Rarely does a week go by that someone does not call the Church or stop by asking for financial assistance. Every time it happens I am filled with a mixed bag of emotions. I want to help people. I also do not want people to take advantage of Christian’s good nature. We are called to be both innocent and wise.

What I mean is, “Will this gift of financial help be used wisely or be wasted on some less that Godly endevour?” That is the tension I constantly feel.

Several years ago I was struggling with this issue and it led me into a conversation with an associate minister of mine. I told him my concerns and then he echoes my feelings. Finally he said something that I will never forget. He said, “We are responsible to God to give of our resources and they will be held accountable for what they did with it.”

This one line has helped me to be a more giving person. I try (emphasize try) to be a giving person not based on my thoughts about the person receiving. My giving is connected solely to my faith in God. The person receiving also has responsibility, but that is between them and God.

While metal detecting over the last several weeks here in Western Missouri the ground has been full of Periodical Cicadas. They are also called the 17 year Cicada because they only emerge every 17 years. They look different that the annual Cicada and have a black body with orange markings and red eyes. For just a few weeks every 17 years these little creatures crawl out of the ground and sing their mating songs. Scientists tell us, “As temperatures warm in late April, immature cicadas (nymphs) open up 1/2-inch-wide holes in the soil surface. They may build 3- to 5-inch-tall mud chimneys or towers above their holes. In early May, the cicada nymphs, brown and wingless, emerge from the soil, climb up on tree trunks or other objects, and shed their exoskeletons, leaving the shell-like ‘skins’ behind. Adult males will begin their noisy singing a few days after shedding their exoskeleton and expanding their new wings. After mating, females cut slits in pencil-sized tree twigs and deposit their eggs there. Finally, eggs hatch in six to 10 weeks, and the tiny cicada offspring return to the safety of underground burrows, where they feed on roots until they mature and stage the next mass emergence.”

There are a number of broods of 17 (and 13 year) Cicadas in the United States. Thus, they appear more than every 17 years as different broods are appearing at varying intervals. According to the start of Missouri website the next brood will appear here in 2024. I know, you can hardly wait.

These little creatures have me thinking several thoughts about the wonder and intricacies of God’s creation. They have me perplexed that it happens every 17 years (Why not 5 or 10 or 15?). They amaze me at their mass number. But most of all they have me thinking about consistency. In the ground they move very little. They suck on tree sap and get bigger and bigger until the day comes that they finally emerge. 17 years of slow and steady growth until they mate and reproduce. Two adults after mating produce up to 500 eggs in 40 to 50 spots over a tiny little lifespan.

For me, it’s all a metaphor of the Christian life. Following Jesus is about slow and steady growth over a long period of time. That growth is not an end unto itself. Our growth is to one day result in the reproduction of dozens of other people into faith. What would the Church be like if every Christian produced at least one new believer every seventeen years? What if it only took 13 years? What if it happened annually? God’s kingdom is a lot like a 17 year Cicada – It is a long-term commitment that should lead to periodic seasons of growth.

I believe the number one guide in my life is God’s will. I also believe that God revealed his ultimate will in His word, the scripture. I firmly believe that the Bible reveals all we need for faith and its practice in everyday life.

With that said, there are a few thoughts or quotes that are not found in the Bible that inspire me. One of the greatest statements outside of scripture is from the words of Helen Keller.

“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” – Helen Keller

I first heard this statement many years ago and it lodged itself in my brain. I am not sure why it so ingrained in my thinking. Maybe it comes from my background or maybe it is because of the background of the woman who said it. Whatever the reason, it goes through my mind about everyday.

When I think about sitting on my couch and watching TV all evening or driving several miles to go on a fishing trip, it crosses my mind. When I think about what I want to do on my day off, it crosses my mind. When I think about taking on a daring new ministry, it crosses my mind. When I think about my life in general, it crosses my mind.

This simple concept has led me on mission trips, cross-country moves and to evenings of great fun. In fact, it is such a part of my thinking that I ask my kids if they “are ready for an adventure” when I am making plans for the family.

Each day we have the choice to sit around and just quietly accept the moment or we have the opportunity to do something new and exciting. Adventure or nothing? The choice is yours.

As believers we are encouraged to pray regularly. All of us know that. Not everyone does it. Almost everyone tries to do it, but unfortunately many quit. People usually quit for one of hand full of reasons. Most of them have an easy solution that you may not have tried yet. So hopefully these will help.

1. Have a regular time to pray. Finding time to pray is the biggest obstacle. For me, the solution was to pray at the same time everyday. It has become a part of my routine. When I first hit the office I stop and pray. It might be the first thing you do everyday or the last thing. Make a routine change and add time for prayer. In 21-28 days it will be a habit.

2. Pray when the idea hits you. I encourage people who are on an email prayer list to pray the moment the request hits their screen. Nothing says you have to pray for a long time and it might be more helpful to pray many times. If you wait for the end of the day until you have a big list it might be harder to stick with your prayer time. I once read of a group who committed to praying when they heard their clock sound off every hour.

3. Develop a prayer plan. There are a thousand ways to approach prayer. I try to use the ACTS method. That is Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication (requests). I know other people who have prayed starting with themselves and moving outward to family and then to their Church and then further outward. Some people have different prayers for each day of the week – Monday is for family, Tuesday is for the Church, etc. I recently downloaded a prayer App that I have not used yet, but it is another method to help guide our prayers. Finding a regular plan will help you to have a more consistent prayer life.

4. Pray out loud. Great preacher of old, Don Dewelt, suggested that Jesus prayed out loud. That is why the disciples were able to write down many of his prayers. We use this tool in public settings, but when we get in private we drift into the quietness of the mind. Then we get easily distracted or tired. Soon sleep takes over or we begin planning some other activity. Being vocal keeps you focused, but you need to find a private place for obvious reasons. Another way this might work itself out is to write out your prayers. It is a way to vocalize your ideas without your voice.

5. Let distractions be your guide. One of the biggest helpful tips I have ever received was to let distractions help guide your prayers. This preacher suggested that those things that enter our mind to distract us might be our brain making prayer suggestions. So if you are praying and you start thinking about the meal you have to fix. Then pray about that meal, pray for the people who will eat it, thank God for the gift of food and his blessing. That idea of your upcoming vacation keeps interrupting your prayers then pray about safety, family, finances and all the rest you hope to get while reconnecting with your family. If you brain keeps drifting to some issue, then take the time to pray about it.

These are some of the small concepts that have helped me to increase my prayer life. I am still not a great person of prayer, but I am better than I was 10 years ago and I hope in 10 years I will be even better. I hope you are too.

Sometimes people just hit the nail on the head. They say the right thing. They give a wonderfully surprising answer to the questions of life.
Here is one of my favorite examples.

Recently I had two separate conversations about the ministries of my Church with people. Both of them described what we were doing as a Church and neither of them was right about what they said. As we continued to talk I realized how misinformed the person actually was about the ministry. Those encounters got me thinking about a couple of problems with information.

1. Lack of Information. Neither of these people had any first-hand information about what they were talking about. They had heard bits and pieces from several people but simply did not have the whole story. I find that all people, including Church people, form opinions about people and ministries without having accurate information.

2.Biased Information. When you get your information about people and things from other people, you need to understand that it is coming through their personal lens. This can work two ways.

-First is the Negative Lens. It is hard to imagine but some people have negative views of people and ministries no matter what actually happens. As my friend used to say, “Some people are not happy unless they are unhappy.”
Honestly, sometimes this is deserved. I have held ministry events that were terrible. Things went wrong in every way and it was not a good experience. That does not mean all of my events are poor or that the people involved are incompetent.

-Second is the Positive Lens. There are some people who see the good in everything. The glass is always half full and they see the best in all events. Sometimes this is a personality thing and sometimes this is the result of their confidence in the leader. If you were a part of a life changing event then the next time it happens you know it will be great.

One of the hard parts of life is forming your own opinions and ideas about people and events. For you to form accurate concepts you need to experience it for yourself. You even need to ask questions about your own personal bias.

So the next time you start to praise a person or event. Ask yourself if you are being biased and have the right information. Then spread the praise.

And the next time you start to bad mouth something or someone, ask yourself if you have first-hand accurate information that is not biased. If you do, then take your right hand and lift it up and put it firmly over your mouth. I was taught, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”

There is a great photo that is circulating the web…and the story behind it is just as good.

The picture is below and HERE is the story

I love to fish. I mean, I LOVE it. Over the Memorial Day weekend I was able to go fishing three times. I went early Saturday morning and late evening on Sunday and Monday. On my fishing trips I was able to see dozens of other people who enjoy fishing. I say that many of them “enjoy fishing,” but very few of them love it.

Let me tell you the whole story. On Friday I went and purchased bait because no bait store opens before daylight. Then I woke up at 3:30 am on Saturday and loaded everything up and took off. I drove for an hour to the dock and arrived just before the sun came up. The public fishing docks were empty and there was no sign of anyone for another hour. Most of the people like sleeping in, then grabbing breakfast, hitting the bait store before heading to the fishing hole. They don’t mind arriving later in the morning.

On my evening trips I headed down in the late afternoon and waited for the spot I wanted to open. I purchased extra minnows so that I would not run out and have to run and get more. Then I stayed until it was totally dark. I had even packed a light in case the fish were still biting after dark. Both nights I watched as people left the dock around six so that they could go home and get something to eat. But the end of the night there was only a couple of people left fishing with me. Oh, and the rain really drives them away.

On all three occasions the fish were biting the first hour of the day or the last hour of the evening. The majority of people totally missed it. They came to late or left to early to really get in on the good fishing. I am convinced that is because most people only like to fish if it is convenient. They like to fish and enjoy doing it, if it is easy and fits their schedule. They would never get up early or stay out late just to catch a fish.

I tell you all of this as a metaphor. I think the Church is full of people who enjoy life with Jesus, but they do not love him. They are never willing to rise early or stay up late. They like Church and will go, if it fits their schedule. Sacrifice is not part of their language or lifestyle.

Unfortunately, the Christian life is not very convenient. The greatest rewards of faith are given to those who sacrifice their time and treasure.

An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.
“Well,” said the farmer, “It was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns.”
“Praise choruses?” said his wife, “What are those?”
“Oh, they’re okay. They’re sort of like hymns, only different,” said the farmer.”
“Well, what’s the difference?” asked his wife.
The farmer said, “Well it’s like this – If I were to say to you: `Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well that would be a hymn. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you:

`Martha, Martha, Martha, Oh, MARTHA, MARTHA, MARTHA,
the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows,
the white cows, the black and white cows,
the COWS, COWS, COWS are in the corn,
are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn,
the CORN, CORN, CORN.’

Then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well that would be a praise chorus.”

Alternatively:

A young, new Christian went to his local church one weekend and attended the small town church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.
“Well,” said the young man, “It was good. They did something different, however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs.”
“Hymns?” said his wife, “What are those?”
“Oh, they’re okay. They’re sort of like regular songs, only different,” said the young man.
“Well, what’s the difference?” asked his wife.
The young man said, “Well it’s like this – If I were to say to you, `Martha, the cows are in the corn,’
Well that would be a regular song. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you:

Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth.
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by
To the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth.

For the way of the animals who can explain
There in their heads is no shadow of sense,
Hearkenest they in God’s sun or his rain
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.

Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight,
Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed.
Then goaded by minions of darkness and night
They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn have chewed.

So look to that bright shining day by and by,
Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn.
Where no vicious animal makes my soul cry
And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn.

Then, if I were to do only verses one, three and four and do a key change on
the last verse, well that would be a hymn.”