A small town experienced an explosion in the local squirrel population (Tom Brinkman’s
favorite animal). It seemed the churches were especially affected by the pests. Each church
had a different approach to deal with the infestation. The Presbyterians decided that it was
predestined that squirrels be in the church and that they shouldn’t interfere with God’s divine will. At the Baptist church, the squirrels had taken an interest in the baptistery so the deacons decided to put in a water-slide and let the critters drown themselves. Unfortunately, the squirrels knew how to swim, so twice as many of them showed up the following week! The Methodists church decided they didn’t want to harm any of God’s creatures so they humanely trapped their squirrels and set them free near the Baptist church. Two weeks later, the squirrels were back when the Baptists took down their water-slide. The Catholics tried a more unique solution by setting out pans of whiskey around their church in an effort to kill the squirrels with alcohol poisoning. Sadly, they learned how much damage a band of drunken squirrels can do! But the Church of Christ had the best solution. They baptized the squirrels and made them members. Now they only see them at Christmas and Easter!

I found it interesting that the word “squirrely” is thought to have originated from the erratic movements of squirrels, so while it can mean strange or nervous, it can also mean
unpredictable. In that sense, it seems like too many believers are squirrely in their attendance. When the Church first began, Acts 2 tells us those first Christians “devoted themselves to… fellowship (they) …were together and…   every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts (plus) they broke bread in their homes…” It seems clear that early believers recognized that their faith wasn’t intended to only be lived out individually, but corporately as Paul addressed issues going on “when you come together as a church…” (I Corinthians 11:18).

But by the time Hebrews was written around 60-70 A.D., consistent church gathering seems to be a struggle for some. The writer wants to inspire his readers to greater commitment saying “Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25, the Message version) I truly believe every Christian needs to be spurred on to deeper love and beneficial good deeds honoring the Lord we serve- especially in light of Christ’s second coming. And what helps us experience those things is regular times with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

But beyond that, gathering together allows us to express our adoration and praise for God
Almighty. I think that’s why King David wrote “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 22:1) I realize some folks are just physically unable to be in a corporate service, but for all others, our God is so very worthy of our worship, that we should never be unpredictable in gathering with the church. We need to recognize the privilege we have to gather together for worship. The Lord deserves so much more than squirrely attenders.

In His Service, Jim

Scripture Spotlight: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’”
(Psalm 22:1)

Robert Petterson writes: Reality was something his parents didn’t want to face. When their baby boy was born with severe birth defects, they focused on worst-case scenarios. They knew that their son was born without eyes. They were told that he would be consigned to a wheelchair for life. Their emotions went from denial to resignation to rage. They constantly asked God, “Why? Why this? Why us? Why him?”

Answers didn’t come, but amazing things did. Six-week-old Pat was screaming when his desperate daddy placed him atop the piano and began to play classical music. The baby stopped crying. One evening when his daddy played three notes on the keyboard, the nine- month-old reached out and played those notes back in rapid succession. When he was a toddler, he would listen to nursery rhyme songs and then plunk them out on the piano. When this blind kid in a wheelchair went to high school, he was a fixture in the band and orchestra, inspiring his classmates that if he could unlock the gift of potential, so could they.

But the most amazing thing was yet to come. When Pat enrolled at the University of Louisville he figured he could play the trumpet in the pep band at his beloved Cardinals’ basketball games. But he discovered that there was a requirement that he also had to participate in the marching band at football games. But how does a blind guy who can’t walk do that? The challenging solution was Pat’s dad taking time off work every afternoon to attend the marching band practices. He learned the routines while his son mastered the music. You should have seen that dynamic duo work together during halftime shows! Patrick Henry Hughes played while his father, Patrick John, marched behind, wheeling him along.

This amazing story teaches us that nothing is impossible. The family received national attention when TV’s “Extreme Makeover” built them a home that minimized Patrick’s disabilities and they later competed on Steve Harvey’s “Family Feud”. Years ago, Sherri had them come to the Ben Logan Schools and EMCC was privileged to bring them to our community. But this father and son’s testimony involved more than just their own dogged determination. They give all the credit to their Lord and Savior, Jesus, Who empowers them to unlock the gift of potential. They powerfully display Paul’s proclamation that “”I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Despite the physical hardships they’ve had to endure, they can witness to the truth that the Lord “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…” (Ephesians 3:20).

So, what about for you? Perhaps you also face some challenging obstacles. Maybe you seem to have insurmountable limitations. But there may also be some untapped potential that God is calling you to explore, perhaps more potential than you had ever considered. I love the possibilities suggested in I Corinthians 2:9: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” In His Service, Jim

Scripture Spotlight “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” I Corinthians 2:9

I’m guessing most of us have been tardy or absent due to traffic or oversleeping or important obligations, but few of us have ever used any of these as actual excuses for missing work. They include: My husband thinks it’s funny to hide my car keys before he goes to work. My heat was shut off, so I had to stay home to keep my snake warm. My left turn signal was out, so I had to make all right turns to get to work. I didn’t want to lose the parking space in front of my house. I had a heart attack early that morning, but I am “all better now.” My dog was stressed out after a family reunion. My wife burned all my clothes and I have nothing to wear to work. (I’m guessing there’s more to that story!) My psychic told me to stay home. My dog dialed 911, and the police wanted to question me about what “really” happened. I tasted some dog food because the dog was not feeling well and now I’m sick. My son tried to flush our ferret down the toilet and I needed to tend to the ferret.

Those seem like some pretty wild explanations trying to justify being absent, but there’s a serious side to this issue. “Employee absenteeism is one of the most common workplace problems facing employers in today’s workplace,” according to HR Hero. It costs employers greatly as it can lead to lower productivity, lost revenue and even poor morale. Add to that all the problems related to a lack of punctuality as a survey finds that tardiness is increasing.

There’s a serious side to the supposedly valid “reasons” for believers lack of involvement in the Church as well. In speaking about the kingdom of God, Jesus shared this illustration: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to arrive. But they all began making excuses. One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it… Another said he had just bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out… Another had just been married…” (Luke 14:16-20) Many non-believers have all kinds of explanations of why they’re rejecting the Lord’s invitation to His salvation banquet. But there are also many lame excuses that Christians offer for their lack of commitment.

They may say “Here’s why I don’t read my Bible consistently… or attend church regularly… or take part in some kind of study group… or serve in some way… or support the church financially… or share my faith with others or, at least, let them know I’m a Christian.” Whatever their reasoning might be, it’s almost always illegitimate. Ben Franklin wrote “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” I think it all comes down to an issue of worldly concerns and wrong priorities taking precedence over the things God expectsof His people- and He does have expectations.

Proverbs 24:12 says “Don’t hesitate to step in and help. If you say, “Hey, that’s none of my business,” will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know—Someone not impressed with weak excuses.” I think this applies to not just helping others, but everything believers are called to. As we enter this new year, take the time to consider whether there is room for improvement in various areas of your Christian life. And, instead of making lame excuses, make changes. Remember: Someone is watching closely.

Happy New Year, Jim

In a different kind of holiday song, country musician Rodney Crowell sings, “Let’s skip Christmas this year, darling, what do you say? Can’t we just let it slide, like it was any old day? What with the money we save, we can just disappear. Before we both die of cheer, let’s skip Christmas this year. We’ll tell our family and friends, that we still love them a ton, but we’ve just taken ill, and we won’t be much fun. Let’s skip Christmas this year. Can’t we sit this one out? Just pretend we don’t know, what all the fuss is about? I’ve had it up to my ears, let’s skip Christmas this year.”

Maybe you can relate. Perhaps you’ve had more than your fill of the holiday in the past and you feel like taking a pass on all the lights and decorations and sending cards and TV specials and Christmas music and parties and gift giving sounds pretty good- and economical. I read that Christmas spending in 2024 is anticipated to rise by 7% compared to last year, with the average shopper expected to spend about $1,638 on gifts, travel, and entertainment! And despite spending time with family during the holidays typically being an enjoyable thing, even that can also be pretty stressful and tiresome. So maybe stepping back from some of the busy-ness of Christmas wouldn’t be a terrible thing to decide to do- so long as we don’t “skip” remembering what this special time is truly about.

John Grisham- who is much more popular for legal thrillers- wrote a book titled “Skipping Christmas” about a couple named the Kranks who were tired of all the commercialism and stress of Christmas. This novel, which was turned into a movie, contains some pretty good quotes like “Life is too short to stress over the perfect Christmas” and “Simplifying Christmas can bring back the joy and meaning it originally held.” I suspect there is, in fact, some merit in cutting out the excess this season to return to the sheer delight found in the simple, yet profound story of Christmas. But perhaps my favorite line from Grisham’s writing is “Christmas in the hearts of people is about joy, love, and giving… not gifts and decorations.”

At the heart level, this holiday truly “is about joy, love and giving”- all of which are embodied in the very Son of God arriving in this world as a frail, little baby. But so many miss that, like those spoken of in John 1 where Jesus is referred to as “the true Light that gives light to everyone…” But sadly, “although He made the world, the world didn’t recognize Him when He came. Even in His own land and among His own people… they didn’t want him. Only a few would welcome and receive him.” How unfortunate, that so many in our world back then and still today fail to recognize God’s gift to mankind as they “skip Christmas” missing out on the Father’s incredible offer of salvation.

But for those who choose to “welcome and receive Him”, we can be full of joy at what those first believers were able to experience first-hand in that infant Who grew up to fulfill His mission of being our Redeemer. As the apostle John wrote, “…we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.” (I John 4:14) Even if we don’t take part in much of the typical holiday traditions, this Christmas, we must be certain that we don’t “skip” celebrating Jesus!

Merry Christmas, Jim

You’ve probably heard the jokes before. The opposite of “pro” is “con,” so the opposite of progress is… Congress? Why do thieves never target politicians’ homes? Professional courtesy. Why isn’t the government in Washington D.C. displaying a live nativity scene this Christmas? They can’t find three wise men. How are politicians like diapers? They both need to be changed regularly- and for the same reason.

With so much negativity connected with government and our elected officials, we might be tempted to think “I don’t anything to do with something that can be so distasteful and nasty” so they have nothing to do with politics. In fact, a recent poll found that 51 percent of people who self-identify as “people of faith” do not plan to vote in this election. That’s around 105 million people, 41 million being Christians, most saying they regularly attend church. That seems shocking to me. When asked why they weren’t voting, 68 percent say they’re just not interested in politics. Certainly politics isn’t the most important thing in the world, “but we ought to correct the notion that politics isn’t part of the larger arena by which God can orchestrate things for His glory” says Reverend Eugene Cho. He goes on to say, “Politics matter because politics inform policies that impact real human people who are created in the image of God.” I agree. And while I would never say a particular political party is God’s party, I do think as people of faith, a good Christian should ideally be a good citizen involved in the institution of government.

What might that mean specifically? Cho writes that we should be in conversation with the people around us. He says “I understand that it is difficult to engage in politics when everything is so divisive. It can feel like we are being yelled at all the time by supporters of one party or the other… It can be satisfying to scream and shout our convictions at the other side. But the opposite, to listen well – not just share our views well – is something we should learn, too.” So we follow James words that “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” (James 1:19) And believers certainly need to heed Paul’s urging “that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority…” (I Timothy 2:1) While we must pray for ourselves to have wise discernment in our views, Cho points out that prayer “empowers us to support those in authority with a spirit of both truth and love… Ask God to grant our leaders the integrity and wisdom to focus on matters that protect the most vulnerable among us.”

But also, Christians can be “speaking truth to power” meaning we stand up for what’s right and at times, with tact, courageously confront authority calling out injustices and demanding change. And that certainly involves voting. It’s tremendous that we have the right and the privilege to vote in this country, something that first century believers in the Roman Empire couldn’t have imagined. Cho points out that “In the last few election seasons, we have seen political strife. Assassination attempts. A march on Capitol Hill…” But we mustn’t give up. We must vote and pray and work for peace in our nation as we strive to help bring about a revival where people truly want to see “God bless America”.

In His Service, Jim

Scripture Spotlight: I Timothy 2:1,2 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

GONE GIRL- OR GUY
A pastor decided to skip church one Sunday morning and go play golf. He told the elders that he wasn’t feeling well and then he drove to a golf course in another city so nobody would know him. As he teed off on the first hole, a huge gust of wind caught his ball, carried it an extra two-hundred yards and dropped it right in the hole, for a 450-yard hole in one. An angel looked at God and said “What’d you do that for?” God smiled and said “Who’s he going to tell?”

I recognize that sometimes believers- even committed Christians- sometimes have to miss gathering as the Church because of their work or because they are housebound, confined to their home or a nursing facility due to sickness or old age. But other times an absence is more of a choice. Aaron Earls writes how “A Lifeway Research study of U.S. adults who attend a religious service at a Protestant or non-denominational church at least monthly finds several reasons some will miss church at least once a year. Respondents were asked how often they would skip a weekly worship service for six different scenarios.” Most regular churchgoers (77%) say they would miss a weekly worship service at least once a year to avoid traveling in severe weather. 55% say they would miss in order to enjoy an outdoor activity in good weather (like golf!). 54% may miss to get some extra sleep. In addition, the younger a churchgoer is, the more likely they are to stay in bed on Sunday mornings at least occasionally. (Not surprising!) At the other end of the spectrum, those who are 65 and over are the least likely to be absent for any reason.

Exactly 50% would miss in order to meet a friend or group of friends. Most U.S. churchgoers say rain won’t keep them away, but 43% say they may miss church to avoid traveling during rainy weather. Despite major sporting events often happening on Sundays, watching sports is the least likely of the six reasons churchgoers say would cause them to skip church. 42% say they’d miss a worship service at least once a year to watch a sporting event or their favorite team reflecting 46% of men and 39% of women.

Sadly, those who attend Restoration Movement congregations (like the Church of Christ) are among the most likely to miss services for these reasons. I also find it a bit disheartening that Scott McConnell, Executive Director of Lifeway, says “Churchgoers are not on autopilot. Each week they are faced with a choice of whether to attend church, and there is more than one tradeoff when it comes to this decision.” I would hope that coming to church would not be a “choice” any more than one has to make a choice in whether to go to work or not. With a sense of personal obligation and a commitment to obey God’s Word, I think it should just be natural for a dedicated believer to want to be with other Christians to worship, learn and fellowship as often on Sundays as possible. The New Testament tells us we should “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day (of Christ’s return) approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24,25)

I appreciate that one in 10 Protestant churchgoers (11%) say they would never miss for any of these reasons and 22% say they would never skip due to any of the six options other than severe weather. Perhaps these individuals recognize how awesome it is that Jesus said “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20). We may think He’s with us at places like the golf course (especially if we get a hole in one!), but we can be sure He’s with us in a special way when we gather in His name to honor our Savior and Lord!

In His Service, Jim

Scripture Spotlight “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20

A ventriloquist is performing with his dummy on his lap. He’s telling a dumb-blonde joke when a young platinum-haired beauty jumps to her feet. “What gives you the right to stereotype blondes that way?” she demands. “What does hair color have to do with my worth as a human being?”

Flustered, the ventriloquist begins to stammer out an apology.

“You keep out of this!” she yells. “I’m talking to that little jerk on your knee!”

With apologies to you blondes out there, I’d propose that this world has a lot of stupid people- and they have all kinds of hair colors! Now when I use the term “stupid” I’m not referring to those who are just ignorant, lacking knowledge about something. I’m referring to those who are slow of mind lacking common sense. It’s what the Bible oftentimes calls being a fool, someone who lacks discretion, wisdom, or good judgment. Numerous times, especially in the book of Proverbs, the fool is contrasted with the wise person, the one with godly insight who we, of course, should strive to be.

The wisdom of Proverbs defines foolishness in many ways including saying that fools “repeat their folly”, “trust in themselves”, “despise wisdom and instruction”, “mock at making amends for sin”, their “lips… bring them strife”, their “mouths… are their undoing”, they “give full vent to their rage” and ultimately they “die for lack of sense”. If we are to learn from their negative examples, I think that means that those who are wise, first of all, learn from their foolish mistakes. In The Message version, Proverbs 14:24 reads “The wise accumulate wisdom; fools get stupider by the day.” I’m sure we’ve all made unwise choices saying or doing things that we wish we could take back. Obviously, we can’t. But we can gain some wisdom and take those lessons from the past to heart to avoid future mistakes.

Secondly, we need to listen to wise advice. Proverbs 12:15 tells us “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” How many times are bad decisions made by those who just can’t fathom that they could possibly be wrong. That’s because a fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others. Whether it’s to confirm our own perspective or to hear a new, insightful opinion, it’s always good to at least listen to what others have to say.

Lastly, the wise are cautious and thoughtful in what they say and do. “Stupid Is as Stupid Does” is a phrase you may have heard, especially after being said by momma in the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump”. Even though Forrest may not appear to be the sharpest tool in the shed, what we actually do is the true indicator of common sense. It all boils down to “you are only as smart as your actions”. Solomon saw how “The stupid ridicule right and wrong, but a moral life is a favored life.” (Proverbs 14:9) To avoid a foolish life, we must take the time to truly think and pray and pursue God’s will before we open our mouths or do anything. Realize the stakes are high as “fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense” (Proverbs 10:21) and to ignore scripture’s advice would just be… well, stupid.

In His Service, Jim

FIGHT FOR AMERICA
Comedian Jim Gaffigan says “I normally don’t have a burger, a brat, and a steak but… it’s 4th of July. And I need the energy if I’m gonna start blowing crap up. It’s what the founding fathers would want.” I’m thinking our founding fathers may have wanted a bit more than that, especially for the future of our unique democratic republic form of government. While not all were committed Christians, many of America’s early leaders believed in the truth of Psalm 33:12 that tells us “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for His inheritance.” But on this 248th birthday of our nation, I know believers often have a very negative, gloom and doom attitude about the present state of our country- and I agree that America seems to have moved far away from the Christian principles that guided us for a long time. But I still hold out hope that there might be a revival of godliness in our nation if believers step up and take the lead.
Former U.S. Secretary of Education Bill Bennett wrote about the cure for America’s ills. He said “I submit that only when we turn to the right things–enduring, noble, spiritual things–will life get better. Most important, we must return religion to its proper place. Religion provides us with moral bearings, and the solution to our chief problem of spiritual impoverishment depends on spiritual renewal. The surrendering of strong beliefs, in our private and public lives, has demoralized society.”
He continues “Today, much of society ridicules and mocks those who are serious about their faith. America’s only respectable form of bigotry is bigotry against religious people. And the only reason for hatred of religion is that it forces us to confront matters many would prefer to ignore.” But then he offers this challenge: “Today we must carry on a new struggle for the country we love. We must push hard against an age that is pushing hard against us. If we have full employment and greater economic growth–if we have cities of gold and alabaster–but our children have not learned how to walk in goodness, justice and mercy, then the American experiment, no matter how gilded, will have failed. Do not surrender. Get mad. Get in the fight.” I agree wholeheartedly. But just what might that mean?
First of all, we need to acknowledge the power of prayer and lift up our nation regularly and fervently along with praying for all of those in positions of political authority. As Paul wrote, “The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply…” (I Timothy 2:1,2) And then, as we vote and become aware of the issues in our country, it’s vital that we speak up as we stand for truth. In Colossians 1:23 we read how important it is to “fully believe the Truth, standing in it steadfast and firm, strong in the Lord, convinced of the Good News that Jesus died for you, and never shifting from trusting him to save you.” Biblical morality must be returned to, but even more than that is the hope of our nation based not on who’s in the White House, but Who reigns as Savior and Lord in people’s hearts. President John F. Kennedy famously told his fellow Americans in his 1961 inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” What believers need to do for the sake of their country is to truly live out their faith that we might experience revival in our land.
In His Service, Jim

While sports fishing off the Florida coast, a tourist capsized his boat. He could swim, but his fear of alligators kept him clinging to the overturned craft. Spotting an old beachcomber standing on the shore, the tourist shouted, “Are there any gators around here?!”
“Naw,” the man hollered back, “they ain’t been around for years!”
Feeling safe, the tourist started swimming leisurely toward the shore. About halfway there, he asked the guy, “How’d you get rid of the gators?”
“We didn’t do nothin’,” the beachcomber said. “The sharks got ’em.”
That doesn’t sound like a very relaxing vacation! At this time of year, a lot of folks will be heading off somewhere to get away on what we call a “vacation”. The dictionary defines it as “an extended period of leisure and recreation or in travelling, especially one spent away from home.” I think with the way God wired us as human beings, we need those extended times so we can rest both our bodies and minds whether we leave our homes or not. The riddle asks “Why don’t mummies go on summer vacation?” Answer: They’re afraid to relax and unwind! I know for myself when I’m on vacation, rather than constantly being on the go, I especially enjoy time to relax and unwind. The truth is we need to be able to take it easy, especially if we’re leading busy, demanding lives.
Our Maker understood this right from the beginning. After creating this world, He established a weekly Sabbath that we might have a day when we can rest from our labors. That’s vital for our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. The Sabbath is a gift God has given mankind for those who may be tempted to constantly burn the candle at both ends. Psalm 127:2 tells us “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for He (the Lord) grants sleep to those he loves.”
But there’s another important aspect to our Sabbath times whether weekly or on vacation. In Hebrews we read “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest…” (4:9-11) Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi wrote, “’The Sabbath rest that remains for the people of God’ is not only a physical cessation from work… but also a spiritual entering into God’s rest made possible through Christ’s complete redemption. The physical act of resting becomes the vehicle through which one experiences the spiritual rest. We cease from our daily work to allow God to work in us more freely and fully.” When we take the time for leisure and recreation, the Lord is able to re-create us, renewing us with the invigorating sense of God’s refreshing, eternal life which has come through our Savior’s work of salvation. And that helps recharge our batteries strengthening us for when we return to our daily tasks.
In the movie Forrest Gump, he asks, “Mama, what’s vacation mean?” to which she responds, “Vacation is where you go somewhere… and you don’t ever come back.” But for us, when we go away for some kind of relaxing, Sabbath vacation, we do “come back” to our everyday challenges, our service to those around us and our commitment to Christ and His Church. And our time of “vacation” (whatever that may be for you) helps make us more of what our Lord wants us to be.
In His Service, Jim