A Thought for "All Saint's Eve"

A couple years ago my grandson wanted to be a hot-dog for Halloween. This year he is dressing up as a ninja. We used to dress up as cowboys or Indians (we didn’t know about political correctness) or fireman or policemen. The girls were princesses or ballerinas or maybe a French chanteuse (very few gender challenges).

The reason I thought of this is that most of the time we had no idea what was involved in being a cowboy, or ballerina or fireman. We simply thought they were exciting things to be and so we dressed up as what ever it was we wanted and went out and got our candy. For a couple hours that is what we were.

The little girls don’t think of the hours of practice and sore and bleeding feet that real ballerinas have to experience. Little boys didn’t think about sleeping in the rain or getting up in the middle of the night to take care of the cows. No, they just dress up and they were what they imagine.

For the past several years I have been learning and trying to share with others the disciplines of being a disciple. Some of it is difficult and at times unpleasant. For many years, I simply dressed up as a Christian. It fooled a lot of people. It fooled me a lot of the time.

Here are a couple of verses that came to mind as I was thinking about this, this morning. Take a minute to think about them and consider your own discipleship.

Now if you are without any discipline, in which all sons share, then you are illegitimate and not God's sons. (Hebrews 12:8 ISV)

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace. (Hebrews 12:11 ISV)

Just one final thought for those who shirk discipline.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7 ISV)

Just a Couple Fish Sandwiches

There is a phrase that I hear from time and I think I might not have understood it correctly. Some one will say, “Wow! That blows my mind.” That creates a mental picture of a violent explosion, something like a semi-truck tire blowing going down the highway. Most of the time though, I suspect our mind being blown is pretty quiet.

In the Gospels we can read the story of “The Transfiguration”. Try to think about that. Nope, I have no idea about what happened. Later Jesus heals a demon possessed boy. We would probably have taken him to see a neurologist. And then a little later Jesus says, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” This statement is not confusing to us. But then we have the benefit of history to guide us.

Any one of these events experienced or heard in the context of the time would be too big for any of us to fully comprehend. It’s like a hole in the side of my brain just opens up and the whole idea leaks out and I forget it, or minimalize it to a “Golden Book” unreality.

In John 6, there is a story about a boy who brought his lunch to hear Jesus speak. They ended up asking him to share his lunch with the 5,000 others who had shown up without lunch. He did, and again we know what happened, but what happened to the mind of that boy. I think his mind was probably blown, but I think he had a story to tell for the rest of his life, that changed his life.

And as he shared his story about the teacher from Galilee, many other lives were changed.

So here is an idea that may be difficult to appreciate. God the Creator has made you and me in his image. Each of us have creative abilities. As we use our creative abilities in obedience to God, he will use those gifts to bless others, maybe thousands.

Don’t let that idea blow your mind. Think about it. Act upon it.  

Stay Focused

This morning as I was going through my prayers I began to be overwhelmed by all of the needs that I am aware of; a college friend in the hospital with some unknown condition, good friends in Oregon going through difficulty, close relatives who have lost loved ones. Then there are other spiritual needs that I am very conscious of; neighbors who have no idea of the love of God or the forgiveness of sin and abundant life provided by Jesus. And Christian friends who are content to just be church members. Oh, and I have my own problems that are demanding my attention.

As I thought and began to become anxious about these things I thought of Isaiah 26:3 (ISV)

You will keep perfectly peaceful the one whose mind remains focused on you, because he remains in you.

This is my great need; To keep my mind focused on God. Jesus has told us plainly that “In the world you will have trouble” but then he goes on to say, “I have overcome the world.”

In this day full of trouble and cares, Lord God, I need grace to always be looking to you as my source of all comfort and strength, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.