Finding Laughter In Difficult Times

Have you been to church lately? Recently?  Been a while?  Have you sat next to someone with an operatic voice that pierced your ears? Whose voice was louder than the singer on stage-7 rows down? A few weeks prior, you were next to someone who couldn’t carry a tune?  He missed all the notes?   During worship time, the raised arms kept slapping you around? Someone poked you on your right and another person, 6’8” tall, raised his arm right over your head-nearly suffocating you?

That’s probably a good description of some churches.  The church, the true church of God, is comprised of believers worldwide.  When you think of believers in Belieze, Russia, China, Panama, Australia, Canada, Africa, Switzerland, the US, you know God has to be behind it all.  It’s impossible for anyone to cohesively organize such a group of believers to live together and genuinely love each other for all eternity. Not that it’s gonna take all of eternity to sort things out, God has it all worked out already and looks forward to that gathering!

A sea of believers forming one church with only One Leader, Jesus the Nazarene, comprises the true Church, His body.  Quirks and all, faults and all, we’re all trying as best we know how, to honor God with our lives.  Far from perfect we are; at least for now; but then, we shall be perfect, and we shall all know, recognize, and understand other believers!  Now, we briefly understand some things, but then, we’ll all be saying, “Now I get it!”

We’ll all be praising God throughout eternity-even those of us who can’t carry a note or a tune, or even a bag of groceries; or sing the loudest when we should be singing “solo”-so low that no one should hear us.  Or, tenor; ten or fifteen feet away!  What can I say?! We’ll be so happily excited we won’t be bothered by such trivial things.  Eternity is so long; we’ll have plenty of time to worship God as He deserves. And, not to worry, we’ll learn how to correctly worship from His holy angels

In the meantime, let’s belt out our praises to Him who alone is worthy to receive all the glory and honor as we consider each other in fellowship!

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11).

God Bless!

Sam

Growing up in the 60s it was natural to be told, “I’m gonna kill ya!” We knew no one meant it. “Remind me to kill you later” was also used a lot. During my last year in NY as a teacher I took a portrait shot with a best friend-a female worker. She said to me, “Sam, if your wife kills me, I’m gonna strangle you!”
Today we live in an age where people’s lives are often dictated by others’ comments. If someone does something one doesn’t like, others put them down. They go on a rage wanting people killed, etc. Read comments on some news and if someone lost a loved one, the comments go from what the democrats and republicans are doing, to migrants picking bananas in Costa Rica, and why they should all be annihilated. Completely lost.
I have a true story (but packed away) from my daughter where something like this took place: A professor asked his students to express their feelings of anger and rage towards a person who wronged them by throwing darts at a picture he had put up. After they all finished and were satisfied with their expressions, he removed the picture to reveal an image of Jesus behind the first picture. Everyone grew silent. He then said Jesus’ words, “Inasmuch as you have done this to the least of these, you have also done to Me” (Matthew 25:40).
See, we picture killers as ruthless, tattooed, bald, missing every other tooth, and reeking of garlic smell (applies to men too)! And those people might indeed exist-why there’s one…but you have probably never seen one. Nevertheless, Jesus said, “Everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca! Shall be in danger of the council” (Matthew 5:22). The word Raca means worthless, empty-headed, a brainless idiot, foolish, witless.
Jesus also said, “Anyone who hates a brother or a sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him” (1 John 3:15).
So, you might not have killed anyone, but if you hate someone, you’re on the same level as a murderer-and have no chance of entering heaven. Meaning what exactly? Jesus equates hate with murder. He is love (1 John 4:16). When we hate, we’re “murdering” His creation-even if the person is evil, God knows there’s a chance he can be saved because Christ died for them. So, when you look in the mirror, you’re coming face-to-face with a killer.
And hate, is gonna kill ya; not figurative, but literally. Replace it with love. How? Ask Jesus into your heart. He’ll change you from the inside out.
God Bless,
Sam

Some people, happy for accepting Jesus into their hearts, imagine that they’ll now be the envy of others.  They think they’ll be special because they’re the King’s kid.  They might even expect an introduction like, “Here’s Maribel who serves the King of kings.”  Or, “Make sure to run it by Henry, since he has close contact with the Man upstairs.” The disciples may have thought the same thing.  But actually, the opposite awaits all who follow Him. There’s a price to pay.  Listen to Jesus’ words:

“And you shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22).  “If the world hates you, keep in mind they hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.  That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18, 19).

Serving comes in different forms, and I’m reminded of a Twilight Zone episode (To Serve Man) where aliens come in peace and are bent on serving man…Watch it for the ending!

Jesus taught us through His examples how to serve others. The most radical way is mind-boggling. Being the Son of God, the King of Kings; and being the God of the Universe, He could have done what most of us would do: “Hey guys, I want to show you how to serve me- “Thomas, bring me this,” “Andrew, please go to Joe’s Fish Market and bring us some fish-n-chips and then serve us at the table…”

Instead, He took off His outer tunic, took a towel and a basin, filled it with water, and got down on His knees and began to wash their feet.  “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:13,14).

His lesson to all? He who wants to be greatest of all, let him be your servant (Matthew 23;11; John 13:16).

Mankind equates greatness by how many people are under his control to serve him.  Jesus showed us by example that greatness humbles itself before others.  He didn’t talk about it.  He didn’t just write about it.  He lived it and demonstrated it.  His examples of how we ought to humbly follow Him, goes against all that the world believes and teaches.  Those who serve Him will reap their rewards in heaven.  Man’s acclaims mean zilch when God’s number one in your life.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

Are you willing to pay the price?

God Bless!
Sam

In sweltering heat, we all welcome cold water and cold drinks. When heat gets to us, we welcome relieve, as in air conditioners or fans.  Some people can only live in cold climates.  I remember in NY back in the early 90s it being in the single digits and people were cold and complaining.  In the news, someone interviewed a hotdog vendor about the cold.  Being from Russia, the weather was a welcomed relief because he was accustomed to -20 degrees F.

Speaking of cold, everyone has had experiences where people have been indifferent, or have done cold things; leaving us scratching our heads.  Maybe people have given us the cold shoulder, or relationships have sometimes gone cold.  Getting dumped, or dumping someone, is considered a cold act.  Cold can impact us.

Around 1997, we officially moved into our log cabin.  We eventually bought a 400-gal water tank and connected it to a water pump.  Showering was like this:  Stepped in the tub, turned on water, held our breath, did a little wiggle dance (for mental purposes), and took a plunge into the cool water, which we sometimes welcomed, yet oftentimes, it was outright cold! For sure, it was a quick shower!  

Cold, we know, refreshes us.  Like being in a stuffy room sweating bullets and then stepping into a fully air-conditioned room!  Ahh, what a relief!  We feel revamped, restored, and renewed!

God wants us refreshed.  He gave us cold weather to soothe our souls.  And while heat is good, it is the cold that replenishes us.  Here’s a refreshing thought: all of this world’s commotions will soon end! Evil will be eradicated forever!  God’s good news Gospel will be lived out! Great news will be delivered by His messengers, the angels!  Consider: “Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7 ASV).

Talk about crisp, cold, and pleasing news!  “God’s word is so satisfying!  “Warm” up to it!  Please the Master-serve Him!

“Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters” (Proverbs 25:13).

God Bless!

Sam

This school is the easiest to get into.  In fact, no one has to apply! Everyone gets in!  You don’t have to send in a video showing how you locked yourself out of your car or your apartment.  You don’t have to convince anyone that you don’t have what it takes to jump from one tree to another while holding a cup of water, and being suspended over infested waters…OOPPSS!

At the school of hard knocks, graduation comes at different levels and at different times for its students.  Some learn quickly, others, well-they’re still there.  This is the school that prepares one for life.  It’s where one requirement is for you to knock your head against the wall enough times to finally learn what you should, and shouldn’t do. Hard Knocks is a prestigious institution.  The most intelligent people, not to mention the smarty-pants, have attended its facilities throughout history.

This institution is established in every town, every city, every country, in every corner of the earth with an enrollment in the billions! Tuition is “On the House.” Whether you feel compelled to attend or not, it’s not an option.  Everyone ends up there one way or another.  Maybe you opened your mouth and said a barrage of things-to the wrong person, or put something together the wrong way as two guys I knew once said, (Edgar): “I know how to take apart a bike and put it back together.” Speedy: “Me too, with no parts left over.” And Georgie laughed ‘cause he knew sometimes there would be parts we didn’t know what to make of!

Yep, the School of Hard Knocks is a hands-on school! You don’t study the theoretics of it, you actually live the experiences!   Most people don’t even know they’re enrolled!  That’s how good the school is.  The ticket out comes through learning not to repeat the same mistakes. Many, graduate with honors! From awards for having the most bumps on their heads, to those with temperaments, some receive band-aids, head bandages, lotions, kerchiefs, and other goodies as proof of mastering some “hard-knock” areas! Here’s some counsel fit for every student, smart, foolish, and regardless of your major:

“The ways of fools seem right to them, but the wise listen to advise” (Proverbs 12:15 NIV).

Song/video on YouTube: The Hard Way-(DCTALK)

God Bless!

See you soon at re-enrollment-I’ll have a few head-bandages!
Sam

It was 1974, and we were listening to hits like Love’s Theme (Barry White and The Love Unlimited Orchestra), Machine Gun (The Commodores), Could It Be Magic (Donna Summers), etc. Songs played an important part in our lives.  We’d sit and talk about them, what we thought about them and how they impacted us. We used to go to the local record shop and get 45s (RPM) at 3/$2.00.  To think we could get albums (12” LPs) for $1.99-$3.49 each! We definitely had stuff to talk about.

Talking about talk, one hot summer night, our friend, Ray was on the phone with his at-the-time girlfriend, Ms. D. for seven hours!  I don’t think it was sweet nothings they were talking about because it sure was something to go that long!  That sure was a call.  Let’s look at Calls.

In the song, Let’s Just Kiss and Say Goodbye (the Manhattans), a line says, “I called you here today for a bit of bad news…”

And a line in the Christian oldie, Lose My Soul (TobyMac & Kirk Franklin), we hear, “Since I got that call, no more Saul, now I’m Paul.” Meaning, just as Saul, who persecuted Christians was stopped in his tracks by Jesus and transformed to Paul-now an advocate for Christ, we’re changed once we get called by God.

We’ve all received calls in the past; waiting-for calls, unwanted-calls, interrupting-calls, past-due-calls, good-news calls, and bad-news calls, etc. that may have impacted our lives in some ways.

I remember getting a call one time.  As soon as I answered, a female began talking and talking. She went on and on. She explained some issues she was facing and I gave her some advice-as best I could.  Finally, after about twenty minutes when I told her that she should report her issues, she said, “That’s why I’m calling you!”  “Wait a minute, aren’t you Housing (office)?”  I told her I wasn’t.  That’s when she realized she was speaking to a stranger.  She asked why I didn’t stop her.  I told her I tried but she kept going.  Seems she was determined to speak her piece without letting anything stop her-which she did.

Have you made a call, a special call, as in one to God?  He says:

“Call unto Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Did you know God calls us? He has called us in righteousness (Isaiah 42:6).  Why? Because He loves you!  He’s made a personal invitational call to spend eternity with Him; not a mere seven hours!

In the first episode of The Chosen, Jesus calls Mary by name.  She immediately knew that it was God because Jesus had never met her before, yet knew her name.  God knows you better than you know yourself.   He knows your name. When you hear His voice, do not harden your heart (Hebrews 3:7,8)!   And like Samuel, (1 Samuel 3:9) answer the call!

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1)!

Don’t put Him on hold!

Answer Now!

Sam

Around 1967, our dad had bought our first car-a Comet. It was nice in sky blue with white portions. On a trip somewhere, my little brother Nels got sick.  Feeling like throwing up, I told our dad, and he said, “Put his head out the window.” Meaning, get some fresh air.  Instead, Nels released his contents!  My mouth opened wide in disbelief that the wind had taken it so fast!  It went swoosh right to the windshield of the car behind us! We saw the driver wave his hands in anger!  Quickly, I told my parents and my dad laughed.  He may have sped up some after that!

Isn’t that how life is-here one second, gone the next?  Many people don’t understand the differences between having and practicing a religion, and being saved. Being religious means man reaching up to God trying to appease Him through man-made ways. Salvation means God reaching down to man redeeming him back to fellowship with the Godhead, and only comes through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross.  Jesus put it this way: “The wind goes wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8)

Translation: Through religion, man tries to appease God. But under salvation, the work’s already done by God.  Plus, we’re led by the Holy Spirit and He, like the wind, directs our steps.  Therefore, we’re led by the works of the Holy Spirit.

When we “do life” according to our will and ways, we’re moving in the wrong direction.  There are millions upon millions of people making sacrifices and pledges, paying indulgences, pursuing “saints”, tracking the stars, reading horoscopes, being superstitious or “good,” etc. but to no avail. We can’t meet God’s standard of goodness, which is why He did it all for us. He alone gets the glory.  Moving in the right direction begins with releasing what’s in our mouths-not throwing up (!), but a confession of sin, guilt, repentance, and acceptance of God into our lives.

START NOW!

Sam

Scully and Mulder were everywhere searching for clues that would lead them to alien life.  They left no stone unturned as they followed lead after lead pursuing an evasive truth.  They risked life and limb, faced the threat of insanity, endured death threats, and encountered forms of abnormalities as they inched closer but further from the truth that could bring them face-to-face with higher beings, intelligence, and the origins of life.

Man continues the pursuit.  Few have found the path leading to it.  Hundreds have claimed boarding a ship through abduction while others claim to have had close encounters with strange life forms.

 Likewise, millions have paved their own path to God leaving no stone unturned; But it is far from the Truth. Jesus said that if man didn’t worship Him, the stones would cry out (Luke 19:40).

             Like Pilate, when Jesus told him that His reason for coming to earth was to bear witness to the truth, He was asked, “ What is truth (John 18:38)?                                                                                                                                                                                                   Jesus didn’t risk or lose His life for us; He laid it down in love, voluntarily.  He told the world, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man comes to the Father, except through Me.  And no man goes to the Son except the Father draws him (John14:6).

Yes, the Truth is out there; not in the form of a blob, not an alien, not strange phenomenon, or a jellyfish with tentacles emitting sound waves or aura, but a person; Jesus, and He’s looking for you.  Once you have found the Truth, your searching will be over. No abductions will happen, but adoption will take place as Jesus claims you for Himself.  No, you won’t go to the “Mother Ship,” but you will go to the Father’s abode.

So, look up and stretch your arms out.  Yell if you want.  Shout from the mountain top, “Where are you, Truth, where are you?  You’ll be amazed to know that the God who’s larger than the universe, is also small enough to dwell within your heart. The answer, my friend, is in a soft whisper saying, “I AM here within you.”

“Look! I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (Revelation 3:20).

It’s not a coverup!
God Bless!
Sam

---

 

Sometimes parents tell their kids to leave certain toys or games behind. Sometimes teachers have taken things away from students, only to return them later. That doesn’t make parents or teachers mean or cruel. Sometimes those things can be a distraction in our lives.

Growing up, I remember experiencing an embarrassing moment!  It must’ve been Halloween, and in the evening, my mom had me walk with her from our second-floor apartment to the 5^th floor where our “new” baby sitter lived. She was an old lady. As we turned past the second floor on to the third floor, I realized that I had with me a yellow pacifier which I sometimes used.  I was 4! I also had a very small box.  Mom told me to forget about it; meaning, we weren’t going back down to put it away.  So, I stuffed it in the small box. 

The problem was, there were kids on the stairways and they wanted to see the candies I had received! I refused to open the box! Up at the “new,” but old, baby sitter’s house, her granddaughter also wanted to see my goodies. I had to muster up some courage and get mean refusing to show them…I learned I should have left it behind!

God calls us to leave things behind in the sense that He doesn’t want other things competing with His position in our lives. Possessions aren’t the only things that can interfere with God’s plans for us, but there are things that weigh us down, including past decisions, hurting relationships, hang-ups, etc. Yes, even as embarrassing as they may be, He prefers we “box” them, be strong, and refuse to give in to outside temptations demanding we reveal them to the world.  You may or may not have candies in your box, but God’s sweetness is enough to saturate our lives. In this walk, you may have to climb several floors to reach your goal, it’s the same with God; He wants to take us heaven bound.  Make that your goal.

“Brothers and sisters, I know I still have a long way to go.  But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me” (Philippians 3:13 ERV).

LETITGO!

Sam

If you’re an X-File fanatic, you know The Truth Is Out There. If you follow newspaper stories or TV shows on Aliens, you’ve heard of others’ encounters with those from beyond the galaxies.  From abductees to people who’ve visited spacecrafts or other planets, to those who claim to have engaged in physical contact with odd-headed beings, the numbers of those believing that aliens exist amongst us have increased in the past few decades.  Actor Dan Akroyd starred in a funny movie; My Step-Mother is an Alien.  An alien took on human form to experience life…sounds like God coming to earth in human form disguised as a child. Hmm.

If you closely examine old-world paintings from the 1400s, like The Madonna, you’ll notice small spacecrafts in the distance, or blimp-like objects that seem to show alien participation in daily, or special events. Actually, I think they were angelic beings present in the affairs of men.

 Needless to say, the world is obsessed with alien life.  I think that belief will soon play a significant role in the biggest event the world has known.  But, aliens aside, let’s see why scripture says we’re not alone.  Just before Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascension, He told His disciples, “It is expedient that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement:” (John 16:7, 8). 

We are not alone because God the Father is omnipresent-Everywhere at all times.  Jesus is seated at the righthand of God interceding for us (Romans 8:34).

 The Holy Spirit, also known as the Comforter, is everywhere working in the hearts of men to draw them closer to the Father.

In the end, we’re not alone, not because of aliens, but because of God’s presence and His heavenly host.

God bless,

Sam