Okay, don't drop over dead because of the fact that I am writing another blog. By last count, I wrote my last one on December 7, 2011. I'm not one of those brilliant minds that comes up with something profound every day AND I'm writing a weekly devotional guide for our church. So, many ideas get eaten up with that writing. But this morning I had this thought and I thought I would write it down.
I get way too much credit. Comments are made and I thank people and move on. But in all reality, when I consider the words spoken to me I really am given too much recognition. Especially when you take into consideration that I am a sinner who needs Christ's forgiveness everyday....really every hour, every minute. The shell that I am is only possible because of the mercy and grace of our Lord. With that said, let me give you three examples of how I came to this conclusion.
First, after every sermon there is someone(s) who come up to me and feel it obligatory to tell me that it was a good sermon. My wife is so good at keeping me on an even keel with this. And she does it in such a sweet manner. She'll usually say something like, "It wasn't your best sermon....but it was good." Frankly, I have two prayers on Sunday morning. One is before the lesson where I ask God to take me completey out of the picture and allow His goodness to dwell in my words. The second comes after the lesson when I ask forgiveness for not being able to adequately proclaim the Message in the way it deserves to be given. But I marvel that He takes my weak words and hits hearts.
Second, on the golf course yesterday my son-in-law were paired with two gentlemen who obviously golf a lot. I always like to see the reaction of people when I tell them what I do. They noticed my Arkansas Razorback golf bag and said, "So you're from Arkansas?" The stunned look on their faces was priceless when I told them I was a preacher. One said, "So I can't curse or drop the f-bomb, huh?" My response to them was, "You give me too much respect." Meaning, they wouldn't do that in front of me, but it was no problem to do it before Almighty God. Once again, too much credit.
The third incident was at the retirement home when a lady told me, "You say more in 15 minutes than most preachers do in an hour." Now that was a nice compliment. But really, I don't deserve any praise for telling the great story of Peter and Jesus walking on the water. The praise goes to Jesus who taught us all a wonderful lesson of faith that stormy night.
When it's all said and done, I return to one of my mother's favorite songs. I really prefer the meaning and the connotation of the old song rather than the perverted broadway musical with the same name. The words say it all:
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.
Naked, come to Thee for dress; helpless look to Thee for grace.
Vile, I to the fountain fly: Wash me, Savior, or I die.
Truer words have never been spoken. I hope your day is a good one! JW
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Working Out at the Gym
There's nothing profound in my blog today. Just some observations from the gym. Yes, I have been working out at the gym. I know it doesn't appear so, but I have been fairly consistent over the last three months. Lately, I have fallen off, (i.e. Thanksgiving and then a serious chest cold), but I'm trying to get back in. Here are some things I've noticed where I work out. Some of the things are observations while others are just things I've noticed.
1. I find it interesting that people who work out at the gym try to get the parking spot closest to the door. (I know some will say they want to stay out of the cold, but shouldn't it be important to begin the workout by walking some distance to the door?)
2. The tighter the clothes, the fatter (ahem), larger the body.
3. I don't have enough tattoos to work out at this gym. I've seen legs covered, chests, arms, anywhere the clothes haven't covered there are tattoos. I say I don't have enough tattoos....I don't have ANY tattoos.
4. I honestly saw a guy working out in sunglasses the other day. What? Is the mob trying to find him? Are the lights so bright that he can't see? (I know, I know, some of you will say, "He just might have had some surgery to his eyes and the light bothers him. If he had surgery to his eyes, WHAT IS HE DOING WORKING OUT!!)
5. Big torsos, little legs. I'm not talking women here. I'm talking about these guys who bulk up their chests, but it looks like they have these little, tiny legs.
6. Why do people who look as if they have been in the concentration camps of World War II work out. I'm afraid their bones are going to snap.
7. The other day I saw a guy on one of the stationary bikes (I don't know what they call these bikes, but you recline slightly to do them) working on a cross word puzzle. Now if you are doing a cross word puzzle, how much exercise is really going on? I've seen others reading books. I get that a little bit more, but a cross word. How can you read what you've written?
8. I've noticed in the sauna that people wear their head phones to their Ipods, but you can still hear the music. Have I told you that I don't like rap music?
9. People tend to brag a lot in these places. Two examples. I heard two guys talking the other day and one told the other that he at one time held the world record for the 100 meter dash. Now, without being obvious, I just had to look. Then I heard him say, "Did you know I only had one leg?" "11.6 was my time." Maybe...maybe not. The other example isn't really bragging, just ignorance. Sitting in the sauna one day, and it was pretty warm....aren't saunas supposed to be warm (hot). One guy talking to another about how hot it was in there. And the one guy said, "It was 208 degrees in here the other day." Now correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't the boiling point of water 212 degrees? So he was saying it was only 4 degrees below boiling?
Oh, well, enough for now. These are just a few of the things I've noticed while working out. I'm sure there will be more. Hope your day is a good one. JW
1. I find it interesting that people who work out at the gym try to get the parking spot closest to the door. (I know some will say they want to stay out of the cold, but shouldn't it be important to begin the workout by walking some distance to the door?)
2. The tighter the clothes, the fatter (ahem), larger the body.
3. I don't have enough tattoos to work out at this gym. I've seen legs covered, chests, arms, anywhere the clothes haven't covered there are tattoos. I say I don't have enough tattoos....I don't have ANY tattoos.
4. I honestly saw a guy working out in sunglasses the other day. What? Is the mob trying to find him? Are the lights so bright that he can't see? (I know, I know, some of you will say, "He just might have had some surgery to his eyes and the light bothers him. If he had surgery to his eyes, WHAT IS HE DOING WORKING OUT!!)
5. Big torsos, little legs. I'm not talking women here. I'm talking about these guys who bulk up their chests, but it looks like they have these little, tiny legs.
6. Why do people who look as if they have been in the concentration camps of World War II work out. I'm afraid their bones are going to snap.
7. The other day I saw a guy on one of the stationary bikes (I don't know what they call these bikes, but you recline slightly to do them) working on a cross word puzzle. Now if you are doing a cross word puzzle, how much exercise is really going on? I've seen others reading books. I get that a little bit more, but a cross word. How can you read what you've written?
8. I've noticed in the sauna that people wear their head phones to their Ipods, but you can still hear the music. Have I told you that I don't like rap music?
9. People tend to brag a lot in these places. Two examples. I heard two guys talking the other day and one told the other that he at one time held the world record for the 100 meter dash. Now, without being obvious, I just had to look. Then I heard him say, "Did you know I only had one leg?" "11.6 was my time." Maybe...maybe not. The other example isn't really bragging, just ignorance. Sitting in the sauna one day, and it was pretty warm....aren't saunas supposed to be warm (hot). One guy talking to another about how hot it was in there. And the one guy said, "It was 208 degrees in here the other day." Now correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't the boiling point of water 212 degrees? So he was saying it was only 4 degrees below boiling?
Oh, well, enough for now. These are just a few of the things I've noticed while working out. I'm sure there will be more. Hope your day is a good one. JW
Monday, November 14, 2011
Stained Glass Churches
We have a beautiful building. Our speaker on Sunday commented that he could tell that our church building was not built by a Church of Christ architect because of the design. It's a building in the round and it has a lot of stained glass. We all chuckled at the thought.
But as I contemplated what he said, I started to look at the glass. From the outside, as people drive by I'm sure there are those who would say, "What a beautiful building! Look at that stained glass." If they judge what is on the inside by what is on the outside, they would we are just the best people. But on the inside, we have people with problems. They are struggling with life. Some are hypocrites. Some are only Sunday Christians (if there is such a thing). But we have our problems. Still, wonderful people as a rule, but sinners nonetheless.
Those of us on the inside can't see out because of the windows. Interesting concept....can't see outside because the windows are stained glass. Sometimes we sit in our little enclosed pen and the world passes by and we don't see the problems that await right outside our doors because we can't see it. I'm praying now that we don't live in the stained glass church building. It's my desire to see us living in the world but not of the world. I want us to see what's happening so that we can show them Jesus. Not our church. Not our doctrine. Not our belief, per se. But Jesus. When they see Jesus, then they'll want to know more about us. Let's pray that's what happens. Have a great day.
