God's Standards

When I first became a student of the Old Testament, I read how God killed a man who touched the Ark of the Covenant as he tried to stop it from falling to the ground.  Imagine that, a man simply wanting to help out and what does God do but kill him.  Later I noticed that when the nation of Israel conquered some land, the Lord told them to kill every man, woman, child, and animal from the area.  Another time God killed everyone except Noah and his family in the great flood. And what about Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities that God leveled with fire from the heavens.

Wow, what a strict God!  Or so I thought, until a teacher at school had me look at God’s plan from a different perspective.  “You see” he said, “the plan for our salvation began in the Garden of Eden.  God loved us so much that all of history was a part of His plan for His people to attain forgiveness.” 

I questioned, “But, why did God have to kill all those people?  Didn’t He love them too?”

The wise professor responded, “Of course he loved them, but they chose to turn away from God, to serve Satan, and they suffered the consequences for their actions. Originally the plan for God’s people to deal with sin was through sacrifices and offerings of animals of pure bloodlines”  He explained further,  “Jesus was to be the ultimate sacrifice and therefore, had to be a descendant from the pure bloodline of Abraham to guarantee God’s promise.  God’s requirement for keeping the bloodline pure meant that the followers of Satan could not intermarry with God’s chosen people, Israel.”

It was then that I realized that God’s standard for life was based on His love for us.  Everything commanded by the Lord was to protect the promise of our salvation. 

In Zechariah, God tells us that His standard for life is that of love.  We should respect His power and realize that there are consequences to our actions. We must understand that it is not His anger with us that result in our consequences, but a reminder of His ultimate love.

While we are seeking a relationship with the Lord, we need to know that Jesus reflected His Father’s standards.  His law is love and His gospel is peace.

So, if it wasn’t for such a perfect plan that began in the Garden of Eden, we would all be in trouble today. 

That’s just another reason to praise God!

Are You Blessed?

In Psalms 40 verse 5 it says the world's a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts.

This past weekend we helped operate a rest stop for almost 400 bicyclists from 29 states who rode in the Cherohala Challenge.  Our rest stop was at the highest point on the ride, being 5390 feet.  We began with a beautiful clear day but cool but as the day progressed the clouds began to build and it was a thrill to watch the clouds literally roll up the side of the mountain and engulf us.  Watching the clouds form just demonstrated a God-wonder.

Then during the weekend it was great to sit outside from a quiet rain and just realized how blessed we all are.  Many of the riders are pure athletes, who just to ride the mountains on a bicycle,  have the strength and drive to tackle such a feat.

Driving up to the location to set up the rest stop, I encountered a red fox who slowly crossed the road in front of me, and then a few miles further saw my first grouse in East Tennessee.  With each turn I was looking for what I might see next.  I got tot the top of the mountain and got out and just listened.  I heard nothing as the quietness of the morning engulfed me.

Thoughts of how the Lord has blessed  my coming, my going, and even my standing still.  Once some time ago I sat down and began writing my blessings and could not write them fast enough.  Sure, I could have taken another piece of paper and written down all the rotten stuff that has happened in my life but I saw where the blessings were not things I had done to be blessed but things that the Lord had done for me. 

So this morning go somewhere with a piece of paper and begin writing down your blessings.  Look for God-wonders all around you and then begin to write.  God-thoughts will flood your mind to really show you how blessed you are. 

Take a deep breath of the morning air.  There, now you have already experienced two blessings.  Having air to breath and the lungs to bring in the air. 

Now go work on your list. 

A Letter to POP - Twelve Years later

          As I sit here this morning and think about getting this day started, my mind wonders back to the year 2000. First and foremost, is that I Love You and appreciate all you had done for me. I can still see you in the hospital and then recall getting the call from the hospital, like it was yesterday. I still can not believe that they wanted to run experimental tests on you, knowing it would not make you well. I knew that I had to give you the respect you deserved. Your nurse was so important in helping you. Her call to me caused me to react immediately and the doctor was surprised when I showed up in his office and demanded for your release.

            But I could see the relief on your face as we moved to the assisted living facility and knew we were doing the right thing.  Mike and the people at the church played such an important part in preparing you to me Jesus.  The communion in your room was a highlight for the evening.  I now realize that the closure of every little thing that happened was as if God had the whole thing laid out perfectly.

            Funny when you think about it, but little did I know that when I walked to the store to get you a root beer on Thursday evening, that it would be the last thing you drank.  In a way I wish it could have been a root beer float, cause I know how you liked them.  Ed’s stopping by to ask if you wanted to go fishing was great.  Little did he know that you had been fishing for the Lord all those years and you were about to get the biggest catch ever.

            During the next year, I saw another person die and watched the struggle and violence of leaving this world.  I am so thankful that your passing was in such peace.  Lynnette and I were not certain of how it was going to take place, but we thank the Lord so much that we were able to be near you as you left this world.  As we walked down the hallway and looked into the rooms, we saw so many people alone and with no hope.  Thank you for teaching Christian principles with hope, family, and grace.

            Did you know that angels were there?  Of course you did, but before they came to minister to you, your evening nurse was named Angel.  She came to see you just before you went to sleep.  Checked all your vital signs and gave you some pain medicine.  Then a girl name Angelica came and gave you a bath.  Coincidence?  I don’t believe so.  But the best part was about 9:15 p.m. when the feeling on the room became different.  A calm peace and sweetness entered the room and I knew that we were not alone.  It was then that I knew everything was going to be OK and told Lynnette that fact. 

For years previous, I felt that it would be hard to let go of you.  Lynnette and her spirit of love was just the right thing that I needed.  Her advice and encouragement during your illness was vital to helping with the closure.  Do you remember me singing to you about 10:30?  It was not my best voice, but there was never more heart felt love in the songs than when I sang them to you.  Our last prayer together and encouraging you to look for Jesus are things I will always remember.  Recall how I wanted you to look for Grandma and Grandpa Balser and Grandma and Grandpa Canter?  I’ll bet they have been praising God for so many years now that when they met you and embraced you, it was just like they left you yesterday.  Humm.. .   I guess it was yesterday for them.

            As you can see, I am into writing my thoughts more now.  It helps me to reflect and improve my own life.  I know all my mistakes as well as you do now, but the grace shown by the Lord in Jesus sometimes just makes me want to sing such praise and appreciate my family so much more.

            In going through some reading this last weekend, I realized that the most important thing a man can leave when he dies is to know that his children love the Lord.  In that way he is successful and it far over rides all the money and possessions we can amass.  My son will be 40 years old this year and I look at this with mixed emotions for all my children.   Pop, I love my children and grandchildren so much and pray often that they hold that personal relationship with Jesus high on their lists of priorities.  In doing that, my failures in this life will seem small in comparison to the excitement of being in heaven to greet them someday.  You were so successful, because your children do love the Lord!

            I don’t know when the Lord is ready to call it quits for me on earth, but I am excited to first look for Jesus, who died for me.  That allows me to be guilty for my sins, plead the blood of Jesus as the giver of grace and mercy, and then look for you and everyone else I’ve known. 

            I am heart sad for those people who do not take the opportunity to connect to their parents who are alive.  No matter what has taken place, the Lord gave us parents, step parents, or loving guardians to help us mature into the people we are today.   Accept lifestyles we like and reject what we don't.  But love the person for who they are.  Their parents.   I wish they would connect and tell them they love them instead of holding hurt feelings.   

            Well, I need to get busy this morning, so tell everyone I said, “Hi”.  And again, “I Love You” for being a great father.

Your son,

Gary

P.S.  When was the last time you connected with your parents, living or deceased?  Maybe a letter to them is in order!

Is Age a State of Mind?

This morning I am in a perplexing situation.  I read Acts 2:17 and it says "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams".

Yet the visions keep coming. Prior to a meeting in Atlanta this week, our sales representative asked, "What else new do you have on the horizon?"  I immediately rolled three new ideas that I have been developing in my mind.   His partner said, "So when will you hang it up and relax.  You should retire, and enjoy life and do nothing.  I know I will someday." 

My response was that I will never quit creating, working, and doing with what the Lord has blessed me with.  Trying to be politically nice, his response was that I would not have too many more years until I am old.

Which reminded me of a good friend here in town who is 87 years young.  He just finished building and stocking his second museum and is in the planning stages for a third one by next year.  Even though his body has slowed over the past five years, his mind is as sharp as any 25 year old around.  As I admire this man, he comments that a few aches and pains can tell you you are old or you can believe that you have to work more because your time is limited here on earth.

I know that age is a state of mind.  If you tell yourself you are old, then you will be old.  So often, I see friends retire and kick back to a little golf, reading, sitting on the porch, and doing very little.  Sadly, within a few years they are gone from this earth and did not get to really enjoy their time on earth.

Even though I am working daily at two jobs, I keep thinking of tomorrow.  Visions of what can be for the people here in Tellico Plains and dreams of what new product or service will make it to the marketplace.

In the end, we all will age.  Whether it is graceful or kicking and screaming, it will happen.  So are you dreaming dreams of how to serve and stay mentally and physically active?  Do you have visions of helping others while here on earth.

By not acting your age you will help the memories or your life here and give you a legacy that many people try to buy their way to remembrances.  But that's for another day!

So this weekend, go out and quit acting your age.  Make the state of your mind to be young again!

Walking Away from the First "NO"

While waiting for a meeting at Home Depot headquarters, a young stranger in the lobby asked a very interesting question.  He said, "How far in advance to you plan for new ideas and developments?"  That was a different question, then he went on to say, "Why do you keep fighting when you have been told 'No" so many times?  When do you give up?"

You know, I had never thought of it because, to me, one "No" is not the end of the movie.  One of our products has struggled to get running hard in the marketplace. We had been told "No" so many times.  Then while at a meeting at Lowe's, the seasoned merchandiser asked, "Why are you here to see me?"  You have been told ,"No" three times and yet you come back to the same category. You need to not be in the Storage Aisle but in Attic Ladders.  It is a perfect match."  Now that was a five hundred mile trip with zero placement results but I praised the Lord and figured He had a better plan.  I just had to listen.

Since taking his advise, things have begun to move much faster and the opportunities are growing because we made a move in categories. 

If we had stopped after the first or even second "No" then we would have missed the opportunity to see our dream grow. 

So how many times have you stopped at the first "No"?  Now that does not mean you never soul search, evaluate, get help from a mentor, or seek divine wisdom but inside you do all these steps and then see where the idea can be developed.  But here's the adder.

At first we think we had the vision and the dream  and we were given enough talent to make it happen.  For me after so many "No's",  I began heavily looking for the Lord's Favor and stopped relying on my training, experience, and wisdom.  No matter what that seemed to look like from my daily personal time with the Lord. 

Previously I had only asked for Him to connect me with the right person to move the product forward.  So you can understand my disappointment when the merchandiser at Lowe's made his first statement.  I had a flash, "God, why are you abandoning me?" 

But he had not abandoned me and now the doors are opening because I am still learning to trust every move as being guided by the Lord.

What about you today? Are you beating your head against the wall to see a dream come true?  It is when we get a new frame of mind that you will see results that bless our lives. 

How's your faith to move forward?

A Simple Head Cold

2 Corinthians 12: 7-9 . . . But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud.  Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.

Summer colds seem to always hit us at the wrong time.  Everyone tells us to take this medicine or that herb to get rid of a cold.  What I have discovered was that it takes seven days to begin feeling better with drugs, or it usually takes me seven days to get well no matter what I ingest.

Fighting a cold  gave me time to think of the afflictions that Paul encountered during his ministry and missionary journeys.  During some study of God's Word, I found several theories of Paul’s afflictions.

In today’s verse, Paul’s thorn in the flesh is described as "an angel of Satan":

1.   Possibly a demon actually inflicted bodily pain upon the apostle.

2.   The fact Paul asked God to remove it three times, , tells us how painful and debilitating these encounters must have been.

3.   That this affliction was periodic rather than continual is obvious, since Paul could not have functioned if it were a constant thing.

4.   Conclusion: Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was a disabling, periodic and extremely painful ordeal inflicted by a demon directly.

Another study presents the afflictions as being physical: 

1.   From the time of meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, it is believed that Paul had poor eyesight a severe form of ophthalmia (i.e. eye disease. This view is based on Paul's comments in Gal.4:15).

2.   A form of epilepsy. Recurrent malarial fever (Sir Wm. Ramsay this affliction is quite debilitating and is accompanied by a peculiar headache which is 'like a red hot bar thrust through the forehead'. Sir William Ramsay says Paul contacted this disease during his first missionary journey while in Perga in Pamphylia [Act.13:13].

3.   Another author [W. M. Alexander] believes Paul's malady may be more specifically identified as Malta fever, which is accompanied by severe pain, nocturnal delirium, unsightly eruptions, and loss of hair).

Dr. Tony Evans noted that the afflictions we experience here on earth are just preparations for the desire to get to heaven and never experience afflictions again.

Thinking about all that Paul encountered by living through his afflictions and still built a close relationship with the Lord, means we all can actually thank the Lord for our aches, pains and sicknesses.

Since finishing this study my colds are nothing to complain about and I thank the Lord that my afflictions are so minor.

Maybe we all can thank the Lord when we get sick.  Maybe it’s just a wake up call?

Forgetting the AP

Psalms 36:10 “Oh Lord, continue your loving kindness to those who know you. And your righteousness to the seeker’s heart.”

Have you ever forgotten something? 

Of course, we all have.

Once a pastor friend came to church early in order to complete final preparations for the service. His wife and three children came just before church started in a separate car. Afterward, one son told his mom that he’d ride to a baptism, which was at some people’s home, with his Dad after church was over. Mom reminded Dad of his responsibility and he promised to get his son to the people’s home.

Naturally, the pastor was detained after church and so the son went out on the playground. When the pastor realized that he might be late for the baptism, he jumped in his car and left. The pastor walked in and sat down next to his wife. She asked, “Where’s Christopher?” He ran to the car and headed back to the church.

When he arrived, his son was sitting on the front steps patiently waiting for his father to come back.

During the good times in our lives we act as if we don’t really need the Lord. Our time with Him becomes so relaxed that we may even forget to pray. Successes in business or in our personal lives are accepted as coming from us, and many times thanking God is not even in the equation.  We simply forget.

So why is it that when we have problems, we tend to remember a relationship with Him?   We know the Lord is there all the time, but treat Him like a phone Application. If we are not looking for something the application just lays quietly on our phone.   When we need help, we tap on the application and there is our answer.  

How do you expect the Lord to bless your life and give you his favor when the relationship is only one way.  He asks for a relationship with you every day.  But you tend to make it on your terms and try to control the application.  So why should the Lord ever bless you in a one way relationship?  

It’s because He loves us and shows His kindness by helping us in the good times and the bad.  

He forgets our ugly past but never forgets us when we need Him.  It is in one on one relationship where we can fully appreciate the God application. 

He NEVER forgets.

Giving a Second Chance

Acts 15: 36-40 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the believers in every town where we preached the word of the Lord, and let us find out how they are getting along.” Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, but Paul did not think it was right to take him, because he had not stayed with them to the end of their mission, but had turned back and left them in Pamphylia. There was a sharp argument, and they separated: Barnabas took Mark and sailed off for Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the care of the Lord's grace.

 I suspect the conversation went something like this: “Barnabas, I refuse to give Mark another chance. When the going got rough he ran home to his mother” Paul said.  

Barnabas replied, “But he was young and not aware of all the dangers.  He has matured now and I think he would help us a lot on the second journey.”

Paul noted, “I do not want to take the chance that when we need him the most, he probably will run out on us again. My answer is a definite, NO.”

Barnabas pleaded, “But Paul, we wouldn’t even be here today if not for second chances. Moses was a murderer and God gave him a second chance. Jonah was a bigot and God used him. David was a liar, murderer, adulterer, and had a problem with anger. They all got second chances. Remember what He did with them? And, look at you. When you were out getting Christians killed and had the conversion on the road to Damascus, I was the one that said you should be given a second chance because you had changed.”

“Mark may be related to you, but I can not trust him when the going gets rough” Paul's closing remark.

There are several theories how this “sharp” argument may have taken place, but I believe there is a parallel to our lives today. Personally, I have a hard time understanding why Paul did not allow John Mark to come along with him and Barnabas. Yet in hindsight, it was the best thing to happen for the cause of Christ as the message spread twice as fast.

But that is not the end of the story. Paul speaks of Barnabas in the book of Colossians with affection and desires that Mark should come to him, having found him valuable in the ministry.

Paul realized he had made a mistake and later reconciles with Mark while in prison.

What about us? When we have a disagreement with someone, don’t we often reject the person and never speak to them again? Don’t we sometimes build up resentment toward them and everything they stand for in life?

Even when there is a sharp disagreement, we do not have to speak harshly about the other person. It’s okay to agree to disagree and end the conversation. The trouble is, I have seen people justify their verbal abuse of another person by using this very scripture.

Maybe we need to examine ourselves and see who in our lives needs to be given a second chance, because the Bible shows us that God is the God of second chances. Giving someone a second chance begins with our own attitude of us and our relationship with the Lord.

Getting the Next Generation Ready to Take the Reins

I had a professor in college tell me that from the many years of training I would get in college, only 5% will ever be used.  Shockingly I asked him then why go to college and his reply was that the world has certain standards and a college degree tells the world that you are measured to a standard that in  having a college degree you adapted to what new things were presented and performed to a given level (grades).

He went on to say that 85% of what I knew coming to college would only be honed in college and the rest of my life would be from experience training in the job market.  So when I got a position at General Electric, a senior management individual said, "There is the Right Way, The Wrong Way, and The GE Way.  Learn to do it the GE Way and you will be successful."

Do you know how hard a task that is for a person like me?  Yet Jack Welsh required us to get at least 30 hours of new training and education EVERY year that impacted my professional growth.  Couple that with day to day experiences, I now see the value of my college professor's wisdom.

So in today's world, we have almost everything at our fingertips and our children seem to be advanced at younger and younger ages.  With our technology simulations and games take up a child's time but at the same time separates the children from real face to face interaction.

Mentoring from an older adult seems not acceptable today just as it was not acceptable in my generation.  Yet most of my experiences and understandings of life itself has come from my grandparents, parents, and older adults from whom I learned.

While Director of a Christian Camp and Resort, we established a grandparent program each week for retirees.  They would come for a week at a time and live with the students.  We set aside time each evening after dinner for them to tell life stories about the good old days.  The first day only a few students would sit and listen, but by the end of the week all the campers would sit on the grass as these adults prepared the next generation to take the reins.

Not only did these adults give wisdom to the youth, but also thanked us each week for allowing them to be a part of a child's future. 

Never think you are too old to pass your experiences and wisdom off to the next generation.  Help them to shape our future by understanding the past.  This is a WIN-WIN for you and our future leaders. 

Just keep in mind we are one generation from extension.   Not telling your story sends us on our way to not understand our freedoms and the  life we have enjoyed for over 235 years.

The Feud of the Hatfield's and McCoy's

Romans 12: 19 “Dear Friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it.”

Many of us have forgotten about the great family feud in West Virginia and Kentucky that began in January of 1865 and did not end until February of 1890.Twelve killed, ten wounded, and eight stood trial for crimes leading from the feud.

Until we read the events and its petty beginnings, it is difficult to grasp how costly vengeance can be and how long it can last. If you have the time, take a look at the story at the website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatfield-McCoy_feud   

In growing up in a small town, I have heard people say, “Something like that will never happen around here. We are more civilized.” Yet time and time again, we have all witnessed character assassination. Political campaigns and newspaper tabloids sometimes destroy the lives and reputations of innocent people.

Even in our churches, people are often discussed in gossip groups, and sometimes told not to come back to that church. Those who know me are aware that I have walked through the pain and consequences of a divorce. When I announced that the divorce could not be avoided, leaders of the church I had attended for 38 years came and advised me that I could no longer worship there simply because I was going through with a divorce. They knew nothing of the background that brought me to this decision but because I announced the words, I was not longer welcome.  To say the least, I was angry, hurt, confused, disappointed and ready to take my vengeance out on them. After weeks of hurt and anger many scriptures flooded into my mind.  Romans 12 reminded me to try and understand their thinking, ask forgiveness, and then refocus on what the Lord wanted me to do with my life.

It was not my job to convince them of anything or to develop a “payback” scheme. Not knowing any facts they did what they thought was right.  They did not interpret the scripture with grace but by the letter of the law.  Again after about six months I learned that it is by grace that I am saved and forgiven.  With that understanding I felt called by the Lord to love and forgive them.

We should all examine ourselves and see if there is someone we have been vengeful towards. Is there someone today who needs your grace and not you wrath?   

 Understand the innocent start to the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s feud.  Someone signed up for what they believed by the other family as the wrong side of the army and the anger gave way to murder.

From that and the bloody outcome this should give us insight into our own lives and help us to love and be patient with each other. We may not murder literally but don’t we with our attitude, tongue, and heart?

Know about the grace you received and pass it on to others.  Even when someone takes the first shot.