The Snake in the Plane

The Snake in the Plane

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges

come at you from all sides.  You know that under pressure,

your faith life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.

James 1:1

When Braden Blennerhassett took off from the Darwin, Australia airport for a cargo run, he never dreamed that he had an extra passenger onboard.  Moments after takeoff, a snake popped its head out of the dashboard of the twin engine plane, scaring the living daylights out of the pilot.  The snake's head was right next to the transmission button Braden needed to push to connect with the Darwin tower, but he was finally able to alert them to his predicament.  They thought he was kidding.

As Braden beat a hasty retreat back to the Darwin airport, the snake continued to poke its head out of any available opening in the dash.  Then, as the pilot began his approach to the runway, the snake slithered completely out of the dashboard, onto his lap, then began traveling down his leg.  His blood pressure was through the roof by the time the wheels touched down.  Rather than taxi to the hanger area, Braden brought the plane to an abrupt halt, threw open the door, and jumped from the plane - leaving the snake and the aircraft on the runway.

Anytime adversity raises its ugly head, we have the opportunity to discover exactly what we are made of.  More importantly, in such circumstances we show to the watching world our character, our faith (in God as well as in ourselves), and our coping skills.  My prayer for each of us today is that we will gain the upper hand over the serpent of temptation and sin.

*

I am thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,

And it told of love to me.

But I long to rise in the arms of faith

And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer precious Lord

To the cross where Thou hast died.

Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord

To Thy precious, bleeding side.

The United Methodist Hymnal No. 419

Hospitality

Hospitality

Dear Friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian

brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers,

you make faith visible.  In providing meals and a bed,

we become their companions in spreading the Truth.

Earlier I wrote something along this line to the church,

but Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge,

denigrates my counsel.  As if that weren't bad enough,

he not only refuses hospitality to traveling Christians,

but tries to stop others from welcoming them. 

Worse yet, instead of inviting them in, he throws them out.

Friend, don't go along with evil.  Model the good.

The person who does good does God's work.

3 John 5,8-9, 10b-11a 

During my brief years as a pastor’s wife, we served at a church I will never forget!  The ruling patriarch was the head elder, his wife was the head deaconess.  Their son's wife was the principal of the attached elementary school, their daughter ran the daycare in the basement, and her husband was the head of audio-visual.  Their friends and cronies were in most of the other positions of authority, and the church ran according to the whims of this tight-knit family clique.  Was it a friendly church?  Selective friendliness, perhaps.  

Any visitor was assessed from the moment they walked in the door as to their suitability to join the ruling junta or be left on the sidelines as an outsider.  Welcoming strangers for the simple reason of Christian love would never have entered their minds.  When the pastor who arrived after our two years of ministry took steps to break up the leadership's power, the entire group - approximately thirty-five family and friends - left the church, forming their own non-denominational church.  The congregation they left has blossomed and grown.  The new church they founded is exclusive and stagnant. 

John reminded his people that kindness is right, and exclusivity is simply wrong.  We must welcome people with open hearts, open arms, and a lack of political agenda.  Only then can we truly represent the Savior that we serve.

*

Proclaim to every people, tongue and nation

That God, in whom they live and move, is love.

Tell how He stooped to save His lost creation,

And died on earth that we might live above.

Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace;

Tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 573

Youmanity

Youmanity 

Permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new

commandment, but simply a repetition of our original

and basic charter: that we love each other.

Love means following His commandments, and His

unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love.

This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed.

2 John 5-6

Several years ago at a high school in Illinois, students were given Youmanity tokens to give to people to recognize an act of kindness to themselves or others.   Each token had a serial number that could be registered on a website where students could trace a token's path, as each recipient paid it forward with an act of kindness to someone else.  One token traveled through multiple states with over 40 passes.

Putting others first was an important goal of the program.  The kids looked for ways to be kind and helpful to each other at school, to their families at home, and to strangers on the street.  Youmanity tokens were given to firefighters, police officers, teachers, parents, neighbors, community members and each other. 

In John's second letter to the churches, he reminds the congregation of Christ's example of living their lives in love.  Kindness and compassion are born of love and respect for those around us. We may not have a Youmanity token to motivate us, but we have Jesus’ directive to find those who need a touch of God's love today.

*

What a wondrous time is spring

When all the trees are budding.

The birds begin to sing,

The flowers start their blooming.

That’s how it is with God’s love

Once you’ve experienced it.

You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring,

You want to pass it on.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 572

Talk to the Animals

 

Talk to the Animals

There is no room in love for fear.

Well-formed love banishes fear.

1 John 4:18

I have no idea how the above photo was taken.  There could only have been a few seconds to get the shot.  There's always the possibility that it is a Photoshopped composite, but I'd like to think that someone actually got these ducklings to hug this kitten.  Talk about loving your enemy!  The ducklings should have an innate fear of anything with teeth and claws. 

Whenever I go to the Richmond Metro Zoo, my thoughts always turn to the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve walked without deep ditches, high fences and plexiglass boundaries - able to reach out, to touch and be touched by all of the animals in the garden.  One day, the specter of fear will be forever banished from this planet.  In an earth made new, all creatures will live together in peace, harmony and love.  I will have the chance to stroke the face of a magnificent lion or a mother tigress with her cub, frolic in the sunlight with fawns and foxes, run races with cheetahs and gazelles, and spend hours talking with birds of every description. I look forward to that day with eager anticipation.

*

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,

Sing His mercy and His grace.

In the mansions bright and blessed,

He'll prepare for us a place.

When we all get to heaven,

What a day of rejoicing that will be.

When we all see Jesus,

We'll sing and shout the victory.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 701

This Little Light of Mine

This Little Light of Mine

Dear children,

let us not love with words or tongue,

but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:18

1.          Smile and be friendly.

2.         Call a charity or church to volunteer

3.         Donate something you don't use.

4.         Make a monetary donation.

5.         Redirect gifts to you to someone else.

6.         Stop to help.

7.         Teach a skill that you know.

8.         Comfort someone in grief.

9.         Help someone take action.

10.       Buy food for a homeless person

11.        Lend an ear

12.        Help someone get active

13.        Nurture someone who is depressed

14.       Do a chore for someone

15.        Give a massage

16.       Send a nice email of appreciation

17.        Donate food

18.       Show appreciation publicly

19.       Be patient

20.       Tutor or mentor a child

21.        Send a care package to a college student, soldier or missionary

22.       Offer to babysit

23.       Speak up for the underprivileged

24.       Just be there.

*

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

The United Methodist Hymnal, #585

Worried?

Worried?

God is greater than our worried hearts and

knows more about us than we do ourselves.

1 John 3:20

Three weeks ago, I made the decision to fully retire from the job that I have held for the last 18.75 years.  I did so knowing that it was the right choice at the right time, but I was still very concerned (notice that I did not use the term “worried”) as to whether or not my finances were up to the challenge.  My three children were very much a part of the decision-making process, and assured me that everything was going to be OK.  But I would not be less than truthful if I did not admit that I am anxious, concerned, unsettled, uneasy, nervous – yes, WORRIED about what the unknown that is the future will hold for me.

Note in the above scripture that  John does not say, "Oh, for Pete's sake, don't worry!"  No, he says, "God is greater than our worried hearts."  The Apostle acknowledges that we are going to worry - even when we try not to.  He draws our attention, however, to the One who is so much greater than our concerns, who knows our troubles better than we do, who offers strength and wisdom for the journey, and who will walk hand in hand with us through every day of our lives.

*

I don’t know about tomorrow,

I just live from day to day.

I don’t borrow from its sunshine,

For the skies may turn to grey.

I don’t worry o’er the future,

For I know what Jesus said.

And today I’ll walk beside Him,

For He knows what lies ahead.

Many things about tomorrow

I don’t seem to understand.

But I know who hold tomorrow,

And I know who holds my hand.

Hymns for the Family of God, No. 96

Under His Wings

Under His Wings

Under His wings, I am safely abiding

Though the night deepens and tempests are wild.

Still I can trust Him, I know He will keep me.

He has redeemed me and I am His child.

Under His wings, under His wings.

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide.

Safely abide forever.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!

How the heart yearningly turns to its rest.

Often when earth has no balm for my healing,

There I find comfort and there I find rest.

Under His wings, under His wings.

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide.

Safely abide forever.

Under His wings, O what precious enjoyment!

There will hide till life’s trials are o’er.

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me.

Resting in Jesus I’m safe evermore.

Under His wings, under His wings.

Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide.

Safely abide forever.