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In case you’re wondering, there are floods on the Mississippi River just north of where I live in the St Louis area. We are fortunate in that the flooding was only along the Mississippi River. The Illinois River and Missouri River all converge just north of St Louis. It is the massive sizes of those rivers that are absorbing some of the additional water flowing down from Iowa where the flooding is worse than anything in a hundred years or more. In Iowa, people’s homes are flooded. The water is up to the eaves of the houses – or more. Some houses have simply been swept away. Who can forget the video of the house at the bridge where the roof is ripped off and the former home becomes a floating pile of wooden splinters just past the bridge? It reminded me of a story that Jesus told. We read in Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 6: 46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." A couple of things struck me as interesting in Jesus story. The obvious is that the foundation must be solid but the parallels go deeper. First, you must “build the house.” Too many times people try to flit about from one thing to the next. They do not sink roots into anything. There is a temptation to go it alone – “just you and me, God!” That isn’t building the house. It’s pitching a tent. And if the house is swept away, well, so much worse for the tent. There must be an effort to sink roots into something. That something must be what strengthens us and builds us up. It is God’s Word first and foremost. Second, building a house can take time but goes much faster with skilled laborers and many of them. Take time to learn from others who have been there. Building the house, even with a good foundation does not keep the house in place until the roof is on. Get help from Biblical scholars, teachers and preachers – and from those who you trust and admire in their spiritual walk. They are the skilled laborers. Let them help. The roof gets on faster and the house becomes secure sooner. Third, get good construction material. Just like the laborers help, good materials help as well. These can be study guides, devotionals, or prayer. Talk with the Master Builder. Who else can give you the best advice? Finally, look for a piece of land that is NOT in the flood plain. Unless you are a skilled builder and have much experience in flood-proofing, even the house that did not get washed away will suffer flood damage. Repair and clean-up will take much effort and energy. In spiritual terms, it could be devastating. A house is not built in a battlefield.
God will protect us – but not from stupidity. Jesus also tells us that we are to plan our actions carefully before jumping into them. Luke 14: 28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Build the foundation on solid rock, with as much help as you can get, from as many skilled people as possible, as quickly as you can, in a safe place.
Then help others.
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I heard a cute story today. It's one of those "Little Johnny" jokes. This one, however makes a statement in addition to being funny.
Johnny's mother looked out the window and noticed him "playing church" with their three kittens. He had the kittens sitting in a row, and he was preaching to them.
She smiled and went about her work. A while later she heard loud meowing and hissing and ran back to the open window to see Johnny baptizing the kittens in a tub of water. She called out, "Johnny, stop that! Those kittens are afraid of water!"
Johnny looked at her and said . . . "They should have thought about that before they joined my church."
How often does this happen "in the real world?"
And no, this is not a commentary on baptism.
People should be very careful about what they are buying into when joining a particular church or denomination. Not everything that appears to be right and rosy is exactly as it seems. I am not one to be in a position to provide the "right" answer. I don't think that anyone here is. But a word can be offered about the "wrong" answer.
The Apostle John wrote a letter of warnings. In the fourth chapter of his first letter he writes:
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
Let me make this clear.
THERE ARE WRONG CHOICES.
There are many choices that are right. But there are wrong ones as well.
The only way we can determine what the right answers are is by study. First and foremost we must study the Book of the collections of books - the Bible. This is the inspired Word God has given. We need first and foremost to know what it says - not what people tell us it says.
Second, we must study books about the history of the Christian existence. Only by knowing where we've been as a church can we avoid the mistakes of the past and know that we are embracing the church as it was founded. There are many riches in Christian tradition. There's an expression about the baby and bath water - don't simply dismiss it because it was done for some tradition. After all God has given traditions to his people through the Bible and some of the Christian traditions are interpretations of these very things.
Third, we need to study books about the Bible. This is third on the list behind the stories. When we read the stories, we understand the experiences that took place - and Christianity is a very "experience oriented" existence. We are to experience Christian living - not read about it. And by reading what other say (this third path) we are reading what other people think about the Bible. there are many great things in there but it is opinion and only as good as the worth of the author.
Fourth, we need to witness the practice of these things in the lives our ourselves and others. Do people do as they say? True there are hypocrites in every crowd and we are all struggling to follow the life as we believe Christ set out for us; but, are there special "loop-holes" for special people? Why and how do certain individuals or groups get special "privileges" either human or spiritual? Observe. That is how we test the spirits.
And cover it all in prayer. Prayer is our desire to hear God and have God hear us. If we do these things, we can avoid that drowning sensation.
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No, It's not what you think it is.
Think. We make jokes about tat the oldest profession is. The common line is that it's prostitution. Others joke and say that its got to be politics - the devil and God openly debated and the devil used all sorts of tricks to get his way and make you believe it was for your own good. "Who do you supposed created the chaos in the first place?" lol
No, that's not really it. Discounting the actions of God in creation since God is omnipotent and can easily represent all aspects of whatever profession you choose, we need to look at the people and see what it is. The Bible tells us in Genesis 2:15
"The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."
The oldest profession is gardening. God told the man to tend the garden - to work it and take care of it. When did we stop thinking that way?
This year we have seen the earnest efforts by people all over the globe to try to do something about global warming. We can debate whether or not we humans are responsible for it or not. That isn't the point here. It's happening and the gardener is not doing anything about it. Whether or not the gardener is responsible for accidentally bringing weeds in the garden, he is responsible for removing those weeds.
We are all descendants of the gardener. It is our heritage to do this task of working the soil and tending the garden.
On the 22nd of April it is Earth Day. It is the day we set aside to think about the Garden and what is left of it - and to contemplate our place in assuming the responsibility to work it and take care or it. The official web site for more information is http://www.earthday.net/earthday2008.aspx
Whether you choose to take part in any official activity or not, please join me in prayer for the planet and its well being. After all, it's our home.
Peace!
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I will not be visiting with you for awhile.
There have been a number of things that have lead to this. Mostly they are work related and home "management" related.
There is much to do at work and the office policy has now shut down my access to MyChurch during daylight hours. hence my contacts must be after I get home in the evenings. Well, the amount of work I have right now is keeping me at the office until 9pm so the opportunity is getting quite restricted.
And, there is "stuff" I need to do at the house. The yard work is overwhelming. I need a new roof. There's painting, planting, all the things that come with a house and yard. My son has moved away and cannot be counted on for help. My daughter is grown and, although living at home, has her own life.
I am reminded of the letter that Paul wrote to Timothy in which he writes:
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:8 (New International Version)
In addition, I have a number of commitments to church - my own congregation, those in the St Louis area and the greater Body, that I have not been able to meet effectively. I'll miss the conversations and the dialogues but I must do this for now.
Peace!
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I received this email from a friend. It sounded so much like an urban legend I had to check it out. And it checks out true. The boy known in the story as Billy is really Frank “Bopsy” Salazar. His story can be viewed on this link to the Make-a-Wish Foundation who is responsible for this amazing story. This has been a part of the "Chicken Soup" stories. I've edited it to return one exaggeration back to the facts. Read the story and note what the Fire Chief tells Billy.
In Phoenix, Arizona , a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible. The leukemia would see to that but she still wanted her son's dream to come true.
She took her son' s hand and asked, 'Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?
Mommy, 'I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.'
Mom smiled back and said, 'Let's see if we can make your wish come true.'
Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona , where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix .
She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.
Fireman Bob said, 'Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy -
one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots.' 'They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix , so we can get them fast.'
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck.
Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station.
He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls.
He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedic's' van, and even the fire chief's car.
He was also videotaped for the local news program.
Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.
One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept - that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital.
Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.
The chief replied, 'We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes.’ Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire?' 'It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?
About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window--------
Five fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room.
With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they LOVED him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, 'Chief, am I really a fireman now?'
'Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand,' the chief said
With those words, Billy smiled and said, 'I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and The angels have been singing. He closed his eyes one last time.
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