Hoaxed

A physics professor at Adelaide University in Australia, Sir Kerr Grant used to illustrate the time of descent of a free-falling body by allowing a heavy ball suspended from the lecture-theater roof trusses to fall some 30 feet and be caught in a sand bucket. Each year the bucket was lined up meticulously to catch the ball -- and each year students secretly moved the bucket to one side, so that the ball crashed thunderously to the floor.

Tiring of this rather stale joke, the professor traced a chalk line around the bucket. The students moved the bucket as usual, traced a chalk mark around the new position, rubbed it out and replaced the bucket in its original spot. "Aha!" the professor explained, seeing the faint outline of the erased chalk mark. He moved the bucket over it and released the ball -- which thundered to the floor as usual.

D.G. Dewar, Reader's Digest.

It's so easy to be fooled. In 2007  I received these e-mail pictures that reportedly showed the inside of the home of Tiger Woods. They were beautiful photographs, but according to www.snopes.com, the home is not owned by Tiger Woods. It is actually owed by a Maui beachfront rental company called The Golden Conch. Rental: $4000-and-up per night. Yikes!

  

According to golfonline.com, Tiger Woods was soon to own another home but not the one in Maui. He owns a home in Southern California and a lot at Three Creeks Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. His 10-acre estate on Florida’s Jupiter Island comes complete with four homes, two docks for his $22 million yacht, a golf hole, and courts for volleyball and tennis. He was living (2007) in a home at Isleworth in Orlando that he reportedly purchased for $54 million. With PGA and international events taking up most Thursdays through Sundays, I can’t imagine that he spends very much time enjoying any of them. The aerial views of his homes (not pictured) are breathtaking.

Two thoughts:

1. Many have been hoaxed by the pictures of Tiger’s home. The pictures and the value associated with them do not belong to him. A Christian can also be hoaxed. He buys into this world’s picture of success. He spends his whole life working hard to get ahead and then spends his remaining years holding tightly to what he has earned. But that picture of success and the values associated with them never really belonged to him either. He won’t take them with him when he is gone. They were always on loan from God. Christians should not invest in this life alone because the return is in the life to come.

2. God has given man the ability to build marvelous works. We see colors, styles, architecture, and settings that give pleasure to the eyes. It’s okay that you and I may never own such places. John 14:2 declares that Jesus is preparing a place for us. It will be a place made by His handiwork. In this life we see beauty that man makes. In the next life we will witness the wonders that Christ creates. There will be no comparison.

For neither man nor angel can discern hypocrisy, 

the only evil that walks invisible, 

except to God alone.

JOHN MILTON, Paradise Lost

 

Lessons from a Jiffy Lube

I was getting my oil changed some months ago and noticed an article on the wall from USA Today. It was about how to get better gas mileage. I’d heard most of the suggestions before: proper tire inflation, tune-ups, filter changes, good fuel, etc. However, there were two that I had not considered.

The first – When traveling on hot days (especially in newer cars), drive with the windows closed and the a/c on. I thought the advice would have been the exact opposite – turn off the a/c and roll the windows down. What I failed to consider was the incredible importance of aerodynamics. Cars are built aerodynamically to reduce wind drag which increases the fuel mileage. The drag that is created by the windows being open makes the car less fuel efficient than when the a/c is on and the windows are closed. Hmmmmmm. I guess we should stick with the design and plan.

The second – Check the car for extra weight (especially the trunk). Extra weight accounts for reduced fuel mileage, increased wear and tear on the tires, and increased load on the transmission and motor. That would seem to be a no-brainer. But how often do we throw stuff in the trunk only to forget about it? I checked my trunk . . . amazing.
I could have started a garage sale. There was lots of good stuff in there. It was just in the wrong place. I didn’t throw it all in at once. It built up over time. Guess I need to look in the trunk more often. I just walked outside and looked in the trunk again. It wasn’t as bad, but it wasn’t good either. Hmmmmmm. Guess I better check it more often.

Have you ever thought that God made us to function in a certain way also? In essence God says, “Roll up the windows, turn on the a/c, get rid of the extra weight, have proper inflation, get a tune-up, fill up with the right stuff, and don’t forget to clean those filters.” In other words, God says,” Just do it my way.” My spiritual efficiency and effectiveness are directly tied to my willingness and obedience.

Remind yourself of these daily needs:
1. I must get rid of drag (unnecessary weight)

    (Hebrews 12:1)

2. The Holy Spirit is my only comforter. I should seek the Comforter, not comfort.
    (John 14:16-18)

3. I need to be fueled by the Word of God.
    (Psalm 1:2-3)

4. I must be emptied of self and filled with (influenced by) the Holy Spirit.
    (I Peter 5:6; Ephesians 5:18)

5. I must be cleansed. 

    (Psalm 119:9-11)

Stick with God’s design and plan every day. 

Results: A lighter load, less wear and tear, and the right kind of comfort.

"If Christ is not all to you He is nothing to you. 

He will never go into partnership as a part Saviour of men. 

If He be something He must be everything, 

and if He be not everything He is nothing to you."
Charles H. Spurgeon

(1834 – 1892)

   

Does Jesus Care?

Have you ever wondered if Jesus really knows and cares about every detail in your life? I have at times.  Though I don't consciously wonder that very often, my actions show that I do. The Bible teaches about God's omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. Most of us who have been taught these truths would have no trouble agreeing with words that they are, indeed, truth. However, I'm ashamed to say that often our actions prove contrary to our words.

In the past few weeks, many of my prayers have been answered and events have unfolded which were undoubtedly God's doing. Unfortunately, I'm not always so quick to recognize that God is the one that is planning all of my moments. I think this is often because I fail to pray throughout my day, consulting the Lord before I make decisions. Usually, when I am conversing frequently with Him about things, it's so much more apparent when He does things that I had asked Him for or talked with Him about.

A state of mind that sees God in everything 

is evidence of growth in grace and a thankful heart.

Charles Finney  

1792-1875

It's so tempting to be deceived by the idea that Jesus only cares and is doing things in my life for my betterment when my circumstances are comfortable - when things are happening that I enjoy. When I'm not completely stressed out and exhausted.

The funny thing is, that's not even how it works in our physical lives, let alone our spiritual ones. Imagine if you only ate foods you really enjoyed, and never exerted yourself physically in any way simply because it was uncomfortable. What kind of shape would your body be in? Well, it wouldn't be fit for much. Muscles only grow when they are stretched. How can I be made fit for service for Christ if I am always comfortably satisfied and never pushed to grow?      

GE

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?

Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Frank E. Graeff

    

Too Easily Pleased

Six days ago (Sunday night) I developed a sore throat with swollen glands. I stayed home the next day thinking that a day of rest and lots of fluids would do the trick. Throughout the day on Monday I felt sick but not horrible. Horrible came calling Monday night. I spent most of the week in bed. I think I’ve had everything except a fever: sore throat, cough, runny, stuffy, weak, achy, headache, lack of appetite, and weight loss. The last one I don’t mind so much. To all those who have been praying  ~  thanks. To those who have endured a similar fate ~ sympathy. To all those who have avoided this so far ~ hope. Someone recently sent me the following quote by C.S. Lewis. It is my hope that the quote and post are as much as an encouragement to you as they were to me. 

 ---------------------------------------------

"Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”  C.S. Lewis

Read the following as if  you'd never heard it before.

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. He was a godly man who hated evil. He was blessed with 7 sons and 3 daughters. He was a wealthy man who owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 donkeys. He was the greatest of all men in the east.

On a day like any other, a servant ran into the presence of Job with terrible news. “The Sabeans took all your donkeys and oxen and killed all the servants that were there. I am the only one to escape.”

While that servant was still speaking, a second servant arrived with terrible news. “The sheep and the servants who were with them were consumed by a fire from the sky. I am the only one to escape.”

While that servant was still speaking, a third servant arrived with terrible news. “The Chaldeans took all your camels and killed all the servants that were there. I am the only one to escape.”


While that servant was still speaking, a fourth servant arrived with terrible news. “Your sons and daughters were eating together, and a great wind from the desert collapsed the house and all are dead. I am the only one to escape.”

All four servants speaking at the same with the horrible news that Job has lost everything.

Some of you may have noticed that I omitted the conversation between God and Satan - when God spoke so highly of Job and gave permission for Satan to cause such loss. I left out what Job didn’t know.. Imagine that you are Job and limited by what he knew. He experienced all of the heartache, pain, and loss without explanation. He didn't know why it happened or what the future would hold. He was reduced to four servants, his wife, and what he truly believed about God. With all that in mind, try to grasp the beauty of his humble response.

Job said, “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Be thankful, and take courage. We came into this life with nothing, and we will leave with nothing. For all that God gives or takes, be thankful. We can be content with pleasure in God alone or be content with pleasure and leave God alone. With the first chapter of Job fresh in your mind, try re-reading the opening quote by C.S. Lewis.   PM 

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
I Timothy 6:6-8

    

Broken or Broken Down

I was introduced to The Calvary Road by Roy Hession about 6 years ago. It took me two weeks to get past the first three paragraphs. It was that powerful. We either become broken or broken down. Check it out for yourself. You'll need a highlighter. It's in my recommended reading book list - to the right of this post. You can get the book online and at most bookstores, or you can read it for free online at http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/hession/calvary%20road/

The following 3 paragraphs are from chapter 1: Brokenness

We want to be very simple in this matter of Revival. Revival is just the life of the Lord Jesus poured into human hearts. Jesus is always victorious. In heaven they are praising Him all the time for His victory. Whatever may be our experience of failure and barrenness, He is never defeated. His power is boundless. And we, on our part, have only to get into a right relationship with Him, and we shall see His power being demonstrated in our hearts and lives and service, and victorious life will fill us and overflow through us to others. And that is Revival in its essence.

If, however, we are to come into this right relationship with Him, the first thing we must learn is that our wills must be broken to His will is the beginning of Revival. It is painful, humiliating, but it is the only way. It is being " Not I ,but Christ,(Gal 2:20)' and a " C " is a bent " I." The Lord Jesus cannot live in us fully and reveal Himself through until the proud self within us is broken. This simply means that the hard unyielding self, which justifies itself, wants its own way, stands up for its rights, and seeks its own glory, at last bows its head to God's will, admits its wrong, gives up its own way to Jesus, surrenders its rights and discards its own glory - that the Lord Jesus might have all and be all. In other words it is dying to and self-attitudes.

And as we look honestly at our Christian lives, we can see how much of this self there is in each of us. It is so often self who tries to live the Christian life (the mere fact that we use the word " try " indicates that it is self who has the responsibility). It is self, too, who is often doing Christian work. It is always self who gets irritable and envious and resentful and critical and worried. It is self who is hard and unyielding in its attitudes to others. It is self who is shy and self-conscious and reserved. No wonder we need breaking. As long as self is in control, God can do little with us, for all the fruits of the Spirit (they are enumerated in Galatians 5), with which God longs to fill us, are the complete antithesis of the hard, unbroken spirit within us and presupposes that it has been crucified."

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When we break God's law, guilt, anguish, anger, bitterness, emptiness, or despair will follow. Why? Because we practice (do) only what we really believe. If we don't really believe what God says, then we believe and live a lie. We can search for truth, or we can search for excuse. Choose truth.    PM 

Joshua 24:14-15

Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: 

and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, 

and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, 

choose you this day whom ye will serve; 

whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, 

or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: 

but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

     

Underwater and Helpless

 

In the summer of 2008 we ran a teen camp for our church teens at the Circle K Ranch in southwestern Colorado. It’s located in a beautiful spot in the mountains. The temperatures are wonderfully “cool to cold.” It’s a nice break from the Arizona daytime heat of 105-115˚.

We focus on spiritual things and have lots of fun, too. One of the highlights of the week is a 3-4 hour rafting trip down the Animas River. It’s a fairly easy run with a lot of wet fun. The only challenging part for beginners is toward the middle of the run (where pictures of each raft are taken): a section of rapids that is perhaps 100 yards in length. 

Before the whitewater adventure begins we are given instructions on what to do if someone falls out of a raft. The person in the water is told what to do to be recovered, and those in raft are told how to recover the raft-less one. They were simple instructions which stressed teamwork and safety.

At the beginning of the rapids our boat got hung-up on a rock, so we all moved to the low side (as instructed) and bounced up and down in an effort to free ourselves. It worked perfectly. The boat slid down the rock and we scrambled to our seats and our footholds. Did I say perfectly? Well, perfectly except for one small detail, I became separated from the raft. For all you slow people - I fell in. The thought that I might have fallen all by myself is untenable, so I imagine that the lady sitting next to me must have pushed me. I’ll stick to that story.

When I surfaced near the raft, I had lost my hat, my sunglasses, and one shoe. As I struggled to get back to the raft, the guide yelled, “Turn around!” So, I turned around and did everything I was supposed to do – feet up, arms out (treading water), wait to be picked up. It worked perfectly, and I survived. Did I say perfectly, again? Well, perfectly except for another small detail, my vest wasn’t tight enough. So, when I hit the first bit of rapids, the vest floated above my head. Vest above water, head below water – not ideal. It was my own fault. I had walked around checking and tightening the teens' vests but never had mine checked or tightened.

If I pulled the vest down, I couldn’t tread water and found myself underwater. If I treaded water, I couldn’t pull the vest down and found myself underwater. It was a vicious cycle. In both cases, the key word is “underwater.” I soon let go of the paddle. I struggled to stay afloat and struggled to get air. Occasionally, my face would surface, and I’d gasp for a breath. About half way through each breath the air became water. I coughed. I choked. I struggled. I quickly became exhausted.

At least one of our boats passed me. The guide was yelling something, and the kids were laughing. I’d have laughed, too. But I wasn’t laughing. I knew I was in trouble. I had no idea how far I’d gone, how far I’d have to go, or how I was going to get out. Finally, at the end of the rapids I was able to grab a rock and maneuver toward the shore. I could barely stand. My lost shoe was in a small eddy next to me. It was circling tightly. I picked it up and put it back. I was too tired to carry it with me. I was done. I had nothing left.

Someone asked if I was scared. I really wasn’t. I had peace and was at peace. Along with having thoughts of my family, I remember thinking or praying the following:

          Nice Mark. Way to go. Drown at summer camp.

          The kids are going to feel bad about laughing.

          “Lord, is this how it ends?”

          “Lord, if I drown, use this.”

Mostly, I felt helpless. Did you see the pic at the top of this post? It was taken as I started into the rapids. How helpless was I? I was at the other end of the paddle. I was at the mercy of the rapids; I was at the mercy of God. I was helpless without His help. We are all helpless without His help. We need God. We need God all the time, every day.

Sadly, many Christians live day to day life without the presence and leading of God.

They may look and sound good, but there is really no power beyond self.

They focus on religion (rules, rites, and rituals).

They generally fall into one of three categories:

   Those who Drift   

   They are generally unmotivated.

   They take life as it comes.

   There is little forethought, preparation or accomplishment.

   They rely on sensation instead of supplication (prayer).

   They make no time for God.

   Those who Devise   

   They are the planners.

   They mold life to fit them (a tidy plan).

   They self-plan and calculate the smallest of details, sometimes years in advance.

   They rely on calculation instead of supplication (prayer).

   They have no time for God.

   Those who Drive   

   They are highly motivated.

   They are consumed with busyness.

   They run ahead without God's plan.

   They rely on manipulation instead of supplication (prayer).

   They have no time for God.

Thankfully, some Christians live day to day life with the presence and leading of God.

They may not always look and sound good, but there really is God's power beyond self.

They focus on relationship with God.

They fall into one category:

   Those who Depend   

   They are highly motivated by eternal things.

   They learn contentment through God's grace.

   They follow God's plan one step at a time.

   They rely on supplication (prayer).

   They make time for God.

How about you?

Do you have the presence of God in your life?

Do you rely on God?
Reliance on God produces fruit.
Is your life known for the Fruit of the Spirit?

Galatians 5:22-23

But the Fruit of the Spirit is

love

joy

peace

longsuffering (patience)

gentleness

goodness

faith

meekness

temperance (self-control)

Men occasionally stumble over the truth,

but most of them pick themselves up 

and hurry off as if nothing had happened. 

Winston Churchill 

Seek Him. Have a great weekend. PM

     

Thankful Enough To Share

Mrs. Max and I had the privilege of buying our first home in March of 1999. (We would have had it paid for on my 65th birthday, but we moved to Arizona!) We thanked God for His marvelous provision. The house and yard were beautiful and in excellent shape.  The boys enjoyed the room to run, the extra bedroom, the yard, the basketball hoop, and, especially, the pool.
  
We spent many hours planting, pruning, and doing general yard work. We completed several in-door projects: hanging ceiling fans, painting, stenciling, and wallpapering. I especially enjoyed puttering around in the garage ~ it’s a guy thing. It was a great house.
  
Hunting for a new home was sometimes fun but was often frustrating: big house--small yard, big yard--small house, nice living room--small bedrooms, nice everything--too expensive, inexpensive--bad neighborhood, or bad everything. When we think back on all of the homes that we considered purchasing, none compared to the one that we bought. We loved that new house and were proud of it.
  
Some might not have found our new home to be that great, others might have thought it average, while still others might have found it to be an excellent house. But even if others had really liked our house, they wouldn’t have appreciated it like we did. We spent nine years with three boys in a two-bedroom condo with one, just one, bathroom. We were happy there, but we really appreciated the new, bigger space. We thanked God for His provision. We appreciated what we had, and even more so because of what we didn’t have before.

  
Proverbs 17:22 tells us that a merry (joyful) heart is good like a medicine but a broken (crushed) spirit dries the bones. Joyful people are thankful people who like to share their joy. Complaining people are unthankful people who like to share their misery. A thankful person who finds a dollar might excitedly say, “Can you believe it? I found a dollar - way cool!” An unthankful person might sarcastically say, “Look at me. I found  a whole dollar.” Same find - completely different responses. You’ve probably already thought of people who might react in these same ways.     

  
When something special or exciting happens to us, we want to share it with others. Sharing the blessings of God can work like a medicine to a discouraged heart. That’s what caring and sharing is all about.
  
Do you remember what you didn’t have before (salvation), how lost you were, and what God did for you? Are you thankful for God’s great provision of grace? “Why should I care?” Because God cared enough to send His Son to rescue me from my sin and its punishment. Care enough to share your faith.  
    

Read the following verses. Take note of God’s provisions for which we should be thankful.

Romans 5:1-8

Matthew 6:25-33

John 14:1-3