LET’S CUT HIM SOME SLACK!…John 11: 1-16

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You ‘doubting Thomas’!  Ever been called that?   I’m not sure I have.  We find the story of ‘doubting Thomas’ not here in John 11, but in chapter 20:24.  Thomas was a twin.   Maybe he didn’t like everyone thinking that he and his twin always thought alike, saw eye-to-eye.  Maybe he had to see it for himself.  When the disciples said that they saw the risen Lord, Thomas demurred saying that he’d never believe unless he could see and even touch Jesus.  Hence, ‘doubting Thomas’.

Know what happened?  Jesus shows Himself…to Thomas.  Alive!  And we get blessed, those who have never seen Him and yet believe.  That’s us!  I wonder if we’ve been a bit tough on Thomas, ‘the doubter’?  What about this episode here in John 11?

Lazarus has died.  Jesus delays His visit for some unknown reason.  He comes when He’s ready.  And raises Lazarus from the dead.  Thomas witnesses this miracle. Here’s a bit of context.   During the most recent Feast of Tabernacles, the religious leaders try to arrest Jesus(John 8:44).  Rumors circulate that some want to kill Him(7:25).  A crowd attempts to stone Him(8:59), while at the Hanukkah Feast they try to arrest Him(10:39), again picking up stones to kill Him(10:31).  Tensions mount.  Threats grow.  The disciples sense that the fate of their Master could be theirs as well.  Jesus told them of His coming death.  They can’t fathom it.  Too horrible to contemplate.  They block it out.

But not Thomas.  Not this time.  He says clearly, with boldness and courage–‘…Let us also go, that we may die with Him'(John 11: 16).  These are words of one who refuses to let Jesus face death alone.  These are passionate words of a true friend, a dear brother, a faithful follower.  No doubt about it!  No ‘doubting Thomas’ here.

Though he faltered some after the resurrection of Jesus(and who didn’t?), yet Thomas has been a true follower of his Lord.  We falter at times.  I have…many times and, sad-to-say, I’m probably not done yet.  Like Peter, who denied Jesus three times; and John the Baptist, from prison, questioning whether his cousin truly was the Messiah; so Thomas had his moments… of doubt and stumbling.  Yet, Jesus comes to Thomas to show him exactly what he needs to see.  And not only Thomas.  Jesus comes to us, even with all our sin,  yet with His hands of forgiveness and second…third…fourth(and then even more)chances to get up and  follow Him. Why does He keep doing that?  You know!  He loves us so much.  Of that, there’s really no doubt!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for giving us a new start after we’ve stumbled and fallen.  When our faith is weak, you draw near to us to lift us up. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

UNCOMFORTABLE HONESTY!… Psalm 89: 38-52

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It makes me uncomfortable reading the verses at the end of Psalm 89.  Don’t like it.  God’s people griping at the Lord, blaming Him for the mess they’re in.  See what I mean?–‘But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed.  You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust…You have exalted the right hand of his foes…you have covered him with shame'(from verses 38-45).

I cringe when I hear someone letting-it-all-out with the Lord.  Would be afraid that lightning might strike!  Really, would you feel comfortable saying these words to the Lord like Ethan the Ezrahite did in this psalm?  But it’s right there in the Bible.  And no criticism is leveled at Ethan.  That’s real hard for me.  Why?  Can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t fear that the rug wouldn’t be pulled out from under me.  Scared that anything I did wrong would cause the anger of God to be unleashed on me.

Be careful what you do and say.  Walk gently and gingerly on those eggshells.  Not sure that those who know me would guess that all this goes on inside.  I can’t possibly know all that goes on inside of you, either.  What struggles you hide from the world.  What embarrassments and shame you hope no one would ever see on your face.

Ethan obviously had no such hesitations.  He says whatever he feels.  There’s a part of me that envies him.  What’s really neat is that very last verse of Psalm 89.  After all his complaining, he says ‘Blessed be the Lord forever!  Amen and amen.’  Even though he complains,yet he praises the Lord he loves and worships.  He really believes that God is on his side.  That God is loving and faithful…’I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations'(verse 1).  He believes that God is who He says He is.

There’s the rub.  To really believe… who He says He is.  Take Him at His Word!

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, for calling us to be open and honest with you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

GIVE IT YOUR VERY BEST!… Colossians 3: 12-17

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Being a television star is not all it’s cracked up to be!  I should know!  I had a weekly television show on our Christian public access station for a period of 5 years.  It was 28 1/2 minutes in length, to be precise!  Tuesday evenings with a repeat Wednesday afternoon.

Did hundreds of shows with Christians of all denominations, ages, and jobs.  Pastors were my first group to have as guests, but they proved too boring and predictable.  Sorry, my friends and colleagues!  Soon realized that the local garbage man, store clerk, psychologist, teacher, bank executive, lawyer, and policeman were much more interesting.  They would tell their stories of how they came to know Christ.  Each one was different.  In the middle of the show, I had a local vocalist sing a Gospel song.  The second half of the  show focused on the differences the Lord had made in their lives.  Most had fascinating stories to tell.

I also met some amazing singers and sinners(especially the host)!  All knew Jesus… and had been changed by Him.  The show was called ‘Person-to-Person’.  Doing the show, I learned a few things myself.  The main lesson was to do my best for the Lord.  Every year I tried to make the show as professional as possible.  Yet station glitches seemed to pop up at the worst times.  Like their showing our Christmas special two days before Thanksgiving.  Or episodes not starting on time.  Funny, I know.  But it wasn’t to me.  Wanted this to be the best that I could do, appreciating those who gave of their time, and principally for the Lord Himself.  As the Apostle Paul wrote, ‘And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus…'(Colossians 3:17).  I was learning to work very hard for Him.

Lessons for life?  Do it for Him.  And do it with all your might.  I remember reading about a pastor who studied and prepared one hour for each minute of his sermon.  A 20-minute message required 20 hours of preparation.  Commitment. Giving our best.  Think of all that Jesus packed into 3 brief years.  John the Apostle said that all the books in the world couldn’t contain all that Jesus had said and done in those 3 years that He had on this earth(John 21:25).   Does this hit home for you in any way?  What you’re doing for the Lord, and giving Him your very best?  Are you?

Whatever we do, do it all for Him.  For His glory.  To reach others with the best news of all.  Do your very best.  Should we make that a commitment?  How about it?  I’m in!  Are you?

Prayer:  Lord, help us not be lazy and comfortable doing a fair to middling job for you.  In Jesus’ name, the One who gave His all for us.  Amen.

DON’T TRY TO INHERIT THEIR FAITH…2 Chronicles 24

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I’m a treasure hunter, finding hidden gems in Bible passages.  Let’s dig a little deeper.  After the deaths of kings David and Solomon, we have a procession of 8 kings of Judah, the Southern Kingdom.  Now we come to a young boy crowned king named Joash.  He wouldn’t have made it passed his fifth birthday if it wasn’t for the wife of the High Priest Jehoiada.  Her name was Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram.

Jehoram had killed all his brothers to secure the throne.  Jehoshabeath’s  brother was King Ahaziah, who was killed by Jehu one of Jehoram’s commanders.  With Ahaziah’s death, their mother, Athaliah, ruled as Queen of Judah by annihilating all the royal family.  This was her very own flesh and blood.  Nice lady!   Athaliah was a daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of the Northern Kingdom.  She brought the false worship of despicable Baal to Judah.  Athaliah broached no threat to her merciless reign.  Only one male child survived due to the intervention of Athaliah’s own daughter, Jehoshabeath.

This wife of the High Priest Jehoiada was tough-as-nails.  She knew her actions could result in her death and that of her family.  Nevertheless, she hid her one year old nephew in the Temple precincts for a number of years.  He was but seven when crowned  King of Judah.  This was Joash.  And this 24th chapter from 2 Chronicles makes it crystal clear that Joash had some marvelous, godly people in his life almost from birth.  They stayed with him throughout his reign until the High Priest Jehoiada died.

Listen to what it says in verse 15:  ‘but Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died.  He was 130 years old at his death.  And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and His house’.  What a tribute!  A High Priest buried with the most famous kings.  Listing his age emphasizes the Lord’s blessing.  He lived longer than many other heroes of the faith–like Sarah(127), Joseph(110), Moses(120), Aaron(110) and Joshua(110).  He was long-time faithful to Yahweh God.

