Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Upgrade

I picked up a rental car at the airport the other day. Because I’m cheap, I had reserved an economy model. All rental fleets have their “economy” line -- just basic, no frills, cheapest, get-from-point-A-to-point-B transportation. As I approached the counter, I braced myself for the inevitable sales pitch. Every rental car sales associate I have ever encountered has tried to get me to “upgrade” to a sleeker, more luxurious (read that “more expensive”) model. In fact, it just so happened that they had some special deals going on right then. What luck! But after saying “no” and a bit more arm-twisting, she handed me the paperwork and sent me out to the lot to choose a lowly economy model.

When I handed my paperwork to the lot attendant, she looked it over and said, “Sir, we are all of our economy models are out right now. Go ahead and choose any car from the full-size line.” Initially, I thought it was just another trick to pry more money out of me. So I turned to her with a skeptical look in my eye and asked, “For the same price?” “Yes, for the same price” she said. I still could hardly believe it. I was so surprised that I just jumped in the first car in line without even looking at what else was available. I had to get out of the lot before they changed their minds.

I wonder at times if that might be my reaction when I get my first glimpse of what God has in store for the faithful beyond this life (assuming, of course, that I remain faithful until the end). The figurative descriptions in the Scriptures of dwelling in the eternal presence of God likely do not do justice to the literal reality. When comparing this existence with that existence, all Paul could say is that being with Christ is “very much better” (Philippians 1:23).

What an upgrade! It may seem too good to be true, but it isn’t! Life with God is first-class, not economy-class!

God loves you!
Mike

Undefeated

“I set a snare for you and you were also caught, O Babylon, while you yourself were not aware; you have been found and also seized because you have engaged in conflict with the Lord. The Lord has opened His armory and has brought forth the weapons of His indignation, for it is a work of the Lord God of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans” (Jeremiah 50:24-25).

Babylon was the military super-power of its day. Its army had the finest technology and armaments available and used them with devastating precision. No one had successfully withstood the advance of the Chaldean military machine. But as so often happens, Babylon’s superiority went to her head. In her pride and arrogance, she picked one battle too many. She chose to engage in conflict with God and that proved to be her downfall.

You see, the problem with doing battle with the Lord is that you are automatically out-manned, out-gunned, and out-resourced. You may have lots of soldiers, but God is the “Lord of hosts (armies). Are you sure you want to do battle with heavenly battalions? You may have an impressive arsenal, but it can’t match what God can unleash when He opens His armory. The overflowing coffers of the kingdom of Babylon may be available for your use, but the God of the universe has much deeper pockets.

You never win when you choose to do battle with God. Throughout history, kingdoms and nations have declared war on God, but all have failed. Many individuals have waged their own personal war with their Maker with the same result. And yet, every generation has nations or individuals who are arrogant enough to think that they will be the one who will finally defeat Him.

Think carefully before you engage in conflict with the Lord. He has put together an impressive string of victories!

God loves you!
Mike

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Quench Your Thirst

“With its founder dubbing it the Bentley of bottled waters, Bling H2O promises to quench consumers' thirst for both "award-winning" spring water and the luxe life. Part of a wave of high-end bottled water launches in recent years, Bling's elixir starts at $20 for a small bottle and can run as much as $2,600 -- if you opt for a 750-milliliter vessel hand-encrusted with more than 10,000 Swarovski crystals. (Display case and white gloves included.) The bottle might scream L.A., but the water comes from a more humble source: the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. The company that bottles the water for Bling says its water is sold under about 90 brand names in the U.S. -- including one that prices its bottles at $2.49 each, available at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations. (Drinkers who prefer a glass bottle, which better preserves taste, can buy the Tennessee water under yet another name, for $35 a case.) Bling's founder, Kevin Boyd, doesn't dispute that his company's water comes from the Tennessee bottler but says the "couture" packaging justifies its price, especially with its hand-applied crystals and customizable designs. "I'm not just selling a water," he says, "but a lifestyle.”” (“Dumb Money: Six Products That Aren’t Worth It,” SmartMoney, June 29, 2011).

Although a $2600 bottle of water is disturbing on several levels, one of the biggest drawbacks is that you will eventually get thirsty again. Why not seek for refreshment than will quench your thirst forever? Jesus offers water that can do just that. Speaking to a woman at a well, Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14). You know the best part of all? It’s free! (Revelation 21:6; cf. 22:17). Stock up on it now!

God loves you!
Mike

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

The Price Of Pride

As states scramble to balance their budgets, I suppose it was inevitable. In a Wall Street Journal article, Nancy Keates reports the following: “After years of selling vanity plates as a modest sideline—charging as little as $5—states think there's more money to be made in whatever drives people to buy them. Facing budget crunches, states are raising surcharges or proposing annual fee hikes for custom plates. Texas has gone a step further. It hired a private company to raise $25 million over the next five years by auctioning off vanity plates. "People like to express themselves, especially in Texas," says a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. This year, at the nation's first such auction, Texas sold 33 plates for $139,400...Other countries have already mined this vein, with big results. A businessman in Abu Dhabi bought a license plate with "1" at an auction for $14.3 million in 2008. Last year, in England, a retired businessman bought "1 RH"—his initials—for about $400,000. Hong Kong sold a plate that read "STORAGE" for $12,000” (online.wsj.com).

In modern usage, vanity is defined as… “excessive pride in one's appearance, qualities, abilities, (or) achievements” (dictionary.reference.com). And the price of such an attitude has ALWAYS been high. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud” (Proverbs 16:18-19). “A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor” (Proverbs 29:23). “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think ; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).

Is it a sin to have a vanity license plate? No. Is it dangerous and costly to be consumed with pride? Yes. Can you afford it???

God loves you!
Mike

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Leslie Faith Anderson

Last Wednesday,  June 29th, our second granddaughter was born at home to our youngest son, Lane and his wife, Sandra.  We now are grandparents of three.  Leslie instantly has cousins,  Connor and Cadie.   The overwhelming joy we felt at our first grandchild's birth is duplicated over and over.  What a wonderful layer to this thing called love.  Leslie seems to be a very laid back baby and already sleeps very well.  We are blessed beyond words to be able to be close to all our children and grandchildren.  One more tiny person to love, one more to pray for, one more to hug, kiss, read to, play with and teach about things eternal.  Thank you Father for grandchildren.