Will you dare to trust Him?

"Now don't push the term faith on me," a friend of my wife's told me bluntly at a dinner party.
"The word is like a red flag."

"Why such a violent reation?" I inquired.

"Well, because I object to the way people use faith as a theological gimmick to duck all rational problems. At every point where a man wants to understand, they say, 'You just have to have faith,' or, 'Reason only goes so far.' I resent it! I see nothing wrong with 'Prove to me first, then I'll believe."

As we talked, I realized that it had never occurred to this intelligent, well-educated man that in his everyday life he often follows the reverse order. Belief and acceptance first, then action. Every day he lives, he acts on faith many times with little proof or none at all, and he does not feel that he is being impractical.

He demonstrates an act of faith each time he boards a plane. He believes that it will take him to his destination, but he has no proof of it. he entrusts life itself to several unknown mechanics who have serviced the plane, as well as to a pilot about whom he knows nothing.

Each time he eats a meal in a resturant he trusts some unknown cook behind the scenes and eats the food on faith, faith that it is not contaminated. He enters a hospital for an operation and signs a release giving permission for surgery. This is an act of faith in an anesthetist whose name he may never know and a surgeon who holds in his hands the power of life and death.

Even sitting in a chair is an act of faith. Surely he doesn't test every chair of its sturdiness before he sits down. He just sits on the chair having faith it will support him.

He accepts a prescription from a doctor and takes it to a druggist, thus activating his faith that the pharmacist will fill the prescription accurately. The use of the wrong drug might be deadly, but he is not equipped to analyze the contents before swallowing the pill.

It is obvious that if we insisted on the "proof first, thwn faith" order in our daily lives, organized life as we know it would gring to a screeching halt. And since life together among people is possible only by faith, as we act out trust in others, it should not seem odd that the same law applies to our life with God.

In the spiritual realm, when for some reason or other we refuse to act by faith, all activity stops just as completely as it does nin the secular realm, There is no way for us even to take the first steps toward the spiritual life except by faith, any more than a baby can get launched on his earthly life without blind trust in his parents and other adults. We accept the fact of a personal relationship with God by faith, even as our young children accept the fact of parental love.

Trusting in Him who can go with me and remain in you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well.
-Abraham Lincoln

MEMORY IS A FUNNY THING

Memory is a funny thing, I can remember all sorts of useless information, but some days I can't remember where I put my glasses. Sometimes we go into a room to get something and when we get there we can't remember what we are looking for. We can remember things that are absolutely useless like the Cy Young award winner in 1953, then can't remember the important things. Perhaps you have went to the grocery store to pick something up you needed and got everything but that item and didn't realize it until you got home.

Memories can be frustrating but also amusing. I hate to admit it, but one time I was getting ready to go on a trip with my wife and as they were checking our many bags at the airport, I remarked to her, "I wish we would have brought the stereo." My wife responded, "Why? We already have a dozen bags." "I know," I replied, "but our plane tickets are on the stereo."

Now it really isn't a big deal until we start forgetting the important things like the birthdays, anniversaries, or what time of the month us men need to leave the house for a week.

A friend had come to visit us from the city. He had been a city raised boy and was looking forward to seeing what country life was like. I had a farm dog that could do all sorts of things and I showed him to my friend. The dog rounded up the cattle and could even latch and unlatch the gate. Well, this friend was completely amazed and said, "Wow! That's a great dog! What's his name?" I scratched my head for the longest time and thought for a moment. "Let's see - his name - There's this sausage everyone likes - an actor or singer - what is it?" "Jimmy Dean." I turned to my wife, "Dean, what is the name of that dog?"

Memories, you just can't trust them.

I remember a funeral of a good friend. He was a firefighter who died when he was saving someone from a burning home. His death was the first loss due to a fire in our town in over 28 years. I was asked to speak at the funeral. I can't even remember what I said. How can anyone some up a life in twenty minutes? Even for me who had known him since the Marine Corps, it seemed impossible, almost rude to give a brief account of who he was.

I have been with families during times of grief. I have seen families who usually get along and love each other become quarrelsome over some little detail in the funeral preparations. Why is this? Is it a way of showing that we care; of showing how important that person was to us. By arguing over how best to remember them.

When I think about those who are proud in their hearts, I remember when I had went to see a famous specialist. The specialist was quite intimidating, but the best in his field. He asked me, "Well, who did you see before you came here?" "My general practitioner," I replied. "I'm sure he had nothing useful to tell you." answered the pompous doctor. "Well, she told me to come and see you." You've met people like that. They have heads so big they can't get in and out of the doorway.

Perhaps there are some of you who have felt forgotten at times. You have felt left out by family or friends or even forgotten what it was like to laugh out loud. The word "Advent"; what does it mean? Anybody?

