Rich Father

 

"My Father is rich in houses and lands,

  He holds the whole wealth of the world in His hands.

Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,

  His coffers are full, He has riches untold.

A child of the king, a child of the king,

  through Jesus my Savior, I'm a child of the king."

Harriet Buell (1877)



The song is called a child of the king and it makes a point that is made several places in the Bible, that God is independently wealth.  There is no end to His riches and nothing that we can give Him that he truly needs.

I remember as a younger man thinking how nice it would be if someone like Bill Gates would adopt me, just in order to leave me a huge inheritance for being as awesome as I was.  Of course, that never happened, but my Father in heaven is awfully wealthy...

It is impressive to think of God owning more things than Bill Gates and all the Saudi princes combined.  But that isn't the big thing that God is rich in.

"But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us..." (Ephesians 2:4).  That is what I am looking for and what I need.  For, a god who has wealth beyond compare is not going to be bothered by a little no one like me.

On the other hand God, who is merciful is always ready to hear my voice, calling on Him.  And that is more important for a sinner like me, than any other riches that I could think of.

Thankful

As a little fun activity, I had my children say things for which they were thankful.  Not surprisingly, there was a lot of "stuff" on the list.  Vince and Elliot were thankful for basketball.  Anna was thankful for school and for days off from school (sounds a little contradictory to me).  Fortunately, Vince mentioned that he was thankful for "Mom" and "Dad," although Elliot was just thankful for "Mom."

In my mind, as I listened to them, I began to compose another list, a list of things for which I am grateful to my Heavenly Father.  The list was full of things like my wonderful wife, Elaine, our three children, and a nice home.

I realized that I was doing the same thing as my children.  For, the easiest things to thank God for, are the things which I can see and touch.  But are those truly the most important things which I have been given?

The answer is "no."  In fact, I love God and am thankful, not because of what He has given me -- which is much more than I deserve -- but for who He is.  In a sense, when I make a list full of stuff, it tells God that I am thankful  only to Him as He gives me more stuff.

I believe that my prayers must change.  Instead of lists of things for which I am grateful, I would bring to my God a heart full of adoration.  For He alone is worthy.

Thanksgiving

The first Thanksgiving was a meal held by the Pilgrims after a fairly grim year.  Somehow they had weathered a harsh Massachusetts winter, only losing a third of their population in the process.  They had worked hard -- very hard -- all summer with fairly meager results.  And yet they decided to have a meal dedicated in praise to God.

Of course, we all know that the reason that the Pilgrims were thankful, was that they had heard about a famine in Africa.  Hearing about starving people in sub-Saharan Africa made them much more grateful for their little harvest.

Wait.  Scratch that last paragraph.  I don't believe there is anyone who has truly been made grateful for what they have, or for their lot in life, by realizing that someone else has it worse.  Otherwise, there are millions of children who would snatch up their forks to eat their green beans at the mere mention of starving children in other countries.

It is still awfully easy to convince ourselves that we can become thankful by reading or hearing about someone worse off.  Yet, how could you really come to a grateful heart through the message of the words:  "It might be worse!"?

Those first Pilgrims came to that Thanksgiving with hearts filled to overflowing -- not because their lot was better than some others, but because God had been good to them.

My son, Vince, has had a lot of "issues" as he has grown up.  Food allergies, frequent vomiting, delayed speech and many other things have afflicted him.  As I was coming to grips with his condition, I wanted things to be different.  I often read stories about children with more severe delays than Vince and I never felt any better, or more thankful.

And then one day, I realized that I am grateful for Vince for who he is.  I can't imagine him being any different, or loving him any more.  He was and is a gift to our family, without price and without measure.  And in that knowledge, at last, I truly felt thankful.

Who Are They?

"They are not diabetics," my instructor said firmly.  "They are people -- patients -- who happen to have diabetes." 

I nodded my head.  I was a second year medical student and it made absolute sense to me that we should treat patients as people first and focus on their diseases secondarily.

Over time since then, I have come to realize that for some people, their disease becomes who they are.  No longer are they a person with lupus, they are a "Lupus Sufferer" -- and don't you forget it!

Everything else in their life ceases to be, except in relation to this disease state that now is who they are.

This saddens me when I see it, for suddenly, all of the complexities of what make a person a human are erased.  For, we are all many people.  I am a doctor, but more than that, I am a husband, a father, a brother, a friend, a teller of jokes, a giver of hugs and a hundred other things.

It seems to me that my instructor was right.  People are people, whatever they are battling and it is crucial that their health care providers never forget that fact.  But is even more important that my patients never forget it either, or they will themselves be lost in that black hole called disease.

George Louis Alexander

George Louis Alexander.  It is a big name for a normal sized baby.  I suppose that when you are in line to inherit the British throne, your parents can't name you something like Vincent Daniel or, Elliot David (as awesome as those names might be).

