The Game of Life

Well, the baseball season has ended. Not that all the games are over, but my home state team, the Detroit Tigers, no longer has a chance to win. In an interview team member Brandon Inge made this statement: "You can give your all. That's all you can do. Play as hard as you can and represent the team in the best manner that you can. If you win, you win. If you don't, well, you can sleep [well], because you left it all out there."

As I read Brandon's statement I began thinking about life itself. Eventually life on earth will come to an end and I wondered will I be able to say "I left it all out there"? Will I honestly be able to look back and know that I did all that I could to make life better for everyone I met? Life is more than making money and building a reputation. Life is our opportunity to share our faith, hope and love with those around us. We are on a mission from God and will someday give our report to him.

We need to look at each year, month, week and day as a fresh start. As the work week concludes you and I must each look back and ask the question, "Did I accomplish the mission?" If not, then seek God's direction for making next week a better one. As someone has said we only have one life to offer and only what's done for Christ will last. Vow to make your life a channel of God's grace to others.

Don't Fence Me In

In our fast paced world most of us are on a schedule and usually are irritated when someone or something upsets our plans. Recently, airline passengers have had to face this problem, but it happens to many of us as we commute to work each day. A traffic jam can be the incident that gets our day off to a bad start.

While caring for my wife following her surgery I had have to learn about deference. Deference is
"the quality of integrating regard for another's wishes." It is a little easier to practice this trait with someone you know and love, but not so easy when it comes to the general public or another driver. However, God advises us that it is part of being submitted to him. In Romans right after we are told to present ourselves to God as a reasonable service, we are than instructed to "prefer one another."

Sometimes having our schedule or plans altered turns out for our own good. Perhaps a traffic jam keeps us from being at the wrong place at the wrong time and out of an accident. God knows all about our comings and goings and allows those things in our life that He sees fit. So, while we might be tempted to say, "Don't fence me in", we need to realize that fences are meant for our own good.

One Exercise You Don't Need

With all the emphasis on getting exercise and staying healthy we might be surprised to hear a caution against exercise. But there is one exercise that we perform way to much and it has no benefit whatever. As a matter of fact it negatively affects us and all who are around us. That exercise is frowning. It actually takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown. So, in this case the fewer muscles that get exercised the better. Here is a little essay about smiling that I think you will find useful.

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. ~Author Unknown

Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." One may conclude that constant frowning which is the evidence of a broken spirit will dry us up emotionally and spiritually. On the other hand that dried up condition may be healed with the medicine of laughter and smiling. Give out the medicine of a smile today.

Sweet or Sour?

My first excursion into foods other than typical American farm fare began when I went to Chicago as a college student. Chinese food soon became a favorite. And my favorite Chinese food is sweet and sour pork. The combination of flavors provides a zesty zing. I would choose another serving rather than a dessert.

Not everything that is both sweet and sour is pleasing to us or desirable. When someones personality alternates between sweet and sour we tend to avoid them. Sometimes it seems as if the person has two distinct personalities. In some cases the change is so complete that medical or mental help must be sought.

Often the sweet and sour combination is found in the words spoken. In the Bible James cautions us that just as a spring does not send forth bitter and fresh water at the same time, neither should our mouth. The old saying "sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but words can never harm me" just isn't true. We can be greatly harmed by words hurled at us and our words can do great harm to others. Are the words you speak sweet or sour? Or, perhaps even worse, are your words both sweet and sour? That zesty zing found in sweet and sour foods becomes a bitter bite when found in words. Let your words bring grace rather than grief to those around you.

Who Is Your Partner?

Thanks to all who joined with us in prayer for my wife's surgery last week. She is coming home today. I would like to share a little of the miracle...

• The doctor expected to find a large amount of scar tissue since it had been four months since the accident but he found NONE.
• The doctor expected that the sac which extends below the spinal cord and holds nerve cells would be stuck to the tissue but it was NOT.
• The doctor expected to have to take bone from the hip to do the fusing of the three vertebra but he did NOT have to do that.
• There is usually significant bleeding in this type of surgery but there was NOT.

It seems the Great Physician went before and made the job easier for our doctor. We had told him that many would be praying for him as he performed the surgery. We hope that God will impress him with the results of having God as a partner.

No matter what crisis you may be called upon to endure or what challenge may face you, the best partner you can have is God. According to scripture believers are "laborers and co-laborers with God." If you haven't entered into that relationship consider it today.

TGIF

Most of us recognize that TGIF stands for "Thank Goodness It's Friday" Sometimes it expresses relief from a long, hard week and at other times it expresses the joy of a weekend's arrival. I have even heard it used as a joke where a certain person or group is said to put the letters on their shoes to remind them that "Toes Go In First."

However, as we think over the week's events we should be filled with gratitude to God for his presence and help through the week. He has been good as He always is. Knowing that God has promised to be with us in all of our days we can look at each day with a renewed goal. One writer has said, "As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world." ~Adabella Radici.

My attitude regarding the days God gives me and the circumstances he allows in my life must be guarded so that the inner peace and joy that God provides will be a testimony to others who may be saying TGIF from a discouraged, worn-out frame of mind. My recognition that each day is a gift to use for God's glory will be the means of grace not only for my own good but for the good of others as well.

Friendship

If the greatest social problem we can face is loneliness, then the best solution to that problem is friendship. Thomas Jefferson said, "Friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine. Even when friends are far away and there are many days of "shade" the stored warmth of times together and their long distance expressions of caring are like sunbeams that energize the soul.

We have experienced that energizing from our friends as my wife, Mary, has gone through the past four months since her accident culminating in the surgery of yesterday. The prayers of friends, known and unknown, have been effective in giving us grace and in drawing our God's care during the whole time. We are thankful to Him first and to all of our friends standing by us. Mary's surgery went well and the doctor predicts a successful recovery.

Our greatest Friend has walked with us each step of the way. As the Bible says Jesus "is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." May I encourage each one reading this posting to make sure He is your friend. With him you'll never be alone.

The Greatest Painkiller

One thing we don't like but are all called upon to experience is pain. Life dishes out all kinds of pain whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual. We try to mask our pain in various ways. Painkillers, diversions and denial are among the tools we use to deal with pain. My wife has had to deal with pain as she has prepared for surgery today on her back. While pills have done a great job of controlling the physical there has been a different means of dealing with the emotional and spiritual challenges.

While the problem is different the solution is the same as it was for the unnamed woman of Matthew 15. Her problem was the pain of her daughter's spiritual condition. The solution was her faith in Jesus. He said to her, "O woman, great is your faith." Then as a result of her faith Jesus granted the healing of this woman's daughter.

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety, or by the handle of faith. My wife will have major back surgery in about four hours from the time I am writing this blog entry. Her faith is strong and has conquered the emotional and spiritual challenges associated with such an experience. Your prayers for her will be appreciated. And if you are facing painful challenges in your life, may I encourage you to take the greatest painkiller of them all. Put your faith in the skill of the Great Physician.

Are We There Yet?

Everyone who has travelled with children will recognize the question of today's title. It is first asked about as soon as the car leaves the driveway and is repeated constantly throughout the trip. We expect to hear that question frequently next week as we travel to Michigan with Shawn and Issiac. Probably nothing strains relationships more than travelling together. There just isn't anyplace to get apart from one another when conflict arises.

There are various ways families use to ease the stress. Some play games. Others sing together or listen to music on the radio. In these modern days some have installed TVs so the children can watch videos. I don't like noise so I used to plan family travelling so that the driving was done at night and the kids would sleep. Now the kids have video game devices that are portable and keep them occupied.

Looking at a bigger picture we realize that all of life is like a big trip. We are placed together as families, co-workers, fellow church members and in many other relationships. We cannot spend all of life playing games to ease conflicts. That's why we must learn to walk through life as we are taught in the Bible. In Ephesians we are challenged with several walks: the worthy walk, (walk as a Christian, immitating Christ) the winsome (loving as Christ loved) walk, the watchful walk (be circumspect alert to spiritual dangers), and the willful walk (purpose to live like Christ). As we develop these characteristics our trip of life and its relationships will become joyful. At the end we will be asking, "Are we here already?"

Sowing And Reaping

Harvest season is upon us. It is one of my favorite times of the year. The fall brings refreshing temperatures and beautiful leaves. It is a time of storing up the fruit of the land for the winter that follows. This particular fall the harvest appears to be minimal however. A late frost in the spring and a long season of drought this summer has resulted in reduced production. Fruit growers in our area are reporting little or no crop.

Relationships are very much like farming. What we get from them depends on what is put into them. Frosty words lead to the stunting of a relationship just as frosty weather stunts the growth of fruit. Withholding kindness, consideration and forgiveness creates as much of a drought as the withholding of rain from the skies.

The Bible says that we are to run the race of life much like a farmer who then receives the first fruits of his labor. We must plant, water, fertilize and cultivate our relationship crops just as a farmer does his crops. We must seek God's blessing on our relationships just as a farmer depends on God's blessing upon his work. When we sow (and care for the crop) we will reap. What kind of crop are you expecting?

Get Some Exercise

To keep our bodies strong and healthy we must have exercise. However, the wrong exercises done in the wrong manner can be harmful rather than helpful. Following my wife's accident eight years ago she was doing exercises prescribed by a physical therapist. What the therapist didn't know was that she had an injury to one of the vertebrae in her back. The exercises she was doing were actually not helpful and may have aggravated the injury.

The same principle is true when it comes to relational activities. An unknown writer said, "The only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends, side-stepping responsibility, and pushing their luck!" Obviously those will not promote strong and healthy relationships.

In the book of Ephesians some excellent relational exercises are suggested in the form of "one anothers." We are advised to forbear one another, be truthful with one another, be kind to one another, forgive one another, celebrate with one another and submit to one another. Each of these goals is a large task in itself. But we have all of our lifetime to put them into practice. Let's begin getting some exercise now. It will make us and those around us strong and healthy.

How To Frame Someone

No one likes to be framed. Usually that means to be set up to take the blame for something unjustly. To frame someone in this manner requires that the true picture be disguised. The result is a corrupted view of the person involved that is harmful to them.

Whether we realize it or not our view of everyone is framed in one way or another. Sometimes we look through blinders and only see what isn't blocked off. At other times we merge our mental imaginations with the real picture and what we see is distorted. An unknown writer said, "People who look through keyholes are apt to get the idea that most things are keyhole shaped." We unknowingly frame others according to our perceptions. How have you framed others?

Scripture give us some suggestions for "framing" people. When we are told to love our enemies, the idea is to put a framework of God's love around those who would otherwise repel us. In I Corinthians 13, the love chapter, we are told to think only the best of others. To do so requires that we ignore the blemishes and focus on the beauty of the positive. Often the value of a painting is increased by the frame that is around it. Let's increase the value of others by graciously putting the right frame on them.

What Are You Worth?

There are various expressions for the value of a person. I've heard people describe others as "not worth a plugged nickel." On the other hand, some have been described as "worth their weight in gold." Science tells us that the elements of our body are worth about $4.50. Actually, our value depends on how much we value others beginning with God himself.

Jesus told his disciples that the first would be last and the last would be first. He was speaking about being poor in spirit. That doesn't mean that we are poor spirited or poor in estate but rather that we are humble. The Bible also tells us to "not consider ourselves more highly than we ought" and to "in honor prefer one another." One sales marketer stated that when we value others we become valuable to them. I believe this applies to all our relationships.

When we put others first then our own sense of usefulness and value increases. When we put God first He is able to use us and bring value to our existence. When we put others first then our skills and gifts will be exercised for them and they will value us. As long as we put ourselves first we will be battling daily for position, popularity and finances as the elements of our value. Our greatest value lies in our availability as a channel of grace from God to others.

What Are You Looking At?

A story was recounted of one young man's determination not to be like his father. All his life he had observed his father's drunkenness and all the troubles that came as a result. The son constantly focused on his father's problem, the disappointments that resulted and his resolve to be different. When the young man grew up he became just like his father with the same problem and the same results. Instead of focusing on a better image by which he would pattern his life he allowed himself to be taken up by the one thing he hated and as a result his life was molded in the same way.

Oscar Wilde said, "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." We may find ourselves going through the worst imaginable circumstances in life. However, we cannot allow ourselves to focus on them. We must focus on a higher goal. One wise teacher suggested that we should look at the problems of life as projects allowed by God in order to make us more like his Son. That is why we read in Romans that "all things work together for good to them that love God." That "good" is found in the following verse where we learn of God's desire to conform us to the image of his Son.

When you find yourself discouraged by immediate circumstances, look to the Star so that your life will be patterned after Him rather than after your situation. You will not only experience the grace of God yourself, but will communicate it to those around you as they observe your reaction to the difficulties of life.

Unlock The Gates

We have become a very security conscious society. We have installed home security systems and purchased weapons for protection. Entrance to your neighborhood school probably requires you to ring a buzzer and have the door lock released by the office. Many groups of homes are gated communities where admittance to the grounds is restricted by locked and sometimes guarded gates. Only those who have the pass code or authorization may be admitted.

While the need for such security is apparent in these days, we must remember that our personal lives cannot be gated against those around us. Jesus has sent us to be in the world even though we are not of the world. Are people able to get to you? Is your life open for inspection? Or have you secluded yourself from all but a select few? Do you get close to only those who have the right words or right appearance?

Paul stressed that the gospel is for all. He was concerned about reaching the "civilized and the uncivilized, the wise and the unwise." Access to salvation is not restricted to the acceptable, but "whosoever will call upon the name of Jesus." While we may need to practice reasonable wisdom, we do need to unlock the gates of our lives so that we may interact with all who need our witness. Only when we are available can we send grace into the lives of others.

I Stink, Mommy

Nearly every day we hear a news story about miscommunication. The wrong word slips out in a politician's speech. Inaccurate data is given about a product. Someone accused of a crime speaks and then regrets what was said. Perhaps we have experienced a similar situation and found ourselves saying, "But that's not what I meant."

Every communication has consequences. In some cases the immediate result is not serious and may be even humorous. Years ago my 21 month old grandson watched with interest as his mommy put on some deodorant. "What is that, mommy," he asked. His mom explained that she puts the deodorant on so she won't stink. Later, my daughter found her son hiding and putting on her deodorant. She asked him what he was doing with that. His answer was, "I stink, mommy." Actually, he did... he had a dirty diaper.

We laugh at incidents like that, but usually our poor communication has more serious consequences. A quick word may cost us a friend or result in a big argument. Or, it might be the cause of a lost job or opportunity. Unclear speech may mislead someone. God's Word warns us repeatedly about our communication and rightly so. What a powerful thing our tongue is. In James our tongue (speech) is compared to a bit in a horse's mouth, a rudder on a ship and a fire in a forest. In the words of a children's song, "Be careful little mouth what you say."

Sleep Disorders

Has anyone ever asked you, "Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed"? That question is prompted when something about our actions or words is communicating negatively. Usually the situation has nothing to do with our sleep but rather with our inner peacefulness.

Another "sleep" expression is "I slept like a baby." Actually, we don't really mean that because as I recall from my first child babies don't sleep very well. I was up all hours of the night rocking and trying to quiet her. What we really mean is that we slept well. This too has to do with our inner peacefulness. When we don't "sleep like a baby" we tend to "get up on the wrong side of the bed."

Both of these sleep disorders have their solution in our trust and dependence on the Lord. Old Testament King David was able to sleep with his enemy Saul camped just a short distance away. In Psalm 23 David indicated that he could set down and feast peacefully as the Lord "prepared a table in the presence of my enemies." When we are totally resting in the Lord we get a total rest. We can indeed "sleep like a baby" and "get up on the right side of bed." Our lives are then a blessing and inspiration to others rather than an irritation. So rest in the Lord, get some sleep and be a source of grace in the lives of others.

Animal Theology

Some time ago I went into the church sanctuary to find two ladies sitting on the platform. One was holding a cat and the other a dog. What's this all about I wondered? I soon learned some "new" theology from those two animals.

When you pet, feed and care for your dog he wags his tail and says, "You're my master." When you pet, feed and care for your cat he purrs and says, "I'm your master." The focus of the illustration was on our attitude toward God. The similarities are easily seen.

However, we, like the dog and cat, often treat others in the same way. We can appreciate those around us and joyfully see them as folks who need our service and care. Or, we can manipulate them and see them as a source of providing for our wants and needs. The best approach is summed up in the biblical admonition to treat others and we would like to be treated.

Today as we encounter people we must choose to respond to them like a dog and see our role as a servant or like a cat and see them as our servant. As we decide which response we will make it would be well to remember what Jesus said: "The first shall be last and the last shall be first."

Passing On The Joy

My uncle sent a picture today that speaks the proverbial 1000 words. The joy on grandpa and grandson's face as his first Mississippi River catch is hauled in speaks volumes about relationships. We need to go on "fishing trips" with as many of those around us as possible.

My uncle's goal was to pass on the thrill of success to his grandson. He was willing to expend time and money to see that smile and observe that sense of accomplishment. How much are we willing to expend to help others experience happiness and success?

Today is the first work day of the fall. For many students it is the first day back to school. Let's make a resolution early to pass on the joy to everyone around us.

Work Works

"I'm not afraid of work. I can lie right down beside it." While that is a comical and perhaps, at times, heartfelt statement, it doesn't match up with God's plan for us. The Bible says in II Thessalonians 3:10 "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." Today is Labor Day and we honor the working men and women.

Besides obedience to God's principle and providing food to eat, work has other values. Anyone who has been without a job for any length of time will testify to the fact that work gives a sense of worthiness to life. It is fulfilling to accept the challenge to do a job and do it well. It is also a way of testimony to others when we work "as unto the Lord."

In my college years I had a job at a boat company one summer. My responsibility was to use a bending machine to bend the aluminum rails for boats. The job was repetitive and boring. I was given a minimum number of pieces to bend per hour. I found that my job became more interesting and the time passed by more quickly when I competed with myself to exceed the required output while maintaining the quality of the product. Then my efforts were really rewarded when the boss noticed my high output and held me up as a good example for the whole shop. I'd like to think that my work motivated others to work hard as well.

If we can keep a good attitude toward our work and pass that attitude and work ethic on to others than we have succeeded in ministering grace even while carrying out a task that might be boring on the surface. Let's join that honored work force and demonstrate that work works.