Fred Phelps is dead? Good!
Did you ever have a thought like that one?
I did, once. Mine was a guy I knew in high school. Not a friend, by any stretch. His name was Greg Owens. In high school, I took his spot in the select choir. (As a result, he became a pain in my life from that point on.) Actually, he gave it his spot away, with his drug abuse and all around bad behavior. I just happened to come along at the right time to fill the open spot.
Greg was a drug abuser. If there was a drug on the list, he probably abused it. I lost track of him after graduation, and that was fine with me. However, a mutual friend continued to have some contact with Greg. I heard from this friend that Greg had killed himself, and would I like to go with him(and another high school friend) to the funeral. I'm not sure why, but I decided to go.
People there were sad, I was not. People grieved, I did not. In fact, the only reason I was there was so that I could go to lunch with my other friends following the service. I didn't really care that Greg was dead, and I didn't really think God cared either.
In Acts 7:54 - 60, we read:
"When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep." The next verse says that "Saul was there, giving his approval."
Saul...The apostle Paul. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul authored much of the New Testament. He wrote the book of Romans, viewed by many as Paul's statement of his faith.
Paul wrote in Romans 3:22-23
22 "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
All? I thought we were talking about Greg Owens...and Fred Phelps.
And then we read in John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Whoever?
None of us are worthy, not Fred Phelps, not Greg Owens, not me. But, God loves us anyway. Thanks be to God!
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."(Ephesians 2:8, 9 NIV)
Monday, March 24, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
The Kindle Fire
I had a Kindle Fire, and now I have an I-Pad. Let's face it, that doesn't even sound interesting to me. Let me see if I can make this a little better.
Two years ago, Susie and the girls gave me a Kindle for my birthday. When I opened it, I said three things: (1) Thank you. (2) What is it? I was told that the Kindle was an "e-Reader." (I still didn't know what it was.) (3) How do I use it to get on the Internet? I was told "You don't get on the Internet with the Kindle." So, I took the Kindle to Wal Mart and exchanged it for a Kindle Fire.
"Why not an iPad?", you ask. Too expensive. After a coupon, and finding the Kindle Fire on an after Christmas sale, I didn't spend any extra money to upgrade to the Fire. And the Kindle Fire did most of what an iPad did, and everything I imagined that I wanted to do.
One of the great things you could do with the Kindle fire was download the bible. A free download from "You Version" was available, and was the first application I accessed. The application has a feature that divides the bible into 365 daily readings, allowing me to easily read through the entire bible in a year. I did that the first year. I also downloaded other apps, like Uno. I felt a little bit like Steve Martin in his movie, "The Jerk," when he says he doesn't need anything, well, except this chair and a few other things, and says, "but that's all I need." The bible and Uno, that's all I needed.
So, I had my Kindle Fire and all was right with the world. Until, that is, about a month ago.
A month ago, I was in church on a Sunday morning. I had my Kindle Fire, and was using the bible app. I decided (in church) to download the New International Version. I did not make sure the sound was off. (Embarrassing) That was the same day I left my Kindle at church, and then it was gone My Kindle Fire had been stolen, at church
Well, I was sad. Sad, because I thought someone had stolen my Kindle. We have a coffee shop at church. It is called "Common Grounds." Susie and I were sitting in the coffee shop with our friend, Azure after church. I figured that I had left my Kindle in the coffee shop. Sad, because I didn't figure that I would get to replace it, at least not right away. But then I remembered it was Christmas. We usually receive a cash gift from some of our relatives. I also have a birthday in January, so I figured that with the money I might receive at Christmas, and the money I'd probably receive for my birthday, I could replace the Kindle, with an iPad.
Susie and I have two wonderful daughters, with two equally wonderful sons-in-law. Hannah and Nick live in Manhattan, KS., and Sarah and Mark live in Lone Tree, CO. Since Sarah was pregnant, and could not travel at Christmas, we all met in Lone Tree for Christmas. On our return trip, Susie and I talked about what iPad we would buy, (if we were looking for one.) We called Apple and decided that a certified, refurbished, third generation iPad would be our choice. After we had been home about a week we agreed that the Kindle was gone for good. So, I called Apple and ordered the iPad. That was three weeks ago.
