DESCRIBING JESUS

 4368

Bible Thoughts and Questions:

“Does the Bible describe anywhere what the Lord Jesus Christ looked like?” Yes, it does and it is not in the New Testament, but in the Old Testament. The description of how He looked is described in detail in the greatest love story ever told, the love Christ has for His Church; the Song of Solomon.

((Song of Solomon 5:10-16 KJV; “My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. 11 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. 12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. 13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. 14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. 15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. 16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”))

Now, while this is the only description of His physical appearance that is found in the Bible there is another description from history that has been dismissed by many “higher critics” as being a fake and not written by the recorded author, however, it is somewhat close to the description found in the Song of Solomon. I will include it here so you may read it and judge for yourself.

This is a reprinting of a translation of a letter from Pontius Pilate to Tiberius Caesar describing the physical appearance of Jesus.

To Tiberius Caesar,

A young man appeared in Galilee preaching with humble unction, a new law in the Name of the God that had sent Him. At first I was apprehensive that His design was to stir up the people against the Romans, but my fears were soon dispelled. Jesus of Nazareth spoke rather as a friend of the Romans than of the Jews. One day I observed in the midst of a group of people a young man who was leaning against a tree, calmly addressing the multitude. I was told it was Jesus. This I could easily have suspected so great was the difference between Him and those who were listening to Him. His golden colored hair and beard gave to his appearance a celestial aspect. He appeared to be about 30 years of age. Never have I seen a sweeter or more serene countenance. What a contrast between Him and His bearers with their black beards and tawny complexions! Unwilling to interrupt Him by my presence, I continued my walk but signified to my secretary to join the group and listen. Later, my secretary reported that never had he seen in the works of all the philosophers anything that compared to the teachings of Jesus. He told me that Jesus was neither seditious nor rebellious, so we extended to Him our protection. He was at liberty to act, to speak, to assemble and to address the people. This unlimited freedom provoked the Jews -- not the poor but the rich and powerful.

Later, I wrote to Jesus requesting an interview with Him at the Praetorium. He came. When the Nazarene made His appearance I was having my morning walk and as I faced Him my feet seemed fastened with an iron hand to the marble pavement and I trembled in every limb as a guilty culprit, though he was calm. For some time I stood admiring this extraordinary Man. There was nothing in Him that was repelling, nor in His character, yet I felt awed in His presence. I told Him that there was a magnetic simplicity about Him and His personality that elevated Him far above the philosophers and teachers of His day.

Now, Noble Sovereign, these are the facts concerning Jesus of Nazareth and I have taken the time to write you in detail concerning these matters. I say that such a man who could convert water into wine, change death into life, disease into health; calm the stormy seas, is not guilty of any criminal offense and as others have said, we must agree -- truly this is the Son of God!

Your most obedient servant,

Pontius Pilate

It is really not unusual that the description of the Lord Jesus Christ is found in the Old Testament, for the entire book is about Him.

((Hebrews 10:-5-7 KJV; “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”)) and ((Psalms 40:6-8 KJV; Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”))

And in closing; the scripture that really sums it all up!

((John 1:1-5 KJV; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”))

GOT JUNK?

 4367

Lately, I have been noticing temporary signage along the nearby four laned highways advertising what I might refer to as an interstate business. 

The name of the company is part and parcel of the phone number

                                      1-800-Got Junk

Their one and only raison d'etre to pick up unwanted trash, rubbish, and junk from homes and businesses.

As I was pedaling my daily 10 miles yesterday, I turned down a little seldom-used lane which runs behind the local Dollar General store, and which connects with a nearby street. And, I have often noticed how deplorable the property is. Old sofas, toilet bowls, aluminum cans, circulars and newspapers, etc.

Reaching the end of the lane, and the intersection of the connecting street, I did a 180, and pedaled back towards Dollar General, and the sidewalk beyond. Suddenly, a truck with a very familiar moniker on its side came up behind me. (1-800-Got Junk)

And just before reaching the posterior wall of Dollar General, the truck stopped, and backed in. Suddenly, two men jumped out of the vehicle, and proceeded towards its rear door.

And it occurred to me that the Got Junk men were about to deposit their junk on, in, and about the existing rubbish in the area. And while I am not the boldest, nor most outspoken person in central Florida, I could not help but ask one of the men,

"Are you planning to dump your junk out here?"

And I followed up with a statement.

"Because if you do, I know someone who is going to report you."

The worker merely shook his head, and immediately denied this was their plan.

As you might expect, I was skeptical of his assurance, and made a decision to drive back to the spot, after I pedaled the final five miles of my daily trek.

Arriving home, I went inside, made and devoured a sandwich, downed half a Pepsi, watched my favorite news channel for ten or fifteen minutes, jumped into my car, and headed back from whence I had come.

As I drove in front of the store, and turned the corner, I noticed the Got Junk vehicle was still there. And with this, all my presuppositions vanished.

One man was on top of the open roof of the cargo truck, and another stood on the metal lift behind the back door, a bedraggled red couch between them, as they man-handled it into place.

They were loading the truck, not unloading it!

I immediately felt ashamed for accusing them of being commercial litter bugs. 

I felt an obligation to make things right, and I slowed to a stop. Directing my attention to the youngest man, I spoke.

"I'm the guy who pedaled past you guys earlier, and asked if you were dumping your junk in this field."

(and)

"But, I see you are picking up the junk. 

(and)

Please forgive me."

The man nodded slightly, and I turned my automobile towards home.

I promised myself that if, and when possible, I would surrender my useless presuppositions, and believe the best about friends and strangers, alike, 'til I had a valid reason to do otherwise.

by Bill McDonald, PhD

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. WHAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN

 4366

Pt. 1

Recently, I attended a lecture by a survivor of the Holocaust who, as a child, experienced the most horrific of circumstances. My uncle also experienced the monstrosity visited upon the Jewish race, firsthand, as near the end of WWII his Army unit marched into one of Germany’s concentration camps. Having witnessed the most unspeakable horrors, he never spoke about what he saw there.

Of course, one man was, ultimately, responsible for the advent of the Second World War, the deaths of countless soldiers, sailors and marines, untold civilians, and the murder of six million Jews.

Adolf Hitler

However, before issuing the executive order which led to the deaths of millions of innocent men, women and children, almost single-handedly destroying the Western world as we know it, Adolf Hitler was an “up and coming,” (albeit unsuccessful) artist.

Subsequent to his service in the German Army during WWI, “the little corporal” completed numerous murals which had as their subject buildings, monuments, and landscapes. And while some amateur and professional art critics have, well, criticized his artistic ability, from my perspective some of his paintings were quite good.

Between the two World Wars, and before the artist wannabe gave a moment’s thought to ruling one of the major nations of the world, and subjecting others to his domination, Adolph Hitler had dreamed a different dream.

Pt. 2

And to his credit, the non-descript little man was not only a dreamer, but a doer; since he not only managed to transfer his colorful visions to canvas, but he made application for acceptance to The Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna.

Twice

And was turned down as many times as he applied.

It is ironic that as the unrelenting, demonic dictator of the Third Reich the great architecture and pastoral villages he painted were, ultimately, destroyed by his actions.

Among Adolph’s artworks are some paintings which provide an almost prophetic look into the as yet to be fulfilled future of the most evil and dictatorial individual in the history of the world. For among the colorful landscapes are also images of WWI tanks; littering a barren landscape, and smoke rising from their turrets.

I have often reflected on that momentous decision which denied Adolf Hitler the opportunity to undertake a course of action which might have, literally, changed the course of human history, and whomever was responsible for that singular decision.

I have wondered whether the man who denied the future dictator, and warlord the opportunity to fulfill his artistic dream, having experienced the abject awfulness which the little despot visited on this planet, regretted having rejected his prospective student. A man who unknowingly, unwittingly exercised more power than Hitler ever realized in his lifetime; who with one stroke of a pen, a few words on a rejection letter, doomed millions of hapless victims to certain death.

Adolf Hitler. Renowned artist.

The saddest words in any language.

…What might have been. What might not have been.

by Bill McDonald, PhD 

A MOMENTARY MEETING ON AN ELEVATOR IN SCOTLAND

 4365

My wife and I enjoyed the vacation of a lifetime last year. We had often wanted to visit Scotland and Ireland, and were determined to do so by our 70th birthdays. And true to our intentions, we just managed to do so 'by a whisker.'

