The Pope's Visit

I have been somewhat bemused by the visit of the pope to the United States. I don't even think that's probably the right word. Perhaps I can use a number of others to better describe my thoughts. Amazed. Amused. Glad. Confused. I could probably come up with a few more, but right now I'm at a loss.
The pomp and circumstance that has happened. Limousines, helicopters, the popemobile; Holy Father, Reverend, Supreme Shepherd; Elaborate robes, miters, kissing of the hand, and on and on. I just heard a cardinal express their extreme loyalty to this man. I haven't heard the name Jesus very much. Mother Mary, yes. Our Savior. Some. But I really haven't heard Jesus' name. When you read Paul's epistles, over and over he invokes the name of Jesus. You get the impression he really does mean it when he expresses his devotion to Jesus.
I don't know. I don't see Jesus coming to this earth in the midst of this publicity. I see Him walking down the streets of New York City, not in the elaborate cathedrals of the city. I see Him talking to the poor and downtrodden, not to world leaders and those in positions of power. Perhaps I'm wrong. But I don't think so. I see Him speaking from the heart, not from a book held in front of Him. I see Him among the common people, not those wearing the fancy robes. Where do I get this? How many times die He heal and tell the recipient not to tell anyone? His popularity wavered, not declined.
There is an upside to this, though. How many are at least getting a glimpse, albeit a small one, of Christianity? How many are being called to repent? Only God knows the sincerity and the value of this. I'm just praying that the world will see Jesus as He is, not the pomp that is being placed before it. I hope your day is a good one. JW

Predictions Come True

According to the Science Daily, there is a 99% chance of an earthquake of greater than 6.7 magnitude going to happen in California in the next 30 years. All right. I'm going to go out on a limb here. I want to make a prediction. In the next year, it will rain and snow here in Nebraska. I'm sorry, when I heard the news media predicting the earthquake as if it were something huge and phenomenal that anyone would make a prediction so bold, I just had to laugh.
Yet, in Scripture there were predictions so bold and so improbable, that it would be hard for anyone to believe. A Messiah would come. He would be from the root of Jesse. He would be born of a virgin. He would be born in Bethlehem. Hundreds of years earlier these prophecies were made and they came true. A reading of Isaiah 53 makes you feel as if you are standing right there observing the described man and the scene. Yet Isaiah was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. None of this Nostradamus stuff where a prediction is made and then assign some event as the fulfillment. It's like Jean Dixon making predictions about world events. "This year, someone will be assassinated." Wow, there's a stretch!
So make your own predictions, but realize that God has always had a plan for you. He told you about it. He made it happen. His Son proved His love. Have a great day. JW

Only In Times of Trouble?

Here is a quote from one of the presidential candidates about religion. "...religion is a bulwark, a foundation when other things aren't going well. That's true in my own life, through trials and tribulations." It doesn't matter who said that. I'm not endorsing any particular candidate. But I think it's an indication of what we believe about faith in America.
First of all, the statement seems a little, I don't know, preacheresque. It sounds like stained-glass preaching. Who uses the word "bulwark" anymore? Who even knows what it is? According to the dictionary, it's a strong support or protection. This candidate probably got this from Martin Luther's song, A Mighty Fortress. The opening line goes:

A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing...

Good speechwriters. That didn't bother me as much as the other part of this statement. "...(it is) a foundation when other things aren't going well." No! It's a foundation when things are going well. It's a foundation when they aren't going well. It's a foundation when things are mundane. It's a foundation regardless! It's as Jesus told in the Sermon on the Mount, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Paul said, "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." No one builds a foundation for a house and uses it only during a storm. A wise man once said, "Sometimes the only time a person will look up to God is when he is lying flat on his back."
I'm afraid that "I'll trust God only when it's raining" mentality is what causes us to be fair-weather Christians. When David said, "God is my Rock, my Fortress," I can't help thinking he meant all the time.
I'm sorry for blathering on this, but it just hit me wrong. It scared me. But then again, it shouldn't. My Rock, My Fortress is the Lord. I trust in Him. There us no candidiate or any other elected official on which I should rely. Only in Him will I trust. Have a good day. JW

God's Sense of Humor

God has a sense of humor. I know He does because today, April 12, here in Nebraska it's been snowing. April showers bring May flowers. At least that was the maxim I remember. What do April snows bring? Don't give me something like, "April snows bring May's rose." I guess I can't complain because out west they had 10-12 inches of the white stuff. It's not even sticking here.
Who would have thought this Ohio boy, transplanted to Arkansas would end up preaching in Nebraska? Had you asked me when I was in college where I would be and what I would be doing, I would have told you that I would be teaching science and coaching basketball. I ended up a youth minister. Then I went to Christian education. And had you asked me while I was in graduate school what I would be doing, I would have told you that I would be working at a university somewhere. Which I did. But the circumstances changed and God led me back into preaching. And here I am watching it snow in Nebraska in April.
What am I saying here? I guess, don't be surprise what God will do with you or where He will take you. You may tan easily, love the warm weather, and He might put you in a cold place where you are to warm people's hearts. I don't know. I wish I could tell you exactly what God will do with you. But I guess that's part of the fun. That's what makes life exciting. So, sit back, relax, and allow God to work His wonders....and watch out for His sense of humor. I hear Him chuckling right now. Have a great day. JW

Lessons from Hurting Children

Yesterday was kid's day in my life. Oh, I certainly didn't plan it that way, but one of our couples at church had their daughter (less than 6 months?) in for some surgery. Seems she had a cluster of blood vessels on the outside of her skull just above the right ear. When the mom described what the doctor said about it ("It's really nothing serious.") I chuckled and said, "It's not his kid, is it?" I understand that. I've been through it with my own daughter. Don't tell me what is and what isn't serious. As I visited with the mom and dad, I told them, "Doesn't this make you realize God's love for you? What has that baby done for you? She's messed in her diaper, peed all over you, cried when she was hungry. To which the mom said, "She's given us so much joy." Isn't that what God feels, too? And can you imagine His thoughts when we really live to please Him?
Then it was off to see another one. This one was to welcome him into the world. He was sleeping when I saw him (and so was his dad. Mom was tired from the delivery, but smiling...you know how it is. I love that mother's smile.) Fun for both couples.
I did get an interesting earful as I waited in the waiting room (aptly named). One mother's son was in surgery. He had pneumonia and was struggling to breathe. That happens when you suck six kernels of corn down into your lungs. She wept as the doctor told her he was putting her precious into ICU. She hugged a lady sitting next to her and said, "You're such a good mother-in-law." I don't hear that often. Another doctor bounced into a mother and father and said, "He's fine. His appendix was really swollen. I had to make the incision just a little larger just to get it out. Here are some pictures." To which the mother took them and said, "These can go into his scrapbook." Can you imagine that one? Here's Johnny walking for the first time. Here he is on his new trike. First day of school." Then you turn the page. "AHHHHHHHHHH! What is that!" "Oh, it's just his appendix." Another young mother wept while she told of her son's anesthesia. She was relating the ordeal to her father when two others came in to cheer her up. Another I didn't even understand because they spoke another tongue. But they fretted and wept in the same language as me.
Wow. What a incite into God's love. I wouldn't trade it for anything. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." That's how much. Have a great day. JW

The Secrets of the Universe

A headline in today's USA Today: Physicist: Secrets of Universe Soon to Be Unlocked. That's it? Seriously, you're just now saying that the secrets of the universe will be revealed? I've known that for years. The secrets of the universe can be defined with one word.....God. The Bible starts with it: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Or how about Psalm 148:1-6: "Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away."
That sounds so glib for me to say that. But even in the days of Paul, people thought they were so smart. They knew everything. Paul said, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.' Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."
I'm not saying for us to check our intelligence at the door. I'm not even saying that we shouldn't study the universe and it's complexities. I'm saying we should never leave God out of the picture. After all, He made it. He knows all the ins and outs of every aspect from the tiniest atom to the largese of the universe. As the psalmist says, "We are his people, the sheep of his pasture." We should never get too smart for our "britches." Instead: "Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the Lord." Have a great day. JW

Hope

I marvel at how much I continue to be like my grandparents. It seems the most important thing is the weather. It does happen to be raining here today. But in Nebraska, at least it's not snow. (We did have a little snow on the windshield on Monday, April 1--and that's not an April Fool's joke!) But it's warmer. Tomorrow, the forecast is even warmer. I saw a cardinal the other day. The trees are starting to get the most minute buds on them.
Summer's coming. We have a spring here in Nebraska. Quite unlike Arkansas where we go from a quasi-winter immediately to summer. I started thinking about the anticipation I feel for the warmer weather. I have to admit, the anticipation is slightly similar to my anticipation for heaven. When friends and church family die, it makes me sad. Yet, as the Scripture says, "we do not grieve as those who have no hope." Hope. What a wonderful word. It's not "wish." Wish is kind of like, "I wish I had that even though I know I'll never get it." But hope. Hope is the confident, eager expectation of what will happen. Hope is where I hang my hat. In talking to the Christians in Colosse, Paul tells them that the mystery that has been revealed to all is that everyone, even the Gentiles, now have "the hope in glory." To Titus, Paul says that we are heirs having the hope of eternal life. It's all over the place. And it's in my heart--more and more. It's the anticipation. It's the reality that something better is coming. What a great promise! What a hope! Have a great day! JW

Tulsa Workshop

I've just returned from the Tulsa Workshop. I didn't get to stay as long as I liked, but it was long enough to get some spiritual rest and healing. It was good to spend time being fed. I was able to hear Rubel Shelley and Rick Atchley and Jeff Walling and Randy Harris. I was able to hear some new ones such as Mark Moore and Patrick Mead (although I've known Patrick for over 30 years) and others. I'd like to make a few observations.

1. I forget how many friends I see at the workshop. I was able to hug the necks of Jackie and Mackie, Troy and Carolyn, David and Kay, Steve, Randall, Jared, Shane, and a several from my congregation and many others too numerous to name. It's a slice of heaven. My wife says that might just be her favorite part of the whole trip. You know, I might just have to agree with her.

2. The world has changed since my first Workshop. I think how different the singing is, I think how different the messages are, I think how different the whole atmosphere is. Yet, as I looked out at the crowd, I noticed how many "grey beards" and "blue hairs" were there. Now, not that I don't have any (okay, a lot!) of gray, I was wondering about the next generation and I wonder if we are meeting their needs.

3. I also remember when the Pavilion was full and overflowing in the evenings. On Friday evening, the floor was only about 80% full and the upper portion was not full either. It gives me renewed zeal to recruit more to attend next year. Gas prices are high. I know that there are many more similar events such as the Tulsa Workshop than ever before. Of course, not on the size or scale of Tulsa, but similar events.

4. The workshop is just as important now as it was over 30 years ago when it started. In fact, it's more important. I would encourage anyone who reads this to attend next year. I promise you, you won't be disappointed.

God bless you. I hope your day is good. JW

Spent

I've never really seen myself as an emotional person. Occasionally I'll cry at a movie (it's gotta be a sports movie or a war movie. Saving Private Ryan kills me. Pardon the pun). But I think emotional issues hit different people in different ways.
This last month has been one of those kinds of months. Our family has made three trips in three weekends. Actually, only two in two weekends, but we're leaving today for our third. We've seen our son participate in his last show choir competition. We gone to Searcy, AR for his music scholarship audition. I think those two events have helped us to realize that his senior year is slowing down and we'll be empty nesters next year. Add to that just the physical exhaustion of driving to Chicago and to Searcy. Now, today we're going to Tulsa. Then one of our dear shepherds died a week ago and his funeral was yesterday. Add to that the fact that the work keeps going. People to see in the hospital. Sermons to preach and classes to teach. (I have only missed one Sunday in this run.) Situations to deal with. I'm tired, physically and emotionally. Don't misunderstand, I'm not complaining. This is what I do. This is my mission. This is life. I know that many of you are in the same boat and much worse. But those of you who read this blog and your preacher is not me, encourage him. Tell him you appreciate him. Inform him that you know of his struggles and that he is in your prayers. I have found that it's the prayers that help the most. However, don't just pray for him, tell him you are praying for him.
We're off to Tulsa soon. Maybe I can rest some. I know I'll be filled spiritually. Have a great day. JW

He is Risen!

It must ave been a morning much like this one. The women went to the tomb while it was still dark. It had to been a little creepy. You know how it is. You don't like to like to go to the cemetery in the dark. But these women went anyway. They were sad, they were heartbroken, they were loyal. At first, they thought that someone had stolen the body. Weeping, one saw what she thought was the gardner. In one short moment, sadness went to elation.
Over 2000 years later, we have lost the excitement. Imagine one of your relatives who has died--a mother, father, child, grandparent. See them in the casket. Then see them again, walking around. Look into their eyes again. See their smile again. Hold them in your arms again. That was the feeling. That was those in the first century experienced.
And look what's happened over the years. His influenced is felt all over the world. Many hate to admit it, but He has changed the world. Those who are wise still claim Him as their Savior, as their Lord. Yes, He is risen. Yes, He lives again. And Yes, He's coming back. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus. Show your face one again. Show us your glory again. Walk our streets again. Have a wonderful Easter. JW

Burrel Beck

There was a twinkle in his eye when he talked to you. He had the wisdom of Solomon. He was generous and kind. And he is now enjoying his reward. One of my shepherds, Burrel Beck died tonight around 9:30. Please keep his family--Audrey, Linda, Kay, and Ron--in your prayers. He will be missed.

What Do You Do When It's Over?

What do you do when it's over? That activity, that event that you gave your life to. That relationship that was destined to go no where, yet one where you invested so much of your life. In my son's case it was the end of the long road of show choir...and when it was over he wept. I understand that. I've done the same thing. At the end of my basketball playing days after the last game, I wept. At the end of a work where your spent so much of your valuable, valuable time. Why do you weep? Part of it is your are phyically and emotionally exhausted.
Jesus was a man of sorrows. At the end of His friend Lazarus' life we find the most succinct, emotion-filled two word, shortest verse in the Bible event. "Jesus wept." He wept over Jerusalem. He wept as He contemplated His last moments in human form here on earth.
The key is not continuing to weep. Weeping cleanses and refines. It makes us appreciate the good times. It helps us to reminisce. But at some point, we must move on.
When you see your loved one in the casket that only contains his or her temporary shell, you weep. When others go on to their reward, there are tears. But it's only in antipation of our wonderful Father who will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
No tears in heaven, no sorrows given,
All will be glory in that land
There'll be no sadness, all will be gladness,
When we shall join that happy band.
No tears, no tears, no tears up there,
Sorry and pain will all have flown;
No tears, no tears, no tears up there,
No tears in heaven will be known.
No tears? Yes! I hope your day is good...and wipe away those tears, the Son is coming up. JW

Woman on the Toilet

All right. Did you read this? There is a news story splashed all over the radio, television, and internet about a woman who had been sitting on her toilet for two years. There are some interesting things about it. First, the sheriff's name is Bryan Whipple. Is he Mr. Whipple's son? Remember? "Please don't squeeze the Charmin."? Is this some kind of stunt to get us to use Charmin toilet tissue?
Second. On February 27th, the boyfriend called police to say that something was wrong. It took him two years to figure that out???!!!??? I would think that her first night of sleep on the toilet would have been a pretty big tip off. My wife checks on me if I've been in for over 10 minutes. "Are you feeling OK?"
Third. Now here's a direct quote from the story. "She said that she didn't need any help, that she was OK and did not want to leave." Hey, I understand that. You spray that exotic Hawaiian Sea Breeze air freshener and you think you're right there on the beach at Maui. I wouldn't want to leave either. Some of my best times of my life have been in the bathroom. We're thinking of having a family reunion in there soon.
Now this is the clincher. Again, I'll quote from the news story. "Authorities said they did not know if she was mentally or physically disabled." Are you kidding me? The woman has been on the pot so long that her skin has grown to the seat. They have to use a pry bar to get her off. She's been on the pot for TWO YEARS and you don't know if she's mentally or physically disabled? What are they teaching in sheriff school these days?
Oh, well. Life is interesting. I hope your day is a good one. And don't stay on the pot too long. JW

The Cure for Depression (Yes, You Read It Right)

Have you seen these focus groups/surveys that have a graph on the screen while a politician is talking, perhaps during a debate? The graph goes up or down depending on what the person thinks of what the particular politician is saying at the time. It's like an instant approval rating system.
Today, as I thought of what happened in the world the day before, as I thought of nagging little problems in my own life, as I listened to the radio hearing what everyone's take was on the primary election last night, I found myself feeling a little down. I moved the radio to a Christian station and heard Natalie Grant sing "You're in Better Hands Now." Even the cheerfulness of the disc jockeys brightened my spirit. I came in and read my Bible and read the stories of Joseph and how he was reunited with his brothers and father. My graph reading kept climbing.
It was then I realized that my temperature is based on what I feed into my small little brain. If I listen to depressing stuff, guess what? When I fix my mind on what matters, it's amazing how much better my attitude is. I know I've quoted this passage before, but if it's true....!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.--Philippians 4:8

I didn't see a single negative thing in there. And of all these positive, praiseworthy things, he says to think about them. If I spent more of my time thinking of the positives and much, much less (or let's just let God deal with the negatives) on the negatives, my life would be much simpler and much happier and my graph would go through the roof. Try it. I think you'll see some positive (pardon the pun!) results. I already have. Have a great day! JW

It's Not My Fault

Okay, so this lawyer lady goes to a casino and wastes her money. She stays up for 2 or 3 days not eating or sleeping. She's gambling like crazy. She's being treated as a high roller. After spending about $1 million (and losing it), she decides it wasn't her fault. So now she's suing the casino for $10 million saying they should have stopped her knowing that she was spending too much.
Sound familiar? It's not my fault that this marriage ended. Yeah, I drank all that booze, but he took me down to the bar. I wouldn't have stolen that if they hadn't put it out in plain sight. I wouldn't have......you fill in the blanks for any type of wrong you want and there's a reason why it's not your fault.
I know we're told to bear one another's burdens. But have you read that passage all the way through? If not, here you go:

Galatians 6:1-5 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.

See that? "...each one should carry his own load." In other words, we need to take responsibility for our own faults. We need to own up to our mistakes. Here's what we forget. God is so willing to forgive. He's so willing to overlook. He just is looking for pure hearts who hurt when there is sin. Like David who wept. Like Paul who said he was chief sinner #1. I think that's the difference. So buck up. Don't blame anybody else. If you feel as if you need to blame somone, blame Satan. He's the father of lies and the source of all evil. But by all means, own up to your mistakes and allow God to work His wonderful love. Have a great day. JW

The Son Will Be Up Soon

I woke up early this morning. On a day when it's supposed to be later, I wake up early. It's dark and quiet around the house. It's the Lord's day!
As I sit in the dark and contemplate my lessons for the day, I'm wondering who will hear. Who will be affected by the words? They're not my words. At least that's what I pray to God before speaking. Who will wander in today? What will they be expecting?
I don't know why in God's wisdom He chose humans to get His message across. Couldn't He just speak directly? No, that didn't work with Adam and Eve. How about with miracles? Nah, the Bible is filled with miracles, undeniable miracles, and all people wanted was more miracles. They didn't want more of God's presence.
So I pray for soft and open hearts...beginning with mine. Then I pray that ulterior motives are taken away...again starting with mine. And I pray that the love and grace of God is heard today. The peace that passes all understanding. The love that is so big that God pours it out on us, not leaving any behind. I pray for grace and mercy for me and for everyone else. And I hope I'm not so judgmental in all of this.
It's going to be a great day. I know it is. JW

Discouraged? Just Wait

What's the saying? "It's always darkest before the dawn." Have you ever felt abandoned? Forgotten? Alone? What's worse is you feel it's God who has abandoned and forgotten you. If you're in one of those periods, my friend, take heart. It can change suddenly, it can gradually change. But it will change, I promise, it will change. And the thing is, if it doesn't change now, it will change when you enter your final home.
How can I say that? Well, I was reading about Joseph. His brothers hated him; sold him to some Midianites who sold him in Egypt. His first job ended in false accusations and jail time. He was put in charge of the prisoners. (Nice job, huh?) He interpreted two dreams which both came true. His only request? Just remember me when you get back to Pharoah. Two years later Pharoah had a dream. "Oh, I forgot. There's a guy in prison who specializes in dream interpretation. One moment Joseph is dirty, unshaven, all prisony (is that a word?) and he's called to Pharoah's presence. And within a few minutes he's clean-shaven and is number two in the land only to Pharoah. He's given a wife and his two kids he names "Forget" and "Double Prosperity."
So take heart. Your deliverance may be today. It could be close. It could not occur (Sounds like a politician, doesn't it?). But God is good. Period. God is good in fabulous times. God is good in horrible times. And He never leaves us and He never will. Hang in there. We win in the end. Have a great day. JW

A Good Day!

You may not know that I tend to fret. However, I internalize so the only people who really know are my family. So the last few days have not been good ones for me. Sometime Friday, I lost my Blackberry; although I didn't discover that I had lost it until Saturday morning. Yesterday, our CRV had a flat tire. And it got cold again (snow, freezing rain, ice, wind, etc.) after being 64 on Saturday.
So I don't show it much, but there was a gnawing inside of me to take care of all of these issues. Maybe that's my problem. I think I have to solve everything. Let's just attribute that to me getting older. I hit dead ends on my phone search. Finally, last night I told my wife I was going to turn the house upside down (again) and see if I could find the phone. I looked under the cushion of the love seat and THERE IT WAS!! I never sit on that love seat. How did it get there? I was able to pump up the tire on the car and it held the air pretty well. This morning I drove to Wal-Mart and NOBODY WAS THERE IN FRONT OF ME! I drove right in and I was able to buy new tires at a reasonable price and they put them on all in less than 45 minutes! Now, it's still cold. But two out of three ain't bad.
Solomon said, "A man can do nothing better than eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?" Paul said, "I have learned to be content in any and every situation." I know in the scheme of things my problems don't match up to the problems of others. But there are good days and bad days. This is a good one for me. I hope it is for you, too! JW

A New Song

If you have read my blog much, you'll know that my son sings in show choir. We were at another seemingless countless competition on Saturday (by the way, they were Grand Champions, and my son won best best male vocalist/performer) when a kid from another show choir walked by. I could see which group he was from because of his t-shirt. As he walked by, he was singing the opening number from our show.
Now you have to realize, since I hear our show so many times during the year, I am singing their songs all the time. Rarely do I sing a song from someone else. It got me thinking.
In one of our church songs we sing, "Sing the song of Moses and the Lamb by and by..." And, "They sing in heav'n a new song of Moses and the Lamb." The book of Revelation talks of the saints singing a new song. My thought is, why isn't that me? What is on my lips? Shouldn't it be the song of Jesus? Shouldn't He be what cheers my heart? "You are the words and the music, you are the song that I sing. You are the harmony, you are the melody, praise to my King I will sing." The Song of the Lamb. That's what makes my day. "There's within my heart a melody," we sing. Indeed, He is the reason for my joy each day. And so I proudly sing His song. I want His song to be on my lips.
What a beautiful song He brings to me. It's a life-changing song with a glorious message for our hearts. I hope you're singing it today. Have a great day. JW

It Was Fun

Life's not always fun, nor joyful, nor satisfying, nor....Our family has had it's rough spots lately. Nothing that's overwhelming or life-threatening. More of a nuisance than anything. Just enough to nag at the heart.
Yesterday after services, we were all gathered around a desk in the main office at church looking at the church calendar trying to decide when we would have my son's graduation party. It was my daughter (her husband was at work), my son (the senior in high school), my wife and me. We talked about a little bit of everything. We were laughing and enjoying each other's company. It didn't hit me until later that that's what life's all about. Those few minutes of joy were precious. For a few minutes we weren't worried about what was going on outside the walls of the office. We weren't concerned about world events. It was just us. I thought to myself, there aren't going to be many of these moments left. You see, my son is going away to school in August and my daughter and her husband--well, they have their own life. So we might as well enjoy the few moments that we can spend together...and laugh. Life's too serious to spend all of our time fretting and crying. Occasionally, we just have to laugh. And laugh we did. It was good. Oh, won't heaven be wonderful! Have a great day.

Bad Day?

It is -7 degrees in Omaha as I type these words. Not wind chill, but -7 degrees. To breathe in causes me to cough. My ears feels as if they are about to break off (I had on ear coverings/muffs) and the car wouldn't warm up despite getting out and starting it about 15 minutes before leaving. My internet connection was not working last night. I would be looking at something, then all of a sudden, everything started moving in slow motion. Eventually, it would kick me out. You can imagine my frustration. The line at Starbucks this morning was not moving particularly fast. One of their machines was down, so the barista was having to make the drinks for the people at the counter andat the drive-thru with only one machine. I hear what you're saying. Wow, Jim. You have been having a bad 24 hours.
No, let me tell you about someone who's had it bad. I did the funeral for a lady yesterday who died relatively quickly. We were all concerned about her husband, and then she took a turn for the worse and died. I watched her husband closely as he stood at the foot of her coffin just looking into her face. There was activity all around him and occassionally someone would come up and talk to him. But all in all, he was by himself, alone with his thoughts. Occassionally he would wipe a tear. After all they had been married nearly 66 years. I wondered what was going through his mind. Was he remembering times of laughter they shared? Was he thinking of a particular bump in the road when they didn't know what they were going to do and she stood by his side? Was he thinking of their separation while he was in Germany and she at Wright-Patterson in Dayton, Ohio during World War II? Was he thinking of the lonely days ahead of him here on this earth without his beloved wife?
No, somebody cutting me off in traffic does not constitute a bad day. Sometimes, it's good to get things in perspective, isn't it? I hope your day is a good one...even if there are some minor bumps. Remember, God loves you so much. Nothing...nothing will ever change about that. JW

Meandering

As I walked out of my local Starbucks this morning, the sign on the bank said it was 17 degrees. The low tonight is supposed to be zero. We've had snow on the ground since December 5th. Two weeks ago on Wednesday I started coming down with a chest cold. Just about the time I was over that, an intestinal bug hit me. (Please don't make me describe that.) It's a terrible way to lose weight. Today, I'm feeling pretty good. There's a bounce in my step. I feel as if I may be feeling better...finally.
I preached about this yesterday. I entitled it "Meandering." Our spiritual growth doesn't come from reading the Scripture or gathering with the saints, it comes from what happens when life happens to us. Don't misunderstand, the Scriptures are important to fall back on and to rely on when we're in those difficult times. They help us to see how the people of those times dealt with their problems. And my times with the saints encourage me and help me to get through those times. James said, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2, 3) Pure joy?
If I lived in Hawaii, I think I would tire of the warm weather. (Although, I think I would like to give it a shot for four or five years.) What makes you appreciate the warmth is when you don't have it. What makes us appreciate heaven is that we live here on earth. I can only imagine.
So if you're going through a particular trial or test, count it pure joy. I know that's hard to do, but there's sunshine on the other side. And if it doesn't happen here, it will happen there. Our lives were not intended to be linear, but we meander in this life trusting that God is in control. I can't wait.

This world is not my home,
I'm just a-passin' through.
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door,
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore.

Oh, Lord, you know I have no friend like you.
If heaven's not my home then, Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door,
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Have a great day! JW

My Book

I just sat watching a video of my son singing in show choir and a twinge of sadness came over me. You see, he's been doing this since he was in eighth grade; this particular group, varsity show choir, he's been singing in since he was a sophomore. It's a wonderful group with a national reputation and very few get to spend one year in it let alone three as my son has. But in May, he'll sing in it for the very last time. An end to a chapter.
My words to my daughter and her husband to be on their wedding day were the same. The close of a chapter...the chapter of living in my house to the chapters of their lives to follow.
We all are writing in this book. Snippets, stories of what happens day by day. And although on the surface the daily life looks pretty mundane, once the chapters are pieced together there is a book, a story that makes up our lives. I've been thinking, what does my life look like? Frankly, it really doesn't matter to me what others think of the book I've been writing. What matters to me is what God thinks. Have I been serving Him? Are the chapters laced with giving cold water, speaking words of encouragment, and being salt for Him? Or have they been stories of greed and lust and envy and pride?
Fortunately, for Christians, God has His holy eraser, editing out those scenes of sin and leaving in the ones of love and service. And in truth, He makes me look a lot better than I really am. Why? I really don't know...except....He loves me. Remember these words sung as a child:
Jesus loves me this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so.

Why is it, such simple words mark such a profound thought? How's your book coming along? Have a great day. JW

Someone to Fall Back On

Lives are devastated everyday. The broken relationships that occur break our hearts and cause our lives to be empty. Often, we are left with a sense of no self worth and sadness.
My son's show choir sings a song by Jason Robert Brown. Listen to these words and let me know what you think:

I'll never be a knight in armor with a sword in hand,
Or a kamikaze fighter
Don't count on me to storm the barricades and take a stand
Or hold my ground.

You'll never see any scars or wounds,
I don't walk on coals, I don't walk on water.

I am no prince, I am no saint,
I am not anyone's wildest dream.
But I can stand behind,
And be someone to fall back on.

Some comedies,
You're bruised and beaten down,
And I'm the one
Who's looking for a favor.
Still honestly,
You don't believe me,
But the things I have are the things you need.
You look at me like I don't make sense,
Like a waste of time,
Like it serves no purpose.

I am no prince, I am no saint,
And if that's what you believe you need,
You're wrong, you don't need much,
You need someone to fall back on.

And I'll be back,
I'll take your side,
If I'm the only one,
I'm used to that.
I've been alone,
I'd rather be, the half of us, the least of you, the best of me...

And I'll be your prince,
I'll be your saint.
I will go crashing through fences
In your name.
I will, I swear, I'll be someone to fall back on.

I'l be the one who waits,
And for as long as you let me,
I'll be the one you need.
I'll be someone to fall back on.

Your prince, your saint,
The one you believe you need.
I'll be, I'll be someone to fall back on.

Wow! Now that's a relationship. Have a great day. JW

Temporary/Eternal

I just watched a show on HGTV (please don't tell anyone) and was amazed by the show. Most of the shows are alike. Someone usually comes and and completely redoes a room, house, etc. Then they bring the person(s) in and they respond to the renovation.
Today, when the people saw the changes, they (I kid you not) cried. They were going up and opening the drawers, opening cabinet doors, touching the things to (in the words of the host) to make sure they were real.
Now, I don't know about you, but to get so excited about something that is completely and totally temporary is really sad. On the other hand, I've seen people weep when they became a disciple of Jesus and cry tears of joy when witnessing others becoming a disciple. Now that's something to weep tears of joy over.
Fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. Temporary/Eternal. Not much of a choice really. Have a great day. JW

P.S. You probably really don't care, but I'm sorry I haven't blogged more recently. This cursed chest cold has really gotten me down. Feeling better, then worse, better, then worse. I hate the roller coaster. Mucinex is my friend.

Inside Out

One of the books I treasure in my library is a book I got from my Dad. It's the complete works of Josephus and the book is getting old and torn. I decided it was a good time to get another copy. So I found a copy from Crossings Book Club (if you would like to join, just let me know. It's a good book club.) at a good price and I purchased it.
My box came yesterday and I was so proud to receive this new copy. It's got a beautiful picture on the front cover of the Coliseum in Rome. I was so excited. When I opened the book, it was upside down and backwards. You can imagine my surprise. A beautiful book with a beautiful hard cover with a beautiful price...it looked so good on the outside. Inside, it wasn't right.
Guess where I'm going with this? Jesus told the Pharisees and the scribes, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautfiul on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean."
Jesus' message in the Sermon on the Mount was, as Mike Cope coined, righteousness inside out. What good does it do to look good on the outside when inside we are full of jealousy, greed, adultery, hatred, and all kinds of evil? Instead, we should allow God to "create a pure heart" in us. Then will we look good on the outside.
How do you look on the outside? Is it because of the clean inside or is it just a facade? I hope your day is good. JW

Too Good

This story came from my niece who's son is in (I believe) kindergarten.

This afternoon we were reviewing the story of Jonah. When we review, I ask the ?'s and the children "tell the story". "God told Jonah to go to ..." A resounding "Ninevahhhhh" followed, "but Jonah said..." "NNNNOOOOOOO!!!!" "and Jonah got on a boat and headed to ...." They were stumped, finally Belle raised her hand and in a loud voice cried "TARGET!"
Close.....

I hope this makes you smile as it did me. Have a great day. JW

There's a Time for Everything

I didn't know Ecclesiastes was so full of wonderful stuff. If you're not careful, you may come out depressed. By truly digging you can find some wonderful advice from a very wise man.
Read the following verses very, very slowly.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

He begins with birth and then death. Then follows with what happens in between. Listen to what he says right after this.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11. In other words, let God be God. We can never understand everything that happens. Now if we stopped there, we might be depressed. But listen to the advice he gives.


I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.

It's all temporary. God is in control. He is sovereign. Bad things will happen...but so will good things. Enjoy live, serve others.
This came from a smart man. Perhaps we should listen. I hope your day is good. JW

Profit

I did another funeral this weekend. It's always difficult, even in good situations, to deal with the memories of a a lifetime. How do you handle the "stuff" that's been collected? I remember when Mom died, we hired a dumpster to be brought to the house. As we cleaned out the house, we threw away so many things she had collected through the years. Of course, there are some things we kept. I have a Bible of hers, some clothes pins, and other odd things. (Clothes pins? The old kind, not the kind with a spring. I used to put them together and make an airplane out of them.) Soon after we did this, my brother Charles sent a poem by Emily Dickinson.

The bustle in a house
The morning after death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon Earth.

The sweeping up the heart
And putting love away
We shall not want to use again
Until eternity.

Solomon said, "What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?" I used the King James on purpose because of the word "profit." Profit is what you have in the end, when the bills have been paid, net. What do we have in the end when we die? There is no profit. The saying, "You can't take it with you," is true. Charles Swindoll says he's never seen a hearse with a U-Haul trailer attached.
So Emily's words are true. Our investment in things is "a striving after the wind." Instead, our investment ought to be in what survives into eternity...people. I hope your day is a good one. JW

York College Tragedy

Please remember York College in the tragic death of one of her students. Their van carrying their wrestling team was in a wreck on Interstate 29 in Iowa on Friday and one young man was tragically killed. Remember the entire campus and particularly the young man who's family is grieving the loss of their son and brother. No family should have to go through this. Pray that God will hold this family in the palm of His hand.

Leadership?

There's a lot of talk about leadership these days. I have to admit, I talk a pretty good game about leadership myself. I complain about men not taking the leadership in the home, not taking the leadership at work, not taking the leadership at church.
Open up the book distributors and you'll find any number of books on leadership. Laws of Leadership, Talent is Never Enough, Leadership Handbook of Management and Administration. You get the idea.
No where in Scripture do I find Jesus calling us to leadership. At least, not the kind of leadership that's written and talked about. Our concept of leadership is warped by a worldview of what leadership should be. Taking charge. Taking the initiative. Volunteering. Jesus calls leadership something that nobody else does. He calls it, serving. It's leadership from our knees. He talked of giving cold water in His name. He wrapped a towel around His waist and washed the apostles' feet. He led by serving. That's our call today. That's what we should be doing. Rolling our sleeves up and getting sweaty and dirty. Not worrry about who gets the credit (except for the Lord). And you know, when you're working, it's hard to complain.
Lord, forgive me when I want the lead. By that, I mean the credit, the satisfaction of a job well done. Take the emphasis on me and let me be a servant, just a servant. And Lord, let them see my service and glorify You. I hope you have a great day. JW

Secular vs. Non-secular

I was involved in an interesting conversation over the weekend. The lady was a Jewish lady, raised in a Jewish home, married to a Jew, I think you get the picture. She doesn't attend synagogue anywhere, doesn't eat kosher, has nothing to do with religion per se. Again, I think you get the drift. When whe was young, she and her parents didn't go on vacation, they went to Israel. Again. She explained that there are two types of Jews--secular and non-secular. Many of the problems in the Middle East, in her mind, were between the secular and non-secular Jews. The secular Jews represent the intellectual. I would assume that the non-secular represents those who aren't.
Do you see anything amiss in all of this? Doesn't it seem ironic that someone who claims to have the background of God's chosen claims no connection at all to the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
Yet, that's what I see in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Secular and non-secular. Those who were more concerned about political clout with the Romans and maintaining their status as opposed to those who truly wanted to follow God. I am incredulous even now thinking that the Jewish nation turned their backs on God in spite of His care over them on so many occassions.
I hope we as Christians learn our lessons from such things as this. It is my fervent prayer that we never turn our backs on God. That we understand that He is the Giver of life, the One who sustains. I never want to be considered "secular" in my spiritual life. Seems almost like an oxymoron, doesn't it? I hope your day is a good one. JW

Synagogue or Shoreline?

William Barclay in his commentary on the book of Matthew makes an interesting point about Jesus. In chapter 13, Jesus begins by telling the parable of the sower. Barclay says this represents a significant shift in the ministry of Jesus because now He's preaching from the seashore. Before he was speaking from the synagogues. It wasn't that the synagogues were shutting Jesus out, but the door was slowly closing.
Often when I'm in meetings, someone will bring up a particular problem that needs to be addressed. Many times the comment will be made, "Let's have Jim preach a series of sermons on this." As if what I say will automatically change attitudes or actions. I think it represents a shortcoming in our thinking. Instead of "bringing them to church services to hear the gospel," we should be taking the gospel to them. Who is "them"? It's the unchurched. It's those who don't know Jesus. You are a walking, talking example of Jesus...or at least you should be. Just as Jesus left the synagogues and preached by the seashore, we should leave the church buildings and preach it at work, downtown, at the grocery store, everywhere we go. And I'm not talking about preaching the gospel from the street corners. I'm talking about living it. Reacting differently than people expect you to react. Being totally honest in dealings. Not honking and shouting and flailing when someone cuts you off. Instead, truly doing what Jesus would do.
"Let your lights shine so that they may see your Father and glorify Him." That's what the Scripture says. That's what we should do. It's time to go to the shore. Have a great day. JW

My Life of Basketball

I had a flashback yesterday. No, it wasn't a drug flashback. I walked into our gym (sorry, sanctuasium) here at church and there were three basketballs up on the counter. I wanted to walk over and pick one up and start shooting baskets. That's what the old me would have done.
You see, I loved basketball when I was young. That's not too strong of a word. In elementary school, my brother and I would use a tennis ball and a three gallon ice cream container as a basketball and basket. Later, we made a basket out of cardboard and taped it to the wall. A ping pong ball served as the basketball. Of course, in basketball season I loved to play in the "real" gym. The highlight of my life up to that point was playing an exhibition game at half time of the high school game in front of everybody in the big city auditorium.
In junior high, I made up a team...Western. I had names for every position...and by the way, we won every game. I had a tennis ball for the basketball and my basket was unusual. Between the wooden supports in our house ran two copper pipes. These pipes were probably six inches apart. If I could get the ball in between those pipes, it was a basket. I spent hours playing. We didn't have the TV coverage of basketball in those days or I would have been watching basketball all the time. The books I read for my book report were basketball books. I even remember the name of one of them...State Champs. In junior high, I began my "official" basketball playing. I made the 8th grade team my 7th grade year and was a starter my 8th and 9th grade year.
Without boring you even more, I played in high school and received a scholarship to play in college. Basketball was my life. I read about it. I thought about it. I watched it on TV. I watched it in person. I played whenever I could. It defined me.
Paul says, "Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ." His life was the Jewish life. It's what he ate, slept, drank. His goal? Perhaps to serve on the Sanhedrin. To reach the pinnacle of Jewishness. But now, he says, "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain." He met Jesus face to face and he changed. What mattered most to him now was nothing.
What matters most to you? Is it really worth it? Unless it's our Lord, I doubt it. And if you're struggling with something similar, I would encourage you to find the One, the only One who can bring you joy and who will never fail. Learn from the experience of others. Everything else pales in the light of the face of Jesus. The song says: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." Have a great day! JW

P.S. By the way, last summer I was shooting baskets at camp and one of the campers said, "You used to be good didn't you?" It made my day.

I'm Listening

I don't know why I thought of this today, but for some reason I remembered something from when I worked for a printing company. My boss bought three pieces of equipment from New York that were going to make him millions. There was a four-color printing press, a stitching machine (which made small booklets), and a paper cutter. When we received this wonderful items, they were painted a light, sky blue. It looked as if someone put these things on a dock and just took the paint gun and covered them. Now this is all well and good, but we're talking on moving parts. Parts that have to be frequently lubricated. To make a long story even longer, after spending tens of thousands of dollars on "fixing" this equipment, it never worked. Looked good in the beginning although printing presses on not supposed to be covered with sky blue paint. The equipment was old, worn out, and faultly and it never, ever worked.
I see two applications. Satan sugar coats things, too. He makes them look real good. Makes promises he never intends to keep. Sells you a bill of goods and then leaves you wallowing in your frustration because you got something you never really intended to receive. A kind of buyer's remorse. But by then, it's too late. You've invested your life and it's too late.
The other thing I see has to do with people who claim to be spiritual, but really aren't. They look good on the outside, but inside are as corrupt and polluted as the world. There were some in Jesus' day and He called them "hypocrites." Actors. That is the origin of the word. Greek actors wearing masks. Being something they weren't. He said they were white-washed tombs. They looked lovely on the outside, but inside were full of dead men's bones.
Striving to hear God's call is the answer to both of these. Difficult sometimes because there is so much "noise" in this world. It is possible, though. I remember when my children were little and I would be at a playground or other public place and there was the usual noise of commerce or play. Children would occasionally call out or cry. Funny, I knew which voice belonged to me. Why was that? I was tuned in. Same with God. We must tune it. Listen. Hear Him. Listen to Him. Follow Him. It's a good day today. Enjoy it. Listen for God. JW

Home

God told Abram that his descendants would be like the stars in the sky. Then he warned them, "Know for certain that your descentdants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years." (Genesis 15:13) Instead of using "strangers," the English Standard Version uses the word "sojourners." Obviously, in context, God is talking of the Israelites in Egypt. Yet Peter uses similar language in his short epistle when he calls the Christians there strangers and aliens. Quite the definition of us, don't you think?
It reminds me of a song we used to sing:

Here we are but straying pilgrims,
Here our path is often dim.
But to cheer us on our journey,
Still we sing this wayside hymn:

Yonder over the rolling river,
Where the shining mansions rise,
Soon will be our home forever,
And the smile of the blessed Giver
Gladdens all our longing eyes.

Sojourners. Strangers. Aliens. Longing eyes. I have had the opporunity to travel a lot in my life including two trips to Trinidad, one to eastern Russia and one to France. What's the greatest sight I saw on these trips? Easy. Home. I love being with my friends on this sojourn, this journey on this earth. But it's not home. My longing eyes are looking ahead and asking that you join me on this wonderful trip. We'll be landing soon. Have a great day! JW

Knowing Christ

Last night in small group, I asked these questions:
1. Who won the World Series last year?
2. What movie won the Oscar for best picture?
3. Who won the Oscar for best actor/best actress?

I have to admit, the only one I got right was the first one. I'd be hard pressed to tell you who it was two years ago. Paul warns us in Philippians that achieving things according to worldly standards is, at best, fleeting. He uses his own life as an example. He was circumcised on the eighth day, a Hebrew of Hebrews, from the tribe of Benjamin, full of zeal, righteous according to the Law, a Pharisee. In his world, he had made it. But he calls it rubbish.
What was it that changed his mind? Read Acts 9, 22, and 26. He tells his story three different times in the book of Acts. He says, "I want to know Christ."
There are a lot of us out there wishing that we could for just one moment catch the winning pass, be honored by our fellow workers as Employee of the Year, (really, Boss of the Year, forget this employee stuff), a plaque here, a certificate there. Paul says, these things are trash. What really counts is knowing (having a relationship) with Christ. What about you? Do you know Him? I mean, really know Him? If not, no wonder your life may seem out of whack. The cure is there. It's so simple, yet so profound, yet so consuming. But it works. I hope you have a great day. JW

January 2nd Jealous of January 1st?

