Lesson from a Coal Stove

Many years ago the voice of Aunt Peggy interrupted a sound sleep. I responded by drawing the covers up over my head thinking that, if I ignored the voice, somehow it would go away. It didn’t. The voice returned an octave higher and a decibel louder allowing the words to finally penetrate my foggy morning mind. She said in her thick Irish brogue, “If you want a warm kitchen in which to dress, pancakes for breakfast, and hot water to wash in, you need to take care of the stove.”

            The mention of pancakes motivated me to move from under the covers, step onto the cold floor, and stretch out the overnight stiffness – a stretch that would make any cat proud. Taking care of the stove was a reference to the massive cast-iron coal cook stove in the country kitchen. It was a multitask appliance – heater to dissipate the costal Maine chill, water heater to take the edge off the cold bathroom water, and most importantly, the cooking stove that made the best hotcakes on Mt Dessert Island.

            Slipping on my unlaced sneakers, I plodded down the hallway in a sleepy trance with the coal bucket in hand. At the massive coal bin I shoveled coal into the bucket until it was full and just at the point that I could barely lift it. Then with both hands on the handle, I lugged the bucket back to the kitchen to feed the stove.

            I got the lid lifter and removed the lids to the coal stove, and filled a shovel of coal from the bucket. Aunt Peggy’s voice froze my arm in midair as she asked, “Have you riddled the stove? Always riddle the stove before you put in more coal.” The term “riddled” is a word used for removing ash from the combustion chamber of a coal stove. I knew this needed to be done but I was careless. So I put the coal down, got the crank to “riddle” the stove, and cranked so the ashes would fall into the ash pan. I stopped when I saw the red coals begin to appear in the pan and knew the ash was gone. When all that was left in the stove were red hot coals, I began feeding the stove the coal. The key to a productive cook stove was to have the useless ash removed so a healthy fire could develop. The smell of the burning coal was evident even before I could get the lids on the top of the stove replaced. With satisfaction I knew that within a half hour the next smell that would greet me would be the aroma of hot cakes generously filled with the Maine blueberries we picked the day before.

            In a similar way, sometimes one needs to be “riddled” to get rid of that which is useless in their life so they can be as productive as they should be. Often in the course of living one allows things to exist in their life that tends to smother productivity. Instead of living a life that is “hot” one simply “smolders,” living an unproductive life. Sometimes one is even unaware of their condition assuming all is well when actually all could be much better.

            In the book of Revelation, Jesus writes letters to seven churches. One of these churches, Laodicea, was unaware that the life they were living was not as productive as it should be (Revelation 3:14-22). They thought that they were “hot” stuff, saying, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing” (17). Jesus on the other hand saw their real condition. Their fire was going out because they had a lot of inhibiting “ash” in their life that needed to be removed. Jesus says, “But you do not realize you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” He sees their life as one that needs some shaking up.

            Rather that write them off as a lost cause, Jesus “riddles” them with His love, rebuke, and discipline. He challenges them to “be earnest and repent” (19). Once they are “riddled” he is willing to supply what will make their life “hot” and productive again. He invites them “to buy from me gold refined in the fire; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes to see” (18). Christ wants productivity restored.

            How does Christ in love “riddle” us? Sometimes that which loosens the “ash” from our life is disappointment, discouragement, defeat, disease, or some type of discipline. One should be removing the “ash” of sin regularly from their lives as they “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1). However, sometimes one forgets that one needs to get rid of the “ash.” God loves people so much He does not want one to stay in that unproductive state. He “disciplines us for our good that we may share in his holiness” (12:7-11). He loves to see His children live productive lives.

            The lesson from the coal stove is a simple one. Remove the ash and become productive again. The lesson from Christ is a simple one too. Repent of the sin that diminishes your productivity as a Christian and become the child of God he has designed you to be.   

Tourist or Resident?