But, unfortunately, when he leaves the scene, so does his godly influence.  His faith, and that of his wife, could not be inherited.  Not theirs, not ours.  Faith must be found in each person.  Faith can be influenced and shared but never inherited.  Money and possessions can be.  But not our trust in Jesus.  His claims are always individual.

I pray every day and night for all our children and grandchildren.  For friends and church members, for government leaders…that all will come to know the Lord for themselves.  There is no other way.  None.  Keep praying.  Live for Jesus yourself.  Be humble.   Be His.  And leave the rest in His loving hands!

Prayer:  Lord, we ask you to move the will of our loved ones so that they make that personal decision for Jesus Christ.  In His name.  Amen.

BY THE SEA, BY THE SEA… John 7:37-39

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It was back in 1959 that my parents first rented an apartment right on the beach, at the ocean, in Ocean City, New Jersey.  For two glorious weeks!  They rented the same place for a few years, always the last week in July and the first week of August.  My father said that those were the best weather weeks of the summer.  I didn’t care when we went, as along as we did!  I loved it.  Still do.  My wife can tell when I get morose and change my name to ‘gloomy Gus’, that it’s time for a trip back home, to Ocean City, the one in New Jersey!

Have to keep going back.  ‘By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea…’  That’s my song but only for a few weeks or a month.   Jesus talked about water, living water.  If you had it, you would never thirst again.  Really?  What did He mean?

It was on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles.  He’s in Jerusalem at the Temple.  He proclaims: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'”(John 7: 37-38).  The Gospel writer, John, tells us that Jesus is referring to the Holy Spirit, who will be given to all believers.  Plain and simple.  When you believe in Him, more flows your way.  More of what counts in life.  More from within where it’s private, genuine, protected from being cast before any swine you encounter.  More love, more forgiveness, more purpose…more and more of whatever God has for us.

Rarely it’s things.  Often it’s something you can’t put your finger on.  Something indescribable.  Something money can’t buy.   That’s why the world, such as it is, doesn’t have a clue.  How can it?  Without Jesus, they have no Holy Spirit, no living water bubbling up into all kinds of thirst-quenching wonders.  Without Jesus, it’s just dryness and thirst.  Emptiness and unfulfilled pawing and craving.

But with Jesus, when we know Him and love Him and really want to serve Him, we find that the ‘water’ He pours into us is energizing, satisfying and fulfilling.  Within us.  Open your mouth to Him.  Ask Jesus for more of His living water.   All from Him.  Not one drop earned.  His gift.  Thank you, Lord…

Prayer:  Thank you, Jesus, for giving us the living water of your Holy Spirit.   For Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

Away for the next week w/o computer access. More to come the week of Oct. 3rd! How about telling someone about Reflections blog?

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I’d like to ask your help this week as we’ll be out of range of a computer to use.  Could you mention to a friend or neighbor or co-worker or relative about this Reflections blog?  Would love to share more about the Lord with even more people.  In the past year and a half it’s been amazing how many have signed up as following the blog.  Very encouraging with people from many different countries and continents.  But room for more!  Please help.  Thanks and we’ll talk more in a week!  Blessings, John

AH, SOME PEACE AND QUIET!…Psalm 76: 8

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We were the fourth house constructed in ‘Campus Peak’.  There will be 90 homes when completed.  It will take a couple of years before the sounds of construction are heard no more.  As I look out my office/study window, I can see golfers whizzing around on their carts, hearing the ping of their Ping golf balls hitting evergreen trees right and left!

Weekends are particularly lovely here as all construction ceases.  No hammering, no digging post holes for the wooden fences.  No trucks delivering trusses or foundation forms.  No nailers, roofers or painters.  Peace and quiet!

Like what it says in Psalm 76: 8.  Not talking about new home communities, but of coming judgement.  And we wonder when?  God knows… and that’s all we need to know.  Forget the speculating.  Rest in His plan.  He knows all about it.  That should be enough for us.  This verse reassures us that whenever God judges the earth and this world, we’ll know it.  No doubt about it.  All the political chatter will cease.  Money-grubbing will be useless.  The sinner’s plight unveiled for what it is, rebellion against holy God.  No more arguing.  No more bargaining.  No more shading of the truth.  No more ‘spin doctors’.  Hallelujah!

Psalm 76:8– ‘…the land feared and was quiet.’  Everyone who had turned their backs on the Lord knew that they had made a terrible mistake.  They ‘feared and were quiet’.  Stopped in their own tracks

.  There will come a day when God will give to all believers His quiet and peace.   In Hebrew it’s ‘Shalom’.  The Hebrew word for ‘quiet’ is ‘shawkat’.  It means to rest and be settled, still and undisturbed with an inner confidence and peace.  Certainly not for those who willfully and knowingly reject God, but rather only for those who bow the knee to the Lord of Lords.

I’m looking forward to better days ahead.  Much better ones!  We may see dreadful days coming, but only be for a brief period.  A season whose limits are determined by the Creator Himself.  Then will come the best… His best!   ‘Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!'(Rev. 22: 20).

Prayer:  Lord, we claim your promises of better days ahead through your Son Jesus.  In His name.  Amen.

I CAN’T STAND IT WHEN THEY LOSE!…Zechariah 11:7-14

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I can’t stand it when they lose. Depressed and despondent.  Who wouldn’t be?  After all, the Yankees lost yesterday!   I can’t remember not rooting for them.  I started collecting baseball cards when I was 7 years old.  Still have only Yankees’ cards.  Do they make others?  Why?  Such wasted ink and cardboard!

Really matters not for my beloved Yankees what my emotions happen to be at the moment.  Nothing I can say or do will effect their outcome in any way, shape or form.  There’s something to learn here– it’s about knowing our limits.  Boundaries.  Step back, trust the Lord…and pray.

Our last church blessed me with the honorary title of Pastor Emeritus, the only one ever given in the history of our church.  What that entitled me to was a ministry of encouragement and prayer.  Involvement?… very little!  Suggestions?…keep them to yourself!   Criticism?…forget it!  Some pastors have a hard time letting go.  Why is that?  Because we know best?  That no one can do it like we can?

Pray for discretion to know our limits and boundaries.  To keep them where they should be. You must be wondering what any of this has to do with Zechariah 11.   I’m looking at verse 9.  Zechariah has been talking about a run-in with some leadership of ‘the flock’.  He says that this flock is ‘doomed to be slaughtered by the sheep traders'(verse 7).  He gets rid of three particularly wretched ‘shepherds’.

“So I said, ‘I will not be your shepherd.  What is to die, let it die.  What is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed…'”  Zechariah has stepped back.  If sin is to run rampant and unchecked in their lives, by their own wretched freewill, then the Lord will judge.  Zechariah dare not and must not interfere.  This is so hard.  Why?

I don’t know.  My own discretion is sometimes questionable.  I do know that the Holy Spirit wants to give us discernment– when to be involved and when to let go.  Let’s pray for each other, because I think many of us carry around a lot of excess baggage that really doesn’t belong to us.  We wind up carrying it, allowing it to weigh us down, when really we should be letting go and letting God handle it.  I’m not good at this.  I’d like to be much better.  This little verse has triggered something that needs attention in my life.  To know my limits.  You too?.  It’s helped to talk it through with you today.  Now I’m going to talk to the Lord about it. The same for you?

Prayer:  Lord, we want to help but only when we can and should.  Mainly we look to you for your help and healing.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

IT DOESN’T ADD UP…. Zechariah 10

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A lot of things in life don’t add up.  It was at Fairleigh Dickinson University that I took advanced accounting classes.  Actually, they were intro courses, but seemed more like post-doctoral to me!  In those days it was double-entry something or other, and I had the hardest time posting debits and credits. I hated it. Sweated every time the professor walked by my desk. That old professor was such a nosey busybody!

How happy I was when the Lord called me into the ministry!  That ‘added’ up for me!  And all to His ‘credit’!  Zechariah 10 contrasts the true God with false ones.  Verse 2 rails against false gods and those who proclaim them–  ‘…household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation.’  Sounds like what I just today’s news!

A world without God is ludicrous.  Any word of comfort without Jesus is nothing but ’empty consolation’.  Like at an unbeliever’s funeral where some good-hearted person mentions that the deceased is now on the bowling team in the clouds, or fishing on some distant lake in the sweet-by-and-by.  Who came up with that stuff?  And they believe it!   Fairy tales and make-believe from those who should know better but don’t.  That’s what we get with false gods, anything less than what the Bible teaches.  Without Him, it doesn’t add up.   To unbelievers it does, but without any real certainty, any real moorings in something or Someone beyond themselves.

Here’s something that adds up!  Zechariah 10: 5–‘because the Lord is with them…’  Not off in outer space somewhere, not hiding behind the clouds.  Right here with us.  Verses 5 and 6 say that, because He’s with us, we are victors– strengthened, saved, redeemed and restored.  Verse 6 says that God is compassionate.  Answers our prayers.  Has feelings for us.  Nothing touches us that doesn’t first touch Him.

He enjoys blessing us over and over again.  ‘Count your many blessings, see what God has done’.  You know me and math–I can’t count that high!  Blessings upon blessings.  In addition(see I can add!), He brings us home to be with Him(vs. 8, 10).  Home from strange places.  He grows His family.  Watches over our safety(v. 11)as we walk in His Name(v. 12).  This type of walking is not simply one foot in front of the other, but being in relationship with God.  Knowing Him.  Wanting to follow Him.  Does this not makes sense?  He debits our credits.  He paid the price.  The balance we owe is now zero!  It’s promised to us by God Himself.  He gives us His Word.  His Word is the Bible.  You can count on it…on Him!  Now, that really adds up!

Prayer:  Lord, we do want a close relationship with you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

THAT SPECIAL AROMA!… Zechariah 8: 18-19

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I can still smell those pungent aromas of Indian food in our church gymnasium!  Not just there.  All throughout the large facility of the West Side Presbyterian Church, Englewood, New Jersey, where I served as Senior Pastor.  I was a young pastor of an older, well-established congregation that had grown rather small, which was housed in a large, multi-purpose facility.  Gorgeous sanctuary with elegantly carved wood from the choir loft to the elevated pulpit.  A large fellowship hall with a full stage.   Three floors of Sunday School rooms and nursery.  Huge kitchen adjacent to a full gymnasium, that also had a bowling alley!   I had an upstairs office with a separate entrance.  Parsonage was next door.  Behind was a paved parking lot probably for a hundred cars or more.  Sadly, when I arrived, there were about 75 members.

One event I remember vividly was at Christmastime.  One church family was  from India.  They had a large ‘family’ of Christian friends who lived mainly in New York City.  They asked to use the church gymnasium for their group Christmas dinner.  And, of course, we said ‘yes’.

Only one condition was added–that the pastor could be there to enjoy the fellowship while having a preeminent place at the very front of the line for the potluck dinner, which we called the ‘covered-dish supper’!  Who could be such a brash, bold and boorish clergyman?   ‘It’s me, it’s me, O Lord…standing in the need of chicken Korma!’

What great people they were.  Women dressed so beautifully in saris.  But the food!  The aromas, the Indian spices and pickles!  I’m salivating as I write!  Truly the whole church edifice had that certain fragrance for all the Christmas season right up to and through the new year!  I loved it.

Back to the Bible!  For this is what Zechariah is referring to.  In the 8th chapter he writes, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts:  The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts.  Therefore love truth and peace'(v. 19).  All that fasting will be in the past. No more dieting, either!

In heaven, it’s joy … forever!  Feasting on the Lord Himself!  All of Him… forever!  We’ll never be full.  There will always be more to learn and love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  We’ll always be scratching the surface as we dig deeper, knowing that we’ll never totally plumb the depths of God. Always more.

After all, this is feasting time!  The banquet-room doors are about to open!  Can you smell the aromas wafting your way of His coming feast?  Can you see the lights of heaven sparkling like a splendor we’ve never, ever seen before?  Can you?  Let the feasting begin!

Prayer:  We’re looking forward to knowing you better.  We love you.  In Jesus’ name.   Amen.