THE END OF THE WORLD

                  If you are reading this on Friday or Saturday, it means that the earth survived. Much has been written in the news lately about the Mayan calendar. The ancient Mayans of Central America were extremely accurate astronomers able to predict eclipses centuries in advance. They also had an extremely accurate calendar which dated from their claim of the beginning of the world on August 11, 3114 BC. What caused the buzz is the fact that the Mayan calendar ends with the Winter solstice in 2012, December 21. Many contemporaries around the globe embraced the idea of the end of the world on that day. Many others rejected the idea outright.

            Predictions of the end of the world have been a constant. Every century has had multiple predictions of the end of the world. It seems like we have one every year. Many have achieved great notoriety, like the 1970 book by Hal Lindsey, The late Great Planet Earth. Lindsey later pegged the Rapture in the year 1988. Guess what? All the hundreds of predictions have been wrong. I told the people in church Sunday if the end is here I'll see them in heaven. Otherwise I will see you here next Sunday.

            Jesus teaching on the end of the world states “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”(Matthew 24:36) If no one, not even the angels and, assumingly, the human Jesus, knew the time of the end, the ancient Mayans certainly did not. But the speculation causes us to stop and think. Like the old hymn questions, “Jesus is coming to earth again, What if it were today?” Jesus also tells us that the last day will come upon us suddenly and without warning. “As in the days of Noah”, He says. We will be going about life as usual and things will come to a sudden stop and we will be with Jesus for reward or punishment. To some, that may sound fearful. But we need not fear the end. The key is to be ready, to be able to say with the apostle John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

Grace and peace. 

I LOVE SANTA

            One segment in the current edition of Christianity Today asks the question “Should churches discourage belief in Santa Claus?” This has been a debate among Christians through the years. Some say parents shouldn’t “dupe” their children into believing that Santa exists, in essence lie to their children. Others maintain there is room for Santa in our Christmas celebration. He, it is claimed, represents the spirit of generosity and giving. Saint Nicholas, the bishop of Myra (in modern day Turkey) about 300 A.D. was known for giving secret gifts to all. As his legend was passed down through generations and cultures his name came to us as “Santa Claus.” Most current beliefs about Santa derive from the poem by Clement C. Moore, “A Visit From St Nicholas.” For two centuries this poem has shaped the concept of Santa here and around to world.

            As far as being “duped” by Christian Parents, mine went along with society’s make believe. Having a belief in Santa didn’t prevent me from embracing Christ and as a child I felt no conflict. Neither did I feel like my parents did me wrong by playing along with the stories of St. Nick, or the Easter Bunny for that matter.

            To me, getting rid of Santa Claus, as some zealous Christians wish to do, would be a tragedy. It would be nice if children could get as excited about the baby Jesus as they do about presents under the Christmas tree. But young children will never do that. Santa (or the pretense of a real Santa) has brought incalculable joy to children of every generation and, as a parent and grandparent, I know the joy of watching small children on Christmas morning. So much joy would be lost if there were no Santa deception.

            Parents should fess up to an older child who sincerely asks if Santa is real, but I, for one, am not in favor of bumping off Santa.  

Grace and peace. 

 

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

            In a recently published book, the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church has challenged some of the traditions of Christmas. One thing he states is the birth date of Christ isn’t December 25st. This has long been affirmed by bible scholars who generally accept his birth in April of 5 B.C. Another claim he makes is that there was no donkey or other animals at the manger.  This is an argument from silence. The biblical account does not mention any animals present. It mentions the manger but not a stable. But since mangers were in stables or caves and animals were kept in those stables and caves, it is safe to assume animals were present at Jesus’ birth. One thing he does not mention as far as I know (I haven’t read his book which has just been published) is that the wise men were not at the manger but a “house” and we have no idea how many there were. The “star” of Bethlehem would have been over the same house, not the manger.

            The Pope does deal with the angels. They were not at the manger. Reading in Luke’s birth narrative the angels were in the field with the shepherds and then went away into heaven. And the angels didn’t sing, they spoke.

             All my life I had assumed they sang. That’s what I was taught. And every Christmas season we sing “Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains.” The question has been raised, “Do angels sing.” Some passages have them doing so, such as Revelation 5:11-12 “I looked and I heard the voice of many angels…singing with a loud voice.” But the word used for singing can also be translated as “saying.” But singing has been a part of worship in ancient and modern times. (It was banned in some early Protestant churches.) Surely the angels sing. I imagine them singing to the shepherds as Handel has them doing in his Messiah, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill, toward men!”

            Our manger scene at home will continue to have wise men, animals and angels. And let us continue to sing our carols with gusto, for I am sure God receives and approves our praise. 

Grace and peace. 

SEEING CLEARLY

           Tomorrow morning(Wednesday the 28th) I am scheduled to have a cataract removed from my right eye. In that I have clear vision in the left eye, I put up with the cataract for several years, but it has become so problematic I finally asked my Doctor to remove it, which he had volunteered to do years back.

            I am grateful that today the operation is considered minor and does not require any special recovery. When I began in ministry fifty years ago, I would visit patients who had cataracts removed and they had to lie on their backs with their head between two sand bags, immobile, for TWO WEEKS.

            I hope afterwards to sing “I can see clearly now the fog has gone.” But what I and others really need is an operation to open our spiritual eyes. Like the blind men said to Jesus, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” (Matthew 20:33) God has given us new eyes in Christ Jesus, but so often we do not discern His will in our particular situation or see His glory in current events. Our song should be the hymn, “Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me.”

            Speaking of spiritual sight, I love the old story of the little lady, who when called on to pray in her small church, always prayed the same prayer, “Lord remove the cobwebs from our eyes so we can see you more clearly.” She prayed the same prayer every time until she was finally interrupted by a man who cried out, “No Lord, don’t do it! Please kill the spider!”

            Maybe that’s what we need to do, kill the spider.

 

Grace and peace. 

LIVING ON HAPPY LANE

           When we lived in Bluff Park we often drove up Shades Mountain from Lakeshore on the Old Oxmoor Road. On that route you pass by a street named Happy Lane! I always wondered if the people who live on Happy Lane really are happy, or if someone moved to Happy Lane it would make them Happy.

            I’ve turned in to Happy Lane a couple or so times out of curiosity.  It winds down toward Shades Creek. For a while an abandoned building, which I assume housed a general store when the railroad was close to that location, stood at the head of the road. It has since been torn down and a large field covered with kudzu is left. There are some land parcels for sale. The four houses on Happy Lane are modest but I imagine comfortable enough. I have no idea as to whether their occupants are happy.

            But the truth is, you can live on your own happy lane. Those who are in Christ Jesus have the Holy Spirit within. Paul tells us, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)  I focus on the word joy, which the dictionary defines as “the emotion of great delight or happiness.” The forgiveness, victory, and the present and future confidence we have in Christ gives us joy through the Spirit.

            But this is not the entire story. Happiness is not a matter of circumstances. Happiness is a matter of choice. Two people can be in the same circumstances or facing the same problems and one is happy and the other is unhappy. One can choose happiness because of the joy we have in Christ. 

Grace and peace. 

SUPERSTITIONS

            Over Halloween a T.V. segment reported that 52% of the U.S. population is superstitious. These are people who will not walk under a ladder, who will not sit on seat 13 or row 13, who avoid black cats, who knock on wood to drive away evil spirits, etc. etc. . There was a time, however, when I was among them. I wouldn’t have admitted to it, but I avoided walking under ladders, stepping on a sidewalk crack, etc. After all, why take a chance?

            Searching online reveals dozens and dozens of superstitions.  Some are familiar (i.e. lucky four leaf clovers, lucky horseshoes, lucky rabbits feet, some of spilled salt tossed over the left shoulder to avoid bad luck, breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck). I was reminded of the old one that it was unlucky to light three cigarettes on one match.

            But, many years ago, when I began to examine such things in view of what I claimed to believe, I saw that such superstitions are a denial of faith. In Proverbs 3:5-6 we are told to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your path.” Our days and each moment are in the hands of God, not subject to luck, spirits, or superstition.

            Now I walk under ladders without a second thought. I don’t have any prejudice against black cats and consider the number 13 as no different as any other number. When something good happens I praise the Lord. When something bad happens, I turn to the Lord for help and understanding. I seek to trust Him with every event, with every moment.

            Living this way gives one confidence and peace of mind. So let us trust in the Lord with all our heart. 

Grace and peace. 

CHANGING TIME(S)

             Remember to set your clocks back Saturday night. Otherwise you will be at Church an hour before everyone else. Daylight Savings Time is fairly well accepted now. But some still complain about changing times.

            A lot of people in my age bracket would like to change the times more drastically and go back to the 1950’s. For us that was a golden age. After World War Two people were prospering, buying homes and automobiles, going on vacations and sending their children to college. Rock and roll ruled musically, and T.V. shows were family oriented like “Father Knows Best” and “Ozzie and Harriet.”

            The emergence of the flower children and hippies in the 1960’s challenged the morals and lifestyles of our youth. Vietnam anti-war demonstrations and the civil rights movement further changed things.

            But, honestly, would we really want to go back to the 1950’s? For much of our population those were not a golden age. Instead, they were days of poverty and struggle. Besides, think of all the advances which have been made in 60 years. Because of medical advances I, and many more like me, am still alive. Medical discoveries, advances in care and changes in lifestyles have advanced the average lifespan by almost 20 years. Also, in spite of the current economic downturn, a greater percentage of the population has been able to achieve the “American Dream.”

            True, 2012 has some drawbacks and problems, but this is our time. Paul exhorts us “See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time…” (Ephesians 5:15-16)

 

Grace and peace. 

HEART CHECK

            This week I had my quarterly heart check. Actually it isn’t a heart check, it’s a pacemaker check. It’s amazing to me how they can check the thing over the telephone. And I am grateful to benefit from one of the miracles of modern medicine, an implantable battery device with wires into the heart sending impulses to keep the heart beating sufficiently fast to maintain activity.  I’ve depended on it for four and a half years now. It is predicted to have another ten years of battery life before it needs to be replaced. (I hope to have that many years and more left.)

            But all of us do have heart checks, not every quarter, but every day, every moment of the day. The Holy Spirit keeps a constant monitor on the heart of every living person on this earth. He measures, not beats per minute or physical strength, but the spirit contained therein. We can conceal impure, hateful, selfish or other shameful thoughts from other people. No one can really know what we think. They cannot know the condition of our spirit. But we need to be constantly aware that we cannot hide these things from our God.

            King David cautions his son and heir to the kingdom, Solomon, “know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) Now that’s good advice for all of us. Indeed, we should do our own heart check each day or moment by moment.

 

Grace and peace. 

BRIEF REPORT

              So many have asked us about our trip to Alaska I need to share a little. Our biggest impression was the size of the state. It is difficult to imagine its vastness.  It is two and a half times the size of Texas. Denali National Park by itself is as large as the state of Vermont.  One road is built into the park and we toured only a fraction of it. Alaska has as many mountains as the rest of the other 49 states combined and over a thousand sizable lakes, so many that some of them are not even named. We saw the inside ocean passage with the glaciers and the railroad and highway between Whittier, Anchorage and Fairbanks. We saw whales, moose, bear and caribou (reindeer). We visited Native Americans and were introduced to their lifestyles, both past and present. Many of them still live off the land as hunters and gatherers. We were on a cruse liner, railroads (both modern and ancient), a small boat for whale watching, a rear wheel river boat, motor coaches (buses) and, of course, numerous airplanes. We saw the Trans Alaska pipeline, and panned for gold. (Together we got a few microscopic flakes of gold which assayed for seventeen dollars).

            Going in mid-September we encountered both fall and winter. In the southernmost area the leaves had turned and were falling. In the northernmost area the deciduous trees were already bare and they were expecting the first major snow the next week. Fairbanks and Denali Park will be snowed in for six months. We were on the road where the TV show about ice road truckers is filmed, but before the snow covered it. We had to wear several layers of sweaters and jackets part of the time.

            Alaska may be bigger but we still choose “Sweet Home Alabama.” And we praise God for all His vast creation. 

Grace and peace. 

GLORIETA BAPTIST CENTER

            One of the places we have loved to visit in our travels is the Glorieta Baptist Conference Center near Santa Fe, New Mexico.  It is a beautiful campus on 2,100 acres with a lake in the middle. It is owned by Lifeway Christian Resources (i.e. the former Sunday School Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention. We’ve been there as a family and have taken youth groups and others there. I never taught in any of the sessions, as I did at the Ridgecrest Center, but we loved our visits there.

            It’s been a couple of decades since we were there, and evidently that is true of a lot of people. In 24 of the last 25 years the center has lost money, draining resources from Lifeway.  As a result, Lifeway decided to get rid of the center, a move that saddened me, but which I certainly understand. First Lifeway sought to sell the conference center for $1 to the Baptist Convention of New Mexico. That body, however, decided the cost of upgrading the facilities and potential environmental liabilities made such an acquisition unattractive.

           Others, like us, hate to see the end of an era, but through Isaiah God says, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare.” (Isaiah 42:9)  Time moves on. Former successes and glories are past. All need to hear the new things God will declare to us and follow the new paths in which He will lead us.

           There were nibbles by others to buy the property but none of them were able to accomplish it. Then came an offer from Olivet University in San Francisco (which has no connection to Olivet Nazarene in Illinois). The school has both the desire and the money to buy the property. But a problem exists. Many believe this OlivetUniversity is related to a cult like group after the order of the Moonies of the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. Olivet University, is related to Korean pastor David Jang. Jang hasn’t had much publicity. Until this story arose, I personally was not aware of him or his followers. Evidently Jang has a multitude of worldwide organizations related to his ministry. Although he and his followers deny it, Jang is considered by his followers to be the “Second Coming Christ,” the same as followers of Sun Myung Moon in the Unification Church consider him. The theology of the “Second Coming Christ” is that the first coming of Jesus (Christ) was a failure, ending on the cross and that there will be a “Second Coming Christ,” not Jesus, but pastor Jang, who will complete the work that Jesus started.

          I haven’t done a thorough study of this movement, but on the surface it is gross heresy. In his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), Peter declares that “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God….God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Promised through the prophets and fulfilled in Jesus, God accomplished what He intended to accomplish through His Son. As Jesus declared on the cross,"it is finished."

          Personally, I would hate to see the beautiful campus of Glorieta Baptist Center in the hands of a University related to a group with such a dubious theology. 
 

Gace and peace. 

ALASKA

            For the next two weeks Liz and I will be on vacation in Alaska. We will complete our visits to all fifty states. Since we married we have visited forty nine states. Now one or two of those visits were rather short, but most of the states we have spent some time in for recreation, mission trips or conventions. The only state we haven’t been in is Alaska. Someone asked if this is part of our “bucket list.” No. I don’t think either of us has a bucket list. But I knew that if we were to visit Alaska too, we needed to get it done now, while we can still walk and still know where we are.

            From time to time I see a tag of the United States on an automobile or recreational vehicle with the states they have visited colored in; sort of braggadocios. For me, accomplishing the feat of visiting all fifty states is not a cause to brag, but a cause for which to be thankful. I thank God for the privilege. And as I look back, I stand amazed by God’s grace that allowed us to do so, and on a preacher’s salary.

            We have seen for ourselves what a grand and beautiful land is ours. And I am constantly reminded of all the wonders we have seen. The mouse pad on my desk is a picture of the Grand Canyon brought to me by my grandson returning from a Birmingham Boys Choir trip. Watching news stories from all over the nation, we remember when we were at that very location.

            As wonderful and beautiful as all the states are, Alabama with its mountains and beaches, rivers and lakes, is still our favorite. 

Grace and peace. 

FOOTBALL

             Football is back. For the next four months, millions will be rooting their favorite teams to victory. No doubt about it, I love watching college football on television.

            A couple of million or more will attend a game in person this weekend.  Stadiums accommodate more and more fans. Between Alabama and Auburn and other smaller universities and colleges in our state, on some weekends upwards of two hundred thousand will be in the stadia.

            To purchase season tickets for either of the major universities, one must make a significant contribution to their programs, Tigers Unlimited or Tide Pride. The higher the contribution or the longer one has participated gives one a higher priority seat wise. I know some who give thousands of dollars annually.

            Add to the contributions the cost of season tickets, five or six hundred dollars each, and then add the cost of attending the games themselves, i.e. travel, accommodations and or food, and a couple or family can easily spend ten thousand dollars for a season of football. Some, I am sure, spend well in excess of that.

            I would be curious to know how many spend more on football annually than they give to the Lord’s work. Quite a few I guess in that national surveys indicate the average family gives 3% of its income (less than $2,000 per year) to all charities, including churches.

            Jesus taught, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Turn that around and it says where your heart is, there is where your treasure will go. Football is certainly not more important than God, but for some it would seem that way.

            “Go Team!” But pass the offering plate first.

Grace and peace. 

CODE OF ETHICS?

             A news article reports that the National Association of Evangelicals has issued a code of ethical behavior for pastors. When I read this my first thought was “Duh…!  Isn’t the Bible pretty clear how a Christian should act, much more so a pastor.”  After all, Paul wrote to the young Timothy, “A bishop (pastor) then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous…” (1 Timothy 3:2-3)

            News stories from time to time report on clergy who have defrauded their congregations financially, engaged in illicit sexual relationships, or have broken the trust of others in a multitude of ways. But I question if signing a code of conduct will really mean much to a person who is not willing to abide by the scriptural code of conduct.

            Evidently some pastors are like some other Christians who feel their special circumstances exempt them from one or more of the Bibles injunctions.  I have counseled with some who have used this argument with me. Under their circumstances, they did nothing wrong.

            Anyway, I applaud any effort to get pastors to behave.  In the article it was reported that the NAE is now working on a code of conduct for churches. Wow!  I’ll be interested in knowing what areas they address. I could give them a bushel full.

Grace and peace.  

OLYMPICS

            As of this past week the summer Olynpics are gone once again for four years.  I watched the highlights on the news reports, but not much of the actual competitions. But not only the games and competitions were covered. The stories of many of the athletes were highlighted. Some overcame great odds to become Olympians. Also highlighted was the extreme training some of the athletes endured to get into their best physical shape for the competition. I’ve never been an athlete, and never endured athletic level training.  But my brush with training was in physical education in high school.  So I know what it is like to exercise until you think you are going to drop. I know what it is to have muscles so sore that you can hardly move. Therefore, as I watched the potential Olympians going through their training, I had great sympathy for them along with great admiration for their willingness to undertake it.

            As I watched them, I was reminded of Paul’s words to the Corinthians. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”  (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

            Christians often think that the race is over, we already have the prize, i.e. new life in Christ.  But we must still present ourselves to our coach and judge. We need to “run in such a way as to get the prize.”  That prize will be the commendation of Christ, “well done good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)

Grace and peace.  

COMPUTERS

             I was dragged kicking and screaming into the computer age in the early l990’s when the church staff in Pensacola took away my typewriter and put a computer on my desk.  In order to work with the office staff and prepare my columns and other materials, I was forced to use MS DOS, the operating system for the computer.  A few years later the church went to Windows and I had to learn it.  Then the church logged on to the internet, and again I faced a learning curve.  When I moved my major office to my residence, I took my computer with me and subscribed to an internet service to enable me to still participate with the office staff.

            My children and grandchildren carry a computer in their pockets, their iPhones.  They browse the internet wherever they are, send and receive email, text messages and I don’t know what all else.  The advancement of computers and the internet over just two decades is truly amazing.

            I am still behind the curve.  But last weekend, during the sales tax free holiday, I invested in a lap top computer.  It is on the lower end of the cost and power spectrum, but is equal to or greater than the three year old computer on my desk. I’m still working on understanding everything about it, but I’m getting there.

            The computer age has been revolutionary for everyone, including preachers.  I can hardly prepare a sermon now without the internet. The internet has a plethora of Bible dictionaries, concordances, commentaries and other Bible helps, all available with a couple of clicks of the mouse.  Of course I could always go back to the old books again, but what a drag.  Also, with search engines you can find information you need on any subject, information which is more up to date than any printed encyclopedia.

            Considering what man has accomplished, there is no room to doubt all the many things that God has made or accomplished.  “Many, O Lord, are Your wonderful works which You have done.”  (Psalm 40:5)

Grace and peace. 

THE MONKEY TRIAL

             July 21, 1925, 87 years ago, the Scopes Trial, commonly referred to as the “Scopes Monkey Trial,” in Tennessee ended with John Scopes being convicted of teaching evolution in a public school against a Tennessee law forbidding it.  This debate has not gone away.  The advance of science continues to challenge those who believe in a “Young Earth” creation, that God created the earth in six twenty four hour days within the last 10,000 years.  The current edition of Christianity Today, marking the anniversary of the Scopes trial, contains an article about two contemporary scientists, one who advocates a young earth and the other who advocates an older earth which came into being through evolution.

            The bottom line is that both are committed Christians.  Both believe that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Both agree that someone who holds the opposite view of the length of creation is still a true believer.  Both agree that there are a lot of questions that still have no answer.  And both agree God is the reason the universe is here, and the reason you and I are here.  And, although they do not mention it in the article, I am certain that both agree that God will redeem this universe and you and I.

            In this debate I fall on the side of an old earth.  As one of my seminary professors said, “God didn’t make fossils to fool us.”  The earth has been around a long, long time.  On the other hand, I am not convinced of the evolution of species.  Although the DNA of chimps and humans is virtually the same, I am not convinced that one evolved from the other.     

            Of course, I am not a scientist and would not pretend to know all the answers (as some of my friends claim to know).  I am content to know and believe that “God created man in His own image” (Genesis 1:27) no matter how He did it. And He has created me anew into His image through Jesus Christ."Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation."  

(2 Corinthians 15:7)

           

Grace and peace.  

BE CAUTIOUS IN THE HEAT

             During the last few weeks a heat wave gripped most of the country.  Great effort was made to help people, particularly the elderly, cope with the temperatures.  Cooling stations were opened, water was distributed and many organizations sponsored drives to provide widow air conditioning units or fans for those who needed them.  Yet, with all these efforts, almost one hundred persons are reported to have died from the heat.

            This situation can sneak up on someone.  The first heat related death where I knew the victim personally was a tennis playing mate in Pensacola.  He was a retired military man in his sixties.  Like many of the retired military in the area he owned a boat.  One day he was at the dock working on the boat, a day that was not unusually hot for the season but sunny and hot out in the sun.  He collapsed and was rushed to the hospital with a heat stroke.  He never regained consciousness and lived only a couple of days.  The lesson to me and others was to be aware of the danger of heat and take precautions for it.

            Having played tennis with him and talking of religious matters as a group on occasion, I was aware that he was not a church attendee and wondered about his relationship with God.  Attending his memorial service I perceived that his wife and family were not church oriented.  I regretted not taking time on the court to discuss with him his personal relationship with God.

            This lends another lesson.  Take opportunity to talk with others in every setting about their relationship with God. 

            Also be sure of your own salvation.  Death often comes suddenly and in a multitude of ways.  “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)

             You and I need to be ready.         

           

Grace and peace.  

CAESAR AND GOD

            In my sermon on the Sunday before the Fourth of July, I referred to the government of the U.S. as secular. The word “secular” means “unrelated to religion.”  For many, however, the word secular has a sense of “anti-religiousness” or against religion; and a sense of “worldliness,” or sinfulness.  That was not at all what I sought to relate. I used it in its basic meaning, i.e. unrelated to religion.  Because of the negative connotations for some of the word “secular,” I will no longer refer to our government as secular.  Instead I will use the phrase “neutral toward religion.”

            In 1802 President Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to the Danbury Connecticut Baptist Association, sought to explain the impact of the First Amendment to the Constitution.  He wrote, “Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church &State.”  The courts have followed that understanding through the years, and, as I noted in the sermon, because of that amendment no religious wars have been fought in this country’s history.  At the same time religious wars have been epidemic around the world, including Christians vs. Christians in Ireland.

            The First Amendment declares that the U.S. government shall be neutral towards religion, neither promoting it, i.e. “establishment,” nor restricting it, i.e. “free exercise.”

            In the sermon I stated that this country is Christian in that the majority of citizens are Christians. The Christian majority wielded great influence in shaping the country and its laws.  But the government itself is neutral toward religion.

            As Jesus said, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)

Grace and peace.  Mel

DUST AND SPIRIT

            When my father-in-law died in 1989, he was buried in a plot in Elmwood cemetery which had been in the family for decades.  Liz and I decided we needed to plan ahead for our own resting places.  Therefore, a couple of decades ago we purchased a companion mausoleum crypt at Elmwood (i.e. a place for the two of us).  But our plans changed and we no longer need the mausoleum crypt, so we have offered it for sale at a bargain price.  But it seems there is not much traffic in the resale of cemetery plots or mausoleum crypts.

