You Asked Me To Do What, God???

“Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:7).

As a result of the discipline of God, a large number of the citizens of Judah had already been taken to the land of Babylon as captives. Everything familiar had been stripped away and they were now forced to live as captives in a foreign land where very little was familiar. How the captives must have longed for home! It is easy to see why they were eager to listen to some prophets who began to tell them what they wanted to hear -- that they wouldn’t be in Babylon for very long. But Jeremiah’s message from God was very different. He told them to get settled in because they would be there for 70 years! They might as well assimilate themselves into Babylonian society because they would not be going home any time soon (Jeremiah 29:5-6). Tough message, huh? But it was about to get tougher. Not only does Jeremiah tell them to settle in for the long haul but then he tells them to pray for good things to happen to their captors! Tough message indeed!

As a child of God, I am also called to do some tough things. I am instructed to love my enemies and do good to those who hate me (Luke 6:27). I am told to pray and be thankful for governmental leaders, regardless of the kind of people they are or the ideas they promote (1 Timothy 2:1-3). I am called to regard others as more important than myself (Philippians 2:3). I must refuse to let any unwholesome word leave my mouth (Ephesians 4:29). Tough instructions? Every last one of them! Hard to do? No doubt about it! But God didn’t check with me first to see if I wanted to do them or if I thought they were fair. He just tells me to do it. Will I or won’t I???

God loves you!
Mike

Like A Vapor

The pictures of the devastation experienced by the nation of Japan recently as the result of earthquakes and tsunamis are terrifying. Walls of water, mud, and debris raced across the landscape, destroying everything in their path. Entire houses, cars, and boats floating along like toys in a bathtub. I couldn’t help but think that people were losing their lives as I watched. There must have been families in some of those houses. There must have been workers in some of those buildings and fields. There must have been some passengers in some of those cars and boats. Some had time to escape but others didn’t. But my guess is that probably everyone got up that morning and thought that the coming day would be just like any other day. Little did they know that the coming day would be unlike any other day they had ever experienced.

I do the same thing. My waking thoughts are never filled with visions of a coming catastrophic event. I can’t remember ever starting a day with serious doubts as to whether I would live through it. Usually, I’m thinking about what I am going to do and where I need to be (James 4:13). I naively move from moment to moment as if they were owed to me. But they are not. Maybe next time, it will be me swallowed up by water and mud. Perhaps my life will be cut short by a natural (or unnatural) disaster. Maybe the drunk driver will hit my car or maybe it will be my heart that skips one too many beats. Who knows???

I realize the tone of this piece is a bit dark, but from time to time I need a heavy dose of reality. What happened in Japan is one of those reality checks. It re-emphasized for me that life can be a fragile and fleeting thing (James 4:14). And I am reminded that, while I can’t control the future, I can be ready for whatever the future brings. Jesus Christ is disaster insurance!

God loves you!
Mike

The Good Part

Last Sunday, I watched as my five-year-old grandson was eating his snack of frosted mini-wheats. He had several pieces of the cereal lined up in neat rows, frosting side up, on the chair next to him. I also noticed that there were still some pieces of cereal in the plastic baggie. As I continued to watch, it became clear what was happening. He would pick up one of the mini-wheats from the chair, eat the frosting off of it, and then return the now un-frosted portion back to the bag. I picked up the plastic bag and, sure enough, each piece in there had the frosting gone. I almost said something to him about the need to eat all of the cereal but then thought better of it. After all, there isn’t any law that says you have to eat every last bit of your mini-wheats, is there? I’m sure it made perfect sense in his young mind. Why eat the dry, unappealing part when you can go straight to the “good” part?

It is a strategy, by the way, that would earn a stamp of approval from the Son of God. Luke tells of a time when some friends of Jesus disagreed over some priorities. During a visit by Jesus to their home, Martha was “distracted by all her preparations” (i.e. the “wheat” part of frosted mini-wheats). On the other hand, her sister Mary was seated at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him teach (i.e. the “frosted” part of frosted mini-wheats). In answer to Martha’s charge of a lack of concern, Jesus praises Mary’s choice of going straight to the “good” part. He reminds Martha that “...only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).

Yes, the unappealing parts of life must be given our attention. But let me encourage you to go straight to the good parts from time to time. Ignore the wheat and head for the frosting!

God loves you!
Mike

Veterans

The last U.S. veteran of World War I died last Sunday at the age of 110. Frank Buckles was born in Missouri in 1901. In 1917, he joined thousands of his fellow Americans in seeking to enlist to serve in the “war to end all wars.” But there was one little problem. At age 16, Buckles was too young. He lied about his age when he tried to enlist with the Marines. He said he was 18 but was told he needed to be 21. He went back a week later and told them he was 21. He was rejected because he didn’t weigh enough. Buckles then tried the Navy but was told he had flat feet. Undaunted, he moved on to the Army. When challenged to provide a birth certificate, the teenager said, "I told him birth certificates were not made in Missouri when I was born, that the record was in a family Bible. I said, 'You don't want me to bring the family Bible down, do you?'" Buckles said with a laugh. "He said, 'OK, we'll take you.'" His official enlistment date was August 14, 1917 and Buckles served in England and France, working mainly as a driver and a warehouse clerk. Although he never saw combat and the armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany on November 11, 1918, this underage soldier answered his nation’s call. Thank you, Frank Buckles (and all other veterans), for doing your part. I am a grateful beneficiary of your courage and service (Source: foxnews.com).

I am also reminded of the indebtedness I have to the spiritual soldiers who have gone before me. There are many who have helped to secure my spiritual heritage in Jesus Christ. The spiritual battles they have fought in their lives are an example and inspiration for me. Let’s all remember to thank the spiritual veterans in our lives before it is too late. Some final food for thought: Who will rise up and take their places in the trenches for the next generation?

God loves you!
Mike

Dealing With The Consequences

I recently received a mailing from a kind of business I never even knew existed. The name of the company is Aftermath and they specialize in crime scene and tragedy clean-up. Here is an excerpt from their brochure that describes their mission: “Dealing with the death or serious injury of a family member, loved one, or co-worker is perhaps the most difficult and stressful situation most people will ever face. When that event is the result of a violent crime, tragic accident, or suicide, dealing with its consequences can be even more demanding. Its at times like these when Aftermath is the only choice for comprehensive and reputable biological remediation and clean-up services... Aftermath has extensive experience in responding to and cleaning up following situations such as homicide, self-inflicted injury and death, and unattended death.”

At first, I couldn’t imagine doing something like this for a living. Day in and day out, you would be dealing with the remnants of human tragedy. Who could handle such a thing? Would it be possible to go home from work and leave the scenes and events of the day behind you? But as I thought more about it, I had to admit that there was a need for such a service. After all, how could one expect a traumatized family to attend to such details? It is a job best left to others who do not have emotional ties to the tragedy itself.

Picking up the pieces of shattered lives. That describes the work of companies like Aftermath. It also describes a large part of what we do as followers of Jesus Christ. Those who were hurting were attracted to Jesus. The Savior welcomed those who were dealing with the tragedies of life. As we make our way through this world, we will also encounter those who need help cleaning up after traumatic events. Will we be ready to step in and help? No, it won’t be pretty. Yes, it will be difficult. But if we wish to be like Jesus, it is our calling.

God loves you!
Mike