“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17

Having previously made the appointment to meet a friend for lunch, I had PLENTY of time! Besides lunch, I had made a list of things to do, then crammed in a couple more good measure. The clock was ticking…and I was ‘on it!’ But all that thinking had me a little worn, so I sat down to relax for ‘JUST a few minutes.’ Tic Toc!

I never really considered how much math and time go together. As I planned the time of my departure, I ticked off the things I needed to do and ‘how long’ they ‘take me.’ When forced, it takes me 4 minutes to shower, 3 minutes for drying, brushing teeth and shaving. Depending on the event, it can take me 1.5 to 2 minutes to get dressed. Yup!!!! Plenty of time. Except…I laid my phone and keys down…SOMEWHERE! And just like that…having NOT planned for stupid…I was out of the time stuff!

En route…traffic, slow drivers in the left lane and red lights all became my enemies as I tried to MAKE UP for LOST TIME! And I really believed I could do it…beat time, that is! But looking back on it, I realize how ridiculous the concept of grabbing, stopping or making up for lost time really is!

I don’t own time! It isn’t mine and I can’t really buy it! Since time is a unit of measure that God has implemented on earth, all I CAN do is use it to measure my steps. Since time is impartial, it can’t cheat and shave a little off to give someone else. Time has no heart, mind, concern or feelings for ANYTHING. The USE of it is STRICTLY up to ME! Though this verse implies that there IS a judgment coming that will measures how well I USED time! Strangely, the prize is eternity with the timekeeper!!

EVERYONE wears a watch, carries a phone, or hangs a clock to enable them to know what time it is. But if the basis of all things eternal is NOT time, but knowing and doing God’s will, shouldn’t I stop watching the clock and take more time to know and do His Will? Thankfully, God has told me how to do just that! It’s by slowing down and using time to READ, LEARN and then DO what HE says! 

Times up

“But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5

Today is, or would be, my father’s Birthday. If he were alive today, he’d be 93! Though he has ALWAYS been a part of my life, even after he died, I STILL find the number hard to believe! 93 is a LOT of YEARS! But today is not just significant because it’s HIS birthday! It is ALSO the Birthday of something He started…and then left behind.

Today is the 44^th Birthday of the Congregational Church…a church He founded in 1977. I remember it well because I was there. Like most churches, it was not born out of joy or celebration, but in sorrow and pain. It came about when a small group of people, looking for a fellowship to learn and grow in Jesus Christ, met and decided to start their own. Yet I know it to be one of the most painful decisions my father ever made.

While it is true that wounds heal…scars last a lifetime. And while it isn’t beneficial to relive their cause, scars DO give the necessary ‘head of steam’ to move us onward. Having been there for the birth of my 4 children, I RARELY remember my wife discussing the pain and labor of their delivery. Only the joy of their births. So today is a celebration!

We all know ‘Church’ is HARD! It always has been. Like a ship, it is built for a mission. Made up of parts and people that often break down, and facing a continuing hostile environment, it’s a wonder that ships go anywhere! It would be safe if the Ship simply sat in Port! But like the saying goes, ‘that isn’t what ships are built for!’ Neither was I!

The world has developed an unfortunate saying that, like the harbor quote, goes against the very reason I was created. As people in a lost and dying world, “STAY SAFE” is probably the most ridiculous message I have ever heard! The Apostle Paul knew and lived dangerously and pressed people to get out there and do the same! The Church has a mission and a message. NEITHER is SAFE!

I have to admit chuckling at the thought of being upset with my earthly and Heavenly Fathers. For as long as I can remember, I KNEW I was made for a purpose. AND that living out that purpose would bring unwelcome pain. But I can’t really stay mad that both Fathers built and put me in the position for which I was created. Because deep inside I know, I was never meant to be ‘safe!’ If you love Jesus Christ…neither were YOU!

The very thing I didn’t want to hear was the very thing I needed the most! As a walking ‘dead’ person, I needed LIFE! But LIFE requires work, mission and cooperation! Working together creates friction. Going places is dangerous. There is ALWAYS the temptation to simply quit and be safe. But CHURCH is all about Birthdays! Which is WHY I am here in the first place!

Happy Birthday Dad… and to the Congregational Church of Laurel!

“…our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope…” 2 Thessalonians 2:16

Waking to the darkness is not exactly one of my joyful experiences in life. After a restless night, I found that I was sleeping my best when I was rudely notified by my alarm clock that it was time to get up. As I struggled to climb into reality, and before my feet even hit the floor, one thought brought joy to my spirit…IT’S FRIDAY!!!!!

I’ve been up for a while now…AND had my coffee…so I can think with a little more clarity. And I am wondering just WHY I quickly perked up at the thought that it was Friday? I concluded what everyone already knows…Friday has special meaning because, to students in school, and employees punching a time clock, Monday through Thursday were WORK days. Friday is the LAST day before THE WEEKEND! And WEEKENDS meant NO MANDATORY WORK!

I’m not a student anymore, nor do I punch a clock. In fact, for last 20+ years, weekends usually mean MORE work for me, personally. But my head and feet didn’t recognize that in the dark fog and slap a frown on my face! In fact, my immediate reaction was a SMILE…a spark…a joy! But WHY???? Maybe it’s the power of the past!

Memories, especially GOOD ones, linger longer than reality and have a way of bringing with them the FEELINGS associated with what WAS or USED to be. Something that happened long ago, like a trip with the kids to the mountains, a honeymoon, Christmas…those things still can make me smile! And a smile on my heart puts a smile on my face. Such is the POWER OF THE PAST!!!

I deliberately cut out, and used, the MIDDLE of this Bible verse. It gives me a POWERFUL message all by itself, even if it’s not the total and complete thought of the verse. The POWER of this message comes from something that happened in the PAST! God and His son Jesus (HIMSELF), when they looked at me with GRACE…then LOVED and GAVE! And the gift that they gave, even BEFORE I was born, was the ability to look forward…with eternal encouragement and good hope! Kind of like a Friday!

I like this idea that the past has a way of catching up with me. When that thought of eternal encouragement and good hope hit me, it had automatically made me smile. Because, in light of eternity, EVERY DAY is like a FRIDAY! I don’t have to be down, sad, blue, depressed or worried. And THAT is GOOD NEWS!

There is a WHOLE LOTTA GOOD THINGS COMIN’ because of what God already did. More than I can even think or imagine, the Bible says. So I believe I will take this as a heavenly nudge and plan for a GOOD day instead of a dark one. And if you want to join me…TGIF to you too!  

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30

Yesterday I played pretend! I have to admit that it wasn’t for fun, but out of necessity. In reality, I subconsciously KNEW I was playing. But the whole point of playing ‘pretend,’ is to make it look real…right down to the smallest detail. The outside uniform, the actions…even the tiniest inflections in the voice! Arrrrrrrrr! I was playing the role of pastor SO well, the only one who knew I was really gaming…was ME! Oh…and God of course!

Now might be a good time to throw out the “But everybody does it!” card. But then I’d be stepping out of my pretended role! And in the game of pretend, even excuses can give one away. NO!!!! I’ve got to keep going…and pretend…and not stop. I gotta be BRAVE and STRONG and FEARLESS and NOBEL! ESPECIALLY NOBEL! That way, everybody seeing me will actually BELIEVE that they believe me! Which is the whole point of the game. Isn’t it?

But for right now, I’m in a self-imposed time out. Because sitting here, alone at my computer, I don’t have to pretend. In fact, I already know God, the one I am MADDENINGLY in love with, would prefer I NOT play right now. And what a relief!!!

These days, acting heroic has been tough! It’s kind of like soldiers who have prepared for battle. Even though ‘Boot Camp’ has been perfected to match the intensity of battle, no one REALLY knows how they will perform until they find themselves facing the REAL thing. That’s why they call it REALITY! Apparently, playing pretend is supposed to help!

Sometimes I have to write when I don’t feel like it. Or preach, or encourage, or help…often under the pressure of a time clock. And though I REALLY don’t like THAT part, I’ve played pretend enough that I’ve even gotten good at beating the clock! For now though, it’s just me and God. And I gotta confess. I’m FEELING pretty puny down here!

Pastor, husband and father are three of the biggest roles I play. Having done them for a LONG time, there ARE times when “ya gotta fake it till ya make it!” Times that require, if not the ACTUAL wisdom and aura of a great leader, at least the APPEARANCE. But as the song says, “Truth be told, the truth is rarely told!” So I pretend.

I’m not as wise, staunch, faithful, joyful, brave, clean and reverent as some people THINK I am…sometimes. Sometimes I am just plain scared out of my mind! I get confused, angry, lost, hurt and have even been known to lose faith! Although thanks to ‘Pretend,’ most people don’t notice. But me and God know. And we’re talkin’! I LOVE talking to God…the ‘Real Deal…’ because He REALLLLLLLY loves me…even when I’m pretending!

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15

Getting up every morning and putting on the shoes of my vocation is not really something that causes rapturous joy! But yesterday, I found myself at a Donut shop talking with one of my Jesus ‘tough guys’ with just that feeling! And though I almost missed it, the point didn’t miss me! We were having laughing and having FUN!

I got a video the other day from my son. He was laughing and having a ball ‘doing donuts’ on a Tugboat! Yea, I thought the same thing. Because I’d never think to put those things together either! But there he was, in recorded time, doing something even HE never would have been able to think up! The joy in the donut shop was kind of like that.

Our meeting started with, “hey, I’d like to get together and talk,” and turned into 2 hours of CHURCH time! As we talked, we laughed, got serious, asked questions, wondered and by worshiped through our attitudes. When the place closed down around us, we stood outside and carried on in the parking lot! More questions, discussions and laughter came as serious subjects and fears fell to the ground…one by one…all brought on by the HOPE that comes from following our mutual Savior.

The Bible verse today is quite presumptuous! It presupposes that when I DELIBERATELY put Jesus Christ FIRST in my life, then this other something will naturally follow. That something…Peter calls HOPE! It’s a strange and fuzzy kind of emotion. I know when someone is happy when they are laughing or smiling. I can SEE sorrow and pain in tears. But what kind of face screams out HOPE??

There MUST be an air or aura of hope that somehow gets displayed when I am focusing on Jesus, because the Bible tells me to ‘BE PREPARED’ with an answer for it when it happens. Which leads me to wonder and question, “do ‘I’ show it when I am out in the world?” And if I do…HOW? And can I turn it on an off? Am I even making SENSE now?? I’m going to have to end here and talk to the guys about this…because right now, I’m just doing donuts!

Is it better to do something than to do a lame nothing??? HMMM I wonder… and HOPE so.

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20

Finding the day to ourselves and with a task to get done, Katie and I decided to tackle the job of digging, pulling, cutting and removing all the roots from a tree we removed from the corner of our patio area. Peaches (a pet name for my wife) wanted new pavers. Peaches is GETTING new pavers. Peaches is digging!

The palm tree wasn’t really tall as much as it was decorative. What it missed in height, it made up for in roots! For the future new pavers not to sink, we were told to “get em ALL out!” So we dug deep! When my shovel hit something different, it required me to go deeper. What I found was an underground conduit, WITH wiring, going…SOMEWHERE! What I uncovered was a mystery that I SHOULD have already expected!

While digging and pulling, the words, “I can’t figure out what this is for,” kept coming out of my mouth. When Katie said, “well, why did you put it there,” I was shocked! She said, “I even helped when you did it and remember you getting mad and cussing when it wasn’t going well!” Yup… that was me! But I don’t remember exactly what it was for OR how and where it connected to the main power! Another shocking conundrum!

As I get older I find that there are LOTS of things I don’t remember. It’s not that I am losing my mind! It’s just that I have had SO many years to do SO many things, I just can’t hold it all in my pea pickin’ brain! I like to THINK I remember the IMPORTANT stuff! But apparently not! NOW….knowing the power source and purpose of this buried electrical wire has become EXTREMELY important!

Jesus Christ, the Creator of the Universe, has laid down principles that ALWAYS work…ALL the time! Like gravity, these ‘power’ principles can be counted on…even MORE than religion! But “TALK” isn’t one of them! If digging through this confusing world of 2021 finds me, at times, flustered and irritable, I should automatically COUNT ON the fact that Jesus Christ has THE ANSWER and that HIS POWER is there…ready and available to be used.

Like that buried conduit and wire, I HAVE the potential for the power to overcome the emotional misgivings of today. The obvious lack of peace, irritability and confusion are simply signs that I have FORGOTTEN Jesus and His Power are there…READY to be used. But it is up to ME to choose to make that connection. Love, Joy, Peace and ALL the other spiritual fruits are there to be had and enjoyed. LACK of them simply proves that “I” have FORGOTTEN my power source.

There’s a benefit to finding that power line, We can use it right where it is, and for our enjoyment, when the new pavers go in. But for today I am going to REMEMBER the lesson of the buried power cable and be joyful. And TRY not to forget that JESUS has ALL the Power I NEED…for today AND for tomorrow!

And THAT’S the shocking truth!

How about some JOY today STRAIGHT out of God’s Word?

¹ Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[b] Since we have that same spirit of^[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. ¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

“When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.'” John 22:21-22

I have a leaky gutter! Which is both bad news and NOT so bad news. Bad because I have to fix it…since ‘I’m the gutter-man!’ Not so bad news because…’I am the gutter-man’ and I know how! Many years ago I had a job hanging gutters for a living and still remember my exhaustively, intensive training! If YOU are, or were, a gutter-man, you’d laugh at that!

I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that there’s never been a person who grew up with their life’s goal being a ‘gutter-man’…or gutter-person!’ It isn’t a sexy or sophisticated job that pays a lot. Gutter-men kind of ‘fall’ into the job since, when one needs a job, that one is often available since, EVERY house needs a gutter!

One of the most critical laws, and therefore RULES a gutter-man must remember is, “water ALWAYS runs downhill!” You may laugh, but if you ever had to ‘guarantee’ that YOUR gutters obey that rule, you know it isn’t always easy! As an old Italian Baker man used to tell me, “Every job has it’s bones to chew!” Oh, I also know how to bake a pie!

That leaky gutter is MINE. Unless I want to PAY someone to do it FOR me, ‘I’ am THE gutter-man. It is MY responsibility either way. This led me to a complaint in the Bible where Peter was given his job by Jesus. The outcome would NOT be a good one! When Peter pointed to John and asked, ‘What about HIM?” Jesus said it plainly, ‘That is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! DO WHAT ‘I’ TELL YOU!

In these days of collective side choosing, folks are fighting over every little thing. News folks, bloggers and advertisers are doing everything they can to ‘get you’ on their team! After all, there’s bragging rights and $$$ to be made if you select THEM! ‘Cept JESUS isn’t on the popular ballot!

God called me out of the world to be His. And with that distinction, to FOLLOW HIM! Can I be honest? OFTEN…that isn’t FUN OR sexy, according to the world’s standards! Like Peter, I have tried the complaint and bargaining methods with the Lord of Lords and…neither work. His answer to me is always in that same tone too…”That is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS! DO WHAT ‘I’ TELL YOU!”

I grew up realizing I was going to have to have A job. Little did I realize that my job and vocation (God-calling) would be calling ME out! I guess you COULD say, since I AM in God’s business…I am a gutter-man!’ And if you’re reading this…so are YOU! And ‘wink wink,’ you understand EXACTLY what that means!

So…what does Jesus want from YOU?

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” Psalm 37:23

It happened again! But having been made aware of it, I am now of the opinion that it always will and NEVER change! Wearing many hats requires a LOT…lots of pre-planning, skill, education, experience, determination, decisions and FATIGUE! And yes…I realize I am writing this to someone who wears many hats as well. So YOU probably already KNOW this and I’m preaching to the choir!

Yesterday I HAD to be in several places and WANTED to be in several more. Each place required something different in the way of dress, preparation, timing and skill. The weather didn’t help matters either. The cold, rainy and damp weather made it important for me to take along extra clothing. The tasks ahead also meant taking along supplies and tools. Mental planning done, I executed the plan. In the end, the JUDGE in me said I didn’t do so bad, but I COULD have done better!

This is not a new subject! It’s just that it’s been given more consideration these last few days. Which also points out the old saying that, ‘wherever I go, there I am!’ It is in the ‘here I am’ where God meets me and teaches me all the good stuff. He’s trying to tell me something…and I’m LOVING it!

I know today’s Bible verse ‘by heart’ and have quoted it MANY times in my life. I say I KNOW it, but like ALL things of God, I am learning MORE about it than I did before. God uses experiences and seasons of life to intrigue me to GO DEEPER. It is in the DEEP things that I learn to love, trust and appreciate Him even more than before.

I must confess that I generally looked at this verse as a confirmation that whatever I did, I had a buddy along with me for the ride and that no matter WHAT…He’d be there if and when I needed Him. But ‘I” usually determine the what, when, where, and how. I am seeing how He USES ALL things to help form and teach me the what He wants me to learn.

I am NOT a glove on the hand of God. That thought is WAY too much “predestination’ and far too little ‘free will’ for me to accept. But MAYBE when I approach a door and ask God, “are you coming?” I am learning to ask Him, “Will YOU go First?” And really MEAN it! Because these hats are becoming WAY too confusing!    God has a way to teach an old dog new tricks after all!   What say YOU?