Prayers of Desperation

I don’t know where the idea came from that “prayers of desperation” are not “good form” for a believing Christian. One should not get that desperate; we should have our act together so prayers of desperation would not be needed. Tell that to…

• David --“This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.” Psalm 34:6

• Hannah--“In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:10

• Jeremiah—“the waters closed over my head, and I thought I was about to be cut off I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief." Lamentations 3:54-56

• Jesus—“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:44

• The Ten Lepers--"and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.” (Luke 17:13-14) The ten lepers had no other option to be healed; no antibiotics, no Mayo Clinic. Leprosy was a death sentence. They were desperate.

My favorite prayer of desperation was Jonah from the belly of the whale. Jonah 2:7-10 says, “"When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD." And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”

Jonah prayed, “When my life was ebbing away. I remembered the Lord.” In verse 8 it says this, “Those who cling to worthless idols (things of this life) forfeit the grace that could be theirs… Oh, how true. Verse 9…"salvation comes from the Lord.”

Yes, in desperation, God answers. Are you desperate enough? Do you believe God really hears our prayers? He does. Forgive us O Lord.

James 5:13 says,  "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise."

Living in tents…startled and frightened

Luke 24:36-37 - While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.

My camping experiences in tents have been interesting. (Judi says,"Interesting is a good way to describe it!") I remember standing in a tent filled with two adults and three children holding on to the fragile tent frame while 50 mile per hour winds and rain howled around us. That turned out to be the last time we tented!

Paul says in 2 Corinthians that our earthly bodies are tents; very temporary housing. (“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” 2 Corinthians 5:1.) We look forward to heavenly bodies and a heavenly dwelling place; the world pursues making this tent into a mansion. Face lifts, butt lifts, and other drastic measures are taken to preserve a “tent”. I believe Christians are as confused as the world about our current political, economic, and physical circumstances. We need to remember that they are temporary. We should not be startled or frightened. We look ahead towards the future, towards Heaven, remembering whatever happens, God’s plans are never thwarted. In the midst of this recent chaos, there is “a light” that shines and the Light’s name is Jesus Christ.

Remember our times are in God’s hands. Remember our bodies are a temporary dwelling place (tents). Our vision should be to look towards the eternal. Remember this, the body is sometimes curable; the soul is always so. Yes, we will fold up our tent and go home but our soul is eternal and in this life is always open to be renewed, healed, sustained and forgiven. Don’t be startled or frightened by these days. God is and will always be on the throne. His plans are never thwarted.

On the days when we want to pack up our tent and go home, remember the Lord calls us home. He packs the tents and we are along for the ride.

Why I stay on the farm

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place”   Acts 17:24-26 ESV

Recently I read the following and wanted to share it with you.  It is from Harris’ Farmer’s Almanac 2010 (p. 39).

Hardscrabble Life

The full-time country life, with its high maintenance, time-consuming lifestyle, can become a bit overwhelming for the aged or the injured, or those with a growing family. Homesteaders and farmers often give up, thinking the smart thing to do is to move closer to jobs and schools and hospitals. To those who have been doing the same chores morning and night, day in and day out, and driving to town to work, or to shuffle the kids to games and lessons, relocation can look like a good move. Or maybe it is the human condition to wish for an easier life.

So, you put the farm up for sale. Chances are that the new owner will not be someone who will pick up the chores list where you left off. Instead of passing the old home place on to another family who will prune the peach trees and patch the barn roof, more likely he will have it bulldozed, even the row of walnut trees, the apple orchard, and the creek full of watercress. Your new home in town may be next to a house of barking dogs, with street lights as bright as day, bad air, bad water, high utility bills, drunk drivers and aimless people snooping around in the middle of the night. For this you traded away the green hills, the sky full of stars, the hoot owls, the orchard in full bloom, and the porch that looks across the hollow on a lazy summer afternoon.

“The Gospel According to Jesus: What is Authentic Faith?”

I have recently been reading a book by John Macarthur entitled, “The Gospel According to Jesus: What is Authentic Faith?” published by Zondervan in 1988. The following is a quote from p.35-36 of this book.

“The gospel according to Jesus calls sinners to give up their independence, deny themselves, submit to an alien will, and abandon all rights in order to be owned and controlled by the Lord. By confessing Jesus as Lord (Kurios), we automatically confess that we are His slaves (douloi).

"What does this mean in practical terms? To borrow the words of Edwin Yamauchi,

"It means that we have been captured, beaten, enslaved. We discover, however, that our captor is a Despot of love and mercy. Neither is there anything slavish or servile about our slavehood, for we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but the spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15). Nor has our reduction to slavery been a debasement or an abasement…We have been elevated to serve in a heavenly court and have been invested with a higher nature.

"…(It also) reminds us of our ransom from another master at an incredible price. It was not for the fabulous sums of all the royal estates we were bought, nor was it for handsome features or some prized skill we were purchased. But rather unlovely, without any merit, rebellious at heart, we were redeemed with the precious blood of the Master Himself.

"Having thus been bought by Christ we are entirely His. Yamauchi, “Slaves of God.” p.48-49.   There is no other possible way to view it.

"There is no legitimate way to adjust that message to make it sound appealing to people who admire Jesus but are not prepared to serve Him.”

Giving God what He wants

Are you disillusioned with life? Has it not turned out as you planned? For most of us, our life has not turned out as planned. Life takes many twists and turns. Sometimes we end up where we least expected; that is not necessarily bad.

When we become disillusioned with our life, we are truly at the bottom of the barrel. When we are disillusioned we see no way out—no light, no hope. Usually when we reach the bottom, we are willing to listen and learn.

The story is told of a man hopelessly stuck in the bottom of a deep hole in the ground. Different people walked by and looked in the hole. They told the guy to try harder to get out. Some told him it must be punishment for some past sin. Others just looked and said nothing.

Jesus came along, climbed into the hole and lifted him out. Yes, we like Jesus must be willing to get dirty and humble ourselves to help someone else.

I run into disillusioned people every day. Some have become angry. Anger only eats a hole in our heart and makes us feel impotent (helpless). Some are indifferent; a self-centered response. We don’t care about anyone else. We could care less about anything.

If we are disillusioned with life, the only way out is the Lord Jesus Christ. Buddha is dead; he cannot climb down the hole. Mohamed is dead; he cannot climb down into the hole. The Hindu gods sit quietly on the shelf. The Hindu priests would not get dirty; no, they would not go into the hole.

Jesus came to earth; He came down to us. He became nothing, a microscopic ovum to enter our sinful, hurting world. He did not live in palaces. He was the best friend of lepers and the other down and outs. Yes, the God-man Jesus lived among us and He alone lifted us out of our sin and misery.

If you are at your bottom, simply pray to God the Father through Jesus Christ. Jesus is our advocate, our healer, our savior. What God wants from us is a humble and contrite heart. God wants true repentance; a turning around, a true turning to Jesus and His Father. God doesn’t need us. If God hasn’t given you what you want, I ask, have you given God what He wants? Micah 6:8 says, “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.”

Come and tell Him what you want. He is our only hope. Left to ourselves, we are hopelessly lost. Come to Jesus and live. Humble yourself before the one and only Mighty God.

Everyday battles of life—in weakness & strength

She walked into my office early one morning. She said, “Did you hear?” I said, “Yes.” What did I hear? I heard that her husband lost his job again; the division in which he worked was being relocated to Mexico.

About two years ago, her husband held a union job with a prestigious Minneapolis company. They downsized and the 50 year old computer specialist was out of a job. It took one year to find another job. The wage was about 60% of the previous job with minimum benefits. He was now without work again.

The wife was angry and disgusted. She said they feel weak and vulnerable. They admittedly have lived “high on the hog” as it were when life was rolling along. Now things are different, making “ends meet” the ends are not meeting anymore. She asked, “Why does this keep happening to us?”

In 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul was given a thorn in the flesh, some painful aggravation. Who brought it on? Satan? No, Satan doesn’t rule our lives but God permits him to bring trials into our life to teach us what we need to learn. It hurts but God intends it for our good. God rules each though what he allows may hurt.

