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

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

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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TAKING THE RIGHT ROAD

Most every year when my wife and I take our annual trip to visit family in the midwest, we travel the same route. After crossing Colorado and Nebraska, we pass through Sioux City, Iowa, and follow Highway 60 northeast into Minnesota. Over the years they've made many improvements to that road, and although we no longer pass through the many quaint Iowa towns, we enjoy the new road.

The first ten miles into Minnesota is a different story.  For ten to twelve years now that stretch has laid unfinished, delayed, I'm told, by an ongoing haggle between state and city governments. That segment may still not be done.

The first year we nearly got stuck when we drove onto the unfinished roadbed that was not identified by signs. The finished road just ended, and we sailed out into the mud. During the years since, we've followed sign after detour sign taking us far out of the way until we finally get back to Highway 60. Each year we've been disappointed to find the road incomplete, so I think we'll take another route this year.

We're all traveling a road of life. Some roads we choose seem right and lead us to expect good things. Some roads of life are just plain bad, but we keep taking them anyway. A bad road will not make itself better. Hoping a road will be better will not make it so. We need to travel a different road.

There are times we need to get stuck to realize we can't go that way again. Maybe it will take getting ourselves so clogged with the mud of foolish choices that we will finally see our need for help. We don't just need a better road, and we need a map to show us where best to travel.

That road map is the Bible. It tells us our Good Lord walked the way of sorrows on earth to forgive us our sins. He was mired in the mud and the blood of Calvary so we could have a way out. He got stuck for us, but He got out, too.

Now Jesus wants to travel with us, and if we let Him, He will show us a better way. Traveling with Him is an amazing adventure. He's there when we have an accident, and He shows us a better way when we get confused. When Jesus is by our side, we may still take a wrong turn, but we won't get totally lost. He knows the right way and will lead us there if we will just let Him.

Remember what He has told us in His famous "Good Shepherd" Psalm? "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." (Psalm 23:3) He really does! Follow Him, and He'll show the Good Road to heaven.

Which road of life will you travel today?

SPIRITUAL OVERHAUL

My son received some good news last Saturday - his automatic transmission does not need to be overhauled. His twelve year-old Ford truck has lots and lots of miles on it and he noticed it was shifting hard, so he parked it and drove his other vehicle. After a week, he took it to High Country Transmission, a very good repair shop near his home. I know it's very good because I had another transmission repaired there (and also baptized the owner's son).

Saturday Brian called that the diagnostics show the tranny is okay. It just needed a thorough servicing. (Translation: fluid and filter need replacing) That's great news since a transmission rebuild is a big ticket item these days.

Power train items don't usually fall apart over night; they get that way with time. Little by little with constant shifting, heating and cooling, dirt and sludge build up and will damage internal parts. Without periodic fluid and filter change, it will break down.

It's just like people. We ignore our relationship with God and let all kinds of "gunk" into our lives that come between us and others, especially between us and God. Without regular spiritual cleanups through confession, prayer and Holy Communion, we start to "shift" harder until we come to a spiritual stop. We need regular spiritual check-ups to stay close to God.

King David got himself into big trouble with another man's wife and knew he had dirt in his life. In Psalm 51 he said, "Cleanse me, O Lord, with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow." Good words to remember when we feel spiritually sluggish and run-down.

Today give thanks to your Lord Jesus that He gave His life for you on Calvary. When we believe He is God's Son and trust Him to forgive us, we can be confident God will not toss us into that eternal Junk Yard.

Does your spiritual power train need servicing? Overhauling?

BLESSINGS OF UNITY

Psalm 133 says, "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore."

Unity among people is a great blessing from God. We see and hear so much discord around us today, at home and abroad. Political factions shout at and accuse each other, pointing fingers of blame but doing little to unify our country. World terrorists seem never satisfied and blame the “infidels” of the world for the destruction and havoc they create.

But when we do see a group of people acting together, caring for each other and working towards an admirable goal, it is wonderful. David, the writer of Psalm 133, probably wrote these words when he was made king at Hebron after many years of conflict under King Saul’s unpredictable reign. This Psalm was his praise to God at the the joy of seeing His people cooperate and make peace.

Scripture tells us at Aaron’s dedication as high priest, the anointing oil saturated his head and ran onto his robes, signifying his total consecration to God’s holy service. To know that someone is so totally dedicated to God is “good and pleasant.” 

The second image used here is the dew on Mt. Hermon in northern Israel. At 8,000 feet high, its sides were lush with vegetation due to the rain and snow, which eventually creates the Jordan River that flows all the way south to the Dead Sea. That kind of rain would also make parts of Israel lush and fruitful, and “good and pleasant” and a blessing on Jerusalem. 

I was raised in a large family. It was not uncommon that some of us boys didn’t live in peace, and I recall our mother saying, “I just wish people wouldn’t argue.” Mom liked a peaceful house, one that was “good and pleasant where brothers dwelt in unity.” (paraphrase)

Peace and contentment is wonderful, but it rarely lasts long, whether in families or among nations. So long as there is sin, there will be quarreling. We give thanks for God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ that brings us back together with Him and also with each other.

Lord Jesus, grant peace and love in Your world and especially in Your Church. Amen

MISSING THE BIG ONE

Have you ever left an event too early? Maybe it was a ballgame that seemed over, so you left and on your way home you heard your team won in the last minutes. But you'd left early because you were certain how it would end. Or you no longer cared, but either way you missed seeing what you came for.

Carol and I did something like that last Friday evening, July 4. We had sat in our car over a half an hour on a lovely overlook waiting for the fireworks to start. We did enjoy a few exploding rockets here and there. We had heard there would be fireworks, but it seemed they were over, so we went home. Along the way we saw groups of people sitting by the roadside. We, of course, were sure there was no more, so we went home to watch fireworks on TV. Nice, but just not the same.

Within minutes of closing the garage door the largest fireworks display our town has seen in years started going off only a mile or two from our house. We went outside, but trees hid most of it and then it was over. We should have waited longer, but we missed it. Oh well, there's always next year.

The idea of leaving early seemed the thing to do. After all, we're Rockies fans, and we're used to saying there's always next year. Missing a winning game or fireworks really isn't that important in the big picture of life, but there's still some regret.

However there might not be a next time or a next year with something really important, like missing out on heaven and landing in hell. People don't talk much about hell these days. The idea of God casting us into a pit of flames or making us suffer agonies of a lake of fire seems far-fetched for a loving God. 

Consider this - hell would be bad enough if it was an eternity of knowing you missed out being with God! You didn't take God seriously, so you turned your back on Him or were too busy or became disinterested or some other reason. 

And now in hell you can see the believers rejoicing in God's presence, but you can't because you missed it! There's deep regret in knowing you could have had it  and can never get it back. That would be hell of the worst kind.

Perhaps the small regrets we have in life today are given to remind us of the greatest regret of missing out being with God. Maybe we'd better not say no to Him again. Maybe we'd better not turn our back on God again. 

But we can  be sure of this: He'll be there waiting if we turn back to Him now. Isaiah 55:7 says, "Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon." That's Good News if there ever was any.

Is any reason for turning our back on God worth what we will miss?