May I Have Your Attention Please?

1974

How many of you remember teachers back in your high school or college days asking for your attention?  I remember one cold January morning in 1975, when I vaguely heard a similar phrase attached to my name.  I was in my 3^rd year of college and taking an 8 a.m. class.  I avoided early classes like the plague, not because I am not a morning person, but because I worked nights at UPS to pay for college. This particular Friday morning I was in a corporate income tax class taught by Dr. George Morton.  I was practicing my newfound talent of sleeping while sitting up straight in a desk when I heard these words from the girl sitting next to me: “Wake up...wake up! He is asking you a question.”  Then I heard Dr. Morton say, in his deep southern drawl, “We’ll wait on Mr. Bays to come back to the world. Mr. Bays, would you answer the question?” Much to my embarrassment I didn’t know the answer and I didn’t even know the question.  

Jesus used various methods to get people’s attention while He walked on earth.  Jesus was the Master at painting world pictures.  He often did not speak literally, but figuratively. He spoke in parables and painted word pictures. Instead of literally coming out and saying what he meant, he often would tell a story to get people’s attention.  These messages of Jesus frequently frustrated his disciples. They wished that he would speak literally and not be quite so subtle.  Jesus used overstatements, hyperboles, puns, similes, metaphors, proverbs, riddles, and paradoxes.   

Here are a few examples:

Luke 14:26  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” 

Matthew 7:3-5  “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Matthew 16:18  “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Matthew 5:13  “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

I really enjoy Jesus’ word pictures where: 

•  He said, “I am the light of the world”  just before He created sight for a man born blind (John 9:5).
• Jesus ask a woman for water and then says, “He gives living water.” (John 4:10)
• After feeding the five thousand, He says, “I am the bread of life.” (John  6:35)

Perhaps the greatest word picture Jesus ever drew was at the Last Supper. There He told us to remember His death until He returns, providing a picture that is observed by Christians to this day.  Just think about it: the one thing Jesus wanted to emphasis most was His death and resurrection. It wasn't His miracles, His creation of sight, or His ability to outwit His enemies. No, He asked us to remember His agonizing death. It was as if it was the high point of His life.  Everything was secondary compare to this moment.

During the Last Supper—a Passover celebration—Jesus took a loaf of bread and gave thanks to God. As He broke it and gave it to His disciples, He said, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying,  “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:19-21). He concluded the feast by singing a hymn (Matthew 26:30), and they went out into the night to the Mount of Olives. It was there that Jesus was betrayed, as predicted, by Judas. The following day He was crucified. The accounts of the Lord’s Supper are found in the Gospels (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:17-25; Luke 22:7-22; and John 13:21-30).

Singer, songwriter, and teacher Michael Card talked about his understanding of the Last Supper in a retreat I attended three years ago at the Billy Graham Center at the Cove. Card said he doesn't partake in the Lord’s Supper because he deserves to eat and drink at this holy table, but he runs to this table because he needs the cleansing it provides.

Michael Card

Have the word pictures painted by Jesus caused you to give Him your attention?  Have you run to the Savior for the cleansing He alone can provide?  That is why He came, lived a perfect life, died, and physically rose from the dead.  He wants you to know how much He loves you.  If you will give Him your attention, you will be internally thankful and blessed.

By the way, Dr. Morton required me to give him my attention for the remainder of my tax class. He called on me for the answer to the first question of every class, another question near the middle of the class, and the last question of each class. What was the result? I not only passed the class but I made a B and when it came time to sit for the C.P.A. exam, I was prepared.  Thank you, Dr. Morton.

Come to the Table by Michael Card

Time to Grow Up

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” - 1 Corinthians 13:11

I have heard a lot of sermons and read a few authors on the subject of Christian maturity. The writings and the sermons usually talk about the characteristics of a mature Christian and the characteristics of an immature Christian. But none of these sermons or writings have impacted me as much as the words of my sweet granddaughter on May 27, 2011.

