words

softly He comes to whisper words,

knowing the power they hold.

from the start those words were all

eyes saw, or ears were told

words that carry thoughts of love

through symbols on a page

or spoken first to clay formed men

who walked an earlier age

words that hold in balance all

the charge within the atom

words that fill each cell with life

and fashioned all since Adam

and now our words we lift to Him,

in gratitude our chorus

your whispered love has touched our heart

we know that you are for us!

love to Jesus, the Word who became flesh and the Word through which all creation was formed and is now held together!

Rob Smith

pushing the future

On the way from work last night I watched a young mom pushing her little one in a stroller.  They were apparently headed out for an evening walk, probably to no where in particular.  I thought about the constant joy a mother has for her child.  The child represents the fulfillment of many dreams for the mother.  There was probably the great dream of anticipation...followed by the excitement of realized pregnancy...followed by more anticipation of the child's gender...answered by the great drama of labor and delivery...and now the daily wonder of beholding a unique personality unfolding and opening like some kind of progressively blooming flower.  Such a wonder engenders the deepest of love and opens rich mines of patience and grace.  Just as the young mom pushes the stroller in front, as she walks, so she announces to the world: "Come and see this little wonder...this living proof that love is passing to a new generation.  Here is the miracle of life!"

Perhaps this is something like the love our Heavenly Father has for us, as He reaches us with the message of His salvation and we respond to begin our walk with Him.

Ecclesiastes 11:⁵ Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother's womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

blessings,

Rob Smith

what (who) will last?

 Hebrews 1:¹⁰ He also says to the Son,

"In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth
    and made the heavens with your hands.
¹¹ They will perish, but you remain forever.
    They will wear out like old clothing.
¹² You will fold them up like a cloak
    and discard them like old clothing.
But you are always the same;
    you will live forever."

Hebrews 12:²⁵ Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! ²⁶ When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also." ²⁷ This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.

²⁸ Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. 

Here are two passages from the book of Hebrews...one from near the beginning and one from near the end.  It is good to consider the things that will last and the things that will not last and to decide where our allegiance and trust will lie.  There is a Kingdom that is beyond "shaking" that is ruled by the One who created us and all we can see.  Somewhere within we know that we were made for eternity and to inhabit the unshakable Kingdom!

blessings,

Rob Smith

My brother, the super hero

Hebrews 2:¹¹ So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. ¹² For he said to God,

"I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
    I will praise you among your assembled people."

Super heroes are appealing and wonderful because they have powers that are greater than mere mortals.  They are also appealing because they are focused on doing what is right and true.  But they are especially appealing because we can personally relate to them.  Jesus makes it clear that there are people who have become, and are still becoming, His brothers and sisters.  Through our super brother, Jesus, we can be restored to the Father we have in common...the God of Heaven.  

And here is why Jesus came down from Heaven to earth:  Hebrews 2:¹⁴ Because God's children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. ¹⁵ Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

It was all part of God's great rescue!  Jesus has become the connecting path for his brothers and sisters on earth to find their way back to their Father!

blessing,

Rob Smith

Jesus, the true superhero

My son in law, Mike, is teaching my grandson Peter's Sunday School class.  I understand from Mike that one of the first points he is making with his first graders is that Jesus is the real super hero (even better than Batman, Spider Man or Superman).  We have been reading through the New Testament book of Hebrews in our adult class lately and I have found some scripture to back this up.  

Hebrews 1:³ The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. ⁴ This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.

Right off the bat we learn that Jesus is really special because He is the Son of God.  Jesus radiates God's glory...that's better than any force field from the other heroes.  Through his commands he holds everything together and keeps this universe in balance...from atomic structures to our bodies to the movement of planets, stars and galaxies.  He won the most epic battle of the ages by defeating sin and death and now He sits next to His Father's throne in Heaven.  As amazing as angels are...with their power and ability to travel with amazing speed...Jesus is greater.  His name says it all:  Jesus means Savior...or you might know Him as "the Rescuer".  

