service

The Book of Ralph

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ralphBooks like The Book of Ralph are seldom found on the shelves of libraries.  If you do an online search at book sellers like Amazon or Barnes and Noble, you find very little.

The reason for the scarcity is the rarity of the subject matter and the classification of the book—biography not fiction.  There are too few people who are as genuinely gentle and gracious as Ralph Lilley, the main character of the book.

I have had the privilege of knowing Ralph for over 25 years.  I have been his pastor, and he has willingly served his Lord as an elder, deacon, janitor, painter, teacher, greeter, volunteer, advocate for children, champion of the poor and needy, meals on wheels, and Chairman of Christian Service.

As I reflected on Ralph’s life yesterday, I spoke of seven lessons from The Book of Ralph, and I share them with you now:

#1—Remember your place in the line of life. 

He that will be first shall be last, and he that is last shall be first.

#2—Pick up the burdens of others, so you won’t let them down. 

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

#3—Display your manly meekness.

  Galatians 6:1:  If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness.

#4—Mind your manners.

  Ephesians 4:2:  Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient. Tolerate one another in an atmosphere thick with love

#5—Let the Spirit guide your speech.

 Colossians 4:6:  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

#6—Share the grace of God.

  Ephesians 4:29:  You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear.

#7—Do more than just talk the talk:  walk the walk.

  James 1:26-27: If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.  Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Remembering Ralph’s work of faith, his labor of love, and patience of hope in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 

I Thessalonians 1:3

Are You Brusque, Pushy or Condescending?

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pusypeopleYesterday, I posted in this blog about a principle from Philippians 2. Since then, my thoughts have centered on the word “condescending.” This is due in a large part to some work done by Nic Subtirelu, a linguist at Georgia State University.

The idea behind the word “condescending” is this:
• A person with authority is abusing his/her power
• A person has an attitude of superiority in the way he/she interacts with other people.

Jesus did not think He was superior to others—He knew it; yet He willingly humbled Himself. Through His actions and attitudes, Jesus paints a stark contrast in bold strokes and with the vivid colors of humility and service.

His humility is seen in Philippians 2: “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave.”

In a loving act of humility, Jesus “emptied” Himself. He laid aside all prestige and praise, and left the fragrance of heaven to be born in a stable thick with the pungent smell of dung.

This King of kings and Lord of lords was born, not to be served; but, to serve others. Alive in Him was the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:8-9); yet, He walked down the ladder of glory, so He could be hung up on a cross. This was no display of condescension—it was an act of redemption.

Condescending people are full of themselves, and deep down inside there is a gnawing emptiness. The redeemed are full of God, and deep within them is the knowledge Christ’s love. In which group are you?

Who Will It Be?

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I usually have the TV on of a morning while I’m getting ready for work.  Wednesday morning a story was aired about the Kauffman Foundation and the ad they will run during the Super Bowl.

The question they ask is one of motivation:  Will it be you?  The ad and the related material they plan to make available is designed to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit among our aspiring youth.

As I thought about the challenge of the Kauffman Foundation, I thought of two people from history who get little mention.  The first is William Booth the founder of the Salvation Army, and the second is Clara Barton who founded the Red Cross.  Both of these individuals saw a need and they stepped up and stepped out to make a difference in the lives of the suffering.

When I think of the legacy of Booth and Barton, I ask the question:  Who will it Be?  Who will be the next person to step up with a new program to alleviate suffering?

Hundreds of years before Christ was born, the prophet Isaiah recorded a message in the form of a question:  I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”   Isaiah did not let the question die as a weakening echo.  He captured the essence of the plea, and He responded:  Here am I, send me.

That question has been asked in one form or another for many centuries.  Jesus restated it in the form of a mandate to His disciples.  We are told that when He saw the people as sheep having no shepherd.  He instructed the disciples to pray for more workers in the harvest.

The question of the Kauffman Foundation is a thought worth thinking–Will it be you?  Will you be the next person to take a risk for the benefit of others?  Will you be the one who will help shepherd the sheep. 

If you pray the prayer that Jesus spoke of, why not do it in front of a mirror?  If you do, you may see the answer to your prayer.