Why did Paul get a thorn in the flesh? To keep him from becoming conceited. In 2 Corinthians 12:7 it says: “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”


God had showed him things about heaven and a paradise that words could not describe. Second Corinthians 12:1-6 says “I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the LORD. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows-- was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.” Paul may have thought he was pretty “hot stuff” but God’s plan was to keep him humble and useful. Thus God allowed the thorn in the flesh.

I see many people hurting today. Hebrews 12:10-12 says: “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.”

We must pray to be healed. We must not go through these trials as limping victims but be strengthen and healed by God looking at future with hope and purpose.

Oh Lord, this day we pray for your healing and peace in the lives of people suffering weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, difficulties. Even though they are weak, make them strong. Strengthen our drooping arms and feeble knees. Revive our spirit this day; grant us these things if it is your will. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

When the Church Compromises - it has nothing to say

The church’s desire to be “marketable” has come at a great price. In an August 7, 2010, in a New York Times article by G. Jeffrey MacDonald entitled “Congregations Gone Wild,” he talks about clergy burnout, yet MacDonald said the real problem with the church today is how congregations put pressure on pastors to forsake one’s highest calling. Pastors want to “help people grow spiritually, resist their lowest impulses, adopt higher, more compassionate ways” but “church goers increasingly want pastors to soothe and entertain them.”

“Soothe and entertain them,” yes, a hard driving message today may fall on stopped up ears. We do not like to be called to account by pastors or much less be called to account by God’s Word. No, we want Christianity-lite.

David F. Wells wrote a book entitled Above all Earthly Pow’rs - Christ in a post-modern World, published by Wm. B. Erdman Publishing. It says this in part on pg. 314 :

This evangelical version of spirituality, precisely because it has stripped itself of its doctrine – on the fallacious assumption that this doctrine won’t “sell” in today’s marketplace – is the kind of spirituality which has, then, been silenced in today’s culture. It has been silenced in the sense that though its adherents and purveyors may congregate in churches, and though they may sell its benefits and attractions, it remains only one product among many others on the market. It can seduce but it cannot confront. It can lure, but it cannot speak. It is because it has deliberately shed its doctrine, and its discipline, that it can only hold itself out to be taken by those who are the market looking for something to take, but it has left itself devoid of the ability to proclaim. Thus it is that the evangelical churches have made their deal with new generations. The deal, as Barna put it, is that for a one-time confession of weakness, God’s eternal peace can be had. It is a deal in which God has come up on the short end because we get what we want and give up nothing of consequence. That is the inevitable outcome to the marketing of the gospel.

This, of course, cheapens our understanding of God, it demeans the nature of the gospel, and it works havoc in the Church. And what it also does is to leave behind a kind of faith whose central passion is no longer that of truth and goodness. If the Church is not in possession of truth, truth as an understanding that corresponds exactly to what is in reality, and corresponds exactly to what is in the will and the character of God, then it has been left speechless. It has nothing to say. Without this truth, its private insights are no more believable, no more compelling, and no more desirable than anyone else’s. Why, then, has the evangelical Church arranged itself around the marketing dynamic rather than around the truth which it is its birthright to proclaim?

Lord Jesus, revive your Church today. Amen

When we don’t listen to God

Zechariah 7:12-14 (New International Version):  12 They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.   13 " 'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the LORD Almighty. 14 'I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations, where they were strangers. The land was left so desolate behind them that no one could come or go. This is how they made the pleasant land desolate.' "

In the last weeks, my heart has been drawn to the Old Testament prophets. As I have found out and most people I speak to have also found out, we don’t like to hear God’s harsh warnings.  

One time when I concluded my sermon someone said “Oh, that’s so Old Testament.” It was, but I have always brought people back to Christ and to grace. The road to Christ and the end of time will be filled with hard times and harsh warnings, yet if we ignore the lessons from the past, we are deceiving ourselves. They were recorded for our benefit whether we like them or not.

1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (New International Version) - "These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 

 

The Lord speaks: “When I called, they did not listen, so when they called, I would not listen.” Zechariah 7:13. God is patient and kind but there is a limit to God’s patience. We don’t want to push Him that far. 

If we don’t listen to God, who or what do we listen to?

