Life Letters

 February 28, 2022

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” —2 Corinthians 3:2-3 

“You are the only Bible some people will ever read.” I cannot say how often I’ve heard these words, admonishing us to live out our faith with integrity. They simply restate St. Paul’s word to the Corinthian Christians who had not been doing particularly well in this department. This church was filled with gifted and talented people, but they were constantly at each other’s throats, scrabbling for power and influence while behaving so badly that they were worse than the pagans outside the faith.

He had written to them before about the sad state of their lives and witness, and had received word of a favorable response to his letter of correction. So now, he could breathe a bit easier, and commend them for their change of heart and life. 

At our men’s Bible study tonight, we asked the question, “How easy is it for people to read Jesus in you?” Do we write in invisible ink? Is our life story disjointed or illegible? Do we hide our life’s letter in a stack of papers so no one will see it? 

I’m an introvert by nature, and have had to work all my life on writing this life-letter plainly and legibly. I’ve had to force myself to open my mouth with a word of testimony; people are surprised that as a preacher, it doesn’t come naturally to me. It’s one thing to talk about Christ in church where the majority of those listening are in agreement and supportive; it’s quite another to do so in the marketplace of ideas where the message of the Gospel is not readily accepted, but instead is ridiculed or outright opposed. But it’s there where my life-letter needs to be written in large script, clear for all to read.

We asked a second question tonight: “Where does your life-letter need some editing?” What doesn’t follow the story line? What contradicts the message we are trying to give? My daughter has written a few books, and will give plenty of testimony about how many times she had to go over her manuscripts, editing them to make sure the grammar lined up or the story flowed consistently. It was a demanding and difficult process, but was necessary to get an end product that would adequately convey the message she had to give.

I’m not done editing my life yet. There are parts of the story that don’t properly fit into the redemption story I’m trying to live. So the work goes on. I’m trying to write my life so people will be able to clearly “see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” —2 Corinthians 4:4 

Temperance

 February 27, 2022

“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” —I Corinthians 9:25 

“Temperance” was the topic in Sunday School this morning. “If we are temperate in all things,” one class member observed, “life becomes flat and uninteresting.” This person had a point. Years ago, John Maxwell quoted a little ditty about this kind of living:

There was a very cautious man
Who never laughed or played.
He never risked, he never tried,
He never sang or prayed.
And when one day he passed away,
His insurance was denied;
For since he never really lived,
They claimed he never died.

If temperance is the goal, life indeed will be dull. But St. Paul doesn’t think of temperance as being a goal in itself, but a means to a goal. Anyone who wants to excel at anything has to eliminate from his life any distractions that would get in the way of the goal, whether it be a sport, music, business, or family. That’s what temperance is all about—making sacrifices to attain a goal.

The athlete sacrifices social life, junk food, free time, to work out, practice, refine her skills. The musician puts in hours of practice that might have been spent with friends or playing video games. The soldier sacrifices ease and comfort to drill, endure war games, work to the point of exhaustion in order to be in the best fighting trim. In short, nothing worthwhile is accomplished in spare time and minimal effort. 

Temperance would be a sad way of life if it weren’t for the goal. God calls us to deny ourselves to the point of taking up a cross, not so we can pat ourselves on the back for being more austere than others, but for the greater goal of which Paul spoke in Philippians 3:14–“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Temperance isn’t easy, but it will be worth it when we stand before Jesus and hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Choose Joy

 February 26, 2022

Last Sunday, Nightbirde lost her battle with cancer. If you don’t follow such things, she was a “Golden Buzzer” winner on America’s Got Talent, with her performance of her original song, “It’s OK.” It wasn’t only her song; her story is what captured the hearts of millions. Even as she sang, her body was wracked with tumors in her lungs, spine, and liver. 

It was her spirit that touched us. Constantly smiling, she told us that the doctors only gave her a 2% chance of survival for more than six months. “But two percent isn’t zero percent,” she said with a smile. She wrote about her prayers—“I’m the downstairs neighbor banging on the ceiling with a broomstick”—and her rugged and often ragged faith. 31 is too young to die, especially for one so determined to live.

My favorite quote from Nightbirde: “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.” The radiance of her smile, her determination, and faith through all her struggles puts many of us to shame. She insisted on believing that life and God are good, even when life is hard and God is unintelligible. In these dangerous and deadly days when all the news is bad news, her words and her perspective are needed more than ever. In the worst of circumstances, we have choices to make about our attitude. Choosing joy can bring us through the darkest of valleys. Don’t wait to decide to be happy.

Praying for Ukraine

 February 25, 2022

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” So says James 5:16. Yesterday, Russia invaded the Ukraine. Putin fears not our president, nor the invective of Western Europe. The former is a weak, mentally compromises shell of his former self, the latter dependent on Russian oil and gas. Putin is not swayed by international censure and is not likely to stop until he has accomplished his aims. Militarily, he holds all the high cards.

In the face of all this, from half a world away, we pray. For most of us, it’s all we can do, but in our hearts we wish there were something more substantial, more tangible at our fingertips. Implicit is the belief that there actually is something more powerful than our prayers—guns or missiles, perhaps.

We pray, but what do we expect in response? Do we really believe our prayers have any effect, or are they words we utter only because we see nothing else we can do? Do we believe James5:16, or merely give it lip service? We read how the mighty men of God prayed and called down fire from heaven, or stopped powerful armies in their tracks, but do we believe God can still do the same today? 

James’ statement contains conditions. Our prayers must be effective, ie. targeted. General and vague requests have little value. Jesus himself reminded us that if we pray rightly, we will have that which we request, not something similar, but the very request itself. He also said that we must be in agreement. It’s not enough for some to want merely a cease-fire and others a retreat. When we fail to consult together, it is hard to pray in agreement.

