Homesick for where you have never been

"Now we know that if the earthly tent [physical body] we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling." 2 Cor. 5:1-2 (NIV)

Ever been homesick for someplace you’ve never been to?

Do we as believers long for heaven? Many look at heaven as another stop on a travel itinerary. It will be nice but they worry about what to do when they get there. Will they be bored in church service all the time is their unspoken fear. That is not what heaven is like.

Let me suggest a few things that will make heaven special.

REDEMPTION comes to mind.

Heaven is the home of the redeemed. Those who have repented of sin and rebellion against a holy God and accepted forgiveness through the shed blood and death of Jesus Christ have been redeemed. God paid the price to restore the relationship He designed us to have with Him. Make no mistake. Heaven is not for “good “people but for those who confess their sinful state and receive God’s gracious forgiveness and new life.
How about RELATIONSHIPS?

Being in heaven will renew relationships with loved ones who have gone before and those will come later. Think about this. Who, after Jesus, do you most long to see in heaven someday? Let their memory and your anticipation be part of the hope that keeps you pursuing God with a hot heart.

Ask God to help you be homesick for heaven. Let the things of this world lose their attraction and look to God and heaven.

When you lose Joy... there's still Hope

In 1990, I was called to be Youth Pastor at FBC SLIDELL and immediately fell in love with the people at church, the people of Slidell and SE Louisiana.

When our family moved to Slidell, Diana was expecting our third child, Hope.

Coming to this church was a blessing and great relief from a stressful, barely getting by church in Texas.  We labored for the Lord years in Texas and wondered if the He had forgotten us. 

Compounding the frustration, in 1989, we lost a baby in the 2^nd trimester of pregnancy.  She was going to be named Victoria Joy.  I still recall with choking sadness the trip home from the hospital with empty arms and breaking hearts at our loss.

Things seemed hopeless.

That was a perfect time for God to show up.

In the next year, we were interviewed and visited at FBC. We were voted to be on staff with a unanimous vote.  God’s blessings overflowed.

As we recover from Isaac, let me remind you that Isaac was the son of promise born to older parents.  His name means “he laughs” because that’s what his mother did when told she would bear a child at age 90!

Our recent visit by Isaac has robbed much of the joy in the area.

In 1990, two days after our daughter Hope was born, I was driving us home from the hospital and turned the wrong way.  My wife asked why.  I told her to lift her eyes.  There was beautiful horizon to the heavens rainbow reminding us of God’s love and promises to us.

I asked Diana is she knew what happened a year before  to the day.  Through tears she recalled we were driving home from another hospital where we had lost Joy.

I said told her,” God’s rainbow reminder  is when we lose our Joy... He still give us our Hope.”

SE Louisiana, have faith…joy is diminished but have hope in God.

Prepare Future Celebrations

Sometimes we miss the great emotions and awe in some of the stories we read about Jesus.

Many of us are familiar with the story where Jesus was teaching in a house and the crowd spilled over out into the streets. Mark chapter .

Four friends were carrying their friend on a mat and could not get in that house. So they took the outside stairs to the roof and began divine demolition work!   They likely had to remove tiles and then burrow through the roof to open a hole.

I imagine it filled the house with dust as they dug.  Jesus may have had a little pile of dust on His head as He preached. This was not in the bulletin or order of worship for that day!

Suddenly, they lowered this helpless guy right in front of Jesus!  Kind of hard to ignore.

Jesus looked up and saw the faith of the four friends and said to the man on the mat, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  He knew this man needed forgiveness for sin more than healing.

Then Jesus perceived thoughts of the critics who questioned His authority.  To demonstrate His authority, He spoke words of healing and then man got up in front of everyone and walked away.

They said everyone was amazed and praised God.  Mild understatement.

Try to picture the rooftop celebration. I think the four friends were high fiving and hollering more that Saint’s fans did when Tracy Porter returned an interception for a TD in the Super Bowl!

It’s not hard to imagine the aftermath.  I can picture them running down the stairs and embracing their friend…shouting...crying for joy…loving God.

Do you think this was the last person they ever tried to bring to Jesus?  Not likely. 

So what’s your excuse? 

Don’t want to “offend” a friend by telling them about Jesus?  

Ignore your fears and focus on the celebration some day when you see them again in heaven and rejoice at God’s goodness and grace.  

You too will be shouting…crying for joy…loving God.

Elevate the Elderly

Leviticus 19:32 "Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the LORD.

Proverbs 16:31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life

We’ve read about the four boys bullying an elderly woman who was their school bus monitor. The boys have been suspended a year from the school district. They also have to do 50 hours of community service with elderly.

We, in Western culture, do not honor our elderly for the wisdom and life experience they have acquired.

Creation teaches us that age demands dignity and honor. The older the redwoods, the more majestic. Shouldn’t it be true that the older a man, the more he is to be appreciated by others. Young people are missing a great opportunity when they do not get to know the elderly and associate with them.

Consider four things:
First, age does not mean someone is useless. There are groups of retired men and women who travel the US to build churches. Sounds useful to me. You might be surprised by their wit, humor, and their ability to guide you.

Secondly, allow them to share their life with you. I miss the days of visiting with the only grandfather I knew. He was a limitless fount of wisdom and stories. He retired from Esso in Baton Rouge at 60 and then served as a court bailiff until 80! He once pulled his gun on a prisoner trying to escape. When my grandpa called a warning, the prisoner asked “Are you gonna shoot?” My grandpa said he did not want to, but his hand twitched and he could not make a guarantee. The prisoner gave up!

Thirdly, age carries with it a promise. That when we are old we will receive the respect, dignity and honor that is due us. That someone will care and want to return the love and care that was given so long ago to others. It is the Golden Rule in effect.

Fourthly, remember - growing old is not a disease or a woe to humanity. It is a blessing bestowed by God. Honor the elderly and honor God.

Think local first!

 
How do we minister to Jesus? He tells us how.
Matt 25:37-40 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”
Here is a trivia question for you?
What group, supported by local churches, has ministered to Jesus this way since 1983? Has touched over 100,000 lives in the Slidell area. In a typical year they touch 6,000 people in 2,000 families, distributing nearly 90,000 lbs of food and provided nearly 8,000 articles of clothing.
Give up?
Community Christian Concern. Like any other not for profit, they are in a constant state of prayer and trust for their financial help.
Though many churches still send people to CCC to receive aid, fewer churches are giving money each year. Many of us get caught up in “going overseas” for missions. Yes, there is something exciting about getting passports, shots and travelling to a foreign land. But does it make sense to do the big trip and neglecting the needs at your own doorstep?
Let me appeal directly to believers, call CCC to see how you can give of your time or resources. Mark your calendar for September 29 for the Freddy Drennan Wildgame Cook OFF. Go to their website to learn more. http://www.cccslidell.org/ 985-646-0357.
Be the good Samaritan or should I say Slidellian!

Simply Present

 
Count me among the smitten. Our first and so far only grandchild, Conner is going to be a year old in June.
He stays with us during the day when his Mom goes to work so we see him a lot. He is at that wonderful stage where his little face lights up when he sees me.

Who can blame him? He will waddle over to the side of his playpen nearest me, smile and hold his little hands up!

My response?

Pick him up.

Now follows the lesson.

There are times he wants me to get him out of his captivity in the playpen and let him roam free. He wants me for independence only. There are times he wants to be fed or needs to be changed. Sometimes he just wants to be with me. Guess which is my favorite?

Conner is teaching me about the heart of our heavenly Father. How many times do we come to God wanting to get out of our situation or mess? Sometimes we want to be fed or need to get cleaned up for the mess we make of our lives.

But, there are times we just want to know His Presence…Person…Peace.

Take a moment, read a small portion of the Word, quiet your heart and simply enjoy Him. Don’t talk or tell Him what you want or what you are going to do for Him. Just let Him love you. Ps 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Choose Travel Companions Wisely

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.(Proverbs 13:20 )
Charles “Tremendous” Jones was a successful businessman, author and speaker. His signature theme was “the things that most determine the difference in who you are today and who you will become in 5 years are the books you read and the company you keep.”

Others say you become like the 5 people you spend the most time with. I used to tell my youth group, your friends determine your future.

To walk with someone, you must be facing the same direction.

Walk also means being in motion and going somewhere. I love to see elderly couples, anyone older than me, walking together in public and talking with one another. It is really touching when they are holding hands.
What are some ways to walk with the wise? What do you take in through your eyegate? What do you read…see on the internet…or watch on videos? I have long ago quit watching the TV news. It does not help me grow as a person, husband, father or friend.

What do you take in through your ears? Is it lyrics and language that builds you up or is filled with cursing that would make a sailor blush? Want to have some fun? Sit down with your kids or grandkids and go over the lyrics to the songs on their Ipod. Be ready for CPR when you hear what some of them listen to.

Another way to walk with the wise is read books or websites that are affirming or inspiring. I commend www.breakfastwithfred.com to one and all. Get books by some of biblically based ministers. A good way to determine a good, biblical author is when you finish reading a message or article does it make you hunger even more for the Word itself?

Choose wisely.