Category: Uncategorized

Neal Pollard

I have been regularly flying for nearly twenty years, but last Saturday I did something I had never done. I greatly regretted it.  As Kathy and I approached Pena Boulevard for her to drop me off, it dawned on me that I left my entire wallet at the house.  It is 45 minutes from our house to the airport and my flight was leaving in less than 90 minutes! I had no idea what happens when you attempt to fly without a government, photo identification (or even prescription meds), but now I do!  I got the “special treatment.”  After checking my bags, I went to security and told them I had no identification. A TSA officer was specially assigned to me.  We sat at a table and he called an important, government phone number.  They proceeded to do a background check on me, complete with a mini game of 20 questions to prove I was who I claimed to be.  After clearing that hurdle, I got to go the front of the line and undergo “extra screening.”  While it was not as bad as you might imagine or have bad dreams about, it was quite “personal.”  My laptop bag, with its 47 pockets, was thoroughly searched and swabbed. Ultimately, with these “backup measures” executed, I was allowed to go to my flight which I barely made.

While there’s an obvious travel moral to this story, I could not help but think that some people consider the matter of eternity in the same way.  They do not obey the gospel plan of salvation or they live an unfaithful Christian life.  They know they should not, but they believe that God will ultimately save them anyway.  They may only get in by the “skin of their nose,” but somehow, some way, God will have a backup plan for the disobedient.  Friends, such thinking is fatally flawed.

Paul says, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Th. 1:7-9). This sobering passage reveals no alternative to the one (Jn. 14:6), narrow (Mt. 7:13-14) way.  The Bible records no alternative to that way.  We must make sure we depart this life with the “proper credentials”–the blood of Christ covering our sins!  Do not leave earth without that!

P.S.–Overnight express just delivered my license for my return flight! Thank you, Kathy!

The White (And Black) Tupelo Tree.

Neal Pollard

The white tupelo tree grows in abundance only in the wetlands of the Florida panhandle and south Georgia (“tupelo” is a Creek Indian word meaning “swamp”). But, in the hands of the right beekeeper, those trees wed with honey bees to make some of the finest honey in the world.  It is “prized for its mild floral flavor, high fructose content and light amber color” (Stuart Englert, American Profile, April 7-13, 2013, p. 14ff). Bees are drawn to these trees that bloom in April and May.  Famed “tupelo honey” comes from the white tupelo tree.

But do you know about the black tupelo tree? Floridatupelohoney.com gives it almost footnote level notice on their website.  They say, “Black Tupelo, Nyssa Biflora, blooms in advance of white tupelo and is used to build up bee colony strength and stores. Black tupelo produces a less desirable honey which will granulate and is typically sold as bakery-grade honey.”

Now, honestly, if you are a honey lover, which would you prefer?  A honey compared by some to “fine wine” that will not granulate or a bakery grade, less desirable honey?  It seems clear-cut.

But, do not miss the fact that without the black tupelo tree, there is no premium honey from the white tupelo.  The black tupelo is vital to the survival of the bee colony which eventually yields the more delicious kind.  Black tupelo bloom first and fortify the bees for the task of gleaning nectar from the white tupelo and generating that expensive, prized honey.

Consider a very specific analogy from this example out of nature.  In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul makes the point that God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired” (18). He says “weaker members” are necessary (22) and those deemed less honorable and less presentable are still given special treatment (23).  Each part is dependent upon the other.  No member can say, “I don’t need you.”

Some members are more visible, more audible, and seemingly more honored.  Yet, they are not one whit above those members less so. In fact, no one in the body can survive without the rest of the body.  God made it that way. Nothing worthwhile can be accomplished without the beautiful cooperation stemming from everyone’s contribution. The world cannot benefit from the salvation of Christ without all of us doing our part.  The church cannot thrive without each of us producing according to our abilities. God cannot be honored without every foot, hand, eye, and ear playing his or her part.  May we never forget that!

 

 

Why Are Your Co-Workers Unhappy?.

Neal Pollard

Have you noticed that your co-workers are unhappy?  Maybe there is the guy (or gal) whose lips are loose and who lets you and everyone else know why.  Yet, statistics indicate that a great many workers are unhappy, staying in their current position only because of economic uncertainty and high unemployment rates.

Matthew Wong of Inc.com reports that site’s findings about the source of dissatisfaction.  It is not their co-workers, boss, or amount of vacation time.  It is, in order, “on-the-job stress,” “health benefits,” and “salary.”  The study goes on to say men most want more money and a promotion, while women want reduced and flexible hours. Gen X-ers want a higher job title, but millennials ask for more training.  Asked about what perks they want in addition to basic benefits, they said, “free beverages,” “a tablet or smartphone for personal use,” and “free massages.”  Author and Harvard professor, Teresa Amabile, says, however, that one thing matters to many people more than either benefits and perks, and that is “real job satisfaction” (via infographic on ragan.com).

There is quite a bit to mull over in that release.  Instead of bemoaning the obvious spoiled attitude, materialism, and greed reflected in these answers, consider what at least one expert (and many others besides her) believe make us happier.  That is job satisfaction.

That is more than being thankful for employment.  It means doing something you feel like is making a viable contribution, that is as fulfilling as it is enjoyable. All of us want to feel like we have made a difference in the world during our time in it.

But, whether you are a street sweeper or CEO, a sacker of groceries or supervisor, you can find profound purpose in your “real” profession.  The King James Version refers to the Christian life as a “profession” four times (1 Tim. 6:12; Heb. 3:1; 4:14; 10:23). In each instance, the word used is some form of the Greek word meaning to “say the same thing as another.” But, as used in each verse, the idea is of recognizing ourselves and showing others than Jesus reigns in our lives.  That is a lifelong process, something we carry with us wherever we go–including our job.  We see our occupation as a means to an end.  Our true profession is Christianity.  The perks, promotions, and profit are yet to be realized, but they will be!  Let us ever be faithful in His employ!

Neal Pollard

I was barely 21 the Sunday night I was asked to preach at the Holt Street congregation in Montgomery, Alabama.  Kathy, whom I had not been dating for very long, went with me to this memorable appointment.  This good church was exemplary for its “vocal encouragement.”  As I preached through one of my early sermonic attempts, the good brothers on the pew were constantly saying “amen” to what I was presenting.  They also filled the air with a steady chorus of “yes,” “that’s right,” and “preach on, brother.”  It was bliss to be spurred on from start to finish!  Driving back to campus, I asked Kathy what she thought of my preaching that evening.  She said, and has said more than once since then, that it was one of my best efforts.  Could the steady encouragement of the brethren have made that much difference?

The draining effect of preachers deciding to leave full-time ministry among the Lord’s church has long since become anecdotally acknowledged throughout our great brotherhood.  There are various reasons why men are leaving.  Some are forced to do so because of personal messes they or their spouse make.  Others have had to make this choice for financial reasons.  There comes a time when it seems that a man’s age limits or nearly eliminates his opportunities to put his accumulated wisdom to work in the local setting.  However, the plague of discouragement may claim more preachers than any other cause.

Not all discouragement comes from external sources.  Preachers are people, too.  They are not immune from allowing the problems, pressures, and perplexities of life to get the better of them.  Like anyone else, the preacher can bring discouragement on himself through his habits, shortcomings, or faulty perceptions.  Certainly, every preacher can tell stories of how they have been discouraged by the unfair actions of others.  Furthermore, the same problems that confront others at various stages of life face the preacher from the time he is single through his golden years.  Marital and family struggles are matters with which he must cope as much as any other.

Yet, hopefully, the preacher comes to appreciate that his work can be more rewarding and joyful than any other earthly path could be.  He gets to work with the best people on earth, serving the greatest Employer an earthly worker could have, getting to do the greatest work on earth, and being involved in the most important business of all time and eternity.  If you are a preacher, you have a special place in the heart of God.  Someone thrillingly put it, “God had one Son, and He was a preacher!”

If you attend a congregation that has a preacher, you probably know that his is a world that in many ways is different from the world in which most others live.  Yet, hopefully, he loves what he does and he loves the church.  There will be those who do not fit into this general pattern, including the lazy, the cantankerous, the perpetual victim, and the proud.  However, such are the exceptions rather than the rule. In a day when Satan and his willing servants are growing bolder and stronger, we need to encourage more great men and say to them in every way that we can, “Preach on, brother!”

A Great Lesson From Little Jack Hoffman.

Neal Pollard

It was ESPN’s number one among its Top Ten plays for over the weekend.  I saw it yesterday morning and was frankly moved to tears.  Jack Hoffman, a 7-year-old battling brain cancer, was given the handoff in Saturday’s Nebraska Spring football game.  He ran 60 yards for a touchdown (see it here).  Everyone, the offense, the defense, and those on the bench ran behind him and congregated in the end zone in celebration of the boy’s accomplishment.  60,000 fans at Memorial Stadium stood up and cheered.

Jack is on a break from 60 weeks of chemotherapy, and he has undergone two surgeries since doctors discovered the cancer two years ago.  While the tumor has shrunk, time will tell how this ends for this courageous little boy.  Meanwhile, he and his family have a memory for a lifetime.  To me, the most touching part was how the entire Cornhusker team rallied around this sick little boy (details from washingtonpost.com).

The church of our Lord is the most important institution on earth.  To be a part of it is to be in the place where all spiritual blessings flow (Eph. 1:3), to be in Christ (Gal. 3:27), and to be part of God’s household (1 Tim. 3:15).  Of the myriad of blessings, Christians are part of a family.  When one of our family members is sick, hurting, suffering, spiritually struggling, has fallen from Christ but returned to Him, or in any other way finds himself or herself in a battle bigger than themselves, God designed the church to rally around that one and support them.  Paul urged supporting the weak (Acts 20:35). The writer of Hebrews urges us to “strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Heb. 12:12).  Long ago, the prophet said, “Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble” (Isa. 35:3).

Nothing is more moving to see than the church family rallying around a fellow-Christian in need of help.  I know I am not alone in feeling this way!  May we always feel comfortable enough to invite others into our lives to help us as we struggle to overcome and make heaven our home!

Only A Step.

Neal Pollard

I did not see it live, but was told about it the next day.  In fact, I was shown a YouTube video of it and I could barely stomach it.  It was the jump seen around the world.  Players were swooning. His coach, Rick Pitino, “looked like he had seen a ghost.”  Kevin Ware, in going out to contest a three-point shot, leaped and landed awkwardly.  No, he landed catastrophically!  As he landed, his leg went one way and his shoe went another and the bone split.  The awkward impact was enough to cause the tibia to break through the skin.  It was bad enough that it was the lead story on the national news. It was bad enough that Kevin got a personal phone call from Joe Theismann!

It only took a second or two, one decision, one act to change this young man’s life.  Frankly, he was not the “main attraction” on a Louisville team that appears to be the best in the country, at least not before the injury.  While the prognosis for his ability to recover and play again is optimistic, Ware will never forget the impact of that one step.

Repeatedly, the Bible refers to one’s life as a “walk.”  That walk is made step by step.  Those figurative steps we take impact the remainder of our journey on earth.  Some steps are mundane and routine.  Others are life-changing.

When trying to avoid the jealous wrath of King Saul, David tells Jonathan that there is only a step between himself and death (1 Sam. 20:3).  We sing a church hymn entitled “Only A Step,” which is meant to exhort the non-Christian to see that all it takes is a step–out of the pew and down to the front–to go from lost to saved.  Thereafter, we must carefully consider the steps we take.  We effect our own destiny and that of others, too (cf. Job 34:21; Ps. 119:133; 1 Pet. 2:21).

May we each consider the steps we take and the impact they have.  Our steps may not become a “viral video,” but they are seen by God and by others.  Walk so as to have a happy landing!

Turbulence.

Neal Pollard

Air, fluid, and similar turbulence are characterized by unpredictability and uncontrolled change. Air turbulence disrupts the flow of the wind. The Mississippi River, when it contacts a tributary like the Ohio River, comes together and the hydraulic propulsion creates violent turbulence at the point where it converges. The water smoothes out and becomes less turbulent as it gets farther from the point where it united. While there are circumstances like flying and boat riding where we come to expect that turbulence is quite possible, it can still catch us off guard and be unpleasant.

For those who are married, think back to your wedding day. The bride was beautiful in her white gown, made-up hair, and that general sparkle and shine that made her seem almost angelic. The groom seemed handsome, strong, and full of vitality. This was the culmination of true love. Life and your outlook on it were bright and sunny. This was the beginning of something wonderful. But, as these two mighty forces converged, turbulence was inevitable. Coming together and being united is not done smoothly and without waves. Two people from different backgrounds, viewpoints, and histories do not automatically make things work out without adjusting to the turbulence.

God did not make us weak people. You cannot collapse and fold when things get rough and choppy. You cannot get off the plane during the turbulence. It is not smart to get out of the boat when the waves and the turbulence are stirred. Your best hope is to stay put and ride out the bumps and bounces. But, oh the reward and blessing of enduring whatever unrest and uproar you encounter in marriage. Think of how pleasant the ride of marriage is, and help make it so! Just do not be a wimp and give up at the first sign of marital turbulence. The unpredictability can be so much a part of the excitement!

Neal Pollard

• Lot’s wife gave up her life for a single glance back at Sodom
• Korah gave up his life for a run at power
• Achan gave up his life for a few items of clothes and a little wealth
• Samson gave up his life for relief from the nagging of a wicked woman
• Absalom gave up his life for a seat on a throne
• Ahab gave up his life for a vineyard of grapes
• Haman gave up his life for a bow from Mordecai
• Judas gave up his life for approximately $30
• Ananias and Sapphira gave up their lives for an infinitesimal percentage of the world’s riches.
• Christians must give up their lives: to the Lord (2 Cor. 8:5) for His sake (Luke 17:33) on the altar of service (Rom. 12:1-2).

The Most (And Least) Religious Cities In America.

Neal Pollard

Adrian Garcia, in a Denver Post blog article, reported “Boulder one of the least religious cities in the U.S.” as determined by a new Gallup poll (http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22907780/new-gallup-poll-boulder-one-least-religious-cities).  It barely finished second to Burlington, Vermont.  The most religious cities, according to the poll, were Provo-Orem, Utah, Montgomery, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi.  While the findings are not surprising and seem to reflect the social cultures and philosophies of their locales (as Gallup put it, “America is a remarkably religiously diverse nation, and much of this diversity is geographically based. Residents in some areas and cities — namely, those in the South and in Utah — are two or three times as likely to be very religious as those living in cities in the Northeast, the Northwest, and other Western locations”), I was very interested at how Gallup framed the poll.

See, the poll found that 40 percent of Americans are “very religious,” determined by their saying that religious forms an important part of their lives and that they attend religious services every or nearly every week.  So, we are not talking about people who attend church services every day or who live in cloisters or religious communes.  We are talking about people who see fit to attend an hour a week.  The claim of religion being important to one’s daily life, of course, is subject to “cross-examination” by those who encounter the professed religious each day.  One can say religion is important, but their actions may disprove the claim (cf. Luke 6:46).