James says the prayer must be fervent, not lackadaisical. Jesus asked his disciples, “Could you not watch with me for one hour?” Most of us have trouble with even five or ten minutes. We know nothing of Jacob’s wrestling all night with the angel till we come away victorious. Limping, maybe, but victorious. James also mentions an ethical and spiritual dimension of our prayers: “a righteous man.” Left to our own devices, none of us can claim this; our only hope is the imputed righteousness of Christ that begins the process of imparted righteousness. If we haven’t accepted the former, we can’t expect the latter. You can’t leave the station if you haven’t boarded the train.

Let us pray for the Ukraine. But let us pray expectantly, actually believing that our prayers move the mighty hand of God. Let us not look to the news to determine our response, but to the Good News of the Gospel that assures us God is in control. Let us pray effectively, pointedly, fervently, and righteously, praying in faith and confidence that our God is still in the business of delivering the oppressed.

Human Vending Machines

 February 24, 2022

We were served by a pleasant young man with an easy smile and warm demeanor. He was the perfect waiter; solicitous without being intrusive, and we ate our dinner thankfully. Towards the end, he asked if we would like dessert. We normally don’t indulge in dessert, but when I told him it was my wife’s birthday, he insisted that it was on the house. So we ordered.

We had gift cards, so the meal really didn’t cost us anything. We paid, left a generous tip before asking the question. “You have blessed us with your service, and we would like to bless you in return. Is there anything you’d like us to pray about for you?”

The smile vanished as he said, “I can’t believe you’re asking this. This has been the worst day of my life!” He proceeded to tell us how he “really f—ked up,” telling us in outline form what he had done and the consequences he feared would come his way. He welcomed our prayers before going back to work.

I don’t know what will happen to him. He’s really scared. I hope our prayers can become an avenue through which God works the miracle of salvation in his life. One thing I know—we never know just by looking at someone what they’re going through. The only way we learn is by asking. Not everyone is receptive to our praying for them, but those who are unwittingly put themselves in the crosshairs of God’s Spirit. 

One of my most frequent prayers is for God to open my eyes to the people around me, and my mouth to speak his Name. I take my cue from Jesus himself, as recorded in John’s gospel, chapter four. Jesus was sitting by a well in the noonday heat when a woman approached to draw water. He noticed. 

Noontime was not the normal time women gathered at the well; that was an evening task, when the heat had dissipated somewhat. Jesus noticed, and struck up a conversation with her that resulted in her running back into town with the news that she had been speaking to Someone who knew her better than she knew herself. Meanwhile, Jesus’ disciples were returning from the village where they had gone to buy lunch.

They were puzzled that he wasn’t hungry. After all, they had been walking all morning in the growing heat of the day. When they asked him about it, he told them he had food they about which knew nothing, and as they talked, the townspeople, responding to the witness of this woman, were streaming down the road to see for themselves this unusual Man.

Jesus told his disciples that “the fields are ripe, ready for harvest,” but they remained puzzled because they went into town looking only for lunch; Jesus saw those same people in a different light. They weren’t to him mere human vending machines. They were people loved by his Heavenly Father and sought by Jesus himself. 

I regularly pray for Jesus to open my eyes to see people, not for what they can do for me, but for who they are in his sight. Whether it is a waiter, a girl at the supermarket checkout, or someone I casually meet on the street, it is easy to see people for what they can do for us. “It’s business,” we rationalize, and we don’t have time to plumb the depths of every human heart we meet. But I shudder to think of the opportunities I’ve missed and the hurting people I’ve never prayed for simply because I wasn’t looking deeply enough, beneath the smiles or frowns, to see the hurting heart needing the touch of God. 

Tonight Linda and I will again pray for our young waiter. Hopefully, when we go back for my eye checkup in a couple weeks, we’ll be able to stop in and find out how things have been working out for him. We are praying for a miracle even bigger than the solution to the problem he sees. God opened my mouth and my eyes for him. Now, may God open this young man’s heart to the grace and forgiveness he seeks and needs.

Until We Are Parted

February 23, 2022

Today my wife turned another year older…for what it’s worth. She looks no different than yesterday; her smile still warms my heart, while her feet…well, that’s another story! The lines in her face were put there by the laughter in her soul, while any grey in her hair was probably put there by me. We’re both at that place in life where our needs are few and our wants even fewer. Birthday shopping can be a challenge; we visited a favorite store of hers only to come out with a few items for kids and grandkids, and a Charleston Chew for her. 

These days our years aren’t measured by days and weeks and months, but by breakfasts in bed (her favorite) and coffee together in the afternoon. We talk and pray, and sometimes sit silently, all the while bathed in a love that has spanned more than two-thirds of our lives, yet just keeps growing. We’ve weathered the storms of youthful passions and midlife missteps, always mindful of how our choices and decisions would affect each other and those we love most. Like everyone else, there were times either one of us could have decided it was too hard, and walked away. Unlike so many, we chose to work it out.

The hidden blessing in staying together is the opportunity to go deeper into love than is possible for those who at some point decide, “This is far enough.” So often, the real gold is but a spadeful away from where they stopped mining. We hit the mother lode years ago, and it keeps on yielding its treasure. 

Linda has been getting texts all day from people whose lives she has touched. Friends near and far, children, grandchildren, even boyfriends of grandchildren have written, telling of her influence in their lives. The grandkids still at home stopped over, blessing her with their laughter even as they cleaned out her candy and my pretzels. The gold glows with the lustre of their presence.

Proverbs 5:18-19 enjoins a man to “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth…always be enraptured with her love.” Like the evening fire in our stove, the flames don’t burn as hot as they did in the morning, but it has warmed us all day and will continue to do so through the night to come. 

Linda, at the beginning of our life together, we said to each other, “Till death us do part,” and until that day comes, I will continue to love you and to thank you for warming me all these years with your love. 

Grace Alone

 February 22, 2022

St. Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia (located in the center of modern Turkey) begins and ends with grace.

“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ…Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” —1:3 and 6:18

In between these two verses, Paul points to the catalyst that activates grace within us: faith. Grace is God’s heart attitude towards us sinners, his unfailing love and favor to those who deserve it least. The problem is, if I don’t believe in that favor, it becomes impossible for that grace to engage my soul. 

God’s grace is to us and for us (1:3-6) to the end that we be delivered from “this present evil age” (He doesn’t pull any punches in describing our world. It is no friend to the Christian). But we easily turn from grace to works, abandoning the only means of salvation there is in the futile hope that we can justify our behavior and pat ourselves on the back for the effort made.

How easily I speak of grace; how hard it is to truly believe and live in it. I want to feel I’m contributing something to my salvation, that my efforts make a difference. And when I fail, I feel like I ought to be punished for that failure. We’ve been taught (rightly so, I might add) that if we do good, we are rewarded, and if we do bad, we’re to be punished. This mindset, and the system of law and justice behind it are what make life in society work. But on the personal level, it can be destructive.

 It’s always tempting to turn to the works of the flesh (as Paul calls them) for salvation. We try harder, make promises, but the flesh can only produce fleshly results, ending in the sad list of 5:19-21. 

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

These are the inevitable result of abandoning grace, and their presence in our lives are proof positive that we have done so. Grace alone saves. Only grace saves. 

Light

February 21, 2022

A day that doesn’t begin in the Bible gets lost in the shuffle of life. Friday evening, I noticed light flashes in my right eye when I looked from right to left. They diminished Saturday, but reappeared in the evening. Sunday morning, I saw thread-like “floaters” around the outside edge of my right eye. I knew something needed to be done.

This morning as soon as it was proper to do so, I called my eye doctor who wanted me to come right in. I did so, and before it was all over, she sent me to Buffalo for further examination. I called Linda, who canceled her plans for the day and we headed north. That appointment was set for 1:15, and we arrived right on time. Three hours later, I had been questioned, examined, and operated on. There was a slight tear in the retina which he treated by (as he said) tack-welding the area around the tear to the back of the eyeball.

It is a lot harder than you would imagine to not turn your head sideways or nod up and down. Any such movement must be made slowly so as not to detach his tack-weld. I never before noticed how much I turn my head quickly to see something while driving or looking out the window. 

But what I notice most of all is that the day has passed without me being seriously in the Word of God. I read some early this morning, but didn’t have the time to really meditate upon the Scriptures, which leaves me feeling spiritually diminished. The psalm is true when it says, “The entrance of thy words gives light” (Ps. 119:130), and that light is healing to the soul, just as the doctor’s laser, focused on the wound, was healing to my eye, 

My Sphere

  February 20, 2022

I make a lot of mistakes, miss notes in my runs, but I still love playing upright bass for our worship team! I’m glad our church isn’t so large that a hack like me wouldn’t have a chance to do something I love so much. None of us are professionals, but all of us love what we’re doing, and never forget that we’re not performers; we’re worship leaders. If we aren’t worshipping, we can’t lead the congregation, so it’s more than notes and lyrics. It’s heart. So we begin with God’s Word and prayer. 

A couple weeks ago, I was asked if I were available to preach today. I checked my schedule and reported back that I was on team. Don’t get me wrong—I love to preach, but I also love playing bass and fulfilling the Scripture that tells us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. Not every note I play is particularly musical, but it is always noisy. God knows, I bring to him an imperfect and often divided heart, laden with imperfections, but also a heart grateful for new life, forgiveness, and joy.

“Praise Him with stringed instruments” says Psalm 150:4. My bass sat for 30 years in the cooler of a deli in Pittsburgh, waiting for me to buy it and fulfill its destiny in praise. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians that he would only boast within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us.” (2 Cor. 10:13). Both my bass and myself have found our appointed sphere, and I am grateful for the privilege of serving in it. It was a good morning for me; I hope I helped make it a good morning for someone else today.

Curling Through Life

 February 19, 2022

Years ago, someone commented to me that Linda and I were lucky to have the family we have. I think they were talking about our children, not our parents. My response was, “Luck has nothing to do with it. It took a lot of hard work and a lot of prayers.” Looking back on it, that response may sound a bit arrogant, so I’ve been thinking about it, and have come up with an analogy that makes sense to me. 

There are a lot of good parents whose children have not walked the path they would have liked them to walk. For any number of reasons, those children have left behind the values and faith that meant so much to their parents, who look back and wonder what they did wrong. And it is always possible to find things we did wrong. I don’t think there’s a parent who ever lived who didn’t wish they had done some things differently, that they hadn’t made some of the mistakes they made, said some of the things they said, given the example they gave. Perfection is not within our ability, and we often blame ourselves for poor decisions our children make. Our parents no doubt did the same.

So here’s my analogy: Even if you have chosen not to watch the Olympics this year, most of us have watched even if only momentarily the Curling event. One of the team members carefully aims a 40 pound, smooth granite stone, sliding it down a lane of ice towards a target almost 150 feet away. Opposing teams try to knock previously launched stones out of the target area, much as in shuffleboard. Two team members shuffle along the stone’s path, frantically sweeping the ice with brooms. The friction of the brooms slightly melts the ice, altering the speed and trajectory of the stone.

Raising kids is a lot like curling. God entrusts children to us, launching them into life, aiming them at the target of becoming like Christ. As parents, we’re like the sweepers, doing our best to guide the direction of these children who have minds and wills of their own. We can’t directly reach into their hearts to change them; all we do is (often frantically) sweep the path ahead of them, hoping and praying that it is enough to get them to the target. 

We know there are obstacles in the way—the stones of the opposing team. If all goes well, the aim is true and our sweeping guides the child to just the right place to knock the opposition out of the way. Much of it is beyond our control; we are merely the sweepers, with the brooms of prayer, instruction, and example. There is no formula; only the wisdom of Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the sweeping of the parent. God aimed well, we swept frantically, and the stones have hit their target.

Prisoner to Pleasure

February 18, 2022

“You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.”  —2 Corinthians 6:12

St. Paul was not by his recitation of his difficulties in vv. 4-10 laying guilt upon the Corinthian Christians, but was instead warning them of the dangers of living without boundaries. A totally free lifestyle forges its own chains. 

“Don’t let your pleasures become your prison,” is what he is telling them…and us. To the Corinthian Christian’s, immersed as they were in a culture of profligacy, this may have had primarily sexual overtones, but it has other connotations as well. There is much in life which is not wrong in itself, but which can limit and hinder us from the fullness of life God has for us.

By way of personal example, I contracted Covid nearly a year ago. For me, the symptoms were mild, resembling a cold. Since then, I’ve been exposed to the virus at least four times without further infection. Though our government refuses to recognize it, I am convinced that I now have natural immunity. I support those who have chosen vaccination to protect themselves, but oppose vaccination mandates for those who have had the disease. From what I can see, these mandates aren’t following the science; there’s no money to be made in natural immunity.

For the past two years I have been wanting to go back to Cuba to again see my friends and to minister to the people I’ve been privileged to know there. But Cuba too, has a vax mandate, which forces me to ask the question, “Do I allow my personal preference to become my prison? Are my affections, my desires, and my “principles” restricting me, preventing me from all God has in store? Am I becoming a prisoner to my pride, to my not wanting to become a government statistic? Are my affections, my desires restricting me? I’m not sure, but this much I know: even correct desires and affections can become chains that bind us, preventing us from experiencing the fullness of life Christ offers. 

Amazing Grace

 February 17, 2022

“Receive not the grace of God in vain.” —2 Corinthians 6:1

With these words, St. Paul launches into a recitation of all he has endured for the Gospel: “Patience, trials, in need, in distress, in beatings, imprisonment, tumults, and labors. In sleeplessness and fastings, in purity, knowledge, longsuffering, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love, by the Word of Truth, the power of God and the armor of righteousness. In honor and dishonor, being accused of being evil while doing good, labeled as deceivers, unknown yet known, dying, chastened, sorrowful, rejoicing, and in poverty.”

All this through grace! Grace received means responsibility accepted and a cross carried. It is not a “get out of hell free card.” Compared to Paul, a lot of my grace received seems pretty empty and fruitless. Yet it remains grace, the gift of God, not of works. It is truly amazing!

Political Power

 February 16, 2022

“God is Judge. He puts down one and exalts another.” —Psalm 75:7

How easily we slip into complaining or criticizing whoever holds political power at any given moment when we are on the opposite side of the aisle! I will come out and say it: I am not a fan of Biden or his policies. From my perspective, they are ruinous to the country and a threat to the freedoms we have enjoyed for years. That being said, he does not bear sole responsibility for the disasters we have been experiencing both domestic and foreign. The collusion of Big Tech, Big Pharma, Big Business, and Big Government has been building for years, censoring those who fail to toe the party line. 

Those who support the present policies have their own set of grievances about the past administration, which leads me to today‘ s text. For those of us who get all worked up about things political, these words are a timely reminder that God is still in control. We don’t understand why he chooses to raise up some of the people who come into power, and why he puts down others. We scratch our heads and fall back on the words of Isaiah who reminded us the “God’s ways are not our ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts; for as the heavens are above the earth, so far are God’s thoughts than ours.” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

A couple administrations ago, I read repeated Facebook posts from someone who was clearly not a fan. His words were quite sarcastic and critical. I could understand the sentiment, but this person who posted was a Christian, so I asked a question that never got answered: “When was the last time you prayed for our president?” After all, we are commanded to pray for those in positions of authority, whether we like them or not. And we are commanded to bless them, even if they wrong us. 

The amount of invective we see and read in the media is appalling. And it is increasing. Sadly, many of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ are right in the middle of the name-calling, the cursing and condemning, while our prayers for those in authority remain unspoken. If we truly believe in prayer, why do we offer so few for those with whom we disagree? I have almost no influence over my congressmen and women, my senators, my representatives in Albany and Washington. They don’t know me, and are not about to drop everything to hear my opinions. But I have a Heavenly Father who is eager to hear my prayers. It just makes sense to obey his command to pray for our governmental authorities, because God alone has the ability to raise them up or put them down. 

So, don’t complain. Cry out to God, and see what happens. He’s the One with the ultimate political power!

Help!

 February 15, 2022

For Christmas, Linda bought me an AutoWit Supercap, and it is amazing! This morning, son Nathan called and asked if I were in Sinclairville.

“I’m home,” I replied.

“Good. I’m in town and Dan called, needing a jump start for his car so he can go to work.”

I was so excited! I got to try out my Christmas gift and help my friend at the same time! I suited up (it was -4F), pulled the unit from the back of Linda’s car, walked to Dan’s house, and hooked it up. In about three minutes, it was ready to go. The buzzer sounded, we counted down from ten, and Dan turned the key. His 2015 Honda with the original battery started right up! 

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this little gem, the AutoWit Supercap is a small unit about the size of a standard brick. It’s filled with capacitors that take the small residual electricity that is still in a dead battery and amplifies it to the 12 volts needed to start a car. It has no batteries itself, so doesn’t need to be charged and can never go dead itself even if stored for years. It is electronically designed so you can’t accidentally toast the delicate electronics in modern cars. Jumper cables just became obsolete.

