“Laid low in the dust”

Psalm 119:25 – “I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.”

These days I am finding more and more “dust suckers” as it were. More and more people are losing their jobs or businesses and our expectations are not being met. We have lived through a time of “unrealistic expectations.” What happened in the past was that most of our “unrealistic expectations” were being met but for many the “expectations” of life are not being met today. Many of us today have lived as if God owes us something; He owes us nothing except His wrath. God in His mercy provided the sacrifice—Jesus, and God’s entire wrath destined for us (and fully deserved) fell on Jesus and not us. Therefore, we are “laid low in the dust” as it is.

If we are “laid low in the dust,” the Psalmist asks this “preserve my life according to your word.” God’s word preserves and God’s promises are kept. Look at some verses from Psalm 119; these could serve as a prayer outline for us in the days ahead.

v. 28 – "Strengthen us according to your word”
v. 36 – “Turn my heart towards your statutes”
v. 37 – “Turn my eyes away from worthless things”
v. 50 – God’s promises preserve our life
v. 65 – Ask God to “do us good” – Notice the word servant
v. 67 – “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.”
v. 71 -- Affliction brings obedience
v. 74 -- Be an example. Put our hope in God’s word
v. 78 – “May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts.”
v. 83 – A wineskin in smoke shrinks and becomes wrinkly. Even though we grow old and wrinkly, may we not forget God’s decrees.
v. 92 – Delight in God’s Word; it preserves us.
v. 107 – Acknowledge suffering; ask God to preserve us according to His word.
v. 114 – God is our refuge and shield. Put hope in God’s word and His promises not the fleeting things of this world.
v. 116 – “Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.”
v. 143 – Trouble and distress has come upon us but delight in God’s word.
v. 147 – “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.” PRAY.
v. 153 – Ask God to deliver us; do not forget God’s promises.
v. 154 – May God defend our cause. ASK.
v. 165 – “Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”

In your current trials, remember this example of Jesus: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” – 1 Peter 2:23-25

Amen.

Putting old men out to pasture and a five gallon bucket of peas

My phone rang; the voice was familiar, I only hear it about once a year. It was my old Air Force buddy, Johnny. He called, light-hearted and upbeat as usual. “I lost my job” he said. He worked at a manufacturing plant about 30 miles away from his Dakota home.

He said, “I was always told that when you get to be around 60 years old, they will get rid of you. I didn’t believe it but it happened. I guess that’s how it works today when you get old—they turn you out to pasture like an old horse, headed for the glue factory.”

He lost pension benefits and health insurance. We visited; his concern is not having any health insurance. As veterans, when we went into the service, we were promised health care--another broken promise. We have none. We served 18 months in Southeast Asia but we have assets so we have no health care. For the first time, I sensed some cynicism in his voice. “What did we really expect, Beef?”

Have Johnny and I had unrealistic expectations of promises made to us as young men? You say, “Get real, Beef, we live in a different time.” Oh yes we do—or do we?

In 1 Samuel 8 we read about God’s Prophet Samuel. It says Samuel “grew old.” In verse four is says, “So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, ‘you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

“You are old” they said to the prophet. For ages, old men have been put out to pasture like an old glue horse; Johnny and I shouldn’t be surprised. No unrealistic expectations for us if we are honest.

Johnny had a job at a nursery the day after he was let go from the job he had worked at for almost 35 years. And then he was laid off from the nursery on Wednesday of this week; but they want him back next year. On Thursday, he had a new job at a store in a nearby town.

Johnny may be “old” but he is not worthless. He lost his father at two, grew up poor, the youngest of six children—yes, he was poor. I always felt Johnny never had high expectations of life, that way the disappointments of life’s reality would not hurt as much. I guess it is a form of self preservation; he sometimes buries in a bottle of Scotch.

It is easy to point our finger and judge. I love him, he is my dear friend. He used to say, “God made me poor; at least He could have made me good looking.” Johnny is not good looking but he has a heart of gold. He would do anything for other people. I am pleased to have such a friend.

I said, “Johnny, you know what I ate for supper tonight; fresh peas and fresh garden potatoes with cream sauce.”

Johnny said, “Damn that’s good. That’s what we had also. As a matter of fact, I picked a 5 gallon pail of peas. I gave most of them away.” He wasn’t bragging, just stating a fact.

Johnny added, “Beef, we may be poor, put out to pasture old horses, but we eat better than kings. Yes, we eat better than kings.”

Johnny reminded me that God has been good to us. He may not have health insurance or much money but he has five gallons of peas of which he gave most of them away.

Thank you Johnny, for the lesson on being thankful to God.

When a nation wants a king – The high price of freedom

In 1 Samuel 8:4-5 the people ask Samuel, the prophet for a king; for what reason? So they could be like other nations. It’s the mentality that “because you have an iPod, I need an iPod. They want to be hip and “with it”. Oh, the power of the desire to conform to a worldly standard.

Why did they want a king? 1 Samuel 8:20 says: “Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." They wanted a king to fight their battles. Yes, the wanted to be taken care of. Please O King, protect me in all ways—fight all my battles.

Samuel prays to the Lord in 1 Samuel 8:7 – “And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” Yes, we would rather have an earthly king than a heavenly king.

Samuel then warns them of the consequences of having an earthly king. Some are:
1. The king will take your sons and daughters. 1 Samuel 8:11,13 - He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.” Compulsory military service.
2. Some will farm specifically for the king – 1 Samuel 8:12-14 – “Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and GIVE them to his attendants.”
3. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards. 1 Samuel 8:15 – “He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants.”

See the pattern--He will take.

Do you hear any clamor today for a king? Not really, but many people want the government to take care of them from cradle to grave. We want a king rather than we ourselves being responsible for certain areas of our own life.

The earthly king who takes care of us, takes from us. There is no free lunch—it costs something.

The ONE who takes care of us is the Heavenly King not an earthly king. He is an eternal king, not an earthly king who rattles his saber and pounds his chest. Some of them end up eaten by worms.

The Eternal King and His Son Jesus rule and love us in spirit and truth. Remember this idea of an earthly king may be tantalizing but the earthly king takes and we pay a high price for such silliness.

This July 4th remember to be free costs us something, usually a high price. Don’t settle for anything less than freedom. Bow your knee only to The Father and His Son Jesus. Philippians 2 :9-11 says, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” If there is a high price to pay, a ransom as it were, what’s the high price concerning our Heavenly Father? It cost HIM His Son. No, not us, it cost Him, God himself, His Son, and what does God require of us? Micah 6:6-8 – “With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

June 23, 2009

Judi's going on vacation this week so we will not be publishing our regular weekly Blog this week. We will be back next week.

God Bless you all.

Beef & Judi

When Playground Bullies Rule…

In these days, the property management business is one of continual surprises. Tenants who have faithfully paid rent for over 30 years are in trouble and paying late or not paying at all. The tenant doesn’t get paid, then the landlord doesn’t get paid, then we don’t get paid either. Yes, the chickens are coming home to roost.

One of the great tenets of our American republic was the rule of law. Up until now, America was a good safe place to do business. Why; because we were a nation of laws. Laws governed business. Laws not based upon the whims of our leaders (who you know) or laws not based upon who you can pay off (campaign contributions) but our laws were built upon long standing principles rooted in our Judeo-Christian heritage. The System has worked well—up until now. And now the chickens have not only come home but they are crapping in our nest.

Our government leaders handling of the Chrysler bankruptcy and the General Motors take over have rewritten the law. They have moved secured creditors to the rear of the line in the possibility of recovering some of the money they invested. Unsecured creditors (namely unions) were moved to the front of the line for political purposes. (Unions deliver election victories.) Yes, the re-ordering of these creditor priorities was a big political move. Sadly to say, in the last week the Supreme Court has gone along with this nonsense. These actions will have a long lasting effect upon the American and foreign investment community when they consider American businesses as a “former safe” investment.

Manure slides down hill. I just got out of a meeting with a “feel good” non-profit organization. They are in financial trouble because of reduction in State funding. We have a lease in place, a legal binding document; the lease is for two more years. I was told (I don’t have a problem with people telling me things but…) in no uncertain terms, this non-profit would not abide by the terms of this lease. Upon their whim, they rewrote the law. They are following our countries leaders; we will rewrite the rule of law as we go. They told me the lease is of no consequence. I was told I must rewrite the lease or they will walk. It was a feeble attempt on their part of trying to be street thugs in alligator shoes.

I know times are tough. We are working with tenants to rewrite leases which work for the good of both the tenant and the landlord. I’m sick and tired of playing by the rules, keeping my nose clean, sacrificing to do what is right and end up being steam rolled by people who on a whim want to rewrite the rule of law. They operate with an attitude of arrogance and condescension. America, we’re in trouble!

You may say, “Beef, quit your whining. How does this affect me?” In business when the rule of law is gone, your 30 year, 5% mortgage can be changed to a 20 year mortgage at 15%? Who is going to stop them? This could happen or should I say, in some ways it has already happened.

Who wins when no rule of law or no moral restraint is applied? The one who wins is the playground bully. The playground bully is the one with influence and power, even if that power and influence is diabolical. He wins, or does he?

In Acts 12, King Herod was winning. He was writing his own rules as he went along. He was the playground bully and no one could restrain him…so he thought.

Herod was in the people pleasing business. Acts 12:1-3 says: “It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.”

Herod was also strutting his stuff with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They were hungry and needed food from King Herod. They wanted peace but at what price? Acts 12:19b-22: “He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply. On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man."

Yes, it was a grand party. The Jews “had connections” to get rid of James and have Peter imprisoned. The people of Tyre and Sidon had connections with the Kings servant Blastus; they now had full bellies but empty hearts. In their stupor, they celebrated. Acts 12:21-24: “On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. BUT the word of God continued to increase and spread.”

Herod was struck down, eaten by worms, and then died. Notice the sequence. He did not die and then was eaten; he was eaten by worms and then died. Not a pretty sight.

Listen brothers and sisters, this nonsense must stop. We are abandoning principles and laws which have formed our nation. We are a nation of sheep being lead to destruction. But remember this; God is still on the throne. His plans are never thwarted. In spite of playground bullies and others, the word of God spread. The church survived and flourished. We may suffer and be persecuted and some may have to die, like James, but our God reigns.. The playground bullies will be held accountable. Therefore, sleep well, Christian, sleep well.

Do not lose hope. God help our nation. Forgive us Lord. Amen.