Okay, I'm going to quiz you on this next week. Advent means to come. We have to come and get happiness and not feel left out. Our true friends still love us and haven't forgotten. Our family hasn't left us out in the cold, they seem to be the only ones that stand by us when we are in trouble. But you, yes I said you, must bring hope to a troubled world. You must bring light into darkness. You bring smiles to the poor and humble.

So when you are feeling left out or keep forgetting things, try doing something good for someone else. Maybe, just maybe, you will let them know they are not forgotten.

Mercy

The present-day mentality, more so than perhaps the people of the past, seems to be so opposed to mercy. In fact, it tends to be excluded from life all together and even be removed from the human heart that little thing people think of as mercy.

The word and concept of "mercy" seems to cause everyone an uneasy feeling, thanks to the enormous development of science and technology never before known in history, it has become the master of the earth and has subdued and dominated it. This dominaion over the earth seems to leave no room for mercy.

With all the things which are going on today around the world and in the situation of the world today, many groups guided by their lively sense of faith are turning almost spontaneously to the mercy of a god. They are certainly being moved to do this because of their situations.

We see the presence of love in the world, but don't always present it in ourselves. We are looking out for ourselves and as a friend once said to me, "I am looking out for me and my own."

Isn't everyone our own?

Or are other people a different species?

Our lifestyles and actions are revealed in the way we love each other, an effective love, a love that addresses itself to man and embraces everything that makes up humanity. This love makes itself is particularly noticed in contact with human suffering, injustice, and poverty. Being in contact with the whole human condition which in various ways manifests man's limitation and fraility, both physical and moral. It is precisely the mode and sphere in which love manifests itself in that language called "mercy."

The truth is not just in the subject of teaching. It is the reality made present to us by so many others and so little in ourselves. We seem to condemn and not forgive others. We just don't seem to show mercy any more.

The greatest mercy of all is seeing others give their lives for people they don't even know and in places they don't really want to be.

No human sin can erase mercy or prevent us from unleashing all our triumphant human power, if we only call upon each other to show mercy more often.

Indeed, sin itself makes even more radiant the love we have for each other.

Loneliness

Few emotions are more painful than the emotion of loneliness. Deep loneliness is often experienced by those who think of themselves as being alone. No one calls, the voice mail is empty most days. All the friends and family haven't thought of you because they seem to have their own problems. Being alone feels like a cold January wind that cuts through the layers of our warmth and security. Think of the single person enduring the pain of a broken romance. Think of the divorced person who doesn't know what to do with his or her time. Think of the inmate behind the bars of solitary confinement. Think of the military person overseas. Think of the widow whose table is still set for two. Think of the parents whose arms ache for a missing child. Think of the person who may be around acquaintances everyday but still has no vital connection.
We've all been there, a part of the crowd but not of the community. There's never a time in life when we can completely escape from loneliness. It will sneak upon all of us, even in the midst of a crowd and can last for a few moments or for a lifetime.
These thoughts should prepare you for the passage I want you to look at this week. A cold January wind seems to cut through 2 Timothy 4 as you look at several factors that contributed to Paul's loneliness. Deserted by friends, opposed by an enemy, and unsupported in his court appearance by Christians who were perhaps where afraid of imprisonment themselves.
There is no such thing as a person who never feels lonely and who has no need of human friends. Human friendship is God's loving provision for mankind. Nothing can warm the heart like companionship. When our spirit is lonely, we need friends. It's winter for some people in your family or under your own roof; a son or daughter who is secretly aching to talk about things that are deep in their soul. Warm their heart by being their friend. Maybe it's an elderly parent or grandparent who feels discarded, or the guy at work who's always the odd man out, or the child shunned by fellow students. Or the former friend whose call you don't return anymore. The winter arrives at different times for all of us. In the winter season of life, pull your friends around you. Don't control them or impose upon them; but get with them and be warmed by their companionship.
You can do all of these things at your local church. And if you don't have a local church, find one. This comes from someone who grew up in an orphanage until he was 17 years old. I know loneliness, and God saved me through the church. The body of Christ that He so welcomes you into. And Saints, think of anyone that may be lonely, lock your door behind you, go across the street, find that someone who is hurting, and help them.

Relationships

Babe Ruth--one of the greatest baseball players in the history of American baseball--who had hit 714 home runs during his baseball career--one afternoon was playing in one his last major league games.
On that day the aging star was playing for the Boston Braves against the Cincinnati Reds.
But he was no longer as agile as he once had been. He fumbled the ball and threw badly.
And in one inning alone, his errors were responsible for five Cincinnati runs!
As the Babe walked off the field after the third out, the fickle crowd turned on their aging hero and boo's and catcalls descended from the stands. The Babe dropped his head and kept on walking.
Just then a young boy leaped over the railing and onto the playing field. Racing toward the Babe with tears trickling down his little cheeks, the boy threw his chubby arms around the stocky legs of his big hero, as if to say: "Never mind the crowd, I love you, Babe!" And Ruth didn't miss a beat.
He reached down and scooped the little tyke up into his arms, threw him in the air, gave him a giant bear hug, and placed him back on his feet.
Then with a playful pat on his head the two of them walked hand in hand back to the dugout.
The reporters there that day said suddenly the booing stopped and a hush fell over that entire park.
Why?
Because in those brief moments the crowd saw a different kind of hero.
They saw a man who in spite of dismal day on the field could still care about a little boy.
And now he was no longer being judged by his accomplishments.
Neither his past successes nor his present failures mattered.
For in the end it was a relationship that made all the difference in the world.

What Color Are You?

What color is your life?
It is interesting that when asked this question most people choose some neutral or dark shade.
Very few people actually choose a bright color. That's because, on the whole, it is the negative things in life that quite often determine the color of our day.
You can have a pretty good day going.
Breakfast was good and you made it to work on time. In fact you had a few moments to grab that cup of coffee you always seem to rush through.
Traffic on the way was pretty typical; no accidents to tie things up.
Sure, there were the usual slow-down's, but, all-in-all, it wasn't a bad communte.
The morning's tasks on your desk were pretty much accomplished in good order and, before you knew it, lunchtime had arrived even before you expected it.
But then, right after lunch, there was that one bad thing that happened.
Maybe it was a cranky phone call or a boss with a momentary attitude. That little minute and a half event may now have become the color of your day.
What had been a bright yellow day can easily become a deep blue one without so much as even a little effort on your part.
It just happens.
Or does it?
Recently there was a soldier who stepped on a land mine in Afganistan. The soldier lost his left leg in the explosion.
He spent months in a German hospital and then returned home to the United States.
Over the course of the next few days he journeyed homeward via military aircraft to his small hometown in western Colorado.
When he arrived at the airport he was greeted by his family and tears and smiles were exchanged.
Finally several reporters from area newspapers converged on the reunion scene.
One of them asked the young soldier how it felt to lose his leg.
The soldier smiled and looked the reporter straight in the eye.
"Mister, I didn't lose a leg, I gave one!"
How we view life is a motter of what we want to see, not what we merely see. That young soldier chose a bright color because he knew that he would spend the rest of his life without his left leg.
He would wake up every morning and know it.
He would reach for it at night when it falsely told him that it was still there and find nothing instead.
People might stare and his life was unalterably changed from this day forward.
But, he also knew that if the color of that one event were bright not dark, he would be able to cope, even cope well with a smile.
That was the goal he set for himself no doubt as he lay in that German hospital.
It was probaly on his mind throughout the long flight back to the United States.
And in all likelihood, there would be times when he would need to remind himselft that it was not a loss but a gift.
Nonetheless, over the long haul, he knew that unless he chose to color his life brightly, the dark colors of defeat and pity would overwhelm him.
What color do Chrisitians choose today?
Should we choose the bright color of Christ Jesus or the dark color of defeat.
We already know what has been promised us if we choose Jesus.
So why do so many of us choose the dark.
Show your bright colors today, maybe you will brighten someones color.

Your Tongue

General Robert E. Lee was once asked what he thought of a fellow officer in the Confederate Army, an officer who had made some mean remarks about him.
Lee thought for a moment, then rated him as being very satisfactory.
The person who asked the question seemed troubled.
"But general, I guess you don't know what he's been saying about you."
"Oh yes," answered Lee. "I know. But I was asked my opinion of him, not his opinion of me."
Controlling the tongue is one of life's greatest challenges.
You know the reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail more than his tongue.
Sometimes I have a hard time controlling my tongue.
Not when I get angry, but in the light, flippant things I say and sometimes repeat.
Perhaps you do too!
James has more to say about the tongue than any other book of the Bible: not a coincidence as James is about practical Christian living.
The tongue can build people up or tear people down.
Our children listen and learn off what we say and do.
You know the great Chicago fire was allegedly started by a single cow.
Mrs. O'Leary's, who kicked over a lantern in its stall. From that one lantern the entire city burned down!
There was also a young man who found out that something he was saying about someone else was totally false.
By spreading the information he had caused that someone a lot of damage.
He went to his grandfather and asked how he could make things right.
The grandfather took a pillow to the front porch, cut it open, and began spreading the feathers.
"All you have to do is pick up all the feathers," answered the grandfather.
Abraham Lincoln went as far to say, "People should keep there mouths shut and let others wonder if they are a fool, instead of opening them up and removing all doubt."
Nobody has ever been hurt by what you did not say.
Simply speaking, most people should spend more time listening and less time talking. Maybe that is why God gave us two ears and one mouth, but people just don't seem to do that.
Listen to some of the language we use. We use words that only one race of people can use or one cliché of people can use.
Serving in the Marine Corps was an honor for me and helped me to attain my goal of going to college, but only Marines are allowed to call each other Jarhead. It really is not a compliment, then I see a movie that came out sometime ago by that very name.
Do you think the producers knew that it was not a compliment?
Words seperate us, dividing people into groups.
Gossip hurts people we may not even know.
It causes strife among people.
Your task this week is to watch what you say and listen to what others say. Believe me you will see what I mean.
Don't say anything unless it builds somebody up. Makes them feel loved. Lets them know you care. Assures them that you are a Christian and not just playing a Christian.

Friends

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school.
It looked like he was carrying all of his books.
I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring all his books home on a Friday? He must really be a nerd."
I had quite a weekend planned, football, and chores which the orphanage had for me, so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.
His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him.
He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.
I knew that look, I had it many times myself and my heart went out to him.
So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye.
As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They have done the same to me."
He looked at me and replied, "Hey thanks!"
There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.
As it turned out, he lived near the orphanage, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.
He said he had gone to private school before now.
I would have never hung out with private school kid and no one would actually hang out with me so I guess we both new the truth.
We talked all the way home, and I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.
I asked him if he wanted to go to the football game that night, I had to play, but I could get him on the sidelines.
He said yes. We hung out all weekend, him helping me with my chores and the more I got to know him, the more I liked him.
Monday morning he met me at the end of my driveway with all his books. I stopped and said, "You are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday."
He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, he and I became good friends. When we were seniors, and began to think about our futures.
He was going to be an actor or in the movie business, and I was going to be a minister and businessman.
He turned out to be valedictorian of our class that year.
I teased him all the time about being a nerd, and he always teased me about just beating me out of the honor.
He had not prepared a speech for graduation. I sure was glad it wasn't me up there speaking.
He looked good, he was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.
I was often jealous of him, and graduation day was one of those days.
I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great."
He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and with a little reluctance began, "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach, but mostly your friends.
I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.
He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom would not have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.
He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.
"Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."
I heard a gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.
I saw his mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.
Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life.
For better or for worse.
God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.
Look for God in others.
Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

One glass of milk

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for akindness." He said, "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house,he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit. Year's later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day on, he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words:
"PAID IN FULL WITH ONE GLASS OF MILK."
(Signed)
Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears are a language God understands

Tears speak more about what our hearts feel than any words could ever express.
Those tiny drops of humanity that tumble from our eyes, creep down our cheeks and splash on the floors of our heart sometimes carry the message that our hearts ache and hurt.
Tears are the messengers that sometimes substitute for our crippled words and spill forth carrying with them our deepest emotions.
A tear stain on a letter speaks more than words ever could.
A tear falling on a casket says what a spoken farewell never could.
What summons a mother's compassion and concern more quickly than a tear on the cheeks of her child?
What gives more support than the tears on the face of a friend as we pour out our troubles to them?
What do we do when the words just won't come out right as all the nouns and verbs and adverbs and adjectives lay deflated at our feet?
When even the loftiest statements seem empty, what do we do?
I want to tell you this week that tears are a language that God understands!
From John 11 we see that the Son of God, the Blessed Redeemer, the one who has the power to wash away sin has just enter the town and Martha has met Him to tell Him it's too late, Lazarus is already dead.
There is no mention of Martha moving Jesus by her conversation and her questions nor is there any mention of Martha pouring out her soul in His presence.
No mention of that happening with Martha but with Mary it was a different story, wasn't it?
Mary fell at the feet of the One she knew held the future and wept!
She poured out her heart to the One who could make the difference and moved God to work in her circumstances.
The scripture tells us that Jesus was moved by the heartbreak of their souls and that His Spirit groaned inside Him and he was troubled.
How many of us are moved by the heartbreak of our children or some disappointment that crushes their little souls?
Won't we also move to do all within our power to help them and ease their pain?
Show me a mother that won't help her children when their hurt and I will show you someone who shouldn't have children.
Why would you think that god doesn't care about our troubles or the things that hurt us?
When we read the shortest verse in the the Bible, Jesus wept, what do you believe He is going through?
Those two words let us know that god is concerned about the things that break our hearts.
God wants so much to be a part of our everyday lives, did you know that?
God is moved by the tears of His children.
Jesus is moved by the tears of everyone of us who have been washed beneath His blood to become His friend.
Don't you ever try to tell me that tears are not a language that God understands.