Finding Laughter In Difficult Times

The world recently celebrated the World Cup-international soccer tournament. Something I know nothing about since I’m not a sports fan.  About the only sports I watch clips of, once-in-a blue-moon, are Track and Cycling. I don’t dedicate hours to any sport; sorry!

However, the world has gone bananas over the World Cup with thousands having traveled across the globe for a chance at seeing the game and closeup opportunities to see/meet the great players of the sport.

Stories, both written and video-taped are circulating online on the impact Americans have had on many individuals and families from the UK and other parts of the world.  For one thing, many foreigners arrived with preconceived ideas of who we are and what we’re like.  To their amazement, their experiences have been completely contrary to what they expected.  From outgoing, social people who sometimes offered to pay for their meals, to free advice, friendly conversations, and public greetings, these outsiders were welcomed as if they had previously been here, or were family or friends.

Many were in tears as they recounted the goodness they experienced in the presence of strangers.  Blessings poured upon them through simple acts such as “How are you today?” And, “You will want to take this path instead of the steeper one;” or “Stay away from moose!” From state-to-state, and city-after-city, foreigners saw firsthand the freedom available to USA residents as well as the camaraderie shared among a common people whether they’re known or unknown to them.  In essence, they experienced “Southern Hospitality” everywhere they went.  Some, couldn’t get over how large some homes and apartments were!  Others, couldn’t get enough of the varieties of American food available or the sizes of supermarkets!  Hundreds left in tears-overwhelmed by how they were received!

Granted, these experiences may not happen all the time, but for a people who were warned about the unfriendliness of Americans, they were in for a shocker!

Now, you may not have traveled to the US to view the games or to meet new strangers.  Maybe you’re from here!  But, do you have preconceived ideas of God?  Have you been told He’s unfriendly?  That He’s stuck-up, stingy and unforgiving? Did you know He’s social and friendly?  Did you know you’re welcome into His house and kingdom?  Has your life experienced His goodness and the outpouring of His blessings?  Did you know His arms are open wide ready to receive you?  Have you experienced an outpouring of tears from His goodness, which leads to repentance (Romans 2:4)?

Following in His paths, His word will guide you over which paths to take and what to stay away from.  He may not pay for your meals, but He did pay for your salvation.  And maybe you’re awestruck by the sizes of homes, apartments, lofts or studios on earth, just wait till you get to heaven and lay eyes on the grandness and scale of the Holy City He’s prepared for you!  Don’t think, for one moment that He’s going to be outdone by the inventions of mankind.  You’ll never visit someplace in heaven where you’ll say, “Man, I should’ve stayed at_______! It’s 100 times better than this here heaven.”  It’ll never happen!

So, as great as the World Cup may be, as God’s people, we’re going for a bigger prize!  Check it out!
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12)

If the World Cup brought hundreds of thousands together for a temporary event, how many do you think will be gathered to receive their imperishable crowns from God (1Corinthians 9:25) on that great day?  An eternal crown along with everlasting rewards, will be grander than anything this world has ever seen! 

At the end of the day, if you’re in tears over God’s touch on your life, I guarantee you, your life will never be the same once you win the match against your opponent, the devil, and you celebrate your victory in Christ!  

Ready to sit at the largest feast ever?!  If earthly portions are large, imagine heaven’s!!  Not to mention dining with the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost and hosts of angelic beings along with God’s family from all the ages!   I think if we indulge, God will understand!  For some, it’ll be the best and biggest meal ever!  I’m looking forward to my Eternal Crown as well as fellowship with the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16)!  God will wipe away all your tears (Revelation 21:4). You will have triumphed!  You’ve scored!

God Bless!
Sam

Our world goes from one extreme to another; especially the weather.  We can go from heavy rains and flash flooding, to little rain and even droughts. Personally, I’m glad we haven’t had rain in about six weeks.  However, we’re also in a drought, which isn’t good either.  Dryness can cause negative impacts on our lives in many ways.

Take the Chesterfield Canal incident of 1978 where two UK workers were on a simple job of dredging a canal.  Their machinery pulled and pulled a heavy chain, and they then left for lunch.  Upon returning, they discovered an empty section of the canal.  The heavy chain was connected to a plug (installed back in the 1700s), which when removed, drained the water out of a quarter mile of the canal. I believe their joy dried up.  Needless to say, life in surrounding areas was impacted.

Remember singing group, America’s song,) A Horse With No Name?  (Been Through the Desert On…) Maybe they were inspired by the following details!  Turns out, the Atacama Desert has received only about an eighth (1/8) of an inch of rain during a period of 400 years (1570-1971)!  That’s enough to have everyone singing, How dry I am…

As Christians, we can experience our own periods of droughts. Periods where there might be a heaviness towards serving God.  A time where we don’t feel like worshipping Him or even serving Him.  Life’s responsibilities can dry us up and leave us like a can of flat, fizzle-less soda.  That’s a great time to cry out like the Psalmist,

“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1 NKJV). 

Have you been feeling left hung to dry by God?  Think He’s “Pulled the plug” on you and has left you drained, or worse, chained?!  It’s not He who moves or does those things!  It’s we who stop seeking Him.  It’s life’s circumstances which cause our spiritual ground to not bear fruit.  It can lead us to think God’s the culprit when we’ve withered away spiritually.

Are you in need of some water?  In need of some refreshing from God?  Heck, your needs are so great that you need flash flooding in your fallow ground?   Then check out His promise!

 “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants” (Isaiah 44:3).

Now, that’s refreshing news!  Don’t wait for another drought!  Seek Him every day.  And when the floods come, run to higher ground-to His presence!  Amen!

God Bless!
Sam

Practice, practice, practice!  It is said that practice helps us improve skills.  Our typing class, HOWEVER, back in 1971, had a banner which read: Practice does not make perfect unless practice is perfect.  If we don’t put in effort and umph, we won’t get great results.

Some say: “Break a leg,” or, “Kill ‘Em!” These are sayings or motivating chants meant to psych up competitors for actual performances.  We rehearse everyday in different forms acceptable to those around us.  But what about rehearsals acceptable to God?  Wait, you mean they take place here? YEP! DUH!  Surely, you’re not waiting to get to heaven to practice, right?  I mean, who tests their flashlight in broad daylight by pointing it to the sun?

We’re not going to test our “Polite” skills on perfected saints in heaven.  We’re not going to “practice” loving everyone in a place (heaven) that exudes love.  Instead, the real rehearsals happen here; real performances will take place in heaven.  Check it out:

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father” (Matthew 5:16).  

“The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16). 

“Preferring one another” (Romans 12:10). 

“Love your enemy, bless them that persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

These verses fulfill the “Unless practice is perfect” principle.  God has called us to a higher standard.  Those who want to skip the steps, are just practicing without results. “Go with the flow” doesn’t jive with God!  He wants us to be intentional in living right with Him and for Him.

As we grow in our faith, we move on to dress performances where our acquired gifts from God become second nature to us and we automatically “Put on love” (Colossians 3:14).  For now, we can continue to practice until that trumpet sounds!

See you at rehearsal!

Sam

It’s the mid-sixties and I’m with a group of friends, suddenly, an argument breaks out.  I tell the other person, “Take it back!” He responds with, “Oh yeah?”  I say, “YEAH!” But then he does what every 8 and 9-year-old hates.  Will punch me in the nose?  Will he knock me out?  No, worse.  He says those dreaded words: “Oh yeah?”  “Make me!”

Boy, I wanted to twist his nose and pull his ears out!  But I did something worse.  I put him in his place!  I told him, “I don’t make monkeys, I buy them and sell them in a can!”  Right then and there, he knew what was best for him!

Yep, that was a regular statement we kids had in the early 60s.  Of course, it makes no sense now, but back then, those words put kids in their place!  So did a black eye!

I guess one of the great benefits of living in the 1960s was that not everything had to make sense-it just had to work!  We didn’t flip out our phones to look up info. or check for “sense-making” statements, or grammatical errors.  We didn’t even have cameras or film to “shoot” every sequence of events.  All we needed was to solve issues mutually approved by all parties.

On the subject of monkeys, while I’ve never seen or understood, “More fun than a barrel of monkeys,” my little brother did have the toy barrel with a bunch of thin, connecting monkeys!  Remember those? 

Around the same time, around 1966, TV featured a show about the Monkees-a singing pop group.  In the early 70s, singing-sensation group, the Honey Cones, sang One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show. I guess The Monkeys were all around!   Even King Solomon had monkeys and apes (1Kings 10:22). So, where’s all this Monkey Business (Marx Brothers) headed?  

For sure, God’s not going bananas over all that’s happening around us.  He’s still sitting on His throne, worry-free.  He expects us to continue leaning on Him and serving Him without any monkey business.  He can’t have any bullies or crybabies in His kingdom.  In fact, He tells us “Quit yourselves like men, and fight” (1 Samuel 4:9), meaning, man up.   And the best part?  His word stands forever, and unlike our sayings, His word does make sense! 

“For You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (Psalm 138:2 AMPC)!

God Bless!

Sam

Enjoying your “Freedom” weekend?  It’s great to be able to walk, drive, or fly wherever we’d like to.  It’s also great to have the freedom to choose our jobs and neighborhoods.  Granted, not every neighborhood welcomes everyone…but freedom is still a luxury we enjoy. 

I recently watched a video clip of people complaining about everything that’s wrong with America, yet all refused a one-way-can’t return ticket to communist, red-zoned, or dictatorship countries!  That’s because after all the fussing, the US is still one of the best places on earth to live at.

So, we can travel anywhere we want and we can choose how to live, but no matter how much freedom we have, certain things we just can’t have, nor can we rid ourselves of.

Freedom won’t rid us of jealousy, anger, hatred, or envy.  Living free will not change discrimination or biasness in us.  Are you having a hard time accepting others, or loving people who look different from you?  Whether we’re all alone on an entire island what beats in our hearts, can’t be set free or bound by freedom. Jesus knows that.  He knew that before the beginning of time.

Only He can set us free from those things that chain and bind us internally.  Only he can declare wholeness upon our lives eternally.  So, if you desire to become a hermit and live in a hut, or if you’ve been sentenced to life behind bars, with Jesus in your heart, you will be free within. The bars without won’t bind you.  Nothing can stop the joy within.  Nothing can undo the changes wrought in you.  It was exactly for freedom that Jesus died for us!  It was to make us free from sin within and sin without.

So, where would you like to live?  I’d say, “In Jesus’ house, and in God’s presence where there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11).

Happy Fourth of July Week!
Sam

Two days ago, I had a short dream. It could be for you. I was in an apartment somewhere in New York.  A tenement building was across the street and there were about six to ten people hanging out in front of the building; New York style, for sure.

Some type of conversation was going on in our apartment, when my Uncle Joey walked in. He said, “Wait, what?!”  “You’re saying my father lives across the street?”  “The one I haven’t seen in twenty years?” Whoever was with me, joined me in saying, “Yes, he is.”  “Well, I’m going across the street to tell him that I’m his son,” Joey said. Somehow, as he made his way down the stairs and across the street, someone rang the bell to the man across the street.  He came out, looked around, saw no one he knew, and before Joey arrived, he went back inside.

Joey returned determined to try again.  As he headed down, the same thing happened again. On his third attempt, no one rang the bell before he arrived.  As he was nearing the building, I woke up.   The Lord impressed upon me that this dream is for someone out there.  Maybe it’s your dad, uncle, granddad, grandma, etc.  Maybe it’s just God, the Father who’s waiting for your return.  My uncle didn’t say he was going to swing his arms in the air and tell him, “Yo, where have you been for the past 20 years of my life, huh?”  Nope.  He said he’d tell him he was his son.

It may be time to come home-not to an abusive relationship; no way.  But to people who love you and miss you. Maybe you’ve fallen away from God.  Maybe you haven’t heard from Him in years.  He hasn’t moved.  His address is still the same: HEAVEN. His ear is still attentive to our cries.  Today, let Him know you love Him and want to come home.  I hope you find your Father, throw your arms around Him, and return to His home.  Dreams can become a long-term reality.

Happy Father’s Day!
Sam

Who hasn’t made mistakes? Liar, liar!! We all have, and we all will. Back in ’73, Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross sang My Mistake .…was to love you girl/boy My mistake was to give my all…

In terms of love, we’ve all made mistakes.  Maybe we waited too long, too short, said the wrong thing, didn’t say anything at all…Maybe we over-trusted; didn’t trust enough, etc. If you read the comments on just about any love song, you’ll read how people are still licking their wounds or pulling down on that rope tied to a big boot that kicks them in the rear.  Sometimes we get things right, and sometimes we don’t.

Prophets, Kings, and leaders have made mistakes, but God never has.  The word “Mistake” isn’t in His vocabulary!  Regardless of what you’ve been told, may have overheard, or may have inferred, you’re not a mistake!  You’re not even an accident!  Maybe your parents think so because you weren’t planned, but God knew you before you were born (Psalm 139         :16).

It’s been His plan forever to bring you forth and to love you!  He gave His all for you at the cross!  He fought the powers of darkness to redeem you and to bring you home!  He’ll soon give you a new name and will put a new song in your heart!  He even sings over you (Zephaniah 3:17)!  And as great as the song, My Mistake, is, He has a different song confirming His love for you: I’ve Always Loved You Third Day.  Read on…

“Don’tcha know I’ve always loved you? Even before there was time/Though you turn away, I tell you still/Don’tcha know I’ve always loved you? And I always will.”

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me saying, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).

God Bless!
Sam

I’m recovering from SCAM; not from having been scammed, or from being a scammer, but of the SCHOOL of COMPLAINERS AND MURMMERERS.  I had celebrity status among complainers.  My walls were decorated with cheap and fake certificates for being a top complainer!  But I quit complaining, minus an occasional outburst here and there due to unfairness in life.  I was due to receive a top award, but it was humiliating!   Certificates were nothing but made of cheap, recycled toilet tissue instead of recycled rubber tires…something substantial and enduring…

As a top complainer and murmurer, I was “going places.” I was climbing the ranks; soon to graduate as top complainer in the east…I was envied by many.  We held debates on who could out-criticize others! There was the highly critical food guru who could critique everything on a menu from either being too cold, too hot, too spicy, or not enough fire… And there were the political murmurers who lashed out at the government.  But there were a few of us who majored in general complaints.  We had experience!  No subject was off-limit.  But, thank God, I’ve moved on!  Complaints are off the table!

Can you believe a driver cut me off as I’m writing and driving?!  Unbelievable!  Hey, shmuck!  Excuse me people!   But I’m glad I’m reformed! Glad I’m no longer watching the log in someone else’s eyes.  I’ve learned to quiet down and accept some things as they were, I mean, as they are.

Complainers and murmurers face an uphill climb to recovery with ofttimes slipping downhill to familiar grounds.  Is God a member of SCAM?  He abhors it!  He punishes it! the wilderness, when God’s people, the Hebrews, were delivered from Egypt, they murmured against Moses and God about the water and the food.  They quickly forgot their past hardship as slaves in Egypt for over 400 years.  Instead, they wished they were back there, rather than trusting God, the Deliverer, to take them forward in victory (Exodus 16:3).

Needless to say, Isreal learned some hard lessons.  Today, many, in God’s kingdom are also learning theirs.  Went to same schools?  Had the same teachers? Hmm. Today’s a great day to drop out; leave that Master’s degree behind!  That’s right, quit complaining, murmuring and grumbling and start praising God for the good and bad that comes your way.  It’s better to thank Him and be on the safe side than the alternative:

“Neither grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer” (1 Corinthians 10:10).

God Bless!

Sam

In today’s world, everything seems to be someone else’s fault.  My kid abuses, intimidates, bullies, or kills someone’s kid, and it’s their fault.  “No one told them to be so smart, so good-looking, so bad looking, etc. But not my kid, he’s a good kid.  Some parents will go as far as saying things “The kid dressed like my kid captured on video, must be a mistake.  My son/daughter didn’t do it. He isn’t going to pay; someone else will.”

Someone is warned about the dangers of smoking (I remember my 7^th grade science teacher, Mr. Spardel, showing us cancer warnings on a cigarette pack back in 1970), yet people still smoke ‘em but blame others for their cancer.

People will remove barriers and proceed illegally, yet they feel someone else will pay for their misfortunes!  They don’t think of owning up to their mistakes or responsibilities. They need to grow up, look in the mirror and take blame for their actions or inactions. 

On a daily basis, cops, firefighters, and others lay their lives on the line for us.  This Memorial Day, we remember and thank those who paid with their lives to give us a better life.  They paid a price even when it wasn’t their fault.  They gladly fought for justice.  Thank You Men and Women for your service and heroic acts.  We remember you and honor you this day.

Taking it several steps further, God knows the condition of our hearts and the need for a Savior.  He knows try as we might, we’ll always mess things up for ourselves and others. Knowing we can’t keep things up to His standards, He decided, way-before time was, to pay the price for our sins.  You don’t have to tell Him, “You’ll pay for this, God!”  Nah, even though Jesus was sinless and therefore, guiltless of any crime or offense, He took upon Himself the sins of the world and paid them!  He paid for our messes!

Whether you’re smart, naïve, beautiful, not quite there, good or evil, you’re still a sinner and Christ paid for your sins.  When you’re tempted to shout, “Someone will pay for this!” Remember, He already did.  And if you feel you’ll never shout those words because, perhaps, you’re a “Goody-two-shoes,” you can’t repay Him either.  It’s all His doing.  We have no say in it.  Jesus gets all the credit, yep, all the glory.

“But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

God Bless!

Sam

Recommended songs: Jesus Paid It All Hymns of Grace

My wife, a librarian, or Information Specialist, knew just about every one of the 17,000 books at her Information Center (library).  If a child asked, “Hey, Ms V., do you have any books on puppies?” She’d say stuff like, “Sure! It’s in the 680s (an example of mine), in the blah, blah section, on the top shelf next to the books on cats, just besides the pink books about…”

And so, it continues at home.  I’ll be watching a movie and she’ll be next to me reading.  If I wonder out loud…”Gee, I wonder why the man killed the lady…”  While reading, she’ll say, “He didn’t!” “It was the son of the lady dressed in orange who came by and not finding the deeds…took it upon himself to…”

I’m wondering, “How does she know this stuff?” Though she’s not watching, she’s listening.  At times, she tells me, “Oh, you already saw that movie.”  I’m like, “I did?” She’ll say, “Remember, that’s the one I didn’t watch with you where…” Even if she’s reclining with her eyes closed and practically asleep, she knows more about a movie than I do, whose eyes are open!  Over all, I guess she doesn’t want me wasting my time!

 And so, if I need a can of green beans, for example, why open the cabinets, when I can ask her?  I’ll ask, Honey, do we have green beans?”  She’ll say, “Sure!”  “Right next to the corn, next to the pink Goya beans on top of the pigeon peas on the second shelf in cabinet 7.”  Pretty cool for someone who’s not watching or even present!

Back in NY we heard a radio commercial featuring a husband and wife.  The husband asked something like, “Honey, where’s my scarf?” The wife: “In the closet dear.”  Husband: “Anyone seen my boots?”  (Wife): “In the closet dear.” Husband: “Where’s my umbrella…my coat?” Wife: “In the closet dear.”  Then the husband asks, “Where would you like to eat to tonight?” Wife: “In the closet dear.”  

We had a music leader at church just like that.  Everything he needed, he’d ask his wife where it was.  Her response was always, “Look in your black bag!”  Sure enough, one by one, he’d find them all!

God is like that!  When He asked Adam, in the cool of the day, as He walked through the garden (Genesis 3:8), “Where are you?”  He knew exactly where Adam was, but wanted to hear directly from him. When Adam said he hid because he was afraid, God knew something was amiss.  Can we hide from God?  No. Does He know where you’re at right now? Yep. He wants to hear from you.  Maybe you’re “In the closet, dear.”  Or maybe you wish you could hide in a black bag.  Or, maybe you know it all and know all the answers. 

Regardless of your circumstances, God does know everything.  Even if you think He’s not watching, He is.  If you think He’s forgotten you, He hasn’t.  Even if you forget that you once walked with Him, He can tell you, “Son/daughter, you’ve seen me working miracles in your life before.”  God doesn’t want you wasting your short valuable time.   He’s also listening to your heart’s pleas.  You’ll wonder at how He knows your every thought and will be amazed as you realize “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight” (Hebrews 4:13 NIV). Call Him Now!

“I was asleep, but my heart stayed awake” (Song of Solomon 5:2).

God Bless!
Sam