Danger!

“Anger is just one letter short of Danger!”

--Source unknown

What Goes Around, Comes Around

Last week, Leo Dutton did not earn his pay. His job was just too easy.

According to the Associated Press, Dutton, a county sheriff, received a text message from a teen-age boy asking this question, "Hey Dawg, do you have a $20 I can buy right now?"

When Dutton realized this was an actual request for drugs, he texted back with a proposed meeting time and place. Once there, he confronted the young texter who had brought along a friend by flashing them his badge. Accordingly, the faces of both young men turned white, and they, shall we say, became very unsteady on their feet.

Had the boys listened to some 2000-year-old words from the Apostle Paul, they might have been spared the indignity:

Gal 6:7--Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

The United State of Busyness

A few weeks ago, TIME magazine did a cover story on the American novelist, Jonathan Franzen. Here is a quote from Franzen that speaks to America today:

We are so distracted by and engulfed by the technologies we've created, and by the constant barrage of so-called information that comes our way, that more than ever to immerse yourself in an involving book seems socially useful. The place of stillness that you have to go to to write, but also to read seriously, is the point where you can actually make responsible decisions, where you can actually engage productively with an otherwise scary and unmanageable world.

Franzen was inspired by the 19^th century philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. Ahead of his time, Kierkegaard wrote that the problem of perpetual busyness is that which locks an individual into continuous distraction.

We live in a society with all of its cell phones, Internet capabilities, MP3 players and the like that seeks to distract us. With that distraction, as TIME so ably summarizes it, people are empowered to “avoid difficult realities and maintain self-deceptions.”

I like Franzen’s idea of finding a place of stillness, in order to read, process, and think. Rather than making any book your partner in that endeavor, I would recommend placing our priority upon one: the Bible. With that time, that place, and that book, I think each day we can find an oasis in our cultural desert. 

Could there be a more nourishing experience?

Marathon Man

Several years ago, Sam Gadless went to the doctor. He was in terrible shape.

The doctor told Sam he might not live much longer. Sam made a decision: he would dedicate himself to exercise and see if could redeem his body.

Sam chose to begin a rigorous program of running. Evidently it worked. By the time Sam turned 90, he had completed six marathons. At age 91, he competed in the New York Marathon along with his 56-year-old son and 26-year-old grandson. He completed the course in 8 hours and 26 minutes—that’s a little over a 19 minute a mile pace!

Doctors and others shared with Sam essential truth and provided him with a healthy program of physical exercise. These ingredients, coupled with Sam’s spirit and participation, led to a transformation of Sam’s physical being.

I think it is that way for one who turns his life over to Jesus. Jesus’ word of truth convinces a person to faithfully allow Jesus to live within him. By faith, a person allows Jesus to lead him through a life filled with spiritual exercise. All of these factors combine to transform a person’s life into something vital and healthy.

Has your life been transformed by Jesus?

He Was Missed

            Deep in the heart of my files, I found a reference to a story Paul Harvey was supposed to have reported a decade or two ago. It seems, at that time, a seventy-three year old man was found pinned under his tractor on his farm. He had been there for a few days, but he survived his nightmare.

            What caught the attention of the person sharing this story was the fact that it was the members of his church, who figured out something was wrong. He did not show up for Wednesday night prayer meeting. This guy was always there at prayer meeting. If he was not there, something was wrong!

            Members immediately began investigating and that was when some discovered his terrible plight. What I like about that story was this—the man’s absence was noticed!

            If you were absent from a meeting of your faith community, small group, Bible study, or prayer group, would people notice? Would it be assumed part of your normal routine (here, absent, here, absent…)?

            Something else, do you let members known when you will not be present? At my church, we have a member who is autistic. She suffers from Asperger’s sydrome, just like Temple Grandin. This member is the best I have ever seen at letting me or others know she will not be at a certain event. She offers no surprises, but she does offer accountability.

            Shouldn’t we all practice this? Why is it that someone, who suffers from a disease that hampers her ability to relate to people, is the only one in our church, who gets a very important point about what it means to relate to people?

(Editor's note: in the original, I made reference to "Temple Grande." I am sure somewhere on this planet, someone carries the Spanish name--translated--of "Big Temple." However, that is not the same person as the one I intended to reference--Temple Grandin. My bad.) 

Sitting on Treasure

I read in WORLD magazine, this week, that a family now looks to Superman, as a true superhero. They were about to lose their house, which had been in their family for several years.

As family members were preparing to be evicted, they came across a box of comic books. In this box was the comic book that introduced Superman to the world in 1938. Back then, it sold for ten cents. Estimates now place its value around $250,000.

I think Christians, likewise, do not realize the treasure they are sitting upon. By that, I do not mean US dollars, rather I am talking about a life in Jesus that is so full of contentment and meaning, it exceeds our ability to describe. What's more, this quality-of-life—this life to be treasured—is available throughout eternity.

I cannot explain it. Paul tries, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21.)

“-ations"

After hearing his dad preach on "justification," "sanctification," and all the other "--ations," a preacher's son was ready when his Sunday school teacher asked if anybody knew what "procrastination" meant.

The boy said, "I'm not sure what it means, but my dad says our church believes in it!"

What about your church?