Legacy II

My son is in a play at school. It's Arthur Miller's All My Sons and it takes place just post World War II. Since my wife and (grudgingly) I are working with concessions, my wife decided to decorate one of the tables with memorabilia. "I have a bunch of pictures of my uncles in WWII. Then there are several of my great-uncle and my grandfather during WWI. They are really cool pictures. As I looked at them, I recalled riding on the tractor with my great uncle Seldon as we baled hay. I saw my Uncle Les whom I'm named after. And even my son asked, "Is this Uncle Russell? Uncle Pud?" Pud was the name we affectionately called him later. There was my grandfather as a young buck ready to take on the world. I mostly remember two things about him. First, him dying of lung cancer and black lung disease (he was a coal miner). But second, was in church at St. Joe, Ohio when we prayed. You see, he would kneel every time a prayer was said. Not only him, but every man in the building.
What a wonderful legacy these people have left for me. It made me think of Aunt Maud who taught our Bible class at Bearwallow when I was just a little boy. My Aunt Evelyn gave me my first job at C & E Super Valu in Athens, Ohio. She was an elder's wife and always treated everyone with great integrity. She was so trusting to let a young 16 year old take her car home in the evenings and to let me even live with them for a summer. She still writes and asks when I'm coming back to a reunion. She understands the value and worth of family.
Now it's my turn....and yours. What will your kids remember about you? Will they remember a servant's heart and a soul turned towards the Lord?
So many times I think of situations when I didn't act the way I should. When something was way more important to me than it should have been. Or I was stubborn and obstinate over frivolous things. Is that what my kids will remember? Is that how my friends will remember me? I hope not. When I was in graduate school, one of my professors had us do a little exercise that brought all of this home to me. He had us write our own epitaph. Do that some time and see that it's not as easy as you think.
So here's to my the legacy left to me by godly parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. I have been so blessed to be in the family I'm in. But if you haven't been so blessed, why don't you break the cycle and begin being a blessing to your kids. Be the kind of person that they remember with great fondness and gratitude for your gentle spirit and godly attitude. Leave them something to remember you by. I hope your day is filled with wonderful blessings. JW

Trust

You don't hit the horn because they are turning into the lane you're not driving in, going the same direction, but you trust that they are going to stay in your lane. So you continue at the same speed. If you didn't trust them, you would honk your horn and slow down. Slightly trusting would be to place your hand on the horn preparing to honk if needed and maybe lifting your foot off the accelerator.
We've all watched the shriners with their fez hats and their little motorcycles. They are in the local parade and all of a sudden they go into figure eight pattern. They zip in and out looking as if they are going to run into each other. But again, they trust each other and they know their partners will be where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be.
What's the operative reason for this? I can give it to you in one word. Trust. They trust each other. We trust the person turning into the opposite lane. When there is trust, things continue on the way they have been. When there is no trust, we hit the brake, we slow down, everything comes to a relative standstill.
We used to sing the song, "Trust and Obey." We don't sing it anymore because it's "old school." That's a shame because as has been noted by several blogs lately the old songs often have wonderful words. "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." Notice when we trust, we don't panic, things go smoothly, there is no braking or slowing down. The Psalmist said, "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10. I hope your day is a good one. JW

Lessons from a Little Boy

It happened so quickly that if you weren't watching you missed it. Our worship leader had dismissed the kids to Wee Worship. It's not unusual for the kids to high-five our worship leader as they exit the auditorium. But this one was different. He was purposeful and committed. A little tow-headed boy around five years of age marched right down the aisle straight up on the podium and grabbed our worship leader around his legs and gave him a big hug. Having done that, he filed out of the auditorium toward Wee Worship.
He was stunned. Choked up. I could tell he had a hard time starting the next song. But after services he explained to the crowd what had happened. He said that he and his wife had been teaching the Bible class this little guy was in. "The reason you teach not to receive certain things, he said, "but that was worth every minute of it."
Why did the little guy do that? I don't know. But it was the right thing to do. He knew that this man loved him and the only way he knew to return the favor was to lay aside any fear of the crowd watching and go up and hug him. Hmmmmm. You make the connection. Is it any wonder that Jesus said the Kingdom of heaven belongs to the little children? Have a great day. JW

P.S. Franklin, I hope you're out of sun-tan lotion. It's supposed to warm up to 27 degrees today. A virtual heat wave. Maybe by this time your burn is pealing! Have fun in Florida!

The Lord's Way

I don't know about you, but I got a little tired of hearing that this was the first time two African-American coaches made it into the Super Bowl. Don't misunderstand me. I am glad that black coaches are getting the opportunity on this level and are being successful. But did you hear these men as they talked to one another?
Instead of the "kill the other team" and "win at all cost" and "he's the enemy" rhetoric, it was wonderful to hear them speak to one another in kind terms. They said that Tony Dungy didn't curse. That both coaches were not ranters or screamers. I heard one interview where the two were seated next to another another and Tony Dungy said, "We're friends. And I hope that we will always be friends."
Although I don't think God particularly cared who won the Super Bowl, Tony Dungy said on national television, "I want to thank the Lord. We did it His way." That's what I've been talking about! How do we proclaim God in an extremely hectic world? He should be our life! It's not what we do, it's who we are. And Coach Dungy understands that. Too bad the press doesn't. Too bad we don't. Thanks, Coach, for showing us. Have a great day.

Foolish Thoughts

As any of you who write blogs know, sometimes the thoughts just don't come. Or, even worse, they do come and you can't really express what you're feeling. So it just comes out sounding pretty lame. There are times when you just want to say something pithy or deep or meaningful. Instead, it comes out with misspelled words, silly conclusions or inane thoughts.
But one thing I've learned from preaching, God can do unbelievable things with what you offer Him. I've come out of the pulpit thinking I should go back to college admissions. And about the time I think I am a fool, someone calls and tells me how much the sermon meant to them. So I don't discount anything that God can do. Oh, my words are still misspelled and my conclusions may still be silly and my thoughts completely inane. But God can take anything and make it into something good.
So for those who read my foolish words, I'm sorry. Second, thank you. Third, praise God that He can take my simple thoughts and make them what He wants them to be. May we always be instruments for God available when He needs us, ready to serve at a moments notice. Have a great day...what's left of it. JW

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

Words Mean Something

We had our first Letters from Dad meeting the other night and we had a good turn-out. Having had a wonderful father (certainly not perfect, and sometimes stubborn and downright conservative!), who loved me in spite of my imperfections, I sometimes have a hard time identifying with someone whose father was less than what they should have been.
In our discussions, the emotions came to the surface quickly with some of the men. Some (Really, all) want to be better fathers. Others told stories of how difficult it was for their fathers to simply tell them "I love you." It helped me to realize that words mean something. The words we so flippantly say to our children can cut to the quick. They remember them for years. It was a lesson to me to measure my words carefully and to make sure that I tell my children how valuable they are, what a blessing they are to me, and how much I love them. I used to take Nate to school and the last thing we did was the rock (hand bumps) and we say, "Jesus is Lord." He told me the other day that he missed that. We don't get to do that often enough. A little thing I thought was trivial was special to my son. Fathers, be careful what you say and realize that everything you say, no matter how trivial you think it might be, makes an impression on your children...and of course eventually to their children.

He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers...." Malachi 4:6

Have a great day. JW

They Love Each Other

She was having surgery today. This is her second surgery in about three or four months. The first to replace her shoulder, today's to replace her hip. She couldn't stand with the use of her arms (shoulder) when she had the hip replaced so the shoulder was first. He had surgery last month, an aortic valve replacement. They are in their upper 80s and have been married a long time. Occasionally, they seem to get on one another's nerves. I've heard them talk about selective hearing.
Yet when he came in today, there was genuine concern on his face. He looked at his daughter and said, "How is she?" Nothing else mattered at that point except for her well-being. What a wonderful love story. In this day and age when marriages don't last as long as car loans, it's nice to see one that has lasted and is thriving.
She's fine. She'll be fine. She's a tough woman and I woudn't bet against her for anything. But thanks for your prayers anyway. God is good. Have a great day. JW

Tag, You're It

Well, there is a new kind of "tag" going on. I've been tagged by our youth minister, Franklin Wood who says I'm supposed to do these things:

1. Grab the book closest to you.
2. Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence.
3. Post the text of the following three sentences.
4. Name the author and book title.
5. Tag three other people to do the same.

So here's mine:
He was purchased with a great price. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (Johnb 15:13). But He laid down His life for His enemies (Rom. 5:10).

That came from Warren W. Wiersbe's book Be Rich. So I'll tag these three people.

1. Karen Koonce
2. Brian Koonce
(Husband and wife team with two different blogs)
3. Bobby Stokes

Have a great day. JW

Sunlight Lessons on Sunday Morning

I was here at the building earlier than usual this morning. There were some things I needed to do before everyone arrived. As I walked into the auditorium, there was a sliver of sunlight that streamed through the stained glass windows. That light landed right across the plexiglas podium where I would speak in about an hour or so. Contrasted with that was the computer monitor that sits in front of the podium. In the sunlight you could see the cobwebs that had gathered around this piece of technology. It was quite a contrast, the light on the podium; the cobwebs on the monitor. We've come to rely an awful lot on machines and I'm the worst at that. I've got to have my cell phone, my computer is not far away from me, microwaves, fax machines, palm pilots, hand-held computers. In the sunlight in the quiet of this Lord's Day, it was almost as if God was saying to me, "Jim, the technology means nothing. Preach the Word." I stopped and prayed just that. That God would take my words and take me out of the way and allow God to go far beyond the technology of our day to hit the center of what really counts....relationships. Relationships with God, Jesus, the Spirit, relationships with our spouses, our children, our parents, our friends, the world. "I want to know Christ," is what Paul said. Indeed, we all want to know Him. Have a great day. JW

Footprints

There is a little story that's been overused (IMHO) called "Footprints." Good stories tend to be overused. Kind of like the guy throwing starfish back into the ocean. You get my drift (pardon the pun).
But since we had an influx of snow last Saturday, I've noticed footprints in the snow around our house. Most of the time, they tell a little story. It's fun trying to figure them out. (I know, it sounds as if I've lost my marbles, but hang in there with me.) First you can see where the squirrels have been digging. Hungry, they're trying to reach the stash the buried in the ground in the fall. You can see the steps leading up to the spot where they have dug. I wonder if they found what they were looking for.
Then I noticed a rabbit track. It was steady, straight, committed, almost as if someone had made them in a straight line on purpose. It looked as if this creature was on a mission.
Finally, there were some human footprints that led up to our house. From there, they crossed our yard into our neighbors. Who did this and what was he after?
In all of our lives, we leave some kind of indication that we've been around. Footprints, so to speak. What kind of impression will you leave. Will there be indication of hard work? An impression of purpose or commitment? Or will people wonder what you were up to? It's up to you. Have a great day. JW

We Want To See Jesus!

I was watching television this morning and came across one of those televangelists. You know the ones. I kid you not, "...there is a woman sitting in a rocking chair. She has short hair, she's got lumps in her breast, just lay your hand on the television set and you'll be healed." He was wearing a jacket with all kinds of sparkles on it, so many it would have made any country singer proud.
He told the people of his audience, "If you will call, I'll send you a vial of miracle water and you do what I tell you to do and you'll be healed. " Do what I tell you to do!! I'm sorry, first of all, he lost me at the sparkles. I couldn't see Jesus wearing such an outfit. Second, the arrogance to say to do what I say to do.
Sorry. Just one of those days when that stuff rubs me the wrong way! I guess it's because I know of people who are suffering from cancer. The treatments have caused them to lose their hair. Or a friend of mine will have by-pass surgery tomorrow to take care of serious blockage. And then this guy shows up and says, "Do what I say to do." I'm sorry, I want to be like the ones who said, "Sir, we want to see Jesus." Let's continue to look for Him. Have a great day. JW

Between Intellect and Transcendence

I've never been accused of being intellectual. Philosophical discussions even make me dizzy. So yesterday, I was asked this question. "God can do anything? Right? Then can he make someone change their free will?" Really, that's the wrong question to ask. God can do a lot of things that He won't do. This got me thinking.

For instance, why pray? Why would the God of the universe who created all things listen to some of my silly requests? And there have been times where He has said "no" or just wasn't listening. At least that's my perspective at times. Why doesn't God heal certain people and allow others to die? Why was I born in the United States to godly, Christian parents?

Then I realize that I am a human being. God is God. I liked Mike Cope's blog today where he has the quote, "The biggest difference between you and God is that God doesn't think he's you." (Anne Lamott). So when reason fails me, I start to think that God is beyond me. His ways are higher than my ways. His thoughts higher than my thoughts. And so I get stuck between intellect and transcendence. When it gets far beyond my intellectual capabilities, I cede back to the fact that God is who He says He is. I read Job 38-41. Then I rely on something called "faith." Being sure of things hoped for and confident of the unseen. I'm sorry, that's where I always land. . .at least that's my answer. I trust in One who is greater than I and realize there are some things I just don't understand. Perhaps one day I will. I hope you have a great day. JW

Bad Day

At first I thought when I wrote a blog and it didn't post that it was a sign from God that He didn't want me to publish those particular thoughts to all who might see. Now, I'm just thinking I'm just pretty stupid! It's been one of those mornings. I lost a glove (one glove! It was my father-in-law's glove.), I deleted a perfectly good blog that I thought was poignant and witty and good, and then I've had someone disappoint me by not following through on a task.
But God is good and reminds me constantly not to take things too seriously. Once again, my friend Dee Skillen sends me something and #1 on the list is "Life isn't fair, but it's still good." Okay. I can handle that, but I still am not having a good day. I'm a busy man and I have things to do and these roadblocks are not making it any easier. #4--"Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does." But you don't understand. I thought this stuff was taken care of and I don't need this today. #16--"Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying."
Okay! Okay! Okay! My bad. I have a smile on my face. "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." I'll be happy. But I'll be happy being dragged kicking and screaming. Have a great day. JW

P.S. By the way, I called the place where I think I lost the glove. They found it. Hey, the day's getting better already!

Coffee Cups

I received this from my friend Dee Skillen and I thought it was worth putting in here.

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups--porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite--telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all you you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups...And then you begain eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money, and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us." God brews the coffee, not the cups...Enjoy your coffee!

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything." Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Thanks, Dee! Have a great day. JW

My Brother, Judas

The hometown crowd was amazed. How did this guy get to be so smart? After all, we've known him since he was a little tyke. He's the carpenter's son. His mom lives with us and his brothers live here. You know them, James, (Ah the eldest. The one with a good name. That's a good name derived from Jacob) Joseph, (You remember Joseph. The one who saved his brothers. The one who wisely predicted Pharoah's dilemma and ended up being the salvation of Israel) Simon, (Didn't Jesus have an apostle by that name? Yes! Simon. Simon Peter. Good strong name!) and Judas. Are you kidding me? Jesus had a brother named Judas?
What do you think he thought all of his life knowing that He would be betrayed by someone named Judas? Do you think it was a constant reminder of what was to come? Do you think He ever had a conversation with the betrayer and tell him, "You know, I have a brother named Judas."? What a strange mix of betrayal and home. Do you think Judas ever "told" on Jesus? How do you think that would make Jesus feel? Perhaps in some small way it helped to prepare Jesus for what was coming and for the forgiveness He felt in His heart toward the man who was an accomplice to His death. Maybe this is a great lesson of forgiveness for us, too. Have a great day.

Contentment

For some reason, my post didn't publish this morning. I guess it wasn't worth reading! My goodness it is cold in Nebraska this morning! The sign at the bank said it was -4 below zero. I started to bemoan the fact that it was so cold and then I started to think about those in Antarctica. (I know, I know, what a weird thing to think!) But here's what I was thinking. No matter what your condition in life, you can always find someone or something worse. Green Valley Bible Camp was over 100 degrees this summer. But I bet if you had gone to Death Valley, CA it would have been hotter.
Paul said that no matter what place he found himself, he was able to be content. So that's where I am today. If it's cold, there's somewhere else that's colder. If it's windy, there's somewhere else that's having a tornado. If I have a cold, someone is dealing with cancer or something else more serious. Content. That's what Paul told us to be. You want to know how to find something really good in all of this? You want a big return on your investment? Paul said that godliness + contentment = great gain. All right, all right. I get the picture. But you have to admit, it's still cold! Have a great day. JW

Judgment

This weekend my family attended a show choir competition that my son participated in. After performing they are judged on a variety of things and then ranked. Obviously, I'm not biased. But I was amazed that my son's show choir didn't place higher than they did. If you know me very well, this got me thinking.
We are judged by so many things in our lives. Teens are given a score by the video game they play judging their skills. They are also judged daily by their peers on their clothes, their talents, and just about anything else you want to name. Teenagers are not shy about expressing their opinions, nor do they care what anybody thinks when making those judgments. Teachers rate their students all the time. Bosses evaluate their employees and if they are not performing, they are fired.
Can you imagine if our Christianity were judged by the same standards? That's how some people measure the "Christianity quotient." If you do a certain amount of good deeds, and your bad deed numbers are smaller than the good deed numbers, then it's been a good day. Thankfully, we don't serve a God who measures us in such ways, although to hear some, that is the way He judges us.
But if you enter the courtroom of judgment, you'll hear these words, "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? Who is he that condemns?" Then listen to these words. "Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." So in the courtroom of judgment, we serve a God who's Son intercedes. I'll take my chances with Him! Have a great day. JW

Prayer On a Different Level

I can be pretty dense. Now wait a minute, I just heard a resounding "AMEN!" from those of you who know me out there. I have done studies on prayer, taught classes on prayer, read books on prayer, but it wasn't until this morning I understood something about prayer. There are all kinds of passages talking about different kinds of prayer, i.e.

And pray in the Spirt on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. I Timothy 2:1, 2

There are all kinds of prayers mentioned and I have done the word studies because they all mean something different. Intellectually I understood, but my heart wasn't in tune. Today, I was praying earnestly. It was different that my morning prayer of greeting and thankfulness for the new day and the beauty that surrounded me. It was a heart felt prayer asking God for blessings in a certain situation. Then it hit me.

There are conversational prayers that I have with God. Prayers of relationship. I don't want to make light of it, but it's the same with any relationship. It can be surface level. You just keep the channels of communication flowing. Nothing deep. Just making sure the water is still flowing. But there comes a time when there is a gut-wrenching, heart cry of need to the only One who can do anything about it. A little girl (and little girls aren't supposed to have to be tested for multiple sclerosis) who lies in a hospital, a dear friend who is going on a mission trip, a marriage that is getting worse. Not that my other prayers don't mean anything, but these prayers mean something.

The light bulb went off. And I finally got it. There are different kinds of prayers. There is a difference in intensity in prayers. Don't believe me? Check Jesus out in the Garden of Gethsemane. Why didn't I see it before? I don't know, I'm still learning. Hope you are, too. Have a great day. JW

We Are Not Animals!!

The news has reported an experiment being done in Australia where humans are put on display in the zoo. These humans are allowed to snack only on bananas while there and they are allowed to go home at night. Some psychologist will evaluate them to determine what the similarities and the differences we have with our "ancestors."
My first reaction to this was laughter. But then, my thoughts turned to how ridiculous and demeaning this is. This is, in my humble opinion, one of our problems. You see, if our view of our fellow humans is that we are animals, then whatever we do is just instinct. We can't help ourselves. We can act however we want, there is no accountability, there is no correction, there is not recourse because we can't help it. That's just the way we are. Scary thing is, I've heard those words many times to explain behaviors.
Oh, we are not animals. We are created in God's holy image. We are made for relationship with Him. David said, "What is man that you are mindful of him." We are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Don't let Satan sell you this bill of goods. He wants us to see ourselves in such light. But God has made us for special relationships, for special purposes, for special lives. I don't buy this. I hope you don't either. Have a great day. JW

Exclusive

Lately I have been struck with the exclusiveness of the Jews in Jesus' day. After all, they were thechosen people, the one's with whom God had a covenant, Abraham's descendants. They were the only ones, the chosen ones. When did problems arise in the early church? When the Jews insisted on doing things the "right" way. The Gentiles could become Christians, but they had to do things the Jewish way. When did Paul have problems with the Jews? When he went into the synagogues on his missionary journeys. Oh, he had success for a while, but when the leaders came in, they made sure that everyone toed the line and followed orthodoxy. Jesus' harshest criticism was for those who "honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
So why my obsession with this topic? Well, when I started thinking, haven't those same attitudes been the norm in the church of Christ? Haven't we been exclusive? Haven't we had all the answers? Haven't we excluded so many people because they didn't do things the "right" way? And if Jesus' harsh criticism was inflicted on the Jews of His day for such things, what would He say to us today? We make the circle as small as we can so, I guess, we can make ourselves look better. Instead, we make ourselves seem smaller. God forgive us for such attitudes. Help us to not only enjoy God's mercy and grace, but be the instruments of the same. Have a great day. JW

Dealing with Life

I am often amused by the stories I read in the news. It's interesting to see what people get all riled up about. Most of the stuff is not worth even mentioning. Yet, there it is many times on the front page of the newspaper, or on the internet, or on the evening news. Where it's happening, though, is in the trenches. People are struggling with life everyday. Divorce, health issues, relationships, (or lack thereof), are where it's really happening. Once we understand that everything is not just fine, that it's hard, maybe then we can start helping. We don't have to have all the answers. In fact, it's good that we don't. As I see it there are two important things we must do. First, we must point them to Jesus. He does have all the answers. They may not be the one(s) we want. But He told us to bring all our cares and burdens to him. Peter said to "cast all your cares on him, for he cares for you." Second, we must care. Rather than explaining to someone why their loved one died or giving your particular thoughts of God's reasoning is futile. But a hug and a sincere, "I'm so sorry," goes a long way. Then, and only then, can we begin making a difference. I hope your day is blessed. JW

Press On!

At this point, my father would always say something like, "I haven't seen you in a year." I know, it's corny. But it was my Dad. Here we are at the beginning of 2007. There is so much to say, but I won't say it all here. First, I want to say that 2006 is over. Good or bad. Profitable or unprofitable, it's over. There's nothing we can do or say that can change a thing. Paul said, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
I love that passage. Forget what is behind...good or bad. It's over. The trophies won, the losses that occurred. The victories, the defeats. They're all over. This is a new day, a new year. And besides, our Lord renews us every day. What a comfort. What a joy! What a message!! That's the message for 2007. Our mistakes are never fatal. Our victories are only temporary viewed only in the fact that the real victory has already been won by Jesus. Let's press on. Let's strain. Strain to what? The prize that we've been called heavenward. Have a great day. Have a great year. JW

Seatbelt Christianity

Coming up Interstate 29 the other day just north of Kansas City, the road splits and a decision has to be made which direction one will go. The problem? The left option was blocked off by the state police. Once we got passed, we could see a serious wreck on the other side of the freeway.
I happen to be in the left lane, the one I need to be in, the one I'm in to go to the right which is the way I'm supposed to go. However, the lady in the van next to me one lane over realized that she had to get over because she had no options. So she decided to get over....Now!....Right where I was....I guess she thought I should let her in. As she crept closer and closer to me (realize that she is slightly behind me) I look over and I'm looking at her passenger mirror. I mean, it's right beside me. I glance at her and she's putting her seatbelt on! If I hit this guy in his Honda, that doesn't matter, but I sure as shootin' don't want to get a ticket for not having my seatbelt on!
Isn't that just like us? Things are going badly for me. The world is caving in. Oh, I think I'll go to church services. Let me put on my spiritual seatbelt and surely I'll be fine. Never mind the fact that our lives are caroming wildly out of control. The key is to take care of those things before we our lives get out of control.
Fortunately, everything was fine. She realized what was happening and slowed down. But what about the next time? Or the next? I remember hearing Dr. Paul Faulkner asking the pertinent question, "Where do you want to be in five years? ten years? twenty years? Then throw yourself in that direction today. The journey starts today and not years later. Good advice. Have a great day. JW

A New Resolve

Driving to the office this morning, I realized the end of the year is near. I was trying to get "the" right song on my iPod, but I couldn't find it. Finally, Point of Grace came on singing, "Everybody's worshiping something, I choose You!" Perfect!
With new resolve I face this new year. I have already written down goals most of which I won't share with you. I do want to exercise more. There are some other personal goals for my life. But today I had the resolve to make 2007 a great with for the Lord. I want to love more, care more, be more sympathetic, to worship more freely, to sing His praises more loudly, to celebrate His life by living a life worthy of my calling. I want my heart to become more like Jesus'. I want to see things as He does, to respond the way He would. I want to recommit myself to being His servant, to allow Him to work in me, to be His instrument to play and use however He chooses. To quote Paul, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."
I hope you resolve, too. To be more like Him. It's all right if you miss the mark, because you will anyway. The effort will make you better and you'll become more and more like Him. Have a great day. JW

P.S. Please keep my friend, Al Fowler, in your prayers. He lost his lovely wife way too early in her life right before Christmas. She's celebrating with the angels right now.

Mom's Poem

Last year I placed a poem in my blog that found in my mother's papers after her death. I don't know if she wrote it or not, but my hunch is she did. I wanted to place that here again. This is for all of you who will not be able to spend the holidays with all of your loved ones for whatever reason.

I may not be there Christmas eve,
But I would have you folks believe
That my heart will be there with you
With all my love and I'd renew
The family ties that bind us fast
With memories of Christmas past.

I'll close my eyes and see your faces,
And all those sweet remembered places,
About our home that I shall miss,
And on that day remember this:
I'm thankful God has given me
So wonderful a family.

Have a wonderful Christmas. JW

Jesus and Silver Dollar City

One of my favorite places in the world used to be Silver Dollar City. My family used to live close and we would get the season passes every year. The rides and the entertainment were good for the two little children I was given the privilege to raise. But at Christmas time, my wife and I used to make a trek up there just to see the 100 miles of lights. Silver Dollar City has the typical train ride where you go through the woods and you are "robbed" by a group of bandits armed mostly with bad lines, i.e. while holding a twig in the air, one would shout, "This is a stick up." Get it? Stick up?
But at Christmas, the ride was different. You stopped at the same place where you were "robbed" in the summer. A man came out in his overalls and told the story of Jesus. It was the first time I had ever heard Mannheim Steamroller's rendition of Silent Night. I was stunned by its simplicity. That's the story of Immanuel. In all the complexities of life, God sent His Son to become like us. It's the mystery that's talked about in the Scripture. In amazing simplicity, God gave us the one thing that could and does change our lives. It was announced with heavenly pomp and circumstance only to those who knew nothing regal celebrations. It was revealed to wise men who searched for several years before finding Him. And in some people's lives, it takes a lifetime to find Him while others grow up knowing His excellent greatness. But the message is still the same. "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." Have a great day! JW

Prepare the Way

John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin. He was considered the one who would prepare the way for Jesus. He was born first (at least on this earth) and he did what he was intended to do. He called Jesus the Lamb of God. At times he sent some of his disciples to Jesus to say, "Are you the One, or should we look for another?" He also said, "He must become greater, I must become less."
As I think of the story of Jesus' birth, I flash down 2000 years later. John is no longer around. Who will prepare the way for Jesus now? I think that's where we come in. It's now ourresponsibility to prepare the way. It's our job to tell of His greatness It now becomes our task to tell of His coming to this world.
And so the Christmas story continues. Only now, we tell it. Have a great day. JW

Mary and Joseph

One of the questions I've had about the story of the birth of Jesus, why did God pick Mary and Joseph? Everything that I read about them I see total compliance to what God says to them. When the angel comes, they obey, no questions asked. Now I know that you might say, "Well, if I had an angel come to me, I wouldn't have a hard time believing either." Is that so? Then answer me this. Why did the children of Israel who saw the 10 plagues on Egypt, (including the Passover Angel), the Red Sea divide, the cloud by day and the fiery pillar at night, the manna and the quail, the water from the rock and everything else they saw, why didn't they do everything God told them to do?
With Mary and Joseph, you had two people who had soft hearts and were attuned to God's call and they did everything He asked them to do. No wonder God entrusted his One and Only Son to them. Have a great day. JW

The Great Announcement

One of my fond memories is a 4th of July at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha. On the 4th, there is a HUGE fireworks display that is phenomenal. After the baseball game, they allow people to go down on the field and watch the fireworks. They even give you 3-D glasses if you want, but you don't need them. The "bombs" burst right over you even so much that some of the debris falls on you. I was covered with little black flecks of firework residue. It looked as if they were exploding right down on me.
When the birth of Jesus was announced to the shepherds, the Bible says an angel appeared and then it says the glory of the Lord shown around them. Can you imagine that. It would make the Rosenblatt display seem like a little firecracker. I what it looked like, but it says they were terrified. Then there was a great heavenly host praising God. What were they doing? How were they praising God? I've heard great choruses sing beautiful music where I had goose bumps. Can you imagine a heavenly host praising God?
But why to shepherds? Seems as if they would have wanted to alert the Jerusalem Press or KJEW television. Why wasn't there a story by the Bethlehem Times? But shepherds? If you read the passage, the shepherds told everyone they saw. So it is with us. Perhaps we don't have the connections. Maybe we can't have the impact that a person of position or power could have. But we can tell everyone we see about the Savior who came to this world so that we might have life to the full.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.

Have a great day. JW

His Star

If you watch the movie The Nativity, they do what most everybody else does concerning the star that comes to rest right over where Jesus was. They can understand the miracle of a virgin birth, they can understand the miracle of nearly everything else. But for some reason the miracle of a star just doesn't cut it. It has to do with the convergence of several planets and those planets light up the night sky, etc., etc., etc.
Why can't it just be accepted that the star was another miracle? It was there to show not only where Christ was, but that this was one of those extremely important events. When you read about it in the Scriptures, the Magi say, "We have seen his star. (emphasis mine). It was His star. I know, I know, they are all His stars. But there was something special about this one. It wasn't the planets coming together. It was the announcement of an the most significant event up to that point in history. Immanel. God with us. God moved into our neighborhood, according to Peterson in The Message. And the world has never been the same since...and neither should our lives. Have a great day. JW

Gifts

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Three gifts. That's how some have determined that there were three wise men. It's the impetus for giving gifts at Christmas. I've been wondering, what did Mary and Joseph do with those gifts? How much did they get for them? Did it help support them for the next several years? Did they give them away?
How often are we the recepients of gifts? Gifts of great value. Perhaps they are not material, but spiritual. Maybe they are tangible. I think the fact we really don't know any more about the gifts is because they really didn't matter in the whole scheme of things. Maybe there were more symbolic than anything. But here were men who were known for their wisdom and they wanted to give of their means to the Messiah, the baby whose star they had seen.
So it is with us. What do we have to give. I love the old hymn that says, "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling." Even if that's all we bring, it will be accepted by our Lord. Have a great day. JW

Messiah

What was it that worried King Herod so much about a child being born in Bethlehem? It was a king. A new king would be a threat to his reign in Judea. For so long the Jews had looked for a king, a new King David who would free them from the bondage of the Romans. These Romans who taxed them and abused them and generally tried to ruin their way of life.
Now the thought of a Messiah had reached a fever pitch. They were looking for armies, for another man who stood head and shoulders above the rest, another who would make them favored in God's eyes again.
He came. Now with flash, pomp, and circumstance. He came with humility and poverty. They never could quite understand His kingship nor His kingdom. They tried to make Him king by force, but He slipped away. And when we try to make a secular Jesus, He will also slip away. His kingdom was and is not of this world. It is holy. It is spiritual.
Although Jesus may have disappointed many of His time, I pray that He doesn't disappoint us. I hope we are not looking for the wrong kind of Messiah, but One who will be our King, our Lord, our Ruler. I hope we don't try to make Him King by force. Instead, it's my prayer that we invite Him into our hearts. Quietly, calmly, once again without flash. Have a great day. JW

Scandal

After watching the latest movie on Christ's birth, "The Nativity Story," I realized what a scandal it was for Mary to be pregnant with no father seemingly around. She went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. She is engaged to marry Joseph. When she returns, she's pregnant. What happened while she was gone? With whom did she sleep? You can imagine the reaction of her parents, the townspeople, Joseph. Here's this seemingly innocent girl who comes home pregnant. She's not innocent, she's promiscuous. She's not holy, she's sinful. She claims nothing happened. She says the Holy Spirit came upon her. She says that an angel told her she would be pregnant. This is just plain bawdy, scandalous, and wrong.
I remember a few years ago teaching about one of the theories of Mary's pregnancy...that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier. A woman came into my office in tears, saying, I can't believe you said my Lord was the illegitimate son of a Roman soldier." "I didn't say that," I responded. She was horrified the words would even come out of my mouth. "Our children don't need to hear that." "Yes, they do," I replied. "I would rather them hear it from us so we can explain what really happened. I want them to hear it from us."
It was pure scandal when our Savior was born. Raised by a poor family. It's a wonder Joseph hung around. But in the end, he believed Mary--and the angel who appeared to him. But it would be hard even in the best of circumstances to believe their stories. And that's the atmosphere our Savior was born in. Scandal. Have a good day. JW

Earth Shattering

I love my neighborhood Starbucks. They know exactly what I want when I go in; they don't even ask, they just make my venti, no water chai. Yesterday, I was talking to the manager and I mentioned that my son and daughter had told me that I should try their peppermint hot chocolate. I said to the manager, but I have to be careful because if I didn't order my "usual," the world would slow down or speed up or something else catastrophic. We both got a good laugh out of that.
I started thinking. Over two thousand years ago something did happen that shook the earth. God moved into the neighborhood. The only people that knew it was happening did everything they could to stop it. It was revealed to some nomadic shepherds and it occurred in one of the poorest places in the world. Immanuel. God with us. It happened and the world accused Him. It ridiculed Him. It eventually killed Him. But He lives...and the world is a different place because of it. During this time of the year, I hope that you will remember how earth shattering this event was and I pray you'll take time to thank God for sending His Son to earth. Have a great day. JW

Get Rid of the Baggage

I've noticed the older I get, the longer it takes me to get ready to travel. And I won't even bring my wife's packing habits into this! When we say we'll leave at 8:00, it usually means 9:00. Why is that? Because we haven't gotten everything ready to take on our journey.
When I was young, I didn't have a care in the world. Life was to be lived. Laughter came easy. Spontaneous was the catchword. No planning, just do it. Now you might be asking, "What do these two things have in common?"
That's life isn't it. Topsy, turvey, and upside-down. Really when we're young, we should be careful to spend the time "packing" for the journey, but we really haven't a care in the world. When we're older, rather than being wiser, we take more baggage than we really need.
My thought today was that as I get closer to my heavenly home, I should be having less baggage and less "stuff" that keeps me down. I should be more as I was when I was young--laughing more and living life to its fullest. Really it should be the opposite of what we normally do. The Hebrews writer said that we should lay aside everything that weighs us down. Fix our eyes (stare) at Jesus. Paul said that we should forget what's behind and strain toward the future.
As we get older, let's get rid of the baggage. Let's enjoy life more. Let's realize that the sun is only rising and it can only get better. Have a great day. JW

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas

It was a great time of rest and relaxation. Nothing to do but eat. Our Thanksgiving Day was full of activity, but still relatively slow. We didn't get to do quite everything we had planned. Meredith wasn't with us since she was with her in-laws. She'll be with us for Christmas in Searcy. But it was good.
It was hard to get back into the swing of things. I woke up this morning with some stomach "issues." After a little rest, I think I'm fine. Something I ate rather than a virus. I don't usually have anything like that, so when it does hit me it wears me out.
Now we race to the end of the year. Although there have been evidences of Christmas, there is nothing hidden now. Radio stations are playing Christmas carols. The decorations are up in the stores. It's getting cold in Nebraska. School will be out in a couple of weeks. People finally do, even for a brief, short minute, treat each other better and reflect on the Prince of Peace.
I hope we continue the journey of thanksgiving. My prayer is that these next few weeks, though hectic, will be filled with quiet moments of reflection...and of course, family. Have a great day. JW

What's On Your Ear?

I walked into my local Starbucks today to get my customary venti no water chai and, as usual, there were a number of people sitting at the table chatting. One table of four men caught my attention. They were visiting with one another and laughing. What was odd (at least to me) was two of the men had their phones on their ears. You know what I'm talking about, those kind that hang on your ear. The thought that went through my mind was, "How sad." Here are other gentlemen who like your company, who are enjoying the few minutes from work, who would like to have a human, relationship, and you have a phone on your ear just in case someone calls. In other words, the call that comes in is more important that you.
What's hanging on your ear? What stops you from having these wonderful conversations with your spouse, your kids, your family? What's more important than those relationships? Can't you just for one moment stop listening to the world and listen to those who really count? Do you hold the newspaper up instead of listening? Is the television blasting? What's hanging on your ear? During this time of Thanksgiving, take it off...please, and listen to those who want to visit with you.

BTW--Went and saw The Nativity last night. The first thing I tried to do was scrutinize everything to see if they were biblically accurate. But if you go, don't do that because you'll miss the really important message of the story. Immanuel. God came and lived in our neighborhood. Go see it. It's a good movie.

Have a great Thanksgiving! See you Monday! JW

...And Be Thankful

A friend of mine told me of being on an airplane when they used to serve meals. He said the gentleman next to him stopped and prayed before consuming the food placed before him. My friend commented that he appreciated seeing this gentleman praying before eating. To which his fellow passenger replied, "I may not be much, but I'm thankful."
I've remembered that story for years. I may not be the world's greatest speaker, or the best father, or the best husband or the best....you name it. But I can be thankful. At this time of year, it's amazing to me that we, for the most part, do slow down for just a day and most of us count our blessings. Oh, how I wish we would get into the habit of doing the same every day. For that is the basis of our service to God. Not out of fear or dread that He may force us to do something we don't want to do. But out of gratitude for what He has done and continues to do every day.
So this Thanksgiving Day, I pray that we will begin our New Year's resolutions early but vowing to be more thankful...beginning today. Have a great day, and have a great Thanksgiving. JW

Where's the Scripture?

Those who preach or speak know what a gut-wrenching experience it is. I've heard it said of Rick Atchley, preacher at the Richland Hills Church in Fort Worth, TX, that "if I have such a gift of preaching, why does it take 40 hours to unwrap it?" Others will say, "Do you ever get nervous before you speak?" My answer to that is, "If I don't, then it will be a pretty boring sermon." Anyway, after speaking, I'm emotionally and physically exhausted.
Yesterday, I delivered a lesson on the new organizational structure of the congregation where I preach. We're instituting a new structure with new deacons. It's something we've been working on for a long time. I've been here for about 3 1/2 years and it seems we've worked on it in some form ever since I got here.
So the elders asked me to make a presentation on this new way of doing things. Afterwards, someone came up to me and said, "Where were the Scriptures?" Now I know of at least three I quoted, Matthew 7:24, Acts 6, and I Corinthians 3:11. We talked of deacons. We talked of Acts 2 and our church family and having everything in common. And someone has the audacity to say, "Where were the Scriptures?" What I want to say is, "They are in my life. They are in my preparation. They are in the years of study that I've done. They are inherent in everything I say. They are in the middle of all I do. They are there between every line. And just because I don't quote book, chapter, and verse, it doesn't mean they're not in there." That's what I wanted to say. Instead, I just said, "Well, this was an unusual week."
Now you might be concerned that the person who said that might be reading this blog. No they won't. People like that tend to strike and then disappear. So I'll just keep preaching. I'll just keep speaking my mind. And most of all, I'll just keep trying to please the only One who I need to please. Have a great day. JW

Letters from Dad, II

I just returned from Dallas for training with "Letters from Dad." What a great program! I recommend this program for anyone. Should you need information, let me know. I don't get any money for this although I'm certified to teach the class. It's a wonderful to get a blessing to your family.
For those of you who are familiar with the program, I saw the tacklebox. For those who aren't, I would encourage you to visit their website at www.lettersfromdad.com. I'll tell you more about it, I'm sure, in the coming days. For now, I'm just trying to catch up. Have a great day. JW

Contrasts III (I think)

I love contrasts. I have a number of posts on my blog concerning such contrasts of life. I think Jesus was a man of contrasts. He talked of light and darkness. Isaiah talked about "Woe unto them who call good and good evil, who place darkness for light and light for darkness. Who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."

As I was doing my morning walk/prayer, I was listening to my iPod. Mark Schultz (see yesterday's blog) has a great new song on his new album called "Wallking Her Home." It's the story of a man who basically describes the life with his girlfriend who eventually becomes his wife as a walk. Every stage of their lives together, he is walking her home. And when it comes to die, he's right there with her, walking her home. It's a real tear-jerker and a song that means so much. Right after that song came a song by the Doobie Brothers. (My musical tastes are extremely eclectic!) The song? "What a Fool Believes. It talks of a guy who sees a girl he used to like and he describes what their relationship used to be, but she can't see it. She smiles at his "nostalgic tale" never coming close to what really happend. Hence....what a fool believes.

I couldn't help but think of godly, God honoring relationships. They are pure, they are honest, they are truthful, they are pure, they are sweet, and they are fulfilling, and they are life long, no, eternal. The second song describes an empty, hollow, and non-existent relationship. One that only existed in the mind of one. Now, which one would you prefer?

God's ways and His paths are always right, fulfilling, and wonderful. I chose God. Have a great day. JW

Mark Schultz

I went and saw Mark Schultz in concert last night. What a phenomenal show! Of the things that impressed me, we sang an acappella version of "It is Well with My Soul." He also told a story about "Letters from War." He said the Army had asked to use that song in a video that was sent to our troops. Then he said the Pentagon called and asked him to come for a concert. He told them he wasn't sure they knew what they were getting; that he was a Christian artist. He said the music wafted down the halls and a general came down and said, "I've been praying for 25 years for something like this to come to the Pentagon." Praise God!
By the way, the election is over. The people have spoken. Pray for our country. Just remember, another election is coming in two years. In the meantime, show people Jesus. Have a great day. And listen to Mark Schutz music! JW

What Kind of Campaign Would Jesus Run?

I started writing a post yesterday, but it just didn't flow. Those of you who write know exactly what I'm talking about. So I just erased it and saved it for another day. Today is a slightly different story. Thanks to some timing and events, I'm ready to write.
I voted this morning. Finally, all of the politicians can quit running their commercials on television, they can take their signs down, and they can stop demagoging. (Is that a word? And if it is, did I even come close to spelling it right?) Here's a question. What kind of campaign would Jesus have run? Now I already hear the harummphs about how Jesus wouldn't have been involved in such tomfoolery and you're probably right. But I think I know. He would have kept His mouth shut. When asked who He was before Herod, He never spoke. If you look at Jesus, He rarely told anyone who He was. And when He did, He either told them not to tell anyone or they were not in a position to put it in the Jerusalem Post. He told the woman at the well in John 4. The group of fighting, jealous, egotistical, self-serving apostles, He told. But when He had the opportunity to make it big (some tried to force Him to be King), He hid.
As I listen to the politicians of our day tell us what they are going to do, more often than not, how bad their opponent is, I sense they are looking for power. Power to bring change. Personal power. Power over people. But as the Michael W. Smith song says, (and this is one of those "coincidences." I heard this song right after I voted.) "Above all powers, above all kings, above all nature and all created things." That's my Jesus. It doesn't matter who gets the power here on earth, the real power is represented in our Lord. Have a great day! JW

God's Pursuit of Me

Yesterday, I finished reading through my Bible for the year. I read through The Message because I wanted a fresh take on Scripture because I tend to get to parts I'm familiar with and just skip across them. There were times when I thought, "Does it really say that?!!?" I'd go to another version and sure enough, it did say that. There were other times when it didn't. But it was a new read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. People often ask me which is the best translation of the Bible to read. I really want to say, "The original language." But that would be smart-aleck and glib. So what I say is, "The one that you'll read." Which is almost as smart-aleck and glib, but it's true.
I've also been teaching a class this year called, "How to Read and Study the Bible." It has brought new insights into my life also. There is a tremendous freedom that I have found this year in reading the Scriptures. I hope it continues to resonate in my life as I continue to read about God's pursuit of us. That's the theme of the entire Bible...God's constant pursuit to have a relationship with us. Someone might say, "It's taken you the entire year of reading through the Bible to come up with that?" The answer to that is "No!" It's taken a lifetime of hardships and beatings (not literal, but spiritual) and mistakes, and I still haven't gotten there yet. But I'm learning. I hope you are, too. Have a great day. JW

A Small Reminder

Last night we hosted what we called "Trunk or Treat" in our parking lot. Twenty cars were parked with trunks open and we gave out candy and other treats to the kids of our community. It was fun to see the smiling faces, the shy kids who under normal circumstances would be yelling and otherwise making noise at home, and the costumes they were wearing. But, alas, all good things come to an end. I went to the hospital immediately following to visit a little girl who didn't get to go out trick or treating last night. (I took her a bag of candy. Of course, her parents have to oversee the disbursement. Ha!)
This morning, after all the candy was given out, the parking lot cleaned up, I walked up to the building and reached into my pocket only to find a small can of Play-Doh that we were giving out last night. I smiled as I was reminded of those precious faces, smiling as they received their little treats. I heard their "thank-you's" once again as I held the can in my hand.
I was reminded of the words of Jesus. "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." What we did last night, in my opinion, would have been exactly what Jesus would have done had He been here. In fact, He was here. Have a great day. JW

Halloween and Other Holidays

I want to repeat something that I said last year on my Halloween blog. There are many who get uptight, upset, and other "ups" when it comes to Halloween. My parents, who by the way were a very conservative couple, never blinked twice about letting us dress up, go into the neighborhood, and trick or treat. I was taught the purpose of Halloween was to get as much candy in as short a period of time as possible.
Now I understand the beginnings of the "holiday." I'm not big into the ghosts and goblins and all of that stuff. But what's wrong with dressing like a potato...or a crayon...or Belle or any other Disney character? "Well, you teaching them to worship Satan!" Am I really? This is a parental choice in my humble opinion. If you don't want your kids to do this, don't let them do this.
But you'd better be consistent. You better not accept roses or any other kind of card or gift on St. Valentine's Day. You'd better not dye Easter eggs on Easter. It's a fertility rite, you know. And land's sakes, don't even think about winding a May Pole. Happy Halloween! Have a great day. JW

Just Pray

What a humbling thought it is to know that God answered your prayer in the positive. The Creator of the universe, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, heard and answered. Prayer is becoming more and important to me the older I get. I read in Phillip Yancey's book on prayer that we often ask the question, "If God knows what I need before I pray, then why pray?" His answer was, isn't it awesome to know that we come along side of God to look at the purpose of our prayer and act in partnership. Obviously, in our small part, we must realize that it is God who wills and acts according to His purpose. But I liked that analogy.
I remember hearing my Dad say, "If you're too busy to pray, you're too busy." Good words. Find the time. In your car, on a walk, before you sleep. Find the time to pray. I hope your day is good. JW

Christmas

Today is October 25. What's so special about that date? It's only two months until Christmas....one month 'til Thanksgiving. Two of my favorite holidays. I listened to a Christmas song this morning as I walked. Mannheim Steamroller is always good to listen to, no matter what time of year.
For some reason I've been thinking of Jesus' appearance here on earth. What if He came again? What if He was born in a homeless shelter in Washington, D.C.? Would anybody notice? Or would we be just as clueless as they were when He came to this earth?
What about me? Do I search for Him everyday? Do I see Jesus in those I have contact with? He did say that if you served anyone, the least of these His brethren, you did it to Him.
Keep your eyes open. Keep looking. Keeping searching. Have a great day. JW

Prayer

I'm reading Philip Yancy's new book on prayer. It's appropriately entitled Prayer. So far it's been a wonderful resource, full of great quotes and wonderful insights. Here is a quote from today's reading:

Prayer is a subversive act performed in a world that constantly calls faith into question.

That one just hit me. Recently, I made a comment that we can't prayer in public schools anymore and someone corrected me. He told me that prayers continue in our public schools all the time. He's right! No one can stop me from praying. It can be banned, prohibited, ridiculed, and allegedly stopped, but you cannot keep me from praying to the God who hears all. Ponder that one and let me know what you think. Have a great day. JW

Bad Traveler

I'm not a very good traveler. It must have started when I was young and my parents would pack my brothers and me into a car and we would take two day drives back to Ohio to see our grandparents. There were only two reasons to stop on these trips. One was to fill up with gasoline. The other was in the case of an emergency, i.e. flat tire, engine overheated, etc. Of course, we would stop at night (in the cheapest hotel dad could find). We would have to go to the bathroom during the refueling stops. We carried a cooler and mom made sandwiches while we went down the road. Efficient. In the case of having to go to the bathroom between refueling, we would be completely humiliated by having to go along the side of the road.
Flash forward to 2006. I'm kind of like my father in that I want to get to where I'm going with as few stops as possible. Eat at the gas station since many of them sell junk food and keep going. I will stop at a rest area if I have to, but the key (the mission) is to get where we're going in the shortest amount of time.
I'm even worse traveling by air. First of all, there is now no room on planes to sit. If I sit by the window, my legs are around my chin and then the person in front of me invariably leans his/her sit back so that the tray table fits directly into my stomach. If I sit by the aisle, I'm bumped by everyone who walks by. For some reason they stop at my seat and put something in the overhead, so I get a view of either their front side or (ugh) backside. If I sit in the middle, the two sumo wrestlers from Japan sit on either side of me. Then you have to arrive early, stay late to pick up your luggage. So really you could almost drive to your destination in approximately the same amount of time. Maybe I ought to just stay home. But then, how much fun would that be. I hope you have a great day. JW

A Short Note, A Big Boost

I received a note today. There wasn't anything special about it, but it did come quite unexpectedly. And I wasn't the only person who received the note. It says very simply, "Just wanted to let you know that I was thinking about each one of you and about the great blessing that each of you are in my life! I've learned from you, been blessed by your words and actions, been comforted by you, strengthened by you, been forgiven by you, and loved by you. God is awesome--He blessed our family with knowing you!"

Wow! It made my day. Just a short note. Just a "thank you." It didn't take long. It meant more than you can imagine. Perhaps you're thinking today of someone who has blessed your life, or perhaps someones. Write them a note and tell them how much you appreciate them. This one note has brought tears to my eyes and gratitude to my own heart. If nothing else, stop and thank the Father for the difference He has made in your life. Have a great day. JW

Saving Private Ryan

I was pleased to see one of my favorite movies on television last night....Saving Private Ryan. There are several great scenes in the movie and I never tire of them. Of course, at the end when Captain Miller is about to die and he says to Private Ryan, "Earn this. Earn it!" As the scene changes from a young Private Ryan to an old Mr. Ryan, and as he stands there on top of the cliff at the American National Cemetery at Normandy (By the way, a moving place to be. I was fortunate to have stood there in the summer of 2005), he says to his wife, "Tell me I've lived a good life. That I've done enough." My mind went to the theology that I was raised on. As we get to the end of our lives, we ask the same question. And the answer is, "No, we haven't done enough." None of us can. But Jesus did. I like Ryan's motivation. Shouldn't ours be similar? Because He did that for me, I should give everything I have for Him. I love it. Have a great day. JW

63-7

Well, here is a nothing blog, but I have to say it. It was really, really fun to watch the Arkansas Razorback football team beat the Southeast Missouri College for the Blind, er Southeast Missouri State. The final score was 63-7. Several long runs, a few good drives, some good defense, a beautiful day. I got in only 9 holes of golf due to the cold weather on Friday. Saw some good friends at church. All in all, a good weekend. Hope yours was, too. Have a great day. JW

I Heard It

I live about two blocks off of argueably the busiest East-West street in Omaha. Yet in my neighborhood is a turkey that roams around carefree. In the mornings when I walk, I walk toward that street and then cut down the street right before it. It's during that time today that I noticed something interesting. If I don't have my head phones in, I can hear the busy traffic. If I do, I can drown out everything even though I'm close to rush hour traffic.
Isn't that like our world. Focus our thoughts and minds on God and the busy world just flies past us and, in many cases, we don't give it a thought. Transversely, Satan has a way to turn our thoughts away from God and once again we find ourselves caught in the rush hour of life.
I'd been praying for most of my walk today, and as I walked down the above street I placed my earphones in. Call me crazy. Call me a lunatic. But the song that came on was Rich Mullins singing, "O God you are my God and I will ever praise You." Don't let this song get lost in the translation. I'm walking at a pretty good clip and he sings, "...and step by step You'll lead me, and I will follow you all of my days."
I can hear you now. "Oh, Jim, that was just a coincidence. You're reading too much into this." Am I? All right. The next song was Michael W. Smith singing, "I Can Hear Your Voice." I think God was trying to emphasize a point with me. He said, "Keep listening, Jim. Keep walking." I think I will. Even though you might not believe me. Have a great day. JW

More Love

Charles Carl Roberts IV. Does that name ring a bell? Probably not. I had to look it up myself. He was the man who killed five innocent little Amish girls. How quickly we forget. We continue to remember the ugly murders he committed, but we so quickly forgot his name.
I was listening to a radio talk show last night and the commentator told of his funeral. Of course you would expect the standard people to show up even at a murderer's memorial. He was buried in his wife's family plot at the Methodist (I think) Church there in town. Attending the funeral were members of the Amish community. The talk show host expressed his complete and total disbelief at the show of grace and forgiveness. He said, "I will never understand this kind of deed. The world needs more Amish." He's was partially right. That kind of love is truly uncommon, yet available to all...including Mr. Charles Carl Roberts IV. What the world needs is not more Amish, but more who follow and bask in the love that God has shown us from the very beginning. That's what we need.
I hope your day is good. JW

Ain't Man Great!!

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I like contrasts. Well, I saw another one last Friday. I was on the golf course (I need to do that more often!) and a big jet flew overhead. It was more than likely on its way to the Omaha International Airport. I thought of the many people on the plan anticipating their arrival in the big city. Just as I marvelled at man's great invention of the jet airplane and all its glory, about 15 or 20 Canadian geese sailed in over the lake (the same lake which tried to take my golf ball!). Their grace was unmistakeable as they glided to rest on the smooth surface of the water. There they were in stark contrast...the big manmade airplane and the graceful geese.
It then struck me that the God who made the geese also made humans who devised the jet airplane. And when I began to think of the foolishness of my first thought, i.e. how great man is, I realized the greatness and wonder of God. The same God who made everything from nothing, the One who threw the stars into the universe, the one who made intellect, geese, the lake, everything I saw is the same Wonderful God who loves you and me. The same One who knows everything about you...and still loves you. What a wonderful thought. And silly me for thinking that a jet could outdo a creation of God. Have a great day. JW

By the way, how 'bout them Hogs???!!!!! Arkansas 27, Auburn 10. It was almost too good to watch. You probably heard Nate and me screaming.

The Leaves of the Field

While I was walking today, I came across thousands upon thousands of little leaves on the pavement. They were a beautiful yellow color, but they had fallen in the fall transition. I was trampling on them, cars had driven over them, some had been blown away by the wind others by blowers, other leaves had been picked up and put into bags for disposal.
Then a thought came over me. God knows about everyone of those leaves. He knew when they turned colors, He remembers when they first sprouted, He even remembered them falling. Don't believe me? Read Matthew 6. "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." You might say, "Oh, but that's about flowers, not leaves." What's the difference? Then read the next line. "If that is how God clothes the grass (leaves) of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Yes, we need God. I need God. And I need Him constantly. I am realizing that more and more everyday. I hope you are, too. But I want you to realize that He cares so much for you. So much. Have a great day. JW

Closing Songs, Part II

A continuation of yesterday's post. A couple of more "closing" songs that I really liked:

Savior, breathe an evening blessing
Ere repose our spirits seal;
Sin and want we come confessing:
Thou canst save and Thou canst heal

Should swift death this night o'ertake us,
And our couch become our tomb,
May the morn in heav'n awake us,
Clas in bright and deathless bloom.

Or how about:

Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh;
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.

When the morning wakens,
Then may I arise
Pure, and fresh, and sinless
In Thy holy eyes.

Ah, great memories. Great songs. Have a great day! JW

The Sun Declines

I don't know why but I've been having some evening songs come to my mind. You know, the "Take the Name of Jesus With You" songs that we used to end Sunday evening worship with. Now that many churches are leaving the Sunday evening worship services for small groups, we have missed a lot of those songs. It would be a little out of place to sing, "The Sun Declines" in a Sunday morning worship.
There were a number of songs that had beautiful words and music set to it that we used to sing at high church when we lived in Searcy. My good friend, David, knows these songs well. For instance:
Savior, again to Thy dear name we raise,
With one accord, our parting hymn of praise;
We stand to bless Thee ere our worship cease,
Then lowly bowing, wait Thy word of peace.

Grant us Thy peace throughout our earthly life;
Our balm in sorrow, and our stay in strife;
Then, when Thy voice shall bid our conflict cease,
Call us, O Lord, to Thine eternal peace.

Beautiful song, isn't it? Or how about this one:
The sun declines: o'er land and sea
Creeps on the night;
The twinkling stars come one by one
To shed their light;
With Thee there is no darkness, Lord;
With us abide;
And 'neath Thy wings we rest secure This eventide.

And when with morning light we rise,
Kept by Thy care,
We'll lift to Thee with grateful hearts
Our morning prayer;
Be Thou thro life our Strength and Stay,
Our Guard and Guide
To that dear home where there will be no eventide.

I don't have time to talk about "Now the Day is Over" or "Day is Dying in the West." But I will continue to remember the beautiful sentiments in all of these songs even though we don't sing them anymore. Have a great day. JW

I Want to Worship Even If It Kills Me

He came into services yesterday just as the pre-worship buzz had stopped. We were getting ready to sing the first song of praise. His head was bald, he was gaunt, but the thing that drew my attention was the medical mask on his face. He's one of our members who recently underwent a bone marrow transplant for lymphoma.
I've kept up with his progress by reading his wife's faithful updates on the internet. His white blood cell count had made it to zero meaning he had absolutely no resistance to infection in his body. What hit me, though, and I don't think I'm overdoing it here, is that he came to worship in spite of the fact that he might get an infection that could make him really sick or possibly kill him. You couldn't keep him away from worshipping his God. You couldn't keep him away from being with people who love him. You couldn't keep him away from being in the fellowship with all of those around the world who were at the very same time or the very same day calling on the same God. What an inspiration!
And I thought, if it were me in the same situation, would I be at worship? Ask yourself the same question. I'm grateful to men like Mark who said, "I want to come into the house of the Lord." Have a great day. JW

WWJD

I have been finishing up my sermon for Sunday this morning. It's about the greatest commandment. Jesus said to love God with everything in you and the second greatest was to love your neighbor as yourself. Luke tells us that the guy asked Jesus, "...and just who is my neighbor?" Hence, the story of the Good Samaritan. Now I'm a busy guy with things to do, people to see, places to go.
The church secretary comes in and says that someone wants to see me. It's the typical benevolence case. The man brings his little boy in. Just moved here. No money, no food, no gas for the car. My first reaction is to get rid of him. But then the words hit me, "and just who is my neighbor?" Okay, Lord, you don't have to hit me in the face with this one anymore. I gave him the money in my pocket. I gave him food. I gave him my card. I don't know if it was enough, but my prayer with him and his son was that God multiply what I gave him just like he did the loaves and the fishes.
Maybe if I just wasn't so dense. If I just would take the hints from God and follow him, my life would be so much simpler. Perhaps I'd be more caring and loving. And maybe, just maybe, I would be more like Jesus. What would Jesus do? Have a great day. JW

It's Been A Good Day

I didn't write yesterday and I thought I did. But it was good that I didn't. It hadn't been a good day and I was feeling somewhat down. I had prayed to God about the specific situation I found myself in. The tasks came as they usually do. I worked on lessons, visited the hospital, etc.
Then I received a phone call and a letter. Both of them positive. Both of them exciting. Both of them areas for me to serve God. Both of them messages from the Lord. God is indeed good. My day brightened. My countenance lifted. Now, I still have to deal with the initial situation that brought me down. But I know that God is faithful. He is right by my side. He is faithful even if I hadn't received the letter and the phone call. It did, however, help me to see how much God cares.
There would be some who would say, "Those are random things that happened and have nothing to do with God." I'm sorry, I don't believe you. I believe that my God is active in my life. "He (God) is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes holy pleasure in the happiness of His people." A. W. Tozer. I agree, A.W., I agree. Have a great day. JW

The Marathon of Life

My son-in-law ran in the Omaha Marathon yesterday. I went down to see the beginning of the race and it was an interesting reminder of life. It was really a metaphor for life itself. For instance?
There were all ages running in the race. I saw people who looked really, really old (about my age!! or older). There were some really, really young ones. Some, you could tell, were in good shape. Others, well, you know what I mean. There were some who were well prepared, i.e. they had their power bars and their water. While others were wearing (no kidding) black plastic bags. I even saw one guy who had some kind of drinks attached to his waist, yet was barefooted. I wonder what he wanted about 3 miles into the race, a drink or some shoes. There were some who were very non-chalant about the race. They just kind of sauntered up to the beginning when the even was about to start. Others were "warming up" as I was walking up. It's always interesting to me the people who run about a half marathon just warming up. Their faces are set and serious and there is no fun in the race. Others were laughing and enjoying the event.
Welll, you can make all the comparisons you want. I continued to think of Paul's comment in II Timothy when he said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Paul said he finished the race. My son-in-law didn't win the race yesterday. Quite the contrary. But ask him if the blisters, the soreness, the weariness wasn't worth it. You bet the race is worth it. Just keep running. Have a great day. JW

Taking Care of the Flowers

Why is it sometimes your mind has absolutely nothing to say, and then other times I could give you three or four blogs. Today is the latter.
We have a gentleman who is a member of our congregation, a former Jew, who had surgery yesterday. He is one of those guys is isn't flashy. He just serves. He maintains the flowers around our building.
He wasn't feeling well today after surgery and I visited him the first thing this morning. He is still in and out of consciousness, but he knew (at least for now) that I was there. I told him it was raining outside. He said, "The Lord always takes care of my flowers when I'm in the hospital." I loved it. Even in the middle of pain, even when the night was not good, even when he didn't feel like it, he understood the Lord's faithfulness. Oh, to have the same faith.
I hope you have a good day today. I am. JW

More Salt

I've been thinking (which in and of itself is dangerous). Why do we as a nation even care about earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters in other countries around the world? Why do we send in money, food, and relief help at the drop of a hat? Why do we even have organizations such as the Red Cross? What makes our country's ethic one that helps others? Can I give you what I think is the answer? It's Jesus. It is the way we were formed as a country. Our founding fathers based this country on the principles of the Bible and those principles have permeated down through the years so that we help people.
What happens when we cease following God? We will become a nation that focuses inward. We will not care what is happening around the world. We will count ourselves lucky that it didn't happen to us.
I remember a converstation I had with my dad several years before he died. We were talking about good people all over who, without wanting any credit, did good things. He looked at me and said, "There's still a lot of salt." I hope that's always true. Salt and light. It's what we are. It's what the world needs. Now more than ever. Have a great day. JW

Love

I'm changing my theology as everyday goes by. I was raised by a wonderful father and mother who loved God and loved His church. My parents loved the Scriptures and read them daily. My father was a product of his day and saw anything that was not Church of Christ as dangerous and wrong.
I don't say that as a criticism of my heritage (or maybe I do). Here is my new theology which is not new to anybody else but me. Unless I'm motivated by "What would Jesus do?" and loving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving my neighbor, then I shouldn't do it. My motivation should come from a deep love of God and humankind. Anything else is secondary. God loved, Jesus served, and I should emulate both. Why do I say this? When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, what did He say? "Love God and love your neighbor." Right after Jesus washed the feet of his apostles, what did He tell them? Love one another the way I (Jesus) have loved you. What does John talk about in his books. Love God. Love your brother. You can't love God if you hate your brother. I'm sorry. It's in there so much that I just can't ignore it anymore. Love.
Oh, but that's too simple. Is it? Try to love the unloveable. It's easy to love the child at church who is sweet and smells nice and who's hair is braided. Love the one with the dirty diaper. Hug the one who kicks your shin. The lesson can be taught in 10 seconds but it takes a lifetime to understand. Join me, won't you, in this wonderful pursuit. It's what sets Christianity apart from all other religions. I love the words from the old song, "O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go:

O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee;
I give Thee back the life I owe, that in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be. I hope you have a great day. JW

Football, Razorbacks, and Huskers

All right. Good football weekend for me. The Razorbacks won 21-19 over Vanderbilt. They play Alabama this week in Fayetteville. Sorry to the Husker fans who lost to Southern Cal. I know the temptation is to compare scores from USC vs. Arkansas and USC vs. Nebraska. Not a good indication. First game of the year for some, different conditions, etc. If you do that then you would have to say Arkansas' offense is better than Nebraska's because UA scored more points. But that's not necessarily true.
Now before you say I'm against anything Husker, that's just not true. I'm a Husker volleyball fan. I hope they win the national title. See, not everything is as it seems.
Not a real exciting blog today, but I'm whippped after the weekend. Maybe tomorrow something profound will come. Have a great day. JW

Passionate Mission

He sat across from the table from me at lunch. It was the first time I had ever met him, but I had heard his name on several occasions. As we talked about his ministry, this gentlemen with tears in his eyes said, "I want to start a ministry in the poor section of town. I just want to wrap a towel around my waist and get to work."
In a deserted hospital room at 5:00 in the morning, I visited with another gentleman who, once again with tears in his eyes, talked to me about speaking the very words of God in his ministry. If you listen to me preach on Sundays, your going to get a little of my sermon in this blog today. I don't like the word evangelism. It's not found in the Bible. There's nothing wrong with the word and I admit that it's my own bias. But for me, the word conjures up everything that we've done wrong about spreading the gospel. It's coat and tie and slicked back hair and door knocking and duty. It has nothing about a desire to save lost souls, but it has everything to do with another notch on our belt of salvation. "Yes siree, we baptized another one." Then we go and leave them to fend for themselves in a world that doesn't care about them. In the meantime we're going to find another one to baptize. It has everything to do with "have to" and nothing to do with "want to."
Maybe we ought to change our language. Jesus told us to go make disciples. We've completely ignored that step. We go directly to the slam dunking. I want us to have the same heart as the two I mentioned above. Perhaps we should call it our passionate mission.
It is what we are. It is who we are. We can't stand the thought of another lost soul dying without knowing Jesus. When we have this passionate mission, the person becomes real. It's a soul who God loves and not just another convert. Passionate ministers draw people to them by their care and concern not by their slick sales techniques and closing tactics. Passionate mission. I like it. Have a great day.

By the way, I know I'm not usually here on Fridays. But I did what I advocated. I went to Starbucks and got my chai and sat and enjoyed the morning. Then I came here to catch up on a few things. I have my Green Valley Bible Camp T-shirt on, my jeans, and my tennis shoes. My wife is at work, my son is in school, my daughter is with her husband, and I'm by myself. I'm enjoying the day. Have a good one yourself. JW

Third Awakening and Views of God

Buried on page 4 in last night's edition of my local newspaper was a short article that for some reason caught my eye. It was a report on some comments that President Bush recently made to a group of conservative journalists. He said he thinks we're in our Third Awakening. By this he means he sees the country waking up to our spiritual foundations once again. It happened in the 1600s when we were just starting to form a new nation. It happened once again in the early 1800s (Restoration Movement???) And now, the President thinks it's happening again. Oh, I hope he's right. The reason? Maybe a view of what's happening in the world today. The clash between good and evil ideologies.
Another interesting article I read yesterday reported a survey from Gallup that asked questions about our country's views on God. The results were interesting. 31.4% of Americans see God as an Authoritarian God. He is angry at our sins and He's engaged in our lives. Another 23% see God as a Benevolent God who has absolute standards but loves us. Those who see God as the Critical God make up 16% of our population and 24.4% of American see God as the Distant God who created the universe but has stepped aside and let it go.
Do you want to guess which parts of the country fell where? The largest percentage of people who believed that God was authoritarian come from the South. More of the Midwesterners believe in a benevolent God while the East Coast sees God as critical. The West Coast see God as distant. Interesting, isn't it?
I hope your day is blessed. I also pray that you see God as He really is. Have a great day. JW

Life Construction

Driving to work this morning I encountered construction work on Interstate 680. It's been going on for several weeks now, but I've been able to avoid it thus far. But today...The workmen are tearing up the side of the road and it looks as if they are adding another lane. Perhaps there is too much traffic in the area and this new lane will help ease the congestion in the morning's rush hour traffic. It's going to get worse before it gets better. Ugh!
Oh, oh. I feel a spiritual application coming on. How many times do our lives seem as if they are torn up, under construction, perhaps? Life grinds to a halt and everything seems to stop. God's discipline seems cruel, often harsh. But in the long run, it does get better. it often doesn't occur on our schedule or time frame. God is faithful. He is consistent. He is the only One who knows what is best and even though it may be painful, it is better in the long run. I don't like the hardships now, but I'll see the wisdom of God in the future. I've lived long enough now to have enough faith to trust in God and His wisdom.
If you're struggling right now, cheer up. This is not permanent. And often you will fine everything better than you could ever imagine. Remember, He is faithful. Have a great day! JW

Time That Is Left

Mark Schultz's music is touching my heart lately. Here is one I was listening to today:

What will you do with the time that's left?
Will you live it all with no regret?
Will they say you loved 'til your final breath?
What will you do with the time that's left?

Oh Hallelujah! Oh Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!

What will you do with the time that's past?
Oh and all the pain that seems to last?
Can you give it to Jesus and not look back?
What will you do with the time that's past?

Oh Hallelujah! Oh Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!

What will He say when your time has come?
When He takes you into His arms of love?
With tears in His eyes will He say well done?
What will He say when your time has come?

Oh Hallelujah! Oh Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!

What will you do with the time that's left?
Will you live it all with no regret?
Will they say that you loved 'til your final breath?
What will you do with the time?

Thanks, Mark. I couldn't have even come close to saying it better. I get to hear him in concert in November. I can't wait. Have a great day. JW

September 11

I was a fourth grader at Willard Elementary School. When I reached the top of the steps of my school, one of my classmates told me of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. All of us who were alive at the time can tell you where you were when it happened. Fast forward to September 11, 2001. This time I was Vice President of Enrollment Managment at York College and my office was in my old elementary school. Now it's called Sack Hall. I had been to a breakfast meeting with our consultant and when I returned, standing at the bottom of the same steps where I heard of the president's death, I heard of the plane crashing into the World Trade Center. Our house was across the street from Sack Hall, so I went home and watched the whole tragedy in horror. My mother said she just fell to her knees. Five years later, we stand as a nation praying that this won't happen again. I know there have been discussions and politics and threats and warnings. The solutions to this threat are complicated. And yet, there is a very simple answer. The lowest common denominator can be found and the solution is there. Whether it can be implemented is another story. But the answer is simple. It's Jesus. I know He said that He came to bring the sword to families. But He is still the answer. He's the Prince of Peace. And He is the answer, the only answer. Say a prayer in remembrance today. And pray that hearts will change and turn to Him. JW

Turning Points

Life has a number of turning points. When one is in the midst of such turning points, he doesn't realize the gravity of the situation. It isn't until years down the road when looking back does one realize the difference a decision, a marriage, or a conversation made in his life. I have talked before of decisions; how one decision can change the direction of one's life.
I think baptism is one of those turning points. I Peter 3:21 says that it isn't the water that saves you in baptism. Of course, we know it's Jesus that saves. But baptism is the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It is a pledge, a decision, a turning point where the believer says, "From this day forward, I'm serving the Lord."
I see a number of turning points in my life. How about you? Have you seen any? Can you identify? That's why the writer says to "teach us to number our days aright." That's why it's important to understand that our lives are just a vapor. Can we go back and change those points? In most cases, we cannot. The event has happened, the change has occurred. But we can pray. We can bless. We can ask God's intervention and His direction. Once we do this, we realize anew that He is in control. Have a great day. JW

Credit Card is Cancelled

If you know me, you know that my mother died a year ago in March. As the keeper of the checkbook, I had been paying whatever bills there were while my eldest brother executed the estate. He did a wonderful job in making sure everything was taken care of. As the keeper of the checkbook, I also had Mom's mail forwarded to me.
Yesterday, and I'm not lying about this, Mom received a letter in the mail from one of her credit card companies. In a little text box at the top it has these words: Important information is noted below regarding your credit card account." Here, in part, is what the letter says:

Dear Evelyn J White: As your credit card company, it is important to us to provide you with timely information regarding your credit card account. After careful consideration, we have elected not to renew your account. The principal reasons for our decision are as follows: Consumer Was Reported As "deceased" At the Credit Bureau.

Now they list that reason three times in the letter. Whew! I'm glad they're are on top of this! Mom will certainly be relieved to have this taken care of. And by the way, who in the world were they sending the letter to? If she was dead, how would she know her credit card has been cancelled? Oh, my. Do you think she's continuing to use it? Thank heavens for this rocket scientists at this credit card company. And we wonder what is wrong in our financial world. Have a great day! JW

Letters from Dad

The weather is cooling off now. In the mornings, the temperature is in the 50s in the morning instead of the 80s. Fall is not far away...and neither is winter.

I'm not much into recommending books because what I like may not appeal to someone else. But if you are a father, I would recommend you read Letters from Dad by Greg Vaughn. It has some great suggestions on how to leave a legacy for your children.

In it, he makes a comment about marriages that I thought was interesting. He said about marriage, "God's plan says, THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE. Satan's plan says, THE ONE SHALL BECOME TWO. Why does Satan hate Christian marriages so much? Because they are a mirror of Christ's relationship with believers." Great comment. I'd really never thought of it that way before. I hope you had a great break (Labor Day). JW