My Devotion Space

Devotion for the Week of Christ the King

2009-11-20T13:23:00.002-05:00

What is the test of sincere faith? Do we walk the talk? Do we practice what we preach? Do we expect others to measure up to a standard that we do not keep ourselves? Is our faith centered in success or service? The most important aspect of this test of sincerity is not how others measure up, but how we measure up in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

I recall a story about Oliver Holmes. Once when getting ready to board a train, he could not find his ticket. As he dug through his pockets and bags, Holmes was recognized by the conductor who said, "Don't worry, Justice Holmes, you don't need your ticket right now. Just send it to us later when you find it."

Irritated, Holmes replied, "Sir, the problem is not, 'Where is my ticket?" The problem is, "Where am I going?" - A good question for each of us to ask ourselves, "Where am I going?" Are we going to be like many of the religious leaders of Jesus' day or are we going to be sincere in our faith and do our best to walk the talk?

This is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 1 John 5:4

Devotion for the Week of Trinity

2009-06-09T15:00:00.003-04:00

Have you ever notice that the average pencil is seven inches long, but the eraser is only a quarter of an inch long? And they say optimism is dead.

When we look at the troubles of our world and society, it may dampen our optimism, but today there is a great need for all of us to listen and follow God's call of love and peace.

Jesus certainly was sadden by the state of people's hearts and the condition of people's relationship with God. However, Jesus was clearly focused on God's ultimate plan of unconditional love. What greater hope and optimism can we have than when we focus on Christ, as the risen Savior, given in love!

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13:13

Devotion for the Week of Pentecost 2009

2009-05-29T10:20:00.001-04:00

We have a greater burden as God's people than anyone else on earth. We must always lift up a higher standard of living and loving.

In one of Garfield's cartoons he is shown resting droopy-eyed in his bed thinking to himself: "One of my pet peeves," he says to himself, "is people who never finish what they start." As he cracks a knowing smile, he says, "I do not happen to be one of those people." The last frame shows him under the bed covers saying, "My philosophy is, 'Never start anything.'"

"Never start anything" cannot be our philosophy as God's people. You see, we must care about our world because God cares. We must care about people because God cares. We must care about those in need because God cares. God cared enough about us to send a savior Jesus Christ. God cared enough to send the Holy Spirit.

We must care too. We must care enough to make our church and community stronger. What is God calling you to do? Are you being called to help tutor a child struggling in with his or her education? Are you being called to be a Sunday School teacher? Are you being called to share your talents with the church, the community or the world? If you and I don't do it, who will?
We have a greater burden as God's people than anyone else on earth. We must always lift up a higher standard of living and loving.

God is counting on you and me. Why? Because we can count on God to give us the resources we need to accomplish God's will.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

Devotion for the Sixth Week of Easter

2009-05-12T19:04:00.001-04:00

During the Masters Golf Tournament a few weeks ago, I heard a great story about the golfer Gary Player. Player is 73 years old, and was out on the course for the first round of the Masters. He has won 9 major tournaments and 24 PGA Tour events. He has finished in the top 10 at 44 major tournaments. Gary Player is also a man of faith.

Even today, when Player is competing in a tournament, people constantly come up to him and made the same remark: "I'd give anything if I could hit a golf ball like you."

One particularly tough day, tired and frustrated, Player once again heard the old refrain: "I'd give anything if I could hit a golf ball like you." Player's usual politeness failed him as he replied to the spectator, "No, you wouldn't. You'd give anything to hit a golf ball like me if it was easy. Do you know what you've got to do to hit a golf ball like me? You've got to get up at five o'clock in the morning, go out on the course, and hit one thousand golf balls. Your hand starts bleeding, and you walk up to the clubhouse, wash the blood off your hand, slap a bandage on it, and go out and hit another one thousand golf balls. That's what it takes to hit a golf ball like me." In his own way Player was asking, "Are you able to drink from the cup from which I drink?"

Greatness has its price. "Are you able to drink from the cup from which I drink?" Jesus asked his ambitious disciples. I am amazed how many people adopt the Christian faith as their own with the thought that it really will note cost them anything. Friends, the cup Jesus drank was the cup of the cross. The sacrifice he made was ultimate, complete, and final. If we think that we can achieve greatness in the Kingdom of God with a token commitment, we are sadly mistaken.

In Medieval Europe it was common for devout Christians to pray for the marks of Jesus to appear on their hands and feet. This was seen as a sign of deep spirituality. One night a monk, while praying for those marks, had a vision of Christ with another mark on his body--a bruise on his shoulder. That bruise came from carrying His cross. The monk suddenly realized that this was the mark that really counted. How many of us have bruises from carrying the weight of Christ's cross on our shoulders? It is acceptable, even admirable to aspire to greatness, but greatness has its price.

Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? Matthew 20:22

Devotion for the Fourth Week of Easter

2009-04-28T15:12:00.002-04:00

As many of you know, I am a history buff. Recently I was reading a book that was published some time ago, Thirteen Days to Glory by Lon Tinkle. This book is about the battle of the Alamo. The Alamo is a sacred shrine in Texas where 183 defenders held against a huge Mexican army led by Santa Anna in order to give the Texas Army more time to organize. On March 3, 1836, two hours before dusk, the Mexican guns quit firing. Col. William Travis lined his men up in a single line inside the Alamo. He told them no reinforcements were coming and that their destiny was sealed. "Our doom is certain," Travis told the weary men. Travis then pulled his sword from its sheath and drew a line in the dirt floor in front of them and asked every man who was determined to stay in the Alamo and die to cross the line.

According to this book, Topley Holland was the first man across the line. Others quickly followed--Daniel Cloud, Micajah Utry, Davy Crockett. Colonel Jim Bowie was sick and unable to cross the line so he called for help and four men sprang to the side of his cot and lifted him over the line as the other men cheered. They made the choice that counted most and the Republic of Texas was born out of their shed blood.

There are too many Christians who glibly say, "Oh, yes, we follow Jesus." But they know nothing of sacrifice, nothing of being the body of Christ, nothing of continuing Jesus’ earthly ministry. Don’t be like one of those who are Christians one hour a week. Jesus gave himself for us. We can give our time, talents and treasures for others.

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many."
Mark 14:23-24

Devotion for the Fourth Week of Lent

2009-03-24T16:14:00.000-04:00

In the creation story, humankind is given a special place in the world. God breathed the breath of life into humankind. That breath of life was not shared with any other part of creation.

This special relationship we have with God is based upon grace. Grace is sometimes a hard thing to define, so instead of trying to define it, I am going to share a story.

This story is about a man named Bob. Now Bob was one of those men who began to lose his hair and an early age, so by the time he and his wife had their twins, Peter and Sally, he was completely bald. Bob was, and still is, a delightful person. He loves his wife, his children and his extended family. One night he and his wife decided to go out to dinner and hired a baby sitter to take care of their little children.

While they were gone, the baby sitter got interested in a television program and was not watching the children very carefully. Their little boy Peter, got a hold of his father's electric shaver and shaved a big racing stripe right down the middle of his head.

When his father came home, he was furious. He said, "Peter! I told you never to play with my shaver. Now you are going to get a spanking that you will never forget!" Peter was just about to get a spanking when Peter looked up at his dad and said, "Wait until you see Sally!" Bob and his wife were horrified.

They went into the next room and there was their little daughter with her hair shaved off. By this time Bob was really furious. He grabbed up Peter and said, "Now you are really going to get it."

Just as he lifted his hand Peter looked up at his dad, with tears in his eyes, and said, "But Daddy! WE WERE JUST TRYING TO LOOK LIKE YOU!"
All Peter's dad could do was offer his son a hug of love and grace.

From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:16

Devotion for the Third Week of Lent

2009-03-13T13:35:00.001-04:00

I would like to share with you this devotion that my friend, Rev. Marty Shanahan wrote on this week’s Gospel, John 2:13-35.

This story, "The Cleansing of the Temple", is one of the few that are shared between all four Gospel writers. The fact that it is a story shared by all four gospels, may tweak our interest in its importance, and the questions arise, is it a historical event in the life of Jesus with historical
significance or is it a historical event with metaphorical significance? There is much to ponder with regard to this story, and we could journey on many paths using it as the spring board of reflection. What I offer is but one level of understanding of one path which might flow from this wonderful story.

I wonder if by analogy and if maybe by direct correlation, if our very lives are the Temple that Jesus wishes to cleanse. Repeatedly, throughout the Christian tradition we are reminded that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and if that is so I wonder if our tradition isn't inviting us to
reflect on the 'clutter' of our Temples?

I wonder if we may have allowed our Temples to become crowed with money changers, with sheep and oxen, and doves.....all of which are good in themselves, but I wonder if Jesus isn't inviting us to make sure they are in their proper place in our lives? If the season of Lent is a time of "metanoia", a fundamental change of heart and mind; I wonder if these readings might be inviting us to ponder what we may have allowed to encroach on the Sacred Space which we all need in our lives? Given the present economic situation, I wonder if we haven't often allowed our income, or lack there of, to define our success? I wonder if our prejudices regarding homelessness, poverty, lack of health care, etc, might be being challenged and tested against what we profess as people of faith.
If we visit the Temple of our lives, if we take a snap shot of it today, what do we see?
How crowded is it and what is it that we see as essential?
What may need to be cleansed and re-ordered in us so that our holiness can be more clearly seen?

Devotion for the Week of Ash Wednesday 2009

2009-02-24T14:45:00.001-05:00

I have often started a devotion off with quoting my favorite cartoon, Peanuts. Well, my second favorite cartoon is Calvin and Hobbs. So I will begin with one of those.

In on weekly series of the Calvin and Hobbs cartoon, they are trying to find a place to make into a club house. One of the daily strips starts with Calvin looking at Hobbs and saying, "Let's push the car out of the garage. I can't budge it by myself."
Hobbes replies, "I still think you should ask your Mom to move it."
Calvin replies with, "Then she'd probably say no, and we won't have the garage for our clubhouse!"
Hobbes answers: "But if we don't ask her, we'll get in trouble!"
Calvin shouts,: "We won't get in trouble!"
Hobbes, looking very wise, says: "Every time you say that, we do."
Calvin answers: "Mom wouldn't care about these things if she wouldn't keep finding out about them."

Parents have a way of finding out things their children do not want them to know. Jesus knew Peter's true loyalty. Jesus told Peter, "Get behind me." It sounds as if Jesus is saying, "Get lost, Peter!" He is not. Instead, Jesus is again calling Peter to be his disciple. "Get behind me," was a call for Peter to assume his proper place following Jesus. Jesus also says to us, "Get behind me. Follow me."

I remember reading about two lawyers in Virginia who, during a church service, heard the call to be disciples and follow Christ. At the conclusion of the service, they were attending, they did accept the challenge. These two lawyers practiced law together, so they decided to offer free legal services to needy people in their community. Their commitment to helping others, though, changed their lives in ways they did not expect. They soon gained new paying customers. Surprisingly, several people who had been delinquent with their bills suddenly paid them in full. "I suppose they didn't want to cheat lawyers who helped the needy," one lawyer explained.

I share this story with you, because being a disciple, does not mean we have to be a missionary or become a monk. It means we use the gifts' God has given us to help others. It means we become a disciple to people who need lots of love and some hands on help.

But [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."

Matthew 16:23

Devotion for the First Week of Epiphany

2009-01-14T16:18:00.001-05:00

Recently I read a story about a man by the name of Jim Egan who worked at the West Coast Computer Fair in 1977. His job was to help customers decorate their booths. Industry shows are the cheapest way to reach customers within the trade, but some undercapitalized entrepreneurs hardly have enough to rent a booth, let alone pay for the decorations.

Egan was approached by a couple of long-haired young men who wanted some chrome displays to make their booth "look flashy." Egan said he had the displays but they were for rent. The young me said they were short of cash, but perhaps Egan would rent the chrome displays to them in exchange for some stock in their company. Egan, who had seen companies come and go in his twenty years in the business, said he would accept only hard cash.

So Steve Wozniak and Steven Jobs did without the chrome, fixed up their booth, and kept the stock in Apple Computer to themselves. Sometimes it is a good thing to catch someone else's dream.

The story of the New Testament is the story of men and women who got close enough to Jesus to catch his dream. Doesn't it amaze you how quickly the disciples left their fishing nets to follow Jesus? What are you waiting for?

And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:17 - 18

Devotion for the Week of Epiphany

2009-01-07T15:48:00.001-05:00

Recently we heard about Jay Leno’s deal to stay with NBC, even though he will no longer be the host of The Tonight Show. The Tonight Show, has a long history on NBC. Since 1954, someone has hosted The Tonight Show and it has followed the basic format for all of these years. The stage, curtain, host, band and furniture has changed over the years, but not the format. It is a type of late night liturgy - but I digress.

Before Leno became the host in 1992, Johnny Carson was “Mr. Tonight Show” and started each show with a monologue and then talked to guests who sat on the couch while he was behind the desk. However, he did not have any guests on his last show. Instead he started by thanking his family, who was in the audience. He then talked about one of his sons who had been killed in an automobile crash a year or so before. Johnny said, "Life does what it's supposed to do." Then he said something to the effect, "And then you move on."

For some of us, last year was the worst year ever. Many people lost jobs, many were laid off, many found themselves having to cope with less income and more stress. Others experienced death in their families which left them hurting and grieving. Whatever might have happened to us in the last year, the start of a new year is a time to free ourselves from the past and start over. NEW BEGINNINGS ARE POSSIBLE. We are set free when we realize that we are not trapped by what has happened to us in the past.

Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28

Devotion for the First Week After Christmas

2008-12-30T12:23:00.000-05:00

I heard a story last week about a man of some who overheard a lady remarking, "Oh, if I only had hundred dollars I would be perfectly content."

He thought about that for a few moments. If the lady only had hundred dollars she would be content. He thought to himself, "Well, I can help her out." So he walked up to her and handed her five twenty dollar bills with his best wishes. She was overwhelmed and made a show of her gratitude. She really appreciated his gift. As she walked away he heard her mumble under her breath, "Why on earth didn't I say two hundred dollars?" Have you ever said something like that? I know I have.

We need to learn to be content with what we have. Christmas can be either a time of thanking God for what we have, or Christmas can be the peak of our discontentment.

Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Devotion for the Second Week of Advent

2008-12-09T12:00:00.002-05:00

I remember being told an old legend about a servant whose master died and left her a bag full of blessings.

The master left a message for the servant telling her that the bag would always be full as long as she remembered the four special words. Unfortunately, the servant had lost the note and forgot the four words and was almost out of blessings. Finally she went to a wise man who suggested that possibly the four magic words were, I WISH I HAD. "I wish I had this. I wish I had that."

She tried thinking of all the things she wanted, but the bag was not replenished. She then approached a person who happened to be passing her on the street. The stranger suggested, "Well maybe the four magic words are GIVE ME SOME MORE."

So the servant continued her journey and kept saying, "Give me some more. Give me some more. Give me some more." But the bag was now almost totally empty. In despair she sat down, lonely and heavy hearted.

She took a piece of bread out of her pack and began to eat it. A hungry child off of the street, alone and abandoned, approached her and asked her for the bread. It was obvious the child was in desperate need. So, without even thinking about it, the servant gave the child some bread. Before the child ate, though, she folded her little hands and said a blessing: "I thank you Lord."

All of a sudden the servant's eyes lighted up and she started dancing around in the street. She began chanting loudly: "That's it. That's it. The four special words: I THANK YOU LORD." Soon the bag was filled with blessings once again.

May we remember to say "I thank you lord" during this most holy season.

I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. Psalms 118:21

Devotion for First Week of Advent

2008-12-02T15:16:00.001-05:00

I came across this story in a college chaplain’s blog last year. I would like to share it with you now.

Several years ago on campus, I heard a story about freshman who decided it was about time she experienced her first college date. Her roommate, who was a junior, asked whether she preferred Southern boys or Northern boys. Since she was from Wisconsin, she was unaware of such nuances in the male gender and asked her roommate, “What’s the difference?”

Her roommate answered, "Southern boys are more romantic. They will take you walking in the moonlight, point out beautiful trees and plants and whisper sweet nothings in your ear. Northern boys are more active. They like to go places and do exciting things."

The girl pondered the contrast and then asked wistfully, "Could you please find me a Southern boy from as far North as possible?"

I shared this story as an illustration that we have certain expectations when we have to make decisions in our life. We love to have the best of both worlds. We love to have our cake and eat it too. However, I think we know that when we are forced to choose which direction we will take in life, it frequently involves lots of challenges. It is rarely the best of both worlds.

We have some tough decisions to make this Christmas too as we prepare during the season of Advent.

"What do you want for Christmas?" That is a question we often hear and ask during this time of the year. But the question I want to ask is "What do you need for Christmas?"

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8

Devotion for the Second Week of November 2008

2008-11-11T12:29:00.002-05:00

There is an old story about a botanist who was studying the Heather Bell found in the highlands of Scotland. While looking through his microscope at this beautiful flower, he was approached by a shepherd who asked what he was doing. Rather than trying to explain, the botanist invited the shepherd to peer through his microscope and observe for himself. When the shepherd saw the wonder of the flower, he exclaimed, "My God, and I have been tramping on them all my life!"

Is that the word of warning we need? Wake up! Pay attention! Look around you. You may be tramping on the heart of someone nearby. Who around you is in need of a Christian friend like you?

One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend. Proverbs 17:9

Week of October 20, 2008

2008-10-21T14:50:00.001-04:00

As I was flipping through on of my old Peanuts cartoon books, I came across a cartoon strip where Lucy tells Charlie Brown that she's decided to begin a new hobby. Charlie Brown commends her decision, saying how important it is to accomplish something meaningful with your life. In response Lucy says, "Accomplish something? I thought all we were supposed to do was keep busy!"

There are many of us who are keeping very busy, but we are not accomplishing very much. We are often like that giant spider on roller skates in one of the Harry Potter movies (moving like crazy but getting nowhere fast until it just collapses on the floor). We are here, then we are there, ultimately we are all over the place, but we are not getting anywhere specific. We pursue many pleasures, but find little that brings us lasting happiness.

The greatest pleasure we can have is touching a life with God's great love. How are you going to accomplish that if your just staying too busy?

And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them. (Luke 6:19)

Devotion for the Second Week of October 2008

2008-10-08T07:48:00.000-04:00

Many years ago, a big oil well in Texas caught on fire, and the C.E.O. of the oil company could not find any crew with the courage to put it out. Advertisements were put out offering lots of money to the crew who could put out the fire. Finally, the advertisements reached the attention of a tiny volunteer fire department in Alabama. The crew in this fire department thought that they could put out the fire, so they loaded up the fire truck and went to Texas. When they got to the oil field, they did not stop at the gates. Like true heroes, they drove straight into the thick of the fire. They had that ferocious fire out in one hour.

That evening, the C.E.O. of the oil company had a huge party to honor the firemen. When he presented the fire chief with a gigantic check, he asked them what they were going to do with the money. Without hesitation, the fire chief replied, "Well, the first thing we are going to do is fix the brakes on that fire truck!"

That brings me to the passage I want to share this week. "If any want to become my followers," said Jesus, "Let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." "Here is your opportunity to be heroic," Jesus was saying to them. "Here is your call to go where few have gone before. Deny yourself, take up a cross and follow me."

"If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Mark 8:34

Devotion for the First Week of October 2008

2008-09-30T17:22:00.002-04:00

I read an article a few days ago about a man in Ocean Springs, Mississippi whose last name is Unknown. This gentleman's last name really is “Unknown.” What's his name? Unknown. Almost sounds like an Abbott and Costello comedy routine.

His full name is Nikone Unknown. Unknown is 49-years-old and he owns a restaurant in Ocean Springs. Unknown acquired that name when he immigrated to the United States from Laos in 1979. Unknown feared revealing his real name to immigration officials, who simply listed his last name as "unknown." Unknown's wife is Ratchanee Unknown, and his son is Nick Unknown.

This world is filled with people who think they are unknown, lost, or forgotten.

But God knows each and everyone one of us. God knows our heart and mind. God knows our needs. God even knows the number of hairs on our head.

And even the hairs of your head are all counted. Matthew 10:30

Devotion for the Second Week of September

2008-09-09T12:23:00.001-04:00

Its an old story, told by many sports commentators over the years. I do not know if it is true, but it’s a great story that Billy Martin included in his book.

Billy Martin was invited to join Mickey Mantle to do some hunting down on a friends ranch in Texas. Mantle told Martin that all he had to do was to drop by his friends house to let him know he was going to be on the ranch hunting and was always given permission to hunt. When they got there, Mickey told Billy to wait in the car while he went in and cleared things with his friend. Permission was quickly granted for them to hunt, but the owner asked Mickey to do him a favor. He had a mule in the barn who had gone blind, but he did not have the heart to put him out of his misery. He asked Mickey to shoot the mule for him. Mickey agreed. On the way back to the car a plan formed in Mantle's mind.

When Mickey got to the car, he pretended to be angry. He shouted and slammed the car door shut. Billy asked him what was wrong. Mickey replied that the owner would not let them hunt there any more. "I am so mad at that guy that I am going out to that barn and shoot one of his mules," said Mantle. He drove like a mad man to the barn. Martin protested and said, "We can't do that!" But Mickey was adamant, "Just watch me," he shouted. When they got to the barn, Mantle jumped out of the car with his rifle, ran to the barn and shot the mule and killed it.

When he got back to the car he saw that Martin had also taken his gun out and smoke was curling from its barrel, too. "What are you doing, Martin?" he yelled. Martin answered, "We'll show that Son-of-a-gun. I killed two of his cows."

One of the questions we all have to deal with from time to time is what to do with our anger. Are we aware of the negative results of our anger? Are we aware how other people respond to our anger? People do stupid things when they are angry, pretend or not, like shooting someone's cows. What are you doing about your anger?

Be angry but do not sin. (Ephesians 4:26)

Devotion for the First Week of September 2008

2008-09-02T17:51:00.000-04:00

Many of you know that I am a history buff, and even volunteered at some at Yorktown and Jamestown in Virginia. There are many stories about those two important places in America History, that I enjoy - but none more than the following:

During the spring of 1608 the settlers at Jamestown, Virginia discovered gold (this was less than a year after they decided on building a colony there on the shores of the James River). They almost totally abandoned all efforts at planting crops, constructing buildings, and readying themselves for winter. They had found gold and devoted themselves almost entirely to steadily digging out and washing the precious metal.

The colonists probably would not even have survived the summer and fall if the Powhatan Indians had not fed them. However, they were able to send a ship back to England with a heavy load of the metal for which they had labored all spring. Unfortunately their gold turned out to be iron pyrite, also called "fools' gold." They had given a huge amount of their time, their talent, and all their energies to "fool's gold."

The colonists could say the name "fools' gold" had special meaning for them. For not only had they been deceived by the worthless look-alike mineral, but they had foolishly abandoned everything they needed for life in a quest that would have made no sense even if their discovery had indeed been real gold. If it had not been for others, they would have died chasing material riches.

Does those sound like a parable about the way many of us spend our lives? Stocking up fool's gold and ignoring the really important matters in life like building a closer relationship with God?

He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD! (Psalms 148:14)

Devotion for the First Day of Summer 2008

2008-06-20T20:28:00.002-04:00

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, I was the Commentary Editor for the Old Dominion University’s student newspaper, The Mace and Crown. One of our professors (I wish I could remember his name) had been in the Army stationed in West Germany during those early days of that Wall that was built by a cruel government to keep its citizens from fleeing to a better life in the free world.

I interviewed the professorfor a story about his experiences. One of the stories he told was about how one day the East Germans took truckloads of garbage and dumped the contents over the wall from the eastern sector onto the western side. Everyone in West Berlin was outraged at such a terrible deed. It was the topic of conversation on every street corner , in every shop, and in every home. People were talking about the best way to get revenge.

Then the word went out from West Berlin’s Mayor ,Willie Brandt, that every flower, every petal, every bit of green that could be gathered was to be brought to an appointed spot at the wall. Then all that beauty and fragrance was thrown over the wall to the eastern sector. And above the wall a great banner was hoisted. As the banner was unfurled, these words were revealed, “Each gives what he has.”

The East German government had thrown garbage; the West German people threw back flowers.

What will be our choice, as we give to God and our neighbor?

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
Song of Songs 2:12

Devotion for the Fourth Week of Easter 2008

2008-04-12T09:56:00.000-04:00

Many years ago when I visited the National Cathedral while it was still being built, I heard a story about a woman who was visiting that Cathedral with a tour group with members from her community center. She was not on this trip as a pilgrim to see a great place or worship, but only came along because there was nothing else to do that week.

She had gotten separated from her group and was wandering around the area the stone masons were working. She stopped to watch one of the masons who was sitting near the wall of the Cathedral, skillfully chiseling a stone into a perfect triangular piece. Not seeing the spot where it would fit, she asked, "Where are you going to put that?" The worker pointed toward the top of the Cathedral, and said, "See that little opening up there near the top? That is where it goes. I'm shaping it down here so it will got up there."

Suddenly God had spoken through that worker. She discovered what she must do with her remaining days on earth. She needed to shape her life here for the life to come with God up there.

We need to do the same by shaping our lives now for the life to come in God's presence.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. (2 Timothy 4:18)

Devotion for Easter 2008

2008-03-23T16:43:00.001-04:00

My cousin once told me a story about her daughter watching one of those movies about the life of Jesus on TV. The young girl was about 6 or 7 and she was enthraled by it. She had watched it the year before, so she was familiar with the movie.

As the movie reached the part about Jesus' crucifixion and death, the young girl had tears running down her face. She watched as Jesus was placed in the tomb, and the stone was rolled into place. As expected, since this was broadcast TV, the station went to a commercial break. As the theme music fo the movie started again the girl wiped her ace with her sleeve and started bouncing with excitement and said, “Now comes the best part.”

Isn’t that why we celebrate Easter? To celebrate the good part of the last days of Jesus' pilgrimage on earth. To give thanks for Christ's victory over sin and death. To join our voices with millions of his followers around the world singing, "Jesus Christ is risen today!"

During this season of Easter I suggest that we focus on these words from John's Gospel, "Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark." John was simply reporting the facts. And yet, there is another way these words might be interpreted. After all, the writers of the New Testament as well as Jesus himself often used the imagery of darkness and light to signify something else. Mary Magdalene came to the tomb while it was still dark. Darkness could refer to a world without Christ, a world without hope, a world of sin and death, a world where God's promises had been forgotten and God's people felt forsaken. However, darkness is not the end of the story. The dawn broke. God's Son had risen. Alleluia.

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb while it was still dark and saw that the stone had ben removed from the tomb. (John 20:1)

Lenten Bloggers Prayer

2008-03-12T18:03:00.004-04:00

Our Father
who lives above and beyond the dimension of the internet

Give us this day a life worth blogging,
The access to words and images that express our journey with passion and integrity,
And a secure connection to publish your daily mercies.
Your Kingdom come into new spaces today,
As we make known your mysteries,
Posting by posting,
Blog by blog.

Give this day,
The same ability to those less privileged,
Whose lives speak louder than ours,
Whose sacrifice is greater,
Whose stories will last longer.

Forgive us our sins,
For blog-rolling strangers and pretending they are friends,
For counting unique visitors but not noticing unique people,
For delighting in the thousands of hits but ignoring the ONE who returns,
For luring viewers but sending them away empty handed,
For updating daily but repenting weekly.

As we forgive those who trespass on our sites to appropriate our thoughts without reference,
Our images without approval,
Our ideas without linking back to us.

Lead us not into the temptation to sell out our congregation,
To see people as links and not as lives,
To make our blogs look better than our actual story.

But deliver us from the evil of pimping ourselves instead of pointing to you,
From turning our guests into consumers of someone else's products,
From infatuation over the toys of technology,
From idolatry over technology
From fame before our time has come.

For Yours is the power to guide the destinies behind the web logs,
To bring hurting people into the sanctuaries of our sites,
To give us the stickiness to follow you, no matter who is watching or reading.
Yours is the glory that makes people second look our sites and our lives,
Yours is the heavy ambiance,

For ever and ever,
Amen

This prayer was written by Andrew Jones and found at http://tallskinnykiwi.blogspot.com/2003_03_01_tallskinnykiwi_archive.html#200004297

Devotion for Lent

2008-02-19T15:19:00.000-05:00

I came across a story about a grandfather asking his twin granddaughters what they wanted for their birthdays. "Give us a world," they responded. It took him a few minutes, but he soon realized that what they were asking for was a globe. So happily, granddad went shopping for a nice large globe that would spin and would be an attractive addition to their room. Expectantly, he waited their pleasure on their birthday as they opened their gift from him. Somehow when the present was opened, however, he sensed they were disappointed.

"What is the matter?" he asked. "I thought this is what you wanted." "Well, yes," said one of them. “But we were kind of hoping for a lighted world," added the other. Immediately Grandpa understood that what they wanted was a globe with a light inside.

"I can fix that," he said. "Let me take it back and exchange it for a lighted one." Unfortunately the store where he bought the globe did not sell lighted ones. So he got his money back and set out to find a lighted world rather than a darkened one. He visited several stores and finally, he located a globe with a light in it, bought it and presented it to his granddaughters, who were delighted.

When the Grandfather was telling a friend about all of this, he was asked if he had learned anything from this experience. He said, "Oh, yes. I learned one thing. I learned that a lighted world costs more.”

Yes, a lighted world does cost more. It cost God His Son. If we are serious about letting our light shine in today's world, it will cost us something as well.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (I Peter 2:9)

Devotion for the Second Week of Epiphany

2008-01-23T17:09:00.000-05:00

Recently a friend of mine told me a joke that I would like to share with you.

