Thanks to Who?

Yesterday, I had an intriguing and somewhat tense conversation with an intelligent gentleman who was, nevertheless, a pantheist/naturalist/skeptic/anti-theist of sorts.  Sadly, yet humorously we all (we were with others) wished one another a jovial “happy Thanksgiving” as we parted company.  Being (I trust) prompted by the Spirit, I immediately asked, “Who are you going to thank?”  The question was both antidotal and didactic.

I love it that Christ is the root, theme and aim of so many of our holidays: Christmas for His birth, Easter for His resurrection & Thanksgiving for His goodness.  Personally, I’m not satisfied with a X-mas celebration with Santa, Easter eggs and bunnies with new clothes or Turkey Day with family, food & football.  Don’t get me wrong, we do insert Santa, eggs and football rather freely into those holidays at my house too, however in my mind, heart and actions, the purpose is always clear – we celebrate our God.  It is, after all, about Him!

As this Thanksgiving approaches, I naturally get nostalgic and yearn for family and the past, yet I also happily look to heaven with a heart full of gratitude for the present and the future.  I’ve got it good.  Spiritually, emotionally, materially, physically, socially – I’ve been blessed!  Being blessed assumes a blessor, amen?  If I’m the blessee then logically there must be a blessor.  (Well, hmmm, those invented words might not be helpful, let me say it this way) if I’m being blessed then there must obviously be someone that is doing the blessing.  Who is it?  My Creator, Savior, Lord, Father and Friend; Jehovah God is the Giver of good things. 

James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

So, let’s get specific.  For what (and sometimes who) exactly am I thankful?

1.       My Jesus – my relationship and fellowship with Him; OH, the gift of the Spirit’s indwelling presence!

2.       My Salvation – I don’t have to go to hell with the majority of humanity.  I’m forgiven!

3.       My Bible – it is the source of truth that feeds my hungry soul.

4.       My wife – she loves me even when I’m a jerk… and forgives me daily.

5.       My children – saved, beautiful, loving, energetic… and best of all, mine.

6.       My calling – if you aren’t a preacher, perhaps you wouldn’t understand.  I get to be a messenger from the King delivering the greatest news ever told.  Hallelujah!

7.       My parents – two of the godliest servants in the Kingdom!

8.       My family – brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces & cousins: unique, precious and sometimes peculiar, I wouldn’t trade families with anyone.

9.       My church – the loving people Grace Baptist Church, from Percy Deane to Carter Thurman; I consider every one of you (or them, if you aren’t a part) a wonderful gift from God.  Deacons, Pastor Grant, workers, thinkers, dreamers and even bench warmers – I’m grateful to God for every individual.

10.   My country – be she ever so flawed, misled and abused, she is mine and I love her.  I’m so thankful to live in the land of the free; America the Beautiful!

11.   My past – schools, friends, churches, preachers, possessions… so many good gifts in my past.

12.   My future – heaven!  Reunion!  Peace and rest!  Perfection!  The pleasures of His manifest presence!

13.   The little things – food to eat, clothes to wear, a house to live in, an automobile, toys, tools, comforts and distractions… there is not room enough to receive it all.

14.   The bad things – naturally last in the list (I’m human), I’m thankful for pain and sorrow, loneliness and peril, needs and necessities.  Mostly, I’m thankful for the strength to go through the trials of life walking hand in hand with my dear Redeemer.  The darkness makes the light so much more appealing.

Have I left out some things?  Indeed, an infinite number.  But, I’m grateful nonetheless.  God has been good to me.  God is good to me.  I fully expect that He will continually be good to me.  May I never neglect to be grateful and to express sincere appreciation to Him!  He is worthy!  If the rest of my life is only misery and horror, I should never cease to be thankful due to the abundant mercy, grace, longsuffering, goodness and blessings that I have experienced at the hand of my loving Christ!

Due to Thanksgiving, there will be no blog next week.  I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving holy day!

 

“Common Soteriologies”

 

An honest reading of Scriptures is likely to cause an open minded student to wrestle with the great diversity in the journeys which the various saints took in their responses to the magnetism of God's redemptive wooing.  I'm not saying harmony is difficult to discover, but a superficial examination of the testimonies of our religious forefathers would uncover many more divergences than convergences.  I think the most evident common factor(s) are humility/submission as expressions of saving faith.  I say “humility and/or submission” because of the appropriate coupling of these two things, though they be not perfect synonyms… humility being more of an attitude and submission an outgrowth of that attitude.

 

Perhaps you would look at slightly different data in contrasting the lives of the people I’m about to mention, but regardless, take a trek with me quickly through a series of saintly portraits. 

 

Attempting to find the first evidence (or sometimes the most prominent expression) of each believer's regeneration (chronologically):

Abel offered a blood sacrifice.

Enoch walked with God.

Noah built an ark.

Abraham packed a moving van (or maybe a camel).

Sarah lay with her old husband and expected fruit from it.

Jacob wrestled with an angel.

Joseph ran from feminine temptation.

Moses killed an Egyptian.

Joshua led the army.

Caleb claimed a mountain.

Rahab hid foreign spies.

Samson flexed his muscles.

Gideon sent soldiers home.

Ruth went home with her mother-in-law.

Samuel listened to a mysterious voice.

David slew wild beasts to protect his flock.

Solomon asked for discernment.

Elisha burned his plow.

Daniel ate his peas.

Mary risked her reputation.

Joseph got married.

Peter left his nets.

Matthew left his government job.

The Samaritan woman left her water pot.

Zacchaeus restored ill-gotten gains.

The publican in the shadows smote upon his on chest and asked for mercy.

The crucified malefactor asked the dying King to remember him.

The Ethiopian eunuch asked to be baptized.

Paul asked for instructions.

The Philippian jailer simply believed.

 

Personally, I walked down a tabernacle aisle and bowed my knees, my head and my heart in fear and desperation as I prayed for forgiveness and asked God to save me.

 

For some reason, some of God's people, whose testimonies are recorded for us, didn't get a clear account of their conversion experience included in Bible.  Perhaps I've even forced some of these examples, but reading Hebrews 11 makes me surmise that I haven't.

 

Unsurprisingly, I am absolutely convinced that not one saint achieved his or her righteousness and justification through their own efforts, merits or worth.  Every single one of the redeemed came in faith; depending on God to do for them what they could never do for themselves.  Yet unfortunately, I fear that for some people the word "faith" is enigmatic.  But, it shouldn’t be so.   Notice the spiritual snapshots of the individuals that I listed... can anyone avoid glimpsing the humility that was demonstrated in every single case?  Maybe some of the stories necessitate a little meditation to see how surrender played a role, but I'm postulating that it is always there.  Even when Samson demonstrated “his” great strength, it was only a result of his submission to God’s requirement concerning his hair (for example) and his humble dependence upon the Spirit; that Spirit which only and always gave Him the strength that he did have (when he had it).  

 

Naturally, this brief meditation isn't an exhaustive or thorough view of the doctrine of salvation.  Furthermore, it's not a new or unique view either.  But it is my attempt at reminding all of us of the paradoxical simplicity of the decision and the intense complexity of the transaction.  While there is indeed only One Savior, there are many sinners.  The paths upon which we were walking when the Savior found us dramatically affect the nature of His invitation as well as the appearance and form of our transformation.

 

In all cases, the objective gospel must present a sufficient Redeemer.  With that in mind, don't ever lose track of the fact that it is always presented effectively and appropriately to a person who is in a desperate circumstance.  Also, don't forget that repentance and faith will always be coupled somehow in the new birth experience.   But does it always have to look like the orthodox proselytizing with which we are all familiar?

 

If we claim that the revelation of Holy Writ trumps tradition and customs (and I, for one, do make that claim), is it consistent for us to ignore the host of mystical and mysterious conversion accounts in the Bible that do not conveniently fit into our stereotyped expectation.  We can certainly bring the truth of the availability of eternal life to a lost world through the typical evangelical “Romans  road leads to the sinners prayer" method - but we must never substitute a good method for a perfect person; the Holy Spirit.  His work is essential.  Excellent sales without unction will lead only to false professions, futile confidence, posthumous shock and eternal damnation.  No sinner needs a process, but they all need Christ.  This is the thing, Christ's entrance is not contingent upon our ridiculous religious spells... (i.e., 1-2-3 repeat after me). 

 

Don’t get me wrong, there was truly a pattern, process, order, chronology and sense about my salvation experience, but the substance of change was a product of a personal relationship that came as a result of a point simple humility and submission which the Holy Ghost brought upon me finally after many previous approaches.  Yes, He used the truth; He used people; He used my conscience.  But, ultimately, there was something that happened on that day (August 13, 1985) that was different than what had happened to me on every previous occasion.  I had been in church hundreds of times, had heard the gospel, had seen the witnesses, had struggled with guilt, had walked an aisle, had prayed a prayer, had made a profession, had even been baptized and had joined the church – but I had never been saved. 

 

Salvation is a mysterious operation of God. 

 

Regeneration can’t be manufactured, imitated, emulated, manipulated or forced.  The rituals that accompany the decision and the works that follow it can be diverse, yet every time the reality is identical – a sinner becomes a saint; God moves in.  It is always because of Christ’s propitiatory sacrifice (whether mentioned or not), it is always a work of the Spirit (whether recognized or not) and it is always a product of humble, submissive faith in God flowing from the heart of the convert.

 

One needs to look no further than the preaching of Jesus to see the following fact: Spirit led evangelism may little resemble the cookie cutter presentations with which we have grown accustomed.  Would any of us have had the spiritual discernment to know how to speak to the rich young ruler who came to Jesus for assurance of eternal life?  I dare say that he would have become a baptized member of most of our churches today while remaining in his self-righteous, selfish, unregenerate state.  "Oh," you say, "that was a different dispensation and Jesus had special discernment."  My response: "Hmmm, am I to be persuaded that there are no longer any rich young rulers to be won to Christ?  Is it not likely that there just might still be a 'few' people alive today who want the promise of heaven, but not if it costs them their wealth?"  Jesus did tell him to simply “follow Him,” but He included the "sell & give" admonition because the Spirit showed Him that money was what the man actually worshiped.  One can not serve God and mammon at the same time - a choice must be made.  Leading that man in a “sinners prayer” might have been easy.  However, actually showing him that he was a sinner was the approach Jesus took, though He knew that it would drive that particular “seeker” away.

 

What I'm attempting to emphasize is (1) our dependence on our Lord as we witness as well as (2) the utter infinity of His capacity to draw men unto Himself.  He drew Martin Luther despite the great darkness of his Catholic surroundings.  He drew me despite the great contemptuous familiarity that I had with the gospel.  Doubtless, your story is different still…

 

I’m not trying to discourage simple evangelism efforts.  Indeed, the great missionary, Paul, kept it pretty simple and straightforward.  Men are sinners.  Sinners are destined for hell.  Christ died for sinners.  Faith in Christ brings about deliverance from sin and hell.  It really is that simple, right?  Right!  But don’t ever discount God’s attempt at getting the attention of persons of every background, culture, race, religion and creed.  With the Spirit’s power, aid and direction we can take people from where they are to the foot of the cross, no matter where they are.

 

Fortunately, we live in the New Testament era and therefore have the great advantage of a completed cannon and a historical Savior.  Logically, it would seem that these two factors alone should narrow the look of spiritual conversions.  Nevertheless, let us never forget that salvation is not an assent to a creed, a patterned prayer, a ritual, a location, a religious group, an emotional expression or an ordered process.  Any or all of these things might be present, but salvation always and only results from an individual’s humble submission to the Spirit of Christ.  While there are umpteen issues that could be discussed (the cross, grace, the blood, death, burial, resurrection, mercy, love, faith, obedience, justification, adoption, forgiveness, wrath, the law, etc.), is it possible to imagine a person being accepted by the Father without humility and submission (both as specific aspects of faith)? 

 

Surely, without humility there can be no realization of one’s need of salvation.  Just as surely, without submission there is no rationality for the possibility of one’s salvation.  In other words, if a man is not humbled by the Spirit, he can’t recognize that he is hopelessly lost and therefore will not seek to be rescued.  And, if a man is still in a state of rebellion and resistance against God, then God will remain unwilling to rescue him.  Lastly, the precious humility and submission of which I speak can only be produced by the wise hand of the Holy Ghost.

