JESUS IS OUR BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS

        Fifty years ago Simon and Garfunkel recorded the popular song, “Bridge Over Trouble Waters.” Its gentle words encourage us to be a helpful connection for troubled people. The chorus line went: “Like a bridge over troubled waters, I will lay me down.” One of its verses said, “When you’re down and out, feeling low, I’m by your side, I will comfort you.” It was good sentiment, urging people to lend a helping hand to the troubled.
        Part of what made that song a success was its contrast to the pained songs of war protesters or the angst-ridden screeches of drug culture music. A “Bridge Over Trouble Waters” is still a wonderful concept for times like these. There many troubled waters we, our children and our friends must navigate these days.
        It’s comforting to know this is why Jesus came to earth, to be the connection between us and God. He is the One who shows sinners to way to the Almighty Maker of heaven and earth. He is the bridge between us wayward children and our eternal loving Parent, the One who created us, cares for us and welcomes us home.
        1 Timothy 2:56 tells us, “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and people, the man Christ Jesus.” He is God’s Bridge over life’s troubled waters we can walk all the days of our lives. Through Him we can live joyfully and purposefully now, and cross over into eternity when He calls us home.

Thank You, Jesus, for being our Eternal Bridge.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

OH MY GOD!

Have you ever said, “Oh my God!” and considered what those three words mean? Have you ever thought of that phrase as an expression of gratitude? How do we show our gratitude when we are truly grateful?

One night in the desert I saw a marvelous sunset, its vibrant colors on fleecy clouds in a clear and changing sky with deepening reds, yellows and blues. It was a sight only God could create in such grand fashion. I quietly said, “Oh my God!” because it was so beautiful and so fleeting.

“Oh my God!” a teenager says. I have often been critical of hearing those words flippantly spoken, yet they can have great meaning. Something worthwhile was seen, a connection made to cause us to cry out to our Creator, “Oh my God!”

Sometimes our day starts out grey and chilly, but ends with a warm display of brilliance we could not have imagined. Today is God’s gift, and this very moment it is the only thing we can truly own. Today has such great value to our existence that gratitude to Him should be our response.

Today we will experience life, our own and the lives of others. Let’s open our eyes and see the sky and the weather. It is wondrous and ever changing. Look at the faces of the people you meet. They are unique, original and perhaps interesting, and you have eyes to see them. Millions cannot see with eyes like yours, for their world is darkness.

Turn on the faucet and see the clean water coming out, hot or cold, and realize many millions do not have this gift you take for granted. Smile at a friend and realize for just a moment the value of that person smiling back at you. Perhaps they like you, maybe even love you.

God loves you forever through Jesus, His Son. If you can count even a few small blessings in your life, then let your gratitude overflow to others around you, and also to your Creator. Then it is most appropriate to say, “Oh my God!”

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)

God loves to hear us call out to Him, no matter when it is.

CHOOSING THE GOOD

Dear friends,

        When can we finally say “Enough!” ? When can we choose another way? A professor once told his class he’d been a fair pianist in his youth. His mother required him to take piano lessons, twelve years in all, and he became quite skilled, accompanying church or family or performing a piece others delighted to hear. He didn’t always like doing it, but he continued because he had the skills and felt he was needed.

        Then one day he realized he didn’t want to play piano any longer. “I didn’t dislike the music, but I just didn’t want to play it any more,” he said. “People asked why I’d stopped and urged me to go back to the keyboard. They said I was too skilled to stop, and some even said I was wrong. But I made my choice and I’ve felt it was the right one.” Dr. Walter Bartling told us this as a seminary professor, a teacher of the New Testament, not music.

        God has given us capabilities to make choices. Some of our choices are good, but others are not. Some choices may be impossible. I can’t just wake up some day and say I’ll never eat food again (I need it), or I’m going to run a marathon (Impossible!). But just because we’ve done something in the past doesn’t mean we must keep doing it. I’m not referring to major or essential choices, whether or not to believe in God or to end my life. I refer to our minor choices, what to do today or avoid, what to wear, where to go or what to consume. Not all choices are equally possible or good. We choose according to our needs, and that can be difficult.

