My Ongoing Thoughts

SYNCHRONIZED LIVING!

6/24/2022

One of the blessings of being retired is being able to have a tad more spare time than one does when he or she is working and earning a living. Down through the years, in anticipation of retiring one day, I made a list of the things I always wanted to do, but never really had the time or opportunity to undertake. I am now slowly working through this list of activities.

Included on it are a few television shows I always wanted to watch, but never really had the opportunity. Now that I do, I find and record these shows whenever they are on, so I can view them at my leisure.

One such show is the old black and white Perry Mason series that was broadcast in my childhood. My mother always loved to watch it; so I remember it being on. But at the time, the story lines were well over my head. These days, I find myself full of admiration for how well the show was written, acted, and produced.

Nevertheless, while viewing an episode recently, I was struck by the fact that for whatever reason, the soundtrack was out of sync with the picture. I’m sure it was a glitch in the way it was being broadcast and not something in the original production and airing.

Suffice it to say that the whole thing was rather surreal. Voices would be heard when no mouths were moving on the screen. Conversely, mouths would be moving on the screen when no words were being heard. And this went on for several minutes.

Of course, the problem magically went away when the next commercial came on. (I guess the advertisers will not long stand for what the consumer must otherwise endure!) Thus, by the time the program resumed, the matter had resolved itself. But the experience of seeing and hearing inconsistency in the actors’ performances has stuck with me.

As I have pondered this simple matter, I have been led to ask myself a few questions regarding whether or not there is any inconsistency between the things I myself say and the things I myself do. To begin with, do I say things at the wrong time? Do I speak when I should not be speaking? Do I speak when others should be speaking? In such times, do my words speak more about me than I intend? Or even realize?

Conversely, do I not speak when I should be speaking? Do I remain silent when I should clearly be saying something? And if so, does my silence condemn me in such moments?

What is more, do I say things that are out of sync with my actions? Do I say one thing and act another way? Or vice versa? If and when this happens, do my actions actually speak louder than my words? Equally as significant, perhaps, is just how glaring any and all such occurrences may be to others when I myself fail to grasp what I am displaying!

After all, is it not more than a little strange that I can pick up fairly quickly on any inconsistencies in others when their words and actions are not in sync, but can somehow remain blissfully ignorant of any such behavior in my own life?

Of course, perception is one thing; but destruction is quite another. So maybe the biggest question of all is just how detrimental my own inconsistencies are to others. When I display words and actions that are out of sync with one another, what does that do to my testimony as a believer?! How destructive is such behavior to my Christian witness?!

The Bible repeatedly admonishes us as believers to practice consistency in order not to cause others to stumble. Consider just two of Jesus’s statements about the importance of our witness – the first from the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 5, verse 16, Amplified Version), and the second from the Gospel of Luke (chapter 18, verses 1-3, Amplified Version)…

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

“Stumbling blocks [temptations and traps set to lure one to sin] are sure to come, but woe (judgment is coming) to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the sea, than for him to cause one of these [a]little ones to stumble [in sin and lose faith]. Pay attention and always be on guard [looking out for one another]!”

Such admonitions are given to us with good reason! For whenever our testimony is out of sync, we clearly run the risk of influencing others to live their own lives out of sync as well.

Of course, the whole purpose in Christ having come to earth was to get us back in sync! It was sin that put us out of sync in our relationship with the Heavenly Father; and it was the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus Christ, that put our relationship with Him back in back in sync.

But while our relationship is back in sync, our fellowship is not always so. The former has been fixed permanently; but the latter requires attention on a regular basis. This is precisely why the Apostle Paul cautions us not to give way to the old self.

In verses 22-24 of the 4th chapter of his letter to the Ephesians, he remind us how important it is “to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Given all of this, may I be faithful to keep my own testimony in sync. May my words and my actions always match up - in the eyes of others, in my own eyes, and above all, in God’s eyes!

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/matthew/5-16.htm;

https://biblehub.com/amp/luke/17.htm;

https://biblehub.com/bsb/ephesians/4.htm.

SEE ALSO:

https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-41-war-within-romans-721-25;

https://bible.org/article/%E2%80%9Cold-man%E2%80%9D-and-%E2%80%9Cnew-man%E2%80%9D-paul.

"NIP IT IN THE BUD!"

6/20/2022

My title today comes from one of the most famous law-enforcement agents in American History: Barney Fife. Garnering five Primetime Emmy Awards for his portrayal, Don Knots brought the well-intentioned but bumbling fictional character to life in 143 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show.

Numerous quotes floating around in popular culture today trace their origins back to Mayberry’s beloved Deputy. But none are as well-known and oft repeated as: “Nip it in the bud!” Those with either an agricultural background or a horticultural bent instinctively understand the meaning of this phrase. It references the practice of pinching off the bud on a plant before it opens into a leaf or a flower.

Thus, Webster’s Dictionary gives the general meaning of this phrase as: “to stop something immediately so that it does not become a worse problem”. In light of this, as I write this blog post, I am especially thankful for those who properly practice the fine art of bud-nipping.

Yesterday afternoon, I began what can only be called the delicate art of prepping for my five-year colonoscopy. This was my third go around; so I pretty much knew what to expect. And I am happy to report that, “in the end”, all went well.

The Doctor found only one small polyp, which he promptly removed. Otherwise, my internal plumbing seemed to be in good-working order – enough so that I was given the “all clear signal” and told to plan on coming back in another five years.

As my wife drove me home today, I was reminded of Solomon’s admonition in the Old Testament Book of Proverbs (chapter 17, verse14, KJV), where he states: “The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.”

Other translations of this verse are insightful:

NIV: “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.”

NLT: “Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.”

CEV: “The start of an argument is like a water leak--so stop it before real trouble breaks out.”

AMPLIFIED VERSION: “The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes]; Therefore abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.”

In their “Commentary on Proverbs 17” in The Pulpit Commentary, Joseph Exell and Donald Spence Jones shed additional light on Solomon’s meaning here…

“The small rift in the bank of a reservoir of water, if not immediately secured, is soon enlarged and gets beyond control, occasioning widespread ruin and destruction; so from small and insignificant causes, which might at first have been easily checked, arise feuds and quarrels which extend in a wide circle, and cannot be appeased.”

By and large, I have no control over the appearance of colon polyps. But I can take the prudent steps to see that what is currently a small and benign problem does not become a larger, more serious matter. This is what I earlier did today; and thankfully, as a result, the little problem has now literally been “nipped” in the bud!

I encourage any and every one to undergo this simple procedure at the appropriate stage of life. Twenty-four hours of going hungry and getting cleansed is a small price to pay in light of the promise of years of digestive and nutritional health.

But I hasten to add an additional encouragement as well. I urge any and every one to realize that small polyps are not the only things that might well need to be nipped in the bud. Other things might also need to be given attention when they are small and before they become larger.

Such things include simple misunderstandings, minor disputes, seemingly insignificant slights, and/or any of dozens of other matters that so often pop up in the midst of our dealings with others. The occurrence of these things can even be beyond our control.

But even if this is the case, it still behooves us to be sensitive to their presence, and then to seek ways to nip them while they are still small and relatively harmless. Failing to do so can put us at risk. For unless they receive needed attention, insignificant matters can well become significant ones.

When it comes to our digestive systems, little polyps can become big ones. Likewise, when it comes to our interactions with others, little situations can become big situations. Let us learn to deal with each of these matters at the earliest possible opportunity after their discovery.

As Deputy Fife so aptly put it: “Nip it! Nip it! Nip it!”

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-14.ht.m.

COMMENTARY SOURCE:

https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/tpc/proverbs-17.html#copyright.

SEE ALSO:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSyueBoC9mE.

A WEEK OF BLESSINGS

6/17/2022

What a week! It’s Friday evening and I am utterly exhausted. Overjoyed, but exhausted. I just got home and cleaned up after being blasted by water balloons tonight in the culminating celebration of a week of Vacation Bible School at church.

I tried to count up the total number of Vacation Bible Schools of which I have ever been a part. It is somewhere between 30 and 40 as an adult volunteer. This does not include all the ones of my childhood and teenage years. These would easily push the truer number closer to 50.

This much I do know. As a Pastor, I learned that the week of VBS each summer at church would be one of the most demanding of the entire year. During this week, Pastors tend to be Jacks of all trade and masters of none. By this I mean that we often have no specific responsibility; and yet we are called upon to do a great many things.

Even as a young Pastor in my mid 30s, I remember how tired I often was as the end of each day of VBS. This was not just from being on my feet in sandals or flip flops all day; but from the additional stress that typically accompanies the week’s activities.

All that being said, I still looked forward to VBS each and every year. Why? Because I knew the impact VBS had on me as a young child. I remember the fun activities, the crafts, the good food, and the games we played. I also remember how much of the Bible I learned in such times.

Nor will I ever forget meeting genuine missionaries who were home on furlough for the very first time while at VBS. The stories they told, the artifacts they displayed, the costumes they wore… all these things set my imagination on fire.

If VBS had this kind of impact on me, then hopefully it can and will still do the same for little boys and girls today. Little wonder that my wife and I made certain that our three children all experienced VBS week each summer growing up. And nowadays, we hope the same for our grandsons. For this reason, the four that are old enough were taken to VBS with us each evening this week.

Tonight, they enjoyed their share of hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, inflatable bounce houses, and water slides, and yes, hitting Granddaddy with water balloons. But that is not what brought joy to my heart. What did thrill me was watching them sing the lyrics to the songs we learned, as well as correctly yell out the answers to the Bible trivia questions that were posed to them.

The theme this week was “Give us, Lord, our daily bread.” from Matthew 6:11. By the end of the week, among other lessons, my grandsons had learned how God once fed the Israelites manna in the wilderness, how He fed Elijah and the widow at Zarephath, and how He fed the 5000 with 12 basketfuls left over, and how He fed His disciples on the shore of the sea of Galilee.

Let’s just say that my own soul was fed as I watched their little souls nurtured in the faith of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Kudos to all those volunteers who showed up to make this possible for them and scores of other children this past week. Jesus Himself had a lot to say about children.

For instance, he once said: “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.”

To which He added: “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

Little wonder then that He also went on to say: “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

What is more, the Bible tells us that, once: “...the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. ‘Truly I tell you,’ He said, ‘unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’”

All these things were already on my mind when I received a text from my daughter telling me that two of my grandsons “prayed for daily bread in their bedtime prayers, unprompted. So sweet.”

Her commentary spoke volumes. Knowing what hearing such prayers from them means to me, I can only imagine what they must mean to their Heavenly Father above!

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/bsb/mark/9.htm;

https://biblehub.com/matthew/19-14.htm;

https://biblehub.com/bsb/matthew/18.htm.

IN PLAIN VIEW…

6/11/2022

Perhaps the side mirror on your car contains the same warning as does mine: “WARNING: OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR!” Such a warning is fitting whenever we are looking behind us. But I discovered this week that other objects in view may also need to be accompanied by a word of caution - even ones out in front of us. Such admonition might read: “WARNING: OBJECTS IN VIEW ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR!”

It happened this way. As I was out walking, I happened upon a good sized slug making its way across a driveway. Normally, one might expect to see an accompanying slime trail. None was present; but I chalked this up to the fact that the heat from the summer sun had likely dried it up fairly quickly.

It was only when I was upon the creature that I realized something was remiss. I bent over to take a closer look; and discovered that what I had supposed to be a common slug was in fact not a slug at all. It was rather a leaf. To be sure, it was a leaf that very much looked like a slug; but it was not a slug! It was merely a leaf.

As I walked along, I turned and took one last look. It was then that all doubt was removed. Viewing the thing in retrospect plainly confirmed that I had been mistaken in both my original impression and my resultant assumption.

Continuing my walk, I thought about how symbolic this whole little episode had been. And how telling! After all, how many times over the years have I approached a situation and drawn a conclusion about how things were, only to find that it was not as I had initially assumed. In all such cases, looking at the matter in retrospect clearly showed that I had been mistaken in my initial assumptions.

Such a realization leads me to ponder just how much trouble and/or difficulty I could have avoided if I had not jumped to so many conclusions on so many occasions. Probably more than I could ever count.

Of course, what’s done is done; and the past is the past. There’s no sense crying over spilt milk, as it were! But, while I cannot do anything about the past, I can do something about the future. And for this reason, maybe I‘ll just resolve from this day forward not to draw too many conclusions prematurely!

Proverbs 25:8 tells us: “Do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?” While this is very specific advice given for a very specific context, it nonetheless represents the general truth I am attempting to convey. That truth is that we should be careful about being hasty in all our affairs. For whenever we do, we run the risk of finding out that we were wrong to jump to conclusions!

If this is true of life’s situations, and it is, then how much more true is it in life’s relationships?! Remember what Jesus told us in Luke 6:37: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven…”

I pray the Lord helps me not to jump to conclusions in the many unfolding situations of my life. I pray even more that the Lord helps me not to jump to conclusions in the various relationships of my life! For when I do the first, the results are often bad enough. But when I do the latter, the results can be devastating.
May the Lord help me to look into the future the way I so often look at the past!

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/proverbs/25-8.htm;

https://biblehub.com/luke/6-37.htm.

THAT LOVING FEELING!

6/7/2022

Some thirty-six years ago, before our kids were ever born, in celebration of our approaching third wedding anniversary, my wife and I went on a date night to see the original Top Gun movie, starring Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. These days, our children are all grown up and married with kids of their own. But tonight, in celebration of another approaching wedding anniversary (this time our thirty-ninth), I took her out on another date night. And together we took in another movie - you guessed it, the new Top Gun sequel, once again starring Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer.

I enjoyed the first movie very much. I will now have to say that I enjoyed the second installment even more. The plot was fairly credible, the acting was decent, and the flight scenes were over the top, far surpassing those of the original movie. Add to that the fact that there was very little profanity and zero gratuitous sex scenes, and one can see why I found the second movie even more enjoyable than the first.

True, Tom Cruise is no spring chicken! Nor is Val Kilmer. No amount of make-up will hide receding hairlines, age-related wrinkles, or changes in body structure. And yet, while they are nowhere as nimble as they once were, they are still active enough at their age; enough so that their respective performances were quite believable for the rolls they played.

And of course, they are not alone. All of us, including my wife and I, have aged considerably since 1986. Many moons and many miles have taken their toll on us as well. In spite of this, I am just as much in love with her now as I was back in the day; and few things are as enjoyable as a night out with her, my beautiful wife.

Wise old King Solomon once wrote the following in the Old Testament Book of Proverbs (chapter 18, verse 22): “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” I am living proof that this Bible verse is true!

I found the woman who was to become my wife forty-six years ago this summer in that most “target rich” of environments - a tenth grade Sunday School class. I took one look at her and decided: “So, you’re the one!”, and immediately decided to act, lest I “lose her forever”!

So I said “Excuse me, Miss...”, and asked her out. She promptly replied: “No. I don't date students.” But I persisted and told her: “You can run, kid, but you can’t hide!”, and assured her that “if others trusted me, maybe she could”. Long story short - I kept after her; and seven years later, I eventually “hooked her”. She finally stopped running, said “Give me a call. I’ll fly with you!”, and agreed to meet me at the altar of that same church.

Needless to say, I was thrilled, knowing full well that there would have been “no points for second place” had she chosen anyone else over me! As a result, we have now enjoyed one long “walk in the park” together - one in which I have been blessed beyond measure!

At times, we have felt “the need, the need for speed”, and our journey together has been as fast and furious as two F-14s in a dog fight. At other times, it has been as slow as the same two jets taxying to their hangers. At times, we have soared high together in accomplishment, “going Mach Two with our hair on fire”! At other times, we have fallen well “below the hard deck” in bitter defeat.

But through it all, we have stayed together, we have stayed on course, and we have never yet “crashed and burned”. We have even scored a victory or two together along the way.

Admittedly, these days, neither of us are spring chickens. Let’s just say that my own “ego is writing checks that my body cannot cash!” But after all this time, I still find her beautiful. She is the love of my life; and I look forward to the rest of a long, long flight together. I’ll gladly “be her wingman anytime” and forever!

In turn, I can only hope she never gets to the point that she decides she “has had enough fun for one day”, discovers that “she's lost that loving feeling” for me, and “bugs out”! I freely admit that “I'm lucky to be here!” But for now, at least, I'll “call the ball” and say that “it's looking pretty good so far”!

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/niv/proverbs/18.htm.

TOP GUN MOVIE QUOTES:

https://screenrant.com/top-gun-best-quotes/;

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/05/15/30-best-quotes-top-gun-its-30th-anniversary/84317882/.

A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM…

6/2/2022

Our three year old grandson and his five year old older brother spent the night with my wife and me this past Sunday evening. We had a blast as we all made the absolute most of the evening and then the night together. The following morning, after a magnificent breakfast consisting of pancakes, cinnamon rolls, and leftover popcorn, my wife delivered him and his brother back to their home.

Neither of us thought much more about the night’s events until we received the following text from our daughter late last night:

Buckaroo (his nickname) said his first big boy prayer tonight (instead of singing the blessing song as we always have). He borderline yelled it saying: “Thank God for catch lightning bugs. And play frisbee. And thank God for come inside. And thank God for watch spiderman and suk-a-man beat the bad guys at Yaya and Granddaddy's. Thank God for play. Amen”

Wow! Neither of us thought all that much of any of the activities with which we had filled their evening. But little buckaroo did! Obviously, he had himself a marvelous time catching lightning bugs, playing Frisbee before coming inside and chowing down on popcorn while watching Spiderman and “suk-a-man” (also known as Superman) defeat their respective enemies here at Yaya’s (my wife’s) and my house.

We were both moved by his little prayer. First, because these simplest of activities that we had undertaken with him had obviously meant far more to him than either of us had ever dreamed. One never knows just how much he or she impacts a child just by spending time with them, even in the simplest of activities!

And second, because of the sincerity and authenticity of his prayer. From his little perspective, his heart was simply filled with joy! He asked for nothing – not one single thing. Instead, he just thanked God for what all he was happy about! He spoke from his heart, with no pretense, and no agenda.

My wife pointed out that her strong suspicion is that his Heavenly Father was even more pleased than either his earthly father, mother, Yaya, or Granddaddy were with his prayer!

And for that reason, the prayer of her heart this day is that she would learn to pray in like fashion – just praising God for all His blessings without even asking for a thing! I echo that sentiment!

In the 6th verse of the 11th chapter of his Old Testament Book, the Prophet Isaiah of old declared that there would come a day when a little child would take the lead. In our case, at least, his prophecy has been fulfilled.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/niv/isaiah/11.htm.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

5/30/2022

It’s called the “Murph Challenge”, or sometimes simply the “Murph”. It is a W.O.D., or “Workout of the Day”, named for Lieutenant Michael Murphy, one of the three U.S. Navy Seals who died in Operation Red Wings, and the subject of a book and movie titled Lone Survivor. It was Murphy’s favorite routine for staying in shape. It has also become a worldwide phenomenon undertaken annually on Memorial Day.

It consists of the following: a one mile run, followed by 100 pullups, followed by 200 pushups, followed by 300 squats, followed by another one mile run. Oh, and by the way, all of this is technically supposed to be done while wearing a 20 pound vest of body armor!

Now, these days, I only run when I hear the dinner bell! And most of my pullups consist of pulling my chair a little closer up to the supper table! So, as much as I might like to, I will not be undertaking the Murph Challenge anytime soon.

But to his everlasting challenge, my youngest son, who is a fitness freak, did just that earlier today. Granted, he was not officially entered in any sort of competition or event; but he still undertook the challenge as a way of personally honoring Michael Murphy (and all others who gave their lives in defense of our country and our liberties) on this special day.

This does not mean that I, myself, did not exercise today. I took my usual walk and then ensconced myself in my easy chair to watch a war movie marathon on television. As I write these words, Saving Private Ryan is on. The movie is noted for its gritty battle scene in which Captain John H. Miller leads his command, Company C, 2nd Ranger Battalion, as they fight their way ashore on Dog Green Sector of Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

More so than any other Hollywood production, this one film arguably captures the essence of what that “day of days” must have been like!

But I love the penultimate scene as well. In it, Captain Miller has just been mortally wounded protecting the life of Private James Francis Ryan, whom he was sent with a squad of men to find and retrieve. With his dying breath, he whispers two simple words to the much younger Ryan: “Earn this!” Miller is obviously referring to the sacrifices so many others have made in order that Ryan can go on to experience a long and hopefully full post-war life.

The final scene then reverts to the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, France, where Ryan has, after many years, returned to the grave of Captain Miller. As the scene unfolds, the elderly gentleman stands from where he had been kneeling in front of the gravestone and earnestly pleads with his wife to assure him that he has been a good man and that he led as good life. Thereafter, he turns to face Miller’s grave marker, and with tears running down his cheek, salutes his fallen commander.

Why do I so love this scene? Because it reminds me that, as an American citizen, I too have been called to live a life this is worthy of the sacrifice that was undertaken by so many brave soldiers, sailors, and airmen on my behalf! I pray I will not ever live a life that is unworthy of their devotion to duty!

And what is true of my responsibility as a citizen of my country is also true of my responsibility as a believer who is a citizen of Heaven. The Amplified Translation of the Apostle Paul’s words to the Ephesians (in chapter 4, verses 1-2) puts it this way:

“So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior--a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another [a]in [unselfish] love.”

A fairly common bumper sticker proclaims, “Only two people ever died for you - The American Soldier and the Son of God.” Given this, especially on Memorial Day, I trust that the life I live is one counted worthy of their respective sacrifices on my behalf.

WORKOUT SOURCE:

https://themurphchallenge.com/pages/the-workout.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/amp/ephesians/4.htm.

SEE ALSO:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Murphy;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Red_Wings;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Survivor_(book);
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Survivor; and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_Private_Ryan.

LITTLE CONSEQUENCES!

5/27/2022

It’s the smallest of things - a little screw no more than an eighth of an inch long. But oh, how important it is! If you don’t believe me, just try being utterly dependent upon your eyeglasses, and then losing this little screw that holds the metal frame around the lens.

This happened to me recently when I went to remove my glasses, and the right lens literally fell out of the frame between the split second of time after they left my head and before reached the table top. Upon examination, I discovered that the little screw atop the right side of my glasses was missing. And as I was soon to learn, no amount of finagling on my part was going to solve the problem. All I could do was take them back to where I got them and have them repaired right.

As I have reflected on this brief experience, I have been reminded that some of the smallest parts can often be the most critical. For instance, I remember reading something in a book by James Robison titled Living Amazed about the three smallest bones in the human body.

According to Robison, these bones are found in the middle ear, and are called the malleus, incus, and stapes, but are perhaps more commonly known as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. He writes: “The hammer is arranged so that one end is attached to the eardrum, while the other end forms a lever-like hinge with the anvil. The opposite end of the anvil is fused with the stirrup (so anvil and stirrup act as one bone).”

Known collectively as the middle ear “ossicles”, the three bones work together in obscurity, completely invisible to the outside world. Yet, they are absolutely essential to our ability to hear. Without them, only 0.1 percent of the sound energy that hits the eardrum would be transferred to the inner ear. But because God has arranged these tiny parts in a way that maximizes their leverage, they produce a sonic effect far beyond their diminutive size.

Robinson then points out that, just as the human body has no insignificant parts, the body of Christ has no small or unimportant members. We all have a sphere of influence - however large or small, however visible or invisible - and we all have a vital role to play in God's plan for redeeming and restoring the world.

Thus, we may be as well-hidden as a bone in the inner ear, an internal organ, or a foot inside a shoe, but every person is absolutely essential to the eternal purpose of Almighty God. As the Apostle Paul puts it in his First New Testament Letter to the Corinthians (chapter 12, verses 18-22):

“But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you.’ The head can’t say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’ In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.”

Wow! Certain parts of the body that seem the weakest are actually the most necessary. In like manner, I’m thankful for the three little bones inside both my left and right inner ears! Without them, I could not hear correctly. Nor could I walk correctly, as the inner ear helps to give my body balance and steadiness!

And when those times roll around, as they sometimes do, that I feel like I do not have much of an impact on the body of Christ, or its purposes, I think about the bones of my inner ear. For, just like the minuscule little screws that hold my eyeglasses together, they are indispensable to the effective working of my senses.

Moreover, while I may not always be aware of the significance of my contribution, the Lord always is; and this fact alone makes the part I play indispensable and worthwhile!

