Friday Coffee with PJ

Well, I have already had my Friday morning coffee (eating breakfast out means more coffee than I probably should drink!) ... and you probably have finished yours. So ... without the coffee ... here are a couple of thoughts for your day.

1. I just LOVE the Old Testament book of wisdom, Proverbs. In fact the title literally means "instead of - pro" and "words - verb") ... so you put them together and a proverb is "instead of words." In essence a proverb offers up much wisdom in few words. And if you have done much reading in this book, you know its true. For example, one of my favorite proverbs is 10:19 which reads, "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent." Now that is RIGHT ON! Far too often I have gotten myself into trouble by moving my jaws before engaging my brain! More of us could stand to listen more and talk less! Another of my favorite proverbs is 25:17: "Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you."  Ouch! So often we think that we are God's gift to those around us and when we live life with that mindset, we prove to be nothing like a gift. An annoyance yes! But a gift no! Finally, there's 27:2: "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips." This is the practice of a truly humble person. For one who is humble does not care if anyone notices his efforts. All that matters to the humble is that God notices!  

2. As a pastor, across the years (and I have been at it over 35 now!) I have received many calls, emails, letters (that's snail mail for some of you who don't remember ever receiving one), etc. from missionary candidates. Many were young. Most were passionate. All were in need .... of prayer and of financial support. In the vast majority of cases, I tried to encourage all of them while at the same time saying, "our church's mission's plate is already full." Certainly a "talk" they had been given often. Now ... I am guessing that one of the main reasons that missionaries struggle so much to raise their needed support is that far too many Christians do not practice "self-denial giving." And just what is that? Click here to find out! After I read the article, I am thinking about the article's implications for the church I am privileged to lead. Hmm....more o that later! Until then . . . 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

A Couple of Lessons from a Flat Tire

Sunday afternoon, my wife packed up the minivan (I still can't believe I am part of the minivan crowd ... but it's part of the package of grandparenting!). She was heading to see her mom (who resides in the skilled care unit at the Mennonite Home). Along with a box of chocolates, she had a basket that contained a variety of miscellaneous items and a bouquet of flowers picked from our garden. She was gone no more than five minutes when my phone rang. Caller ID told me it was her. "Hmm", I thought to myself, "I wonder what she forgot." Well if she forgot anything it might have been to avoid the nail on the road. Her passenger front tire, she informed me, was about as flat as a tire could be. Grumbling and muttering, I grabbed my keys to go help. Once on site, I decided to call AAA for road service. I figured they could not be too busy given the holiday weekend. After giving my location and problem along with my membership number to the AAA dispatcher, she told me I would receive a phone call shortly from whomever was assigned to assist me.

Knowing how long I have waited in the past for help to arrive, I decided that maybe I could get the spare on quicker. So I grabbed the owner's manual from the glove box to find out just where the little donut spare was kept. After locating it and removing it, I then sought out the jack and lug wrench. Upon finding them, I began the steps to remove them. The lug wrench came out easily, but try as I might I could not remove the jack. At that point, I resigned myself to wait. The wait proved short. After arriving promptly (I was impressed!), the AAA mechanic took less than five minutes to remove the flat and put on the spare. Before I knew it, I was on my way back home (and Sharon drove our other vehicle to visit her mom).

Here are two lessons I learned (or perhaps better said, "was reminded of!"):

1. My heart still is marked by ingratitude. My first reaction to Sharon's call for help was to grumble and complain (see Philippians 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Really? Yep! Instead of being thankful that the problem was only a flat tire, that I live in a prosperous nation in which I can easily afford not just one vehicle but two, that I have a membership in AAA that enables me to resolve the problem with a phone call and a little bit of time (and I could go on and on and on counting my blessings) ... instead of thanking God I was griping. Wow! A reminder of just how far I have to do in this area.

2. Help is only a simple phone call away (in this case, when you are a member of AAA). This, of course, is an excellent illustration of prayer. When we call out to God in prayer, we have promises in the Word of God that not only will he hear us, he WILL respond (1 John 5:14-15; Matthew 7:7; Philippians 4:6). And friends, when we issue that "call" to our Father in Heaven, he has FAR MORE RESOURCES, WISDOM, and COMPASSION than AAA ever will!

Thanks for stopping by ... and may you have a "flat tire free day!"
pj

Remembering on Memorial Day

I trust you are enjoying today's holiday. But let's not forget to remember! Memorial Day is a holiday that was established to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country. Our freedom is not free. It came with a price. Take a moment today (3 PM is the "official: time to do so) and give thanks for the men and women of our armed services who shed their blood to keep us free! And while you are at it, thank the ONE who shed HIS blood to set us free from the penalty of sin and our bondage to it!

Check out the Denison Forum commentary on today's holiday ... right here!

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

God's Will Be Done ... Is That What We Really Desire?

This morning as I was reading from the excellent devotional, Voices from the Past, I came across these
words,

 "One way or another, God works his children into a sweet obedient frame. At length, God brings his children to subscribe: 'What God wills, when God wills, how God wills; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'"  (Thomas Case)

As those words in bold print began to register in my still somewhat foggy morning brain, I slowly began to realize that all-too-often ... that is NOT me! When circumstances and situations begin to erode my comfort and convenience, instead of humbly submitting to God's providential plan for me and my life, I grumble. I complain. I look to God and ask, "Why this?" "Why now?" "Why me? "Why at all?"

The Bible makes it clear that God uses the difficulties of life to do HIS work in us (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). My friends, if we realize the breath and depth of his love for us (Romans 5:8), and the vastness of his wisdom (Isaiah 40:28; Romans 11:33) , then we will find it so much easier to sincerely and humbly pray, "God, your will be done ... even if it hurts!"

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

It's that time of the week again ... so pour your favorite cup of morning brew and join me for a few random thoughts.

1. A commentary by syndicated columnist Cal Thomas caught my eye this week. He started his piece with these words, "Once, Social Security was the 'third rail' of politics. Touch it and face political death. Now it is homosexuality. Criticize anything gay people do and you risk ostracism, fines, suspension or loss of your livelihood." I could not help but to think of Cal's remarks as I watched the media coverage this week of a judge's striking down Pennsylvania's gay marriage ban. And should anyone speak up to ask... "Hey, is it right to allow one judge to redefine an institution that has been around a very long time?" - that person will be immediately branded as a bigot and hater. Well, I for one and asking that question. And I don't consider myself either a bigot or hater. But I do consider myself one who believes in the institution of marriage as designed and established by the Creator himself. Jesus makes it clear just what this design is in Matthew 19:3-6. Here he states that God's design for marriage is ONE MAN ... ONE WOMAN ... ONE FLESH ... FOR LIFE! So .. we who follow Jesus must stand for this biblical definition of marriage. Since the Creator established marriage, only he has the right to define it. But even as we take this stand, we should not dishonor Jesus by failing to respond to those who differ from us with the love of Jesus Christ.

2. I liked what pastor-author Kevin DeYoung had to say on his blog about his desire that his church not be a "lopsided" church. By that he meant that he doesn't want his church to get so focused on a few virtues that other important ones get neglected. Then he wrote the following (and I really liked what he had to say ... and what he desires for his own church, I desire for our church):

"Obviously, we won’t be able to do all things equally well as a church, just like you cannot do all things equally well as an individual. But my hope is that University Reformed Church Grace Church at Willow Valley could be marked by diverse excellencies: grace and truth, logical precision and warmhearted passion, careful thinking and compassionate feeling, strong theology and tender love, Christian liberty and spiritual discipline, congregational care and committed outreach, appreciation for businessmen and entrepreneurs and advocacy for social justice, interest in local evangelism and interest in world missions, excellence without elitism, unity without uniformity, diversity without doctrinal infidelity, ambition without arrogance, and contentment without complacency." 

Well said, Kevin. Please pray for me that we would grow toward becoming this kind of church! 

3. Finally, a quote to inspire you to pray ... and to pray more! 

"God has commanded us to pray that we might be prepared to receive from him what he is always ready and willing to confer upon us." (Puritan Ezekiel Hopkins)

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

A Day with Ella!

Ever try keeping up with an excited five year old at a zoo? My wife and I made the attempt on Monday of this week. We took our granddaughter to Lake Tobias (north of Harrisburg) as part of her birthday celebration. We were no sooner out of the car when she spotted a playground by the park entrance. She immediately took off. "Slow down, Ella and wait for Papa and Grammy!" (this was a line repeated over and over again in the course of the day!). Now my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed all the animals we were able to see. And the safari ride was a boatload of fun. But the highlight of our day was to walk run in the wake of our granddaughter's enthusiastic excitement!

Oh that we would get that passionately excited about Jesus Christ! Running hard after HIM ... in all that we do! I believe a key to having a five year old's excitement in our faith journey is simply to get to know God better! And there is no better way to get to know God better than to spend time in HIS Word. For in its pages, he has revealed himself to us! The better we get to know the Word of God ... the better we will know the God of the Word! For some help and encouragement in this arena ... please take a moment to visit our Carpe Diem blog (click the graphic to the right).

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj

Enriching Words from Yesteryear

Recently I picked up the book, Voices from the Past: Puritan Devotional Readings. It has proven to be a goldmine! Here are some thoughts from the pen of Puritan Richard Baxter:

"Unbelievers seek their happiness in things of the world. Believers find their happiness in God. It is contrary to the nature of faith for a believer to seek peace in his earthly enjoyments. Our present pilgrimage is a prison, yet alas, we too commonly do this. By this we kill our comforts and then complain they are missing. It is folly to expect any stable peace or solid joy that does not come from Christ as the fountain. O that Christians would learn to live with one eye on Christ crucified and the other on his coming in glory! If everlasting joys were more in your thoughts, spiritual joys would abound more in your hearts. No wonder you are comfortless when heaven is forgotten. Alas, when will we learn from Scripture and providence to seek far more from God, and far less from the earth?"

Thanks for stopping by . . .
pj