THE GRIND

Don't you just love those times when God's Holy Spirit

has been dealing with you. Helping, encouraging, even

correcting?

Those times that the Lord has felt so close you could

reach out and touch him? When you feel like you

could take him by the hand, walk right down into the

middle of hell, and with a glad shout kick the Devil in

the you know what?

But what about tomorrow? Tomorrow (or latter today.)

when it's dull, uninspiring, tiring, futile, discouraging

and painful?

Praise God. That's where saints are made. Saints are

made in the grind. In the valley. Not on the mountain

top. Some one called it "the grandeur of the grind".

God said through the apostle James,

"Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various

trials, for you know that the testing of your faith

produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its

full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking

nothing."

-James 1:2-4 RSV

Those of you who read your whole Bible - instead of bits

and pieces of it - notice there are various themes that

come through. There is one theme I have noticed from Genesis

to Revelation. It may not be popular. And it sure does not

fit some of the doctrines around town. But it is still there,

from beginning to end, stated in different ways.

"But he who endures to the end will be saved.

- Matthew 10:22 RSV

I don't like that word "endure". But it's there. Endure is

going through the "grind", but with my eye still on Jesus.

Endure is facing today's trials, without caving in.

Praise God. Today has more than it's share of problems.

But God is going to use them to bend me. Mould me.

Make me into the saint he wants me to be.

Thank God for the task and trials ahead of me as I go

into the grind today.

THE PITY PARTY

Now is an appropriate time to add my photo to this blog. The

above image is a self portrait. It did not come out well because

I am not a photographer.

For those of you from the land of concrete and asphalt, that is a

worm. With or without Darwin they serve a useful purpose. In

this case as an illustration.

I live uncomfortably close to a university town. Well, city.

One of those places where it is popular to live in a cubical like

apartment, or on a teeny tiny tidy city lot, and pretend that

you are smart. And getting even smarter.

I don't see it that way. To me it is only another form of a bee

hive. A hive with plenty of drones, and the rest of us as worker

bees. But all resigned to live and work in a highly structured

and regimented environment so we can support even more

drones.

The first half of my life was spent attempting to be a city boy.

Finally I "wised up". So the last half has been spent trying to

get as far away as possible from the insanity of the city.

The Lord in his mercy allowed me to get a small place - sorta -

out in the country. This took a lot of the pressure off. It made

life more tolerable for a number of years. But you know about

urban sprawl.

So the last few years has been spent wanting even further away

from town. A lot further way.

There is something the wife has been wanting for years, but I

have steadfastly vetoed. I don't like them. To me it is only

another encroachment of so called civilization.

Several days ago after lunch, and letting the meal settle, I

started back down the hill to work. Right there is the middle

of the drive was a large truck with a boom on it. Yep, they had

just installed this despicable device. The wife (and daughter)

had gone over my head. It was like the proverbial straw that

broke the camels back.

I could not work with out steaming and stewing. I was being

caged in with no hope of my aspirations ever being fulfilled.

About forty years of dreaming was going down the tubes.

The longer I attempted to work, the more every thing around

me became endangered.

It was time to cool off. A motorcycle ride in the rain, without

rain gear, helped. Well, I got cold on the outside. I only was hot

under the collar now. Basically I was mad at the world. And I

stayed that way for about a day and a half.

Of course I had been praying about it. But my praying and Bible

reading were mechanical, ritualistic, routine.

Then the other night while taking a bath, still trying to cool of,

and praying more respectfully, the Lord brought the words of

an old song to my mind.

"Alas! and did my Savior bleed? And did my Sov-'reign die?

Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?"

-Isaac Watts

Jesus left the splendors of heaven for this worm.

Jesus lived a life of misunderstanding and reproach for this

worm.

Jesus died and agonizing death for this worm.

And I'm "pissed off" because I have to endure the comforts of

civilization rather than being secluded out in the woods some

where.

"Forgive me Jesus. Help me to live what remaining time I

have for you. Even if it is in the middle of the civilization you

died for."

I think the Lord was telling me it was time to end the pity

party.

FORMULA FOR ACHIEVEMENT

Over the last several decades I have observed a marked

decline in the accomplishment or achievement of individuals.

It seems that the American people as a whole have become

complacent in their unaccomplished mediocrity.

Since I became "real tired" last year there has been opportunity

to observe this on an even broader scale. And in a number of

different professions or trades.

My conclusion is that the age old formula for achievement

has been abandoned. Like a forgotten art. A lost skill.

Possibly like some of the home remedies that really worked.

Or, why use something that works and is cheap when you

could buy something expensive with side effects? So why

use an old formula that works?

The formula for achievement has been around and in use

for thousands of years. Is is guaranteed to work every time.

At least when diligently and consistently applied.

The formula goes under different names depending on

race, culture and training. I personally call it "The Two

Step Plan for achievement." It is simplicity in the

extreme. But it works.

Step one. Be there. Some how get near the job, task, work,

project or what ever. Drive. Paddle a boat. Walk. Fly.

Hitch hike or get Mom to take you. But be there. The

closer the proximity of your body to the task to be done.

The the more likely it will get done.

Step two. This is where a lot of people loose out. Many

people can accomplish step one. But most failure is at

step two. Step two is simply "Do something." Pick up

that pencil, wrench, hammer, saw, crayon or turn on the

computer. If the task requires it, do the impossible - think.

But do something.

If you will consistently apply these two simple principles you

will be amazed at what you can accomplish. Their diligent

application will put you light years ahead of your peers.

LEARNING FROM EVAN ROBERTS

I have been reading an article, "Evan Roberts &

the Welsh Revival" by Ken Horn in the Nov. 15. 09

issue of the Pentecostal Evangel. pp.11-13.

It really grabs me. Oh! that we had preachers and

teachers like that today. Roberts humility and

utter desire to only lift up Jesus seems foreign to

us now. Ken points out several things about Roberts.

• Roberts never let himself become the center of attention.
• He granted no interviews.
• He would not allow pictures to be taken of him.
• If he felt people came to see him, he would apologize and leave.
• His sermons became briefer as the revival progressed.

In "Higher Praise Greatest Preachers (Evan Roberts)" we find

Roberts was anything but conventional. Some times he would

only lead the people in prayer or read the Scriptures. Other

times he sat silent as people confessed their sins and gave

testimony of Christ's victory. "He was a constant example

not of how to preach, but of how to be led by the Spirit."

That sounds more like a New Testament meeting than a

meeting of today.

After reading several accounts of Evan Roberts life and

work, one thing stands out to me, his motivation. Even

from a young age, when he was seeking after God and

thirsting for Spiritual things, it seems that his motivation

was not to be a preacher or teacher. But his motivation

was simply to glorify Jesus and the salvation of his fellow

country men.

Is it any wonder that he was an instrument that God could

use in drawing 100,000 Welsh people to Christ.

"Lord help me to die to self and only lift you up."

WHAT ARE YOU FULL OF?

What are you full of? Every body is full of something.

You have seen some so full of themselves they walk

by us common folks with their noses in the air. I

don't know if it is because they are so enamored

with themselves, or their noses are so high in the air

they can't see where they are going. But figuratively

speaking we enjoy watching them trip up - don't we?

This past week I've been full too. I finally have been

able to get a start on my office.

See the picture above? The studs in the wall on

the right side in under the steel girder are 84 1/2"

long. The mud sill and upper plate in that half of

the wall are 162 1/2" long. The studs in the wall

on the left wall are 87" long with the mud sill and

upper plate being 137 " long. That with the two

adjoining walls will give a combined width of 12'.

That is the kind of thing I have been full of all

week. And of course the days full implementing

the image and the measurements in my head

into reality.

I've not felt real spiritual this week. But I have

been busy doing this for the Lord. I feel it's

his will. Just like building a church building.

Saturday morning I went to work on it about

4:30 a.m. Along about noon I heard the compressor

shut off, then go into a hum. Going into the

other shop to check it I found smoke billowing

out both ends of the motor.

Now what Lord?

You guessed the problem. I was so full of doing

this, even if it is as unto the Lord, that I had left

Jesus setting back on the front porch, or some

where. Sure. I had said hello to him in the morning

before rushing of to do the job. But my mind was

consumed with the task at hand and not Jesus.

As individuals and churches we can get too full

of other things and miss our purpose. God

wants our fellowship. Not necessarly our

programs, buildings, money or what ever. He

wants us and time with us.

You have seen pictures of Jesus standing at a

door knocking. Usually he is shown at the door

to a humble cottage or some such dwelling.

But if you will put his knocking at the door

in it's context, you will see that it is the church

door he is knocking at. Read about it in the

book of Revelation, chapter three. That's you

and me - if we are Christians

In 2 Corinthians 10:5 Paul says he takes every

thought captive for Christ. He wanted to be

full of Christ. And his life proved it.

What are we full of? Self? Pleasure? Security?

Money? Beans?

If we are a Christian we are supposed to be full

of the Holy Spirit and power. Yet most of us are

only full of talk.

What are you full of?

PERPLEXED

There are several books in the Bible that can be

difficult to understand.

Perhaps the most outstanding example being the

book of Revelation. There is symbolism mixed in with

literalism. There are spiritual truths that are beyond

human comprehension. Also there is the difficulty of

interpreting what was understood by the culture at the

time of writing. But, not by us because of the cultural

differences.

If you want an interesting experience. Try outlining

the book of Revelation.

Consider the book of Ephesians. The depth of truths

written there by the apostle Paul are beyond your

comprehension and mine. We do well just to grasp

what truths we can. Take them, and rejoice thanking

God for them.

Then there is the book of Job. Job and his three

friends who come to console him are confused. They

do not know what God is doing. So we can almost

forgive them for giving advice that does not apply.

But it is his three friends that really perplex me.

Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. (On the other hand. If

we had names like that, we would be perplexed too.)

Watch what they did.

"Then they sat on the ground with him seven days

and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because

they saw how great his suffering was."

-Job 2:13 NIV

Not one word spoken in a week. That's proof of true

friendship. It is also positive proof that they were not

politicians or preachers. A politician or a preacher

could not possibly go that long with out saying a word.

After each has made an attempt or two to help their

buddy Job. Job says to them,

"Will your long-winded speeches never end?

What ails you that you keep on arguing?"

-Job 16:3 NIV

What happened to these guys. Did their experience of

setting on the ground for a week turn them into

wannabe politicians or preachers?

Or perhaps like a teen age boy. He can learn two

things about a car. Then talk longer and louder

about cars than a retired auto technician.

You tell me.

DADDY'S STRESS SERMON

My youngest daughter was/is experiencing some heart problems. She sought my prayers in particular, and any advice I might have. (Maybe Daddy just wanted to give some.) Emailing her back she was assured of my prayers. And knowing my "little girl" [She is a grandmother, but will always be my little girl.] I suggested that she eliminate the stress in her life. Then jokingly told her I would send my "Stress Sermon" later. It occurred to me the thing I wanted to convey to her, might be of help to someone else also. So my "Stress Sermon" was turned into a post.' What qualifies me to give any advice. Well nothing. But consider the source - this old man. When I was a teenager the family doctor diagnosed me as having a heart problem. [No. That was not in horse and buggy days. We actually drove cars by then.] I had an irregular heart beat or murmur or something. Probably trying to be an Israelite. You know, murmuring and complaining in the desert. The stuff they gave as medicine was awful. It didn't help either. I suppose nothing did until I met my little girl's mother. About that time the selective service called me up in the draft. But I flunked the physical because of my heart. That was good for what we called a 4F then. I really wanted in the Naval Air Reserve. As you can figure, I flunked that physical too. But someone in the administration building messed up and swore me in anyway. I was in whether they liked it or not. After my little girl was born, I was trying to act like an insurance salesman for an old line insurance company. Trying to buy insurance for myself they turned me down because of my heart. My staff manager went after them. Well! Selling insurance and not having any myself? You figure it out. I was taken into the home office and a team of doctors tested me with all kinds of neat high tech stuff. They relented enough to sell me a rated policy. That is I had to pay a lot of extra money just to get insurance. So what? I am seventy five years old and work harder six days a week than most young people. That's what. The answer really is in God. He is the one that deserves all the thanks, honor and glory. He is the one that keeps my old pumper pumping. But what about my part? The precautions I have taken are to have a cheerful heart. (Well, when I can.) The good book says, "A cheerful heart is a good medicine...." -Proverbs 17:22 NRSV The way I have a cheerful heart is diet. That is, lots of candy, cookies, pie, cake, ice cream and anything else sweet I can get. You know. Attitude adjustment. No. I am not joking. I don't do any thing for my heart. Zilch. Nothing. Don't even go to the doctor. If I did he would just try to put me on something expensive so they could take all my money. Then I would be broke and have all the side effects to suffer too. Of course the sweets do not help my heart. It's the Lord who watches over it. By nature I am hyper or high strung. So I do preach this sermon to myself, sometimes. Our text for today is Proverbs 14:30 NRSV Please stand in honor of God's Word. [That's the way we do it in our Church.] "A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh," Now the point I want to make. Years ago I was listening to "Focus on the Family". They told of an incident that went something like this. One of their staff members had a heart attack. Latter in a recovery group they were trying to determine the common denominator that caused their heart attacks. As I remember in the recovery group were all sizes and shapes of people. Some had been in excellent health, and some not. But they had one common denominator. STRESS. Stress will kill you. Even with a good heart. Now get rid of the stress. Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry..." -Matthew 6:25 NRSV Paul said, "Do not worry about anything," -Philippians 4:6 NRSV Peter said, "Cast all your anxiety on him," [That's Jesus.] -1 Peter 5:7 NRSV There you have it. Jesus wants to take your stress and let you enjoy life with him. Take your problems, dump them on the Lord. Then lighten up and live.