Happy Birthday C. S. Lewis

Clive Stapes Lewis, born this day in 1898 was know to his friends as "Jack" (if my first same was Clive, Jack would work). He is best known to this generation as the author of the Narnia series.

Lewis had some interesting theological positions. He attended the church closest to his home, believing that we all should attend the church closest to us and work to make it better. In that sense, he was more of a puritan than a pilgrim.

Like most Europeans, he was not a stranger to adult beverages or tobacco and did not have a theological issue with their use.

The legacy, however, that C. S. Lewis leaves us, in Mere Christianity, The Problem with Pain and Surprised by Joy, and lurking behind every faun or lamp post in Narnia is his rich and tempting picture of God. His words still entice us to flee sin and draw near to God:

We are half hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

Thank you Mr. Lewis for reminding me that I am far too easily pleased, and that there is something so much better out there. Lewis, like the professor, challenges about Lucy's claims of a forest being in the wardrobe. "it can't be there, it's just not logical." And I can see his smile turn up and his eyes twinkle.

"For Aslan, and for Narnia!!!"

Thanksgiving

This could take days!

Let me slip this in...I am thankful for Ella (welcome Ella to your first Thanksgiving).

I am thankful for:
1. God's gift of his Son, Jesus. He loved his son more than anything, but he still gave him for us.
2. Our freedom. This impacts so much and it must come before the personal
3. My wife. She is the evidence that God's kindness if fare beyond what I deserve
4. My son Brian. God has given me a friend to share the good and the bad.
5. My son Rob. I ways, I have had to share him with a nation
6. My daughter Anne and watching her grow in grace and holiness
7. My daughter Rebecca, she is my 'buddy' in my old age. Just love hanging with her
8. My parents and in-laws - loving mentors
9. My care group - they are like another family, caring for my soul and allowing me to serve them
10. My Church - honestly, the greatest place on earth.

This is just a start

In the Middle

I was thinking about something that that was very humbling.

First, think about this. Can you name all you children (if you have any)? If you do, that is typically easy. Can you name your spouse and your siblings? Sure. Do you remember the name of your parents? Still easy. Can you come up wit the names of your grandparents. Most likely.

Now the stumper - can you name your great grandparents? I can't. Both my parents are alive, and I cannot name their four grandparents.

Now for the humbling part. there is my legacy. I will hold my grandchildren today - and they are the last generation will will remember me.

But this motivates me. My time is now. I want to give my time, effort, energy and strength to making the contribution to the generations around me. I do not have a War & Peace or Handel's Messiah in me that will transcend generations. I have now.

Under-rated

No, not me. If anything, I am vastly over-rated.

It's raining, my windshield wiper doesn't work. My body is feeling older by the day and looking more like my car (gray with rust spots). My retirement that looked rosy 5-years ago is sprouting weeds from a recession/depression. Need I go on?

But Thanksgiving is coming. Thanksgiving is under-rated.

The old cliches are that if you have your health, your family, a job, whatever, you can be happy and thankful. What if I didn't. What if my health was failing, I was alone, what if I lost a loved one at Fort Hood, or to cancer, old age. Could I still be happy?

The longer I live the more I realize how short this life is. The more I need to live for the next life. In that life, I will have my health, my loved ones, there will be no sickness, death, darkness, fatigue or loneliness.

I will have a dearly loved one home tonight! I pray for all those who travel home over the next couple of days. But I am most thankful that...I'm not home yet.

It's Always A Good Day

Very interesting conversation with a sister last week. She made the statement that there are "no bad days". There are days when comfortable things happen and uncomfortable things happen. We perceive the days when uncomfortable things happen as "bad days" because we are uncomfortable. However, if God is sovereign, and he is orchestrating things, those uncomfortable things are part of our sanctification (refining) process.

I found this thought fascinating! I love my comfort. I prefer the pat on the back over the kick in the pants. I want my teams to win and I want the promotion, bonus, discount and great deal. When they don't happen, is it a bad day? No, it is:
- discipline proving again that my heavenly father loves me.
- God working all things out for my good.
- my loving savior putting me thru the refiners fire to burn off impurities
All my days are good. Some time I just don't know it.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Psalm 16:6

ALERT!!
Be in prayer as one close friend get induced on Tuesday and one close friend gets induced on Friday!!

Sunday is not Tame, but it is Good

John Piper says that:
"The local church is a visible expression of the invisible, universal, body of Christ."

That puts a pretty high value on the local church. Think this thru! If I told you that you could actually see Jesus, if you came with me to a certain place at a certain time, would you? Assuming that you believed me, of course you would. Well, I am telling you that on Sunday morning, if your church is an authentic Bible teaching, Gospel-centered church, then you can see a visible expression of Christ, much like the pillar of cloud during the day and the pillar of fire at night.

If that is true, and you need to personally wrestle with veracity of that statement, then would you not value church attendance in light of that? Here's what I mean. If the above statement is true, then I am not attending church to be seen, or meet an obligation, or even to be fed or serve (although the latter are valid purposes). But I am part of the body of Christ. I want to be there!

And if that is true, when he arrives, I want to be there. What will he do? I don't know, but I want to see it!

Because he is not tame, but he is Good.

Fire Hoses are for Firemen

I'm standing in front of a fire hose. They are for firemen and you are supposed to stand behind them. So many things coming at me at once. It can be overwhelming. Personal, family, work, ministry...

So how do I process this? How do I deal with it. Where do I let my mind go. There needs to be a place that I shepherd my soul, where is that place beside still waters where by soul can feed, rest and be refreshed?

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see him there,
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the Sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

I look to the Father who adopted me. I look to the sinless savior who died for me. They have my best interest at heart. They can best shepherd my soul.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Romans 8:32

There is a lot. Some of it I will successfully accomplish. Some of it I will fail at and some of it I will never get to. I will get done what my Sovereign has set before me to accomplish, and no matter what that amount is and no matter what others think of my vast or limited accomplishments, I will have all the Christ did credited to me.

I am humbled by my limitations. That humility inclines me to continue my way up the Via Dolorosa to Golgotha.

James 4

Gnawing on a verse this week:

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? - James 4:1

What causes quarrels and fights? God has a distinctly different perspective than I do. It is not my spouse, traffic, work, lack of sleep. My struggles are a result of me -ME! they come when I don't get what I want - my passions.

How can I get to the point where, in the heat of the moment, I realize that it is not the situation - but me having a calm, mature, quiet, controlled temper tantrum?

Humility 4

Super busy, but after Thursday night I will have more time. God is using this teaching on Humilty to soften my heart. here is quote that has made me think a lot:

“At every stage in our Christian development and in every sphere of our Christian discipleship, pride is the greatest enemy and humility our greatest friend.”
John Stott

Do I believe that? If I did, wouldn't I feed my greatest friend and attack my greatest enemy. But my actions are often the exact opposite.

Sunday Prep

It has been a busy week. I have had a lot on my plate this week and a lot is still on the plate for next week. Ever get that feeling, like you are wading into a rushing river and you are feeling the current. I am trying to get as far across the river without getting swept up in the current, maintain control and not get swept away. The way I do that is to keep a firm contact with the ground, the bed of the river. When I lose contact with the ground, all is lost.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly
Friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end

And then Sunday comes. It is a great day, with nothing planned, to catch up on some things, get ahead, put in that little extra time. It is also the most tempting day - to work. Be still my soul, I am called to a day of rest. My inclination is to get those could of things done that will help me to keep up or get ahead. Be still my soul, reflect on who the Lord is and give him his day, his full day. I may not get what I want done, but my soul is rested for another day of work and effort. I want to do more to "cheat the clock, but...Be still my soul, and rest.

Father, as I head off to church, let me give you all that I have an all that I am. As you commended Mary for not working and sitting at you feet, let me give you my rapt attention.

BIG QUESTION

I was listening to a message by Mike Bullmore and in it he explained that he was the question:

What is the greatest, most crying need in the church today?

I would love to get your take on this question. Please leave a comment.

Sunday Specials

Heading for my 51st birthday, I realize that I have faced well over 2,500 Sunday's (actually 2,646). Many I don't remember, many were uneventful*. The week can grow monotonous, each day becoming the same. I try not to let that happen. I think about Sunday often during the week. When it gets to the weekend, I am gearing myself towards Sunday morning. My sleep, my devotions, my activities are built around Sunday morning.

I look forward to worship. The music is a tool that reminds me of my need for a savior, and the good news that I have one. I try to let that touch my heart and when it does, gratefulness and often tears flow. Sunday morning is when I get to look at the faces of other imperfect people who need Him almost as much as I do. I love to watch the hundred or so people who are needed to make the Sunday Service happen. Hearts changed - to teach our children, change diapers, greet visitors, direct traffic in this blasted rain - how can you not see that and then not see the grace of God at work.

This Sunday I get to greet (at the real front door). That really juices me! Each hand I shake is a person who Jesus came to save. Each face one that has wrestled with the week and now comes to find sanctuary and joy in the presence of the Shepherd. Each visitor, one who I pray will encounter the living Savior. Each child will get their first impression of Church for the day from me - let it be bursting with joy!

Then I get to listen to a message from a pastor who has humbly dedicated his life to searching God's word and serving God's people. I piggy-back on over 20-hours of his preparation, boiling-down and expounding upon God's inerrant Word. It is instructing for the wise and direction for the simple, but foolishness to the fool. I want to listen, apply and show myself as one approved.

Sunday is special.

Addendum: there was a Sunday in June, 1983 that pretty much tops the list.