What Glenn Writes

I am sure we could all pull up a chair, have a sip of coffee, and come up with four words that might be more inspiring than, “You can’t do that.” 

We would probably toss around a few words at first, debate their effectiveness, and toss them out.  We would then work through a few more, some of us maybe getting up and leaving to cool off because we don’t like your words or the way you say them, and others laughing at the silliness of the whole project.  We would probably drink some more coffee, and then… after quite a few hours, quite a few cups of coffee, and some profound discussion, we would find some combination of words to top these four… eventually. 

For some, perhaps it is defiance bringing out the motivation of these simple words.  For others, we like the McCain strategy and we’re just going to maverick our way through it.  Either way, I am of the opinion the motivation of those four words are the seed of the American way – we’re just going to prove we can. 

These words struck a good old American cord with me when I was nineteen and someone told me I was too young to buy a house – you can’t do that; I bought my second house by the time I was twenty-two and had rental income from the first one.  The song was sung again when I was twenty and someone in college told me I was too young to start a business – you can’t do that; I had five employees before I turned twenty-two. 

A choir of people sang the words when we announced we were not birthing our children in a hospital – you can’t do that; we had three homebirths for our three children, and I was the first to touch any of them (Dad delivered!).  More told us we shouldn’t home school our children – you can’t do that; we find we enjoy our children more every day we are spending with them, teaching them, and opening their minds to new subjects.

There were many times I heard the words, “You can’t do that,” and the words inspired me to prove I can do that.  Unfortunately, there were also times the words proved to be correct and I failed.  Three different businesses ran me into the ground and almost buried me, a renovation project poisoned me, and two employers crushed my self-esteem.  Those four words haunted me for longer than I care to admit.

I started the project to publish my first novel twelve months ago.  I heard the words many times over the course of the last year – you can’t do that, but this time the phrase came from an unlikely source: myself.  Those four words pressed me more times than I can count, from editing, illustrations, and marketing, to setting up my website, blog, and bookstore.  “You can’t do that” seemed to echo in my thoughts, reminding me of my past failures and poking at my resolve.  I ignored the words, but the persistent phrase buzzed around my thoughts like a hungry mosquito, waiting to suck the life out of my project. 

Too many times I thought the words were right and almost quit.  For me to quit, it would be to quit writing altogether – no novels, no short stories, no articles, no blog, and nothing related to writing.  I would probably have to stop reading for enjoyment, for reading and writing are in some way linked together for me and inseparable. 

I never put a voice to those words or even put a thought around them, but they were still there… pressing… poking… buzzing around.  I came close to chucking it all and not writing, but somehow got past it.  Each time was a break through, allowing me to heal from the past failures a little more. 

In retrospect, I have gleaned an understanding where my failures originated in my pride, dying when I was centered in the project and doing it of my own strength.  Likewise, my successes were born of inspiration, flourishing not when I was centered in the project, but when I looked to Jesus Christ for direction and He was the center.  Then, and only then, when I did not take credit for His blessing, was I able to see success in my project.

Philippians 4:12-13, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.   I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

I can’t say I am quite there yet, but He taught me through the last twelve months to keep focused on Him.  When I thought about quitting, it was His inspiration keeping me going and giving me strength.  When I thought about chucking it all, He is the One to encourage me, bringing healing to the words of failure echoing from my past. 

And, when I felt the meaning of the words, “You can’t do that,” capping my abilities as I looked at editing, illustrations, creating a website, creating a blog, and, the most challenging task of all, creating a web based bookstore with checkout capabilities, He provided the resources for me to learn.

You can’t do that.  Experience and failure have shown me there are many things I can’t do, shouldn’t do, and maybe need to have my head examined for even considering.  Experience also shows there are many things I need to do, and more importantly, I should do and do right.  I am not smart enough to reconcile these things, so I only have one option: Jesus Christ. 

I encourage you to learn from my mistakes. 

“Learn from my mistakes?  Na, you can’t do that…”

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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As an eleven-year-old stuntwoman, my youngest daughter sees her share of the bumps and bruises around the house.  She continually seeks higher places to climb, faster ways to race her bike, and better ways to tumble around the house.  We establish normal boundaries, yet find ourselves adding unusual rules to address her adventurous nature.

Such rules in our house include: When we sit on a chair, the chair cannot be on the table, another chair, or in any way balanced on a sibling; we do not climb on the furniture, toys, siblings, appliances, or babysitters; there is no diving in the bathtub; and at no time should we stand on the seat of our bike as it is moving (fortunately, she wears a helmet!). 

I try to ignore any similarities to my own youth, especially the scar on my chin from when I stood on the seat of my bike when it was moving and I thought I could let go of the handlebars (Did you know chins bounce on sidewalks? Did you know they are alarmingly loud when they bounce?).

Could it be my youngest daughter has inherited some traits from her father?  When we usually think of an inheritance, we consider estates and possessions, and often overlook the bloodline.  We recognize our features in our child’s expressions and in their looks, yet forget the similarities in character. 

I believe children develop their personalities from the environment where they are raised, and their character may be a reflection of our own in being raised in our family – this is in agreement with well-known psychologists whom have written many articles and books regarding this belief.  I believe there are attributes passed to our children in our DNA – this is in agreement with well-known scientists and doctors whom have written literature regarding this belief.  And, I believe there are spiritual influences passed to our children – this is in agreement with basic Biblical principles. 

The last bit might need to be explained, so let me Dr. Phil you through it:  We find a spiritual influence over the entire human race with the curse of the first sin.  In Genesis 3:11, the Lord asks Adam, “Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”  The first original sin is defined as Adam’s disobedience from what the Lord commanded. 

The forbidden fruit was on the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which the Lord warned in Genesis 2:17 would bring death, “but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”  Romans 5:14 confirms this with, “Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam…”

While Adam’s rebellion against the commandment of the Lord was forgiven, it could not go unpunished – and sin does pass from generation to generation.  This principle is explained in Number 14:18 “The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

Adam also passes down the spiritual influence of a sinful, or fallen nature.  Romans 8:13 links the sentence of death for Adam’s sin to this influence with, “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die…”  In our fallen nature, we are drawn to sin as it comes naturally for us.  I know I find it much easier to sin than not to sin, as there is an influence and a natural tendency in the direction of sin. 
Fortunately, God’s plan is to deliver us from this burden through His Son, Jesus Christ.  In Romans 8:3, Scripture tells us, “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.” 

In the above verse, Numbers 14:18, we find that sin cannot go unpunished.  We may be forgiven when we confess, but the sin we have committed deserves punishment.  To pay the ultimate price for our sins, God sent His only Son as a sin offering.

Jesus paid the ransom for our sins.  Hebrews 9:15, “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” 

His death paid the debt of our sins, and His resurrection gave us a new inheritance: a promised eternal inheritance.  Which, by the way, is far, far, far better than a scar on your chin from standing on the seat of your bike without holding the handlebars. 

Accept your inheritance today!

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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There is no known cure for sticker shock.  You want to purchase something at a fair and reasonable price.  When you see the sticker, you blink… wondering what you ate that morning causing the hallucinations. 

Perhaps the fumes from the trains idling at the nearby crossing have finally triggered some mental relapse.  The high-tension wires overhead are changing the brain wave patterns in your head and you are officially “wigging out”.

Then, after blinking twice more and shaking your head to clear your thoughts, the shock settles in as you realize the price is real.  No more wigging for you, you are about to shell out some dough! 

How can they charge so much for school supplies?

Before I am awarded the Cheap Dad of the Year trophy, let’s back up a few months to the shopping for school clothes, the new shoes, and the “first” organizer (the one with the convenient zippered pouch for the supplies).  The second organizer was purchased after the first one slipped under the tire of the car… well, we can talk about that one later. 

