Millstones

Last week I saw the movie “Millions.” It’s a quiet little British film about two young brothers who fall into possession of a duffle bag full of stolen money. 9-year-old Anthony, the practical and worldly one, is anxious to spend the money on creature comforts which will benefit them directly. 7-year-old Damian, who is deeply religious and has visions of historical church saints, believes the money is a gift from God and must be given to the poor. He sets about doing just that, much to the vexation of his older brother, who clutches their new-found fortune all the more tightly. All this is set against a backdrop of the British pound being converted to the euro within a few weeks, which means that they must do something immediately or it will all become worthless. This is a moving story of opposing world views juxtaposed in the hearts and lives of two children. As they struggle with the blessing and responsibility of their find, they end up learning that true wealth has very little to do with money. I highly recommend this movie and believe it is still playing in theaters, at least those showing foreign films. Please see it … and take a friend! Now, with my movie review out of the way, I want to share the poem I wrote in response to the film and what spiritual lessons jumped out along the way.

Now, to correct a common misquote, money is not of itself evil. However, in 1 Timothy 6:10 the Apostle Paul writes, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” In short, there’s nothing inherently wrong with money, but our desire of it causes all kinds of trouble in our lives. Besides simply wanting more stuff, which has its own problems, we as a society live under the veil of two huge misnomers about money. First, that it will make us happy. And second, that it offers us security in direct proportion to the quantity we posses. From a worldly or humanistic perspective, it seems to make perfect sense. However, if you believe that there is a God and a heaven and a hereafter, then gain in the present world counts for naught. If our measly seventy years on this earth (if that) is merely a dress rehearsal for a spiritual eternity, the implications of that world view should extend into every area of our lives. This is especially true in the area of personal finances because it acts as an experiential extension of the state of our hearts. In the gospel of Matthew he wrote, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” How profound the apostle’s words are, for he recognized that not only does our money betray the state of our hearts, our use of it affects the trajectory of our future lives … and not merely the short term of our earthly lives, but the eternal portion thereof as well. That is why the bible speaks so often and so liberally on the subject of finances, as it seems to be a lightening rod for both who we are and who we will become. The most difficult thing to understand and accept about God’s economy is the concept of treasure in heaven. God makes it clear in the New Testament that the things of this world are temporary and will pass away, essentially being burned up like so much chaff. While that which we invest in God’s kingdom, and for His good purpose, becomes treasure in heaven. It is as an investment … the ultimate retirement plan, if you will. Until we understand the principle of treasure in heaven, we can never hope to be considered financially successful in God’s economy. This is just one more area in our earthly lives where no amount of comfort, security or pleasure in this life could offer as much upside potential as the kind of investment which pleases and honors the Lord and Creator of the universe. In the end, all that we accomplish or posses here will pale in comparison to the six words that every human being should hope to hear at the great judgment which await us all at the end of this earthly life: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” With all that in mind, it must be understood that our possessions are far more than blessings from God. They constitute an obligation, a responsibility. God blesses us in order that we might convert such currency into heavenly treasure. In fact, God only counts it as blessing to the extent that we give it away. Our earthly treasures are actually millstones hung upon our necks, the weight of which can plunge us into darkness if we are unwilling cast them upon the waters of God’s greater purpose. And in His infinite wisdom, he left the choice up to us for He is most honored by our choice to freely give back what He has so graciously blessed us with. It’s all a question of entitlement. Does it belong to God, or is it ours? If it’s His, and He’s merely loaning it all to us, than we have an obligation to pay Him back the principle in good stewardship and interest in the form of lives well-lived. That’s how I see the whole thing. Mind you, I struggle as much as anyone with trying to live the life we are called to, but we must muddle through as best we can. Perhaps, before it’s too late, we may learn the same lesson as the two young protagonists in the movie I so highly recommend: that true wealth has very little to do with money … and everything to do with eternity.

Millstones
All these years, as I’ve scraped and scrambled
Ever longing for just a bit more
I thought money could solve my problems
Now, I’m not nearly as sure as before
For all I have counted as blessing
At least in the material way
Seems to me now, but a millstone
Hung about my neck today
And the weight of it feels a burden
Perhaps men should not have to bear
For each thing I purchase requires
Additional payments, insurance, repair
And I fear the life we are called to
May not be one of prosperity
But simpler lives, in which blessing
Is measured in terms of our charity
And what of this millstone we carry?
How can we ever be free?
Since I realize all my possessions
Amount to responsibility
For all that I gather around me
Serves but to glorify me today
And God only counts it as blessing
Once it has been given away
By Frank Carpenter ©

Gethsemane

Well, if you’re into religious holidays, this is certainly a red letter week. We had Palm Sunday last weekend. Holy Thursday is tomorrow, followed by Good Friday and Easter. Not to mention National Agriculture Week, National Poison Prevention Week, Legal Assistants Day and, of course, April Fools Day is just around the corner. Religious holidays, while good reminders of the truth, can often cloud it as well. We are so easily distracted by the food, the fun, the ritual and social aspects of any holiday that it’s easy to leave God out of such a day - even a religious event. All celebrating, church services, egg dying and palm waving aside, I would like to redirect our focus to the person of Jesus Christ, whom we truly celebrate this week. This is the week that dozens of prophetic scriptures were fulfilled through His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), his eating of the Passover, His betrayal, His mock trial, His death on the cross, and finally His resurrection. We must remember, amidst all the other hoopla, that Jesus is the Son of God, that He actually lived, actually died for our sins, and actually rose from the dead. If any of those facts are untrue, then everything else we celebrate this week is pointless and we might as well sing our hymns to the Easter Bunny. If we do not accept Jesus as our Savior and Messiah, then we are all April Fools and that would be the only relevant holiday. Let us come back to the person of Jesus Christ. A lot of dramatic and public things happened during this, the last week of His life. However, I am most deeply moved by that quiet moment after the Last Supper, and just prior to His betrayal, when He knelt in the garden of Gethsemane and prayed. In that scene of anguish and compassion I most clearly see the Son of God choosing to suffer and die for me personally. Easter is a time to celebrate God’s victory over death, but the foundation of that victory is His great mercy and the sacrifice of His only Son on behalf of an undeserving world. If you have further interest, I have pasted below a partial list of prophesies fulfilled by Jesus during the final week of His life. Have a happy Easter and don’t be an April Fool.

Gethsemane
Jesus knew his time was drawing near
On the eve of that final day
With the weight of the world upon his heart
He came to the garden to pray
He alone knew His Father’s will
And understood His redemption plan
And though He was truly God incarnate
Still, He was fully a man
He knew that pain and suffering
And betrayal were moments away
As He pleaded with God and wept He knew
There simply was no other way
There, in the garden, that fateful night
With the lights of the city in view
Jesus, the Son of God, considered
All that He must go through
The tears of His sorrow freely flowed
That night in Gethsemane
For He understood his path must lead
To the cross at Calvary
He was Christ, the Lord, the King of Kings
Yet, He knelt upon human knees
And willingly chose that night to die
Because of His love for you and me.
By Frank Carpenter ©

Partial list of Prophesies Fulfilled During the Final Week of Jesus’ Life:
Triumphal entry in Jerusalem on a donkey
Zechariah 9:9, Mark 11:7–8, John 12:13–15
Betrayed by a friend
Psalm 41:9, Mark 14:10, 43–45
Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver
Zechariah 11:12, Matthew 26:15
Betrayal money returned for a potter’s field
Zechariah 11:13, Matthew 27:3–10
Accused by false witnesses
Psalm 27:12, Matthew 26:60–61, Mark 14:57
Offers no defense
Isaiah 53:7, Matthew 26:62–63, Matthew 27:12–14
Struck and spat upon
Isaiah 50:6, Matthew 26:67, Mark 14:65, John 19:1–3
Hated without reason
Psalm 109:3–5, John 15:24–25
Soldiers divide His garments and gamble for His clothing
Psalm 22:18, Matthew 27:35
Pierced through hands and feet
Zechariah 12:10, Luke 23:33, John 20:27
Executed with malefactors
Isaiah 53:12, Mark 15:27–28
Agonized in thirst
Psalm 22:15, John 19:28
Given gall and vinegar
Psalm 69:21, Matthew 27:34, 48, John 19:29
No bones broken
Psalm 34:20, John 19:32–36
His side pierced
Zechariah 12:10b, John 19:34
Buried with the rich
Isaiah 53:9, Matthew 27:57–60
Deserted by His followers
Zechariah 13:7, Mark 14:27,Matthew 26:56
Resurrection
Hosea 6:2, Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15, Luke 24:6–7
Ascension to Heaven
Psalm 68:18, Luke 24:50–51, Acts 1:11, Ephesians 4:7–10

Week of Change

Do you ever feel like, try as you might to change, you just keep waking up the same every day? I think we’ve all been there, but today’s message is especially for those who consider themselves followers of God. I was speaking with a dear friend earlier today and we got onto this very subject. Those of us who call ourselves Christians, and who endeavor to devote our lives to that creed, often find those very lives falling short of our lofty professed ideals. I go to church, read the bible, pray, give, perform good deeds … the whole shebang. Yet, somehow, I never quite seem to become the better person I’ve been aiming at. This is all the more shocking when I consider the holiness and worthiness of my Creator, the depth of His compassion and the magnitude of eternity. In light of such compelling and life changing revelations, how is it that someone like me continues exhibit such a stalwart resistance to behavioral modification? All I know is that we must muddle through as best we can and take each day, each challenge, one step at a time. The Christian walk is not one of instant perfection, but of prayerful process. Even if you share these same frustrations, let me encourage you to keep taking that one step at a time as we walk together down the path of faith.

An additional thought upon my heart just now is that this is St Patrick’s Day. Now I’m not Irish, but if you are, or if you are interested, St Patrick is considered the patron saint of Ireland, meaning that he was essentially a missionary of the Christian faith to the land. For your enlightenment, I have pasted the whole story of St Patrick and the origins of this holiday at the bottom of today’s posting. My question today is this: If you are a believer, what are you the patron saint of? How are you changing your little corner of the world? I think we’re called to be the St Patrick of wherever we are. You can be the patron saint of your family, your school, your work, your neighborhood, an athletic team, a car pool, whatever. It’s unlikely you’ll get your own holiday here on earth, but in the gospel of Luke (chapter 14) he records that, “I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” That sounds like enough of a holiday to me. Wear green clothes and drink green beer if you must, but let this day always remind you that you might very well be the patron saint of your own sphere of influence. That is a lofty calling indeed. My hope and prayer for you today is that you’ll be able to look back at your life next week and see in yourself something new and different.

Week of Change
Oh, God, it’s been another week
And I’m here in church again
Letting seven more days slip by
Without proclaiming You to men
Nor have I moved forward
I’m the same I was last week
Having squandered Your grace again
Unfaithfully foolish and weak
Lord, I beg for Your mercy
For the hundredth, the thousandth time
I beg You, make my life count
And end this faithless pantomime
Help me take Your commands to heart
May I follow You, Jesus, at last
And become the man You want of me
Before another week can pass
By Frank Carpenter ©

Origins of St Patrick’s Day
Just like many other holidays in the United States, St Patrick's Day has its origins in ancient times. A young boy named Patrick lived in the British Isles, a land that had been invaded and conquered first by the Romans and then by Germanic tribes. Patrick was captured and taken as a slave from the British Isles to what is now Ireland. He lived there for several years herding sheep. He was a religious boy and he prayed that he would someday return to his homeland. Legend has it that one night while he was praying, a voice told him to escape from the farm, and find a ship that was waiting for him two hundred miles away. Patrick got to the ship, sailed to Europe, and disembarked in what is now probably France. He led several of the ship's crew through a dangerous forest, praying all the time. Neither Patrick nor any member of his crew was captured. When some of the men were about to die of starvation, wild animals appeared for them to eat. Events such as these appeared to be miracles and gave rise to later legends surrounding Patrick. At home, Patrick felt that he was called by God to perform an important mission. He believed it was his duty to go back to Ireland and convert the Celtic people to the Christian religion. Patrick arrived in Ireland and became a missionary, traveling from village to village and talking about his faith. Once, several members of a tribe approached Patrick and told him that they found it difficult to understand and believe in the Holy Trinity. Patrick thought a moment, then stooped down and picked one of the plentiful shamrocks growing wild around Ireland. "Here are three leaves," he said, "yet it is one plant. Imagine the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit as each of these leaves. Here they are, yet they are one plant." The tribesmen understood, because Patrick had used a familiar object to explain. From that time on, the shamrock has been a revered symbol of Ireland. Stories of Saint Patrick, for by then he was a saint, reached far and wide. His most famous feat is forcing the snakes out of the entire country of Ireland. Even though there are many different stories about how he accomplished such a task, it is probably not true. St Patrick died on March 17 and the Irish people set aside the day to mourn. He became the patron saint of Ireland. Mourning turned to commemorating him and celebrating his life. Americans have inherited this custom. On St Patrick's Day in the United States, millions of people celebrate whether they are Irish or not!
From: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blstpatricksday2.htm