BOOK SOURCE: James Robison, Living Amazed: How Divine Encounters Can Change Your Life (Grand Rapids: Revell Publishing, 2017), pages 203-204.

NOTE: As a quick Google image search will show, all three of these little bones can fit neatly on a dime coin, looking as they do like three little chicken wings on a large plate!

SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/nlt/1_corinthians/12.htm.

“ALL THE GOOD GUY SUPER HEROES!”

5/23/2022

Last Thursday evening, my wife and I attended the preschool graduation of our oldest grandson at the local church where he has been enrolled. As he prepared to receive his little diploma up on stage, he was asked what he wanted to do when he grew up. He gave his full name and then responded that he wanted to be “All the good guy super heroes!”

Well, we sing the praises of our little hero, for we are understandably proud of him and his accomplishment, and trust that it will be but the first of many, many milestones reached in his life.

After the ceremony ended, there was a small stir among several people in the crowd as we all transitioned out to the large reception room where we were to make pictures, enjoy refreshments, and mingle. It turns out, my grandson attended preschool with the grandson of one of the most beloved sports celebrities in Knoxville’s recent memory.

This man had come to see his grandchild graduate, and was all but mobbed as individual after individual made the effort to speak to him. Now, by no means is my own name a household one; but having pastored one or more large churches, I know what it is like just to desire a little anonymity in the midst of a crowd.

The last time I saw the poor fellow, he was headed into the restroom. While he could well have felt the need to visit, he may just as likely have desired simply to be left alone.

And for this reason, I chose to remain focused on why I was there, which was to celebrate with my family, and not to inflate my own sense of self-worth by being able to say that I rubbed elbows with any given person.

That is not to say, however, that I did not interact with others. I soon came across an elderly gentleman wearing a U.S. Army cap, and promptly thanked him for his service to our country. A little later on, I encountered an aging man adorned with a cap that said “Vietnam” with appropriate military insignia. Given what he and his fellow service members endured when they returned form Southeast Asia, I made sure to speak to him and offer my thanks for his willingness to serve our country.

A little while later, I crossed paths with a uniformed policed officer, who was kissing his wife good-bye as she held the hand of their proud little graduate before heading out the door, obviously to resume his local patrol. I shook his hand and thanked him for his service to our community.

I did these things because I truly believe that such men are our real heroes. Now, hear me out. I do not in any way mean to diminish or belittle the accomplishments and/or value that sports heroes have in our world. They certainly serve their purpose as they entertain us and inspire us to make the most of our God-given talents and abilities.

As a child, I certainly had my own share of sports heroes. I could name every member of the Atlanta Braves, and most of the Atlanta Falcons. I spent many a night listening to them on the radio, and many a moment imitating them in play during the day.

But as I aged, I came to realize that there were plenty of other heroes in this world who were worth idolizing and imitating as well; only these wore uniforms of a slightly different nature. They wore Army and Navy and Air Force and Marine and Coast Guard uniforms rather than mere sports uniforms. They also wore police uniforms and fire-fighting uniforms and medical uniforms. And they arguably contributed more to my safety and well-being than did any of my sports heroes.

Memorial Day is a little over a week away. As this holiday unfolds, please remember to make it a priority to take a little time to seek out and thank those who have worn a uniform in order to guarantee your freedom and your safety.

For as the very name Memorial Day indicates, many who have worn a uniform for whatever reason are no longer among us today, many having paid the highest price on our behalf. It is important, therefore, to sing their praises, both while we still can, and while they are still among us to hear our hearts. Otherwise, they will be destined to remain unsung heroes, never knowing how much their service and sacrifice truly meant to us.

FOR THE BIRDS…

5/19/2022

As a little boy, I was absolutely scared out of my wits the first time I ever saw the movie, The Birds, by Alfred Hitchcock. But not so scared that it stopped me from watching it again and again on those rare occasions whenever it was shown on TV!

Of course, the fact that I tuned in was also due, in no small part, to the fact that I had a crush on Suzanne Pleshette (who was later to portray Emily, Dr. Bob Hartley's wife, on The Bob Newhart Show). That plus the fact that I also thought Rod Taylor was way cool – sort of like an everyman “James Bond”. But I digress…

The one part of the movie that scared the heebie-jeebies out of me was the scene where Tippi Hedren was seated on the bench outside the school, and the birds were amassing for an impending attack on the children. When that attack came, it was gruesome; and I have never forgotten it.

These days, I understand that the whole scene was masterfully staged by Hitchcock. In fact, ii is only in this day and age of digital movies that an attentive viewer can recognize that very few live birds were actually used. The vast majority of perched birds were fake ones (never moving), periodically interspersed for effect with a few live (and visibly animated) birds.

Hitchcock’s one blooper in the scene is evident without digital slow motion. All the gathering birds in the scene are black crows. Yet, when the ensuing attack on the schoolchildren actually occurs, most of the birds appear to be white seagulls! But who am I to question the master?

These days, birds don't really scare me all that much. After all, down through the years, I’ve fairly well mastered them. As a small boy, I took my BB gun and killed a bird that was raiding my father’s fruit trees. Later, as a hunter, I went on to harvest my share of turkeys, geese, ducks, dove, and quail.

But nowadays, I've come full circle. Granted, the walls of my man cave are now adorned with mounted specimens of the various species of birds I just mentioned. Perhaps this is why I now spend less time wanting to master them and more time appreciating them, both for their beauty and for the blessing they so often bring to my life.

In this regard, perhaps, I have even more in common with Noah of old than I thought. As I referenced in my previous post, I am finding that, in my old age, I now share his proclivity for horticulture.

The Biblical text also relates how Noah, having raised a family, built an ark, gathered the world’s animals, and survived the flood, likely came to value and appreciate the significance of birds in his life. As Genesis chapter 8 makes plain, Noah first cared for, and then received, a blessing from both a raven and a dove.

And thus, in addition to hours spent planting fruit trees, grape vines, and berry plants, I have been busy as of late hanging bird houses. To begin with, I have now hung multiple song bird houses. Trees all over our property have attached boxes for them to inhabit and propagate within.

In His famed Sermon on the Mount, Jesus admonished us to consider the birds of the air, which neither sow nor reap crops, nor build structures, but are nonetheless taken care of by Him. I guess, in this case, just as He did with Noah and the ark, the Lord is simply using me to care for them. And in turn, He is using them to bless me, just as they did Noah.

In addition to song bird houses, I have also added duck boxes all along the creek that runs adjacent to our yard. Armed with little more than a Google search’s worth of knowledge on the subject, I have now constructed and hung multiple such boxes. Hopefully, as the internet assures me, migrating waterfowl will soon stop off on their journey and recognize and appreciate the nesting location I have provided them. Thereafter, when they return in late January, they may well decide to settle down and raise their brood right here on our property.

If and when they do, I assure you (at least from my perspective), that they will prove a blessing to me, as did the raven and the crow to Noah of old.

For like Noah, I will be reassured in that I will be reminded that the God of history is the God of eternity. Thus, the same God Who judged the world for its sin, and then wiped out the world for its sin, is the same God Who went on to declare that “as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease”.

For ever since that day, all the world’s fruit trees and grape vines and berry plants combined have continually born their offspring in their respective seasons.

As have the birds of the air. In the process, each successive generation of these, in its respective time and place, has only gone on to enhance and enrich the lives of men and women around them.

Each of my duck houses consists of little more than four or five wood planks, a few metal screws, and a handful of cedar shavings. Yet, combined, these things bespeak the unfolding of untold generations of waterfowl to come. Given this, to say the least, their construction and hanging are visionary beyond measure.

Next February, when the time comes that ducks return to our area in order to mate, I will know whether or not my efforts have all been for naught. I cannot say for certain, but for now, my best guess is that I will be rewarded for my efforts. And like Noah, I will rejoice in the birds God has used to bless me.

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/bsb/genesis/8.htm;
https://www.biblehub.com/matthew/6-26.htm.

SEE ALSO:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birds_(film);

NOTE:

The screenplay was based upon the 1952 collection of short stories of the same name by Daphne du Maurier, itself clearly inspired by hordes of Nazi airplanes cruelly attacking England in World War Two. Cf.: https://www.filmsite.org/bird.html.

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