How to Work (1 July 07)

I work a lot of kids from time to time. Some kids aren't used to working and need supervision. Sometimes I give a job to do and when I get back the bare minimum has been done. Usually that has to do with how well the parents have trained them. I worked a kid last week whose family owns a ranch. He is used to building fence and really a lot of labor intensive work. Zach was working at the clinic last week and we needed a tool so I sent him to my house to get it. When he got back I noticed there were about six tools in the back of my truck. Later we needed to air up a tire on a wheelbarrow so I sent him back for my portable air compressor. When I checked on him later I didn't see my air compressor... I saw my other wheelbarrow. The best kind of workers are those who don't need supervision and those who look ahead and try to anticipate what we might need next. I like workers who do not just follow orders but who also try to understand the job and make meaningful suggestions. The Lord's work is a lot like that. The Lord gives us work to do and really not much supervision... we'll give account of ourselves at the end of the job. To those who work hard he will bless with more ability and responsibility... make them better, more efficient workers. As a loving Father he realizes we may make mistakes in our labors, and I think overlook those mistakes. The one mistake he won't overlook is... not trying. Read the parable of the talents in Mt. 25. What kind of worker are you? Doc Mayfield told me that his dad was a plumber and when he was a kid his dad told him to dig a trench that had a quarter inch drop every foot. I think Doc was 10 or 11 at the time. When Doc's dad got back and saw Doc just sitting around and the job not done... he didn't say one word... he just got his belt out and whipped the tar out of him. When he came back the next time the job was done. Doc says he loved that old man.

Tax Time

In Mt. 17:24-27, the tax collectors asked Peter if Jesus was going to pay the Temple Tax. Peter replied “yes he will”. Before Peter could ask Jesus about this Jesus posed a question to Peter, “Do the Kings of the earth collect taxes from their own sons or from their subjects”. Peter correctly replied, “From their subjects, not their own sons.” Jesus then informed Peter that he was exempt, the implication being that Jesus was the Son of God who created Kings and kingdoms. Peter answered the tax collectors incorrectly. He should have said, “My master does not pay the tax… he is the son of God”. Jesus should have been collecting the tax not paying it.

Choices

King Hezekiah of Judah was one of the greatest kings of Judah. He worked tirelessly to reform Judah and turn Judah back to God. Judah had neglected to celebrate the Passover feast under the reign of Hezekiah’s father King Ahaz. King Hezekiah worked to reinstitute the proper celebration of the Passover. He purified the temple of all the uncleanness his father had permitted, he purified the temple utensils and he purified the Levites and the Priests. But because it took time to do all these things the time to celebrate the Passover feast (first month) had come and gone. So Hezekiah decided to celebrate the Passover during the second month. One might think that because Hezekiah did not follow scriptural authority that God might have been angered and perhaps rained fire and brimstone upon Hezekiah, but such was not the case because 2 Chronicles 31:20-21 states, “…Hezekiah did what was good, right and faithful before the Lord his God, and every work which he began in the service of the house of God in law and in commandment, seeking his God, he did with all his heart and he prospered.” I’m sure if everything had been prepared on time that Hezekiah would have celebrated Passover at the right time but Hezekiah was afraid of insulting God by observing the Passover improperly. So Hezekiah had a dilemma; celebrate improperly but at the right time or celebrate properly but at the wrong time. Sometimes we are faced with dilemmas in God’s teachings. Whatever we choose to do we must be like Hezekiah we must do it with all of our hearts trying to please God. I’ve got a feeling that God would have been OK with either choice because Hezekiah’s heart was right.

Howdies or Hugs

I was thinking about Jesus’ relationship with his twelve disciples and especially Judas. Jesus knew that Judas was the “son of perdition”, that he was a thief and that he would be an accomplice in the murder of Jesus. And yet there is no evidence that Jesus treated Judas any differently than the rest of the disciples. It’s ironic that Judas was the “son of perdition” and yet Jesus called Peter, the man who would open the door to the Kingdom, “Satan”. In congregations of God’s children we certainly have our “favorite” people and our “less favorite” people and treat them accordingly. We talk and visit and go out to eat with our favorite people…our less favorite people? They may be lucky to get a handshake and a Howdy… certainly not a hug. John 17 teaches that the world would believe in Jesus through the “oneness” demonstrated by God’s people for each other in the type of love that sacrifices for the benefit of others. If we have a hard time getting along with each other then maybe God didn’t send Jesus after all. Judas wasn’t Jesus’ favorite person but he didn’t treat him any different than the rest of the disciples and we shouldn’t either.

Big Brother

Doc signed up for the Big Brother Program today.

Pets and People

One of the things I see in my business is a very close emotional attachment for a pet. That’s hard for some people to understand. However, when it comes time to put a beloved pet to “sleep” people frequently break down in tears and say that the emotions are so tough that they will never get another pet… they just can stand to be hurt that way again.

I think I see something similar in people. They reach an age where they have lost their parents, their spouses, perhaps a child or two and they just shut it down. The emotional investment is too tough, they seclude themselves and they are just waiting to check out of this world and inherit eternal life.

In the dog and cat world I always try to remind people about the joy they had with their pets when they were puppies and kittens and all the things that made that relationship so precious. And how that relationship kept them from being… alone.

In the Christian world we have a responsibility to live unselfish lives and to have an impact in the lives of others. An older person has a wealth of information gained from life’s experiences that they can share with a younger person. It is our Christian responsibility to share that knowledge and the relationship gained from that sharing… is precious.

I see a lot of funerals for older people and the only ones in attendance are older people. I want to see some funerals for old people that are attended by a bunch of weeping and sobbing young people.

Pets are God’s creation and his gift to us. Get a pet but don’t let that pet be a substitute for the affections that we should be sharing with others.

Service Opportunities - CASA

Howdy. I’m going to be sending out some opportunities to serve the community and make an impact in the lives of those who really need it. Be sure to watch the video link below. It’s about helping abused kids. It’s kind of like James 1:27 “to look after orphans and widows in their distress”. We could probably give a waiver on Wednesday night Bible study if you’re involved in this Cut and paste this… http://coastalbendcasa.wordpress.com/become-a-casa/