Walking with Jesus Christ

This weekend our team at SouthernCare is walking in the Relay For Life against cancer.  We are taking turns over the next twenty-four hours to walk around after asking people to donate money toward this worthy and noble cause.  Within our family we have lost several people to cancer.  This morning Vicki and I went to help set up our tent with the theme, "Freedom from Cancer."  We will wear patriotic red, white, and blue and have decorated our tent with American flags and bunting. 

Walkers will take the track at 10:30 today and walk for two days.  Most will walk side by side with friends, family, and co-workers and talk and laugh as each step brings us closer to the end of the event.  Vicki and I will get there tomorrow at 7 AM and walk for three hours and then finish, pack up the tent and tables and go home.  The walk-a-thon will be over for another year.   

The walk of a Christian never ends.  Jesus tells us to follow him.  I am sure tonight there will be huge flood lights to light up the way so we do not stumble.  The picture in the Bible of God's Word as a lamp and light is much smaller and equally less  bright.  The Word of God gives enough light to take a step at a time and faith in God is there to keep us moving.  I do not think we are told to follow Jesus by walking beside him, but to follow in his footsteps.  Let me give you a picture why.

A father and son go hunting into the woods after a moderate snowfall.  A man can walk through it but a small boy will struggle against the drifted snow.  As he walks with his father he decides to step into his dad's footsteps and finds the trek easier.  Also, the dad knows his son can not keep up the pace and shortens his stride and again the boy finds it easier.  A wise father helps his child to complete the journey.

If we walk in the strides of Jesus, in his footsteps, we find the walk of a Christian easier than when we go our own way.  Jesus has laid out the path  to follow and we have the Word of God for illumination to continue is the process. 

A Love Story For A Lifetime

Saturday I will attend a funeral visitation for a man whose life truly reflects the biblical concept of marriage.  He and his wife were married for seventy two years.  It all started many years ago when a young man and woman met, fell in love, and married just before her high school graduation.  He was destined for military action overseas during World War II and they wanted to be married before his departure.  She would live with her parents for three years, receiving maybe one letter a month from her new husband.  Today, the military are able to call and view families thousands of miles away--but not this couple. 

Their love continue after he returned, and he enrolled in school and she went to work. They were blessed with two sons and a promising career in education.  He would work with children who did not have loving homes and still to this time, former children now in their sixties would seek both of them out for the love and attention they had given to them decades ago.

When she asked him if they should renew their vows on their 50th anniversary, he said no.  His reasoning was they had worked the first time and indeed they did.  This couple struggled together in the loss of one son, medical issues for her early in their marriage and for him in the final years.   I was amazed hearing the stories of faith in God, trust in each other, and a conviction to help those in need.  Where did this come from?  It came from their total faith in God and his Son, Jesus Christ. 

I would not be doing the service, but if I had been asked, I would speak of how this marriage had been an influence on others these past years.  It was modeled after Jesus' love for his bride, the Church.  Jesus will one day come to his bride and they will live together for eternity.  There marriage revealed a trust in God even with the loss of a child.  They had taken the words of Christ of loving your neighbor by tenderly caring for other children.  They still held hands in the facility and she would feed him.  They lived the vows given seventy two years ago "in sickness and in health...". 

When he passed away, she was right beside him.  We had prayer last week and she and I were both supported by our faith of the resurrection.  He is no longer here and while she awaits for her Savior in the time to come, if will be with both sadness and thankfulness.  Even her own mother had told her there was not a finer man on this earth. 

A few years ago the book and movie Love Story featured a couple where the wife died and the husband reconciled with his father with the line, "Love is never having to say your sorry."  This love story was for a lifetime, but for the believer in Jesus Christ, our love story is forever. 

Mentzer's Moments: Mentzer's Moments: High Flying Adventures Availabl...

Mentzer's Moments: Mentzer's Moments: High Flying Adventures Availabl...: "Mentzer's Moments: High Flying Adventures Available : 'I have a Christian brother who is a commercial pilot for executive jets. He flies all..."

Mentzer's Moments: High Flying Adventures Available

Mentzer's Moments: High Flying Adventures Available: "I have a Christian brother who is a commercial pilot for executive jets. He flies all over the world and I have offered to be a corporate c..."

High Flying Adventures Available

I have a Christian brother who is a commercial pilot for executive jets.  He flies all over the world and I have offered to be a corporate chaplain if his company ever needs.  I did tell him I could not be his RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) but would rather sit in the plush cabin sipping on a glass of iced tea and enjoying the view.  I am not afraid of flying.  What I am really afraid of is a immediate deceleration resulting in a vertical descent and a sudden and abrupt landing.  In other words, I am afraid of crashing. 

A few years ago attending a seminar in New Orleans I was joined by my wife, Vicki.  She had never flown before and was very agitated.  One time after hearing a noise, she grabbed my arm asking me what happened.  I told her since we had not even left the gate the baggage handlers had just shut the cargo door.  Each sound, bump, and movement of the plane brought more and more questions from my wife. 

There are many people who enjoy flying.  I love the train and this was how I got back and forth from college in New England to Virginia where I lived.  The gentle and swaying motion of the coach car would relax me and I would sleep during the thirteen hour trip.  I have eaten at a dining room table on the train and slept in my bed on a train.  However you choose to travel there are both good and bad points to consider.

Isaiah 40:29-31says "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

The entire chapter deals with a comparison of a powerful God to powerless idols, nations, and rulers.  While they have ultimately no abilities in comparison to our heavenly Father, He even calls forth the stars by name and none ever goes missing.  A comparison of God to a shepherd who loves and tends his flock with love shows him carrying a lamb close to his heart and being gentle in moving his sheep. 

So, if I really want to soar high like an eagle, then I place my daily and eternal hope in God.  I don't need to worry for my daily bread and I need not get frustrated by rising gas prices, illness in my family, or even death.  My hope is based not upon a human leader nor this wonderful country.  My hope is in a place I know waits for me because Jesus said he is coming back for me.  Until that time I can soar on eagle's wings. 

My friends soars on high priced wings manufactured by man which will one day rust away.  My wings are God made, installed, and supported and I am just waiting for the next warm air stream to lift me above the problems of this life and carry me along the way.   

What is Fair or Reasonable?

In the Drudge report an article says this administration's justice department is going after Starbucks for firing a dwarf in 2009 as a violation of the American with Disabilities Act.  The suit is about a dwarf (or whatever the nomenclature of the decade is for groups because we must be fair in what we call people) female who was fired after three days of training and asking for a stool to do her job.  Those kiosks seem too small with several people moving about to add a piece of furniture to satisfy the "reasonable" part of the ADA.  In a touch of irony, the Starbucks company offered coffee to those who would join the Obama volunteer program after his election.  Do you wonder if they at Starbucks corporate think this is fair or reasonable?

Years ago I was asked to design a pizza restaurant for a guy wanting to build his own  business.  The salesman had designed a plan and offered to supply him with all of the equipment he would need for a price.  Some price!  The salesman did not ask the man who was going to do most of the cooking and of course it was the young owner who was left-handed.  We designed the restaurant with a left-flow, changing doors and equipment which would fit him  I am sure if he built it his other employees would get rattled working backwards as most places are designed for a right flow.  Would that be unfair?  It was his investment and his sweat which would cause this company to succeed.  I guess the right-handed employees could say it wasn't fair. 

Most of the time we have heard something wasn't fair from a child complaining about their sibling.  "Why does he get to do ______________ (fill in the blank). That's not fair!"  We may have groaned when a teacher gave us a pop quiz and because we had not kept up with our studies we decry, "That's not fair!"  Fairness usually comes from those who have no power demanding equal status or results.  The problem is that LIFE IS NOT FAIR.  Sorry to bust your bubbles.

God is not FAIR either.  No he is not fair because fairness is relative and changing and God does not change.  He is righteous.  He is just.  He is holy, but he is NOT FAIR!  Praise God.  Since fairness is usually in an other's eye, if he was fair he would be weak and powerless.  He would do things to please others, such as a governmental agency trying to make all things the same.  Since God is righteous, he will always do what is right, not according to our eyes, values, and desires but his.  We might think it would be fair to just say something like, "Everyone sins so God, just erase our sins and we can start over from here."  However, this is impossible to eradicate sin without the payment of blood.  Therefore he offered his son.  Could you imagine Jesus saying in the Garden, "God, this isn't fair.  I really want to re-think this issue and get back to you with a new list of options." 

I am glad God is not fair.  I could never count on salvation because God might change his mind if I didn't keep up my end of the bargin.  I could never trust God because he might on a whim destroy me instead of love me.  I am glad God is faithful and not fair. 

The Political Contest and the Christian

As Americans we love contests and spend billions of dollars in their honor.  We wear shirts with the names of our teams and favorite players proudly as a testament of our commitment to them.  My teams bear the names such as Mountaineers, Red Sox, and Patriots.  I am certain no one in their offices knows me or worries about my commitment.  Once, I wore my New England Patriots hat and sweatshirt into the midst of Heinz Field when we beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Someone asked me if I was going to do this and I said, "A man of faith has no fear!"  After the game when some of the Steeler fans were feeling no pain as a result of beer, I did take it off.  A man of faith does have wisdom!

Another contest here in America comes every two and four years.  This is not the Olympics but the contest of politics.  Whether our team name is Democrat, Republican, Independent, Green, or even Independent, we spend billions of dollars and cover our cars with the name of our "quarterback" who we hope will lead this country.  We attend rallies and we then go to a place to cast a ballot for our "team". 

But for the Christian who happens to be also an American, we have another set of standards by which to operate.  We may have an R or a D after our name, but we certainly have the name Christ attached to us and his standards should supersede any party.  Paul says in Romans 13 "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established." . The authorities that exist have been established by God..."  He continues to tell us leaders are to punish those who do wrong and we should submit to them as a matter of conscience. 

Two people who decided not to run are Governor Huckabee and Donald Trump.  There were cheers and saddness for their decisions.  However Governor Huckabee said his decision came during the quiet of a prayerful search.  Our family prayers for our President to make right decisions even though we did not vote for him.  However, according to the same passage of Romans we are to give honor and respect to who it is due because they are God's servant. 

In the Old Testament the kings of Israel either followed after God or followed their own desires.  Both were given to God's nation for prosperity and punishment.  If we as political Christian's as Mike Huckabee and prayed, we might be able to vote according to God's wisdom.  However, when we seek only our interests, we will vote based upon our pocketbooks, our selfish desires of governmental entitlements, and the power and position of the governing party. 

When I was in seminary Jerry Falwell and others denounced Bill Clinton with a savageness which bothered me in light of Romans 13.  How do we as Americans balance God's word and our rights of political redress at the ballot box?  We do so in a matter which glorifies God.  We do not take part of the contest which seeks to destroy the person instead the disagreement of his policies.  We stand up for life--all life--the unborn and the elderly and all those in between.  We support these leaders by prayer and respect even when we disagree with them.  They are still God's servants.  Rebellion against them is a rebellion against God.  God knows who will win and if you believe he as already selected who will be in office, then we need to look why.  Is God going to punish us or prosper us?  Then we really need to pray. 

Our nation will continue to slide into being a country of no value unless we get our nation back to honoring God.  "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." 2 Chronicles 7:14-15