First, let’s talk about the list the school sends home for mid-year wigging out.  We need the “recommended” binders in the “recommended” colors and the other supplies ranging from “safety glue” and “safety scissors” to a specific “#2 pencil and hard rubber eraser”.  The second organizer must be replaced with a third having safety rings to avoid pinching little fingers.  The zippered pouch thriftily salvaged from the first organizer must also be replaced with one that is transparent – for unnamed safety reasons. 

A classmate was sent home with lice and the school is recommending a certain brand of shampoo.  Oh, and by the way, the jumbo box of crayons spilled in the unzipped backpack, which leaked them all the way home from school like the little girl on the Morton’s Salt Container spilling salt as she skips through the rain.

(And, by the way, can someone get her out of the rain before she catches a cold, and drives up salt prices as she spills the surplus on the ground behind her?)

Ok, I’ll admit… I have collected some horror stories from other parents and knitted together this little piece of fiction – all the facts are true but the names have been changed to protect the innocent (I don’t even know the name of the Morton Salt girl, but I bet her parent’s are wigging out over the spilled salt). 

Of course, for each of these tales, there are counterpart stories from experienced parents of school-aged children.  These parents know you wait until the “recommended” list comes from the school before you purchase supplies, including the mid-year, going back to school after winter break purchases.  They know the only backpacks you buy are the ones with the openings at the top and none near the bottom, and they have some of that lice shampoo leftover from last year (prevents them from shaving their little angel’s heads and getting the wigs out – another form of wigging out).  These experienced parents learn to eliminate the mistakes of their pasts and do not repeat them.

Eliminate the mistakes of our pasts and do not repeat them – sounds almost Biblical, doesn’t it?  Actually, we are called to recognize sin (our mistakes) and do not repeat them.  1 John 3:5-6 tells us, “But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins.  And in Him is no sin.  No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.  No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him.” 

What I find important about these verses is we are told “…in Him is no sin…”.  We are not told in us there is no sin.  We are told, instead, we should not “keep on sinning”.  This recognizes that by our very human nature we are going to sin, yet when we recognize sin in our lives, we should not “keep on sinning”. 

How do we recognize sin in our lives? 1 Thessalonians 1:5 tells us, “…our Gospel came to you not simply with Words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction…”.  John 14:26 also tells us, “…the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” 

Here we learn we have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, which “…will teach…” and give “…deep conviction…” in our learning and understanding. 

God recognizes that sin is part of our nature, yet His supernatural plan for us is to turn away from sin.  He sent the Holy Spirit to teach us, to help us recognize sin for what it is, and then directs us that we should not “keep on sinning.” 

Can you do this in one day?  Some may – I know I am not one of them.  I continue to wig out on a daily basis, though I am learning wigging out is rooted in sin.  (Thou shalt not wig out?)

I believe this comes from experience.  As we begin to learn God’s Word and learn how the Holy Spirit directs our learning, we can recognize the mistakes of our past and not repeat them. 

So we bought the wrong school supplies – big deal.  We will remember this next year, recognize our mistakes, and not repeat them.  We won’t wig out as much. 

So we have sinned – since it is a big deal, we should confess it.  We will recognize our sin and not repeat it.  We won’t wig out as much.

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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While at a family reunion a few years ago, one of my cousins asked my youngest daughter (who was then four-years-old) when she would be five.  Her response was simple and direct, “When I’m done being four.”  My amused cousin pressed on, determined to find a date.  He asked when she would be done being four and would be five.  She replied, “On my birthday, of course.”  Asked when her birthday would be, she answered, “Next year.”

I doubt my daughter intended to be disrespectful in her response.  In her four-year-old way of thinking, she answered the questions correctly.  My cousin, however, did not get the answer he was seeking. 

This reminded me of how often we ask God questions, yet become frustrated when we do not get the answer we are seeking.  We may go to Him in prayer and seek guidance, but are we looking for Him to lead us in our direction or in His? 

I catch myself trying to find His will within my own instead of adjusting my will to meet His.  Too many times I try to find His path in my plan, rather than finding my path in His plan.  I find myself in a battle, wondering why the Lord isn’t giving me the guidance I am seeking.  I ask the wrong questions, expecting Him to give the answers I want to hear. 

This is my selfish nature.  I want to do the will of the Lord, but on my terms.  All too often I forget His terms are much better than anything I could ever hope for and His way is much easier. 

I find it comforting to know the Apostle Paul faced some of this selfish human nature in the disciples around him before he went to Jerusalem.  A prophet had just told them Paul would be captured and handed over to the Gentiles (most likely a reference to Roman authorities, which in turn would equate to a sentence in prison for trumped up charges and allegations). 

We find Paul’s response in Acts 21:13-14, “…‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’  When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’”

The disciples feared what would happen to their close friend if he was captured and turned over to the authorities – they had a fresh memory of what happened to Jesus in the same situation.  Yet Paul knew the Lord’s will in his life, and more importantly, Paul accepted the Lord’s plan.  He would go where the Lord wanted Him to go, and He would do what the Lord wanted Him to do.  If the consequences caused him hardship, he could rest assured that his reward would be in Heaven. 

He remembered what Jesus taught the disciples, which is recorded in Luke 6:22-23, “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven…”  Simply put, there is nothing anyone can do that would take away your reward in Heaven if you are doing the Lord’s will.

The Lord encourages us in His Word to follow His will, and reveals what to expect.  Matthew records what Jesus taught them in Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

Some might resist this, as I have, because we are asked to discard what we want to do and accept another plan, the Lord’s plan, for our lives.  We are required to step beyond our comfort zones.  This is a challenge and a struggle, but I have found when we do step out in faith – step out into that very uncomfortable area beyond our control – the Lord prepares us and equips us to succeed in His plan.

We find this promise in Philippians 2:13, “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” 

When we ask the question, “When will we know God’s Will?”, His answer is often similar to my youngest daughter’s answers to my cousin’s question: “When we are done with our own.”

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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There are few things in life that will hold a parent hostage to frustration like potty-training.  In some cases, this is a gigantic task of elephant proportions (had to make the reference). 

I know there are stories of some children who adapted to their toilet use very easy, almost making the decision and completing the training in one day.  We call them fairytales.  There are also the real life stories of the constant battle each day, the cleaning of the training pants, the nighttime runs to the bathroom, and the irritating smile of contentment from the child filling their drawers.

I wonder if the providers of the little potty targets (you actually encourage the child to hit the floating target with their “stream”) really think their products are effective.  Do they realize children will become bored with the floating targets and look for more aggressive challenges?  Do they realize these more aggressive challenges are usually nowhere near the commode, often involve carpet, and sometimes siblings?

As a veteran of the potty wars, my advise to new parents is to prepare a battle plan.  The enemy is not the child, but the child’s bladder – the child is more like a neutral country in the war.  The object of the war is to get the hostile bladder and violent bowels to submit to the control of the neutral country.  The neutral country, of course, needs to be coaxed into a peace treaty with the bladder and bowels.  In the end (no pun intended), the neutral country, bladder, and bowels will unite to form a new conglomerate – there will be peace.

Some people refer to the potty wars as an issue of training.  This may be an effective way to view the battle, as the goal is to train the enemy (the bladder and bowels) to submit, and train the neutral country (the child) to exert authority over the disobedient and sometimes riotous enemy.  Proper training can induce the peace we are seeking.  

Training is often overlooked as a method of obtaining peace in our lives.  This is true with potty training, raising children, and extends into other areas of our lives – especially understanding God’s Word. 

I know, I know… from potty training to Scripture… who can make the leap?  Where is the transition?  Well, instead of straining here, dancing from foot to foot, why don’t we just take the plunge together…

When someone is new to Scripture, is it right to leave them on their own to learn?  When I first became interested in the Bible, I started reading the very first chapter and tried to muddle my way through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and all the genealogy and mosaic law. 

I found out who begot who and how they begot again, then I forgot who they begot.  I tried to follow their names, but it would seem they use their vowels differently than I expected… and I think a few needed Vanna because they were missing some vowels altogether. 

I was lost!  I was frustrated.  I was stressed out.  I wanted to read the Bible, but it wasn’t making sense to me.

I didn’t know it at the time, but the Bible even discusses this in Hebrews 5:13-14, “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”  The solid food is a reference to God’s Word, which is difficult for a new believer (an infant) to understand.  I was an infant choking on the substance of the Scriptures.

Fortunately, someone gave me the training I needed to begin my journey of learning.  I needed to be trained on how to learn from the Holy Spirit and read God’s Word.  God, in His infinite wisdom, knew we would need help to understand and apply His word to our lives.  We learn about this teacher from Jesus in John 14:26, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”  I learned to ask the Holy Spirit to teach me the meaning of Scripture.

Yet as we learn and mature in God’s Word, it becomes our responsibility to continue to train ourselves, as in the above Hebrew’s verse, “…the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”  As we mature, we also have the responsibility to those infants – those new to the Word - to help them along so they do not choke and are trained to learn. 

Is this learning instantaneous?  God gives us a reflection of this process in Proverbs 4:18, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”  Our knowledge and learning may start as a glimmer in the twilight hours of morning, yet this should grow to the fullness of day. 

In the end, the darkness and confusion are flushed away with proper training, and we learn. 

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com

Before you read this article, I believe it is important to provide a word of caution.  This article may not be appropriate for smaller children or faint of heart (so you may want to ask the small children to leave the room while I try to figure out what “faint of heart” means). 

Now this probably has perked up your interest.  As adults, there seems to be an attraction to themes that are not appropriate for small children.  To carry this further, today’s topic is about the “S” word.  

Hmmm… 

Now I probably have your full attention, and you are secretly hoping this isn’t some trick to get you to read this article.  What would I have to gain by that?  Reader support?  But if it is a trick, wouldn’t I run the risk of you sending a letter of complaint? 

The truth is, today’s topic is Santa.  I know what you’re thinking: why would I want to write an article about Santa Claus in the middle of January – Christmas is over?  That letter of complaint may not be too far off, huh?

I am not trying to persuade you to believe or disbelieve in Santa Claus, nor am I going to give you any indication as to where I stand on the issue (and hopefully, this article will not knock me off his list for next Christmas).  Let me Dr. Phil you through this: What I am trying to do is for just one moment, get you to hypothetically consider he does exist and how he might feel about your relationship with him. 

Your relationship with Santa Claus most likely started as an innocent child.  As you grew, you sent him letters.  The general format of the letter was, “Dear Santa; I have been good all year.  Give me some toys.”  As a child, your innocence was answered and the toys magically appeared.  When you grew older, capable of having and establishing a friendship, the letters probably remained the same yet went unanswered.  As your letters went unanswered, you had a choice to make: face rejection from Santa Claus or refuse to believe in him. 

Now that you have considered your relationship with Santa Claus, let’s consider your relationship with God.  I have found through personal experience how God answers the prayers of little children.  There is something special about a small child’s prayer God honors – perhaps the child’s innocence or their pure belief is pleasing to Him. 

As we grow older, we begin to perceive our prayers are not always answered.  This may be a timing issue, as we always want the prayers to be answered immediately.  Or… perhaps we are only offering God a “Santa Claus Prayer”, such as, “Dear God; I have been good and I deserve this prayer to be answered.”  There is no relationship building and a lack of personal prayer with Him.  As our prayers go unanswered, we seem to have a choice to make: face rejection from God or refuse to believe in Him.   

Fortunately, the Lord does not reject us when we go to Him with a pure heart.  We find this in Luke 15:4-7, where Jesus teaches: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it…  …I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” 

The Lord does not reject us, but He does call us to give more than just a “Santa Claus Prayer”.  A “Santa Claus Prayer” is nothing more than a gimme list – we are not conversing with Him, we are not building a relationship, we do not know Him, and we are not being obedient.  He calls us into a relationship with Him, to know Him, and to obey His commandments in our lives, not send Him gimme lists.

I am grateful, as a sheep who is frequently lost, He continues to find me.  I can go to Him.  I am not rejected, though I deserve to be.   

When we converse with God through prayer, establish a relationship with Him, and are obedient, the Lord is faithful to credit us with righteousness.  And what does the Bible tell us about the prayer of a righteous man? 

James 5:16, “ …The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Still thinking about that letter of complaint?  Pray about it.

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com

I remember a time I used to excel at the use of foul language.  I took profanity to a level that could be considered an art form.  There are some words I could use as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and other variations, all in the same sentence.  I had a few favorites, a few I would save for special occasions, and the ones I would slip in the middle of ordinary words, such as “fan-blanken-tastic”, or “un-blanken-real”. 

I am not proud of this past, and it took considerable effort to curb my vocabulary and eliminate “most” of these words.  I’m far from perfect – these words still slip in from time to time, just to visit awhile and remind me how they used to dominate my conversations. 

Children are the best gauges to how well we are at keeping these “bad words” out of our house.  Their ears pick up new words and phrases, and then they test them out on each other.  As adults, we must set the example in our house… and when we slip, we must accept the punishment. 

My children know Daddy plays by the same rules.  This is important to them in teaching right from wrong.  By the way, a few pointers from my experience: bar soap taste much better than most liquid hand soap, anti-bacterial soap may cause dry heaves, and liquid dishwasher soap leaves a taste in your mouth that won’t go away for days – perhaps because it causes chemical burns on the tongue, but I’m just guessing.

Oh, and one more thing, hiccups can cause unexpected and often embarrassing bubbles many hours after paying the consequences.  Also, unexpected and embarrassing bubbles while at a business meeting can be difficult to explain.

As Christians, I believe we are called to eliminate these words from our vocabulary.  That doesn’t make it any easier, yet having a directive given to us in Scripture is good motivation (coupled with bad tasting soap).  The very description of the word, profanity, sets the language apart from God.  Let’s take a closer look:

The word “profanity” is not a modern term.  As we look at the roots for the word, we find it derives from the words pro (”out of”) and fanum (”temple”) to mean “out of the temple.”  In the Old Testament there were two states of being, the sacred and the profane.  The profane referred to what was not holy, or not of God.  When we call ourselves Christians, we are calling ourselves “of God” or “of God’s people” – in calling ourselves Christians, we calling ourselves away from that which is profane.

Some may just call profanity simple words and claim the old cliché, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”  Yet God’s Word contradicts this way of thinking. 

While our mouths and the words we speak may seem very small and unimportant, their impact is a reflection of who we are and what course in life we follow.  We find this in James 3:3-5, “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  Or take ships as an example; although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” 

Here James reflects on how something small is a great force by the examples given.  This is amplified when we consider the profanity we speak most often curses actions, objects, or other people.  James compares this profane vocabulary with the manner in which we worship God in James 3:9-10, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” 

Our mouths speak a variety of words throughout our days.  We give instructions, answer questions, greet others, sing songs, and mumble to ourselves (well, at least some of us mumble… I flat out yell at myself sometimes, but that’s a topic for another article).  Our words have a powerful influence on the people around us, as well as ourselves.  We can and are persuaded by our own words… our state of mind and our emotions will be changed by the words we speak.       

What affect does profanity have over our hearts?  What affect does it have on the hearts of others?  Is this what God is calling us to do?  

Well, I for one, believe He would have me turn to a more wholesome diet, soap free, without any unexpected or embarrassing bubbles.  <Hiccup>   

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com

Every year, there is a group of people who study the English language and decide on which words should be added to our dictionaries.  This group is called the “Smart People”, and voted recently in their little committee on such new words as WEBPAGE (a file accessible on the internet by which to view information, data, photographs, etc.), SLAMMING (the illegal method of a long distance telephone carrier in obtaining new customers without their knowledge), and NET-A-SECOND (the amount of time you will own your newly purchased computer before it is outdated).

The “Smart People” committee also voted on words or phrases that are antiquated or archaic.  This type of verbiage is near extinction and becoming obsolete, such as DAVENPORT (another name for a couch), POCKETBOOK (another name for a purse), and HOMEMADE (a description of a pie that has never been frozen). 