Usually about this time each year I begin to fanaticize about being in Maine along the rocky coast shrouded in a cool foggy mist. I can almost hear the drone of the fog horn in the background and the squawk of sea gulls.  The hazy, hot, humid weather has won the battle and my t-shirt, damp with perspiration, is being waved in the air to signal surrender – or at least dry a little bit. A person can only endure so much of the three “H’s” until their steam-boiled brain starts to fanaticize about a way of escape. Some people have mirages of catching the breezes on the Susquehanna River while dangling a fishing line behind the boat with an occasional dip in the river to cool off. Others dream about laying on the beach at some shore point slathered in number 30 sun screen interrupted only by an occasional immersion in the cooling ocean. Then there are those who picture the perfect escape as a retreat to a mountain cabin nestled in a grove of trees, located near a babbling stream which will later lull them to sleep after consuming way too many s’mores around the camp fire. We all can vividly imagine our place of escape and are convinced that our solution is the best solution to deal with the 3 H’s.

     My summer coping solution has been cultivated and embedded into my DNA after almost 60 years of making the summer trek to Downeast Maine. My family concludes I am addicted to the place because I feel like I haven’t been on a vacation until I have been there sometime during the year. They have even gone as far as calling me a “Maineac!” Just because one has miniature lighthouses and paintings of the rocky coast around the house is no reason to call one names! I admit it, “I love Maine!” For many years I even had a bumper sticker that said so on our station wagon that I called our “Maine” car.

     Lest you feel compelled to have an intervention to break me of my Maine addiction, let me assure you there are others like me and even worse. Paul, an older friend of mine, loved Maine as intensely as I did. Actually, he probably loved it much more than I did. I love Maine so much I am willing to spend my vacation there almost every summer. He loved the place so much he was willing to move there. He sold his home and farm in Bucks County, left a secure position with a company, uprooted his wife and three daughters, and settled into a community along the coast. He loved Maine enough to become a permanent resident. I loved Maine enough to visit yearly. If you measured love by the commitment and investment one makes, you would have to conclude that he loved Maine more than I did. Paul was a resident – he was all there. I was a mere tourist – I was there when convenient and I needed my “Maine-fix.”

     Could there be a parallel between Paul’s and my love for Maine and the way one loves Christ and His Bride, the church? There are many people who declare they love Christ and His church. What do they mean by that affirmation? Their commitment and investment may be rather revealing about the nature of their love. In John 6:24-25 there were many people who classified themselves as followers of Jesus after the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. However, when Jesus started making amazing claims and teaching difficult truths, they withdrew and followed Jesus no more (6:60, 66). There was one group of followers that remained, the disciples (6:67-69). They remained because they were fully committed and invested in Jesus and believed His claims.

     Kyle Idleman writes in his book, Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Christ, “My concern is that many of our churches in America have gone from being sanctuaries to becoming stadiums. And every week all the fans come to the stadium where they cheer for Jesus but have no interest in truly following him.” Then he adds this sobering thought, “The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them.” The people who followed Jesus in John 6 wanted the benefits of the free meal, but not the burden of taking up their cross and following Jesus (Matthew 16:24-25). Jesus wants followers, not fans. Jesus wants people who are willing to be residents in His Kingdom, committed fully to His principles and plans for their lives no matter the cost. Jesus is not looking for mere tourists coming only for the benefits they derive while fully intending to live elsewhere.

     Around the world there are multiple examples of Christians who are fully committed and invested in Christ’s person, principles, and plans. They are followers and not fans. They are residents in Christ’s kingdom, not tourists. Their commitment is costly and for them horrendous suffering is the norm. Their investment means more than enduring harsh words, cultural marginalization, or economic loss. They have been physically abused and even murdered. Yet their Christian communities are thriving and having a huge impact in their country and world. Again we see a repeat of what one church historian wrote of the persecution of the early church, “The blood of the martyrs has become the seed of church.”

     Christ is calling us to love Him and to love His world (Luke 10:27). True followers will do that as they worship Christ and invest in people and their needs. They will have an impact. Those who are mere fans of Christ will be looking for an exciting pep rally to juice up their emotions and give them a spiritual charge, continue loving themselves and focusing upon their own needs. They will have an impact too – they will be perplexing.

Living for More than "Like"

     We live in a culture of “like.” The statement alludes to how people, who use social media, frequently check their postings on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. to see if they were “liked” by readers or followers. Our culture seems obsessed by the approval of others. Recently a great deal of commotion was created because an entertainment figure’s new Twitter account became the fastest growing account to reach 1 million followers. It surpassed the previous record held by the President of the USA. It was assumed that such apparent approval must somehow translate into a person’s significance. With this obsession for approval from others, how many life decisions are being altered so that we will be liked, followed, or approved?

     On July 4, 1776, how many signers of the Declaration of Independence were worried about being “liked?” Those fifty-six men were not obsessed by being approved for their decision. They clearly knew that the British Empire would not approve. Additionally, historians indicate a majority of Americans opposed the war in 1775 and believe only about a third of all Americans supported a war at that time (USHistory.org). Their decision focused not upon the approval of people but the conviction that their cause was just. In the Declaration of Independence they lay out the reasons for their decision and conclude the document with this commitment, “For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” They realized there would be a cost to do what they believed. They did not focus upon people’s approval of their decision but the approval of God.

     History records that the fifty-six signers all paid a price for their commitment. History’s record of the price they paid may vary but the truth remains, their action was not based upon people’s approval. They were convinced that what they believed was right. Courage in the face of disapproval charted the course for our nation’s independence.

     How is our approval obsession impacting our current culture? Commercial advertising is geared to have us think that what we do, wear, drive, eat, watch, listen to, and a hundred other choices need the approval of others. Career decisions are being made with a focus upon the prestige and approval a job or position will create. Coming into this election season, politicians are hiring political pollsters to guide them in making decisions that will be approved by the voters. It seems that we are infected and driven by the desire for approval throughout our culture. There are notable exceptions of people willing to march to the beat of a different drummer, but it seems that the majority in our culture are captivated by the approval of others.

     The obsession has also impacted the operations of many churches and numerous Christians. Chris Tiegreen notes, “We [Christians] are prone to act more spiritual than we really are around other Christians, and act more worldly than we really are to make an impression on non-religious folks. We are, more often than we think, shaped by the opinion – real or assumed – of those around us.” We are “chameleon Christians” altering and adapting as necessary to find the approval of people rather than seeking the only approval that really matters, God’s. 

     Christ is the supreme example of living for the approval of God and not the fickle applause and approval of people. Jesus challenged contemporary culture, bucked the religious establishment, and supported and maintained the teachings of Scripture when others did not. He even turned over the tables on people who were desecrating the standards of God. He did this not to be controversial or unique, but because of what motivated his heart, “I always do those things that please Him [Heavenly Father]” (John 8:29). His single focus was the approval of God which would then qualify Him to then effectively minister to people.

     Oswald Chambers wrote, “When you fear God, you fear nothing else… If you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” It seems often the Christian community in the USA fears everything else. The result is they are fickle in their faith and flighty in the way they live life. The surrounding culture sees this and is a bit amazed. If God is who we say He is, they wonder, “Why do Christians not seek His approval rather than culture’s?” Instead, many churches look to polls for doctrinal positions, popular cultural activities to determine their practices, and contemporary philosophies for the content of their preaching. The assumption is this generates people’s approval. Realistically it only engenders God’s disapproval. Leave the western culture and we see the church rapidly growing in many parts of the world where the church is more interested in God’s approval than people’s. Are they ridiculed for their beliefs? Yes! Are they persecuted even to the point of death? Yes! Are they having a significant impact in the world where God has placed them? Yes!

     Some time ago I overheard a conversation with a non-religious young adult. He was asked why he was not drawn to a rather avant-garde expression of Christianity. He responded, “Because that church is just like us, and we are sick of ourselves.” He did not want something he could approve of, but something that was authentic, life-altering, and otherworldly. He wanted to hear about a Savior, Jesus Christ, of whom the world did not approve, but God did. He wanted a changed life his world could not offer, like it or not!                           