1. Each other—sinner in the same boat. 
2. The world—the world system is of the devil and his ways are cruel and heartless.
3. Learned men and women—nothing wrong with education, but it does not necessarily make us wise, loving or caring. 

Why not listen to God? He is the Truth and the Light. He loves His creation; He loves us, His people. Why not listen? Because when we don’t get our way we act like spoiled brats, we grumble and complain and stop up our ears. We push God to the limit of His patience and then we have the gall to arrogantly ask why He doesn’t answer our prayers. Sometimes He does; we’re just not listening.  Other times, God would not listen. Meanwhile, as the world goes to hell, we dance in our sin. And this is how we made the pleasant land desolate--ignoring God’s Word.

 Forgive us, Almighty God. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come. 

 

The Ungrateful Cucumber Enthusiast

The garden produce is coming in. As has been our tradition, we bring produce to our office building to be given away. The only produce I had this week was zucchini squash; it is loved by some and despised by others. As one person rummaged through the bag of zucchini, he turned around and stated with disgust, “I need cucumbers.”

It was Monday morning, the hardest morning of the week. Busy and chaotic, the sheen of my “Sunday morning faith” had already begun to fade. Then this ungrateful lout states he needs cucumbers not this despised zucchini. Inwardly I groused, what an ungrateful person! For many years have we brought produce to the office; he has benefited mightily and we have never asked for one cent.

As I was perched on my self-righteous stool, I also decided inwardly that I would not bring any cucumbers to the office. I was going to teach this ungrateful lout a lesson.

Deep down inside I knew this was wrong. At one time I too was ungrateful of God’s love and provision. I took much of what He gave me for granted.

Later that evening I was invited out for dinner. As I waited to be picked up, I was reading in Luke 6. Verse 35 & 36 say: “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

When I read that verse, I had no option; I will bring cucumbers to work. A lesson learned by someone who should have known better.

Thank you, Holy Spirit for the reminder. Forgive me Lord. Amen

"Let the Church Rise"

We heard this song this morning at Grace Community Church in Olivia.  We thought it was so very appropriate for so many of our beloved churches at this time. 

Click on the Blog title to go directly to the You Tube video or type in: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsOSdN4AdBc

"Let The Church Rise"

by Israel Houghton & Jonathan Stockstill

We are alive filled with

Your glorious life

Out of the dark into

Your marvelous life

We are waiting with expectations

Spirit raise us up with You

Let the Church rise from the ashes

Let the Church fall to her knees

Let us be light in the darkness

Let the Church rise

Let the Church rise

Moving with power

Bringing Your name to the earth

Singing Your praises

Lifting up glorious songs

We are moving with His compassion

Spirit fill our hearts with You

Let Your wind blow

Let Your wind blow

Let Your wind blow

Revive us again Lord

A Foreigners View of America

Last week we had a family reunion. The highlight of the reunion was the presence of a German cousin who has researched the family. After the reunion, Haldor and I road tripped to Iowa to share information with our Hawkeye cousins.

Haldor’s definition of Iowa was this: corn field, bean field, ditch, pickup; corn field, bean field, ditch, pickup; corn field, bean field… Yes, Iowa in a nutshell.

Haldor was perplexed by some things in America. He said America is a land of extremes. America has the world’s largest porn industry yet to stop along a rural Iowa road and urinate opens one up to possible arrest for indecent exposure.

In the same small town we saw people living in shacks next to houses that are empty (in foreclosure). Around the corner is a 4500 square foot house with a 3-car garage occupied by only two people.

Haldor is an international businessman who has deep concerns for America’s wild spending and borrowing. Yet he found our roads in need of repair and our towns becoming seedy. I agree we have spent ourselves into financial slavery but what have we gotten or what are we going to accomplish with all our spending?

In the same time he said outwardly God is talked about; we pray over every meal. He asked “How can you, as Christians, tolerate such extremes?” Yes, how do we tolerate this? We tolerate it by keeping our head in the sand.

We may live in the Garden of Eden (great crops in Iowa and Minnesota). We have full bellies but at the same time we have empty, lonely hearts.

“I bet your pastors have a lot to say about this,” he said. I said, “No, not really.” It was quiet in the car for a long time. Our faith was for a moment exposed as lukewarm as best. I silently prayed, “Forgive me, Lord; change my heart.” American church, wake up!

The Privilege of Growing Old – A Dairy Farmers View of Life

Psalm 71:18 (ESV) – “So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”

Last weekend we attended a great niece’s wedding. As they would say in days of old, “a fine time was had by all” and yes, we did have a fine time.

The bride’s father died when she was 11 years old. My niece, Nadine, the bride’s mother, never remarried but she now has a boyfriend named Karl, a Minnesota dairy farmer.

Karl farms with his brother; they live on the birthplace of his Mom. He is of German stock, resolute, hard working, with a sly sense of humor. Karl is kind and gentle but direct and to the point, no gandy dancing fluff in this guy. He is solid middle America. If you were to make a movie about the trials of farming and life, Karl could play the part. Karl was 17 when his 42 year old dad died of leukemia. Karl, along with his mother and younger brothers, took over the farm. Karl never married.

We were visiting after the wedding when I asked Karl, “Did you ever feel cheated that you had to take over the farm at such a young age?” His eyes narrowed; he drew serious and immediately he said, “No!” He never felt cheated, he loved cows, he loved farming but more importantly, it was his duty. The eldest son, even though young, felt the obligation to carry on and no, he never felt cheated.

In a way, I think Karl was somewhat offended that I would ask such a question. He is a man who would always do his best to do the right thing. Keeping the farm going was the right thing and good men would be expected to do that and Karl did. No victim here; you deal with what life hands you and he has done so, quite successfully, I may say.

Nadine visited with me recently and we discussed the wedding. We discussed how these events, weddings, births, birthdays, deaths, are markers in our life; a sure sign of getting older.

Nadine said, “You know what Karl says? ‘It’s a privilege to grow old.’” We may complain of getting old with its aches and pains and the slipping away of certain talents but Karl considers growing old a privilege. You see, his 42 year old dad never had that privilege; never saw his daughter get married; never bounced a grandchild on his knee. Oh Lord, what a good reminder. All of life is a privilege—a blessing. Yes, the Minnesota dairy farmer has it right.

Yes, Karl has taught us all a lesson. Deal with whatever life gives you but count each moment as you grow older (which is every day, by the way!) as a privilege.

Oh Lord, do not forsake me when I grow old. May we witness Your mighty power and great grace to the generations behind us. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

A Nation Allergic to W.A.S.P.s

On June 25, 2010, the New York Times carried an op-ed piece by Noah Feldman entitled “The Triumphant Decline of the “W.A.S.P.” W.A.S.P., White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, is a term we seldom hear today and the nation seems to be glad to rid itself of this northern European stock of the Protestant ilk. I guess as a nation we may be becoming allergic to them.

Feldman was referring to the potential confirmation of Supreme Court appointee Elena Kagan would finally rid the Court of Protestants. The Supreme Court will consist of six Catholics and three Jews.

Feldman argues that the decline of the W.A.S.P. may be their greatest triumph since it was the Protestants who are inclusive (neither Greek, free or slave) and it’s the Protestants who valued human beings on merit not the ethnicity of the blood running their veins, color or tribe.

In the same week, the not so supreme court ruled against a Christian group at a California law school who wanted its members to adhere to Christian morals. On one side of the fence, a pat on the back coupled with some seemingly private glee over the declining influence of the dreaded W.A.S.P.

At the same time Christianity is the fastest growing religion in the world not the Muslim faith as the main stream media insists. In Africa alone, there are more Lutherans than in North and South America and Asia combined. The African Lutherans (and other African church groups) are now sending missionaries to America.

Our influence may fall but our God reigns. Remember, His plans are never thwarted (Isaiah 55). In these days, Christians must keep their heads. This is the time to share the hope of Jesus Christ with our hurting neighbors. Christian, do not lose your heads; God is still, and always has been, on the throne. Do I understand all of it? No. That is all right because He has and will be faithful throughout all generations—even to us W.A.S.P. Now we must pray without ceasing for our nation.

Could America draft the Declaration of Independence today?

The following is a quote from David F. Wells’s book “Above All Earthly Pow’rs: Christ in a Postmodern World.”

