The Cheering Cloud

When our children were in school we often attended sporting events. The boys wrestled and played summer baseball and the girls were in the marching band and played softball. Now we watch our grandchildren. The older we get the more pictures we take.

As spectators we get to enjoy the action on the field from a distance. We try to feel what they feel. We get excited for their successes and yell encouragement when things don’t go their way. We do not score any points and we really do not have as much influence over the game as we think. What happens on the field is still up to the players, not the spectators.

The influence of a hometown crowd is not to be overlooked. An excited crowd can make a difference in the excitement on the field. A cheering crowd can cause runners to put out that ounce of extra effort that gives them an edge and takes them across the finish line to victory.

This is the picture we see in Hebrews 12:1. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” Paul is describing runners on the field of a race. Track and field was common sporting events in his day, as they are today. A cloud of cheering fans surrounds the runners. These fans are called witnesses using the same word that is used for martyrs. The language tells us that this cloud is made of the people in heaven who see us and are cheering for our success.

Think about it. What greater fans do we have than our parents and ancestors, our loved ones who have gone before us? Like spectators at a race they cannot run the race for us but they can cheer us on. Knowing that they are cheering for us can make the difference in that extra ounce of effort whether it is a race or a critical decision we have to make. We have their support as they wait for us to join them in that cloud.

Easter is a reminder of resurrection. It reminds us not only of the resurrection of Jesus Christ but also the resurrection we will all experience when He calls us to himself. By faith in Jesus we will one day see all those who cheered us on the victory in this life. Then the celebration will begin.

Happy Easter, Happy Resurrection! The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!

Bro. Robin

Trash

I watched as my almost two year old granddaughter toddled through my study. In her curiosity she looked at everything she passed. She came to a large box with a lid that once held reams of paper and now was labeled "Taxes 2012." She lifted the lid and saw the jumble of receipts and bills.

"Trash," she declared as she dropped the lid and moved on to something else.

I smiled as she left the room and reached over to adjust the lid on the box she had just identified as trash. I thought about how valuable the contents were to me. I had collected those papers throughout the year and was getting ready to use them in preparing my income tax return. They were of vital importance to me but meaningless trash to her.

Whether something is valuable or trash can often depend on the individual. It can depend on how important it is to us. It may not matter if it is important because it is useful or because it has some other meaning.

Sometimes trash can be turned into treasure. We have a cabinet that came from the farm. It had been used in the barn to store tools. We brought it home, cleaned it up, made some repairs, and put a coat of stain on it. It still does not look new but to us it is a prized possession. Not only is it useful but it also has a special meaning.

Occasionally we go through the house and remove things that have no use and have lost their meaning. We need to do that in our personal lives as well. We can accumulate stuff that take up space and have no meaning, or may even be harmful to us. Bad habits can start out as a good idea at the time and soon become a barrier to our spiritual growth. We need to look at the things we treasure and determine if they are good or trash.

Jesus said, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:20-21) He even gave us a test to apply to our treasure. "...where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal." (Matthew 6:20).

Years ago I realized that the only treasure we have here on earth that we will take with us into heaven are people who share our faith in Jesus. About the only thing I know that fits those conditions are the relationships I have with people, and with Jesus. I am glad that when Jesus looks at us He always says "treasure," He never says, "trash." I'm glad He, "...so love the world."

Bro. Robin

Ice Cream Voice

It was a warm summer day, three of my grandsons were actively playing in the backyard, and I had just finished a batch of my homemade ice cream. I went to the back door to invite them to enjoy the ice cream with me.

As I stepped to the door I noticed that they were all the way to the back of the yard by the fence, about thirty yards away. Ordinarily, at that distance, I would have to yell to get their attention. But the thought crossed my mind that this might be a good time to try an experiment in selective hearing. So I quietly opened the door and in a normal speaking voice said:

“Anyone ready for ice cream?”

Suddenly three heads turned in my direction as all three boys began running for the door yelling, “Ice Cream!”

We sometimes teach our children to control the volume of their voices. We refer to “inside voice” and “outside voice” to distinguish the volumes needed to communicate in different settings. Perhaps there also needs to be a designation of “Ice Cream Voice” for those things we like to hear.

There are those words that make our ears perk up when we hear them even when they are whispered. There are even many phrases that may rank more important than, “Ice Cream,” or “Have more pie.” Phrases like, “I love you,” can be heard when whispered across a busy airport. “Good job,” “Well done,” and “Thank you,” also come to mind. Our ears become tuned to words and our eyes to wordless expressions that become a special language for friends and couples over time.

Paul said, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Our ears and our senses can also become tuned to hear the word of Christ. As our relationship with Him grows over time we learn to recognize His voice in His word and in the daily occurrences of our lives. If we are listening God has an “Ice Cream” voice. When we are sensitive to His Spirit it is as though we are children and He has said “Ice Cream.” We can come to the sound of His voice and enjoy the blessings He has prepared for us.

Bro. Robin

Praying for friends

When I went to pastor my first church it was out in western Oklahoma wheat country. One of the men of the church came to me with a burden for two of his friends. He picked a day he knew they would both be available and we went out to visit them in their homes.

We went to visit the first one and he made it clear that although he knew about Jesus and his family went to church he did not want to become a Christian.

The second man we visited was a young man in his twenties. He was not home but we were told that he was out on the tractor spraying for greenbugs. We drove around his farm and when we found him we waved to get his attention. He pulled up and stopped his tractor and we shared the gospel with him. We talked about how Jesus died on the cross for his sins and that he could have His forgiveness and start a new life if he would believe in Jesus, turn away from his sin, and pray and invite Jesus to come into his heart. Compared to me he was a giant in size and that made it an even more awesome sight to see tears roll down that dusty face as he prayed and asked Jesus to forgive his sins and give him a new life. I told him he got rid of his greenbugs and his sins on the same day.

Nearly ten years later that same man, who took me to visit his two friends, asked me if I could make another visit. We went to see the first friend we visited years earlier. We sat in his living room and saw the answer to years of prayer as he said yes to Jesus.

When you pray for a friend God hears your prayer. His work is on His time. We see only a friend in need. God sees everything and knows all the pieces that need to be in place. His timing is always perfect. We do not make things happen. We pray and God makes things happen. Whether it takes a day or ten years His hand is at work while we pray bringing all the pieces together for an answer.

What are the pieces in your life that need to come together? You only know a few of them. Only God knows them all.

Bro Robin