Need Encouragement?

We all need encouragement from time to time. It's what keeps us going. When we begin to doubt ourselves and what we're doing, encouragement is the glue that holds our dreams together. God is the master encourager. It seems He always encourages us just when we need it the most.

I was supposed to be teaching disc golf classes this summer. In a few weeks actually. It was to be part of the summer school program in our area. But then everything got put on hold with the Covid-19 disruption.

When stuff like that happens I often will stop and ask God if I am on the right path. I really want to be doing the things that He wants me to do. But then I doubt. Should I go on? Or should I put all of my plans on hold.

I was thinking all those things recently. I was told by those in charge that "we'd talk again in the fall" but you know how that goes. "What was your name again?" So I was kind of sad. I thought I had everything figured out. And then it stopped.

Well, yesterday I was doing some volunteer work at the disc golf course - emptying trash, raking leaves - when I came upon a mom and her daughter. "That's cool," I thought.

The mom said she was teaching her daughter how to throw. Funny. That's what I wanted to do.

"I was going to teach kids how to play disc golf too," I said. "But the classes got postponed due to the virus."

We talked a little more about the postponed classes, about kids in general, the virus, etc. And then the mom said something that got my attention.

"I run the rec classes for the middle school in Wautoma. You should come teach a class!"

Do you see God working yet?

Names and numbers were exchanged, hopes were raised and I was encouraged. As I thought about the "chance" meeting later, I smiled. What are the chances of two people meeting like that with such unique yet similar interests? One who teaches disc golf and one who was looking for someone to teach a class.

But that's how God works. When we least expect it, God will send some encouragement our way IF you are doing something that HE wants you to do. Have YOU ever been encouraged like that?

We Christians talk a lot about God opening and closing doors. My encounter yesterday was more like God kicking me in the pants and encouraging me to keep going. How has God encouraged YOU lately? Have you thanked Him for it? Or just chalked it up to being an amazing coincidence?

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:31

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust God First - Dallas Theological Seminary

Who Wants To Live Forever?

I have a difficult question for you this morning. If you found out you were immortal and you would live forever but the love of your life could not, would you still want to?

That is indeed a difficult question but Conner MacLeod had to face that very situation in the 1986 movie The Highlander.

If we were faced with that situation what would we do? MacLeod loved his wife to the very end. He never left her side. Only till death did they part.

For those of us who believe in Jesus Christ, we might as well be named MacLeod because our lot is the same as his.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

Blessed are those who are equally yoked with their spouses . . . who both believe in Jesus Christ. They truly will live forever, together. But woe to those who are unequally yoked. Their unsaved spouses will perish. But the believing spouse, "though they die, yet shall they live." (John 11:25)

Are we prepared for that? Are we prepared to see loved ones perish in their unbelief? We had better be because, sadly, that's what is going to happen.

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14

But think about this: Jesus (the immortal bridegroom) died for the love of His life (His immortal Father) so that we, God's believing creation (the bridegroom) might have eternal life.

How blessed are we that Jesus would die for us so that God could be with us, forever.

Who Wants To Live Forever - Queen

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.

The No-Bug Hug

Today, hugs are hard to come by. But that's okay. I have a plan. It could become a movement actually. However, it would require rebelling against society and governments and all the naysayers across the globe. Who's with me?

Here's the deal. We all have close friends and relatives. We all miss them. And we trust them to tell us the truth, right? Well, the next time you see them ask them these three questions.

1. Do you have "the bug?"
2. Have you recently been with someone who has "the bug?"

And if the answers to both those first two questions is no, ask them this third question.

3. Want a hug?

I am willing to bet that if we make it to question #3, we will ALL receive hugs and we will for sure feel a whole lot better about all this covid craziness going around.

BUT most of our governors want us locked up in our homes, afraid to go out. Shouldn't we obey them? They're the government after all.

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves. " - Romans 13:1-2

Well, that's pretty clear. Or is it? What if the "authorities" overstep their legal authority? Do we still obey them? Even if what they are doing is contrary to the written law and/or God's will?

God commands us to "love one another". What does that love look like when someone could really use a hug? Do we say, "Not today," and just walk away?

"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?" - Matthew 7:9

I've had two friends commit suicide in my life. I've lost others to cancer, drunk drivers, drug overdoses. My threshold for disobedience is low when it comes to showing love and compassion for others.

I hang my hat, and this story, on one verse from Jesus. When He was speaking with His disciples about loving God and loving others, He said this about those commands - the Greatest Command. It's pivotal.

