DO YOU LIKE THOSE OLD HYMNS? …John 15: 1-11

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Some of you are just shaking your heads.  Tsk…tsk, you’re saying!   Fischer is really showing his age!  Harking back to the good old days of the good old hymns that he can’t find in most churches today.  Could go round-and-round on church music and wind up back at square one!

But I have my old hymnal!  Hasn’t been confiscated yet.  No modern music swat-team has surrounded our house.  Dare I mention that I love the old hymn ‘Abide With Me’?  It was written in the early 19th century by an Anglican priest named Henry Lyte.  He had severe bronchial issues most of his adult life.  It’s said that he coined the phrase ‘it is better to wear out than to rust out’,  and he did just that.  Wear out!  Died at age 54, literally crawling up into the pulpit to give his last sermon.  It was but days after that he wrote this hymn, weeks before his death.   Never giving up.  Abiding in Jesus.  As the Lord Himself  says in John 15: 4–‘Abide in me, and I in you…’  That word ‘abide’ in the original Greek is the word ‘meno’.  It basically means to remain, be present with, stand and endure, continue.

To remain and be present with Jesus reminds me of His time in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking His closest followers to stay awake with Him– ‘Abide with Me’.  Their sleepy eye-lids got the better of them, however.  My spiritual ‘sleepiness’ often gets the better of me, as well.  And you?  To endure is to be immovable in the face of whatever life throws our way.  To stand and not be shaken.

To continue means to end well for Him.  Not to wind up like so many, even those in the Bible, who seem more like unbelievers at the end of their lives.  Or those who succumb to terrible temptations that cast a dark shadow over the name of Jesus and His church.  To abide in Him is to end strong, standing on the promises of Christ, having decided to follow Jesus, trusting and obeying Him, still praying to cleanse me, knowing that our King is coming, having victory in Jesus, for He paid it all, at Calvary, and that Jesus loves me, even me!  I could go on and on!

Abiding is a two-way street.  We for Him and He with us.  Even when I stumble and fail Him, yet He abides with me.  He stands with us when we fall and helps us get back up on our feet.  He’s not fickle, not drawn away by a cuter, richer, newer convert.  He will stay right there beside you and never move.  The Rock.  I know there’s much wonderful new Christian music.  But the old ones still speak… and inspire… and help me to abide in Jesus.  Whatever it takes, abide with Him!

Prayer:  Lord, we love you with words and tunes that lift up your praise now and forever.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

THERE’S A FLYING BILLBOARD IN YOUR HOUSE!… Zechariah 5: 1-4

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Imagine seeing a large billboard, pulled by an airplane, advertising some suntan lotion or a local pizza joint.  The banner would be flapping in the wind with the plane laboring to drag it along against some rather strong head winds.  Not so strange at the beach community we have vacationed at for many, many years now.

Imagine that banner floating in your house with a message that’s not very positive at all!  It spells doom and gloom, and not far off.  In Zechariah 5 the prophet has a vision of a flying scroll.  It is 30 feet by 15 feet with writing on both sides.  Reminiscent of  the law given to Moses, written on both sides of two clay tablets.  Why two?  Agreements were spelled out on two tablets, with both sides having the same content.  One was given to each of the parties involved.  A mutual agreement called a covenant.  This flying scroll highlights two of the 10 Commandments.

The Word of God symbolically enters someone’s house.  Someone who steals, someone who is a liar.   These were secret sins of the homeowner.  Kept within their own four walls.  Maybe no one knew.  But God knew.  He always knows.  The scroll lets everyone know that this house is under divine quarantine.  A plague on this house.

Then something totally unexpected happens.  The homeowner never repents.  Never turns to the Lord in sorrow.  What then?  The house is consumed by the flying scroll, ‘both timber and stones’ (Zechariah 5:4).  The scroll eats this house and destroys it.  Even the stones upon which it is built.  The point being?  Only that which God builds, lasts.

