“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily…so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:12-13

Driving down the road in 4 lane traffic, I saw some road debris ahead. Mental note… ‘avoid.’ Traffic was heavy and apparently everyone ahead of me had thought the same thing, as they weaved around the trash. Then.. the trash MOVED! Zig… zag… weave…! My mind was trying to process what I was seeing, but at 50mph, I was on it soon enough! It was a rat in the middle of the road! He had lived, up till now, by the grace of the drivers. But something told me he was not long for this world!

We all know about rats. They live in the underbrush and dark areas of the world. They are sneaky and rarely seen. When they are, most folks shudder at their sight. To be in the open, on a major road, on a hot sunny day in rush hour traffic was rare. STUPID! Even for a rat! I made a mental note to write about it and, with God’s help, to find a Bible verse that would maybe put some meaning to this illustration.

I am a ‘road rat!’ That term means someone who takes shortcuts through parking lots, back roads or side streets in order to avoid being stuck in traffic or at a long red light. It drives my wife NUTS! I am not, nor ever have been, a sitter. I’d rather lose a little time but be moving ,than sit still. I know, I know… and THAT is the problem!

God wants me to MOSTLY BE STILL! Looking for shortcuts on life’s road is usually dangerous. Back allies and dark side trails can hide a lot of bad stuff. Sin LOVES to lurk there. And there are times, I must admit… so do I. Discouragement at life’s pace, lack of progress or the failure to see my, or other peoples progress, may find me settling for the darkness. Which is completely out of character for God’s chosen. Do you follow me?

I can tell when I have been lingering in the land of the dark heart. God is SO gracious and kind to me, even then. His Grace ALWAYS gently calls me to come home. It’s not a yell or a threat. It is just a simple quiet call that comes from becoming hardened by hiding out in places my spirit life feels uncomfortable. And it doesn’t even have to be a BAD place! Often it is sunny and open! But DANGEROUS!

Discouragement is an evil from the pit of hell. We ALL land on its back road from time to time. Sometimes we can’t see our own way out. It is those times that a friend or fellow believer can encourage us to come out, with a softened caring heart, and enjoy the ride God intended.

Since you are NOT one… don’t be a road rat!

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

It has been about 20 years since we last painted our house. Maybe even longer… I can’t remember. Our neighbor just painted her house, which sparked something in my wife because… one thing led to another and there we were, buying paint! All that needed to be done was to apply it! Yesterday, as we were working together, she turned to me and said, “we need to be thankful that we can still do this! The next time it needs painted we won’t be able too!!!! “ “____________!”

There is nothing one can say to a statement like that. Since the thought was out of character for her usual ‘can do’ attitude, the shock of the words hit and left me with the only thing that it could… silent consideration. I knew she was right. I have figured that my genetic chances of even living through my 70’s is low. Her statement brought that home to roost in the house of reality.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not sad or worried or afraid at all. I KNOW where I will spend eternity and that SHE will be with me. It will CERTAINLY be better than HERE! But SOMETHING was gnawing at my heart and I didn’t know what it was. Until later. I have teased about it, but the reality made me sad. Genes say I will probably die long before she does. Which means I won’t be there to help her with her needs later on. Excuse me while I wipe my face!

This month we will be married 42 years! Yes… I KNOW a LOT of you are in your 80’s and think this might be silly. But when did YOU have your first reality check? Katie and I started our marriage knowing each other for less than 3 months! To pay the bills, one of our first jobs was to paint houses together! Call it silly or nostalgic, but here we were, one more time, spending time together… doing what we have done SO many times before… as the clock ticks.

There will not be a need to paint in heaven. And this is NOT written to induce sorrow or melancholy. It is what it is. But it would be unfair and unfitting if I did not quote today’s verse. It SUMMARIZES our lives together. Yes… our hearts WILL fail and our bodies WILL grow weak. But we DO know what will NEVER fail. And that is our relationship in Christ alone. Regardless of the flesh, we will have strong souls and spirits thanks to our God.  And ya can’t gloss over that!

“In order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'” 2 Corinthians 7-8

Having stains in my pool that will not come out, I took some water to my local pool store. After testing I was told that I have too much stabilizer and too much sanitizer (chlorine) in the water. HAAAAA I had to laugh… “ME???? TOO STABLE and TOO PURE!!? “No sir,” she replied, “your pool!” And just like that, my quick brush with conceit was quickly over! But I have a problem!

I have had a pool for 30 years. All the mess, fuss, chemicals and tests proved worth it when the kids are around or I need to cool off from yard work. Years ago I discovered new chlorine tablets that have stabilizer IN them. Stabilizer keeps the chlorine from being burned up from the sun. I’ve been liberally floating them in my pool for years. Now I am told that was a mistake that needs to be corrected! Like I needed another thing to remedy!

