Remote Overload

It was a family gathering at my other brother, Larry's house.  The football game was on.  Now at this time, Larry's main television has more remotes than God ever intended.  I grabbed one of the extras.  As Larry was trying to adjust the television, so was I!  He would change the channel and so would I. Finally he looked around in frustration to see little brother smiling--holding a remote.

I was reminded of this as I sit in my daughter's house.  We are having a great time holding the new grandson, Carter.  Beside me are three remotes.  It takes that many to adjust the television, sound, etc.  I am the first up each morning so I had to have the short course in remotes.  

I still tell my children that when I was growing up (the youngest), I WAS the remote.

I think our culture has remote overload.  We are controlled by too many cultural devices in our world.  We are tugged by work. We are tugged by family. We are tugged by the church.  We find ourselves wanting to disconnect from all.  Surely all this technology was not designed to make life more complicated.  It was to make it easier.  But it has gotten out of control---as our life can be at times!

It is interesting to read the life of Jesus.  Jesus would go out to the remote places to pray.  (Mark 1:35 or Luke 5:16).  Even in Jesus' time, Jesus knew the value of disconnecting with the world in order to connect with God.  It was after this time of prayer that Jesus was then ready to sort out the day that the world had to offer.  What would your life be like if you began your day with the world's remotes OFF and God's remote ON?

Try this.  Get in the car and leave the radio off.  Get up in the morning and spend some time in quiet.  Be still with God.  Or in the evening, find a place and time to just breathe.  Make time tending your soul.  

There is an old hymn that says, "It is well with my soul."  If you read the verses of the hymn, life is in a turmoil.  Life is even coming to an end.  However, the chorus reminds us--it is well with my soul.    

Pray for me as I pray for you.

In the Master's Name,

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.midweekmanna.com

www.stlukesimpson.org

Experience the Unthinkable.

It is Thursday.   Not just any Thursday.  It is Holy Thursday.

It is the day that Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. 

During the time of Jesus washing feet was the work of servants.   It was hospitality.    The roads were dusty.  As one traveled, the feet would become quite dirty.  So as one entered the house, one of the servants would offer the guests a basin and water to wash  the feet.   The host would never wash the feet of the guests.  Only a servant would do such a thing. 

One of the last messages that Jesus gave to those who follow him was about doing the unthinkable.  For Jesus knew that the Gospel he had preached and the events of the days that followed were unthinkable for his disciples.

One of the obstacles to faithful discipleship is the attitude of "I am NOT going to do ...."  Sometimes it is the attitude of arrogance contrary to Christian humility.  The task seems to be beneath us and our dignity.   You want me to be a servant or a slave Lord?  The answer Jesus gives is "Yes!".

At other times it is about our perception of others.  Let's face it--there are people we do not like.  Okay maybe we just don't enjoy their presence.  No, let's be honest.  We do not like them.  We have marginalized them in our mind.  So this unthinkable Jesus wants us to reach out to them?  The answer is "Yes!"  Not only reach out to them, but SERVE them.   

The unthinkable Jesus then does what one just can not begin to believe.  He dies.  He dies a disgusting death while forgiving others.  And his disciples could not believe it.  It is so unthinkable that they scatter in fear.  They forget the power of the Gospel in the darkness of suffering and death.    Does that sound all too familiar even today?

We are slow to rejoice in sorrow and sadness. Our mind creates thoughts that are so far from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Maybe that is why it is so important for us to worship and meditate upon the cross from now until Sunday.  It is in the cross that we are reminded that Jesus came to give us a vision and experience of God that is unthinkable.  But while being unthinkable, it can be experienced.

Think about it.  Or better yet, think about the unthinkable.  Experience the unthinkable.  Become the unthinkable in your witness.

Pray for me as I pray for you.

Dr. M. Jack O'Dell

www.midweekmanna.com

www.stlukesimpson.org