Charlie's Journey's Journal

When I took a computer class in college the highlight of the course was getting to actually see the computer – which was housed in a room by itself.  During the semester I also remember seeing a smaller piece of equipment (I think they called it a “personal computer” because of it its size), but  I didn’t pay too much attention to it because, after all, if it took a computer the size of a classroom to do simple accounting processes what could that dinky thing do?  That was circa 1980 ... it is incredible how things have changed! Often, when we discuss computers and spirituality, we tend to focus on pornography, but that’s not the direction I want to take this discussion.   Computers – complete with the development of the internet and the prevalence of social media – impact our mind and our spirit just about every day.   In light of this, I want to provide a few suggestions for keeping us spiritually safe in the modern technological world. 1.   Don’t t...

I don’t think that June is as much of the wedding month that is was in days gone by, but whenever I think of June I think about weddings.  While weddings are important in our culture, there is something even more important – the years that follow the ceremony.  It is great to have a wedding that goes off without a hitch, bur the greater goal is a good marriage. What does it take to have a lasting marriage: 1.   Commitment .   One of the first things I tell couples who want me to do their wedding is to plan for something going wrong during the ceremony.   I don’t intend to be a pessimist, I just don’t want people to place too much emphasis on the “perfect wedding”.   Something will happen and we get through it.   This is a good observation about the marriage, too.   There is no such thing as a perfect marriage – something is going to happen – so deal with issues and move on.   Problems can be expected throughout the decades of the marri...

One of the neat things about living in this part of the county is the presence of memorials.  Whether they are  the local monuments or the national memorials in and around the District of Columbia we are surrounded by reminders of where we have been as a nation.  No, not all the remembrances reflect our history in a positive light, but they do represent our nation’s journey. Memorials are important to humans – especially to God’s people.   Throughout the Old Testament the Israelites were continually erecting monuments and memorials, but something came along with God’s new covenant that is a lasting reminder.   When the Apostle Paul taught about what has become known as the Lord’s Supper he reflected back on a very important moment in the life of Jesus by recalling,   For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;     and when He had given thanks...

During a recent Communion Service Scripture reading I was struck by a portion of John 19.  I am sure that I have read it scores of times, but this time it really got me to thinking.  When John recorded the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion he wrote, “ And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.” (John 19:35).   In the midst of making some incredible claims about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus John pauses to say, “believe me”!   As I got to thinking about the importance of this statement it reminded me that we all have to be honest with the gospel – not just John (whose words would transcend time) – but every one of us.   Even though we have the written Word available to us today, we must treat it with honesty and we must be transparently truthful when discussing it.   So, how do we make this happen? 1.   We must know what the Bible say...

When Paul wrote to encourage his protégé, Timothy, he reminded him, “ For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother  Lois  and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that  it is  in you as well.” (II Timothy 1:5) .   I don’t find it odd that these two women influenced Timothy’s ministry because I have experienced it as well.    I have been surrounded by women who have shaped my perspective on life.   As we honor Mother’s Day I would like to thank a few “Moms” who have influenced me.   Elaine Wharton – The thing I appreciate most about my mother is the spirituality that she and my father infused into our family, but there is something else that stands out.   My mom taught me that I am a valuable person.   We all have critics trying to shape our lives – sometimes what we need is a biased cheerleader.   As a child and as an adult she was my cheerleader. Grace Perryman – My mother-in-law...

How important are issues in the church?  Throughout our religious history certain teachings have tended to define and have developed into central themes of our faith.  So, here is the question for the day:  “How important are the issues that seem to be important to us?”.  Before we go any further, I would like to offer the following disclaimer – I do not have an agenda, nor am I on a mission to joust at any windmill.  I present this discussion to help us focus on what we have allowed to define us.  I am comfortable with our fellowship, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t step back and take a look at what we believe and why we believe it.  As I thought about our beliefs I got to wondering how we got to where we are and if all points are equal – not to us, but to God.   We have developed a comfortable formula for determining our worship and defining spirituality, but is He as comfortable with it as are we?   When we assess what we do, h...

I like a lot of the old classic hymns, but there is one that I struggle to sing – The Old Rugged Cross .  I understand that George Bennard’s masterpiece has an allure to a lot of people, but honestly, there are some phrases that get stuck in my mind and in my heart.  I find it hard to vocalize that “I love that old cross” or that I can see its “wondrous beauty”.  No, I don’t have any scriptural issues with the song, nor do I feel we should stop singing it – it’s just not one of my favorites. While I may struggle with Mr. Bennard’s description of the cross, I do appreciate the imagery of emotionally standing at the foot of the cross and being reminded of its lessons.   When I look at the cross, here are a few things I notice: 1).   My inability to be personally successful in life .   Everything I have and everything I hope for comes from Jesus.   Whether it is internal peace or external success, it all dependent upon His work in my life. ...

I enjoy traveling.  It is fun to see and experience new destinations.  Typically, I even enjoy the actual process of traveling – there is still something neat about getting on airplane.  While I get excited about traveling, there is one part of it with which I have a love-hate relationship – booking the travel.  Well, let me rephrase that; by the time I get to the point of booking travel, I am relieved, my issue comes with the planning.  I can spend hours (and hours) investigating the best locations and the cheapest deals to get us there.  About the time I think I am ready to make a decision I am tempted to consider one more option or wonder, “You know, what if we ...?”.  I am sure that there have been times when I have spent more time planning than I did traveling.  Sometimes I just make it harder than it should be! The reason for this revelation is that I see a parallel in spiritual living.   Christianity is a simple process.   Aft...

When we look back on the life of Jesus it is difficult to not see Him through modern lenses.   Our perception is shaped by centuries of theology and decades of personal religion.   Yet, if we could imagine it, what would it have been like to experience Jesus during His lifetime?   The New Testament does a good job of painting the “life and times of Jesus” and helps us to understand how Jesus was perceived during His days on earth: 1.   Some people saw Jesus as a curiosity .   Here was a master teacher who had the ability to do miraculous signs (and if you happened to be there on the right day you might get a free meal out of the deal).   That had to have been worth the trip out of town to see Him!   Jesus’ uniqueness may have been viewed by some merely as a sideshow. 2 .   Some people saw Jesus as a hero .   One of the basic claims of Jesus was that He was the Messiah – the Deliverer.   Whether the Jewish leadership wanted to admit...

The other day I was backing out of a parking space at a local supermarket parking lot.  I did the cursory look in the rear view mirror and a glace over each shoulder, then began backing out.  Shortly after I started moving I heard a horn honk which caused me to hit my brakes and almost spill my Diet Coke.  My first response was irritation that the guy was honking at me (how rude), then it dawned me that his honking was in my best interest and had been prompted by my own inappropriate actions.  I might have been miffed that he had the audacity to honk at me, but he saved me a lot of time and money when he highlighted my mistake.  I was embarrassed that he let everyone else know I was in the wrong, but I was less embarrassed than I would have been standing in a crowded parking lot awaiting the arrival of a deputy. As I reflected on my moment in the parking lot, I was reminded of the presence of “protectors” in my life.   Whether it is God, Himself or thos...

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.   So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”   So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. (John 20:1-3) Can you imagine Peter’s thoughts as he was heading to the tomb:  Could it be true?  Just how wonderful would that be?  Didn’t we hear Him say something about that?  I imagine that Peter’s mind was going a thousand miles another, but I can’t help but believe there was another thought – maybe even the most prevalent thought – this means that I will get another chance!  The bravado Peter showed early Thursday evening had turned to cowardice by Friday morning and he denied that he even knew ...

There is adage that states, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”.  The reason for this retrospective of pithiness comes from a question I was recently asked about Christian observances of Old Testament laws and regulations.  This issue has been a challenge for the church since its inception in the First Century and continues receive attention today.  While there are several regulations that pop-up, the two most common are “Sabbath Day” worship and dietary prohibitions.  In essence, why do we worship on the first day of the week (rather than on Saturday) and why do we eat foods such as pork, catfish and shellfish?  We don’t have the space for an depth study, but here is a brief synopsis for why we do what we do: Sunday Worship :   I believe that the concept of sabbath days worship is a bit of a misnomer.   The idea behind the sabbath was not a day of worship, rather it was a day of rest.   Exodus 20:8-9 states, “Remember the...

The other night we watched On Her Majesty’s Secret Service featuring Bond, James Bond.  This is an interesting entry in the Bond franchise:  first, because Bond gets married in the film and second, because it featured George Lazenby in his only appearance as Bond.  To me, there is only one genuine James Bond (Roger Moore), but in reality over a half a dozen men have appeared in the role.  Depending upon your age and your personality, you probably have your own favorite.  The reason for this movie trivia is to make a point about “roles”.   In many situations multiple people can fill the same role.   Even one of the most particular roles in our nation, our president, has featured over three dozen men who have occupied the position.   Yet, there is one role that is so unique that it can only be occupied only one – our Savior.   The role of Savior is a blend of two characteristics often described as God incarnate.   In essence:   ...

King Solomon wrote, “ Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling .” (Proverbs 16:18).  History shows an addendum to this proverb ... pride can also precede a foolish injury.  In his book, “Henry Clay:  The Essential American” David Heidler describes a time when the man who would later become known as “The Great Compromiser” initiated a duel with Humphrey Marshall.  What began as political differences eventually turned personal and on January 19, 1809 Clay and Marshall squared off to duel with pistols.  On the first shot, Clay escaped injury while Marshall was grazed.  This wasn’t good enough to abate each man’s ego, so they loaded and fired again ... this time Marshall missed and Clay’s gun misfired.  Still not satisfied, the duel finally ended after the third attempt when Clay missed, but Marshall struck Clay in the leg.  Nineteenth Century society might have called this “avenging a man’s honor”, but pride and arroganc...

Have you noticed how many people are wanting to tell us what to think?  Everywhere we turn someone is informing us what is correct – often, in direct conflict of what someone else has said.  Interestingly, this is not just a modern problem, it is something that has been going on since the beginning of time.  Thankfully, this age-old problem has produced some very insightful observations from the Bible.  Here are a few gems mined from the Old Testament:  Proverbs 14:8 - The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, but the foolishness of fools is deceit.   Proverbs 14:15 - The naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps.   Proverbs 21:2 - Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts.   Proverbs 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.   Isaiah 55:8 - “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,...

It had been several years since refrigerator art had hung on our appliance, but over the past couple of years it has made a comeback.  In fact, the artwork created by little people is not confined to the Amana – I find it in my jacket pockets, Bibles, car seats and office drawers.  Most of the masterpieces are the work of our granddaughters, but I will occasionally find a priceless piece created by the children of this church.  I love these renderings and I feel honored when someone gives me a picture, but I don’t always recognize what they depict.  The  designs, colors, spelling and symbols make perfect sense to the artist, but I have to admit that, periodically, I need to swallow my pride and ask “Oh, thank you!  What is this?”.  I have learned to be gracious when the child looks at me like I am a simpleton and explains that it is a beautiful flower ... or even more embarrassing, when it is their artistic interpretation of how I look to them. ...