The Stretch Break

When I start my workday each day I am allowed a few moments of prayer before I even start my work. Actually, anytime I want to I can stop what I'm doing and pray.  It's a wonderful privilege most people don't know they can take advantage of.  It's called the 'stretch break'.

I start with my hands stretched for the ceiling... and also in my mind I reach towards the heavens.  With open palms I pray "LORD, I come before You with open hands, needy, with nothing to offer accept my praise."

Then I bow low to the ground and touch the floor... praying, "LORD, I bow to You and You alone.  You alone are God and I will not fear the circumstances of the day, I will not fear what man can do or say to or against me.  I bow to You and You alone."

Then I do it a few more times. Stretching to the heavens... Bowing in adoration before my God.

On the last bow I stretch toward my left foot... "God, I will follow Your Word, Your precepts and commands.  I will not turn to the left... nor to the right. (as I move to stretch to the right foot.) I will walk in Your ways."

Then while reaching over my head and stretching my triceps I lean to one side, then the other stretching the side muscles in my abdomen. "LORD, they pierced Your side. I humble myself before You.  You do with me as you see fit.  I expose my vulnerable sides to You and willingly accept what You will do unto me."

As I stretch my hands, first with clenched fists I pray, "God, I hold onto things to tightly. I don't want to do this anymore." Then releasing my grip with open palms again "I release it all to You."

Then with clenched fists again, "I lay hold on Eternal Life, I will cling to You, hold onto You and nothing else besides."...  "Help me to let go of all my silly little idols and ideas." As I release my grip.


It's "The Stretch Break".

So anytime during the day,
I have a company approved opportunity to pray.

When I'm stressed out. 
If I'm tired.  
If I am overjoyed in His presence. 
I pray.  And I walk in His ways.

As I do this... He increases my love, my joy, my peace, my concern for my co-workers, and my confidence that with God, All things are possible. And physically speaking... I feel healthier too.

"He must increase... WE must decrease!"


Take a break or two today to stop and pray, so often we pray on the go.  Give our God the attentiveness He so deserves.  His all attentive ear is open to our prayers if we come before His throne humbly, with clean hands and a pure heart, through the blood of His sacrifice.

Walk the Line

At work I was on a production line that I haven’t been on for a long, long, long time.  Coming back to this part of the facility for me though was like ‘riding a bike’.  Not much had changed except that maintenance had implemented a few improvements that made it rather easy to get right back into ‘the swing of things’ there.  The night shift operator had told me that things were running well and so I took his word for it; why should I doubt it.  He was right.  Not only was it running well but it was running ‘par excellence’.  (Excuse my transliteration here please ~ I’m not French.)  It was running very, very well.

Since it was my birthday I had already declared the day a ‘No Stress Day’ and so-far so-good, there was very little to get worked up about.  In fact I had already rearranged things to make sure my area was more work-atomically correct (that is my own made-up word ~ it means ‘as little work as possible’.   While I don’t mind hard work I do believe strongly in working smart first.); so I made sure things were ‘work-atomically’ correct or (to use the proper phrase) ergonomically correct and then I began to check over the line to verify that it was indeed running well.  As I said, “it was.”  As I walked through the line, doing a few quality assurance checks, I was recalling something I heard Charles Stanley say over twenty years ago.

Dr. Stanley said that the great men of the Bible were great because they “walked with an awareness that they were walking in the presence of Almighty God.”   As I look back over the years and think about my life, I think that it was this very simple yet profound statement, and the idea that I too was walking in the presence of Almighty God, that has been foundational for any growth and maturity in my Christian life. It had such a big impact on me that in my mind I was “casting down imaginations”, “and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) My heart frequently cried out, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:” I wanted God to “see if there were wicked ways in me,” and I wanted Him to “lead me in the way everlasting.” (From Psalm 139)

I have developed the habit of thinking this way over the years so now, as I daily, in the morning, as I walk along whatever line I happen to be working on I “walk with an awareness that I’m walking in the presence of Almighty God.”  And as I walk back-and-forth sometimes what seems like a hundred times in a day I keep that in mind. That I’m “walking in the presence of Almighty God.”

Not only do I “walk with an awareness that I’m walking in the presence of Almighty God.” But I also “work with an awareness that I’m working in the presence of Almighty God.” When I visit other churches I “worship with awareness that I’m doing it in the presence of Almighty God.” Every morning I try to “wake with an awareness that I’m waking in the presence of Almighty God.”

Sometimes as we walk, work, and worship we become wearied.  We sometimes can begin to worry and wrestle with issues that God told us not to.  And even though His presence is a very real thing as Paul said to the Athenians “For in him we live, and move, and have our being”; even though His presence is very real we forget He is there, we forget He is here.  When we forget we also often begin to whine. (Thou Shalt Not Whine)  When we worry, wrestle, whine and otherwise respond in a ‘worldly’ fashion we are doing it in the presence of Almighty God. Albeit, when we do these things we are not doing them with an awareness of His abiding presence. (If we did we would soon repent.)

Even though we do these things His love for us His believing children is not diminished one iota because of our lack of faith.  He is grieved by our lack of faith but this by no means has any bearing on His love for us.  He wants us, He ‘wishes’ (Boulomai ~ it’s His desire, His wish) for us to have His love, joy and peace and the other six fruit of the Spirit to be an ever abiding part of us.  These things can be only as a result of faith, faith which works and is ‘others’ focused by and because of the love of God that should be flowing through us.  These things can be only as a result of our “walking with an awareness that we are walking in the presence of Almighty God.”

God asks in Isaiah 40, verse 28 “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding.”  He understands that we sometimes get weary, but He never does.

Then God says, to Isaiah and to us by inspiration, preservation, and illumination of the Word; He says “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 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.”

Wait on the LORD. And as you do, “wait with an awareness that you are waiting for and in the presence of Almighty God.”  Know that He will not let you down lower than you can get without enabling you to get back up.  Wait on the LORD. “Wait with an awareness that you are waiting, walking, working, and worshiping in the presence of Almighty God.”  You (rather HE) shall renew your strength; you will mount up with wings as eagles; you will run, and not be weary; and you will walk, and not faint.”

Walk the line. Walk the straight and narrow line. As you walk ask God to do some quality assurance checks in your own heart, mind, and soul.  So you don’t walk too close to the ‘edge’.

“He must increase, WE must decrease!”  

 And ironically when we have this mindset 
He enables us to increase.  
 We “mount up with wings 
as eagles.”

Slanderous Slip-Up

            Have you ever said something, told of something someone said or did or didn't do, and accidentally used the wrong name?  You were thinking about one person as you spoke about another and accidentally slipped the first person’s name innocently enough in place where the seconds should have been.  You know what I'm talking about, Right?  Perhaps later on you realized what you had done.  If the subject was a sensitive one (and I sure hope it wasn't - we need to stop doing that - gossiping I mean), If the subject was a sensitive one you may have possibly caused a problem...

               "The words of a talebearer are as wounds,
                and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."
                It doesn't matter whether the tale is true or not,
                some things don't need to be chewed on for too long or shared.

             Saturday morning after my friend Brian picked me up for work we went to a nearby ATM so I could get some cash to add to my lunch. I suggested that I could buy us some coffee at the nearby fast food 'restaurant'. I probably shouldn't have because that made my third cup but since he had a coupon for a free breakfast sandwich he agreed.  Usually once a week we'll gas up his vehicle, then get some delicious morsels at Georgio's to go with our coffee but this time we chose another coffee shop, well not really a coffee shop, we went to McDonald's.

              We rode to work sipping on our coffees.  He ate and drove, and drank and drove, and listened to the Christian radio station and drove, we talked some as he drove, and I think it was his turn to pray over the food so he also first prayed and drove; with his eyes opened of course.  The ride is short and the coffee was a large and it was hot so when we got to the Spring (got to work) I still had some of it left.  We are not allowed to bring food from the time-clock onto the production floor so before I washed my hands I gulped the last few sips of coffee.

              That's when it happened. I felt something somewhat solid pass through my lips.  My first thought was, 'donut chunks' (from dipping donuts) and my very next thought was 'I didn’t have a donut!' and I don't usually dip.

               As I spewed what was in my mouth back into the cup someone in the hand-washing-room, the gateway to the plant, said "gross!"  It was then that embarrassment caused me to blurt out, "That's what I was thinking! There was something in my drink! Dunkin Donut's coffee everyone!” as I threw the cup with its contents into the trash.

               I walked through the double doors out into the plant, through the single door into the filling room, squirting some hand sanitizer on my hands and as I walked I rubbed my hands together and thought.  It occurred to me that I had just slammed the good people of Dunkin Donut's for something that was entirely someone else's fault.

                I don't know who was in the wash room when I got embarrassed and vented but I think it will be okay.  After all "America Runs On Dunkin." J; But what about when we do this to another person and not a company?  We need to make it right.  When this is done intentionally to others all it does is make us look small.  That is not at all what John the Baptist meant by "He must increase, and I must decrease."

