pastorsblog

"It's On Me Today!"

 

Though I do not get to do it as often as I would like, one of my favorite things is to go to one of the coffee shops near my home and spend time reading my Bible, journaling and absorbing myself in a good book over a delicious cup of hot Joe. That experience was made even more pleasant this morning, when I arrived, staked my claim on a table and began removing my coat.

I frequent several coffee shops, and the ones I like best are best liked because of the friendly staff that works there. It's not a neighborhood bar like Cheers was, but "almost" everybody (at least everybody working there) knows my name. It's a great feeling to walk in the door and have someone shout, "Good morning, Drew!" This good-natured treatment, however, goes beyond a gregarious greeting.

One morning, when especially tired, I had forgotten my wallet at home.  I did not realize it until the manager (Nick), who by the way, had not even taken my order, but got the cup of coffee he knew I liked and would order anyway, brought it to the register and handed it to me. At that point I said, "Wow, I'm really sorry, but you're going to have to put it back. I just realized I forgot my wallet." Without a blink he retorted, "No problem, Drew. I can take care of it for you." I assured him I would pay for it the next time I was in (which I did), but appreciated his gesture and kindness greatly.

Back to this morning. Standing at the table and positioning my briefcase, one of the clerks (Helen) met me at my table with a cup of dark roast coffee in a ceramic mug (just the way I like it), set it on the table and said, "It's on me today!" In a mild state of shock, I thanked her very much as she went back to her station.

All I can say is, if these small acts of kindness can affect so deeply, how much more, when we offer ourselves and our services to others without limitation or reservation? Perhaps we would find ourselves living more in the kind of world Christ intended when he came and gave all for us. When he said, "It's on me today!" (John 10:10)

Wiser Than The Children Of Light?

I was listening to an online Christian radio station today and they played a song by the group Nickelback. I had heard the song several times before, and each time it had struck a chord with me. From my understanding, Nickelback would not be described by most, if any, as a Christian Rock Band, but having been played on this station, it caused me to take a closer look at the lyrics and led me to pause and reflect. One could almost think a member of the band wrote the lyrics while sitting in their study and pouring over the scriptures, but I doubt that is the way the song unfolded. At any rate, the lyrics are worth looking at and thinking about for Christians and non-Christians alike. Life is short and what we do with it counts. Let it not be said of us that "the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." Luke 16:8

If Today Was Your Last Day

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce of memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love
If today was your last day

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day
and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Don't Give Up!

“You don’t develop on your own. You develop by having a goal bigger than you are. To achieve that goal, you have to become bigger. A goal forces you to become bigger, stronger, and better, and enables you to tackle even bigger goals.

Once you start pursuing your goals, you will face obstacles. One of the biggest challenges will be exhaustion. You may become discouraged and find yourself tempted to quit. The book of Galatians tells us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap the harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

God assumes that when you are doing well you will get extremely tired. But that tiredness and exhaustion and thoughts of giving up are part of the price you pay for the harvest. In fact, one of the signs that you are near the harvest is that feeling of exhaustion. Therefore, being tired should not make you quit. Instead, it should make you double your efforts. When you are tired it is often a sign that you are close to reaching your goal.”

(From the book I Dare You To Change by Bil Cornelius, page 97)

The Whisper

I heard a voice,
Before I breathed,
A whisper…
Was that You?

My mother spoke.
My father spoke.
A whisper…
Was that You?

Did you know me in the womb,
And even before that?
And was it you that I first knew…
The whisper…
Was that You?

Was that your breath,
Or was it mine?
Whoever’s was, so intertwined,
In a whisper…

It WAS You!

Lord, let me never fail to hear,
Nor ever cease to know,
The voice so tender, breath so near,
The whisper…
That IS You!

(For Madeline)

Many Hands

The proverb "Many hands make light work," was first recorded in the English language in the early 1300s in a knightly romance known as Sir Bevis of Hampton. It appeared in practically all proverb collections from 1546 on, probably in large part due to the writings of John Heywood, English Playwright and Poet, 1497-1580.  The phrase posits the notion that more helpers make a task easier, as in: "We need a few more volunteers to move the furniture."

The Bible is replete with examples that validate this train of thought.  We are told that "if one chases a thousand, two shall chase ten thousand."  In the New Testament there are many examples of people who could never have gotten to Jesus had there not been a few friends to help them along.  We are even told that through the agreement in Jesus' name of at least "two or three" anything is possible.  In modern times we are told that when it comes to problem solving "two heads are better than one."  Additionally, there are some jobs that are too difficult to do with just two hands.  It is always nice to have a third or fourth hand handy in these kinds of dilemmas.

I have a small desk ornament in my office that is fashioned after the similitude of tablet of the stone we often see replicas of the Ten Commandments written upon.  The words on the ornament in descending order read: "Together Everyone Achieves More."  Taking the first letter of each word obviously forms the acronym "TEAM."  I like having this displayed where I can see it as a reminder that we really do need each other.

I have often marveled at the power of teamwork exemplified in horse pulling contests.  Horses compete so that their owners can see which one can pull the most weight individually.  When the individual competition is over, the two strongest horses are then teamed together and much more weight than the two of them each pulled individually is attached to the tractor or sled to see what they can pull corporately.  It is amazing to see the amount of weight these two horses can pull together compared to what they pulled alone.  It is always exponential in comparison.  I guess in this case one could say, "Many hooves make light pulling..."

Zig Ziglar has made the statement, "You can get anything you want in life by helping enough other people get what they want."  Maybe if we would spend a little more time lending a helping hand, we would find our load made easier by the power of TEAMWORK!

Deal or No Deal

Move over Price is Right.  Move over Wheel of Fortune.  And yes, you too, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.  The latest craze to hit the game show circuit (and my son's computer) has more than likely increased the stock price of Samsonite briefcases more than anything else in the past 10 years.  Yes, it's Deal or No Deal, the show that features 26 stainless steel briefcases containing amounts from 1 to 1 million dollars.  Contestants take risks for the chance to win the biggest prize possible and sometimes their greed gets the best of them.  This show reminds me of something of even greater importance.  The choice we make with the free will given to us by God.

In the Old Testament, the Lord promised that if we would bless Him, He would bless us.  If we cursed Him, He would curse us.  The prophet Isaiah tells us to "put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."  Jesus said, " what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and in the end loose his own soul?"  Paul said that Jesus became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 

Someone once said that God is a gentleman and will not force himself on anyone, but that He offers His free gift to anyone who will receive it.  God offers each of us eternal life.  We can accept it or reject it.  So the questions is, "Deal or no Deal?"

 

Useful Consciousness

I recently read an article in which a mother of three wrote saying it has always bothered her when she hears the emergency announcements on airplanes telling everyone to grab their own oxygen masks before they assist their children. Her concern was that children seem so much more vulnerable than adults.  The host columnist responded by explaining that if a depressurization occurs on board (when oxygen becomes scarce on a flight), we have only about "18 seconds of useful consciousness."

She continued by saying "useful consciousness" is the time before physical and mental functioning deteriorates to the point where we cannot take care of ourselves. Obviously, if a parent loses useful consciousness, she won't be able to take care of her child.  A doctor explained that if children lose consciousness, they normally have three to seven minutes in which they can be revived without lasting side effects.  So, on an airplane, when the parent generally has 18 seconds to figure it all out, the math makes sense for the parent to put on her mask first and then attend to her child.

A clever Southwest Airline employee said the actual emergency instructions should be changed to "Should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the overhead area. Please place the bag over your own mouth and nose before assisting children or adults acting like children."

Jim Rohn, a successful and widely known motivation speaker, often says that his father used to tell him, "Son, right after me, you come first."  As humorous as that seems, Mr. Rohn's father was not trying to teach his son to be selfish, but to be responsible.  The lesson he learned was that if he would take care of himself, (mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, materially, etc), he would be healthy enough to take care of others.

Jesus taught that to be great in God's kingdom we must learn to be the servant of others (Matthew 20:26-27).  Paul taught that we should prefer one another (Philippians 2:3) or in other words, put our brother or sister before ourselves.  This does not in anyway contradict what has already been said. On the contrary, how can we pray with another, if we have not prayed for ourselves first?  How can we encourage another, if we have not, like David, first encouraged ourselves in the Lord? (1 Samual 30:6)  How can we reach the lost if we have not first been found ourselves?  Do we do others well, if when we are told to "love our neighbor as ourself" we do not first love ourselves?

I once learned that the word JOY was an acronym that stood for Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last and I agree I with that.  We must be selfless and not self-centered and willing to do all we can to serve our fellow man.  But let's not forget to take care of the one who will be doing the caring.  The best chance we will have to help others will be in giving our whole hearts to God!  First and foremost!

It Was Inevitable; It Is Minnesota!

The picture above is the view of the deck outside our back door this morning.  After a mild winter with very little snow, we finally got hit this weekend.  The National Weather Service issued a winter warning for much of the state and The Minnesota State Highway Patrol is not advising any travel at this time.  It is the first time in several years that we have had to cancel church services due to the weather.  While we will miss our time of worship together today, I trust that many of you will find a time of personal or family devotion. 

Many not from the "cold north" as they like to call it, have a hard time understanding why anyone would ever want to live in this climate.  I have to admit that when I am shovelling snow, coming into the house with steamed up glasses or driving on solid ice, their observation seems to make a lot of sense.  However, as I sit here even now watching the soft, crisp flakes that continue to fall to the ground, I find myself reminiscing about a time when I was 6 years old, when my hometown was hit by one of the worst winter storms in years.  Labelled "The Blizzard of 66" the whole town was without electricity (yes, Heather, Gettysburg, SD, had electricty then), and a number of families were forced to make my grandparents home, where there was a fireplace, their temporary dwelling place.  Those memories still resinate in my mind as a time of family and friendship building.  We made the best of the situation.

That's how we learn to live in Minnesota.  We learn to make the best of it.  A few years ago when the two "snowthrowers" I had (my boys) got older and too busy to shovel anymore, I bought myself a snowblower.  Additionally, we own our share of hats and gloves and coats and scarves and know how to dress for the weather.  We all have ice skates, and snow skis and snowbords stand ready and at attention.  We ride snowmobiles whenever we get the chance and know how to not only use, but say the word "toboggan."  Our car has heated seats and one of our vehicles is a 4 wheel-drive.  My philosophy is that if God has called you to make your home in Minnesota, you might as well "live" in MInnesota!

With that said, I think I'll go make myself a hot cup of coffee, grab a blanket and a good book and crawl up into my Barcalounger next to the fireplace in our family room.  I need to get my rest before heading for the slopes at Afton Alps a little later this afternoon!

Love On A Shoestring Budget

I learned the value of the low budget getaway a number of years ago while teaching at a small private Bible college.  My  family lived on campus in one of the men's dormitories and I was the dorm supervisor.  In addition, I taught classes practically every morning during the week in the main campus building just 2 minutes away from our home, and had an office in the same building where I spent most of my afternoons.  I was on the ministerial staff of the church next door to the college and spent several evenings a week, as well as Sunday mornings there.  I rarely had to even get into my car.

As you can imagine, spending this much time in one location under these circumstances was not a real good recipe for sound peace of mind, and from time to time, we would need to " go out of town" to maintain our sanity.  While I will admit that my tenure there was one of the most blessed times of my life, I'm sure one would not be surprised to learn it was not one of the most lucrative times.  We did not have the money to take the kind of family vacations we would have liked to have taken back then, but we learned to make the most out of what we had. Our vacations usually consisted of getting a room at a hotel for the night in one of the nearby suburbs where we could just spend time together as a family playing games, eating out and watching old movies on television.

Now before anyone thinks I am trying to create a pity party here, let me say that we hardly ever felt that we were even sacrificing during those years.  God was good to us and we always felt blessed.  The point I am trying to make is that it is possible to enjoy life even when you don't have a lot of money.

I heard about a young couple several years ago who were just getting by.  Valentine's Day came around and he wanted to do something special, but did not have very much money to do a lot.  However, being the wise man that he was, he knew he had better do something!  So he invited his sweetheart out on a date to a restuarant were he could use a coupon.  Good try, but not good enough.  She became upset, implying that he was cheap and didn't love her enough to go "somewhere fancy" where they didn't have to use a coupon.  I'm sure he felt not only defeated, but deflated.

Now I believe in being extravagant whenever possible.  There is nothing I love more than showering those I care about with the best gifts I can afford.  Unfortunately, this is not always possible.  The Apostle Paul wrote, "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound : every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."  Let us always remember that "godliness with contentment is great gain" no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.

By the way...  my Valentine's Day date with my sweetheart this year cost me a total of $8.00 (that includes the tip) after the $20.00 gift certificate that was given to us at Christmas time was applied.  Heather, I love you and there is no one else I would want to be with more than you.  Thank you, Dear, for letting us go low budget once in a while... Dear...  Dear... ?    :)

I See God's Hand

One of the greatest privileges of pastoring enjoyed by my wife and me is visiting the hospital following the birth of new babies born to members of the church we pastor.  We had that honor again yesterday when we visited the mother and new baby girl who was born to one of the young couples in our church the day before.  As Heather and I stood in the room and gazed upon this beautiful little baby, we were reminded of another Valentine's Day (actually February 12) 21 years ago, when our son, Andrew, was born.  We joked a little about how we spent Valentine's Day that year, and that even though we were not able to get in our traditional Valentine's Day date, what a blessed time it was to hold our precious little boy in our arms that special day.

One of the things that I always marvel at as I look upon a baby, especially a newborn, is the beauty of those little fingers.  It is a reminder to me that the Great Creator formed us by his hand from the dust of the ground and filled us with the breath of life.  One can't help but stand and marvel at the beauty of his creation in the sight and smell of a newborn baby.  One would think all of its intricacies would open even the most blinded of eyes.  Unfortunately, for some it seems, nothing would be enough.

On April 12, 1961, Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to travel into space.  There were speculations in the media, that from orbit Gagarin made the comment, "I don't see any God up here."  There are, however, no such words in the full verbatim record of Gagarin's conversations with the Earth during the spaceflight.  It was later discovered that the phrase originated from a speech by then Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev, where antireligious propaganda was being discussed. In a certain context Khrushchev said, "Gagarin flew into space, but didn't see any God there".

A few years later in their April 6, 1966 edition, Time Magazine splashed their cover with the caption, "Is God Dead?"  The question was borrowed from the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche who said, "God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him..."  The Time article began like this:

"Is God dead? It is a question that tantalizes both believers, who perhaps secretly fear that he is, and atheists, who possibly suspect that the answer is no."

The psalmist said it best when he wrote: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."  (Ps. 19:1)  This verse should be especially comforting for all believers.  God has chosen to reveal Himself in the big and the small.  Looking out at the stars on a crystal clear night can almost be mind boggling when we considered the vastness of God's creation.  No less magnificent is the reminder that when we see the hand of a new born baby, we can be reminded that the heavens where created by the hand of God for mankind to enjoy, and that's something to think about!

Congratulations, Brandon, Janie and Olivia (and extended family members), on the wonderful new addition to your family...  that little miracle named Samantha Isabelle.

Dogter Jagyl and Mr. Hienna

I have been writing this blog for almost nine months now, and I think I have resisted writing about our dog until now, but I want to tell you something really interesting (and somewhat humorous) about him.  I wish I had time to tell you about how he ended up coming home from the pet store one night with my wife and children, but that is another story...

Jag is a great family dog.  He loves everyone in our family, and everyone loves him.  He squeals and wags his tail when we come home and walk in the door and almost always wants to be right next to someone when we are at home.  He is a very loving dog... most of the time, however, when he decides it is time to eat (or at least time to "fake" like he is about to eat) he seems to become a totally different dog.  If he feels threatened at all that he might not get the opportunity to eat the food in his bowl, he will sit next to his bowl, look at us and give us the "evil eye" that basically says, "I may or may not decide to eat right now, but don't even think about telling me I can't eat if I want to."  It is really amazing to see this sweet, lovable little beagle dog transformed into a "hound of hell" for these few moments, then, to see him transformed back into his compliant little self following his meal.  It reminds me of the old familiar story about Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Created by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was written in 1885.  Henry Jekyll was a prominent, well-known and well respected London doctor. He came to believe that within all humans there existed two countering forces, good and evil, and he began to experiment to separate the two, using himself as a guinea pig. Initially he acted out of scientific curiosity, but his experiments managed to unleash a version of him that was unfettered by society's restraints, able to enjoy all his forbidden desires; after this Jekyll continued his work because he secretly enjoyed the freedom this alter ego had compared to his respectable life as a reputable doctor. The chemical formula he discovered not only altered his mind, but his body also changed under it's influence - he became smaller, almost ape-like, and something about his very presence caused normal humans to be repulsed by him. Jekyll dubbed his other self Mr.Hyde.

I read a story once about the trial of Nazi war criminal, Adolph Eichmann.  A man who had been brutally treated by Eichmann during World War II had not seen Eichmann for decades, but was scheduled to testify against him at his trial.  This man was full of bitterness and hatred as he awaited Eichmann's appearance in the courtroom, however, upon Eichmann's entrance, this victim of Eichmann's cruelty fell to the ground, buried his hands in his face and began sobbing.  When asked later by news reporters why he had reacted this way, he responded by saying that over the years he had built Eichmann up in his mind as a dark, cruel monster of a being, but when he walked into the courtroom, thin, shackled and defeated, he realized that Eichmann was just a man after all.  He then said, "Eichmann is in all of us."  What he was trying to say is that the potential for evil is in all of us.  We need to be careful about the choices we make.  Paul the apostle said it this way in Romans 7:19:

"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." 

Paul wanted us to know that there is always going to be a struggle going on within us and he gave us the answer to overcome evil with good when he wrote again in 1 Corinthians 9:27:

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection : lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

There will always be days that are not as good as others, when it seems like we are fighting a losing battle against sin, however, if we will purpose in our hearts to win the battle over self, with Christ's help, we will always tend to lean toward the Dr. Jekyl side of our nature (minus his proclivity to create a monster, or course... )

Playing In A New Ballpark

Okay, okay, I guess this is confession time.  I love the the Twins.  No, I'm not talking about the Olson twins.  I'm talking about the Minnesota Twins.  No, I don't mean I love them in the same way I love Jesus, (argh!).  I suppose I should say "I'm sorry" to any one reading this who follows another Major League team or who just plain ol' doesn't follow baseball at all, but I can't help myself (I trust the Lord will forgive me). 

That being said, it is with great enthusiam that I have followed the plans and proposals for a new, outdoor stadium (the way that baseball was intended to be played) to be completed by the year 2010.  Many Twins fans feel the same way I do about the Twins moving from the Metrodome (an indoor stadium) to the new outdoor ballpark.  Those who talk about it, affectionately pine about how nice it will be to sit out under the stars on warm summer nights as the cool breeze blows through the stadium.  Others anticipate the autumns smells that will waft through as they sit there a little more bundled up toward the season's end.  And so, for the next 3 years, Twins fans will be longing in their heart for that great day.

In the same way, I believe there are many people today who are longing for a new place to worship.  They have tried the old stadiums of dead, dry churches and found them to be anything but fulfilling.  In their hearts, they know there must be something far greater to be experienced, with all the sounds, smells and sights of what life was meant to be.  Someone once said, It is a sin to bore people with the gospel," and churches today need to take that to heart.  Especially when the Gospel of Jesus Christ is so alive and fresh!

Now I am not promoting church hopping here, nor am I suggesting that anyone should leave their present church just for the sake of change.  A person should always be careful when considering a church change.  However, if the denomination or the church you are attending has only a "form of godliness" but "denies the power thereof," it may be time to make that consideration.  One caveat is that this decision should never be done without prayer, fasting, and sufficient counsel with those you look up to spiritually. 

Someone once said that if you find yourself playing in someone's ballpark, and you don't like the way the game is being playing, see what you can do to change the game or change yourself so that you can be happy playing in that ballpark.  However, if after trying both, you still find yourself feeling a sense of frustration, it may be time to find a new ballpark.  Life is to short to spend attending a church that has no vision and thus, no power to deliver.  Don't wait until it is too late to make that realization.

A Little Give And Take

At a conference I attended recently, someone remarked that they had heard that America has become a generation of takers, as opposed to givers.  According to the statement, the post-World War II generation that knew how to sacrifice and save are slowly dying off.  I'm not sure if I entirely agree with this assumption, but can certainly understand how someone might arrive at this conclusion.  The following is an observation that may help demonstrate my point.

I once worked in an office where one of my team members set a candy dish in a visible area on top of the partition between their office and their neighbor's.  This team member would bring bite-sized pieces of candy and put it in the dish and it was common knowledge that it was available to anyone who wanted some.  There was an underlying "assumption" that those who chose to "partake" would also help "provide."  Since I sat across the aisle, I was able to make some observations surrounding this community candy dish...

Interestingly, there were some team members who frequented the candy dish often, almost daily, but never once brought candy to help replenish the bowl.  There were also others who would either contribute money to buy more candy once in a while or that would purchase candy to add to the bowl occasionally.  What was interesting, is that the givers always seemed to be the same givers and the takers also always seemed to be the same takers.  Now I am not saying the people who never brought anything are bad people or that they just "take" all the time.  However, I will say, that sometimes you see the true character of a person in the small things.

Working with people over the years has led me to several conclusions concerning people who give and people who take:

1.  Givers are usually givers most if not all of the time.

2.  It is difficult for a giver to be a taker even when they have the opportunity.

3.  Takers are usually takers most if not all of the time.

4.  It is difficult for a taker to be a giver much of the time.

Givers give all of themselves and then some.  Takers take everything a giver has to give and leaves the giver depleted with little left for themselves.  What amazes me, is that even though givers give all, they are never without, for God blesses them for their gift and as the Psalmist said, their "cup runneth over."

Where are you in the spectrum of give and take?  If you're leaning a little to close to the "take" side, it may be good for you to remember the words of Christ who said, "it is better to give than to receive," and then demonstrated His belief in those words by giving His all on the Cross.

The image above was taken by Sarah Casha, a graphic design student at the California State University, Chico.  Sarah has made this graphic available free of charge for others who may be interested in using this photo.

Jesus, Chocolate and a Back Rub

I am sometimes amazed at how much my tastes have changed over the years.  I remember as a child not liking spinach (although I did eat it so that I could have muscles like Popeye) and liking black olives, but not green.  I now love green olives much more than black and can almost make a meal out of them alone - much to my wife's consternation, who absolutely detests their smell.  I am most amazed, though, at how much my tastes have changed when it comes to sweets.

Any one who knew me growing up and into first 15 years or so of my adult life, knows very well that I was not a huge fan of chocolate.  As a child, I had my occasional candy bar here and there, but please, do not offer me chocolate cake or chocolate ice cream.  Chocolate desserts did not appeal to me in any way, shape or form and my choice was almost always plain old vanilla.  But time and experience have changed me.

I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but somewhere along the way, I fell in love with chocolate.  I know, some of you are saying, how could you not have loved chocolate before?  Go figure.  Maybe it wasn't really the fact that I found chocolate, but chocolate found me.  As is the case with many things in our lives, we formulate opinions and develop pre-conceived ideas based on our perceptions and experiences in life.  Once formulated, it is sometimes hard for our minds to be changed.  It could have been my father-in-law that tried to get me to try new things (like Es cargo and Calamari) and to re-try everything I said I didn't like, that brought about such a radical transformation.  Nevertheless, when it comes to chocolate, I was, as one little boy said, "bornded againded." 

So much has changed for me when it comes to chocolate that these days, when I go to the mall, after figuring out where all the coffee shops are located, the first place I look for is the Fanny May or Godiva store so I know where I can get a Truffle before I leave.  My favorite cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory (www.thecheesecakefactory.com) is in fact, the Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake (pictured above) and my favorite at Cafe Latte (www.cafelatte.com) is their Double Chocolate Cheesecake.

This week in the small group meeting we attended, the topic was on happiness.  For the ice breaker, the question was asked, "What makes you happy?"  The group leader went around the room and allowed each adult and child to answer the question.  When he got to his 9 year-old daughter, she asked, "can I say more than one thing?"  He said that would be fine.  She began very deliberately, yet pensively as she slowly responded, "Okay...  Jesus... chocolate...  and a back rub."  Of course, the adults in the group all laughed with approval and some even said, "Amen!"  As her pastor, I said, "Now that will preach!" and told her I was going to use that sometime.

When I said before that chocolate found me, well... I'm more happy today than ever because Jesus found me and that has made all the difference.  I had some pre-conceived ideas about Him before I really met Him, but somehow, He brought me around to His way of thinking, and I am forever grateful.  I love Him now more than ever.  Like chocolate, He has become sweeter as the days have gone by and His words have become "sweeter than honey in the honeycomb."

I am still looking for that back rub, though (hopefully my wife will read this and take it to heart), but at least I have Jesus and of course, my chocolate.  And if you're looking for me this Saturday I won't be home.  I'll be the the Twin Cities Chocolate Extravaganza (www.mspchocolateshow.com) watching a friend compete, eating whatever chocolate I can find and sharing Jesus with anyone who will let me.  Now that I think about it, after walking around and standing all day, I may really need a back rub when I get home.  "Oh, Honey!......."

The Big Green Chair

I heard a man on the radio recently talking about the relationship he had with his father while growing up.  He was emphasizing the importance of a father making it a priority to communicate with his children, especially during their teenage years.  He said that when he was growing up, his father had a makeshift office in their then-unfinished basement.  It was where his father spent many hours doing much of his studying, book-keeping and away-from-the office busy work.  He remarked that, "Dad spent a lot of time in his office when he was home."  However, the part of the story that really caught my attention was what he said next. 

He went on to describe how, even though his father was very busy, there was an unwritten rule that each child in the family was very aware of.  The rule was that if any member of the family needed to talk to Dad, all they had to do was come downstairs to his office, sit in the big overstuffed, green Lazy Boy chair next to Dad's desk, and Dad would drop whatever he was doing and give them his undivided attention...  for as long as they wanted.  The man telling the story said he believed that one act gave him the much added confidence he needed to face his teenage years.  As I listened I began to wonder what would happen if all fathers (and mothers) would make communicating with their children a top priority. 

Several years ago, someone we knew was out of work and needed to sell his hot tub.  While we were not in the market for a hot tub at the time, we had always wanted one, and had some extra money from a recent refinancing, so we decided to go ahead and not only help him out, but fulfill one of our hearts desires.  I didn't realize at the time what an added benefit it would become to our family.  Since then we have spent many hours with our teenage (and now adult) children, talking about pressures at school and work, relationships with others, their life's goals and dreams and a host of other subjects.  In a way, the family hot tub became our "Dad's Green Chair."  I actually wish I had heard the green chair story years before.  I would have definitely implemented a similar rule in our family.

The point I am trying to make here (in case you've missed it so far) is that children need to talk to their parents as much as we parents, long for them to talk to us.  Finding creative ways to encourage them to do so may take some prayer and patience on your part, but trust me, it will be well worth it in the end.  It doesn't have to be a hot tub or a big green chair.  It may end up being the bench at the end your bed they sit on to tell you they're home after the end of the evening with their friends.  Wherever and whenever, be sure to take the time to listen.  These are the memories both you and they will be able to keep for the rest your lives.

The Roar Of Our Actions

The story is told about a Christian who was thrown to the lions during the time of the early church.  The first hungry lion was released and ran with lightning speed toward the Christian.  At the moment the lion was within distance of pouncing onto the Christian, the Christian held up his hand and motioned for lion to stop.  After the lion had come to a surprised, but abrupt halt, the Christian walked slowly over to the awaiting beast and whispered something in its ear.  With a shriek of horror, the lion ran off in another direction and cowered in a corner of the stadium.  One by one, additional hungry lions where released and one by one, the Christian's whispering had the same effect on each of them.  Frustrated, the master of ceremonies finally had someone go down and ask the Christian what he kept saying to each lion that, under normal circumstances, would have made the Christian his dinner by now.  "Simple," said the Christian.  "I just tell them that they are going to be asked to say a few words to the crowd after dinner."

Someone has remarked that the fear of public speaking for most people ranks at the same level as skydiving.  I can certainly understand and remember my "cotton-mouth" days long ago before I was ever a pastor and found myself in the pulpit 2-3 times a week.  But let us remember that words are not always required for us to let the world know that Jesus is the answer.

St. Francis of the Assisi is famous for his words, "Preach the Gospel at all times.  If necessary, use words."  A well-known vocabulary program that is often advertised on the radio claims that, "people judge you by the words that you speak."  While this is true to a certain extent, it does not tell the whole story.  The Bible tells us in Proverb 17:28 that "even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."  Someone else has remarked, "It is often better to keep your mouth shut lest you appear a fool, rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt."

When speaking to parents in our church I like to remind them of the old adage: "Children more attention pay, to what you do, than what you say."  Let us remember, that what will really judge us in the end will not be just the words we say, as important as they may be, but what we do and what we are.  If ever there was a time when the world needed to see true Christianity, it is today.  People are tired of hypocrisy.  They are looking for people that live the life.  Let us not forget that "what we do speaks so loud they can't hear what we are saying."

Good News Or Bad News

My dad used to tell a "Good News-Bad News" joke when I was growing up.  It went like this: A man was in the hospital after getting run over by a train.  Unfortunately for him, the doctors had to amputate both of his legs prior to him regaining consciousness.  When he finally came to, the doctor who had performed the surgery came into the room and in his professional demeanor said, "I've got good news and bad news.  Which would you like first?"   The man, barely conscious, looked curiously at the doctor, thought for a moment, then grimacing said, "Well, I guess you can give me the bad news first."  The doctor responded, "Okay.  I'm sorry to have tell you this, but we had to amputate your legs."  "Oh, nooooo!" the man cried.  Then after regaining his composure, looked at the doctor and asked, "Well, what's the good news."  The doctor smiled as if getting ready to bring at least some relief and said, "The good news is, the man in the room right next to yours wants to buy your slippers!"

Okay, I admit, that's probably not a real sensitive joke, but it does help me make my point, which is - there is always going to be either good or bad in just about every situation we find ourselves in.  What really matters is how we decide to look at it.  You have probably heard the saying, "There was a man who complained because he had no shoes until he met a man who had no feet."  Even though everyone and their brother have tried to take credit for this saying, the source is anonymous.  Nevertheless, what this proverb illustrates is more than profound.  Life is often a lot about the perspective we hold.  Zig Ziglar is famous for a lot of unique sayings.  One of my favorites is "You need a check-up from the neck-up to get rid of that stink'n think'n."  And he's right, sometimes we do!

We are told in Scripture that it is not wise to compare ourselves with others.  The problem with doing so leads us to pride and a false sense of security when we compare ourselves with those we perceive to be less fortunate, and a covetous and unthankful spirit when we compare ourselves with those we perceive to be more fortunate than us.  Unfortunately, most people look at the things they don't have and sulk, instead of being thankful for the things they do have.  I remember hearing a Sunday school song  years ago where two young brother's sang:

Be thankful for the good things that ya got!
Oh, be thankful for the good things that ya got!
The good thing that ya got, are for others just a dream.
So be thankful for the good things that ya got!

So, is the glass the half full or half empty?  Do you wake up in the morning to an alarm clock or an opportunity clock?  Is the word "impossible" still an entry in your dictionary?  Is the traffic signal red because it is robbing you of precious time and opportunity, or is it red because it is allowing the organized flow of traffic through a busy intersection, thus adding value to your life because of the safety it provides?

"And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."  (2 Kings 6:17 KJV)

A Foot To Guide You

My wife, Heather, has owned her own custom sewing business for over 25 years now.  Watching her hand direct the fabric while the small foot and needle pinpricks their way through the weaves in a preset designed way has never ceased to amaze me.  Observing the machine pull the fabric from the front to the back caused me to think about the fact that God often guides us in much the same way - with a hand and, if necessary, a foot.

The Bible is full of examples where the the hand of the Lord was upon his people guiding them as he led them through "dangers, toils and snares."  Some of our old Hymns even accentuate the power of God's hand.  One of them echoes the words:

Hold to God's unchanging hand.
Hold to God's unchanging hand.
Build your hopes on things eternal.
Hold to God's unchanging hand.

Another rings out:

Jesus hold my hand, I need thee every hour.
Through this pilgram land, protect me by thy saving power...

Now I know God longs to lead us by His hand, but just like my wife's sewing machine, it seems like sometimes His gentle hand is not enough.  Sometimes it seems like instead of leading us by His hand, God needs to give a little "swift kick" with His foot.  I don't mean to bring God down to our level, but it just seems like sometimes human nature demands that He take this approach. 

I know, I know, you may be saying, God is a gentleman and he will never force anyone to do something they do not want to do.  That is true.  However, what I have found in my experience, is that He will first try leading with His hand and if that doesn't work, what seems like His foot will assist in at least getting our attention.

I heard a man say one time, "I had a dog that I loved dear, once bit the hand that fed him.  And out of love my hand gave place, and then my foot, it led him."  I am convinced that our Savior would always rather lead than push, but I am thankful He loves us enough to pull, and even prod, when leading is not working.

"...and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him."  (Matt 9:9 KJV)

The Fingerprints of God

Ask me what I remember about kindergarten and I can answer in one word:  Finger-painting.  The vibrant colors of blue, red, yellow and green are as clear in my memory today as they were over 40 years ago.  I can even remember the fresh smell and texture of the paint and stark white paper we spread down on our desks shortly after changing into our "painting clothes."  I can't specifically recall anything that I painted, but am quite sure whatever it was, it was amazing!  I was the greatest artist on earth as the soft, malleable paint oozed between my fingers and thumb and made its way to the canvas that housed my work for all the world to see (even though my mother, and possibly my grandmother, are probably the only ones who ever really appreciated it). 

It is said that our fingerprints identify us, and just as there are theoretically no two snowflakes alike, no two people have the same fingerprints.  Forensic Science has depended on this fact for over 100 years now.  I would imagine, had my teacher known about Forensic Science then like is known now, she would have surely matched the prints from my paintings to the prints found at various crime scenes within my classroom and I would have lost recess (my other favorite part of kindergarten) for extended periods of time.

I once read a book called, "How To Get Along With Difficult People."  In the book, the author tells his readers that "People aren't difficult.  They're just different."  I must admit that when I read this I thought to myself, "This guy has never met some of the people I have known."  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how right he was.  In most cases, people don't mean to be difficult, however, because we all come from such diverse backgrounds and experiences, what often seems like opposition, is really misunderstanding.  I decided then that I would begin to look for God's signature on people’s lives and have to say that it really helped me to not see every difference in opinion as a challenge and to appreciate people more for who they were instead of who I thought they should be.

Steven Curtis Chapman has written a thought compelling song entitled "The Fingerprints of God."  The lyrics say:

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You’re a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you’re covered with the fingerprints of God

Perhaps if we learned to look for the fingerprints of God on others lives a little bit more, we would better understand the scripture that says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."  (Rom 12:18 NIV)

If The Shoe Fits

When it comes to shoes, I'm sure some of you will remember hearing about Imelda Marcos, wife of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.  She reportedly owned more than 3,000 pairs of shoes (size 8 1⁄2), which were discovered by the opposition forces after her husband's regime was overthrown in 1986. She was hugely criticized worldwide for her extravagances while the country went deeper into debt. In 1987 she famously defended herself by stating, "I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes. I had one thousand and sixty. Most were worn only once or not at all."  As though that justified anything.  I have to admit that with 5 people (now 4) living in my home, it has sometimes seemed like Imedla Marcos all over again.  Please allow me to explain.

The Baldridge family enters our house via the garage and a small utility room entry way.  Because there is a "No Shoes On In The House Rule," shoes get taken off at the door (usually).  That in itself is not a problem and I'm sure you can proably guess where I am going already.  The problem occurs when the shoes are left by the door and never put on a shelf or taken to the owner's bedroom for storage.  Becuase we all wear different shoes for different occassions, a new pair is often worn the next time we go out.  It is only a matter of time before the entry way has amassed a mountain of shoes that have to be stepped over before coming in or leaving the house.  Now my children would proabably debate this, but from all appearances, they were and continue to be the flagrant offenders.  And no matter how often we ask them to not allow their shoes to pile up, nothing seems to change.  I even threatened to start throwing shoes away if anyone allowed more than 5 pairs to accumulate, but it was more wind than sail.

After much frustaration with these "internal affairs" the Lord helped me one day to put this frustration into perspective. I arrived home and after coming in and stumbling over a rather large shoe pile, I was about ready to go balistic (sounds worse than it actually was), when the Lord spoke to me gently, yet firmly and asked, "You do realize these shoes represent the lives of your children.  Would you rather have the shoes or the lives?"  My heart was smitten and I reasured Him I could put up with the shoes.  I thanked Him again for each of my children and since then my blood pressure concerning the shoes has been a lot more under control.

We are told in God's Word that "Love is patient..." God often nudges and promps us to change habits that will help us draw closer to Him.  Maybe there are 'shoe piles" in your life that the Lord would love for you to clean up.  He loves you either way, but would be pleased if you would make the effort to do something about what is there.  Why not start today?