“Thanksgiving Thoughts”

“Thanksgiving Thoughts”

(I thought of those who cannot and I…)*

When running I thought, “I can run no further” then I thought of those who cannot run and so I ran for them.

When caring for another in need I thought, “I can give no more care” then I thought of those who cannot care for another and so I cared for them.

When walking I thought, “I can walk no further” then I thought of those who cannot walk and so I walked for them.

When listening to someone in need I thought, “I can listen no more” then I thought of those who cannot hear and so I listen for them.

When laboring to reason I thought, “I can reason no more” then I thought of those who cannot reason and so I reasoned for them.

When helping another I thought, “I have no more left with which to help” then I thought of those who cannot help and so I helped for them.

When seeing those in need I thought, “I cannot bear to see more” then I thought of those who cannot see and so I saw the needy for them.

When carrying a child I thought, “I can carry this child no more” then I thought of those who cannot carry a child and so I carried the child for them.

When laboring I thought, “I can labor no more” then I thought of those who cannot labor and so I labored for them.

When out in the cold, I thought, “I can bear it no more” then I thought of those who cannot feel the cold and so I felt the cold for them.

When loving the unlovely I thought, “I can love no more” then I thought of those who cannot love and so I loved the unlovely for them.

When visiting the infirmed I thought, “I can visit no more” then I thought of those who cannot visit and so I visited for them.

When writing I thought, “I have no more to write” then I thought of those who cannot write and so I wrote for them.

When giving I thought, “I have no more to give” then I thought of those who cannot give and so I gave for them.

When protecting the innocent I thought, "I can protect the innocent no more" then I thought of those who cannot protect the innocent any longer and so I protected the innocent for them. 

When grieving with those who grieve I thought,"I have no more grief to give" then I thought of those who cannot grieve and so I grieved for them.

When being patient I thought, “I have no more patience to give” then I thought of those who cannot be patient and so I was patient for them.

When being thankful I thought, “I have nothing more for which to be thankful” then I thought of those who cannot run or care or walk or listen or help or see or carry a child or labor or feel or love or visit or write or give or protect or grieve or be patient and it was then that I realized how very blessed I am.  Indeed I have so very much for which to be thankful.

Thankful because life does not consist of what one does not have but for the many blessing with which one has been blessed.  Oh, and there is one more!

When doing good works to find salvation I thought, “I can do this no more” then I heard Jesus say, “I know and I took care of it so just come, freely come to Me you who labor and are heavily burdened--come just like you are...” and so I came.  But there was more for it was then that I understood that when I did these things "...to the least of these my brethren..." I did it to the Lord (Matthew 25:40).


*Note:  Sometime ago I heard the first thought in passing and it set me to thinking and what follows came of that original thought. I researched and could find nothing published so to the best of my knowledge it is not taken from someone's original work.  

"Okay, You Convinced Me, I No Longer Believe!"

Yes, that is true, I no longer believe.  What, how could this be?

You Cannot Show Me!   

You cannot show me and therefore you cannot prove to me and therefore I no longer believe.

No longer do I believe in some physical things.  For example, no longer do I believe in wind, show me wind!  Show me microwaves.  Show me radio waves.  What does electro-magnetic energy look like.  Show me a light wave-particle.  I have never seen one of these things therefore none of these things exist.

Oh then there is theoretical mathematical physics theory.  Draw me a picture of theory. Or maybe you could tell me what theory feels like.  Is it course or smooth--certainly you must have touched it.

No longer do I believe in good, show me good!  Show me love, when I touch love what does it feel like!  Prove to me rationally that love exists, quantify it for me.  Give me a formal proof that love exists.  Show me what kindness looks like.  What color is patience or what does it taste like?  So if I cannot rationally understand it, measure it, or sense it I no longer am going to accept its existence.

If you can give me a picture of any of these things I will gladly put it up where now exists a black (absence of color) square!   These things are simply absent.  But there are many more!

No longer do I believe in trust.  For the same reasons, trust simply does not exist.  What I mean is no one can show me trust, paint a picture of trust, rationally prove trust.  Therefore, trust does not exist.  Want more of what I no longer believe?  I am convinced that even believe does not exist.  Show it to me, what does it sound like, look like, feel like when touched.

One can readily see that much of what people argue gives quality to life is not longer existent in my life. Oh, there you are two more.  Draw me a picture of life.  Is it big or small?  What color is life?  Show me the other one, quality.  What does quality taste like?  Have you touched quality?  Paint a picture of quality.  "Can't do it," you say.  Okay then give me measurable formal proof or a formal rational argument that proves quality!  See you cannot do it so therefore quality goes on my list of things that no longer exist. 

Well now you may argue that Alvie has completely lost it, gone over the edge of mental-emotional health.  Okay then explain to me "it."  Draw me a picture of "it" whatever that is.  Prove to me the existence of mental--have you seen it, tasted it, etc.  If you cannot show it along with emotion to me then obviously I've not gone over any edge for if the descriptors do not exist then the edge does not exist.  There is no edge to go over!!!

Of the millions and millions of images and videos on the www, there are none of these things and therefore they simply cannot be proven or experienced and so in my new belief system they simply do not exist.

What a hopeless mess in which to live you say.  Well, then, what is hopeless?  Show it to me.  Drop on by the house with a piece of hopeless for me to see.  Do you have a formal proof?  Give me a rational argument for hopeless or any of these other things.  Oh, before I forget, the one who says that they do not agree and yet cannot prove these things tempts being arrogant for they postulate that their "I believe" will count for more than my "I no longer believe."

Besides, they do not know what it is like to "no longer believe" while I know what it was like "to believe" in these things so again, they are bested in the argument. So therefore, since none of these things exist and you argue that you "believe," whatever that is, you are then setting yourself up as an the authority for their existence and that means that you value your authority more than my authority for saying that they do not exist and such makes the one who counters my claim nothing more or less than arrogant.


Argument by Outcomes:

Simply stated we can know that these and other thing exist not because of formal measurable proof, not by rational explanation, not by some sense experience or another but by outcomes.

For example the microwave heats water, I can experience the outcomes of wave-particle light frequencies, mathematical concepts such as number make logical sense even though one has only seen the script representative of a particular number, and the way of a man with a maid gives ample proof of love.  The list goes on and on of how we cannot sense or in some cases define a reality such as those listed above.

If you then can accept the reality because of the outcome, it is not too much of a next step to look at faith in these terms.  The following does not apply to people who call themselves Jewish or Christian but to those who follow the teachings of the Jewish Torah and the Christian Scriptures.  It will be mostly termed by that which I am most familiar, Christian.


The Veracity of Being a Christ Follower:
 
Scrutinize those who are Christ followers, no matter their particular label (Liturgical or not) and you will find that amidst all of the differences in tradition and practice, there has been a history of service, even at the risk of life.

It was in the "glory" of Rome and little girls were often left out in the elements to die of exposure.  Christians would go to the garbage dumps of Rome and take in these little babies and raise them as a part of their own families.

It was during the Black Plague, that Christians took in and took care of the sick and dying often in the course of those activities losing their own lives.


In Nazi Germany it was a Christian Pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer who openly withstood Nazism and paid with his life.  It was not uncommon in the concentration camps for Christians to take the place of another in the death chambers.  How many of other faiths took such courageous actions.

Looking at today's plethora of religions, you find that by enlarge there is only one which has as a central plank selfless service.  It is only one that calls upon the individual to live up to their full God given potential and it is not the Muslim, nor the Buddhist, nor the Hindu.  It is those of Judeo-Christian Faith.

It is not hard to find and read the biographies of Christian missionaries who packed what they would need at their place of service in their coffin and embarking upon the ship, knowing that their feet would never again stand upon the soils of their homeland. The only vision that was greater than their final glimpses of their homes and families was that of their place of service.

Many military bases have a memorial if not a chapel dedicated to the memory of four chaplains who gave away their life preservers to soldiers and sailors and went to their death, arms linked, and praying in their own tradition.  One Jew and three Christians.  They are not alone in those who have given their all in serving those to whom they are called.

While the Muslim even today seeks to over throw more peaceful cultures with violence, it is the Christian who goes in harms way to provide care for the downtrodden, the out cast, and the one who is in bondage.  Keep in mind Mother Teresa was not a Buddhist nor a Hindu, nor a Muslim, but a Christian woman who made the choice to spend her life in service to the lower castes of India.  She is the one who is known for her service but there were and are multiplied millions who throughout the years of church history and even today go and do the same.

Untold thousands upon thousands of pastors work to pay their own way and not be a burden on those they serve.

Many Christ followers today travel the world to serve, even in cultures hostile to their message.  Quietly serving those who are in physical, mental, emotional, and relational need.

A college classmate of mine went behind the Iron Curtain and served those in need at personal peril.  Another serves today in a place that if discovered would at the very least be deported or even killed.  Why do they go?  Simply they go because the heart changed by Jesus Christ is touched by the needs of the downtrodden, the uneducated, the sick, those in jail and other kinds of bondages and they go and go and go and go.

How and why is it that the opponents of Christian faith conveniently look past the indications of the veracity of the Christian way and look at the excesses to bolster their case?  How is it that they focus upon Northern Ireland, the sale of Indulgences, the Inquisition, the Crusades, and deviant doctrine that leads to erroneous and destructive actions and fail to see that there is a vast wealth of good done by those of Judeo-Christian faith in general and Christ followers in particular?  In fact, put on a balance the good would far outweigh the bad.

How is it that they can champion their atheistic beliefs, view people of faith as out of touch with reality and conveniently look past those atheists like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pal Pot, and the like?  

It is Christians who even though defamed, physically attacked, and tortured when given the opportunity to respond, returned kindness to their captors.  Often those very captors and abusers have been so touched by the response of the Christians they in turn became Christians and were killed.  

It was Christians who started most higher level academic institutions (Oxford, Yale, Harvard, Cambridge etc.); Christians gave to the world hospice that gave rise to hospice, hotels, and hospitals (Council of Nicaea 325 AD); Christians gave us foundational science; the reason the Red Cross has a red cross symbol is that it was begun by Christians;  there is the YMCA--Young Men's Christian Association; and the list goes on.


Social movements?  Christians are responsible for the abolition of slavery; intervening in the selling of young girls into the sex trade, and here again the list goes on and on.  Even today while politicians and governments talk, it is Christians who are there even though in personal peril seeking to buy back young girls and even interrupting other forms of human trafficking.

As well, it does one well to remember that Christians were the ones who came to the new world to further the gospel and settled this land.  It was Christians who laid the legal foundations for our country and it was the black robed regiment that the Brits feared more than the Revolutionary Army.  See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlfEdJNn15E for a brief history of Christianity in America.

It seems to me that the prudent would take a look, a very serious look at the Christ followers who have so much good and yet remain under greater attack than any other philosophy, belief system, or whatever.

Even today there are multiplied millions across the earth who are becoming followers of Jesus despite living in repressive cultures.  Why would people who know that to become a Christ follower is to tempt the possibility of being martyred still by the millions turn to follow Him?  And yes in answer to your questioning thought, they die by the scores for their decision.

Conclusion: 

It follows then that if you can argue by outcome for the veracity of wind, love, kindness, belief, etc., then by that same sort of argument you should be able to argue by their activities for the veracity of the Christ follower and then by implication the veracity of the existence of a Christ.

"Chicago Teachers - Calling or Profession"

 "Is Teaching a Calling or a Profession?"

The Chicago Teacher Strike brought to mind some of the teachers of my youth.  Yes, there were the duds--those who should have found something else to do in life.  However, there were those who were every bit the professional as today's teacher but to them it was a sacred calling.  To them it was serving the children and in some cases their parents. To them it went beyond contracts to calling. 

You see, there are some "professions" which call upon those who serve in those areas to keep a firm grip on a sense of "call."  Included would be the obvious like pastor, priest, and rabbi.  However, there are others such as police officer, fire fighter, and yes, teacher. 

Thinking back to my teachers, it was understood that the pay would not be the best but that there were other pay offs as for instance seeing your former student graduate high school and go on to work in the trades or off to college.  There was certain gratification that a paycheck or a retirement plan could not offer.  It was the gratification of what one might instill character and knowledge in the life of a child.

However, now things are different.  It seems that the more that any profession has become enamored with the classification, "professional" the more that profession has lost touch with the notion of "calling."  That is not to say that all teachers have done so but for most who wave their union signs and demand this or that benefit, it seems to be little more than a job.  It seems that such people find serving below their dignity and thus will not stoop down to that level.

As the camera's sweep the strikers, I try to imagine Mrs. McClary, Mrs. Mayer, Mr. Peterson, or Miss Grimes in and among the crowd.  For the life of me, I cannot imagine these and others going on the news denigrating the school board or the school administration. 

Was it that they were well paid, had benefits, and a short school week with planning days built in?  No of course not, nor did they expect that teaching would be easy.  They knew that the challenges would be many, the problems huge, and the pay low.  But for them it was an opportunity to train children in skills that would be needed throughout life. 

From Mrs. Mayer teaching basic addition up through Miss Grimes teaching Algebra and Geometry, there was no thought of professional standing and strikes.  It was all about teaching. It was all about training young people to be responsible adults with enough skill to not be a burden on society.

Mr. Joe Peterson?  He was a combat injured Marine who understood what Jr. High young men needed.  A firm but fair hand that was realistic and who dealt with the harsh realities of life.  We knew he was tough.  We knew that he could not hit us but we did not believe it.  He was a man's man that by his life demanded the respect of some very troubled young men.

So, Chicago Teachers, if you care for the kids the way you say you do then I have one very simple question.  Why are you on strike?  Why do you listen to the union thugs?  Why don't you get back to teaching and prove to the citizens of Chicago and the country that you are there because it is a calling, not just a job? After all, you are among the highest paid teachers in the nation.  Well, maybe you are just out to give new meaning to the word, greed!


As you strike you know that you even now are teaching your kids.  You are teaching them that it is okay to demand your way.  You are teaching them that if they do not get what they want, behaving like a barbaric thugs is okay.  Then when they behave in the classroom as you are now you wonder how is it that they can do this?  The answer is simple.  You taught them by how you walked off the job, created havoc for families, and thought only of yourselves.

Whoever you are, what a fine example of a teacher, a role model you present.

If you are the professional teacher that you say you are, then go back to your kids and teach them by your life that even when life is unfair, a person of character presses on with the task at hand.  That lesson will do more for them than all the picketing, the catcalling, the demanding, and all else that is a part of this strike.

Oh, Mrs. McClary?  The last time I saw her (she died at a young age of breast cancer) it was after the school day, she was in her car, burning her own gas, delivering cupcakes and party favors to a student who had been home sick and thus had missed a party in her classroom.  Now that is a teacher who was every bit a professional but who taught and related to her kids with a sense of calling and never got around to worrying about the notion of being a professional.

Where it in my power, I would fire the lot of you and bring in men and women who understand call, character, and commitment.  Men and women who deliver cupcakes and party favors on their own time, using their own resources.

9-11 Remembered

In honor of those who gave their all on that day eleven years ago I thought it well to share some thoughts and some pictures.



Most of us remember where we were that day and many remember seeing the second plane fly into the second tower.


There were those with their cowardly actions thought that they could break us, make us fear, cause us to cower in our homes.

Some who believed in their cause stood with them and their dastardly act and then went out celebrating, hating, dancing, and rejoicing at our tragic loss. There are no words to describe these insensitive and evil people!!!



 




Some like Chaplain, Fr. Michael Judge gave their all!  Thank you Fr. for caring enough to run to the danger with your firefighters and not away!

Most of the civilized world prayed with us and for us.  From Russia to Australia, from Japan to South Africa, all around the world many hundreds of thousand expressed their concern and care.

Honors for the lost took place at thousands of memorial services and with the placing of wreaths, candles, flowers, but most of all their hearts.



The world's voices of compassion and care drowned out the voices of rejoicing and celebration at our loss.  Not at all sorry to say the barbarians once again lose!

Some people took action...

Our people took over an airplane and crashed it in order to save people.

Your people took over airplanes and crashed them to kill people.

 


Then there were those who served, who ran into the burning buildings to save those who who could not help themselves.
 

Yes, there were pictures that will live in our minds.

There are pictures that will come to us one day and they too will live within us.

You may have caught us off guard because we as a nation believe the best of people.  You may have taken advantage of our hospitality as your evil people enjoyed the comfort and safety of our country.  You may think that you would break us but you did not.  We are Americans and we do not cower.  We still went to church, ball games, fairs, memorials, and other gatherings.

You see the pictures of us.  Do we hide our identity?

It is you who do not have the courage of conviction to let people see who you are.  

It is you who send innocent children to kill themselves while we protect our children .

On that 9-11, we may have been broken for the moment but do not take the shock of that moment for weakness.  Our national resolve was strengthened.Our determination was renewed. Our resilience demonstrated. 

"A New Year Bring New Chances"

"Lets take a chance and..."

Ever said that or been with someone or a group who decided to take a chance.  What is chance?  Certainly it is not the guarantee that success is around the corner of decision!  It is taking the opportunity for success.  It is measuring the possibilities and deciding such risk as is involved is worth it and then moving in some direction or another.

What keeps us from taking a chance?  For some I suppose it is fear.  For some it is comfort.  For some it is irresponsibility.  Irresponsibility?  That is right.  A story...

Imagine that there was a garden of the most delightful fruits and vegetables that one might imagine.  Though untended there were no weeds and the soil was so rich that plants effortlessly grew, and the fruit and vegetables were abundant.  There was a natural spring of the purest water which kept the soil moist.  There was so much produce that it would feed the dozens and dozens of families that had need.  In addition there would be so much left over, it could be sold and the monies earned could then be used to meet other needs.  

Then imagine that next door to this garden lived a miser.  He would go and harvest for his own needs but gave no thought to others.  You see the thing needed to share the produce was someone to arrange for those with needs to come and harvest the produce.  It needed someone to arrange for those who could harvest to provide the bounty to those in need, who could not do so themselves.

Yet the miser was only concerned with himself and so he built a fence around the garden and hoarded what was there.   

Now imagine that another man lives on the other side of the garden and he does all of the things just mentioned.  He take some for himself.  However, here he differs from the miser.  This man is possessed of a soft heart.   He arranges for the needy to come and harvest for themselves and others who cannot do so.  He arranges for the extra to be sold in order to meet other kinds of needs.  He begins a business and supports not only his own family but causes important to the community.

The question..."Which man would you like to be?"  Before you answer consider that years later both men are on their death bed.  One will die fulfilled and feel like life was well lived surrounded by family and friends from the community.  The other will die empty, unfulfilled, bitter, and alone.

Now change the story so that instead of a garden you have giftings, skills, ideas, and abilities.  What do you suppose would happen if in just one small area of your life you decided to share these things with others.  To give of yourself?

Maybe you are gifted in finances.

What if you took a chance on an IPO (Initial public offering of stock in a company that is going to be public)?  What if you invested in an income property?  What if you helped someone who is in a problem situation which they did not create?

Maybe you are gifted in business.

What if you took a chance, decided where need exists that opportunity exists, and began a small business?  What if you helped someone else begin a small business?

Maybe you like to learn and then teach others.

What if you took a chance and went back to school?  What if you found a struggling student and helped them achieve academic success?

Maybe you have time and material good so that you could give time to others.

What if you found a new place of service?  What if you became a volunteer at your place of worship?  Maybe you could serve at the USO, a veteran's home, the Boy Scouts, or some other place of service?  

Maybe you are well off and have more than you could ever possibly need.

What if you decided to give away more of your material goods this year?  Maybe start a charitable trust?  Maybe you could began a foundation to reach out to some need or another?  

Maybe you are....

What if you...?

About now could you be asking why?  Let me share anecdotally.

In the course of my life I've known two people who were wealthy beyond what anyone even close friends knew.  They both had inherited almost all of their material goods.  Though they did not know each other and were separated by time and miles, they both shared a common attitude and two common experiences.

The attitude was insecurity as to their financial future.  Neither could spend all of the interest their money earned  but neither would for fear that they would be left destitute.  They had placed their trust in finances instead of the Faith they both claimed.  I remember presenting a need to one of them, a need that would not have made a small dent in his wealth only to be met with a verbal if not violent response.

The common experiences?  Both of them had people unrelated by marriage or blood who sought to separate them from their wealth.  In one case it seems to me that the person died in need for the unscrupulous did succeed.  If such was not so, at their demise it was.  In the other case we (my wife and I) were able to intervene and with the help of a high powered attorney saved the considerable wealth from an unscrupulous individual who had already made some inroads.

The other common experience they both shared was that they died.  Neither took one dime of his or her wealth with them.

What is the point?  May you find this to be the year in which you take a chance in one or more of the areas listed above.