A phrase the “Smart People” committee decided not to vote on is YOU’RE WELCOME.  We should not be surprised the committee passed on voting this phrase out of existence – they are after all, the “Smart People”.  We should be surprised how close this phrase is to becoming extinct.  While this is a basic reply to THANK YOU, it is in danger of being replaced with YEAH, YEAH SURE, NO PROBLEM, or AH-HUH (different parts of the country might also be using such alternatives as YOU BETCHA, AIN’T NO BIG THANG, or SHUR’NUFF – equally alarming!)

I know I am making a big deal out of some simple words or phrases.  Why should I be concerned over a reply to mere common courtesy?  Why should I be concerned over the manners others have?  If you choose to be polite, that’s your business, thank you very much.

(You’re welcome.)

If your parents taught you to say PLEASE and THANK YOU, then they did their job.  Besides, all we are talking about is a reply.  If no one else is going to reply with common courtesy, why should the rest of us?  And we’re talking about the natural tendencies of society!  We’re talking about a new generation and a new way of life!  Let it go, man!  Geez, thank you very much! 

(You’re welcome.) 

Ok.  Ok.  So what is the big deal?  Why is it a big enough deal that it made it to this article?  Hmmm…

Let’s first examine the phrase – YOU’RE WELCOME, or without the contraction, YOU ARE WELCOME.  These three little words are more than just a reply, there is real action in these words. 

The words we say are a reflection of who we are; our reply to common courtesy is a likeness of our personality.  We find this simple fact in the Bible – Luke 6:45, which states, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

What is stored in our hearts when we say YOU’RE WELCOME?  The real action in the phrase is our receiving the person thanking us, or showing hospitality. The real action in the phrase is showing the kindness in our hearts.  YOU ARE WELCOME – we are accepting the THANK YOU, and telling the person that we receive them as an individual.

This is important, as the Lord instructs us in Matthew 10:40-41, “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.  Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward [or blessing], and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward [or blessing].”

The phrase YOU’RE WELCOME has a three-fold purpose: one, we show the kindness and hospitality in our hearts; two, we receive the individual (a polite person) thanking us; and three, through receiving the polite person, we receive the reward or blessing of a polite person.

And what is the reward of a polite person?  Perhaps if we welcome a few, we will find out.  

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com

Socks are an inevitable occurrence in our daily lives.  We put on socks.  We wear socks.  We receive socks as gifts. 

I have many socks myself.  A few socks I have match other socks and call themselves a pair.  There are also single socks hanging out together in my sock drawer, which for my socks, is the preferred place to hang out. 

There is harmony there, almost like a sock commune with all the socks living in unity with one another.  There are single socks, paired socks, and mismatched pairs.  There are tall socks, short socks, and socks with toes.  There are dress socks, and socks with non-skid tread on the bottom.  And in the back, there are those favorite, worn-out socks with the holes in just the right places.

The single socks are accepted just as well as a pair of socks and there is no envy or wishing for mates.  Socks do not separate once they are matched.  Paired socks never share their mates, nor do they pair off with other socks – in short, there is no sock swapping. 

When socks are mismatched and paired together, even though they may be different colors, have unmatched lines, or are unalike in some orientation, they are still accepted as a pair in the sock drawer.  They are never consulted about their diverse backgrounds, and their heritage is not an issue with the other socks.   

There is no distinction between tall socks and small socks.  The socks with separate toes do not act superior, and their unique quality does not separate them or make them stand out in the sock crowd.  The socks with decorative snaps and buttons are not ridiculed, nor do they overly adorn themselves with extra snaps.  The socks with pictures or emblems rub heals with the bleached white tube socks and there is no animosity between them.

The dress socks are intermingled with the sport socks, the socks with non-skid tread, and the “blue-collar” socks.  There are a few pairs of slipper styled socks next to a black sheer pair of socks that came with a tuxedo rental.  The thermal socks are comfortable with the argyles.

My favorite, worn-out socks are stuffed to the back of the sock drawer.  This is a coveted position, a place of honor among socks.  These blessed socks are not shoved aside and forgotten, but instead placed in a special location for safe keeping.  These are the respected socks, the ones the others in the drawer use as role models.  These are the wise old socks, not the foolish ones that were tied in a knot and given to the dog.         

The socks never cluster together to bad mouth or talk about another sock… none are singled out or slandered.  Socks do not spread rumors or murmur against other socks (although they may discuss a few shoes here and there, but that’s considered shop talk). 

Socks accept one another as they are and submit to their position in sockhood.  The socks know their purpose: they cover and protect my feet.  The socks are in the sock drawer to serve my purpose – they know and accept this principle.  No sock would ever consider itself better or above me, for surely this sock would be tied in a knot and cast to the dogs.  This would not happen – socks know better. 

I never thought there was so much to learn from socks.  As I turn to my Bible, I find some sound principles in dealing with our position in life.  All of the law and all of the Scripture are based on two founding standards.

Matthew 22:37-40 shows us an answer to the question, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replies, “…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets [are based] on these two commandments.”

There is no way I would ever try to equate a human life to that of a sock.  Our lives are precious to our Creator, and just as precious to one another.  Yet it seems too many times we lose sight of our Lord, and soon after we forget our value and treat each other as if we were no more than socks. 

I know it is a struggle for me, although this morning I started my day right – right after I slipped on my socks and remembered to pray.  I also prayed, in so many words, I would not get tied in a knot and thrown to the dogs.

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com

After owning my home for nearly twenty years, managing rental properties, and working as a general contractor for over seven years, I have developed a firm belief that weekend renovation projects do not exist.  These are figments of imaginations fueled by do-it-yourself books, manuals, and other fictional literature.  If the book says you can get it done in a weekend, you might be able to wrap it up three weeks later.  Period.  End of story. 

Some of you are nodding your heads; some are still in fantasyland.  Let’s review some realities before you preach about proper planning, project management, and good old know-how.  The reality of your project is the weekend itself. 

Do not forget about the cheesecake calling your name repeatedly from the fridge – you know you have to stop for that!  Of course, the big game, race, or tournament is on television, so you might want to check it out every few minutes.  And then your buddy will stop by to see if you need a hand – and this is the priceless crimp in your plans, as he will most likely offer his expert advise, change your plans completely, point out what you forgot, chat about the game, eat the rest of your cheesecake, and leave without actually doing a lick of work.

Do you still believe in the elusive weekend project?

That’s ok… even with the above firmly engrained in my macho-male ego, I find myself hoping for the right circumstances to complete that job.  I hope I will have the right materials.  I hope I will not find something unexpected in the middle of the project.  I hope none of the tools break, and that I can find them the first time I look.  Yes… it is true.  I, the firm skeptic and critic of the weekend project, hold onto a glimmer of hope that it does exist. 

This is a hope that will disappoint me.  This is a hope in something foolish, and while possible, not very probable.  I know this, and even better, I know of a hope that will not disappoint me – a hope that will not disappoint any of us. 

When we look at Romans 5:5, Paul is telling us about a perfect hope in God.  “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”  How can you identify a perfect hope?  I could not describe it with words here, yet imagine for a moment what it is like for God to pour His love into our hearts… imagine what it would feel like.  A perfect hope in us would be unity with God.

This is a hope given to us by God Himself, and it is guaranteed by His promise – no one can take it away.  We find this promise through the Bible, in such passages as Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful…” and Titus 1:2, “a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time…”

In that last verse, the message of “hope of eternal life” is a call to all of us to cherish this promise God has given.  In Ephesians 1:18 and 19, Paul prays that, “…the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe…”  This “glorious inheritance” is a gift from God, a gift of eternal life for those who believe. 

This is true hope.  This is not a hope that will let me down or frustrate me as will my hopes in the world.  I may hope for, and maybe someday actually see a weekend project, but there are no guarantees.  With God’s love, my hope is complete.  

And now, for that elusive cheesecake…   

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com