"Certainty in Uncertainty"

 

“Certainty in Uncertainty”

 

Some 35 years ago I went through a particularly difficult time in my life and ministry in which I struggled with my purpose and direction. During this period I worked at a “real” job which required me to commute to and from an office and job sites, often early in the morning and late at night, providing quiet opportunities for prayer and reflection. In those dark (figuratively and literally) times God gave me two key passages of Scripture: Psalm 73 and Jeremiah 29, especially Verse 11: “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” After almost four decades I still rely on this truth to assure me that God will fulfill His purpose in, for and through me until He calls me Home.

This biblical truth took on new significance this past January when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. As I write these thoughts in late March I’m in the preparation process for radiation treatments which will likely start in early May. My doctors are confident that this regimen will deal with the issue so by God’s grace I’ll have more years with family and friends as well as completing His purpose for me. (As an added note, my brother Dave and two longtime friends are dealing with the same condition and we’re all being upheld by many pray-ers.)

King David wrote with assurance, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me….” (Psalm 138:8, emphasis added). Some 1000 years later Paul proclaimed in Pisidian Antioch, “…When David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep….” (Acts 13:36). This gives me great confidence that “My times are in (God’s) hands….” (Psalm 31:15).

In 1958 songwriter Stuart Hamblen similarly expressed his certainty in these words:

“My heart can sing when I pause to remember A heartache here is but a stepping stone

Along a trail that’s winding always upward—This troubled world is not my final home.

 

“The things of earth will dim and lose their value, If we recall, they’re borrowed for a while;

And things of earth that cause the heart to tremble, Remembered there, will only bring a smile.

“This weary world with all its toil and struggle May take its toll of misery and strife;

The soul of man is like a waiting falcon—When it’s released, it’s destined for the skies.

 

“But until then my heart will go on singing, Until then with joy I’ll carry on--

Until the day my eyes behold the city, Until the day God calls me home.”

 

“Until Then” I thank God for my certainty in uncertainty.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

 

"Bench Coaches"

 

“Bench Coaches”

 

Beginning with the 2013 season Major League Baseball allowed a team seven uniformed coaches during a game. They are responsible for such areas as hitting, pitching, bullpen, first and third base and conditioning (some serve more than one function). But the one closest to the manager is the bench coach. The one occupying this position, popularized in the 1990’s by Don Zimmer of the New York Yankees, is the boss’s right hand man who’s asked for suggestions on strategy and player moves as well as being ready to step into the managerial role should the head man be unavailable for any reason, including umpires’ requests to leave the premises after an argument. A seasoned bench coach has proven to be an important asset in a team’s success.

During my years of preparation for and practice of ministry I’ve benefitted by having a number of “bench coaches” who’ve come beside me. They may be called pastors, professors, coworkers, associates, mentors or accountability partners but whatever their “titles” they invested time in me and were ready to give wisdom, guidance and love. Their influence has kept me from many mistakes (and sins) and prevented my wandering from God’s path (at least not too far). But my most important “bench coach” is Karen who for almost 55 years has fulfilled a role no one else could. I’ve been blessed “…immeasurably more than all (I) ask or imagine….” (a practical application of Ephesians 3:20) by her wisdom (aka spiritual common sense) and love.

Recently I had breakfast with our pastor, Caleb Pipes. He could be my grandson but possesses maturity and perception far beyond his years. As we discussed my part in serving our church he asked if he could meet with me regularly to talk about ministry and “pick my brain” from my years of experience. I was honored by his request and readily agreed. Since many bench coaches are former managers as a former pastor I similarly see this new opportunity to bring what I’ve learned to my “Timothy”. Please pray with me that, paraphrasing Paul’s words, “…(we) may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” (Romans 1:12).

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

 

"When to Stand"

 

“When to Stand”

 

During the high school years I was in the orchestra. At concert time we all stood when the conductor walked onto the stage. While on jury duty in Manchester I was seated on a case when the bailiff called out “All rise” which we did when the judge entered and took his place on the bench. And on TV we’ve seen an audience come to its feel when the President came in and stood behind the podium. The commonality in these instances is respect for authority and leadership.

Since last September I’ve led the Men’s Bible Study in our community in an interactive discussion of the Minor Prophets and together we’ve discovered how much they have to say to us today. As I prepared for our look at Habakkuk a phrase jumped out at me: “…I stand in awe of your deeds. O Lord.” (3:2) and my mind went back to my school and courtroom experiences. I then checked my concordance (I still use a printed one) and found other passages that referred to standing in awe of God’s presence (Ecclesiastes 5:7; Isaiah 29:23) and His Word (Psalm 119:120) plus “…the people stood in awe of the Lord and of Samuel.” (1 Samuel 12:18). And let’s not forget that during the days of Nehemiah “…as (Ezra opened the book of God’s law), the people all stood up.” (Nehemiah 8:5). Many churches, including the one we served in Manchester and our present one in Lakeland, do this when God’s Word is read.

After crossing the Red Sea Moses led the children of Israel in a song of praise by saying, “Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”(Exodus 15:11). Answer? NO ONE! In 1905 hymnwriter Charles H. Gabriel wrote, “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus, the Nazarene, And wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.” And in 1987 Mark Altrogge composed, “I stand, I stand in awe of You, I stand, I stand in awe of You. Holy God, to whom all praise is due I stand in awe of You.” (Emphasis added throughout.)

Before we stand in respect to anyone or anything else let’s do so before God. That’s when to stand—and to do so in awe!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

(For more on the awesomeness of our God check out “A Misused Word.")

"Something Better"

 

“Something Better”

 

Recently Pastor Caleb Pipes preached a message from parables in Matthew 13 in which he examined two men who sold all they had to purchase something worth much more, one a piece of land on which he found a valuable item (Verse 44) and the other a choice pearl (Verses 45-46). His point was that there are times in our lives when we must decide if by faith we’re willing to part with something we treasure to gain something we believe is better.

As I thought about these two stories God brought to mind several people who gave up financially lucrative careers to serve Him vocationally:

*Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones left his medical practice in Wales to become a pastor and author. He preached at Westminster Chapel in London for some 30 years and wrote scores of books on biblical subjects.

*Bobby Richardson retired from Major League Baseball while at the top of his game to serve with Christian ministries.

*Arturo Blanco was the Director of Education for a large area in Honduras and resigned to pastor Eternity’s Call Church in Danli which our Manchester church had planted.

*Len Waterman was a promising engineer (and one of my grade school Sunday School teachers) who became a church planter in the Northeastern U.S. and had a part in starting or restoring about 80 churches.

And lest you think the only “better way” is to go into vocational Christian service….

*A recent TV movie told of a man who left his law practice to start a non-profit organization to help needy kids (a fictional story but likely one repeated many times over in real life).

*My brother Dave was subtly told by a supervisor that he’d have to put his employer first to advance in the business. He courageous responded that God and his family were his top priorities but he’d serve his company diligently. God later honored his commitment with several promotions. (See “First Things First” for more of this story.)

In Scripture we read of Paul who was willing to count human achievements as “rubbish” to serve Christ (Philippians 3:8) and a young man who was unwilling to part with his earthly riches to follow Jesus (Matthew 19:16-22). Which one represents “something better”? Which one describes me? Or you?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan