Train Up a Child

Train up a Child 

Wise son – glad father;

Stupid son – sad mother.

Proverbs 10:1 

The dynamics within a family are an absolute mystery to me.  How can a set of children grow up with the same mother and father, the same socio-economic conditions, the same schools, the same playmates, and yet turn out so incredibly different – from each other, from their parents, from the culture in which they were raised.  As parents, we try to pass on to our children our core values, beliefs and faith.  Although some of that “sticks,” some of it does not.  My oldest daughter said to me one time, “Mom, you act as though we didn’t hear what you said.  We heard you clearly, but that does not mean that we agreed with you, or that we believe the same way.”

The temptations that confronted my generation are as nothing compared to what my children faced, and theirs will pale in comparison to what will confront their children.  All we can do as parents is our best.  That sounds woefully inadequate, but it is the honest truth.  We live and teach faith, integrity, and responsibility, then open our hands and let wings take flight.  As we watch our children establish their own lives, our hearts turn to patience, hope and prayer – lots of prayer.

* 

I cast all my cares upon You.

I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet.

And any time I don’t know what to do,

I will cast all my cares upon You.

The Faith We Sing, No. 2215

I've Got This!

I’ve Got This!

If you reason with an arrogant cynic,

you'll get slapped in the face;

confront bad behavior and get a kick in the shins.

So don't waste your time with a scoffer;

all you'll get for your pains is abuse.

Proverbs 9:7-8a

There's nothing like a teenager to put you in your place, with your old-fashioned, fuddy-duddy ways that hold no relevance to the here and now.  I've known students for whom any input from the teacher instantly resulted in a smirk, a quick, negative shake of the head, and the assurance that they knew exactly what they were doing.  No matter that from my perspective, they were headed for imminent disaster.  No, they wanted none of my advice, thank you very much.  I was relegated to the sidelines to watch as their life went from bad to worse to complete meltdown, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

I have learned that, in such circumstances, there is no place for, "I told you so!"  That might make me feel better, but it certainly won't help the situation.  Sometimes all you can do is make it clear that you still care, and that you are still willing to help if needed.  God must feel the same way about me some times when I am insistent upon my own way.  He has grace, wisdom and peace to offer, but they won't do me any good if I am too cock-sure to turn around and humbly accept the gift.

*

Jesus,  You’re the sweetest name of all.

Jesus,  You always hear me when I call.

O Jesus, you pick me up each time I fall,

You’re the sweetest, the sweetest name of all.

He is Our Song, No. 53

Think First!

Think First!

Loose talk has a way of getting picked up and spread around.

Little birds drop the crumbs of your gossip far and wide.

Ecclesiastes 10:20

My father, Clancy, seemed to have a pithy saying for just about every circumstance in life, and he had his own take on the proverb above:  Engage your mind before putting your mouth in gear.  Dad's big mantra was always THINK FIRST.  Never say or do anything until you have taken the time to think it through.

Dad never gossiped.  He never talked about other people behind their backs, never laughed at their peculiarities or their problems, never repeated stories that he heard from another source.  He was raised to respect his fellow men, then spent 38 years in the military reinforcing that idea.  He believed in the chain of command, he supported his fellow airmen, and he was respected by everyone who knew him.

Clancy always taught his children – by word and by example:  to think before they speak, to talk about issues - not people, and to spread kindness everywhere.   

* 

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.

The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. 

Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers,

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 557

Split the Baby??

Split the Baby?? 

I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next door to Sanity;

Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street.

Good Counsel and Common Sense are my characteristics,

Proverbs 8:12 

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in King Solomon's court - the ruler who has been labeled "the wisest man who ever lived."  I definitely would have wanted to be there on the morning that two young mothers brought in a single baby.  Each woman claimed that the other mother rolled over on her baby in the night, smothering it, and then took the remaining baby for their own. Two women claiming to be the mother of one precious infant.  If I had been king, I don't know what I would have done.  Take the women aside and question each one individually?  Talk to the relatives? Canvass the neighbors?  Look for holes in someone's story?  Give the child to a foster family?

Solomon's answer was far different.  He motioned to a guard and called for a sword.  He then instructed the baby to be laid on a table, and for the guard to split the child in half, giving half of the child to each mother.  The court must have been positively electrified, hardly believing that they had heard correctly.  One of the mothers stood there grim-faced, waiting for the blade to fall.  The other mother, however, fell at Solomon's feet and begged that the child be spared and given to the other woman.  Solomon halted the guard, lifted this second mother up from the floor, and handed her the child.  Mother #1 had no love for the child and was willing to have it killed rather than be the loser.  Mother #2’s heart of love was willing to give up her child completely to ensure that he would have a chance at a full and complete life.

In many ways, this story points to the great battle between good and evil.  Satan stands grim-faced, willing that all of us should be sacrificed on the altar of eternal death. Jesus Christ’s great heart of love already paid that price, offering Himself in our place.  He stands with outstretched arms, bidding us come to Him, where we will find hope, rest and peace.

*

Cast your care on Jesus today,

Leave your worry and fear.

Burdens are lifted at Calvary,

Jesus is very near.

Burdens are lifted at Calvary,

Calvary, Calvary,

Burdens are lifted at Calvary.

Jesus is very near.

Hymn of the Family of God, No. 60

 

 

Laughter is Good Medicine

Laughter 

...then our mouth was filled with laughter...

Psalm 126:2

As a bagpiper, Joe played many gigs.  Recently, he was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man.  The deceased had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back country.  As Joe was not familiar with the backwoods, he got lost, and being a typical man, he didn't stop for directions.  He finally arrived an hour late and saw that the funeral guy had evidently gone home and the hearse was nowhere in sight.  There were only the diggers and crew left, and they were eating lunch.

Joe felt really bad and apologized to the men for being late.  He went to the side of the grave and looked down.  The vault lid was already in place.  He didn't know what else to do, so he started playing.  The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around.  Joe played out his heart and soul for this man with no family and friends.  He played like he had never played before.  When Joe began "Amazing Grace," the workers began to cry.  They wept, he wept - they all wept together.

When he finished, Joe packed up his bagpipes and headed for the car.  As he was opening the trunk, he heard one of the workers say, "I've never seen nothin' like that before, and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years!"

*

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,

Down in my heart, down in my heart.

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart,

Down in my heart to stay.

-Camp Song

 

King of Beasts

King of Beasts 

What is sweeter than honey?

And what is stronger than a lion?

Judges 14:18 

One of my favorite Bible stories is Daniel in the lion's den.  It has all the elements of a great tale: good guys, bad guys, a feisty hero, danger, fear, possible death, and fantastic deliverance.  I've always wondered whether the animals simply kept their distance, or if they regarded Daniel as one of their own, coming over to snuggle and keep him warm throughout his long night in the pit.  My imagination sees it clearly:  using the back of a male lion as a pillow, and hugging on to a neighbor cat for warmth.  How ever the animals reacted, Daniel came out of the pit unscathed, which is far more than you can say for the bad guys who were thrown in next.

Lions are one of four big cats of the genus Panthera - cousin to tigers, leopards and jaguars.  A large adult male can weigh upward of 550 pounds - which is a lot of warmth to spread around!!  Lions are considered a vulnerable species, having lost 30-50 percent of their population over the past two decades in Africa.  The male only survives about 10 years in the wild - double that time in captivity.  The male lion is the only cat to have a mane, which makes him look larger and is an excellent intimidation factor in maintaining his status in his pride.

The lion was the symbol of the tribe of Judah in ancient Israel.  In the wonderful Chronicles of Narnia, Jesus is portrayed as Aslan, a magnificent lion who is sacrificed at the Stone Table to save the life of the human, Edmund.   In the book of Revelation, we meet this lion again, as the messenger of God assures John that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the One promised by Jacob, was able to open the sealed book of the future. And behold, there stood a Lamb that had been slain:  Jesus Christ, the world's Redeemer.     

* 

I will sing of my Redeemer and His wondrous love for me.

On the cruel cross He suffered from the curse to set me free.

Sing, O sing of my Redeemer,

With His blood He purchased me.

On the cross He sealed my pardon,

Paid the debt and made me free.

The Celebration Hymnal, No. 516

 

 

Play Ball!

Play Ball! 

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health

and that all may go well with you, even as your

soul is getting along well.

3 John 2

The author of the letters of 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd John is the Apostle John, who also wrote the Gospel of John and the book of Revelation.  He is a first cousin of Jesus, a fisherman, and one of Jesus’ inner circle.  At the beginning of this third letter, addressed to his good friend Gaius, John states his hope that Gaius’ physical health was equal to his spiritual strength.  There is a profound connection between mind, body and soul.  If one is neglected, the other two pay a price. 

We humans have an amazing ability to talk ourselves out of almost anything, including really important areas of personal growth.  When I wake up in the morning, I know that I need to hop out of bed and on to my elliptical machine, but the bed is so warm and my excuses for not going flow so easily.  However, even the polar bear at the Bronx Zoo knows that if he doesn't get out there and play, he’s not going to feel so hot.  At my last visit to the zoo, I watched this fellow play with his ball for quite a while.  He amused himself, he got some good exercise, and he extended his lifeline just a little bit longer.   If a polar bear knows enough to take care of his mind and body, it ought to be a piece of cake for me.    

*

All creatures of my God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing

O praise ye!  Alleluia!

Ye who long pain and sorrow bear

Praise God and on Him cast your care.

O praise ye! O praise ye!

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 62

Cat Bath

Cat Bath  

Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:7

Have you ever tried to bathe a cat?  Furry felines have been a part of my household for as long as I can remember.  I have had garden variety cats and top-dollar ones.  None of them were interested in taking a bath.  I have learned through painful experience to run the water in the bathtub ahead of time, placing several thick towels within easy reach, putting on long rubber gloves covered by long sleeves, then casually picking up the animal and quickly dunking them in the water.  Believe me, he who hesitates is lost!  Some cat baths have been easier than others, but none of them have been what I would call an enjoyable experience.

Imagine my surprise when I spotted my large cat friend above, luxuriating in a pond of water at the Bronx Zoo.  I had absolutely no idea that tigers not only tolerate water, they love it!  This fellow swam, cannonballed, and generally had a marvelous time splashing his fellow cats who were lounging pond-side on the rocks.  It made me want to jump right in with him  - a feat that will never happen this side of heaven. 

There are times when I need washing and I am not too keen for the process.  When I have wandered outside the love and grace of the Father, determined to do my own thing, I inevitably end up making bad moves and worse decisions.  When I am thoroughly stained with the guilt of sin, there is the cool refreshing water of the spirit, mixed with the oil of forgiveness, waiting for me to admit my need and submit to the cleansing process.  Like my tiger friend, I need to cannonball straight into the cleansing fountain of God's love, for He has promised that sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

*

There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains.

Lose all their guilty stains, Loose all their guilty stains.

And sinners plunged beneath that floor

Lose all their guilty stains.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 622

And his name will be...

Zebra??  

Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the

beasts of the field, and all the birds of the air.  He brought them

to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever

the man called each living creature, that was its name.  So the

man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air, and

all the beasts of the field.

Genesis 2:19-20

I've always loved this story in Genesis 2 of Adam naming the animals.  Of course, if you don’t believe in evolution, then this would simply be a fairy tale; but if you do believe in God as the Creator of all things, then it is just possible that God might have delighted in giving Adam this task in His new creation.  If the animals were first separated into groupings, I can see three similar beasts being brought forward for their name.  The first and best of the lot was named "horse."  The second animal was named "ass" or "donkey".   The third?  Well - what in the world are you going to call this horse-like animal with the amazing black stripes?

I would love to have been a fly on the landscape to hear what Adam called this fellow.  The word "zebra" has no known meaning.  The English name of "zebra" dates back to 1600, coming from the Italian "zebra."  Before that, it was a Portuguese word with roots in Congolese.  Prior to that there is a possible Latin connection, but no one knows for sure.  Did Adam himself come up with the term Zebra? 

My mother borrowed my pediatrician's family name for my given name.  I specifically chose a very short, four letter name for my firstborn, in order to cut down on the horrible nicknames that her future classmates could come up with.  Adam had no such familial ancestry or social construct; he was the first of his kind, naming the original members of every species on earth.  In my imagination, I see the two of them - God and Adam - sitting side by side and laughing together as this naming adventure moved forward.  I'm sure that it was a memory that Adam cherished for the rest of his life. 

* 

I sing the goodness of the Lord

That filled the earth with food.

He formed the creatures with His word

And then pronounced them good.

Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed

Where’er I turn my eye;

If I survey the ground I tread,

Or gaze upon the sky.

                       The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 152                          

Promises

Promises 

His divine power has given us everything we need for

life and godliness through out knowledge of Him who

called us by His own glory and goodness.  Through these

He has given us His very great and precious promises...

2 Peter 1:3-4a

Trust can be a very fragile thing - battered and scarred by the tumult of everyday existence.  My familial ties have fashioned me into a woman long on caution and short on basic faith.  I'm "a bird in the hand is better than two in a bush" person and, like Thomas of old, I often need to "see" to believe. 

Peter reminds us that God has already given us everything we need for this life through His glory and goodness.  He has promised that He will never leave us, never forsake us, never give us more than we can bear through His strength.  He promises us wisdom, love, courage, hope and faith.  The fulfillment of those promises rests in His power and grace.  All we need to do is open our hearts to receive them. 

*

O God, You are my God,

And I will ever praise You.

O God, You are my God,

And I will ever praise You.

I will seek you in the morning,

And I will learn to walk in Your ways,

And step by step You’ll lead me,

And I will follow You all of my days.

UMC Worship & Song, No. 3004

Hey Now!

Hey Now!

A nagging spouse is like the drip, drip, drip of a

leaky faucet.  You can't turn it off, and you can't get away from it!

Proverbs 27:15 

A couple of years ago, I went to a local mulch company to get a load of topsoil/compost mix. There were several trucks already clustered around the little office building, and two more turned in just as I was parking.  The tiny counter was already crowded with men, and there were a couple of good ole boys sitting in the window.  I slipped in the door and took a position in the corner behind the doorway. 

One of the men behind the counter was on the phone, talking very loudly, and obviously speaking with his wife.  Apparently the refrigerator had finally quit working, and she had called to give her husband an ear full.  The entire office was involved in the return conversation, with men offering various tips or quips for him to relay to his wife, and a couple of guys poked their heads out of the back room to add their two cents.  Finally the wife had heard enough and the call was terminated.  Plunking down the phone, the fellow loudly pronounced to his male audience, "I tell you what!  You can't tell a woman a *#@! thing!" Raising my voice to be heard above the snickers and growing laughter, I called out "Hey, Now!" 

The sound of a woman's voice shot the gentleman straight up off his chair, just as the men parted like the Red Sea so that he could see me standing there in the corner.  Flushing a bright red, he said, "Well, good afternoon, m'am!  Now what can we get for you today?"  All of the men backed away from the counter, and suddenly I was the most important person in the office as my order was noted, my money was taken, and my little female self was hustled out the door to go get my dirt.  I laughed all the way to the truck.

You don't have to be a husband or wife to be a nag: children, co-workers, and relatives of every stripe can be constant complainers.  Curiously, King Solomon, often tagged as the wisest man who ever lived, failed to provide any solutions for the problem.  He just states the simple fact:  a nagging spouse will drive you nuts!  

*

I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice

To worship You, O my soul, rejoice!

Take joy, my King, in what you hear,

May it be a sweet, sweet song in Your ear.

The Faith We Sing, No. 2068

Basic Essentials

Basic Essentials

Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God's

people.  Warn them before God against pious nitpicking,

which chips away at the faith.  It just wear everyone out.

Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't

be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.

Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk.  Words are not

mere words, you know.  If they're not backed by a godly

life, they accumulate as poison in the soul.

2 Timothy 2:14-16

My former hubby loves to have a theological discussion.  He studies his Bible daily, and always finds points of discussion that he wants to share.  I don’t have any interest in the historical-critical method of biblical interpretation or any other hot topic in the church world.  If his subject is actually from the scriptures, I’m game to debate with him.  We have lots of interesting discussions.  But there are times when he is picking apart grains of theological sand, and I have to ask:  "OK - but what does that have to do with my salvation?"  He will grin sheepishly, shrug, and return to his Bible to look for the "essentials."

I have taught many a Bible class and I can tell you that it is frustrating when a participant tries to hijack the discussion over a piece of minutia he/she has discovered while reading the week's scripture.  There are also those who love to yank the rug out from under the discussion over something that has absolutely nothing to do with the lesson.  

Paul said to Timothy - here are the essentials:  Jesus loves you, Jesus died for your sins, Jesus wants to have a relationship with you, and Jesus will never leave you. [2 Timothy 2:11-13]  Arguments about picky little details do not enhance this big picture.  Make it simple, make it plain, and back up your mouth with a life lived according to what you say you believe.

*

Jesus loves me still today, 

Walking with me on my way,

Wanting as a friend to give

Light and life to all who live.

Yes, Jesus loves me.  Yes, Jesus loves me.

Yes, Jesus loves me – the Bible tells me so.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 191

Thoughts from Country Radio V

Thoughts from Country Radio: 

Long Black Train

Every man is tempted when he is drawn away

by his own lust...

James 1:14

 There's a long black train comin' down the line,

Feeding off the souls that are lost and cryin'.

Rails of sin, only evil remains.

Watch out, brother, for that long black train.

Look to the heaven's, you can look to the sky.

You can find redemption

Staring back into your eyes.

There is protection and there's peace the same:

Burnin' your ticket for that long black train.

There's an engineer on that long black train,

Makin' you wonder if the ride is worth the pain.

He's just a-waitin' on your heart to say:

"Let me ride on that long black train."

Well, I can hear the whistle from a mile away.

It sounds so good, but I must stay away.

That train is a beauty makin' everybody stare,

But its only destination is the middle of nowhere.

But you know there's victory in the Lord, I say -

 Victory in the Lord.

Cling to the Father and His holy name,

And don't go ridin' on that long black train.

-Josh Turner

*

I heard an old, old story how a Savior came from glory,

How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me.

I heard about his groaning, of His precious blood’s atoning,

Then I repented of my sins and won the victory.

O victory in Jesus, my Savior forever!

He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood.

He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.

He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 370

Thoughts from Country Radio IV

Thoughts from Country Radio:  

A Day is Coming

For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven

with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,

and with the trump of God...

1 Thessalonians 4:16

It's not easy trying to understand

How the world can be so cold,

Stealing the souls of man.

Cloudy skies rain down on all your dreams.

You wrestle with the fear and doubt -

Sometimes it's hard but you gotta believe

There's a better place,

Where our Father waits

And every tear He'll wipe away.

The darkness will be gone,

The weak shall be strong.

Hold on to your faith -

There will come a day.

Wars are raging, lives are scattered

Innocence is lost, hopes are shattered.

The old are forgotten,

Children are forsaken

In this world we're living in

Is there anything sacred?

There will come a day.

The song will ring out,

Down those golden streets -

The voices of earth with the angels will sing.

Every knee will bow, sin will have no trace

In the glory of His amazing grace.

There will come a day.

-There Will Come a Day

Faith Hill

Thoughts from Country Radio III

Thoughts from Country Radio:  Saying Grace 

What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks.

Psalm 92:1

Grew up south of the Mason Dixon -

Workin', spittin', huntin', and fishin' -

Stone cold country by the grace of God

It ain't where, it's how you live.

We weren't raised to take,

We were raised to give

The shirt off our back to anyone in need.

We bow our heads before we eat,

Before we start our day,

Before we fall asleep,

'Cause in God we trust,

and we believe.

And we see what's wrong

And we know what's right.

-Brantley Gilbert

*

Whisper a prayer in the morning,

Whisper a prayer at noon.

Whisper a prayer in the evening

To keep your heart in tune.

God answers prayer in the morning,

God answers prayer at noon.

God answers prayer in the evening

So keep your heart in tune.

-Camp Song

Thoughts from Country Radio II

Thoughts from Country Radio:  

Live like You were Dying

Each day is God's gift.  Make the most of each one!

Whatever turns up, grab it and do it heartily!

Ecclesiastes 9:9

He said, 

"I was finally the husband,

"That most the time I wasn’t.

"And I became a friend

a friend would like to have.

"And all of a sudden goin' fishin’,

"Wasn’t such an imposition,

"And I went three times

that year I lost my Dad.

"Well, I finally read the Good Book,

"And I took a good long hard look,

"At what I'd do if I could do it all again,

"And then: 

"I went sky diving,

I went rocky mountain climbing,

"I went two point seven seconds

on a bull named Fu Man Chu.

"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,

"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."

And he said:

"Some day, I hope you get the chance,

To live like you were dying."

-Tim McGraw

*

I love you with the love of the Lord.

Yes, I love you with the love of the Lord.

I can see in you the glory of my King,

And I love you with the love of the Lord.

Song for Praise & Worship, No. 138

Thoughts from Country Radio

Thoughts from Country Radio:  Love Like Crazy 

Be completely humble and gentle;

Be patient, bearing with one another in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

They called them crazy when they started out

Said seventeen's too young to know what loves about

They've been together fifty-eight years now…

That's crazy

He brought home sixty-seven bucks a week

He bought a little two bedroom house on Maple Street

Where she blessed him with six more mouths to feed.

Yea, that's crazy

Just ask him how he did it,

He'll say pull up a seat

It'll only take a minute,

To tell you everything

Be a best friend, tell the truth,

And over-use “I love you”

Go to work, do your best,

Don't outsmart your common sense

Never let your prayin' knees get lazy

And love like crazy!

-Lee Brice

*

Love has come and never will leave us!

Love is life everlasting and free.

Love is Jesus within and among us,

Love is the peace our hearts are seeking.

Love!  Love!

Love is the gift of heaven.

Love!  Love!

Praise to you, God on high!

UMC Worship in Song No. 3059

Sing to tune: Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella