High - Low!

This past Sunday evening during our home-based small group meeting, we began our time together with "High-Low." We proceeded to go around the circle and share a "high" and a "low" from our previous week. It resulted in a great time of sharing.

Since yesterday was my day off, my wife and I "celebrated" Valentine's Day. We drove to Towson, MD to have lunch at the Rain Forest Cafe. (If you are looking for an interesting dining experience, I would highly recommend it. Quite unique!) Over lunch during the course of four computer controlled thunderstorms, three howling chimps, two trumpeting elephants and a partridge in a pear tree (OK - the partridge I just threw in!), we decided to look back at the year 2006 via "High-Low." As we talked about the past year's highs, it was easy to smile, laugh and rejoice over the blessings of God. God had been quite good to us - far more than we deserve! But as we talked about some of the "lows" we encountered, we both could feel some of the pain that still lingers.

None of us relish in the lows of life. The highs are much more fun! Yet without life's lows, God would not be able to do His work in our lives. Really? Yes! That's what the Bible clearly teaches. In James 1:2-4 we are told to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." The Apostle Paul concurs when he writes, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3-4). So I guess what I am trying to say is this: we need to learn to rejoice in life's lows just as we rejoice in life's highs. For without the lows, God would not be able to complete the good work he has started in us!

Thanks for listening,

pj

For Guys Only: T-Minus 5 Days and Counting!

Did you ever wonder where Valentine's Day comes from? I have - so I got online and googled "Valentine's Day." I found out some interesting things. The holiday is named after two MEN (go figure that one!). Both were Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the high middle ages - a time when courtly (not costly!) love was flourishing. I also learned that according to estimates by the American Greeting Card Association, approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide. This makes Valentine's Day second only to Christmas when it comes to sending greeting cards! One billion - now that is a lot of cards!

Now guys - let me talk to YOU just for the moment. The Greeting Card Association also tells us that of those billion Valentine Day cards - a whopping 85% are purchased by WOMEN! How many times do us guys kinda "forget" our special someone on this day. You say -- "Wait a minute John, what's the big deal about Valentine's Day?" OK. If that is what you are thinking - you either did not have your morning coffee yet and are still half asleep OR you are a little dense! Let me repeat the statistic I mentioned above - a whopping 85% of Valentine Day cards are purchased by WOMEN! That means, that although the day might not be a big deal to YOU, it is a BIG DEAL to HER! So, allow this word to the wise to be sufficient. You have ONLY five days left to go out and purchase a Valentine's Day card for your sweetheart! And it will be worth every minute and every dime you have to spend to do so! Show her that she matters to you -- on Valentine's Day -- and EVERY DAY!


Thanks for listening! (and I hope to see you in the greeting card section of the store - before the 14th!)

pj

Marriage is healthy!

The research is in! Marriage is healthy! That's right. According to research, married people are healthier and live longer than their single counterparts. OK. Marriage is healthy - but are marriages healthy? In a day when so many marriages end up in divorce court and many that don't easily could - can we say, on the whole, that marriages are healthy? Regrettably no. And that is sad!

Our Creator-God designed marriage to bring joy and fulfillment to humanity. But all too often, it has brought disillusionment and shattered lives instead. Why is this? The answer is often complicated - but I think I can simplify it. It usually comes down to the fact that far too many husbands and far too many wives are SELF-FOCUSED. We look at our spouse and say, "I have needs. Meet my needs!" Since our spouse can not meet our needs in the way we demand, we grow disenchanted and eventually embittered. Given enough time, our marriage will die. Divorce often follows.

What is the solution? We need to replace this SELF-FOCUS with a SPOUSE-FOCUS. By this I mean instead of looking at our husband or wife to meet our needs, let's look at the opportunity we have to meet our spouse's needs! No, we will never do it perfectly. But that doesn't mean we should not try. Marriages will be far healthier (and happier!) if a husband is seeking to serve his wife and a wife is striving to serve her husband. So if you are married - seek to serve your spouse today. Your marriage will be better for it!

Thanks for listening,

pj

Don't Forget the Poor!

In Acts 10:4, an angel spoke these words to Cornelius, a Roman centurion, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." God took note of not only Cornelius' prayers, but also his gifts to the poor. You see, the poor have a special place in God's merciful heart. Proverbs 19:17 reads, "He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." All this to say - DON'T FORGET THE POOR! And given that half the world's population (3 billion plus people) live on less than $2.00 per day - there are a lot of poor among us. So many, that it would be easy just to throw our hands up, overwhelmed by the need and do nothing, because after all, what can I do? I am just one person!

But YOU can do a lot more than you think. Let me give you just one suggestion. There is a ministry in central India that is reaching out to little boys in need. These boys are living in extreme poverty. Children's Fellowship of India (CFI) takes these boys (now over 130 of them) and gives them adequate clothing, shelter, food, and health care. But most important of all - the dedicated CFI staff gives these boys love and introduces them to the One who loves them more than anyone else - Jesus Christ!

For just $30 each month, you can provide the funds needed to provide for one of these little guys. And when you do it for one of them - Jesus says you do it for him! (check out Matthew 25:45). Will you consider joining my wife, Sharon and I (and several others here at Grace) in becoming a CFI sponsor? If you are interested, send me an email (jsmith@gracewv.org) to request a sponsor form. I'll be glad to send you one!

Making a difference for one in Naya Akola, India . . .

pj

Wireless Network Now Connected

"Wireless network now connected." This is a message that flashes across my laptop's screen every time I turn it on. The message lets me know that I am now connected to my home wireless network which will allow me in turn to connect to the Internet. Without this connection, I would be unable to check my email or "surf" the net. With it, I have full access to all that I need - no matter where I might be in my house. Technology is pretty amazing!

This reminds me of our connection with God. Anywhere we go we are networked with God. Whereas my laptop connection with the Internet is via a wireless network - our connection with God is via this spiritual discipline called prayer. Prayer is truly amazing. To think that we can connect with God through prayer at any time and any where - wow! (Just think - at the same time you might be talking to God, there are millions of others talking to him as well AND they are doing so in hundreds of different languages! You talk about a BIG God!) Now prayer is something we all practice. We all realize how vital it is. Yet most of us would admit that we struggle to pray as we should. I do. Therefore, this year I am planning to do something about it. I have decided to read through, study and digest two relatively new books on prayer. They are both well written and thought provoking. If you want to do some growing in this discipline of prayer, you may want to read and digest these books as well. The first is by J.I. Packer and Carol Nystrom. It is titled, Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight. The second is by Philip Yancey. It's title is Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? Both of these books have been stretching, challenging and encouraging me to pray more. Thanks, J.I., Carol and Philip!

Thanks for listening,

pj

Snow, Snow, When Are You Falling?

As a junior in high school, I sang in the school choir. The refrain of one of our holiday songs began with the lines, "Snow, snow, when are you falling? Snow, snow, none of your stalling. Winter's here and summer's gone, it's just about that time of the year - for some beautiful snow, snow, snow . . ." (crazy how I remember that so well from over 30 years ago!).

So far this winter, the snow has been in a stalling pattern, which is OK by me! But if we were to be hit with a mountain of snow next week, none of us would be surprised. After all, it's winter. And part of winter's package is snow.

There are many things that come with the package we call "life." One of which is change. Life is always changing. Sometimes the change is slow and gradual - but other times it knocks us over as it speeds by! Change can be good - or bad. But the reality is change is here to stay! (I heard someone once say that everyone loves progress - it's just change that they can't stand!) Aren't you glad that in the midst of all this change that we worship and serve a God who NEVER changes! Yes! "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and FOREVER!" (Hebrews 13:8) So when you need some stability in your ever changing life - remember to anchor your soul in the One who never changes! He will get you through!

Thanks for listening!

pj

The Best-Laid Plans Of Mice And Men Often Go Awry . . .

Plans. We all make them. Seek to implement them. Hope to realize them. But often our plans don’t quite work out the way we hoped. When I was a senior in high school, my plan was to go off to college and major in chemistry and become a chemist. Gladly, that plan did not work out. When Sharon and I got married, our plan was for me to work our first year while she finished college. Then she would work full-time while I attended seminary, after which I would seek a pastorate. At that point we would begin a family. That plan lasted ten months. Our first born, Emily, came along during Sharon’s spring break of her senior year. I could go on … but I think you get my point. No matter how well thought out our plans might be – there are no guarantees that they will come to pass.

Not so with God’s plans! His plans are set in granite. What God purposes WILL happen! No ifs, ands or buts about it! In Psalm 33:11 we read, “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” I don’t know about you – but I find a lot of comfort knowing that God’s plans for this world (and for me!) will one day be a reality! Why? Because when you read the finally chapter of the good Book – you will see that in the end, “Jesus is going to win!” So in the midst of this world’s ongoing turmoil, take heart in that! A better day IS coming!


Thanks for listening,

pj