Jonathots Daily Blog
(3378)
A. Lightning rods, garlic wreaths and the fact that no rotating winds came in their direction
B. They don’t live in a mobile home park
C. Deep intercessory prayer and also that no rotating winds came in their direction
D. They got struck by a cyclone because they live south of the equator
E. It just flat-out missed them
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3378)
Sunday morning, bright and early, I headed off with my buddy, Janet, to St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Melbourne (even though the words “bright and early” should never appear in the same sentence.)
Over the years, Ms. Clazzy and I have learned a very important lesson: those who have gathered in a church are not there to see us, no matter how much we’ve been advertised. And they’re not necessarily there to learn about God, either.
They are accustomed to gathering. It is a tradition. Each one has his or her reasons for being there–ranging from preparing the coffee to loving the organ music, to appreciating communion, to getting stuck with usher duty.
So it is ridiculous for the two of us to think that we will come in and move mountains, or even rearrange dirt piles. Our job is simple–and made easier by the kindness of those who assisted us with our equipment and by the tender spirit of Pastor Blaine Johnson.
We are to be grateful for those who’ve attended, encourage what we see that’s positive, and gently address what’s missing.
Without the initial burst of gratitude for what is available, you immediately becomes the eternal brat who is never satisfied unless you get your own way.
Do I wish there were more people at St. Timothy Lutheran Church? I don’t give it a second thought, since there aren’t.
Do I wish I was going to larger churches than St. Timothy Lutheran Church? I don’t give it a second thought, because I’m not.
I am grateful for all the souls before me.
Then there are things that come out which are delightful and positive. There are people who greet you even though they have never seen you before. There is a sense of organization that lends itself to progress instead of chaos. Opportunities.
Yet in the midst of Jan and myself being grateful and reveling in the positives set before us, some missing spaces are obvious. Shall we refer to these as an absence of the presence?
Just quietly ask the question, what’s missing?–and then allow the Spirit of God to offer suggestions.
So while grateful for the congregated and my celebration of the positives, I talked to them about passion–the ability for the heart to stimulate praise instead of relying on the memory.
Did we make progress? Will next Sunday’s service at St. Timothy reflect any of the energy of the visitation?
It’s a foolish question; irrelevant.
Because the good news is that Pastor Blaine and the fine folks of St. Timothy found it in their hearts to invite us to come and share our talents.
And the better news is that God, in His infinite wisdom, leaves it up to each individual soul to determine what he or she will do with what has been seen and heard.
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(3377)
On May 8th, the largest blizzard in the history of meteorology in the state of Nebraska dumped nineteen inches of wet, slushy snow all over Lincoln, closing the freeways and the airport.
Matthew was at that airport.
He had cleverly put together a plan to meet up with three of his old college buddies from the “Leaven of Seven,” and explained to them in vivid detail some of his ideas about how to take the money from the eccentric billionaire and attempt to make Jesus not only the Christ, but popular again.
He had left messages with each, and they had successfully negotiated their air itineraries to have at least a two-hour layover at the Lincoln, Nebraska Airport–all at the same time. It was a feat of magic, only to be expected from those who had benefitted from higher education and had never had to be concerned about anybody but themselves.
When the announcement was made over the public address system that all flights were canceled and that the local motels were also filled, Joanna Lawrence (Jo-Jay) let out a tiny whimper that culminated in a miniscule scream. Yet it was loud enough to alarm people around her who already had experienced the danger of the sky falling.
“I can’t believe this,” said Jo-Jay. “I am going to need lots of alcohol.”
Matthew interrupted. “You always say that, Jo-Jay. You don’t need to be intoxicated. You just choose to be drunk. And if there isn’t a crisis, you’ll tip your glass to the threat of one.”
Jo-Jay paused and peered at Matthew with a surprised expression. “Wow. That was deep. I think you just changed my life. Why don’t we get a drink and celebrate?”
Paul Padwick thought that was hilarious. When he agreed to join them at the Lincoln airport, he requested they no longer use his college name, Pee Pee. (Matthew had texted him back and said, “If we call you Pee Pee, will it piss you off?”)
Michael was supposed to join them from Washington, D. C., but missed his flight, and in trying to catch a later one, discovered they were all canceled.
So after much inquiry and questioning, Matthew, Jo-Jay and Paul Padwick (never, ever to be known again as Pee Pee) discovered that they were going to be stuck overnight at the airport without the benefit of a shower.
Just moments later, poor Jo-Jay found out that the bar had closed at the establishment out of fear that cantankerous folks who were trapped in tight quarters might get along better without being totally sauced.
“I guess,” said Matthew, “we should find our corner in the airport, where we can bed down for the night.”
Bedding down had become possible because airport staffers had begun to circulate cushions and blankets, formerly the property of the “Cornhusker Airline” before it surprisingly went out of business. So the three of them, taking their cushions, blankets and a respectable supply of candy, chips and soft drinks, found a remote corner in the airport where the Cornhusker Airline had formerly dreamed of building a massive terminal.
It was quiet, it was pretty warm and it was just a little bit spooky–the kind of atmosphere which was ideal for old friends to catch up and discuss plans that might bring them together once again.
Jo-Jay had barely opened up her Doritos and begun to consume them like a starving woman when she croaked, “Can I get this straight? At least let me hear it from your mouth. Basically, from your message, you have an old man who died with some sort of religious compunction to leave behind money to make his God the Number One God in the world.”
Matthew corrected her. “Actually, it’s Jesus–but you are kind of close.”
“I guess I felt like the Jesus thing kind of maxed out a while ago. You know what I mean?” posed Paul, making his contribution. “Like, the ones who were really interested in it had already gotten on board and everybody else gave it a look-see and passed on it for their own reasons.”
“That is so true,” agreed Jo-Jay. “I mean, short of lying, cheating and fudging the figures, you either dig Jesus or you don’t.”
Matthew leaped in. “Well, I kind of dig Jesus, but I wouldn’t call myself religious–though I think it’s admirable to be Christian. So I might classify myself in that category…”
Paul laughed. “Well, it’s admirable to be a weight lifter, but don’t you have to actually lift something?”
Jo-Jay roared with laughter. “Yeah, God-guy. If you’re going to be a Christian, don’t you have to do a lot of Christian things?” She reflected. “Or maybe not, come to think of it. There seem to be a lot of those who claim the title who don’t pursue the agenda.”
At that point, they all just stopped speaking.
Maybe it was the darkness falling outside that left the room even more dismal. Perhaps it was the realization that the area they had selected for their resting space was a little chillier than they thought. Or maybe it was just the awkwardness of being back together.
But they didn’t hurry it. No one tried to make small chat or bring up the consistency of their candy bars. Just a moment to reflect on who they were, where they were and what the hell they were going to do about this “heavenly” issue.
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(3375)
Still a bit troubled.
It’s this whole thing about salvation: “By grace you are saved through faith.”
The Apostle Paul shared this sentiment, and it set in motion the essence of the Protestant movement, so that today we are most concerned about the salvation of the soul.
Meanwhile, the emotions, the mind and the physicality of the church members wane, having no better effect than those in the world.
I suppose a case can be made that once we are eternally rescued and given a place in heaven, temporary years on Earth don’t seem quite as valuable.
Of course, one could have that opinion if one had not read the Gospel of Jesus. Jesus was intent on having God’s will done on Earth as it is in heaven.
He believed in personal responsibility.
He challenged his followers to go the second mile.
He told us that those who have purity of heart– emotional clarity–would see God.
He asked us to think about the world around us and how it works.
And certainly, he challenged us to be born again–not merely accepting the frailties of our genetic code, but rather, setting in motion a transformation which makes us “new creatures.”
The church offers soul salvation and then wonders why many people opt for “off-campus” emotional healing, renewing of their minds and physical exercise with healthy eating.
If salvation is a gift, why are we told to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling?
If salvation is a gift, why did Jesus tell Zacchaeus that he had “achieved” it by giving back the money he had stolen?
Imagine how powerful the Christian church could become if we simply taught that the salvation of our souls is an eternal work, demanding the grace of God to inaugurate our emotional healing, renewing of our minds and enhancement of our DNA.
It is troubling.
It is troubling that the church contains people who are going to heaven … yet having a hell of a time getting there.
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(3374)
G-Pop is taking a brief pause to chat with his children.
American people have forgotten how to repent.
We have been so busy bolstering self-esteem and justifying lying that we have failed to realize that the greatest gift we have is to recognize error–and change.
Yesterday, G-Pop watched a man of seventy years rationalize behavior which placed him in legal jeopardy and eventually in prison. He sat and made excuses. We were supposed to see events through the prism of his understanding rather than the logical conclusions of a jury of his peers.
He forgot how to repent.
Matter of fact, it’s become a common practice to pretend that everything is just “a simple misunderstanding.”
A great man once said that without repentance, people, culture and quality begin to perish.
So just in case you are one of those souls who has forgotten how to repent, it works like this:
1. I know what I did wrong.
Yes, it is always better to discover it for yourself instead of being indicted for it.
2. I know what caused it.
Finding the source of the ego, ignorance or selfishness which brought on the dim-witted selection is very important.
3. I have ideas I can implement to keep it from happening again.
I have come to myself. I have taken away the fear of being unrighteous, and in so doing, I have tapped some truly noble notions.
4. I have selected a practical humility.
Realizing that my pride is always present just before my fall, I accept that I am susceptible to error. The humility keeps me sharp.
This is how you repent.
This is how you produce the change that makes life plausible instead of destructive.
Our country needs to learn how to repent again. If we don’t, we will continue to tout our self-worth–with less and less evidence that there’s actually any value.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3373)
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this inspirational opportunity
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3372)
Docile, for a while, see me smile, have no guile,
What a pile, I am vile, start the trial,
Change my style, the second mile, scan the aisle, for my file
Total denial, a revival,
Hit the street, who do you meet, don’t retreat, wash some feet
Face defeat, then delete, from the elite,
Just can’t beat, it’s so neat
Kind of dead, feels like lead, time for bed, where I’m led, underfed, tools in shed,
A sparrow clan, words, man, the lily can.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this inspirational opportunity
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