Until recently. I have been out of work. Call it between assignments, unemployed, or looking for a new opportunity, it all means the same, no income. So, since I am not working and Susie is (thank goodness), I try and do most of the household maintenance. Last Thursday, I was picking up around the house. As I picked up, I decided I had looked at a pile of "I wonder what's in that pile" long enough. It was mostly Wal Mart trash bags. I picked them up, one by one. Nothing unusual about the first bag, or the second; but the third bag, well, it was heavy. My immediate reaction was "You have got to be kidding." Yep, I knew before I even opened the bag what was in it. The Kindle Fire.
There it was, in its protective case. I laughed out loud. (LOL, right?) I did not call Susie and tell her, I decided that could wait. I called Amazon and had the Kindle reactivated.
I called Susie and asked a question. "Suppose," I said, "suppose the person who took my Kindle returned it. Would you be happy?" She said "yes." "Suppose," I said, "suppose my Kindle wasn't stolen, but lost. Would you be happy if it was found?" She said "yes," so I decided to go for broke. "Suppose," I said, "suppose the Kindle was not stolen, or even lost, but was here in the apartment all the time in a Wal Mart bag, laying in a spot where I really should have found it before we spent money to replace it with an iPad that we really love because we can FaceTime with our girls who don't live in the same town we do, but would have preferred to not spend the money on and I found it today." (whew!) Would you be happy or mad? Susie's response was "Did you find the Kindle? Where was it?" My response - "Please answer my question."
She was glad, and didn't even make me feel guilty. I had already done that myself, thank you very much.
So, I lost the Kindle, replaced it with something that if I had just paid attention to where I left things, I wouldn't have had to buy. I was literally walking right over the Kindle. I am surprised I didn't step on it.
There are lessons there, I think. There at least observations.
First, I wanted to buy an iPad. Even when I was using the Kindle, I wanted an iPad. Let's face it. Kindles are useful, almost utilitarian. They are e-Readers. They perform other functions, some of them very well. But they are not iPads. iPads are sexy. I looked for the Kindle, but in the back of my mind I knew that if I didn't find it, there was a plan B. Newer, more functional, and sexier. Maybe I look hard enough.
Second, I looked everywhere except where it was. (duh!) I looked anywhere I could think to look. Heck, I looked in my car four times. It wasn't there, but that didn't stop me from looking. I quit looking in the apartment, convincing myself that I had looked there enough. It turned out to be in plain sight. I was literally walking right over it. I should have paid closer attention to the obvious place it could be. Pay closer attention to the obvious, humm...
Third, I gave up too early. I was less than thirty days away from finding it. I gave up. You know what? I give up too easy. I gave up on college, more than once. I have given up on jobs when I might have been on the verge of success. I have walked away from broken friendships. Could they have been repaired? I'll never know. I gave up.
Finally, pay attention to how I treat what is important to me. It's easy at this point in my life to not pay attention to things, or people, that I value. People like my wife, Susie. Twenty eight and a half years married, and she thinks it's a good deal. People like our kids, our parents, and our brand new granddaughter. (Her name is Macy Claire.) People like my friends; Garry, Russ, Damita, Tim, Pam (most of the time), and others. People like my new choir director, Rosie and my friends Fred, Dave, Lane, Dave, Tom, and Jamie. And don't forget where you put your Kindle.
Two years ago, Susie and the girls gave me a Kindle for my birthday. When I opened it, I said three things: (1) Thank you. (2) What is it? I was told that the Kindle was an "e-Reader." (I still didn't know what it was.) (3) How do I use it to get on the Internet? I was told "You don't get on the Internet with the Kindle." So, I took the Kindle to Wal Mart and exchanged it for a Kindle Fire.
"Why not an iPad?", you ask. Too expensive. After a coupon, and finding the Kindle Fire on an after Christmas sale, I didn't spend any extra money to upgrade to the Fire. And the Kindle Fire did most of what an iPad did, and everything I imagined that I wanted to do.
One of the great things you could do with the Kindle fire was download the bible. A free download from "You Version" was available, and was the first application I accessed. The application has a feature that divides the bible into 365 daily readings, allowing me to easily read through the entire bible in a year. I did that the first year. I also downloaded other apps, like Uno. I felt a little bit like Steve Martin in his movie, "The Jerk," when he says he doesn't need anything, well, except this chair and a few other things, and says, "but that's all I need." The bible and Uno, that's all I needed.
