Melting In The Dark

 

Melting In The Dark

Loved this song! The entry is from June 7, 2018!
I have written so many of these devotional blogs that I find it hard to come up with new stuff. Often, I ask the Lord to help me with ideas; I should do that every day, honestly. Yesterday, the song MacArthur Park started running through my mind. If you've never heard it, the link is below. My take is that it's one of those songs you either love or hate. It's considered a classic but has turned up on the worst song ever lists. It was penned by Jimmy Webb, one of the great songwriters of the 60s-70s with a slew of hits to his credit like Up, Up, And Away and Galveston. The singer of MacArthur Park was not really a singer but an actor. Richard Harris, star of stage and screen, was the voice behind the recording, more or less reciting the lyrics which were full of very vivid imagery. With the length of the record running to seven and a half minutes, it was very non-typical of a single. My intent tonight was to write something I read Jimmy Webb mentioned in an interview on the various stories he's told over the years about MacArthur Park and its meaning. (Many listeners over the decades tried to decipher each line, akin to the scrutiny of Carly Simon's, You're So Vain.) But the more I read about Webb and the song that had piqued my interest, the more I noticed something else: Suzy.

Jimmy Webb and Suzy Horton knew each other in high school and would be classified as friends. Apparently, he was in love with Suzy but her feelings didn't quite match his intensity, at least according to interviews. They went their separate ways and ending up marrying other people but that's not the end of the story. From the accounts I read, you can make the case that five or maybe six of Webb's songs can be attributed to his love for Suzy. Besides MacArthur Park, where Webb and Suzy sometimes ate lunch together, there was also By The Time I Get To Phoenix, The Worst That Could Happen, Where's The Playground, Suzy?, Didn't We?, and perhaps Wichita Lineman. And these aren't filler songs for albums or the B side of singles- all were legitimately big hits. What they all have in common, if what I read is true, is the relationship that never really took off between Jimmy Webb and Suzy Horton.

Looking back from the vantage point of fifty years, I wonder if they would change the past if they could. She was obviously the love of his life and his muse, although she probably never knew it at the time. If you took Suzy out of the picture, his fame might have been limited and the doors that opened to get involved in other parts of the industry perhaps could have stayed close. It's funny how one person alters the path of another. I could make a long list of people who changed the course of my life path and I would also say most aren't aware of their significance. You undoubtedly could do the same. Some of those encounters were long term and some brief. And not all were positive at the time but ended up beneficial to me, I think, in the end. I'm also sure I've played that same role in other's lives but I'm blissfully unaware of how and why that came to be. One thing I love about teaching the Gospels is that we see the impact Jesus had on the lives of those whose paths He crossed. Many interactions were brief; the demon possessed, Zacchaeus, the woman at the well, the dead He raised, the blind who gained their sight. Not all were positive; some walked away, like the rich young ruler, and some deserted even with long term contact, as in the case of Judas who betrayed despite years of evidence none of us believe we ourselves would reject. At least a half dozen songs were written with Suzy Horton in mind but thousands upon thousands have been composed about the Lord and Savior of Mankind. Jimmy Webb survived and maybe even survived nicely Suzy Horton's rejection of his heart. But the survival rate is not the same if we reject the invitation of the Christ. Suzy married and that door was closed to Jimmy. Fortunately, the love of Jesus is still available to anyone who will receive it! And the good news is you won't even have to write a love song to pay him back.

To listen to Richard Harris and MacArthur Park, copy and paste or click the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iplpKwxFH2I

Applicable quote of the day:
''I can speak for most songwriters - those breakup love songs are so easy to write, as far as the inspiration and all that.'' 
Lucinda Williams

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

Barabbas: The Sequel!

 

Barabbas: The Sequel!

I love having my students write sequels! This is from June 5, 2018!
Here's a very short Bible quiz. Name somebody who is mentioned in all four Gospel books but nowhere else in the Scriptures. Actually, that could be answered with several names. The answer I'm looking for is a man who we know practically nothing about but most Christians have at least a surface knowledge of. He's described as a murderer, a bandit, and a rebel in the Bible AND his name means son of the father. Well, the title gives it away and most of you would answer correctly early on. You're aware that Barabbas was in prison at the time of the trial of Jesus. As was the custom during the Passover, Pontius Pilate would offer the crowd the choice of several prisoners to release. This Passover, Pilate offered Jesus, who he knew to be innocent and Barabbas, who he knew to be guilty. As we know, the crowd chose Barabbas and Jesus was crucified. Nothing is known about Barabbas from that point on although a 1961 film starring Anthony Quinn in the title role makes some guesses. On our final Bible 8 test of the year, I had my middle schoolers write a sequel to the story of Barabbas, taking up where the Biblical account ends, and I gave few parameters. This account is from Erin, one of my favorite students. It is used by permission!

As he trudged along the dirt road, Barabbas thought to himself, "Why this? I was spared from death just to be thrown out and dismissed?" But he continued on his way, passing the beggars and the brothels. After his release in the place of Jesus of Nazareth, Barabbas tried to return to his former life before his capture but no one would even acknowledge him. And so, he moved on like a ghost, wandering down old roads into forgotten towns. Wherever he went, he was watched closely, a distrusting gaze always upon his back. Whenever he went to an inn, all the rooms filled up. Taverns depleted their supply of alcohol. Shops had sold all of their stock. And so he wandered, looking for a town where he was unknown, a place to live out his existence. But he could not find that village where the weary gaze did not follow. He held nothing dear to himself for everything had been taken away when he was locked up. Maybe he can find that community where there is no hostile stare, no whispers trailing in his wake. Somewhere he could find work. Maybe he would simply die on one of the lonely roads and his spirit carried off into the wind. But for now, he just wanders.

Applicable quote of the day:
"As we all know, sequels can be tricky." 
Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

To Catch A Thief

 

To Catch A Thief

We live in a world that is falling apart both physically and morally. This is from January 12, 2014.

I noticed another little ding in the front of my Honda Fit today. It's not very big at all and I'm probably the only one who would notice but it's there. Maybe it was a shopping cart or somebody's car gently backed into me- nobody ever leaves a note. Maybe it's been there for awhile and the light just glinted perfectly for me to see. It's the nature of the universe, isn't it? Things tend to disorder- they don't get better- they fall apart and disintegrate. In my previous teaching life, when I taught Economics among other subjects, I often read from Vance Packard's The Waste Makers. In his book, Packard describes the practice of planned obsolescence in industry, the manufacturing of goods to have a very limited useful life and become obsolete so they can manufacture and sell more products. I think our culture has totally bought into the concept Packard brought to light- if it's not new, we don't want it. The Joneses are always in the lead and we are always trying to pull alongside.

Several days ago, I read about Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver, DeSean Jackson, suffering a burglary at his home. According to reports, the criminals got away with a hand gun, jewelry valued at $125,000, and a staggering $250,000 in cash. The loot was hidden in safes, which might lead us to redefine the word safe. Jackson, a tremendous player, is no different than the rest of us. He simply is one more fulfillment of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6, in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount:
19“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Whatever we possess on this side of eternity is open to corruption, no matter how careful we are where we park or no matter our security precautions. It even applies to our bodies; we face the identical end as all creation no matter how much we exercise or abide by a healthy diet or get regular checkups. My car and DeSean Jackson's fortune share the same fate- irrelevance at some point. There will be no tears in heaven but no ATMs either. The deposits we make now are a GPS for our heart; they give an exact location that is eternal in nature and perpetuity. The Lord's bank is always open.

Applicable quote of the day:
“Men kill for many reasons, they steal but for one- greed.” 
 Sharon Kay Penman, Falls the Shadow

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

The Book And Its Cover

 

The Book And Its Cover

Sometimes, we don't realize the value of the things we possess. This is from August 29, 2014.

I had coffee with one of my former students this morning at a nearby Starbucks. She was early and I was late but that's ok- she didn't send me to the office to get a tardy slip. The wonderful young lady is visiting relatives in Houston before returning to her very big Midwestern state university next week. She had a present for me- a large mug with her college's logo on it for my morning coffee. I had one for her as well; one of the key chains made by Thuy and her sisters while I was in Vietnam. I'm not sure she ever put it down, rolling it through her fingers during our entire visit. I'm pretty sure she likes it. 

We talked about my trip. She's from China and before I made my journey, she gave me some very solid advice about how I might approach teaching English. We spoke of college life and her future plans and cultural differences in our two countries. I reminded her about an e-mail she sent me as a student about an idea I had for chapel with our kids from China. I thought it was a good idea but it wasn't and she was the only one who had the guts, very respectfully, to tell me so. I told her how proud I was of that and I think she blushed a little bit when I did. She told me it's not easy being a believer in China or at some institutions of higher learning in the US. She told me about walking out of a lecture in a class of four hundred students as the professor berated those of the faith. She spoke of her morning routine of reading the Scriptures and praying. I was captivated by her stories of life after high school, as a student living in a foreign country even as some of her classmates assume she was born here.

But the highlight of our time together was her revealing the importance of something I witnessed but never comprehended the significance. Each year at our WCS graduation, our seniors are presented not only their diploma but also a Bible from the elders of the Westbury church of Christ. These Bibles come embossed with the name of the grad and to be honest, I've watched the tradition so many times, I take it for granted. Not anymore. She told me how much that Bible means to her, how she never conceived she would possess a Bible with her name on it. She told me how she opens it and searches for answers when life is difficult. A friend told her that the Bible should occupy the highest place in her room due to its value. I came to the conclusion that the Bible I don't remember her receiving is her most treasured possession. I was almost embarrassed as I listened because  I've owned countless Bibles and a number with my name stamped on the cover but I have yet to give any of them the respect they deserve. I have repented. One more thing she told me that I took away from our reunion this morning. She revealed that the Bible is much more understandable to her in English than in her native language. Maybe I need to start learning Mandarin to see if the converse is true for me! I have so much to learn.

Applicable quote of the day:
"One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it, and believe it. Then the rest of us will be embarrassed."
Leonard Ravenhill

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

Chained To The Past

 

Chained To The Past

I'm wearing the chain you will read about as we speak! This is from June 3, 2018.
Back in the spring of 1996, when I was teaching and coaching at Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, Tennessee, I participated in the first baptism that was not my own. A young lady named Leigh Leftwich, who was in my seventh grade Bible class, asked if I would immerse her into Jesus Christ. I did the following Sunday in one of the local congregations. We were both excited as Leigh, who would become my high school basketball manager, was now my sister in Christ! Since I was part of her big day, Leigh presented me with a gift; it was a pewter cross with the words Jesus Christ Is Lord on the front and the same message on the back in Braille. Although I'd never worn jewelry, with the exception of my high school ring which I lost, I made the decision to put the cross on a silver chain. I also made the promise to Leigh I would never take it off my whole life. Well, I should have added intentionally. The cross fell off several times and it disappeared for good in 2009, probably when I was swimming. With the help of Karen, my amazing sister in law, I procured another cross, although this one bears no words/initials. The chain has had its own issues. On a number of occasions, the clasp has broken, needed repair, and had to be removed from my person. That brings me to three days ago. 

Sometime after Christmas, the clasp again ceased to function and the chain/cross became unwearable. It wasn't until this past Thursday that I was able to take it  to a little watch shop where I've gone before. (For you in Houston, it's right at the spot where Bellaire crosses Bissonet.) They weren't really busy and the nice lady had it ready to go in five minutes for only $15, which I think is a pretty good deal. As I was showing the lady the problem, she asked, "Would you like me to clean the chain?" You have to realize there were several dynamics at work. One was I was in a semi-hurry and I didn't know how long the process would take. The second factor was that she didn't mention any cost to the step. I didn't want to pay extra and I would look cheap if I asked so I replied, "No, thank you, ma'am!" It was one more thing to cross off (bad pun) my summer to-do list, # 48 to be exact, with quite a few numbers still to go.

But there was something else I considered in that split second when I was given the option in the jewelry store. While I knew the chain was no longer bright and shiny, there was part of me that appreciated what made it appear to be twenty-two years old. It's brand new appearance had been replaced with twenty-two years of experience. That chain was with me snorkeling at Roatan when I saw the stunning beauty of the nature the Lord gave us. It was around my neck counting pennies and when I moved to Houston. It was under my tie at my mom's and dad's funerals and at the dozen-plus weddings I have preached. It accompanied me on twenty, soon to be twenty-one, missions to Honduras, Haiti, China, and Vietnam. It walked the sideline with me through twenty-two high school and middle school basketball seasons. And it's stood with me as I taught the Bible to, I think, several thousand students. So, part of me doesn't want to wash all that grime/residue away- it gives the chain character, at least to me. There is historical precedent. Many were unhappy with the restoration of the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, making Michelangelo's masterpiece much brighter than intended. I can't claim to be on his level but with that train of thought, I decided to leave it as is. Jesus told us to carry our crosses and I know He didn't mean around our necks. Too many wear religious pieces without the adherence to the teachings of the Son of God. My prayer is that I never do. I confess I've sinned wearing this cross and chain but it's also a reminder to me of whose I am. I'm chained to His love through His blood. That's a bond which cannot be broken. 

Applicable quote of the day:
A strange thing is memory, and hope; one looks backward, and the other forward; one is of today, the other of tomorrow. Memory is history recorded in our brain, memory is a painter, it paints pictures of the past and of the day.
Grandma Moses

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

Rebekah And Danita

 

Rebekah And Danita

 I once taught a girl at WCS named Danita Akuna.  After her ninth grade year, she moved to Canada with her family.  Danita is brilliant, a term I use infrequently, and the sweetest young lady. This is from October 16, 2013.

My classes have covered Creation through Joseph and we'll start on Moses tomorrow before jumping into the Gospels shortly. On each test, we have a discussion question trying to get deeper into the materials we just covered. On our last exam, the question had to with Rebekah helping her favored son, Jacob, deceitfully obtain the blessing from her blind husband, Isaac, when it rightly belonged to Jacob's older twin, Esau. The students were instructed to write how Rebekah pulled off the charade with no pangs of conscience from her youngest son. Then, they were to discuss whether or not Rebekah, who came from a family of shady characters, was actually justified based on the protection of the family, a fulfillment of prophecy, and the utter carelessness of Esau, the next titular head of the clan. The following is from the test of one of my ninth graders, Danita. She is a tremendous student academically and a world class human being. It is used with permission of Danita.

I’m on the both sides on the matter. First, I say Rebekah was wrong, because Esau deserved his blessing from Isaac. It was a tradition, and no one could change that. Even if Esau made bad decisions, no one knows if he would change his ways and become more responsible when the responsibilities were placed on him. She could help Esau and support him and make Jacob assist him with the financial decisions on the family business. This would avoid these problems that they faced; Jacob running for his life, betrayal between the brothers although they reconciled, a mother never seeing her child again, and family being separated and divided. All these things happened because of greed, unreasonable thinking and favoritism.

On the other hand, I also think Rebekah did the right thing but used the wrong process of achieving her particular goal. Instead of her thinking about the present, she thought about the future. She knew that if the blessing was given to Esau, there was a big chance that Esau would destroy and squander the family’s wealth. This possibility was assured when he married pagan women who didn’t believe in God. Rebekah knew that if she allowed Esau to take the blessing, she would regret it later in the long run and she put all those thoughts into consideration. Esau had sold his birthright for just a common meal- that kind of man is not in any position to lead their family into a successful end. When Rebekah helped Jacob get the blessing, she knew that Esau would later come after him so she sent him away. She was wise and smart to do that because if Esau had killed Jacob, the blessing and future of the family could have also died. This is why I say that Rebekah was both justified and not justified in what she did.

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

Unless Something Weird Happens

 

Unless Something Weird Happens

I cannot tell you how much Laura Godard means to our school. Living overseas since this was penned on June 1, 2018, Laura stepped in and helped us survive a tragedy among our staff early in the year. She and her husband have relocated back to Houston!

Laura Godard is one of my favorite colleagues ever. On top of being a wonderful instructor- she was just named "WCS Upper School Teacher Of The The Year"- she, along with her husband, are the parents of two of the  very best students I've ever taught, Rebecca and Caleb. Several months ago, she told me an amazing story. I asked if she would put it into blog form when she was ready. Today was that day. You might need some Kleenex!

“Unless something weird happens.”  That was my answer to a student in my seventh period Algebra class who asked me if I would have his test graded by later in the day.  I like to keep up with my grading, and my students know that they can usually expect to check their test grades online later in the day if they take a test.  So my answer was basically “yes” with what I suppose was my slightly unspiritual take on, “if it is the Lord’s will.”

Perhaps the Lord was chuckling as I said that, because something really weird was about to happen.  Later that evening, my sister phoned and insisted on talking to me right away, even though I was in the middle of a treadmill run.  I knew from the moment I said hello that something was up. She had news for me that (as I was soon to discover) there is no easy way to introduce:  the two of us have a long-lost, full-blooded brother! A brother! A full brother! I have never experienced a flood of emotions like I did that moment on the phone. Shock. Confusion. Questions. I honestly felt like the room was spinning…I literally could not think…as evidenced by the fact that this math teacher needed help from her sister to add five to my age to calculate our brother’s age!

But after a moment of shock, confusion, and questions, something amazing happened.  I experienced the truth of Romans 8:28, that, “we know in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  In an instant, I loved my brother.  Someone whose name I did not know, whom I had not even known existed until a moment ago.  I was overwhelmed with thankfulness for such an unexpected gift from God.

It has now been a few months since this discovery, and Daniel and I are forging a wonderful sibling relationship that is richer because of its unusual and late start.  They say you cannot choose your family, but Daniel is exactly the brother I would choose.  As I look back over these extraordinary events, I am thankful for so many things.  I am thankful for the courage of my parents to choose what was best for Daniel at the time of his birth, even though it must have been so difficult for them.  I am thankful for all of the people who cared for my mother when she needed it the most. I am thankful for Daniel’s adoptive parents, who lived out James 1:27, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” I am thankful for the love, support, and kindness of my husband and children as they patiently walked with me through a time of great upheaval.  Most of all I thank God for watching over my brother during all of the years of our separation. I keep thinking back that when God was watching over my sister and me in our home, he was also watching over our brother, far away in a different home. He cared for Daniel and watched over him and loved him.  What a wonderful reminder that I can trust God to watch over everything.  He is all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-powerful.

When I got to my seventh period Algebra class the next day, my emotions were still too raw to tell my students about what had happened.  But a few weeks later, I asked them if they remembered the day when I said I would have their tests graded that night, “unless something weird happens”?  I told them the story and reminded them, and even more so myself, that sometimes weird things happen, but we can trust God to work for good in all things. God bless, Steve Luke 18:1