Unfinished Business!

 

These are the doors that lead to our combination pantry\laundry\utility room. We've lived here for six years with no door, and(like a lot of other things)I never got around to putting it together until now. I think I am a procrastinator(maybe I should look this up for correct spelling and definition - nah, I can do that later), not all the time, but when I am I do it well! Today's memorial service was a good one! It had all the earmarks of a horrible personal experience, but God somehow turned that around and made everything come out as it was supposed to. His timing is always so much better than mine, I don't know why I spend any time worrying, but I do. This evening we gathered at the home of the gentleman we remembered today. Mostly family, and my wife and I. The food was excellent and the fellowship fine. Around 7:00 I was exploring the workshop where Jack did his relaxation with a host of woodworking tools. In the lathe there is a bowl that he was working on. As I examined the piece that is near completion one of his great grandsons came out to talk with me. He was very curious about me and opened our conversation with, "You're an indian, aren't you?" That always leaves me in a really good mood so I entertained the 11 year old lad. Soon we were talking about the various tools and how they functioned in the shop. Jack was 83 years old and his shop is a vast storeroom of history when it comes to tools. Andrew and I talked of his home in San Diego and of his school, and a lot about what his great grand dad did out in the shop. What struck me most deeply was that here I was with a lad that hardly knew Jack at all, but he was drawn to asking question after question about the "things" Jack did. We had about 20 minutes out there together, and it was me that came away with the greater blessing. The unfinished bowl made a statement that I will not forget. None of us knows when or how we are going to pass from this life(that would be scary)but we have to realize at some point that we are going to leave some stuff unfinished. Some of those things will be trivial matters, but some of them will be of immense importance to someone close to us. Several times these past few days with the family I have heard mention of concern over the state of Jack's soul, which I have no doubts about myself. He is with our Lord tonight. The things that were really important Jack took care of very well. The bowl may get finished by someone else, but there are decisions that only you and I can make. Things which we can only do ourselves, and it is best we don't put them off until it is too late. Therefore, it is really important that we let the people we love know that we love them. Finish the things as much as possible that someone else can't do. Leave this world with a sense of peace concerning your passing. I need every day to make sure that I haven't neglected to share my faith with anyone who is in need of assurance and forgiveness. I suppose compared to these thoughts the bowl becomes less significant, but only if another does not take up the tools to complete the work we have begun. That's how our faith works! God teaches us so that we may teach others. That's how it has been for 2000 plus years living in the light of our Savior, Christ. God bless, Preacher. 

Food, Family, Friends

They needn't be in the order I placed them tonight in the title, but these are very important elements when healing loss of a personal nature. On our recent journey to the south we encountered a family owned restaurant where the bread is so good it has to be tasted to be believed. Fun the like of which I haven't had in an eating establishment for a long time is the daily fare of the world's one and only(there are three of them now)bun tossing emporiums. Lamberts is a total experience in down home(southern)style hospitality and quisine. It is not the same without great company to enjoy it with, though. Life is also like that, we need to share it with others in causal ways, and intimate ways. Everything from the "best" friends ever to the dearly loved family cannot compare to the love God desires for us to share. I like the sign that tells of "drinking" as an important part of life. I suppose a few years ago I would have seen this as an affirmation of one of my afflictions. Today I see it with a grin and have to laugh when recalling the experiences I've had as a result of drinking the wrong beverages. I still like the thought, but for me it is presently on my "don't do" list. I joined tonight with a family of folks for whom I'll be working a memorial service for tomorrow. Too many reflections to pull together tonight, maybe it has something to do with the number of times I've been down this particular road. Here is a brief assurance....God's healing presence is to be found in the three elements I've chosen for the title. Some of us open quickly to these elements, others hold back until they have to partake of the comfort offered. To each of us it means something different to share this deeply personal journey of grief. If you happen to be a praying person do me a favor tonight, pray for the widows who have lived long and loved well. In the midst of the family, friends, and of course, food, there is an age old battle taking place that will determine life or death for those who continue on. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Bloomings In The Spirit

My wife, Cheryl, calls them "Christmas Cactus." I think we have a white one, too, but it wasn't around in the house when I was taking pictures today. Strange thing about these plants, they only seem to bloom a couple times every year. Neat colors, and not much of a problem to take care of, but they do make an impact on me. Some places where people keep them they refer to these cactus plants as "Easter Cactus, too! That's the thing that impresses me most about them. Like many people I know, they only bloom a few times a year, and then only for a very short while. Christmas and Easter are the times of the year when a lot of the "membership" comes to worship! Most of the year they are out there somewhere doing something, but during these two seasons they feel oddly compelled to visit the rest of us that are there every Sunday! I've only been at 1st B for a few years, but(Thank God)it isn't like some of the churches I've served. When the number of members is up in the hundreds the ranks in attendance twice a year swell greatly. I've never really understood this phenomena. Like the plant, we have these(may I call them "bloomers")who come to visit and are really quite offended if the pastor does not know them. One Sunday a lot of years ago when I was much younger I remember greeting "visitors" warmly during the announcement portion of the Sunday service only to find out later that they were members! I suppose I offended them a great deal! But I'm running in the wrong direction, again. You see, God doesn't have a score card. He is not keeping track of how often you get yourself up on Sunday and go to church(He really doesn't care what you wear when you come, either). What God cares about is us! So much so that He sent His only Son to make the ultimate sacrifice to redeem His people forever. God cares about us all the time, not just when we're sitting in a sanctuary pretending to be deeply(that isn't fair, I know a lot of folks really aren't sleeping)moved by all that is going on. Much of what we do on Sunday mornings is simply a reminder of God's care and provision for each of us. Like the cactus many of us may not bloom but a few times a year, it's up to the rest of us "buds" to be ready to share their colors and their beauty whenever they enter into our immediate surroundings. Tend them and fertilize as needed and pray that they are growing strong and healthy. I guess we're here to help one another grow, and in so doing, we grow, also! It's a beautiful thing to watch the blooms appear, I pray you are watching for them and enjoying them. Maybe they can be encouraged to share their beauty more often, but then, people aren't flowers. Or are they? My Bible does refer to my Savior as the "Rose of Sharon." Maybe there is a corralation here. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Repot, Repot, The End Is Near!

This picture has nothing to do with tonight's blog!!! I just put it out here for my wife so she can see what the inside of my head looks like sometimes. She knows what it's like to live with me, but seeing is believing. This is just a weird stage of growth, kind of like this plant that needs a larger pot. Preacher.

Praying or Preying

"The church is changing," the cry was heard throughout the land. "Faith has taken on new significance in people's lives!" These are sayings from 1800 years ago, 1500 years ago, 1000 years ago, 100 years ago, and yesterday! "In America we have not seen a revival in the past 50 years," one author writes. It seems that most of us that are believers in Christ are in need of revival, or so some would have you believe. Many say that the state of affairs with the church is the very worst that it has ever been, and they will continue to say it, just as they have since the first "reorganization" of the church. It amazes me that there are so many that want to help us. Here we are on the Great American Desert dying in our pews on Sunday morning because we haven't figured out the true way, the "right" way to worship God. And this is not just here, it's everywhere, and it always has been. My personal opinion is that wherever there is a dollar to be earned with religion you will find someone hawking their own personal version of how to worship God. The radio, the TV, the internet; these days if you just gave a dime to every person that would like to help you get closer to your creator you would soon be out of dimes and more than likely still languishing in a state of being "lost." The Bible teaches us that there is "nothing new under the sun." It also admonishes us not to go chasing rainbows and pretty butterflies that someone has caught up in their net(we usually end up being the ones "caught" in the net). The church is ever changing, this is true, but faith is no different today than it was for the disciples of my Savior 2000 years ago. Beware of those who would "pray" for you and "prey" upon you. They are nothing new. These same people were around in the ministry of my Lord. God's grace is free! Forgiveness cannot be purchased again. Once was sufficient. "People are more in need now than ever before," and if you've heard it once you've got to have heard it several times over. "Times have changed, and we need to change with them." When was the last time you heard that one? It would seem in the ecclesiastical world that there are always those who are more than ready and willing to tell you and I what we need, and then follow that up with an estimate of how much we need to contribute to fill that need. The church is not Walmart, but the selling techniques are used in much the same way. The same folks that put out the commercials for Budweiser work in the advertising campaigns for denominations. That's their job, selling! You cannot buy your way into heaven, nor can you purchase a righteous seat in the congregation of the faithful. That fellow on the TV has fifty people working for him to open your envelope, and if you were to walk up to him on the street(if you could get that close to one of those individuals - they have to hire a lot of protectors)you would be more than a little surprised at the person you met. Not everyone is in ministry for the money, in fact very few are really in it for that reason. Faith is now just as it has always been, and there may be new words to sell, programs to participate in, events to attend, and music to hear, but the true sounds of faith are not heard loudly. They are heard in the quiet moments that take us within ourselves and join us to God as we reach out seeking the truth that is there to be found. It's a simple thing. It's a prayer. And that is how close our God is right now to each of us. "The church is changing," the cry was heard. What they don't hear is "faith is the same, yesterday, today, and forever!" In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Warmer Days

 
This is just the beginning of winter on the Great American Desert. I haven't bothered with a coat yet(although I have gotten out some gloves), anything above zero without wind is sweater weather. The snow fell beautifully for a short time today. A "light" dusting for the ground, just enough to keep it looking fresh. Pile up on the interstate involving a semi, schoolbus and a few cars. Nobody seriously injured, but a good reminder for those of us that travel often, the overpasses are particularly tricky when weather conditions are like we have had lately. I give thanks tonight for the summer we had. So much beauty, and so little time. Thanks to my lovely wife we have cactus flowers blooming all over the house. I'll get some pics of them the next few days and see if they perk up your spirit the way they do mine. Some days seem so bleek, and yet there are always opportunities to be found. I've felt much like hibernating lately, but the opportunities knock on the door and call on the phone, once in awhile they pop up on this little 'puter screen, too, and I'm thankful. Every living moment we have is time freely given for us to make choices. We can choose to do nothing(some days I lean this way when it's cold), we can choose to get out there and do something, or we can take a little time to 'DECIDE' what God is calling us to do. I don't mean that we make the decision, what I mean is deciding what He is actually telling us. Prayer is very helpful, but you really can't beat listening to the voice of that spirit that dwells within each of us. Tonight I've been listening, and I love the answers that I have received. It is good to be in the midst of life, even when it's cold. God bless, Preacher. 

Long Ago A Mansion

This home was spotted about six months ago when the weather allowed me to roam freely on the Harleys. Once the trees have leaves this forgotten mansion on the Great American Desert becomes virtually invisible. Today I drove(four wheels unfortunately, the temp was only 16 degrees)the frozen ground and found no obstacles to prevent my intrusion on this sleeping giant. The age of the trees which have begun to push the wrap-around porch out of alignment indicates 75-80 years of disuse. Once warmed by two huge fireplaces and a wood cookstove in the kitchen, this relic now feels like a walkin freezer. I don't know if that would change in warmer seasons, but I may have the opportunity to find out now that I know it is safe to explore. The main staircase has rotted to the point of no return, but the stairs up from the kitchen were in workable condition. Seven bedrooms and immense halls and closets greet the visitor on the second story. Ceilings in excess of 10 feet everywhere, and the door you see standing open on the south side upstairs was to gain access to the porch above the porch. All of the old railings were beautiful, but sadly fallen down and buried in the refuse that collects in places like this. My imagination has a tendency to run wild when I explore and today was no different. This house was so filled with life long ago that even the years cannot still the holidays that were celebrated in grand style. The formal dining room is large enough to seat at least 20 people to dine with appropriate cabinets built into one end large enough to house my entire kitchen. Remnants of wallpaper and paint shared indications of decore commensurate with affluence. The residents were well to do back when the 20s were roaring in the US. The day room opens directly on to the porch on the north side, almost like we would have a deck built on our modern homes. There was one indoor "water closet" upstairs, and another immediately below on the main floor. It seems like I shouldn't go to these places alone, but for the most part I don't know anyone who would care to be there with me. The master bedroom was a true joy to behold. It has two immense closets and a third room on it's north side that was probably for the babies and there must have been a lot of those here. Floors, as always, have to be tested slowly for the bearing of weight. This place has been pushed so hard by the trees that there is hardly an area that doesn't creek and tremble at every footfall. I did happen to think during one heartpounding moment as a bedroom floor began to sag perilously fast over in a walk in closet that someone would surely find the car and investigate, someday! God never deserts me, nor allows me to get into anything I can't get out of, so my prayers of thanks for that watchful angelic presence were winging there way heavenward in a stream of conciousness that keeps me tuned in to my Creator. As I wandered the rooms I pondered the fate of those who dwelled here long ago. Perhaps one day we will have an opportunity to choose what kind of home we would like to have in heaven. I think I'd enjoy one like this! Needs a little fixing here and there, but all in all it has some great stories to tell. God bless, Preacher.