So, I had my Kindle Fire and all was right with the world. Until, that is, about a month ago.
A month ago, I was in church on a Sunday morning. I had my Kindle Fire, and was using the bible app. I decided (in church) to download the New International Version. I did not make sure the sound was off. (Embarrassing) That was the same day I left my Kindle at church, and then it was gone My Kindle Fire had been stolen, at church
Well, I was sad. Sad, because I thought someone had stolen my Kindle. We have a coffee shop at church. It is called "Common Grounds." Susie and I were sitting in the coffee shop with our friend, Azure after church. I figured that I had left my Kindle in the coffee shop. Sad, because I didn't figure that I would get to replace it, at least not right away. But then I remembered it was Christmas. We usually receive a cash gift from some of our relatives. I also have a birthday in January, so I figured that with the money I might receive at Christmas, and the money I'd probably receive for my birthday, I could replace the Kindle, with an iPad.
Susie and I have two wonderful daughters, with two equally wonderful sons-in-law. Hannah and Nick live in Manhattan, KS., and Sarah and Mark live in Lone Tree, CO. Since Sarah was pregnant, and could not travel at Christmas, we all met in Lone Tree for Christmas. On our return trip, Susie and I talked about what iPad we would buy, (if we were looking for one.) We called Apple and decided that a certified, refurbished, third generation iPad would be our choice. After we had been home about a week we agreed that the Kindle was gone for good. So, I called Apple and ordered the iPad. That was three weeks ago.
Until recently. I have been out of work. Call it between assignments, unemployed, or looking for a new opportunity, it all means the same, no income. So, since I am not working and Susie is (thank goodness), I try and do most of the household maintenance. Last Thursday, I was picking up around the house. As I picked up, I decided I had looked at a pile of "I wonder what's in that pile" long enough. It was mostly Wal Mart trash bags. I picked them up, one by one. Nothing unusual about the first bag, or the second; but the third bag, well, it was heavy. My immediate reaction was "You have got to be kidding." Yep, I knew before I even opened the bag what was in it. The Kindle Fire.
There it was, in its protective case. I laughed out loud. (LOL, right?) I did not call Susie and tell her, I decided that could wait. I called Amazon and had the Kindle reactivated.
I called Susie and asked a question. "Suppose," I said, "suppose the person who took my Kindle returned it. Would you be happy?" She said "yes." "Suppose," I said, "suppose my Kindle wasn't stolen, but lost. Would you be happy if it was found?" She said "yes," so I decided to go for broke. "Suppose," I said, "suppose the Kindle was not stolen, or even lost, but was here in the apartment all the time in a Wal Mart bag, laying in a spot where I really should have found it before we spent money to replace it with an iPad that we really love because we can FaceTime with our girls who don't live in the same town we do, but would have preferred to not spend the money on and I found it today." (whew!) Would you be happy or mad? Susie's response was "Did you find the Kindle? Where was it?" My response - "Please answer my question."
She was glad, and didn't even make me feel guilty. I had already done that myself, thank you very much.
So, I lost the Kindle, replaced it with something that if I had just paid attention to where I left things, I wouldn't have had to buy. I was literally walking right over the Kindle. I am surprised I didn't step on it.
There are lessons there, I think. There at least observations.
First, I wanted to buy an iPad. Even when I was using the Kindle, I wanted an iPad. Let's face it. Kindles are useful, almost utilitarian. They are e-Readers. They perform other functions, some of them very well. But they are not iPads. iPads are sexy. I looked for the Kindle, but in the back of my mind I knew that if I didn't find it, there was a plan B. Newer, more functional, and sexier. Maybe I look hard enough.
Second, I looked everywhere except where it was. (duh!) I looked anywhere I could think to look. Heck, I looked in my car four times. It wasn't there, but that didn't stop me from looking. I quit looking in the apartment, convincing myself that I had looked there enough. It turned out to be in plain sight. I was literally walking right over it. I should have paid closer attention to the obvious place it could be. Pay closer attention to the obvious, humm...
