Pack Away Some of the Daily Stuff

“Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12

My life hasn’t always been an ode to organization. Some might say it is still less than perfectly organized. I’m not in the mood to argue. 

There are things I should do, things I have to do, and some I do just because I want to. The trouble is not everything on my to do list allows me to make the most of my time. 

I remember taking my daughter to the orthodontist. I could have spent that time reading, writing or getting other things done, but in the end the time spent with my daughter was a better use of my time. 

I’ve spent time speaking about the virtues of fiscal responsibility (I was once a mayor), but I always thought fishing with my son was a better time investment. 

I’ve had pressing deadlines, but allowing my wife to talk about her day showed some growth in personal wisdom. 

Usually we use our time to buy things that make us comfortable. We buy toys, play games and seek to fill up every spare bit of breathing room with life stuff.

Our lives are fulfilling only when we work at developing relationships. We can’t take a video game with us and the ancient art of origami may do little to bring us closer to our family. 

Packing some of the daily stuff away to make room for the still small voice of God and the needs of your family is a great prescription for personal growth. 

Father, I’ve always got too much on my to-do list. I haven’t had enough time for you and sometimes my family only gets whatever scraps are left over. Help me learn when to say enough. Help me understand when my time is well spent and when it is just – spent. Amen

Finding Gratitude on the Bad Days

When gratitude is hard to come by there is always one place you've failed to look.

This year a friend may have failed you, a job might have been lost to downsizing, days may have been more difficult than productive, and finances might have become as skinny as a toothpick.

We all face extremely hard days and it's no fun when good days are thinly sandwiched between the bad and the worst.

It's like living in a proverbial forest. There are so many trees we can't really appreciate the view God sees from above. We see bad days, and we see no end to the bad days.

People make decisions that negatively impact us. Someone cheats and seems to get ahead while you play nice and seem to fall behind.

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-4 (MSG)

Bad days give us opportunity to show what we really believe to be true. Either bad days ruin us or demonstrate that we trust God. We ask God only for good days and we think He's failed us when bad days come. God wants us to be mature, well-developed, and lacking nothing when it comes to the demonstration of our faith.

We will face challenges, tests, and stressors our entire lives. Sometimes we think of life as a playground where we pursue fun and comfort at all costs. God seems to think of our lives here are preparation for life with Him.

“Keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” 1 Peter 5:10-11 (MSG)

The Army features bootcamp – this is a training ground for soldiers who will be asked to defend. It is no fun. It is the hardest thing soldiers face. It seems unfair to ask for such dedication. But it's just what is needed to develop a young man or woman into a soldier who understand commands and has a great handle on obedience.

So, what does this have to do with gratitude? God, our commander, is training us. While He trains He also takes care of us. He has always been faithful. His rules don't change. His promises are true. His plan is this, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG)

Gratitude is as much about thanking God for what is yet to be as it is thanking Him for what has already been. God can be trusted with our future so let's thank Him before we get there. His plans are good. He won't abandon us. His future includes His presence.

Let the bad days come – you can't stop them. Some day bad days go away for good. “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” Revelation 21:4 (MSG)

Feeling grateful yet?

The Trouble With Ben

My internal alarm clock rarely lets me sleep beyond six and usually I'm awake before 5. Often before 4.

Wasn't it Ben Franklin who said, “Early to bed, early to rise, keeps a man healthy, wealthy, and wise”? While my body heeds his advice, I wonder how many friends Ben kept with such pithy, pillow tossing comments like that.

I have to wonder how many boys heard Ben Franklin's words and wished he would just be quiet. Ben Franklin must have ruined the childhood of many boys who couldn't live up to his advice, but had parents who thought they should.

Consider these Ben Franklin maxims.

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

“A penny saved is a penny earned”

“Never ruin an apology with an excuse.”

“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.”

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

“Well done is better than well said.”

“Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.”

“Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.”

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.”

I imagine some parents told their children, “Why can't you be more like Ben?” To be fair he did have great advice, but then again he flew a kite in a lightening storm, too. I'm sure he learned a lesson – and then wrote about it.

For at least one generation Ben was the the gold standard for boys. Parents admired Franklin and wanted their boys to grow up witty and wise. They wanted them to save pennies. They wanted them to go to bed early. They wanted them to be willing to learn. All admirable qualities. All standards that were road-clocks to rambunctious boys. All reasons to wish Ben would find a new job that didn't involve a pen.

Why were boys so often uninspired by this man? Perhaps it had a lot to do with the way mankind has always been.

In the Old Testament God gave His people rules and they broke them. Then they looked to other gods to be more reasonable with their disobedience. Perhaps they thought God was just too mean, too demanding, too harsh. Unlike Ben Franklin, God had a perfect plan and it included forgiveness. When Jesus came, when Jesus died, when Jesus rose from the dead - forgiveness trumped performance.

