Friday Coffee with PJ (Special New Year's Edition)

One of my New Year resolutions is to continue to enjoy my Friday cup(s) of coffee. Another is to enjoy coffee on the other six days of the week! Given all the benefits of drinking coffee, why stop?! This morning for this last day of 2018, a bit of poetry for you. Enjoy! 

Tis the morn of 12/31

The last day of the year, 

And I’m thanking my God

That I’m well and still here!

 For this year that’s now passing  

Was a rough one for sure, 

With hurricanes and floods, 

gun violence and wars. 

But in the midst of it all 

God is still on His throne,

No matter what lies ahead, 

We won’t have to groan! 

 Instead we look to the sky

As we wait for the Son,  

Following His plan to

Finish the work He's begun!

A Blessed New Year to You and Yours! 

Thanks for stopping by . . ,

PJ

Coffee with PJ - Christmas Eve Edition

As I sit here drinking my coffee this Christmas Eve morning (hmm ... is this my third or fourth cup?), I want to give you, my readers, some insightful words that will help enrich your Christmas celebration. These words come from the excellent book, Knowing God, written in 1973 by J.I. Packer (this evening I am sharing The Watchman's Tale about a night watchman in the town of Bethlehem - it was while a night watchman as a college student that I first read Packer's book!). I hope Packer's words encourage you in your worship of the Christ child this Christmas season. 

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

"We see now what it meant for the Son of God to . . . become poor. It meant a laying aside of glory; a voluntary restraint of power; an acceptance of hardship, isolation, ill-treatment, malice and misunderstanding; finally, a death that involved such agony—spiritual even more than physical—that his mind nearly broke under the prospect of it. (See Luke 12:50 and the Gethsemane story.) It meant love to the uttermost for unlovely human beings, that they through his poverty might become rich. The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity—hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory—because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later he might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard, or will hear.


Rejoice in this indescribable gift of God! And repent of your sin and believe the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ! 

Merry Christmas! 

PJ 

Friday Coffee with PJ

Once again this week, I was reminded of the wonderful benefits that come from drinking the brew made from coffee beans. If you doubt my opening statement, take a moment and check out 75 Amazing Benefits of Coffee ... then pour (or buy) yourself a cup and begin your journey toward better health! 

With Christmas just five days away (if you count today), I thought I would focus some thoughts on the Christmas holiday. Recently, I saw a commercial featuring a local television station's news team (anchors and reporters) expressing holiday wishes to their viewers. Only one (of over a dozen) used the expression "Merry Christmas!" For the rest, "Happy Holidays!" was the greeting of choice. 

What should we take from this? Are these people anti-Christmas? Or did they just want to include the entire holiday season (Christmas and New Years) in their holiday greetings? Since I have not asked them, I would be hard pressed to know for sure. But I do know this: the Christmas season is losing its religious content as  it is becoming increasingly secular in nature. 

A U.S. District Court Judge, Susan Dlott delivered our culture's verdict on Christmas when she stated the following about Christmas in one of her rulings: "The celebration of Christmas as a national holiday cannot be viewed by any reasonable person as an endorsement of religion. The holiday itself is so imbued with secular connotations that, indeed, its religious origins are lost on many." 

So what does this mean for those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ? Understanding this should compel us to redouble our efforts not to allow our culture's view of Christmas to distract us from the true meaning of Christmas. This is best summed up by what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). God the Son, willingly stepped from the brilliant glory of the throne room of heaven into the dark recesses of the womb of a virgin named Mary. This began his journey to the cross upon which he would die a violent death to pay the penalty for our sin rightly demanded by a just and holy God. In taking our place, he faced the wrath of the justice of God so that we would never have to! So the true meaning of Christmas begins with a birth and "ends" with a death. For Jesus was born to die! But his journey did not end with his death. For the true meaning of the Easter holiday reminds us that death could not keep Jesus in its cold and icy grip. Today he lives and we who celebrate his birth this Christmas do so knowing that we worship and serve a living savior! 

My friends, if you have any questions about the true meaning of Christmas and how you should respond, I encourage you to view this video by GotQuestions.org. 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

My apologies for missing the past several Fridays. I was off last week, and the previous couple of weeks I got caught up in the Thanksgiving holiday and a few other unexpected activities. But glad to be back with you. So, pour a cup of your favorite roast and join me for a few thoughts in this edition of Friday Coffee with PJ. 

The dictionary defines stress as, “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension.” According to a recent Gallup poll, nearly half of the people in the United States feel stressed. Gallup’s managing editor commented on the recent findings by pointing out, “Collectively, the world is more stressed . . .  today than when we’ve ever seen it.”

These feelings of stress only seem to increase during the holidays. With so many places to go, gifts to buy, packages to wrap, cookies to bake, people to visit – life can become quite hectic. And all that busyness just adds to the feeling of stress.

Are you feeling “stressed-out?” I have felt a bit stressed this week. With writing my script for my Christmas Eve drama (The Watchman’s Tale), prepping this Sunday’s sermon, and trying to fit in planning for the new year (not to mention the various meetings and other “pastoral responsibilities”), I am definitely feeling “the squeeze!”

Whenever we feel stress coming on – we need to follow the advice of the apostle Paul.  In Philippians 4:6-7 he writes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

So during this “tis the season to be stressed-out” time of year – when you start “feeling the squeeze” try hitting your knees. Take whatever it is causing the stress and hand it over to God.  Let Him handle it. And then sit back, kick back and enjoy His peace. 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Someone recently asked me if I could go a week without drinking coffee. I assured him that I most certainly could. But the better question is WHY would I want to do so? I have in the past on this blog referred to the health benefits of drinking coffee (in moderation, of course!). So why would I want to even try? There's nothing better to waking up than coffee in my cup! So given that today is Friday, I invite you to join me over a cup of coffee for a few thought that I hope will encourage you in this world that so often brings discouragement our way! 

Many football fans if they cannot watch their team play at the time the game is aired over television will often record it to watch it later (as if they were watching it live). The problem with trying to do so is avoiding hearing the score. I know when I have tried to do this it's inevitable that a fellow Steeler fan will text me with some sort of comment that tells me the game's outcome. So I have adopted a new philosophy. I record the games. I don't try to "stay in the dark" about how the game is progressing. If the Steelers win, I watch the game. If they don't why bother! This approach has led to some interesting viewing. For example, there have been a few games in which the Steelers have fallen behind, sometimes to the point I am asking myself, "how in the world are they going to win this game?" But since I know the outcome is a W, I don't sweat, panic, or keep throwing my "bad call brick" at the TV (no worries, it's foam!). I just sit calmly in my lazy boy, munching on my snackies as I wait for them to kick it into gear and score the winning touchdown. 

This, my friend, is how Christians need to view this world in which we live. It all too often appears that evil has the upper hand. Mass shootings, devastating wild fires and hurricanes, human trafficking, the opioid epidemic, the persecution of Christians, the moral confusion surrounding many issues, but especially the sexual ethic can simply be overwhelming. These things threaten to undo us. BUT ... and this is a huge "BUT" ... we know how everything will end. At the conclusion of human history, when all the rulers and kingdoms of earth have crumbled into oblivion, Jesus Christ and HIS kingdom will still be standing! So for us who choose to follow Jesus*, we are on the winning side, no matter how much it might appear otherwise! So stand tall for Christ and the Gospel! Don't despair. Jesus is still King!

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

*If you have questions about what it means to follow Jesus, I suggest you check out, Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face.

It's Friday! Yea! Please pour yourself a cup of your favorite coffee (I am about to drink my third!) and join me for a few thoughts which I hope will encourage you in your walk with God. 

When I woke up this morning I knew something was good about today. After the fog of a good night’s sleep cleared – it hit me. The mid-term elections are over (oh, and the Steelers won last night)! Yea! Now I must admit the primary reason for my gladness that Election Day is past is not because I have the privilege to vote for those who will represent me in government (a privilege so few around this world enjoy). I am grateful for this opportunity.  I really am! But I confess that the greatest cause for my joy is that finally – after week upon week of nauseating campaign ads on television and radio – these commercials will be gone (at least until the next election). I (and I am sure I’m not alone) won’t miss all the mud slinging distortion that comes across the airways from candidates of both parties. Why all the negative ads? Because research shows that they are effective! So the worse you can make your candidate appear – the better you look to potential voters (I'm guessing that’s the reasoning behind it). 

All of us are guilty of throwing some mud of our own. Perhaps not often. But surely sometimes. We put others down so that we look better. This is not the way of Christ. Jesus’ way is to consider others as more important than ourselves and then speak and act accordingly (see Philippians 2:3-4 and Ephesians 4:29 for starters). So instead of being negative and critical of others – we need to be looking for ways to encourage others and build them up – daily, as long as it is called Today (Hebrews 3:13). Let’s all make an extra effort to do so! 

Now that the election is over, I have enjoyed watching television without all those annoying political ads. Now I just have to brace myself for the coming avalanche of holiday commercials enticing us to buy gifts with money we don't have for people we may not necessarily like! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Here we are on the first Friday of NOVEMBER! Ugh! Where are the days going? Christmas is only 53 days away! Well there is nothing we can do to slow down the relentless forward march of Old Man Time. But, we can do something about kicking into gear our taste buds and driving away our morning brain fog. So pour yourself a cup of your favorite coffee and join me for a few random thoughts. 

1. What I just wrote about the relentless march of time reminds me of a tendency that prevails upon aging adults both outside and inside of the church. We don't want to accept the reality that we are growing old. Just listen to people around you. You will hear things like, "Well 60 is the new 40!" and "I am celebrating the 20th anniversary of my 29th birthday!"  Listen, we cannot change the fact that with each passing year we are just that ... a year OLDER! And with the aging process comes challenges that the average younger person has not experienced. 

