12 April 2009

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

When I was a little fellow I didn’t much enjoy getting up early and going to the Easter Sunrise Services. In Salem this meant either some country hillside or the stadium at Bush Park. However, this was the thing to do so that was what we did. De rigueur.

Dad thought this was great. Often it was cold, wet, and windy. Someone would hold an umbrella over the speaker so his Bible wouldn’t get wet. Although I’d tuck myself in between mom and dad, by the time the service was over I was totally chilled.

Still, I looked forward to, loved Easter. It was a special day filled with happy music, pretty things and the hints of spring. As I began to understand what we were celebrating I could appreciate the power of the message. Today, more than ever. Resurrection! Yes!

…

Probably everyone reading this will be familiar with the story of Jesus’ crucifixion. The details of how, what, when, and where have been studied in great detail. One part has often been of special interest to me. That was when after Jesus had breathed his last, the Roman Centurion, a hard man who had directed the entire episode, looked up, amazed, and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

A Roman Centurian earned his position by long and faithful service. He was commander of one hundred Roman soldiers and accustomed to carrying out any and all orders given him. This detail would not have been anything new to him until he discovered he was part of a truly unique event. I’ve sometimes wondered what kind of a person the Centurion was after this?

Love…Larry Buhler

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

“A pox (plague) on both your houses.” If Shakespeare didn’t say this, he should have. Actually, it does come from Romeo and Juliet. Two families, competing for power, cause the death of one of the characters and, dying, he utters this oft-quoted phrase.

Unfortunately, the human condition is alive and well in both the Republican and Democrat parties. A pox on both their houses. So far, constitutional checks and balances have curtailed the more outrageous excesses and our country has managed to survive.

Many are now wondering if the rope hasn’t stretched to the breaking point. We are doing some mighty dumb things. It’s high time every Christian in the land pray God will give our leaders, both Republican and Democrat, new hearts and a desire to do right.

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Many years ago radio station KOIN started their broadcasting day at 0600 with the same words: “Yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

That didn’t mean much to a little country boy of six but I liked the way it sounded. As I grew older these words, burned into my memory, would come back from time to time and I would ponder their meaning. I can’t say I ever came to any startling conclusions.

Life is a journey. Someday, we promise ourselves, we will be happy and content after we’ve done this or that. No, that’s not the way it’s supposed to work. It’s the traveling that’s important. If we allow God to guide us it will be a good journey and filled with inner joy.

May God’s grace be sufficient for each need.

Love…Larry Buhler

29 March 2009

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

I took my suit to the cleaners recently. The man at the counter looked about as sour as anyone I’ve seen lately. He had all the charm of cold, overcooked broccoli. It wasn’t just the lack of a smile, he looked pure mean. I was glad when I could leave.

People that wait on the public can easily have all of the happy sucked out of them early in the day. Truth is, the public often makes unreasonable demands and puts blame where there is no fault. Perhaps my friend at the counter has had too many years of this.

One day I decided to take the Reader’s Digest challenge and smile at everyone I met. It worked pretty well except for the guy at the stoplight. He wasn’t quite sure about me. I like what the little girl said: “Mommy, he didn’t have a smile so I gave him one of mine.”

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In preparation for Easter, pastor Dan has prepared several messages about Christ’s words on the cross as he was being crucified. Reading from Luke 23, Christ first said,” Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” At first glance, it would appear this was a prayer for those in the immediate vicinity but it went far beyond that. Included were all those having brought Him to this point…the people, the religious leaders, and the Romans. By extension, because Christ died for all sins, past, present, and future, that would put us among those for whom He prayed.

Then, in answer to the plea of the second thief that Jesus remember him also, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise.” This last-minute show of faith by the thief, and Christ’s response, is more than adequate proof that eternal salvation is the result of faith, and faith alone. Let no man say otherwise.~~

Let’s pray for our national leaders, both military and political. It seems that our nation is swimming in uncharted waters and God’s intervention is sorely needed.

Love…Larry Buhler

22 March 2009

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

I’ve sometimes wondered if a person in his eighties can really add anything meaningful to public or Christian discourse. It would have to be from the perspective of age and one always faces the danger of being considered outdated and/or irrelevant.

It is so easy to give advice but everyone knows what that is worth. It is hard to see someone you love making the same mistakes you may have made. You would like them to benefit from your experience but that seldom happens. It’s an age-old dilemma.

The Chinese, we are told, associate age with wisdom. Maybe true, but not always. Perhaps it all comes down to who is speaking and who is listening. They say real love is to have the other person’s best interests in view. That seems about right, should work.

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Some of the more familiar Bible passages are being studied in Jake’s adult SS. Today, we were still in Ecclesiastes, chapter 3. After listing some of the issues common to man, leading to the conclusion God is in control, the writer goes on in verse 11 to state, in part, “He has also set eternity in man’s heart.” We understand this to mean each person has an inner awareness that there is more than just this life to be considered. This explains why man has been a worshiper from the beginning. Application: Only a relationship with the living Creator-God brings the peace for which man yearns. “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son…/snip/…whereby we must be saved.”

Love…Larry Buhler

15 March 2009

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

I never had the capacity to fully appreciate all of Maya Angelou’s poetry. One statement attributed to her, however, is awesome. She said, “A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.”

One way or another, that was the standard, stated or implied, my generation of church-related young men were taught. Of course, if the young lady also happened to be attractive, so much the better. After all, young men are young men…guaranteed.

Ms. Angelou’s statement is profound. Men tend to reflect the attitude and manner of the one they love. We thrive on their approval. Even so, we men can be sorry critters, make terrible mistakes, calling for maximum understanding from our women. God bless’em!

…

Love…Larry Buhler

8 March 2009

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

During WW2, when asked by an officer to become part of a small invasion team, I declined. I was quickly and firmly informed my “contract with the Navy” did not allow me to choose my own war. They needed a medic and I was it. No questions, just “Yes, Sir!”

Similarly, Christians are not allowed to choose which government edicts to support. Short of having to deny the faith, we are to obey those in authority over us. Much will be unfair. Some will be abusive. A lot will be hard to swallow. That’s not the issue.

Ideally, a Christian should be the best citizen any nation could have. Antagonism against God is so deep, however, Christians are often the first target of those needing a scapegoat. It began when Nero burned Rome and undoubtedly will ever be thus.

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Teaching from the O.T. book of Micah, Jake focused on another familiar passage. In chapter 6, verse 8, Micah sums up what God requires of us…to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly before God. Micah was particularly concerned about the oppressed. He saw a society in which the wealthy took advantage of the poor. Farmers, peasants, and small landowners were being harassed. He railed against corrupt law courts, government officials, and religious leaders.~~

Micah saw the city of Jerusalem as symbolic of all that was wrong. Today, Washington might be seen as a modern Jerusalem. Greed for power and wealth drives much that happens there. Just as Micah prayed for his people, we should do the same for our time. God’s standards do not, have not changed. The penalties remain the same.

Love…Larry Buhler

Running with M & N.

Really, it’s March already?  The end of the month came in a swift fashion as I was in another time zone this weekend.  My wife was gone at a woman’s retreat and I was left to solo daddy duty from Thursday through Sunday.  When I finally made it to bed each night my mind was running a thousand miles an hour.  I am one who rarely stresses or feels anxiety about anything, but when my head hit the pillow each night it wasn’t the usual KO in 3 seconds.  I laid there with a weird feeling about the responsibility and I’m pretty sure that feeling was anxiety.  the days of complete responsibility gave me a whole new appreciation and perspective for stay at home moms.

With two months gone in 2009, I can’t say that I’m surprised that the billions of TARP dollars and additional support from the government into the financial system hasn’t made much of an impact.  The uncertainty of Wall Street is incredible.  We’re definitely going to be in this one for the long haul!

Here are Grandpa Buhler’s weekly words of wisdom:

1 March 2009

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

Saw uncle Festus again…said he’d “heard we’re aheadin’ into a depression.” He figured people didn’t rightly know what that was. Most thought it was just a bad recession. “It ain’t. That’s where all the sugar gets squeezed out of the turnip…takes years.”

“People,” he said, “are gonna find their high-falutin’ college degrees in Curtain Design or Flamingo Countin’ ain’t gonna help much when they apply for a job at the Feed & Seed. They’re gonna learn what work is ‘n they ain’t gonna like it much. Some’ll go to stealin’.”

Festus figured he’d make out. “I kin make a powerful potato soup ‘n my biscuits ain’t bad. I’ll share with them as wants to. Them people that’s used to havin’ things give to’em, they’ll be hurtin’. But God’s still the boss. Might be good for us to learn a few lessons.”

…

Joshua, Israel’s leader, continues to be the subject of pastor Dan’s messages. Having entered the Promised Land, destroyed Jericho, they were ready for the next city. Quite small, Ai appeared not to be much of a challenge but their men met the Israeli army, whipped them and sent them running. God was teaching his people a lesson. Joshua learned that one man (Achan) had broken a vow, kept some plunder taken from Jericho, and the entire nation suffered because of this. Application: One person’s disobedience can affect the entire group.

Let’s pray for each person in our fellowship. Love…Larry Buhler

Photo courtesy of Jeff Gordon.

A word from the wise (Larry Buhler, my wife’s grandfather):

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

I’m as confused by the recent “Stimulus Plan” as the next guy. In fact, although I’ve tried, I have yet to find anyone that can explain it in a meaningful, understandable way. The first stumbling block is that it’s hard to imagine how much even one trillion is.

One million seconds are 11 days. One billion seconds are 32 years. One trillion seconds would be 31,546 years. That is 5 times as many years as from Adam and Eve until now. Change seconds to dollars and you wind up with a huge, Texas-sized pile.

America has had recessions before. By injecting unimaginable amounts of money into the system you upset the normal cycle. Governmental bureaucracy always adds layers of difficulty and waste. It looks as if our country is in for a fun, bumpy, and scary ride.

…

Application: Accept God’s salvation while there is time. Would that our own country could see this. Love…Larry Buhler

A word from the wise:

15 February 2009

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

Is the cycle beginning anew? When there is no work to be had, any job looks good. Any house/food/money/car is better than none. In today’s climate, such a picture seems far-fetched, unlikely. Riches to poverty is a hard road. Only the strong can handle it.

People now in their 80’s can remember when a shoe without a hole was of great value. A warm coat was essential. Oatmeal was thinned with water, not milk. Bread was eaten plain. Every penny counted. You had to go to a bank to get change for a twenty.

One cannot spend his way out of debt. Nothing short of work and production creates wealth. Someday, perhaps in the next twenty years, we will learn this again. Until then, theories will be tried, will fail, and be rejected. Where are today’s Volkers or Trumans?

…

Let’s not neglect to pray for our nation and leaders. Love…Larry Buhler

My wife’s grandfather is an educated, Godly man.  He sends a weekly letter (I get the email version) to his friends, family, and congregation.  He gave me the thumbs up to share his thoughts within my blog.  I’m excited to share some of his words with my readers.

8 February 2009

Dear Bethel Family and Friends: (E-Mail Version)

Common sense, defined as sound judgment, appears to be in short supply. In its purest form, common sense isn’t usually all that difficult. Just identify the problem and then apply the simplest solution. Children do this automatically. Farmers do this or go broke.

If the water’s too hot, cool it down. When an object is too heavy, get help. When it is raining, take an umbrella. If the soup needs flavor, add salt. When the sun is too hot, wear a hat. When your money runs out, stop spending and earn more. Common sense.

If ever America needed common sense it is now. It isn’t that politicians do not know what to do, they just won’t do it. Personal ambitions and greed appears to drive those we have put in high places. We can only hope common sense will rise from the ashes.

…

Just this week I was reminded once again how many unchurched are turned off by showy, glitzy, and jazzy TV evangelists. Sad, but true. This is not the Christianity described in the adult SS lesson this morning. Ephesians 4 shows that humility, patience, and gentleness should typify one’s demeanor as he seeks to live in a manner that witnesses to a lost world. Not easy, but God’s way.

Ephesians 4:1ff: “I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you are called, with all humility and gentleness, and patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve unity in the bond of love.”

May this be a good week for each one. Love…Larry Buhler