What Glenn Writes

Cats are the pets. We do not work for the cat. The cat is here for our enjoyment. We are not here to be slaves to the cat. The cat is not the superior being in the house. We are the superior beings in the house. We do not work for the cat.

Ok, those of you with cats in your household reread the above statements. Write them out. Say them back to yourselves. You, too, will eventually be able to believe these statements without laughing yourself silly or shaking your head in dismay.

Cats are very confused creatures. If you happen to have one as a pet, you will most likely agree they can be confused into thinking they are royalty in your house. I am reminded how arrogant and confused cats can be when I watch my daughter’s pet, Bubba, prance around our house as if the King of the Roost.

Bubba is from a strange order of felines. Generally, I have found cats will associate with you to prove themselves to be of a higher intelligence, they walk around like monarchs, and occasionally allow you to stroke their fur. Bubba is different. He does not want anyone but my daughter to touch him. He will walk away if he catches you even looking at him, which is a very easy way to get him to leave the room when I have had enough of his regal qualities. In general though, all he is concerned about is eating, sleeping, and filling the litter box.  Of course, as King of the Roost, he expects his slaves… I mean, us, to feed him, allow him his privacy to sleep, and clean his litter box. King Arrogance.

Then I found his weakness. Ahh… now, as humans, we must express our superior knowledge over the animal kingdom and claim our rightful position in the pecking order. Some readers may be raising their eyebrows, wondering in disbelief if maybe I found some long lost secret about these furry freaks called cats. Well, readers, I will not let you down. Although the secret is well known and available at your local pet store, we sometimes forget how to exert our superior intelligence over these arrogant hairballs.

The secret is catnip.

Within five minutes of walking in the door with this prize, Bubba tossed aside all his regal, majestic appearances and attacked the bag as if he was a rabid dog. He pounced on it. Rolled around with the catnip hugged tight to his bosom. When I took the catnip away, he treated me as if I suddenly became the catnip. He clung to my legs and begged for my attention. I could stand it for no longer than ten seconds, so I tossed him his vice and left him to the stupor of the nip.

Cats have no choice when it comes to liking catnip. Bubba’s reaction to the substance is part of his nature. In this same way, we are subject to the nature of sin. The fallen nature of man is a curse against all mankind and the lure of sin is beyond our abilities to avoid.

This is our weakness. As we recognize this weakness, we have confidence in knowing the Lord has made provisions for us. We find this specifically spelled out in Romans 8:26-28, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us… because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

The Lord has made provisions for us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides us in our prayers when we are too ignorant to recognize our own conditions – the Spirit intercedes on our behalf “…in accordance with God’s will.” Yet as we look at the beginning of these verses, we find that there is a requirement for this intercession: prayer.

We also know the Lord would have continual intercession of the Holy Spirit to give us guidance in all things. We find this in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, where we are told to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Now some may read this and think this means we are to have our hands folded, heads bowed, and eyes closed in continual prayer, which is not always possible (especially when we are driving, so please keep your eyes open and hands on the wheel).

However, when we consider prayer is direct and complete communication with God and the Holy Spirit is an extension of God dwelling within us, we see this verse and directive from God is calling us to a state of communion with the Holy Spirit. Our recognition of His presence and our readiness to abide by His will puts us in a “continual” spirit of prayer.

In this, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and is available to give us guidance in all things, specifically in our weakness. When we consider all our weaknesses, we can be thankful of the presence of the Holy Spirit, His intercessions, and His guidance.

And after watching this furball, we can also be thankful catnip is not a weakness for humans.

When being a Christian is tough, are you tough enough to avoid catnip?

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Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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My son was just two years old before he received his first haircut.  That’s right, the little hippie had two year’s worth of growth on his head before I could convince his mother, my beautiful wife, he was old enough to get a haircut. 

 
Some children come into this world with a thick mop of hair ready to be gelled and styled into the latest nursery fashion; others go almost a year with a few strands resembling Charlie Brown in the Peanut’s cartoon.  Luke fell somewhere in between on the hair scale. 

His transformation from the hip, radical, long-haired beatnik of the play group to clean cut, crew-top bruiser happened in our kitchen, under the watchful eyes of his mother and two sisters.  Now his mother was not completely convinced of my abilities with the newly acquired hedge clippers… I mean, hair clippers.  As his hair vanished from his head, so did my wife’s vision of her baby boy always remaining a baby and never growing up; as the locks fell, the tears fell. 

Luke, however, loved the sound of the buzzing clippers mowing across his scalp.  I expected fear, crying, and jumping around as he attempted to get away from the weird noise; instead he grinned, laughed, and played with the clumps of hair falling into his lap. 

From his mother’s perspective, her baby was changing into a small boy right in front of her eyes.  From Luke’s perspective, he was the center of attention for the entire family, he found some new stringy stuff to play with, and Dad was using something to tickle his head. 

Two contrary views of the same event.

These differing positions remind me of the perspective we have in our relationship with God.  We each have our own view of who we are, an image of ourselves.  I wonder how close this perspective is to how God sees us?  What is His viewpoint on our lives?

First, let’s realize God sees all things in our lives.  He sees what is unseen by others and what we do privately.  We find this in Matthew 6:6, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”  The last portion of this verse is supported throughout the Bible and literally means God sees all things in our lives. 

His understanding of our lives goes beyond just seeing what we do, he recognizes our intentions.  The last part of 1 John 3:20 tells us, “…For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”  If the Lord knows what is in our hearts, then He knows what we do and why we do what we do.

This is a tough concept.  I prefer to look at myself with an ideal view as the perfect husband, the perfect father to my children, and a good buddy to my friends.  I like to think I am an excellent worker.

Should I remember I was ten minutes late for work last week, took a personal telephone call longer than I should have, and checked my personal email on company time? 

Should I remember not calling my buddy back when I knew he was going to ask for a ride to the airport or for help fixing his car? 

Should I remember becoming impatient with my daughters when they continued to giggle after bedtime or with my son when he gives me a bad attitude when I ask him to take out the trash? 

Should I remember not calling my loving and trusting wife when I knew I was going to be home late?  Should I remember venting my work frustrations out on her?

I doubt I would ever call myself perfect, whether verbally or by thought.  Yet the image I have of myself is flawless.  My ego and pride paint a perfect picture, and this vision is the motivating force behind many of my actions: it is my perspective on life. 

Knowing the Lord sees all of my actions and knows the selfish intentions in my heart, my perspective must be far different than His.  And in spite of all this, He still loves me. 

We can find this truth in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

As I take off my rose colored glasses and get a real glimpse of my imperfections, I suddenly realize the depth of His love for me.  Sometimes this is tough for me to accept.

When being a Christian is tough, are you tough enough?

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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My daughters and son were with a group of children who were asked, “What is your favorite summertime activity?”  They answered in unison with, “Swimming!”  I am convinced this is a common reply with children who have chlorine bleached hair by the Fourth of July, a moderate tan, and parents who have become experts patching those flimsy, cheap inflatable pool toys. 

The kids love their time in the pool, yelling and squealing, and splashing Dad as he walks by on his way to a business meeting (which begins with “Why yes, those are chlorine stains on my suit. Don’t you have chlorine stains on your suit?  You don’t?  You have coffee stains on your suit?  That is so last week.  You really should update your stains.”)

When we had a pool, I developed an understanding about the pool water: it must be clear.  For some reason, green swampy water takes away from the enjoyment.  And as a side note, if children cannot see the bottom of the pool, especially my children, they develop the tendency to “feel” all sorts of underwater thingies brushing up against their legs.  They do not understand the term “going green” in this context.  

Experience tells me converting green water to clean water requires an engineer, two scientists, a lab technician, and a very large (and equally expensive) assortment of chemicals, stabilizers, shock treatments, algae eaters, and chlorine.  After you put one chemical in to change the pH balance (which is nothing more than fancy pool talk for, “let’s see how much money we can extract from your bank account”), you have to add another chemical to counter the pH thingy.  I asked them to explain the pH thingy to me, but they said, “…it’s not a thingy, it’s a balance in your pool between the acid and alkaline content, or a measure of dissolved hydrogen ion activity coefficients.”

There you have it. 

When I told him his explanation was as clear as green pool water, he smiled and asked, “Will that be cash or charge?”  He looked smug with pH stains on his suit while I still lingered with chlorine stains on mine.

I learned keeping the water clean in the first place was easier, less costly, did not require a chemical engineering degree, nor installment loan plans with the pool supply dealer.  The real secret was in nightly doses of good quality chlorine.

The principle was pretty basic: use good quality chlorine and put it in regularly.  If we applied this principle to our pool, the water would be clean and enjoyable.  As I consider this principle, I realize this was not original; this is actually sound Biblical instruction (excluding the chlorine, pH problems, and suit stains).  If we use good quality instruction and apply it regularly, our lives have a better chance of being clean and enjoyable.

Good quality instruction is not a textbook, but instead it is in the action of accepting God’s Word.  We find this in the parable about the farmer sowing seeds in Luke 8:5-8, which reads, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.  Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown…”

Jesus begins to explain the parable with, “The seed is the Word of God…”, or our directions to life.  So if His Word falls “…along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up…”, perhaps we are not serious enough about applying His Word to our lives.  If His Word falls “…on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered…”, perhaps our understanding is not complete enough to establish a solid root structure – or belief basis, and we fail to apply His Word.  If His Word falls “…among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants…”, perhaps our busy lives are out of control, and in fact, we are in desperate need of sound advice – and the ability to apply His Word.  And if His Word falls “…on good soil…”, we see the application His Word in our lives, the good soil equating to the “action of acceptance”.

The Lord tells us in Deuteronomy 11:18-19 to, “Fix these Words of Mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”

Here the Lord gives us His Word and tells us to put them “…in your hearts and minds…”, or to think about His Word regularly and place His instructions where we will see them.

If we use good quality instruction (God’s Word) and apply it regularly (as instructed), our lives can be clean and enjoyable.

This basic transformation in our lives is in the regular application of God’s Word, which will teach us more about His ways and as Hebrews 10:22 tells us, we will “…draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

This pure water, as my daughters will tell you, is better than being immersed in green swamp water, or living with sinful stains (which is so yesterday).

When being a Christian is tough, are you tough enough?

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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This article was first printed in the New Man eMagazine on May 28, 2009, found at www.newmanmag.com.

As a member of the Macho Male Club for Men, I keep an assortment of large, over-powered tools.  By over-powered tools, I mean ridiculously over-powered tools.  For example, last year I refilled my trimmer with the largest capacity trimmer line, specially designed in an octagon shape to give “…eight razor sharp, professional grade, cutting edges.”  When I selected the trimmer line, I chose the largest diameter cord for the added strength, “…a superior trimmer line for the professional landscaper.” 

I know what you are thinking… you saw the same trimmer line when you last looked for refills and started drooling in the same way.  When I first fired up the gas-powered trimmer, the slack went out of the line and ripped the trimmer guard off the bottom of the trimmer.  I instantly knew I made the right choice.

With a grin, I revved up the trimmer and attacked the lawn.  After scoring the bark off most the trees in the yard and digging trenches around them with the trimmer, I turned my attention to the hedges and bushes.

I have hedge clippers in the garage, but why use hedge clippers when you have “a superior trimmer line for the professional landscaper” loaded in your trimmer? As I revved the engine, visions of the worldwide hedge artistry competition danced before me.  I began lobbing the edges of a bush in my yard, yet somewhere I was competing with professional gardeners and landscapers.

The crowd cheered me on, clapping and praising every cut and each strike.  The judges nodded their approval for my unconventional use of trimmers instead of hedge clippers.  Branches fell to the ground and my symphony of green took shape.  As I saw the frustration mounting with my imaginary opponents, a brown streak flashed before my eyes and lit my nose on fire. 

A wasp stung me!

I threw my lawn trimmer (with superior trimmer line for the professional landscaper) to the ground, along with every ounce of Macho Male dignity, and ran to find my loving and attentive wife.  I was yelling, ranting, raving, and calling the dirty little wasp an assortment of names (although censored as my children were following Mommy to find out why Daddy was now a lunatic).

My wife made a nice poultice and the sting tapered off after a few minutes of over-reacting.  I thanked my loving and attentive wife, explained to my children I was not a lunatic, and went off to finish my shrubbery competition. 

I made it back before the semi-finals and the judges granted me a reprieve due to my game injury.  I started to give more form and shape to the hedge, clipping more off the top and cutting some at the bottom.  Again, I saw my opponents look on at their defeat until a yellow and black flash set my arm on fire. 

A yellow jacket bee stung me!

Now I was mad, and I mean seriously ticked off.  I sought the loving attention of my wife, again ranting and trying to think of “clean” names to call the yellow jacket without treading on my children’s ears.  My wife encouraged me to give up on the shrubs until another day, perhaps after we purchase a can of wasp and bee killer. 

Of course, my Macho Male dignity would not allow the excruciating pain from the ferocious bees and tenacious wasps to drive me away.  I walked with confidence back to the hedge. 

I know this was just a wasp and a bee sting, yet as I consider this fateful afternoon, I am reminded what Scripture tells us about persevering during times of challenge.  My challenge was trivial.  My obstacles were minor.  Yet, no matter the struggle, we are called to persevere.

We find this in Hebrews 10:35-39, “…do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised…  …but we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”  This is stated after acknowledging there will be public ridicule and punishment due to a Christian’s beliefs.

Are we tough enough to persevere?  Do we even know what this word means?  When a marriage has trouble, are we quick to a divorce or do we persevere to find the blessing in working it out?  When our jobs challenge us, do we quit or persevere to find ways to address the challenge.  When our children rebel, do we forget about them or persevere to help them understand obedience? 

This question can be worded many ways, but essentially you find the meaning.  When things are hard, are you going to give up or persevere through the struggle? 

As Christians, we all like to think we will persevere.  We enjoy thinking we are tough enough and have the faith to endure whatever challenge we have to face.  Romans 8:31 tells us, “…if God is for us, who can be against us?”, but do we believe this verse?  We may know this verse in our heads, but do we know it in our hearts?  These words are great comfort and sound pretty righteous when the enemy is not attacking, but where do they go in the midst of the sting?  How powerful are these words when we are being consumed by the enemy’s venom? 

We do not know the depth of our faith until the strength and integrity of our faith is tested by a trial.  Will we persevere and save our marriage?  Will we persevere and work out our differences with our coworkers?  Will we persevere and find a level where we can relate with our children? 

Our strength in many circumstances, if not all, is found in Jesus Christ.  How do you find this strength in the midst of the opposition?  Hebrews 12:2 and 3 tell us, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Will we keep our eyes on Christ when the stinger is testing our faith?  Will we persevere and be tested as a true Christian or a weak heathen?  His reward is far better than any trophy offered at a hedge-clipping contest.  We should have confidence in the Lord, even when it stings.

When being a Christian is tough, are you tough enough?

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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