QUESTION OF THE DAY #43: What special things do you eat only around Christmastime?

Plum pudding with brandy set alight on top… and carrots and rutabaga, mashed with butter and black pepper both come highly recommended.  How about smoked salmon for breakfast?  How about some delightful British candy called "dark chocolate orange"?  If you can't find that, go for some chocolate-covered peanut butter balls!  Many people love homemade stuffing or mince pies.
 

I have to laugh at myself, because I actually love fruitcake!  In case you're wondering, you're looking at one very lovely fruitcake right below! 

If you don't like fruitcake, try pannetone bread or even coffee cake! There are little German cookies called spitzbuben and Lithuanian fried cookies called ausukas.  Cream puffs are a good dessert, too!   For meat, there is turkey, goose, and pinnekjøtt, which is dried and salted lamb rack.  Pasteles are served in many countries in Latin America.  Most of all, I enjoy gifts, whatever they be.  I never turn down food!  In fact, while I'm writing this I'm enjoying some Swiss cheese that was given me as an early Christmas present! 

A very special part of Christmas is keeping it special, doing special things, and marking the occasion of Jesus' birth in practical and very real ways.  "And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child…" (Luke 2:16-17) We have a God and Savior, Jesus, who came to this earth as a child, to live and to give His life for us, a life that overcame sin and death and still gives us the victory.  It's real.  Therefore, look to your traditions, make new traditions, join in with those around you, and rejoice.  Celebrate!  Make this a Christmas to remember!

QUESTION OF THE DAY #42: What Is Your Favorite Poem?

I don't know if I have a favorite poem, but I wrote one the other night. Poetry forces me to choose each word with care.  This one is called "More than a Dream".   

The dreamer unfurls the downy quilt
and back and forth is slumber-tossed,
and to worlds unnamed does soar,
but in the waking all is lost
and vanished is the thrill of life,
though it were imagined, just.

As clouds cover stars for a time
and allow their mists to clear,
and as the greater light of day
erases the silent drama where
eyes were transfixed for a moment,
visions once held are seen no more.

So sameness would rob those who
are richer than they might know
and steal what is more than dream
as they stretch for what is new
but not so much as they had before
leaving hands opened, slipped through.

So to that one who is apart tonight
but not apart for truly loved
A plea goes forth that angel host
keep watch over them so moved
and fill their heart with warmth
and peace and constancy endued.

I wrote it as I was thinking how easy it is to get bored with the familiar and forget how wonderful it is.  With all the new gadgets coming out, making yesterday's technology obsolete, the effect is only heightened.  I am afraid that we are addicted to change, to the new.  There is much to be said for the tried and true, for warm memories and for the basic joys of life that remain unaffected by "progress."

Even more than that, I'm glad we have a God whose love remains unchanged by passing fancy or fad.  We never have to guess if we're loved.

QUESTION OF THE DAY #41: "What is your favorite cheese?"

There are so many good varieties of cheese.  The names are wonderful, too, like every variety of cheddar, Colby, Havarti, Gorgonzola, blue, Cooper cheeses, Camembert provolone, Swiss, brie, Gouda, Stilton, Gruyere, Jarlsberg, Colby-Jack, Monterrey Jack, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Here in Wisconsin we also have string cheese, and best of all, cheese curds!  Yum!

There really is a world of cheese, but  I almost missed out.  When I was younger I had some Parmesan cheese on top of spaghetti.  For some reason I didn't like the texture and decided I didn't like cheese.  Gradually, over time, I began to realize that this simply wasn't true.  Now, I absolutely adore cheese of all sorts, as if you couldn't tell!

I think that many people have their mind made up about Jesus and about Christianity.  Maybe they got a bad taste in their mouth.  For situations like that, I'm truly sad, and don't excuse the behavior that led to that bad taste.  Other people have only witnessed a pale imitation of what it means to believe in Jesus.

As the Apostle Paul spoke about his ministry, he said, "For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ." (2 Corinthians 2:17) When a sincere person of faith shares their faith, it cannot be argued with, for it is not a matter of debate.  As such a person shares the risen and crucified Jesus with others, it is authentic and real.  That is why Paul also said, "we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved." (2 Corinthians 2:15)

Maybe you want to be like that.  I can assure you that by God's grace He is working such a work in you, for He has promised it.  Often, in our weakness, God reveals His strength.  Maybe you want to meet such a person.  I can assure you that they truly do exist, and God will bring them to you.  "Taste" and see that the Lord is good.

QUESTION OF THE DAY #40: What do you wish you knew when you were younger?

Today I built an oak file cabinet.  It was from a kit.  As I put it together, I followed the pictures, but when I got done, I found a bottle of dried up glue.  It turns out I should have used glue.  I wish I'd known that when I started, but I didn't, and it will have to just stand as is for the time being.

Such is life!  The saying goes, "If I'd only known back then what I know now."  This question can open a whole can of worms.  It's true. For myself I wish that I had cared less about what other people think, and been less afraid of failure.  

There could be a whole lot of regrets, but one thing I find is that people, when they are younger, might not fully realize how good things can be later on.  God has good things in store.  I think that the surprise can actually be part of the fun.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV) 

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

QUESTION OF THE DAY #39: What would your motto be?

There are still plenty of mottoes around if you look hard enough.  Some of them I really like.  Cicero's famous quote is also the motto of South Carolina, Dum spiro, spero. (While I breathe, I hope.)  The motto of the Order of St. Patrick is a good one, too, Quis separabit? (Who shall separate?)  It comes from Romans 8:35, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?"

Since I'm writing this on Reformation Sunday, I can't help but think of the Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, and Sola Scriptura of the Reformation (Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone).  God forgives us and brings us into a good and holy relationship with Himself only because of His undeserved love for us.  We are brought into this relationship through faith, by believing and trusting in the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.  Finally, the Holy Scriptures are God's Word and teach us about His love and about Jesus our Savior.

Speaking of God's Word, after digging around a little bit, I found my motto.  It comes from 1 Peter 2:16... "Live as people who are free."  It doesn't speak about political freedom, for it was originally written to people in all kinds of situations, including slavery.  It is about our freedom in Christ, a freedom that comes to us because "by His wounds you have been healed."  (1:24) It is not an excuse for doing whatever we want, either, because it describes our entire life of honoring others while living honorably.  That's the meaning of Quasi Liberi (…as people who are free).

QUESTION OF THE DAY #38: In addition to wedding rings, what is your favorite piece of jewelry? 

There is a lot of really good jewelry, to be sure, but since I'm a guy who's pretty hard on things, most of my jewelry just hasn't stood the test of time.  Rings have been dented.  Pendants have been broken.  Watches have been lost.  Metal has been tarnished, and since I don't have any piercings, that rules out a whole category. 

I do have a pendant that I wear.  I bought it last year, and it's still sticking around.  I got it at the Mall of America, in St. Paul, Minnesota, at one of those vendors in the middle of the place.  It has a good solid chain and heavy duty clasp.  Attached is a metal figure of a cross entitled "love as strong as steel."

I think of the Roman soldier, a centurion no less, watching over the crucifixion.  He surveyed the scene and cried out, "Surely this was the Son of God."  He recognized the strength on display--even and especially in the death of Jesus.  The cross, back then, was not jewelry, of course.  It was a hated, dreadful thing.  Roman soldiers were frighteningly skillful at making death as drawn out and as painful as possible.  The cross was their torturous tool of choice. 

And while, in its original form, the cross displayed all the ugliness of the depths of human experience, now it has been transformed.  The death Jesus died on a cross stands for all time as the payment for our guilt.  So now we trust in our risen and living and triumphant Savior, Jesus.  The cross is now a reminder of the depth and width and height of God's strong love.

Ephesians 3:17–19 (ESV)
...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

QUESTION OF THE DAY #37: What is a fun and easy family thing to do together?

This answer can be unique to each family!  Some like an impromptu drive in the country.  Some like a picnic, or, literally, a day at the beach, paddling a boat, building sandcastles!  Fishing is great, too, one of my all-time favorites.  What about a trip to the zoo?  Even flying a kite is an adventure.  It doesn't have to be fancy.  A simple walk will do. Sharing a meal together--and maybe even cooking it together--is wonderful!  

Board games are great, and so is watching a movie.  Break out the guitars or the piano and sing!  Even in the coldness of winter in Wisconsin, where I live, there are a lot of things to do!  Bowling is always fun, and that always works well for my family!  For more to do, try ice skating, skiing, sledding, or even just making a snowman!

You get the idea.  There is a lot of stuff that can be done, and whatever it is, may it be done in love. 

"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." Colossians 3:14

QUESTION OF THE DAY #36: What is your favorite vegetable?

Tomatoes count.  Yes, technically they are fruits, but since they have a lower sugar content than most fruits, they are, from a cooking perspective, vegetables, that is, unless you are trying to can them.  Then they're fruits.  Did you know that all this can be said of eggplants, cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchini, and squash?  Potatoes also count, though diet-wise they may be considered a starch.  I think corn is like that, too!  Finally, rhubarb counts.  Although, and here is a strange thing, according to U.S. law, it is a fruit.  The logic is that it is used as a fruit.  I don't understand that one bit, but, in the end, the taxes on it are lower than vegetables.  So I'm all right with that.

On to vegetables proper!   You have the classics, like broccoli and cauliflower.  You have green beans, peas, parsnips, peppers, cabbage, beets, asparagus, and what would we do without onions?  Then there is spinach.  When I was little, I watched Popeye and thought cooked spinach out of a can would be a great thing to try.  I was in for a surprise.  Can you say spinach-face?  I love spinach now, though! 

There is the lowly Brussels sprout, which I believe is Cavolini di Bruxelles in Italian.  It sounds much yummier that way!  Though I like it just the same!  I never met a vegetable I didn't like!  I'd have to say that my favorite, though it's oh so hard to pick just one, would be the carrot, because it tastes so good cooked or raw, and it is always around our house for a quick snack!  What is your favorite vegetable?

All of this shows that God made the world with an incredible amount of variety for us to enjoy.  This variety extends to people and the things people like to do and are good at!  Never feel you have to pretend to be someone else.  Avoid being limited to a "category".  God made you wonderfully.  And you have unique talents and abilities that can be cultivated in your own special way your whole life long! 

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." 

(Psalm 139:14) 

"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them..." 

(Romans 12:6)

QUESTION OF THE DAY #35: What is your favorite cartoon?

Some people think of Saturday morning TV cartoons: Smurfs, Bugs Bunny, things like that.  Others think of comic books: Superman, The Green Lantern, and Spiderman!  I think of the Sunday morning newspaper cartoons.  I could name a couple, but my own favorite would be "Peanuts" by Charles Schultz.  Yes, that's Snoopy up there on my computer screen!

Incredibly intelligent and poignant, still relevant (think of the phrase "wishy washy" for example), and beloved for the television specials, what makes "Peanuts" so interesting for me is how it grew out of Charles Shultz's own childhood.  Promoted one grade after another, he found himself having to cope with peers who were much older.  He felt like an outsider.  He felt like Charlie Brown.  Good grief!

I think for all of us who can relate to feeling like an outsider, Charlie Brown was a hero.  He let us see that lonely part of ourselves in a new light.  We weren't alone in our aloneness any more.  This, of course, is nothing new.  Consider this "good grief" statement of Jesus: "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." (Matthew 8:20)  Jesus endured loneliness so that in Him, we need never be truly alone.  He has endured all of our griefs, and we can give Him all our burdens, even Charlie Brown-like ones!

 

QUESTION OF THE DAY #34: If you could build your house into any shape at all, what would it look like?

A country cottage  is a nice way to go.  There are castle-houses, and houses built like Gothic churches.  There are dome houses and beach houses.  There are A-framed houses and tree houses.  Oh, and lighthouse houses!  What would yours look like?

You can get even more fanciful, like a "hobbit" house or a house made to look like a mushroom!  There are houses that use nature to provide many of the necessities, an Eco-friendly, energy-efficient house, or maybe you have a dream house, featuring a walk-around porch, or pillars, or both!  Finally, there are plenty of people who like their own  house just fine! 
 

I have two choices for this one.  The first is a log cabin!  Simplicity rules the day, there!  The second would be in the shape of a basketball court, with a basketball court on the upper level and living quarters underneath--with a music studio.  That would be living!

In the Old Testament, God chose a tent for his house, and then He gave the blueprints to Moses!  Every part of that house was portable.  It had to be, because the Hebrew people were wandering through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land.  God certainly goes with us, too, on our journey through life.  He's with us wherever we live.  He's there when we get up and lie down.  He's there in every season.  He's there for the long haul.

As believers in Jesus, we have a permanent home in heaven with God.  This world is temporary, but this world is not all there is!  Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"  (John 14:1-2)

QUESTION OF THE DAY #33: What is one thing you want to remember forever?

So many things yearn to be remembered forever, a kindness shown, a great accomplishment, a feeling of happiness and contentment, the day you met, the day you married, the smile of a brother or a sister, a special night with friends, a meaningful conversation you never want to end, seeing the birth of your child and all the steps they take along the way, parents, grandparents, a singularly beautiful day. 

It seems I've forgotten so many things along the way.  Time has a way of just carrying a person along.  It's good to take time to remember, to hang on.  Sometimes it's difficult, like remembering a lesson learned, or realizing, in a bittersweet way, how far you've come, or, on the other hand, when a memory of days gone by leads you to want to reconnect with the past.

One thing I never want to forget is that I am loved.  Who knows?  I might one day forget the names of others, and even my own name.  I might forget what day it is, or even what year it is, but I still want to hang on to the simple fact that I'm loved.  How many times haven't I visited with someone who forgot my name, but could recite the 23rd Psalm with me perfectly?

There are those people in my life that have let me know that I'm loved, and always will be.  They have encouraged and stood by me.  For that I am truly and deeply grateful. Their love has been a reminder of God's love. 

God gives us abundant reminders of His love.  When I was a baby, my father, a pastor, poured water over my head and said, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."  Remembering that I am baptized is a powerful way of remembering God's love.  It is knowing that God always stands by me.  My baptism always points me to Christ Jesus my Savior and what He has done for me: suffering, dying, rising to life, forgiving me, and and letting me know that I truly am loved.

"...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word..." (Ephesians 5:25-26)

QUESTION OF THE DAY #32: "What puts the wind in your sails?"

I wrestled with this question this week.  Leading worship energized me, but then I was tired and had to take a Sunday nap!  Playing football with my son lifted my spirits, but I eventually had to say, "I can't go any longer!"  Being with the people for my Bible study lifted me up, but not every time that I'm with others do I feel lifted up.

Being with loved ones, doing things I love, exercise, work, hobbies, accomplishments, and taking care of my physical body all are important and wonderful and inspiring, but if I rely on any one of "my things" to automatically and completely put the wind in my sails, sooner or later I'll feel let down.  That doesn't mean that any of these things are bad, or that they aren't what inspires me.  It's just that it is an unfair burden to place on activities, on other people, and on myself. 

So as I continued to wrestle with this question today, I stopped by at the House of the Dove, which is a place for hospice care.  I had a visit to make, and as I left the building, I was greeted by a rush of wind, by the golden morning sunshine, and also by a sculpture by a local artist of an angel with a dove.  

Yep, God pretty much hit me over the head with this one.  His Holy Spirit is the wind in my sails! The same God who breathed into me the breath of life also keeps me going through the power of the Holy Spirit! 

"...he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit..." (Titus 3:5 ESV)

QUESTION OF THE DAY #31: What does a rainbow make you think of?

A rainbow is amazing.  If the sun is shining at about a 40-42 degree angle right behind you and there is a rain shower directly in front of you, you have a good chance of seeing one.  How it happens is that as light enters the droplets of water all of the different colors of light change speed and direction at slightly different rates.  This is called refraction.  The light is then reflected back, and as it leaves the droplets of water, it is refracted again!  The water droplets act like a prism and a mirror!

I don't always think about that, though.  Quite simply and honestly, rainbows remind me of when I've seen them before: in the clear, open spaces of Kansas, on the road to my grandparents' house, camping, and even once as I even drove right past the end of a rainbow near a lake up north in Wisconsin.  (Lakes can do interesting things to rainbows!)

The Bible talks about the rainbow after the flood.  It was a symbol of hope and of God's love and mercy.  Never again would the world be destroyed by the kind of flood that took place in Genesis, when God spared Noah and his family.  

That is a powerful message.  I think of it as being connected to the very first thing God created, light itself.  We normally can't pick out all the different colors.  Yet, in a rainbow we can see them!  We are given a glimpse inside the mystery of light.  I am reminded by these things that life itself is a mystery and a wonder, and that there is always hope... especially in Jesus and His love which is freely given to us.  (Just think, a rainbow is free!)

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him, these things God has revealed to us..." (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

QUESTION OF THE DAY #30: What can you build with your hands?

I've always enjoyed building things.  One of the fun childhood things I liked to do when we'd visit my grandparents was to get out some wood and nails and a hammer and just have at it!  As a youngster, I even got some balsa wood and made a replica of the Wright brothers' first airplane!  When we moved into our home years ago, the first thing I did was to make a wooden railing for the living room.  There's a real satisfaction in building things with your hands, even if it's putting together the furniture that comes in boxes and you have to assemble! 

As I asked people this question, I found that "build" couldn't cover all the wonderful things that people made.  Some people might plant a garden.  Some people might make supper every night, or delicious cakes for dessert!  (I'm still stuck on the desserts!)  Some people made various crafts, like afghans and quilts and toys.  What was most touching was how people were "building" solid marriages and memories together with family and friends. Along with this comes all the wonderful ways that people use their hands and their hearts to show others how much they care.  You don't have to be a mechanic or a carpenter to be able to do that at all!  Whatever you set your hand to, it says in Ecclesiastes, do with all your might.

Jesus' father was a carpenter, of course, and Jesus probably learned from Joseph, but what is recorded in Scripture is how Jesus reached out His hand in love.  Confronted with a leper that no one would go near--much less touch--Jesus was moved with pity, reached out His hand, and touched the man and healed him.  (Mark 1:41)  Can you hear the gasps of the people when they saw this?  I wonder how many turned away in disgust before they saw the healing take place.  

In big and small ways, and maybe in unexpected ways, what can you "build" with your hands today?

QUESTION OF THE DAY #29: What is your favorite dessert?

This seemed like such a simple question.  I remember loving banana splits.  Two slices of banana with ice cream in the middle, whip cream, and a cherry on top!  When I was quite young, my dad made them for us!  However, it's been years since I had one.  So, I made one the other day, and I love bananas and ice cream, but somehow mine didn't taste quite right.  I guess I'll have to go back to the old drawing board!

Speaking of changing tastes, here's another dessert story.  When I was little, I hated lemon meringue pie.  This is a shocking statement, because I'll literally eat anything.  I think that I had sampled some meringue and thought it would taste like Cool Whip, so I was a shocked.  I went for years without touching this dessert.  Then my family was invited over to a church member's house, back when we lived in Kansas.  She made lime meringue pie.  Not wanting to be rude, I ate it.  Whoa!!! That was the best.  Ever.  Needless to say, lemon meringue pie will never be a problem again at all!

Things don't always stay the same.  I think this is a good thing.  I think that God enables us to keep learning and changing our whole life long.  That thing that bothered you might be a blessing in disguise.  Try "coloring outside the lines" today!  Look at things a little differently!  Find a new favorite dessert!   Better yet, discover something wonderful about the mercies of God that are always new, always needed!

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

QUESTION OF THE DAY #28: What's your nickname?

At many camps, the counselors are given a nickname.  This happened to me, and my nickname was Smiley.  I must have been smiling a lot!  What's your nickname?  Some people get a nickname because of their physical appearance.  Others get a nickname that describes their personality.  Some nicknames don't make any sense at all!  A very fun part of being a dad is that I get to give my kids nicknames, which has, on occasion, been known to embarrass them.  It's my job!

Last year I learned that a common nickname for Daryn in Australia is Dazza, with Dazzer and Daz following suit.  I kind of like that, but I know there are some who don't.  So I looked up Daryn, and found out something else that was new!  If Wikipedia is to be believed, it might be derived from the Irish name, Dáire, which means "oak tree."

So if I had to give myself a nickname it might be Oak Tree.  Are we really allowed to do that?   I almost think that a nickname, like an ordinary name, has to be given. 

Favor with God is like that, too.  You can't earn His love, but He freely gives it through His Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the tree of the cross and was raised to life for our forgiveness.  In Isaiah 61, the good news is told of how God will "bind up the brokenhearted" and "proclaim liberty to the captives."  Those who mourn will be given "the oil of gladness."  They will be called "oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD."  We are His planting!  These precious promises show us that God's love is pure gift.  Therefore it is rock solid.

QUESTION OF THE DAY #27: What do you do when you can't remember someone's name?

Names are a funny thing.  I'm Daryn, and I happen to have a twin brother named Daryl.  As you might imagine, that has created several difficulties.  At college, one of our professors thought we were really one person who turned in two separate tests.  We had to explain that one, let me tell you! 

When it comes to forgetting people's names, there are two basic approaches.  One is just to come out and say you forgot and ask for the name.  The other way is to try and avoid saying the name.  There are a lot of variations on that theme.  You can call them something like "sweetie"  or "bud" depending on the situation.  (Here you have to be careful if you're a guy!)  Ma'am or Sir works in a formal setting.  There are a few other options along those lines.  In some countries you could call them "mate," and that would be perfectly acceptable!


Then there are the creative ways.  You could just keep guessing names until you land on the right one.  I've done that.  It's fun!  One person even suggested asking them how old they are and then saying, "No way! Prove it!"  When they pull out their driver's license you can find their name.  There you go!

What do you do?  I generally find that the way I remember people's names best is to ask another person if they know the name.  It's helpful for me to hear someone else say it.  I did that just yesterday, in fact!  Other people find that it helps to link their name to how they look... like a word picture, but that one can backfire if you're not careful!  It helps to relax, too, or even to work your way through the alphabet, I've been told.

Honestly, though it's embarrassing, quite often the best approach is to simply say, "I'm sorry, I've got your name on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't remember it!  My memory is like Swiss cheese!"  It's honest, straightforward, and lets them know that you ARE interested in their name.  I know... I know... it's much easier said than done.

Forgetting someone's name isn't a sin.  It happens to us all.  But we can learn how to deal with our sins from all of this.  We confess our sins and come to Jesus for forgiveness.  Can you imagine having the guilt and regret of your sins washed away?  Paul said in 2 Corinthians 7:10, "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret..."  As I read those words over and over, letting them soak in, I'm just amazed.

QUESTION OF THE DAY #26: How can a person possibly manage their time?

Get a calendar. Write in it. Delegate. Don't you quit.

Prioritize and make a list. Organize, if you get my gist.

Don't skimp on rest, And do your best

To be ready to do All that is asked of you.

If you can't multitask And keep on track,

One by one Will get the job done!

To stay on time, Remember this rhyme,

And better yet, Avoid the internet! 

Even if life's a mess And you're filled with stress,

Remember prayer, Because God will hear!

QUESTION OF THE DAY #25: How can you help someone without saying a word?

This seems like a very easy question, and in many ways it is.  A smile is such a wonderful gift to give someone, and it doesn't cost anything, and a hug is so special.  Just these two alone can change your world and theirs, even if just for a day.  

I needn't say another word, and if I wrote all night, I couldn't say enough about smiles and hugs, but there is something important to remember.  Sometimes words are all too few, and sometimes someone is so lonely that words are the only thing that will do.  Words can be oh so welcome!

Bearing that in mind, there are times when you can reach out to another person, if you know them well enough, and so much can be spoken though no words are even said.  You can be there, be really present for them.  You can give them a simple act of kindness, or maybe bring over a meal to someone's doorstep, or simply open a door, or pick up something that was dropped, or light a candle. 

Even everyday things take on a different aspect when unaccompanied by words.  Tonight I gave out coffee and cookies without saying any more words than absolutely necessary.  It felt good, and it was a nice surprise, I think.  Quiet can be good, especially when our love flows from a heart that has been quieted.

"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love..." (Zephaniah 3:17)

QUESTION OF THE DAY #24: What would you draw on your name tag to help people get to know you?

A lot of people like to draw smiley faces, flowers, rainbows, animals, birds, and those are wonderful!  Some might draw something else that they like or that they're proud of or that they do for a hobby or a living.  What would you draw on your name tag? 

I'll be honest though, I almost stumped myself with this question.  I've doodled abstract designs.  I've drawn a smiley face or two, musical notes, or even crosses.  

However, my favorite thing, now that I think about it, would be to draw a heart.  Why?  Once, when I was visiting people in the hospital, one of the family members put a heart on my name tag.  It's still there!  See?  

It still reminds me of what I'm doing in the hospital.  It reminds me of why I'm here on this earth.  It's about serving God by loving others!  I'm no different than anyone else in that respect, but it sure makes me feel special to know that I can share God's love wherever I am and whatever I'm doing, since He first loved me!

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. (Proverbs 3:3)

QUESTION OF THE DAY #23: What language would you like to learn?

As a pastor it goes with the territory that I learned the biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew.  I picked up German and Latin along the way, too.  In High School I learned French.  Most of that last one, in particular, I've forgotten!

One language I'd really like to learn is Spanish!  A lot of people I've been blessed to meet speak it, and most of my family members know it, too, just not me!  Swedish is one I like, and I'm actually trying to pick up a bit of Croatian too!  There's a part of me that really enjoys dabbling in other languages!  What language would you like to learn?

Most of the languages I've learned through books and vocabulary cards and memorization of verb forms and noun forms and stuff like that.  A better option is to be immersed in that language, and a better option still is to learn that language very young.  They say the human brain does better with picking up languages up until the fourth grade or so.  

I don't know the scientific reason for that, but it's a good thing God wired us that way!  Children truly see the world in such amazing and unique ways.  I read that as people grow older, they blink more and more, even.  Perhaps when children are really little, they're too busy being fascinated to blink as much!  

Take a moment and look at the world around  you through the eyes of a child.  Let it be new.  Learn as much as you can about it.  Let it amaze you.  Love completely, and know that you are completely loved.  There is a reason that our Heavenly Father calls us His children!

QUESTION OF THE DAY #22: What is your favorite picture?

What is your favorite picture?  When I asked people this question, for many people, their favorite picture was one of two things.  Either it was a picture of a child, or it was a picture of a loved one who had left this "veil of tears" to join the Lord in heaven.  These are such powerful pictures that have a lasing impact on a person's life. 

My picture isn't of a person, but, like those answers, it has to do with family and loved ones.  For Thanksgiving, two years ago, we went to see my very dear grandmother in Minnesota.  Part of that trip involved seeing the farmhouse where she used to live, where my wonderful grandfather used to live when he was alive, and where us grandchildren got together and created some pretty special memories.

While I was there I snapped a picture of the old windmill, next to the milk house, with the moon visible in the blue sky.  It brought back so many memories for me, just to see that windmill.  When I posted it on my Facebook page, my cousins, aunts, and uncles had so many stories of their own.  One involved my dad putting his tongue on the metal when it was freezing out!  Kids, don't try that at home!

It is about more than memories.  That picture became a symbol for me of family, of where I come from, of what I'm about, even of the character values that have been passed on from generation to generation in my family.  I had that picture put on canvas and framed, and on the bottom is this verse:   

Psalm 100:4: "For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."  

Keep those pictures of your loved ones in a special place.  Keep your loved ones themselves always near and dear to your heart.  They are gifts of God and treasures.  God's love truly does continue from generation to generation!

QUESTION OF THE DAY #21: What is a dream of yours?

Dreams come in many different flavors. We dream about jobs, our relationships, travels, retirement, and accomplishments.  We dream about the tragedies in our lives, hoping that somehow they might be reversed or made right.  We dream about the world in which we live, hoping that it could be a better place.  We even have those dreams that are so different from the expected, dreams we wouldn't ever tell another living soul.  It is noble enough, some days, to dream of just getting by, and somehow, this helps us to do just that.

Dreams are a wonderful manifestation of the human mind where we can fly, soar above our current surroundings.  I have dreams of being a great musician or a great pastor someday, dreams of maybe even writing a book.  Maybe that's why I'm blogging.  Who knows?  I have dreams of being happy and free, and of being a better person, too.  There are many other dreams for family and friends.  What are yours?

Dreams don't always come true, and, yes, sometimes God has other plans, but I believe dreams are a part of the process, even if they don't all come true.  I had an experience tonight that was humbling.  I'd love people to come to my Bible studies because I'm such a good theologian or speaker or teacher.  I dream about these things, but people came out for tonight's Bible study (on the topic of mental health) for two reasons that are completely separate from my dreams.  

First, they came out because they know that I have bi-polar disorder.  That wouldn't be a dream of mine, but God was able to work with my limitations and place me in a situation where others can hopefully gain insight from the things I've experienced.  Second, and this is the bigger reason, mental health issues have been ignored or glossed over or worse, and there is a huge need for a study on this topic that "gets real."

Dreams are like clouds.  Surely we need them, but they come and go.  Yet, even if our dreams should vanish into thin air, God remains, accomplishing more than we could ever have imagined, doing so in His sacred ways that are higher than the clouds above.

QUESTION OF THE DAY #20: What do you like to do on a rainy day?

Rain is something we are told to pray for.  It gives new life to the earth, just as God has given us new life in Christ.  It's not always easy to appreciate the rain, though.  Rainy days sometimes spoil plans, but there are so many things to do on a rainy day!  You can watch a movie, read a book, or make a mouth-watering meal in a slow cooker.  You can have a nice cup of coffee or tea on your porch and listen to the rain and smell the showers.  You can do something that you've saved for a rainy day! 

I actually like to get out in the rain and just stand there.  I also like to go for a walk, especially in the woods. If it's pouring, running in the rain can be awesome!  I guess when it rains, we all have a choice.  Either we can let it ruin our day, or we can celebrate it. 

"Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever." (Ps. 145:2) Even rainy days!

QUESTION OF THE DAY #19: What do you do to clear your head?

Isn't it something that God rested after He made the world?  In the book of Exodus, it says, "...in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed."  I mean, refreshed!  I can't even comprehend that in God. 

I think that this is why God has built into each of us our own ways to be renewed.  How do you clear  your head?  As I asked people this question, here is what I found.  Walking is great, and so is riding a bike.  Any exercise will work, as long as you enjoy it.  Even physical labor has its merits.  Reading is good, and so is writing.  Try taking a jar and filling it with notes.  If something bothers you, write it down.  Put it in the jar.  Get rid of it.  Give it to God.  Do you like music?  Listen to it!  Do you have a hobby?  Do it!  

The Bible tells us to set our minds on God:  "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."  (Isaiah 26:3) Peace means well-being.  It means wholeness.  This challenges me to break out of my routine, to take care of myself, to make use of the ways that I am renewed, and to know that God is with me as I do these things.  

I like a good work out.  I like to be in nature, fishing, camping, or even hunting.  I like to play guitar, and it literally forces me to relax, or it just doesn't go well.  

Yes, it is meaningful for me to share my thoughts with you here.  I don't usually start out knowing what I'm going to write.  It's just time with God, and, in a way, time with my friends who are reading it.  I don't think I'll always have a verse or something terribly wise to say.  It may just be a little bit of trivia from my day.  Still, I'm happy just letting it be what it is.

QUESTION OF THE DAY #18: What do you collect?

There are so many kinds of collections!  I thought that I wasn't a collector at all, but then I thought again.  Very few of the things that I have do I have just one of!  By far the biggest collection I have is my collection of books.  I "literally" could not count them all, much less read them all, to be honest, especially given the sheer number of books I have stored on computer.  I'm trying to picture a room filled with those books right now.

Whew!  They aren't as satisfying as paper and ink books, though.  One set of books I have is a collection of classic authors and their works published by Walter J. Black, Inc., over a hundred  years ago.  On the inside cover of each book is the signature, W.H. Finney, M.D., 1931.  To think that I have a set of books bought by a doctor before my parents were even born kind of blows my mind.  I've only read a fraction of the volumes, though, the ones by Poe, Doyle, Kipling, and bits of one or two others.  Even now it bothers me a bit that I can't find one of the volumes, and another one has started to rip.

What is it about human beings that makes us collectors?  Is it a habit?  Is it that it makes us feel more complete?  Is it nostalgia?  Is it a way of expressing ourselves?  It can be all of these things, and more.  What do you like to collect?  Pottery?  Figurines?  Art?  Toys of various sorts?  Collections can serve many good and noble purposes.   Still, I'm feeling a little guilty here, swamped by the things I've collected.

Which reminds me, there IS one kind of collector mentioned in Scripture quite often.  You might have guessed it, the dreaded tax collector, considered by religious people to be an especially awful kind of person back in the day.  

Isn't it interesting that Jesus made a point of hanging out with tax collectors?  He came to collect outcasts and to forgive.  He came to pick us up, dust us off, gather and keep us.  May our collections always be able remind us of that!

QUESTION OF THE DAY #17: What do you want to remember?

People say that life goes by too quickly.  I think a day goes by too quickly.  I know I've said something like that before, but it's true.  I got to see my son at his football game today, and I was reminded that two years ago on this exact day he played in his very first soccer game.  Not only was it his first game, but he played goalie!  He's changed so much in these past two years.  He's now just a freshman in high school, and already he's growing into the man he will one day be.  In fact, I get the feeling that any second now he'll be taller than me!  I remember looking at him silhouetted in the setting sun on the field as his team gathered in the end zone and being proud, proud not only of what he's done, or how he conducted himself, but proud of the person he is becoming.  How blessed I am to have three wonderful children and moments like these.  It was a day to remember.  

What do you want to remember?  A smile?  A compliment from your spouse?  A conversation with your friends?  An accomplishment?  The beauty of nature?  A feeling of peace and contentment?  Tuck it away, and hang on to it tightly!

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise. 

(Francis R. Havergal, Public domain)

QUESTION OF THE DAY #16: What is your favorite animal?

What is your favorite animal?  I'll admit it.  This question was initially just an excuse to take a picture of one of my cats, Ronny.  Isn't he adorable?  I've had so many good pets, and there are so many wonderful animals.  The list could go on and on, but what makes Ronny special is what he did for me after I had oral surgery.  Last year, I had a funny kind of bump on the inside of my lower lip.  I know it's not too pleasant to talk about.  I had to have it removed, though, which required stitches.  The surgery was a piece of cake, but I was in pain for weeks after.  Leading worship services was actually very difficult for me at the time, and so was sleeping.  So Ronny knew something was wrong, and at night he would climb on my shoulder and purr until I fell asleep.  Now, months after, he still likes to sleep on my shoulder. 

I know it's not terribly dramatic, but it sure is nice to have a pet like that!  Now there aren't a lot of Bible verses about pets, it's true, but one is Proverbs 12:10, "Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel." (ESV) So much is packed into this verse.  Although originally referring to agricultural animals, it is, to be sure, a reminder to be good to  your pets, too.  I would take care of Ronny just as much even if he never climbed on my shoulder, and I certainly didn't expect it and wouldn't ever demand that he did that.

But there's something more in that verse that bears mentioning.  Think about the people in your life that you help.   Are you doing it thinking they'll owe you something in return?  Wise pet owners love the animals they care for, and that love is returned freely.   How much more should we love those whom we help, letting that help simply be a reflection of God's own unconditional love for us?