It's a small world, for snake, preachers and football players--not to mention mice.

I write from tomorrow, from a dot of land on the far side of the Pacific, Guam.  I was just IMing with my lovely wife.  She had been to a local business--local on the yesterday side of the world--to pay a bill.  The businessman was reading a story about Guam. 

WARNING:  

If you are a mouse or snake lover, or a Tylenol taker you might not want to read this story.

  

Globe-trotting snake causes major grief.

Authorities work hard to use a rodent-wrapped headache cure to cancel herpetological frequent-flyer plan.

News reaches small town merchant, in a community whereMicronesia is, to say the least, not well known.  

Wife and husband chat about it on two sides of the globe.

Amazing!

In between reading about pain-killer laden mice falling from the sky, which hopefully will become the last meal of a bunch of really over-achieving snakes, I read about the problems of a really good guy.  There are a number of reasons I like Tim Tebow, and I feel badly that he has gotten himself into an ugly situation.  You can read the story all over the web.  (This one by Al Mohler is obviously slanted, but is slanted in a profitable direction.)  

The likable quarterback agreed to speak at First Baptist Church in Dallas Texas.  The pastor there has said some controversial things.  Many of us would put most of his statements under the heading of "Right, but couldn't you have said it a bit more kindly?"  Now Tebow is being branded with all the ills--real and imagined--of this church and pastor.  If he intentionally grounds the ball, which he did, one side will boo.  If he tucks the ball and runs for the goal-line, the other side will offer the Bronx Cheer.   Welcome to another version of the big leagues. One where three-hundred pound defensive linemen would be considered child's-play.  

 

"What," you might ask, and I'll be glad if you do, "do tree-dwelling, night-hunting snakes have to do with young, Christian, professional athletes?"

 

Both live in a small--very small--world.  Guys who sell refrigerators read about snakes and mice thousands of miles away.  Preachers, especially those who stand before thousands, say nothing in secret.  Usually those of us who speak from the Word of God, desire that what we say be less secret, but when we blow it--and we will--the consequences may be much more widespread than a few years ago.  And, what we say makes it easier or harder for the likes of Tim Tebow to stand up and talk about the love of God.

 

I figure the only thing a brown tree snake thinks about is that mouse, that is standing awfully still.  (I hope its last thought is, "Wow! that headache is finally gone.)  The rest of us, though, need to remember that we live in a world affected by an ancient serpent, who still prowls in the dark.  Let's join in prayer.

 

   "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14, NASB95)  

 

 It's STTA. 

 

(Here is something I wrote about Tim Tebow, back when he was on the field instead of on the bench.)

Faithfulness Modeled:

I can't say I knew the man.  If I remember I shook his hand one time.  

I don't think, though, that I ever met anyone involved in any kind of ministry in the Evangelical realm who didn't know him.  From my perspective, Howard Hendricks appeared to model that trait I spoke of yesterday,faithfulness.  

There were so many books, videos and articles by Hendricks floating around, and his quotations continued to show up in the works of others so often, that we hardly realized that he had not been out and about for a while.  This obituary said he died after a battle with Alzheimers.  

I was never in one of His classes, but I learned from the "Prof."  

 

Lord, I'm thankful for the way You used Howard Hendricks in the life of so many.  Help me to live so I will leave something worthwhile behind.

It's STTA. 

The Chief Virtue for a Steward

Faithfulness, doing what ought to be done, the way it should be done, when it ought to be done, all with a good attitude.   We expect financial advisers to exhibit this trait.  We entrust our fortunes to them.  We want teachers and school administrators to be faithful.  The lives of our children are entrusted to them.  When I entrust my health to a physician, I for sure want her to be faithful.

 

The Bible says that God entrusted great treasure to His people.  1 Peter 4:10 says that we should use the gifts God has given us--gifts that come from His manifold grace--as good stewards.  1 Corinthians says that the chief requirement of a steward is faithfulness.

Which brings up the question:

What am I doing with what God has given me?

It's STTA. 

