The Glass Half Full

Posted on May 29, 2018 by glenn

Are you a pessimist or an optimist? How do you normally look at things? Do you tend to look at life with a positive outlook or do you lean toward the negative? When looking at the proverbial glass, do you tend to see the glass half full or half empty?

This tendency might be partially due to our nature and personality but I think we can have a lot of control over this. With practice we can become a more positive person. We have control over very few things but we can control our mindset. Victor Frankl, the concentration camp survivor, once said, “Everything can be taken from a man except one thing: To choose one’s attitude in any set of circumstances.”

After all, the Bible tells us “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)

Choosing our attitude. There are many Biblical examples on which we can draw. Think about Paul. He most certainly looked on the brighter side of things. There are a few places in Scripture where he told us about some of his struggles and his reaction.

2 Corinthians 4:8 and following is one such place. Make the following notations. Paul said he was…

Hard-pressed but not crushed
Perplexed but not in despair
Persecuted but not forsaken
Struck down but not destroyed

As we consider Paul’s life we must admit it would have been easy for Paul to get down. It would have been easy to look at the glass half empty. But not Paul. He is a great example.
Let us work on developing a more positive outlook. Our prayer life might be a good place to start. As we pray let us consider the following taken from a personal Bible study long ago.

In youth, let us thank God for the brightness and prospect of life beckoning one to the future.
In age, let us thank God that life has been extended so long.
In health, let us thank God for the greatest of physical blessings.
In illness, let us thank God for wise physicians, kind nurses and the tender concern of loved ones.
In wealth, let us thank God for having been made the steward of such large accounts.
In poverty, let us thank God for Him, who though He was rich became poor that He might make many rich, and for His special promise, “Blessed are the poor.”
In the event of great loss, let us thank God for blessings he is yet permitted to retain.

You see it really does depend on how we look at things. As much as is possible, let us thank GOD for the blessings of life and let us look at the glass half full.

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Mothers Serve

Posted on May 11, 2018 by glenn

Mothers are often in the background.  They rarely find their name in lights.  Yet their influence spans across generations.  The old adage “the hands that rock the cradle rule the world” is true.

There are many mothers named in the Bible.

Eve, the mother of all mankind, was the first wife and mother.  Moses’ mother, Jochebed, serving as a nurse maid, was able to raise her son in the king’s palace.  Hannah, the mother of Samuel, was a praying mother.  Mary was the mother of our LORD and Savior.  These and many others make for a profitable study.

But I’d like to also consider the unnamed women of the Bible.

The mother of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and wife of Noah, remains to this day simply, Mrs. Noah.  Recall Potiphar’s wife and her false accusations against Joseph.  Consider Pilate’s wife and her confession of Jesus’ innocence when she pled for her husband to “have nothing to do with that just Man.”

Peter’s wife and mother-in-law are both unnamed women.   His mother-in-law is mentioned in a passage found in Matthew 8:14-15.  There is an interesting detail easily overlooked in these 2 verses.

So what do we know from reading this text?  We know Peter was married.  We can also infer that Peter had children because he was an elder (1 Peter 5:1, 1 Timothy 3:4).  And thus we have two unnamed mothers in this text.

For today, let us consider his mother-in-law and the incident described in Matthew 8. Peter’s ailing mother-in-law was being cared for in his home. Imagine what her mindset might have been.  She is sick; she is living with her daughter and son-in-law.  She is an older woman, perhaps thinking her life was over; maybe she thought it was her time to die.

What kind of changes had she seen come over Peter?  Peter who once was a fisherman was now this great apostle of Jesus Christ. Imagine the changes she had seen it make in him.  What has she heard Peter say about the Savior?  She was part of the generation that saw the coming of the Messiah.  And this day, she has witnessed Jesus come into the house.  Imagine a personal visit from the great Physician.  He is there to heal her.

Now note how the text ends.  Verse 15 says that when she was healed of the fever, she arose and served them.  Doesn’t that describe most mothers?  She served.  That’s what mothers do.  They serve.  She didn’t rise to begin doing something she had not done all her life.  That was her life.  She served.  Mothers serve.

My mother was one who served.  She worked an evening shift as a nurse and got home around midnight each night.  Yet she was always up in the morning before I was.  She served.  I never remember her not having a hot breakfast for us before we left for school.

During her hospital work various patients and visitors would give her soft drinks or candy bars.  But she never opened them.  She brought them home to two young boys.  In fact, it was known by her co-workers that if you gave her something you would have to open it or she would slip it in her purse to carry home.  She served.

She would always find a newspaper at work and bring it home for us to read.  That was the only newspaper we ever had.

She worked extra shifts each year to buy school clothes.

I never heard her complain.  She served.

My mother has been gone for many years but her influence still abides in her children and grandchildren.  You see, by the world’s standards we were poor.  But no man is poor who is blessed with a loving, serving mother.  And we were.  Thank you, Mom.

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Personality Traits

Posted on May 7, 2018 by glenn

When I was a much younger man, I identified with the apostle Peter.  Impetuous Peter often was the first to speak.  Sometimes it appears he may have been too quick to speak.  Sometimes we all speak first and think about it later.   But Peter was a man’s man.  Rugged, outspoken, with a backbone, he usually stood up when it mattered.  He was the one who got out of the boat!  I love Peter and I could see myself in Peter.  Or maybe a part of that was my wanting to see myself in Peter.

But as I have gotten older I find myself wanting to align with the apostle John.  Maybe this is because so much of his writing is listed among my favorites.  I love the book of First John with its emphasis on assurance.  See 1 John 5:13 for an example of that assurance.

With which Biblical character do you most identify?  I wonder, with which one I really share the most personality traits. Which one am I really most like?

I am sure you have taken a personality test.  There are many tests available that help us determine our own personality.  An online search and answering a few questions can be interesting.  One such test (The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator) categorizes 16 unique personalities.

Using what we read in the Scriptures, some have attempted to identify many Bible characters according to their personalities.

It has been said the 12 apostles all had 12 unique personalities using the 16 categories mentioned above.  Now I don’t know how accurate that assumption is but I would not be surprised at all.  Just think about the team the LORD put together.   Wouldn’t you expect that balance?

I have listed below a few Bible personalities using the aforementioned 16 categories.  While there is some disagreement about their personality types, it makes for an interesting study.  So the idea today is just to consider it and have fun with it.

Peter                ENFP              The Campaigner

James              ENTJ               The Commander

John                INFJ                The Advocate

Andrew           ESFJ                The Consul, encourager

Philip               INTP               The Logician

Daniel, Nathaniel  INTJ         The Architect, planner

Thomas           ISTJ                The Logistician

Timothy          ISFJ                 The Defender

My family and friends took the test.  It was amazing how accurate the test seemed to be.  And it was much fun matching each one to the Bible characters with a similar personality.

Earlier I said I identified with John.  Well that too was probably wishful thinking.  Who would not want to be compared to the Apostle of love, the Advocate?  When I took the personality test, I was an ENTJ.  Rather than matching up to John, I matched with his brother James, the Commander.

Early in life, John and his brother James were called the sons of thunder for their fiery temperaments. Recall the episode in Luke 9:54, when they wanted to call down fire from heaven to consume their enemies.

Other Biblical characters with whom I shared the ENTJ label were Adam, Joshua, Nehemiah, and Paul. Ok, that is a pretty good list.

I am thankful for different personalities. The world would be a dull place if all shared the same personality. And if all just happened to be ENTJ’s, well let’s just say a world full of “commanders” wouldn’t be the best scenario.

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The By Standers

Posted on April 25, 2018 by glenn

Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.   1st Kings 20:11

This verse reminds me of an excerpt from a speech by Theodore Roosevelt on April 23, 1910, entitled “The Man in the Arena”.  I love this speech.  I have it framed and hanging in my office today.

“It is not the critic that counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust, and sweat, and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who actually strives to do the deed, who knows the great devotion; who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

This speech extols the one willing to do versus the one standing by just watching others do.  I have great respect for those willing to do.  Give me the person who wants to help not watch.  Give me the person who wants to be involved not spectate.  Give me the person who wants to be a doer not a talker.

I don’t want to be the critic.  I want to be the doer of deeds, the strong man, the man in the arena.

As we further contemplate this idea, let’s take a look at the account of the crucifixion of Jesus found in Matthew 27.

Verse 39 – And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads…

Verse 47 – Some of those who stood there…said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!”

These two groups are described as those who passed by and those who stood there.  Both of these verses describe the by standers.  They observe and they talk.  They are spectators.

Contrast this with John 19:26.  When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by…

Jesus took note of His mother and His very dear disciple as they were standing by.

Note the difference between standing by and a by stander.  A by stander is an observer with no intention to help.  The by stander is the critic.  They are the ones who boast prior to the battle.

Those who are standing by are ready to help when the opportunity presents itself.  Those standing by are not by standers.  They are standing by.  While Jesus’ mother and friend were unable to help, no doubt they would have done anything in their power to help if given the opportunity.

Standing by.  By standers.  Big Difference.

As I go through life, I want to be one who is standing by. I want to be the doer of deeds.  Let me be one, looking for opportunity to do good (Gal 6:10).  Let me be standing by willing to help when I see the opportunity.  Let me be ready to jump in at a moment’s notice.  Let me look for opportunities.

Whenever those opportunities come along, let not my actions be done in order to be seen by men (Matt 6) but let my actions be done solely to glorify my Father in heaven (Matt 5:16).

I don’t want to be a by stander.

 

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Then

Posted on April 19, 2018 by glenn

Then

Definition: At that time; next; afterward.

Interesting word, then.  My middle grandson loves to tell stories.  And sometimes these stories can go on and on.  He will tell about an incident and begin the next incident by saying, “and then…”  These “and then’s” can go on forever.

The meaning of the word then is “at the time the things under consideration were taking place”.

The 4th chapter of Matthew begins with the word under consideration.  The word, then, is found several times in this the chapter that we normally associate with Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.  So what are the things under consideration at that time?

Before we continue our thoughts about this word, let us consider another word in order to make a point. The word “therefore” appears many times in Scripture.  This word draws a conclusion and thus when we see the word therefore, it should lead us to examine the previous text to see what the word therefore is “there for”.  In a similar way, the word “then” begs us to examine the previous thought or context.  In this way, we see the things under consideration.

Let us consider the lesson we can learn from the way chapter 4 of Matthew begins.  I don’t think there are unnecessary words in the Scripture, so this word is there for a reason.  The “then” at the beginning of chapter 4 is tied back to the closing verses of chapter 3.  This chapter ends with the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan.

Matthew 3:16 When He had been baptized…

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil…

If you mark in your Bibles I would encourage you to circle the words “when” and “then” and connect them.  There is a lesson for us here.

Note the order of events.  Immediately following Jesus’ baptism, “then” the temptations came.

When/then.

Often our greatest temptations or spiritual battles occur when we seemingly are on top of the world.  Consider Peter in Matthew 16.  Upon answering Jesus’ question in verse 16, Jesus gave Peter the highest of compliments when He said, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah…I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…”

But note what happens immediately afterwards.  Verse 21 of most English texts reads “from that time” but the Greek word is the same as “then” found in Matthew 4:1.  So immediately following this great compliment from Jesus, note what happens.  Peter began to rebuke the LORD!  We go from one extreme to the other when we see Jesus call Peter Satan!

1 Corinthians 10:12 is applicable here.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands Take heed lest he fall.

So what is the lesson for us?

We must ever be vigilant with our walk.  Everyday.  All the time.  This is not too hard to do when we are in the valley.  When we are facing difficult circumstances we normally turn to the LORD.  But when we are riding high and things are going so well, do we look to Him for guidance?  Or are we more likely to forget our faith during these times?  But let us realize “when” we are blessed and on the mountain top, “then” we are even more subject to Satan’s temptations.

When Jesus was baptized, then He was led away to be tempted.  When Peter was praised, then he succumbed to pride.  Why should it be any different for me?

Lord, help me to overcome life’s temptations when they come.

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Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys

Posted on April 2, 2018 by glenn

My tendency is to try to fix everything.  I suppose that is a man’s way.  But sometimes I just need to stay out of the situation.  Sometimes it is none of my business. Sometimes it is not my circus.  Being too quick to get involved in everyone else’s circus is normally not a good idea.

There is a Polish proverb that goes like this: Not my circus, not my monkeys.  Sometimes it is best just to mind my own business.  Sometimes I just need to be the ringmaster of my own circus.

There is a verse of Scripture that comes to mind.  “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.”     1 Thes 4:11 NKJ

I remember a paraphrase of this verse and how during my teaching days, I would apply it to the students in my classroom.  Study, be quiet, mind your own business, and keep your hands to yourself.  That’s a pretty good mantra for the classroom.

My life would be simpler if I followed this same advice.  And it is very similar to the proverb under consideration.  Not my circus, not my monkeys.  Mind your own business.

BUT as a Christian there is another thought to consider.  Is the proverb under consideration a Christian thing to do?  Consider the following verses.

Genesis 4:9 – Am I my brother’s keeper?

Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens.

The Scriptures are clear that I have a responsibility to others.

In the Galatians text, the word burden in the original language signified that which is beyond normal. Thus when I see others succumbing to the weight of their burdens, then is not the time to take the attitude of “not my circus, not my monkeys.”  I have a responsibility to my brother.  Yes, I am my brother’s keeper.

The Christian should be careful adopting the attitude of “Whatever, Not my circus not my monkeys, Laissez-faire, etc.”  Sure it is a judgment call as to when to get involved.  I need to be careful inserting myself in other’s situations.  But if I am compassionate, when the situation calls for it, then I will want to help.

Not my circus, not my monkeys?  Paul spoke to Timothy about this when he discussed those wandering about from house to house, idle, gossips, and busybodies. (1 Tim 5:13)  I want to avoid being guilty of this by being too quick to insert myself in other’s situations.  But I think with proper judgment I can know when to get involved.

Let us aspire to lead a quiet life and to mind our own business.  It will make for a less stressful life. But let us resolve to be our brother’s keeper and when our brother needs our help, let us be there.

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And then some

Posted on March 19, 2018 by glenn

I remember a lesson my father taught me growing up.  Growing up on the farm, it was not unusual to borrow various tools from neighbors.  The lesson I learned was simply this.  When you borrow something, always return it in better condition than when you got it.  Thus before a tool was returned to its owner, we would clean it up, sharpen it if necessary, and make sure it was in good condition.

This idea was a lesson on doing more than what was expected.  And hence the title of our thoughts today.  Do what is expected, and then some.

James Francis Burns was Franklin Roosevelt’s Secretary of State.  He once observed, “the difference between average and great people is the mentality of ‘and then some’.”  Doing more than expected, more than required, will set one apart from the crowd.

Let us aim to be those who go over and above what is expected.  There are several examples of this philosophy in the Scriptures.

In the letter to Philemon, Paul said of his friend, “knowing that you will do even more than I say.”  Philemon was clearly a person with the character of “and then some”.

Jesus encouraged his followers to go the extra mile.  In the 5th chapter of Matthew, Jesus noted that if anyone compels you to go one mile, go with him two.  At that time, Roman law required Jewish citizens to assist the Roman soldier by carrying their burdens for one mile.  The Jews deeply resented this law.  Some even had the exact mile marked from their home to know precisely when their responsibility had been met and they could thus drop the burden.  Their attitude toward the Romans was they would not go one step further than the law required.

Jesus taught them to go over and above what was expected.  They were to do more than the minimum.  The first mile was the law mile.  The second mile was the love mile.  This second mile was the “and then some” mile.

As we live our lives let us be interested in how we can better serve our fellowman.  Rather than having the resentful nature of “I’m not going one step further than I have to” let us develop the “and then some” attitude.

1 Cor 10:24 states, Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

If we truly care about each other, we like Philemon, will do more than is expected.

GOD, help me to that end today.

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The Honey Bee

Posted on March 3, 2018 by glenn

I love honey and eat it almost every day.  I use it in my tea.  I eat it in my oatmeal.  It is one of nature’s health foods.  The list of benefits is almost endless.  This being spring and the allergy season, honey provides a very good benefit.  If local honey is consumed, it contains local pollens that will help with one’s allergies and hay fever.

Did you know that honey is the only food that will not spoil?  Presumably it will remain edible indefinitely. 

Honey is found throughout the Bible appearing first in Genesis 43:11.   The book of Exodus details the sojourners leaving Egypt headed to the land that was promised.  Multiple times it is referred to as a land flowing with milk and honey.  Recall the story of Samson eating honey from the carcass of a dead lion thereby rendering himself unclean because of his contact with a dead body.

The honey bee fascinates me.  It plays a critical role in the pollination of plants and thus plays a crucial role in our food chain.  For this reason and because I love honey, I have considered getting some bee hives and collecting my own honey.  I will keep you posted on this project.

For our devotional consideration today I would like for us to consider the “be” verses of the Bible.  No, I’m not talking about the honey bee verses.  I am talking about those verses that encourage us to “be” or manifest a certain characteristic.

My purpose today is not to explore these with any depth but rather to give you something to think about.  I will list 10 for your meditation and to get you started.

Be kind – Eph 4:32

Be holy – 1 Pet 1:16

Be content – Heb 13:5

Be thankful – Col 3:15

Be strong – Eph 6:10

Be brave – 1 Cor 16:13

Be gentle – 2 Tim 2:24

Be forgiving – Eph 4:32

Be diligent – Heb 4:11

Be faithful – Rev 2:10

 I hope you will “be” what the LORD wants you to “be” this day.

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You must be this tall

Posted on February 24, 2018 by glenn

I remember carrying my boys to amusement parks when they were growing up. Those are wonderful memories I have.  Those young boys could certainly wear me out but we always had fun.