“The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man.” Psalm 115:16

The crop planned for our farm this year is sweet corn. The crop must be planted according to a schedule provided by the processor (Seneca). The purpose of the planting schedule is to hopefully have corn coming to peak maturity at different times as to even out the processing load at the processing plant.

As of today, our corn has not yet been planted. The renter will plant when instructions are given by the processor. We had a problem—we were very dry. Last week I dug down to find moisture at the 2+ inch level; a little too deep to plant sweet corn. Then this weekend we had a very slow rain; the best you can get to replenish the soil. A slow rain allows all the moisture to get into the ground for maximum availability for the crops or gardens. What a blessing!

We attended a high school graduation in another town this weekend. It has been a long time since we have driven through rain. The soil in a field east of Bird Island was as black as black could be due to the moisture. The crops were as green as green could be. For this ol’ country boy, this was a site to behold! A good rain, beautiful soil, and crops which are healthy and growing—what a blessing!

At the graduation party, I met a foreign exchange student from Europe. She was pleasant and we had a great conversation.

I asked her what surprised you most about America. She did not hesitate. “The people are open and friendly and work hard at being part of the community.” She added, “Everyone has been friendly and kind to me.” I thought her observation was interesting.

Another thing that surprised her was the size of our farm fields. She said it would be hard for Europeans to realize these flat, black fields go northwest all the way to the Canadian border.

These beautiful fields were not beautiful fields when the settlers arrived. Most of Renville County Minnesota was lowland swamps when the first settlers arrived. The early surveyors wrote in their notes that they couldn’t see any good purpose for this place. Yet 150 years later, it is the bread basket of the world.

The swamps were turned into verdant fields with a lot of ingenuity and hard work. Many settlers came; all did not stay. This was, and is, a hard place. It gets hot in the summer, cold in the winter, not to mention the rocks, grasshoppers, mosquitoes and throw in a tornado or blizzard now and then.

Yet…God gave us the earth. With God given strength, ingenuity and perseverance the settlers turned these swamps into some of the best farmland in the world but if it doesn’t rain, we end up with nothing more than expensive dust.

God has and continues to be good to us mere men. The timely rain could not have come at a better time and in a better way.

So next year when you’re enjoying your sweet corn in the dead of the winter, remember God has given us the earth and we must endure and persevere. Everyone on the prairie realizes this fact—we are only here by God’s grace. If you think the Europeans are impressed, just talk to an American farmer. They are impressed with the hard work and faithfulness of their forefathers and with God’s kindness shown to them.

The Lord has been good to us again… May we ever be grateful!

Wheelchair Steve

Last week I had my six-month check up at the Center for Prostate Cancer at the University of Minnesota. I arrived fifteen minutes early only to be informed by Cynthia that the appointments were running forty-five minutes late.

Waiting rooms in cancer centers are places of tension—you can feel the tension in the air. People coming here are finding out two things: How bad is my cancer? Or has it come back? Add to this tension a full waiting room, appointments running forty-five minutes late and as usual, no one talks to one another.

Then a grey haired man rolled past me in his very unique wheel chair. He turned it around quickly, and with purpose, backed in next to the aquarium and threw me a big smile. I knew from the first glance this was some one special.

His smile was infectious; I said to him, “It’s a good day” (Boris’ influence on me).

He smiled and said, “Yes, it is a good day.”

I asked, “How long you been in the chair?”

“Thirty-two years,” he said with a smile. I was impressed. Thirty-two years and he is able to still have a positive, outgoing attitude.

He said, “I was seventeen, thirty seconds into my first shift of the first hockey game of my senior year. I was hit from behind, I fell flat onto the ice, slid head first into the boards, and I was paralyzed from just below my chest.” (He has restricted use of his hands.) He still has a twinkle in his eyes and possesses a quick wit.

”Being in a chair is not all bad,” he said. “How far did you have to walk to get here?”

I replied, “About three blocks.”

“I parked in front of the door.” He laughed.

We shared a short introduction and I learned his name was Steve. His positive upbeat attitude cut the tension in the waiting room. People did not talk but Steve knew everyone was listening and he didn’t miss his opportunity to inspire.

His business is inventing things to help handicapped people. Steve’s wheel chair is one of his products; he has invented exercise equipment and other devices to make life easier for handicapped people. He sells his ideas to various manufacturers. I asked the questions and he answered loud enough for everyone to hear. All of our spirits were lifted.

He asked why I was there. I told him I was there to see if my cancer had come back. His situation was the same as mine. I said to him, “The Lord has been good to us.”

“He sure has” was his reply.

Steve wheeled in for his appointment with a smile on his face, shaking my hand before he left. The attitude in the waiting room had changed. Tension was reduced and our anger at being late seemed to evaporate into thin air. People began to talk to one another.

As I was called in for my appointment, Steve was coming out. He touched my hand and with a big smile said, “Everything is OK; I hope the same for you!” We had tears in our eyes.

He said, “We’ll meet again.”

I said, “Yes, we will meet again.”

We will meet again, probably not in this life but in the next life. Once again the Lord was good to me; my cancer has not returned. Add to this good news the blessing to meet “Wheelchair Steve.”

In the midst of this darkness, Steve let his light shine. A transformed life lived out in our presence. A testimony to God’s grace and love.

When old men march…only a few remember

The Memorial Day Program is an 80+ year tradition in our small western Minnesota town of Danube. The American Legion is an organization of former soldier citizens who organize the event. They meet at the town hall, form a color guard and march the three blocks to the school auditorium for the service.

In the not too distant past, people young and old lined the street as they marched to the school. People do not line the streets anymore; smaller numbers of people attend the program. Yes, we’ve become distracted or we’ve forgotten what this day means.

We’ve been distracted by ease and abundance. The top priority has become our own personal agenda. I am not against going to the lake, hunting turkeys, going on a bike ride, or just plain having fun, we need to do that, but don’t be so distracted that the remembrance of the ones who gave their lives for our freedom is lost amidst the so called “busy-ness” of our self absorbed lives.

Not only have we been distracted but we’ve forgotten our past and the sacrifices that have been made. As I have become older, I’ve forgotten things. Usually my forgetfulness creates more problems and adversity. I’m also a prideful man and my forgetfulness is embarrassing for me. Forgive me but the forgetfulness of our nation is embarrassing and out rightly sad. Every day our freedoms are going away, freedoms fought for with shed blood and at the expense of human life, and we could care less. Meanwhile, we lie back in our easy chair, rub our belly, pick our teeth and burp…

The old men who march are laughed at under our breath and only a few of us care enough to remember. Am I angry? Yes, I am. Wake up America; whether you realize it or not, we’re sliding into oblivion. What a waste of the lives of young men and young women who have died fighting for our freedom. God forgive us.

…it’s a good day!

It was the end of a long day. I spent 5 ½ hours in eviction court waiting and listening to nothing but conflict and sadness. I was working out a problem in the building when I heard the distinctive voice of my Russian friend Boris. He speaks English with a Russian accent; besides speaking English and Russian, he speaks German and French also. Boris is a 60-something rotund, architect-engineer who emigrated from Russia seven years ago. He has a booming “Tevia-like” voice and possesses a fun-loving, appreciative attitude.

As I was walking down the hall, I hear his Boris’s booming voice, “Yerry, it’s a bad day.” I turn to see him standing with his hands in the position of holding a twenty-pound oblong watermelon at his waist. “Yerry,” he repeats, “it’s a bad day!”

I ask, “Boris, why is it a bad day?”

And Boris replies, “It’s a bad day because the transmission in my car broke down.”

“Oh, really?” I reply.

But Boris replies like Tevia from Fiddler on the Roof, “But Yerry, it’s a good day, too.”

I ask, “Why is it a good day, too?”

Boris smiles and replies, “It’s a good day because even though the transmission broke down, at least I have a car! Yes, Yerry, it’s a good day!” We laugh; the happy Russian made my day.

In Russia, Boris didn’t have a car. As a matter of fact, as a Russian Jew, he didn’t have much of anything. In America, he is grateful for all things great and small—a lesson I need to remember. God has been good to us.

I remember the first time I met this rotund, portly Tevia of Russia. He said to me in broken English “This is good.”

I said, “What’s good?”

He said, “I found another fat man!” That’s just Boris!

Boris has seen many trials in his life; tears mingled with joy. Good days and bad days separated with a smile and an appreciative attitude.

When I see or hear Boris, I smile. When I’m with Boris, it’s a good day.

God's Stimulus Package

When entering Olivia, MN from the east on Highway 212, there is a pro-life billboard. It is called “God’s Stimulus Package”. It is the picture of four little babies in a box, looking up at the camera, smiling.

Yes, what we need are more babies. While the Lord said be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 9:7 NIV - As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.) We live in an age where young couples are afraid to have babies because of bad economic times and they live amid political change which is becoming scary. Add to all of this the made up crisis, “global warming.” Yes, if you believe these radicals, we are all going to die as our earth turns into a ‘slow cooker’. Remember this promise from Genesis 8:22: "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." I trust the Lord—not global warming advocates.

Let’s pray for more “packages” of God’s stimulus plan. Let’s rejoice in new birth, let’s look forward with joy and peace, knowing the Lord holds the future.

Who is going to care for the sick during a pandemic?

Proverbs 18:14: A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

If a pandemic came, how would we, as Christians, react? Would we isolate ourselves from everyone else? Would we hide out behind our walls, safe from the contamination of a dirty world?

I believe we should go into the world and minister. Yes, if we believe God’s word, we go minister. If we believe Psalm 139:13-16 which says: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” We will not die one day too soon or too late. We will die when God intends us to die. If we don’t minister to a hurting world, who will?

George Mueller was a German who ministered in Britain. He is best known for the boys’ homes he built with perseverance and prayer. Mueller was also a pastor of a small church. He had no salary but depended on the weekly tithe and offering for his sustenance. A disease spread through England. Mueller and his church decided to care for the sick and those suffering. During the process, no one in his church died except an 80 year old lady, later in the diseases progression. No one knew for sure if she died of the disease or old age. What a witness in a time of trial. They chose to minister and God provided protection for them during this time.

What would you do during a pandemic—minister or run and hide. I must admit there would be a lot of pressure to run and hide because we’ve been hiding out behind the walls of our monasteries (I mean churches, sorry!) while a world suffers.

Jesus ministered to the sick. Jesus ministered to the most despised, the ones with leprosy and more. We are called to do the same. (James 2:14-17: "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Leslie Brand in “Meditations of a Radical Christian” says, “I am not called and redeemed by God in order to pull out of this sinful world, to be washed off and shined up and put on display…but I am called and redeemed and empowered for the very purpose of carrying on the incarnation of Jesus Christ of going directly into the world, its sewers and cesspools, its sickness and distortions, its emptiness and weakness and fears, and there demonstrate God’s love and Christ’s salvation and the Holy Spirit’s presence and power.”

Psalm 103:3: “who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases”
John 3:16 says “God so loved the world that He gave…”. So we should give of ourselves. Amen

Tears Mingled with Joy

I was off from preaching on Sunday so we attended our own church; it was good to see everyone. I sat in the pew and read in the bulletin that an 80-something farmer had been diagnosed with lung cancer. The retired farmer and his wife have been a special encouragement to me in my ministry. This came as a total surprise not only to us but also to them. We talked, hugged, shed tears and prayed; life must go on.

At noon we attended a fund raiser for a family who lost their 29 year old husband, father, son and brother after a short battle with a respiratory disease. During the months of his illness, the family has incurred monumental medical bills. The young couple grew up in the Danube-Renville-Clara City area but now live in Maple Grove. Some people in our community took the bull by the horns and organized this fund raiser. The turn out was tremendous. People came from a 30+ mile radius; the event went off without a hitch. In spite of the circumstances, there was much joy and tears at this event.

My wife Judi asked “Do other communities have fund raisers for people in trouble as much as they do in this area?” I hadn’t thought of it before but probably as our numbers dwindle on the prairie, we are becoming closer to one another. The hurt and the joy seem to hit closer to home. Upon a little investigation, we found out that some communities, even on the prairie, do and others do not.

I got home to find a message on my phone; friends whom I have met through preaching called to say their 27 year old married son had died in his sleep sometime Sunday morning. We were shocked. I visited them Sunday night. We cried, we hugged and we prayed.

While I traveled in one direction, Judi headed the opposite direction to attend the Visitation for the mother of some friends of ours. This lovely lady had lived a good, long life and truly loved the Lord and was looking forward to “going home”. She had had her sorrows also losing her husband and 2 grandsons and then 2 of her daughters within a few months. She still trusted God and knew He was in control.

So goes life; joy mingled with tears. We scramble to ask why? We might not verbalize it but we wonder why.

As I drove through the rain on Sunday night, Isaiah 57:1-2 came to mind: “The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” Life is short. Tell your loved ones you love them. Live out that love in word and deed. Make sure you let your loved ones know where you are spiritually so there will be no concern or doubt. Get right with Jesus.

When you read this you may think how sad to find out you have lung cancer, how sad that a 29 year old father of two dies after battling a disease for some months. How sad a young wife wakes up to find her young, healthy husband has passed away. How sad that a mother buries two of her children in less than 6 months.

As we read this, we are grateful this hasn’t happened to us but be aware, some day we will see the somber face of doctor say, “you have cancer” or we will get the phone call that says your son has passed away. I ask you brother and sister; will you be ready when our call comes? Yes, some day our call will come. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says: 1 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."

Yes, tears mingled with joy—that’s life.

A Good Day for a Funeral…or Laying Uncle Benny Down

Last Wednesday we buried our Uncle Benny. He was married to our Aunt Lillian; they divorced but Benny remained our Uncle. He was our uncle by choice.

Benny was a farmer and up until his middle 80’s, owned and operated a lawn mowing business. After they took away his drivers license, he drove his lawn mower uptown. In his small town, the people left him alone; everyone in town understood his predicament and smiled. He was outgoing and friendly yet cautious.

Benny was more than a farmer and business owner. He was a veteran of World War II; he was an infantry man. He served in the European/African Theatre and Asiatic/Pacific Theatre of operations. Benny never talked much about his military experience. He was proud to serve. I never heard any self-serving bravado come out of his mouth.

In April 1969, I came home after a year and a half in Southeast Asia. Everybody I knew was involved in spring planting season so I went up and helped Uncle Benny for four days. He was appreciative; he was always appreciative. We had a good four days; we accomplished a lot. I enjoyed working with him; even when I was a kid I enjoyed working with him. After we finished supper the last night I was there, Benny said to me, “We need a drink to celebrate finishing our work and celebrating that you made it home ok.” I agreed.

As we visited, he began to talk about his experience in World War II. He said war is bad, but they must be fought; evil has to be challenged and stopped. As an infantry man, Benny saw first hand the pain and suffering of his friends. He told me of going five days straight without sleep, only catching a nap here and there. He told me that at the end of the five days, his uniform was soaked and caked with the blood of his dying friends; he lost many friends. Benny sat with his face down, tears flowed from his eyes. Some 25 plus years later, Benny wondered why he lived and others had to die. He understood—some will die so others can live. So goes the sadness and brutality of any war.

The priest at Benny’s service said, “If there is a good day for a funeral, today is a good day to bury a farmer and a veteran.” It was warm; farmers were beginning to work the lighter ground. You could smell spring in the air.

After the service as Benny’s casket was removed from St. Mary’s Church, it was quiet. The bell was rung, its sound rippled through the not-quite budded ash trees. The American Legion Color Guard stood at attention; no one said a word; we all watched as they put Benny into the hearse. Sadly, the world is not impressed with a man like Benny. He was too common, too simple, too unassuming BUT Benny was my friend and hero. It was a good day to lay Uncle Benny down. Thursday morning the sun came over the eastern horizon. Life must go on and I was blessed to have known him.

The One Thing Necessary, or Move over Martha

Luke 10:42: "but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Let’s save each other some time. Mary was suspected of sloughing off; not contributing to the work that needed to be done. She was judged as a woman with “her head in the clouds”. BUT Jesus praises her because Mary just wants to be with Jesus. She wants to learn from Him.

In Psalm 27:4 it says: "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple."

How can we be with Jesus even after He has ascended into Heaven? Get into His Word, the God-inspired Bible, and pray. Praying is relationship with the Almighty, Holy, and Sovereign God of the Universe. What a privilege to come into His presence and lay out our heart. Why such confidence? Our Savior Jesus has provided the way through His shed blood, His suffering, His resurrection and victory over sin and death, and the sending of His Holy Spirit. Yes, because of Jesus, we can approach the throne of grace confidently. Hebrews 4:16 says: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Do you want to be with Jesus? If so, get into His Word! Jesus died; men and women have died so we can hold and read God’s word in our own language. We spend money on The Truth Project, Walk Across the Room Evangelism classes; we’ve done Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life; we purchased and watched Reggie McNeal’s videos; Alpha Program; we’ve had __________ (you fill in the blank) and more.

Guess what? Has anything changed?? In spite of all those programs, nothing appears to have changed. I have observed us going to these sessions. In one church, no one had their Bible in the session. We love listening to men (no matter how well intentioned they are) who are mere men and nothing more happens.

When we hold God’s Word in our hands, (John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”) we hold the truth in our hands. Jesus is the truth and the light. If you want to be with Jesus, read and study, consume, savor, immerse yourself in His awe inspiring, life transforming word. When we hold the Bible in our hands, we hold the collected work of God’s inspired word of the ages. It will never perish but we will. Isaiah 55:10-12 says, "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."


Do you want a transformed life? Do you want to live a life of praise amidst this age of lies, trials, and mistrust? Then read and savor God’s word. Get yourself a good study Bible in a language you can understand. Pray for God to transform your mind and He will make His word come alive. Psalm 119:103-105: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Sit at Jesus feet and just be with Jesus—the one necessary thing.

We don’t need any more classes written and taught by mere men. We need to devour God’s inspired words. Yes, we’ve been busy in the kitchen with every other program and class and the truth is, we are not changed; it has made little if any difference. Move over Martha is their room for us in your kitchen? Rather, let’s go sit at the feet of Jesus where there is room for all; come and do the one thing necessary--with Jesus. And yes, I also realize it is not popular these days either. There is always room at the foot of the cross. There is always room at the feet of Jesus. Come; come and be transformed! Come and savor God’s Word and pray over all of it!

We are all beggars

The following is a quote from Frederick S. Leahy’s book The Cross He Bore. I feel it says it better than anything I could have prepared for Easter.


“As in thought and experience we stand before the cross, we tremble as we consider the wrath of God which flames forth against his Son. We tremble, too, when we think of the sin which incurred such fearful judgment—our sin. Here the awakened soul can only cry out, ‘God be merciful to me the sinner.’ That is all we dare ask for. Here and nowhere else abundant mercy is found. Christina Rossetti had it right—
'None other Lamb, none other Name,
None other Hope in heaven or earth or sea,
None other Hiding-place from guilt and shame,
None beside Thee.”

“The proud, self-sufficient, modern humanist despises the whole idea of forgiveness. Like the blustering W.E. Henley, he sees himself as master of his fate and captain of his soul. ‘Forgiveness’, said George Bernard Shaw, ‘is a beggar’s refuge. We must pay our debts.’ About the time of Luther’s death, a piece of paper was found in his pocket on which he had written in Latin and German, ‘This is true. We are all beggars.’ There is the contrast between the stony heart of unbelief and the heart of flesh that weeps for sin and looks in faith to the crucified and risen Savior for mercy.”

“The forgiven, restored sinner willingly takes up his cross and follows the Lord Jesus Christ. That cross is whatever the Christian suffers for the sake of Christ and his truth. In bearing that cross there is peace and blessedness as the Christian experiences the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. Not that we can share in the redemptive suffering of Christ, but rather that we seek by God’s grace to deny self, accept the anguish of the struggle against sin and bear meekly the scorn of a world that rejects Christ. ‘There are some’, said Samuel Rutherford, ‘who would have Christ cheap. They would have Him without the cross. But the price will not come down.’”

“The hand that reaches out for salvation must be empty. Everything of self must be disowned. We are debtors to mercy alone. We are all beggars.”

A Las Vegas Homeless Man’s Smile

James 4:13-15: "Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."


Habakkuk 3:17-18: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."


Andy was driving home from work when he approached an intersection for a right turn. He noticed a homeless man in the crosswalk walking his bike across the street. He was scruffy, not dirty; in his 50’s or 60’s. He had an American flag on his bike along with a small bed roll and two small bags of his “stuff”. He noticed Andy waiting to turn and began to walk a lot faster to clear the intersection quicker so Andy could turn sooner. Andy was in no hurry but appreciated the act of kindness. They exchanged glances and Andy waved a “thank you” his way. The homeless man smiled. Andy drove down the street with his spirits lifted because of a kind act from a homeless man. Then it hit Andy, “Give him some money.” Andy did a u-turn and back tracked to talk with the homeless man. Andy offered the money and the homeless man said “No; that’s ok, I have enough.”


The homeless man had enough?? Really, the homeless man said he had enough! We live in an age of massive bail-outs, Madoff’s Ponzi schemes, AIG million dollar bonuses and the homeless man says he has “enough”. I wondered, does he have health care? Could he be a veteran? He probably has no social security to trust in or become worried about. We fret and anguish over our diminishing resources and we worry while we sit, well fed, in our warm houses.


I realized the homeless man has more faith than I! Yes, he is on the front line, his tomorrows are not guaranteed. He has no guarantee he will have food and shelter to face another day. Come to think of it, I don’t have any guarantees either. I live each moment like he does—in God’s grace. Every beat of my heart, every breath I take is an undeserved gift from my Creator.

Through this brief encounter, this nameless, homeless man taught me and Andy a lesson. Quit our grousing, lift up our heads, and make someone else’s life better, even if it is a smile to a red-headed kid from Minnesota going home from work.


May God bless you and keep you this day. May we trust in you, Almighty God. Forgive us for trusting in our stuff and loving our stuff more than you. In Jesus name, Amen.

“We don’t need water” - Assuming God’s Great Grace

I happened to be present when a husband and wife were discussing where to locate their first garden in many years. The wife wanted it closer to the well so it would be easy to water. The husband had other thoughts; “we don’t need water” he proclaimed with a sense of superiority and disdain.

I am a product of these black land prairies of Western Minnesota. The soil runs deep and dark and it’s good soil. We raise sugar beets, edible peas, sweet corn, edible beans, corn wheat, oats, alfalfa and soybeans among other things. God has been good to us. Not only has He given us great land, but has usually given us abundant rain also. God has been good to Southwest and West Central Minnesota but we have a major league chip on our shoulder. It is this, we expect God to give us rain. God has always given us rain and he always will; it is a prevalent attitude on the prairie. As a matter of fact, in some ways we feel “God owes us.” Forgive us, Lord.

Why were the husband and wife planning their first garden in years? It is because they anticipate economic hard times. Recently on the news I heard that vegetable seed sales are up 20-30% across the nation. If we are expecting hard times, we’d better be on our face asking God for forgiveness rather than arrogantly assuming God will “give us rain, as usual.” In times past, God has taught nations a thing or two by not sending rain. It is dangerous when we assume “He wouldn’t dare do it to us.”

In Job 37:5-13 it says: “God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. 6 He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.' 7 So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labor. 8 The animals take cover; they remain in their dens. 9 The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds. 10 The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. 11 He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. 12 At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. 13 He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love.”

Notice what God says in verse 11 through 13. God controls the direction of storms “to do whatever He commands them”!! He brings clouds to punish men and to water His earth and show His love.

God has been and IS good to us (He has shown us His love) but when we assume He will always send the rain, we can be in trouble. What arrogance on our part to assume God owes us anything. God help us. May we always be grateful for all things great and small. Amen

Hiding behind our “glittering images”

I’m pigeon toed. I remember when I was young my Mom said to me, “Quit walking pigeon toed.” I guess she hadn’t noticed before. That night in bed I wondered why my Mom would think I would walk pigeon toed on purpose. She may not have noticed, but my brother and sisters and the kids at school had noticed for quite awhile.

I’m 61 years old and I’m still pigeon toed. I am also overweight; I have thin graying hair among other things. My question is this: What do people see when they see us? Do they see all our physical flaws or do they see our smile: Do they make assessment of our spirit and heart?

Today in our culture we go to great lengths to preserve the perceived “glittering image” of ourselves. We color our hair, wear body shapers, and get “uplift” surgeries for a number of different things in order to preserve our diminishing “glittering image”.

When we protect our “glittering image” what else might we be hiding? Self-deception is a cruel master. We may want to look good to impress others but in the process do we impress or deceive ourselves? When we practice self-deception, our conscience beckons us to be real, we squirm uncomfortably in our glittering wrappings hoping to impress one more time.

I think the kids I grew up with who are still my friends don’t even notice that I’m pigeon toed. We accept one another with all our flaws included. Should anyone think less of us because we have some physical flaw? I think not but some people do notice these things.

“Glittering images” can become dangerous when we need them to get through each day. We become tired when we run from one meeting, one relationship to another with the continual need to impress or even deceive. I do not advocate being a complete lout who never combs his hair or cleans up but some men and women have become very rich helping other people keep up their glittering images but how much “glittering” is enough? This current and upcoming recession may answer these questions for us. When the money is all gone and we can no longer impress with all the “glittering”, the decision will have been made for us.

I’m glad God is not impressed with “glittering images.” In Samuel – choice of David as King (I Samuel 16:7: "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

I Cor. 1:26-31: "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."]

The good news is this—God’s in the transformation business. He is the expert on personal makeovers. Paul says in I Timothy 1:15-17: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

I may not be what I should be but praise God I’m not what I once was. God uses the willing, not the qualified. God alone transforms; I still walk pigeon toed and God doesn’t care how I walk as long as I walk with him.

