Come On, Christians!

A local merchant used to purchase space in our newspaper to voice his concerns about what he perceived to be a decline in patriotism. He always ended each brief article with the appeal, “Come on, America, we can do better than that.”

Facebook has put me in touch with many friends. Some are young; some are about my age (not as young as we used to be). Some are Christians; some are not yet Christians. I enjoy getting updates from all my Facebook friends, but some updates by a few of my Christian friends concern me. Occasionally the language is crude or vitriolic and contains swear words. At the risk of offending those friends, let me point out what they already know: Christians should honor the Lord by their words as well as by their actions. We are called to a higher standard than our non-Christian contemporaries.

So, come on, Christians, we can do better!

Save the Date? Maybe Not.

An unemployed woman in Colorado Springs has paid $1,200 to purchase advertising space on bus benches. They advise: “Save the Date! Return of Christ May 21, 2011.” She believes Armageddon, which she perceives to be the end of the world, will arrive next year.

I have to wonder if she explains in a job interview that she can’t work past May 21, 2011.

Although the topic of Christ’s return intrigues me, I wouldn’t spend a dime to advertise the date of His return. It’s not because I’m Scottish; I simply don’t know when He will return. Nor does any one else, except God. Didn’t Jesus tell His disciples, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority”? (See Acts 1:7.)

I do know, however, that believers should hope for Christ’s return, and while they hope they should lead a credible Christian life (1 John 3:2-3).

Do I feel tempted to sit on a certain bus bench and block the date? What’s your guess?

How to Handle Negative Emails

Do your daily emails resemble mine: mostly negative? You know the kind—the economy is sinking; our freedoms are vanishing; our politicians are unscrupulous; our health care is scary; our national security is eroding; our medicines are dangerous; and our cars are unsafe. Although many of the emails are credible, few, if any, are inspirational. I am always glad, therefore, when an email slips into my Inbox that offers some humor or encouragement to brighten my day.

Yes, current conditions can darken our outlook as surely as black paint darkens a park bench. But Christians should be optimistic realists, realistic about the perilous times we live in but optimistic about the future God has carved out for us. Here are a few encouraging statements from Scripture that offset those negative emails we receive daily:

Isaiah 26:3—“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

Zechariah 14:9—“And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.”

John 14:27—“ . . . My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Romans 8:37—“ . . . we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

Philippians 4:19—“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 3:4—“When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

Revelation 22:7—“Behold, I am coming quickly!”

We don’t have to deny that national and international conditions are grim, but we do not have to dwell on them. If we look around us at what is negative, we can become depressed; but if we look above us to the God who is in control, we can be at rest.

Handshakes on Demand

A friendly smile and a firm handshake may determine the difference between a friendly church and a standoffish one, but as far as I’m concerned this kind of welcome is most meaningful when it occurs spontaneously before and after a service. By now, you have probably figured out that I am not much for a howdy handshake on demand. What good is it if a worship leader tells everyone to move about and shake hands with others “after we sing this chorus or hymn” (whatever a hymn is) if no one shakes hands before or after the service?

I’m sure some friendly churches are small for legitimate reasons, but others are small because they don’t really want to grow. They make visitors feel unwelcome and convey the notion that “this is our church, and we want to keep it that way.”

Congregations used to sing, “Brighten the corner where you are.” Think of your church as a corner that you can brighten by flashing a big smile and extending a sincere handshake to every visitor. Don’t wait for a handshake-by-demand time to be announced!

Splat!

Large hail pummeled our house and neighborhood Sunday night. Monday night was calm, but another horrific hailstorm struck us Tuesday night. Ping-pong size hail slammed against our house, tore through a window screen, and smashed our solar address box. Our insurance agent has offered to send someone to inspect the roof.

Hailstorms can rankle nerves as well as wreck property, so I can scarcely imagine how frenzied earth-dwellers will become when the seventh bowl judgment of the tribulation period occurs. It will hurl “great hail from heaven upon men” (Revelation 16:21). Each hailstone will weigh about 100 pounds. Ouch!

But even 100-pound hailstones will not break down the hardness of the human heart. Revelation 16:21 reports, “Men blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.”

I hope Colorado never sees another hailstorm, but I might as well hope for five-cents-a-gallon gas prices. As long as cool mountain air collides with the plains’ hot, dry air, an occasional hailstorm is inevitable. However, I won’t experience the devastating hailstorm Revelation 16:21 predicts. At that time, I will be in Heaven, where conditions are always favorable and my home is eternally indestructible (1 Peter 1:3-4).