December 2, 2023

Life in the Land: Series–Stories from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the traditional site of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is quite a gaggle with crowds of excited tourists from all over the world and busy, garbed churchmen in all shapes and sizes. In fact there are six groups who share the custody of this ancient place.

—First, the big three—the Latin Catholics, the Greek Orthodox and the Armenian Orthodox. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is divided into sections, some of which are shared by these groups and some which are exclusive to one particular group. Rules govern the shared sections—what time of day they can be used, how long, what can be done there, what cannot. Tension between the groups is all too common, and tempers sometimes escalate into physical altercations. But between them these three groups have almost complete control over the church.

—But there are three minor groups as well—the Copts (of Egypt), the Syrians and the Ethiopians. The Ethiopians have no rights of usage or possession inside the church and have been banished to the rooftop. Although the Copts and Syrians have their own chapels inside the church, their rights to other holy places in the church are extremely limited.

—I’ll have to admit that I’m still trying to learn who is who. I can tell the Armenians by their pointy hoods that symbolize Mount Ararat. The Ethiopians often have great smiles, and, of course, they’re on the roof, so that’s an obvious clue to their identity.

—But mostly they all seem to love what they do, and I’ll have to end with this. How nice it would be to worship regularly on the very spot where Christ rose from the dead! Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift in sending Jesus to die for me and to defeat my sin and death by his resurrection.

—Daniel McCabe

Life in the Land: Series–Stories from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

November 25, 2023

—As a kid I loved climbing the tree that stood on the east side of our home on Evelyn Drive so that I could crawl out on the roof and watch the cars go by, but I sure wouldn’t have wanted to live up there. Yet the Ethiopians actually do live up there and have for a long time. The rooftop of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional site of the death and resurrection of Jesus, is thankfully flat and large enough for living quarters and even a monastery, but I’m sure the Ethiopians would prefer to worship inside the church like they once did. Now they are banished to the roof.

—Here’s the story, and it’s clearly a black eye on the unity of the church. The Ethiopian Orthodox and the Egyptian Coptic churches are two of the six “denominations” that share custody of the church, but these two churches have a particularly long history. In fact from the fourth until the twentieth century the Ethiopian church leaned heavily on the Coptic church, even relying on it to supply a steady stream of bishops for them. Then in 1951 things suddenly changed when the Ethiopians chose their own archbishop. To be sure tension between the two churches had been brewing for the previous four hundred years with each claiming ownership of both the rooftop monastery and the two chapels which are stuffed into the nearby staircase that leads up to the roof. The Copts argue that the Ethiopians wouldn’t even be on the rooftop apart from their kindness, for when the Ethiopians were unable to pay the hefty taxes demanded by the Turkish government in the sixteenth century, the Copts graciously permitted them to remain as guests on the rooftop where the Ethiopians are now entrenched.

—Today due to the massive influx of Ethiopian Jews and tenuous relations with Egypt the Israeli government refuses to enforce any religious or court-ordered mandates regarding the dispute, and a fistfight that broke out in 2002 didn’t solve anything either despite seven Ethiopian and four Egyptian monks being injured in the melee. It looks like an old-fashioned standoff.

Week Forty-Eight, 2023

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Surely, we live in a time of world tension. There are wars and rumors of war. There is ethnic hatred, greater than the holocaust. No one seems to get along with anyone. Examples of public international conflicts are in the news daily. How we respond to these difficult situations, however, has a large impact on our stress levels, wellbeing, and mental health. Without addressing the underlying causes of why modern life causes us stress, it’s hard to make more sustainable changes that lead you away from burning out.

My wife the wonderful kindergarten teacher has a simple answer. If everyone spent thirty minutes each day coloring, the world would fall in place. Peace would return and the world would relax. crayons symbolize having a carefree attitude, free from responsibility or obligations.

Colors symbolize in Christianity. There is the bright red, representing the spiritual awakening of Moses as he is visited by God. There is also the blue to symbolize the hope and faith Moses had in God. Finally, there is brown, which symbolizes the earth and God’s connection to man.

But there is yet another perspective to coloring that we learn from the Bible: Broken crayons can still color. Though we sin and sink, Jesus raises us up when we accept him. Our sins are forgiven, but sometimes we still have to carry the burdens of our past. We are broken, but God can still use us.

Unity and forgiveness is another thing we learn from coloring. We can learn a lot from a box of crayons. Some are sharp. Some are dull. Some are bright and dome are dark, but they all have to learn to live together in the same box.

So is our life on this planet earth. We are different colors, shapes and sizes. We come sparkling new and old and worn, but we all have to live together in the same box.

The moral of the story is this: Go out and buy a fresh and new box of crayons and color thirty minutes a day and see how it changes your life and perspective.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second, he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over.

The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said “hello” when “ssssopp!” Chippie got sucked in.”

The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie — still alive, but stunned.”

Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air.

Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.

A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. “Well,” she replied, “Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore — he just sits and stares.

The story from Max Lucado’s book, “In The Eye of the Storm,” while it contains an element of humor, also offers a stark reminder of how quickly our lives can change.

One minute you’re seated in familiar territory with a song on your lips, then…the pink slip comes. The rejection letter arrives. The doctor calls. The divorce papers are delivered. The check bounces. A policeman knocks at your door.

For us to grow through trials, the trials must come. Here’s how trials can help us grow. Accept that trials are a part of life. Growth through trials depends on our attitude.

How we see trials and our outlook toward them will determine our growth or lack thereof. James offers this insight and admonition.

Look for Lessons to Learn through Trials. Trials will only make us stronger when we decide to see them as opportunities for growth, instead of excuses to quit. Life’s troubles and trials are inescapable. Learning from them, however, is optional. Trials may deepen our dependence on God, bring us closer to our physical family, or heighten our fellowship with our spiritual family.

They may also humble us, sharpen our character, and smooth out the rough edges of our personality.

Trials may help us grow in giftedness, improve our skills and develop new talents. Problems can produce a creativity that we didn’t know we possessed. As Neale Donald Wash said, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

Your perseverance through trial may even be the source to help others grow and serve as an encouragement for them to remain faithful. Ken Weleiver

Credit card balances surpassed $1 trillion for the first time last quarter in data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, showing how even more widespread credit has become among American consumers as the U.S. economy recovered from the pandemic.\

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

It’s during the interruptions of life that we see how our Savior teaches us the best lessons and tests whether we are willing to follow His leading. Gloria Gaither.

It all comes to this: The simplest way to be happy is to do good. Helen Keller

Only Americans can hurt America. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Words of wisdom from Pastor Andrew Evans:

• You must be the same on the inside as you are on the outside.

• Sin is first a condition of the heart.

• Anger is a sin of the heart and anger brings forth judgment.

•We must deal with sin quickly and seek reconciliation.

Sometimes we all have to be reminded of God’s great love for us through Jesus, His Son. Marty Stubblefield

When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you. Walter Payton

Be more concerned with what you can do for others than what others can do for you. You’ll be surprised at the results. John Wooden

We are saved by faith, not by growing fruit; but we are not saved by fruitless faith.

The biggest gift you’ve got is your breath and your heartbeat. Browns receiver John Metchie III

I have no methods; all I do is accept people as they are. Joan Rivers

Cherish each hour of this day for it can never return. OG Mandino

Christianity offers a different hope that rises above secular, material, and temporal aspirations. Ken Weliever

I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do. Helen Keller

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2023

Week Forty-Seven, 2023

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31

It may just be me, but the world seems to have lost its way. And too many of us in our personal lives seem more affected than ever by all that is going on around us. But God through Isaiah reminds us— “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.”

Sin still lingers, evil rears its head, and grows as darkness surrounds us. Personal lives and families continue to struggle. Illness unexpectedly hits, and heart-wrenching losses leave us empty. Families climb financial mountains unable to meet expenses as prices soar. But again, God says through His prophet Isaiah— “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.”

People continue to make decisions detrimental to their lives, to lives entrusted to them, and to the lives of others who follow their example. And God promises to help and guide them as He says again through Isaiah— “I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Through all that’s going on within us and around us, God is still there. God is good. Still worthy. Faithful. Still lifting. Caring. Embracing each one of us in His strong and everlasting arms. God is still there. Hope reigns. God’s amazing grace is there. In the midst of whatever God’s unfailing love remains.

My friends in the midst of whatever—God remains. God is still there. In the midst of whatever, God is above all. And He promises through Isaiah that “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles…”

In the midst of whatever—God. Hope. Amazing grace. Unfailing love.

For you. For me. Forever.

Scott Whitaker

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Whatever you may be dealing with. Whatever is going on in your world. Whatever is stealing your thoughts, your moments, your joy…

Be Reminded.

Be reminded from where your help comes.

Be reminded of the one whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.

Be reminded of the one who gives you joy and peace and comfort.

Believe me, I know it’s hard. I know things sometimes are more than we can handle. But in those moments… In those times when the weight is bearing down and the walls seem to be closing in, be reminded of the one who broke the chains of sin.

Be reminded of the one who defeated death, died upon the cross, and resurrected three days later. Be reminded that you are not alone. Be reminded that there is nothing that you may be facing that Jesus, himself, has not already faced. Nothing that He cannot overcome.

Be reminded of His strength in our weakness. His hope in our hopelessness. His forgiveness in our failure. His love even when we cannot seem to love ourselves.

Jesus Loves You. This I Know. For The Bible Tells Me So.

Be reminded of His grace. His mercy. His hope. His love.

Be Reminded!! Marty Stubblefield

— o —

A leaked Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) training video instructs staff to confirm that men can get pregnant and encourages them to refer to a pre-born baby as an “embryo” or “fetus,” to a “fetal heartbeat” as “embryonic or fetal cardiac activity,” and to a “mother” as a “veteran” or “person.”

— o —

Wisdom from Pastor Edgar Aponte:

• Sin is not only external, but internal as well.

• Jesus is the center and goal of the Scriptures, and the lens through which we rightly understand it.

• Followers of Jesus must follow Jesus’ conviction about the Bible.

Honor and obey the whole Bible!

• Do not test the boundaries of sin but align your heart to God’s heart. Pursue merciful and humble obedience!

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

You don’t need to join a group to help a neighbor in need. You don’t need the elders’ permission to visit the sick. Take food to shut-ins or contribute to a worthy cause. You don’t have to wait for your small group at church to meet and mow the yard of an elderly member, or wash the dishes, or clean the house. You don’t need any colleges degrees, fancy titles, or special training to do good. Preacher Man

The two most important days in your life are the day you’re born and the day you find out why. Mark Twain

Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind. Ruyard Kipling

The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. Helen Keller

The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work. Robert Frost

If men could regard the events of their own lives with more open minds, they would frequently discover that they did not really desire the things they failed to obtain. Andre Maurois

As long as I know the Lord is standing with me, I can face the trials of tomorrow and the uncertainties of the future. Dan Shock

Paul’s L’s: Listen, learn, and love.

Suggested prayer: Father, I praise and thank You by grace we can be saved through faith. Show our neighbors salvation is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

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Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2023

Week Forty-Six, 2023

And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. (Judges 3:31).

Sometimes God under equips us so that when we have victory, we will know it was through him and not our power and equipment. Have you ever had that feeling that you were facing a task so overwhelming that with all you had available, you could never do what you needed to do?

Election day was fast approaching, and my name was on the ballot. As the campaign rolled on, things got nothing but worse. It was falling apart. I was sinking in the polls. Even my advisors said there was no way I could win.

I got on my knees beside my bed and prayed not to just win, but to win with such a victory that it would be so obvious that it would be God’s victory, not mine. I prayed that the resources I needed for victory would be provided by God. We won by a wide margin of victory. God showed that it was not by my might, but by his.

We learn about Shamgar in Judges 3. It was his lot to save Israel by dispatching six hundred Philistines and talk about being underequipped for the task, he had no weapons traditionally used in battles. All he had was an ox goad. It was, as it was named, a stick used to move oxen along their way. It was a wooden tool, approximately eight feet long, fitted with an iron spike or point at one end, which was used to spur oxen as they pulled a plow or cart. It often had an iron scraper at the non-pointed end to clear clods of earth from the plowshare when it became weighed down.

Ox Goad

Judges 3 begins by identifying those undefeated nations that would test Israel’s reliance on the Lord. Specifically, they would be used to test new generations of Israelites who grew up without knowing war. The nations were placed all around Israel. They were trapped and seemingly destined to fall and along came Shamgar.

Shamgar fought where and when he was – He did not give in to fear. He did not wait for better circumstances. He just took his stand for God and won the victory. Shamgar fought with what he had – No matter how weak you think your weapons are, put them in the hand of God and watch Him do great things with them.

So no matter what odds are against you, take what you have and place in God’s hand and see how he can win your battle.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

A friend just bought a new high end car and your first thought is “I wonder what that cost”. The same is true when we see a newly purchased home or jewelry or fancy clothing. We always equate something’s value to the amount of money it took to buy it. 

It is estimated that all the elements that make up the human body would be worth about $600. We may look at some people and think that’s way too much. Or we may look at others and think that’s a six million dollar man. 

When God looks at us, however, it’s as though He was the world’s greatest artist looking at the perfect sculpture He had just made. But He not only looks at our physical self, He looks at our mind, soul and spirit. 

What does God think that the whole person we are is worth?  Priceless!  And to show it, He sent His Son to die on a cross so that we wouldn’t have to pay the penalty for our sins. All we have to do is agree with God. 

Since God thinks you’re priceless…..act like it.  Rich Jensen

— o —

“How do we put our faith to work?”

In response, these 5 things came to mind:

1) By living out day to day, moment to moment what we say we believe. That is by glorifying God through our day to day living… through our work… through our fun… even in the mundane.

