The Empty Heart

I heard a story once about a professor who began his philosophy class by asking his class a question. He pulled a large, empty jar out and set it on the desk.

"Is this full?" he asked.

"No," the class replied.

The professor then put in some rocks, right up to the rim, and asked, "How about now?"

"Yes. It s full."

Then the professor poured some sand into the jar, right to the top.

"There. Now it's full, right?"

"Yep," they answered. 

Then, he took a pitcher and added water to the jar.

"I guess it wasn't really full, was it?"

Each time the class thought the jar was full, they were proved wrong.

The question for today is, is your heart full? Maybe you will answer 'no'. There are many people whose hearts are not as full as they could be. Many more have empty hearts but they only THINK they are full.

Maybe 'yes' will be the answer. That's good. But what is your heart filled with? Does it contain any rocks or sand? Do you have any bad feelings about someone? Does it contain worry, strife, anxiety, pride?

Jesus can remove all of that bad stuff that fills our hearts and can replace it with pure, life-giving water.

“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” - John 4:10

So I guess the big question is, "Is your heart full of living water? Pure, uncontaminated, life-giving water? If not, ask Jesus to fill it. He has an endless supply and He offers it freely. Drink deep!

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." - Matthew 5:6

May God bless you today. May your heart be full. Who knows. Perhaps god will use your overflowing heart to fill the empty hearts of those around you. Drink deep!

"My cup runneth over." - Psalm 23:5

Shine The Light

Notice anything unusual about his picture? Stare at it for a while. Let your thoughts drift away from the tv screen and let a story spark in your mind. What do you see?

The flower could be the last evidence of someone suddenly changed. Someone picked the flower for some reason, but then dropped it, for another reason.

Notice how bright the white pedals are when contrasted with the surrounding darkness. A tragic ending to a sad, dark story? Or it could be a sign of life and hope in a depressing landscape of loneliness. It all depends upon your point of view, doesn't it?

To me, this is a symbol of life and hope, surrounded by loneliness and death.

"In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome a it." - John 1:4-5

Have you ever seen Clint Eastwood's movie Alcatraz? One of the prisoners liked to grow flowers and had snuck a blossom similar to this one into the lunch room. The warden saw it, came over and picked up the flower. Then he crushed it in front of the prisoner who grew it. The prisoner became so furious his blood pressure skyrocketed. He lunged at the warden, had a heart attack, and died.

The world we live in can be filled with darkness. Jesus shines His love into this world through those who follow Him. Are you a follower? Is your light shining brightly?

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16

Consider this picture without the flower in it. It's not very appealing is it. The flower MAKES the picture. You are that flower in this dark world. Brighten someone's day today by showing them the love of Christ.

The Parable of The Clorox Wipes

Why are these things so popular right now? I'll tell you why. It's because they kill germs and everyone is a germaphobe these days. And with good reason!

When the corona virus pandemic first started to show it's ugly face around here, people started hording personal hygiene products like toilet paper and . . . Clorox wipes.

My wife ran out, so did our daughter-in-law - both of them clean freaks, or so they tell me. My wife looked in every store she went to, trying to find those darned wipes and nobody had them.

Soon, the bathroom smelled of a new odor - a substitute concoction some Facebook Susie-homemaker came up with. Nasty smelling stuff. I'm not sure it killed any germs but it probably made them leave town due to the smell.

Each time my wife and I go shopping she always checks for her hard-to-find wipes. Each time she has been denied. Until last weekend that is.

We were at our local hardware / farm / hunting / garden store last week. My wife went to check for her wipes. The shelves were bare. She hung her head and slumped her shoulders in disappointment. "When are you going to get more of these wipes?" she asked a nearby clerk.

She wasn't really expecting an answer. It was more of a frustrated, rhetorical question. But the clerk replied, "Just a minute. I'll check in the back." She disappeared but soon she returned with a single container of Clorox disinfectant wipes - tucked under her work vest. She gave the wipes to my wife.

