Get in the Pickup

The old pickup thumped, rocked, and wallowed up the heavily rutted dirt road, making a wide-eyed, 10 year old Dougg hang on for dear life. His 20 year old cousin Tony eased the truck up the hill slowly, not wanting a breakdown far from anything. They were checking the windmills on a very windy day, making sure water was pumping for the cattle that were enduring a hot, dry summer. Hanging out with his cousin on his vast family ranch for a couple weeks each summer was a highlight for Dougg. The ranch was north of Thedford, in the rolling sandhills of Nebraska.

As they crested the top of the hill, the wind howling, they could see and smell smoke. Climbing out of the pickup, Tony spotted the fire. A fast moving grass fire, driven by the wind, was screaming up the hill right at them. The old pickup had no chance of outrunning it. While Dougg considered running for his life, Tony grabbed a gasoline can and poured it on the tall grass behind the pickup. He ignited it, sending more smoke and flames into the air, blowing directly away from them. Meanwhile, the fire coming up the hill was closing in on them. “Dougg, get in the pickup!” Tony yelled. By now, the roar of the oncoming fire made it hard to hear. “DOUGG!! GET. IN. THE. PICKUP!!!” Dougg scrambled in, and rolled up the windows. The smoke enveloped them. Tony waited as long as he could for the flames behind them to ebb, and at the very last second backed the pickup onto the patch of burned ground behind them, the embers still glowing. Almost immediately, the oncoming fire crested the hill, and went right around them, on both sides. The ground the pickup sat on was already burned, and provided no fuel for the raging fire. Dougg and Tony’s lives were saved that day because they moved to the safest place they could be in that fire.

The Bible tells us that God will one day judge the world. His judgment will fall. The safest place to be when that day comes is where His judgment has already fallen. It fell on Jesus, who bore our sin and died a brutal death on the cross. For those in Christ, there is no fear of judgment, because Jesus took it on Himself. Paul charged Timothy “before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.” (2Tim.4:1) Peter wrote of those not believing in Christ, that “They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (1 Pet.4:5)

A loving, patient, just God will one day judge the world. When that day comes, there is only one place to be. In the pickup. In Christ, who took our judgment. The one who believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life. It is only faith in Jesus Christ that saves one from the inevitable judgment of God. Please, please, get in the pickup.

Thank you to Dougg Custer, for a harrowing childhood memory

Mental Drift

Thinking requires discipline. Discipline requires effort. And effort, well, aren’t we looking for ways to reduce effort, and smooth life out? Shouldn’t there be an “automatic” setting when it comes to thinking? 

Oh, but there is. The news will tell you what to think, social media will tell you what to think, politicians will tell you what to think, advertisers will tell you what to think, television and movies tell you what to think, and probably your family and circle of friends will tell you what to think, for starters. Just soak up what others tell you to think, and you won’t have to put any effort into thinking at all. Drift on! So easy to do!

In Peter’s first letter, near the beginning, he says “therefore, gird up the loins of your mind.” (1 Peter 1:13) Now there’s an expression. In so many words, he says “wading through the world we live in requires mental focus. Think for yourself, and don’t let the world we live in, or the circumstances you find yourself in fog the reality of what God has done for you, and what He has in store for you. Think!”

Paul wrote “Do not be conformed to this world.” Don’t let the world think for you. Rather, be transformed. Do your own thinking, allowing God’s truth to transform your perspective.

The most remarkable organ in our bodies is the brain. And each one of our brains operates on its own. I don’t tell you when to blink, you don’t tell me when to breathe. We are each one responsible to think, and we are free to develop that capacity (yeah, that requires effort). When we meditate on God’s Word, and it becomes the filter through which we see life, we don’t form thoughts based on what everyone else is saying. We see it through a transformed mind. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” (Col. 3:16)

So, let’s gird up. Let’s be transformed through the Word. Let’s think for ourselves, not relying on the opinions of the world. Let’s use the remarkable capacity God has given us, for His honor and glory.

“A man who does not think for himself does not think at all.” — Oscar Wilde

What’s that smell?

We’re full of opinions. Anything we have seen, read, heard, smelled, eaten, or otherwise experienced works through the grid of our thinking, forming opinions. Whether we keep ours hidden, or plaster them up so everyone knows our opinions, we all come to conclusions about pretty much everything. What we think about clothes, food, politics, church, hairstyles, family holidays, tattoos, cohabitation, abortion, gender identity, Facebook, Congress, professional sports, Donald Trump (this list could continue ad infinitum), are all formed by input, and our opinions reveal what we’ve been inputting. 

What’s more, opinions change. More or different input can change one’s opinion about anything. This is why what we take in is important. What goes in eventually comes out in one form or another.

I love garlic. While living in Italy, I developed a deep appreciation for the cuisine of that country, which often included garlic. Spreading roasted garlic cloves on a piece of fresh Italian bread – buonissimo! The thing is, that garlic would ooze out every pore of my body for more than 24 hours, and would be obvious to anyone who came within “sniff range.” Oh, boy. Not pretty.

Paul told the Colossians to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (Col. 3:16). He told the Philippians “whatever things are true… noble… just… pure… lovely… of good report… virtuous… praiseworthy – meditate on these things” (Phil. 4:8). I believe that what we input in our lives affects what we output, in the olfactory sense. We can either be an air freshener, or a stink bomb, I suppose.

Here’s what Paul said to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 2:14-16): “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death… and to the other the aroma of life…” 

So, let’s be sure our thoughts and opinions are formed by the best kind of input – the truth found in God’s Word – rather than whatever culture is telling us today. Trust me, it smells a whole lot better.

Two Words

Grace Moseley is 102 years old. She was born and raised in Texas, where at the tender age of 15 she married her 17 year old sweetheart.  Two years later, in the midst of the depression, her family gave them $10 and two tickets to Arizona, where “there was jobs.” They were one-way tickets, and, well, Grace still lives in Phoenix today.

A family, a long and happy marriage, a full life. Today, at 102, Grace is nearing the end of her life. Her husband has passed on, as well as two of her children.  Her mobility, hearing and sight are greatly reduced, and most of her memories have faded into the past. Generally, her life capacity has been shrinking. I suppose this is to be expected, after 102 years. Yet there she is, living, breathing, with a history all her own. Today, she barely speaks at all. But occasionally, when family or a medical assistant is close enough to hear, she utters two words. Apparently they are the only two words she has spoken for some time.

“Thank you.”

I think it says something remarkable about a person whose life capacity is reduced to two words, that those words are “thank you.” They may be the last words Grace says, and likely the first she says when she sees Jesus.

In his conclusion to the Thessalonian church, Paul wrote “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:18)

Living with the scalding vitriol of a presidential election, the rioting and unrest in many of our cities, the many who have lost work as a result of Covid, as well as the stress from life’s many challenges, gratitude can easily move to the back seat of our lives, or disappear altogether.

“In everything give thanks.” Hearing about Grace was somewhat of a gut-punch for me. I was reminded that if I do not intentionally cultivate gratitude, focusing on what God has done and continues to do, it evaporates, leaving the residue of cynicism and negativity. Do Paul’s words reflect your heart? Would they be your last clear expression? Perhaps Grace Moseley lives today to challenge us, to remind us to cultivate gratitude, and let it permeate our lives. Give thanks.

Thanks to Judy Martin for some sweet glimpses of her mother.

The thing about losing…

I’ve always wondered how he did it. Robbed of his wealth, the tragic death of his family, his health shot, dignity gone, reputation wiped out, and then accused of sin by the incessant droning of a group of theological wannabes. But Job responded “God gives, God takes. God’s name be ever blessed.” (Job 1:21)  A phenomenal response to catastrophic loss. Granted, he lamented, and even demanded an audience with God to plead his case. But his initial response to his world caving in was unbelievable.

Loss comes to us in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Perhaps not the targeted, intense loss that Job experienced, but it touches us all in one way or another. 

We may experience loss after giving it our best effort, and still come up short. With age comes inevitable loss, as capacity and strength diminish. It could be that someone else’s decision or action causes us to lose. Or, the consequences of our own less-than-wise choices produce loss. It can be short-lived, or seem interminable. Perhaps most challenging, loss may come through no action of our own or anyone else. Label it “inexplicable, out of the blue, not my fault.” Those are the losses that seem senseless, and challenge one’s perspective.

People lose jobs, spouses, unborn children, reputations, businesses, relationships, health, and __________ (go ahead, add to that list). In a culture where moving ahead, growth, and winning are idolized, loss can be a bit of a struggle, to say the least. We tend to admire those who grind it out and punch through loss, and pity those who wallow in it.

Life, however, produces loss. In the Bible, Israel lost their freedom in Egypt, later they lost an entire generation in the wilderness. Moses lost the chance to enter the promised land, Samson lost his strength, Ruth and Naomi lost their husbands, Saul lost his throne, David lost his sons… this list could go on for a long time. In 70 A.D., Israel lost their temple. Though we normally don’t dwell on it, I’ll bet you could come up with a list of your own losses, whatever category they fit into.

Here’s the thing about loss: For the believer, it is temporary. While the dull ache of loss may be felt keenly today, it will one day be completely erased. Eradicated. Gone. 

Paul says it this way in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen (our current losses), but at the things which are not seen (one day, all loss erased). For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Job’s perspective allowed him to bless the name of the Lord. It is altogether possible for us to do the same, keeping our eyes on Jesus.

Is that grumbling I hear?

In Philippians, Paul tells us to do all things without grumbling or disputing. Have you ever secretly wondered what universe he was living in? Really? 

Recently, my smart phone gave it up – completely dead. Our refrigerator/freezer left a large puddle in the kitchen – not a good sign. Our car called it quits – another significant bill.  All these things occurred within 2 days, and yes, there may have been some dark thoughts, some displeasure, and some grumbling going on.  

I heard that optimism is learned, but pessimism (some prefer realism) naturally occurs.  I read that grumbling is a symptom of a myopic soul. I want things to work, I want things to cost less, I want it to be cooler in the Summer, I want smooth. When is doesn’t happen, the natural response is grumbling. Natural, that is, if our vision of God’s grace is impaired.  When I turn from focusing on my wants and expectations, and consider anew the grace He has poured out, the natural response is gratitude. I’m promised forgiveness for my sin, a place prepared in heaven where nothing breaks, a flawless resurrection body, and the presence of the Spirit every moment, and more. Try grumbling about that. 

So, Paul’s instruction in Philippians 2:14, though humanly impossible, is possible with God. It’s a re-focusing issue. It requires turning our eyes upon Jesus and all He’s done, and off ourselves and all our (legitimate) complaints. It’s re-visiting the incredible amount of grace He has poured out on everyone who believes in Him.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Phil.2:14-15

Turning corners

Straight ahead is faster and more direct. Corners slow things down, and complicate the journey. Fact is, life seems to have more corners than straight stretches. The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes says “Consider the work of God; who can straighten what He has made crooked?” (7:13). You may be experiencing a corner right now. They wear out tires, brakes, and you can’t see around them.

That’s where I’m living today. As we grind through the Covid pandemic, there is an “unemployed” sticker on the bumper of my life for the first time ever. That raises questions about the future, and pushes me right up against the reality of my faith. As I walk through this stretch of life, I’ll be putting down my thoughts and the things the Lord shows me along the way. I’d be glad to have you come along with me.

If you are unable to see very far ahead right now, it’s likely another corner in your own life. How good to know that our God isn’t messing with us in a sadistic sort of way, nor has He forgotten our zip code, email, or exact location. That makes turning corners an adventure. An experience in life that we don’t really control. A section of life that opens up to things we couldn’t see or maybe imagine before.

So I invite you to hang in with me. Lean into the corner. Anticipate new things as you walk through what He has made crooked.

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