Thanks+giving

Early last week in my Bible readings I came to Psalm 50.

Psalm 50:8 begins "I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer."

Then the next verse begins with that scary word:

BUT

But what?

I'll paraphrase the next verse this way:

"But I really don't need them because they are already mine."

God seems to be saying that it's great that the people were offering sacrifices but he didn't really need them.  Which seems a bit confusing, and that's where verse 14 adds some clarification:

Make thankfulness you sacrifice to God and keep the vows you made to the most high. (Psalm 50:14 NLT)

The Psalmist is trying to tell us that there is a wrong way to give.

If we think that everything we have belongs to us, and that WE are giving to God out of OUR stuff that we earned, be might have a bit of a bad attitude when we give it.  Paul alludes to this in 2 Corinthians 9:7 where he writes that we are to give cheerfully, not grudgingly.  When we give, it is out of recognition that everything we have is God's.  We then return a portion to God out of thanks for what He has given to us.

Offering and Thanksgiving are inextricably linked:

Thanks=Giving

(Maybe I'm getting a couple of holidays mixed up here.)

The Psalmist alludes to another kind of bad giving attitudes in verse 14: "keep the vows you made".

Some people make vows to God.  A vow goes something like this:

"You do this for me, I'll do this for You."

So if God comes through on His end of the deal, we then offer whatever it is we said we would offer.  It's a simple transaction.  But sometimes we might have an attitude problem.  We might be handing over payment with a bit of reluctance--not wanting to part with our hard earned stuff for what we have received, like maybe we resent having to pay so much for something.

"Bad attitude", the Psalmist writes.  What should our attitude be?

Make gratitude your attitude.

Give--and give thanks.

Many years ago I was working for an organization and one of the employees was helping me load my truck with supplies.  When we were done, I thanked him.

He then began to exclaim, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" over and over again.

I told him I was confused, he had helped me load my truck, so why was he thanking me?  He replied, "Because you said, 'thank you.'"

I drove away in tears.  This man had worked many years for this Christian organization, but when it was time to get paid, it was just a transaction.  Payment for services rendered.  No sign of gratitude (at least not in a way that was meaningful to him).

I had to ask myself, "What is my attitude?  Do I have an attitude of gratitude?"

Let our giving be thanks and our thanks be giving.  It's easy to mouth the words, "Happy Thanksgiving."  It takes a bit more effort to show we are truly thankful.

Isaac

One of my life mottoes is:

Take life very seriously

    but

        don't take yourself too seriously
 
God is never ceasing in doing important work in this world.  But we should not be so proud as to think He cannot accomplish His work without us. We are not indispensable. (Pardon the double negative any readers for whom English is not one of your primary languages.)

Unfortunately, for the past while I have had a hard time abiding by that motto.  I went through a period of time where laughter was mostly absent from my life.  It was no longer my norm.

Many years ago lived a woman named Sarah.  Already almost 90 years old she was childless and for her that was no laughing matter.  One day she overheard an angel say she would have a child.  "What a joke", she snickered.  But the "joke" was on her, and she gave birth to a son.  She named him Isaac, which means, "he laughs" (Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7)

I'm grateful that this past week I have had plenty of Isaac moments--I've been able to let down my hair and bellow out laughter on all kinds of occasions.  I've laughed at myself.  I've laughed till I cried while watching a movie.  I've laughed while reminiscing with others.

It helps to have friends and family who can laugh with you.

Life is not a joke.  But it doesn't mean there is not time for a laugh at the appropriate time--a time to let your hair down and have some fun.

Letting Down my Hair
(I had a hard time keeping a straight face for this.)

Ten Hanky Movie

Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. (Philemon 1:7 NLT)

Recently someone was wondering about my emotional response to something.  He was a bit confused, so I offered up some explanation.

God has blessed me with the ability to generate copious amounts of body fluids.  One of the chief among them are tears.

Lots of things cause me to cry.

• Laughing.
  
• Sneezing.
  
• Cool winds below about 70F/20C (makes bike riding challenging in Fresno winters)
  
• Yawning. (Hate to burst your bubble, preachers, but those probably aren't tears of conviction and repentance.  Maybe you need to shorten the message; not lengthen it.)

I do also shed tears for emotional reasons, something I seem to have inherited from my mom.  There are two categories of these.

• Tears of empathy for others.  I cry when I sense either hurt OR joy on the part of others.  Forget the "ten-hanky movie"--just bring me the whole box.
  
• Tears related to my own pain OR joy.  I would say that the majority of these by far are tears of joy (I seldom cry at my own pain or sorrow).

I have shed a lot of tears this past week.  As we have processed some of the difficulties we have encountered this past year, I have been overwhelmed by the love, grace and support shown me by the people of God. It's not like I deserve it.  It's because people have been responding out of the tremendous reserve of love they have in Jesus.  And it's overwhelming.

But it gets better.  This great love I have experienced this week is nothing compared to the love shown to us by Jesus.  One night in the garden, Jesus faced a choice.  Would Jesus act within his rights and walk the path of self-preservation?  Or would he choose the path of love--love for those who don't deserve it?  He chose the path of love: the path to the cross.

"God shows his love for us", scripture says,  "in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Which path would we choose?  Do act within our rights and choose the path of self-preservation?   Or do we choose the path of love, the path of the cross?  (This seems an especially pertinent question in light of the recent election in America.) It is a very difficult path to choose the path of love--but what a blessing we can be to others.

Jesus said: So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 (NLT) 

We are the vehicles God has chosen to show His love to the world.  If we don't do it, who will?

I am so grateful this week for those who have chosen the path of Jesus.  I have been overwhelmed by His love as demonstrated by others.

One day, when I depart from this life, don't be surprised if it rains.  If the love I have received this week from God's people has caused me so much joy, how much more will the joy I experience in the presence of Jesus cause an outpouring of tears

Giving and Receiving

We were coming out of Walmart yesterday, when Ingrid noticed that a minivan that was pulling out of the parking area had a flat tire.  We waved them over to let them know.

When they rolled down the window we saw it was an elderly couple.  We said we would help.

If you're going to have a flat tire and need help, I'm probably a good volunteer.  I have probably changed more flat tires than most people in North America, save those who work in tire shops.  When we lived in Haiti, we probably averaged a flat tire a week--over 7 years.  I used to carry two spare tires except on long trips when I carried three--and on one occasion needed them all.

Changing flat tires isn't particularly hard.  It's more of a challenge figuring out where the jack is and how to access the spare tire--that part takes over half the time.

While I was getting the work done, Ingrid was chatting with the couple.  Turns out that this is a German Mennonite couple from Paraguay, so as fellow Mennonites and Ingrid being a German, we had a common bond.  They have been in Canada 16 years and this is their first flat tire since coming here.  They don't have CAA or anything like that because they pretty much only drive from their condo to the store.  So they were particularly appreciative of the help.

Their names are easy to remember--they have the same first names as a couple who took in my oldest brother's wife during her younger years (and don't ask me how I even remember that after only meeting that couple twice in the 1960's).

I didn't want any kind of remuneration for using my "gifts" to serve others, but they were quite insistent gave far more than deserved.  They wanted to bless us on our journey as well.

Don and Katy, it was a pleasure to meet you.  Hope to see you when our paths cross again--wherever that may be.


Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
Psalm 128:1-2 (ESV) 

Dust Storm

On a chilly December morning several years ago, I joined several co-workers in Twenty-nine Palms, California to help with some soil sampling.  We gathered in the office while it was still dark and then headed out to the sites we would be working at.  Each soil scientist had their own vehicle as we were traveling to different places.

It was still dark when we crossed over the mountain and dropped down into the valley.  The wind was blowing fiercely and as we approached the playa (dry lake bed) visibility began to drop from the blowing dust.  At one point, I could barely see 10 feet ahead of me.  I remember thinking how once in my youth I was driving in fog so thick, I ended up turning off my headlights and sticking my head out the window. But since this was dust, not fog, it didn't seem like a very good idea.

What is interesting though, when I looked up, I could see the stars.  They were a bit fuzzy from the dust, but there they were.  I'm thinking, even though the dust is blowing so thick, one would still be able to find one's way using the stars.

Dust Storm in California
(Photo by Kerry Arroues)

This past year I have experienced the worst dust storm I have ever encountered since becoming a Christian.  While I can't go into details, it has been a very dark time for me.  Many were the days I wanted to quit Thailand.  Many were the days I wanted to quit my organization.

But I didn't want to quit God--because when I looked up, I could see the stars.

I remember even darker periods before I became a Christian.  Then I could not see the stars when I looked up. There was only hopelessness and despair.

But this time, even though the path was murky and going forward was difficult, there was hope because God was there.

The good news is that the wind and the dust are beginning to settle.  A retreat last week provided opportunity to work through some things and for the first time in a long while I finally feel "normal".  (Normal for me, that is, I'm not sure anyone else has ever thought of me as normal.)

I'm grateful for the many great people in my organization that were patient with me in this process and helped me focus on the stars instead of the dust.

I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!
He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.
The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Psalm 121:1-8 (NLT)

Cycles

What does the term "fall colors" mean to you?  When you hear that term, what do you see in your mind?

For many years, the term fall colors would cause me to picture standing on a mountain top in the White Mountains of New Hampshire looking across at the vast and varicolored display of reds and oranges and yellows and greens.  Later on in life, living in California, I would think of the non-native oramentals such as Chinese pistache, Chinese tallow and Liquiamber in shades of yellow to purple.

Now, I think of yellow.

For September and October is when the Siamese Cassia bloom in Thailand.

 

I first recall seeing these blooms when we visited the Changing Life Center in October 2011 for the first Youth Camp they hosted there.  There was a tree on the campus that was blooming at the time.

But the Siamese Cassia are only  one of many indicators of the passing of time throughout the year.  Some indicators are natural such as when certain flowers bloom, when certain fruit are ripe or when birds pass through on migratory cycles.

Some cycles are agrarian in nature such as rice planting season, corn planting season, harvest, etc.

Some cycles are cultural such as memorial holidays or events such as throwing water during Sonkran or setting off fireworks on Independence Day.

Other cycles are religious.  Some Christians may look forward to things like Advent or Easter.  For the Jew it may be Passover.  For the Buddhist it may be Buddhist lent.

Many of the religious and cultural cycles are based on the cycles of the moon.

Furthermore, there are individual cycles such as birthdays and anniversaries.

No wonder many cultures think of time as cyclical instead of linear.

Solomon wrote:

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.
 (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 ESV)  

It takes a while to adjust to the cycles of a new place.  The first year you don't notice the cycles because you are new.  Perhaps each year you start to notice more and more.  Eventually you get used to the cycles and they become part of your norm.  Though perhaps if you grow up in a place, you may take the cycles for granted and hardly notice them at all.

Now that we have lived in northern Thailand for 2-1/2 years, we have become used to some of the cycles--especially the fruit cycles.  Especially mango season!  (Begins about March, peaks in June and July with some varieties carrying on later.)

As we prepare to head back to North America for a few months, part of me is already grieving some of the things I'll miss that we've grown accustomed to such as the cooler, drier weather and the dry-season blooming trees such as flambouyant, Cochlospermum and Tabebuia.  But then we will catch the fruit tree blooming period in the Central Valley of California.  I'm looking forward to the drive from Fresno to Reedley in peak bloom season!  And then there is that annual cultural event of the valley, the International Ag Exposition, which I used to go to every year.  There is also the possibility of a white Christmas for us this year.

We don't know what the future holds for us.  The cycles we may find ourselves in in the future may be different than what we have grown accustomed to.  But one thing doesn't change, and that is God.  Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever, the writer of Hebrews tells us. (Hebrews 13:8)  He is the anchor of our lives, for which we are grateful.

I'm thankful for those rhythms God has placed in our lives.  But I'm more thankful that He will still be in my life even when those rhythms are gone.

Sadness and Joy

We only had a small group at our house on Saturday for English club, but it was still good to meet together.

The tone was a bit muted as the King of Thailand died only two days earlier.  We took the opportunity to remember the life of the King. The youth had more questions than usual and the conversation led to talk about different traditions regarding death and funerals between our home countries and theirs.

One things we found interesting was that they were surprised we use the same words "die" and "death" for everyone.  Here in Thailand they use a special language when they talk about the King and it was hard for them to grasp that we don't.

Earlier in the day we had found out it was Kook's birthday.  So while Ingrid was playing games with the youth I went out to get a birthday cake.  Nice to live in a place where you can go out, get a cake custom decorated, and be back home in 20 minutes!  So the tone of the gathering eventually changed to one of celebration.





At the end of our time together, there was a bit of sadness.  Since this was our last gathering before we head out on MINA we realized we would not see Gomeen and Kaeo until after we get back.  (Kook lives next door, so we will still see her around, but the others live in a village 12 km away.)

We are grateful for the opportunity to share God's love and stories about Jesus to these young people.  I'm not sure who benefits more from our meeting together.  They learn some English and learn about God.  We, on the other hand, are made to feel that just because we are "old" doesn't mean we are irrelevant.

Thank you, God, for putting these wonderful people in our lives.

Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15 NLT