It is true that I was seeking a simple fix. I don’t want to take the time to constantly monitor chemical levels or buy and add this or that to balance them. I have better things to do man! I was saving time and money at the expense of balance and clarity! It turns out my understanding was clouded! And then she told me the remedy!

There is nothing I can add to FIX this particular problem. With an ironically straight face, she told me, “you need to pump the water OUT of your pool!” “WHAAAAAAAA?” I cried. “Yes…OUT!” she said. Apparently this stabilizer stuff cannot be diluted. “It needs pumped out and replaced,” she added. If you know me and the means I have gone to SAVE water…! This was like telling me my IPod had crashed! The good news was that I only need to pump out about 2 feet! GREAT!!!!!!

So my humble lesson today is that SOMETIMES what I THINK is right and good… can actually NOT be. SOMETIMES, when I THINK I know something, I may be wrong! Which is a shock to me! So now that He has my attention, I can sense Him crooking His finger at me to come a little closer for some clarity! Oh Boy… here we go again! I think this object lesson is about to get real!

“God our Savior…wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3-4

It was my youngest daughter’s 4^th wedding anniversary and her husband wanted to to take her out to dinner. What THEY wanted was a babysitter for their 2 kids. Katie and I wanted to give them worry free time, so we volunteered to watch Coast, who is 2… and Case, who is 4 months old. Coast wanted Reese’s Pieces! Case wanted mommy!!

Before leaving for their evening out, we were given instructions and tips. My daughter instructed us that Coast was to eat an avocado for dinner. At hearing this, and obviously remembering the LAST time we watched them, Coast looked directly at me and said, “Reesy Peesys!” As they walked out the door I was left wondering who was actually in charge!!

Since no “Reesy Peesys!” were to be found, I promised I would run to the store to get some if he ate what mommy wanted him to eat. No problem!!!! And as the cut up pile of avocado chunks began to disappear, he would occasionally look at and say, “store!” But I knew the drill and had my orders. Daughter’s wants first! When the last avocado bite was gone, Coast smiled… and I hit the road!

The first 2 chapters of 1 Timothy are tough and easily confused. Paul writes to Timothy to ‘fight the good fight (1:18), to pray for our government’s leaders to live in peace and quiet ( 2:2) and THEN tells us what GOD wants! In those short verses, and just like my babysitting experience, it is easy to see that not everyone actually GETS what they want. Not even GOD!

These day’s are difficult. The world is in battle mode and this great country is more divided then ever before. News is not good as daily, evil sets up to wage a full scale war against Christ and His Church. And what is our Master’s parting command and ‘want’ for the coming battle? ‘Fight good, pray hard and tell the enemy of THEIR enemy’s desire for their COMPLETE Salvation!’ OBVIOUSLY someone isn’t going to get what THEY want! I FEEL like a middleman… because I am!

Everything worked out well with the evening. There was food and fun, laughter and tears, and “Reesy Peesys!” Even baby Case ultimately got what he wanted! When mommy walked back in the door, Katie handed him over and we left! SUCCESS! I was reminded that NO one gets everything they want… even Jesus Christ. But He’s coming back in His own sweet time (6:14). Then, and ONLY them, will we ALL get what we really want!

“Where your where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

A while back I had written about my discovery of water coming from the air conditioner in my house. Just for fun we stated collecting it to see just how much it produced. Which is good… because for the last 3 weeks it has been MISERABLY hot, humid and DRY! Using the collected 10 gallons a day, we water our plants and flowers. Along with some other water saving measures, I calculated we saved almost $30 on the water bill too! Not a lot.. but enough for a couple trips to out eat!

Yesterday I went to dump the bucket into the barrel. It’s not a big deal, since it only takes about 20 seconds to do so. Only 5 feet from my goal the old plastic bucket handle broke in my hand and 5 gallons of water dumped all over the ground! I was surprised at my reaction… which was actually shock and sorrow! I had to pause to think about WHY I felt that way! Then this verse hit me.

Living in this great country, water is typically not an issue. When we want it, we turn the faucet handle and ‘voila!’ So losing 5 gallons of water on the ground is NOT significant. The old bucket wasn’t an issue either. I actually had ANOTHER old bucket with a METAL handle that will NOT break. Switching was quick and easy! But I was STILL shocked at my sorrow over the loss of the water! Mostly because it was a silly reaction for me.

