Not sure what triggered this thought today, but it happened in staff meeting. Random thoughts do enter my head during meetings, at times. I was thinking about how some people criticize believers with comments like, “religion is just a crutch.” I would clarify my stand this way: Religion may be a crutch, but a pretty poor one. However, considering what I have been through this last year or so, a relationship with Jesus is not a crutch, it is a gurney! I am not leaning on Him, I am totally supported by Him.
Everyone leans on something, be it faith in Christ, religion, working hard, relationships, addictive substances, or self-reliance. Only Jesus will “never leave nor forsake us.” (Hebrews 13:5) Faith is only as good and as strong as that in which it is placed. Sometimes my faith may waiver, but Jesus never does. He “loves us with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3) He is always interceding for us. (Hebrews 7:25). I’ll rest on Jesus.
What are you trusting in? Maybe a better way to ask, "Who are you trusting in?"
Shot…
Yesterday, I got my first round of immunizations. Other than sore arms and a bit of a headache (which could be just being allergic to Augusta), seems things are going well.
Pray that the immunities will build, and that the process won’t make me sick. :-)
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
What Is Your "House" Built On?
Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus gives the wonderfully visual picture of two men who build houses. Yet there is quite a contrast between them. We know the first man is wise because he builds his house on the rock—on a solid foundation. We know the second man is foolish because he builds his house on the sand.
In some west coast locations, people build houses on steep hillsides overlooking the ocean. They have incredible views and beautiful homes. I am sure some of those places are solid enough, but others are not. When the rains come, they slide down the mountain or cliff. Still, people keep building in the sand. At best, unwise.
This isn’t Jesus’ version of This Old House. He is giving a “life” course. Are you building on something that cannot be taken away or lost? Most of us in the west build our lives on wealth. You and I may not be wealthy by American standards, but we still trust in the funds we have, the paycheck that is still to come, or our retirement investments. Jesus knew the temptation to put our faith in what we have or what we could get would be strong. In fact it would compete right at the top with either trusting God or trusting in wealth. “You cannot serve God and money,” he said earlier. (Matthew 6:24) Most of what we trust in can be taken away.
There are lots of things our society puts high values on, and encourages you to trust in them: Looks, Intellect, Personality, Athleticism. But the rain of time, adversity or thievery still come, and we discover all are sand. The only rock solid foundation you can have is your relationship with God through Christ. If you really have it, nothing can take it away.
The wise man (and woman) builds his house (life) upon The Rock.
Update
I am doing well. Have gotten very busy. Relating to the above passage of scripture, I note that I am the beneficiary of some wonderful health care, but my trust is in the Lord. It has to be. As someone well said, “Doctors practice. God heals.” I am doing well because God is working through, around, and beyond all the medicine—and that is a result of your prayers.
Jesus gives the wonderfully visual picture of two men who build houses. Yet there is quite a contrast between them. We know the first man is wise because he builds his house on the rock—on a solid foundation. We know the second man is foolish because he builds his house on the sand.
In some west coast locations, people build houses on steep hillsides overlooking the ocean. They have incredible views and beautiful homes. I am sure some of those places are solid enough, but others are not. When the rains come, they slide down the mountain or cliff. Still, people keep building in the sand. At best, unwise.
This isn’t Jesus’ version of This Old House. He is giving a “life” course. Are you building on something that cannot be taken away or lost? Most of us in the west build our lives on wealth. You and I may not be wealthy by American standards, but we still trust in the funds we have, the paycheck that is still to come, or our retirement investments. Jesus knew the temptation to put our faith in what we have or what we could get would be strong. In fact it would compete right at the top with either trusting God or trusting in wealth. “You cannot serve God and money,” he said earlier. (Matthew 6:24) Most of what we trust in can be taken away.
There are lots of things our society puts high values on, and encourages you to trust in them: Looks, Intellect, Personality, Athleticism. But the rain of time, adversity or thievery still come, and we discover all are sand. The only rock solid foundation you can have is your relationship with God through Christ. If you really have it, nothing can take it away.
The wise man (and woman) builds his house (life) upon The Rock.
Update
I am doing well. Have gotten very busy. Relating to the above passage of scripture, I note that I am the beneficiary of some wonderful health care, but my trust is in the Lord. It has to be. As someone well said, “Doctors practice. God heals.” I am doing well because God is working through, around, and beyond all the medicine—and that is a result of your prayers.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Love Better Than A Tax Collector
Matthew 5:42-48
Jesus calls His followers to a very high standard for loving others. It is natural to love those who love you back. It is natural to love your family (although not guaranteed).
But Jesus calls us to “love your enemies, do good to those that hate you,” and “pray for those who spitefully use you.” It is interesting that Jesus says if we do this, then we become sons of our Father in Heaven. God loves the good and the bad, and both blessing and trouble come to both. Then He draws an interesting picture.
We have to love better than tax collectors. Now, almost none of us appreciate taxes or the work of tax collectors. But in Jesus’ day, a “tax collector” was what we might call the “scum of the earth,” or the dregs of humanity.” Tax collectors were Jews who had been employed by the Romans to collect their taxes. The Romans were occupiers of Israel, thus most of the Israelites saw these collectors as traitors. Some considered them “un-redeemable.” Matthew was one of those guys, so he knew what it was like to be shunned and probably spat upon. To say someone was acting like a tax collector was pejorative indeed.
To illustrate His point, Jesus noted “even tax collectors love their families and those who love them” [Lowry paraphrase]. His listeners likely response: “Well, I must certainly do better than a tax collector!” Yep, that is right. We all must.
There will always be people that are hard to love—some near impossible! But God loves every one of us, therefore I should as well. I am reminded of a comment of a friend who lives in another country where many folks of our "enemy" nations visit.
“Another thing we have learned is that we are very mistaken when we think of the people of nations being like their governments or the leaders in their country. We are sometimes guilty of feeling like it would be easier to wipe some peoples off the map rather than tolerate and risk having their countries exist. Believe us when we say, many of our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ are living in those countries and putting their lives on the line every day as they follow Jesus.”
I saw this I came to on my first trips into the Eastern Bloc. [Okay kids, “Eastern Bloc” is what we used to call the Satellite states (Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, etc) of the U. S. S. R. - The Union of Soviet Socialists Republics.] To lump all the Russians in the cold war period, or all citizens in another country today as enemies is wrong, dangerous, and, if you really think about it, ludicrous. Do you agree with everything our government does? You don’t, do you. No matter what side of the political fence you sit on, you don’t act like our government in every way, especially when it comes to foreign policy.
Loving other like Jesus outlines here starts at home, then church, office, and/or school; then those we see regularly, and ultimately—just keep extrapolating* this out—the people of the world. Yep, Jesus is giving us a missions message in Matthew 5:43-48.
[*”Extrapolate:” transitive and intransitive verb to use known facts as the starting point from which to draw inferences or conclusions about something unknown.]
Update:
I am sitting here in the doctor’s office, awaiting my latest weekly blood check report. These tests are to make sure the chemo I am taking don’t do me harm. They do not check the disease. Every few months is enough for that. Today’s blood work came back okay. The good numbers (white cells, platelets, hemoglobin) continue creeping up. Good.
Continue to pray that I will tolerate this medicine and that it will do its job. Something else you can pray about is discernment about schedules and commitments. I feel well enough now to easily get myself over committed to both projects and people, and I really need the discernment of God to know what really needs to be on my list.
Jesus calls His followers to a very high standard for loving others. It is natural to love those who love you back. It is natural to love your family (although not guaranteed).
But Jesus calls us to “love your enemies, do good to those that hate you,” and “pray for those who spitefully use you.” It is interesting that Jesus says if we do this, then we become sons of our Father in Heaven. God loves the good and the bad, and both blessing and trouble come to both. Then He draws an interesting picture.
We have to love better than tax collectors. Now, almost none of us appreciate taxes or the work of tax collectors. But in Jesus’ day, a “tax collector” was what we might call the “scum of the earth,” or the dregs of humanity.” Tax collectors were Jews who had been employed by the Romans to collect their taxes. The Romans were occupiers of Israel, thus most of the Israelites saw these collectors as traitors. Some considered them “un-redeemable.” Matthew was one of those guys, so he knew what it was like to be shunned and probably spat upon. To say someone was acting like a tax collector was pejorative indeed.
To illustrate His point, Jesus noted “even tax collectors love their families and those who love them” [Lowry paraphrase]. His listeners likely response: “Well, I must certainly do better than a tax collector!” Yep, that is right. We all must.
There will always be people that are hard to love—some near impossible! But God loves every one of us, therefore I should as well. I am reminded of a comment of a friend who lives in another country where many folks of our "enemy" nations visit.
“Another thing we have learned is that we are very mistaken when we think of the people of nations being like their governments or the leaders in their country. We are sometimes guilty of feeling like it would be easier to wipe some peoples off the map rather than tolerate and risk having their countries exist. Believe us when we say, many of our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ are living in those countries and putting their lives on the line every day as they follow Jesus.”
I saw this I came to on my first trips into the Eastern Bloc. [Okay kids, “Eastern Bloc” is what we used to call the Satellite states (Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, etc) of the U. S. S. R. - The Union of Soviet Socialists Republics.] To lump all the Russians in the cold war period, or all citizens in another country today as enemies is wrong, dangerous, and, if you really think about it, ludicrous. Do you agree with everything our government does? You don’t, do you. No matter what side of the political fence you sit on, you don’t act like our government in every way, especially when it comes to foreign policy.
Loving other like Jesus outlines here starts at home, then church, office, and/or school; then those we see regularly, and ultimately—just keep extrapolating* this out—the people of the world. Yep, Jesus is giving us a missions message in Matthew 5:43-48.
[*”Extrapolate:” transitive and intransitive verb to use known facts as the starting point from which to draw inferences or conclusions about something unknown.]
Update:
I am sitting here in the doctor’s office, awaiting my latest weekly blood check report. These tests are to make sure the chemo I am taking don’t do me harm. They do not check the disease. Every few months is enough for that. Today’s blood work came back okay. The good numbers (white cells, platelets, hemoglobin) continue creeping up. Good.
Continue to pray that I will tolerate this medicine and that it will do its job. Something else you can pray about is discernment about schedules and commitments. I feel well enough now to easily get myself over committed to both projects and people, and I really need the discernment of God to know what really needs to be on my list.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A Billion Points of Light
Matthew 5:14-16
What if all of us in the world who profess a Biblical faith lived it? You know, a life of compassion and evangelism, joy and faith, obedience and hope. I remember a speech given by a presidential candidate a number of years ago. He spoke of people who helped others, and referred to them as “points of light.”
Jesus told his followers, “you are the light of the world.” All of us know that for many, even on a bright, hot sun shiny day, the world can be a dark place. Jesus is speaking of His light coming through us to penetrate the personal darkness of those who do not know or follow Him.
I cannot speak for you, but I want to be “light” for others. I cannot generate that good light myself. He does it through me.
What if all of us in my church reflected his light and life? Augusta—North Augusta would be different. What if the billion-plus Christ-followers all over the world shared His light and life?
Lord, shine through me today.
Been Awhile Update
I told someone the other day that I must be back pretty close to normal, because I have too many things going at one time again. So, I am feeling good, staying busy, and seeking to prioritize what are God things and what are Tom things. (The God things are higher on the list—at least, they are supposed to be!)
Keep praying. It is the prayers of the believers that have brought me to where I am.
What if all of us in the world who profess a Biblical faith lived it? You know, a life of compassion and evangelism, joy and faith, obedience and hope. I remember a speech given by a presidential candidate a number of years ago. He spoke of people who helped others, and referred to them as “points of light.”
Jesus told his followers, “you are the light of the world.” All of us know that for many, even on a bright, hot sun shiny day, the world can be a dark place. Jesus is speaking of His light coming through us to penetrate the personal darkness of those who do not know or follow Him.
I cannot speak for you, but I want to be “light” for others. I cannot generate that good light myself. He does it through me.
What if all of us in my church reflected his light and life? Augusta—North Augusta would be different. What if the billion-plus Christ-followers all over the world shared His light and life?
Lord, shine through me today.
Been Awhile Update
I told someone the other day that I must be back pretty close to normal, because I have too many things going at one time again. So, I am feeling good, staying busy, and seeking to prioritize what are God things and what are Tom things. (The God things are higher on the list—at least, they are supposed to be!)
Keep praying. It is the prayers of the believers that have brought me to where I am.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
“Melty” Salt
Matthew 5:13
Jesus calls his followers salt— salt of the earth. All my life I have heard that phrase “salt of the earth” to describe good people, usually in the past tense. (The past tense indicates what is probably the best time to laud folks and name buildings after them.) What does salt do? It preserves. It heals (albeit stingingly). It gives taste. It melts.
Needing to melt snow and ice would be exceedingly rare in the Middle East where Jesus spoke these words, but I do not think this function of salt escaped Jesus’ knowledge (since He created it). We should be “melters,” allowing God to use us in others' lives to warm cold hearts toward Him.
Wherever we are, we should seek to warm a heart, to bring spiritual or physical healing, to help protect and preserve, and, maybe, to just add fun (taste) or meaning to life.
Update:
I was supposed to go to Emory this week to get a report from the tests of two weeks ago. I got a call on Monday that said I did not need to come on Tuesday because, one, the doctor was out of town, and two, my numbers were good enough not to warrant the six hour drive for the ten minute appointment. (The caller didn’t say that last part. That’s my commentary.)
Now this was good news. It means the cancer is still at bay. Not gone. At bay. Good news.
The greatest concern of my doctors is that the maintenance chemo medicine, Revlimid, does not lower my immune system too much, and it has been a balancing act since I have started. Those numbers, I guess you could say, are “normal low” for folks on Revlimid. Still, it is the most effective post-transplant treatment, so I hope to stay on it. Pray we can make it work.
Jesus calls his followers salt— salt of the earth. All my life I have heard that phrase “salt of the earth” to describe good people, usually in the past tense. (The past tense indicates what is probably the best time to laud folks and name buildings after them.) What does salt do? It preserves. It heals (albeit stingingly). It gives taste. It melts.
Needing to melt snow and ice would be exceedingly rare in the Middle East where Jesus spoke these words, but I do not think this function of salt escaped Jesus’ knowledge (since He created it). We should be “melters,” allowing God to use us in others' lives to warm cold hearts toward Him.
Wherever we are, we should seek to warm a heart, to bring spiritual or physical healing, to help protect and preserve, and, maybe, to just add fun (taste) or meaning to life.
Update:
I was supposed to go to Emory this week to get a report from the tests of two weeks ago. I got a call on Monday that said I did not need to come on Tuesday because, one, the doctor was out of town, and two, my numbers were good enough not to warrant the six hour drive for the ten minute appointment. (The caller didn’t say that last part. That’s my commentary.)
Now this was good news. It means the cancer is still at bay. Not gone. At bay. Good news.
The greatest concern of my doctors is that the maintenance chemo medicine, Revlimid, does not lower my immune system too much, and it has been a balancing act since I have started. Those numbers, I guess you could say, are “normal low” for folks on Revlimid. Still, it is the most effective post-transplant treatment, so I hope to stay on it. Pray we can make it work.
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