives.   Take a few minutes today and evaluate your ability to pay attention to what’s important.  Pray that God would remove distractions, remind you of why concentrating is in your best interests, and give you the strength to overcome the pull towards lethargy.   You’ll live a safer life… and you’ll get to enjoy the benefits of being fully engaged in every moment of it.  

Fact

A Costco store in Simi Valley, California had a display table filled with Bibles for sale.  While looking through them, Pastor Caleb Kaltenbach discovered a bright sticker had been placed on every cover… it contained the price… and the word “Fiction” next to it.

Fiction?  As in “not real”?  

At once, the Pastor brought the mistake to the attention of the management and the stickers were removed at once.  The man in charge chalked it up to “human error” from the warehouse.

This got me to thinking… although our Bibles don’t have “Fiction” stickers on them…do we really believe what they say inside the covers?  Is it possible that what God says inside those words is 100% true?  How can we be a masterpiece when our thought-life is what it is?   How can we be forgiven by the One who created the oceans and calmed the storms?  Is everything REALLY possible through Christ?

Yes.  

What you read in that wonderful love letter from God is absolutely true.  Every syllable of it.  We are sinners.  We are imperfect.  We make mistakes.  But we serve the God who time after time gives chances to return to Him.   We serve the God who hears the cries of the hurting and responds with the love demonstrated by Jesus on the cross.  Be assured… you can count on what you read in the Bible.  It is far from fiction.  It is rock-solid fact that has withstood the test of time and the assault from countless critics.   Hold it boldly and read it with confidence.    It is God’s unshakeable word… and it can be trusted wholeheartedly. 

Freedom

2013 marked the final year in the life of one of the world’s most influential leaders:  Nelson Mandela.  Held in prison for 27 years, he bravely stood against the oppressive rule of Apartheid.  The day he was released from jail, Mandela was quoted as saying “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

Freedom.  Real freedom.  Have you ever experienced it?  Have you ever been imprisoned by those feelings that could have easily trapped Nelson Mandela?

Bitterness.  Hatred.

Feelings that if left unchecked can place a cage over our life… subjecting us to years of cruel imprisonment.  When we let them overwhelm us, we torture ourselves… poisoned by our own unwillingness to move on.  Ephesians 4:31 tells us to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger…”  How do we do that?  Discover the key to the cell…  Forgiveness.  Not forgetfulness.  Not acting like it didn’t happen.  Not pretending that everything is erased.  Just forgiving those that caused the pain… releasing the revengeful heart so that you can walk into the sunlight of the rest of your life.   Forgiveness isn’t for them.  They may not have asked for it or even deserve it.  It’s for you.  It’s your opportunity to get past your past… to learn from the pain… and experience the freedom that comes from following Christ’s example.

Mirror

A recent study from the University of Glasgow revealed something quite surprising.  It seems that when photographed, the human eye reflects the person taking the photo very clearly.   Rob Jenkins from the University of New York says that “the pupil of the eye is like a black mirror” and reveals far more than what was first thought.   What usefulness does this have?  Imagine a hostage situation where the kidnapper takes a photo of the person they are holding… computers can digitally zoom into the eyes of the person being held and see a clear picture of the criminal.  

The pupils reflect an image of what’s in front of them.

Our hearts do the same.  So often we put ourselves around people that we shouldn’t… and their influence is reflected in our lives.  We begin to talk like they do… think like they do… and many times slide backwards… away from the life that God has called us to live.   The Bible warns us about staying amongst those that harm our hearts.  Proverbs 22:24-25 says “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”  1 Corinthians 15:33 echoes this concept with “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.”   Find yourself angry?  Bitter?  Anxious?  Filled with gossip or jealousy?  Check your friends list.   Perhaps it is the reflected influence of a “friend” that is causing you to see the world differently.   Am I saying not to have friends that don’t believe like you do?  No.  You will (and should) hang out with people who are still investigating the claims of Christ.   But if you are a Christ-follower, your closest companions…those that have the greatest influence on your life… should follow and live out the values of Christ as you do.  

Drop Back In

It may seem hard to believe, but the United States average high-school dropout rate is 25%.  1 in 4 students decide to leave before they finish.   The question is… what is happening to stop this trend?  What are schools doing to pursue those that want to call it quits?

The church faces a similar situation.  People coming to the end of their faith and deciding that they just want to walk away from a God who seemingly doesn’t care.  So what’s being done?  What is the family of God supposed to do when one of their own drifts away?  Pursue.  Lovingly… and with great passion… go after those that have lost their way.  Scripture tells us in Matthew 18:12 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?”  We are to go after the lost…the disillusioned…the confused…the broken…and the hurt.  They may be looking to drop out… and it’s that very time that God commands us to step in.  Sometimes all someone needs is the reassurance that things will get better…and that God still cares.  Know someone who’s walked away?  Today…without hesitation…start the process of leading them back.   Both of you will be better for it.  

Sweetness

The other day I read an interesting fact about honey.  Did you know that germs cannot live in honey because it’s too sweet?   It’s true.  The sugar in the honey causes the water part of the bacteria to evaporate… thus killing the bad germ.  Similarly, that’s why jellies can be put into jars and kept indefinitely without fear of contamination. It’s the sugar… the sweetness.. that makes all the difference.  

As we think about our world today,  many would tell you that the way to deal with the corruption and evil is to seek revenge.  After all, if we are wronged… they have it coming.  We hurt… they should hurt.  However, scripture tells us differently.  In fact, we are told in Luke 6 that we should “return good for evil”  and in Proverbs 16:24… that it is gracious words (like a honeycomb) that brings “healing to the bones”.  God says when the world wants to sour us… reply with kindness.  Turn the other cheek.  Extend the olive branch.  Allow God’s sweetness in our heart to drive out the bitterness of what the flesh might want us to do.   It may not be our first reaction…. but the more often we choose it… the closer to Christ we will be.  

On Board

I once read a story about a young naval ensign on his first assignment.   He was given the responsibility of preparing the ship for launch… and he was nervous.  Remembering everything he’d learned in training, the young sailor yelled commands and readied the vessel for the voyage.  He accomplished his tasks in record time… and with a proud voice… gave the order to leave the dock.  Soon after they were out into open water, the ensign received a message.  It was from the captain.  It read “My personal congratulations upon completing your underway preparation exercise according to the book and with amazing speed. But next time, you might wait until your captain is aboard before setting off.”

Oops… Ever make that mistake?  Have you ever been so anxious and excited that you forgot to put first things first?  Many do… In fact, many take off and do things in their lives without waiting for God to be a part of it.  Isaiah 40:31 says to do otherwise:  “But they who wait upon the Lord will get new strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weak.”   Is it ok to be excited?  Ready?  Prepared to set the direction for our lives?  Yes!  However, if we do so without making sure God is onboard first, we will grow tired and quickly drift off course.   Seek God first.  Wait on Him to answer.  And then proceed… and it will be smooth sailing the whole way. 

Knowing or Doing?

I read an ABC news report about a man who has spent his entire 71 years on the planet in school.  Michael Nicholson of Kalamazoo, Michigan has an interesting hobby:  he collects degrees.  So far he has 29 and is on course for his 30^th.  His accomplishments include one doctorate, three specialist degreees, one bachelor’s degree, two associate degrees, and 22 masters.  When asked about it, Michael says that he just loves to learn.   

And while we might at first celebrate his decision… it doesn’t take long before we realize the tragedy in this story.  Mr. Nicholson has spent his entire life learning disciplines without putting any of it to use.   He’s filled his head with knowledge and his walls with paperwork… but his legacy remains locked away in his briefcase.  Learning is important… but without utilizing the knowledge we receive… it’s practically useless.  The same goes for our study of the Bible.  James tells us in chapter 1 and verse 22 that we should not merely listen to the word… but we are to “Do what it says.”  Knowing who God is and doing what God wants are two different things… and one without the other is simply missing our purpose.   While it’s very important to study and memorize scripture… it’s equally as important to take the message out of the confines of the mind and into the world through our hands and heart.