It might as well have been Christmas because my wife's face lit up like a Christmas tree! Her day was totally made. Day? Her MONTH was made! She was SO excited to finally have some or her long sought after wipes! Then she did something that caught my attention, and the attention of the Lord God Almighty I should think. She gave them away.

While our daughter still had some, our daughter-in-law was out. A meeting was arranged, the transfer was made, and it was Christmas time all over again. Only in someone else's eyes.

That single act of selflessness impressed the heck out of me. What an amazing thing to do. Despite having searched for those stupid wipes for over a month, when she finally found what she was looking for, my wife gave them away to someone who needed them more.

That's exactly what we are supposed to do with the Gospel. We are not to keep such wonderfulness to ourselves. We are commanded to share it with everyone we meet.

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, (her lack of wipes) put in everything—all she had to live on.” - Mark 12:41-44

The people who hoarded all of the personal hygiene supplies did so for their own good. They were being extremely selfish during a difficult time for everyone, leaving mothers, and those REALLY in need of these items, without.

But not my wife. She did what was right in the eyes of The Lord. And I was very proud of her for doing so.

Why?

Joelle 2010

Why is my heart so heavy? Why do I lie awake at night seeking answers to unanswerable questions? Asking "Why?" seems to be part of who I am. Why? Well, there IS a reason.

The answer to THIS unanswerable question is found in two places - the Gospel of Matthew and in a tree. Yes, a tree.

First, from Matthew . . .

"The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me." - Matthew 26:11

Why would Jesus tell His disciples that the poor would always be with them? An unanswerable question? Perhaps. Let's learn something about trees before we answer that question.

Did you know that trees need to struggle in order to help them grow? It's true. Wind blowing against a tree causes it to produce some tougher, "structural" wood that helps it stand up against external forces.

The University of Arizona created and enclosed bionic environment to study plant growth. They had trees in their special enclosure but the trees never reached maturity. They fell over because they structurally could not hold themselves up. They collapsed under their own weight. They needed a struggle in order to grow strong.

Back to the poor in Jesus' statement. "The poor you will always have with you," Jesus said. Why? Here's another question we must answer first. Was Jesus talking about the financially poor? Or the spiritually poor. I think it was the latter.

Basically, what Jesus was saying is "The poor in spirit you will always have with you." There will always be a need for people to come to faith in Christ. Why? So that WE can grow!

Are you a child of God? If you are then you are the person God wants to use to speak to others about Jesus. Is there someone in your life right now who is spiritually poor? Is someone experiencing a storm right now and encountering high winds? Are they in danger of collapsing?

Jesus is the answer to all of the questions the world is screaming for answers to. We know what the answer is. OUR "why" question from Jesus is "Why aren't you telling people about me?"

Oh, the kid in the picture. Her name is Joelle. She is the sister of Chere, the 20-year old kid I told you about last week who was murdered. Joelle is experiencing a storm in her life right now. She has been missing for five days. Please pray for this young soul, that God would place a Christ follower into her life. That she would come to know Christ - our strength and our hope.

Joelle present day

Only Jesus - Casting Crowns
The Role Of Wind In A Tree's Life

The True Gift

It has been said that "giving is better than receiving". Try telling that to a small child with a bag of candy sometime and see how far you get. But the saying IS true. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart.

Last week I was up north. WAY up north in Minnesota der hey. I was visiting a few friends and was reminded that giving truly IS better than receiving.

Do you have a gift? Something you are good at? We all have something like that. The question is, do we share it? Do we use our gifts to serve others?

I have a friend who sews. She has a sewing machine and makes many of her own clothes. But what really makes her happy is using that gift to help others out. She alters wedding dresses and prom dresses for others who can't afford it. She makes quilts for those who have none. And she is blessed by it. It makes her feel good.

Sometimes gifts are less tangible. Like the gift of our time. Have you donated some of your time towards making someone else's life a little better? The Bible is pretty clear about what God wants us to do with our gifts.

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." - 1 Peter 4:10

As you go through your day, keep in mind the sharing of YOUR gifts. Use them whenever you can. Visit someone, bake some cookies and deliver them to a shut-in, make some chicken soup and take it to a friend who is sick.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us." - Romans 12:6

Develop Your Gifts And Talents To Glorify Go

The Parable of The Basketball Coach

(Photo by Curt Mills)

My brother-in-law Curt takes some amazing photos. He has told me his favorite pics are the ones that actually tell a story all by themselves. Like this one. This is one of those amazing photographs and I'll tell you why.

First, I'd like you to take a look at this picture and tell me what YOU see. Do you see as many things as I do? Can you figure out what's going on?

Besides the obvious clues that the picture presents there is also something else going on.

A parable. Or perhaps even two!

These are the things I noticed:

1. The coach is teaching. He's telling the girls how to play basketball.
2. Maybe someone wasn't doing something right. He could be correcting them.
3. The coach could also be encouraging his players Why do I think that? Look at his wife (hand on back). She is supporting her husband. Or maybe the kids are just too darn cute.
4. The little girl in the pink shirt. She's not on the team but wishes she was. My guess is that the coach is her dad but I have no way of knowing.
5. Look at the team. They are all listening to their coach. They want to do exactly what he says, otherwise see #2 above.
6. All the girls on the team are different shapes and sizes. They have differing hair color and each one is numbered to set them apart from one another.
7. Look at the people in the background. Two are oblivious to what is going on but look at the two people in the middle. They are watching the coach and the girls.

And now for the parable(s) because there ARE two of them here. First the coach is someone we can view as spreading the Gospel. He knows it! The people he is telling it to are interested in hearing it. Even the little girl. HIs wife is supporting him. Why? Because she knows it too. Her husband would be supporting her if their roles were reversed. And people observing this spreading of the Gospel seem interested in it as well. But not all of them.

The second story I see in this picture is that of Jesus and His disciples. Jesus speaks and they listen. Not everyone who hears the Gospel will accept it. It's possible that several of these girls will not listen to what their coach says, If that is the case, the team will not do well. And what if the people in the background were Roman soldiers or the Pharisees? Things will not go well because of that.

So that is my story to go along with the picture. It's a good reminder of what we should be doing in our daily lives. Share the Gospel with others. Don't worry about converting someone or "saving" someone. That's not our job. We are to be seed planters. That's it. God's Holy Spirit will do the rest. It is God that softens heart, not us. But we can train up a child, we can spread the good news and we can make disciples. May each of us be the coach in this picture. That is our command, given to us by God.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6

"19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:19-20

Naked and Afraid

Everybody does it from time to time. Maybe it will be your turn today. Hanging out with your friends, hiding behind a fragile curtain, and hoping nobody notices.

There is a television show called "Naked and Afraid." I've never watched it but the title of the show says quite a bit about us humans.

We like to put on a brave face. We don't want other people to know our pain. In reality though we go through life collecting scars. Sometimes the scars are visible but most of the time they simply can't be seen. And we often go to great lengths to keep those scars concealed. Rarely do we open ourselves up to others but that's exactly what we should do.

This past Saturday I was at our local food pantry. The volunteer work I do there allows me to interact with everybody who comes the place. I love it. God always seems to provide something or someone worthy of remembrance on any particular day. Saturday was no exception.

This month it was a grandmother - the mom of a mom. A friend for ten years. When I asked her how she was doing I received a smile. In most cases, this is the typical response for a human who is hurting but desires to keep it quiet. However I KNEW this person and I could ell something was not quite right, so I continued to press a bit and the curtain came down. Why? Because she trusted me.

I heard a story of her daughter, a mom with three kids, who has had a rough life. The dad in the family left her daughter and grandkids all alone. The layers of camouflage gradually fell away until my friend was effectively, emotionally, naked and afraid.

How many of the people that we meet each day actually carry pain and struggles like my friend's? More than we think, I think.

The Bible tells us that sharing one another's burdens is something that we should do (Gal 6:2). God knows that pain is something that should be treated. Even prevented. But we always try to handle things on our own - often for the rest of our lives. It's a pride issue. Leaving that pain untreated, the burden left un-shared, can cause other problems down the road.

