Monday, January 27, 2020

THE CHOICE TO FORGIVE


        Today, January 27, is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Since 2020 is the 75th anniversary of the liberations of the Nazi camps and the end of WWII, many stories will be told about the horrible murder of Jews, as well as heroic deeds of those who risked life and fortune to save some. We give thanks for all who did what they could to help victims of the Holocaust.
        A dear friend once told me, “People can hate you, hurt you and try to destroy you, but they can never make you hate them. That is your choice.” Human beings are endowed by God to make choices. Everything may be taken from us - health, possessions, loved ones, even life. But one thing ever remains ours: the freedom to choose how we respond. God has given us that freedom through our attitudes and actions.
        Jesus speaks of this in John 14:21, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 
         Eva Kor and her twin sister Miriam were subjected to unspeakable experiments at the hands of Dr. Joseph Mengele in Auschwitz. Although the rest of her family died there, the twins miraculously survived and left to deal with their trauma which resulted in future miscarriages, cancer and tuberculosis. At a conference in 1995, Eva met a former Nazi doctor who told of the things he had done. He agreed to go with her to Auschwitz and sign a declaration of his deeds.
        When she returned home to Indiana, she decided to send him a thank-you card for going. “But how do you thank a Nazi?” she asked herself. She decided she would write him - and other Nazis - a letter of forgiveness. “I discovered I had one power left in life; I could forgive the Nazis for what they did to me.” Although it took her four months to write that first letter, “I felt such freedom, for I was no longer a tragic prisoner.” she said. “I was free of Auschwitz and Mengele.” Others, however, have criticized her for doing so.
        Even if we have endured horrors at the hands of others, God wants us to forgive. His Son Jesus of Nazareth came to earth to take our hateful thoughts, words and deeds and dispose of them on Calvary that we might be forgiven and be given the strength to forgive others, even those most hateful. One act of love is more powerful than a thousand acts of vengeance and hatred.

“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6:12)

Rev. Bob Tasler www.bobtasler.com

Monday, January 20, 2020

MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE


        Have you ever wondered if it’s possible for you to help make the world a better place? Paula J. Fox has written a clever little 125 page book entitled, The Second Mile, published by Inspired Faith. In chapter 5 (p.103) she gives 5 helpful suggestions for Christians to do this. Her words are based on “BTIW” which stands for “Better Than It Was.” Paula writes:
        1.  I will always strive for excellence in everything I do, and remember that I may not be able to make it perfect, but I can make it BTIW – “Better Than It Was.”
        2.  When I touch another person’s life in any way, in person, on the phone, in written correspondence, I will try to add value to them and make their day BTIW – “Better Than It Was.”
        3.  Every time I enter and leave a room, a car or any other space, I will leave the place and everyone in it, BTIW – “Better Than It Was.”
        4.  When I clean something, reorganize something or change something, I will do my best to make it BTIW – “Better Than It Was.”
        5.  As I respond to problems, needs and circumstances, I will try to make a positive difference and make my world, BTIW – “Better Than It Was.”
        Remembering BTIW would benefit everyone, especially fellow believers in Christ, as we live each day. Only the Good Lord knows what is in store for us, but we His servants can strive make life better in our daily tasks. 
        So long as we remain faithful to God’s Word to the best of our human ability, we can help make the world a better place, no matter how large or small our part may be. We know our good works won’t gain us more favor with God, because Jesus has already done that for us. Thankful living, though, can help others.
        Psalm 116 asks an important question: “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me? I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord. I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.” (vs.12-13, 17-19)

Lord, help us leave each day, BTIW – “Better Than It Was.”

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

Monday, January 13, 2020

PUTTING WORRY TO WORK


(From my “Daily Word From Jesus” devotional for February 22)
        Matthew 6:27 records our Lord Jesus as saying, “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Someone has said the only thing worry is guaranteed to do is shorten our life. We might argue the opposite, that some worry might lead us to take better care of ourselves or to be more healthy in our life. 
        Jesus’ Word for us today begins with the notion that a sick person can somehow worry himself into better health. Or that enough worry can somehow make us live longer. Jesus’ point in Matthew 6 is that worry is largely a waste of time. Longer life or better health will not come merely by worrying. We must do something about it as well. 
        Worry or anxiety perhaps can move us to make needed changes for better health, but most of the time they just lead to more worry. I’ve found that reading a few chapters from the Bible helps greatly, whether from New or Old Testament, especially if I follow it with prayer. Taking a nap after prayer helps, too.
        If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently? What would you change? Is there some activity you can stop now that would help? Are there some small but needed things you can do? Life isn’t always comprised of the big decisions we make, but a combination of the small ones. Rather than asking, “How can I live longer?” we’d do better to ask, “How can I live better?” Reading the Bible can help with that.
        Trusting in God every day is a better way to live. He helps us see the road of our life more clearly. He helps us navigate the potholes and carry our burdens more easily, and He can make them seem lighter. He also gives us mind to discover a better way.
        Jesus may not lighten your load, but He can and will give you a stronger back if you ask Him. He may also give you someone to help carry your load. A shared load in life is always lighter.

Lord, if I can't have a lighter load, give me strength to carry this one better. Amen

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

Monday, January 6, 2020

BUT WHO'S PERFECT?


        I saw this posted on New Year’s Day: “There is no perfect life, no perfect job, no perfect childhood, no perfect marriage and no perfect of people who will always do what we expect them to do. What we have is a perfect God who is able to lead us through this imperfect life with unfailing strength, incomparable wisdom and infinite love.”
        Great thoughts, these are, especially since our brand new 2020 is already sadly imperfect. The wrong teams lost on Wild Card Weekend, the wrong people prevail in Washington DC, and our President does the wrong thing, no matter what it was. So if we want a perfect world, I guess we’ll have to wait until next year! 
           But we do have something perfect: “God who is able to lead us through this imperfect life with unfailing strength, incomparable wisdom and infinite love.” Great words, for there really is perfection. The One who creates and directs the Universe does know what He’s doing.
        Now, before you point at all you think God has done wrong so far, consider what He has to deal with: sinful people, a broken world and Satan, who wants to break the world even more. Since that brand new pair of people turned their backs on the Creator, all their imperfect descendants have been fumbling around outside the Garden, convinced they can make it perfect again. And all this because a slimy snake said, “You will become like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)
        The snake was right. We’re always trying to be like God, trying to know what’s “good” (to our advantage) and “evil” (to our disadvantage). Satan’s promise wasn’t a kindly concept about what’s good for us all, but a selfish idea that benefits sinful us. Our pride says we can make things all better again, we can’t! Only God can do that, and that’s the real truth. 
         That’s why He sent His Son. Jesus was perfection the self-less One. His sinless life, excellent teaching and self-sacrifice was for us. He did what we cannot do for ourselves. All who believe they can make this world good again - teachers, philosophers and assorted do-gooders (even preachers) - will suffer constant indigestion till Judgment Day. 
       Some may read this and say, “Aw come on! Who’s perfect?” The Good News is that Jesus is! Jesus the Son of God Jesus the Crucified, Jesus our Forgiver. He is the Perfect One, all year, year after new year.

Thanks be to God for Jesus!

Rev. Bob Tasler (www.bobtasler.com)