            Our plans changed because we both have decided on direct cremation.  This means we will be transported from the place of our death to a crematorium and there be reduced to ashes.  Our tradition, which we have honored with our parents and other relatives, is to be embalmed, dressed and made up, placed in casket, made available for viewing and then placed in a vault in a plot of ground.  After having worked with a funeral home and watching many families pay from seven thousand to twenty thousand dollars they could not afford to provide this traditional burial, I was convicted that we Christians need to change our tradition.  Speaking of the end of life, Ecclesiastes tells us, “Then the dust shall return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.  (Ecclesiastes 12:7)  Throughout the Bible we are told that we are made of the earth and our ashes will return to the earth.  Modern funeral practices seem to do everything possible to prevent this from happening, akin to the mummification of ancient Egypt. Cremation, to me, seems to be more in harmony with Biblical concepts, although it was condemned by ancient and some modern Christians.

            I do not, in any way, condemn anyone who wishes to follow traditions, and most of my family (i.e. siblings and in laws) will do so. But Liz and I have already planned our departure.  We opt to be cremated and for the family to have a memorial service at the church where we are participating at that time.  If, when the first one of us departs, we still own the crypt, we will use it as a depository for ashes.  Unless, by that point, either of us has opted for scattering the ashes (i.e. back to the earth)..

            An old saying is true; the only sure things in this world are death and taxes.  The only crucial thing in preplanning for death is to plan our location in the next life.  Jesus said; “I go to prepare a place for you.”  We will leave this old body behind, but our spirit will return to God who gave it. You too can have an eternal place in God’s presence if you welcome Jesus into your heart now. 

           

Grace and peace. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA

           “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
  This statement from the Declaration of Independence is considered by some as part of one of the most well crafted, influential sentences in the history of the English language.  Its sentiment has been the goal of this nation ever since.  And to a large extent that goal has been achieved.  Our forefathers have crafted a democracy wherein greater and greater numbers of people have realized these “unalienable rights.”
Because of this our nation is recognized as the “Land of Opportunity.”  People from all over the world seek to become citizens.  At first came Europeans who then brought African slaves.  Greater and greater waves came from Europe fleeing famine and wars.  Latinos are now a political issue as were the Irish and Italians before them.  It is interesting that Orientals coming into the country now outnumber Latinos who are doing so.  How the nation deals with waves of immigrants is up to the politicians we elect.   We, however, are responsible for how we deal with them. May we Christians not neglect the word of God to the Hebrews, “And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him.  The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:34-35) 
As we celebrate the Fourth of July we need to thank God, as I often do, for being born in the USA through no fault of my own.  We can claim no special merit for where we were born. We give God the glory for our good fortune.  We can understand why others want to share in our good fortune.


Grace and peace.

FIFTY THREE

            Tuesday (June 19^th) Liz and I celebrated our 53^rd anniversary.  Wow, how time flies.

            In our day and time half of people who marry divorce.  Some of the loudest voices in the “Defense of Marriage” debate have themselves messed up multiple marriages.  I sympathize with those who have had bad experiences and have been through the necessity of divorce, and I rejoice with those who, like us, have successfully negotiated multiple decades.

            How do two people stay together as long as we have?  I’ve always joked that you must learn real quickly to say, “Yes dear, you were right and I was wrong.” (Or, “If a man says something in a forest and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?”)

            The truth of the matter of longevity in marriage is you must make a careful choice of a partner to begin with and you must add a sincere commitment to that person and to marriage itself.  Also it helps to follow some advice from the apostle Paul, not given solely for the married, but yet most pertinent.

            “Put up with a lot of stuff!  Empathize with the other’s feelings!  Want the best for the other!  Don’t be a show off! Don’t think too much of yourself!  Behave gentlemanly or lady like!  Don’t be overly concerned about material things! Stay cool!  Give the benefit of the doubt! Practice and commend moral living!  Keep on keeping on no matter what!” 

             You, of course, recognize this as an interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. 

            God gave Paul great wisdom.  I pray He will give the same wisdom to us, and the spirit to follow it. If that happens, we can add the words of verse 8, “Love never fails.”

            And that, friends, is how to stay married 53 years or more.

TRAVEL

            This week we welcomed our daughter, son-in-law and grandsons back from a two week trip to Europe.  Our oldest grandson, Graham, now 14, has traveled to Japan with the Birmingham Boys Choir, spent a month in Africa with his dad on a mission trip, and now has been to London, Paris and Brussels.   The younger grandson, Deason (9) made the trip to Europe and will spend a month in Africa with this dad on a mission trip in January.  Both have been all over the U.S.  I am grateful my daughter and son-in- law have the means to enable the boys to travel

            How things have changed.  I was 26 years old and married before I ever saw the ocean.  Liz and I had gone from Louisville to Fort Worth for me to finalize pursuing doctoral studies at Southwestern Seminary.  Driving back to Birmingham we veered down to Gulf Shores.  She had been there with her family, but that was the first time I saw the ocean.  It was more than two decades later before we went overseas on a mission trip.

