Cleaning The Chicken House

"Blessed are the pure..."  Matthew 5:8

Tim is a good buddy of mine in South Carolina.

I used to do some part time work for him on the side.  And I loved it!  He taught me a lot.

One day he asked me to clean out one of his chicken houses.  Never having done that before, I jumped right into it enthusiastically.  For several hours I worked in there before he moved me to another area.

I learned this pretty quickly:  Chicken houses need to be cleaned.  They can get really smelly and dirty.  Smart guys (like my friend Tim) know to do regular maintenance and cleaning in these areas so these environments don't get out of control.

You know, we have to do regular cleaning in our lives on a regular basis too.

Sometimes toxic relationships, dirty habits, filthy mind sets, and unclean ways can creep into our lives when we're not careful.  Before we realize it, we can become a mess like a smelly chicken house.  Something needs to be done about it.

We must allow God's forgiveness to wipe out the filth from our lives.

And we must daily stay disciplined with scripture and prayer so that He can continue speaking to us and refining us.

We can be pure.

Our hearts, minds, and lives can be made clean and right if we allow God to take charge of us and if we obediently work with Him.

May you and I be cleansed today.

Thinking About My Parents

I've been thinking about my parents lately.

We live about 500 miles part.  To be honest, I miss them.  And I look forward to the next time I get to see them.

Dad and Mom are fine people.  I have good feelings and positive thoughts about them both.  And I am glad to have a good relationship with them.

It's true that a lot of us go through various phases of our relationship with our parents.

I remember the late Calvin Miller explaining that we "idolize" and then "demonize" our dads and moms.

We idolize them when we are younger.  This means we tend to focus on their strengths and positive qualities.

Then we demonize them as we get a little older.  This means we tend to focus on their quirks and weaknesses while convincing ourselves we are smarter, cooler, and more "with it" than they are.

In my mind, many of us "normalize" our parents when we mature some by accepting the fact that they are normal people like everyone else.  We realize they are not superheroes or demons; instead, they are just like we are.  Our parents are normal people who have strengths, weaknesses, victories, and failures.

My parents are not perfect people.  I do get that.  They make mistakes just like every other member of the human race.  But they love God and they love my brothers and me.  They've rejoiced with me when I succeeded greatly, and they've stood with me when I failed miserably.  For that, I am grateful.

I don't know how much more time I have with them.  Life is so doggone unpredictable.  But I do know this:  I love, appreciate, and honor them both.  And I'm proud to say I am their son.

If you still have your parents, be fair with them.  Don't expect them to be perfect when you know that you're not perfect either.  And make sure you love them.  Seek as good of a relationship with them as you can and treat them right.

Gary Parker was right when he wrote these words years ago in his book The Last Gift :  "I learned this lesson:  in the final analysis the best any of us can do is this - forgive our parents for the hurts they cause us and bless them for the gifts they leave us."

Thanks, Dad and Mom, for being great parents.  God bless you both.

Family

(Pictured above is our family)

Family.

I have one.  And most likely you do too.

What does it mean?

Family means "Let's stick together."  In good times and in rough times, family members hold on to each other.  The unit remains intact and never allows itself to be divided.

Family means "I love you anyway."  When one member does wrong or makes a mistake, the other members still treasure him or her.  The unit does not love sin, but it does continue loving the member who sinned.

Family means "We're worth fighting for."  The unit is worth making sacrifices for and doing what it takes to survive and thrive.  All members are willing to work on things such as service, forgiveness, patience, listening, and understanding for the common good.

Family is a treasure of commitment and unconditional love.  And it's worth working on.

Hold on to your family.  I will hold on to mine.

May God bless our families.

The Cafeteria Congregation

It's Tuesday, March 11, 2014.  The last time I preached in a church was in November of 2012.  To be honest, I've really missed speaking before crowds and encouraging them for their daily lives!

But I've been blessed with an awesome opportunity to teach in a middle school.  I love my new job.  It's a great chance to work with some wonderful people and help some great kids.  To put it lightly, I am truly thankful for my teaching job.

Anyway, I walked into the school cafeteria yesterday with my class.  As usual, there was a ton of kids sitting all over this huge room where they eat five days a week.  I stood there and watched as my students made their way through the lunch line and got their trays filled with food.

All of a sudden, it happened.  One of our school leaders, who was talking over a sound system to the big crowd of students, said "Mr. Richardson, would you like to come and share an inspirational thought with everyone?"  Have you ever had that dream where you walked into a classroom and was handed a test that you had not studied for?  That's how I felt.  As I nodded "Yes" and walked towards the microphone in front of all those kids, my mind froze.  I had no clue what I was going to say.  I totally drew a blank.  Then he handed me the microphone.  I thought for just a couple of seconds as I looked down at the floor.  Then the words came to me.

For about 60 seconds, I talked.  I told the gigantic crowd of middle school students that they were about to enter the second half of their day.  And I challenged them to give their teachers and their parents their best effort in everything they did the rest of the day.  Then I encouraged them to live in such a way that when they lay their heads down on their pillow at night, they could honestly say to themselves, "I gave my very best today!"

I didn't know if what I was saying was clicking with them or not.  They were stone silent while I was talking.  But when I wrapped up my thought for the day, and handed the gentleman his microphone back, the kids erupted into applause and cheers!  It was an amazing experience.  God had given me those words.  And those kids received what was said.  It was a cool moment that I can promise you I will never forget.  Ever.  

I walked out of the cafeteria overwhelmed with emotion.  Good emotion.  Something special was happening.

See, it seemed to me that God was telling me something.  In essence, God was saying, "David, I can use you right here in this middle school.  You don't have to be in a pulpit to serve Me.  Just use what I have given you right where you are.  Today, all those kids were your congregation.  Many of them never go to a church, but today they got to see and hear you being salt and light."

Life has ups, and life has downs.  We go through many twists, curves, and loops along the way.  But God is good, and He can use us anytime we want if we just will make ourselves available to him.

Yep, I do hope to preach again one day in a church.  But you know what?  I'm happy I get to serve God right here in this middle school.  It's a great place.  It's right where God wants me to be.  I like being a school teacher.  And I'll happily work with this cafeteria congregation any chance I get!

P.S.  To top if all off, I was told today that I will have plenty more opportunities to share a "Thought For The Day" in the cafeteria at lunch.  Wow!  What a cool chance to make a real difference.  My reply was simple:  "Yes, I'll be ready every day!"  And I will...

Good News For Sinners Like Me

In a cemetery outside of New York City there is a tombstone that has only one word on it.  It's a perfect word.  The tombstone reads:  Forgiven.  

Everything God does is amazing.  The resume with His name on it is filled with awe-inspiring accomplishments.  His divine work is worthy of praise and deserving of celebration.

But I'm especially excited about this:  God forgives.  He really does!  And that's good news for sinners like me.

How does God forgive?

Well, He does the following with our sins:

(1).  He stomps on them with His feet and throws them to the bottom of the sea.  (Micah 7:19)

(2).  He chooses to not remember or think about them any more.  (Isaiah 43:25)

(3).  He leaves them behind and never turns around to revisit or see them again.  (Isaiah 38:17)

Aren't you thankful for this?  I sure am.  It's wonderful news.

I am flawed and imperfect.  I have made my mistakes.  But I am forgiven.  And for that reason, gratitude fills my heart.

Let God forgive you.  Allow Him to erase the wrongdoings from your track record.  That blessing alone will give you enough reason to celebrate for all of eternity.

How awesome it is to be forgiven.

Cussing

Frank Martin is the men's head basketball coach at the University of South Carolina.  He has made the news recently for his bad language.  At a game against the Florida Gators, Coach Martin cussed very loudly and directly at one of his own players.  It was a pretty intense and heated moment.  So he has been suspended for one game, which means he will not get to coach his team that day.

I'm not here to bash Frank Martin.  I've used some words in my life that were not appropriate either.  I'd be lying if I acted like I've never cussed before.

The truth is, we all have most likely uttered a profane word or two in our lives.

Does God care about our language?

Actually, yes He does.

Ephesians 4:29 tells us "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth..."

James 3:10 tells us "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.  My brothers and sisters, this should not be."

God wants us to use healthy, noble, positive language in our communication.  And He wants our language to rise above the gutter-level, trashy talk that saturates our world.  Ultimately, His desire is for pure language to spill forth from a pure heart.

I wish Coach Martin well.  Everyone makes mistakes, and God can certainly forgive him, just as He forgives the rest of us.  May the Coach and the rest of us see this as a valuable reminder to carefully select healthy, positive words in our daily communication with others.

Let's honor The Lord today with our words.

Let's edify others today with our words.

Let's set a positive example today with our words.

Let's reflect the goodness of Jesus Christ today in what we think, say, and do.

Pax Et Bonum

I remember that Saturday night well.  Sitting on an old pontoon boat in the middle of Santee Cooper, eating boiled peanuts, listening to Ronnie Milsap sing "Lost In The Fifties Tonight" on the radio, and enjoying the view of the Carolina moon and stars. Peace was what I felt that night.

I remember that North Carolina mountain trip like it was yesterday.  Swimming with some good buddies at the base of a cool waterfall back in the woods, and then falling asleep on those big rocks while letting the warm sunlight dry me off.  Peace was what I felt that day.

We all treasure peace.  It's a priceless blessing that soothes our hearts and calms our minds.  It grants us serenity and stability that we need for daily living.

Saint Francis of Assisi and the other monks in his monastery would often speak the Latin phrase "Pax et Bonum."  Christians around the world still use this phrase today.  Here is what it means:  "Peace and goodness be with you."

Most of us can't nightly enjoy a boat ride on the lake.  A lot of us can't daily enjoy a carefree swim in the base a cool mountain waterfall.  But we don't have to do those things for peace to be with us.  Regardless of our location and circumstances, we can have an inner calmness that settles our hearts and minds.

Jesus is described in Isaiah 9:6 as the "Prince of Peace".  What an appropriate title.  He enables us to live in the peace of God.  When Jesus becomes our Savior and Lord, He grants us a calmness that is better than anything this world has to offer.

Are you stressed, worried, afraid, or weary?  Is life getting to be a bit too much for you to bear?  If so, Pax et Bonum.  May God's peace and goodness gently stir afresh within you.  May you be reminded that God is big, powerful, wise, totally in control, and daily looking out for you.  May you be settled with serenity that only comes from above.

Selfie

This is the "selfie generation".  Just in case you don't know what a selfie is, it is a picture someone takes of himself or herself.  As you can see in the above picture, I even got in on the action and snapped one of myself one day too.

It seems to be the craze these days.  Celebrities are doing it.  The Pope did it.  Even our nation's President did it.

I guess there's no real harm in doing it once or twice.  But there are people today who get a little obsessed with this practice and constantly flood the internet with picture after picture of themselves.  It seems to scream out, "Hey everybody, look at me!"

You know who would NOT take a selfie?  John the Baptist.  If he were around today, that most certainly would not be on his to-do list.

A long time ago, John the Baptist said this:  "He must increase, but I must decrease."  (John 3:30)  He was talking about Jesus.  John's point was simple yet powerful:  He wanted people to see more of Jesus and less of himself.  He wanted Jesus to be center stage and himself to exit the stage.

John the Baptist did not want to call attention to himself; instead, he wanted to call attention to Jesus. And that should be our mission in life as well!  We need to cast the spotlight way more on our Savior and way less on ourselves.

Jesus can forgive sins.  

Jesus can save souls.

Jesus can break addictions.

Jesus can change hearts.

Jesus can rescue sinful, broken, hurting people and turn their lives around for good.

Let's allow people to see Jesus in our actions.

Let's enable people to hear Jesus in our words.

Let's point people to Jesus with our lives!

May we lose the selfie mentality of making life all about ourselves, and may we instead make life all about Jesus.

HE is who people really need to see.

Camping Out On The Roof

It's one of those verses that will raise an eyebrow or two.

"Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife."  Proverbs 25:24

This dynamite statement forces us men and women to ask ourselves the following question:  Am I easy to live with?

Regardless of whether we are male or female, we are either a pleasure or a pain to others who live under our roof.  And if we're hard to be around, our family members would rather be outside the house (or even on the roof!) in peace than to be inside the house near our unpleasantness.

When our family members pull into our driveway, are they glad to see our car sitting there or are they disappointed?

When we walk into the front door of our home and say "Hey everyone, I'm home!", are our family members thrilled to hear our voices or already wishing we would turn around and leave again?

Here's my point:  Let's be easy to live with in our homes.

Be positive.

Be calm.

Be kind.

Be complimentary.

Be patient.

Be forgiving.

Be the kind of person that other family members want to be around.

If we are easy to live with, our families will be thrilled to be inside the home with us.

If we are difficult to live with, our families may grab their pillows and blankets so they can camp out on the roof of our homes rather than stay inside our homes with us.

Be easy to live with today.

Haters

"The problem with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism."  Norman Vincent Peale

It's been going on for a while.

I read it and hear it on a regular basis.

People are referred to as a "hater" (or "h8ter") anytime they offer criticism of almost any kind.

This is the mindset of today's generation:  "How dare you disagree with me or challenge me?  You're just a hater who is out to get me.  I'm going to tune you out from now on!"

Here's the deal, folks:  It's foolish and dangerous to write off all people as "haters" just because they disagree with us or offer us constructive criticism.

Yes, there are some people who love to be negative and enjoy bad-mouthing everything and everyone.  That is true.  And we do have to take some of what they say with a grain of salt.

But there are also plenty of good-hearted, wise, caring people out there who will disagree with us and offer us constructive criticism from time to time.  And on some occasions, they are exactly right!  At moments in our lives we need people to challenge and correct us.  It's for our own good.  And NO, we should not write them off as "haters" just because they aren't applauding everything we do.

I'm glad some people have intervened and corrected me at times in my life.  Some criticism I've received in my life was 100% deserved.  Maybe I didn't enjoy receiving it at the moment; however, I've realized along the way that I'm blessed to have some good people who care enough about me to tell me when I'm wrong.  And the times that I've listened to them and made life adjustments have been to my benefit.

Ecclesiastes 7:5 gives us this bit of wisdom:  "Better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools."  How true!  We come out on the winning side when we listen to wise people who disagree with us or offer us constructive criticism.

Don't get defensive and shut people out just because they challenge you or offer you an alternative point of view.  Don't write them off as "haters".  Why?  Because you may be wrong.  They may be right.  And maybe, just maybe, they are encouraging you to change your direction because they care about you and they want what's best for you.