“Douglas Groothuis has made the observation that it would be very difficult for us today to write the Declaration of Independence, given its premise that there are truths which are ‘self-evident,’ such as that ‘all Men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.’ Today we are a nation of relativists, as Allan Bloom lamented, for whom there are no enduring truths, let alone any that are self-evident. The distance that we have traveled in this matter can be seen in many ways, but not least in the fact that Martin Luther King’s appeal, which stirred so many Americans, was made on the basis of the existence of a moral reality larger than any private interest and to which the whole nation was to be accountable. Today, the great majority of Americans do not believe in the existence of truth which is absolute and enduring and to which appeal can be made.” (Douglas Groothuis, “Truth Decay: Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism,” Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000)

And today, we could never agree on the words of the first sentence of the last paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. I quote in part:

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the rectitude (righteousness) of our intentions, do, in the name, and authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be free…”

In other words, these people prayed to God Almighty that their intentions would be pure. They recognized “the Supreme Judge” not the creator, knowing they would have to answer to the Judge of the World. Time has shown their intentions were to be pure.

On this 4th of July, may we appeal “to the Supreme Judge of the World”. May God the Father and His Son Jesus with the power of the Holy Spirit receive all our honor and praise. God alone “is our ever present help in ages past and our hopes for years to come.”

May you have a blessed and free 4th of July.

Growing old in these days

I attended a graduation party recently and found myself seated next to a 52 years old social worker. She is widow; her husband died young and she never remarried. She says she is a believer in Jesus Christ and does not attend any church or Bible study and the like. She was positive, engaging, and animated. She was a very interesting woman.

Her work is primarily with older people. She loves the older people but she doesn’t like their kids; the older people’s kids are baby boomers. I asked her why and she said older people today help one another but she fears that the baby boomers will carry their “me only,” “I only worry about myself”and “to hell with the rest of you” attitude into old age.

The most generous old people are the poorest ones; they are very generous with the little that they have, she told me. Richer people are not as generous and look down on those “below” them. “They never ask for help from those who they consider to be of lower economic status,” she observed.

She told me to tell my “baby boomer” friends that the joy ride is over. As we age we will see costs rise and services being cut. She is at the end of the baby boomer age herself and says looking forward is not a pretty picture.

I asked if the church could help. She laughed. “The last place I’d ask for help would be the church;” a stinging rebuke. Most churches have an inward focus (if it has any focus) and the churches today seem to have no or little outward focus, she commented.

When I asked her what I had to look forward to in the nursing home she said, “Be prepared to be alone, in our generation other patients will probably not help.” She has noticed the nurses, men and women lack compassion. “Tell me something positive,” I said. She told me the young nurses coming in seem to be different from the 30-50 year old nurses. The new younger nurses are more kind and compassionate than the previous generation. Good news for a growing old man.

As I reflected on all she said, I said to myself, what a sad example my generation has become. It angers me when she slams Christ’s church. Sadly much of what she said is true. I guess we will sit in our own drivel and waste away. No one else will care and neither will we.

How do we as Christians respond? Jesus says, “I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). Remember God’s promise in these days—The Lord is with us.

An Unplanned Evening in Starbuck, Minnesota

We were returning home from a business conference at the University of Minnesota Morris when we had car trouble in Starbuck. It was about 5:30 p.m. as our car rolled to a stop in front of the convenience store at the intersection of Hwy. 28 and the Main Street of Starbuck.

Being from out of town and about eighty miles from home, I looked at my wife and said, “This should be interesting.”

As we walked into the convenience store, I asked the manager “Who should we call for help?” Without hesitation he said, “Call John Perry” and handed me the phone book but we did not get an answer. A customer filling gas came in and asked how he could help; he said that John lived near him.

Another employee, a young man named Patrick, said John was his step Dad and he would call him on his cell. We were impressed with this small town kindness.

John and Audrey arrived quickly and towed our car to John’s Star Motors. The initial diagnosis was serious—transmission problems.

We called to find a ride home and our neighbor, Jane, graciously agreed to make the trip. Expecting a two hour wait, John and Audrey suggested we have dinner at a fund raiser being held at the old train depot a few blocks away. Incidentally, this is a type of event that was recommended at the conference to enhance our communities—farmers market, benefit meal, and local entertainment.

We, the outsiders, walked in with a tentative nature to be met with friendly servers. After we told of our blight, they jokingly said this supper was planned just for us—they knew we were coming!  Again we experienced the delightful small town kindness.

We ate with two couples; the women happened to be sisters. We visited like old friends; we shared our meal interspersed with good talk and humor. They also informed us that John Perry is a good guy and that they always take their car to him. We were relieved to hear the high recommendations.

We finished eating and walked up to the convenience store to meet our ride and visited with many friendly, helpful people.

The next day John looked at our car and called to say he had good news; it was not the transmission but an axle failure. He would have the car ready in a couple of hours. We were more than pleased. We were more than impressed.

Does the community of Starbuck realize how special it is? Everyone we met was welcoming, helpful, and honest—the customer at the gas pump, the convenience store manager, Patrick, the people at the community supper, and John and Audrey at Star Motors.

We wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone in Starbuck for the kindness shown to a couple of “wayfaring strangers.” We certainly felt God’s hand in this unplanned and possible trying situation which became an experience of grateful praise to Him as well as His people.  Thanks to all of you, especially John and Audrey Perry—we are strangers no more.

Passionate About Nothing

The following is a quote from the book "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. My daughter was reading this book for her book club. She gave me a copy of my own after she saw me reading hers. 

On page 111, Donald Miller says:

“A friend of mine, a young pastor who recently started a church, talks to me from time to time about the new face of church in America—about the postmodern church. He says the new church will be different from the old one, that we will be relevant to culture and the human struggle. I don’t think any church has ever been relevant to culture, to the human struggle, unless it believed in Jesus and the power of His gospel. If the supposed new church believes in trendy music and cool Web pages, then it is not relevant to culture either. It is just another tool of Satan to get people to be passionate about nothing.”

I Peter 1:13-19 says (ESV): 13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Hebrews 2:3-10 (ESV): 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

5 Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, "What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.“ Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control.  At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.  9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Enough said.

Remembering Fred, farmer and soldier

Fred was one of my neighbors; he was a World War II Army Veteran. He died recently at home on the farm.

About ten years ago we had some business to discuss since our farms border each other. I put on the coffee pot and we discussed our business. Then I tried to get Fred to discuss World War II. As usual, he was reluctant. He turned the tables on me; he said “Where did you serve when you were overseas?” I replied, “Clark Air Base in the Philippines.” Fred said, “I was in the Philippines. Did you ever get down to the American Military Cemetery outside of Manila?” I told him I had and as a matter of fact, I visited it with a Danube native, the late Bruce Grosklags, an Air Force Veteran who served in Viet Nam.

Fred had a story about that cemetery. “We were bivouacked outside of Manila. We would march out to the field or jungle, be there about 2 ½ weeks and then march back into Manila for a few days of rest. One time when we were marching out to the jungle, the old Sarge said, “Look to the right boys, they’re starting an American Military Cemetery.” They were already in the process of burying bodies.”

An aside, some facts about this Cemetery: it is the largest military cemetery outside the Continental United States: buried there are 17,202 American soldiers and 514 Filipino Scouts who served and died with them. Listed on the walls are names of 36,285 American soldiers missing in action. If we put just the Missing in Action in a straight line, single file, on three foot centers, the line would stretch to just under 21 miles long.

Buried in this cemetery are 28 Medal of Honor winners, twenty pairs of brothers are buried side by side. All this, a sobering reminder of the high price paid for freedom.

“Two and a half weeks later” Fred said, “we were marching back to Manila. We were tired and disgusted. The old Sarge said to the troops, ‘Tighten it up boys, we’re getting close to the American Cemetery.’"

Then Fred said, “Not another word was spoken. Cigarettes were put out, chin straps tightened, weapons in place. As they walked by the American Cemetery, the only thing you could hear was the in-cadence click of their heels as they hit the road.”

Fred sat quietly at our table and did not say anything for a long time. He then looked up at me and said, “Jerry, there is nothing much left to be said.” I agreed.