Up until now, I had never CARED about what I didn’t KNOW about. My discovery had made sense in many ways and I had created a system. But I hadn’t calculated on bucket failure. The loss of that water actually brought out just how much I had come to care! And silly as water is, this principle of the heart is not silly at all!

I have TOO often discovered how much I care about things AFTER I have lost them. Loved ones who have passed, relationships that are no longer, dreams that are no longer possible, goals that can no longer be reached. ALL of these things carry a hidden treasure that becomes much more evident AFTER the handle of life breaks and they are spilled onto the ground. Which shocks me again as I am drawn to think about it.

If I had only KNOWN how much I had cared or valued. If I had REALIZED how important that thing or person had become, maybe I would have appreciated or cared for them more carefully. It seems to me that THAT is the point Jesus is making in this verse.

NOTHING on this Earth is more precious than Emmanuel… ‘God with us.’ No money, job, position or relationship can even come close to the treasure of Him in my heart, soul and spirit. His presence in me enhances everything else I posses. The spilled bucket helps me to see that taking Him for granted is a loss I cannot afford to chance. It is a truth I can handle!

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

I was getting quite frustrated and about to lose my Christianity… and all over a stupid sprayer! Wait… my wife tells me not to say the ‘stupid’ word’ as it is insulting to humans and inapplicable to things! But THIS THING seemed to have human traits! I couldn’t FIND it at first… like it was hiding on purpose!. Then when I FOUND it, it didn’t WORK! Which made my original task 2 additional steps away from accomplishment. This made me even MORE angry… which made me feel stupid!!!

Florida summer heat and humidity bring life to some unwanted things. Mold, mildew, bugs, and weeds are just a few. It isn’t wise to use the same sprayer to kill weeds, on plants to irradiate pests. So I have a couple sprayers to help me keep from killing what I want to live! After finding it, I filled the sprayer with an appropriate mixture, tried to pump it up but… NOTHIN’! It would not hold pressure. AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Over time, the seals in sprayers can dry out or crack. This prohibits the sprayer from holding air pressure. A trick I learned years ago was to apply some oil to the offending seal, potentially stopping the leak. It worked!!! So after finding and fixing, I was free to finish the job I had started. Unfortunately, I carried along with me a big black mark on my soul and spirit! The pressure was building!

I have had too many let-downs like this lately. Stringing a bunch of them together, after a while, makes me feel ‘stupid.’ And ‘stupid’ is a satan word. The feeling it brings starts to take affect and eventually drys out my zeal for Jesus. When I feel unworthy because of too many failures, I begin to feel like I don’t deserve to reach out to my Savior. “WHY would He even WANT to come close to me… AGAIN!”

A symbol for the Holy Spirit is ‘Oil.’ Today He reminded me that MY failures are NOT the biggest stumbling block to my faith. It is walking away from God believing He is UNABLE or UNWILLING to restore my life. This belief is poison to my soul! An attempt to kill my relationship with the love of my heart.

Praying and receiving the Oil of His Spirit restores and enables me to take the pressures of life, becoming an effective tool in the Master’s hand. I am reminded by Him that He NEVER considers saints to be stupid! He doesn’t like that ‘S’ word either!

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me!” Psalm 139:1

There I was… like ‘groundhog day…’ standing on a ladder gazing into a piece of rotted fascia board. And it wasn’t just deja vu! I had LIVED this before… right HERE… at this same location some 20 years ago! I had repaired it then, and now, staring back at me, was the symbol of my abject failure! Had I fixed it RIGHT.. it wouldn’t be WRONG NOW! NOW… I need to apply experience with wisdom!

Having lived in the same house for 30 years, I have outlived a lot of things that came with it. A third water heater, new plumbing, another electrical box and now.. painting for the third time. Having been a carpenter years back, I knew how to cut and apply a board. I had sealed it up with caulking and painted over it. But the MOISTURE problem that had caused this rotting… TWICE… dominates my intentions. And it is winning!

It is not a far stretch to use this moisture rotting problem as a metaphor for old habits and sin in my life. Every time I get angry or desire something that had my attention long ago, I am reminded of how weak and frail my flesh actually is. Trying to FIX it is a useless waste of time. It will just come back! I can fix this fascia like I did the last time, figuring that I will be dead before it needs repaired again but… It is a relief to know…God does not work like that!

Did you now that God studies and takes exams! Or… the way this Psalm is written…God, long ago, already PASSED and received His Doctorate! And the field of His study? ME! The 139^th Psalm is about ME. How God loved me, made me, knit me, and cared for me. ALL before I was even conceived or born. He KNOWS me better than I can even know myself. He planned and executed my restoration and perfection before I was even a thought… by taking it all my rot out on His own son!

This rotting fascia problem has hit far too close to home for my comfort. Dealing with it AGAIN makes me angry, frustrated, fearful and desiring substitutes that never worked before. I can’t stop it, I can’t fix it, and I sure can’t ignore it! It needs attention… but not mine! I need to go to the expert… and ask, beg, plead, hope and seek HIS solution to this ‘problem of Me!’ It is ONLY in Him that I will receive ANY permanent relief. Thank God He studied ME so long ago that He already knows the solution!! And… He has been waiting for this moment!

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

On the crest of my 64^th birthday, the inevitable has come. So facing the music I don’t always hear, I went to my audiologist. I say ‘MY’ because I now have one! The diagnosis was as I expected and her words were prophetic…”you have significant hearing loss and if you ‘WANT’ to hear you will need hearing aids.” I LOVE people who simply ‘tell it like it is.’ That she is a Christian is a plus! The question hung in the air as I left her office… ‘if you WANT to hear.’

Pastors spend a lot of time alone, studying, praying, meditating, preparing, recovering. But the other times are with people. It had been O.K. for me to miss some things in conversation. My squealing grandkids really didn’t need to be heard as much as watched. But lately I have noticed missing names of people, their comments, their stories. All because I inherited my parents ears!

Though my parents have been gone for years, the stories persist. Like the time my mother, eating peanuts with her hearing aids out, accidentally popped one in her mouth… CRUNCH! Like my dad’s pulling his out of his ears as we walked into the house with the kids. Apparently some noise NOT be enhanced! And the tinnitus?? I live, as he did, with screaming in my ears like an electric motor needing oiled! “Do I WANT to hear?” she asked.

When God wanted Moses He lit up a tree with fire! When He called Isaiah, He did so after summoning him before His heavenly throne. The same way with John in ‘The Revelation.’ Rebellious years of saying to God, “if you want me you’ve got to be miraculous in your call,” are LONG gone. The verse today is all the call He is going to give me. And to YOU TOO, most likely. NOT heeding is rebellion!

The most precious and enjoyable times I have spent on this planet are the times I have shared Jesus Christ with people. Whether for salvation or maturing, the sweetness of witnessing fills my heart with joy. He promises that the joy will linger for eternity when He will bless me for being faithful. It is my purpose!!! Do I WANT to hear, act, reach out, touch, witness and make a difference for Him here on earth? Do YOU? No question! I am getting the hearing aids!

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” Romans 10:14

We don’t have live TV in our house. Since live news only seemed to make me angry, I discontinued it 2 years ago. My daughter had an older Roku device she gave to us and after some learning, we were able to watch movies and TV shows without losing our minds. This Mother’s day my daughter asked if mom would like a newer, faster unit. While I am sure it had never entered Katie’s mind, I couldn’t think of anything either. So…. SURPRISE!

My son-in-law was sweet to hook it up too! The power cord didn’t mesh with the older unit, so the tiny wire had to drop to the floor. About 6 months ago I had granted Katie’s long wish of mounting the TV on the wall and running the wire behind it. She was happy. Three days after getting her mothers Day present, she asked this question…”Is that new TV unit really all that much better?” Being a husband for almost 42 years…. I froze!

Some of my Father’s wisdom actually sunk in. He used to say, “never give a job or tie up a newly married couple’s time for their first year of marriage. They are adjusting.” I never really knew what that meant until I got married. One of the biggest lessons a man needs to learn is the secret verbal code of their wives. While it can NEVER be fully mastered… it had BETTER be part of the commitment. I just KNEW Katie’s comment about that TV unit was a code I’d best ‘cipher!’

God created men and women and gave them each a differing part of His character. When either party demands their own way without consideration of their spouse, God’s best way usually gets set on the shelf. So it is true… together we’re better. This verse today might be considered a female version of the Great Commission. Jesus had said, “GO!” Here, the Word throws out several questions to help The Church ‘get it’ on their own. So…. do you?

Wednesday nights at Bible Study we have been learning HOW to ‘GO’ and ‘LIVE’ our life as God’s called into the world He wants to save. God is pleading with us to proclaim the Gospel in several languages. Sadly, most Believers sit there on the couch…fearfully thinking, “what does He mean?”

Compromise is not an option here. I figured out that Katie would rather have a slow TV unit with NO wires hanging down the wall than a fast one ‘with’ wires. My wife is not mean, brutal or unrealistic. Because I love, her I will fix that wire! Likewise, our Lord will not compromise in His methods. When He said ‘Go,’ He meant it! He was talking to ‘ME!” Do I really need to say that includes ‘you’ too? Or do you understand ‘The Code?’