Send Me No Flowers

A friend of mine passed away last week. I thought of him when I saw the above photo on Facebook – a teacher’s request that no flowers be sent, but backpacks with school supplies for needy children be considered. Obviously, her request was more than considered, because additional photos on line showed people carrying additional bags into the church.

“Send Me No Flowers” is more than a 1964 Doris Day movie – it’s a suggestion I’d like to be remembered when it becomes my turn to be remembered.  No – I do not want florists to be put out of business.  Send flowers every opportunity we have to people we want to honor – for their friendship, fellowship, hard work, caring attitude – any number of reasons. But not for my funeral, please. I’m not there and won’t notice them at all.

If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. (John 14:28b)

Yep – that’s what I’d like – a time for rejoicing. But – there is one gift I wish from those remembering my life:  pray for a missionary and spread the gospel.

1)  Pick a missionary. If you and I are friends on Facebook, you are familiar with some of the missionaries I follow there. It’s an easy way to keep up with their needs and provide them proof of prayer support. Perhaps your church provides support for a specific missionary – that would be a good choice, too. If you can’t think of one, contact the First Baptist Church of Cottondale, Texas. They have an active list of supported missionaries who appreciate prayer support.

2) Pray for that missionary – and those who will hear the gospel through that missionaries service to our Lord. They have the same needs as we do – shelter, sustenance, spiritual support – plus working in environments where they are often unwanted. Yes, we have that, too, so pray for your friends who are sharing the gospel message to hearts that are closed to God’s work. Pray they be softened.

3) Explain what you are doing to someone close to you. That’s witnessing. Yes, it is telling others that there are people who believe that God exists. That He has a purpose. That His purpose includes people. That He was messages across all time to all people. Missionaries are called to give that message – but so are all Christians:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Two verses above this, we are told that “some doubted.” Some still do, and others have totally rejected the good news that God is real. The ones who cannot believe:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)

My friend who recently passed requested his name be added to prayer lists. It was, by several people. He did so, saying specifically “I’m a believer.” He knew his life was in God’s hands and was prepared for the future God promised.

Send me no flowers, but tell everyone that I’m a believer in God, His grace, His mercy, His son – and His instructions to teach others. Let’s get that started today. Right now. Not waiting for such a time as flowers may be considered.

Other People’s Truth

Recently, Starbucks shut down its eight thousand company-operated stores to conduct an anti-bias training for more than 175,000 employees. You'd think they were pretty serious. Starbucks didn't make the training public, but some ground rules came out:

- Listen respectfully
- Speak your truth and honor other people's truth
- If your conversation gets off track, pause and restart

Sounds pretty good. The first falls under Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount, "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." We all would want others to listen respectfully – this we should, too.

But how about that truth part?

For that, take a look at the graphic. As the graphic shows - perspective can display two “truths”, thus we need to seek common truths before we can discern the perspectives that divide truth into two parts. Both perspectives show light, an object, it’s obvious suspension, and it’s lack of motion. Once the items in common are verified, adults can move onto variables and their source.

What seems totally impossible as “truth”, as seen above, can be proven with a change in both perspectives. Look for what is truth - not simply what is true. There is a difference. For example, one of the most quoted verses from the Bible used to be John 3:16. If we could track today’s internet usage, I’d say it was now:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. (Matthew 7:1 KJV)

However, you seldom see the following verse included:

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (Matthew 7:2 KJV)

Which to me means to be very cautious that when I am in a position that requires a judgment call that I do it cautiously, with God’s examples in mind, beginning with the continuing verses:

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. (Matthew 7:3-5 KJV)

I must be certain that I am not committing the same error I’m making as a judgment call in another person. If I point out that what I’m hearing is gossip, I must not be involved in any gossip. Doesn’t have to be ten times the size of what I hear to be a “beam.” If I err when I know I shouldn’t, that make my error a beam. On the other hand, unless I point out the “mote” – a factual irregularity – I’m leaving my brother in error.

How do I know it is error? It has to be specific to the ongoing commandments in God’s word to His children. I don’t have the right to define what level the wrong is, just that the error exists and there is an ongoing methodology to make a correction. I’ve already been given an answer for almost every situation:

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15 KJV)

Where do I find that hope, and why do I want to share it with everyone?

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4 KJV)

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. (Titus 2:13-15 KJV)

Honor other people’s truth, being ready to explain the source of your own.