Doing what I ought, so I don't have to stop doing what I ought not:

While gardening, Francis of Assisi was asked what he would do if he knew he would die that evening.  

"Finish hoeing my garden."

What a joy to be doing what one ought to be doing at that critical time.  The Apostle John said, "Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming" (1 John 2:28).  I fear too many of us are little kids left at home by their parents, hoping to hear the car in the driveway so they can stop doing what they aren't supposed to do and appear to perfect kids when their parents walk through the door.

It's not necessarily that we are doing something bad.  We just aren't using our time and resources in a way that counts for eternity.  If the Lord comes we would hide our heads in shame.

For much of the summer CBC has been asking the question "What's Next?"  It is a worthwhile question to ask if--and that's a big "IF"--the answer informs what I'm doing in the present. It's not rocket science.  We have a pretty good idea what we ought to be about, and even more so what we should not allow to dominate our lives.  If you knew this were your last day, could you keep doing what you are already doing?

 

 

 It's STTA

The US government just closed twenty-two embassies in Africa and the Middle-east.  It seems the chatter is intense.  Lots of bad guys saying bad things about us.  A number of officials and observers say it is similar to what we recognized--mostly in hindsight--before 9/11/01.  I have found it kind of interesting that even those one would expect to pile-on in criticizing the current administration have been reluctant to criticize the closures.  The name "Ben Ghazi" comes up often.  We don't want that again.  

As polite as diplomacy is, it is also dangerous.  Representing one nation in the midst of another can be quite hairy.  Those of us who follow Christ areambassadors.  We represent the Kingdom of God in the midst of a realm that "lies in the power of the Wicked One"  (1 John5:19).  

That is not the kind of thing that can be done with the guarantee of safety.  I know people whose loved ones have died in taking the Good News to those who haven't heard.  Even some of my preacher buddies, who serve in the comfort of the Bible belt, have been treated pretty shabbily.  I heard, just yesterday, about one who after some pretty shameful treatment just quit.  My son was asked to leave a country because he was engaged in proclaiming Christ.  I met one of his associates who just recently was also invited to leave.  Careers have been stymied and even ruined, and young people are socially ostracized--no small concern if you are sixteen years old.  So, do we just put a sign on the door letting the world know that we are shutting down until the opposition subsides?

 

 

Let's ask the Apostle Paul, who was beheaded, or Peter who was crucified, or John who lived in exile.  Our Lord warned us that it would not be easy here in the land where He was crucified.  (John  15:20)

No, we need to proclaim Good News in the face of bad news.  In fact the bad news serves to illustrate why the world needs to hear the message.

 

 

 It's STTA

 

Success as Service

I talked to two business people this morning.  One in leadership with a large corporation and another the proprietor of her own business.  Both expressed a desire to do well so that they could be a blessing to others.  Which is not a theoretical thought, by the way; the fact is they are already using their position and success as a way of blessing others.  One of them shared this, "Please keep m[e] . . . in your prayer, Howard, so we can continue to be a blessing. . . ."

Wow!  May their tribe increase.  It reminds of some words we try to live by here at Covington Bible Church--words which, by the way, adorn several desks and office walls in a number of business concerns.

 

We are in the delivery business.  

We are to take the resources 

God has given us-

physical, human, and divine-

and under the direction of the Holy Spirit, use them to make a maximum impact 

for the Lord.

                                          Howard Merrell 

 

The Kopp Etchells Effects, and other glories that come from abrasion and fire.

As anyone who has used a grinder or followed behind a car with a dragging exhaust knows, metal in contact with an abrasive surface at a high speed creates quite a show.  The rotors of helicopters spinning in desert sand are no exception.

Until recently this erie, halo-like effect had no name.  Photographer Michael Yon dubbed it the "Kopp-Etchells Effect."  The name 

Benjamin S. Kopp Corporal, U.S. Army 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment January 20, 1988 - July 18, 2009

is in honor of two servicemen who died in Afghanistan in 2009, Joseph Etchells and Benjamin Kopp.

It is entirely appropriate to name this mesmerizing phenomena after two who served their countries at great sacrifice.  Natural occurrences---rainbows, lighting, cold, sunsets--often cause us to think about matters far greater than than the physics of what is making the show.   

Joseph Etchells Corporal, U.K. Army 2nd Battalion,      The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers March 27, 1987 - July 19, 2009

It is the stuff of poetry.  I figure Mr. Yon had something like that in mind.  I hope "Kopp Etchells" sticks.  I find it much more satisfying than "Sand and Rotor."

The story reminds me of truth from scripture.  Many who are ignored, forgotten, even persecuted for their faith in this faith in this life, will be honored in such a way that "sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed" (Romans 8:18).  The abrasion that sometimes leaves us bleeding will result in praise to our Lord.  It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.  (See Revelation 7:13-17 for an example.)

 

  

It's STTA

Like many of  you I'm with family celebrating our nation's birthday--Independence Day.  I know there is a lot of history and political theory, etc. that needs to be sorted out, but I'm thankful for my nation.  I'm also concerned for my nation.  Last night a pitifully small remnant of us gathered and used Daniel's prayer from Daniel 9 as a paradigm for praying for our own nation and for us as citizen's of this great land.  (You non-USA folk can appropriately adapt that.)  It's an exercise I recommend.  I am concerned for our land, and I see the need for prayer, but I'll save that for another day.

 

Right now I'm thinking about independence.  I think we can rejoice in the historic event that gave birth to our nation, but we need to resist the idea that independence is always a good, and that more independence is always a virtue.  Our national ethos is filled with strong rugged types who "go it alone."  For many our ideal is a character who is an actor, playing fictional roles. 

The truth is, not only is John Wayne dead, but the image the name conjures is just that, a figment of our imagination.  Not only is that kind of go-it-alone persona an impossibility; it is harmful to try to pursue it.  From the very beginning when God pronounced Adam's alone-ness as the one "not good" in all of creation, it has been God's intention that we be dependent.  Family, church, kin, neighbors, all represent circles of relationship.  I depend on others.  They depend on me.  Above it all, the message of scripture is clear.  Anyone who tries to live independent of his creator is headed for disaster.  The fool of Psalms is not so much one who says I don't believe there is a God, as he is one who says, "I don't need God--thank you very much."  

When we think we are really independent, we will come to lose the kind of independence we celebrate today.  

  

It's STTA

 

 

Leaks

SOMETHING  TO THINK ABOUT

Lonnie, I hear it's possible that Ed Snowden could become your neighbor.   It's hard to tell about the fugitive-leaker, but I heard on the news that he could be on a plane with Bolivian president, Evo Morales, headed to your neighborhood. If Snowden does move in next door, I'd advise you to be careful what you share with him.   We have come far in our ability to collect and store information.  Not that long ago Generals would have their armies march in the fields rather than on roads to keep the rising dust from giving away their position.  Ships could hide in the fog.  People, if they chose to, could just vanish.  Today, when I send this email, when I go through the checkout at a store, when I use my cellphone, and likely other times that I don't know about, I will leave a trail of my behavior.  (Excuse me just a moment.  Hi Bob.  Bob--not his real name, but he'll know--is a friend of mine who works for NSA.  I figure its impolite to ignore him.)  Our desperate hope is that all this data will keep us safe.  Its not my point to argue that one way or the other.  Lonnie's potential new neighbor, though, illustrates for us what won't make us safe. In the end security depends not on more information, but on greater integrity.  There is a lot I don't have figured out, but, Lonnie, if Snowden does move in next door, I'd advise you not to tell him where your spare key is hidden.   Here is a question each of us needs to ask:  "Can my neighbor trust me with that information?"    It's STTA

Looking forward to some home-grown tomatoes . . . and then . . .

I kinda, sorta got back into gardening a couple of years ago.  When I first moved to Covington, my little town, here in the Alleghany Highlands, it was clear that growing a garden was what you were supposed to do.  So I did for several years--tomatoes, peppers, beans, the usual stuff.  Even grew corn a few times, and for a while I fed strawberries to the birds, who really seemed to enjoy them.  I didn't like it--the work I mean; I liked the eats just fine--and with the bountifulness of others' gardens and the kindness of neighbors and church members I found I was well supplied with juicy red ones, and other produce, even after I hung up my hoe.  

Then my dad move here.  He had a desire to garden but no spot to do so.  I had a nice piece of ground.  It was a great deal.  Dad bought a tiller so he could grow more than he and mom could eat.  I was glad to help eliminate the surplus.  More than twenty-five years ago my dad left us, as did a lot of those other generous, productive gardeners.  

Store bought tomatoes just don't cut it.

 

Guy Clark - Homegrown Tomatoes

It was my wife's fault, really. She bought a rasberry bush at a yard sale.  I needed to make a place to plant it, and as things often do, one thing led to another.  It's pretty pitiful by real garden standards--a tiny patch and a couple of raised beds, but I noticed this morning that one of my plants, late-planted though it was, has some dime-sized green tomatoes on it.  "The substance of things hoped for."  

Tomato season is way too short, though.  Some of the remnants of last years vines still litter the ground.  Soon this year's will join their older cousins on their journey back to the dirt.  Kind of like us.  Except for us there is more beyond.  Though thinking of a big juicy beefsteak is a pleasant contemplation, my something that I'm thinking about isn't a vegetable, it's heaven.  When tomatoes are done they just go "squish."  God made us for eternity.  Where will you be?

  

It's STTA