If I was a rich man
What is a rich man anyway? Is it material wealth? I looked up the definition of rich, and out of the 10 definitions, only one has to do with money. So let’s say it is material wealth, is that a bad thing? Everyone strives to do well financially, so why is it when there is a level of success in that arena, all of a sudden that person is scorned upon?
Is it jealousy or that pious attitude that you know better on what you would do with that wealth than the person or entity that has it? “Well if I had that much money, I would do such and such”.
Isn’t it all relative anyway? I mean the “rich” guy should sell his big house and cool car to live more modestly. Then he could do more for the (fill in the blank) _________. But compared to 90% of the world, we in the US are richer than most everyone. So why don’t you go sell all your stuff, live like they do, and then YOU can do something about whatever “it” is that you are concerned with.
Or maybe it isn’t all the rich people. It is just those rich preachers. You know, all they want is your money. Hmm? I think all churches take offerings. Why do they do that? Is it to just keep the local church afloat? Don’t you think churches want to have influence? If the values and morals that the church represents were to exert a greater influence on society, don’t you think we would live in a better world? I do.
You pay for movie tickets, tickets to the ball game, restaurants to eat out at, and the like. Do you care what they do with your money? No, since you received some value with your purchase, you are satisfied. With the church, you personally benefit and the ability of the church to exert a greater, positive influence on society expands as well.
So what’s the rub then with the church and money? It is as if you become the moral authority and whatever passes the acid test for you, you’re fine with it. Whatever does not, you feel like you have a legitimate gripe. The thing is, there is only one person’s action that you are accountable for, and that’s yours.
Do I agree with everything the “church” does? No, but so what! Tell me, is there anyone, or anything you agree with 100% of the time? I give because of what He has done for me. I give because I want the influence of the church to grow. I give because I want the influence of the Word of God to touch people’s lives. I will leave the management of that money to the people that will ultimately be accountable for how it is used. And personally, the more I have, the more I can give. All to the glory of God!
Dear Mom,
I thought I would write you a letter on this most special of days, Mother’s Day. It is early evening now and the sun is just setting. It was a beautiful day and so peaceful outside. I think of you especially this time of year when it is garden planting time.
It has been a year and a half since we said goodbye. I so look forward to when we will all see each other again. We spent the day with Julie’s mom and grandma. It has been a long time since we have done that. Julie has had her relationship with her mom grow so much in the past 2 years. It is so nice to see.
I am disappointed that we were not able to spend any time with Dad this year. We built such tradition around those times, that it is really sad not to get over there today. He misses you so much. You always made sure we got together in times like this. I know this had to be a tough day without you.
I am really proud of how Dad is getting along. He has his routines. He has a picture of you on an easel in the living room. He visits you almost every day. I so want him to be happy and I think he is.
The girls are getting so close to being little women that it is hard to believe. You have really made a difference in their lives. They would make you proud.
Julie just told a friend that there is no one in the world that has love for her like you had. Regardless of the circumstance, you were always there for her.
I miss the times we all had together. The world feels a little emptier without you in it. I am glad the memories are still fresh in my mind. Until we see each other again, happy Mother’s Day!
Love,
Your son
Soil Preparation
This last weekend we planted 2/3 of our vegetable garden. The garden is pretty good sized (30 x 50) 1500 sq. ft. There was a lot of preparation before we got to the point of getting seed into the ground. It starts the year before. In the fall, at the end of the season, I till all the remnants of the garden under. I add compost from the yard leaves and till again. Then the garden is officially put to bed for winter.
In the spring, I add more leaves and dead grass from the lawn and till it again. I wait a few weeks and till one final time. At this point, all the soil preparation work has been done and the garden is now ready to accept seed. The success of the crop is dependent on how well the soil is prepared. Now you can prepare less, but if you do, you will have more work along the way. You will pull more weeds, have to water more, and the end result will be that the harvest will be less bountiful.
So, the actual planting part was pretty easy, the soil was loose and damp, the rows were clear, no rocks or debris, and the weather was nice. The seeds sunk easily into the soil with very little effort involved.
