“Trying to Smell the Color 9”

Nine Isn’t a Color

The wilderness stretched to the horizon in all directions. Which way was the shortest path out? Like Job, God never answered my why questions.

Comprehending God’s purpose in that situation was like trying to smell the color nine. (Thank you, Chris Rice, for releasing your song “Smell the Color 9” in 2000.)

A sister in Christ listened to me unload a tractor trailer full of disappointment, doubt, and hurt. When I finished, she leaned forward and shared her story. In her pain, she found God is big enough to absorb all the anger we hurl at heaven.

Then she said, “Today you’re in the wilderness. Tomorrow you will go even farther into the wilderness. Yes, God has you in a really good place right now.”

“The Fable of the Filial Fugitive”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

This story is full of “f” words—yet both of my grandmothers would approve.

This humorous rendition of Jesus’ parable comes from “The Fable of the Forgiving Father” (author unknown). Dr. Jeff Miller of Milligan College adapted that piece for his Bible classes and shared it with me. I tweaked it further for a storytelling contest.

I hope you enjoy the alliteration in this version of Luke 15:11-32.

“Tradition vs. Traditionalism”

The Conversation Continues

A friend asked me to explain what I said last week in “Remember Your Roots”:

 

Every group has strong preferences and valued customs. That’s normal. The key is not to let tradition become traditionalism.

Tradition: living faith of the dead.

Traditionalism: dead faith of the living.

Remember, Jesus told the Pharisees, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27, NIV).

“Remember Your Roots”

What Do You Remember?

But as for you,

continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of,

because you know those from whom you learned it,

and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures,

which are able to make you wise for salvation

through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15

“Children don’t get anything out of church.” Really? We don’t know what kids may pick up on and remember when they’re adults.

It’s true I can’t recall any of the sermons or anthems I heard as a child. But forty-plus years later, I remember that as a little boy, I enjoyed Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring as the organ prelude. That song always connected me to God. 

What childhood memories do you have about God?

“Love Costs Everything”

An Eye-Opening Documentary

200,000,000 people. That’s how many fear for their lives daily because they follow Christ. They face persecution because they live and love as Jesus taught.

How much is 200 million? If all Christians facing violence and death lived in one place, it would rank as the sixth most populous country in the world. Those persecuted for their faith would fill a country between the size of Brazil (202 million) and Pakistan (196 million).

Love Costs Every Thing is a documentary on global Christian persecution produced by Christ In Youth in association with Voice of the Martyrs. Disciples in places like Iraq, India, and Columbia testify about being beaten or family being murdered. Yet despite horrific pain and loss, the persecuted respond with forgiveness and love for their persecutors.

Sunday night my church’s youth showed this film. They shared their hearts by organizing and leading this event. Afterward we prayed in our seats and at stations around the church.

“When God Must Fill Your Mouth”

Speaker’s Block

Last week what I wrote didn’t sound right, so I deleted it rather than post it.

The same principle applies to spoken words. Too often a comment runs from my brain to my tongue before the filter kicks in. Not everything I really want to say should be uttered.

The opposite problem occurs. I stare at an empty screen, fingers frozen on the keyboard. Or I’m dying to think of a good response, but my mental search engine responds, “No results found.”

But when it counts, God will fill your mouth. He did for me.