It's Like Riding a Bicycle

"It's like riding a bicycle." That means it's supposed to be easy. Well, for my 53rd birthday this year, my daughter and son-in-law gave me money to help buy a bicycle for me to ride. This, of course, is for my health. And frankly, I do like it better than walking...somewhat.
I remembered when I was young I would get on the bike and with a few pumps of the pedals I was going so fast. The breeze was flowing through my hair. I got places really fast and I could ride forever. Now I have to wear a helmet so my hair doesn't flow in the breeze and besides it's a lot shorter. And I've noticed how many hills there are in Nebraska. My old bike had one gear. This new one has 25 or 30. And I don't remember sweating as much as a kid when I rode the bike. Now in 30 minutes, I can see all the houses in my general neighborhood. It just doesn't seem that I go near as far in the amount of time.
So don't let anyone use that saying anymore. Because it's not. It's much, much harder. I hope your day is great. JW

Pray for Your Leaders

We have a tradition of buying a little book for those who are moving out of our area. We place those books out in the foyer and people sign their best wishes to the family who is leaving.
Yesterday, I was signing one of the books and I happened to notice a message placed by someone. The book is a book on prayer. It has a drawing of President Bush with President Lincoln on one side, President Washington on the other. Both have their hands on the present president's shoulder and they are praying. The book is extremely appropriate for the couple who is leaving because 1. they have been people of great faith and prayer and 2. the husband is former military.
What was written was something like this. "The only thing President Bush deserves is life in prison. Shame on all you Republicans who voted for him."
First, it was extremely inappropriate for something like that to be put in a book honoring someone who is leaving. Second, what about the Democrats who voted for President Bush? Third, why didn't they sign their name? I don't think that whoever wrote that goes to church with us. I think it was probably someone else who ventures through our building at one time or another. Our building is used a lot by other people.
So what's our response? Cover it up and move on. Prayer is not about politics. It's not about partisanship. It's not about Republicans or Democrats. Frankly, I think God really couldn't care less about which party is in power. We are told to pray for our leaders. And, if you read your Bible, you will see that God uses nations that don't follow Him to accomplish the tasks He wants accomplished. So God is neither American or Democrat, Russian or Republican. God is God.
Well, I've spouted enough. I hate to see this couple go. And I've stood on my soapbox long enough. I hope your day is a good one. JW

The Desert

There are times when it just doesn't happen. There's nothing pertinent or glib to say. The words just don't come, nor do the thoughts. To one who makes his living by talking, that used to be and sometimes is still frustrating. But I'm learning. I'm learning that sometimes it's better just to shut up. (We weren't allowed to say "shut up" in my home growing up, so it's hard to even write it!) Sometimes it's better to "be still and know that I am God."
So when the words don't come, I still know that God is faithful. When I just don't seem to be hitting on all cylinders, I know that God never slumbers. When I dont' have anything bright to say, I know that God has already said it. Period. No need for another paragraph. But as I read today in II Chronicles, and with these words I'll leave you today, "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." Have a great day. And don't worry if you feel like you're in the desert. The rain is coming. In fact, they're showers of blessings. JW

If Lincoln Had Survived

I've been amused lately by the recent headlines about "What if Lincoln had survived?" Seems that many in the scientific community say that had President Lincoln been shot in our day and time, he would have survived. My feeling about that? Who cares? Don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I think he was one of the most sage leaders of any of our presidents. He served at one of, if not the most difficult times in our nation's history. But the fact is, he didn't survive. We can't go back and speculate, we can't go back and change things.
It's the way many people live their lives. They live in the "if only I had..." The past is, well, past. It's over. There's not a thing we can do about it. Paul tells us to forget about the past and press on. There are a lot of things about the past that I am not proud of. There are a lot of things I've done in the past that I feel are pretty good. But if I dwell on those things, nothing will ever get done again. We have today. That's it. We can dream about tomorrow. But we might as well live in the present and serve the One who deserves all of our devotion and worship. Fretting about the past changes nothing. Pressing on today results in action. Press on. Strain toward what is ahead. And by the way, have a great day. JW