Remembering a Sacrifice of Love

To many people Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, is the launch of the summer season and the many activities associated with it. For others it is a time of reflection. In the town where I lived for many years they had a parade with local marching bands, veterans, and children riding bikes festooned with mini-flags and red, white, and blue streamers. The parade ended in the local church cemetery where the VFW and other veterans placed American flags on the graves of those who died in the service of their country. Sometimes Memorial Day is confused with Veterans Day in November. The primary distinction between the two days is that Memorial Day remembers the men and women who died while serving our country, and Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. Memorial Day’s history dates back to the end of the Civil War. It was originally established to commemorate all who had died in the bloody war that divided the nation. Now the day honors all Americans who died in any military service. In some respects, it is sad that such a day for reflection has often been replaced with summer sales, picnic celebrations, and other activities. It seems more than appropriate to consider those who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to serve our nation.

            Among those who were commemorated on Memorial Day are those who died on June 6, 1944. That day, D-day, was one of the significant battles that changed the course of World War II. On that day, 10,000 Allied soldiers became causalities with more than 4,000 killed. Their sacrifice paved the way for 150,000 servicemen to begin the arduous battle across Europe to defeat an enemy that was wreaking havoc on that continent and around the world. Many films have been produced depicting the horrors of that day: “The Longest Day,” “Saving Private Ryan,” and “Band of Brothers,” to name a few. Dramatizations, however, fall short in depicting the sacrifices of that day. Pvt. Charles Neighbor, who landed on Omaha Beach, described the battle this way, “As our boat touched sand and the ramp went down, I became a visitor to hell.” In this environment sacrifice and love was displayed.

            I reflect on my Dad’s service during World War II and the sacrifices he made. This Irish immigrant was drafted and entered the army just two weeks after his daughter died. Behind, he left a grieving wife, a new home, and a promising career. He was assigned to serve with the Third Army under the notoriously tough Gen. George Patton. He fought on the front lines in battles from Normandy all the way to Germany, facing untold horrors, which he refused to talk about. He returned home from the war a man with few physical wounds but innumerable emotional scars. He came home a different man and to a different world than he had left. He began again. He reentered his career, found another home, and picked up a relationship with a wife whom he had not seen for more than two years.     

            In many respects men and women are still being called upon to serve our nation in a world the Bible describes as “filled with wars and rumors of wars.” They too are making sacrifices that display love. Sometimes the sacrifice will be made by dying. Other times the sacrifice will involve physical or emotional wounds that will last a lifetime. Separation from a home and the ones they love is a burden all of them are called upon to bear. Gratitude for the sacrifices that they make for our nation and us is a reasonable response. This is especially true when one realizes humans are more inclined toward self-preservation than self-sacrifice.

             When I think of sacrifice on a cosmic and eternal plane, I am struck by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He came to planet earth to do battle with a tyrant, Satan, who waged a war against God and the people of His creation. Jesus pictures Satan as, “The thief who comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John10:10). The Apostle Peter depicts this devilish tyrant this way, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). To deal with this destructive and powerful adversary it required the powerful intervention of God. God’s love sent His Son into the war to defeat the enemy of our souls (John 3:16). And Jesus, in contrast to Satan, came that people in bondage to this adversary might “have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

            This divine mission of Jesus is a sacrifice of love. Chris Tiegreen observed, “Jesus’ life can be described as a life of sacrifice.” That sacrifice involved giving up His home in heaven to come to earth, enduring the moral stench of living in a fallen world, facing the hatred and rejection of His created beings, and concluding with the crucifixion on the cross to shed his blood for sinful people under the slavery of Satan’s kingdom. This sacrifice has defeated the enemy of our souls. It has made possible by faith for us to no longer be enemies of God but to be His children (John1:12).   

           Memorial Day for our nation is celebrated once a year. In a sense those who have become the children of God celebrate a “memorial day” each day and especially on Sunday as we celebrate and give thanks for the sacrifice of love that Jesus made to give us a new life. We celebrate a life no longer under tyranny of the enemy of our souls, but a life of freedom that Jesus’ sacrifice of love offers us. Jesus put it this way, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). 

The Rest of the Story

March madness is over. Many employers are glad this preoccupation with the championship is done. Lots of work was delayed according to a 2012 MSN survey because 86 percent of respondents devoted at least part of their workday to updating brackets, checking scores, or actually following games during the workday. That amounts to 100 million distracted employees. How amazing that a sporting competition would have such an impact.

            Equally amazing to me was how often sports writers made reference to one biblical story during the NCAA championship. The reference to a David and Goliath matchup was frequently made. Headlines read, “March Madness: Will David or Goliath win the NCAA tournament?” (sun-sentinel.com). Sports writers still summarize the 1985 Villanova Wildcats 79% shooting against the Georgetown Hoyas and their victory with these terms, “And that’s how David defeated Goliath.” (cheatsheet.com ). How interesting to have one event in David’s life become the defining moment of his entire life in the minds of some individuals.

            As the late Paul Harvey used to say, “Here is the rest of the story.” David was not always successful. He was successful when he focused upon the fact that the enemy he faced would be defeated by the Lord. He did not focus upon the height, equipment, or the reputation of Goliath. He focused upon this truth, “It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47).  With his smaller stature, inferior weapons, and multiple detractors, he walked forward by faith in the living God to face a seemingly insurmountable enemy. The impressive result, which continues to be referenced to today, was the defeat of an overwhelming foe.

            However, David was unsuccessful when he allowed the fear of an enemy to become his dominating focus and controlling factor. A few years later Goliath was replaced by a new enemy, King Saul. This king was ruled by jealous pride and made it clear that he would eliminate David, the champion of Israel. On several occasions Saul had attempted to kill David. The pressure of constant attack weighed upon this courageous and successful warrior until David ran for his life. He no longer focused upon the Lord. He focused upon King Saul and the attempts upon his life. He resorted to deception (21:1-3), human weapons (21:8-9), and his own distorted plans (21:10-13). This was a very different approach to the way he faced an enemy in his past.

            The result was tragic. He was humiliated and regarded as a mad man (21:14-15). His deception of Ahimelech so the priest would provide food and weapons to David and his men ultimately had deadly consequences. Saul is told what the priest had done, and Saul charges him with conspiracy against him (22:13-16) and sentenced Ahimelech and his whole family to death. Eighty-five men, as well as the town in which the priests lived were slaughtered (22:18-20). When David learned of this, he confesses with shame (22:22), “I am responsible for the death.” David discovered that a distorted focus can become a deadly focus.

            That is the rest of the story. One victory does not make you a perpetual champion. You only win spiritual victories when your faith is firmly fixed upon the source of your strength, the living God. The rest of the rest of the the story is this; David began once again to seek to be ruled by the guidance of the Lord and not the domination of fear in his life (23:9-13). He could not reverse the failure that had cost others their life. He could, however, repent and not repeat the disastrous actions of his immediate past. Thus he returns to the Lord both seeking and obeying God’s will.   

            How often I have had a success only to have it followed up by failure. An illustration of this is in the way I play golf. I am a duffer at best playing usually no more than once a year. One of my friends, willing to endure playing with me, gave me instruction to keep my head down during my tee shot. Following his advice I hit a great tee shot – at least great for me. The next hole I got up to the tee, forgot my instruction, lifted my head to see how successful my tee shot was going to be, and the ball dribbled off the tee for several yards. I was playing golf by sight – looking in advance where the ball would go. I should be playing by faith – keeping by head down, my eye on the ball, and not looking where the ball would go. Do I operate this way sometimes in my spiritual life? I have a spiritual success as I operate by faith. After that achievement, I forget the key to a successful Christian living and try operating by sight. The difficulty is my sight is often upon the wrong thing. I must remember to consistently keep my focus upon the living God and not what lies before me.
 

            After you have faced down a “Goliath” in your life, keep in mind there will be more giants with different names to face in the future. Keep focused upon the source of your victory – the living God and the power of His might. This is the way to keep the rest of the story from becoming a disappointment.