This isn’t a commercial; I was excited to be able to test out my Christmas gift, and even more to help out a good friend. Receiving a gift is good; passing the blessing along is better.

Ordinary Love

 February 14, 2022

Nothing says “I love you” more than driving three hours to pick up my bass from the repair shop. That’s right—we didn’t spend the day together, I didn’t buy flowers or candy, we didn’t have candlelight dinner. Dinner actually was the second half of yesterday’s Super Bowl subs. Do we know romance, or what? 

Actually, we do. I was going to get my bass tomorrow, but she has a doctor’s appointment, so I had to go today. Putting the bass in the back of my unheated pickup for an hour and a half wouldn’t have been good for it. Too much temperature change too quickly can wreak havoc with an eighty-six year old instrument. So her gift of love was letting me drive her car today. Mine to her was not insisting she go with me. After last week’s marathon drive to pick up my bike from the shop in Ohio, she was quite content staying home. 

We still like special occasions, and are always careful to treat each other with respect, kindness, and tenderness, but more than fifty years of loving each other has taught us the value of the ordinary. Today was just that, and tomorrow may be the same, but true love isn’t rooted in soil laden with jewels; it’s pretty ordinary. And the ordinary is, well…pretty. 

The Love of Christ

 February 13, 2022

On the eve of Valentine’s Day, it is appropriate to write of love. In 2 Corinthians 5:14, Paul says, “The love of Christ compels us.” Paul is defending his ministry; though hard pressed, often delivered to death, persecuted and struck down (4:8-9), he continues to work,compelled by the love of Christ.

But is it Christ’s love for him, or his love for Christ which presses upon him? A good case can be made for either interpretation. Perhaps it’s a deliberate vagueness here because both are needed.

Christ’s love for me is the foundation of anything I could possibly do, or want to do for him, but it by itself, doesn’t guarantee a worthy response from me. If his love for me hasn’t engendered a response of love in me, I will not feel compelled to do anything.

I am often convicted by these words. I have done so little for Christ. But I would do nothing at all were it not for his love pushing me to love him in return, which often means doing things that as a certified introvert I would not do on my own. I am not good at sharing my faith; I miss opportunities, and left to my own devices, would hole up in my own little world. I wish I were more adept at evangelism, but apart from the love of Christ compelling me, I would do nothing at all. I am compelled to contradict my nature, often feebly, rarely ably; but I keep at it because of the love of Christ.

Lord Jesus, may your love ignite my own!

Body Life

 February 12, 2022

Christianity is an odd religion. In contrast to many modern apologists who see life only in physical and materialistic categories, we align with most people throughout history who believe also in the spiritual dimension. Unlike most of them however, we hold to the dual significance of the material and immaterial, body and soul. Salvation doesn’t consist in the spirit being set free from the body, but in the body becoming fully conformed to spiritual purposes.

In 2 Corinthians 4:7 & 11, Paul says “We have this treasure (“the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” — v.6), in earthen vessels…that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” He continues in 5:1, saying that “if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” In other words, we shall someday exchange a tent for a house, ie, something far more substantial than these bodies that define and delineate life in this world.

He presses home his conviction with these words in v. 4: “We who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.” The goal of life is not some ethereal, spiritual existence that has shed the confines of bodily life, but rather a substantive, bodily life that is fully animated, unfettered and unrestricted by the limitations of mortal flesh. Notice that in v. 8, he doesn’t say we will be freed from these physical bodies; merely absent from them so we may be fully (and corporally) present with Christ.

So, we who follow Christ believe in the sacredness of the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, the dwelling place of God himself. What we do with these bodies is important, for we are fully made in God’s image. We reject physical abuse in any form, affirm life at all times, and treat the whole person as sacred. We neither minimize the physical, nor do we deny the spiritual, but hold both in high regard as we choose life because Life has chosen us (John 1:4 & 14:6).

Glorious Weight

 February 11, 2022

“Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” —II Corinthians 4:17 

“An eternal weight of glory”—what an interesting phrase! Glory is described as having weight, substance. It’s not merely admiration or praise—this word has…weight! It is heavy, solid, substantive, unlike the empty vanity of this world. Paul says this glory comes through an affliction which is by comparison, light and airy. Most of us wouldn’t describe afflictions this way. They are a weight, an albatross around our necks that we rid ourselves of as soon as possible. 

Maybe too soon. If this glory comes through our “light affliction” ie the trials of this life, and as Paul says in 3:18, from gazing into the face of Jesus, it is clear he links the two together. In other words, we cannot truly see Jesus without trials. It is the troubles of this life that clarify our vision, enabling us to see Christ as we cannot when things are going well. None of us likes the trials, but they are the avenue God uses to enable us to see Christ more clearly. Without them, we would only know Jesus superficially and I sufficiently. The glory of seeing him truly is weighty, and we bear it solemnly, knowing that something greater is coming—something eternal and substantive, far more real than anything we know here and now.

YHWH

 February 10, 2022

Last night, I read an article that caused me to rethink my prayers and how they impact my life, particularly when I think about St. Paul’s command to “pray without ceasing.” 

Sandra Thurmon Caporale writes,

“There was a moment when Moses had the nerve to ask God what his name is. God was gracious enough to answer, and the name he gave is recorded in the original Hebrew as YHWH.

Over time we’ve arbitrarily added an “a” and an “e” in there to get YaHWeH, presumably because we have a preference for vowels.” (In reality, the original Hebrew alphabet contained no vowels, relying on the reader’s familiarity with the language to supply them appropriately.)  

She continues: “But scholars and rabis have noted that the letters YHWH represent breathing sounds, or aspirated consonants. When pronounced without intervening vowels, it actually sounds like breathing. YH (inhale): WH (exhale). 

So a baby’s first cry, his first breath, speaks the name of God. A deep sigh calls His name – or a groan or gasp that is too heavy for mere words. Even an atheist would speak His name unaware that their very breathe is giving constant acknowledgment to God. Likewise, a person leaves this earth with their last breath, when God’s name is no longer filing their lungs. 

So when I can’t utter anything else, is my cry calling out His name?

Being alive means I speak His name constantly.  Is it heard the loudest when I’m the quietest?

In sadness, we breathe heavy sighs. In joy, our lungs feel almost like they will burst. In fear we hold our breath and have to be told to breathe slowly to help us calm down. When we’re about to do something hard, we take a deep breath to find our courage.  

When I think about it, breathing is giving him praise. Even in the hardest moments! …God chose to give himself a name that we can’t help but speak every moment we’re alive. All of us, always, everywhere. Waking, sleeping, breathing, with the name of God on our lips.”

I had trouble sleeping last night. Linda and I were away from home, picking up my bike from the shop and seeing our granddaughter away at college. We stayed at a delightful B&B, but the room was warmer than we are used to, and the pillow fuller than I like. So I lay as I sometimes do, trying to pray. In the middle of the night, I can barely formulate a coherent sentence, let alone continual prayer. I may not be able to sleep, but neither can I pray. Until last night. I breathed in and exhaled out, slowly, “Yh…Wh; Yh…Wh,” breathing the Name of God, calming and settling my spirit till I drifted off to sleep. Thank you, Sandra Thurmon Caporale!

Measuring Love

 February 9, 2022

It’s been a long day; ten hours of driving for a motorcycle and two hours with our granddaughter. So tonight’s reflections will be short and sweet. I was thinking the other day about 1 Corinthians 13—the Love Chapter of the Bible. We often say that love is known not by what people say, but by what they do, but this is only partly true. Love is proven not by what it does, but by how it responds to insult and injury. It is possible to do much good with a wicked, hateful heart, but it is impossible to endure deliberate insult and injury, returning goodness and blessing for hatred and hurt, apart from love.

We measure love by our response to evil and hatred, not by what we do when all is well.

Seeing Clearly

February 8, 2022

In his second letter to the Corinthian Christians, Paul is contrasting the magnificence of the message with the modesty of the messenger. The question naturally arises, “If this message is so overwhelming, how do we explain the failure of so many to grasp it?” Paul’s answer is simple and to the point. Speaking about the failure of his people to accept the Gospel, he writes, 

“Their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”

“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” —II Corinthians 3:14-16, 4:3-4 

A spiritual blindness has come upon humanity, courtesy of Satan himself. That is one way of reading the text: the god of this age has acted directly upon the hearts and minds of men and women, blinding them to the reality of God’s grace and mercy. 

There is however, another way of reading this text. That little word “of” operates in a number of different ways so it can mean “the god who rules or is over this age,” but can also be read as “the god which is this age.” The first reading draws a line between this age and the diabolical power that is behind it; the second reading says that this age itself is god to many. While the former reading makes sense, it places the responsibility for blindness on Satan rather than on the individual.  The second reading places responsibility squarely upon the shoulders of humanity. 

It is often the pleasures and pains of this life that blind us. For many, this present world order is everything; it’s all there is. We don’t need the devil to account for most of our problems. We do just fine creating them all by ourselves. Paul said elsewhere that the spirit and the flesh are at war within us, which is his way of saying we are in a constant battle between good and evil.

Paul’s answer to this problem is both clear and simple: “When one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” Salvation isn’t attained through rational thinking, as important as such thinking is. I learned a long time ago that winning a religious argument changes nothing. Even if the mind is convinced, the heart can remain blind. Salvation is the result of the Spirit of God opening eyes of the soul so they can see that to which they were previously blind. Turning to the Lord moment by moment is the only thing that causes the veil of spiritual blindness to drop away, which is why the ancients spoke of continual repentance and faith as foundational to Christian living. 

This world itself is a devious deity. Breaking its hold upon us requires opening the spiritual eyes so we can see beyond the illusions to the greater reality of God himself. 

Credo

 February7, 2022

Karl Barth, the great German theologian of the last century, wrote a book on the Apostle’s Creed which he entitled from the Latin, “Credo,” or “I Believe.” Every Sunday, we repeat the words of this creed, one of two foundational statements of faith of the Christian Church, the other being the Nicene Creed. Neither encompasses everything most Christians believe, but both hit upon the main themes of our faith.

The Nicene Creed being longer, doesn’t get as much press as the Apostles’ Creed; I couldn’t quote it to you if my life depended upon it. The Apostle's Creed however, rolls off my tongue without my even having to think about it. Yet think about it, I do. Often.

The Creed is divided into three sections, the shortest being about God the Father, the longest about Jesus Christ, and the final about the Holy Spirit. It is therefore, thoroughly Trinitarian, which may not mean much to the outsider, but is extremely important to the genuine follower of Jesus Christ.

Years ago when my grandmother lay dying in a hospital bed in Rochester, NY, I visited her as often as I could. She had been profoundly deaf for years, and having reached the 100 year milestone, her body was finally giving out. In her final weeks, she was often restless, constantly moving as she lay in bed. On this particular evening as I visited, I leaned in close to her ear and said as loudly as would have been appropriate in that setting, “Grandma, I’m going to take you back through the years to the foundations of your life.” She had been a devout Presbyterian, living as they did, literally in the backyard of the huge Bethany Presbyterian church in Greece, NY. 

I began reciting the Creed, and as I did so, her agitation ceased; she lay quietly, listening and mouthing the words silently. It was a most amazing experience! Her faith at that time in her life wasn’t an intellectual exercise, nor was it a list of behaviors or actions to be done. It was what she believed, and this belief quieted the storm in her soul.

Every Sunday as we recite these ancient words, I am struck by how they begin: “I believe…” It says nothing about what I think or how I feel; only what I believe. In these days when we are increasingly being told what to think and lacking an absolute moral code, people live by how they feel at any given moment, there is a solidity to these words, “I believe.” My reasoning power can be faulty, my feelings fleeting, but my faith is a firm foundation on which I can stand.

Presence

 February 6, 2022

My son Nathan does a vlog every Thursday entitled “Christ Alone,” which are his reflections on various Scriptures. Lately, he’s been dwelling on Jesus’ words in John 14-17, and this past Thursday talked about the ministry of presence.

If that term is unfamiliar to you, it is simply what it’s name implies—being with someone in their time of need without necessarily speaking. Often, I’ve found that people don’t respond to even their closest friends in their distress because they don’t know what to say. Truth be told, sometimes it’s best to just keep our mouths shut. Telling grieving parents that God needed another angel is not only bad theology, it’s small comfort to them as they mourn the loss of their child. Just being there, even silently, may speak more eloquently than any words we could utter.

Nate spoke of Jesus’ ministry of presence among us as he quoted his words in John 14:1-3 where Jesus says, 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Nate focused on this last phrase: “that where I am, there you may be also,” ie. the gift Jesus gives us of his very own presence; that he loves us so much he wants to give us nothing less than himself; so we can be with him. It’s a wonderful thought, that Jesus is present with us in our time and place of need; that it is his heart to bless us with himself.

As he spoke, a different thought came to my mind. What if Jesus desires us to give him the ministry of presence? What if he is saying here, “I want you with me. You don’t necessarily have to say anything, I’m not asking you to do great and mighty things for me; I just want you with me, because your presence blesses me more than you can know.”

Has it ever occurred to you that spending time with Jesus isn’t just for your benefit, that it is just to bless you. Has it ever occurred to you that your giving Jesus your undivided attention is your ministry of presence that fill his soul?  That you need not speak with flowery prayers, that you simply sit with him? When he walked this earth, he praised Mary for sitting at his feet while her sister Martha worried herself in service. Maybe he is waiting and longing for us to simply sit with him in silence, not so much for our blessing, but his.

Seeing and Believing

 February 5, 2022

On at least three occasions, we read of St. Paul having had visions where he saw the Lord. Acts 9 records his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road, in 1 Corinthians 15, he himself speaks of the risen Jesus having appeared to him, and in 2 Corinthians 12, he recalled a time he had some sort of heavenly experience. 

How amazingly wonderful those experiences must have been! It’s no wonder he was so determined to spread the Gospel no matter what the cost. In 2 Corinthians 1 and 11, Paul tells of some of the suffering he had endured, which he no doubt was able to handle due to the magnificence of his visions of heaven. I’ve never had any such experience, although I’ve know people who have. I’ve often wondered what it must be like to have a spiritual encounter that was so profound as to make the things of this life seem worthless by comparison.

After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to Doubting Thomas (as he has become known to us) with these words: “Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe.” That would be me. I am willing to forgo the foretaste of heaven in the pleasantness of my life here, as long as the ultimate blessing is not denied me. I have been richly blessed in this life, but don’t want my life to be a “Rich man and Lazarus” story. By the grace of Christ, it won’t be, and perhaps my experience, or in a sense, lack thereof, can be an encouragement for others who have not had dramatic conversions or spiritual experiences. God loves us all, and his salvation is available to all who believe, not merely those who experience or feel.

Heavenly Minded

 February 4, 2022

An old saying occasionally pops up in conversations, sermons, and social media: “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you’re no earthy good.” It’s used by Christians who think of the Gospel primarily in terms of how it impacts people here and now as a critique of Christians who focus on the life to come. 

I remember the evening services I attended as a teenager at Westside Baptist Church. They were termed evangelistic services, but were primarily hymn sings with a sermon at the end. Ozzie Palmer or Al Orgar would lead the singing, waving their arms conductor-like, while Mrs. Ellis accompanied on piano or organ. Special music was usually offered by a ladies’ trio, someone playing an instrument, or the male quartet of Ozzie Palmer, Merle Silver, Al Orgar, and Chuck Bassett.

The congregation sang heartily, often songs about heaven: “When We All Get to Heaven,” “When the Roll is Called up Yonder,” “O That Will Be Glory for Me,” “In the Sweet Bye and Bye,” “Beyond the Sunset,” — the list goes on and on. 

What strikes me about this is it seems the more heavenly minded we were, the more earthly good we did, because eternity was never out of mind; every moment here counted. When preachers don’t preach on eternity, we tend to forget the significance of time.

I’ve heard Christians say that even if heaven were a myth, it would be worth it here and now to be a Christian, but this wasn’t St. Paul’s view. In 1 Corinthians 15:19, he says, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most pitiable.” The older I get, the more I think of heaven. I’m not sure what to expect. I would think streets of gold are figurative or imaginative—a way of telling us how magnificent it will be, but I don’t expect to be sitting on a cloud playing a harp.

According to Paul and Jesus, we will be known and recognized, but relationships will be different, with no marriages as per Matthew 22:30, and a great reversal of fortune as per Luke 16. Most importantly, we will be with Jesus in the presence of God the Father. All else pales in comparison to this, but it begs the question: If I am not interested in spending time with Christ here, what makes me think I’ll be excited about doing so in eternity?” 

A second question is just as important, and was posed by Penn Jillette, of magician fame, who asked, “If you believe in heaven and hell, and that those who don’t believe will end up spending eternity in hell, how much do you have to hates someone to not warn him?” 

Both these questions haunt me, as I get so easily distracted in my prayer and devotional life, and tend to be hesitant in boldly sharing my faith. I have a long way to go; may God grant me the years to do better at both these earthly tasks with the heavenly stakes.

Cold Knees

 February 3, 2022

My knees are cold. After driving to Buffalo and back, the predicted storm descended upon us, with predictable results. The drive up to Buffalo wasn’t bad; the roads were pretty clear, and I was able to finish my business without incident. The same couldn’t be said for others. I passed an overturned semi, a jackknifed semi, a van flipped upside down with airbags deployed, another van slid off the exit ramp, and a Jeep and sedan slid into the median on the Thruway.

And the roads weren’t really bad. I got home safely, and Linda had supper waiting. Afterward, she decided to bake some cookies to take to our daughter in law, which was when the trouble began. She couldn’t get the headlights to come on. We leave them on automatic, but the switch got bumped. Problem solved; she got in the car, I went back inside. A few minutes later, she was at the front door.

The storm had by now dropped about eight inches of snow, and not expecting to go out tonight, I didn’t plow when I got home. She drove off the edge of the driveway and was stuck. No amount of pushing made any difference, and as I examined what I could see of the undercarriage, I couldn’t find any place to secure a tow chain. A Prius may be technologically advanced, but technology doesn’t get you out of a snowbank.

Despite all this, we are blessed. Even under the worst of circumstances, it’s better to be stuck in our driveway than out on the road. She called our son Matt (Nate, who lives closer, has been having trouble with his back, and so was bypassed), and pastor Joe. Small town life has many benefits, especially when family lives nearby and we have so many connections with people from the church. They had us out in a jiffy. I spent the next hour plowing the driveway, which is why my knees are cold. But my heart is warmed by the love and kindness of all the people in our lives who are wiling on a moment’s notice to help us out of a jam. Cold knees and a warm home and heart. It’s a good combination.

Escape

 February 2, 2022

The early James Bond franchise were masters of melodrama. James is trapped seemingly with no way of escape, but suddenly manages an almost miraculous deliverance through one of the clever devices “M” has produced, or through some minuscule flaw in his opponent’s plan. What looked like certain gruesome death suddenly is transformed into glorious salvation. The Indiana Jones franchise repeatedly used that same plot to ensure another movie would be made.

God has his own version of miraculous escape. It’s found in 1 Corinthians 10:13.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

There is a secret about this way of escape that eludes many: it is always present even before the temptation. It isn’t a hidden passageway that only is discoverable at the last minute; it’s always within our grasp, if we will only reach for it. 

Our usual problem is our failure to prepare for the test when we have the opportunity. Like the professor who hands out the syllabus at the beginning of the semester with test dates clearly marked, God has made our success available from the start. But we get lazy, hoping to cram at the last minute, only to discover that there are no shortcuts in life.

The time to prepare for the storm is before it hits. When the wind is whipping the snow into three-foot drifts whiteout conditions is not the time to contemplate putting snow tires on the car. The way of escape is found before the trial, not during it. It comes in the form of consistent prayer and study of Scripture, in the discipline of worship and tithing, in Holy Communion and deliberate witness.

Our way of escape is found in the way we invest our time, energy, and attention prior to the trial. Waiting till we are in it is a recipe for disaster, but the promise of God is sure; he is faithful, and doesn’t give us more than we can handle it…IF we prepare for the test by taking the way of escape before we need it. When it comes to escape, James Bond and Indiana Jones are strictly amateurs. God’s people are the real escape artists!

Good Prayers

 February 1, 2022

For the past twenty-three years, Linda and I have had the privilege of our grandchildren overnighting with us the middle two Fridays of each month. In a conversation last night with our eldest grandchild, we talked about the constancy of those overnighters.  Meema’s Friday night homemade mac and cheese, and Saturday morning pancakes continue to be staples of these weekends which are also filled with games, laughter, and serious conversations about life. Our conversation with Alex concluded with Linda and I praying for her the prayers we have prayed for these twenty-three years.

Linda’s prayer is taken from Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians as recorded in 3:17-19. She prays a phrase, followed by the kids inserting the next phrase, in a responsive litany that they have memorized. If they forget other Scriptures, these words are burned into their souls so deeply that I believe it would be impossible to escape their impact.

My prayer isn’t responsive, but is taken from Hebrews 13, as follows:

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” —Hebrews 13:20-21 

Recently, when we prayed with the kids, I ended with a different prayer from Scripture, the benediction found in Jude 24-25:

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” —Jude 1:24-25

The kids were almost in shock, and on their own, began reciting their benediction prayer. Again recently, when I preached for pastor Joe in Sinclairville, I closed the service with my usual benediction from Hebrews. Nathan leaned over to Linda and said, “I think we ought to go to bed now.”

We cannot know the impact these prayers will have, but I have to believe Isaiah’s words:

“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, 

Line upon line, line upon line, 

Here a little, there a little.” —Isaiah 28:10 

Christian character doesn’t happen overnight. It is built as Isaiah said, little by little, as Biblical truth is laid down, line upon line. We have tried to do that, and trust that these prayers will continue to be so ingrained in them that the faithfulness and love of Christ will be their rock and fortress when the storms of life descend upon them in hellish fury. 

Linda’s prayer goes like this: 

“I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your heart, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love, and may you know and understand as all God’s children should, how high, how wide, how long, and how deep God’s love for you really is. This love is so great that you’ll never understand it nor fully experience it, but someday you will be filled up with God himself.

“And I pray that you will be as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside, and that you will always be kind, and gentle, and good, and bold. We love you, Jesus.”

You can’t go wrong continually praying Scripture, for “precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.”