In an often repeated story a man asked God how long a million years was to him. God said, “It’s just like a single second of your time, my child.” “And what about a million dollars?” asked the man. “It’s just like a single penny,” was the reply. “So, Lord,” said the man, “could I have one of your pennies?” He said, “Certainly, my child, just a second.”

How different God’s perspective is from ours! Is he amused at times by our prayers, requesting things that are not in his plans at all? Still, amazingly he desires our prayers. He grants those things that are for good, and we learn better how to pray as we grow in faith. Along the way he gives us wisdom so that our thinking becomes more like his. Isn’t that just like a loving Father?

Labels: Reflections

Jesus taught that God’s in-the-beginning will for human happiness had not changed: “A man [and] his wife…shall become one flesh” (Gen 2; Mt 19). Our culture is not committed to God’s way, however. According to 2002 statistics, 60% of all couples are living together without marriage. The results of defying God speak clearly: higher levels of depression and assault of the adults, endangerment of children, 50 % increase in the odds of divorce. A University of Wisconsin study states, “Only 15 out of every 100 cohabiting couples were married after a decade.”

God made us, and he knows what we need better than we do. He has spoken of his will for happy families: One man and one woman for life. “When all else fails, check the instructions” applies to people as well as toys and appliances.

Labels: Reflections

The recent national attention to the question of same-sex marriage is another reminder that our society’s attitudes are constantly changing. Within living memory our country has reversed expectations in racial and gender questions, medical challenges, and treatment of mental illness, to name a few topics. Informative discussion is hampered by the tendency of the “enlightened ones” to view those who disagree with them as being “narrow minded.” Nobody likes being labeled in that way.

Sometimes our attitudes need to change, especially toward those who are different from us. If every person is made in the image of God, then they have a soul, and they have the potential to glorify God just as surely as any of us do. We must learn to “hate the sin, but love the sinner,” just as God does. But in doing so we must keep hold of those things that never change—the nature of God and his will.

When Jeremiah called Israel to return to the covenant, the Mosaic Law was 700 years old. People who wanted to be like the nations around them had adopted idol worship and pagan practices. The prophet said some things simply do not change. The people of God must still strive to develop the wisdom to know the difference (Heb 5:13-14).

Labels: Reflections

We Americans want solutions to our problems, and sooner rather than later. The church is good with the “casserole brigade” in response to a crisis, and then we move on. But protracted illness, or non-physical problems like mental illness—those conditions test our limits.

Tim Stafford (Christianity Today, March 2003) says that too often the church has a “get over it” approach. We want people to fix it and move on. Don’t get trapped in the emotional past. What are we supposed to think about these walking wounded?

One psychologist says, “God uses people who are weaker to expose our hearts to us. I can tell myself that I am really patient as long as I am with people who are running at the same pace as I am. But when I begin to attend to people who are deeply wounded, I may find that I am not so patient after all.” We might well remember that human weakness is the path to divine strength (2 Cor 12:9-10)

Labels: Reflections

A high school student was having trouble remembering the symbol for mercury (Hg) on the periodic table. His mother offered this memory aid: In a thermometer mercury rises; hot air balloons also rise, and Around the World in 80 Days is about a hot-air balloon race; it was written by H.G. Wells, and Hg is the symbol for mercury! Even as an adult that student never forgot that mercury is Hg.

Problem is, H.G. Wells did not write the book, Jules Verne did! The mother’s sincere effort helped with the problem, but she was mistaken with her facts. So the question is, does truth really matter in life, or is it just whatever works? Do the ends justify the means? Should we teach our children that principles matter? Are people intrinsically valuable? Are math teachers wrong when they require their students to “show your work?”

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Was he speaking a truth that matters, or is sincerity of intent all that counts? In spiritual matters only by following the truth can we arrive at the goal we seek. Regular worship and study are essential actions toward that end.

Labels: Reflections

Joan Baez made Amazing Grace a chart-topping popular song in the 1970s. She has said since, “I don’t know why anyone would think of  Amazing Grace as a religious song.” Here is a clue about the way our contemporary culture perceives reality. This familiar hymn that speaks to us of God’s unmerited favor in saving us eternally does not communicate that same message to those who are looking for something else. “Grace” to them is good luck, a reward for effort, or just sheer optimism.

John Newton wrote these words out of his conviction of sin after he renounced his life as the captain of a slave ship. He had encountered the saving grace of God through his faith in Jesus. For him it was all religious—there was nothing else.

When Paul says, “It is by grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:5), he is speaking a language that is unintelligible to many Americans. For Christians the message is plain: the blood of Jesus removes our sin because God makes it so. It is beyond what we deserve—even beyond our ability to understand.

Labels: Reflections

Time was that a typical American could engage in an informed conversation about the Bible with any other citizen. They might not agree, but they could at least exchange ideas in a shared acquaintance with the Scriptures. 

Those days are gone. We are a land of biblical illiteracy. Even regular church-goers cannot identify more than a handful of biblical characters. Fewer can move with confidence among the books of the Bible. A shrinking minority regard the Bible as an essential guide for life.

What does the Bible mean by such statements as, “Jesus Christ, the Righteous One…is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world” ( 1 Jn 2:1-2)? Many do not even understand the concept of sin any more. For people of faith, do such questions really matter?

Labels: Reflections

What do we want from God? What do we expect him to do for us? Make us happy? Take away our troubles? Solve our problems with a nosy neighbor or a pesky relative or a difficult boss? While we are encouraged in the Bible to “cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you”, (1 Peter 5:7), he will not do everything we want him to or in the time we would like.

That’s one reason I like this prayer that I came across recently. I don’t know who wrote it, but the simplicity is just right:

“O Lord, Support us all the day long until the shadow lengthen and the evening comes  and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done.  Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last.”

When God is in the picture, whatever comes will work out well in the end. Don’t forget to thank him today!

Labels: Reflections

Please, come join us at the LOU Church of Christ for a series of studies in how Jesus brings victory to his church today, in these times of confusion and discouragement.

The meeting each night is at 6:00 p.m.

Lessons presented by our minister, Dr. David Jackson, of Memphis.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION:  JESUS TRIUMPHANT IN HIS CHURCH

Monday, July 12: “Jesus, the Head of the Church”

Tuesday, July 13: “Jesus, the Lion of Judah, the Root of David”

Wednesday, July 14: “Jesus, the Rider on a White Horse”

Please join us each night for this study, followed by discussion and refreshments.

 We are located at  2603 West Oxford Loop          Telephone:  662-234-5948

Labels: Reflections

Some people get excited about the prospect of finding some “omitted gospel” or secret information regarding Jesus and the Gospel. The 2005 movie The Da Vinci Code capitalized on this fascination with a reinterpretation of the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The Gospel of Thomas and the tomb of James are recent items in the news.

What is the basis of our faith? Are all ancient sources valuable just because they are old? How can we take advantage of this age of spiritual “searching”? Many people in our time refer to themselves as “spiritual.” It is like those in the first Christian century who were “very religious” or “superstitious” (Acts 17:22). Our challenge is to be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks us for the reason of our hope (1 Pet 3:15). Being familiar with the content of Scripture has never been more important for Christians. We must be, as we once were, a “people of the book.”

Labels: Reflections