TIME

The Rolling Stones used to sing about time being on their side. Take a look at them now. I hope they don't still include that song in their tours. The truth is that time is always on the move. I just celebrated a birthday that put me on the other side of the half way mark of the fifties. It's funny—I don't feel that much older "in my mind." (My body is another story) But I remember a quarter century ago saying, " I'll get more serious with my search for God's truth tomorrow." And "I am not going to waste another day." And a whole bunch of good intentions like that. The truth is, I have made an effort to search out God's truth but I could have done more. And I have not wasted as many days, but I have wasted plenty. Sometimes I pray, "Lord, pull me away from myself and draw me toward you." Peter called us "sojourners" which means those who are just passing through. We, in truth, have "another" home. I'm not against relaxing, enjoying downtime and just plain having fun. But when I get serious for a minute...I realize that time is a limited comodity. When the sand runs out of the hourglass...it's over. So, maybe today would be a good day to do at least one of the good things I have on my list. Maybe today is the day to experience God by helping someone else. "Give and you shall receive..." That's a "TIMELESS" principle.

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE?

There's an old song by that name but it's really not true. The fact is we all walk through life alone. I'm not discounting the value and blessing of family, friends, fellowship and the rest...but in the end we each experience life as individuals. Even in the best church, the best marriage, the best circle of friends, we always come back to ourselves. I'm talking here about the physical experience of living out our lives. Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" and that is great comfort. He resides and abides in our lives which means we are not completely "alone." But I think it's a mistake to cling too tightly to the earthly companionship and relationships that are so much a part of our experience of life. In the end, I love my wife, my children, my family and friends...but I also know that, but for the grace of God, any or all of those loved ones could be gone. I say this, not to be morbid. Rather I say it because I believe it's my responsibility to develop an understanding of the individual experience of life. I can contribute to others lives, but I can only live my own. In the end I will give account for my life. The choices I make will shape "my" life. And when I meet Him he will ask me about my thoughts, my actions, my decisions and my personal and individual walk. Jesus loved, laughed, healed and cared a great deal but in the end He walked His own road. Each one of us, in my opinion, must work toward getting used to that and accepting it. Ironically, when we do, we have so much more to offer to one another.

DESERT DAYS

There are times when life just seems overwhelming. I can say all the "spiritual sounding" things I want...but I just don't feel the Spirit. There are days when I just wonder what this whole "life" thing really is all about. Those times are very tough—and I see no point in denying it. There are days when everything seems to go wrong and my circumstances seem to be speaking to me. No...they seem to be screaming—SEE, LIFE IS A DRAG. Even the scriptures seem dry and lifeless. That's not blasphemy, it's truth. I didn't say they ARE lifeless. I said they appear lifeless to me at that point. And to be honest, I wrestle with this whole notion of circumstancial joy. When things are good it's easy to praise God and say how good He is. But when things are bad it's a different story. I start thinking; "What did I do wrong to be separate from God?" "Why is God whitholding His blessing and favor from me?" "Is He hearing my prayers?" All of which is very depressing because after examining and repenting if things still seem bad...then what? That's when, sooner or later, a still small voice from somewhere deep down in my soul whispers "I'm still here..." And that is good enough for me. I answer, through my frustration and sometimes through tears, "Okay, Lord. I'll wait on you...I'll wait on you...because you are trustworthy and everything else is not!

HE COMES IN MANY FORMS

There are times when we really need a touch from God. And since He doesn't show up in the flesh we encounter Him in the spirit. We worship him "in spirit and in truth." Often He chooses to reveal himself through other human beings. Someone I know was suffering very intensely. She couldn't get any "quick fixes" no matter where she turned. She needed medical help but more than that she needed the encouragement that only God can give. She prayed and prayed and though several people expressed their love and concern, she felt separated from God Then one night, a friend from church stopped over after Wednesday night service. He knew of her difficulty because of a close friendship with the family. At almost 10 he called to say he was stopping over. He came in with several plastic bags. In one of them there were six or seven pints of the very best ice cream on the market. He said he didn't know what kind she liked so he "bought a bunch." He then pulled out a book about prayer, and some magnets to play with. The young lady is twenty five years old but he knew she needed to be encouraged so he brought her stuff to make her smile. Finally he pulled out a teddy bear and said one of the funniest things I've ever heard. He said, "Here's a little bear you can hug when things are going good." Then he pulled out a plastic gun that shoots little darts and said, "And here's a gun so you can shoot the bear when things are going bad." She laughed and then she hugged him. As he drove away, she said, "that's what church should be all about." She felt the love of Christ draw near in the form of a true friend who went out of his way, to help someone who was struggling. I'd say that's a pretty good picture of the heart of God...and His heart is contained in many of His servants. So when His servants obey the door opens and in HE COMES IN MANY FORMS!

GOOD GOD

With all the reminders of my failures and how many times I miss the mark, I was really encouraged this morning by one of my all time favorite authors—A.W.Tozer. In his book The Attributes of God he writes: God takes no pleasure in human tears. He came and wept that He might stop up forever the fountain of human tears. He came and bereaved His mother that He might heal all bereavement. He came and lost everything that He might heal the wounds that we have from losing things. And he wants us to take pleasure in Him. Let us put away our doubts and trust Him. It reminded me of how much God loves me. Yes, there are principles and precepts that, in His Fatherly way, He has handed down. But they are to keep us from harm not to hold us up as failures. If I dwell too much on my inability to be all that He wants me to be I lose sight that it is by "grace alone" that I have been saved. My righteousness is through faith. And it's good for my soul, every once in awhile, to be mindful of that fact that I REALLY do have faith in Christ. I may fall short. I may resort to selfishness. I may rebell. But the truth is I never lose faith in Christ. He is the one who has bestowed the robe of righteousness. Yes, I must co-labor. Yes, I must obey. Yes, I must sacrifice and operate in discipline. But every once in awhile...it's just plain nice to bask in the thought of His infinite love and the fact that I am important to Him. Tozer finished up that section of his book this way: "Did you ever stop to think that God is going to be as pleased to have you with Him in heaven as you are to be there? Thank God, thank God! Let us praise the lovingkindness of God forever, for of His goodness there is no end. Amen! Amen!"

MOUTHIN' OFF

This is not a news flash...but PEOPLE REALLY HURT EACH OTHER WITH THEIR WORDS. And it's not an occassional thing. Jeremiah put it this way in Chapter 9 verse 8: With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor. But inwardly he sets an ambush for him. The expressions "two faced" and "fork tongued" are a few of the ways it's been described. What a shame that the church is just as guilty. In fact, it's worse in church because we should know better. There was a song in the sixties called "Backstabbers." Part of the lyric went like this: They smile in your face, all the while they want to take your place. I think it starts with the way we look at one another. If we value the person we tend to watch what we say. If we devalue or look down on the person we use less care with our words. And the question I have to ask myself is "Who am I to devalue ANYONE?" There should be no "in crowd". There should be no caste system. We are one in Christ and my goal has to be to value everyone—and that begins with the way I address them when I'm in their presence and when I'm not. James warns of the dangers of the tongue, yet leaders routinely use it to denigrate others and in so doing set a bad example. I know I have to do better. I know that I must pray with David in Psalm 39...I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue...

WHAT IS TRUTH

That's the question Pilate asked Jesus. I used to look at that question with an arrogant spirit. "He's standing right in front of you," I'd think with a smug, superior mindset. But now I find myself, APART FROM MY LORD, JESUS, asking the same question. All around I see men building towers of "truth" that suit their own agenda. Nothing more than 21st century Towers of Babel. I ask the question (some would say naively), "Can there be a pure community of love for Jesus without all the structure that erodes relationship to Him and puts men in bondage to one another. (I know scripture calls for order, so don't throw that one at me. Order does not have to supercede love.) Why do so many communities of faith major on the system, the structure and the format. Don't they understand that road leads to the creation of modern day Pharisees. Oh, these Pharisees don't wear fancy garments and they "put on humility" but then they act with little regard for the person as long as "the system" is upheld. I ask the question, "Does that enhance or hinder the mighy encounter with our sweet Savior and does it enhance or hinder the touch of God. Many are sure they have it figured out and would dismiss my questions as foolishness. I would echo the Holy word of God, "Be careful when you think you stand, lest you fall...