“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Being a ‘hands-on’ kinda guy, I do most of my own work. I take care of my own yard, maintain my own house and fix my own stuff. While I don’t do much automotive, I do drive a truck. In the back of my truck I have a crate of miscellaneous tools and at least 15 old work gloves. But strange as it may sound, and as often as I have tried, I have VERY bad luck FINDING a pair!

One of the greatest inventions for me is the $1 pair of work gloves at the Dollar Tree. Though they come in different colors, color doesn’t help. When I go to grab a pair, I can almost guarantee I will pull out either 2 left or 2 right gloves… every time! And every time… time is what gets wasted as I search and match. Too often I end up with opposite colors in differing conditions…1 REALLY used red glove and 1 like new black one! By now you realize I do NOT have a have GLOVE problem! I have a ME problem!

When it comes to being a Christian, I confess that I get it wrong…a lot. I have this tendency to want to help Jesus out by trying to imitate Him. I read about His life and then go for the work gloves, attempting to work alongside Him to advance His kingdom. Even as I write that, I can sense Jesus rolling His eyes in my direction. After all these years I STILL tend to start every day looking for a pair of gloves… instead of HIM!!

‘Do your best,’ is an old Cub Scout motto for little kids. It has NO place in adulthood OR in Christianity. TRYING to be a ‘Good Christian’ is an oxymoron that is impossible to achieve. It is not about ME working FOR HIM! It is allowing HIM to work THROUGH ME! The evidence of my choice is in the FRUIT! Either I have it.. or I don’t!

Gloves don’t meet, talk, plan or connive. They’re either ‘available’ or not. The Master and Owner of the gloves chooses them, slips them on HIS hands and does all the work. It is up to the glove to simply YIELD. Without the Master’s hand, a glove can’t even lift itself, much less a load! So… why do I keep trying?

I have several adversaries that work against me. The world, my own flesh and the devil CONTINUE to mix me up with words and feelings that seem VERY real! “Dirty glove, bad glove, mismatched glove, wrong color glove!” I take it too personal! This verse tells me that I BELONG to Jesus and He isn’t INTERESTED in my condition. He just wants me to be available! By now you realize that Jesus doesn’t have a glove problem either. He has ME problem. And you know that’s ‘right!’

“For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” Romans 7:18

I tried EVERYTHING!!! I had given it time… then waited… A LOT! I prayed in faith… BELIEVING… then did it again! I worried about it, inspected it, sought advice about it, tried numerous ‘fix it’ solutions and even secretly wished on a star!!! I had worn out EVERY possibility I could think of to remedy my situation…except the only one that could! But unfortunately, my sewer pipe remained clogged!

It isn’t hard to know when a sewer pipe has failed. Before you see it… you can smell it! Only an owner will be serious enough to follow the smell to SEE what the problem is. The rest will skedaddle in the opposite direction saying, “not MY problem!” Until it is! Then, due to cost, time, denial or wishful thinking, there comes a point that something HAS to be DONE. So I called “SEWERMAN!”

My PLAN was to wait until the weather cooled down, then dig it up and replace it myself. It never got cool and my back hasn’t been cooperating in EASIER things. Calling in my expert cost me in cash, but saved me in sweat, agony and pain. Not really a bad trade off, huh? Now he’s not ‘officially’ “THE SEWERMAN,” but rather my plumber. But I can say that, since he is working on MY sewer pipe! And get this!!!! My ‘SEWERMAN’ is not going to FIX ANYTHING… he is going to REPLACE!! Just like Jesus!

If Jesus took care of my SIN… can’t I call Him ‘SINMAN?’ I know, I know… some of you are offended! So sad, too! I know PASTORS who REFUSE to admit that Jesus BECAME ‘SINMAN’ for me on the cross! They think He only carried my sin there, spiritually maintaining His perfect appearance. But the ‘stink’ proved otherwise. Even His Father had to tun away!

Rusted, corroded, clogged old pipes cannot be repaired any more than than my flesh can. ‘SEWERMAN’ dug it up, replaced it with NEW, and buried the old… NEVER to be seen again! It is just what ‘SINMAN’ JESUS did with MY old stinky flesh! If ever I DO catch a whiff of that old familiar smell and begin to worry, I need to rest assured that it is NOT!

If I call my plumber every week and beg him to go out there and recheck that new line, how many times do you think he will take my call? Right! NONE! He DID it… it is DONE! And when it comes to the stink of sin, that guilt and shame you feel is SUPPOSED to lead you to the TRUSTing JOY that YOUR SAVIOR already DID a good job. It is NOT there to make you feel bad all over again. The message of the Cross is… “YOU CAN’T – HE CAN!” And He DID!

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate my plumber. I brag about him and share his phone # with anyone who has a problem. I do the same thing with Jesus!

What do YOU smell… and who will YOU call? 

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2

This past weekend was a GRAND birthday celebration for one of my grandchildren. I say GRAND because, the way they do things today is FAR beyond anything we used to do when I was young. Reservations had been made at a local business labeled, ‘The nation’s largest inflatable adventure park,’ and 9 of my grandkids and all of my kids met to celebrate. What a crazy idea!!

AS I looked around, hundreds of kids, and at least a half dozen birthday parties, were joined together in one place. I was glad I had left my hearing aids at home as the noise was incredible. Everyone was on sensory overload and ‘parent bells’ were ringing off the hook as we tried to keep track of our own kids. When this much fun is available, rules have a tendency to leak out of kids heads, so our family automatically grouped close to the exit door! I settled in to watch!

Looking up I saw the advertised ‘Zip Rail Coaster.’ Hanging about 30 feet above and zipping around the rail like a puppet on a string, my inner child wished “I” could give it a try. I watched as one of my grandkids was making her way to the top to jump by faith! I could tell she was nervous, so I whistled and cheered her on. After a long pause, she turned around and walked back, too afraid to take the leap! I could feel her disappointment but knew this was a learning opportunity for her. Looking around, I saw other ‘Life’ opportunities as well.

Our 3 year old had to be reminded that he could NOT just run off by himself. A smaller one had to be consoled at being told he was too small for the ‘Zip Rail.’ Older grandkids were partnered up with younger and given the responsibility of ‘watching’ them… even though they’d prefer to be ‘set free.’ Waiting your turn, sharing, encouraging, consoling and even taking the time to ‘go potty’ were just a few of the many lessons taught while our kids played. Then I thought of ‘The Church!’

‘The Church’ is a unique and permanent fixture on and nurtured into a forever family that is fun…yet frustrating. Joyful…yet demanding. Free… but expensive! NEVER done ALONE, the purpose is to care for, and grow up, individual members into ONE thing that will be eternal… ‘The Bride of Christ!’ I was reminded this last weekend that while ‘Church’ can be work, it is SUPPOSED to be fun as well! Thinking, “what a CRAZY IDEA!” I heard loud cheering and looked up to see my ‘formerly frightened,’ granddaughter ‘flying’ above us! Her smile said it all!

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 1 Corinthians 9:19

Do you know the difference between last year and this year? Simply…a year! Which doesn’t sound like much… until you were where I was yesterday. My annual trimming and clean up was not going well. The pile to haul away was getting larger as I was running out of steam. I was thinking about how much I still had to do while figuring a way to haul it all off… when I experienced a miricle!

A road separated me from the growing pile of debris. Suddenly, like a vision, a big truck pulling a big trailer crossed that path. It seemed angels were even singing…as the truck passed before my eyes. Planning my time to coincide with the truck’s leaving, I halted its exit with a proposal in mind. Just when I didn’t think it could get any better, I saw there were ‘3’ men inside! Hallelujah! When I pointed to the pile and asked, “how much?” I was given a RIDICULOUSLY LOW price… which I HAD to turn down!

O.K…I know these guys. We have met before. When we got to talking, I found that they new a LOT more about ME than I knew about THEM. Scary huh? Being a preacher as few advantages and the price quote was one of them. But being a preacher ALSO means that I am NOT my own! That pile isn’t mine either. It’s Jesus’ pile. And since Jesus is in the GIVING business, NOT the taking, I made a proposition with a caveat!.

His offer was right up front and so was my counter. I said, “I am going to pay you double that price!” When I saw his eyebrows go up, I felt like I had earned the right to continue talking. So I started talking about… you guessed it… JESUS! Why? Because, as it turned out, these 3 men didn’t know that THEY don’t belong to themselves either! I could tell by their expressions that they were at least beginning to listen!

I find that in many ways, the older I get, the less I can do. I am NOT what I used to be. BUT… in other ways, I am BETTER than I used to be. At my age I have resources and experience to back up my prayers and expectations that God will use me for HIS Glory and Work. I have ALSO learned that God usually shows up, and off, with the unexpected! As they loaded up to leave, I heard the boss say, “Hey guys, now we have lunch money!” All I could think was… good job Jesus!

“I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.” Psalm 52:8

I was chomping away on some ‘Double Bubble’ bubble gum the other night when I just KNEW something was wrong! Within’ a few nanoseconds, the wisdom that comes ONLY from time and experience screamed out…. STOP!!!! Spitting out evidence that accompanies stupid, I held, in my hand, a ‘crown’ that had come off one of my teeth! THIS is the kind of thing mama had warned me about!

I remembered, back in my Scoutmaster days, an encouraged mantra that we were to say around the campfire… over and over… until we ‘got wise.’ It goes like this;

“OWHAAAA TAGOO SIAM”

Go ahead…say it…out loud…over and over…in increasing speed! I’ll wait! Yep! That‘s me!

So yesterday I found myself in the Dentist’s Office at… unbelievably…the PERFECT time. ‘Tooth Hurty!’ Yes… really! There, Dr. G. my dentist friend, greeted me and put me in the care of Lisa. Lisa is a believer and we always have great conversations. I usually talk until she politely tells me to shut up and open! Not being afraid or nervous at all, I sat calmly as she poked and prodded. That is until she said, “Uh-Oh… we’ve got a live wire here!” My only response was “…UH?” Then my WHOLE ATTITUDE CHANGED!

She went on to explain that, “since that tooth still has it’s nerve, I might experience a jolt of unexpected pain! Just let me know,” she said! All I could do was laugh uncontrollably and say… “O.K…. I will!!” ‘She’ again politely told me to shut up and open and! ‘I’ went back to trusting… but with prepared caution!

Life, like a dentist’s chair, is NOT a laughing matter. I appreciated her warning that, what I DIDN’T know COULD hurt me. It gave me occasion to take a serious matter… seriously. That I read this verse this morning is NOT an accident. It is a gentle ‘Holy Spirit’ reminder that I’d better place my trust in the hands of the ONLY one who can help… then ‘shut up and be open!’

Life happens entirely too fast. I, for one, am prone to not ‘get it’ as fast as most. Laughing and joking my way through this ‘nerve’ous journey, I NEED to be reminded that ‘Stupid Hurts!’ Then, taking that advice, I must APPLY it daily. With the world, the flesh and the devil coming at me every day…I am a ‘LIVE WIRE!’ And I am also reminded that I’m MUCH too old to be keeping ‘Stupid’ as a friend!

Thanks for the lesson Lisa!

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.” Jeremiah 29:13-14

I was hoping that the weather would break and that heat and humidity would finally be gone before I tackled the tree and bush trimming job. But alas… no! The time had come, it was muggy and hot and I had run out of excuses. Without thinking I pulled on my work clothes and headed off, with no particular plan but to cut! When I got to it, I wondered, “where are my tools?”

Being an owner of foliage in Florida is full of frustration because this place was a ‘tropical rain forest’ LONG before I came! That means plants trees and shrubs just GROW! Eradicating them requires work and tools. Looking thorough the garage I found 1 tool and so, started with it. Lopping and filling trash cans, I stored 5 of them in the garage to be set out on trash day. Needing my chain saw, I then remembered… ‘it’s behind the trash cans!’

‘Plan your work and work your plan,’ is a popular saying for organized types. Since ‘knowing’ and ‘doing’ are two different things, and that planning doesn’t come naturally for me, it usually takes more time and sweat to accomplish things I don’t like to do… like tree trimming! Oh… if could only learn that! Then I read these teeter-totter verses this morning.

I am a captive to my OWN way of living. Being flesh, I have learned what I like and what I don’t. I have even discovered substitute behaviors that provide me with brief spurts of ‘happy’ to get me through tough times. Because I love these substitutes, I rarely see them as captors to which I am enslaved! BUT… God sees them… and has a plan for my life that RIDS me of ALL captors… but Him. He even tells me what to DO to eradicate the fake stuff. Now… if could only learn them!

Picture a teeter totter with “You will seek me and find me” on one side. And “I will be found by you,” on the other. While they are actually 2 separate verses, they pivot on the words, “when you seek me with all your heart.” ‘Seeking’ and ‘finding’ are 2 separate things that require WORK on MY part. The WORK is the ‘HEART’ effort I put into the search. Often, that effort requires I move some trash out of the way.

God has a plan for my life. I have to work HIS plan if I want to have it. I guess the inevitable question is… how badly do I REALLY WANT to find Him? And how badly do YOU?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

There we were… 70 feet above the ground! One slip… one misstep… and BOOM!!!! 911 would be replaced with a call to the coroner. Undaunted… fearless even… I looked to my left to see my ‘partner in height’ standing on the 8” wide walking plank… holding onto… NOTHING! As my fingertips leaned against the wall in front of me for support, I felt beaten and small. I felt WORSE when he MENTIONED it…“I saw you holding on!!! The shame was embarrassing!

In reality we WEREN’T 70’ up. But from ground to feet, it was about 13’. If you counted from the ground to eye level it was 18’…. or 70’ if you were in the middle of the plank! Which I was! Oh… and the plank was 14” wide, not 8”. But it SEEMED like it! And yes, I DID feel like a baby at times. And yes.. he DID mention it to me. UGHHHHH!

My first job out of high school was an aluminum mechanic’s laborer. I remember the first day on the job. The picture above is almost EXACTLY the way the scaffolding laid out.. only up to the peak. When my boss told me to climb up and remove the molding, it became the scariest day of my life! I went on to LEARN how and to NOT be afraid of heights. But that was 46 years ago! Apparently I had UNLEARNED it, because the fear I was fighting to overcome was genuine!

When my friend told me he was painting, I offered to help. I looked forward to the challenge of the height, trusted him to have secured the scaffolding and KNEW it would hold me. When I was done, I was exhilarated for the experience. ‘The Fear of The Lord,’ is EXACTLY like that. It is not danger…but AWE! An opportunity for the Holy Spirit, the church and teacher to provide me intimate access to Holy God… and LIVE to TELL about it!

If I want wisdom and understanding, I must remember that it ONLY comes when MY head gets level with HIS feet! In humility, I must acknowledge that HE is God and I am not! And that, when I read His Word with the care it deserves…and APPLY it correctly to my life…I will have NOTHING to fear. TEASED about maybe… but NEVER afraid!

So when it comes to reaching God… how high are YOU?

“As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.” Ecclesiastes 10:1

The other day a couple of us were cleaning up the church for Sunday services. This is a very enjoyable time for me, because I get to spend time talking about Jesus with a fellow friend and believer. It was going very well. I picked up the gathered trash, tied the bag and proceeded to the garbage can outside. Then the stench hit my nose!

Apparently, the last time the trash can was emptied, the garbage guy left the lid open. Heavy rain had filled the bottom with about 3” of water. But I KNEW that smell well and… it WASN’T from rain. Peering in, I saw a bag at the bottom that could ONLY be explained by a dead animal inside! I ALSO knew it hadn’t been placed there by any one of us! Being experienced at stench, I got some bleach, dumped it the can, and then left!

I mentioned that I have extensive experience at stench…and I do. I COULD tell you stories to prove that MY experience is probably stinkier than yours. But without a ‘stink-o-meter’ and a ‘judge,’ my conclusion is only opinion. Besides, who wants to win THAT contest?!! Yesterday I walked by the trash can again… let’s just say that the bleach didn’t work!

I am an expert at the stink of sin and because I am, I can say that Paul lied when he called himself “the chiefest of sinners.” HE isn’t… I am! But even even winning THAT contest would require a ‘sin-o-meter’ and a ‘judge!’ And right about now I am REALLY EXCITED to inform you that ‘The Judge’ has LEFT THE BUILDING!

Stench is subjective and requires both an event AND a participant. God smelled the COMBINED stench of ALL human sin… and chose to take it upon Himself to REMOVE its offense…once and for ALL! The place was called Calvary and the trash was my sin. ALL OF IT! As the hymn writer of “It is Well With My Soul,” said, “I bear it NO MORE!” Get it?

There is no one I know of who will take care of the growing stench in the can. SOMEONE has to take care of it. That someone is me! Why? Well…didn’t I just brag that my stench experience being worse than yours? And now you have the perfect example of WHY… ‘YOU’ and ‘I’ are called to ‘testify’ to the Grace of God! It’s because of EXPERIENCE!  So….‘press on’ stinky guy!

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.” Ephesians 2:19

This last weekend, on my trip to Los Angeles, I got married AND adopted! I am SOOO excited I can’t wait any longer to tell you about it. See the picture? That’s Jake and Margaret (lucky Jake, huh?). Jake is my nephew on my wife’s side of the family. Just by default, you already KNOW who Margaret is. If you know ME… you already know how I feel about Margaret…. She’s my FAVORITE!

I KNEW about Jake all of his life… though I didn’t really KNOW him. But Jake is family! So when we were invited to the wedding, we naturally said we’d be there… in Los Angeles, California! Having been to L.A. a few times, I don’t really care for the place. But I was going for a family wedding…NOT the town. While there, we found ourselves with some time to kill and driving around, we hit Koreatown!

I could tell things were different in Koreatown because of the signs, most of which were written, assumedly, in Korean! One sign IMMEDIATELY jumped out! In English… it read “Immigration Attorney!” The REASON this stood out to me is that I have never seen that sign in ANY town where I have lived before. It made me stop and think!

Having met Margret, her mom and dad, her sisters and friends, we fell in love with them immediately! Talking to them I heard the story from her Father about how he came to this country in the 80’s… back in the early computer days. Staying, he was missing something important… his family! Over the years, following the laws of our country, he is a citizen. After hearing HIS story, I REALLY understood the sign in Koreatown! It’s all about FAMILY! Then I thought of Heaven!

Margaret and her family are STRONG Christians. In fact, when she met Jake and the sparks started to fly, she told HIM that Jesus would be the head of her marriage. I am proud to say that Jake signed up (smart Jake!) and is ALL IN!! Because they are Christians, that makes them some of the CLOSEST members of MY Family as well! We have adopted each other and are no longer aliens or strangers, but fellow citizens of a unique community where Christ is King and WE are His Queen! OK… that sounds weird!

If you read the verse today you will see it starts with the word ‘Consequently’ and ends with a comma! That means there is MORE to know, both before and after! I’ll let YOU look it up. And if YOU REALLY KNOW what the before and after means…welcome to the GREATEST FAMILY ON EARTH! You TOO have been married and adopted! Congratulations & Welcome!!