Third, I gave up too early. I was less than thirty days away from finding it. I gave up. You know what? I give up too easy. I gave up on college, more than once. I have given up on jobs when I might have been on the verge of success. I have walked away from broken friendships. Could they have been repaired? I'll never know. I gave up.
Finally, pay attention to how I treat what is important to me. It's easy at this point in my life to not pay attention to things, or people, that I value. People like my wife, Susie. Twenty eight and a half years married, and she thinks it's a good deal. People like our kids, our parents, and our brand new granddaughter. (Her name is Macy Claire.) People like my friends; Garry, Russ, Damita, Tim, Pam (most of the time), and others. People like my new choir director, Rosie and my friends Fred, Dave, Lane, Dave, Tom, and Jamie. And don't forget where you put your Kindle.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Hannah and Nick are engaged!
Well, for those of you hearing this for the first time, Hannah and Nick are engaged
to be married. Susie has been praying for God to bring Hannah a Christian husband
all of Hannah's life. (She prays the same for Sarah.) I, on the other hand, have
prayed for three characteristics in a husband for Hannah. They are (1) He must
love God; (2) He must love Hannah; (3) He should laugh at my jokes. If he played
golf, that would be a bonus.
Let me tell you about Nick Brown. He is a senior at K-State and Manhattan
Christian College. He is (according to Hannah) smarter than Hannah. Hannah
once described him as "the smartest man she knows." I had problems with that on
several levels, but that is for another day. Here are three things I know about
Nick:
(1) Nick loves God. I know that because I know Nick. I know that by watching him
interact with his parents. I know that because of the way he treats Hannah, and I
know that because I have heard him pray. Nick loves God
(2) Nick loves Hannah. I know that because I have watched him and how he treats
Hannah. I know that because Hannah has told me, and I know that because I asked
him if he loves her, and he said yes.
(3) Nick laughs at my jokes. Now, I know what you are thinking...of course he
laughs at my jokes. He is making sure he stays on my "good side." Two things you
need to know. Nick will always be on my good side, because he loves my daughter, and
I am a funny guy. My nephew John Troutt told me so.
I told Nick, and I will tell you who are reading this. If there was a room full of men,
and I/We could choose the right man for Hannah, we would choose Nick.
I thought you might want to know...
to be married. Susie has been praying for God to bring Hannah a Christian husband
all of Hannah's life. (She prays the same for Sarah.) I, on the other hand, have
prayed for three characteristics in a husband for Hannah. They are (1) He must
love God; (2) He must love Hannah; (3) He should laugh at my jokes. If he played
golf, that would be a bonus.
Let me tell you about Nick Brown. He is a senior at K-State and Manhattan
Christian College. He is (according to Hannah) smarter than Hannah. Hannah
once described him as "the smartest man she knows." I had problems with that on
several levels, but that is for another day. Here are three things I know about
Nick:
(1) Nick loves God. I know that because I know Nick. I know that by watching him
interact with his parents. I know that because of the way he treats Hannah, and I
know that because I have heard him pray. Nick loves God
(2) Nick loves Hannah. I know that because I have watched him and how he treats
Hannah. I know that because Hannah has told me, and I know that because I asked
him if he loves her, and he said yes.
(3) Nick laughs at my jokes. Now, I know what you are thinking...of course he
laughs at my jokes. He is making sure he stays on my "good side." Two things you
need to know. Nick will always be on my good side, because he loves my daughter, and
I am a funny guy. My nephew John Troutt told me so.
I told Nick, and I will tell you who are reading this. If there was a room full of men,
and I/We could choose the right man for Hannah, we would choose Nick.
I thought you might want to know...
Monday, September 7, 2009
Labor Day Weekend With The Girls
And the boys. That has a different ring to it, but it sounds pretty good.
Our two daughters were here for the weekend. That's pretty normal, as far as it goes. We have have spent many weekends with the girls. Hannah is twenty-two and Sarah is twenty-one. (I have an earlier entry that poses the question "When did they grow up?", so we will not re-explore that this evening.) What was different this time was it was not just the girls. No, this time, each of the girls brought a boy with them. Rather, they each brought a man with them.
