God You Are So Neat !!

 Friday, April 17, 2015

 "Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the days from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for light in the expanse of the heaven to give light on the earth; and it was so.....God saw that is was good" (Gen. 1:14-15).

 Hey Gang:  I sometimes think I am a wee bit strange.  No, make that a lot of times I think I am strange, and each day, as the world continues to do weird things, I feel even more strange.  You see, I am a literalist when it comes to God's word.  I believe every word in it and believe God has been very zealous in protecting His word.  You see, I believe our world is becoming devoid of excitement.  I certainly cannot find any in the glitz of the world, nor in the every- day activities of the world.  One might think they can find it in the church but, if it is there, I am missing the boat.

 This morning I reread Genesis one, and, once again asked God to forgive his creation for making such a mess of it.   But as I read it again, I got kind of a different thought.  As I read the first twenty-four verses, I had a strong image of God's might and power.   "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  Wow, is that not awesome?  Now, I know that are ‘big bang theories, and a dozen or so others, but I believe one day God took nothing and made the heavens and earth.

 Now why do I believe that? Because everything else that follows in God's Word has come true; therefore, I believe that is how it came together, and also true.  Can you get a picture of God, Almighty, All-powerful taking the waters in His hands and forming them into oceans, seas and lakes and ponds and even mud puddles?  I believe it was one of the happiest days of His creative genius.  A star here, a moon over there, the sun right there, all in perfection!

 And then one of the greatest miracles of all?  Sound and color!    Wow, would this not be a boring place, if there were no colors and no music?   Would it not be boring if there were not four seasons to enjoy?  Oh, I realize there are those who would rather not have the cold winter but that is part of the life cycle that makes his perfection tick.

 believe He had a ball as he formed the thousands of species of fish, birds, and insects.  I wonder why he made wasps and mosquitoes.  I would ask Him when I meet Him face to face, but I suspect I will be in such awe, I will be speechless.  When He made the great fish, did He say, "This one is for Jonah?"  When He created Balaam's donkey, did He put a voice in him to be used in that special time when Balaam was on his way to curse the Children of Israel?

 wonder if one of His favorite days was the day He created the animals of the world?  Do you think He might have leaned back and laughed from deep in his soul when He saw the camel, and the ant eater, or the Tasmanian Devil, for the first time?  There is the question that has been bantered around forever, “Will there be animals in heaven?”  To those skeptics I say - shame, how could God not have His unique menagerie of perfect creatures in the New Jerusalem?  The Word does say the lion with lie down with the lamb, doesn't it?

 Well, I would like to go on.  I so enjoy the creation story. Why?  Because I believe it is picture of what we will see when we are called home to be with Father God in glory.  It will be perfect in every way - because that is the only way God is capable of creating!!

 Blessings,

 Gramps

Balanced or Off Balance?

 

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him" (Psalm 28:7).  "Do not be grieved for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).

 Hey Gang:  I am a balanced therapy addict!  I have refrained from using the word "therapy" because of the connotations that it surfaces in many minds.  I would rather have people look at their lives from the platform of experience.  I am also an advocate of looking at all of life situations from the standpoint of a three-point triangle that includes Values, Choices and Destinations.

 And what do I mean by balanced.  There is no denying the fact that we are going to run into 'Back-Against-The-Wall, Alligators up to our armpits, and clinkers in our path on a fairly regular basis.  I have come to this conclusion:  when we allow the negatives to override the positives, we are going to get clobbered!

 I believe, if all couples who were contemplating marriage were compelled to read Gary Smalley's book The Language of Love, it would provide a foundation on which to build a relationship within the marriage.  He introduces the concept of a ‘Love Bank’, which we have shared with many couples and families.  What in the world is that?  It is the same as your checking account with your local bank only it pertains to human behaviors. 

 When we do something good for our mate or child, that is a deposit in your love bank account and when there is a disagreement, you make a withdrawl from your love bank account.  It is sad that so many couples get into deep financial problems because they think that must have all the bangles and beads the world offers.  And that same attitude prevails in many marriages. When the withdrawals, financial or loving, exceed the deposits, trouble is close at hand!

 The basics of the Love Bank or the ‘tie that binds’ is found in Ecclesiastes 9:4-9; the Preacher writes about a strand of three that binds the husband and the wife and the Holy Spirit together.  A strand of three is so much stronger than a strand of two! And when the two are not bound through a love bank principle, it is a strand of one plus one, and breaking a strand of one, is a piece of cake, especially when there is no Holy Spirit in the life of that one.

 ‘Love Bank’ principles are found throughout the Bible.  Jesus was a constant planter of deposits in all those who loved Him and called Him Lord.  His greatest contribution to your Love Bank was His willingness to lay down His life that you might be freed from the bondage of sin.  He said, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for friends" (John 15:13).

  I have heard it said a zillion times that marriage is a 50 - 50 proposition.  To that I shout "balderdash".  First, marriage is not a proposition, it is a lay down your life commitment: second, it is not 50-50 it is 100% - zip.  If you are not willing to lay down your life for that special person God united you with, go fishing instead of to the altar.

 Jesus, "the way, the truth, and the life" gave us clear instructions in the proper procedures for our Love Bank, He said, "For I was hungry, and you fed me;I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me; in prison and you came to Me."  (Matt. 25:35-36).  When questioned about doing these things, Jesus responded, "…to the extent you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, you did it to Me" (Vs. 40).  Even our spouse and family!

 Soooo, Jesus removed any excuse we might muster for not going into all the world or even our neighbor! He said, "I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest" (John 4:35) He also said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Matt. 9:37).  What say ye?  Are you a laborer for Jesus?  Is it time to do an accounting on your Love Bank?

 Blessings,

Gramps

Be Prepared, God Will Send A Teacher!

 

Friday, March 20, 2015

"For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on our offspring and My blessing on your descendants and they will spring up like grass like poplars by streams of water." (Isa. 44:3-4). "Behold, Children are a gift from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward....How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them" (Psa. 127: 3, 5). 

Hey Gang:  How many know we need a crash course, across our land, on these two verses.  At least among all who are getting hitched.  Those who know me, know I have spent most of my life working with youth who are struggling with the ‘empty cavity syndrome’; this often could be filled with the mom or dad who implicated ‘caring for you is just too much of a hassle and restricts my freedoms.’ 

When I graduated from college, I fully intended on continuing my education in California to prepare for a career in criminology.  I do not have a clue why I choose that field because I am totally ill equipped to work in any field that requires understanding in science and physics.  God knew that.  He knew my DNA was far better equipped to work on the other side of criminology called "Throwing out a life line to kids that were floundering." 

With four youngsters under the age of six, I had no choice- I had to get a job and get it fast.  It did not appear that I was going to be able to attend college until I salted away enough bread to pay the bills, so I was seeking something that was within my ability level and could gain understanding of how to work with the kids of the "system".  That led me to a Juvenile Detention Center that just happened to be looking for someone who could start  - that day!

They were very kind and assured me I would receive training before being throw to the wolves.  So, they scheduled me for an observation shift that night and gave me all the tools I would need - a set of keys!  I could fill ten or twelve morning messages with my first experiences as a counselor in a detention center, in the hard-core section.  Here one had to be a class-one felon to gain entry. There is no question in my mind this was where God wanted to train me in the finer points of 'throwing out life-lines’. 

When I walked in the section the next day, having completed my required training program the previous night, I was confronted by fifty hostile young men who were not fond of counselors and were quick to let me know it.  I knew, if God placed me there, He would provide a safety net for me.  Very early in my first shift God put words in my mouth that would provide the basis for the education that was to follow. Two fairly good-sized lads from different gangs decided they did not like each other and were demonstrating their distain by beating on each other. 

Now, as I think back, I must admit I do not have a clue why I did what I did.  I stepped between the two lads and suggested there might be a less painful way to resolve what was bugging them!  One of the lads said, "Whatcha gunna do man?”  Good question.  I did not have a clue what I was ‘gunna do, man!’

Now, I also do not have a clue where my response to that question came from. I said, "I don't have a clue what I am ‘gunna do’ because you have not yet taught me what I should do that will help you fix your life and get out of here.  As I recall, I am not sure who was more shocked, my co-worker, the kids or yours truly.

Soooo, To make the very long story very short - THEY DID.  The fight stopped and we pow-wowed for an hour or so, in which most of the other young men entered into the discussion and my education was begun. 

The year I retired from Eagle Village I was awarded an Honorary Doctors Degree from Ferris State University.  It was an award I accepted for all the people who have given time and talents to help the many kids who have found hope and success at the Village throughout the years.  But I really received my ‘Ph.D’ in experience in a detention home in California, taught by a bunch of kids that by world standards were "weeds". 

Blessings.

Gramps

Spiritual Authority

 

Monday, March 31, 2014

"The Lord said to him, what is that in your hand?"  "A staff”, he replied".  (Exodus 4:2)

 Hey Gang:  Many years ago our Board President felt we needed a little rest and relaxation so he provided a scholarship for us to spend a week at the Christian Retreat Center in Bradenton, Florida. While there we were privileged to sit under the teachings of such people as Gerald Derstine, Iverna Thompkins, Judson Cornwell and many other anointed teachers.

  But one that I would place at the top of the list was a pastor by the name of Jamie Buckingham.  Jamie had spent many weeks in the Sinai learning what God would teach him the desert. He wrote a book, that graces my library, titled A Way Through the Wilderness. 

 When I find myself in the midst of a wilderness experience, more times than not, I return to the pages of this book for encouragement and perhaps a better understanding of what I am going through.  He, like Paul and James, is a very practical teacher. He uses the simple things of the desert to teach us profound truths.

 For example, he points out that when God is looking for something for His service, He usually looks for something common to us.  An old country preacher once said, "When God needs something done, He looks for a broken vessel and smashes it and then places it on the potter’s wheel for molding into the image of His Son and preparation for what lies ahead.  

 In Exodus 4:2 we find such an example.  Moses was not red hot on the idea of going back to the land of Pharaoh who had placed a price on his head for bumping off one of their citizens.  He, like most of us, opened his bag of excuses as to why we do not want to do something.  ‘I mean Lord, I don't talk so good, I mean Lord I am a minimally educated hillbilly from the sticks, I mean Lord there are mega people more qualified than I.’

  I wonder if Saul might have come up with similar excuses as to why he did not want to become Paul the missionary to the Gentiles.  But God gave him no opportunity to open his excuse bag - He (God) looked down and said, "I'll take that one” and knocked him off his donkey".

 I wonder if God was not becoming a wee bit impatient with Moses when He said to him "Hey, Moses, what do you have in your hand?”  "A rod".  "Throw it on the ground".  We know the story, the rod turned into a serpent. God said, “Pick it up by the tail.”  The serpent turned back to a rod but without the serpent in it. 

 Soooo, my young friends, we know, from seeing all the movies about Moses, that he was never without that rod. Why?  Because the rod represents authority!  Moses was now a man under authority.  Does that mean we should all go and get a rod?  No!, I do not think that is the focus of the story; but rather that God can use anything that is given to Him. Keep in mind God honors simple things!

 Blessings,

 Gramps