Blue Bloods

There are TV shows that I have come to enjoy some for their content, some for their humor, and mostly all for their entertainment.  Those which are my “favorites” I set up the DVR to assure I don’t miss them.

One of my favorites now is “Blue Bloods” starring Tom Seleck.  It is a typical Cop show which I have always been a fan of.  It is in New York City which I enjoy seeing the scenes after spending some time there.  It is about somewhat real stories of real people in the profession of law enforcement in a big city.

In fact, its stories are centered on a whole family who are involved in all levels of crime fighting.  One son is just beginning as a rookie cop.  Another is a tenured detective.  A daughter is a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office.  The father, played by Seleck, is the Police Commissioner.  Oh, and if that isn’t enough, his father is a retired police commissioner.

What I have come to look forward to in each episode is the last few minutes.  At the end of every show the entire family has gathered together around the dinner table at the father’s (Seleck’s) home.  There is normal sibling banter going on; inquisitive young children trying to figure out some of the “code talk” the adults are doing; and grandpa usually has a calming word to offer.  What impresses me is they are being “family.”

Some of my best family memories revolve around the family dinner table.  Whether it was at Grandmamma and Granddaddy Daniel’s on Sunday afternoon, the Deal clan coming from all over to the Deep Creek Community Hall, or at Mom and Dad’s, eating a meal together brought us together.  There we would joke, share stories, learn about our family history.  There I learned table manners (after many, many failures, I am sure!)  There I learned I was accepted and loved, and that everyone around the table was part of my family.

The “Blue Bloods” family argues how to uphold the laws and sometimes differ greatly.  But, one thing is sure, differences do not divide them.  No one is divorced from the family, or sent to their rooms until they repent, because of their opinions expressed or views on how the world revolves or who is in an elected office.

I wish I could say that is true for my family.  Not my family of blood and marriage; my faith family.  I have witnessed too many times brothers and sisters who feast at the same table of our LORD Jesus Christ differ on issues of politics or interpretation of Scripture.  Sometimes we grow from these dialogues; most of the time we get up from the table still “family.”

However, there are times that sadden our LORD as He watches His family differ on issues yet cannot continue to love one another, cannot accept someone who is different than themselves, who cannot fathom that someone who believes that way can really be a Christ-follower.  In essence they subscribe to the “divorce-is-the-only-solution” philosophy and our collaborative witness to a world needing Grace is too often lost.

Isn’t the Christian faith one that is built around blood?  Isn’t it said, “blood is thicker than water?”  How is it that these “blue bloods” exhibit how to live with differences better than those of us who are washed in the red blood of Jesus Christ?

Nuts Don’t Fall Far From the Tree

Early in the ‘90’s we lived in the parsonage of Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Danville, Virginia.  The front yard was full of tall, mature pecan trees.  Many times now my family of four will recall the fall days when we would go out and pick up all the pecans we wanted.  However, we wanted more than those on the ground.  We wanted the ones that were still hanging on by a thin fiber inside the wide-opened black outer shell.

So, we got creative.  We would jump up and catch a limb and shake, shake, shake.  The boys were little and we made a game of running and picking up as many as we could.  Later we would desire ones that were even higher.  One of the boys went inside and got a football.  They would throw it up and hit one or two.  Then, Dad got rambunctious and began punting the ball up high into the tree.  Soon we were pummeled by dozens of hard shelled pecans.  Keeping the football theme the boys ran inside and got their football helmets to protect their heads from the hail-storm of nuts coming out of the tree.

Several things are for sure.  We had lots of nuts to eat, cook with and share.  And, without a strong wind all the nuts fell fairly close to the tree.

This week my family will celebrate the graduation from seminary of our second son William.  In a couple of weeks I will help him move to Boone, North Carolina where he will begin his first full-time position at First Baptist Church.  It will be like déjà vu all over again!  His older brother Ragan graduated just last year and I helped him move to Topeka, Kansas where he is now Associate Pastor of First Baptist Church.

To say that Susan and I are proud of our sons is an under-statement.  How can we cease to praise God for His blessings?  Some have quipped that they are just staying in the family business.  When they individually talked with us about their feeling “called to ministry” we did our best to talk them out of it.  Why wouldn’t we?  They had grown up in two ministers’ home; they had experienced the good, the bad and the ugly.  We encouraged them to do whatever they wanted to do and God would be pleased.

But, they each insisted that they knew God wanted them to go into full-time vocational ministry.  It just goes to show that no matter how much wind we, the parents, tried to blow the nuts away from the tree, God’s will and desire for them was much stronger.  And, without a doubt, we are so glad these nuts haven’t fallen far from the tree of their parents’ vocational journey.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

YOUTH – They will surprise you!

Last Sunday my home church (First Baptist Church Dalton, Georgia) had “Youth Sunday.”  Many churches do something similar in which the youth are in charge for a day.  (With proper supervision and ONLY for a day, mind you!  We wouldn’t want them to really be in charge!)

Sitting there in my pew I reflected back to when I was a youth and we had Youth Sunday.  Keep in mind that those memories are now only vague, and definitely in black and white, not color.  I remember teaching Sunday School.  “Teach” was not so much the operative word, now that I have a better understanding of the cognitive approaches to imparting knowledge and understanding.  I had “the” Men’s class that day.  What could I tell them that they did not already know?  How would they be moved to a deeper Christian faith by my feeble attempt to pontificate the Word?  It didn’t matter in the long run; they were very supportive and appreciative of my attempts and the encouragement I received may have benefited my openness to hear God’s call into ministry.

Like many adolescents there was apprehension abundant.  However, each participant “performed” wonderfully and we “had church!”  Some read Scripture, many sang in the youth choir, some played percussion instruments; one very talented young lad played the organ (how does one do that anyway?  It takes hands AND feet!)  A couple even prayed – out loud!

Until I became comfortable speaking in public, I was very timid about praying in public.  After all, I’m talking to the Almighty on behalf of all of us in the room.  These pray-ers gave thoughtful consideration to the words they were to utter.  Perhaps they were coached by the youth minister or other leaders.  Regardless, they were well done.

Not many pray-ers, myself included, impress me in the hearing of the audible prayer like one this Sunday.  The young man spoke clearly and eloquently.  He demonstrated for many how to pray an “opening prayer” or “invocation.”  He articulated that we were all entering into the opportunity to worship God.  He asked God to “aide us to hear your Word this morning.”

WOW!  That’s it, I thought!  In all we do in our designed one hour of “worship” on Sunday morning – singing, praying, reading litanies, hearing a sermon – we are there to hear a word from God.  It cannot be done unless God Himself aides us so that we actually “hear” it.  This aide could take many forms.  The aide I normally need is to clear my mind of distractions and focus on the moment.

God wants us to hear His Word through many means each and every day of the week.  It may be in the reading of Holy Scripture; it may be in silent (operative word!) meditation; it may be in singing hymns and spiritual songs; it may be in caring for another person who has a need.

Oh God!  Forgive me for not hearing you like I should. Aide my hearing today so that I do not miss what You have for me today!

"Ducks on the Pond"

Sitting in a rocking chair at the Terrace Hotel at Lake Junaluska Retreat and Conference Center one morning I was overlooking the lake.  Behind the shimmering luster of the water were mountains, small and grand peaking out through the early morning fog.  A few early risers were exercising along the path around the lake, workers were beginning their tasks of maintenance, housekeeping and the like.

I observed one lonely duck floating across the lake.  That in itself was not that inspirational.  What drew my attention was the ripple effect out behind it.  This small little creature wasn’t creating a large wake as it glided across the water.  But what it did still ventured out long and far behind.

The LORD reminded me in that moment that my actions and thoughts are like those ripples of water.  Whether good or bad, those actions, thoughts and words extend out and affect long and far after I have spoken them or acted in such a way.

The obvious was to turn inward and reflect on the negative ones, yes, sin.  Forgive me LORD, purify me, and cleanse me.  Reveal to me those un-confessed.  Restore to me the joy of my salvation by your love mercy and grace.

Without pride, however, I realized that there have been “good ones,” too.  LORD, may they be only reflective of you.  Let me have no selfish pride.  Help me to have more good ones than bad ones today, rippling out positively touch my world today.

AMEN

“The moon and stars suspended in space.”

“When I gaze into the night skies and see the work of Your fingers; The moon and stars suspended in space Oh, what is man that You are mindful of him? You have given man a crown of glory and honor and have made him a little lower than the angels You have put him in charge of all creation The beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea But what is man, oh what is man that You are mindful of him? O Lord our God, the majesty and glory of Your name transcends the earth and fills the heavens O Lord our God, little children praise you perfectly and so would we - and so would we. Alleluia, alleluia, the majesty and glory of your name Alleluia, alleluia, the majesty and glory of your name Alleluia, alleluia!” “The Majesty and Glory of Your Name,” Linda Lee Johnson and Tom Fetke, © 1979.

Did you gaze up into the night skies during March?  Have you ever seen such a sky? Not unless you are umpteen hundred years old.  Apparently we experienced a phenomenon called a “conjecture.”  I’m no astronomer, but I am impressed.

Humankind has been amazed at the heavens from the beginning of time. From the first chapter of Genesis we read how God put each one in place (Genesis 1:14).  Intelligent man quickly learned how these “things” could be used to guide them.  Very wise men used an exceptionally bright one to find the Christ Child.

The phenomenon of the March sky was amazing!  Venus and Jupiter and the Moon were all right up there together bright as can be (Is this the “Age of Aquarius”?  Look out Fifth Dimension!)  These planets, along with little Mercury, and the Moon all became very apparent in our night sky.  They were so bright.  It made me think “what is really out there?”  For those of us who are followers of the One true God, we know Who is out there?

But, He is not just “out there.”  He is here, right now, with you and me.  But why don’t we recognize Him?  Perhaps it is because we aren’t reflecting His Light correctly.  Isn’t it written, “You will know them by their love for one another”? And, I might add, their love for others.

