Nick’s Walk

The Message to the Church in Ephesus 2 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: 2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. 4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. 6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. 7 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in […]

You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’ I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise! I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.” Job 42:4-6 (The Message) It’s amazing how easily we drift away from our main purpose. If we go on a trip just “to get away” we get caught up in doing things and going places and return home more exhausted than when we left. When we head to church on Sunday we are met with the business of getting ready, dressing kids, being on time, that the service is over before we can settle down and enjoy His presence. We were created for relationship with God; that was made possible by Jesus’ death and resurrection. We rejoice in our salvation then return to the business of life. We drift from our purpose. Why do we settle with reflections of God as His glory shimmers in His creation? Why do we experience Him second hand through the experiences of others, […]

“ Everything is permissible”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. -1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (NIV) Christians have a reputation for being narrow minded, bigoted, and just unfriendly. If this is based on our belief that our way is the only way, then tough. If it’s because we believe in the bible, deal with it. If it’s because we believe there is ultimate truth, or that some things are sin and God gets to decide, then that’s just the way it is. But we do tend to “major in the minors.” There are legitimate disagreements between Christians on many matters. The Bible doesn’t speak clearly to every issue. Much of what we believe is not essential to being a Christian. There are many followers of Christ who would disagree with us on a variety of issues. How can we dare tell non-believers that if they don’t believe exactly like we do, they can’t be part of the family? Think about these questions: -Can someone watch Harry Potter movies and still be a Christian? What about R rated movies or PG movies or movies at all? […]

It’s easy to admire the young. They are energetic and nice looking. If you watch much television or go to movies, you might think everyone is young. Young folks are pretty much all you see. In our society we hide older folks away. Betty White has a new program on television in which old folks play pranks on younger ones. But the old folks are portrayed as senile at worst and out of touch at best. The message of the program seems to be “take a look at older folks, they’re so out of touch that they’re funny.” As a society we lose much by hiding away older folks. For years we did the same thing to women or those of a different color. Our society is better since we have recognized the value of “minorities.” But we can’t seem to learn that message about older people. In our fascination with the “latest and greatest” we have lost respect for the “tried and true.” Someone who is “too old” to use a smart phone, text or even use email, may be the smartest of all. Instant communication is great but there is value in one to one talk. Work […]

I love the Mississippi Gulf Coast. From the 1950s and 1960s, I remember the pool under the oak trees at the Alamo Plaza Motel or staying with family friends just a few blocks off the beach in Biloxi. In those days, the coast sported antebellum homes and fishing piers fingered out into the gulf. The coast was a jewel of the old south. I was there on the day that blacks first “dared” to use the “white” beach around the lighthouse in Biloxi. I recall the police, and the traffic and the tension, but no violence. In those days, the coast was “dry.” Nevertheless, you could buy beer at certain businesses. The salesman would take a six pack quietly out of a cooler “in the back” and pack it separately in a plain paper bag. I started my military career and my marriage on the coast. In 1969, I was stationed at Keesler AFB. Camille had taken the stately old homes, the fishing piers and much of the coast highway. Before checking into the base at Keesler I spent Christmas at home and met a pretty red head who I would eventually marry. In the months ahead I would […]

Ever wonder why Jesus had to die such a horrible death? I mean I get that a perfect sacrifice was needed to satisfy a perfectly just God. But come on, crucifixion? Not just crucifixion, but a horrible scourging before that? Why the betrayal? Why the spineless disciples? Why? Why? Why? I have a surgery coming up in a couple of weeks with several weeks of tough rehab to follow. To put it mildly and to save some self-respect, I will call my current state “nervous” and not “fearful” or “petrified.”  I know that Jesus will be with me through the experience and that in the long run all will be well. Even in the days before, it’s hard to get what’s coming out of your mind. It helps to know that Jesus knows what I am going through and what I will go through. No matter how bad things get, Jesus had it worse.  I can’t imagine what it was like that night before in the garden. Jesus, with his divine knowledge of all the horrors that would happen in the day ahead. When we have “waiting room syndrome,” Jesus has been there in a way we can’t imagine. When something hurts, […]

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 In real Christianity in which there is no demarcation between “professionals” and “amateurs” the church is more important than ever. Notice that every noun that Peter uses to describe the church is plural: race, priesthood, and nation. The cry is not “I am the church.” but “We are the church.”  The refrain is not “No more priests” but “We are all priests.” In the church as Jesus established it, there is more individual responsibility than we see in the church buildings today and and more corporate action.  When the church gathers then how should it look? The gathered church is often described as a hospital and that is apt. When we gather most of us need some healing, refreshment and renewal. I like to think of the gathered church as a teaching hospital. Those institutions have healing and the teaching of the healing arts as their purposes. When we gather as the church some of us are sometimes patients. Sometimes […]

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9At times I have really messed things up. I have gotten way into a project and realized I should have called a professional. At other times, I called a professional and realized I could have done the job, better, cheaper and quicker. What to do?Centuries after Jesus joined His Father in heaven, after Christians went from a persecuted sect to the “in” church, we divided our people into professionals and amateurs. It wasn’t in the manual and was, I think, a huge mistake. We called some clergy and some “non.” We came up with “full time ministry” and “paid staff” and “ordination.”  Most of us became part-time, uncalled, unpaid, bench warmers. We sent some off for special schooling. We dressed them differently. We let the pros sit up front where they could be seen and admired. We trusted them with the manual and the mission. Church became a building where the professionals lived and worked, and the rest of us visited once […]