March Minister's Minute in The Journal of Hope and Joy

Here we are in March. I am not sure what happened to January or February. Both seemed to fly by. As a child it seemed as though time went on forever. Those four hours of waiting for that moment when my friend would finally come over to spend the night. As soon as our mothers agreed my life became filled with such glorious anticipation that at times I would stare at the clock and count the seconds. By the time the fours hours were up it felt as though a lifetime had passed. Those six hours of school each day… an eternity. Driving the hour to visit family on the holidays… “Are we ever going to get there?” Waiting in lines, waiting at the doctor’s office, or waiting at all always seemed to take at least 8 times as long as my mother claimed we had waited.
I remember as a child when my elders would tell me to enjoy my youth because it would be gone soon enough. As everything took an eternity I was not concerned. I remember as a child when my elders would tell me that as I aged time would go faster. Since even as a youngster I had a pretty good handle on the rules of physics I paid no attention. However here I find myself, older than a youngster but too young to be an elder, discovering that indeed time has accelerated.
I suppose that as each day of life passes I have another day of memory. Now my collective memory is much longer than it was when I was 14. Now one day in the big scheme of my life is much shorter over all than one day was when I was younger. One hour passes by quickly whereas yesterday one hour could be forever.
I am now old enough to heed the advice of my elders and to enjoy what youth I have left, for soon enough it will pass away. I am also young enough to realize that those younger, who have not yet discovered this wisdom ,will not benefit from me trying to force it upon them, it is something they will discover on their own and realize, as I have realized, that others were right all along.
But in the midst of all of this as I watch my child age faster than I could have ever imagined, as my life accelerates into the future and I wonder where the days have gone, as I try to hold onto moments which quickly become memories I have one thing I want to share with everyone. If you remember nothing else I ever say remember this, enjoy each moment of your life! It is precious because it is the only moment you are in. It is precious because it is always the closest you will be to God. It is precious because you may never have another. It is precious because you have no idea when those around you will disappear into eternity. Since each moment is precious each moment can be enjoyed for we shall never have another moment like the one we are in right now.
We celebrated our 160th Anniversary recently, what a spectacular moment it was for me. I got to teach a class about Presbyterianism before the service, it was the first time I ever taught such a class, I will never have that first time again. I was blessed to baptize a child of God during the service; she will never be baptized again. I shared memories with you all about a church that will never be 160 years old again. I married a couple and no one will ever experience a wedding like theirs again. People asked me if I was ready for a nap at the end of the day… I was, but I enjoyed each moment of that day because I will never have a day like it again. Today I am going to enjoy each moment too, because I will never have a day like it again. Today I am going to enjoy my son even when he cries because someday he will not cry as a baby ever again. Today I am going to enjoy each book I read because I may never read that book again. Today I am going to relish each time my wife tells me she loves me because I love to hear it. Today I am going to enjoy all of life’s moments, even the bad ones, with the smile God has given me to use, because God will be with me in each moment and that is the most precious gift I know.
Riding the wave of the Holy Spirit,
Garrett

The Least of These

“Then those people will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or alone and away from home or without clothes or sick or in prison? When did we see these things and not help you?' Then the King will answer, 'I tell you the truth, anything you refused to do for even the least of my people here, you refused to do for me.'” – Matthew 25:44-45 (NCV)

When have you had need and not been helped? When have you not helped those in need? Where have you seen Jesus? What have you done to help? How will you change your life today to make sure you hear, “I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.”?

The following story is found at http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/hishouse.htm
It was a cold Sunday morning when members started arriving at church, snow flakes had just fallen, people were rushing in to get inside. To the warmth, to the dry sanctuary.
As the members were walking in they were astonished to see a homeless person laying on the sidewalk by the front door. He was bent over all covered up with an old black trench coat, that had many holes in it. His shoes had holes in it and you could see his socks filthy from months of grime on them. The man had a black hat on that covered his face. His hands filthy with dirt from probably digging in a garbage can some thought.
As the members made their way into the sanctuary, they were all discussing how this horrible filthy man, had the nerve to sleep at THEIR church doors! Finally the pianist started playing and the members all sat down in their seats. They were all looking around, wondering where the Pastor could be. You could hear people whispering, saying, "Pastor Joe is probably telling that homeless man he needs to leave the property." "What would visitors think if they seen him."
All of a sudden, you could hear a gasp! The homeless man was walking down the middle of the church aisle, he made his way to the front, and then to the platform!!! When the homeless man got to the microphone. He said "Good morning, how are you all?" The homeless man was their Pastor Joe! Not a word was said, no one moved all around. Even the pianist stopped playing.
Then Pastor Joe said, "Did any of you see Jesus outside this morning? He was cold, He was dirty, His clothes were filthy! However no one asked Him into HIS house."

The least of Jesus’ people are all around us and that means Jesus is all around us! Let’s go be the type of Christians Jesus wants us to be, Christians of action that make goodness happen!

With hope and joy,
Garrett

WALB showing some of the 160th Anniversary

Click the title

Enjoy Life!

So I decided it was more important to enjoy life. The best that people can do here on earth is to eat, drink, and enjoy life, because these joys will help them do the hard work God gives them here on earth. – Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NCV)

 

What kind of hard work has God given you?  Have you decided it is more important to enjoy life?  What about this last week was a joy to you?  How is the best way to enjoy life?  Are you doing it?  Can you do the hard work without the joys?

 

The following story found at: http://www.rogerknapp.com/inspire/marbles.htm

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings.  Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, of maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work.  Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.



A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen, with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other.  What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.



Let me tell you about it.  I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show.  I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself.

He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named "Tom".  I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.  "Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job.  I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much.  Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet.  Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital."  He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities."  And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic.  The average person lives about seventy-five years.  I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years."

"Now then, I multiplied 75
times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime.

Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part.  It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays.  I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy.

"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round-up 1000 marbles.  I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away.



"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life.  There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight.  Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast.  This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container.  I figure if I make it until next Saturday then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones......

"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!"



You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even the show's moderator didn't have anything to say for a few moments. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special," I said. " It has just been a
long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."

 

There is so much to enjoy about life!  The moments that we do not take to enjoy will disappear soon enough.  We have the choice as to whether or not we will take time for the joys to help us do the hard work God gives us.  Of course God gives us the joys too!  Today make the choice to enjoy life!

With hope and joy,

Garrett

Christian Living

Love each other like brothers and sisters.  Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves.  Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart.  Be joyful because you have hope.  Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times.  Share with God's people who need help.  Bring strangers in need into your homes. – Romans 12:10-13 (NCV)

 

Are you the type of person Paul is describing?  How can you become more like this?  How can you give more honor to others than you want yourself?  What does it mean to be joyful because you have hope?  What happens when this description is who you are?

 

The following story is found: http://www.wow4u.com/wisewoman/index.html

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream.

The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food.  The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him.  She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune.  He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.  "I've been thinking," he said.  "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious.  Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."

 

When Christians live like Christians should live the world will change!  When Christians give of themselves without hesitation, work hard serving God, are joyful, have hope, show patience, pray, share with those in need, and welcome strangers, others will want to know what you have within that enables you to be as you are… then you can truly share your Savior!  Today start loving others like brothers and sisters and watch the world change.

With hope and joy,

Garrett

February Minister's Minute in Journal of Hope and Joy

My son smiled at me for the first time recently.  Sure he has smiled before, but it was generally the prelude to a moment where he fills the immediate area with gas.  This time he looked right at me and smiled.  No simple smile, but a large smile open mouth and all, the kind of smile where you wait for a second because you are just sure a laugh is going to follow soon… the laugh never came but I pray to my God the memory of that smile never leaves me.  It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.

Several weeks ago I was driving on a very rural highway to go to a conference.  I emphasize the “rural” because even after a year I am getting use to some of it.  I was on the highway for maybe about 40 minutes, and the whole while only three other vehicles passed me going the other way.  Two rusted pickups and a tractor.  I laughed as the tractor passed me and I considered my situation, God works in mysterious ways.  But the real interesting thing about the day was its splendor.  It could have been the clearest day I had ever witnessed.  Almost as though individual rays of sunshine could be differentiated from one another, splashing us all with its warmth and glory.  The sky was a crystal clear of indescribable proportions and the type of blue that one thinks of when one thinks of perfect.  This rural highway was saturated with the variety of landscape which seemed the perfect compliment to the majesty of the weather.  Fields of the brightest and most spectacular greens, rows of trees which played with the light as the wind passed through their branches, next a pond surrounded by foliage the likes of which I have never seen.  At one point I could not stand passing by such beauty while sitting alone in my car, so I pulled over and got out.  I leaned against the hood and stared, I just stared.  I half expected God to show up right then and lean next to me, not saying a thing just staring with me… God never came, at least not in person, but I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me.  It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.

I went to the hospital where sister Martha Clark spent her last days.  At 94 years old she lived one wonderful life.  I came into the room, and could tell that she would not recognize me because she did not have her glasses on.  I said, “Martha Clark, it’s Garrett Andrew!”  Immediately she looked over with a smile bigger than most patients ever give.  She spoke with joy about her life, she had a good one, and she told me she could not wait to see her husband and daughter again.  We prayed together, and before I left she put her arms out wide and demanded a hug, she gave a good one.  I think I knew it would be the last one… it was, but it was perfect and I pray to my God the memory of that moment never leaves me.  It has already been my fuel for joy in moments of need.

Last Sunday the service went well.  It was one of those days where I thought to myself, “We done and had church today.”  Afterwards a family asked me to pray with them.  We prayed in the back of the sanctuary around everyone else, the Spirit and tears moved in our midst.  After the prayer another couple came up to me and said the service was special to them.  The solo that day moved them, the love in the church touched them, and they felt God while there.  Two young men shared with me their achievements in sports and I was excited for them.  A visitor took my hand and looked at me intently and said, “I needed that worship today, I have been looking for hope.”  I thank my God for moments like these after worship, and pray that they never cease.  They always end up as my fuel for joy in moments of need.

What is your fuel for joy in moments of need?  All around us there is reason for joy.  The cynic would point out that there is also reason for despair, but I would counter there are only reasons to have people who offer fuel for joy so that joy abounds.  To those who are hurting and in need, we must become their fuel for joy!  God offers a world so full of beauty, a life filled with surprise, and moments of inspiration to each of us with the express intent that we in turn offer the world what God has given, joy!

Riding the Wave of the Holy Spirit,

Garrett

Like A Child

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."   And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. – Mark 10:13-16 (NIV)

 

What does it mean that the kingdom of God belongs to children?  What does it mean that you must receive the kingdom of God like a little child?  Do you believe you receive God’s gifts this way?  How does one live life like this?  Who have you met that lives life like a child in God’s kingdom?

 

The following story found at: http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/stories.cgi?record=30

Hot sun.  Salty air.  Rhythmic waves. 

A little boy is on his knees scooping and packing the sand with plastic shovels into a bright blue bucket.  Then he upends the bucket on the surface and lifts it.  And, to the delight of the little architect, a castle tower is created. 


All afternoon he will work.  Spooning out the moat.  Packing the walls.  Bottle tops will be sentries.  Popsicle sticks will be bridges.  A sandcastle will be built. 



Big city.  Busy streets.  Rumbling traffic. 

A man is in his office.  At his desk he shuffles papers into stacks and delegates assignments.  He cradles the phone on his shoulder and punches the keyboard with his fingers.  Numbers are juggled and contracts are signed and much to the delight of the man, a profit is made. 

All his life he will work.  Formulating the plans.  Forecasting the future.  Annuities will be sentries.  Capital gains will be bridges.  An empire will be built. 



Two builders of two castles.  They have much in common.  They shape granules into grandeurs.  They see nothing and make something.  They are diligent and determined.  And for both the tide will rise and the end will come. 
Yet that is where the similarities cease.

For the boy sees the end while the man ignores it.  Watch the boy as the dusk approaches. 

As the waves near, the wise child jumps to his feet and begins to clap. There is no sorrow.  No fear.  No regret.  He knew this would happen.  He is not surprised.  And when the great breaker crashes into his castle and his masterpiece is sucked into the sea, he smiles.  He smiles, picks up his tools, takes his father's hand, and goes home. 



The grownup, however, is not so wise.  As the wave of years collapses on his castle he is terrified.  He hovers over the sandy monument to protect it.  He blocks the waves from the walls he has made.  Salt-water soaked and shivering he snarls at the incoming tide. 

"It's my castle," he defies. 

The ocean need not respond.  Both know to whom the sand belongs... 



I don't know much about sandcastles.  But children do.  Watch them and learn.  Go ahead and build, but build with a child's heart.  When the sun sets and the tides take - applaud.  Salute the process of life and go home.

 

Life will go on no matter what we do, but God wants us to enjoy it will all our hearts!  The kingdom of God is reserved for those who rejoice with a child’s heart.  Adult worries are often meaningless, fruitless, and cause only pain.  Today enter the kingdom of God by becoming like a little child, and see the entire world as glory and surprise!

With hope and joy,

Garrett