               We need to lift up others, put a blanket over the faults of others, or tell them of their fault just you and them alone. I have not always done this, but starting today, with God's help, I'm going to.

"He must increase, We must decrease!" He increases when we lift up others and help others up.  Sometimes though you may need a listening ear; seeking out wise counsel, even in an interpersonal conflict is not slander. A "what do I do?" question is not slanderous. Just make sure the person you go to has a healthy fear of God, a love for His work, and knowledge of His Word.  No doubt your pastor gives evidence of a reverential fear of God, and no doubt also he loves Gods Word and work, I'm willing to 'bet' (I said it this way because I'm not a betting man) I'm willing to 'bet' you can consider that a good place to start. "Jesus must increase, all WE must decrease!" I think your pastor would agree.

Enough to Drive Anyone Nuts!

While sitting in the break room at work one Thursday for my morning break I heard the voice of Priscilla our receptionist announce, “At eight o’clock there will be a test of the fire alarm system.  There is no need to evacuate the building.  Repeat.  At eight o’clock there will be a test of the fire alarm system.  It is only a test.”  Then I remembered that Dan my supervisor made a similar announcement not long before that; I had forgotten because the announcement was not calling for a response it was only a notice.

                When eight o’clock rolled around, almost to the second, the alarm system started its shrill deep piercing repetitive squawking.  But by then I had forgotten again that we had been put on notice and when the 1^st AAANTT!!! sounded it rattled me out of the book I was into and back out into the break room.  When I say rattled that’s kind of an understatement because what I mean by rattled is that it was so loud that I nearly jumped out of my chair.

AAANTT!!! -I tried to continue reading but it was no use, I couldn’t concentrate. 

AAANTT!!!-I placed my earplugs snug into the appropriate orifice and finished what was left of my lunch.

AAANTT!!!- It was nearly impossible to think.   AAANTT!!!- Each shrill cry penetrated deeply. It was enough to drive anyone nuts!

AAANTT!!!- I finished my break and proceeded out onto the work-floor to resume cleaning my machines.  We were down for preventative maintenance that day, as is usually the case for me on Thursdays.   AAANTT!!!- As I worked I fought the maddening repetitive intrusion and began to think through it.  AAANTT!!!- I told myself, sooner or later the noise will stop but by then I would be so used to it I probably wouldn’t even notice.  AAANTT!!!- I cleaned, and thought, and prayed, and worked, and thought.  I may even have sung a hymn or two as I worked.  I sometimes do that.  I like to sing when I’m wearing earplugs, I like to sing loud, it sounds good in your head.  I cleaned, and thought, and prayed, and worked, and thought.

                Then over the PA system I heard someone summonsed to the front office.  That’s when it occurred to me that the test had ended and, as I suspected would be the case, I didn’t even notice.  As I continued to work it occurred to me that our consciences are much like that fire alarm system.  The conscience was designed by God to act much the same way.  It’s LOUD.  It’s intrusive.  It doesn’t quit.  It’s effective.  At least it is effective from the onset as long as we don’t ignore it.

                If you are a believer in Jesus, the crucified and resurrected Savior, the One and Only Son of God, then it is likely that your conscience works overtime.  The Holy Spirit works tirelessly in our minds to keep us believers walking a straight and narrow line.  To help us to be able to live like Christ as we interact with others; to love like Christ.

                But often we don’t do either.  We don’t live like Him and we don’t love like Him.  It’s then that the Spirit reminds us; sometimes He screams in our consciences if the thing we are doing can have serious detrimental ramifications for us or for others.  Many times we ignore the conviction even though we know it’s from Him.  If we continue to do our thing we slowly get used to His protest and it’s as though we don’t hear Him anymore.  The scriptures say that some peoples consciences can even be seared, scorched as though with a hot iron.

                God will never leave His children to their own devices for long.  If we no longer have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying He will intervene into our lives in some other more tangible ways.  Ways that get our attention and cause us to listen.  Ways that cause turmoil in our minds, our relationships, and our circumstances. This intervention by God the scripture says is actually evidence that we truly belong to Him.  He doesn't chasten the devils kids.

                We can all save ourselves a little unnecessary pain by going to the front office the first time we are summonsed by the Boss.  Going to that place in your mind and will where obedience comes easy.  Go there. Sit. Listen. Then do whatever His Spirit bids you to do.

                It’s important that we recognize who the Boss of our lives is, "He must increase and WE must decrease."  When the Spirit speaks to our conscience it is not a test, our God Is A Consuming Fire and He will consume away the dross in us so that we will come forth as pure gold.

Wood, Hay, Stubble & Plastic

    The Apostle Paul said, "as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, (For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.) I have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood , hay, stubble;" and plastic? (1 Cor 3:10-16)

    I work in the bottled water industry. (I am not at liberty to say which bottling giant I work for but it's not Hershey.) Most days I watch as empty plastic bottles come into my filling room at several hundred bottles per minute, the air is evacuated from the empty bottles, and streams of pure water replace the displaced air.  The filled, capped, bottles then run (at several hundred bottles per minute) through a labeling machine and then off to the next stage of production.

   While at work, my mind on spiritual things, I see analogies abound.  We believers are like these plastic bottles.  Empty and, well, "plastic".  If we do not lay aside the lusts and works of the flesh to make room for the Spirit daily, the rivers of living water, that Jesus said would be characteristic of believers, cannot flow through us.

   We may have a good label, we may "go through the motions" properly, but if we are not filled and running over to others then we are building the wrong things on the right foundation.

    We believers are all like a container of water, labeled (if we belong to a church), but we are also made of "plastic".  That part of us that is called the FLESH.  The FLESH is ugly.  One Star Trek encounter had the alien life-force calling us "ugly bags of  mostly water." or something like that. It's true, that's what we are.  Part of us is still deeply affected by our fallen Adamic nature.

   We need to be careful how we build on the Foundation of the Truth.  "Are we so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are we now made perfect in the flesh?" (from Galatians)  Anything that we fake; that we have to plaster on a "plastic" smile and muttle through, will be wood, hay, and stubble.

"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

Let's be sure we are building with gold, silver, and precious stones; those things that only the Spirit of God can produce.  "He must increase, WE must decrease!"

Grinding in the Shop

I have been at my current place of employ for almost 12 years and I have been on the Safety Committee there for nearly as long.  One Thursday morning while day-dreaming through part of a safety meeting (I sometimes do that.)  I heard the plant manager say something about the hazard potential of someone “grinding in the maintenance shop”.

Immediately I saw in my mind’s imagination station what my son and several of his friends would have seen.  In my mind I pictured someone on a skateboard pulling an Ollie onto a bench and sliding the board across the edge of the bench.  What skateboarders call “grinding”.

Now obviously this is not what the plant manager had in mind.  He meant someone working at a bench grinder.  He was talking about, by way of an example, what potential hazards could exist.  I think we were discussing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and he was getting us to ‘brainstorm’ about where we could improve on that.

I must not have slept well the night before because instead of paying attention to him (sorry boss, I really do listen better than this) I was thinking about the words and catch phrases we believers in Christ use and how that must sound to unbelievers. 

We use so many clichés, catch phrases, obscure verses (that they can’t understand anyway), and terms to try to explain the very simple gospel message to them. 

What we say is rarely exactly what people think they hear or what they understand when we do this.  Most of the time they must leave scratching their heads or thinking that we “have a screw loose”. (to use another cliché)

We really should simplify our presentation of the wonderfully profound truth of the gospel.  The truth that we are all basically flawed (sinners), that by breaking our Creator’s moral Laws we are under penalty of death and condemnation (I know, they don’t like to hear that), but because His love is as real and as strong as His Righteous Indignation against sinners, He provided a Savior, Jesus (The sinless substitute) died for our crimes against His holiness to justify us freely, then He rose from the grave triumphantly victorious over death (the penalty for our sin).  If He had remained dead we could have no hope. 

They need to understand that all they need to do is “look to Jesus”, oops, another cliché, all they need to do is believe in, trust in, Him and they can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life rather than eternal death.

The things of God are so very clear to the believer but we need to remember that the spiritual understanding of the unbeliever is clouded, is blocked, and is blinded by the very sin that Jesus wants to save them from. 

 If you are prone to use clichés when talking to unbelievers you will have to make the extra effort to explain what you mean.

If you are not yet a believer and

someone tries to talk to you about

the salvation that Jesus offers,…

If you are interested,…

If you are “thirsty” to know more

but don’t understand completely,…

ask them to explain. 

Tell them to clarify what this or that means. 

 If they have gone out of the way to talk to you about Him

they will take the time to break it down further.

Christian reader, we have to be careful that we are not too concerned with telling them how much we know, we must be careful to tell them simply what they need to know. 

If they become a believer you will have plenty of time to answer questions and share all the wonderful insights God has given you.

“He must increase… WE must decrease!”