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Tragedy Strikes

12/22/2025

He was the life of the party!   Always displaying a positive yet sarcastic demeanor.   I had known William personally for many years.   He was a bit older than me and was in physically great shape.   Who would have ever thought?   Over the years we would see each other periodically at family gatherings and holidays.   He was always the same, cracking jokes and living life to the fullest.   Throughout his life there had been many hardships though, many poor decisions made and many disappointments that shook him to his core.

One such disappointment was the death of his wife.   She was only in her 50s when she died, and she was Williams “life-mate” and confidant.   They enjoyed spending time with each other and truly were partners in all that life held for them.   One day out of nowhere a diagnosis of cancer blind-sided them.   I hate that word!   It seems we are always praying about cancer in some way shape or form.   Every week the prayer request comes up in our worship service and undoubtedly one is always about cancer.

However, she was a fighter, a hard worker, one that had faced many difficulties in her life.   This was just another one, one that she would do her best to beat!   Unfortunately, the battle that was waged was long and drawn out and in vain.   She passed away later that year and left a gaping hole in Williams’s heart.

For most of us those moments preceding death are ones of hope and desperation that we never want to face.   Even though the battle ended in death, we still have the hope and promises of a loving God that for those that love and trust in Him, the future is still bright and wonderous!

NOTE TO SELF: This life is not the end, but the beginning.   Are you prepared?

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You're Final Breath

12/17/2025

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As a pastor I have become very familiar with the last few moments of a person’s life.   For most people, desperation never hits as hard as it does during those final moments of existence.   Suddenly they are faced with the purpose of life, what their life was all about and how it was handled.   They find themselves faced with the moment when the “why” of life is being answered in full. There is no more waiting, no more procrastination, no more “I’ll think about it later,” its decision time!   The gavel strikes downward and its blow is the final sound heard in this life.   A final breath.

Unfortunately, I have seen too many families blind-sighted by the death of a loved one!   They never expected death to find its way into their lives so soon, surely not this soon!   They find themselves overwhelmed as there has been no real preparation by either the deceased or their family.   They are just gone … suddenly!   And the phrase “It’s not about you” has never had such deep meaning!

In those final moments and afterwards I have seen many families take comfort in the memories of what the deceased accomplished.   I hear statements like “what a great dad they were” or “they lived a good life.” And those are wonderful legacies to leave behind, but in reality, it’s too late for the one that lived a life outside of a relationship with God.

Why is it that we have such a hard time facing the reality of death?

It’s a question that Jesus chooses to answer for all of us asking the same question yet centuries later.

Luke 16:19-31
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

How true it is even today!   Jesus rose from the dead and still most do not believe.   Unfortunately, for most people their lives are all about themselves, believing that at the end they will be due a place in Heaven because of their self-evaluated well-lived “good” life.   Unfortunately, most people are only shooting for “good enough” and not the “holy” that God calls us to seek.

This story represents the issue of serving oneself through life with no thought whatsoever regarding God.   In the world today, we are assured that to live the good life we simply need to amass as many treasures as we can.   It’s the “Burger King” way of life … “have it your way!”   But God’s Word and the example of Jesus clearly show us that life is not about us but instead is all about loving God, being in relationship with Him and serving Him by serving others in His name.

The cool part is that we find unbelievable contentment and purpose in our relationship with God, while not so much in serving ourselves.   So, the challenge for us is to establish a life of grateful service and not an attitude of “worthiness” so that God will owe us something.   Let’s be clear, He will never owe you anything!   It’s not about you!

NOTE TO SELF: Do life His way … it’ll be worth it!

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Generous to a fault ...

12/8/2025

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Tom is not lazy but selfish.   Since the day I met him, Tom has had the mythical “silver spoon” in his mouth.   Tom grew up in a very modest area of Michigan and was the youngest son of a struggling family.   His father was a local shop owner who did his best to put bread on the table but usually was just getting by.   His family grew up knowing what it was to wait, to dream, to set a goal, to plan, to work hard and to receive the prize at the end of the day.   He and his siblings were workers!

At an early point in his life, Tom transitioned from an extremely physical job with a major corporation to a position of leadership in one of the family businesses.   He was lost!   Tom had to learn the ins and outs of business the hard way, through trial and error, may times under the watchful eye of opinionated family members.   To make the situation worse, he received very little support or training from the family.   This was a shipwreck waiting for the right rocky shoreline.

As the years went by the family businesses flourished.   Having the right products at the right time was in the family’s favor.   It was the proverbial “being in the right place at the right time!”   Over time the company flourished but rising cost and family dysfunction played a part in its demise.   As I saw it, the business was a ship in the ocean with only a “part-time” Captain, and even at that the rudder was broken too!

Tom was generous to a fault.   He gave away so much!   He would give away much of his own stuff, and would spoil friends with things and services that he gave away from the company.   Many times, we give with the wrong motives.   Tom gave away in order to receive.   He was starving for power, position and recognition within the family as well as with a sense of his own self-worth.   So, the answer he chose was to create the feeling of worth by having others indebted to him.   Because of the resources at his disposal no one could ever out give him.   This was a situation that could not last forever.   But the case was it “felt good” today, let tomorrow take care of itself!

The Bible tells us to give and to give freely, but with the right attitude of heart.   We are to give without recognition as the motivation behind it.   As the Bible teaches us …

Matthew 6:3
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Why is that?   It’s because when others see your acts of generosity and shower you with accolades and compliments your heart has a tendency to become overwhelmed with pride.   Jesus tells us to simply do our acts of generosity quietly, without fanfare, so that it remains a private matter between the individual and God.   That way God is completely honored and the sacrificial act remains pure.   It is pure in the sense that the motivation behind it was not for selfish recognition but for the glory and purpose of God.   It is the practice of it not being about me, but God.

Life is tough, and life is a process of learning.   Tom was learning that “It’s not about him” during those years he spent giving generously to others.   Today he enjoys a personal quiet relationship with God whereby he can continue his acts of service and generosity without one hand knowing what the other is doing.   Like most of us, Tom has learned though the experiences of life that there is a greater purpose outside of our own edification.    We are here to glorify God, to do His will and to participate in His ongoing plan of salvation for the world.   Tom has learned that the greatest joy humankind can ever experience in this world is a quiet, selfless, serving relationship with God.   You see, it really is not about you!

NOTE TO SELF: Give, serve, love without recognition … its simly the right thing to do!

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Lazy Bones

12/1/2025

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Alan is a middle-aged man who lives in a depressed area of Central Michigan.   Over the years, Alan has had all of the opportunities that are available in the area as well as the support of a loving hard-working family.   In fact, many of his family members have also offered him opportunities over the years to work and establish a long-term career.   Farming is huge in this family and while farm work is hard, the opportunities to work and excel have always been there.   Over the years, Alan’s family has offered to help him find work, or work for them and move into a productive life, but it has had little impact on him.

This is a family that is very close-knit and deeply cares for each other.   In that care there has been little that they have not done for those in need especially family members.   Alan has had all of the opportunities necessary to live a meaningful and productive life, but “Alan is Alan” as his mother once told me.

Alan, sad to say has an attitude of “taking, entitlement and blatant selfishness!”   In his mind its easier and more rewarding to “get something for nothing” than it is to set his sights on a goal, work hard for it and then earn it.   “Heck no, why work?” he would say.

Alan has also jumped on the bandwagon of disability.   Now before I start a riot, I want to make one thing clear!   If a person is truly disabled and unable emotionally or physically to provide for themselves it is the responsibility of society, especially Christians, to provide for them as needed.   Our goal should also be to provide for them with exceptional generosity and love.   Helping the helpless is one of the most “God-honoring” things we can do as Christians!

But Alan is lazy.   Over the years I have come to know this young man as one who does not have any physical or emotional limitations.   He is strong and has always been in good health but he chooses to not exert himself.   In this small town you can usually find Alan at most of the local free church and community dinners, as well as the free clothing store where he takes great pride in finding “like-new” clothing.   In his bold “taking” attitude, he also goes to the emergency room whenever he has the slightest ailment, all without ever opening his wallet.    Hmmm, I’m not sure he even has one!?   According to Alan, its hard to get blood out of a turnip, especially one that doesn't have a permeant address.

The Bible tells us that the man who refuses to work should not eat.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat."

If one is able to use the abilities that God has bestowed on them and yet refuses to, they are essentially dishonoring the gift that God has given them.   As beings created in the image of God, we are to have a heart of giving not taking.   We are to do our best as a way of honoring our Creator and establishing ourselves.

In the movie The Pirates of the Caribbean, Captain Jack Sparrow meets with his first mate to assemble a crew.   At the end of their conversation, they repeat the pirate’s code: “Take everything you can!   Give nothing back!”   Such is the attitude that has crept into Alan’s heart.   He finds no reason to give, only take and he refuses the idea of hard work and self-provision.

As a “taker” from life Alan has chosen to walk away from any sense of responsibility.   In some ways he has become a product of his environment.   Now don’t get me wrong, Alan is not without the majority of fault, but he has certainly been influenced by the culture surrounding him.   This small town has suffered so much over the past several years.   Business’ have vacated the area while drugs and laziness have filled the voids.   Statistically most of the residents of the area are either retired from a business that use to be there or they are struggling farmers who can’t compete with the larger farms nationwide.   In this situation neither the retirees nor farmers can financially afford to relocate, they are stuck!

At times “takers” are like “leeches!”   They live off the hard work of others.   They spend more time looking for ways to be supported by the government and other social agencies than they do for legitimate opportunities to care for themselves and others, and the idea of being a responsible child of God is far from the realm of consideration.   Unfortunately, drug use has flourished among this group of individuals also.   It has become an escape from reality.   It has become commonplace, and it has become blatant!

Alan lives in a trailer park known for drug trafficking and transient people.   Many who live in the trailers are just passing through town, just trying to get away from something or someone.   Unfortunately, Alan finds himself in the middle of this culture and goes from trailer to open trailer depending on the night, available food, and drugs.

But wait a minute, it’s not hopeless!   Alan could leave this environment but he chooses not to as many times, it’s easier to “take all you can and give nothing back!”   For Allan, it is all about him!   But the good news is that God never gives up, and neither should we!   God will never give up on any individual, always trying to “wake them up” to a life of love, responsibility, servanthood and relationship with Him.

OK, all my ranting here seems bold, blatant, cruel, insensitive, judgmental and appalling!   Yes, it is.   But the beauty of the situation, regardless of how depressed or hopeless it seems, is not in “who” we are, or “who” Alan is, it is in “who” God is!   You see, what God can and will do has nothing to do with us.   We are all in “filthy rags” according to Scripture.   The beauty is in what God is doing in the life of the person who turns to Him for His redeeming love.

Even when “takers” seem endless, God still reigns and His plan for us is wonderful!   Friends, there is tremendous hope through Christ!

UPDATE: Here we are 10 years later.   Alan has seen the error of his past and has truly made the transition to follow God wholeheartedly.   Alan has been redeemed!   You wouldn’t even recognize him today.   Thank you, Jesus!

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