PastorTim

“THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME….”

According to the small screen on the back of the seat in front of me as I write this I am cruising in a Boeing 767 at an altitude of 31,944 feet and at an airspeed of 544 mph somewhere over the central part of Brazil. I’m pretty sure the Amazon River is somewhere beneath me at this very moment. It won’t be long now until I can wave out my window and Hugo Chavez as we pass over Venezuela. I’m sure he’ll be watching, hah! The point is I’m headed home. Home to my sweet wife Terri, my beautiful daughter Stephanie & favorite son-in-law TJ. Home to my wonderful church family at Plymouth Heights and of course, my home. There’s no place like home! Dorothy had it right when she clicked her scarlet slippers together and uttered those famous words “There’s no place like home!” Home to my bed, to my favorite chair, my workshop and my coffee! I have really had a great week of working and preaching in the very beautiful country of Brazil but now I’m headed home. Something about home isn’t there? Nowhere else on earth where you feel the way you do there. Nowhere else on earth where you are treated quite the same way, but home! Now where else you can relax, be yourself and feel truly, well, at home but home!

 

This has been a long trip and this is a long flight, and did I mention that I’m headed home? Not long after we took off from Sao Paulo I began filling out the customs forms for my arrival in about eight hours or so. As I worked on the form it got me to thinking about what I needed to declare when I arrive in Atlanta and go through customs. Not much for me, just a few gifts that fall far below the limit of what I need to declare. But what about our final destination? What do you have to declare on your journey through life? What’s you baggage look like?  Are you ready to have it inspected? C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity writes, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.” Peter wrote to us, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;” What does our spiritual passport say about how we are to be found. Worth giving some thought to Eh?

 

Lets look again at the word home for a minute since Dorothy brought it up. David in the Shepherds psalm closed the chapter with this thought, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Did you catch the word dwell? To dwell in this sense means literally, to be at home. Isn’t that great! The Shepherd is the Lord and if we know the Lord, when we finally get to our destination we will be at home. What a comforting thought for those who have lost loved ones to death, think of it, they’re at home! What a thought for us as Christ followers, when we get to heaven, we’ll feel just like we are at home! So, where’s home to you? What destination does your life’s passport point you toward?  I’m not just thinking in the temporary sense here. I don’t mean your address, or what you pay taxes on. But your real home, in eternity. Where you are headed when this life is done. In one of his lighter moments, Benjamin Franklin penned his own epitaph. He didn't profess to be a born-again Christian, but it seems he must have influenced by Paul's teaching of the resurrection of the body. Here's what he wrote: The Body of B. Franklin, Printer, Like the Cover of an old Book, Its contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Guilding, Lies here, Food for Worms, But the Work shall not be wholly lost: For it will, as he believ'd, Appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended by the Author. Whether or not Franklin was a believer in Christ or not, he sure had good insight into what happens when we die as a Christian.

In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain's motto for centuries. Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Thus their motto was "Ne Plus Ultra," which means "No More Beyond." The word being torn away by the lion is "ne" or "no," making it read "Plus Ultra." Columbus had proven that there was indeed "more beyond."  What’s beyond for you? Are you headed home? According to Dorothy and the bible, there’s no place like it!

"On The Way Home!"

"Coffee fields in the background..... I Love Brazil!"

"With a student from the Bible College in Campinas"

"Hard at work, did I tell you it was HOT!!!"

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME?

I write this early in the morning, Sunday morning to be exact from a little town north of Campinas Brazil. I will preach here at the Bethesda Church of the Nazarene, which is located on a side street, off the beaten path up on an almost hidden hillside. Though the church may appear hidden from view it is in no way hidden from the hearts of the church members. Last night I was honored to attend a wedding at the church, which brought out no less than 300 people, and possibly more. It was an interesting event to me to say the least as there are a few things that are done a little differently in a wedding ceremony here in Brazil. First off, all the children and the families are a part of the ceremony. Everyone in the wedding party including the five best men came in first with their wives and were seated in prominent positions in the front. Finally the groom who escorted his mother entered and waited for his bride. Yet more children came down the aisle and finally the bride made her entrance. When it was time to begin only the bride and groom stood facing the minister. After introductions were given there was a sermon, I mean a real sermon addressed just to the two of them. After the rings were exchanged the bride and groom followed by two prominent couples who were in the wedding party went to the side of the platform and the wedding document was filled out and witnessed. There were some special songs, a slide show, followed by the pronouncement of marriage. Then the couple greeted the family members one by one and dismissed them down the aisle. When that was over, he kissed her and the place went wild, talk about a celebration! Then as they walked down the aisle, the pastor let them get about half way and called to them, they turned to him with an eagerness not to miss his parting words, which though I couldn’t understand,  I am sure were words admonishing them to put the Lord first in their marriage. The entire process took around three hours but you know, no one got upset or in a hurry! It was amazing. What great memories they will have of this day! It got me to thinking about all the things we rush through in life. The psalmist reminds us “He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Be still and know that I am God, did you catch that? Could it be that we miss God or what he has to say to us whenever we find our lives moving constantly at warp speed?

Monte Unger wrote, “We have time for such inanimate things as pieces of mail, vast sprawling shopping centers, the television program which starts at 7:30. But what about relationships with people? Isn't that a great deal of what life is all about--loving other people? Remember Jesus? How he raced about, hurrying from one city to another, collecting great crowds on the way to give them a few minutes of hurried heaven-data, then dashing on to the next place? No, that is not the picture of Jesus the New Testament gives. He had time for people. In a crowd, a woman touched his robe. Lots of people were probably pushing against him, touching his robe, but he discerned the urgency in this particular touch. He stopped, taking valuable time for this "interruption." His disciples were full of fire and computer-like- efficiency. They wanted to get on with the task of getting something done, even if they didn't always know what that "something" was. Once a bunch of small, grimy-fingered kids came along and wanted to climb on the Master's lap. "Get those kids out of here," thought the goal-oriented disciples. "No, let them stay. Let's enjoy them and let them enjoy us," thought the true-goal-oriented Man from heaven who knew and expressed the great worth of the individual. The next time a person "interrupts" you, think not of your work and your deadlines; rather, think of that person's needs, of his covert compliment in desiring to spend a few moments with you. Your meeting may be a significant point in each of your lives, because it is an encounter with another person God has created. You may impart something crucial to his fulfillment--or he to yours. Paul prayed: "May God, who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement, help you to live in complete harmony with each other--each with the attitude of Christ toward the other" Are you caught up on your time-tithe?” What a thought, your time tithe!

"Pics from the wedding last night"

Brazil is full of wonderful people of whom I have been blessed to meet many. I have gleaned much from these precious friends that I will carry with me for the rest of my days. Their passion for following Christ and doing so much with every available resource along with their enthusiasm in worshipping God and attending church. But as well, I desire to imitate their wise use of time in my own lifestyle as much as possible. Carl Sandburg wrote, “Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you.” So Lord help me to take time to appreciate all the blessings you have given me, help me to take time to listen to you more and respond when you speak to my heart. Lord help me to spend my coin wisely! Gotta go, time for church!

The bride and her father make their grand entrance..

With some of the great Christ Followers at the Bethesda Church!

THE ISSUE OF INFLUENCE

I have always enjoyed the study of leadership whether it be church or business related it has always been something that has intrigued me. I guess it’s because of the years I spent in retail management combined with the last twelve years of my life working with people everyday in ministry. Here’s the great part, I love it! I love people! I aspire to be a Wal-Mart Greeter even! What is fascinating is not so much the cultures influence on people, but our influence on the culture, WOW! I used to try and influence people to buy things; it’s kinda of the same now in ministry as I am trying to convince people to take advantage the greatest gift the world will ever know. Now back to the subject of influence. Pollster George Barna once said, “Leadership is the ability to put the plans into practice, and to accomplish the specified objectives through the skillful management of people, time, and tangible resources. A good leader is one who is able to motivate people; one who is capable of making good decisions, even under pressure or in conditions of uncertainty; one who can guide people through actions as well as words.” Now the role of leadership in our nation has faltered in many ways and in many places from Wall Street to Washington, that oughta get an AMEN! But most importantly I think it has faltered in the home and in the church.  

 

Think for a minute with me about our INFLUENCE ON OTHERS

Biblically speaking influence centers on Knowing and doing right … is to be instructed to others. Teach: (lawmad) goad; diligently instruct After giving the law to Moses and having him instruct the people on how to live according to God’s Word … came the instruction … “and you shall teach

It means to Diligently seek out … Deut 13:4  “ye shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. It means to Diligently keep … Deut 6:17  “ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.”

It means to Diligently teach … Deut 6:7 “and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thy riseth up.” The greatest form of teaching I think is by example.

Listen to 1 Corinthians 4:16 “Wherefore I beseech ye, be followers of me”

Let us be people who give it all you got to teach God’s Word at every avenue that is made available to us.

The truth is people will readily follow any example. Two men who worked for the gas company in New York City were reading the gas meters in the alley ways of the buildings. The younger of the two had been boasting about his ability to outrun his older co-worker, who was now in his early 40’s. Accepting the challenge, he decided they should race back to the truck, which was parked at the other end of the block. Both men broke into a all-out sprint down the long alley. While running neck-and-neck, the two men heard someone running right on their heels and breathing very hard. When they looked around, they were astonished to see a 75-year-old woman keeping up with them. They immediately stopped and asked if she was all right and why she was running after them. She replied, “Well, while looking out my kitchen window I saw you two men reading my gas meter, then suddenly begin sprinting to the other end of the alley. I figured I had better give it all I’ve got to get out of here too!” How and why are lives following you?

Years ago the communist government in China commissioned an author to write a biography of Hudson Taylor with the purpose of distorting the facts and presenting him in a bad light. They wanted to discredit the name of this consecrated missionary of the gospel. As the author was doing his research, he was increasingly impressed by Taylor's saintly character and godly life, and he found it extremely difficult to carry out his assigned task with a clear conscience. Eventually, at the risk of losing his life, he laid aside his pen, renounced his atheism, and received Jesus as his personal Savior. Whether we realize it or not, our example leaves an impression on others. So who will set the example, who will lead the charge and stand for Godliness in an ungodly world? There is a story about four people. Their names are EVERYBODY, SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, and NOBODY. The story goes that there was a very important job that needed to be done. EVERYBODY was asked to do this job. Now ANYBODY could have done this job but NOBODY was willing to do it. Then SOMEBODY got angry about this because it was EVERYBODY'S job to do it. Well, EVERYBODY thought that ANYBODY could have done it! But NOBODY realized that EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY for not doing the job. Still NOBODY did it. The arguing got worse and finally NOBODY would talk to ANYBODY and EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY. What a shame that ANYBODY could have done the job and EVERYBODY could have helped SOMEBODY but yet NOBODY did it! May we be God’s influence in every life we touch. I suppose I had better start practicing, “Hello and welcome to Wal-Mart”