The Beekeeper

Reuben Shubaugh’s story was recently featured on a Wichita TV station. He is known in his neighborhood as the beekeeper or the “bee man,” a title he has proudly worn for more than 50 years. His neighbors see him outside going from hive to hive collecting beeswax and honey, continuing an acitivity that may have been practiced first in ancient Egypt.

Independence Day

On this Independence Day in the United States let me give you a few mind-changing thoughts from Jesus. Given the nature of Jesus' teaching, we should not be surprised to find that these are for the most part counter-cultural.

Not the Way I Pictured It

 One of my wife’s favorite movies is Lost in Yonkers. In it Bella, a sweet, mentally challenged woman who is probably in her late 30s eventually meets someone who she believes is the man of her dreams. She calls a family meeting to share with them her plans to marry Johnny, an usher from the local movie theater.

The Lowest Valley

I am a fan of bluegrass music. That works well living as I do now in the Nashville, Tennessee, area. I was not always a fan. It took a movie directed by two Jewish gentlemen from Minnesota to turn me into one, but a crazy film titled O Brother, Where Art Thou? did the trick. If you were to ask me, “What’s on your IPod?” chances are the answer will either be Alison Krauss or Ralph Stanley.

Just before I moved from Boston to Nashville a friend gave me a Ralph Stanley album of gospel songs. One of the tunes is called “The Lowest Valley,” and the refrain says “When I’m in the lowest valley, I can climb the highest hill.”

Not too Much

Dru has suffered from so many debilitating physical problems that you need a scorecard to keep track. Her battle with diabetes caused her to lose her vision. She had kidney failure, regular dialysis and finally a kidney transplant. She has had at least two surgeries for cancer. Her schedule for doctors’ appointments seems like a fulltime job. Her husband, Paul, is at her side when not working, and he suffers vicariously with her.

But…it doesn’t sound quite right to use the word “suffers” in regard to them. I know it is an accurate description of things they must feel, but together they face their trials with such faith and humor, that it is not the first thing you think of when you picture them. They are encouragers, always thinking of how to strengthen others who face challenges.

In my book, Mind Change, Power Thought #29 reads:

God has not given

you too much.

If there is something you have to

face, you can face it.

If there is something you must

overcome, you can overcome it.

To paraphrase C.S. Lewis:

”When something must be done, there is no use talking

about whether or not it can be done.”

           

It looks like Dru and Paul have an unfair load. But they show us that “God has not given too much” and that living a life of love is something they can still do with joy.

Not too Much

Dru has suffered from so many debilitating physical problems that you need a scorecard to keep track. Her battle with diabetes caused her to lose her vision. She had kidney failure, regular dialysis and finally a kidney transplant. She has had at least two surgeries for cancer. Her schedule for doctors’ appointments seems like a fulltime job. Her husband, Paul, is at her side when not working, and he suffers vicariously with her.

But…it doesn’t sound quite right to use the word “suffers” in regard to them. I know it is an accurate description of things they must feel, but together they face their trials with such faith and humor, that it is not the first thing you think of when you picture them. They are encouragers, always thinking of how to strengthen others who face challenges.

In my book, Mind Change, Power Thought #29 reads:

God has not given

you too much.

If there is something you have to

face, you can face it.

If there is something you must

overcome, you can overcome it.

To paraphrase C.S. Lewis:

”When something must be done, there is no use talking

about whether or not it can be done.”

           

It looks like Dru and Paul have an unfair load. But they show us that “God has not given too much” and that living a life of love is something they can still do with joy.

The Spiritual Battle

King David was aware of his enemies. He writes:

For I hear the slander of many;

There is terror on every side.

They conspire against me

And plot to take my life.

My enemies are just as real as David’s. They are those powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil that Paul describes in Ephesians. They are called “powers” because they are strong and are to be reckoned with. They conspire against me and want to ruin my life. This is not paranoia; it is just facing the facts.

They infiltrate my mind, causing a kind of spiritual auto-immune disease, so my mind can conjure up every possible reason that my failure will be eventual if not quick.

After facing the hard facts, David has a mind change. He says

“But I trust in you, O Lord;

I say “You are my God, my times are in your hands.”

He turns away from fear of his enemies and declares his faith.

Learning from David, I can hear the slander those evil powers broadcast against me, and turn my mind to God saying “But I trust in you, O Lord, You are my God, my times are in your hands.”

In my book, Mind Change, power thought #25 reads:

Don't resent the spiritual battle. 

Be thankful you have the weapons to fight it.

Be glad you are on the winning side.