We ourselves need to come before the Lord naked and afraid. We must remove our barriers in our prayers and reveal the pain we have in OUR lives. Jesus wants to share them, even remove them. But we must trust and not be afraid. We must open up our hearts to Jesus.

Before my friend left the food pantry that day I prayed with her. After I said Amen and opened my eyes, I watched as my friend wiped away her tears and looked up at me and said, "Thank you."

Chances are we will meet someone today who is hurting like my friend was. Will we take the time to find out what's wrong and to pray? And will that person be willing to open up and share? God knows.

Which ever role we play today - the person sharing or the person caring - let us do so boldly and unashamed. We might just find a life-ling friend. We might actually save someone's life without even knowing it. And we will for sure make God smile.

"9 Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:

10 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Open Up Your Heart - Out of Eden

The Parable of The Christmas Cookies

Each year about this time my wife begins baking cookies. My wife has developed quite a following of grateful people who enjoy receiving her sugary treats.

Some of those blessed recipients are the employees of the company where I used to work. Each year they always looked forward to the day my wife sent a big platter of her cookies in with me. Bev's cookie day is always a wonderful day for them.

When I retired earlier this year one of my co-workers came up to me with a sad face and said, "We're really going to miss you . . . and your wife's cookies." I got the feeling they were going to miss my wife's cookies more than me! Then they told me that I was only allowed to retire if I promised to keep bringing Bev's cookies in each year, despite my no longer working there. I agreed. I love making people smile.

My wife is a lot like The Little Drummer Boy Christmas song. She has a gift - baking - and she shares it with others. What a blessing!

This Christmas, I wonder what I could do? What gift do I have that I could share with others? I can't bake. I can't make too many things. I write stories though. I wrote one in my Christmas letter this year. I'll post that in a few days. But what else could I do? What can I share?

My heart.

I love my friends at work. So I told them that by visiting them, talking with them and giving out some Christmas hugs. It didn't cost anything yet it made people smile. Showing someone you love them is one of those gifts that keeps on giving. It's like a love chain. Like a strand of lights on the Christmas tree.

Be a light in someone's life this Christmas.

14“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16

Little Drummer Boy - For King and Country
Light of The World - Lauren Daigle

Beneath The Surface

To the world around us we appear happy. It can seem to others that everything is fine and dandy in our lives, but beneath the surface, hidden just out of sight, things are way different than most people think.

To the untrained eye the picture we see of others can look rather peaceful. Perhaps there is even a smile or an "I'm okay" that convinces us that things are fine, when in fact they are not.

Why do we try to hide our feelings from others? Are we embarrassed that someone might see us crying or "unstable" in some way? We always want to make a good impression, as if there's nothing wrong. Why do we do that?

Some of my deepest and most honest relationships are with people who have made themselves vulnerable, rather than put on a false face and lied about how they are feeling. The best relationships are honest ones - ones where there is trust, not deceit.

In our relationship with Jesus, are we being honest? Or do we try to pretend everything is alright? And how do we act in church? Do we try to smile despite the pain inside. Or do we open up and share our burdens with each other? What does God want us to do?

^"2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself." - Galatians 6:2-3

It is easy to share the burdens of someone we love, but what about the unlovable? Is our desire to help THEM as strong as it should be?

There is a lot of tension in our nation right now. Either you're for Trump or you're against him. And that's okay. We all have our own opinions. But do we pray for those who oppose us and our beliefs?

"44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Matthew 5:44-48

May we be honest about our feelings. May we be transparent. May we not hide our pain for fear of being hurt or embarrassed. Rather, let us be vulnerable and give someone the opportunity to love us like Jesus loves us. In doing so we will be fulfilling God's law, spoken to us by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus humbled Himself. Why won't we?

Beneath The Surface - Dream Theater

The Co-Op

Back in 2014 my friend Gayle had an idea. It was based on something the Cloe character came up with in the Left Behind series of novels. A Co-Op. A cooperative where people would barter and trade, give and receive, without the use of money. It's not really a NEW idea. It's in the Bible.

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." - Acts 2:42-47

My friend's idea has conjoined with my idea for a tiny home village into an actual company called Wee Build. Wee Build is more than a company though. It's an idea. Sharing the gifts that God has given us with others in our community. We do these things not to make us rich or to gain fame. We do ALL of this in the name of Jesus. God gets the glory. We get blessed. Everyone benefits.

You can do the same thing right there where you are! What are YOU good at? What are some of the things you can do? My friend Gayle was once a professional seamstress - making costumes for the actors at Busch Gardens. She now teaches others to sew and to make their own clothes. What can YOU do?

A friend of mine had a need for some house plans. That's something I can do! So I am drawing him a house . . . for free. They gave to anyone who had need. And guess what? My friend gave back to me. He gave me food to eat. He gave me the use of this home when it gets done. That's how the Wee Build concept works.

Is there a need in YOUR community for something like Wee Build? There is always a need for love and compassion for one another. Do something for someone today without thought of receiving payment. You will be blessed in so many ways. And whatever you do, do it in the name of Christ. You will truly be blessed beyond measure.

What's A Worker's Cooperative?

Beneath The Surface

I have heard it said that nine tenths of an iceberg is actually hidden beneath the surface. From what I have observed in life, the same thing can be said for us humans as well.

Life is full of "situations" and "drama", lessons learned and things best forgotten. What we must do is remember one thing. Just like the iceberg, God has given US the ability to "float" as well.

Reality check - ice is heavy. So why doesn't it sink? It is its nature to float. Ice simply cannot sink. Why? Because that's the way God made it. He designed it that way.

We humans are slightly different.  Although we desire to float above life's struggles, our heads above water, sometimes we feel like we're going to sink. And sadly, sometimes we do.

Did you know it is actually easier to float in salt water than fresh water? I should have taken swimming lessons in the ocean rather the ole swimmin' hole. I would have had a better shot at learning.

We all have things hidden under the surface. They can weigh us down tremendously. We have  the desire to float - our heads raised above the surface of it all - but how do we do that?

I think God had our survival in mind when He gave us earthly friends to talk to. God places people in our lives to support os and encourage us . . . to help us keep our heads above water. Do you have friends that do that for you? I do. They are a gift from God! Treasure them. Cherish them. God has given them to you! Why? Because He loves you!

God wishes that none of us would perish (2 Peter 3:9). He has made it possible for us to have eternal life with Him (John 3:16). All we have to do is surrender our hearts and will to Him and we will float higher than any iceberg ever could.

Seek out your trusted friends when it feels like you're going to sink. That's why they are there! God has given them to you. Use them. Lean on them! When we're drowning, don't we always reach out in some way?

"9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." - Ecclesiastes 5:9-12

God has created us, in His love, to be in relationship with Him. AND to be in relationship FOR Him. We all have scars, we all are just glued together pieces, many of which are beneath the surface. Let us go to God with our broken pieces and let us let Him make us whole once again.

Pieces - Red

Abraham

I will not miss too many things about my morning commute when I retire. Driving into the sun for example. That, coupled with deer herd movement in spring and fall, can make for an interesting drive to the salt mine. The only thing I WILL miss while driving through the early morning darkness is my friend Chuck.

I listen to Christian radio, both to and from work. Chuck Swindoll preaches each morning from 5:00 - 5:30 AM. Many of the stories in this blog have been inspired by his messages. Like this one for example.

Chuck just ended a message series on Abraham. His last message about this man of faith contained four things to remember in our relationship with God. Here they are.

• Where God leads, follow.
• When God promises, believe.
• When we experience doubt, trust.
• When God blesses, share.

For the past few weeks I had been experiencing doubt in a particular ministry in my life. Should I continue in it? Is it something God wants me to do? Should I leave the ministry all together or simply wait for things to get better?

I think we Christians all want to follow wherever God leads, but what if we're unsure? What is we doubt? That's when we pray. That's when we must trust.

Hearing Chuck's message this week was a good reminder. Ultimately I decided to continue on in the ministry, trusting that it is what God wanted. A handful of days later I was blessed by meeting with two members of the same ministry. I left that meeting feeling renewed and refreshed, confident that we are walking in God's will.

Is there something in YOUR life that you are experiencing doubt about? Are you having trouble trusting God with something? Are you reading God's Word? Are you praying? Have you sought the advice of other Godly believers?

Believe, follow, trust and share. Good advice from my friend Chuck and from the example of Abraham.

The Sacrifice of Isaac

Bear The Burden

I didn't realize it at the time this picture was taken but my friends and I just got done living out a biblical command. Can you guess which one it was?

As many of you know I am building a tiny home. I say I am building it but it's really more than just me. Many people have join the work crew to assemble this house for the homeless.

A week ago this past Wednesday, my friends and I put up the last wall of God's tiny home. The wall was more than I could lift all by myself. I estimate the wall weighed about 240 pounds. That's a lot of weight to maneuver around a job site but with three other guys my 240 pound load was suddenly only 60 pounds.

"² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2 

The Bible tells us to carry one another's burden. Basically, we are called to walk with someone for a short time who is undergoing a stressful situation or a trial of some kind. Maybe we listen to someone complain about their work schedule or pray with someone who is struggling. There are many people and circumstances in this world seeking burden bearers.

Some say, I don't want to get involved or I don't have time to do that. We send them a text telling them it will be alright or we will pray for them. That's no burden for us to do that and therefore not much good in the eyes of God.

Look at the example of these men. They gave up two hours of their day and probably drove 25-30 minutes to get to my house (both ways). They physically helped me bear MY burden - the wall.

Maybe it's a late-night call from a friend or taking someone Christmas shipping who has no car. Or maybe it's visiting someone in the hospital on a cold, snowy day. The point is if we don't help bear the burden, if it does not become a burden to us, it is no good to anybody.

I listened to Tim Keller the other night who drove home this point in a talk about Galatians 6. It made me think about "my preferences" vs "people's needs" and changed my way of looking at things.

This Christmas is the perfect time to bear one another's burdens. Become a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army. Bake someone some cookies and deliver them. Shovel someone's sidewalk for them. Take someone who's lonely out to dinner. Let's do some weight lifting!! It's a perfect "weigh" to show someone the love of Christ - who bore OUR burdens . . . on the cross. A burden we could not bear by ourselves.

Love someone today like Christ loves us. If we do, we will find it's not really the burden we thought it was, because Jesus is lifting with us.

Golden Slumbers - Carry That Weight - The End - The Beatles
Boasting In Nothing Except The Cross - Tim Keller

The Swamp

When I was a kid on our farm in Michigan I spent a lot of time in "The Swamp". I'd go down to the swamp and catch frogs, turtles, snakes or anything else that moved. The swamp is where I had my fun. This story is not about THAT swamp.

Sadly, these days "The Swamp" is in Washington D.C. The snakes that live there get THEIR fun out of spending other people's money and making rules and laws that they usually don't obey themselves.

Our latest president won the election based on a word picture that resonated with many American voters. He said he wanted to "drain the swamp". Most Americans would like nothing more than to start over and recall ALL of our senators and congressmen and women from Washington and begin anew. Nothing seems to be getting done.

Our government throws our money at all kinds of ridiculous things.

I saw a video this week about a guy who decided to build some houses for all of the homeless people living in Hollywood. And there are a lot of homeless there! Things were going well with the project. Houses were getting built, people were loving that they had a roof over their heads.

Then the government got involved. They removed their tiny homes and destroyed them. One would think that if someone like the guy building the Tiny Homes wants to build them and give them to people, they would let him. But no.

LA Musician Builds Tiny Homes For The Homeless

Our government spends money on the stupidest things. They spend OUR money watching birds, vacation for people placed on administrative leave, or solar beer. Here's a Top Ten List.

Top Ten Most Ridiculous Government Programs

The model I like for helping others is found in The Book of Acts. If there was a need the members of the church took care of it.

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." - Acts 2 42-47

I'm not saying the church should pay for every government program. I'm saying that when there is a need it should be taken care of, or at least allow people to meet that need if they want to.

Is there someone in YOUR life who has a need? I'll bet there is. When you encounter someone in need, what would YOU do? Think about that. What would God have YOU do?
 
Helping Others

Presents

This is traditionally the time of year when our hopes and dreams turn to thoughts about . . . Christmas
presents! The exchanging of gifts, or for the children of the world, the receiving of gifts, creates excitement in the hearts and minds of all of us, all around the world. It is an incredible time of the year.

As we grow older and wiser, the excitement of receiving gifts begins to wane and our focus tends to be more on the giving of gifts than on the receiving of them. We begin to find more joy in making someone else happy, someone other than ourselves. That's a good thing. The funny thing is, when we focus more on the giving of gifts, it often seems like we actually receive MORE gifts for ourselves. And the value of those gifts goes right through the roof. Let me explain by way of an example.

This past Saturday I volunteered at one of our local food pantries - Ruby's Pantry. I have been doing that for a few years now. I have gotten to know many of the other volunteers as well as many of the people going through the lines. They are all amazing people, all of them. Well, I received several "gifts" the other day and I KNOW that God gave me each and every one of them. And the value of those gifts was priceless.

I usually get to the food pantry around 7:00 in the morning to pre-register people. There are usually several dozen people waiting in line by the time I get there - some of them have been there for hours in the sub-freezing temps. I am usually the first person they see from Ruby's. That fact alone should send many of our guests running and screaming but they actually seem to like me. It's probably the candy I give them.

As I was about half way through the line a car pulled up and three adults got out. They were wearing leather jackets, bandanas, and some of those gloves with no fingertips in them. All three looked rather "bikerish." I began talking to this one young man. His name was Chris. The guy was probably in his late 20's - early 30's, divorced, four kids. He said he had gone through a bad stretch in his life but "this last month has been amazing!"

He got a new job in town which he loves. He really likes his boss and things are finally looking good in his life again. And guess what. He attributes it all to God. We became fast friends. Later, as we were loading his food into his car for him, he thanked me once again. This guy thanked everybody! He was SO appreciative! Then he stuck out his hand to shake mine. I ignored it and gave him a hug, which he accepted with thanks. He climbed into his car with his friends, thanking us once again as he did so. That young man made everyone feel incredible. Chris was truly a gift from God, for all of us.

Later, I met a lady who had nearly completed her trip through the food line. She was just leaning on her shopping cart, staring at nothing as she waited patiently. I walked up to her and, placing my hand on her shoulder, asked if there was anything I could pray for. She immediately began to cry saying. That's when I learned that her husband had just left her and her girls.

I motioned for my friend John to come over and told him "This lady needs a hug from John" which he freely gave. "I almost made it all the way though without crying until this guy came along," she said, pointing to me. Her name is Kate. Kate received a gift she really needed. Love. She was loved on by two of the ugliest guys you'd ever want to meet, but she was loved. Something she desperately needed, right when she needed it.

Everyone who goes through the line at Ruby's Pantry has a story. Some are amazing stories of resurrection like Chris. Others are the tales of incredible lows like Kate whose husband abandoned her family just one week before Christmas. But everyone, EVERYONE, leaves that place being fed . . in more ways than one. Everyone leaves there feeling loved.

I was talking with a friend of mine that day, another volunteer at Ruby's, who told me that her sister suffers from depression. "You know what I tell her to do? Volunteer!! Help someone else out!" Volunteering is truly the cheapest psychiatrist money can, or should I say "can't," buy. Because love and being loved is truly priceless. Oh, and my new friend and brother, Chris . . . he wants to come back next month . . . to volunteer. I look forward to that day. :)

"42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." - Acts 2:42-47

 Here's something you don't see everyday. A celebrity giving his time and money to help others. The late Paul Walker . . . volunteering.

"3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." - Philippians 2:3-4