Panic Button

Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. Daniel 2:20

In many gas stations and convenience stores staffed with only a single employee late at night there is an implicit danger. Often, there is money on hand and the establishment is vulnerable to robbers. Many of these places have a button that is concealed and easy to access that when pressed can trigger a silent alarm alerting the police or a private security company that help is needed. As Christians, we have ready help in times of distress.

It is a terrible feeling. We suddenly find ourselves in bad situation. An accident, a pending pink slip, a crisis in a relationship or a sober diagnosis. We are taken by surprise and the surprise quickly begins to yield to panic. What should Christians do? How do we keep it together? In the second Chapter of Daniel King Nebuchadnezzar had a problem and because he was king, he made it everyone’s problem. He explained to Daniel and his companions that if they could not interpret his dream they would be cut to pieces and their houses be made ash heaps. Daniel asked for time to go home. He and his group immediately sought God’s mercy. God answered him and he began to praise God. Please note Daniel begins to praise God before he has spoken to the King or interpreted his dream. In his praise he acknowledges that God raises up and removes kings (Daniel 2:21). In his crisis, Daniel reminds himself of who God is. In your most difficult times, you need to remind yourself that God is merciful and faithful and an ever present help in time of trouble.

My prayer for you today is for the presence of mind to go to God in every situation to seek the peace he can provide even in a storm.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Probable Cause.

Thus you will know them by their fruits. Mathew 7:20

In law, a reasonable amount of suspicion, supported by circumstances sufficiently strong enough to support a prudent person’s belief that certain facts are probably true gives the police probable cause to make an arrest or conduct a personal or property search. The observation of behavior over time has often been used as the basis for generalizations about character, beliefs and attitudes. It should come as no surprise to the Christian that the world puts greater stock in the evidence represented by our actions than our words.

Matthew writes that a sound tree bears good fruit while and evil tree bears bad fruit. We live perilous times for Christians. In most places Christians have not been persecuted but rather diluted. We laugh at the same jokes, go to the same parties, use the same language and drink the same adult beverages. So complete is our assimilation that one might not find probable cause to accuse us as being Christians. If we belong to Christ, there has to be substantial evidence that we are his followers. We need to make sure we don’t compromise ourselves and cause fellow-believers to stumble and unbelievers to turn away by our disobedience to the word of God.

My prayer for you today is that you leave evidence all around you of your belief in God.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Weebles Wobble.

8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8,9

For almost 40 years, toy manufacturer Hasbro’s Playskool division has manufactured and marketed a line of toys called Weebles©. Weebles are plastic toys shaped like eggs. They have a weight at the bottom. They wobble when pushed but instead of falling down, they pop back up to a standing position. They are the perfect toy for small children as they are learning to coordinate between their hands and eyes. The original advertising slogan ushered in the popular phrase “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down.” As Christians, there are many times when our foundation shakes, but it should never fall apart.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul eloquently writes: “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God, not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7) Being a Christian does not afford us any special ability to dodge bullets or leap tall buildings. The same financial, physical and emotional problems that plague all of mankind will also at times find us. The key for the Christian is in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. We know that if we don’t lose heart and if we keep the faith that God’s grace is sufficient to help us overcome our present trouble and there is an eternal glory that awaits us that far outweighs any thing in this world. There is a tangible blessing that comes from trusting God through a difficult period: When you find yourself back on your feet and restored, you realize that God can see you through and you becoming stronger and better able to endure the next test of your faith.

My prayer today is that when you wobble you trust that God will keep you from falling down.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Permanent Press.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

“Permanent press”, “wrinkle-free”, “durable press”, “wrinkle resistant” and “permanent crease” are all fabrics that have been treated with a chemical during the manufacturing process to hold their shapes and make it through the laundering process without wrinkling. Available since the 1950’s most of these fabrics still get wrinkles when worn and washed. Currently scientists have been experimenting with nano-technology to make fabrics by immersing the fabric in vats containing trillions of sub-miniature nanotech fibers and then baking them into fabric in ovens binding the tiny fibers to the larger fabric threads. As Christians, our salvation is a permanent condition that changes sin’s ability to damage us.

In the first chapter of Jeremiah, the prophet confronts his fears. God tells Jeremiah that he was selected before he was born and Jeremiah responds that he can’t speak for God as he is too young. We know that feeling. We constantly feel powerless against sin and certainly unprepared to speak on behalf of God. God promises Jeremiah he will be with him and touches his mouth and tells him He has put words in his mouth. As we go through life we make mistakes, lose our temper, treat each other badly and sometimes shirk our responsibilities. It is at these times that we must remember that what protects us from sin is our relationship to Jesus Christ who is able to keep us from falling and present us faultless before the throne of God. (Jude 1:25)

My prayer for you today is that you remember God promised never to leave us.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Windfall Profits.

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." Luke 19:8

A windfall profit is a profit that is realized by a company through no action of its own but is produced by an outside event. Utilities make more money when a winter has lower than normal temperatures or a summer has higher than normal temperatures and air conditioner use is up substantially. Oil companies are the beneficiaries of windfall profits when prices rise because of shortages. The key factor in a windfall profit is there is no advance warning that an unexpected gain is about to come. Governments worldwide tend to tax these business gains more heavily using the argument the profit was unexpected. As Christians, what should we do as a resulted of the unmerited favor we have gained as believers?

We are introduced to Zacchaeus in the 19th chapter of Luke. In the first sentence we learn that Zacchaeus is rich. He is rich, we learn, because he is a chief tax collector. That is how we know his wealth comes from the opportunity he frequently has to levy heavy surcharges on taxes thus, in effect, taking from others. But the Zacchaeus we meet is diligently seeking to see Jesus. Because he was short he climbed a tree. Jesus saw him, called him by name and invited himself to Zacchaeus’s house. The tax collector came down quickly and received Jesus joyfully. Zacchaeus, apparently without prompting, pledged to give back what he took and more. We, like Zacchaeus, have received windfall profits from God. Our lack of commitment, faulty prayer lives, habitual sinning and lackluster service have been rewarded with mercy, grace, love and salvation. On that particular day, Zacchaeus had a revelation which compelled him to begin to live like he understood the significance of God’s love. Shouldn’t we do the same?

My prayer today is to be able to remain aware of the great gift I’ve received and have it affect my daily life.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Sucker Punch.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.1 Peter 5:8

The sucker punch is a technique used in street fighting. The idea is to take your adversary by surprise by pretending you are not going to punch perhaps acting relaxed or turning away and then when it seems least expected throw a punch. The surprise blow is intended to be effective enough to end the fight with just the one blow. As Christians, we need to be prepared at all times for surprise attacks.

We all know the feeling. We just seem to be getting our bearings straight. We are on even keel. Job…check. Family…check. Finances…check. Health…check. But just as we start to make headway-- Just a little progress—at the time we least expect it and from the most unlikely direction; we get waylaid. The child we raised to be above reproach slips and falls. The spouse we were certain of wanders. The fund we bet our future on tanks. The temptation we thought we conquered comes roaring back with a vengeance. We lift our umbrella to protect from a little rain and the wind comes and turns it inside out and rips it from our hands. Peter writes that we should understand that these things happen to all of us in the faith and if we are sober, vigilant and humble and remain steadfast in the faith after a little while the God of grace will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle us.

My prayer for you today is for the presence of mind to quickly regain your focus and faith after you get up off the ground.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Good Friday.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20

Some time ago I heard this story but I don’t remember its origin. It seems a man had traveled to India. When he got to the street he was followed by a persistent beggar. The beggar followed him for blocks and blocks begging loudly. The man would go into stores and restaurants but as soon as he emerged the beggar would resume his loud pleading. Finally, frustrated the man began looking for a stone or something small and hard to throw at him. Not finding anything on the ground, he reached into his pocket and found a gold coin which he hurled in an attempt to injure the beggar. The coin struck the beggar and fell to the ground. The beggar picked up the coin, thanked the man and went on his way. As Christians, we know God can take an action intended to harm us and bless us with it.

As we celebrate Easter we reflect on the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He willingly gave up his life to atone for our sins. This single violent act visited on our blameless savior became our means to salvation. The Old Testament Joseph tells his brothers when they intended to harm him, God intended it for good. God is the ultimate game-changer. No matter what your circumstance are, He can claim it for good. And that is good news on this Good Friday.

My prayer for you today is for you to be glad for a savior who can take any situation we find ourselves in, bad or good, and have it end up good.

Deacon Larry Woodard