Today’s Thought “Throwback Thursday” G. Ward

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1

I miss the days when it was proper to awaken your children from their slumber because they neglected to wash the dishes before bedtime. Moreover, parents would have company until late and children upon coming indoors for the evening would be so entirely exhausted from enjoying varied sports, bike-riding, to then culminate into forgotten games like two-square (e.t. finding a line on the driveway and simulating tennis without a racket), red light, green light, and whether boys want to admit it or not, chants of rhythmic songs like “Ms. Lucy had a baby” while clapping hands in synchronicity through great cadence.

Our parents entertained often. They would insist we come in and show them the latest dances (to which they were too old to grasp – in retrospect, I now realize they were much younger than I am currently = OUCH!). In our home there were four of us. We are all 16 months apart (almost to the day) and our eldest sister participated in ballet, tap and jazz at a very early age but was yet a horrible dancer. Our brother, well let’s just say either he was far more intelligent than us; because he would just spin the 45’s or 78’s (young people, that’s indicative of vinyl records vs. cd’s or cassettes) insisting that he couldn’t dance at all. Amazingly when girls entered his scope, he became a regular Deney Terrio (an American choreographer, host of the television musical variety series Dance Fever). Our younger sister and I were dancing machines, particularly when money was on the line. This sister also sang very well. Although I too could carry a tune, I never revealed that growing up; I was entirely too shy.

What happened to the days when parents embarrassed their children? I’m now so very thankful for that era along with foundational insistence that children did what their parents instructed. I can’t wait! My grandsons will be arriving on late tonight. I believe their flight comes in after 10 p.m. When they arrive from the airport at 11: p.m. or so, I’m going to blast some music from the “Hi-Fi” and insist they teach me how to do “The Bump,” “The Hustle,” “Funky Chicken” and “The Robot!” I don’t care if they are just 3 and 1 years old!

Happy Thursday!

Today’s Thought “How Do I Match Up?” G. Ward

 

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, ¹³ even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.” 1 Timothy 1:12-13

 

Unfortunately, individuals seemingly well acquainted with God’s word have been tagged scholarly. I say unfortunately because man has been impressed (historically) with man’s knowledge over the All Wise God. Scholar, in this sense more demands unattainable superiority. Furthermore, it delineates lack on the part of fellow believer’s spiritual aptitude in understanding “His yoke as easy and burden as light” (Mt.11:30).  It’s Him and only He that empowers, equips and commissions. What we then dispel is most certainly not more literary prose, but solely His words. Anything less is disingenuous and inauthentic.  Some theologians feel a need to dress it up, making it more entertaining. On the other hand I’ve come to realize that creativity runs a short course (Eccl.9:11), whereas “Truth” is a marathon. The older I become in grace, the less sufficient I am and also not impressed with man.

Happy Wednesday!

Today’s Thought “Mesmerized” G. Ward

 

“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” Romans 12:3

 

My first bout in full time ministry came with very little instruction. The church to which I was a part of sought me to enhance diversity (racial and cultural) in what was a predominantly Anglo membership. They depended on me to share every opportunity to include the masses without compromise. I recall the first day. After being assigned an office, I sat in that big chair, without the first file or case to settle. I then took a walk around the huge facility, praying for Holy God’s guidance with first mission tasks. Absolutely nothing was clear. I vacated the building to then seek a shoe store. The dress shoes I wore were too expensive to walk throughout the community to endeavor resident’s perspective on Christ and His church. For the next week it became my daily ritual.

I understood the more, that the essence in hearing from God is to never seek a commission from man. More important to do, is to not violate what’s been given to administer from the Master long ago. When/if I contemplate job security, notoriety or acceptance, over recognizing the mercy shown me, and how there’s enough to dispel unto others, I preclude HE’S not more than enough. Since that’s not an option, I’ll rejoice in seeing other’s lives transformed unto spiritual maturity, while deciding to remain a missionary for Christ.

Happy Tuesday!

Today's Thought "Rare Contemplations" G.Ward

"Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David." 1 Kings 2:10

I didn't have the pleasure in knowing either of my Great Grandfathers. I did however hear of their many contributions to our family's perseverance. I'm so very thankful for the positive identifiers existent in me today attributable to my patriarchal predecessors.
I'm wondering about the potential adoption of familial values by many of this modernity perceiving these historic expressions as antiquated.
Very particularly, what will my grandson's children know of my best approach to life? I could establish a legacy to ensure of my remembrance, it would most certainly have to involve a financial distribution of sorts (and they might still forget). To ensure a secure foundation, I must remain exemplary and true to my conviction in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:3-5). "Heaven and earth will pass away, but His words are forever" (Mt.24:35). Inevitably, all of our greatest grandchildren will face eternality's question. Can/will we on today, help their decision to prevail in the affirmative?

Happy Monday!

Today’s Thought “Brood of Contempt” G. Ward

 

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Do we really understand this “all” factor? “All” in this case is indicative of implicit trust in the Spirit of Christ (Ro.8:9-11). We’ve practiced a way in mortal life that seems good to pursue, but proves insatiable. The components of a Spirit-filled life are only manifested when total dependence on our Inventor is exercised. Only then will the treasure hunt cease to exist, because you’re more aware that IT (the True Treasure, cf. Ex.20:3) was present the entire time of your existence (cf. Ps.46:1)…

Happy Wednesday!

Today’s Thought “Unequally Yoked” G. Ward

“Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked,
And this is the place of him who does not know God.” Job 18:21

Listen to these most heinous statements; “What comes around goes around!” “You’ve got to be careful Karma, is real!” In a sense, this was the sentiment of Job’s three friends. These friends were troubled to see Job suffering so very greatly and attributed his great dilemma to sin in his life. Although the agricultural terminology utilized over and over again that demands “’you reap what you sow” is very true and can produce dire consequences, such was not the case for Job (cf. Job 1:8-12).

When many contemplate Job, they think patience. I more identify faithfulness, even on a regardless basis. While great destruction plagued Job, his greatest testimonial was, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him” (Job 13:15). Job’s three friends expected collapse. Those same friends sought convincing Job through many discourses echoing a same sentiment of great calamity plaguing him because they perceived he sinned greatly, not realizing that Holy God gave carte blanche to Satan himself to tear Job’s world apart (even though Job was considered “a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” Job 1:8b). Hey, don’t ask me why Holy God chooses to do His work that way! Just understand that if I had to endure the penalty of my past imperfects (i.e. what comes around, goes around) or entertained Karma (Karma is a theological concept found in the Buddhist and Hindu religions. It is the idea that how you live your life will determine the quality of life you will have after reincarnation. If you are unselfish, kind, and holy during this lifetime, you will be rewarded by being reincarnated (reborn into a new earthly body) into a pleasant life. ) as a Christian reality; Christ’s sacrifice for me would be terribly obscured, making it virtually impossible to gravitate towards. I’m so glad however; “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro.5:8).

Happy Thursday!

Today’s Thought “Promotion, Soon to Come…” G. Ward

 

“Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:1-3

 

In the old traditional church you could always tell who had aspirations in becoming a minister. They practiced all the liturgical behaviors of the church and would always be eager to announce anything. Moreover it was the deacon who also made this obvious. His prayers became more intense than ever, his chants of supplication (from ordinary moments) now introduced authoritative statements synonymous with what a pastor would say. Foolishly and frivolously, they never calculated the cost of ministry. Their aim was notoriety from men vs. a calling to fulfill from Holy God. They more rehearsed Kevin Costner’s starring role in the movie “Field of Dreams” (i.e. Build them and they’ll come!), than observe an undesired phenomenon depicted in Alex Haley’s “Roots”, as a slave to Christ (cf. Phil.1:17).

If the pursuit is money and fame, the self-imposed clergyman will soon be forced to identify the days of frequenting worship facilities is slowly becoming something of the past. We now allow social networking to become our church. The sincere however, don’t need prompting. They’ll remain faithful to the eternal perspective found in God’s word: 1. “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. ² Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; ³ and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” (2 Pe. 2:1-3). 2. “Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:25).

Happy Wednesday!