"Garbage In, Garbage Out"

“Garbage In, Garbage Out”

Computers aren’t my strong suit—just ask Karen or my hospital colleague who answers my many “Help!” calls! I’m OK with the basics of email, internet, Word and the hospital system but beyond this I’m lost. I still use a primitive cell phone for calls and texting and through a friend’s kindness have an iPad, but I certainly hope I’m a better chaplain than computer operator.

I don’t speak Computer-ese but one term I’m familiar with is “Garbage in, garbage out”.  According to Wikipedia it first appeared in 1957 in a syndicated newspaper article about mathematicians in the Army (when computers were in their infancy) in which a specialist used the expression to explain that the machines couldn’t speak for themselves but responded to what was entered. So if they were inputted sloppily or incorrectly the output would be flawed. Computers have come a long way in the last six decades but this overall principle hasn’t changed.

There’s another way we see “garbage in, garbage out” play out: in each of us. In His “discussion” with religious leaders after they attributed His healing of a demon-possessed blind and mute man to Beelzebub Jesus told them, “…Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good (person) brings good things out of the good in (him or her), and the evil (person) brings evil things out of the evil stored up in (him or her).” (Matthew 12:34-35, emphasis added). So if we put garbage into our hearts and minds can we expect good to come out? Since “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked….” (Jeremiah 17:9, NKJV) are we helpless? hopeless? Listen to what God says (emphasis added): “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you….” (Ezekiel 36:26) and “…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2). So as we give our hearts and minds over to Him as “…living sacrifices….” (Romans 12:1) they come under His control and can be filled with what’s “…true…noble…right…pure…lovely…admirable….” (Philippians 4:8). As He works in us the garbage goes out and the godliness comes in.

The Apostle Paul concludes his summary of our duties to one another in God’s family (Romans 12:9-21) with, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Verse 21). Put another way, “Don’t let the garbage in and you won’t have to deal with its coming out.” I want to see this happen in my life—I pray you do as well.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Approved"

“Approved”

When walking into our church auditorium recently I was greeted by an usher who’s also a friend and resident of our community. We did some good-natured trash talking which led to his telling me he knew he was approved of when he was told so by a credit card reader at a local retail store (remember those?). I thought about this when I got home and wondered what made his card (or any of ours) acceptable. I concluded that paying on time, keeping balances within our limit and wisely using the privilege of buying on credit are likely the major factors. I try to practice these principles as I avail myself of this convenience in my purchases and meeting other commitments.

My mind then went to how and why I’m approved by God. The Greek word for “approved” means basically “of good reputation”. It’s used in Romans 16:10 where we read, “Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ.” (Emphasis added). (This is the only reference to this man in Scripture.) Paul must have seen something in Apelles’ life to write this about him. I pray that God would be able to say the same about me.

In his outstanding book The Search for Significance Robert McGee describes five qualities which show we’re approved by God. Each one rebuts one of our enemy’s lies about us in his attempts to drag us down. Here they are with God’s answers (emphasis added in each case):

   I am deeply loved (“I have loved you with an everlasting love….”—Jeremiah 31:3).

   I am completely forgiven (“…The blood of Jesus, {God’s} Son, purifies us from all sin.”—1     John 1:7).

   I am fully pleasing (“…God caused Christ, who himself knew nothing of sin, actually to be     sin for our sakes, so that in Christ we might be made good with the goodness of         God.”—2 Corinthians 5:21, Phillips).

   I am totally accepted (“…{God} made us accepted in the Beloved {i.e. Christ}.”—               Ephesians 1:6, NKJV).

   I am complete in Christ (“…In {Christ} you have been made complete….”—Colossians     2:10, NASB).

Each of these qualities can be found in Jesus’ account of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). And in each of our life’s stories as well. Think of how God has made you significant in His sight and thank Him for it!

Back to Apelles—could I paraphrase his “scriptural biography” with “Greet Jim, tested and approved in Christ”?

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Don't Push the Button!"

“Don’t Push the Button!”

Karen and I do most of our TV watching from taped shows so we can zip through the commercials and parts we don’t want to see as well as go back to words or scenes we may have missed the first time. So the rewind button comes in handy by saving time and enabling us to get “the whole story” to keep us from drawing unwarranted conclusions.

Football great-turned-evangelist Bill Glass told of a team meeting in which the films of his team’s most recent game were viewed. To his chagrin one clip showed his missing a tackle he should have easily made. The coach ordered the play to be shown again with the comment, “Let’s see if Bill makes the tackle this time.” The film could have been rewound many times but the outcome couldn’t be changed. But the value was the opportunity to correct a mistake to minimize the chances of its happening again.

You and I have a rewind button in our heads that causes us to relive negative thinking and actions. (I know firsthand how this works.) Much as we might wish we’d done differently we can’t change the past (revisionist history notwithstanding). Our archenemy Satan is well aware of the presence of the rewind button in our lives and is a master of knowing when to tempt us to push it, usually when we’re in a vulnerable time so he hits us when we’re down (remember he’s not a fair fighter). What can we do when this happens? As with any difficult situation, our first line of defense is God’s Word (isn’t this what Jesus used when He was tempted in the wilderness?—see Matthew 4:1-11). With God’s help I’ve been able to better recognize when my “thinkin’ becomes stinkin’” and head it off at the pass by concentrating on Scripture which the devil can’t overcome. Here are a couple of especially helpful passages which I use often:

   “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19).

   “…Whatever is true…noble…right…pure…lovely…admirable—if anything is excellent or praise-worthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8).

Rick Warren once said, “God never wastes a hurt.” And the lessons we learn from our struggles in the past will stay with us and enrich our lives for the future. But let’s be sure to listen when God says, “Don’t push the button!”

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"God's Script"

“God’s Script”

(Thanks to Karen for the title)

Recently while working a day shift at Lakeland Hospital one of my colleagues asked me to make a few visits in one of the units he covers as he had some administrative tasks to complete. On the referral list I saw a name that was the same as a missionary we’d supported in one of our New York churches. When I shared this with the patient he replied, “That’s me!” We enjoyed talking about how God had worked in and through us in the 30+ years since we’d last had contact. A coincidence? I prefer to see it as a God appointment or (in Karen’s words) “God’s script”.

Think of the “chance meetings” you may have had that couldn’t be humanly arranged. In addition to the above, it was a similar scenario when I unexpectedly met a former hospice coworker which led to my position at the hospital and a back injury which required chiropractic care in which the practitioner I went to at the suggestion of a neighbor grew up across the street from me on Long Island! These divinely-orchestrated encounters illustrate the truth of the words of King David, “The steps of a (person) are established by the Lord….” (Psalm 37:23, NASB).

Scripture tells of a number of incidents which some may see as coincidental but later circumstances show God’s hand of direction. When Ruth, a Moabite woman who returned to Israel with her mother-in-law Naomi, was gleaning in the fields (a provision God had made to meet needs of the poor) we’re told, “As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz….” (Ruth 2:3). Through a “surprising” series of events Ruth married Boaz and became the great-grandmother of David (see Ruth 4:21-22). Or that Joseph “just happened” to be sold into slavery by his jealous brothers so he could later say, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20). And there’s Jesus’ noticing a little guy named Zacchaeus in a tree, inviting Himself to his house and seeing a hated man’s life changed (Luke 19:1-10). In each case God said, “…I know the plans I have for you….” (Jeremiah 29:11). And He says the same to us, even when conditions around us seem at their worst.

It’s not wrong to make plans (in fact, Jesus said it’s wise to do so—Luke 14:28-32) but we must say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:15). Solomon wrote, “In (their hearts people plan their) course, but the Lord determines (their) steps.” (Proverbs 16:9). In other words, He reserves the right to change our plans. So let’s let Him script our ways—remember, “…his way is perfect….” (Psalm 18:30).

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan