Monthly Archives: October 2022

Love’s Positives – Mon – 22-10-31

Daily Spark

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What is love? If you search the internet for answers to that question you’ll find all kinds of thoughts. Some silly, some profound, some not worth repeating.

This week the podcast is focused on the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Listen to verses 4 and 5, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (NIV) Notice that the passage contains positive descriptions, like “love is patient.” It also includes negative descriptions – in other words things which are not love. This week we’re looking at the positive descriptions. Today, we’re looking at “love is kind.”

The word kind indicates something that is pleasant. It doesn’t rub people the wrong way. It is generous. If you want an example of kindness, you might look at the Southwest Church of Christ in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Recently they held a community service event. Church members made and delivered over 100 meals to shut-ins and the homeless. They built a wheelchair ramp, cleaned up trash, made stuffed toys for children at the hospital – all while giving away gift cards for groceries and gas. 30 different service projects were completed.* That sounds like kindness to me.

Our challenge today is to focus on being kind to others. Be pleasant, be generous, for this is love.

*Diana Davis, “Jonesboro church spreads kindness across the community,” Jonesboro KAIT, October 10, 2022, MSN, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/jonesboro-church-spreads-kindness-across-the-community/ar-AA12NhXE

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Love’s Positives – Sun – 22-10-30

Daily Spark

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When you think about patient people, who comes to mind? I know many mothers who are patient. They lovingly tend their baby or small child. Nurses and CNAs are patient too. They often care for people who feel ill and cantankerous.

When I think of patient people, I also think of the paraprofessional staff at elementary schools. Paras must have great patience to do their job. They deal with one or more children having special physical or emotional needs. They may assist the child in the bathroom, help with wheel chairs or other devices,  assist in the classroom and help the child socially – all while documenting the day’s activities. Paras support the child all day, every school day. I’ve know paras who’ve been punched, slapped and kicked. They can’t retaliate or lash out in frustration. Their job is to support the child in spite of trying behavior. This is the type of patience you might call “long suffering.”

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul describes true love. No, not the romantic idea of love. But the type of love God has for us and that his Spirit produces in us. Listen to I Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” (NIV) The very first description of love is patience. It is the ability to put up with people, even when they try our nerves. Today, show love by being patient.

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23rd Psalm – Sat – 22-10-29

Daily Spark

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Have you ever visited someplace and wished you could live there? Maybe you’ve been to an all-inclusive resort on some Mexican beach or Caribbean island. Or maybe you’ve been to a lodge nestled in the mountains with a fantastic view. A nice home near a great golf course attracts some people. Others visit a city that has all the amenities and attractions, and wish they could afford to live there. For me, I’m more of a mountain person. I get bored at the beach. I hate the bustle of the city, though I appreciate some European cities more than those in the U.S. I also think Hong Kong is beautiful. But I’ll take the mountains over anything. 

We all want a safe, beautiful place to live with great weather and the people and things we enjoy nearby. A place to live the good life.

God’s care for us is described as living with him. Psalms 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (NIV)

Does the idea of dwelling in God’s house excite you? My guess is probably not. But the psalmist tells us that God cares for us in many ways. He provides for us, protects us and lavishes his blessing on us like a banquet. That’s what his house is like. God caring for us is the good life.

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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

23rd Psalm – Fri – 22-10-28

Daily Spark

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Sometimes people experience a string of bad luck. In August, bad luck followed a couple in Norfolk, Virginia. A few hours before John Jefferies would start his new job, he decided to go to the convenience store. He rode his skateboard and was hit by a car that came out of nowhere. It knocked him unconscious and left him with a broken nose, broken ribs and back trouble. Five days later, the couple’s only car was stolen. Now they face the challenge of getting John to doctor appointments and the kids to school without a vehicle.1

Then there’s Corey Simons in Chicago. His car was stolen twice within three hours. The first time, his car was stolen from the shop where it was receiveing an oil change. The police arrived three minutes after he called. A GPS tracker helped the police recover the car. Simons hopped in and drove to a gas station. While he filled the car with gas, another person climbed in and stole it again. The same police officers recover it again.2

Wouldn’t you rather have good things follow you in life? They can. According to the twenty-third Psalm God cares for us like a shepherd cares for sheep. After describing God’s care, the psalmist concludes with this verse. “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (NIV)

  1. Antoinette DelBel, “‘The nightmare doesn’t end. It just keeps going’: Norfolk family devastated after string of bad luck,” WTKR, August  18, 2022, https://www.wtkr.com/news/the-nightmare-doesnt-end-it-just-keeps-going-norfolk-family-devastated-after-string-of-bad-luck
  2. Mark Rivera, “Man has car stolen twice in 3 hours in Chicago: ‘Luck is on my side’,” WLS-TV Chicago, September 26, 2022, https://abc7chicago.com/car-stolen-twice-chicago-police-crime/12251762/

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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

23rd Psalm – Thu – 22-10-27

Daily Spark

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What is the most lavish banquet you have ever attended? Have you eaten at some massive buffet? Do you think a banquet is a vast variety of simple foods or expensive dishes on fine china and fancy linen? I know I’ve been to all-you-can-eat restaurants that offer more dishes than I can ever eat. But the image of a banquet that comes to my mind is Thanksgiving dinner with all the relatives piled into my in-laws home. I miss those days. All the work preparing the table and food was a display of love.

Psalm 23:5 uses the image of a banquet to describe God’s care for us. It says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (NIV) Notice this table is not simply a large spread of food. It is prepared as a victory feast. The enemies are present, watching. But the table is prepared for us, not our enemies.

Anointing the head with oil was a way the ancients dressed in their best. Today, people shampoo, blow dry, apply gel or hair spray, then comb or brush the hair. But notice that God is the one fixing the hair. He cares for us.

The overflowing cup is also a sign of God’s generosity. All of these images tell us God loves us and gives us much more than we need.

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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

23rd Psalm – Wed – 22-10-26

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I have a friend who travels a lot for work. Recently he posted about a business trip to New York City. He parked his service truck at a factory and decided to walk four or five blocks to a convenience store for some food, since the store had no truck parking. It was 10 or 11 at night. This was not a good part of town. Many of the locals avoid the streets in this area at night. My friend walked right down the middle of the street to avoid places attackers might lurk. As he walked, he thought of Psalms 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (NIV) My friend made it safely to the convenience store and back to his truck.

This verse talks about God’s protection. We fear no evil, because He is with us. The shepherd had a staff to guide the sheep and a rod to beat off thieves or predators. God also has the means to defend us and rescue us. The presence of the Good Shepherd comforts us. Isn’t the promise of God’s presence the same promise Jesus made to us in the Great Commission? He said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NIV) God loves us enough to walk with us through life’s dark places.

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23rd Psalm – Tue – 22-10-25

Daily Spark

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A few years ago, my wife, daughter and I visited Beijing, China. We spent two days sightseeing. We hired a guide to show us Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City on the first day. The square was empty, but crowds filled parts of the Forbidden City. Our guide just told us to follow her pink umbrella, which we did. After touring the site, she led us away from the crowds to a restaurant near a residential area. We had a splendid meal of dumplings, lotus and sweet and sour chicken. We would never have found the restaurant, or ordered lunch successfully, without her help. The second day, we drove to the Great Wall. During both days, our guide provided lots of information about each stop on the tour. She also guided us on the best path from place to place.

The Lord, as our shepherd, also guides us through life. Psalm 23:3 says, “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (NIV) God doesn’t just guide us from place to place, like a tour guide. He shows us the correct path in life. God guides us through the moral and ethical choices we face. His way is the right way. In China, my wife, daughter and I followed a pink umbrella to find our way. In life, we all should follow God’s word. He leads in the paths of righteousness.

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23rd Psalm – Mon – 22-10-24

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If you were an animal, what animal would you be? Now isn’t that a crazy question. It is fun to ask though. Ask it as an ice breaker at a party and see what kind of creative answers you receive. That or people will just rolled their eyes and move on.

The bible doesn’t ask this question, but it does answer it. According to the twenty-third Psalm, we are sheep. I know, not very flattering, is it? The psalmist uses the illustration of a shepherd and sheep to teach us about God’s love and care for us. Verse two and the first part of verse three says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” (NIV)

The shepherd leads the sheep to green, grazing lands where they eat and lie down. It is a picture of a full sheep. The streams of water are peaceful and clear, not roiling and murky from a flood or so fast it threatens to sweep the sheep away. God gives us what we need. Not only does he care for our physical needs, but the verse says he restores our soul. God meets our spiritual and emotional needs as well.

So, the next time someone asks you what kind of animal you would be, tell them a sheep. When they look surprised, you can tell them about the twenty-third Psalm.

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23rd Psalm – Sun – 22-10-23

Daily Spark

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I volunteer at a children’s farmstead. Families come to bottle-feed baby goats, ride the horse-drawn hay ride, fish in the pond, visit the Indian camp and the old-time stores, watch a dairy cow milked, and view all sorts of farm and wild animals native to our area. The farmstead is also popular for grade school field trips. Buses disgorge mobs of children and a few adults who herd them about. The adults help the kids find the bathroom, lead them to lunch and make sure none get away, um, I meant none are lost. After all the fun of the farmstead, some children still grumble because they want something else. It is a thankless job to be a parent helper on a school field trip.

This may be the closest we come to understanding what a shepherd does. Shepherds tend flocks of sheep in open range areas. Most of us have never known a shepherd or raised sheep. Much like a field trip parent, shepherds lead their charges to food and water, round up strays and care for injuries.

This week the podcast will look at the twenty-third Psalm. Verse one says, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”(NIV) We’ll explore what God does for us. But this verse gives the ultimate result. When God cares for us, we will be satisfied. We won’t exist in a state of want.

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Visit Elmer Fuller’s author website at: https://www.elmerfuller.com/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

Amazing Grace – Sat – 22-10-22

Daily Spark

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This week I’ve really enjoyed sharing with you the story of the hymn “Amazing Grace.” The lyrics were written by the former captain of a ship that hauled captives between Africa and the United States. Those captive were sold as slaves. Following his conversion and study of theology, John Newton wrote six verses to the hymn. His last verse was this:

“The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.”

You may be confused. Because this is not the final verse most of us sing. The last verse of the hymn was written long after Newton. Slaves in America created it. They passed it down orally for at least 50 years before Harriet Beecher Stowe included it in her anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.* Here are the words,

“When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.”

The grace of God changed the heart of a vile, obscene, slave ship captain and he created one of the most favorite hymns in America. And the grace of God enlightened the hearts of slaves to create the final verse which rings with eternal hope. Sometimes, you just have to stop marvel at what God has done through his grace. How is he changing your heart?

*”Amazing Grace,” Wikipedia, Last updated Sept 9, 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazing_Grace

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Amazing Grace – Fri – 22-10-21

Daily Spark,

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This week the podcast has focused on the hymn “Amazing Grace.” John Newton wrote the lyrics in 1772. Sixty years later they were joined to the melody we now know. But the title was not set until nearly a hundred years after the lyrics were written. Dwight Moody and Ira Sankey published the song with the title “Amazing Grace.” When John Newton first wrote it, he gave this title, “1 Chronicles 17:16–17, Faith’s Review and Expectation.”*

I bet you didn’t know that. I am so glad Moody and Sankey gave it the current title.

Here’s something else you may not know, the fifth verse of the hymn. Many hymnals leave it out. That’s too bad, because it is part of the natural progression of the verses. The first verse focuses on the experience of salvation by grace. Then they focus on the grace present in our suffering which secures our future. This verse starts with our death and ends with life. It goes like this,

“Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.”

It reminds us of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” (NIV)