Derek Prime, in his excellently written and easily read book, A Good Old Age: An A to Z of loving and following the Lord Jesus in Later Years, writes, "A key attitude towards the onset of old age is acceptance that this is a natural part of human life. We need to accept it in all of its facets." Seeing that I am closer to my 63rd birthday than I am my 62nd, reading Prime's encouragement to accept growing older hit me squarely between the eyes (which, by the way, my eye doctor tells me I have the beginnings of cataracts in both eyes ... an all too usual happening for people who are in the older years!). Prime is right on! We need to accept the reality that with each passing year we are NOT getting any younger. And let me tell you, growing old is NOT for sissies! It really takes courage to face the challenges of aging. Accepting this reality is, I believe, a healthy step toward becoming a gracious old person vs. a grumpy one! 

If you want some more guidance on growing older in a healthy way, I heartily recommend Prime's book. As Alistair Begg told the pastors at last year's Basic Conference, "No matter your age, you should buy this book and read it!" I hope some of you do! 

2. Wednesday morning of this week, I had breakfast at a local restaurant. I was surprised when my server approached my table decked out in hunting camouflage with an inflatable turkey slung over her shoulder. Shortly afterwards, another server walked into the room decked out as Batwoman. Well, as you know, Wednesday was Halloween. I must admit I chuckled seeing two grown women dressed in costumes. 

As I reflected on these two (and so many other adults who dressed in costumes and masks for their jobs), I was reminded of how too often we pretend to be something that we are not. There is a word for this ... "hypocrisy." For those of us who are following Jesus, there is no room for hypocrisy in our lives. Jesus calls us to be genuine. Not perfect, of course, but to be real. That means we need to be honest with others, and seek to align our practice with our faith. How about you? Do you claim Jesus as your Savior and Lord? If not, take a moment PLEASE and check out Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face. But if you do claim to belong to Jesus, are you striving to be a man and woman of integrity vs. pretending to have "it all together" when you really don't?  As you go through your daily routine, just remember this simple formula: walk + talk = ONE! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

It's Friday!!! So pour yourself a cup of java and join me for a few random thoughts which I hope will help you walk closer to Jesus! 

If you read my blog post of last Friday, you would know that last week my wife and I spent time away. Our first stop was Ocean City, Maryland. We actually enjoyed a sunny and warm afternoon sitting on the beach (temperature about 79 degrees). That was a bonus that we did not expect! After two days there, we then drove on to Williamsburg, Virginia (with a brief stop to enjoy lunch with some friends in Virginia Beach). Our four days in Williamsburg were a boatload of fun and learning (we are both history buffs). As we walked down the historic Duke of Gloucester Street, we had to pinch ourselves as this was the fourth time in the past two years we had planned a vacation to Williamsburg. Serious circumstances had arisen that kept us from traveling there the previous three times. So all in all we were very grateful God allowed us in his providence to get there and, for the vast majority of the time, enjoy sunshine and light breezes while there. 

I find much comfort in God's providence. And just what is this "providence?" The Bible teaches that God is sovereign over all things (Ephesians 1:11). For example in the book of Daniel, we find an ancient king who knew something about exercising authority (his authority would have been absolute). The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, had a pride problem (Daniel 4:29-30). And so God cut him down to size by afflicting him with some sort of mental disorder (see Daniel 4:31-33). After a period of time, the king's sanity was restored and he understood a fundamental principle that we all must not only understand but also choose to live by: God is sovereign over all and "none can stay his hand." Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way this vital truth about the world we live in . . . "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand" (Proverbs 19:21). 

So when we speak of God's providence, we are simply speaking of the reality that the God who is sovereign over all has a plan and he is working that plan for our world and for each and every one of us. And as we know from Romans 8:28-29, God is working all things (the good, the bad and the ugly) together for our God to ultimately to make us more like His Son. Wow! To look like Jesus? It doesn't get any better than that! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj 

Friday Coffee with PJ

It's Friday so please pour yourself a cup of coffee (or your favorite "get me started in the morning" beverage) and join me for a few random thoughts from which I hope you can glean some inspiration for your walk with God. 

First, my apologies for missing a Friday post the past two Fridays. The week of October 1st I traveled to Winona Lake, Indiana to attend the Board of Trustees meetings of Grace College and Seminary. The meetings were great and the travel uneventful (oh, except for a flat tire on my rental car). But being tied up all week meant I had no time to write a blog post. Then last week, I spent time catching up from being away AND working ahead since I will be out this upcoming week (I am writing this on Sunday October 14th) enjoying a week of vacation with my wife. I am not stating an excuse here. Just want you to know why I have been "missing in action!" 

Speaking of vacation, our plans are to leave Monday morning and travel south. First to the Maryland shore and then on to Williamsburg, VA. Included in our time away, we are planning to stop and see some friends and family who live down that way. Sharon and I are looking forward to reconnecting with these people we love (and reconnecting with each other, away from the pressures of routine life and ministry). 

As I think about our plans, I am struck with just how important life’s relationships are. Whether it is blood family or the family of God (which is also blood family – Christ’s blood that is!), relationships should be at the top of our priority list. Jesus makes it quite clear that love for others should be one of our top goals in life (he placed it right behind our love for God - see Matthew 22:36-40). The New Testament letters are full of admonitions for us to "one another one another" (Romans 12:10; Galatians 5:13; Hebrews 10:24-25). 

So given the weight placed upon relationships by God's Word, how about YOU?  Are you so caught up in the Great American “Rat Race” that you find little time to cultivate meaningful relationships in your life?  If so – it may be time for you to make some needed changes. You (and those around you) will be better for it! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Yet another Friday. So pour yourself a cup of coffee (or your morning beverage of choice) and join me for a few random thoughts which I hope will help you in your faith walk with God. 

Every Thursday morning at 6:30 I meet with a small group of men to pray. When I started this practice over twenty years ago, I opted to call the group the Brothers of Aaron and Hur. I chose this name based on an incident recorded in Exodus 17. Joshua led the army of Israel to fight against the Amalekites who had come against the Israelites as they marched out of Egypt. Here is what Moses wrote about the battle: 

Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought against Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. While Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his hand down, Amalek prevailed. When Moses’s hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his army with the sword.

I think you probably see where I am going with the choice of the name for the group. As a pastor, with each passing year, I realize how dependent I am upon others coming alongside of me to support my ministry in prayer. I cannot tell you how much I have appreciated these men who have joined with me to pray each Thursday morning. It is always a highlight of my week!

Yesterday morning (being Thursday) brought a small group of us (brothers of Aaron and Hur) together. I often open with a verse or two from Scripture which reminds us of some truth about God. Yesterday I chose James 1:17 which reads:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 

Here James refers to God as "the Father of lights," a reference to the fact that God is the creator of the sun, moon, and stars. And unlike the shadows created by these heavenly bodies (which shift in relation to the movement of these sources of light), God never changes! This is of utmost importance to us, given what James states in the beginning of the verse - that EVERY good and perfect gift is from him. You see, if God could change, perhaps he would grow tired of giving so much to so many and therefore stop giving. Or maybe he would "wake up" one morning, grumpy and unwilling to give good gifts to his creatures. Or it might happen that his knowledge of what we might need most would become distorted and therefore the "good and perfect gift" he gives us wouldn't really be "good or perfect" for us! 

All this to say isn't it a great comfort to know that our God (so UNLIKE us) never changes! That he is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13: 8). As such, he is indeed a God worthy of our trust, obedience, worship, and love. 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Friday has once again rolled around (amazing how quickly this happens!). So please pour yourself a cup of your favorite java and join me for a couple of random thoughts. 

One of my ministry tasks at my church finds my wife and I leading a Life Group. Our group consists of 13 adults, most of whom are in my age group. Some are a tad older, some the same age, and a some a few years younger. Let's just say all of us have been sent AARP membership applications in the mail! Given where we are in life, I suggested to my wife that we lead our group through a book just published in 2017 and already gone through a reprint in 2018. The book is titled, A Good Old Age. The author is Derek Prime, author of numerous books and a retired Scottish pastor. I was first introduced to Prime's book this past May at Alistair Begg's Basics Conference for Pastors. During the sessions, Alistair highlighted only three or four books. A Good Old Age was the first. On my next stop in the conference bookstore, I picked up a copy of the book and read the intro and first chapter (very readable ... in style, brevity, and large print!). I then proceeded to the checkout line with two copies in hand. 

In the book, the author begins with the letter A and then proceeds to work his way through the alphabet (same here in the United States as it is in Scotland, by the way!). The twenty-six principles are spot on. Concerning them (and the book as a whole), Alistair Begg writes the following in his foreword: 

"My only concern in reading this material is that it will be housed in the wrong section of the library – geriatric studies. It needs to be read long before we find ourselves in the senior citizens seats on the train. We want to be like those who were 'still living by faith when they died' (Hebrews 11:13). In other words, those people of faith were still doing in the closing chapter what they had been doing throughout the course of their lives.  They had not adopted a new pattern at the end, driven by guilt or fear; instead, seeing the finishing line in view, they had picked up the pace. Surely it is a life of humble dependency and steady consistency that paves the way to a good old age." 

If you are in my age bracket (or close), then I would highly recommend you order yourself a copy of Prime's book. And if you are still young and robust, you would also benefit from his wisdom - for both living out your life AND to minister better to those you love who are closing in on the finish line! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Friday is here! You know the routine. Coffee (I prefer mine bold and black). And just a few minutes of your time for a few random thoughts to help you, I trust, in your spiritual pilgrimage through this life. 

A number of years ago, the local Lancaster newspaper reported on an incident which occurred at the Three Mile Island nuclear facility located near Harrisburg. The story told of a security guard who was so absorbed in playing his hand-held video game that he failed to notice an inspector approaching on a surprise inspection!  (I’m glad it was an inspector approaching and not a would-be terrorist!)  As if that weren’t sad enough – the article went on to cite the state Department of Environmental Protection’s read on the incident.  According to the department, the employee broke no work rules for guards are encouraged to engage in mind-stimulating activities!  OK.  Does this make sense to you?  Or is it just me having a grumpy morning? 

The New Testament in a number of different places tells us that we must always be on the alert – watching for the return of Jesus Christ (Mark 13:33); being alert in prayer (Ephesians 6:18); staying alert lest we fall asleep amidst the darkness of this age (1 Thessalonians 5:6); keeping alert for the advances against us of our Enemy (1 Peter 5:8).  Let’s purpose in our hearts that we will not be like this guard at TMI who got so absorbed in his video game that he was caught off guard.  Don’t allow the distractions of this world to diminish your readiness. Life is too short and the opportunities around us too great to fail in this area.  Jesus urges us, “Be on guard!  Be alert!” (Mark 13:33).  That’s good advice.

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Friday yet again! So pour yourself a cup of your favorite brew and reflect on some random thoughts which I hope will help you in your journey with Jesus Christ! 

Today is the final day of meteorological summer (June, July, August). And what a summer it has been here in Lancaster County! We perspired through a record heat wave in late June into early July which saw the mercury rise to an average high of 95.3 on six consecutive days! That's quite the heat (not to mention it piled up a lot of extra clothes needing washed)! In addition, the month of July was the wettest on record (we picked up 9 inches of rain in our rain gauge in a five day span!). Overall, the summer has been the second wettest on record, which in turn has led to a record number of times I have had to mow my lawn! And even though meteorological fall begins tomorrow, summer is not showing any signs of going away as the extended weather forecast for next week is showing several days with highs near 90 degrees! This is fine by me, for I will take 90 degrees over 20 degrees any day of the week and twice on Sunday! 

All this said, we know that real autumn weather is coming, followed by the season that features that white stuff (just can't bring myself to write the "s" word!). How do we know this? From our experience. We live in an area of the world that consists of four seasons. Winter, spring, summer, fall. Always in that order. Always the same months of the calendar. Farmers know when to plant, water, cultivate, and harvest. Road crews know when they can pave a new road, and when it's time to put their paving operations on hold. Retailers know when it's time to replace fall clothing with winter attire (although sometimes I think they get ahead of the game here!). 

Now we can explain this consistency of the changing seasons in a totally naturalistic way ... that seasons change in certain parts of the world due to the tilt of the earth. But for me, I see a greater hand guiding the earth's movement. In Genesis 8:22 we have the promise that as long as the earth endures, the seasons will come and go (Genesis 8:22). Hebrews 1:3 informs us that the Son himself sustains all things (which would include the earth's movement which leads to the seasons). Seasons come, seasons go. This is an evidence of God's faithful oversight of his creation, the work of HIS hand! 

So today, as you prepare yourself to say goodbye to the lazy, hazy days of summer and welcome the soon to come crispness of an autumn evening, stop what you are doing. Lift your eyes toward heaven. Thank our Father above for his faithful care of this world ... and of you! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Good morning one and all! It's time to pour yourself a cup of your favorite coffee and join me for a few random thoughts. 

Not sure if you saw this in the news ... but here is something that will wow you (it surely did me!). This past July at the Cube National Championship, Max Park, was crowned the national champion. Moving his hands at the speed of light, he solved the puzzle in a stunning 7.26 seconds! Wow! I think the last time I had my hands on a Rubick’s Cube, I took a sledge hammer to it after failing to solve the thing after 3 ½ months of trying (that’s a slight exaggeration – but not by much)! What Max Park accomplished is truly amazing!  

But even more amazing is what God did for us. When we were hopelessly lost in our sin and stubbornly defiant in our rebellion against Him, God showed us just how much he loved us. He did so by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for us (Romans 5:8). Nothing required God to do this. He just did. All because He loves us – unconditionally and sacrificially. Take a moment and rejoice in God’s love for you.  And if you have never reached out to God with the empty hands of faith, consider doing so now! The eternal welfare of your soul is at stake (see Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face). 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ (Special Vacation Edition)

One of the people I follow on twitter is Church Curmudgeon (@ChurchCurmudgeon). His tweets often make me lol! Here is a recent tweet on coffee: 

The birds cannot sing

The sun doesn't rise

If I don't have coffee

To open my eyes

I can surely relate! If you can, then grab yourself a cup of your favorite coffee and join me for a special vacation edition of Friday Coffee with PJ. 

This past Saturday, my wife and I returned from a week at the beach with our kids and their families. A vacation we all enjoy (most of the time!). We love riding the waves, watching the g-kids play in the sand, walking the board walk, playing games at the house, swimming in the community pool, and, of course, eating orange and vanilla twist Korh's ice cream (due to my low sodium diet I will have to say "no" to the boardwalk fries - although I did beg a couple from my daughter)! 

There's something to be said for spending quality and quantity time with family. That's why I love this week (not always the most relaxing vacation ... but certainly a boat load of fun!). We always return home a bit more tightly bonded to one another. And that is a good thing!

What is true of our biological families, is also true of our spiritual families. The hymn writer got it right when he wrote these words in 1782:

Blest be the tie that binds, 

our hearts in Christian love;

the fellowship of kindred minds

is like to that above.

The tie that binds us together is the gospel of Jesus Christ! And when we come together around Jesus, we can enjoy a taste of heaven here on earth! So if you are a follower of Jesus, make attending your church's weekend service a priority. You not only cheat yourself. You shortchange others when you stay away! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj 

Friday Coffee with PJ

My cousin, who is a writer, posted the following on his Facebook page the other day: "PROCAFFEINATING (v.) The tendency to not start anything until you've had a cup of coffee." That caught my attention because that sums up the start of my day. I need that initial shot of caffeine to get the fog chased out of my mind (maybe that is why my favorite coffee is San Fransisco Bay's Fog Chaser). So if you are reading this and you feel that need for a cup of coffee, please brew yourself a cup (or a pot), clear the mind fog, and join me for some random meanderings which, I hope, will help you in your spiritual journey with Jesus Christ. 

It does not take the brain of a rocket scientist to know there is something wrong with the world in which we live. Just this past weekend, for example, sixty-six people in Chicago were shot. Twelve died of their wounds. Mass shootings are becoming so routine, we are no longer shocked to hear of one. Sexual abuse and harassment involving high profile individuals (think Matt Lauer of the Today Show or those involved in the sexual abuse scandals rocking the Roman Catholic Church and the world of women's gymnastics). I could go on and on. But I won't. You know what I am talking about. 

So what is the cause of all of this? Many believe it's due to bad parenting, bad schools, bad economic situations, etc. But is it really? The Bible identifies the problem as a bad heart. From a biblical perspective, all of us are born with a heart that is beyond repair. And it does not take very long for the true nature of our heart to reveal itself (do you have to teach a toddler to say "NO!" or "MINE!")? So what is the answer to the evil in our world? Bottom line, we all are in need of a heart transplant. The Bible speaks of this in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel: 

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" 

(Ezekiel 36:26).

Now when does God do this? This spiritual surgery takes place when a person admits before God their need of a new heart. That not only are they sick inside ... they are in fact DEAD (Ephesians 2:1). Therefore they need what only God can give them. A new (living) heart. God in his grace offers this gift of a new heart and its accompanying new life. This is something that only he can offer. If you are tracking with me and you want to know more about how you can undergo this necessary divine surgery, I encourage you to take a few moments to check out: Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face.  It may be the most important moments of your life! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Given that I am posting this on a Friday morning, I invite you to pour yourself a cup of that black gold known as coffee. And if you are reading this post and it is after noon time, then you may want to consider what President Ronald Reagan once said, "I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon." So drink up in the AM, and as you do, here are a couple of random thoughts for you to ponder. 

On Monday of this week, I saw a nephrologist. When I got the word that my left kidney had lost its function (late May), I was referred to this kidney specialist. As my family physician put it, "we want to make sure we keep your right kidney healthy!” As a result of my time with the nephrologist, I now have some adjustments to make. One of which is diet related. For starters, I will say I am glad coffee is not on the "no-no" list ... that is, as long as I drink it in moderation (so I figure two to three cups of day will suffice!). But the big diet challenge will be to cut down on sodium. Why is this a challenge? Well, sodium is everywhere! One of the nephrologist's patients told him that "salt is what turns a cook into a chef!" So, when Sharon and I stopped at Cracker Barrel to eat dinner last evening, I downloaded their nutrition guide to my phone. It did not take long before I realized that I would have to eliminate at least 80% of their menu if I was going to stay within the sodium guidelines laid down by my doctor! But I managed to order what turned out to be a very good meal and kept the sodium to a very reasonable amount! 

Due to this new low sodium diet, my wife and I have found ourselves reading the labels on our foodstuffs. We are also researching the Internet for low sodium foods. In doing this research I discovered that one of the best vegetables to eat for kidney health is asparagus. Ugh. Now that might be going just a bit TOO far! 

Speaking of diets, let me morph to talking about a healthy diet for the soul (and if you are a regular reader of my blog, you probably know where I am heading with this). If you want to grow spiritually, then you need to feed your soul the Word of God. Not just on Sundays but everyday! Really, how often do you feed your body? Just once a week? I hardly think so. 

But maybe you struggle with daily Bible reading, Yep, if you want to get serious with eating well for your soul's health - as I am for my kidney's health - then you need to be reading and meditating on your Bible every day (Psalm 1:1-5). Perhaps you don't do so because you don't know how. If this is you, I have a suggestion. Recently, I ordered from the Good Book Company a subscription for their quarterly devotional, Explore: For Your Daily Walk with God.   I have been using it for the past 2 weeks and I am VERY impressed with it! I have gone through the book of Jude and am now going through the book of James. The comments on the Scripture are insightful and very pertinent to where we all do life! The cost is $29.99 for an annual subscription - and, in my opinion, worth every penny (don't you wish you could feed your body a healthy diet for under 9 cents a day?).  

So whether you were to use this devotional guide or another to help you establish a healthy routine of daily Bible intake matters little.  What is of utmost importance is that you just do it! The health of your soul depends upon it!

