Friday Coffee with PJ

It's Friday, so please pour yourself a cup of your favorite java and join me for a few random thoughts. 

1. The first has to do with the consumption of coffee. I saw on the news yesterday a report of a case that is proceeding through a California court. A non profit group wants to see a label on coffee (wherever it is sold in the state) to warn consumers that drinking coffee increases the risk of cancer. How so? It appears that a certain chemical (acrylamide) appears in coffee, and acrylamide has been linked to cancer. Those opposing this push to label coffee as a cause of cancer point to the fact that acrylamide (a byproduct of the roasting process) consists of only 6 parts per billion. This minute amount is far too small to be a serious cancer threat. Others opposing the drive to label coffee with a warning also reference all the benefits to drinking coffee which recent studies have revealed (in the television report I saw, a USC cancer geneticist referenced studies that have shown moderate coffee consumption actually decreases the risk of certain kinds of cancer (the two he specifically mentioned were colon and rectal cancer). 

Bottom line, it will be interesting to see how the court rules in this case. My read? There are a lot more things we consume that are far less healthy than a cup of joe! Perhaps if we start by eating a more balanced healthy diet and get more regular exercise ... we will be on path to a healthier future than we would by merely giving up coffee! After all ... what would a morning be without the wake up cup of my favorite brew (which is San Francisco Bay Fog Chaser in case you are wondering!)? I shudder to think! 

I also wonder what will be next on the list of cancer causing agents to avoid. Air? Water? What is driving this desire to remove all risk from our lives? Is that even possible? I am all for being responsible. But sometimes we go over the top when it comes to this sort of thing. Let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater! 

2. On a more spiritual note, one of the tools I have been using this new year to enrich my quiet time with God is Tim Keller's excellent devotional book, God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs. He suggests that in chapter three of Proverbs, we find "six things that can serve as the marks of a wise person and at the same time are the means for growing in wisdom."  The first of these is trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5). Here is a portion of what he writes concerning this: 

"You can believe in God yet still trust something else for your real significance and happiness—which is therefore your real God. We hide how we do this from ourselves, and it is only when something goes wrong with, say, your career or your family, that you realize it is much more important to you than the Lord himself." 

So all of us must be asking ourselves what we are truly trusting for our fulfillment and happiness in life. For whatever we are trusting is nothing more than an idol (unless, of course, that something is the God who made us!). As Keller points out, "Idolatries of the heart lead to foolishness in the life." 

The remedy for idolatry and the foolishness it brings is the gospel of Jesus Christ. For only when we realize just who we are "in Christ" (an often occurring phrase in the Bible's newer testament) will we be free from the bondage to the idols that our hearts so easily manufacture! So let's heed the words with which the Apostle John closes his first letter: "Little children, guard yourself from idols" (1 John 5:22).

Thanks for stopping by . . . 

pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Friday ... wait a minute. Wasn't yesterday Friday? Ahhhh. Time's a flying! And since it's Friday, I invite you to pour yourself a cup of the black elixir of life and join me for a couple or random thoughts that I hope will stimulate you to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25). 

Across my 38 years of pastoral ministry, I have officiated many a memorial service. This week, I have the opportunity of doing two. In both of these, the departed loved one is an individual who has left a wonderful legacy behind. In many ways, these are the easier funerals to officiate. Yes, it is a bitter moment, knowing that the separation from the deceased is very real. But it's also sweet knowing that the loved one is now more alive than he or she has ever been in this life! Any time someone dies, we are reminded of our own mortality. That sooner or later, we will all follow down this same path. Death is part of the package of life. The statistics are clear and indisputable: one out of everyone one dies (see Hebrews 9:27). So how can we prepare for the inevitable? Many don't. They simply choose to ignore what will eventually be their lot. But sticking one's head in the sand is not the way to prepare oneself for the death that awaits us all. Let me offer up a few suggestions that will help you get ready for that fateful day. 

1. Face reality. We must learn to hold loosely that which God has only “loaned” to us - LIFE!  Facing reality (reality that death is coming for us all) is the first step toward preparing to deal with death. Because if we don't do this, we won't do anything else to prepare. 

2. Plan thoughtfully. Every time someone dies, plans must be made and carried out. But when are these plans usually made?  Often it is the day after the loved one dies. Now at this moment, are most people in the best frame of mind to make a lot of important decisions? Why leave these decisions to be made by your widow or children? Why not make them ahead of time? You planned your wedding, why not your burial? I am not suggesting that each month you update your pallbearers list! But is there a special song you want sung at your memorial service? A certain Bible passage read?  Significant people in your life that you would want to see involved in some way? Go ahead and write it out! It may feel morbid, but better than to leave your grieving loved ones to have to guess what you would want!  

3. Communicate clearly. This suggestion flows out of the previous. Once you plan thoughtfully, then you must communicate those plans clearly to someone else. So talk to your spouse (or children) about “what if I die?” Talk about the memorial service. Talk about remarriage. Talk about life insurance. Because there is coming a day when you won't be able to talk to those you love (at least until they arrive in heaven!). I have a friend who has some plans for his memorial service written out on a note app on his phone. But he confessed to me he hasn't told his wife, assuming she will check his phone. My guess she will. But most likely after the fact (I told him he should tell her!). 

4. Live relationally. Don’t make the pursuit of money and the stuff money buys the priority of your life. Things like houses and cars and clothes won't last. And you sure can't take these things to heaven with you! Instead, do make the pursuit of relationships a priority! When it comes to the end of your life it will be relationships with people that bring comfort - not your car, house or wardrobe! My wife often tells our grandkids when they fight over a toy - "Remember, that people are more important than things." Something even us adults need to be told! 

One final thought. As you seek to live your life relationally, be sure your most important relationship is in order. Of course, I am referring to your relationship with the God who made you. To be sure it is, I would encourage you to take a moment to check out Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face. 

May you live long and prosper in Christ ... and get prepared for your passage from this life to the next! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

It's Friday again ... so please pour yourself a cup of your favorite coffee and join me for a couple of random thoughts.

This past Sunday, my smartphone had a rather unfortunate encounter with water (I will leave it at that!). I did my best to dry it out (which included leaving it in a bag of dried rice overnight). But even though it did make a come back of sorts, the display continued to flicker off and on. At that point, I knew it was time to purchase a new phone. For starters, since our provider is Consumer Cellular (no contract YES!!!), I took a look at the phones they offer. I was not about to pay full price for the latest android phones that were in their lineup (my first smartphone was an iPhone ... but when I had to retire that phone I made the switch to android phones - and am glad I did!). And the lower priced phones they were offering did nothing for me. So I did some research and landed on the Moto G5 Plus.* Many reviewers lauded it as the best budget phone you can buy (the words "best" and "budget" really caught my eye!). Adroid Central labeled it The Most Important Phone of 2017.  After deciding on the phone, I checked out Best Buy and noticed the model I was interested in was actually on sale. So, Monday morning, I walked into Best Buy, bought the phone (the sales rep inserted the SIM card from my old phone) and walked out in a matter of less than 15 minutes! Now that's service! 

As I thought of this, I thought how nice it would be if every problem we face in life could be so easily solved. But that's not how life works. So how should we approach the problems that rise up in our lives? What resources do we have available to help us 

find solutions? Let me suggest the following three principles which will go a long way toward helping you resolve difficulties that come your way. 

- The sufficiency of Scripture: The Bible is sufficient in providing help for every problem we may ever face. In 2 Peter 1:3, the Apostle Peter tells us that we have everything we need for life and godliness in the knowledge we have of God (which comes to us through the pages of the Bible). Both King David (Psalm 19:1-6) and the Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 3:15-17) also express a very high regard for what the Scripture is able to do. 

- The centrality of Christ: Christ must be at the center of the resolutions of your problems. In Philippians 4:13, Paul talks about how Christ enables him to do "all things." In contrast, Jesus in John 15:5, tells us that we can do "nothing" apart from him. As can readily been seen from this, Jesus Christ must be at the very center of our attempts to resolve the problems we face. 

- The necessity of community: Your involvement in a community of Christ -followers is essential if you are going to overcome life's never-ending problems (which are never-ending because we are broken people living in a broken world). In both Hebrews 3:12-13 and Hebrews 10:24-25, the writer of this letter reminds us of just how much we need each other! God never intended us to walk through this life on our own. We need other fellow travelers to lean on (and vice-versa). 

Three principles to grip and to apply as we go through life, for if you aren't dealing with a problem today, you will tomorrow! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

*To be fair to Consumer Cellular ... they did offer the 2GB/32MG model of this phone, but for an slightly more money I had my eye on the 4GB/64MG model. 

Friday Coffee with PJ

Can you believe today is the first Friday of 2018? The New Testament letter writer James was spot on when he said our lives are like mist that is here for a moment and then gone! (James 4:14). So as you contemplate just how quick your life is passing, pour yourself a cup of coffee and spend just a few of your valuable minutes reading a couple random thoughts that, I hope, will help you in your spiritual journey! 

1. On New Year's Day we celebrated my youngest grandson's 2nd birthday. All was going well between the grandkids UNTIL it came time for the presents. One of the first gifts little Lucas opened was a little train set. His cousin, Logan, who had just turned two on November 1st, received the same train set for his birthday. So when he saw it ... he made a play for it. "Mine!" he shouted as he grabbed the train. But Lucas was in no mood to share his brand new train. "Mine!" he shouted back, clinging to his new toy. At this point, parents got involved and restored order and the party went on.

As you well know, little children do not need to be taught to be self-centered (as this incident and so many others reveal). Rather parents must teach them to share and think about others rather than thinking about themselves. Why is this? Because all of us are born into this world as sinners. We are broken people right from the start. So we need fixing. And ultimately the only one who can fix us is the one who made us, God himself! Wonderfully and gloriously God provides the fix we all need. He does so in His Son, Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul writes that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation (2 Corinthians 7:17). And he tells us in his letter to the church in Philippi that the "fix" God started in us is not done yet  - but he will one day finish what he has begun! (Philippians 1:6). 

My friend, has God started his work in you? Are you numbered among those who are "in Christ?" If you are not sure ... if you have any question about this ... please take a moment to check out Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face.  It could prove to be the most important few minutes of your life! 

2. Last Friday (the 29th), I noticed that my sister Bev's birthday popped up on my Facebook birthday feed. It caught me off guard, as my sister passed away four Christmases ago. Once I gathered my thoughts, I reflected a bit on her life. About 7 years or so before her death, she had moved to North Carolina to be near her daughter. Since she did not drive and had poor health, our time together was via phone calls and text messages. In the August prior to her passing, at the prompting of my wife (and the Spirit of God) I offered to drive my other sister down to NC to visit Bev. We had a brief, but good visit. Little did we know as we waved good bye we would never see our sister again (at least in this life). 

All of this reminds me of just how important relationships are. My sister and I did not always see "eye to eye" and our sister-brother relationship could have been a lot better. But at the end of the day she was (and always will be) my sister. I am so grateful to God that he (and my wife) encouraged me to clear a few days from my busy schedule to make that drive south. Otherwise, I would have regretted not doing so to this day. 

How about you? Is there a family member or close friend you need to reach out to? My wife always tells our grandkids, "People are more important than things." Good advice for them. Good counsel for us! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

What to Do about New Year Resolutions?

Here we are just a few days before we enter yet another new year! In addition to the New Year traditions of watching the television broadcast of the ball drop in Times Square (though in recent years I have given up this tradition!), savoring pork and sauerkraut (I have not yet given up on this one!) and watching football bowl games, another tradition comes to mind. Making new year's resolutions. Been there? Done that? I have. And usually for no long term gain! 

Yes, I admit I am tempted to start off the new year with the status quo. But a big part of me wants to make some changes for the better. And changes don't just happen. As Don Carson reminds us, "No one drifts toward holiness." So I am once again going to enter the new year with some resolutions in hand. But this year, I am going to do it differently than I have done in the past. This year I am going to KISS the whole resolution making process (i.e. Keep It Simply Smitty). 

Therefore, I am making three resolutions. No more. No less. One for my mind. Another for my body. And a third for my heart. Mind, body, heart. All require some special attention. 

1. My mind. Jesus included our minds in his call upon us to love the Lord our God (Matthew 22:37). So how can I better love God with my mind in 2018? One helpful step to do so is to saturate it with God's truth. To assist me in this, I am resolving to memorize each of 52 weekly questions and answers from The New City Catechism. This will be a stretch for me. But a stretch well worth undertaking! 

2. My body. The Apostle Paul reminded his readers (and by extension, us) that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As such, we need to treat them in such a way that honors God. To help me with this, I plan to use my fitness tracker to achieve my personal step goal for each day. I also will strive toward reducing the amount of grazing I tend to do in the evenings when at home. So at the end of the day I will be increasing my calorie burn while reducing calorie intake. Sounds like one step toward taking better care of the temple!

3. My heart. King Solomon, arguably the second wisest man to ever walk this earth (Jesus being first), urges the guarding of one's heart "above all else" (Proverbs 4:23). To help me do this better, I am going to spend time working through the book of Proverbs by using Tim Keller's excellent new daily devotional on this Old Testament book of wisdom. I plan to journal and pray my response (and hopefully live it out in the trenches of life) and memorize some key verses from the book.

So there you have it ... three simple (I think) steps I plan to take (in addition to other things I already am doing) to help me walk further down the path of godliness . . . taking each step, of course, by God's grace and for his glory! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  And if you are anything like me you are wondering, "How can Christmas be just three days away?" We can stop wondering and embrace the reality that in a blink or two of our eyes ... Christmas will be here (and then gone!). So, I plan to make the most of these days leading up to Christmas to celebrate the reason (the REAL reason) for the holiday: the birth of Jesus the Christ, our Savior and Lord (and I hope you do so as well). Please pour yourself a cup of coffee (This morning I am enjoying a cup of Starbucks Christmas blend. It has a CHRISp taste that brings JOY to the taste buds ... bottom line, it is SNOW GOOD!). 

1. With people in the United States spending an average of $1000 this year on Christmas gifts, it makes me wonder if in the midst of all this gift giving, Christmas' greatest gift might be lost in the pile of torn wrapping paper and empty boxes. And just what is that gift? It is the birth of a baby in the midst of barnyard animals. One who was born to die. Of course, I am talking about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. A birth long promised by the prophets of the Old Testament. A birth celebrated by heaven's angelic population. A birth wondered at by a group of lowly shepherds. A birth honored by a group of exalted magi. 

I urge you in your Christmas gift exchanges, that you pause to thank God for his indescribable gift (1 Corinthians 9:15). Take a moment to read and reflect upon the following words of the Apostle Paul: 

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).

2. Not only can the real reason for Christmas get lost in the holiday shuffle, but, in young 5 year old TyLon Pittman's mind, the very holiday itself can be stolen! The young boy called 911 out of concern that the Grinch was going to successfully pull off a heist of Christmas. The 911 operator was amused, as was Officer Lauren Develle. Develle arranged to have TyLon come to the station and lock up the Grinch! Check out the story here. All of us have a bit of the Grinch in us ... (if you doubt this, just listen to yourself and count how many times throughout your day you complain about something!). Just the other day ... I was in my back yard picking up branches which had broken off our trees during some recent high winds. I caught myself complaining. So I stopped in my tracks and gave thanks to God for the house my wife and I (and the bank) own (though we are getting ever closer to eliminating the bank's share of ownership!). Many people do not own a home. And many people here in the US and throughout the world are, in fact, homeless. So all this to say ... the next time you catch a grumbling complaint rolling off your tongue, STOP! Think about what you are complaining about. Find something to be thankful for ... and give thanks! Don't be a Grinch!

3. I want to close out by offering thanks! First and foremost thanks to God for his AMAZING and sovereign grace which saved me from sin's penalty and is saving me from sin's power (and which one day will save me from sin's presence!). I also thank my wife and kids and kids-in-law and their kids! Thanks fam, for your love for one another and for me! Finally, thanks to my church family! The staff team and elder team that I work with have to be among the best in the land. And add to them everyone else who calls Grace Church at Willow Valley their home! I can think of NOWHERE else I would rather be serving Jesus than RIGHT HERE at Grace! You all are the best! A very merry and joy-filled Christmas to you all! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj

Friday Coffee with PJ

Sorry I missed you all last week. I was on a "staycation," enjoying some time away from work and with my wife. But this morning, I am back (actually was back at the beginning of this week). So pour yourself a hot cup of java and join me for a few random thoughts. 

1. One of the fun things my wife and I did last week was to see the movie, The Man Who Invented Christmas. The movie portrays how Charles Dickens wrote and published his much loved story, A Christmas Carol, in a matter of six short weeks. The majority of his characters who appear in his book are based on actual people he encountered in his own life. One item Dickens carried with him was a little book. In that book, he would write down names whenever he ran across one that struck his fancy. These names often worked their way into his writings (for example, at the end of the film, he met a constable with the last name of Copperfield .... ring a bell?). Dickens is not the only one keeping a book of names. God is, too! Really? Absolutely. In the Bible's final book, the Apostle John is describing the final judgment. During this judgment, all of humanity will stand before God. Books will be opened which record every deed we have ever done, every word we have ever spoken, every thought we have ever had. And since even the "best" of these are as "polluted garments" before God (Isaiah 64:6), all of us should be condemned. However, there exists another book. It belongs to the Lamb, whom the Scriptures identify as none other than Jesus Christ (John 1:29). Anyone whose name is recorded in this book will not face eternal judgment, but will instead be given eternal life (Revelation 13:8; 20:15). 

My friends, is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life? You might wondering how you can find out? Your name is written in it when you make the choice to follow Jesus. If you want to learn more about what it means to do so, I urge you to check out: Two Ways to Live: The Choice We All Face.

2. In just a little over a week (ten days, but who's counting?!), Christmas Day will arrive. For my wife and I, that means lots of grandkids will descend upon our house (seven of them are eight years of age and under). If I could just figure out how to capture their energy in a pill, I could fund a lot of mission projects around the world! I will guarantee you that by the time they all head for home and a welcome quiet descends upon our house, Grammy and Papa will crawl into our recliners, put up our feet, and allow the warmth of having spent Christmas Day with our kids and their kids sooth our tired bodies. 

Not every grandparent will enjoy this blessing this Christmas. But for my wife and I, we thank God that we can! 

Thanks for stopping by . . . 
pj