Occasionally, I think I should slow down. After all, I reached threescore years and ten two years ago. I mentor 120 aspiring writing students, serve as interim pastor for a church 47 miles from home, and face deadlines as I write for publication.
Perhaps I should string a hammock in the back yard, lie in it, drink lemonade, read good books, and let younger men mentor, preach, and write.
Who am I fooling? I’m not the retiring type. I stay busy by choice, and I enjoy the opportunities God has given me to serve Him.
I appreciate how Henry Martyn, an Anglican missionary to India and Persia in the early 1800s, viewed ministry. “Let me burn out for God,” he quipped. In the last seven years of his life he translated the New Testament into Hindi, Persian, and Arabic. I would call that burning out for God.
Henry Martyn further expressed his desire to burn out for God in the following poem:
“And when I am dying, how glad I shall be
That the lamp of my life has been blazed out for Thee.
I shall not care in whatever I gave.
Of labor or money, one sinner to save.
I shall not care that the way has been rough.
That Thy dear feet led the way is enough.
And when I am dying, how glad I shall be
That the lamp of my life has been blazed out for Thee.”
I recall what Kenneth Wuest, my Greek teacher at Moody Bible Institute, said more than fifty years ago. “The servant of the Lord is immortal until his life’s work is done.” You and I cannot accurately predict the number of our remaining days on earth, but let’s choose to burn out for God instead of rust out.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Ministry Update
When Gloria and I left for church yesterday morning, snowflakes were falling and a cold wind pummeling our car. Conditions worsened in the foothills. Highway 115 that runs past Fort Carson Army Post became snow covered and slick and stayed like that until we reached a point about 25 miles northwest of Penrose. Suddenly, the sun popped out from behind the clouds, the snow ended, and the highway and fields were completely dry. It was another day of weather contrasts in Colorado, a day in which a drive of only a few miles can offer at least two seasons in half an hour.
This morning I am waiting for my son-in-law Brad to drive here (Colorado Springs) from Denver for golf at a nearby course. I need a break occasionally, and golf fills that need perfectly.
In spite of a raging spat of flu-like symptoms in Colorado, our church attendance was good yesterday morning, and the fellowship was great. A few visitors attended and seemed to feel at home. One of our men with a vision to share the gospel launched an evangelism training class after church. It is wonderful to see so many men and women in our congregation eager to engage the culture with the message of forgiveness and life.
I learned the other day that several congregations are praying for our church and my ministry. I invite you to join them in prayer. Attendance and finances need to increase so the church will be able to call a full-time pastor. The Lord answers prayer!
This morning I am waiting for my son-in-law Brad to drive here (Colorado Springs) from Denver for golf at a nearby course. I need a break occasionally, and golf fills that need perfectly.
In spite of a raging spat of flu-like symptoms in Colorado, our church attendance was good yesterday morning, and the fellowship was great. A few visitors attended and seemed to feel at home. One of our men with a vision to share the gospel launched an evangelism training class after church. It is wonderful to see so many men and women in our congregation eager to engage the culture with the message of forgiveness and life.
I learned the other day that several congregations are praying for our church and my ministry. I invite you to join them in prayer. Attendance and finances need to increase so the church will be able to call a full-time pastor. The Lord answers prayer!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Golf Clubs and Cleek Marks
In 1991 I started collecting old golf clubs—the hand forged, wood-shafted kind that predate1935. I cut my golf teeth on wood-shafted clubs, so I feel kind of sentimental about my hobby. Finding a club at a flea market or garage sale is like discovering a lost relative.
Before 1890 blacksmiths made club heads by heating iron bars in forges and then pounding them into shape by hand, By the turn of the century steam-powered hammers lightened the work, but the manufacturing process still required patience and skill. The British iron makers in the 1880s–19290s era became known as cleek makers, and stamped their identifying mark, called “cleek mark,” on their club heads.
I doubt that anyone today would try to make a living by making clubs the old-fashioned way. He would go broke faster than a new golf ball goes out of bounds. Nevertheless, the old-time club makers managed to put bread on their table and pride into their work. Their cleek marks represent their good name.
Many collectors try to obtain clubs with different cleek marks, and the fun of doing so is as endless as the range of cleek marks seems to be. A shepherd’s crook identifies Alex Shepherd as a club maker around 1915. Alex Patrick put the spur mark on his work between 1905 and 1915. Andrew Herd Scott, club maker for England’s George V, used a crown and a lion from 1911 to1925. St. Andrew Golf Company used the stag mark from 1910 until 1925 and then introduced a sun mark. Gene Sarazen used St. Andrew clubs in the1930s.
The list of cleeks could go on, but I will mention only a few more: a pipe, a serpent, a robin, a flag, an anvil, a hammer, a bear, a thistle, and a Scottish bluebell.
According to Ephesians 2:10, Christians are God’s workmanship. We were like scrap iron before God reached down to salvage us. When He put His hands on us, He purged us from our sins and began to forge and polish us into the image of His Son Rom. 8:29). Someday the forging and polishing will end, and we will be like Christ (1 John 3:2). However, God has already stamped His “cleek mark” on us. He has sealed us with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). This seal identifies us as His workmanship and guarantees that He will perfect His work in us.
Before 1890 blacksmiths made club heads by heating iron bars in forges and then pounding them into shape by hand, By the turn of the century steam-powered hammers lightened the work, but the manufacturing process still required patience and skill. The British iron makers in the 1880s–19290s era became known as cleek makers, and stamped their identifying mark, called “cleek mark,” on their club heads.
I doubt that anyone today would try to make a living by making clubs the old-fashioned way. He would go broke faster than a new golf ball goes out of bounds. Nevertheless, the old-time club makers managed to put bread on their table and pride into their work. Their cleek marks represent their good name.
Many collectors try to obtain clubs with different cleek marks, and the fun of doing so is as endless as the range of cleek marks seems to be. A shepherd’s crook identifies Alex Shepherd as a club maker around 1915. Alex Patrick put the spur mark on his work between 1905 and 1915. Andrew Herd Scott, club maker for England’s George V, used a crown and a lion from 1911 to1925. St. Andrew Golf Company used the stag mark from 1910 until 1925 and then introduced a sun mark. Gene Sarazen used St. Andrew clubs in the1930s.
The list of cleeks could go on, but I will mention only a few more: a pipe, a serpent, a robin, a flag, an anvil, a hammer, a bear, a thistle, and a Scottish bluebell.
According to Ephesians 2:10, Christians are God’s workmanship. We were like scrap iron before God reached down to salvage us. When He put His hands on us, He purged us from our sins and began to forge and polish us into the image of His Son Rom. 8:29). Someday the forging and polishing will end, and we will be like Christ (1 John 3:2). However, God has already stamped His “cleek mark” on us. He has sealed us with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). This seal identifies us as His workmanship and guarantees that He will perfect His work in us.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Let's Go Fishing!
Two teams of fishing brothers—Simon Peter and Andrew, James and John—had worked hard all night on the Sea of Galilee, but the results were terrible. They had caught nothing. So they decided to hang it up. They were washing their nets when Jesus came along with a crowd behind Him Luke 5:2).
Jesus borrowed Simon’s boat so He could teach the crowd from a place near the shore (v. 3). The aquatic amphitheater would offer good acoustics and keep the crowd at a safe distance.
When He ended the sermon, Jesus instructed Simon to launch out into the deep and let down his nets for a catch (v. 4). Simon objected at first, stating that he and his fishing partners had toiled all night without catching a single fish, but obligingly he followed Jesus’ instructions (v. 5).
Good thing he did! Fish swarmed into the net, so much so that it strained almost to the point of snapping (v. 6). So Simon and Andrew signaled to James and John for help. Soon the men had filled both boats with so many fish the boats began to sink (v. 7).
The miracle caused Simon Peter to fall down at Jesus’ knees and confess his sinfulness. His sense of guilt prompted him to ask Jesus to depart from him (v. 8). Anyone conscious of his or her sinfulness feels uneasy in the presence of Deity. But Jesus came to Earth not to remain aloof from sinners but to draw them to Himself.
Jesus alleviated Simon’s fear and changed his vocation. From that point on, Simon would fish for souls (v. 10).
That day the four fishermen forsook everything and followed Jesus (v. 11).
Here are a few principles I fished from this event.
(1) Simon and Andrew and their partners were experienced, professional fishermen, whereas Jesus was a carpenter. Nevertheless, Jesus knew where the fish were. Even the training we receive in seminaries, seminars, and conferences does not guarantee spiritual results. We may toil to the point of exhaustion to attract men and women to Christ but do so in vain, and we may be as discouraged as the four Galilean fishermen were. We need to follow Jesus’ instructions. He knows where the “fish” are and how to catch them.
(2) Simon urged Jesus to depart from him, but Jesus wanted Simon to accompany Him as His disciple. The Lord enters into fellowship with sinful people and gives them the privilege of serving Him. We Christians are forgiven sinners, but we are still sinners. Do we understand and appreciate the privilege the Lord has given us to spend time with Him and to serve Him?
(3) The Lord doesn’t expect us to act as lone rangers in His service. He has provided help. James and John helped Simon and Andrew get the fish into the boats, and there are more than enough believers in our churches to seize the opportunities He gives us to draw men and women to Him. The task of winning the lost to Him is every believer’s task.
(4) The four fishermen walked away from a lucrative opportunity to follow Jesus. The incredibly large catch of fish would have led to enormous sales, but Simon, Andrew, James, and John left all that behind to pursue a path that would lead to eternal rewards. Daniel 12:3 promises that those who turn many to righteousness will shine like stars forever and ever.
The Lord may not call you into full-time vocational ministry, but He does want you to follow His leading full time wherever He has placed you. He can take the toil out of accounting, teaching, farming, selling, nursing, plumbing, or whatever you do, and give you joy and productivity in all your endeavors—if you follow Him.
Jesus borrowed Simon’s boat so He could teach the crowd from a place near the shore (v. 3). The aquatic amphitheater would offer good acoustics and keep the crowd at a safe distance.
When He ended the sermon, Jesus instructed Simon to launch out into the deep and let down his nets for a catch (v. 4). Simon objected at first, stating that he and his fishing partners had toiled all night without catching a single fish, but obligingly he followed Jesus’ instructions (v. 5).
Good thing he did! Fish swarmed into the net, so much so that it strained almost to the point of snapping (v. 6). So Simon and Andrew signaled to James and John for help. Soon the men had filled both boats with so many fish the boats began to sink (v. 7).
The miracle caused Simon Peter to fall down at Jesus’ knees and confess his sinfulness. His sense of guilt prompted him to ask Jesus to depart from him (v. 8). Anyone conscious of his or her sinfulness feels uneasy in the presence of Deity. But Jesus came to Earth not to remain aloof from sinners but to draw them to Himself.
Jesus alleviated Simon’s fear and changed his vocation. From that point on, Simon would fish for souls (v. 10).
That day the four fishermen forsook everything and followed Jesus (v. 11).
Here are a few principles I fished from this event.
(1) Simon and Andrew and their partners were experienced, professional fishermen, whereas Jesus was a carpenter. Nevertheless, Jesus knew where the fish were. Even the training we receive in seminaries, seminars, and conferences does not guarantee spiritual results. We may toil to the point of exhaustion to attract men and women to Christ but do so in vain, and we may be as discouraged as the four Galilean fishermen were. We need to follow Jesus’ instructions. He knows where the “fish” are and how to catch them.
(2) Simon urged Jesus to depart from him, but Jesus wanted Simon to accompany Him as His disciple. The Lord enters into fellowship with sinful people and gives them the privilege of serving Him. We Christians are forgiven sinners, but we are still sinners. Do we understand and appreciate the privilege the Lord has given us to spend time with Him and to serve Him?
(3) The Lord doesn’t expect us to act as lone rangers in His service. He has provided help. James and John helped Simon and Andrew get the fish into the boats, and there are more than enough believers in our churches to seize the opportunities He gives us to draw men and women to Him. The task of winning the lost to Him is every believer’s task.
(4) The four fishermen walked away from a lucrative opportunity to follow Jesus. The incredibly large catch of fish would have led to enormous sales, but Simon, Andrew, James, and John left all that behind to pursue a path that would lead to eternal rewards. Daniel 12:3 promises that those who turn many to righteousness will shine like stars forever and ever.
The Lord may not call you into full-time vocational ministry, but He does want you to follow His leading full time wherever He has placed you. He can take the toil out of accounting, teaching, farming, selling, nursing, plumbing, or whatever you do, and give you joy and productivity in all your endeavors—if you follow Him.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Click on Amen
I corresponded with two of my writing students this morning. One lives in Chile; the other lives in England. After reviewing each student’s lesson and commenting on it, I attached it to my e-mail message, clicked on Send, and away it went. Almost instantly the attachments reached Chile and England.
Do we appreciate how quickly our prayers reach heaven? We don’t even need an Internet provider to convey our praise, requests, concerns, and intercessions to our heavenly Father. He promised, “Call to Me, and I will answer you” (Jer. 33:3). Maybe we should think of Amen as a Send option and contemplate what might happen if we prayed as often as we send e-mail messages?
I hope you have a prayerful day today.
Do we appreciate how quickly our prayers reach heaven? We don’t even need an Internet provider to convey our praise, requests, concerns, and intercessions to our heavenly Father. He promised, “Call to Me, and I will answer you” (Jer. 33:3). Maybe we should think of Amen as a Send option and contemplate what might happen if we prayed as often as we send e-mail messages?
I hope you have a prayerful day today.
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