Isn't That Just Like Satan?

I have tried recently to look for the good in all situations. I have spent time praising God for trying times as well as the good times. I have seen my spiritual mood change and experience growth in recent months. My family and I have seen solutions to our problems appear (even if they were not the solutions we had planned). We have become more "of one mind" about important issues in our life. My wife and I are looking forward to our 14th wedding anniversary this week (Wednesday).

Then Tuesday happened! I left the house early to leave for work. But, as I was getting into my truck, I noticed that something was not right...the glove box was open and some of the contents were messed up. I then noticed that my satellite radio receiver was missing from the dash and the front of my stereo was gone! To top that off, my CD case was missing from the seat as well!! A few years of my favorite music was just gone!!! I had been robbed...

I purposefully did not touch anything so as to not disturb the "crime scene", went back in and told my wife about it and then called the police. The local LEO showed up and asked several questions, took my information, then left to deal with the other vandalism and burglaries reported the same morning. Turns out someone went on a crime spree in our little village. One other vehicle was broken into and a local auto parts store was robbed as well. As it turns out, no finger prints were taken and no further investigation is to be conducted. The model and serial numbers of my equipment were loaded into the county Sheriff's database, but that's as far as things went. I expect I will never see my stuff again.

On Wednesday morning, I felt a bit sick, but as the morning progressed, I got horribly worse. Initially, I thought it was food poisoning, but now I don't know. It took two days to recover from that.

As you might imagine, I have not been in the praising mood for the past few days. I guess that's just like Satan. Just when someone starts to get it, starts to praise God for every bit of life, the devil tries to do what he does best (steal, kill, and destroy).

But then, my loving wife brought me back to a place of Divine perspective. She offered prayer for our thief! She prayed that the 45 or so Contemporary Christian CDs would serve to share the Gospel of Jesus with him (or her). She asked God to use the items stolen from us to change the lives of others for His Glory.

So now I sit here completely humbled by her sincere desire to help others and her Godly love for others (even those who take advantage of us). And, I'll start again by saying again, Thank You Lord for sending her to me. Thank you Father for creating the two of us for each other. Thank you for using this difficult week for Your Glory and Honor.

Let our lives honor You...

The Life God Gives

Hey, just a quick note about this blog and a new one I launched this week. S&T is about worship and the experiences Believers encounter along their journey. I kicked off a new site called The Life God Gives that focuses on some thoughts about managing a career, family, finances, etc. Check it out.

Feel The Pain...Know The Love

Strange title, I know. Today has found me in an even more strange mood. In the past weeks, two of my best friends in life have suffered, or are still struggling with some dramatic life situations. One has just lost a second baby early in the second trimester. Another has recently had complications during a triplet pregnancy. Two of the three are home and doing well, while the third is still in the NICU at UAMS in Little Rock. Both situations are emotionally challenging. One might lead us to question God's plan in allowing a pregnancy only to take the child before it can even take its first breath. The other could lead us to challenge God's providence. Two young people who love the Lord and wanted to start a family with one child but later found they were expecting triplets. Triplets! Effectively putting one parent out of work to care for the kids and the other trying to sustain the family on half the income. But my God will supply all your needs according to His riches and glory???

To round out the complaining today, I am again suffering back pain and nerve damage in my right leg. I have trouble standing and walking. My leg alternates from numbness to extreme burning down the outer side of my thigh, shin, and foot. I cannot see my doctor until June 10!!! The ortho specialist is 30 miles away, sometime next week!!!

So, where does the rest of the title come in? In all this, I know that God loves us all and even in the rough times, He is working things in our favor. He blesses us without end. We (I) just have to look past the pain and know His Love...

Crazy Week!!!

Finally, it's Friday!! (And you might have guessed it, I am hangin' at Kennedy Coffee.)

This week has been absolutely insane. I've had a very challenging week at work that has included countless conference calls and dozens of hours spent trying to solve a problem (long distance). We have avoided any real sickness in the family but our friends have struggled this week. And just when we thought we have nothing planned for this weekend, some of our best friends (family) gave birth to their triplets! We have certainly burned up a few cell phone minutes trying to stay up to date with them and then forwarding what we learned out to other friends. Somewhere in the middle, we had 3 (count'em 3) parent / teacher conferences.

With all this activity (and much more undocumented stuff) our family is doing great! God has truly blessed us in the midst of all the busy-ness. We are enjoying close relationships within the family and with our friends from Church. It would be easy to let our emotions get out of control, but we have been reminded to focus on the most important things in life: Loving God and Loving Others.

Sometimes when loving others, it seems that we are taken advantage of or otherwise mistreated. We are reminded that the Word teaches us to think of others as higher than ourself. Even Jesus washed his friends' feet. I am sure that, in the natural, that was degrading, but spiritually, it is a great vision of how we Believers should serve others in love.

I had to remember that loving others is unconditional. To me that means that we shouldn't expect anything in return for showing love to others or serving them. In fact, Jesus encouraged us to do the things we do in secret so it is not seen by others and possibly lead to pride or other divisions. So the take away today is to serve others and love them like Jesus does. Just love them...

Jonthan's Baptism

One of our family's most proud moments!!!



Praise God!!!

More Coffee...

Today starts a new week for me so I am again at Kennedy Coffee just hanging out with God. As I began, I noticed an angry woman in a minivan who was chasing down a guy on a cell phone who apparently wronged her somehow related to traffic, parking, or something. I realize how easily people lose control of their emotions about something so small. I think the better description for what we do is "loose" our emotions. We can all choose to control our emotions in stressful situations, or we can choose to relinquish our control and allow our emotions to rule us. Today's parking lot situation involved harsh language and hand gestures, but what an opportunity missed to share the love of Christ!

Speaking of a missed opportunity, I visited Chris and Desiree in Little Rock at UAMS this weekend and had very good intentions of visiting Chris and Ryan Mondy in Arkansas Children's Hospital. I ultimately waited too late on Friday to visit Ryan, and was preoccupied with getting home for other responsibilities on Saturday. Although we spent some quality time with our kids at the zoo and thoroughly enjoyed the day, I didn't drive over to Children's. I thought that since we will be back in the area next weekend for a band event, I would try to go see him then. Unfortunately, I checked my email last night and learned that Ryan lost his battle with cancer early yesterday morning. His dad and I were childhood friends and classmates in Sunday School at Black River GBC, and haven't been in touch for many years, but I felt for their family as they went through this time in their life. I have prayed for them daily and rejoiced with the early news that Ryan's tumor had disappeared. This had to be God's work!!! Then I was saddened to hear that there was another tumor and that treatments were being ineffective. How could this be??? Why one miracle then a couple weeks later find out that Ryan was still in danger? Now, I am sorrowful that I never made the effort to comfort the family as they fought this battle. I am ashamed that I did not make the effort to share Christ's love with them, even if it was just a friendly visit. Father, forgive me for another missed opportunity.

Have another drink of coffee...

Hanging Out At Kennedy Coffee!

Took a lunch break to hang out at what has become my favorite coffee shop (Kennedy Coffee, Bentonville AR) and just bask in God's presence. As I sit here, I am pounded by the sounds and sights of people getting to know each other better, interviewing for a job, looking for and reading the local newspaper, etc. The business of it all seems to attract me away from the main reason I'm here: watching God's creation / creatures at work. But as I write this, I am reminded that God is here with me. He is watching my actions and He knows my thoughts. He is right here with all these people too! He is likely at work in their lives. He could be working on their behalf to get that new job, make a new friend, grow a relationship. As life happens around me, sitting in a local coffee shop, I am again awed by His ability to orchestrate all this and then I remember that "all things work for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose." What a God!!!

FAITH in Action!!!

I heard this story from one of the two Sunday School Teachers mentioned below during a half-time devotional at an Upward basketball game. It inspired me so much that I felt I had to share it with as many people as possible. I contacted the man who gave the devotional and asked him to email me the story. I have posted it here so you can read it just as I heard it. Enjoy...God Bless...

FAITH in Action

Two Sunday School Teachers from Northwest Arkansas went to Daytona Beach, Florida for an evangelism training conference. To save money, they took taxis to and from the airport and shared a ride during the week with a friend from Tennessee. On the last evening in Daytona Beach, they were grabbing a late night snack from a convenience store when they spotted a taxi driver waiting for her next call at the same store. One of the Sunday School Teachers saw that she was reading a book by a Christian author that he recognized. Knowing that they would need a very early ride to the airport the next morning, he asked the taxi driver what she thought of the book. Her description of the book and what it meant to her spiritually quickly let him know that she was a fellow believer in Jesus. He asked her if she would help them arrange their morning taxi ride. She seemed to take great joy in calling in the reservation. She even expressed her disappointment that she would not be on duty to handle it herself BUT was sure the Lord would take care of them.

The next morning, the taxi arrived early. A lady was already in the front seat with a man driving. After the men were in the taxi and headed for the airport, the male driver introduced the lady in the front seat as his wife. She told the passengers that it would be her first morning back driving a cab in six years. She had been raising their two daughters who seemed to be doing well enough in school for her to resume driving to supplement the family income. She was about to start driving so her husband could go home, get the girls off to school, and get some sleep. Their 19-year-old daughter was at home with the younger girls.

They asked the men why they were in town. One of the men, from Arkansas, explained that they were attending a FAITH Institute at the First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach. He asked if they had ever heard of FAITH or the First Baptist Church. They said they had not but that they had been talking about taking their children to church because they had been asking questions about God. The Sunday School Teacher explained that they were being trained by the First Baptist Church to take back ideas for strengthening their FAITH program back in Arkansas. He quickly told the couple, "it works like this." Then he asked them what they understood it took for a person to go to Heaven. When they both said they did not know for sure, he proceeded to explain to them how the Bible answered the question using the FAITH method and eight Bible verses he had committed to memory.

By the time they were pulling into the drop-off lane at the airport, the driver and his wife both said they wanted to have forgiveness of their sins and assurance of a home in Heaven when they die. The two Arkansans and the couple from Florida then joined hands as one of the Sunday School Teachers led them in a prayer in which they asked Jesus Christ to come into their hearts.

Now before you wonder whether the couple meant it, whether they changed, whether any follow up took place, or whatever questions you may have about this encounter, know that this is an extreme oversimplification of the whole process that unfolded over 12 hours. The First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach has been in touch with the family. So, there will be more to the story. But from what you have read here, there is already a lesson to consider in this story.

What is the probability that THESE two Arkansans, trained in how to explain the Gospel of salvation in a natural and conversational process, would have a Christian taxi driver pray for them as she arranged their ride the next morning? What is the probability that they would be picked up by a husband and wife team who had not worked together before because the woman had not driven a cab in six years? What is the probability that the length of the ride would be roughly the length of time it takes for the men to explain the Gospel? What is the probability that these parents had been thinking about doing SOMETHING spiritual – like going to church because their children had been asking them questions about God that they could not answer? Forget the math involved because in God's math it was a sure thing. He arranged this divine appointment for the sake of a family; for three daughters; for the encouragement of two sleepy, early-morning travelers; and perhaps for YOUR encouragement. Are you looking for divine appointments God has out there for you.

Yours/His,

Bob Metcalf

Minister of Education and Family Life

First Baptist Church of Centerton, Arkansas

HE IS ABLE

Ephesians 3:20-21

Be Joyful!

[My Comments are in brackets like these.]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1Thess 5:16 Be joyful always;
1Thess 5:17 pray continually;
1Thess 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

[From this short verse, I see clear direction in finding and living in God's will for our life. Be joyful, pray and give thanks in every situation you find your self.]

[I know, there are times when we don't feel like being joyful or thankful. There are days that we just can't bring ourselves to pray. But the Word says to do it regardless of how we feel.]

[So, let's work together to not focus on how we feel, but on the Word of God. When we think of God's provision, patience, love, sacrifice, salvation, and glory, it becomes easy to be joyful. It then seems natural to pray. How can we be anything but thankful???]

The Man They Call Jesus

[My comments are in brackets like these.]

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
Jn 9:1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.
Jn 9:2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jn 9:3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
Jn 9:4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
Jn 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Jn 9:6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.
Jn 9:7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

[Jesus gave two clear instructions.
The man followed those instructions and received a miracle!! When we follow God’s leading, blessings follow!!]

Jn 9:8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?”

[People around us may not understand or may not believe our transformation. Some may ask “Hey! Isn’t that the guy who used to …” in genuine curiosity, but others may ask that same question in an accusatory manner.]

Jn 9:9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

[In either case, the man stepped up and said, “I am that man!” The man who used to … be blind, be an alcoholic, be abusive, be angry, be vulgar, etc.]

Jn 9:10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded.
Jn 9:11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

[The next question is logical: “What happened to you to bring about this change?” “The man they call Jesus…!!!” When Jesus happens to a person, there is a noticeable change that sparks more interest (Where can we find Jesus?)]

Jn 9:12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.

The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
Jn 9:15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

[The world will probably be skeptical, but we must continue to truly give Jesus the credit and glory for our salvation, transformation, blessings, etc.]

Jn 9:24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,’” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
Jn 9:25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

[Probably the greatest come back in the Bible, “I don’t know about all those other accusations regarding Jesus, but what I do know is that I was blind but now I see!!!”]

[I may not know much, but I know what happened to me!
I was a sinner, now I’m a saint.
I was a beggar, now I sit at the King’s table.
I was poor, but now I’m rich.
I was broken, but now I’m whole.
I was on the outside, now I’m on the inside.
I was sick, but now I’m healed.
I was alone, but now I have a friend in Jesus.
I was dieing, but now I’ll live forever.
I was disconnected, but now I’m plugged in.]

[How did all this happen? The man they call Jesus!!! That’s what happened!!!]

Spiritual Blindness
Jn 9:35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
Jn 9:36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
Jn 9:37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
Jn 9:38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

[When Christ reveals Himself to us, we have little choice but to believe and worship Him.]