Monthly Archives: September 2024

Today is Trash Day, that wonderful day every week where we go around the house, gathering up the garbage we’ve been collecting for the last several days, and chucking it into the trash container by the curb, never to be seen again.

I always feel a little guilty and amazed by the amount of trash our little family can generate in a week. With that in mind, I’m always looking for more ways we can recycle what we can, so, instead of ending up in a landfill, the things we discard can be remade into useful items again.

There are some things, however, we can’t and shouldn’t recycle. The recycling center has a whole list of them. With those things the only place they should go is in the trash where they belong.

Our sins and mistakes should never be recycled either, yet how often we do just that. We remember some past mistake and that old guilt comes rising to the surface again. We bemoan our error and chastise ourselves once more for being such fools. Our past comes back to haunt us, stealing away our hope for a brighter future, bearing it under the refuse of our past sins. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

The Bible tells us “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love…he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:8, 10-12 NIV).

God doesn’t recycle our sins, throwing them back in our faces, whenever we mess up again. No, He says, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12). In fact, He promises He will “hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:19).

If God’s not going to recycle our sins, why should we? Let’s leave them, along with all our guilt and shame, where they belong – in the depths of the sea. Let’s trust God that He meant it when He said, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). Today is Trash Day. Let’s give Jesus all our sins and let Him take them away – never to be seen again.

I recently bought my wife a small greenhouse. It came in two boxes, with multiple parts, each with its own number. Looking at it, I didn’t have a clue where to start. But there, laying on top of the jumble of wooden posts and panels, windows doors, screws, nuts and bolts, was the answer to my problem – the Owner’s Manual.

Piece-by-piece, carefully following the manual’s instructions, I began to put the parts together. As I worked, walls started to take form. Out of chaos came order. My confusion cleared and a building began to take form.

Life can be pretty confusing too. Sometimes it’s hard to see how all the parts fit together, what the next step should be. Thankfully, God has given us an Owner’s Manual with instructions to follow. It’s called the Bible.

Psalm 19:7, 8 says, “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.”

In the Scripture we find all we need to build a successful life. In fact, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Life is complicated enough without ignoring the instructions God has given us in His Word. Check out the Owner’s Manual for yourself today. Follow its instructions every day and build a life that matters – one piece at a time.

I was reading this morning about what Jesus went through just before His crucifixion. Mark 15 describes that after he was flogged by the Roman soldiers they, “put a purple robe on him…twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. Then mocked Him shouting, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Mark 15:18 NIV).

Not satisfied with verbal abuse the soldiers, “Again and again struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.” (vs. 19-20)

As I read these words the thought came to me, “Man, I’d hate to be those soldiers when Jesus comes again.” I remembered the words of the Apostle John when he said, “everyone will see him—even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him.” (Revelation 1:7 NLT). Imagine the terror those soldiers will feel on that day

I’m just glad I wasn’t the one who pressed that crown of thorns into his brow, or struck his head, or spat on his face. I’m so glad I didn’t put that cross on His back or drive the nails through His hands and feet.

But wait a minute. Maybe I’m not getting off the hook so easily. After all Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” (Matthew 25:40 NLT)

When I strike out with angry words against another, I strike Christ. If I call another “stupid” or “idiot”, I mock the Son of God. And when I fail to feed the hungry, help the stranger, give water to thirsty, clothe the naked, or visit the sick and in prison, I neglect the King of kings and Lord of lords.

How would you treat Jesus if He was here today? Well, I’ve got news for you – He is! He’s there in everyone you meet. As you interact with others today, ask God to open your eyes to see Jesus in “the least of these”. Ask Him to help you treat them like you would like to be treated, with love, compassion and kindness.

If we do this, then we need not fear the day of His coming or, like those soldiers, tremble at His appearing. Instead, we will rejoice as we hear Him say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34 NLT).

Have you ever noticed plans don’t always go as planned?

Ana and I were planning to build a house on some property we own, but now we’re selling it instead. I’d planned on writing this post much earlier, but things came up, so plans had to change. We were planning on living in Cashmere the rest of our lives, but now we call College Place home. It seems no matter how carefully we plan our lives, our plans change.