 

Our hotel in Glasgow, Scotland stood on the banks of the Clyde River, (or River Clyde, as they are prone to refer to it 'over there'). We were just fifty feet from a beautiful bridge which spanned the river, a hundred yards from the convention center in which the now world famous Susan Boyle was awarded second place in "Britain's Got Talent," and an ancient overhead ship-building crane, for which the wonderful city is known, was just seconds away from the front door of the hotel.

 

On our second day in Glasgow, I boarded an elevator to take me up to our room on the third floor. And it so happened that a middle-aged, fairly non-descript man stepped on the elevator with me. I must have greeted him with a, "How are you." And recognizing my accent he said, "Are you an American?" And I evidently responded in the affirmative. (I could not be sure, and I did not ask, but based on the stranger's own peculiar accent, I surmised he was probably a native of this country).

 

As the elevator moved quickly towards my third floor destination, referring to the First and Second World Wars, my short-term acquaintance mused,

 

"Ah, we are so grateful for what your great country did for us; coming over here to help us" (and) "those dear, dear American lads. How we love and appreciate them even today."

 

And with this the elevator reached its destination, the doors opened, I nodded, and stepped off.

 

It was just a momentary, circumstantial sort of thing, lasting all of thirty seconds, and yet I will remember my brief interaction with this fine gentleman; as long as I live, and move, and breathe on the earth.

 

by William McDonald, PhD

THE WEAVER'S TAPESTRY

 4364

The tapestry He weaves in me is twined in many hues

The pattern of the thread He works is not mine to choose

And though too close to focus on the weaving that He sees

And too far from His purposes to see His plan for me

 

The constant shuffle of the loom, the heavy threads now fall in place

And in the shadows that they cast, I sometimes fail to see His face

But when the finer thread is laid, and drifts across the airy span

Tis then the light comes gleaming through, tis then I see the Weaver’s Hand

 

His weaving grows with each new joy, each trial adds still more  thread

The colors of the rainbow blend with each new hope and dread

The loom slides on with ceaseless speed, each thread drops in its place

The fringes of this cloth are sewn with silk and pretty lace

 

The Weaver’s Hand is sure and tried, and nail scars grace His palm

And as He works His work in me, my soul knows peace and calm

The cloth He works is precious, and, the loom He works is sure

The tapestry He weaves in me is rich and very pure

 

And though the darker colors shade -the few, but brighter threads beside

I know He works all things for good, His colors true, His pattern tried

And when the Master’s Hand is still, and the cloth of life is spun

Tis then His image shall appear, His tapestry is done

by Bill McDonald, PhD

Copyright 2005

WILL YOU ALSO GO AWAY?

 4363

A good example is found in John 6:32-69 in which Jesus shares a very hard teaching about His body and His blood as typified in the communion service. Many of His followers took this teaching literally and fell away from Him. I have always thought that Christ' poignant question to His disciples, "Will you also go away" was the most human of the God-man's heart-rending interactions recounted in the New Testament.

COOPERATING WITH GOD

 4362

I once installed some border paper around the ceiling of my office. The image on the paper was taken directly from the Sistine Chapel in Rome. God and Adam reaching out to one another, and almost touching fingertips. Of course, Adam was wearing little more than his birthday suit, (and thus the illustration on the border paper had been slightly ‘amended’ to guarantee our ancestor a bit of privacy).

And as the years dropped like sand in an hour glass, and as literally thousands of our counseling clients would file in and out of the door with a myriad of issues and needs, I would often look up at that ceiling border which depicted God and ole Adam multiplied a couple dozen times over, and I’d muse,

“If I were to characterize that painting, I’d call it, “Cooperating with God.”

And sometime afterwards, I recognized the same concept in the pages of scripture.

I have never heard a sermon on the subject; (except the one I have preached a couple of times). But you’ll definitely find it there “in all its glory.”

For you see, in virtually every chapter of the Bible, the concept is replicated. For again and again, we find God and man mentioned in the exact same verse.

Pt. 2

For example,

“And there went with Saul a band of men whose heart God had touched.” (1^st Samuel 10:26)

(or)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

(or)

“I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice.” (Romans 12:1)

(or)

“Faithful is He who has called you, and He will also do it.” (1^st Thess. 5:24)

I understand the current pastor at my previous church uses the room as his office, and I have often wondered whether that ceiling border still graces the place. (Interestingly enough, I ran across a three foot remnant of that paper when I was rearranging my home office a couple years ago).

I think that ancient painting by Michelangelo has a great deal to teach us about God’s relationship with man, and even more crucially, I believe the recurring presence of God and mankind in a myriad of scriptural verses speaks volumes about His love for you and me, and His earnest desire that we cooperate with Him in our pursuit of excellence, and the fulfillment of His plans on the earth.

by Bill McDonald, PhD

SAYING GOODBYE TO COOPER

 4361

The veterinary assistant was apparently running late, as Queenie and I were the only living occupants of the parking lot, my automobile the only inanimate vehicle, (aren’t they all) and the ‘Closed’ sign still hung inside the glass door.

 

Suddenly, a car slowed, turned into the parking lot, and pulled into an adjoining space. Obviously, not a clinic employee. I found myself looking into the troubled eyes of a middle-aged woman. She smiled a thin smile, and I returned the gesture. Normally, I would not have attempted a conversation, but since I happened to be ‘constitutionalizing’ my precious pooch, and in the proximity of the other vehicle, I said,

 

“Hi there. I guess the employees are running late. My little Queenie is having a tooth pulled and her teeth cleaned today.”

 

My momentary friend seemed pre-occupied with her thoughts, but the teary-eyed lady responded with,

 

“My little ‘Cooper’ is being put to sleep this morning.”

 

Having lost three previous pooches, her words struck me to the core. And having involuntarily paused for effect, she continued.

 

 “I’ve only had him a few months, and he was due to be vaccinated for a couple of common diseases. Unfortunately, before I could get him to the clinic, he came down with Parvo. It turns out five other dogs on our street have gotten it, and have since died of it.”

 

(and)

 

“Cooper weighed 55 pounds before he came down with the virus. He’s down to 28 pounds, and the vet hasn’t been able to do anything to help him.”

 

Pt. 2

 

With this, I peered into the half-opened back window of the automobile. I found myself looking into the mournful eyes of what appeared to be a chocolate lab.

 

I recently published a little volume entitled, “A Man’s Tribute to His Beloved Dogs,” and one primary implication in the book is the innate intelligence of canines, and their ability to “understand what’s going on.” Perhaps they comprehend much more about the import of human speech than we possibly imagine. I believe the precious pooch in the back seat knew what was about to befall him. He just knew.

 

I turned my gaze away from the hopeless animal in the back of the old sedan, and without a word, I extended my right hand towards the woman. And without so much as a word, she returned the gesture. (Strange, I almost placed my hand on her forehead, as a sort of blessing, and have done so in the past, but this inclination seemed a bit too forward). At any rate, my anything, but premeditated behavior had little or nothing to do with the usual connotation of a handshake; since we had not ‘til then, (nor did we ever) introduce ourselves to one another.

 

The milk of human compassion. There is just something about touch which conveys an underlying emotion, and cognitive affirmation, like nothing else can do; whether a handshake, a hug, or an arm around the shoulder.

 

I had ‘been there’ and nothing conjures up the requisite understanding and subsequent response, more so than having been there. And before each of us withdrew our hands to our own persons, I verbally expressed my understanding.

 

“I can feel your pain. My first pooch crossed the Rainbow Bridge seventy years ago.”

 

My newfound friend seemed surprised. I like to think I look younger than my years. (I guess staying away from mirrors helps perpetuate this myth).

 

Having done what I could, and since about this time the clinic door was opened to me, I strode through the portal with my twelve pound Shih Tzu in hand.

 

It has been several years since that experience, but I will always remember those few fleeting moments, and will be thankful I had the opportunity to comfort another human being; who was facing one of the most difficult experiences any of us ever will.

 Bill McDonald, PhD

A BUNCH OF REAL CHARACTERS

 4360

Unlike some books which purport to be models of spirituality, the Book of all books, the Holy Bible, and He who inspired the Judeo-Christian text had and continues to have little or no interest in “false pretenses” or “putting up a front.”

For you see, the 66 books of holy scripture tell it like it is, and, as a result, the characters described therein are all too human, and their flaws are neither hidden, nor their attributes embellished.

Following are a few very good examples:

Adam was a lawbreaker

Noah was an alcoholic

Joseph was a slave, a suspected rapist, and inmate

Moses was a murderer

Rahab was a Gentile and a prostitute

Ruth was a Gentile and a migrant

David was an adulterer

Amnon had an incestuous relationship with his sister

Solomon was a polygamist

Thomas was a doubter

Peter was a double-minded man and denied the Holy One

Paul was a persecutor

 

I am so glad the Word of God described the foregoing characters with all their flaws, and all their deficits, and never attempted to cover up, nor embellish the traits which they exhibited. (And, interestingly enough, a large number of the characters I have described were direct ancestors of our Lord Jesus Christ).

 

Pt. 2

 

But I think what is most striking, and most relevant about the descriptions of these men and women are the remarkable changes which are revealed to us, as each of their narratives are recounted. And in so doing, God, in essence, says, “Stay tuned. That ain’t all, folks!”

 

Noah built an ark which culminated in the salvation of eight souls; men and women who became the ancestors of every man, woman and child who inhabit the planet Earth.

 

Joseph was appointed to be the prime minister of Egypt, and managed to save the lives of not only his family, but the entire population of that nation.

 

Moses spoke and the ocean parted, and several million people walked across the dry sea bed, and, ultimately, inhabited the promised land we now refer to as “Israel.”

 

Rahab saved the lives of the two spies who had been sent to scout out the land of Canaan, and was, like Ruth, an ancient Grandmother of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

David killed Goliath, the pride of the Philistines, and became the most loved, and best remembered king of Israel. He wrote much of the Book of Psalms, and was a direct ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Solomon became king of Israel after his father David, is credited with writing three of the books of the Old Testament, was known as the wisest man who ever lived, and was afforded the impressive task of building the first Temple.

 

Thomas, one of the original Twelve, was credited with evangelizing the nation of India, and he, ultimately, laid down his life for the Gospel there.

 

Peter, one of the original Twelve, was the Apostle to the Jewish nation, and he wrote two of the books of the New Testament. Tradition tells us that he died a martyr’s death in Rome, requesting that he be hung upside down on a cross; since he felt unworthy to die the exact same death as his Lord.

 

Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles, suffered greatly on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ, wrote half of the books of the New Testament, and after a lengthy imprisonment was beheaded in Rome.

 

I think if the end was so much better than the beginning for such a menagerie of lawbreakers, alcoholics, prisoners, murderers, prostitutes, adulterers, and persecutors, (only a few which I have mentioned here) well, there’s definitely hope for you and me.

Bill McDonald, PhD

(Based on an existing article)

SWITCHING HANDS

 4359

As a pastoral counselor I have met with multiplied thousands of men, women and children over the course of thirty plus years, (and count it a privilege to have done so).

And, as you might imagine, it has been necessary to gather a great deal of information during the first session, if I am to understand my clients' issues and needs, and intervene for them.

I don't recall when I made a decision to become ambidextrous, nor do I know what percentage of counselors have done the same thing, but it seemed to be a logical idea.

I would learn to write with not only my dominant hand, but my non-dominant hand, and thus prevent writer's cramp during the information gathering process. 

Of course, as you might imagine, there were a couple of initial results of my attempt to switch hands. 

During the first several failed and almost futile attempts, I almost decided to stay with my dominant hand. Not only was I unable to keep up with the information my clients' were in the process of recounting, and which I had been attempting to transfer to paper, but my left-handed handwriting was virtually indistinguishable from "chicken scratch."

However, over time my non-dominant cursive improved, and though slow-going, I was relatively pleased with the results of my efforts. 

Speaking of the initial, (and ongoing), results of my efforts, whereas my clients didn't always verbalize their curiosity, their eyes often widened when I switched hands in the middle of a written sentence.

I admit, I became progressively pleased with my time and efforts. My left-handed cursive has never been quite as fast as that of my right hand, (nor would I have expected it to be). However, strangely enough, the handwriting of my dominant hand and non-dominant hand looked nothing alike; (perhaps the result of using different portions of my brain).

Whereas, my natural handwriting is masculine, (but nothing to brag about), my newfound, non-dominant handwriting is feminine, and somewhat like calligraphy. 

However, as Paul Harvey was prone to say, 

..."and now the rest of the story."

For you see, as time progressed my non-dominant hand became my dominant hand, (and vice versa). At this stage, I rarely write with my right hand, as the cursive of my formerly dominant hand has become almost illegible. And when I do use my right hand, there is a noticeable tremble. Not only so, but when I am writing with my left hand, I sense a slight tremor in my right hand. 

I have obviously rewired the synapses which control each of my hands with the foregoing, unexpected results. I have often asked myself, 

"Had I to do it over, would I do it over?"

After all this, given the pluses and minuses, I can truthfully say,

I think I would.

by Bill McDonald, PhD 

 

NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR

 4358

We live in an age when the Gospel of Christian Prosperity is popular. Preachers such as that guy with the initials J.O. have captivated thousands with their questionable, non-scriptural philosophy.

Such altogether human icons such as the man I alluded to would have you believe that God owes us something. If we "tow the line" and make Him happy, then there are little or no limits to the good health and great wealth that we naturally deserve as a result. 

Nothing could be further from the Truth

Literally in the last five minutes I gleaned something from the first verse of Hebrews Chapter 11 which has never occurred to me.

"Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for."

Those last two words in that sentence could be replaced with the phrase "which we expect" and as a result we have,

"Now Faith is the substance of things which we expect."

I tend to think that the martyrs of Hebrews 11 expected better treatment than they received.

"Others were tortured, but refused to curse God since they were children of the Promise. Some endured mocking and flogging and the chains of dank, dark prison cells. They were stoned to death. They were cut in two. They were executed by the sword. They wore sheepskins and goatskins. They were poor. They were persecuted. (And the world was, by no means, worthy of them). They lived in caves and chasms. They wandered in deserts and stood on the summits of mountains.

 "God and men praised them for their faith, yet not one of them witnessed the fruition of His promises, since Providence had a better plan for both them and us." (McDonald Paraphrase of the New Testament)

Not one of them witnessed the fruition of His promises.

I think the prosperity preachers must have conveniently subtracted certain passages of scripture from the holy writ, such as,

"Filling up in my own body the unfinished sufferings of Christ." (Col. 1:24)

(and)

"For I reckon the suffering of this present time is passing away, but he who does the will of God endures forever." (Romans 8:18)

(Doesn't sound like the health and wealth gospel, does it)?

Speaking of things hoped for, and the potential disillusionment of not getting what we would expect, the following verse is as practical as it gets.

"The world and its expectations are passing away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." (1st John 2:17)

Afterall my friends, isn't it all about forever? Isn't the forever we are waiting for worth the comparative momentariness which we may endure on this side of heaven?

I believe it is.

by Bill McDonald, PhD

BATTING 100 PERCENT

 4357

Pt. 1

Lately, I have wondered if there are all that many rude people in the world, or if I just have a special knack for finding the small percentage of people out there who are rude.

And, oddly enough, it always seems to involve yours truly and some type of conveyance. 

I previously wrote about an incident from 8 or 10 days ago.

"At the time, I was pedaling my bike down the sidewalk, as I tend to do five days a week. (Keeps my weight down to a stealthy 225).

"And, as I approached the local McDonald's hamburger joint, and I was about to cross a two lane access road next to the restaurant, I noticed a small sedan preparing to enter the highway. And, as I am prone to do before passing in front of a vehicle, I attempted to make eye contact with the driver.

"Apparently, to no avail.

"For as I asserted my right of way, (after all, I was on the sidewalk, and pedaling a non-motorized vehicle), the car accelerated. And given the closing speed, and distance between my bike and his automobile, I realized I was close to finding myself beneath the front wheels of his weighty conveyance. 

"I immediately gripped my handbrakes. 3 feet. 2 feet. 1foot.

"Both the driver, and I came to a screeching halt at the same moment.

"And rather than lying prostrate beneath the wheels of the sedan, the driver's forward momentum had taken him sufficient distance that the front wheel of my bicycle was an inch away from leaving a small dent in the passenger door of his vehicle.

"And it was about then that I temporarily lost some of my sanctification. (Yeah, I did).

"I screamed loud enough so that the man, or possibly woman, (I didn't pause long enough to distinguish the gender of the driver), would hear me through the closed window.

'Aren't you gonna stop?'

"And with that, I pedaled my bike behind the car, and never looked back."

Pt. 2

And then, night before last I decided to drive to a nearby town, my hometown of Bartow, to pick up a whopper with cheese at the local Burger King. 

And, as so often occurs, after I paid at the window, the employee asked me to drive around, and park out front while they were preparing my burger; which I proceeded to do. 

Parking in the usual location, in one of the spaces on the other side of the street adjacent to the restaurant, I brought up Channel 76, The Elvis Channel, and waited.

Approximately three minutes later, I heard a commotion behind me. Someone seemed to be talking to another person, but I could not make out their words.

Now, I realized whoever was talking was talking to me, and talking to me loudly.

"Why did you park out here? Don't you see the spaces by the building?"

And the young lady's tone was so condescending, 70 years drained quickly through the hourglass, and I was 5 again!

However, I managed to respond,

"I have always parked out here when I was waiting on my order."

The woman shoved the paper bag into my outstretched hands, did a 180, and headed back to the building. And as she was halfway back from whence she came, I leaned out my window, raised my voice slightly, and said,

"Cheer Up!!!"

And having examined my motivation, I realized that my agenda was, at the same time, both encouragement and sarcasm; if such a mixture of purposes be possible. 

Afterward

And then, I was pedaling my bike on the sidewalk again yesterday.

As I neared the entrance/exit to/from Circle K, I noticed a car leaving the convenience store, and preparing to turn onto a four laned highway; parallel to the sidewalk upon which I found myself. 

It was a virtual repeat of the incident I described at the beginning of this story. Had I continued across the driver's pathway, I would have found myself beneath the front wheels of his vehicle.

I will spare you any additional verbiage regarding the foregoing incident. (It was Groundhog Day all over again).

Given my tendency to run into all these rude people while on a two wheeled conveyance or in a four wheeled conveyance, perhaps I'd be safer walking.

by Bill McDonald, PhD

THEY WHO SOW IN TEARS

 4356

In 1921 David and Svea Flood went with their two-year-old son from Sweden to the heart of Africa, to what was then called the Belgian Congo. This missionary couple met up with the Ericksons, another young Scandinavian couple, and the four of them sought God for direction. In those days of much devotion and sacrifice, they felt led of the Lord to set out from the main mission station to take the gospel to the village of N’dolera, a remote area.

 

This was a huge step of faith.

 

There, they were rebuffed by the chief, who would not let them enter his town for fear of alienating the local gods. The two couples opted to build their own mud huts half a mile up the slope.

 

They prayed for a spiritual breakthrough, but there was none. Their only contact with the villagers was a young boy, who was allowed to sell them chickens and eggs twice a week.

 

Svea Flood—a tiny woman only four feet, eight inches tall—decided that if this was the only African she could talk to, she would try to lead the boy to Jesus. And she succeeded!

 

Meanwhile, malaria struck one member of the little missionary band after another. In time, the Ericksons decided they had had enough suffering and left to return to the central mission station.

 

David and Svea Flood remained near N’dolera to carry on alone.

 

Then, Svea found herself pregnant in the middle of the primitive wilderness. When the time came for her to give birth, the village chief softened enough to allow a midwife to help her. A little girl was born, whom they named Aina. The delivery was exhausting. Svea Flood was already weak from bouts of malaria so the birthing process was a heavy blow to her stamina. She died only 17 days after Aina was born.

 

Something snapped Inside David Flood at that moment. He dug a crude grave, buried his 27-year-old wife, and then went back down the mountain with his children to the mission station.

 

Giving baby Aina to the Ericksons, he snarled, “I’m going back to Sweden. I’ve lost my wife, and I obviously can’t take care of this baby. God has ruined my life!”

 

With that, he headed for the port, rejecting not only his calling, but God Himself.

 

Within eight months, both the Ericksons were stricken with a mysterious malady and died within days of each other. Baby Aina was then turned over to another American missionary family who changed her Swedish name to “Aggie”. Eventually they took her back to the United States at age three.

 

This family loved Aggie. Afraid that if they tried to return to Africa some legal obstacle might separate her from them, they decided to stay in their home country and switch from missionary work to pastoral ministry. That is how Aggie grew up in South Dakota.

As a young woman, she attended North Central Bible College in Minneapolis. There she met and married Dewey Hurst.

 

Years passed. The Hursts enjoyed a fruitful ministry. Aggie gave birth first to a daughter, then a son. In time, her husband became president of a Christian college in the Seattle area, and Aggie was intrigued to find so much Scandinavian heritage there.

 

One day she found a Swedish religious magazine in their mailbox. She had no idea who had sent it, and of course she couldn’t read the words, but as she turned the pages, a photo suddenly stopped her cold.

 

There, in a primitive setting, was a grave with a white cross—and on the cross were the words SVEA FLOOD.

 

Aggie got in her car and drove straight to a college faculty member whom she knew could translate the article.

 

“What does this article say?”

 

The teacher shared a summary of the story.

 

"It is about missionaries who went to N’dolera, Africa, long ago. A baby was born. The young mother died. One little African boy was led to Jesus before that. After the whites had all left, the boy all grown up finally persuaded the chief to let him build a school in the village. He gradually won all his students to Christ and the children led their parents to Him. Even the chief became a follower of Jesus! Today there are six hundred believers in that village, all because of the sacrifice of David and Svea Flood."

 

Aggie was elated!

 

For the Hursts’ 25th wedding anniversary, the college presented them with the gift of a vacation to Sweden.

 

Aggie sought out her birth father.

 

David Flood was an old man now. He had remarried, fathered four more children, and generally dissipated his life with alcohol. He had recently suffered a stroke. Still bitter, he had one rule in his family: “Never mention the name of God! God took everything from me!”

 

After an emotional reunion with her half-brothers and half-sister, Aggie brought up the subject of her longing to see her father. They hesitated....

 

“You can talk to him, but he’s very ill now. You need to know that whenever he hears the name of God, he flies into a rage.”

 

Aggie walked into the squalid apartment, which had liquor bottles strewn everywhere, and slowly approached her 73-year-old father lying in a rumpled bed.

 

“Papa,” she said tentatively.

 

He turned and began to cry.

 

“Aina!"

 

"I never meant to give you away!”

 

“It’s all right, Papa,” she replied, taking him gently in her arms.

 

“God took good care of me.”

 

Her father instantly stiffened and his tears stopped.

 

“God forgot all of us. Our lives have been like this because of Him.”

 

He turned his face back to the wall.

 

Aggie stroked his face and then continued, undaunted.

 

“Papa, I’ve got a marvelous story to tell you!"

 

"You didn’t go to Africa in vain. Mama didn’t die in vain. The little boy you won to the Lord grew up to win that whole village to Jesus! The one seed you planted in his heart kept growing and growing! Today there are 600 people serving the Lord because you were faithful to the call of God in your life!"

 

"Papa, Jesus loves you. He has never hated you or abandoned us.”

 

The old father turned back to look into his daughter’s eyes. His body relaxed.

 

He slowly began to talk.

 

And by the end of the afternoon, he had come back to the God he had resented for so many years. Over the next few days, father and daughter enjoyed warm moments together. A few weeks after Aggie and her husband returned to America, David Flood died.

 

And a few years later....

 

Aggie and her husband were attending an evangelism conference in London, England, when a report was given from Zaire (the former Belgian Congo).

 

The superintendent of the national church, representing some 110,000 baptized believers, spoke eloquently of the Gospel’s spread in his nation.

 

Aggie could not help going to ask him afterward if he had ever heard of David and Svea Flood.

 

“Yes, madam,” the man replied in French, his words being translated into English.

 

“Svea Flood led me to Jesus Christ! I was the boy who brought food to your parents before you were born. In fact, to this day, your mother’s grave and her memory are honored by all of us.”

 

He embraced Aggie for a long time, sobbing.

 

“You must come to Zaire! Your mother is the most famous and honored person in our history.”

 

When Aggie and her husband went to N’dolera, they were welcomed by cheering throngs of villagers. Aggie even met the man who had been hired by her father to carry her down the mountain in a hammock-cradle.

 

Then the pastor escorted Aggie to see her mother’s tomb with a white cross bearing her name. She knelt in the soil to pray and give thanks to God.

 

Later that day, in the church, the boy turned pastor read....

 

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24

 

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” Psalm 126:5