Blog Posts

ON BENDED KNEE…

8/10/2020

What a day! When it began, my brother-in-law could hardly walk. His knee was gone, worn completely out after a lifetime of use and abuse. To quote the doctor, it was “bone on bone with multiple spurs”.

But that was this morning. By this afternoon, all that had now changed. For now, after a relatively brief procedure, he has a brand new knee. And the doctor says he will be up and walking on it this very afternoon!

I’m happy for my brother-in-law. I know many people who have undergone such surgery, and who have literally had their lives transformed as a result. I pray that will now be true for him. I pray that the pain and the immobility he has dealt with for so long will now be replaced by freedom – both from pain and of movement.

For my part, I have yet to face knee replacement. Or shoulder replacement, or any other such procedure common to healthcare today. I am thankful for this. I hope to last as long as I can. But I also recognize that such a day may eventually come in my own life. If and when it does, I am thankful such measures will be available for my benefit.

But, while I have yet to get a new knee or shoulder or hip, I do have a new heart! No, I’ve never had a physical heart transplant. But I have received a new spiritual heart. The date on which it happened was May 9, 1970; and I remember it well.

When I got out of bed that morning, I was a sinner, plagued by pain and guilt. But on that day, I gave my broken heart to Jesus Christ. He then transformed it, and gave me a brand new heart in turn. I can testify to you that my life has never been the same since. I now live a life of peace, joy, and purpose. All because God’s Son did radical spiritual surgery on my heart and gave me eternal life in the process!

Maybe you need a new knee, or shoulder, or hip today? I hope not. But, at least, if you do, one can readily be gotten. Somewhere, this very moment, a skilled surgeon stands ready and able to provide you with whatever you need to transform your impaired physical life.

More to the point, do you need a new heart today? If so, I have even better news. The Divine Physician stands ready and able to provide you with just that! He, and He alone, can give you a brand new heart. He, and He alone, can give you eternal life.

And He waits patiently upon anyone who calls upon Him for salvation. All He requires from you, as He did from me, is a humble bended knee, reflecting an admission of your sin, and a need and desire for His grace and mercy!

The Bible assures us that those who humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways will be heard from heaven, and that God will forgive their sin and bring healing to them as a result.

So, my friend, if you need a new heart today, then why not try bending a knee? I assure you, the former is procured by the latter!

SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/7-14.htm.

UNDER ATTACK

8/7/2020

As my wife and I went walking earlier this morning, we came upon a scene that might well be considered hard to believe if we had not witnessed it with our own eyes. Just down the road, about a quarter of a mile from our home, our neighbor has a barn in the edge of the pasture just across the road from his driveway. This barn is inhabited by a cat that is somehow missing its tail.

As we approached the barn, we looked up to see the cat preparing to jump up onto a large plastic mailbox adjacent to the road. The cat leaped up and grabbed hold of the newspaper slot molded into and just below the mailbox. It hung there by its front claws, while scratching furiously for traction with its rear claws, all in an attempt to gain a foothold by which it could enter the newspaper slot.

As this was happening, two adult swifts, visibly agitated, were repeatedly pummeling the cat from the air. Obviously, they were a breeding pair determined to protect their nest. On about the third or fourth pass, one must have struck a decisive peck with its beak, because the cat lost its tenuous grip and fell to the ground.

Undetermined, it sprang to its feet, and was just preparing to leap up and resume its attack when it looked up and saw my wife and me approaching. At this, it must have decided that discretion was the better part of valor, as it shot across the road and into the barn.

As we walked by, my wife peered into the newspaper slot and, sure enough, there was a nest, presumably with baby chicks tucked inside. For my part, I peered into the barn on the opposite side of the road, and caught a fleeting glimpse of the cat crouching just inside the door in the darkness. No doubt it was already planning its next strike.

As we walked on, we discussed what we had just witnessed; and quickly recognized the various truths on display. Apparently a father and mother bird had come together, courted, built a nest, and had a family. To their credit, the parenting birds had responsibly brought the next generation of life into this world.

Yet, no amount of preparation can prevent the difficulties life brings. In the course of time, evil attempted to rock their world by targeting and assailing their offspring. Once again, to their credit, they fought hard and defended their offspring. However, even this valiant effort may have not been enough if my wife and I had not happened up when we did. Our arrival, providential as it was, very likely saved their chicks and allowed then to live to see another day.

