He Said, "Come, follow me."

My friend Ed stopped to talk to me the day of my mother's funeral.

This was at the end of several stressful days--the sadness of losing mom, and then the myriad of details and decisions involved with her funeral and church service celebration.

Ed very gently let me know that he would be hosting a church service with lots of special music about 3 weeks from that day, and might I think about joining him and playing guitar?

Despite my steadily growing fatigue and numbness, I had not even a moment's hesitation.

"Ed, just tell me the time and place, and I will be there." That was our conversation.

3 weeks later, when I arrived at the church for the pre-service rehearsal, there was a stellar ensemble of people who had also answered Ed's call--musicians of a caliber whom I was humbled and just a little intimidated to join. They had also said yes to Ed. And they were in their chairs quietly taking direction from him and smiling to each other as each song took sumptuous shape and texture. As we each knew, Ed would gather us into his musical vision and call upon our unique, individual talents in ways that said, "I know you, and I know a special way that you can be a part of this."

It's been that way every time I've worked with Ed for the past 40 years. Every time.

All Ed has to say now is, "come, follow me."

The apostles didn't have 40 years of proven experience when they met Jesus. And yet, the Gospel's explain how Jesus gathered his group of leaders,

"Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:17

I know how a musical service is going to turn out when I work with my friend Ed.

But how did the apostles know? And yet,

"Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."

Matthew 4:22-23

Jesus knows you and will involve you in ways that celebrate the unique gifts with which you've been blessed. I say, 'Lord, just tell me where and when!'

What do you believe?

Mom's Passing

[My mom's struggle with cancer ended this week, about a month after celebrating her 60th wedding anniversary with my Dad. I can't describe how much I will miss her. These are the words I spoke at her funeral yesterday. Please keep my Dad in prayer.]

"Well, I gotta tell you. Things in heaven have gotten a whole lot more organized this week…One of the angels saw St. Peter himself, helping to dust the pearly gates, and the angel says, “Looks like Dolores must finally be on her way up.”

King Solomon wrote about my mom in Proverbs 31, he said

“A woman of noble character, who can find her?

She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

She is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gates.”

My mom worked hard and she played hard.

She had movie star good looks, but she never considered herself pretty.

She typed parts manuals for WW II Army Trucks, and she typed term papers for her kids.

She changed diapers, and she changed lives.

She had a tender heart – and she let out robust, heartfelt laughter.

She played Rummy Royal and Dress Up with the Grandkids.

She drove across Europe and she camped her way across the Rocky Mountains.

She was quiet and genteel – but she was no pushover.

I will never forget the time I watched, in shock, as my 5’ 2” mom stood toe to toe with my towering, brick laying, stone-mason of a Grandfather, and she said, “You….are an ornery, stubborn old Dutchman!”

But that was the exception.

99.99% of the time she was the loving friend, the kind neighbor, the playful grandma, and most endearingly, the soul mate of my dad, Jerry.

The two of them have been inseparable since their last names – a “W” and a “Z”, put them in the same classroom in high school. Dad called her Spunky in some of the letters they exchanged while he served in the Navy – and he called her his tiger as she battled her own war with cancer.

And after 60 years of marriage they were still going strong in the house they built together – same phone number, same locks on the door, same maple tree in the front yard.

3 kids, 5 grandkids, hundreds of friends and countless memories of love and happiness.

My dad did a heroic job of keeping up with mom’s cancer treatments and taking care of the household this past year. But in the past few weeks, little by little, we knew that mom was failing, and it appeared as though the 60^th wedding anniversary celebration was her final milestone. We would have all loved her to be with us forever, year in and year out. But as my sister said, God is God, and we are not.

A cousin wrote a brief note to my mom before the anniversary party, and I love the way she summed things up.

“Auntie, you have always been an example of class, dignity, kindness, honesty and what a real woman is all about. I know everyone around you feels the same way.”

I’ll close with one last thought.

My mom knew she was going to heaven, because she believed in Jesus as her savior. You can know that too.

So I asked mom one day a couple months ago,

“When you get to heaven, who would you like to see first, your mom, or Jesus?”

Close family and friends knew that my mom lost her own mother when she was only 13, so seeing her again was a common theme over the years.

It didn’t surprise me too much when she said, “You know, I’ve been giving that more thought recently.” “And…?” I asked.

She said, “I don’t know if this sounds funny, but I really think I’d like to see my mom first, and then go see Jesus.”

Fine with me.

My surviving Aunt, big sister by several years to my mom, had yet another conversation with my mom and the two of them forged an agreement. If my mom didn’t meet up with their mom as she planned – she was going to round up a few people in heaven and roll some big thunder!

Tuesday morning at 3 a.m. we were gathered around my mom’s bedside, holding her hands and praying with her. We read some scripture (John 14: 1-6, John 11:23, Psalms 23 and 121) and my sister sang a beautiful lullaby. We told mom we loved her. We told her that she had prepared us for the life that is still before us.

And then finally, my dad said, “It’s ok if you want to go now. You go on now and be with your mom.”

She did, and we didn’t hear any thunder.

Right now, I know those two ladies – and a whole host of other family and friends, are celebrating a very, very joyful reunion of mother and daughter and Savior. That’s the image I’ll keep in mind in the days to come. I know my mom is smiling, and I know Jesus is smiling, too."

One path, many sets of directions

Four guys exit the health club after their workout.

"I heard good things about this new pub," John says, "why don't we all grab a quick sandwich? My treat."

They agree and John is about to give them directions, but Jim holds up his hand.

"Wait, I'm parked a few blocks over on Center street, and my car is facing south so tell me how to get there from that direction."

"Well, I think there's construction that way," John cautions, "and if I could just tell you..."

"Don't worry," Jim says over his shoulder, "I'll figure it out. More interesting this way." And he walks away toward Center street.

Jason also walks off in a different direction. "I have to pick up a couple things from the Convenient Store first," he says, "but I'll still catch up to you in plenty of time. I can ask the people at the store for directions."

"It's kind of dangerous over by that store," John cautions, "couldn't we eat first and then you can do that later, closer to your house?" But Jason is already turning the corner.

Only Jeremy is left standing with John.

"So where is this delicious new place you heard about, John? I'll walk with you."

John smiles and points at the building directly across the street. 

"It's right there."

Jeremy half laughs and exclaims as they quickly cross the street and enter the door, "Why didn't you just tell them it was right here?! Maybe they wouldn't have gone off in their own directions and put off our time together!"

John shakes his head and smiles back. "I started to with Jim, but he just waved me off as you saw, and you know Jason--he'd much rather find his own way--especially once you try to give him directions! I worry about both of them, but they're grown-ups after all, they can think for themselves!"

Jeremy steps in and the door closes behind them as they look forward to a delicious meal and good fellowship. They never see Jason or Jim again.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go by it. But narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14

What do you believe?

Fundamental-less

Sooner or later, golfers realize they have to work on the fundamentals.

Eye on the ball, keep your head down, turn at the waist, shift your weight, follow-through.

You can spot someone who consistently applies the fundamentals. Long tee shots onto the fairway, approach shots that avoid the sand traps, chip shots land near the hole.

Consistent golfers - fundamentalists.

You can also spot the fundamental-less golfers. One tee shot goes left, the next right. Their approach shots go way short of the green, way long. They're in the sand, in the lake.

They might be great athletes and smart people. But they lift their head, or choose the wrong club, or neglect to follow-through. 

Both types of golfers eventually get through the course and end up back in the clubhouse. 

But honestly, even when fundamental-less golfers say, "Well, it was nice to be outside and I had a couple of good shots," they would have preferred keeping their ball out of the trees and sand.

Fundamentalists are able to offer them helpful, succinct advice, and they do.

Still, one or two tips can change the next shot - but it doesn't change their overall "game."

So when a sincere, seeking fundamental-less asks, "how can I be more fulfilled in this game if I really want to improve?" the fundamentalist is kind to advise, "get some lessons and go to the practice range."

Learn and study. Don't take short cuts or you'll just get different bad habits.

I've never heard a fundamental-less golfer grumble, "those darn consistent fundamentals golfers - who told them they could shoot par?!"   That same outcome is accessible and attainable to them.  Sure, not everyone goes on the pro tour, and not everyone wants to. But everyone can enjoy the best possible game available. Or they can hit random shots and walk the course in frustration. But that lacks purpose.

Jesus said, 

"I have come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

That abundant life is accessible and freely attainable. The fundamentals are in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Enjoy the course!

What do you believe?

Dead tree, Deep roots

We lost an ash tree in our yard.

It had been planted there on the side lawn about a year before we moved in.

I didn't treat it any differently than the other trees, but it didn't thrive as well.

Two seasons ago I finally realized that the leaves - what few there were - looked wilted even after a good rain. And the branches weren't filling out or growing. This season there were no leaves and we pronounced it dead.

So I set to the task of digging out the stump. As expensive as  replacement trees are, I figured to save a few dollars on that part. How hard could it be for such a scrawny little tree?

As it turned out, pretty hard indeed.

Once I got below the surface, there were feeder roots everywhere. And the base trunk and root were easily double or triple the diameter of what showed above ground. It took me two days of digging and hacking to finally separate tree from earth. 

I told a few people of my struggle and one noted that trees often die from the top down. Which makes sense. The tree below the surface looked healthy and robust. It had died from the top down.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes, its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7

If that was true, why did my tree die? Roots looked pretty good to me.

Then the tree crew came to plant our new Black Hills spruce. It's a bigger tree, so they used a back hoe to dig out further and deeper around what I had done by hand.

There around the perimeter of what had been our ash tree was a sheet of plastic.

"Probably came wrapped around the root ball of your other tree," said the landscaper. "That could be what stopped its growth. It would have been fine for a time, but then the plastic blocked its roots."

Sometimes I meet people who have drifted from a vibrant faith to something more wilted. I even look to their root system, which seems strong enough - church attendance, family support. But there must be something blocking the growth, some plastic around the perimeter that I can't see.  Spiritual roots require spiritual nurturing and feeding. And a healthy base that extends way beyond what we can even see just below the surface. 

Let's keep an eye on each other's leaves and dig a little deeper below the surface when we ask,

how is life going for you?

What do you believe?

Porcupines and Rock Circles

We enjoyed two days of hiking along the Lake Michigan shore in our favorite state park last week. At one point we watched a sleek, fat porcupine haul himself (herself?) up 40 feet of a sweet smelling cedar .  His claws sunk into that cedar bark like fork tines through hot cherry cobbler. He paid us no mind and it was beautiful to watch such a unique creature.

Almost back to the main trail, we crossed a beach full of water-smoothed skipping stones. Tens of thousands of them are made that way by relentless water action along the north shore. We paid them no mind.

Then something caught my eye and I jerked my head to the side.

There amidst the chaos of randomly tossed stones was a design of some kind.

We stopped to study it. It was a series of concentric circles, created by placing twenty or thirty of the smoothed stones in repetitive, end to end fashion. One of the circles stood out more than the others because the selected stones were of a similar reddish hue. A single, marbled piece of granite capped the arrangement.

"Wonder who made it?" I asked, looking around the vacant beach.

"Probably one the kids we saw earlier," my wife said.

We easily recognize the presence of an intelligent design in the midst of random chaos.

We seamlessly transitioned to thoughts of the creator. Can't have one without the other.

So simple.

That shoreline is a dense maze of intelligent design. We could see it everywhere. Cedars, wild flowers, our porcupine friend.

The more scientists uncover about the complexity of single cells and genetic code, the easier it is for everyone on the beach to recognize intelligent design.

You don't just grab a handful of colored proteins and amino acids and place them in the circle of a cell. It's a fantastically complex engine that requires exacting specifications and inter-related order. 

Even scientists who apply carefully organized and ordered efforts cannot find a way to recreate the "random" event that would put those cellular elements into a circle that would create life.

They know that an intelligent designer created the cells of life, sure as I can spot a circular design of stones on a beach.

Why is that so hard to admit?

The 1st part is easy, "Looks like a circular design of stones."

The 2nd part is the hardest.

"I wonder who put it together?"

There's a wonderful, brilliant and loving creator out there and I enjoy telling him how much I appreciate his works of art--even those who are so set on denying his handiwork.

What do you believe?

Saying Grace - Anniversary

This is the blessing we said before the meal at our folks' 60th anniversary gathering:

"Lord God we thank you for this day and for all the blessings you provide.

 Thank you for the good and faithful friends, and family, who are with us here today, for those who are elsewhere, and for those who have passed into your kingdom before us.

 Thank you for all the countless memories of fellowship and love that are represented by each of these individuals, in so many different ways.

 Thank you Lord, for Jerry and Dolores, for their shining example of lives well lived and well loved.

 Most importantly Lord, thank you for the gift of your love, and the gift of eternal life that is freely available to all who choose to believe in the name of your Son Jesus.

 Now, please nourish us with this food so that we can serve you better in the name of Jesus our Lord, Amen."

What do you believe?

60th Anniversary !

Here's the toast I gave at our folks' celebration this weekend, on the occasion of their 60th anniversary:

"I’d like to use three quotes to help us toast and honor these two very honored guests.

They are both deeply spiritual people, so I’ll start with something from the Bible. This is from the apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (2:9), he said,    

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived of what God has planned for those who love him.”  No one knows God’s plan. 

 Well, no one could have known God’ plan for these two people 60 years ago; No one could have envisioned the rich, wonderful life that would arrive right here, 60 years after they started together.

 I also know that each of us has lost dear family and friends before their 80^th birthdays, so we can all appreciate that their age alone is a gift. But while God has helped keep both of them safe and alive in our midst, they have also helped to keep their marriage safe and alive. In a world that is sometime careless and dismissive of marriage, my parents have taught me that it is a commitment worth fighting for, even living for – and here they are to prove it.

 The 2^nd quote is from their “Song.” For those of you who don’t know, the title of their signature, couples’ song is “Always.” My favorite version is by Tony Bennett, and it goes like this: 

“I’ll be loving you, always. With a love that’s true, always. When the things you’ve planned, need a helping hand, I will understand, always. Not for just an hour, not for just a day, not for just a year, but always.”

 As they’ve grown old together, we can all see the genuine tenderness between them. They have helped each other, they have been there for each other – and for all of us – not for just an hour, or a day, or even 60 years – but for always.

 This last quote is from a song by Mark Heard. It’s what I think of most when I look at these two high school sweethearts, and realize the essence of what is most important. The quote goes like this…

“Love is not the only thing – but it’s the best thing

Love is never everything – but it’s the best thing.”

 Let’s raise our glasses and toast to two people who have lived well, and have loved well.    

 To Jerry and Dolores !  "

An Uncommon 20th Anniversary ?

In a month of anniversary's - my parents 60th, my 30th of joining my company - I heard of a less commonly celebrated milestone yesterday.

I mentioned an old testament verse during lunch with a friend of mine. It had stuck with me from that morning's Bible study.

He casually noted in return that an uncle had just concluded a bible study with his friends. It was a detailed study of the first five old testament books.

"Cool," I said, "how long did it take them?"

Plenty of people do serial studies like that, so I was curious whether they had chosen a chapter per week, or a book per season or something. His answer surprised me.

"Twenty years," he said.

"Excuse me?"

"Twenty years."

What kind of determination and discipline must that require? And what wonderful fellowship they must have shared, amongst themselves and with God.

An anniversary worthy of note, to be sure.

What do you believe?

"Those Were Troubling Times..."

I begrudgingly muttered the words last week, "these are troubling times."

Hey, I had good reason - I hear many people worry over corrupt, selfish governments with inept, ineffective leaders who use their state-influenced media to manipulate the uniformed "electorate." And that's just in my own country!

But then two readings greatly encouraged me.

Back 2,400 years ago, the prophet Jeremiah relayed God's message that the people being exiled to Babylon should not give up - to the contrary, they should persevere to thrive and flourish within the oppressive setting!

"Build houses and settle down, plant gardens and eat what they produce...Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."  Jeremiah 29:5-7

God then promises that better times are ahead for his people,

"For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Ah, thank you! Great reminder. 

We work for God's kingdom right where we are. Right here, right now. The 'troubling times' never cease, but neither do God's plans for our future.

The second reminder came from last Sunday's Gospel reading at church.

The apostles start to panic as a terrible storm overtakes their boat. In their fear they cry to Jesus, 

"Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

He quickly calms the storm - to their relief - but the teaching moment isn't just about the miracle:

"He said to his disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'" Mark 4:37-40

Here they have the Son of God next to them in the boat - they know this guy - and yet they're wringing their hands, wondering 'if he cares' for their predicament.

Of course he does, and I get it.

I might just have well have stood up and whined, 'Lord, don't you care if I drown down here?'

He was there at the exile, he was there on the boat. He's here with us now.

It's not time to panic, it's time to thrive and prosper, even as we

'seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.'

I can do that. And I am greatly encouraged.

What do you believe?

Phil Keaggy - "For Dolores"

About 14 Christmas's ago, my Mom had this smile on her face when she said, "I've got one more gift for you."

I unwrapped a very beautiful Washburn acoustic guitar - personally autographed across the front by Phil Keaggy.

If you ask most in-the-know guitar players to list the best of the best, Phil Keaggy will be at or near the top of their all time list, usually  ahead of Jimi Hendrix. He's also one of the most prolific, beloved Christian recording artists of the last 30 years, and still a must-see-live performer. 

My mom had been at the local Christian book store to buy Phil's latest CD, "True Believers."

By coincidence, Phil was scheduled for an in-store appearance. Knowing my love for Phil's music (my first Christian album was also his first,  1976's "What a Day" ) mom decided to wait for Phil to show up and sign the CD. 

She waited over an hour, but sure enough Phil appeared. Maybe a little surprised to have a grandma waiting for a signed copy of his Christian rock-genre music, Phil signed the face of the CD, "To Tom - Your Mom is #1 in Line."

The store owners were tickled by my mom's enthusiasm and told her to stay for the name drawing, one lucky winner to get the signed Washburn guitar. So my dear, sweet mother, with Christmas to prepare for and countless other errands to run, cooled her heels while Phil stayed and signed autographs. But sure enough, her name was called and she again got to chat with Phil. 

"Your Tom's mom, you were first in line," is how mom explained the story amidst the family pandemonium and joy over my receipt of that very, very treasured gift of a lifetime.

Last night we drove four hours round trip to again see Phil in concert. Our tickets included a backstage opportunity to shake hands and snap a few photos. Each person seemed to have a especially favorite song or memory to share and Phil listened patiently, kindly and with a genuine warmth for his fans.

"You might not remember this Phil, but you signed a guitar for my mom many years ago - she was #1 in line and you signed that on a CD."

I'm not sure Phil recalled that exact moment among his storied career highlights, but he quickly asked, "and how is your mom?"

I hesitated for a moment, aware that we weren't the last in line to meet Phil, and his concert curtain only 15 minutes away.

"She's got cancer, Phil, and she's getting ready for hospice care. But she's still hanging in there."

Like an old friend of the family, Phil's diminutive form sagged a little, and I saw in those crinkling, kindly empathetic  eyes that this is a man whose ministry goes far beyond CD's and concert tickets.  

Our family stood beside Phil for one last photograph and he held out his index finger to form the #1.  Conversations stopped for a moment and people leaned in a little to listen as Phil smiled and said,

"This is for Dolores, she's number one!"

It's Not Just the Bicycle...

Most summer days I get out and ride anywhere from 12 - 20 miles along rolling, country highways. I love these rides that meander through farmland and past nearby creeks and rivers. It's relaxing and soothing, challenging and strenuous.

While it seems second nature to me now, it's been a learning process.

When I bought a bike back in 2006, the salesman asked me what I intended to do. Fitness? Distance?  I didn't know. I just wanted to get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Running had lost its luster. I wanted to cover more ground, see more variety when I exercised.

He asked questions meant to help me find a starting point for cycling. He realized that I might become the frequent rider that I am now, but didn't push it. 

So, after starting out on a heavier, slower "hybrid" bike, I now have a lighter, faster "road bike." While I first biked only in warm/hot weather, I now have some wind resistant clothing that helps to extend my biking season by adding cold days to the mix. Insulated covers for my bike shoes stopped the 'numbing' that resulted from brisk spring or autumn winds. 

A bright light on the front and red flashers on the back of the seat keep me safe when I'm returning at dusk. I've also learned the value of good maintenance, keeping tires up to pressure and the chain cleaned and lubricated. And the speedometer/odometer helps me plan my routes and manage my time. I'm surprised that some of the hardest routes and hills no longer seem so daunting, so I can ride a little farther, a little faster. 

At it's core, bike riding is simple, but you can go much deeper into the experience if you want to.

At its core, Christianity is a simple - and liberating - concept of unmerited grace from a loving God, promised for eternity. You can choose a basic Bible and attend church on 1 of the available 7 days each week. But as you dig deeper into it, it becomes helpful to search for certain topics and passages with a concordance or commentary. Bible studies go that one better when you can share your questions and insights with fellow sojourners. Prayer extends your 1 day a week visit with God to every hour of every day if you'd like. And I'm constantly learning that the steepest hills of selfishness, pride and resentment are easier to conquer with God's special Believer's accessory...the Holy Spirit. (Still available for a limited time.)

You can cover equal distances with a heavy bike or a lighter bike. You can freeze in the wind, or protect yourself with effective gear. Either way you might blow a tire and have to fix it on the side of the road. But before complaining about the ride you're having, make sure you're not overlooking any of the available help, or Helpers.

What do you believe?  

Fictions Books - Revisited

Update: I never did find out whodunnit in that fiction book I stopped reading. The Lord's name was habitually used in vain, and it just didn't seem right to keep reading.

And now I've gone and read another that throws in "Jesus" and "Christ" amidst the dialog.

However, the characters of this fiction author, Teri Blackstock, are speaking with reverence and thanksgiving. They acknowledge the Savior of the world and Son of God as one and the same with "Jesus" and "Christ" (the 'anointed one' in Greek). Along the way, Teri's book Double Minds fits the bill for a good summer read. Together with Ted Dekker, Randy Alcorn and Frank Perreti, she is a dependable Christian fiction author. Enjoy!

What do you believe?

6th on the List

The tenth commandment (Exodus 20:13) is simple and clear:

"You shall not murder."

But it seems natural for people to equivocate on matters of clarity.

Here's a hypothetical example of this:

Let's say one man kills another and it is not a situation of self defense.

Without any other background information, this sounds like murder, and referring back to the commandment, it is sinful and unacceptable to God (and therefore, us)

Now let's say that the one man murdered the other because the slain man had himself been murdering other people, but it was still not self defense (nor in the sense that war is self defense).

Well, I naturally want the original murderer stopped, but it's still murder to kill him in kind. Morever, societies put in place authorities to deal with that - these are God given, or modeled after, rules of law. People universally expect to be protected against murder. So, no, you can't just act on your own to murder someone else. It's morally and legally wrong.

Ok, but what if the one man was killing innocent children?

It's still murder to kill him, and wrong. Tell the authorities and count on the rule of law to deal with the first murderer.

But, what if this first man systematically murdered as many as 60,000 innocent babies right in your midst, and took money for it (millions), and even used that same blood money to corrupt the very gov't authorities who should be prosecuting him? What if the second man, seeing this, murdered the first murderer just to make him stop?

No, even then, it is not right to murder him. 

Both men are now murderers and guilty - both in need of repentance according to God's words.

And both, as murderers, are not worthy of any adulation or equivocation. They are heroes to no one. Worse. You could try to argue from a moral equivalency that the one was at best 60,000 times worse than the other and has at least been stopped. But even in the hypothetical sense that is clearly, unambiguously flawed! 

Sin is sin, and wrong is wrong. Hopefully, the society in this hypothetical case would themselves step forward and apply the God-given rule of law to stop the paid murderer of children, and refuse to let him prey on other desperate people, or to prosper in their midst.

What do you believe?

Graduation - For Apostles ?

We attended a friend's college graduation this month. Mixed in with commencement advice and inspiration was caution and concern for the economy, culture and geo-political balance. There was also some humor about "moving out of the house" for which parents chuckled.

One of the dad's at my next bible study also picked up this graduation theme. He noted that Jesus 11 apostles were facing this same precarious nest-leaving situation. They'd had excellent training and even completed some "internship work" as Jesus sent them out to neighboring villages on their own. (See Luke, Chapters 9 and 10)

But, soon after his resurrection from the grave, Jesus again departed - before their eyes - for heaven.

"It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  Acts 1: 7-8

No commencement address or doctoral thesis could have prepared them for the combined shock of loss and realization that they were stepping from follower to leader - in one instant. But they were not merely trained and prepared. Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit - a Counselor and Advocate.  So they were never truly alone, even as they did venture to the ends of the earth, sharing the Good News as they had been instructed.

Wouldn't it be nice if, as parents, we could send along an infinitely wise counselor and advocate to guide and advise our children after they graduate and leave home? A compassionate and kind-hearted companion for the journey? To be there, when we are not (when there's no cell phone access?)

I'm convinced that any parent aware of this opportunity would send letters, stand in line, and yes, sacrifice personal comfort in order to ensure their child access to this resource. Even if it was the last thing they did before seeing them on their way after graduation.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do  not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27

Introduce them to Jesus, before they hit the road.

 What do you believe?

Memorial Day - My Namesake Hero

I listened to a couple of old Navy Vets swap stories over the Memorial Day weekend.

These 80-somethings can still describe, in crisp detail, the intricacies of photo-mapping a battlefield while accounting for the cross wind drift of their Navy propellor craft.

Their personal paths to the 1940's Pensacola Navy photo school could not have been more different - or more similar.

