Christ-Centered Reflections – Versus to Verses

The Shape of a Tool

Hi. It’s been a minute, or two, or three… This week I’ve been working on a yard DIY project, a paver and stone walkway. I cleared the path by removing the old walkway and edging the grass to accommodate the new pavers. Of course, the path has to be flat and level. I tested it with a paver. It was pretty flat, except for the edges. When I was working on it this morning I discovered the reason why. You see, the shovel that I used is not completely flat. The edges are curved. Shovel with curved edges, well, you get ground with curved edges. That reminded me of a poem I wrote more than twenty years ago. I went looking for it and reread it. The experience with my shovel reminded me that I need to take a closer look at the tools that I am using every day, today and tomorrow, and how I am using them. After all, the tools that I use in life will dictate the path that I take (how about that for a segue…wink wink).

Here is My Little Toolbox:

I have a little toolbox, with everything I need
I carry it wherever I go, wherever life will lead
My toolbox never fails me, it always helps me through
So many of life's problems, when I don't even have a clue

Whenever I'm in trouble, I search for the right tool
For me to look outside my box, makes me nothing but a fool
I look until I find it, because I know it must be there
I know that when I find it, the answer will be clear

Sometimes I use my toolbox, to help someone in need
No matter who they are, no matter their faith or creed
Sometimes the tools I use, are frowned upon by others
But that's OK by me, for they still are my brothers

The more I use my toolbox, the more I understand
That on my own I can do nothing, without God's helping hand
I know that with my toolbox, all things in life are possible
Because the tools are God's words, and my toolbox is the Bible

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January 30

My To-Do List

Hi. It’s been a while. But that’s because I don’t like to write just to write. I wait for inspiration and one never knows where that might come from, or when. Yesterday my wife, humorously, told our son that I had my week planned out. She explained about our “Weekly Planner” on the refrigerator and that I had it filled with substitute teaching, tennis, and pickleball, something for each day of the week. She said, again humorously (I think), that she did not see herself on that list. Although she exaggerated just a little bit, she was not wrong.

Early this morning I went to one of my “Bible websites” to do a little reading. I saw an article titled “10 Key Bible Verses on Time” and decided to get into it. One verse was James 4:13-15:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

This verse brought my attention back to the “Weekly Planner” on our refrigerator door. I was reminded of a couple of things. First, any one of us can take verse 4:13, i.e., “today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”, and fill it with our own “to-do list,” like so: “this week I will go substitute teach a couple of days and play tennis and pickleball.” Well, that’s not all I will do, but you get the picture. Second, as the cliché goes, I am not getting any younger. Here is another key bible verse in the article: “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty…” (Psalm 90:10-12). I am 63. Need I say more? “A mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes…” (James 4:14).

Without judging anyone, what’s on your “to-do list” (written or otherwise) this week? This month? This year? Whatever it is that you have on that list, please keep James 4:15 in your heart and mind: “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” I know I need that reminder from time to time.

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November 3

Strangers or Angels?

Yesterday morning, I went to Wawa to get lunch. As I was coming out of the Wawa, I saw a gentleman walking towards the entrance. He was an older man and was walking a bit slow. When he saw I was holding the door he tried to hurry up. I told him to take his time, not to rush. As he entered the Wawa, he thanked me. Then I saw someone else walking towards the door. I thought I heard this second gentleman yell out my name, Eugene! I heard the first gentleman respond. I said to the second man, did you say Eugene? He said yes. Then I realized he was calling out to the other guy, not me. I asked the first gentleman if his name was Eugene. He said yes. I exclaimed “wow, that’s my name!” He chuckled and extended his hand, saying “it’s a pleasure to meet you, Eugene.” I shook his hand, and we all had a good laugh. It was a funny moment, but also a very pleasant exchange.

As I drove away, thinking about this encounter, with a smile on my face, I remembered the following verse from the Bible:

Continue to love each other with true Christian love. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!
Hebrews 13:1-2

Yesterday morning I held the door for that gentleman. I mean, it is something I aim to do when the opportunity arises. 🙂 This time, however, I held the door for another Eugene. I had a good laugh, totally unexpected, with Eugene, and the other gentleman. Together we shared a very pleasant moment. Who knows how the rest of the day went for the other two fellas. Hopefully they had a good day. I did.

I am no angel, and I don’t know whether either of the other two fellas were angels, but I’d like to believe that – for that very brief moment – angels were in our midst. And that, my friend, is a rare moment, one to treasure. So, yes, “don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it.”

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January 16

The Shape of the Ball

Tonight (eastern time) starts the 2022 Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament! Very exciting for us tennis players and those who follow the sport. Now, looking at the title to this piece, you might think that I am referring to something round, the shape of a ball. What I have in mind is what we refer to in tennis as giving shape to the ball. In tennis, when we swing at the ball the purpose is to give the ball “shape.” Let me explain. A player can hit a tennis ball flat with very little arc. A player can also hit the ball with a lot of arc using topspin. So, in short, if a player hits the ball flat, there is not much shape to it. But if the player hits the ball with a lot of arc and topspin, then he or she is giving the ball more shape, technically known as “net aerodynamic force” (see above diagram).

The swing is the biggest factor in determining the shape a tennis ball takes in flight. So, that is why a tennis coach, when teaching tennis strokes, focuses so much on “mechanics.” You know the old children’s song about how the bones in our body are connected? The head bone is connected to the neck bone, the neck bone is connected to back bone, and so forth and so on. The song is popularly known as “Dry Bones” or “Skeleton Bones.” There is even a dance for it. Did you know that the original song, called “Dem Bones,” is a spiritual song based on Ezekiel 37:1-14? Each section of the song “Dem Bones” finishes with “hear the word of the Lord.”

Anyhow, I digress, or do I? Back to my tennis analogy. If you have been following me – the few that are 😊 – you know that I frequently use analogies. My analogy here has to do with that thing we do not like to talk about, sinning. Usually, but not always, before we sin, we do something, usually with our mind, to give the sin flight. To stay with the analogy, sin’s flight takes shape from our thoughts. In other words, it takes shape in our minds before it takes flight. How much flight that sin takes depends on how much shape we give it, in our minds first, and then with other parts of our body, all of which, of course, are connected like in “Dem Bones.”

Have you been giving much shape to any sins lately? Ask yourself, how is that sin taking shape? What are you doing in your mind or mechanically to give flight to that sin? And, finally, what are you doing to give that sin less shape, or no shape at all?! Because sin’s foothold is in the mind, our best weapon is, as “Dem Bones” proclaims, hearing the word of the Lord. And since sin usually starts in the mind, we best fight it by “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 10:5.

In conclusion, we all give shape to sin, and we all give it flight. As in tennis, we can choose (and it is almost always a choice) to give the sin less shape (hit a flat ball) or give it flight with lots of arc and topspin. In the end, what we do beforehand, as in tennis with our swing, will determine the path of that sin. To take the analogy a step further, we can also choose not to swing at all. Of course, that is not something you want to do in tennis! LOL So, take that swing and send that sin crosscourt back where it came from, saying that you are hearing the word of the Lord!

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December 3

Nothing wrong with the hat!

The cold weather has arrived! Time for ski hats and the like. I have this one hat that just does not seem to fit right, no matter how I wear it. I like it because it is very soft and pliable. Pliable…hmmm… I realized that the reason my hat does not look right when I put it on is not because there is anything wrong with it, but because of my hair! The hat is so soft and pliable that, depending how my hair is combed, or not, the hat will take on a different shape and will not look right.

Sometimes we as Christians feel like there is something wrong with how this aspect or that aspect of our faith fits. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul speaks of the armor of God:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
Ephesians 6:10-18

This is powerful armor! When we put on this armor, we are so much stronger. Are we invincible? If we wear it all and have faith in it, we are, spiritually speaking, as invincible as we can be in this world. Now, sometimes – for one reason or another – a piece of that armor just does not fit right. Perhaps something we’ve done or said, or something we should have done or said. My friends, just like my hat, there is nothing wrong with the armor! The armor was perfectly made, by the master blacksmith Himself. Some days this piece or that piece, or for that matter all the pieces, might not fit just right. That’s Okay…wear it we must, every piece of it! Wear it believing that our spiritual life depends on it. It does!

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November 3

Walking the Walk…

I have a book titled Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado. The title begs the question: Is anyone just like Jesus? The short answer is no, no one is just like Jesus. I have another book titled The Imitation of Christ. Those of us who seek to be like Jesus Christ try as best we can to imitate him. Can anyone looking at someone seeking to imitate Jesus see Jesus in that person? That all depends on how close we walk with Jesus.

The picture above is of me and my mom. One day I was taking my mom to church and my sister surreptitiously took the picture. I am walking arm-in-arm with my mother and our steps appear to be in sync. I ask myself: Am I walking arm-in-arm with Jesus and how in sync are we? It is a simple question, but one with great ramifications. How close is my walk with Jesus? That is a question that I ask myself from time to time. Unfortunately, if I am honest, the answer is…not very close. It is a work in progress.

In 1 John 2:6 we read: “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” That is the challenge…how well do we walk the walk? So I undertake this exercise: I imagine that in the picture above it is not me and my mom, but me and Jesus Christ, walking arm-in-arm and, to the best of my ability, in sync. I know, that is a very lofty aspiration, one that is attained by so few, but one worth pursuing. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul states: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” If we seek to walk arm-in-arm with Jesus and imitate him as best we can, then we are, I think, as best we can given our human limitations, striving to be “just like” Jesus.

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September 16

My True Weight

Earlier this week I had a colonoscopy. My first one was ten years ago. One of my sisters asked me how many pounds I lost with the prep. That reminded me of a post from an old website I had and thought I would repost it here, with some minor edits.

As I walked through the wilderness of the world, I came to a place where there was a den. There I lay down to sleep; and as I slept, I dreamed a dream. In my dream I saw a man clothed with rags, standing by a path with a book in his hand and a great burden upon his back. His face was turned from his own house, which stood nearby. I saw him open his book and read, then begin to weep. No longer being able to control his feelings, he broke out with a mournful cry, saying, ‘What shall I do?’
[Pilgrim’s Progress – In Today’s English, John Bunyan – Retold by James H. Thomas (©1964, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago)]

Recently, I heard about a congressman tweeting that he underwent a colonoscopy. I asked myself “why would anyone want to tweet about that? Then I had my own. I know, not something you really want to hear about. But, believe it or not, I have a positive message. So, back to my story. I was getting ready for the procedure; I did all the prep work the day before and very early the next morning. It occurred to me to weigh myself. I was curious to know how much I weighed after the “cleansing.” I weighed several pounds less than my most recent weight. I went to my wife and told her that I now knew my “true weight.” 😃

In the above quote from Pilgrim’s Progress we find Christian, a character carrying a heavy burden on his back. He felt the extra weight! He felt so weighed down by the burden that he could not move as quickly as he wished towards his destination, the Celestial City. The burden was in fact a handicap. How does Christian unload this burden? When asked by Worldly Wiseman “Whither bound in this burdened manner?” Christian replies:

Burdened indeed, as much as any poor creature can be. And since you ask, I am going to that little gate yonder before me; for there, I am informed, I shall be directed in the way to be rid of my burden.
Pilgrim’s Progress, id. at 19.

We oftentimes go around carrying burdens, some heavier than others, weighing us down. We all bear them in different ways. We meet people along the way, much like Christian does in Pilgrim’s Progress, who either give us additional burdens to carry or who help us carry or ease our loads. But do we ever find anyone who actually relieves us completely of our burdens?

In Jesus Christ we find that extremely rare opportunity:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus wants to unburden each of us and free us from whatever it is that weighs us down, the stuff that keeps us stuck in the mire:

Now, I saw in my dream that just as they ended this conversation they came near a miry slough that was in the middle of the plain. Being careless, they both fell into the bog, which was called the Slough of Despond. Here they floundered for a time in the mud. Soon Christian, because of his burden, began to sink.
Pilgrim’s Progress, id. at 17.

What burdens are you carrying that are causing you to sink in the mire? Jesus Christ can show you “the way to be rid of [your] burden.” He can help you find your true weight.

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August 27

Abracadabra!

This morning I opened my YouVersion app and the verse of the day was Matthew 7:8: “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” There was a short video chat on the verse and one comment caught my attention. The presenter stated that we cannot get everything we seek or ask for because then prayer would be like a magic trick. I know about magic tricks; I’ve been doing magic tricks since I was a kid. While it is true that prayer is not like a magic trick, there are some similarities worth noting, I think. I know, for example, that I need to practice a particular trick over and over before I perform it for anyone. If I don’t, chances are it will not come out right and, more importantly, it will not be convincing. In the same way, we need to practice our faith and our prayer life. That way, when we “present” our prayers to God, and our faith to others, we are more convincing. On the other hand, when I perform a magic trick, it must come off perfectly. If not, again, not convincing! God, on the other hand, does not seek perfection from us. True, in Matthew 5:48 we read: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Thankfully, I believe, that is an aspiration and not a requirement. One final comparison. The magic tricks I perform are primarily for children: “If we all could see the world through the eyes of a child we would see the magic in everything.” (Chee Vai Tang). In Matthew 18:1-5, we read: “Truly I say, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” So, we need to ask, seek, and knock as a child…that is when we truly see how wonderfully we are made. Psalm 139:14. Wow, I feel so inspired, I think I will go practice my magic tricks! Hey, here is the link to one of my tricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF8LOK3rTdU&list=PLZ18io62pV0Udx0kkj0d7cUe7ocMo_PJR&index=8&t=42s, Check it out! Hope you like it. 😊

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June 29

How did we get here!

Yesterday was the first day of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, one of the four Grand Slams of tennis! Nice to see fans in the stands! Anyone who knows me knows that I love to play tennis and love watching the Grand Slams. So, I turned on the TV to catch some of the action and Andy Murray was playing Nikoloz Basilashvili. Murray was up two sets to love (2-0) and they were tied in the third set 5-5 with Basilashvili serving. So, Murray was looking real good before his hometown crowd, or was he? I heard the commentators expressing concern, not for Basilashvili, but for Murray. I exclaimed “what!” Murray was up two sets and they were on serve in the third! Why the concern for Murray? So I rewound the action to see how the third set got to five-all. And there it was! Murray was actually up 5-0 in the third! I went back to live coverage and, having won seven games in a row, Basilashvili won the third set 7-5! By going back to what happened before I turned the TV on, I understood why the commentators were saying what they were saying and understood the concern for Murray’s performance in the third set.

That got me thinking about a book I am reading: The Bible Jesus Read by Philip Yancey. In the book, Yancey discusses the importance of reading the Old Testament (making up, as he points out, three-fourths of the Bible). He explains that while there are things in the Old Testament that some might consider troublesome and perhaps even contrary to how we think as Christians, it is by reading and understanding the Old Testament that one can better understand and appreciate the New Testament. By reading the Old Testament, one can better understand why New Testament writers wrote what they wrote.

So, just as I had to go back to the first ten games of the third set between Murray and Basilashvili to understand why the commentators were concerned for Murray, and why they were saying what they were saying — which upon first hearing made no sense to me — Yancey is saying that one needs to read the Old Testament to understand the New Testament and to better understand God, no matter how challenging the task. And why not? After all, the Old Testament is the Bible Jesus read!

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May 15

Closing the Door

I was at Home Depot recently. I bought some two-by-fours, mulch and a few other things. I loaded up the SUV, but the liftgate would not close. It would slowly go down but start back up once it hit bottom. I figured it was the two-by-fours, so I pushed them in, which was a bit challenging with the mulch on top. I pressed the liftgate button, but, again, the liftgate did not close. I moved the driver’s seat up a bit and pushed the two-by-fours, but same result. I moved around the mulch bags, same result. Anyhow, I realized that what was preventing the liftgate from closing was my granddaughter’s stroller that is usually there by itself, but that I had to move in order to get the other stuff in. I moved the stroller a bit and, wham!, the liftgate closed.

This little experience made me think of times in our lives when we want to “shut the door” and it does not close. We want to shut the door on a bad memory, a bad habit, an unwanted attitude, or a bad relationship. We shift things around in our minds, our lives, in order to accomplish that, but the door does not close. We try moving other things around, but the door still does not close. If we keep working at it, eventually we move the right pieces, in our minds or in our lives, and get the door to close. Wham! Done! We have closed the door on that bad memory, bad habit, unwanted attitude, or bad relationship. Just one thing…if that thing, whatever it is, comes knocking, do not open the door!

As Christians, we pray for God to help us close certain doors, doors representing pain, loss, grief. We also pray that God opens doors for us. Revelations 3:7-8 speaks on this very subject. It is so powerful! Meditate on it.

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you
an open door that no one can shut.
Revelations 3:7-8

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