What Massive Stones

Mark 13:1 (NIV)
As He was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!

As a very young child growing up in a small Texas town, I don't believe we had a building more than three stories tall.

My father sold and repaired televisions and radios for his livelihood and my childhood was relatively simple.

I had an aunt who lived in Austin with her daughter and one day, their television quit working.

Although there were repairmen in Austin, she trusted my father to fix it properly.

That Friday evening, my father loaded up the van with all the equipment and parts that he might need and he, my mother and I made the forty mile drive into Austin.

Once we arrived, we discovered that my aunt and her daughter had prepared a meal for all of us to share.

After the meal, my father proceeded to work on the television and my aunt offered to take my mother and I downtown to which my mother agreed.

This was an experience for me unlike any I ever had before.

In my small town, businesses closed in the evening and most people simply went home.

In Austin, downtown was lit up. Stores were open for business and traffic still moved at a brisk pace.

Things got even more exciting when we parked the car and began walking around.

Suddenly, we found ourselves on Congress Avenue with its unobstructed view of the Capitol Building made up of huge blocks of pink granite and its impressive rotunda bathed in bright light.

I was impressed.

Even more impressive to me were the multi-story concrete and steel buildings we walked beside.

Whenever we would pause, I recall craning my head back as far as I could just to see if I could see the top of the building we happened to be beside.

I was small.

I felt even smaller.

Whenever I read this passage of scripture, I think I have an idea of the awe the disciples felt when they saw the "massive stones" and the "magnificent buildings".

Yet, as magnificent as some of our earthly structures are, they will pale in comparison to what we will find in heaven.

The Bible offers us glimpses of heaven.

Jesus says in John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."

Revelation 21:21 states, "The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass."

I am convinced that heaven will be more impressive than anything I have ever seen and more beautiful than anything I can possibly imagine.


Blessings,
The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.co.nr on May 7, 2010.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I'll be back here on May 14, 2010.

Coping

Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

As Christians, we are all called upon to give of ourselves.

Yet, we all know at least that one Christian that is really special; the one that we feel truly makes a difference.

My church had just such a young lady.

She was extremely talented when it came to teaching children.

It was a pleasure for us as adults to watch her doing this work. The children responded very well to her and she made it look effortless.

Although she had no children of her own, she was aware that every child is special to God and she treated them that way.

She had a marvelous way of teaching children Christian concepts in a way that young minds could easily grasp.

One day, we learned that she had been diagnosed with cancer and that her time with us was probably limited.

There were days when I am sure she was not feeling particularly well, and yet she put on a brave face for the children and taught them their lesson as if she did not have a problem or care in the world.

She continued to do this right up to the time she went to be with the Lord.

She was special. Everyone in our church family thought so.

The first Sunday after her funeral, I walked into my Sunday School class and saw the looks of hurt on the faces of my students.

I knew whatever lesson plan I had prepared was going to have to wait.

At that time, healing was needed and needed badly.

I shared a story involving this young lady with my students and invited them in turn to do the same.

As the others shared, I offered up a silent prayer to God on how best to help them.

The message He put in my heart is one I will never forget and I share it with you now.

When someone that special is no longer with you, it leaves a big hole. That hole can never be completely filled. But… you can make it smaller simply by drawing closer together.

When all were through sharing, I suggested we take a moment to pray aloud and I included that sentiment in my prayer for their benefit.


Some holes can never be filled completely. With His help you can them smaller.

Blessings,
The Other Brother Jim

I’ll be back here on April 30, 2010 and again on May 14, 2010.
Look for me at http://faithfulfeet.co.nr on May 7, 2010.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!

The Unwanted Picture

Revelation 1:5-6 (NIV)
To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father - to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

I was browsing through a second hand store for books when a picture, if one could call it that, caught my eye.

This picture had made its way through several stores without selling and was literally covered with price stickers, residue from partially pealed off price stickers and prices written on the glass in permanent marker. Each price added was lower than the one before.

I could make out something of a landscape peeking out from behind the layers of tags and residue and decided that the picture might be worth the effort it would take to clean it.

I looked for the lowest price tag and purchased it from the store owner at that price.
He didn't even bother to try to sell it for more. Frankly, I think he was relieved to be able to sell it at any price.

I took the picture home.

That afternoon, armed with a bottle of cleaning fluid and a new package of razor blades, I set to work removing the layers of paper, ink, gunk and glue.

It did not take long for me to determine that a great deal of work would be required. I began to wonder just how much of a "bargain" I had gotten.

I worked slowly and methodically through the afternoon and into the evening.

As I slowly removed the layers of its past, a truly beautiful picture began to emerge.

I removed the final sticker.

My fingers were sore but my eyes did not care, for they beheld a beautiful landscape.

Colorful flowers lined a wooded path beside a serene lake with trees peeking through the mist beyond.

I remember considering hanging the picture in my living room as I worked.

Upon completion, I decided to hang it in my bedroom instead.

I do not regret that decision, because I love seeing it each morning when I awake.

In a way, our lives can be compared to that picture I found in that second hand store.

Sometimes, we feel unwanted.

Sometimes, we feel our worth ebbing away as time goes by.

Sometimes, we allow others to devalue us.

How wrong we are.

Our Heavenly Father never sees any of us that way.

Through the blood of Jesus, we are cleansed of all layers of neglect, doubt and the stain of sin.

hen, as new creations, we can see in ourselves what He has seen all along.

Someone created in His image.

Someone fearfully and wonderfully made.

Someone designed to reflect the light of Jesus to a world in need.

Even when others give up on us, God never does.
The Other Brother Jim

NEXT...
Coping

He Thinks He Saw Jesus

Luke 18:16-17 (NIV)
But Jesus called the children to Him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

A few Sundays ago, our pastor was away but another had graciously agreed to fill in for him.
Sunday School had just ended and, being the last one to leave the classroom, I turned off the light and closed the door behind me.

I looked down the hallway just in time to see our visiting pastor step into the men's room.

He was tall, had a beard and wore a long flowing white vestment.

I made my way to the main hallway that leads to the sanctuary and noticed that a small crowd had gathered in the intersection.

The center of attention was a five year old boy rambling excitedly about something.

"What is he talking about?", someone asked.

His sister replied, "He thinks he saw Jesus."

A few people laughed, probably assuming the little boy simply had an overactive imagination.

Having been a five year old boy myself I remembered how it felt to have people dismiss what you had to say simply because of your age.

I really had to appreciate the corner into which he seemingly had painted himself.

I decided to come to his aid.

"I saw him, too," I replied.

The boy smiled.

Was he smiling because I came to his aid?

Was he smiling out of relief because now I was the focal point of attention?

I got some really priceless looks.

One look clearly said, "Well, it looks like the Other Brother Jim finally went off the Other Deep End."

I explained that what the boy had actually seen was our visiting pastor and then described his appearance.

I gave the boy a parting smile which he returned and then made my way toward the sanctuary.

An older gentleman walked beside me and said, "You really understand these young people, don't you?"

"I should." I replied. "After all, I used to be one."

As we walked along, I thanked God for letting me feel young from time to time.
I pray that never changes.


Life can be full of surprises if you allow yourself to see the world and others through the eyes of a child once in a while,

The Other Brother Jim

NEXT TIME...
"The Unwanted Picture"