Mr. Roger's Neighborhood

As I was thinking over the content of today’s blog post, I couldn’t help but to envision the way in which my wife interacted in the different neighborhoods that we lived in over the years.  In many respects, she was a lot like my mom.  Both of my parents loved to garden, so they spent a fair amount of time in our front yard tending to the various trees, flowers, bushes and the lawn.

That was back in the time when most of the neighbors mowed their own lawns and tended to their own landscaping.*  And when they were out, they actively conversed with each other!  My mom knew all the neighbors and enjoyed a friendly, first name relationship with all of them.

Piper grew up in a totally different environment.  Her family lived at the top of a steep, narrow private road with only a handful of neighbors hidden sporadically behind tall, old oak trees, on rocky and hilly terrain.  But when we moved into our first home… well… you never would have guessed it!

Before you knew it, she was acquainted with the vast majority of the neighbors, and in particular the one’s with whom our children interacted with.  She was a hands-on mom and would actively participate with the kids in many of the games they played.

As was her innate nature, she always had a sensitive awareness to people in need and it wasn’t unusual to find her ministering to what some of the kids and adult neighbors would call the “weird” or “unlikable” residents on the block.  Take for example the last house we lived in for about ten years before moving to Oklahoma for Bible School in 2006.

It was in a good neighborhood with lots of kids and an interesting array of residents.  The house to the left of our home was occupied by a single mom with a young daughter… and two of the dumbest cats I have ever seen!  I can’t say that Piper was really close with the mom, but I do remember various occasions when I saw Piper standing on our driveway or hers as she ministered peace and love to the gal when she would confide in Piper concerning the stress she was experiencing with her personal family situation… and with the unresponsive property owner from whom she was renting her house.

On the other side of our home was an older lady who most of the other neighbors told us early on… to avoid as much as possible!  She was known to be cranky, complaining and very apt to yell at any kids who ventured near her yard.  Well… wouldn’t you know… Piper went out of her way to be friendly to the lady… and it didn’t take very long before they were best of buddies!

It turned out that the lady was just very lonely and experiencing declining health.  She had a couple of adult children who lived out of town and never seemed to find the time to visit her.  After a while, it wasn’t unusual for me to come home from work to find the older lady and Piper merrily chatting away on our front porch or talking together at the kitchen table.  The gal received her daily meals through the Meals on Wheels program and would regularly bring over the little fruit cups that came with her dinners for our kids to enjoy… albeit it they weren’t very good… but the kids ate them – with Piper’s prodding - with a smile and profusely thanked the lady! 

I even went over a few times to help her with different problems she had with her TV and other electronics in the home.  When our neighbor’s health declined to the point that her family wanted to sell her house and move her into an assisted living home, Piper became her advocate and helped to arbitrate an agreeable plan between her and her family for the senior’s future.

As I’ve mentioned before, Piper lived with a very practical application of her faith.  She was confident in who her Bible said that she was within the kingdom of God and emanated a soothing and encouraging fragrance of peace and joy.  I guess that you could say that she simply “cooperated” with Christ in everything she did, said and thought.

Romans 14:17-18 in The Passion Translation tells us that,

“The kingdom of God is not a matter of rules (Do’s and Don’ts) about food and drink, (or anything else for that matter) but is in the realm of the Holy Spirit, filled with righteousness, peace, and joy.  Serving the Anointed One (ie; Christ) by walking in these kingdom realities pleases God and earns the respect of others.” 

You see, to Piper, the kingdom of God, as presented to us through His Word, was the reality of her life.  She knew that the Word that she had in her heart and lived out through her daily life, could and would change any negative situation that she was faced with… on any given day and place.  The peace and joy that she embodied drew our neighbors and especially those with needs to her… and with her gentle, encouraging and outgoing nature… she won them over in a short period of time.

The Remedy New Testament expresses Romans 14:18 as,

“Anyone who cooperates with Christ in this way pleases God and is admired by people.” 

And that, like I stated above, is how I witnessed my sweet wife living her life, day in and day out… from her high school days to the beginning of her senior years, some 48 years later!

Since I have been studying these verses in the book of Romans, I often wonder if my life is cooperating with Christ in the things that I say, do and/or think?

How about you?  Have you ever considered how much your life is cooperating with the reality of God’s Word? 

From what I have seen over the years, the only way that we are going to know the answer to that question… is by knowing what is in the Word and persevering in our efforts to abide by it… and then to live it out on a daily basis!

When I think about Piper’s interactions in the neighborhoods we lived in, I can’t help but to think about the long running PBS TV show, “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” … and while I can’t say that we ever watched the program… I do know that it embodied a sense of community, as well as safe and loving interactions between neighbors and a place where wisdom was shared on a regular basis.

So, in that respect, I could say without a doubt, that life in “Miss Piper’s Neighborhood” was quite the same… with the addition of God wisely being shared with a sense of community, love and safety.  Can you say the same about your neighborhood?

I pray that all of you are enjoying a pleasurable and peaceful Memorial Day weekend here in the USA, while we celebrate and honor the lives of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  Because of their sacrifices we get to enjoy the freedoms that we hold dear in the USA and be able to live in neighborhoods like “Miss Piper’s Neighborhood” where the love of God and the blessings we enjoy in the Kingdom of God, are available to all of us!

 

*I noticed the other day that I am the only one on my end of the block that mows his own lawn… and I am the oldest of all of them.   But what can I say?  I really enjoy working in the yard… it gives me a real sense of satisfaction and peace!

Fickleness!

When I was studying out a section of scripture this morning, I leaned over to the left of my desk and grabbed my wife’s 1974 Illustrated Living Bible “The Way” in order to contrast this paraphrased translation against the other five versions I had previously looked at.  I enjoy looking at different translations when I study the word, as different versions will many times emphasize words or thoughts not brought out in others.

I’ve mentioned many times before of how I often feel closest to my dearly departed wife, when I am reading the portions of scripture that she had underlined and or notated in her various Bibles.  But what I realized today, was that the memories of her were even stronger when I read from this particular Bible.  And when I began to contemplate this thought, I started having flashbacks of our time at and immediately following our attendance at Chico State University.

We were newly engaged previous to school starting in the fall of 1973 and were on our own, living in our separate dorms, some three hours away from our homes.  In some respects, it was like a practice time for our upcoming marriage… even though we had not set a date at that time.  During that chapter in our lives, we were very focused and committed to God, to each other and to discovering the future plans that God had in store for us.

It was definitely a time for the exploration of our faith and everything we did concerning the growth of our Christian walks… we did together… be it Bible studies at the two Christian college clubs we were involved with, personal Bible studies, prayer and the hours we spent, in our spare time, dreaming about the things we’d like to do throughout our marriage together… and it was about half-way through our stay at Chico when Piper was given the copy of “The Way”, paperback Bible that now sits next to my desk… and you know?  I had to have one too! 

So, I went out and bought one so that we could read, study, pray and dream together in connection with our identical Bibles!  Therefore, it seems that when I look at Piper’s underlines and notations today, that it brings back all of those wonderful times as we explored the beginning foundations of our faith walk together… and… if I could find my copy of that Bible, I am pretty much assured that almost all the same places that are underlined in hers… are also underlined in mine!

I guess one could say that at that time, Piper and I were in total agreement and unity when it came to each other, and to our prayers, plans, dreams and aspirations.  There was no variableness of focus between us, no hidden agenda and no hint of fickleness (and YES!  I looked it up… and there is such a word)!

Piper’s “The Way” Bible paraphrases James 1:17 saying,

“But whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God, the Creator of all light, and He shines forever without change.”

The Message Bible… which I consider to be the modern generation’s paraphrase Bible, like “The Way” was to Piper’s and my generation, states this verse as,

“Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing FICKLE.”

I like the thought that there is nothing FICKLE with God.  Just as I was absolutely certain back in our Chico State days, that there was nothing FICKLE about Piper and I and our planned life together, I am assured beyond any shadow of doubt, that there is absolutely nothing that is FICKLE, or changing about God and the promises that He makes to you and me in His Word!  He NEVER changes His loyalty, interest or affection toward you and me!

When I would wake up on Saturday mornings and meet Piper in the middle of the expansive lawn that separated the men’s and the women’s dorms, and then stroll hand in hand to the cafeteria for breakfast… my heart was aflame with love for that petite, be freckled dynamo of a young lady next to me!  And I knew for certain that she only had my best interests in heart and mind and that I the same for her.

And… When I think about my relationship with the Lord, when I open up my Bible first thing every morning today… those same feelings of trust, oneness and joyful expectancy fill my heart… and I am assured that the same is happening within Him!

I know that His Word is true for me.  I know that His Word will NEVER change.  He said it.  That settles it… and I therefore I believe it.

No But’s and No What-If’s.  I am at peace at KNOWING and EXPERIENCING that “He shines forever without change” and “There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing FICKLE.”

And I’d like to bet… that this is the way that you feel as well!  Isn’t God Good!

Have a wonderful weekend.  We’ve got a forecast of a warm, sunny and rain-free weekend… so I know that I’ll be enjoying it… as I bask in the Non-Fickleness of God and His Word in my life this weekend… as well as in every day to come!

Be Blessed!

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

As I was studying in the Word a couple of days ago, something I was reading suddenly stirred up a very poignant and personal memory of an intimate experience that Piper and I enjoyed together and then laughed over for years to come.  The experience seemed to be a perfect fit with the verse of scripture that I was reading and would have made a terrific example for me to use if I were ever to write about and or preach on the point that Paul was making in the epistle I was studying… But, because of the intimate nature of the experience, it was something that I could never share in a public setting!

Nevertheless, the memory made me sigh as I re-lived the event and then smile and laugh aloud, at the humorous and potentially embarrassing outcome that we privately recalled through the years.  My verbal response to the memory caused the dog who was lounging on the couch behind me in my study, to whimper as if he wanted to know what all the commotion was about… So, I turned in my chair and proceeded to tell him the entire story. 

He just kind of stared at me the whole time while I re-lived the experience and laughed again at the humor involved, but had to wipe away a tear knowing that I’ll never get to experience another private moment with Piper like that again… at least until I get to heaven… and I’m not even sure if those kinds of experiences even happen there!

I paused for a moment after telling my story to Fiver, and pondered the thought that I shared with him and stated “You know, now that Piper is gone on to her heavenly reward, I do not have anyone with whom I feel confident and trust in enough to share my most private and intimate thoughts with anymore… except for you!”

As I’ve stated many times before, Piper and I had developed such a love and trust for each other that I felt that I could share anything with her.  From my deepest and most sensitive thoughts to my wildest imaginations, I was an open book to her… as she was to me.  We enjoyed the freedom to share the Good, the Bad and the Ugly with each other and were always assured that what we shared was kept in the closest of confidence.

That private memory and the thought of sharing the Good, the Bad and the Ugly with each other came to mind again today, as I took a quick peek back at my notes from the last few weeks concerning the authority behind the NAME of Jesus and the Living and Active Word of God.  Hebrews 4:12-13 in the Weymouth New Testament declares,

“For God's Message (His Word) is full of life and power, and is keener than the sharpest two-edged sword. It pierces even to the severance of soul from spirit, and penetrates between the joints and the marrow, and it can discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart.  And no created thing (ie; you and me) is able to escape its scrutiny; but everything lies bare and completely exposed before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” 

We discussed the reality of the Living and Active power of the Word working in our lives in our last blog post, but what caught my eye this morning was the rest of that verse and the following, which talks about the Words ability “to discern the secret thoughts and purposes of the heart…” and… how everything in us “lies bare and completely exposed before” Him.

It suddenly dawned on me, that just like the way Piper and I shared everything with each other… including the Good, the Bad and the sometimes Ugly things in our lives, when we sit down and commune with God in His Word… we do the same with Him!

When we study the Word, we are in effect, communicating with God and in doing so, get to know all the intimate details, promises, blessings and warnings of God as stated in His Word… but at the same time (just like with Piper and I over the years), we open ourselves up for Him to see all the intimate and private details of our lives… including the Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

For you see, our time spent in the Word should be a dynamic and honest two-way communication between us and God… at least I believe that is the way that our heavenly Father desires it to be.

From our earliest dating days in high school, I always felt like I could share anything with Piper, she just had that sweet, kind and non-judgmental demeanor about her… but if I ever did try to hide something from her, she would most likely have noticed and it would have tended to erode the wonderful trust, openness and sense of security we enjoyed in our conversations and life together.

So, that’s the way I always aim to enter into my daily conversations with God in His Word.  I don’t want anything that might hinder the trustful and secure relationship that He and I have developed over the past 50 some years to come between us.

I may not currently have the close, trusting and intimate relationship with another individual on this earth like Piper and I developed and enjoyed, but I DO still enjoy an ever-increasing close, personal and intimate two-way relationship with the Lord through my regular interactions with Him in His written Word.  It’s the kind of relationship that I feel safe and secure in and stay hungry enough to continually learn all about Him… as well as being confident enough to allow Him to see and help me through the Good, the Bad and the sometimes Ugly areas in my life.

What do you think about that? 

Is that the kind of relationship that you and the Father enjoy through the regular study of His Word?  If not… There is no better time to begin the relationship than TODAY!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s out there and to the precious Mom’s that have gone on before us!  I pray that each of you have a safe and enjoyable weekend!

What If It Was?

I was thinking this morning, that while I may not be a fan of Oklahoma’s flat terrain… I am very thankful for the neighborhood in which I live.  And I was reminded of this today, as Fiver and I walked out onto the green commons area between our house and the city golf course.  As we began our walk, I mentioned to Fiver that there was something pleasing about the sights, sounds and smells that greeted us on this warm Saturday morning. 

To me it was a welcoming day with the golf carts and their colorfully clad occupants dotting the course, the sounds of moms and dads cheering on their kids with whatever sport was being played at the large city park on the opposite side of the course, the honking of geese and Mallard ducks flying overhead (and on my lawn earlier in the day), the distinctive sound of an old WWII fighter flying overhead and on the return walk, the rumbling of a classic Harley meandering through the streets and a couple F16 Fighting Falcons passing over from the Air National Guard base at the somewhat nearby Tulsa International airport.

I would imagine that all of us have sights and sounds of things that bring us pleasure.  I’ve mentioned many times of how much the sounds of my wife’s voice brought extreme joy to my heart.  Whether it was looking forward to sitting in front of her in high school English… a year before we began to date… and later as a couple walking around the high school, local Junior College and then the University campus that we attended, or getting a call from her at work years after we were married and had four children… there was just something about that all familiar, sweet jingle that carried her words that would set my world at peace and let me know that I was needed and loved.

As you’re reading this post today, I bet that someone special to you is dancing across the portals of your memory.  Who is that individual… and why are they so special to you?

I’ve been thinking a lot about that question during my Bible Study throughout this last week.  It has been one of those occasions in my daily time with the Lord, that I seem to be stuck on the initial statement of one particular verse.  That portion of scripture is found in the book of Hebrews where the writer penned this thought saying,

“God's word is living and active…” (Hebrews 4:12A – God’s Word ©)

In my wife’s old 1974 version of the illustrated Living Bible, she underlined this paraphrase that states,

“For whatever God says to us is full of living power…”

The recent Remedy New Testament expands the verse by explaining,

“For the word of God is the living and active revelation of the truth about God, his methods and principles, and the real basis of life in the universe...”

And in his 1906 book, “The Letters of St Paul to Seven Churches and Three Friends with the Letter to the Hebrews” Arthur S. Way translates the verse as,

“For God’s word, on which I base my argument, is not a thing of the past nor is it something eternal to us: (but) it is still living and instinctive with energy.”

The reoccurring questions that kept popping up in my mind as I read and reread this verse from as many translations, commentaries and Greek dictionaries that I could get my hands on was… “What if it was?” and “What if every Christian approached the daily study of their Bibles (and the way they lived their lives for that matter) with the foregone conclusion that the Word of God,

is not a thing of the past nor is it something eternal to us: (but) it is still living and instinctive with energy (or active power).?”

The Cambridge Bible in its commentary for this scripture reveals that

“The Word of God” in this verse is “reference to the written and spoken word of God and of the force and almost personality of which the writer shows so strong a sense. (for to him) The word is no dead utterance of the past, but a living power for ever!”

So, with that potentially life-changing thought in mind, I’ll ask you the same question that I have been asking myself all week.  “What if it was?  Would we live our life differently in the way we approach the activities (good, bad, indifferent, fun or threatening) that we regularly face, as well as the way we interact with the various people that come into our lives on a daily basis?”

Hummmm… Now that’s something to ponder!

I like what the Cambridge Bible says as to the strong sense of force and the personality of God that comes out through the Word that the writer of Hebrews presents to us. I don’t know about you… but that statement sure rings true for my personal interactions with God as I study His Word. 

When I see one of my Bibles in my house, I am reminded of the warmth and joy that I always felt when I thought of my wife Piper over the years… because it’s the same feeling I get when I look at my Bible!  To me, it is not just a book, but a good friend whose loving, kind and generous personality comes out with active force and power that can and does work in my life… as I actively, specifically and expectantly put it to work in my daily routine.

How about you? How do you see and or live Hebrews 4:12?  Is it the personality of God communicating with you?

What if it Was?

Have a great weekend as you ponder and decide about today’s post…