Not in Charge

I heard a comment about a preacher this week that disturbed me. The person said, "He is in charge of that church." The comment was not meant to be incriminating or derogatory. In fact, it was made almost proudly.
Did you cringe, also, when you read it? My thought went immediately to Ephesians 5 where Paul says "He (Christ) is the head of the church." It's all about him. In Colossians, Paul spends a lot of time describing Jesus. Here is the list:

1. The image of the invisible God
2. The firstborn over all creation
3. By him all things were created
4. He is before all things
5. In him all things hold together
6. He is the head of the body, the church
7. He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead

The one description that always hits me in that list is "in him all things hold together." My assumption is that out of him all things fall apart. I know that sometimes we preachers think we are the reason why people come...to hear our wonderful words of wisdom. But it's not. And if it is, shame on us. We're not pointing in the right direction. "Fix our eyes" Paul says. Stare at Jesus. Be amazed. Once we do that, we'll realize that we are far from being in charge. Besides, I don't want to be in charge. I'll mess it up.
I hope your day is good. JW

Happy Mother's Day II

I didn't write about Mother's Day. I did preach about Moms. As I was sitting here thinking of my own sweet mother, I thought about how much I miss her. There is sadness that I don't get to see her, hug her, and kiss her. I wish I could hear her voice again. But when it all comes down to it, I am so happy for her. She is where she wants to be, where she prepared all her life to be. So, this Mother's Day, I celebrate with my wife who is the mother of my children and long for the time of the reunion of all of those I love.
So, I'll put here the poem written by my brother Charles. There are four boys in our family. Charles is #2. He was born on Mother's Day, May 12, 1945. He wrote this poem on Mother's Day, May 12, 1989.

This day, those many years ago,
This day, I did not watch you go
Alone into the vale of death,
Alone, to breathe the dark wind's breath.

But I was there, and from the night
Your struggles brought me to light.
Your pain and tears afforded me
To taste the gift of life: to be.

You'd walked that lonely path before,
Your were to tread it two times more;
Four times into the night you went,
And reappeared, your spirit spent.

Four times a son you brought to day;
Each time you gave yourself away.
Each time you set your brick to ground,
To build the wall, to make it sound.

The "heaven-sent" that 12th of May
Was you, whose heart was filled with day;
And from your heart I've learned to live,
To sing, to pray, to laugh, to give.

The son who writes these words tonight
Remembers you with sweet delight,
And whispers in his mother's ear:
" I LOVE YOU MOM, MY MOTHER DEAR!"

Happy Mother's Day (a little belated) Have a great day. JW

Pomp and Circumstance

I've been in a lot of "high pomp" situations. There have been university presidential inaugurations and opening of school convocations. Of course, graduation ceremonies are filled with such ceremony. I have the academic robes with the chevrons and the hood and the "pizza" hat with the gold tassel. Music is always a part of such events.
Well, Friday I was mowing my lawn in the hot Nebraska heat. I had an old T-shirt on, shorts, ratty, old tennis shoes and a hat to soak up the sweat. I wasn't glistening, I was sweating full force. I had my iPod on listening to music. As I trudged along the circumference of the yard the strains of "Pomp and Circumstance" came on. I thought it was amusing to be wearing the garb that I was knowing that I've had really different clothes on while marching into an esteemed event to the sounds of that very same music.
Then Mark Schultz came on. (Why does his music speak to me so well?) "I believe that He loves you where you are...." I thought, it's not the status of my educational background, it's not my worth to Him, it's not the deeds I may accomplish that makes Him love me. It's because He created me and I am His child and for no other reason; nothing I have done that He cares so deeply for me. "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling."
The honor belongs to Him, not me. He is the One to be honored. He is the One to be adored. Have a great day. JW

He Loves Me So

We don't sing it as much as we used to, but there is a song we used to sing a lot right before the Lord's Supper. You know it well. You've sung it hundreds, yeah, thousands of times. Here are the words:

Why did my Savior come to earth,
And to the humble go?
Why did He choose a lowly birth?
Because He loved me so!

He loved me so,
He loved me so;
He gave His precioius life for me, for me,
Because He loved me so.

I can't sing that song...at least not the way it's written. You see, the song is in past tense, i.e. "He loved me so." As if He once loved me, but that was in the past. Lamentations says that God's love is new every morning. I read of God's great love, present tense. I see and feel His love every day. So I sing (and I do it loudly) He loves me so, He loves me so; He gave His precious life for me, for me, Because He loves me so." Try it. People will wonder what you are singing and it will give you the chance to witness to them about what His love (present tense) means to you today. Have a great day. JW

May 8

I know it's May 9, but two events happened on May 8 that I needed to write about them. Both of them were deaths. First of all, on May 8, 1967 my Grandfather Garloch died. He was a tough man, a coal miner by trade who was an elder in the church. He died of lung cancer and black lung disease. I remember his coke-bottle glasses and his hearty laugh. Something we didn't hear much at the White family farm.
The second death was my father-in-law, Allwyn Hart. He died three years ago. It doesn't seem that long ago, it seems like only yesterday. He really died in 1991 when he had his first stroke. After that time, he was only a shell of the man I once knew and his mind was never the same. He could fix anything, he loved his family, and he was one of the most generous men I've ever known.
I will see both of these men again. They knew their God and served Him all their lives. It's wonderful to be in the stream of legacy that these godly, Christian men lived. And I honor them everyday.
I hope you'll take a moment and thank God for those who have influenced your life. There are those whom, I know, God has placed in your path and those who have changed you for good. Have a great day. JW

Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy

"I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart (where?), down in my heart (where?), down in my heart...." I remember singing this song at Vacation Bible School when I was a young lad. Later it was, "I'm happy today, oh, yes, I'm happy today...." Now, the way you sing both of those songs is with a frown on your face. At least that's what we did. Brow furrowed, look of seriousness on our faces, lips pursed as we sang these songs of "joy." It's no wonder we do the same as adults.
Sing songs such as "When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be..." Picture the same look as described above.
Joy is God-given. People glow with joy and peace when He controls their lives. We can be joyful even in difficult times. Contentment is a sign of God's control. Paul said he could be content in any and every situation. And he suffered through a lot of situations. He called them "light and momentary." Can you believe that? Yet, he was full of joy. How can that be? Because God is faithful. God is the God of joy.
Are you joyful? Why not let your face know about it? I hope you have a great day. JW

Heaven

I just returned from the Pepperdine lectures. Needless to say, the view was tremendous and the lectures were fabulous. I can't remember a lectureship I enjoyed so much. By the end of the day, I was overflowing. It was exhausting, exhilarating, exciting, and....(I can't think of any more "ex" words.)
One of the lectures I was privileged to hear was Rick Atchley's on Heaven. He reminded us of one of the most famous books in our brotherhood was one by Jimmy Allen called "What is Hell Like." I remember that book and I remember hearing Jimmy preach that sermon. He could make you feel as if you were standing at the gates feeling the heat.
But, for the point of my blog today, that seems to be our motivation for becoming a Christian. I've just watched the first installment of a video series on how to show your faith and their motivation was that you didn't want you friends to go to hell. I agree that fear is a good motivator. In fact, the Scripture says to "fear God and keep His commands." But I John also says that perfect love casts out all fear. Isn't love a better motivator? God so loved the world...; How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us...
I would think we would want to be evangelistic (ugh, I really don't like that word, maybe genuine, loving, anything) because of God's great love. I would hope our trust in God's promise of heaven would give us cause to tell our stories. I would hope we would want to tell others that God has pursued us so much and He wants us with Him forever. Now there's a story I can sink my teeth into. I hope you can, too. Have a great day. JW

Fifty-Three and Counting

I entered the world on this day in 1954. (For those of you who struggle with this kind of thing, I'm 53.) Other than the fact that it's the Lord's Day, it's really just another day. I'm one step closer to seeing my Lord. That's a good thing. It's certainly something I desire greatly. But there is still work to do as long as God wants me here. Like Paul said, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body." Perhaps it's not more necessary for me to stay, but I'll leave that up to the Lord. I desire heaven so much. Especially after hearing Rick Atchley speak of it at Pepperdine.
Speaking of Pepperdine, what a trip! You need to go and hear what I heard this week. The view's not bad either. Wednesday night at President Benton's house looking out his balcony was a gorgeous full moon. Wow! It was breathtaking. But more breathtaking were the passionate lessons I heard and the great fellowship I enjoyed. Have a great day. JW

Pepperdine and Prayers

I leave tomorrow for the Pepperdine Lectures. Last year was my first trip and I loved the opportunity. To hear the caliber of speakers is truly an honor. This year is no exception.
One of the greatest things about being one of God's children is when people say to me that they are praying for me. I've had that happen several times lately and it means a lot. Encouragement is one of God's greatest gifts. Barnabas...son of Encouragement. He's one of my favorite Bible characters because he always is positive. I think about Paul in Philippians when he tells them whatever is true and right and noble and of good report, think about those things. Instead of thinking of gossip, dirt, trash, and other such things, think of noble things. I think that is what praying is.
So to all of you out there who are praying....thanks. More than you'll ever know. Have a great day. I'll see you next week. JW

Good News!

I just read one of my favorite Bible stories. It's found in II Kings 6 and 7. Ben-Hadad, king of Aram besieges Samaria and the situation is beyond dire. There's no way out. Finally four lepers say, "You know what, if we stay here, we die. If we go and surrender, we may die. But what choice do we have?" So they go out to Aramean camp. There these four outcasts, find all of the riches they could ever imagine. You can just see them putting on new clothes, hiding precious metals, gorging themselves on the food they've found. One of them says, "We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves."
Isn't that us? We are the lepers who have found the riches of God's grace. We did nothing to earn it. We haven't bought the merits of God's glory. But we enjoy it. However, it is a day of good news. Everyday is in the kingdom. It is our responsibility to live and act that way.
The lepers went back and told everyone. Some believed, some didn't. They did what they should. So should we. Not everyone will listen, but it's seed sowing time. It is good news. Have a great day. JW

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

Does it seem to you that things are going from bad to worse? You have the killings at Virginia Tech. You have a guy at NASA killing someone for a bad job review. More casualties occur in Iraq every day. Iran is threatening. Israel is threatening Hamas. Everyone is blaming everyone else. Frankly, it causes my head to spin and to wonder what is happening in our world.
I've been reading from the book of Revelation lately. There is a key element there that we can apply to today. The Christians of the first century are being brutally persecuted. They are struggling with life in general and they ask, "How long?" In chapter 4 we find all of God's creation around His throne. God is in control. We come to the end of chapter 6. God is in control. One of the things that is hardest for us to realize is that God is in control. Twila Paris has a great song that I used to listen to every morning because my life seemed out of control itself. "God is in control. We believe that His children will not be forsaken," she sings. Really, isn't it the truth? There is an old song that used to be sung all the time. Now I rarely hear it. It was sung on the Ed Sullivan show. (I can't believe I'm saying that! It shows my age.) "He's got the whole world in His hands." Yes, He does. He still does. He always will. Have a great day. JW

Consequences

Sometimes we bemoan the fact that bad things are happening to us. Some of that is brought on by the fact that we live in a fallen world. And, in reality, bad things do sometimes happen to good people. Sometimes, bad things happen as a result of choices. They are called consequences.
I was watching Bruce Almighty the other night starring Jim Carrey. I know, some of you don't like him and there are some coarse elements in this movie. But overall, there are some good points made, too. At one point, Bruce finally comes to the end of his rope. While walking in the pouring rain, he gets on his knees and looks up to the heavens. He shouts, "You win, I yield myself to your will." At that point a light shines on him, he looks up, and it's a semi coming right at him. The next scene, he's in heaven wearing white. He's walking among the clouds and he's talking to God. "Why me? Why did I die." God says something like this to him, "You can't kneel down in the middle of the high way and not expect to get run over, ya dummy."
I imagine there's a lot of time when the Lord would love to say, "Ya dummy. Why aren't you listening?" I know why He doesn't. It's the same reason we don't call our own children by such names.
As hard as it is to accept, there are always consequences for the choices we make. It's a tough concept, but one we need to realize. How does one make good choices? Ask God for wisdom. James 1 says He'll give to all liberally, without finding fault. Two, seek first His kingdom. Jesus said if we'll do that God will take care of all of our needs. And, three, we need to be content with what we have. Godliness, Paul said, with contentment is great gain.
I hope your day is a good one filled with good choices and full of God's contentment. Have a good one. JW

Charles Edward White

Since I won't blog tomorrow, I want to blog on something I have talked about really every year about this time since I began this record. On April 20, 1920, Charles Edward White was born to Clyde Emerson and Mary Lucille Stout White. He was the eldest of seven kids. Even before my grandparents died, he was the patriarch of the family. Everyone looked to him for advice about everything, especially church things. He was the only one who had gotten more than a high school education. Although he wasn't the wealthiest of the bunch, he was considered the wisest.
He came by his spiritual fervor naturally. His father was a deacon at the Bearwallow Church of Christ. His grandfather, John Edward White, was also a faithful member of the same church. And his great-grandfather, James Hiram White, belonged to the long gone, "Old Bedford Church," all there in Meigs County, Ohio.
I didn't always agree with Dad, but I respected him too much to fight with him. He passionately defended the church. He loved my mother. He read his Bible faithfully. He served His God. He loved Jesus. He loved his sons. Although he wasn't perfect, he was a great example to me. I celebrate his life and know that he is waiting, along with Mom, to welcome me home.
What a wonderful legacy I have. Why was I born to such a family? I don't know. I have been blessed with a lot and I know God expects a lot of me, too. So it is with that thought, I wish Dad happy birthday. He would have been 87 years old tomorrow had he lived. But he lives forever in the place he taught me about. I'll see you soon, Dad. Have a great day. JW

Spring, Part II

On my morning walk, I noticed that the trees are starting to try to leaf out again. There are some with flowers blooming once again. And although the forsythia is gone for this year, there are still some tulips that are trying to peek their way up through the ground. Spring is arising again...the second time this year.
After Mount St. Helens erupted, the ash and lava flow destroyed the natural life that grew near the mountain. Several years ago, wild fires raged through Yellowstone National Park and destroyed much of the beautiful flora of the region. But scientists have be amazed at the return of the natural beauty of the area. What many thought would take decades, maybe even never to return, has come back in just a matter of years.
Isn't that like us. We bloom and then we're crushed. The tragedies and hardships of life cause us to wilt and die. But God allows us to grow once again. And not just once, but over and over again. "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22 Are you one of those who has been crushed? Has your spirit died within you. Take courage, my friend, life is coming again soon. God has not created you to stay in such a state. He wants you to bloom and grow. Yes, He encourages it. He adores you and wants you to become what you can be, what you ought to be. So Spring comes again in Nebraska. And it can come again in you. Have a great day. JW

Life and Death

I was talking to the mother of a marine the other day and she told me something interesting. She said they teach their soldiers to prepare to die in Iraq. That way, if and when they come back, it's a blessing. Isn't that the same way Jesus told us to live? Paul said, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Jesus said if you find your life, you will lose it. If you lose your life, you will find it. Paul said to the Romans, "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."
Even Jesus knew this. Philippians says that He became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Seems to me we work at teaching people to live. Maybe we ought to teach people how to die. And when that happens, life follows. I hope you have a full life today. JW

P.S. My deepest condolences to those victims of the Virginia Tech massacre. I heard a reporter ask, "How do you make sense of this?" Dumb question. It doesn't make sense in any way. But there are a lot of things in this life that don't make sense.

Perfectionists

Are you a perfectionist? Do you worry? I have to admit that I do worry about some things. I have never, however, been accused of being a perfectionist. I've known some in my time and I could give you a list, but I don't want to do that. Perfectionists are never happy because things are never quite the way they should be.
Last night, we were listening in class to Dr. Norman Wright and he made this statement. I thought it was classic: "There's no such thing as a successful perfectionist." Isn't that the truth? To see the world through a perfectionist's eyes is to see a world that's never quite there.
There are those in the church who look at the world this way. We can know everything and every answer to every question. There is no leeway and perfection can be attained. I'm sorry, if that were true, there would never be any room or need for grace.
So give it up, if you are one of those perfectionists. There's only one who was perfect...and you're not Him. Have a great day. JW