An engaged life is not for wimps! It’s tough to love people enough to care about their problems. Committing oneself to the work of making the world a better place – however one is called and/or gifted to do that – can be exhausting. Creativity demands the application of one’s soul, heart, and mind to allow new ideas to emerge. Sadly many people choose to live without really engaging with their world. They drift along with the tide, making as few waves as possible, hiding themselves in their living rooms transfixed by the glow of their TV screen, avoiding anything that might be difficult or costly.
That life is not for me! I want to love with my whole heart, even when that means having it broken or disappointed time and again. I want to preach the best sermons I am capable of preaching, even if it means spending more time alone in preparation. I want to honor my God in my daily choices even though my sinful nature screams to be soothed by selfishness. I desire to meet the challenges of the world (godless power structures), the flesh (my sinful nature), and the Devil head-on, yielding no ground to any of them in pursuit of the will of God. My prayer is “Lord, first, make me more like You, and second; through me spread the influence and fragrance of Jesus everywhere!” When God calls me to His home, I want to arrive at Heaven’s door with hands dirtied by doing the work of Jesus Christ!
And this I know; such a life is impossible in my own strength. As much as I might admire those who appear self-sufficient and capable of meeting every adversary with their intellect or their fists, I know that the work of God can never be successfully done apart from the inner working of the Holy Spirit. Like the man who answered the impossible call to rebuild the destroyed city of Jerusalem I hear God saying, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6, NIV)
What about you, disciple? Are you hiding out from life? Don’t waste the days, chasing pleasure and avoiding sacrifice. Jesus reminds us that "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"
(Matthew 16:25-26, NLT)
Here’s God’s promise for those who respond to His call. We never walk alone! It’s great! Read it with faith.
"Yes, because God’s your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!” - (Psalm 91:9-16, The Message)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Path to Greatness
Eight heads of America's largest financial institutions were called to appear before a Congressional committee yesterday. These men move easily among the powerful, accustomed to being served quickly and well. Yesterday, they were scolded like schoolboys, chided for excessive compensation packages and their alleged failure to respond adequately to our nation's current recession. As they sat there looking up at a hack like Congressman Barney Franks, I wondered what was going through their minds? Did they regret taking government funds and thereby giving up some of their autonomy? Were they really regretting the greed that was being challenged or were they merely going through the motions to satisfy the political demands of the season?
As I watched the testimony of these men who are chauffeured about in their limousines, private jets, who live in luxury with amazing perks; the vast difference between worldly greatness and greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven was made clear to me. My Dad knew a kind of greatness that had nothing to do with any of the usual perks of power. He had little wealth! The suit he was buried in was threadbare and worn. He did not command a bevy of assistants who scurried to carry out his wishes. He drove an older car that was full of kid's stuff! Yet, at his death, thousands (literally) took notice that a man of kindness and love was no longer among us. One of my favorite tributes to him is this one: "Pastor Scott has been called home. It was a pleasure to have known him. He helped the police department when strangers passed this way and had no one to turn to. He answered our call at all hours of the day and night. He always welcomed my family and I at the Christmas pageants for many years even though we were not parishioners of his church. Rest in peace." - Doug Koeppen, Chief (retired) Washington Borough, NJ PD Dad did not concern himself about the status of those who called, only their need. And, then he responded with what he had- money, time, love, concern!
Dad was a servant and Jesus says that service is the path to greatness in His Kingdom! "So Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."
(Mark 10:42-45, NLT)
A true servant's heart comes from submission to God first! A person who has not surrendered his heart and mind to the Lordship of Jesus will not consistently forget himself in service to others. The will to power and the demands of ego must die at the foot of the Cross, put to death by the Spirit as we lay down our lives as a 'living sacrifice.' Only then will we even be able to consider giving ourselves away to others, especially those who are, in the estimation of this present world, on a lower plane!
Eugene Peterson writes: "The Christian is a person who recognizes that our real problem is not achieving freedom, but in learning service under a better Master. He also recognizes that every relationship that excludes God becomes oppressive... thus we see the urgency of living under the mastery of God." - Life At Its Best
Disciple, do you want to be great?
First, know what true greatness is! It is not being served, but serving. Today, kneel (literally for it is the posture of reverence) and ask God to take your life - wholly. Borrow the prayer of the Psalm that says, "I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven. We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal." (Psalm 123:1-2, NLT) And, having presented yourself to Him, receive the gift of His merciful love, His amazing grace, His wonderful care.
Then, go and give yourself to others. It is His path to greatness!
_____________
Nobody stood and applauded them,
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame.
All they really knew for sure
Was Jesus had called to them.
He said, "Come, follow me."
And they came, with reckless abandon, they came.
Drawn like rivers
Are drawn to the sea.
There's no turning back,
For the water cannot help but flow.
Once we hear the Savior's call,
We'll follow wherever He leads,
Because of the love He has shown.
Because He has called us to go,
We will answer.
We will abandon it all
For the sake of the call.
No other reason at all
But the sake of the call.
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call.
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause.
Not for a dream or a promise.
Simply because it is Jesus who calls,
And if we believe we'll obey.
For the Sake of the Call
Stephen Curtis Chapman © 1990 Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. / Greg Nelson Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)CCLI License No. 810055
As I watched the testimony of these men who are chauffeured about in their limousines, private jets, who live in luxury with amazing perks; the vast difference between worldly greatness and greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven was made clear to me. My Dad knew a kind of greatness that had nothing to do with any of the usual perks of power. He had little wealth! The suit he was buried in was threadbare and worn. He did not command a bevy of assistants who scurried to carry out his wishes. He drove an older car that was full of kid's stuff! Yet, at his death, thousands (literally) took notice that a man of kindness and love was no longer among us. One of my favorite tributes to him is this one: "Pastor Scott has been called home. It was a pleasure to have known him. He helped the police department when strangers passed this way and had no one to turn to. He answered our call at all hours of the day and night. He always welcomed my family and I at the Christmas pageants for many years even though we were not parishioners of his church. Rest in peace." - Doug Koeppen, Chief (retired) Washington Borough, NJ PD Dad did not concern himself about the status of those who called, only their need. And, then he responded with what he had- money, time, love, concern!
Dad was a servant and Jesus says that service is the path to greatness in His Kingdom! "So Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."
(Mark 10:42-45, NLT)
A true servant's heart comes from submission to God first! A person who has not surrendered his heart and mind to the Lordship of Jesus will not consistently forget himself in service to others. The will to power and the demands of ego must die at the foot of the Cross, put to death by the Spirit as we lay down our lives as a 'living sacrifice.' Only then will we even be able to consider giving ourselves away to others, especially those who are, in the estimation of this present world, on a lower plane!
Eugene Peterson writes: "The Christian is a person who recognizes that our real problem is not achieving freedom, but in learning service under a better Master. He also recognizes that every relationship that excludes God becomes oppressive... thus we see the urgency of living under the mastery of God." - Life At Its Best
Disciple, do you want to be great?
First, know what true greatness is! It is not being served, but serving. Today, kneel (literally for it is the posture of reverence) and ask God to take your life - wholly. Borrow the prayer of the Psalm that says, "I lift my eyes to you, O God, enthroned in heaven. We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal." (Psalm 123:1-2, NLT) And, having presented yourself to Him, receive the gift of His merciful love, His amazing grace, His wonderful care.
Then, go and give yourself to others. It is His path to greatness!
_____________
Nobody stood and applauded them,
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame.
All they really knew for sure
Was Jesus had called to them.
He said, "Come, follow me."
And they came, with reckless abandon, they came.
Drawn like rivers
Are drawn to the sea.
There's no turning back,
For the water cannot help but flow.
Once we hear the Savior's call,
We'll follow wherever He leads,
Because of the love He has shown.
Because He has called us to go,
We will answer.
We will abandon it all
For the sake of the call.
No other reason at all
But the sake of the call.
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call.
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause.
Not for a dream or a promise.
Simply because it is Jesus who calls,
And if we believe we'll obey.
For the Sake of the Call
Stephen Curtis Chapman © 1990 Sparrow Song (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc. / Greg Nelson Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Return to dust, you mortals!
Yesterday I drove to Dad's gravesite. Walking through that field of standing stones I came to the tiny piece of earth that is now the resting place for his body. Seeing nothing but a bare patch of dirt was jarring, to say the least. I do not recall another moment in my life when the short time we are given to live was so clear to me. There were no tears, no words- nothing but a hand on my mouth with the absolute recognition - it's over! "This is it, Jerry. Your body will someday be consigned to the earth - ashes to ashes, dust to dust. So leave a legacy of love and service that will survive your trip to a grave!"
After a few moments of silence, I could only pray, "Lord, make my remaining years count. Find me faithful!" I think my grief took a turn in that moment as well. "No more yearning for Dad's touch or to hear his voice," I thought. "Remember his work, his love- and carry on." My Scripture meditation followed up on that today.
The 90th Psalm urges us to reflect on our mortality, not with dread, but to move ourselves to action! Take a look.
"Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God. You turn people back to dust, saying,
"Return to dust, you mortals!"
For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.... Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." -- (Psalm 90:1-4, 10-12, NLT)
It is both the gift and folly of the young to live with the illusion that life will stretch on forever! No one in his 20's should feel the weight of the years quite as I do today, for it would crush him, and steal away his ability to create and dream. He would start nothing of significance, feeling only the cynicism of Solomon who lamented, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless!" (Eccl. 1.2) But one who has lived to mid-life and continues to enjoy the illusion of immortality is a fool of the highest order! He ought to stand in a field of stones often and read those dates to drive home the point that his life is like the dash between the date of arrival and the date of departure.
The thought need not drive us to despair if we know the promise of Eternal Life. The truth of the Resurrection and the acknowledgement of mortality merge to reshape our goals. No longer is feeding the body and tending its appetites so important. Why devote all our energies trying to preserve that which is inescapably destined for a hole in the ground? Our vision grows higher, our pursuits become nobler; our focus on doing those things, spending our resources, giving ourselves to life that really matters! Such is the challenge of the Word.
"In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true: Death swallowed by triumphant Life! Who got the last word, oh, Death? Oh, Death, who's afraid of you now? It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three-sin, guilt, death-are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God! With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." (1 Corinthians 15:53-58, The Message)
___________
PS - Thank you for allowing me to share my journey with you. I promise to move on now and stop dragging you into my grief! I have not been able to acknowledge your notes, your cards, your thoughts - they are so many. Please know, I read each one, thanking God for your love and prayers.
Jerry
After a few moments of silence, I could only pray, "Lord, make my remaining years count. Find me faithful!" I think my grief took a turn in that moment as well. "No more yearning for Dad's touch or to hear his voice," I thought. "Remember his work, his love- and carry on." My Scripture meditation followed up on that today.
The 90th Psalm urges us to reflect on our mortality, not with dread, but to move ourselves to action! Take a look.
"Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God. You turn people back to dust, saying,
"Return to dust, you mortals!"
For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.... Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." -- (Psalm 90:1-4, 10-12, NLT)
It is both the gift and folly of the young to live with the illusion that life will stretch on forever! No one in his 20's should feel the weight of the years quite as I do today, for it would crush him, and steal away his ability to create and dream. He would start nothing of significance, feeling only the cynicism of Solomon who lamented, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless!" (Eccl. 1.2) But one who has lived to mid-life and continues to enjoy the illusion of immortality is a fool of the highest order! He ought to stand in a field of stones often and read those dates to drive home the point that his life is like the dash between the date of arrival and the date of departure.
The thought need not drive us to despair if we know the promise of Eternal Life. The truth of the Resurrection and the acknowledgement of mortality merge to reshape our goals. No longer is feeding the body and tending its appetites so important. Why devote all our energies trying to preserve that which is inescapably destined for a hole in the ground? Our vision grows higher, our pursuits become nobler; our focus on doing those things, spending our resources, giving ourselves to life that really matters! Such is the challenge of the Word.
"In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true: Death swallowed by triumphant Life! Who got the last word, oh, Death? Oh, Death, who's afraid of you now? It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three-sin, guilt, death-are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God! With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." (1 Corinthians 15:53-58, The Message)
___________
PS - Thank you for allowing me to share my journey with you. I promise to move on now and stop dragging you into my grief! I have not been able to acknowledge your notes, your cards, your thoughts - they are so many. Please know, I read each one, thanking God for your love and prayers.
Jerry
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
What only today offers!
Are you full of anticipation about today? I wish this were a two-way conversation. Some would reply, “Yes, I’m just starting a new job… a new relationship.” Their eyes would sparkle with excitement! Others would say, “Yes, I’m leaving on vacation.” They too would be looking forward to the day.
But, many, perhaps most, would likely say, “Anticipation? Why? It’s just the same old stuff, different day. I’m stuck in a rut, Jerry.” And, they would be wrong. Sure, life is often predictable, boring even. We can’t live on the edge every moment of every day. But, each day offers us many unique moments to enjoy others, to show concern, to discover God’s grace in otherwise ordinary circumstances. Let me tell you an open secret: If we aren’t looking for those moments, they will pass us by!
