"Missing"

     In the early ninety’s I had the privilege to take several groups into the Ukraine’s to do some mission work.  In preparing for such a trip I spoke to those who would be going about does and don’ts what to expect and things they may want to pack to make the trip more pleasant.  Things that they may consider were snacks, for long days or when the local food was not to their liking, or a water bottle they could carry with them.  One of the items that I suggested was to take a role of toilet paper with them because if you could find a public facility it seldom had toilet paper and if it did it had the texture and feel of a brown paper bag, not to the liking of any one I know.  The trip was taken and we set up our classrooms where we would hold our bible studies in what was called the Palace of Culture.  It was a beautiful building of marble and granite where the locals came for plays, concerts, and other performances.  I’m not sure how old the building was but my guess would be that it had been built at the beginning of the 1900’s or possible much earlier.  Because of what had been done in preparation for the trip I was not surprised when I saw a member of the group headed down to the lower basement area one day with a roll of toilet paper in their hand.  As they returned they had a rather puzzled look on their face and I asked if everything was ok?  Their response was, “I knew I would need toilet paper but I didn’t realize I would need a toilet also.”  Having made the trip down stairs myself I knew exactly what they were talking about.  The building had been built well before the time of modern plumbing and when you entered the bathroom all you found was a series of holes in the floor for you to stand over.  There is much we take for granted each and every day.  We live in a time in our country that it seems all that we could ever want or desire is at our finger tips.  In comparison to others around the world we live a life of abundance.  We not only have an abundance of goods we keep piling it on.  A quick Google search of Madison county found over twenty self-storage facilities and I know of several others that are being built.  We not only have an abundance, we rent extra space to hold the overflow of items that we are not using and didn’t really need to begin with.  How much stuff is enough?  I have been in homes where I was offered a piece of bread and a rock to sit on and they were joyful people.  I have known homes where no one lacked for anything and there was nothing but unrest.  The things that are available to us in this world are not necessarily bad but if it is our focus than we are putting our trust in the wrong things.  There is not a promise that a 10 x 20 storage facility full of items that you will never use will bring happiness.  How much simpler our lives would be if we could live 1 Tim 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  I am not saying that I myself have gained this contentment for it is a struggle each day when the world has a message that more is better.  As children of God no matter our state or lot in this life we have no excuse not to be content.  The writer of Hebrews 13:5-6 states, Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.  I am never alone and he who created all and is over all is my helper.  Let us strive for contentment for we are blessed.

"Do You Know Me?"

     Because of social media, the date of our birthday is sent out to all those we have contact with on the internet.  As my birthday arrived I receive birthday wishes from friends just down the block to friends, as far away as Alaska and Costa Rica.  The thing that I found interesting was I could tell the relationship I had with them by the way I was addressed.  Classmates and those that are my piers called me Tom, former students and their parents called me Mr. Brandon, then there are those who called me Coach for the time they spent playing on one of many ball teams.  As we go through this life we are many things to many people, each of them knowing something about us but none of them knowing all there is about us.  There are things that only those that are the closest to us know and even then, there are somethings that we keep only to ourselves.  I remember working on a project one day with several other men some that I did not know very well that a question was posed to me.  As I was working with a shovel, covered with the mud that I was trying to dispose of he asked, “What do you do for a living?”  I paused wiped the sweat from my forehead and said, “I’m an elementary school teacher.”  His reaction was one of laughter and replied, “I would have never guessed that.”  To this day I’m not sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.  How well do you really know those around you?  The more time we spend around them the more we know, but even then, it is only what they want us to know.  Did you know that you said hello to someone recently that is dealing with severe depression, or someone that is so lonely from the loss of a loved one that they don’t know what to do?  That person that you set next to doesn’t know how they are going to pay the bills next month because of the loss of their job.  There is the parent that is smothered by the health problems that their child is going through.  From the one that you wish you could be like, to the one that you are thankful you’re not, they each have things they are dealing with in secret.  Hebrews chapter eleven is often called the chapter of the faithful.  It lists those who through faith were able to overcome the problems of this world.  We may not think of people like Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, or Moses as having difficulties with everyday problem but they were human just like you and I and with it came the struggles that we all have.  If you read the chapter I think you will find, like I do, that the difficulties that they went through far outweigh the things that often plague me.  Chapter twelve starts with great words of encouragement: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  I believe the writer of Hebrews is saying, “Hey if these guys can do it so can you.”  It is not that your struggles are less or of a trivial nature it’s just the knowledge that you can overcome.  As we greet each other every day let us realize, we each have our struggles, and we are not alone.  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1Cor. 10:13).  My prayer for you today is one of strength, you can overcome, we’re all in this together.

"Dealing with Lice"

     At the age of sixteen, George Washington, copied into his personal note book 110 rules that were referred to as the “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior”.  It is assumed that this was a school exercise for Washington. The rules had their origins with French Jesuits in 1595.  Washington seemed to have taken these rules to heart and tried to live by the principles stated in them and required those around him, that were under his oversight, to also practice them.  In reading through them many are antiquated due to the passing of time.  Rule 9: Spit not in the fire, nor stoop low before it neither put your hands into the flames to warm them, nor set your feet upon the fire especially if there be meat before it.  Rule 53: Run not in the streets, neither go too slowly nor with mouth open go not shaking your arms kick not the earth with your feet, go not upon the toes, nor in a dancing fashion. Yet in reading them, for the most part, they are as relevant today was they were in the 1500’s.  We might update the language and customs to fit our current culture.  Rule 13: Kill no vermin as fleas, lice, ticks etc. in the sight of others, if you see any filth or thick spittle put your foot dexterously upon it if it be upon the cloths of your companions, put it off privately, and if it be upon your own cloths return thanks to him who puts it off.  Today’s translation should read: If you see a problem with those around you take care to help them in a private nature and not post it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and if someone tries to help you, don’t tell them to mind their own business, thank them.  Rule 18: Read no letters, books, or papers in company but when there is a necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave.  Today: While in the company of others leave your phone alone.  Rule 50: Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement of any.  Translation: Just because you saw it on the internet doesn’t make it so.  I believe we would do well to reassociate ourselves with some Rules of Civility.  If you look at the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai the first five deal with man’s relationship with God and the last five deal with man’s relationship with his fellow man.  God not only wants us to have the proper relationship with him but he also wants us to deal with each other in a proper fashion.  In today’s society, it seems we feel like we can say or do whatever we please because it is our right or our entitlement to do so.  Just because we are able to do, say, or act in a certain way does not mean that it is beneficial.  It takes no strength nor intelligence to do as one pleases.  Strength and intelligence comes when one knows they can, yet constrain themselves for their betterment and the betterment of those around them.  The writer of Romans reminds us: Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men (12: 11-18).  How would your life and the lives of those around you change if we practiced these rules of conduct?  Let me leave you with the last three rules of civility from Washington’s note book.

108: When you speak of God or his attributes, let it be seriously and with reverence. Honor and obey your natural parents although they be poor.

109: Let your recreations be manful not sinful.

110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

I believe these need no update nor translation.

"Plowing"

    We all seem to go through an awkward or uneasy time in our lives when we are not sure where we belong.  We like to think that we have reached an age where we are no longer a child but we are not sure if those we know as adults think of us in this same way.  We are eager to prove ourselves by taking on more responsibilities and want to prove we can do it without the supervision of others.  In so doing we establish our footing in the adult world.  One of the task that I performed for my grandfather from time to time was the plowing of a field or garden.  Each time I preformed the task my grandfather would carefully explain to me how it was to be done.  After a number of years of instruction on these tasks and trying to prove my growth as a young man I complained to my father, “Dad, why does he always have to tell me how to do this?  I know how to do this he doesn’t need to tell me every time.”  My father wisely told me, “Son, that’s what fathers and grandfathers do, you will always be their son or grandson no matter how old you get.  Besides there will come a time when you will wish your grandfather could explain it to you just one more time.”  These words ring truer with the passing of each day.  One of the instructions that he gave me each year was, “To have straight rows or furrows keep your eyes focus on a spot much further ahead and move toward it.”  You see if you just pay attention to the ground that you are covering at the time, when you do look up you will have moved off the path that you had intended to take.  Sometimes in this life we spend so much time viewing our present circumstance we forget to look to what is up ahead.  If you don’t have a spot picked out that you are focusing on then your life tends to meander in all directions. Many a person has wondered why they did not seem to arrive where they had planned to in life and the problem was they spent too much time with their head down not looking forward.  If there was someone who had a few hiccups in life, if there was a sarcasm font I would have used it here, it was the apostle Paul.  In second Corinthians chapter eleven he takes the time to discuss some of the problems that he encountered in life.  You cannot read the list of things without wondering what was it that kept him going.  How many times do you have to be left for dead or be on the brink of death before you give up?  The key was he knew where he was headed and remained focused on that.  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14) If we often wonder how we ended up where we are, then maybe it’s because we took our eyes off the mark.  I used to focus on a fence post far on the other end of the field.  I never worried that the fence post would move before I arrived at that end of the field.  The God head is unchanging, the writer of Hebrews in chapter thirteen describes it as the same yesterday, today and forever.  From the beginning God wanted you to be his child.  Let us focus on him so that our paths may be straight and we may arrive at the destination that he has prepared for us.

"How To Change A Diaper"

     My wife and I had finished eating at a local restaurant and as I often do I asked if there was anything she needed to do in town or any place she wanted to go before we started home.  “Not really,” she said and then added, “Why don’t we go by the book store and look around.”  Well it doesn’t take much convincing to get me into a book store so I pulled into the parking lot.  We made our rounds commenting about various books.  My wife picked up a book titled “The History of Death” which was appropriately next to “The History of Disease”.  The assortment of books continued, books about things, books about people, books about food and the ever-popular books where the cover features a shirtless hero and a distressed damsel whose hair and dress indicates she is being swept away by the wind.  I suggested that maybe I should have posed for such a cover on my book. I can’t accurately describe the look I received following this statement, let’s just say I took it as, disapproval.  Who knows she could be right.  We continued to browse through the various titles until one caught my attention in part it was because of the length of the title, it took up most of the cover. The title was “Life Skills, How To Chop Wood, Avoid A Lightning Strike, and Everything Else Your Parents Should Have Taught You!”.  I picked it up and started thumbing through it.  True to its title it was full of information from how to check the oil and change a flat on your car, to basic cooking and how to change a diaper.  As I looked through it I made a mental list of the things that I had been taught to do by my parents.  I’m happy to say they were excellent teachers for I could find nothing that they had not covered some time or another in my life. My mother thought it was important that her boys, not just her daughter, knew how to cook, sew and do the other jobs found around the house.  I have many fond memories of cooking in the kitchen with her, my favorite thing to cook was cake from scratch with homemade chocolate icing.  Growing up on a farm, my father instructed me on the variety of task that it took to keep a farm productive.  I was instructed in welding, plumbing, carpentry, mechanic work, and the husbandry of both plants and animals.  There are hundreds of things that I take for granted each day that I learned from my parents.  But as I looked through the book there were some very important chapters that I felt were missing.  There was nothing there on how to get along with a neighbor, one’s responsibility to family, or how to live in such a way as to be pleasing unto God.  Speaking to Timothy, Paul mentioned Timothy’s mother and grandmother when he said, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also (2 Tim. 1:5).  I was blessed to have parents and grandparents that lived and instructed us in these three chapters.  I remember how they helped willingly those in need whether it was physical or spiritual.  I remember asking my father how much we would get payed for helping my grandfather bring in his hay crop or did he think we could start getting an allowance.  I do not remember his exact response but his example said, “You don’t always work for pay, it is the character of a man to do the right thing, because it’s the right thing.  My father and mother in word and deed have strived to put God first in their lives and in so doing instructed their children in that same path.  If you were to tell my parents they had to choose between their children being successful socially and monetarily or being righteous and pleasing to God there is no doubt in my mind what they would choose.  There is nothing that says we cannot strive for both, but one often stands in the way of the other.  As we instruct our children, grandchildren, and fellow man in word and deed, let us not forget the chapters in our book, of God, Family, and our Neighbor.  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8: 36)

"Second Time Around"

     I believe grandchildren are God’s way of letting us have a second chance to recognize and enjoy all those things that we missed the first time around because we were just too busy.  To know the strength of a toddler, as they take your finger and lead you to where they wish to go or to see the look of determination as they tackle life’s latest challenge.  The gentleness of a quiet, “I love you” as they lay their head on your shoulder.  Hurried voices full of excitement retelling a new discovery or the contentment of just sitting in your lap.  If we were to have nothing of this world’s goods and yet had the blessing of children and grandchildren then we are rich beyond compare.  Thank you Lord for the second time around.

"39 Words"

     In 1851 Herman Melville penned these words when he wrote the well-known book Moby-Dick, “Call me Ishmael. Some years ago – never mind how long precisely – having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world.” It is considered by many to be one of the great opening lines in literature. Much can be said about how an opening line sets the tone or weight of what is to come. My favorite opening reads like this, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” I cannot express how I feel each time I read that statement. How can one not be humbled by these 39 words? They answer the questions that many over time have continually asked and the answer has always been with us. From the beginning God would not have us ignorant of him but would have us to know him and understand the “When and the How”.  Years ago I was presented with a mathematical puzzle to be solved. Being a math teacher I saw this as a challenge. I tried to apply all the mathematical formulas and theorems that I could recall all with no success. Frustrated I set the problem aside for a short time and then looked at it again. Looking at it again, I noticed a part of the object that was already labeled. It was exactly the same as the part I was looking for. The answer was in front of me the entire time in its simplest form. For man’s much learning we have sought the answers within our own wisdom and understanding when the answers have been in front of us all along. Why must we complicate that which needs not to be complicated? Make your life a little less complicated, know that he is and seek after him.  “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb.11:6)”