"Don't Mess With Mary!"

Last Friday afternoon I had the privilege of helping to celebrate the life of Mary Chapman. Very few of you reading this blog will know who Mary Chapman was because her circle of influence was pretty localized and limited. Let me tell you just a bit about Mary.



Mary was born in southern West Virginia in 1922 and moved to our little town in 1964. She worked several years at our local Eastern States Hospital and befriended hundreds of people who were confined to these quarters. She retired from her employment in 1987, but not from life! Mary was extremely active in our local church family until her health caused her to slow down rapidly. She seldom missed a service with the faithful help of her two daughters.



But the above is not the "real" Mary Chapman story. You see, Mary had a will about her...a very strong will! Mary knew what Mary wanted and very little would deter from accomplishing that which she desired. One young "robber to be" found out that Mary's desire to keep her purse caused him a bit of embarrassment! That's right, when she was 81 years of age, a young man decided that he would steal her purse, but Mary had different ideas! With a very strong voice, she reminded him, "I have a cane for you and I will use it!" The would-be robber fled "purse-less!" He learned quickly that you don't mess with Mary!



Another time we were having a campaign at church in some of the hottest weather imaginable for the month of May. We were hitting the streets to see how we could serve our neighbors! Mary went out the first day (she was now 82 years old) and worked "like a soldier!" I asked her the next day to stay inside where it was cool and her response was short and curt, "No, sir. I am going out with the others!" Like the would-be robber, I did not mess with Mary.



I wonder what makes the difference in people? Is it heredity? Environment? Teaching? Oh, maybe it is a bit of all three! The fact is Mary knew what she wanted and she went out to get it! The amazing thing is that what she "wanted" was not what many others would want...she wanted to do what God wanted her to do! And, you don't mess with that!



I wish all of you could have known Mary Chapman because you would have been a better person for having done so!



I know I am!

"Being God? What's That Like?"

I am wondering this morning what it must be like to be God. When you love everyone equally as much whether they are the "salt of the earth" or absolutely rotten, how does that work? When those that are so unlovable often react better than those who profess "their love for everyone," which do you appreciate more? When some folk perform legalistically every small word of a command and others totally ignore the most obvious, with whom are you the most disturbed? Sometimes it must be tough to be God!


After considering the above for a brief few moments, reality surfaced! I "know" what it is like to be God! That's right, I do not have to wonder because I already know! Let me explain...


I grew up hearing folk say that God came to earth in the "form" of Jesus (seemingly ignoring the fact that Jesus IS God!) to discover what it was like to be human. Now, as a child I was satisfied to accept that premise, but the older I got the more I realized that someone had missed a very, very important point. For God to be God, He had to know everything, right? Therefore, He had to know what it was like to be human without having to "come to this earth," right? Oops, the former premise has serious faults!

The fact is that Jesus did not come to earth to find out what it was like to be human, but he came to show us what it was like to be God! Does that not make more sense? I would never have known what it was like to be God without Jesus' demonstration of "God-likeness!" Someone noted, "Jesus put skin on God!"


This demonstration of being godly was highlighted by Jesus' service to others! Even though many equate being "God-like" with barking out orders for others to perform, it really is being on bended knee cleaning up the messes made by others! The custodian cleaning up some human filth is more like God than the one standing tall and telling others what he wants them to do.


So, as I wrote earlier, I "know" what it is like to be God...it is ministering to others!

"Don't Blame The Ostrich!"

I find adages to be fascinating and enjoy discovering the origins of such. I was wondering a little while ago about the familiar, "Burying your head in the sand." We have all heard this adage and have probably used it to describe someone that deliberately refuses to see the facts in some situation. Often when a person denies that a certain problem exists, someone will chime, "He is just burying his head in the sand!"

The origin of this statement is attributed to the habit of ostriches burying their heads in the sand when an enemy approaches. It is said that they bury their heads because they believe if they cannot see the possible attacker then the attacker cannot see them! Now, that sounds like the practice of a very stupid animal which is the charge leveled against ostriches. It is claimed by some that the brain of an ostrich (and, for the record, all types of birds) is so small they cannot help be mentally challenged. The fact is the exact opposite is true! The brains of aviaries are much larger than other animals' brains when contrasted to the body size of each.

So, why are ostriches given the "credit" for being the source for this adage? It is highly possible that this criticism is attached to them because of their habit of lying on the ground to make themselves inconspicuous to an approaching threat. They do not bury their heads in sand nor in bushes as some suggest! It might come from the way they lower their heads to eat, but when you are shaped like an ostrich you have few other means of eating, right?

My point in today's blog is that many folk, unlike the ostrich, do deny the truth my deliberately concealing it from themselves. It is the old, "ignorance is bliss," mentality! If I don't know what is true then I am not responsible to it! We all know that this is not true! Just because we do not understand the "law of gravity" does not make us immune to its effects, right? Not knowing the speed limit is not an acceptable excuse when approached by a highway officer!

Why do we seem to think that this principle works in other ways? Probably so we do not have to accept the blame for failed efforts. It is this denying of facts that causes marriages to fail, economies to flounder, and countries to be overcome! Not knowing the facts will never excuse poor judgment nor failed attempts!

The same principle applies to our relationship to God's will! Ignorance is no excuse! Since God has revealed His will for us through the Bible, we have no excuse for not knowing what His will is, right? We should make every effort to discover His will for us and, also, make ever effort to share His will with others! Jesus said that it would his word that will judge us in the last day, so there you have it! Ignorance is not bliss!

My friend, keep your head out of the sand so you can see approaching dangers, imperfect examples, and hazardous highways! By doing so, you will be able to see the blessings that come from a life dedicated to God!

"Hey, what about me?"

In every mixed group of people there are always some very, very special ones, right? It could be that older friend who has such wonderful experiences to share with anyone who will listen and who enjoys sharing those same stories over and over again. Or, it could be that young couple who are beginning their marital journey and everything is new, refreshing, and exciting. What of that recent college graduate who is trying to secure her first employment in a market that is not as strong as it should be and she is worried about where this will lead. The list of people who enrich our lives is endless and each one's story is a precious part of our mental library.

There is one group of people that sometimes go overlook...quite unintentionally! Remember, as a child when we were told that we "should be seen and not heard?" That was a pretty tall order for some of us because we always had something to say...maybe not important to everyone, but, at least, to us. It was pretty frustrating to be ignored by all the "big" people around you, wasn't it? I wonder if we learned anything about that feeling of frustration.

I am blessed to have a lot of "kids" around me every week! Nope, I am not a teacher that is surrounded by children six hours a day, but I do get to interact with a lot of neat children two or three times a week...at church! You see, I am "Mr. Bill" to a pretty large (and getting larger) number of little gals and guys. I try to have something to say to each of them each time we meet if it is nothing more than a compliment regarding what they are wearing. (You can always tell when their mother's let them pick out the "uniform of the day!") But, you always tell them how good they look, right?

Last Sunday morning as I was greeting folk as they left the worship time, one little guy got my attention and I began scruffing his hair, calling him by name, and maybe a little tickling in his ribs. He laughed and went on as I spoke to his father, but he returned for another scruffing, tickling and a "How you doing, Elijah?" As I turned to some of the adults who were exiting, I heard a sweet little voice ask, "What about me?" I immediately recognized the voice, but continued greeting the "big" people, but another "Uh...what about me?" was heard. This time a bit more forceful and a bit louder! I turned and looked down and there stood Stephanie, the sweetest and cutest nine-year-old you could ever meet. Again, with a bit of smile, "What about me?" I knew she was waiting on her weekly hug from "Mr. Bill!" So, what was I to do, but hold up the line and give her a squeeze?

I relate this to you because I want you to consider the children of the world! This is a very tough world into which they have been born. Oh, I know their youthful exuberance does not allow them to know how tough things are for us "big" people, but they will find out...find out soon enough! Please, take some deliberate time for the little guys and gals of this world! Let them know that they are loved, important, and a blessing!

I am thinking of the passage in the Bible that says, "...and a little child shall lead them!" I have learned much about life from the "little ones" and some of those lessons have been difficult, but all of them have been valuable!

Remember, Jesus said, "...of such is the kingdom of heaven!" Wow! He never said that about any of us "big" people!

"I Won't Be Attending This Party! How about you?"

Have you ever received an invitation to a party about which you were unsure? A party that you were not real sure that you wanted to attend! No, it was not because of the people having the party because you loved them very much. It was not because you did not want to dress up as your favorite character because it was not that kind of an event. The timing fit your schedule and the place was not far from your home. The problem was that you knew the party was going to be a "pity party" for the host or hostess! That's was the only kind of "party" they understood!

I wonder how many of us have been trapped into such a situation? I know you have!

Those who host such parties are overcome by their personal concerns. Those concerns may be health related, financial shortfalls, spousal abuse or abandonment...the list is long and difficult. These folk have known tremendous failures of one kind or another and have been overcome by the enormity of the problem. They never intended to be addicted to "self pity" anymore than a drug addict intended to be taken in by cocaine or heroin. It happened! How? Generally, it started as a kind word or gentle gesture on the part of someone feeling another's pain. That pain is demonstrated once, twice or more and it felt good to the hurting person. It felt so good that more of it was desired and sought. Within in a matter of time it felt so good that only a larger dose of the sympathy would satisfy the individual's need and at that point the addiction to pity was set.

With a loving heart others joined the party and began sharing their sorrow for the host of this "self-pity party!" They meant well, but were only compounding the addiction. What was needed was some "straight talk" regarding overcoming the addiction! But, what does one say?

Jesus asked a man one time if he wanted to get well, even though he knew the man had been lying on a mat for thirty-eight years due to some form of paralysis. Did the man need a miracle for his body? Uh...maybe! Did he need a miracle for his mind? Probably! Jesus simply said with great force, "Get up! Take up your mat and walk!" Straight forward talk! No touching! No spittle made from the dirt! Just...simple instructions to a man that was playing the blame game so common to those engulfed in self-pity! What happened? The man got up and walked!

There are those among us who need no more addictive empathy, but a panacea for their personal feelings of pity! Help them overcome this addiction! Encourage them to seek help for the addiction!

Remember, a "pity junkie" does not need to be introduced to a supplier of this deadly poison!

"I Want To Pray...NOW!"

I wonder what we would do if a little lad expressed a desire to pray...RIGHT NOW! Would you say, "Well, I guess it depends upon where we were and what we were doing?" Maybe so, but I want to tell you about a very "special" little guy. My buddy, Brady, is probably six years old (I am guessing about his age) and I was privileged to count him among my friends while his father served in the military near Williamsburg, Virginia. At one time, my favorite "Brady story" was him trying to figure our what to call me. You see, most of our kids at church call me, "Mr. Bill," but Brady was torn between "Mr. Churchman" and "Mr. Preacher." I got one or the other of these most of the time!


Just today, I got word from his mother, Montie, about another, much more precious, "Brady story." Let me share it with you.



Yesterday as Brady and his parents left church (they now live in the Atlanta, GA area), Brady stopped them in the hallway and said, boldy, "I want to pray. Now." Remember, the opening question of this blog? He and his parents stopped right where they were, bowed their heads, and little Brady prayed, "Dear Lord, Thank you for Taylor, and Jack, Lee Ann, Thomas (...a pause...) Jefferson, and Martin Luther King. Amen." Now, I don't know Taylor, Jack, or Lee Ann, but they were important enough to Brady to include in a list of some pretty important people.


As I read Montie's note, my heart melted! No, not for Brady, but for the rest of us. We often take prayer for granted and never think of its importance. How many times have you wanted to stop and pray, but decided to go on with what you were doing and bring up this matter in your nightly prayers. Not Brady...he wanted to pray NOW! Isn't that what we need to do? An hour or a few hours may be too long to wait! We may forget what was on our minds, forget the person that we needed to remember, or disaster strikes before the sun sets. When is the "right" time to pray? NOW! Just ask, Brady.


Dear friend of mine, prayer is a powerful display of faith on the part of God's children, but it is, also, a powerful source of strength! Please...please, don't forget to pray NOW!

"It's My Job!"

Sometimes I wonder why people complain about their jobs! Oh, I understand why a construction worker would complain about working out in freezing temperatures or why a chef would get tired of the smell of grease all day. There are probably some jobs that are a bit boring due to repeating the exact same chore all day long and others are frustrating as you deal with dissatisfied customers. But, why do some seem to complain about a job that is exciting, rewarding and envied by many, many others?



Do you know who Lin Hao is? Think real hard because many of you have heard his name and have seen him on television (or maybe a few who were lucky enough to have seen him in person). Most of the world first saw Lin Hao about six months ago on television! Does that help any? Okay, he was the little nine-year-old Chinese boy that carried a small version of the flag of China during the Olympics. He was dwarfed by 7'6" Yao Ming as they led the Chinese athletes into the stadium during the opening ceremonies. Did you watch long enough to know who Lin Hao was and why he was leading the parade of 639 Chinese athletes?



He was a survivor of the May 12, 2008 earthquake that hit China. The tremors that caused the death of 69,000 people brought Lin Hao the chance to teach the world a great lesson. You see, he was trapped in a primary school building that had collapsed with all the children inside. He struggled and got out of the rubble although suffering a head injury (the scar from the injury was obvious during the parade). However, even after escaping, he went back in and led two of his classmates to safety who were doomed to death unless someone helped them, but in crawled their hero, Lin Hoa.



The story does not end with the rescues! Lin Hao was interviewed frequently during the Olympics and always answered the same way when ask about his heroics. His response was always, "I am the class leader and a hall monitor. It was my job to look after my classmates!" That's it...he was doing his job!



Friends, we need to understand that we all have a job to do. It may not be the most exciting job in the world nor one that will grab publicity, but it is our job! We need to do that job with pride, enthusiasm, and dignity. At a time when thousands are losing their jobs everyday, we ought to be grateful to have a job to do, right?



So whether you go to a school, restaurant, factory, hospital, or construction site...do your job! Why? Because that's what we all must do...our job!



Make today a profitable day of work and you will rest more comfortably tonight!