True Love at Valentine Time:

Something To Think About

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT All over the country guys are asking, "What should I give my wife/girlfriend for Valentine's Day?   Don't tell Kathy, but I don't know yet.    I just read that something like a billion "Valentines" will be given this year.  That's a lot of red hearts.  Of course what is really important is that one in a billion valentine gift that most of us will give and/or receive.    The kind of relationship that the Bible holds up as the ideal between a woman and a man is one of supreme investment.  I'm not talking about just giving a card or buying some flowers or candy.  (Though that may be important guys.)  Here is the standard:   . . . love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God's word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.  In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies.  (Ephesians5:25-28)   Bottom line: The question is not what will I give her on Valentine's Day, but am I prepared to give myself for her everyday.   It's STTA.

Get It All

Something To Think About

I visited a lady today who was hooked to a very impressive array of IVs.  In addition to these various antibiotics and other liquids that are going into her body, there are several lines that are drawing fluids out.  For a time her abdominal cavity was open and being irrigated by sterile fluid. The reason for all this plumbing is an infection had taken up residence in this lady's body.  I identify with her situation.  A couple of years ago an infection got into a cut on my hand.  Since the injury involved a bone, the physicians made the assumption that the infection was in my bone.  They could have tested to be sure.  The problem is, in that kind of situation by the time the results of the test are in the infection would so widespread that it might lead to drastic results like amputation, or death.  So, I spent six weeks on IV antibiotics--"Gorilla-mycin" I called it.  It killls whatever is in its path. In cases like these the idea is to kill it--all of it.  A little will cause big grief later on.   Last Sunday I had the privilege of working through First Overview of 1 John John.  One of the things that is clear from the Apostle's words is that he doesn't want to leave any room for sin.  He wants it dealt with, all of it. It's STTA.

Honoring a Child of God

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT Later today it will be my privilege to help a group of folk honor the memory of one of God's children.  As I write this the news in going in the background.  The broadcast is full of the rich, famous, powerful, and talented.  Cheryl was none of the above.  Her education stopped in grade school.  She never had a job, or a driver's license.  Until the last few months of her life she lived with relatives.  We live in a world that dishonors people like Cheryl in the most profound manner--their life is taken before they emerge from the womb.  Do I describe Cheryl as "mentally retarded," "slow," "challenged," or, "gifted differently"?  One way or another all of those descriptions are accurate; none of them, though, do anything to help capture who Cheryl was, and they are totally inaccurate in describing who she is. When we gather today to remember Cheryl we will remind one another that she is God's child.   It is appropriate to acknowledge when those who are rich, talented, and powerful use those assets to bless others.  The problem is we often act as if such things are what define a person.  Not so.  Ultimately what matters in life is what God thinks of a person. Do I really think that God, the Creator and Lord of all that is, is impressed with a mere mortal's stash of stuff? While God takes joy in the exercise of the talents of His human creatures, don't you think His appreciation is like a parent watching a talented teen, and an enthusiastic toddler?  Does the vastly greater talent of the older child impress the parent more than the efforts of the little one? Often when we praise the rich, powerful, and talented, we ought to offer thanks instead--thanks to their Creator, and ours, rather than praise to the creature.  Ultimately that is our source of value.  The wealthiest person I know--the smartest, the most talented--are people of value for precisely the same reason that Cheryl, who was not the...est anything, was and is a person of infinite value.  We are creatures of God. So we gather today to honor and remember one who gave out sweet smiles and warm hugs, who loved Dr. Pepper.  She could barely read and write, but she loved to receive and send cards.  She lived with fears that didn't make sense to the rest of us, and loved with a love that in its simple focus put the rest of us to shame.  Today she walks with those who were rich and powerful in this world.  She discusses Theology, Philosophy, and Science with those who were this world's greatest thinkers.   We honor her because we loved her, and she loved us, and made our lives better.  We honor her because in doing so we state that every human life is of infinite value.  We honor her because it is right.  In honoring her we praise our Lord and give Him thanks. It's STTA.