Are Those Flying Monkeys I See?

You’ve all seen the movie.  The wind starts to kick up as the young girl and her dog try to head home.  But a tornado is coming!  Before she can get into the protection of the storm cellar, she sees everything from cows to people swirling around her in a chaotic mess.  Does YOUR life seem a bit like Dorothy’s?  I mean BEFORE she crushed the witch and landed in Oz?  Are things flying at you from every direction and making it hard to THINK, let alone ACT on your faith?  How do our lives become so out-of-control?  

Jesus’ disciples could have identified with Dorothy (and you):

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” ³⁶ Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”  Mark 4:35-40

The disciples were going about their ordinary day-to-day business of getting from point A to point B with Jesus.  Yet a huge storm interrupted their journey and, at least to THEM, seemed to threaten their lives.  Aren’t there times when you kind of feel like the boat you’re in is taking on water?  That the storm is too great to make any headway?  That’s EXACTLY how the disciples felt.  And where was Jesus?  S-L-E-E-P-I-N-G.  They were indignant!  Didn’t Jesus care about them at all?  How could He let them just DIE as they were trying to serve Him?

There are always lessons to learn from the pages of Scripture, so let me just boldly make some points for us both:

1.   The storm wasn’t as bad as it seemed.  The disciples weren’t going to die; they just felt like they might.  Whatever you’re facing right now – all the swirling debris and chaos – isn’t going to kill you. 

2.   Jesus cares more about your faith than your circumstances.  In fact, He USES the challenges we face to GROW our faith.  I suspect the disciples got the point, but the greater questions is, “Do I get it?”

3.   The peace and calm we seek is only found in Jesus.  It was (and is) only Jesus who could calm the storm.  Note that they didn’t wake Him and ask Him to calm the storm.  They only woke Him to accuse Him of not caring about them.

I want to quickly add that not all of the swirling and chaos in our lives is there because God wants to use it to grow us.  Some of the “busy-ness” is there because we haven’t learned to say “No”; some of it is because we give time to things we think are important that really aren’t; and some of it is due to letting the world have pieces of us that should be reserved for God and His service. 

If you feel a little “light in the shoes” like Dorothy and believe you may just be blown away any minute, or if you share the fear of the disciples in the boat and wonder if God cares, there is an easy answer.  Stop what you’re doing immediately, close your eyes, and look for Jesus.  He’s there, ready to be the anchor for your soul; your resting place; your life-preserver.  Though He rested on the boat that day with the disciples, He does not rest or sleep now.  He is ALWAYS praying for you, just waiting for you to reach out to Him, because He cares for you.

If you’d rather not ask Jesus for help, then try clicking your heels together and wishing for home.  Let me know how that works for you.  But watch out for the flying monkeys….

Jacob

It’s the 4th Quarter, So Finish Strong!

If you’ve watched football, you’ve seen it.  At the end of the 3^rd Quarter, the players on both teams will often stretch a hand skyward with four fingers extended.  What’s their point?  To remind one another that the game isn’t over yet – it’s not time to quit or sit – it’s time to give all they have to seek victory. 

Can you imagine a coach’s response if a player said, “I’m saving myself for the next game, Coach, since this game is almost over.”?  I’m confident the coach would utter lots of unkind things, including the query, “What in the world are you saving yourself FOR?”   Fair question.

As a Follower of Jesus Christ, it seems I’m entering a period of life that could be termed my “4^th Quarter”.  How old is that?  Old enough to know that most of my effort as a believer and servant of Jesus is past.  The game isn’t over for me yet, but the days that lie ahead are certainly fewer than those that lie behind.  So, what am I supposed to do in this situation? 

Many adults dream about the chance to stop working a 9-5 job, drawing a monthly check you’ve been counting on, and spending sunny days on the beach or the golf course.  After a hard-working life, isn’t the 4^th Quarter for our leisure and rest?  Well, consider these words from Scripture:

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.   James 4:14 NLT

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.   Mark 8:35. NLT

Does that sound like Jesus intended us to put our feet up on the couch or lean back in the recliner?  Don’t get me wrong – there’s nothing sinful about wanting to spend a little time beach-combing or trying to sink a 20-foot putt.  We all need a break sometimes.  But you weren’t redeemed to become a lazy beach-walker.  You weren’t bought by the blood of Christ to share the good views at the Masters Tournament, but to share the Good News of the Master’s sacrifice!

Here’s what being a 4^th Quarter adult SHOULD mean to you:  You are still important to the Kingdom of God.  God has spent a lifetime building His truth and service and value into your life.  Now is not the time to quit or sit.  Now is the time to Finish Strong!  Can you hear the Coach saying, “What in the world are you saving yourself for?”  Leave a Legacy of Faith by serving and giving strong to the end.  The game isn’t over until Christ calls you home.  Until then, how about “leaving it all on the field”, as the players say?  If you’d like to connect with other 4^th Quarter adults who are determined to continue making a difference for the Kingdom, check out http://4thq.org/.  YOU may be the person in your church that rallies others to Finish Strong after they assumed they were ready to ease off into the sunset.

Just one final thought from Scripture.  This one comes from 4^th Quarter King David as a reminder to us all: 

Be strong. Have strength of heart and do it.  Do not be afraid or troubled, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not stop helping you. He will not leave you until all the work...is finished.   1 Chronicles 28:20

Teach kids in Children’s Church.  Hold someone’s hand at Hospice.  Take a mission trip.  Just don’t quit and sit.  It is, after all, only the 4^th Quarter.  So Finish Strong. 

Jacob