Ordinary Days

 Good afternoon and welcome to a, at least in our neck of the woods, chilly Thursday.  This morning early the temperature was in the mid 60’s.  Now with the passage of a strong cold front, it has dropped to the 40’s and is forecast to stay there during the day for the next week to 10 days.  Lows at night are expected in the low to mid 20’s.  So it seems a foretaste of winter has indeed arrived in Kansas.

 Life and work are what one makes of them, I’ve often heard.  And I suppose that’s true for my life and my work at an urban church in Wichita, Kansas.  My days often run the gamut of emotions and life situations.  There is often in every day an element of boredom, contentment, excitement, surprise, learning, accomplishment, satisfaction, apprehension, and other emotions and feelings interspersed into the day.  Here are just a couple of things that have happened recently which could probably be put into one or more of the above categories.

 I made it a point some years ago to always have a Bible in my office that I could give to someone who requests one.  And, I wanted a Bible that was nicer than just the inexpensive, five-dollar kind that often are given out.  So I ordered several with a leather-look cover, extensive aids and helps, and is in an understandable, readable version.  I’ve had three of those Bibles on my shelf for a couple of years, one of which is a large-print version, with no one asking for one…until yesterday when an unknown man came to our church door and asked for a Bible.  I gave him one and he went on his way.

 Today, another man came to the door with a similar request.  That may not seem like much to you, but I was genuinely surprised that two Bibles in two days went out the door.  I have to wonder if they talked to each other, or if there is something going on on the street…these guys were homeless individuals…that I’m not aware of.  I’m now ordering a few more.

 Yesterday was election day nationwide.  I don’t know how you voted, and that’s really none of my business.  However, I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied that so many people went to the polls and expressed their opinions through the ballot.  And, although not all of my candidates won, I was generally pleased with how things turned out.

 I had been somewhat apprehensive as the day approached, and made a conscious effort to distance myself from social media and television ads because of all of the hype.  That tactic seemed to work, along with the confidence that God ultimately has the final say and that I have no idea who really, really should be in or out of this or that office when it comes to the will of God and His plan for his creation.

 I received an email from a friend earlier this week asking me to list several books I would want to have in my library if I could only have those books and not have access to others.  I enjoyed thinking back to books I had read and was happy to recommend several of them to her.  In turn, she asked to borrow some of them, which I am pleased to do for her.

 That exercise in recalling books also got me to thinking about times past of which these books were a part.  I was excited to answer her question about books and equally pleased to be able to take a trip to the past, even if for only a brief time.

 Monday, however, was really a slow day at the office.  Not much in the way of phone calls, people at the door, or needs that could be met.  And after I spent an hour or so at the beginning of the day answering emails and catching up on things I had to do, the rest of the day stretched out in front of me.  So I picked up a couple of books I’ve been trying to read and made some good inroads toward getting that done.

 However, it’s difficult for me to spend hours just reading.  Every twenty or thirty minutes, I’d get up and walk around inside or outside of the building.  I went on a longer walk in the afternoon…about 30 minutes.  And I checked email and messages every so often to keep up with that.  So I would categorize Monday as a day of some boredom as well as a day of learning and accomplishment.

 OK, you get the picture, I think.  What are your days like?  Are they filled with anxiety, nervousness, and stress?  Do you have places in your day to relax and just let things go?  Are you at a place where it is difficult or impossible for you to move around as you’d like or you no longer can read or do some of the other things that tend to make life pleasant and enjoyable?  Do you “stop and smell the roses,” so to speak and express gratitude for your blessings in some way?

 And how have you made a place in your day for God?  Do you think of Him often?  Do you have some kind of quiet time or devotional time?  What about prayer?  Meditation?  Did you have good relationships with those you interacted with during your day?  Did you say “Please” and “Thank you” to others?  Yes, those words are still in use and work wonders.  Did you see someone in need or hear of some situation where help was needed?  What did you do to help with that need or situation?  What did you do with the words of Jesus when he said that we are to love others as He has loved us and to love God wholeheartedly, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves?

 Some things are more important than who was elected to this or that office or the fact that two Bibles went out of the church door in consecutive days.  Some things transcend our feelings and emotions that come and go during the day.  Some things come our way intentionally and demand some kind of loving response.

 May God bless you and yours during this season of Thanksgiving.

Election Time

 

Good morning, and welcome to another edition of Thursday Thought.

 It’s mid-term election time in the nation.  All of the House of Representatives, a third of the Senate, and many state and local elections are being held this November.  In many ways, this election is more important than the election for President because many of those on the ballot this go-around are people who most affect the average citizen’s daily life.  County commissioners, school board members, state representatives, district court judges, and so on are many of those who are on the ballot this time.  I would hope that all who are eligible will take this opportunity to make their voice heard.

 There is a somewhat darker side, however, to this season.  Misinformation, attack ads on TV, and outright falsehoods seem to have a sort of life of their own.  This is really nothing new.  Political races in this nation have always been a sort of knock-down…drag-out affair.  From the founding of the nation, political opponents have stretched the truth, fabricated lies, and impugned the integrity of their opponents in a bid to be elected to office.  It’s just part of the process.

 Television and social media, however, have amplified political rancor in the modern day.  Something said 2,000 miles away in a local political race is sometimes picked up and goes viral…and millions of people know what was said and form some sort of opinion.  Many of them then keep things stirred up by expressing their opinions on a matter on which they have only snippets of information.

 OK, you say.  Where are you going with all of this?  Well, as you might guess if you’re a regular viewer of Thursday thought, I’m going to the spiritual side of things with this.

 Wait, you say.  There’s a spiritual side to political issues?  Yes, of course there is.  And one of the big parts of the spiritual side of things is how Christians are to behave in times like these.  With the political divisions becoming more pronounced in society, and with all of the misinformation and attacks on opponents, to say nothing of the conspiracy theories and all that goes with them, what, exactly should be the response of the Christian?

 Let’s do a little review.  What did Jesus say was the first and greatest commandment?  Of course, it is to Love the Lord your God with all your soul, heart, mind, and strength.  And then what did Jesus say was one just like the first?  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  And it’s the second, which Jesus says is just like the first, that I want to key in on in this discussion.

 When we as Christians allow political issues to cause us to attack others, think less of others, wish ill-will on others, denigrate and speak ill of others, we bump up against the command of Jesus Himself to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

 Additionally, when we as Christians make members of another political party out to be pariahs, having nothing to do with them, considering them to be ignorant, unpatriotic, or even evil, we immediately eliminate up to half of the population from our effort to evangelize and tell of the love, grace, and mercy of God.

 And we become so politically motivated that we place our political views and our political party above all else.  We make politics our god and make our neighbors those who agree with us politically.

 Andy Stanley says it like this:  "If I’m not willing to break rank with my political party when my political party gets it wrong on an issue which the New Testament and the Scripture is clear, then I have elevated my party over my faith. As a Christian, I have just said not ‘One nation under God;’ I have said, ‘My God under my nation.’”

 You may say that you would never do such a thing.  Well, good for you.  But I caution you to back up a step or two, take a good, long look in the mirror, and give some serious thought to how you have treated those who disagree with you politically…what you think of them…how you relate to them…and what your relationship is with them.  Do you truly love them…desire the best for them…demonstrate God’s love toward them?

 Christians need to be actively engaged in the society in which they live.  That includes casting votes and yes, even running for office or pursuing a cause, if that’s your thing.  However, for the Christian, Jesus is clear.  Loving one’s neighbor takes precedence over any political ideology or dogma.  Loving one’s neighbor involves service, sacrifice, and giving up self for the benefit of another.

Andy Stanley says it better than I can.  Quote:  “The liberating Gospel of Jesus has huge, huge cultural implications. But they (cultural implications) don’t get voted in. They get raised up and lived out by the people who are following Jesus, and eventually people discover following Jesus makes you better at life; it makes life better. And it makes the world a better place.”

 Blessings.

Step Into The Mess

 

Good morning, and welcome to another Thursday Thought.

 Ginger Sprouse is a typical suburban woman living with her husband in an upscale neighborhood in the Houston area.  Some years ago, Steve Hartman with CBS News interviewed Ginger and her husband for one of his “On The Road” segments that airs each Friday at the end of the evening newscast.  The reason for the interview?

Well, it seems that Ginger had always had thoughts of the homeless that she saw regularly that were not kind at all, but rather were condescending and critical.  In the interview, she told Steve Hartman that she often would say demeaning things to them.

  “I would say, ‘Why don’t you get a job?  Or, what’s your problem?’  It made me very uncomfortable.  I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. I’ve been that way my whole life.”

 Ginger had the same attitude toward the homeless as most of us.  We look on the homeless as somehow less than fully human, less than honorable, less than worthy of the dignity and respect every human is due.

How many of us have said the same thing as Ginger, if not directly to a homeless person, at least we thought that line…”Why don’t you get a job?  What’s your problem?”  It’s so easy for those of us who have managed to stay in the middle class to be critical and condescending toward those who are in poverty or are homeless.  We like to think that we’ve made life good for ourselves, and that anyone else could do the same if they’d only put themselves to the task and work their way out of poverty and off of the street.  We believe that their issue is laziness or a lack of desire to succeed.  We point to all of the social services that are available, which our tax dollars pay for, and wonder why they don’t take advantage of them.  We notice their missing teeth, their unkempt appearance and musty body odor and move away from them as much as we can.

 So, why did Hartman interview Ginger Sprouse?  Because she had a change of heart.  She repented of her superior attitude and decided she wanted to do better.  Acting on the decision she made, she befriended a man she had regularly seen on a street corner, first stopping just to talk.  She asked him to tell his story.  His mother, he says, abandoned him when he was yet a child, and he had been in and out of homelessness since that time.  Ginger couldn’t get him out of her mind, and began making regular trips to stop and just visit with him.

 One late fall day when she visited him, she said she decided she couldn’t just leave him there on the street in the cold.  She went home, talked with her husband, and invited Victor Hubbard into their home.  And that was the beginning of a new life for Victor.  They helped him get the social services he needed, medical appointments, and all the rest.  Victor now is working two jobs and is a lifelong member of the family.

Ginger’s life and outlook on life and on people changed as well.  In the closing segment of the news piece with Hartman, Ginger says this about her experience.  “Life is messy.  But if you’re going to love other people, you have to be willing to step into their mess.  My whole life I’ve wanted to avoid that, and that’s why I rolled the window up and didn’t look.”

 “If you’re going to love other people, you have to be willing to step into their mess.”  Ginger Sprouse knows what it’s like to step into someone’s mess.  Ginger Sprouse knows what it’s like to get out of her comfort zone.  Ginger Sprouse knows what it’s like to love other people.

We have known for centuries that the God who created us expects us to love others.  The Torah is explicit in the book of Leviticus. 

 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

 At least seven more times in the New Testament, Jesus, Paul the Apostle, and James repeat this command to love others.  And Jesus expanded what it meant to love one’s neighbor by telling the story of the Good Samaritan, who saw to the needs of a man he didn’t know and whose nationality should have been reason enough to ignore his plight.  Nevertheless, he cared for the man as best he could and saw to his needs.  The Samaritan stepped into someone’s mess.

 Are you willing to step into someone’s mess?  Are you willing to have a change of heart?  Are you willing to truly love your neighbor?  You don’t have to take in a homeless person in order to love your neighbor unless you know that is your calling.  There are hundreds of ways you can demonstrate and emulate the love of Jesus.  Your neighbor is hurting.  You can help by stepping into his mess.

 Blessings.

 

Anticipating the Blessings

 

Good morning!  It’s a cool day today, but it promises to be a pleasant day as well.  We need rainfall desperately, and are grateful for God’s provision of the storage of good water underground in many places which help mitigate the shortage of water from the heavens.

 As I posted in social media a few days ago, on November 4 of this year I will no longer be an instrument of the Kansas Secretary of State.  My notary commission expires the day before, and I will not be renewing.

 I first became a notary 28 or so years ago during my time in health care.  It was a handy thing to have at that time.  Even after my career in that field was over, it has been nice to have the ability to help friends, relatives, and neighbors who needed some document notarized.  But there comes a time when even a good thing must end, and that time has come for me as a notary.

 In the course of my later years and my retirement from secular work, I have discontinued or reduced several things in my life that have become more burdensome, less fulfilling, or more difficult to do.  I no longer crawl under houses to fix water pipes, crawl in attics to run electrical circuits, or crawl under cars to change the oil.  My days of working in EMS are over.  I no longer walk behind a push lawn mower, even in a small yard.  And, although I still drive at night, it is somewhat more of a challenge, and I don’t relish the thought of doing so.

 I still will get on the roof of my house, but now I make sure my wife or someone else is with me when I do.  I still like to do things out in the garage where I’ve set up my work space.  But I limit myself more now than I did some years ago regarding how much I lift or how I deal with things that could be somewhat dicey regarding my safety.  I’m just not as nimble and quick as I used to be.

 As it is with these things, so it is with the notary commission.  There just comes a time when it is right to shed this or that thing that one has held onto for many years.  For me, the notary was something that is a reminder of how things used to be…of a life in the past.  I suppose that as we get older, we tend to think back perhaps a little more often to those times in the past when we were more active, more engaged, and more eager.  At least I do that.

 When I was growing up, my grandfather lived in the same community as we.  He was in his 90’s and in generally good health for his age.  We would visit often, and I sometimes stayed the day at their place.  I wondered why he liked to talk about the old days so much when there was so much going on in the present age.  That present age was the early to mid 1960’s, and there was much happening in those days.  The space race, the expansion of peaceful use of the atom, the assassination of President Kennedy, the Civil Rights movement, the development of the electronic integrated circuit, and the Cold War, as well as local issues filled the days.  Yet he would much rather have talked of times in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s as they lived on the prairies of Nebraska and Kansas.

 And I too find myself longing at times to talk with people much younger than I am about my earlier days.  I’m beginning to understand my grandfather’s penchant for harking back to the old days.  He just wasn’t that concerned about the world situation.  Oh, he kept up with things, knew what was going on, and was conversant in many areas of his modern day.  His mind was sharp and he knew what was happening.  But his concern wasn’t so much the Iron Curtain as it was his relationship with God, and the both physical as well as spiritual welfare of his family.  And I believe that because he genuinely was looking forward to his transition into the eternal presence of his creator, the things of his present day, whether good or bad, didn’t bother him much.

 There’s a lesson in there for us.  Yes, we need to be aware of our surroundings.  We need to know of some of the things in the world that are pressing in one way or another.  We need to know because we need to be salt and light in that world, being the hands and feet of God as He redeems the creation one act of kindness…one act of compassion…one act of forgiveness at a time.  To do that, we need to have an awareness of the present situation.

 But our true longing…our true desire as Christians…should be our desire to see the face of the one who loved us to the point that he died on our behalf, making us righteous and blameless when we appear before Him.  So, as we gradually shed those things of the world from our lives…those things that may well have been good things…that we may well have once enjoyed or that brought us satisfaction…we know our lives aren’t becoming empty and void…they are just being filled with an anticipation of what is yet to come.  We can recall the old days with fondness and gratitude, and can look ahead to finishing the race and entering into the joy of the Kingdom of God.

 Blessings,

Reflecting Joy

 

Good morning!

 Our church has a Bible study every Thursday morning.  There are quite a few people who gather for the study…most are retired.  The study is led by one of our members…a retired minister.  Doug is his name.  On the days of the study, Doug comes in early and sets up his powerpoint and streaming for those who cannot be here in person.  He was in the class room today doing just that when I went in the room and walked past him, greeting him as I went.

I paused for a moment as I greeted him, and we exchanged the usual pleasantries.  He then asked me how I was doing in a way that told me he wanted a real answer rather than the usual “fine.”  I told him I was doing OK and that things were going well, but I was a little tired due to long days the past couple of days.

He then told me that I didn’t have any “spring” to my step, which was why he asked.

I jokingly retorted that I haven’t had any “spring” to my step for many years and went on my way.

However, later on I thought about our short conversation.  Did Doug really spot something in my demeanor that suggested to him that I was perhaps less than “fine?”  Am I really “doing OK?”  And what about that “spring” in my step that has been missing for some time now?  Do I possibly need to work on changing my presentation to others?

I really am doing OK today.  I’m looking forward to tomorrow and the weekend, but really, I’m doing OK today.  Oh, I have the usual aches and pains of older age, but they are minimal today, and in any event are manageable if they should flare up.  I’m not a  happy-go-lucky, outgoing, gregarious person by nature, and I normally have something on my mind that I’m trying to think through or resolve.  Maybe that shows in my demeanor and how I present myself to others.

Or maybe I’m just overthinking this.

Regardless, I received a reminder this morning that other people do see us in certain ways, and some of those people care enough to ask in a more serious way if all is OK.  And I was reminded that my presentation…how I look to others…is important.  Do they see someone who is constantly in an apparently beat-down, tired, and cranky mood?  Or do they see someone who is thankful for the gift of life and the ability to be and do as much as is possible?  In simpler terms, do I go around with a half-empty glass or a half-full glass?

I don’t know that I need a spring in my step…I don’t know if I’ve ever had a spring.  But perhaps I do need to show my thankful and grateful heart just a little more.  I can be more intentional in greeting others with a smile and more hearty “hello.”  I can walk in a way that doesn’t make it seem like I’m carrying a 50 pound burden all the time.  I can be more careful in the things I say, keeping to myself things that may be, or appear to be negative.

When I do these things…when I smile a little more, walk a little more upright, and be more circumspect as well as encouraging and positive in my speech, I’m not being fake.  I’m choosing to present a side of me that is inherent within, but doesn’t often come out.  I’m choosing to make the lives of others a little better for having come into my sphere of influence.  I’m choosing to let goodness and kindness show up in my life.

As a Christian, I have been given the most marvelous and unfathomable of gifts…the gifts of freedom, life, and forgiveness.  I need to let my body know that, and as a result reflect the joy of those gifts.

Blessings…

Choose Joy

 Good morning!

 In the work that goes on here at RiverWalk Church in downtown Wichita, we often encounter what some might call the less pleasant aspects of our society.  Those less pleasant things are well-known…homelessness, addictions, violence, hunger, and poverty.  No, we aren’t in a particularly impoverished area.  The office building next door is one of the premier office buildings in the city.  The Drury Broadview is a block away, as is Century II, the Garvey Center, and other well-known places.  RiverFront stadium is only three or so blocks from us.  And Exploration Place and the main library are just across the river.  The river…the Arkansas River, is adjacent to the back of our church lot.  There’s a bridge that takes 1^st Street across the river about 100 feet from our building.

We see the things I’ve described above.  The homeless camp out under the bridge and in nearby parks.  There are ample opportunities for drug deals in secluded places not easily observed.  The hungry and the poor are just outside the door.  And there is violence from time to time…assaults, gunshots, and so on.  We encounter the seamier aspects of society quite regularly, and understand that those things…and the people who are involved in those things…are part of our neighborhood.  Our desire is to interact with our neighborhood in ways that will bring about redemption, regeneration, and wholeness to the neighborhood.  We’ve tried many things, and at times have succeeded in working with one or two or three of our neighbors.  However, as we look, we see so much need and so few resources that we wonder if what we are doing is making any difference at all.

I correspond rather regularly with a friend, Kendra Brookhuis.  Kendra, an author and stay-at-home mom, lives in Milwaukee Wisconsin with her husband and kids in a part of the city that in at least some ways mirrors the downtown Wichita area surrounding RiverWalk Church.  They moved to that area intentionally in an effort to be “salt and light” to a neighborhood that is less than a pleasant place to live at times.  Additionally, the school where her husband teaches and her kids attend is right across the street from their home.

Recently, we exchanged thoughts about the neighborhoods where we find ourselves…she at home and I at work.  We both have times of joy when we’re able to help someone, but we both lament that there is so much unmet need.  Kendra wrote recently and said this about the need she sees and the work of God’s redemption.

“We find ourselves constantly living in the tension of sacrificing for the sake of our block, and knowing we’re only human.  I see things on social media that say ‘Changing the world for one person…changes the world.’  I know deep in my heart to believe this, and yet I also want change for many.  Change faster.  This is where choosing joy over bitterness can be a daily battle for me, but a necessary one.  I want others to see the joy to be found in Christ…at the same time my default is often lament.”

I can relate to Kendra, and I’m guessing some of you can relate as well.  Days, weeks, and sometimes years go by with no noticeable change in “how things are,” even though many, including ourselves, have poured time, resources, and energy into making a difference.  We sometimes take a step back and wonder if we’ve made any headway at all.  And we begin to develop a kind of cynicism and yes, even the beginnings of bitterness, as we look in vain for sprouts of redemption and renewal.

As Kendra said, we have a daily choice to make.  Will we choose the joy of living in the forgiveness and blessings of God, or will we choose to harbor disappointment and bitterness because we can’t do as much as we’d like to do.  You know, it’s really about submission, isn’t it.  Submission to the will of God, living in His glory rather than stacking up successes for ourselves and glorying in how much we are able to do.

I am reminded of how many followers Jesus had when he hung on the cross.  Even Peter betrayed him in his hour of need.  I am also reminded that even after his resurrection, apparently, there were no more than about 120 of the faithful, awaiting him.  Three years he spent teaching, healing, comforting, and revealing himself to the world, and he ended up with the twelve and a few hands full of other followers.

In our lifetime, we may be the instrument of God in the redemption of just a few precious souls.  Not all of us can be successful evangelists.  Not all of us can go on mission to other nations of the earth, teach, and make disciples.  Not all of us can gather a crowd eager to hear the Gospel of Jesus.  But we can choose to live in joy and submission to the God who created us and who loves us and who chooses us to be the salt and light in the places we go and in the hearts of those he chooses to send our way.

Choose joy.  Choose submission.  Choose thanksgiving.  Choose love.

 

Blessings,

Be Prepared

 Good morning.  It’s a very pleasant, cooler day today in the Wichita area.  Hopefully, this will be the beginning of the ushering in of autumn on the Great Plains.

 A minister friend of mine posted on social media this morning this thought:  “Let this be a lesson; always be prepared.”  Sounding a lot like the Boy Scout motto, “Be Prepared,” and remembering back to times when my Dad would say to me after some particularly difficult situation, “Let that be a lesson to you,” I was curious to read the rest of the post.

 It seems that Jake (not his real name) went to the office in a rather unkempt fashion, having not shaved, wearing not-so-clean clothes, and so on, expecting to spend his day hunkered down in his office with his sermon and waiting for the UPS man to deliver a package.  That was not to be, however, because when he arrived at the office, there was a voicemail from a hospice chaplain asking him to minister to a couple where the wife was terminal and not expected to live more than a few days.

 Jake said that fortunately, there were some clean slacks in the office, and he had some hygiene items there as well.  And, he said, the Dollar store sells razors.  My presumption is that he got himself presentable and visited the couple in need.

 As a minister, one’s day is much like the days of many others.  The best-laid plans sometimes just don’t happen because of a phone call, text, or email that suddenly causes a seismic shift in the priorities of the day.  It is impossible to predict all of the possibilities; so the best thing is to just be as prepared as one can be going into and through the day.

 I have a comb, a toothbrush, and a razor in my mobile office…my pickup.  There are other hygiene items at the church.  And, as Jake said, the Dollar store is not far away.  I also try to keep at least a minimal level of fuel in my gas tank so I don’t have to suddenly worry about getting gas when I need to be somewhere unexpected.  I try to dress appropriately, even if my plans are only for office work.  I still carry a little cash with me as well as the usual panoply of credit and debit cards.  And I try to keep my old pickup in such a condition that I could, if necessary, hit the turnpike for a several-hour trip.

 Even with all that, there are times when the level of preparedness is not adequate.  Both Plan A and Plan B are non-starters.  It’s those times when plan C needs to go into effect, whatever that plan may be at the time.

 You may by this time be wondering why I spent so much time with this topic.  And for those of you who know your Bible, you know that this topic is addressed…more than once.  But it is addressed in terms of spiritual readiness…not in terms of having a spare comb or razor handy.

 Mark 13:  “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.”

 I Corinthians 16:  “Remain alert. Keep standing firm in your faith. Keep on being courageous and strong.”

 Colossians 4:  “Continue to pray regularly; stay alert and be thankful.”

 There are other places, of course, which speak of being ready, alert, and watchful.  And, of course, they are speaking of spiritual readiness.  One does not know the hour of one’s passing into eternity.  It could be today.  It could be ten years from now.  It could be any other time.

 The point of the matter is, are you ready to meet the One who created you?  Are you prepared to give answer for the life you’ve lived?  I’m not trying to frighten you…rather, I’m pointing out a reality that transcends what we see and know in this life and this existence.  You may or may not agree with me that there is a life beyond this one.  You may or may not believe that there is a God who is over and above all that there is.  There’s no way to offer scientific proof for either points of view.

 But what if there IS an afterlife?  What if there IS a God who created you and will one day ask you to account for the life He gave you?

 I leave it to you.  Are you prepared?  Are you alert?  Are you ready?  Do you have the spiritual equivalent to a spare comb, toothbrush, and razor handy?  May God bless and encourage you as you continue down life’s pathway toward eternity.

 Blessings,

Open Your Heart

 

Good morning !!

 

As a church in downtown Wichita, we are not like many other churches which are located in residential areas.  We don’t have the neighborhood community that some of the other congregations have.  We are in the middle of Wichita, just a couple of blocks from the center of the city.  Yes, there have been a few apartments built in the area, but by and large those apartment dwellers do not consider themselves to be our neighbors.  Younger people mostly, they tend to stay to themselves when it comes to being neighborly with a church.

And I get that.  Church nowadays, it seems, has very little relevance to the younger crowd.  Establishing careers, working on couple relationships, navigating COVID, inflation, and the other ills of society, and living in an urban building with 200 other people can make a person see things in ways that some of us have difficulty understanding.

We do have a community of neighbors, however.  By far most of them are either homeless or near homeless.  Some live under the First Street bridge just a few feet from our property.  Others camp out in the nearby park or find shelter in neighboring alleys.  Many have mental health issues.  Many are addicts of some kind.

Some have difficulty getting around due to injury or some kind of handicap.  Others are distrustful of anyone else, having been robbed, beaten, or sexually assaulted in the past.  Some, due to their mental health situation, are not welcome in shelters, food pantries, or other inside places.

Most don’t have a legal form of identification.  Either what they had has been stolen or they just never have had one.  They don’t have the money needed to gather the forms they need and go to the DMV to get an ID.  And without an ID, it’s nearly impossible to access needed services, medication, and other means of help, let alone apply for a job.

We have struggled over the years as a church to serve the community that surrounds us.  How do we best serve those without a home—without enabling the kind of behavior that keeps them on the streets and away from the services that ARE available to them?

We’ve tried several ways of serving the population over the years.  And while a few have made substantial progress in life and living, by far most continue to walk the streets looking for the next meal, the next fix, or the next shelter.

We’ve partnered with non-profits that serve the homeless.  We’re on a first-name basis with the members of the Wichita Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team.  Some of our members volunteer for non-profit organizations that serve the homeless in some way.  As a smaller church, we don’t have the financial means to operate our own shelter, medical service, or other similar programs.

And yet we desire to serve in some tangible, face-to-face way that will demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to these who find themselves in a situation that many times feels like being chained with no way of escape.

Government has not found the magic solution to homelessness.  Non profits haven’t either.  Churches and religious institutions struggle just as we do to serve in some meaningful way.

So, where do we go from here?  We’ve just recently pulled back from one form of service that ended up being more enabling than anything else.  We’re groping for yet another way to serve…one that will, in some small way, help rather than enable and hinder.

Jesus said that we will always have the poor with us.  But He didn’t say that because of that truth, we can just ignore them and go our merry way.  In fact, quite the opposite.  As God’s people, we are to serve the poor, feed the hungry, and clothe those without garments to wear.

What does that look like in 2022 in downtown Wichita?  We still don’t know with certainty.  What we do know is that we are called to serve…called to disciple…called to help right the wrongs that are endemic in the world we live in.

We will continue to pray, consider, and move in ways that we believe Jesus would have us go.  Pray with us.  Find ways to serve.  Be salt and light in a dark and troubled world.  You may not have the homeless in your neighborhood.  But there is someone within your circle of influence that you can serve in some way.  Find that person.  Find that situation.  Open your heart.

 

Blessings,

Be A Julie

 Last evening, one of the missionaries that RiverWalk Church helps support paid us a visit.  Julie is a missionary in Cambodia.  She is the director of the B.E.S.T. Center in Phnom Penh.  BEST is an acronym for Bible, English, Study and Training Center.  In the BEST Center environment, students attending a university in Phnom Penh live at the BEST Center and do additional study in the English language as well as the Christian faith.  Many of the students stay the entire four years they are at the University, and many become Christians during their stay.

The BEST Center experience is one of family and relationship.  Students do life together at the center, along with mentors and teachers.  It is truly a home away from home.

During Julie’s presentation last evening before the group that was gathered, I asked her how it was that she chose to do the work she does in Cambodia.  Her reply was, at least to me, an amazing insight into why missionaries do what they do.

I can’t quote her exactly, but this is the paraphrase version.  “I grew up in that part of the world, as my parents were missionaries there.  Some years ago, as a younger woman about to leave for the United States, one evening I was on a bridge over the Mekong River.  I looked out and saw people who had never heard of Jesus Christ.  I wondered how they would ever hear about him if I didn’t come back and tell them.”

This is Jay again.  Did you catch that?  Julie was so smitten by the urge to tell people about Jesus that she took it upon herself to be responsible for doing just that.  The result of that was the establishment of the BEST Center and a very successful program of study of the English language as well as teaching the students about God and his love for his people.  Many lives have been forever changed and many have stepped across the line of faith as a result.

And then, following the presentation, her comment about who was going to say something if she didn’t hit home with me.  I had to evaluate what I said and did in everyday life and living…whether I was even minimally concerned about those who had never heard and understood the good news about Jesus Christ, let alone whether or not I actually did anything about it.

You see, it’s easy to point to someone else and accuse them of not caring about the souls of others…not telling others about Jesus.  It’s much more difficult to point back to oneself and conduct an unbiased evaluation of one’s own work for the Kingdom of God.  That’s when the discomfort begins and the realization hits that one’s own life is lacking the zeal for the story of God and his love for his people.  That’s when one either stops and takes a good look at his life and way of living, or pushes it all into the background in order not to have to confront it.  That’s when one drops to her knees in prayer, or occupies her time with more busy work in the hope of forgetting the reality of those people in her circle of life who have never encountered the Living Jesus.

I don’t know what your faith persuasion is, or even if you have one.  I do know that as humans, we often try to overlook or ignore the truth about ourselves, if that truth is critical or points out shortcomings in our lives.  But if we are going to make any improvements in our own life situation, if we are going to do anything to make this world a better place for our having been here, if we are going to do anything that has lasting, eternal value, we have to see ourselves not as we’d like, but as God sees us.

Julie was smitten in her heart by the sight of those who were alienated from God.  She determined to do something about it and followed through.  We don’t have to be missionaries in Cambodia, or Africa, or Russia.  Not all of us are called or have the ability to do that.  But we all have the ability to do something.  Finding that something involves a truthful assessment of our lives, our abilities, and our life situation…then acting on what we’ve found out to be true.

Be a Julie.

 

Blessings,

A Quick Trip

 Last weekend, we made a quick trip to Lubbock, Texas for a wedding of one of our great nephews on Pat’s side of the family.  We went down on Saturday, had the wedding Sunday afternoon, and came back Monday, Labor Day.  The ceremony and after party came off without a hitch, at least as far as I know, being only an observer and a member of the male gender.

However, while we were in that neck of the woods, we decided to meet up with a young couple that our church was interested in helping financially.  Jace and Aria (not their real names) are wanting to do mission work in Japan, if at all possible.  They would be working with an established group of missionaries already on the ground.

There have been issues, however, with Japan being closed to foreign travel due to COVID.  The shut-down looks to be a long time thing, so Jace and Aria are looking at other possibilities here in the states.

The couple is young, in their very early 20’s, newly married, fresh out of seminary schooling, and I am guessing barely making ends meet financially.  He is from Wisconsin and she from Western Colorado.  They haven’t known each other all that long and have been married even less.  They have, to say the least, a rather long row to hoe in the next few years just in solidifying their marriage, their finances, their vocational endeavors, and all of the other things that go with the making of a new family.  The Japanese roadblock to their mission plans may turn out to be a blessing in disguise, because this may give them time to re-think their future and also time to cement their relationship with one-another as well as with the in-law families.  It will also give them time to re-think their plans and develop their service and missionary skills in the USA where the culture shock won’t be as significant as a stint in Japan.

We attended the church where Jace gave the lesson in the adult Bible class, then preached probably one of his first sermons to a congregation outside of school.  We took them to lunch and had a great conversation with them in the span of about 2 hours in a booth at the Chili’s on University Avenue.

They told us that the church where Aria was from was looking for a minister, and that they had applied there.  We talked about some of the positives as well as the negatives of working in ministry in a place where one had grown up.  We talked about some of the pitfalls of interviewing with a committee of church members who may or may not have experience in human resources or have an understanding of the role of the minister.  We talked about several other topics related to ministry, congregational relationships, and the family life of a minister.

We parted with a fondness and attachment for one-another.  We hope to keep the communication alive and be able to work in some way with them once they have a better idea of where God is leading them.

So, why am I telling you, my Thursday Thought audience all of this?  What we did this past weekend can serve as a few reminders for us all.

First, young people still have weddings.  Oh, I know it isn’t as much of a deal as it used to be.  So many are setting up housekeeping without the legalities of a marriage nowadays, including my great nephew and his now spouse.  But there are still young people in this world who long for the security and stability of a marriage, and even go to some expense to put on a wedding complete with the traditions that have been part of weddings for decades, if not centuries.

Second, young people still have a desire to serve and make the world a better place.  Jace and Aria are two such youngsters.  Even though they are very new to the world of adulthood, they have a desire to make a difference.  And that’s a noble and honorable thing.

Third, and this has nothing to do with either of the first two, if you travel through King County in Northwest Texas, you need to stop at Guthrie and visit the general store.  Some of you may know that King County is one of the least populated counties, having a population of about 230 people.  The county seat, Guthrie, is an unincorporated place…a wide spot in the road.

The King Ranch, famous in Texas lore even until today, spreads out over 350,000 acres of King County scrub brush, decent pasture, and some interesting geology.

If you need to use the restroom, and they are few and far between in that part of the country, the general store has a public restroom, but it’s “out back,” and you need to get a key to access it…available inside.  While you’re inside, you can peruse the western wear, the boots, the groceries, the cold drinks in the cooler, and other things that are for sale.  Go ahead…buy a souvenir, some snacks, or maybe a Coke in a small bottle (use the bottle opener hanging on the side of a table).  The ladies there will appreciate it, and you’ll go away with a smile, content to know that there are still some common sense, down to earth places in the world…and Guthrie, King County Texas at the general store is one such place.

 

Blessings,

 

It's A Magical World

 

Good morning, and welcome.

 In the event you didn’t already know, this is the first day of autumn.  You are correct.  Today is NOT September 22, which the calendar reveals as the first day.  Today is September 1, the first day of meteorological autumn.  Meteorologists have a little different take on the seasons than the calendar.  Autumn for them begins on September 1 and goes through November 30.  Winter is December 1 through February 28.  And so on with Spring and Summer.

