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Life is forward moving… embracing changes and moving through stages.
Ever hear of Ken Osmond? Edie Haskell on 1950’s show, “Leave it to Beaver.” I used to watch it in re-runs. The character Eddie, Wally Cleaver’s best friend, was known for turning on the charm when adults were around. I love this description: “[Eddie] boasted a perfectly groomed appearance and falsely polite demeanor, which successfully concealed his sneaky character.” I know a few Eddie Haskells. What I like about Ken Osmond… we hear about child stars that fall apart, never able to get past early success that pegs them for life… but life moves forward, life events ~ child to youth, youth to young adult, single to married, middle years and on and on…. Sometimes change comes instantly because of sudden loss. What I like about Ken Osmond… for years the public had no idea what happened to him. There were rumors: he went into the porn industry; he died in Vietnam. The truth: He became a police officer in L.A. and serving 18 years before retiring in 1988 after being shot 3 times by a car thief he was chasing. Ken Osmond’s life ~ whole new chapters to admire…
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 Paul writes Philemon from Prison There is a joke about an Irish Tourist who asks for directions to Dublin. The Local replied, “If I were you, I wouldn’t start from here.” Such helpful advice! The sad thing is we can relate. We are overwhelmed and don’t know how to start so rather than do something we do nothing because this is the wrong place, the wrong situation, to get started! It seems everything is a mess and our feeble efforts make so little difference. Where do we start? The problem is that we only have here….now…today….the situation in which we find ourselves…
Here is better advice from Edward Hale: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do."  I had a favorite pair of shoes when Sally and I moved to San Francisco. They were comfortable, very stylish and even though I’d had them a long time, they looked new. After a few months of living in S.F., the soles wore through. Around the corner from our house was a shoe repairman. We didn't have a lot of money, so we debated whether or not to have my shoes resoled. I liked the shoes so much, and it was less than what a new pair would cost, so we did it. The newly soled shoes were comfortable, as stylish as ever, and as good as new ~ for about a month. Then the upper part wore through, and the shoes were trash. “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one.” Sometimes you gotta read between the lines, what this verse really means is “No on (with an ounce of brains) tears a patch from a new garment and puts it on an old one.” No one, with an ounce of brains, would put new soles on old worn out shoes about to crumble, because it isn't worth it.
None of these examples are about mismatching patches, wine, or wine skins or shoes. All these examples are the silly things we do, not wise. Luke 5:36 calls them parables. A parable is a story from everyday life that has a larger point. In this case, the much larger point is that when you accept Jesus Christ as your savior you must put everything on the table. You need an entirely new way of thinking. You don’t just take the teachings of Christ and add them to your old life ~ you start over…  Years ago some friends went on a short term mission trip to the poor in Mississippi. They told me about a furniture salesman scam. The salesman would go to homes with a selection of new chairs and couches, “For only $10 a month you can buy a brand new couch.” Sounds like a deal… Families with few resources could scrape together $10, so many accepted the offer to own a beautiful brand new couch. Steve and Sherry met some of these folks 15 years later, and they were still dutifully sending in $10 a month. You do the math. Wouldn’t it be fun to meet that salesman and give him an earful? What would you say to him? Can you think of anyone lower than the person who would take advantage of the poor?
Jesus met such a man. His name: Levi, (aka Matthew). Jesus, defender of the poor, should have overturned Levi’s money table or screamed in his face. A picket sign would have made everyone feel good! Attacking Levi would be justifiable anger. Anyone that would take advantage of the poor, the underprivileged, the weak ought to be put in his place. Jesus instead spoke two scandalous words to Levi: “Follow Me.” |
 
Carl Crouse, Pastor
At SACC we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Every Sunday the worship service includes a message from the Bible. My words are an attempt to understand and apply the Bible to our daily living. I post weekly sermons and other biblical messages on this page. May you find meaning and hope as you read through each message and seek to hear God's voice. Leave a comment to ask questions or inspire others with your insights. Categories
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