This Sinners Prayer

Most of us, who have come to terms with our past and current condition, have all had the option of making an appearance before the Almighty. After an inventory of our spiritual hygiene and the potential outcome of future considerations we arrive at the proverbial fork in the road. At this point we are literally forced to choose a path which will ultimately take us into eternity. An atheist may say that he doesn’t believe in God or the eternal scenario but in the end there is no such thing as an atheist. I can’t believe I ate that much; It’s unbelievable how high the taxes are and I believe I’ll have another beer. These are a few of the deniably undeniable belief-isms that are utilized when choosing not to accept the simple terms laid down by a loving God. Since these excuses are not in the best interest of decision makers, let’s see where the other road goes.

After a suitable time in the parking lot of the last truck stop one becomes aware that it is time to do something with the day ahead. Since we know that alcohol, drugs and whores are not just for breakfast anymore, some of us had to actually deposit our serious iniquities in the dumpster before moving on. Others who have no such history often assume that they don’t have far to go so may take advantage of sleeping till noon and then lollygagging in the gift shop. I have an overabundance of comparisons but such is life especially when it comes to being overloaded and asking for directions. Once we realize that we don’t know where we’re going it becomes easier to inquire as to a recommended route to somewhere other than here.

In my case, I came to the negotiating table without a clue or an excuse for my proir ignorant assumptions. At the time I didn’t think that I was conceited but thought that I had good reason to be. At first my certifiably foolish interviews with the Lord and the subsequent following meetings consisted of a little Bible knowledge and plenty of good presupposed notions about everything else. I wasn’t all that sure that I wanted anything to do with God in the first place and it never occurred to me that Him having anything to do with me was not necessarily in His best interest. I remember thinking that if I’m going to attend this party I want to make sure from the start that I’m on the right train and that it’s going in the right direction. I didn’t linger long in researching through the Big Book of World Religions to come to a conclusion but I did have the presence of mind to realize that there is in fact not many ways to get to heaven. Once that observation was solidified in my thinking then the next step was obvious. I must approach my maker on His terms before I die. In due time my resolve was broken down and I found myself in an old fashioned Pentecostal church.

I don’t remember the day or the hour. I don’t recall the name of the preacher who was speaking or what he was talking about. He could have been quoting from a JC Penny’s Catalog for all I know but I do know that I was onto the most awesome experience that I’ve ever encountered. My life was poured out like water and I wasn’t coached to repeat a manufactured off the rack prewritten statement. What I did say was something in the order of; Lord, forgive me, I am a sinner. Nothing was the same after that and I found Jesus to be the same everyday thereafter. He is not now nor has He ever been in the repetitious sinner’s prayer business. If you’re seeing a Y sign ahead and you are navigationally impaired, I suggest that you keep your questions simple and your response genuine as you accept your directional disabilities and change course. Keep your mind and heart inside the faith at all times until the journey has come to a full and complete stop.

T. LaVigne

A Tale of Two Waitings

In every town there is an eatery of one kind or another. Down the street from a fine restaurant there is a take out joint with the bare minimum in style or class. With fast food we get fast service, paper plates and plastic forks. The drinks are in a fairly clean cooler and all the smells seem to be of the appropriate odor. The proprietor sometimes is seen in a dirty apron, maintains an unshaved face and may scratch himself while expressing his usual welcome. He continues to provide you with the same service that you have come to expect. After all you don’t have the time or the desire to be seen in this particular dive. You pay the man and carry your boxed item to a safe distance to consume your junk cuisine without the benefit of actually tasting it. Before we choke on the subject let’s move up the food chain and go down the street.
At a fine establishment it’s a different meal entirely. You put on a clean shirt and your best behavior before you enter the door. The maitre d’ is dressed in a tuxedo and uses polite terms when asking about a reservation. This venue includes a tablecloth and shining silverware with an assortment of courses and choices. A waiter with a bow tie arrives with a presentation of the various options to put the experience into motion. Some small talk may ensue but it will be cut short with the preliminary drink and salad onsemble prepared by a crack kitchen crew. The music is appropriate, the entrée is awesome and the company is pleasant. How about a nice little slice of perspective for dessert?
If you were invited to participate in entertaining the Lord for the evening and it was up to you to lay out the sequence of events, the table and the ambiance; just what kind of an experience would it be for you and the Lord? In the first scenario I would very much just like to get it over with; you know, with the ritual and the basic expectation and all. I mean the food is hot, fast and comes in an attractive cardboard box and you assume the Lord prefers fast service. In by 10am and out by 11:15. Classic rock hymns, a no frills message, no bible and a really short prayer. Appearance is optional and you don’t have to deal with the clientele until next Sunday. The convenience of clever movie clip theology and a list of condiments projected on the wall works for everybody.
Now the fancy bistro is a different story. You greet the Lord at the beginning of the day and offer to accompany Him to His table which consists of your whole life spread out before Him. You have taken your personal appearance seriously and pay no attention to the time it takes to serve Him. As you minister to His need it may require that you see to the cleanness of your own surroundings. Working out your own salvation does employ sorting through your priorities before presenting the menu to the Lord. As a waiter, seeing to His refreshment should be a constant presence of mind. Common courtesy to others and a pleasant attitude in worship while in His service is the essence of the atmosphere. As for you as a waiter; your gratuities run over and He has prepared a table before you in the presence of your enemies. Try to digest this slowly; it’s more about being of service than being served and more about serving Him as opposed to just attending a service. Who knows? The bow tie might be a nice change.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31.
Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. Hosea 12:6
T. LaVigne

Observations Made While You Wait

Several years ago I read a book entitled the Art of Being. I don’t recall the author and I can’t say that I recommend it but I found it in the bargain bin. I quickly concluded that it in part it had to do with being in the right place at the right time. After reading the book I came up with an observation as follows. I’ve learned to call it an observation while among certain believers so at to not let imagination get the best of an obvious lesson. I wonder how long Jeremiah sat at the potter’s house watching the potter before the pieces came together. Chapter 18:2 says that there, observing, the Lord would cause Jeremiah to hear His words. I was quiet before the Lord the day I wrote these things in my journal.
When I began my journey with Christ I was given a sheet of paper at the start of the class and given the task of writing my life story. I wasted some time as I looked out the window in wonder. While others got busy with their assignment I looked into the school yard with playtime on my mind. I drooled and scribbled on my work folding it, smudging it and got it wet in a lunchroom staining incident. It became dog eared, crumpled erased and quite undone. Are you sensing my ADD testimony evolving? When it came time to turn it in a creative streak began to appear as I came up with some of my best excuses. When asked to read it to the class I was embarrassed and asked to be excused. Show and Tell didn’t go well that day and now I must reckon with God Almighty. As I stand before Him on that awesome day I will hide my homework behind my back and say that the devil, being the dog he is, ate it. I was assuming I’d do well on the finals as I recalled cheating on several tests before and relied on crib notes in the past. I failed on most all the domestic and social issues and even my understanding of geography is all over the grid. I know I’m not where I should be in the Lord, but I’m not where I was. On the oral portion of the exam I suppose I’ll have some brief statements like; I know in whom I have believed and forgive me Lord I’m a sinner. My personal non-favorite response would be; I wasn’t paying that close attention and I’m just plain guilty!
The art of being spontaneous in a moment like that will produce an honest exhibition and a blue ribbon is not necessarily in the outcome. The wood, hay and stubble of this may be all that remains for some of us in a similar scenario. To make it through those final exams and go to graduate into eternity is the goal of any disciple who studies to show himself approved unto God. To rightly divide the word a student must give his undivided attention to getting right with and staying current with God. Any comparison to any person living or dead is strictly likely so let’s not fool our selves. Because of the cross we are handed the diploma in the end and then only if we endure to the end. I was always watching the clock in school and now at last it is late and the bell is about to ring.

Be blessed. Class dismissed. Timothy LaVigne

The Gospel According to Mr. Potato Head

The Toy Story movies are innocent enough and a pleasant diversion from the responsibilities of adulthood. Having no TV has not cured me of a fun film and I’m still a visual person. The Bible says that without a vision the people perish and since our thoughts are not His thoughts, it’s only natural that we would twist the concept to our own liking. One of the joys of imagination is that it gets away from us to the point of ultimate obsession or fills a void with momentary inspiration. I’ve been blessed with both extremes and I will attempt to put a face on it for you. No pun intended.

It is to the pastime of children, who are learning to craft an expression, a demeanor they might be stuck with all their life, that I present the changing view of the person commonly known as Mr. Potato Head. Now that he is in the Church he prefers to be known as Brother Potato Head; not to be confused with Pastor Potato Head who has a formal background in the study of Potato Hermeneutic Development. That’s what his PHD stands for. In order to stay on track we’ll avoid going into detail about his starchy tuber home life, his sweet potato and the tater tots. This may be a delightful comparison but my theological spin on these particular Spudsters is limited.

Imagine if you will first thing on Sunday morning waking up to a blank expression. With no apparent reflection in the mirror and no clue as to how to put on a reasonable testimony of the truth, we’ll just have to sort through a collection of add on items that should cover the situation until after the benediction. Then we can replace the outward appearance with a more realistic expression of life beyond the church parking lot as we put on an appropriate phony face. The little ears that we had at 10 am are removed and an appropriate large set is put into place to capture the essence of gossip, opinion and a new CD just released by The Dipsy Chips. The drowsy eyes of the post offering sermon is now changed to a big colorful set of attentive peepers that you pop in to watch your favorite Sunday afternoon sports event. The nose that has no capacity to discern between religious flatulence and a fragrant fellowship with God, has been replaced with huge garage sized nostrils that are drawn away to the aroma of a false prophet’s promise. I could go on and on about the replaceable mouth that speaks one thing at the Bible study and another thing at the water cooler and the flexible hands that are raised in the worship service but lowered in the handling of worldly goods and everyday business, but I won’t.

One item that doesn’t come in the box with the Potato Head Disciple is the heart of the apparatus and not something to be toyed with. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jer 17:9-10. Keeping up appearances has always been a challenge and we have all been known to put on a front to cover an inner anxiety or hide a transgression from those around us. We fill the duplicitous orifice with a plastic plug; a convenient nonessential distraction until the day the Holy Spirit or a close friend points out the disguise. You can fool church people most of the time but you can’t fool God at all and as we come to terms with true repentance we will eventually assume a suitable expression that will remain the same in every situation. Until that look is achieved there will always be numerous playful accessories and some assembly required.

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Prov 6: 16-19

T. LaVigne
More articles at www.ltmstudios.blogspot.com

The Passing Lane

The view in the driveway looks normal. On a sunny day the notion to take your faith out for a spin becomes a possibility as you imagine a leisurely outing. Perhaps of necessity you leave the comfort of your current understanding of the American Dream and go to work while others are not affected by that inconvenience. Then again you might just sit at home and watch it all go by wishing you had the ambition to go somewhere in this world. Once spontaneity has had its way one is compelled to head out into the unknown. A destination is imagined and the gears are engaged as the wheels turn in the appropriate direction. The side streets are drudgery at first with the children playing ball in the street, that speed limit thing and those annoying four way stops. Once we clear the city limits, we convince ourselves of better days as we can set the cruise control and crank up the radio. Oh the thrill of the passing white lines as the scenery becomes a blur and we accelerate into our destiny ahead. Life is good, things are great and even though we don’t know where we’re going we can see by the speedometer that we are making good time. If you are suspecting that I’m about to take you for another allegorical ride in the country, well you are right.