        As Jesus lived, prayed and learned the Holy Scriptures, He discovered why He had come to the earth. His Heavenly Father showed Him what was needed - to save the world from eternal destruction. Since sin had come into God’s creation, it had become doomed, headed for needless disaster. 

        Jesus followed God’s prompting and became God’s Divine Intervention for the world, and He continued on His path through life. He could not one day just stop being a Savior, although in the Garden of Gethsemane it was tempting. He didn’t say, “Enough!” and walk away. He chose to stay on course and do what we needed but could not achieve ourselves.

        Yet, one day our Lord said just that. He was at the end of His earthly life, dying on Calvary’s cross, and finally He said, “It is finished!”(John 19:30) He had completed His chosen task, and we praise Him that He stuck with it to the end. 

        As you make your choices today, do you best to see they are good ones. Ask the Lord to guide you and help you choose what will build up, not tear down. Let Him help you hold on to the good and set aside what is not.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for helping us choose what is good.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

THE GOOD INKEEPER

(From my Day By Day With Jesus, Dec. 24 devotion)

        Grace Ditmanson Adams is a retired nurse who wrote an interesting little work titled, “ASK Childhood Experience and Health.” ASK stands for American School Kikungshan, which was one of the major schools for foreign children in China and which was especially well-attended by children of American Lutheran missionaries in central China. The school operated between 1914 and 1951.
         As a young girl Grace travelled with her parents in the late 1920s through inland China. She wrote about the crowded conditions in some of the places they stayed overnight. They were very unhealthy accommodations filled with people coughing, sneezing and smoking. Additionally, babies were crying and children complaining, so her family had to be content to put their bedrolls on the board beds in a large room with all the rest of the people.
        One very snowy night they came to an inn that was full. The innkeeper expressed regret of having no room, but then said, “Please, follow me.” He led them to a side room used to store straw and farm equipment, and there they slept peacefully in a quiet place of their own.
        Nurse Adams later wrote that whenever she read about Mary bringing forth her firstborn son and wrapping Him in clothes and placing Him in a manger because there was no room in the inn, she saw the experience quite differently. The innkeeper was not uncaring, and having a place in the inn would have been a much poorer accommodation, especially if Mary had given birth there. The privacy they had in the stable was surely far better than the crowded inn would have been.
        Inns at that time were often segregated, one for men and one for women. Knowing of her coming delivery, Joseph could not have allowed Mary to stay in such a place. Even though it was among animals, God provided for them a far better place. We, too, would do well to see how He provides for us in better ways than we might think.

“She laid him in a manger, because the inn was full.” (Luke 2:7)

A very merry and blessed Christmas to you all,

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

SINGING CAROLS AT CHRISTMAS

        Last night my wife and I joined a dozen of our friends to sing Christmas Carols at two dozen homes in our park where we’d been told people might need cheering up. Caroling is something I’ve done over sixty years, and it’s always been enjoyable.

        God’s people developed the Christmas festival during the Middle Ages as a reminder of His great gift to us in the Christchild, and they chose December 25, replacing the pagan festival of Saturnalia which also featured evergreens and gifts, parties and singing.

        Christians have sung God’s praises since the First Century and have written songs of His son’s birth since the Seventh century. English Christmas Carols appeared around the Twelfth Century and have captivated the hearts both singers and listeners ever since.

        Last night we sang the first verse of 3-4 carols at each home, concluding with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and heading off to the next. Sometimes we’ve given Christmas sweets, but if there are many places to visit, we keep moving till we’ve stopped at each one.

        Due to our long list, last night we divided into two groups, visiting 12-16 homes each and riding in golf carts. Singers may also walk or ride in cars, and one memorable year we rode around town on a decorated flatbed pulled by a team of Clydesdales. The frost on the trees that afternoon made the event magical.

        Caroling is done to bring Christmas joy to those who listen, as well as to those who sing. Psalm 96:1 says, “Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things.” The quality of our singing doesn’t matter. The point of it all is to share God’s message of forgiveness and love. If you have a chance to sing Christmas carols to others this year, join in. You’ll be glad you did.

“For this I will sing praises to Your name, Oh Lord.” (2 Sam. 22:50)

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

CEILING AND VIEW UNLIMITED

        Death has a way of stopping things. It stops a life, of course, but it also stops the normalcy of life by creating a pause in the activities of the living. When President George H. W. Bush died last week, most Americans briefly paused their planning and pandering, their business and bickering, to pay respects to a fine former leader. When the funeral was over, politicians, pundits and ordinary people were quick to return to their normal pursuits. Life doesn’t stop, it’s only changed.

        Life may seem normal, but it’s a new normal. Individuals and families may adjust schedules for a time, but soon they are going about life as before, though in their hearts they are not the same. 

        Most older Christians have considered their own passing, the effects it will make on those we leave behind and the future that will be for ourselves. Believers in Jesus know that all of life is in God’s hands, and we trust each day will have its new morning and fresh horizon to view.

        During the Bush memorial service at the National Cathedral, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney told of visiting Pres. Bush and seeing a sign by his house with four letters on it - C.A.V.U., which Bush said meant “CEILING AND VIEW UNLIMITED”. It meant perfect flying weather was ahead. With Jesus as Lord, it is possible to have C.A.V.U. each day. By giving His life for us, Jesus promised new life with Him as we live each day into eternity. By trusting Him, His new life is ours.

         In John 5:24, Jesus told His disciples (and us), “Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, but has crossed over from death to life.” Death may seem to stop things, but not the one thing we need most - God's love for us in Jesus. Faith in Jesus takes us from this life into an eternity in the presence of God.Jesus takes us from this life into an eternity in the presence of God.

“CEILING AND VIEW UNLIMITED” is ours through Jesus.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

WHATEVER!

        While shopping, an older couple encountered some young adults in a store engaged in loud banter that included profanity. The older man stopped and said to them, “Nice that you are having a good time, but please watch your language. I am sure others wish you’d not use such words.”  A young man looked at him and said, “Whatever, old man, whatever!”

        “Whatever” has usually meant a lack of restriction (i.e. “Take whatever is needed”), but it can also be a response of irritation or reluctance to change. Today it’s also a word of indifference or exasperation (“Whatever, old man, whatever!”) Then it’s meant to push back and contradict what has been said. 

        I’ve even seen this word on a bumper stickers. Years ago I first heard “whatever” mumbled by a youth in my classroom. While it’s usually meant to stop discussion, in that student’s case he discovered the discussion had only begun.

        But this is not at all what Apostle Paul had in mind in his letter to the Philippians. “Finally, brothers, WHATEVER is true, WHATEVER is honorable, WHATEVER is just, WHATEVER is pure, WHATEVER is lovely, WHATEVER is commendable; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8) 

        Paul was urging Christians to be respectful and helpful since what is said reflects directly on how others perceive us. He urges us to rejoice in the Lord and show respect to others. While we may feel justified at being angered or offended by what we hear or see around us, Paul urges an honorable and prudent response.

        There is much anger blazing around in our world today, with so much useless talk. Whether privately or publicly, people feel they have a right to say anything and get offended by the least inappropriate word, even making threats if they don’t get their way. 

        Satan loves it when we fight each other and use our tongues to light fires that burn and destroy. But God’s Word urges us to speak and think on WHATEVER is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely or commendable. 

        We are all sinful, as our conversation certainly shows. But our Lord Jesus has forgiven us with His death and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit will give us strength to change our anger into respect and encouragement. 

That’s why Paul says, “Think about these things…”

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com