Tradition and the Heart

One of the hallmarks of Christmas is tradition. Some of the traditions I experience have been around a very long time. Others are relatively new. One of my traditions that has been around for a long time is our annual Christmas program. I remember participating in these as a child. I recall dressing up as a shepherd one year and a wise man the next. I recall the handful of lines I and others had to learn. I also recall feeling rather nervous as I and my classmates waited for our turn to go on. I also recall the feeling of relief we felt when our scenes were done. Now,...

Love Without Limit

The Christmas season is now upon us. The signs are everywhere. There are Christmas songs on the radio. Christmas trees are everywhere. At night, the soft glow of Christmas lights cast their light into the winter darkness. Even reluctant actors like me are preparing to appear in Christmas programs. One nearby church will do their annual live nativity scene. I find myself grateful for the season. I am also grateful for currently teaching about heaven and hope. Christmas is a celebration of the time the Lord took our human form and dwelt among us. He was born in...

Speaking Out

I find the amount of division in my country and other countries staggering. A recent headline certainly does not make me feel any better. There were almost 18% more hate crimes in my country this year than the year before. Frankly, I feel that percentage is likely higher. After all, not all hate crimes get reported. There are also crimes based in hatred that are not officially classified as “hate crimes”. Division has found its way into entertainment and sports. This solves nothing. In fact, it merely fans the flames of hatred. Elected officials and candidates knowingly...

The Wisdom of Scripture

People, as a rule, dislike change. Yet there are times when change is inevitable. Scripture is clear on this. The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us of just some of the many changes we can expect in this world. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NET) - For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A...

Do Something

Jesus was many things. Among them, he was an excellent teacher. Jesus did not teach with His words only. He also taught by example. One instance came as the time for His crucifixion drew near. John 13:4-5 (NET) - He got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around Himself. He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel He had wrapped around Himself. When Jesus finished, He explained to His disciples why He did this. John 13:13-15 (NET) - You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly,...

Unexpected Blessings and Love

This is not what I originally intended to post today. I learned long ago that in such endeavors you must follow your heart. I went to the post office today to pick up a package. I was in for a surprise. Along with my package, I received a thick envelope containing a card from a cousin. The envelope also contained some old black and white photographs and a letter. I felt a bit emotional as I looked at the photographs and read my cousin’s letter. These photos were taken immediately after my brother’s funeral more than 60 years ago. My brother died in infancy almost a...

Size Doesn't Matter

I watched a rather interesting program two weeks ago. It was about a very tall communications building built in a major city in the 1960’s. At the time it was built, it was the tallest building in the city. Many things have changed in the almost sixty years since the building was erected. For one thing, it is no longer the tallest building in that city. For another, the building is now owned by a private company. The makers of the film contacted the current owner of the building. They got permission for a dignitary who was present when the building was dedicated to return. They...

Light of the World

My electricity went out in the late afternoon. My living room windows face the sunrise, so it suddenly became quite dark in the room. Not knowing how long I would be without electricity, I lit several candles. As I waited patiently for the power to be restored, I began thinking about light. In no time my thoughts turned to light in a biblical sense. Light is important. It is so important that it was the very first thing God spoke into existence. Genesis 1:3 (NET) - God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light!” Man was meant to live in light. God created man,...

A Matter of Trust

One of my favorite television programs first aired in the 1960’s. I recently watched the first season of that program again. Two episodes grabbed my attention this time. Although each was written by a different writer, both episodes dealt with trust. In the first of these two stories, the main characters began to mistrust each other. In the second, this group began to mistrust those around them. In both episodes, a sense of trust was restored. Although each was written by a different person, their messages were the same. Namely, trust was something that had to be earned. I...

Agents of Change

People, as a rule, dislike change. If we had our way, we would like things to stay pretty much the way they are. Yet things change all the time. No matter how much we dislike it, one thing can be said for change. Without change growth would be impossible. There would be no advancement. There would be no advancements in medicine. There would be no advancements in technology. Despite every advancement people still tend to dislike change. People in the past were not that much different from us. About 2,000 years, people encountered the biggest change ever in Jesus...