I recall visiting a park when my older son was barely big enough to ride the roller coaster.  Once the ride began there was no getting off.  He screamed the whole way.  I was so afraid it was a scream of terror and was anxious to get him off at the end.  But to my surprise it was a scream of delight.  When we finished he was happy and excited and I was relieved.

You remember the little signs.  At the entrance to the ride there was a little cartoon character cutout holding up his hand with a sign that said, you must be this tall in order to go on this ride.  So my son stood up next to the little cartoon guy and he met the standard, although barely.

There is a Greek word, kanōn, with this exact meaning.  The word is defined as a measuring rod or standard.  I can just see the little guy holding out his hand, the measuring rod.  The Greek word is found in Scripture 5 times.  Twice it is translated as rule.  In Galatians 6:16 we read, “And as many as walk according to this rule (kanōn), peace and mercy be upon them…” 

This was Paul’s closing thoughts to the Galatians.  His hope was that peace and mercy would be upon his hearers.  But note, there was a qualifier.  It was written to those who walked according to the (kanōn) rule, to those who met the standard.  So first let’s acknowledge there is a standard.

There are several words in the Scriptures that are all interwoven in this thought.  Some of these are found in the book of Galatians.  The following is a brief survey of these Greek terms along with their meaning.

The gospel – 1:11 – Greek word euaggelion – means the good news

The truth – 2:5, 14 – aletheia – defined as what is true in any matter under consideration

The faith – 1:23 – pistis – a conviction of truth

The rule – 6:16 – kanon – the standard, like the measuring rod at the amusement park

Note how all the terms are interrelated.  Paul was discussing a pure gospel as opposed to a perverted one in Galatians 1.  In verse 5 of chapter 2 he even refers to it as the truth of the gospel.  All the terms are essentially various ways of referring to the same thing.

And there is a 5th term, not found in Galatians but with a similar meaning.  The word is doctrine.

Paul noted in Romans 6:16, “But GOD be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.”

Paul’s idea here was that they had obeyed the truth.  They had obeyed the faith.  They had obeyed the gospel. They had met the standard.

The gospel, the truth, the faith, the rule, and the doctrine are all intertwined.  This is why Paul said in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of GOD to salvation…”

I realize the gospel, this body of truth, is my means of salvation.  It is my “measuring rod” where entrance into heaven is concerned.  Not everyone will meet the qualifications.  Oh, how I want to.  When my time comes, I want to meet the standard because heaven is one attraction I don’t want to miss.

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The Second Death

Posted on February 10, 2018 by glenn

There are many definitions of death.  The medical community has a few.  It is interesting that a part of many definitions of death is the end of the life of a person or organism.  In light of what we find in the account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, I submit that by whatever definition one chooses to apply, it is not the end of the person.

The Bible gives us a simple definition of death in James 2:26 where we read, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also”.

So a practical definition of death is simply a separation of the body and the spirit.

In the garden, Adam was told in the day that you eat of the forbidden fruit, you will die.  So did Adam die that day?  Some contend that he started the dying process that day.  But I say that yes, he died that day.  He died in the sense that he was separated from GOD.  After the fall of mankind he was driven from the Garden and his relationship with GOD changed.

Sin does that.  It separates us from GOD.

Isaiah 59:1-2 clearly tells us what caused this separation.  Our sins have separated us from GOD.

It is at this point I would like to consider a reference to death we find only in the last book of the Bible.  The Bible speaks of the second death in the book of Revelation.  What exactly is this second death?  I think a study of Revelation 20 and 21 will help.

The second death spoken of in Revelation 21 is in the context of the description of heaven.  Verse 8 stands out as an exception to this marvelous description declaring those who will not be residents of the heavenly city.  And reference is made to those being subjected to the second death.

So what is this second death?

Note Revelation 20:6 mentions the first resurrection and declares that those who have had a part in it will not be subjected to the second death.  I believe Romans 6 and Colossians 2:12 tells us this first resurrection refers to our obedience through baptism as we are raised to walk in newness of life.  Over these who have obeyed, the second death has no power.

Verse 13 of chapter 20 notes the second death will occur at the final judgment.  And it furthers notes that those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be subjected to this death.

I submit that in light of the above discussion, the second death is the separation at the final judgement.

Matthew 25:41, 46 –  Then He will also say to those on the left hand, depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.   And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

Unless the LORD returns during my lifetime, I will experience the first death.  I pray I do not experience the second death, the separation from GOD for all of eternity.  Faithful obedience to my Lord and Savior is my only hope.

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