Letting Go

I was at my eye doctor’s office this past week for a follow up visit to some recent treatments.  One of the things they needed to do was take some pictures of both eyes.  It was while I was getting those pictures taken that I heard probably the best example of what real faith is.

Andy, the eye photographer, told me that when he was much younger he went parachuting.  He said that he only went three times, but that is still three more times than I have.  He told how back then they would connect your rip cord to a static line so when you get far enough away from the plane it would tighten and thus pull the cord that would cause your chute to open.  So that only left two things for him to do.

1) Step outside of a perfectly capable airplane of landing to the little 2×4 connected to the bottom of a wing support.

2)  The hardest part: Let go of the wing.

He told me he was scared like crazy!  Not exactly his words, but I think you get the point.  He informed me that the hardest thing to do was letting go of the wing.  He said as he was going 120 mph out there on the wing thoughts would run through his mind, “Who packed my chute?”  “Did they do it right?”  But no matter what came to his mind, he did it.  He let go.

Yes, Andy is right.  This is one of the best examples we have of faith.  When we are faced with a situation that is bigger than us there are a lot of things we can do, but none is better than “letting go” and trust in God.  If you happen to be faced with one of those kinds of situations do what Andy did; “Let go.”

What Does Your Fruit Look Like?

Gen 3:1  The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had matemptationde. He spoke to the Woman: “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?”
Gen 3:2  The Woman said to the serpent, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden.
Gen 3:3  It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.'”
Gen 3:4  The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die.
Gen 3:5  God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”
Gen 3:6  When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it–she’d know everything!–she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.
Gen 3:7  Immediately the two of them did “see what’s really going on”–saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. (MSG)

Packed into these few verses is so much!  So much of how sin appeals to us.  So much about how we start thinking in our mind that we understood what God “really” must have meant, but He didn’t say.  In verse 4; no the woman wouldn’t die physically, but after disobeying God she begin to die spiritually.  In verse 5 we see the devil tell Eve that she will be “like” God.  The very thing that got him and his followers kicked out of heaven.  In verse 6; Eve no doubt on the first shopping trip pictured how the fruit would match her outfit, and thus complete her ensemble.  In verse 7; was the first time a woman uttered the words, “Don’t touch me!”

Seriously here is how sin works:  Eve saw, Eve thought, Eve touched.  One will sin every time most likely when they “look” too long.  When they “think or reason” in their mind too much, and it is almost impossible to stop once they “touch”.

So what does your fruit look like?  What is your weakness?  What do you need to not look at too long, or at all?  What thoughts do you need to stop thinking?  What, or whom, do you need to not touch?

It Isn’t Finished

jesus-crossempty-tomb-of-Jesus-ChristWhen I was a youth minister in Massachusetts the local ministers from various churches would gather for a pre-Easter service.  Seven ministers would get up one by one and share the last seven phrases that Jesus said from the cross.  I always wanted to be asked to share number 6, “It is finished”, but I was never asked to, so today I will.

Saying the words, “It is finished” can bring relief.  The pain, the distress, the task at hand, or the conflict is over.  No more of whatever was causing such discomfort.  Those words certainly said a lot for the one who spoke them that day, for he was going down a “dead end!”  But was “it” really finished?  Sure the work Jesus came here to earth to do was, but I believe our work was just beginning.

Jesus showed us how to live, pray, “be”, love, overcome, deal with evil, trust our heavenly father, face fear and even die.  When He said, “It is finished” He might as well gone on to say, “You are just beginning.  Now go and show others there is a better way to live.  Don’t just tell them, but show them the love of my Father as I have shown you.  Convince them that in believing in my death and resurrection there is so much hope it will last for eternity.”  For us, it isn’t finished, yet.

Through It All

storms of lifeLife certainly can be rough sometimes.  Maybe not to you directly at the moment, but to those around you.  To people that you know and care about.  Right now one of my coworkers is with her mother who is at the exit ramp of life.  A friend from high school just lost his mother this week.  She was a spiritual giant who will be truly missed.  A family member of mine had her house partially damaged by a tornado that hit near Tulsa, Oklahoma.  You certainly don’t have to look very far to see the storms of life.

I have been listening to the song (a lot lately) “It Is Well” by Bethel Music featuring Kristene Dimarco.  One of the lines in that song, that I really like, says, “The wind and rain still know His name.”  When we are going through the storm we often forget this.  We take our eyes off of the one who can calm the storm, and we look at the circumstances around us.  Doing so will weaken your faith.  Jesus may not directly speak to the storm you are in and calm it, but I assure you He will get you through it all.

First Impressions

This week’s blog is a little late, because I have been traveling. I’m was visiting my kids in Texas, and getting to meet my future son-in-law. This is my first future son-in-law. I’ve got to say, “It’s a little nerve wracking. He’s was trying to make a good first impression, and I was trying not to embarrass my daughter! He said something that was interesting. He said, “I think first impressions should last like a month.”

This made me think about people in general meeting us for the first time. Us meaning those who profess to be a child of God. What is their first impression? Is it a good one? Would a month long first impression be better, so when you tell them, “I’m sorry. I’m really not like this normally” they will believe you? You see when someone does get more time to get to know you they will see that you’re not perfect, but that you indeed are striving to be like the one who is. Jesus

So until we are perfect be mindful of how others see us. Their impression of us may turn into their impression of Jesus Christ. Oh, and to my future son-in-law, I welcome you into the family.

Zombie Dogs

Zombie Dog 2My friend enjoys watching scary movies, but since her husband passed she won’t now.  I can certainly understand as I too have to pull my feet up onto the couch when I get scared from a movie.  I don’t want that thing under the couch to get me!  (It’s probably just lent.)  She says her dogs will usually lye in the living room while she watches most things, but she has noticed they will not go in there if she is watching a zombie movie.  She thinks it is because there are no zombie dogs.

After hearing this I got to thinking about why there are no zombie dogs.  I wondered if it was because dogs don’t taste like chicken. (I don’t know.)  But then I realized that zombie are or were humans and when a human is doing something wrong they want others to be doing it too.  Sin loves company.

My thoughts then turned to what the wages of sin are, and that is death.  (Romans 6:23)  Zombies are dead humans who are still alive.  One reason for them wanting to bite a normal human, other than because they are hungry, is to turn them into a zombie.  To join them in their miserable state of being dead, but alive.

One thing about death is; it is final.  Whatever a person was going through at the time of their death ends immediately when they do.  In some circumstances death can be welcomed, and if the person dying has the hope of eternal life with Christ in heaven then there really isn’t anything to fear.  I find it hard to believe that the “act” of dying is more painful than the process of living can be at times.

So quit living like your dying, and start dying to live.  Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came so that we may have life more abundantly.  Jesus wants us to be fully alive now and to really live the way God intended when we are in heaven.  That kind of life starts by accepting Jesus Christ into your life to be the Lord of your life.  By asking Him to forgive you of all of the sin in your past that causes eternal death.


Okay.  A search on the internet turned up a couple of zombie dog movies.
(This blog post is dedicated to Arlene.)

Endorsed

endorsedMany of you are probably familiar with the popular social network of Linked in.  This is where you create a profile of your professional life.  Your skills, certifications, education, etc.  Then you may “link” with other people you know, and who know you and of your experience.  One of the features of this website is your connections “endorsing” you.  Verifying to prospective employers that you have these skills.

As I read an email this past week notifying me that I have been endorsed for an IT skill the thought crossed my mind, “Would these same individuals “endorse” me to enter heaven?”  In other words, have I demonstrated the skills, gifts and lifestyle that would cause them to say, “Yes, I endorse Mark to be allowed into heaven.”  I certainly hope I faithfully live the kind of life that would allow them and anyone else to say this.

Would you be endorsed for heaven?

The Rev

I have a friend whom God uGod Speaks 2ses to speak truth into my life.  Many times the words that God speak through her are very hard to hear, but direct, on the mark.  Recently I was complaining to her concerning an email I had received from a manager that I work with.  The email was implying that I wasn’t consistently doing my job.  I replied to this email with some very direct words and I even put one in ALL CAPS!  Yes, I know, I yelled through written words.

My friend had told me how wrong my reply was and why.  I proceeded to explain to my friend why I was so upset by the email as I work hard and take great pride in my work, and in this case the accusation was obviously an error.  My friend simply said the words of God when she said, “Then you should take great pride in your response as well.”  Ouch!  She was right, because God is always right, See why I call her, “The Rev?”

Reach Out and Touch Someone

touching-heartThey’re all around you.  They are hurting, discouraged, lost, or broken.  Life has not been fair to them either through circumstances, or even perhaps by their own doing.  Regardless, they still need a touch.  There is nothing like the touch of another human being.  A study was done some years ago and found that infants who were touched, held, cuddled had fewer health problems in the early years of their lives.

There are so many ways to touch someone.  I heard a street beggar once say, “Even if you don’t want to help me at least acknowledge that I exist by looking at me!”  Wow!  So you see, a simple glance, or smile can touch a person’s life whether you know them or not.  But for those you do know, you can do more.  Encourage them with a spoken word, an unexpected hug, a note they will find later that expresses your love and appreciation of them.

One of the biggest keys to touching lives is seeing them, and being mindful of them.  Sometimes they give you clues as to what they need from you.  Sometimes it’s a shot in the dark, but an effort that misses the mark is still a message that says, “I know something’s wrong, and I care.”

When you look at others, and try to touch them in some way you will many times find that your own heart is touched.  It’s a quick and easy investment in others, and it pays back in great dividends.  I hope you will follow the One who first touched you, by touching others.

15 Seconds

15 Seconds 2One of the greatest sermons I have ever heard only lasted 15 seconds.  It was given by a street beggar.  I was waiting for the crosswalk signal to tell me when I should be safe to cross the street in Chicago.  The man simply said, “I don’t care what you are going through.  If you are going through it with God then it will be okay.”  Amen!