We went to church together. Now, I know that other people have grown children, too. In fact, Sunday morning our family (and guests) sat directly behind the pastor's family. But I have to tell you, I think everyone was looking at our two beautiful girls (and their friends). What a great day, to have us all together in worship.
That evening we went to the Ponderosa. I have written about my friends with the six children before. They have a beautiful piece of land upon which they have built a home. They invited us, along with several other friends, out for the afternoon/evening. It was freshly mowed, and looked as pretty as I have seen it. There was even fresh gravel on the drive. We spent time with Christian friends, and it was a pretty diverse group. A CFO, and architect, an entrepreneur in the truest sense, an undertaker, a DVM, two school teachers, and others. A diverse group that shares a common faith in Jesus Christ. We ate hamburgers, hot dogs, and Cheetos. There were other chips, but they were only chips. Cheetos (say it together) is cheese that goes crunch!
Our friends have a horse that hasn't been ridden a lot. One of the individuals in attendance volunteered that he "used to ride bulls." He proceeded to gently coax the horse to let him ride her. One of my other friends and I agreed that there are people that will get on a horse that hasn't been ridden a lot, and then there are the rest of us. Used to ride bulls? Please...
Today, our family got up and ate breakfast together. Waffles, bacon, orange rolls (those were for me). We all ate at the same time, and let me tell you something I observed. Boys eat more than girls. A lot more. We had a good time sharing food together.
Our girls are grown. They still listen to us, to me, but I try not to tell them too much. They know how to make decisions. Sometimes they ask the questions, but I think it is to be polite. They are better at making decisions than we are. They do let us be involved, though.
As I sat in church, and as we spent time at the Ponderosa, and then as we were at the house today I thought to myself, maybe this is what holidays will be like in days, years to come. I hope so. Susie, me, our girls, and Christian men sharing time together in God's house and in our home. We couldn't ask for much more than that.
By the way, I was ready to ride the horse if nobody else stepped up. I just thought I should tell you that.
Our two daughters were here for the weekend. That's pretty normal, as far as it goes. We have have spent many weekends with the girls. Hannah is twenty-two and Sarah is twenty-one. (I have an earlier entry that poses the question "When did they grow up?", so we will not re-explore that this evening.) What was different this time was it was not just the girls. No, this time, each of the girls brought a boy with them. Rather, they each brought a man with them.
We went to church together. Now, I know that other people have grown children, too. In fact, Sunday morning our family (and guests) sat directly behind the pastor's family. But I have to tell you, I think everyone was looking at our two beautiful girls (and their friends). What a great day, to have us all together in worship.
That evening we went to the Ponderosa. I have written about my friends with the six children before. They have a beautiful piece of land upon which they have built a home. They invited us, along with several other friends, out for the afternoon/evening. It was freshly mowed, and looked as pretty as I have seen it. There was even fresh gravel on the drive. We spent time with Christian friends, and it was a pretty diverse group. A CFO, and architect, an entrepreneur in the truest sense, an undertaker, a DVM, two school teachers, and others. A diverse group that shares a common faith in Jesus Christ. We ate hamburgers, hot dogs, and Cheetos. There were other chips, but they were only chips. Cheetos (say it together) is cheese that goes crunch!
Our friends have a horse that hasn't been ridden a lot. One of the individuals in attendance volunteered that he "used to ride bulls." He proceeded to gently coax the horse to let him ride her. One of my other friends and I agreed that there are people that will get on a horse that hasn't been ridden a lot, and then there are the rest of us. Used to ride bulls? Please...
Today, our family got up and ate breakfast together. Waffles, bacon, orange rolls (those were for me). We all ate at the same time, and let me tell you something I observed. Boys eat more than girls. A lot more. We had a good time sharing food together.
Our girls are grown. They still listen to us, to me, but I try not to tell them too much. They know how to make decisions. Sometimes they ask the questions, but I think it is to be polite. They are better at making decisions than we are. They do let us be involved, though.
As I sat in church, and as we spent time at the Ponderosa, and then as we were at the house today I thought to myself, maybe this is what holidays will be like in days, years to come. I hope so. Susie, me, our girls, and Christian men sharing time together in God's house and in our home. We couldn't ask for much more than that.
