"Stuck with Us?"

 

“Stuck with Us?”

 

In a high school English class structural ambiguity, a term for a sentence or phrase that can have the same words but be understood in different ways, was discussed. (Sometimes the French phrase “double entendre” is used to describe this grammatical feature.) To illustrate  I came up with this example: “What are you doing here?” Depending on which word is emphasized as well as one’s tone of voice it can be perceived as a request for information, an accusation or an insult. These possibilities show the need to be careful with how we speak (including our body language) to minimize the potential for conflicts.

Here’s another one: “God’s stuck with us.” Taken one way we might conclude that He has to care for us whether He wants to or not; interpreted differently it shows He’ll be with us no matter what the circumstances might be. Which sounds more like the God of the Bible?

In His last meeting with His disciples the night before His crucifixion Jesus said to them, “You did not choose me, but I chose you….” (John 15:16, emphasis added). In effect He was saying, “I’m not stuck with you—I’m choosing you because I want a relationship with you.” Then about six weeks later just before returning to Heaven and sitting at His Father’s right hand He told these same men, “I will be with you always….” (Matthew 28:20, emphasis added). So He’s not stuck with us—He’s stuck with us!

There may be times we’ve felt abandoned and alone by family, friends and even God (see the recent posting “Through It All”). But He’s seen us through, not because He had to against His will but because He chose us as His own and said, “You are my friends….” (John 15:14). Solomon wrote, “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you….” (Proverbs 18:24, TM, emphasis added). Jesus is that True Friend who’s stuck with us and can be counted on to be with us—and we with Him—for eternity.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Thermometers or Thermostats?"

 

“Thermometers or Thermostats?”

 

For some reason in recent years I’ve become intrigued with suffixes which give words added meaning. In 2024 I posted back-to-back articles “What ‘-Form?’” and “What Kind of ‘-Holic?’” Attaching “-form” suggests acting in a particular way (e.g. conform and perform) and “-holic” carries the idea of being controlled (e.g. workaholic and shopaholic). Each can affect us positively or negatively depending on the place we give them in our lives.

A couple of weeks ago I was looking through a stack of accumulated blog ideas to see if an old thought might gain new life (see “What to Write” for more on this process). I ran across a note of three words: “Thermometer or Thermostat?” “Thermo” comes from a Greek word for heat, “-meter” is derived from a Greek term for measuring conditions and “-stat” has its root in a Greek expression for stationary or a standard. Each suffix has technical and scientific usages as well as in everyday conversation and writing.

As I pondered this thought which became this article’s title I asked myself if I’m more like a thermometer or thermostat. Am I more prone to be unduly influenced by conditions around me or contribute in some way to making a positive impact? Paul warns us to avoid the former in Romans 12:2 (PH): “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within….” In other words, don’t be a thermometer which responds to conditions around us. In contrast, Jesus tells us that “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13-14), indicating that we’re to be agents of change for the good as salt enhances food’s flavor and light dispels darkness (stated another way, be thermostats).

God has prepared us for our role through Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17), the Spirit’s power (Acts 1:8) and His gifting (1 Peter 4:10). Are we ready to be the influencers rather than the influenced through our lives in a needy world?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Through It All"

 

“Through It All”

 

A few weeks ago my daily Bible reading brought me to Jeremiah 20. God’s prophet had been beaten and imprisoned for speaking God’s message of judgment. In Verses 7-19 Jeremiah pours out his heart in complaint to God for his plight, mentioning that he felt God had deceived him, his being ridiculed and insulted, his being watched so his shortcoming could be reported and even expressing grief that he’d been born. He likely felt useless and wanted out.

I echoed Jeremiah’s thoughts during a very difficult fourteen year period of my life. It was a time of major struggle and uncertainty with a similar range of emotions as the prophet had experienced more than 2500 years previously. But God brought me and my family through it all in extraordinary ways of provision and encouragement through the prayers and presence of many godly people and especially Karen’s love and support. The words from Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:22-23 proved true: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Emphasis added). In the words of a youth group chorus of decades ago, “The road may be long but my Savior is strong, and He holds my hand.”

In the midst of his expressing his grievances to God Jeremiah writes, “Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.” (Verse 13). Even in his darkest moment the prophet recognizes God’s presence and work in his life. Similarly in my lowest time God spoke to me through Andrae Crouch’s wonderful song, “Through It All”:

“I’ve had many tears and sorrows I’ve had questions for tomorrow

There’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong

But in every situation God gave me blessed consolation

That my trials come to only make me strong

 

“I’ve been to many places I’ve seen a lot of faces

But there were times that I felt so all alone

But in my lonely hours Yes, those precious lonely hours

Jesus lets me know that I was His own

 

“So I thank God for the mountains And I thank Him for the valleys

And I thank Him for the storms He’s brought me through

For if I’d ever had a problem I’d never know that God could solve them

I’d never know what faith in God could do

 

“Through it all Through it all I’ve learned to trust in Jesus I’ve learned to trust in God

Through it all Through it all I’ve learned to depend upon His Word”

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"A Worthy Example"

 

“A Worthy Example”

 

Jesus taught in two basic ways: by exhortation (“…Jesus went up the mountainside with His disciples and sat down to teach them.”—Matthew 5:2, NLT) and by example (“…Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example….”—1 Peter 2:21). So by His words and deeds He instructs His people as to what they should be and do. Since He was without sin in what He said and did we can be sure that what He teaches will never lead us astray.

Whether or not we want to admit it each of us is a teacher. Some may not realize this since they’re not a school teacher, pastor, Sunday School teacher or involved in children’s or youth work. While it’s true that all don’t teach by exhortation we all do so by example. What we do tells those around us—family, friends, neighbors, co-workers—how real Jesus is in our lives. Are we setting a worthy example?

The Book of Acts tell us what the apostles did in the power of the Holy Spirit. They taught by exhortation and example as Jesus did and He desires us to do. What impact did they have? Take a look at Acts 4:13: “…(The religious leaders) were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Even those who had no use for Christ and persecuted those who followed Him were forced to acknowledge that being with this Galilean Carpenter made a difference.

When people look at us can they tell if we’ve been with Jesus? Is there anything about us that reflects His life and influence in and on our lives? Those of us who’ve known Christ since childhood have had many opportunities to show His impact on our lives. How well have we availed ourselves of them? Think of the apostles—all but John were martyred for the cause of Christ. How about the early believers—many of them met death in horrible ways for their trust in their Savior. And let’s never forget our present-day brothers and sisters living under persecution—many are languishing in prisons for obeying God rather than people (Acts 5:29). These set and are setting worthy examples in teaching others what being a follower of Christ is all about. Are we willing to do the same?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Feeling at Home?"

 

“Feeling at Home?”

 

All of us have probably been guests in homes of family, friends and those hosting group events. In most cases we’ve felt welcome but at other times not so much as seen in words, body language or overall attitude which said, “I wish you weren’t here!” Showing hospitality is a biblical directive (“Practice hospitality.”—Romans 12:13; “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”—1 Peter 4:9, emphasis added). Paul also instructs us to “Accept one another…just as Christ accepted you….” (Romans 15:7) which I believe includes receiving our fellow believers into our homes as opportunities to do so come our way.

But how does this principle relate to our churches? We discussed this in a recent Men’s Bible Study session and shared church experiences of feeling welcome as well as the perception that it was a closed group in which newcomers had little part. Church analysts have concluded that many first-timers decide before a service begins if they’ll return based on the friendliness of those they’d encountered because they’re not seeking a “friendly” church (which many claim to be but only with those they already know) but one in which they can make friends and build relationships.

What makes you feel at home? In seeking to answer this question Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote a song called “Feelin’ at Home in the Presence of Jesus”. Whether it’s in a family residence or house of God it’s the reality of Jesus’ presence that makes us feel welcome and valued. So I must answer uncomfortable questions: Would Jesus feel welcome in my home? Would He feel welcome in my church? In correcting His disciples for arguing among themselves as to who was the greatest of them Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my names welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:37). Have we (I) welcomed Jesus by lovingly receiving those He puts in our (my) path?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"A School That Has No Graduates"

 

“A School That Has No Graduates”

 

During my lifetime I’ve had seven graduations: elementary school, junior high school, high school, college, seminary, basic Clinical Pastoral Education and resident CPE. All were recognitions that my classmates and I had completed certain standards to prepare us for our next steps in our life’s journeys. Each brought a certain level of accomplishment but also presented new opportunities for growth and influence.

But there’s one “educational institution” which has no graduates because its requirements are never completed: “The School of Hard Knocks”. The phrase first appeared in 1870 in The Men Who Advertise in which George P. Rowell contrasted life’s experiences with formal education, showing how painful circumstances can prepare people for facing life’s challenges through what some have called “The University of Life”. Since life brings struggles of many kinds (remember Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.”—John 16:33) we never complete the curriculum of dealing with adversities thus we never graduate.

A psalmist, likely King David, expressed the value of life’s misfortunes. He was well acquainted with them as we see from his ordeals surrounding Saul, Bathsheba and Absalom. But he saw their benefits as he stated, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word…It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” (Psalm 119:67,71). Our difficult times are intended to drive us back to God and His Word to provide needed resources (“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”—2 Peter 1:3, emphasis added). His prophet also assures us, “…I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). This truth worked for me during a devastating period in my life and assured me that God hadn’t abandoned me but was getting me ready for “…great and unsearchable things….” (Jeremiah 33:3) in the years to come.

I haven’t graduated from “The School of Hard Knocks” and never will because there’s always more to learn. In the words of Eliphaz to Job, “Blessed is the (one) whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” (Job 5:17). Is this pleasant? No! Is it valuable? Most Assuredly yes! So let’s benefit from our ongoing education at the feet of our Father in Heaven.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"In Between"

 

“In Between”

 

“In between” describes a place bound by two points or events. A patient may be in between appointments, an unemployed worker may be in between jobs, a traveler may be in between destinations. But there’s a place where one can be literally in Between: Between, GA. It’s a tiny hamlet (1.2 square miles) mid-distance from Loganville and Monroe (and larger cities Atlanta and Athens) on US Highway 78 and GA Highway 10. In 2000 it had a population of 148 which more than tripled to 475 in 2024. (See “Strange Names” for more interesting places’ names and how they were acquired.)

As we read about Jesus’ life and ministry we find a number of incidents of His actions while on His way from one place to another. In John 4 He and His disciples were going from Judea to Galilee and “…he had to go through Samaria.” (Verse 4). Why? A woman of ill repute needed to hear His message that He was the long-awaited Messiah (Verse 26) and based on her testimony, “Many of the Samaritans…believed in him….” (Verse 39). In Matthew 9 Jesus was in the midst of teaching in Matthew’s home (Verses 9-17) when Jairus, a synagogue ruler (Mark 5:22), begged Him to heal his sick daughter (Verse 18). While on His way a woman touched His clothing and was healed of a twelve-year illness (Verses 20-22) before He arrived at the official’s home and raised his daughter from the dead (Verses 23-26). And while going to Jerusalem from Capernaum our Lord met and healed ten men suffering from leprosy (Luke 1711-19). To some these may have been seen as interruptions but to the Master they were opportunities.

I shudder to think of the chances to minister I’ve lost because I was in a hurry to do something else. It may have been a good opportunity but maybe it kept me from a better one (see “Being a Friend” for a personal example). In 1974 Mac Davis wrote and sung these words: “Where you going in such a hurry…You got to Stop and Smell the roses….” Those “in between” moments (aka smelling the roses) can bless us and others in countless ways—will I/you avail myself/yourselves of them?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan