Something is so very wrong when…
…anger & ridicule are held high as banners of rightness & superiority.
…patience, acceptance & love are ridiculed.
…religious recipes for suffering only dish out more suffering.
…humiliating those who ask questions is considered the answer.
…there is no hope in the place hope should live.
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amazing……simply amazing
I wish I could supply a video of Bible class this morning; words will never do justice. About once a year, we put into action our interpretation of Proverbs 25:11, “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Our golden apples are Original Werther’s Candies & our silver setting is a large stainless steel bowl; but, the aptly spoken words are priceless. Person after person came to the bowl, took several golden apples and went all around the room handing them to the special ones in their life, speaking the sweetest words of appreciation and love. Gratitudes for friendship, shared salvation stories, hugs & choked-back tears describes our 40 minutes; with 80 in attendance, we could have gone another hour. When class ended, the sharing did not; all through the auditorium Werther’s & hugs were being exchanged. What an amazing group! They are exactly what you’d expect from the King’s family!
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the fruit tells on the tree
Divide & conquer is an effective tactic in business & war. In church matters, it’s only 50% effective – it just divides. Diversity is normal & usually healthy. Division & Dissension are neither. These 3 words may sound related, but Division & Dissension are from sickly DNA. How do we distinguish between the healthy & unhealthy? Jesus answered in Matthew 7. If you’re curious about the health of a tree or a teacher, don’t inspect either – looks can be deceiving. Instead, inspect the fruit that each produces. Fruit doesn’t lie. Good & healthy or bad & unhealthy, you’ll have your answer.
What does bad fruit look like? Paul said the defects are obvious: impure & riddled with discord, hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, dissension, factions, envy & many others.
He also is clear on the appearance of good fruit. It will look like: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control.
Curious about a tree or a teacher? The health profile of each will be found in the fruit.
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Marvin, Paul & Bobby
This not a 60’s folk trio, although one did become a successful singer/song writer.
It’s been a long time since I heard Marvin Phillips preach his “You Gotta Serve Somebody” sermon. Marvin gave appropriate credit for his title to Dylan’s song; he gave the bulk of credit for the heart of his sermon to the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans. I ordered a tape & used it one evening at Green Valley Bible Camp , introducing a whole new generation to Bob Dylan. Some campers spent the rest of the week nasally-harmonizing Dylan-style.
Last week on XM Radio 60’s channel, I heard Dylan’s song again. It took me back to that night in Tulsa when Marvin & I were much younger, back when the Garnett church met in their large fellowship hall. But, mostly, it brought to mind Paul’s message, eloquently put into the contemporary by Marvin, the fact that you & I – humble or arrogant, deceitful or honest, greedy or generous, self-serving or sacrificial, admitting it or denying it – will be a servant to someone or something. Our challenge? Who or what will it be? Now, open your Bible to Romans 6:15-23, pinch your nose, raise your pitch & read aloud!
“You’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”
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Memories & Laughter – Gifts of God
I conducted another funeral this week. While visiting with the family, we spent 2 hours laughing & reminiscing over wonderful memories. Here’s my favorite: “Mom was addicted to TV shopping shows. As we gathered her belongings, we discovered her last phone call was to GVC.” Now, that’s funny! Those kind of memories will sustain them when they need a lift. Afterward, I began to flip through my own memories. I made myself a blog-challenge: 1 person & 1 funny memory:
Jim White: doing his dead-on Lester ‘The Old Roadhog’ Moran impression!
Doug Stewart: transforming himself into Barney Fife reciting the Pledge of Allegiance!
Mark Lundy: telling anything!
Mike Cope: singing the classics!
Randy Harris: playing shortstop at *GVBC in ‘78!
Jeff Walling: unscrewing the lids on cheese containers at Pizza Hut in ‘83.
Ragan Price: guzzling 9 soft drink refills at Hilton Head, then seeing $2×10 on his bill!
Dennie Shepherd: his search for escaped boys at *GVBC & finding them in bed asleep!
Marshall Brown: being a much funnier Ed McMahon than my Carnac!
Aron Coffee: his make-believe *GVBC camper, Wask Bennett, is a classic!
Greg Sandlin: his pink gorilla dance at my milestone birthdays!
John Weaver: leading a bus load of teens in ‘Old McDonald’ from Rogers to Tulsa!
Tim Ryan: hiding in my room after flushing cold water from the showers at an OCU dorm!
Brian Lea: he & Tim pretending to be exchange students & hitting on girls at Opryland Hotel
David Eldred: after failing to show for head count at the Tulsa Workshop, finding him directing lunchtime traffic in rainstorm in Fairgrounds parking lot!
Out of time and out of space – I may have to revisit this! (*Green Valley Bible Camp)
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a little moderation in a modern world
I saw an odd sight last month. It was so unusual that I pulled to the curb to watch. A group of boys were in a small field playing football! They were running, throwing, catching, tackling – it was awesome! As a kid, there weren’t many days I wasn’t throwing a football or baseball. With a broom stick, I once relocated part of a gravel heap intended for a sewer line, one swing at a time. My dad later relocated me!
Today, I rarely see kids playing ball or doing much of anything outside. Recently, a child-development specialist addressed this. She stated that, on average, children spend 7.5 hours everyday on a cell phone or texting or watching TV or at a computer. A child spends as much time daily with an electronic device as a parent spends at work. I’m all for these devices – I have all these devices – I have friends my age who spend more time than those kids on these devices; but, we can at least claim to be old! I told my Bible class that at age 17 I could hit a baseball as far as I could see & at age 60 I still can. It took them a while to get it!
Dads, even moms & grandparents, need to encourage some physical/social interaction for their kids, boys & girls alike. Help them with their motor skills. Urge them to develop hand-eye coordination beyond a screen & keyboard. A little moderation between: Facebook & football – texting & tennis – picking apps for a Blackberry & picking blackberries for a pie – Googling & golfing – downloading & dribbling – is good for them!
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big man or small man?
“A man can be measured by the size of the things that make him angry.” Although the author is unknown & the quote has undergone revisions, it’s a fairly accurate statement. It holds true in family, business, education & religion – places where big men are so desperately needed. What can men do to measure up?
* Pray before acting.
* Decide if the problem is nothing more than pride.
* Consider the feelings of people & the impact of words.
* Learn that being in charge is not the same as being a leader.
* Distinguish between fixing a matter & merely nit-picking a matter.
* Be quick to ask forgiveness for reacting to an innocent mistake with a nuclear missile.
What upsets us? Measure it – its size will reveal a lot……about us!
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Remind me, Lord
Some things in my past I’d love to forget. Others I pray to never forget. A list of the former would take too long & my reputation has been tarnished enough after my birthday party. Of the latter, here are a few I hope to remember:
* How $20 feels when you’re broke: Money was not something I missed as a kid – we never had it. A neighbor asked my step-brother & me to mow her lawn & adjacent vacant lot, home to legendary football games. We assumed cutting grass was for using the lot – getting paid never entered our minds. When she handed us $20 each, we were stunned. It’s been 47 years & I still feel the thrill of buying new tennis shoes I knew mom couldn’t afford. Things are different now; $20 won’t impact my life, but I encounter people for whom $20 makes a difference. My prayer is for God to remind me of that feeling in 1963 & share it with others.
* How food tastes when you’re hungry: The last time I went an entire day without food was for medical reasons. I knew I’d have food in a few hours; I knew I’d get what I wanted; I knew I felt only psychological craving; but, I remember ‘hungry.’ Food has become like air – it’s just there & little thought of appreciation is given. In the midst of thriving NW AR – in the most prosperous nation on earth – there are people who are truly hungry. Whether through our soup kitchen & benevolent work or buying a homeless person a burger or sending monies to families forced to eat from a city dump in Honduras, my prayer is for God to remind me of how good food tastes when you’re hungry & will give me opportunities to share that feeling in others.
* How friends help when you’re lonely: I’ve been alone & I’ve been lonely & I’ve been both. It’s no fun. My prayer is for God to remind me of this each time a guest walks in on Sunday morning. Someone has come on purpose to a strange building full of strangers – that takes courage. What prompted their decision? Many times it’s as simple as seeking friendship.
In these & all areas I need help, Lord, remember I’m human and humans forget, so remind me, remind me dear Lord!
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Lester Holt
Our Sunday class is sending cards to a public personality each month. Our goal is simple: to thank them for their contributions in their chosen career, to offer them encouragement & to let them know we are praying for them. This month’s cards go to Lester Holt, weekend anchor on the Today Show & member of the Manhattan Church of Christ. He is a popular & gracious TV host; we pray good things for him.
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interesting interview
This morning on the Today Show, Denzel Washington was promoting his new movie. During the interview, he spoke of growing up a preacher’s kid, of rebelling against his upbringing, of his journey into Eastern religions and eventually of his return to his Christian roots. Rather matter-of-factly, he mentioned reading the Bible regularly; in fact, he said he had read through it several times. I have no comment other than it was good to hear someone, star or not, profess their faith openly without apology or reservation. I will say this: I won’t look at Mr. Washington the same anymore!
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