June 02


Aging


I am old and stricken in age.

Joshua 23:2 (KJV)



... our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses ...

Hebrews 4:15 (NCV)


... he will change our simple bodies and make them like his own glorious body.

Colossians 3:21 (NCV)


Baldness, wrinkles and growing weak. I am becoming more aware: my body is aging. Deteriorating. Slowly falling apart.

It became obvious a couple weeks ago while playing touch football with my three boys. Certainly, our backyard game was fun, and yes, I managed to score a touchdown or two on our limited field, but it’s only because sheer cunning, experience and trick plays can make a difference. Nevertheless, the soreness, the stiffness, and that little twitch in the lower back remind me, I’m aging. I have to face my personal truth: the glory days went bye-bye sometime last century!

I looked in the mirror this morning and got another reminder. Where did all these wrinkles come from? Etched lines chiseled under my eyes and angled across my cheeks like tiny scratches. I gave myself an exaggerated smile and so many more came out of hiding like rats abandoning a sinking ship! I smile at myself in the looking glass and picture myself as the next sideshow for Wringling Brothers. Behold: the Wrinkled Man!

It’s good to make light of our weaknesses, but there is a more serious side as well. I see it every month as I visit my parents. Recently Mom ordered a strap for Dad. Parkinson’s has left him with an uncontrollable case of the leans. Now she can strap him upright in his chair, so he won’t fall into his dinner plate or worse! But there’s good news too. Dad still has his mind, and to me, that’s like ... everything.

Someone will ask him, “How are you, Phil?”

“Lousy!” he replies with a huge boyish grin.

I think my father has done more than fair enough, and I hope I have some of his attitude when I reach 91! Certainly, as humans in a fallen world, we will experience the aging process, but thank God, there’s more to life than growing old. In Colossians, Paul rings the bell of promise. Hey, guess what? There’s a new tailor-made body coming at the end, and you’re going to love it. Talk about buff!

Yeah, I see my body in the mirror, and groan, but then ... I hear Paul ringing his bell in Colossians, and that, my friend, is a lovely sound indeed!


Father, thank You for being with me, with all of us, through this aging process. May many more come to realize Your greatest promise. Amen.

June 01


A Sweet Reminder


All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.

Isaiah 54:13 (NKJV)


It is a snapshot in my mind, a short video clip that’s recently stuck in my brain. Three young boys, happy, laughing, running to catch mom and dad at the church door. Their voices joyful as they pass the two brightly lit Christmas trees in the foyer. I picture the athletic and very capable father leading the way out of church as the young, down-to-earth mother turns to encourage her energetic ones to slow down, and join hands as she lifts the youngest into her arms.

These young boys have the advantage of the truly good things of life: parents who love them tenderly, wonderful friends and family, church and Biblical teaching. And they share something else, that wonderful example of mom and dad committed to one another, and even more important, committed to Christ. It is a wonderful snapshot because it is the picture of people who have found their way into my heart. A united family I root for to go the distance....

I love what Billy Graham says about a united family.

“For best results in marriage and building a stable home, follow the instructions of the One who performed the first wedding in the Garden of Eden. These instructions are in the Bible. The reason the family is in critical condition today is that we have neglected his rules for a successful home. We have put self in place of sacrifice. We have valued things more than we have valued people.

“You can have the right kind of home. Your home can be united if it is now divided. The place to begin is on your knees, asking Christ for forgiveness and then asking God to give you a new love for each other—and for Him. Don’t let your family drift apart, but with God’s help resist the pressures and come together around the Cross.”

This season, let’s be on our knees. Let’s be in church ... together. Let’s sacrifice our own personal desires and work on developing strong, united families. Let's take pleasure in what we have, and as we do this, let’s not forget to enjoy these children as we turn and watch them run for Christ!


Father, thank You for friends and this sweet reminder: Your ways are always best!

May 31


Opening Eyes


They have eyes but they cannot see.

Psalm 115:5 (NCV)


O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.

II Kings 6:17 (ESV)


The other day, my mother-in-law brought four lovely Christmas Poinsettias to the front porch and set them in our flowerpots. A nice gift, but when a big wind storm hit that afternoon, my wife called home half-panicked for her new flowers. “Can you bring them inside please?”

Being the responsive guy I am, I immediately rescued them from the fierce wind and neatly arranged them against the entranceway wall ... spaced them perfectly in fact. They looked nice.

The next night I noticed them again and wanting to be helpful, I approached Kris in the kitchen. I leaned on the doorway as she made cookies and asked, “Hey, should I water those poinsettias?” Nothing strange here. I often water the houseplants, but she turned from her KitchenAid mixer and looked at me in disbelief.

“Have you looked at the poinsettias?” she asked.

“Yeah ... they look pretty healthy, but I thought I’d ask....”

“Craig ... they’re fake!”

Man-made. Hmm. I guess some of us just don’t notice, do we? I think this is true of so many of us, and it’s not just noticing the details of a human-made plant. Evidence of God and His handiwork are all around us. We enjoy the beauty, but not the wonder. We appreciate the function but not the design. We see with our eyes, but have we ever explored their intricate design? Our bodies perform miraculous functions every day, but do we appreciate the specifics of our biochemistry? We see a lovely Monarch butterfly migrating, but do we grasp the significance of its leg of the journey? Absolutely amazing ... but we rarely notice the details, do we? But look closer.

Look closer at someone else too. Consider Christ. Jesus Christ? Yes, Him. Too many in this world are quick to assume He was a good man, and dismiss the “religious notion” he was the Son of God. A good man, maybe even a great man, but God? Next subject, please. But as C.S. Lewis tells us, Jesus Christ does not leave us that option. Look closer at what Christ claimed. He said He was the Son of God. He said, “... before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58). The Jews then picked up stones to stone Him, because he claimed to be God. No, we must look closer, because a good man does not claim to be God! Jesus said it Himself, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” Quietly, and tongue in cheek, He makes His point. But back to C. S. Lewis who said, either Christ was a lunatic, or the most evil person imaginable, or He was who He claimed to be. Just don’t try to pass Him off as “a good man.” Jesus Christ, the God-man, the unique person of the universe, just doesn’t leave us that option.

I find it so interesting that so many skeptics, bent on disproving both the resurrection and Jesus’ deity, have, upon serious inquiry and study, reversed course, and become His most ardent disciples! And C. S. Lewis is just one of these. Charles Colson and Josh McDowell are two more recent examples.

I’m afraid too many of us have seen things on the surface and assumed wrongly. Perhaps someone should pray for us as Elisha prayed for his servant so that our eyes might be opened. Or maybe, just maybe, we should be someone else’s Elisha. Think on that. Whom can you pray for that his or her eyes might be opened?

This morning, I took a closer look at the poinsettias. You know, someone did a beautiful job designing those—just beautiful!


Lord, thanks for the reminder to pray for those who may not see the truth. Open their eyes and set them free. Amen.

May 30


The Interview With God


... and the LORD said to me, “I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They are right in all they have spoken. Oh, that they would fear Me and always keep My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”

Deuteronomy 5:28-29 (NKJV)


Last Friday, a friend sent me a link to a website. The link took me to The Interview With God presentation (see link below). It was beautifully done and touching, but I think there was a more subtle message: we don’t listen to God. We don’t approach Him as we should and we certainly don’t ask Him ... well ... about much of anything!

We are too content, I believe, with our own answers. We are on our own quest, a quest for truth made in our image, and, I think as a whole, we have forgotten or abandoned God’s simple words: “I AM.” I am God. I am here. I am able to help you!

Perhaps we should seek our own interview with God. Perhaps we should ask forgiveness for not listening, or maybe we are so turned around and lost we just need the simple directions He's already given, or maybe we should just say, “Here I am, Lord! Will you speak to me ... today?”

If you have a minute, please, check this out: http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/. I think you'll enjoy it!


Father, thank You for Your lovely promises, for Your helpful commands and for Your deep and simple truth. Speak to us Lord, and help us to listen. Amen.

May 29


Knowing Him Better


I can really know Christ....

Philippians 3:10 (NLT)


I want to know Christ....

Philippians 3:10 (NCV)


I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally....

Philippians 3:10 (the MESSAGE)


I’m finding I can live with a person for 25 years and still learn new things about them. It happened today.

My wife and I were sitting next to the big windows in the living room—safe and warm as howling wind tossed the long, green garland on our front porch back and forth. Though it was dark and gray outside, new light was dawning on the inside. Our conversation turned to my son Ryan and the movie he was watching upstairs.

"Hmm. That’s a good movie. In fact, The Hunt for Red October has always been a favorite of mine.”

“Really. Kris, you’re kidding me. Why is that a favorite?”

Well, it’s got suspense, intrigue, and people from two nations work together for a good cause.”

“Wow. Is that all?”

“... plus ... I like the actors.”

As the wind whistled and blew outside, Kris reminded me of a simple truth. We get to know each other as we spend time together. Time: it’s what God wants with us more than anything. And now, it’s what I want with Him too!


Lord God, grant that our time together may be sweet. Teach me more and more about You. Show me Your love and speak to my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.