It is usually during about this time of the year that even if the days remain hot, the nights become cooler.  And the days themselves don’t usually become as hot as in mid summer.  This time also usually heralds an increase in what we might term the autumn rains as cold air masses clash with warm air masses in the middle part of the country, providing the proper conditions for rain, and even some stronger storms.

September also normally brings a maturing of the outdoor plant life.  Plants often seed themselves during this time.  Some begin to die back.  Others change color.  Plants that like cooler weather will grow better during this time.

And it’s also a time for animals to change their behavior.  Squirrels and others rush to store up food for the winter months.  Summer bird species begin their migration to warmer climates.  Some animals find mates and propagate their kind during this time.  Crickets and spiders look for warm places to make their homes.  It’s a busy time for all of nature, getting ready for the cold winter, ice and snow to come.

I don’t know if you look for these kinds of things in nature or not.  Such things may not interest you, and that’s OK.  However, I’ve always been interested in observing the changes in nature and the environment as we pass from one season to another.  Part of that interest is the fascination I have in wondering just how these animals and plants know what to do and when to do it to prepare for the upcoming changes.  Yes, it is programmed into them in some way, but where did that programming come from?  And how did it happen that they were able to make these adjustments in the first place?

Yes, I know all about the creation/evolution thing, and the conflicts and arguments that arise from both camps regarding why things are the way they are.  And it’s not my intention to get into that today.  Regardless of how God chose to do things, I earnestly believe that it was (and still is) a God thing and not a random act of random molecules coming together in certain random ways that just happened to produce all that we see and experience.  And one of the big things I look at when I think about this, besides what I know from Biblical literature, is the process of metamorphosis.  Without going into detail, I will just say that metamorphosis is a truly mind-blowing and incredibly complex process that screams out for a higher power to have created and sustained it, however that creation and sustenance might have actually happened.

The other mind-boggling thing is found in the Bible in the book of Hebrews where the writer says that Jesus Christ “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”  That phrase “all things” is synonymous with the word “universe.”  Somehow, even now, everything we see and know, and all that we can’t see and don’t know is being upheld and made operational by the power of Jesus Christ.

I don’t know if you are a faithful Christian, nominal Christian, agnostic, spiritualist, atheist, or some other religious persuasion.  What I do know is what I see and perceive in life and living.  And I’m finding that Christianity has answers that nothing else has, for questions that come from the souls of men and women everywhere in all times, all societies, all situations.

The world we see…the universe we see…is just one thing that points to the God of Heaven and earth.

May God bless you as you too continue down the path of life into what some call meteorological autumn.  Keep your eyes, ears, heart and mind open as you observe all that surrounds you.  As Calvin said to Hobbes some years ago in the final strip of the long-running comic “Calvin and Hobbes,” “It’s a magical world, Hobbes old buddy.  Let’s go exploring !”

Stretch Your Mind a Bit

 I hate to admit this to all of you intellectual Christians who watch these videos that I am just now reading for the first time C.S. Lewis’s book, “Mere Christianity.”  Oh, I have heard about this writing of his for a lot of years, but never got around to obtaining a copy of the book and then actually begin reading it…until just a week or so ago.

For those who haven’t read the book, it is a compilation of sorts, with some parts of it added, of a series of short radio programs Lewis did on the BBC back during World War II.  The back cover of the copy I have says this:  “The book brings together C.S. Lewis’s legendry broadcast talks of the war years, talks in which he set out simply to ‘explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times.’  Rejecting the boundaries that divide Christianity’s many denominations, Lewis provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith.”

I’m not finished with the book yet.  I’m about half way through.  I’m taking it slowly so as to better absorb the wisdom in it.  However, I have already found much that has made me think about what I believe and why.

This video is not one where I mean to delve into the book…I will just ask that you find a copy yourself…you can do that on Amazon or perhaps other used book stores for not much money…and read it for yourself.  It won’t matter if you are a Christian or not.  The book will speak to you.

The purpose of the thought this week is not, as I said, to present a book report on “Mere Christianity,” but rather to encourage you to look for written material which will help you open  your eyes to ideas and even truth which you may either not be aware of or perhaps more commonly, you may have an incorrect assumption about something which the material may be able to help you correct in your mind.  Christians especially shouldn’t be wary of well-written material…material written by God-fearing, faithful men and women such as Lewis who honestly seek out truth and try to convey that truth through the written word.

Many times we as human beings tend to gravitate toward ideas and ideology which conforms to what we already believe, rather than material which will stretch our thought process, force us to critically examine our beliefs, and encourage us to make a change in our world view.  To listen only to views which mimic ours is to stunt our growth, encourage intellectual decay, and create a shrill voice & nasty attitude that is anything but intelligent or pleasant to be around.  Taking in a wide range of thought and ideas tends to mitigate those unpleasant traits and cause us to be more compassionate, more loving, more tolerant, and more generous.  In other words, we tend to come closer to the Golden Rule and the Greatest Commandment (and the one like it) when we open our minds and hearts to those things we don’t yet know and may even be somewhat uncomfortable experiencing for the first time.

Books such as “Mere Christianity” are vital adjuncts to Holy Scripture.  They help explain.  They help us organize our thoughts.  They create more desire for study of Scripture.  They help us grow as people of God.  And in today’s world, books aren’t the only thing.  There are videos everywhere which bring God’s message to humanity to light.  There are podcasts, social media posts, web sites, and a host of resources waiting for us on line.

But let us bring a caveat to the cyber world just as we would to the book world.  Be careful what you take in.  Not all that is found on the Internet is beneficial, true, or benevolent.  Just as one would consider whether a book is solid, good material for consumption, so must one consider whether electronic material is solid, good material for consumption.  Jesus was very plain about being careful of what was on the inside of a person, because what comes out of a person is only as good as what is inside.

I don’t know if you’ve read “Mere Christianity“or not.  I would, if you haven’t yet, encourage you to do so.  And if you’ve already read it, but it’s been awhile, you might want to read it again.  Whether you are a Christian or not, it would be well worth your time to do so.

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow's Such a Daily Day

Good morning!  Thursday is here again!!  Welcome.

 A few evenings ago there was nothing of any importance on the one hundred and whatever channels that is cable television, so I popped in a DVD.  I have gathered, over the years, several DVDs that  have come out of the Gaither organization, most of which are his Homecoming videos.  However, he has produced others…among which are several in which he sits down with an artist and does an interview, interspersed with video segments of that artist performing in a former homecoming video.

He has interviewed the Statler Brothers, Anthony Burger, Mark Lowry and others.  One of the people he has interviewed is Sandi Patty, known in southern gospel circles as “The Voice.”  Sandy has retired from active singing and touring now, but in her day as a gospel singer was without compare.  And the songs she sang had a message that couldn’t be mistaken…a message of hope, grace, and trust.

One of her songs was one called, “The Stage Is Bare.”  The idea for the song came to her and others one night after an especially fun and joyful concert.  She and others had just come out of the dressing room area onto the stage where they had performed just awhile ago.  The stage was bare.  No amplifiers, no stage props, nothing was on the stage that had been there just an hour or so before.  The room was quiet…everyone had left.  The only light on the stage came from a bare bulb that was burning.  In theatric circles, it’s known as a ghost light…a single bare bulb that lights the stage when everyone goes home.  If you want to know more about the tradition of the ghost light, you can Google it. My purpose for this thought isn’t to tell you about the ghost light…it’s to tell you about a song that was written when Sandy saw the light on stage in an otherwise empty theater.

I’ll share here a portion of the lyrics to that song.  Listen, and then we’ll continue our conversation.

 It was so easy to call you Lord when a thousand voices sang your praise.  But there's no one to hear me now—So hear me now, be near me now.

 Lord now’s the time I need your song to give me joy and certainty when no one else is watching me.  I need you more than words can say…tomorrow's such a daily day.  And so I need to feel you then holding my hand—Please hold me then—I need you, Lord

 OK, this is Jay again.  Did you get what Ms Patty is saying in this song?  It’s really easy to worship and serve the Lord when you’re on top of the world and there are untold numbers of others joining in the praise.  But it’s a different story when we are alone…when we’ve gone on the downhill slide off of the mountaintop.  And the day that’s coming is just such a “daily day”…an ordinary, regular, routine day.  No crowds.  No mountaintop experience.  No special feelings of joy and love…it’s just an ordinary day.

And it is on those days, during those times…those days and times when it seems that the ordinariness and routine will never end…those days and times when life seems to fall apart all at once…those days and times when we feel the most alone and vulnerable…that we really need our Lord to hold our hand and lead us through the day.  Because as the song says, “The stage is bare, the crowds are gone.  Lord, now's the time I need your song to give me joy and certainty when no one else is watching me.  I need you more than words can say.  Tomorrow's such a daily day…

 

Blessings…

I Don't Know

 

Good morning!

 Those of you who read my Facebook posts may have seen this last week.  I’m re-telling the story here with some added thoughts.

Last Friday evening we were invited to a birthday party at the home of one of our nieces and nephews who live in the Wichita area.  The birthday was for one of their kids, our grandnephew.  Although it was warm, their outdoor back patio was a pleasant, shady spot with a very gentle breeze where we enjoyed the company of others in the family.  We brought our plates of burgers, salads, and desserts out there to eat and enjoy, and watched the assorted young ones playing and occasionally having differences of opinion.

Later in the evening, we were beginning to wrap things up.  My sister and I were sitting next to each other in patio chairs, with others joining us in a kind of circular fashion.  Sis and I mentioned to each other that it was about time to leave.  We then visited with our respective spouses and all agreed.

I got up along with Sis and moved toward the back door of the house along with my wife and her hubby.  I no sooner had gotten to the back door, about 15 seconds after getting out of my chair, than the huge limb that had been shading that area came crashing down on the patio.  We all were rather dumbfounded at the event, as the limb appeared to be healthy.  There was little to no wind.  There would have been no reason for the limb to have come down.

Once we determined that no one was under the limb and all of us were OK, some of us took the limb down farther so it would no longer be a hazard.  We tied a rope to it and tugged on it to get it to come on down all the way.  Before we did that, though, I looked at where Sis and I had been just a few seconds before it fell.  Our chairs were bent and thrown over backward.  We would have been in the thick of the fallen limb with several large branches right over our chairs.  Had we been in those chairs, we would not have had time to get out of the way, and we would both have been in the hospital or worse as a result of the fallen limb.

Several respondents to my Facebook post about this spoke of God’s work in keeping us safe.  Others simply wished us well and were grateful for our not being hurt.  I myself have been thinking about what role God had to play in this incident, if any.  I must tell you that none of us received any kind of prior warning, whether physical or spiritual.  We received no premonitions, no visions, no nudging, no feeling of doom…nothing that would have prompted us to leave when we did.  We’ve done these kinds of gatherings many times before.  The conversation about time to leave is a normal part of how we work things.  There was nothing unusual here in that regard.

Did God somehow prompt us, unbeknownst to us, to get up when we did?  The short answer is, “I don’t know.”  I certainly believe He COULD have nudged us somehow to leave when we did.  But then it could have been a fortuitous circumstance as well.  Bad things do happen to people.  Bad things happen to good people.  We experience car wrecks and bad storms & floods.  We become ill, sometimes with terminal conditions such as cancer, ALS, or dementia.  We may be hit with depression, anxiety attacks, or a bad case of ADHD.  We fall down a flight of stairs.  We break bones.  We are badly burned in a fire accident of some kind.  And yes, limbs and other things fall on us.  If God protects us in some cases, there are many times when that protection is not there, even for the most committed and faithful of God’s children.

I am reminded of several things found in the Bible having to do with this.  One of the first was the plight of the apostles in the book of Acts as the church was being established.  Peter, John, Paul and others suffered mightily at the hands of others.  Yes, there were times when God provided some kind of direct protection.  Still, there were other times when they languished in prison, were beaten, or had some other calamity befall them.  If anyone was committed and faithful, the apostles were.

Then there were the prophets of the Old Testament who suffered greatly because they had the courage to speak the message of God to the people.  Yes, God at times protected them as well.  But there were many times when that protection wasn’t there and there was some great suffering that took place.

I am also reminded of the incident Jesus told about the Tower of Siloam falling on some people.  Jesus asked the question of whether these people were worse sinners than others because this happened to them.  He emphatically said that was NOT the case.  Now, I realize the context and point of the story isn’t about bad things happening to good people, but the point I made is there.

So, the question remains whether God provided protection for us against the fallen limb.  And that question will continue to remain, because I just don’t know.

I WILL say that I am grateful for being spared, however it happened.  I am thankful that I didn’t end up in the hospital or funeral home.  I cherish life and living, however many hours and days I may have left.  I know that some time in the future, be that near or far away, my body will cease to function.  I don’t know if that will happen because of illness, trauma, or just old age.  But I do know, as the song says, “Who holds tomorrow; and I know Who holds my hand.”

 

Blessings.

Celebrate Family (7/21/22)

 Good morning!  Welcome to a toasty Thursday !

 I have several siblings…five to be exact.  I’m the third from the oldest, meaning I’m sort of a middle child.  I never quite fit into the world of my older two brothers, and the two immediately younger than I am are sisters, with a little brother tagging along last.  So, I didn’t quite fit in with my sisters either, and my younger brother is enough younger than I am that I didn’t relate much with him either when we were home.

But I’m not here today to talk of my trials as the middle child.  I was blessed beyond measure with the family I had and have.  I have no complaints.  And if I did have complaints, I probably wouldn’t air them in this venue.  Besides, complaining about things that were true 60 to 70 years ago isn’t productive because the past is just that…past.

No, I’m here to talk a bit about the oldest brother.  Some of you may know him…our oldest brother Max Plank.  Now, while all of us have excelled in some area of life…Dennis in real estate, myself in health care and ministry, Marianne in educational psychology, Linda in community service, and Kevin in technology, Max has spent his life in music and music education.

At Eastern Michigan University, Max held several different roles in a life-long career there.  Accomplished musician, professor, composer and director, he helped shape the lives of countless students and friends.  In retirement, he remains active in the community, his church, his family, as well as in the music field.

His career is one to be admired.  His accomplishments could fill a book.  Many of his students still maintain contact with him many years after retirement.  He is still in demand as an adjudicator for music festivals, as well as for the occasional compositions he writes and sometimes directs.

More importantly, however, he is the glue that helps to hold us all together.  As the oldest, we still respect his opinions and ideas regarding the family, and look to him for familial leadership when necessary.  We have annual reunions as a family and extended family…usually lasting three days over a long weekend at some kind of resort or encampment.  Max is an integral part of the planning and execution of many of those reunions.

I don’t know where you fall in your family and sibling dynamics.  You may have a family similar to ours…we love each other and respect & celebrate our differences as well as our commonalities.  Or you may come from a dysfunctional family.  Your memories and experiences may be anything but pleasant.  Or you may not have a family.  You may have been in the foster care system or orphaned.  We all have different experiences with family and family units.

We are grateful for our family unit.  We are grateful for Max and his leadership and example.  And we are grateful to God for preserving us until this day.  There will come a time when we will not be a complete family.  We will begin to lose family members to illness and death.  When those days come, and they certainly will come, we will celebrate life, celebrate family, and celebrate the love of God in thankful praise.

Blessings.

Think on These Things

 Most evenings at our house are occupied by relaxing in our lower level area, sometimes with the TV on, sometimes not.  We read, watch TV, do puzzles of various kinds, finish up some indoor job that we didn’t get done earlier (laundry, dishes, etc), and generally wind down, so to speak, at the end of the day.

The 10pm news is usually the last thing on the TV, unless a football or basketball game that we want to see is still going…then it is turned off.  The wife continues her reading, sewing, or puzzle-solving for awhile, and I many times will go to YouTube for a short time before retiring for the night.

“YouTube?” you say.  “What would you be watching on YouTube at 10:30 at night?”

As is with much of what one finds on the internet, there is much that is good and much that is not so good on YouTube.  I’ve chosen to absorb a sort of eccentric collection of video topics ranging from classical music to high school choirs & orchestras to courtroom videos (the Caught in Providence videos with Judge Caprio) as well as secret Santa and surprise squad videos (Google “surprise squad” if you aren’t sure what that is).

In between are Gaither homecoming videos, the occasional “On the Road with Steve Hartman” segments produced by CBS News, Bible Project videos, Sandy Patti, Statler Brothers, and other southern gospel videos, the occasional aria from Handel’s Messiah, and…well…the list could go on, but you get the idea.

I’ve chosen to watch videos at that time of day which will uplift and soothe my soul.  Music that takes me to a better spiritual place.  Events and activities which encourage and show the good sides of humanity.  Stories which demonstrate the best in the human spirit and provide a foundation for life and living.  Stories which let me know that all is not the doom and gloom as portrayed on the news; that there are things more important than politics and ideology.  Yes, I watch the news at 10 pm because I think it’s important to be aware of what’s going on in the community, the nation, and the world.  But I don’t need to retire for the night with the negative bent of the news on my mind.

Then, after viewing some videos, as I go upstairs I usually go outside into the front yard.  Even when it’s really cold outside in the winter, I like to step outside for just a moment, take in the atmosphere, look up at the sky, and survey the neighborhood.  The stars above let me know that there’s much, much more to life than just the day to day routine.  The neighborhood reminds me of the incredible blessings that have come our way over the years.  The air…crunchy cold, warm & sticky, or with the scent of spring or fall in it, remind me of the brief span of life and the promise of something better when this life is over.

Sometimes, if the weather is especially disagreeable, I think of those we often meet downtown at the church building who are staying outside in the weather because they have no home.  Many of them have a mental illness or some kind of disability which prevents them from doing what is necessary to live inside.  I wonder how they are getting along and whether or not they have found some temporary shelter from the rain, snow, or wind.

Following all of this, the wife is usually finished with her nightly routine, and it’s relatively easy for me to do my bedtime business, put on my CPAP, and drift off for the night.  I don’t know why I got into the routine of going outside, but it works for me.  I even try to do the “going outdoors” thing if I’m not at home, if at all possible.  I can’t always access YouTube, but I can usually get outside wherever I may be.

I don’t know what your routine is at night.  However, I am reminded of what that great apostle Paul said long ago about what should be on one’s mind.  Here’s what he said in his letter to the Philippian church long ago.  “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

You will hear all kinds of things, both uplifting and depressing.  But choose to dwell…to dwell…on the true, the noble, the pure, the admirable, the excellent.  I think you’ll find that your overall attitude will be better, your overall health will be better, and you will be more content.

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distractions

 Good morning !  Hope your Thursday is going well so far.  I know it’s hot in a lot of the country right now, and trust you are staying somewhat cool.  Today’s thought comes from some observations I’ve been making while driving in Wichita.  Yes, I know that many people in Wichita as well as elsewhere sometimes exhibit bad driving habits such as changing lanes without signaling, rushing in front of someone on a four-lane road only to slow down and turn…making the driver they pushed ahead of slow down as well, tailgating, and many other habits that aren’t in the good driving manual.

But one thing I’ve especially noticed in the past months…going on into years…is a kind of distracted driving.  I’m not necessarily referring to texting while driving; however, that is a real issue.  I’m referring to someone driving who apparently isn’t texting or talking…is looking ahead and seems to be alert, but for whatever reason doesn’t see or doesn’t perceive a potential or real threat to his well-being.

Here are a couple of examples.  How often have you been on a multi-lane road only to have someone pass you on the left, then cross multiple lanes of traffic to the right in order to exit the road at the last second?  It’s just as if they only at the last second remembered that they needed to exit, and rushed headlong across multiple lanes in order to get to the exit barely in time.

Or what about the one whose blinker is still on a half mile or more from where he last used it.  Somehow, it didn’t occur to him or her to check it and turn it off in order to avoid confusion to other drivers.

Or maybe you were in the right hand lane at a stop light waiting to turn right on the red when the coast was clear.  The car in front of you is also waiting to turn right.  There aren’t any cars coming for a half a mile, but the car in front of you just sits there.  Finally, when the light is about 3 seconds from turning green, the driver gets the message and makes the turn.

And we’ve all been behind someone who didn’t move when the green light came…and we waited a few seconds, then honked at them to get them to move.  Much of that, I think, comes from texting while sitting at the light.

And have you ever been beside someone, both of you first in line at a light…and when it went green, the other car wouldn’t move until they saw you move first?  Try it sometime if you’re in that situation.  Often, the other car will wait for you or someone else to move first before going into the intersection.

It seems to me that people are more distracted now than they were even a few years ago.  And phones aren’t the only issue.  I think people have more on their minds and are worried or concerned about more things now than they were awhile back.  They are present in body, but often absent or at least occupied in mind.  It’s like they are going through the motions of living, but aren’t into it like they should be.

Is there a cure for that?  I don’t know.  I too have at times found myself wandering away mentally while driving or doing something else.  I think it’s normal at times.  But to see so much of it during drive time is unsettling to me.  I think something’s going on here that is bigger than just someone being pre-occupied temporarily with something.

I have no answers.  I only have observations and am not even certain my observations accurately describe in increased amount of mental and emotional distractions in the past few years.  What do you think?  What are you seeing?  What are you experiencing?  I’d really like to know.  Thanks for watching these Thursday Thoughts.  See you next week.  Blessings.