We will take a look at some more references to our true superhero over the next few days...please stay tuned.

blessings,

Rob Smith

the fellowship of a song

It occurred to me during choir practice this past week that a familiar song is like a friend.  It takes some time to get to know the words and the notes before you can sing it as the composer intended, just as it takes some time to get to know a friend and understand his unique personality before you can share a relationship.  But once a song is known, and later when it is loved, something special happens when you sing.  The very sound of the song...words and music...speaks friendship back to you as you hear it, even from your own voice and from your own heart.  Carrying this analogy to the word of God, I think we find that becoming familiar with His message to us establishes the relationship and as we hear ourselves speaking, thinking and reflecting on His words we find friendship with this divine author...who is also the composer of our song and the writer of our lives.

Zephaniah 3:17 "For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."  

blessings with a song,

Rob Smith

what we can't do

There is so much we can do for each other....  Yesterday, as I took a walk near my office, I encountered an ambulance with siren blaring and lights flashing en route to someone in need.  I thought about the wonderful and necessary service provided by the rescue squad.  At some point in many, or most, of our lives we will need the rescue squad to come for us too, as we face one of life's inevitable emergencies.  There are so many examples of service that we provide each other as people...doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors...or even neighbors, family and friends.  I suppose a big part of our purpose on the planet is met through how we serve and help each other.  Many find their profession lines up with this service and others help just because it's the right thing to do.  I enjoy reading about how our folks in the military lay down everything to serve those they fight alongside...and in do doing serve all of us at home too.  But there are some things that we just can't do for each other.  We can come in the ambulance but we can't actually heal each other.  We can prescribe medicines and offer guidance but we can't actually make well or restore the health directly.   And we can share the words of scripture and the experience of faith that we have come to know with others...but only God can actually bring the awareness of Himself that represents life eternal.  At the place where we reach the limits of what we can do...God takes over and completes the work...and we are reminded that the upward component of life is the greatest one!

Luke 24:⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ And he said, "Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.

blessings,

Rob Smith

character for a character

The story of Jacob is the story of God making promises to a flawed man and then shaping that man, while fulfilling His promises.  Jacob eventually becomes the father of the 12 tribes that fashion the nation of Israel, but before he reaches that point he needs to grow.  Jacob is a rascal (what his name means) from birth, when he was born grabbing the heel of his older twin brother.  He went on to manipulate older brother Esau into trading his birth right for a bowl of soup and he also steals the blessing of their father, Isaac, by pretending to be Esau when blind Isaac is near death.  It appears that the one who has stolen and deceived will emerge to be victorious.  But Jacob finds his match in father in law, Laban, who tricks Jacob into first marrying his first born, but unlovely, daughter Leah before Jacob can marry the younger daughter he prefers.  Jacob is forced to work 14 years for Laban before gaining his freedom.  God knew that Jacob needed to learn that there was One above who would not be out maneuvered by him.  And that is how it is today.  God still makes promises to men for life and eternity that they have not earned.  And then He shapes those men (and women) during the course of their lives to fulfill their Heavenly potential and bow before His sovereignty.

Genesis 25:²³ And the Lord told her, "The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son."

Genesis 25:³³ But Jacob said, "First you must swear that your birthright is mine." So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.

Genesis 27:¹⁸ So Jacob took the food to his father. "My father?" he said.

"Yes, my son," Isaac answered. "Who are you—Esau or Jacob?"

¹⁹ Jacob replied, "It's Esau, your firstborn son. I've done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing."

Genesis 28:¹³ At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, "I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. ¹⁴ Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.¹⁵ What's more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you."

Genesis 28:²⁰ Then Jacob made this vow: "If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, ²¹ and if I return safely to my father's home, then the Lord will certainly be my God.

Genesis 29:²⁵ But when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah! "What have you done to me?" Jacob raged at Laban. "I worked seven years for Rachel! Why have you tricked me?"

²⁶ "It's not our custom here to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn," Laban replied. ²⁷ "But wait until the bridal week is over, then we'll give you Rachel, too—provided you promise to work another seven years for me."

blessings (apologies for the length today!)

Rob Smith

less can be more

Recently we have had a few experiences in landscaping that spoke to me the message: "less can be more".  The builder of homes in our neighborhood plants one tree in the front yard of each new home.  It sounds like a nice idea but our house was already pretty much surrounded by trees and didn't seem to need another.  And over several years that tree in front seemed to block the view of our house more than enhance it.  We removed the tree and felt a sense of relief.  Over the past weekend we removed a large, but damaged, butterfly bush that was held together by rope and had overgrown its location.  Once again, as soon as it was removed and replaced with sod...instant relief!  It occurred to me that we don't always add value to life when we add to our lives.  Sometimes there are things that are out of place, damaged or overgrown that need to be removed.  I am encouraged that we have a God who knows when to add and also provides the capacity to remove, that we might be more complete.

Hebrews 9:If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

blessings,

Rob Smith

reveal and respond

Genesis 28:¹⁶ Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn't even aware of it!" ¹⁷ But he was also afraid and said, "What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!"

My journey through Genesis has really slowed down!  I can't move quickly past the early account of Jacob's life.  In chapter 28 he is on a mission to find a wife!  His father, Isaac, has directed him to leave Canaan and find a wife among the extended family in the old country.  But on the way he has a dream...a dream of a stairway to Heaven...of angels moving up and down the stairway and of the Lord standing at the top.  The Lord makes three promises to Jacob: (1) He promised many descendants across many generations and around the world that would bless every family on earth(that's really a few huge promises rolled together), (2) He promised to stay with Jacob always, (3) He promised to bring Jacob back to the place where He'd made the promise...and for icing on the cake, He promised to complete all His promises(ok..that's more than 3 promises)!

Jacob had an awakening...he realized that God was real and was really with him.  He made a memorial to that place of the dream...and then he made a promise back to God, telling Him that if God would protect him and bring him safely home, He'd make God his Lord and serve him with his life and treasure.

This seems a picture of God's relationship with us.  He is present even when we don't realize it.  He has great promises for life and hope for us.  He will be with us at all times and He will bring us safely home.  He reveals Himself and then it is up to us to respond in sincere commitment...when the dream becomes our reality.

blessings,

Rob Smith 

living for life

Genesis 28:^3 "May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants multiply and become many nations!⁴ May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings he promised to Abraham. May you own this land where you are now living as a foreigner, for God gave this land to Abraham."

It occurs to me that children are diminished as one of life's ultimate objectives in our self-centered culture.  We seem to give great attention in American culture to (a) avoiding children, (b) aborting children, (c) ignoring children.  I believe that the blessing of children is one of life's highest rewards and greatest callings.  What career....What sum of money...What trophy or lottery win...What beautiful boat or car...What amazing vista or exotic trip...can come close to the privilege of investing your life in a new life within the context of marriage and home?  Last night I had the joy of playing with my four grandchildren in their backyard and I was reminded that there is no greater joy or ambition than the opportunity we have to participate in new generations of life.  Children are the continued fulfillment of God's promise across generations and He has honored us with the privilege of participating in the promise.  We have a legacy of life and that must not be diminished...rather it must be honored.  When we play with a child we are preparing a young life to enter adulthood...secure in love and worth.

blessings,

Rob Smith

the blessing

Genesis 27:⁵ But Rebekah overheard what Isaac had said to his son Esau. So when Esau left to hunt for the wild game, ⁶ she said to her son Jacob, "Listen. I overheard your father say to Esau,⁷ 'Bring me some wild game and prepare me a delicious meal. Then I will bless you in the Lord's presence before I die.' ⁸ Now, my son, listen to me. Do exactly as I tell you. ⁹ Go out to the flocks, and bring me two fine young goats. I'll use them to prepare your father's favorite dish. ¹⁰ Then take the food to your father so he can eat it and bless you before he dies."

