“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” – Luke 12:6-7 (NIV)
When did you feel forgotten by God? How did it make you feel? Were you really forgotten? Since sparrows are important to God, how important are people? What does that mean about how we treat people?
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus mentions that two sparrows are sold for a penny. Here he talks about five sparrows being sold for two pennies. Sparrows were the animals poor people could afford to buy for sacrifices. The rich people bought doves, and lambs, and other things that cost more, but the rich would never buy a sparrow. Sparrows were so insignificant that if four sparrows were bought a fifth was thrown in for free.
Jesus is saying that the sparrow that is thrown in, the left over sparrow, the sparrow not even worth half a penny matters to God. Then Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
This worth did not come from what we have made of ourselves. It did not arrive because we worked hard for it. Our worth comes from God because God loves us! Perhaps it is too simple to believe. We still try to come up with reasons why we can be considered important, or at least more important than others. We still take others for granted and fail to see the worth in them that God sees. We still dwell on our faults far more than our strengths.
Yes perhaps it is easier to believe in a God who requires us to make ourselves worthy, after all that is the way the world sees us. What would the church look like if it were a place where people rejoiced in others because God’s love makes them worthy? I do not know, but I am going to pray that I find out.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
No Favorites with God
For God does not show favoritism. – Romans 2:11 (NIV)
Why do think God may not show favoritism? How do you show favoritism? Why do you show favoritism? How great is it that God does not play favorites with you?
The following story was e-mailed to me about a soldier coming home from Vietnam:
He called his parents from San Francisco.
“Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve got a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.”
“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”
“There’s something you should know the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mined and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.”
“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”
“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.”
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him.
A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
We are not very good at accepting others for who they are. We are not even very good at accepting ourselves for that matter. Thank God we accepted by God! However, if we are to be true to the God we follow, worship, and praise, we would do good to ensure that others who feel unloved in this world might find that we do not play favorites too. In that way those who feel they have no place in this world might find a place in our presence.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Why do think God may not show favoritism? How do you show favoritism? Why do you show favoritism? How great is it that God does not play favorites with you?
The following story was e-mailed to me about a soldier coming home from Vietnam:
He called his parents from San Francisco.
“Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve got a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.”
“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”
“There’s something you should know the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mined and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.”
“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”
“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.”
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him.
A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
We are not very good at accepting others for who they are. We are not even very good at accepting ourselves for that matter. Thank God we accepted by God! However, if we are to be true to the God we follow, worship, and praise, we would do good to ensure that others who feel unloved in this world might find that we do not play favorites too. In that way those who feel they have no place in this world might find a place in our presence.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The Highest Form of Love on Christmas
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:43 (NIV)
What is forgiveness? How have you forgiven others? How have you experienced forgiveness? How does it work?
If you are interested in stories of forgiveness may I recommend www.theforgivenessproject.com
Perhaps you think it odd of me to lift up a passage about Good Friday as we are so near Christmas. However, is not the baby we celebrate the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world? We remember that Simeon told Mary that a sword would pierce her soul because of the baby she held. The shadow of the cross was upon the manger in which that baby was laid. His life was never free of his fate, and thereby when we celebrate the baby we must do so with awareness as to the death of man the baby would become.
What is forgiveness? I am not completely sure, other than to say that it is the highest form of love. Luke tells us that the two criminals on either side of Jesus while he hung on the cross argued among themselves. One wanting to be saved from his fate mocked Jesus. One knowing that he was receiving what he deserved and Jesus was not stood up for the Suffering Servant.
Not believing himself worthy of forgiveness he simply asked Jesus to remember him. Rarely is such repentance ever seen. His life was a waste and he knew it. No good things would be remembered of him, and yet in the presence of Jesus he asked to be remembered, not forgiven since he could not come to forgive himself.
What a miraculous thing that he heard from Jesus, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus forgave him and gave him life! The criminal knew he had done wrong and stood convicted in his sin. This is repentance, that moment we realize we are in fact wrong. The criminal did not know about, about the highest form of love, about forgiveness. That is what Jesus offers, and in the shadow of Jesus cross he receives that which he did not deserve, but which love gave him nevertheless.
The child we celebrate is covered by the shadow of the cross in order that in the shadow of that same cross we may discover the greatest gift we shall ever know; forgiveness that is neither deserved nor expected but is given by the God who is love. Rejoice in this child for he offers us life!
Merry Christmas,
Garrett
What is forgiveness? How have you forgiven others? How have you experienced forgiveness? How does it work?
If you are interested in stories of forgiveness may I recommend www.theforgivenessproject.com
Perhaps you think it odd of me to lift up a passage about Good Friday as we are so near Christmas. However, is not the baby we celebrate the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world? We remember that Simeon told Mary that a sword would pierce her soul because of the baby she held. The shadow of the cross was upon the manger in which that baby was laid. His life was never free of his fate, and thereby when we celebrate the baby we must do so with awareness as to the death of man the baby would become.
What is forgiveness? I am not completely sure, other than to say that it is the highest form of love. Luke tells us that the two criminals on either side of Jesus while he hung on the cross argued among themselves. One wanting to be saved from his fate mocked Jesus. One knowing that he was receiving what he deserved and Jesus was not stood up for the Suffering Servant.
Not believing himself worthy of forgiveness he simply asked Jesus to remember him. Rarely is such repentance ever seen. His life was a waste and he knew it. No good things would be remembered of him, and yet in the presence of Jesus he asked to be remembered, not forgiven since he could not come to forgive himself.
What a miraculous thing that he heard from Jesus, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus forgave him and gave him life! The criminal knew he had done wrong and stood convicted in his sin. This is repentance, that moment we realize we are in fact wrong. The criminal did not know about, about the highest form of love, about forgiveness. That is what Jesus offers, and in the shadow of Jesus cross he receives that which he did not deserve, but which love gave him nevertheless.
The child we celebrate is covered by the shadow of the cross in order that in the shadow of that same cross we may discover the greatest gift we shall ever know; forgiveness that is neither deserved nor expected but is given by the God who is love. Rejoice in this child for he offers us life!
Merry Christmas,
Garrett
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Things Needed to Be Good Missionaries
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. – 1 John 4:7 (NIV)
What do you think of love? How do you show your love to others? How might you do a better job showing love? How do you show your love to God? What does it mean to love God?
Someone recently shared this story with me:
There was a man doing a study of missionaries who went down to Haiti years ago, this is before the earthquake. Even then Haiti was filled with people attempting to do good work.
In his study he asked many of the locals what they thought of the missionaries that saturated their land. One Haitian man said without conviction, “Oh they are all right.”
“All right? Are some not so good?”
“Well there are bad ones and good ones… more bad ones really.”
“What makes bad ones bad?” the man doing the study asked.
“Well one can tell they come down here to make a name for themselves, or for some other selfish reasons, they just do not really seem to care for the people. They still do some good work, but they do not seem to be good people,” came the reply
“What about the good ones, what makes them good?”
“Only two things are needed to make a good missionary as far as I can tell,” replied the Haitian man. “First a love of Christ Jesus our Lord that is obvious in everything the missionary does. Second a love of Haitians that is obvious in everything the missionary does. That is what all good missionaries have.”
Look in the mirror. What do you see? You see a missionary for the mission-field of life in which God has set you. There are people who need to be loved, and there is a God whom we also must love. Pray today that we all may have a heart for people. Love has the power to change the world, in fact it is the only power that has ever changed it for the better. It is power that comes from God.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What do you think of love? How do you show your love to others? How might you do a better job showing love? How do you show your love to God? What does it mean to love God?
Someone recently shared this story with me:
There was a man doing a study of missionaries who went down to Haiti years ago, this is before the earthquake. Even then Haiti was filled with people attempting to do good work.
In his study he asked many of the locals what they thought of the missionaries that saturated their land. One Haitian man said without conviction, “Oh they are all right.”
“All right? Are some not so good?”
“Well there are bad ones and good ones… more bad ones really.”
“What makes bad ones bad?” the man doing the study asked.
“Well one can tell they come down here to make a name for themselves, or for some other selfish reasons, they just do not really seem to care for the people. They still do some good work, but they do not seem to be good people,” came the reply
“What about the good ones, what makes them good?”
“Only two things are needed to make a good missionary as far as I can tell,” replied the Haitian man. “First a love of Christ Jesus our Lord that is obvious in everything the missionary does. Second a love of Haitians that is obvious in everything the missionary does. That is what all good missionaries have.”
Look in the mirror. What do you see? You see a missionary for the mission-field of life in which God has set you. There are people who need to be loved, and there is a God whom we also must love. Pray today that we all may have a heart for people. Love has the power to change the world, in fact it is the only power that has ever changed it for the better. It is power that comes from God.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Children In Need
But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom.” – Mark 10:14 (The Message)
“Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” (NRSV)
Is there any child Jesus was not talking about? Where are there children in need right now? What can Jesus do for them? What can you do as a member of the body of Christ? What will you do?
I have no story to share this week. Instead these are statistics about what is happening to children right now.
In Dougherty County in 2010 138 children suffered from neglect, 90 suffered physical abuse, 17 were abused sexually, and that is only what was reported! It is estimated that more than 80% of cases go unreported.
In an average year in Georgia 60 children will die from neglect, that is more than 1 a week.
Every day in Georgia over 40 children are victims of confirmed abuse or neglect.
34,540 children were substantiated victims of child abuse or neglect in Georgia in 2007.
Over 8,500 abused and neglected children are in state custody at any one time because their homes aren't safe.
The most recent research suggests that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
Dougherty CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children) is working to ensure that children who suffer this evil have a voice. The Lily Pad Center is working to ensure that people who care surround these children of the living God.
Right now many dozens of children are under the care of Dougherty CASA. They need school supplies. Children in one family need two size 6 uniforms and one size 8 uniforms for girls. This Sunday at our 11am service and our 5:30pm 5th Sundays Together First Presbyterian Church will be collecting school supplies that go to the children Dougherty CASA is caring for. We do not need bags, but everything else. Please help, it is the work of Jesus, it is the work of the kingdom. In fact these children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. If you do not live close to help, find out who supports children in your hometown. The need is everywhere.
With belief that hope and joy is on the horizon,
Garrett
“Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” (NRSV)
Is there any child Jesus was not talking about? Where are there children in need right now? What can Jesus do for them? What can you do as a member of the body of Christ? What will you do?
I have no story to share this week. Instead these are statistics about what is happening to children right now.
In Dougherty County in 2010 138 children suffered from neglect, 90 suffered physical abuse, 17 were abused sexually, and that is only what was reported! It is estimated that more than 80% of cases go unreported.
In an average year in Georgia 60 children will die from neglect, that is more than 1 a week.
Every day in Georgia over 40 children are victims of confirmed abuse or neglect.
34,540 children were substantiated victims of child abuse or neglect in Georgia in 2007.
Over 8,500 abused and neglected children are in state custody at any one time because their homes aren't safe.
The most recent research suggests that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
Dougherty CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children) is working to ensure that children who suffer this evil have a voice. The Lily Pad Center is working to ensure that people who care surround these children of the living God.
Right now many dozens of children are under the care of Dougherty CASA. They need school supplies. Children in one family need two size 6 uniforms and one size 8 uniforms for girls. This Sunday at our 11am service and our 5:30pm 5th Sundays Together First Presbyterian Church will be collecting school supplies that go to the children Dougherty CASA is caring for. We do not need bags, but everything else. Please help, it is the work of Jesus, it is the work of the kingdom. In fact these children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. If you do not live close to help, find out who supports children in your hometown. The need is everywhere.
With belief that hope and joy is on the horizon,
Garrett
Friday, March 25, 2011
Jesus Saves
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. – John 3:17 (KJV)
What does this verse say about God? What does this verse say about us? What does this free you to do? So what will you do?
The following was written by Kallistos Ware, a Greek Orthodox bishop:
God does not condemn us to Hell; God wishes all humans to be saved. He will love us to all eternity, but there will exist the possibility that we do not accept the love and do not respond to it. And the refusal to accept love, the refusal to respond to it, that precisely is the meaning of Hell. Hell is not a place where God puts us; it’s a place where we put ourselves. The doors of Hell, insofar as they have locks, have locks on the inside.
There is nothing that can keep God from trying to us, because that is the very nature of God. After all God is love! There is one thing that can keep us from being saved, ourselves. It is possible to turn God down even when confronted with the depths of that grace and love face to face. When Warren Sallman painted Christ Knocking On Heart’s Door, someone informed him he made a mistake upon its completion. “What is that?” the artist asked. “There is no door handle on it.” “Oh that is no mistake, that door can only be opened from the inside.” And so God knocks on, and will never stop. Love doesn’t stop; love tries to save even as we lock ourselves up tight in hell. O, let us rejoice in the goodness of God’s steadfast love, and fling open those doors.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does this verse say about God? What does this verse say about us? What does this free you to do? So what will you do?
The following was written by Kallistos Ware, a Greek Orthodox bishop:
God does not condemn us to Hell; God wishes all humans to be saved. He will love us to all eternity, but there will exist the possibility that we do not accept the love and do not respond to it. And the refusal to accept love, the refusal to respond to it, that precisely is the meaning of Hell. Hell is not a place where God puts us; it’s a place where we put ourselves. The doors of Hell, insofar as they have locks, have locks on the inside.
There is nothing that can keep God from trying to us, because that is the very nature of God. After all God is love! There is one thing that can keep us from being saved, ourselves. It is possible to turn God down even when confronted with the depths of that grace and love face to face. When Warren Sallman painted Christ Knocking On Heart’s Door, someone informed him he made a mistake upon its completion. “What is that?” the artist asked. “There is no door handle on it.” “Oh that is no mistake, that door can only be opened from the inside.” And so God knocks on, and will never stop. Love doesn’t stop; love tries to save even as we lock ourselves up tight in hell. O, let us rejoice in the goodness of God’s steadfast love, and fling open those doors.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Relationships Are Most Important
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. – John 19: 26-27 (NRSV)
What does it mean to you that even upon the cross Jesus was taking care of the people with him? Does this say anything about the importance of relationships? If so what does it say?
The following story was sent to me:
I sat next to the bed of old man, a friend for over twenty years, and held his hand. Hal was dying. We both knew these next few days would be his last.
We spent time reminiscing about his long and fruitful career as a church pastor. We talked about old friends. We chatted about his family. And I listened as he offered sage wisdom and advice to a member of a "younger generation."
At a lull in the conversation, Hal seemed to carefully consider what he was about to say next. Then he squeezed my hand, gazed intently into my eyes and whispered, just loud enough for me to hear, "Nothing is more important than relationships."
I knew that this was somehow near the pinnacle of his life's learnings. As he considered all of his experiences -- personal, professional, spiritual and family, this one ultimate observation surfaced above the rest: "Nothing is more important than relationships."
"Don't get overly caught up in your career," he seemed to be saying to me. "Likewise, don't use people in order to achieve your goals, then throw them away. No project, no program, no task should be pursued at the expense of friends and family. Remember," I heard him saying, as clearly as if he were speaking the words, "that in the end, only your relationships will truly matter. Tend them well."
Writer Og Mandino puts it this way: "Beginning today," he said, "treat everyone you meet as if he or she were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do so with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again."
At the end of a long life, my friend Hal would have agreed.
Even on the cross Jesus recognized the relationships right in front of him. Sure there was a great goal he was achieving, but not at the expense of the people who would live on without him physically present. If Jesus could take time out of saving the world to make sure people he loved were taken care of, I hope we can take time out of our days to remember that nothing is more important than relationships. That might have been Jesus’ whole point!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does it mean to you that even upon the cross Jesus was taking care of the people with him? Does this say anything about the importance of relationships? If so what does it say?
The following story was sent to me:
I sat next to the bed of old man, a friend for over twenty years, and held his hand. Hal was dying. We both knew these next few days would be his last.
We spent time reminiscing about his long and fruitful career as a church pastor. We talked about old friends. We chatted about his family. And I listened as he offered sage wisdom and advice to a member of a "younger generation."
At a lull in the conversation, Hal seemed to carefully consider what he was about to say next. Then he squeezed my hand, gazed intently into my eyes and whispered, just loud enough for me to hear, "Nothing is more important than relationships."
I knew that this was somehow near the pinnacle of his life's learnings. As he considered all of his experiences -- personal, professional, spiritual and family, this one ultimate observation surfaced above the rest: "Nothing is more important than relationships."
"Don't get overly caught up in your career," he seemed to be saying to me. "Likewise, don't use people in order to achieve your goals, then throw them away. No project, no program, no task should be pursued at the expense of friends and family. Remember," I heard him saying, as clearly as if he were speaking the words, "that in the end, only your relationships will truly matter. Tend them well."
Writer Og Mandino puts it this way: "Beginning today," he said, "treat everyone you meet as if he or she were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do so with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again."
At the end of a long life, my friend Hal would have agreed.
Even on the cross Jesus recognized the relationships right in front of him. Sure there was a great goal he was achieving, but not at the expense of the people who would live on without him physically present. If Jesus could take time out of saving the world to make sure people he loved were taken care of, I hope we can take time out of our days to remember that nothing is more important than relationships. That might have been Jesus’ whole point!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Doing More
“And if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well.” Matthew 5:40 (NRSV)
You think Jesus meant that? What kind of love acts like this? Have you ever witnessed such love? What happens in the face of such love?
The following story is long but worth it and is found here: http://www.npr.org/2008/03/28/89164759/a-victim-treats-his-mugger-right
Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner.
But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.
He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.
"He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"
Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me... hey, you're more than welcome.
"You know, I just felt maybe he really needs help," Diaz says.
Diaz says he and the teen went into the diner and sat in a booth.
"The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. "The kid was like, 'You know everybody here. Do you own this place?'"
"No, I just eat here a lot," Diaz says he told the teen. "He says, 'But you're even nice to the dishwasher.'"
Diaz replied, "Well, haven't you been taught you should be nice to everybody?"
"Yea, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teen said.
Diaz asked him what he wanted out of life. "He just had almost a sad face," Diaz says.
The teen couldn't answer Diaz — or he didn't want to.
When the bill arrived, Diaz told the teen, "Look, I guess you're going to have to pay for this bill 'cause you have my money and I can't pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I'll gladly treat you."
The teen "didn't even think about it" and returned the wallet, Diaz says. "I gave him $20 ... I figure maybe it'll help him. I don't know."
Diaz says he asked for something in return — the teen's knife — "and he gave it to me."
Kindness in the face of evil can truly do some incredible things. Love instead of hate can change a life. I’m not saying that we can all do this or that it can be done well. What I am saying is that love often wins when practiced, and in the end love will win!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
You think Jesus meant that? What kind of love acts like this? Have you ever witnessed such love? What happens in the face of such love?
The following story is long but worth it and is found here: http://www.npr.org/2008/03/28/89164759/a-victim-treats-his-mugger-right
Julio Diaz has a daily routine. Every night, the 31-year-old social worker ends his hour-long subway commute to the Bronx one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner.
But one night last month, as Diaz stepped off the No. 6 train and onto a nearly empty platform, his evening took an unexpected turn.
He was walking toward the stairs when a teenage boy approached and pulled out a knife.
"He wants my money, so I just gave him my wallet and told him, 'Here you go,'" Diaz says.
As the teen began to walk away, Diaz told him, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."
The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"
Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me... hey, you're more than welcome.
"You know, I just felt maybe he really needs help," Diaz says.
Diaz says he and the teen went into the diner and sat in a booth.
"The manager comes by, the dishwashers come by, the waiters come by to say hi," Diaz says. "The kid was like, 'You know everybody here. Do you own this place?'"
"No, I just eat here a lot," Diaz says he told the teen. "He says, 'But you're even nice to the dishwasher.'"
Diaz replied, "Well, haven't you been taught you should be nice to everybody?"
"Yea, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teen said.
Diaz asked him what he wanted out of life. "He just had almost a sad face," Diaz says.
The teen couldn't answer Diaz — or he didn't want to.
When the bill arrived, Diaz told the teen, "Look, I guess you're going to have to pay for this bill 'cause you have my money and I can't pay for this. So if you give me my wallet back, I'll gladly treat you."
The teen "didn't even think about it" and returned the wallet, Diaz says. "I gave him $20 ... I figure maybe it'll help him. I don't know."
Diaz says he asked for something in return — the teen's knife — "and he gave it to me."
Kindness in the face of evil can truly do some incredible things. Love instead of hate can change a life. I’m not saying that we can all do this or that it can be done well. What I am saying is that love often wins when practiced, and in the end love will win!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, December 23, 2010
What Child Is This
But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. – Isaiah 53:5 (NRSV)
In Isaiah’s poem about the suffering servant Christians see images of Jesus the Christ. As we celebrate Christmas, do you celebrate the reason Jesus came? What was the reason Jesus arrived? What is it about this baby that you believe is a gift?
I once heard a story about a boy who stole comics from a library. His father found out what he did and together they went to the library, gave them back, and the father forced his son to apologize. On the way home the boy got a stern lecture.
That summer when they were on vacation the boy stole comics again, this time from a store. When the arrived home the father found them, confronted his son, and this time burned them in their fireplace. As the fire burned he gave his son a stern lecture.
A couple of months after that the boy stole comic books from a bookstore. This time the father said, “I am going to have to spank you because you keep doing this.” However the father didn’t want to hurt his son and after spanking him he told the boy to wait there for a lecture and think about what he did. The father went outside the room and closed the door. Loud enough for the boy to hear the father started crying. Not wanting his son to see him like that he went and washed up before he went in to lecture the boy.
Years later the boy’s mother recalled that the boy stole comic books and asked him if he stopped because his father had spanked him. “No,” he said, “I stopped because I heard dad crying after he left the room.”
The lesson the boy learned wasn’t in punishment, but in the realization that he hurt his father. Even at Christmas when we see that little baby, there is in his eyes the whole pain of the world that he will take. It is easy for us to just see a baby, but if that’s all we see we are no better than the Innkeeper who had no idea what was going on just outside his Inn. When we celebrate Christmas we are celebrating that God was willing to cry out loud instead of punish, and to be hurt instead of inflict pain. There is a lesson we can learn here, let us pray that we learn it.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
In Isaiah’s poem about the suffering servant Christians see images of Jesus the Christ. As we celebrate Christmas, do you celebrate the reason Jesus came? What was the reason Jesus arrived? What is it about this baby that you believe is a gift?
I once heard a story about a boy who stole comics from a library. His father found out what he did and together they went to the library, gave them back, and the father forced his son to apologize. On the way home the boy got a stern lecture.
That summer when they were on vacation the boy stole comics again, this time from a store. When the arrived home the father found them, confronted his son, and this time burned them in their fireplace. As the fire burned he gave his son a stern lecture.
A couple of months after that the boy stole comic books from a bookstore. This time the father said, “I am going to have to spank you because you keep doing this.” However the father didn’t want to hurt his son and after spanking him he told the boy to wait there for a lecture and think about what he did. The father went outside the room and closed the door. Loud enough for the boy to hear the father started crying. Not wanting his son to see him like that he went and washed up before he went in to lecture the boy.
Years later the boy’s mother recalled that the boy stole comic books and asked him if he stopped because his father had spanked him. “No,” he said, “I stopped because I heard dad crying after he left the room.”
The lesson the boy learned wasn’t in punishment, but in the realization that he hurt his father. Even at Christmas when we see that little baby, there is in his eyes the whole pain of the world that he will take. It is easy for us to just see a baby, but if that’s all we see we are no better than the Innkeeper who had no idea what was going on just outside his Inn. When we celebrate Christmas we are celebrating that God was willing to cry out loud instead of punish, and to be hurt instead of inflict pain. There is a lesson we can learn here, let us pray that we learn it.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Love and Forgiveness
At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?" Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.” – Matthew 18:21-22 (The Message)
Have you had to forgive one person a lot of times? How hard was it? What about Jesus’ message made forgiveness this important? Have you ever wanted to give up on someone? Did you? Would Jesus?
The following is an anonymous story that was e-mailed to me.
When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"
Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
We have no idea how close anyone is to giving up on himself or herself. Each of us has had others give up on us, and then wanted to throw in the towel too, to say, “I’ve had enough!” God created us to live together, and let’s be honest; we don’t always live together well. That is why we need forgiveness, without it love cannot win, because without it love cannot exist. Sure forgiveness is hard sometimes, most of the time really, but not forgiving is worse.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Have you had to forgive one person a lot of times? How hard was it? What about Jesus’ message made forgiveness this important? Have you ever wanted to give up on someone? Did you? Would Jesus?
The following is an anonymous story that was e-mailed to me.
When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!
When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."
Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"
Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.
We have no idea how close anyone is to giving up on himself or herself. Each of us has had others give up on us, and then wanted to throw in the towel too, to say, “I’ve had enough!” God created us to live together, and let’s be honest; we don’t always live together well. That is why we need forgiveness, without it love cannot win, because without it love cannot exist. Sure forgiveness is hard sometimes, most of the time really, but not forgiving is worse.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Doing Good and Doing Love Anyway
“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” – Luke 6:27-28 (NRSV)
What is the whole point of this verse? As we go about our Missions Week how can this verse guide our future? Do you pray for those who abuse you? How do you think Jesus expects us to act toward our enemies?
This is from "The Paradoxical Commandments" by Dr. Kent M. Keith that Mother Teresa had on the wall of her children's home in Calcutta.
Anyway
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, It is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
Our lives are meant to glorify God! So when Jesus talks about doing good to those who hate us it isn’t about them, it’s about God, it’s about us! I have probably used this “Anyway” illustration in a different weekly devotional, but sometimes it is good to hear again. Love and will change the world, but it begins with us. Today choose to love no matter what and then we will become people who glorify God no matter what.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What is the whole point of this verse? As we go about our Missions Week how can this verse guide our future? Do you pray for those who abuse you? How do you think Jesus expects us to act toward our enemies?
This is from "The Paradoxical Commandments" by Dr. Kent M. Keith that Mother Teresa had on the wall of her children's home in Calcutta.
Anyway
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, It is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
Our lives are meant to glorify God! So when Jesus talks about doing good to those who hate us it isn’t about them, it’s about God, it’s about us! I have probably used this “Anyway” illustration in a different weekly devotional, but sometimes it is good to hear again. Love and will change the world, but it begins with us. Today choose to love no matter what and then we will become people who glorify God no matter what.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Doing What We Can
“She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.” – Mark 14:8-9 (NRSV)
What can you do for Jesus? Have you done it? What is holding you back? How are you holding yourself back? Who have you seen that did something beautiful for God? What can be told about you wherever the good news is proclaimed?
Jesus spoke this of a nameless woman (in Mark’s Gospel that is) who poured expensive perfume all over him. Some people said it was a shame that she would waste it, but not Jesus. He praised her for doing what she could do, which was lovingly giving the best she had to Jesus.
Many of us wish we could do all sorts of things for Jesus. We wish we had more money so that we could give it to the church for some kind of ministry. We wish we had the ability to preach like Billy Graham so that we could tell more people about the love of Jesus. We wish we could write some hugely successful book like Rick Warren so that others might find meaning in their lives. Sometimes our wish is that others would get out of our way so that we could do what we want. The whole while we are wishing about what we might be able to do we never do what we can.
This woman did what she could, and we still talk about it 2000 years later!
Just last week a married couple worked on bicycles for the needy here at the church. Using their talents they were able to make three bikes work that before didn’t. I thanked them for blessing three needy people by taking their time to repair those bikes. “Oh we are only doing what we can,” I was told. And somewhere Jesus was rejoicing, praising them for doing what they could. What can we do for Jesus? Whatever that is, it is time to do it!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What can you do for Jesus? Have you done it? What is holding you back? How are you holding yourself back? Who have you seen that did something beautiful for God? What can be told about you wherever the good news is proclaimed?
Jesus spoke this of a nameless woman (in Mark’s Gospel that is) who poured expensive perfume all over him. Some people said it was a shame that she would waste it, but not Jesus. He praised her for doing what she could do, which was lovingly giving the best she had to Jesus.
Many of us wish we could do all sorts of things for Jesus. We wish we had more money so that we could give it to the church for some kind of ministry. We wish we had the ability to preach like Billy Graham so that we could tell more people about the love of Jesus. We wish we could write some hugely successful book like Rick Warren so that others might find meaning in their lives. Sometimes our wish is that others would get out of our way so that we could do what we want. The whole while we are wishing about what we might be able to do we never do what we can.
This woman did what she could, and we still talk about it 2000 years later!
Just last week a married couple worked on bicycles for the needy here at the church. Using their talents they were able to make three bikes work that before didn’t. I thanked them for blessing three needy people by taking their time to repair those bikes. “Oh we are only doing what we can,” I was told. And somewhere Jesus was rejoicing, praising them for doing what they could. What can we do for Jesus? Whatever that is, it is time to do it!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The Greatest Power on Earth
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” – Jeremiah 31:3 (NRSV)
How has God been faithful to you? Have you felt the everlasting love of your God? Have you experienced great love from others? How so? What did it feel like? What did it do for you as a person?
The following is a response from Warren Buffet after being asked the question, “What is the best advise you have ever received?” He begins by speaking of his father and then says:
"The power of unconditional love. I mean, there is no power on earth like unconditional love. And I think that if you offered that to your child, I mean, you’re 90 percent of the way home. There may be days when you don’t feel like it — it’s not uncritical love; that’s a different animal — but to know you can always come back, that is huge in life. That takes you a long, long way. And I would say that every parent out there that can extend that to their child at an early age, it’s going to make for a better human being."
Everlasting love, unconditional love, that love that loves us just because, that is the love that grabs us and lets us know that we can become great! God loves us with an unending, awe-inspiring love. Why? Because that is who God is. When we finally realize that it is then we get on living life the way we were meant to live, knowing that we have the greatest power on earth with us, unconditional love. Maybe someone is asking, “How are we meant to live?” Well giving unconditional love in return. Loving God and loving others, and how great would it be if we extended that to all we encountered?
With hope and joy,
Garrett
How has God been faithful to you? Have you felt the everlasting love of your God? Have you experienced great love from others? How so? What did it feel like? What did it do for you as a person?
The following is a response from Warren Buffet after being asked the question, “What is the best advise you have ever received?” He begins by speaking of his father and then says:
"The power of unconditional love. I mean, there is no power on earth like unconditional love. And I think that if you offered that to your child, I mean, you’re 90 percent of the way home. There may be days when you don’t feel like it — it’s not uncritical love; that’s a different animal — but to know you can always come back, that is huge in life. That takes you a long, long way. And I would say that every parent out there that can extend that to their child at an early age, it’s going to make for a better human being."
Everlasting love, unconditional love, that love that loves us just because, that is the love that grabs us and lets us know that we can become great! God loves us with an unending, awe-inspiring love. Why? Because that is who God is. When we finally realize that it is then we get on living life the way we were meant to live, knowing that we have the greatest power on earth with us, unconditional love. Maybe someone is asking, “How are we meant to live?” Well giving unconditional love in return. Loving God and loving others, and how great would it be if we extended that to all we encountered?
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Minister's Minute from June Issue of the Journal of Hope and Joy
Here I am late at night, sitting in front of my computer feeling like an author dealing with a deadline. That happens sometimes with these “Minister’s Minutes.” The newsletter is ready to go out and all that is still needed is my part, and for the life of me I can’t think of anything. Melinda has gone to bed, but before she left me to my task she listened to me briefly complain about not having anything to write. I am both blessed and cursed with a wife who is often wiser than me. She looked at me without any pity (which is all I wanted) and said, “Why don’t you write about how we all want to be better people? Say something about how it is hard, and how we need to keep trying in the moment we have as opposed to thinking too far into the future.” Then she smiled, gave me a kiss and left.
I have no idea how to prove we all want to be better people, because there have been times each of us felt like we were fine the way we were. I have no idea if I can prove, or should even attempt to prove that we each want to be a better person, but I hope it is true. I hope that each of us can look deep inside ourselves and realize no matter how well we are put together that we can be better. I hope that the people we are now are not the people we will always be. I hope my faults, the small ones and the big ones, won’t always be. If grace is what grace is and work is what work is surely together grace and work can make me become a better person to myself, my friends, my family, and most assuredly my God.
Those who are Christians find inspiration to become better from the person of Jesus. In his humanity we see our lack of humanity, and there is something about his humanity that beckons us, that calls us to throw away our brokenness and lean forward into wholeness. Often the example of Jesus is too much though. We think to ourselves, “I am no Jesus, I am not even close and I never will be.” And so we leave it at that, no better than we were before because the goal seems so far away.
Of course should we lose hope when examining Jesus’ example we are poor students of scripture. It appears that God calls those who must become better. No one started off where they ended up. Many were called by God and said, “God you have the wrong person I can’t do this, I’m not good enough.” And it is as though God said, “You’re not good enough yet, but I’m not done with you.” Read some scripture if you don’t believe me. Read about Abraham and Sarah, read about Jacob and Moses, read about Sampson and David, read about Elijah and Jeremiah, read about a group of disciples who never seem to get it, and a man named Paul who once wrote, “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” but also had the wherewithal and faith to write right after that, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Why was Paul given hope that his wretchedness wasn’t the end of him when dealing with God? I am sure there were many reasons, but one from that old Sunday school song must have been at the forefront of his mind, “Jesus loves me this I know.”
The thing about being loved is that it makes us want to become better people. Maybe it has something to do with the people who love us, as though we want to become the person they think we can be. Melinda is right though, this is process and not some future we can just jump into. Each day we can become a little better when we let love guide us. I know this is true because I watch my wife. A couple of days ago I was trying to get Langston to say some words. Eventually I tried to get him to say “love.” “Langston, say ‘love,’” I said. He said, “Mommy,” and Melinda overheard him. When she went to bed tonight kissing me before she left, she went to sleep in his room since she knows she will miss him when she goes out of town to see a friend. For my little boy mommy is love, and therefore his mommy wants to become the best mommy she can be one day at a time. If we asked Jesus to say “love” I wonder if he might just say our name. Hmm, that makes me want to become the best me I can be one day at a time.
Riding the Wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
I have no idea how to prove we all want to be better people, because there have been times each of us felt like we were fine the way we were. I have no idea if I can prove, or should even attempt to prove that we each want to be a better person, but I hope it is true. I hope that each of us can look deep inside ourselves and realize no matter how well we are put together that we can be better. I hope that the people we are now are not the people we will always be. I hope my faults, the small ones and the big ones, won’t always be. If grace is what grace is and work is what work is surely together grace and work can make me become a better person to myself, my friends, my family, and most assuredly my God.
Those who are Christians find inspiration to become better from the person of Jesus. In his humanity we see our lack of humanity, and there is something about his humanity that beckons us, that calls us to throw away our brokenness and lean forward into wholeness. Often the example of Jesus is too much though. We think to ourselves, “I am no Jesus, I am not even close and I never will be.” And so we leave it at that, no better than we were before because the goal seems so far away.
Of course should we lose hope when examining Jesus’ example we are poor students of scripture. It appears that God calls those who must become better. No one started off where they ended up. Many were called by God and said, “God you have the wrong person I can’t do this, I’m not good enough.” And it is as though God said, “You’re not good enough yet, but I’m not done with you.” Read some scripture if you don’t believe me. Read about Abraham and Sarah, read about Jacob and Moses, read about Sampson and David, read about Elijah and Jeremiah, read about a group of disciples who never seem to get it, and a man named Paul who once wrote, “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” but also had the wherewithal and faith to write right after that, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Why was Paul given hope that his wretchedness wasn’t the end of him when dealing with God? I am sure there were many reasons, but one from that old Sunday school song must have been at the forefront of his mind, “Jesus loves me this I know.”
The thing about being loved is that it makes us want to become better people. Maybe it has something to do with the people who love us, as though we want to become the person they think we can be. Melinda is right though, this is process and not some future we can just jump into. Each day we can become a little better when we let love guide us. I know this is true because I watch my wife. A couple of days ago I was trying to get Langston to say some words. Eventually I tried to get him to say “love.” “Langston, say ‘love,’” I said. He said, “Mommy,” and Melinda overheard him. When she went to bed tonight kissing me before she left, she went to sleep in his room since she knows she will miss him when she goes out of town to see a friend. For my little boy mommy is love, and therefore his mommy wants to become the best mommy she can be one day at a time. If we asked Jesus to say “love” I wonder if he might just say our name. Hmm, that makes me want to become the best me I can be one day at a time.
Riding the Wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Why We Live
Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these." – Mark 12:29-31 (The Message)
What does it mean to live this way? Have you ever tried to live this way? How do you think the world may seem if you lived this way? Have you met anyone who tried to live life this way? What was that person like?
I was sent this sometime ago:
When Jewish psychiatrist Victor Frankl was arrested by the Nazis in World War II, he was stripped of everything—property, family, possessions. He had spent years researching and writing a book on the importance of finding meaning in life—concepts that later would be known as logotherapy. When he arrived in Auschwitz, the infamous death camp, even his manuscript, which he had hidden in the lining of his coat, was taken away.
“I had to undergo and overcome the loss of my spiritual child, “ Frankl wrote. “Now it seemed as if nothing and no one would survive me; neither a physical nor a spiritual child of my own! I found myself confronted with the question of whether under such circumstances my life was ultimately void of any meaning.”
He was still wrestling with that question a few days later when the Nazis forced the prisoners to give up their clothes.
“I had to surrender my clothes and he in turn inherited the worn-out rags of an inmate who had been sent to the gas chamber,” said Frankl. “Instead of the many pages of my manuscript, I found in the pocket of the newly acquired coat a single page torn out of a Hebrew prayer book, which contained the main Jewish prayer, SHEMA YISRAEL (Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one God. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.)
“How should I have interpreted such a ‘coincidence’ other than as a challenge to LIVE my thoughts instead of merely putting them on paper?”
Later, as Frankl reflected on his ordeal, he wrote in his book MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING, ‘There is nothing in the world that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions, as the knowledge that there is a meaning in one’s life…He who has a WHY to live for can bear almost any HOW.’”
Our meaning is discovered in love, and if we are filled with love for God and others maybe we can bear almost anything. During my many times in hospital rooms experiencing unspeakable suffering those who love God always seem to be able to bear what others cannot take. There is suffering in life, but with love burning within us we just might be able to take it all in stride because we know that we live to love!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What does it mean to live this way? Have you ever tried to live this way? How do you think the world may seem if you lived this way? Have you met anyone who tried to live life this way? What was that person like?
I was sent this sometime ago:
When Jewish psychiatrist Victor Frankl was arrested by the Nazis in World War II, he was stripped of everything—property, family, possessions. He had spent years researching and writing a book on the importance of finding meaning in life—concepts that later would be known as logotherapy. When he arrived in Auschwitz, the infamous death camp, even his manuscript, which he had hidden in the lining of his coat, was taken away.
“I had to undergo and overcome the loss of my spiritual child, “ Frankl wrote. “Now it seemed as if nothing and no one would survive me; neither a physical nor a spiritual child of my own! I found myself confronted with the question of whether under such circumstances my life was ultimately void of any meaning.”
He was still wrestling with that question a few days later when the Nazis forced the prisoners to give up their clothes.
“I had to surrender my clothes and he in turn inherited the worn-out rags of an inmate who had been sent to the gas chamber,” said Frankl. “Instead of the many pages of my manuscript, I found in the pocket of the newly acquired coat a single page torn out of a Hebrew prayer book, which contained the main Jewish prayer, SHEMA YISRAEL (Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one God. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.)
“How should I have interpreted such a ‘coincidence’ other than as a challenge to LIVE my thoughts instead of merely putting them on paper?”
Later, as Frankl reflected on his ordeal, he wrote in his book MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING, ‘There is nothing in the world that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions, as the knowledge that there is a meaning in one’s life…He who has a WHY to live for can bear almost any HOW.’”
Our meaning is discovered in love, and if we are filled with love for God and others maybe we can bear almost anything. During my many times in hospital rooms experiencing unspeakable suffering those who love God always seem to be able to bear what others cannot take. There is suffering in life, but with love burning within us we just might be able to take it all in stride because we know that we live to love!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Friday, May 28, 2010
Suffering and Hope
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. – Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)
Are you suffering? Have you ever been able to rejoice in your sufferings? What has helped you persevere during your sufferings? Have you discovered that character developed? What about hope? What does that love feel like in the middle of the hard times?
I remember this poem from my grandmother’s funeral. It is called “Footprints” by Margaret Fishback Powers.
One night a man had a dream that he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, the other belonging to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints, and that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life...
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied, "My precious, precious child. I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
If we are wondering how we can walk any further in this journey called life, maybe God is carrying us right now. We have all made it through horrible things before, and we will all go through them again, but we will never go through them alone. With God there is always reason to hope, and I suppose then there is always reason to rejoice too.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Are you suffering? Have you ever been able to rejoice in your sufferings? What has helped you persevere during your sufferings? Have you discovered that character developed? What about hope? What does that love feel like in the middle of the hard times?
I remember this poem from my grandmother’s funeral. It is called “Footprints” by Margaret Fishback Powers.
One night a man had a dream that he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, the other belonging to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints, and that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life...
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied, "My precious, precious child. I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
If we are wondering how we can walk any further in this journey called life, maybe God is carrying us right now. We have all made it through horrible things before, and we will all go through them again, but we will never go through them alone. With God there is always reason to hope, and I suppose then there is always reason to rejoice too.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Least of These
And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” – Matthew 25:40 (NRSV)
Who are “least of these?” Why are they members of Jesus’ family? How have you treated such people? How have others treated such people? Why is this important to God? What does it mean to you that however we treat the least is how we treat Jesus?
The following story was recently e-mailed to me:
A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says that Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons.
One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day.
On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture
Sally's friend drew a picture of who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased with the overall effect she had achieved.
The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target. Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall.
Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced.
Dr. Smith said only these words.... 'In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.' Matthew 25:40.
No other words were necessary; the tears filled eyes of the students focused only on the picture of Christ.
Everyone is created in the image of the God who is love, meaning that everyone is miraculous to God if to no one else. When we act out of hate or rage we tear into those made in the divine image, and indeed attack Jesus in the process. There are really no other words necessary.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Who are “least of these?” Why are they members of Jesus’ family? How have you treated such people? How have others treated such people? Why is this important to God? What does it mean to you that however we treat the least is how we treat Jesus?
The following story was recently e-mailed to me:
A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says that Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons.
One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day.
On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture
Sally's friend drew a picture of who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased with the overall effect she had achieved.
The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target. Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall.
Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced.
Dr. Smith said only these words.... 'In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.' Matthew 25:40.
No other words were necessary; the tears filled eyes of the students focused only on the picture of Christ.
Everyone is created in the image of the God who is love, meaning that everyone is miraculous to God if to no one else. When we act out of hate or rage we tear into those made in the divine image, and indeed attack Jesus in the process. There are really no other words necessary.
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Love and Good Deeds
And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25 (NRSV)
What are some good ways to provoke love and good deeds? Have you provoked such things in others? Have others provoked such things in you? How? Why is it good to meet together? Why do we need to encourage one another?
Yesterday at Bible study a couple came up to me before we started to share with me wonderful news, she is pregnant. As always happens when people share with me their great news I smiled hugely and couldn’t wait to tell everyone else. If I am asked not to tell people things I don’t, but joyous news is hard for me to keep in. I asked if I could share their wonderful news and they gave me the okay.
We went through all of the Bible study and had our prayer requests afterward. For the final prayer request I asked that everyone keep the couple in their prayers because, “They are pregnant!”
The best part about sharing good news in front of a group of people is watching everyone’s faces. In an instant I witnessed the crowd in front of me transformed into joy, as everyone turned to the couple to celebrate and rejoice with them. And for a moment I saw a slice of the kingdom of God and I couldn’t be happier.
Meeting together will inevitably provoke love and good deeds! We were not made to be alone, but made to live together. As we grow together we will always find more people to love, and more people who love us. In our world it is hard to make it through some days. If we lack encouragement it is a good time to make it back to a church home where we can discover we are not going through things alone. I pray that if you are reading this a cloud of love and good deeds surrounds you. If not my prayer is that soon such wonderful things will surround you. There is a church out there waiting for you!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What are some good ways to provoke love and good deeds? Have you provoked such things in others? Have others provoked such things in you? How? Why is it good to meet together? Why do we need to encourage one another?
Yesterday at Bible study a couple came up to me before we started to share with me wonderful news, she is pregnant. As always happens when people share with me their great news I smiled hugely and couldn’t wait to tell everyone else. If I am asked not to tell people things I don’t, but joyous news is hard for me to keep in. I asked if I could share their wonderful news and they gave me the okay.
We went through all of the Bible study and had our prayer requests afterward. For the final prayer request I asked that everyone keep the couple in their prayers because, “They are pregnant!”
The best part about sharing good news in front of a group of people is watching everyone’s faces. In an instant I witnessed the crowd in front of me transformed into joy, as everyone turned to the couple to celebrate and rejoice with them. And for a moment I saw a slice of the kingdom of God and I couldn’t be happier.
Meeting together will inevitably provoke love and good deeds! We were not made to be alone, but made to live together. As we grow together we will always find more people to love, and more people who love us. In our world it is hard to make it through some days. If we lack encouragement it is a good time to make it back to a church home where we can discover we are not going through things alone. I pray that if you are reading this a cloud of love and good deeds surrounds you. If not my prayer is that soon such wonderful things will surround you. There is a church out there waiting for you!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Someone to Trust
“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” – Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)
Do you know your God as a faithful God? How has God kept his covenant of love in your life? How have you kept God’s commands? When have you called upon God in your time of need? What happened?
While Melinda and I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, one day Melinda called me when she was in San Francisco working. She had just gotten back to her car and discovered that it had been broken into. The thief had stolen her stereo, and CDs, and whatever else he could get his hands onto quickly. It was the middle of the day and on a busy street with people walking by the whole time. Either no one noticed, or no one cared.
She called the police and she was told that they could not do anything. “Your stuff is gone and we don’t have any resources to devote to that kind of thing,” she was told. It was discouraging, but we accepted such things as the way they were.
When we moved to Albany it wasn’t four days before my car was broken into. I blamed myself because I apparently had forgotten to lock the door. Everything had been taken. We didn’t call the police because we thought nothing would happen, but people kept telling us to call the police so we did. And wouldn’t you know it, an officer showed up, finger printed the car, took a report, and a couple of days later the guy was caught and everything was returned.
The moral of the story is just because some people we trust fail us, doesn’t mean everyone will fail us.
A lot of people don’t have many reasons to trust anyone. Many have experienced the heartbreak of watching parents abandon them in various ways, friends not come through on promises, government officials demonstrate more concern about keeping power than doing what is right, and countless other such things, and then decided that they couldn’t trust anyone. But we have a faithful God! A God who keeps his covenant of love! We have all heard testimonies from people who know that God has been their help. It may be hard to take that leap of faith when everyone else has seemed to fail us, but know this, God does not fail those he loves and God loves you!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Do you know your God as a faithful God? How has God kept his covenant of love in your life? How have you kept God’s commands? When have you called upon God in your time of need? What happened?
While Melinda and I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, one day Melinda called me when she was in San Francisco working. She had just gotten back to her car and discovered that it had been broken into. The thief had stolen her stereo, and CDs, and whatever else he could get his hands onto quickly. It was the middle of the day and on a busy street with people walking by the whole time. Either no one noticed, or no one cared.
She called the police and she was told that they could not do anything. “Your stuff is gone and we don’t have any resources to devote to that kind of thing,” she was told. It was discouraging, but we accepted such things as the way they were.
When we moved to Albany it wasn’t four days before my car was broken into. I blamed myself because I apparently had forgotten to lock the door. Everything had been taken. We didn’t call the police because we thought nothing would happen, but people kept telling us to call the police so we did. And wouldn’t you know it, an officer showed up, finger printed the car, took a report, and a couple of days later the guy was caught and everything was returned.
The moral of the story is just because some people we trust fail us, doesn’t mean everyone will fail us.
A lot of people don’t have many reasons to trust anyone. Many have experienced the heartbreak of watching parents abandon them in various ways, friends not come through on promises, government officials demonstrate more concern about keeping power than doing what is right, and countless other such things, and then decided that they couldn’t trust anyone. But we have a faithful God! A God who keeps his covenant of love! We have all heard testimonies from people who know that God has been their help. It may be hard to take that leap of faith when everyone else has seemed to fail us, but know this, God does not fail those he loves and God loves you!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Finding Love and Finding God
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:11 (NIV)
How has God loved you? When last did you experience God’s love? How have you loved others because of God’s love for you? Have you experienced someone love you with a love that comes from God? What was it like?
Just recently a couple in the church wanted to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. Since I am not quite yet 30 I have no idea what it must be like to be married to someone for 65 years. It is always great to go visit them, and hear the stories of how they met, their life together. I have discovered that in 65 years there are a lot of stories.
A couple of days ago, just a couple of days before their 65th anniversary the wife had a stroke. She had been sick for awhile, but this brought her to the brink of death. All of the plans they had for a great party here at the church had to be abandoned, and as I sat with her husband as he held her hand he told me how sad he was that they were not going to be able to celebrate such a monumental occasion, he told me how sad he was to be losing his wife, and I felt sad with him.
As I sat with him, unbeknownst to me, God was working something out. Their daughter, two church deacons, and a chaplain who happens to be my wife figured out how to have the party at their house. Maybe the man’s wife wouldn’t be able to experience what they had hoped, but she was still alive so there was reason to have a party.
They came up to us after everything was set. Food was going to be delivered to the house, people would come play music, all the family was going to be there, it was still going to be a celebration. This was explained to her husband, and then the sweetest thing happened. He smiled and said, “I am so happy.” Then this near 89-year-old man began crying. And maybe there were some tears of sadness, but also there were tears of joy as he knew he was going to be able to celebrate 65 years with his beloved.
In the whole scene I saw the love of God. I saw God’s love in a husband’s love for his wife. I saw it in family and church family working together to ensure a celebration could occur. I saw what could have just been a sad event become a celebration. I saw people who knew of God’s love and thereby loved those around them. And because I saw love, I saw God.
Where have you seen love? Where have you experienced love? Wherever there is love, there is also God! The reason we ought to love one another isn’t just so we have another commandment to obey. The reason we ought to love one another is so that God can show up in situations where people wonder where God is. There was a cross where a man was condemned to die. Tortured and beaten before his execution many may have wondered where God was then… and yet God was there. An awful instrument of torture has become a symbol of hope through the power of God’s love. If God can do that, what else can God do where love is present? Let’s find out!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
How has God loved you? When last did you experience God’s love? How have you loved others because of God’s love for you? Have you experienced someone love you with a love that comes from God? What was it like?
Just recently a couple in the church wanted to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. Since I am not quite yet 30 I have no idea what it must be like to be married to someone for 65 years. It is always great to go visit them, and hear the stories of how they met, their life together. I have discovered that in 65 years there are a lot of stories.
A couple of days ago, just a couple of days before their 65th anniversary the wife had a stroke. She had been sick for awhile, but this brought her to the brink of death. All of the plans they had for a great party here at the church had to be abandoned, and as I sat with her husband as he held her hand he told me how sad he was that they were not going to be able to celebrate such a monumental occasion, he told me how sad he was to be losing his wife, and I felt sad with him.
As I sat with him, unbeknownst to me, God was working something out. Their daughter, two church deacons, and a chaplain who happens to be my wife figured out how to have the party at their house. Maybe the man’s wife wouldn’t be able to experience what they had hoped, but she was still alive so there was reason to have a party.
They came up to us after everything was set. Food was going to be delivered to the house, people would come play music, all the family was going to be there, it was still going to be a celebration. This was explained to her husband, and then the sweetest thing happened. He smiled and said, “I am so happy.” Then this near 89-year-old man began crying. And maybe there were some tears of sadness, but also there were tears of joy as he knew he was going to be able to celebrate 65 years with his beloved.
In the whole scene I saw the love of God. I saw God’s love in a husband’s love for his wife. I saw it in family and church family working together to ensure a celebration could occur. I saw what could have just been a sad event become a celebration. I saw people who knew of God’s love and thereby loved those around them. And because I saw love, I saw God.
Where have you seen love? Where have you experienced love? Wherever there is love, there is also God! The reason we ought to love one another isn’t just so we have another commandment to obey. The reason we ought to love one another is so that God can show up in situations where people wonder where God is. There was a cross where a man was condemned to die. Tortured and beaten before his execution many may have wondered where God was then… and yet God was there. An awful instrument of torture has become a symbol of hope through the power of God’s love. If God can do that, what else can God do where love is present? Let’s find out!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
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