I wonder if January 2nd ever gets jealous of January 1st? January 1st gets most of the bowl games, the cheese dip, the parties, the "Happy New Years." If it's fun, January 1st gets it.
On the other hand, January 2nd gets the broken resolutions, the heart burn from the cheese dip, the complaining about going back to work. You get the picture. Now I'm no scholar, but I would say the answer to my intial self-imposed question is "no."
"Jim's lost it and it's only January 2nd." I thought I heard a collective group mumbling something about me losing it. Well I haven't. Here's my thought process.
One of our problems in the church is selfishness. We're so concerned about getting credit, about making sure we're seen, and most of all, making sure others don't get credit either. "If I'm not getting credit, she/he shouldn't either." But we begin with the wrong supposition. It's not about me. It's not about you. It's about God. Rick Warren began his book The Purpose Driven Life with those words. When Paul is talking to the church in Corinth, he says, "How ridiculous if everyone wants to be an eye. If everyone were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be?" I Corinthians 12 (MOV--My Own Version). Listen to what Paul said through the Spirit in that wonderful passage. This time, it's really his words.

But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. I Corinthians 12:24b-27.

Now, my goal for 2008 is to get out of the way. I want this year to be all about God. It isn't about jealousy or selfishness or self promotion or anything else that is evil in spirit. It is about making sure that God is glorified. Paul said it again in Philippians when he said, "...consider others better than yourselves." Amen. Have a great day. JW

2008 is Here!

Here I sit in my recliner in the infancy hours of 2008 wondering what this year holds in store. 2007 was filled with activities and stunning world events, but Kingdom work was being done, too. While the world was all atwitter about global warming, presidential politics, and much, much more, Kingdom work was going on. It was unseen by many, but people were being fed, the Word was being sown, good deeds were happening all around, and Jesus' name was being proclaimed.
If you don't think the latter was occurring, why do you think Satan spent so much time trying to destroy it? When I worked in Christian education, people used to complain that there were bad things happening on our Christian college campuses. Therefore, (their argument) should I send my kid to a place where there is bad going on? At least we know the bad is supposed to go on at the state university. (Really brilliant thinking, don't you think?) My answer? Satan already has won the world. He doesn't have to spend much time convincing them. Where do you think he saves his best work?
It's the same with us here on January 1, 2008. Satan stands ready to discount and destroy. But he doesn't hold a candle to our God. So I stand here at the edge of this bridge called "2008." Plans have been made. I'll become an empty nester this year. God's work will be accomplished. I just want to be a part of those plans. How about you? Won't you join me in this wonderfully rewarding work? It doesn't get much attention here, but He who notices is really the one who counts. Where will God take us in 2008? I have no clue. It may be difficult times or it may be peaceful. I just want to be on the journey with my Lord.
Our plans have been committed to God. Let's pray for His guidance. Now, let's go on this wonderful journey together! I hope your year is a good one! JW

The End of 2007

This will be my last blog of 2007. Sometimes I wonder if writing these little snippets of my mind is worth it. But then I'll get an e-mail from someone or somebody will say, "I really appreciated what you said on your blog." Then it makes me all the more determined to continue.
It is my hope that your 2007 has been a good year. I also pray that 2008 will be a new opportunity for you as you follow Christ. Next year will bring about some major changes in the White household. Our youngest will be leaving for college in August and we'll be empty nesters. I'm excited, yet fearful. Glad and sad. It's the realization that life goes on, people get older, and we must move on in our lives.
So here's to 2007. It was a good year. And here's praying that 2008 is the best ever. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Enjoy the time off. Rest. Eat. Rest some more. And above all, be thankful. Thanks for reading. JW

Creature of Habit

I am a creature of habit. I hate to admit it, but it seems I do the same things in the same ways all the time. My first item of business is to read my Bible, do the Sudoku and Crossword Puzzle from the USA Today, then I read my e-mail. But it's even more disgusting than that.
Today I was talking to my wife about Christmas in Searcy. My mother-in-law tells me it's my job to make a fire. You have to realize in Searcy, Arkansas, it's not always cold on December 25th. There are times when it's just downright balmy. But that doesn't matter, we have to have a fire. I make it the same way every year. You get one of those starter fire block things, then add the wood. I stuff myself silly with the cooking of so many good cooks, especially my wife's.
But one habit that I hope to never get out of is to be thankful. Count your many blessings, name them by the ton. Paul was the epitome of gratefulness. Don't be anxious about anything but with prayer and thanksgiving make your requests known...I thank God every time I think of you...Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Take some time to write down what you are grateful for. This year is almost over. Time for a new start. Our God, however, is the God of new starts every day. Don't believe me? Read II Corinthians 4. I hope your day is a good one. By the way, that's how I end nearly all of these blogs, isn't it? JW

God With Us

I preached a sermon Sunday about the birth of Jesus and the Westroads Mall tragedy. Some might say, "Those two events have nothing in common." My point was they had everything in common. Jesus came so that we would have life. This young man felt as if he had no life. Jesus came to be light. Robbie Hawkins' life was full of darkness. It became evident that it is our responsiblity to make sure that life, which was the light of men, is proclaimed to as many as possible, including the many Robbie Hawkins of the world.
Some might say, "Where was God in all of this?" He was right there during the murders. He was with them every dying moment. In fact, it added new meaning to the name given to Jesus...Immanuel. God with us.
There is hope. There is a new day. There will be more opportunities. I pray that we will continue to allow Jesus to work in us and to change us. That is where real change will occur. I hope your day is good. JW

Westroads Mall Tragedy

Yesterday afternoon at the Westroads Mall in Omaha, about 1/2 mile from my house, a young man went into to Von Maur (an upscale store similar to Dillards) and opened fire on innocent Christmas shoppers. Try to understand why and you'll come up short. Attempt to understand the loss of those whose loved ones were innocently murdered and you'll find yourself feeling empty.
Why did this happen? We live in a fallen world. Satan and his minions work hard. And we allow God to be kicked out of Christmas, out of our government, out of our schools, and we wonder why this happened. The only moral standard, if there is one, is the common good. Situational ethics allows us to do what's "right" in light of the present circumstance.
The answer? I can think of only one. Jesus. Only Jesus could have given young Robbie Hawkins the sense of value that he so longed for. Instead, he felt like human debris. It's a sad day, but one one that helps us to realize our need for the Savior. JW

Pundit Christianity

I've noticed something that is getting worse in our culture. As a result, I think it's creeping into the church. My biggest pet peeve with television right now are the talk shows. Turn on Pardon the Interruption on ESPN and you'll find Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon discussing various aspects of sports....at the same time....loudly. They yell at each other and they disagree with each other and they talk so you can't hear what the other is saying. The only way one wins the argument is to yell louder than the other.
I'm dreading the upcoming political season. It's already started way too early. The "experts" (and by the way, it doesn't matter which party, which network, conservative or liberal, they're all the same) sit around and table and interrupt each other, talk over the other, and virtually outrude each other to win the argument. "Let me finish" becomes the favorite saying.
I think this attitude is creeping into the church. There is a note of disagreement or dissatisfaction, so what do you do? You begin talking to each other and the conversation gets louder and louder. Finally, the bond frays, the relationship suffers, the hurtful words have been said, and the friendship is, at best, tense. So we gripe at everything the other does. It becomes fashionable to complain about the preacher, the elders, the deacons, the worship leader, the Bible class teacher, the ministry leader, the others in the church. Finally, it's a place you don't want to attend because "nobody does anything right at that church."
"But doesn't the Bible say to be ready to give an answer?!!" Yes, it does. But did you read the rest of the verse? Here it is in it's entirety.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. I Peter 3:15, 16
While we're at it, how about another verse?
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and deparaved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. Philippians 2:14-16
As God's children, we are to settle disputes differently. We are to think differently. We are to respond differently than the world does. And if the world cannot see a difference, we're no different than the pundits on TV. It shouldn't be hard and it won't be hard to act differently. I hope your day is a good one. JW

Prayer is So Good!

Two things I've noticed about prayer this morning. I knew them both beforehand, but it is easy to see why Satan doesn't want us praying. First, when you begin the day in prayer, you'll notice a change in everything. A change in your attitude. A change in the attitude of others. A freshness of the new day--a renewal if you please. A confidence in the Lord. I could go on and on.
Second, if you have the opportunity to pray with shepherds like I have, what a wonderful experience it is. To paraphrase one of my elders. "Take away the dreams that I have for this church and fulfill Your dreams for this church." What a great attitude! What a tremendous humility. Now you can see why prayer does so much. It exposes what we're really like and it helps us to see what God is like.
So why don't we pray more? Good question. I hope your day is a good one. JW

The Bride

Did you see the story of the Iraqi insurgent who dressed as a bride to try to get past a security checkpoint? Man, he was ugly! He had a big nose, stubbly face; he just didn't look like a bride. The only thing that resembled bridehood (is that a word?) was he was dressed in white and had flowers.
At the end of the book of Revelation, the church is described as "coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." I don't know about you, but I've worked with some churches that looked anything like beautiful. They may have been wearing a white dress, but the face was a dead giveaway. Snarly and mean. Judgmental and surly. Jesus, the bridegroom, deserves more than that. He deserves a bride who is loving, pure, and beautiful outside andinside. What is your contribution to that picture? I hope your day is a good one. JW

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's a wonderful day. It's Thanksgiving. I love this day for many reasons. It is my wish for you that your day is filled with good memories and family time. Gratitude is one of those things that is not an option for Christians. It's not what we do, it's who we are . It lies at the very core of our being. Spend some time thanking God, really thanking him for the many, many blessings you have. Happy Thanksgiving!

God Spoke

When I tell about these things, I'm sure there are those who think I'm nuts. But I still believe in this. Yesterday in our worship, we dedicated the entire services to being thankful. We prayed prayers of thanksgiving, we sang songs of being thankful, we read scriptures of praise. One time as we were singing Father of Mercies, something interesting happened. You know what it's like to have your eyes closed and then you sense lights getting brighter? That happened as we sang that song. I thought someone had turned up our lights in the auditorium. No, what happened was the sun came out and shown through our stained glass and it was brighter than usual. It was almost as if God was saying, "Good job! Thanks for being thankful." There have been a number of moments like this in my life. Some will say it was just a natural thing that happens in the course of nature. I chose to believe that God spoke. Have a great day. JW

I've Trained Her Well

I've trained her well. Here it is November 14th and the Christmas lights are coming up. The lights from the Jack-o-Lanterns aren't cold yet, and the Christmas trees and other decorations are evident. There is a holiday in between. In fact, it's really my favorite holiday.
What do you mean you've trained her well? My daughter, my 24-year-old married daughter was with us in the car last night as we drove past a house with the Christmas lights glowing. "It's Thanksgiving!" she yelled. (Really, she yelled.) Perhaps this is a symptom of our country. We've forgotten to say, "Thank you." Let's just go from dressing up like a fruit cake and go directly to the "show me the gifts." I was pleased to know that she still sees the Thanksgiving holiday as important. Please don't misunderstand me. I love Christmas, too! I just don't want to rush it.
Colossians 3:15 says, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Thankful. Def. Thank--ful. Full of thanks. I'm glad my daughter still sees Thanksgiving. Shouldn't we all? Have a great day! JW

Bumper Sticker Theology

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, "God is too big to fit into any one religion." Here's the problem I have with that saying. And I think it may surprise you what I say. God's not concerned with religion anyway. God is concerned about hearts and what is spiritual. And I think, at least in our culture today, and perhaps it's always been this way, the two are very different.
I think the Jews of Jesus' day thought they were religious. Jesus told them, "You honor me with your lips, but your hearts are far from me." This is a quote from the Old Testament. In other words, they had the same problem then. I associate religion with rules and following the rules because they are the rules and you know what happens when you don't follow the rules. Maybe this is faulty thinking, but it's where I am. Jesus spent the entire Sermon the Mount saying that it's not about the rules. You can follow all the rules and still not be spiritual.
That's why I have a problem with the bumper sticker. Perhaps we need to understand that God doesn't fit into religion....period. It doesn't have anything to do with Him being too big. It's not what He wants in the first place. I hope your day is a good one.

Keep Me From Judging

People disappoint. They do things they shouldn't do. They say things they shouldn't say. My initial reaction is to lash out. Tell them what they are doing wrong. Insist that they reverse, retract, and repent. Then a haunting verse enters my mind.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Now I understand this statement. Perhaps all too well. But I know we do and we have to make judgments daily. Motivation is a key element in this. We can never know why somebody does what they do. We can't read minds, we can only see fruit. What bothers me is the last part of the verse. ...with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

So I try to see people through God's eyes. I try to allow grace and mercy to follow. Sometimes it's just impossible. So I allow God to be God and I take my rightful place as a clod of dirt. A clod of dirt, mind you, that God loves totally. And I back off. And I look forward to the day when I don't live in this fallen world anymore. Fatalistic? Absolutely not! Faith filled? Yes! I hope your day is good....and full of faith and hope. JW

No Contract, No Shows!

I really don't have a dog in the hunt. I watch so little network TV that the recent writer's strike really is not going to have much effect on me. The only possibility is the late night shows. I get a kick from Leno and Letterman and O'Brien. But when I heard that as a result of the strike there would be more (un)reality shows, I nearly choked. Best I can figure, this is about money (isn't it always?) and something to do with internet and other things. Frankly, it doesn't matter much to me.
What I find amusing is these are writers who are on strike, right? I saw them on the picket line with their signs and they were chanting. Here's what they were saying, "No contract, No shows; No contract, No shows." Now c'mon! They're writers! Couldn't they be a whole lot more creative than that? You could at least have a black screen and a deep, movie voice kind of guy saying, "They say they're not willing to pay....but pay they will." Then you have that little bumper music thing from CSI and then, in slow motion show them carrying picket signs. Hey, at least show a little creativity even in rebellion mode. Or maybe that would include the sound guild or the picture guild. Oh, it gets too complicated.
Sorry for the rant. Aren't you glad your life is based on whether or not the writers are on strike? Have a great day. JW

Memorial

Last Saturday I was perusing our local newspaper and saw where there was an exhibit in town for the 9-11 memorial being built in New York City. We decided to go and see and we were not disappointed. As I saw those terrible pictures and heard the horrifying stories, tears welled up in my eyes. Six years removed we have forgotten the agony of that day and the months that followed. Now the event is politicized until it's nearly unrecognizable.
What I saw in those pictures and in that presentation were people. People who had lives and families and dreams. People whose lives were snuffed out for no apparent reason except for a blind hate for what the West stands for. It helped me to realize anew that the world needs a Savior. It needs Jesus so much.
My wife and I signed a beam that will be used in the memorial being built on the spot where the World Trade Centers stood. In reality, that doesn't really matter. Instead, the autograph of Jesus on the hearts of men and women in this world would make a difference that would last for all eternity.
I've written about attending church services at the Manhattan Church of Christ just one month before the first anniversary of that horrible event. I still remember one of the songs they sang that day.

Where cross the crowded ways of life, Where sound the cries of race and clan,
Above the noise of selfish strife, We hear Thy voice, O Son of man!

In haunts of wretchedness and need, On shadowed thresholds dark with fears,
From paths where hide the lures of greed, We catch the vision of Thy tears.

The cup of water giv'n for Thee still holds the freshness of Thy grace;
Yet long these multitudes to see the sweet compassion of Thy face.

O Master, from the mountain side, Make haste to heal these hearts of pain;
Among these restless throngs abide, O tread the city's streets again.

That last phrase caught me...especially while singing just a mere distance from where it all happened. "O tread the city's streets again." Wow. Let it be so. I hope your day is good. JW

Oil on the Beard

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precioius oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.Psalm 133, 12

I have to admit I've never had the experience of oil running down on my beard. It must be good although it doesn't sound that great to me! But our service together Sunday with the brethren from the Omaha Church was wonderful. There was an excitement, an electricity that I haven't felt for a long time. When we ate together afterword, it was a wonderful time of fellowship. And even though we took the Lord's Supper together, I imagine that our meal afterward was more like the meal that they ate together in New Testament times.
Now I know why some fussed and griped about this. It was Satan at work. He can't stand brethren worshiping together, fellowshiping together, being together in harmony.
My call to anyone who reads this is to gather together with others just as we did. In spite of differences, there is a beauty that is indescribable. If we did this more often, the world would see the beauty of Jesus. Jesus prayed about the unity of His church in John 17. Paul encouraged us to be like-minded in Philippians 2. Why don't we do it more often? I think I know. I hope your day is good. JW

Unity and Exclusion

A case could be made for the theme of the entire New Testament epistles to be unity. Paul pleads with the Corinthians to get along. In Philippians he tells Euodia and Syntyche to get along. In fact, he tells all of the Philippians to "make my joy complete by being like-minded." Every epistle seems to have that as, at least, an underlying theme if not overt.
Jesus pled for the church to be one. One of his final prayers on earth was for unity.
We are hosting the International Church of Christ congregation here at our building Sunday. Their minister and I have been talking for a long time. He's a wonderful man and a lover of God and Jesus. This great church wants to make an impact in the world. They are my brothers and sisters in Christ. Yet I have heard from several in the community (not our church) how they can't believe we are hosting them.
Now, a couple of observations. First of all, are we to stop anyone at the door and keep them from coming into worship? Do we ask all visitors to fill out a questionaire and ask them if they worship the way we do, believe the way we do, or understand all of the omnipotence of God the way we do? Secondly, what happen to unity? Unity doesn't come at the cost of agreeing on everything, everyway, everytime.
Jesus had a word for those like that. Pharisees. I find it very sad. Our youth minister ask me what I thought about this minor controversy. I told him, "I don't care." But the truth is, as you can obviously see, I do care. It cuts me to the heart when those who claim to be Christians (i.e. Christ-like) would look to exclude.
Our worship will be phenomemal this Sunday. Not because of my sermon, not because of what any of us do, but because of the great God we serve. And let's make sure we keep it that way. It's God we serve and not ourselves. Have a great day. JW

Conventional Wisdom

A phrase that's been around for awhile that keeps cropping up is interesting to me. It's the two word phrase "conventional wisdom." The expression is defined as a way "to describe certain ideas or explanations that are generally accepted as true by the public." Just because something is generally accepted by the public dosen't make it wisdom. In fact, if the public generally accepts it, it's immediately suspect in my eyes.
Here's an example. Recently a football player at a well-known universitiy was charged with rape, aggravated sexual assault, etc. He felt it was consensual sex. The woman he "slept" with certainly wasn't his wife. His response was, "I went to bed that night with a clear conscience." Of course, rape is wrong. But having casual sex with someone who isn't your wife is all right. That's conventional wisdom.
I hear it all the time with political commentators. "The conventional wisdom is....." It seems to me that it's a oxymoron. Conventional wisdom is neither conventional nor wisdom.
Listen to how James describes wisdom:
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. but if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual,of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full or mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:13-17
In the first chapter of James, he encourages those who want wisdom to ask God who will give it to us. Freely. Now that's the kind of conventional wisdom I want. Have a great day! JW

The Mind of Christ

I was thinking of writing about how God moves mysteriously. I'm still going to, but on another topic. God still moves in a mysterious way. Perhaps another blog.
Paul is talking to the Corinthian brethren about unity. He's already told them "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." (I Cor. 1:10) As I read the Scripture following that verse I thought of the fusses and feuds at my own congregation. I even thought of how I wanted my way and how unreasonable some people were and "if the church would just do things my way." Paul advises them about wisdom and the Spirit. Then out of the blue he says something and it hit me right between the eyes. If we would think of this when we start to have our petty arguments, I guarantee they would be short-lived.

But we have the mind of Christ.

It's the ultimate "what would Jesus do?". He didn't say if you get your act together, I'll give you the mind of Christ. He says that we have the mind of Christ. Friends, maybe it's time we (I) use it. My feeling is we lay aside the mind of Christ to give people "a piece of our minds." And that is really lacking! Perhaps we should bite our tongues and speak with wisdom. Maybe it's time we speak out against real injustice and quit fussing about the color of the carpet, the temperature of the building, or the song that we didn't like. You know what? If we did that, our problems would fade quietly and we would become the people that God intends for us to be. So why don't we? Let's start today. Let's realize that we do, indeed, have the mind of Christ. I hope your day is a wonderful one! JW

Ecclesiastes

I've been reading Ecclesiastes lately. I've known this and I have read it before, but there is some great stuff in there. Listen to this:

A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. or

In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness. Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise--why destroy yourself? Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool--why die before your time? It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes. or how about this one...

The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. or how about this.

There was a small city that was under seige by a powerful king. He basically overwhelmed the city. But there was a poor, wise man who lived in the city. Somehow he saved the city. Solomon says: The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

I haven't even done the "for everything there is a season" or "Fear God and keep his commands." It's full of rich things. Read it sometime soon. I hope your day is good. JW

What the World Needs Now

I haven't written much lately. There hasn't been too much to say. So my theory is, if there isn't much to say, don't say anything!
When I do have something to say, it seems to hit me like a ton of bricks. There was a song years ago that was written in my early teen (or pre-teen) years. It says, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love." Now on the surface, I think that's true. After all, Jesus told the lawyer that the greatest command was to love God with all your heart and the second greatest was to love your neighbor. What has hit me lately is what the world needs now is grace, sweet grace. What a fallen world we live in! I'm saddened each day as I see what Satan does. He tears apart homes, he destroys lives, he lies, he cheats, he devours. He doesn't win. God is victorious! Satan will not make it. God conquers! We need to understand that. But what we need is God's grace. Now I now that grace stems from God's love.
And the more I see the fallenness of the world, I know the world needs God's grace. Not so that we can do whatever we want. No, because I believe that grace changes us. John Newton says that grace is a sweet sound. Listen to his words:
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
Thro' many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; 'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.
Oh, for a world with more grace. My it begin with me. I hope you have a great day. JW

The Perfect Word

I'm looking for the perfect word. The search has been fruitless so far, but that doesn't stop me from finding it. I've blogged before about God's love and how it seems there is always a descriptor or superlative when defining it. I'm just trying to find one word that hits the nail on the head.
"Amazing" seems to fit, but it's already been taken by grace. I know that grace has to be an outgrowth of God's love. Amazing grace is already in our vocabulary and I just don't want to use it again.
Unfailing seems to be a word used by the Psalmists. Once again, it's a good word, but it just doesn't seem to be the all-encompassing word I want. I know that God's love is unfailing. I'm just looking for something that just fits.
I heard the word "astonishing" the other night in a song. That comes a little closer because God's love is astonishing. It's not quite there, but I like it.
I'll just keep on searching for the right word. If you have a suggestion, I'd like to hear it. Until then, I'll keep looking. Perhaps I'll never find the word I want. Maybe His love is just indescribable. Nevertheless, I'll keep exploring. I hope your day is a good one. JW

Do I Make You Proud?

I am extremely proud of both of my kids. I don't tell them enough how much they mean to me and what a joy they are in my life. Now, they don't always do as I want, but by their lives they please me.
Last night I was listening to my son's show choir as they sang a song by Taylor Hicks, "Do I Make You Proud?". Try sitting through that without getting tears in your eyes. It began a walk down memory lane. As I thought of both of my kids, my daughter with her curls and big bow in her hair and my son with his big brown eyes, it blew me away to realize that my nest will be empty next year. They have grown up, they are becoming mature. They're crossing over to "my" side.
Our Father is the same way with us. Listen to this, "By faith, Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God." He pleased God. God was proud of him. I imagine that God looks on us and says, "See that one? He's mine. I'm proud of him/her." That seems to have been the conversation with Satan concerning Job.
Isn't that our life? Shouldn't that be what we're about? Doing our best to glorify the Father who has done so much for us? It is my duty, my responsiblity to please God.
Father, in my life I pray that my deeds and my actions are such that they make you proud of me. Forgive me when I'm not proud of You. Please forgive my stubborn ways. I pray that my life glorifies you every day. In Jesus name, Amen.
Have a great day. JW

Romans 8

In my opinion, Romans 8 is the capstone of the New Testament. It is the continental divide, the Mount Everest, the....well, you get the picture. Let me give you examples.

Romans 8:1--"Therefore," (I was always told when it says that you should always see what it's there for!) "there is no now condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Do you see that! No condemnation in Christ. Not some condemnation. Not a little. None. Zero. Zilch. Not that we can live our lives as wrecklessly as we want, but we don't have to worry about sin condemning us!
Romans 8:5--Look at the contrasts. "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires..." On the other hand, look at the contrast. "...but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." See also, "The mind of sinful man is death..." Then, "...but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace..." "...the sinful mind is hostile to God." Now look what he says about those who don't live according to their sinful minds. "But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness."
Romans 8:12--We have an obligation. When you think of an obligation, what do you think of? A car payment? House payment? A debt of some kind? A commitment to work is to help with something? Our obligation, according to Paul, is to not live according to our sinful nature. This allows us to have the closest relationship to God (Abba {Daddy], Father) possible.
Romans 8:28--"And we know..." We know. Not think or hope or wish. We know that God works in any and all circumstances. Good and bad. Hopeless and more hopeless. Something good and something God can and will and does occur.
Romans 8:31ff--Look at the questions here and answer them from your perspective. And be honest. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?" "It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns?" "Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ?" If you answered those questions honestly, I don't know how it couldn't lift your day.
Romans 8:37--"...we are more than conquerors." How can that be? If you win a game, you win. You can't "more than win." Oh, it can be by a big margin. But it still counts as a "W." Paul says we are more than conquerors.
Finally, the conclusion of the matter. God loves me. Personally. Me. (Put your name here) God loves _________.
Wow! After reading this chapter, I feel as if I could go out and change the world. But isn't that what we are supposed to do anyway? Isn't that why He sent His Son? This isn't a one time thing. This is our life. Isn't it time we acted like we belong to Him? I hope your day is good. JW

Glorify God

I had an argument with a guy one time about honoring people at church. His argument was that we are not there to honor men, but to honor God. Everything we do should be to honor Him. My argument was, when my children are honored, I am honored. Now if my children are in it just for praise, then I agree. I'm not honored in such a situation. Likewise, if someone is doing something to be honored at church, then the Scripture says that they have received their reward.
Sorry for the personal note here, but it's been a good year for my son. Just last March I bragged on him for winning a solo competition at Disneyworld. Last weekend he was selected as Homecoming King. (They didn't have those kind of things when I was in high school!) He was selected by a vote of his peers and teachers. I felt that was quite an honor and my buttons are a little tighter on my shirt today. I've been trying to get people to call me King James. Wouldn't that be right as father of a king?
When we serve and honor God, isn't He honored too? When Jesus submitted to baptism, God said, "This is my son whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Wasn't God glorified in that event? I think so. So I'm encouraging all of us to do good things...not for personal glory, but for the glory of the One who made us. Jesus said, "...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Have a great day. This little Christian light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.... JW