Many years ago, as a college dean, I sought to comfort an older student who had witnessed the accidental death of her 7 year-old son. As I stood in line at the funeral home, I wondered what could I possibly say to this grieving mother? In front of me was the Campus Pastor who did and said all the right things. The hug, the quite murmurs of sympathy, and then, to my surprise, he began to speak of the young boy and what a blessing he had been in her life. He didn’t avoid the subject. The elephant was in the room but it didn’t matter! Her son was honored by the remembering conversation. The brief conversation did not ally her grief, but it mattered to her. Continue reading
Author: Stan Escott
God’s Purpose, God’s Church
I’ve been a member of the same men’s Bible study group for over 30 years. During that time someone will, on occasion, raise the question of studying the Book of Revelation? Just this spring we committed ourselves to that study, trying to be thorough, taking one verse at a time, digging deep, using at least 7 commentaries and trying to understand the vision and the message.
Revelation is best tackled with a rich, creative imagination. It is a book filled with images and symbols, but at its very core, Revelation is a book of hope! But Revelation is also a book of warning. Things are not as they should be in the churches. Christ calls the churches to commit to living in righteousness, and we need to understand what that commitment means for it is the key to determining God’s purpose for the church, specifically, your church. Continue reading
Our Verses Rhyme
Why do I not deeply grieve? Why am I not inconsolable? Why am I at peace with the passing of my dearly loved wife, just two months ago? Why do I not have a deep sense of emptiness, a constant awareness of a hole in my heart? Why am I able to carry on with a strong sense of the presence of my loved one right here with me? Continue reading
Annoying Grace?
Not long ago, Philip Gulley, author and theologian, spoke in our church on the topic of grace, God’s grace. His talk was engaging, humourous, and filled with both current and ancient examples of grace in action. While I will not quote specifics of Gulley’s talk, I did have a visceral reaction that caused me to consider a negative side of grace when applied to our self-centered society. Continue reading
Life as It Comes
Sir William Gilbert (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame) in his treatise on “Patience” offers this bit of advice: “Life’s a pudding full of plums; Care’s a canker that benumbs, therefore waste our elocution on impossible solution? Let us take it as it comes!” Take it as it comes, bumps, bruises and all.
“One morning, months ago, I visited a good friend who had been ill for some time. He was a man that exuded energy and goodness and talking with him was such a treat for he had a knack of putting his friends at ease and engaged. Each time we visited, the conversation included a nice dose of teasing and catching up, and often it turned to matters of health. Shortly after that visit, at 89 years of age, he played 9 holes of golf with his wife and enjoyed the day, without having to pay with aching joints or fatigue. He told me then that he would play in our summer golf league, and he did, for the first few weeks! Continue reading
Simple Generosity!
Soon a new year will begin, full of hope and opportunities. As my wife and I put a difficult year behind us, our thoughts turn with gratitude to what it really means to be generous, for the giver and receiver.
I believe it takes a certain amount of grace to be the recipient of the generosity of others. Having been on the receiving end of so much generosity this year, we know that the tiniest gesture is so very large and helpful. Continue reading
Talking Prayers with My Dog
We all go through rough times in our lives, times when it is hard to imagine how to handle a problem, or work through grief, or make an extremely difficult and painful decision. As a much younger man my strategy, often, was to deny or ignore, but, most of the time, I would simply isolate myself by taking a walk in the woods or around the lake that was several miles from my home.
I was accompanied on those walks by my dog, Mandy. Just a mixed breed, part Lab, part mongrel and 100% loyal. She was a wonderful companion and a very good listener. She would often run ahead, maybe chase a rabbit, and return and walk along with me. During those times, I would tell Mandy why we were on this walk and I would explain my problem or why I was hurting. Often these conversations with my dog came out very much like prayers. Continue reading
Pray Without Ceasing?
Pray without ceasing? Hmm.
A number of years ago, I ran a little experiment. I was teaching a course in Adolescent Psychology at a midwest college, and because of circumstances in my life and in the classroom, I decided to explore the power of prayer through a very simple exercise. Over a period of 14 class meetings, I alternated each class period. On the first day I prayed about the lesson, about being at peace, and asking God to be present and give that peace to the students. On the second day, I did not pray about the lesson, the students or myself. On the third day, I prayed, and on the fourth I did not. I continued this through all 14 class meetings. Continue reading
10 Days in June
Ten Days in June. Ten days, starting with the tragic news of the attack on the Bible Study group at the Mother Emmanuel AME Church, South Carolina and ending with nine funerals. Beyond this terrible tragedy, what touched me was the forgiveness and the grace shown by the families of the victims toward the young gunman.
That grace was reflected the following Friday at the funeral for pastor Rev. Clementa Pinckney. Aside from the fine and appropriate words of the eulogy by President Obama, I was struck, as I am sure many of you were, by the spontaneous singing of Amazing Grace, and how the words of that hymn were sung throughout the church, the community and the nation. Continue reading
On Being a Veteran
I was 18 when I enlisted in the Army. It was just after Christmas that year. It seemed inevitable that my “number” would come up soon and I would be drafted anyway. Besides that, I lost my military deferment when I was academically disqualified from the college I attended (I majored in parties as a freshman). So I took the not-so-heroic step of volunteering for the draft. It seemed a difficult decision at the time, but in retrospect, one that paid dividends in later years. Continue reading
Security
Recently, in one of my daily devotionals, I came across this: At the top of the 1,000-foot mountainous peaks of Meteora, Greece, monasteries have been built…hundreds of years ago. Their inaccessible location provides safety and, at the same time, offers them a chance to escape the cares and concerns of the world.
Up until the last century, goods and visitors, had to be winched up in a basket that was hand powered by the monks. Those who made the ascent found the ride a terrifying experience, what with the basket swaying and swinging.
One of these tourists, recording his adventure, admitted to getting nervous about halfway up the cliff. That’s when he noticed the rope holding the basket seemed old and frayed. Thinking that he might relieve his fear, at least somewhat, he asked one of the brothers who was riding with him, “How often do you change the rope?” Without a moment’s hesitation, the reply came back, “Whenever it breaks!” Continue reading
Smells Like Dirt!
I have a son-in-law, Don, who created and operates a nursery that specializes in succulents and other drought-resistant plants. He started the nursery essentially from scratch and with his creativity and energy has elevated it to one of the finest in Southern California. In my periodic visits I have watched the evolution of this nursery from a 5-acre empty lot into a beautiful, visitor-friendly garden, filled with luscious plants, and vivid colors. (See https://www.facebook.com/SerraGardens) Continue reading