 

I’m thankful that I do live in this age.  The identification of details of the gospel is obviously clearer and more concrete now than when, say, Able or Rahab came to God.  But, according to Hebrews 11:6 every person comes to Him the same way.  Abraham and D. L. Moody were both justified by faith (humble and submissive faith) in God.  Both were justified only because of the propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Yet, both would sound very different if they were to each one give you their testimony of salvation.

 

When, in Jude 1:3, Jude spoke of “the common salvation” with obvious passion, he was speaking of a thing about which every saint knows.  All I’m doing is delineating a couple of specific commonalities of every saint’s experience – humility and submission.  I am persuaded that these two things are very high on the list of gospel essentials that we must proclaim in our day.

 

To kneel at on the ground around the cross and to rise forgive, surely foolish pride and stubborn rebellion must be abandoned.  Will the flesh grasp back at those evils after a person has been genuinely converted?  Sure!  But mustn’t that quality be there in sincerity at the initial point of decision?  I’m persuaded that it must!

 

James 4:10 says plainly, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” 

 

1 Peter 5:5-6 reiterates, “…be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”

 

----------------------------------------

Footnote: Perhaps it is true that these twin traits (humility and submission) can be present in minute and germ form at the point of conversion, but their presence should totally dominate the life of faith, should they not.  The general attitude of lowered eyes which I had when I received Christ as my Savior should now become a very specific and evident feature of my continued growth in grace.  I must work out my salvation with fear and trembling, remaining at the foot of the cross.  My eventual destiny is secure, but my current effectiveness is deeply dependent upon my continued walk in the Spirit as a humble servant of righteousness.

 

Selections from the style of the Savior’s life…

 

The question, “How should we then live?” is found tucked away in Ezekiel 33:10, “Therefore, O you son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus you speak, saying, ‘If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?’”  I think it was in 1976 (when I was 2 years old) that Francis A. Schaeffer’s book (with that interrogative as a portion of its title) was published.  Though somewhat out of context and redefined, it is the question on my mind today.  It’s easy to say we are supposed to live soberly, righteously, godly in this present world (Titus 2:12).  It’s simpler still to say, “Follow me like I am following Christ” (1^st Corinthians 11:1).  But, let’s get really specific.  Specifics are powerful.  Ideals and examples are wonderful in their place, but direct and precise commands are sometimes the best of all – and the least likely to be misinterpreted.

 

Sometimes “sermons” come to me unexpectedly.  This happened last evening.  While watching my four children, trying to clean house (I try, my wife succeeds), doing laundry, helping Kayla study and wandering around the house (trying to remember why I came into each particular room when I got there)… I began meditating upon the uniqueness of the manner of life that our Lord lived.  Some words arose seemingly spontaneously (I trust it was the Spirit) from my recollections of the gospel accounts of Christ’s biography.  The words were as follows: solitude, simplicity, service, spirituality and steadfastness. 

 

Normally, I have to strive to create an alliterated outline, but this one just arose in a few brief minutes of reflection.  Not having my study materials with me (my computer), I used my Motorola Q9 telephone to record my thoughts before I forgot them (isn’t technology grand). 

 

Here is an expanded version of what I put down (I added the verses this morning so I could preach it at a couple of nursing homes in Cambridge, MD today).      

 

1. Solitude – Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness at the outset of His ministry.  He sometimes arose early to separate Himself from the crowds for morning prayers.  He even went off alone late nights for periods of solitary fellowship with the Father (though friends were actually readily available, like in the garden).  His periodic self-inflicted seclusion was not inconsequential!

     Illustrative verse: Matthew 14:23, “When He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone.”

 

2. Simplicity – Imagine the wardrobe of the Master: it’s difficult to visualize it being extravagant.  His occupation was simple.  He frequently used other people’s things rather than maintaining a horde of personal possessions.  Even His lodging arrangements demonstrated a “bare bones” minimum of earthly trappings and distractions.

     Illustrative verse:  Matthew 8:20, “Jesus said, ‘The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.’”

 

3. Service – He was constantly teaching, healing, caring and giving of Himself to those around Him.  Even at the end we find Him serving His own disciples as He girded Himself with a towel and washed their feet.

     Illustrative verse:  Acts 10:38, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.”

 

4. Spirituality – My, how obvious and easy are the mental images of Christ in prayer, in worship of the Father, in demonstration of the Spirit’s power, in expressions of perfect faith, in declarations of the unadulterated truth, in demonstrations of genuine humility and even in the practice the high and holy task of evangelism.

     Illustrative verse:  Luke 4:1, “Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit…”

 

5. Steadfastness – Did Jesus ever face resistance?  Constantly!  Did He endure the failures of His pupils?  Indeed!  Wasn’t He harassed, mishandled, misrepresented, persecuted, lied about and doubted at every turn?  Yet His intense concentration and commitment to His purpose is an example to all of us.  He was the personification of consistency and faithfulness.

     Illustrative verse:  John 19:4, “Pilate therefore went forth again, and said unto them, ‘Behold, I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.’”

 

We just make too many excuses – that’s our problem.  We blame culture, necessity, habit, experience, taste, etc., etc., etc…  Yet, the truth is that we are just too shallow and immature as believers to attempt the life that Jesus lived.  We… (or, less overtly didactic) I… I love my social status, my scheduled busyness, my hedonistic self-indulgences, my material existence and my freedom from demanding entanglements. 

 

More plainly?  OK!  What options do we normally choose…

·         Solitude for meditation, or constant social distractions…

·         Simplicity in life, or extravagance and excess…

·         Service to others, or looking out for #1…

·         Spiritual discipline, or materialistic satisfaction…

·         Steadfastness in the face of difficulty, or easy outs and gentler options…

 

Christ did not come just to give us eternal life.  He came also to show us how to live the abundant life.  He said, “You seek first My kingdom and let Me add [the] other things into your life.”  He never said, “Seek the other things and maybe you’ll stumble into godliness along the way, if it fit’s into your jammed schedule.”  He didn’t (and doesn’t) demand anything from us that He didn’t live out first. 

 

Through solitude, Jesus allowed His communion with the Father to be the most prominent, predominant, preeminent and prerequisite priority in His daily existence.  I say prerequisite because I believe that it was solitude that was the foundation upon which His ministry to the multitude was established.  He walked with the Father alone and learned obedience (Hebrews 5:8) and was therefore overflowing with wisdom, discernment, power and sincerity as he moved among the masses.  We should follow His example.  Getting into the proverbial (or literal) prayer closet daily (or more frequently) will establish the roots of clarity and boldness from which the branches of ministry can extend from our life.  Get alone with God.  Just you and Him, often!  He wants it: you and I need it.  

 

In simplicity Jesus avoided the vision impairing distractions of the cumbered life.  Martha was busy.  Peter had grand ideas.  Others too were caught up in hustle and bustle.  The acquiring, organization and maintenance of many things (though they may be good) can easily eclipse the truly valuable aspects of our existence.  Think of the acronym KISS – keep It Simple, Stupid.  Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!  We wealthy, educated, informed, enlightened, “with it” affluent Americans (or Canadians, Europeans, etc., perhaps) think we have to have one of everything and more than one of most things.  How is your closet, cupboard, china cabinet, drawers, bookshelves, garage, attic, shed, gun rack, pantry, electronics collection, appliance list, tool box, etc… and mine? 

 

What ever happened to the philosophy of John Baptist in Luke 3:11, “He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has meat, let him do likewise.”  Only greed would motivate us to explain away John’s sermon with dispensational theology.  Not only would the needy benefit from such practice, but we (as givers) would also greatly benefit from a less encumbered and complex way of life.  I think of Paul who said, “This ONE THING I do…”  We would do well to find a way to make this our motto.

 

Well, I went to seed on the fist two, so I’ll just fire of three final shots and conclude…

 

Service to others, not to ourselves – this is how Chirst lived; it’s how we should live also.

 

Absolute dependence upon the Spirit and a complete yeildedness to His control – Messiah did it and so can we.

 

Faithfulness!  He did it; by God’s grace, so can (and should) you and I.

 

How closely does your life and mine resemble the Savior’s.  We claim to follow Him, yet we emulate the Devil more often than not…

 

Practice solitude…

Learn to simplify…

Willingly serve…

Be spiritual…

Demonstrate steadfastness…

 

If I can do these things, life around me is bound to change and effectiveness in ministry will surely increase.  These are high and lofty goals, but no surprise… the Master set the example.  You and I should expect His standard to be perfect, right? 

 

So then, that's how we should live.

 

 

“The Pleasantness of Being Pardoned”

Yesterday having been Halloween, and, more significantly, Tuesday being Election Day – one might expect me to write about something scary; something frightening; something appalling or wicked.  But Halloween carries the same weight of significance in my mind as… say… the color of my socks when I’m wearing cowboy boots.  And, Election Day… well, I get indigestion thinking about all of the mask wearing politicians out there and what the truth behind the mask might be.  So, I’m going in a different direction today.  I’m thinking (and writing) about forgiveness. 

Forgiveness: What is it?  How do we get it?  Why do we want it?  What if it isn’t available?

Answering the “whats” and “how” is fairly simple.  However, the “why” drives me into deeper reflection.

Forgiveness defined:

Forgive =

1.  to stop being angry about something: to stop resenting somebody or somebody’s behavior 

2.  to pardon: to excuse somebody for a mistake, misunderstanding, wrongdoing, or an inappropriateness 

3.  to cancel an obligation, such as a debt 

      [Old English forgiefan , literally “to abstain from giving.” The underlying idea is of giving up resentment or a claim.][1]

Basically the idea behind the word is summed up in the following description (by statement) of a hypothetical man’s attitude: “While I have every reason & right to be angry with you, and while I have justifiable cause and perhaps the power to demand and require retribution… I willingly and cheerfully wipe away your debt to me.  You owe me nothing.  Come, let’s go get some ice cream together – I’m buying.”  OK, maybe I’ve added a few unnecessary riders into that expression of forgiveness; however, I think those extra reassuring phrases reflect what we are seeking for when we sincerely ask for forgiveness. 

I suppose the passage that makes this reality most obvious to me is Matthew 6:12, wherein we are instructed to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”  How do I want God to forgive me?  What do I want that transaction to look like?  What are some of the elements of such forgiveness that I desire? 

1.       Genuine empathy for my predicament.

2.       No current or future retribution.

3.       Immediate and unconditional absolution.

4.       Restoration of cordiality.

5.       Assistance with avoiding relapse.

I trow that if you will read and read that list, look up some of those words and meditate upon your own infractions, guilt and redemption… you too will realize that there is a deeper hunger that causes our interest in being forgiven. 

Perhaps it is the hunger for uninhibited, unhindered, unfettered honesty and intimacy in a friendship that brings forgiveness to such a place of prominence in the heart.  When I offend or injure someone and they readily forgive me, (as a result) I tend to feel that I must indeed have value and worth to that person; that they judge our bond to be of greater importance to them that whatever pain I have caused.  To me, I perceive that brand of exculpation to be a profound compliment!

Now, it is easy to see how this functions in our relationship with God.  We come to Him with our messes and ask, not only for mercy, but also for grace and restoration.  What we loose track of, however, is that our horizontal relationships demand the same kind of lavish attention.  My wife, children, family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and casual contacts can benefit from the likeminded expressions of pity comparable to that which God grants to me.

Is this a new concept?  Hardly!  Remember Ephesians 4:32, “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.”  It doesn’t get any plainer that that, unless perhaps you want to read a more detailed account of just how perfectly we are forgiven:

Colossian 2:13-15, “You, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

Tell me that doesn’t make you want to shout.  He forgave you while you were yet unimproved.  All you had (eventually, in fact) was the desire to be forgiven, and that was only a result of His instruction and influence. 

What if we aggressively pursued opportunities to forgive our fellow men as God pursued reconciliation with us?  But no!  We sit back in pious self-delusion and pretend that we have always been wholesome, honest, noble, diligent, generous and holy.  We shake our heads at those who offend us and hypocritically deride their flaws as if we have never been that low.  What a shame!

I crave forgiveness, therefore I should grant it.  We should be eager to forgive.  Understanding how much being forgiven means to us should motivate us to divvy it out to others (who are also unworthy) with abundant grace ourselves.  Of course, I am well aware of the necessity of their desire to be forgiven too, but I’m focused today on your responsibility (and mine) to be fervently pro-active in the process, even as God was toward us.  Remember?

__________________________

Ah, perhaps you are so tough and independent that you don’t care one way or the other if people forgive you when you do wrong.  I say that it is only a hard, calloused and hopeless soul that looks with disdain and disregard at an offer for forgiveness.  Worse still, it is an arrogant and ignorant blindness that portends never to be wrong in the first place; never to be in need of forgiveness.

“The Triumph of Peggy Davenport”

Early this morning after a brief conversation that my wife had on the phone with Peggy’s Mom, I sent out the following e-mail to our prayer chain head:

“Peggy Davenport was healed forever this morning at 3:49. She is home with her Savior and her beloved Lloyd. She is now perfectly blessed, highly favored & in heaven.

Pray for Mike and Pat.

We who love Peggy will miss her deeply, yet we celebrate her triumph at last. Praise the Lord, Peggy can dance now...”

I have only known Peggy for three years, but oh what an affect she has had on me. 

There are so many things to say that I could write all day.  But I’ll attempt restraint…

When I came into the office this morning, I got down the framed copy of a Poem written about Peggy nearly 3 years ago.  Here it is…

“Highly Favored and Heaven Bound” (Peggy’s Psalm)

I see you’re staring at me and wondering what sins I did in my life.

Why do I suffer and slowly mend with pain and all this strife?

You don’t see the big picture, about God’s love and all the blessing around.

For I know I’m blessed, highly favored and Heaven bound.

 

You, too, can have the precious gift from above.

All you need is repent your sins to receive God’s love.

His favor is a blessing; your soul it will fill.

His love is everlasting and it changes your will.

Come to Him now my friend; your lost soul will be found.

You, too, will know the feeling of being blessed, highly favored and Heaven bound.

 

So while you stare at me, I ask you to just pray:

“Lord, please forgive my sins, wash me clean today.

You shed your blood for my sin and I believe

Your love and passion my soul it will never leave.”

Be quiet now and listen to His awesome sound

You are truly blessed, highly favored and Heaven Bound.

Author: Mike Blades 2/19/06

Last Thursday when I sang “You are my Sunshine” to her and with her, I had no idea it would be the last song that I would get to sing with her on this side of heaven.  I remember singing the line, “Please, don’t take my sunshine away…” and feeling a mysterious seriousness about that phrase.  Yet, though Peggy has been declining for a while now, I had no reason to think she would be gone within a week; no reason to think that part of our sunshine would be taken from us so suddenly.

For those of you who are reading this and know Peggy, you need no explanation for anything I’m writing, but for some of you, who do not know her, let me introduce a friend of mine to you.

I have customarily visited Peggy at the Pines (nursing home) on Thursday mornings of most weeks.  I have visited her because I wanted to, and I needed to.  Peggy had a magnetism that was strong and peculiar; a way of causing an attachment that was unique and precious. 

Though still relatively young (50, I think), compared to most of her neighbors in the Pines, Peggy had suffered greatly for a long time.  Not even considering the many heartaches and struggles that she endured prior to “the accident” that took her husband Lloyd from her, Peggy was a modern day Job.  Peggy’s legs were hopelessly crushed in that accident.  Peggy’s ability to take care of herself physically was virtually nonexistent.  Her short term memory was just not there.  She struggled to communicate verbally, but oh, when she got her point across – it was always rich.  And when she smiled, she was still truly beautiful.

When I got the news Saturday that she had pneumonia and was being transferred to the hospital, I was concerned, but really not surprised.  She had many health problems.  I assumed this would be a temporary setback.  When I realized Sunday that she was in very grave danger, I was overcome with a hollowness and heaviness that I couldn’t bear.  Thankfully God used her parents to comfort my spirit.  I went to see them Sunday night to get help.  Being Mike and Pat’s pastor, I should have been there to encourage them and bolster their strength, but that wasn’t why I was there.  As I heard Peggy’s voice in my head, “I miss Lloyd” (as she said every time I visited her), I was overcome with the realization that perhaps God would soon be granting Peggy her heart’s desire.  While I was immediately thrilled for her; I was broken for myself and for those many around me who depend on Peggy for frequent reality checks and sincere companionship.

Well, to skip ahead, she’s gone.  I wish for my sake (and for the sake of her other family and friends) that she had recovered and returned to her home in the Pines.  However, for her sake, I’m so glad she is finally free from pain and struggles.

We named our weekly GBC radio program after part of Peggy’s habitual greeting, “Highly Favored & Heaven Bound.”  When I asked her how she was doing, she nearly always greeted me with, “I’m blessed, highly favored and heav