HAVE A MERRY CHRIST-MAS AND A HAPPY HOLI-DAY

      Years ago, when we attended a large church in Omaha, Nebraska, it became clear to my wife... that our pastor did NOT believe that Christ was divine in any way. To give him the benefit of the doubt, we invited him to our home and asked him directly. "No," he said, "I don't believe that Christ was born to a virgin. I don't believe that he came down from heaven either," he added. "Instead, I believe that he was a godly man who lived an exemplary life... and that we should all follow his teachings on love and peace." The Christmas message in the Bible then, to the good Reverend, was (and is) just a story-no more real than Santa Claus. In his view, there were no angels who sang about a baby, no unwed Jewish teenager who gave birth to God's child,, no shepherds who gathered around an cattle trough, no astrologers who followed a star, no promise of a new world in which the meek will be blessed and the last will be first. Christmas, in this minister's view (and he's not alone) is an occasion for families to gather and exchange gifts in the spirit of harmony and love. For him, Christmas is a time for people to "slow down" and reflect on how things would be if... they would be more loving and follow the Nazarene's teachings.
      To our former pastor, Christmas is NOT about Christ breaking into our lives with a radical message of grace and obedience. It is NOT a transformingly divine moment, but a completely human moment that invites us to be gentler and more caring. Now-to be clear- there is much to be said for being less judgmental and more loving... and I am the first to confess that I love Christmas. I love Christmas! I love the fact that families who ordinarily don't gather together, come together on Christmas. I love the fact that people who don't give much of themselves or of their treasure during the year, take the time to serve food to the hungry and drop money into the Salvation Army's red kettles. I love the fact that people who haven't experienced worship in months... will once again worship God in a church of their choice. I even love the sharing of gifts, and I love the joy that these gifts give to others even more. Christmas is a wonderful holiday... but it is NOT a Holi-day without Christ! Indeed, when we urge others to "put Christ back in Christmas," we are understating the matter... because Christ is the very essence of Christmas!
      Without Christ, we can wish one another a "happy holiday"... because the secular trappings of the holiday affect Christians and non-Christians alike. It is a time of joy for millions of people, Christians and non-Christians alike, and it is good to celebrate that... but we can"t prepare for his coming if we don't believe he is coming, and we can't embrace a new king if we don't believe that he is our king. In short, although I can celebrate the joy of the holiday season without believing, it's hard to see how I can honestly wish someone a "merry Christmas"... unless I take him, his ministry, and his Lordship seriously. The Bible says that there were "wise men" who followed a star to worship the Christ-child... because they took Christmas seriously. And that there were Shepherds who worshiped him in joyous wonder because they took seriously. Even Herod took Christmas seriously and he was a madman. Indeed, wise men and women still take Christmas seriously because they know that God Incarnate- Immanuel- a Savior born unto us- is much more powerful and life-changing- than a gentle snow and a sentimental song!
      May the Christ of Christmas be very real to you and your loved ones this year. May he shower you with grace, may he mend your heart and heal your wounds, and may you invite him into your life as Lord and Savior. Amen.

BE A DROP GIVER!

      You've noticed, I'm sure, that there are "dippers" and "drop givers" in the world. There are people who go out of their way to fill another person's bucket of self-esteem, and there are many... who look for every opportunity to dip into someone else's bucket. I don't know why, but dipping into another person's bucket of self-esteem seems to give them pleasure. Maybe it makes them feel better about themselves. Maybe they're just fixated on the negative, but they seldom miss an opportunity to bring someone else down. You've known many "dippers" yourself, I'm sure. Instead of enjoying the power of the song, they harp on a note sung off-key. Instead of enjoying the beauty of the poem, they fixate on a "typo" in the poem. Instead of applauding a job well done, they try their best to find a mistake. Well, I've got news for the dippers. We all hear the notes that are sung off-key; we can all see that there are "typos" in the story... but we loved the music and the story anyway. You see, those of us who have learned the art of "giving drops" are not unaware. We have discovered that there is joy in filling up someone else's bucket of self-esteem.

      When I was in the business world, I worked with a company who had copyrighted a practice that they called "Drops for Your Bucket," and they were kind enough to give us permission to use it. So, we did. We drew drops on paper and we made them big and small. We ran copies in all sorts of different colors and we encouraged our employees to use them whenever they had an opportunity to affirm someone else. We supplied "drops" to grown men and women and invited them to be "drop givers"... and they did. In large numbers. They developed the art of looking for positive qualities and they took the time to respond in specific ways. We made it possible for people to share affirming words with each other and they did. They affirmed acts big and small. They thanked others for supporting them, for accomplishing particular things, for listening to them, for visiting them, or for helping them achieve a goal of some sort. 

      The "drops" weren't designed to be formal.They were simply our way of tapping into the power of affirming words and they were a big hit "back in the day." A writer named Sam Crabtree has written 100 specific ways in which we can affirm one another and I will cite just a few, Crabtree notes that we can... 1) commend the usefulness of an idea that solves a problem. Break away from the agenda for a moment and say, "That was an excellent suggestion. Thanks;" 2) let someone know that you admire a quality of theirs. "You know, Morgan, I haven't said it before, but I really love your music. Thanks," 3) find someone whom you are thankful for, and tell them that you are. "I just want you to know that it makes me feel good to have you on our team;" 4) tell someone that you are praying for him or her, and that God has placed them on your heart; and 5) Ask someone's advice and act on it. There are 95 more and dozens that you can add yourselves, but you have the idea. Develop the art of affirming the good in others. Be sincere, be specific, be faithful in your ministry of affirmation. 

      It's not hard to do. Just open your eyes to the Christ that abides in each one of us and affirm what God is doing in another person's life. It's not a matter of flattering someone else, but rather, the ability and willingness to honestly affirm that another person has touched your life, or that you've noticed that he or she is growing, or trying, or helping, or simply being present to you. God affirmed his Son after his baptism and again on the Mount of Transfiguration- "this is my Son, with whom I am well pleased." Christ often affirmed others for their faith and acts of service, and as people of faith, many of us look forward to hearing the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Perhaps, one of the ministries that God is calling you to undertake is simply the ministry of lifting others up by giving them drops for their buckets. Remember, affirming words can build others up, encourage them to go on, comfort them. and even change their lives. These things lie at the very core of what it means to be a "minister."

THE CHRISTMAS STORY IN SIMPLE WORDS

T'was the night before Christmas-

       when the young couple completed their long

            journey... and arrived in town.

T'was the time of the census, and
      men throughout Israel were returning to their hometowns
            to register... so that they could be counted and taxed.

One of these men was a man named Joseph-
      Yosef, not Joe, and he came from Bethlehem,
            which means "house of bread" in Hebrew.

It was a homecoming of sorts for the young man,
      but he couldn't find a room for his fiancée, Mary (age 15ish)
            and himself, and she was very pregnant with their first child.

So,,, they ended up in a cattle shed, behind an inn... 

      grateful for a place to lay their heads... because 

            Miriam (Mary) was tired and in need of rest and shelter

It was there, in that cattle shed, where Mary gave birth
      to a boy they named Yeshua, which is a variant of Joshua,
            and comes to us as "Jesus."

At the first Christmas...there were no Christmas lights, nor a tree,

      just a young man, a young teenaged girl- and a baby lying vulnerably... 

            in a cattle trough... and no one knows how many animals,

Other than the love and the sense of wonder that they shared,

      there were no gifts... but the angels did sing of good news... and
           to cap it off, they sang their song to a number of unclean shepherds.

No one could've known it then- not even the boldest of among them,
      but time itself, or the way we count it, split in two on this day,
            with BC (now called BCE) giving way to AD (or CE).

Before his birth, they lived in a world without hope, and then...
      there was hope- hope that would never be squelched,
            They had no Savior... and then they did. We all did.

The shepherds were amazed, and they knew they had seen a king.
            Come morning they were still just shepherds... 

                  but they were never without hope again.

Next, but not at the same time,
      some astrologers came from Persia to give gifts of love
            and homage...to a baby King whom they would worshiped.

They were "wise men" because they went to great effort to find Him.

      And because they worshiped him and brought him gifts, knowing

            that no one came into the presence of a King empty handed.

           
Come morning- on what we would now call Christmas Day-
      it looked for all the world like any other ordinary day...
            with babies crying, women making bread, and men working at their trade...

But that first Christmas was no ordinary day... 

      and there would never again be an ordinary day...

            because a Savior had been born. 

God had come to earth, bringing gifts of healing, forgiveness, joy, peace, 

      love, meaning, hope and salvation to people who needed to be

            forgiven. empowered and made new... more than anything else!

Come morning, it was AD, Anno Domini,
      because our Lord had arrived in Bethlehem. 

            Unto us a Savior had been born! Hallelujah!!

MY EXPERIENCE WITH CANCER

      Shortly after my friend, Dave, was diagnosed with liver cancer, he was told that it was inoperable ... and as he struggled to come to grips with what he considered to be a death sentence, a chaplain would visit him and read devotions from his book of devotions. The devotions were designed, I am sure, to lift Dave's spirits... but they infuriated Dave's wife because she was in no mood to hear that "there's a rainbow at the end of every storm." Even though she was a faithful church leader, she wasn't ready to hear the good news because her world was dark and ugly. She was angry and in shock and she took in out of the hospital's chaplain.
      As it turned out, Dave outlived his wife by many years, but when you are diagnosed with cancer, it shatters your dreams and shakes you to the core of your soul. I remember how Sherry and I felt when she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma shortly after Thanksgiving in 2002. We were both in shock, but I think she took the news better than I did. I googled "Multiple Myeloma" immediately and discovered that her life expectancy was 1-3 years (it's much higher now)... and I would sometimes sit upright suddenly in bed in the middle of the night because I could scarcely take it in. We were both in shock for some time, but as we went through her treatments and endured her transplants, cancer became an unwelcome member of the family. Even as she lost the last strand of her hair and was plagued with neuropathy, we began to journey with her cancer. We discovered that one can live with cancer and that there are even moments of joy. It was always around- the cancer- just below the surface, but the time came when we laughed again and shared time with family and friends. We learned that there was life after a diagnosis of cancer, but our life was not the same as it was before... because we were forced to live one day at a time. We didn't talk of retirement or worry about things in the distant future. Long-term investments no longer made sense and we focused more on the here and now. None of us know what lies ahead. The future belongs to God and it is not ours to claim. Deep down we all know this, but when you're told you have cancer... it becomes very clear that the present moment may be the only time that you have.
      Sherry is still moving along after all of these years- dinged a bit and tired much of the time- and we are still living day by day. We are blessed to see our children and we've had a grandson and a great-grandson join the family since Sherry was diagnosed. We've been blessed in this way... and yet we know that it won't last forever. The future is still God's and it is our job to trust in that as we enjoy the present. We will continue to live with cancer and make our long trips to Chicago for blood tests and treatment. Our faith has never been shaken because it was never based on our health, but I confess that I prayed again and again that God would take Sherry's cancer away. I offered the same prayers for my friend, Jeff, and for my brother, Larry, before they died of cancer. I miss them both and I wish that they were alive, but I don't hold it against God that they aren't. They died with grace and with their loved ones around them.
      Cancer begins as a pit in the soul and then it becomes an unwanted traveling companion. It creates fear and sadness, and my heart breaks whenever anyone, and especially someone I know and love, is diagnosed with it. I hate it because I know a little about the anxiety and pain that it will bring. Even now, I am saddened and in prayer for a friend in Peoria and another friend in Rock Island. I pray that God will cure them both and if that is not to be, that He will walk with them and give them a peace that surpasses all understanding. Please pray for my friends in Peoria and Rock Island and for all of those people in your world who have cancer. Visit them, listen to them, laugh with them, and let them know that you love them!
      My experience with cancer has left me with these thoughts: 1) it is the last diagnosis that anyone of us wants to hear. It is alarming, disorienting, and threatening; 2) however, being told that you have cancer is not the end of your life. It will change your life, but you will continue to enjoy time with people you love; 3) no one can tell a person how long he or she has to live because they don't know. Even now, the average life expectancy with Multiple Myeloma is 5-7 years, but Sherry has lived with it for 15 years; 4) the person who has cancer needs to be in charge of his or her own journey because they are the ones who have cancer; 5) cancer often presents an opportunity for people to do business with the depth and meaning of their lives. It will not lengthen life, but it may well enrich a person's life in many ways; 6) while it is tempting and understandable to focus on the person who has cancer, their caregiver needs a little TLC too; 7) God is always faithful and always with us, even as we walk through the deepest valleys. This doesn't mean that we won't walk in the valleys (we will) or that we will always feel God's presence (we won't)... but it does mean that we will never struggle, wonder, doubt, or die alone!

On Being the Church

      Mama often said that the church was filled with hypocrites... and she was correct. There are a lot of hypocrites in the church. but what she didn't see is that the church, for all of its failings and unfaithfulness... is the body of Christ here on earth. It is the church- the people of God- who have been called to live out the Sermon the Mount and to follow the Nazarene wherever he leads them. It is the people of God- the church- who have been called to make disciples, pray for their enemies, and forgive others again and again and again. It is the church who is called to serve the world and love one another in Christ's name... and if the church doesn't do these things, no one will. The church is an organization no doubt, and thus it is filled with meetings and agendas. We are defensive and willful at times. We get lost, hurt, angry, and disappointed...but we are also a people who, to one degree or another, are striving to be faithful. We get lost in our activities and our traditions, but beneath and along side our self-will and ordinariness... is our firm conviction that we are a forgiven and empowered people. We know that we are sinners, but we believe that God is not through with us yet, and we cling to the notion that we will be better Christians tomorrow than we are today. Some of us are "faking it until we make it." This is true. Some of us have slid backwards a time or two, and some of us are making steady, if uneven, progress in our struggle to let go and trust God. Our faithfulness ebbs and flows. We are more hypocritical on same days than we are on others... but the vast majority of us feel that we are ordained- for a special calling and a sacred work.
      In short, we- the church- are forgiven sinners who are striving to serve God in ways that are faithful and perhaps even transforming, despite our hypocritical ways. We, apart from Christ, are nothing to brag about, but in His hands, we can be a mighty force for good. Indeed, each of the churches I have served as pastor has been filled with people whose faith was palpable and whose effort to serve Christ commendable. Having seen the worst of the church at times, I continue to be optimistic and pro-church because I know how strongly God's people want to serve Him. I've always been impressed with the passion that God's people have for their work, and tomorrow I have the privilege of telling the members of the first church I ever served how special they are in God's hands. It is their 150th Anniversary. I am grateful to the invitation because I love these people. They have had and continue to have (I suspect) some of the issues cited above... but by and large they see themselves as a people of God and they strive to be faithful servants for their Lord. With that in mind, I plan of saying something like this to them:
      The Church... is a people... called out... to carry a cross... along the narrow way... in surrendered service to their God... by loving the unloveable, touching the untouchables, loving one another is ways that glorify God, and doing that things that Christ did and taught us to do, such as preaching good news to the poor, standing up for justice, and breaking barriers that divide us and diminish the image of God in others. Does the church have budgets and goals, and committees, and infighting? Yes. Are their typoes in our love notes and notes that are sung off-key as we lift our voices in song? Yes? Has the church replaced our Lord's last words with its own last words- we've never done it that way before- yes. Yes, yes and yes. But we are saved by the grace- by the blood if you like- of our crucified and risen Lord- and we are filled with His Holy Spirit, This is either true or its not, and if its true, we can do wonderful and transforming things!
      I can't tell you how great it is to be here today, You are my first love you know. In 1990, maybe 89, when I attended a Presbytery meeting in your sanctuary, I was struck with its stately beauty, and in 1991, when I interviewed with your PNC, I was struck with their faith and their sincerity; and when I walked in my office for the first time, it was the moment when my life as a corporate vice-president met my new life as a servant of the people, and as I got to my feet, I was even more impressed with you commitment to serve the community- we joined JACOB and you had already established the Medical Clinic. I was also struck by the grace in which the older members welcomed new members and invited them to share in the church's leadership. This is a rare thing, and I was impressed too in the way in which you ministered to one another. There was Stephen Ministry, and the Women't Retreat, and Marriage Enrichment, and then Dinner Bells and our Golf Outings. And you had- still do I know- a commitment to Adult Education (we had several classes) and to the Children (Brooke was part of Logos), I could go on of course. The music was wonderful and known to be wonderful, and our youth groups were flourishing. The church had a pulse. It was living and responsive, and it was bold. The energy came from the Spirit, through you, but the vision came from Craig, who implemented the vision that God gave him with boldness and discipline!
      We were a going Jessie, a happening thing, and I will never forget it- just as Sherry and I will never forget the trip we took to Israel. I will never forget the people I loved- from Isabel Whitley to John Pocius,,, and I know that you have your memories too- deeper and wider that mine. Friends, this is a day to embrace your memories. Pick them up and give them a hug... but this is also a day to look ahead- a day in which we dream of ways in which we can do God's work in our time, in the same bold and faithful ways that others have done for us. Today is an extension of the past, but it is also the beginning of a future. Therefore, I encourage you to struggle with ways in which you can bring others to Christ, break down barriers, serve this community, and love another in the years ahead... in new ways, just as faithful and as bold as anything done before. In short, I encourage you to use this occasion to resolve that this church- the people called First Presbyterian Church of Joliet- will continue to be bold and faithful as you strive to reach new heights in your quest to break down barriers, build up hope, and welcome any and all people whom God sends your way. 
      You will find ways of being stronger and bolder tomorrow that than you even are today. I am sure it because you are in God's hands. Thanks for the invitation. You who were the first to embrace my ministry. You are a special people, with a special calling. You are blessed with a special staff and you have also been blessed with a unique opportunity- one which no other church in Joliet has, Now, go forth and claim it! Amen.

GET INVOLVED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE

      I haven't written anything in a while, in part because Sherry and I just moved to Morton, IL, and in part, because I can't find the words to express the pain that I feel over the innocents who are being murdered... as they worship their God, go out for the evening, or simply go about the business of living their lives. We've had mass shootings for decades in America, and I know that the issue is intermeshed with 2nd Amendment rights. It is also complicated by politicians who are judged by vastly different constituencies and by the fact that we have two distinctly different gun cultures in our country- one of which exists on the streets of Chicago and one of which finds its life on the corn fields of Iowa. But resolving the gun debates is not my purpose here.
      On the contrary, my purpose is to implore Christians to get involved and to do what they can- as groups and as individuals- to stop the killing! We can't ignore the violent loss of life any longer. We can't ignore evil when it threatens our children, or pretend that we're not affected by it when it chips away at our souls. We can't hold our tongues and shrug our shoulders when infants are slaughtered in Texas sanctuaries or first-graders are murdered in their elementary school. We can't accept the premise that, if we go to a country music show or to a nightclub we may be gunned down for no reason at all. Death is defeated in Christ- I believe it- but I also know that it is the end of life on earth and that it creates a lifelong pain in the hearts of those who knew and loved the one who died. I know that the more violent the death and the younger the victim, the more shocking it is, and I know that we must not accept murder! Never, ever... because it is evil!
      The Bible teaches us that we are created in God's Image- all of us, each one of us- and therefore, every life is sacred. We are sacred Creations with the potential to do wondrous things, and it is wrong- sinful- outrageous-for anyone to take a life that God has given! Everyone has the right to worship, party, work, and just live their lives without fearing that they will be gunned down. This is a God-given right. It is a sin each time a life is taken, and when it becomes an epidemic in which many lives are taken by violence... at an ever-increasing rate... Christians of all stripes and colors should raise their voices and demand a stop to the killing. Among all people, Christians should be shaken and outraged at the raw injustice and blatant evil of these shootings! We should be holding prayer meetings, we should be prayer warriors at home, we should lift our voices in loving truth, we should challenge our legislators, and we should have adult education classes on the topics. Pastors- young and old, Republican and Democrat- should preach on the sanctity of life, the affect of evil on all of us, and the pain that loss of life brings to a family and a country.
      As Christians, we must resist the temptation to believe that the issue is too big to be solved and too sensitive to even be discussed. We must get involved because our Lord got involved and because he calls us to stand up for life and against injustice. He calls us, not only to mourn for those who have suffered loss, but also to speak against those who took the lives... and even as he sobbed over Lazarus' grave, he calls us to let our hearts break every time we think of one of those who lost their lives. He calls us to be burdened by their deaths and to get in touch with the deep pain that their mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters carry. He calls us to care and never to accept such evil, and he calls us to get involved in any way we can... with all the talents he has given us. Violence takes place in the social arena and it becomes a political issue. This is the way it always be, but violence, death, abuse- such as things as these- are essentially theological matters... and the people of God must lift their voices!
      A friend of mine recently noted that the events of our time are breaking her heart, and she asked for our thoughts. Many people had profound things to say, I'm sure, but I will only note that: 1) we cannot solve all the issues of the world on our own and that some of them will not be fully solved until Christ returns; 2) each of us has the ability to give as much as have... to God on any given day; and 3) God has already given us the means to make a difference in His world. Go forth and do it, and never accept evil as some sort of ordinary thing! Our move to Morton is coming along, but the pain in my heart won't go away.
     

