Every Season

Fall arrived in Minnesota on Wednesday morning; did you feel it? There was a coolness in the air at 55 degrees when I work up and I wondered; ‘what happened to summer?’

What happened to the “dog days of summer”; those days that last thru August, those days which typically observe the warmest summer temperatures? It seemed as though we went right from hot to cold in one week!

I realized that Cathy and I hadn’t been to the family cabin since the seventh of July and soon the nights would be too cold to warm up the lake enough to swim in!

As I laid in bed pondering what else I had not been able to get into my summer schedule, a verse from the Bible came to mind that reminded me that everything has its time; “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…” meaning that there is:  

 

                      A right time for birth and another for death,
                      A right time to plant and another to reap,
                      A right time to kill and another to heal,
                      A right time to destroy and another to construct,
                      A right time to cry and another to laugh,
                      A right time to lament and another to cheer,
                      A right time to make love and another to abstain,
                      A right time to embrace and another to part,
                      A right time to search and another to count your losses,
                      A right time to hold on and another to let go,
                      A right time to rip out and another to mend,
                      A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
                      A right time to love and another to hate,
                      A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

                                                                    (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 MSG)

 

That means everything has it’s season, including summer (and friends, and jobs, and houses, etc...)

 

Soon students will be back in school and stands will be filled on Friday night for football games; as well as on Saturdays (college) and Sundays (pro). In a very short while the mornings will be much colder and the leaves will start to change.

 

And, dare I say it; we will no longer need to cut the grass because it will be covered with snow. Ok, I’ll stop; the temperatures will still get up to the upper seventies this week and eighties by the weekend and nineties by next week so my rambling on this point may be somewhat premature!

 

But how do you handle the changes when they come; in all areas of your life, not just the weather? Do you spend the first portion living in regret for what is passing away?

 

A new season is coming ready or not. How will you respond to God’s invitation to take off and enjoy the new season in your life? Will you respond with excuses and complaints like you have all your life….

 

Or will you respond with admitting that something needed to change in your life and step out with your eyes fresh upon Him as you wait with joyful anticipation what is around the corner?

 

IT’S REALLY UP TO YOU…. 

 

"DIVE IN"; I say, and embrace the new season that has arrived! There is something new that is on the horizon! New adventures, new delights, new possibilities! And yes, even new problems and challenges that will drive us either further into our ‘pouting’ or closer to God as we anticipate His provision during this new season.

 

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.” (Daniel 2:20-21 NKJV)

 

New King James Version (NKJV)  The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People Let Me Tell You About My Best Friend…

Cathy and I were having a conversation as we were driving one day and at some point I responded or spoke in a way that hurt her. Tears came to her eyes as she said to me; “A friend would never treat me like that and if they did, I’m not sure that I would want to be their friend.”

 

And she was right, I had responded in a way that had not reflected of my love for her and I told her how sorry I was and asked her to forgive me.

 

It was one of those moments that take the grace of God to move past the emotions and onto the truth about how much we loved each other. It was one of those moments where ‘forks-in-the-roads’ are met with long term effects. And ponder she did at what she would do next. And my heart was broken. 

 

Proverbs 17:17 came to my mind which says; "A friend loves at all times." I prayed that she would hear my heart and understand what took place from how I intended it, not how it came across. I hadn't meant for my response to be taken in the way that it was. I had no intention of hurting her in any way, she was my friend; my best friend. And yet, she was hurt and no word from me would change what had taken place.

 

So, instead, I pleaded my case with God as we continued to drive home looking to His intervention. And He heard our cries and answered from heaven.

 

In the end, our friendship broke through and forgiveness was given, hands were grasped before we got home, and together we went forward. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 NKJV)

 

She is my best friend; we’ve been dating since March of 1980. There is no one else that I would rather spend time with. Yes, I love being with my children and grandchildren, our family, our, neighbors, as well as so many who cross our paths through ministry. But she is my best friend.