"All the law and the prophets hang on God's command" to love. If that is true, and it is, then love supersedes law. Love is the BASIS for law. See Matthew 22:40

We have to be smart. We have to use our heads. But we also have to be compassionate and loving. If someone we know and love is in trouble, mentally or emotionally, will we "give them a stone?" No.

We will give them a hug.

The Blessed Hope

This is the view I have as I write most of my stories - seated at our dining room table. Today I see a sign of hope. Can YOU see it?

There are many signs of spring we can observe. Robins returning to nest, sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds, daffodils coming up. But one sign for me is the appearance of our hummingbird feeder.

Too many times I have waited too long to put it up. Then I hear that buzzing of hummingbird wings and I know I have failed my little feathered friends.

One summer I failed so miserably that the hummingbird come to the sport where his feeder normally hung, hovered there for a bit, gave me a disgusting look, and flew off.

This year I am ready. I am hopeful. I don't want to disappoint. And I won't because the feeder is hung in anticipation of an arrival long waited for.

Oh, my precious Lord, Jesus. How we long for Your return as well. The signs are all around us that the time is near. We need to be ready because it will happen in an instant - the twinkling of an eye. And then, for those who are NOT ready, it will be too late.

When I was a child, staying with my grandpa and grandma, I remembering watching out the window towards the two-mile corner for my mom and dad's car. It was night time so I would watch the headlights of the oncoming cars, hoping they would turn into the driveway. Many didn't but I KNEW that soon one set of lights would slow and turn and I would be off running to greet them.

I wait every day. I pray every day. My thoughts and hopes turn skyward. And I am longing for His glorious light to appear. Our blessed hope.

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." - Titus 2:11-14

Waiting . . .

Workin' For A Livin'

Do you have a job? Have you been designated as "essential" by our government? During the week of April 19-25, nearly 30 million Americans filed for unemployment. So what do we do if we find ourselves without a job? How do we put food on the table?

It's interesting the types of jobs deemed "essential" in our country. Garbage collectors are "essential" while religious services are not. You can't cut peoples hair but you can perform an abortion. What do we do if we've lost our job and nobody's hiring?

The Bible is pretty clear about how things "worked" 2,000 years ago. You don't work, you don't eat.

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." - 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13

These days we have unemployment compensation, social security, disability income. But what would we, or could we, do to earn some cash if all we had was our abilities or our physical strength?

Interesting question. I look at myself and wonder what it is that I, on my own, could do to buy food and to pay my taxes? Answers are few and as hard to come by as a job.

I write stories but no one would pay money to read them. I could mow somebody's lawn I guess but I live five miles out of town. I could hunt and fish to put food in my belly but how do I get actual cash?

Think about it. How would we actually survive? The Bible tells us what to do. Or what NOT to do.

"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:31-34

We read that and say, "Yeah, that's nice but I need to eat. My baby needs diapers." No! Read those verses again. The first sentence is a command by Jesus telling us "do not worry!" He actually says it twice.

Yeah, but.

NO! God will provide!! What we are lacking is patience, not a job. We lack faith, not food. That's a hard thing to stomach right now but it's true. Yes, look for a job. And look with open eyes. Well, there is a farmer down then road. He's hiring. Maybe he needs someone to drive the tractor. Look around!

A friend of mine lost her job. What is she doing? Making masks for people. Another friend of mine was looking for some puzzles. She also was out of work - a waitress. I took her some puzzles. She gave me some strawberry jam. God will provide. "O, ye of little faith."

PRAY!!

Workin' For A Livin' - Huey Lewis and Garth Brooks

Madness!

When I was growing up I remember watching the 1957 movie The Bridge on The River Kwai. Despite its length, there were a few scenes I remember quit vividly. The English prisoners whistling that song, Sir Alec Guinness falling and exploding the very bridge he built. Then, at the very end there was one prisoner who spoke a word, twice. It summed up the entire movie.

"Madness! Madness!"

But probably the most telling line came from the star of the movie, Alec Guinness. When he realized that he had, in his stubborn English pride, actually aided and abetted the enemy, he uttered these words . . .

"What have I done?"

In the Biblical story of The Rich Man and Lazarus there is a similar moment for the rich man, when he realizes the error of his ways. Unfortunately it was after his death. He pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus to him to give him some water, and to raise Lazarus from the dead that he might warn his brothers. Notice how the rich man thought of himself first? Then his brother?

Abraham replies to the rich man with words that we all should heed today because they were very prophetic in nature. Remember, it was Jesus that was telling this story.

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he (the rich man) said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

And then this . . .

31 “He (Abraham) said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” - Luke 16:30-31

Oh, my. Jesus rose from the dead. And still people don't listen to Him.