My wife and I agreed that this was a good picture of our lives together. We met, courted, married, established a home, and, to the best of our ability, in a responsible manner, brought three children into this world. In so doing, we like to believe that we honored our Creator.

Nonetheless, at various times and in various ways, our home was found to be under attack. More times than we can count, the evil one, whom the Bible affirms “prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour”, boldly attacked our marriage, our home, and our children. And down through the years, whenever these times came, we fought as bravely as we knew how to fend off Satan and his fiery darts and secure our home and family.

But in retrospect, of course, the victory we found in each and every situation really came not from our own efforts, but from the Lord Himself. For in truth, it was always God, in His divine providence, Who showed up at just the right time to send the evil one scurrying off in ignominious retreat.

Even today, now that our three children are all fully grown autonomous adults living out on their own, married, and raising their own children as responsibly as they know how, we agreed that the Lord still watches over and cares for both us and them.

He still shows up just in the nick of time, just when any of us find ourselves the most vulnerable, and the most susceptible to the evil one.

Only Heaven will reveal how often the Lord has delivered me, my wife, and our family from defeat at the hands of the wicked one. Until then, I pray we never forget to remember just Who He is and just what He does for us!

SCRIPTURE SOURCE: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” I Peter 5:8 NLT (https://biblehub.com/1_peter/5-8.htm).

WHY NOT ME?

8/3/2020

Some twenty-five years before “The King of Latin Pop”, Enrique Eglesias, had his 2010 hit of the same name, country music’s record smashing mother and daughter duo, The Judds, had already asked the question: “Why Not Me?”

Both artists had chart-topping hit songs with this same title. And both songs were sung from the perspective of a person seeking to be accepted by someone they loved.

Eglesis puts it this way:

Why, oh why, tell me why not me? Why, oh why, we were meant to be.
Baby, I know I could be all you need. Why, oh why, oh why?
I wanna love you. If you only knew how much I love you. So, why not me?

While the Judds put it this way:

Why not me, on a rainy day? Why not me, to love your cares away?
Why not me?
Why not me, when the nights get cold? Why not me, when you're growin' old?
Why not me?

It is not surprising that both these songs topped their respective charts. No doubt, this is due to the fact that people in every time and place can relate – not just to the question being asked, but also to the perspective from which it is being asked.

But let me hasten to suggest that the question “Why not me?” can also be asked from an entirely different perspective. In addition to inquiring why someone is not being accepted, it can also be asked to inquire why someone is not stepping up and embracing some given responsibility. Allow me to elaborate.

Brian Harbour puts out a monthly newsletter for Christian communicators titled SeminaryPLUS. The July, 2020 edition contains an insightful story that bears repeating here. According to Dr. Harbour:

A young man went to church on Sunday, saw the empty pews, turned and walked away, and wondered why the church was doing nothing. “Why doesn’t somebody do something?” he protested.

Down the street, he heard the beer glasses tinkle, saw the drunk stagger, heard a child’s cry of hunger, and a curse piercing the calm night. And he asked: “Why doesn’t somebody do something?”

He scanned the headlines of the morning newspaper and noted the lack of morality in our nation and the lack of peace in our society. And he asked, “Why doesn’t somebody do something?”

And God answered all these challenges with this simple response: “Why don’t you?”

Dr. Harbour then observes:

That’s an important question. When you see a person who has needs that someone must meet, why don’t you? When your boss asks for a person to volunteer for an important job, why don’t you? When your child needs someone to put his arms around them and assure them that they are important, why don’t you? When you say to your spouse, “Something needs to be done to put a spark back into our marriage,” why don’t you?

The answer to most of the problems around us can be found within us. Look around this week – at home, in your neighborhood, and in the world. See all the jobs to be done; notice all the needs to be met; recognize all the people to be cared for. Who is responsible to do those jobs and meet those needs and care for those people? Look in the mirror and you will see the answer to that question. YOU ARE.

I challenge you today to personalize Dr. Harbour’s story, along with the piercing question with which he ends it. You can do this by simply changing “Why don’t you?” into “Why not me?”

After all, in the Bible, in the Old Testament Book of Isaiah (chapter 6, verses 1-8), the famed prophet was essentially asked this same question. We read:

1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.” 4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.

5Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”

6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7And with it he touched my mouth and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.”

8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”

In many respects, Isaiah was presented with a fundamental question: “Why don’t you?” His answer was “Why not me!” And with that, he effectually stepped up and said “Here am I, use me Lord!”

In light of Isaiah’s experience, I leave you with two relatively certain and inevitable questions: “Why don’t we?” and “Why not us?”

LYRICS SOURCES: https://www.songlyrics.com/enrique-iglesias/why-not-me-lyrics/; and https://www.songlyrics.com/the-judds/why-not-me-lyrics/.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/bsb/isaiah/6.htm.

SEE ALSO: http://seminaryplus.org/newsletter.htm.

"NO FOOLIN!"

7/31/2020

It’s been decades ago; but I still remember the day as a child when I struck it rich! On the dirt road where it grew up, road graders came through about twice a year to smooth out the “washboard” ruts that made it all but impassible for an automobile.

After one such occasion, I rounded the curve walking home from the bus stop after school and beheld a rather large chunk of recently uncovered rock that sparkled in the mid-afternoon light. I picked it up and examined it in careful detail. Having confirmed my suspicions, I tucked it under my arm and hurriedly carried it home.

With each passing step, the accolades grew louder in my mind. Over and over again, I envisioned myself proudly announcing to my family that their days of toil and sweat were forever ended because I had discovered the largest single gold nugget in history.

Fast forward an hour or two and imagine my utter disappointment when my dad got home and ruined my big moment with the news that I was the proud possessor of nothing more than a one pound chunk of worthless iron pyrite, more commonly known as “Fool’s Gold”! Utter dejected, I cast my would-be fortune aside.

Alas! Hindsight, as they say, is “twenty-twenty”. Would that I had kept that worthless chunk of mineral! Had I done so, I would now have had my revenge. But back then, of course, I had no way of knowing that the day would come when I would read an article in the news titled “'Fool's Gold' Could Actually Be Valuable in This Way, Researchers Find”

The article, written by Michael Ruiz, and published on July 30, 2020 on www.FoxNews.com, reveals that researchers at the University of Minnesota may have found a way to make “fool’s gold” far more attractive. In short, according to findings in a recently released study in the peer-reviewed Science Advances journal, they did so by making it magnetic.

According to the article:

“Most people knowledgeable in magnetism would probably say it was impossible to electrically transform a non-magnetic material into a magnetic one,” Chris Leighton, the lead researcher on the study, said in a university statement. “When we looked a little deeper, however, we saw a potential route, and made it happen.”

“Fool’s gold,” an inexpensive substance also known as pyrite, is often found in quartz veins and is used primarily to create sulfuric acid for industrial applications, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The University of Minnesota team had separately been researching ways to try and make new kinds of solar panels out of sulfur and iron sulfide materials, Leighton said. And they had begun looking into ways to use electrical voltages to control magnetism.

“At some point, we realized we should be combining these two research directions, and it paid off,” he said.

The result is the first time that scientists have been able to take a non-magnetic material and make it magnetic, according to the university.

They used a process called “electrolyte gating” – using an electrolyte-rich solution, “comparable to Gatorade,” and small applications of electrical volts to move around molecules and make the substance magnetic.

Wow! A substance was deemed worthless; and anyone who valued it was esteemed foolish for doing so. Yet, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, all that changed! Now, all of a sudden, “Fool’s Gold”, iron pyrite, is esteemed valuable! Go figure!

I am reminded here of the words of the Apostle Paul in the opening chapter of his First New Testament Letter to the Corinthians (verses 18-25):

18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

20Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

22Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

Against all odds, the day has now come when an element the world has always considered foolish has suddenly become immensely valuable. In like manner, the day will most assuredly come when the world will discover that the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which it has always considered foolishness, is in fact most substantial!

I may not have held on to my earthly “Fool’s Gold”. But that’s okay. Because I now possess something of immensely greater value – the Gospel of Jesus Christ! And one day, I shall exchange that for a crown of inestimable value!

All I can say is “No foolin!”

ARTICLE SOURCE:
https://www.foxnews.com/science/fools-gold-could-actually-be-valuable-in-this-way-researchers-find.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:
https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_corinthians/1.htm.

JUMPING AT THE CHANCE

7/28/2020

“This mailman delivered some smiles.” So began Michael Hollan’s July 26, 2020 article on www.FoxNews.com titled “Family Catches Mailman Playing Hopscotch in Front of Their House”.

