TINSTAAFL

TINSTAAFL

Not too long ago I was in a discussion with a friend who retired from a career in the banking business. It was interesting to hear his perspective on the current financial environment of our country. He told me that in college, at his first economic class, the professor wrote TINSTAAFL in capital letters on the blackboard. Turning around he asked his students if they ever hear of this word. No one had so he explained to them the first principle of economics: There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch!

I remember my father telling me that very same thing years ago. I believe it was around the time he told me to go out and get a job. I was in high school and never had a paying job. I worked a lot around home picking up dog poop, making my bed, cleaning my room and trying to stay out of trouble. My dad was talking about a real job where you earned money and experienced job satisfaction for work well done.

Since those days I have always had a job. Most of them pastoring. Along the way I learned somethings about manual labor on a job site, clerked in a liquor store, a tobacco store and later a men’s clothing store. I caddied on a golf course at a country club, drove a Big Bud farm tractor, spent a day harvesting wheat, picked strawberries; a carry out boy bagging groceries and working in the produce department at a grocery store. I spent four summers as a counselor at a Boy Scout Camp. In between pastor positions, Judy and I ran a ski lodge in Montana. I am sure there are more but in old age you forgot some.

Interesting enough, none of those jobs ever offered a free lunch. But life was different back then. You were expected to work for your keep even if you didn’t especially like the job. I will say that my varied job experiences added spice to my life. I had opportunities to see how other people lived and worked. I appreciate that I am still healthy physically and mentally to enjoy working!

I like this Biblical admonition: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” So, since there is no such thing as a free lunch, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

Decisions

Decisions

Did you ever hear the old joke about decision making? It goes like this: “Do you have a problem making a decision?” The answer, “Well, yes and no.” Almost unknowingly, we make lots of decisions every day. Most are mundane and repetitive but none the less decisions. Every once in a while, a big decision come along; buying a car or where to go for vacation. It’s the really big ones that test our ability to make good decisions: who to marry, a job change or even a geographic move.

The best way I know to make good decisions is by learning from the bad ones. Thankfully, those poor choices that I have had to live with were not life altering. It only takes a lemon car purchase to make me a lot smarter in shopping for the next one. Gathering the facts and asking for counsel are essential to making good decisions.

Here’s a quote that recently appeared on my Facebook page: “Be decisive. Right or wrong make a decision. The road of life is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision.” Hopefully the unknown author wasn’t suffering from indecision himself.

Over the years I have used three questions in making major decisions. First, is this a good opportunity? Two, does it violate the Scriptures or my conscience? Third, do I have peace in doing it? When I have the answer to those questions, I can confidently make a good decision.

Decision making is a human endeavor. Animals function by instinct. God created us with a mind and a will to make choices. Hopefully as we mature our ability to make quality decisions will enhance our lives. I like these words of Jesus, “Say just a simple ‘Yes, I will’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Your word is enough.”

Now that’s a good decision.

Time

Time

When asked if I am available to do something, my usual response is that I have more time than money. That is the truth: I do have more time than money. However, I am getting older not only is money running out but time as well.

Time is one of those things that I have taken for granted. My work allows me quite a bit of unstructured time. Not having to an 8 to 5 job, I have the luxury of planning how to use my time. Looking back, I confess that there have been seasons when I was not a good steward.

Now, for some strange reason, the clock is running faster. The mornings quickly turn into evenings; days into weeks, months into seasons. Before I take notice, another year has gone by. Not only am I getting older but my kids and their kids are too. As the old saying goes “time stops for no one.”

A benefit that time does offer is perspective. Life experience over time allows one the opportunity to see life more clearly. The convictions and priorities of earlier years such as fame and fortune no longer hold my interest. Family and faith now take center stage as well as the desire to finish life well.  Funny how the sense of time running out changes our focus.

Lest the reader fear I am priming the pump to write my obituary, I am simply taking the opportunity to reflect on the importance of wise use of time that is left. No longer is time infinite. Just as there was a beginning, there is also an end.

I am reminded of the words of the Psalmist David: “But I trust in you, Lord. I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands…Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.”

Amen!

Snollygoster

Snollygoster

I bet you never heard this word before. I hadn’t until I came across it in a biography of Harry S Truman, the 33^rd President of the United States. Intrigued, I looked it up in the dictionary. A snollygoster is “a person, especially a politician who is guided by personal advantage rather than by consistent, respectable principles.” The word first appeared early in the 19^th century to describe a person who is clever and unscrupulous.

Given the present political climate in our country, it wouldn’t take much for the finger pointers and name callers to add this word to the caustic rhetoric of the day. But I don’t think this word should be used exclusively by politicians. It’s much too good a word.

Raised with moral platitudes ringing in my ears, I remember phrases like “say what you mean and mean what you say” and “talk is cheap.” Our world of talking heads and social media 24/7 doesn’t allow for much reflection on words spoken. The fast pace of life events challenge us to keep up. Reflection and formulation of one’s own opinion seems to be a dying discipline.

It must be my philosophical training that wants to get behind the words and know something of the speaker’s character. Some years ago, the political climate changed when we were told that a person’s personal life had nothing to do with their public life. As if one were able to separate one’s words from one’s person. This sounds a lot like “do as I say not as I do.” No wonder the spoken word has lost credibility.

The Bible is full of life giving words. The Book of Proverbs has words that give life. Here is but one example: “You’ll find wisdom on the lips of a person of insight, but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.” I am sure this in reference to a snollygoster!

Bears

Bears

It started about two years ago. It was springtime in Montana. There was still snow on the ground and the temperature was just above freezing. As is my early morning routine, once I had the coffee going, I went to open the patio blinds to admire the sun rising over the Bridger Mountains. Something dark caught my eye on the patio. Recently shoveled, I didn't remember leaving anything there.

A little later, after dressing and a cup of coffee in hand, I went out on the patio to see about that dark spot. No, it wasn't something I left after shoveling snow. It was a big pile of brown, stinky stuff with berry seeds imbedded in it. Recognizing the smell and the texture, I realized that a black bear had come during the night and defecated on my patio!

Judy and I live in the mountains with lots of wildlife. There had been rumors of hungry bears coming out of hibernation as well as sightings of mountain lions, moose and deer in our neighborhood. As I shared my bear visit with neighbors, I learned that the bear had visited their garbage cans. I started feeling like I was living in Yellowstone Park.

Since that original bear visit, twice again that same year, I had my bird feeders attacked and their wrought iron stands bent at a ninety-degree angle. It takes a big bear to do that kind of damage. Enough was enough, I started taking the feeders in at night and let my bear friend go on a diet.

Three weeks ago, we flew to Portland to visit our new grandson. While there I received a call from my daughter Katie who informed me that the bear was back. I forgot to bring in the feeders before we left. Three of my wrought iron holders were again bent and one completely broken. All six of my feeders suffered bear teeth and claw damage.

Just this morning, as I was hanging up the bird feeders, I noticed two of our neighbors had their garbage cans visited by that bear. Garbage all over the place. Now I love living where wildlife abounds but I think it's time to do a little bear hunting!

Independence Day

Independence Day

Nope! Not the 1996 movie portraying the alien takeover of America on the Fourth of July. The Independence Day I am talking about occurred two hundred and forty-one years ago. It was the day that the founders of our country signed the Declaration of Independence that set-in motion the birth of our nation.

In part, this document reads: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

The ink was hardly dry on that piece of parchment when the reality of what it would take to sustain such goals became the reality of the Revolutionary War. Any student of history will bear witness to the elasticity of our country as generation after generation endeavored to live up to these ideals. How easy it is to forget the cost of our freedom.

There is no doubt that we, like previous generations of Americans, are living in difficult times. The social, economic, political and cultural fabric of our country seems at times to be at a breaking point. Again, the ideals of the founding fathers have been tested and found worthy of our sacrifice. Yes, we can and yes, we will persevere!

These words from the Book of Proverbs encourage us: “When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it, but it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.”

On this national holiday, can we stop and pray that God will give wisdom to our governmental leaders who are charged with the responsibility to ensure our Rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness?

Competition

Competition

Twice a month, I meet a pastor friend of mine for coffee. Neither of us need another cup of coffee and a sweet roll mid-morning. It's just a good excuse to catch up on life. You see, John and I are good friends. We first met a number of years ago at a weekly pastor's prayer meeting. When that dissolved, we decided to keep up our friendship.

What do two pastors talk about over coffee? Surprising enough we share what's going on in each other’s life. Our kids are grown and we have pastored for a long time, so we talk about the challenges we face growing older as well as staying focused on pastoring and preaching. We've had several joint Easter services as well as sharing the Sunday morning pulpit.

I am making a point here that there is no competition between us. There is no bragging about how large our congregations are (both churches are small) or what a whopping sermon we gave last Sunday. We are two ordinary guys from different backgrounds who have a heart for the church in our community.

When I was pastoring in denominational church life, there was a strong sense of competition. Money and numbers gave you bragging rights at ministerial gatherings. There was no encouragement or opportunity to share your insecurities. It was all business and no time for relationships. You had to keep up the image if you were going to stay in the game.

I want to go on record saying that I appreciate my friendship with Pastor John. He encourages me as well as challenges me. I walk away from our time together knowing that we are laboring together. More than once we have had to remind each other these words of Jesus: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me; watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of life. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”