Have we truly repented from our sins? Is there some moment from our past that we need to repent of today? We do NOT want to be having an Alec Guinness moment in hell when we ask ourselves, "What have I done?"

The Rich Man and Lazarus
The Bridge On The River Kwia Ending

In The Living Years

The world is going a little nuts right now. People are panicking over things they cannot see. Self-preservation is paramount in everyone's mind. We just want to live through this, right? Right! But we're forgetting something.

I've had this song in my head for the past few days -  In The Living Years by Mike and The Mechanics. It's about a failed relationship between a father and his son. Strained, awkward, insufficient, but then the father dies and there is no longer an opportunity for reconciliation. The son regrets that fact.

How sad. If the son could have only reconciled the relationship with his father . . . in the living years.

We are so busy right now, thinking and doing things to avoid this virus that has changed our lives in so many ways. All that's good I guess but many of us are forgetting the most important thing we should be doing right now - restoring our lost relationship with God, The Father.

As the song says, "It's too late when we die."

I came across this parable in my reading yesterday so I think I'll just leave it here and see if you can't understand its meaning. Let those who have ears, let them hear.

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." - Matthew 25:1-13

This parable was told to us by Jesus. Why? It was His way of warning us to reconcile our relationship with God before He returns. When the doors of the wedding feast are closed it will be too late. Reconcile with God today. And please, do so . . . in the living years. His return is close.

In The Living Years - Mike and The Mechanics

Missing You

I have a prediction. When all of these "safer at home" restrictions finally end, there's gonna be a WHOLE lotta huggin' goin' on.

The one thing we have missed the most during this time of isolation and quarantine has been our personal relationships.

We all have friends and family members who we love and miss. Maybe we've even snuck out and visited some of them - from a distance of course. It's going to be crazy when we finally get the "all clear" and we can restore our relationships to the way they were meant to be - close, personal and loving.

Restoring relationships is one of the best God-honoring things we can do as humans.

There is one relationship we can restore right now. We don't have to wait for any kind of permission slip or signal from the government. We can do it right now! Right there where you are. It's our relationship with God.

Our sins are what separates us from God. Just ask Adam and Eve. They ate some fruit, they got quarantined from God and the rest is history. But God has given us a way of restoring our relationship with Him. Repenting of our sins and believing in His Son, Jesus.

Will our ultimate reunion with God be like the photo above? I kinda think it will be. It can be. All it takes is for us to humble ourselves and repent.

Father, I'm sorry. I know I have sinned against you. I've done things I shouldn't have done. I apologize. I can't seem to help myself. I realize now that I need your help. I need your forgiveness. I need You. I have known all along really that you are who the Bible says you are. I need You. Can You forgive me?

Praying a prayer like that or even coming to that realization in our hearts is all it takes. And, just as I predicted above, all of the restored relationships will be happening after we emerge from this pandemic, I see the same thing happening when Jesus returns or when we see Him with our own eyes in heaven.

And, oh boy, what a glorious day that will be!

"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." - Romans 10:9-10

What A Day That Will Be - The Gospel Plowboys

Toddler Besties Share Hug

Infinite Love

As I was walking between cars at the food pantry this past Saturday, I noticed this interesting bumper sticker. What a tremendous message for the world we are living in today.

"Infinite Love" is what I figured the sign said. I reflected on that for a moment and smiled. I looked around at the parking lot filled with cars - people in need of food.

They had all come to Waupaca Christian Church for a monthly food distribution. What an incredible example of Infinite Love. The place was crawling with volunteers. Each one was risking catching the covid-19 virus by their just being there. Yet their desire to help others outweighed that fear.

In my last story I mentioned the protective masks we all wore, provided by a women's church group. There's another example of infinite love. Serving others to keep them safe. And let's not forget all of the companies who donate the food. How much longer will they be able to do so with all of the companies being shut down. Yikes!

Of course, the best example of infinite love is God. Nobody loves more or has sacrificed more than God. He gave up His one and only Son to die for OUR sins - past, present and future! Talk about infinite love! God IS infinitely loving!

Here's a question. How can WE show infinite love in our communities? In our families? At work? This is a time we all desperately need love. And as much as we need it, we need to give it as well. The next person you meet today may be in desperate need of some love. Be prepared. Not just to recognize the need but to provide a solution as well.

And here's something else to remember . . .

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17This is my command: Love each other." - John 15:16-17

Let's do that today. In His glorious name.

There's A Place For Us - Carrie Underwood

The Struggle Is Real

Today's story is quite personal in nature. A "chance" encounter in the parking lot of a local food pantry on Saturday.

