PastorTim

TAKING GOOD AIM…..

I can still remember the words, “focus, breath slow, & let go.” Grandpa would whisper those words in the ear of an excited little boy who was about to shoot a real arrow for the first time. Real I mean, as opposed to the stick arrows we boys would play with a way back I the late 1960’s. Wouldn’t that send a chill down the spine of the dodge ball police today! We played cowboys & Indians, we played hide & seek, we got hurt and we got dirty, ah those were the days! But then there came the day when my Grandpa got out his real bow and arrows as he would from time to time, and I was handed a bow. A real bow, real arrows. Wow! I was taught how to handle the bow, how to place the arrow, along with a great respect for both. Then came the moment of truth, the moment I would let go. Focus, breath slow, and let go. Those were the directions; those were the orders from a seasoned archer no less. One who had many times let fly an arrow himself. One who had learned over many years the ins and outs of placing an arrow right on it’s intended target. Now I can’t say that my first try was a good one, although I don’t believe medical attention was needed, “That’s somewhat of a success huh?” But I will not forget the instruction of my Grandfather.
It was many years later that I found myself sitting on the seat of a Ford Ferguson 9-N tractor with 2-14” plow attached to it facing a field of unplowed ground. My instructions were simple. Focus on a stationary point at the other end of the field, a fence post or a tree, drop the plow and don’t take your eye off what you’re aiming for. My first row wasn’t the straightest, “I’ve always heard you can get more corn in a crooked row anyway”, but it was an experience I have never forgotten either. A straight arrow, a straight row, all depends on what we find ourselves focusing on doesn’t it? It’s the same in life you know. Each one of us is aiming at something, and eventually if we stay pointed in that direction, we’ll arrive where we have focused. Dare I bring up golf at this point? Why not? I cannot count the cost of the golf balls that have yet to be retrieved around the tri state that I have launched in the wrong direction only to look at my stance which was lined up, you guessed it, in just the same direction as the dear departed little white ball had traveled. Focus is important. Whether we are talking about shooting arrows, plowing a field, or playing golf. Our focus determines our direction. All this leads me to the question of the day. What is it that you are aiming for? What is it that commands your focus? What ever that may be, you can look past it to where you will probably end up in life and in eternity. There is a little verse tucked away in the Old Testament book of Proverbs. “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. 29:18” no I don’t think that this only applies to nations but individuals as well.
To have focus we must have vision. Sometimes we struggle because our focus is in the wrong direction. This can be true even of Christ followers. This spiritually can be dangerous and even deadly. Lynn Anderson writes, “About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness. In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway? Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision. With a clear vision of what we can become in Christ, no ocean of difficulty is too great. Without it, we rarely move beyond our current boundaries.” Our focus and our vision will ultimately determine the direction our life will take, the path we leave for others to follow, and most importantly whether or not we hit the bulls eye at the end of life’s journey. Maybe Grandpa had it right. Focus, breath slow and let go. Focus on the Lord and Him alone, take your time and get a clear understanding of the target He has for your life, and then let go. Let go and trust in the one who has called you and who will guide you. Paul in his letter to the Christians at Philippi shared with them his focus in life. In spite of all that he had given up to follow Christ, he would not be swayed from his goal. “But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” So what are you aiming at, right now? Know this, whatever it is; you’re likely to hit it!

HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU….

Maybe it’s because of the events of this past Memorial Day weekend. And what a wonderful weekend it was, Memorial day remembrance in our morning worship service on Sunday, parades and flags flying everywhere on Monday. Heartfelt expressions of gratitude for those who willingly gave their lives for our freedom. Or perhaps it’s because of where I grew up, just up the road from where Roy Rogers was reared. My good friend Monte came from Columbus this week along with his two children for the annual Roy Rogers festival. Seems that Little Monte has become a true blue Roy Rogers fan! I’m talkin cowboy hat, boots and a couple of six shooters! So Thursday evening this past week I find myself with my own son Joe in the old Columbia Theater in downtown Portsmouth watching an old Roy Rogers film, “in living color no less!” Here we were watching Roy solve a mystery while putting an old fashioned whippin on the bad guys. During a particular gun fight sequence I watched with delight as little Monte pulled out one of his six shooters and begin firing at the screen, “at the bad guys of course”. As we were leaving the show I told him what a good job of shootin he had done. He gave me that satisfied look, as if to say “Thank ya partner! “Anyway as I left the theater reflecting on this wonderful week in the good old United States of America, I though of what blessings I was privileged to enjoy.
For example the freedom to dream. Little Monte was totally engulfed in the movie, good guys winning over bad guys. Roy and his wholesome brand of entertainment was transporting this precious young boy into a world of dreams that really can come true. Dreams of good clean living that produce a good life. Dreams of a truthful and moral lifestyle that he probably won’t see anywhere else. Dream on little Monte, dream on. There’s also freedom to celebrate…. We live in the greatest country in the world that many have paid the full measure of devotion for. We celebrate their love and devotion. The oldest living republic in the world is where I am thankful to live!
Maybe it’s because of the freedom I have as well. Growing up on Duck Run, playing in the creeks and hollers I was given the gift to dream of what I could become in life. Good neighbors, clean fun and an opportunity to begin my adult life married to the girl of my dreams, pursuing the career of my choice, raising my family in the fear and admonition of the Lord with no fear of threat or reprisal. Kind of what the founding fathers meant don’t you think? In the beginning they proclaimed, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” They then felt it necessary to end with these words…. “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Sort of has a religious tone to it, don’t you think? Maybe that’s because those pledged their lives realized that God had brought them to this point in history and it be with God’s help alone that this country would be born and prosper! Maybe that’s why for well over two hundred years thousands felt it worthwhile to bleed and die for this great land that God has so graciously blessed. They still do!
The only concern I have at this juncture in our history is that we are inclined to forget the help we need from God. “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side. My great concern is to be on God's side.” Abraham Lincoln, when asked if he thought God was on our side. The founding fathers realized the truth found in Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” They knew the God who helps us dream. "And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice," Benjamin Franklin asked at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, "is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?" Franklin invoked the sparrow in service of his argument that the convention should open each day with a prayer. Which is still good advice! They, as we must realize that it is God that gives us real freedom. Not just in the physical realm, but the freedom from sin that we can know in our hearts. Listen to the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Rome.. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Then in verses 22-23 of chapter 6 he says… “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” A free country, because of those who sacrificed for it. For this we are grateful. The free gift of eternal life, because of a Savior who gave His life for you and for me. For this we are forever thankful. Are you free to dream and free to live? You can be, if you want to. As Roy would say…..Happy Trails!

THANK YOU MRS. BORN….

You will probably have a tough time believing this, but there was a time long long ago, when I was shy….. No really! I was a shy timid young man who could barely get my nerve up to talk to a girl, although I mustered up the courage some how to sweep Terri off her feet, but that’s a story for yet another day. Although I have included a picture of Terri and I back in those days! Today’s topic is however, “the shy kid from McDermott.” Back then I seldom made eye contact, spoke little in crowds, and would sweat BB’s when called upon to answer a question in class. But that all changed one day back in 1979 at a place called the Scioto County Joint Vocational School. The setting was Mrs. Born’s 11th grade English class. Maybe its because we just celebrated Back to School Sunday here at Plymouth Heights, maybe not, but I have thought a lot about her lately. In fact I had the wonderful privilege of introducing her to our church family yesterday, and sharing with them hat she has meant to me. You see, it was in her class that for the first time in my life I spoke in public! The assignment if I remember correctly was to speak for ten minutes or so on one theme. I can’t even remember what I spoke about, but I can still remember the tremendous hurdle I cleared in my life that day when for the first time I spoke clearly in front of a crowd and communicated a thought, I even looked at the class whole time I was talking, how about that? She was so kind and helpful as I journeyed through the seemingly easy exercise, but to me it was terribly frightening. There are those who might wish Mrs. Born had failed in her teaching efforts that day because I haven’t shut up since! Now I had no clue at the time that I would one day be involved with communicating with people in ministry on various levels on a daily basis. But God did. And I am sure that particular day passed by like any other for her, but my life was changed. May I just stop here and remind all of you who are involved in education on any level and in any setting how vitally important you are to the students whose lives you touch. You may never know the true success of your efforts, but you truly do make a difference.
Today in my realm of involvement the Sunday School or Christian education along with preaching the word of God is as close as I will ever become to being called a teacher. Sunday School teachers as well need to be reminded of their potential impact on the lives they touch. I ran across the following story a few years ago and I cannot forget it. You may have never heard the name Edward Kimball. To you he may be a nobody...but he is a somebody. He was a Sunday School teacher who learned he was going to die. He had very little time to live. So he went out to lead all of his Sunday School students to the Lord. He led one to the Lord in the stockroom of a store. That young man's name was D.L. Moody. Moody was preaching in the British Isles, and a lady teacher was so moved by his testimony that she told it to her class. She, in turn, told her preacher, Frederick Brotherton Meyer, that every one of her students had given their hearts to the Lord. Meyer had heard Moody's testimony, but was not moved. But the report by the teacher had a profound affect on his life. He said he realized for the first time what it meant to be brokenhearted about sin and pointing people to Christ. Meyer came to America and preached at Moody's school in Northfield, Massachusetts. He said, "If you're not willing to give up everything for Christ, are you willing to be made willing?" That remark changed the life of a young preacher named J. Wilbur Chapman. Chapman went on to be a great evangelist in his era. But when he decided to return to the pastorate, he turned his ministry over to a YMCA clerk who had been his advance man. The young man's name: Billy Sunday. In 1924, Sunday conducted a revival in Charlotte, North Carolina. Out of those meetings came a group of laymen that formed a permanent organization to continue witnessing for Christ in their city. Eight years later, in 1932, that same group brought an evangelist named Mordecai Ham to town for city-wide meetings. One evening, a lanky, sixteen year old walked out of the choir and gave his heart to Jesus Christ. His name: Billy Graham. And it all started when a Sunday School teacher with little time to live, made the most of his time, and what he did has affected millions of lives.
It really is true what the prophet Isaiah wrote hundreds of years before Christ was born. “10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:10-12.
Our lives, our words, our examples even will have a lasting impact on those who we influence. Someone once wrote, “My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done;
Leave countless marks for good or ill, ere sets the evening sun.
This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray: 
Lord, may my life help other lives it touches by the way.” With God’s help may I touch the lives of others as Mrs. Born has touched mine.

SHAKE & SHINE……

When I first met him I knew there was something different about the man. His name was Sutor and he owned an apple orchard. I was with my grandpa Cecil and we had driven to Hooples orchard on Mount Hope Road. This little man who embodied the term humble came out and talked to us as we looked over the beautiful red and yellow apples filling the baskets in the sales area. It was an old farm with old equipment, but his smile and demeanor were the sweetest I had ever remembered meeting in all my 10 years of age. There was something different about him that I still recount today. It was a few years later that I was to get better acquainted with this man. I was dating a young lady who attended the same church he did in Otway. Through a series of events, I was given the opportunity to attend church camp for the first time in my life, and it was a this particular church camp that I became a Christian. This was a very big issue for I was not raised in a Christian home and the church world was very foreign to me. But this man would always demonstrate a loving and caring Christian attitude and lifestyle. I was also to learn after attending church for a while, that this Godly man was responsible for praying many of the local taverns closed in the late 1960’s. He would actually go into the bar and ask permission to pray, “standing right at the bar!” If he was refused permission, he would then offer to pay a dollar to be allowed to pray in the building. I was told that he would bow his head, pray for the Lord to changes the lives of the people who were in the bar, pray that the bar would close and then he would quietly and respectfully leave. By the way, they all closed. I share these stories, of which there are many more, to illustrate a specific point. Here was an ordinary man who God used in extraordinary way to touch the lives of thousands of people in the Scioto and Pike county area, and beyond. He was, as Jesus asks us all to be…salt and light.
When speaking to a multitude of people gathered around him on a hillside Jesus began to give detailed instruction on how we are to affect the world in which we live. “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light candles and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16. Salt and light Jesus says. That’s what we are to be. Salt preserves, which in essence means that it stops the process of rotting. Oh how the world today needs Godly men and women who stand against the corruption that is evident in our world. Salt also gives flavor, and I still believe that Christians should be the most enjoyable people to be around than anybody can find. There should be in each of us a joy that encouraging o all that we come into contact with. Jesus also said that we are to be light. Light among many other things dispels darkness. Wherever light is, darkness can no longer take control. The light and understanding that the many are searching for today can be found in a right relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you have that today? Are you salt and light, or as I heard phrased recently, are you shaking and shining?
One last story of this wonderful man I have spoken about in this article. It happened in a Vacation Bible School at the Rarden Church of the Nazarene, just a few years before the Lord called him home. All week long the children had learned about Jesus and what he did during his earthly ministry. On the last night of VBS, Sutor was to speak to the children. His message was simple and very easy for them to understand. He shared about Gods love in such a way that each of the children listened intently to each word he said. When it was over and he had left, one of the children came up to the VBS director and asked, “was that Jesus?” What a powerful accusation to make of a Christian. And believe you me, he sure reminded people of Jesus. I wonder what would happen in the church world today if more Christians simply reminded people of Jesus? We would probably see the church grow as never before. That’s are calling isn’t it? To be salt and light, and in doing so we will be found guilty of the same charge, reminding others of Jesus. Shake and Shine Church!

TIM THE TOOL MAN…

You want to make an ordinary red-blooded American dad a happy man, two words…. POWER TOOL! I like golf, I love books, but there is something that rises up within a fella when he strolls through the power tool department of a Lowe’s or Home Depot. Vivid images propel themselves onto the screen of a mans mind as he pictures himself taking down that 40 foot Oak eyesore that disgraces the front yard, or designing a deck that would take the breath away from Bob Villa himself. Most of the time the oak tree falls on a parked car and the deck ends up looking more like a glorified bird feeder than a delightful cove for family fellowship. My Fathers day began early yesterday with coffee and some quiet time, followed by the normal early departure to the church alone, “no one likes to go with me that early.” Before leaving I was escorted to the back of my wife’s GMC Jimmy where to my delight was a beautiful yellow bow with a brand spanking new power sprayer attached to the bottom of it! I’m talking Troy Built here guys, (name brands deserve attention), 2550 PSI, (the bigger the numbers, the tougher the tool), and lots of accessories, (little toys to make your big toys seem more important). So there is stand, coffee in hand gazing at my newly acquired prize. It’s a dandy let me tell ya. Why I can water my moms flowers on her back porch from my back yard, and that’s a good 60 yards away! It’s really not ideal for watering plants as I discovered when I inadvertently transplanted “or power sprayed” as you might say, quite a few annuals from one flower bed to another without even touching them! I do see a possible remedy for the ground moles that have been plaguing my yard recently though, HEE HEE HEE. The sentimental part that accompanies this story is the love I sensed from my children as they sacrificed their own resources to give me joy. There are a lot of Dads out there and I in no way think of myself as the best dad in the world, but for some strange reason, my kids think I’m an alright guy.
Maybe it’s because Joe, my oldest moved out recently, or perhaps because Stephanie will be getting married in a few weeks and moving away herself, that I am reminded of the incredible reality of my influence on their lives. I pray it was as it should have been, I pray that it has given them the spiritual and moral foundation they need for life. It’s sobering because its finished for the most part. My influence I mean. It’s a done deal now, I can’t change it. The way I have lived before their eyes has forever taken its shape in their hearts and their memories. It’s to late to change it now. The Apostle Paul gives us some insight into the traits our lives should reflect. This is important because children along with a sense of innocence and curiosity, along with a built in wonder of life and an imagination that puzzles the most educated of parents, and they are entirely dependent on others! We the parents are the others! Paul lists for us in 1 Timothy 6 some things that we are to flee and some things that we are to follow. In verses 6-10 he admonishes us to flee materialism, and discontentment, “the love of money” as he describes it. Then he encourages us to follow a list of attributes in verse 11. Listen, “and follow after righteousness, Godliness, faith, Love, patience and meekness.” Follow Righteousness, “ right standing before a Holy God. Follow Godliness, the traits of a true Christ follower. Faith, a lifestyle of God reliance instead of self-reliance. Love, why? Because your affections will likely become the affections of your children. Patience, “Road Rage, need I say more?” Lastly Meekness, without fanfare humbly finding and enjoying the person God created you to be. You may wonder why this is important. It’s important because you and I get one shot at this parenting stuff, and we for their sakes can’t afford to blow it. Someone wrote, His little arms crept round my neck, and then I heard him say. Four simple words I can’t forget, four words that made me pray. They turned a mirror on my soul, on secrets no one knew; They startled me; I hear them yet: Said he, “I want to be like you!”
From now on or until I tear it up, every time I use my power washer I will think of my children’s love for their old dad. I don’t know about you but I want to look back with the confidence that I have done me best to fulfill the Daddy Assignment that God has given me. In less than two weeks from this writing I will walk a beautiful young lady down the aisle and utter those immortal words… “Her mother and I”, I will kiss her on the cheek and my little girl will become a married woman. I want to look her in the eye with no regrets knowing that I have avoided the things I should have and that I have followed the things I should have as she looked on at my life. The choices she makes for the rest of her life will have been in part influenced by what she has seen in me. Lord may I always deserve the love she and Joe have for me. Well I’ve gotta run, those pesky ground moles don’t know it yet, but there’s a flood a comin!

MY, DIDN’T SHE LOOK BEAUTIFUL….

The last six month’s or so our home has been focused on one particular event and one only. The upcoming wedding of our Daughter Stephanie Ann to a fine young man by the name of T. J. Stidham. Through grade school, high school, and then college they journeyed together, dating only for the past 4 or 5 years, then on June 30th they became husband and wife together before God and a wonderful company of family and friends. It was a glorious day. The church was filled to capacity; the decorations were all in place. The music was playing, the ushers were ushering and then the moment arrived. I beheld her, standing in the vacant hallway, the last in a line of beauty. The bridesmaids, and flower girls were being escorted in and then there were just two, this beautiful bride and myself. And was she ever beautiful! Takes her beauty after her mother I’ve always said, “Thank you Lord!” As I looked at this ravishing beauty in her long flowing white dress I was struck by a fleeting thought. The dress, that dress that was so painstakingly sought for, that dress that was hand picked by her, that dress that was fitted, and styled just for her and her alone wasn’t chosen for my eyes to behold. In fact all those trips to the dress store for sizing, alterations and just the right accessories, didn’t involve my opinion or me. I do remember being present a month or so back for a fitting and oh how she looked as she tried on the dress and stood in front of an array of mirrors. Observing each hemline, and each tuck of the snowy white material. Stephanie was engrossed in ever detail of the garment. But as I stood there with this breathtaking beauty on my arm I was reminded that all the effort in looking perfect in every way wasn’t for me, it was for the fine young man who was awaiting our arrival at the other end of the aisle. All the preparation, all the decisions, all the effort was for him, not us. If the many friends were not there, if the family was not gathered, even if Terri and I were nowhere around. It would have been OK, because the bride and the groom were all that mattered, “except for that little business of signing the marriage license, they would have needed me for that!”
The apostle Paul noted in Ephesians talking about the bride, or the church being presented to the groom, Jesus Christ. 5:27, “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” I was reminded again on Steph’s wedding day that there is a valid reason to live a Godly life in an otherwise ungodly world. The scriptures are rich with warnings and admonitions of reasons for us to be prepared to meet the Lord one day ourselves. Yes we are to love the one who died for our sins; yes we are to obey His will in all that we do.
Listen to the apostle John in 1 John 3:1-3 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” I’m sure that my little girl was a bit apprehensive looking forward to that moment when the back doors would swing open and she would begin that walk down the aisle she has always dreamed of. So to does everyone one ponder at some point in their lives what it will be like that moment when the doors of eternity will swing open and we shall see the Lord face to face. Much preparation should go into that moment, a lifetime still may seem not long enough, but be well assured, that at that moment you will want no regrets. I once read of an elderly preacher who was rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. "Pastor," said the man, "something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There's been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he's just a boy." The minister listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling. "I feel it all," he replied, "but God knows I've tried to do my duty." On that day the minister's heart was heavy as he stood before his flock. As he finished the message, he felt a strong inclination to resign. After everyone else had left, that one boy came to him and asked, "Do you think if I worked hard for an education, I could become a preacher--perhaps a missionary?" Again tears welled up in the minister's eyes. "Ah, this heals the ache I feel," he said. "Robert, I see the Divine hand now. May God bless you, my boy. Yes, I think you will become a preacher." Many years later an aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles invited him to their homes. He had added many souls to the church of Jesus Christ, reaching even some of Africa's most savage chiefs. His name was Robert Moffat, the same Robert who years before had spoken to the pastor that Sunday morning in the old Scottish kirk. Lord, help us to be faithful. Then give us the grace to leave the results to you. F.B Meyer once said, “Faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention.” May you find yourself prepared when the doors swing open for you may we as well look beautiful for our Lord.

Tangled webs

I love summertime, not the intense heat, but summertime in general. The flowers, the smell of fresh cut hay, the mornings, oh I love the mornings. Sitting on the breezeway swing sipping on hot coffee with my darling Terri by my side. Ah what a life! What I am not a real fan of in the summer months are those pesky little spider webs that I am constantly stumbling into as a walk toward my car each morning to go to work. For the life of me I cannot understand A.) How an iddy biddy spider can span such a distance and B.) Are they really trying to catch anything with these limitless single strands? They would need a little bigger cable to reel in a boy my size! Now let me say here at the offset, I don’t like spiders. I don’t really care for any of the “creeping things” God placed in our world. I do not doubt His wisdom here, I’m just not a raving fan of arachnoids. In trying to grasp a better understanding of the floating web dilemma I found my self searching the web for some info that would educate me as to the in’s and outs of this phenomenon. I have read that little spider lings are known to leap from trees with a strand of web that they are spinning which sometimes carries them to lofty heights in neighboring trees and buildings. Which would explain one of my recent encounters with a few webs that stretched from my house to the trees by my car. “I thought the little bugger started and the house, climbed down, crawled over to the tree line and reeled er in!” At any rate, even with the better understanding I am still caught by surprise and a little frustrated as I journey to my car with a steaming hot cup of java in one hand and a briefcase in the other spitting and ducking as I encounter a face full of web sandwich! By the way I can just picture the little juvenile spiderkins laughing at me as I stumble around spitting web and glaring at the tree tops.
The spiritual lesson here Tim if you don’t mind? Yeah I’m getting to it. The lesson revolves around a line in a letter the apostle Paul wrote to a church in Galatia. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1. The yoke of bondage to which Paul referred to here was the law. By only keeping and trusting in the law there was no hope of salvation, so therein their need for a real relationship with Jesus Christ. Now your yoke of bondage could be any number of things that held you captive before you met Christ. It could be anything that is possibly enticing you to recant your faith. The words bondage literally paints a picture of captivity and slavery. In other words, don’t return to what enslaved you in the past! The spider webs of your past may float by, but don't allow them to tangle you up.
A quick comparison of those little strands of aggravation to the bondage of sin reminds us a few principles. The problem if sin is often that it seems insignificant or small. Years back in Our Daily Bread I read, “Imagine all the obstacles a person might have to overcome if he were to walk from New York City to San Francisco. One man who accomplished this rare achievement mentioned a rather surprising difficulty when asked to tell of his biggest hurdle. He said that the toughest part of the trip wasn't traversing the steep slopes of the mountains or crossing hot, dry, barren stretches of desert. Instead, he said, "The thing that came the closest to defeating me was the sand in my shoes." Just because it small, doesn’t mean that it cannot affect your spiritual walk. The second principle that jumps out at me is the deception of the danger factor regarding small things. Daniel Hans writes “When John Belushi died in the spring of 1983 of an overdose of cocaine and heroin, a variety of articles appeared, including one in U.S. News and World Report, on the seductive dangers of cocaine: "It can do you no harm and it can drive you insane; it can give you status in society and it can wreck your career; it can make you the life of the party and it can turn you into a loner; it can be an elixir for high living and a potion for death." Like all sin, there's a difference between the appearance and the reality, between the momentary feeling and the lasting effect. Small things can be a hindrance or can even be deadly. Good advice from Paul wouldn’t you say?
One story that stands out to me is of and old preacher that was praying at the alter with one of his church members. This particular member had come often calling out to God asking Him to remove the cobwebs from their life. The wise old preacher who had become a little weary of the same request cried out to the Lord as they prayed together once again, “Lord don’t just clean out the cobwebs, Kill That Spider!” Now I may not be able to fix my problem of a steady diet of spider webs for breakfast, but each of us can trust the Lord to kill the spiders of influence that spin the webs which could entangle our lives. Now, where’s that can of Raid?