In Spite of It All
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drink, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)
How can anyone truly define “real joy?” Think about this! After her bout with a triple by-pass surgical operation and recuperation, Rosetta (my wife’s sister) said,
“you’ll never know what it (unspeakable joy) is like until you’ve had (an) experience(s), but let me tell you one thing for certain; I know what trusting God is all about. Even in the worst of times -in spite of it all-God-in-Christ can be counted on. I can count the number of times when I’ve been prepped for major surgery, had to under go the surgeon’s knife, awakened some time later with my body full of pain, and for a moment I almost forgotten how to pray. What happened? God showed up because He knew about my condition! It was a decade ago when I had to have my skull opened up because of a brain aneurysm (a bulging weak area in the wall artery that supplies blood to the brain)! I was in bad shape! I looked at myself in the mirror and just cried and cried; my hair was all gone, and I had lost a great deal of weight. I was forewarned that I would run the risk of not being able to neither walk nor talk again, but afterwards (after the brain surgery) I literally traveled across the globe; taught children in the California School System, retired, and had a ball. Well, I had the heart surgery and came out on top again because God loves me and I know it. Do you remember that old song that goes like this: ‘I have the joy, joy, joy down in my heart (where?) Down in my heart! Down in my heart to stay?’ Yes, that’s the one.”
The Rev. Johnny Boyd, a retired United Methodist Pastor, spoke with me just a few days ago while I was in High Point, NC. We chatted about the conditions in our world including the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, battle-ridden Libya, rising gas prices in the United States, and host of other things. He pointed out that at any time a severe earthquake could hit (again) the West Coast (California) and destroy thousands of people. But we go on like every thing is “hunk-a-dory.” “We’d better repent and turn to God–before it’s too late,” he said.
Rev. Boyd told me that since his wife passed a few years ago, he has been alone and wept with tears many a night. He said that he fell and broke his hip and couldn’t walk without crutches for a long time. “But do you know” (he emphatically said) “that I threw away those crutches this past February and I’m walking on my own! You talk about being happy! Man, it felt good.”
“Real joy,” how can it be truly defined? It wouldn’t be hard to guess what Linda Y would say about going through chemotherapy time and time again. She would quickly tell you the results of praising God – in spite of it all. With a grateful heart and tears in her eyes, she’d say, I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, My God, my rock in whom I take refuge. (Psalm 18:1,2)
There is much to be learned about the meaning of experiencing “real joy” from Jeremiah 8:10: Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drink, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
In order to break this verse down contextually, the Old Testament lesson points out that the Israelites had settled in their town after being in exile from their homeland. Nehemiah, the governor and Ezra the religious leader, assembled the people to hear the Mosaic Book of the Law, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey. Well, the people wept openly when they heard God’s laws and realized how far they were from obeying them. But Ezra told them that they should be filled with joy because the day was a sacred celebration and not be looked at as being self-centered. Ezra connected celebration with giving. This act gave those in need an opportunity to celebrate as well. The underlying message here too is that often when we celebrate and give to others (even when we don’t feel like it); we are strengthened spiritually and filled with “real joy.” Entering into celebrations that honors God and allowing Him to fill you with His joy is that “real joy.” As a confirmation, look at Nehemiah 8:12, which says: So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. Clearly I see this as what happens when one joyfully listens to God’s voice and understandingly responds to it. Selah
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
At the Right Place and the Right Time
We cannot stop telling about everything we have heard and seen. – Acts 4:20
Awesome! Out of sight! Amazing! Simply outstanding! These are a few of what may be called typical expressions that define how one may react to something or someone. Just a few days after the beginning of the month on February 3rd, EO -Educational Opportunities Tours, notified members from the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church that their plans to visit the Holy Lands with Bishop Larry Goodpaster was in full swing! Because of the bad weather conditions in New York and surrounding areas, our flight plans had been changed from February 1st and as far as I could see it, the wintry conditions didn’t look favorable. The dread of hearing the trip would be delayed once again loomed in the air. On top of the snow and ice phenomenon, unsettling conditions were heating up in Egypt, which is linked geographically close to Israel. Yet, God had something else in mind – to fulfill his purpose for my/our going to the land of the Bible.
Israel, the Holy Land, the land of Jesus, became a reality after nearly a ten-hour flight aboard a huge Continental jet plane. When it hit the ground in Tel Aviv, I leaped in my spirit and said, “Lord, bring it on!” Let me tell you, I was just like a little child completely overwhelmed by the sights and sounds. I was at the right place and at the right time. The Royal Plaza Hotel in Tiberias, Israel, became our place of abode according to preplanned itinerary for the remaining 10 days. We would eventually move from there to the Olive Tree Hotel in Jerusalem, Israel. Nonetheless, with the anticipation for what was ahead until February 12th, 2011, all us joined ranks with pilgrims [across the centuries] who made the journey to the Holy Land. Convinced that our faith {like theirs} would be nourished and strengthened, as we would walk in the footsteps of Jesus.
I was energized knowing that I would finally get the chance to fasten my eyes on specific geographical locations that I’d seen in numerous photos and paintings about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. But also to get a vivid sense of how the pages of the Old and New Testament would come alive as the illustrations and the scriptures came together.
With the aid of a passionate tour guide, Avi, a native Israeli was exceptional in his knowledge of how each site would illumine the parallel readings of scripture. We, designated as the “Brown Bus group” [approximately 29 passengers] were all amazed with his wealth of knowledge. Having had educational experiences in the USA, Avi spoke English very well as well as did our skillful bus driver Ramie, a native Arab.
A typical excursion from the hotel was preceded by a hearty breakfast meal and the Brown Bus Group, as did the Yellow Bus Group, etc, would leave around 8:00 AM. We would have lunch at a specific location on the tour and finally upon arrival back at the hotel, we would have an evening meal. However, on the bus we laughed, sang hymns of praise, caught a few winks of sleep between the superb lectures of our tour host. Anticipating what would happen as we visited such places as Caesarea, Meggido, Nazareth, Cana of Galilee, the Sea of Galille, Mt. of Beatitudes, Capernaum, the Jordan River, the Baptismal site, Beit Shean, Jericho, Bethlehem, Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Via Dolorosa, Masada, and the Garden Tomb (just to name a few). Our feet, legs, and lungs may have been pushed to the limit with steep inclines and long walks, but the thought of Jesus’ long struggle with the cross to Golgotha’s hill kept us moving! Our minds were saturated with knowledge, but our hearts and spirits soared! I can say that wherever we were on the journey, all us were at the right place and the right time.
Bishop Goodpaster made an outstanding remark (in his scheduled lecture teachings) when he said, “If you are amazed or overwhelmed by being here, remember it’s not what you will learn, but what you will experience!” Hey, I liked that! Using the title of “The Experiences of being in Israel,” Bishop also said
• Coming here never gets old…
• There is something that draws us to this place…
• There is something about the land that gives birth to the three faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and
• What make the land Holy is because God is here.
From Bishop Goodpaster’s broad world travels and religious associations, the word experience is significant in that brings to mind what one fellow traveler asked just before we would be leaving Israel and going back home in the United Stated, “what in your estimation would be the highlight of your visit to the Holy Land?” I thought for a moment and jumped at the memory of the Garden of Gethsemane and what I felt when I saw the sight of a nearly 2000 year old Olive Tree. Mercy! Mercy!
Acts 4: 20 says, We cannot stop telling about everything we have heard and seen. Who are the “We” mentioned in this verse? Peter and John - the disciples of Jesus! They had such a zeal for the Lord that they could not be kept quiet – even when threatened. 1 John 1: 1,2 gives further clarity:
We proclaim to you the one who existed in the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and the he was revealed to us.We cannot stop telling about everything we have heard and seen. – Acts 4:20
Awesome! Out of sight! Amazing! Simply outstanding! These are a few of what may be called typical expressions that define how one may react to something or someone. Just a few days after the beginning of the month on February 3rd, EO -Educational Opportunities Tours, notified members from the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church that their plans to visit the Holy Lands with Bishop Larry Goodpaster was in full swing! Because of the bad weather conditions in New York and surrounding areas, our flight plans had been changed from February 1st and as far as I could see it, the wintry conditions didn’t look favorable. The dread of hearing the trip would be delayed once again loomed in the air. On top of the snow and ice phenomenon, unsettling conditions were heating up in Egypt, which is linked geographically close to Israel. Yet, God had something else in mind – to fulfill his purpose for my/our going to the land of the Bible.
Israel, the Holy Land, the land of Jesus, became a reality after nearly a ten-hour flight aboard a huge Continental jet plane. When it hit the ground in Tel Aviv, I leaped in my spirit and said, “Lord, bring it on!” Let me tell you, I was just like a little child completely overwhelmed by the sights and sounds. I was at the right place and at the right time. The Royal Plaza Hotel in Tiberias, Israel, became our place of abode according to preplanned itinerary for the remaining 10 days. We would eventually move from there to the Olive Tree Hotel in Jerusalem, Israel. Nonetheless, with the anticipation for what was ahead until February 12th, 2011, all us joined ranks with pilgrims [across the centuries] who made the journey to the Holy Land. Convinced that our faith {like theirs} would be nourished and strengthened, as we would walk in the footsteps of Jesus.
I was energized knowing that I would finally get the chance to fasten my eyes on specific geographical locations that I’d seen in numerous photos and paintings about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. But also to get a vivid sense of how the pages of the Old and New Testament would come alive as the illustrations and the scriptures came together.
With the aid of a passionate tour guide, Avi, a native Israeli was exceptional in his knowledge of how each site would illumine the parallel readings of scripture. We, designated as the “Brown Bus group” [approximately 29 passengers] were all amazed with his wealth of knowledge. Having had educational experiences in the USA, Avi spoke English very well as well as did our skillful bus driver Ramie, a native Arab.
A typical excursion from the hotel was preceded by a hearty breakfast meal and the Brown Bus Group, as did the Yellow Bus Group, etc, would leave around 8:00 AM. We would have lunch at a specific location on the tour and finally upon arrival back at the hotel, we would have an evening meal. However, on the bus we laughed, sang hymns of praise, caught a few winks of sleep between the superb lectures of our tour host. Anticipating what would happen as we visited such places as Caesarea, Meggido, Nazareth, Cana of Galilee, the Sea of Galille, Mt. of Beatitudes, Capernaum, the Jordan River, the Baptismal site, Beit Shean, Jericho, Bethlehem, Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Via Dolorosa, Masada, and the Garden Tomb (just to name a few). Our feet, legs, and lungs may have been pushed to the limit with steep inclines and long walks, but the thought of Jesus’ long struggle with the cross to Golgotha’s hill kept us moving! Our minds were saturated with knowledge, but our hearts and spirits soared! I can say that wherever we were on the journey, all us were at the right place and the right time.
Bishop Goodpaster made an outstanding remark (in his scheduled lecture teachings) when he said, “If you are amazed or overwhelmed by being here, remember it’s not what you will learn, but what you will experience!” Hey, I liked that! Using the title of “The Experiences of being in Israel,” Bishop also said
• Coming here never gets old…
• There is something that draws us to this place…
• There is something about the land that gives birth to the three faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and
• What make the land Holy is because God is here.
From Bishop Goodpaster’s broad world travels and religious associations, the word experience is significant in that brings to mind what one fellow traveler asked just before we would be leaving Israel and going back home in the United Stated, “what in your estimation would be the highlight of your visit to the Holy Land?” I thought for a moment and jumped at the memory of the Garden of Gethsemane and what I felt when I saw the sight of a nearly 2000 year old Olive Tree. Mercy! Mercy!
Acts 4: 20 says, We cannot stop telling about everything we have heard and seen. Who are the “We” mentioned in this verse? Peter and John - the disciples of Jesus! They had such a zeal for the Lord that they could not be kept quiet – even when threatened. 1 John 1: 1,2 gives further clarity:
Being at the right place and the right time, John, one of the original 12 disciples, wrote this letter to put believers back on track, to show the difference between light and darkness (truth and error) and to encourage the church to grow in genuine love for God and for one another. He also wrote to assure the believers that they possessed eternal life and to help them know that their faith was genuine so that they could enjoy all the benefits of being God’s children.
The visit the Holy Lands with Bishop Larry Goodpaster and the Western NC Conference February 3-February 12, 2011 – what an experience of being at the right place and the right time; to sense the very presence of God-in-Christ. Selah.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Accepting the Change
But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. – Luke 1: 10,11 (NIV)
The beginning of the 2011 New Year came on this past Saturday and January 1st has gone into the pages of history – once again. Then too, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (December 24th and December 25th 2010) flew by, but not without some wonderful memories. For instance, our youngest grandson (Ronald Jarin Jones), turned 6 years old last year and has grown like a weed and quite an astute conversationalist. Noting that Grandma and Grandpa elected to have a small (approximately 27 inches in height) Christmas tree that was centered on the dining table, said to us: “Your Christmas tree is too little! Why it’s not big enough to put decorations on it! All the gifts are on the floor; they should be under the tree! Why didn’t you get a big tree?" All of us chuckled at Little Ron’s observation and marveled at his select choice of words.
Ashley, his oldest sister, gave a thoughtful reply: “Christ Jesus came into the world as a little baby and he had to grow up; just like you will grow up one day.” As the second oldest sibling, Morgan added her remarks with a witty saying: “That little green tree is a fake one; made to look like its real…but it has tiny lights inside the limbs that glow like those on a big tree.” Little Ron peered at his sisters as if to signal that he understood what they said, but I was simply flabbergasted [overwhelmed with amazement]. I resolved that a change had taken place in my grandchildren – a change that was initiated by the spiritual nurturance of godly parents. I thanked God for the wisdom, love, and guidance that my daughter and her husband exemplified in rearing their children.
After a while, I pulled Little Ron to the side and told him that his grandmother and I actually ran out of room to put a large tree in our new home. We brought a great deal of stuff (over time) from the old house in High Point, NC to Mooresville, NC. I pointed out to him the chinaware Cabinet, buffet dresser, and the extra dining room table with chairs. He shook his head up and down, but fastened his eyes once again on the little Christmas tree. Immediately, I gave him a big hug and whispered in his ear that I loved him…just as Jesus did for the whole world. I don’t know whether or not Little Ron will remember everything that was said on Christmas day 2010 at Grandma Lillie’s and Grandpa Fred’s home, but I trust that God-in-Christ will reveal to him the real meaning of Christmas – Jesus came into the world through the womb of woman. He lived, died, and rose again to demonstrate the true love of the Father (John 3:16). Jesus is Lord! He came so that we will know how to get to heaven and most importantly, Jesus Christ will come back to the earth. Since he is coming back to ransom his church (the body of believers), just how should a true follower respond to such Good News?
Accept the change that God has planned. Titus 2:11-14 spells it out: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As I see it, because of Jesus, God has placed a new love in me and I have a desire to seek him like I never have sought him before. The lyrics from a Country and Western singer’s song ignited my spirit in this regard. From his album entitled "Merry Christmas Wherever You Are," George Strait mellowed something awesome with the words from the hit tune, I know What I want for Christmas. It goes like this:
It is the season for generosity
A time to give and to receive
My Christmas list consists of just one sweet dream
I know what I want for Christmas this year
An' I hope my note got to Santa on time
I'm a little bit nervous,
It's kind of a big thing I'm askin' for
I don't know if I deserve it but, boy, if I get it
I'll never ask for anything more
It shines(It shines)It's new(It's new)
And it's the one wish that I wish would come true
This year for Christmas I just wanna be with you
We can build a little fire
We can sit and talk for hours
We'll just have fun
You can tell me what you did Christmas mornin' as a kid
And we'll talk about all our Christmases to come
And if I hang a little mistletoe in every single doorway
I'm sure to get a kiss,
And is it too much to ask for a snowman kind of snow
to complete this singular wish?
It shines(It shines)It's new(It's new) I know what I want and nothin' else will do
This year for Christmas I Just wanna be with you
This year for Christmas I Just wanna be with you
It is easy to see that this song has to do with the ongoing love affair between a man and woman; a husband and a wife, yet it is a spiritual eye opener – to put Jesus at the top of the list and desiring to be with him not just on Christmas day, but every day. Accepting the change that has been made for you and I is well worth the effort. Selah
But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. – Luke 1: 10,11 (NIV)
The beginning of the 2011 New Year came on this past Saturday and January 1st has gone into the pages of history – once again. Then too, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (December 24th and December 25th 2010) flew by, but not without some wonderful memories. For instance, our youngest grandson (Ronald Jarin Jones), turned 6 years old last year and has grown like a weed and quite an astute conversationalist. Noting that Grandma and Grandpa elected to have a small (approximately 27 inches in height) Christmas tree that was centered on the dining table, said to us: “Your Christmas tree is too little! Why it’s not big enough to put decorations on it! All the gifts are on the floor; they should be under the tree! Why didn’t you get a big tree?" All of us chuckled at Little Ron’s observation and marveled at his select choice of words.
Ashley, his oldest sister, gave a thoughtful reply: “Christ Jesus came into the world as a little baby and he had to grow up; just like you will grow up one day.” As the second oldest sibling, Morgan added her remarks with a witty saying: “That little green tree is a fake one; made to look like its real…but it has tiny lights inside the limbs that glow like those on a big tree.” Little Ron peered at his sisters as if to signal that he understood what they said, but I was simply flabbergasted [overwhelmed with amazement]. I resolved that a change had taken place in my grandchildren – a change that was initiated by the spiritual nurturance of godly parents. I thanked God for the wisdom, love, and guidance that my daughter and her husband exemplified in rearing their children.
After a while, I pulled Little Ron to the side and told him that his grandmother and I actually ran out of room to put a large tree in our new home. We brought a great deal of stuff (over time) from the old house in High Point, NC to Mooresville, NC. I pointed out to him the chinaware Cabinet, buffet dresser, and the extra dining room table with chairs. He shook his head up and down, but fastened his eyes once again on the little Christmas tree. Immediately, I gave him a big hug and whispered in his ear that I loved him…just as Jesus did for the whole world. I don’t know whether or not Little Ron will remember everything that was said on Christmas day 2010 at Grandma Lillie’s and Grandpa Fred’s home, but I trust that God-in-Christ will reveal to him the real meaning of Christmas – Jesus came into the world through the womb of woman. He lived, died, and rose again to demonstrate the true love of the Father (John 3:16). Jesus is Lord! He came so that we will know how to get to heaven and most importantly, Jesus Christ will come back to the earth. Since he is coming back to ransom his church (the body of believers), just how should a true follower respond to such Good News?
Accept the change that God has planned. Titus 2:11-14 spells it out: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As I see it, because of Jesus, God has placed a new love in me and I have a desire to seek him like I never have sought him before. The lyrics from a Country and Western singer’s song ignited my spirit in this regard. From his album entitled "Merry Christmas Wherever You Are," George Strait mellowed something awesome with the words from the hit tune, I know What I want for Christmas. It goes like this:
It is the season for generosity
A time to give and to receive
My Christmas list consists of just one sweet dream
I know what I want for Christmas this year
An' I hope my note got to Santa on time
I'm a little bit nervous,
It's kind of a big thing I'm askin' for
I don't know if I deserve it but, boy, if I get it
I'll never ask for anything more
It shines(It shines)It's new(It's new)
And it's the one wish that I wish would come true
This year for Christmas I just wanna be with you
We can build a little fire
We can sit and talk for hours
We'll just have fun
You can tell me what you did Christmas mornin' as a kid
And we'll talk about all our Christmases to come
And if I hang a little mistletoe in every single doorway
I'm sure to get a kiss,
And is it too much to ask for a snowman kind of snow
to complete this singular wish?
It shines(It shines)It's new(It's new) I know what I want and nothin' else will do
This year for Christmas I Just wanna be with you
This year for Christmas I Just wanna be with you
It is easy to see that this song has to do with the ongoing love affair between a man and woman; a husband and a wife, yet it is a spiritual eye opener – to put Jesus at the top of the list and desiring to be with him not just on Christmas day, but every day. Accepting the change that has been made for you and I is well worth the effort. Selah
Friday, December 10, 2010
As a snowflake falls
Have you ever once commanded the morning to appear, and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you ever told the daylight to spread to the ends of the earth, to end the night’s wickedness? Have you ever robed the dawn in red? Have you visited the treasuries of the snow, or seen where hail is made and stored? For I have reserved it for the time when I will need in war.
– Job 38:12-14; 22,23 (TLB)
The Holiday Season is that special time when many gather to sing (or listening to) songs of merriment near a Christmas tree; to anticipate the opening and the giving of gifts, and to reflect most importantly on the birth of Jesus Christ rather than a jolly old man in a red suit coming down the chimney. This is the popular time of the year too when potential snow fall stirs the youngster and those young at heart to recall memories of being outside either throwing snow balls or making a snow man. Winter time, or course, is a calendar occurrence and one would (inevitably?) run into to some snow on the ground. Whenever it is predicted that either a light or heavy accumulation of snow will fall, my expectations rise to the surface to see another manifestation of God’s sovereignty and status as the supreme originator. For you see, God is the one who made good everything that he has created. The formation of a single snowflake constitutes yet another aspect of God’s masterful design and artistry.
I had the good fortune to share a breakfast meal with some special friends about several weeks ago while we were on the grounds of Lake Junaluska. The subject of snowflakes came up as the word had gotten around that snow would fall in the area. I had gotten up around 5:15 and strolled around the lake (layered sufficiently-of course) and just happened to see some noticeable flurries, which were highly visible near a stationary light fixture. The artificial light illuminated the snowflakes. I gazed at it for a moment; then switched on my trusty flashlight to further enhance what I saw. Giving God the glory, I shared my experience with the Rev. Jim Trollinger, Rev. Fred Jordan, and Rev. Dr. Sam Moore – members of the Bishop’s cabinet.
Rev. Trollinger asked,“Frederick, do you think it is possible to declare two snowflakes as “identical?” Very quickly I said No, but wasn’t sure if I had a leg to stand on. “Now, I’m giving you an assignment to find out whether this is true,” said brother Trollinger. “While you are at it Frederick (if you-in your research-find two that are identical), do a drawing of it,” declared Rev. Jordan. Wow! This is was heavy stuff! I remember Rev. Dr. Sam Moore saying that he would be interested in knowing what I would come up with. In the back of my mind, I knew that beyond a shadow of doubt that my distinguished friends knew what the answer was- a resounding “no!” Yet the notion of two snowflakes being identical was an excellent topic of discussion in that snow is a miracle process from God.
I discovered (from “All about Ice,” New Scientist, September 6, 1993) that a single snowflake is a pile of crystals consisting of more than 200 ice crystals. Snowflakes are made up of water molecules that are shaped in a perfect order. Snowflakes, one of nature’s true architectural wonders, are shaped when water vapor gets cold while passing through the clouds. This takes place when [passing through the clouds] water molecules scattered everywhere in a disorganized way [throughout water vapor] begin to lose their random movement due to the fall in temperature. After a while, the water molecules, moving more slowly, begin to form groups and consequently become solid. Yet there is no disorder whatsoever in their grouping. On the contrary, they always unite as microscopic hexagonal forms that look similar to each other. Each snowflake at first consists of a single hexagonal water molecule, and then other hexagonal water molecules come and attach to this first piece.
My total reflection as taken from Job 38:12-14; 22, 23:
As a Snowflake Falls
As a snowflake falls covering me and the ground…I look around and instantly agree–God loves me. I will not question nor will I put God to the test …for I am unique and different endeavoring to please, but always on my knee. The snowflake melts perhaps in an instance but God created it and me perfect in his plan. For he who works so skillfully to make perfect every small speck of snow can’t be different in His works for every man. God knows every single detail down to the very last …so when something has come up and it is so puzzling and you’re at a loss, relook at a snowflake and surrender….for God is the boss.
Our God is a Masterful Creator who knows every minute detail in my life and your life…He has been developing our character like Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. So as a snowflake falls to the ground and you look up and down; praise God because life’s victory has been won. Thank you Father God for your perfection and care, which you have placed for the entire world to see-even a tiny snowflake serving as a reminder that heaven is a place where true believers will share.
Selah
Have you ever once commanded the morning to appear, and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you ever told the daylight to spread to the ends of the earth, to end the night’s wickedness? Have you ever robed the dawn in red? Have you visited the treasuries of the snow, or seen where hail is made and stored? For I have reserved it for the time when I will need in war.
– Job 38:12-14; 22,23 (TLB)
The Holiday Season is that special time when many gather to sing (or listening to) songs of merriment near a Christmas tree; to anticipate the opening and the giving of gifts, and to reflect most importantly on the birth of Jesus Christ rather than a jolly old man in a red suit coming down the chimney. This is the popular time of the year too when potential snow fall stirs the youngster and those young at heart to recall memories of being outside either throwing snow balls or making a snow man. Winter time, or course, is a calendar occurrence and one would (inevitably?) run into to some snow on the ground. Whenever it is predicted that either a light or heavy accumulation of snow will fall, my expectations rise to the surface to see another manifestation of God’s sovereignty and status as the supreme originator. For you see, God is the one who made good everything that he has created. The formation of a single snowflake constitutes yet another aspect of God’s masterful design and artistry.
I had the good fortune to share a breakfast meal with some special friends about several weeks ago while we were on the grounds of Lake Junaluska. The subject of snowflakes came up as the word had gotten around that snow would fall in the area. I had gotten up around 5:15 and strolled around the lake (layered sufficiently-of course) and just happened to see some noticeable flurries, which were highly visible near a stationary light fixture. The artificial light illuminated the snowflakes. I gazed at it for a moment; then switched on my trusty flashlight to further enhance what I saw. Giving God the glory, I shared my experience with the Rev. Jim Trollinger, Rev. Fred Jordan, and Rev. Dr. Sam Moore – members of the Bishop’s cabinet.
Rev. Trollinger asked,“Frederick, do you think it is possible to declare two snowflakes as “identical?” Very quickly I said No, but wasn’t sure if I had a leg to stand on. “Now, I’m giving you an assignment to find out whether this is true,” said brother Trollinger. “While you are at it Frederick (if you-in your research-find two that are identical), do a drawing of it,” declared Rev. Jordan. Wow! This is was heavy stuff! I remember Rev. Dr. Sam Moore saying that he would be interested in knowing what I would come up with. In the back of my mind, I knew that beyond a shadow of doubt that my distinguished friends knew what the answer was- a resounding “no!” Yet the notion of two snowflakes being identical was an excellent topic of discussion in that snow is a miracle process from God.
I discovered (from “All about Ice,” New Scientist, September 6, 1993) that a single snowflake is a pile of crystals consisting of more than 200 ice crystals. Snowflakes are made up of water molecules that are shaped in a perfect order. Snowflakes, one of nature’s true architectural wonders, are shaped when water vapor gets cold while passing through the clouds. This takes place when [passing through the clouds] water molecules scattered everywhere in a disorganized way [throughout water vapor] begin to lose their random movement due to the fall in temperature. After a while, the water molecules, moving more slowly, begin to form groups and consequently become solid. Yet there is no disorder whatsoever in their grouping. On the contrary, they always unite as microscopic hexagonal forms that look similar to each other. Each snowflake at first consists of a single hexagonal water molecule, and then other hexagonal water molecules come and attach to this first piece.
What is the bottom line? Experts who think it’s likely that no two snowflakes are alike believe it’s all about numbers. Snowflakes form in different shapes depending on air temperatures and humidity levels during the formation process. I understand that many of these tiny wonders do not go through the complete formation process. When they don’t, they automatically fall to the ground in a fairly simplified state of development and have a similar appearance to each other – at least when compared with their well-formed siblings. So, from this resource, the experts declared that is virtually impossible that no two snowflakes ever looked alike.
My total reflection as taken from Job 38:12-14; 22, 23:
As a Snowflake Falls
As a snowflake falls covering me and the ground…I look around and instantly agree–God loves me. I will not question nor will I put God to the test …for I am unique and different endeavoring to please, but always on my knee. The snowflake melts perhaps in an instance but God created it and me perfect in his plan. For he who works so skillfully to make perfect every small speck of snow can’t be different in His works for every man. God knows every single detail down to the very last …so when something has come up and it is so puzzling and you’re at a loss, relook at a snowflake and surrender….for God is the boss.
Our God is a Masterful Creator who knows every minute detail in my life and your life…He has been developing our character like Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. So as a snowflake falls to the ground and you look up and down; praise God because life’s victory has been won. Thank you Father God for your perfection and care, which you have placed for the entire world to see-even a tiny snowflake serving as a reminder that heaven is a place where true believers will share.
Selah
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Experience of the Cross
And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentile as well as Jew] to myself. – John 12:32 (The Amplified Bible)
The recent theme of the 2010 Multicultural Conference at Lake Junaluska was “Embracing Christ’s Multi-Ethnic Body: Breaking Down Barriers and Building Bridges.” A program of the SEJ of the United Methodist Church, the December 2-4, 2010 Conference provided an opportunity for competent lay and ordained leaders to be further enlightened (and empowered) in response to the continuously changing diversity.
As I reflected from the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday encounter (Wednesday was a day of facilitator training), the words enlightenment and empowerment are significant. I was enlightened to see that dismantling racial prejudice is a personalized process that undermines how one is able to effectively co-exist with someone from another race - I might add in a church setting. Nevertheless, how can one effectively [or should I say – loving] co-exist with someone unlike him or her unless he or she has experienced the Cross of Christ? I’m sure you remember the chorus lines from the familiar Church song At the Cross that said:
At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day!
Without a doubt, this powerful refrain should empower an individual to dismantle (break down) any and all walls of hate, prejudice, envy, malice, pride, resentment, etc that only cripples and renders ineffectiveness. Joy comes when the Cross of Christ becomes a light, a burden lifter, and a tool of spreading the Gospel. How effectively can the Cross of Christ (the Crucifix) be a tool for spreading the Gospel? How effectively can it evoke the message of sacrificial love?
With a noticeable crucifix around his neck, Stephen and I [just minutes before the Opening worship service on Thursday, December 2nd] entered into a brief conversation about the kindred spirit that exists among those truly touched by the light of Christ. About how the Christ in us is exemplified by the way we carry ourselves. As time passed on, I learned further that my white brother was the Pastor of Carter County Parish- United Methodist Churches: St. Paul-Waatauga Pt.-Hunter-Slages - Johnson City District, Holston Conference. I remember saying how much I admired the cross he was wearing and he began to explain how it came about. This is how my brother and friend, the Rev. Stephen P. Burkhart, put it in written form (as I asked him to) so that you can get the full picture of his witness. This is how he explained why “I like that Cross”:
The summer of ’96, the Holston Annual Conference was a day away and I found my 14 year old son Kevin working in the garage. When I asked him what he was doing and reminded him to put the tools back, He showed two crosses he had made from a piece of cedar scrap wood with natural twine lanyard. “ One is for you Dad, and one is for me. It took you a long time to decide to be a Preacher, so I made this for you when you are on the stage. I am with you!”
At the Conference, I took my place with other new Local Pastors who were asked to come up on the stage and be recognized and introduced. At the end of the brief ceremony, I was returning to my seat and an old man jumped up and hugged me with tears in his eyes. “ I am so proud of you!” he said. “ Thanks, but I don’t know you mister!” I responded. He held me by my shoulders, looked into my eyes and said “ You are the only one up there that had a cross on. When did we become ashamed to show who we work for? And I feel bad, because I left my cross at home on a dresser…but I am very proud of you, Pastor!” . I reluctantly took the cross off my son had given me, and put it around the old man’s neck. He cried, smiled, hugged me again and took his seat. I returned to my seat, to meet my son now standing. He took his cross from around his neck, and placed it around mine. I started to resist and he said “ Like I said Dad, I am with you!”
Many years have passed and I have learned to take some time to whittle once in a while. It has become a form of prayer. And I make many crosses. Mostly now, I use old forsythia bush branches. They are easy to whittle and notch together, and make a natural looking cross.
One of my joys is to give the crosses to anyone who notices it. I love to see the smiles and tears of joy from cashiers, store, clerks, children, and just folks I bump into as I take the cross and hand it to them.
Some 14 years after my son made those first two crosses, I met a man as I entered the welcome center at Lake Junaluska to register for this Multicultural Conference. The man glowed with the light of Christ and greeted me….and it was real. It took the edge off my fears and doubts as to whether a 300 pound German/Scotch/Irish hillbilly would be welcomed here. He reminded me of many years ago when I was greeted as a new Local Pastor by a stranger, and the many men and women servant-leaders God has placed in my life this 14 year journey from Engineer to Local Pastor to Elder. He was there and gone. But I was blessed to give a cross away at the registration table. And as I write, I am out of crosses as I have passed them on to several folks at this conference. But forsythia grows really fast!
Many thousands of crosses later, I ponder that the cross is not something to just display. What would happen if in our doubts, in our trials, and in our journey we could remember that the cross is something to share? If we just let folks know that God is always saying “ I am with you!” We could do that!
Just after the closing session on Saturday, December 4th, Stephen said, “Brother Fred, you and I have a connection now!” Meaning that after all that had been said and done at the conferece, the experience of the cross allowed us to be spiritually bound and most importantly to live out what Jesus said, And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentile as well as Jew] to myself. Selah
And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentile as well as Jew] to myself. – John 12:32 (The Amplified Bible)
The recent theme of the 2010 Multicultural Conference at Lake Junaluska was “Embracing Christ’s Multi-Ethnic Body: Breaking Down Barriers and Building Bridges.” A program of the SEJ of the United Methodist Church, the December 2-4, 2010 Conference provided an opportunity for competent lay and ordained leaders to be further enlightened (and empowered) in response to the continuously changing diversity.
As I reflected from the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday encounter (Wednesday was a day of facilitator training), the words enlightenment and empowerment are significant. I was enlightened to see that dismantling racial prejudice is a personalized process that undermines how one is able to effectively co-exist with someone from another race - I might add in a church setting. Nevertheless, how can one effectively [or should I say – loving] co-exist with someone unlike him or her unless he or she has experienced the Cross of Christ? I’m sure you remember the chorus lines from the familiar Church song At the Cross that said:
At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am happy all the day!
Without a doubt, this powerful refrain should empower an individual to dismantle (break down) any and all walls of hate, prejudice, envy, malice, pride, resentment, etc that only cripples and renders ineffectiveness. Joy comes when the Cross of Christ becomes a light, a burden lifter, and a tool of spreading the Gospel. How effectively can the Cross of Christ (the Crucifix) be a tool for spreading the Gospel? How effectively can it evoke the message of sacrificial love?
With a noticeable crucifix around his neck, Stephen and I [just minutes before the Opening worship service on Thursday, December 2nd] entered into a brief conversation about the kindred spirit that exists among those truly touched by the light of Christ. About how the Christ in us is exemplified by the way we carry ourselves. As time passed on, I learned further that my white brother was the Pastor of Carter County Parish- United Methodist Churches: St. Paul-Waatauga Pt.-Hunter-Slages - Johnson City District, Holston Conference. I remember saying how much I admired the cross he was wearing and he began to explain how it came about. This is how my brother and friend, the Rev. Stephen P. Burkhart, put it in written form (as I asked him to) so that you can get the full picture of his witness. This is how he explained why “I like that Cross”:
The summer of ’96, the Holston Annual Conference was a day away and I found my 14 year old son Kevin working in the garage. When I asked him what he was doing and reminded him to put the tools back, He showed two crosses he had made from a piece of cedar scrap wood with natural twine lanyard. “ One is for you Dad, and one is for me. It took you a long time to decide to be a Preacher, so I made this for you when you are on the stage. I am with you!”
At the Conference, I took my place with other new Local Pastors who were asked to come up on the stage and be recognized and introduced. At the end of the brief ceremony, I was returning to my seat and an old man jumped up and hugged me with tears in his eyes. “ I am so proud of you!” he said. “ Thanks, but I don’t know you mister!” I responded. He held me by my shoulders, looked into my eyes and said “ You are the only one up there that had a cross on. When did we become ashamed to show who we work for? And I feel bad, because I left my cross at home on a dresser…but I am very proud of you, Pastor!” . I reluctantly took the cross off my son had given me, and put it around the old man’s neck. He cried, smiled, hugged me again and took his seat. I returned to my seat, to meet my son now standing. He took his cross from around his neck, and placed it around mine. I started to resist and he said “ Like I said Dad, I am with you!”
Many years have passed and I have learned to take some time to whittle once in a while. It has become a form of prayer. And I make many crosses. Mostly now, I use old forsythia bush branches. They are easy to whittle and notch together, and make a natural looking cross.
One of my joys is to give the crosses to anyone who notices it. I love to see the smiles and tears of joy from cashiers, store, clerks, children, and just folks I bump into as I take the cross and hand it to them.
Some 14 years after my son made those first two crosses, I met a man as I entered the welcome center at Lake Junaluska to register for this Multicultural Conference. The man glowed with the light of Christ and greeted me….and it was real. It took the edge off my fears and doubts as to whether a 300 pound German/Scotch/Irish hillbilly would be welcomed here. He reminded me of many years ago when I was greeted as a new Local Pastor by a stranger, and the many men and women servant-leaders God has placed in my life this 14 year journey from Engineer to Local Pastor to Elder. He was there and gone. But I was blessed to give a cross away at the registration table. And as I write, I am out of crosses as I have passed them on to several folks at this conference. But forsythia grows really fast!
Many thousands of crosses later, I ponder that the cross is not something to just display. What would happen if in our doubts, in our trials, and in our journey we could remember that the cross is something to share? If we just let folks know that God is always saying “ I am with you!” We could do that!
Just after the closing session on Saturday, December 4th, Stephen said, “Brother Fred, you and I have a connection now!” Meaning that after all that had been said and done at the conferece, the experience of the cross allowed us to be spiritually bound and most importantly to live out what Jesus said, And I, if and when I am lifted up from the earth [on the cross], will draw and attract all men [Gentile as well as Jew] to myself. Selah
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Thanks, but no thanks
Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. – Ezekiel 33:5 (NIV)
It seems like it was just yesterday when the plumber warned me of potential problems I’d run into if I didn’t consider going beyond the Band-Aid job he would do to stop my hot water valve from leaking in the shower. Thinking that this was a more money making scheme, I simply responded (in a round-a-bout way) with a “Thanks, but not thanks” expression! Well, that scenario was nearly 10 years ago and let me tell you, I wish I’d taken the advice because overtime those old galvanized (?) pipes began to rust as water slowly dripped and holes opened up to cause floor joist and interior wall studs (2x4) deterioration. On top of all that, termites had crept in and did further wood damage.
Our home on Cedrow Drive in High Point, NC, was built in the early 1940s and when my wife and I moved in 1968, it was then 28 years old. Right now, every nook and cranny of the old house has seen approximately 60 years of wear and tear. Nonetheless, it was last month (October 2010) that I had to call in both a carpenter and a plumber to solve my problem. What an expensive mess! I should have heeded the early warning some 10 years ago, but instead I said “Thanks, but no thanks!” It didn’t matter how many times I tried to console myself, I didn’t give the matter proper attention. I kept saying, “Look Jones, you saved a few pennies on the deal; after all you couldn’t see how bad the pipes were leaking! Maybe so; maybe not! Remember that just about every professional you call on to fix something for you is out to rip more money out your pockets with slick sale gimmicks – so chill out!”
“Thanks, but no thanks” is more than just a mere thought or conversational piece. It is a signal to become aware of something – to be on the alert or to simply take a warning from a reliable source. How can this be rephrased? Consider what Hebrews 3:7-14 teaches:
So, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared an oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
The message from Hebrews 3:7-14 is a warning against unbelief. One of the greatest spiritual challenges is to protect the heart from becoming hardened and to stay receptive to God’s action in our lives. Hence to say “Thanks, but no thanks” suggests that you or I haven’t listened carefully to the plea for staying on the right track. The warning is for us to gently examine our lives by asking such questions as, 1) Are there any habits that draws me away from God? 2) What will help me to draw nearer to Jesus Christ and deepen my relationship with him? 3) Who has been my cheerleader – one who has inspired me to be faithful?
Ezekiel 33:5 provides additional food for thought. First, it speaks of a person who has heard the sound of the trumpet (a loud siren warning of impending danger) but said “Thanks, but no thanks” –went on his merry way until the unexpected happened and his life (no doubt) was snuffed out. Note the emphasis upon “since he heard …but did not take warning.” Secondly, Ezekiel 33:5 speaks of eternal separation from a Holy God. Notice again what the last portion of the verse says, “if he had taken warning, he would have saved himself.” God does not want any one to perish because he is a loving God – Love is a strong suit of his character. But anyone who persists in rebelling against God by saying “Thanks, but no thanks” has a rebellious nature, which inevitably will receive God’s judgment. On the other hand, those who are faithful to God will find encouragement and hope. Selah
Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. – Ezekiel 33:5 (NIV)
It seems like it was just yesterday when the plumber warned me of potential problems I’d run into if I didn’t consider going beyond the Band-Aid job he would do to stop my hot water valve from leaking in the shower. Thinking that this was a more money making scheme, I simply responded (in a round-a-bout way) with a “Thanks, but not thanks” expression! Well, that scenario was nearly 10 years ago and let me tell you, I wish I’d taken the advice because overtime those old galvanized (?) pipes began to rust as water slowly dripped and holes opened up to cause floor joist and interior wall studs (2x4) deterioration. On top of all that, termites had crept in and did further wood damage.
Our home on Cedrow Drive in High Point, NC, was built in the early 1940s and when my wife and I moved in 1968, it was then 28 years old. Right now, every nook and cranny of the old house has seen approximately 60 years of wear and tear. Nonetheless, it was last month (October 2010) that I had to call in both a carpenter and a plumber to solve my problem. What an expensive mess! I should have heeded the early warning some 10 years ago, but instead I said “Thanks, but no thanks!” It didn’t matter how many times I tried to console myself, I didn’t give the matter proper attention. I kept saying, “Look Jones, you saved a few pennies on the deal; after all you couldn’t see how bad the pipes were leaking! Maybe so; maybe not! Remember that just about every professional you call on to fix something for you is out to rip more money out your pockets with slick sale gimmicks – so chill out!”
“Thanks, but no thanks” is more than just a mere thought or conversational piece. It is a signal to become aware of something – to be on the alert or to simply take a warning from a reliable source. How can this be rephrased? Consider what Hebrews 3:7-14 teaches:
So, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared an oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
The message from Hebrews 3:7-14 is a warning against unbelief. One of the greatest spiritual challenges is to protect the heart from becoming hardened and to stay receptive to God’s action in our lives. Hence to say “Thanks, but no thanks” suggests that you or I haven’t listened carefully to the plea for staying on the right track. The warning is for us to gently examine our lives by asking such questions as, 1) Are there any habits that draws me away from God? 2) What will help me to draw nearer to Jesus Christ and deepen my relationship with him? 3) Who has been my cheerleader – one who has inspired me to be faithful?
Ezekiel 33:5 provides additional food for thought. First, it speaks of a person who has heard the sound of the trumpet (a loud siren warning of impending danger) but said “Thanks, but no thanks” –went on his merry way until the unexpected happened and his life (no doubt) was snuffed out. Note the emphasis upon “since he heard …but did not take warning.” Secondly, Ezekiel 33:5 speaks of eternal separation from a Holy God. Notice again what the last portion of the verse says, “if he had taken warning, he would have saved himself.” God does not want any one to perish because he is a loving God – Love is a strong suit of his character. But anyone who persists in rebelling against God by saying “Thanks, but no thanks” has a rebellious nature, which inevitably will receive God’s judgment. On the other hand, those who are faithful to God will find encouragement and hope. Selah
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Just at the right time
At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. -Ephesians 5:20 (The Amplified Bible)
While supervising some needy repairs at our home in High Point, NC, I decided to grab a light lunch at a nearby restaurant where I ran into an old buddy of mine. I was unsure who he was until after I strolled past him on my way to the salad bar. He didn’t see me at the moment I was piling up my plate. However, I noticed that he was eating as well as he could because his coordination was out of control with; quick, sudden, momentarily wild jerking movements of the arms, face, and legs - His head turned in order to shift eye positions. His table was filled with paper napkins and fragments of food all over the place, but he didn’t seem to be bothered as others looked out of curiosity at his abnormal and unusual body movements.
In order not to startle him while he was eating, I moved around so I could look him straight in the eye and politely asked, “Don’t I know you?” His reply was, “Yep! It’s me, Thomas! How are you doing, Jones? Where have you been for all these many years?” His speech was slurred [indistinct clarity], so I had to listen carefully in order to make a reply. Motioning that I wanted to feed my face, I made a comment that we could chat a bit more later on. As I took a seat in another part of the establishment, several waitresses were frequently visiting his table inquiring if he needed anything else that they would get for him. I gazed out of the window where I was seated and observed that a taxicab was waiting just opposite the exit door and breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the driver was waiting for him to complete his meal.
It appeared that everything had been business as usual for brother Thomas. He was handicapped and all the waiters and waitresses knew who he was. In fact one of them said, “Your friend is one of the nicest people I know! I enjoy not only helping him, but I just like to hang around him as much I can whenever he comes in here. All he has to do is show up and he would be waited on hand and foot.” After a while, Thomas [with his walker] wheeled to my table and positioned himself at a distance where he could move around comfortably. We both talked briefly about the good old days when we in college at A& T; about how our families met, as well as the motorcycle he still had.
Thomas mentioned of his wife’s death in 2004, but wanted to cue me in on his present health condition. “Jones, I have Huntington’s Disease, which I inherited through my family line. I’m 69 years old, but my situation began to be noticeable when you and I were members of that Baptist Church in 1969 when I was 27 years old. By the time I reached my middle 30s, things went bad for me.”
