"Too Familiar?"

“Too Familiar?”

One morning this past summer Karen and I were having breakfast in our enclosed Florida room. As we talked we suddenly realized we were hearing a train on the CSX line about half a mile away. It then hit us that the sound of a train had become so familiar that we often didn’t “hear” it. The same can be said for other sights, sounds and objects that have grown so commonplace that they escape our notice and become “a piece of the furniture” in our lives.

I’ve called 18 different dwellings home during my now ¾ century of life. Ten of them have been a mile or less from a railroad, some heavily traveled and others rarely used. By the time I got to college in Wheaton, IL I’d become desensitized to the noise but some fellow students who came from rural areas had trouble sleeping when a seemingly endless CNW freight train rumbled through town in the middle of the night. But they gradually became used to it and their rest wasn’t disturbed.

The Sunday before I sat down to write this piece our church choir (of which Karen is a member) sang a beautiful arrangement of Psalm 23 which included a fantastic men’s duet. The congregation loved it and gave an enthusiastic ovation. That day we went to lunch with another couple and part of our conversation centered around the anthem. We then realized that some parts of Scripture (including this Psalm) have become so familiar to us that we overlook their great significance. (John 3:16, the Good Samaritan story, the account of David and Goliath and many other parts of God’s Word can fall into this category.) Ironically it’s because they’re so important that they’ve become so well-known and we then run the risk of taking a “ho-hum” attitude towards the truth they convey.

In Acts 10:15 Peter was warned, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Proverbs 30:5 reminds us that “Every word of God is pure….” (NKJV) and it mustn’t become so familiar that we forget what God’s telling us or render it unimportant by our actions. Remember, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful…so that the (people) of God might be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, emphasis added).

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

(With helpful input from Karen)

"Beyond PRN"

“Beyond PRN”

One of my duties as a hospice chaplain was making an assessment of new patients’ spiritual needs. From this initial contact I developed a plan of care which included the frequency of visits, usually once or twice a month. But I always added “prn” to my report. This is the abbreviation for the Latin phrase “pro re nata”, which means “for an occasion that has arisen”. In hospice-ese it simply indicates “as needed”, suggesting availability beyond the stated plan when unforeseen circumstances come about.

When I was hired by our local hospital last year my title was (and still is) “prn chaplain”. In this role I’m on call for emergencies during off hours for a week at a time as well as to fill in on day shifts when a staff chaplain isn’t present. God has opened unique and unexpected opportunities to minister to patients and families as I serve in this capacity.

Recently I was asked to lead our Sunday School class for three weeks as our teacher recovered from a medical procedure. We’re studying the early history of Israel’s monarchy recorded in 1 Samuel. My assignment was the story of David and Goliath recorded in Chapter 17. Just prior to this incident David had helped Saul during his times of struggle (“…Whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better….”--! Samuel 16:23, NLT). So 3000 years ago there was such a thing as a prn music therapist. Hospitals today see the value of this practice and provide this service on a prn basis.

Scripture suggests God’s “prn” accessibility (“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”—Hebrews 4:16, emphasis added). But it’s far beyond what I can offer. I’m always available when I’m on call at the hospital, but God is everywhere at all times, not simply on call (“I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence!—Psalm 139:7, NLT). So it’s not His presence which is prn since He’s always with us, but His grace comes prn as we ask. And it’s always enough (“My grace is sufficient for you….”—2 Corinthians 12:9). So let His grace meet your need whenever one arises.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Knowing the Voice"

“Knowing the Voice”

When our son Dave was born in 1970 Karen’s family had five living generations. We took a picture in which Great-Great-Grandma Stevens was holding him on her lap flanked by Karen, her mother and her grandmother which appeared in the local newspaper. All except Karen and Dave are now with the Lord. We thank God for this special bit of family history and memories.

Shortly before our wedding Karen’s grandmother (“Tweet”) brought her mother to church. I greeted both of them and since Grandma Stevens was legally blind Tweet whispered, “This is Jim, Karen’s fiancée.” Grandma responded, “Yes, I know his voice.” At the time I was #98 in her line of descendants so it surprised me that she was able to distinguish my voice from those of her many family members and friends.

The human voice is amazing. Each one is unique in tone, pitch, volume and accent as well as in other ways. Without seeing the person we can often identify entertainers (especially singers), political figures, friends and even preachers (perhaps most notably Billy Graham). So our voices along with other factors move us to say with King David, “(Lord), You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit….” (Psalm 139:14, The Message).

Throughout Scripture God often uses the shepherd and sheep metaphor to show His relationship with His people (“The Lord is my shepherd….”—Psalm 23:1; “He tends his flock like a shepherd….”—Isaiah 40:11). This imagery continues with Christ’s ministry. He’s called the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20) and Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). Sheep aren’t driven, they’re led by their shepherd. And they follow “…because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger…because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:4-5).

Jesus then likens us as His people to sheep (not particularly complimentary as they’re not known for their intelligence). In responding to the opposition of the religious leaders He said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27). How does He make His voice known to us? Through God’s Word (“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”—Psalm 119:105) and the Holy Spirit (“…He will guide you into all truth.”—John 16:13). And His voice will never conflict with what has already been written (“…Your word is truth.”—John 17:17).

How well do I know God’s voice? And how am I doing in heeding it?

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"But Wait!"

“But Wait!”

(“The Deal of a Lifetime?”)

(A cooperative venture with Karen)

Karen and I were in a Wal-Mart in New Hampshire about 15 years ago when we saw a group of shoppers in the aisle ahead. We were curious (ok, nosy) so went to the edge of the crowd and saw a man describing a kitchen knife. After showing its virtues on assorted fruits and vegetables he announced, “This amazing tool can be yours for the low price of $10.” Having seen such demonstrations at the New York State Fair we knew what came next so Karen helped him by calling out, “But wait!” The observers chuckled and the salesman became frustrated as he got sidetracked from his script. (The rest of the story is that we bought the knife, including the bonus throw-ins, and it still cuts as well now as it did then.)

Infomercials clog the late night airwaves hawking various “you-can’t-live-without-this” items. The ads are slick and grab the attention of night owls. But almost always there’s a “But wait!” to sweeten the pot. The question is, Is the deal worth waiting for? Sometimes it is as was our purchase, but often the presentation is much better than the product, which we realize when it fails to live up to its hype.

There’s a phrase which by my count appears at least 20 times in the New Testament epistles: “But now….” It introduces something different and better from what was written immediately previously. It’s as if the writers are saying, “But wait! Here’s something far better than before.” One example is the contrast between our former lives and our new life in Christ: “For you were once darkness, but now (or but wait) you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light….” (Ephesians 5:8, emphasis added). However, probably the most important distinction is described by Paul in Romans 3:20-21: “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in (God’s) sight by observing the law; rather, though the law we become conscious of sin. But now (or But wait) a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known….” (Emphasis added). The apostle makes clear that in no way can we commend ourselves to God by what we do (or don’t do) but His providing redemption through Christ has made our relationship with Him possible (“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Romans 3:22).

The product promoters may claim to have the deal of a lifetime. Is it? Good as it may be, it’s only for this earth. God is offering the deal of all eternity: being with Him forever. That’s something worth waiting for.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan