Giving Thanks

Posted on January 3, 2005 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Giving Thanks
Colossians 3:15-17

Please join me in prayer this week for the victims of the Tsunami that has devastated many countries around the Indian Ocean. By the time you read this, the death toll will probably have grown past where it is now (120,000). I can’t even imagine entire villages and towns being erased from the map. We can pray, we can donate money, but we can even use tragic events like this one to be thankful for what we have.

I recently completed a history class in which I had to compare and contrast different parts of history. In a classroom setting, we often compare and contrast. We do it in relationship to our careers, our parenting styles, our children. We also compare and contrast our possessions. We usually do this with those that have more than us, and this might highlight our greedy side.  Thinking about the Tsunami victims, think about the great loss of life, the great loss of homes, the great loss of food, and every other need in life in which they have suffered loss. Thinking about those who have such great needs makes me thankful for what I have, even if that isn’t all that much. How long this feeling of thankfulness will last is unknown, it’s sort of like a New Year’s resolution isn’t it? Thankfulness I mean.

Please take time to read Colossians 3:15-17. In this passage, Paul exhorts his readers to be thankful (15) and to give thanks (17). You may wonder about what things we should be thankful? Should we indeed give thanks for all things that happen? Those are good questions. If questions such as these arise in your heart, please email me and ask away. After all, I’d love these devotional tidbits to be a dialogue at times, not just a one way lecture on my part.

A bit of preaching, Christian Graces, Struggles

She Gave Me a Pen

Posted on December 28, 2004 by gophumek | Permalink 0

She gave me a pen.”
Romans 12:1

You will see in a few of my devotional tidbits, references to the 1989 movie Say Anything starring John Cusack. In today’s devotional titled, “She gave me a pen,” I will discuss gifts. This topic is appropriate since just a few days ago many of you opened plenty of gifts from Santa Claus, family, and friends. Speaking of Santa Claus, my son was surprised that Santa used OUR wrapping paper for the SECOND year in a row.

What kind of gifts do you like to receive or give? What was your favorite gift this Christmas? Giving, it says a lot about us doesn’t it? In the movie mentioned above, John Cusack was in love with Diane Court. They had spent so much time together, he had finally found the love of his life or so he thought. She loved him too, didn’t she? Eventually at the prodding of her father, Diane awkwardly broke up with John Cusack. Diane, not knowing what to say simply gives John Cusack a pen and asks him to write her. As with most sad moments in movies, we see in the next scene, rain pouring down. John Cusack is in a phone booth talking to his sister who was like his best friend. “She’s gone,” he says. “I gave her my heart……she gave me a pen,” he finally laments.

Now I want you to stop for a moment and ponder that line, “I gave her my heart……she gave me a pen.” That says so much doesn’t it? Have you ever had a relationship like that?

I want you to now fast forward out of 1989 and look at your relationship with God. In looking at how much of your life you give God, would He ever say something like…”I gave them my son Jesus….and they only gave me a pen.”  Is our idea of sacrificial living for God equivalent to the giving of a pen after we’ve given someone all the love in our heart? Can God feel the pain of John Cusack’s character Lloyd Dobbler when he looks at how we live?

Romans 12:1 speaks to the sacrifice we are to give God today. The sacrifice God wants from us is a daily sacrifice. He wants our whole life. He wants our entire month. He wants every hour of our life to be lived for Him. This does not mean we can’t have fun. This doesn’t mean we are mindless robots saying “amen,” all day or isolating ourselves from all non-Christians. It does mean we are to consider God in the decisions we make.  This living sacrifice we are to be for God is not because of some law. We are to be this living sacrifice as Romans 12:1 says, “in view of God’s mercy.” Think of your small blessings each day, then think of the huge blessing we have in Jesus dying on the cross for us.

We need to think about our blessings and act accordingly. To act accordingly means to live closer to our Lord, Jesus Christ and to be a living sacrifice.  What does living close to the Lord, or being a living sacrifice include anyway? I think of it as considering Christ when we make our decisions each day. Try considering Jesus Christ when you choose friends, your job, the way you entertain yourself, your business practices, and even when you tell your children to answer the phone and say you’re not home. Do you ever do that phone thing or something similar? 

I agree that it is frightening to leave things in God’s hands. At this moment, I am wearing a t-shirt that reads “Relax, God is in control.” I am not saying this is always easy, because it’s not. “[I]n view of God’s mercy,” I believe we should pray for help to be that living sacrifice God wants. It’s the least we could do for Him. Let us give God our lives everyday, not just a pen with which we could write him once in a while.

A bit of preaching, Christian Graces, Servanthood

Toothpaste and Words

Posted on December 20, 2004 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Toothpaste & Words
James 3:1-12

Words, words, words, we hear a lot of them at this time of the year. A lot of people are wishing us well, but not everyone. Have you heard some unkind or impolite words lately? I have, and you may have too. I might have even said some of those words, how ‘bout you?

Well, you might be thinking, “What in the world can toothpaste and words have in common?” Let’s look closely at the origins of toothpaste and words. Where does toothpaste come from? Well, the simple answer is a tube of toothpaste.  Where do words come from? Of course, they come from the mouth. Don’t you see the similarity? Well, just try squeezing toothpaste out of a tube and putting it back inside. You’ll find it quite difficult if not impossible. Try doing the same with your words. Once words come out of your mouth, try to put them back inside; it can’t be done. If you say something that is mean and rotten, you can always say, “I’m sorry,” but the damage is most likely already done.

Not only should we be careful of what we say, but we should also be careful in how we say things. For example, we can make a comment about someone’s face by saying one of the following: 1) “Your face could stop a clock” or 2) “You have a face that makes time stand still.” Both statements refer to time and to someone’s face, but which would you prefer to hear?

In the Bible we can turn to James chapter 3 to read about our tongue and its power. James says the tongue is small but makes great boasts (3:5); he calls it a fire (3:6); a world of evil (3:6); we praise God with our tongue (3:9); we curse men with our tongue (3:9). One of the most meaningful things James says about the tongue is found in James 3:10-“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” 

Simply put, tongues cause trouble. We see signs such as, “Beware of Dog,” and “Trespassers will be Shot.” My mom even saw a sign that read, “My Bull can cross this pasture in 3.5 seconds, can you?”  I think each of us should also wear a sign. It should read, “Beware, I have a tongue and I have yet to tame it.”  Unless we are a perfect Christian, we all have our little bouts of “untamedtongueitis.”  Shouldn’t we all be very careful of the tube of toothpaste we actually are?

Especially during this special time of the year, this sometimes very stressful time of the year, we should spend more time with our heavenly Father each day asking for help in restraining our tongues. 

A bit of preaching, Christian Graces, Peace

Hangin’ On

Posted on December 13, 2004 by gophumek | Permalink 0

Hanging On

Mark 8:36-37

I want to write to you today about “Hanging On.” Three quick things pop in my mind when I think about that term.  I think of the song, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” I also think of the idea that sometimes, we are barely “hanging on” to life by a thread. Finally, I thought of things of which we don’t want to let go. The following news article may shed some light on that final meaning. The article was taken from the Daily Californian (Berkeley, CA.)

Tuesday, April 29, 2003 – Woman Injured in Purse-Snatching A woman was dragged by a car in South Berkeley early Sunday during a struggle to keep her purse from landing in the hands of thieves, police said. The struggle began about 1:15 a.m. when the woman was accosted on the 2000 block of Emerson Street by two female assailants, one of whom grabbed onto her purse, said Berkeley police Officer Mary Kusmiss. The woman held on as the thief stepped into a car, which began to move. She traveled between eight and 10 feet before letting go of her purse. She suffered scrapes and swelling.

This incident is not the first of its kind and it won’t be the last. I don’t know what was in the purse, but I doubt it was anything worth risking one’s life over. I wanted to share that news story because it reminded me of myself, and maybe it might remind you of yourself.  No, I’ve never had my purse snatched (I only carry a purse when my wife asks). You too, may never have had your purse snatched. The element of the story that reminds me of myself is the “hanging on” part.

It didn’t take me too long to think of things that I wouldn’t want to let go.  My computer quickly came to mind (my wife would say a hearty amen to that). My video taped collection of “Saved by the Bell” episodes made my top ten list. There are plenty of other possessions for which I might risk scrapes and swelling like the woman in the above news story.  I’m sometimes ashamed of the importance I give my possessions. Mark 8:36-37 says, “And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (NLT)

Is there anything that you hold onto so tight? It might not be a physical possession. What else can take hold of you so tight that it squeezes out the time and intimacy God wants from you?

I have held onto things such as tradition, my huge appetite, my comfort zone, non-Christian behavior (pride, lack of self-control, anger). I’ve hung on tight to a lot of things that can and do come between me and the wonderful love of God our Father. Have you hung on to similar items? Do you still hang on tight to these things? Is it some bad habit that is keeping you away from the loving relationship God wants to have with you? Is it your religious heritage that keeps you away from loving God deeper? What is it?

Everybody’s got something from time to time that keeps them away from pure dedication to God. As for me, well…… I’d have too many things to mention if I started to list them.  I work all the time on having my priorities straight. God is my number one priority and he should be so every day of the week, but sometimes (or is that many times?)  I slip and I fall. My prayer is that I will get right back up on my feet and re-focus on HIM. I pray the same for you also.    Can I hear an Amen?

A bit of preaching, Christian Graces