It seems that a family in England wanted to see what would happen if they left a hopscotch game drawn on the sidewalk leading up to their home. They soon found out; as one of the neighborhood mail carriers was in a playful mood.

The doorbell camera at the Hammerstein residence captured the local mailman hopping across the walkway connecting the street to their front door. Thereafter, the family had a good laugh before sharing the video on social media. It quickly went viral.

This particular article stuck a responsive chord with me. The aforementioned mailman is on to something. We all need to be reminded ever so often of the significance of taking a little time off to play in the midst of a life that is otherwise so filled with labor.

An even bigger reminder of this principle for me has come from having four grandsons under the age of three. Spending time with them is teaching me to slow down and relax and enjoy each and every moment again.

Thus, after a lifetime spent being responsible and earning a living, I now find myself spending Saturday or Sunday afternoons swinging on a swing set, sliding down a “Slip n’ Slide”, walking through the woods looking for “Peter Rabbit”, wading in the creek, or just eating ice-cold pop-cycles with my four inquisitive little pals.

I am indebted to these little boys for re-introducing me to the simpler things in life. In the process, strangely enough, while they are daily growing older, I find myself growing younger again – if not in body, at least at heart.

I am not yet inclined to play hopscotch. At this point, I have only grandsons and no granddaughters. Nonetheless, I do find myself enjoying again the sorts of simple activities that once filled my days. Now, of course, I find they fill my heart as much as they do my time. And I jump at the chance to experience them afresh and anew. I only wish it had not taken me so long to realize this.

The New Testament Gospel of Matthew (chapter 18, verses 1-6) records the following conversation…

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. 3“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

5“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me. 6But 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.”

I realize more and more each day the awesome responsibility God has entrusted to me as a grandfather with regard to my six precious little grandsons. I pray they will always see in me the loving role model they need, and that I will always be a blessing in their lives as a result.

But more and more, I also thank God for the role model they have each become to me. And for the blessing they each are to me in the process. I pray we learn from each other. As they follow my example and grow into manhood, I pray I remember to follow their example, and become more and more joyful as i daily experience the blessings bestowed upon me by my heavenly Father above.

ARTICLE SOURCE:
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/family-catches-mailman-playing-hopscotch-in-front-of-their-house.

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

“THIS OLE HOUSE”

7/23/2020

Now in its 41st season, “This Old House” originally aired on Boston’s Public Broadcasting System affiliate, WGBH-TV, back in 1979, featuring a then relatively unknown star named Bob Vila.

Since then, the program has expanded into a full-blown media franchise involving multiple television, print, and online resources. Along the way, it has received Emmy 82 Nominations, won 17 Emmy Awards, and produced several spin-offs (among them the award-winning “The New Yankee Workshop”, hosted by Norm Abram).

But a generation before PBS made “This Old House” a “household” term, a certain Stuart Hamblen had already introduced the phrase to popular culture. He scored big back in 1954 when he penned the words to a hit tune titled “This Ole House”.

Rosemary Clooney's recording of it would go on to reach number one on the pop music charts later that year, in both the United States and the United Kingdom. A later version by the artist known as Shakin' Stevens would again top the UK charts in 1981.

It has since been covered by numerous artists, especially in the Gospel music field. The lyrics, now in the public domain, go like this…

This old house once knew my children;
This old house once knew my wife;
This old house was home and shelter,
as we fought the storms of life.
This old house once rang with laughter;
This old house heard many shouts;
Now she trembles in the darkness,
when the lightnin' walks about.

Ain't gonna need this house no longer;
Ain't gonna need this house no more;
Ain't got time to fix the shingles;
Ain't got time to fix the floor.
Ain't got time to oil the hinges;
Nor to mend the window pane.
Ain't gonna need this house no longer;
I'm getting ready to meet the saints.

This old house is getting shaky;
This old house is getting old;
This old house lets in the rain, and
This old house lets in the cold.
On my knees I'm getting chilly,
But I feel no fear or pain.
'Cause I see an angel peeking through
A broken window pane.

(Refrain)

Now my old hound dog lies a ’sleeping;
He don't know I'm gonna leave.
Else he'd wake up by the fireplace;
And he'd sit there, howl and grieve.
But my hunting days are over;
I ain't gonna hunt the 'coon no more;
Gabriel done brought in a chariot,
When the wind blew down the door.

