AUTHORITY

“It’s working,” Jodi said. “I’m praying for my teacher.” Just two weeks prior he so disliked his teacher that he wanted to change schools.

I had listened to Jodi’s concerns, his complaints and his slanted perspective. I thought for a moment: “I have a solution to your problem . . . pray for your teacher.”

My conversation with Jodi definitely revealed that he was struggling with submitting to his teacher’s authority. He needed to know what the Bible says: “There is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” The Bible continues: “Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God.”

So what if Jodi’s teacher truly was at fault and poor in executing his duties? This was Jodi’s claim.

Reminds me of another time. A few other people and I were studying the Bible one evening. Our discussion focused on the importance of honoring, respecting and submitting to the God-established authorities in our lives.

We were closing down the discussion. Quietly, hesitantly Andy said, “My boss calls me stupid.” He went on to reveal some totally inappropriate verbal harassment. So what do you do now? Is it time to tweak the Bible, making an exception in recognizing his boss as an authority from God?

We prayed some serious prayers regarding the situation, shoring up Andy’s new-in-the faith resolve.

When we saw Andy a week later he was goofy-happy. He told us, “My boss lost her voice; she couldn’t talk all week.”

The Bible tells us to pray for, “all authorities, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.”

God’s ways fall out of the sphere of human logic. But so do the ultimate results. Just ask Jodi. Ask Andy.

Experiencing difficulties with a person in authority? Do what the Bible says—pray. And expect the unexpected.

LEFT BEHIND

WHAT GANG ARE YOU IN?

His answer kind of made sense; seemed fairly logical.

Three Junior High students were riding in my van. I am not sure why Brandon asked the question: “Do you know how gangs started?” I filtered the question to mean gangs in the United States: “No I don’t.”

I want to know the truth. Proverbs, the wisdom book of the Bible, says, “Buy truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.” There is a price to pay for obtaining truth along with wisdom, instruction and understanding. It will cost some time searching for truth; researching the facts.

I listened, allowing Brandon to tell me what he knew about the history of gangs. He answered, “The Mafia started them.”

This sort of makes sense; seems reasonably logical.

With no better explanation, I asked, “So where did you find that out?” Brandon replied, “Some things you just figure out on your own.” Brandon is smart, but now my brain started questioning his answer.

Later, through reading and studying information written by gang experts, I discovered the truth. I spent some time; I bought some truth.

So what did I discover? Brandon was wrong.

Several days later some of the same Junior High students gathered at a Bible study. The evening’s lesson? The Truth. First we talked about the history of gangs. This engaged their attention as I told them my discoveries.

Realistically, knowing gang history has extremely limited value. What really matters is grasping the words of Jesus. “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” He’s talking about the eternal truths of God. Life savers. Life changers.

Is there anyone so free of life-obstacles that God’s truth is worthless?

God’s truth is priceless. Spend your life in its pursuit.

GOD GOT MY ATTENTION

He believes the Bible. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, let them pray over him…the prayer of faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.”

I was a little nervous, intimidated even. The article I was working on had led me to Nigel Mumford, former Marine Commando, who is now a Minister of Healing. “What is it that you do Nigel?” I asked. “I listen, love and pray for those who come seeking the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.”

Hands trained for combat are now hands of healing. Fascinated with the complex life of this soft-spoken man of faith, I pondered the contrasts. Nigel smiles, “Yeah, I was tough, now I cry easily.”

Life, death; Nigel is prepared for all situations with the “prayer of faith.” Gazing heavenward, Minister Mumford prays; his hands are holding a baby struggling for life. Faith. “The Lord will raise him up.”

The basis for his now unshakable belief in healing prayer? Positive results-- “I owned a picture framing shop.” Customer-chats would often turn to the seriousness of illnesses. Nigel offered the prayer of faith. “It absolutely freaked me out...God got my attention.”

Nigel is in combat once more, willingly fighting a battle each day for the health and life of friends or strangers. Intrigued, I asked how his body and soul stay healthy. He didn’t take long to answer, “I do three things: pray, pray, pray…very deeply.”

Nigel said, “Sometimes in dealing with illness, the yuck of life, a quick prayer of faith is best--God, Help.”

Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.” Lacking the fullness of Jesus’ promise? In a battle with sickness?

Believe the Bible. Pray the prayer of faith.

FREE HOT SAUCE...

She needed answers. “You can’t trust doctors to tell you all the side effects,” Edna said. So where do you go when you really need to know? One of Edna’s always-go-to sources is the internet. She laughs, “You can find everything.”

She floated from website to website landing at hystersisters.com. Edna wanted some compassionate, understanding answers about the medicine she was taking for menopause.

Perusing the site she noticed something that really spiked her interest. “Free Stuff.” Edna loves free stuff. She thought: “Who cares about menopause when there are free things available?”

Now Edna has her criteria for free stuff, “It has to be something I know I’ll use and have free shipping.” She ordered bath soap, face lotion and then spotted an offer for free hot sauce.

“Yes, hot sauce.” She clicked on hotexas.com/freesamples which cybered her to the Habaneros of Texas website. Soon she was signed up to receive a free sample.

Then in the lower right hand corner she noticed another offer: “Free Gift.” Now she was getting near giddy with all these freebies—Free Stuff Heaven.

With a quick click, the words instantly popped up on her computer screen. “IF YOU DIED TODAY . . . DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE THAT YOU WOULD GO TO HEAVEN???”

The Bible states: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Edna responded: “Praise the Lord, I already have that free gift!”

Is your response the same? If not, there is a free gift waiting to set you free from sin so you can freely serve God as you await your free entry into Heaven.

Go to the Bible. Search. The Creator of the universe has a free gift just for you.

FAITH JOURNEY

With a doubt-laden voice, he said, “Who’s going to read that?” My mind flinched, “You’re right.” The man who had baptized me a few years earlier, my spiritual mentor, was attempting to douse my burning desire to become a writer.

With no writing background it was hard not to agree. I had never felt a desire to write until six months prior when God whispered into my searching spirit a direction for my life.

“By faith Abraham obeyed . . . and went out, not knowing where he was going.” That’s me God; lead me.

I took a step of faith by enrolling in a writing class. A few months into the class the idea for a newspaper column emerged.

I carefully crafted a letter to Virginia Ransbottom, managing editor of the local newspaper. The whole time a war was being waged. Faith insisted, “I know this is God.” Fear ridiculed, “What a crazy idea; you’ll fail.”

I mailed the letter.

After an arduous wait of three week with no response, I made the dreaded call. “Ms. Ransbottom, this is Rick Leland . . .” It was obvious, she was very negative to my proposal. Fear punched me in the stomach. I kept talking. Relenting, she agreed to meet with me in person.

At the meeting, Joe the General Manager joined us. After a brief conversation, he said, “When can you start?” Adding, “Is twenty bucks a column O.K.?” I felt like kissing Joe and dancing with Virginia. Mostly I felt like getting on my knees to thank God.

The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Has God put a hope in your heart? Achieving it lies beyond the probable. “With God all things are possible.” What faith-step do you need to take?

WHAT ARE YOU COLLECTING?

He was circling in on me like a glider coursing to a target. Engulfed in a magazine in a hangar-sized hospital waiting room, I was sitting in one of the hundred plus seats. Only two others were occupied.

A person who I had never met before, hovered near. I glanced up; he sat down in the seat right next to me.

Ernie immediately said, “I collect coins.” Grabbing his belt buckle, he reported: “This is the first silver dollar they made.” Still processing the oddity of our instant-conversation, I said: “That’s interesting.” An 1878 Morgan Silver Dollar was ornately integrated into the buckle.

He then pulled a coin in a sticky-note-sized protective holder from his pocket. Ernie said, “Have you ever seen an Indian Head Penny?” He retrieved coin after coin from his pockets. With each appearance, he told their story.

The coins were precious to Ernie. Price tags were still affixed to the cardboard packaging.

When the coin show ended, he told me some sad life-stories. My pondering mind shifted from coins, to illness, to what I could offer of spiritual value.

The book of Proverbs says: “She is more precious than rubies and all things you may desire cannot compare with her.” This is not referencing coins, but wisdom. Godly wisdom.

And like precious coins, godly wisdom can be examined for specific details. The Bible says: “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

We need to collect godly wisdom. Someone like Ernie may just need a person to talk with. His wife had Alzheimer’s and his appointment was for blood work. Do you think Ernie might need some of that pure, peaceable, gentle advice from above?

Yes. . .everyone does.

A MESSAGE FROM GOD

“I think the Lord was speaking to me,” Marilyn told me.

This happened mid-afternoon while she was lying on her bed. The last few days had not been pleasant. Once again depression gripped her emotions combined with a bout of illness.

A breeze wafted in through the half open window. The pages of her Bible, which was open on the bed, fluttered. Marilyn thought: “That’s weird.” Looking down, her eyes connected with a Bible verse. “After you have suffered a while you will be restored to joy and happiness,” Marilyn said. “Well, something like that.”

It was just what she needed—a message from God. Marilyn has endured more physical and emotional health issues than almost anyone I know.

