Don't Forget to Say, "I Love You"

 

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment… - Hebrews 9:27

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground--because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return." - Genesis 3:19

…a time to be born and a time to die… - Ecclesiastes 3:2a

“We’ll meet again. Don’t know where, don’t know when, but I know we’ll meet again, some sunny day.” —Vera Lynn

Last October, I (Steve) had flown back to Texas to be with my family. “Pop” - my Dad - was at the end of his life, hospice had been called in, and it was time for me to say “Goodbye.”

Saturday, November 5, 2022, Pop ceased breathing in the middle of the night. His journey had ended. God had ultimately healed him from cancer. Goodbye.

I was not there with him when he passed. My Mom and brother were. But, at least I got to tell him that I loved him…that it was ok to go on and we would see him again - “some sunny day.”

Over the last couple of years we have had to say “Goodbye” to more people than we like to admit. How about you? It isn’t easy is it?

Whether it is “Goodbye” because someone gets a new job; moves away; goes to a new school; or, when someone dies, saying “Goodbye” is difficult and often painful. 

But something that we have become more and more aware of is this simple fact: everything in this life has an expiration date.

We don’t mean this to be all “gloom and doom” - it is just a fact. Everything has an expiration date. Including you and I.

All the more reason to spend ourselves tirelessly…completely obeying the command of Christ to “Love God and love our neighbor.” As John the Apostle puts it: “Let us not just love in word or speech, but in deed and truth,” (1 John 3:18).

Love one another.

A few years back - don’t ask us as it will make us feel old - Stevie Wonder had a great song titled, “I Just Called to Say, ‘I Love You.’”  Now that we are older, the power of that song means a lot more. 

We never know exactly how much time we have with those we love. We never know how much time we have to make things right with someone we have been fighting with. We never know how much time we have to make things right with someone we have hurt. We never know how much time we have to forgive someone who has hurt us. We never know how much time we have. Period. 

As I have been reflecting on saying goodbye, the scriptures above - along with a lot of others - came to mind. Now, at first glance, they appear rather gloomy and doomy. Kind of a downer, if you will. But, we should rather look at them as loving reminders of what is approaching for all of us.  Death.

And what better way to prepare for death than living today? Living. Loving.

As Pop used to joke with me: “Live everyday like it’s your last…one day you’ll be right!” 

It’s in more reflective moments such as this that I recall one of my favorite songs of all time. The group Allies (with lead singer Bob Carlisle of “Butterfly Kisses” fame) wrote a song on their “Man with a Mission” album. It was simply titled: “Heaven.”

And as we say goodbye to those we love - it is all the more reason to remember we have the God-given opportunity to see them again. In Heaven.

So, goodbye for now. Adios amigos! May the good Lord take a liking to you! Happy trails to you! And, if we don’t see you again here we pray we see you there…

Oh, and remember, “We love you.”

Heaven - Allies (HQ)

Until we meet again,

Missy and Steve

Jesus Without Judgment

June 14, 2022

“‘’Write this letter to the angel (messenger) of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.’” - Revelation 3:1-6 (NLT)

As much as people have issues with deciphering and discerning the Revelation of Jesus Christ at the end of the New Testament there is a great deal that is spoken in plain language. You don’t need a linguist, preacher or biblical expert to understand it. When Jesus speaks to the seven churches in Asia it’s very easy to understand the point he is making.

Take the church at Sardis, for instance. Jesus states simply - “You think you’re alive but you are really dead.” It doesn't get much plainer than that.

And that, if you ask us, would more than likely be the message to the church in North America today. It thinks it is alive. It feels it is doing what is right. It believes it is doing what God wants.

Yet, all the while, the church is asleep. It is sound asleep. It has forgotten what God has said and what God requires. It is a church in name only.

