"Waffles"

 

“Waffles”

 

In 1955 Joe Rogers and Tom Forkner opened a small restaurant in Avondale Estates, GA geared to fast service 24 hours a day. Since then Waffle House has grown to (as of 2024) 2010 locations in 25 states, mostly in the southern US. The yellow décor is a familiar sight, especially at Interstate Highway interchanges where travelers can get a good meal quickly at reasonable prices. (I’ve stopped at a number of them over the years but can’t recall ever ordering a waffle!) With the advent of breakfast buffets which often include waffles at hotels and motels Waffle House and other eateries specializing in breakfast fare have taken a financial hit but most have survived by diversifying menus, a good example of making changes according to market conditions.

In a recent message our pastor, Caleb Pipes, used this “delicacy” as an illustration of our lives as God’s people. A waffle is made up of squares which vary in number (one in our freezer has 35). When we pour the syrup on it fills some of the holes to overflowing, others evenly and a few remain dry. Pastor Caleb then made the application that we overemphasize some areas of our lives (maybe our special interests), have certain ones in proper perspective and ignore the rest (perhaps the ones that interfere with the first group). Just as this may impact our enjoyment of our breakfast treat the lack of balance in our lives may keep us from experiencing God’s best.

Many years ago a traveling youth worker whose name I’ve forgotten gave talks to gatherings of teenagers on the subject “The Well-Rounded Square” using the description of Jesus’ life as a young man summarized in Luke 2:52: “…Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and (people).” The speaker pointed out the four areas of His life which He kept in perfect harmony: mental (wisdom), physical (stature), spiritual (favor with God) and social (favor with people). If we don’t follow this pattern our lives won’t function in the way God intends, much like a ceiling fan with its blades out of whack or a waffle with the syrup applied unevenly.

Paul and his companions prayed for believers in this way: “We also pray that your outward lives, which (people) see, may bring credit to your master’s name, that you may bring joy to his heart by bearing genuine Christian fruit, and that your knowledge of God may grow yet deeper.” (Colossians 1:10, PH). So as we enjoy the Waffle House signature dish let’s think of and pray for consistency in what it pictures and live it out to God’s glory.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Running in Place or Running the Race?"

 

“Running in Place or Running the Race?”

 

During fall and spring my high school gym teachers would have us run in place inside as part of our exercise routine when weather prevented our using the track on the athletic field. This provided activity but accomplished little since there was no competition or goal to aim for. It was much different at a track meet when all the participants would strive to reach the finish line first, be it a 100 yard dash or mile run.

In his epistles Paul used a number of different metaphors to illustrate how the church functioned as well as our individual progress as followers of Christ including the human body (his most familiar one), a garden, an army, a flock and a family. At least seven times, however, he likened life as a believer to running a race. What are some of the parallels?

*Both have a purpose--his desire was that he “…did not run or labor for nothing.” (Philippians 2:16) but “…complete the task the Lord Jesus has given (him)—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24).

*Both are to avoid distractions—he told the leaders of the Ephesian church, “…None of these things (i.e. his ministry struggles) move me….” (Acts 20:24, NKJV) as he “…pressed on toward the goal to win the prize ….” (Philippians 3:14).

*Both have the desire to finish well—he challenges us to “Run to win.” (1 Corinthians 9:24, TM) as he did (“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”—2 Timothy 4:7). (See the early-on article “Finishing Well”.)

Pastor Rick Warren once observed that “Committees take minutes but waste hours!” For this reason his church didn’t have boards or committees but teams, a philosophy we adopted in our New Hampshire church. Sports teams might look good on paper and be projected to win a championship but unless they “run the race rather than run in place” it’s nothing but empty talk. The same is true for us as the people of God. So let’s stop running in place and commit ourselves to running the race to God’s glory.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"How Many Timothys?"

“How Many Timothys?”

 

It’s interesting to think about how parents choose their children’s names. In biblical times this was often done to reflect the circumstances surrounding their birth –perhaps the best example is Jacob’s sons in Genesis 29-30. Today, however, babies are sometimes given names after respected family members or friends but mostly because the parents like the sound of them. (I inwardly chuckle of atheists’ or agnostics’ picking Joel, meaning “Jehovah is God”, or Timothy, “dear to God” or “one who honors God”. I guess they didn’t take time to research the names’ significance.)

Names run cycles in popularity, a fact illustrated by Timothy. In the 1960’s it was #13 on the list but by 2020 it had dropped to #437! (I don’t know if it’s a “coincidence” but it’s intriguing that a Bible-based name has decreased in usage as God has been elbowed out of our national life.) We had four Timothys in our New Hampshire church directory, our present church has just one and our residential community lists four. I’ve known many Timothys during my 81 years on this planet but fewer as the ages decrease.

There’s only one Timothy mentioned in Scripture: Paul’s pastoral companion. (It could be that this was a nickname based on his character as with Barnabas in Acts 4:36-37.) He had a close relationship with the Apostle, who referred to him as “…my true son in the faith….” (1 Timothy 1:2) and “…my dear son….” (2 Timothy 1:2) and of whom he said, “,,,As a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.” (Philippians 2:22). And as he faced martyrdom it was Timothy whom Paul most wanted to see (2 Timothy 1:4) and to whom he gave a final charge which has been repeated many times over at services of ordination (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Timothy was paid a high compliment when his mentor said, “I have no one else like him….” (Philippians 2:20).

How many “Timothys” (or “Timothenas”) have there been throughout church history? If we believe this to be a nickname the answer is literally every person who has ever lived because we’re all “dear to God” (“…God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son….”—John 3:16, emphasis added). But can I as a believer in Christ say, “My name is Jim (you can put your name here) but my nickname is Timothy because I want to honor God through my life and service for Him?”

 

Grace and Blessings!

                                                                       Jim McMillan 

"Let God Be God"

 

“Let God Be God”

 

One of the rural areas in which we lived was served for many years by a general practitioner. He was an excellent physician but his bedside manner left something to be desired. It was reported that he once told a patient who didn’t follow his instructions, “If you’re not going to do what I tell you you’re wasting my time and your money!” Put another way, “If I’m your doctor let me be your doctor!”

Years ago I knew of a church that was willed a house by a long-time member who had no surviving relatives. The pastor met with the estate attorney and began telling him how to proceed. The lawyer stopped him by saying, “Pastor, I don’t tell you how to preach so please don’t tell me how to practice law!” In other words, “If I’m your lawyer let me be your lawyer!”

If you’re like me there have been times that by our conduct we’ve told God how to run our lives and the universe. Under the guise of prayer we try to give Him instructions as to (to use a political commentator’s book title) the way things ought to be. But we forget David’s words: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it; the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1, emphasis added). So God’s telling us, “Since I’m God let Me be God!” Moses challenged Israel shortly before his death, “Acknowledge and take heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.” (Deuteronomy 4:39, emphasis added). And the sooner you and I recognize this the better off we’ll be.

Around 625BC God’s prophet struggled with His actions towards His people and inquired, “Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (Habakkuk 1:13). God in His mercy assured him that He was in control (“…The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”—Habakkuk 2:20) and His servant responded that even in the worst of times “…I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18). His experience speaks to us even after 26 centuries because “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) and neither does His Word (“Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”—Psalm 119:89). So—let’s let God be God and trust Him to be in charge of all things, including your and my life.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan