Monthly Archives: September 2014

Foreigners in a strange land

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We arrived in South Korea after twenty hours of travel, including the exhausting 13 hour flight across Canada, Siberia and China. We found the Incheon Airport to be one of the most friendly and peaceful we have ever encountered. Actually most everyone in the Korean service industry were good ambassadors and very helpful and accommodating to us. Our son, Michael and his girlfriend Mia (Jeon Eun Gi) especially helped us adapt to our new surroundings.

 

If you have visited another country, you recognize you are a foreigner in a strange land, adjusting to a culture that is new to you with different foods, manners, language, and practices.
P1020398One of the places where we stayed was a traditional Korean guest house. The tiny room had no bed or chairs or closet. Instead of a bed, we are given floor mats/quilts to sleep on. It wasn’t the level of comfort we were accustomed to but the fact quickly came to mind that many in the world do not have even this.

 

Imagine if, while staying in the guesthouse for just three nights, we decided to tear out a wall and build an addition to make room for a bed and sofa and chairs for our lodging. You would consider it absurd to make such extravagant purchases for such a short visit. You’d say, “Bryan, remember where you belong. Invest your valuable resources in your permanent home.”   And you would be right.

 

In fact, we are all travelers and sojourners in a foreign land. This temporary place we call home is just a stopping place for each of us. We often fail to recognize this because it is all we know. And while we are here, we are called to be Christ’s ambassadors, seeking not our own pleasures, but instead motivated by the call to urge others to be reconciled with God. (2 Corinthians 5:20) Instead of fighting to assert our ‘rights’ as tourists seeking to make our surroundings more comfortable, we are actually called to put others first (Philippians 2:3-4). Each of us is an ambassador to those around us, especially those who think, talk, behave and believe differently from us.

 

I wonder what ‘strange and foreign lands’ you will encounter today. What different beliefs and actions will rise up against your own? What people will beg your welcoming accommodation? Will they see you as entrenched in this world or as a foreigner, an ambassador of Christ? Hold your ground and keep your behavior excellent among those around you…that they may see that your citizenship is really in heaven and because of your kindness and integrity, come to be reconciled with God.

 

“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:11-12

 

 

Remembering the day

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P1020820As different as we all are, one common denominator seems to exist: we all like photos. We take photos to capture a moment in time, a reunion, a celebration, or some other momentous occasion. Stitched together, these photos tell part of the story of our lives. Here, Marcia and I are preparing to enjoy a delicious Korean Snowflake Sherbet while celebrating a reunion with our youngest son Michael and his girlfriend Mia (Jeon Eun Gi) in South Korea. While the moment has passed and we are again thousands of miles apart, we will remember this moment with fondness. Even this one photo will stir up memories of many other enjoyable moments shared together during this trip.

 

If you want to honor someone you meet, ask to see their family photos. I remember when Nada, my Croatian housekeeper while I was at Mercy Hospital for two months, first commented on my display of family photos. When I asked if she had family photos, she eagerly ran to her locker to retrieve her purse so she could show me her family photos from her country. Though she spoke little English (and I spoke NO Croatian) a friendship bloomed…over a few photos.

 

Before I was medically retired, I used to post a small sign at eye level on the door of my office. I’d see it every time I left my office and gave it special notice when I left for the night. The sign simply read, “Capture the Kodak Moment.”  A throw back to the years when Kodak was king of photography, it reminded me to reflect on the value of the day that had just passed. It prompted me to take a moment to “take a photo” of the lessons I wanted to learn or something for which to give thanks. The intent of the cue was to make sure that the day would be remembered, not wasted.

 

Journaling these moments also helps to cement them into our memory. It is well-known that repeating something aloud helps you to remember it. Writing this down doubles your chance of being able to recall it later. Taking a (real or mental) picture of the moment will further embed the moment in your memory.  In this way you can amplify the impact of morning devotions by reading them aloud, writing down a few of the thoughts, and revisiting them later in the day adding your personal reflections on how your devotions impacted your day.

 

Minutes turn into hours and hours flow into days; days pass by into an endless stream of weeks and months and years. Don’t miss the opportunity to capture the ‘Kodak moments’ of your life and take note of the impact of God’s work in your life.

 

“Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.” Deuteronomy 32:7

 

 

 

 

Staying constant at the speed of change

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Remember the Rubik cube? You would turn and change all the faces of the cube in attempt to get it all into place. The best achievers could not only solve the puzzle but do it with great speed. Our world is kind of like that. The times, they ARE a changing… And quickly!

 

Of course, change is always upon us, but never before at such a break neck speed. The agricultural era revolutionized the ways people produced and harvested food over thousands of years. The industrial age revolutionized the way we produced things and made a living over a mere century or so. The service, technology, space, and information ages seem to have sprung on the heals of each other, demanding people to adjust their way of thinking and coping. The world can change far faster than most people realize. Only eight years ago, no one had a smartphone. You could not access the Internet from wireless mobile devices. Now we can’t escape them. (How many computer and phone systems have you had to learn in your lifetime?!)

 

Each of these revolutionary ages give us framework for understanding and relating to our world, where we are going in life, what we keep and what we let go – and the speed of change with which we must adapt.

 

We notice how things change but we don’t always notice how we change in the process of time. Politics has redrawn the maps of numerous countries in my lifetime. Technology has changed the way we view the world – and our neighbors. The advent of the internet and social media brings about the possibility for increased human interactions. At the same time it may be separating us from deeper connections. Moral standards are quietly redefined.

 

Some compare the speed of change to a snowball rolling downhill, gaining momentum until it threatens to bury us like an avalanche overcomes a sleeping village. Who can keep up with even the most rudimentary amount of information that flows past us every day? Who is succinctly aware of the changing landscape of acceptable moral living?

 

How do we keep our footing and stand firm in the midst of all this change?

 

We could turn to change management books or we can seek the counsel of others who have no more clue than us. We can even try to ignore the impact of change in our lives. But the only one who will shine a guiding light on our changing path is the one who never changes, the one solid rock that is the same now as in the beginning and will always be the same. Throughout the whirlwind of changing circumstances, God alone is constant. His faithfulness, love and compassion never change and never fail. He alone transcends time and He alone can guide us in our ever-changing journey. Seek His presence and find wisdom that holds you firm no matter what circumstances may change.

 

“I the Lord do not change!” Malachi 3:6

 

 

Watch your thoughts

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Guard your thoughts, they will become words.

 

Guard your words, they will become actions.

 

 

Guard your actions, they will become habits.

 

Guard your habits, they will become your character.

 

Guard your character, it will become your destiny.

 

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

 

 

Good neighbors

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One of our favorite TV shows of the seventies was the BBC program, Good Neighbors. It starred Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal as the Goods, the offbeat, back to nature neighbors of Margo and Jerry Leadbetter (played by Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington) who lived more ‘prestigious’ lives. Many humorous encounters presented ongoing conflicts between the two couples but they remained close friends, even if the Leadbetters often felt their neighbors were a bit off their rocker. We found the show hilarious at the time but more important, an example of valuing others who are different from us.

 

Do you know your neighbors? According to a study published this week in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, good neighbors are good for your heart.  Tracking the cardiovascular health of more than 5,000 seniors with no known heart problems over four years, they asked participants how much they felt a part of their neighborhood, if they had neighbors who would help them, whether they trusted people in the area and if their neighbors were friendly.

 

During the study period, 148 of the participants had a heart attack. Researchers found people who reported feeling more “social cohesion” were less at risk, suggesting your community matters in matters of the heart.  Having communities of friends may help people to participate in certain types of behaviors that protect against cardiovascular damage, according to the study.

 

Funny how science imitates scripture. A very long time ago, Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” In other words, strive to build community. One man responded to Jesus asking, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan who was more than ‘neighborly’ for an utter stranger, and a person of another race. So in fact, our neighbor may live across town, across the country, or across the world. Especially in this global community, we have many neighbors

 

Community matters, to God and apparently to your heart. What neighbors will you meet today who need your care?

 

A changed life – Caroline

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image“I just went through life feeling like something was missing,” says Caroline, recently baptized at Niddrie Community Church. “My biggest fear was death. And my only release was cannabis.”

 

But that has changed.

 

“I have realized that I need to repent and put my trust in Jesus. I knew he was the only one who could change my life.”

 

“I’m learning to deal with my anger. And death isn’t as scary as I thought it was. I can’t thank the Lord enough for saving me. And now I’ve found that thing that was missing: Jesus.”

 

GLOW is involved with ministries across the globe that are focused on being a light to help others discover God’s best for them: Hope and grace, and power for victorious living. Caroline’s life was influenced by workers with 20Schemes. 20Schemes is a ministry to the poorest of poor in Scotland who live in housing projects (schemes). Following the model showed us by Jesus, they make disciples who make disciples. Caroline has expressed interest in becoming a 20Schemes intern, working at the church office and plans to start a new access course at the Edinburgh Theological Seminary.

 

Would you pray for Caroline and countless other women in Scotland’s housing schemes who not only need to hear the gospel of Christ but be discipled and encouraged to live purposeful and joyful lives.  This is one way you can partner with GLOW to bring hope and fulfillment to people across the world.

 

 

Let go – let God

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A comedian once observed that “home is where you keep your stuff while you go and buy more stuff.” It’s a plague that affects not just the rich and famous; we all have too much stuff. Stuff crowds our lives and causes us to ask if we possess things or if they possess us.

 

Have you ever gone through your belongings and asked yourself, “Why have I held on to this for so long?”  Sometimes, we are reluctant to let go of the stuff that surrounds us. Like the monkey in it’s self-imposed trap, we cling to stuff we want only to find that it is the thing that possesses us. If you’ve ever thought, “I could never bear to part with ‘that'”, you know what I mean.

 

Sometimes it’s not things we cling to but relationships, feelings, and habits that have governed our past. We’re warned to “not let a bitter root grow up to cause trouble.” (Hebrews 12:15) But sometimes we cling to that bitterness, resentment, fear or other crippling emotion. Sometimes when things go wrong in our life, we clench our fists, desperately trying to hold onto things and control them. . . sometimes even things that hurt us and prevent us from experiencing peace and joy.

 

When you find your fists clenched (really or figuratively) it’s a good time to open your hands before God. We can only hold onto so much at one time. Let go of that which keeps you from experiencing God’s best for you. Let God replace it with His peace and contented joy.

 

An exercise you might find helpful when you pray is to hold your hands before you, palms down as you confess anything you are grasping that you need to let go in order to hold onto God’s peace.   Turn your hands palms up and feel your hands relax as you release your belongings and relationships and let God fill you with the grace and joy He freely offers you.

 

The position of our hands often determines the nature of our heart. Clenched hands seldom hold things of value. Open hands release that which is not really ours and frees us to receive all that God desires to put in them. Open hands are also free to hold onto God’s own hand as He seeks to reach out to us and lead us.

 

“I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear. I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

 

 

The greatest blessings

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Blessings Beyond Our Dreams (excerpts)
Jonathan Parnell – The Unwasted Life

 

“The biggest impact, as the spiel goes, comes from the biggest dreams, and therefore, if you want your life to really count, you need to broaden the horizons in your mind. Our deficiencies are mainly in our expectations, not our competencies. Think bigger. Invest your best in what yields the maximum payoff. And then, if really true to form, there will come a string of words like “greatness,” “leadership,” and “influence.”

 

“When it’s sincere and given the right qualifications, big-dream messages like this are wonderfully inspiring. We should seek to listen, to learn, to grow. And at the same time, when advice like this is at its worst, and when we are at our most naive, we’ll digest faux-Christian precepts as if they were Scripture and mistake the favor of God to be in all that’s new and flashy.

 

“And if we’re not careful, we’ll think that God mainly cares about us gaining followers and doing action, that mainly he just doesn’t want you to waste your energy on low-impact drivel. We’ll think that God’s real blessing is found in our giftedness, in what we’re able to build and where we’re able to go.

 

But that’s not true.

 

“Undeniably, God wants us to do great things in his name, except it really matters how we define “great,” and what we’re actually looking for in it.  “Great” probably isn’t as glorious as you imagine. In fact, for those men who want to change the world, what you might need most is a wife who wants you home for dinner. Somewhere in the stuff like that is where you’ll find God’s blessing.

 

“Like in an infant whose diaper needs changing, and a toddler who lives for your attention — a toddler, not an audience. The real blessing isn’t found behind shiny platforms, but in the garbage bag that must be taken out. There is God’s favor, there in the mundane, when we’re stuck between two worlds, seated with Jesus in the heavenly places and bent down here cleaning floors. There is where God smiles on his children.

 

“The greatest blessings in life aren’t found in being a great leader, or a great communicator. The greatest blessings are found in being human before the face of God — a human forgiven and righteous in Christ. Didn’t he say that to us? “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20).

 

“This kind of blessing is much more quiet than the glitz we think we crave, indeed so quiet that we usually miss it, and we’d only long for it if it were gone. It’s the deep blessing that too easily evades us.”

 

“The greatest blessings are found in being human before the face of God.”

 

 

From test to testimony

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Today’s test is tomorrow’s testimony.

 

Disappointment. It comes around frequently, doesn’t it? Disappointment in self, in others, maybe even in God if we are honest with ourselves. When things don’t go our way, when people behave badly, when we are robbed of our possessions, our health, our time, and our joy, we face disappointment.

 

Yet, if you change just one letter, you might be able to see your disappointment as His Appointment. What might HIS appointment look like? It might draw our attention away from the temporary problem to the long-term solutions He intends for you. It might cause you to reverse some steps and take a different, less stressful path. His appointment always is ready to bring you peace in the middle of a storm and discernment when you need real wisdom. His appointment causes us to look at the broad strokes of the picture, not just the detailed brush marks. Most disappointments, when taken in perspective are not nearly as large as they first seem. Yet other disappointments seem to color our whole life. How do we respond to those overarching hurts?

 

Do you remember the moving line from the Facing the Giants film? Filled with repeated disappointment in not being pregnant, the coach’s wife stopped in the parking lot and with tears in her eyes looked to the heavens, saying, “And still I will praise you.” To me it was more powerful than any of the advertising lines they included in the promos. While her level of disappointment might not match your looming disappointments, it reminds me of the power of a testimony of faithfulness and praise in the midst of pain and sorrow . . . An honest expression of faith that endures even when it doesn’t feel like enduring. It speaks to others.

 

“Only God can turn a MESS into a MESSAGE, a TEST into a TESTIMONY, a TRIAL into a TRIUMPH, and a VICTIM into a VICTORY.” Why not let HIM take charge of your disappointment and show you His Appointment for you today?!

 

“…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37

 

Income inequality – wwjd?

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Most of you reading this on your computers probably don’t consider yourself rich like “the 1%.” Yet the reality is, we are all likely richer than most living on this planet with us. Some may say, “Well I work for it and so I have a right to my riches.” I don’t disagree. But consider the testimony of the first century church; one of immense generosity out of poverty, living and giving to benefit others in Jesus’ name. Today, most of us live in relative abundance, not lacking for any real needs. I wonder if we are even able to hear Christ asking us to love and serve him by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting those in prison…

 

Jay Parini, author of “Jesus: The Human Face of God,” has some provoking thoughts for us:

 

“Ridding the world of poverty is, of course, a fantasy. Jesus knew this: “You will always have the poor among you,” he said (Matthew 26:11). He also said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.” (Luke 6:20). He cries (echoing the Old Testament): “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the poor.” (Luke 4:18). Jesus also noted that it is easier “for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:23-24).

 

“Jesus discouraged the accumulation of wealth , worried about its effects on those who had it, and took special pleasure in helping the poor, dedicating his efforts to them.

 

“Everyone knows that the wealth gap in the U.S. has increased dramatically. Even those formerly known as the middle class struggle to make ends meet. Do people on the other end of this inequality equation really fare better? Does wealth make you happy? Jesus certainly didn’t think so.

 

“Neuroscientists have suggested that being rich actually makes you less happy and, even worse, unable to sympathize with the poor. They find that the rich and powerful among us show less brain activity in that region of the brain where human sympathy is excited. Conversely, those who feel poor and marginalized in society show a great deal of sympathetic activity. The ability to sympathize with those around us seems crucial to our survival, and it’s connected to the mirroring functions of the brain.

 

Is it any wonder that when a rich young man came to Jesus asking for spiritual guidance, Jesus said: “If you wish to feel complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” (Matthew 19:21). The young man “went away grieving,” as he had so much property and didn’t want to let go of anything. But letting go is essential to our own happiness as well as the world’s economic equilibrium. It’s a hard teaching, but it’s important.”

 

BT: You nor I have all the answers to this issue. But I believe God would love for us to talk with Him about it and then let Him speak to us individually about what Jesus-in-us would do.