Fred Nyquist and his wife Jeanette were both World War II Veterans. Jeanette died a number of years ago. They were active in the American Legion; they worked hard to uphold the high ideals of that organization. It was a job well done. We thank them. Blessed be their memory.

Even though they are dead, freedom lives. Yes, freedom lives and many men and women paid a very high price to keep it. It would do our country well in these not too heady days to remember this. I must admit some days I feel it is already too late. Even though, I have peace, we are in God’s hands.


Note: I was asked by the Legion to say a few words at Fred’s funeral and this was what I shared.

At Least I Don’t Have Idols

We think we don’t have idols. I mean there are not any little carved, distorted, gold-plated men on my shelf that I worship every morning. Oh no, I don’t do that; I must be home free. No we are not.

What do you have in your life that you treasure--your wife, your husband, your children, your reputation, your land, your money? Yes, we should be good stewards of them but if asked by God, could we live without them and not be angry with God?

In Genesis 22 we have the account of the proposed sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham. Isaac was the son of promise; the son of Abraham’s old age. Isaac must have become the center of Abraham and Sarah’s lives. A life of drudgery, hard work, old age, and routine was thrown into disarray, happy disarray, with the presence of a baby boy who grows into a lad. Isaac had become an idol in their life.

God asks Abraham to sacrifice his own son. Any man would have to be angry with God, especially Abraham who had his son of promise in his old age. Why Lord? Why now? Isaac had pushed God out of the center of the life of Abraham.

The question we need to ask ourselves is this, “Would I be willing to sacrifice my _______________ (fill in the blank) who has become the center of my life, my idol?” Could we still praise God without our “idol”?

Oh, how the thought of this hurts. Timothy Keller in his book “Counterfeit Gods,” Dutton 2009 says in part: “Something is safe for us to maintain in our lives only if it has really stopped being an idol. That can happen only when we are truly willing to live without it when we truly say from the heart ‘Because I have God, I can live without you.”

The mere thought of this makes the back of my arms get goose bumps. Forgive me, Lord.

The Not So Supreme Court

"I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. " 1 Corinthians 4:3-5

The media is full of positive and negative information about The Supreme Court appointee Elena Kagan. I find it interesting that with her assumed approval, a nation founded primarily by Protestants will have no Protestants on The Supreme Court. I realize all groups have a part in “The Great American Experiment,” yet I feel Christians as a whole, Protestant and Catholics, are being marginalized in our culture and politics.

Our founders understood “our rights” came from the Almighty God alone, our Creator. No judge, no king, no potentate, no congressman, no senator nor governor gave us our rights, God did. No man may take our “inalienable, God-given rights and dignity” from us. America was the first country to put this most important fact in writing. Our God is a God of liberty, freedom and might.

These same leaders knew as men, that we are all sinful by nature. Left to our own selves, we sin.

In light of this fact, our founders developed the idea of checks and balances. Power was shared in three branches of government. Each branch is accountable to the other two branches. Left unchecked and left non-scrutinized, men will sin and let power go to their head.

It was quite a system with the help of God that they developed. They codified our inalienable rights which come from God alone and they put in place a system of checks and balances to bring restraint and control upon us wayward, sinful men.

I smile when I read about the highest court in our land, the Supreme Court. They may be supreme in the USA but their supremeness ends at our shores. Their influence and power is held in check by the other branches of government, or should be. This may be a more appropriate comment in these days.

There is much to concern us about this appointment. We as citizens of this country need to exercise our freedoms and participate in the process. Remember the Supreme Judge of the entire world is God; the same God who endowed us with our rights. It’s good to know He was, He is, and He will be the Supreme Judge and Ruler of the world. Yes, He is on the Throne. He will return some day and He will judge the world. No Supreme Court Justice will make any difference. Our advocate by our side at the bar of justice will be Jesus. When we are pronounced guilty by The Judge, Jesus will say, “He is mine, put his sin upon my account.” Because of Jesus Christ, His taking my sin upon Himself, I walk free—what a Savior!

Don’t fear the days ahead. Remember, this is how we are to live. I Peter 2:13-17 says, “13Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” It is good to be reminded of this." (Notice, in verse 13 supreme is in the lower case.) Yes, we will face trials but God is still on the Throne. He is Supreme!