We Give Thanks

We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds. As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob. Psalm 75:1, 9

Giving thanks may at times be simply a matter of perspective. Those who are able to keep things in perspective are able to adopt an attitude of gratitude. Those who do not maintain the proper perspective are always dissatisfied, unhappy, and longing for more.

A fascinating study done by Professor Vicki Medvec reveals the relative importance of perspective in adopting an attitude of gratitude. Medvec studied Olympic medalists and discovered that bronze medalists were quantifiably happier than silver medalists. Here's why: Silver medalists tended to focus on how close they came to winning gold, so they weren't satisfied with silver; bronze medalists tended to focus on how close they came to not winning a medal at all, so they were just happy to be on the medal stand.

As we approach Thanksgiving, this most American of holidays, will we be able to maintain a perspective on life that will enable us to join the Psalmist in giving thanks for God’s wonderful deeds, or will we choose to be unhappy and dissatisfied? The choice is ours alone.

This Thanksgiving, I vow to banish complaint and focus exclusively on praise and thanksgiving. Won’t you join me?

As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob. Psalm 75:9

With Love,

Mike

Streets of Gold

We all know that gold is considered to be a precious substance. You pay a high price for gold jewelry or other items made of gold. History is filled with “gold rush” stories of people who gave up everything to try to find their fortune panning or mining for gold. But just how rare is this metal?

Even today, mining companies still work in places where the yield of gold is just one ounce for one ton of worked dirt. It takes a lot of work to find gold on this planet because there isn’t much of it. If you melted down all of the gold that has ever been mined, it would fit into a cube measuring twenty yards on each side.

Gold is so limited that the international monetary system is no longer based on gold but on paper currencies like the dollar. In fact, the full gold standard only lasted from the 1870’s to World War I.

But what is scarce on earth is abundant in heaven. When John caught a glimpse of heaven he said, “The great street of the city was of pure gold” (Rev. 21:21). It’s another vivid reminder that what we frequently pursue and consider to be of greatest value is nothing more than pocket change to God.

What a beautiful thought that the One who owns every resource has given this promise: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19. We can trust Him to take care of us here on earth and to share the beauty of His riches, including the glorious streets of gold when He takes us to Heaven.

With Love,

Mike

Success

Success is something we all seek. We want to succeed in our careers, our relationships, in raising our children. We want to make our mark in the world and be remembered for our achievements. But success is a variable concept, and one that is not easily defined. What is success?

In a special feature on the DVD of the movie The Natural, baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. talks about his view of success. Even though he is one of the greatest individual players in baseball history, what mattered most to him was succeeding as a team. In the interview, he says: "I'd much rather be referred to not as an individually great player, or someone who tore up the record books, but someone who came to the ball park and said: 'Okay, I'm here. I want to play. What can I do to help us win today?'

Amidst still photos and replays from the World Series, Ripken speaks directly to the issue of how true success is a team accomplishment, not an individual accomplishment. He says:

A lot of people ask, "What is your greatest play—your greatest accomplishment?" I say, "I caught the last out of the World Series." It wasn't a great catch—I didn't dive, I didn't do a cartwheel and throw the guy out at first base. People's mouths didn't drop open on the play. We all want to be part of something bigger. But we all have our little jobs that we have to do as a member of a team. Everybody has their individual responsibilities, but they all have to come together for a main goal, and that's to win. I've had great years when we haven't won, and they have not been really fulfilling. I've had not-so-great years, but we've had a good success as a team, and they were more fulfilling. So the most fulfilling moment I could ever have, again, was catching the last out of the World Series—knowing we did it!

As believers, it is important to realize that we do not succeed as individuals. We succeed because of Jesus. In fact, our connection to Him gives us absolute victory in every arena of life. He has won our salvation and given it to us by His grace, and now He walks with us to guide us through every single day of life. And on top of all that, through Him we find fellowship with other believers, who become our flesh-and-blood teammates. Some of our greatest successes will be those we accomplish with God’s team, the church. I’m praising God today that Jesus is the definition and the fulfillment of my success.

With Love,

Mike

Mastering the Mountain

Sir Edmund Hillary was the first climber, along with his partner, Tenzing Norgay, to reach the top of Mount Everest. It happened on his third try. On Hillary's second attempt, he not only failed to reach the summit, but his team also lost one of its members.

After the failed attempt, Hillary spoke to an audience about his experience. Behind him on the platform was a huge photograph of Everest. Hillary turned toward the photograph and said, "Mount Everest, you have defeated us. But I will return. And I will defeat you. Because you cannot get any bigger ... and I can."

When it comes to facing mountains, how do we get “bigger”? It starts with faith. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)

Edmund Hillary became 'bigger than Everest' through better planning, more detailed research, greater teamwork, and tenacious perseverance. And it started with faith -- the faith that this mountain could be conquered.

No doubt you're facing a mountain or two today: a mountain of debt, a mountain of fear, a mountain of uncertainty. Mountains don't move without determined effort, thoughtful planning, or courageous perseverance.

These things all begin with faith. It is faith that gives you the wherewithal to attempt something bigger than you. Not faith in yourself, but faith in the God for whom nothing is impossible.

Love,

Mike

New Each Day

Patrick Henry, whose primary contribution to the history books is the phrase "Give me liberty or give me death," made another memorable statement.

He said, "I know of no way of judging the future but by the past."

Repeat this before a group of your friends, and you'll see many heads nod in agreement. It has the ring of good common sense.

Be careful, though. This axiom might be true when it is applied to politics or history or investing, but it provides a lousy foundation for developing relationships. And it certainly doesn't reflect the way God relates to us.

God gives us a chance to let go of the past and start over -- each and every day. Jeremiah wrote in the book of Lamentations, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

God doesn't judge our future by our past. He didn't do it with David or Moses or Peter or Paul or countless other Bible characters. As the Psalmist wrote, He does not treat us as our sins deserve. Every day is a new day.

A good way to start the day with God is to remember that you've just been given brand new mercies -- the chance to start the day with a clean slate.

It's also a good way to start the day with others. God doesn't allow our past to prevent us from a having a great future, so enjoy the fresh start – and pass the gift along to others as well.

With Love,

Mike

Going Home

Jesus said: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:1-3

After serving as a missionary for forty years in Africa, Henry C. Morrison became sick and had to return to America. As the great ocean liner docked in New York Harbor there was a great crowd gathered to welcome home another passenger on that boat. Morrison watched as President Teddy Roosevelt received a grand “welcome home” party after his African safari.

Resentment seized Henry Morrsion, and he turned to God in anger, "I have come back home after all this time and service to the church and there is no one, not even one person here to welcome me home."

Then a still small voice came to Morrison and said, "You're not home yet."

Perhaps it’s time to get our minds off this world and on to the things of heaven. We need to begin to think and act like citizens of that land. We need to be ready to go home. It is my prayer that as we consider heaven and the joy of meeting Jesus face to face, our hearts will begin to long for home.

With Love,

Mike

Without Me, You Can Do Nothing

J. Gordon, one of the founders of Gordon Conwell Divinity School, told of an interesting sight he saw while taking a walk in the country. As he walked along, he looked across a field and saw a house in the distance. Beside the house was what looked like a man, pumping furiously on the handle of an old-fashioned water pump. As Gordon watched, the man continued to pump at a tremendous rate. He seemed absolutely tireless, pumping on and on, up and down, without ever slowing in the slightest, much less stopping.

Truly, it was a remarkable sight, so Gordon started to walk toward the house. As he got closer, he could see it was not a man at the pump; instead, it was a wooden figure painted to look like a man. The arm that was pumping so rapidly was hinged at the elbow, and the hand was wired to the pump handle.

The water was pouring forth, but not because the figure was pumping it. You see, it was an artesian well, and the water was pumping the man!

When you see a man who is at work for God and producing results, recognize that it is the Holy Spirit working through him, not the man’s effort, that is giving results. All he has to do—and all you have to do – is keep your hand on the handle.

With Love,

Mike

Heaven

Given the opportunity to purchase a place in heaven, how much would you pay? Several years ago, a survey was done that asked the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans that very question. This elite group of about one million households earned at least $250,000 per year and had a net worth of at least $2.5 million. These millionaires gave the following breakdown of what they would spend for certain unique opportunities.

For great beauty, the average price they would willingly pay was $83,000. For talent, they would spend $285,000. Great intellect was worth $407,000 to them, and they said true love was worth $487,000.

The highest bid on any item went for a place in heaven. To secure their spot in eternity, these wealthy Americans said they would part with $640,000.

Isn’t it interesting that even if heaven could be bought, those who have the most money don’t want to spend more than 25 percent of their net worth to get there? What a stark contrast to the 100 percent investment Christ made to secure our eternal destiny.

The amazing thing is, because heaven cost Jesus everything, it costs you nothing! Jesus gives it to you as a gift of love! All of your money, all of your talent, and all of your resources together could not make a down payment on heaven.

Jesus does, however, ask for something in response to the gift. He asks for us – everything we are and have. As frightening as that may seem, just as soon as we give it, he gives it back for us to enjoy until we get to heaven. You can’t beat this bargain anywhere!

With Love,

Mike

What a Legend Looks Like

Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden was once asked his opinion of former Indiana coach Bobby Knight. Wooden would only respond, “I think Bob Knight is an outstanding teacher of the game of basketball. I don't approve of his methods, but I'm not a judge, and I'm not judging Bob Knight. There is so much bad in the best of us and so much good in the worst of us; it hardly behooves me to talk about the rest of us.”

I think he understands what Henry Kaiser once said, “When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.”

Wooden has shown us what a legend looks like. He not only was a gentlemen on the court, he holds records that may never be broken. His 10 national championships, his 88-game winning streak, his phenomenal winning percentage, the players he groomed for stardom in the NBA -- this is his legacy; he has no reason to add the title of “outspoken critic” to the list.

In your life and mine, in your work and mine, there are a number of potential – even "worthy” – targets of our own outspoken criticism. If we're not careful, they can take up all of our time. If we're not careful, we can be sidetracked into thinking our opinions are more important than our actions.

It's what you do that ultimately makes a difference. Talk isn't enough. Opinions aren’t enough. Criticism, no matter how on-target or well articulated it might be, isn’t enough. You prove who you are by the way that you live.

Paul asked, "So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God." (Romans 14:10)

Let's strive toward leaving a legacy that is built not upon our estimation of others, but upon our own measurable accomplishments. Criticize less, do more. That's what a legend looks like.

Love,

Mike

Remember to Forget

We know that these two words belong together, but maybe it’s not that simple. Maybe “forgive and forget” is easier said than done.

To forgive is just a matter of choice. Forgetting is often a matter of several choices, because it might be necessary to "forget" more than once.

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was confronted one day with the memory of a betrayal she had experienced years before, but she acted as if she had never heard of the incident.

A friend asked her, "Don't you remember what that person did?"

"No," said Clara. "I distinctly remember forgetting it."

It may be that you need to make the intentional choice (more than once) to remember to forget an offense that has come your way, just as God has chosen to forget our offenses.

"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (Isaiah 43:25)

Forgiving and forgetting are rarely, if ever, easy things to do. In fact, they almost always require Divine assistance. But the good news is that everything God has bid us to do, He gives us the strength to accomplish.

God forgives your sins. Better yet, He forgets them. He now asks that you pass the forgiveness along to those who have offended you. And for your own sake, as God gives you strength, I encourage you to forget those offenses, as well. It’s always a good thing to “forgive and forget.”

Love,

Mike

Identity

Father Greg Boyle is in the business of erasing the past. A Jesuit priest who is the founder and director of "Homeboy Industries" in East Los Angeles, Father Boyle put together a team of physicians trained in the laser technology of tattoo removal. The team is part of a program that takes the tattoos of ex-gang members and wipes the slate clean. For many, it is as crucial a service.

Gang-related tattoos prevent many former gang members from getting jobs or advancing in work. For others, the markings critically impinge on mental health or put them in serious danger on the streets. There is no fee or community service required to receive the tattoo removal offered by Homeboy Industries. It is strictly a gift; perhaps a modern look at Christ washing the feet of his friends. At times, the waiting list has had more than a thousand names.

For those involved, the spiritual imagery is often compelling. The seeming permanence of a gang tattoo fosters the attitude that the gang's claim is also permanent. It is a mark of ownership as much as identity. The emotional consequence is that it seems a part of you that can never be shaken.

I suspect some of us have felt like this with past mistakes – sins whose mark we cannot shake off, though we know we have been cleansed by Christ. Perhaps the imagery of tattoo removal can evoke a renewed sense of our blessed assurance. Like the gang members who have had the marks of a former life removed, so we have had our sins blotted out by the blood of Christ. They are remembered no longer.

Your true identity is in Christ Jesus. He is your Lord. You belong to Him. As His son or daughter, every aspect of your life has been changed. This is your true identity.

With Love,

Mike

Justification

Christians tend to use terms that a lot of people find confusing. They use words like salvation and justification. What do these things mean?

Both of these words refer to the experience of coming to belief in Jesus as your Savior. Salvation comes by believing in Jesus and confessing your sins to Him. When you confess your sins to Jesus, He forgives you, and you are said to have been, “justified.” So complete is this experience of forgiveness that in God’s eyes, it is as though you had never sinned.

I found a story that helps us begin to understand this experience of salvation or justification. It seems that a man who lived in England came over to the United States to visit a resort for several months. He wanted to bring along his Rolls Royce for the trip, so he had it carefully packaged and shipped overseas.

While visiting in America, something happened to the car—a mechanical failure of some sort—so he called back to England and explained his problem to the company. Rolls Royce told him, “We will take care of it. Within 48 hours, we'll have a mechanic there with the auto parts to fix it for you."

They put a mechanic on a plane with the necessary parts and flew him to the United States. He worked on the car in the parking lot of the resort, fixed it in good time, got on a plane, and flew back to England. The man happily drove his Rolls for the rest of his holiday, and then he packaged it back up, put it on a ship, and sent it to his home in England.

Nearly a year after the man returned to England, he discovered he had never received a bill from Rolls-Royce. So he wrote the company a letter, saying, "This date last year there was something wrong with my Rolls Royce, and you flew a mechanic over to help me. You fixed it, but I've never received a bill. If you should find that bill in your office, I'll be happy to pay for your efforts in fixing my car."

He received a letter back from Rolls-Royce that simply said: "In the files at the headquarters of Rolls-Royce, there is no such account saying anything has ever been wrong with a Rolls-Royce anywhere that you speak of."

Now that's justification. Your broken life is repaired, and no record of it is kept in heaven. That’s how completely Jesus saves those who receive Him.

With Love,

Mike

Have you done it unto me?

In the United States, over two-thirds of the population are overweight and almost one-third is considered obese, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the years 2001-2004. Living with over-abundance, we are barraged by diet fads to shed extra pounds.

Yet, researchers for Bread For The World and the World Food Program estimate that every day 16,000 to 24,000 children die from hunger related causes. In 2004, almost one billion people lived below the international poverty line, earning less than one dollar per day.

When you travel through developing nations and witness poverty firsthand you cannot help but feel compassion for the masses that struggle for survival every day.

Jesus’s parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 becomes a reality as you look into the faces of the children of poverty. In the final judgment, the Son of Man holds court over all the nations. Notice as you read this passage that Jesus defines righteous living in terms of acts of justice and kindness done to the least of these.

Jesus says to the sheep on his right: “Come, you who are blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me” (Matthew 25:34-36). The sheep are astonished that they are counted among the righteous, based on this definition, for they never saw Jesus hungry or thirsty, as a stranger or naked, sick or in prison.

But Jesus answers them, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). What a surprise to find that righteousness categorically involves acts of mercy, kindness, and protection for the least of these among us.

In the bleak, gaunt, ravaged expressions of malnourishment and hunger, we encounter Christ himself, the way, the truth, and the life. We are given the opportunity to minister to Jesus himself in the plight of the least of these among us.

What do world hunger, poverty, illness and despair have to do with righteousness? What do they have to do with Jesus? According to Matthew’s Gospel, they are the vehicles for a revelatory encounter with Jesus, unto whom we minister through acts of mercy, kindness, and justice. Our abundance should be the means of blessing others. We are given the blessing of ministering to our Lord and seeing in the faces of the impoverished, the face of Jesus.

Love,

Mike

Truth

Henry Augustus Rowland, professor of physics at Johns Hopkins University, was once called as an expert witness at a trial. During cross-examination, a lawyer demanded, "What are your qualifications as an expert witness in this case?"

The normally modest and retiring professor replied quietly, "I am the greatest living expert on the subject under discussion." Later, a friend who was well acquainted with Rowland spoke with him, expressing surprise at the professor's uncharacteristic answer. Rowland simply stated, "Well, what did you expect me to do? I was under oath."

This reminds me of an old Texas saying – “It ain’t braggin’ if it’s true.” Rowland wasn’t bragging, he was simply stating the truth.

Like the Physics professor, Christians are called upon to simply speak the truth. We are not the bearers of some of the truth or half of the truth. We are the bearers of all of the Truth.

Jesus is not a way to God; He is the way. The Christ is not merely a great prophet. He is God incarnate. Our heavenly Father did not send a representative to earth; because of His great love, He sent His only Son.

We are under oath, and our testimony comes as life to millions who need to hear it. We are Christ’s followers; experts through our experience with Him and bound by what we have heard the Spirit reveal to our hearts. We have an obligation to speak it to the world.

Speak the truth this week. Tell someone the truth about Jesus.

With Love,

Mike

Giving

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

In this scriptural passage, Paul shares the important but oft forgotten truth that giving has more to do with attitude than the amount. These two stories seem to illustrate this point.

A number of years ago, a woman’s office got a fax machine for the first time. The woman’s daughter suggested that the two of them send their correspondence by fax instead of using the post office. Although she told her mother many times that faxing was a faster and less expensive way to communicate, her mother continued to send her mail by weekly letters.

On the girl’s birthday, however, her mother showed that she had a full grasp of the technology. She faxed her a $100 bill with the note: "Happy Birthday. Darling. You're right--it is cheaper to fax than to mail. Love, Mom."

Now, contrast that story with this story from small town America.

For months, the residents in a small, midwestern town endured the clouds of dirt that swirled about when Main Street was torn up for repair. The arrival of the paving crew, therefore, was a major event.

One woman was so glad to see them that she dashed into her kitchen and whipped up a dinner of fried chicken and apple pie to feed the work crew. When she presented the pie to the foreman, he said, "Ma'am, if that were a chocolate pie, we'd have paved your driveway too!"

Phyllis laughed. Then she went back into the house and came out with a chocolate pie before heading off to work. When she returned, the crew was gone, and an empty pie plate sat in the middle of a brand-new driveway.

Giving has more to do with attitude than the amount. Not a bad thing to remember. Whether we’re giving time, talents, money, or any other resource, the Lord really does love a “cheerful giver!”

With Love,

Mike

Light

Have you ever been awakened from sleep by a bright light? It hurts! Eyes that have adjusted to the darkness squint in pain in the presence of sudden light. In the dark, our pupils become dilated; when a bright line shines into them, the pupillary reflex causes them to constrict to protect the retina. The sudden flip of a light switch leaves the victim squinting in pain until his pupils sufficiently contract.

When our eyes are adjusted to darkness, light can actually make it harder to see. A flashlight, which can help you see in the darkness, when pointed at your eyes, may actually prevent you from seeing anything else.

I believe that a similar problem confronts individuals who are walking in spiritual darkness when they try to understand God. The brightness of God's glory, the totality of his justice, and the breadth of his grace are not visible to those unaccustomed to looking at His light. Because they are used to walking around in darkness, they cannot imagine that there are whole worlds of understanding and answers that are only visible in the light.

When a person becomes a Christian, he or she has to get used to seeing by God's light. It may feel more comfortable to fumble in the darkness as one has always done, for the light is painful. But if the fledgling believer perseveres, he will find that there is more to see in the light than he ever imagined. As Paul wrote: "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8).

At times, we may feel as though God is hiding Himself from our sight. The psalmist wondered the very same thing: "Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 10:1). In such times, it is worth considering that our vision may be too weak to perceive God, since the light of His glory blinds us. Our inability to see and understand the ways of God is no evidence of his absence; our inability to look directly at the sun doesn't negate the fact that it is there, sustaining everything that lives.

In writing to Timothy, Paul described God as one "who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see" (1 Tim. 6:16). Perhaps Paul was thinking of his first encounter with Jesus, which left him literally blinded by God's light. Though the Light may at first seem overwhelming, as we choose to stay close, our spiritual eyes will adjust, and we’ll be amazed at what we see.

With love,

Mike

Forgiveness at the Ballpark

Former Boston Red Sox Hall-of-Fame third baseman Wade Boggs used to hate going to Yankee Stadium. Not because of the Yankees—they never gave him that much trouble—but because of a fan. That's right: one fan.

The guy had a box seat close to the field, and when the Red Sox were in town he would torment Boggs by shouting obscenities and insults. It's hard to imagine one fan getting under a player's skin, but apparently this guy had the recipe.

One day before the game, as Boggs was warming up, the fan began his typical routine, yelling, "Boggs, you stink" and variations on that theme. Boggs decided he'd had enough. He walked directly over to the man, who was sitting in the stands with his friends, and said, "Hey fella, are you the guy who's always yelling at me?" The man said, "Yeah, it's me. What are you going to do about it?"

Wade took a new baseball out of his pocket, autographed it, tossed it to the man, and went back to the field to continue his pre-game routine.

The man never yelled at Boggs again; in fact, he became one of Wade's biggest fans at Yankee Stadium.

At times, forgiveness can have some wonderful side benefits, such as turning enemies into friends. As wonderful as that might be, it is still not the primary reason to forgive. We forgive for what it does for us. We forgive because it takes the anger and resentment away and makes room for love, creativity, and joy.

We also forgive for another very important reason. We forgive because this is what Jesus does. As Christians, it is our desire to be like Jesus. That means that we should be willing to forgive, even if forgiveness carried no side benefits at all. We forgive because Jesus forgives.

With Love,
Mike

Turned Inside Out

For the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45

One snowy winter evening, Barbara Krensavage found herself with an unusual craving for clams, which are not something she often prepares. She pulled out a favorite old recipe, went to the market, and bought four dozen quahogs—a variety of clam that is particularly abundant between Cape Cod and New Jersey.

Her husband was in the midst of shucking the shellfish for dinner when he discovered one that looked like it was dead. It had a different color to it, and he thought it was diseased. But, just as he was about to discard it, Barbara happened to take a closer look.

It wasn't dead. In fact, inside the live clam was a rare, and possibly priceless, purple pearl. Experts estimate that roughly one in two million quahog clams contains a gem-quality pearl like the one found by the Krensavages. Due to the great rarity of the find, it has been difficult to even place a value on it, though some have estimated the pearl to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The message Christ brought to the world was one of a kingdom among us, where – like in the Krevsavage’s clam – all is not as it may first appear. In a world that seems more marked by disease than promise, there is hidden a treasure of great value. In fact, it is worth selling all we have in order to own it.

In a world of seemingly stagnant hope and deteriorating vision, there is the promise of living water. In a world marked by the power of death, there is yet a Life among us that is stronger than death. “Now we see as in a glass darkly,” but if we are willing to take a closer look, the kingdom Christ came to show us is here and real. It is a pearl of great price.

With love,

Mike

The Race

Ellen MacArthur's journey began and ended on the south coast of England. Persisting through 65 mph winds, intimidating storms, burns, bruises, depression, and a near miss with a whale, MacArthur was hoping to set the record for the fastest, nonstop, solo circumnavigation of the globe. Ellen slept an average of 30 minutes at a time and four hours in any day. Twice she had to climb the 98-foot mast to repair mainsail damage. She consistently battled fatigue and mental exhaustion, oscillating between emotional extremes throughout the 27,000-mile voyage. But 71 days, 14 hours, and 18 minutes later, she was holding the prize, having set a new world record.

The apostle Paul often used the imagery of the race to describe the attempt to live out the call of Christ. On the days I want to give in and trade in the laws of God for the rules of the games the world plays, it is helpful to keep my eyes on the race Paul describes. "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training." 1 Cor. 9:25a

Yet it was not the certainty of the race or the intensity of training that Paul stirs his readers to think about in the midst of hardship; rather, it was the goal itself. The word Paul used for "race" depicts the racecourses found in many Greek cities. The runner who outperformed the rest and reached the goal first received the only prize, since prizes for second and third did not exist. "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." 1 Cor. 9:23

We strain to follow Christ, training to become more like him, pressing onward through pain and struggle where He requires us to change. We strain for the goal set before us. Take away the record, wrote Ellen MacArthur in a dairy while yet at sea, "and it simply becomes a voyage around the world." Likewise, Christ stands calling us onward toward lives abundantly lived and the enduring prize of eternal life. Though we grow weary, if Christ himself is our end, we do not run aimlessly.

Let us race as runners who know not only the prize, but also know that we are equipped to obtain it. For it is Christ who goes with us that we might be able to say with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

With Love

Mike

Real Food

During the bombing raids of World War II, thousands of children were orphaned and left to starve. After experiencing the fright of abandonment, many of these children were rescued and sent to refugee camps where they received food and shelter. Yet even in the presence of good care, they had experienced so much loss that many of them could not sleep at night. They were terrified that they would awake to find themselves once again homeless and hungry. Nothing the adults did seemed to reassure them, until someone thought to send a child to bed with a loaf of bread. Holding onto bread, the children were able to sleep. If they woke up frightened in the night, the bread seemed to remind them, "I ate today, and I will eat again tomorrow."

Heaven is a feast, and God is the One preparing it. The image of the banquet is central to our communing with God. The table is intricately connected with the faith Christians profess in remembrance of the one they follow. The ministry of Christ and the call of God is resounding and specific: "Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find." (Matthew 22:9)

The images of banquet, feast, and table are intended to bring something powerful to mind. The psalmist writes, "The poor will eat and be satisfied... All the rich of the earth will feast and worship!" (Psalm 22:26, 29).

Your presence is requested at the banquet. You are invited to the feast. We celebrate a foretaste of that Heavenly banquet when we participate in a communion service.

On the night Jesus was betrayed, he took bread and broke it and gave it to those he loved. Holding onto him, like children with bread, we are given peace in uncertainty, mercy in brokenness, something solid when all is lost. In his severe mercy, we are all invited to the table: Come, take and eat.

With love,

Mike