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.

Blackberry Pickin'

Genesis 3:18 “The ground will produce thorns and weeds for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.”

Last night as I was brush cutting, I recalled events of my youth and it seems the only things I remember these days are the good times. One of the old memories that had dulled in my mind was that of picking blackberries. My nose can still smell the aroma of fresh blackberry pies, preserves, and cobbler on a warm summer evening.

What I had forgotten was the work it took to get those fresh berries to my mother. Usually it was the hottest time of the year when the blackberries would be ripe enough for harvest. Dressing for the event included jeans, boots, long sleeve shirts, and a straw hat. My dad and I would head towards the patch right after the morning chores were done carrying two five-gallon buckets, a small picking bucket, and a jug of water. The patch was loaded with beautiful red and black berries.

Our task was to only pick the ones that were quite black and had no rotten places on them. As I began filling my bucket, I remember that the ones along the edge were usually small but easy to pick. Looking deeper into the bush, I’d spot the biggest berries in the patch. You know, the ones that would fill my bucket quickly. Reaching in, without thinking or being careful, my hands would grab a berry … and then my arm would catch a thorn. Jerking my hand out only caused more thorns to dig into my skin. One discovery was that if I just kept my hand inside the bush I didn’t get stuck. But then I would miss out on the best part of the experience, eating the wonderful deserts. I’d pull my hand out slowly and place the big berries in the bucket. From that time on, I would be careful and not go near the thorns.

Temptations we encounter remind me of the big berries inside the bush. On the outside, things look sweet and we rationalize that we can take part and not get hurt. Even though we know that God is not a part of the situation, we venture in deeper and deeper. It is when we move into the middle to find what we think is the best looking fruit, that thorns engulf our lives.

For those of us who have experienced this, we know that no one comes away without great wounds. If you have experienced the thorns of life and walked away, you can then taste the sweet knowledge that the Lord was there to heal each pain. You can help others who may be thrashing in the midst of the thorns or those who already have thorn-ridden hands.

The blackberries are just at the beginning to ripen for harvest and it looks like it will be a good year.  I will have to get stuck by a few thorns and once again learn my lesson to proceed slowly so I do not get caught in the thorns.

The lessons you learn today will help you resist the thorns that life has yet for you to discover.

Robbers of Your Joy

Growing up in a stern German family meant that you did not show a lot of emotion for happiness, pain, or much of anything because, to the father, it showed weakness.  As a young boy I would get a bump or scrap and one of my father's comments was, "If you can't see the bone, then you will be alright." 

I recall that I was allowed to cry for a limited time on my father's schedule.  No matter whether it was an injury, or hurt feelings, or for any reason, my Dad would say, "Dry the crying up or I will give you something to cry about."    My father learned that from his father, who learned it from his father, so this part of their life  was passed on.

So I learned to swallow feelings and emotions so that my father would not see me express my true feelings.  In fact I did not shed a tear from 1961 until 1974 which was at my grandmother's funeral.  I still did not show it at the funeral but when I was alone.  I am not complaining but I did learn to keep my emotions shut down.

Thanks to my mother allowing me to show emotions in my older years and not get condemned, the results have been that I can now show emotional feelings for things like emotional programs and movies, death of a loved one, or pain in someones life. But I do not show happiness openly. 

I can get excited about a success, but the feeling wears off quickly and one "you're wrong" kills any joy that was created.  Now I know how wrong I can be and beat myself up constantly over my daily errors.  But just hearing the words which sometimes is said to make someone else think the are "Superior" makes me emotionally run.

Do you know people who rob you of your joy?  They can suck the very life out of you. 

As for me, I still try to get some time alone with the Lord and cry before him.  I know that I can show my emotions to Him and he understands. 

So how do you deal with the robbers?

Hot Summer Days

Psalms 42:1-2 “As the deer pants for the water, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. . .”

Baling hay was probably the worst part of summer on the farm. Three times during the summer, we had to bale and load the 60 lb. rectangular hay bales into the top of the barn. Why did I not like it was because of the hot dry days when you had to bale the hay and keep it dry.  Dad could not begin to rake the hay until after the dew was gone being about 11:30 a.m. with the temperatures in the upper 80’s and low 90’s. And that’s outside in the field.  Then the fun began!

When we brought the first load into the barn we had enough energy to have some fun in the barn. Stacking the hay went quickly we’d grab a glass of sweet tea and head to the field again.

After about the third load, and with the temperature in the barn reaching over 100 degrees, the tea never satisfied our thirst. Then there was the hay dust which got into our mouths, hair, and eyes.

By the fifth load, we came in from the field panting for water. The problem was that water never satisfied our thirst. We poured it on our heads and if we drank too much we went back to the field with a stomach ache. It was not until we finished for the night and headed to the spring fed lake for a bath, that we really felt relieved.

When was the last time you were really thirsty?  Then again when was the last time you were thirsty for the Word?    When did you last search for the Lord in a personal one on one time? When was the last time you called out for Him?

The best time in life is not when everything is humming along effortlessly from our own actions, but when we are seeking the Lord.  Don’t just wait until things get so hot that we look for any type of relief.

Each day we should search for the Lord in His Word and in our prayer time. The blessings will overflow so the rest of the day will be cool and comfortable no matter what the temperature is outside.  Are you thirsty?