What’s on the mind of the pastor:
This is my first BLOG entry. People have asked me for years why I don’t start one. Frankly I didn’t think anyone would be interested in what I would have to say. I now realize there are people out there who are interested what’s on my mind. Thanks for reading and I hope all my time and effort helps (or at least entertains) you on many levels.
So, what’s on my mind today? Electricity! Paula and I have lived all over this great world, and we have experienced earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and snowstorms. We now can add power outages to that list.
On Friday, February 5th at exactly 11:47pm our electricity went off due to the heavy wet snow that we received. Our electricity came back on Tuesday, February 9th at 1:30am. For those of you who can’t add, that’s seventy four hours, or three days. That seems like a long time, but there were people without power for seven days.
When I was in the Air Force we had a saying, “Don’t waste a good emergency, learn from it.” That made me think, what have I learned about myself from being without electricity for three days. I have learned two things.
1. I was not prepared.
Our house is completely electric, so when the power went out we had no hot water, electricity, or heat. I soon realized that I didn’t have any way to heat my home. By Saturday afternoon it was 50 degrees in the house, and dropping fast. Our neighbor across the street had a kerosene heater that he wasn’t using, so he loaned it to us. It did the trick. We were able to keep one room in the house warm until the power came back on. Paula and I have learned a valuable lesson, and our next big purchase will be a kerosene heater or a generator.
I have been thinking about preparedness for the last few weeks. How many people do you think are prepared for death? I’m not talking about insurance policies, or a will. I’m talking about where you’re going to spend eternity. I am reminded of Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13, 1"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”
Are you prepared? Have you prepared yourself and your family for the coming of the Lord? Are you living your life obediently to the will of our Lord? Have you asked Jesus Christ to be the Lord and Savior of your life, and to dwell within your heart? I believe the scariest words in the Bible are found in Matthew 7:21-23, 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Are you anticipating Jesus’ return or do other things distract you? If you knew that tomorrow was your last day on Earth, how would you live it differently? Would you confess hidden sins that you thought you could get away with or that you thought you would deal with some day later? Would you decide to follow through in accepting God’s offer of forgiveness in Jesus? Would you be baptized into Christ? Would you heal a relationship with someone you are angry with or someone you hurt? Would you talk to the Lord more in prayer? Would you finally get around to sharing your faith with that person you have been thinking about for so long?
If so, then what Jesus is saying is "do that today, right now, because today may be your last day."
m being without electricity for three days. I have learned two things.
II. I was closer to God.
When the power went out we not only lost the use of our furnace, but we also lost the use of our television and internet. There was complete silence in our house for three days. I soon discovered once again that Paula is a lot of fun to be with. We spent time talking, playing cards, and just enjoying each others company.
I also had an opportunity to read a book entitled, “Church is a Team Sport” by Jim Putman. I spent time listening to Christian radio, and reading my Bible. I actually felt closer to God during those three days.
I’m reminded of a movie from several years back entitled “Castaway” with Tom Hanks. In that movie, due to an airplane accident, Hanks’ character finds himself stranded alone on a deserted island with his only companion being a volleyball he named “Wilson.” As we see him progress for hours, days, weeks, months and even years, we find him becoming a much different person. Much of this is due to the fact that his world is different than it was, no more modern conveniences; no more hustle and bustle; no more noise; no more companionship. Yet, to a great degree, he is changed for the better. He comes to realize the unimportance of such things. He comes to know himself in a much deeper way than he could have with those things. What Hanks’ character goes through is, in a sense, what every believer who longs to be a disciple of Christ needs to go through from time to time. We need to go through regular, even weekly or daily, periods of silence and solitude.
Yes, being without electricity for three days was no fun. I was cold, and I smelled of body order and kerosene. It wasn’t easy, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I was given a chance to get closer to my wife Paula and most importantly, my Lord and Savior.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
God Bless
Pastor Ken