15December2020 Quickthought: Covid-Safe

Earlier today I saw an advertisement about a local Church that is hosting a drive-through, live nativity.  I love that Fellowships are being creative and attempting to love and proclaim the truth of the Gospel to their communities during the pandemic.  Our circumstances to not dictate whether not we do ministry or not.  We aren't called to a holy huddle.  Alas, I digress, back to the topic at hand.  One line in the advertisement stated it would be a "covid-safe nativity," and that's what has me thinking about the Divine event the world is gearing up to commemorate.  

When Jesus came to earth, He wasn’t born into a safe, sanitized environment.  A barn isn’t exactly sterile nor a feeding trough exactly sanitary.  Imagine God sending His Son to the set of Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs with nary a drop hand sanitizer to be found.  Yet that's exactly what took place and it's one of the unique things about the birth of our Messiah.  A perfect, spotless, sinless sacrifice sent to a dirty, decaying broken world because of God's intense and unrelenting love for us.  Now that's a reason to celebrate.  Merry Christmas everyone! 

4August2020 Quickthought: Dadvice

I recently tumbled across this YouTube channel called Dad, how do I?.  The creator shoots videos of dad advice for those without fathers or whose dads did not or were unable to teach them certain life skills.  There's how-to's about car care, plumbing, grilling and other very practical, necessary topics.  The videos are great but the comments read like a commentary on our society.  Here are a couple examples:

• "You got this, I'm proud of you." Words I've never heard from my biological dad. Swear you made me shed a tear."
• "You have no idea how much it means to hear someone say “Hey kids” especially for those who never knew their Dads."
• "It’s tough not even knowing your dads name Or what he looks like I love you man thank you for being able to teach me many things since the beginning."

As I was reading in Proverbs today, the opening verse of chapter 4 reminded me of these videos.  "Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.  Much of Proverbs, or the Bible for that matter, is like receiving life advice from our Father.  You might not have a daddy or you father might be unwilling or unable to teach spiritual truths but God has given us His word, a father's instruction, so we can navigate this thing called life.  What a gift of grace!

5March2020 Quickthought: Citizenship

I was born in America, I have the birth certificate, the driver’s license, the passport, the accent and the funny quirks to prove it.  Every local person I see, meet and talk to here knows that I am not from this country.  Is it my appearance?  Possibly.  Is it my customs or behavior or maybe my thought process? Maybe.  Or is it my language or my attempts to speak (read “butcher”) their language?  Probably.   I mean initially, I may get an, “Oh, I thought you were Arab.” which is them being polite or them being very sleepy, but after a few minutes they know, oh they know that I ain’t from around here. 

Today I read these words from Philippians, “our citizenship is in Heaven” (3:20) and then these words from Joseph Benson, “…our citizenship, our thoughts, our affections, are already in heaven; or we think, speak, and act, converse with our fellow-creatures, and conduct ourselves in all our intercourse with them, as citizens of the New Jerusalem, and as being only strangers and pilgrims upon earth. We therefore endeavour to promote the interests of that glorious society to which we belong, to learn its manners, secure a title to its privileges, and behave in a way suitable to, and worthy of our relation to it.”

What a great reminder!  We should live in such a way that those around us know, without a doubt, that our citizenship, our identity is wholeheartedly in Heaven.  What is my agenda?   To represent Jesus as long as He has me on this planet.   

God help us each to live for You and spread the fragrant, beautiful aroma of Jesus today, ambassadors of Christ, citizens of Heaven.

12February2020 ...even with our words

It was a beautiful smile.   You know, one of those brief moments when the fleshly façade is wiped away and you get a brief glimpse directly into someone’s soul.  There was gratitude to be sure and joy as well but there was a tint of something else, surprise or shock even.  What really amazed me was the small traces of water that welled up in the corner of his eyes.  Men don’t do that and they definitely don’t do that here. 

Earlier this week, I bumped into one of my old ESL students.  We stood on a busy corner, talking about his life, his family, what’s going on at work, future plans and the like.  Suddenly it struck me, he was speaking so well!  His English flowed, the vocabulary was strong, only a couple of grammatical mistakes, and we understood completely.  I was a bit proud but honestly my friend had done all the work to improve his language skills and it was evident.  I stopped, slapped him on the back and said, “Wow!  Your English is really good.  I can tell you’ve been studying and practicing.”  His response was priceless.  No, it was beautiful. 

I’ve been thinking about that exchange the last couple of days.  It took nothing, just a few positive words, one brief conversation, to encourage my friend-to brighten his day.  I wonder how many opportunities lately I have missed to do the same for others?  What a great reminder to speak love, to encourage, to be Jesus to those around us.  May He entrust us with more opportunities and find us obstinately obedient to His command to love our neighbors...even with our words.    

Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken at the right time.

Prov.25:11 AMP

26March2016 Quickshot: Silent Saturday

Sandwiched between crucifixion Friday and resurrection Sunday was what's called holy Saturday.  This had to be one of the quietest days in history. In the Middle Eastern hillside, not far from this place, the world waited...

28January2016 Quickthought: Decisions

“When Jacob (Israel) hears from his sons that Joseph, his long lost son, is alive and ruling Egypt, he is stunned and overjoyed. Then he faces a decision: should he move the entire family of eleven sons and all their offspring and possessions to Egypt? This wouldn’t just be a holiday visit. It would be relocating, and it would mean leaving the land God had promised them. But it would also mean saving the family from the famine that drove his sons to Egypt in the first place. It was a hard decision, but Jacob decided to go for it.” He Reads Truth 1/08/16

This reminds me of the decisions refugees are making every day.  Who knows the plans that God is working out through this current crisis or the decisions refugees are making!  He is in control!

 

Our days may come to seventy years,

    or eighty, if our strength endures;

yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,

    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

If only we knew the power of your anger!

    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.

Teach us to number our days,

    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Relent, Lord! How long will it be?

    Have compassion on your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

    for as many years as we have seen trouble.

May your deeds be shown to your servants,

    your splendor to their children.

May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us;

    establish the work of our hands for us—

    yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90

25December2015 Quickthought: It's Time

For heaven's sake, we had been through this experience four times already.  We were pros!  But in the wee hours of the morning, the readout on the clock brightly blaring it was barely two o’clock, D whispered words that shocked me right out a deep sleep.  “It’s time!”  I stumbled out of bed, got dressed and drove her to the emergency room.  Baby number five, L, was on the way.

In Luke chapter two we read a similar phrase, “…the time came for her to give birth.”  Mary and Joseph, just kids really, were about to become parents.  It was time!

How amazing!  As we read the nativity story, shepherds and swaddling cloths and a firstborn Son, its plain to see the timing was perfect.  So today, as we celebrate the birth of the Messiah remember these things.  One, God is always faithful to His promises and, two, He is always right on time. 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace

among those with whom He is pleased!

25August2015 Quickthought: Back to School

It's a difficult thing to process.  As our own children start back to school (see Instagram for photos), our Syrian neighbors aren't given that opportunity. A majority, over 80% in some places, are not engaged in any form education. Instead of celebrating the first day of middle school they head back to work in coffee shops, olive orchards or manufacturing plants.  Those without jobs can be found begging for handouts at intersections, in the marketplace or on our doorstep.  

How can we reconcile this? Honestly we struggle with it and rightfully so.  God forbid we ever reach the point that our hearts are not broken due to the suffering around us.  Neither let us not be discouraged to the point of giving up and doing nothing.  Instead let us "not grow weary in doing good" and let's keep praying for the vulnerable.