The Choice is Yours

I don’t remember his name exactly but I think it was Alex. I was a junior in High School and it was 1969. He was a new student. The rumor was that he recently moved here from California. He had long hair and stayed to himself most of the time. He had a rough attitude that kept most other people away including teachers and the bus driver. He rode the bus to school with me but he always sat alone.

One morning Alex pulled the window down and lit up. A few people asked him to put the window up but he said he couldn’t and kept on smoking. I sat behind him and had grown up with smokers in the family. But this did not smell like any cigarette I had been around. It had a sickening sweet smell that I learned later was marijuana. It was the first time I had ever been around it.

I did not see Alex much after that. He was kicked off the bus and I think he dropped out of school. Then one summer day, over a year later, a car drove up my driveway. When the door open two guys got out, one of them was Alex. He was grinning from ear to ear. I knew who it was but I could see right away that he was a very different person than the Alex I had known from the school bus.

Alex had become a Christian and I was one of the first people he wanted to tell. I did not think he even knew who I was. Apparently he had been listening when I sat behind him and talked about Jesus and Church and the Lord’s call on my life to preach. He knew all about me and that was the reason he wanted me to know about his decision. He had joined a group of Christian youth in Edwardsville, Illinois, who had a similar background to his own and now they were going back to old friends and telling them how Jesus was better than the drugs and everything else in their life and that He had set them free in His salvation!

Alex is one of many people I have known over the years who have gone from drugs to Jesus. All of them, even the ones who had to go through a difficult rehab, knew that they could not serve Christ and drugs including marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco. Clean is clean, one of them used to say to me.

Every election is important and that makes our participation important. This year there are some local issues that are especially important. We need to stand against drug use of any kind whether it is alcohol, marijuana, or anything else. These are moral issues and not just political. As Christians we need to pray about how we vote and stand on Biblical principles.

Solomon said, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” (Prov. 16:33 esv). We participate in the process and God controls the outcome. I am convinced that sometimes the outcome is for blessing and sometimes it is for judgment. We pray it is for blessing. Pray about your vote and pray for our country. We need Revival, not by vote, but by God’s Spirit.

Bro. Robin

The Danger of Indecision

Early Monday morning I drove to Centerton to attend a Pastor’s Conference and recharge my spiritual batteries after Sunday. I like to take the back roads because it is so peaceful and it takes about the same amount of time. As I watched the road ahead I saw a squirrel run across the road from my right. As he got to the other side of the pavement he apparently changed his mind, turned around, and darted back across in from of me. I felt a sickening thump thump and thought to myself, “That squirrel should not have changed his mind!”

He was safe on the other side of danger when he suddenly changed his mind. Over the years driving country roads I have had a lot of squirrels run across in front of me. I can only remember one other time that the squirrel did not make it. They are usually faster than that. This squirrel was fast enough but his indecision is what cost him.

The incident with the squirrel reminded me of times when I second-guessed myself on a decision only to realize later that the first decision was the right one. Most of the time I stay with my first decision unless I have compelling evidence to the contrary. I learned this in school taking multiple-choice questions. Your first answer is most likely to be the right one. But there is still occasionally that nagging feeling in the back of my thoughts. What if I had chosen the other option? I have found that it is usually safer to stay with your convictions and take the risk than to waver and actually increase the chance of failure.

Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 esv) Jesus wants us to be committed to following Him. We should not be distracted by second-guessing all the options that are around us. If we choose His direction changing our mind now has consequences.

Jesus also taught us to pray, “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:13 esv) Following His leadership and being delivered from evil are tied together for a reason. If we follow His leadership away from temptation He will lead us in a path that avoids evil. If we want His protection we must stay on the path and not turn back.

Bro. Robin

Delivered

I remember my first “Haunted House” experience. I was in first grade and the eighth graders put it on for the lower grades at school. We were to be guided through an obstacle course in the dark that was supposed to be scary. My brother Mike wanted to make it a memorable experience so he guided my group through personally and attempted to make it as scary as possible.

The other kids with us were indeed scared. I, however, was comforted by the fact that my brother was leading my group and I knew he would never let anything bad happen to me. His attempt to scare me backfired because I trusted him. When it was over I was the only one who wanted to go again!

Jesus taught us to pray, “…deliver us from evil.” (Mt. 6:13b). He came to save us not only from death but also from the evil that is around us. He can deliver us because He never leaves us. His promise is secure because of the relationship we have with Him.

When I was very young, eight years old, life was simple; I thought I had all of the answers. I went to church every Sunday and I learned what I was supposed to do to become a Christian.

Later, as I heard my Pastor preach about Jesus, I had a strange feeling inside that I didn't understand. I knew then that there was more to being a Christian than knowing what I was supposed to do.  I realized that thinking I had all of the answers was a sin, a rebellion against God.   One Sunday after church, I went outside to sit down in my father’s car and prayed very simply, "Lord Jesus, whatever You want me to do, I'll do it."

When I called on Jesus and gave my life to him, He forgave me of my sins, came into my heart, and gave me a new life that will never end.   As Romans 10:9 says, "If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord (in control) and believe in your heart God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

Jesus continues to teach me new things everyday as I talk with Him in prayer, listen to His Word, the Bible, tell people about Jesus, and care for others through my church.  You can receive this new life and know Jesus just as I do if you also will call on Jesus, confess your sins, and ask Him to be in control of your life.

Jesus also said, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16esv) Jesus wants to deliver us from evil from the inside out. Before we can ask for anything else we need to ask for a relationship with him. He is God’s only Son and when we pray to Him He becomes like our older brother guiding us through the evil that threatens us every day. 

Bro. Robin

Godly Leadership

We were playing on the parallel ladder when it happened. I was in the fourth grade and enjoyed swinging on the bars, seeing how fast I could travel the length. An eighth grader who was small for his age came by. Suddenly he started pulling kids off the bars. At first, we all thought it was funny. Then one girl started to cry. So, I told him to stop.

He shoved me. I shoved him back. He took a swing at me. I punched him in the shoulder and told him to stop, again. But, it was too late. We were surrounded by kids yelling, “fight!” His friends were giving him advice on how and where to hit me. My friends were stunned that I was in a fight with an eighth grader. He took another swing at me, which I dodged, and I punched him in the forehead. He was ready to quit but his friends kept urging him on.

Suddenly I felt someone grab me from behind. A man, a teacher, had me by the arm, and another teacher had him by the arm. We were both dragged to the superintendent’s office.

The Superintendent was Mr. Larkin. I knew him from church as well as school. He was a Sunday School teacher and the chairman of Deacons at our church. I respected him because my parents, and everyone I knew, respected him. The other boy was terrified to go to his office. I knew he was a fair man who would listen to my side of the story. The only thing I was afraid of was that I knew he would tell my dad and if I got a swat here I would get another one at home.

We were separated and Mr. Larkin listened to both of us tell our stories. He talked to the teachers and brought in some other students including some of the boys who urged on the fight. He concluded that we had both been pushed into the fight and gave the older boy a swat because he was older and should have known better. Then he gave me a calm explanation why fighting is not a good way to settle differences and if it happened again there would be more punishment. I knew what he meant and promised that it would never happen again.

The lesson I learned that day was not about fighting. It was about leadership. The other boy was led by the mob and made poor decisions. I was led by Mr. Larkin and other godly men at church who taught me by example and by lessons from God’s Word that there were better ways to solve problems.

Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “And lead us not into temptation…” Godly leadership is positive leadership. It is leadership that points us away from the temptations of popular opinions of the crowd. Godly leadership points us to the truth of God’s Word that will work in our lives. Who are the Godly leaders in your life? Are you a Godly leader?

Bro. Robin

Encouraging Leadership

I once had a dog that enjoyed taking me on walks. At least, that’s how it seemed to me. As soon as she saw the leash she got excited. When I snapped on the leash she would drag me to the door and around the block. I derived the most exercise from holding her back. Things got especially exciting whenever she saw a squirrel.

No matter how hard she pulled I still had control of the leash. Sometimes I had to pull up and shorten it to remind her of my control, when she wanted to go the wrong way. Other times I could give her more freedom as long as she was going the right way.

God leads us like that. He gives us freedom but makes the limitations clear. Sometimes, when we get too far from Him we get ourselves in trouble. At other times we feel Him pull us back just in time to save us from something bad. We can choose to go our own way but we have to understand that means we remove ourselves from His wisdom and protection.

Jesus taught us to pray, “And lead us not into temptation…” (Matthew 6:13). We desire and need God to lead us. We also need to understand that we choose to submit to his leadership. We have to ask God to lead us. He does not force Himself or His direction on us.

The Lord’s Prayer reminds us that we are not doing this alone. Jesus did not teach us to pray, “Lead me,” rather we are to pray, “Lead us.” We are in this together as fellow travelers on the road. We face the same difficulties and need each other’s prayer and encouragement. We therefore need to pray for God to lead us together.

In the Lord’s Prayer is also a reminder of the consequences of ignoring His direction. Temptation is always there to snare the careless traveler. Everywhere we turn there are spiritual squirrels to catch our attention and lead us away from the things of God. We can get lost in temptation if we are not careful.

Our relationship with God is an active relationship that requires us to take an active role. God will lead us and He has a perfect plan for us. We must ask for His leadership and continue to follow His direction. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is hard. But it is always worth it.

Bro. Robin

Yes!

I was waiting in the lobby of a church I had pastored many years ago. A former deacon walked up to me. We were the only two people in the room at the time. He seemed a little nervous as we spoke and then said to me, "I owe you an apology, I said and did a lot of things against you when you were our pastor and I want you to know I'm sorry."

I was caught a little off guard, at first. To be honest, I could not remember specifically what he had done. I had forgiven him a long time ago. I stumbled a little over my words.

"Thank you," I said, "I appreciate you saying that. I forgave you already. I know it took a lot for you to say that. Thank you."

"I just felt like I needed to say it," he said. We continued to talk, more freely now, it seemed. It was like an invisible wall had been lifted between us.

There was another side to that story that I did not go into with him. He was a part of a group that had made life difficult for me over a period of years. In spite of their efforts we saw many successes in that church. Much later, I found myself needing to talk about it with a close friend who was not associated with that church. I tried to not be too critical and to focus on the lessons I had learned. I did not realize how much I continued to talk about it until one day he turned to me and said, “They must have really hurt you.” I had not admitted it before, but yes, they had. Admitting the pain that caused me to want to talk about it seemed to lift the burden. I was finally able to truly forgive them and felt a huge burden lift from my shoulders. When I finally faced the pain I felt such a difference that I knew something had truly changed in my heart.

When my children were small I got tired of listening to tattling and made a new house rule. “If what you want to tell me begins with someone else’s name I don’t want to hear it.” That did not apply to emergencies, of course. But, it did slow down the tattling.

God has a similar rule but words it a little differently. In the Lord’s Prayer he taught us to pray, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12) Or, to rephrase it, “Forgive what we owe you as we forgive all those who owe us something.” Forgiveness was so important to Jesus that he repeated it at the end of the Prayer, (Matthew 6:14-15). His forgiveness is conditioned on our forgiveness.

What was it that kept me from forgiving them before? In a word my problem was pride. Pride is a sin that attaches itself to other problems and makes them worse. I was unable to truly forgive because of pride, even though I said the words before and thought at the time I was sincere. Pride can keep us from forgiving and accepting the forgiveness of others. Pride can cause us to keep making the same mistakes over and over. After all, we always think the problem is them not us! That is the essence of pride. In my situation I would not allow myself to admit that they hurt me. Admitting the pain seemed like a defeat. However, when I turned loose of my pride and finally admitted it, it turned into a victory. Forgiveness is the prayer God always answers, “Yes!”

Bro. Robin

Asking for the Bread of Knowledge

When Joyce began baking bread she tried several different recipes until she found one we all liked. Then, over time, she refined both the recipe and the technique. A funny moment occurred when she was discussing bread making with some of the ladies from our church. One of them said that she wished she could bake bread like Joyce. Joyce replied, “Well you should, it’s your recipe.” The lady replied that might be so but hers never turned out like Joyce’s.

Baking bread requires a specific knowledge. I can put together the ingredients but who would eat it? When Joyce makes bread everyone asks for more. One of our daughters wanted to learn how to make bread like her mother. She followed her around the kitchen with a notepad and wrote down everything she did. She quickly realized that she needed to stop and hand her mother a measuring cup or her recipe would be meaningless. After time she learned how to make bread but it was more from following her mother than is was from following the recipe.

When Jesus was tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread, Jesus responded, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 ESV) Later when Jesus taught us to pray he included the phrase, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11 ESV) In previous newsletters I told you that when we ASK for bread we are praying for God to A – Act, and S – Save us from sin. We are also asking him to give us K – Knowledge. This bread is both the written word of God and the living word of God. (Jesus refers to himself as the Bread of Life in John 6:35).

Knowing God requires a specific knowledge. It comes more from following Jesus than any program. The written directions for bread may not always tell you about how much flour to add until the dough reaches the right consistency but following the baker will teach you how to know. A program of discipleship may not tell you God’s specific will for your life. But Jesus knows God’s perfect will and following him will lead you to know it too. He can feed you the bread of life because he is the Bread of Life.

When we pray for daily bread we are praying for knowledge that is not just information about his word or his will. We are praying to know him, as Paul said: “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11 ESV)

Bro. Robin

Asking for Bread of Salvation

One of my favorite smells is the smell of bread baking in the oven. Whether it is made from whole grain, cracked wheat, or bread flour, rolls or loaves, my mouth waters when I think of how it will melt in my mouth when it comes out of the oven. There is nothing better that a roll or slice of bread fresh out of the oven. I like it covered in butter, honey, jam, or all by itself. Yum.

Some kind of bread made from grain is the staple food in every culture. Some countries make their bread flat such as tortillas in Latin America, or pita bread, in the Middle East. In Jesus’ day bread was flat like a tortilla. In Malawi the word for bread, nsema, literally means “food.” Their bread is made from finely ground cornmeal and boiled to a play-doh consistency. It is used like a spoon to eat the rest of the meal, and it is not considered a meal without nsema.

When I think of bread I think of the shape of loaves that my wife makes from yeast dough, or that we buy from the store. My mother made corn bread and biscuits and on special occasions she would make “light bread” rolls with yeast dough. When I smell fresh bread cooking in the oven the first thing I ask for is a slice.

Yeast is one kind of leavening that is used to make the bread dough rise. When the dough rises tiny organisms in the yeast makes the dough fill with air bubbles that makes the bread soft and light. (It’s alive!) Baking powder is another kind of leavening used in biscuits. Sour dough is made from leavening that is grown in a jar and kept for years, shared with friends, and even passed down through generations.

Not all bread is made with leavening. In the bible, leavening is a symbol of sin and as such the children of Israel were required to make the bread for Passover without leavening. Unleavened bread is also used in our Lord’s Supper services. Jesus told his disciples to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Mt. 16:6) He was talking about their false teachings that hide in the truth and puff up with pride. Like yeast, sin can take on a life of its own. But Jesus also compared the Kingdom of God to leaven that a women hid in flour until it was all leavened. (Luke 13:21) He used the character of leaven to describe both sin and the Kingdom. Both change the character of the person it is inside.

When Jesus taught us to pray he included the phrase, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11 esv) The “daily bread” that Jesus was talking about literally means, “bread for tomorrow.” This not only applies to asking for our needs but also for asking for salvation from sin for each day.

Praying for daily bread reminds us that we need God for our nurturing and our nature. We need him to remove our sin and fill us with his nature to do his will. He taught us to pray like this because this is how he wants to work his life in us.

Bro. Robin

Asking God to Act

When my son was about three years old my parents came for a visit. One of my Dad’s favorite things to do with the grandkids was to take them to the “dime store,” or dollar store as we call them today, and let them pick out a toy. My daughter picked out something quickly but my son kept looking and it became apparent that he had something specific in mind.

   “Son, what are you looking for,” I asked?

   “A zooer,” he said. “I want a zooer.”

   “What’s a zooer,” I was almost afraid to ask?

   “You know, a zooer,” he said more emphatically, and with a bit of frustration in his voice added, “like yours. Zzzzzzzzzz, a zooer.”

Now I’m completely mystified. My Dad started to laugh and my son started to get upset. Then a light came on. I tried to look at it from a three year olds perspective and suddenly it occurred to me. He wanted a toy weed trimmer. He did not know what is was called but he correctly identified the sound that it made. To my surprise we found one but when it did not actually trim weeds or make the right sound he tired of it quickly. What he got was not exactly what he wanted.

As a child I rarely asked for anything. It just seemed liked everything I needed was already provided. We were neither rich nor poor by most people’s standards. But, we did not lack for necessities and my parents taught me to be happy with what we had. My parents had both grown up poor and had learned to make the most of what they had. That was a gift that has served me well and I am grateful that they passed it on to their children.

When I moved away to college I discovered a whole new meaning to asking and receiving. When I asked for money to spend on myself I received slow responses and small amounts, if any. But, when I wrote home that I needed a new pair of jeans because of the weather and a new pair of shoes to sing in the chorale I got a quick reply and enough money to purchase the necessary items. They responded to my need but not always to my want.

As a father I now know how difficult that was for my parents. We cannot give children everything they want because we cannot afford it and it would not be good for them. We sometimes wish we could give them more. We do well to give them what they need.

When Jesus taught us to pray he included the phrase, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11 esv) The “daily bread” that Jesus was talking about literally means, “bread for tomorrow.” He taught us to ask for our needs for just one more day. He wants to give us what we need and everything we want that fits his plan for our lives. He wants us to ask so he can give.

Bro. Robin

Daughters Bake Cookies

I don’t remember when I started giving this sage advice. I know it was some time when my children were growing up. A friend told me they were having a baby and it was going to be a girl. I congratulated him and told him, “One of the great things about having a girl is that daughters bake cookies!”

There is a special bond between a daughter and a daddy. My daughters spend time with me and I enjoy every moment. They come to me to talk about books we read and things we do. They let me drive them around town while they shop with their mother. I especially like it when they bake me cookies. I like the cookies not only for the flavor and pleasure. I like them for the love that I know went into them. I like them because they taste just like the cookies their mother makes.

Baking cookies is not a skill they were given at birth. They learned to bake cookies from their mother. And she learned to bake cookies from her mother. Baking cookies is not the only skill passed down from mother to daughter. It is not even the only one dads get to appreciate. It is inherently one of the greatest gifts of motherhood that they pass on valuable traits to their daughters and sons. It is the character even more than the cooking that we inherit from our mothers. It is faith more than food that becomes a lasting legacy.

In Titus 2:3-4, Paul reminds Titus that older women should, “…teach what is good, and so train the young women…” When I think of mother’s day I have so much to be thankful for. I remember my mother and how she taught me to pray. I think of my mother in law who, in addition to being an awesome cook, taught her daughter generosity and hospitality that she has passed on to our children.

These are just a few of the things that Joyce and I have learned from our mothers that we see in our children and will continue to see in our grandchildren. Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you, Moms, for all you do, all you are, and the legacy of faith that you pass on to all of us. And, thanks for teaching your daughters how to bake cookies.
 Bro. Robin

Repent

When my dad said that the yard needed to be mowed I knew that he was talking to me. It was my job to mow the yard. I got paid an allowance for doing it. But I was not always very good at observing when it need to be done. Usually I mowed every week. Sometimes, if the grass was dry, I waited a few days. Or, if there had been a lot of rain, I might have to mow it sooner. During those odd weeks I could always count on Dad to say something about it and I knew it was time to get the job done.

    I enjoyed summer vacation. So, there were times during the summer when what I wanted to do conflicted with what Dad wanted me to do. On sunny days the pool down the hill was open. It was tempting to put off the mowing to go to the pool. Problem was, if I delayed the mowing Dad also delayed the allowance and I did not have the money to go to the pool. That was when I knew I needed to mow the grass even if it was hot and inconvenient. If I did not mow I could not swim. I remember more than once getting ready to go to the pool, checking my pockets, and going out to get on the lawnmower instead.

   The word for “Repent” in the Bible means to change direction. Sometimes we say that repent means to turn and go in a new direction. To expand on that definition, repent means to recognize what God want us to do and turn and go in the right direction. It is like when I started for the pool and then turned around to do what my Dad wanted instead.

   In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10, ESV) In that statement Jesus was teaching us the true meaning of repentance. We need to pray everyday to know God’s will and change our direction to match his desire.

   God’s will is for his kingdom on earth to match his kingdom in heaven. The king, in older times, was the ruler of the people and the owner of all the property. The people were the stewards of the king’s property and they gave him most of their crops in exchange for his protection. That is still the way it is in heaven, God owns and rules it all. He wants it to be that way here on earth too but we have to willingly put God in charge of each of our lives. In exchange he promises us protection from death, eternal life in heaven with him.

