Tag Archives: brotherly love

Don’t Forget To Be Human

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As a Pastor I interact with many people of all kinds, shapes and sizes.  There is one thing that people are looking for.  They are looking for people to be real.  A little boy was scared in a thunder and lightening storm.  He went into his parents room and asked to sleep with them.  His mother said no and told him to go to bed in his own room.  A little while later the boy called to his mother for mercy and asked once again to sleep with his parents.  His mother said no.  He again asked; but, this time he asked her to come sleep with him.  She said no because she had to sleep with the boy’s daddy.  The boy said under his breath, “Chicken!”  He was speaking of his dad.  Again the boy tried to get his mother to come sleep with him in his hour of terror.  The mother tried to comfort him by telling him that Jesus is with him.  The boy replied, “But Mom, I need somebody with skin on.”

This idea came to me after reading a photography article.  You can read the article from Digital Photography School here.

When we deal with people they just want us to be real.  There are enough fakes in this world.  It does not matter what it is there are fakes.  I mean, counterfit money are everywhere it seems.  The news is filled with police impersonators, physician impersonators and the list goes on.

When we talk to people they know if we are being real or just spinning them a line.  So, when we deal with people we must be who we are and if we cannot answer all their questions then we need to say so.  Then we need to find the answer and get back to them.  I am guilty of forgetting as I get older to get back with people.  I will be working on something and get an answer and then I cannot remember who I am supposed to tell.

Jesus was real with people.  When He confronted the woman at the well He shot straight with her.   If we are going to have an impact on people we must speak the truth to them.  They will know it.  Look at Ephesians 4:25, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”

So, how are you doing?

Falling Down And Getting Back Up

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I remember way back in Bible College writing a doctrinal paper titled, “Falling From Grace And Getting Back Up”.  This was the era when the help pendants and such were becoming popular with such as are adorned with silver hair.

Grace is God giving to us that which we do not deserve.  If we received just deserts then we would be in hell for all eternity.  Having said this, I want you to know that in my life I have been the target of so-called “saints” who believed that God Amazing Grace was too good for a wretch like me.  Such is life.  The truth is they are correct.  The truth is that God does not call the qualified; but, He qualifies the called.  When I got a handle on that.  Well, you can imagine.

When we know for sure a brother or sister has fallen we need to respond in a manner consistent with the Word of God.  Look at what He says about restoring the fallen in Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”  I thank God for restoration and God’s grace.

So, how are you doing?

Neighbor

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I have to admit that Veggie Tales videos are a mainstay in our house.  It is not that my wife or I cannot live without them.  Our son loves this series of videos.  We don’t mind as they do teach Bible principles (yes, we enjoy them too from time to time).

I was reminded of one of the songs that says, “I can be your friend…”  I was thinking.  The past couple days have been deeply trying in our house due to the high atmospheric pressure.  There have been many moments while struggles rage due to this fact of life that we have felt like the one on the road left for dead.

We have experienced the “religious elite” and their uselessness in helping us.  Most of the “religious” crowd just turn a deaf ear and look the other way down their wart covered nose because they do not want to get involved.  Or worse yet, lie about a circumstance to make it look worse than it really was so you can have the upper hand.

We have experienced the Christian worker that just does not know what to do.  I can understand this.  However, don’t just walk by on the other side like we don’t exist!  We have experienced the sting of this scenario more times than we would like to admit.

Then there is the one that nobody wants to associate with.  You see the Samaritan’s were only half Jews and were hated by both sides of their roots.  Yet, when a Jewish man was down on the road nearly beaten to death he is the one who stopped.  I believe that he stopped because he knew the sting of the scenario that had just taken place twice over.

Take a look at Luke 10:36, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?”  There are hurting families all throughout the Church and these families need someone to come along beside them and put an arm around them.  They need people who will pray for them and weep bitterly with them.  I know what it is like to sit with bitter tears burning down my cheeks and begging God for someone to come by that will stop.  Will you be a neighbor?

So, how are you doing?

Pressing On The Upward Way

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I find myself being drawn to people in the public that seem to have special needs.  I am sure that having a child with special needs has brought this about.  I am surprised at the number of people that look away or walk away.  What burns my biscuits are the insensitive people that stare like they are at some kind of a freak show.  If we are a big enough person we can learn from anyone.  Yes, even someone with special needs.  “Never ignore someone with a disability, You don’t realize how much they can inspire you!”  Author Unknown.

One thing we can learn is perseverance.  I see too many of us (myself included), that stop short or even quit.  There is a story of an autistic boy who was the manager of his basketball team.  In the forth quarter the coach gives him a jersey and puts him in the game.  This boy scored twenty (20) points.  He hit six (6) three point shots to bring in eighteen of the twenty points he scored.  The coach was trying to honor this boy for his faithfulness as the team’s manager.  Wow, did he get a surprise.

The one adjective that I think of when I think about this story is perseverance.  This boy stuck with his assignment and was greatly rewarded.  I like the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

The next time you see a person with special needs how about encouraging them to “press toward the mark” instead of looking down upon them because they appear to be different.

So, how are you doing?