Black Gold! Texas Tea!
Right now I'm sitting above a pocket of oil that they say will be producing for the next twenty years. Gonzales county, and counties south are busting with people, trucks and all kinds of machinery----trying to "suck out" all the oil they can find.
But, this frenzy for oil has caused me to think about another kind of oil. I thought about a little chorus that some of us used to sing in Sunday School and summer church camps: "Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.
Give me oil in my lamp I pray.
Give me oil in my lamp keep me burning.
Keep me burning til the break of day."
I was reading in a commentary the other day about the parable of the 10 wise and foolish virgins (Matt. 25:1-13). If you know the story, you'll remember that oil (and the lack of it) played a major part in the story that Jesus told.
Warren Wiersbe, in his commentary on the gospel of Matthew (1) , made this comment on that passage:
"Oil is usually a symbol of the Spirit of God, but I wonder if this particular oil is not also a symbol of the Word of God. The church should be 'holding forth the Word of life' in this dark and wicked world."
Referring to the foolish virgins, who failed to "be prepared", Wiersbe said this:
"The church has known for two thousand years that Jesus is coming again, and yet, most believers have become lethargic and drowsy. They are no longer excited about the soon-coming of the Lord." He concludes: "As a result, there is little effective witness given that the Lord is returning."
I was just thinkin'.......................are we prepared with the Word of God in our "lamps"....to the point that we are an effective witness in the world? (and I'm not talking about THE world--as in the planet that orbits the Sun). I'm talking about OUR world---the place where we live--where we "orbit around" friends, family and acquaintances everyday!
Obviously, all ten virgins were invited to the wedding. But, because the "Foolish Five" were ill-equipped....and ill-prepared, they were denied entrance into the wedding reception.
Are you keeping your lamp full of oil?? (empty lamps don't give out much light!)
I think God's people need to become as busy as these oil field workers that have recently invaded South Central Texas......and start drilling for OIL!!!
Tommy (Proverbs 16:3)
(1) BE Loyal: Following the King of Kings, David C. Cook Publishers, Colorado Springs, CO, 1980.
I was listening to Chuck Swindoll on his "Insight for Living" radio program the other day, and he told this little story:
"A baby camel said to its mother and said, "Why do we have such big, thick feet, Momma?" The mother replied, "So we can walk over the hot desert sand."
The young camel then asked, "But, why do we have such big eyelashes?" She said, "because we have to be able to see our way through blowing sand storms."
The baby's third question was: "Well, then why do we have such big humps on our backs?" To which the mother responded, "So we can walk for days over vast deserts and not need water."
Then the young camel said, "Since that's true.......why are we in a zoo!"
Swindoll's central theme through that message was---that the church....like the camel---was not created to live an isolated life. By being restricted to the confines of a zoo, a camel cannot fulfill the purpose for which it was created. Everything about the camel's makeup is designed for it to live in the desert---not a zoo!
You've probably heard of healthy animals from the wild that have died in captivity, or who live very lethargic lives.....because they are not in the place they were designed to be.
I was just thinkin'..........how the church was NOT designed to be isolated in the confines of a sanctuary, a fellowship hall, or a Bible study classroom. It was designed and created to be in the world....imitating Christ. Some of the most successful ministries happening today, are taking place outside the confines of a church building.
In Romans 12:9-21, Paul lays down a list of characteristics of a Christian. In verse 13---right after stating the need to take care of the saints, he says that we are to be "given to be hospitality". In the Greek, the word "hospitality" carries the idea of "strangers".
Swindoll said that the church (Christians) are to "be engaged with those who don't know Christ". That would most likely take place outside the church............where we were created to function.
I wonder......because we isolate ourselves in our buildings, and most everything we do takes place inside the church.....have we lost our purpose...have we become irrelavant??
Let's escape from the "zoo", and get our there in the "desert" where we belong......given to hospitality....and be the presence of Christ!
Tommy (Proverbs 16:3)
A number of years ago, when we lived near a lake, we decided to take up sailing as a "hobby". We saved some money and bought a small used sailboat ( like the one in the photo). We took a few lessons from the boat shop owner.....then took off on the "winds and the waves"!
I recently read a book titled, Leaders Who Last (1) by Dave Kraft, where he quotes John Ortberg (2) concerning "spiritual disciplines" and the difference between motorboats, rafts, and sailboats.
Ortberg says, "In a motorboat, 'I'm in charge. I determine how fast I go, and in what direction. Some people approach spiritual disciplines that way. If I'm aggressive enough...if I have enough quiet times, I can make transformation happen on my own."
