tick, tick, tick,,,

Tick, tick, tick, the clock continues to tick - for some of us it probably seems that it’s ticking down faster than for others.  I guess sooner than later time will reach its destination and come to a sudden halt.   Sorry to break the news to you Skippy, but someday there simply will be no more “ticking.”   

A bleak beginning to a journal entry, huh?

Life is short is what we’ve been told –  Life is hard most of us have come to believe, and most certainly Life is full of surprises.  Heck, we’ve even been told Life is like a box of chocolates, of all things.  Life can be broken down where we come to understand that we are blessed each day with 1,440 minutes just as was Albert Einstein, Aristotle, Abraham Lincoln, Moses, Mother Teresa, and even Thomas Edison. 

1,440 minutes per day – yet we declare so often that there just isn’t enough time to get done all the things we say that we want to get accomplished.   I don’t know, but maybe some of us are just looking for an excuse sometimes.  

Have you ever awakened in the morning and asked yourself – How in the world am I going to get done all of the things that I need to do today?   Do you ever feel run down, and exhausted from all of the busyness that your life has taken on?   Are you simply trying to hang in there some days when your energy level has all but diminished?   Maybe I’m wrong, but I suspect that we’ve all had those times.  No, I’m not trying to pitch you a new vitamin, or energy drink - I’m simply making a point here.

Tick, tick, tick - it’s still ticking at a pace of 86,400 ticks per day.  

If pressed to, could you answer the following questions right here - right now?    What is your immediate set of goals for your life?  What are you mid-range goals?   What are your long-term goals?   

I’m not just talking about your financial situation, your education plans, or your career path – I’m talking about your purpose in life.   To ask the question more precise “What is your game-plan to position yourself better so that your life more closely mirrors the life that Jesus lived?”

Now that’s a tough question simply because many of us live each day by the seat of our pants.   We face each situation and circumstance as if it was an unexpected occurrence, and we wonder where all of our time and energy goes each day.  We have absolutely no game-plan in place - merely a destination in mind.

Pastor Ron Stewart www.GraceBC.org (at a missionary conference) one weekend stated “For the salt to be effective it must first leave the saltshaker.”     Simple truth!  He went on to point out a sad, but a very truthful fact that,  its easy for people to get caught up in their own particular ‘ministry’ or in this function, or in that church program, yet never actively get involved with true evangelism.  

Speaking of Thomas Edison, I read somewhere years ago that it took him years before he came up with a successful version of the light bulb.  When Thomas Edison was interviewed by a young reporter during the process who boldly asked Mr. Edison if he felt like a failure and if he thought he should just give up by now. Perplexed, Edison replied, "Young man, why would I feel like a failure? And why would I ever give up? I now know definitively over 9,000 ways that an electric light bulb will not work. Success is almost in my grasp." And shortly after that, and over 10,000 attempts, Edison invented the light bulb.      Talk about perseverance!  Can you imagine the frustration level he must have experienced after, let’s say 9,950 failures?   All too often we find ourselves subject to giving up after a time or two of getting knocked to the ground – much less after 7,268 times.

Here’s my definition of “perseverance”: to use all of the 1,440 minutes per day in one fashion or another in a manner in which to achieve our objectives regardless of the obstacles, and then tomorrow get out of bed and do it all over again.

I sat in on a leadership class a few years ago where the main focus of the final exercise was designed to help us recognize various qualities of a true leader.  The last half-hour of the class was spent this way.   The session leader drew a center line down the blank page sitting on the easel and at the top he wrote LION on one side and LAMB on the other.  Then the instructor began showing photographs of well known leaders and asked the class to vocally respond with their opinion as to which category each leader fit in.    President Bush (the dad one) immediately went into the Lamb column and Bill Gates under the Lion heading.  Hitler was an obvious choice, as well as was Gandhi.  This went on for about fifteen minutes and then the final photo was offered up - that of Mother Teresa, and without objection she was placed along side the names of those that had been seen as having a “Lamb’s” approach to getting others to follow their lead.     

The teacher concluded his comments and then began to dismiss the class, yet he stopped just short of saying good-bye.   He turned to the board again (scratched his head) and asked the class, “Are you sure that Mother Teresa is in the right category?”   Many of us stared at the photograph of this wrinkled and worn out slice of human frailty which had been on the projection screen for nearly twenty minutes now, and we stood firm with our conclusion that she was indeed a “Lamb”- styled leader.  Then the instructor pulled out a piece of folded paper from his pocket and started listing all of her accomplishments.

He explained to us at the time of her death she held a seat on more than a hundred Board of Directors committees for some of the largest organizations in the world.     He told us how she either met with or conversed with the highest ranking leaders of the world on a weekly basis and that she never let them wrangle their way away from her presence until they heard her opinion on a vast array of issues such as abortion, world hunger, etc..  It seems that they greatly respected her opinion of how “things” should be done since apparently she had a very forceful and fearless way of expressing her expectations for each of them. 

He then gave us the statistics that showed her Missionaries of Charity had over 600 sites throughout the world.  How she took in more than ($100,000,000.00) One hundred million dollars in donations per year from the wealthiest and the most influential people of the world just to feed and clothe the poor and outcast of our societies. He also told us how she orchestrated a work force of over 300,000 volunteers to help her meet her objectives in 123 countries.    He finished up by explaining that she had worked and prayed tirelessly (for more than fifty years) 16-20 hours a day right up until her death - all because of her fierce determination to make a difference in the lives of those around her, as she believed God had called her to do.  She was relentless – hard working, a force to be reckoned with by all level of dignitaries and world leaders.   But all that was disguised quite nicely in her wrinkled face, blue dress, and nun’s habit. 

He paused (as the class was in absolute silence) and then asked a show of hands of how many of us now believed that she should be moved over to the list of Lions - it was unanimous.   This was an important lesson for all of us, not only in misperceptions but also in personal performance, perseverance, as well as objectives, and game-planning. 

1,440 minutes a day - just like it was when Jesus walked among us while he healed the sick, raised the dead, taught through the use of parables, and putting into place the plan for our salvation – all in 1,440 minutes a day.  Yet we say that there just isn’t enough time in a day. 

Mother Teresa and Thomas Edison – what a pair huh?   Both very successful through hard work and perseverance, and we all benefit greatly from each of their respective efforts, but here’s the bottom line in all of this.   The Bible teaches us that faith without any works is an unmeasured faith, but I also take that to mean that works without any evidence of faith is less than acceptable as well. 

Thomas Edison lived a life consumed of great works for the betterment of mankind, but he died not believing in God or the power of the cross.    Mother Teresa simply did everything she did to demonstrate that the saving grace of Jesus Christ was available to all.  Faith plus works leads to a true and life changing evangelism that Christ called each of us to.

My favorite quote by Mother Teresa comes from an item that she supposedly hung in her office herself, and it reads;

   “Tell them we are not here for work, we are here for Jesus.”

Can you hear that?        tick, tick, tick…..                                                           

CHAPTER 1 FROM MY BOOK - "A VIEW FROM THE FENCE"

more than a song -2007

                                              “more than a song”

Each day for some time now, I start my workday (after getting this box cranked up) with my playlist headliner, Michael W. Smith’s The Heart of Worship.   What a great song to help get focused on my purpose in life while at work – to worship and praise God in all of my thoughts, words, and actions.  Trust me I need all of the help that I can get!  I feel like I’m cheating on a test each day, because I listen to Christian music almost 24/7.  I know there aren’t a lot of folks that have that opportunity, and I truly appreciate what God has given me.  I also know that He has placed me in this position because of my weaknesses, and He understands my needs much better than I do.  

The lyrics that I like most from this song are, “I’ll bring you more than a song, for a song in itself is not what you have required - you search much deeper within - through the way things appear - your looking into my heart - I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and its all about you, its all about you Jesus - I’m sorry Lord, for the thing that I’ve made it!   It’s all about you, its all about you Jesus.”

What insightfulness for a songwriter to admit that “songs” are not what Jesus asks of us!  It’s much more, so much more than just our praises.  The same for a pastor to proclaim that sermons are not the purpose of his Christianity, or a writer to acknowledge that the words may come from God, yet the purpose in our lives, as His people is so much greater than the pen can capture.   And it’s with that thought in mind that I break from the norm today, and share more than my words.  As you guys know, I’ve been sharing “my personal journal entries” each week at this time, yet today I want to extend to you something from someone else’s life, which I don’t posses the words to express properly. 

The following story was shared in a sermon given by Dr. Rick Blackwood, Senior Pastor at Christ Fellowship in Pametto Bay, Fla. several years ago.   The story is of a father’s love, pain, anguish, and most certainly a father’s hope.   I in turn, hope that somehow, in some small way it finds a purpose in your own life today, as we share our Christianity with each other.  If you’re a parent, you’ll understand even more so the emotional state from where this letter was written.

  Pastor Rick began by reading a tribute that a father had written after losing his young daughter to Death, and it goes as follows;   “My dear Bristol, before you were born, I prayed for you.  In my heart I knew that you would be a little angel, and so you were.   When you were born on my birthday, it was evident that you were a special gift from the Lord.  But how profound a gift you turned out to be!   More than a beautiful bundle of gurgles and rosy cheeks, more than the first-born of my flesh, a joy unspeakable, you showed me God’s love more than anything else in all creation.  Bristol, you taught me how to love.”

                       “I certainly loved you when you were cuddly and cute, when you rolled over, sat up and jabbered your first words.  I loved you when the searing pain of realization took hold that something was wrong; that maybe you were not developing as quickly as your peers, and then when we understood it was more serious than that.  I loved you when we went from hospital, to clinic, to doctor, looking for a medical diagnosis that would bring some hope.  And, of course, we always prayed for you, and prayed, prayed.”

                    “I loved you when one of the tests resulted in too much spinal fluid being drawn from your body - and you screamed.  I loved you when you when you moaned and cried; and when your mom and I, and your sisters would drive for hours late at night, to help you fall asleep.  I loved you with tears in my eyes when, confused, you would bite your fingers, or your lip by accident.  I loved you when your eyes crossed, and then went blind.”

                    “I most certainly loved you when you could no longer speak, but how profoundly I missed your voice!  I loved you when your scoliosis started wrenching your body like a pretzel, when they put a tube in your stomach so you could eat because you were choking on your food, which we fed you, one spoonful at a time - up to two hours per meal.    Bristol, I even loved you when you could not say the one thing in life that I longed to hear back – “Daddy, I love you”.    Bristol, I loved you when I was close to God, and when he seemed far away, when I was full of faith, and also when I was angry at Him.”

                    “The reason I loved you, my Bristol, in spite of these difficulties is that God put this love in my heart.  This is the wondrous nature of God’s love, that He loves us even when we are blind, deaf, or twisted – in body or in spirit.  God loves us even when we can’t tell Him we love Him back.    My dear Bristol, now you are free!  I look forward to that day, according to God’s promises, when we will be joined together with you - with the Lord, completely whole and full of joy.  I’m so happy that you have your crown first.  We will follow you someday- in His time.”  

      “I’m sorry Lord, for the thing that I have made it! 

I bring you more than a song God, because you deserve so much more - for loving me through all of my spiritual deficiencies, deformities, blindness, and especially through those times that I forget to, or simply refuse to tell you - Daddy, I love you…

Please remember to see all children as what they truly are - a blessing from God.  With His love that will sufficiently carry us for another week, your brother in Christ, Doug 

Long before I started sharing these journal items through this venue, I would weekly email one out to what grew to be several thousand readers.    If you weren't one of those that received them via email, then you haven't read this one yet.  If you did receive the email versions, then I pray that  it may help in some way for you to receive these messages again.   Over the next few months I'll post a few of the older items from this journal.   I hope you'll find the time to read and share.   With HIS love and purpose!   Doug

BEING USED ?

I doubt very seriously I have the market cornered on feeling like I've been used from time to time by certain people.    Sometimes I find myself being susceptible to being used because of my nature to try and help people or somehow to “rescue” even those that don't want to be rescued.   I've done it my whole life.  Always with good intentions, but so often with failed results.   It's taking me a long time to finally come to the realization that I am not a rescuer – I'm a rescuee.  

Come on now, I know I'm not the only out there that has suffered with this “Rescuer persona” am I?  I didn't think so!    I guess sometimes an unhealthy desire to be useful can lead one to become available to unintentional hurt feelings and yes, even intentional abuse.    Being used leaves an ugly aftertaste doesn't it?   It often can lead to a partial or permanent shut down of compassion and willingness to help others can't it?   It most certainly creates some level of bitterness in our hearts and we all know the devastating effects that can have on our lives.  Did you know that doctors now believe bitterness, guilt and un-forgiveness are significant causes of numerous physical ailments we consistently suffer with throughout our lives.   If I'm not mistaken there was mention of this in a medical book of sorts written thousands of years ago  - it's called the Bible.  You should really check it out, it’s a crackin-good read, especially if you're suffering today from the feeling of being used.  

There's being used and then there is being USED.   One is seemingly an abusive situation and the other is definitely a situation of obedience.   Let me ask you, are you being used today?   If in the negative sense, then what are you going to do to change your circumstance?   And if you're not being used in the positive form then what are you going to do to change your circumstance?    To be used by God for his purpose most certainly can expose you to abuse, but at least you'll have ONE that will protect you, comfort you, and defend you.  You'll still be abused, but at least you'll have a refuge.   I believe many people never allow themselves to risk the possible exposure to abuse, ridicule, and embarrassment simply so God can use them in a meaningful way.   As long as all they are “called” to do is serve coffee in the foyer on Sunday mornings, or stand in the choir loft and lift up their voices in praise, or maybe even host a small group at their house during the week they're okay with that kind of being used by God – but that's it, absolutely no further.    Now don't get me wrong these are all important ways of serving God, but is this really the fullness of what Jesus commanded from us before returning to the Father?   

I believe I used this statistic before, but it’s worth repeating -  an evangelical survey from a couple of years ago showed that over 95% of all people professing to be Christians will never, (not even once) purposely share their testimony with a non-believer throughout the entirety of their life. Sure, they'll sit around with other believers and go on and on about all the things God has done in their lives, but risk sounding like an idiot in front of someone that may not even believe there is a god.....never.

    Being used is available for everyone, but apparently it isn't for everyone. 

Ever wondered why God would choose to use such flawed people as communicators of His flawless message of hope?   Since He is after all the Almighty surly he could find a method to deliver the gospel without having to use us, couldn't he?   I read somewhere the words; “On their worst night, "the heavens perfectly declare the glory of God."    So, why would He choose simple, inadequate, mortal, and fallible beings to showcase His Word to the world?   I guess we don't have a good answer for this. 

Except this explanation I read recently: “God chose the "nobodies" of this world so that any boasting could only be about Him. Though we stand in His light as we "preach the word," we must never block His beauty. We're to simply declare His written word, point to His Incarnate Word, and step aside so He can be seen.”

To be used can be a good thing!

A great example of this comes from an obscure scene in a village in Korea in the early part of the 1900s where William Blair served as a missionary.     After suffering through frustrating months of banging his head against the proverbial wall of disconnect he began to preach a message from I Corinthians 12:27: "Now, ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof, and if one member suffers all members suffer with it".

He was quoted later as saying, "I endeavored to show that discord in the church was like sickness in the body...striving to show how hate in a brother's heart affected not only the whole church, but Christ, as the Church's head". "   Many of the Koreans listening intently to his message began to testify as to a new realization of what sin was.    Many of them tearfully confessed lack of love for others, especially for the Japanese (who were then occupying the country)".   For some Koreans, this resentment and hate continues on even toady toward the Japanese.   Totally letting go is an issue for all people I think!

Blair saw this as a sign of progress after so many months of stalemate and two days later he and his associates called for a special prayer meeting for those wanting to move pass this issue and for them to  come together to “wrestle with God, not letting Him go until He had blessed them."    As the story goes, they did, and God did – for on that bitterly-cold winter night in January 1907, a missionary named Mr. Lee unexpectedly cut his sermon short, and asked if anyone wanted to pray.   A man volunteered to and then began confessing to the others and God that he had been harboring hatred in his heart toward other members of the church.  A second fellow followed his lead, then a third, and a fourth, and on it went.

Sensing this could go on and on throughout the night, (if each person did this individually) Mr, Lee said, "If you all want to pray like that, all pray".  Immediately the voices could be heard, the sobbing began almost deafening and throughout the church, confessions of bitterness against each other rose up.  The entirety of the congregation - 1,500 strong--dissolved itself in tears. 

Pastor Lee describe the scene this way: "Man after man would arise, confess his sins, break down and weep, and then throw himself to the floor, and beat the floor with his fists in perfect agony of conviction.  My own cook tried to make a confession, broke down in the midst of it, and cried, `Pastor, tell me, is there any hope for me, can I be forgiven' and then threw himself to the floor, and almost screamed in agony.  Sometimes after a confession, the whole audience would break out in audible prayer, and the effect of that audience of hundreds of men praying together in audible prayer was something indescribable.  Again, after another confession, they would break out in uncontrollable weeping, and we would all weep, we could not help it.  And so the meeting went on until two o'clock, am., with confession and weeping and praying".

Blaire's team of missionaries decided that God wasn't finished with his work in this area so again the next night they called the congregation together.   It suspected that most would've gathered even if the ministers had not called for a service – for a movement was taking place and the people wanted it, I mean really wanted it, finally.   That night two of the church officers were involved: Mr. Kang and Mr. Kim confessed mutual hatred for each other.  Then Mr. Kim confessed his hatred for another officer: "Pang Mok-sa" - which is Korean of William Blair.    Here was a leader of the Church, the man that had just delivered the sermon of his life the night before, confessing hatred and bitterness toward the one man that had given up everything to come to this country simply to be used by God.    I wonder if Blair began to feel, even for a second that he had been used by these people, the ones he had tried so desperately to serve?”   Kim turned to the man he had just confessed to hating and begged, "Can you forgive me?  Can you forgive me?"  Blair fell on Kim's shoulder and wept.  He began praying as if he had never done so before.   The missionary and his humbled assistant were restored before God and this stunned congregation. 

Later  Blair wrote: "My last glimpse of the audience was photographed indelibly on my brain.  Some threw themselves full length on the floor, hundreds stood with arms outstretched to heaven.  Every man forgot every other.  Each was face to face with God.  I can hear yet that fearful sound of hundreds of men pleading with God for life, for mercy.   The Spirit of God came down from heaven in a mighty avalanche of power fell upon us".

Here's the lessons I take from all of this.   In the scripture it talks about leaving the altar and go to your brother asking for forgiveness and only then return to ask the same from God.   For a heart filled with  un-forgiveness can't, or more accurately won't be forgiven.    Let me suggest, if you're hanging on to feelings of being used by someone then ask God to remove this from your heart.   If you need to ask for forgiveness from someone you've used in the past - do so.   Or if you need to be forgiven by someone you've secretly held hatred and bitterness toward then go to them and confess what they may or may not already know, and do it today.   For tomorrow may be too late! 

If you see yourself today as being used maybe it’s because your eyes are on yourself and not God.    Change your view and it'll change your view.   And if you've selfishly held back from allowing God to USE you in the fullness for his purpose, then whatta you say, let go and let God have his way in your life today.   Risk the exposure and allow yourself to be USED today.     Doug