 

We boost each other up, we get silly, we help each other, we listen to each other, and cry, and laugh, and cheer for each other. We know each other’s dirt and imperfections and still we love each other. And to top it off, we have a lot of fun together.

 

Our life is filled with simple things and places that we both like to go. We both enjoy so many things like spending time in Bible study or in church or eating or hanging with our children and grandchildren or walking or exercising together or work around the house and cooking together and serving others together.

 

I love the way her hand fits in mine. I love to look out of the side of my eye and catch her sneaking a look at me; and then she smiles as she leans in and gives me a kiss. And, after all these years, I am still ravished by her.

 

She laughs at my jokes. She shares her last piece of chocolate with me. She likes hockey and enjoys watching hockey games with me; and she loves to sit and watch football with me. She likes the same foods; just not as hot (spicy) as I do. She seems to always know what I also would like to snack on.

 

She looks for items, clothing, books, and when she gives them to me she says; “I thought of you…” 

 

She shares her faith with me and what she is reading and how she saw God today. She is right beside me, believing in me, cheering me on as together we trust that God will show us what’s next as we grow together. 

 

She encourages me and seems to understand me and will go to bat for me. She even takes notes when I preach and writes at the top of the page; “Pastor” Tom; she shows me respect. She honors me. And she thinks I’m cute. 

 

 

And, if I was lost, she would look for me.

 

 

God has truly given me a best friend. Through her He has shown me in practical ways what love really looks like. And I am overwhelmed.

 

 

Fail … big-time fail.

That’s what my local paper put as a headline for sports writer Bill Plaschke’s article on Michael Phelps. The local paper used the word “dismal” to describe Phelps’ fourth place finish. Fourth place “In the world”! He was competing in the Olympics! That is “dismal” and “failure”; really? 

The irony is that prior to the race, no one in the history of the Olympics has won more gold medals than Michael Phelps. Prior to the race, he had already won fourteen gold medals; thirteen of which he won in thirteen consecutive events! Four years ago he went eight for eight. And, if that weren’t enough to consider him a huge success story, prior to the race his 16 overall medals were two short of the Olympic record.

Three days later, Phelps won medals in two races and became the most decorated Olympian EVER by surpassing the former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina as the person with the most Olympic medals.

One week after the article was written, in the final race of his Olympic career, Phelps collected his eighteenth Olympic gold medal. His total for these Olympic Games was four golds and two silvers; which was more medals than any other swimmer; bringing the grand total of all of his Olympic metals to twenty two!

Immediately following the podium ceremony, Michael was honored with a special individual ceremony at which FINA president Julio Maglione presented Phelps with a silver trophy to recognize his achievements.

Not bad for a guy who one week earlier was considered to be a “dismal failure”. I wonder what the newspaper people thought one week later…

In light of this, what does it take to be successful? Do we have to win EVERYTHING that we enter? Does that mean we will win every contest, every drawing, every job application, and every test that we enter? Otherwise what will the next Michael Phelps have to do to be able to lose a race and still be considered great?

I think that we should applaud the fact that so many people give it their best and still don’t win. By showing up, they still did better than all of the “couch-potatoes” who are watching the events and complaining. Fans boo when a judge on “American Idol” or “America’s Got Talent” gives them a less than stellar remark.

Don’t get me wrong: I LIKE TO WIN! I have to guard my emotions when my team loses. This includes teams that I am cheering for as well as teams I am playing on. And I am NOT one of those people who believe that EVERYONE should get a “participation trophy”.

But something is wrong with setting up standards that define success as ‘everyone MUST win EVERYTHING they enter’; something we know is impossible! Can anyone (including Michael Phelps) really live up to that kind of standard? Can you imagine working each day under that kind of scrutiny? Most of us would be fired; or at least forced to quit as we failed to “bring home the gold” on every task given to us by our boss and our name is dragged through the media.

Even worse than that, it seems as though God’s job-security is sometimes determined by how well He comes through when we call out to Him. Does that mean God only keeps His job (as God) by answering ALL of our prayers immediately when we pray them and gives us exactly whatever we ask of Him? Does God need to “bring home the gold” on every task that we give to Him to do for us?

Could it be that maybe the world doesn’t run by our standards? Could it be that (perhaps) we are not in control of all that we see and we don’t have the final story? In other words you may be judging what God is doing “one-week” early as you journal to your world how things turn out when you prayed..

Psalm 115:3 says that; “But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases”.

Psalm 135:5-6 “For I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places.”

Some things we just need to leave in God’s hands and trust that He will come through for us; even if it is one week later. After all, it was on the third day that He rose from the dead; and that turned out pretty great for those who will believe!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, ² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.³ For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received:  that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. ⁶ After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. ⁷ After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. ⁸ Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”     (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

CHAMPIONS ARE MADE WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING.

I love to watch football; both college and professional. Actually, Cathy and I still enjoy watching the local High School games even after our children have graduated and no longer attend or play football.

My two teams are THE Ohio State Buckeyes and The Dallas Cowboys. My dad grew up in Ohio; so I was raised in Minnesota cheering for the Buckeyes and the Minnesota Gophers. I watched the Minnesota Vikings lose 2 years in a row in the SuperBowl and so I went to another team. What can I say; Tom Landry and Roger Staubach made me a better offer; they understood that the goal at the end of the season was to win it all. We will have to wait until January to see how far the Cowboys and the Buckeyes go.  

A young football player was working out in the gym last night. He had on a shirt that said; “Champions Are Made When No one is Watching” I like that. In fact, it is one of the qualities that I like in the Cowboys and the Buckeyes. They understand that what goes on during the off season, in the gym, and everywhere there is no presence of fans or the media, will affect what happens when the lights turn on and it is their time to shine.

Successful teams understand this. “Hall-of-Fame” athletes understand this. What we do in the secret places affects what we do in public spot light. As I searched the web for photos of athletes working out when no one was looking, I couldn’t find any. All of the photos seemed to be of when they scored a goal or caught a pass or blocked a shot. Very few photos of “Rocky Balboa” athletes who are running or lifting weights all alone; athletes going through the daily rituals that separate the champions from the rest of us. Very few photos of athletes putting in the time it takes to become a champion.

Why? Because we are a society that loves to be seen and heard by everyone, and everywhere instantaneously…so much for our “fifteen minutes of fame”, Mr. Warhol. We want the attention but don’t seem willing to put in the time and the effort. We want the gain without the pain. We want the rings and trophies without shedding any blood or sweat or tears.And because we don’t think that what we do in private makes any difference at all as to how it affects what we do in public. It does; both good and bad. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he also will reap.” (Galatians 6:7.) 

I like to tell you that this doesn’t happen in the church; but it does. Christians; like everyone else, seem to search for the spot light. This was one of the things that seemed to bother Jesus about the Pharisees: they loved to be seen by men when they did religious acts such as praying or giving money. “Woe to you, Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and greetings in the markets.” (Luke 11:43).

Jesus said; “Take heed that you do not do your merciful deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in Heaven. 2 Therefore when you do your merciful deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.” (Matthew 6:1-2)

CHAMPIONS ARE MADE WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING. Spiritual champions; like athletes, don’t just happen. What we do in the secret places affects what we do in public spot light. Jesus goes on to say that we should spend time in fellowship with God alone, by ourselves, away from the crowds. Private time with the God who made us.

“But when you do merciful deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does, 4 so that your merciful deeds may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret Himself shall reward you openly." (Matthew 6:3-4)

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.” (Matthew 6:5)

“But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. But when you pray, do not babble vain words, as the nations. For they think that in their much speaking they shall be heard." (Matthew 6:6-7)

“And when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, of a sad face. For they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, They have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to fast, but to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:16-18)

TRUE CHAMPIONS ARE MADE
WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING.

Rise up.

Take the challenge to be a champion.

The world is waiting for you.

 “Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest you be weary and faint in your minds. 4 You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” (Hebrews 12:1-4)