He adds, "Some people have been burned by that approach...and go in the opposite extreme and will say, 'I'm into grace'. It's like they're floating on a raft. If you ask them to do anything to further their growth, they'll say, 'I'm not into works, I'm into grace. Your getting legalistic with me.' So, they drift."
He concludes, "On a sailboat however, I don't move if it's not for the wind. I can't control the wind. I don't manufacture the wind. Jesus talks about the Spirit blowing like a wind. A good sailor will discern, 'Where's the wind at work? How should I set my sails?' Practicing spiritual disciplines is like sailing."
As I read that, I immediately thought of the words of my favorite Clifton Jansky song, "Wind of God". The chorus says:
"Wind of God.....blow through me.
Wind of God.....set my spirit free.
I set my sail.....and I won't move until....
The wind of God......blows through me."
In Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God materials, he says that we are to look for where God is moving.....and then join HIM in what He's doing.!
In my very limited experiences (and even more limited expertise) in sailing, I know that if the wind isn't blowing.....you don't go anywhere!
If the wind is blowing...you have to maneuver your sails into a position so that the wind moves you along it its power and direction.
Reaching your destination is not totally dependent on you. But, it's as you work in harmony with the wind (the power source) that you accomplish something on your journey.
Spiritual disciplines and leadership qualities in our lives work the same way.
I was just thinkin'........are you a "motorboat" Christian/leader? Are you a "raft" person? Or, are you a "sailboat saint"?
Let's get out there and "set our sails"......and wait for the "wind" of God's Spirit to move us in the direction He wants us to go.!
Tommy (Prov. 16:3)
(1) Leaders Who Last, Dave Kraft, Crossway, Wheaton, Ill, 2010.
(2) John Ortberg interview in Leadership Journal, Winter 2004
The first week in September (2012) , a number of folks from our Area were involved in Disaster Relief work in the New Orleans area, following the devastation from Hurricane Issac.
Blenda had the opportunity to join a wonderful group of volunteers from Alice, Deer Park, and Kenedy, who were deployed on September 2nd to set up the Gambrell Association's temporary child care ministry in a building occupied by FEMA representatives---who were helping people get assistance for storm related needs.
Because of a committment Blenda had, she needed to return earlier than the rest of the group....so I made a quick trip to the New Orleans-----to be a "D.R. Volunteer" for a day, and to bring her back home for her appointment.
My first night there was spent going off to sleep on a cot in the middle of a church sanctuary----listening to 30 men snore "in harmony"!
After breakfast the next morning---and before heading off to serve, one of the Disaster Relief chaplains brought the devotional before dismissing us to our responsibilities.
In his prayer at the end of his devotional thought, he said something like: "....and help us as we punch holes in the clouds of those we meet today."
I'd never heard that expression before, but it caught my attention.
I was just thinkin'.........isn't that part of our "job description" as Christians??
Most of the people around us.....even some of our church friends...are living with some type of "dark cloud" around them.
As God's people, we have the light of God's love in us. (Matt.5:14). But, sometimes, they have such a "cloud" around them (for whatever reason) they can't see that Light.
So..........it's our job to "punch holes" in those clouds so they can see the True Light. And we "punch holes' by setting up child care trailers.....by doing disaster relief clean-out......by going to nursing homes..... by helping a needy person.....or by just saying an encouraging word!
When was the last time you punched some holes in the clouds??
Tommy (Prov.16:3)
My wife is a "Kindle Fanatic". For three reasons: 1) she's an avid reader, 2) she can get tons of free books, and 3) she can change the font size to accomodate her failing eyesight!
She recently downloaded a free book titled: "Encourage-Mints", by Carol Freed.
Obviously, it's about being an encourager.....as she relates experiences in her life where she was able to encourage others---or was, herself, encouraged by someone.
The sub-title is: "Give a mint--Refresh a life". She says......."just like the mints you swallow, encourage-mints come in endless forms and provide a mixture of effects and influence on those who receive them. Through these mints, you become a touch from God that He uses to show His love to people......".
The last chapter is titled: "Enjoying 4th Quarter Living"....and it relates our lives to a football game. With football season coming to a close, I thought it appropriate to relate some of her thoughts.
The chapter begins with a quote from C.S. Lewis that expresses the chapter's theme: "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
The author divides our lives into four "quarters":
Ages 1-20..........1st Quarter
21 -40................2nd Quarter
41-60.................3rd Quarter
61-80.................4th Quarter
80 +....................Overtime!
That life-breakdown "hit home" for me, since I'm about "3 minutes" into my "fourth quarter"!
But, the chapter talks about a "fourth quarter comeback". Some who have reached the 4th quarter may have regrets about how they've "played the game"......some may feel they haven't "scored enough points".....others may feel that there's not much hope in being a winner!
But, it's never too late to be an "encourage-mint" to someone else!
I thought of some admonitions in the scriptures: .....like Hebrews 10:24-25: "and let us consider one another in order to stir up (encourage) love and good works...exhorting one another" (NKJV).
And Ephesians 4:29: "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." (NLT)
Freed says, "The more you encourage, the more it will become a natural part of who you are and how you live..."
A quote from Mother Teresa puts the "flavoring in the mint": "Let no one come to you without leaving happier and better."
I was just thinkin'.........regardless of what "quarter" you're playing.....you can alway pass out "mints" along the way!
Serving with you in HIS name,
Tommy
I was in and around the Bastrop and Smithville areas during the week after the fires broke out there on Labor Day weekend.
Though I never saw any billows of smoke or fire...or any signs of burnt grass, I did see many folks that had suffered from the fire's devastation.
I need to say right up front! I have not gone through the trauma of losing any of my possessions to any natural disaster. So, I can only empathize with those who have been effected by the fires.
One of the shelters (a church) in Bastrop had asked for the two shower trailers which our two associations operate. So, I went there one day to check things out.
First Baptist Smithville (in the Gonzales Association) was serving as a shelter and feeding point for folks in the eastern part of the fire's path. I went there to see if they needed anything.
In my limited time at both places, I observed a sharp contrast in two responses to what was happening:
At the shelter in Bastrop, I overheard a fire victim sharing with one of the shelter volunteers about her sad plight. She was weeping over all she had lost. The church volunteer was trying--compassionately--to console her.
Later, at First, Smithville, I ran into a lady in their fellowship hall -where they were operating their shelter and feeding ministry. I had known her as a member of one of our association churches several years ago, but she had moved, and I had lost track of her.
She was busy sorting and bagging up items to be given out to victims. Assuming she was just volunteering her time, I asked her where she was living now. She informed me---as she continued sorting and bagging---that they lived near Bastrop, and had lost their home in the fires.
I was just thinkin'.......about how different those two responses were!
I'm guessing the lady in Bastrop had no insurance. And, the lady in Smithville probably did. But, they both lost everything!
I thought of the words of Jesus in John 16:33: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
May we not forget that there are people all around us---whether they've suffered physical losses or not---that need the PEACE that only Christ can give.
Proverbs 16:3 (KJV)
I was reading a book recently by Warren Wiersbe (*), and a statement in the first paragraph of the second chapter jumped out at me: "The trouble", he wrote, "with too many of us is that we think God called us to be manufacturers, when He really called us to be distributors".
Wiersbe's scriptural foundation for this statement was the incident where Jesus was compelled to feed the 5000. The disciples were overwhelmed with the size of the crowd....and the lack of food. They didn't know what to do.
They suggested to Jesus to send the crowd home......they tried to think of ways to come up with the funds to hire a good caterer from the area.
Wiersbe suggests that the disciples were trying to become "manufacturers". They thought it was their responsibility to come up with the solution.
He adds, "He (Jesus) took the lad's lunch, looked up into heaven, blessed the food, broke it, and put it into the disciples' hands......for them to feed the hungry multitude."
I was just thinkin'.........about the distributor under the hood of my car. I'm somewhat mechanically challenged, but I do know that the distributor on your car is what delivers currents of electricity to each spark plug.....which cause explosions in each cylinder.....which cause each piston to move.....which causes your car to travel down the road.
The car's battery is the power source that provides the power to turn the engine, but it's the distributor that properly delivers the power to each piston.
God is the Great Power Supplier of everything that people need. And we have been given the privilege (and obligation) of being the Distributors of God's riches and blessings to those around us.
Wiersbe ends the chapter by saying, "Once you accept yourself as a distributor of God's riches.....and not a manufacturer, you will experience a wonderful new freedom and joy in service."
Sometimes, too much of our "religious" work is us doing something, rather than allowing God to do something through us! Too often we depend on our own resources rather than His.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, ".....I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Cor. 15:10b)
Proverbs 16:3
(*) On Being a Servant of God, Warren Wiersbe, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, 1993
