This is a test.

I’m trying to develop a habit lately where I call on people’s name as much as possible.  While the Walmart associate is scanning my items at the register, I look at his/her name tag.  While picking up my bag, I thank them and use their name.

When a waiter or waitress takes our order at a restaurant, I try to use their name as often as I can. 

We have new volunteers come through the Christian Service Center all the time.  I can’t keep track of all their names.  So I ask them to wear a name tag.  Then all of us here can call them by their name, rather than, “Hey, you, come over here.”

There’s something powerful about people calling you by name.

This phrase, “your name,” jumped out at me early this morning while reading this verse from a psalm:

      I will give thanks to your name

for your unfailing love and faithfulness,

      because your promises are backed

by all the honor of your name.

      When I pray, you answer me;

you encourage me by giving me the strength I need. 

                                            – Ps. 138:2-3

I never really saw that phrase before:  “your promises are backed by the all the honor of your name.”

There is something so powerful, so special, and so unique about the name of the Lord, the name of Jesus — which means “God saves.”  As Philippians says, there is no other Name on heaven and earth by which we may be saved.  All God’s amazing and abundant promises are back by that Name.  And by the honor of His Name.

And I just think it gives the Father such pleasure when we call upon His Name, bless others in His Name, and live to the glory of His Name.

Jim

While reading a few pages on endowment building, I came across a quote that really intrigued me.  It’s from a very smart man who was apparently very wise to:

     A hundred times every day I remind my self that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving. 

 The author?  Albert Einstein.  Right on the heals of reading Albert’s quote, I encountered my friend Ed early this morning.   Ed lives nearby in a ramshackle house.  He’s been coming by lately to collect pecans that are scattered around the base of a tree on the Christian Service Center property.  The past few mornings he’s been coming by, always asking if he could have a cup of coffee.  Then he often asks to use our phone.

While I gladly offered him a cup, and showed a hospitable spirit on the outside, on the inside I was just a bit annoyed.  My thought was, “Why can’t he buy his own coffee?  It doesn’t seem fair that he comes by to drink “our” coffee?  We paid for it.”

Then it hit me:  how much do I have or receive because of the labor of others’ hands?  Nearly each Sunday I’m worshipping in a building that was constructed and paid for by Christians at Highland who are mostly gone on to their reward.  

I attended two Christian universities to receive Bible training and graduate degrees.  Thousands of men and women poured their money and even their lives into creating and sustaining these institutions.  And I was a recipient of all their sacrifices.

The ministry I’m currently leading was founded  by caring Christians.  Churches, friends from the community and foundations continue to support this work.   I didn’t earn their money or support.  It came from the hand of God through them.

I think you get the point.  While it may seem unfair for Ed to get his free coffee, is it really unfair when I think of all the blessings I enjoy because of the sacrifice of others?

And so I want to continue giving to others so they may be blessed the way God keeps blessing me.  He gives and He gives and He gives.  And as His child, I want to be a wide-open channel of His love so that others may know His extravagant, saving grace.

Like Albert did, I think I’ll keep reminding myself each day of what others have done for me.  And more importantly, that all these gifts come from the goodness of God.

Jim 

I’ve been thinking lately of how nice it is to be useful.  To be productive and part of a mission bigger than our little agendas and ourselves.  It was triggered by a conversation with one of our volunteers.

Vera Dukes, age 86, works with her husband, Jim (he’s only 90!) at the Service Center.  They are in charge of our pantry and are here at least three times a week, sometimes more often.  Jim and Vera keep constant tabs on our inventory and change on their computer our order form.  Each week they fax in an order to the Food Bank.   Then on Monday mornings Vera goes with another volunteer to pick up the food.  She spends about an hour patiently going through their surplus boxes, purchasing items that she knows our clients want.

On Wednesday there was no one to take her and so I volunteered to drive Vera to the Food Bank.  During our ten-minute drive I let her know once more how deeply we appreciate the volunteer work that she and Jim do for us.  Vera simply replied, “We love the work.  It gives us a purpose each day and we love the fellowship with the others there.”

And then came the words that I’ve reflected on the past two days: “People need to be needed.”

So true, Vera.  So true.

Besides the love of Christ in their hearts, a strong motivator for our retired volunteers is that they “need to be needed.”  There’s something within us that wants to be useful.  At lunch today I sneaked away to a park, taking my sack lunch and an old book I haven’t looked at for nearly 20 years.  It’s called Bringing Out the Best in People, written by Alan Loy McGinnis.  You may recall his very popular book during the ‘80’s, The Friendship Factor.  Here’s what he said that fit this theme I’ve been pondering:

            “Our culture (says) that we would be happier if we weren’t so busy, if we weren’t working so hard, if we didn’t have so much homework.  If only we could relax more and take more vacations.  But leisure has little to do with one’s happiness.  To the contrary, I’ve found that the happiest people have found some cause and they stride through life propelled by a commitment.”  ( p. 66)

Makes me think of “The Bee Movie” that is out now.  I’ve already seen it twice and highly recommend it.  Without giving away the plot, consider the plight of those busy bees when they were no longer producing honey and spreading pollen.

When I’m not productive and being useful to others, I tend to self-destruct into self-pity, laziness and general unhappiness.  Yes, I get tired at times and I’m looking forward to a couple days off this weekend, along with the upcoming Christmas break.  However, I prefer to be busy, to be wanted at work and at my church.  I, like you, “need to be needed.”

Pity not the person who is in demand, with a challenging job and a family that continually depends on them.  Rather, pity the person who feels no longer needed, who is wasting away in a nursing home and doesn’t feel like they have a mission in life.

I guess one of my goals in life is to welcome people into my work world; to not try to do it all but instead let them know of my need for their help, and thus give them a life of more productivity and meaning.

Thanks, dear Vera, for teaching me this simple yet profound lesson this week.

Jim

While shopping energizes my wife, it tends to often drain me.  Part of the reason is I’m such a “buyers remorse” person.  Maybe because I’m such a perfectionist.  Perhaps because I hate to live with regrets — even little ones.

Last night at Walmart I was looking for an outdoor floodlight for our house.  And of course I faced the usual multitude of choices.  Do I buy the one year bulb?  The two year bulb?  The one pack?  Two pack?  75 watts?  100 watts?

I finally opted for the 100 watt two pack, went home to replace the one bulb outside our garage and found out that the bulb takes 75 watt bulbs.  So, back to Walmart I’ll go to fight the Christmas crowds and stand forever in the Customer Service so I can exchange a light bulb.

I hate regrets.  Most of mine are minor and can often be fixed with a quick trip to the store.  Others have been major and weren’t so easily repaired.  I remember when Susan and I were in Memphis working and attending graduate school.  She had a little Datsun 210 which ran fine.  But I wanted to buy another Volvo.  And a friend in school who bought and sold cars found me a used, goldish color Volvo.   Friends at church used to call it “Color Mustard.”  While it was fun to drive, it tended to break down quite a bit.  I had to mentally place that purchase away in the regrets file.

What can we do about avoiding regrets and living with the ones we already have?  While walking into my workplace today, I thought about what I read a few minutes earlier in 1 John.  Over and over the beloved apostle tells us to focus on Jesus, believe in Him, and love others as Christ sacrificially loved us on the cross. 

The Good News Translation says:

    “if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us.”– 1 John 4:12b

I noticed that two years ago I had written in the column next to this verse these words, “Lord, please express Your love through me.”

It seems to me that one of the best “regret busters” is to be about loving folks all day.  To not think about our needs but instead tend to the concerns and cares of others.  Looking back on my life, when I think of the ways God loved others through me — through a phone call, writing a note, listening to someone struggling, praying over a brother in Christ in distress — I will never regret those moments.  I wasn’t the hero — but rather I just made myself available to the Holy Spirit and let Him work through me to love the world as God loves the world.

And when I do make mistakes, say things I shouldn’t have, and make sinful choices, I can continue fall on the mercy of Jesus and realize that in spite of my sin, I am still deeply loved by Him.  And affirm that truth that He can use me regardless of my imperfect choices.  If I keep that truth before me, and continue to follow Jesus as His Spirit leads me each day, living a life of agape love, then that’s a life I’ll never regret.

In fact, when returning to Walmart to exchange that light bulb, I’ll have an opportunity to love that worker at customer service who is probably very stressed.

Jim

While shopping energizes my wife, it tends to often drain me.  Part of the reason is I’m such a “buyers remorse” person.  Maybe because I’m such a perfectionist.  Perhaps because I hate to live with regrets — even little ones.

Last night at Walmart I was looking for an outdoor floodlight for our house.  And of course I faced the usual multitude of choices.  Do I buy the one year bulb?  The two year bulb?  The one pack?  Two pack?  75 watts?  100 watts?

I finally opted for the 100 watt two pack, went home to replace the one bulb outside our garage and found out that the bulb takes 75 watt bulbs.  So, back to Walmart I’ll go to fight the Christmas crowds and stand forever in the Customer Service so I can exchange a light bulb.

I hate regrets.  Most of mine are minor and can often be fixed with a quick trip to the store.  Others have been major and weren’t so easily repaired.  I remember when Susan and I were in Memphis working and attending graduate school.  She had a little Datsun 210 which ran fine.  But I wanted to buy another Volvo.  And a friend in school who bought and sold cars found me a used, goldish color Volvo.   Friends at church used to call it “Color Mustard.”  While it was fun to drive, it tended to break down quite a bit.  I had to mentally place that purchase away in the regrets file.

What can we do about avoiding regrets and living with the ones we already have?  While walking into my workplace today, I thought about what I read a few minutes earlier in 1 John.  Over and over the beloved apostle tells us to focus on Jesus, believe in Him, and love others as Christ sacrificially loved us on the cross.  I noticed that two years ago I had written in the column next to this verse these words, “Lord, please express Your love through me.”

It seems to me that one of the best “regret busters” is to be about loving folks all day.  To not think about our needs but instead tend to the concerns and cares of others.  Looking back on my life, when I think of the ways God loved others through me — through a phone call, writing a note, listening to someone struggling, praying over a brother in Christ in distress — I will never regret those moments.  I wasn’t the hero — but rather I just made myself available to the Holy Spirit and let Him work through me to love the world as God loves the world.

And when I do make mistakes, say things I shouldn’t have, and make sinful choices, I can continue fall on the mercy of Jesus and realize that in spite of my sin, I am still deeply loved by Him.  And affirm that truth that He can use me regardless of my imperfect choices.  If I keep that truth before me, and continue to follow Jesus as His Spirit leads me each day, living a life of agape love, then that’s a life I’ll never regret.

Jim

A number of circumstances in my life lately make me think that the Lord is leading me back to more proactively work the 12 steps.  I spent about a half hour Saturday afternoon with my dear friend, Bill Nash, who is back in the hospital.  He’s been in recovery from alcohol for about 38 years.  I loved his prayer before we parted, as he paraphrased Psalm 23:  “Thank You, Lord, for leading me away from the “distilled waters” and bringing me back to You.”

Last week I had lunch with James, who was my sponsor when I worked the 12 steps several years ago in a Christians in Recovery group.  He and his wife are now retired and continually have folks in their home who are trying to rid themselves of addictions.  For a Commenting on the third step, James said to me, “Jim, in surrender, you give up all rights to yourself.  You give up your agenda and let God take over.  I preached for years but it was for the wrong reasons.  I did it more for me than for God.  But when I gave up control of my life to the Lord, He not only stopped my desire to drink, He gave me a whole new ministry to people wanting recovery.”

The other God-moment that came my way lately was attending last night’s Celebrate Recovery group, which started two weeks ago at Highland.  This Christ-centered program, which was launched by Rick Warren and John Baker out of California’s huge Saddleback Church, is growing tremendously.  I’m so glad that some folks are starting these groups here in Abilene.

One comment in our group that jumped out at me was a story a man told of Corrie Ten Boom.  When she was a young girl in Holland, her father took her on a trip.  As they got off the train, Corrie’s father asked her to pick up the luggage.  This tiny girl attempted to lift the heavy bags, but finally said, “Papa, they’re too heavy.”  Her wise and compassionate father told her, “Of course, they’re too much for you to carry, Corrie.  That’s why you need to let your father carry them.”

What a great story for us adults who too often think we can handle our own problems.  And all the while our Father is standing by, waiting for us to carry our burdens.

God is teaching me once more that when I let Jesus “carry my bags” – my negative emotions, weaknesses, and the pull of the flesh – that’s when I truly feel at peace.  And He repeatedly gives me a testimony of His work in my life.  And once more He is reminding me that working the 12 steps, in the context of a small group of fellow Christ-followers, is one of the best ways to let go of the baggage and allow Abba Father to carry these burdens for me.

On the road to recovery, until He takes me home,

Jim

Okay?  What are some of your favorite magazines or journals?  Here are a few of mine:

    Leadership Journal

     Discipleship Journal

    Pray! Magazine

After coming off the life-transforming weekend of the Walk to Emmaus in 1995, God lit my heart with a passion for prayer.  And during those next few years, as I become more involved in the prayer ministry of our church and at Herald of Truth where I worked for nine years, there was one publication that had a tremendous impact on me:  Pray! Magazine.

Last Monday I picked up the latest issue in Highland’s prayer room after our weekly noon prayer session.  It’s another gem.

While working out on the treadmill that evening, I read a delightful article which gave a perspective on prayer from God’s point of view.  While it’s a fictional story, it oozes with Scripture -based thoughts that grip your heart in showing the love of the Father…and how He delights in our prayers.  Here’s an excerpt:

My Child:

 How glad I was to meet you in prayer today.  

Are you aware of My gladness?  You, who are so faithful to intercede, so sincere in your praises and petitions?  I admire your commitment.  Your persistence pleases Me….

When the fall cut you off from the true conversation with Me, I could not, would not, bear the silence.  I paid for praeyr with tech blood of the Son.  I died to recreate My image in you, to restart our conversation, to restore our communion…

 You have something I want very much;  your attention.  Not your work or your words, but your listening ear…The gift of your attention is especially precious to Me because I know that you are finite;  you can’t focus everywehre at once like I can.  You give me your attention in exchange for something;  a yes to Me is a no to something else.  When you choose to listen to Me, it means you place Me over all else that competes for your time, heart, and energy.  …

 I take such pleasure in revealing My thoughts to you and in sharing My plans, in explaining my Word, in reminding you of My precepts, in explaining how how they fit into your life.  These are things I’m eager to do whenever your spirit is quiet and turned toward Me.

Child, I love to talk to you and have you listen when you pray.

 Abba.*

Reading this love letter from God stirs in me a desire to spend more time with Abba Father.  Not just to give him my “wish list,” but rather to bask in His presence and drink deeply of His grace and love.  

Jim

* from “Letters from Abba” by SandyMayle, Pray Magazine, pp. 20-22.  To see more of her writings, see http://www.sandymayle.com

While doing a bit of channel surfing last night, I came across Dr. Charles Stanley — venerable pastor of the airwaves.  Nearly everything I’ve heard from Brother Stanley I’ve loved — especially a series on grace that a friend loaned me years ago.  Those messages were life-altering.

 Last night he was talking about having a grid for our minds, using it to filter out the negative and to instead focus on what’s good and holy and uplifting.  I know you’ve probably heard plenty of messages on how to control our thoughts.  Could I share one more with you?

Here were a few questions that Stanley gave to use as a mind grid.  When a thought comes into your mind ask yourself:

    1.    What is its source?

    2.    Is it scripturally sound?

    3.    Where will it lead me?

    4.    Will it get me where I want to go?

If you know me at all, you’d realize that I’m a melancholy of sort.  As a result, I can allow negative thoughts to bring me down so easily.  This temperament of mine makes it even more critical that I filter out thoughts that lead me into an emotional tail spin.  That’s why I loved this message last night.

I recall an incident where a volunteer and I had a bit of a conflict.  Then next day she didn’t show up.   Nor did she come the following day.  My mind began to conjure up some negative scenarios — “I must have driven her away,” or “She’s mad at me and trying to get back at me by not showing up.”

Two days later she was back here, happily working in her main area.  It turned out that the reason she didn’t come in had nothing to do with our little spat.  She had just been sick.

Today I’m going to try keeping those thought filters on throughout the day.  Meditating on Phil. 4:4-9 will really help.  And I just have the feeling that the more I meditate on the Lord and His goodness, and keep out those unhealthy thoughts, the more pleasant person I’ll be around others. 

What helps you filter out the destructive thoughts and thus keep your mind at peace?

Jim 

Rarely do I have a luncheon free.  I probably schedule them too often.  But today my meeting was postponed until next week and so I had some quiet moments in my office today.  It became a place where God gave me some “sacred space.”

 In fact, I decided to go to a website a friend recommended to me to practice some meditative prayer.  It was wonderful.

 If you’re interested in taking 10 minutes out of your day to spend alone with Jesus, then let me recommend this site:

     http://www.sacredspace.ie

Click “Prayer English.”  You’ll read something about Ignatius and then can click a prayer for a day.  I chose today’s prayer — November 20.

Hope you find some precious sacred space with our Lord.  It certainly made me thankful for a postponed lunch.

 Jim