Love, Respect and Dignity

One observation I have made through the years is that people often treat others according to their status. In business, people tend to treat their bosses with more respect than they do their employees. People in high positions of government expect to be addressed in certain ways. In the world, it often boils down to what the other person can do for you. I honestly believe that this is one area in life where Christians have a real advantage. Jesus told us to love our neighbor. Mark 12:30-31 (NET) - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your...

Working by Touch

One task I do not like is performing maintenance on one of our large machines. This must be done two or three times per year depending upon usage. I try to do this at the end of the day when everyone else has gone home. I must first take apart the machine and lift out some of the heavier components. I then lie down on the floor and insert my arm inside the machine and remove a dozen small parts. I need to rely on my sense of touch for this operation as I can no longer see inside the machine. Once these small parts have been removed, I need to replace them with new ones. This...

Man Up

Father’s Day is this Sunday, and this has been very much on my mind. Many of my friends are fathers. Some are grandfathers. God has given me my own circumstances. I have neither children nor grandchildren. I am quite certain of one thing. Children are special to Jesus. Matthew 19:14-15 (NET) - But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” And he placed his hands on them and went on his way. As a result, I have come to one inescapable conclusion. If children are special to Jesus,...

Listen Up

Teaching is a passion of mine. Someone wiser than me once said, “If you want to learn about the Bible, volunteer to teach a Sunday School class.” There is a tremendous amount of truth in that. Some of it comes through preparation. Some of it comes through the simple act of listening. For example, one of the adults in my class recently said something quite profound. She said, “We might be the closest thing to a Bible some people have seen.” She makes a good point. Take Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Philippians 3:17 (NET) - Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters,...

Unfriended

A young friend of mine moved away several years ago. We still stayed in touch through social media. Imagine my delight when my young friend posted that he found Jesus. Later that day he posted that several people chose to sever ties with him. As I tried to think of a way to encourage my young friend, my thoughts turned to Jesus. Jesus was not popular in every circle. In fact, some people absolutely hated Him. Some looked up to Him but wanted that kept secret. Take Nicodemus, for example. John 3:1-2 (NET) Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member...

Kindness

Colossians 3:12-14 (NET) - Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others. And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. It seems like everything has a special day, week or month set aside for it. I stumbled across one some time back that I admit took me by surprise. It seems that February 17th has been...

Gifts Should Give

I will be teaching an adult class in June. This is something I do every year and I always look forward to it. That said, it is something I never take lightly. Scripture is quite clear on the matter of teaching. James 3:1 (NET) - Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. So, why would anyone choose to teach knowing they will be judged more strictly? Thankfully, scripture addresses this as well. The twelfth chapter of the book of Romans discusses the various gifts given to us. It also tells...

When the Danger Passes

In my last offering I discussed the string of violent attacks in the city where I work. I spoke of the need for prayer. Prayer for the victims. Prayer for their friends and families. Prayer for the attacker, as well. Since then, these attacks have stopped and life in the city has returned to normal. The sense of fear that once hung over our collective heads evaporated almost as quickly as it came. All because the attacker who, when cornered, chose to end his life as he had the lives of others. In the days that followed, we learned a bit about this young man. We learned...

Subject to Change

Recently, there has been a string of violent attacks in the city where I work. Sadly, these attacks have resulted in the loss of life. Some are referring to these as hate crimes. Others, as acts of terrorism. In my opinion, both assessments are correct. My initial reaction was one of shock. Things like this do not happen here. Things like this happen in other places. The sad reality is that things like this can occur anywhere and at any time. As a Christian, I pray for the victims. I also pray for the families and friends whose live are forever changed. Praying...

Rules, Rules, Rules

We live in a complex and often confusing world. To be honest, we are responsible for a good deal of the complexity and confusion. In fact, we have made things so complex and confusing that we have devised systems of rules. We have rules on what is considered appropriate behavior. We have rules about what is considered ethical. We have rules on how we are to interact socially. Many of these are written down in one form or another. Some are only implied. The question is: Do we need all these rules in the first place? For example, recent headlines point out inappropriate...