Once we have been in the faith for a while we are confident about several things pertaining to the Christian life. In the early days of our initiation into the gospel I would have hoped that we all began with the same agenda. I’m finding that that is not the case. Some of us know all about the terminology of the road trip. We know what a map is but like the Bible, actually using one has become almost obsolete with the invention of the GPS and Map Qwest. Today we can rent a used theology expecting that others have done the servicing and the maintenance. Hitchhiking has been outlawed in most states but it’s not uncommon to see a thumb up on an entrance ramp. A free ride is still available for some. For another a bicycle or city transit will suffice in the early days of our travels with God and we all have had to walk from time to time. But today we look into the life of that Christian who has for many years been with the Lord. In one portion of the scripture it is called the Way. Some claim to have been in the Way for many years. My response is that I would rather they get out of the way and let someone else get by. It is in the passing lane that the proverbial rubber meets the road and so often we encounter it without a second thought.

After all the TLC, the waxing, the conditioning and the planning we find ourselves on that eternal highway, moving along in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord. We find a peaceful stretch and without a soul for miles we enjoy the Lord while the sins in the rearview mirror are getting smaller and smaller. Just when we are oblivious to a possible obstacle, what appears in the road ahead is a convoy of trucks that has taken charge of our carefree route. Things change quickly as the brakes are applied to a once patient attitude and it causes a burnt smell on the last nerve. All of the sudden the white lines aren’t a blur anymore and the scenery returns. It takes a few moments to appreciate what has just happened and we can stay behind this all day freight parade or we can begin to maneuver and accelerate into that passing lane. It looks clear for a mile or so at least and we have a choice of getting on with our travels or we can endure this lesson to its fullest. Your choice and opportunity could change the life of the hitchhiker who is about to come into view.

I was on that Arizona highway and I remember all the trucks and I remember you. You invested your time to take me out of your way; you gave me the gospel and a twenty dollar bill. Because you knew someone who knows where I need to be, and you slowed down long enough to acknowledge my existence, I am able to write about it. I can only wonder where I’d be if you had been in the passing lane.

T. LaVigne

I AM & I am too

When I first began to talk to the Almighty I would ramble on and on and imagined that I was making great strides after reading how to books or going to prayer meetings. I listened to many explanations about the God who wanted my attention. There was an occasion in the scripture when the disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray and I listened in as Jesus broke it down into understandable terms. First acknowledge Him, know who He is, accept His will in the earth that you are made of and believe His promises. Ask for only the minimal items to sustain your life and realize that you are only forgiven to the degree that you are willing to forgive others. Request the ability to avoid being deceived while trusting that He is able to keep you safe in this dangerous world. Not once in that instruction is there a list of mental affirmations or detailed petitions for changing our government or societal ills. There is no step by step seminar recipe on how to get God to respond our parochial expectations. In the heart of it there is no positive confession, repetition, or neatly framed verses taken out of context to support our assumed conclusions. Jesus is the I AM answer to every prayer in spite of any imagined concept of who we think He is and here are a few of them that you may be familiar with. Jesus said; I am the True Vine. I am the Way. I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the Light of the world, the Bread of Life and the Messiah. He also said I am with you always even to the end of the world.

There are a few I am’s that arrested my attention in the Psalms also. When I didn’t know how to pray, I would say what David said and that was my approach as I saw so many similarities to what I had been anxious about or when my sin was getting the best of me. Notice in Psalm 31, 38, 39 and 69 for example, that in those passages alone the words I, me and mine appear over 230 times. Not once in any of those passages do you find David asking for financial aid or a better job. He didn’t dwell on his neighbor’s welfare or spend any time blessing Saul, the Senate or the Supreme Court. He didn’t present himself as a patriot nor did he rebuke the devil and seldom quoted the words of Moses. He talked straight up. David didn’t claim to have the answer to anything and mostly complained about everything and was often negative in his words and phrases. He said; I am troubled, I am bowed down, I am feeble and I am ready to fail. With many similar words David said I am a stranger, forgotten, and weary and I am like a broken vessel.

In conclusion I am also come into deep water and I am full of heaviness because I have been over prescribed in the philosophy and mechanics of prayer. I’ve gone to churches where the pastor has his regular voice and a preaching voice. I suspect he believes the Lord will respond if he exaggerates and embellishes the moment with extreme emotion. Our praying voice should be the same as our everyday voice and silence is the better part of prayer as it’s the quiet moments that open the heart up. It’s not the length of time spent before the Lord and although I do admire the one who is fervent for more than an hour, in the end it is the position of the heart. To have a Bible open when praying is optional but the Lord is known to answer; “it is written.” Paul used the phrase I am on one or two occasions and I believe I am too. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain;.. 1 Cor 15:10a.. As you search the scriptures you may find that you identify from time to time with this kind of praying and can confess that; Jesus is the I AM and like David was, I am too.

T. LaVigne

The Shipwreck

There was a prime time program several years ago called Survivor and I didn’t give much attention to it but now understand the show was never rescued from the ratings. Many years have passed since experiencing a reality show disaster of my own and I’m now in a sense reliving the story of Robinson Crusoe after the shipwreck. I’m reminded often of Paul the apostle, who on several occasions booked passage on this titanic* topic. Among his many adventures were three such catastrophes specifically mentioned in 2 Corinthians 11. Paul writes; I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea.’ Notice how many references there are to the sea. One of the events is recorded in Acts were Paul told a seasoned crew not to set sail but they went anyway. Everyone was saved in the end but the ship did not fair so well. A comparison could be made relating to our own salvation after such a wood, hay & stubble debris field event. Allow me to elaborate on some similarities as we look at our own potentially hazardous voyage into eternity. Let’s begin with poor planning and setting sail in the wrong season. We pray about an issue for ten minutes, get in the boat and shortly find ourselves in strange waters that we should have avoided. When things get ugly we ask the Lord why He let us get into such deep water and we begin to doubt Him. We left port on the USS Assumption without a map, a compass or any navigational skills and as for getting off course, well, we were never on course to begin with. When we are young in the faith, the Lord covers for our stupidity to a certain degree but time and chance happens to us all. Eccl 9:11. Then there is the problem of being overloaded. Instead of basic provisions we are weighed down with too much debt and a full schedule, leaving no room for an extra oar, a vision or living water. Including the lack of forethought and neglecting to keep up with the weather conditions, there is always the sabotage factor. Our adversary is much like an unseen reef or an intentional destructive torpedo. Contrary to popular Christian thinking, we are not all in the same boat. Some have charted a faithful course and spent a lifetime in a life vest weighing the dangers and consequences of the trip and often have the sense to stay on dry land. In most cases it’s not advisable to build a life any where near the shore. The view may be awesome but so are the hurricanes. Matt 7:76.
I would now turn your attention to the survivors. In the event that you find your life ruined in a similar scenario, try not to wash ashore with Hymenaeus and Alexander. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 1 Tim 1:19-20. Here are some suggestions for staying alive when everything looks hopeless. First realize that you will have opportunity now to develop a prayer life and spend some alone time with the Lord. Reclaim your recollection of scripture and any salvageable items like an old hymn or that first love experience with God and build a suitable shelter. Any cargo that washed ashore could be used for building a new life and a useful future, although some limitations will have to be realized. Remember, the novel that Daniel Defoe wrote was based on a real person who lived successfully on an island until he was rescued. The best part of that story is that Mr. Crusoe had a bible and that is the saving grace in this analogy. The Bible is the life jacket, the salvage operation and the subsistence. In closing I suggest that you don’t drill a hole in the bottom of your boat to drain the excess water like I did. You can sink your own ship in a self inflicted disaster and still arrive on the shores of eternal glory but you may not be put in command of another crew or even a brand new dinghy in this lifetime. Learn how to accept your remaining days along with your new restrictions with grace and be faithful with what has been salvaged. The days ahead should not be imagined as a tropical paradise that accommodates the modern Christian tour package and resort mentality. The forecast calls for gale force winds and high waves but we have a Perfect Savior for a perfect storm. Stay the course but remain anchored in Christ Jesus.

T. LaVigne tlavigne.blogspot.com
* pun included for obvious reasons