What Glenn Writes

We are a quirky people. The very way we live is weird. Comedians make money pointing out the oddities in our nature and causing us to laugh at ourselves. Such things as talking louder to someone who does not know our language because English is much easier to grasp when someone yells it at you; or, pressing the buttons on the remote control harder when the batteries are wearing out because extra pressure will squeeze the very last ounce of energy out of them; and, leaning when we turn a corner in our car because we might fall out or we think the vehicle needs a little help in maneuvering.

None of these nuances makes sense when we view them in this context, yet these natural habits creep into our reactions to our environment. Other habits are more under our control, although just as strange. Have you ever had a “practice conversation” with someone, going over what you want to tell them even though you are by yourself? Have you ever avoided stepping on a crack in the sidewalk as an adult, even though you know your mother’s back is going to be just fine? Have you ever shivered and thought of a goose walking over your grave?

Peculiar?

Yes! We are a peculiar people. And more so, God recognizes Christians as such in His own Words! However, the word peculiar has a different and far more encompassing meaning than what is described above.

We find this in 1 Peter 2:9, where the King James Version reads, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” As we look at the meaning of peculiar, we find the original text to hold a deeper meaning.

The word “peculiar” in its modern definition would mean we are a people distinguished from others or singular. What is expressed by the sense of the Scripture would mean we are a people bought or redeemed. Both of these things are true, but neither of them expresses the exact sense of the original expression in Greek, “laos eis peripoieesin”. We should view this expression as “a people for a possession” pertaining specifically to God. We are a people which He has secured as His own, a people which belong to Him and to no other. In this sense we are SPECIAL as being His, which makes us UNLIKE others, or unique.

This expanded translation is supported in other places in the Bible, such as in Exodus 19:5 where the King James Version reads, “Ye shall be a peculiar treasure with Me above all people.” Again, we are called into a belonging and referenced with high regard in each case.

Some people may have difficulty with being labeled a possession. This should provide comfort instead of tension. I find it natural to call my wife “MINE”. I take her for my wife just as she has me as her husband. I am comfortable she calls me “HERS”. As a married couple, we take care of each other and find comfort in “belonging”.

When we call ourselves Americans, we are recognizing we belong to our country – we are a people. In a sense, we are “possessions” of our country. Many people find comfort in being an American and belonging to this great country.

When we call ourselves Christians, we are recognizing we belong to our God – we are His people. In a direct way, we are His possessions. We should find comfort in being Christians and belonging to a great God – One who loves us beyond our comprehension.

This makes us peculiar in a whole new way.

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Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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Dear Norton Virus Protection;

From a humble customer with very little understanding of the extremely dynamic complications of computer viruses, their violent nature, and the way they wedge themselves throughout the Internet, attacking and infecting unprotected PCs, I come to you with the comfort of knowing you will protect me from their onslaught or relentless attack. 

Opps!  One got through your defenses. 

Oh, as a humble customer with very little understanding of the extremely dynamic complications of computer viruses, their violent nature, and the way they wedge themselves throughout the Internet, attacking and infecting unprotected PCs, I come to with the comfort of knowing you will extract any viruses sneaking past your secure defenses on my PC.

What?  Excuse me?  After two and one half days of working on my PC, you cannot get rid of the very thing I am paying you for protection?  Hmmm…

You failed twice.

Love, Glenn

———————————————————————————–

Dear Local Computer Guy;

Please help.

Much love;

Glenn

PS: For blog readers: TO BE CONTINUED…

-GS

I overheard a gentleman ordering his drink at a local restaurant last week.  He told the waitress, “Coke or Pepsi, it’s all the same to me.”

I understand your disbelief.  I, myself, was indeed shocked.  I began searching for pods, evidence of alien abduction, or body snatching.  I started looking for the hidden cameras, wondering if this was all some sort of prank.  Could some sick individual think up something so loathing to compare Coke and Pepsi as the same? 

In my experience, you are either a Coke person or a Pepsi person.  There are those who do not drink either, although a few in this category can be eliminated due to their preference for RC or Dr. Pepper (usually while wearing their polyester suits and platform shoes). 

There are also the Faygo drinkers, but those are usually Soccer Moms with minivans loaded to capacity (and cooler full of Faygo), Joe Plumber just buying an off brand because he is over-taxed, or Alaskan Governors.

While some may stick to the clear colas or beverages, there are clearly two camps when it comes to the premium soft drinks: Coke and Pepsi.  To imagine pitching a tent in both camps with no partiality is foreign and alien to the American way.  When I heard this gentleman ordering with no preference, I naturally assumed he was a terrorist.    

This is where I must stop the spinning wheel in my head tossing the conspiracy theories around and suspecting everyone of some heinous crime or forbidden deed.  All I heard was a single comment, one phrase made in passing to a waitress and I am ready to string this innocent man up in the gallows.  Time to go back to the Scriptures, huh?

I am reminded of what Paul told the Galatians in his letter to them.  Galatians 3:26-29 records his call to them to be in unity, seeking their commonality and not focusing on their differences.  He writes, “You are all [children] of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” 

When Paul mentions “clothed… with Christ”, he is using imagery in the language to reference similarities in the sentiments, mannerisms, and traits of Jesus.  To be clothed with Christ is to take on His character, especially in dealing with others. 

The critical aspect of his message is all who accept Jesus and recognize God stand on common ground and share in the Lord’s blessings.  Paul uses the word “Greek” to represent all gentiles, or non-Jews, emphasizing there is no favoritism on the account of birth, beauty, or blood.  We are all on the same level, entitled to the same privileges as God’s adopted children. 

He also refers to this unity in Ephesians 4:3-6 with, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Paul implies such unity is only possible through the Spirit of the Lord and encourages us to “Make every effort…” in seeking this unity.  We are the ones severing the “bond of peace” when we naturally fall into discord with one other or seek to focus on our differences.  We obstruct the Lord and inhibit Him from moving in our lives when we act against His Word, whether naturally or intentionally. 

I find it natural to assume anyone who thinks Coke and Pepsi are the same to be a terrorist, though this is a crushing opinion.  To accept this way of thinking is wrong and against the Word of God.  This man, though severely lacking any taste whatsoever, is still God’s creation and loved by the Lord.  We should find unity in what is essential in our lives, embrace diversity in everything non-essential, and show compassion in everything else.    

This is the Real Thing, the Right one, and withstands the Challenge.

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Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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Why do advertisements for the greatest and latest in home exercise equipment have muscular men and women in the picture or commercial?  Do the manufacturers realize if their equipment is the newest on the market, there is no way it was used to produce the fitness we see in the models?  These are people who train everyday, consume a daily regimen of vitamins, minerals, and small live animals.  They started their fitness program long before the newest equipment, next to which they’re smiling, was invented.

And, come to think of something really ticking me off about this whole advertisement campaign: Why do they smile?  When I exercise, the last thing on my mind is smiling!  Of course, I am not being paid to smile, either.

The home exercise equipment industry reports an 80% increase in domestic sales, yet the percentage of over-weight Americans has increased during the same time.  Fitness magazines are overflowing the racks at grocery stores, though we have to wonder if these are how-to articles or worship magazines.  Sure, these publishers are only going to print pictures of the “Best of the Best”, but if we are buying more equipment and literature, why do we continue to get fat?  Or, on a more personal note: Why do I continue to get fat? 

Ok… I am only speaking for myself, but if Tommy LaSorda loses weight on Slimfast, why does the same drink add pounds to my beltline?  Perhaps the drink works best when there is a big endorsement check adding weight to Tommy’s wallet and he is getting a workout all the way to the bank.  In that case, the distributors for Slimfast may contact me via my email address at glenn@sasscer.com and we can discuss my endorsement check workout program. 

Perhaps the secret for the well-toned models and Tommy LaSorda is the endorsement checks and the paid advertisements.  When your income is based on your workout, then achieving that optimal, ribbed washboard abdomen might be possible. 

After all, your workout becomes your work since you are being paid to workout.  The monetary incentive helps drive you towards your goal.  Having an incentive is an excellent method to keep us working towards our goals, even when working out is about as boring as watching a snail race (even if they are well trained and muscular snails). 

Perhaps this is what Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.  Paul tells us in the last part of verse 24, “Run in such a way as to get the prize.”  He immediately gets the reader’s attention by providing an incentive: there is a prize.  He continues, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Since the Corinthians were Greeks, there is no doubt Paul is drawing a reference to the four games played in Greece during the same time period, specifically the Pythian or Delphic; the Isthmian or Corinthian; the Nemean; and the Olympic.  Much like the Olympic games of today, these were planned for specific years and drew crowds from all over Greece and other countries.  The comparison provides a mental picture to relate how we should strive, train, and work towards the Gospel in our lives.

We should strive toward a relationship with God everyday in prayer; we should train everyday by studying the Word of God; and we work towards the Gospel by taking our sins to the Cross and submitting to the Will of God.  Much as an athlete, weightlifter, or wrestler (yes, I know they are athletes) will sacrifice their physical bodies during training and development, we are called by God to make a sacrifice toward our training and development as Christians, and our reward is one that will never perish.

Now if Slimfast could provide rewards that never perish, I would stop sneaking those in between snacks and mini-meals I so well deserve since I am on a “diet”.  However, the home exercise coat rack will continue to get plenty of use in keeping my clothes sorted, and nothing keeps my neckties better organized than the handlebars of the stationary bike.   

Do you know the incentive we all have in Jesus Christ?  Do you know of the reward which will never perish?  If not, contact me at glenn@sasscer.com.

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Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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There are theories about a Hidden Hand of influence in society. Discussing this with friends, we always considered this control to be politically motivated or greedy.

Never did we think the Hidden Hand in society was triggered by gender related causes… that is, until now.

Gentlemen, we are blind. We must realize there is a force beyond our imagination. This group is organized. We are against an invisible coalition with training and emergency support.

I am referring to the Women’s Advanced Affiliation, otherwise known as WAA. This secret women’s society is comprised of married women training and supporting other women soon to be married or in the newlywed stage of marriage. To my knowledge, which is questionable, no marriage is left untouched by this nefarious organization.

Let us consider “the look”. I do not recall ever getting “the look” before marriage, yet now my wife can bring sheer terror to my heart with “the look”. Years can be stripped from a man’s life with “the look”, grown men brought to their knees with “the look”, and a wide range of medical calamities brought on by “the look”.

There is no argument that can sustain the glaring reality of “the look”. Have we ever stopped to ask where “the look” originated? Who trained my wife with “the look”?

Our curiosity should not stop with the “the look”. We must not forget their most widely known tool of the trade and acronym of their group, the WAA! Perfected by the Queen of Comedy, Lucille Ball, we all witnessed how Ricky could never stand against her eye-watering, ear piercing whine. Do you think the women of the world missed how Ricky would cower under such a weapon?

There is also “the nod”, the cold supper, the starched underwear, and forced celibacy.

I am fortunate my wife does not apply all these strategies, yet I have heard many tales to make married men cringe. Such stories are the very fabric of nightmares, calling to our souls, and awakening us in the night with screams of terror choking us.

We must ask ourselves how the beautiful and innocent women we court and woe develop these sadistic tools. Husbands, we must counteract the attractiveness of WAA.

Instead of submitting to the hypothetical influence of this purely fictional alliance, we must change the order of our homes so we are the more appealing encouragement for our wives. Before you roll your eyes, we find the simple steps for this in Scripture.

When we read Ephesians, some men like to focus on 5:24 which contains, “…wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” Yet how can we skip over the next few verses giving us the key steps to making this attractive to our wives?

Ephesians 5:25-27 provides good instruction to men in the way to lead our homes. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

This draws a parallel example for teaching, which in very simple terms puts our treatment of our wives in direct comparison to how Jesus treated the church, and continues to treat the church. As we recognize the past tense where Christ gave Himself for the church, then the present tense where He is cleansing the church, we see a likeness in our relationship with our wives.

In our marriage, we gave up our lives as single men and should be ready to sacrifice our physical bodies for the ones we love. The next part of the verse gives us instruction to give of ourselves in such a way to provide Spiritual stimulus to our wives and enrich them in God’s Word. Jesus is perfecting the church through Scripture and the teachings of the Holy Spirit, just as we should give in the same way to our wives.

The real kicker comes at the end: We should in every way present our wives to ourselves as radiant, without stain, wrinkle, or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. We do not see imperfections – whether there are any or not. If there is blame, it should be ours, as we must not have provided the support or communication to express our desires.

The world may see this as weak, but God sees this as strength. As Jesus loves the church, we should love our wives. As Jesus is kind and generous to the church, we should be kind and generous to our wives. As Jesus provided for the church, we should provide for our wives. As Jesus cherished the church, we should cherish our wives.

As men treat wives in the way of Ephesians 5:25-27, wives may be more inclined to respond in the way of Ephesians 5:24.

 The hidden hand of influence in a marriage is not the heavy hand of a stern, overbearing man, but the loving, cherishing hand of a man embracing his wife.

Do you know someone who might enjoy this blog or one of my eStories or Books? Please share this blog or my website with them. Thanks!

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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Mary is one of the special people God blessed with an over-abundance of spontaneity. This woman tore out all of her kitchen cabinets when her husband was gone for the weekend and surprised him with the words, “Guess what we need?”

She is a woman who will push the Emergency Button on a department store elevator to see what happens when the car stops between floors, not to mention wanting to know what the Emergency Alarm sounds like when the elevator stops.

Few of us were alarmed when she announced she was going to buy a summer cottage in Michigan. Her husband, Chris, assured us if we give it time, this idea would eventually pass as others have, or turn into another one involving all of us in some way, shape, or form.

Little did he realize within two years of her declaring her desire to have a summer cottage on a lake, he would be making his permanent residence on Wolfe Lake, Michigan. And yes, we all ended up spending a few weekends helping them move from their five bedroom home in Ohio to their two bedroom cottage, with their four kids, a dog, and a cat!

That’s just Mary. We all know it and we all accept her.

I will be the first to admit we are blessed to have close friends living on a lake within a few hours driving time. We have spent countless weekends visiting them, playing on the lake, and just plain relaxing. We enjoy each other’s company, even while waiting to hear Mary’s latest scheme or inspiration to make all our lives more interesting.

We have adopted a few rules while going to the lake. Of course, the children cannot be near the water without at least one adult with them, and the adult (my wife reminds me) cannot be sleeping in the hammock. The children cannot go on the boat without wearing a safety vest. And, remember to keep the Ohio and Michigan soda pop cans separate for recycling, as Michigan cans are redeemable for their deposit.

This leads me to a concept I never really had time to ponder until I found myself lounging casually in a hammock last summer, as if there is any other way to lounge in a hammock. What does it actually mean to redeem a soda pop can and how does that apply to Biblical principles? I know this is a stretch, but we are talking about competitive napping under a shade tree next to a quiet lake… perfect for this type of pondering.

First, with a soda pop can, when we redeem the can for the deposit made, we return the can to the previous owner. What does redemption mean when we place ourselves in the position of the soda pop can?

When we turn to Galatians 4:4-5, we find the subject of full redemption defined with, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights [as the children of God].” This tells of our Lord’s intentions to send His Son to redeem us so we would receive full rights as God’s children.

This is made possible only as part of God’s plan. This is further explained in Colossians 1:13-14, “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” This plan is foretold in Isaiah 60:16, which ends in, “…Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One…”

Because of the disobedience of Adam in the Garden of Eden, man has been under the curse of sin and separate from God, our Creator. He provided the Law through Moses, yet this only proved we could never obtain the perfect state of holiness required to be with God. Sin is evident in our lives, whether it is just a white lie or a bit of anger, yet we can be redeemed in spite of ourselves through Jesus Christ.

Just as the soda pop can is returned to the original owner, we are returned to our original Owner, our Creator, by becoming His children through Jesus Christ.

Ah… the benefits of napping.

Do you know Jesus in this way? If not, email me.

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Glenn Sasscer
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Being a long-standing member of the Macho-Male Club, I must follow the Macho-Male Creed in home improvement. Now the Macho-Male Creed in home improvement is relatively simple (it has to be in order for the members to follow it).

First, we strap on an overloaded tool belt with tools we will never use or could ever identify. If you asked the name of these tools, we would use technical terms, like “thing-ma-bob” and “do-hickey”. We also grunt while we were saying the names to make them indecipherable and sounding very macho-like. When reading the Macho-Male Rule Book, most members have to look up the word “indecipherable” in the dictionary or have their wives explain it to them.

Second, we spend hours thinking about our project. This is strategy. Sometimes, if you think about the project long enough, the project goes away. This happened to a good buddy of mine when he was thinking about replacing his roof shingles. After three years, the project went away when the roof collapsed.

Third, we prepare the project area by spreading tools all over the place, making excess noise, and in whatever way possible, we stir up dust and dirt. This is a good time to plug in electric tools and pull the triggers, creating more noise, and sounding more impressive than the actual work to be done.

Finally, we can start the project if we can remember what we were attempting to complete.

This is all fine in the general scheme of home improvement, except in a project I completed last fall. The goal of this simple project was to paint the trim around the outside of the house. I strapped on my overloaded tool belt and studied my work area.

As I examined the height of the two-story house from the driveway, I was convinced it was not all that high. Surely, some people could even levitate that high, if they were into that sort of nonsense. I was confident I would be able to reach the highest part over the driveway and ignore the hard, unforgiving concrete waiting for me at the bottom. The driveway certainly did not look intimidating when standing on it; how bad could it be from the top of the ladder?

The first hurdle was getting to the highest trim, as it seemed just out of reach for my tallest ladder. Yet my Macho-Male mind found a solution by propping the ladder in the back of my pick-up truck.

By the way, when grading Macho-Male projects, you get an extra fifty points for any project where you can include your pick-up truck, lawn mower, or sledgehammer in a unique way. Also, the average Macho-Male mind cannot comprehend the words stupid idea or disaster.

Once all the elements of my project were figured out and ready, the next step was climbing the ladder. The first rung was easy. The second and third were relatively sturdy. The fourth rung caused the ladder the shake uncontrollably. This was strange, because the ladder did not shake while it was leaning against the house by itself. I am positive it was the ladder shaking, not my legs.

I realized the shaking was due to my overloaded tool belt. My second trip up the ladder proved this was a correct, as I made it to the fifth step before the ladder began shaking… again, it was the ladder shaking and not my legs.

After seven more attempts up the ladder, each one with a new method to conquer the shaking steps and each one ending in quaking discouragement, I finally decided to depart from the Macho-Male Creed.

I prayed.

This may be an over-simple solution for some to accept, yet it worked for me. This story would be more powerful if I could tell you the next trip up the ladder was successful, however I did make it further up before chickening out. I prayed again and made it higher. This time I prayed while I stood there clinging to the shaking ladder and I recognized the ladder was not going to fall. In the way it was propped up and secured at both the top and the bottom, it was only going to shake while I was in the middle. Once I reached the top, the shaking minimized.

When I was finished, I found it easy to slip into that Macho-Male way of thinking and take credit for the job.

I then remembered what the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” I could have climbed the ladder on my own, yet I lacked the courage and the strength. By my prayers, God strengthened me and enabled me to complete the task.

I also know the commandments given by our Lord, which are summarized in Mark 10:19, “You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud…” By taking credit for the strength and courage God gave me to climb the ladder, I was giving “false testimony”, if only to myself. To put it plain and simple, I was deceiving myself. I was lying.

What is important to remember is no matter which rung of life we are on, the Lord will hear our prayers, will answer our prayers, and will give His strength in accordance to His Word. Some might think we have to climb a few rungs, clean up our act, or prepare ourselves in a certain way before the Lord will hear us. Others might think we have to sink to our lowest level before the Lord will answer our prayers or before we actually need Him.

The truth to learn is He is faithful to answer our prayers when we seek Him. Not only is He faithful to answer our prayers, He is with us on every rung in life, no matter on which rung we happen to be standing… and no matter how much the rung is shaking.

Do you know the Lord in this way?

Do you know someone who might enjoy this blog or one of my eStories or Books? Please share this blog or my website with them. Thanks!

Glenn Sasscer
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My mom is not Betty Crocker, but I think the two were close friends.  My mom just made the best cake you could eat, period.  She had the pudding in the mix before you could buy pudding in the mix.  We are talking about moist chocolate cake dripping with homemade frosting and tons of calories. 

She was, and still is, on everyone’s short list for birthday cakes, party cakes, and wedding cakes.  This equated to a whole lot of bowl lickin’ for me.  The cake batter was the best you could scrap out of a bowl or lick off the beaters. 

I caught myself remembering these tasty treats as my kids continue to explore their culinary creativity.  They are into the Lemon Lush, the fancy-smancy cheesecake, funny breads (ok, you have zucchini bread, but now there is pumpkin bread, rice bread, tapioca bread, and all sorts of “other breads”), and whatever else these adventurous, recipe explorers can concoct.

The kitchen has become like a playground, though one with delicious rewards waiting to be found in all the individual ingredients.  Their activities with mixing, beating, kneading, picking eggshells out of the batter, and cleaning up is almost as much fun to them as eating the results of their efforts.

Of course, the clean up is just as scrumptious as I remember from my childhood.  I taught my children the fine art of licking the beaters, getting both the outside and inside of the blade in one glide of the tongue.  I know Ms. Manners will not approve, but we found the lost talent of finger cleaning the bowl and then tongue cleaning the fingers.  While their mixtures may not compare to Mom’s batter, they thoroughly enjoy the fun with chocolate or cream cheese smeared all over their faces, in their fingernails, and sometimes a good lot on the kitchen counter.

I know some readers may cringe and remark about our kids getting sick on too much sugar, raw eggs in the batter, and germs on their hands, but we enjoy our tasty treats – and so far, we all seem to be ok.  These are great memories we will cherish just as I do my childhood batter licking recollections.

My wife and I value our relationship with our children.  We love our two daughters and son.  We love to hear their voices, their running feet through the house, their late night giggles when they’re supposed to be sleeping, and all their funny games and shenanigans.  When they tell us they love us, it touches a special place in our hearts reserved only for them.

This gives me a small clue, just a fraction mind you, of what God must feel when we turn to Him as His children and share our love with Him.  How awesome it must be for Him! 

The revelation of our relationship with God as His children is throughout the Bible, specifically in 1 John 3:1 where it is written, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are…” 

We become God’s children when we come to Him through His son, Jesus Christ.  This is His desire, and has been His plan for all of us.  We find this proof in Ephesians 1:4-5, “Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.  His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure.”

This is an expression of God’s love for us.  His desire to draw us near to Him, even though He knows our past and our sins, is a reflection of the unending and ultimate love He has for each one of us – no matter how bad we think of ourselves.  He is our Father in Heaven and our Creator. 

I am still amazed by this revelation.  This entire concept is almost beyond my simple comprehension.  Yet He remains patient with me, just as I was patient with my children and picked the eggshells from my bite of cake (chocolate cake is not supposed to be crunchy).  Fortunately, God’s patience far exceeds my own, as does His love. 

As a father to three beautiful children, I am grateful for the tiny, miniscule taste of what He must experience in His love for us – a taste that is far much better than the best cake batter in the world!

Do you know God’s love for you in this way?

Do you know someone who might enjoy this blog or one of my eStories or Books? Please share this blog or my website with them. Thanks!

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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Can you remember when there were no prescription drug commercials on television?  Some of them are down right creepy! I know this may seem impossible, but at one time we actually trusted our doctors to prescribe what was best for our symptoms.  We might have asked our pharmacist at the local drug store, you know the one who knew us by name and sent our mother flowers when she had a baby?  Our doctor and pharmacist were on a first name basis with one another and we trusted their opinion on what was best. 

Funny… we were in good health and didn’t need near the drugs we need today. 

Now most of the local drug stores have been replaced or bought by the major pharmaceutical outlets with drive-up windows and drop boxes.  We go to our doctors not because we feel bad, but because a commercial suggested we self-diagnose our own symptoms and ask our doctors about taking this new drug.  Forget about the doctor’s years of training, education, and experience, we want the purple pill.

These new drugs have got to be good.  Listen to the testimonies of the taxi cab drivers, the father who is “really bumming his kids out” with his cold, and those people standing on the rocks all coming together at the end of the commercial. According to them, these new drugs answered their problems and we should ask our doctors if these drugs are right for us.

Then the commercial ends with some hyper-speed talking guy laying out the side effects, which may cause dry mouth, nausea, headaches, inflammation, ringing in the ears, insomnia, stomach ulcers, constipation, anal leakage, diarrhea, and even death (of course, results will vary).

Ummm… yeah!  Which is worse: the original symptoms or the side effects.  This might have been the answer to their problems, yet is it the right answer for ours?

Doctors generally want to determine the root cause for the symptoms.  Masking or covering the symptoms will not make them go away, but addressing what causes the symptoms will allow for the long-term cure.  Using the prescriptions to alleviate short-term problems provides relief, but does not answer the root cause.

In a similar way, God has provided an answer for the penalty of our sins.  We are told in Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved…”, meaning we are saved from the death sentence put upon us by sin.  We are first shown mercy, where we do not receive what we should: punishment; then we are shown grace, where we receive what we do not deserve: salvation. 

Does this address the root cause of our sin?  No, sin is the symptom of our selfishness.  When we consider all sin begins as selfish intent, we see sin is a side effect.  If we look at the Ten Commandments given to Moses, to break each of the Ten Commandments begins with a focus on ourselves, or a selfish desire. 

Our selfish desire is the root cause of our sin, drawing us back like an addiction.  We can only change this root cause by being transformed, as suggested in Romans 12:2-3, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

These verses call us to be transformed by renewing our minds, learning a different path or way of thinking than one causing our selfish desires and actions.  We should not think highly of ourselves, but instead we should consider others.  This is confirmed in Mark 12:29-31 when Jesus is asked the most important commandments, “‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: Hear… the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’”

Jesus is speaking clearly when He answers the question about the greatest commandments.  To paraphrase, “Take your eyes off yourself, put the Lord first in your life, followed by others in your life.  Put yourself last.”  In this way, Jesus is focusing on the root cause of sin, which is selfishness. 

When we change our focus, we are changing our way of thinking and our view of those around us.  As we focus on the Lord, we are drawn to His word in Scripture.  As we focus on others, our selfish nature is changed.  Through these steps, we are transformed and renewed.  As easy as this sounds, I do not believe we can do this on our own. 

The best prescription does not require a doctor’s slip when we find this truth in Scripture and search out the ultimate Healer in our lives.  Jesus not only takes care of the symptoms of sin, but also transforms our very nature to address the root cause.

Please note without any hyper talking gibberish: Side effects may include the absence of death, eternal salvation, a depth of love beyond measure, a sense of joy beyond description, peace beyond understanding, patience beyond comparison, layers of kindness, undefined goodness, unimaginable faithfulness, a sweet gentleness, and self-control… and while results may vary, they usually provide for a truely unique relationship like none other.

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Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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I believe cleaning our refrigerator would make a good Alfred Hitchcock movie.  Think about it:  For some unknown reason, we clean our fridge at night.  Picture the kitchen with the lights turned off.  Creepy music begins to play.  We zoom toward the appliance and slowly open the door… it creaks and the light flickers.  We pull the milk out and set it aside – we will sniff it later to see if it is good.  Next, we pull out the soda and the OJ. 

Now the music builds.  Drums are added for effect and we realize our heart is racing with the beat.  The fridge light flickers again… funny though, it never flickers during the day. 

Why did we choose to clean the fridge at night anyway?

We reach our hand in… steady… steady… we reach way in the back… where there is a bowl.  As we grip the bowl, sweat pours from our body and our breath is caught in our throat.  What will be in the bowl?

We pull our prize from the safety of the flickering light and we stand, alone, in the dark kitchen with this mysterious, unknown entity in the bowl.  We take a cautious step toward the sink.  Our hand trembles and the contents of the bowl seem to shift.  Was it because of our trembling or is it alive? 

We reach the sink and turn on the light overhead.  We should be safe here… the garbage disposal is ready to devour whatever alien-like thing is in this bowl.  We grasp the lid and take a deep breath.  With a flip of the wrist we pop the lid, drop the bowl, then dive to avoid the assault. 

There is no assault. 

When we peek over the sink edge, there is no alien, just green, fuzzy macaroni and cheese.  Now we know our enemy!  We stand tall, staring down at the greenish glob of hairy noodles.  Ha!  We have conquered you!  We reach for a spoon to shovel the mess into the disposal when the smell hits us. 

As we double over from the noxious fumes, we realize the enemy used smell as a clever secret weapon.  Foiled again by those diabolical carbohydrates. 

As the smell dissipates, we regain consciousness and return to cleaning the bowl.  We rinse the inside, realizing the bowl is useless until we scrub out every germ. 

This is the same example used in Bible to refer to our hearts.  We find this in Matthew 23:25-28, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence…  First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean…  You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

This passage was directed at the priests in the temple and refers to the law given by Moses.  The teachers focused on the very letter of the law and ignored the intent.  The law set forth a standard of actions to portrayed honesty, compassion, love, and dedication.  Yet without the feelings and emotions, these actions were empty in the eyes of God.

Proverbs 14:10 and Acts 15:8 tell us that God knows our hearts – He knows the very core of our being.  He knows our motivation and drive.  He knows when we do something for show and when we do something with honest intent. 

This Matthew passage tells us to avoid hypocrisy.  Focus on the inside of the cup, which symbolizes our hearts.  When we address our motivation in any activity or function and deal with the issues of the heart, our actions are then purified in how we will be driven by our true motivation.

When we find ourselves doing something just for appearances, we have a good exercise in cleaning the inside of the cup.  We can examine our motives.  Through this process, we gain a better understanding of who we are, what we are doing, and why we are doing it. 

This will either give us a passion in our activity, or lead us to do something else…  which is rarely going to be cleaning the refrigerator at night.  

Do you know someone who might enjoy this blog or one of my eStories or Books? Please share this blog or my website with them. Thanks!

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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