"Hand-Me-Downs"

 

“Hand-Me-Downs”

 

In the mid-20^th century popular Youth Evangelist Don Lonie traveled widely speaking in high school assemblies, teen rallies, churches and on military bases bringing God’s message of hope to young people. He used humor, irony and Scripture to communicate with high schoolers and others in ways they could understand. One story he told was that as the youngest of six siblings he got a lot of “hand-me-downs” which he didn’t appreciate because, in his words, “The other five were girls!” That must have been quite a sight!

“Hand-me-downs” refers to items, primarily clothing, received from older siblings, cousins and friends which they’d grown out of. As the older brother things I could no longer wear were passed down to my brother and from there (if they weren’t threadbare) to others. Some churches and community groups collect clothing as well as toys and other articles to exchange with each other. In many places thrift stores recycle donations to support social causes and home yard sales help dispose of unwanted and unneeded doodads. As the old saying reminds us, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

I’d never thought about my faith as a “hand-me-down” but recently I realized that Scripture encourages me to “hand it down” to others. For example….

*”Always be ready with a reply for anyone who calls you to account for the hope you cherish….” (1 Peter 3:15, Moffatt).

*”Everything that you have heard me (i.e. Paul) teach in public you should in turn entrust to reliable (people), who will be able to pass it on to others.” (2 Timothy 2:2, PH).

*All of you set free by God, tell the world!” (Psalm 107:2, TM).

*”Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.” (Isaiah 12:4).

(Emphasis added throughout.)

We’re to hand our faith down locally through our witness and world-wide as we participate in and support missions work. But our “hand-me-down” faith is to begin at home with our children and grandchildren. In Deuteronomy 6:7 we’re told to “Impress (God’s commandments) on (your) children.” by ”(Pointing) our kids in the right direction –when they are old they won’t be lost.” (Proverbs 22:6, TM). Many of us are praying for our next generations to walk in or return to God’s ways—let’s never stop! God’s promises are sure and He’ll deliver.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Leftovers"

 

“Leftovers”

 

During the summer a Christian conference center in Upstate New York held a Friday night smorgasbord followed by a musical program. A staff member told me that the buffet was largely made up of leftovers from the week’s meals but presented in an attractive way. This was a win-win situation in which food waste was minimal and fellowship was provided for the attendees.

Since we became empty nesters Karen often prepares casseroles and other culinary delights as she did when Dave and Kristie were at home but saves half to enjoy a few days later or freezes them for future meals. In my mind they’re not leftovers in the usual sense but a second time to savor them.

A couple of weeks ago I was reading Malachi, the final message from God for more than four centuries. The prophet’s message was the sinfulness of God’s people by ignoring or distorting His commands. One shortcoming was their giving God their “leftovers”. In Malachi 1 God says that the priests had despised His name by bringing blind and diseased animals for sacrifices which the governor wouldn’t accept (Verse 8). In other words, they took what they wanted for their own use and expected God to receive their “leftovers”. How often have we (I) acted similarly with our (my) resources?

About 600 years previously God said this through Solomon: “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces. Then he will fill your barns with grain and the vats will overflow with the finest wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10, NLT, emphasis added). The king was using agricultural terms because it was the basis of the nation’s economy in which the first and best part of the harvest was to be brought to God (“Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.”—Exodus 23:19) Today this principle reminds us that God’s portion of our income  is to come off the top, not from the bottom after we’ve taken care of our needs and desires. As we learn this we’ll see the “Then” part of Proverbs 3:9-10 at work in our lives. A hymn that was a favorite of our Youth Group years ago (but hasn’t been included in hymnals I’ve seen since the late 1950’s) contains the words “Our talents may be few, These may be small, But unto Him is due Our best, our all.” So let’s accept the challenge to give God our best, not our leftovers.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

 

 

"Hidden Miracles"

 

“Hidden Miracles”

 

An elder in our New Hampshire church once asked if he could bring a Sunday message to the congregation. His topic was “Hidden Miracles” from Deuteronomy 29:5: “During the forty years that I (i.e. Moses as God’s chosen instrument) led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.” My friend then went on to describe how God met the needs of 2-3 million people who’d left Egypt and journeyed to the brink of entering Canaan, the “Promised Land”. We’re familiar with the “big miracles” like crossing the Red Sea, provision of manna and water from rocks but he called our attention to the overlooked ones like the one cited above, most of which aren’t mentioned: wood for fires for cooking and warmth, food for the many animals and disposal of trash to name a few. Think of Jesus’ miracles: the Gospels specifically tell of about 37 but John closes his account of Christ’s life and deeds with “Jesus did many other things as well.” (John 21:25). We don’t know the number of His “hidden miracles” but each one was a blessing to those who experienced them.

Just as we have no way of knowing the magnitude of Jesus’ works (“If every one of them were written down…the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”—John 21:25) we can’t comprehend the extent of the “hidden miracles” in our lives. We can point to His unexpected provision in times of need, deliverance through circumstances which appeared to be hopeless, physical healings and other incidents which we can only describe as divine interventions. But have we thought about how many “misfortunes” we’ve likely been delivered from without our realizing it? For example, I visited in countless hospitals and care facilities for more than 50 years as a pastor and chaplain but I can’t think of a single time I became ill from being exposed to anything that posed potential danger, including during the height of the COVID crisis. To God goes praise!  

As I drive around town I’ve seen people run red lights and stop signs seconds before I got to an intersection. (Our 55++++ community is notorious for ignoring stop signs—I’ve almost been clobbered more than once.) So before putting the car in gear it’s a good idea to pray for alertness and protection. And thank God for His “hidden miracles”.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

 

 

 

 

"Slippery Slopes"

 

“Slippery Slopes”

 

During a meeting of our Elder Team at our New Hampshire church we discussed a ministry proposal at some length. There was a good balance of spiritual gifting and vision/vigilance in the group so we looked carefully at the pros and cons surrounding the issue. One member whose and insight I greatly respected (and still do) cautioned us not to make a hasty decision and risk placing ourselves on a “slippery slope”.  We agreed to pray about the matter and revisit it at our next gathering. We then reached a consensus which over time proved to be a wise decision. In this process we learned to pray, discuss, pray some more then decide.

The term “slippery slope” has been traced back more than 2000 years to the writings of the Roman statesman Cicero (106-43BC) who used it to describe how quickly things can slide down to an unwanted conclusion once they start. (Today “snowball effect” has a similar connotation.) My New Hampshire friend provided wise counsel before we took action we might have regretted later.

In the period following Judah’s return from captivity in Babylon in two stages (606-536BC and 586-516BC) the prophets Haggai and Zechariah ministered and challenged God’s people to rebuild the temple and restore worship. The returnees had given their attention to their own houses and had left the temple unfinished. Five times (1:5; 1:7; 2:15 and twice in 2:18) Haggai used the term “Give careful thought.” (Most other versions translate the Hebrew phrase “consider”.) The nation was on a “slippery slope” and God’s messenger was used to bring the focus back to His ways.

We must be careful about decisions we make, particularly in early stages of our lives and responsibilities, lest we find ourselves on a “slippery slope” and have difficulty reversing our course. My friend’s words have stuck with me for more than two decades and have often kept me from going on the wrong path. Psalm 119:59 SAYS, “I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.” Let’s heed these timeless words of counsel—we’ll be glad we did.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Never a Shortage"

 

“Never a Shortage”

 

In the town in which I grew up a local resident owned three small super markets which served the area well. One day while shopping with my mother and brother customers complained that the milk case was empty. The owner realized the regular delivery hadn’t been made so he got on the phone with the distributor and said in no uncertain terms that he expected a delivery within the hour. (As far as I know it was done.) While living in New Hampshire Karen and I once stopped for lunch at an Italian restaurant and when we asked that grated cheese be put on the salad we were told they’d run out of it! (A large grocery store was nearby and apparently no one thought to purchase several cans until the supplier showed up.) Then recently I went to our local post office and found they were out of stamps except for a few with a design I didn’t appreciate. Given the nature of these businesses such oversights seem inexcusable.

Compare these incidents with gifts from God which don’t run short or out:

*His love—“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3).

*His mercy—“…The Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5, NKJV).

*His grace—“…God is able to make all grace abound to you….” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

*His power—“By his mighty power at work within us, (God) is able to accomplish infinitely more that we would ever dare to ask or hope….” (Ephesians 3:20, NLT).

*His presence—“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).

*His patience—“(God) is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).

Human errors sometimes inconvenience or disappoint us but “God will supply all that you need from his glorious resources in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, PH). With Him there’s never a shortage of what matters. Remember, “…He is the faithful God….” (Deuteronomy 7:9). Amen!

(Emphasis added throughout.)

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Starting from Scratch"

 

“Starting from Scratch”

 

The term “start from scratch” goes back to 18^th century sporting events in which the starting line was literally scratched in the dirt. It’s come to mean the beginning of some process, often in a job career. (Today the term “entry level job” is more commonly used.) Three examples stand out from my past. When I was in seminary I went from class to change clothes for my warehouse job, usually stopping at McDonald’s for a quick lunch which I ate enroute. A new employee wearing a cap which said, “Training Class” often took my order. In a short time I noted that he’d donned a white hat signifying he’d become a “regular employee” and after 2-3 months he sported a new one: “Manager”. The two hospitals in which I served as a chaplain were led by CEO’s, one of whom had begun as a Ward Clerk and the other in the Transportation Department. Coming up through the ranks gave each of these individuals valuable insights for their career paths.

Unless someone has exceptional skills (or benefits from nepotism) a first job begins at a low level. My father began his business career as an office boy (today often called a “gofer”) and 45 years later he retired as the Senior Senior Life Underwriter. My brother worked summers in the mail room for the same company then was employed in an entry level position after college. 31 years later he retired as an Assistant Vice President. Along the way both learned valuable skills in the industry. Other examples abound, maybe even in your own life.

We all enter God’s family by placing our trust in Christ (“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”—Romans 10:13). This is our start from scratch. From there we enter a process of growth (“…Let us…go on to maturity….”—Hebrews 6:1) through Bible study, prayer, fellowship and service to “…prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up….” (Ephesians 4:12). Paul cited this principle as one of the qualifications for spiritual leadership with a word of caution: “An elder must not be a new Christian, because he might be proud of being chosen so soon, and the Devil will use that pride to make him fall.” (1 Timothy 3:6, NLT). Tragically examples abound when this standard has been ignored.

There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity--it takes time and effort to do whatever task(s) God has for us. Are we ready to make this commitment to Him?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Of Hurricanes and Tornados"

 

“Of Hurricanes and Tornados”

 

While on a trans-Atlantic cruise in April I read Quiet Strength, the autobiography of Tony Dungy, retired NFL coach and commentator and outspoken follower of Christ. He likened his pro football experience as a player and coach to hurricanes and tornados. Both can be devastating weather events causing loss of life and property but there’s an important difference. Hurricanes develop and move slowly—weather forecasters can identify disturbances and warn the public to prepare for their potential impact days and even weeks ahead to allow time for sandbag placement, building protection and evacuations. By contrast, tornados form and move quickly allowing little or no time to get ready. Both can leave affected areas in ruins.

Dungy’s point was that in his profession they make plans for the upcoming season and even beyond (i.e. for the “hurricanes”) but also have to be alert for the unexpected such as injuries (i.e. for the “tornados”). Being prepared for both increases the chances for success. And his coaching record shows that he managed both well.

In our lives as followers of Christ we know that “hurricanes” and “tornados” will come—in other words, struggles are inevitable. In His last moments before His arrest and the events leading to His crucifixion Jesus assured His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). So we must anticipate hard times (“…Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”—2 Timothy 3:12) as well as face unexpected and difficult tasks but either way we have God’s promise, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13 5). (Emphasis added throughout.)

Here in Florida tornados are less common than in other parts of our nation but hurricanes are a fact of life. As I write this in mid-July we’re about ¼ through the storm season (June-November) but by God’s grace, “So far, so good!” But officials warn us to be prepared that at any time a tropical event may be brewing. But how can we be ready when out faith is pushed to what seems to be the “breaking point”? By bearing in mind that “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course that others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed beyond your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, TM). That includes our “hurricanes” and “tornados”! To Him be the praise!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan