What Glenn Writes

Today is the second of a four part series (links to the other parts are at the bottom of this post).

A Letter from a Roman Soldier, Part 2

You were not there for the man baptizing people.  We found John the Baptist at the River Jordan.  He lived in the desert with no home whatsoever, eating bugs and locust.  We actually found some in his beard caught in something sticky and disgusting.  His very existence was appalling, yet we found ourselves listening to him before his death.  He was not intelligent, nor appealing in his appearance, but for some reason I wanted to listen to him. 

He told me about this Jesus whom died last week.  › Continue reading

As many believers are observing Holy Week, I am presenting an abridged version of “He Looked At Me”, a short story published several years ago in the Evangel Magazine and the Christian Chronicle. I am renaming this version with the above title.

Today is the first of a four part series. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

A Letter from a Roman Soldier

Dear Markus;

By now, you know I am gone.  Allow me to explain before you jump to conclusions. 

You know me well.  We were cadets in the Roman Army, beginning our charge side by side.  We are brothers in arms, yet we are more than brothers.  Our blood ran together in many a heated battle.  The desert sun drank of our sweat in many campaigns.  You know I am not an Emansor, a deserter of the Roman Army.  No, my friend, you know better.  My allegiance is pure, yet there have always been doubts. 

Of course, we would never question our orders out loud.  As you, I would never put a voice to my doubts.  Even when I would wake in the early hours of dawn, covered in sweat and my heart pounding fiercely in my chest as if it were the heart of a beast and not my own.  I would be so startled, my scream choking me lest I put sound to the very horror of my dreams.  › Continue reading

I am pleased to present, “What JoAnn Writes”:

Stop Your Fooling!

By JoAnn Wegert

It was the first of the month. The weather was getting nice. The students were anxious to get outside for a lunch time in the sun’s warm glow. Before they could go, the teacher handed out the test. The students were instructed to complete the test and then exit quietly so others could finish on their own. After the usual groaning about taking such a test, the room got quiet as the students began their work. Heads down, pencils up.

With only a couple of minutes into the test one student popped out of her seat and brought the paper forward. The pleased student exchanged a smile with the teacher as she walked out the door. More sighs could be heard as the remaining students plugged away. › Continue reading

In the short three years of living in Elmore, I have developed a genuine connection with this community. This connection is most clearly defined in relationships. Some of these relationships are natural, some are functional, and others require a bit of effort, but all are worth every moment to see encouragement, a smile, or to receive the same. Whether these folks know me by name, by my nickname “the coffee guy”, or by “hey you”, I am so grateful for this connection and the way they touch my life and the lives of my family.

The word “touch” as it is used here is not meant on the physical level, as apart from a handshake or a hug, very few of these close friends have physically touched any of my family. When I use the word touch in this way, I am referring to depth – somewhere internal, in the emotional corner of our soul, closer to the heart. › Continue reading

Like many Americans in the northern states, I did not see the value of going out in the freezing snow and ice to take down those Christmas lights outside. They were white lights with white wires and blended in well with the snow. I took the great opportunity in the warm weekend after Thanksgiving to put them up, so I was waiting for a similar opportunity after Christmas. We didn’t see one for three months. Welcome to Ohio.

In my particular case, I really needed to wait until the snow and ice were off the roof, as I have three stories to reach and the highest is only accessible by getting on the roof: a slanted roof; a slanted roof, slanted toward the ground; a slanted roof, slanted toward the ‘hard’ ground. This is not a place where you want to be standing on snow and ice unless you have mastered the art of levitation. I have not mastered the delicate skill of levitation, if it is indeed possible or just seems possible for very light-weight people resistant to gravity. › Continue reading

Yesterday’s article spoke about the spiritually fatigued or shattered believers, continuing in struggles and facing unending burdens or temptations. A friend saddled with pain, anxiety, and financial hardship extending back many years inspired this article, opening my eyes to see a hardship I was blinded to previously.

At this same moment, my eyes are also opened to the magnificence of the Lord, able to comfort His children in the midst of any storm. I am reminded of the Scripture account of Jesus calming the waves for the terrified disciples.

Matthew 8:24-26
Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Every time I read this account, I have to wonder if Jesus was really sleeping or just waiting to see what His disciples would do. Would they act as He had taught them or would they be consumed by the situation? Would they trust He is with them and remain focused on Him, or would they focus only on the problems?

I tend to focus on the problems. I tend to focus on the situation. Only after I become angry, frustrated, and full of anxiety do I remember to re-adjust my focus.

I am reminded of a saying from years ago, “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”  As a teen, I thought this was hilarious; as an adult, I reached the end of the rope and stopped laughing real quick. We can find it very easy to be an armchair quarterback and make calculated judgment calls when we are well within our comfort zones, but how do we respond after being stretch well beyond our breaking point and no end is in sight? Do we focus on the storm or the only One who is able to tame the storm?

Jesus brought the disciples through the storm, rebuking the storm but also rebuking them for their little faith. They lost their focus. Yet even with their loss of focus and little faith, He still brought them out of the storm – His strength, His will, His purpose.

We see the same example in the Old Testament, an account of the Hebrews being released from Egypt, which is also accurately supported in secular journals and historical resources.

Exodus 13:3
Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the LORD brought you out of it with a mighty hand.

Both Scripture and secular history documents the Hebrews being delivered from Egypt, although secular history questions why Egypt would give up the slaves. Scripture provides the reason: they were delivered by the Lord’s strength, not by any human means or purpose. The Lord brought them through the storm by His strength and His strength alone.

Why the storms? As Christians – as believers – as God’s children, why do we have to endure storms? For one, let’s remember Scripture never promises there will be no storms or problems; Scripture promises God will be with us through the storm. A Christian is not defined by the lack of storms or troubles in life, but in how we react to these situations and circumstances. Will we trust in the Lord to carry us through the storm or will we panic, freak out, and totally lose it?

These are defining times for every one of us.

Yes, our faith and strength may grow weak. No matter how faithful or devoted, no matter how strong we seem, no matter our position, we will endure times when our faith and strength may grow weak. These are the very instances when God is able to prove His strength in bringing us through the storm. He has given us awesome promises to strengthen us in these times.

Write these down, copy and paste these, or take a picture of the screen so you can have these promises when you most need them:

2 Samuel 22:40
You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet.

1 Samuel 2:4
The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

Psalm 29:11
The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 68:35
You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; [our God] gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

2 Timothy 4:17
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength…

I do not know what storm you may be enduring today. I do not know what circumstances may be devouring your thoughts and attention, or what situations may be consuming you, but I do know God is mightier and stronger than your storm. Do you believe God is stronger? Do you believe there is no power, no authority, no storm, and no situation that can stand against Him?

I know you may be weak and tired. I know your faith may be trembling and feeble. I know you may feel like you are shattered and the knot at the end of your rope is weakening fast. This is the time to let go of that rope and that stupid knot and know God is holding his hand out to catch you.

He always was and He always will.

Are you at the end of your rope? Are you soaked in the midst of a storm? I will be glad to pray with you or offer you some encouragement. Contact me. www.glennsasscer.com

Glenn Sasscer

PS: My new goal is to double my readership by the end of the month. Would you help me?

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www.glennsasscer.com

JoAnn wrote about perseverance yesterday as a guest blogger (a regular guest blogger). Her article caused me to consider times when I run or bike and I just completely expend myself in the exercise.

It seems, as I get older, I get there much faster than when I was younger, but you know the point of physical exhaustion to which I am referring?

You persevered! You ran the extra mile or block, you rode your bike that extra distance, you stayed on the exercise machine for five minutes longer, you did a hundred more sit-ups or crunches, and you pushed yourself beyond the envelop and over the edge.

Now, you’re tired. And, I mean the tank is empty, you pushed yourself to your limit and beyond, you can barely catch your breath, and you just plain hurt.

Do you know the place? › Continue reading

I am pleased to present, “What JoAnn Writes”:

Persevere

By JoAnn Wegert

Is anyone else tired of this? Granted, this is our families’ first season watching American Idol, maybe this is how it always works. We have hung in there from the beginning; watching the field narrowed down to just 12, and now 11. Like many Americans we have gotten to know each of these singers a little more as the weeks go on. We have faithfully heard them sing; both smiling and cringing with what we’ve seen and heard.

I just want to ask; is anyone else ready for this to be done? Can’t we just have the final vote and call it done? We northwest Ohioans already know who we want to win. Do we really have to watch weeks and weeks of more and more good byes?

Though I am being silly about what the American Idol fans must “endure”, there is a side of me that has the tendency to see ‘sticking in there for the long haul’ as real bummer and something ‘that just doesn’t need to happen.’ I don’t like to hang in there; I like to BE there! I like to KNOW the results; and know them now. The thought of sticking it out through struggle and difficulty is, well . . . . way less than fun! I experienced a simple test of this as early as my high school ‘running’ days. › Continue reading

A few months back, I spoke about people being inoculated to Scripture or God. Some were curious about what I meant by being “inoculated” in this sense.

When a doctor injects a vaccine into your body, he is inoculating you against a disease or sickness. The vaccine causes the body’s defenses to react in such a way to build antibodies as a preventative measure against the illness. When the body is exposed to the real sickness, the theory is the antibodies will be strong enough to overcome and protect against the infection.

In a similar way, some very well meaning Christians may inadvertently inoculate new believers to the truth of our faith. This may happen in various ways, and although it is usually unintentional, can be devastating to a new believer. What do I mean by this? › Continue reading

I received an email from the National Enquirer yesterday. One of their senior reporters, Phillip Kim, is working on an American Idol recap story and came across my article on the “Six Degrees to Crystal Bowersox”. He was looking for background information on this gifted singer, wanting to map her success from her hometown (a few miles up the road) to the reality show. He is a great fan of Crystal Bowersox and believes her talent well exceeds any of the other contestants.

So, a reporter from the National Enquirer endorses Crystal Bowersox. Stranger things can happen. › Continue reading