There is this fascinating story of the two brothers, Esau and Jacob and how they both sought their father Isaac's blessing at the end of Isaac's life.  Jacob steals the story just like he steals the blessing through the conspiracy he and his mother, Rebekah, concoct to fool blind Isaac into believing that the younger son, Jacob, was the first born, entitled to the blessing of the father...the blessing due to Esau.  But, despite the intrigue of this clever deception, I think there is a message even greater.  Why did Jacob risk so much and why did Rebekah deliberately lie and cheat for her favorite son?  

It was because there was power in the blessing that was not dependent on the behavior of the recipient.  And that is how it is today, with we who are just as flawed and scheming as Jacob.  Our blessing comes from one whose words cannot be altered and goes to those who most earnestly seek it.  It's not that Jacob was right...Jacob was wrong.  But the father's words were the words of promise and legacy and that became the priority to Jacob and Rebekah.  If only the first born could gain access to this hope, then Jacob would find a way to have an identity change.  Just as we must go through an identity change to receive the blessing ourselves.

Blessings!

Rob Smith

well, well, well

Genesis 26:¹⁷ So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and settled down.¹⁸ He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham's death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

When you live in the desert, water is your most precious commodity.   Water doesn't come from the sky very often so men must find it in the ground by digging wells.  And the hard work of digging for water doesn't always result in success.  It is understandable that a good well would be cause for celebration, and even names for the wells.  In Genesis, chapter 26, Isaac and his people dig four successful wells and they were named "Argument", "Hostility", "Open Space", and "Oath".  He named them for the circumstances that surrounded him after the wells were dug.  The first two wells were contested by local tribes and Isaac was forced to move on to dig new wells that he could access without challenge.  The final well ("Oath") was dug the very day a treaty was signed with a local king to preserve peace between Isaac and the local people.  In a sense, we also live in the desert.  We may not need to dig wells in the ground for our water, but we need to dig wells of relationship to tap the refreshing water of God's presence, His Word, His promises and His protection.   Perhaps the best name for these wells is "Jesus"!

John 4:¹³ Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. ¹⁴ But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."

blessings,

Rob Smith

a stranger in paradise

One thing that Abraham and Isaac both had in common was that they were led to live in foreign lands, among foreign people...pulled away from their native homes.  And yet, it was precisely in this context that they learned how to listen to God, hear His promise, trust in Him and see Him defend from harm and provide all needs.  They became close to God when they were far from home.  I think this is an apt picture of our walk with the Lord, as well.  As believers in God, through our faith in Jesus Christ, we are surrounded by foreigners who have no such allegiance.  And yet this is when we realize our need to depend on Him most and this becomes our opportunity to reflect His reality to others.  Our faith is deepened as we face contrast and conflict and then realize the provision and protection of the living God.  One outcome in Isaac's life was new covenants of peace that were forged with some of the foreign people who saw the reality of God in him.  When we live in a foreign land we are more likely to depend on God rather than ourselves.  And we are more likely to reflect Him properly to others.

And our true home is in Heaven!

Genesis 26:³ Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. 

blessings,

Rob Smith

promises in the famine

Genesis 26:26 A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham's time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived.

² The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. ³ Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. ⁴ I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 

It occurred to me, as I continued reading the story of Isaac that we especially need the promises of God when we are going through difficult times.   When our immediate situation looks bleak, we need the perspective of eternity...from the One who knows the end from the beginning.  Otherwise our present outlook can be driven down to match our present circumstances.  But this is where faith becomes hope and where trust in God really shines...and our inner person can thrive while our outer person may suffer.  That's why we should mine the promises of God as some mine for diamonds and gold.  They are especially precious to remember when times are tough!  Here is an example of one of these promises from the New Testament:

Romans 5:²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

blessings,

Rob Smith

Why is this happening?

At every point along life's adventure we experience new and confusing things...and often we don't understand why they are happening.  But we believe that there are reasons that they are happening and there is God behind the happenings.  Rebekah was the wife of Isaac and she had been having difficulty becoming pregnant.  In fact, she had been married about 20 years without conceiving.  Isaac didn't understand why this was happening and he turned to God with this need...and then Rebekah did become pregnant.  During the pregnancy there were probably many feelings and sensations and anticipations that Rebekah had...but one of them particularly frustrated her.  She felt like a wrestling match was taking place in her midsection.  The process of pregnancy was filled with mystery but she may not have known at first that she carried twins.  Like Isaac, she also turned to God (Genesis 25:22) and asked: "Why is this happening to me?"  Better than any ultrasound, God spoke to Rebekah and explained that she carried twin boys and they were wrestling for dominance, just as they would in life.  You may run into life experiences where you also ask, "Why is this happening?"  We can rest assured that this is a good question to ask because things do happen for a reason.  We may not always get the answer as quickly or as explicitly as Isaac and Rebekah did, but when we align our concerns with His care we find the answers we truly need.

Jeremiah 12:12 

Lord, you always give me justice
    when I bring a case before you.
So let me bring you this complaint:
Why are the wicked so prosperous?
    Why are evil people so happy?

blessings,

Rob Smith

looking forward

What are you looking forward to?

The weekend's just ahead.

What are you looking at past that?

What hopes rush through your head?

Marriage, children, job, retire,

trips, a home and cars

Times with friends and time alone...

and then we just expire???

But look beyond...way beyond

The things that fill hope's cup

And find yourself with dreams that lead

to a forever up!

Psalm 16:11 

You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

love,

Rob Smith

developing faith

Genesis 22:22 Some time later, God tested Abraham's faith. "Abraham!" God called.

"Yes," he replied. "Here I am."

Abraham's life is a lesson for us in relating to God.  The relationship begins (recorded in Genesis 12) when God decides to speak to Abram and tell him to leave his homeland and strike out for a new land that God wants to give him.  Along the way and through the journey Abram walks through a succession of trials, makes personal choices, faces consequences and then hears again and again from God.  The trials come from different directions: famine, family suffering, fights over land, and flights from enemies.  The choices Abram makes reflect a growing reliance on the God who continues to speak to him.  Chapter 22 represents a culmination...a final exam...where God tests Abram.  Abram is asked to choose between his love for his son and his love for God.  The test turns on the question: "Whom do you trust?"  Remarkably, Abram passes with flying colors as he has learned two important characteristics of God: (1) He provides life and (2) It is better to trust God than to trust in yourself.  I believe that we can learn the same lessons as we walk through our trials and make our choices.  God is still speaking to us today.  His words are found in the Bible and the message is as personal and true for us as it was for Abraham.  It is a relationship forged by relating to God across and through the real experiences of daily living.

blessings,

Rob Smith

intimacy leads to commitment

I was pondering the power of marriage.  It's a total commitment of two people to stay together for a long, long time...like the rest of their entire lives!  Why does that happen and why is that important were what I was turning over in my mind.  My premise is that God designed marriage just like He designed man and woman.  I thought about the great desire for intimacy that we have.  We long to be close to one person...closer than to any other person.  That longing is forged deep within and is felt in every level of our composition...physical, emotional, spiritual.  But we cannot have the fullest expression or satisfaction of those desires without another factor: the freedom of commitment.  Oddly enough, commitment sounds like the opposite of freedom.  But within the context of commitment comes the ability to relax in the relationship and release totally to intimacy.  I believe that the Lord longs for intimacy with man and that is why He has made a commitment to His relationship with us, both here and forever, that allows us to trust and release all uncertainty.  Ultimately, the desire for total intimacy leads to total commitment and this flows to a quality of life marked by trust and freedom that results in growth and acceptance.  This is the kind of God we know and this is the hallmark of our union with Him, as well as our bond with our spouse.

Matthew 25:⁶ "At midnight they were roused by the shout, 'Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!'

blessings,

Rob Smith

clouds on the mountain

I had Labor Day to myself, with Shirley working, so I decided to drive up to the Blue Ridge to hopefully do some hiking.  The ride out was pleasant, though rain and gray skies dampened the view a bit.  As I passed Charlottesville and began the climb up Afton Mountain I could see that the clouds were very low and enshrouded the top.  Reaching the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway I found myself in total fog.  It seemed a cruel blow to pass a few "scenic overlooks" where you could barely read the sign, let alone see anything of the valley below.   I had anticipated having some kind of mountain top experience and was disappointed.  But then it occurred to me that sometimes there are clouds even on the mountain top experiences.   We have a good friend who has battled cancer, infections and many close calls over the past year.  His current prognosis is not good, with the cancer now spreading.  This fellow absolutely loves the Lord and has brought much cheer and encouragement to others.  His experience has been one of clouds on the mountain top.  His view has not been clear and far and beautiful.  But then I realized that in the clouds of trial and difficulty, Joe has felt the closeness and blanketing presence of God.  The Lord wraps His strong arms around Joe like fog held me on the Blue Ridge.  His experience now is not represented by the view but by the arms of God, wrapping him tightly even as he remains on the mountain of the Lord.

Exodus 15:17 

You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain—
    the place, O Lord, reserved for your own dwelling,
    the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established.

blessings, with great love for Joe,

Rob Smith

going gray

Psalm 71:17 

O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood,
    and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.
¹⁸ Now that I am old and gray,
    do not abandon me, O God.
Let me proclaim your power to this new generation,
    your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

¹⁹ Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens.
    You have done such wonderful things.
    Who can compare with you, O God?

I am having a little bit of an identify crisis...over the past few years my hair has gone progressively more gray.  I don't see it as much when I look in the mirror as when I look at pictures.  But this past weekend we went to a reunion of some old friends and a few were clearly shocked at the change.  Someone else made a comment at church about how Shirley never seems to age while I continue to (humor was intended!).  So I had this vague memory about scriptural references to gray hair and decided to find comfort there.  It seems to me that gray hair can represent two things in a positive way: (1) a person has made it pretty far into this experience we call living and is still breathing and taking nourishment and (2) the gray hair may represent a measure of wisdom and experience with our Lord.  I am challenged with the Psalmist above to have one ambition: to proclaim the power and reality of God to a new generation...to those who are pre-gray!  Here are a few other encouraging verses: (perhaps gray is better thought of as silver)

Proverbs 16:31 

Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is gained by living a godly life.

Proverbs 20:29                                                                                                                                                       The glory of young men is their strength,                                                                                       And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

three steps to a new life

It occurred to me that there are three important steps to becoming a new person and discovering new life.  They all can be linked with the experience of people around and near Christ and His death and resurrection.  The first step we need to take is to identify with the ones who actually nailed Jesus to the cross.  After all, there were real people who literally drove the nails that attached Him to the wooden beams that led to his final suffering and death.  And the reality is that each of us and all of us are responsible for the necessity that those nails would pierce that skin and break through those tendons and bone.  We put Him on the cross because we are not the people we ought to be.  The second step is to identify with the people that took Jesus down from the cross and literally carried His lifeless form and laid it in the tomb.  After all, real people actually did remove those nails and did carry His body.  There were people who wrestled with the form of Jesus in death before they embraced Him in life.   The third step is identify with those who went to the tomb of Jesus on the third day after His death, only to find the stone rolled away and then to meet Him in resurrected form.  After all, real people did have that experience and real guards beheld the empty tomb that they had been entrusted with watching.  When we can identify personally with nailing Jesus to the cross, carrying His lifeless body to the tomb, and beholding Him raised to new life...then we personally move through a process of realizing our faults, wrestling with the reality of Jesus' death for us, and awakening to the new life He has made possible.  As we identify with the process of His death and resurrection, we also experience a form of death and resurrection on a personal level and find new life...free from bondage to sin or fear of death.

Isaiah 53:4 

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!
⁵ But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.
⁶ All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God's paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
    the sins of us all.

¹⁰ But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him
    and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
    he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
    and the Lord's good plan will prosper in his hands.
¹¹ When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
    he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
    my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
    for he will bear all their sins. 

blessings to all and to the many who will identify with the three people above, who nailed Jesus to the cross, who carried Him to be buried, and who beheld the risen Christ!  As we identify personally we come to see our greatest need and find our greatest answer.

Love,

Rob Smith