If your spirit is suffering today, if you feel stupid, foolish, weak, lowly and despised, lift up your head. God uses forgiven people like you and me to change the world and through us displays His unlimited patience. Oh, thank you, Jesus, thank you. Amen.

Wake up American church… or is it too late

In a week with a church shooting in Marysville, Illinois killing 3 people; a shooting rampage in three small Alabama towns killing 12; we stand and scratch our heads and ask why.

This week Michael Spencer wrote an article in The Christian Science Monitor entitled” The Coming Evangelical Collapse,” it says in part:
“The evangelical investment in moral, social, and political issues has depleted our resources and exposed our weaknesses. Being against gay marriage and being rhetorically pro-life will not make up for the fact that massive majorities of Evangelicals can't articulate the Gospel with any coherence. We fell for the trap of believing in a cause more than a faith.”

“We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. Ironically, the billions of dollars we've spent on youth ministers, Christian music, publishing, and media has produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it. Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community. Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures.” (And may I add, not just young people but most Christians are in the same predicament. )

I ask, “Is the evangelical church going to collapse or is it already gone? ”

In Ezekiel 34 God addresses shepherds (church pastors and leaders—elders, deacons, board members, youth leaders, etc.) and sheep (us or them depending on your perspective). God accused the leaders of the following in Ezekiel 34:1-16:

1) Taking care of themselves not the flock (v.2)
2) Not strengthening the weak (v.4)
3) Not healing the sick (v.4)
4) Not binding up the injured (v.4)
5) Not bringing back the strays (those who left the church for whatever reason) (v.4)
6) Not searching for the lost (v.4)
7) Ruling harshly and brutally (v.4)

Because of Shepherds lack of Godly leadership, the sheep (God’s disciples) have “become food for wild animals;” the world has consumed them and used them and threw them away like last week’s magazine. The sheep were scattered and no one bothered to get off their duff and search for them (1960-2009).

The Shepherds (v. 8) cared for themselves rather than “my flock” (VIP parking and a sense of privilege and exaltation exhibited in some of our leaders). The Lord says, “I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock.” The consequences for the shepherds (v.10): They will be removed from tending the flock and they won’t be able to feed themselves. As I see it, the Lord is through playing games with us pastors and church leaders. God forgive us and help us. Amen

The Lord does not need our help; He chooses to use us. If we do not lead, He will do the following (according to Ezekiel 34)
1) Search for the lost Himself (v. 11)
2) He will look after them (v. 11)
3) “I will rescue them” (v.12)
4) “I will bring them in” (v.13)
5) “I will gather them” (v.13)
6) “I will pasture them” (feed us physically and spiritually) (v.13)
7) He will tend His people (He will do what he promised) v.14
8) He will again search for the lost (v.16)
9) He will bring back the strays (He will go into the world and find the lost, lonely, abused, and forgotten)
10) “I will bind up the injured” v. 16 (the drug user, the abused, the old, the young, the lost sheep)
11) God will strengthen the weak (v.16)

BUT “The sleek” (the slick and creepy ) “and the strong, I will destroy” - v.16 (His words, not mine).
Wake up American Church. Wake up.
And He ends v. 16 with this, “I shepherd the flock with justice.”
Thank you, Jesus; come quickly Lord Jesus. Save us from sin. Amen

Ezekiel 34:1-16: 1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
7 " 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : 10 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.
11 " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

The McNuggets-less Woman

I thought it was a joke. The headline on my computer news block said, “Woman calls 911 three times when told McDonalds was out of McNuggets.” It was no joke; this actually happened.

The McDonalds was out of McNuggets so it offered her an alternative and she said she didn’t want a McDouble—whatever that is.

If we as a nation need to call 911 when we can’t get our McNuggets, I don’t want to be around when the food shelves go empty or raging inflation drives food prices so high the average person will not be able to afford the food.

In our business we are beginning to see our customers (clients and/or tenants) getting into problems. Rent collections are becoming harder. As I see it, hard times are ahead and we are losing our head. Not only “the McNuggets-less woman” but others are reeling and bounding off the wall. We live in a society with an entitlement mentality whether it is McNuggets or not paying my home mortgage.

A close associate told me that five houses on his street in suburban Minneapolis are in foreclosure. Some people are not paying their home mortgage because they hear of other people essentially being bailed out. One party made a deal with the bank to pay $1200 less a month than they were currently paying (after not paying their mortgage for seven months). In addition, they were told they could stay living in the house. What a deal! The associate told me, “I must be stupid for paying my mortgage on time.” The attitude of entitlement says, if someone else gets a perceived free ride so should I. What has happened to our integrity?

Listen, the God of the ages will honor honesty and integrity and doing our best to fulfill our obligations. Don’t become disheartened because your neighbor’s financial malfeasance (the doing of an act which a person ought not to do; evil conduct; an illegal deed) “seems” to be working in his favor for now. Yes, times have changed but God’s laws are eternal and reign supreme and do not change.

Matthew 22:36-40: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Deuteronomy 30:5, 19-20: “He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.” “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

1 John 2:4-6: "The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”

Walk on in Christ Jesus, brothers and sisters; walk on in Christ Jesus. Amen