I volunteer there as basically a greeter but during this corona virus situation I have become more of a chaplain than anything else.

Each conversation usually goes something like this.

"Hi! How are you guys doing?" Most people say they are fine. But with this virus floating around, I ask more pointed questions like, "How are you surviving with the shut down?" That's when the REAL conversation begins.

I met one lady Saturday morning who had never been to a food pantry before in her life. She didn't really know what to do. A friend told her about the food pantry so she came. She was clearly struggling. She told me she had been laid off from her job. She had been a school bus driver but the schools in Wisconsin had just been closed for the rest of the school year. She was now without income until September.

So, I'm standing there outside the driver's side window feeling so sad for this person so I asked, "May I pray for you?"

"Sure," was her answer.

"May I touch you," I asked?

"Please."

And so I prayed for her, my bare hand on the shoulder of her coat.

The bare-hand thing probably wasn't too smart for me to do from a corona prevention standpoint but I would do it again in a heartbeat from a compassion point of view. The lady thanked me, then pulled a Kleenex to her face to wipe away the tears. Lots of people were struggling in that parking lot. Not because of the virus, but because they had lost their jobs due to FEAR of the virus.

I shared that story of my prayer with all of the volunteers afterwards and with many in their cars hoping to receive food. All were touched by her struggle. Many others were in similar situations. Our governor extending his "safer at home" executive order until the end of May and I could see it taking its toll.

I was reminded of the story when Jesus healed the leper.

"When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "LORD, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 3Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy." - Matthew 6:1-3

People need hope during a struggle, no matter WHAT the situation is. Jesus provides that hope. But, just like the leper in the story, we have to ask. We also have to BELIEVE that Jesus can heal. That is where many of us fail. The leper believed Jesus could heal him (verse 2) and Jesus did just that.

It was also against the law for a leper to approach within a stone's throw of any clean person. Yet the leper took a chance with Jesus and walked up to Him. May we, the Christians, be the ones who are willing to reach out and touch others who are suffering in life. It is right and fitting that we do so.

Yes, we must be smart about it. But we must also live a life without fear. A life Jesus told us to live.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

Jesus Heals The Leper - The Chosen
Heal Me - Terry MacAlmon

The Rebel In Me

What is it with us humans? Half of us want to do whatever the government tells us to do while the other half want to do just the opposite. How to tell what is right and what is wrong?

One thing that always gripes my cookies is when someone tells me what I can and cannot do.  We live in America - the land of the free for goodness sakes! We are free to make our own choices and, as long as they don't infringe on anyone else's rights, we should be free to make them.

This whole stay at home thing for example. Our governor here in Wisconsin has now decided that we all need to stay "safer at home" until the end of May. That's ridiculous. I understand where he's coming from. He wants to "keep everyone safe." But what about our sanity?

The biggest topic of discussion I have heard talked about during the past several years has been mental health. Heard anyone talking about that lately? No. The news is all corona virus - 24/7. What happened to mental health? Locking someone up in their homes for two months with no income and zero social interaction is mentally depleting.

I'll go out on a limb at predict that there will be an a huge spike in domestic abuse, suicide, depression, alcoholism, and any other "ism" you can think of during this month and next. Why? Because were all cooped up in our homes. We're slowly going crazy! So much for mental health.

Do you remember this Bible verse?

"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" - Mark 12:17

Jesus spoke those words. We, as followers of Christ, are to obey our government's laws EXCEPT when they conflict with God's laws. For example, abortion. It is a lawful thing to do in our country. We are to obey that law. Yet God says "do not murder." It's one of the ten commandments. So what do we do? God wins out. Therefore I personally will oppose abortion so should any Christian. Those who perform abortions will answer to God one day. So will those who support it.

What about the stay at home executive order? I think that we should obey the governor's wishes as much as possible. I also feel that "his wishes" are very close to violating our constitution and Bill of Rights. The Constitution say "we have been endowed by certain unalienable rights." By whom? OUR CREATOR! I therefore have decided to stay inside . . . except when I feel the need to go out and exercise my rights. Freedom of assembly. Freedom of worship.

We should be smart but we should also be wary. There are too many politicians lurking around with agendas of their own. Many are not interested in what God thinks, only in what THEY think. And that's where the rebel in me says, "Enough!"

Be smart! Think! But do what is right in God's eyes. We are His. He is our King. Read that verse again. "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." We belong to God!

Look, I will stay inside. But if there is a church service somewhere, where everyone is worshiping within the social distancing guidelines set up by Caesar, I am going! No matter what Caesar says.

Come, Now Is The Time To Worship - Phillips, Craig and Dean