The Builder

You will remember your last blog visit to the parson’s study. You don’t? Well, go to your file cabinet and look up the file that says “Blogs.” That’s what the parson “felt impressed” to do. Not forgetfulness or anything. Don’t laugh; you are probably on your way to blog #1 right now. Now it’s coming back to you, but you had to refresh “ye old shoulder-top computer.” You know, the one that has the capacity to store more than any computer in the world but is generally only about 3% full. Oh, well.

I Am Reminded

Your last visit to the parson’s study you were left hanging on the wall in the corner–you know, right next to the art project created by a 12th grade student for presentation in the National Reflections Project (1980-81). It was a gift from the artistic imagination of a real talented young lady. I’ll give you a hint. In the year she entered this particular competition her initials were OMT, and her brother’s were PDT,jr. Now that last one played football, went to state competition, and made several touchdowns. Oh, yes, they won the state championship. Now, how did we get off on that subject? Pride is “uncomely” for a parson, so maybe it was just absentmindedness. Oh, well.

Back to the corner. The church building, a music staff, a cross, a Bible, and a stained glass window. On the back of this masterpiece is the subject of the entries that year–“What A Family Means To Me.” Do you see the cloud-shaped, “parchment-like” overlay with the burned edges? The calligraphy is two passages from the precious old Book, the real Bible. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” and “The house of the righteous shall stand” (Joshua 24:15b, Proverbs 12:7b). Keep that in mind and notice the church building that overlays the parchment. We are soon made aware that there are people in this building because there is music streaming through the door and rising toward Heaven. A message begins to formulate. As seen by the artist, that building is filled with people who have made a commitment to serve and honor the Lord with their house, parents who fear the Lord God and teach their children to do the same.

Now the streaming music staff merges into the red cross above the building. Can there be a doubt as to the meaning here? The Saviour who died on that blood-stained cross has given God’s people a new song in their hearts.

Above the cross is an open Bible (1611 KJV). It is open to Psalm 127:1, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Now this one seems obvious and simple, don’t you think? The right builder is not found in the yellow pages but in THE BOOK’S pages.

Now there seems to be one more paragraph in this prize-winning piece. The stained glass window. This type window is actually constructed of many pieces of glass, both large and small, all uniquely bonded together with lead. It glistens with many different colors and hues. It is like several personalities bonded together to form one beautiful unit. It takes every piece of glass to complete the family. All are important and tediously welded together by the Master Builder who shapes and forms the “house of the righteous.” Now that’s the house that stands the test of time. The right Builder, the right designs, with the right material intricately bonded together to form a house to honor Himself.

Please don’t accuse the parson of preaching. If there were a blame, it would fall on the artist, and that would be highly offensive. To the parson, that is. Beside that, we didn’t even read between the lines.

TODAY? PERHAPS!!!

If so, no more blogs from

The Parson

From Rods To Knees

Her name was Josephine. She would “beat the daylights” (her expression) out of this parson if she knew that her son called her by her first name. That just wasn’t acceptable. As a matter of fact, it was rebukable and most likely “whuppable.” Now that wasn’t a negative term. It was simply an application of the board of correction to the seat of education.

That was when Moms were respected and protected. Any decent son would go to “fist city” if someone made a verbal slur against his Mom. If a neighbor reported an “inconsistency in deportment,” no excuse was forthcoming. You’ve heard them: “Oh, my little boy wouldn’t do that.” If you listen carefully, you can hear her now. “Where is Paul David?” Soon followed by: “Paul David!!” Then, “Paul Daaaaaavid!!!” After the accepted, “This will hurt me more than it will you,” the “rod” fell from a firm but loving hand. “Hurt me more than it will you”? She must have been in some reeeeal pain! A big hug of assurance followed, and she never brought that infraction back up. Oh, “the rod,” that phrase came from a very old instruction book describing how to raise children God’s way. Look around. You will find a copy around somewhere. It’s called “The Holy Bible” (KJV). With a little study you will learn that the word “rod” simply means “limb.” You see, a limb can be graduated according to age and size. Good instruction, and did Mom ever take advantage of it.

By this time you probably are thinking, “Now that was really a problem child.” You are “probably” correct. (No use outright admitting anything; after all, this parson is in control of this blog.) However, Mom’s discipline was no different from 99 and 99/100 percent of the other moms around. And if Mom couldn’t handle it, Dad did. Strange how he was always around at the right time for her and the wrong time for Son. O, yes, teachers and moms were partners in this needful attitude adjustment process. If memory serves correctly, it was the second grade; Mrs. Apple was the teacher. All it took was a phone call after Son did not respond to her board of . . . . Mom appeared “instantly,” and those words that always preceded the personal “board” meeting: “Paul David, come with me,” and the expected response, “Yes, Ma’am.” Outside the open classroom windows? You guessed it. Strange, the urge to stand on the desk chair and make faces at the other kids completely vanished.

That early training, what an imprint! But it was always coupled with lots of love. Mom was ever present when this son was hurting or just needed to share his heart. She made sure that his clothes were clean, his body was clean, and his mouth was clean. And food, how she could cook. Just smell those chocolate chip cookies!

But the greatest and deepest impressions were those early mornings when Mom could be seen on her knees in prayer or studying the precious Word of God. Now the mystery is clear. She loved her son and suffered the pain of correcting him because she loved her Lord and His Word. The reflection of the Savior was ever evidenced in Mom’s everyday life. Faithful she was to share Christ with the unsaved and to give herself as a servant to the brethren. It was at the feet of this dear Mom that this parson first heard of the love of God and of the Savior Who died for his sins. All of them. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, MY LORD and MY SAVIOR!

TODAY? PERHAPS!!!

The Parson

Stress

So the doctor said, "The shortness of breath could be one of three things, in order of the most likely:
(1) You aren't as young as you used to be. (Now that is obvious, but he didn't have to make that one first.) He tried to break it gently by relating his physical reaction to a run with his daughter. That never changed one fact.
(2) You have a problem with allergies . . . explanation, explanation. (Now that sounded more likely, probably because he spoke far above the parson's vocabulary.)
(3) You have a heart problem. (And that's when it all started, well, almost.)

"We are going to schedule you for a stress test." What he didn't realize was that the parson had a stress test the day before--a stress test of all stress tests, and he passed it with flying colors. The gas pump stopped on $42. (For my little Toyota truck that wasn't empty?) It wasn't so stressful before the pump stopped. The counter had become unreadable after it passed the sound barrier.

Then the dear wife came home with the prescription ("just in case it is allergies"). It was then that the second major stress test set in. All this parson can say is that the pharmacist thinks a lot more of those silly mini-pills ($) than the gas station owner did the gas. The old ticker must be great to survive that one!

So the great day! Treadmill, wires, a state-of-the-art computerized stress machine with a built-in printer, a personal nurse and doctor, emergency oxygen, . . . One couldn't ask for more than that. Wires? It was fearful. Plumb fearful. There was no way those seven minutes on "the mill" could compare with the prior tests or even a good, fast bike ride. But that's life.

Life is stress! Much stress. And sometimes more stress. However, stress is actually a positive in the life of those of us "in Christ." Few saints of God have a more stressful life than that of the Apostle Paul. However, he didn't allow the stress to develop into distress. What was his prescription? It all had to do with his perspective of Christ and his vision of the eternal. Thus he called it his "light affliction" (II Corinthians 11:24ff, 4:8-9, 17-18).

When a child of God views stress as the prescription of the Master to draw him closer to Himself, he views life as a pilgrimage with the next step being Glory. Stress never turns into distress (misery). Not knowing the intricacies of this human body, we must trust the doctor. How much greater our confidence should be in the Great Physician. He always knows best. And that Doctor's visit is free! (No "just in case" or silly little pills--$).

Today? Perhaps!!

The Parson