Judging of the Brethren

 Judging of the Brethren

That large bowl of mashed potatoes had been placed right between us by our mother. As always my brother and I each wanted to be first to get a helping of those creamy spuds. Our daddy told us to bow our heads as he offered thanks. But that day neither Mike nor I were thinking about the lunch time blessing. I didn’t trust my fat little brother when he was within arms reach of the mashed potatoes. Daddy was still praying, but I could wait no longer. I opened my eyes, glanced over at Mike and that little goofball already had his hand on the mashed potato spoon. Realizing how irreverent that was I yelled,”Get your hands off that spoon you little cheat!” I’m not sure exactly what I said, but it was something to try to get Mike in trouble.

I thought Mike’s transgression needed immediate attention. A hand on the mashed potato spoon during prayer was not only a sin, but it was far from being appropriate when people are getting ready to eat. For some reason my dad did not think that my outburst was a proper way of handling the situation especially while he was praying. Not much was said about Mike’s chubby fingers grasping the serving spoon. I had not convinced daddy that I had saved my little brother from God’s wrath. Actually I had been  more interested in my daddy’s wrath for my brother.

Both of us were punished. I have forgotten what daddy did to us, but my punishment was much worse than Mike’s. I do remember though, that neither of us got any mashed potatoes that day. 

Sometimes that incident comes to mind when I read what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:1-5. This Scripture has to do with judging other people. The words of Jesus: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged…Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. I will let the word of God speak for itself.

I do think if church members would do as Jesus says about judging others there would be enough lumber lying around outside  to build a large addition onto  the church building.

The Only Answer

 We can always find hope from the word of God. I haven’t seen so much fear and confusion in our nation since 9/11. We found peace during that awful time and drew closer to God.  Our nation became more united because we came together in prayer. Churches were filled for several weeks after 9/11. There were more people praying after that horrible day than had prayed in decades. We found peace and comfort durning those weeks that followed. 

Now we are facing a threat to our nation that may be worse than 9/11. Our enemy comes from within our nation. Powerful people are set on destroying the moral fiber of the land we love. They call the good bad and and the most godless life styles. They want to silence those of us who proclaim the Jesus is the only hope for mankind. Unfortunately many of our government leaders are championing this movement. But ultimately they will fail because God always overcomes those whose perverted goal is to destroy all that is sacred. 

God is faithful to answer the prayers of his children. We must be diligent to pray for a change in the direction our nation is going. But Christians must also be United. We must be obedient children, stand together and hold our ground against the spiritual forces of evil. Only God can can give us the victory.

Old Folks Prayer

There is a possibility that some day we will have to depend on others to take care of us. Some of us may end up in a nursing home. We might need around the clock care. If that happens we don’t know how we will be treated. I’ve heard some awful stories about how old folks have been treated in health care facilities. Here is a prayer I wrote concerning this subject:

Old Folks Prayer

Thank you Lord for reminding me of the state of my affliction and the reality of my limitations, for in my weakness you make me strong. I humbly bow in your presence for you are God Almighty. You control of my coming in and my going out. You have planned my beginning and my end. You have given me all I own, and have made me for this time and this place for know what is best for me. 

I have no reason to boast in anything except Jesus and him crucified. When I come into your presence I most graciously accept my place of servitude. As the beneficiary of your complete forgiveness I harbor no regrets and I praise you that I am clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. I am free from the bondage of sin because of the sacrifice of my Savior. I thank you for your redemptive plan. 

Because I am your child I will try to remain useful to you regardless of my age, health, or any unfortunate circumstances that might define my life as I move closer to my  final day on earth. May I be encouraging and positive, not becoming distracted by the life changes that I may not understand?  Lord I pray that I can stay mentally alert, and that I might maintain a countenance that reflects the love of Christ. I want to be kind and to be surrounded by people who are kind to me and those I love. 

Thank you for the wonderful life you have given me. Father, before long you will take me to heaven where a new life I will begin. If this happens tomorrow that will be fine with me. Your plan is perfect, so may your will be done not only in my life, but in all the earth just as your will is done in heaven, now and forever. Amen

Big Egos

 “As I was driving down Beach Blvd., I saw a building that said, "Self Storage," and I thought, "I wonder if my ego could possibly fit in just one unit.”  Jacob Kintz

Usually those whose egos are so large that they would not fit in the Superdom. History has recorded the tragic lives of such people. They were self centered. They were angry and unfortunately, some of them were very powerful. Because these men and women became more and more powerful the world suffered greatly due to their selfish, misguided actions. They were able to deceive people into following them. They lied by making promises they could not keep. Whenever someone disagreed with them their response was to get rid of them. They were a bit like the Queen of Hearts character in Alice in WonderLand. Her favorite line was, "Off with their heads." A good leader cannot lead this way. Those who do, lead their followers to places they do not want to go. 

We must be very careful that we do not choose to follow someone who will manipulate us to make decisions we will regret. Egotistical, self centered, impulsive leaders will bring about a destructive outcome.  We might lose our livelihood, our hopes, our dreams and maybe our freedom, in a sense our heads, if we follow these people, and they may not be those we thought they would be.

Something to think about given the direction our nation seems to be headed.

Grandma and Pa Go To the Movies

 Grandma and Pa Go To The Movies

Grandma asked Pa if he would take her to a movie that afternoon. It was a matinee and would begin at three. Pa had just settled down in his recliner for his after lunch nap.  He was totally against going to a movie. The two of them hadn’t been to a movie for a few years, and he didn’t want to go to another one. Pa said, “I’m sorry but I don't feel like going, maybe another time.”

His sweet wife replied, “I understand. Another time then.” She turned and went back into the kitchen. Pa settled back in his recliner, closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep. But unlike most afternoons he just couldn’t doze off. He couldn’t get that blasted movie out of his mind. Actually he felt a bit guilty. He knew that his wife really wanted to see that movie. There was really no reason that he couldn’t take her to the movie. There wasn’t much time to make it  to the theater. Pa got up and went to the kitchen. “I've decided to give in and take you to see that show, but we need to hurry.” 

They got ready and drove to the theater which was only four miles away. When  they walked up to the window there was no one to take their money. Pa and Grandma walked inside, and they were told they had to get their tickets at a machine. “Slide your credit card in the slot and follow the instructions,” an usher told them. Pa said, “You’ve got to be kidding me! You get over here and help us get our tickets. We’ve never done this before.” The teenage girl looked at him like he was some kind of ax murderer and rushed over to do what he had told her to do. It took a while to get the tickets because Pa wasn’t sure where he wanted to sit. There weren't many choices left since the previews had already begun, and most of the seats had been taken. 

With tickets in hand Grandma and Pa made their way to the auditorium where their movie was being shown. The previews were still going, the theater lights were off, and they had to find their seats in the dark. Pa wasn’t hearing well, he didn’t see well without at least some light so turned on his phone light. Grandma was trying to find their row. She knew their seats would be in the middle of the row, but even she couldn’t make out the letters on the aisle seats. She thought she had figured out which row was Row B. She asked the lady sitting in the first seat if that was Row B. The lady told her it wasn’t. So the search continued. Pa, not being able to hear or see was getting upset. He was fussing. His voice was louder than he realized, but he really didn’t care. He just wanted to find their seats and sit down. 

Finally, Grandma went back to the same row and asked again, “Are you sure this is not Row B?” The lady in the second seat said, “Yes, this is Row B.” So Pa and grandma made their way down Row B and sat down in their seats. When Pa passed by the two ladies at the end of Row B he said, “I’m never taking this woman to another movie.” Grandma was embarrassed because she knew that everyone in the theater had heard what Pa had said. 

In case you haven’t figured this out, Pa  and Grandma are Sherri and me. By the way, I exaggerated a little. I wasn’t nearly as bad as you might think. The teenage usher was very sweet and helped us with the ticketed without me ordering her to help us. I behaved myself pretty well. We went to see “Jesus Revolution” a month ago.

When It’s a hard To Pray

 Sometimes it is difficult to pray. One problem is that we have too many things going on in our lives and we get distracted. We begin praying and if you are like me you start thinking of something you need to do. You may be distracted by some problem you are having to deal with. Sometimes I doze off when I am praying. There are many things that cause us to become distracted when we are trying to pray. 

When that happens with me I feel guilty. I know that prayer is essential. We must spend time with the Lord. He wants us to talk to him and he wants to tell us many things that will guide us to be actively serving him. Psalm 73:26 tells us, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heartand my portion forever.” God knows that we are going to fail sometimes in our Christian walk and he wants us to be strong, but our strength comes from the Lord. Therefore being strong in the Lord must be an important desire of our hearts. Psalm 73:25 gives us focus about this, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” 

Our main focus must be on God. Then our concerns of the things of the world will fall in the right place in our hearts. The desires our our hearts will be on heavenly things rather than the things of the world which distract us. 

When you pray ask God to help you to focus on Him as you try to pray. 

Psalm 37: 4 gives us encouragement concerning the direction that our hearts must take, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” If we ask the Holy Spirit will help us to overcome distractions. But be patient, we are still going to have times that we will lose our focus.

Fighting In The Church

 Fighting Should Be In The Ring, Not In The Church

One of the most tragic things that can happen in the local church is the church split. I don’t care how much members say that they are praying for unity in the church, no matter how much they try to prove themselves right by quoting scripture, and no matter how holy and righteous they try to appear to be, unless they act in humility, strive to bring peace, showing love for their brothers, and sisters, treating everyone with respect and love, they are falling way short of being the person they want others to think they are. 

Those in the church who are caught up in a church war are forgetting that the church is the bride of Christ. They are forgetting that they are children of God. They are forgetting that they are children of the King, and that they are citizens of the Kingdom of God. They are forgetting that they are brothers and sisters in that kingdom and are commanded by Jesus to love one another unconditionally. I am very sad that men and women whom I love and respect, people I have known to be leaders of the church where Sherri and I belong, people on both sides of the conflict are involved in a terrible fight. This is happening for the second time in a little over three years. I don’t care who is wrong or right, anyone who draws the sword and tries to hurt a brother or a sister is caught up in sin. They are hurting each other. Sherri and I have tried to stay out of this fight, but it seems that if we stand for what we believe we are considered enemies by those who don’t agree with us and that makes us sad. 

Call me a Pollyanna, but I don’t know why Christians cannot settle their disagreements in a peaceful manner. I guess that’s two much to ask. One thing that I always told the churches where I pastored was that Satan comes to church every Sunday, and that he wants to destroy the witness of the members. He wants to destroy the church and ruin lives. That is exactly what he is doing in our church. We have already had people to get upset and abandon the body instead of staying to do what they can to keep Satan from winning. Many of you know that I’ve bragged about our wonderful choir. When our Worship leader left at the first of the year we had several people to leave the choir, some because they didn’t like our pastor. Last Sunday we had thirty something in the choir which is far less that we had before our worship leader left. When Sherri and I joined the choir 7 years ago we had 80 in the choir. Once again Satan has won another battle. 

What our church is going through is particularly hard for Sherri and me. Years ago we were in the position that our pastor and his family are going through now. It was the worst time of our married lives. And yes, it absolutely ruined my life, but after several years I did recover. Right or wrong a pastor should never have to endure this kind of treatment from people who claim to be children of God. When I was going through that horrible experience I dreaded going to church on Sunday morning because I knew that someone would threaten me, and sometimes Sherri, in a way that would tear our hearts out, and I would then have to stand behind the pulpit and try to preach. My heart breaks for what Satan is doing to our church. 

I don’t know what is going to happen, but regardless of how this goes, there will be scars left on the hearts of many, and they will remain until they leave this world to meet Jesus face to face. The members of our church need to heed the word of Jesus to Peter on the night that the mob came to arrest the Lord, “Peter, put away your sword.” Now who can argue with that?