Different, because while Jerry was finishing high school and hanging out with his girlfriend on the weekends, Tom was finishing high school far from his boyhood California home, interred in a Denver Nisei camp for Japanese Americans.

Similar, because they both loved their country and were prone to build loyal, lasting friendships with people who counted.  Jerry saw only a new friend, who happened to have Japanese heritage, and Tom saw only a new friend, not a representative of the people who wrongly mistreated his family.

After cementing that Navy friendship, they've never lost touch, whether months or years have passed. They've fished together, celebrated holidays together, and taken joy in each other's children and grandchildren.

When Jerry and his young wife had a son, they named him Tom. Not Thomas, lest their intention be confused with the apostle's name.  No, it was Tom, so it was clear to everyone for whom they had named their son.

I've always known him as my Uncle Tom. When you're little, it doesn't occur to you that Uncle's are usually related by blood. But my Uncle Tom may just as well have been. He was, and is, family to all of us, along with Aunt Pat and the kids.

Over the years Uncle Tom and I have shared something else, even more special than our name. We've also shared our love of the Gospel, and the Good News of Jesus. You see, my Uncle Tom isn't just a good man and a good friend, he is a man of God. He personifies for me what I wish all people would recognize in a Christian walk - kindness, compassion, peace and forgiveness.

Uncle Tom knows what it means to forgive - and I know what if means to see Christ in another person's life.

I can't count how many times I've had to correct people when they write my name on an official document.

"It's not Thomas, it's Tom."

I was named for my Dad's friend Tom.  When I grow up, I would be honored to be just like him.

What do you believe?

Planets Reflect the Light

We've talked about buying a telescope for years and years, and finally did so this spring.

I'm looking forward to a warm summer's evening and a starry, starry night.

Searching the internet for astronomy sites and insights, I tried the keywords "planets," "reflect" and "light" in different combinations.

I was surprised to come across a number of sermon topics related to this theme:

Think of Jesus as the Sun. Then whenever you are able to see and appreciate the beauty of the planets or moons in our solar system, they are not emitting their own light, they are reflecting the light of the Sun.

Jesus said,

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  John 8:12

It's a good reminder to me, humbling, that I am not the light. I walk in the light. I reflect the light of love, kindness, compassion, forgiveness and mercy -- when I am in view of the Son.  But as soon as I stray from the Light of Jesus, it's easy to stumble or lose my way.

I'll consider this new perspective when I look through our telescope on a starry, starry night!

What do you believe?

Too Much Mulch! It's a Gift...

I over-ordered mulch for our landscaping. Again.

We live on a very windy hill, and the winter winds blow our landscaping mulch every which way.  If you could put a GPS on mulch,  our entire neighborhood would glow on the satellite images with the note, "mulch blown over from that guy on the corner lot."

Anyway, I really just needed some topsoil this spring, but I ordered extra mulch out of habit. I mean, when have I not needed mulch? Well, I didn't need this much.

So, I told the neighbors to the side of me, 'please, feel free to wheelbarrow as much mulch as you like.' But they had some ordered already. 'Cancel the order,' I suggested hopefully.  But, their mulch plan was firmly entrenched.

And so I continued telling neighbors one by one.  They had their own, or felt funny about taking mine.

Finally, I caught up with a neighbor who had been out of town, and he gladly agreed to use whatever I could not. In fact, he said he had under-ordered mulch, whereas I had over-ordered.  'But, I want to pay for the share I use,' he generously offered.

'Not necessary,' I replied, 'you're actually doing me a favor.' And I meant it. He looked a bit uncomfortable with those terms, but we left it at that.  Now the mulch is off my driveway and his landscaping looks great. I sincerely hope he doesn't follow up with cash for what I intended as a gift. I was really happy with the way it turned out.

Question though: Have I ever gone to that much trouble to share the gift of the gospel with these same neighbors? Literally stopping them in their yard - or crossing the street to say, 'I know where you can get wheelbarrows and wheelbarrows full of Grace. It never runs out. The wind never blows it away. And, it's unconditionally free. A gift that you only have to receive.'

No - because they look like they probably don't need it. I see their cars drive away on Sunday morning, presumably to the church of their choice. They seem like kind, upstanding citizens. It might be awkward, me talking about the free gift of eternal redemption. Something that could change their lives, or their extended friends and family.

It was the last person I talked to that accepted the mulch. His yard looked great before we talked. It looks even better now. I'm glad we had the chance to talk. I'm even happier he chose to accept the neighborly gift.

What do you believe?

Bulldozing St. Phillips in the Country

I drove past the old St. Philips church last week -- well, what was left of it.

The little red brick building had just been bulldozed and workers were hauling the debris to a dump truck. It's a prime suburban location in a fast growth area, so they're building residences. 

30 years ago, St. Philips was established 'out in the country' as an alternative place of worship for people who would not, or could not, drive all the way into the nearby city.  Now, there are plenty of good roads and nearby megachurch options that simply obsoleted the need for tiny St. Philips.

Try an internet search and you'll learn that many thousands of churches have come to their end in recent decades - some due to violence, and some to spiritual indifference.

Should the loss of these buildings trouble us? In fact, the Apostle Paul observed,

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth, and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all people life and breath and everything else." Acts 17:24

I love going to our own church each week. It's beautiful inside - wide open and spacious. Colorful stained glass on multistory walls that lead up to a stunning cathedral ceiling. Nicely architected lines, wood paneling and brick. It is a worshipful place, and we sincerely offer God the praise and honor and glory. He is worthy of it.

But people built relationships with God long before they built magnificent buildings in which to worship him.  So I don't think it's disappearing church buildings that should bother us most here in the U.S..

More so, it's the disappearing spirituality of 'church' that grabs my attention.  When my friends come back from Europe or Australia, they're generally discouraged over spiritual matters. They see centuries-worth of exquisite churches built by human hands - but they struggle to find the spiritual congregation that breathes life into those structures. 

I'm praying that despite the unceremonious passing of little St. Phillips church, that the spiritual side of that new neighborhood will grow and flourish.

What do you believe?

You're Getting my Floors Dirty

We have this undocumented mystery of physics around our house.

If you undertake the primary work of a household project, it temporarily transforms whatever is involved to something that you 'own.'

So, the same kitchen floor that you've been trudging over with muddy shoes for the last week and a half is wordlessly deeded to you upon completion of mopping duty.

"Hey! Don't even think about walking across my clean floor with those disgusting golf shoes, Missy."   You took a little initiative with soap and water, so it's 'yours,' at least until someone else mops it. You organized a drawer, cleaned a closet, painted a stairway...it's yours. "Don't touch my freshly painted wall!"

Isn't that how we must appear to people who listen to us talk about "our" churches? "Look at what they're doing to my church!" But who is the real owner of what goes on within our collective walls of brick, mortar and faith?

Here's what the Bible says,

"Consequently you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."   Ephesians 2:19-22

We can try and invent or organize a belief system into a church and then claim that it's 'ours.'

But we're really just painting over supernaturally created structure.

Jesus is the chief cornerstone and foundation. Past or present, anyone who wants to see what the founder of "our" church intended, his words are there to read in the Gospels. 

And, despite his sovereign role, Jesus doesn't shout at me when I trudge the mud of sin and selfishness across His kitchen floor. He patiently waits for me to look down at my shoes and apologize (repent). Then He helps mop up the mess and its forgotten - that's how it works in His church.

What do you believe? 

Easter 2009

Ancient transcript - a letter written by one of Jesus' immediate followers, known as the Apostle John (son of Zebedee) - this is from the 1st letter of John. I copied it from my Bible,

1John chapter 4, vs. 9 -11

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us, we also ought to love one another."

What do you believe?

Prove it

One of my old camping buddies does some ministry work with incarcerated teens. That is, young people in jail. They are searching for hope and change in their lives - my friend shows them an authentic, incorruptible source, in the Gospel of Jesus.

Not all are easily convinced. He says a common challenge is, "prove to me that Jesus is the Messiah." 

My friend is a mature, well-read, well-prayed, and well-tested Christian, so he has answers:

The bible settings and cities have been proven historically accurate.

The bible itself has been consistently and accurately recorded and copied over millenniums.

The prophets in bible text detailed the specific attributes, timing and geography of the coming Messiah, and his demise. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies accurately (to an astonishingly high mathematical probability).

Jesus acknowledged himself as the Messiah, Son of God and was validated by prophetic fulfillment, miracles, transformed lives and eyewitness accounts. (he was either a liar or the real deal -- but he could not just be a 'good man.'  )

In addition, the rag tag group of people (disciples) who initially scattered at his well-documented crucifixion, were later willing to proclaim his resurrected return to life, at their own peril. They were intolerantly hunted down and killed for their recount of true events (as still happens in parts of our world). They had nothing to gain by recounting his redemptive role in history.

That's what my friend explains to these young people who are seeking the Truth. 

But in today's world, even as we celebrate the Passion of our Lord Jesus at Easter time, I sent an email back to my friend. Because I wonder why we are ever more on the defensive about our spiritual diversity. The faith we have in this Messiah, this Saviour - is inextricably merged with redemption, and his teachings of unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness, kindness and compassion - unlike any other philosophy or secular morality in our midst.

My friend's email gave the challenge - posed by these young people he helps to liberate, who are imprisoned because of directionless choices and corrupt moral compasses - "Prove to me that Jesus is the Messiah."

And I messaged back,

"Prove to me that He is not."

What do you believe?

Confession Time

I have a confession to make.

Something kind of snuck up on me, and even when I realized it - I was slow to make things right. Too slow!

Here's what happened.

I enjoy reading a good mystery novel - particularly murder mysteries. Nothing wrong with that. There are some fantastic Christian authors - Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, Randy Alcorn, Terri Blackstock - have all written great stuff, some of it in the murder-mystery-thriller genre.

But last year I gravitated toward a popular secular author someone had recommended to me. I had actually listened to a few spoken word audio books by the same author before finally reading a paperback. Pretty prolific writer - dozens of titles.

Problem was/is that her characters frequently use the Lord's name in vain. Particularly the name of Jesus, in their casual conversation. Now, initially my wife and I cringed a few times during the audio tape drives on long highway trips. But the stories were really good. Great prose. LIke I said, I really like a good mystery novel. I figured, "contemporary speech, you can't avoid it."

But this year the burden finally hit me. Particularly as I read a few of the paperbacks.

The words on the page were impossible to ignore. A few times before bed I had just finished reading my bible. One night I was even preparing for bible study the next day - and then I picked up the novel before going to sleep. It wasn't right, more or less condoning the coarse, casual epithets about my friend - my Saviour, Jesus. 

Anyway, long story short - I realized the gig was up. I couldn't justify reading more of it, on purpose, when it was abundantly clear that this author would habitually use the Lord's name in vain, in every book, and with more than one character. There's salt, and then there's salt.

So - and this really killed me - I stopped one of the books in mid-read and returned it to the person who had originally recommended the author, explaining my dilemma.

Wait, there's more. I've got more to confess.

This person said, "I know how much you like this author, and it really is just the slang of the characters - how about if I go through the book and black out all the curse words for you? Then you don't have to read them."

Now, first of all...there's a real friend for you!  But the worst thing is....I considered it. Just for a minute, but I considered it. No,  I can't enlist your help to read the curse words yourself, and then pretend that I'm not a party to the...sin.  Yeah, it's a sin.

Exodus 20:7  "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God."

I'm sorry Jesus. I can do better.

And I promise not to ask anyone else how the story I gave back ends!

What do you believe?

Our Pastor's Retirement

44 years of ministry and now our beloved pastor is retiring.

We gathered one Wednesday evening for "Soup and Substance," a lenten program he created some years ago to combine learning with fellowship. This Wednesday night's jam-packed gymnasium was mostly filled with well wishers who knew it would be one of Father's final events before his summer departure. 

Rows and rows of chattering people sipped soup from plastic bowels and pulled pieces of french bread from the simple wicker baskets on each table. The good Father himself wheeled one of the soup stations through the gym, pausing for a few photo's and calling people by name as he graciously served them.

Then it was time to kick back and listen to a half hour or so of his favorite memories. As usual, his humor-filled delivery was warm and engaging. His innate timing for a well developed punch line is impeccable and we laughed frequently.  There were also insights to remind me of the sacrifices he made to lead a shepherd's life. 

He moved from his home to the seminary when he was only 13 years old, never to return.  He spoke fondly of two parishes - including ours - where he was able to stay on for 10 year stints - the maximum allowed by the Bishop and rules for such things. Other roles were shorter, some with agreeable living and career arrangements and some perhaps less so. But for every challenging situation or period, he readily cited balance with other friendships and accomplishments. And it seems clear that he's lived a rich, full life at the ripe old age of 70.

Now he'll be available to pitch in and help with area churches as needed - on his terms and timing, rather than the bishop's, he added with a wink. 

Our family has noted many times over the years, how hard it must be to lead a priest's life - serving tirelessly and obediently, and without a family unit to fall back on in their aging years.  As though they are somehow cheated and we have the better fare. 

But perhaps not.  Even the apostle Paul saw great value to both single-celibate, or married life. (read 1st Corinthians, Chapter 7).

Having witnessed that sincere joy in his recollection of service for 5 decades, and when I realize how many lives our pastor has touched, how much he can point to that has been accomplished and how he is loved by literally generations of people...I smile and am glad at just how fortunate he is. 

A happy, blessed, and well-deserved retirement to you, Father!

What do you believe?

It's Got to be There Somewhere

I didn't start reading the Bible in earnest until after my daughter was born.

As soon as she was walking, we were out on day trip excursions almost every weekend. The zoo, the nature center, the park and...the art museum.

We quickly grew to love the Cincinnati art museum (free on Saturdays!) and especially the wonderful collection of religious art.

The near-sacrifice of Isaac by his father Abraham on Mt. Moriah is a frequently used setting for many artists - and there was indeed an oil of it in the Cincinnati collection (although I can't find a web link to that one). The painting I strolled past with my young daughter wasn't terribly scary, so I didn't have to explain the challenging subject matter of a father willing to sacrifice his own son.

But I did have a newfound curiosity about scripture. Hadn't I read that God provided the sacrifice, and preserved Abraham's son? So we stepped a little closer to the painting and I said to my daughter, "see if you can find a sheep somewhere." Sure enough, off to the left of the painting was a thicket, and there the artist had cleverly concealed a Ram. Only someone looking for it would see it. I enjoyed a smile and an appreciation for the biblical detail observed by that artist a few centuries earlier. 

There are rams hidden in the thickets all around us, cleverly placed there by the Master artist.

Jesus said we would we find strength in humility. He said to look for power in forgiveness, and salvation in repentance. Peace in the midst of anxiety. Life overcoming death.

Now that I know what to look for, I wander through the gallery a little slower - and enjoy a richer experience.

What do you believe?

 

 

Herod Liked Listening to John

The Gospel writer Mark recalled this about King Herod and John the Baptist,

"...Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled, yet he liked to listen to him."   Mark 6:20

Here was a king, denounced by John for his adultery, who still liked to listen to him. 

The king, who was undoubtedly surrounded by sycophants and lobbyists, recognized a "righteous and holy man" in their midst. He didn't welcome the truth of his shortcomings - but he respected the guy who was willing to stand up and proclaim it.

That's what we need to do. Tell the truth of the Gospel and then let people react as they will.

Some will simply ignore or misunderstand it. Herod's wife had John the Baptist killed for it - and that still happens in certain parts of the world.

But there are those, the lost sheep whom God seeks, who will recognize the Word of righteousness and though puzzled, will listen. For them, we have to continually share the Good News.

What do you believe?

Soap Must Not Work

There was this guy who worked in the same factory that I did back in Erie, PA.

I went to a party at his house one Saturday night and saw that it had a bathroom with a shower and there was a bar of soap by the sink.

But when you ran into this guy at work, he just didn't seem very clean. His hair looked dirty, there was always something under his fingernails and you didn't really get a fresh scent in his vicinity.

I never heard one of our co-workers conclude..."See, soap and showers don't work. I'll never waste my time with any of that." 

 Instead, it was clear to us that he wasn't using them. Soap didn't fail him, he failed to use soap. So obvious.

But I have heard that same erroneous conclusion drawn over Bibles and Jesus.

"See, look at how she's living - selfish, mean, impatient - obviously being a Christian changes nothing."

The Bible didn't fail that person - they failed to live by it, with God's help, through Jesus.  We're all covered in dirt (sin - the things that displease God).  But through a transformational relationship with Jesus, there's a way to be renewed - cleansed, in God's eyes.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  1John 1:9

And then, just like gunk disappearing from underneath fingernails, things like selfishness and unkindness start to melt away too. But you've got to be willing to apply some soap.

I still fall into the mud sometimes, but I know where to find a shower.

What do you believe?

 

You're Amazed? I'm Amazed !

I always smile when I page through chapters 5 and 6 in the Gospel of Mark.

In chapter 5,  Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who then gratefully tells people about Jesus and the miracle. Mark recalls at the end of the passage that "All the people were amazed."

Who wouldn't be amazed at the miracles of Jesus?

The irony comes in the very next chapter - a little time has passed according to Mark. Jesus has left Jairus' house, where he raised Jairus' daughter from the dead - no small miracle - and returned home to Nazareth for a visit. 

Again, Mark recalls, that many of the neighbors who heard him preach in the Nazareth synagogue were amazed at his teaching.

But...

Others took offense - perhaps jealous of the attention he was getting.

"Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon?"  (I can picture today's news media questioning his credentials, 'He's just a plumber!') 

None of this irony was lost on Jesus, the Bringer of miracles. As Mark recalls,

"He was amazed at their lack of faith."  Mark 6:5

I healed the blind man, raised the dead girl, and now you're wondering why I can preach the Word of God? 

And today...

I'm sure he's still amazed -  and mercifully compassionate - at our lack of faith, despite the blessings and miracles surrounding us every day.

I'm amazed that he could love a sinner like me. But I'm glad he does.

What do you believe?

What's in that Light?

"Isn't it something how we take light for granted, despite how complex it is?" my wife said during our drive along Lake Michigan last week. We were trying to decide if the evening sky was "slate" or "midnight" blue (slate). Throughout the weekend we saw a stunning range of colors in the snow and ice of the frozen Great Lake. Piercing blues. Dazzling whites. And the time of day, and the angle of the sun continuously gave new life to the same scenes.

God's Light is like that. It's not just that we can know him - there's so much nuance and depth - continuously revealing new blessings and insights, if we only look (or listen, or read, or pray...).

A retired pastor gave the sermon at our church today.

He fondly held up a simple gold chalice that his family had given him way back when he was ordained. Somewhere on the chalice's base, too small for us to see, was a diamond from his mother's wedding ring. He said his dad told him about the days before he was going to propose to the pastor's mom. His dad was showing some friends the ring and suddenly realized that the small diamond had fallen out of the setting onto the ground. He crawled and searched in the dirt to no avail - until the sun came out of the clouds and the diamond glinted, catching the light.

Look for the Light of the Son shining on, and perhaps revealing, the countless blessings of this life - even if we sometimes have to wait for a cloud to pass by.

What do you believe?

The "glue" follow-up !

Sure enough, after singing the praises of this new household glue  we found, I broke a guidepin off the handle of our coffee maker filter.

