MD

MD stands for the State of Maryland not for the profession of Medical Doctor.  That's where I am tonight, preaching at a men's meeting just outside of Baltimore.  I enjoy preaching somewhere else every once in a while.  I can tell the same stories, but they've heard them before.  I don't know them so I have no pre-conceived notions to what needs to be said, I just preach and trust that God will meet the needs.  This will be a short blog tonight; I drove for hours, eat for hours and preached for hours.  OK only one hour of preaching,  I hope it didn't feel like HOURS to those men. 

It serves us all well to set some time aside and focus on being challenged by the Word of God.  We all need that.

Good Night,

Chuck

Lost

There are times that I am so amazed with how kind my God is to me and my family.  His blessings are beautiful, undeserved and precious.  My dear wife and I left the gym the other night after our water aerobics workout and stopped by the Target (We pronounce it with the French accent, Tar-Ge' like in Fabergé egg) and then headed to the local Wegman's for a nice healthy meal from the salad bar.  As we pulled into the parking lot Joyce noticed that one of her earrings was missing.

These earrings are not just any-old earrings, they had belong to her mom.  When she had gone into the hospital for the last time (over 20 years ago now) they came out of her ears and went into Joyce's and have been there ever since.  Shock followed by a phone call to the gym, with the phrase 'Needle-in-a-haystack' being repeated more then once.  Prayer, salad and then a trip back to the gym followed in succession so that Joyce could at least look through the locker room.

You like happy endings?  Me too!  While I sat in the car and prayed some more, Joyce went through the ladies locker room, then into the shower area.  Remember nearly two hours had passed since we left, and there, on the floor of the shower stall, was the earring and the backing.  Amen!

Thank you Lord. 


Chuck

"Thy Word" Wednesday

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”

John 20:19

A Fish Out of Water

You all caught the fact that I'm doing the gym-thing for a few days.  Today I added a new twist, Water-Aerobics.  Yes, you heard me right.  One full hour of aquatic torture with musical accompaniment and several senior citizens.  I must admit it was a good workout especially for me, you see I always wear "extra" clothes in the pool.  I am one of those who takes the Bible for what it says.  So when the Bible says that the uncovering of the thigh is nakedness then I wear a pair of cut-offs, or "shorts", that go down past the knee.  And when the Bible says that the uncovering of the loins is nakedness I wear a tee-shirt in the pool to cover my loins (mid-drift).  This is the basis of my "Farmer's Tan" and the source of extra weigh in the pool for my aerobic-agony.  Oh, yes, let's not forget that the Bible says that the uncovering of the "buttocks" is also nakedness.  Got it covered.

It all went fairly well.  We walked a lot, did a bunch of repetitions with legs & arms going up & down.  We used water weights to add resistance to the arms and finally floated with a water-noodle for one last round of misery .  That's what did me in, the noodle!  With my legs straight out the instructor says "Do the Frog".  With my heels together, I pulled my feet in and ouch, my one calf said "That's It, No more!"  I traded my noodle for a Charlie-horse and limped to the back of the pool.  No one known, until that instructor asks, "Are you OK?"  Thanks!

The Truth does set us free but it can also weigh us down with extra clothing in the pool.  But I would rather be right than be more "comfortable" or more "stylish".  I know that it's a lot easier for guys to deal with these issues then it is for gals, but it's the same issue, the same Bible, the same Truth and the same need to follow our convictions rather than the conventions of society.  How's your "Farmer's Tan" doing?


Chuck

3 Days

I'm back at the gym this week on a Free, Three-Day pass.  I like Free.  The elliptical runner, the stationary bike and the tread mill will get some miles on them.  Then down stairs to the weights and all those torture machines.  Today I worked on my upper body, it really needs it.  My biceps, triceps and pectorals are all reminding my tonight that they don't do that too often.  Tomorrow will be Ab day.  This is going to hurt.

I realize that I'm not going to accomplish a lot in just 3 day, no one can ... except for Jesus.  He proclaimed "It is Finished" on the cross and then He gave up the ghost.  He would spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth just like He said (Matthew 12:40).  Jesus had promised the one thief on the cross next to His that "to day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).  So there He went.  While His body rested in a tomb, Jesus was taking all those souls who had been waiting in Paradise (AKA - Abraham's Bosom) and leading them to heaven.  The Bible also says that Jesus entered into heaven to appear in the presence of God the Father (Hebrews 9:24-25), even as the High Priest would come into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice to make an atonement for the people.  Jesus' blood was sufficient to pay for every sin of all of mankind; 'Once and for All!'  Then back to that cold, dark tomb, to fill His lifeless body with resurrection power, and to walk right out of death's camber.  "He is not hear, He is risen!"

I wont physically accomplish much in 3-Days, buy my Saviour sure did.  Trust in Jesus, He has the power to forgive sin.  Your's included.


Chuck (207)

Friday Favorites:

I was asked last week, "What is your favorite season?", to which I jokingly responded, "Baseball Season!"  Baseball is my favorite sport, and I am a Philadelphia Phillies fan, and have been since I can remember.  I was never a good ball player.  The little pee-wee league was is far as I ever played so that is not the driving force behind my enjoyment of the sport.  My earlies memories of watching the Phillies play would be sitting around the TV with my Great-Aunt Mill.  It was fun to watch her watch the game. 

All sports count on spectators, mostly for the money.  But please remember that Christianity is not a spectator sport.  Many people go to church and just watch what others do.  They purchase their ticket, sit in the stands, cheer every once in a while, head to the house when its over and wait for the next game.  Be part of the action.  Get involved in the "Work of the ministry". 

Chuck (210)

Semis & Roadkill

"Semis & Roadkill" is a sermon title for a message that I haven't started on yet, I still need a text to preach from.  The title came about while I was jogging down in Louisiana several weeks ago.  I had asked someone in the camp office if it was safe to run on the roads around the facility and in a wonderfully, slow, southern voice she said, "Oh no, there are too many semis".  I enjoy listening to 'Souther-ese'.  The long, drawn-out vowels, the slow pace of the dialog and the unique vocabulary.  We would never put our "Pop in a Sack" in New Jersey.  I love it!  And then there's the Grits!  But that's a whole different blog topic.

Not to be at all discouraged by large trucks, I took to the roads the next morning for a few miles (I ran all the way to Texas & back) and had a very enjoyable run.  She was right though, there were a lot of semis on that road.  Fortunately there was also a very wide shoulder to run on.  I alway run, facing traffic and I keep as far away from the road as possible.  Being hit by a semi would be counter-productive to the health benefits of jogging.  But while traveling down the edge of the highway you always come across Roadkill!  There they were, a few carcases and bits & pieces.  Some were recognizable, some were just darkened spots with fur.  I do believe that one showed signs of once being an armadillo, we don't have those up North. 

You can't avoid death even when you are out of the lanes of traffic.  As a Christian I have been promised eternal life, Jesus said "whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die", but while I travel along I must pass by the results of death everywhere.  I don't need to step in it, to lie down in it or pick it up and carry it around with me. I think that will preach.  Death will never touch me, why would I want to touch it?

Chuck

"Thy Word" Wednesday

“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”  

Proverbs 29:23

"Zoo"

I was hanging out at the zoo the other day.  This place is more like an animal rescue center with "Zoo" as a nom de plume.  There were potbelly pigs that out grew their pens, and monkeys that folks realized needed more room than a living room could supply.  There were black bears which are native to North Jersey but ended up needing some type of assistance in South Jersey.  The "Zoo" included Llamas & Tigers & Bears, Oh My.  Then there were the beat-up dears, which were very sad looking and a large Boa with his neighbor the gigantic Iguana.  Oh ya, there were lots of peacocks, LOTS.

The system goes like this; they are trying to help injured, abandoned and abused animals and folks, especially kids, love to look at and feed animals.  For a nominal fee you can walk through the "Zoo", feed some popcorn to a few critters and take a bunch of pictures.  The "Zoo" raises some cash and the animals get some attention.  Everybody wins.  You see, compassion, concern and conviction always finds a way to accomplish their goals.  Once we see the distress of the souls of men shouldn't we do everything we can to make sure that their spiritual needs are met?  "Lift up your eyes and look ..."

Chuck (211)

Holy Ground

Joyce and I were in Philadelphia today helping out with a field trip for Heritage Christian Academy.  I hope the kids had as much fun as I did.  We took the train into Philly and then did the un-official, self-guided walking tour with your's truly  providing the running commentary along the way.  Time really flew and we didn't get to half the stuff I wanted to see.

We did, however, make it to Independence Hall.  Through this door is the room which has changed the lives of every American.  This is where Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution were drafted and signed.  What was done here, in this room, is what makes the place so special to all of us, and so it is with Calvary.  Just a mound of rock and dirt, just a hill on the outskirts of the ancient city of Jerusalem, yet it's what was done there, on that hill, that makes it so special to all of us.  It was on that dusty soil that the precious blood of our savior, Jesus, fell.  Our liberty, our freedom from the bondage of our sins was purchased on the lonely ground.  Jesus cried, "It is finished", and I was now free.  Amen! 

Have you visited Calvary?  Have you knelt at the cross and through faith had your name place upon the pages of the eternal and unchangeable Book of Life?

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Galatians 5:1

Chuck

Friday Favorites:

Borrow money from a pessimist ...
they won't expect it back.

Anon.

"It's Alive! It's Alive!"

My apple tree is alive.  The pruning was apparently a success, well at least in the fact that the tree is not dead.  I would refer you back to February and the mid-winter sawing of the branches, and my lack of horticultural savvy, as a simple point of reference to understand why I so excited.

Growth is life, and life is hope, and hope is anticipation for fruit, and fruit is the goal.  It's nice that it's alive and that it's green, but the real test will be in the Apple Pies come the fall.  

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5


Chuck

Wordless Wednesday

Green Thumb

More Gangrene! My dear wife and I have a very difficult time getting things to grow.  I don't know why that is.  I don't understand the problem.  We have been trying to start some herbs inside but they sprout, grow for few days then just dry up.  What's the deal with that?  Normally when we want to grow something we buy the "pre-grown" plant and stick it in the ground. Tomato plants, pepper plans, and what ever else we need.  Why such poor results with seeds?

Could be we need a little more "weeping".  "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing ..."  That's a great promise.  A tremendous amount of emotional effort, driven by effectual fervent prayer, and continual labor will certainly produce much fruit.  How's your crops doing?  I hope more fruitful then my herb garden.


Chuck (214)

5K & 6 Pages

These past few days have been a little busy.  Besides the weekly activities at NTBC which includes sermon preparation I tacked on 5K race on Saturday and then there is the Homework.  The little mini-semester which I attended at the end of last month had a few assignments which needed to be completed this week.  So today was the day to "Get-er-Done". 

I have noted a similarity between running races, pursuing an educational goal and living the Christian life, it is all about pacing yourself and finishing well.  This past Saturday there were 437 runners at the starting line and many, especially the real young kids, sprinted from the line at full speed ahead.  That is fine pace for a 100 yard dash, but many of those youngins where dragging themselves across the finish line.  It is always best to start well, pace yourself and then finish well. 

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1Cor 9:27)



Chuck

Friday Favorites:

Today's Favorite is a series of books that I greatly enjoy:

Uncle John's Bathroom Readers

They are without a doubt some of the most informative pieces of literature on the market.  Filled with trivia, amusing stories, and historical oddities in plenty.  One of my favorites is this volume on New Jersey.  I would recommend this work as a source of information concerning the Garden State.  From the legend of the Pine Land's Jersey Devil to the Frightening Facts of actual shark attacks along the Jersey Shore, this book records them all.  Pirates, poets, parks, parkways and Park Place in Atlantic City; it's all here.


Chuck (214!)

"Thy Word" Wednesday

“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,”

Psalm 17:8

Ages 3 and Up

My dear wife and I were out shopping a couple of weeks ago and as usual we picked up a few things things for some Grand Babies.  I don't remember the exact item that I was looking at but Joyce pointed out the warning label and that it was not age appropriate. 

This really gets my brain going, because it seems like we get the age appropriate things wrong sometimes.  Like when we allow 16 year olds to get behind the wheel of a 2-Ton chunk of mobile metal when most of them couldn't operate a washing machine even if the instructions were written on the lid!  I made my kids wait till they were 18 (I know, I'm mean) but I know some folks that are better than twice that age that I wouldn't trust behind the wheel of a wheel-barrel.

Some warning labels are very practical:

Some even more so:

And then there are those warning signs which we are reminded of often and yet refuse to believe.

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
2 Timothy 3:12



Chuck

Stir it Up

These last few days I have been in 2 Timothy for my devotions.  I was reading in chapter 1 the comment made be Paul to that young preacher, Timothy, where he says "Wherefore I put thee in rememrance that thou stir up the gift of God ..."

There are times when others need to remind us of the tendency we have towards weakness in our flesh.  We allow our flesh to drive instead of the Spirit.  But this re-kindling or stirring up can only be done by us.  We have to stir up the gift of God.  If you are sitting around waiting for someone or something external to stir you up your going to miss out on a lot.  The gift of God is in you.  The Spirit of God is in you.  The ability to enliven your Christian life is in you.  God has given you a Spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  So stir it up!


Chuck (215)

#33

Cliff Lee is pitching tonight at Citizen Bank Park for the Phillies.  As of the 7th the Astros are trailing by 5 and Lee has 10 strike outs.  When Lee re-signed with the Phillies during the off-season it surprised a lot of folks and fans, but welcome back.  The Rangers wanted to keep him and the Yankees thought they had a good shot at buying him, yet here he is.  Rumor has it that Lee had no desire to be in New York because his wife was verbally abused during a game a few years back.  Others say that Lee's son, who has leukemia, had received excellent care at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia while playing with the Phillies in 2009.  No matter what the real reason was it didn't come down to the money.

Just a simple lesson tonight: It's not all about the money!  Many work by the adage, "How much is enough?  Just a little bit more!"  But Cliff Lee is quoted as saying, "When you hit a certain point, enough is enough."

"For the love of money is the root of all evil"

Chuck

P.S. 8-4 Phillies in the bottom of the 8th

Friday Favorites:

"Everybody is as holy as he wants to be, and everybody is as full as he wants to be.  It has to be so, because our Lord said, 'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled' (Matthew 5:6), and the filling is in exact proportion to the hunger.  So if we are not filled, it is because we are not sufficiently hungry."

A.W. Tozer

Tozer Speaks to Students