“Reading the Redwoods”

“Reading the Redwoods”

 

In 1956 Woody Guthrie wrote these words which have been heard by millions,

“This land is your land, This land is my land From California to the New York island; From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters This land was made for you and me.”

We’ve been privileged to visit many wonderful sites (and sights) throughout our nation including the magnificent redwoods in California’s Sequoia National Park in 1997. (On the same trip we viewed the incredible natural beauty of Yosemite National Park and the largely man-made places of interest in San Francisco.) During our time in Sequoia (which was on a Sunday morning and provided us with one of the greatest worship experiences of our married life) we learned that the first record of these great trees’ existence was written by a cattleman named Hale Tharp in 1858. People have been awestruck by their grandeur ever since.

In 1913 Joyce Kilmer wrote, “Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.” As we walked among these massive “plants” we talked of God’s creative power (“…God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation’…trees bearing fruit…And God saw that it was good.”—Genesis 1:11-12). Soon both of us began to see pictures of our lives as Jesus’ followers and marveled at our education in God’s school of nature. That night we jotted our thoughts down and decided to share them in a joint message with our church when we got home. (Jim’s suggestion that we write the trip off as a ministry expense was quickly nixed by his better half.)

So the next five postings are the result of our reading the redwoods. Please walk with us among one of the many wonders of God’s majesty.

 

Blessings!

Jim and Karen McMillan

“Those Pesky Stop Signs”

“Those Pesky Stop Signs”

 

One of the great annoyances of driving in populated areas is the presence of stop signs at virtually every intersection that doesn’t have a traffic light. In my impatience I see them as slowing my progress, adding to travel time, and hindering fuel economy. Over the years I’ve sometimes played fast and loose with these red, octagonal-shaped impediments—maybe you have too.

As teenagers we took “stop” as an acronym for Squeal Tires On Pavement so we could make up for the time lost by having been inconvenienced on out trip to who knows where. We might also look at it as Suggest Tapering Off Pedal which we can choose to observe or not according to how we happen to be feeling at the moment. Then there are the rolling stops in which we slow down but fail to stop completely (translation: How much can I get away with without paying consequences?—I once failed a college driving test for this reason).

How we view stop signs often pictures our attitude towards God’s Word. Do we see it as getting in the way of what we want to do? As a summary of suggestions which we can take or leave? As a changeable Book which we can adapt as we see fit so we can live on the edge?

As with stop signs, the Scriptures aren’t given to curtail our freedom but to protect us, often from ourselves. Solomon put it this way: “Wherever you walk, (its) counsel can lead you. When you sleep, (it) will protect you. When you wake up in the morning, (it) will advise you. For these commands (not suggestions) and this teaching are a lamp to light the way ahead of you.” (Proverbs 6:22-23, NLT). And lest we think God will change His mind to accommodate us He says through the psalmist, “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalm 119:89).

So the next time I come upon a not-so-friendly eight-sided obstruction I’ll try to remember Psalm 37:23 (with some liberties taken): “The stops of the godly are directed by the Lord.” (NLT). Will you join me?

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

“Finishing Well”

“Finishing Well”

 

When I was a high school freshman I went on a youth group retreat at which the speaker was Dr. Vernon Grounds, President of Denver Seminary. I don’t remember anything he said at that event 55+ years ago but he made a lasting impression. Little did I know at that time how much he’d impact my life and ministry over the next half century.

Ten years after that initial meeting Dr. Grounds presented me with my diploma at graduation. I’d been in awe of this man of integrity who was a world-renowned scholar but had never lost his pastoral heart as he spent time collectively with the student body, coffee cup in hand, after daily chapel as well as with me one-on-one (twice each year he invited me to breakfast just to talk and see how I was doing, a practice I continued with men in the churches I pastored). I saw him criticized and vilified, but he (unlike me) always responded with love and humility (his biography, written by Dr. Bruce Shelley [another of my influential seminary professors] is entitled “Transformed by Love”). To me, he was godliness and graciousness personified.

Our paths crossed from time to time over the next three decades. When we’d meet he’d always remember where I was serving and ask about my family and ministry. Given the number of people he knew (including many of the great Christian leaders of the 20^th century) I was always amazed at his interest in a common preacher like me. I may have graduated, but he was still my teacher and mentor.

The last time I saw Dr. Grounds was in 1998. When I was leaving the meeting at which he'd spoken I asked how I could pray for him. With little hesitation he said, “Pray I’ll finish well.” I assured him I would.

On September 12, 2010 Dr. Grounds crossed the finish line and Jesus welcomed him into Heaven at the age of 96. My prayers of 12 years had been answered as he’d touched countless lives (including mine) to the very end of his earthly journey. I pray that I too will finish well—and if I follow the example of this man of integrity I will.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"The God Void"

“The God Void”

 

As a teenager I worked at two Christian camps over four summers. These experiences proved to be major life-shapers (in fact, God called me into ministry during one of these times). One day during the course of my duties I was asked to replenish an empty sugar bowl. I did—but unknowingly filled it with salt! I had a clue that all wasn’t well when I saw strange facial expressions on those seated at the table. It was the right color and consistency but not the same thing at all!

Let me pose a hypothetical situation. Say you go out to start your car some morning and notice the fuel gauge registers empty. You’re in a hurry and don’t have time to stop for gas. So you get out your garden hose, uncap the tank, and “fill ‘er up.” What would happen? The needle would advance to the full mark. But would the car move? Why? Much as we’d like it to the wrong stuff was in the tank.

God has created each of us to have a relationship with Him (“It is [God] who has made us, and we are his….”—Psalm 100:3; “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). Accordingly, we all have a spiritual dimension that only He can fill (“…It is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.”—Job 32:8). Just as salt couldn’t take the place of sugar or water gasoline, other “stuff” can’t fill the God void in any of us. We can try (and God may allow us to) but in the end we’ll reap what we sow (see Galatians 6:7).

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). “Full” is a translation of a Greek word meaning “going beyond.” In other words, He wants us to have more than ordinary, humdrum lives. And that’s only possible as the place in us reserved for God is filled with Him and His desires for us.

What’s in your God void? What’s in mine?

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

“The Piels Syndrome”

“The Piels Syndrome”

 

Years ago New York City area residents were entertained by a series of radio and TV commercials pushing Piels Beer. The ads featured cartoon characters Bert and Harry Piels hawking their company’s product. The campaign was wildly successful in getting people to buy the brew. The problem came when they tasted the stuff—YUCK!! So after the initial spike sales dropped like a rock. It’s still being produced on a limited scale in Greater New York but after several buy-outs by other brewers it’s only a shadow of what it once was.

I’d long forgotten about Piels (which thankfully I never tried or I’d likely have remembered it) until recently when I poked through an old file and found a note about it. I thought for a while and suddenly realized how the church can get caught up in the Piels Syndrome. We can put up large and beautiful buildings, have polished worship and preaching, and develop attractive ministries to draw people to sample our product, but if we as God’s people aren’t measuring up to what we’re promoting those we’re trying to impact will turn away (as happened with Piels). And, as with Bert and Harry’s blend, they’ll be reluctant to try it again.

Jesus called Himself “…the light of the world.” (John 8:12) and amazingly He gave us the same title (“You are the light of the world.”—Matthew 5:14). To me this means He expects us to be His lights in a dark world which desperately needs what He came and died to give (‘…Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.:--Matthew 5:16). In other words, we’re here to make God look good.

We can’t afford to fall prey to the Piels Syndrome—our actions must back up our words. May we, with Jesus’ brother, “…show [our] faith by what [we] do.” (James 2:18).

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Infield Theology"

“Infield Theology”

 

In the late 1980’s the Chicago Cubs’ infield included third-baseman Vance Law and first-baseman Mark Grace. I remember watching a game during which the play-by-play announcer said, “Law throws to Grace for the out at first.” I found this mildly amusing (given my theological bent) but it took me a while to see the biblical analogy it presented. (Maybe if baseball had been around in the first century the Apostle Paul would have used it long before yours truly.)

When Law fielded the ground ball in question he couldn’t complete the play without throwing to Grace. Similarly, the Old Testament law was unable to bring God’s purpose of restoring people to Himself to completion (“The law completed nothing”—Hebrews 7:19, literal translation)—grace was necessary to accomplish His plan. This grace was found and God’s plan was completed in Christ (“…What the law was powerless to do…God did by sending his own Son….”—Romans 8:3).

So in this baseball incident Grace did what Law couldn’t (making the out at first base), but Law was credited with an assist to make it possible. Likewise, the law gets credit for pointing to the need for grace to do what it was powerless to do by itself (“The law was our guardian and teacher to lead us until Christ came.”—Galatians 3:24, NLT). Thankfully, Jesus came to fulfill and complete the law (“I have not come to abolish [the Law or the Prophets] but to fulfill them.”—Matthew 5:17). Because He did, we as God’s people now live under His grace rather than the law (“…You are not under law, but under grace.”—Romans 6:14).

God’s truth can be seen in every area of life including the baseball diamond. As Jesus used the familiar surroundings of His day to teach His Father’s principles (e.g. in His parables) so can we. And in this way we can more effectively present God’s grace to those around us who need to experience it.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan