Giving Tuesday Everyday

Giving Tuesday:

I'll be honest (actually, I try to be all the time)  I don't understand Giving Tuesday.  I just know that I see the words all over the internet.  It appears that it is an attempt to encourage people to give to worthy charities.  I hope organizations that are doing good work will see their budgets increased. I am struck, though, with the fact that for the Church of Jesus Christ every day is giving day.  On many occasions I have been impressed with the generosity of God's people.  I'm also impressed with the great needs that in many Christian ministries.  For the past couple of days I have been in communication with leaders in a ministry with which I'm involved about the end of year needs.  I know it is popular to point to some high-end "ministries" led by flambouyant leaders, and talk of the extravagance in church related work.  I haven't found that to be the norm.  I have spent my life in ministry, and my impression is amazement at how much ministries get done with the limited resources they have available. So on this Giving Tuesday, I want to say thanks to those who give in support of churches, missions, schools, and other worthy ministries that are seeking to advance the cause of Christ.  I also want to thank those resourceful and faithful leaders who give time, effort, expertise, and often entire lives to these works.  I know you wait for the word from the Lord, but let me say down here, below,  "Well done." We might not get it done on Tuesday, but if you would like to find out about a ministry that I'm involved with that has need, drop me a line.  It's STTA.

Thankful to have Survived and More

Thankful to have Survived & More:

Some of the wisecracks that I've heard all my life make a whole lot more sense at this point in my life: "How you doing?" "At this point in life I'm just glad to be doing at all." "It's good to see you here." "At my age, I'm just glad to be anywhere." "I'm still kickin', just not too high." Winston Churchill said, "Few things are more exhilarating than being shot at to no effect."  Those who live to fight another day have a joy in survival that is not understood by those who have never stared the blackness in the eye. I don't want to compare my life to those of you who have really faced danger, but as I look back over my sixty-six plus years I see some times that I could have checked out.  The most memorable occasion was not one of physical danger.  It took me a long time to get over it.  In a sense, I'll never be over it.  As I look back over the last year, or so, though, I notice that sun has been as bright as I ever remember it shining, flowers smell like flowers.  I find myself just sitting and taking in God's goodness.  I'm glad to be able inhale. It is not merely that I survived. I am spending this Thanksgiving surrounded by family.  As I type this  my lovely wife is by my side.  Both my sons and their families are serving the Lord.  My two adult grandchildren appear to be on the right track.  I have worthwhile work to do.  I just ate a wonderful meal with all my family, earlier today my son and I took a bike  ride.  To quote the Casting Crowns song, "It's time for us to more than just survive.  We were made to thrive. I'm thankful to feel those words being worked out in my heart this Thanksgiving.  It's STTA.

TOGETHER, for Thanksgiving and Beyond

Together Again, It makes my gray head thankful:

If you have nothing better to do than to read STTA every day, you know that Kathy and I have been at our older son's house for the past couple of days.  Last night, my younger son and his family arrived.  Kathy and I watched, and HEARD, the "Cuzzins" having a good time.  We really enjoy the fact that they enjoy each other.  Everyone except my older grandson was there.  He has been out on his own for a couple of years.  He lives nearby and will be in and out this week.  It's good to be together. It's even better to be TOGETHER. My Daughters-in-law, and my sons are bringing their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.  The oldest grandchild, the one on his own, is a passionate follower of Christ.  I can look around my son's home and see reminders of the faith that makes this, and his brother's family tick.  I am very thankful. At this point in life all of us being together is an important part of me being together.  I remember hearing Dr. James Dobson, decades ago, answer the question about what he regarded as most important in family life.  I found these words in a graduation speech Dobson delivered.  As I remember it approximates the answer I heard on that earlier occasion. ". . . be there. On resurrection morning, be there. I will be looking for you then. Nothing else matters. Be there." Children & grandchildren aren't computers.  We can't program them.  At the top of our goals as parents, however, at the head of the list of our priorities for how we use those eighteen, or so, critical years that our children are at home, in bold letters on our prayer list should be these words, "Lord, in the end, I want my family to be there."  Together. It is likely a long way from here to heaven.  For the youngest of us it could be a century.  I can't look in anyone's heart and see what is there, but looking around at my family together, and seeing the evidence, gives me great encouragement.  In the sense of "Keep it together." or, "Don't go to pieces."  I feel together. Moving toward Thanksgiving, I'm a thankful "Papa."  It's STTA.

Hope, With A Side Of Hash-browns

Hope, With A Side Of Hash-browns / Thankful:

"Usually, it works like a well-oiled machine."   There was plenty of oil and grease in the Waffle House where we stopped for lunch on the way to my son's home, but that's not what makes the team that dishes out waffles, eggs, burgers and hash-browns work.  I'll get back to that in a moment. November 8th a bunch of my fellow-citizens, having concluded our country is going to the place of Divine, eternal retribution in a hand-basket shocked the world by electing a complete outsider to the highest office in our land.  On Wednesday morning, another group of Americans knew for sure that the picnic container we are in was headed to the fire that won't be quenched.  Still others see the divide among our population, that the election confirmed, and just know that the two-sided wicker tote, with all its contents--that would be we Red-White-and-Blue types--is about to plunge into the pit with no bottom. There were about eight folk in a roadside restaurant who apparently hadn't gotten the memo. Kathy and I didn't intend to stop at Waffle House.  As we were making our way across Georgia I saw a sign on the interstate for a different restaurant.  When we got there, though, we found that it was only a carry-out place.  We needed a break from the Honda, so we went in search of something else.  Before we even got into the diner, we were glad that we had stopped.  A black gentleman I would take to be eighty met us in the lot, greeted my wife as a "young lady," and escorted us in.  Our waitress was a middle-aged Caucasian gal.  If I had to guess, I'd say her early life had had it's share of "drama."  Her job as a server was probably part of her having gotten it together, after some years that had produced their share of grief.  Manning the grills were a young black man who looked like he had played offensive line on his high-school football team, and a youngish white woman, tattooed, and appearing  like she wouldn't take any nonsense.  I've seen clones of them on TV news, yelling at each other from opposite sides of street demonstrations.  The guy who called out orders to the food handlers looked to have roots in the Middle East.  His man-bun, ear rings and general bearing said "college student" to me.  Most of the rest of the staff had a salt-of-the-earth, blue-collar appearance.  It would have been hard for a Hollywood casting agent to put together a better cross-section of America. It was lunchtime.  The little dining-room was full.  Others were waiting for carry-out orders.  The operation was functioning to the max.  When our waitress brought some more coffee, Kathy commented about how impressed she was with the way they worked together.  That's when we heard the "well-oiled machine" line.  Not only did the staff do their jobs well, they were having fun while they were doing them.  A woman who moved from task to task, kept up a running dialog with our friendly greeter,  Everyone else chuckled at their schtick.  You could pay a lot more at a dinner-theater and not get as good a show. Not only did people have to do the job at hand, they had to dodge their associate as she or he did assigned duty.  A couple of times one worker made her way through the hive of activity carrying a load of hot parts from the grill that needed to be cleaned.  The waters parted, and then settled back, leaving hardly a ripple. I hadn't intended to say any more about the recent election and the divisions in our nation that it revealed.  More capable commentators than me are speaking on the issue.  At lunch, however, in a restaurant where the Cleaver family would feel at home, I saw a model that gives me hope in the world where Beaver's grandkids live.  I doubt that anyone, on either side of the counter, has any idea about how to solve our national and international problems.  But they do know how to feed a room full of hungry customers, and have fun while they're at it.  Here are some observations distilled to do this points: Get a job, do it well, and take pride in your work. Treat those around you with respect.  Know that if they do well, they'll help you succeed. Put forth the effort to get along.  It makes it more likely that others will do so for you. Don't forget to have fun along the way. Listening to the news from the power-centers of the world causes me to be concerned.  Watching the crew at the Waffle House off of I-85 in the Peach State give me hope. Thank You, Lord for that encouragement.  It's STTA.

Thankful For Faithful Servants with Whom to Serve

Thankful For Faithful Servants with Whom to Serve:

"As long as you want us to, from now till the Lord returns, or whenever, I’ll be content to be your song leader, carry your bag, go anywhere, do anything you want me to do.”  Those were the words of Cliff Barrow, who continued to work with Billy Graham for six decades.  The song-leader and long-time associate of the most famous evangelist in the last century died November 15th.  You can read more about his remarkable life and career here. I was privileged to work with a number of people who displayed that same kind of loyalty.  Like Barrows, my associates were/are not primarily dedicated to their human leader.  They saw working with me as an opportunity to serve the Lord.  For my part, I came to realize decades ago that my primary ministry was to provide an environment in which these faithful folk could do their ministry.  Even now, as Kathy and I have stepped out of leadership at CBC, some of those who started with me, back at the beginning, remain my front-line encouragers. I'm thankful, more grateful than I can express. My prayers are with the Barrows family.  I'm encouraged by his life well lived.  I'm thankful for his ministry and wonderful example.  Let's live and serve so others will be thankful while we remain, and thankful for what we have done, when we are gone. To those with whom I have been privileged serve the Lord, Thank you.  And, Thank you Lord for those faithful associates. It's STTA.

Thankful to be Uninfected

Thankful For My Health, and Those Who Help Maintain It:

I just came home from my dentist's office.  It was a completely painless visit.  All I did was speak to the receptionist and returned home.  I have a fairly impressive array of metal in my body, so I'm supposed to take an antibiotic before I have dental work done.  I had forgotten to "pre-medicate."   You might be surprised to know that I'm not really aggravated.  I'm thankful.   Part of my memories from my childhood are of my great grandfather and a great aunt, who had broken their hips.  One walked with a terrible limp, the other was bed-fast.  My late Father-in-law broke his wrist.  He never regained full use of that hand, and it caused him a good bit of pain.  I have known folk with worn out knees.  Their lives have been severely limited.  The reason I need to take antibiotics is because surgeon put my broken hip and wrist back together, and another replaced my worn out knee with a new titanium and plastic model.  Sure, I'd rather have the original equipment than my metal parts, but I far prefer them to the crippled states I spoke of a moment ago. Not only am I a beneficiary of the incredible skill, and marvelous technology of orthopedic medicine, I live in an era in which people have been incredibly helped by antibiotic medicines.  I know it is popular to talk about the overuse, and misuse of antibiotics, but before the development of medications like penicillin: 90% of children with bacterial meningitis died. Among those children who lived, most had severe and lasting disabilities, from deafness to mental retardation. Strep throat was at times a fatal disease, and ear infections sometimes spread from the ear to the brain, causing severe problems. Other serious infections, from tuberculosis to pneumonia to whooping cough, were caused by aggressive bacteria that reproduced with extraordinary speed and led to serious illness and sometimes death. (https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/treatments/Pages/The-History-of-Antibiotics.aspx) We have the luxury of speaking about the inappropriate use of these "wonder-drugs" because we live on the back side of the changes these medications brought.  They are one of the reasons that life-expectancy in the United States has doubled in the past century-and-a-half. My wasted trip to the tooth-doctor served to remind me of the blessing I enjoy every day--a measure of health that was unheard of for accident-prone senior-citizens through most of history.  Many of you who read this do so through corrective lenses.  Some of you, like me, use hearing-aids.  Some of you are able to function because your diabetes, hyper-tension, heart ailment, or other chronic condition is controlled with a doctor's and/or pharmacist's assistance.   Sure, there is much about our healthcare system that needs to be improved.  In the USA, following, our recent election it is a hot topic.  In the midst of addressing what needs to be changed, let's just be sure to not forget to give thanks.   Lord, help me to be thankful for those things I so often take for granted. AMEN It's STTA.

Thankful, #2

Thankful For So Much:

I sit in a warm, secure house.  The empty plate from my breakfast is by my side.  My lovely wife just came in from her daily exercise walk.  I'm not a prophet, but experience tells me that in a few minutes she'll fill my coffee cup with some fresh brew.  I'm working to be more aware of, and more thankful for all that is around me.  I'm not living like a proverbial ostrich; I know there are problems and I write with sensitivity for those who are dealing with true hardship.  I encourage all of us, even those who are having hard times, to follow the Apostle Paul's example.     "I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me"  (Philippians 4:12–13).   His words teach us that a spirit of thankfulness has less to with what we have, and more to do with the attitude in our heart.   Lord, make me more thankful. And, by the way, I'm thankful for that refill, and the lovely lady who just brought it.  :) I hope you'll join me in a time of greater thanksgiving. It's STTA.

In the Thanksgiving mode:

Thankful:

Maybe it's the cold weather at night, more likely it is the fact that by the end of this week I'll be with my family for a visit that takes in the Thanksgiving holiday, but whatever the reason I shifted into Thanksgiving mode this morning. It's good, but it is also sad.  Anytime we have a greater realization of God's goodness and an enhanced commitment to make His grace toward us known that is a good thing.  That I don't dwell in that state of gratitude all the time is sad.  I'm not going to spend any more time in that mental bog.  Instead I'll simply take this opportunity to thank the Lord and to ask Him to give me a greater awareness of His blessings that all around me.  I'm seeking to stay in the Thanksgiving mode. I hope you will join me. It's STTA.

Building Commonweal

The Commonweal Doesn't Come From DC:

Commonweal - the welfare of the public.  It's not a word that we use very often.  It is related to "commonwealth," as in "Commonwealth of Virginia."  It's a good word and an even better concept.  Each of us should ask, "What can I do to encourage commonweal?" As I type, President Obama and President Elect Trump are getting ready to meet in Washington.  I am praying that their conference will be productive, but I don't expect their encounter to be the primary source of commonweal.  Instead, I'm looking to events and people much closer to home to bring about a public climate that leads to the welfare of my neighbors, and me: This morning a group of fellow pastors sat down and shared breakfast.  We represent a network  that, together, has invested well over a century in our community and beyond.  I hope my contribution has made my community better; I know that of my colleagues has. I had a conversation with a young man who is beginning to invest in public service at the most basic, entry-level, way. I received word from two friends who received, and/or are committed to performing, random acts of kindness--paying it forward, if you will. A member of a church in our area gave me an announcement for an event that is seeking to meet the needs of some of my neighbors who were impacted by a recent disaster. An associate and I dropped off an ad for a community event, emphasizing the true meaning of Christmas. No congressional action, or presidential decrees were involved in any of these. No tax funds, or campaign contributions have, or will be spent on any of these activities.  Not to belittle what is currently going on at the White House, but what I'm describing here has the potential to impact the lives of my neighbors in a far more profound ways than anything that will reported on this evening's news. COMMONWEAL--don't wait for it to arrive paid for and packaged from the capital, either national or state, instead go out an build some.   It's STTA. Yesterday I wrote down some of my thoughts about what to do now that the election is past. Click here. Here is a simple video presentation of the Good News It's what matters preeminently.

After the election: What Should God's People Do?

What Should God's People Do, Now?

"I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time." (1 Timothy 2:1–6, NLT) This truth applies this morning, as it has for every morning in the past two millennia. If you want to read some of my thoughts, click here.   It's STTA. PS:  Here is a simple video presentation of the Good News It's what matters preeminently.  s

Congratulations to the most loyal fans I know:

Congratulations to the most loyal group of fans I know:

I won't try to pretend to be a real fan by quoting statistics and talking about specific players.  I haven't followed baseball, or sports in general for a while.  I only listened to the last Inning and half of last night's game.  I do know fan loyalty, though.  I grew up in the Suburbs South of Chicago.  Lots of my playmates, and their dads were fans of the Cubs, our neighbor, Larry, fanatically so.  Cubs fans had to "wait until next year," for a lot of years.  The Cleveland fans I know came later in life.  They have been a hard-bitten lot as well.  So as I congratulate those who rooted for the guys who play at a field with the same name as the gum they chew, I extend my condolences to the fans of the Warriors of the Cuyahoga.    The skill and discipline, built on top of God-given talent, that makes up athletic excellence is something that, kept in its right place, can be done, and vicariously enjoyed, for the glory of God.  God made the human body with marvelous capabilities.  I think Eric Liddell, missionary and Olympic champion was onto something when he said, "God made me fast, and when I run I feel his pleasure."  The Apostle Paul made frequent reference to the sports of his day.  Passages like, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, and 2 Timothy 2:5 & 4:7-8 make use of scenes from the games of his day.  I think the Apostle would enjoy watching a closely played contest like last night's. Paul knew, though, to not allow the contest in the arena to over-shadow the struggle that really matters.  Speaking of the athletes of his day, and the wreath the winner received as a prize, he said, "They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize" (1 Corinthians 9:25, NLT) It's STTA. PS:  Here is a simple video presentation of the Good News It's what matters preeminently.