What we couldn't do – Jesus did. What we couldn't obey – God forgave. What we didn't expect – became our best gift.

God's rules made us aware that we needed a Savior because no matter how hard we try – we will fail.

Ben Franklin had some great advice, but he could never offer forgiveness. Maybe that's why his best quote may have been, “How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!”

We shouldn't sin because forgiveness is so available. We should live in obedience and gratitude because we have a God who forgives.

Truth's Lament

Note: Written fifteen years ago. When I looked through some of my old writings - it seemed fitting in 2019. - Glenn

I’ve been abandoned

No one seeks me anymore

Once I was sought with great eagerness

Now? I am a simply a philosophical debate

“Come to me and learn”

But no one loves me anymore

No one seems to care what I might say

And they mock those who remember me

“I have the answer.”

They howl at such a notion

On a footrace to the finish line

They simply stop when it seems right

I was once respected

My name commanded honor

But today it’s clear that no one cares

They invent fairy tales and give them my name

I wonder if one day

When all the roads are traveled

Will they remember me, my voice, my title

I wonder if they will recognize their thirst

In that defining moment

Will there be an intense yearning

Or simply a callous twinge of indifference

I am waiting and hoping to once again report for duty

The Cancer Within

Inside the body a cell is calling for mutiny. This single outlaw cell recruits others to join his nefarious plot. At first the other cells refuse to acknowledge the rebellious one, but it isn’t long before one, then two, then groups of others join. This rogue band remains one of the smallest parts of the body, yet this new band of cells are bent on recruiting others as they roam throughout the body looking for the weak and willing.

In time, these collective cells become strong enough to cause damage to the rest of the body. Then again, the body is much larger than the cells and is unaware and little concerned about the spread of potential mutiny. In no time at all it becomes apparent that something is horribly wrong. Tumors caused by a convention of rogue cells, severe pain throughout the body, organs that aren’t working right, and incredible weakness and fatigue.

Each of us know someone who has been affected by cancer, but were you aware that we all live with our own cancer - spiritual cancer - just as deadly and much more serious? Little seeds of ideas and temptations roam through our hearts, minds and souls seeking consultation. Once they receive an audience, the mind tends to entertain the wicked seed. Soon the sin cancer is ravaging the mind, heart and soul. We find ourselves living with tumors of rebellion and lust, experiencing the severe pain of regret and revenge, experiencing a mind that doesn’t work right, and feeling of incredible weakness. "Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12 - NIV).

Just as treatment for bodily cancer is intense, severe and sometimes radical, so too must the condition of sin be removed by Someone with the greatest skills. Sin will never go away completely and you can’t get rid of it on your own. Jesus is referred to as “The Great Physician” and He is the only One with the qualifications to combat Spiritual cancer by radically removing sin. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10 - NIV).

He provided a medical book, the Bible, to help you become aware of symptoms. He also provides a full list of preventative measures to help us avoid the pain associated with spiritual cancer caused by sin. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11 - NIV).

The most radical forms of spiritual cancer could be avoided if individuals would consult the manual before symptoms begin, but far too often a full blown case is in effect before the manual is consulted. The survival rate is 100% for those who consult The Great Physician, however, much pain and distress could be eliminated if preventative measures would have been implemented prior to the onset of spiritual cancer. "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16 - NIV).

The manual suggests self-examinations on a regular basis "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell... Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Matthew 5:29, 7:1,2 - NIV). 

A full examination by The Great Physician is available upon request. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts" (Psalm 139:23 - NIV).

He Laughs

Note: Another in a unique look at Bible stories. Thanks for your indulgence. - Glenn

My name is Detective Meshech, I work the Admah district not far from the tent dwelling of Abraham, a local luminary. It seems the 99 year-old nomad recently received a trio of visitors, I was charged with determining the nature of their visit since we’d been advised that it had something to do with the downfall of two regional cities.

“They came and told me to change my name - and my wife’s name,” the man replied thoughtfully.

“Was this part of the Federal Protection Program?” I asked.

“What program? You receive a visit from God and He tells you change your name – you change your name already.” Abraham responded with a chuckle. “Have you ever received a visit from God?”

“Let’s see,” I pondered. “No, I don't think so. I'm sure I would have remembered.”

“This explains much,” Abraham said, slapping dust from his clothes. I wasn‘t quite sure I liked his tone. “Later, more visitors came and told me about two cities that were going to be destroyed and then they told me that Sarah was going to have a baby!” Abraham replied in a voice filled with awe.

“The cities in question would be Sodom and Gomorrah?” I queried.

“What? Do you know of other cities that were flattened already? Yes of course Sodom and Gomorrah” Abraham replied. He seemed saddened.

“Thank you for your time, Abraham. This will certainly help in our investigation.” I begin to roll up my scroll.

“What? They came, we talked, promised were made - they left,” Abraham responded.

“Promises? Describe the promises,” I asked as I unrolled my interrogation scroll once again.

“Just that my wife was going to have a baby,” Abraham replied with a broad smile.

“Sir, I do not find the humor in such tasteless jokes,” I replied with a rude look on my face.

“Who’s joking? I chuckled when the One said this to me,” Abraham said, not intimidated in the least by my tough guy persona. “I couldn’t help myself, even Sarah laughed. I don’t think God was so happy, though.”

“What makes you think that?” I asked.

“Probably when He said, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? About a year from now, just as I told you, I will return, and Sarah will have a son.’” Abraham replied.

“I suppose that would lead someone to suspect that He wasn’t ‘so happy’” I concurred.

“I will be a hundred soon and there’s a baby on the way,” Abraham beamed. 

“Congratulations from everyone down at headquarters,” I replied flippantly.

“Do you know of a good place for raising children?” Abraham asked.

“I’m not really sure, but I think I’d stay away from Sodom and Gomorrah,” I replied as I recalled the charred remains.

“There weren‘t even ten godly people,” Abraham spoke these words to himself with clenched fists remembering something unspoken.

I moved the conversation a different direction, “By the way, what will you call your son?”

“He will be Isaac,” Abraham relaxed a bit.

“Isaac? Seems like such a strange name,” I replied.

“Yes, so glad you noticed,” Abraham said as he adjusted the halter on one of his camels.

“He laughs?” I ask.

“He laughs - yes, you are right - that’s his name, ‘he laughs’. Does this help you in your indigestion?” the wanderer asked.

“That’s investigation, not - ah, never mind,” I replied wearily.

“Either way, my son will be born in laughter. What? Do you think we thought we would start a family at this time in life? No! Yet, God brought us laughter that began as disbelief and will end with the wails of new life and the joy of old men and ladies.” Abraham finished with a look of high expectation.

I write on my scroll when a certain word escapes me, “What emotion is it that you’re feeling right now. I can’t seem to think of the word.”

“Joy!“ Abraham replied. “The word is JOY! Have you never experienced this?”

“I think I have what I need.” I ignore his question completely. “Please don’t leave the region until this investigation is completed,”

“Where would I go? My family is here and soon I will have a son,” Abraham beamed.

As I walk away I wonder about the laughter and joy found in this dusty tent on the edge of nowhere desperately wishing I could find some of my own.

Tax Collector Has Change Of Heart

 Note: This story is a fictional news account of the story of Zacchaeus found in Luke 19:1-10. It is from the perspective of a skeptical news reporter and should not be viewed as an accurate depiction of what took place. We hope that you will read Luke 19 to get the real scoop. 

Jericho - A large crowd gathered today for the arrival of the man called Jesus. His followers walked with him down the city streets as young and old alike sought a word or touch from the former carpenter. 

Among the more interesting notes of the impromptu gathering was an incident involving our city's chief tax collector Zacchaeus. It will come as no surprise to any that know Zacchaeus that he is, to put it delicately, vertically challenged. 

“I just wanted to see Jesus, and the tree seemed to be the only way,” Zacchaeus said in reference to the location he chose to view the proceedings. 

It may have been that Zacchaeus intentionally wanted to avoid a crowd that have voiced opposition to his collection methods as well as the rates he has charged. However, Zacchaeus would not go unnoticed. 

“I was surprised and embarrassed when Jesus looked up at me. I am the chief tax collector. What would people think of me? Well, Jesus said that I should climb down the tree and go home to prepare a meal. He and his friends joined me for supper last night,” Zacchaeus said. 

This event did not go unnoticed by those who have felt cheated by Zacchaeus. 

“I have a much nicer home and could have provided lodging for Jesus,” Abner, the tanner, said. 

“Why would Jesus want to dine with such a crooked man as Zacchaeus. I thought he had better sense,” Jeremiah, the weaver, concluded. 

We may never know why Jesus invited himself to Zachaeus’s house. However, the visit has produced an unexpected result. 

This morning Zacchaeus told the Gazette that he would be offering tax refunds to all that have been defrauded by him by four times the original amount. 

Further, Zacchaeus has made a generous donation to The Jericho Families in Need fund. 

“Jesus told me that he came specifically for people like me,” Zacchaeus told us, “to seek and to save that which was lost. I guess that pretty much describes me.” The tax collector concluded with a chuckle. 

It is difficult to believe that Jesus came to Jericho specifically to see Zacchaeus, as they had never met before yesterday. 

While none of us can say for sure what caused the change of heart in a formerly ruthless tax collector, we can be grateful that a fairer rate of taxation appears to be at hand. 

What Jesus said to Zacchaeus to change his behavior is still somewhat unclear. However, anyone who helps put money back in our pocket deserves our undying gratitude.