I was excited: “Wow, that’s really something. Where is that verse at in the Bible?” She said, “I’m not sure, but I will find it for you.” A couple of days passed. Then I asked her again about the verse’s Biblical location. Marilyn replied, “I guess I lost it.”

I have done the same thing. I have read scriptures that were like fireflies flashing on the page. The very words invigorated my spirit. With time, I would let the life-changing verse fade away from memory. Or the piece of paper I wrote it on ended up a withered piece of trash.

The Bible says: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” We falter, forget and fail; yet God and His Word are continually active.

Lost your message from God? Or maybe you have never received one. Pray this: “God I need a message from You.” Now don’t wait for the wind to blow your Bible open. You open the Bible. And read. God has a message for you.

Don’t lose it.

TURN A LIFE AROUND

Madison smiled. She’s seven. Until three days ago, I never remember seeing her smile.

Perpetually somber, that was Madison. Even more, her soft child-featured face was already shaded with a worried-adult cast.

The Bible refers often to “countenance—the facial indication of mood and emotion.” One of the first references says: “Then the LORD said . . . . why has your countenance fallen?”

I have asked myself—why? The conclusion? Her countenance is a reflection of her challenging life. I see Madison about once a week. She lives in an area crowded with mobile homes in an array of disrepair, some abandoned. Extreme unemployment and fractured families fuel hopelessness.

When teenagers at my church found out, I was asked, “What can we do to help?”

They decided to purchase back-to-school supplies for the kids in Madison’s neighbor. So, on Wednesday Ruben, Megan, Kayla and I went on a mission, delivering their purchases--backpacks stuffed with essentials.

The next time Madison saw me she ran up to my van. I rolled the window down, she said, “My mommy wants to thank you for the things.” Then Madison smiled. So did I. Her white-toothed grin tingled my emotions.

And then I saw Madison smile again. And again.

Theorizing what happened, this Proverb kept flickering into my brain: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” The Message Bible says it this way: “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.”

Think about this. Because some teenagers decided to spend their own money to bring hope into the lives of kids they had never met, there is the distinct possibility they may have turned a life around.

Call it a faith-stretch to believe. Not for me. I saw Madison smile.

A LIGHT IN DARK

 

A FRIENDSHIP SPIRALING TOWARD MEANINGLESS

Robert will never know how many times I have cried. With desperate prayers and enduring, seemingly endless faith; I maintained hope that Robert could get off drugs and live for God.

Now an almost more difficult thought arises: “God are you releasing me? Have I done everything possible to help Robert?”

Sometimes while crying for him, I would get a picture in my mind, a vision for his future. I would see him drug free, living sold-out for God--serving God in ministry.

As we drove that morning, we were both silent. Finally I said, “What happened Robert?” He indignantly replied, “I don’t want to talk about it.” I pushed. He rebelled, “You always want to nitpick.”

This was our fourth drive to a drug rehab facility in eight years. Still, he wasn’t getting better—just worse.

A scripture Robert probably has memorized says: “Know the truth and the truth will set you free.” That is what I wanted to talk about—truth. Robert didn’t want truth. It was becoming apparent our friendship was spiraling toward meaningless.

Now I had to face a truth in my life. When do you step away, leave a relationship with someone you are trying to help?

The Bible says: “For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful . . . but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.”

All I see for produce in the Robert-garden is thorns and briers. And I fear for his end.

God only gives us so many hours a day to work for Him. We need to pray more often: “God, help me know which gardening, which efforts will produce the most for Your Kingdom.”

JUMP TO GOD

Timothy said, “Let’s learn about God!”

His eagerness set the group’s tone as we studied the Bible. Even with a set lesson, I encourage truth seeking questions.  When Michael asked, “What is sin?” I was prepared. Then questions like Daniel’s: “How do you know God always existed?’ stretched me.

The discussion’s pinnacle came via a white board drawing. A simple line drawing depicting two steep cliffs which were separated by a deep gorge. I wrote “us” on one cliff and “God” on the opposite side with “sin” in the middle at the gorge’s bottom.

The Bible says: “The wages of sin is death.”---meaning spiritual death; separation from God. It also says, “All have sinned.”

The boys were catching on. Breaking God’s rules had created a chasm between God and themselves. This needs to be reconciled before life’s end, or it is forever in the pit.

I asked, “So how do you get across the mega sin pit?” Timothy answered: “Jump to
God . . . do a lot of good stuff.”

Here’s Timothy’s concept—though incorrect. Going to church, doing kind deeds, praying, giving money to charity and such are the muscle for the God-jump. At life’s conclusion we sprint full-tilt towards the sin-separating ravine. We vault ourselves frantically with all our good-works muscles towards God, believing that the gorge’s width is determined by our lifelong accumulation of bad works.

Timothy, the Bible says, “We're all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are filthy rags.” Good works never enable a successful jump to God. So-- do this. Follow God’s plan. Jump to Jesus. His sinless life and death on a cross to cancel our sin debt is the only bridge to God.

Our part? Repent of our sins. Accept Jesus’ sin payment. Make Jesus the Lord of our life. Live for God.
  

MANY PATHS

“Nancy, could we talk about spiritual matters?” I said. “I’m confused; maybe you could help me understand?”

Nancy is a lovely person, displaying the attributes of a wonderful human being. I have heard her praying. She plays blood-of-Jesus hymns; even singing along with her soft melodic voice.

But then I see her tarot cards, she tells me of her affinity to Buddhism, to the Islamic faith and she seems excited that an old friend, a former pastor, converted to Judaism.

I asked Nancy how she reconciles embracing all these faiths. She said: “For me, I believe there are many paths to the same destination.”  Meaning heaven.

While all the faiths she mentioned have starkly different, conflicting beliefs; the Christian to Jewish flip-flop seemed especially bizarre. I mentioned scriptural truth from the Book of John: “So Pilate then handed Jesus over to them (Jewish religious leader) to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away. And He bearing His cross . . . they crucified Jesus.”  

Then I said, “Nancy how could Jesus be God and Savior to Christians; and a criminal worthy of death on a cross to Jews? How could they both be on the path to the same heaven?”

The Bible talks about people who get drawn into deception: “Because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved.” I am convinced that Nancy loves truth. Her own words revealed this: “Would you be interested in being involved in a Bible study?”

During our conversation, Nancy often said, “For me,” then added her opinion.

For me-- I study the Bible for my truth. Warning! Deception is lurking. It will block you from getting on or attempt to knock you off the true path.

For me, for you—love truth. Love the Bible.

IS THIS PERSON GOD'S MIRACLE?

When the door opened to her compact, abundantly stocked store, Annie warmly welcomed her customer, thinking: “Is this person God’s miracle?”  Annie needed a miracle. The store was nearly moneyless with the rent due in a couple days.

Her store, more correctly, as she says, “This is God’s store,” is unique because anyone can walk in, no questions asked, and shop free for clothes, books, toys, small household items, etc.

Annie’s only fund raising effort is the red looks-like-a-child’s-tackle-box attached to the countertop. A note taped near a slot cut into the top says, in English and Spanish: “Donations are used for the rent and utilities.”

No asking, pleading, mailings during the store are seven years. She doesn’t even ask for the hundreds of thousands of items which have been donated to give away. Well actually Annie does fund raising: “I pray to God.”

This month, for the first time, the situation was pressing. Some days the little box contained a few pennies. Other days-- zero.

Annie prayed and with joyful anticipation her faith held firm. And with all her heart, she believed the words of Jesus: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.”

Thursday night Annie put the closed sign up. One more day for the store and then the rent would be due. It had been a lean day for donations. Then Annie heard a rap on the door. It was Pastor Jerry from a church two blocks away. He had never been to the store.

Apologizing for his late arrival he handed Annie an envelope and left quickly. Alone again, Annie opened the envelope.

Near tears, Annie held a check for $1000.

She had sought the Kingdom first. God provided—a miracle.

YOU CALLED GOD AWESOME

Ethan jeered as if I had committed a theological snafu: “You called God awesome.”  This was part of my evening meal blessing. With the “amen” barely past my lips, my fourteen-year old nephew gave his editorial.

It was a week long summer gathering at my father-in-law’s lake house. At every evening meal he would stoically nod at me, “You going to pray?” How do you pray when most of the people gathered are not Christians? Especially since others besides Ethan have felt entitled to comment immediately following the prayers’ conclusions.

Now Ethan toned his remark as a question. He never goes to church, so “awesome” relates to his world. He might think about his dad’s new laptop computer, his brother’s two-thousand dollar digital camera, or movie special effects.

So praying: “God, You are awesome,” introduced Ethan to an unfamiliar way of thinking about God.

And he’s probably never read the many biblical references to God like this one out of Deuteronomy. "For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God . . .”

Who can even exactly say what the word “awesome” implies?

How about this from Webster’s Dictionary? “To express a profoundly humble and reverential attitude in the presence of deity; abashed fear inspired by authoritative power.”

Can we even approach the thought of our own littleness set before God—the creator of the universe?  Some adjustments need to be made.

It’s simple to call God awesome. Yet someone like Ethan will not connect to our meaning. But what if I, what if you, lived a life reflecting the awesomeness of God?

God, today—help me to cast a glint of who You truly are into my world.

HOW DOES MY HAIR LOOK?

“How does my hair look?” Jerry said. I pondered. Louder with added force, he repeated, “How does my hair look?”

I quickly responded, “It looks fine.”

I lied. It looked awful.

I thought: “Why is Jerry concerned about how his hair looks?” His clothes were filthy. He smelled. Facial disfigurement and leg sores covered his bloated body. And he sometimes twitched, coming down from his latest drug binge. Now he was checking in at the gospel mission—again.

The Bible says, “God does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." It would be difficult to consider that Jerry’s heart was possibly more attractive than his hair.

Jerry has traversed more spiritual mountains and valleys in his thirty years than most people in a lifetime. When he is hot for God; he blazes. When he’s cold; he crashes hard. Through all he knows more scriptures than almost anyone I know—when his mind is clear. And I’ve often thought that we would be ministry partners someday.

But today he was not a pleasant companion. I wondered what would happen if he had one more binge, one more street fight. “Jerry, look at me,” I said. “This may be the last time I see you alive.”

This angered him; practically yelling: “I’m not going to do drugs anymore!”

Was this the real Jerry? What did his heart look like at that instant? I do not know. I need to ask God to forgive me; my eyes were focusing on his outward appearance.

I need to go visit Jerry, changing my attire. As the Bible says—“clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience; bearing with one another . . .  forgiving as Christ forgave you . . . beyond all this-- wear love.  

MAD FACE

“Show me your mad face,” Armani said.

My wife, Nancy, had just picked him up along with his sister and brother for an evening at our home. This was their first visit. So was eight year old Armani preparing himself for an eventual mad-face encounter?

Nancy caught Armani’s drift and answered him: “My face would look about the same.”

Have you ever wondered: “Does God have a mad face?”  

Yes, God has a mad face; He gets angry. Listen to these words from His mouth out of the Book Of Isaiah: “Because of the iniquity, the sin of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid My face and was angry. And he went on turning away and backsliding in the way of his heart.”

I don’t know what God’s face looked like, but it wasn’t a smiley-face-bumper-sticker moment. Here’s the deal-- don’t fear the face; fear the consequences.

Nancy established grace-filled boundaries; then warned Armani regarding repeated trespasses. “If you don’t do what we tell you to do, my husband will take you back home.”  Consquences.

Armani and seven other children were under our care for a cookout and swimming. We did not want anyone getting hurt and we require cordial, peaceful interaction between everyone at our home. All of this is for their benefit. This is the parallel with God. He reacts for our good.

We see this as God continues speaking: “I have seen his ways and will heal him. I will also lead him and restore comforts to him.” Now this is always God’s focus—heal, restore, comfort; draw us back to Himself.

Think you might have seen a mad-faced God? Is it time for a turn around? You are one redemptive prayer away: “Dear God, I’m sorry . . .”

GIFTED

“He’s gifted.” It was as if these barely audible words were generated out of own my mind. It was the lady sitting behind me verbalized my exact thoughts.

The setting was a funeral for a twenty-three year old acquaintance. During the open-mike invitation for remarks concerning the deceased, a young man sauntered to the front. He spoke for less than six minutes. I was captivated by the near-poetic cadence of his delivery. He conveyed a message of hope with his compact, engaging use of words. Then he delicately tied a bow on the package, beautifully wrapping up his emotion grabbing tribute.

I’m thinking, “I need to talk to him after the funeral.”

Afterwards I shook the stranger’s hand-- Brock, and spoke of the gifting I saw in him.

As we talked, my brain was connecting to what the Bible says. “Every good and perfect gift comes from above . . .” That’s from God. And this verse is so relevant regarding God’s bestowing of talents upon people.

I was curious: “So Brock what do you do for a living?” He looked at his hands, made joking allusions to his seemingly insignificant factory job. This world needs capable people in these noble positions.

Still, I don’t believe God gifted Brock in communication for this to be his destiny. And he was not using his job as a bridge to his next level. Yes-- it was a pointing-finger challenge: “Brock you need to connect with God.”

Connect with God?

Yes. This “yes” is for everyone.

Look at your hands. Contemplate their astonishing only-God-could-create functions. Likewise He created you. Listen-- “You’re gifted.”  Now look to God; connect with God. He’s the gift giver. And may you allow Him to reveal, enhance and activate the special purpose He created you for.

SPEED, GOD LOVES YOU.

Is going only five miles over the speed limit really speeding? Well, maybe I was going six over. But Allen and I needed a boost to get to church on time.

Now my friend Allen’s theology is like a road atlas with pages missing. We both know it; we laugh. Once again his words launched a missing-page adventure: “If we make the next light it means God likes us.”

If that was true we needed God to like us for four lights in a row.

Well, God liked us on the first light, according to the Book of Allen 1:1. But I wasn’t converted yet. So I asked: “What about the people going the other way?”

Allen had the answer: “We’ll see who God likes best.”

Second light-- we made it. It’s nice thinking God likes me better. So if Allen’s theory is correct, would that person driving the immaculate Escalade be favored over someone driving a dented van with 186,000 miles? That someone is me. And I just made light number three.

Allen, let’s see if I can correct your theology. Kind of the why-do-red-lights-happen to good people quandary.

There are a lot of slices to this; here’s one. The Bible says:  “Don’t despise discipline from the Lord and don’t lose heart when He rebukes you. The person He loves He disciplines.” The Bible parallels this to a caring father disciplining a son he loves.

The Bible goes on to say: “God disciplines us for our good so we may share in His holiness.”

Encountering red lights in your life? Could it be you are experiencing God’s love? Could it be God desiring for you to experience more of His holiness? The Bible says, “God changes us from glory to glory.” Want to experience Godly life change?

Expect red lights. Godspeed.

THE MILLIONAIRE'S DAUGHTER

The millionaire’s four-year old daughter-- I had never seen her before. Now, there she was just yards up the beach.

Brisk wind held seagulls in near mid-air suspension over blue sky touching blue water. But now my attention was focused on the millionaire’s daughter. And her father.

I had my camera. I wanted a picture. But . . . a camera could not adequately preserve the scene. A few degrees cooler than playing-on-the-beach weather--they frolicked exuberantly on an abandoned expanse of sand. So engaged with each other, I doubt they noticed me. They zoomed a yellow toy front-end loader around a freshly created sandcastle. If their laughs and hugs were the loader’s fuel, it would run forever.

I stood there suspended in my thought world. My mind grabbed images of several under nurtured kids I care about.  

With emotions continuing to ping pong, I walked towards the man. A stranger. I extended my hand: “You must be a millionaire.”

He replied, “I’m not a millionaire.”  

He didn’t know my brain was contexting our conversation through the words of Jesus. "For what does it profit a man, what does he benefit, if he gains the whole world, and yet forfeits his soul—forfeit the vital force of his life?” And along that gain-the-whole-world path, what else will be traded in for the allurement?  Maybe a four year-old daughter?

“You’re doing what’s important,” I said. “In my eyes you’re a millionaire.”

Our concluding twenty-five second conversation gave me zero clues to the “millionaire’s” financial status. Then feeling compelled, I placed my hand on his shoulder: “Bless you.”

That same hand extends to all who properly nurture the children in their lives: “God bless you.”

If you do not? Change. Today can be your day to become a millionaire.

THISTLE

 

RESTORATION PROJECT

Chet was always talking about his 1933 Chevy restoration project. Then he e-mailed pictures: “Thought you might want to see the finished product –Chet.”

Wow, nice car!

With all his car talk, it’s difficult to wedge my world in. I need to e-mail him.

Chet, I do restoration also. Surprised? I found this 2000 model in a trailer park east of here. Looks sound on the outside, but I noticed a lot of inside damage. Her name is Samantha.

Monday I drove into to the trailer park. In a flurry, the regular kids claimed their seats in my van. And a new child was buckling up. “Samantha’s going with us,” Tyler said.  “Samantha,” I said. “Do you know where we’re going?” She formed the word best she could: “Chuch.”  Yes, off to Monday night children’s church.

Smiling at Samantha’s eagerness, I could have driven away with this precious package. I thought, “This is wrong.” I was a stranger and had never met her parents.

A child can sustain significant damage when they lack nurturing, love, and discipline. Six-year old attention-starved Samantha’s problems quickly surfaced.

Chet, the Old Testament closes with: "God will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers  . . ."

“God will restore.”

Great.  Let God do all the dent-banging restoration . . . well, we know that’s not God’s way. God asks us to partner with Him.

Hey Chet, let’s take the “33” Chevy to the trailer park-- give some kids a ride. Maybe, you could talk to Samantha’s dad. He might listen to you. You’ve struggled. God restored you with His Jesus plan. Actually, He’s continually fine tuning you. Me too.  

Still, God allows us on His restoration team. And He’s looking for more help.

Are you available?

SALTY WORDS

I really hadn’t taken a close look at her, as she spent a long time browsing the used children’s books. But when she looked up at me, I knew the stupidity of my question. The words just slipped out as I realized she looked about fourteen: “How many children do you have?”

“I’m pregnant,” she said. “How old are you?” She told me she was sixteen. “That’s pretty young,” I replied, probably with that disapproving wrinkle above my eyes communicating even more.

My mind swirled around with things to say. The Bible says, “Let your words always be full of grace.” And knowing that the Bible continually emphasizes heart attitude, facial expressions should be grace-toned also.

I thank God, He arrested my thoughts. I heard a voice in my head, “She’s already heard, many times, everything she’s done wrong.”

So I started helping Kimberly find children’s books. And just listened. It was like a grandpa listening to his granddaughter hip hop from one subject to the next. Kind of strange, since I had never met her before.

Without proper words, it is difficult to arrive at an understanding of a person’s situation. The Bible verse continues; adding an ingredient to grace-filled words. “. . . seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”

That’s exactly what I was hoping for-- an opportunity to respond with a dash of hope, a dash of life direction, a dash of God into our conversation.

Kimberly looked through more stacks of children’s books. Casually mentioning, “I like to read.”  When the conversation took a convenient curve, I responded: “Do you ever read the Bible?”

Words, like salt can be used to sting a wound or enhance palatability. One repels; one attracts. How’s your sprinkling going? Need improvement? Me too.

A KERNAL OF WHEAT FALLS

As I walked up to the casket, bagpipe music softly wailed “Amazing Grace.” I knew Patty was in heaven, still I felt like crying. Is it acceptable to ask, “Why would one of the kindest people I know die at age forty-nine?

Some eulogies are spread so thick with the frosting of compliments that you wonder if they’re really talking about the person who died.

Admit it; you’ve experienced this.

With Patty, no frosting was needed to sweeten or to smear over flaws in her life.

Days leading to her death, I had been pondering Jesus’ words; letting them infiltrate my brain. “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

Our lives are initially a single kernel of wheat. Completely focused on our own wants, needs and desires; at the end of life a single life has been bettered—your own.

Then there is the dying seed scenario.

Here’s how it works. Patty never drove. She usually walked or rode her three-wheel bike to her numerous volunteer activities. She helped at a nursing home with her church, at school she mentored children, and if there was a charity walkathon, she was probably involved.  Patty was prolific in sending out cards—condolences, get-wells, on and on. She was even taking piano lessons to fill a need in the small church she attended. Her pastor said in the eulogy: “Patty probably shared Jesus with more people than I ever will.”

By serving the needs of others, Patty produced many seeds. She improved the lives of countless people.  

Most why-death questions are never answered. There is a much more important question.

How? How did you live the time God gave you?

FIRST COMMUNION

“All the little girls get dressed up in new white dresses,” Mike said. With a few laughs, he also described the seven-year old boys in exuberance-restraining suit coats and neck ties.

I had asked Mike, “What does first communion mean to you?” Over the weekend he had attended his granddaughter’s first communion ceremony. I was actually probing for a more meaningful answer. So I refocused my question: “What’s the spiritual significance?”

Recently I had been replaying the memories of my first communion. At the initiation of communion, also called the Lord’s Supper, Jesus said: “Do this in remembrance of me.”  At age forty-one, I solemnly, with deep gratitude in my heart remembered that Jesus died on a cross for my innumerable sins.

Sacred music quietly played, my thinking had flowed to the heavenly importance of this moment as I stood in line. My wife touched my shoulder, startling my brain to take the journey back to earth. She asked me to look her in her eyes.

We held hands as we faced each other. Softly she spoke, “I forgive you for everything you’ve done to me.”

I became undone.

Fifteen years as an ungodly husband, the massive trash pile of sinful transgressions towards her was shameful.

Are there many life-challenges more arduous than forgiving people of the wounds they inflict?

Communion—Jesus said: “This is My blood . . . which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Do you really want to understand communion, the forgiveness of Jesus in a tangible way?  Stack on the scales the sins Jesus has forgiven you; weigh those against the sins of another who you refuse to forgive.

Thump. My scale just bottomed out. I know I must forgive others, if I want to experience true in-remembrance communion with Jesus.

BIBLE--BY CLIFF?

Ten-year old Michael’s soft expressionless demeanor sparked: “I’ve got my Bible.” I noticed the name “Cliff Miller” engraved in the lower right hand corner of Michael’s second-hand Bible.

Spark two: “Can you show me Jesus?” He simply wanted to see Jesus’ name in his Bible. Before I could help, Michael said, “I’ve found Jesus.” I  could see his finger up towards the front of the Bible. It was planted on the word-- “G-E-N-E-S-I-S.”

Well Michael has many things to learn. He sure is eager.

Michael’s attention next was drawn to the inscription of “Cliff Miller.” “That’s who wrote the Bible,” Michael said. “Cliff Miller.” I told him that wasn’t the case. He doubted what I said. Why would his name be on the book near the spot typically reserved for the author’s name?

Michael was heading to the right spot—a Bible study. The evening’s focus: “The Holy Bible.”

The Bible says: “All Scripture is inspired of God.” The original Greek language conotates a God-breathed creation. God breathed into Holy men’s lives as they wrote Holy messages to transform followers of His Holy Word into Holy people.

Some people need volumes of information to aid in their Biblical evaluation process. It’s available. All the scientific and historical facts any true seeker could ever desire.

Now Michael, when shown what the Bible said, instantly believed that God inspired every word found in the Holy Bible. Not a doubt.

Sure, a person can doubtingly explore reasons why the Bible can’t be true.  

And then there’s Michael’s approach. As Jesus said, “The person who humbles himself like this child is greatest in the heavenly kingdom.”  

The Bible-- God’s powerful, life-changing Word. His Gift to humanity.

Our part in it? Choose our reading attitude. Humble, eager to learn; call it a Michael-attitude-- a show-me-Jesus attitude.

LUCKY'S DONUT

I had already driven by the quirky Cambodian restaurant once—or was it twice. Lucky’s Donut. My thought-it-would-be-simple search for a van bench seat with seat belts was heading toward mini-expedition proportion.

God, all I need is a salvaged, You know, cheap seat. Minimal hassle please. That’s very close to what my wife and I prayed the night before. Shrugged shoulders, “no’s” and seatbeltless models were all I found.  The price?-- $350 to $600.

I needed a break to gather my thoughts. Lucky, served a favorite of mine—shrimp fried rice. So tasty.  

The Bible says: “Those led by the Spirit are sons of God.” Spirit led . . . even for a van seat? Sure. But sometimes we needed to stop. Yes stop, and see how the Spirit will lead us in God’s direction.  

I asked the only other patron, “Do you know where there’s another RV salvage place?” Soon I was out the door with a new destination.

When I made my final turn, I spotted a mega-RV dealer. But they only sold new rigs. I felt compelled to keep driving.

Hmmm. What’s that sign say? “RV Surplus, Indoor Flea Market.”

Shorty, the man at the counter said, “I’ve got one left.” We walked through two adjacent rooms. He unlocked a door. Down three steps, he unlocked another door. “It’s brand new. It’s just dusty,” He said.  I got excited: “How much?” Shorty said, “Twenty dollars.”  I questioned him about its lack of seatbelts. “I’ve got some upstairs; I’ll give them to you.”

Is it difficult to tip the scales of your mind from lucky moment to Spirit led experience?

I handed Shorty the only money I had with me—a twenty dollar bill. I left the building grinning. I raised my hand heavenward: “Thank you Father.”

GOOD NIGHT. . . red sky

 

MAKE JESUS HAPPY

Lydia still remembers hanging the picture of Jesus on her wall. A comforting, tangible token of her family’s faith. I’ve often seen her traditional rendition. Long haired, bearded Jesus stands in the subtle light in front of an arched wooden door. There dressed in a white robe with its gentle glow, He’s knocking on the door just below a small eye-level window.

Lydia was telling me about when her granddaughter Bailey had stayed overnight recently. When she left, Lydia noticed several nickel sized yellow smiley face stickers now adorning her beloved Jesus picture.

Exerting a gentle thumb-nail tug, she attempt removing them. Still her efforts left disfiguring surface blotches.

Next visit, Lydia questioned ten-year old Bailey about the smiley face stickers. Bailey instantly burst into tears. With tears still staining her face, she said, “Cause Jesus looked so sad to me . . . I wanted to make Jesus happy.”

The true value of the picture took an instant hit as Lydia pondered her granddaughter’s words. “Isn’t that how we all should be; shouldn’t we all want to make Jesus happy?”

Now stop a minute. Take a scrutinizing look at the picture.

The picture is a visual presentation of a Bible verse. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Look at the picture closer. Jesus isn’t sad. His gentle, caring face reflects His serious demeanor. He’s concerned. He’s hoping someone will fling that big, wood door wide open.

Bailey, do you want to see Jesus get a big grin on His face? Open the door. He wants to be with you. He wants to be that friend you anxiously anticipate dining with.

DON'T CRY FOR MOSES

I don’t cry that hard very often. It had been a challenging day of facing the hard facts of life in Mozambique, Africa.

Not having used a wood plane in a few years, Moses helped reacquaint me with its delicate function. He knew how to make the aromatic pine curl into a lacy pile on the floor. Amazing.

Moses, with only one leg and only one finger on his right hand, used a series of make-it-work body contortions to efficiently achieve his objective. Though his occasional groans of frustration were heard while performing some of carpentry’s more delicate maneuvers, his sweet spirit remained.

That day, two carpenters built a cabinet together. Moses said, “I’m a peasant” and lives in one of the poorest countries on earth. He must manipulate his bruised body through forced efforts in a daily physical grind. And there’s me. I’m engulfed in tears long after the work day has faded to night.

The thought is overwhelming, overpowering: “God you’ve been so amazingly merciful to me.” Why has God’s wide open flow of mercy flooded over my life?  Did Moses get a drip?    

The Bible says: “The LORD’S mercies, for they have no end; His tender mercies fail not. They are new every morning.” God’s words must be relevant for Moses. So what mercies flow in his life?

He has a job in a country with extreme unemployment, soon he will be married, he is gradually constructing a house, God has given him an artistic gift and most significant-- he has the mercy God offers to all. Moses is a follower of Jesus.

So the tears weren’t for Moses. This teary-eyed revelation granted me a refocusing of gratitude towards God.

May our merciful God bless you with your own revelation.

SCARED

“It scared me,” Shayna said.

She’s only eight years old. There are a lot of things that could scare her. Some could almost be laughable. What scared her this time? “Mom made me sit on my dad’s lap; she wanted to take a picture of us.”

Why would sitting on her dad’s lap for a photograph scare her? The Bible says, “Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children. . .” What did her father do?

Shayna was provoked to fear by what her father didn’t do. Not even once prior to this time had he made the effort to see her. Now she was forced to have her photo taken with this scary stranger.  

A night of passion, a man and a woman set in motion the formula to bring into existence God’s precious gift—a child. Other decisions were made. And in that process it was decided not to follow God’s guidelines for raising a child.

Instead of scaring a child, the Bible describes a father’s responsibilities: “But tenderly rear them in the training and discipline of the LORD.”

“Tenderly rear them.” The Bible says that children are a gift from God. In that light, they should be nurtured and loved with the utmost focus on their value in God’s eyes. Listen, love, hug these precious jewels.

With “tenderly” as the wrapping for the child rearing package, training and discipline are implemented. Training-- showing a child the way to live. Much of this is through being a living example. Discipline--firm loving methods to block a child’s disobedience and rebellion.

Then we come to the truly more encompassing mandate for child rearing—“Of the LORD.” Raise children in the way God prescribes. For this we’ve been given the Bible as an instruction manual. So read your Bible; do what it says.

TERMINAL

“Mommy, did you tell him?” Jessica asked.

I looked at Laura lying in the recliner. Her looks sort of startled me--the rapid change in her health. “Tell me what?” I said. Jessica’s grandma, also in the room, said, “She’s terminal.”

So am I. So are you. Though we know what was meant—the doctor’s pronouncement that Laura’s death was near.

Terminal? What pops into your brain? How about this. Terminal—so death is near; you’re at the train terminal of life. There are two lines. We each will get a ticket—either heaven or hell.

I asked Laura, “Do you have a ticket to heaven?” She weakly said, “I think I’m going to heaven.” Her answer could have put a smile on my face, still I felt compelled to check her ticket stub.

“O.K. now tell me why you think that way,” I said. “I’m going to write down your reasons.” I attentively listened as I recorded her words. Haltingly she listed her beliefs: “I know God; God knows me and my purpose in life; I want to go.”  While all truthful statements; not one of them is a ticket to heaven.

I dearly love Laura, who is my cousin, and I am thankful that we already had an open dialog about the things of God. Now at age forty-seven the ravages of her disease were extinguishing the remaining flicker of her life.

The first words Jesus spoke when He started His ministry became the focus of my conversation with Laura: “Repent! For the kingdom of God is near.”  

Doubting my sensitivity some might say: “You’re going to launch into repent! With a dying person? Sounds like fire and brimstone.

Could be . . . but to me Laura’s response that day made it sound like a ticket to heaven.

LEFTOVER MEATLOAF

“The battle belongs to the LORD,” I said to my wife as she dashed off to work. Turning around just before she opened her car door, Nancy said: “But we have leftover meatloaf.”

I knew what she meant-- “Invite Ted to diner.” He was going through the meat grinder of life-- outright sin, striving to live up to people’s expectations, and life zapping pride.

He would be the first to admit his sinful activities. Now repentant, he still had to deal with: “A person reaps what they sow.” Sin—big, little, yours, mine or his; there is still a cleanup operation after we get right with God.

Ted was putting the battle into the accepting hands of God. Besides that Nancy was tossing her homemade meatloaf on the table as a formidable weapon. No she wasn’t going to smack anyone on the head.

The Bible says, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands in not quickly broken.”

When we gathered around leftover meatloaf plus some other tasty dishes that evening Ted looked broken—body, soul, and spirit. We started slicing the meatloaf, we looked into God’s word, we prayed, we talked, we dreamed about what God had for Ted’s future. Our faith rose, then soared. As the meatloaf disappeared; Ted, Nancy, and I became a God-believing, resilient cord of three strands.

We didn’t ask, “Does the battle belong to the LORD?” that night. But if we had questioned this close circle of friends, all would have nodded: “Absolutely, yes.” And if we would have asked, “Is it better to go through battles with friends?” our “absolutely” would have been more absolute and our “yes” would have been more resounding.

How about you? Do you know any battle weary soul who might need some meatloaf tonight?

A DAY

Doug’s work was impeccable; organized and he presented himself professionally. Yet he had one stumbling flaw which could cave in an entire project. He was never on schedule--not even close.

I started our conversation by listing the traits I appreciated about him. Then it came to the poke-you-in-the-eye time: “Doug, if you can’t stay on schedule, you’re not going to work for me any more.” His only response was five tersely measured words: “Just give me a day!” I did; I gave him an ultimatum to meet the next deadline.

Does God ever give us a that’s-it ultimatum? Sure, when we die, but how about pre-death? Is there a thus saith the LORD: “Shape up or I’m through with you?”

The Bible says: “Give thanks to God—He is good. His loving, kind mercy has no vanishing point; it endures forever.” Is this good news? Will God extend His mercy indefinitely?

Wait. The Bible says more. Looking in Romans 1, we see three parallel phrases. 1. “God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts.” 2. “God gave them over to shameful lusts.” 3. “God gave them over to a depraved mind.”

Yes, God has an absolute limit. When does a person cross the line? I don’t know. But if a person does, God will give a person over to their own sin. He will remove His restraint—“Have it your way.” This spiral into a sinful abyss will cripple many people’s lives.

Doug chose his consequences. The day came; the day went. He failed to deliver a promised timely completion. Our business relationship was severed.

Think you might be near the edge with God? Turn around one-hundred and eighty degrees and run towards the loving, kind merciful God.

“Just give me a day.” Today.

A FUTURE THAT MAY SOAR

 

DEATH IN THE HOUSE

“How do you praise and worship God when death is in the house?” Brian asked. This wasn’t a toss-it-out-on-the-table question. This was reality in Brian’s life.  

After two miscarriages, his wife was pregnant again. At eighteen weeks, tests at the doctor’s office showed no heart beat, no signs of life.  Brian said, “I don’t care what the world says about what’s in the womb, it’s a baby!” Miscarriage equals death of a precious helpless baby. Brian prayed fervently that God would spare their child.

So how do you praise and worship God when death is in the house?

It’s easy to think of praise as an exuberant style of Christian music and worship as an hour and fifteen minute Sunday pit stop with God.

Here’s the quick lesson. The essence of worship is living a God-honoring lifestyle. And praise? The Bible says, “Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, which is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to God.”

Then praise is speaking out thanks to God in all situations. Does this mean Brian should thank God for the heart rending doctor’s report? No, but he did chose to thank God that He would be with his family no matter what happened. And he chose to thank God for His tangible blessings—salvation, a good church, answered prayers and His faithfulness.

How do you praise and worship God when death is in the house? A decision must be made: I will thank God. I will live a God-honoring life.

Brian decided to have good fruit on his lips. He even praised God when a few days later he felt compelled to seek additional medical advice. This time they found the baby’s heartbeat and within a couple of days the pregnancy returned to normal.

I THOUGHT I WAS A BUM

“Jesus must like this store,” Harvey said. Looking around he could see people enjoying their shopping experience. The printed material at the store said: “Our Mission Statement: To demonstrate the love of Jesus by providing free clothing, Bibles, books, toys, and small household items to people in need. To provide these in an uplifting, clean, Christian store-like setting.”

The place is called The Free Store. Harvey’s eyes-of-Jesus observation is almost definitely right.

Harvey just wandered in to shop one day; now today he’s helping by hanging up used clothes. The lady who runs the store asked him about his statement. “You help bums,” Harvey replied.

The Free Store lady quickly assured him, “I don’t call the people bums.” Yet, she had misunderstood Harvey’s point. He’s only ten years old: “I thought I was a bum.”

So how did Harvey come to the conclusion that he was a bum? He wasn’t born thinking he was a bum. Did you tell him?

With Harvey’s many quirks, its pretty ease to imagine him at least as a miniature bum. Almost what the Bible categorizes as lowly. Lowly: Humble, meek; of or related to a low social or economical rank. The Bible says: “Though the LORD God is high, yet He gives respect, regard and attention to the lowly.”

It is too easy for me to mentally rank people on the “lowly scale” when I see them. Have I every non-verbally conveyed to anyone, child or adult, the message that they are bums?  Have you? When we do this, we are in danger of entering into another category—“the proud.”

The Bible verse above continues; “but the proud, God knows afar off.”  God help me; I don’t want to be far from you. God, I want to be close to you—like Harvey.

WE KILL PEOPLE

“So what are you doing this morning?” I asked my twelve year old cousin Timmy while talking on the phone. “We’re playing video games.”

I asked him which game he was playing. Being out of the video game loop, I couldn’t connect when he told me its title. “So is that the one where you race cars?” Timmy replied, “No, we kill people.”

“We kill people”--his words seemed so casual to him. Yet I couldn’t help verbally reacting with disapproval. Now I don’t know exactly what Jesus would think of Timmy’s video game. Of course I’m thinking He would find it offensive. I couldn’t imagine Jesus playing it.

Here is one reference Jesus made about killing, "Do not fear those who kill the body.”

Does this make sense?

From a challenging-to-perceive perspective, we must realize that Jesus considers physical death more of a life transition rather than an end. He went on to say: “but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body . . .” And big picture wise, Jesus was talking specifically about a person giving up their actual life for the cause of the Christian faith, being a martyr.

Jesus, this is blunt.

Die for my faith? With no fear?  O.K. give me a minute; let me put my going-to-church-smile on: “Yes, I can die for my faith in you Jesus.” I can give up my life.

Almost too easy to say. Here’s my life, but I know I’ve guarded my wallet valiantly. I don’t mind dieing; just don’t kill my personal time—I’ve got things to do. My life is Yours, as long as my public image stays intact.

“It’s pretend,” Timmy assured me when I questioned him about killing people.

God, please don’t let my relationship with Jesus be pretend.

JUNK OR JEWEL?

There it was in the Autotrader. “1994 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon” with 66,061 miles and a price of $4400. Could this be the vehicle God was leading us to?

My wife Nancy and I made the 102 mile trek, praying once more for God’s guidance just before we pulled into the used car lot: “God, don’t let us do anything stupid.”

Before we even drove the Roadmaster my wife said with quiet disgust: “It has rust.” And I’m thinking, “This thing is cool.” I was envisioning this cavernous land cruiser hauling a bunch of kids. Sure it was beat up; but then they couldn’t hurt it. Plus the price, the low-mileage.

After a brief test ride it was time for the private husband-wife conference. Nancy noticed rust, sagging headliner, loose fog light, cracked windshield and what is that smell? I was listening as I thought: “God, this is the car, isn’t it?”

Nancy summed up her view: “This is the ugliest car I’ve ever seen.” And to me I saw its funky, functional character plus the engine ran strong. I loved the Roadmaster.

Decision time-- Roadmaster junk or jewel? We faced the same question the man who allowed Jesus to die on a cross asked: “What is truth?”

Jesus are You who You claim to be or are you a liar?  Jesus can’t be both a criminal deserving death and the Savior of the world at the same time. Junk or jewel?

Truth seeking led us to thumbs down on the Roadmaster. Hey there’s always another used car. There’s only one Jesus. And He said, “I am the way . . .” He continues: “. . . the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me.”

So is Jesus junk or jewel in your life?  

WILD YELLOW

 

THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE

A right turn and it’s two blocks to Lake Michigan. Three bicycle riders, looking Tour de France ready opt to go left. Cruising past a small enclave of shops beckoning tourists to stop and spend, they find their Sunday morning destination—breakfast at an outdoor cafe.
    
Within whiffing distance of the cyclist’s breakfast, other people arrive at their Sunday morning destination--a traditional white steepled church. Inside Pastor Paul Schneider leads the congregation in its first chorus. “In the morning when I rise give me Jesus.  Give me Jesus . . . You can have all this world, give me Jesus.”

Me? I was inside the church that morning. Yet, seeing the bicycle riders; I was reminded of my Sunday mornings nine years prior. Then, a long bike ride and breakfast with friends was what the day was all about.

Now, attending church and worshiping God seems normal while the other option is extremely abnormal.

Radical life change is sometimes referred to as a “Damascus road experience.” This references the Apostle Paul’s conversion from Christian persecutor to ardent follower of Jesus. Traveling down the Damascus road intent on imprisoning Christians, suddenly a great light struck him, knocking him to the ground.

Lying on the ground he asked the same question I once asked: “Who are you Lord?”

You can hop on your bike every Sunday morning, ride beautiful roads with good companions and eat lots of great waffles. Yet, it’s almost guaranteed, you’ll someday wonder: “Is this all there is to life?”

You may say that I’m wrong, claiming ultimate satisfaction in non-God pursuits. That’s unfortunate. You’re missing the ride of your life.

My suggestion.

Ride your Damascus road. And may God bless you with a time of lying on the ground asking: “Who are you Lord?”




  

WE NEED TO GET THIS

“Look Nicky, we need to get this,” nine year-old Justin pleaded. “Put that back,” Nicky grumped. Justin glanced down at the magazine he held in his hand. With one last convincing attempt, he said: “It says: faith.”

I don’t know if Justin has been to church enough times to really understand faith. But he knew it meant new life—maybe a miracle.

The Bible tells of a crippled man who spent years at the doors of the church begging. Apostle Peter came by one day and injected faith into this man’s hopeless life. And in a split second his life changed. The Bible says, “Faith in Jesus' name put this man . . . on his feet--yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes.”  From a cripple, to a man “jumping and praising God.”

Justin’s fingertips sensed the glossy magazine paper, as if he was holding faith in his hands. The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.”  

Nicky, his older sister by a dozens years, almost yelling: “No, put it back!”

No big deal. He’s only a kid. Right? But, can we look at the beyond-the-apparent of Justin’s life?

His dad will be incarcerated at least a half dozen more years. In a few weeks his big sister will be in jail--again. While his mom works full time; her drug problem, seemingly managed, can sometimes roar back.

All hope vanished from Justin’s face, he turned a hundred and eighty degrees, shuffled three paces and plopped the magazine on the shelf. He put faith on the shelf. No miracle. No jumping. No praising God.

Justin, you are so right: “We need to get this.” Is faith at your fingertips? Grab it! “Faith is the substance . . .”

EARL AND ARNOLD

Wonder if you are an old friend? “Who is this e-mail from?” I thought.

“Rick, did you grow up in Centreville? Graduate 73? Know a big goof by the name of Earl?”  I laughed. Thirty-three years had passed. Off went a quick response. “Here’s a hint—Arnold.”

Yes, he knew Arnold. That was my nickname in high school. I wasn’t too fond of it since it was the namesake of a cute pig on a popular television show of that era. Arnold-the-pig comparison aside, it was great wandering back to those old memories. I have many smile worthy ones with Earl.

Another e-mail to Earl: “So tell me about life. Where do you live? Wife? Kids? Job? What do you do for fun? Spiritual life? Etc?”

Pondering through a deep searching of my brain, I thought: “Spiritual life?”  Earl and I had been best friends. We both attended churches every Sunday. We both thought of ourselves as Christians, yet it’s highly doubtful we ever had one significant spiritual conversation. Realistically, it’s doubtful we even had a frivolous, shallow one. More than likely—zero.

God says, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” This is our central theme as Christians. And then it goes on to say, "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart . . . you shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”

So God, if we love You we are supposed to talk about You and your commands? Even outside of church? Should we start with our good friends?

FOOLISHNESS OR POWER?

“Should I ask?” I thought.

Rob was at the house measuring for carpeting. I immediately noticed he was wearing a cross. The question-- does that cross signify that you’re a follower of Jesus?

So many people wear crosses, even though they’re not on the Jesus team. Strange-- it’s exceedingly more challenging initiating a spiritual conversation compared to conversing about a sports team identified on a person’s t-shirt.

I didn’t want to offend Rob. Well, confessionally, I didn’t want to look foolish either. Yet I know the Bible says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Foolishness or power? We usually won’t find out without asking. Internally: “Go for it; honor God,” tussled with, “You’ll seem like a weirdo.”

Why are so many Christians too chicken to squawk about their faith?

Rob got ready to leave. Ineloquently, I jumped in, “I noticed you’re wearing a cross; what does it mean to you?”

He smiled, “Everything.” “You’re a follower of Jesus?” “Big time.”

Wow, Rob’s on the same team. Our conversation instantly elevated. And before he departed, he gave me a shoulder hug: “Stay on God’s path . . . that’s where our true home is.”

So is the cross you’re wearing foolishness or power? Foolishness-- Isn’t it time you switched teams? Isn’t it time you received God’s promised saving power of the cross?

And you power crossers, have you asked anyone lately about the cross they’re wearing?
Jesus said, “For whoever is ashamed of Me . . . (Jesus) will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

So repeat. “So what does that cross mean to you?” Again.

SUNDAYS ARE AWESOME

Donna was excited: “Sundays are awesome.”

I remember some awesome Sundays in Donna and her family’s life. I remember when Donna, her husband, Joe and children finally came to church after several invitations. It was obvious God touched their lives that day.

Then a few Sundays later they both made a twenty step journey to the front of the church. Bowing their heads, they repented of their sins and made commitments to become followers of Jesus Christ.

Yes! Sundays are awesome.

An experience like that causes this Bible verse to come flowing out: “O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders.”

Also the Sunday of their baptism is still etched in my mind. How could a person not have tears of joy? After church, a group gathered to celebrate the marvelous things God was doing in Donna and Joe’s lives.

Now, seven years later Donna is reveling in a day in which God said: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.”

And the ancient Hebrew root word for Sabbath commands, “Rest, cease from exertion, celebrate.”

Donna continued her praise for her Sundays, “It starts in the morning and goes all day.” Unfortunately, she wasn’t referring to a God focused experience. She was all excited about the generous tips she was receiving working as a waitress. Going to church is the only ceasing Donna has done in the last few years. She no longer sets aside a day for the LORD.

We have a difficult decision challenging us. How to make Sundays awesome? Countless activities loom. Leisure and financial pursuits entice. Yet, our spirit is longing to honor God’s command.

Think. Can a day actually be awesome if it dishonors God?

AGAIN

Richie mumbled it, barely audible. I knew what he was saying because I had heard it before. “I keep messing up because of the way my mom raised me.” At nineteen, he’s convinced that his life-gone-wrong is his mom’s fault.

His last six years have been a tumultuous journey of peaks and valleys. There have been jubilant “Yes!” moments as he edged toward his potential for success. Now again, it is as if some bungee cord of fate has stretched to its success limit for Richie. And almost unexplainably he is whipped back into a life of failure.

I couldn’t deny that his parenting was far from perfect. Who could argue that his environment didn’t effect his decisions? Still Richie needed to be asked: “Did your mom make you steal the gun?” In the same vein, my probing continued. For each question he conceded: “No, my mom didn’t . . .”

With personal responsibility established, I wasn’t going to drop him off in the it’s-your-fault pile. We needed to land someplace else.

“Richie, I feel terrible about the way you were raised . . . wouldn’t it be great if you could just start over again-- from the beginning,” I said. He was silent. “Richie, what you need is to be born again.”

Jesus said: “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying: you must be born again.”

Richie, in your first birth you were born into a troubled environment. Mixed with your own decisions, a troubled life was birthed. Jesus is offering you the opportunity to miraculously be born again. This birth is God’s Holy Spirit birth. This birth produces Spirit life, God life inside you. This birth will change who you are.

Again-- you have a decision.

VEGAS ISN'T WORKING OUT

“Rick, I just wanted to let you know how I’m doing,” Thomas’ letter said. “Vegas isn’t working out.”

I told Thomas when he moved to Las Vegas, it would be a gamble.

Like many people, Thomas was certain; the answer to a life changing upswing was location, location, location. In the past couple of months he had been in Michigan, Arizona, and now Las Vegas. And even now he claimed again, where he lived was the problem.

He keeps thinking, “If I move to the right place, life will be good.” Maybe blessed.

God says, “You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country . . . you will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.” God says, “Blessed, blessed, wherever you live.” Thomas’ letter ranted, “Unblessed, unblessed.”

There is an obvious distance separating God’s promise of blessing and Thomas’s proximity to the blessed location. So should he move again?

Maybe he can be your neighbor. Would that work?

Here’s something about God that you always need to remember. He won’t tell you about a blessing without telling you how to get to it. Here is God’s direction to the aforementioned blessings: “All these blessings will come upon you if you obey the LORD your God.”
  
Thomas confessed, “I’m struggling pretty bad spiritually.” His letter was a storybook of disobedience to God. And God has something to say about that also. “However, if you do not obey the LORD your God . . . you will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country.”

Yes, God is showing us it is location, location. . . Your Vegas isn’t working out? Then move. How? Simple. Obey God.

Then you’ll be in the best neighborhood—close to God.

THE DREAD

There it was. The dreaded message on the computer screen: “You have just destroyed this computer; prepare to spend $1000 for a new computer.”

Well not exactly.

But you know how the something-dreaded-happened part of our brain can work. A little problem can twinge anxiety as the situation mind-wise explodes into a catastrophe.

Ann was working on a friend’s laptop computer; actually trying to help out with software installation. The process was near completion. All that was left to do was to turn off the computer and then restart it.

Then the dreaded happened. The message came on the screen: “Non-system disk or disk error. Replace and press key when ready.” Ann pressed key after key. “Error!” She tried some more of her computer tricks. “Error!”

“I was really, really worried,” Ann said. “I actually prayed.”

The Bible says, “But do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.”

Now, Ann knows how to pray. Yet even for her, like most of us, when “the dreaded” hits; our brain can read: “error.” Instead of prayer we think of how we can solve the problem.

Ann said, “I knew God knew how to fix the computer.”

With hands touching the edges of the laptop computer, Ann bowed her head. “Oh God, please let this work.” Unfamiliar with her friend’s laptop computer, her left hand hit a rectangle button on the side of the computer as she prayed. This caused a floppy disk to immediately eject from the computer.

Instantly the problem was solved.

Need some dreaded problems ejected from your life?

Pray. “God in heaven, you’ve asked us to pray about everything. God I desperately need Your help . . .  Oh God please let this work.”

GOODBYE FEBRUARY 

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE A GOOD PERSON?

I asked the lady on the phone, “Do you think you’re a good person?” Instant reply: “Of course.”

I also asked a few other people. The lady at the gas station said, “What do you think?” Well . . . I don’t know her. So I asked some people I do know. My teenage friend Curt said, “Yes” as did my work associate Clayton.

My next question to Curt and Clayton was: “Why do you think you’re a good person?” Clayton responded immediately, “I love my family.” Curt thought a little longer and then told me how he thought he achieved good-person status because he didn’t do drugs anymore.

So, how about you?

Do you think you’re a good person? Why?

Let’s compare our goodness to God’s standard-- His Ten Commandments. Have you ever lied? Have you ever stolen anything? Have you ever used God’s name in vain? Have you ever not honored your parents? Have you always kept the Sabbath holy? Have you ever coveted, jealously desired something not yours? Have you ever made an idol, a god to please yourself? Have you always put God first in your life?

Adultery? The Bible says whoever looks on a women with lust has committed adultery in his heart? How about murder? The Bible says if you even hate someone, you’ve committed murder in God’s eyes.

The Bible says, “All have sinned . . .” We know everyone has failed to keep God’s Law.

If God judges you by the Ten Commandments on the Day of Judgment, will you be innocent or guilty?

Be honest; we’re all guilty.

The Bible states: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Why don’t you receive God’s gift today?

BAD LUCK

He was serious as . . . as sin.

“Let me tell you something; this is something you need to know,” Ty said.  He knows his stuff. He’s been working at my favorite lumberyard for years.

“It’s bad luck to start a job on Friday.”  Hmm.

The ten plus inches of fresh snow, which was already delaying delivery of the first truck load of lumber to my job site, made me think.

But bad luck? Should trust in luck determine the direction for a Friday?

The Bible says: “Some trust in their war chariots and others in their horses, but we trust in the power of the LORD our God.” Maybe in carpenter’s language it might mean we trust in our huge four-wheel drive trucks and our competent workers. Plus more; say—luck.

“Ty you need to write this down,” I said. “I don’t believe in luck; I trust in God.” He laughed. I told him to deliver the lumber.

The truck backed into the driveway. Adam, the driver, slowly tilted the bed of the truck forming a ramp to slide the steel-banded load from truck to the snow covered concrete. Suddenly, as the wood started to slide off the truck, the steel bands broke. The bundle exploded, missiling lumber towards the house.

Adam bolted from the truck with an I’m-getting-fired look on his face. It quickly turned to a grin; I started laughing. Heavy timbers rested, actually touching the house, but no damage.

Lumberyard chatter would surely conclude that the dreaded Friday bad luck had capriciously turned good.

Bible truth declares: “I will say of the LORD: He is my refuge, my fortress. In God I will trust . . . blessed is the man who trusts in God.”

Now that’s how I determine the direction for a Friday.

BIG CHANGES

“Graham has had big changes in his life this year,” the letter said.

I enjoy getting these occasional updates from my Aunt Cathy. You know, the brag-on-the-kids-and-grandkids letters. She wrote, “He is no longer an only child and he has started school.” Even at five years old Graham is starting to encounter some challenging changes.

We all know that changes, small to huge, can cause strain. Do you sometimes yearn for a simple unchanging existence? Many people do.

Aunt Cathy’s letter continued about Graham’s changes. “He is full of questions about God and heaven right now. One afternoon Angie (his mom) found him prone on the floor with his face down and arms at his side. When asked what he was doing, he replied: ‘I’m bowing down before God.’ Another time she heard him talking in his room and asked him what he said. ‘Oh, I was just talking to God,’ was his reply.”

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter in.” I believe that; it’s in the Bible. But why is it so hard to, with childlike faith, engage in Godlike ways?

I have no doubt that God smiled when He observed Graham’s behavior. I did when I read the letter.

Graham’s approach to God has reminded me of three things I need to do when big change strikes, actually even small change.

I need to maintain an active curiosity about God and heaven. This is especially true as the swirl of distractions absorb too much of my life. I need to bow down; humble myself before God. God I need to rely on You more. Me less. And I need to talk to God; He has the big-change answers.

Thanks Graham.

THE END, END

“It’s all going to be over pretty soon,” Mark said.

He sat on his four-wheeler. The house he was building towered above him and the hard frozen lake loomed before him.

Mark is one of the hardest workers I know. Yet he complained about the futility of his labors, “I have lots of jobs. There’s always somebody to pay . . . I’ll never get rich.” Then his conversation slipped to “the end.” The end, end—the return of Jesus. Not a prophet, or a preacher, but a tired carpenter reflecting on a workingman’s hunch.

Is it all going to be over soon? Is he right?

When asked, Jesus listed many end-time signs in Matthew 24: wars, rumors of wars, people falsely claiming to be the Messiah, increased lawlessness, love growing cold, etc.

Yet Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only God.”

Instead of when is the end, shouldn’t we preferably ask: are you ready?

Mark rambled on as the cold wind off the lake chilled me. And my mind went back to a lunchtime conversation we had a few years prior. I asked him, “Where do you think you would end up if you died right now-- heaven or hell?”

With only a slight hesitation he said, “Hell.” He’s realistic enough to admit that he’s headed to the place of “outer darkness . . . weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

As my mind returned to the present, Mark revved the four wheeler a couple more times. “I’m going ice fishing.”

Jesus said, “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man (Jesus) will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.”

Maybe even when you’re ice fishing. So be ready.

THE SOON-GONE MAN

 

YOUR TESTIMONY

“I don’t have a good testimony,” Sato said. We had just met. I asked him to tell me his testimony as a way of getting acquainted.  

My short silence and question-marked facial expression caused Sato to ask, “What is a testimony?” I instantly understood. Sato, a new Christian from Japan, wasn’t able to hurdle the language barriers— “Christianese” and English.

In the let’s-share context I was talking about, I meant the story of how he became a Christian. Sato smiled; now he knew what I meant.

God says, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

For over a year Sato had traveled the world seeking God. He traveled to India, spending a month there seeking God. He traveled to the United States and sought God. He repeated this pattern as he traveled the globe. Sato says, “Each time I returned to Japan I felt empty.”

Sato encountered the spectrum of religion during his travels yet he still hadn’t found what he was looking for.

Is it true if we seek for God, the true God, we will find Him? God promises we will.

Confused, disillusioned, tired and still desperately seeking God, he once again returned to Japan. Late one night, Sato was again searching for God--this time on the Internet. He found Heidi Baker preaching a simple message about Jesus Christ, repentance of sin, the good news of forgiveness and eternal life.

Sato had traveled the world looking for God; looking for his personal Messiah. That night the good-news message went from his head to his heart. Sato had found what he was looking for—Jesus.

And your testimony? You don’t have one? It can start today—“When you seek God with all your heart.”

THE GUITAR LEGEND SPEAKS

“The guitar legend shares the keys to a life well lived” headlined the newspaper article.

As the article approached the conclusion, a highlighted heading proclaimed: “The difference between spirituality and religion.” Here we go; this is my kind of stuff.

The guitar legend said, “Spirituality is saying: ‘May the heaven open up and angels bless everyone with a deep awareness of his own light. Religion is saying that only Jesus got the light; you’re full of (expletive) and you are in the dark. They are the only ones that got it and you’ve gotta go through them to get it. Man. In this life the only thing that’s holy is your relationship with your heart . . .”

Can I confess? Sometimes when I become aware of my own light, it’s dull; sometimes a mere flicker.

Can I confess again? I do believe Jesus is “the only,” but you don’t go through a person to get the light. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness . . .”

And then if my relationship with my heart is the only-holy thing; we’ve got a problem. My heart is too often not holy.

Why is it I find more alignment with what the Apostle Paul said? “For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.”

Honestly; I’m not the only one. And I’m not talking major-felony evil but all those unholy heart flaws.  

I’ll never have a holy heart enough to face a Holy God. It’s my relationship with Jesus that connects me to this Holy God. While the transforming power of the Holy Spirit renews my heart, making it holy.

One more confession—my heart needs that everyday.

ICE LAKE

 

5:55 DIET PART 1

Fat.

I could grab a handful of it protruding from my stomach.

God, help me.

God will. He says, “Call to me I will answer you. I will show you mysterious things you cannot figure out on your own.”  With endless get-unfat schemes available, I need help.

So God, please help me. The Bible tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Keeping our bodies in shape is of worthy importance.

This concept popped into my head. Is this from you God? The 5:55 Diet. God, this is a great idea.

The basic concept is to set a numerical goal which doesn’t involve counting calories or endlessly hopping on the scales. I’m not counting calories and I rarely weigh myself. Instead, I set a personal goal to run a mile in five minutes and fifty-five seconds within a year.

Thinking about calories and weighing myself causes hunger stirring food thoughts and a focus on my fatness. I would rather think about crossing the finish line, lungs burning, glancing at my stop watch seeing 5:55.

My first trip to the track produced a sobering 7:54 mile.

A few weeks later I was surprised when the only other person at the track noticed my straining as I neared the half mile mark. He yelled, “Steady.” And then as I neared the finish line he yelled again, “You’re almost there.” I crossed the line at 6:47.

But bottom line, the getting-in-better-shape agenda needs to be strongly tempered. The Bible says: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Yes! That’s the true goal-- true fitness.

As we do that, can’t you almost hear Jesus? “Steady. You’re almost there.”

SURPRISE

It was no surprise that Jeannette had coffee and donuts waiting when I arrived at her house. Working for her is enjoyable. I was hoping for a no-surprises morning as I wanted to make a quick job of installing her new kitchen countertop and sink.

We rolled up the metal door of the delivery truck. Briefly looking at the countertop, the driver said “It’s cracked!”

He fumed; I headed into the house to inform Jeanette of the unpleasant surprise.

Practically running to the truck, disgusted with the countertop, Jeanette demanded that the driver open the box containing her $700 stainless steel sink.

“Look at this sink, Rick!” she said. Rubbing the sink, she informed me of its many defects. Truthfully, it seemed normal to me. I glanced at the driver; he looked at me. Optionless —we put the sink back in the box.

Surprising? Yes. Yet, this was trivial compared to the ultimate surprising event which occurred after Jesus’ death. Risen from the dead; people stared at Him in disbelief. How did Jesus respond?  On three occasions, He comforted: “Peace be with you."

Home from work, I checked my email. A friend from Africa, with the unusual name of Surprise Sithole, was writing to tell me about a Pastor’s conference.

In a country where $700 is wages for months, people walked uncountable miles to attend the long anticipated time to worship God. Events turned shockingly tragic as militant anti-Christian youth beat one pastor to death.

Yet Pastor Surprise’s email overflowed with situation-overcoming joy at the realness of God in his life and church. He left the conference with the mindset of the resurrected Jesus: “Peace be with you.”

This peace, which Jesus offers, cannot be bought. Given freely to all who come to Him:  “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you.”

RAW GRIEF

“I have eight years of writing in a journal—everyday,” Phyllis said. “Some are pretty sad because it tells the raw moments of grief.” The journal was a present from a friend who encouraged her to express her feelings after the death of her husband of fifty years.

What thoughts course through your mind when facing the words: “Moments of raw grief”? I admit the curious side of me poked through, wondering how Phyllis, a writer for more than fifty-years, would articulate her deep feelings. Though, I knew they were too private to share.

Yet as we talked about her nearly eighty years of life, many moments of grief were shared. Polio since age 13. A meal of tainted food turned into a ten-year battle with hepatitis. She had to deal with her husband’s industrial accident which forced many life changes. And now she faces living with late stage polio.

“I’ve had a lot of struggles,” Phyllis said. “They draw you closer to God.”

And when asked her favorite Bible verse, she quoted, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  It’s no wonder she was quoting the Apostle Paul because he knew tremendous life struggles himself-- even to his eventual martyrdom.

This is how Paul leads up to that Bible verse: “I have learned to be content whatever circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation . . .”

Doesn’t this seem impossible? Well it is, except …

There’s the secret Paul and Phyllis have learned.

Grief? Struggles?  Phyllis told her husband as he approached death: “I will talk to God everyday.” And with that she connects to her source of strength—Jesus Christ.