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj 

Friday Coffee with PJ

It's Friday and time for another brief addition of Friday Coffee with PJ. So brew yourself a cup of your fav java ... and join me for some random thought which I hope will help you in your spiritual walk with Jesus! 

This week I had the opportunity to visit Fremont, Ohio. Now I am guessing most of you have never been to Fremont, and if given a map of Ohio would have no clue as to where to find it. Fremont is the county seat of Sandusky County. It sits about 40 miles southeast of Toledo. As of the 2010 census, just under 17,000 people lived in Fremont. Now some of you history buffs might know of Fremont, for it hosts the Presidential Library and Museum of former President Rutherford B. Hayes (the 19th president of the United States). But beyond this interesting site (I am a history buff), there's not much to see in Fremont (following Haye's Library, Trip Advisor lists the Sandusky River and the Sandusky Jail as the next best "things to do" in Fremont!). 

So you might be wondering what took me to Fremont (if not, feel free to sign off now). I was there to take in part of our Charis Fellowship of Churches Access 2018 Conference. It was well worth the drive (about 8 hours with stops ... and of course, with Starbucks to be found in the Turnpike rest plazas, we had to make just a few stops!) 😉  The conference is designed to give "access" to others who are serving within our Charis Fellowship so that we might learn from one another. And it delivered on that promise! "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17). 

God never intended his people to walk the Christian life alone. So he gave us the church. Spiritual communities of believers who commit to one another to follow Jesus. And for us in the Charis Fellowship, he gave us our fellowship of churches so we can learn from one another and encourage one another in our pursuit of truth, relationship, and mission. At the center of this pursuit is our commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior! 

When I walked in my front door upon my return from Fremont, I hope I returned a changed man. A better man. A man more in tune with God and more intent on the mission he has given to us. How about you? Are you seeking to live your life on mission for Christ? Do you even know Jesus? If you have any questions about what this all means, please take a moment to check out Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face. 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Amazon was in the news this week as its web site was overwhelmed during its Prime Day Sale. I ordered two items. Any guess? Well, I'll confess. I ordered 200 k-cups of coffee (two different roasts) at a really, really good price! With our family beach trip just around the corner, it thought I could buy enough to get us thru the week (our family drinks a lot of coffee - guess the beans didn't fall far from the tree!) 😎  Speaking of coffee ... I invite you to pour yourself a cup and join me for a few random thoughts. 

I just saw an article about a certain house for sale in Los Angeles. The listing for the house boasts that it is the "second most photographed house in the United States behind the White House." The asking price is just under $2 million. Any guess? 

The Brady Bunch House

The house was used for the exterior shots of the family's home on the classic sitcom, The Brady Bunch (the interior scenes were filmed in a studio). The current owners are hoping to sell to someone who will preserve the house's legacy. 

Hmm. A house's legacy? Let's talk a moment about a person's legacy. A legacy is something we leave behind once our earthly pilgrimage is over. Often this takes the form of some sort of inheritance. Perhaps a house, bank accounts, or some other piece of personal property. But there is something far more important that we can leave behind, especially for those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ. Here is what I am hoping to leave behind. People. Family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and others of whom I have had the privilege of knowing. I pray that as I have interacted with these people (and continue to do so as long as my journey goes on), they will see in me the love of my Savior. If even a small handful of these go on to love Jesus more because of my impact upon them - that is the legacy that I most want to leave behind! People more in love with Jesus Christ because of something I said or did. 

How about you? What legacy are you hoping to leave behind when your earthly journey is done? 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Friday morning means COFFEE! (frankly, every morning means coffee for me)! So why not pour yourself a cup of your favorite brew and join me for a couple of random thoughts?

1. The dictionary defines empty nester as a parent whose children have grown and moved away from home. My wife and I have been empty nesters for the past ten years. But that doesn't mean that we have been alone in the house during that time. We have enjoyed having a couple of college students live with us (one I had the privilege of marrying in our back yard!) and another stayed with us for all four years of her college career. In addition we have hosted several missionary friends, family members ... and of course, our grandkids. This past week our house has been hopping with friends from France who are here in the States on their "home ministries" tour and our one daughter and family sleeping over (as they are showing their house - and it's a lot easier to do that when you are not living in the house!) 

We enjoy hosting people. My wife and I believe this is why God gave us the house he did. Hospitality is a way for us to share with others what God has given to us. And in giving we receive far more in return! How about you? What are you sharing with others?

2. As part of my devotional reading this year, I have been going through Tim Keller's book on Proverbs, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life. Recently I read the following which really got me thinking about my own talk: 

You must ask yourself why you are telling the truth. Is it to win an argument? To punish or pay back by embarrassing the other person? To undermine something true that the person is saying but you don’t want to hear? To defend your pride? To complain? To make yourself look good to others? St. Paul says every word must pass this test—“that it may benefit those who listen . . . according to their needs” (Ephesians 4:29). When you tell the truth, you should always have a “ministry motive.”

I must admit when I speak I don't always have a "ministry motive" behind what I am saying. How about you? 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

It's Friday! So pour yourself a cup of your favorite java and join me of a couple of random thoughts. 

1. This past week, my wife and I traveled to Pittsburgh, Shanksville, and Bedford (all in Pennsylvania for those unfamiliar with the geography of the keystone state). We had a wonderful 6 days and 5 nights away. We reconnected with friends in Pittsburgh, with the events of September 11, 2001 in Shanksville, and with God and one another in Bedford (at the Bedford Springs Resort). 

Upon our arrival home, feeling refreshed and glad to be home, we walked into the house and greeted our missionary friends who are staying with us for much of the month of July. Then in the process of unpacking our car, we discovered that our toilet in the bathroom adjacent to our bedroom had leaked, leaving our bathroom floor and the carpet just outside the bathroom covered with water. The water also found its way to our lower level, causing a couple of saturated ceiling tiles to collapse onto our basement floor. Thankfully, I was able to care for the leak. And thankfully I own a wet vac. So with not all that much work, we are well on the way to drying everything out! 

This problem was relatively easy to fix. Not all problems are. In fact, many are not. Since we are a broken people living in a broken world, difficulties far more than we like crash into our lives, uninvited and unwelcome. But there is coming a day when, according to the Bible, God will wipe away every tear and make everything new (Revelation 21:4-5). But the Scripture is clear. Only those who thirst and come to Christ who offers living water (John 4:14) will experience the glories and grace of heaven as described in the Bible's two closing chapters. So my question to all who might read this post ... are you ready to meet God? If you are uncertain or have any questions about this, please check out Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face. 

2. I never played soccer as a kid. Certainly don't play it now. I don't even watch a lot ... that is until the World Cup rolls around as it does every four years. One game I watched while on vacation was Japan vs. Belgium. The Japanese team gave Belgium all they could handle (surprising because Belgium is the 3rd ranked team in the world and Japan is the 62nd ranked team!). Belgium fell behind 2-0 with only 25 minutes left in the game (akin to an NFL team behind its opponent by three touchdowns going into the fourth quarter). Belgium went on to score three goals in those final 25 minutes (the last coming on what proved to be the last play of regulation!). Talk about the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat! As the victorious Belgians celebrated both on the field and in the stands, the losing Japanese hung their heads, many in the

Japanese locker room after the team departed!

stands openly weeping. Yet, in spite of a loss which will no doubt sting for years to come, the Japanese soccer team showed real class as they departed. They left behind a spotless locker room with a note written in Russian which simply read, "Thank you!" (see adjacent picture). 

Now that is quite the example, don't you agree? They could have easily trashed the locker room and left without leaving any note of appreciation. Yet they didn't. They showed the world how to win even when losing! This got me to thinking about the example I leave for others. And more often than I would like to admit, my example is not worth a second look, let alone imitating. The Apostle Paul in writing to the church in Corinth urged his readers to "Imitate me as I imitate Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). Hmm. Is my life really worth imitating? It will be only in as far as I am imitating Christ. How about you? What kind of example are you setting for others?

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

It's Friday and I am enjoying some vacation time. In fact, as you read this we are on day one of our five night, six day road trip to western Pennsylvania. But we are not leaving an empty house behind! Our precious friends, Paul and Louise Klawitter will be staying with us for the next several weeks (they arrived healthy but exhausted this past Tuesday evening. Close to twenty four hours of navigating long security lines and trying to sleep in an overstuffed economy section on the plane have a way of wringing a person out!). Paul and Louise have been serving as missionaries in France (and now literally around the world) and we are honored to serve them now. 

So in their honor (and since I am on vacation and really don't want to write a new post - just being gut honest with you) I am posting a today something I blogged after returning from a trip to France back at the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007. Enjoy! 

Merci pour les escargots! (Thursday, January, 2007)

Thanks for the snails? I wasn't so sure. I had never tried to eat a snail before. But I had heard that people did eat them. And our friends assured us that they ate them (and lived) and actually enjoyed them. So much so that they always feasted on snails during the holidays. So when they brought out a plateful of steamed snails, I knew I would have to be brave. I sure did not want to appear cowardly before a sixteen year old girl! 

As I scooped the snail out of its shell, I was hoping it would fall on the floor so that Marcel the dog would gobble it up. When that did not happen, I realized I had to go through with it. But there was something about eating a snail that just would not allow me to place this creature in my mouth. So, sixteen year old Elise came to the rescue. She took my fork, and pretending to be an airplane - she flew that snail right into my mouth (If you are a parent, you can remember those days when you tried that trick to get your kids to eat their creamed carrots or stewed green beans!). As soon as I tasted the snail (dripping with garlic and butter) I thought, "Wow! This is good!" So good that
the second (and third) snail followed quite quickly after that.

Sometimes all it takes is a taste. Les escargots taste good. Maybe that is why they are such a culinary delight to our friends. The book of Psalms urges us to "Taste and see that the LORD is good!"  (Psalm 34:8). 

Indeed the LORD is good - He is very good! I trust that today you will “taste” HIS goodness in a powerful way!

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj