Mobile Family

Many of you know that Chris and Amy are moving to Louisiana. Although I hate to see them go they feel that it's God's will for them to do so. I trust God, don't you? Even though they will be far, far away in a kingdom foreign to me, I know God will watch over them, just as he's done all along. So it is with sadness I let them go, but also with joy knowing they are following the will of the One who created them and will continue to do so. After all Perry and Tonya will keep an eye on them for us as well.

A Must Read

I just finished reading Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense by N.T. Wright and published by Harper SanFrancisco. This is a must read for every Christian. The book belongs in every library, both public and private.

This book is destined to become a classic in Christian literature. Christians and non- Christians alike should read it.

For Wright, if you believe that the purpose of salvation is so that someday you will go to heaven, you have a misconception. My purpose is not to tell you all that Wright posits in his book but simply to whet your appetite to read it yourselves. Therefore, I will not tell you how Wright defines the purpose of salvation.

I will tell you about the intersection of heaven and earth. Wright mentions that idea under four broad movements: justice, spirituality, relationships and beauty. My only criticism of Wright comes during his movement of relationships. He emphasizes SEX. Although I realize that justice and spirituality have to do with relationships of a nonsexual nature.

Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins, two prominent anti-religionists of today, need to read this book. If I had their addresses, I send them both a copy.

Mega churches ought to think about giving this book to seekers and those active in the evangelization of their culture ought to present a copy to everyone to whom they witness.

Simply Christian ought to be on every book club’s reading list, even Oprah’s. Make no mistake and let this small volume slip through your hands. Get several copies. Read and Re-read one, keep and pass the other copies along to your friends, especially those interested in religious things whether they be Christian or not.

Simply Christian will revolutionize your life, whether you are a Christian or not.

Tom Wright has written a wonderful book in Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense.

AGING SUCKS

I wished that somewhere along my life that there had been someone who had said something about aging. Only as I age have I concluded that aging sucks. As a boy I wanted to be a teenager; as a teenager an adult. As I went along the adult road, I wished for retirement, but no longer.
I am apparently falling apart along with all my other acquaintances that are growing older. And it hurts. The hair falls out and ends up growing in my nose or on my ears. I have to get up early just to be able to function when its time to function. Now I have checkups with the physician twice a year instead of once a year. Sometimes I ache in places I didn’t even know I had.
Watching loved ones fall apart is not fun either. They hurt, go to the hospital, and I hurt when they do.
Do you think it is because no adult in my growing up years ever told me that aging sucked? Well, I’m going on record to inform you that AGING SUCKS. Everyone I know is changing and not for the better every time.
I do I have one consolation though. The One in whom I have put my trust, Jesus Christ, never changes. He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” I can always depend on him. He is the only constant in the universe. His love, mercy and peace are forever the same. Those attributes are always directed toward mankind. His character is such that he never changes. Even when we are unfaithful “he remains faithful.”
So as I age and my body changes as well as those of my family and friends, I know that Jesus knows what is best for all of us, old or young, physically fit or like me, falling apart. So I trust him. And you can, too.

BAD DREAMS

First of all, last night was one of those nights when I just could not sleep. So I got up and read the entire Book of Ecclesiastes. Boy, that’s some book. Listen to the theme of the book: “…here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Chapter 12, verse 13. That’s how the NIV reads any way. The Hebrew text leaves out the word duty. So it reads there: “…here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole of man.” So I pondered: This must mean that to be whole, man must fear God (be in awe of him [ an attitude, a belief]) and do what God says (behavior).
When I finally got to sleep, around 2:30 a.m., I dreamed. One of those strange dreams that leave you exhausted when you finally wake up.
I was in a play. I had no speaking role; but my actions were very important to the plot. I was to carry something from stage left and give it to someone on the stage and then sometime later bring something else to the stage from stage right. We had four rehearsals and all four times I executed my part superbly. I could hear the critics in the Montgomery Advertiser raving as I rehearsed my role to bring the play to its intended conclusion.
However, on the night of the performance, I flubbed royally not only in coming in from stage left, but also from stage right. I was running back and forth with the cast members mouthing silently, “No, from over there.” I could see them, as I had to enter by going up in a crowded balcony that somehow connected with the stage at the point I was supposed to enter. I was running and frustrated, trying to perform correctly, knowing all the while that I would not have that rave review in the paper. And to top it off, the audience was laughing at me!
So I woke up more tired than when I fell asleep at 2:30 a.m.
What deep meaning was I suppose to get from such a dream? Was there one to be gotten?
I don’t know.
Maybe God was telling me that I wasn’t doing what Ecclesiastes 12:13 said. I wasn’t keeping his commandments 24/7. Maybe God was telling me that no matter how perfectly rehearsal goes, execution of what God wants is hard.
Having thought about all day, however, I’ve concluded that the meaning of the dream was not to expect to see my name in the Montgomery Advertiser until it’s in the obits.

Locard’s Principle

I’ve been reading a novel, Shadow Man, by Cody McFadyen. He mentions in the book Locard’s Principle. Locard is thought to be the father of modern forensics. McFadyen stated Locard’s Principle: When two objects come into contact, there is always transfer of material from one to the other, and such material may be small or large, may be difficult to detect; nevertheless it occurs, and it is the responsibility of the investigating team to gather all such material however small they may be and prove the transference (page 118).

I suspect the same is true in the spiritual realm as well. How close to the Heavenly Father must we get so that if the spiritual investigators were to examine us they would find evidence of transfer? In other words, would they be able to see Jesus in us? And what would that evidence be? How do we get transference from God?

I believe that since Jesus said that he would never leave us or forsake us that there should be constant transference from him to us. We should reflect his attributes in our daily lives so that those spiritual investigators would at least find trace evidence of transference from Jesus to us.

But how do we make an effort ourselves to get close to him for such a transference to take place? I suspect that Bible reading, prayer, and practice of what we learn in those two arenas help tremendously.

Now, don't get me wrong. We can't constantly participate in those activities 24/7; but we have his assurance that we are always in his presence and so transference is taking place. Also don't get me wrong, we do not exhibit Christ's attributes 24/7 for we are not perfect- that's what being human is about. We carry this treasure of salvation in human containers, bombarded as we are constantly by this present evil age and sometimes we are going to succumb to the problems, temptations, trials, and struggles of this life so at any given moment, those spiritual investigators may not find the transference Jesus would like them to find. But at the end, when all things are totalled, those investigators will see Jesus in us.

Let's try to have them see Jesus in us as much as we possibly can.

Off Day

I've been off from work today. That's why this post has the title Off Day.
Have you ever had an off day?
I don't mean from work; but, a day that seemed a little off. I have those ever so often, too, and I don't think there's anything we can do about them. I think I have those kinds of days ever once in a while so that I can remember that it's not all about me, that I'm not in control or in charge. I'm not the boss or the organizer or the controller of my life.
And I'm glad I'm not.
It's a whole lot less stressful to know that Someone else is in control and that I'm accountable to him.
In reality, I'm a shy, contemplative person who can't do anything about the government, the economy, the environment, or the people that I come in contact with everyday or occasionally.
There is one thing that I do have control over, though.
It's my happiness. My circumstances cannot dictate whether or not I'm happy. Only I can do that. That's why for the most part, I am an easy going, humorous person.
I like to laugh and have fun and tell jokes.
I don't know about you, but I realize that only I can decide whether I will be happy or not. Only I can decide whether I can be gotten along with or be a grouch, spewing negativity by voice or action.
Now, don't get me wrong, lots of things upset me: the government, traffic, prices of just about everything. But I'm happy and upset simultaneously.
How can that be? I'll tell you.
My personal belief in God and in Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. God is in control of everything and history is being played out and its outcome will be just as he intended it to be when he created the world.
Being a Christian is not easy and I have my struggles just like everyone else; but knowing that God is in control (even when it doesn't seem like he is) makes everyday a day of anticipation and fun. I'm not perfect, don't claim to be. I fail and sin and sometimes enjoy it. But I know that Jesus and his Father, my God, loves me inspite of all my failures.
I don't know any other way to say it but that knowing God is in charge makes even those off days have a hope and a promise of a better tomorrow. I am reminded of the saying "This too shall pass." And so I am able to go on with the circumstances in which I find myself knowing that they haven't slipped God's notice. He is cognizant of everything about me and I am assured that every good and every perfect gift comes down from above. And because he is aware of every sparrow that falls and provides for its needs, he will take care of me as well.
The question I have is: Do you have this kind of assurance? Do you know God as your Heavenly Father and Jesus as your Savior? I hope you do. Life is not near as difficult as it would be without them on our side.

Beer

I think it was Benjamin Franklin who said, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Without getting into the abstinence argument, I think I know where he was coming from. The consumption of alcohol made Franklin happy, after all he had a reputation for being a little on the wild side. He was happy imbibing.
Maybe it had to do with the company with which he drank. After all, those who go to clubs and bars usually are a happy lot, even if it is for the short time that they are drinking and enjoying each other's company. Then, too, there's not much criticism there. Almost all are accepted if they are of age.
I don't know about the beer part, but I do know that God loves us and wants us to be happy. That's why he sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. But did God provide for Christians a place to go and have fellowship. You betcha. It's called the church. The place where even those who are non-Christians are accepted. I attend the Pintlala Baptist Church in Hope Hull, Alabama. We're a loving, caring noncritical fellowship of believers who have found that Franklin was right: God does love us and want us to be happy.