2) By doing what Jesus did - loving others, helping others, sharing life with others. Not because we have to but because He first did for us.

3) By going therefore - That is, by going to make disciples. Whether next door, down the hall, across the country or around the world. Put your faith into action.

4) By loving your neighbor as your self (goes back to number 2). And who is your neighbor? Everyone – even if they don’t look like you. Overcome hate and disdain with love. Shine where you are.

5) By taking up our cross daily and following Him… loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength – loving him with all that we are. Love like Jesus. See as He sees. Respond like would respond. Allow His heart to become our heart. 

Let’s be clear - Faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ, the Son of God is what saves us. But as we live and grow in our faith in Him, we are called then to put our faith to work. So others can see Him in us… so others might know of His great love, grace and mercy.

Now is the time for us to shine, to be a light in a dark world… or at least our little part of it.

Marty Stubblefield 

— o —

A new study finds it costs more than $200,000 to raise a child in Florida The average family in the Sunshine State makes about $102,300 a year and LendingTree estimates that 18.5% of that goes into raising a single child

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor. Charles Dickens

You should not honor men more than truth. Plato

Life becomes easier and more beautiful when we can see the good in other people. Roy T. Bennett

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. – Thomas Paine

Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.” – Abraham Lincoln

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. Lewis B. Smedes

If the freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the slaughter. – George Washington

Laughter helps you put everything into perspective. Jim Henson

The battles that count aren’t the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself … that’s where it’s at. Jesse Owens

There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it. George Bernard Shaw

People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing. Dale Carnegie

The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them. Ernest Hemingway

The universal brotherhood of man is our most precious possession, what there is of it. Mark Twain

Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2023

Week Forty-Four, 2023

He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. Psalm 91:15

It is her habit, but a good one. The first thing she asks anyone is….. “Tell me your name!” When the server comes to the table, when she checks in for a flight, when she checks out at a store, when she approaches a bank teller, etc. I suppose if she was pulled over for speeding, when the officer approaches the car, she would push a button to roll down the window and ask the officer what is his name…unless she can read the badge!

To her, names are important, and they are. Why is a name so important? Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deep personal, cultural, familial, and historical connections. They also give us a sense of who we are, the communities in which we belong, and our place in the world.

It reminds me of the lyrics from the TV sitcom, Cheers, “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.”

Names give things meaning. They bring us meaning. People choose names for their newborns based on different factors such as the unique meaning, origin, family tradition, or simply how pleasant it sounds to the ears. Most people do not realize the importance of a name. Studies indicate that the names we are given affect how we perform later in life.

The power of names is deeply personal, which means hearing our own name can have a profound psychological effect. Remembering someone’s name and repeating it back to them makes them feel important, valued, and seen. It also helps build a bond between the two of you and strengthens the relationship you have. We’ve lived with our names since early childhoods. More than anything, they mean something to us and are core to our identities.

The Bible does not specifically address hearing your name called. However, it does talk about the importance of hearing and listening to God’s voice. In Jeremiah 29:12-13, God says, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

What joy and security it is as believers to know that God knew our names before we were born and that He promises to give all who know Him a new name one day in Heaven, known only to us and Him.

From Proverbs 22:1, we see that a good name certainly should outweigh riches, prominence, position, and status. Conversely, a lack in either can leave us in a state of moral and/or spiritual poverty, seeking self-worth over godly worth.

Names are an important possession. Some come from translation. For example, mine means beloved. Many find their source in the Bible.

Everyone’s name is important and unique to them. So, the next time you come in contact with someone, ask them for their name before you ask for anything else and watch their faces light up in appreciation because they are noticed and important.

P.S. “She” has a name as well!

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM EDGAR APONTE:

• Pastors should be servants of the Lord, not celebrities.

• When you give, do it for the right reason. Give for God and not for people.

• The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart.

• We have placed people in the place of God.

• Jesus expects you to give, so give generously and honor God through your giving.

• God blesses obedience so trust God’s gracious promise.

• Trust the Sovereign Lord, remember He is not surprised by what is happening in the world.

• The world wants to disciple you and reprogram you. Resolve to be shaped by the Word of God.

• Resolve that the world will not win your mind and affections, so you can be a blessing to the world.

• Think like a missionary by using your vocation to be a witness and a blessing to the city.

— o —

That was a terrible tee shot. Can I get a Mulligan? I wish I hadn’t said it quite that way. Can I say that again? I bought the wrong item. Can I bring it back for right one? I broke our friendship without knowing all the facts. Can we be friends again?

