Monday, August 25, 2014

MAKING AMENDS

I recently heard it said, "Never pass up a chance to make amends." Making "amends" means being willing to correct something from the past, to try to make right something we've done wrong. It's being willing to apologize for insult or injury you have caused.

When I was in High School Shop Class I slugged a fellow classmate. We were all standing in line when teacher had stepped from the room momentarily and someone poked me from behind several times. I ignored the first few pokes, but eventually laid aside my common sense, turned around and slugged the guy behind me in the stomach.

It was the wrong guy! Someone said, "He didn't do it," but my classmate was on his knees gasping for breath. I pulled him back up and mumbled I was sorry and felt like a fool. The teacher came back in and didn't see this, so class went on and I didn't really apologize. And I never forgot that I didn't.

Fifty years later, this fellow came to our Class Reunion and I figured it was time to make amends. I told him what I'd done and that I was sorry for it. He looked at me and said, "I don't remember any of that." I don't know how many times over the years that incident had bothered me, but he'd long since forgotten.
 
"Never pass up a chance to make amends." If I'd spoken to him right away, I wouldn't have felt guilty. Also, that incident wouldn't have become a teaching point in my classes with youth, urging them not to let a offense go without trying to make amends. It wasn't the only lesson I learned based on something stupid I'd done.

Some people try to make amends with God. They'll try this through doing good deeds to offset their sins of the past, or giving big gifts in an attempt to make up for what they've done. Some even enter a life of service to God, thinking it can make up for their sins. But that doesn't work. We'll never be able to do enough to make up for what we've done.

The good news is there is a solution. The Gospel tells us Jesus has already made up for our sins and earned our forgiveness on the cross. He's already fixed up things between us and God. Nothing we do will make amends with God, but Jesus has already done it for us.

Last week I wrote, "God loves us because of who God is, not because of what we did or didn't do." Our relationship with God is based on His goodness, not ours. As the Disciple John wrote, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:10) Thanks be to God Jesus has already made amends to God on our behalf.

But let's still remember, "Never pass up a chance to make amends."

Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

A SPIRITUAL RESET

Do you ever wish you could change your life, make it different than it was, or at least different in the future? Have you ever considering getting yourself a  "reset" in your life?

Last week I had problems with my television receiver. One of the attachments I had purchased for it was no longer working, as evidenced by its small power indicator light that was no longer showing bright red. I assumed it was broken, as most dead lights usually are.

So I went online and contacted "Mr. Chatman" who told to me not to order a new device, but to see of we could reset the old one. The first thing he said was to make sure all my cords were plugged in. I found one loose and plugged it in and that helped, but the light was still out. I followed the rest of his directives, step by step, and the tiny red light finally came on! No need in to get new parts, just reset the old ones.

Oh, that our life could be so easily fixed! I don't mean our physical life because most of those old worn parts can't be replaced. But we can get help for our spiritual life. You see, through neglect, distraction or following foolish ways we can unplugged, live erratically and even become spiritually dead. Our spiritual life can become so under-used that we think we no longer need God. Or we feel God has lost contact with us.

That's when we need to get a spiritual reset through Jesus. God wants us tuned into His Son, and getting it done will probably require asking for help. You can "read the manual" but it also helps to visit with "Pastor Techmann" at one or more of his spiritual workshops (worship services). He works for the "Master Repairman" (God) and if you seek His help, your spiritual life will surely work better.

A spiritual "reset" is one of God's specialties. It costs us nothing but time spent with the Him or His helpers. It will mean carefully following His directions. I thought I'd need new parts, but all I needed was to get the old ones working correctly. The light wasn't dark because the part was dead, but because the system was jammed. After a "reset" the light came back on, and everything worked together well once again.

I spent about half an hour with Mr. Chatman getting this done. It may take you longer. If you're struggling with life problems, or if things do not seem to be working right, I urge you to spend an hour a week with Pastor Techmann. His workshops will do wonders for your overloaded or underpowered spiritual system. You'll need frequent resets. Pastor Techmann will show you how God works best in His own good time with us. He might even ask you Mr. Chatman's first question to me:

"Hello! How can I be of assistance today?"

"Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him when He is near." (Isaiah 55:6)

Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

45 LESSONS FOR LIFE

(Dear friends, The following is written by Regina Brett, 90 year old columnist of the "Plain Dealer," of Cleveland. Its content is not as spiritual as most of my WEEKLY MESSAGEs, but it still contains great wisdom. - Rev. Tasler)
           45 Lessons Life Taught Me" by Regina Brett
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short so enjoy it.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the future.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. Their journey is not yours.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice things. Don't save them for a special occasion.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive!
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
 2. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves us because of who God is, not because of what we did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you want.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. When necessary, yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
"Those who are wise will instruct many." (Daniel 11:33)

Rev. Bob Tasler
www.bobtasler.com

Monday, August 4, 2014

IN HIS HANDS

Newspapers and magazine articles again are warning us about the future and the dangers it may hold due to climate change, economic trends, political possibilities and cultural decay. Such information may move us to wonder how should we prepare for the future. I am inclined to ask since so much of what is predicted never happens, how can we possibly prepare at all?


Modern intellectuals may truly believe the future can be known, since current trends can point us to "definite" outcomes. But anyone looking at the past can surely see that the future has usually unrolled differently due to sudden changes. About all we can surely count on is that the future will probably surprise us.


I have kept this poem for a couple of decades and consider its message now and then. Finding information on its author, Betty Purser Patten, has so far eluded me, but I give you her fine thoughts in the hope you will find strength in them for today.


The poet's words remind me of what my English professor, Dr. Erhardt Essig, often told us in class, "Poetry - What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed."

"IN HIS HANDS"  (by Betty Purser Patten)
We know not what tomorrow brings  Although we plan ahead,
For only God alone can know  The pathway we must tread.

We cannot know the future,  Not one minute nor one hour;
Each circumstance that we must face  Lay only in His power.

It's vital that we live by faith  From minute unto minute,
And trusting that each step we take  He's walking with us in it.

We cannot see the future,  Nor the trials we must face;
But in all things, God promised us,  Sufficiency of Grace.

This alone should give us hope  Whatever be our plans,
In knowing that our future lies  In His great, loving hands.


"There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." (Proverbs 23:8)

Rev. Robert L. Tasler
http://www.bobtasler.com
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