            The most meaningful travel I have done has been on mission trips. I’ve led churches on a dozen in the U.S all the way from Florida to Arizona to Montana to Pennsylvania to the Virginia coast. I’ve also been to Switzerland, Romania and Uganda.  More and more Christians are making these trips. 

            Some question the value of such short term missions.  Wouldn’t it be better to serve somewhere locally and send the money you would otherwise spend traveling to the mission for its use?  The value of short term mission trips to those on the field might be questioned.  However, I have been reassured by those to whom we have gone that others coming to help for a week or two are encouraging to them, and a powerful witness to the local people.  But the value of such trips to the individuals who go is not in doubt.  By exposing Christians to other cultures, other people and the hands on work of missionaries, they are transformed.  Missions become personal for them.  Their awareness is sharpened and their support for missions is enhanced.

            People are going to spend their money to travel anyway.  Why not go on a mission trip?  There are thousands of mission trips originating in U.S. churches and denominational organizations each year. I encourage you to go on one of these trips if you have the opportunity. 

Grace and peace.

OLD AGE

             Last month I passed my 77^th birthday.  The problem is, in my mind I still see myself as a 29 year old.  This is true in spite of some physical changes.  One sure cure for such thinking is to attend a high school class reunion, which Liz and I did the day before my birthday.  There was no one there but old people.  So I had to admit that “I are one.”  In reality, at my age I now think of old age as someone in their late 80s or 90s.  When and if I get to those ages I am sure I will think of  old age as someone past 100.

            The innocence of children will also remind us of our advancing years.  Seven years ago, when my oldest grandson was seven years old, he was over at our house. I had been working outside and was sweaty and dirty.  I came inside to clean up for dinner and I put on a clean golf shirt.  Graham looked at me over the table and said,  “Grandy, you look good!...except for the wrinkles all around your face!”  I was not offended, just reminded, and amused.

            I consider old age a gift from God.  Many of my contemporaries are already gone.  Some of them departed this life at a relatively young age.  I have now well exceeded the threescore and ten mentioned by the Psalmist. (Psalm 90:10)  These I count as bonus years.  I welcome them as further opportunity to serve my Lord.  Some ask me when I will fully retire.  My answer is, “I may slow down a bit, but I will never fully retire”.  The call to ministry has no time limit.  As long as God leads a church to desire my service, and as long as He gives me strength and mental sharpness to do so, I will be a pastor or interim pastor.

            But this is also true of all Christians.  God has called us into His service.  We serve Him in manifold ways.  And there is no expiration date on that call.  As long as He gives us life, and in spite of declining health or declining ability, we continue to serve Him in this world as best we can.  One day we shall all join the “heavenly chorus” and continue to worship and serve Him throughout eternity.

Grace and peace.

A Memorial Day Menory

            Memorial Day, which we will celebrate Monday, is a day of remembrance for those who have died, particularly, those who died in battle or during the wars fought by this nation.   It began after the Civil War, was expanded to include all the wars and eventually to include all who have gone before us.  For many it is “Decoration Day” in cemeteries. 

            For me as a child, Memorial Day had nothing to do with remembering the dead, decorating cemeteries or patriotic celebrations.  It traditionally marked the end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation.  But in particular, it was the day the public swimming pool in Ensley opened.  To us city dwelling kids who seldom left our neighborhoods, that pool was an oasis we visited as often as we had the admission price, walking the four blocks to the pool with bare feet on hot asphalt or cement.  Try that, walking barefooted on a hot asphalt street or cement sidewalk.  We would walk on grass patches beside the road or sidewalk when possible.  We  often stayed at the pool all afternoon.

            As an adult, Memorial Day has become more and more a day of remembrance, as more and more persons of importance to me have gone on to heaven.  In a sermon on Mother's Day, I  referenced Lois and Eunice, the grandmother and mother of Timothy.  Paul says he “calls to remembrance” the unfeigned faith of these two ladies which they passed on to Timothy.  (2 Timothy 1:5)

            We don’t know if either of these ladies was deceased at the time of Paul’s writing, but they represent those in each of our lives who have had great influence or who have blessed us in special ways.  I offer a prayer of thanksgiving for these special people who have touched my life, not only on Memorial Day, but at other times when I “call them to remembrance.” 

            And the best thing is we have a promise that we will see them again!

Grace and peace.

MOTHER

            This past Sunday we celebrated mothers, most of whom deserve honor and praise.  But as we do we need to realize there are many different kinds of mothers.  Some of them are unworthy and others are downright evil.

            Make Way Partners ( www.makewaypartners.org), an organization which fights human trafficking, has been publicizing and seeking to bring world attention to the plight of Deimante Kedyte of Lithuania, a seven year old girl whose mother, when she was only five years old, began selling her to high ranking Lithuanian government pedophiles who sexually abused her.  Deimante is now in the home of her aunt who is protecting her after her father, who sought to rescue her, disappeared mysteriously.  The court system, backed by high ranking officials and lawyers hired by the traffickers, has given custody of the child back to her mother, which would open the door for further abuse.  Petitions and emails to the Lithuanian government and the US State Department have appealed for a reversal of the court order.  Her aunt’s home is surrounded by local citizens to protest any effort to seize her by force, which the court has threatened.  Her mother, of course, wants to receive the huge amounts of money her daughter generated.

            It is difficult for me to imagine a mother so evil, but I know this is not the only mother in the world who takes evil advantage of her children, or simply neglects them. 

            I pray for children around the world, that they may have mothers or guardians who will love them and seek their best.  And I thank God for mothers who exemplify Godly character and who love their children, always desire the best for them.  May they have the honor and praise they deserve.

            And I pray that those of us who can will step in to help a child who needs to be loved and protected, whether they are an orphan in Africa, an abused child in Europe or a needy child in the U.S.

Grace and peace.

HIRING PRIESTS

            Unemployment in Alabama is around 8% or almost one in every ten is looking for a job.  If you think this is bad, consider Spain, were current unemployment is 24%, or one in every four is looking.

            The Roman Catholic Church is seeking to take advantage of the situation to recruit priests.  Television ads describe the advantages of the priesthood, i.e. a guaranteed job for life, security, opportunity to help others, etc.  The results aren’t too encouraging.  A radio commentator stated that many in the population are not religious and that young men are reluctant to sign a pledge of celibacy.

            The recruiting effort is ill advised anyway.  The priesthood, or ministry, is not a “job.”  It has been said that being a pastor is the worst job in the world, but the greatest calling in the world.  Anyone who counts ministry as a job will not do a very good job.  The ministry is a God called endeavor.  Many testify that they ran from it until God chased them down and compelled them in their call.  Regrettably, many were “mommy called” or “daddy called” or went into ministry for various other reasons than a genuine call from God.

            It wasn’t necessary for God to pursue or subdue me.  At age 17 I became aware that God was calling me to ministry.  Although.considering a degree and career in broadcasting, I knew in my heart that I would not be happy in that or any other pursuit.  I committed to the call in my senior year of High School and have never doubted it.  Only once, during a spell of clinical depression, did I consider changing the arena of ministry from the pastorate to another form.  Once the depression lifted, I was convinced anew that I was where I was supposed to be.  I’ve served several radically different churches, each with its own challenges.  But the journey has been one of great happiness and reward.  I supposedly “retired” fourteen years ago, but the call his not been cancelled.  That’s why I have served four more churches as interim pastor and two as regular pastor, currently serving as senior pastor of Central Park Baptist Church in Birmingham.

            Seeking to serve in ministry without a deep seated and genuine call from God, most often results in unhappiness and in many who leave the ministry. Sometimes in your prayer time, thank God for all the men and women who have a genuine call into ministry.  May their tribe increase!

            .

Grace and peace.

WE ARE NEVER READY

            I lost another friend Saturday a week ago.  Mac was in Gulf Shores playing golf with a group of other men.  He fell over on the golf course with a heart attack and could not be revived.  He was only 64 years old and seemingly in good health with no heart problems whatsoever.

            Mac and his wife, Trudy, are members of the Sunday School Class I taught before I became the pastor at Central Park Baptist Church.  Liz now teaches that class.  Mac would always contribute in class.  He was a business leader and a leader in the church.  Thinking back, I would say that I never saw Mac without a smile.  That was the kind of person he was.  Life for Mac was good.  It is a shame it was cut short by a heart attack.

            All who knew him and his family were shocked.  We are never ready for death, someone else’s or our own.  We all hope to live a long, long time.  But that will not be the case for everyone.  Even for those blessed with a long life, it is too short. And death comes unexpectedly.  In his letter James warns us, “you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”  (James 4:14)

            It behooves us, therefore, to be ready for our own death and hope those we know are ready.  Mac was a believer.  I have no doubt of that.  Therefore I know that all is well with him.  And because I believe that Christ died for my sins and was resurrected to give me everlasting life, I know that all will be well with me when my time comes.

            How about you?

Grace and peace.

WINNERS AND LOSERS

            A $650 million plus mega ball lottery has been in the news recently.  There were three winners with tickets worth more than 200 million each.  But what impressed me was that there were over 100 million losers.  And that was just that one week.  I have no idea how many other losers there were in the weeks while the jackpot grew.

            Annalists tell us that the losers are primarily from the lowest economic level of our society.  Some of the poorest among us spend the most on lottery tickets.  The allure of a chance to “strike it rich” is very strong.  Television interviews explored the dreams of those buying the tickets, what they would do with the prize money.

            I can sympathize with them.  It would be nice to have all the money you could ever need.  But how much do we really need?  Paul in his first letter to Timothy gives us a warning, "And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptations and a snare..." (1 Timothy 6:8)
            The problem is that our lifestyles have been so abundant, if not outright lavish, few of us would be content with just food and clothing.  Our society ramps up desire for more and more stuff.  And all this stuff takes money.  Thus the desire for money becomes more and more intense.
            Paul also warns us in that passage that the love of money is the root of kinds of evil (what people will do for it) and condemns us to lives of discontent.
            Thank God each day for what you have, asking Him to help you be a good steward of what He has given you and experience the contentment of which Paul speaks.             

Grace and peace.