Consider this contemplation and challenge.  How important would God say religion is to you and me?  How often does He hear from us in prayer or meet us in the reading of His Word? What does He see from us as we interact with the people in our daily lives–a reflection or rejection of Christ? Who knows that religion plays an important part of our lives? Does that conviction drive us to take every opportunity to worship and study–not just once a week, but each time the “doors are opened”?  Paul wrote, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain” (Phil. 2:14-16).

May we build such a relationship with God that all those who encounter us will know how important our service and devotion to Him truly is!

 

Just For The Taste Of It!.

Neal Pollard

 

An old soft-drink slogan used the words in the above caption.  The idea was that, despite it being a diet drink, people drank it for the taste.  Whether or not consumers in those days liked the taste of this drink, the slogan was catchy and memorable.

Regarding sin, many have sacrificed their marriages, their parental influence, and their influence just for the taste of it.  It was unfulfilling and brought unanticipated misery, but “in the moment” it seemed worthwhile.  “Forbidden fruit” may taste good going down, but it leaves a bitter after taste.

Some search long and hard for “living water” just for the taste of it.  They have found the road of sin unsatisfying and they are searching.  They long for purpose, peace, and purity.  Thank God for those who, in searching, have found the way.  Many are dying to know Him, and many are dying without having known Him.  Often, those who come to Christ, rather than being raised in the church, seem to find that “water” tastes sweeter.  They knew the feeling of spiritual thirst and the satisfaction of having it slaked.

Some study God’s word just for the taste of it.  David said, “How sweet are Your words to my taste!” (Ps. 119:103).  Can some of His Word be “hard to swallow”?  Absolutely!  But, His word does us good (Micah 2:7).

Some trust in God’s goodness just for the taste of it.  Again, in the Psalms, we read, “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (34:8).  How many of us have repeatedly experienced God’s deliverance, even when such seemed unlikely?  His providential care is something tangible, its evidence strewn before our pathway if we will look carefully.

For what do you have a taste?  Is it for something wholesome and healthy, or is it for that which is harmful to you?  Make all your pursuits and actions tasteful!

Swallowed By A Sinkhole.

Neal Pollard

I sat in unbelief as Fox News reported about the death of Jeff Bush, a 36-year-old who was asleep in his Seffner, Florida, house on March 1st when a sinkhole opened up and swallowed him.  The instability of the site was so dangerous that the sinkhole became his tomb, as workers could not retrieve him.  Family was distraught and in disbelief.

What a tragic, unexpected circumstance!  You lie down not knowing that you will not arise in the morning.  You are taken in such dramatic fashion.  Along with my feelings of sympathy for a grief-stricken family, my mind went to a couple of biblical accounts.  I thought of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their households, swallowed up by the earth in Numbers 16.  The difference in that instance is that, incredibly, the earth closed over them.  But, whether miraculously or naturally, such events clearly demonstrate the unmatched power of God. Then, I thought of Jesus’ words about the Galileans killed by Pilate and the eighteen people killed by the tower of Siloam in Luke 13.  That passage would implicitly say that, even in Mr. Bush was a depraved, wicked sinner, he was in no worse a condition than anyone who needs to repent (3,5).

But, I suppose the thing that dominated my thoughts most of all was how fragile life can be and how unexpectedly death can come.  Some day, Judgment will come.  Scripture describes that instantaneous moment as coming in the blink of an eye, as a thief in the night (cf. 1 Th. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10; 1 Cor. 15:52).  Whether in our lifetime or not, one day many on earth will be awakened from sleep by the second coming.  In that moment, it will have to be an utter and final realization for the lost that it is too late.  For the impenitent and unbaptized or for the unfaithful Christian, they may call out but to no avail.  They will have made their decision (cf. 2 Th. 1:7-9).

I cannot imagine too many things on earth more unexpected than waking up to one’s end like Mr. Bush.  However, I can think of at least one thing which has yet to occur.  Let us make sure we are ready for it!

SINGING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING: “WE HAVE HEARD THE JOYFUL SOUND”.