CHARACTERS

For various reasons they land at our local animal shelter. Some came from litters, some found as strays. Some were given up, perhaps because an owner died or could no longer care for a pet.  And some were abused or even, well, bad.  Every week our small-town newspaper features “Adopt a Pet” ads where shelter cats’ and dogs’ positive qualities are extolled. But just to keep truth in advertising, the write-ups include cautions.

*Some have Cage Trauma, like these cats: “Shelter life is hard for this gentle feline.” “This kitty has been frightened of shelter life but is gradually finding it’s not all that bad.”

*Some have lots of energy that needs directed: “This dog is very intelligent and will need games to stimulate his mind.”  “She’s a show dog or rather a showoff dog who loves to entertain you and your friends.”

*Some were abused:  “This dog is crazy in love with humans and it’s a wonder since he hasn’t been treated well in the past. He is looking forward to a nice big doggie bed and someone to love.”

ABOUT THOSE CHARACTER GAPS....
Reading these made me think of those “love connection” websites where the whole truth about character isn’t always revealed. Some have done okay with such sites; others have stepped into minefields. That’s because “compatibility” is more than shared interests and hobbies. It also involves integrity and personal growth issues, as described in best-selling Christian author-psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud’s leadership book, Integrity (Harper, 2006).

Cloud observed that some people have gaps in showing good character “because they are unwilling to make the shifts that character demands. They kind of ‘flip off’ reality, the light, wisdom, or whatever influence comes into their lives.  They have a stance that is past resistance and is defiant.  For them, we can try to motivate, but ultimately, they have to make a choice.” Some people blame their past or genes for bad character. But Cloud challenges those excuses, saying each person can make decisions to change the negative parts of who they are.

If only people were as easy to retrain as pets.  If only a comfortable bed and appetizing kibbles made a difference.  Changing the negative parts of a personality and world outlook is hard work. As for those who’ve tried to help people who struggle with life and relationships, Cloud adds: “If you are trying so help someone, and he is not responding after many attempts by you to help, he may just be resistant. You might do better to spend your time with someone who really wants to change" (p. 278). 

Does that remind you of some of the sick people Jesus encountered? Like the disabled man who hung out by a Jerusalem water reservoir begging for alms, unaware that the Healer—the One able to bring spiritual and physical wholeness--stood in front of him (John 5:13)?

There are no guarantees that those animals offered for adoption will work out in their new home. Animals can be resilient but also stubborn.  So, too, a human—except for the amazing grace of Christ who’s in the business of transformation, building the character that honors Him.

FAITHFUL

Lamentations 2:23 inspired these hymn lyrics

If your life has brought times of sickness as well as health, then you have something in common with the man who wrote one of the world’s most beloved hymns. Thomas Obadiah Chisholm was born in 1866—just after the Civil War—in a humble log cabin in Kentucky. He went to a local country school where, at age 16, he became its teacher. Five years later he was hired to write for his hometown weekly newspaper. At age 27, he received Christ as his Savior during revival meetings in his hometown, led by Dr. H.C. Morrison, the founder and president of Asbury College. That’s when he wrote the hymn titled “O to be Like Thee,” whose chorus goes:
O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art!
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness—
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
Dr. Morrison invited Chisholm to move to Louisville and manage his own publication, The Pentecostal Herald. There, Chisholm was ordained to the Methodist ministry and assigned a church in Scottsville, Kentucky, but his poor health forced him to resign after a year. He moved to Winona Lake, Indiana, where his family had property and started work as an insurance agent, later moving to New Jersey. Besides his insurance work, Chisholm wrote more than 1,200 poems published in such places as the Sunday School Times, Moody Monthly, and Alliance Weekly. Many became hymn texts. Among those who encouraged him in his poetry: none other than Fanny Crosby. In a book about Christian music published in 1939, he was quoted as saying:

I have sought to be true to the Word, and to avoid flippant and catchy titles and treatment.  I have greatly desired that each hymn or poem might have some definite message to the hearts for whom it was written….

One day in 1915 a pastor-musician from New Jersey contacted Chisholm to write new words to a hymn melody. Thomas didn’t read music, so had his daughter hum the melody to him over and over before composing the lyrics. We know the song today as “Living for Jesus”:

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do….

FROM AN OBSCURE POEM
In his late fifties, Chisholm sent several of his poems to a musician associated with Moody Bible Institute who was also an editor with Hope Publishing Company, and who published it in his private song pamphlets.  That editor remarked:

This particular poem held such an appeal that I prayed most earnestly that my tune might carry over its message in a worthy way, and the subsequent history of its use indicates that God answered prayer.

The song became a favorite of Dr. Will Houghton, a beloved president of Moody Bible Institute, and an unofficial theme song of the institute. Moody students took the song with them to churches where they served. But it remained largely unknown until George Beverly Shea introduced it to audiences at the 1954 Billy Graham crusades in London. Today, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is one of the world's most beloved hymns. Who has not felt a lump in their throats in singing the line, "Morning my morning,new mercies I see"?
In a letter dated 1941—when he was 75—he wrote:
My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me until now.  Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.

He retired in 1953—age 87—living in a Methodist retirement home in Ocean Park, New Jersey. People often saw this modest, shy and frail man walking the boardwalks and fellowshipping with friends at the town’s summer Bible conferences. He died in 1960—despite having frail health, living into his nineties.

REAL LOVE

This décor plaque at a local store reminded me of

Ephesians 3:18 and our relationship with God

Oh, the stories associated with Valentine’s Day. Nobody knows for sure who was the original St. Valentine, though the name (from words for bravery or “valor”) connects well with one ancient priest’s bold decision to marry couples to help the bridegroom escape military service. Some histories mention fertility festivals of old. No record exists of romantic celebrations on Valentine’s Day until a 1375 poem by Chaucer which linked courtly love with St. Valentine’s feast day. In that poem, Feb. 14 is the day birds and humans find mates.

Today the holiday seems to have overrated human (and passion-oriented) love. Oh, that instead of “Roses are red-etc.” we’d focus on this as a theme verse:

 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)

Being truly related to the God of all creation is knowing true love. Seeing the cross on which Jesus died as a personal payment for my sinful condition is embracing true love.  Living for Jesus “in all that I do” (to quote an old hymn) is living out true love. Waiting for true love—a God-fearing spouse, not a flimsy substitute because nobody else came along—is trusting the God who loves us more than we can realize.

Several years ago my church was pastored by a man (and wife) whose three daughters and son set the bar high for “good kids.” After they left, we kept in touch via mail, pleased to hear of their social skills, academics, implicit trust in Jesus, servant hearts, and, most of all, a God-focused present and future. His kids are awesome! With two older daughters now  in college, the third one finishing high school, they're approaching the years when young men take notice of them. I am thinking, “Are there men out there worthy of these outstanding young women?”

Recently the dad wrote a book about the seven letters to ancient churches that open the book of Revelation. Those churches had a common problem: failing to live 100% for Christ. Many were okay with compromising their values so they’d fit in better with their community. We’re not any different if our pastors compromise the Gospel to a “Jesus can be your Best Friend” message, sidestepping Scripture’s command to “take up your cross and die” (Mark 8:34).

This book is titled Seven Words: How the Seven Letters of Revelation Speak to Us Today (XulonPress), and in it Pastor Joshua Brooks (dad of those awesome kids!) shared another author’s hypothetical illustration of a dad looking for a husband for his daughter. Would he “make it happen” by advertising her in newspapers (or even a love site on the internet), putting up a billboard, or passing out tee-shirts begging someone to choose her?  Absolutely not. This would cheapen his precious daughter. The man worthy of his daughter would have to be prepared to offer her his absolute best.

And so it is for us. First and foremost must come our love relationship with God. John wrote in the same passage: “Everyone who has this hope [of someday seeing the risen Christ, v. 2] purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). That connects right into the idea of being “rooted” in Christ, and growing in love and devotion to Him:

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18).

That’s real love, far greater than the “valentine” clichés.

FINDING JOY

Blind since infancy, living to her nineties, Fanny Crosby 

showed the power of praise in her thousands of hymn texts,

like this one

My first job (no surprise) came with its share of humbling and challenging experiences, plus a fresh appreciation for the practical wisdom in the epistle of James.  Like this: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

Pure joy? Who was he kidding when I trudged home at night reeking of my colleagues’ second-hand smoke and nursing a headache from the press of deadlines and constant phone ringing?  This was newspaper work in the early 1970s—but I had a job! That was the joy. I remembered how I was hired—a series of “just happened” things.  Disheartened by “not hiring” answers to my job queries at local papers, faced with impending joblessness as my studies ended in mid-March, one day between classes I just happened to go down the hall of offices for journalism professors. One of my profs just happened to have his door open. He told me it just happened that a managing editor from a mid-size daily was interviewing that day for their summer college intern. The job wouldn’t start for three months, but it was something. 

I signed for an appointment, and showed up in business attire with my resume and writing samples. A few days later the editor called and offered the summer job. Plus, their women’s editor needed time off for surgery. Could I come early (like March 17!)  and fill in for her?  By mid-summer, my “intern” job became permanent.  Not only did I grow professionally but personally and, most important, spiritually, as I connected with a Bible-teaching church.

POUT OR PRAISE?

In my five years at that job, I began learning that God was ready to patiently teach me how to “do life.” One big lesson was to look for the little blessings. Despite all the pulpit-pounding admonition I hear in the book of James, there are “look-up” messages. “Is any one if you in trouble?” James asks, “He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise” (5:13).

Decades and several jobs later, I am still learning that. But it is a sweet lesson. And I am learning to pray-through-the-day, not just during the get-down-to-business “quiet time.” I wake up (praise!) and step in the tub for a quick shower (praise: Hot water! Towel! Clothes!). I fix and eat breakfast (praise: food, appliances). I plan my day (praise: I have the health to do something useful).  Things happen, and I find myself saying, “Thank you, Lord.”

William Stoddard, a pastor and teacher of a previous generation, observed in his devotional  First Light (Multnomah, 1990, p. 349): “Prayer is the time to be renewed in our love for God.  Think of all the gifts we have received.  Think of the days of sunshine and blessing.  Think of the cup that overflows with the joys of health and family and loving companions.  Think of the times that love warned us and, to our good, we heeded the warning. Think of the open doors we might never have entered without the gentle and persistent nudge of God’s love.”

Open doors!  Yes, even praise for an open faculty door in 1970 that led to my first full-time job and a writing career.