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Running is a good teacher.  As you journey down a country road, through a park, down a trail, or on the streets of town, you see many things that call out a spiritual application for daily life.  Tuesday morning was no different.

Normally I run alone because my wife power walks.  The motivation to keep up a good pace can go lagging at times because my body is begging me to go home while my mind tells me to keep going.  I log my mileage and times via MapMyRun.  For the past few weeks, my split pace times have been 11:20 to 12:23 min/mi.  Now let me say that I run for distance not for time.  But nevertheless, Tuesday morning my son-in-law ran with me.  What was my split-time?  10:38!  Are you kidding me?  Why?  Because I had someone running with me to keep me motivated and encouraged.  As a matter of fact, I did the same for him.

Life is like running a race.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it (1 Corinthians 9:24).

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).

In running this race, there is great counsel found in Ecclesiastes 4:9, Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.  Think of all the “one another’s” found in Scripture. God did not intend for us go at it alone.  As believers, we need one another.

• Greet one another (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 2 Cor. 13:12, 1 Pet. 5:14)
• Comfort one another (1 Thess. 4:18)
• Forgive one another (Col. 3:13)
• Build one another up (Rom. 15:2; 1 Thess. 5:11)
• Serve one another (Gal. 5:13)
• Bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)
• Encourage one another (Heb. 10:25)
• Meet with one another (Heb. 10:25)
• Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward one another (Eph. 4:32, Rom. 12:10)
• Receive (welcome) one another as Christ received us (Rom. 15:7)
• Care for one another (1 Cor. 12:25)
• Minister one to another (1 Pet. 4:10)
• Show hospitality to one another (1 Pet. 4:9)
• Pray for one another (James 5:16)

Revive Our Hearts One Anothers In Scripture

As both of us ran Tuesday morning, we talked a bit, laughed some, panted together, kept up the pace, and did not criticize each other.  We are even signed up to run together in a 5K this Friday evening.  In this race, we will need each other just you need others in your race of life. Indeed, two are better than one . . . God said so, and you’ll appreciate the encouragement!

Last Wednesday I wrote about a scene that created a moment of sadness in my heart, Moving Toward Empty.  How ironic that two weeks to the day of taking the picture that accompanied that blog post, I get to take an exact opposite photo!  Everything about this picture makes my heart happy; it encourages me so much!  Here they are, talking, laughing, engaging, dressed up and . . . she is showing him how to use her smartphone!!  Yes, folks, her smartphone!!  They were just too cute!!

My wife and I have talked much about this over the years that we want to grow old gracefully.  As we age, we either grow better or bitter. So many marriages become hum-drum, taken for granted, and no fun.  I heard someone say recently that the older you get, the more you must train your mind to tell your body what it needs to do.  Since we are today what we have been becoming because of what we have fed our minds (Proverbs 23:7), let’s consider the following truths that will help us grow old gracefully.  Let’s meditate on the following passages so as we grow older with all our aches, pains, disappointments, sorrows, doctor visits, and medical bills, we will be joy-filled, Word-minded, God-loving believers that others will want to be around!

Continue to grow in your personal relationship with Christ

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age, they shall be fresh and flourishing.  To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (Psalm 92:12-15)

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Have the goal of finishing strong with an eye on Heaven

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.  (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

Everyday rejoice, pray and be gratefui!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Don’t be a Mr. Scrooge, a Negative Nellie, or a “Kill=joy”

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. (Psalm 92:4)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:30-32)

Be involved in ministry as long as you can

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.  (Titus 2:1-8)

Laugh a lot!!

A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.  (Proverbs 17:22)

Hang out with folks younger than you

Note the older & younger connection in Titus 2.  My dad often repeated, “I love to be around younger people because they kept me younger.”  For most of my high school years, students from Bob Jones University would come to minister in our church on weekends.  Dad looked so forward to them coming!

Yesterday, we celebrated Memorial Day with a dear couple that are a hoot to be around. He is 82, and his lovely wife is 79 years old.  They have never had children of their own, are still traveling the roads in evangelism, and enjoy life to the hilt.  How fun as 58 year olds to be with them and with our daughter and son-in-law who are in their mid-20’s. There was a bunch of laughter as you can see in these pictures.  They are another example of what this blog post is all about!

Oh, and one more . . . go ahead and learn how to use a smartphone!  Your grandkids will think you are real cool!!

My dad is my hero.  He faithfully served the Lord as a husband, father and pastor as well as his country as a soldier in the Army.  He instilled within me a love for this great land.  He taught me what it was to be patriotic.  He showed me how to show respect for our flag and for freedom!  Today, I offer this YouTube video and say, “Thank you, soldiers, for giving of your lives that we may be free in our land.  You are the real heroes!”

Memorial Day Tribute , “Hymn to the Fallen” by John Williams.

 

This picture saddens my heart.  My wife and I had the joy of going out for breakfast before attending church while on vacation.  That is a special treat because we love the breakfasts at the Golden Griddle Restaurant in North Myrtle Beach, and we do not have time to go out in our regular ministry routine on Sunday mornings here at home.

So what made my heart sad?  Well, it was the older married couple that occupied those seats before I took the snapshot. They were dressed for church, had a bountiful breakfast, but . . . they never said a word to each other during their whole meal.  She ate her meal in silence, and he ate his meal in silence.  The stillness was broken when the server brought their check.  The wife looked at her husband as she grabbed the ticket and said, “Ready?”  He nodded, and they slid out of their seats as she proceeded to the counter to pay.  Now, let me make a disclaimer that I obviously do not know what was going in their lives which may have led to their silence.  But, what makes me sad is how many couples, especially those who appear to be have been married awhile I see in restaurants sharing a meal but not sharing their lives in conversation.

Have they just gotten used to each other?  Are they taking each other for granted?  Perhaps, could they be bitter against one another?  And, how about you?  Do you and your spouse really carrying on intimate conversations at the restaurant, at home, in the car, etc.?  I realize this is a challenge if you have children around, but my thoughts in this blog are directed toward couples who have been married a long time, the kids perhaps are gone and your marriage is moving toward empty like the conversation at the restaurant.

May I suggest some tips to help your marriage be full and not moving toward empty?

1. Determine by God’s grace to work at your marriage every day.

• Let marriage be held in honor among all (Hebrews 13:4)

2. Make even the most mundane tasks an event of romance, fun, and togetherness!

• Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth (Proverbs 5:18)
• Stop for ice cream along the way to the grocery store and share a cone. Swap kisses in between licks while you are sitting in your car, under a shade tree, and enjoying each other’s company.
• Hold hands in the car, play some old dating music, and finger dance while buzzing down the road!
• Make your meals at home a time of conversation by asking questions, sharing burdens, and having fun. By the way men, seat your wife at the table and kiss her before you sit down.
• Don’t always eat inside; go outside on the patio or have a picnic on the blanket in the backyard.

3. Use the YouVersion Bible app or a Kindle book, and read a marriage devotional plus the Bible reading to each other. Then have prayer together. 

• Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:25-26).

4. Set the goal of growing old gracefully together and not grumpily or crabbily. May Ephesians 4:29-32 be fleshed-out in your marriage. 

• Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

As Dennis Swanberg asks, “Is your love tank full or running on empty?”  Do not be the married couple in the restaurant booth.  Enjoy the gift of marriage. Grace is able to empower and overcome the deepest of sins and sorrows.  Make more deposits in your marriage today than withdrawals. You won’t be moving toward empty.

There he sat.  Just where he’s been for 60 years.  Right in the middle of ministry at Boones Creek Bible Church.  At the age of 90, Rod’s health has really gone downhill in the past year or so, but his heart for the Lord and ministry has not waned a bit.
We are currently involved in a major remodeling project at our church.  The work began in earnest Sunday night, May 15, when all the restrooms were completely gutted including the flooring. During this past week, willing workers have come to help in this much-needed renovation.  Saturday was an official “work day” at church.  As I came upstairs from the gym into the church foyer, there, shuffling through the front door, was Rod.  He couldn’t stand it any longer to stay home and wonder about what was happening at his beloved church.  Since he can’t drive, he had his son to bring him.
Rod is a part of a dying breed of believers from past generations that viewed serving God in a totally different way.  I’ve been here as pastor for over fifteen years and this is some of what I’ve seen:
*  He is always in the foyer looking for visitors, even to this day.  In past days, they were looking for young college age singles or married couples to take home and serve them a country Sunday dinner.  Rod and Hope’s home was a place of hospitality, homemade bread, and fried chicken!
*  No matter the event, they are there.  I still have pictured in mind the Sunday night we stuffed 15,000 Bible story CDs to be shipped to Brazil.  Since age has caused Rod and Hope’s fingers to not be so nimble, this was an impossible task.  Did they just stay home?  No.  They sat in chairs parked in the middle of the gym and reveled in the joy seeing the gospel being prepared for needy hearts.  They sat positioned as our cheerleaders.  Again, in recent months, their attendance has dropped off a bit due to their health.
*  How often I have seen a tear run down his cheek; a tear of joy when a soul was saved or when folks joined the church or when He saw God do some other amazing work.
*  Rod doesn’t say much, but that twinkle in his eyes says tons!
*  One morning, the donuts came up short for our fellowship time between Sunday School and the morning church service.  For the next several Sundays, he made sure the supply was sufficient by his own contribution of Krispy Kreme’s.
*  How often he has given candy to the kids, and not just any candy, but Russell Stover candy.

Sunday morning he arrived early for church.  Once again, he shuffled into the partially completed foyer restrooms, looked around, and said, “Looks good!”  Even at 90, Rod cares about the work of God, and he wants to be right in the middle of it as best as possible.  How I wish “his tribe” would increase; a people right in the middle of serving God and making much of Christ!
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD (Psalm 122:1).

With Mother’s Day on my mind, I spent some time reading my journal as I recounted the last days of my Mom’s earthly sojourn.

She loved to talk about Heaven as she spent her final six weeks in our home.  My wife, Denise, would read Randy Alcorn’s book, Heaven, to her, and we would sing about our Homeland.  On January 8, 2013, she said, “I am going to Heaven with utter peace in my soul because He has gone to prepare a place for me (John 14:1-6). I’m glad we can talk about Heaven because that encourages me; that we do not skirt around the issue of death/dying.”

On my birthday, January 22, I wrote the following.

Last night was so special.  Denise and I sang many songs of peace and about heaven. At one point, I just took the hymnbook and turned to all the songs under the heading of ‘Heaven,’ and we sang for a good while. I read from Rand Hummel’s book, Fear Not. At one point, Mom said, “Why do I feel this way?”  Denise asked, “How are you feeling, Mom?” She said, “I can’t breathe, but I am not afraid.”  Then Denise reminded her  she was experiencing that peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-8).  This is God’s peace at death!

Wednesday, January 23, at 6:00 p.m., Mom saw with celestial eyes her Homeland, Heaven, the land she had talked and read about, the land she had anticipated and played about on the piano since she was six years old.

So, on this Mother’s Day weekend, my Mom and Dad are Home.  For me, while I wait to see my Jesus, my family, my loved ones, and my friends, I’m glad to say as we do in East Tennessee, “I’ll see you at the House!”

What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace . . . .

 

Who needs comedians when you have people?  We are just funny.  Since none of us are perfect, and won’t be unless we are born again (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-13) and have the promise of our glorified, Christlike body (1 John 3:2), we are going mess up here-and-there.  We are going to do something that evokes laughter from others. No matter how hard you try to get it right all the time, it just ain’t gonna happen!!  And if you are a pastor, you know that your congregation is waiting and watching for your every gaff!

Well, this past Sunday, I did it.  Spell check did not save me, and my eye-sight and brain let me down.  Since I use PowerPoint for all my sermons, spelling is crucial.  Preaching from Revelation 7, I was using the word, “remnant.”  Well, instead, and for the whole sermon, I had it spelled “rement.”  When did I see the word was incorrect?  As soon as it came up on the screen for the first time.  How many times had I seen it on my PowerPoint while going over my message?  Many times, and I did not comprehend that it was wrong.  So, for the rest of the sermon, there it was, “rement.” So, I make some comments about it, let people laugh, and continued on.

By the way, according to Wikipedia, rement is “a company located in Chiyoda Tokyo, and is a Japanese manufacturer of collectible plastic toys. The company’s name is derived from a combination of the phrase ‘reform the entertainment’, alluding to their desire for innovation in the toy market. Established in 1998, Re-Ment currently sells a line of highly detailed miniature food, furniture and animal figures as well as mobile phone charms, doll fashions and magnets. Re-Ment miniatures have been featured in two television advertisements by the Kellogg Company for their Pop-Tarts pastry product.”  That’s a far cry from the word “remnant”!

Point being, our mistakes are a reminder of three things:

1. No matter how hard we try to “hit all of our marks”, get ready. You will mess up sometime.
2. Learn to laugh at yourself. Proud people are offended when others laugh at their blunders, and make excuses for their mistakes.  Have you ever tripped over a curb?  What did you do?  Immediately you look to see what you caused you to stumble, and then to see who saw it.  Incidentally, the curb didn’t cause you to stumble.  Your temporal, fallible body caused it.  So, go ahead and laugh about it . . . unless you stumbled and injured yourself.  In that case, you might laugh later.
3. Only the Lord Jesus Christ is perfect, and God is sovereign. Therefore, my security for all of life is in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14), and my Heavenly Father can take my blunders and turn them into good and for His glory (Romans 8:28-29; 1 Corinthians 10:31).

So, today, enjoy the journey dependent upon God and secure in His Son, and when you blunder, go ahead and laugh.  It will do you good and be good medicine for those around you.

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine (makes medicine even better), but a broken spirit dries the bones.