Father's Day

Father's Day
As a parent, I often wonder if I did enough, made the best choices, and provided the right kind of model for my children.  I often deal with parents who are much like turtles.  Turtles aren't parents!  They lay eggs and leave them.  Recently I met a mom with eight kids, all with different last names, all from different fathers.  Each of those fathers was very much like a turtle, caring little for the eggs once delivered!  The absence of a father in the home is obviously detrimental to the child.  My dad wasn't the best model for a father, but he loved me.  Knowing that he loved me kept me on an even keel sometimes when I needed it the most.

Then I see a picture of my son, Jeremy, just before deployment, saying good bye to my grandchildren.  Yes, my eyes are filled with tears!  I watch him with his children and see that he is a loving, gentle and caring father.  Watching him with Savanna, our precious daughter-in-law, I see that he is a loving, gentle and caring husband.  Where did he learn those things?  Some, naturally, he learned from me.  Yet I am not so arrogant that I think I was a model father.  I'm a sinner, saved by grace!  No, he learned most of this from his walk with God!  Cathy and I love the song "Because He Lives."  Our hearts are filled with confidence that the God who holds the future holds our children in His capable hands!

Jeff is also a great dad!  Once again, watching him with Brody and Troy I see that he is a loving, gentle, and caring father.  To Tawny, our other precious daughter-in-law, he's a loving, gentle, and caring husband.  Like his brother, Jeff has a close walk with God, and it is from that he is empowered to be the kind of dad he needs to be.  His six foot six inch frame stretched out on the Lazy Boy with tiny little Troy tucked under his arm is one of my favorite pictures.  With this thought, because my grandkids have great parents, I rest assured that they will be taught about the love of Jesus, and that His great love will be modeled in the home.  Like my sons, daughter, and daughters-in-law, my hope is that they will not seek a safe life, but one of obedience to God's call, a life of faith and godliness.

   
What about all those kids who will not have that advantage?  Can I do anything for them?  Yes, I can!  This Yellow-Bellied turtle is a creature that God cares about, feeds, and watches over.  Pastor Chris pointed out this morning from Psalm 146:9 that God supports the fatherless and the widow!  James reminds me that pure and undefiled practice in the sight of our God and Father is to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep myself unstained by the world.  What can I do?  Pray.  Live in such a way that men see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven.  Be salt.  Show love at every opportunity.

When these two kids walked down the isle after saying their vows 40 years ago they had no idea what the future held.  I'm sure Cathy never thought she would pose for the picture on the right with our daughter thirty years after she was born!  Yet here we are!  It had nothing to do with us!  Our God is VERY MUCH ALIVE and working in our lives daily.  His blessings are ours to enjoy, not because we deserve them, or could earn them, but because He loves us!  Have you heard about the love of Jesus?  Did you know He loves you with a love that is so deep and abiding you could never fathom its wonder?  I hope anyone reading this understands that I give all the credit for 40 years of a wonderful marriage, three great kids, and two wonderful daughters-in-law to the God of the Bible.  Was it all wine and roses?  Hardly!  Did He ever let us down?  Not once!  Did He ever not keep His promise?  Not once!  

I may be in my twilight years, but what a beautiful twilight! This is a photograph from the Brooks Range in Alaska.  If one looks close enough one can see the frigid cold snow on the mountain, and know that dangerous creatures prowl at night in this area, predators that kill!  Life is not safe for me, not ever, but it is exciting!  I have a feeling that when death comes it will be one more adventure for me, a transition from this moral coil to my immortal eternal and perfect state.  Why an adventure?  Because Jesus will be with me, each step of the way.  He is my everything!  I am a child of the perfect Father!  That's a thought for Father's Day!  Happy Father's day, Father in Heaven!  Happy Father's day Jeremy and Jeff.

Divine Control

One of my favorite stories from the Old Testament is found in II Kings 18-19.  Sennacherib brought the armies of Assyria to Jerusalem, and Hezekiah is King of Judah.  Assyria destroyed Israel seemly without difficulty, and when Sennacherib came against Judah he was confident and arrogant.  When Hezekiah received that fateful letter he didn't wring his hands in fear and trembling, or shake and wonder what he might do.  He went straight to his knees before the One who is always in control.

It was Isaiah who brought God's answer to Hezekiah.  What an answer!  Let me quote verses 27 and 28 of chapter 19, a rather direct message to Sennacherib.  "But I know your sitting down, and your going out and your coming in, and your raging against Me.  Because of your raging against Me, and because your arrogance has come up to My ears, therefore I will put My hook in your nose, and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way which you came!"  I wonder how Sennacherib received that answer!  Knowing what he was like I imagine he laughed.  After all, the God of Judah was the same as the God of Israel, and He hadn't stepped up to save Israel!  Why would He save Judah?  Why indeed!

Why did God save Jerusalem?  That question is answered in II Kings 19:34.  He defended the city and saved it for His own sake, and for His servant David's sake!  So that night an impossible enemy experienced a very frightening reality.  When God steps in there is no missing His mighty hand.  In verse 35 the angel of the Lord went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians!  In the morning they all got up ready to conquer Judah, only to discover that most of the soldiers were dead, killed by the angel of the Lord in the night!  What must it have been like?

"Wake the men!  Sound reveille!"  Ha!  Who buried those 185,000 soldiers?  Where were they buried?  The Bible doesn't tell us!  I wish the whole story was there.  Whatever the case, the armies of Assyria must have seemed like the huge crocodile in the picture above, something indestructible, impossible to kill.  For God it was as simple as dispatching one angel!

Do you ever feel like things are out of control?  I do!  But God reminds me again and again of His mighty power.  In truth, God is in control.  He's got this!  Whatever is going on right now is no surprise to Him.  He didn't miss something!  And to the arrogant who think He is silent and far away I would give this warning:  Beware!  God is not mocked!  His power is not diminished!  His control is not slipping!  So my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, be strong and courageous!  Stand firm!  My God has absolute control of His world!  He does not change.  His word is established!  As for me, I will follow Him, and I will fear Him!

Tears of Joy

Serena and Cathy just left for the airport.  In the conflicting jumble of emotions connected to that event I sat down at my desk and sorted it all out.  I'm going to miss her terribly, and I'm sorry to see her go back to Maryland.  But I am also very proud of her.  Since she's my favorite . . . daughter . . . (I only have one daughter so I can say that!) I mentioned her first.  (It's an inside family joke!  My kids will get it.)  Beneath all the banter and fun my reason for being proud of my daughter is important.  She loves the Lord Jesus and she follows Him.  I can say that about all my children, and my daughters-in-law.

That's Brighton, above, our youngest granddaughter.  Cathy and Savanna probably look like many mother and daughter-in-law pairs, but they are far from ordinary.  Jeremy and Savanna have three children, Bristol, Eldon, and Brighton.  I know my grandchildren are going to be just fine because their parents love Jesus, and follow Him.  Serena isn't married yet.  I told her she can start dating when she's thirty, and now that she's thirty, I guess she'll get started with that!  Whatever God has in store for my daughter, I know she had a godly mom.  Like Cathy, Serena is a godly woman, and so are my daughters-in-law.

  

That's Tawny, Jeff's lovely wife.  She's about to give birth to their second son, Troy.  Like Serena, Tawny grew up in a home that practiced Christian values, that honored and loved the Lord Jesus.  Her mom and dad are two of the godliest people I know.  And she loves the Lord Jesus and follows Him.  The interesting thing about Tawny and Savanna is that they are two very different women, both very different moms, and yet both amazing.  I watch them with the kids and I wonder how I could be so blessed to have two wonderful women married to my sons.  The thing is, both women are amazing because they walk so closely with the Lord.  I see that in both of them and it makes me glad.

Jeremy and Jeff are amazing men of God.  They are great friends, work well together, and have similar values.  Watching them love their wives and children fills me with joy.  They even love their sister, even though they know she's my favorite . . . daughter.  As a pastor I had a lot of people weighing me in the balances, and finding me wanting.  What a surprise!  I'm a sinner saved by grace.  I have no other claim.  Only Jesus!  However, when I look at my children I realize that as short as I fall of the mark, God has blessed me beyond measure!  And I can honestly say that it's all Jesus!  I thank and praise Him for His blessing!  Cathy and I weren't perfect parents.  We made a lot of mistakes.  But we weren't the focus.  Jesus is!  I have wonderful sons and a wonderful daughter (my favorite . . . daughter) because they belong to Him.  He has made them new and He defines who they are!

Sometimes my grandkids just melt my heart.  I sat down on Cathy's hope chest and as soon as Eldon saw where I was sitting he wanted to sit next to me.  Later he brought his mug, because I had my mug.  My grandkids love me!  Despite my shortcomings, they love me!  I had to pause there, for a moment, to wipe away a few tears of joy.  Cathy and I have a favorite song when it comes to our kids and grandkids.  Because He Lives!  Bringing innocent children into this sin-stained and tainted world is a scary thing.  But we know who holds the future!  It's Jesus!  The lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children!  (That's in Psalm 103 if you want to look it up.)

Tears of joy!  I love them, even if they give me a sinus headache!  Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!  Because He lives, all fear is gone!  Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because He lives!  Amen!  So my favorite sons, daughter, and daughters-in-law, my beloved wife and favorite grandkids, remember that!  This world can be pretty scary sometimes, and life can become a heavy burden.  Just turn to Jesus.  He makes it all better!  I love you all very much!  

That First Christmas

What was it like that first Christmas?  I know there were people poised and ready for the Messiah to come.  Somewhere in Persia, men who studied Daniel's prophecies knew when He was born, setting off, following the star, arriving perhaps twelve to fifteen months later.  And in Jerusalem there were those who knew when He would be born.  They had figured the year and knew the place.

Who was waiting in Bethlehem?  Almost everyone there was there for the tax census, but among them there must have been many who were anxiously waiting for the Savior.  We're not told how Joseph and Mary ended up in a house.  Did someone give them a house to live in?  Someone who had been waiting for this precious moment?

Simeon knew.  How his heart must have swelled when he first held Jesus!  He'd been studying Isaiah, because he quotes Isaiah 42:6 in his blessing.  And how bold was he to quote that particular verse in the Temple?  One thing the Jews didn't want was a Savior who would bring light to the gentiles . . . to the Romans!  We know there were those who hated that knowledge because they ended up hating the Messiah!

This is one of my favorite depictions of the Angel bringing the Gospel to the shepherds.  Imagine!  Lowly shepherds being visited by the Lord to announce the coming of the Messiah!  Did they know then that in Christ position, wealth, health, or past mattered nothing?  Could they sense that all men were created equal and before Him were equal?  I hope so.  I like to think so.  And on that night, that most blessed of all nights, when the message came they went to see Him.  Did they stand there in front of the stable in disbelief?  Wow!  The Savior, and He's here, in this stable!  This is no way for a King to come!

The imagery of Philippians 2:5-11 comes to mind.  Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself.  He came as a Servant.  The King of Kings and Lord of Lords who created all things came with nothing, becoming a real man.  Like Pastor Chris said:  "Jesus had a belly button!"  It's often hard for me to think of Him as a human being.  That part of the eternal Christ actually had a beginning!  It happened one evening long ago, when the Holy Spirit put a human baby in Mary's womb, and Jesus joined Himself to that human body!  And now He has the first resurrected body!

I love Christmas, because it reminds me of the greatest gift given.  Jesus.  Do you know that Jesus loves you?  He doesn't care what you've done, who you've been, if you're tall or short, fat or skinny, pretty or homely, rich or poor, or anything else.  None of that is important.  What is important is what He can do for you.  If you believe in Him, and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, He will give you life, not the living death we experience apart from Him!

Isaiah described Him in chapter 42 with some interesting words.  Look at verse 3.  A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning which He will not extinguish.  Life apart from Him can feel that way.  I am a reed, easily broken, bruised, weak.  Before I met Jesus my light burned so dimly!  But then I met Him.  I asked Him to be my Lord and Savior.  I asked forgiveness for my sins and received it.  I asked for a new life in Christ and He gave me a life of abundance and light!

Don't get me wrong!  I'm not rich, in the eyes of the world.  Nor am I important, according to the world's standards.  I have no power or position of which to boast.  But then, I don't live here any more.  Oh, yes!  I dwell here, but only to sojourn for a time.  My home is heaven, where Christ is.  Every spiritual blessing is mine!  I have peace.

Nothing can take away my light, or my life.  My body can die, but the spirit within, me, the person that uses this body for self expression, does not die.  Nor does this person live in darkness anymore.  Is Christmas special?  You bet!  Every year it gets more wonderful for me.  If only we could recapture the wonder of Christmas!

Alas!  My culture does everything to destroy what it means.  In my world Christmas is something the devil wants to remove!  Sometimes it seems that he is winning that battle, but then I celebrate the season with those who can recapture the wonder!  And I capture the wonder once again.  How blessed this Christmas is!

Thank You, Jesus, for coming!  Thank You for Christmas.  May I never forget the wonder that is the celebration of Your birthday!  I love You.

  

Christmas Wish

Christmas lights, decorations, trees, wreaths, Santa Claus, manger scenes (who are those white people?), wrapping paper, boxes, toys, pine cones, ribbons, the sound of children's voices raised in excitement, bells ringing, Salvation Army ringers collecting for that worthy institution and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Christmas movies, and Christmas music, all delightful and wonderful reminders of this amazing season.  Jesus is the reason for the season!  The greatest gift ever given in all of history is celebrated in this season!  It motivates us to give.  Just like Old Saint Nick was motivated to give and started the wonderful tradition of Santa Clause!

  

Someone asked me:  "If you could have one wish for Christmas, what would it be?"  I was quite surprised to realize that I didn't have to think about it!  I knew exactly what my one wish would be!  Perhaps you'd like to know what it was?  Yes, yes!  Get with it Bill  and tell us!  I wish that every person in the world could look into the loving eyes of Jesus, see and understand the depth of His wonderful love for us, and respond to that love with faith and obedience, loving each other as He loves us!

Grandchildren teach us a lot about wonder and discovery.  I love children and their exuberance.  They tend to love us in a sweet and innocent way.  Would that you and I could learn to express our love and excitement about each other in the same manner.  But we tend to be too stuffy and reserved, afraid to express our true emotions.  I think about the expressions of heaven when Jesus came!  So come on!  Let's get excited about Christmas!  Let's get excited about love, and giving, and generosity, and family, and friendship, and raise our voices in song and praise together to the reason for the season!  I love You Jesus!  I'm going to tell everyone:  "Merry Christmas!  Jesus loves you!"  

Thirty-Ninth Anniversary!

Yesterday Cathy and I celebrated our 39th Anniversary.  It was also Father's day and my sons, daughter, daughters-in-law made it a very special day.  Time has a way of surprising us, passing so quickly we don't realize how much of it has slipped away.  But yesterday we paused for a moment to celebrate that passage of time together.  I remember this young woman, remember all the promise I saw in her when we first met, and am so proud of how she has fulfilled that promise.  So, with my heart full, I sat down and wrote a short poem.

Full

By Bill Bennett

Celebrations commemorating a steadfast heart,

Thirty-nine years full of life’s challenging ways,

Still holding hands like we did at the start,

Meeting each challenge together facing each day.

Love does not wane nor does it grow cold,

For the Author of love fills our hearts overflowing,

Until bursting with song His praise is told,

Sharing our faith in terms fully glowing.

Or, with tears, and trembling expression,

Our fears and heartbreaks are openly shared,

Taking strength from His love and shared profession,

We face life with faith for He never errs.

A kiss, a soft glance, gentle touch and embrace,

Words softly spoken with truth and deep feeling,

Like apples of gold in silvery lace,

Take simple love and give it soaring wings.

And so today my heart is full,

My Lord, my wife, my children and all,

Remind me to listen to His heart’s pule,
So I am ready to answer love’s call.

My, how the years have changed us!  I remember when I could run and play with the kids, ride my bike, hike and swim and split wood all day.  Some days I still think I can do those things!  Well, I can still ride my bike, but not with the strength and vigor of my youth.  And Mrs. Bennett!  Every day she grows more beautiful and precious to me.  Truly, I am a blessed man.

The secret to our full and blessed lives is the Lord Jesus.  He is my only claim.  By His grace and mercy I am a sinner, saved, forgiven, and changed forever!  We may not have it all together, but when we're together we have it all!  I'm sure Cathy feels the same when it comes to our faith in Christ.  To Him be the glory!

Beauty in the Midst of Busy

Simply studying this photograph calms me.  This beautiful Pennsylvania stream is in a peaceful, quiet place, away from the roar of automobiles, trucks, and busses, the constant cacophony of noise from the city, a place of solitude and rest.  One can sit upon one of the rocks, or a fallen tree, and simply soak in the beauty of the spot, finding solace and peace in the pause.  I love this stream.

In the hustle and bustle of my life over the past weeks I am reminded that I need to visit places like this, but getting to them often involves hard work!  Hiking in to this spot near Mt. Gretna isn't easy.  There are no direct paths to the stream, just animal trails.  Thorns, nettles, and other irritants mar the journey, grabbing at my pants and sleeves like the annoyances of each day seek to make me hesitate, change direction, become frustrated. Life is like that.  And then, in the midst of all that frustration, hard work, sweat and effort, a moment of beauty comes upon us.  This morning was one of those for me.

I woke up happy, my heart filled to overflowing with joy from the Lord.  I sang sweet songs of praise, poetry set to music, the poetry of the soul in ecstasy, basking in the love of the Lord!  Sure, I'm still busy, my day is full, but that momentary reflection of beauty and quiet filled me with passion again!  Instead of facing a busy day with frustration and fatigue I am facing it with a sense of purpose and echoes of that joyful moment.

What caused this?  I was in Revelation this morning, the scene of the throne of glory in chapter 4.  In my mind I imagined the Seraphim leading a great hymn of praise, and then, throughout heaven, the echo of a whisper from every lip saying:  "Holy!"  Just writing about it brings chills again.  He is worthy to be praised!  Praise Him today!