Taking the Time

Weekend before last we lost someone dear in our lives. She had fought a courageous year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. However, in the case of that particular disease, it’s usually more of a fight for quality time than one offering much hope of a cure. Anyhow, my dear wife had invested lots of time staying at the hospital with her. She has an amazing gift of compassion, the wisdom of Solomon and the patience of a tree when dealing with those who are downtrodden and suffering. Over the years she has taught me that people in need trump all other earthly distractions. Having applied that principle, what I have discovered is that when we take the time to put people first then there are never any misgivings later. I learned that a year ago when my own father died after a protracted illness, and it proved true in this most recent relationship and loss as well. Real love is spelled T-I-M-E. When we give it freely loss becomes more bearable because we know we’ve done all we can. So without belaboring the point, I encourage all of us to take that extra time and invest it as needed in those hurting folks God places in our lives. And I daresay that when our own times of trouble come, that investment may well be repaid many-fold. Take the time … and you shall never regret it.

Taking the Time
Yesterday morning, I said goodbye
Though I didn’t know it just then
But this afternoon, that person died
And I’ll never see her again
Which only serves to remind me
How short our time can be
So we need to live and love those near
As if there was no guarantee
If we put off those visits
Like the one I made yesterday
We never know when opportunities
Might slip completely away
If there someone you need to visit?
Is there something you need to say?
Do you need to ask for forgiveness?
Or offer it? Do so today
For life is short, far shorter
Than ever we hope or plan
So we must give the love and time
We have whenever we can
Yesterday morning, I said goodbye
And tonight, though sad I’ll be
I know I took the time to care
So I shall rest easily
By Frank Carpenter ©

Be It Ever So Humble

I’ve been out on the road a bit lately, which I generally enjoy. I admit that even the simplest trip, even for a weekend or a day, seems to invigorate me. I just love being “out there,” meeting people and observing that which is unfamiliar. However, there comes a time when we simply want to be back at home. Eventually, our own beds, cars and acquaintances beckon to us. Even now, as I fly back from a whirlwind junket the draw of my comfortable little life tugs upon my weary heart strings. And I imagine it to be all the more so for my dear wife, who at this very moment is on a plane somewhere between here and Southeast Asia. She is returning from the disaster ravaged Southern tip of Sri Lanka, where she has been serving tsunami victims on behalf of our church. We haven’t been able to communicate much during the past ten days, but I know her surroundings have been utterly foreign to her and that she has been in the very midst of the destruction we all saw on news at the beginning of this year. I know for sure that she spent at least one day hiking through jungle and swamps while searching for additional bodies of tsunami victims. No doubt she longs for her own shower, her own bed, and the comfort and security of our welcome home far more then I. As we each wing our respective ways toward that unassuming little haven of rest, no words could ring truer than that tired old saying: “Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.” Amen.

Coming Home
There is excitement on the road
And adventure along the way
New people and new places shine
And yet, there comes a day
When one longs for things familiar
For family and for friends
There is a sigh of comfort even
When the best of journeys ends
There is a thrill to wanderlust
And each man longs to roam
But nothing compares to the feeling
Of simply coming home
By Frank Carpenter ©

The Whole Truth

Truth is an interesting thing. By definition, it should be an absolute. I believe it is. However, in this modern word it has a tendency to get watered down. How is it that two different politicians can make contradictory speeches and we divide up by party in choosing who to believe? Likewise, witnesses in court are sworn in and promise to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” The word truth is even emphasized by mentioning it three times, but opposing testimony often makes it clear that someone must be lying because their “truths” prove to be mutually exclusive. Not to mention the fact that virtually no one pleads guilty in court. Of course, they are often found guilty in light of overwhelming evidence. Clearly, even though there can be only one truth, it must be tested and proven. Ever fudge on your tax returns, even a little, or fight a speeding ticket when you know your were speeding? We give any number of reasons for completing tasks behind schedule, for being late, paying late, avoiding all manner of controversies. The world filled with people who, in effect, have convinced themselves that truth is merely “what you can get away with.” Is that really the world we want to live in? Is that the world we want for our children? Please answer carefully. Deception, however it seems to serve us in the short run, usually turns out to be a bitter pill indeed. For once those words of untruth are spoken and we’ve stood by them, we place ourselves in bondage to them. Truth is often more painful at the outset, but once spoken and paid for it sets us free. In the end there can only be one truth, the whole truth. A closing thought: that oath we repeat up at the witness stand always ends with the words, “so help me God.” That’s the clincher wherever truth is concerned … because He’s very hard to fool.

The Whole Truth
The truth can be a terrible thing
And all the more, if by surprise
But better by far a wretched truth
Than a world built on lies
Even semi-truth or half-truth
Though a tempting compromise
Prove cruel impostors in the end
Once unveiled from their disguise
There is no truth but whole truth
The whole truth that God can see
When we lie, we live in bondage
But the truth can set us free
By Frank Carpenter ©

Plan A

Do you ever get the feeling that life has something better to offer you than you are experiencing? Or do you find yourself thinking that God has a great plan for your life, but you’re just not quite ready to take it on yet? Often, and for a variety of reasons, we catch ourselves settling for a life that isn’t quite what we would wish for. Now, don’t get the impression that I’m talking about money here. Money is fine, but it doesn’t necessarily correspond to happiness or success. Either way, it’s only human nature to take the path of least resistance and let ourselves slip into a “less than” life because it was easier or more convenient. We might even feel this way while making lots of money, but in our hearts we know that life should be better, it should mean more. Somehow, we know that we are living Plan B. We know there’s a Plan A out there somewhere with our name on it, but we have the feeling that we’ve missed it. In fact, many of us may even know exactly what Plan A is. We just haven’t rustled up the courage to take that next step towards it. We fear failure. We cling to the familiar. Maybe we just don’t trust God enough. Whatever the reason, it’s out there and we’re not … and we know it. Friends, life is simply too short to settle for Plan B. It might seem a little scary. It might even take some extra faith, but it’s worth it. So say a little prayer, take a deep breath take that first step. There’s definitely a Plan A with your name on it.

Footnote: Just wanted to take a moment and tell you about some of my personal heros. My wife, along with ten other brave folks from our church, just arrived in Sri Lanka today with the mission of helping Tsunami victims. That’s two entire days of traveling, five vaccinations, two weeks of malaria pills and a gigantic plunge into the unknown. They are there to love and care for people who lost everything in a moment on December 26th. It’s easy to just write a check, and lots of us have. However, these eleven selfless people have taken the next step. They canceled their personal lives, rolled up their sleeves, and now they’re on the other side of the world serving both the needy and their God. It takes a lot of faith and love to make that kind of commitment. That is a Plan A commitment, taking the extra step … a ten thousand mile step into the unknown. Those are my heros. I’m a little worried, a little jealous, and extremely proud!

Plan A
So many times, we just settle
When we know there is something more
Lacking the simple faith that God
Could have something better in store
At times we seem to get a glimpse
But fail to clearly see
So we shy away in disbelief
And settle for Plan B
We let our fear of failure
Dictate the path we choose
Giving up what could be gained
While unaware of what we lose
Don’t settle, friend, for Plan B
As so many of us have done
God has something better in store
If you trust in His word and Son
Life can be so much better
Take that leap of faith today
Then step out and live courageously
It’s time to begin Plan A
By Frank Carpenter ©