It is funny how certain names sound kingly and others do not.  For some reason, I just can't imagine a king named Garth.  I suppose it has to do with what names have already been held by kings.  George, Louis, and Alexander are the names of well known kings from the past.

When Elaine and I were discussing the naming of our children, there were certain names that we liked, but would never use.  The reason was that we knew someone who had that name and that person had made a negative impact on one or the other of us.

Proverbs 22 says "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches..."  Solomon was not speaking here of our names, how long they are, what they mean, or who has held a similar name.  He was speaking of our reputation.

What is it that people who know me attach to my name?  I pray that it would be good things -- not so more mothers feel good naming their sons  Vincent or, John, but because a good name is far more valuable than mountains of gold.

Worship.

Worship.  It is an area of tension in the American church today, with services ranging from rock concerts, to relatively subdued services, completely lacking musical instruments.  Some churches even offer two services -- one traditional and the other modern -- so that everyone will be happy.

As I was reading through Romans 12, in the New Living Translation, I was struck by the first verse.  In it, Paul pleads that we give our bodies to God as a living sacrifice, for "This is truly the way to worship Him."

And there you have it.  True worship isn't about me and what makes me happy.  It is about God and about me telling Him that I am His.  Whatever He plans for me, I will do.  Whatever designs He might have for my life, I accept. 

I fear that much worship, in these latter days, is devoid of personal communication and connection with God.  If worship is not personal, if there is no sacrifice involved, then we are not truly worshiping.  Or maybe it would be better to say that we may be worshiping, but we aren't worshiping God Almighty.

I am reminded of the story of Elijah, the prophet.  He was in a cave fleeing from an evil king.  The story tells that God told him to leave the cave and stand.  While Elijah was standing there, a fierce wind broke the mountain, an earthquake shook the mountain, and finally a fire passed before the prophet, but God was not in any of those things.  And when God finally came, it was the sound of a "low whisper."

As I come before God, I must be focused on Him, not myself.  For it is in silence that I hear His voice.  In stillness that He will come and I will listen.  And that is Worship.

Practice What You Preach

I was at the Academy of Family Practice conference.  There were lots of lectures on various interesting subjects and strangely, lots of family doctors, as well.

As I watched them walk between sessions, I was disappointed.  Many of them were out of shape and significantly overweight and some of them looked like their last work out was some time during the Reagan administration.

This disappointed me, because I have always felt that it was important to practice what you preach.  If I expect my patients to eat a healthy diet and exercise, then I should do the same.

Strangely, scarcely a week later, I read a study which indicated that patients actually prefer to receive diet advice from a doctor who is overweight.  Is struck me badly at the time, until I understood why.

You see, must people are looking, not for someone who has it altogether, but for someone who understands who they are and where they are at in their life.  A doctor who has similar struggles with weight will be less judgmental and more understanding (at least that is what patients hope).

In the same way, we understand that Jesus came to this earth and experienced all of the struggles and trials that humans deal with -- and more, but always with victory.  He understands who we are and what we are experiencing and in those trials, He is always faithful to give us victory, when we ask for it.

One Track

My son, Vince, has a one track mind and for the most part, that track has "trains" running on it.  That is to say, a pretty good portion of his waking time, that he's not in school, he is playing with or, building trains.

A lot of people look down others who have one track minds, as though it is better to diversify, than to have your focus be wrapped up in one thing. 

I have known plenty of adults who were stuck on one thing -- cooking, sports, or hunting.  This was their passion and they could do little else, but focus on that passion.

As I read through the book of Acts, recently, it was clear to me that the Apostle Paul had a one track mind as well.  His life's work was to share the life and ministry of Jesus Christ with every person who he met.

It got him into a lot of trouble.  This passion got him beaten, put him in prison several times, and eventually got him beheaded.  In the end, he would say that it was all worth it.

For, while it may not be a great thing to have a one track mind, when the track is taken up with Jesus Christ, there is no room for anything else.  And that is a very good thing.

Bob Evans

My children love the restaurant Bob Evans.  I am not totally sure why that is.  Certainly not for the frequent coffee refills (they don't drink coffee) or, the new entrees on the menus (they order the same things every time).

The menus items for them are usually things like Macaroni and Cheese or, Chicken Strips with Smiley Face Potatoes.  Yet, the last time we went, Anna leaned over and asked Elaine:  "Mom, how do they cook things so that they taste so much better than at home?"

If I had to guess as to why they like Bob Evans so much, I think it would be because their father likes is a lot as well.  When I was a boy, it was the restaurant that our family ate at the most.

I don't really know what my Heavenly Father thinks about Bob Evans (I doubt He is interested in smiley face potatoes), but I certainly know many things that excite Him and please Him.  I am afraid that they don't always excite me.

But if my children can get excited by Bob Evans, because I like going there, surely I can do the same.  For, whatever goals I have in this life, to please my Father has got to be at the top of the list.