We Need Not Be Prisoners of our Past

            Recent news stories tell of human bondage. Alex Rodriquez is reported to face a 100 game suspension because of illegal drugs this year. A few years ago he confessed to using steroids over a 2 year period. Ryan Braun , Brewer's star accepted a 65 game suspension for using illegal substances this season. He now admits to being dirty in 2011 when awarded the MVP.

         Humanity is problematic about reverting to past destructive behaviors.

Psychologists witness the best way to predict future behavior is past actions. This common pattern defies all reason. When a person seems to have achieved success he repeats the same foolish actions that damaged his career, health and family.

Recidivism is the main problem keeping prisons overflowing. Why is it so hard for us to learn our lesson? Why is it difficult to practice a new way of life?

        If we ignore the Lord to help us change we are limited to self reliance. 1 Corinthians 5: 17-18 gives hope beyond self, “So if anyone in in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.”

         Our hope is the higher power of Christ to transform our heart and habits to live wisely. Guidance from Christ is available when we humbly ask for His help day by day to do the right thing. We can overcome the prison of our past if we surrender to do His will daily.

       Freedom from past folly is never a possession to boast about. It is a continuing relationship of trust and obedience with the Deliverer of our soul.

The Lord's Miracles and Magic Are Not The Same Thing.

On July 9^th Rev. Ray postulated in the News Leader that we need to view miracles in the Holy Scriptures as mere magical stories. He opines that to believe in the wonders of Jesus is superstitious magic.

       Magic is rejected by the Apostles. They had conflicts with magicians who wanted to purchase the Holy Spirit to make money. A magician sells an illusion that supernatural power can be forced to to get us what we want. Magic requires no submission to the higher will of our Creator. With a magician, you pay and expect the results you demand.

Palm Readers and Tarot Card spiritualists prey upon desperate people who will resort to any means to find relief for problems.

They are not willing to surrender to the higher will of God. Magic is an inventive attempt to secure supernatural power.

       Biblical miracles are not magic. They are a sign of God's caring and delivering power. A divine miracle is an experience of God in our distress. It is beyond our control or explanation. It is a sign of the grace of God and makes us aware we are not in control. We can only ask humbly for the healing power of God. We do not use a ritual or offer money to make this happen. In no way can we tame God's mercy.

       When I was a prison chaplain an inmate at Leavenworth USP was beaten senseless with a medal pipe and left for dead. The medical staff gave no hope for his recovery or to be a functional human being. To the amazement of the medical experts he woke up and fully recovered all cognitive and physical abilities.

      He requested that we talk. He was surprised to be alive. He asked ; “Why did God spare my life? I do not deserve God's help. I was never good or religious. What does God want from me?” He was in awe of his life's meaning. For the first time he acknowledged the reality of a power greater than human violence. In the presence of the divine mystery of recovery he searched for God's purpose. He experienced this miracle as God's wake up call.

      Instead of denying miracles with the arrogance of a closed rationalistic attitude, it is better to pray for the ability to recognize miracles for what they are and to be thankful for divine mercies.

     The Scriptures warn us to avoid magical thinking about our expectations. Galatians 6:7 warns, “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.” Some inmates wrongly expected forgiveness to bring a quick cure from painful consequences. Forgiveness removes guilt and shame, but it is not an escape from problems. We ask for the mercy of God's forgiveness knowing it is not a magic wand. The way to success is to practice kindness, self-control, faithful morality, and wisdom. Our hope is not in magic, but in the harvest honest and generous actions bring.

The Blue Berry Patch Morning.

      The Blue Berry Patch near Seymour was a great adventure on 

Saturday, July 6^th. I was blessed to pick berries with 3 grand kids and a dear friend, Steve Page. We wondered how many pounds we could pick among us. We were amazed at check out to find we had 35 pounds of fresh blue goodness. We started picking at 7 AM and finished before 9 AM! When the grand kids started throwing blue berries at each other I knew it was time to stop, that we had done enough. The berries were just ready in clusters to fall into the bucket.

      It is inspiring to ponder that the Blue Berry Patch is a Christian ministry of outreach to 3^rd world people who lack fresh water. All the profits go to the Cross Catholic Outreach with an effective rate of 97% going to projects to benefit the poor. The management of this blue berry farm calls their outreach, “The Blue Water Project”.

Profits of $43,814 from 2008-10 were sent to the Dominican Republic where folks were drinking from contaminated creeks . Profits of $25,874 from 2011-12 were sent to a critical area of Kenya to help provide clean and sustainable water.

         The Patch will pick one more time this Saturday of July 13. They only pick once a week to let the plants fill out well. I plan to be out there at 7 AM. How wonderful to find fresh, wholesome fruit only a 40 minute drive away. How inspiring to also to be a small part of a world wide vision of compassion for the poor who need clean water. I will attempt to put a few pictures of the adventure on my blog main page.

Adventures With A Three Year Old.

         Colossians 1:16-17 says,”For by him all things were created:things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

        This past week we have been blessed with our daughter, son-in-law and 3 year old grandson Joshua to visit us from Kentucky. Spending time with Joshua on daily adventures helped me get in touch with the splendor of the Lord's greatness in His created things. This Scripture teaches that ,”all things were created by him and for him.. and in him all things hold together.”

We picked fresh blueberries. It was a delight to hear him taste the berries and murmur his approval. We caught bright flashing fire flies on a summer night. We filled an old jar full of them and released them the next morning. We caught 3 large, kicking and jumping trout. The rainbow colors of the trout were so brilliant.

     We were chased by a gaggle of geese wanting to get all the bread in our hands. We made it safely to a foot bridge with some of the bread left over for the ducks. It is so interesting that geese will not come up on the bridge but the ducks do. We went swimming and discovered that he can hold to a kick board and make splashes with his extended kicking feet. On a nature walk we saw beautiful blue dragon flies and red winged black birds.

      Our Lord has made us a wonderful world. Like the old hymn says so well, “He shines in all that is fair.” The Lord must have a great taste for variety, fun and awesome tender beauty to make wonders we can not count. We need an inquisitive 3 year old around to help us see and appreciate some of it!

      Yes, I am tired out but thankful for all this past week of adventure. I praise the Lord for health to tag along with an energetic little man. I will try to attach one photo of the wonder.

The Lord Restores Us When We Keep Loving Him.

        It is my joy to be printed in the Upper Room on Monday, August 12. The theme of that devotional is how we can find true higher power in Christ to continue to build a good life even when our aspirations are crushed. The experience of divorce and being a single parent raising 3 kids is far in the past. May new wife Martha and I have been married for 20 years. She came into my journey of life after I had been a single parent for many years. She and I have blended our two families into one harmonious unit. Now I have 5 children instead of only the original 3. All the children are close to us and we do things with them and the grand children. We have taken all the 5 children into our hearts and we are blessed in their love and support.

      When I was first divorced I was wrong to think that my dream of building a happy family was over. With the Lord's help and Martha's wise partnership we have a very blessed active family life. We have 10 grand children with another one on the way. It is a joy to be active grand parents and to share fun times with them. Attached is a picture of my grandson Owen enjoying the baseball game with me.

      I witness that the words of Romans 8:28 are true to my experience, “”We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” During the time of my despair after the crushing divorce I vowed to keep actively loving and serving the Lord no matter what. When we keep ourselves in the work of loving God daily He will work with us to build a good life, even if all we can give him at times is broken pieces.

Finding Our Safe Tower In Christ

Where Can We Find Safety?

Read: Psalms 91:1-16

        “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalms 91:1-2.

It was my duty to serve as Chaplain at a High Security Prison. The prison housed 1,000 violent men. Gang fights and murders were common on the prison yard. Five gun towers circled the razor wire fences so inmates trying to escape could be shot. One tall gun tower was erected inside the yard to shoot inmates chasing staff members. More bullets were fired from the gun towers in one year here than in any other Federal Prison.

        The warden instructed staff and peaceful inmates, “When threatened run to the shadow of the inside gun tower to be safe until the danger has past.” When walking the prison yard among hundreds of prisoners I felt comforted to know that the yard tower was present. Proverbs 18:10 teaches that God is a fortress, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.” For me God’s name stands for protection, dependable help, and victory over my enemies. I find safety in a close relationship with Almighty God. Close to Him I can overcome inner enemies of temptation, depression, fear and panic. My soul is sheltered with Christ. No terrorist or criminal action can take away my eternal life safe in Him.

        I thank God for being my protective tower for fearful times. My responsibility is to run to the shadow of His name by prayer and obedience where I can find true shelter.

Prayer: Almighty Father, thank you for always being available to be our protective shelter and safe place. May we all turn to you with trust and obedience when threatened by the storms of life.

Thought Of The Day: We can run to the tower of God’s Love instead of just running scared.

Imagine No Malaria

       I just attended our Missouri Methodist Annual Conference. We are blessed to do great things for others in our combined efforts as disciples of Jesus.  The United Methodist national conference and our state conference have been fighting the terrible disease of malaria since 2008.  At that time we together worked with the "Nothing But Nets" program to bring needed mosquito protection to our brothers and sisters in Africa.  For nearly 2 hundred years Methodists have been in partnership with African Christians to give help to the sick, increase sanitation, and promote healing.
     Our Bishop has challenged each church to give a special offering to this new program called, "Imagine No Malaria".  He asks that we give $10.00 for each person who is average in attendance in worship. This means Rogersville UMC is being asked to give $300.00. This generous giving is putting our faith in action.
      This new program of "Imagine No Malaria" distributes insecticide -treated bed nets, it delivers sustainable and accountable public health systems. It works closely with the village elders, teachers, pastors, and mid wives who all know the people who need help. This system means that the medical supplies and nets are not stolen and then sold by thieves. This way of ministry means that there are regular and on going checks by trained local medical workers to make sure the supplies are being used in the proper life saving and preventive way.
       James 2:14-17 is the foundation of our efforts to give aid to our family in Christ in Africa,
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters; if you say you have faith but do not have works? If a person is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." It is good to see the Methodist Church in action to make a difference to save children from dying from this preventable disease.  It only cost $10.00 to purchase on insecticide-treated net!
      The World Health Organization reports that in Africa every day 3,000 children die under the age of 5 years.  In 2010 reported malaria deaths were 660,000 with 90% of those in Africa. As Methodists we can and will make a difference.  Many lives are being saved, churches are being started and communities becoming healthier because of the generous sharing of the Methodist Church.
    Here is an African proverb to consider, " If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending the night with a mosquito."