Author: TomNorvell

Vol. 17 No. 20 | May 18, 2014
There is a golf course, or should I say, there was a golf course in our community. The course was once a fairly popular private golf course and country club which included a club house, swimming pool, and tennis courts. The course closed at the end of last year.

Although the decision to close the course had been made more than a year before the actual closing, the maintenance workers had done a good job of taking care of the course right up to the closing. Fairways were mowed. Greens were cared for. Sand traps never were great, but they tried to take care of them. That was then. That was less than six months ago.

To see the course now one has to remind oneself that six months ago it was a functioning golf course. The hard lingering winter, heavy spring rains, and lack of care has transformed the course into an abandoned forgotten tract of land that may someday be turned into a park or green space. The downward transformation did not take long.

In a matter of months fairways have been covered with weeds, great clusters of clover, and wind blown trees. Fallen limbs and trees that once would have been cleaned up have been left along cart paths and the edge of fairways. Greens are now filled with weeds and gopher trails. Carl Spackler where are you?

For a golfer who enjoyed an occasional round on the old course and taking photographs of the beautiful colors of fall this is a sad sight. But there are other things that can take a downward turn quickly when the proper care and attention are discontinued.

When a couple fails to give their marriage appropriate time and attention the relationship can begin to suffer quickly.

When one stops giving attention to his physical condition — stops eating healthy foods, stops exercising, stops getting proper rest — his body will suffer and serious health problems can develop.

When parents fail to give their children the love and protection and security they need the development of the child can be disrupted and delayed.

When an employee fails to give his or her job the attention it needs not only can his or her position with the company be jeopardized, but the company itself can be affected.

When leaders of a church fail to give the love and care that the people under their care need and deserve the whole body will suffer.

When one fails to feed his soul with spiritual food and receive the nourishment of a healthy spiritual family he will grow weak and vulnerable and easy prey for attacks from the Enemy.

This passage from the New Testament book of Hebrews emphasizes the importance of providing care and encouragement for one another:

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. (Hebrews 3:12-14, NIV)
Now the questions. Are you taking care of yourself? Are you feeding your soul? Are you nurturing your relationships? Are you fulfilling your role as a fellow believer? If you are, good! Please continue and look for more opportunities to increase your efforts. If you are not, please consider this a warning from someone who cares for your soul — even though I may not know you — I care. You need to take care of yourself and your relationships…especially your relationship with the Lord. It doesn’t take long to see the negative consequences.
Please start today. Please do not stop. Please look around at those you love and if they need your help, your support, your love, or your encouragement, give it. If you need these same things from them, ask for them.

It doesn’t take long.

Tom

 

Vol. 17 No. 18 | May 11, 2014

When she first got married having kids was not high on her priorities. In fact, she wanted little to do with the idea. There was fear. There was concern. She had very little confidence that she was capable of being a mother. There was no rush. She was a wife and she prayed.

She was good with kids. Other people trusted her with their children and she always seemed do well when she interacted with children and seemed to enjoy the interaction. However, when anyone asked, “So when are you going to have children?” She would say, “I’m not sure.” She prayed.

Five years into the marriage she was ready…or as ready as any new parent can ever be. She was a wife who became a mother.

When she held her son for the first time you would have never known there was a time when she was not so sure about having children. Some of the fears were still there. “What if I do something wrong?” “Do I have what it takes to be a good mother?” She continued to pray.

She was protective. Some would say too protective…over-protective, but can a mother really be too protective? She senses things others do not. She sees things others do not. She hears things others do not. She knows things others do not. I suppose she has a right and responsibility to be at least a little too protective. She had become a mother, the world changed, and she loved it. She prayed more.

Nine years later she gave birth to a little girl. The world changed again. I suppose having a daughter brings a whole new set of challenges for a mother. You remember what you were like as a daughter and probably the negative things stand out more than the positive. You do not want to make the same mistakes your mother made and you want to make sure you do the right things that your mother did. So, she prayed.

With both children there were some rough times. There were some challenging times. There were some extremely frightening times. There were times of questioning her decisions and second guessing the decisions she had made. There were times of sadness. She prayed through them all.

There were more good times. There were more times of ease. There were more times of great confidence and trust that the Lord was leading and that He would see that these children were protected. There were more times when the times of confusion and fear turned into times of assurance and affirmation. There were more times of great joy. She prayed prayers of joy and hope.

That son grew to become a confidently gifted young man with a strong relationship with the Lord. That daughter grew to become a beautiful and talented young woman who loves the Lord with all her heart. According to God’s plan they journeyed a path that led them to a wife and a husband who loves the Lord and loves them. She’s a mother and a MIL (Mother-in-Law). Her prayers were answered.

News came that those two couples were to become parents. “Can this really be happening?” “Can we really be so blessed?” Again she prayed.

In due time two little girls came into her world. Tears, screams, screeches, songs and jumping for joy would become the norm. “Sharing this together as a couple, as parents, and with our children is just such beautiful thing!” She prayed prayers of joy over how God had exceeded her expectations. She’s a mother, a MIL, and now a Yei-Yei.

She is a woman who became my wife who became a mother to our children who became a MIL to our DIL and our SIL, who became a Yei-Yei. She has prayed through it all and is still praying.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV)

Thank You God for answering her prayers and for answering my prayers, and for going far beyond our wildest imaginations and expectations.

Kim, I love you. Happy Mother’s Day!

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2014. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

By: Tom Norvell

Vol. 17 No. 18 | May 5, 2014

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust;
I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4, NIV)

Psalm 56 expresses why David is regarded as an uncomplaining, meek dove, driven from his native home to wander in exile. He appears to be disturbed by both domestic and foreign foes. David appeals confidently to God, recites his complaints, and closes with joyful and assured anticipations of God’s continued help. [Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), Ps 56:1–13.]

This short portion of the psalm consists of only thirty-one words but offers some important insights on how to deal with fear and unpleasant circumstances.

First, admit your fears. David states, “When I am afraid.” He does not say, “I’m not afraid, but if I were this is how I would deal with it.” He simply says, “When I am afraid.” Can you admit your fear? Are you afraid for other people to know you are afraid? That could be a problem. Will you admit your fears?

Second, when you are afraid, trust God. Stay in His word and trust His word. Trust His promises. Trust His promise that you can trust Him. Read the stories of God’s faithful people. Examine the lives of people who trusted God. David. Moses. Abraham. Joshua and Caleb. Peter. Paul.

Third, do not be afraid. We have already commented on how David admits his fear, and there are times when we are afraid. When we are, we muster all our strength and courage and act courageous. We call these people heroes. Even heroes, when they are being honest will admit they were afraid. No one can hurt me.

Could you write a verse of a Psalm like David? Maybe not as poetic, but here’s my attempt:

Father, there are times when I am scared. At those times, I try to trust. In my heart I do trust you, but my actions sometimes betray my lack of trust.

When I get scared, I try to read my Bible more to remind me of Your faithfulness to those who trust You. That helps. Your word and Your stories remind me that that I am not alone. Others have traveled this road before me. You provided them with strength and confidence. I believe You will do the same for me.

I will try not to be afraid. I will remind myself that You will protect me and that there is nothing that another human being can do to me that will separate me from You. I will remember what You said in Romans 8:

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When I am afraid. I will trust You.

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 17 | April 28, 2014 

         As I write there are storms in the forecast. Not an uncommon occurrence in our part of the world during the season. The weather forecasters have been mentioning the possibility of a severe storm system coming through for several days. West of us storms are already occurring.

There is a story in Mark chapter 5 involving Jesus, His disciples, and a storm. It is in verse 35-41.

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Jesus’ disciples were afraid when the storm came. They woke Him and accused Him of not caring about their welfare. With three words, Jesus calmed the storm: “Quiet! Be still!” Then, He asked them why they were so afraid.

How do you react to storms? Not weather-related storms, but life-related storms? Do you live in fear of the storm that may happen? Are you prepared for the storms that are certain to come? What about the storms seem to come from out-of-nowhere?

This brief episode from the life of Jesus and His disciples offers are few insights into how we can prepare and survive the storms of life if or when they come.

First, remember you are not alone. The disciples had each other, of course, but more importantly they were in the same boat with Jesus. He is the one who said, “Let go over to the other side.” He knew the storm was coming. He was prepared for it. He was not afraid of it. When your storm hits, remember He is with you. He knew long before you were born that this particular storm would hit at this particular time. (Don’t ask me how He knew. He just knew.) He also knew He would get you through the storm. He did not look at the fearful disciples, tell them they were losers and step out of the boat, saying, “Good luck guys! You are on your own!” He could have. He did not. He will not.

Second, remember other storms that you have survived. Has He ever abandoned you? Has He ever left you on the angry mist? Has He ever turned away from you in disgust and left you to deal with life as best as you could? You may have felt that He had, but He has not. He will not.

Third, remember He can be trusted. He created the world. He set the wind in motion. He knows how much water is in the ocean. He knows where you are in the storm. He understands your fears. He wants you to have faith, but He knows there are times when your faith gets weak. He knows there are times when you feel like your boat is about to sink and you are all your friends are about to drown. He can be trusted even in the worst of storms.

There is a storm brewing. Or, maybe it is already raging. Or, maybe you have recently survived a storm and beaten and bruised and battered. Thank Him for taking care of you, for not leaving you, and for assuring you that He will be with you through all the storms of life.

Storms come and go. He remains forever.

Tom

A Norvell Note© Copyright 2014. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 15 | April 21, 2014

The longer I live the more convinced I am that we live a significant portion of our live in the “And Then…” phase. It began with the first disciples.

They met Jesus.

And then…He invited them to follow Him.

And then…they put their trust in this man Jesus.

And then…they left everything to follow Him.

And then…they watched Him touch people, heal people, transform people, stand firm against opposition, and reveal His true identity as the Son of God.

And then…He was arrested.

And then…He died on a cross.

And then…they were confused.

And then…they went their separate ways.

And then…they mourned and grieved and tried to makes sense of it all.

And then…they heard that the tomb was empty.

And then…they came together.

And then…they saw Him alive again.

And then…He breathed into them the Spirit of the Living God.

And then…they waited.

And then…they gathered.

And then…Peter preached.

And then…thousands of people responded.

And then…the news of what they were doing began to spread.

And then…the powers and rulers of the world tried to stop them.

And then…they continued to preach and teach the good news of Jesus.

And then…the powers and rulers of the world became more agitated and threatened them.

And then…they did not stop.

And then…the preached and taught with more courage, a stronger resolve, and greater boldness.

And then…the message of Jesus was proclaimed all over the world.

And then…the Kingdom increased.

And then…more and more and more have come to know Jesus as the story continues to be shared throughout the generations.

And then…it is our turn.
We come into the world like everyone else. Beyond our family and circle of friends there is little fanfare and the news of our arrival escapes the notice of most of the world. Our journey begins.

And then…we meet Jesus.

And then…He invites us to follow Him.

And then…we choose to follow Him.

And then…we grow and mature.

And then…we consider making decisions and choices that will determine how we live the rest of our lives.

And then…life comes at us with full force.

And then…we pray for strength.

And then…strength and power come to us through His promised Holy Spirit.

And then…we face more trials and troubles and struggles and the forces of evil.

And then…we lose a loved one.

And then…we hear of another marriage that has fallen apart.

And then…our own marriage and family experiences difficult times.

And then…we hear of another minister who has had a moral failure.

And then…we hear of another son who has wandered off into the far country.

And then…we hear of another daughter who has chosen a path that could lead her to regret or destruction.

And then…we hear of another church that has been rocked by selfishness, division and unrest.

And then…we turn to God in prayer.

And then…we pray more.

And then…we wait for Him to act.

And then…we overcome.

And then…we share our stories of how God has sustained us and strengthened us.

And then…we give testimony of God’s amazing power that has always been at work in us.

And then…others are encouraged and strengthened by the story of our walk with the Lord.

And then…they meet Jesus.
And then…God continues to be glorified.

Tom
© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 14 | April 7, 2014

Just saying the name awakens an abundance of memories. Since moving to Brunswick, Georgia in 1986 Myrleen, and Bobby, have been names used by my family to describe two people who represented the very essence of love, encouragement, generosity, and respect. Just a little over ten years ago I was honored to conduct Bobby’s funeral service, and this week I will do the same for Myrleen.

Myrleen and Bobby were members of the church where I preached. For all those in our little church Myrleen was known for her kindness, her thoughtfulness, and her desire to make sure all things were done with efficiency, excellence, and style. She could have easily been compared to the woman of Acts 9 described as, “always doing good and helping the poor” (Acts 9:36), and the woman in Mark 14 who “did what she could” (14:1-9).

That was Myrleen. She was always doing good and helping someone. She did what she could to help lady who cleaned her house. She did what she could to help lady who ironed Bobby’s shirts. She did what she could to help the young couple at church. She did what she could to help to widows. She did what she could to help anyone she came in contact with who needed help.

She loved her family. Her sons and her daughter and her grandchildren were the lights of her life. When they needed her, she was there. When they needed help, she was ready to help. She could be tough when she needed to be, but there was never a doubt that she loved.

She loved flowers…especially Daylilies. She loved having them in the house. She loved having them on the table. She loved seeing them grow around her house. And she loved sharing them with her friends.

She loved and she was loved. She loved her church family and was loved by her church family. She loved the people with whom she worked and was loved by people with whom she worked. She loved her old friends and was loved by her old friends. She loved her new friends and was love by her new friends just as much. Part of the reason she loved so much was because had experienced so much love. Part of the reason she was loved so much is because the people she loved knew the love was genuine and real.

For these many years God has blessed our family by allowing Myrleen to fill the role of substitute Grandmother to our children, and a surrogate mother to me.

She knew the Lord loved and she wanted to please Him more than anything else. Because of her strong work ethic she sometimes wondered if she had done enough to please Him and to get into heaven. When she left her frail and weary earthly body early Saturday morning there is no doubt in my mind that the Lord welcomed her into His presence and assured her that she had done what she could to help people in need and that it is now time to enjoy the reward of her labors.

Thank You Lord, for allowing Myrleen to fill a tremendously important void in my life and for letting me love and be loved by her. Rest well, Myrleen, enjoy to fruit of your good life. You will be missed and will never forget that you loved me.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2014. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 14 | April 7, 2014

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (Timothy 6:6-8, NIV).

The text says, “godliness with contentment”? One might assume that the two would be joined together in a natural way. If I am godly, wouldn’t I also be content? If I am content, doesn’t that assume some level of godliness? It could mean that, and one might assume that to be the case, but the two do not necessarily always abide together. My desires for “great gain”, whether monetary gain, a gain in respect, or an increase in power and influence may prevent me from being truly content.

Part of the reason may be found in the last two words in the sentence: great gain. If I am seeking, desiring and obsessed with “great gain”, my level of contentment may be dramatically reduced, and that, in turn, may impact my degree of godliness. The next two verses shed some light on what that is true:

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10, NIV).

The tone of The Message paints an even more graphic image:

“A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.But if it’s only money these leaders are after, they’ll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10, The Message)

In a world filled with messages of greed, selfishness, and “great gain”, contentment is not an easy achievement. But, it is possible. Consider these few steps to move toward contentment.

First, remember that “we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” At first glace that might seem easy enough. “Of course this is true!” Yet, many of us live with an attitude that says, “This stuff is mine. I earned it. I’ve had it all my life. And furthermore, I will have it all my life.” If we shift our thinking to the truth that we really did not bring it with us when we entered and we cannot take it with when we leave the world, holding on to it seems less important. A better attitude might be: “None of this is mine. It’s all a gift. It was given and can be taken away, so why should I stress over holding on to it?”

Second, admit that “bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough” is probably not how we typically think. Admitting that we usually want a little more will not change or remove the desire, but at least it is a start in the right direction. Maybe we could pray: “Lord, I wish bread on the table and shoes on our feet was enough, and maybe someday it will be, but today I want more. Help me mature to the point where that will be enough.” Be honest with yourself. Be honest with God.

Third, remind yourself that striving to get rich and stay rich is a dangerous approach to life. Notice again how The Message says it: “Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.” Jesus talked about a narrower path that is less dangerous and leads to real life.

Remember you brought nothing into the world, and you will take nothing out of it.

Admit that you’ve achieved contentment, but keep trying.

Remind yourself that you have a choice in your path: life or death.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. You can do it.

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 13 | March 31, 2014

Of the 11 million NCAA Basketball Tournament brackets submitted on ESPN’s Tournament Challenge, only 8 brackets correctly picked all 8 of the Elite Eight teams. I had one. Not one of the 8 brackets; I had one of the 8 teams in my Elite Eight. I am not very good at predicting the future.

Of the 11 million-plus NCAA Basketball Tournament brackets submitted only 612 picked the Final Four teams.

I am obviously not the only one who is not very good at predicting the results. There are a few other predictions that did not turn into reality.

“That the automobile has practically reached the limit of its development is suggested by the fact that during the past year no improvements of a radical nature have been introduced.” (Scientific American, in a 1909 report.)

“There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.” (Ken Olsen, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977)

“640K ought to be enough for anybody.” (Attributed to Bill Gates, 1981, but believed to be an urban legend.)

“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.”(Western Union internal memo, 1876.)

“We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.”
(Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962)

And a couple of my own:

“Wearing shoes without socks is really a dumb thing to do.”

“Surely gas won’t go higher than 59 cents a gallon.”

Whether making a prediction about a basketball tournament or the future of technology our record is not very good. Our lives are overrun with innovative gadgets of technology that fifty years ago would have been considered far-fetched even for science fiction literature.

God is much better at predicting the future and making promises. When He makes predictions or promises we can be certain that they will come true.

Isaiah 53 (NIV):

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind,a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence,nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong,because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Matthew 26:28 (NIV):

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Revelation 22:12-13 (NIV):

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Revelation 22:20 (NIV):

He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

We may not be very good at predicting the future, but that is okay. We may make promises that we cannot keep. God does. So, if your NCAA Basketball Tournament bracket was ruined early in the first round, you know now that life goes on. If you have seen the world around you change beyond anything you ever imagined, enjoy the advancements. When you read the promises that the Savior is coming, He offers you the forgiveness of all your sins, and that the Lord will return to gather His faithful, and we will live with Him forever, you can rest assured that His promises are true and that His predictions will come to pass.

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 12 | March 25, 2014

David says, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing.” (Psalm 37:25-26, NIV) Truths I see in these two verses:

Truth #1: I was young and now I am old. That is not a bad thing. That is not a good thing. It is just a thing. It is a part of life. There are many things about being young that makes me glad I am no longer young. There are many things about being old that makes me wish I were still young. There are many things about being old that make me really glad that I am no longer young. The truth is I was young and now I am old.

Truth #2: I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. I have seen righteous people suffering and wondered if they had been forsaken. In my attempts to live a righteous life I have sometimes felt forsaken. I have seen some of the children of some righteous people who have struggled to make a living and struggled to provide for themselves and struggled to find their way through life. I have seen righteous people who felt that they had been forsaken, and their children struggle through life, but later both came to realize that God had walked with them every step of their journey and that He had sustained them even during those dark, frightening, and confusing days.

Truth #3: I have seen the righteous be very generous. Many times in my life I have been the recipient of very generous gifts from very righteous people. I cannot recall meeting a righteous person who was not generous. I have known and know people who have called themselves righteous but were not generous. That makes me question their righteousness. There are times when I think I am living a very righteous life, but discover that I do not feel or act very generous. That makes me question my own righteousness. I feel the most righteous when I am the most generous.

Truth #4: I have known children of righteous people to be a blessing. Not all children are a blessing. Not all children have righteous parents. Not all righteous people have children. I am confident that when righteous people have children they feel blessed by those children. Children of righteous people are blessed to be children of righteous people…maybe that is why they become a blessing.

I was young and now I am old. I have learned many things as I have grown old. Some of the things I have learned I wish I could unlearn. I am thankful for most of what I have learned as I have grown old. I have many more things to learn. I pray that as I grow older the things I have learned and the things I will learn will be transformed into the wisdom of a righteous man.

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 11 | March 17, 2014

Listen and I will tell you a story. There was once a turkey who saw his reflection in a truck bumper.

In the quiet of the morning a minister went upstairs to his desk to study. As he pondered the Scripture he was reading he leaned back in his chair, took another sip of coffee and looked out the window. Below him and across the street he noticed a turkey in his neighbor’s driveway. The turkey was looking at his reflection in the bumper of the neighbor’s truck. The minister grabbed his iPhone and his camera and began recording the scene.

At times the turkey seemed to be admiring himself. At times he seemed to be angry with the turkey in the bumper. At times he seemed to be aggressively attacking the rival turkey in an effort to scare him away.

At first he looked at his reflection in the bumper and pecked it. The minister could hear the pinging on the bumper from across and above the street. Occasionally he would move in super slow motion as if to sneak up on the strange bird. Then, at times he would back away, look around as if in deep thought and shake his head as if to say, “What am I doing?” After pondering the situation he would slowly move his face right up to the bumper staring at the strange bird who looked a lot like him. For minutes at a time he would stand completely still and motionless beak to beak with the turkey in the bumper.

This went on for hours until another automobile pulled into the driveway driving him away. Cars passed up and down the street throughout the morning, but the bumper-pecking bird would not be deterred from his pursuit of himself.

On one occasion his friends gathered around him as if to offer their assistance. He wanted no part of it. With feathers ruffled and beak cocked and ready to fire he made it clear, “This is my bumper and my space.” They quietly walked away scratching in the dirt and gobbling to themselves.

So it is with the Kingdom of God. Sometimes we act like the turkey mesmerized by his own reflection.

Some churches and some Christians get so focused on their own identity that they fail to realize how foolish they appear to those observing their actions.

Some churches and some Christians love the inward focus so much that we fail to see the danger that may be lurking around us.

Some churches and some Christians spend so much time and energy satisfying their own desires and needs with little notice of the time that has been wasted and how many people have been neglected and ignored.

What may be humorous to watch with a turkey is tragic with churches and Christians.

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:1-4, NIV)

Are you listening? Really listening?

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.