What builds and what lasts in our lives?   God’s Word.  The Bible will establish God’s plan for our lives.  Turn to the book of Nehemiah.  The walls of Jerusalem have been rebuilt.  How do God’s people respond?  They tell “Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel…And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people…and as he opened it all the people stood.  And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen’…”(Nehemiah 8:1, 5-6).

Their response?  They want to hear from God.  They don’t scorn God’s Word, they cherish it.  They stand in respect to God and His holy Word.  It’s powerful, like a two-edged sword.  Two sides–like being fed by it or consumed by it.   The Lord Jesus will come into your inner ‘house’.  Invite Him to open up what needs changing in your life.  Open doors to Him.  Windows, also.  Cupboards and closets, nooks and crannies.  And enjoy the fresh air of the Holy Spirit!  What a banner day that will be!

Prayer:  Lord, we bow before you and your Word.  Help us to read it and heed it.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

WHAT A GIFT!… John 10: 22-30

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What a surprise!  I never expected such a gift.  But I was not a ‘happy camper’!  One of our sons gave me a 1953 Topps baseball card for my collection.  One I had decided not to buy.  Why?  It was too pricey.  This Mickey Mantle card was way too expensive for my frugal tastes!  I had no idea I had even mentioned this card to our son.  But he took note and found one that ‘fit the bill’.  Probably a few bills at that!  He told my wife that he couldn’t wait for me to open the gift and ‘see me squirm’.  Well, I obliged!  ‘No, no, that was way too much money!’  He smiled as I squirmed in my seat at their dining room table.  That was one special gift for sure.  I guess it’s better to squirm and be uncomfortable with such a gift than to take it for granted.  Don’t want to do that, whatever the gift.

In John chapter 10, Jesus talks about giving and receiving gifts.  He says that He gives eternal life to all His followers, the ones who know Him and love Him.  A gift of life that never ends.  Life that goes on and on in heaven free of any sin and its dreaded effects.  Unencumbered…unfettered– Jesus’ gift of eternal life.  Can you imagine?  It boggles my imagination.  To be with Him would be enough, but He has more and more for us.  Gifts to give.

He lives to give.  He loves to give… to His children, to you and me.  Not only that, but Jesus says this in verse 29: ‘My father, who has given them to me…’  When I read that, probably for the umpteenth time, I had to sit back in my chair.  Did you hear what Jesus said?  You and I are the Mickey Mantle 1953 Topps baseball card to Jesus Himself!  When He looks at us, He doesn’t see only a name or a number… but a gift.  I am God the Father’s gift to His Son Jesus.  And so are you.

Should that make us squirm?  No way!  He prizes us as the very best gift anyone could ever receive.  When you realize how much He values us, how much He loves us, then you and I should go through our daily lives, no matter what happens, with a spring in our step and a lightness in our hearts.  Shouldn’t we?   I’ve got that Mantle card in a special place, safe and protected.  Like where Jesus keeps us…near to His heart.   Safe and protected… forever!

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord, for caring so much for us.  For prizing us as special and yours forever.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

HELP US NAME OUR NEW HOME!… 2 Chronicles 3: 15-17

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When we were in England, we noticed something we had never seen anywhere else.  Almost every house had a name posted outside on a front wall.  The 15th-century house we rented was named ‘The Old Manor House’.  Next door was ‘The Manor House’.  Then up the road was ‘The Abbey’.  On the opposite side of the street was ‘The Manse’.  You get the picture.  Naming homes was a big thing in ‘jolly-old England’!

We loved it,  wondering what we would call our new home.   Could you help us?  How about these names for starters: ‘Home, Sweet Home: Better Than We Thought’.  Maybe a tad wordy?  What about: ‘Biggest Check We Ever Wrote’?!  What bright ideas do you have?  We live in the town of Lacey.  How about ‘Lazy in Lacey’?  That’s not a good house name though somewhat realistic!

Hope you’ve read those three little verses in 2 Chronicles.  Solomon is building the Temple.  At the entrance were two pillars, tall and strong, topped with ornately decorated capitals.  These two massive pillars were named  ‘Jachin’ and ‘Boaz’.   Named like they name a house in England.  ‘Jachin’ means ‘He Establishes’.  ‘Boaz’–‘In Him is Strength’.  The word ‘named’ here in the text, being the Hebrew verb, has much passion to it.  It means to cry out from deep within your soul,  proclaiming loudly, as a town crier would do, with news for all to hear!

Special news!  The Temple is established… by the Lord!  He is our strength!  Our all in all.  Without Him…nothing.  With Him, our slightest effort, though least recognized by man, is a precious and cherished gift that we give to our Lord.  ‘Jachin’–He establishes.  He creates and organizes.  He is the foundation upon which all else is built.  ‘Boaz’–In Him we find our strength.

We can do all things through Christ our Lord.   When weak, He builds us up.  When spent, He fills us with Himself.  Don’t meekly say those Hebrew names.  Proclaim them!  Cry out!  As you approach the Temple, look up and thank the Lord for establishing Himself forever in your heart.  For being your strength and your determination.   Then walk through the portico into the Holy Place, continuing right into the Holy of Holies, where Jesus Himself will take you by the hand and introduce you to the Father, who will love you like you’ve never been loved before.  ‘Jachin’– we know for sure that all in our life is from His hand, for He has established it.  And  ‘Boaz’– He is our strength for everyday living.  Pillars in the Temple.  ‘Jachin’ and ‘Boaz’.   Good names for God’s house!  Good names, indeed!

Prayer:  Lord, we claim your name as Lord and Savior.  Jesus is the name above all names.  We live for you as our strength and our foundation.  Amen.

THE 3 R’s HIT WITH INFLATION!… Zechariah 3

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Sir William Curtis, member of the British Parliament, spoke about the basic skills of a good education.  Involved reading, writing and arithmetic.  The 3 R’s!  St. Augustine, in his book CONFESSIONS, written in 401AD,  wrote, ‘For those 1st lessons, reading, writing and arithmetic…’.  The 3 R’s go way back.

Reading the prophet Zechariah, you discover that the 3 R’s have inflated to 6!  But this is good inflation!  Zechariah chapter 3 with those 6 R’s.  In verse 1,  Joshua the High Priest is standing before the angel of the Lord.  His priestly vestments are putrid and filthy.  The original Hebrew says that they are covered with human excrement.  Yuck!  The angel orders the removal of those foul clothes and then to put clean ones on.  Re-clothed!  The 1st R!

The 2nd is a harsh rebuke to Satan who stands around, as with hands on his hips,  ready to ‘rag’ on us, accuse us of whatever comes across his rotten mind.  Satan accuses… but the Lord rebukes him to his face.  Rebuked.  The 2nd R!

Then the angel of the Lord reassures Joshua that if he carefully obeys the Lord,  he’ll have significant work to do along with access to God’s holy presence.  True of us as we follow Jesus.  For the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, at the time of His crucifixion.  We now have direct access to God Almighty!  Reassured…invited into God’s house. The 3rd R!

Now the Lord reveals the Messiah to us, called ‘the Branch’.  The One cut off from the tree who has emerged a branch as on an olive tree.  Jesus is the Promised One.  The Branch who will complete God’s work of salvation through the line of King David.   Revealed.  The 4th R!

Zechariah now sees something marvelous that God’s people have yearned for since the Fall of Adam and Eve–the removal of sin, and that happening in one day. One day!  Wonder when that was?  Could it have been the day of Jesus’ crucifixion?  You can depend upon it!  On that very day, Jesus paid the price to forgive our sins–all of them: past, present and future.  What a day that was…with results going on and on into eternity!  Removed.  The 5th R!

Finally, the promise comes of a future hospitality when we invite our neighbors and families to sit with us under our fig trees, eating bread and drinking wine.  The promise of restored abundance, sharing all this in a secure home, in a peaceful country because the Lord has once again blessed us.  Restored.  The 6th R!

Aren’t these the very best?  All predicted hundreds of years before Christ, through the Old Testament prophet Zechariah.  All fulfilled by Jesus.  Our response?  Maybe that’s the 7th R?!  Response… of praise and thanksgiving to our wonderful God!  Why not praise and thank Him right now?

Prayer:  Dear God, you give us so much in your Son Jesus. Thank you for all your gifts in Him.  Amen.

MY GRANDFATHER’S STRAIGHT RAZOR…1 Chronicles 28:8-9

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My Grandfather,  Adam Fischer, died in 1941.  He was an old man, age 67!  Moved off the scene younger than I am now!  He was a painter who managed a large crew of men who painted commercial  buildings in New York City.  He had a home in Jersey City, New Jersey, along with a rental home next door, both of which are still private residences today.  Also, he had a summer cottage out in the country on a lake.  His family would leave the city  the day after school let out and not return until the day before school started in early September.  My father used to say that he didn’t know there was a depression going on!

But what is left of Adam Fischer after all these years?  What of his legacy?  I may have in my possession the only item left that he owned, a straight-edge razor.  It’s in a small, leather case.  The razor is still blood-letting sharp.  Adam Fischer, like the rest of us,  has become a name with a few dates on a line of a genealogical chart along with but a couple photos.

One, two, three generations hence and we’re mainly forgotten. Who was your great, great grandmother?  You might know, but most of us don’t.  At most, a name.  In 1 Chronicles 28: 8- 9, it mentions a legacy we can leave our children and grandchildren.  A legacy of the Lord.  What would we want to pass along anyway?

King David says ‘now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever'(1 Chronicles 28:8).

You may not have children.  Others, who are close to you, will be directly affected by your godly life.  Friend’s children, nieces and nephews, your Sunday School class.  Sometimes we have more influence on those who are not direct blood family!   Decide to follow Jesus.  Get serious about your relationship with Him.  Verse 9 tells of how serious David wants his son Solomon to be for the Lord–‘And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind…If you seek Him, He will be found by you…’

You know, as well as I do, that you can’t take anything to heaven.  Nothing of this earth, except fellow believers in Jesus Christ.  We can take others if we’d but share the treasure we’ve found in Him.  Get serious…and start sharing.  A legacy of the Lord…better than a straight-edge razor for its based on promises from the Bible, God’s double-edged sword!   That’s a legacy worth leaving!

Prayer:  Lord, help us to take all the opportunities you bring our way for sharing you with others.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

‘THE GUIDING LIGHT’… John 8:12

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My mother loved her ‘soap operas’!   ‘The Guiding Light’, ‘Search for Tomorrow’, ‘The Secret Storm’, ‘As the World Turns’, and ‘Love of Life’, among others.  In my first church, The Presbyterian Church at Tenafly, New Jersey, I was the assistant pastor in a congregation of over 1500 members.  High-powered people, well-educated and wealthy were most.  I was scared much of the time.  In my mid-20’s, fresh out of seminary, it felt like a novice pastor who had no classes in how to deal with the upper-class!

One of the stars of ‘As the World Turns’ sang in our church choir.  Hank Forsythe was a charming and humble man.  Thirty two years as Dr. David Stewart on this my mother’s favorite soap opera.  On Saturday mornings, Dr. Stewart, I mean Hank(!) and I would meet in the church sanctuary where he would coach me on how to read effectively.  Talk about being scared!

Then a couple from ‘The Guiding Light’ wanted me to marry them in the church’s chapel.  They were super concerned that everything had to be perfect from the words ‘Dearly Beloved’ on!   I was shaking-in-my-boots!  For all the cast and crew would be in attendance watching them, and them alone I hoped!   As it turns out, something good happened–the wedding was lovely, the couple and all the guests most gracious;  and I got to take my mother to the set of ‘The Guiding Light’ in New York City!

Jesus says in John chapter 8 that He is the light of the world.  He’s the Son of God, the sun who lights the world; which, without Him, would reside in utter darkness.  He is our Guiding Light when we submit to Him.  No acting or reading of parts in His troupe.  Genuinely making Him Lord of our lives.  As we spend more time with Him, in His Word the Bible, He’ll give us more of His light.  His Guiding Light.  The fears will recede,  trust will grow.  The world may turn, secret storms hit our shores, as we search for tomorrow!  He’ll give us a love of life!

After all, Jesus Himself said, ‘I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'(John 8:12).  The old ‘soap opera’ show was cancelled years ago.  His Guiding Light never has… and never will!

Prayer:  Lord, shine your light of conviction in every nook and cranny of our lives.  Be our light in a dark world, now and forever.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

CAN’T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER!…John 3: 16-21

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Now it’s stuck in my mind!   Was thinking about that old Campbell’s soup jingle.  I can’t stop singing it –‘soup and sandwich, soup and sandwich, go together…’.  I keep adding ‘like a horse and carriage’ but that doesn’t sound right or very appetizing!  What were the lyrics?  Repeating ‘soup and sandwich’, ‘like Mr and Mrs’…’can’t have one without the other’.   Some things naturally go together.  Man and woman…boy and his dog…believing in Jesus and living like we mean it.  Had to sneak that last one in!

John 3: 16 is such a famous Bible verse that I suppose its meaning gets lost in its familiarity.  Jesus talks about believing in Him.  Taking Him at His Word.  Aligning ourselves with Him. ‘Can’t have one without the other’.

Affirming that Jesus is the Savior of the world, and MY Savior also.  Accepting Him into our hearts, acting on what we say we believe.  It’s no act.  No disconnect.  None of this ‘do as I say’ stuff.  No ‘goody-goody’ on Sundays while real bad the rest of the week.  That’s like having a sandwich without that soup!  ‘Soup and sandwich…’

I know there have been times in my life when I’ve tried living by a double standard.  Hoping not to get caught.  That the mask would not slip down to reveal my face as it truly was.  Two-faced.  A lovely vase with cracks sealed with wax to cover up its flaws.  Still me probably on a daily basis?  What do you mean ‘probably’!

Because I’m far from perfect doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be like Jesus in my everyday life.  As a matter of fact, my failings give me more desire to live for Him.  The Holy Spirit pulls me back from the edge to the safe harbor of Jesus.  If I could care less about Him, you’d know that I haven’t really and truly given Jesus my life.  I haven’t truly surrendered to Him, when my life is more in MY selfish hands than His. When my conscience doesn’t register even a slight twinge when I sin.  Doesn’t bother me when Jesus is the last thought I have in my day, if even then. Can’t have one without the other.

Either we truly believe in Jesus or we’re full of hot air without any wind of the Holy Spirit.  We know the difference.  Imagine someone who says they know Jesus but with no evidence of Him in their lives.  Could they be that blind?  That deceived?  Probably.  Can’t have one without the other.  Best to name Him as Savior and Lord, AND aim to follow Him throughout our days and nights.  No ‘probably’ about it!

Prayer:  Lord, we want our words to be true with our lives.  To know you and to follow you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

A GLIMPSE WILL BE ENOUGH!…Exodus 33:12-34:9

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I’ve been thinking about this for awhile.   The encounter of God and Moses.  This story from the book of Exodus is earth-shattering.  Literally!  Here’s a bit of context.  Beginning at Exodus 19, Moses and the children of Israel at Mt Sinai receive the Ten Commandments.  Knowing His people, God provides remedies to cover violations of His law, restoring His people to fellowship with Him.  The shedding of blood, the payment of a debt.  All provided for by the Lord.

Just when things were going well, sin rears its ugly head!  Do you not notice that when God seems so intimate, that’s when the enemy throws a few monkey-wrenches your way?

Now the children of Israel want a golden calf to worship since ‘…this fellow Moses…we don’t know what’s happened to him'(Exodus 32:1).  Don’t know what’s happened to him?  Moses has been with them every day, day and night… even before they left Egypt.  Now he’s up on the mountain with God for forty days and nights.  Not forty years.  Forty days!  That’s all.  Didn’t take them long to fall backwards into idol worship.

Moses is warned by his assistant, Joshua, that there’s trouble in the camp.  The old man carries down the two tablets of the Law only to discover… the golden calf.  Thoroughly  fuming with red-hot rage,  Moses hurls the tablets to the ground, shattering them into a million pieces.

Moses is told to go back up the mountain.  He’s an old man.  Give this senior citizen a break!  Is God asking you to do something that involves some effort, time and money?  Is He?  Let’s encourage each other to do whatever HE wants us to do.

Moses needs reassurance.  God places the old man in the cleft of the rock, a protected opening on Mt Sinai.  God shows him who He truly is–His goodness, mercy and compassion(Exodus 33:19).  Moses sees God’s glory and splendor, AND he hears God’s own special name.  Twice the Lord says, ‘Yahweh, Yahweh’– spoken with kindness,  caring and intimacy.  As when Jesus addresses His dear friend, repeating her name– ‘Martha, Martha…'(Luke 10:41).  God reassures Moses of His endearing and enduring friendship by speaking the name revealed first to him many years before at the burning bush in the desert(Exodus 3).  Yahweh…will be with His people from first to last.

But He won’t allow Moses to see His face, only His back.  This means that sinful man cannot live and fully see Holy God.  So, God protects us from harm.  He’s careful to give us glimpses, hints and traces, hindsight-experiences of His being with us.  Well, what does this mean?  Just a glimpse as He passes by, that will be enough!  A glimpse…of His glory!

Prayer:  Dear God, we want to know more about you.  To love and serve you every single day.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

TURN YOUR RADIO ON!… Habakkuk 2:4 and 3:16-19

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When I sang lead for the Gospel Quartet ‘Livin’ Harmony’, we worked hard rehearsing the song entitled ‘Turn Your Radio On’.  The wording was tricky, the melody repetitive.  I had a hard time memorizing the lyrics.  The Quartet was very patient with me for I had the least experience of anyone.  And I had the lead part which should be the pronounced sound.  Periodically, I would get stuck on some musical notes that would not conform to what was written!  To be honest,  I get stuck in more places than musical notes and lyrics!

I get mired in negative thinking.  Feeling guilty much of the time.  Never doing enough or having purer motives.  Very high expectations for myself.  Can you identify?  When reading the book of Habakkuk, I was impressed with the emphasis on living by faith.  Sounds typical:  sermons laced with ‘pious platitudes’.  Like saying ‘just live by faith and all will be well.’  Or ‘you don’t have enough faith and maybe that’s why…’.

Not exactly what I read here in Habakkuk 2 and 3.  Not at all.  God tells the prophet that times are tough, and they’ll get worse before they get worse.  So, the only way to live in this sinful world is through eyes and mind focused on the Lord, who loves us and who will work all things together for good( Romans 8:28).  In other words, by faith.  Yes–by FAITH.

Stop the negative thinking.  Get out of reverse, slide into neutral and then shift into forward gears.  Let go of the emergency break and engage the clutch to get going…for Him.  For even when the worst times come, when our worst nightmares hit us in the face, that’s when we move into faith-gear.  Reminding ourselves of God’s goodness, salvation freely given, His promises fulfilled… in His time, in His way.  Clutching and shifting, putting pressure on the gas peddle, moving forward and getting somewhere.

Habakkuk 3:16 is amazing.  Let the words sink in.  Soak in them.  A bubble bath of faith that cleanses the dirtiest of life’s dramas!  Look at what Habakkuk is facing– no figs…no grapes or wine…no crops for food… no cattle or sheep or milk…’yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.’  Is that not living by faith?  Hang on for dear life.  Hang on to the Lord.    No matter what,  let’s trust Jesus.  No matter what.  Turn your faith on!

Prayer:  Lord, strengthen our faith.  Give us trust that never rusts.  Belief that never leaves us.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.