I think our Heavenly Father must chuckle sometimes when He hears the plans of His earthly children. We are so naive, so short-sighted. We think we know what’s best, but God says, “Hold on a second. I’ve got a better way.”

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV) says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”, to which I say, “Thank God!”. I’ve made enough of a mess of things over years, following my own plans. I’d much rather have the One who sees the end from the beginning plan out my days.

Today, if your life isn’t going quite as you had planned, turn it over to Jesus. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16:3). Trust Him with your life, let Him work out His plans for you day-by-day, knowing that as long as you’re following Him you’re headed in the right direction.

For most of my life I’ve been whisker-free. I’ve grown a beard a couple times, but never really liked the way it felt. More importantly, kisses from my wife are few and far between when I’m sporting the scruffy look. She hates the feel of whiskers on her face and even cringes when some actor with a 5 o’clock shadow kisses his girl in a movie we’re watching.

So, to keep Ana happy and my face beardless, every morning I dutifully shave those little hairs away. There’s one problem, however, with scraping a sharp blade over my face each day – sometimes I slip! In a moment of inattention, still groggy from a night’s sleep, I press a little too hard or move the blade wrong, leaving myself cut and bleeding. In fact, I nailed myself pretty good just this morning.

Unfortunately, sometimes in our dealing with others, we make the same mistake. Often unintentionally our words cut a little deep or scrape a little too close, leaving the person we’re talking to sliced to the core, hurt and bleeding. Often we don’t even realize what we’ve done, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

Solomon addressed this tendency when he said, “Some people make cutting remarks…” (Proverbs 12:18 NLT). But he didn’t leave it there, adding, “but the words of the wise bring healing.”

Words can cut and cause pain, but they can also, when guided by Spirit and spoken in love, soothe and heal.. My prayer is that God will give each of us “his words of wisdom, so that [we] know how to comfort the weary.” (Isaiah 50:4) May the words we speak be to those who hear “like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” (Proverbs 16:24).

God bless and Happy Sabbath!

I’m a coward. I hate to admit it, but it’s true. When it comes to sharing my faith with someone I’m afraid to offend, worried about what they might think, fearful of how they might react. In other words, I’m a coward.

I’ve been trying to change this a little at work, by ending my patient visits with a promise that I’ll be praying for them, rather than my customary “Good Luck!” It’s so hard, though! I feel awkward, timid. Why is it that it is so much easier to mouth a meaningless, “Good luck”, then it is to say words that could really matter, like “I’ll pray for you”?

The funny thing is when I’ve told patients I’ll pray for them I’ve never had anyone say, “Oh, please don’t!” No, most people really appreciate it, because they know it means I care. So, why am I so hesitant to do it, when prayer is the one thing that always makes a difference? Medicine or therapy can only do so much, but “with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIV).

I love the promise in 2 Timothy 1:7 that, “the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” That’s what I want today, more of God’s Spirit to take away my timidity and help me boldly share His love with the people I meet.

How about you? Are you, like me, feeling a little timid about sharing Jesus with others? If so, remember, help is just a prayer away. Ask Him and He will give you all the courage and love you need to share Him with a friend today, even if it’s just telling them 4 simple words, “I’m praying for you.”

God bless, have a great day, and, oh, by the way, I’m praying for you.

Yesterday was September 11th. Twenty-three years ago the world changed forever – again. Yet, I didn’t even realize what yesterday was until a friend mentioned it in a post. Isn’t it strange that an event so life-changing for people of my generation, has become for many of us just another day, a footnote in history.

I remember how it was in the weeks and months after September 11. For many Christians it was prophecy fulfilled, a sign of the end. Others were “faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world…” (Luke 21:26 NIV).

Yet, here we are, 23 years later, and “everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:4). Yes, we’ve been through wars and pandemics and hurricanes, but we’re still here. It’s easy to think this is the way it will always be.

But, “you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night…” (1 Thess. 5:2). A day is coming when we shall “see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30.

For many these words fill them with dread, but, for those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior, this is good news, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10).

Time is passing, our world is waxing old, but there is good news – Jesus is coming! So, let us “live holy and godly lives as [we] look forward to the day of God…” (2 Peter 3:11, 12). And let us do all that we can to ‘speed its coming.” (v. 12). Today, share this good news with a friend or neighbor, so they too can find hope in the promise of His soon return.

There is a light on the campus of Walla Walla University which has a connection problem. It flickers on and off all through the night. As I walk by the campus early each morning, its flickering light is downright annoying. It has no consistency. Sometimes it lights my path, while other times it leaves me walking in the dark.

My Christian witness is too often like that light, flickering on and off. I’ll have seasons where my light will shine bright and I share Jesus with others with joy in my heart, but too often my light will flicker out when I face some challenge or disappointment.

I’m not the only one who has this problem, of course. The end time church, our generation, is described by Christ in Revelation as “lukewarm – neither hot nor cold…”. (Revelation 3:16 NIV). There is no consistency to our witness, to the way we live our lives. Our light flickers off and on, sometimes lighting the way for others, but too often leaving them stumbling in the dark.

So is there a solution for this problem? Absolutely! We need to stay connected to the Source of power, to Jesus Christ. That lamp that annoys me so much has a poor connection. It needs to have a couple wires tightened or the bulb replaced, so it can shine consistently like the others around it.

The same goes for you and I. We have to stay connected to the Source, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:2). It is only by staying connected to Him, through study of His Word and talking with Him throughout, that we consistently shine for Him, lighting the way home for others.

How about you? Is your light shining brightly consistently or does it flicker on and off, depending on your mood or circumstances? Get connected to Jesus and stay connected to Him. Then, wherever you go today, let your light shine, all the time, brightening the path for those you meet and pointing them to Jesus, the Light of the Word.

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” (Isaiah 46:4 NLT).

As someone who’s a few years over that proverbial hill and heading down the other side, I can tell you, today’s verse is true. God truly has been with me throughout my lifetime, and I know He’ll be with me for whatever years are still to come.

He’s with you too, my friends. He’s with you whether your hair still has some color in it or if every strand “is white with age” (or, as in my case, has all fallen out). He is with you when you’re young and when you’re old, when you’re filled with energy and when you’re just plain tuckered out.

He made you and He cares for you. On days when you can’t put one foot in front of the other, He will “carry you along and save you.” When everyone else turns their back on you and you’re feeling abandoned and alone, He promises, “I will never fail. I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5).

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). You can trust Him, because. “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.” (Lamentations 3:22).

No matter what stage you are in life, whether just starting out, smack dab in the middle, or you’re watching the sands of time quickly running out, He is still your God. You are still His child. Put your trust in Him. Give Him your life today and know that, whatever tomorrow may hold, He “will be your God…” He “will carry you along and save you.”

The Father, in His love, gave us His heart.
Emptied all Heaven, His love to impart.

He loved us so much, He gave His own Son,
To die for our sins, for the things we have done.

We are loved by the Father, loved by the Son, loved by the Spirit, God three in One.

Jesus came down, to show us God’s love,
To open the way, to our home up above.

In His great love, He died for our sin,
On a cruel cross, our Salvation to win.

We are loved by the Father, loved by the Son, loved by the Spirit, God three in One.

But death had no power over the Son.
He rose from the grave, the victory won.

He lives now in heaven, but He’s not far away
Through the Holy Spirit, He’s with us each day.

We’re loved by the Father, loved by the Son, loved by the Spirit, God three in One.

The Spirit is with us all through the day,
Guiding us back, whenever we stray.

He never will leave us. His love knows no end.
He guides all our steps, sees round every bend.

We’re loved by the Father, loved by the Son, loved by the Spirit, God three in One.

As you go through this life, wherever you roam,
God’s always with you, ever leading you home.

He’s your loving Father, your Brother is He,
Your Guide every moment. You’re loved by all Three.

So, come to the Father, come to the Son, come to the Spirit, God three in one.

Give Him right now first place in your life.
He’ll be there with you, in both joy and strife.

Then share Him with others, wherever you go.
Tell them about Him, so they too can know…

They are loved by the Father, loved by the Son, loved by the Spirit, God, three in one.