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
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
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
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
Sunday, April 01, 2012
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
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
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
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
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
Saturday, February 25, 2012
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
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
Friday, February 17, 2012
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
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
Monday, February 13, 2012
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
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
Thursday, January 19, 2012
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
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
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Christmas Boxes
Christmas boxes are toys no matter what is in them. That is the conclusion I have come to as I watch my grandchildren open their presents.
First there is the wrapping paper around the box. There is a special joy on their faces as they tear off the paper. You can see the excitement and expectation as every layer of paper and box reveals a little more about the contents that awaits them.
Next comes the box. They finally get to see what is inside. Suddenly we see if it is clothes, toys, games, tools, or something totally unexpected. The surprise is half the fun as we watch the excitement being unwrapped.
Some things have to be tried on or played with immediately. Other things are stacked in a corner to be examined later. The fun of giving and receiving is followed by the enjoyment of having something new. All this fun began with an empty box. Before the box could be opened it had to be filled with a present someone picked out with you especially in mind.
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44
A new year is like an empty box. I have heard it said that you only get out of life what you put into it. In fact, I’ve said it a few times. But that saying does not go nearly far enough. Like a present, a new year is also what others put into it for you. We are all connected to the world around us. And, we can find treasure as we unwrap every layer of our experiences of life.
Happy New Year
Bro. Robin
First there is the wrapping paper around the box. There is a special joy on their faces as they tear off the paper. You can see the excitement and expectation as every layer of paper and box reveals a little more about the contents that awaits them.
Next comes the box. They finally get to see what is inside. Suddenly we see if it is clothes, toys, games, tools, or something totally unexpected. The surprise is half the fun as we watch the excitement being unwrapped.
Some things have to be tried on or played with immediately. Other things are stacked in a corner to be examined later. The fun of giving and receiving is followed by the enjoyment of having something new. All this fun began with an empty box. Before the box could be opened it had to be filled with a present someone picked out with you especially in mind.
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44
A new year is like an empty box. I have heard it said that you only get out of life what you put into it. In fact, I’ve said it a few times. But that saying does not go nearly far enough. Like a present, a new year is also what others put into it for you. We are all connected to the world around us. And, we can find treasure as we unwrap every layer of our experiences of life.
Happy New Year
Bro. Robin
Monday, December 19, 2011
Stockings by the Fire
I remember as a child waking up on Christmas morning and heading straight for the presents. Some time later in the morning we would remember the stockings that were pinned to the fireplace mantel. They were overlooked mostly because we already knew what was in them. Christmas Stockings at my house were always the same every year. They were white tube socks filled with assorted nuts and fruit and maybe some coins in the toe. Dad was responsible for doing the socks and he was predictable, most years.
After I got married I discovered that Christmas Stockings were a big deal in some homes. Joyce’s family used specially made stockings. They were shaped liked stockings but much larger and decorated for Christmas. In them we found new socks, (I always found it humorous that there were socks in my stocking!), and there were always fun things like pencils, toys, and snack food.
Joyce and I have carried on her family’s tradition. Every year before the presents can be opened we look inside the “stockings.” The actual decorative stockings hang in the living room. In their place we fill gift bags with goodies that the kids and grandkids always look forward to. Some things are practical, like new socks, and there are always fun surprises that we pick out especially for each person.
They say the tradition of Christmas Stockings goes all the way back the St. Nick himself. The original Nicholas was a fourth century Christian who became a lay preacher and because of his extraordinary devotion eventually became the Bishop of Myra, in modern day Turkey. As the story goes, he heard of a man with three daughters who was so poor he could not afford dowries so they could be married. Nicholas wanted to help but knew the man was too proud to accept charity so he walked by his house and threw three gold coins in the window. As it happened, the girls’ stockings were hanging by the fire to dry and by a miracle the coins landed in the stockings. The girls could get married and a legend was born.
Christmas has been a time of gift giving from the beginning. The wise men from the east brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to honor the baby Jesus. We give gifts to our children and each other. The gifts may be small or large, practical or fun, but they all represent the love and sacrifice that went into the gifts we give.
Jesus was, and is, God’s greatest gift to us. He continues to give us gifts through his Holy Spirit. As we fill our stockings and give our gifts this year I pray that we will take the time to remember his gift. “For God so loved the world that he gave…” (John 3:16)
Merry Christmas,
Robin & Joyce Cowin
After I got married I discovered that Christmas Stockings were a big deal in some homes. Joyce’s family used specially made stockings. They were shaped liked stockings but much larger and decorated for Christmas. In them we found new socks, (I always found it humorous that there were socks in my stocking!), and there were always fun things like pencils, toys, and snack food.
Joyce and I have carried on her family’s tradition. Every year before the presents can be opened we look inside the “stockings.” The actual decorative stockings hang in the living room. In their place we fill gift bags with goodies that the kids and grandkids always look forward to. Some things are practical, like new socks, and there are always fun surprises that we pick out especially for each person.
They say the tradition of Christmas Stockings goes all the way back the St. Nick himself. The original Nicholas was a fourth century Christian who became a lay preacher and because of his extraordinary devotion eventually became the Bishop of Myra, in modern day Turkey. As the story goes, he heard of a man with three daughters who was so poor he could not afford dowries so they could be married. Nicholas wanted to help but knew the man was too proud to accept charity so he walked by his house and threw three gold coins in the window. As it happened, the girls’ stockings were hanging by the fire to dry and by a miracle the coins landed in the stockings. The girls could get married and a legend was born.
Christmas has been a time of gift giving from the beginning. The wise men from the east brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to honor the baby Jesus. We give gifts to our children and each other. The gifts may be small or large, practical or fun, but they all represent the love and sacrifice that went into the gifts we give.
Jesus was, and is, God’s greatest gift to us. He continues to give us gifts through his Holy Spirit. As we fill our stockings and give our gifts this year I pray that we will take the time to remember his gift. “For God so loved the world that he gave…” (John 3:16)
Merry Christmas,
Robin & Joyce Cowin
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Ready for Winter
With fall in full force I have been giving some thought to winterizing. I have already winterized most things around my house. The hoses have been drained and the lawn mower is stored. I need more firewood and I still have a few things to take care of but for the most part I am ready for winter.
As I was making my mental list for winter I remembered a time in college when I was asked to help with a winterizing job. A friend of a friend had an opportunity to make some money winterizing greenhouses in the area. He covered them with plastic sheeting that helped protect the glass-covered houses from ice and snow. It seemed like an easy way to make a few bucks so I agreed to help.
The job involved unfolding the plastic on top of the greenhouse and tacking it down at the eaves. It was cold and windy and the plastic was uncooperative. He needed someone light and agile to go to the center of the roof and help with the plastic. He had asked me to do it. It seemed easy enough until I got to the middle and realized that there was no place to put my feet, surrounded by glass, and pushed around by the wind. The sound of cracking glass was unmistakable.
We heard him groan and we all worked faster to get the job done and get off the roof before someone fell through it. When he counted the cracked panes later he said that we would all have to share from our profit to cover the cost. I could see how much this pained him so I volunteered my profit to pay for the glass. He accepted my offer and I later found out that the homeowner was very understanding. He also admitted that he should not have attempted the job with the wind blowing like it was that night. So I ended up being the only one who did not make any money.
Preparing for change costs. Change happens to us often. We experience changes at work, in our families, with our relationships, and the world around us is always changing. We also go through changes at Church. We have to constantly be on our guard against the blowing winds of change and adjust our balance to minimize the cost. But no matter what we do there is always a cost involved.
Jesus often called us to count the cost. It was never a question of whether or not there would be a cost to following Him. He called us to always be ready to make sacrifices. He also promised great rewards for those sacrifices.
He said, “And everyone who has left houses, brothers or sisters, father or mother, children, or fields because of My name will receive 100 times more and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29 HCSB)
Obeying Jesus costs us and those around us. We may not see the rewards in this life but we gladly pay the cost because of who made the promise. We cannot stop change. We can follow the one who will lead us through it.
Bro. Robin
As I was making my mental list for winter I remembered a time in college when I was asked to help with a winterizing job. A friend of a friend had an opportunity to make some money winterizing greenhouses in the area. He covered them with plastic sheeting that helped protect the glass-covered houses from ice and snow. It seemed like an easy way to make a few bucks so I agreed to help.
The job involved unfolding the plastic on top of the greenhouse and tacking it down at the eaves. It was cold and windy and the plastic was uncooperative. He needed someone light and agile to go to the center of the roof and help with the plastic. He had asked me to do it. It seemed easy enough until I got to the middle and realized that there was no place to put my feet, surrounded by glass, and pushed around by the wind. The sound of cracking glass was unmistakable.
We heard him groan and we all worked faster to get the job done and get off the roof before someone fell through it. When he counted the cracked panes later he said that we would all have to share from our profit to cover the cost. I could see how much this pained him so I volunteered my profit to pay for the glass. He accepted my offer and I later found out that the homeowner was very understanding. He also admitted that he should not have attempted the job with the wind blowing like it was that night. So I ended up being the only one who did not make any money.
Preparing for change costs. Change happens to us often. We experience changes at work, in our families, with our relationships, and the world around us is always changing. We also go through changes at Church. We have to constantly be on our guard against the blowing winds of change and adjust our balance to minimize the cost. But no matter what we do there is always a cost involved.
Jesus often called us to count the cost. It was never a question of whether or not there would be a cost to following Him. He called us to always be ready to make sacrifices. He also promised great rewards for those sacrifices.
He said, “And everyone who has left houses, brothers or sisters, father or mother, children, or fields because of My name will receive 100 times more and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29 HCSB)
Obeying Jesus costs us and those around us. We may not see the rewards in this life but we gladly pay the cost because of who made the promise. We cannot stop change. We can follow the one who will lead us through it.
Bro. Robin
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Fire
Fire can warm us and feed us. A warm stove can be the center of a home and represent the warm memories we have growing up. It can also be a problem when it gets out of control. The ability to make and control fire gives us an edge when it comes to survival in this world.
Starting a fire in my fireplace takes skill and patience. The end result is a warm and cozy living room. In addition to the fireplace I also have an outdoor grill. I like to grill all kinds of food when the family gets together. Last year I built an outdoor fire pit for when the weather gets cold. We have already used it once this year for s’mores with the grandkids.
The three grandsons were home with me when I was ready to light the fire pit. I had recently bought a fire starter that could be used for camping. It was a metal stick with magnesium on one side and flint steel on the other. I wanted to show it to the grandkids so I had them gathering sticks and dry grass. I shaved of some magnesium and then lit the metal shavings with sparks made by striking the steel. We then lit a small pile of dry grass and soon had a fire going.
In their eagerness, the boys began piling on more grass but it was green grass this time and they accidently put the fire out. We started the fire again with dry grass and twigs and soon we had a good bed of coals. We pulled out the marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers and began to enjoy an evening of roasted marshmallows and s’mores. The boys said later that it was the best evening ever. For boys there is nothing better than the combination of fire and sweets.
Paul told Timothy to, “keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6 HCSB) In the Old Testament a pillar of fire led the Children of Israel by night. Jeremiah said that if he could not speak in God’s name, “…there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones.” (20:9) John the Baptist said that Jesus would, “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16) When the Holy Spirit was given to us they observed that it looked like “flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them.” (Acts 2:3)
The Holy Spirit is compared to fire throughout the Bible. Like fire, the Spirit requires fuel and the freedom to burn. The Spirit, like a fire, can be quenched when we insist on doing things our way. The big difference is that a fire out of control is dangerous to our lives. When the Holy Spirit gets out of our control God is free to burn away everything that is not like Him. He wants us to supply fuel of our lives surrendered to Him and keep the fire stirred by obedience to His word. Then He will keep us fed and warm and give us the power to do His will.
Bro. Robin
Starting a fire in my fireplace takes skill and patience. The end result is a warm and cozy living room. In addition to the fireplace I also have an outdoor grill. I like to grill all kinds of food when the family gets together. Last year I built an outdoor fire pit for when the weather gets cold. We have already used it once this year for s’mores with the grandkids.
The three grandsons were home with me when I was ready to light the fire pit. I had recently bought a fire starter that could be used for camping. It was a metal stick with magnesium on one side and flint steel on the other. I wanted to show it to the grandkids so I had them gathering sticks and dry grass. I shaved of some magnesium and then lit the metal shavings with sparks made by striking the steel. We then lit a small pile of dry grass and soon had a fire going.
In their eagerness, the boys began piling on more grass but it was green grass this time and they accidently put the fire out. We started the fire again with dry grass and twigs and soon we had a good bed of coals. We pulled out the marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers and began to enjoy an evening of roasted marshmallows and s’mores. The boys said later that it was the best evening ever. For boys there is nothing better than the combination of fire and sweets.
Paul told Timothy to, “keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6 HCSB) In the Old Testament a pillar of fire led the Children of Israel by night. Jeremiah said that if he could not speak in God’s name, “…there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones.” (20:9) John the Baptist said that Jesus would, “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16) When the Holy Spirit was given to us they observed that it looked like “flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them.” (Acts 2:3)
The Holy Spirit is compared to fire throughout the Bible. Like fire, the Spirit requires fuel and the freedom to burn. The Spirit, like a fire, can be quenched when we insist on doing things our way. The big difference is that a fire out of control is dangerous to our lives. When the Holy Spirit gets out of our control God is free to burn away everything that is not like Him. He wants us to supply fuel of our lives surrendered to Him and keep the fire stirred by obedience to His word. Then He will keep us fed and warm and give us the power to do His will.
Bro. Robin
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Clear Waters
I stood on a bluff overlooking two streams of water as they merged into one a hundred feet below me. It was an amazing view both beautiful and dangerous at the same time.
It had been raining before we got there and we canoed all day in rain. The river had been rising all day and the canoeing got exciting with the high water producing challenging rapids. The danger kept other boaters away and we seemed to have the river to ourselves. We were exhausted when we made camp early in the afternoon.
Our campsite was a cabin next to a spring that could only be reached by boat. The spring flowed into the river along side a high gray bluff that was covered in green. The bluff overlooking our campsite was too great a temptation as we discussed what the view must be like from the top. We forgot our exhaustion as we climbed to the top and took in the view.
We looked down on the clear spring as it flowed into the muddy water of the rising river. At the intersection the water swirled in confusion as if trying to decide if it would continue on clear like the spring or muddy like the river. But the river was more powerful than the spring and we watched as an ugly transformation took place. The rising brown water of the river began to push its way into the stream of the spring. The spring was constant and was not getting any stronger. It became obvious that the river being fed by the rain would eventually overcome the spring if it continued to rise.
That night the river crested and in a few days it was back to normal. The river had turned muddy because the rain ran over the hills and valleys and brought everything that was loose on the surface into the river. The spring never stopped flowing clear water. After the rain stopped the constant flow of cold clear springs eventually cleared up the water and the river ran clear. Soon, the clear river once again attracted crowds of happy people playing in its water.
Thinking back about that experience I am reminded of the passage in James 3:1, “Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?” No, sweet and bitter water come from two different sources. If they try to merge it will only turn the good water bitter. But when the flow of bitter water is stopped and the sweet water is allowed to continue it will eventually all flow sweet again.
Our relationship with God is our most important relationship. As we draw near to him, the source of all that is holy and good, He clears up the dark places in our life. James 4:18 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
Robin
It had been raining before we got there and we canoed all day in rain. The river had been rising all day and the canoeing got exciting with the high water producing challenging rapids. The danger kept other boaters away and we seemed to have the river to ourselves. We were exhausted when we made camp early in the afternoon.
Our campsite was a cabin next to a spring that could only be reached by boat. The spring flowed into the river along side a high gray bluff that was covered in green. The bluff overlooking our campsite was too great a temptation as we discussed what the view must be like from the top. We forgot our exhaustion as we climbed to the top and took in the view.
We looked down on the clear spring as it flowed into the muddy water of the rising river. At the intersection the water swirled in confusion as if trying to decide if it would continue on clear like the spring or muddy like the river. But the river was more powerful than the spring and we watched as an ugly transformation took place. The rising brown water of the river began to push its way into the stream of the spring. The spring was constant and was not getting any stronger. It became obvious that the river being fed by the rain would eventually overcome the spring if it continued to rise.
That night the river crested and in a few days it was back to normal. The river had turned muddy because the rain ran over the hills and valleys and brought everything that was loose on the surface into the river. The spring never stopped flowing clear water. After the rain stopped the constant flow of cold clear springs eventually cleared up the water and the river ran clear. Soon, the clear river once again attracted crowds of happy people playing in its water.
Thinking back about that experience I am reminded of the passage in James 3:1, “Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?” No, sweet and bitter water come from two different sources. If they try to merge it will only turn the good water bitter. But when the flow of bitter water is stopped and the sweet water is allowed to continue it will eventually all flow sweet again.
Our relationship with God is our most important relationship. As we draw near to him, the source of all that is holy and good, He clears up the dark places in our life. James 4:18 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
Robin
Monday, December 12, 2011
Weeds
I had yard work chores in my Dad’s yard as I was growing up. But, I did not know the responsibility of my own yard until I was pastoring my first church and we were given a parsonage to live in. I soon found out that there was more to taking care of a yard than just mowing the grass.
One year I had a great crop of weeds. They were prickly and tall with a tough stem. I first tried to handle them like everything else in the yard. I mowed them all down. The weeds, however, grew much faster than the grass and mowing also seemed to encourage them to multiply.
As my problem grew so did my determination. I grabbed a bucket and I pulled them all out. Well, I pulled anyway. Some of them came out roots and all but most of them only came out level with the hard soil. Immediately after the next rain they were back with a vengeance and had multiplied again. They also looked taller as if taunting me with my failure.
I decided to try again. This time I grabbed a hand spade with my bucket. The soil was softer because of the rain. I meticulously removed each weed with the root and any weed that broke off I used the spade and dug out the root.
I actually had a neighbor who drove by and rolled down the window to tell me that will still never work. Every yard in the neighborhood had the same problem and we were just going to have to wait until winter and used weed and feed then, in her opinion.
To everyone’s surprise, including my own, the weeds stayed gone this time. Before the next spring I followed advice and used a high quality fertilizer. That year I had the best yard on the block. I also used the same fertilizer on the Churchyard and saw the same result there.
Remembering that experience always reminds me of the warning in Hebrew 12:14-15: “Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness – without it no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many” God’s word is like that spade, digging out the root of bitterness. Pursuing a course that is opposite of peace produces a root of bitterness that leads to trouble. Peace and holiness go together. Peace and holiness both have to be pursued. You cannot have one without the other.
An unwanted root has to be removed completely or it will continue to grow back and multiply. The key to peace is forgiveness, which is also the key to removing the root of bitterness. Forgiveness should be followed up with holiness to keep the root from returning later. Peace, forgiveness, and holiness are personal pursuits that are part of a healthy spiritual life of a Christian. We cannot do this by ourselves but we can do all things through Christ.
Bro. Robin
One year I had a great crop of weeds. They were prickly and tall with a tough stem. I first tried to handle them like everything else in the yard. I mowed them all down. The weeds, however, grew much faster than the grass and mowing also seemed to encourage them to multiply.
As my problem grew so did my determination. I grabbed a bucket and I pulled them all out. Well, I pulled anyway. Some of them came out roots and all but most of them only came out level with the hard soil. Immediately after the next rain they were back with a vengeance and had multiplied again. They also looked taller as if taunting me with my failure.
I decided to try again. This time I grabbed a hand spade with my bucket. The soil was softer because of the rain. I meticulously removed each weed with the root and any weed that broke off I used the spade and dug out the root.
I actually had a neighbor who drove by and rolled down the window to tell me that will still never work. Every yard in the neighborhood had the same problem and we were just going to have to wait until winter and used weed and feed then, in her opinion.
To everyone’s surprise, including my own, the weeds stayed gone this time. Before the next spring I followed advice and used a high quality fertilizer. That year I had the best yard on the block. I also used the same fertilizer on the Churchyard and saw the same result there.
Remembering that experience always reminds me of the warning in Hebrew 12:14-15: “Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness – without it no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many” God’s word is like that spade, digging out the root of bitterness. Pursuing a course that is opposite of peace produces a root of bitterness that leads to trouble. Peace and holiness go together. Peace and holiness both have to be pursued. You cannot have one without the other.
An unwanted root has to be removed completely or it will continue to grow back and multiply. The key to peace is forgiveness, which is also the key to removing the root of bitterness. Forgiveness should be followed up with holiness to keep the root from returning later. Peace, forgiveness, and holiness are personal pursuits that are part of a healthy spiritual life of a Christian. We cannot do this by ourselves but we can do all things through Christ.
Bro. Robin
Saturday, November 12, 2011
The Checklist
Our drive to church every Sunday included as many rituals as the service. Mom would turn around and say, “Let me see you.” Then, a flowered handkerchief was first touched to her tongue and then to my face to scrub off whatever remained of breakfast. Then, I was handed an envelope and a pencil and began to check off the boxes.
Sunday School? That’s where we were going so I checked off the box. Offering? Mom handed me a dime and I checked off the box. Lesson studied? I picked up my quarterly, scanned the lesson, and checked off the box. Attending worship? No need to ask, everyone who went to Sunday school also stayed for worship. Bible brought? Always, the Bible was a precious book and we learned early to take care of it and take it to church. When I had all the boxes checked I added up 100%.
I got my first education in responsibility at church. As soon as I was able I was responsible for getting up and getting dressed for church every Sunday morning. We also went Sunday night and Wednesday night. Sunday morning had the checklist, Sunday night there were parts to present in Training Union, and Wednesday was Royal Ambassadors with books to complete for pins and prizes. I never questioned whether or not we did these things. Even when I was too sick to go to school I don’t remember ever being too sick to be allowed to stay home from church.
I read my lesson to check it off the list. I soon began to look forward to reading the lesson, not because of the list, but because of the things I was beginning to learn. I could attend worship for the points but in order to worship I had to participate. Bringing my bible was a responsibility but reading my Bible developed my relationship with God, who wrote it. In time I came to realize that getting 100% was not as important as giving 100%.
What’s on your list? Are there things you are doing just to check off the list and you hope one day God will pat you on the back and say, “Well done?” Paul said, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift not from works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9 hcsb)
Read the Bible everyday and you will discover the joy and comfort of hearing God speak. Come to worship and experience His presence. Participate in small group studies, like Sunday School, and learn from others who are learning just like you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)
Robin
Sunday School? That’s where we were going so I checked off the box. Offering? Mom handed me a dime and I checked off the box. Lesson studied? I picked up my quarterly, scanned the lesson, and checked off the box. Attending worship? No need to ask, everyone who went to Sunday school also stayed for worship. Bible brought? Always, the Bible was a precious book and we learned early to take care of it and take it to church. When I had all the boxes checked I added up 100%.
I got my first education in responsibility at church. As soon as I was able I was responsible for getting up and getting dressed for church every Sunday morning. We also went Sunday night and Wednesday night. Sunday morning had the checklist, Sunday night there were parts to present in Training Union, and Wednesday was Royal Ambassadors with books to complete for pins and prizes. I never questioned whether or not we did these things. Even when I was too sick to go to school I don’t remember ever being too sick to be allowed to stay home from church.
I read my lesson to check it off the list. I soon began to look forward to reading the lesson, not because of the list, but because of the things I was beginning to learn. I could attend worship for the points but in order to worship I had to participate. Bringing my bible was a responsibility but reading my Bible developed my relationship with God, who wrote it. In time I came to realize that getting 100% was not as important as giving 100%.
What’s on your list? Are there things you are doing just to check off the list and you hope one day God will pat you on the back and say, “Well done?” Paul said, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift not from works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9 hcsb)
Read the Bible everyday and you will discover the joy and comfort of hearing God speak. Come to worship and experience His presence. Participate in small group studies, like Sunday School, and learn from others who are learning just like you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)
Robin
Friday, November 11, 2011
Consequences
My first job in High School was as a lifeguard at a Baptist camp. I scanned the water looking for signs of distress that I had been trained to identify. When I saw someone who needed help I used my training and skill to rescue him or her. Over that summer I rescued many who were thankful that I knew what to do.
I did not know when I took the job that it also required me to help with maintenance duties around the camp. I had to mow the grass daily, which I enjoyed, and clean the considerable number of restrooms every morning, which I did not enjoy. In fact, I had never cleaned a restroom in my life and had to be shown how to do it. I know I did a poor job and worked hard to improve. At the end of the week, no matter how good or poor I had done, I still received the same pay that we had agreed upon.
The custodian at the camp taught me many lessons. One of the most valuable came unexpectedly. He reserved the mowing of one field for himself and had cut the grass in a pattern that left long rows of cut grass that could easily be raked. One night some of us on the staff decided to have fun throwing the piles of grass at each other. The next morning he called us in and handed us rakes. I learned that there were consequences for my actions. I was paid for my disobedience just as I was paid at the end of the week for my work.
Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) Paul compares sin to having a job. No matter how good or poor you do the wage is still the same, death. Salvation, on the other hand, is a gift, not a job. Jesus dove in to rescue us in our distress. His gift of life gives us freedom from sin and power to do right. He is working in us to turn our freedom into holiness.
Bro. Robin
I did not know when I took the job that it also required me to help with maintenance duties around the camp. I had to mow the grass daily, which I enjoyed, and clean the considerable number of restrooms every morning, which I did not enjoy. In fact, I had never cleaned a restroom in my life and had to be shown how to do it. I know I did a poor job and worked hard to improve. At the end of the week, no matter how good or poor I had done, I still received the same pay that we had agreed upon.
The custodian at the camp taught me many lessons. One of the most valuable came unexpectedly. He reserved the mowing of one field for himself and had cut the grass in a pattern that left long rows of cut grass that could easily be raked. One night some of us on the staff decided to have fun throwing the piles of grass at each other. The next morning he called us in and handed us rakes. I learned that there were consequences for my actions. I was paid for my disobedience just as I was paid at the end of the week for my work.
Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) Paul compares sin to having a job. No matter how good or poor you do the wage is still the same, death. Salvation, on the other hand, is a gift, not a job. Jesus dove in to rescue us in our distress. His gift of life gives us freedom from sin and power to do right. He is working in us to turn our freedom into holiness.
Bro. Robin
Friday, August 12, 2011
Mangos
We were trying to cool off in the warm tropical afternoon by soaking in the local swimming hole. Our mission to the Dominican Republic had occupied our morning with Vacation Bible School and we were all ready for a break. A waterfall cascaded thirty feet or more feet into a pool that a few locals knew about, including Daniel who grew up here. He was standing on the bank and was now holding a brown bag I had not noticed before. He reached in and pulled out a fresh mango and tossed it to me.
I thought I knew how to eat a mango and it has always required a knife. I must have had a questioning look on my face as I held it up and looked at Daniel. He carried another mango with him back into the water and then said, “Watch.” He bit into the mango and began pealing it with his teeth. Mangos can be messy but there was no need to worry about that surrounded by flowing water. I followed his lead and found it to be the most delicious mango I had ever eaten. Not only that, I found that it was fun to eat a mango the way the natives did.
It always amazes me how something as small as eating a mango or sharing a meal can help you relate to someone. Being able to relate can prepare you for sharing the gospel. When I talk to children I sit on the floor and get at their eyelevel. That helps them see me and helps me see them where they are. When I meet someone new I want to know what he or she likes. If I can find a way to identify with them it will help me communicate the gospel. It is not enough to be heard we also need to be understood.
Lottie Moon was criticized in her day for dressing in Chinese attire. Yet, she reached the people and today we remember her for being a visionary as well as a missionary. Paul said, “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.” (1 Cor. 9:22, HCSB)
Look around you and see if you can discover new ways to relate to the people you meet. What can we do, what changes can we make that will help us present the gospel to those who need to hear and understand? Are we willing to become all things to all people for the gospel?
Bro. Robin
I thought I knew how to eat a mango and it has always required a knife. I must have had a questioning look on my face as I held it up and looked at Daniel. He carried another mango with him back into the water and then said, “Watch.” He bit into the mango and began pealing it with his teeth. Mangos can be messy but there was no need to worry about that surrounded by flowing water. I followed his lead and found it to be the most delicious mango I had ever eaten. Not only that, I found that it was fun to eat a mango the way the natives did.
It always amazes me how something as small as eating a mango or sharing a meal can help you relate to someone. Being able to relate can prepare you for sharing the gospel. When I talk to children I sit on the floor and get at their eyelevel. That helps them see me and helps me see them where they are. When I meet someone new I want to know what he or she likes. If I can find a way to identify with them it will help me communicate the gospel. It is not enough to be heard we also need to be understood.
Lottie Moon was criticized in her day for dressing in Chinese attire. Yet, she reached the people and today we remember her for being a visionary as well as a missionary. Paul said, “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.” (1 Cor. 9:22, HCSB)
Look around you and see if you can discover new ways to relate to the people you meet. What can we do, what changes can we make that will help us present the gospel to those who need to hear and understand? Are we willing to become all things to all people for the gospel?
Bro. Robin
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Angel
As we flew into New York City the Statue of Liberty greeted us off the left side of our plane. For a moment we were so captured by the sight that we put aside the thought that our next flight was only an hour away and we would be very pressed for time. There had been a medical emergency on board and we would have to wait for paramedics before we could leave the plane. By the time we walked out we now had forty-five minutes.
As we entered the airport we looked for directions. I turned left, then right, and spotted a man in a suit wearing official looking badges. I walked up to him.
“Excuse me, can you tell me the fastest way to our next flight?” I showed him my boarding pass.
“Uh, you’re never going to make that.” He looked behind me and saw the rest of our group. “You need to follow me. How many are in your group?”
“Seven,” I said, as we followed him at a fast pace to a door marked AUTHORIZED PERSONELL ONLY.
“You are going to have to stay close together. We only have a few seconds before an alarm sounds so we need to all go in together.” He swiped his key card and we followed him down a stairway to another door that let us out on the tarmac. Outside there was a bus parked that he loaded us on and then got in the driver’s seat. “You asked the right person.” He said.
“This was God,” I replied. “We are on a mission trip and God is taking care of us.” He laughed in agreement as he drove us around the airport and stopped at another door.
“We have to stay together just like last time.” He swiped his card and held the door as we all ran up the stairs and opened a door into the airport.
We found ourselves standing by our gate as the plane was being loaded. We made it by the grace of God and the help of an “angel.” He did not follow us up the stairs and we never saw him again. We gave him our thanks many times as he escorted us. We debated whether he was a real supernatural angel or just a man God used as one. I suppose it doesn’t matter. There were too many factors for this to be coincidence. God was there taking care of us, getting us to our fight to go on mission for him.
We saw God move many times on our Mission to the Dominican Republic. We give him the glory for eight souls saved, four churches ministered to, well over a hundred children and youth in three days of Vacation Bible School, and countless lives touched with the Gospel, including our own. Hebrews 4:12 begins, “For the word of God is living and active…” Sometimes we get to experience his word.
Bro. Robin
As we entered the airport we looked for directions. I turned left, then right, and spotted a man in a suit wearing official looking badges. I walked up to him.
“Excuse me, can you tell me the fastest way to our next flight?” I showed him my boarding pass.
“Uh, you’re never going to make that.” He looked behind me and saw the rest of our group. “You need to follow me. How many are in your group?”
“Seven,” I said, as we followed him at a fast pace to a door marked AUTHORIZED PERSONELL ONLY.
“You are going to have to stay close together. We only have a few seconds before an alarm sounds so we need to all go in together.” He swiped his key card and we followed him down a stairway to another door that let us out on the tarmac. Outside there was a bus parked that he loaded us on and then got in the driver’s seat. “You asked the right person.” He said.
“This was God,” I replied. “We are on a mission trip and God is taking care of us.” He laughed in agreement as he drove us around the airport and stopped at another door.
“We have to stay together just like last time.” He swiped his card and held the door as we all ran up the stairs and opened a door into the airport.
We found ourselves standing by our gate as the plane was being loaded. We made it by the grace of God and the help of an “angel.” He did not follow us up the stairs and we never saw him again. We gave him our thanks many times as he escorted us. We debated whether he was a real supernatural angel or just a man God used as one. I suppose it doesn’t matter. There were too many factors for this to be coincidence. God was there taking care of us, getting us to our fight to go on mission for him.
We saw God move many times on our Mission to the Dominican Republic. We give him the glory for eight souls saved, four churches ministered to, well over a hundred children and youth in three days of Vacation Bible School, and countless lives touched with the Gospel, including our own. Hebrews 4:12 begins, “For the word of God is living and active…” Sometimes we get to experience his word.
Bro. Robin
Packing
Whenever I get ready for a mission trip it is hard to think of anything but what I need to pack. I make my lists, pile everything on the floor, pack it all in, then start pulling out those things I don’t really need. It is all too easy to over pack and over think the details.
I remember some of the things we have packed on mission trips. One year we took oatmeal cream pies. By the time we took them out they were mashed so flat we referred to them as crepes. We knew cookies would never survive the trip so Joyce made us energy balls out of peanut butter, wheat germ, and other things. They mashed together and became cubes but were still very tasty. Our driver could not get enough of them!
I always tell team members to bring old clothes to give away. One year we were constantly bugged by a craft dealer who tried every day to sell us his wares. We figured out he liked to barter and many of us traded our old clothes for some nice souvenirs. Everyone was happy.
Packing can be a good spiritual exercise. It forces us to prioritize. You are limited by space and guided by the activities that are planned. We Americans have too much stuff. We have a hard time deciding what to take to go share the gospel with people who are blessed if they have a change of clothes.
When Paul was in prison he wrote to Timothy and asked for three things. “When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.” (2 Timothy 4:13 ESV) He wanted a warm coat, His bible, and his personal notes. Very likely he was arrested with only the clothes on his back. These were his few most important possessions.
I think I need more than that to ride comfortably on an airplane. I look at my carry-on pile and I am with Paul for about a second. I see my Bible, journal, and passport. Then I also see a pillow, earplugs, medicine, flashlight, phone, and a laptop. Okay, I’m just getting started. But what do I really need besides the first three? What do you really need? All we really need is Jesus. That is why we go.
Bro. Robin
I remember some of the things we have packed on mission trips. One year we took oatmeal cream pies. By the time we took them out they were mashed so flat we referred to them as crepes. We knew cookies would never survive the trip so Joyce made us energy balls out of peanut butter, wheat germ, and other things. They mashed together and became cubes but were still very tasty. Our driver could not get enough of them!
I always tell team members to bring old clothes to give away. One year we were constantly bugged by a craft dealer who tried every day to sell us his wares. We figured out he liked to barter and many of us traded our old clothes for some nice souvenirs. Everyone was happy.
Packing can be a good spiritual exercise. It forces us to prioritize. You are limited by space and guided by the activities that are planned. We Americans have too much stuff. We have a hard time deciding what to take to go share the gospel with people who are blessed if they have a change of clothes.
When Paul was in prison he wrote to Timothy and asked for three things. “When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.” (2 Timothy 4:13 ESV) He wanted a warm coat, His bible, and his personal notes. Very likely he was arrested with only the clothes on his back. These were his few most important possessions.
I think I need more than that to ride comfortably on an airplane. I look at my carry-on pile and I am with Paul for about a second. I see my Bible, journal, and passport. Then I also see a pillow, earplugs, medicine, flashlight, phone, and a laptop. Okay, I’m just getting started. But what do I really need besides the first three? What do you really need? All we really need is Jesus. That is why we go.
Bro. Robin
Monday, July 04, 2011
Fireworks
When we were kids we never went to a fireworks display. We always made our own. We pulled out what money we thought we could afford to spend and headed for the fireworks stand. We bought a variety of fireworks that we thought Mom would like to see. Then we spent the rest of the money on firecrackers, cherry bombs, bottle rockets and a few roman candles.
We thought the instructions on the fireworks were funny. We have all read them. “Lay on ground, light, run away.” Are you kidding? We did it a little different. We thought it was more fun to light, throw at friend, roll on ground laughing. Of course, the night always ended the same way. We kept lighting fireworks until someone got hurt. Then we would go home saying next time we will pay more attention to the instructions. Fortunately there were no serious injuries.
Fireworks are fun and we use them to celebrate great events. Independence day, the fourth of July, is one of those great events for us. We enjoy sitting outside at the park with kids and grandkids watching the town fireworks display.
For some people fireworks on the Fourth remind them of the sights and sounds of battle and the price that was paid for our freedom. For others it is the excitement of celebrating our freedom with noise and lights. We should also remember that the freedom we have to assemble and watch the display is the same freedom that guarantees our freedom to worship God as we want. Fireworks are a bold statement that we enjoy our freedoms loudly and deliberately.
Paul said to the Corinthians “…Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Cor. 3:17). We have the freedom to be still and know God. We have the freedom to make noise about it. Praise God for our freedom, with a joyful noise!
Bro. Robin
We thought the instructions on the fireworks were funny. We have all read them. “Lay on ground, light, run away.” Are you kidding? We did it a little different. We thought it was more fun to light, throw at friend, roll on ground laughing. Of course, the night always ended the same way. We kept lighting fireworks until someone got hurt. Then we would go home saying next time we will pay more attention to the instructions. Fortunately there were no serious injuries.
Fireworks are fun and we use them to celebrate great events. Independence day, the fourth of July, is one of those great events for us. We enjoy sitting outside at the park with kids and grandkids watching the town fireworks display.
For some people fireworks on the Fourth remind them of the sights and sounds of battle and the price that was paid for our freedom. For others it is the excitement of celebrating our freedom with noise and lights. We should also remember that the freedom we have to assemble and watch the display is the same freedom that guarantees our freedom to worship God as we want. Fireworks are a bold statement that we enjoy our freedoms loudly and deliberately.
Paul said to the Corinthians “…Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Cor. 3:17). We have the freedom to be still and know God. We have the freedom to make noise about it. Praise God for our freedom, with a joyful noise!
Bro. Robin
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