By the way, I was ready to ride the horse if nobody else stepped up. I just thought I should tell you that.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
I'll Praise You In This Storm
There is a popular Christian Music Group that calls themselves "Casting Crowns." My friend Greg Wilson introduced their music to me about eighteen months ago. They probably have a number of good songs, but the one that has spoken to me recently is entitled "I'll Praise You In This Storm." There are several good verses, but the chorus really spoke to me, and it goes like this:
I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm.
There are lots of storms. We are about to come out of one, with the closing of the sale of our house in Grove. As I thought about the details of our closing, I had to stop and think...did I praise Him in that storm? Short answer...no. I may have said the right things, but praise him? Not so much...Susie is still looking for a job as a teacher in Oklahoma. Is she praising Him in that storm? You'll have to ask her.
A friend once told me that every one of us is either in the midst of a storm, or just about to go into one, or just recently out of one. What is your storm? Damaged friendships? If you are my friend, and you probably are if you are reading this, let me apologize now for the next time, or the last time, that I say something stupid. I value your friendship.
A troubled marriage? Let me tell you that I think I know what Jesus was speaking of when He said "In this world you will have trouble(s)." Marriage is hard, hard work. I used to think it would get easier after Susie and I had been married for a time. The trouble is, the longer we're married, the better she knows me. Trust me, that doesn't make it easier.
Are you in financial trouble? Let me tell you, based upon personal experience on both sides...people want to help you. Ask for help. Look for chances to help, too.
I recently went to a wedding reception for a young friend of our girls. She and her new husband were as happy as two people could be. Her husband even wrote a song in honor of their wedding. (My friends and I agreed that he was a much better person than we are, and that is just a fact.) They are happy...but you know what? A day will come, and may already have, when they will argue, even fight. Welcome to the storm, my young friends. Can you praise Him through it?
Living the Christian life is confusing, I think. The bible tells us that "In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) God works for our good. I believe that all the time, but I only really understand it some of the time. Paul tells us in Philippians that "Our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross."
If God worked for anybody's good, surely it was Jesus Christ, who "became obedient unto death, even death on a cross." If that's what my good looks like, I think I want a second opinion. Maybe death was Jesus' storm. Maybe it was life. Did Jesus praise God through his storm? I think he did, especially when he asked God to forgive his enemies.
What's your storm? I don't know. I know we took a real hit on our house, but the hit will end, probably next Monday...or Tuesday. That storm is over. What's your storm? I don't know, but a mother and father buried their daughter today. Can they praise Him? I don't know, but I hope so. What's your storm? If you're not in one...look out, it's coming. They frightening thought is there is another storm on the horizon for me. Will I praise Him through it? I don't know, but I'll try.
The chorus says "For You are who You are, no matter where I am." What a humbling, and comforting thought.
My friend Terry buried his Dad this week. His dad had been ill for a while. Terry is in a storm, and I know he would appreciate your prayers. When we spoke, I told him that I would pray for him, and he should pray for me. He told me "that's a deal." I'll make the same deal with you.
I'll pray for you, and you pray for me. That's a deal.
I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm.
There are lots of storms. We are about to come out of one, with the closing of the sale of our house in Grove. As I thought about the details of our closing, I had to stop and think...did I praise Him in that storm? Short answer...no. I may have said the right things, but praise him? Not so much...Susie is still looking for a job as a teacher in Oklahoma. Is she praising Him in that storm? You'll have to ask her.
A friend once told me that every one of us is either in the midst of a storm, or just about to go into one, or just recently out of one. What is your storm? Damaged friendships? If you are my friend, and you probably are if you are reading this, let me apologize now for the next time, or the last time, that I say something stupid. I value your friendship.
A troubled marriage? Let me tell you that I think I know what Jesus was speaking of when He said "In this world you will have trouble(s)." Marriage is hard, hard work. I used to think it would get easier after Susie and I had been married for a time. The trouble is, the longer we're married, the better she knows me. Trust me, that doesn't make it easier.
Are you in financial trouble? Let me tell you, based upon personal experience on both sides...people want to help you. Ask for help. Look for chances to help, too.
I recently went to a wedding reception for a young friend of our girls. She and her new husband were as happy as two people could be. Her husband even wrote a song in honor of their wedding. (My friends and I agreed that he was a much better person than we are, and that is just a fact.) They are happy...but you know what? A day will come, and may already have, when they will argue, even fight. Welcome to the storm, my young friends. Can you praise Him through it?
Living the Christian life is confusing, I think. The bible tells us that "In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) God works for our good. I believe that all the time, but I only really understand it some of the time. Paul tells us in Philippians that "Our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross."
If God worked for anybody's good, surely it was Jesus Christ, who "became obedient unto death, even death on a cross." If that's what my good looks like, I think I want a second opinion. Maybe death was Jesus' storm. Maybe it was life. Did Jesus praise God through his storm? I think he did, especially when he asked God to forgive his enemies.
What's your storm? I don't know. I know we took a real hit on our house, but the hit will end, probably next Monday...or Tuesday. That storm is over. What's your storm? I don't know, but a mother and father buried their daughter today. Can they praise Him? I don't know, but I hope so. What's your storm? If you're not in one...look out, it's coming. They frightening thought is there is another storm on the horizon for me. Will I praise Him through it? I don't know, but I'll try.
The chorus says "For You are who You are, no matter where I am." What a humbling, and comforting thought.
My friend Terry buried his Dad this week. His dad had been ill for a while. Terry is in a storm, and I know he would appreciate your prayers. When we spoke, I told him that I would pray for him, and he should pray for me. He told me "that's a deal." I'll make the same deal with you.
I'll pray for you, and you pray for me. That's a deal.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
When God Speaks
The last time I wrote, I entitled the posting "When God is Silent." It was basically a summary of my thoughts about the lack of a job for Susie, and the lack of a contract on our house. We still await a job for Susie, but we have received (and accepted) an offer on our house. We are scheduled for closing on August 18, 2009. Please continue to bathe this in prayer. When it closes, we party!
This process has made me think about things that are uncomfortable for me (and you, if you are honest) to consider. Let me write, briefly, about a couple of them.
(1) Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future of hope."
Verse 10 says that "After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you and cause you to return to this place." SEVENTY YEARS? Are you kidding me? I have waited for God to bring a buyer for our home for two years. That's only twenty-four months, and I have been whining for about twenty-three of those. Waiting, but now I see an end to the test.
As I was driving to work this morning, I thought about how self-centered I am. Whining about a house that has not sold, while all the while we have lived in perfectly acceptable housing. Whining that, while the house had not sold, I have had a job, at least most of the time. And, even when unemployed, God continued to provide for our needs. Some through the State of Kansas sending me some of the money that many of you send there; more through the consistent support of friends. Friends like you, if you are reading this. Friends like many of you, even if you are not reading this.
There is apparently an end to this time of testing for us. It is August 18, 2009...our scheduled closing date. But as I was driving, I thought of you who face trials that may not end in this lifetime. Friends with children with special needs...friends who have lost children...friends with parents requiring your care and attention...friends with financial struggles beyond what I might imagine.
What do we say when God is quiet? I don't know. I do know this, however. God can take it when I complain. God can take it when I question Him. God can take it when I am angry with him. And God's love (and patience) with me never changes. And maybe, just maybe, God is not silent.Maybe God waits until I am ready to hear what He has to say to me. And maybe, it has nothing at all to do with selling a house. I don't really know. I know what James tells us, though:
James 1:3-4 "My brethern, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
I want the faith without the trials, but it doesn't work that way.
Pray for me, and I will pray for you, and count it all joy!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Short socks
I have this pair of black shoes. I like them. The only problem is, they are too big. They are the same size as my other shoes, but they are made differently. (Made on a different last, and if you understand that, you have sold shoes at one time in your life.)
Here's the problem. Because they are big, I have to wear thick socks to make them fit correctly. The only thick socks I have are short socks. When I wear short socks, and cross my legs, the socks do not cover my legs.
I hate that.
When I named this blog "my random thoughts", this is the type of thing that was on my mind. It just took me a while to write about it. I'll try not to do it again too soon.
Here's the problem. Because they are big, I have to wear thick socks to make them fit correctly. The only thick socks I have are short socks. When I wear short socks, and cross my legs, the socks do not cover my legs.
I hate that.
When I named this blog "my random thoughts", this is the type of thing that was on my mind. It just took me a while to write about it. I'll try not to do it again too soon.
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