Author: TomNorvell

Vol. 16 No. 48 | December 2, 2013

When I opened my email on this day after Thanksgiving, which has come to be known as Black Friday, I had dozens of unread emails. Most offering me amazing deals on thousands of products I do not need. All with a similar message: “Don’t miss out!” “Hurry!” “You can’t afford NOT to take advantage of this special deal!” Weeks before Black Friday sales were being advertised with many actually beginning several days before. Now that Black Friday has passed the sales continue.

Facebook users and members of the news media are noticing and commenting on this compulsion for buying, having more, and getting the best deal possible.

Philip Jones, Jr. posted a photo (that may have actually been taken on Thanksgiving Day or evening) of a shopping frenzy where people are being trampled in a department store with this comment: “Black Friday: Only in America do people trample each other for sales just a few hours after being thankful for what they already have.”

Grant Norvell posted this: “If you love America, you’ll buy stuff today whether you should or not.”

Suzie Bowers shared an article about three women arrested for public urination while waiting for Black Friday opening at Target store near Little Rock, Arkansas.

Then, I came across an article highlighting a group in Philadelphia who said: “Today seems like a good time to say: ENOUGH.” (Shane Claiborne Celebrates Buy Nothing Day)

Local news reported that Americans spent $9.7 billion on Black Friday, and will spend $602 billion this holiday season.

We pay homage to the Giver of all good gifts for part of one day but quickly return to our lives of getting more, demanding more, convincing ourselves that we need more.

Is this simply an example of who we are, a sign of the times, or is there a cause for concern? Maybe both? Being thrifty, being good stewards, and stretching a dollar are good things, but mob scenes and exhaustion due to midnight shopping sprees may be too much.

Jesus expressed it like this:

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life (emphasis mine), and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”(Luke 21:34-36, NIV)

Eugene Peterson expresses it with even more clarity:

“But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping (emphasis mine). Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don’t go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36, The Message)

Am I against having things? Nope. I love stuff. Am I opposed to saving money by shopping for bargains? Nope. I love eBay, Amazon, and discount stores. Am I puzzled by and amazed at and concerned about our tendency toward greed and misplaced priorities? Yes. Very much.

Can I offer anything that might help us avoid this destructive trap? Yes. “Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36, The Message)

And this…

“Two things I ask of you, Lord;
do not refuse me before I die:

Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7-9, NIV)

Maybe one day we will learn to be thankful and not want more. Maybe.

Oh, I have just been reminded that it is now Cyber Monday.

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 16 No. 47 | November 25, 2013

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34)

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. (Psalm 7:17)

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalm 100:4)

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 106:1)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1)

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. (Psalm 107:8)

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. (Psalm 107:15)

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. (Psalm 107:21)

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. (Psalm 107:31)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)

At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. (Psalm 119:62)

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1,2,3,26)

We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. (Revelation 11:17)

Can you catch the theme? Give thanks. Give thanks this week. Give thanks next week. Give thanks every week. It is always a good time to give thanks.

As you give thanks this week know that I give thanks for you. In fact, to borrow Paul’s words…

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:3-11)

Let’s give thanks.

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 16 No. 46 | November 18, 2013

Came across this quote while pondering the events of the day and checking how life is being lived on Facebook (thanks, David Lewis…I think), “Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.” (Kahlil Gibran) Ouch!

Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6) Ouch! Ouch!

I began writing this while visiting my daughter and son-in-law. Part of our visit was spent purchasing and assembling a crib, a dresser/changing table, and rocking chair (and a really cool ottoman) in preparation for the February arrival of their baby girl. It was a great blessing to share these days. As they, and we, await the birth we could all wear ourselves out trying to control everything that may or may not happen before this little girl makes her entrance into our world. Or, we could realize that we have little to no control over any of the events leading up to her birth. We could all worry and fret, or we can trust God who controls the births of all babies. We will think about the baby on the way. We will think about the joy we will share. We will dream endless possibilities. But, we do not want or need to be in control. We choose to trust Him.

As I wait for my flight I have seen weather forecasts that say there are storms in Nashville. We have an engagement later tonight that we would prefer to make on time. If the flight is delayed, we may be late, or not make it at all. I have done everything I can to get there on time. However, I am not flying the plane, I do not control the wind, and have no desire to do either. I will think about what I’ll do if the ride gets bumpy. I will consider my options if I am delayed. I will also think about what we will do when I arrive safely and on time. But, I do not want or need to be in control. So, I trust that this plane will leave the ground on schedule, and that it will safely arrive fairly close to the scheduled time, and if it does not I trust that we will be okay.

Like many Americans we are investigating options for health insurance. Most options are less than what we prefer. The very concept of insurance implies that we are preparing for something that may or may not happen. One of us may get sick. One of us may need surgery. One of us may get cancer. One of us may have a serious health issue. We may not. So we continue our search for affordable and adequate health insurance. We could wring our hands, lose sleep, and go into a panic over what will happen if we do not. We could trust God to lead us to adequate insurance at an affordable price. We do not run the federal government, determine the cost of insurance, and we do not have control over unexpected health issues. My wife and I will talk to insurance agents. We will talk about our needs and the best way to have those needs met. But, we do not want or need to be in control. So we trust that God will help us find what we need at an affordable price.

Every morning we wake up with an abundance of options and opportunities laid out in front of us. We have a choice about how we will approach the day. We can spend our hours trying to control and manipulate everything that happens and all the people with whom we will have interaction. If that is our choice we would do well to be certain that we are indeed in control of the universe, or else we are in for a day — a life — of frustration, disappointment, anxiety and stress. Although we may think we do, we really do not want or need to be in control. God is better at running the world than we are.

Why not, instead, trust the One who gave you breath to handle what happens? He knows your needs. He knows the needs of those with whom you will have interactions. He knows the things that need to happen during the day. He is already prepared for the things that “might” go wrong and are beyond your control, and He knows the things that will go right. Trust Him. Surrender to Him. Let Him have control. He knows what He is doing.

He is in charge. You can relax.

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 16 No. 45 | November 11, 2013

She was born into the family of friends from our early days of marriage on November 10. Although it was from a distance we celebrated her birth. Who could have imagined the blessing she would be thirty years later as we, through the creativity and craftiness of our son, celebrated her 30th birthday?

Only the irresistible God who loves to surprise and amaze us could have devised such a beautiful and elaborate plan.

Only God could bring a little blond curly-haired girl into my world and let us find a connection at a very young age. Only God could know that those hugs we shared all those years ago would continue throughout our lives. He must have been smiling as He saw those smiles on our faces back then and as the smiles continue today.

Only God could orchestrate a plan that would allow our families to stay in touch through the years even though we have lived many miles apart. Through the occasional short visits and photos on our refrigerator we watched her grow. Only God could have built a childhood friendship between her and our son that would later blossom into a beautiful love story and lead to marriage.

Only God could put our family in a situation where we would become friends with some of her relatives that would bring her into our city and at our football game. Only God could prompt her to leave her seat with her family and join our family in the bleachers. Only God could prompt me to ask her, “What are your plans for next summer?” Only God could open the doors for her to come to work as a youth intern with our teens (including my daughter) and live in our house…for two summers. Only God could know that a sister-like relationship would develop between the two of them and we would feel like we had gained another daughter. Only God could use that convenient time to reignite conversations between Bethany and our son. Conversations that would eventually lead to deeper romance, dating, an engagement, and to date a five-year-plus marriage. Only God could know how much she would come to mean to our family.

Only God could know that this little curly-haired girl and this little boy of mine would one day bring a beautiful little curly-haired granddaughter into our lives who would bless us with more smiles, laughter, and an innocent sweetness that only God can plant in a human heart. That same innocent sweetness that was earlier planted in the hearts of her parents.

Only God could know know that thirty years after she was born her family and many of her friends would gather in Brooklyn, New York to help celebrate her 30th birthday.

Only God could know all these things long before any of us ever dreamed they could of our family together into such an amazing mosaic.

Only God. Only because that is the kind of God He is.

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)

Happy Birthday Bethany! Only God could know how much we love you.

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 16 No. 44 | November 04, 2013

If he was still alive my Dad would be 104 years old today(October 30, 2013). What would that be like? What would he think about the world? Would his thinking (opinions, prejudices, ideas) have changed from what they were in the last forty-one years?

I often wonder what he would think about the world I live in. What would he think about me? What would he think about my family? What would he think about church? What would he think about his grandchildren? What would he think about these Notes and this one in particular? What would he think about the government and the political climate? Maybe I really don’t want to know what he would think about that? Maybe I already have a good idea of what he would think about that. I wonder what he would think about paying $2 for a cup of coffee (he mostly drank Maxwell House instant coffee), $3 for a gallon of gas, or not being able to smoke in a restaurant after a meal. I wonder what my Dad would think about a lot of things.

Sometimes I wish I could sit with him and have a conversation with him and ask him about his life, mistakes he made and things he did right, and if he had any advice for me as a husband, a dad, or a grandfather. I can only speculate about what he would think and imagine what my earthly father would say or think.

I can, however, talk with my heavenly Father, and I can know what He thinks.

I know how He feels about me. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

I know how He wants me to treat other people. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34)

I know how He wants us to be known. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

I know what He wants me to do when I am tired. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matthew 11:28-30)

I know how He wants me to deal with the material things and the future. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)

I know what He wants us to do about the Kingdom. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

I know what He wants me to do. “Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’) When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’

Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’” (John 21:20-22)

Because I am his son I can be pretty sure about how my dad would think and feel about some things. Because I am His child my Father has made it very clear how He feels about me and how I can live to please Him. I do not need to wonder.

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

 

Vol. 16 No. 43 | October 28, 2013

Psalm 124:

If the Lord had not been on our side—
let Israel say—

if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,

they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;

the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,

the raging waters
would have swept us away.

Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

What if the Lord had not been on our side?

What if the Lord had not been on our side when we were attacked by forces committed to tearing us down, destroying our reputation, and robbing us of the peace? How would we have handled it? How would we have kept our sanity? How would we have been able to not seek revenge or retaliation? The forces against us would have swallowed us alive, the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, and the raging waters would have swept us away. The Lord was on our side.

What if the Lord had not been on our side when our marriage was consumed by stress and confusion? What if the Lord had not been on our side when the stress and confusion turned into anger, rage, and resentment? What if the Lord had not been on our side when everything we thought was true and stable crumbled around us? We would have been swallowed alive, the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, and the raging waters would have swept us away. The Lord was on our side.

What if the Lord had not been on our side when our children were hurting, battling temptations, and struggling to hold on to their faith? What if the Lord had not been on our side when our children walked away from their faith in pursuit of the good life? What if the Lord had not been on our side when our children denounced their heritage and became strangers to us? The Lord was on our side.

What if the Lord had not been on our side when we listened to our parents argue night after night as we pretended to be asleep? What if the Lord had not been on our side when our parents sat us down and informed us that they no longer loved one another and were getting a divorce? What if the Lord had not been on our side when our parents told us we had to choose which one of them we wanted to live with? We would have been swallowed alive, the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, and the raging waters would have swept us away. The Lord was on our side.

What if the Lord is not on our side when we learn that our husband has been in a freak accident and will not survive? What if the Lord is not on our side when we learn that our wife’s cancer that was treated and declared gone appears again, and this time is more aggressive? What if the Lord is not on our side when our best friends reveal that their marriage has been in trouble for a long time and now they are giving up and are going to divorce? What if the job we thought was a sure thing does not materialize? If these things (or even worse) do happen, and they may, and the Lord is not on our side we could be swallowed alive, the flood could engulf us, the torrent could sweep over us, and the raging waters could sweep us away. But, the Lord is on our side.

Praise be to the Lord. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

 

Vol. 16 No. 42 | October 21, 2013

Some things do not last long enough.

When believers come together for worship and the fellowship is rich and real, it’s not long enough.

When friends get together to renew their relationship, share the latest events of their lives, and pray with each other, it’s not long enough.

When the day is crisp and cool, the breeze is gentle and refreshing, and the sunset is brilliantly colorful, it’s not long enough.

When the meal is exquisite, the ambiance is perfect, and the conversation is encouraging, it’s not long enough.

When the family is on vacation, it’s not long enough.

When the golf is good, it’s not long enough.

When the weather is perfect and the speaker is compelling, the retreat is not long enough.

When the family is together, it’s not long enough.

When the years pass quickly and you cherish every day, it’s not long enough.

When you finally have a day off, it’s not long enough.

When your week has been hectic and harried and hassled and you make it to the weekend, it’s not long enough.

When you are under pressure to finish the project and you cannot get anyone to help you, you have time but you feel it’s not long enough.

When the cancer is growing and advancing, the chemo is not working, and time is running out, you realize it’s not long enough.

When you have not seen your special friend in weeks and you only have two days, it’s not long enough.

When the end of the semester is moving closer, your unfinished papers are piling up, you wish you had more time because you realize it’s not long enough.

When your birthday celebrations seem to arrive more often than they should, you sense your days are numbered, you wish you could make the days last longer, because the time you have is not long enough.

James talks about the passing of time:

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:13-15, NIV)

Sometimes life seems to move too fast. We wish we could slow it down. We wish we could make it last. We are here for only a short time. We have today. We cannot speed it up and we cannot slow it down. But, we are not helpless and our battle against time is not hopeless.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17, NIV)

You have today. It may move faster than you prefer. Try not to waste the time you have wishing you had more. Make the most of the opportunity you have today.

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

 

Vol. 16 No. 41 | October 14, 2013

We have had a problem with ants. They keep coming back. When pest control service people came for the regularly scheduled application we mentioned that we had seen several ants around our kitchen sink and on the cabinets in that area. They spayed and said, “Call us if you see any more ants.”

We saw more more ants. We called. They suggested, “Try vinegar and water and if you still see ants call us.” We tried vinegar and water. We continued to see ants.

We called. The technician returned and used a different chemical. “That should take care of them, but if you see any more call us.”

We continued to see more, and more, and more. We called again. A new “Bug Man” came armed to wage war against the ants. When he walked in the door he exuded confidence and seemed excited about the battle. He began by catching one ant, smashing it between his thumb and forefinger and sniffing it to determine “the type of ant we are dealing with.” With great enthusiasm he explained that each ant gives off a special scent. Although he told me, I do not remember the type “we are dealing with.” He then proceeded to explain his technique for killing the ants, the chemical he was using, and how it worked. He shared that the ants hunt for food, then communicate with one another when they discover food.

After applying the new dose he began to watch and share how they “are taking the bait” and insisted that I come see a particular group that had swarmed and congregated just above the dishwasher. I am pretty sure he let out a “Yessir!” at this point.

I thanked him for his determination and knowledge. He thanked me for our business, once again explained the nature of the ant, explained what he had done and how it works, and assured me that “This should take care of the problem.”

As he walked to his truck I was reminded of the lesson, not a new lesson, but an old and familiar lesson: We have all been created by God and none of us are exactly the same.

The first verse of the Bible that introduces the creation story in Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” As the story unfolds we see the detail and the uniqueness of every creature that God created. He created us all and He created us all exactly like He wanted us to be. Ants, humans, dogs and beautiful trees covered in the brilliant colors of autumn.

Thank you Larry, the Bug Man, for letting me watch you and listen to you and once again be reminded of what a good thing it is that God created us all to be different. No wonder when God finished His creation He said, “This is good.”

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 16 No. 40 | October 7, 2013

Do you ever wish you had a home on the range? You know, the range. Where never is heard a discouraging word. Ever wish you could live there?

We should never underestimate the power of a discouraging word. There is a reason discouraging words are called discouraging words…they discourage.

You’ve received them.

You played your best. You gave it all. You “left it all on the field.” You helped your team win the game. After the game your dad reminded you that you missed a couple of tackles.

You practiced and practiced for your part in the school play. You memorized all your lines. You performed well. You were dubbed the “Star of the show” in the school paper. On the drive home your mother pointed out that in one scene your collar was not laying down like it was supposed to.

You worked hard on the project. Logged more hours than on any job since joining the firm. You won the account. Your team goes out to celebrate a job well done. Your boss stops by to commend you for your leadership, but reminds you that the deal could have been closed much sooner if you had followed his initial suggestions.

You worked all afternoon on a special birthday dinner. All his favorites prepared just the way he likes them…just the way his mother always cooked them. You greet him at the door with his favorite drink and usher him to the table, and you’re wearing his favorite outfit. He eats. He seems to enjoy it. You are holding your breath. As he gets up from the table he mutters, “Oh, man! That took so long we missed the kickoff.”

You’ve given them.

Your daughter has worked hard to get the scholarships she needs to attend the college she has dreamed of attending. Your alma-mater. She is trying so hard to make you proud. She runs to you with her acceptance letter. You read the letter, hand it back to her and say, “Is that the only offer you’ve gotten?”

Your best friend calls you to tell you that she is engaged. She is excited and wanted you to be the first to know. You are excited and thank her for calling you, then quickly change the subject to your horrible bad day.

You know that your friend from church is having a tough time. His marriage is struggling. His job situation is tenuous. He recently lost his mother to cancer. He tries to keep up a good front, but you know he’s struggling. One day during lunch, he opens up and shares the whole story. You listen sympathetically but somewhat impatiently until he finally finishes. He asks you what you think. You respond by asking him, “How is your prayer life? Sounds like you need to be in the word more.”

You worked all afternoon on a special birthday dinner. All your favorites prepared just the way you like them…just the way your mother always cooked them. She greets you at the door with your favorite drink and usher you to the table, and she is wearing your favorite outfit. You eat. You enjoy it. She is holding her breath. As you get up from the table you mutter, “Oh, man! That took so long we missed the kickoff.”

We know the power of discouraging words. We’ve received our share and we’ve given our share. We know their pain when they are spoken to us. We find out too late the impact of our words on those we love. We try to ignore their power, but we cannot.

Let’s make this our “Home, Home on the Range” and encourage one another.

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”(Hebrews 3:13)

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

 

Vol. 16 No. 39 | September 30, 2013

An old story is told of a man who was stranded on a deserted Pacific island for years. Finally one day a boat comes sailing into view, and the man frantically waves and draws the skipper’s attention. The boat comes near the island and the sailor gets out and greets the stranded man.

After a while the sailor asks, “What are those three huts you have here?”

“Well, that’s my house there.”

“What’s that next hut?” asks the sailor.

“I built that hut to be my church.”

“What about the other hut?”

“Oh, that’s where I used to go to church.”

The story speaks a sad truth about our commitment to and the ability, or inability, to get along with the people in our local church.

There are other stories that have less humor in them.

There are stories about churches splitting, splintering, and dividing. There are stories of congregations that manage to stay together, but are far from united and harmonious.

There are stories of churches that are filled with loving, caring and compassionate people who love each other and enjoy a vibrant fellowship and are making a significant impact in their community. Then, unfortunately, there are stories of these same congregations who end up losing members and losing their effectiveness because of a few people who decide things are not going the way they think it should and began to sow discord. The harmony disappeared. The vibrant and encouraging conversations that once were turned into tense discussions are laced with suspicion. People took sides. Accusations were made. Barriers went up.

There are stories of men, women, and children who went to these churches seeking the Lord only to be overlooked by church members who became more concerned about survival, making a point, and winning an argument than seeking the lost.

It did not have to be that way. The Kingdom would be better served if we listened and applied this teaching of Jesus:

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:20-23)

Make Jesus’ prayer your prayer. “Father, I pray for those who will believe in Jesus through the message we share that all of us may be one, Father, just as we are in Him and He is in you.”

Tom

© Copyright 2013 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.