Good Judgment

 September 7, 2022

The older I get, the more I realize how little I know. Which is why when I listen to politicians tell us how they alone can fix what’s wrong with our country, I know they are either deluded or just plain lying. This morning’s reading came from Psalm 119. 

Verse 66 says, “Teach me good judgment and knowledge…” Skipping down a couple verses to 68, we read, “Teach me your statutes.” I do my best to exercise good judgment; I try to learn as much as I can about circumstances before settling on an opinion or course of action, but I realize that my knowledge is limited and often colored by my own biases, preferences, and perspective, none of which are necessarily shared by others. I used to think I acted on logic alone, sort of like Spock, but years have taught me that my emotions color and drive much of what I do. I don’t on my own possess good judgment and knowledge. I need to be taught.

How does this teaching happen? Through the Word of God. If I make a decision based on my own reasoning, there is a pretty good chance I’ll get it wrong. I need to be taught good judgment and knowledge, and it comes as I am taught by the unchanging Word of God. One of the reasons our nation is in such turmoil and confusion is that we have abandoned the foundational precepts and principles that guided us for two hundred years. We have cut ourselves adrift, so it is no wonder we are dangerously close to being driven on the rocks of chaos and anarchy. 

I confess I am too eager to cast judgment on others’ poor and disastrous decisions until I remember that apart from God’s Word, I would be doing the same things. Any good decisions I’ve made have been because of God nudging, or sometimes bludgeoning me with his corrective Word. He teaches me good judgment and knowledge only if I am willing to be taught by his Word.

Children’s Children

 September 6, 2022

School has begun, fall sports are upon us. For many retirees, this would be no big deal, but when we have three grandkids in three different local school systems playing two or three different sports, our schedule can fill up in a hurry. Often, like tonight, Linda goes in one direction, and I in another. And we only catch home games!

We regularly remark to each other on how blessed we are to be able to be a part of their lives. Even those who have graduated and gone on to college or into the world of work stop over when they’re home. It always amazes me that they want to include us in their lives as much as they do. I loved my grandparents, but didn’t have the relationship with them that we have with our grandkids. 

We don’t understand it. We were no smarter than anyone else. We weren’t more righteous or devoted to God. We did make the commitment that no matter what, we would work through things. Divorce was not in our vocabulary. We knew what kind of end product we wanted with our children, and made decisions based on whether it would shape them in the image of God or strain their faith and confuse their minds. Our rules were few and simple, and with much prayer, lots of hard work, and by the grace of God, they turned out well, and the blessing has been passed down to our grandchildren. And now, we have the privilege of living in Psalm 128:

“Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, 

Who walks in His ways. 

When you eat the labor of your hands, 

You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. 

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine 

In the very heart of your house, 

Your children like olive plants 

All around your table. 

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed 

Who fears the Lord. 

The Lord bless you out of Zion, 

And may you see the good of Jerusalem 

All the days of your life. 

Yes, may you see your children’s children. 

Peace be upon Israel!”

Mercy and Judgment

 September 5, 2022

Thirty-one years ago, Harrison Ford burst forth on the big screen in “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” with  plot twists and turns that kept audiences glued to the edge of their seats. It’s still one of my favorite movies. The story centered around a plot by Nazi sympathizer Rene Belloq to recover the lost Ark of the Covenant for its supposed occultic powers to be used in the service of the Nazis in the 1930s. This fanciful story has its roots loosely set in Exodus 21, which describes the construction of the Ark of the Covenant, and in the Biblical prohibitions against touching or looking into it.

The Ark itself was a box approximately 3 /34 feet long by 2 1/4 wide and high, covered in gold and containing stones of Ten Commandments, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. The lid, called the Mercy Seat, had two Cherubim, angelic beings with wings outspread to cover the Ark. It was to be kept hidden from view, seen only once each year by the High Priest when he entered the Most Holy Place with blood from the sacrifice which would be sprinkled on the Mercy Seat. The symbolism couldn’t be much plainer.

The Law which exposed to us our sins, lay next to the manna—God’s provision for his people, and Aaron’s rod which budded, a symbol of legitimate authority. All was covered by the Mercy Seat on which was sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice by the High Priest. The Covenant, ie, the unbreakable commitment of God to his people was based on the Law which ordered society, the manna of God’s provision, and the rod of God’s legitimate authority. But over all is God’s mercy. And all the work of salvation is hidden in the intimacy of the Father’s communion with the Son through the Holy Spirit. 

Judgment without mercy is hopeless, but covered with mercy, it secures the orderliness of life and the release from our sins through the loving gift of the salvation of God.

Grandkids’ Blessing

 September 4, 2022

Last night Linda and I were puttering about the house with various minor chores when I heard a commotion out back. Actually, it was Emma who heard the commotion and added her own, barking at what was then unseen intruders who turned out to be son-in-law Todd, his youngest, Gemma, and their dog Simon. They had walked up the creek from their house to ours. Our daughter was having a girls’ night on their back porch with a few friends, which seemed to Todd to be a good time to take a hike.

We visited for about 45 minutes before they decided it was time to walk back home. Linda and I had just settled in to a show on TV when another commotion presented itself at our front door. Granddaughters Eliza, Gemma, and Mattie, along with Gemma’s friend Ellie had decided to go for a walk which ended at our front door. They came in, talking and laughing, chattering away until we offered ice cream, after which the talk picked up pace again. It was after dark when they decided it was time to walk back home by the lights from their phones. I LOVE living in a small village where four girls can walk home after dark without fear!

Tonight, we were in bed after a long day of worship, family, and friends. We had just gotten home from spending the evening with two of her sisters and their husbands. I was working on my evening post when I got a text from granddaughter Isabel: “Beepa, are you and Meema awake?” Her family had been in Panama for the afternoon, and decided to camp there overnight. Izzi doesn’t like camping, and told them she would go home to sleep in her own bed. Part way home, she decided she didn’t want to be home alone, and called to ask if she could stay with us. Meema and Beepa’s isn’t quite the Hilton, but it’s better than camping or home alone. So I unlocked the front door and turned on some lights; in a few minutes, she’ll be here. 

Linda and i have often talked about the blessings that seem to abound for us. We are in good health, have resources that enable us to be generous with others, and family nearby who like being with us. We may be tired tonight, but we are even more grateful for grandkids who still come around, blessing us with laughter and love.

Workouts

 September 3, 2022

Occasionally, the schedule conspires against me, keeping me from working out as I need. I’ve found that if I don’t exercise first thing in the morning, the day gets rolling and before I know it, it’s time for bed. This last week has been one of those crazy weeks; I didn’t do a single pushup, squat, or crunch…until this morning. 

I suppose it would be helpful to know that I’ve never been much of an athlete and don’t like working out. I’ve talked with people who speak of “runner’s high,” or how they look forward to going to the gym. I don’t understand people like that. I’m more like a former District Superintendent of mine who years ago wrote a little ditty:

“I watch the joggers as they go by

Mile after weary mile;

Tell me, if jogging is so much fun,

Why don’t they ever smile?”

What I do understand however, is my need for exercise. When I turned fifty, the Lord spoke to me saying, “Your body is my temple, and I don’t like the shape it’s in.” Really. I didn’t hear an audible voice, but whenever I get a notion of something that is totally out of character for me, I can be pretty sure it’s the Lord. So I bought some VHS (that’s how long ago it was) exercise tapes and began a workout routine that I’ve kept more or less since then. 

This week however, it just didn’t happen. So this morning I bit the bullet, turned on YouTube and grunted, groaned, and sweat alongside my workout buddy Funk Roberts for half an hour. In that week that I’ve been away, my pushup ability plummeted. What had been relatively routine was hard. And tonight, sore muscles from my legs to my neck are complaining loudly about their mistreatment. 

I’ll ignore their complaints and do it again because I know I have to keep moving if I don’t want to end up in a chair or bed before my time. Staying in shape is better than getting in shape, but both are necessary if I want to enjoy life. But it gets me thinking…

If we get out of shape spiritually, neglecting the Bible, skimping on prayer, skipping worship, we may not notice it when life runs along normally. But when the crisis hits, we hit the spiritual turbocharge, but nothing happens because we’ve not trained our spiritual muscles to handle anything more than an unchallenged life. 

Getting into shape spiritually isn’t always pleasant at the start. Our spiritual muscles complain; we don’t see our spirits growing like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biceps, so we give up. Prayer can be hard. Putting down the phone and picking up the Bible takes more willpower than we realize. Watching worship from a streaming service in our PJ’s is more convenient than getting dressed and driving to a physical location. Investing in other people takes time and energy.

We had visits from our son in law and several grandchildren this evening. Projects got laid aside as we talked and laughed together. Our hearts are full even as our bodies are tired and sore. We were able to listen, to give attention because over the years we’ve not neglected the spiritual disciplines that fill the soul and feed the spirit. We are blessed beyond measure and thankful tonight for physical and spiritual workouts that enable us to give and to bless others in Jesus’ name.

A Pierced Ear

 September 2, 2022

The first detailed explanation of the Ten Commandments comes in Exodus 21, and deals with the slave/master relationship and the conditions of manumission. After serving six years, the slave must be set free, but if he wants to stay with the master, he is taken to a doorpost where his ear is pierced by an awl. It is a physical demonstration of his loyalty and of the master’s good treatment of him. 

Psalm 40:6-8 offers a subtle commentary on this custom:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.””

At first glance, it is a declaration of God’s work in the psalmist’s life. God doesn’t want sacrifices and offerings as much as he wants people with open ears, ie. people who listen. But when the verse continues, we discover that it is a Messianic prophecy speaking of Jesus (Hebrews 10:7). Jesus willingly served his Father, offering himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Figuratively speaking, he stood at the doorpost while his ear was pierced, being obedient even unto death on the cross.

This is also for you and me. Have I willingly given myself to the Father, opening my ears to his voice, but also placing my ear on the doorpost to say, “I am yours forever?” God is looking for a servant’s heart. My ears he has opened; I’m listening with my ear pressed to the doorpost, ready to serve him forever.

Negativity

 September 1, 2022

I’ve written many times about how God lifted the cloud of melancholy when I learned to give praise and thanksgiving. I’d often read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (“In everything give thanks ; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”), but for years failed to see it as a command which I had been disobeying. No wonder I often felt melancholy! It’s hard to be happy when we’re turning our backs on God’s clear will for us.

This afternoon Linda and I drove an hour to see some old friends. One of three mentors in my spiritual life had died, and we wanted to see his kids who were young as we once were when I was just starting out as pastor. We had a wonderful reunion with friends we hadn’t seen in forty years, and when we left, were able to meet and have dinner with another couple from those years. As we talked about life, our grandkids, and our faith, they shared with us some of what they have been doing as they have led marriage seminars in their church. They put us on to a podcast by Jimmy Evans, someone we hadn’t heard before, and we decided to listen to one of his talks on the way home.

He had a lot of good things to say about marriage, but in the middle of it, he said something that really caught my attention. The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3), and in Psalm 100:4, we read, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” Here’s what caught my attention: he said, “God never allows negativity in his presence.” 

It’s no wonder there are so many who cannot seem to experience the presence of God; with all the negativity being fomented by the media and even more by our own hearts, we can’t get within shouting distance of God. So much of our thought life and conversation centers around all the things we don’t like. We complain about the weather, about politics, religion, the educational system, healthcare, our aches and pains, people who irritate us…the list goes on and on. Negativity seems to ooze from our very pores. If we can only enter his presence with humble praise and thanksgiving, it’s almost as if there are angels guarding the gates of heaven; when someone negative approaches, they are turned away. 

The surest way into the presence of God is through humble thanksgiving: “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15). If I allow negative thoughts into my head and heart, they will shut and lock the door into the presence of God.

I experienced this reality this morning. I woke up and immediately my mind turned to the news (which is never positive). I drove to the church to meet with other men for our Thursday morning prayer time. They were praising and thanking God for various things. It was clear they were experiencing his presence. I was not…until I repented of my negativity and turned my words to praise. I didn’t feel like it, but that praise unlocked the door to my self-imposed prison, setting me free by ushering me into the presence of God.