OUR DISAPPOINTED GOD

      There are several songs in the Bible.  Miriam and Deborah lifted their voices in victory and praise; Mary lifted her voice in prophetic truth, and the saints of God learned a new song in Revelation 5. Solomon wrote many songs, but none better known that his "Song of Songs," which captured the intimate love that a man and a woman share. I've read these songs and preached on them from time to time, but the song that fascinates me most is a song about a one-sided love affair. It can be found in Isaiah 5 and it goes like this, beginning with verse 1: "I will sing a song for the one I love- a song about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and he cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes (anabim) but it yielded only wild grapes (beusim). Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more could I have done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? Now... I will take away its hedge... break down its wall... and command the clouds not to rain on it. The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delights in. He looked for justice (mishpat), but saw bloodshed (mispah); for righteousness (tsedeqah), but heard cries of distress (tse a qah)." 
      The song only rhymes in a couple of places, but its a poignant song about our God... who chose, out of grace alone, to plant and nourish a beautiful vineyard on the best of his hills. He selected the site with care and cleared away the stones with love. He fortified the site, watered it, and built a watchtower in its midst... so that his vineyard would thrive and be a blessing to many. Real love involves work and a lot of patience. He knew that. Real love requires boundaries and trust. He knew that too and He trusted. He had made every effort to bring His plantings to fruition... but when he checked to see what his love had produced, he found wild grapes! The vineyard was filled with wild grapes... and it blew His mind. He was sure that he and the world itself would be blessed with a bountiful and glorious vineyard because of all the love he had bestowed upon it. He was sure that his chosen people... would be a people who loved him with all of their hearts... and that his vineyard would be a place where mishpat (justice) and tsedeqah (righteousness) would prevail. He created people in his own image; he met their every need; he provided for them; and he had gave them every opportunity to enjoy his world. But now... he saw nothing... but wild grapes... and he heard nothing ... but cries of distress! What happened? What went wrong? That was his question! He expected to find people who honored Him and His name, who respected their neighbors and their neighbors' possessions, who took care of the needy in their midst, who were priests to one another. He expected to hear sounds of laughter and joy... but He heard a cry instead... and His disappointment was so great that it broke his heart, just as it would break his heart at a later date when he cried over Jerusalem because they had not seen him walking in their midst.
      Unfaithfulness is always a sad song... and the wages of sin is death. No doubt, and Isaiah's song describes the consequences that God's people brought on themselves. It was their own fault. Their sins were the cause and becoming bad fruit is something they brought on themselves. All of this is true and we could talk about God's wrath and judgement, but unlike the anger that God displayed at Mt. Sinai when his people worshiped a golden calf, Isaiah's song captures disappointment and sadness borne of frustration. Indeed, rather than creating a sense of God's righteous judgment (which it could), Isaiah's song leads me to embrace: 1) how much God loves us, 2) how much God has done for us, and 3) how grateful I (we) ought to be. Isaiah's song reminds me of 4) how much God is rooting for us (for me and for you), and 5) how He has prepared us to shine for Him. 
      Yes, it's true- God is on our side. He created us, called us, taught us, forgave us through His Son's atoning death, and empowered us to live joy-filled and fruitful lives! Never let anyone tell you that God is uninvolved in your life or that God doesn't care about you. Never believe that... whether you are young or old... because God has showered you (and me) with love and opportunity! According to the Bible, God created us in His own image, provided us with a community of faith in which we could love and serve, taught us the way in which we should go through His word, empowered us with His own Spirit so that we can seize the moment and stay the course... and died for us on Calvary's cross... so that we might live forever as forgiven and liberated people. Even now, God stands at the door and knocks, seeking to come into your heart. Luke suggests that heaven stands and applauds when a single sinner stumbles home and Paul reminds us that we are being cheered on by a heavenly throng as we run our earthly race. Friends, please believe that God is "for you," that He delights in your service and salvation, and that He doesn't wish for anyone to perish.
      Believe this... and live like you believe it. Live like you believe it and you will bear fruit. You will bear and be fruit for God... and you will discover His joy in return. Amen.

THE FAITH OF OUR UNKNOWN PRESIDENTS

      Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe... were all Episcopalians from Virginia. They had to be because the Church of England and then the Anglican church was the state church of Virginia. It was supported by taxes and membership in this denomination was required for any man who sought influence and public office in the state.  They were all part of the southern aristocracy and each one of them was a slaveowner. In addition, they were well-educated men who were much more comfortable with reason than they were with emotion. Thus, with the exception of Jefferson, they kept their religious views to themselves and when they spoke of God, they usually spoke in general terms, using words like "Creator" and "Sovereign" instead of "Lord and Savior." If any of them had a personal conversion experience in which they confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their own Lord and Savior, I am not aware of it. Still, they were baptized church-goers who believed that the country was stronger and more civil because it was anchored in Christianity. John Adams and his son, John Quincy, were both Congregationalists from Massachusetts, although the elder Adams was unable to embrace the church's Trinitarian doctrine or the divinity of Christ. John Quincy, staid and proper as a man could be, was the first President to speak publicly about salvation in Christ and his commitment to God's word could not be questioned. Andrew Jackson was the second President to claim that he was saved by "the merits and the blood of Jesus Christ" following an agonizing and soul-searching night in which we was forgiven and reborn. Our first seven Presidents were "Christians" in different ways and to differing degrees, including Jefferson who claimed that he was Christian "in the only sense that Jesus ever wanted anyone to be."
      Most people know of our first seven Presidents. They can recite their names, but as the country dealt with territorial expansion and more particularly, with slavery, it became increasingly difficult to form a consensus around any one man. Thus, we had a string of largely forgotten Presidents between Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln. They include Martin Van Buren (the first President to be born in the United States), William Henry Harrison (who served for only 31 days), John Tyler, James Polk (who was the first President under 50 years of age when elected), Zachary Taylor (who, like Harrison, died in office), Millard Filmore (the last member of the Whig party to be President), "handsome" Franklin Pierce (who died on cirrhosis of the liver), and James Buchanan ( who was a life-long bachelor).
      In chronological order, historians have made these observations about the religious faith these men practiced (or failed to practice). 1) Martin Van Buren was baptized and buried in the Dutch Reformed Church of Kinderhook, New York. As a former member of this denomination, I have a soft spot in my heart for Van Buren, but it is a fact that he attended this church (and the Episcopal church in D.C) throughout his life. As an anecdote, history notes that Van Buren's voice "could be heard above the entire congregation in song." During his last illness, Van Buren said, "The atonement of Jesus Christ is the only remedy and rest for my soul;" 2) William H. Harrison succeeded Van Buren. He was yet another Anglican from Virginia and the last President born under English rule. There is little evidence that Harrison's life was based on faith, but he did buy a Bible after he was inaugurated, and according to the pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church, "Had he (Harrison) lived, he intended on the next Sabbath to become a communicant at the Lord's table;" 3) John Tyler succeeded Harrison and he was raised in the same Virginia county as Harrison. Thus, he was also an (inactive) Episcopalian who never abandoned his support for slavery. In fact, when he died. President Lincoln did not recognize his passing because Tyler was considered to be a traitor. Instead, his funeral was arranged by Jefferson Davis. Although one of Tyler's friends noted that "he was a firm believer in the atonement of the Son of God and in the efficacy of his blood...", no pastor visited his home for last rites; 4) James Knox Polk attended the Presbyterian Church throughout his life, but he never joined the church or gave religion much thought for that matter. Indeed, he was never baptized, but he did have a spiritual moment at a Methodist camp when he was a younger man. The experience left a permanent impression of Polk and he called the same pastor/evangelist, John B. McFerrin, to his bedside when he was dying. McFerrin baptized Polk and later said that the President embraced Jesus Christ as his personal Savior; 5) Zachary Taylor was a self-taught man whose writing skills were "near illiterate." He gained wealth when his family moved from Virginia to Kentucky by acquiring cheap land and slaves. Later, he parlayed his contacts through marriage and business into great wealth, acquiring more than 200 slaves... and he parlayed his reputation as a war hero into the White House. Like other Virginians, Taylor was an Episcopalian; 6) Millard Fillmore seldom referred to God in his writings and never in a personal sense. He fought to eliminate the oath which witnesses took in court, and he noted, "God knows I detest slavery and consider it an existing evil for which I am not responsible"... However, we must give it the protection guaranteed by the constitution. Fillmore, a Methodist turned Unitarian, sympathized with what he called "liberal Christianity;" 7) Franklin Pierce was a charming, outgoing and handsome man who married a teetotaler named Jane. She despised his heavy drinking and resisted his political ambitions at every turn. All four of their children died as children and their son, Ben, died in a train crash before their eyes. Jane was a devout Christian and on the second anniversary of her death, Pierce was baptized as a member of the Episcopalian church, which he chose because it was not as "political" as the Congregational church. Notwithstanding his commitment to church, Pierce died of cirrhosis from heavy drinking; 8) James Buchanan was a life-long bachelor who was born to a deist father  and a strong Presbyterian mother. He wanted to join the Presbyterian church for years, but between his hesitation over their anti-slavery stance and their unwillingness to accept him, he wasn't able to join the church until Sept. 23, 1865. He liked the order of the Presbyterian worship experience, noting that his "old Presbyterian notions prevented him the theatrical entertainment" of some other churches.
      Well. there you have it- the eight men who occupied the White House between Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln. They served in trying times to say the least and they found it impossible to appease both the pro-slavery and anti-slavery sides that were readying for war. They were, as a lot, flawed Christians and I will leave it to you to decide whether one or more of them were Christian in name only.

WAS JOHN QUINCY ADAMS A CHRISTIAN? HOW ABOUT ANDREW JACKSON?

      Our 6th President, John Quincy Adams, and our 7th President, Andrew Jackson, could not have had more dissimilar.
      Adams was the son of our 2nd President and his wife, Abigail- both of whom were strict, disciplined Congregationalists in most ways. John Quincy's life at home, then, was lived in the shadow of his reserved father and his rather controlling mother. Adams was an intelligent man who spoke fluent French, Dutch, Latin, and Greek. He was a diplomat for George Washington and Secretary of State for James Monroe. After his one-term as President, he served as a U.S. Congressman for 17 years, where he championed the anti-slavery cause and personally brought down the so-called "gag rule" which Congress had at the time concerning the issue of slavery. In fact, Adams became known as the "Hell-Hound of Slavery" and he defended 53 Africans accused of mutiny aboard the slave ship "Armisted." John Quincy Adams had "involuntary and agonizing doubts, which he could neither silence nor expel," but in the face of his doubts, he practiced his faith throughout his life, attending two worship services on the day he died. Adams and his wife, Louisa Johnson, joined the United First Parish Church of Quincy, and they shared a pew with his father and mother. In fact, all four of them are buried beneath this church, which began as a Puritan Congregational church and drifted more and more toward Unitarianism as the years passed. Adams read 2-5 chapters of the Bible, in its original languages, every day and he frequently attended two worship services on Sunday. Adams was vocal about his faith and he kept a personal dairy from 1779-1848. Thus, we know a lot about the faith that John Quincy Adams proclaimed. His dairy is filled with his distaste for "liberal" Unitarianism and "intolerant" Fundamentalism, both of which missed the mark in Adams' view, and the record shows that he offered these opinions over the years:
1.   "My hopes of future life are founded in the Gospel of Christ and I cannot quibble away the assertions- by Himself and his disciples- that he was God."
2.  "The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth."
3.  "For I believe there is a God who heareth prayer and (that) honest prayers to Him will not be in vain."
4.  "I have... been a sincere believer in the Supreme Creator of the World... and of the divine mission of the crucified Savior, proclaiming immortal life and preaching peace on earth..."
5.  In a letter to his son, dated 12/24/1814, he wrote, "You ask me what Bible I take as a standard- the Hebrew, the Samaritan, the Old English, or what? The Bible with the Sermon on the Mount- the New Testament- read in Greek, Latin,... or Luther's German- I take as my standard."
      Andrew Jackson, in contrast to Adams, was born to a family which was neither rich nor famous. His parents were Scottish immigrants and his father died three weeks before he was born. Two of his brothers died in the Revolutionary War and Jackson was taken prisoner by the British. He almost died
himself ... and his mother did die, while nursing prisoners-of-war back to health. In short, Jackson grew up tough and poor ... and throughout his life, he felt that the British had personally killed the member of his family. Unlike Adams, there is no record of Jackson being a regular church attendee and we know that he didn't join a church until 1838, when he became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Nashville. Jackson credited the "hand of Providence" for giving him victory in the Battle of New Orleans and he noted that he has always been a "rigid Presbyterian" like his father was, but there is little evidence that he gave a faith journey much thought until he walked into a revival meeting in Nashville in October, 1818. According to the story, the evangelist said that Jackson was in need of salvation just like every other man, which embarrassed another minister in attendance who felt that Jackson had been offended. However, Jackson praised the evangelist whose name was Cartwright, noting that every "minister of Jesus Christ ought to love every one and fear no mortal man.
      As he aged, Jackson gave matters of faith greater attention and he never got over his intense grief over his wife's death. He pondered life and death... and perhaps the words that he had heard about trusting Jesus Christ at the revival he attended. The night finally came when he walked in his chamber in anguish and prayer. He did business with God that night, and when morning came, he announced his full conviction of sins, his confession, and the forgiveness he had received through "the blood of our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." Immediately, he instituted family prayer time and he was pleased to read through the Bible twice before he died.
1.  In May 29, 1845, Jackson said, "Sir, I am in the hands of a merciful God. I have full confidence in his goodness and mercy. The Bible is true- upon that sacred volume I rest my hope for eternal salvation, through the merits and blood of our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."
2.  On his dying day, June 8, 1845, Jackson said, "My dear children, do not grieve for me. It is true. I am going to leave you now. I have suffered much bodily pain, but my sufferings are as nothing compared with that which our blessed Redeemer endured upon the accursed Cross, that all might be saved who put their trust in Him. God will take care of you for me. I am my God's. I belong to Him. I go but for a short time before you, and I hope and trust to meet you all in Heaven, both black and white."
3.  Finally, among his last words were these, "That book, sir, is the rock upon which our republic rests."
      Well, there we have it. A well established New Englander and an immigrant's son from the country. An educated man who read the Bible in several languages and a self-taught man who didn't read the Bible at all until he got old. A man who became known has "Old Man Eloquent," and a man who was known as "Old Hickory." A man who was fought slavery, almost alone at times, and a man who owned slaves to his dying day. A man who was reared in the church and a man who came to know Jesus as his personal Savior. Which one was the better Christian? Which one was "saved?" Both? Neither?
   

12 KEYS TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY

To:  My grandson and my great-grandson
RE; Spiritual "TIPS" from Poppy

Dear boys, when you embark your own spiritual journeys... keep the following 12 observations in mind. I have found them to be important in my own life and they will be helpful to you if you choose to give your heart and to God.

1)  A life based on your own wants and pleasures... will leave you frustrated and empty in the end. It will be far more rewarding to invest in others and to serve God in all that you do. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that it's all about you;
2)  You are (or will become) what you believe. Don't let anyone tell you that it doesn't matter what you believe, just as long as you believe something. In my view, nothing could be further from the truth. Beliefs matter;
3)  Yesterday is dead and while it may provide memories, don't allow it to affect your life in the now. Tomorrow is God's time and it is never promised to us. It is okay to dream about it and even to plan for it, but don't sacrifice your daily life for it. Today is yours. In fact, it is all that anyone of us will ever have-so embrace it with joy;
4)  Read the Bible! It is God's word and it is a wonderful guide to what is important and worthy of attention. If you read the Bible in a regular way, your way will be clearer and your burdens will be less; 
5)  You cannot give what you do not have... so fill yourself with all that is good and lovely. Years ago we used the acronym,"GIGO," for computer processes. It meant "Garbage In-Garbage Out," and it applies to all of our relationships as well. Feed your mind and your soul with what is good and beneficial;
6)  Doubt is NOT the opposite of faith, and it can lead to greater faith (as it did in the apostle Thomas' case). Don't nurture doubt. Don't "major" in it. But don't let it drive you into abandoning your faith either.
7)  Grace is FREE. Period! Whether it's God grace, or the grace that someone else may offer you, it will always be a free gift of love and forgiveness... because grace cannot be earned, or deserved, and still be "grace;"
8) "Believing is seeing"because the greatest things in life cannot be seen or measured. Some people say that "seeing is believing," and in the world of science, this is true. But things like love, honor, faith, honor, and hope... cannot be measured or even explained. Just accept them when you see them. Embrace them and thank God for them;
9) Prayer is God-talk, and your relationship with God will not survive without it. Don't let anyone tell you that you need to know just the right words or have certain credentials to pray. Prayer is simply an honest conversation with God in which we offer up our praises and our concerns... and listen for His response! Speak from your heart and don't forget to listen;
10) The Bible says that God is love and it also says that there is "no black and white, nor slave and free, nor male and female in Christ... (and I would add) no gay and straight... because we are all children of God, created in God's image. Don't embrace any religion that teaches hate and division because Jesus is a uniter and a healer;
11) There are many ways in which we can serve God here on earth. We can feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the lonely, love those who others won't, and treat others as if they are manifestations of God. These are good things, but if you really want to be Christ-like, forgive someone who does't deserve to be forgiven;
12) Be wary of sin. It will always keep you longer and cost you more than you expected. None of us is sinless, nor even particularly close to being sinless. And it is also true that our sins are forgiven... but sin will drain your spiritual energy and break down your relationship with God, others, and your own best self. So, flee from it whenever you can.

      There are many other factors that will affect your spiritual walk, but these are 12 of the things that I have found to be helpful and true.

Poppy
9/04/2017

50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE...WITH AN ANGEL

      On August 19, Sherry and I gathered with our family to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary... and as we sat in a nice French restaurant, my thoughts raced back to a summer evening in Ankeny, Iowa. It was August 19, 1967, and we were gathered at the Grundon's place, which was the nicest home that I had seen at that time... with its pool and fountain and cascading steps- all of which were set against the woods that bordered their home. Dad was there, mom too, and my brother, Randy. My brother, Larry, was stationed in Cape May and he couldn't make our wedding (just as our granddaughter, Brittany, wasn't able to join us at the anniversary).
      A Lutheran minister officiated and we said our vows- I DO, for better and for worse, and all

Kendra, Brooke, me, Sherry, Justin, Shawn, Steve, Kelli
and Archer in front. Not pictured- Donald, Brittany, and
Donald Ray. We love each and every one of them!

the rest. Sherry seemed to grasp the depth of what we were saying, but I didn't have much of a clue. I was happy- no doubt about it- and she was beautiful ... but I didn't really understand what it meant to be present, vulnerable, and intimate... in the deepest sense of the words. I was too "messed up"- too confused- and it would be years before I came to grips with who I really was ... and what it meant to be in a loving relationship (as opposed to being "in love.") My growth was slow, painful, and uneven...but Sherry was always there! Sometimes as my biggest cheerleader. Sometimes Sometimes as my biggest critic. But she was always there... and (praise God) she was always willing to forgive and to invest in another tomorrow.
      It took a lot of patience and a lot of effort. At times our love story wasn't very pretty... but with God's grace and Sherry's steadfast love, we made it to our 50th wedding anniversary. Mom, dad, Larry, and Randy have all passed away- so have the Grundons- and I suspect the Lutheran pastor too. Times have changed in many ways because 1967 occurred in another age. Our daughters are grown and they have children of there own. Indeed, our granddaughter, Brittany, even has a kid of her own. They are beautiful people- the women and the little boys too- and in my eyes, they all shine like diamonds! Sherry gave special gifts to the women at our gathering and I gave gifts of love to Archer and Donald Ray. It was a sacred hour, and I felt like a rich man! Indeed when I looked around the table, I thanked God for every face that I saw, for family who could not be present, and for all of those who had taken the time to show me love- both tough and generous- through the years.
     

   
       It's been a wonderful, often stimulating, sometimes surprising, and even entertaining journey! Like others who reach my age, I've had more than my share of "highs" and I lived through more than a few "lows." Hundreds of people have had a hand in my life story and many of them have left a deep impression on me. But Sherry has always been at the center! She's always been the "grown up" in the room and she stole the show at our anniversary dinner as well, giving an emotional and inspiring speech that I didn't even try to top. When the meal was over, I looked at her and saw that she was even more beautiful than she was in the summer of '67. Then, I took her hand and together, we led the family out the restaurant's door... and back to a journey that will lead each one to the place that God has reserved for us. I'll be 121 on our 100th anniversary... and I expect to be dining on a heavenly feast. Amen!

WAS JAMES MADISON A CHRISTIAN? HOW ABOUT JAMES MONROE?

      James Madison ("Jemmy" to his friends) and James Monroe, our 4th and 5th Presidents, were both Episcopalians, and if you believe that belonging to a Christian denomination makes a person a Christian... our central question is already answered. However, it's not clear that Madison used the Bible as a guide for his life... and it's not clear that Monroe even wanted to. Both men were born in Virginia, and because of that, they (like Washington and Jefferson) were obliged to join the Episcopalian Church. Neither man said much about his faith, and Monroe said virtually nothing at all. This is why I've also included him in our discussion this time, but I will begin with Madison.
      James Madison was President of the United States from 1809-1817, which meant, among other things, that he ushered America through the War of 1812. Madison was born into a wealthy family and he matriculated through Princeton at an early age. However, when he graduated, he stayed in college for another year, and studied theology under John Witherspoon. Some writers have called Madison our "first graduate student," but his interest in theology didn't take hold, and he turned to politics in short order. He served in the Revolutionary War with honor, and he attended church whenever he was near home, Some of his biographers have called him a "deist." Others have maintained that he was a "model of orthodoxy," but it's hard to know what was in his mind or heart because, like mainline Christians of our own time, he didn't speak openly about his faith... and he certainly didn't talk about undergoing a conversion, or accepting Jesus as his personal Savior. All we know is that he attended church as a young man and that he spoke respectfully of the church throughout his lifetime.
      In Madison's early years, the Church of England was the sanctioned church of Virginia and other denominations were not welcome. Indeed, when Presbyterians and others made Virginia their home,  they were harassed and persecuted. Their ministers were even jailed from time to time, and this was especially true for the Baptists, whose form of worship did not suit the stoic Episcopalians. As a young man, Madison encountered a handful of Baptist ministers who were in jail just for being Baptist, and he was outraged. Indeed, he never got over the injustice of it, and he became a crusader for the separation of church and state. He worked tirelessly on this issue, and with Jefferson's help, it became law in Virginia and eventually in America. When Madison attended an open-air meeting at the Blue Run Church in 1771, he shared a worship experience with 5000 Baptists, and afterwards, he noted that, if one overlooked the emotional nature of their worship, it was actually "very orthodox." Madison was committed to separating church and state throughout his life, not by keeping prayer and church out of the public arena (as it is generally seen today), but by keeping the state from making any laws or taking any action that would infringe on the practice of religion.
      We know a lot about Madison's work on matters of church and state, and we know that he was a "kind" slaveowner who never "mistreated any of his slaves," from a book that one of his slaves published after Madison's death. We also know that, even though he owned slaves, he was active in a movement to re-colonize them in Africa. But "being nice" to one's slaves does not make one a Christian... so let us consider what little evidence we have on Madison's christianity.

Evidence in Favor of Madison Being a Christian

1.  He was baptized and relatively active in his Episcopalian church;

2.  He said that religion was essential for "good order, good morals, and happiness;"

3.  In a letter to a friend, Madison wrote, "(a) watchful eye must be kept on ourselves lest, while we are building ideal monuments here... we neglect to have our names enrolled in the annals of Heaven;"

4.  In a comment that reminds me both of Camus' admonishment of Christians and also of the Biblical warning against n"lukewarmness," Madison noted, "I have often thought that there could not be a stronger testimony in favor of religion... than for men who occupy (important positions) and are rising in reputation and wealth, to publicly declare their unsatisfactoriness by becoming fervent advocates of the cause of Christ;"

5.  When Madison was working on the Virginia Bill of Rights, he noted that, "It is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity toward each other;"

6.  According to one of his pastors, Madison "always attended public worship in his neighborhood, spoke of religion with respect, invited ministers to his house, and had family prayers in his home (although he did not kneel)

Arguments Against Madison Being a Christian

1.  Despite his baptism and church attendance (especially in his younger years), several of Madison's biographers believed that he was more of a "deist" in his heart and mind. Deism, which is the belief in a God who is not involved in human affairs and who can be found through reason, was popular among intellectuals at the time of our Revolution;

2.  The lack of evidence about what he believed about God, Christ and Church... is too many people... evidence that he didn't believe much;

3.  Episcopalian Bishop William Meade reported, "I was at Mr. Madison's house but once, and then our conversation took such a turn... as to call forth some (discussion) which left an impression on my mind that his creed was not strictly regulated by the Bible."

4.  When Madison's friend and mentor, John Witherspoon, published a book of his sermons, several noted men of the time recommended it. The list included Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, John Day, and many of Madison's peers from Princeton... but Madison himself did not subscribe to it.

      Well, that's all we have on this President who championed religious freedom from state interference, but who said little about his own faith. Madison, it seems to me, was a Christian in exactly the same way that many mainline Christians are Christian to this day, but perhaps you disagree. Was the 4th President of the United States a Christian?

YES    or    NO

      James Monroe was the last President who is grouped among our founding fathers by historians. He was baptized as an Episcopalian and attended St. John's Episcopal Church when he served as our President. In 1825, he dismissed Mordecai Noah from his position as consul to Tunis because Noah was Jewish, and when Noah formally protested, he received written support from Jefferson, Adams, and Madison. Records also show that a Presbyterian pastor in Albany, NY, said that Monroe, "lived and died as a second-rate Athenian philosopher," in 1832. It has been noted that, like those who preceded him, Monroe had deistic tendencies, but others have suggested that he "may" have believed in an interventionist God. 

      It's not much information, I know, but biographers have noted that, when it comes to religion, we know less about Monroe's faith than any other President.  I looked for Monroe's quotes, but found none that a would even hint at his religious faith. We know that Washington, and to a greater extent, Adams and Jefferson, wrestled with their faith in some ways and left us a record of what their faith meant to them, whether we agree with it or not. Monroe doesn't seem to have done either and it is tempting to think that he didn't give faith, let alone discipleship, much thought. But what do you think? Was our 5th President (and the last of the Virginia dynasty) a Christian or not?

YES     or    NO

FROM TISHBE TO HEAVEN

      Elijah was born in Tishbe, which is only mentioned once in the Bible, and even then in the Book of Tobit. It’s located in the mountains of Gilead and of little consequence, except that it is the birthplace of Elijah, who was among the greatest of God’s prophets. Ahab was King in Elijah’s day… and the evil, Jezebel, was his wife. Together, they gave Israel over to Baal, and to his consort, Asherah, and the people gave themselves over to sin… because Baal and Asherah were not the gods of the promise… or gods at all. It was the worst of tines for Israel, but Elijah trusted completely in God. He trusted God completely and he challenged Ahab to his face. He challenged 450 prophets of Baal to a contest at Mount Carmel, so that the world would see, once and for all, whether Yahweh or Baal, was the living and true God.

      Well, Yahweh prevailed and Elijah- the great man of God- who had already worked miracles in God’s name- was the man of the hour. Never before had the prophet wavered or lost hope, but when Jezebel threatened his life, he ran for it. He was, inexplicably, afraid… and he said that he had had enough. He ran toward Beersheba, and prayed that God would take his life there… but God nourished him instead, and he moved on to the Mt. Horeb, and hid himself in a cave. I don’t know how long he intended to hide there… but God called him to step outside of the cave so that he might learn something new. And as he stood there, a violent wind stirred up. It was strong and scary, but Elijah did not encounter God in the wind. Then there was an earthquake, not all that uncommon in that part of the world by the way, but Elijah did not meet God in the earthquake. And it was the same in the fire that followed.  So he went back into the cave and in the silence that engulfed him, he heard God speak. “What are you doing here?” That’s what God asked. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” No accusations, no chastisement… just a question…and new marching orders for the weary prophet. Get up, get packed, and get going, God seemed to say, because I have more for you to do. And Elijah got up and went where God called him to go and he did all that God called him to do… until the day came when God literally embraced him and lifted him directly into heaven.

      It’s a great story… but what does it have to say to us? What is God’s word, living and relevant, saying to us in these passages about an ancient prophet?

1.     1.  Well, for one thing, we are reminded that God is less likely to give up on us than we are to give up on ourselves. The same God who called Elijah would surely provide a way. If you’re down, fine, but don’t stay down; 

2   2. Even the best of us experience moments of fatigue, fear, and even doubt that we are making a difference, or of use any longer! Elijah showed more faith on a single, ordinary day than most of us muster up in the best of times… but he was not immune to the very things that make us human. If your work is undervalued and even threatened, it’s bad… but don’t quit;

     3. Quit looking for God in all the wrong places. Chances are, He will not be among those who are flattering… because you are not the center of God’s story. He is… and when He appears, it may well be in the faces of those who need food, clothing, love, empowerment, and opportunity the most, rather that the sound and fury going on around you; 

     4. If you want to hear God’s voice, get away from the sounds that drown it out and listen to your soul. Are you doing what God wants you to do? Are you in love with sins that you can’t bring yourself to let go of? Are you listening for God’s voice through His word, through His church, through your prayers? Remember, all spiritual journeys begin with surrendered trust; 

     5.  I’m no Elijah. Chances are- you’re not either, but we are equipped to do his work. And we do have ears that hear… so listen to that voice within you that is not obsessed with self and stuff, but challenges you to forgive and love and get involved for God. Listen to the voices of those things that break your heart. Listen to the injustices that make you mad every time you think about them… and listen to the talents that God has given you. Listen to your setting in life. Listen to the people whose lives are intertwined with yours, and listen when God asks, "What are YOU doing here?"

     6. Consider all of these things in the stillness of your spirit and you will hear God’s voice calling you to leave your cave and get busy for Him. His call to you may not be the stuff of Kings and Queens, but it will involve life-changing and life-saving work. He may not ask you to free the Israelites, or to challenge the prophets of Baal… but He will ask you to confront evil and offer love to His people. 

     7.  I won’t be taken directly to heaven like Elijah was, but through Christ, heaven will be my home. And my record of service will not measure up to Elijah’s, or John’s, or Mother Teresa’s, or perhaps to yours… but I do long to hear the words, “well done good and faithful servant,” and I believe that, through His Grace and against all earthly bets… I will.

      Now, let me return to surrendered trust because it isn’t possible to provide faithful service without it. In my own life, I’ve seen bad moons rising, I’ve heard the thunder roll in darkened skies, I’ve chased lesser gods to the gates of hell, and I’ve begged an unknown God for another chance. Like you, I've seen and heard many things... BUT I didn’t see God in the storms or in my wilderness. I didn’t hear God in the thunder, or through the cluttered thoughts that filled my mind. Indeed, I didn’t hear God at all until I experienced a great emptiness and surrendered to His will, no matter the cost. Looking back, I see now that He was there in the best and worst of times.  BUT I couldn’t see Him until the fear and pride within me gave way to a surrendered  trust. That may be your need too. If it is, come to Christ now because He is the source of your faithfulness. However, if you’ve already done business with Christ, listen for His voice ,,, as it comes from deep within your life and your spirit. Listen and follow. Follow…and do your part to further His kingdom here on earth! Amen!