Ain't gonna need this house no longer;
Ain't gonna need this house no more;
Ain't got time to fix the shingles;
Ain't got time to fix the floor.
Ain't got time to oil the hinges;
Nor to mend the window pane.
Ain't gonna need this house no longer;
I'm getting ready to meet the saints.

If you’re wondering where I’m going with all of this, I’ll tell you. I’ve had both the television show and the similarly named song on my mind a lot this week. This is because yesterday, my wife and closed on the sale of our house where we have lived for the last 18.5 years.

The process of selling the house was about as painless as it could have been. Our realtor was most professional, and had our house under contract within 18 days of its listing. But the matter of transitioning from one place of residence to another was a bit more involved.

Years ago, I was blessed to grow up on a farm, where I lived in the same house at the same address from birth until I got married at age 22. My wife and I then lived in one apartment and three rental homes over the next decade. Thereafter, we lived on our first home for three years, our second home for five years, before moving into this last home, which we would occupy for nearly two decades.

In that amount of time, a place simply becomes home to you. This is especially so when you raise your three children there, seeing them through middle and high school, sports, proms, graduation, college, weddings, the birth of grandchildren, and pretty much all these things entail. (Among them, a door frame with pencil marks noting their various heights as they grew down through the years.)

As we walked through the house for the last time, our minds were naturally flooded with memories - mostly joyous, a few difficult, but all precious. These memories, good and bad, were all followed by a mixture of smiles and tears, reflecting the mixed emotions that invariably accompany such a transition in life.

As my wife and I now settle into our new life in our new place of residence, we thank God for the past and for all the memories it holds. But we also look forward to the future, fully expectant that the new house in which we now reside will soon be filled memories if its own. I trust the good will again far outweigh the bad.

Of course, Hamblen’s song is ultimately a metaphor. It is ostensibly about a physical dwelling place, but is really about a physical body we all inhabit for a short time in this life. We relate to his words so well, especially as we age, because we know that “This Ole House” will one day have to be abandoned. But praise God, when that day comes, we have the assurance though our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we have a far better body in which to dwell. We read about this new body in Pauls’ Second New Testament Letter to the Corinthians (chapter 5, verses 1-5, NLT):

1For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.

4While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

I look forward to my new “house”, or spiritual body, which Paul here affirms that I will one day dwell within for all eternity. I know when that day comes, I will have a body which never grows old and never break down.

Beyond this, I also know that when that day comes, the body in which I will dwell will itself reside in a house prepared for me by the Lord Himself. Jesus Himself tells me this in the New Testament Gospel of John (chapter 14, verses 2-3, BSB):

2“In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.”

Imagine that! When “this ole house” gives way to my new house, I will have house within a house! For I will dwell with the Lord Himself! And I will do so in both the body and the home He has prepared for me! In such a setting, there will simply be no bad memories to ever be made!

Until then, I am thankful for “this ole house” in which I now dwell. My physical body has its share of shortcomings, to be sure; but I am still quite comfortable within it. I am also thankful for the previous home the Lord provided for my wife and me to live in, and for the precious memories we will carry with us as a result.

Lastly, I am thankful for the new home which the Lord has now provided us to live. Like all the earlier places we have lived together, I hope our new home will be filled with many wonderful and happy memories.

SONG SOURCE: The song has been recorded many times by many artists. The lyrics can be found here: https://www.metrolyrics.com/this-old-house-lyrics-gaither-vocal-band.html.

SEE ALSO: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Ole_House.

TELEVISION SHOW INFO:   https://www.thisoldhouse.com/; and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Old_House.

SCRIPTURE SOURCES: https://biblehub.com/nlt/2_corinthians/5.htm; and https://biblehub.com/bsb/john/14.htm.

SMALL SACRIFICES

7/18/2020

This past week, the news carried a story about prominent NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has now signed a record-breaking 10-year contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs. It is worth an eye-popping $503 million!

Precious few people in this world will get the chance to ink a deal with a half a billion dollars! And yet, while this one step will present Mahomes with innumerable opportunities in life, it also calls for him to give up certain activities. So much so that the average everyday person will be able to undertake several fun activities his contract with the Chiefs now prohibits him from doing.

According to Mahomes, “I still don’t think I’m allowed to play basketball. I’m sure baseball is not going to be allowed as well. I know there’s a lot of them. They have like (sic) everything from jet skiing too, I don’t know what all the things are. I read a lot of them. It’s pretty much every physical activity you could possibly do. I’ll probably be sticking with football and video games for now.”

The details of the contract state that the quarterback gets $477 million in guaranteed mechanisms, plus the ability to opt-out at several points in the deal if his mechanisms aren’t exercised. He also has a no-trade clause.

Mahomes had two years remaining on his existing contract with the Chiefs; so the new 10-year deal doesn’t take effect until 2022. He will still be 36 when his contract expires.

The article also goes on comment on all the congratulations he has and is receiving from famous people all over the world. While I do not count myself among the latter, I would add my voice of congratulations to the chorus. He seems to be a fine young man; and I wish him the very best.

I am struck, however, by the terms of the contract. This young man has been richly blessed by God with certain talents. He has also been chosen to have a huge impact upon the world (at least the world of sports). I trust he will continuing his God-given talent to impact his world, both on and off the playing field. I’m sure he will.

Of course, you and I have also been created by the very same God. We have also been chosen to be on His team! His Son made that possible by redeeming us. As if this were not enough, He then gifted each of us with certain talented and skills with which He intends to see us a make a difference, both in this world and the next. And then He provided the church as a means for us to just that.

But being a member of God’s team also has certain requirements. Consequently, like gifted professional athletes, who are required to forego certain activities that might otherwise prove detrimental to their priorities, we too must be prepared to give up certain activities for the good of the Kingdom of God.

This applies to unwholesome activities, to be sure. In chapter 12, verse 1, the New Testament Letter to the Hebrews admonishes us to “throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles” and then to “run with endurance the race set out for us”.

But it can also apply to wholesome activities. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in his First New Testament Letter to the Corinthians (chapter 10, verses 23 and 24), where, quoting those who claimed freedom in Christ to participate in any activity they chose, he writes:

“‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is edifying. No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

As if to echo and underscore this sentiment, the Apostle Peter (in his First New testament Letter, chapter 4, verse 10) later adds the following admonition:

“As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.”

In light of these things, I leave you with a simple question. What are you willing to give up for the greater good of the Kingdom of God? It might be a little hard, at first; but the results will well be worth the sacrifice.

After all, the same Jesus who in Matthew 6:33 challenged us to seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness also promised us (in Luke 18:19-20) that “everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”

ARTICLE SOURCES:

https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/patrick-mahomes-prohibited-activities-contract;
https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/patrick-mahomes-record-503-million-contract-details-revealed.

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_corinthians/10.htm;
https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_peter/4.htm;
https://www.biblehub.com/matthew/6-33.htm; and
https://www.biblehub.com/nlt/luke/18.htm.

PIT STOP

7/13/2020

These days, it goes by the name of Atlanta Motor Speedway. But back in the day, it went by Atlanta International Raceway, or A.I.R. for short. Built in 1960, the 1.5 mile track took over the annual NASCAR races from the one mile long Lakewood Racetrack in Atlanta, where they had earlier been staged.

My father was a huge NASCAR fan. So, naturally, given that the farm where I grew up was only about 20 miles away, twice a year, in the spring and again in the fall, we attended the Atlanta 500 and the Dixie 500. But Sunday afternoon’s race was just the culmination of a whole week of passion for my father, who insisted on going to the time trials as well in the days leading up to each race.

Time trials, or qualifying, was where the drivers individually competed for starting positions in the race. The pole position, or starting out number one, was most coveted of all. Many a day, I watched at my father’s side as, one by one, Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Buddy Baker, Darrell Waltrip, the Allison brothers, and other such giants of the sport battled it out for dominance.

But the real competition always came on Sundays. Racing alone against time throughout the week and racing against a field of competitors on Sunday afternoon were two entirely different matters.

Thus, when race day rolled around, the Jacksons packed up a bucket of my mother’s fried chicken and potato salad and a cooler full of Shasta colas and headed to the grandstand for a battle royal!

Of course, zooming around the track at time trials used very little gas and created virtually no tire or engine wear. However, such was not the case in a 500 mile race! Here, speed and technique were obviously critical. But so was something called “pitting”. The latter involved a driver deliberately pulling out of the fray and entering pit row for a pit stop.

When this happened, the car frequently got a new set of tires, a fresh tank of gas, and/or any absolutely necessary repairs. The driver also usually got a drink of water as well, before exiting pit row and reentering the race.

While the object was for the endeavor to take as short a time as possible, pit stops were nonetheless essential. Without them, no car, and no driver, could ever hope to win the race. Or even finish it. To be sure, many drivers tried to avoid a pit stop, only to run out of gas and/or blow a tire before they ever reached the finish line.

I recount all of that to share the following thought with you. In his Second New Testament Letter to young Timothy (chapter 4, verse 7), the Apostle Paul tells us that he had now faithfully “run the race”. Later, in the New Testament Book of Hebrews (chapter 12, verse 1), we as believers are encouraged to “run with endurance the race set out for us”.

In order to do this, like professional racers, we too must push forward with passion and vigor. But we must also remember that, in the process, we must invariably take a pit stop or two. If we do, we can and will gain valuable and necessary resource. But if not, we can never hope to finish, at least not in the manner which God intends.

Over the past week, my wife and I took such a personal pit stop. We went down to the lake in a neighboring state and spent the week with our family. Now, we are back, refreshed, replenished, and ready to contend for the Kingdom.

Even now, as I ramp up and begin shifting into high gear once again, I feel the difference this past week has made. To any one who may happen to be running a bit low right now, let me just say that I highly recommend a pit stop. It makes all the difference in the world!

SCRIPTURE SOURCES: https://biblehub.com/2_timothy/4-7.htm;
and https://biblehub.com/hebrews/12-1.htm.

GAINING PERSPECTIVE…

7/7/2020

Leonardo Da Vinci was no idle person! He made the most of every single day of his life. Especially given that he lived some five centuries ago, his list of earthly endeavors boggles the modern mind. This one man excelled as a painter, a sculptor, a poet, an architect, an engineer, a city planner, a scientist, an inventor, an anatomist, a military genius, and a philosopher. Little wonder he is known as the original “Renaissance Man”.

Arguably, his list of interests and endeavors is only outdone by the catalog of his life’s accomplishments. In addition to composing his incredibly detailed notebooks, which consist of hundreds and hundreds of pages containing a wide array of notes, drawings, illustrations, and the like covering every conceivable topic of interest to an inquiring mind, he also found time to create some the world’s best known masterpieces. These include the sketch of the Vitruvian Man, the carving of the Statue of David, and the painting of the Mona Lisa, and numerous others.

How does one single person accomplish so much ion life? Leonardo gave us a clue when he once offered this sage advice to his pupils…

“Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer, since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power of judgment. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller, and more of it can be taken in at a glance, and lack of harmony or proportion is more readily seen.”

Leonardo was not the first to encourage such behavior. Long before him, Jesus Christ took time away for rest and rejuvenation. The Gospels make this plain. He also encouraged His followers to do the same. See, for instance, Mark 1:35; Luke 4:42; Matthew 14:13; Mark 6:31; etc…

My wife and I too have come to see the value of these things. For this reason, even as I write these words, we are away undertaking some “R and R”. Hopefully, like Leonardo, and like Jesus before him, we are also gaining a little perspective in the process.

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/mark/1-35.htm;
https://biblehub.com/luke/4-42.htm;
https://biblehub.com/matthew/14-13.htm; and
https://biblehub.com/mark/6-31.htm.

LEONARDO QUOTE SOURCE: https://quotefancy.com/quote/26132/Leonardo-da-Vinci-Every-now-and-then-go-away-have-a-little-relaxation-for-when-you-come.

NOTE: Here is Leonardo’s personal “Resume”, as it were. In 1482, at the age of 30, he boldly wrote out a letter with a list of his capabilities and sent it off to Ludovico il Moro, Duke of Milan. It reads as follows:

“Most Illustrious Lord, Having now sufficiently considered the specimens of all those who proclaim themselves skilled contrivers of instruments of war, and that the invention and operation of the said instruments are nothing different from those in common use: I shall endeavor, without prejudice to anyone else, to explain myself to your Excellency, showing your Lordship my secret, and then offering them to your best pleasure and approbation to work with effect at opportune moments on all those things which, in part, shall be briefly noted below.
1. I have a sort of extremely light and strong bridges, adapted to be most easily carried, and with them you may pursue, and at any time flee from the enemy; and others, secure and indestructible by fire and battle, easy and convenient to lift and place. Also methods of burning and destroying those of the enemy.
2. I know how, when a place is besieged, to take the water out of the trenches, and make endless variety of bridges, and covered ways and ladders, and other machines pertaining to such expeditions.
3. If, by reason of the height of the banks, or the strength of the place and its position, it is impossible, when besieging a place, to avail oneself of the plan of bombardment, I have methods for destroying every rock or other fortress, even if it were founded on a rock, etc.
4. Again, I have kinds of mortars; most convenient and easy to carry; and with these I can fling small stones almost resembling a storm; and with the smoke of these cause great terror to the enemy, to his great detriment and confusion.
5. And if the fight should be at sea I have kinds of many machines most efficient for offense and defense; and vessels which will resist the attack of the largest guns and powder and fumes.
6. I have means by secret and tortuous mines and ways, made without noise, to reach a designated spot, even if it were needed to pass under a trench or a river.
7. I will make covered chariots, safe and unattackable, which, entering among the enemy with their artillery, there is no body of men so great but they would break them. And behind these, infantry could follow quite unhurt and without any hindrance.
8. In case of need I will make big guns, mortars, and light ordnance of fine and useful forms, out of the common type.
9. Where the operation of bombardment might fail, I would contrive catapults, mangonels, trabocchi, and other machines of marvelous efficacy and not in common use. And in short, according to the variety of cases, I can contrive various and endless means of offense and defense.
10. In times of peace I believe I can give perfect satisfaction and to the equal of any other in architecture and the composition of buildings public and private; and in guiding water from one place to another.
11. I can carry out sculpture in marble, bronze, or clay, and also I can do in painting whatever may be done, as well as any other, be he who he may.
Again, the bronze horse may be taken in hand, which is to be to the immortal glory and eternal honor of the prince your father of happy memory, and of the illustrious house of Sforza.
And if any of the above-named things seem to anyone to be impossible or not feasible, I am most ready to make the experiment in your park, or in whatever place may please your Excellency – to whom I comment myself with the utmost humility, etc.”
Cf.: https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/leonardo-da-vincis-resume.

THE QUESTION REMAINS!

7/3/2020

It has now been 25 years since own of my favorite movies, Braveheart, was first introduced. The Hollywood blockbuster recounts the story of the Scottish patriot named William Wallace and his brave exploits during the First War for Scottish Independence back in the early fourteenth century. Mel Gibson both starred in and directed this Academy Award winning motion picture.

One particularly powerful scene depicts Wallace as he is preparing a rag tag band of rebels for battle against King Edward Longshank’s powerful English army. At the cusp of battle, the Scots are woefully outmanned and outgunned. They are also wavering.

Wallace rallies his troops by saying: “I am William Wallace, and I see before me an army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. You are free, free from badges, free from flesh, and free to love. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?”

A tall soldier near the front, eyeing the huge forces arrayed against them across the valley, answers: “Fight against that? No, we will run, and we will live.”

To which Wallace responds: “Ay, fight and you may die, run and you'll live. At least a while! And dying in your beds many years from now, you would be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom.”

Wallace’s question remains with us this Independence Day weekend: “What will you do with your freedom?!” Hopefully, it always will!

Each generation of Americans would do well to ask this question afresh and anew. Wise men have always known that real freedom can only exist hand in hand with responsibility. Freedom, true freedom, entails assuming responsibility, both for our own lives and for the lives of others.

For this reason, each generation of Americans would also do well pause to remember those who came before us and sacrificed so much in order that we may have the freedoms that we claim to cherish so much! Had they not assumed responsibility in their day and age, it is doubtful that we would have the very freedoms we now enjoy.

Above all, each generation of Americans would also do well to give thanks to the God who bestowed our great freedoms upon us. We will always make a tragic mistake when we attempt to separate God from our freedom. Without God, our concept of freedom can easily degenerate into selfishness.

The testimony of the Psalmist was: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD!” I pray America will always remember that God is the source of our blessings; and that we will honor Him accordingly with how we choose to live.

Yes, my fellow Americans, William Wallace’s piercing question is well worth pondering as we celebrate this Independence Day weekend. “What will we do with our freedom?!”

I leave you with the prayer of Peter Marshall, famed Presbyterian Pastor and U.S. Senate Chaplain of an earlier era, who once famously said: “May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.”

SOURCES:

FILM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braveheart;
and https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112573/;
as well as: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wallace.

SCRIPTURE: https://biblehub.com/psalms/33-12.htm.

MARSHALL'S PRAYER: https://www.azquotes.com/author/9514-Peter_Marshall.

SEE ALSO: https://liberty-virtue-independence.blogspot.com/2011/08/prayers-of-reverend-peter-marshall.html.

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