“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Indescribable is the perfect word for the gift I ordered for my wife! There are words that may be used to TRY to explain. But they fall short of definition, by a long shot. Let’s just say that the chasm lying between intention and actual has yet to be defined!

While online, an ad popped up from a clothing manufacturer. In 45 years of marriage, I have NEVER had the thought this picture presented. Suddenly, I had an overwhelming desire to surprise my bride with that dress! I could visualize her wearing it and sense her joy when she received this beautiful thing! So I ordered it! And 1 more!

Though it took several weeks, the 2 packages finally arrived. I was SO excited to present this offering of love to my beautiful bride. But just in case I told her, “you don’t have to like it!” Which, as it turns out, MUST have come from the Holy Spirit! Because when she opened the package, her eyes bugged out in a shocking, silent stare.

The look on her face was UN-describable… which means ‘impossible.’ As she stared, she turned the dress over and over, looking at it from every angle. Finally, she spoke… “this thing is uglier than SIN!!! What were you THINKING?” Which gave me the clue that she didn’t like it! But my emotional anticipation of joy had to go SOMEWHERE!

The look on her face set me off. I didn’t think her reaction would be so extreme! Then mine was the same. I started howling with uncontrollable laughter and could not stop! Describing WHY the dress was so bad only made me laugh harder! I hadn’t laughed that hard in years! When she tried it on at my insistence, the laughter bellowed from both of us.  It did NOT look like the picture, but was worth every penny of the $30 I paid for the thing!

While I hid the other package, I mentally analyzed the chasm between intent and actual! Somewhere between theory and reality, I discovered another ‘no-man’s land.’ Having crossed a gulf of sincere intention, I learned that imagination can be very dangerous. I had imagined beauty and appreciation. I got ‘The Comedy Station!’

UN-describable means ‘impossible’ to define. IN-describable means about the same… but go ahead and give it a try anyway! My love for Katie is rock solid real, as is my love for God. And while I may have difficulty explaining or showing it, they both LOVE how I try! It’s the continual trying that makes ALL the difference! Even if it leads to laughter!

How would YOU describe YOUR love for God?

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” Revelation 21:5

“The Chair” was part of a full Living Room set that was purchased during Christmas, over 30 years ago. We had just purchased our new house, and being much larger than anything we had ever owned before, we had rooms to fill. When Katie saw the red plaid, it jolted her artsy heart and BAM! It was ours. And still is!

“The Chair” has become both HOLEY AND HOLY! It is on this throne where my queen, and God’s daughter, sits every morning to commune with the Master of the Universe. There are holes in places worn out by time. But though the outside wears away, it is still the most comfortable place for her to meet God. And therefore… Holy!

The furniture reminds her of the clothes of the Israelites when they wandered in the desert. It keeps functioning… except for a hole or 2! We have tried several times to find something to replace it. But nothing strikes her like this set did. One year, after visiting 15 stores, I said, if you just stop, I’ll use the money and take you to Israel!

Reading Scripture helps me to know God’s heart. Being a HUGE fan of God’s plan for the future, I’m reminded that He does NOTHING without considering the past! He will take everything that has been corrupted by sin, and make it NEW! He won’t throw it away, He will bring it to it’s original perfection as intended! “God don’t make junk!”

The process of RE-storation is costly and takes a LOT more time. Jesus created everything in just 6 days! Restoration got underway as soon as Eve chomped on bad fruit and has been going on ever since! It’s hard to comprehend, because society applauds throwing out the old to get brand new! An offer I made to my Bride for “The Chair.”

After visiting 5 stores, I cut to the chase… “I’ll buy you a BRAND NEW CHAIR and then have it professionally upholstered in any fabric you want!” THAT put an immediate stop to the shopping. AND to the idea of replacing the chair! She said, “I love my chair! I’m going to redo it myself!” Now how can I argue with that, since she has the same mind as our God! But I ALSO know, like God’s job in restoring EVERYTHING… this ain’t gonna be simple!

Are YOU excited anticipating YOUR ‘All New’ home in 100 years?

“Who is this who keeps darkening my counsel without knowing what he’s talking about?” Job 38:2 (ISV)

It happened TWICE yesterday. And both times, I was talking with a fellow believer about God and His sovereignty. One was just debating for the fun of it. The other was in a HORRIBLE situation. Though from different poles of seriousness, their conclusion ended the same. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

Bill is my friend and a fellow believer. He’s an old guy who, by even his own account, should have died YEARS ago. My visit to him was more than serious. He was suffering in sorrow because his son was dying! My calling was to pray, encourage, strengthen and give Him Jesus. All was going well, until he said those words!

“I’ll be ok when God sees fit to take him!” Bill and I have a very good relationship. We can shoot straight and ‘tell it like it is!’ But he was just guilty of NOT straight-shooting! So I let him have it… in a humorous bantering way, of course! Cuz even ‘I’ have SOME compassion on the hurting! But… Bill just called my Dad a murderer!

Later, I went to the gym. I hate the gym, but love the guy who owns it. We are experienced Christian brothers able to debate without anger. He’s trying to turn me into a Calvinist. A Calvinist believes that GOD appoints people, by HIS choice, to go to heaven or hell. In other words, GYM-man just called my Dad a murderer!

Now I don’t have stupid friends! For long, that is. But they are not stupid. They read and understand The Word of God better than most. Their words don’t come out because of spite or ignorance. They are simply drawing conclusions from the mysteries that come from real life entangled with the Real God! Just like Job!

To me, saying that God TAKES people in HIS time is to call God a murderer. Saying too, that God creates people to send them to hell, is calling God a murderer. I can’t help but react to the charge, because I KNOW God PERSONALLY as MY Daddy! And NOBODY calls MY DADDY a MURDERER without a fight!

This matter will NEVER be settled, this side of Heaven, because there are Bible verses to support both sides of the argument. As for me, I simply refuse to see my Heavenly Father as ANYTHING other than what He has personally shown me. Perfect in Love… ALWAYS! And THAT is the way ‘I’ see it! To me… any other way is just a bad idea!

How do YOU see God?

“What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” 1 Corinthians 14:26

I’m a child of the mid 50’s. He… maybe the late 80’s. My drumming days were long over before he was even born! When he came to church about a year ago and found out I still have my drums, he told me he was a musician and said, “we ought to get together and jam!

We didn’t know each other and shared only 1 thing… Jesus! The music he listens to, I don’t. Bands he knows about, I’ve never even heard of! His favorite style, as far as I can figure, is more Johnny Cash meets Bob Dylan. Having never heard a cool drum solo from either of their bands, the slow, country, folksy rhythms don’t naturally draw me. And he wants to JAM?

I played drums to all kinds of music with LOTS of musicians… from Rock to polka, my mantra was often, “no, I don’t know that song, but get started and I’ll catch up!” Drumming was my favorite hobby in life, until it got me my FAVORITE thing… my Katie! After her, drumming in bars was happily prohibited. She wasn’t about to lose HER drummer to another groupie!

A few months ago, Steven and I started ‘Jammin.’ Honestly, I didn’t expect much. Still don’t! HE’s more visionary than me… which is a good thing! He comes up with ideas and we’ll start to play. Soon, he’ll let me know with a facial expression that he doesn’t like this or that, or he’ll banter a suggestion opposite of mine. Then I banter back my dusty ideas! Done-ing it!

Done-ing! If it isn’t a word, it should be. 2 men from 2 different generations with completely different styles coming together, rubbing each other’s ideas… sharpening, grinding and sweating in an unfinished church building without air conditioning! FOR WHAT? Did you read the verse? Because the common denominator for BOTH Steven and I lies in it’s truth!

LOVING Jesus is not enough. Lots of people claim to. But what separates REAL lovers of Jesus from the fakers… is a servant’s heart. TRUE Disciples of Jesus Christ FOLLOW Him and DO what He says and showed by example. He SERVED bums like me with the purpose of building up a Bride. Humbled by that thought… He called me to do the same, commanding… “See my Church… DO the same!”

Steven thinks we could become famous. I just laugh at the illusion. But knowing this verse, Jesus Christ personally AND what ‘The Word’ says about the future… Steven has a point! Someday in Heaven, we will be called before Jesus, with an audience of EVERY BELIEVER in the history of the world in attendance, and Jesus will say… “Steven… K.C…. play us a tune!” And the Glory of, from and for Jesus Christ… will dance!

What are YOU Done-ing for His Church?

“Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.” Isaiah 40:17

SQUIRREL!!!!!!!! Every morning is the same routine. Sitting in my chair, I love to spend time with God by reading His Word and letting it soak in. Lifting my eyes to the outside, I am drawn to a flitting scurry of something that, I have learned, is really nothing! But it always makes me wonder!

The house at about the 10 o’clock position of my line of sight has a lot going on back there. The neighbor has set up a feeder that has become the center of several squirrel’s attention. Every morning, they take turns running down the fence row, leaping up onto the feeder and eating the freely supplied food. The activity even seems to be organized! Again, I wonder.

The distraction does me no harm. But I wonder because I just can’t figure it out to a conclusion that makes sense in the scheme of things. God made both man and squirrels. He provides food for both, though the squirrels seem to have an advantage. God provides food FOR them. All they need to do is go find it. Men have to do more for it!

If one is an animal lover, it can be quite entertaining to look out in nature and see God’s creatures abiding within your tax paid space. Giving free food may insure their visit, but it does NOT make a squirrel LOYAL to you. It only makes them a leech!

This scene drew me to a study about how God views me… His created. Just how does God see me and what and how much do I matter to Him? When I came to today’s verse, my world got a little shaky! Am I like one of those worthless squirrels, here only for entertainment purposes to give God the prideful feeling of being a king? It’s a fair question.

I’ve had this silly idea to write about for a long time. But after thinking about it, I have come to a conclusion that may not even become yours. I was created to FELLOWSHIP with God by allowing Him access to my heart in dependence and awe. With Him IN me, I matter TO HIM! I am NOT placed here to take advantage of His provision, or for His entertainment. I am either a SON… or I am nothing!

SO… feeder on God’s provisions… What are YOU to Him… beside cute!?  

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

My lovely bride has a different kind of eye than me. If she sees something that doesn’t match or go together, she cannot rest until it is either corrected or out of sight. She can tolerate it… but not peacefully. After all her hard work at Church for Easter, I wanted to do something special for her. But first, I had to use the bathroom! Upon seeing, I was relieved!

It’s funny because everybody has one and uses it several times a day. But no one over 6 years old likes to talk about ‘The Toilet, the potty, the toity! As I stood there looking at ours, it was a mess! Katie had pointed it out several times over the last year, but I didn’t know what she wanted ME to do about it! Then I had a revelation!

Our Toity is old. I have scrubbed it with bowl cleaner repeatedly, and even used lime and scale remover. But nothing on the end of a stick works to rid the ugly scale deposits that remain. Having an idea, a desire and determination… I declared war! With brush, acid and a screwdriver, I got on my knees and my hands began to scrape and chip until… TADAAAA!

Here’s the dirty truth… Sin is Poo! Everybody has it! Even after our old self has been flushed away by Christ’s sacrifice, we still must live with the scaly deposits of stinky, dirty poo. And not just our own. I am often disgustingly affected by what even friends, family and associates leave behind. Scraping my own bowl, I realized HOW I deal with it… matters!

I found this picture today by typing ‘gold toilet’ into Google! Even as I did, I didn’t have much hope. But I was SHOCKED because, what I thought was a joke, is something many people will spend lots of money to acquire! Seeing ‘Gold Toilet’ paper in the search, I realized that the same arrogance that runs through some, runs through me! I don’t like it!

Psalm 51 is David’s plea to God for forgiveness after the whole Bathsheba affair. Trying to rid himself of the stench left behind proved only to make things worse. Arrogance and shame outran his ability to cope when he affirmed that the ONLY way to become clean was to face God and accept whatever punishment He would require. At least God is merciful!

I have a lot of experience in cleaning a dirty heart! Though my poo has been cleared, I am not completely clean. The process of Sanctification requires cooperation with The Holy Spirit. Hyssop was a switch from a tree used to apply the lamb’s sacrificial blood to the doorposts at Passover. And though we don’t use them today, eradicating ugly spots from sin is still an ongoing, painful and required process.

After it was clean, I couldn’t resist. I decided to go buy a new seat as well. Which makes perfect sense! In the sin eradication business, I can’t sit on my own throne and clean it at the same time! What a humbling thought!

So…. how clean and stink free are you… Really!

Easter means WORK!  And lots of it.  Katie and I were joined by so many of you helping to serve The Body of Christ with our sweat and hearts.  And while I fished in my brain to come up with a Word for today, Katie sent this to me.  I immediately wanted to share it with you.  Enjoy.

“[Martha] had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’  But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.'”  Luke 10:39-42

I HAVE WON THE VICTORY by Max Lucado, from He Chose The Nails

GOD’S PROMISE IN THE EMPTY TOMB

With the cross, [God] won the victory. —Colossians 2:15

On the first Easter morning . . . the smothering silence that insulates the domain of the dead from the world of the living was suddenly shattered. ~ Gilbert Bilezikian

But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God! —1 Corinthians 15:57 MSG

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. —2 Corinthians 2:14

HIS BIRTH

The words of King Herod when told of the birth of Jesus. “Kill Him. There is room for only one king in this corner of the world.”

The number of religious leaders who believed a messiah had been born in Bethlehem. Zero.

The type of people who did. Some stargazers, night-shift shepherds, and a couple of newlyweds who claimed to have more experience giving birth than having sex.

The reward given to Joseph and Mary for bringing God into the world. Two years in exile, learning Egyptian.

This was the beginning of the Christian movement. (And these were the calm years.)

HIS MINISTRY

The word on the streets of Jesus’ hometown when He claimed to be sent from God. Weird family. Have you seen His cousin?

The reaction of the hometown folks. Stone Him.

The opinion of His brothers. Lock Him up.

The number of disciples Jesus recruited. Seventy.

The number of disciples who defended Him to the authorities. Zero.

The assessment of His followers as found in the Jerusalem editorial page. A group of unemployed ne’er-do-wells recruited off the shipping docks and out of the red-light districts.

The number of lepers and blind and lame people Jesus healed. Too many to count.

The number of healed lepers and blind and lame people who defended Jesus on the day of His death. Zero.

HIS EXECUTION

The popular opinion regarding Jesus before He cleansed the Temple. See if He’ll run for office.

The popular opinion regarding Jesus after He cleansed the Temple. Let’s see how fast He can run.

The decision of the Jewish council. Three spikes and a spear.

The talk on the streets of Jerusalem after Jesus died. He should’ve stayed in the furniture business.

The number of times Jesus prophesied that He would come back to life three days after His death. Three.

The number of apostles who heard the prophecy. All of them.

The number of apostles who waited at the tomb to see if He would do what he said. Zero.

The number of His followers who believed in the resurrection before it occurred. You do the math.

The odds a street-corner bookie would’ve given the day after the crucifixion on the possibility that Jesus’ name would be known in the year 2000. “I’ll give you better odds that He’ll rise from the dead.”

HIS MOVEMENT

The official response of the Jewish leaders to the rumors of the resurrection. Of course they say He’s alive. They have to. What else can they say?

The actual response of the Jewish leaders to the resurrection of Jesus. “A great number of the Jewish priests believed and obeyed” (Acts 6:7).

The decision of the Jewish leaders about the church. “If their plan comes from human authority, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them” (Acts 5:38–39).

The response of the church. “The number of followers was growing” (Acts 6:1).

The official response of the Jewish leaders to the conversion of Saul. Good riddance to the former Pharisee. Won’t be months before he is in jail, and then what will he do? Write letters?

What Saul, turned Paul, understood that his former colleagues didn’t. “God gave [Jesus] as a way to forgive sin” (Romans3:25).

THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES

The belief of French philosopher Voltaire. The Bible and Christianity would pass within a hundred years. He died in 1778. The movement continues.

The pronouncement of Friedrich Nietzsche in 1882. “God is dead.” The dawn of science, he believed, would be the doom of faith. Science has dawned; the movement continues.

The way a Communist dictionary defined the Bible. “It is a collection of fantastic legends without any scientific support.” Communism is diminishing; the movement continues.

The discovery made by every person who has tried to bury the faith. The same as the one made by those who tried to bury its Founder: He won’t stay in the tomb.

The facts. The movement has never been stronger: more than one billion Catholics and nearly as many Protestants.

The question. How do we explain it? Jesus was a backwater peasant. He never wrote a book, never held an office. He never journeyed more than two hundred miles from His hometown. Friends left Him. One betrayed Him. Those He helped forgot Him. Prior to His death they abandoned Him. But after His death they couldn’t resist Him. What made the difference?

The answer. His death and resurrection.

For when He died, so did your sin.

And when He rose, so did your hope.

For when He rose, your grave was changed from a final residence to temporary housing.

The reason He did it. The face in your mirror.

The verdict after two millennia. Herod was right: there is room for only one King.

1. The quote from Michael Eric Dyson was excerpted from his book Long Time Coming: Reckoning with Race in America, published by St. Martin’s Press, p. 2. 

Excerpted with permission from He Chose The Nails  by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

“… my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

With Easter, and our annual ‘Sticky Bun’ Breakfast coming up, it was time to start gathering supplies. Noting a few of the items were on sale at the local grocer, I started there. Paper Towels met my criteria of both of need and discount, so I bought 2. That was 4 days ago and I’m still looking for them!

Organization has never been a strength for me, but now that I am older I have at least found an excuse! Going through the line, trying to gracefully push the VERY SLOW check out guy, I bagged my own stuff and rushed out to do the next thing. It wasn’t until last night that I realized, 4 DAYS LATER, that I must have left the paper towels sitting at the cash register!

I felt dumb… Stupid even! But feeling didn’t help the fact that the church still needed paper towels! Setting out to remedy the situation, I called the store and laid it on thick, using every method of influence I could muster. “This is REVEREND McCay, and I really need your help!”

Now everyone knows there is not much ‘reverent’ about me. Case in point, I only use ‘The Title’ when there is an advantage to gain from it. Jesus’ Church needed paper towels, I had the receipt, but not the towels, so I wanted to know if there was a solution. Maybe someone found them after I left the store… or somethin’. Deservedly, the lady on the other end of the phone simply laughed saying, “Call tomorrow and lay that on the day manager.”

I am a fool, I made a mistake, I lost money doing it and the need still exists because breakfast is coming up Sunday. That feeling pervaded my whole sense of being last night at the ‘Maundy Thursday’ silent communion service. Life has been crazy, hectic and unsettling for me lately. With lots of issues coming at me at once, I honestly couldn’t even pray hard enough to get my prayer above the ceiling. “Lord… help me.” Was the underlying theme of every sentence. When I was done, I still felt like a loser. But duty calls, and it was mine to both greet and say goodbye to the participants. I went outside to do just that.

Everyone said how beautiful the church looked and how much it impacted them, as God reached down in the silence and touched each one. With background music from ‘The Passion’ setting the tone, a reverent sadness filled each heart as we all tried to grasp how the Divine could work through such horror. And then…

Looking toward the parking lot, I saw Ray coming up the sidewalk carrying the biggest package of paper towels I have ever seen! I hadn’t mentioned our need… he just brought them! And all I could do was stare, as I felt the smile of God and His nudge to recall this verse. As I closed my eyes and breathed out, “Thank you Lord,” I sensed His wink!

Hallelujah… What a Savior! Is He yours?

“Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?’ which means ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?'” Matthew 27:46

The event happened a long time ago when I was a young boy. But the imprint of the memory remains as fresh as yesterday. We were visiting friends of my parents out of state. Being bored and looking for something to do, I saw a wooden go-kart sitting in their garage. How could I have known it would transport me to a place I would never forget?

I remember sitting in the go-cart on a downhill slope of a driveway. But it wouldn’t roll! When I began to rock back and forth to force it into action, my head hit a corner on the wooden frame. Instantly blood poured into my eyes and I screamed, mostly out of fear! EVERYONE heard me and soon we were rushing to the hospital.

I really don’t remember any pain. But when the doctor said I needed stitches and pulled out a huge syringe to numb my forehead… I freaked and tried to get off the table. I was subdued quickly and placed on a rolling stretcher moving toward the emergency room. Trying to get off of that, they strapped me down to hold me still. Looking at my dad, they blocked him from coming along with me!

I will never forget my fear, or the look on my father’s face, as the doors closed between the both of us. I cried out “Daddy, Daddy… don’t leave me!” But struggling, I could not move! Strapped to the gurney to hold my head still for the needle, the last thing I saw before the doors closed were tears running down my father’s face.

Maundy Thursday is a big day for me because it forces me to remember my own horrific event. Then I think about Jesus and His prayerful agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, as He begged His Father to not leave HIM. For the first time ever, He was about to experience separation from His Father. He was going to have to trust that His Father would be there… afterwards.

What if something had gone wrong and the prophecies could not be fulfilled. What if His enemy satan actually got a leg up and His sacrifice wouldn’t be good enough? As He felt His Father backing away, and remembering the betrayal of Judas, He HAD to wonder. How could He be sure this would all work if even His own Dad turned his back on Him?

Back at the hospital after the stitches were finally in, I was exhausted from crying. I was rolled into a room where visitors were allowed… and my dad was the first. We hugged at the reunion and I was overjoyed that he hadn’t abandoned me after all. But we were changed by the event. He preached that experience at many ‘Good Friday’ services. Now I do the same.

Things have changed in medicine since then. Now parents are welcome in the room with their children. I remember sitting with mine for stitches, grateful that they would never have to endure that feeling of abandonment and fear. But I am also strangely grateful for my own experience… because it helps me realize the tremendous price both God and His Son had to pay for me to be saved. Deep down, I never really feel like I’m worth it! But knowing the cost and God’s willingness to pay for me makes me love Him all the more.

So on this Maundy Thursday, I ask this question… will YOU betray the one who paid so much for YOUR redemption? And after what He did for you… what will YOU do for HIM?