Geyser

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10  ⁹ Two are better than one because they have a good return for their hard work. ¹⁰ If either should fall, one can pick up the other. But how miserable are those who fall and don’t have a companion to help them up!

I had a DIY emergency recently, and something you should know, my skill level allows me to change a light bulb but probably very little else. I have to generally rely on my wife and the skills she learned from her dad, MacGyver, or trained professionals. It’s not that I’m not smart enough, nor is it that I don’t want to learn it, or do it.  It’s that I can’t seem to readily translate the mechanical thoughts in my mind to the bolt I’m turning.

Anyway, we had been awoken by our son, who had gotten up to see if it was raining  – only to find that the seam on the side of the water heater was no long a seam but a nozzle. I went downstairs to find a sizeable stream of water shooting out about 6 feet from “old faithful”.

We got the water shut off, and things moved out of the way, and my wife mopped up some of the puddles. I immediately got on Facebook to work my magic. I have a decent mix of friends – all with a number of different skills. I wanted to see if anyone could recommend a plumber.

It wasn’t 5 minutes, and a friend told me it was easy and I should do it myself. Then another chimed in with the same recommendation. I laughed a bit and as I shared it with my wife, she started to get this look of fear that I might just consider it. (I was but wasn’t about to share that with her.) Instead, I made a joke about it with my friends and one came back “Call me”. It’s 12:15 AM, I’m not going to call anyone one unless death is imminent. About 10 minutes later, he sent me a text, “Call me” to which I responded, “now?”

Well I did, and immediately he offered to come over and help me replace the water heater. I told my wife, and she seemed ok with it. I told him I’d call him later in the day and we ended the call.

Now I didn’t take him up on the offer. We found a plumber who was VERY reasonable and we had them there and gone within 12 hours of the initial geyser.

If you ran upon my friend, while he’s respectful, he’s also a bit rough around the edges, but I’ve had the opportunity to know him a bit better. I know that while we see many things from the same perspective, there are topics that we’ll never see eye to eye. I know that the church, and more importantly God, is very important in his life, but I’ve learned something new about him today.

The words that come from his mouth about his beliefs, about his faith, and about the importance of God, aren’t just words. He genuinely takes those words to heart. There’s a song that talks about us being the body of Christ and asks, “If we are the Body, why aren’t His arms reaching? Why aren’t His hands healing? Why aren’t His feet going?”

Well today, He was – through my friend.

 “Father, I have so many things to be thankful for, not the least of which are my friends. Be with them, protect them through this day and all their days. Amen.

John 14:2-6

New International Version (NIV)

² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I find this passage interesting it can take on so many different meanings depending on the situation and the person.  I however through these words and prayer have found that what is being revealed is that we can only make that journey to His house through his Son Jesus Christ.

Some believe that by being baptized we have come to Him and we have a promise of eternal life.  Others believe that by being baptized and attending church every week, singing loudly from the hymnal they will find their way to the everlasting promise

In these words I find both these statements to be true but there is one aspect that is missing, a personal relationship with the Jesus Christ.  A relationship built through constant conversation with Him.  Daily time devoted to Him for prayer, praise and conversation.

Stop and think about this for a moment.  We each have at least 1 person with whom we talk to daily, sometimes multiple times in a day, updating them on life, the good, the bad and the mundane and getting updates on them and their family as well.  We may call them a friend, spouse or parent, really it doesn’t matter, the point is you go out of your way to make time to continue and build this relationship.

So why is it any different with our Savior, Jesus Christ?  We need to make time to have a conversation with Him every day not only to update Him about what’s going on in our lives but also to praise Him for all He has done.  We also need to take some time to listen for His answers and guidance.

Make a plan to build your relationship with Him.  It can be as simple as turning off the radio on the way to work and having a short chat with Him.  Start simple and short, say 5 minutes.  Before you know it, you’ll fill the commute and will be turning to Him throughout your day.

I started with “Father thank you for all that you’ve done and all that you’ve given me.  Father I ask for forgiveness for not always following your Son’s words.  Help me today to be a light for You.”  I’d repeat it a couple of times, after a few days I found I was adding concerns, prayers for friends and family.  Now my morning commute is spent with an old and trustworthy friend. Find time today to reconnect with Him and you too will find your way through Him.

What If?

Luke 18:9-14  The Pharisee and the tax collector

 9 Jesus told this parable to certain people who had convinced themselves that they were righteous and who looked on everyone else with disgust: 10 “Two people went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself with these words, ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like everyone else—crooks, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of everything I receive.’ 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even lift his eyes to look toward heaven. Rather, he struck his chest and said, ‘God, show mercy to me, a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this person went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. All who lift themselves up will be brought low, and those who make themselves low will be lifted up.”

I heard that over the weekend – the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.  It was an interesting presentation and one that’s had me contemplating the message that Jesus was trying convey in that particular moment, but then my mind wanders and…

In the lesson, they both go to temple (church in today’s terms).  The Pharisee lifts his voice very high and begins to thank God for how great he is and how thankful he is for NOT being a tax collector.  The tax collector bows and asks God to forgive him because he has sinned.

I believe the point of the message was that one should not look down upon another and also we should humble ourselves before the Lord our God – which are messages each of us should take to heart.

…If you read the story, it does not say where each of these men went or what they did afterward.  I suspect that they each went back to their respective lives with little changed.

But what if?  What if the Pharisee heard the prayer of the tax collector and instead of looking down his nose, he listened to the words and realized himself that he has made mistakes, and humbly came to God to ask for forgiveness?  What if after humbling himself, he offered his hand to his brother in Christ and helped the tax collector off his knees?

What if the tax collector heard the prayer of the Pharisee and instead of grumbling about the words and condemnation spoken by the Pharisee, he took the words to realize he has work to do.  What if he realized that the Pharisee was someone he could work to be more like even with all of the flaws he knows the Pharisee doesn’t acknowledge about himself?  What if the tax collector takes the hand of the Pharisee and instead of accepting the help up they help each other up?

I’ve been a “temple goer” for a number of years, and I’ve been both the Pharisee and the tax collector.  I’ve also seen and heard both within the confines of the church.  But what if instead of seeing or being either one, we work to be more like Christ?  What if that’s what Jesus was asking us to do?

Prayer:  “Father God, I humbly come to you and ask for forgiveness.  I’ve made so many mistakes.  Father help me to change.   Let me see when I start to judge others and Father help me to be a humble role model for those around me.”

Practice

1 John 4:14 “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”

As Christians, I believe our Father wishes us to not just to accept Jesus as our Savior, to bring Him into our heart, but also that we go to the mountain top, to our friends, neighbors and the guy next to you in line at the grocery store, and share the glorious news.

I find this next part funny.  Just as with any parent child relationship, if our parents want us to do something we are likely going to procrastinate, complain and avoid the one thing they ask of us.  Oh eventually we’ll do it, but begrudgingly.  Let’s take for instance, practicing.  Most of us have had a sport or an instrument that we enjoyed playing but did not care for the hours of preparation needed behind the scene.  Our parents ask, sometimes even tell us, “go play the trumpet 15 more minutes” or “let’s get 30 more swings in”.  We stomped, mumbled, whined or possibly a little of each of them as we went ahead and did what we were told.

Then one day, you’re up at the plate, 2 outs 2 on, bottom of the 9^th.  You dig in and look to the mound at an imposing figure.  All of a sudden, the ball is headed your way.  Everything is now in slow motion and you think back to your dad hollering out, “come on just 30 more swings”, and realize he was preparing you for this moment.  Confidence builds…and then the realization, your folks were right, practice is important.

Our heavenly Father is asking us for just 30 more swings, 15 minutes on the piano.  I’ll be honest; I have found it difficult to share with others the good news.  I’ve mumbled, whined and maybe stomped a bit.  However, it’s easier now than it was and every time I tell my stories of how I came to Him, how He rescued me on several occasions, I find myself filled a bit more with confidence, with the Spirit.  The light, the fire of God burning brighter than it ever has before!

Today, as you’re going through the mundanes, don’t be shy, take a few minutes to tell someone about the grace He offers us all.

 Father, I don’t always want to do what You want me to, for that I am sorry. Today, give me the words to share Your love with another…Amen

Just What I Needed.

Earlier this summer, we went to a state park here in Missouri that I’ve been visiting for over 35 years.  The park boasts hiking trails, camping, a fish hatchery and a spring-fed river that is stocked with the trout raised at the hatchery.

Every time I enter the park I can recall memories of times spent there with my father, with my brother and now my son.  I’ve met some great people there and stayed connected with 1 or 2.

The park itself has changed substantially; the 100-year-old lodge has closed.  There’s been a bait shop that’s opened and now closed and been torn down.  A new lodge and hotel built.

Along the river, they’ve built a few platforms to allow those who are less agile to get right up to the river and capture some of the same memories I carry with me – like my son’s first catch along the river, him running up the bank rather than reeling in the fish, the whole time screaming at me that he needed some help.

Then there’s the time, like his father, he fell knee deep into that 55 degree water.  He’s a bit younger than I was and both of us showed great restraint in the words chosen and the volume used when that water got to our skin.

Yeah, that place has changed so dramatically but it is still exactly what we remember and is exactly what we need as we drive down into the valley.  It’s funny but my relationship with God is so similar.

As I’ve grown older and managed to learn a bit more, developing my perspective on our heavenly Father, the relationship I have with Him is exactly how I remember it and always what I need.  There have been times in my life I’ve turned my back to Him, quite convinced that I didn’t need Him or even more so, that He wasn’t listening and wasn’t there for me.  But just like that park, and more importantly just like that old river, He’s still there for me, exactly how I remembered Him and just what I needed.

If you’ve not had a chat with God in a while, or been to visit Him, take a few moments today to spend a little time with Him.  I think you’ll find He’s there waiting and He’ll be just what you needed.

 Psalms 73: 23 But I was still always with you! You held my strong hand!