Life Is Hard

I do not fear death, I fear this life.
     Death has no sting and no terror
     For Jesus rose again.
          But this life is hard.
               Pain every second of my day
                    Weakness, exhaustion, insomnia, headache
                    Worry, temptation, failure, fear
                    Loneliness and depression
          God so far away and silent.
               He is near not far.
               He is quiet not silent.
          Be still my soul and hope in God.
               If I suffer more and more til the day I die
               Then death will be freedom
                    And Heaven will be Heaven.

Poetic Justice or a Mere Fable?

Happiness is a minute without pain.
It's an hour without sadness and
a day without loneliness.

     It's not so much an abundance of good things as
          it is an absence of bad.

People are swimming in good things but not happy.

But give a man who knows nothing but hardship one good thing, any good thing, and he is truly happy  - and thankful.

Lazarus had no good thing in his life - a beggar, an outcast, a sick and hungry man whose only comfort was the licking of his pores by stray dogs.  When he died he went to Paradise.  Paradise!  What would it mean to be sick and full and free from pain and no longer alone?

The rich man wouldn't have appreciated Heaven even if he had gotten there.  It would be little better than his palace on earth.  And for his lack of compassion on pathetic Lazarus at his gates, he would suffer torments in hades forever.

Poetic justice?  Yes.  A mere fable?  The rich and hard hearted of the world better hope so.  If the rich man had fed and clothed and shared his home with Lazarus he would have made a friend and reserved a place in Paradise, too.

But judgement day will turn the tables on many in this world.  The first shall be last and the last shall be first.  The first can be first too but they must sell what they have and give to the poor - then they'll have treasure in Heaven.

It is not what you earn, but what you give that really counts.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  -Psalm 1:2

The key to a fruitful spiritual life is to delight in constant meditation on God's Word.  Bible study can become a chore without delight.  But meditating - taking the time to quietly reflect on the personal message received from God - is a constant delight.  Verse 3  says the person who meditates will bring forth his fruit, his leaves will not wither...  How many of us believers are fruitless trees with withered leaves.  It's time to delight in God's Word to restore spiritual health.

Dear LORD,

Good morning!  I have a feeling of satisfaction in just being awake enough and committed enough to be here with You. 

As I look over my personal life goals, I find that many of them are in progress to a lesser or greater extent.  My dream list says I dream of being: "A spiritually powerful man, exercising the gifts of the spirit in all power and effectiveness, making significant advancements for God's Kingdom.  Thank you, LORD for leading me to the book, "Ablaze for God," which is showing me just how to fulfill that dream.

I have no pleasure in the pleasures of this world.  Truly they seem empty, a chasing after the wind.  And my enlightened conscience cannot enjoy any sin, but grieves that I have grieved you.  More and more my delight in in You, in prayer, in the Word, in service.  But I know how quickly I fall and how very spiritually weak I still am.  That is why these morning exercises are so vital.

Well, it's off to Sunday School for Michelle and I.  Little by little, you're changing us!

I love You, in Jesus' name,

Amen.

Tragedy

This morning a drunk came to my door and asked for help. He was a sorry sight, dirty, sick, long hair and worn out clothes. I quickly went to get him some food. He was very unappreciative, so I determined that he owed me a little information about himself. In slurred, slow speech he told me his name didn't matter to anyone. I told him that he needed more than physical food, that he needed the Bread of Life to fill his empty soul. He was very offended at this, hurtling curses loudly my way, then He exclaimed,

I serve Jesus; He's my King!

This contradiction interested me, so I asked him if he knew the way to Heaven.  He looked me in the eye and said angrily, "Look, you are destined to serve Trinity.  Me... I serve Tragedy!"  He went on to explain how tragedy sticks to people like himself.  I said that Jesus died to take away tragedy and give us real life.  He clenched his fist and repeated angrily, "Tragedy!  Tragedy!"

I said, God loves you and sent his son Jesus to die for you, but you have to repent of your sins and accept Him as Saviour.

He stood up, wobbling, and cursed vehemently as he walked away.  The next time Tragedy comes to my door, I'll simply hand him so food and say, "Jesus loves you."  Tragedy may remember those three words and be saved, but likely I will never meet him in Heaven, because of his name.  Who named him that anyway?

On becoming the Senior Chaplain

Dear Lord,

I thank you Father for answering all of my prayers.  You have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that You can do exceedingly above all that we ask or think.  I live on a dry, parched planet, but Heaven has oceans of abundance.

When I pray, I cut a little hole in the bottom of Heaven, and the blessing comes through.  So long as I pray, the hole remains and enlarges.  When I stop, Heavens moisture ceases to fall.  The showers of blessing we need are a  prayer away.

How often I forget that this is Your Word and we are Your instruments.  It is not our work and You the instrument.  If we are yielded You will use us skillfully at whatever task You want.

I thank You for the calling to be the Chaplain of UGM.  It is the inner-city missionary post I have dreamed of.  I live in the middle of it, have housing and food supplied, am in charge of evangelism into the community.  I trusted in You and You gave me the desires of my heart.  I'm glad I didn't quit.  I pray that I'll pray and pray and pray to see You work marvelously here at the Mission.

You have given me a guide book - I & II Timothy to measure and adjust my performance.  Help me to read and study this portion continuously.

I pray You will help others to support our appointment.  Nevertheless, it is not what they think but what you know that counts. 

Living in these last days, I pray You will use me as a soul-winner and preacher and intercessor.

Give me, I pray, zeal for You and Your cause.

In Jesus' Holy Name I pray,

Amen.

Take me to the city

There's so much light here.  

The darkness is so thick there.

There's so much ease here.

There's so much suffering there. 

There's so much food here. 

There's so much hunger there.

There's so much love here.  

There's so much hate there.

There's so much peace here.

 There's so much turmoil there.

There's so many smiles here. 

There's so many tears there.

There's so much life here.     

There's so much death there.

Who will go?  I must go. 

Before I slip into careless Christianity once more.

I long to bear my cross for you, Lord Jesus.

Here am I.  Send me.

Ken

(written on a pork producers record sheet in 1991 in Funk's barn when I was trying to finish Bible College but had to work for a year to support Michelle and I.  Was really longing to do ministry!  Be careful what you wish and pray for...)