Archive for October, 2008
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” — Corrie ten Boom
The thing that is so compelling about this statement is the one who made it. Corrie ten Boom lived several years in some of the most adverse circumstances any woman might find herself in. And yet, after all she suffered, she kept her faith in God. She didn’t doubt Him when she faced the ovens at Ravensburck; she didn’t doubt Him when her sister died while they were inmates in a concentration camp during WWII; she didn’t doubt Him when an infestation of fleas kept the guards out of her barracks, allowing her to continue Bible studies, and I’m sure she didn’t doubt Him on the day she went home to be with Jesus. Faith and dependence such as this causes one to stop and take a second look. And our turbulent times demand that we do.
I’m not the oldest person alive, but I’ve lived a significant number of years and never in my life have I known our country, yes, even the world, to be in the condition it is today. A lot of people say this sort of thing and I repeat it only to add emphasis. We are faced with a future that no one but the Almighty knows the answer to; only He knows what will be the import of what we do today. The future, by its very name, has always held a certain fear or trepidation, but today’s world seems to be unraveling from it’s very foundation. To say one is not concerned would be to refuse to face the truth. We are all a little uneasy.
However, not only do the words of Corrie ten Boom offer hope, but so does the eternal Word of God. My Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, has promised to provide for those who put Him first in their lives; those who live in obedience to His commands. And I think that is where the fear comes in. Most people today know they have not lived in that relationship with Jesus Christ; they are really not in a position to trust anything to Him, neither this present day or a future one.
That is a sad commentary on the greatest nation in the world, a people who have had the truth for hundreds of years and refused to walk in its light. The light has faded and darkness produces fear and fear causes one to lose hope, to fail to trust. And now, those who do not know Jesus as Savior faces an unknown future devoid of “a known God.”
Grams
The highway ran right down the middle of the pecan grove, straight as an arrow with only an occasional hill. If there were ever a road that invited drag racing, this was it. And the invitation was accepted just about every weekend. However, there was one hitch. It was a public roadway, other vehicles traveled that road, and it was frequently patrolled. But, those factors would never deter a bunch of south Georgia boys.
On this particular night, a sizable number of Tift County high school boys were at the pecan grove, or it seemed that way. Cars, but mostly trucks, were pulled onto the side of the road so their head lights could light up the “drag strip.” Now, every race needed someone to start the race, so that was Brian’s job. Good move on his part.
The cars were lined up, with motors racing, and Brian standing between them. When he dropped his arms, the race would officially begin. Suddenly, without warning, kids began running to their vehicles and tearing out of there. The two racers backed around and headed toward home. Brian had not heard the sirens, but by the time the sheriff’s car lights topped the hill he’d figured it out. But there was no place to run. There he stood in the spotlight.
Brian walked to his truck and waited for the sheriff. The sheriff asked the usual questions and then asked, “Son, you been racing?” “No, sir, I haven’t.” The sheriff gave him a knowing look and said, “Go on; get out of here and don’t let me catch you out here again.”
I learned of this several years later, long after he was too old and too big for me to discipline. Did he heed the sheriff’s advice? I really don’t know, but I doubt the sheriff’s visit completely stopped the weekend drag races. I bet they’re still going on.
Grams
“You do not have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” –C.S. Lewis
For those of you who know me, you’ve got to know that I’m thinking about that statement. So, I must follow the trails of my thoughts.
The person is thought to be made up of body, soul, and mind–three parts yet one whole. Or at least that’s what I’ve read or been told. Further reflection causes me to think that most of us do, indeed, consider the body as the house for the other components of the person. We think in terms of the body housing the soul, mind, spirit, and anything else you might want to designate. So, what is the difference Lewis has made here?
The main thrust of what he has said focuses on the physical as opposed to the spiritual. To say you are a body keeps attention on the physical or material aspect of life. To say that you are a soul places emphasis on the spiritual and that is the essence of human life. That is the part that will survive into eternity. That is the part that will enter the paradise of God. It is the part that makes eternal life possible. Lewis, in that one line, encompasses the total concept of humanity and eternity. So few words, yet they pack quite a punch.
I am a soul who has a body. This body will die; it will decompose, returning to its original substance. The soul, by contrast, will not die; it will live forever. In that light, does it not make more sense to give priority to that which never dies, to that which never ceases to be? In an age where most people seem to place so much emphasis on logic, a lot of them seem to miss the point. Maybe they should read more C.S. Lewis.
Grams
Most of us categorize people. First, they are either friends, acquaintances, or strangers. Even within those categories there are different levels of intimacy. Then people may be described by their vocation, their interests, their looks, finances, and the list could just go on and on. But one designation that fascinates me is the worriers or those who seem to worry.
Now I know that there are people who by nature worry about everything that comes into their lives, even to the point sometimes that if there is nothing happening to cause them to worry, then there’s got the be something wrong, somewhere. Other people look at these people, shake their heads, and mark them off as people who lack faith or who ignorantly do not know how to deal with life.
Now, I’m analytical by nature. Life’s experiences have taught me to think problems through, consider all the options I might have, choose the one that is the most logical, and follow through. But, always have an alternate plan in mind. Some people might consider that approach a lack of faith. But I do not.
You know why? I firmly believe God intended each of us to use all the talents and gifts He gave us. One of those gifts is a sound mind. So, I think; I contemplate, I make a decision, and I follow through. It is that process of thinking things through that others sometimes misconstrue as worrying.
Do I ever consult God’s Word or allow the Holy Spirit to guide? Well, of course. That’s part of using your brain; that’s part of the thinking process, of making a decision. And it is in that overall process, that reliance on God’s Word, His Holy Spirit, and the gifts and talents He has given me that faith takes root and accomplishes what is needed.
The hardest part in all of this is just to wait. Sometimes the answer does not come, or it doesn’t come immediately. Then that’s when you move beyond thinking to trusting God’s Word and bombarding His throne with prayer and supplication until the answer comes. You see, worriers never get to this place. Now, they do have something to worry about.
Grams
“Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you” (Psalm 81:13-16).
Those verses were part of my devotion this morning. All through the day, I’ve returned to these verses. I want to see all God has for me before moving on to other Scriptures.
When people refer to confession and repentance for God’s people and a way back to Him, they usually go to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Here we have basically the same thing stated again.
God tells us that if we will listen then He will subdue our enemies and turn our foes away from us. Even those who hate God will cringe before Him and will receive no reprieve, not ever. What a simple request–just listen. What is so hard about that? Simply listen to what God says.
You see, the problem goes beyond the act of listening; one is to act upon what he or she has heard. Now, that’s the hard part. You know why? That means you will have to change; change what you think, what you do, where you go, who you hang around with, and how you treat other people, especially Jesus, God’s Son. And we just don’t want to do that, now do we? I mean, change.
Change is hard; it requires effort. It calls for a person to look beyond himself and consider how his life impacts the lives of others, either good or bad. And we just like our lives the way they are. We’ve carved out this little niche for ourselves, gotten things like we want them, and we certainly don’t want someone messing things up.
But consider what God has promised us just for listening. He will feed us with the best of the best and completely satisfy us. Do you have the very best there is right now? Are you completely satisfied with your life as it is this very moment? Then maybe you should consider a change. Maybe you should start listening. Things can only get better.
Grams
When I first started working for Randall House, other than trying to get a production schedule in place that would work more efficiently, nothing much changed. We were just trying to maintain the status quo. Now, that was twelve years ago, or close to that. I look back on those days and then take stock of where we are today, and I shake my head almost in unbelief.
What was once a couple of in-house editors, a typesetter, and one graphic designer has grown to include an editorial director, a managing editor, 2 senior editors, 3 associate editors, 1 editorial assistant, and 1 editorial intern. Then across the hall, the graphic design department sports a design manager, 3 designers, 1 typesetter, and a design intern. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention our book acquisitions editor who heads up our book division. Obviously, the number of products has increased as well.
In the world of publishing, the staff I just referred to is quite small. Even with all the increase we have had, we have room to substantially increase product and thereby personnel. When someone says, the sky’s the limit, I sometimes wonder if that person really understands what he has alluded to. But that sentiment definitely holds true for Randall House today. With all that has been, considering where we began and where we’re going, those of us who are looking from the inside out know that today we can say, “The sky’s the limit.”
In the spring quarter of 2009 Fusion will replace CLEAR Living as the new adult devotional magazine. After many hours of researching, talking, thinking, and praying for God’s guidance, we believe this product will more closely meet the needs of today’s adults facing life in our anti-Christian culture. The aim is once again to help families connect together around the Word of God. Fusion is a positive step in that direction.
More new products and product lines are coming in 2009. The fall quarter will see the first issue of The Brink, a young adult curriculum line designed to target young adults age 18-30. The content remains biblical, but the approach to application will cause those in this age group to look at how that biblical content impacts where they live. It will be different, but it will also be a mighty tool to reach one of the most neglected groups of adults in our culture. We are all very excited. What else is coming remains to be seen, but I’d keep my eyes open and my ears peeled if I were you.
This incredible journey I’ve been on for the past 12 years has really been a joy in my life. Has it all been easy? Well, no! But, things that come easy usually do not last nor do they have the eternal impact struggles do. It has been, and is, a trip worth taking.
Grams
Someone has said that life is just a series of choices. That may not be an exact quote, but the meaning is there. And of course most people would agree with the basic implications of that statement. However, there is more to making a choice than just deciding what you will or will not do. All choices have consequences or results and when a person makes a decision, he or she is then faced with living out those consequences, whether good or bad. Choices determine how your life will be lived; they set the stage for the rest of your life.
When God told Adam and Eve they could eat of any tree in the garden but one, they were faced with a choice. And, of course, their decision to eat of the tree, to disobey almighty God, forced man from then on to deal with the consequences of the choice they made. Man would forever have to make the same choice: would he obey God or follow the dictates of his own sinful heart.
The people in Noah’s day had to make the same choice. So did the Children of Israel when Moses walked into their midst, proclaiming deliverance. All they had to do was choose to leave all they had ever known, however mean and cruel it was, and follow a man who promised a better land. Years later, Moses’ replacement, Joshua, stood before the congregation of Israel and declared that he and his house would serve the Lord. He urged the rest of them to choose, that very day, whom they would serve. Jesus continued the message of choice. He offered Himself as payment for the sins of the world and a way back to God. All man had to do was choose, and Jesus was very clear that man’s choice not only determined the security of his life now, but that choice also established his final destination.
Sometimes consequences of choices can be harsh, often causing opportunities for good to be beyond your reach. So many times people look back at where they have been and wished with all their heart that some choices had been different, but there was nothing that could be done about that decision now. The only thing open to them was to live through the results of the decisions made years ago. If sin is involved, then God stands ready to forgive, but consequences remain. And just like the results of Adam and Eve’s choice affected humanity forever, so individual choices will either bless or curse future generations.
Can you guarantee the choices you make will bless your life and the lives of those you love? I doubt people get it right 100% of the time, but I do know that when we seek counsel from God’s Word and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and direct, then our chances of doing right, of reaping the blessing, goes up astronomically. Since Jehovah God is God and we say we believe He is all-powerful and all-knowing, then why wouldn’t we ask Him what we should do or how we should be? Is it so important to stubbornly follow the whims of a sinful heart? Does it not make more sense to follow the one who put it all together in the first place? I think so.
“The choices you make today predetermine the choices you will have tomorrow.” –Marita Littauer
Grams