If we do not have love for one another (and others not like us), then we are nothing more than a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. Or worse, we are non-reflectors of His light.  Wouldn’t our world be better served if we were “moons” reflecting His love and light?  What if people gazed into our lives and it guided them to the One whose Light we reflect?

Father, forgive me for dulling the reflection of Your light.  Help me to love others so that they begin to see You and yearn for You.

Spring is “Springing”

Here I sit in my home office with the windows up enjoying the beauty of the introduction of Spring and music begins to play.  No, not on the radio, nor my iPod.  But the birds outside the window.

Having lived out of “four season country” for ten years, this is music to my ears.  I begin to realize what I had missed living where it was always spring or summer.  (Of course, there are great advantages to that. But I won’t bore anyone with that in this blog!)  The birds are singing and communicating to one another.  What are they saying?  To whom are they calling?  I really do not care.  Sing on creature!

The grass is greening; even the weedy-type which is prominent in the yard of our rental house.  It beckons the roar of the lawn mower.  Irises are popping up through the ground, stretching their fresh leaves out toward the sun preparing to bloom.  The rose bushes are greening and reviving from the trim given to them in the fall.  Gosh!  Even the dandelions are pretty this year!

The trees are budding – Achoo!  We are having difficulty trying to identify the various varieties of which we are not familiar with.  This is a task that is almost outside the realm of a Google search!  The beloved dogwood trees’ buds are bursting.  Soon, as in this week, their beauty of white and pink will permeate the horizon and even the dense woods.

We have placed our hummingbird feeder out waiting for these creatures to come and quench their thirst.  The bumblebees by the thousands are gathering pollen from the wisteria and flowering trees around.

Like us, the neighbors have begun to venture outside their houses, crank up the mowers, raking out the flowerbeds, preparing garden beds, and generally sprucing up.  Spring is springing all around!

The beauty of spring is a reminder of life’s resurrection.  What appeared to be dead is coming back to life!  What was dormant was actually still alive.  Life is springing all around.  This inspires me to refresh and rejuvenate my own living of this life.  (Somebody say “exercise.” Doesn’t pushing the lawnmower count?)

I am also reminded of my spiritual journey.  What has been dormant that I need to restart?  What can I do to rejuvenate my walk with Christ?  Even the Psalmist King David prayed “Create in me a clean heart, O God. . .Restore to me the joy of your salvation.”

During this season of Lent we journey toward a time of celebrating the One who overcame death, was rejuvenated for our sake, in order that we might live again and again.

What a beautiful reminder of spring!  Hallelujah what a Savior!

DEATH IS A LOT LIKE DYING, ISN’T IT?

This week is like weeks many of us have from time to time:  one in which several funerals are on my calendar.  One is for a saint from the church I served many years ago.  She was the organist and I imagine she is now part of the heavenly orchestra.

Attending funerals is one exercise I tend to do when I move to a new place (I’ve only moved four times in 30 years!)  It gives to me a perspective of the varying nuances of each region of the country.  Even each church in a region may have acceptable (and not acceptable) practices for funerals.  As a minister these are good things to know before leading one.

 

On an episode of the TV comedy Will and Grace, Grace goes running to Will with the dilemma of facing death.  She tells him that she’s been thinking a lot about dying because she’s afraid “that one day it may happen to her.”

Well, Grace, I’ve got good news and bad news.  The bad news is you’re right, it will happen to you one day.  The good news is you’re not alone!  One hundred percent of us are guaranteed only one thing in life: death.  Life is full of choices and most eventually have an effect on how we die, and perhaps when we die.  One important choice or lack thereof, however, determines where we end up after we “walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.”

John Kramp, in his book Out of Their Faces and Into Their Shoes, reminds the reader that most of the evangelism methods we have learned are “based on the premise that people believed in God, worried about eternity, and lived lives filled with felt-needs.”  He goes on to say that there is a “futility of offering the answer to people who are not asking the question.”

I have been with people as one whom they loved passed on into eternity.  Many times I possessed a sense of assurance that where they now were was where all Christians aspire to be when it happens to them.  Sadly, though, I’ve been there with those who have had little to no faith journey, or I did not know them prior to the event to have foreknowledge.

 

In that episode of Will and Grace, Grace was concerned that Will, a well-to-do lawyer, had only left her a measly $1,400 in his will.  She was working on her will and wanted to leave him something, but didn’t want to do too much.  She was upset that Will was only going to leave her a small amount.  The argument waned when Will told her that was all he had fifteen years ago when he wrote the will; he had not thought about it since then.

Will is no different than any of us.  We try not to think of our own death—a very distant, future event.  Yet, like this friend of mine from long ago, death could come to any of us today.  More important than preparing for the disbursement of one’s estate (as important as that is!), is one’s preparation for life after death.  It is appointed unto everyone once to die, and then the judgment.  But, all who have placed their faith, trust and hope in Jesus Christ shall receive their heavenly reward, because He took upon Himself the judgment for our sins.

For the most part we cannot determine when or how we shall die.  But we each must decide where we will go when that moment comes.