I had the joy of keeping this two-year-old  most of that day while my very good son-in-law surprised his bride with a day out on her birthday. So while Laura and Michael were out for the day, Leah and I had a talk. Leah’s mommy and daddy had been teaching her that she was becoming a big girl and big girls don’t need diapers. My instruction from Leah came as I was changing her diaper. Leah looked at me and said, “Papaw, you are too big for diapers.....but I am little.”

It seems like just yesterday when I had written about the birth of this child. The following is an excerpt from that writing:

Love at First Sight
“Actually, the title of this article is not correct. The truth is I loved her before I ever met her. When I first learned of her a few months ago, I loved her. Then about 6 months ago, I saw a picture of her and I was hooked. Now before you get the wrong idea, I have been a grandfather in waiting for the past 9 months. Waiting to see and hold a God created new life.    Finally the call came from Michael as Bradley and I paced in Saint Mary’s waiting room.   Laura was fine and I heard Leah’s cry for the first time over the telephone.  

“Then it happened. I held her in my arms and I started speaking in a new language with phrases like, ‘she is papaw’s girl,’... ‘she loves her papaw,’ ... and the worse one, ‘she looks just like her papaw.’ 

“On April 20, 2009 at 8:08 p.m., a major change took place in my life: Leah Abigail Thelen was born. I am now reeling from the wonder and awe of that experience. I recall how the excitement surrounding the pregnancy announcement quickly changed to the stunning realization that the birth of this child would make me a grandfather.   I've been grandfathered, in spite of myself. It is a time of unmatched joy in the miraculous gift of new life, the opportunity to witness and share in the life of another human being.  One look at Leah, less than 2 hours old, did me in completely. And holding this miraculous bundle of life totally destroyed my manufactured composure.”

Now, just over two short years later and she is giving me instructions?  Who taught this bundle to talk anyway? It had to be her Uncle Bradley.

Leah’s words have stayed with me over the past year as I have pondered them from time to time. I must admit I have thought more about Leah’s words than any sermon on this matter. Leah is right; I am way too old and too big for diapers. As I look back over the past few years, I see times when I have acted selfishly, immature, and just plan wrong.  My excuses are just like Leah’s, “but I am little.” I have more than my share of, “But I……” You complete the sentence. I have used about any excuse you can imagine.

The problem with me has been my lack of spiritually maturity. Peter said, “As newborn babies desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow by it.” (I Peter 2:2). In another place Paul said, “strong meat (chewable food that needs to be digested) is for men of full age.” (Hebrews 5:14). Peter said,  “Grow in the grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 3:18)

How do I stop wearing spiritual diapers? Admitting the need to grow is the first step for a RDW (recovering diaper wearer). The second thing is to study the Bible and keep attending church. We must be patient. “To become perfect and mature, lacking nothing, we must have patience.” (James 1:4). In the words of Jim Valvano, “Don't Give Up . . . Don't Ever Give Up.” Then live every day as a servant of Christ should live.

P.S. - Update on Leah's instructions: I received a voice mail from her the other day. Instead of singing deep and wide she was singing deep and Papaw. Enough already! I will go on a diet. Who taught this child to sing anyway? It must have been her Uncle Bradley.

The Dastardly Duo Plotting! 

Stay tuned for the next Leah episode, same Leah time, 
same Leah channel.  

Looking For Rainbows

Sea of Galilee at Tiberias

Genesis 9:13-15

 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life.



Rainbows!    Do you look for rainbows?   I do and I love this picture of my daughter Laura and granddaughter Leah looking at a rainbow.  I even gave Leah a rainbow maker that projects a rainbow on her ceiling at night.  It is a cheap imitation of the real thing.   Real rainbows can only be made by God.

 I saw a fantastic rainbow over the Sea of Galilee when I was in Israel.  There I learned of a Hebrew Rainbow Blessing.   It goes like this:

Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh zokher hab'rit v'ne'eman bivrito v'kayam b'ma'amaro.  Translated:  Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who remembers the covenant, and is faithful to God's covenant, and keeps God's promise.

Maybe that is why I and so many others look for rainbows. We are actually looking for the promise and to remember.  I know someone who really looks for rainbows. It is my friend, Jim Cline (and he gave me permission in 1991 to share his story).   I met Jim when my family and I lived in Kansas City.  Jim and I had a lot in common.  First the obvious, he is a handsome man and a successful CPA.......  Ok, I am a man and an inactive CPA.  He drove a really nice car, a BMW.   Ok, I drove an Oldsmobile.  His flavor of church was Methodist and mine was Baptist.  His son’s first name was James and they called him Jimmy.  My son’s first name is James and we call him Bradley.

Did you notice the change from present to past tense for his son Jimmy?  That was a big difference between Jim and I. His son Jimmy had died in a car wreck at the age of 16 just about four months before I met Jim.   Jim shared his story about Jimmy with me over the next year before my family and I left Kansas.  Jimmy had been killed in on Interstate 435 about 3 miles from my home on a rainy Friday night in September.  Jimmy was hurrying home to make curfew and was not wearing his seat belt.  The next day was unimaginable for the Clines but Jimmy’s two younger brothers had a football game scheduled in which their dad was the coach.  Jim reluctantly agreed to go because the boys wanted to play for Jimmy.   But by the end of the first period, all three were sitting on the bench, crying and numb on this cold and rainy Kansas City afternoon. Jim then recalled seeing the most beautiful rainbow he had ever seen and he felt calmness as he remembered God’s promise.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving as Jim and his family were gathering at his parents’ for a meal.  Jim's heart had been heavy the entire week wanting to know for sure if Jimmy was in heaven and he was asking for something from God, a word or a sign.   Also, Jim kept thinking all week about the rainbow he had seen on the Saturday after Jimmy’s death.   As Jim was walking into his parents’ home, his niece was with him and said:  “Look Uncle Jim at that beautiful rainbow and there is not a cloud in the sky.”  It was Jimmy’s rainbow and Jim again remembered God’s promise.

About two weeks later Jim received a call from one of Jimmy’s classmates. She wanted to give Jim something Jimmy had given her.  It was a letter written by Jimmy to encourage her and it contained a statement of his faith in God and his love for his dad, Jim.  Coincidence?   I don’t think so.  I believe that we do have a supernatural God that cares for His children and that He speaks to us in a small, still voice also known as a gentle whisper.

Do you look for rainbows in bad circumstances?   God’s promise is the same for you as it was for Noah and my friend Jim.  In Hebrews 14:4-6 it says, “... For He Himself has said,  ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say:

     ‘The LORD is my helper;
      I will not fear.
      What can man do to me?’”

The next time you see a rainbow remember the promise and say the blessing; God will make a way for you too:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who remembers the covenant, and is faithful to God's covenant, and keeps God's promise.

Mahalia Jackson

The View From the Shepherds' Field

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  Luke 2: 8

On March 28, 2008, my friend Jim Jordan and I were near Bethlehem in a place called the Shepherds' Field.   What a wonderful place to write about at Christmas time, the place where it all began. There we saw the remains of the shepherds’ tower. At the time of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds would have been manning the tower and watching for lambs to be born. The shepherds would leave the tower and inspect each one at birth to find lambs suitable for sacrifice. Once a lamb was found to be without blemish or spot, the shepherds wrapped the lamb in swaddling clothes and placed it in the manger for protection.

On the night of Jesus’ birth, the angel of the Lord came upon the shepherds in the Shepherds’ field and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were really afraid. But then the angel of the Lord spoke to them in terms only a shepherd could truly understand. The angel of the Lord said (New SW Virginia and East Tennessee paraphrase): “Calm down you guys, I got great and joyful news for you. The perfect Lamb of God has just been born, without blemish and spot in David’s home town just like God said it would happen. Now just to make sure you don’t miss this, you are going to find this Lamb wrapped in swaddling clothes and in a manger. What you shepherds have been doing, finding lambs without blemish or spot, is just foreshadowing, a picture of what this Baby will do for all mankind, once and for all.”

God always uses the unexpected things of this world to reflect His glory and point us to Him. Lowly shepherds were not even allowed to testify in court because they were not trusted. Yet, they were the Savior’s first witnesses. Jesus continued this practice into His ministry when a Samaritan woman, whose testimony before she met Jesus at a well was about as valuable as her empty bucket, became a witness. And He continues this practice today as He calls me and you to be His witnesses.

Are we willing to be His witness? A witness to what Christmas is really all about. The shepherds watching their flocks in the field got it right. They went and worshiped the baby Jesus. Let’s worship Jesus this year on Christmas day and every day.  Then, we can be His witnesses to a dark and lost world.

Jim Jordan

Rainy Day People

2 Corinthians 1:3-4: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Gordon Lightfoot, a Canadian recording artist, wrote and sang a hit song in the 70’s called “Rainy Day People.” After reading the lyrics of this song, I think we could use more “Rainy Day People” in the church.  Look at the characteristics of  “Rainy Day People.”

Rainy Day People:

·       Always seem to know when it’s time to call

·       Don’t talk, they just listen till they’ve heard it all

·       Don’t lie when they tell ya they’ve been down like you

·       Don’t mind if you’re crying a tear or two

·       Always seem to know when you’re feeling blue

·       Don’t hide love inside they just pass it on

I would add one more characteristic of a “Rainy Day” person. They have received the comfort of God as Paul described in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Have you thought about the comfort of God? Paul speaks a great deal about it here at the beginning of his second letter to the Corinthians. God is the source of mercy and comfort. Paul puts this understanding of God into place for the believers at Corinth. After stating this, Paul goes on in verse 4 to write: “who comforts us in all our tribulation.” God seeks to comfort His people whenever and wherever they are hurting.

But this comfort that God gives to us is not an end in itself. Paul continues to write, “So that we will be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted.” In this verse the emphasis falls upon our comforting others based upon God comforting us. These are the “Rainy Day People” we all need in our lives. They don’t come with questions, answers or a lot of talk. They understand how it feels to be down, feel blue, and to cry. They have received God’s comfort and they are not only willing but anxious to share God’s comfort with others.  

I am thankful for the “Rainy Day People” who have come along side of me and so many others during difficult days. Do you need “Rainy Day People?”  You will find them at church. Remember, “Rainy Day People don’t hide love inside, they just pass it on.”     

 

Gordon Lightfoot on YouTube 

Short Stories

I always enjoyed reading short stories in high school and college.  Maybe it was because of my very short attention span or maybe it was that there are so many really good short stories.  The list is long but here are a few of my favorites:

Gift of the Magi ~ O. Henry

The Ransom of Red Chief ~ O. Henry (I could identify with Red Chief)

The Open Boat ~ Stephen Crane 

The League of Old Men ~Jack London

The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber ~  Ernest Hemingway

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty ~James Thurber

                                      

Short stories have well defined plots and characters. They are suited for oral storytelling and their swiftly sketched situations quickly come to their points.  My favorite short story is just like that, as we get to walk right in on the action.  This story is found in the Bible in John chapter 9.  Jesus and His disciples are walking one day when they come upon a man born blind.  His disciples see Jesus looking intently at the man when they ask Him the question we all ask sometimes:  “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?” or "Why?"   Why has this bad thing happened?  Jesus provides His disciples and us a different perspective as we break this intriguing story down into four sections.

 

Michael Card

First we find The Diagnosis.   It appears to be very straightforward, after all, the man was born blind.  No biopsy, CT Scan, blood test, or exploratory surgery required.   But while the physical diagnosis is clear, there is always another part of any diagnosis and it is the most difficult part.  Why?  Why was this man born blind?    I don’t know about you, but I have asked this question more than a few times.  It is interesting here that Jesus does not entertain their attempt to attribute blame to someone or something.    Michael Card wrote in his book,  A Parable of Joy:   “Jesus’ disciples had something else to learn and it is a lesson we need to learn. We do not have a God who strikes down a baby with blindness because his parents did something wrong.”    Jesus answer is  direct:  “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,  but his blindness is for God’s glory.”   As hard as this lesson is to understand and accept, our suffering can be for our good and God’s glory.  

The next part of the story we will call The Treatment.    Jesus reaches down and takes dust and makes an eye pack for the man, then sends him to the pool of Siloam to wash.   In our story, it says the man came back seeing.    I thought this was the climax when I first read this story.  The man had been healed .......or had he?   Technically, the man was not healed because he never had physical sight.  His sight had to be created and only God can create.  Jesus, as God incarnate, gives us another creation story of physical sight.  Secondly, it is only a treatment because this man’s eyes one day closed in physical death.    I was born blind in my right eye.  If I had the same experience as the man born blind, it would just be a treatment.  One day my eyes will close in physical death.   This man was still in need of  healing as we will see later in our story.

With any treatment, there may be Side Effects.   Medicines, chemotherapy, and surgeries all have side effects.   In our short story, the man born blind has side effects to his eye treatment. First, his neighbors didn’t recognize him.  They were not sure it was him and they took him to the Pharisees.  The Pharisees questioned him and didn’t believe his story  another side effect.  The blind man’s parents were summoned by the Pharisees and instead of being happy over their son’s sight became afraid, yet another side effect.  Finally, the Pharisees summoned the blind man one more time and demanded that he say Jesus was sinner because after all Jesus had healed him on the Sabbath. Sounds a little silly doesn’t it?  (Aren’t you glad we never have silly traditions that get in the way of people gaining spiritual sight?)   Then the man born blind who had no formal education, shows more wisdom than the astute of his day.  He was streetwise and said:  “I don’t know if He was a sinner or saint, but this one thing I know, I once was blind but now I see.”   

Recently I had a long conversation with a friend. He kept digging into the foundations of my faith and kept trying to dismantle what I believe.  I have to admit, I tried too hard to appear to be intellectual (always a mistake for me). Instead, I should have  simply told him my story.  We may not have all the theological or scientific answers but this one thing we know: We were once spiritual blind but now we see. 

Now, we get to the end of the story.  The Pharisees had just thrown the man born blind out of the temple when Jesus shows up again.  Here we will see in the final section of our story the real climax and it can be called The Cure.   When Jesus first saw the man, He saw more than just his temporary condition.    More importantly, Jesus saw his spiritual blindness.  Jesus seeks the man out and asks him a simple question, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”   The man answers: "Who is He that I may believe in Him?"  Jesus answer, “It is He who is talking to you.”  Then the man born blinds simply says: "I believe", worshiped Him, and gained eternal sight.   No longer just a treatment, the man has The Cure.   Michael Card calls this “the miracle behind the miracle.”    Jesus always sees the unseen conditions of our lives that may not be physically threatening but are eternally threatening.    

Seven years ago, our family received a very difficult physical diagnosis.  My wife Betty, at the age of 46, had stage 4 colon cancer.  The diagnosis was followed by several days of asking why.  Then came the treatments including  surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and drugs.   They did very little to extend her physical life and what we thought would be a long life became a relatively short story.  The side effects were painful but before her journey with cancer started, she had received The Cure by faith in Christ Jesus.   We don't  know if our lives will be short stories or an epic novels.   While I hope you have good health and a long life, I pray you have The Cure.   After all, at the end of our days,   it is The Cure to spiritual blindness that is the most important.