My life has been like the garden. There was a time in my life when any good seeds that we thrown into my life might have just as well been thrown onto the pavement. My heart was still hardened. The cement needed to be broken up first. The debris cleared away, the ground tilled, and compost added. Even seed scatted at this point would not have produced a good crop. It was not ready yet.
The process of preparation takes time. The softening and conditioning of my heart happened through love and prayer from many different sources. This was the majority of the work. Not glamorous or attention grabbing.
When the preparation was complete, the ability for the good seed to be planted was ready. It was, and my life was forever changed. The seed produced a good crop of hope and blessing. A bounty of healing and good relationships. Life more abundantly.
I love the comparisons with the yard and garden and the Lord. I can clearly see it. To many times people focus on the fruit and the end result without taking into account the upfront work. The end result is a natural outworking of the work put into it early in the process. Arguing, debating, and trying to convince others of a particular position or point is a waste of time. You are throwing seeds unto pavement. The work you need to do starts early with love and prayer. So, may you realize the powerful jackhammer, softening properties that only love can give.
It’s all about me . . .
How many times have you had conversations with someone where it was like . . . I know I just met them, but I really like them. Where you could talk forever with them. Like you are long lost friends. What is it about them that makes that experience so special?
I would say one reason is because that person is interested in you. They ask you questions and draw things out of you. They inquire about you and your family, and they are truly interested in what you have to say. Do you know what people’s favorite subject is? It is themselves. What their favorite word is? It is their own name.
So if two people get together and want to talk about, let’s say . . . themselves. Well, they both stand there with nothing to say. So the conversation drifts to safe subjects. The weather, sports, or anything that is not directed to the other person. It is indicative of the drift to self-centeredness we have become in the 21st century.
Technology has helped to accelerate this. Technology isn’t the big bad guy, but we have to be purposeful in how we use it. We have websites dedicated to ourselves such as Facebook and MySpace. We Twit about . . . you guessed it, what WE are doing. Aren’t you fascinated with the most mundane aspects of my life? “I just had a piece of toast”, “I love the color green”, “Going for walk outside”. Come on!
We should be more purposeful in what we do. Make everything we do count. I hope we start putting others ahead of ourselves on a more frequent basis. That we reach out and make difference in other people’s lives. That we encourage others, share in their joys and sorrows. A fulfilled life is one shared. A life lived for God is extending that hope that He gives into the hurting world around us.
Jesus gave us one commandment in the New Testament. To love one another as He has love us. I pray that we all find ways to extent that love into the lives of those around us.
John 13:34 (NLT)
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
Good Friday “Holiday”
What the heck is Good Friday? Oh yeah, another day off from work! How many “Holidays” do we celebrate, without really doing anything to commemorate them or knowing what they are about? What is Good Friday anyway? Well, for Christians, Good Friday commemorates not just a historical event, but the sacrificial death of Christ, which with the resurrection, comprises the heart of the Christian faith. On Good Friday, Jesus was crucified and died and on Easter Sunday, he rose again to everlasting life.
Say what? All of Christian faith is boiled down to what takes place today and on Easter Sunday. Jesus was the only Sacrifice needed to enable 
people to have a proper relationship with God
Now this is the good stuff, the paradox. Just as the result of Adam’s trespass (sin) for all men brought condemnation, so also the result of Christ’s act of righteousness was the justification that brings life for all men. The “one righteous act” offered to all, was Christ’s death on the cross. One brought death; the other brings life. The provision in the one righteous act, therefore, is potential and it comes to the entire human race as the offer and opportunity which are applied only to “those who receive” Jesus as Lord and Savior.
God gave proof of His love by having Christ die in the place of humans “while we were still sinners”. Because of the sinner’s response by faith to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, God has declared him righteous. Since the divine dilemma of justification has been solved on the basis of Jesus’ shed blood, believers will never be condemned to hell nor will they be the objects of God’s coming Tribulation wrath.
So does this sound like mumbo jumbo? Well it isn’t, it is brilliant! No one could ever make a story like this up! If you have never heard the story, or only know it superficiously, take a look at it again with fresh eyes. Marvel at the paradox, the simplicity, the love that was conceived for us. Yes, you and me. May you have a blessed Good Friday and Easter as you reflect on the love that was poured out for you.