I got a jump on the holiday season by reading “The Nativity Collection”; six short stories surrounding the Christmas season by Robert J. Morgan, a pastor from Nashville, Tennessee. This is the first of Pastor Morgan’s writings that I have read, and I was touched, moved and amused.
The stories range from a depression-era family who spend their Christmas Eve with an old woman who believes she has been re-united with her long-lost family, to a modern day honeymooning couple who discover the basis for true love before it is too late. A surprise awaits you at the end of “Sugarplum and the Christmas Cradle”. You will find yourself with a tear in your eye at times and laughing out loud at others. Mr. Morgan is a talented and creative story-teller.
Mostly, what you will find here in this collection of short stories is wonderful additions to add to your family reading time. If you haven’t already established such a thing, you now have a good reason to do so. Start with “Ollie” this Christmas and start a new tradition with your family and you will find yourself looking for every opportunity to sit and read aloud with your children, grandchildren or anyone you can find who will sit still long enough to hear these heartwarming tales of the holidays. Let me be the first to wish you and yours Merry Christmas!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Outlive Your Life
I was just given the awesome opportunity to review Max Lucado’s new book “Outlive Your Life”. Excited to read anything written by the master wordsmith, I expected to rush through it hungrily. This book, though, must be savored slowly. It is thought provoking and potentially life changing.
Max Lucado takes us to the book of Acts and with his unique ability to put one right in the middle of the action, makes us charter members of the first church. Then, with his amazing story-telling twists, we are catapulted into the present where we are presented with the stark reality that we are no different from those struggling New Testament Christians we have been reading about. God is the same God today that He has always been - He still has the same power and still answers prayer in the same way. So what has changed? Why does the church today not look like the church in the book of Acts?
This book is a challenge to us as individuals to reexamine the world around us for opportunities to put into practice what we say we believe. To see people in a different light than we ever have before. We can actually begin to see traces of the different characters from the New Testament church in those around us; glimmers of hope, doors of opportunity where before we only saw hopelessness.
I encourage everyone to pick this book up and read it. But beware: you will be different when you put it down.
Max Lucado takes us to the book of Acts and with his unique ability to put one right in the middle of the action, makes us charter members of the first church. Then, with his amazing story-telling twists, we are catapulted into the present where we are presented with the stark reality that we are no different from those struggling New Testament Christians we have been reading about. God is the same God today that He has always been - He still has the same power and still answers prayer in the same way. So what has changed? Why does the church today not look like the church in the book of Acts?
This book is a challenge to us as individuals to reexamine the world around us for opportunities to put into practice what we say we believe. To see people in a different light than we ever have before. We can actually begin to see traces of the different characters from the New Testament church in those around us; glimmers of hope, doors of opportunity where before we only saw hopelessness.
I encourage everyone to pick this book up and read it. But beware: you will be different when you put it down.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
A Ticket on The Past Track
Okay, imagine with me that you are given a ticket into the past. You can go back and be a witness to any event in biblical history that you desire. Think on it for a minute. Any event at all. You can witness creation: hear the voice of God saying ‘Let there be light.’ and be blinded by piercing light breaking up absolute darkness. Watch over the course of six days as the heavens and the earth take form, and watch as the animals rise up out of nothing and Adam is formed from the dust of the earth. Witness God breathe the breath of life, a living soul, into this lifeless body and form an eternal relationship with His own creation. See Eve given to Adam as his soul-mate, his help-meet, bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh.
Or maybe you would rather go further into the future. Do you want to be with Moses and the children of Israel as they are facing the Red Sea? Do you want to stand with them, feel their desperate fear as they see the dark waters before them, and hear the approaching army of Pharaoh behind them? Can you see Moses raise his aged hands up in the air, staff in hand, watch the great tunnel form through the sea? Towering waves on either side, dry land beneath your feet, you follow the masses of people as they cross to safety.
But wait. What about seeing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walking about inside the fiery furnace with the fourth figure? Or seeing Daniel emerge from the lions’ den untouched by the hungry lions? Maybe you would like to spend some time with David and his mighty men of valor. Watch the young David, before he becomes king, slay the fearsome giant Goliath.
Then there is the New Testament. Oh, my, there are some things there I would like to witness. Just to be on the hillside when the angels announced the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem! As a mother I believe I could be content to just spend some time sitting with Mary, the mother of Jesus, watching the child Jesus grow and play. Then He did grow, and He began to perform miracles! Pick a miracle, any miracle! To walk one day with Jesus and His disciples, what an honor that would be. To see a stormy sea calmed by just His voice. To watch a blind man receive sight! To see eyes opened and first of all gaze into the face of the one who gave them that blessed gift. To watch as one’s ears were opened for the first time to the sounds of life and hear the voice of our Savior saying, ‘Tell no one what has been done here today.’ How can you not but speak? To be there as the lame stand, walk, run and leap! Demons are demanded to vacate the bodies of helpless victims and the dead are given back to their loved ones again, alive and whole.
There! That’s the one. That’s the event I would go to see. I would go with Jesus to the tomb of Lazarus. Why to that one miracle, you ask? There was something so very unique about that event, so special. It was a turning point, I believe. From that point on, things changed. For the people, for Mary and Martha, certainly for Lazarus, for the disciples and also for Jesus. For after this miracle, the desire of the Pharisees and chief priests to kill Jesus peaked, and they began to plot in earnest for his death.
Let’s set the stage: Lazarus, Mary and Martha are friends of Jesus’. The Bible says that He loved them. Later, we will find Him eating with them, presumably in their home. Lazarus falls ill, seriously so. Jesus is about 18 miles from them, so the sisters send for Him. It takes the messenger about a day to reach Jesus. Verse six of John chapter 11 tells us that Jesus lingers two days before He makes the decision to head to Bethany, where Lazarus is. Again, a one day journey. When He arrives He receives word that Lazarus has died. Simple first grade addition tells us that four days has passed since the first day that help has been sent for.
Now, a little bit of Jewish cultural history: try to stay focused and not let your eyes glaze over. I will try to be brief. The Jews buried their dead quickly: they normally buried them the day they died. There were also some Jews who had a belief that the soul would sometimes ‘hover’ near the body for the first three days after death hoping to somehow get back in. Possibly this is how they disregarded some of the other resurrections that Jesus performed? But by Jesus delaying His arrival until Lazarus had been in the grave for four days already, well, that pretty much did away with that argument, didn’t it? So that makes this a clear case for miracles. Now let’s look at Mary and Martha.
When Jesus gets there, the two women are distraught. Both of the women say pretty much the same thing to Jesus when they see Him. In the 11th chapter of John you can find the account. Verse 21 is Martha’s statement, and verse 32 is Mary’s. “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Clearly they believe Jesus could have and would have healed their brother. Maybe even raised him from the dead if He had gotten there earlier. Martha’s faith is rattled but not gone. She proclaims Him the Christ, the Son of God. Neither sister has lost her faith in who Jesus is. But don’t you wonder what they were thinking for those four days?
I do. I wonder what everyone was thinking, and saying. Jesus healed everyone else. Other people were raised up. Other’s prayers were answered. Why not them? Why not us? Don’t we wonder? Why do bad things happen to good people? It’s not always simple. A few blogs ago I wrote about John the Baptist. He was in prison and sent his disciples to Jesus with doubts and questions. Jesus sent word back to reassure him. To let him know his faith was not in vain, his life’s work was not in vain and that he was indeed preaching the truth and following the true Messiah. Good enough. Was John sprung from prison? Actually, no. In fact he was beheaded. He and Jesus celebrated a joyous reunion a short while later in Heaven, I’m sure. But that’s not to say there weren't people here wondering why such a tragic thing had to happen to such a faithful servant. We don’t always get to understand or get the clear ending we expect or want.
This time, though, it happens that we do. (although to be completely fair to Lazarus, I’m not sure if given a choice it’s the one he would have chosen!) Jesus says to the disciples on the way to Bethany, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” Jesus knows Lazarus has died. But He also knows that He is going to show His disciples, the family of Lazarus, the people and the Pharisees and all who will be witness to this event, that He is truly “the resurrection and the life”, and that He has power and authority unlike anything they have ever witnessed before. He knows what is quickly approaching: His own death. Following His death will come His resurrection and then His ascension. Things will change for them after that. The only way in which they will be able to endure what is about to come is for them to come to know Jesus, to know more about Him than ever before. They will have to experience this, not just hear it from Him. And they are about to experience something amazing.
Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, walks up to the tomb where Lazarus has been for four days. In what John describes as a ‘loud voice’ Jesus cries “Lazarus, come forth!”
Can you imagine what people are thinking? They had moved the stone away. They are peering into the opening, waiting to see what will happen. Will Lazarus come walking out? Do they want him to? Yes? No? I don’t know? My heart is pounding if it is beating at all. I’m sure people are holding their breaths, and not just because they are afraid of the smell. Then, we hear a shuffling. Some people have run in absolute terror, others are frozen in complete amazement. No way! Then, here he comes, wrapped up in the same grave clothes they had bound him in four days ago: head to foot. Jesus says “Loose him, let him go.” Maybe he is somewhat amused, because people, stunned, don’t move. Then they do…..they are all over him. Unwrapping him, uncovering his pink, healthy skin. He is smiling, healthy, glowing and hugging his loved ones. He and Jesus share secret smiles, for I’m sure they share many secrets now. I’m envious.
Many times we have to go to the darkest places before we can discover the best parts about our Lord. For it is when we are in our greatest need that He shows Himself the most real to us. It is when we have nothing to cry but, ‘Oh Lord, I need You,’ that He is the closest. Recently, during a prayer time at our church, the dear man leading prayer was speaking to the congregation. He was saying that Jesus was the answer to all of our needs. He said, “What is your need today, church? What do you need today?” At that moment, in my heart and in my soul, I cried out, “Lord, I so desperately just need You to be here; a real person to hug me.” I closed my eyes and bowed my head, so needy. In that moment, I felt as if He stepped up close behind me, wrapped His arms around me and drew me in close to Him and held me and just loved me. To some, it would be such a small thing. To me, it was the biggest thing in the world because it was what I needed at that time.
Was it a resurrection? Hardly. But it was God showing me He is real. Other times in my life He has shown up bigger, and He will show up bigger again. But it was those darker times that has given me the confidence for the rest of the times that aren’t quite as dark. Without those times, I wouldn’t know what I know now.
So, yeah. I’d go see Lazarus.
Or maybe you would rather go further into the future. Do you want to be with Moses and the children of Israel as they are facing the Red Sea? Do you want to stand with them, feel their desperate fear as they see the dark waters before them, and hear the approaching army of Pharaoh behind them? Can you see Moses raise his aged hands up in the air, staff in hand, watch the great tunnel form through the sea? Towering waves on either side, dry land beneath your feet, you follow the masses of people as they cross to safety.
But wait. What about seeing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walking about inside the fiery furnace with the fourth figure? Or seeing Daniel emerge from the lions’ den untouched by the hungry lions? Maybe you would like to spend some time with David and his mighty men of valor. Watch the young David, before he becomes king, slay the fearsome giant Goliath.
Then there is the New Testament. Oh, my, there are some things there I would like to witness. Just to be on the hillside when the angels announced the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem! As a mother I believe I could be content to just spend some time sitting with Mary, the mother of Jesus, watching the child Jesus grow and play. Then He did grow, and He began to perform miracles! Pick a miracle, any miracle! To walk one day with Jesus and His disciples, what an honor that would be. To see a stormy sea calmed by just His voice. To watch a blind man receive sight! To see eyes opened and first of all gaze into the face of the one who gave them that blessed gift. To watch as one’s ears were opened for the first time to the sounds of life and hear the voice of our Savior saying, ‘Tell no one what has been done here today.’ How can you not but speak? To be there as the lame stand, walk, run and leap! Demons are demanded to vacate the bodies of helpless victims and the dead are given back to their loved ones again, alive and whole.
There! That’s the one. That’s the event I would go to see. I would go with Jesus to the tomb of Lazarus. Why to that one miracle, you ask? There was something so very unique about that event, so special. It was a turning point, I believe. From that point on, things changed. For the people, for Mary and Martha, certainly for Lazarus, for the disciples and also for Jesus. For after this miracle, the desire of the Pharisees and chief priests to kill Jesus peaked, and they began to plot in earnest for his death.
Let’s set the stage: Lazarus, Mary and Martha are friends of Jesus’. The Bible says that He loved them. Later, we will find Him eating with them, presumably in their home. Lazarus falls ill, seriously so. Jesus is about 18 miles from them, so the sisters send for Him. It takes the messenger about a day to reach Jesus. Verse six of John chapter 11 tells us that Jesus lingers two days before He makes the decision to head to Bethany, where Lazarus is. Again, a one day journey. When He arrives He receives word that Lazarus has died. Simple first grade addition tells us that four days has passed since the first day that help has been sent for.
Now, a little bit of Jewish cultural history: try to stay focused and not let your eyes glaze over. I will try to be brief. The Jews buried their dead quickly: they normally buried them the day they died. There were also some Jews who had a belief that the soul would sometimes ‘hover’ near the body for the first three days after death hoping to somehow get back in. Possibly this is how they disregarded some of the other resurrections that Jesus performed? But by Jesus delaying His arrival until Lazarus had been in the grave for four days already, well, that pretty much did away with that argument, didn’t it? So that makes this a clear case for miracles. Now let’s look at Mary and Martha.
When Jesus gets there, the two women are distraught. Both of the women say pretty much the same thing to Jesus when they see Him. In the 11th chapter of John you can find the account. Verse 21 is Martha’s statement, and verse 32 is Mary’s. “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Clearly they believe Jesus could have and would have healed their brother. Maybe even raised him from the dead if He had gotten there earlier. Martha’s faith is rattled but not gone. She proclaims Him the Christ, the Son of God. Neither sister has lost her faith in who Jesus is. But don’t you wonder what they were thinking for those four days?
I do. I wonder what everyone was thinking, and saying. Jesus healed everyone else. Other people were raised up. Other’s prayers were answered. Why not them? Why not us? Don’t we wonder? Why do bad things happen to good people? It’s not always simple. A few blogs ago I wrote about John the Baptist. He was in prison and sent his disciples to Jesus with doubts and questions. Jesus sent word back to reassure him. To let him know his faith was not in vain, his life’s work was not in vain and that he was indeed preaching the truth and following the true Messiah. Good enough. Was John sprung from prison? Actually, no. In fact he was beheaded. He and Jesus celebrated a joyous reunion a short while later in Heaven, I’m sure. But that’s not to say there weren't people here wondering why such a tragic thing had to happen to such a faithful servant. We don’t always get to understand or get the clear ending we expect or want.
This time, though, it happens that we do. (although to be completely fair to Lazarus, I’m not sure if given a choice it’s the one he would have chosen!) Jesus says to the disciples on the way to Bethany, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” Jesus knows Lazarus has died. But He also knows that He is going to show His disciples, the family of Lazarus, the people and the Pharisees and all who will be witness to this event, that He is truly “the resurrection and the life”, and that He has power and authority unlike anything they have ever witnessed before. He knows what is quickly approaching: His own death. Following His death will come His resurrection and then His ascension. Things will change for them after that. The only way in which they will be able to endure what is about to come is for them to come to know Jesus, to know more about Him than ever before. They will have to experience this, not just hear it from Him. And they are about to experience something amazing.
Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, walks up to the tomb where Lazarus has been for four days. In what John describes as a ‘loud voice’ Jesus cries “Lazarus, come forth!”
Can you imagine what people are thinking? They had moved the stone away. They are peering into the opening, waiting to see what will happen. Will Lazarus come walking out? Do they want him to? Yes? No? I don’t know? My heart is pounding if it is beating at all. I’m sure people are holding their breaths, and not just because they are afraid of the smell. Then, we hear a shuffling. Some people have run in absolute terror, others are frozen in complete amazement. No way! Then, here he comes, wrapped up in the same grave clothes they had bound him in four days ago: head to foot. Jesus says “Loose him, let him go.” Maybe he is somewhat amused, because people, stunned, don’t move. Then they do…..they are all over him. Unwrapping him, uncovering his pink, healthy skin. He is smiling, healthy, glowing and hugging his loved ones. He and Jesus share secret smiles, for I’m sure they share many secrets now. I’m envious.
Many times we have to go to the darkest places before we can discover the best parts about our Lord. For it is when we are in our greatest need that He shows Himself the most real to us. It is when we have nothing to cry but, ‘Oh Lord, I need You,’ that He is the closest. Recently, during a prayer time at our church, the dear man leading prayer was speaking to the congregation. He was saying that Jesus was the answer to all of our needs. He said, “What is your need today, church? What do you need today?” At that moment, in my heart and in my soul, I cried out, “Lord, I so desperately just need You to be here; a real person to hug me.” I closed my eyes and bowed my head, so needy. In that moment, I felt as if He stepped up close behind me, wrapped His arms around me and drew me in close to Him and held me and just loved me. To some, it would be such a small thing. To me, it was the biggest thing in the world because it was what I needed at that time.
Was it a resurrection? Hardly. But it was God showing me He is real. Other times in my life He has shown up bigger, and He will show up bigger again. But it was those darker times that has given me the confidence for the rest of the times that aren’t quite as dark. Without those times, I wouldn’t know what I know now.
So, yeah. I’d go see Lazarus.
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Getting of Wisdom
I was bummed on Wednesday. Well, the first half anyway. The second half was great, but the first half was less than glorious. My tennis partner and I lost our tennis match. We are now 1-1 for the season. The bad part is that last season, from the time that we partnered together, we only lost one match. Okay, one was a retirement due to an injury, but we would have won that one too. I’m confident. Fairly sure. Well, it’s within the realm of possibilities. Nonetheless, we had a great season together. (Yikes, I sound so competitive! We always say just before we serve the first ball, ‘let’s have fun ladies.’ Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but I have found that winning is way, way more fun than losing. Just saying. )
I left the court bewildered as to why we lost, and even asked our pro what happened. In his unique and informative teaching style, he pointed to the score and said, “They scored more than you.” Gee, thanks, Captain Obvious. He then turned the question around to me and made me answer it. I was forced to look back over the match and evaluate our mistakes, flaws and failures to capitalize on their flaws and weaknesses. It’s always a humbling, yet educational exercise. Interesting to note the same does not always hold true after a win.
Ironically, Tuesday morning I read a verse in Proverbs and wrote it in my journal. It was from the 15th chapter, verse 31.
I’ve always had the knowledge that the lessons that have the most impact are the ones that are learned from mistakes. Is that not true in your life as well? Whether it be on the tennis court, in the kitchen or in life in general, my mistakes have taught me far more than my successes. At the back side of a success I tend to think, “Well, look at me!” Whereas as I stare dismally at my failures, I am more inclined to be thinking, ‘Okay, won’t try that again.”
I have known for a very long time that the best and most effective lessons are indeed learned from one’s mistakes, but I adopted the philosophy when I was a young adult that if I must learn from mistakes, I would prefer them to be someone else's. Sure, and why not? I took note when I could of others’ heartbreaking stories of their failures and how they now realized their gross errors. Sadly, I even took note when they did not realize their errors. Be it marriages, child-rearing, financial ruin or what ever else they tried to share, I listened. Same lessons, less pain, fewer scars! Read what the wise King Solomon says:
These are the rewards of a life that is full of wisdom. And according to the verse I cited earlier, the ear that listens to the reproof of life dwells among wisdom, gets wisdom. In other words, and by other words I guess I mean my words, when you learn from the mistakes of life, whether they be yours or others’, you will gain wisdom. When you acquire wisdom, there are rewards; rewards that are more valuable than the riches of this world. Long life with peace, now there’s a good start.
Have you noticed that the majority of wise people seem to be older? My assumption is that it takes the reproofs of life to attain wisdom. And let’s face it, most of us probably have to be reproved multiple times before we get it. But what if we could be observant enough, attentive enough, teachable enough, to learn these lessons before we grow old? I think it is worth trying.
So, next Wednesday when our team goes out on the court to play another opponent we hopefully will take some of the lessons we learned last week and apply them. We will use the loss as motivation to learn. The reproof of life, the 'L' behind my name, will motivate me to work harder, watch closer and learn from my mistakes last week. My fear is that they may have had the same lesson! Wish me luck!
I left the court bewildered as to why we lost, and even asked our pro what happened. In his unique and informative teaching style, he pointed to the score and said, “They scored more than you.” Gee, thanks, Captain Obvious. He then turned the question around to me and made me answer it. I was forced to look back over the match and evaluate our mistakes, flaws and failures to capitalize on their flaws and weaknesses. It’s always a humbling, yet educational exercise. Interesting to note the same does not always hold true after a win.
Ironically, Tuesday morning I read a verse in Proverbs and wrote it in my journal. It was from the 15th chapter, verse 31.
“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.”
I wasn’t too sure why it jumped out at me until Thursday morning when I began to really think about that phrase ‘reproof of life’. I’ve always had the knowledge that the lessons that have the most impact are the ones that are learned from mistakes. Is that not true in your life as well? Whether it be on the tennis court, in the kitchen or in life in general, my mistakes have taught me far more than my successes. At the back side of a success I tend to think, “Well, look at me!” Whereas as I stare dismally at my failures, I am more inclined to be thinking, ‘Okay, won’t try that again.”
I have known for a very long time that the best and most effective lessons are indeed learned from one’s mistakes, but I adopted the philosophy when I was a young adult that if I must learn from mistakes, I would prefer them to be someone else's. Sure, and why not? I took note when I could of others’ heartbreaking stories of their failures and how they now realized their gross errors. Sadly, I even took note when they did not realize their errors. Be it marriages, child-rearing, financial ruin or what ever else they tried to share, I listened. Same lessons, less pain, fewer scars! Read what the wise King Solomon says:
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding:
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things she canst desire are not to be compared to her.
Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things she canst desire are not to be compared to her.
Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.
These are the rewards of a life that is full of wisdom. And according to the verse I cited earlier, the ear that listens to the reproof of life dwells among wisdom, gets wisdom. In other words, and by other words I guess I mean my words, when you learn from the mistakes of life, whether they be yours or others’, you will gain wisdom. When you acquire wisdom, there are rewards; rewards that are more valuable than the riches of this world. Long life with peace, now there’s a good start.
Have you noticed that the majority of wise people seem to be older? My assumption is that it takes the reproofs of life to attain wisdom. And let’s face it, most of us probably have to be reproved multiple times before we get it. But what if we could be observant enough, attentive enough, teachable enough, to learn these lessons before we grow old? I think it is worth trying.
He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. Proverbs 19:8
So, next Wednesday when our team goes out on the court to play another opponent we hopefully will take some of the lessons we learned last week and apply them. We will use the loss as motivation to learn. The reproof of life, the 'L' behind my name, will motivate me to work harder, watch closer and learn from my mistakes last week. My fear is that they may have had the same lesson! Wish me luck!
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