In the brief space of time it takes to translate thought, my wife and I both smiled and said..."looks like a job for the 'new' glue." 

See, it only took a few successes for us to immediately connect household brokenness with the 'new' household glue that we found. Why wouldn't we? It works!

But I've also seen personal brokenness in several people since I posted that last blog - and I didn't blurt out..."looks like a job for the Savior of the World!"   Why wouldn't I?   I've known countless spiritual repairs that 'held fast' after contact - with eternal guarantees included.

He's proven and True.  Maybe next time...

What do you believe?

Jonah No, Lazarus Yes?

We were reading the Bible book of Jonah for church recently.

As Jonah, a prophet of God, recounts his experience, he explains that God himself sent the fish that swallowed Jonah for 3 days before vomiting him out again - alive and ready to repent in Ninevah.

Many people breeze by Jonah assuming his narrative to be allegorical - a story with meaning; but a story none the less. It can only be a story, they reason, because of course no one could survive in the belly of a whale. A person couldn't be swallowed whole, and even if they could, they would suffocate, or drown, or whatever else happens to a person who is swallowed by a whale.

For detail sake, the text says that God sent a "fish," not a "whale."

Our family has a recurring conversation when we learn that someone doesn't believe one miracle in the Bible, but they believe others. "Cafeteria style" believers of miracles, you might call them.

It's hard to believe that someone could survive in a fish stomach for three days, much less be swallowed whole and uninjured. But God sent the fish -- so who's to say what kind of fish it was?

On the other hand, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had been in the tomb four days before Jesus raised him from the dead. Is it harder to believe that Jesus revived a dead man than it is to believe that a live man survived in a great fish?

Jesus made a blind man see. A lame man walk. A bleeding woman heal. 

And after dying on the cross, Jesus himself rose from the dead to redeem our sins.

I'm sure hundreds of millions of people don't believe even a word of the Bible - so one miracle is just as much of a story as the next. That's intellectually honest on their part.

But I believe that if Jesus - the Son of God - could raise his friend Lazarus from the dead after 4 days...then surely God could send a great fish in which Jonah could survive as he contemplated his mission for God.

What do you believe?

All purpose glue

I dropped the lid from one of our favorite holiday cookie jars and it broke into about 4 pieces.

It was a nice jar--ceramic, red with overlapping white snowflakes.

I've had no luck gluing ceramics in the past, so I dispaired at losing this cheerful friend in our kitchen. 

At the local hardware store there were half a dozen high-tech looking glue products. I toyed with a few of the packages, but remembered past failures and false labeling promises. One of the owners saw me hesitate, and he reached for the simplest, least expensive product - Duco Cement - and handed it to me. Sure enough, the packaging said it would bond wood, ceramics, and some other household products. Too good to be true at that price. But the store guy shrugged his shoulders.

"They've been around for years and it works."

Sure enough, I had the lid glued and drying in no time. I was so relieved that I went and found two of my other broken embarrassments and fixed them too. Now they're back on display in our home - it really made me happy, because I thought they were lost forever.

Look, if you need ceramic repair--buy Duco cement. It works--I've seen it work...and on some beautiful pieces that had been broken and put aside for years.

But if you're broken; if your heart, or your life is broken, get Jesus. 

Don't go for all those fancy packaged belief systems--just lots of false promises and no results. I've seen Jesus work. Simple, no-frills redemption. Go find the pieces (or friends, or family) you thought nobody could put back together again; and then get them back out for everyone to see and enjoy.    

I wasn't sure whether I was even going to try and believe again -- but the guy that knew the simple Truth wasn't afraid to walk up and share it with me.

What do you believe?

Lift the Candle...

We attended services at a beautiful, local basilica a few weeks ago. It was the last weekend with seasonal Christmas decorations still up -- Poinsettias, a huge creche, and lovely evergreens.

About midway through the service, a young couple stepped forward for their baby daughter's baptism. It was very touching, and you could just see the joy welling up in them for the beauty of the moment and for the love of their child.

As happens at many churches, there was a small commemorative candle to light for the family - symbolizing the Light of Christ. I smiled, because there is usually a very, very tall candle kept lit in the church Sanctuary for this very purpose. An attendant will reach up with the small candle, light it, and hand it back to the family...passing on the Light of Christ.

But sometimes this main Sanctuary candle is so tall (when new), that a person has to stand on tippy toes to reach it. I've actually seen this part of the service paused while the pastor looks around for somebody tall enough to reach up. At another church they actually had a small stool nearby, just to avoid accidents.

Anyway, I was smiling in anticipation...having sized up the altar boy as not tall enough to make it.

But then the young assistant did something I'd never seen anyone else do...he lifted the big candle out of it's huge brass base, and simply tipped it down to the height of the baby's father, who easily lit the candle. No problem!

Psalm 113 says:

"Who is like the Lord our God, the One enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash."

How many times have I stood on tippy toes struggling to grasp for God...when in reality, He has stooped down to close the gap? The very essence of Christ coming to earth is that God has reached out to us, and become accessible in a personal way.

It doesn't have to be hard. It's not supposed to be hard. God has bridged the chasm. We just have to touch the Light.

What do you believe?

Trump Card?

Our family enjoys the friendly competition of a good card game.

One of my favorite games involves choosing a "trump" suit for each round.

Let's just say that you choose "hearts" as the trump suit. That means that any heart - from a two of hearts to a 10 of hearts - still outranks the highest card of any other suit.  So a 2 of hearts could even take a king of clubs. The heart "trumps" the club, or spade, or diamond.

Well, we were all a little tired. And honestly, I don't think my wife really felt like playing.

But my daughter and her boyfriend weren't ready to give up, so we kept at it.

The trouble was, we kept forgetting what the "trump" suit was, since it changes every game.

Someone was always asking, "what's trump?" It was actually getting quite comical. 

Towards the end, with the winning score hanging in the balance (boys against the girls), someone led with a King of clubs. The next person played the King of spades. Two high cards. For an unspoken moment, the same question formed on everyone's lips...

What's trump?

And then wouldn't you know it...the King of hearts. Three kings, but only one King of Kings.

One King trumps all.

You can debate the hierarchical merit of moral views or philosophies. Freedom, justice, tolerance, diversity, peace, discipline, compassion, order. Those and others you could add are all good and effective in the appropriate context and measure.

But Jesus' teachings stand out, even after millenniums of scrutiny:

Love, mercy, and forgiveness...which leads to eternal redemption, by grace. 

King of kings, and Lord of lords.

What do you believe?