Heartlight Articles - A Taste of Home

Even in Mayberry

shigg@glasgow-ky.com (Steve Higginbotham) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Yesterday morning I was reading headline news from across the nation and one headline in particular grabbed my attention. It read:

Man Charged With Killing 4 In Mayberry Model Town.

On Sunday, November 1, 2009, four men were murdered in the small town of Mt. Airy, North Carolina. For those of you who are not fans of the "Andy Griffith Show," you may not know that Mt. Airy is the hometown of Andy Griffith and served as the model and the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry on "The Andy Griffith Show."

Police have not released the reasons for the murder, but they did say that they did not believe the killings to be random. Mt. Airy is a small town and has a population of around 8,700. This violent act has turned this little community on its head.

Isn't it ironic that even in "Mayberry" we see the influence and power of the world. A town that is supposed to be the model of "small town America" is not immune from the influences of the world. Have you ever just contemplated how fallen the world is? Have you ever sat and watched the evening news and felt terrible after doing so? Have you ever wondered how people can do the "unthinkable" things they do? The evening news feeds us a steady diet of immoral and unconscionable acts perpetrated on fellow human beings. After a while, such "bad news" can have a negative impact on our emotional and spiritual well-being.

But here's my advice: Don't allow the events of this fallen world to bring you down. Rather, let this fallen world cause you to lift your eyes in expectation and hope for a better world that is yet to come! Remember that God never promised us that we would have Heaven on Earth, "but according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13 NASB).

Through the years, many have wistfully wanted "Mayberry" to be their hometown. For the child of God, they have claim to a hometown that far surpasses that of "Mayberry"!

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21).

Steve Higginbotham is a native of West Virginia. His father also preached. Steve serves the South Green Street congregation in Glasgow, Kentucky. Steve & Kim have four children, Kelli, Michael, Matthew, and Anne Marie.

Website: MERCeMAIL

Reluctant Leadership?

mbarres@dnet.net (Mike Barres) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Luke 10:1-2 NKJV).

The need is great in the time in which we find ourselves. The message of hope in Jesus Christ is our only answer. And as the scripture quoted above describes, we need far more laborers to go out and do the Father's work. And we need leaders to help make that happen. But, leaders are in short supply!

Moses appointed leaders. King David appointed leaders. The Church at Jerusalem had leaders. The books of 1 Timothy and Titus talk about the qualifications of leaders. In fact, any time in scripture that there are groups of people, we also find a great need for leaders to coordinate, encourage and give direction to those people. Many folks, in every era including today, have been reluctant to lead.

Guess what? These reluctant leaders are in good company.

Gideon felt that he lacked what was needed to be a leader. Moses mentioned his weaknesses and his poor public speaking along with his doubt about his leadership potential. Saul tried to hide. Samuel nearly overlooked King David.

There seems to be a leadership shortage today. This is not new, either. Paul mentions this problem in describing Timothy as his son in the faith:

I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:19-21).

God is not just looking at our ability, but also at our availability. If we walk in humility before God, trusting in His power to help and sustain us, He can use us. The best kind of leader is a servant leader, one who really cares about others as the Lord does. Sometimes others see leadership potential in us and we don't see it. So if someone asks you to lead, in a task great or small, prayerfully consider it. The need is great. We don't want to self-appoint ourselves to leadership, but we should all have a willingness to do whatever the Lord wants us to do. If we follow His lead, He can use us to lead!

Mike is a pastor and writer for a number of online publications.

Unveiling of Legacy

ron@faithteam.org (Ron Rose) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600

A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren ... (Proverbs 13:22 MSG).

Preparation

Thomas Cahill writes about history, legacy really. In The Gift of the Jews, Cahill explores the impact of "the God of Abraham." This Creator-God gives us a beginning and an end; he defines justice and mercy, refines our conscience. And, as Cahill states, "Most of our best words -- new, adventure, surprise, unique, individual, person, vocation, time, history, future, freedom, progress, spirit: faith, hope, justice -- are the gifts of the Jews," Abraham's legacy to us.

Stay with me as we sneak a peek into our legacy -- our view of life and living.

For better or worse, my dad shaped my view of the world. Part of his personal story was clouded by years of alcohol addiction, but his perspective about life has become clearer and more meaningful as the years have gone by. From my dad, I learned to never throw away what could be fixed, to refrain from freeze-framing people (everyone can and will change), and to think outside the box (look for unexpected options). Over the years I have become his legacy, unwrapping the best and forgetting the worst.

Legacy is the wisdom, convictions, experiences, and values that have been handed down to us from the generations before us. It shapes our worldview, providing wisdom and direction for the next generation.

Legacy is powerful. It is a gift we are compelled to open, but after opening it, we are faced with challenges and choices. Will we accept the gift and find a place to display it and share it, toss it, or rebel against it?

What have you done with the legacy you were given?

How have your parents, your early years, your grandparents shaped your perspective on life?

Then the bonus question: How much of your faith is yours and how much of it is what you inherited from others?

Inspiration

A few days ago I was blessed by a "holy moment."

Mearl's body was at the funeral home; the memorial service was set for the next day, so most of the details related to death had been dealt with. Now it was time to talk.

We gathered in the family room to tell stories, share memories, and unwrap the legacy of Mearl Jacobs. She had lived a life filled with stories, from the dust bowl of Oklahoma to Southern California to Abilene, Texas. Most people didn't know that she worked for thirty years at Rockwell International and helped prepare the budget for the first space shuttle; or that even at 82 years of age, she loved the highest of the high-heeled shoes; or that although she really didn't care much for baseball, she loved listening to Vin Scully call the LA Dodger's games because her son, John, loved baseball.

Before long, the conversation turned from stories about Mearl, to stories of how she changed and shaped the lives in the room.

Her daughter, Carol, said, "Just a few hours before Mom died she said she wanted to go home. 'I asked her if she meant back to her apartment?' She said, 'NO!' I asked, 'Home to be with Jesus?' 'YES!'"

That did it. The legacy began to emerge. A tapestry of love and grace and service was realized that night. Mearl had lived a life that rubbed off on the young and old alike. When she rubbed off on you, you left a different person, a better person. She was gifted that way.

She knew how to demonstrate the things that really mattered. She stood up for values that she held dear and she always seemed to know how to grace people, to accept them "as is." Her grandkids talked of her perpetual, unconditional acceptance of them, no matter what.

Some things have to be seen to be understood: love, forgiveness, acceptance, and faith are a few. Mearl knew how to help you see. Her life was an investment in family and church and friends -- in people.

The fingerprints of God were all over that room. It was a legacy celebration, and I was honored to feel the holiness of it. Mearl had seen the best in these kids before they had seen it in themselves and now they understood. The gift was unwrapped; the legacy unveiled.

The next day, it was clear that Mearl was still around. We buried the body, but she lives in all those present and beyond. She is still hugging and giving and loving and smiling and if you are really in need of it, she is still giving "that look."

It's her legacy.

Motivation

You have received a legacy and you are building a legacy. They are both bigger than you. Make the most of both.

What is it that you want said about you when you're gone? What rubbings are you leaving on the people in your family and in your world?

Like those before you, you are shaping the worldview of those who come after you. So get on with it.

Regardless of what others do or have done, YOU have the choice!

Visit the i2eye page and take the challenge. Listen to the spots and see what God does with 21 days: http://www.faithteam.org/talks.htm

Ron Rose is a noted author and leader of Faith Team. His new email ministry, Faith Notes, provides practical resources for growing faith. Email Ron!

Website: Faith Team

Community and Homebound

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600

I need your help! I need your responses! And I am not alone in needing your input.

After an article on Monday about the followers of Jesus being community, I received this touching response from a precious member of our Heartlight.org family on my blog:

You mention our need for community and I agree. However, I am homebound. Any suggestions about how I can be part of a community?

Even earlier than this blog comment, a dear sweet sister in Christ sent me this in an email, even more fully explaining the issues involved in an articulate way:

I have lived all my life in community: church, family ... Now I am 87 years old, live with my daughter, am slowly becoming unable to walk, and am post-pancreatic cancer surgery ... Most of the time I am able to assemble with the church on Sundays for class and worship service, but I no longer have strength for Wednesday nights and Life Group and social activities. I am losing ground physically and am uneasy about the time when I can no longer worship with the saints. What do I do about communion and social interaction with Christians? How does one handle this situation? I am praying and seeking Holy Spirit guidance, but would appreciate your thoughts on this.

Now I had some quick answers, but I'm not sure any of them are any good. So instead of me firing off some answers, I'd love to get your input and ideas. While you can email me about it -- phil@heartlight.org -- I would prefer you post a response on the blog:

http://www.thephilfiles.com/2009/01/14/community-for-the-homebound

Posting to the blog allows everyone to share in the ideas! However, whether emailing or posting, this is a huge issue for the Kingdom of God and one we need to find good ways to address!

Thanks,
Phil

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click
here.

Website: Southern Hills Church of Christ

A Moron?

shigg@glasgow-ky.com (Steve Higginbotham) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The blog title read, "Moron turns in $140,000.00." What this title references is the news story that broke last month. Eli Estrada, a 40 year-old Palm Beach resident found a bag containing $140,000.00 in unmarked $20.00 bills.

Mr. Estrada certainly could have used the money. About six months ago, he opened a landscaping and artificial-grass business and is in debt; he says his child support payments are tough to make; and he supports his mother, who moved in with him last year after she lost her house to a fumbled refinancing plan. Yet, Mr. Estrada went straight to the police and turned in all $140,000.00.

Apparently a Brinks armored truck somehow lost the money. Brinks rewarded Mr. Estrada for his good deed by giving him $2,000.00.

So now, was Mr. Estrada a really a "moron"? Only if one views such values as honesty, integrity, and the "golden rule" as foolish. But what about the cheap reward that was offered? Some on this blog said that if they knew the reward for turning in the money would have been so small, they would have kept it. But do we have to be financially rewarded for doing the right thing? Are our values so degraded that we feel we deserve a "reward" for doing what we're supposed to do?

A moron? Hardly. Here's a man who has demonstrated that he had sufficient intelligence to know that some things are more valuable than money ... things like integrity, honesty, and doing the right thing. Thank you, Mr. Estrada, for your example. May your tribe increase!

Now then, truthfully, what would you do if you found money? Give it some thought.

But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
Redeem me, and be gracious to me (Psalm 26:11 NASB).
© Steve Higginbotham

Steve Higginbotham is a native of West Virginia. His father also preached. Steve serves the South Green Street congregation in Glasgow, Kentucky. Steve & Kim have four children, Kelli, Michael, Matthew, and Anne Marie.

Website: MERCeMAIL

Eggstravaganza

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Our church parking lot and the nearby park were full of happy children. They came for the air castles, games, train rides, egg hunts, and lots of good ol' family fun -- it is called Eggstravaganza. In a large, roped-off area, eggs are basically spread all over the ground and children, in age-appropriate groups, are given the opportunity to pick up as many as they can. Some of the eggs are specially labeled. These prize eggs entitle the finder to a neat prize.

The children come and claim these special prize egg gifts with great delight. The gifts are cool! However, they never would have found the special prize eggs if they had not searched among all the eggs. It is only when they picked up all their eggs, and then looked at them closely, that they could see they had found one of the special prize eggs.

Over the last several days, I've been doing my daily Bible reading in 2 Timothy. Now I don't know about you, but I haven't had anyone, ever, volunteer that 2 Timothy was his or her favorite book of the Bible. In some "scholarly" circles, 2 Timothy is part of what is called "The Pastoral Epistles" -- an often overlooked and sometimes belittled part of the New Testament. Even among the most devoted believers, 2 Timothy doesn't compare in popularity to Philippians or the Gospel of John.

Using a different translation than I normally use, several passages jumped off the page at me. Not only were they powerful messages for me, they were also especially appropriate for this weekend. As I read them, I remembered the excitement and joy of the children who realized they had found the special prize eggs. I hope that you will claim your gift found inside them and find great delight in God's good news!

He [Christ Jesus] destroyed death and showed us the way to have life. Yes, through the good News Jesus showed us the way to have life that cannot be destroyed (2 Timothy 1:10 b ERV).

Remember Jesus Christ. He is from the family of David. After Jesus died, he was raised from death. This is the Good news that I tell people (2 Timothy 2:8).

My life is being given as an offering for God. The time has come for me to leave this life here. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully. Now, a prize is waiting for me -- the crown that will show I am right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give it to me on that Day. Yes, he will give it to me and to everyone else who is eagerly looking forward to his coming (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

The Scriptures are full of surprises if we are willing to look. Some of these surprises are small. Some of them are perfectly timed for us. Some of them are prizes of grace, just waiting to be claimed by those who are willing to spend a little time looking!

So why not pick up the Scriptures, ask God to speak to you, and do a little looking and listening. You might be surprised at prizes that you can find!

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click
here.

Website: Southern Hills Church of Christ

I Trust in Your Unfailing Love

tomnorvell@mac.com (Tom Norvell) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Do these words from David ring true for you today?

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, 'We have defeated him!'
Don't let them rejoice at my downfall. (Psalm 13:1-4 NLT)

Are you feeling forgotten by God? Do you find yourself wondering where He is while you are in the midst of battle and struggle and hurt and disappointment? Are you wishing God would do something to help, but not sure your prayers are getting through?

That's apparently what David was feeling. Alone. Forgotten. Ignored. Weak. Almost defeated. Constantly hassled by his enemies.

Those are not uncommon feelings, even for the strong of faith. Sometimes life is like that. We experience attacks from all sides, and it seems that trouble and distress is around every corner. During those days of anxiety and sorrow, it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that it will always be this way. We settle into the mindset that life will never get any better. When these times continue for long periods there is the potential to lose hope.

Those are dangerous times. Those are times when we must consider our steps very carefully and wisely. Nothing would please our enemy more than for us to lose hope, to give up, to accept defeat, and to lose the joy found in the Lord. Like David, you may be almost there. If so, do what David did.

In verse 4, David is dreading how his enemies will gloat and rejoice over his defeat. Then, suddenly, as the psalmist often does in the Psalms, the tone changes. He looks above his fears and throws himself into the arms of the Lord.

But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me. (Psalm 13:5-6)

We must do the same. When we sink low into the despair and hopelessness of what seems certain defeat, we must look up to the Lord and say:

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.

That's the power of our faith. That's a test of our faith. That's what can happen when we draw near to God. If we bring it all to Him and leave it there, through His grace and mercy He will enable us to sing again. He will rescue us.

Here's another version of David's prayer:

Lord, my life is hard right now. Nothing is turning out like I thought it would. Instead of victory, I'm experiencing defeat on every side. It seems like the Enemy is winning all the battles. I feel like a loser and I feel like my enemies see me as a loser. I'm not sure how long I can go on like this. Sometimes, when it gets really bad, I become afraid. I feel like You have left me here all alone. But, I know that's not true, because I trust You. I know You will never leave me. And I believe that one day I will again sing and rejoice because You are good to me. I trust in Your unfailing love.

Tom Norvell is the author of "A Norvell Note." He ministers at the Hermitage Church of Christ in Hermitage, Tennessee.

Website: A Norvell Note