These, and many more like them, are times when we want a second chance. There is, however, one time when we cannot have a second chance…the day we die. I wish I had said “I love you.” I wish I had spent more time with you instead of at work. I wish I had placed my trust in Messiah Jesus, this wish bears eternal consequences.

Don’t let your first chance pass you by without securing your eternal home by establishing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This first chance choice will help you avoid having to make many second chances.

Be a first chancer. Rich Jensen

— o —

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM TOMMY CAMPBELL:

• The practice of true righteousness is living for the pleasure of God and not for the praise of people.

• Worship is not a show for others. It is a personal expression of our devotion to Christ. Worship for an audience of one!

• Prayer is not about conforming God’s will to ours. It is about conforming our will to God’s. Make God’s glory your primary motivation in prayer.

• The Lord sees the sacrifices you make for his glory. Don’t worry about whether or not man sees them – rest in the fact that your Father is pleased.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way round, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise. Adolf Hitler

To have done anything just for money is to have been truly idle. Eleanor Roosevelt

Challenging believers to live with eternity values in view is hard when we are too concerned about living like life is to be maximized for pleasure in the form of a two minute warning drill. Dwight Short

Listen to understand, not to defend.

You don’t have to be a preacher to tell people the truth. As a matter of fact, you may do better in telling them because they will listen to you but not to a preacher. Regardless of whether you are a preacher or a saint it is always about the truth and the Word of God. We can’t fear making people angry or uncomfortable. Elbert Nasworthy

Everyone is a moon and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody. Mark Twain

Racing fans should understand that eternity can come in the twinkling of an eye; just like crashes happen in the same time frame…get your car and your life together now! Dwight Short

A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall, therein; and will continue to produce their kind. James A. Allen

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. Leo Tolstoy

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark. Michelangelo

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln

If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth, only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair. C. S. Lewis

If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over? John Woodard

***

Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2023

Week Forty-Four, 2023

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

The Choluteca bridge is a 484 meters long bridge in Honduras Central America in a region notorious for storms and hurricanes that was built and completed in 1998 by a Japanese firm. The bridge was a modern marvel of engineering designed to withstand powerful forces of nature including storms and hurricane that were prevalent in that region. But within the same year that the bridge was commissioned for use, Honduras was hit by Hurricane ‘Mitch’ which caused considerable damage to the nation and its infrastructure. River Choluteca swelled beyond its boundaries and caused floods in a vast area where almost 7000 people were reported to have lost their lives.

THE CHOLUTECA BRIDGE

Interestingly, several other bridges, roads and infrastructure were damaged, but the Choluteca bridge survived in near perfect condition. More impressively, the Choluteca River had caused the forced floods to carve around it and not under it. The purpose for which the bridge was built therefore became lost as flood waters no longer flowed beneath the bridge which quickly became known as “The Bridge to Nowhere.”

Most often we focus on creating the best immediate stop gap solutions for a given problem forgetting that the problem itself might change. It is imperative for leaders to be flexible enough to understand when to administer change to avoid obsolescence. While the Choluteca bridge was able to withstand storms and remained firmly anchored, the river found a different route instead. That is how storms of life can at times cause us to re-strategize our goals.

The bridge portrays an excellent metaphor for the constant change which is inevitable in our daily lives and of great importance is our ability to adapt to it.

But, there us one constant that never changes….. Jesus, the Christ. That God can be trusted and counted on is a comfort to His people. Knowing He is “the same yesterday and today and forever” reminds us that God was reliable in the past, we can trust Him today, and we can hold fast to the hope that is tomorrow. God has always existed, and He wants us to be part of His kingdom. That means we can trust, rely and depend on Him!

Both Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8 declare that God is the same always and never ever changes. He is always good, always loving, always all-powerful. No matter how this world changes around us, we can trust God is consistent.

The world around us may change, but Jesus is the same today and forever.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Forty million Americans have stopped attending church in the past 25 years. That’s something like 12 percent of the population, and it represents the largest concentrated change in church attendance in American history. As a Christian, I feel this shift acutely. My wife and I wonder whether the institutions and communities that have helped preserve us in our own faith will still exist for our three children, let alone whatever grandkids we might one day have (nine presently).

What if the problem isn’t that churches are asking too much of their members, but that they aren’t asking nearly enough?

Contemporary America simply isn’t set up to promote mutuality, care, or common life. Rather, it is designed to maximize individual accomplishment as defined by professional and financial success. Such a system leaves precious little time or energy for forms of community that don’t contribute to one’s own professional life or, as one ages, the professional prospects of one’s children. “Workism” reigns in America, and because of it, community in America, religious community included, is a math problem that doesn’t add up.

A vibrant, life-giving church requires more, not less, time and energy from its members. It asks people to prioritize one another over our career, to prioritize prayer and time reading scripture over accomplishment. This may seem like a tough sell in an era of “dechurching.” If people are already leaving—especially if they are leaving because they feel too busy and burned out to attend church regularly—why would they want to be part of a church that asks so much of them?

Although understandable, that isn’t quite the right question. The problem in front of us is not that we have a healthy, sustainable society that doesn’t have room for church. The problem is that many Americans have adopted a way of life that has left us lonely, anxious, and uncertain of how to live in community with other people.

The tragedy of American churches is that they have been so caught up in this same world that we now find they have nothing to offer these suffering people that can’t be more easily found somewhere else. American churches have too often been content to function as a kind of vaguely spiritual NGO, an organization of detached individuals who meet together for religious services that inspire them, provide practical life advice, or offer positive emotional experiences. Too often it has not been a community that through its preaching and living bears witness to another way to live.

The theologian Stanley Hauerwas captured the problem well when he said that “pastoral care has become obsessed with the personal wounds of people in advanced industrial societies who have discovered that their lives lack meaning.” The difficulty is that many of the wounds and aches provoked by our current order aren’t of a sort that can be managed or life-hacked away. They are resolved only by changing one’s life, by becoming a radically different sort of person belonging to a radically different sort of community. The Atlantic Daily

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Peace, true peace, is found in and through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Peace stems from prayer, from conversations with God. Now prayer doesn’t always stop the drama or the traffic, or the junk in life, but it does give us peace in the storm and hope in the midst of the flames.

It’s through that relationship and through those prayers that we find ourselves at peace when the rest of the world is in a funk. That doesn’t mean that we won’t have a sense of urgency at times and that we won’t show our displeasure over a certain situation. But we will have peace. Peace beyond understanding.

Peace in the fires and storms of life… and peace in the normal day to day.

“Where’s the Peace?” ~ It begins and ends in and with Jesus! Marty Stubblefield

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

What does an abundant life look like? It’s not having all your needs met. It’s having friends who lift you up. It’s having peace through Jesus Christ, in the midst of turmoil. Rich Jensen

You can’t leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution.

There is no greater harm than that of time wasted. Michelangelo

Wherever you go, go with all your heart. Confucius

Thanks to Jesus we have new freedom. Paul Purvis.

I would rather live in Romans 8 than in the garden of Eden, because in the garden there was still sin. D L Moody

For most people the three most important people in our lives are I, me and my. Jim Wilson

A believer need not fear as he is not alone. Stephen Bernard

The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk. Cicero

People are very open-minded about new things – as long as they’re exactly like the old ones. Charles Kettering

When you put God first, He takes care of all the rest. Dan Shock

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered. Prov 28:26

We don’t see who God really is if we don’t spend time in His Word. Andrew Evans

Jesus is not asking us to do what He is not willing to do. Andrew Evans

Worship is about sacrifice, saying yes to God and no to self. Andrew Evans

Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed. Storm Jameson

Jesus, the greater Moses, brings the blessings of the kingdom and enables the expected obedience of those who follow Him. Edgar Aponte

Insufficient facts always invite danger. Spock

I love bacon because it will wrap around anything. It is basically the duct tape of food.

The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it. John Ruskin

It is infinitely better to have a few good Men, than many indifferent ones. George Washington

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Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2023

Week Forty-Three, 2023

Bryan Johnson’s goal is to never die. Yes, he’s planning to live forever.

According to a lengthy article by Philip Cheung for Time.com, Johnson, a multimillionaire tech entrepreneur swallows 111 pills a day. Sleeps in a laser-face-shield for collagen growth and wrinkle reduction. And has spent in excess of $4 million developing a life-extension system he calls “Blueprint.”

Like some other ultra-rich middle-aged men, Johnson has both the time and resources to pursue this wild dream, that consumes his every waking hour. And, even in his sleep.

While Cheung presents a fascinating account as he visited Johnson’s home, observed his lifestyle, eating habits, and strict daily regiments, it is clear that neither he nor any of the medical experts believe this is possible.

“Most people assume death is inevitable,” Johnson admitted. However, he is trying to prove otherwise. Of course, medical experts disagree. “Death is not optional; it’s written into our genes,” says Dr. Pinchas Cohen, dean of the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California.

Likewise, Biblical writers disagree. The Psalmist rhetorically asked, “What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? (Ps. 89:48). The wise man observed, “There is a time to be born, and a time to die” (Eccl. 3:1). Yes, “It is appointed for men to die,” affirms Hebrews 9:27.

The Bible teaches because of sin, death entered the world. And because all people sin, then “death spread to all men” (Rom. 5:12-17). Human observation, medical science, and scripture all remind us of the stark reality of death.

Johnson’s quest reminds us of Ponce de Leon’s elusive pursuit for the Fountain of Youth. The idea of eternal youth has long been the subject of myths and legends for centuries. In the 6th century B.C. Greek historian Herodotus, wrote about such magical waters where people lived exceptionally long lives. It’s said that Alexander the Great was also in search for such a fountain.

Ironically, Johnson and others of like pursuits are overlooking the one true source of living forever. Jesus Christ. To the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus proclaimed “I am the water of life.” In the discussion that ensued He contrasted physical water with spiritual water and offered this promise.

“Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him, will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (Jn. 4:7-14).

The truth is if you are seeking immortality, forget about taking dozens of pills, engaging in rigorous exercise, or following Johnson’s Blueprint plan, commit your life to Christ. John affirmed that in Jesus is life, “the light of men” (Jn. 1:4). So, He would call us with the assuring promise, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn. 14:6).

When Job asked the question, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” (14:14), he may not have understood all of the implications and answers to that query. But, the fact is when we live for Christ, although we will die physically, we will live eternally with Him in heaven. Or as Paul put it, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).

Sadly, those like Johnson, are missing out on what life is all about. Serving God. Praising God. Living for His purpose. And seeking to glorify Him. “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Rom. 14:7-9).

Johnson’s obsession ought to be a reminder to ALL Believers, not to become too enamored with longevity of life. But to be more concerned about the quality of life. The purpose of life. The fullness of a spiritual life in Christ.

Yes, you will live forever. Just not in this world.

Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Words of wisdom from Pastor Edgar Aponte:

• The supernatural power of God will protect His people.

• God is calling us to invest in the future of His church.

• While we live in the world, we must resolve that the world will not live in us.

• Too often we want to blend into the culture of our community and isolation leads to indoctrination. We must hold onto our beliefs no matter how beautiful culture tries to make it seem.

• If you can change the beliefs of the people, then you can easily change the laws of their nation.

• As disciples of Jesus, our integrity of heart should be reflected in our speech.

• Do not try to hide a heart issue by looking for loopholes in the Law of God.

• To follow Jesus is to live under a constant oath of integrity.

• Saved people are marked by a radical honesty. Tell the truth!

• Trust the sovereign Lord. He is not surprised with what is happening in the world today.

• The world around you wants to disciple and reprogram you. Resolve to be shaped by the Word of God.

• Resolve that the world will not win over your mind and affections, so you can be a blessing to the world.

Think like a missionary!!

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Heart Attacks Drop by One-Third

A groundbreaking new study holds heartening news for older Americans.

Since the mid-1990s, the number of seniors who suffered a heart attack or died from one dropped dramatically — evidence that campaigns to prevent heart attacks and improve patient care are paying off, Yale University researchers said.

The efforts have focused on lifestyle changes, including adoption of healthy eating habits and getting more exercise. They have also helped patients reduce their blood pressure and cholesterol, two key contributors to heart attacks.

In-hospital care is also better now than it was in the 1990s, said lead researcher Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a professor of cardiology. Patients who arrive at the hospital with a heart attack are now treated within minutes, using procedures to open blocked arteries, rather than the hour it used to take, he noted.

And more patients are leaving the hospital with prescriptions for blood pressure drugs, aspirin, and statins, which help prevent a repeat heart attack.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14: 5-6

Everyone should have three homes, a family home, a church home and an eternal home. Adrian Rogers.

Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well. Philip Stanhope

Experience is not what happens to a man. It is, what a man does with what happens to him. Aldous Huxley

Nothing is more intolerable than to have to admit to yourself your own errors. Ludwig Van Beethoven

Wisdom is what’s left after we’ve run out of personal opinions. Cullen Hightower

It’s not about working… it’s about accepting. Marty Stubblefield

The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision. Maimonides

Never regard study as a duty, but as the enviable opportunity to learn Albert Einstein

God is not in a hurry to accomplish His work. He is waiting for the perfect time, the opportune moment. Dan Shock

I always entertain great hopes. Robert Frost

Always be excelling in the work of the Lord; continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile nor wasted… I Corinthians 15:58

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Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2023

Week Forty-Two, 2023

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another. (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Recently I was riding on a bus through rural Utah. Suddenly I heard people in the back of the bus shouting “pull over.” A lady had lapsed into unconsciousness. The driver pulled over as quickly as he could, and two paramedics on board rushed back.

The driver pulled over in Hatch, Utah, population 133. An ambulance pulled up and then it happened. The ambulance was driven by a man in a suit and tie. He was also the principal of the local school. Another man appeared summoned from his welding shop. Another lady ran out from the church across the street. More came, all local citizens who responded to emergencies in their community.

I enjoyed speaking with the principal who told me that they were a community where everyone helped one another. He was also the snowplow driver. He said that is what community is all about.

The stricken lady regained consciousness and was dispatched to a local hospital a few miles away. As our bus resumed its journey, I thought about what a real community. We live in large cities where people don’t even know their neighbors and depend on taxpayer supported agencies to help them in times of emergencies.

Shouldn’t our Christian churches be that kind of community, helping others when they need help and spreading the Word of the Lord as they do? The church of Jesus is a family and, in a family, relationships matter.

A biblical community is where we are to come alongside each other to grow and mature in our faith. Whenever people come together in a biblical community, it is an opportunity to show each other, and a watching world, the love of God.

God didn’t intend for us to live in isolation. He specifically designed us to crave (and thrive in) relationship with others. We’re our best selves when we’re experiencing life’s highs and lows with other Christian people.

With 8 billion people in the world, it sure doesn’t feel lonely. People are everywhere! Even so, it’s easy to get so wrapped up in our own lives that we don’t take time to really get to know others. We might mingle at church or catch up in the break room at work, but that doesn’t mean we have authentic community.

Community should never feel dull or forced. In fact, it should be the exact opposite. Our culture sometimes portrays faith communities as a strict and boring bunch. But while that can be the case, it certainly shouldn’t be the norm. A community of believers should be overflowing with joy and hope as they minister to others.

Is your church a real community like that and if not, how can you lead it to be?

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

In the Marketplace, especially in Sales and Banking, business leaders are taught early on to have an “Elevator Speech”. That is, to be able to introduce yourself and your business within a one minute elevator ride… to be able to answer the question “What do you do?”

And to be able to say enough in that minute to draw enough interest from the one you are talking with that they would want to continue the conversation.

In Sales and Leadership training, participants are taught to be able to expand that elevator speech in such a way that you not only have the one-minute speech in your repertoire but also have a 3-minute and 7-minute version that can be used in social gatherings and introductions.

Along with client/customer focused questions, these longer versions can also be used in sales calls or presentations… but again only when intermixed with truly customer focused questions.

The truly exceptional professional has these skills/tactics/strategies down to a science. So much so that it becomes second nature. It becomes who they are.

As Believers… as Followers of Jesus… we need to develop similar skills. We need to develop a similar “Elevator Speech” about Jesus and our relationship with Him. Not that we need to “sell” Him, but so that we can best share Him.

In a short period of time, we ought to be able to get to the point where we can share who He is and what He means to us. We need to write it down and practice it. Our ”Elevator Speech” should become so engrained in us that it becomes second nature. That it easily pours from our heart and rolls off of our tongue.

• A one-minute version.
• A 3-minute version.
• A 7-minute version

Who He is. What He’s done. And what He has done for me (or what that means for me).

How do you answer the question, “Who do you say I am?”

What’s your “Elevator Speech”? Marty Stubblefield

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First it was “Where did I come from?” The mind of God. Then came “Why am I here? To do His will. Now comes the ultimate question, “Where am I going?”

When we die our physical bodies will decompose, but our spirits will live on to eternity. They will ultimately be reunited with our bodies, some glorified, and dwell forever in one of two places. One place is for those who have lives of sin, as we all have, but have not repented. It’s called Hell….eternal pain and torment.

The other place is called Heaven….eternal bliss and dwelling with our loving God. The ticket to be there is free, no scalpers. The fee is to sincerely place your trust in Jesus Christ and nothing else.

Choose wisely. It’s a forever choice. Rich Jensen

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

I wonder how many people I’ve looked at all my life and never seen. John Steinbeck

Our lives are bombarded by sin on a daily basis. Dan Shock

I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn. Anne Frank

Only a life lived for others is a life worth living. Albert Einstein

It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience. Julius Caesar

It is impossible for you to produce, mimic, or conjure up the love of the Holy Spirit. Dan Shock

The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become. Heraclitus

Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity. Henry Van Dyke

Live today in light of who you are in Christ and who you will be in eternity. Edgar Aponte

I always prefer to believe the best of everybody; it saves so much trouble. Rudyard Kipling

We are often alerted of our hunger of the tummy more than of the soul. Our priority should be to feed the soul then the belly!!!! Stephen Bernard

If a problem can be solved, there is no use worrying about it. If it can’t be solved, worrying will do no good. Heinrich Harrer

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. Martin Luther King, Jr.

If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story. Orson Welles

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Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome and if you want to be taken off the mailing list a simple e-mail will do it. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2023