But as I contemplated what he said, I started to look at the glass. From the outside, as people drive by I'm sure there are those who would say, "What a beautiful building! Look at that stained glass." If they judge what is on the inside by what is on the outside, they would we are just the best people. But on the inside, we have people with problems. They are struggling with life. Some are hypocrites. Some are only Sunday Christians (if there is such a thing). But we have our problems. Still, wonderful people as a rule, but sinners nonetheless.
Those of us on the inside can't see out because of the windows. Interesting concept....can't see outside because the windows are stained glass. Sometimes we sit in our little enclosed pen and the world passes by and we don't see the problems that await right outside our doors because we can't see it. I'm praying now that we don't live in the stained glass church building. It's my desire to see us living in the world but not of the world. I want us to see what's happening so that we can show them Jesus. Not our church. Not our doctrine. Not our belief, per se. But Jesus. When they see Jesus, then they'll want to know more about us. Let's pray that's what happens. Have a great day.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
The Way It Used To Be
I believe it was comedian Steven Wright who said, "Nostalgia just isn't what it used to be." As I age I begin to think so much about the way "it used to be." I have a friend who told me he just wanted things to go back to the way they were. I somewhat agree with what he said and I'll explain.
I loved it when we could ride our bikes all day long without worrying about traffic or people who had evil purposes. We never locked our doors. We didn't have to worry about what was on the television. Around my house, the most vile things on TV were the beer commercials between innings of the baseball game...and we had to turn the sound down so we didn't hear them. By the way, this was the day and age before remote controls so we literally had to get up out of our chairs and turn the sound down. On Monday nights we watched Andy Griffith and on Tuesday we watched Red Skelton. Many of the channels went off the air after the news. You knew when you heard the national anthem the station was about to shut down for the night.
In the summer, our curfew was when it started to get dark. My parents just wanted to know where I was and they seldom worried what I was doing. I spent my time playing sports. If I had no one to play with, I would make it up. I could play a nine inning baseball game with a pencil for a bat, a marble for the ball, and my baseball cards for a team. I would cut up bases out of cardboard and retire to my room to play a game. I could play basketball with a ping pong ball and a basket (once again made from cardboard) taped to the door. I played football in our yard (once again, by myself) with a softball. I could pass and catch the ball on the same play. And I could tackle myself. My team always won. I remember playing wiffle ball with friends for hours. Remember the imaginary runner? Oh, I loved those days.
Don't misunderstand me. I love my computer, my cell phone, and my microwave. I'm glad I've grown up and had a family of my own. I think what we're talking about going back to our values; going back to the days of God being important in the lives of our nation. Being concerned about praying for our country, our world. Living in a town where evil was rare and perverted and not accepted and pandered to. And being people of good character who look to the Bible for moral direction and not despise the Word as ancient and out-dated.
We can return to that, you know. How do we do it? One person at a time. You can change yourself and I can change myself. A single candle lit in the darkness makes all the difference in the world. In the next to the last chapter of the Bible, the new Jerusalem makes its appearance and God makes a statement that should give us a renewed hope of what we are talking about. God says, "I am making everything new!" He can do that....He's God. He can take a torn scattered life and make it brand new. He can take a nation that sues over everything, that rejects the very image of the cross, and that fights over the most insignificant things in the name of political correctness and make us whole and new again. We can go back to the way it used to be. Let's start praying today. I hope your day is a good one! JW
I loved it when we could ride our bikes all day long without worrying about traffic or people who had evil purposes. We never locked our doors. We didn't have to worry about what was on the television. Around my house, the most vile things on TV were the beer commercials between innings of the baseball game...and we had to turn the sound down so we didn't hear them. By the way, this was the day and age before remote controls so we literally had to get up out of our chairs and turn the sound down. On Monday nights we watched Andy Griffith and on Tuesday we watched Red Skelton. Many of the channels went off the air after the news. You knew when you heard the national anthem the station was about to shut down for the night.
In the summer, our curfew was when it started to get dark. My parents just wanted to know where I was and they seldom worried what I was doing. I spent my time playing sports. If I had no one to play with, I would make it up. I could play a nine inning baseball game with a pencil for a bat, a marble for the ball, and my baseball cards for a team. I would cut up bases out of cardboard and retire to my room to play a game. I could play basketball with a ping pong ball and a basket (once again made from cardboard) taped to the door. I played football in our yard (once again, by myself) with a softball. I could pass and catch the ball on the same play. And I could tackle myself. My team always won. I remember playing wiffle ball with friends for hours. Remember the imaginary runner? Oh, I loved those days.
Don't misunderstand me. I love my computer, my cell phone, and my microwave. I'm glad I've grown up and had a family of my own. I think what we're talking about going back to our values; going back to the days of God being important in the lives of our nation. Being concerned about praying for our country, our world. Living in a town where evil was rare and perverted and not accepted and pandered to. And being people of good character who look to the Bible for moral direction and not despise the Word as ancient and out-dated.
We can return to that, you know. How do we do it? One person at a time. You can change yourself and I can change myself. A single candle lit in the darkness makes all the difference in the world. In the next to the last chapter of the Bible, the new Jerusalem makes its appearance and God makes a statement that should give us a renewed hope of what we are talking about. God says, "I am making everything new!" He can do that....He's God. He can take a torn scattered life and make it brand new. He can take a nation that sues over everything, that rejects the very image of the cross, and that fights over the most insignificant things in the name of political correctness and make us whole and new again. We can go back to the way it used to be. Let's start praying today. I hope your day is a good one! JW
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Am I Making a Difference?
Not too long ago I lamented (openly, verbally) that I wasn't sure how much affect I was having in the Kingdom. Preachers do this...some more than others. I think I was just tired and feeling Satan's arrows. It was a down time for me. Was my preparation a waste of time? Were people really listening to me? Do people really care?
Dumb move. First of all, to wonder if I (meaning one person) is having an affect is useless and vain. Because, it's not about me. It's about the One we proclaim. "Let your light shine so that they may see your good works and glorifying your Father who is in heaven." So my first mistake was putting myself on the throne.
But God in His mercy pushed back the curtain just a little bit to let me see. I had a young father come to me right after a sermon I had preached. He told me of some struggles he was having with his son. I had just preached a sermon on the prodigal. The young father was ready to call it quits. My sermon had said never shut the door because God never shuts the door on us. He told me he would never shut the door on his son. Then I saw a facebook entry that talked of a wonderful service that we had had recently on Father's Day. He talked of how much it meant to him and that I had planned it.
I hung my head. Shame on me. I was worried about what people were thinking of me instead of letting people see how great He is.
Thank you, God, for showing me that Your words don't come back void. Forgive me when I get caught up in the preacher thing about really making a difference. Help me to see that it has nothing to do with me, but everything to do with You. I love you, Lord.
Dumb move. First of all, to wonder if I (meaning one person) is having an affect is useless and vain. Because, it's not about me. It's about the One we proclaim. "Let your light shine so that they may see your good works and glorifying your Father who is in heaven." So my first mistake was putting myself on the throne.
But God in His mercy pushed back the curtain just a little bit to let me see. I had a young father come to me right after a sermon I had preached. He told me of some struggles he was having with his son. I had just preached a sermon on the prodigal. The young father was ready to call it quits. My sermon had said never shut the door because God never shuts the door on us. He told me he would never shut the door on his son. Then I saw a facebook entry that talked of a wonderful service that we had had recently on Father's Day. He talked of how much it meant to him and that I had planned it.
I hung my head. Shame on me. I was worried about what people were thinking of me instead of letting people see how great He is.
Thank you, God, for showing me that Your words don't come back void. Forgive me when I get caught up in the preacher thing about really making a difference. Help me to see that it has nothing to do with me, but everything to do with You. I love you, Lord.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Bat Boy
It had been an exciting afternoon. It was my first trip to TD Ameritrade Park to see the very first game ever played there in the College World Series. Vanderbilt and North Carolina were locking horns trying to win to advance in the series. Players were playing hard. The game had started a little slowly but it had gotten interesting when I noticed him.
He looked like a miniature player for Vanderbilt. It was a young boy wearing a Vanderbilt uniform. He stood in the entrance of the dugout entranced in the game. On his back wasn't a number, but BB standing for Bat Boy. When a player would hit the ball and run out his hit, this young man would sprint (and I don't think that's too strong a word) to recover the bat and put it in its proper cubby hole in the dugout. When a foul ball was hit back toward the screen, he ran as hard as he could to retrieve the ball. The ball park had employed a young lady to collect all the foul balls. But it seemed as if this young man was on a mission to get the ball before she could hardly get out of her place.
He had no influence on the outcome of the game. The players virtually ignored him. The bats and helmets seemed supersized to this little boy. But he did everything with such enthusiasm, with such vigor, with such pride. I wonder if he received any credit from the team. Did anyone encourage him as he conducted his duties? Was he truly appreciated for picking up after the players? Basically what I saw was a servant.
Jesus said no servant is above his master. In describing a judgment scene, God is portrayed as saying to those who have been given entrance into heaven as, "Well done, good and faithful.....servant." Jesus got on his knees and washed the apostles feet, a task that was generally reserved for the household servant.
Servants seemingly get no credit, are often overlooked, and rarely acknowledged as valuable. But I would dare say that God has His eyes on those who make themselves servants. Because it's in serving that we find our place, our mission. And wouldn't you want to be noticed by the One who rewards those who are noticed by no one else? Kind of like that young man who was the Bat Boy. I hope you have a wonderful day. JW
He looked like a miniature player for Vanderbilt. It was a young boy wearing a Vanderbilt uniform. He stood in the entrance of the dugout entranced in the game. On his back wasn't a number, but BB standing for Bat Boy. When a player would hit the ball and run out his hit, this young man would sprint (and I don't think that's too strong a word) to recover the bat and put it in its proper cubby hole in the dugout. When a foul ball was hit back toward the screen, he ran as hard as he could to retrieve the ball. The ball park had employed a young lady to collect all the foul balls. But it seemed as if this young man was on a mission to get the ball before she could hardly get out of her place.
He had no influence on the outcome of the game. The players virtually ignored him. The bats and helmets seemed supersized to this little boy. But he did everything with such enthusiasm, with such vigor, with such pride. I wonder if he received any credit from the team. Did anyone encourage him as he conducted his duties? Was he truly appreciated for picking up after the players? Basically what I saw was a servant.
Jesus said no servant is above his master. In describing a judgment scene, God is portrayed as saying to those who have been given entrance into heaven as, "Well done, good and faithful.....servant." Jesus got on his knees and washed the apostles feet, a task that was generally reserved for the household servant.
Servants seemingly get no credit, are often overlooked, and rarely acknowledged as valuable. But I would dare say that God has His eyes on those who make themselves servants. Because it's in serving that we find our place, our mission. And wouldn't you want to be noticed by the One who rewards those who are noticed by no one else? Kind of like that young man who was the Bat Boy. I hope you have a wonderful day. JW
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Why Are We Afraid of Grace?
Paul is very plain. He doesn't mince words....and he rarely did anyway. He was a straight shooter with many years of experience. He had been misunderstood before and mistreated and mis (you fill in the blank...he was). But there is no misunderstanding this statement. In Ephesians 2:4, 5, Paul says, "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." And so there's no misunderstanding, he says it again in vs. 8 and 9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast."
Now I see people all the time having to explain it. "Now you have to have the whole story. You have to get the entire picture." They go on to explain that Paul doesn't really mean that, he means there is more. I understand to an extent what they are saying. Paul says that God's grace is not without effect. But we are still saved by grace. What are we afraid of? Why can't we just accept that? Why can't we just take God, take Jesus, take Paul at face value? We will never be able to earn, or be worthy, or do anything that will make us deserve God's grace. Never.
Dear God, thank you for your grace. I want to accept it. I want it to change me. Help me to never take it for granted or use it as "cheap grace." But Father, help me to bask in your grace and not to be afraid to call it what it is....unmerited favor. In Jesus name, Amen! Have a great day! JW
Now I see people all the time having to explain it. "Now you have to have the whole story. You have to get the entire picture." They go on to explain that Paul doesn't really mean that, he means there is more. I understand to an extent what they are saying. Paul says that God's grace is not without effect. But we are still saved by grace. What are we afraid of? Why can't we just accept that? Why can't we just take God, take Jesus, take Paul at face value? We will never be able to earn, or be worthy, or do anything that will make us deserve God's grace. Never.
Dear God, thank you for your grace. I want to accept it. I want it to change me. Help me to never take it for granted or use it as "cheap grace." But Father, help me to bask in your grace and not to be afraid to call it what it is....unmerited favor. In Jesus name, Amen! Have a great day! JW
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)