Old Dog

My dog is growing old. She turned 15 this year, which, if one dog year equals seven human years, makes her 105 years old. She is fairly spry for having past the century mark. Last night, she was chasing bunnies. She moves slowly enough that she can't catch them, but she does give them a good run. I think the rabbits have figured this out – they were sitting by her house when the athletic events started. Besides her hair being a little thinner, her main problem is that she appears to be going deaf. Instead of calling for her at night, I have to shine a flashlight in the yard so she can see me. Otherwise, she will simply wait for the next rabbit to stroll by.

At fifteen, she has been a part of our family for a significant time. My girls and my dog have literally grown up together. My vet has prepared us for the inevitable; from what he has said, her particular breed lives for an average of 13 years. She is two years above average, and counting. We know that one day, she won't be chasing the bunnies anymore. That's the nature of this life. It ends.

It reminds me of my own mortality as well. One day, I won't be chasing bunnies, either. But that is what makes the reality of Jesus' resurrection so significant. He has solved what we could not. He has won the victory over death. When we know Christ as Savior, through his death and resurrection we have forgiveness and life everlasting. That's what we celebrate at Easter!

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NIV)
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Snowing on Spring Break

I remember when I was young and had better knees going snow skiing for spring break. I would gather my youth group, my wife, and any willing participants from our church and we would head to Purgatory (always an interesting location for a Baptist church group to visit). I probably fell more than I skied, but it was always great fun and a wonderful time to build relationships and enjoy the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Time went by, muscles grew older, and I haven't been skiing in awhile. I still enjoy spring break, if for no other reason than the word spring. For some reason, cold weather just doesn't appeal to me so much anymore, and anything with the word “spring” indicates there will be warmer weather.

So today, the first day of my daughter's spring break – it snowed. At least it doesn't appear to be accumulating – I draw the line at shoveling my driveway on any day named “spring,” even if it is just a date on the school calendar.

Still, the snow reminds me of the unpredictability of this world. We may have snow one day and drought the next. The instability around me only serves to contrast with the stability of Christ. He is “the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). His love and grace will be greater still long after this world has ceased to be. That's worth celebrating – snow or not!

Valentine's Day

According to Pottsmerc.com, on February 14, 36 million heart shaped boxes of chocolate will be exchanged, 198 million roses will be given (smart choice, guys), and 160 million valentine cards will be signed, sealed and delivered (not counting the boxed set cards children exchange at school valentine parties), making this the second largest greeting card holiday (next to Christmas). I bought my wife a chocolate-colored greeting card with a photo of a rose, so I guess I added to all three categories.

The day is an important time to tell the ones you love what they mean to your life, but we don't have to do that only one day a year. God certainly doesn't. His love for us is expressed 24/7 year round. Five hundred and five verses in the scripture speak of love. God's love is amazing.

1 John 3:1 (NIV)
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Our response to Him isn't too hard to figure out.

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

And no wonder -

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

New

I found some shoes in my closet last week. I had purchased a new pair, so it was time to get rid of the old ones. These were old ones, twice removed. I guess they had been shoved to the back of the closet and missed in the previous shoe shuffle.

My shoes tend to wear out on the inside, making the heel of the shoe about half as tall on one side as the other. These had the typical wear pattern, but worse. I guess I had tried to stretch their life a little longer than usual. I placed them, along with the old pair I was replacing, in our family's donation stack, but I almost felt embarrassed. If someone uses those shoes, they are going to end up walking like a pigeon-toed duck (is it a grammatical foul to mix a fowl metaphor?).

It made me thankful for the new life we have in Christ. When we know the Savior, we are always new, having received a life that will never end. Cool! I won't end up like those shoes!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Hark!

I love Christmas carols. One of my favorites, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", has an intriguing history. The song was written by Charles Wesley and published by George Whitefield, two men who disagreed at several points but agreed at the most important - that every person should hear the message of the Savior.

The song is sung to a tune originally composed to celebrate the work of Gutenberg, the inventor of movable type. He is probably best known for his publication of the scripture, often called Gutenberg's Bible. This publication allowed many to own a copy of the scripture who could not have afforded it in the days before Gutenberg's work.

Isn't it interesting that this song, written and published by two men who dedicated their lives to sharing God's word, sung to a tune about a man who's invention allowed millions to read God's word, is now sung the world over to remind us of the night when the angels announced that the Word of God had come into the world.

And I have told you this on the internet, an invention that allows anyone with a computer to share their testimony to the power of God's word with people around the globe. Amazing! Truly we have reason to celebrate this Christmas.

Thanksgiving Season

I heard a story about a nine-year-old boy who was asked to give the prayer for his family’s Thanksgiving meal. As everyone bowed their heads, the young boy began to pray, “Thank you, God, for Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Uncle Fred, Aunt Judy...” continuing until he had named everyone at the table. Then he began to give thanks for the food, “Thank you for the turkey, for the dressing, for the potatoes, for the pickle relish, for the ice tea....” For a moment the boy paused. Everyone squirmed wondering if he had forgotten to end his prayer. After an awkward moment of silence, the boy concluded, “And thank you for whatever is under that foil. Amen.”

We often thank God for what we can see, but we need to thank him for the unseen blessings as well. God is at work in our lives, even when we are unaware of it. Remember to thank God this week for whatever is under that foil.

Romans 11:33 (NIV)
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

Make an Impact on Sunday, Sept. 26

We have our third Servant Sunday, September 26. We plan to take an army of folks to Watkins Elementary, our partner school, to paint and spruce up the grounds for the new school year. On Monday morning, September 27, Watkins students will walk in the door of their school and see a new, welcoming environment. They will wonder, “What happened here? Who did this for me and my friends?” Some of them have never experienced Christ’s love in their lives. They have been told again and again that no one cares about them. Monday, September 27, they will know differently. They will know the people of National Heights Baptist Church cared enough about them to make their school a better place to learn. More important, they will know that, even in the midst of the challenges they face in their homes and neighborhoods, God has not forgotten them. He loves them and cares for them. Your tangible expression of God’s love may very well be the starting point in directing children and families to the love of Christ. Join us Sunday, September 26 at Watkins to visibly express Christ to our community.