The Flawed thinking of a "Retired" Pastor

Surprise!

For some reason I found my self thinking of that old TV show, "Gomer Pyle".  Remember one of his signature lines--"Surprise!  Surprise!"  Surprises come in many forms and guises...some good, some borderline amazing, some awful, some tragic, some hilarious.  One thing for certain--surprises aren't boring!  Surprises are woven through the very fabric of all of our lives.  Some surprises refresh us.  Some relieve us.  And some rebuke us.  Life is short.  God is sovereign.  All plans are in His hands, not ours.  When God says, "Surprise!  Surprise!" through the various episodes of our lives, let's not waste valuable time asking, "Why me?" or "Why now?" or "Why this?"  I just keep in mind that He does all things well.  Yes, ALL THINGS.  Surprises are God's divine plan, designed to remind us that He is still in charge. 

Confident Thankfulness

I've observed that people involved in ministry, perhaps more than most, live with an unstated "contract faith."  I mean, we're working for the Lord, so we deserve special treatment in return, right?  Why did I get that parking ticket while I was visiting someone in the hospital?  Really ticks me off!  Why did a Christian worker in inner city ministry nearly cut off his hand on a power saw while demonstrating to volunteers how to build houses for the homeless?  Why did my dear friends in Haiti get robbed and the mom of 4 precious kids get shot?  Why doesn't my ministry work out the way I've planned?  I remember the wise words of a professor of mine many years ago - "Don't confuse God with life."  So when doubts may arise on this Thanksgiving Day, I dwell on the words of Paul in Romans 8 this morning - "Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?"  In that one sentence, Paul summarizes his ministry autobiography.  He endured all of these trials for the sake of the gospel, and yet somehow he had the faith to believe these "things"--surely not good in themselves--could nevertheless be used by God to accomplish good.  I love his conclusion - "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  AMEN!!  Confidence like that can go a long way towards solving discouragement over a ministry that never quite works out the way we wish.  And for that, this morning, I am thankful!  HAPPY AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING!!

Thanks - Giving

“A generous man will himself be blessed.”  (Proverbs 22:9)

“It is everyman’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.”  (Albert Einstein)

 “No one has ever become poor by giving.”  (Anne Frank)

 “Giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others.”  (Barbara Bush)

 “My giving is not a duty…It is a privilege!”

 “Your decision about giving your money shouldn’t be determined solely by whether the donation is deductible.”

 “We all live off His generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.”  (John 1:16)

 Thank You, Father!!

Free

Do you need to be set free?  Bound up with feelings of being offended?  Bitter over what "they" did to you?  Overwhelmed with the chains of unforgiveness?  Honestly now, is your next step toward freedom the need to forgive?  DO IT.  Don't let anything or anyone talk you out of it.  I know, I know.  After all you've been through and had to endure, why should you be the one who humbles yourself and forgives?  Christ could have asked the same question at Calvary.  Perhaps he did ask that question at Gethsemane, but once He discerned the Father's determination, there was no looking back...no turning back.  Remember His cry from the cross?  "Father, forgive them..."  And you can really sit there and say, "I'll never forgive him."  REALLY??  Look up in your Bible concordance the words "forgive" and "forgiveness".  Read the scriptures listed.  One you will find there is--"And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."  (Ephesians 4:32)  Aren't you glad He did?

Melted Down

During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, the British government began to run low on silver for coins.  Some of his advisors told him that there was an abundance of silver in the statues of saints situated in the cathedrals of London.  Cromwell replied, "Good!  We'll melt down the saints and put them into circulation."

Dressed up and drove to church - Check.  Walked three blocks through the cold to church - Check.  Got a seat and sat quietly - Check.  Sang each verse and smiled appropriately - Check.  Gave money...listened to the sermon - Check.  Closed my Bible, prayed, looked spiritual - Check.  Shook hands, walked out - Check.

Still a saint?  Yep!  A silver one, in fact, icily regular, cool, and casual, consistently present...and safely out of circulation.  Lord, I really do want to know what it means to be melted.  Authentic Christianity--melted and out in circulation in the mainstream of humanity!! 

Desert

There have been times when I have found myself in the middle of the desert.  My journey has become a struggle through the hot, dry wilderness and I’m not sure how to find my way out.  I’m alone and I can’t hear the music anymore.  However you may describe it, we have all been there.  I read of Moses’ trek through his wilderness; of David, and yes, of Jesus Himself.  One thing that grabs for my attention is that the emphasis of their wilderness experience was never upon seeking a way out.  They focused upon their Lord and trusted in Him until He led them out.  So I pray, “Lord, I don’t know what’s going on, but I trust You.  I don’t understand everything that’s happening to me, but I trust You.  I don’t know how much longer this will last, but I trust You.  I don’t know which way to turn, but I trust You.”  And I have learned that it is always on the backside of the desert that I come to the mountain of God.  And I see the pinnacle of the mountain, and I begin to climb it.  And the Lord takes me once again to the heights of living for His glory!!  And once again I hear the music.  Thanks for Your “deep” calling out to my “deep”…Thanks for Your ministry to me when I was thirsty in the wilderness.  (Psalm 42)

The Jesus Prayer

There is a prayer in Christian tradition that is built upon the account in Luke 18:35-39 (the account of Jesus and the blind beggar).  It’s called “The Jesus Prayer” and simply says, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”  Just 10 words in English, in other languages it is even shorter.  And yet around these few words many Orthodox believers have over the centuries built their spiritual lives.  Orthodox and ascetic writers of ancient times have stated that the Jesus prayer sums up the whole Gospel.  In this simple prayer we profess the Lordship of Jesus Christ and His sovereign right to us.  It implies that all our life is within His will and that we commit ourselves to His will and to no other way.  I love the second part of the prayer which basically shows my helplessness and sinfulness in the sight of God.  I pray the Jesus prayer often in my daily time.  Sometimes I begin with it.  It is my cry for mercy—that is, for grace.  Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.