giving according to our means: exposition #121

For most of us running into a critic is unpleasant.  None of us like to be object of someone else’s venom, yet someone is doing it to others.  If everyone who dislikes being criticized could  all agree not to do it, we would have the problem licked!

But, since that will not happen this side of heaven, we need to persevere. 

The apostle wanted to verify the love of the Corinthian believers.  He was not forcing others into a competition.  Paul’s desire was not compare believer with his or her fellow believers.  It was simply a desire to demonstrate true love.

Jesus gave the best example of all.  In His grace He, although rich with eternal wealth gave it all up in order to come to earth and give His life for mankind.  His humble sacrifice became our avenue to inevitably enter into heaven.

Furthermore, the Corinthian believers had a generous heart.   Paul wanted to highlight this about their life of faith.  They didn’t drag their feet to give to the needs of fellow believers.

Giving can be thwarted in several ways.  Some never get off of square 1.  Those who do could easily start off enthusiastic but fall away and not finish. 

Paul wanted to instruct the Corinthian believers to give properly.  Giving is wonderful.  Having the desire to do so without coercion from others is outstanding.  Finishing a directive by God to give is indeed a valuable spiritual landmark.

God is never impressed with the amount of our financial gift.  He doesn’t need it.  But, He orchestrates our giving to prepare for us expressing the genuineness of our heart.

The Apostle explains that giving is not a matter of giving up our resources only to be poor ourselves.  Rather we give of our earthly wealth in order to feel right about our life and the pleasure of Jehovah Jireh.  Christians are not socialists but they are concerned about the needs of their neighbor.

It is not a matter of giving until it hurts.  Rather, those who have been born again may now express their gratitude to Christ for their eternal life.  Their giving, nevertheless, was not in jeopardy.  God had supplied them with a bountiful reserve to help others.

God is the ultimate quartermaster.  He will insure that all are cared for and no one will be lacking while participating in the care of others.  It is about sharing not owning.  Wealth is not the picture but contentment is.

^{photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography}

^{2 corinthians 8.8-15}

driving through the soup

My clock was sounding my internal alarm.  It was time to grab my keys, heft my backpack and place my cellphone into my pocket.  This daily routine is usually shrouded in darkness. 

The curtains are drawn.  I don’t have time to open them.  What is waiting for me outside is a secret.

No, no one is hiding anything.  But, whatever the weather I need to depart regardless.  There is always time to be surprised by the day’s weather.

Swiftly, I pulled open the door to our garage.  Then, the switch for the garage door opener easily depressed under my finger.  As the garage door raised, I was aghast.

The entire neighborhood was encased in a giant cloud, otherwise known as fog.  It’s common here in our town of Daly City.  But, today, it was especially thick.

All of the apartment complexes up on the hill were hidden behind the low-lying fog.  It was moving swiftly, pushed along rapidly by the ocean breezes.  That aspect of a fog is fascinating.

But, the worst part of a foggy day is driving in it.  Impaired vision and limited visibility mean danger.  Already the radio news has reported several accidents. 

People are driving too fast, hoping that the assumption of a clear road is their only route.  But, signal lights burn with dull penetration.   I hear the sound of brakes skidding on pavement. 

Gladly, that vehicle was able to stop in time.  He wasn’t behind me.  I breathed with relief.

Slowly a sign appeared on the side of the road.  It was a speed limit indicator.  55?  No way.  I checked on my speedometer and read 35 mph. 

Haste makes waste is that adage of old.  It is wise advice on a day like today.  Better to arrive a little later than usual to my destination than to never arrive at all.

Visibility and how far we can see through the weather tells us how to slow down.  Someone told me that Daly City is really foggy because of all the Asian families cooking rice.  I laughed then and chuckled now while slowly carefully making my way through the soup.

photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography

lasting friendship

They were friends long before I have ever met them.  Grade school blended their lives together.  Years have gone by but their contact still continues after decades have passed by.

Together they would race each other home after school.  Those foot races were part of the day children could still safely make the journey home without adult supervision.  These two girl friends took full advantage of that freedom.

Laughter, sharing and memories changed over the decades.  But, they kept in touch.  Weddings took place and the man in each of their lives began to share in those rich early days of grade school adventures.  Friends since they were eleven, the depth of life that bonded them is as fun as it is a precious memory. 

It was time for their 40th wedding anniversary.  Sacramento is a two-hour drive away.  The gala event was scheduled for a Saturday, my toughest day of the week.

But, for special occasions some like this event was worth making the journey.  Together, Yvonne and I drove those long hot miles.  She reminisced over the events that marked both of their lives. 

A story of their wedding would pop up.  Then, the events of their two children became part of the long talks on this distant drive.  Challenges in life were also a part of the adventure of life for them.

But, there was an uncanny connection between these two women.  I enjoyed every visit that we have had with them over the years.  Have you ever met people like that where you only have good things to say about lives that have intersected with yours?

We talked about a common faith as well.  When God graciously gives us the momentous treasure of friendship, it is especially precious when we know that our connection goes way beyond this life as well.  Eternity will greet us all and the friendship will continue.

Once at the church, we heard Yvonne’s name called.  A warm and long embrace was so appropriate.  We were escorted to the head table to dine with the guests of honor.

The talking started.  Food encouraged it to continue.  Memories through songs, pictures and testimonials filled in a picture full of life and love. 

That’s the kind of friendship to enjoy.  It is a friendship that lasts forever.  Congratulations, Tom and Debbie.  Thanks for the years of memories.

photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography

waiting for the solar eclipse

Everyone was alerted to the coming scientific phenomena.  It would only make its appearance once in a blue moon.  This is the kind of event that God displays in His creation for all of us to marvel.

Special care needs to be taken of course.  A solar eclipse needs some simple precautions.  No one wants to damage their eyesight carelessly.

The moon is in its normal orbit, but this time it passes between the sun and the earth.  The shadow that is cast tracks across the earth.  Certain parts of the world’s population get to experience the phenomenon of the sun going dark.

It is a stunning event.  Quickly the light of day is extinguished.  It happens rapidly and the time of day is puzzling if information is scarce.

In my past I remember a full solar eclipse.  Day was turned into night and I could see stars in the heavens during daylight hours.  It was spectacular!

Now, in anticipation of that special moment cameras point skyward.  People have put this moment on their calendars.   The experience will be momentous. 

God has timed the event perfectly.  Scientists have observed the patterns put into the solar system.  The announcement, the anticipation, the expectation and declare the marvel as all eyes turn to the heavens.

We wouldn’t be able to see the ring of fire, but we could share in enough.  It was very cool!

photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography

indoor long walk

There was a time when walking was a challenge.  My feet would not stand up to any strolls beyond the distance beyond kicking a can.  Those were tough days.

Pain was the problem.  Yet, my schedule was merciless.  Even though I journeyed from airport to airport, being stricken with unusual pain made for an excruciating journey.

I well remember in an international airport looking for any handrail to make my footsteps take me to my next destination.  A wheel chair looked very appealing when I passed it.  Instead, I gritted my teeth and kept up my faith walk with prayers for God’s relief.

Ahead, I was enthused to see a mechanized moving floor.  If I could make it there I could just stand on the right side and catch my breath.  I was counting on a respite for the next series of painful steps.

Ah, the relief of making it to the moving sidewalk was wonderful.  It is a nuisance to some people but I relished in the relief from the pain.  Of course I stood there looking cool and collected. 

When we can’t be in control at least we can look like we are.  That is the guy code.  It’s not pride, it is machismo.

By the time that I came to end of the moving sidewalk, I noticed a considerable drop in the foot pain.  Gingerly, I made the next few steps to the next moving sidewalk and was pleasantly surprised that my destination was easily reached.  Whatever was bothering my foot was now quieting down.

Oh, what a relief it is to sense surprising pain go away.  I didn’t know the cause but I was not going to complain about the ease of my now very happy feet.  That ugly duckling part of the human anatomy was now feeling very good.

The walkway was the cushioned kind.  It was springy and gave me the sense of a load taken away.  I hid my pain easily since it was clearly fading away.

After that rugged trip my doctor gave me an exam.  Now, that annoying phenomenon called arthritis is under control.  What was once frustrating is now a mental precaution. 

When I walk through an airport, I appreciate the walk without pain as well as the moving walkways.  Footpower is amazing.  Hail to the feet!

photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography

wildlife in civilization

My friends, Wally and Joyce, invited to their new digs in Ft. Meyer, Florida.  It’s a community for people who love being active, love to make new friends, have tons of hobbies to share with others and love the surroundings of grounds that make every day a treat for a walk, bike ride or a golf cart ride around just to take in the sun, scenery and spectacular sunrises as well as sunsets.  I got the first class royal tour.

Sure, the buildings were nice, the amenities were amazing and the grounds sparkled under the car of hard-working grounds keepers.  The food was not only great but it was also cheap.  All of us guests were housed in the community hotel.

As we strolled from place to place I kept noticing the abundant wild life.  When God created this world, He filled it with special touches of His tastes in spectacular variety.  The inlet from the estuary was the home of several manatees. 

These gentle giants of the brackish waters are also very shy.  From a distance their uniquely shaped back flipper flutters in the air before disappearing beneath the surface.  Only a small ripple is left to give evidence that these wonderful creatures are there.

Suddenly a large disturbance convinces me that there are at least three of these water animals in the lagoon.  People quietly line the shoreline.  We were all treated to a show of peek-a-boo. 

A big brown eye swept up from the waters and blinked briefly at us, then disappeared with a puff and a huff.  His flipper waved good-bye.  The oohs and ahs were generous from all of us “land lubbers”. 

We turned the bend and along the water canal with palm trees and mangroves lining the opposite shore, a tall post with a small platform 30 feet in the air captured my attention.  A bird’s nest had been built on top of the platform.  It was occupied.

This was no ordinary bird.  Are there any ordinary birds?  This was one of the carnivores of the sky, a ospey. 

She was fluffing her feathers.  My watching her didn’t faze her one bit.  Below boats motored by, cars traversed on the road, people carried on conversations in the gazebos and the sound of humans hoeing in their gardens filled the air.

People and wildlife enjoyed the community together.  It is an amazing balance of life.  I thoroughly enjoyed it!

photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography

work ethic

When my mom shook me awake, I rolled over and tried to ignore her.  She turned on the light in my bedroom and the shock forced my eyes to shut tightly and pull my blanket over my head.  I knew that it was time to get up.

I was only twelve but those summer days are forever burned into my psyche.  The sting of waking up before I wanted to end my rest has been a part of my routine for years.  It was in those early days when my will to rise and meet the day was born.

It was still dark outside.  My dad dropped me off at the same farm bus stop that was now very familiar to me.  In my hand was a bandana and a brown bag with my lunch for the day. 

After taking a snooze on that dirty, musty rickety well-past-its-prime bus we arrived at one of the many tomato fields in the Sacramento Valley.  Our load of weary humanity filed off the bus and checked with the foreman to receive our punch card.  This was our tally of our day’s labor.

One of the team leaders called to us to follow him.  Each of us followed and peeled off when we were directed to our row of tomato plants.  We grabbed a wooden box. 

Down on my knees I pulled on rubber gloves and began to harvest ripe tomatoes and gently put them the crate.  The farm would pay me $.25 per crate.   When the box was full, it was heavy. 

Carrying the box to the end of my row and stacking them for trucks to load was back-breaking work.  The sun rose steadily and blasted us with that famous Sacramento heat.  My bandana was wrapped around my head to keep me cool.

Dust and dirt stuck to my clothes like a magnet was sucking it in.  Bugs and caterpillars were constant companions.  Spanish was the language of choice by the many laborers who surrounded me.

I watched adult labors and was amazed at how fast and strong they were.  They were able to stack boxes and boxes of tomatoes at the end of their rows.  My diminutive stack just made their monster harvest just look even bigger. 

I learned to work hard, find pride in it.  Start early, be diligent and don’t quit until the work is done.  Doesn’t everyone in America have a similar story?

photo credit:

women and the wonder of shoes

Have you noticed the difference between women’s shoe departments and men’s shoe departments?  Does size give you a hint?  Does busyness give you a further hint?

I was observing recently all of the glitz and glamour associated with women’s shoes.  Of course I zeroed in on a few pair of shoes that were close enough for me to pick up, study and wonder.  It left me puzzled.

Of course it must be a guy thing to shake our head in wonder.  How could so little material represented in a woman’s Spring fashion possibly cost so much?  Are shoes that claim some exotic origin really command such prices?

If a shoe is made in Italy, then are they better?  Oh, I should qualify, if they are designed in Italy, made in China, packaged in Mexico and marketed in India are they better as an international product compared to simplicity of being manufactured in the good ol’ USA.  This isn’t anything more than simple economics to me.

Yes, on behalf of all the men of the world, what is it that draws women to shoes?  Are they so cute that a girl has to have a new pair?  When pairs of shoes are counted do they pass 50? 60? 70? more?

I need to be careful.  This is soggy ground.  Honestly, though I am not against women having a collection of footwear.  It just has me curious, that’s all, really!

The number of sales people in the Women’s Shoe Department is like an army compared to the Men’s Shoe Department.  They are much friendlier too.  I wonder if the men’s shoe sales guys are sucking lemons.

The most common word that I hear in the Women’s Shoe Department is “cute”.  Two or more women who are shopping together encourage each other with that singular word.  It is repeated often with different inflections for variety sake I’m sure.

“Comfort” isn’t a common term used in this place of varied footwear.  In my out-to-lunch opinion so many of the shoes look completely UNcomfortable.  Toes are squeezed, heels are lifted into the sky and textures are very strange.  But, I’m just a lost novice with too many questions.

There was a day when I sold women’s shoes for a living.  Even then I learned what I needed to sell shoes, which I did sell more than my quota each month.  But, I never learned the answer to my questions; so I was left only to wonder, marvel and theorize some more.

photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography

mother’s week

Happy Mother’s Day!

It was a stroke of genius to those who started the annual day of recognizing that one person in our life who is always working for us.  Tireless days of making sure that our day goes well, that our tomorrow goes equally as well and do all she can to insure that our many tomorrows can be a reality.

God gave them a mind and heart and will to serve our little needs that erupt into her schedule being filled with the errands for the benefit of her children.  After days and weeks and months of this serving-others-routine very little has her name on anything.  She ignores and passes on stuff that will be just for her.

Her plans for us have made sure that we have our breakfast to start our day.  She has made and collected the essentials for our nutritious bag lunch to take to school.  Work outside of the home awaits her so that there is enough of a financial source to provide a roof over our heads, gas for the car and clothes that are clean and pressed.

Clark Kent has nothing over our mom.  She has endurance that will vie successfully in comparison to the man of steel.  Our moms are our woman of Kevlar.

This one day isn’t a satisfying celebration for the sacrifices she has done for us.  Instead, it is a reminder, a respite to force her to stop her incessant service so that we can tell her how much we appreciate all that she does for our entire year.  Besides, we get to enjoy the party too.

The flowers make her smile.  She pauses and drinks in the fragrance of the bouquet.  hesitatingly, she strokes the gift certificate to her favorite store, wondering if it is ok to spend that kind of money on herself instead of us.

Small confections welcome her to taste what is only for the experience of the moment.  It is wonton indulgence that gives a moment of pure enjoyment.  There are no chores, no worries and no concerns for just a few minutes: savor, rest and bask.

Yup, Moms, we love you.  We thank you.  Don’t worry about cleaning up after this party.  There’s plenty of time for you to put that off until tomorrow.  Happy Mother’s Day!  Oh, ok, take the whole week off!

photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography

multi-task fade

Like most guys, I pride myself in an ability to multi-task.  Of course I do that pride thing quietly.  Except for my wife of course; I tell her.  She is quite entertained by my bragging that usually goes before a fall.

During my transition from California to Texas I divide my time easily.  Today I was up at 5AM taking care of Texas stuff.  It was plenty of time before I had to get ready to get to my San Francisco office before 8AM.

For some reason, however, multi-tasking gets some of my wires crossed.  Synapses seem to be firing but just a bit out-of-order.  There were a couple of times where I just couldn’t handle the overload.

Yvonne left for her work.  We usually leave together.  This morning I was behind on my best laid plans.  It was time to buck up and “git ‘er done!”   

Instead of letting several failed attempts at a project for Texas get me down, I forced myself to make several choices.  Once I had those efforts completed I sent in my project.  It was done.

Now, the clock was ticking and it was time to shift back to California.  Thinking through my day I gathered all of the items that I needed to make it a productive day in SF.  Our staff was going to meet, I had projects to complete, phone calls to make and several keys items to plan.

At last I was ready to head into the office.  I grabbed my keys, phone and wallet.  Then, I leaned down to grasp my backpack filled with a day’s work. 

Next, I trotted out the garage door and skipped toward the opening as the sunshine flooded our vehicle bay.  That’s when I realized that my multi-tasking was missing a beat.  I froze in my tracks and shook my head at myself with great disappointment.

Sheepishly I turned back to the house.  I dropped my backpack by the door.  There was a pause as I stared at my feet.

I was still wearin’ my house slippers.  Maybe I was going to a PJ party.  Is there a sleep over in my schedule?  If I just threw a toothbrush into my backpack I’d be all set. 

It was a good laugh.  Time to slow down and let my brain catch up with my schedule.  I chuckled all the way to my office.

photo credit: brucefong cellphone photography