Category: General

I am becoming a runner. Well, at least I think I am. I have a 2-mile circuit, and am running more of it than walking. I enjoy being outdoors in the early morning hours, and I feel great for the rest of the day.

This morning in particular was a pretty good run. It was cool out, with a little bit of breeze. I had my iPhone tracking my progress, and Clayton King was playing in my headphones. He preached last week at CampusChurch at Liberty University (They call their services “Aperture” now. Look up their podcast on iTunes. Always worth a listen).

He quoted a verse that I had heard many times before, but it hit me differently this morning. He quoted Luke 12:28: “…Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”

That started my mind racing, to the point I had to stop on the side of the road and type this into my phone:

WE HAVE ALL BEEN GIVEN MUCH!

I think that most of us hear that verse and we think of three types of people:

1. The pastors. After all, they are entrusted with the care and edification of a group of people and will be accountable to God one day regarding how they managed their ministry.

2. The wealthy. They are thought to have resources and liberties that most of us will never achieve.

3. The talented. The ability to do astounding things is obviously a call to be astoundingly sacrificial.

So, we tend to write this verse off as applying to those people, and believe that we are OK with the level of our sacrificial-ness. After all, we haven’t been entrusted with much.

That is a farce and a shameful way to look at the blessings God gives each of us.

One person may not have talent, but they have the time to keep a sick family member company. Another may not have a fat bank account, but may be able to say a word of encouragement that completely brightens a person’s day. Still another may not be called to be a pastor, but may be able to go next door and fix an elderly person’s leaky sink. Maybe you are good with children and are able to stay in the nursery at church. Or maybe you are friendly and cheerful and can greet visitors on Sunday morning. Perhaps you aren’t rich, but are willing to give what you can, which, if you live in America, is STILL more than the vast majority of the world.

We have all been blessed. Let’s find new ways to use what God has given each of us.

Nothing particularly remarkable about the start of that day. I got to work at my usual time. Beginning a normal Tuesday doing marketing for a small software firm in Lexington.

Later that morning, the company’s webmaster, who occupied the desk next to mine, mentioned that a plane had crashed in New York City. My very first thought was, “Wow. Some air traffic controller really messed up.” Then events began to unfold, and we got a glimpse of the magnitude of what had happened.

The next couple of hours were a scramble for information. We frantically kept refreshing MSNBC’s website for info. I even went and bought a radio at lunchtime. We as an office eventually learned the wider scope and the evil intentions behind the destruction and needless slaughter of thousands.

Why am I writing this? I’m not sure. Maybe it is so I can show my kids when they get older and tell them about what happened. Maybe I’m just reliving one of those few worldwide events that billions share. Or maybe this is an exercise in remembering. If I can write about it, I can keep it fresh in my mind. Because I don’t want to forget. Because, if I forget, I might lose the connection between why we fight now and why we fought then.

Years have passed. I pray for the families of those slain. I pray for this country. I pray for it’s leaders, it’s military, it’s sovereignty. And I’m thankful that God remains on His throne.

I walked up to greet some friends at church this past Sunday. One of them, a doctor, asked, “Are you limping?” I explained to him that, when I was 12, I broke my leg badly in a moped collision with a pickup truck, and that my left leg is about an inch shorter than my right. They all agreed that they never noticed before.

I have learned to walk straight, more or less. But sometimes, when I’m tired or not paying attention (like when I was running around, trying to get things ready before church), I limp.

Sin works like that. When we don’t pay attention or feel weak, it creeps into our lives and we don’t even notice. We might have a handle on it when we are feeling strong in the Lord. But it’s during our down times when we need to be careful.

More reason than ever to heed Peter’s words: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (I Peter 5:8).” Also a good reason to recharge our spiritual batteries in Bible study and prayer daily.

‘Cause you never know when you’ll need it.