I asked how he was able to get around and he surprised me when he said, “Look-a-here buddy, I can do practically whatever I want to! I attend the church and its activities. I can get to the drug store; to the doctor’s office; get to the grocery store; entertain my friends at the house; go to sleep; and go wherever I please. Do you see that mini-van parked in the handicapped space? It is mine…and I drive it.” I thought to myself that Thomas had to be either joking or exaggerating with the way his condition was. However, after I helped him get into his automobile and he was able to drive out of parking lot onto the street, I believed what he said.
Would you believe that I followed him for a while in my car! Even though I could see abnormal head jerks; yet, he had enough control to stop at the red light; wait for the green, and then speed away in the direction he wanted to go. Wait a minute! How could my friend be able to accomplish such a feat? I thought to myself that he shouldn’t be driving a car in his condition. He would inevitably wind up hurting himself as well as putting other motorists in danger. To tell you the truth, I’d never even heard of this kind of disease before. What is Huntington’s disease anyway?
Upon research, I discovered that Huntington’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that causes nerve cells in the brain to waste away. As a result, such a person may experience uncontrolled movements, emotional disturbances and mental deterioration. Huntington’s disease is an inherited disease. Signs and systems usually develop in middle age. Younger people with the disease often have a more severe case, and their systems may progress more quickly. Rarely, children may develop Huntington’s disease. Medications are available to help manage the signs and symptoms, but treatments can’t prevent the physical and mental decline associated with the condition. Thomas and I renewed old acquaintances at just the right time. He taught me that hard times are no excuses for giving up; throwing the towel, and looking for sympathy from everyone.
In his letter to the church at Ephesus (Ephesians 5: 20), the apostle Paul stressed that when you feel down, you may find it difficult to give thanks. But he says to take heart – in all things God works for our good if we love him and are called by him. Believers are to thank God, even in spite of the problems but more so for the strength he is building in them through difficult experiences in their lives. Believers can be sure that God’s perfect love will see them through.
Just at the right time, Thomas reached that point when giving thanks to God spoke louder than words could ever say. He lived it by pressing on in spite of Huntington’s disease, which was an affliction that would not crush him nor drive him to despair, but rather an opportunity to show the world that he could overcome the adversity because of the ever living Christ. Selah
At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. -Ephesians 5:20 (The Amplified Bible)
While supervising some needy repairs at our home in High Point, NC, I decided to grab a light lunch at a nearby restaurant where I ran into an old buddy of mine. I was unsure who he was until after I strolled past him on my way to the salad bar. He didn’t see me at the moment I was piling up my plate. However, I noticed that he was eating as well as he could because his coordination was out of control with; quick, sudden, momentarily wild jerking movements of the arms, face, and legs - His head turned in order to shift eye positions. His table was filled with paper napkins and fragments of food all over the place, but he didn’t seem to be bothered as others looked out of curiosity at his abnormal and unusual body movements.
In order not to startle him while he was eating, I moved around so I could look him straight in the eye and politely asked, “Don’t I know you?” His reply was, “Yep! It’s me, Thomas! How are you doing, Jones? Where have you been for all these many years?” His speech was slurred [indistinct clarity], so I had to listen carefully in order to make a reply. Motioning that I wanted to feed my face, I made a comment that we could chat a bit more later on. As I took a seat in another part of the establishment, several waitresses were frequently visiting his table inquiring if he needed anything else that they would get for him. I gazed out of the window where I was seated and observed that a taxicab was waiting just opposite the exit door and breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the driver was waiting for him to complete his meal.
It appeared that everything had been business as usual for brother Thomas. He was handicapped and all the waiters and waitresses knew who he was. In fact one of them said, “Your friend is one of the nicest people I know! I enjoy not only helping him, but I just like to hang around him as much I can whenever he comes in here. All he has to do is show up and he would be waited on hand and foot.” After a while, Thomas [with his walker] wheeled to my table and positioned himself at a distance where he could move around comfortably. We both talked briefly about the good old days when we in college at A& T; about how our families met, as well as the motorcycle he still had.
Thomas mentioned of his wife’s death in 2004, but wanted to cue me in on his present health condition. “Jones, I have Huntington’s Disease, which I inherited through my family line. I’m 69 years old, but my situation began to be noticeable when you and I were members of that Baptist Church in 1969 when I was 27 years old. By the time I reached my middle 30s, things went bad for me.”
I asked how he was able to get around and he surprised me when he said, “Look-a-here buddy, I can do practically whatever I want to! I attend the church and its activities. I can get to the drug store; to the doctor’s office; get to the grocery store; entertain my friends at the house; go to sleep; and go wherever I please. Do you see that mini-van parked in the handicapped space? It is mine…and I drive it.” I thought to myself that Thomas had to be either joking or exaggerating with the way his condition was. However, after I helped him get into his automobile and he was able to drive out of parking lot onto the street, I believed what he said.
Would you believe that I followed him for a while in my car! Even though I could see abnormal head jerks; yet, he had enough control to stop at the red light; wait for the green, and then speed away in the direction he wanted to go. Wait a minute! How could my friend be able to accomplish such a feat? I thought to myself that he shouldn’t be driving a car in his condition. He would inevitably wind up hurting himself as well as putting other motorists in danger. To tell you the truth, I’d never even heard of this kind of disease before. What is Huntington’s disease anyway?
Upon research, I discovered that Huntington’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that causes nerve cells in the brain to waste away. As a result, such a person may experience uncontrolled movements, emotional disturbances and mental deterioration. Huntington’s disease is an inherited disease. Signs and systems usually develop in middle age. Younger people with the disease often have a more severe case, and their systems may progress more quickly. Rarely, children may develop Huntington’s disease. Medications are available to help manage the signs and symptoms, but treatments can’t prevent the physical and mental decline associated with the condition. Thomas and I renewed old acquaintances at just the right time. He taught me that hard times are no excuses for giving up; throwing the towel, and looking for sympathy from everyone.
In his letter to the church at Ephesus (Ephesians 5: 20), the apostle Paul stressed that when you feel down, you may find it difficult to give thanks. But he says to take heart – in all things God works for our good if we love him and are called by him. Believers are to thank God, even in spite of the problems but more so for the strength he is building in them through difficult experiences in their lives. Believers can be sure that God’s perfect love will see them through.
Just at the right time, Thomas reached that point when giving thanks to God spoke louder than words could ever say. He lived it by pressing on in spite of Huntington’s disease, which was an affliction that would not crush him nor drive him to despair, but rather an opportunity to show the world that he could overcome the adversity because of the ever living Christ. Selah
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