The Good Samaritan

It is so hard to remember that, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). We need to be reminded of this fact all the time. It is a lesson that keeps eluding us because it goes against everything in human nature.

Somehow, there is a subtle, sneaky way our minds work to create an inner attitude that says it's better to be a "receiver" than a giver. This certainly not a new idea. It's as old as self-centeredness, which means that it's as old as humanity itself. And, of course, the world around us blasts us with the same message every hour of everyday. It is taken for granted by most people that whatever brings pleasure or possessions to them is automatically good. But contradicting all that is the "obvious." Jesus says: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

You know? I truly believe the Good Samaritan was a very happy man. He was a "giver." As a Samaritan, he was hated and despised and considered "inferior" by the Jews of his day. But when a Jew who had been mugged and robbed was found lying by the side of the road in a pool of his own blood, it was the despised Samaritan who came to his rescue.

Two Jewish leaders passed by this badly injured man before the Good Samaritan arrived. But they were to preoccupied with their religious responsibilities to stop and help this dying man. Besides, the mugged man was a pathetic and disturbing sight. And this was a dangerous, high-crime area. The only prudent thing to do was to keep on moving and get out of there as quickly as possible.

But the Samaritan had a deeper urge than prudence. Ignoring his own personal safety, he poured wine on the open wounds of the injured man. He then soothed the pain with oil and covered the wounds with cloth, probably torn from his own garments. The Samaritan was covered with grime and blood as he lifted the man onto his donkey. Holding the man on the donkey, he walked along side him to the nearest inn, where he stayed and ministered to him through the night. In the morning, he paid for the man's expenses and left only after promising to pay for any further expenses that might be incurred (Luke 10:30-35).

What a beautiful morning it must have been to the Samaritan. I'm sure there must have been a peaceful look on his face as he rode along. Sure, he'd blown his "schedule" by making this unplanned stop. But the Good Samaritan was not behind schedule. He was right on schedule. He was right on time.

Somewhere, somehow, sometime this "outcast" Samaritan had discovered that "joy was an inside job." He had learned and remembered one of life's most vital and most elusive truths: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

Modern Day Atlas

The other night I awoke about two A.M. Couldn't sleep. My mind was spinning. I was mulling over all the problems of the church, all the problems the people were facing in their personal lives, all the things I should have done already, and all the things I still needed to do, all the annoying little things that people do and say. All, all, all....no use. No sleep. I rolled from one side to the other, wrestled with my pillow, and kicked the covers. Finally somewhere around dawn, I dozed off just in time for the alarm to wake me up.

As I headed to the office I was still at it, thrashing away frantically at ALL! I gripped the steering wheel sternly. My chest felt tight. My body was taut. I was physically in the car and even managing to drive somehow, but my mind was all over the place. Here it was a lovely sunny day and I was trying to be a modern day Atlas. I was carrying the cares and concerns of MY world on my shoulders. I was a weary wooden warrior of worry.

Then a thought hit me. Hey! What are you trying to do run the universe? Remember you didn't create it and God didn't assign you the task! So stop trying to play Mr. Atlas. Do you think that God has no stake in YOUR world or in YOUR life? Do you think God is unaware of all these problems? After all, God has seen problems and people come and go. But the sun still rises in the East and sets in the West, and life still goes on . . . new problems and new people.

As I drove along, the bigger my thoughts about God became, and the smaller my problems became. Before I reached the office I was driving with one hand, leaning back in the seat, singing outloud, and enjoying the drive.

Many times we miss so much when we trust only in our own mind and muscle. Tell me the absolute truth: Are you enjoying this day? Or are you so wrapped up in self-pity, worry and feverish activity that you can not feel the sunshine, see the stars, hear the laughter of children, or know the presence of God?

Can I give you two words of advice? Stop it! Remember God has a stake in YOUR life. He wants you to relax and enjoy this day. And tonight, when you go to bed; say a prayer, put your head down on the pillow, and go to sleep. Peter said it this way, ". . . casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

God will take care of the universe while you are asleep. After all He has been doing it for a long long time.

