Is the World Changing or is it Just me?

I’m changing. It’s not just so simple as a stand-up comedian would make it out to be poking fun at body parts or lamenting over lost youth. Although those familiar limericks do apply, my changes go much deeper than that. For instance, while on a recent trip to Orlando, Florida, two of my children and I drove up and down the Kirkman and International drive corridors looking for something fun to do. This area in Orlando is tourist trap central with all of the fun things you can possibly imaging for families. There are theme parks both large and small, video arcades by the dozen, indoor sky diving, air soft combat arenas and even indoor trampoline venues not to mention more places to shop than the Mall of America! So one by one we pass all of these family friendly pleasure palaces. My kids notice everything fun and want to “do” all of them. Most of which require much running around for hours with no rest in sight. Me? While driving and looking down the exact same roads, what do I see? Denny’s, Brazilian Steak houses, Black Angus steak restaurants, IHOP, All-you-can-eat pizzerias, Chinese food, Mexican food, Central American food! Everywhere I looked, I saw food, food and more food. Which begs the question, what in the world has happened to me? Maybe all the stand up comedians who taunt the not quite middle-aged are right.

 

Politically, I consider myself to be a conservative voter, both financially and socially. But lately, I have been seeing things a little differently. I’m not ready to jump ship by any means, but certain things are bugging me. I see the stock market making huge gains (which includes me because I have an IRA) but also see that it’s getting harder for people to get by on a small wage. I ask myself, would it really be so painful if dividends were down, but wages went up? I am also beginning to have intolerance for any political party who acts and votes and makes press releases condemning each other for doing what their constituents are paying them to do. As I get “older” and hopefully wiser, it is getting easier for me to see the tail wagging the dog. As soon as something big happens, I can almost immediately smell the stink of “spin” as it twists the real truth into whatever “truth” will gain the most money or votes. I read “The Animal Farm” by George Orwell in 1984 (kind of ironic, huh?). In that book I learned how politics can be slowly manipulated into a system that bends to the will of the craftiest who occupy the seats of authority.

 

There are many other ways that I am changing. These are just two. How have you changed recently? Write back and lets see.

Listen to Your Donkey!

Have you ever been in a hurry and got stuck in traffic any way? Have you ever stubbed your toe and didn’t know why? Have you ever had any really good plans, but for whatever reason, they just didn’t materialize? If ever any of these things (or things like it) has ever happened to you, maybe you should just listen to your donkey! After reading the story of the talking donkey and Balaam (her rider) I had the following thoughts that I share today.

 

We read where the donkey made three stops. Let’s look at each of those three stops.

 

Stop #1, the donkey went into a field. There was no pain here, just a simple diversion away from his plans. But she was in fact saving Balaam’s life. For Balaam, this was merely an inconvenience. Now, think about this, you are on your way out the door and the phone rings. You know if you answer it, you will miss out or at least be late for whatever it is that you are going to do…..but you answer it anyway, and you miss your appointment. This most likely is just an inconvenience, right?  This may be God’s way of causing you to miss something that could have happened to you that was waiting just around the corner. One time Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift him like wheat but Jesus had prayed for him and he would be ok. If you are in Christ, you are in God’s hands and we never know when Satan is trying to sift us, but because of the intercession of Christ on our behalf, our Donkey may go into the field and thus avert disaster.

 

Stop #2, the donkey crushed his foot. Balaam ignored the first warning and this one was painful. Again, the donkey knew something that Balaam did not. For you and me, this may happen when your doctor tells you not to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk….and you, knowing better than the doctor, lift a box or bag full of something heavier than a gallon of milk….and what Happens? (AAAAHH My Back!) It may not be your back, but each of us has a pain or two that prevents us from doing certain things or causes us to do other things at certain times. Paul had a “thorn in the flesh” for which he asked God three times to remove from his life. Three times God said, “No, my Grace is sufficient”. It was left there to keep Brother Paul humble. These aches and pains in our lives that prevent us from doing certain things or cause us to do other things, may well be for our benefit so that we may know that God’s Grace is sufficient. These keep us humble and dependent upon God.

 

Stop #3, the donkey laid down. Balaam ignored the first warning and was quickly back on the road. His second warning was painful but he still didn’t get it. Then came the third warning and his life came to a screeching halt! The Donkey laid down. Again the donkey and the stop was a means of grace for Balaam but rather than trust the donkey, he beat it with a rod.  Has your life ever come to a screeching Halt? One day the disciples were having Passover Supper with their mentor and teacher. The next day, they were watching him die on a criminals cross. Their lives had just come to a screeching halt. Why? It happened because three days later, they no longer knew Jesus as their teacher and leader, but as their risen Savior and Lord. Why does our life come to a screeching halt sometimes? Maybe it’s because in just a short while, God will prove himself to those who believe in Him all over again.

 

The circumstances of life sometimes inconvenience us, hurt us or even make life crash in all around us. We spend so much time beating our donkey for not doing what we want it to do, when we should be listening to it. What is life telling you right now? What is the Donkey in your life? Could it be that your latest inconvenience, hurt or tragic loss is actually saving your life? The key is to peace in any situation is to always trust in the fact that God has our best in mind, even if it huts for a while. Balaam eventually found out why his donkey was so stubborn. Three times the donkey saved his life. Someday, you will also know the “why” of what is going on right now. Trust God and listen to your donkey.

What Good is Death?

Everybody has lost somebody. Some have lost family and others have lost friends. Some have lost many of both. As a minister I occasionally hear the inevitable question, "why?" Perhaps you have asked that question or others upon losing a friend or loved one. "Why" is indeed the unanswerable question when it comes to this issue. Most likely we will never know why other than the obvious biological reasons, but that does not answer the question in our heart as it grieves for the one who has moved on.

Although "why" may never be answered to our satisfaction, I would like to propose that we look outside of our own pain and ask a new question, "what good is death?". I don't mean this question in an earthly way. Let's elevate our thoughts on this proposal. What purpose could a death serve to us and others? Could the death of a loved one serve a higher purpose? There is the physical aspect of transplants which is always good, but what about the spiritual? I believe it can.

Since I began in Ministry in 2005, I have noticed a phenomenon with this part of our lives. I have had the privilege of conducting the services of numerous departed. In those services, there are always the "saved" as well as the "unsaved". As part of the funeral service, most ministers, including myself, don't only tell of the fond memories of the departed. Most, along with the memories, give the gospel and an invitation to trust in Christ for salvation. I can think of two occasions where at the end of the message during the time of reflection or altar call, there were those who prayed and received eternal life because of the death of the loved one. I am sure this happens all the time. Perhaps you or somebody you know has been introduced to Jesus in this way.

Christ gave his life so that all who would dare to believe in him would be born again into that life which lasts forever. Perhaps, at least in part, the death of our friends and loved ones is a way of participating in the death of Christ in that their sacrifice is another opportunity for those who need to hear the Gospel and to be introduced to the Living Christ, who normally would not, now have the opportunity. If there is any comfort to be had concerning the death of loved ones, let it be that their passing was not in vain. There are those who need to hear the gospel and our loved ones final act was to provide that opportunity.

For all those who have lost loved ones, be at peace.