A few years ago a sailor who had been in a shipwreck in the early 1990's was discovered to be living on a island in the South Pacific by the crew of a large oceangoing yacht. The crew had come ashore to make sure that the island was safe for the yacht’s passengers to play on for the day. They almost as amazed at the resources the island had given this man as they were that he was still alive.

The crew of the small boat that had come out to the island radioed back to the yacht to let them know about the man. The Captain answered and said that he would be right out there in the other small boat with some important items for the survivor. After the Captain’s small boat landed, he could be seen carrying a canvas tote bag toward the man who had been living on this island for over 10 years. As the bag was handed to the man, he notice that it was full of newspapers.

"With my compliments," said the Captain. "Read those before you decide if you really want to be rescued.?

Yes, some times our world seems to be bad and hard place to live. God does not promise to prevent us from experiencing the bad things or the rough parts of life. God does promise, however, to help us endure life's hardships, so that we can find true happiness in Christ.

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Devotion for Christmastide

2007-12-24T17:47:00.000-05:00

Those who have been reading this blog for the last two years knows that I am a Peanuts fan. During this Christmastide I am reminded of a cartoon in which Charlie Brown is reading the Christmas story: "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled."

Charlie Brown pauses and turns to Marcie to explain, "Caesar Augustus was the Emperor of Rome and the most powerful person on earth! One night in the little town of Bethlehem, a child was born, but no one paid any attention...After all, he was born in a common stable. Who would have thought that this child one day would be revered by millions while Caesar Augustus would be almost forgotten?"

Peppermint Patti interrupts and says, "No one paid any attention when I was born either, but now everyone loves me, and I'm gonna get so many presents for Christmas, it'll make your head swim!"

Charlie Brown turns to leave, Bible closed, and Peppermint Patti says, "Hey! Aren't you gonna finish the story?" Charlie Brown replies, "I think you [already] finished it."

Marcie may have had no idea about the deeper implications of the Christmas story, but she knew she was loved. That is the greatest gift of all.

There is the voice calling to us, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." If we do, we, too, can have our best Christmas ever.

A voice cries out: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)

Devotion for the Second Week of Advent

2007-12-11T17:52:00.000-05:00

It was December 14, 1862, just 11 days before Christmas. However, Christmas was far from the thoughts of almost 200,000 Union and Confederate soldiers facing each other across a battle-line near Fredericksburg, Virginia. The past few days had been gruesome with more than 12,000 soldiers killed.

Sergeant Richard Kirkland, a teenager, had seen enough. The story states that Kirkland went to see Confederate General Joseph Kershaw. "General," he said, "I can't stand this!" He startled his commanding officer. "All night and all day I hear those poor Federal people calling for water," he said, "and I can't stand it any longer. I ask permission to go and give them water."

General Kershaw replied, "Sergeant, you'd get a bullet through your head the moment you stepped over the stone wall onto the plain."

"Yes, sir," answered Kirkland, "I know that, but if you let me, I'm willing to try it."

The General responded, "The sentiment which prompts you is so noble that I will not refuse your request. God protect you. You may go."

Quickly the South Carolinian nineteen year old jump over the wall, giving every Yankee sharpshooter in that section an easy target. Kirkland walked calmly toward the Union lines until he reached the nearest wounded soldier. Kneeling, he took off his canteen and gently lifted the enemy soldier's head to give him a long, deep drink of refreshing cold water. Then he placed a knapsack under the head of his enemy and moved on to the next.

Racing against nightfall, he returned again and again to the lines where comrades handed him full canteens. Troops on both sides who had watched this unselfish act paid young Kirkland the supreme tribute - not a standing ovation, but respectful awed silence.

To repent means to change our attitudes toward other people from one of suspicion or hatred to one of love.

Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out. (Acts 3:19)

Devotion for the Week of November 12, 2007

2007-11-14T15:44:00.000-05:00

Those who know me, or read this blog regularly will tell you that I am a big movie fan. I was watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade again. I enjoy this film the most out of the Indiana Jones films for many reasons, but has to do with having the search for the Holy Grail as part of the plot. As most of you may know, legend has it that the Holy Grail was the cup Jesus used at the Last Supper. Later it was given to Joseph of Arimethea, who used it to catch some of the blood of Jesus at His crucifixion.

Regardless of the amount of truth in the storyline, it is an entertaining movie. In one scene, the Nazi Colonel is trying to secure the cup, but cannot figure out how to go safety down the passageway. There are three traps that have been set to keep intruders away. Indiana Jones knows the answer to the passageway, but refuses to go in. The Colonel then shoots Indiana’s father and says, "Now Dr. Jones, the only way to save your father is through the miraculous power of the Grail."

To make a long story short, Jones does get the Grail, fills it with water and gives it to his father. His father is saved, but it is not the cup that saves him. It is his faith in the God of the cup. Afterwards, Indiana Jones' father asks him, "What did you find, Junior?"

Finding God does not need to be a quest, God is always right there. The cup of faith is standing there, full to the brim. All we have to do is accept it.

"I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)

Devotion for the Week of November 5, 2007

2007-11-04T14:44:00.000-05:00

One of my friends, a father of twin girls, told me about an incident when they were eight years old. The two sisters spent the day fighting. That evening they prepared for bed, still mad at each other. As usual, they knelt by the side of their beds for their prayers. "Dear God," one of them began, "Bless Daddy and Mommy, bless Grandma and Grandpa, bless our cat and our dog." Then she stopped. My friend gently prodded, "Didn't you forget somebody?" She glared across the bed at her twin sister and added, "And, oh yes, God, bless my ex-sister."

Sometimes we wish it were that easy, don't we? But our brothers and sisters don't become `ex's' just because we are angry. We were created for relationship. Broken relationships tear at the very reason behind our existence. Jesus wants us to resolve our differences for the stake of our spiritual health.

We need to understand that unresolved anger is a spiritual issue. There is a sense of urgency in Jesus' words. When relationships are strained, whether it's our fault or not, we are to go at once and try our best to reconcile.

So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
(Matthew 5:23-24)

Devotion for the Week of October 29, 2007

2007-10-29T12:17:00.000-04:00

Once in a while I get something via email that I want to share with others. I received this one from a good friend of mine with a teenage daughter.

"The doctor cured by hearing problem," one girl said to another.

"What did the doctor do?" her friend asked.

"She removed my Ipod!"

Once reason why this is funny is because it has some truth to it. But it also raises some questions as well.

Do we have our spiritual earphones on? A good way to find out is to ask yourself how long it has been since a friend confided in you.
How long has it been since you confided in a friend?
Have you closed yourself off from God?
Do you feel self-sufficient?

We all need our friends for mutual support. We all need God's forgiving love. So, let us remove our spiritual earphones and open our hearts and receive.

Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin. (Proverbs 18:24)

Devotion for the Week of October 22, 2007

2007-10-22T14:24:00.000-04:00

“Pastor, I understand the idea of ‘You are the light of the world,’ but I’m not sure what Jesus means by being ‘the salt of the earth.’ This is how a conversation started after we had watch Godspell with the youth group some time ago.

I realized that in our twenty-first century culture many things from the Bible may not make sense to us. For us salt is a cheap condiment we find on almost every dinner table in America. But this was not the case 200 years ago.

In the ancient world salt was a valuable commodity. Workers were paid with salt. An interesting footnote is that the word "salary" is derived from the word, "salt." Many of the Roman soldiers were paid in salt. Some people wanting to buy something in the ancient world would often pay for it with salt, in the same way we use money today. People would treasure salt as we might value gold or silver. Even in Colonial America households usually keep salt locked up or hidden.

One reason salt was so valuable had to do with needing to have salt as part of ones diet when living in the heat of the Mediterranean world. Also, the value of being able to preserve food with it.

So, with this in mind, Jesus was calling them and their work valuable.

But there is more to it than that. The best way for me to explain the other part is with a story.

One evening a mother said to her son, "Put this salt in water and come back to me in the morning." The boy did as he was told, and the next day his mother said, "Please bring me the salt you put in the water yesterday." "I can't find it," replied the boy. "It has dissolved."

The wise woman told her son, "Taste the water from this side of the dish." Again the son did as he was told. "What taste does it have?" his father asked. "Salt," the son replied. “What about the other side of the dish,” the mother asked. Again, the boy answered, “Salt.”

Next, the woman told her son to pour the salty water onto the rocks. The boy did so only to discover that after the water had evaporated the salt reappeared.

Perhaps in calling his followers the "salt of the earth," Jesus meant that once people become his followers there is no turning back.

You are the salt of the earth. (Matthew 5:13)

Devotion for the Week of October 15, 2007

2007-10-14T21:55:00.000-04:00

In 1903 a woman by the name of Annie Johnson lived in a small town in Arkansas. Her husband had left her to raise her two young children in the one room house they lived in. She had very little money and knew that there was no way she would be hired at the town’s two major sources of employment an cotton gin and a lumber yard. Being a tall and large woman she was unable to get work as a “domestic” plus she would have to leave her children with someone else most of the day. She also trusted God to give her the courage to find a way and follow it.

Now Annie had a talent, she could cook. She would never admit to being a great cook and se to say that she was only “mixing groceries well enough to scare hunger away from starving a man.”
She decided to use her talents and make herself a new path.

Early one morning Annie went outside the cotton gin with meat pies she had made the night before. Her plan was to heat them up so the aroma would entice the workers to buy them. One day she would serve the hot at the cotton gin for a nickel a piece and then go to the Lumber yard and serve them cold for three cents each. The next day she would reverse the order. At first her idea didn't catch on because most of the workers packed their own lunch, but gradually more and more of the workers bought her pies.

For the next few years, Annie never disappointed her customers. The workers came to depend on her. Before too long her simple mobile stall became a store carrying meat and cheese, built an equal distance between the cotton gin and the lumber yard where the customers came to her.

Annie had stepped from the road which seemed to have been chosen for her and cut herself a brand new path. That takes courage. That takes trust in God. What new path is God calling you to cut?

Each one helps the other, saying to one another, "Take courage!"
Isaiah 41:6

Devotion for the Week of October 1, 2007

2007-10-02T02:01:00.000-04:00

I apologize for not being up to date on this devotional page, but as many of you know, my mother passed away, and I have not really known what to write about. I have had writer’s block. The other when I was telling a friend of mine about this, he told me this story.

"The parish priest had asked George, one of the church members, if he could do some rewiring above the altar area. The only why he could reach the wiring was to enter the attic from the room behind the altar area and crawl out over the plaster ceiling by balancing on the rafters. His wife, Susan, was sitting in the first pew, keeping an eye on the occasional puff of dust from the ceiling that floated down.

"Susan did not realize it, but some of the other parishioners where starting to gather in the back of the church, waiting for the priest to walk out to the confessional. Those who were entering the rear of the church thought nothing of Susan, who did not recognize, sitting in the front pew because they assumed she was praying.

"Concerned for her husband’s safety, Susan yell up at George, "George, can you hear me? Are you up there? Did you make it okay?"

There was quite an outburst from the back of the church when they hear George’s clear and strong voice answer, "Yes, Yes, I made it up here just fine!"

For those of us who have had someone we love die, it is most comforting to know that they made it up there okay. We all have that assurance with Jesus Christ as our savior.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20

2007-08-07T11:43:00.000-04:00

Devotion for Week of August 5, 2007

As some of you who read this blog already know, I have a small collection of old comic strip books such as Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts, Garfield, and The Far Side. I often flip through them when I am stuck for a sermon idea or a devotion. This week was no different and I came across this Calvin and Hobbes cartoon.

Calvin says to Hobbes, "If you could have anything in the world right now, what would it be?" Hobbes is seen thinking hard and Calvin says, "Anything at all! What ever you want!" Hobbes finally answers, "A sandwich."

Calvin is then seen yelling, "A sandwich? What kind of stupid wish is that? Talk about a failure of imagination! I'd ask for a trillion billion dollars, my own space shuttle, and a private continent!"

The last frame of the cartoon shows Hobbes eating a sandwich while he says, "I got my wish."

Have you ever wanted some ability that someone else had? We often do that, but it is not necessary. Maybe we are just like the worker in the Gospel of Matthew who received only one talent. The servant with one talent did not have as much as the servant with five talents, but he still had all he needed. If he had not buried his talent in the ground, he could have done great things with it.

All of us are gifted, and all those gifts come from God. All of us have what we need to succeed. God has created us differently so that different tasks will get done in this world. And all of us have a place where we fit in. So maybe when we do not think we are successful, we just need to change our idea of what success is to match God’s.

But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. (Matthew 25:18)

2007-07-20T21:17:00.000-04:00

Devotion for the weeks of July 15 -28, 2007

I was reading about the agnostic Thomas Huxley on another website about agnostics and came across a reported conversation he had with a Christian who was being sincere in his questioning Huxley’s scepticism. This believer stressed to Huxley that he was not in any way criticizing Huxley system of belief. The Christian asked Huxley if he understood color-blindness. That no matter how much a person may try to tell a color blind person that he is wearing a red shirt. That no matter the facts that are there for most people to see, the color blind person can not see the color red. Huxley was then asked,Could it be that this was Huxley's problem--that he was simply blind to truth that was quite evident to others? Huxley, being a man of integrity, admitted that this was possible, and added that if it were, he himself, of course, could not know or recognize it. I believe Huxley was blind to a great many truths.

To people of faith, it is quite evident that we live in a universe inhabited by God. To think otherwise would deny the facts of life as we experience them. Could such an extraordinary world have happened without a divine hand directing it? Believers cannot deny their faith simply because others are blind or deaf or insensitive to what seems to be plainly evident to us. As far as we are concerned the burden of proof is on the non-believer. And rarely are they as confident as they pretend.

Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. (Psalm 25.5)

Devotion for the Week of July 9, 2007

2007-07-10T23:00:00.000-04:00

I was talking with some friends about golf the other day. I told them I love to play golf. I go out and hit the ball 70 - 80 times, go into the clubhouse and have a sandwich and a cold drink, and then if I feel up to it I go out and play the back nine.

With that, one of the other guys told me this story. He was out playing golf in the middle of the week with his brother, just the two of them. On the 10th hole they both hit their long tee shots deep into the rough near a elderly ladies house. The lady was out working in her garden and watched them look for their golf balls for quite some time in the high grass and around the pine trees. Since there was no one waiting to tee off, they took more time than usual to search. This was not the first time either one of the had to spend time searching in the rough and their tempers were starting to flare.

The lady watched the pair and as they neared her house she said to them, “I don't want to bother you men," she said, "but will it be cheating if I tell you where the golf balls are?"

As we look around us, we see people searching for lost values, for real meaning in life, and for hope. We should not, no, we must not keep silent. Fulfilling the Great Commission means sharing Jesus Christ with those around us. It means speaking up and guiding them so they can find the forgiveness and salvation Christ freely offers.

There are too many people who have found Jesus and have good theology, but their outreach is almost nil. They are sound Christians, but they are also sound asleep. For some Christians, it is far too easy to be satisfied with themselves and those close to them being saved and then retreat from the world.

However, on the Day of Pentecost, the birthday of the CHURCH, we were shown that our primary mission is to reach out to the world. T he unity that those early Christians experienced and the prayers that they offered were only to help them better fulfill the task that Christ had given them to make disciples of all people. They existed not for their own benefit, but for the benefit of a lost world.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

Devotion for the Week of June 25, 2007

2007-06-24T21:08:00.000-04:00

When I was in a DOD high school overseas, in order to save money, the school purchased only a few scripts for the drama class of a certain play and cut them up into the separate parts. The student director gave each actor his or her individual part in order and then started to rehearse the play. But nothing went right. After an hour of missed cues and mangled sequences, the cast gave up.

At that point, the director sat the actors all on the stage and said: "Look, I'm going to read the entire play to you, so don't any of you say a word." She read the entire script aloud, and when he was finished, one of the actors said: "So that's what it was all about!"

And when they understood the entire story, they were able to fit their parts together and have a successful rehearsal.

C. S. Lewis once said that the most frequently spoken word in heaven would be, "OH." As in, "Oh, now I understand." Or, "Oh, now I see God's plan." Or, "Oh, now I see the reason for everything."

In this world, however, we walk by faith, not by knowledge. But one day it will be revealed to us. We will be in the presence of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

There are some answers that are too large for our earthly, human brains to contain. But our greatest need is not understanding, but trust that God is with us. God is with us and will be with us until that day comes when all will be revealed.

Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven." (Matthew 16:17)

Devotion for week of June 4, 2007

2007-06-06T12:58:00.000-04:00

In an old Peanuts cartoon we see Peppermint Patty at the counter in a store. She is telling the store clerk, "I need some school supplies . . . some pencils, some paper, a loose-leaf binder . . .and some answers . . . I need a lot of answers!"

Well, don’t we all?

Life is full of difficult questions. There are many things in life we do not understand. This past Sunday I realized how many of us have a hard time understanding the Trinity--God as Father, God as Son, and God as Holy Spirit.

Even the best theologians find themselves at a loss to explain it satisfactorily, otherwise wh would there be so many books on the topic. Some use the analogy of the masks worn by actors in the old Greek tragedies. One actor wearing many masks can play many parts. But it is still just one actor.

There are many ways people try to explain the Trinity, but I think the secret of understanding the Trinity is trust. We can either spend our lives making ourselves miserable about what does not make sense to us or we can live joyful lives based on trust in God.

We may not be able to understand the mystery of God in three persons, but we can enjoy the incredible beauty made by God the creator. We may not understand how a baby born in Bethlehem's can be part of the Godhead, But we can read with awe the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and know that no one has ever lived closer to God than Jesus.

We may not understand all there is to understand about the Comforter that Jesus said he would send us, but there have been times when that Comforter, the Holy Spirit, has enveloped us with love. We do not have to understand God in three persons in order to experience the awesomeness of what those three persons can mean in our life. The secret of a successful life is not understanding but trust.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)

Devotion for the Week of May 27, 2007

2007-05-30T21:46:00.000-04:00

Since I was on Vacation this week, I had time to read some of those things in my stack. A few years ago a friend gave me Max Lucado's book Next Door Savior and I came across this story below and I thought I would share it with you.

"A man and his dog are in the same car. The dog howls right-moon-in-the-middle- of-the-night caterwauling howls. The man pleads, promising a daily delivery of dog biscuit bouquets if only the hound will hush. After all, it’s only a car wash.
Never occurred to him—ahem, to me—that the car wash would scare my dog. But it did. Placing myself in her paws, I can see why. A huge, noisy machine presses toward us, pounding our window with water, banging against the door with brushes. Duck! We’re under attack.

“Don’t panic. The car wash was my idea.” “I’ve done this before.” “It’s for our own good.” Ever tried to explain a car wash to a canine? Dog dictionaries are minus the words brush and detail job. My words fell on fallen flaps. Nothing helped. She just did what dogs do; she wailed.

Actually, she did what we do. Don’t we howl? Not at car washes perhaps but at hospital stays and job transfers. Let the economy go south or the kids move north, and we have a wail of a time. And when our Master explains what’s happening, we react as if he’s speaking Yalunka. We don’t understand a word he says.
Is your world wet and wild? God’s greatest blessings often come costumed as disasters. Some of you doubt it. How can God use cancer or death or divorce?

Simple.

[God is] smarter than we are. He is to you what I was to four-year-old Amy. I met her at a bookstore. She asked me if I would sign her children’s book. When I asked her name, she watched as I began to write, “To Amy …”

She stopped me right there. With wide eyes and open mouth, she asked, “How did you know how to spell my name?”

She was awed. You aren’t. You know the difference between the knowledge of a child and an adult. Can you imagine the difference between the wisdom of a human and the wisdom of God? What is impossible to us is like spelling “Amy” to [God]. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:9).

I keep taking Molly to the car wash. She’s howling less. I don’t think she understands the machinery. She’s just learning to trust her master.
Maybe we’ll learn the same.

Devotion for the Week of May 7, 2007

2007-05-08T23:16:00.000-04:00

A few days ago I was looking at some old comic strip books such as Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts, Garfield, and The Far Side.

One of the Garfield cartoons I saw has him resting, eyes half closed, in his bed thinking to himself: "One of my pet peeves is people who never finish what they start." The next panel shows him with his eyes wide open and a smile on his face saying, "I do not happen to be one of those people." The last panel shows him completely under the bed covers saying, "My philosophy is, 'Never start anything.'"

"Never start anything," cannot be our philosophy as God's people. We must care about our world because God cares. We must care about people because God cares. We must care about those in need because God cares. God cared enough about us to send a savior, His son, Jesus Christ.

We must care too. We must care enough to make our church and community stronger. We must care enough to make the world a better place to live. We are call by God to care.
What is God calling you to do? Are you being called to help a fellow student who is struggling with his or her education? Are you being called to be a Sunday School teacher? Are you being called to mentor young adults as they begin their careers? Are you being called to coach sports and teach the true meaning of teamwork and sportsmanship? Are you being called to organize a neighborhood watch program or cleanup day?

If you and I don't do it, who will? God is counting you and me. We also can count on God to give us the resources we need to accomplish God's will. These resources include the gifts and passions we have received through the grace of God. We have been given all our resources, ourselves, our time, our talents and our possessions for the betterment of the Kingdom of God. Even the education we receive comes about because of the resources God has given us.

By grace you have been saved - and raised up with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (Ephesians 2: 4b-10)

Devotion for the Week of April 23, 2007

2007-04-24T16:59:00.000-04:00

Today’s American culture bombards us daily with the message that we should care only about ourselves. "You owe it to yourself," we hear in advertisements for vacation trips. "You deserve the best," we hear from people selling expensive products. However, the mark of a Christian is the love we show for one another. As the song goes, "They'll know we are Christians by our love."

In the Gospels we find the Pharisees questioning Jesus - Teacher,which commandment in the law is the greatest?" (Matthew 22:34-36, Mark 12:28-30, Luke 10:25-27)

Jesus answered by quoting from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 6:5, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." "This is the greatest and first commandment."

So, what do we mean we say, "I love God?" Loving God is not having a mushy, good feeling kind of love--like loving pizza or loving a good movie. Loving God has to do with commitment. It has to do with God being first in every aspect of our lives. Loving God means, we daily build a relationship with God through talking to God, reading our Bibles, and worship.

I use to watch golf on TV Sunday afternoons with my dad and I remember an interview with Lee Trevino who was involved in an incident in a tournament. Lightning struck a tree very near to where he was standing. Someone asked Trevino what he thought when lightning struck that tree. He replied, "I learned that when God wants to play through you had better let him."
Having respect for God is one way to love God. The most important way we can love God is by making God the most important part of our lives.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

Devotion for the Week of April 16, 2007

2007-04-17T17:05:00.000-04:00

I didn’t get a lot of work done yesterday since I was trying to stay up to the minute with the news coming out of Blacksburg, Virginia concerning the shootings at Virginia Tech. And instead of a traditional devotion today, I am going to share with you some thoughts.

I am happy to report that the one young member of Emmanuel that attends VT was not wounded. And the two people I know who work there were also not harmed. However, they are shocked and deeply affected. I believe, everyone is also shocked.

As I watched or listen to the news, I heard someone say, "God is not here."

When events such as those that happened at VT happen, our sense of peace is shattered, our thoughts and lives are intruded upon. Our lives are interrupted and we are saddened and shocked by it all. And it is easy to wonder if indeed God hasn't left this place a long time ago.

So, what do we do now? On NPR this morning I heard Judy Muller on "Morning Edition" recalled a remark made to her following the Columbine shootings. A woman at the 'makeshift memorial' of flowers and teddy bears that appeared almost immediately said, "The really sad thing is that we already know what to do." Muller went on to talk about all the public rituals and so forth that we now know must follow such events. We have done it before. We've buried our children.

But what should we do beyond that? I believe that we have to continue to be good parents to our children. And I don’t just mean just our offspring - I mean all the children in our lives. We must show strong love to them - and sometimes this means telling them NO. I believe that nurturing our children and pointing them in the right direction is some of the most important work we can do. We should not allow our children to withdraw from their community or to bully others.

In a discussion I had a friend of mine last night, the question was asked, "What would Jesus have us do?"

Since I have been working on next Sunday’s service already, the Gospel lesson came to my mind (John 21:1-19). Feed, Tend, Feed God’s Sheep.

Then there is the statement earlier, "God is not here."

In a way that is true, it is the season of Easter and we are celebrating the fact that the tomb is empty. God left THAT place, he did not stand around waiting for us to come upon Him. He comes to visit us in a NEW PLACE.

The opening verse of the Gospel reading says that "Jesus showed himself again to his disciples."
THAT'S what Jesus is doing today, showing himself to us, his disciples. But there is a good chance that we will be like those disciples and not recognize him at first. Like Peter, who went back to what he was doing before he knew Jesus (went fishing) - we often return to what we were doing. But Jesus told Peter and he tells us as well, "Feed my lambs," "Tend my sheep," "Feed my sheep."

That's what we can do right now. We are all called to be feeders and tenders. It is important to respond to events such as this one as a community and to look for places where God is at work in the aftermath of violence and death. As one of the ministers in the Blacksburg area said, "We need to affirm that God always gives the gift of new life, and that God can reclaim Virginia Tech as a place for kids to grow in knowledge and faith." We also need to be with our family and friends so that we can comfort them, and they us. As Christians we should find comfort in community.

So, where is God?

He has left the tomb, but he is with us now.

PAX,

Robert Lewis +

Devotion for the Week of April 9, 2007

2007-04-10T17:45:00.000-04:00

I recently read about some ecologists at the University of Washington who found that willow trees transmit a warning to other willows from as far away as two hundred feet. When caterpillars are attacking, the trees emit a chemical signal that travels with the wind. This enables distant trees to prepare their protection, phenol in the leaves (which is distasteful to the caterpillars). This advance warning of an attack amazes scientists. The individual trees have the ability to behave in a way that benefits not just themselves but the whole species.

Are we not a higher form of species than willow trees? Shouldn’t we behave in a way that benefits not just ourselves but all of humanity? Just as the trees did for themselves, they also did for others. Shouldn’t we treat other people as you would like to be treated.

Follow the "golden rule." Put yourself in the other person's place and ask yourself how you would like to be treated. Would you want to be discriminated against because of the color of your skin, what you wear, where you live, which school you attend(ed)? Would you want to be taken advantage of in a business transaction? People of integrity think of others.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31 NRSV)

Devotion for Holy Week 2007

2007-04-03T23:08:00.000-04:00

You would think that I would have my devotion for Holy Week written on time - but I have been struggling with what to write because I have been thinking about the gospel lessons this past Sunday (the Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday reading found in Luke 22:14-23:56 or 23:1-49). These lessons remind me of what life is supposed to be all about.

These are gospel lessons that have become familiar to me over the years - which might be why I have had such a difficulty in finding the right words to express how I felt reading it. I have heard it for most of my life - the story of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection - sometimes with interest and sometimes with wondering “When’s the Easter egg hunt?” Now I see the beauty in it because I am reminded by it about so many things.

As Jesus is dying on the cross he exclaims, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,” a true statement of love for his Father. This phrase now has a huge meaning in my life. It may come as a shock to some, but yes, even as a Pastor I find myself at times struggling to keep my actions, thoughts, and feelings in line with the way that Jesus taught and lived his own life. I fall away from God too often in the course of evenone week.

But this phrase that Jesus spoke to his Father in heaven as he was dying is a completely perfect example of the importance of giving one’s own life to God today. I constantly fall due to sin, and have to find a way to get back up, usually by reaching out for the out-stretched hand of God. And through accepting that hand, I also give myself back to God.

As I was listening to the Passion narrative being read on Sunday, I was reminded how important it is to continuously give and re-give my life back to God when I slip away. Yeah, sometimes I feel like the criminal who was hanging on the cross next to Jesus who tells Jesus to rescue them. If God is all powerful, then why doesn’t God help more often. But then I realize that I am like the other criminal, recognizing the Christ for who he is; I admit my sin, and humbly ask Jesus to remember me. And he does - each and every time.

During Lent we speak of dying and rising again with Christ. No, we do not actually die when we commend our spirits to God, but we do symbolically and metaphorically die when we get rid of everything that is not of God - and sometimes for me that can be a lot

By offering myself back to God when I fail, when I lose the power to do God’s will, and when I sin against God, neighbor and/or myself - I again offer God my spirit to lead me into a deeper spiritual relationship with him.

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:44-46)

Devotion for the week of March 19, 2007

2007-03-20T15:27:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago when I was down in Virginia visiting my folks, a story my father told me during dinner was one I did not remember. I wanted a new skateboard, because I had taken my old one apart and lost some parts (sounds typical). My parents decided that this was a good opportunity to teach me something about responsibility and the value of money. They made an arrangement with me, if I save half the money for the skateboard from my allowance, they would chip in the other half. According to dad, I did not think this was a great deal, but I agreed to it.

The first Saturday morning after making the deal with my parents, I received my allowance. So I went into my room, closed the door, and took out all the loose chance I had in my top dresser drawer - what was known as the "junk drawer." As I was in my room counting my money, my dad could hear the bell on the ice cream truck down the street, getting closer and louder. Both my parents were waiting to see what would happen. Dad said there was no sound coming from my room at all, even when the ice cream truck stop a few houses from ours.

As the ice cream truck drove away and the bell could no longer be heard, my father says that he heard me say, "Dear God, please don't let the ice cream truck come down my street anymore."

Prayer - even then it was a good idea. As the Lord's prayer says, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

Devotion for the week of March 5, 2007

2007-03-06T12:10:00.000-05:00

Baseball season has not even begun yet, yet I'm following the movement of football players between teams. This is has to do with watching my players for this coming fantasy football session. Trying to get the jump on the others in my fantasy league and figure out who are going to be the great players this year. And as I do this, I ask myself, what makes a person truly great?

Wow, now I’ve gone and done it - I’ve asked myself a philosophical, ethical and spiritual question.

We certainly have a lot of sports and activities in our society to help us find out who is the greatest. We defiantly live in a competitive world and my family can certainly tell you about the ways I am competitive. But does being competitive and winning make a person truly great?

Probably not. Jesus does, however, give us some important characteristics that do make us truly great.

We all love happy endings. I remember hearing a story about Hollywood producer Sam Goldwyn. He once listened to director Billy Wilder describe in detail the true life story of a famous artist. Wilder thought it would make a great movie.

"Does it end happy?" Goldwyn wanted to know.
"Well," said Wilder, "it winds up with the guy in an insane asylum thinking he's a horse."

Goldwyn threw Wilder out the door. But Wilder wasn't discouraged. He poked his head back in and said, "Okay, how about if at the end the guy who thinks he's a horse . . . goes on to win the Kentucky Derby."

We love it when the good guy comes out on top. And being a servant is a lot like coming out on top at the end of a good movie. A servant will have lots of hardships, work hard behind the scenes, and little recognition, but in the end a true servant will be rewarded by being the greatest in the sight of God. Jesus is truly the greatest servant and we should strive to be more like him. Then we too will be great.

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. (II Timothy 2:24-25)

Devotion for the week of February 26, 2007

2007-02-27T04:12:00.000-05:00

The gospel lesson for this past Sunday is from Saint Luke, 4:1-9. In this lesson we read, "Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’"

What do we worship? I believe where we spend most of our time, money, and other resources, says what we truly value or worship. Jesus was tempted to gain power over all of the world. He could have given up God's will for His life, so that He could gain ultimate earthly power.

As Jesus answer the devil, He is also telling us today, "Worship the Lord your God and serve only him." We live in a world where right and wrong, good and bad are not always easily definable. However, God's word is clear that our purpose is to worship and serve God. Yes, Christian ethics do not come prepackaged and our call is not an adherence to a list of rules, but we are to be faithful in our worship of God and God alone.

A Lenten Prayer
Dear God, forgive me for worshiping the wrong things. Move me to more faithfully worship You. I pray this and all things in the name of your Son, Christ our Savior. Amen.

Devotion for the Week of February 12, 2007

2007-02-13T02:40:00.000-05:00

It happens at least once every day, but I am always surprised when it does - I get a peek into the amazing heart of God.

Why does this happen?
Because His mercies never come to an end.
Plus, they are new every morning.

I take great comfort knowing that when I wake up each day, God is there with a fresh, hot, steaming mug just filled from God’s overflowing supply of mercy. God is ready to bless me, forgive me, and strengthen me for another day.

Yesterday is over. It’s time to move into today. How will I handle it? Will I take a deep, refreshing drink from that cup and charge out to face the day? Or will I drag myself out of bed, rely on my own strength, and slog through yet another day?

Every New Year’s Day, many of us make resolutions for the new year. Here it is the middle of February and most, if not all, of those resolutions are broken. We are weighed down by their crumbled debris in an invisible sack we carry with us. We failed, again. Some of us may shrug our shoulders and say to ourselves, “Oh well, there is always next year.”

But, through the grace of God, every day can be a New Year’s Day. We can ask forgiveness for yesterday’s failings and pray for the strength to begin fresh. We can have the confidence that God is always there, not just ready, but eager and quick to forgive us. God longs to give us what we need. God wants to bless us.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Devotion for the Week of February 5, 2007

2007-02-05T23:07:00.000-05:00

It was the spring of 1947 and a new, young baseball player had shown up in Yankee stadium. He was a catcher; however, no one ever looked less like an athlete than this guy. Fans and sports writers wondered if the Yankee organization had lost its mind (see its not just the current front office).

He was a little strange looking - short, squat, rotund and clumsy. They made fun of the way he walked, and the way he looked with a catcher's mask on. He swung at bad pitches, had problems behind the plate, and his throwing was wild. He was criticized and laughed at, but he would not quit. He was determined to stay with it.

This young man worked hard to overcome his shortcomings as a catcher; he spent extra hours in the batting cage; he studied rival hitters, until he knew their every weakness, and eventually turned the table of public opinion. He won the respect of his teammates, and the admiration of the opposing teams. He was to become one of America's most loveable personalities.

When This man retired, he had played on fourteen pennant winning teams; he had hit 358 home runs, had made the all-star team numerous times, was voted the League's MOST VALUABLE PLAYER 3 times, and he had set 18 world series records. He had become so popular they named a cartoon after him.

Today you know him as Yogi Berra.

He had the determination! He ran the good race and fought the good fight.

May we also, as God's followers, fight the good fight.

Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called. (1 Timothy 6:12a)

Devotion for the Week of January 22, 2007

2007-01-23T14:08:00.000-05:00

It was two weeks away from the beginning of the school year that I would be starting eighth grade in a new school because we had recently moved to Wichita Falls, Texas and we were still living in temporary housing on base. There was noone my age to hang out with and I was tired of being with my younger brother. I was feeling upset, mad, lonely, and abandoned. I was missing my friends and had not yet met anyone new.

As I was walking back to the temporary housing unit from the one swing, one slide, half-court playground, I was really upset. I reached the unpaved, stone parking lot in front of the temporary quarters and I fell and bloodied my knee and palms. I looked down at my hands and thought to myself, “God, why do you hate me?”

I picked myself up, grabbed a couple of the stones and started throwing them into the open field by the parking lot. As I was about to through the last stone, I looked at it instead and said, “God, if you really care about me, show me by changing this stone into something else, anything else but a rock, I don't care what it is, just change it.” I waited, and I waited, and I waited some more. Finally I threw the stone back down. I said, “God, if you are really there, show me a sign - any sign.” I stood there for a few more minutes and then walking away in discuss saying, “That’s what I thought.” I was in the same mood the rest of the week.

On Friday my dad told us we were going to go to the chapel that Sunday with someone he knew from work and then go over to their house for lunch. We were all looking forward to this because we only had a stove top in our temporary quarters and we were all ready for something else to eat that did not come out of the can or from the base dining hall. Since I was still either mad with God or not sure there was a God, I decide that sitting in church in order to get a real meal was worth it.

The base chapel had a youth service at the same time as the regular service, so I went to that hoping that I would at least meet someone my age. Finding none, I sat there stewing-in-my-own-juices as my Mom use to say. One of the others who were there asked the leader, “God does all these great miracles in the Bible, how come He doesn’t do that now? How come He doesn’t give us as sign that He’s real?”

The leader’s answer was simple, “Jesus said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”

Wow! I got an answer! And it was also funny to me because the sign God gave me was someone saying that we should not ask for signs. I started to laugh and was asked what was so funny. I started to tell my story, but for some reason I just said, “nothing,” and sat quietly the rest of the the time thinking about this answer, this “non-miracle” to everyone else in the room, this small, very personal miracle.

Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Luke 4:12

Devotion for the Week of January 15, 2007

2007-01-16T12:08:00.001-05:00

In my books that are on shelves throughout my house and in my office are a few collection of cartoons. In one of those books is a Peanuts cartoon of Lucy and her brother Linus holding a wishbone together. Lucy was explaining to Linus how the wishbone worked telling him that if he got the bigger part of the bone, his wish would come true. Linus asks Lucy, “Do I have to say the wish out loud?”

Lucy answers, “Of course, if you don't say it out loud it won't come true.” Then Lucy, being the bossy big sister, makes her wishes first. “I wish for four new sweaters, a new bike, a new pair of skates, a new dress and one hundred dollars.”

Linus then made his wishes, “I wish for a long life for all of my friends, I wish for world peace, I wish for great advancements in medical research."

After hearing this, Lucy took the wishbone and threw it away saying, "Linus, that's the trouble with you. You're always spoiling everything."

What are you wishing for in this New Year!

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

Devotion for the Week of January 8, 2007

2007-01-09T12:58:00.000-05:00

Last week I saw the movie, Night at the Museum and I really enjoyed it. Now, while I enjoyed if for all of the reasons most people enjoyed this film, I had an additional reason. One of my favorite historical figures was a character in this film, Teddy Roosevelt. For those of you who don’t know much about Teddy other that what you saw in this movie and the fact that the Teddy Bear is named after him, let me briefly explain why he is my favorite historical figure.

Theodore was born in 1858 in New York. He was a bit of a runt with a frail body, feeble eyesight and he suffered from asthma - yet he became one of the most powerful men on earth. But not just power for power's sake for he also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.

When Theodore was a boy he decided he wanted to do something important with his life, so he started expanding his mind and strengthening his body. This ambition continued throughout his life. He was elected to the New York Legislature at twenty-three; candidate for mayor at twenty-eight; served as the U.S. Civil Service Commissioner under two presidents; President of the Police Commission of New York; and became a National Hero as leader of the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War at forty. Then in just three very busy years he was first the Governor of New York, Vice-President of the United States, and then President. He was not a big man physically, only 5 foot, 8 inches tall. It was not the size of the man that mattered, but the size of the ambition. He had a fire in his belly that directed him to do something worthwhile with his life.

And its not just politicians that can do great things through their ambition. Both Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr. had ambition. Nobody accomplishes very much in this world nor contributes very much to the world without a dose of ambition. In fact, given enough ambition, even the least likely of people can make a difference in sharing God's love.

So, this begs the question, “What ambitions has God given to you?”

Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand."
(Romans 15.20-21)

Devotion for the Week of January 2, 2007

2007-01-02T13:45:00.000-05:00

A few years back at a state fair far more spectators gathered for a certain event that was rarely viewed by more that those who were directly involved in the event. This event was the Horse-Pull. The Horse-Pull is a strength competition for horses where a sled is hitched to a horse and various weights are put on the sled.

The reason this certain event had gathered a large number of onlookers had to do with the fact that two horse that had broken records in their parts of the state where in the statewide competition. As predicted, these two horses reached the finals. The horse that was crowned grand-champion pulled a sled with 4,500 pounds on it. The runner-up was close with a 4,400 pound pull.

Now some of the other owners in the competition were wondering how much these two horses could pull together and they got the owners of the grand-champion and the runner-up to agree to having the horses yoked together and pull a sled. Now separately these two horses pulled a total of almost 9,000 pounds. But when yoked together and working as a team, they pulled a sled that weights 12,000 pounds!

Imagine the powerful force we could exert if we all pulled together as a team.

So, if the first thing we should remember is that life reaches a level of worth when we give something of ourselves to other people, then the second thing we should remember is that when people cooperate with one another, their combined effort is often greater than their individual endeavors could produce.

Together, we can make our world a more Godly and loving community.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30)

Devotion for the week of December 25, 2006

2006-12-28T10:49:00.000-05:00

While I was at my parents' house over the holidays, my father asked me to go through some of my stuff in the attic and get rid of what I don’t want and take what I do want. As I search through old Boy Scouts camping gear, roller skates, and books, I came across what was left of my old comic book collection. While sorting through these comics I realized how many old Donald Duck and Goofy comics I had (Goofy is still my favorite Disney Character).

I started to flip through some of these comics to see if any of them where in any shape to keep. I realized that many of them were reprints of comics from the early 1960's, so between the shape they were in and being reprints, they were not worth keeping other than a a few I decided to keep because of the story.

One of those stories had to do with Donald’s rich Uncle Scrooge McDuck. This one comic was about everyone asking Uncle Scrooge for money. This go so bad that it started getting on his nerves and he was taking nerve medicine but it gets to the point that this is not helping too much either. Therefore he decides to go to a remote island that does not have any money along with Donald and his three nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie.

It is relaxing and quiet on the island until Scrooge carelessly discards a bottle cap from his nerve medicine and the natives begin using it as money. They fight over the cap, and this quiet utopia becomes not much different from the city Scrooge McDuck left behind. And what is even worse for Scrooge is that because he has all the bottles of medicine, with their caps, he is the riches man on the island and his nerves just can’t take it.

He comes up with a plan to devalue the currency but having planes drop bottle caps on the island. Soon the caps are starting to be found everywhere, even filling the lake. Scrooge stops the air drops of the caps and everyone learns the lesson about love of money being the root of all evil.

Or I should say most people learn their lesson for the final scene in the comic is of Huey, Dewey and Louie asking Uncle Scrooge to pay them for accompanying him on the trip. They did not learn the lesson that all the things of life must be kept in perspective and God must reign.

Those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. But as for you, [child] of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. (1 Tim 6:9-11)

Devotion for the Week of December 18, 2006

2006-12-19T13:03:00.000-05:00

At a Christmas pageant not too long ago in a church that chooses to remain unknown, the children were being lined up to go on stage. The kindergarten teacher quickly lined up four children from her class right as they were getting ready to walk in. Each carried a huge cut out letter. As they stood side by side the letters would spell "star." A mixup occurred and those present in the church nearly fell out of their pews as the four little performers took their places - in reverse. They spelled out "rats," not star. That's what happens when you get your priorities out of order.

Bethlehem teaches us about expectations, about signs, and about patience. God begins with a simple babe and humble surroundings and God works slowly and surely. But God is at work. Let us not lose hope. Joy to the world, the Lord is come.

But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)

Devotion for the Week of December 11, 2006

2006-12-11T11:28:00.000-05:00

I recently read an article about The Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh, Scotland. According to this article it is filled with childhood treasures - teddy bears and puppets, rocking horses and model trains, books and games, and doll houses. And along with those doll houses are glass case after glass case of dolls. Dolls of all sorts - baby dolls, porcelain dolls, costumed dolls, walking and talking dolls, dolls that can turn somersaults, and expensive dolls.

Off in one corner is a case that holds behind its glass panes, another doll sitting alone. It's an old, ragged doll, much the worse for wear. But then, it began its life raggedy.

There is no doubt that this doll was well loved or that it was born out of love. For it being shabby and thread-bear, it has a value untold. The little museum sign that goes with this doll says, “Doll belonging to London slum child, circa 1905.” There is no name for the doll. There is no name for the child who loved it.

The doll's body is made of tattered brown socks, stuffed with rags. Its arms are two thin sticks of wood, covered in wool. Its hair is a sock. It wears a plain gingham dress and a rough linen apron. For all its simplicity, one can tell it was made with painstaking effort. The head of this doll is nothing fancy, in fact if it was not on the doll one may not recognize it for a doll’s head. For the head is mad from the heel of a man's shoe. Only that. A worn down, battered heel with the nail heads visible around the edges. For a face, the doll has small bits of paper pasted on. Paper eyes, paper nose, paper mouth. Some might call it ugly. They would be wrong.

It is possible the child, someone who was possibility born, lived and died in the slums of London, made it for herself. Perhaps, it was a gift created by a mother or a father who was poor in possessions and all they could give was a symbol of their love which was a value beyond measure.

No one needs to have wealth to create something valuable. One need only to reach deep within where “value” is defined. No one needs to have wealth to give a gift. One need only to have the desire to give. To use whatever poor things are at hand and to make of them the best gift possible.

"This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." (Luke 2.12)

Devotion for the Week of December 4, 2006

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There is a story making its rounds on the internet right now about a family with a new baby getting ready to head home for the Christmas holiday. The car was all packed and ready to go. They remember to have the mail and the newspaper delivery stopped while they were away. A neighbor would keep an eye on the house and feed the dog. All the gifts for parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were fitted into the trunk of the car like a jigsaw puzzle. The husband made sure there was plenty of anti freeze in the radiator and that the oil level was good. Their suitcases were in place and they were finally ready to go. As the husband started to back out of the driveway, all of a sudden the wife gasped, "Honey, we've forgotten the baby." It was true. In all the excitement and the grabbing up of luggage and Christmas gifts, they had forgotten their most precious cargo, their baby. We can forget the baby, too, if we are not careful. That's easy to do this time of year.

We see visual reminders, "Don't leave Christ out of Christmas." And we try to keep that from happening. After all, Jesus IS the reason for the season.

Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” (Matthew 1.23)

Devotion for the Week of November 27, 2006

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Someone emailed a cartoon to me last Christmas season with a picture of three boys dressed as kings delivering gifts to the manger. The first two boys were carrying the gifts for gold and frankincense. However, the third boy was carrying a large box of disposable diapers. I’m sure that Mary would have really appreciated such a gift. While this was humorous, it also showed a great deal of love through a practical gift.

Christmas is that time of year when we intentionally take time to tell our families and friends how much they mean to us. We need this opportunity to express our feelings in a concrete way.
However, sometimes a gift may not be the best way since gifts are given with many motivations in mind. But for most of us there is more joy in giving than receiving. Hopefully, though, our love is not a narrow and exclusive thing. Christmas usually causes us to be more thoughtful about the needs of people we don't even know. It causes us to be more mindful of the needs of those less fortunate.

This reminds me of another story. A baby was left on the doorstep many years ago of a home in Georgetown, Pennsylvania. A widow was the head of that home. A widow with several children to look after. But she took in that baby and loved it like her own. In the evenings she would read great books to her children, and one of them, at least, developed a great taste for literature. Today that baby abandoned on a doorstep is one of America's most prolific writer, James Michener. His life is now a triumph of the unselfish love of that widowed mother.

Let us remember and give that type of love this season - because after all, Jesus is the reason for the season.

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5.44)

Devotion for Week of Oct. 21, 2006

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Last week went by so quickly that I did not get around to posting a devotion. I hope this week's devotion will inspire you.

I heard a great football story the other day. In 1958 the University of Texas was leading the University of Georgia by seven points. Georgia had not had a single first down the entire game except with Texas turned over the ball. In was late in the third quarter and Georgia had its bck against the 5 yard line. Suddenly the third-string quarterback started out onto the field. No one had told him to go into the game. However, no one tried to stop him either. The first-string quarterback saw him heading to the huddle and assumed that the coach had decided to replace him, so he trotted off the field. Twenty-one plays, nine minutes and 95 yards later, this third-string quarterback marched Georgia into the end zone with a 3-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal.

But he wasn't through. When the coach sent on the kicking unit, this young sophomore waved them off and went for two, and took the lead 8-7. This was how NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton began his career as a top quarterback.

Can you imagine a player on a major college team having the chutspah to step out onto a field under those kind of circumstances? That's confidence! That's a feeling of closeness. You and I can operate with new confidence, new freedom, because we, too, have been chosen by God.

Fran Tarkenton is a devoted Christian and never lost sight of who he is, even after his great NFL career. Fran was the very first quarterback for the Vikings and was seen not only by his team mates and the Viking’s fans as a person that was centered and grounded, but by people throughout the country. His faith is what kept him confident not only on the field, but in new ventures after he retired from football (he as a pioneer in computer software). We should be as confident in Christ as Fran.

Devotion for Week of Oct. 9, 2006

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The other day I was in Lake Forest Mall, having lunch right next to a little store near an entrance. During a long layover at an airport, I noticed that it attracted more people than any other store I could see from where I was sitting. In fact people were coming in from outside, going directly to the store and then leaving. The whole time I was watching, a steady stream of customers approached with cash in hand, stood in line, made a purchase, and left quickly. All seemed to know exactly what they wanted.

Having finished my lunch, my curiousity got the best of me, and I had to walk over to see what was happening. The thriving business sold lottery tickets. Even though the chance of winning the Mega-Millions is 1 in 175 million, people seemed compelled to spend something and, in almost every case, get nothing. It seemed to be a vivid picture of our enduring quest for satisfaction and security in material things.

God’s people were questioned through the prophet Isaiah, God asked why they spent their money for things that neither nourished nor satisfied them. The Lord invited those who had no resources to “come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. . . . And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me” (Isa. 55:1-3).

God offers to give us what we can’t buy—mercy, pardon, and a changed life infused with God’s presence. He invites us to “Seek the Lord while He may be found” (v.6).

By God’s grace, we can freely receive His something—for nothing.