The Test

A little over a year ago I went to my orthopedic doctor for a bum knee. We decided surgery was the best option. Because of other health issues I had to "be cleared" for surgery by my primary care doctor. She required an echocardiogram before she would "clear" me for surgery. Test results...not good. I was then told I needed to undergo the "Stress Test." After much discussion I agreed to the procedure. Test results...not good.

I was told I had a severe blockage in my arteries. I felt fine, with the exception of my knee, but my heart was a ticking time bomb. I never would have guessed it.

The stress test made the difference. After receiving the results I was in stunned silence. I couldn’t believe it. I was a little plump but not overweight. I played golf and basketball. I swam a little and took the stairs, sometimes, during hospital visits. I wasn’t the picture of perfect health, but heart disease? How could this happen to me?

Eventually, I accepted the truth and prepared myself for by-pass surgery. I used the word eventually, but this process lasted about one week. As I worked myself through this quagmire of disbelief, a spiritual message began to emerge.

The stress test made the difference. Our spiritual lives must be strong enough to face the stress test because the stresses of life will surely come; the stresses of loneliness, temptation, of rejection, fear of death, fear of life, of ruptured relationships, of sickness, of pain, and of disillusionment. These stresses can be just too much for a weak spiritual heart, but they are inevitable for all of us. We must all ultimately face the stress test of life no matter how easily and comfortably things seem to be riding along at the present.

Kind of like the guy in the Bible who knew that the storms would be coming, and therefore, built his house upon a rock. We too must build our own lives with the inescapable storms always in mind. The stress test is always on the horizon, and a phony faith will never pass the test. Remember, a person’s faith is no stronger than his hardest test.

The Apostle Paul was able to pass the stress test. Listen to him, “…I have learned how to be content in whatever circumstances I am in. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-12 NASB).

Are you ready for the stress test?

Road Trip Lessons

Well it’s been a while. Probably sometime around September of ’08 since I last wrote. I could offer all of the common excuses and reasons but honestly I just didn’t. I hope you will accept my apology and return often. You could even leave me a comment or two just to let me know you’ve been by.
This past January Karen and I took “the boys”: Justin, Samuel, Jathan, and Alex to what is lovingly called “the country.” Justin was looking for burial sites of his ancestors. He located some as far back as five generations. We slept at Grandpa and Grandma’s old place. We then ate breakfast with kinfolk at the Crossroads Café. It was a good trip for us all.
I learned a few lessons on that road trip. Most of them taught to me by my grandsons. Lessons like ranch dressing and ketchup mixed together makes a good dipping sauce for chicken nuggets. If you eat your ice cream first then you don’t have to eat extra dinner to get the sweet taste out of your mouth. Lastly, the stars in the sky burned out last year and their light is just now getting to earth so we can see it. Pivotal life changing lessons learned at the hands of two ten year olds and one six year old.
There was one other lesson I learned at the hands of my heavenly Father which stirred my heart. They, my children and my grandchildren, are my legacy. They are what I will leave behind. Who they are and what they become will be partly who I am. They will have habits and ways like their Dad and “Mets.” Some of my personality traits will show up in them. And small snippets of me will be prominent in their lives.
This brings me to the second part of the lesson. I am their heritage. Therefore, it is very important what I live before them for that is what they will inherit. The lessons I teach will help to mold them into the adult they will become.
My friend this is not just my lesson, but yours as well. Living a Godly life before those who come behind us will be the greatest inheritance we could leave. For our children and grandchildren to know that we loved and served Jesus would be a foundation upon which a great legacy could be built. Let’s be careful where our footsteps lead because someone is always following. God bless! Have a great week!


Pastor Mike

At the Savior's Feet

It has been said that life is a kitchen full of preparations that has a tendency to distract the "Martha" in all of us. It is my prayer that we come out of the kitchen for just a few minutes to sit at the Savior's feet.

Life always finds a way to keep us busy. Busy with good "things," even busy with necessary "things," but yet busy with "things" that keep us from the Savior. We become like Martha moving from task to task, meeting needs here and there, helping in any way possible. All the while hearing the words, "...you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed."

Jesus says something extraordinary about what Mary did; it would become a permanent part of her life; it would count for eternity. Quite a promise! "Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her."

That's why she understood what the disciples were slow to grasp. That's why when they were arguing over their greatness in the Kingdom, she was again at the Savior's feet. That's why she anointed Him with costly perfume. That's why she said with her tears...I love You and good-bye.

May we find ourselves at the Savior's feet. May each intimate moment spent with Him give us clear vision of who He is, and may we love Him a little more deeply than we did before we sat down.

I recently read of an event that happened a few years ago involving the Enterprise, a 90,000 ton nuclear powered aircraft carrier. It seems the carrier got stuck in the mud on its way into port in San Francisco Bay. The majestic 1,123 foot vessel with a crew of over 5,000 ran aground just over a thousand yards from shore.

Thousands of relatives and friends watched in disbelief as the great ship lurched to a complete halt and then refused to budge. Only a thousand yards from the carrier, people watched eagerly and helplessly as the tugboats were called in to drag the Enterprise from the sand bar. The tugs pushed and pulled in all directions. There was shouting of orders and much scurrying about. More tugboats were brought in to "gang up" on the huge ship. They tried everything. After five grueling hours, the ship was still stuck.

The crowd of relatives and friends on the dock looked on this spectacle with increasing frustration and anger. How could such a thing happen? Why couldn't they free the ship? Tension was mounting both on the ship and on the shore. Then, when everybody was at the end of their rope; when everything humanly possible had been done, help came from another source... the tide!

As the high tide began to gradually roll in, it lifted the huge ship right out of the mud where it had been stuck for hours, resisting all human effort to free it. The silent and powerful lift of the tide- with no help from man- solved the problem.

How many times do we find ourselves stuck in the mud and muck of life? We push and pull, we strain and struggle, we wrack our brains. Yet, despite all our mighty efforts, we are still stuck.

However, when God's spiritual tide comes in, we are powerfully and effortlessly lifted free to sail on again. There are times when we need to recall the words of Moses, "... stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord..." (Exodus 14:13). Maybe we need to remember the words penned by Zechariah, "... not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lords of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).

Lord, help me to quit struggling. Help me to learn to trust in Your tide.

Need a towel?

The Master Teacher once taught a lesson twenty-four feet long. His disciples had been jockeying for position and nursing their egos, and Jesus had devoted teaching time to this issue. Yet, even in the Upper Room on the eve of the cross, the little band was out of sorts. Quietly rising from the table, Jesus brought the murmurings to a halt by removing His outer garments- and began washing their feet; all twenty-four of them. This was a customary act of hospitality in biblical times, when transportation was by sandal clad feet along dusty roadways. Servants usually performed the task, but to the embarrassment of the Twelve, Jesus took that role upon Himself.

When He came to Peter, He met resistance. Was it shame, defiance, or pride? Only Peter and Jesus know for sure. But Jesus responded firmly, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” With typical rashness, Peter said, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus replied, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet to be completely clean” (John 13:8-10). Having finished the twenty-four feet, Jesus rose, replaced His robe, and resumed His seat at the head of the table.

The author Robert J. Morgan writes, “His words to Peter indicate there was more to His actions than met the foot. In one twenty-minute lesson, Jesus encapsulated His entire mission. This foot washing was a miniaturized version of His Passion. Just as a drop of water contains all the life of a pond, this one act of our Lord was a microcosm of His whole ministry.”

What a mission it was! The Almighty Son, arrayed in splendor, rose from His heavenly place, laid aside His garments of glory, took the form of a servant, descended to Earth, and humbly cleansed His squabbling, sinful children. He washes us from soul-destroying sin (head, hands, and heart) as well as from the daily “dust on our feet” that can strain our fellowship with God. Then He arose, replaced His regalia, and resumed His place of honor on heaven’s throne.
The Teacher’s lesson- our daily acts of humility, washing one another’s feet- not only reflect His loving heart; they emulate His redemptive mission. “I have given you an example,” He said, “that you should do as I have done to you” (John 8:15).

Need a towel?