This year at Christmas, I have been thinking a lot about a very familiar expression. Perhaps you've heard it, too. "To whom much is given, much will be expected." You see, it has been made very apparent to me over the past several months that I have been given a wonderful life! My family has been blessed beyond imagination! Sometimes we can have a tendency to take blessings somewhat for granted, even forgeting where they are coming from. Sometimes we need a "holiday" like Christmas to remind us how truly blessed we really are.
Throughout 2008, we have been offered numerous opportunities to give. We have been prompted to share what we have been given with many along our path (family, friends, neighbors, people in our community, etc.). I am happy to report that we have responded to several of those promptings, and with JOY and hopefully a very generous spirit. However, I am sad to report that we have not responded to all of the requests that have come our way. Maybe it is unrealistic to think that we could respond to all the requests that are out there; there will always be more "need" than resources to satisfy the need it seems. But, I've had to ask myself this very penetrating question: "Why have we balked at some of the requests, but responded to several others?" I don't really have a hard and fast answer to my own question. I can only ascertain that God prompts us to respond to some needs, but potentially tells us to take a pass on others?
Each Christmas Eve, I have a special tradition of calling some dear friends of mine, Herrick and Mary Smith, in Florida. They are still a wonderful model and example to me of incredible "giving." I try to emulate their totally selfless generosity whenever possible, but especially at Christmas. You see, back in December of 1979, I found myself alone (and away from any family or friends) in Gainesville, Florida, at Christmas time. I was about to begin a "temporary" job of teaching Landscape Architecture at the University of Florida. After only meeting me once or twice, and knowing me for just two or three days, they still chose to invite me to attend Christmas Eve services at their church. They also invited me back to their home to share Christmas dinner with their family and friends. Amazing! It wasn't like they were extremely wealthy or the food/gifts were anything special. They had a very modest home and it really wasn't fancy at all. But, the way they were so willing to give whatever they had to someone like me who had a need is still an incredible witness to me of the expression "to whom much is given, much will be expected." Out of hearts filled with the love of Christ, they gave. And they gave willingly and abundantly. Wow! Thanks Herrick and Mary for being such great examples to me of "to whom much is given, much will be expected."
Therefore, I try to model Herrick and Mary's generosity to my family also and live by the overall intent of this expression - especially the second half of it. Not in a legalistic or "payback" sort of way (God really doesn't operate like that). It's not like we have to give because we have been given to. No, rather it is because there is a basic responsibility that goes along with abundant blessings. We have the privilege of sharing the abundance we have been given. I am so very grateful for that privilege.
God help me to have a pure heart to share, and the willingness to see the needs You have placed in my path...
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
It's a Wonderful Life
Each year about this time (if you are a traditionalist like me), you probably sit down in front of the TV with a bowl of popcorn and watch one of the most well-known, well-loved movies ever - It's a Wonderful Life. Starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed (as well as several others), this movie is one of my all-time favorites! To my continued amazement, when I watch it each year, I give it my full attention (even though I've probably seen it several dozen times!). And even though I know the complete story by heart and obviously remember from year to year how it ends, I still get red in the face and tears start automatically flowing down my cheeks at certain scenes. Amazing! I'm such a sap! It's just a movie, for goodness sake! But, an incredible one with a terrific message...
This week I had my annual It's a Wonderful Life - "George Bailey" moment. I usually have one of these leading up to the Christmas holiday, and this year it came one week before Christmas. No, I haven't watched the movie yet. Rather, my "moment" came when I watched my wonderful "angel" sing in the Southwest Airlines choir. It caught me completely off-guard. Didn't see it coming at all...
You see, in some respects, this has been one of the best years of my life! But, in other respects, the past three months have been a real bummer... As with George Bailey, I guess I had kind of lost perspective. I started seeing the "bad" and the "problems" with everything. That was all I could think about. It was starting to consume me. For example, there was that someone who had dreamed big and moved on to become a huge success elsewhere (similar to George's brother Harry, and his friend Sam Wainwright) while I stayed in one place with the same job seemingly forever. There were those people in my life that needed help in the past, and now needed even more help from me while I was weary of giving it (similar to how George may have felt about Uncle Billy, old Mr. Gower and/or Violet). There was that painfully antagonistic person in my life who seemed to do things contrary to what I considered good values and sound thinking and still got away with it (similar to old man Potter). Finally, there was my sweet family who loved me greatly and tried so hard to make everything in my life special, but all I could see was their occasional slip-ups and selfishly harp on their actions/behaviors (similar to how George reacted to Mary and his children when his problems and the pressure they created consumed him on Christmas Eve).
Then it happened. Seeing my wonderful daughter Katie sing with the Southwest Airlines choir, seeing the smile on her face and the obvious JOY she was experiencing started me on the way to much needed repentence and tears - tears of confession and tears of gratefulness over how much the Lord has forgiven me and blessed me beyond my imagination. I was really caught up short. It climaxed when a young man in the choir sang "O Holy Night" magnificently! Read some of the incredible lyrics to this song below.
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
Thanks, Katie (my Clarence), and the Southwest Airlines choir for ministering to me in such a powerful way! Despite all of our problems, despite the fact that we may have sacrificed dreams on behalf of others, we still can say "It's a Wonderful Life" because of what the Lord has done! Joy to the World and Merry Christmas!
This week I had my annual It's a Wonderful Life - "George Bailey" moment. I usually have one of these leading up to the Christmas holiday, and this year it came one week before Christmas. No, I haven't watched the movie yet. Rather, my "moment" came when I watched my wonderful "angel" sing in the Southwest Airlines choir. It caught me completely off-guard. Didn't see it coming at all...
You see, in some respects, this has been one of the best years of my life! But, in other respects, the past three months have been a real bummer... As with George Bailey, I guess I had kind of lost perspective. I started seeing the "bad" and the "problems" with everything. That was all I could think about. It was starting to consume me. For example, there was that someone who had dreamed big and moved on to become a huge success elsewhere (similar to George's brother Harry, and his friend Sam Wainwright) while I stayed in one place with the same job seemingly forever. There were those people in my life that needed help in the past, and now needed even more help from me while I was weary of giving it (similar to how George may have felt about Uncle Billy, old Mr. Gower and/or Violet). There was that painfully antagonistic person in my life who seemed to do things contrary to what I considered good values and sound thinking and still got away with it (similar to old man Potter). Finally, there was my sweet family who loved me greatly and tried so hard to make everything in my life special, but all I could see was their occasional slip-ups and selfishly harp on their actions/behaviors (similar to how George reacted to Mary and his children when his problems and the pressure they created consumed him on Christmas Eve).
Then it happened. Seeing my wonderful daughter Katie sing with the Southwest Airlines choir, seeing the smile on her face and the obvious JOY she was experiencing started me on the way to much needed repentence and tears - tears of confession and tears of gratefulness over how much the Lord has forgiven me and blessed me beyond my imagination. I was really caught up short. It climaxed when a young man in the choir sang "O Holy Night" magnificently! Read some of the incredible lyrics to this song below.
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
Thanks, Katie (my Clarence), and the Southwest Airlines choir for ministering to me in such a powerful way! Despite all of our problems, despite the fact that we may have sacrificed dreams on behalf of others, we still can say "It's a Wonderful Life" because of what the Lord has done! Joy to the World and Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Are we becoming the "Divided" States of America?
Red states vs. blue states. Conservatives vs. liberals. Republicans vs. Democrats. Independent people (financially) vs. dependent people (financially). PC users vs. Mac users. Suburban/rural dwellers vs. urban/city dwellers. Pro-life people vs. abortion rights advocates. Churched people vs. unchurched people. Christianity vs. all other "religions."
What ever happened to the "United" States of America? I am wondering, were we ever that "united" anyway? Wasn't it Abraham Lincoln who said in a speech given in 1858 these words (from Jesus' thoughts in Matthew 12:24-26; Mark 3:23-25; and Luke 11:16-18): "A nation divided against itself cannot stand?"
So how did we get to this place where we are so divided? Seems like we've taken our "independence" and overall selfishness as human beings a little bit too far. Many of us have fallen into the traps set by our culture's "ME" generation and the tendency to think that the whole world revolves around "me" and my wishes/desires/preferences, etc. The greater good of all people doesn't seem to be on our radar screens any more (like it might have been in Abraham Lincoln's time and before?). Rather, it is all about "me" and the heck with everyone else!
I decided this week as I traveled in the eastern part of the United States that I would make a more concerted effort to look for things that "unify" versus things that "divide." Even when someone is doing something that is strange/unfamiliar to me and/or believing something that I don't really agree with or think is wrong, I will try to look for even a very small part to focus on that actually unifies us versus dividing us. What would happen if we all tried to look for things that unify versus things that divide? Wouldn't our country be a much better place for all of us to live if we did this?
As a Christ follower, I am now obligated to extend grace (unmerited favor) to those I come into contact with. After all, isn't that what God did with me when I was completely lost in my sin and in need of salvation (a salvation only received through belief in Jesus' death on the cross and subsequent miraculours resurrection)? Grace does not mean that you compromise God's Word and/or principles of the Christian faith. No, it means that you extend "slack" and understanding to others, and look for ways to agree with them, building paths of understanding and reconciliation wherever you can.
The "Divided States of America?" Don't let it happen. Counteract the prevalent tendencies that are out there to continually divide us, and look for ways that we can be united again. I believe the future of our great country depends on each and every one of us looking for ways we can do this.
What are you doing - what am I doing - to foster unity versus division? Think about it...
What ever happened to the "United" States of America? I am wondering, were we ever that "united" anyway? Wasn't it Abraham Lincoln who said in a speech given in 1858 these words (from Jesus' thoughts in Matthew 12:24-26; Mark 3:23-25; and Luke 11:16-18): "A nation divided against itself cannot stand?"
So how did we get to this place where we are so divided? Seems like we've taken our "independence" and overall selfishness as human beings a little bit too far. Many of us have fallen into the traps set by our culture's "ME" generation and the tendency to think that the whole world revolves around "me" and my wishes/desires/preferences, etc. The greater good of all people doesn't seem to be on our radar screens any more (like it might have been in Abraham Lincoln's time and before?). Rather, it is all about "me" and the heck with everyone else!
I decided this week as I traveled in the eastern part of the United States that I would make a more concerted effort to look for things that "unify" versus things that "divide." Even when someone is doing something that is strange/unfamiliar to me and/or believing something that I don't really agree with or think is wrong, I will try to look for even a very small part to focus on that actually unifies us versus dividing us. What would happen if we all tried to look for things that unify versus things that divide? Wouldn't our country be a much better place for all of us to live if we did this?
As a Christ follower, I am now obligated to extend grace (unmerited favor) to those I come into contact with. After all, isn't that what God did with me when I was completely lost in my sin and in need of salvation (a salvation only received through belief in Jesus' death on the cross and subsequent miraculours resurrection)? Grace does not mean that you compromise God's Word and/or principles of the Christian faith. No, it means that you extend "slack" and understanding to others, and look for ways to agree with them, building paths of understanding and reconciliation wherever you can.
The "Divided States of America?" Don't let it happen. Counteract the prevalent tendencies that are out there to continually divide us, and look for ways that we can be united again. I believe the future of our great country depends on each and every one of us looking for ways we can do this.
What are you doing - what am I doing - to foster unity versus division? Think about it...
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The Midshipmen's Prayer of the Naval Academy
I was traveling most of the past week on business (to Princeton, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.). Traveling always affords me with plenty of opportunities to do reading that I seldom take time to do when I am at the office or at home. The magazines and periodicals and letters in the mail just stack up on me in my "inbox" and have to wait for the next trip to get read. I sometimes feel sorry for the people sitting next to me on the planes as I just get into my seat and read. Very little conversation with my traveling companions...
I also was involved in some work project meetings this week that included some members of our military personnel. Fine people. Really exceptional folks who are to be admired. Whenever I am around military personnel I am always impressed with how focused and mission-oriented they are. I'm also impressed with how dignified and above-board they seem to be. There's just something different about them and their approach to life, it seems.
So, it probably was not an accident that within the magazine I was reading on the plane I "found" the Midshipmen's Prayer of the Naval Academy. It really jumped out at me. I read it and then thought, "Wow. What if I approached each new day with these words on my lips? What kind of impact might that have on my behavior and the behavior of those around me?"
Today, I am going to try to accept the challenge of reading this prayer frequently and see what kind of difference it makes in my life. I challenge each of you reading this to consider doing the same thing.
"Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and deed... Protect those in whose love I live. Give me the will to do my best and to accept my share of responsibilities with a strong heart and a cheerful mind. Make me considerate of those entrusted to my leadership and faithful to the duties my country has entrusted in me. If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith; if I am tempted, make me strong to resist; if I should miss the mark, give me the courage to try again. Guide me with the light of truth and keep before me the life of Him by whose example and help I trust to obtain the answer to my prayer, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
I also was involved in some work project meetings this week that included some members of our military personnel. Fine people. Really exceptional folks who are to be admired. Whenever I am around military personnel I am always impressed with how focused and mission-oriented they are. I'm also impressed with how dignified and above-board they seem to be. There's just something different about them and their approach to life, it seems.
So, it probably was not an accident that within the magazine I was reading on the plane I "found" the Midshipmen's Prayer of the Naval Academy. It really jumped out at me. I read it and then thought, "Wow. What if I approached each new day with these words on my lips? What kind of impact might that have on my behavior and the behavior of those around me?"
Today, I am going to try to accept the challenge of reading this prayer frequently and see what kind of difference it makes in my life. I challenge each of you reading this to consider doing the same thing.
"Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and deed... Protect those in whose love I live. Give me the will to do my best and to accept my share of responsibilities with a strong heart and a cheerful mind. Make me considerate of those entrusted to my leadership and faithful to the duties my country has entrusted in me. If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith; if I am tempted, make me strong to resist; if I should miss the mark, give me the courage to try again. Guide me with the light of truth and keep before me the life of Him by whose example and help I trust to obtain the answer to my prayer, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
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