In his book, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat” John Ortberg tells a story about a relative named Florence. When she died the family was cleaning out her home. In the attic, her grand-daughter found an exquisite set of china. It was a hand- painted set made in Bavaria before WW II. No one in the family remembered EVER seeing the china set for dinner. After inquiries were made to older members of the family, it was discovered that when Florence was very young she was given the china over a period of years. As she received each piece she carefully wrapped it and put it away to use for a 'special' occasion. No occasion ever came along and Florence's precious china remained in the boxes unused after 60 years, hidden in the attic. It would have been given away to the Salvation Army had not an observant grand-daughter taken time to open some old boxes! Now those beautiful dishes grace the table at the Ortberg home at every excuse for an occasion!
That's sad story! Florence feared her precious plates would get broken so she never used them. In reality, they may as well have been broken for all the joy they brought to her life and to her family! She missed the opportunity to experience joy that might have been hers on ordinary days. At least with her precious china, she played it safe, and her treasure was essentially worthless. What a joy that china might have been to Florence and her family if only she saw everyday as an occasion to celebrate life. At the end of her life she would have left a chipped up set of china and every chip would have told another story of a dinner served with joy!
There are two reasons many people live in mediocrity, with unfulfilled dreams and with unmet potential -- Fear and Laziness. Fear is, by far, the more potently crippling force. The Enemy's lie is -- "Take care of yourself. Preserve yourself. Hold onto what you have. Circle the wagons. Don't risk, always play safe."
A man in a story Jesus told bought that lie completely. It is a story about three managers found the 25th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. A wealthy man was going on a journey and called these managers into his office to give them each a trust to care for in his absence. He gave each one just the right amount that he could manage, an amount in keeping with the ability of that man. Years later, the man called these managers to give an accounting of what they had done with his wealth. Two men had diligently worked at their responsibility. They saw opportunity in the ordinary and, over time, they doubled the wealth entrusted to their care.
The third was a pathetic person, apparently fully in the grip of both fear and laziness. He appeared before his old boss with a dirty bag and offered up this line: "Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, `Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.'" -- Matthew 25:24-25 NLT
“Well, at least he kept it safe,” we might say. But, I assure you that the Master did not commend the man for his risk avoidance! The master’s word to that ‘play it safe, never anticipate the opportunities’ guy are downright terrifying! He said, “That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest…. Throw him out into utter darkness’" (Matthew 25:26-27,30, The Message)
Don't let your life become a story of 'what might have been, if only.' Get on with life today. Take what God has given you and put it to work. Take a risk. No, not the kind of risk taken by fools in pursuit of fantasy!!
Rather, learn to listen to the Spirit as He blows through your life on the ordinary days. Let Him show you the person whose life would be saved by an act of kindness. Let Him lead you to forgiveness, to love, to discovery of a life of no regrets! Life will be richer for the trying.
____________
You are my life, O precious Christ.
You are to me,
The pearl of greatest price.
My love for You will never die.
Jesus, You are my life.
I come to You. I run to You.
There's no greater joy than knowing You.
O Holy Fire, Love's Purest Light.
Burn all desires 'til
You are my one delight.
My love for You will never die
Jesus, You are my life.
O conquering King, conquer my heart
And make of me a pleasing gift to God
My love for You will never die
Jesus, You are my life.
You Are My Life
Steve Fry © 1994 Maranatha Praise, Inc. / Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
But, many, perhaps most, would likely say, “Anticipation? Why? It’s just the same old stuff, different day. I’m stuck in a rut, Jerry.” And, they would be wrong. Sure, life is often predictable, boring even. We can’t live on the edge every moment of every day. But, each day offers us many unique moments to enjoy others, to show concern, to discover God’s grace in otherwise ordinary circumstances. Let me tell you an open secret: If we aren’t looking for those moments, they will pass us by!
In his book, “If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat” John Ortberg tells a story about a relative named Florence. When she died the family was cleaning out her home. In the attic, her grand-daughter found an exquisite set of china. It was a hand- painted set made in Bavaria before WW II. No one in the family remembered EVER seeing the china set for dinner. After inquiries were made to older members of the family, it was discovered that when Florence was very young she was given the china over a period of years. As she received each piece she carefully wrapped it and put it away to use for a 'special' occasion. No occasion ever came along and Florence's precious china remained in the boxes unused after 60 years, hidden in the attic. It would have been given away to the Salvation Army had not an observant grand-daughter taken time to open some old boxes! Now those beautiful dishes grace the table at the Ortberg home at every excuse for an occasion!
That's sad story! Florence feared her precious plates would get broken so she never used them. In reality, they may as well have been broken for all the joy they brought to her life and to her family! She missed the opportunity to experience joy that might have been hers on ordinary days. At least with her precious china, she played it safe, and her treasure was essentially worthless. What a joy that china might have been to Florence and her family if only she saw everyday as an occasion to celebrate life. At the end of her life she would have left a chipped up set of china and every chip would have told another story of a dinner served with joy!
There are two reasons many people live in mediocrity, with unfulfilled dreams and with unmet potential -- Fear and Laziness. Fear is, by far, the more potently crippling force. The Enemy's lie is -- "Take care of yourself. Preserve yourself. Hold onto what you have. Circle the wagons. Don't risk, always play safe."
A man in a story Jesus told bought that lie completely. It is a story about three managers found the 25th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. A wealthy man was going on a journey and called these managers into his office to give them each a trust to care for in his absence. He gave each one just the right amount that he could manage, an amount in keeping with the ability of that man. Years later, the man called these managers to give an accounting of what they had done with his wealth. Two men had diligently worked at their responsibility. They saw opportunity in the ordinary and, over time, they doubled the wealth entrusted to their care.
The third was a pathetic person, apparently fully in the grip of both fear and laziness. He appeared before his old boss with a dirty bag and offered up this line: "Then the servant with the one bag of gold came and said, `Sir, I know you are a hard man, harvesting crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth and here it is.'" -- Matthew 25:24-25 NLT
“Well, at least he kept it safe,” we might say. But, I assure you that the Master did not commend the man for his risk avoidance! The master’s word to that ‘play it safe, never anticipate the opportunities’ guy are downright terrifying! He said, “That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest…. Throw him out into utter darkness’" (Matthew 25:26-27,30, The Message)
Don't let your life become a story of 'what might have been, if only.' Get on with life today. Take what God has given you and put it to work. Take a risk. No, not the kind of risk taken by fools in pursuit of fantasy!!
Rather, learn to listen to the Spirit as He blows through your life on the ordinary days. Let Him show you the person whose life would be saved by an act of kindness. Let Him lead you to forgiveness, to love, to discovery of a life of no regrets! Life will be richer for the trying.
____________
You are my life, O precious Christ.
You are to me,
The pearl of greatest price.
My love for You will never die.
Jesus, You are my life.
I come to You. I run to You.
There's no greater joy than knowing You.
O Holy Fire, Love's Purest Light.
Burn all desires 'til
You are my one delight.
My love for You will never die
Jesus, You are my life.
O conquering King, conquer my heart
And make of me a pleasing gift to God
My love for You will never die
Jesus, You are my life.
You Are My Life
Steve Fry © 1994 Maranatha Praise, Inc. / Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, February 09, 2009
Gone, really truly, gone
I will never pick the phone and say, “Hi, Dad. What’s on the agenda today?” again! We will never go to Perkins for breakfast again. He loved that. All his endless dreams will never aggravate me again. Yes, what others found inspiring, I often found tiring and my inner response was often, “Come on, get real, Dad.” He never did ‘get real.’ On his deathbed, he was dreaming about an outreach to homeless people in the neighboring town. Just two weeks ago, after seeing a special about poverty in Haiti, he insisted that I write to somebody and find out how he could adopt six of those poor kids. (I never did that!) On Thursday morning ‘round 9 AM, there was a rip in time. With a sigh, time ended for Dad. Mysteriously some part of him passed through that tear, out of reach. We were left with the shell, a body that looked like him but was not. And now he’s gone.
The sorrow I feel is like a presence stalking me. I laugh, enjoy a child’s smile, love the sunshine, pray, sing – then it takes me, almost physically holding onto me, paralyzing me for a minute, dragging a sob from my throat. I write like I’m the first to know this. And I smile at my wonderment! After all, I have walked hundreds of families through sorrow and loss. I know the process, but this is not rational. It is raw emotion.
One thing that drives that presence of grief back is hope. The Scripture tells me that "we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13, NLT) From the Word, I learn many things that bring me some measure of comfort. Primary among them is that there will be a Resurrection that will reunite body and soul and all those who await the coming the Lord! And, too, I learn that God is near, His Presence, a refuge. "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!" (Psalm 46:1-3, NLT)
The other gift that makes this passage endurable is love. In this I am a most blessed man. People don’t even really know stop to say, “I’m sorry for you,” and it helps. Grown men and kids alike hugged me yesterday as I moved through the congregation, each embrace a reminder of love. My kids call and listen to me ramble and weep and I feel their love. My wife tenderly holds my hand while I cry, wordlessly loving me. Never before, in my entire life, have I realized how important it is to have a web of love woven as that proverbial ‘safety net!’
There is one more thing that makes this day when I will bury my Dad bearable – his legacy! He was no simple saint. Yes, he loved God and people, no question about that. But, he was a complex man, too. I knew his humanity, his sinful nature. But, I saw him take the Spirit’s power and beat back the powers of sin and darkness – in himself and in the world. I have received notes that tell me of acts, big and small, in which he left a better world, for the glory of God. One man told me that on his first visit to Dad’s church he was greeting by him at the door. Dad asked, “Do you have a Bible?” When the man said no, Dad handed him his own leather-bound study Bible on the spot! Another told me about a time when Dad gently rebuked his harshness with his kids and said, “I always try to find a way to say ‘yes.’” Many have written to tell me how he led them to Jesus and their lives were changed. I am a living legacy, passing along the faith, he gave to me –not so much in his eloquence, but by example.
Tim McGraw’s song urges us to “live like you were dyin'!” Because, we are! Someday, there will be rip in time and we will step through it and be gone. May those who are left to weep have the comfort of the Resurrection hope because we have walked with Christ and in His grace. I want to leave a legacy; not of fortune, nor of fame; but of loving others.
___________
Remember this ....
He has achieved success...
who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;
who has enjoyed the trust of pure women,
the respect of intelligent men,
and the love of little children;
who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
and has left the world a better place than he found it,
whether an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
who has always looked for the best in others,
and given them the best he had;
whose life was an inspiration;
whose memory a benediction.
Bessie Anderson Stanley's definition of "success" in
Brown Book Magazine, 1904, as quoted in "Dear Abby," July, 1992)
The sorrow I feel is like a presence stalking me. I laugh, enjoy a child’s smile, love the sunshine, pray, sing – then it takes me, almost physically holding onto me, paralyzing me for a minute, dragging a sob from my throat. I write like I’m the first to know this. And I smile at my wonderment! After all, I have walked hundreds of families through sorrow and loss. I know the process, but this is not rational. It is raw emotion.
One thing that drives that presence of grief back is hope. The Scripture tells me that "we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13, NLT) From the Word, I learn many things that bring me some measure of comfort. Primary among them is that there will be a Resurrection that will reunite body and soul and all those who await the coming the Lord! And, too, I learn that God is near, His Presence, a refuge. "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!" (Psalm 46:1-3, NLT)
The other gift that makes this passage endurable is love. In this I am a most blessed man. People don’t even really know stop to say, “I’m sorry for you,” and it helps. Grown men and kids alike hugged me yesterday as I moved through the congregation, each embrace a reminder of love. My kids call and listen to me ramble and weep and I feel their love. My wife tenderly holds my hand while I cry, wordlessly loving me. Never before, in my entire life, have I realized how important it is to have a web of love woven as that proverbial ‘safety net!’
There is one more thing that makes this day when I will bury my Dad bearable – his legacy! He was no simple saint. Yes, he loved God and people, no question about that. But, he was a complex man, too. I knew his humanity, his sinful nature. But, I saw him take the Spirit’s power and beat back the powers of sin and darkness – in himself and in the world. I have received notes that tell me of acts, big and small, in which he left a better world, for the glory of God. One man told me that on his first visit to Dad’s church he was greeting by him at the door. Dad asked, “Do you have a Bible?” When the man said no, Dad handed him his own leather-bound study Bible on the spot! Another told me about a time when Dad gently rebuked his harshness with his kids and said, “I always try to find a way to say ‘yes.’” Many have written to tell me how he led them to Jesus and their lives were changed. I am a living legacy, passing along the faith, he gave to me –not so much in his eloquence, but by example.
Tim McGraw’s song urges us to “live like you were dyin'!” Because, we are! Someday, there will be rip in time and we will step through it and be gone. May those who are left to weep have the comfort of the Resurrection hope because we have walked with Christ and in His grace. I want to leave a legacy; not of fortune, nor of fame; but of loving others.
___________
Remember this ....
He has achieved success...
who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;
who has enjoyed the trust of pure women,
the respect of intelligent men,
and the love of little children;
who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
and has left the world a better place than he found it,
whether an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
who has always looked for the best in others,
and given them the best he had;
whose life was an inspiration;
whose memory a benediction.
Bessie Anderson Stanley's definition of "success" in
Brown Book Magazine, 1904, as quoted in "Dear Abby," July, 1992)
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