   God’s word, the Bible, is our main source of information on God’s will. He also speaks to us individually in prayer and sometimes a nudge in the right direction. Every nudge from God is always backed up by the Bible. A spiritual nudge can be very personal. He can speak to your conscience about doing the right thing. He can give an intuitive nudge about a need that you would not have known otherwise. We need to listen and tune our hearts to God’s presence as we pray daily for God’s will to be done. We honor God when we do his will. He repays us with an allowance that is out of this world.

   Bro. Robin

Praise

I still have the first trophy I ever got. It was at the end of my fourth grade year. I received the award for being at the top of my class academically. I was excited and proud and did not know how to handle the attention. It sat on the mantle for a year until my neighbor won the award for that year. Then Dad took it off the mantle and gave it to me to put in my room. Praise we receive is temporary.

Praise takes many different forms. When someone tells you that you did a good job, or pats you on the back we are encouraged by that kind of praise. Praise is a way of saying that it was not only the deed that was good but also the act was in character of the person who did it. Praise is an affirmation, the giving of credit, and complimenting a person.

Praise should always be directed toward God. He is worthy of praise. Praise can usually be distinguished from thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the act of being thankful for what God has done. Praise is an acknowledgement of who God is, His character.

The second phrase of the Lord’s Prayer states, “…Hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9b) Jesus taught us to begin prayer with praise for the character of God’s holy name. This phrase not only emphasizes God’s holiness but also specifically addresses God’s holy character. In the thought of that day a person’s name represented his character. Today when we talk about a person having a good name we are referring to his reputation and character. God’s character is holy. He is separate from us and above us and we need to recognize his holy name every day.

When false things are spread about someone we call that defamation of character. Once when I heard some bad things being said about someone I heard a person near me wonder if what was being said was defamation of character or a definition of character. That little play on words can make a big difference. Truth, whether good or bad, is a definition of character. It is praise only if it is good truth. False praise comes from false statements or from a false and insincere heart. God always knows if our praise is true or false.

Praise opens the door to worship and prayer. Praise sets our mind on the character of God so that when we pray we are directing our prayer to the one who listens and answers our prayer. Praise determines our sincerity. It is the only thing we can do to get God’s attention in a positive way. Praising God has eternal consequences.

My trophy is in a box in the attic. Such is the destination of man’s praise. Every morning I sit down to pray and begin with the Lord’s Prayer. I look over the lists and think about the needs and the many answers to prayer I see. This is the destination of our praise of God. “Hallowed be your name!”

Bro. Robin

Eight Minute Relationships

I asked the lift operator, as I was getting off, how long does the lift take from bottom to top. “Seven minutes, unless it’s slow like today, then eight minutes.”

Eight minutes! It is amazing what two people can learn about each other in eight minutes. In eight minutes I learned about all the places in Europe one of our exchange students has skied and how excited he was to ski Colorado. I met a ten year old who was excited that her parents let her ski by herself.

Most of the time I rode with people I already knew. Each time we talked and shared and learned something about each other. When I was with strangers it was a little different. Each time I looked for a way to turn the conversation to God. On the slopes the people we saw were objects to avoid running into. On the lifts we had a brief opportunity to know one of those objects as a person and perhaps share a brief witness of Christ in eight minutes.

Last year I shared the gospel with an expert skier. In eight minutes I learned about the thrill of his level of skiing. He learned how much I appreciate what God has created and done for me. At first he acted like he did not want to talk about God but waited until the ride was over to put his ear buds in and turn up his iPod. We could have passed the eight minutes in silence. But, life is too short to waste an opportunity to share some evidence of Jesus in our lives, no matter how brief.

In eight minutes I learned that the person riding with me lived in a nearby town and worked two jobs. One job was for a florist and the other at a winery. We joked about whether flowers and wine go together. I told her I was a pastor and did not drink. I reflected that I knew too many people who could not handle alcohol. I asked about her church and her relationship with God. She told me she was a Lutheran and reminded me that Martin Luther made his own beer. She also agreed that alcohol was an anesthetic and should not be abused. We both agreed that it is important to raise children in the church with good values.

In John 4, Jesus met a woman at a well in Samaria. It was not a very long conversation. In that brief encounter he found out all there was to know about her, (verse 39). She discovered that Jesus was the Messiah, (verse 29). It takes less than eight minutes to read the conversation yet it changed her life and later changed her whole town.

Eight minutes is not long enough for us to have a life long relationship with another person. It is long enough for us to introduce someone else to a life changing relationship with Jesus. Think about it the next time you are staring at the elevator buttons, or talking to wait-staff at a restaurant, or … riding on a ski lift.
Bro. Robin

Address

When someone asks me my address these days I have to stop and think. Its not that I have a hard time remembering but I have to think about which address should I give out. I have a street address, mailing address, work address and a half dozen email addresses to choose from.

I tried to order a package and the delivery service said my address was not in the system. I had to use someone else’s address to get my package. I found that amazing since I can go online and type in my address and the online service will show me a picture of my front porch. It is an old picture, the green pickup I used to own is still in the driveway, but anyone with a computer can find my house.

There is one address we never have to worry about. We know how to find God. Jesus gave us His address when He taught us how to pray. He said, “Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9, ESV)

We address our prayers to “Our Father” because this defines the relationship we have with the one who can answer our prayers. He is Our father because we have chosen to have this relationship. We acknowledge the uniqueness and intimacy of a father and child relationship that can happen only when two people who are related to each other spend time developing that relationship. He is father to us because He chose to create us and to further have this relationship with us. “We love him because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, ESV).

We address our prayers to “Our Father in heaven,” because that is where His throne is. His presence is here with us. Heaven is His throne, where He rules, and where He issues the answers to our prayers. You might say that heaven is where He gets His mail. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer there is a reason for every word that Jesus taught us to pray. It is a model, an outline, for prayer and for effective praying. He taught us to pray because He desires a relationship with us. We pray because we desire a relationship with God, and prayer works.

When I first moved away from home to go to college I looked forward to the occasional letters I got from home. On a visit home I told mom that she could write more often if she wanted. She told me that if I wrote more often she would write me back. Dad told me that in the army they said if you want them you have to write them. That may seem too simple for some of us. If we want to hear from God remember that He wants to hear from us. We know His address and He knows ours. God answers prayer. Our part is to pray.
Bro. Robin

The Dusty Road

I grew up in a small house that faced a dirt road. There were a dozen houses around us, all on one-acre lots, and they were all on the same side of the road that ran along the top of a hill. In the summer we would walk to where the houses ended and the road went down a steep hill to the bottom where a creek crossed the road.

It was always a treat to get to walk to the creek. We would walk down the road past all the houses and if anyone was outside we might stop and talk with them for a minute on the way. The hill seemed long and steep but walking down it was fun. When we got to the creek the first thing we did was kick off our shoes and wade out in the cool clear water. That water seemed to take all the cares of the journey with it as it washed the dust off our feet.

We stayed a while to catch crawdads and chase minnows. Then we began the trip back up the hill, stopping now and then to catch our breath. When we finally got home we were glad to sit in the shade and rest for a while. Mom brought out a pan for us to wash the dirt off our feet before we could go back in the house. Walking back up that hill almost made me wonder why we went down it in the first place! But, the creek was so refreshing that the next day I was already thinking about going back.

Some journeys are like that. Even when you know the trip will be hard the destination is worth it all. You always know you will get your feet dirty if you walk on a dusty road but the trip is worth having to wash off a little dirt.

Jesus was with his disciples when they sat down for supper. They had three years of travel over dusty roads behind them. He had taught them everything He could along the way. He also knew what the road was going to be like ahead of them, that it led to a cross and a tomb. As they sat down to eat Jesus got up and took a pan of water and washed everyone’s feet. He did not do just it to wash the dirt off but to teach them one more lesson. He told them to do for each other what He had done for them. The road is dirty and we can only get to the end if we serve each other.

I heard a man say once that people who share the gospel have pretty feet. Isaiah said, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news.” (52:7). We wash each other’s feet when we encourage each other to live for Jesus and share His life. He knew the road ahead led to a cross and a tomb but he also knew it lead to a throne.

Bro. Robin

Pencil Sharpener

I was going through a box of old craft supplies and I found a good pencil sharpener among a bunch of stuff that I no longer needed. I use a pencil out in the shop and the sharpener I use out there has had most of the plastic broken off and barely works as it is. The one I found is in excellent condition so I considered myself fortunate to have found such a treasure.

Perhaps I need to pause here and explain what a pencil is and how a pencil sharpener works. A pencil is a wooden stick with lead core, (that was actually made of graphite). If sharpened it leaves a mark when pressed against paper or other objects, such as wood. (People used to write with them before iPads). Using pencils taught me many things.

A teacher once told me, “The shortest pencil is better than the longest memory.” What he meant is that if you write things down you will always have them to remember. I like clever sayings like that because they help you remember important truths. People have been writing things down as long as there has been language.

Like us, the pencil worked best if it was sharp and had a point. The writing end had to be kept sharp with a sharpener to expose the lead. The pencil sharpener had a cone shaped hole and a razor sharp blade and when you put the pencil in and twisted it the wood would be shaved off to a perfect point for all your writing needs.

The other end had a rubber eraser so you could correct your mistakes. The eraser made pencils essential for some tasks such as math, drawing, and for many people, spelling. You had a choice. You could confidently pick up a pen and assume you would make no mistakes. Or, you could use a pencil and correct your mistakes as you go. This always made me wish life was more like the pencil. If only we could erase our mistakes and start over!

Since I use my pencil in the shop another saying I live by is, “measure twice and cut once.” This means we need to think about our decisions before we act on them. Life is not completely like the pencil. Our sins are recorded in a book and when we accept Jesus as our savior they are forgiven, blotted out, and forgotten. Jesus heals us and helps us but we still have to live with the consequences of sin. We do not get to go back and do it over. We have to move forward from here and try again.

Jeremiah 31:33 promises, “…I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people.” (ESV) I am glad God does not do that with a pencil.

Robin

Games

I grew up in a home that enjoyed playing games. We played board games and card games in the winter and in the summer there was Wiffle Ball and Horseshoes. When we were not playing games we were “discussing” politics or religion. The games were always a welcome relief from the discussions.

As our children grew we played a lot of games. Usually around holidays when we all get together we break out a game just for fun. Games give us an opportunity to laugh and visit with a little friendly competition thrown in. If there is ever a disagreement over a game we all laugh together and the disagreement goes away with no lasting results. Rules are followed, or changed, or made up according to desires of the group. Everyone knows it is all about the fun and the way that fun brings us closer together.

Recently Joyce and I joined a few other families for a game night. We sat at a table with a few others to play a game we all played at home. However, we all played with slightly different rules. As we shared the rules with each other we came to a consensus about which rules we would follow. Everyone in the group contributed a different rule and we played the game like none of us ever played before. In short, we had fun. As we left we discussed how we liked some of the new rules we had just learned. Sharing the rules added to the fun.

Fellowship builds up the fellowship. We need to take time to be together and grow closer to each other. When we play games together we do not just learn about each other’s rules, we learn about each other.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” (ESV)

That is why we call our church a family. Come to church and be a part of the family of God.

Bro. Robin

Witness Checkup

During a visit with my doctor last fall he looked at my labs and remarked about how high my triglycerides were. They have always been high but I have never really understood why. So, I asked him what caused that and if there was anything I could do to bring them down?

He said, “Yes, you like ice cream too much.” His answer was so specific that it startled me for a moment.

“How did you know I like ice cream?” I said.

“Because with men your age it is either caused by beer or ice cream and knowing you I assumed it was ice cream.”

We both had a good laugh. I was glad that he knew me that well. It made me think not only about the health of my body but also about the health of my testimony. To my doctor too much ice cream is just as bad as too much beer. But, too much ice cream, while it may be unhealthy, will not make me drunk and endanger the lives of others. To my family, friends, church, Jesus, and most others who see me, too much beer would be far worse.

I have never had a problem with beer. I could never get past the smell, let alone the taste. It always reminded me of peeling peaches over a bucket in the summer when I was growing up. The smell of that bucket of peach peelings in the summer heat was all I could think of whenever I smelled beer. No temptation there.

Ice cream, on the other hand, has always been a treat. I have four ice cream makers. I have one that has a bowl that is kept in the freezer and two that use ice and salt to freeze the ice cream. My family enjoys my ice cream so much that they gave me a new one for Christmas that has a compressor and can make ice cream any time. I love my family!

Too much ice cream could also result in the sin of gluttony, which is just as bad in the eyes of God as drunkenness. I need to be a witness in everything I do. It makes no difference if I am at home, at church, in the doctor’s office, in traffic, at a restaurant, or in the check out line at a store. I want people to be able to see that I am different so when I share Jesus they will put His word and my actions together in a positive way.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.

I am not ready to give up ice cream just yet. However, I will be careful to take care of my body and always make God visible in the relationships around me.
Bro. Robin