Oh sure, there are some who are loud, braggadocious, and outlandish. We saw recently where a well-known religious personality from Tennessee stated, “You can’t be a Christian and vote Democrat.” Well, that’s helpful…

Another person, this one from Texas, stated from the pulpit in his sermon entitled, Why We Won’t Shut Up, that all gay men were predatory pedophiles who have either committed sex crimes against a child or just haven’t had the opportunity to do so yet. He added, “We need to put these people to death through the proper channels of the government…” and that queer people “should be lined up against the wall and shot in the back of the head.” Okay…

And, if that were not enough - and by golly, it ought to be - now we have the Southern Baptist church embroiled in a denominational wide sexual misconduct scandal that inlcudes a “minister” raping other minister’s wife. Let’s not forget the “United” Methodist who have managed to destroy an entire denomination and crush the spirits of thousands of congregants.

Needless to say, the church doesn’t need enemies - we are “enemy” enough for ourselves. The Devil isn’t killing off the church. The church is fine at killing itself.

Now, before you get depressed (any more than many of us are presently) and are wondering aloud, “Why are they writing about these things?! This is not encouraging! I need encouragement!” Well, so do we…

It’s at this point we ought to remind ourselves that Jesus said, “On this rock (our faith) I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Now those are words to live by… and that’s permanent encouragement.

In a very real sense, this was what Jesus was trying to do with the sordid lot he had at Sardis. He is trying to get their attention, get them to repent, get them restored, and get them to a living faith once again. Jesus is encouraging the people of Sardis. He tells them - if you want to live, repent and turn back to God.

Thankfully, there were some in Sardis who were living as commanded and they were an example to the rest. Bright bulbs in the darkness…

And this is where we come in.

God is calling - always calling - his people to repent. Acts 17:30 has Paul preaching, “God calls all people everywhere to repent.”

God also has his people strategically placed all over creation as examples. Again, Paul - this time in his letter to the Philippians writes: “So that no one can criticize you, live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people." (2:15).

We (followers of Christ Jesus) need to be the example/the model the world follows. Rather than judging without Jesus, we need to offer Jesus without judgment. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.

Who Are You Looking To?

03-29-2022

For this is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live! Seek the LORD and live…He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth—the LORD is His name—He flashes destruction on the strong, so that fury comes upon the stronghold.

For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate. Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.

Seek good, not evil, so that you may live. And the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed. Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” (Selected verses from Amos 5, BSB Edition)

Advertisers, sales, social media platforms, neon signs, product placement, shiny new cars lining the road frontage, filters on Instagram - everything around us is purposefully driven to get our attention. 

Just this week we have seen more and more political ads through various media outlets; faces of people on signs in yards; and media commercials denigrating one person while uplifting another.

And not only is the world out to get your attention…your money and your vote…one might say it is also out to divide and conquer. Split the people. Divide families. Segregate communities. Isolate individuals. Destroy unity.

We believe this is why the Holy Spirit called Peter to write the following admonition and warning:

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are,” I Peter 5:6-9 (NLT).

Perhaps the problem begins when we do not consider where our attention is placed…where our eyes are focused. It was the wise Solomon who urged his son: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take,” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT).

In our text from earlier, the LORD Yahweh, speaking through Amos, a herdsman from the village of Tekoa, and a dresser of sycamore trees, spoke to his children: “Seek good and not evil - so that you may live.”

Yet, what does it mean to “seek?” The Hebrew term is דָּרַשׁ, darash. It means to read repeatedly, search out carefully, investigate, and study. In other words, to seek out something/someone is to literally - pay attention.

Where is your attention right now? (Other than spending a couple of minutes perusing this week’s intrusion - newsletter - into your life?)

We dare say that most of us are struggling with the events occurring all around us. Severe weather, inflation, war, famine, genocide, pandemic, empty store shelves, sky-rocketing fuel costs, loss of loved ones…all of these - plus our daily problems - can often worm their way into our conscious and consume our thought life. It’s no wonder a great many are struggling emotionally and mentally - and spiritually.

Look, it’s one thing to pay attention to “what’s going on” (shout out to 4 Non-Blondes for those of you who know) and address what needs to be addressed. It is a whole other to pay attention while keeping your eyes focused on God. The former ends in hopelessness - the latter offers promise:

“...the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you…”

Bob Keeshan, better known to all of us as “Captain Kangaroo”, put it this way: “Attention is like a daily bouquet of love.” In other words, whatever you pay attention to is what will receive your love.

2,000 years ago, a wandering and homeless teacher of a bunch of miscreants and ne'er-do-wells put it simply as this: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

So, this week - well, every day actually - spend time focusing on the One who created you in his image; the One “from whom all blessings flow”; the One who understands; the One who “will never leave you or forsake you.” Pay attention (look and seek) to God: whose grace is sufficient; whose peace is impenetrable; whose love is unceasing.

What a beautiful bouquet you will present to the One who reigns on high…

Steve and Missy

Don't Skip to the End

 

03/01/2022

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” 

And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death," - Revelation 21:1-8

In light of recent events we notice a subject which always arises during times of crisis. Eschatology. You know: the end-times; Daniel; the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ; prophecies. 

It's a time when some will tell you, "If you haven't already been prepping it's too late!" "Preachers” exercise their bible verse memorization skills, discovering portions of God’s word to speak to real-time events. “Prophets” spin world events into such a muddled mess that their eisegesis (look it up - it’s your homework for today) begins to somehow make sense.

It is also a moment when Christians can say some of the most off-handed and inappropriate comments.

A dear friend, Heather, shared a book with us she recently finished. Kate Bowler, an Associate Professor of the History of Christianity in America, at Duke Divinity School, is the author and it is titled: Everything Happens for a Reason - and Other Lies I Have Loved. It is an incredible read containing raw unfiltered emotions, intelligence, love, worry, fear, faith, and even joy - written with biting sarcasm and unwavering hope.

The book details how Dr. Bowler - who is living the dream - is suddenly at the age of 35 struck with the crushing news that she has stage four cancer. She then documents what people - Jesus followers and deniers alike - have to say to her in regards to her situation.

It is sobering and horrifying the words people can use. People can say the most damaging things - never realizing the destruction. One of those lines is: “Everything happens for a reason.”

Really?

Is that what we say to the family of a drunk-driving accident? Is there truly a reason for human trafficking? Can we actually explain away suicide? Or, do we simply look into our Ukrainian friend’s eyes and say, “God has a reason for all of this! Glory!”

Mmmm. No.

However, there may be an even more hurtful response. It is when we begin telling people who are struggling through incredible and unimaginable moments in life that “in the end, God wins!” Or, “Well, at least you have heaven to look forward to.” Ugh.

We love skipping past pain; jumping past hurtful situations. 

To quote a rather precocious little red head:

The sun'll come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun.

Just thinkin' about tomorrow clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow ‘til there's none.

When I'm stuck a with day that's gray and lonely I just stick out my chin and grin, and say, oh - The sun'll come out tomorrow so you gotta hang on 'til tomorrow, come what may…

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow, You're always a day away.

Dr. Bowler, meeting with her oncologist, was reminded of a truth we must all latch onto. She writes: “We (her and her oncologist) have both, as it turns out, spent a lot of time walking up to the edges of things, and we are talking about what it means to face facts.” Her doctor responds that the “secret” is: “Don’t skip to the end,” (p. 160).

Don’t skip to the end.

We cannot just live our lives based on what may or may not happen in the future. We can only live our lives based on today. The pain of today. The frustration of today. The crying today. The laughter today. The hope for today. The love for today. And, yes, the evil and troubles of today.

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today,” Matthew 6:34 (NLT). With all that is occurring on this globe - pandemic and invasions included - remember not to skip to the end. Rather, live today. Love today. Hope today. Pray today. Struggle today. Lose today. Win today. 

Perhaps Ira Stanphill understood this truth best. After all, he taught us:

I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray.

I don't worry o'er the future, for I know what Jesus said,

And today I'll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.