What Glenn Writes

One of my first jobs out of high school was working for a tool machine shop on the north side of Toledo. This small machine shop made tools for the automotive businesses in the Toledo and Detroit area. To say this shop was a hole in the wall barely etching out a profit was being very generous, but somehow it continued to provide jobs for the handful of people working there, including me.

The job was tough and dirty. Raw steel would come in the back door and finished goods would roll out the front. On some days, the shop worked like a seasoned team, and on other days it was close to World War III. The difference between those days usually rested on one man and whether or not he was there. I cannot remember his name, nor do I want to remember it, but he was one of those cranky guys with a dismal view on life out to make everyone else just as miserable and unhappy. He was a negative influence on everyone near him. He left a distinguishing mark on your day, an emotional tattoo leaving you saturated in depression. Wait! There’s more… click here.

When I was getting my hair cut yesterday, I noticed the stylist seemed to be targeting only the brown hair. I started to get a little upset and told her I would increase her tip if she started just cutting the gray and white hair and leave the brown hair. She said there would hardly be any hair left.

This young, perky, twenty-something chuckled nervously as my head turned around three times, my eyes turned red, and I just started crying like a little girl all at the same time. Didn’t they teach these stylists about the fragile male ego back in beauty school? Wait! There’s more… click here.

A few people responded to my article last week, “We Need To Talk”, and one question from JoAnn Wegert inspired another article the following day, “Is Life Damage Control or Prevention”.

Note: I am working on a way to allow comments from readers directly on the blog (I had it at one time, but the spammers took it over and all the comments were from Canadian pharmacies, porn sites, or someone in south Africa wanting my bank account number to embezzle money). For now I only have my email or Facebook replies for comments.

JoAnn had additional insight she wanted to share, so I invited her to be a “guest blogger” and, with her permission, I am sharing the following article. So, this is “What JoAnn Writes”:

Damage Control or Prevention

by JoAnn Wegert

In our earthly relationships prevention is much more time efficient and far less unpleasant idea than damage control. Prevention naturally occurs BEFORE there is a problem, while damage control occurs in the AFTERMATH of a recent problem. In the business world it means enduring another meeting, or lengthy phone conference, or actually reading the policy & procedure pages when they are handed out. While driving on the road it means paying attention to the road signs and traffic signals. In close relationships it often means enduring the WHOLE story when you were looking for a ‘bottom line’ answer, and digging through the details, and intent, and deeper meanings. Wait! There’s more… click here.

Are you playing Hokey-Pokey with God?

There is this awesome day when we finally get serious about our relationship with God and this whole faith thing begins to make sense to us. We recognize our desperate need for God and gain a sliver of understanding of the love He has for each of us. We accept Jesus and decide to put our whole self in.

The next day, we go to work, go to school, or wake up and live our day like we have always lived it. We may try to see things differently, but the distractions of the day will eventually clog our faith and we put our whole self out.

At some point, we remember God and realize we have things so messed up, we desperately need Him again and we put our whole self in. We are so grateful He is forgiving; we shake ourselves about and really try to turn ourselves around.

Then we do it again because that’s what it’s all about. Wait! There’s more… click here.

I’ve read a few articles about Peyton Manning storming off the field after the Super Bowl, leaving the Saints to enjoy their victory. Some call him a poor sport, while others claim he wanted to win so bad, he wasn’t going to pretend to be something he wasn’t (aka. A good sport?).

I compare his actions to what I witness when watching the winter Olympics in Vancouver. When we see competitors congratulating one another and shaking hands after winning or losing, here we see the real athlete – the one doing what is difficult, whether it is physical or emotional. Shaking an opponent’s hand after losing may be far more difficult than the actual win, but it proves the character of the player and may be the one difference between an excellent athlete and a so-so athlete with a winning record.  I know there are some exceptions in the Olympics, but I am focusing now on the real leaders. 

Peyton’s supporters and diehard fans are defending his disappointment after working toward the goal of winning the Super Bowl for a full year. Sorry folks, in comparison, an Olympic athlete works four years (and in some cases, longer) for a very similar goal. You either have good sportsmanship or you do not.  Wait! There’s more… click here.

My last article compared the need for good, solid conversation in a marriage to our relationship with Jesus Christ. A good marriage is based on communication between husband and wife, although not necessarily by words. The very word “relationship” has the root word “relate”, which requires communication of some sort. The four words my wife learned early on in our marriage were, “we need to talk”, which is a constant passion in the heart of Jesus Christ. Wait! There’s more… click here.

I am fortunate to have a patient wife.  Karen is a blessing to me in many ways, and her patience is one of her stronger assets.  Our marriage is proof God plans our lives.  He knew only a woman with an abundance of tolerance would be able to put up with me!

Our twenty-three years of marriage has had many blessings and a few struggles.  Our blessings include our three children and countless friends; our continuing challenge is communication.  Of all the victories we share, keeping an open line of discussion is always a returning battle.

Silence is a stealth war in marriage.  You may go for days without talking – I mean really talking.  You can have the ‘Good morning’ and the ‘Good night’, and even ‘gotta go, I’m late for work’, but is that really talking?  Real silence sneaks in and visits for weeks, stealing the life from a relationship.  Wait! There’s more… click here.

Yesterday, I found myself teaching before the church on Kingdom Prayer and shouting out to God, “Show me your glory!” Earlier on Sunday, in preparation for the service, I found myself doing the same thing in my office at home, walking around my desk and crying out to God, “Show my your glory!” Both times, I reminded myself of Cuba Gooding, Jr. in the movie, Jerry Maguire, where he is dancing in his kitchen while talking on the phone to Tom Cruise, telling him, “show me the money!” If you are not familiar with the scene, click here for the clip.

Yes, both times I was bobbing and dancing in the a very sad impression of Cuba Gooding, Jr., but both times crying out from the core of my heart to see God’s glory. This, to me, is the essence of Kingdom Prayer and most significant in our relationship with God. Scripture is filled with people in close relationships with God, and these relationships are best characterized by their desire to see God’s glory! Wait! There’s more… click here.

When I was a boy, there were a couple of times I decided it was a good idea to dig in the sandbox in the backyard until I reached China. I had similar ideas when we visited lakes with a sandy beach or a few times near the ocean. I’m not really sure from where the idea came or why I thought I could dig so deep I could reach the other side of the planet, but each excursion ended with other thoughts about finding lost treasure in the hole, carving out a cave and living in the hole, making a bomb shelter, or burying my sister.

Now, to set the record straight, I never buried my sister, there was no reason for a bomb shelter, living in a sandy hole wasn’t all that attractive, and I never dug in just quite the right place to find the treasure. This leaves us with China.

As an adult, I found myself thinking about that hole to China a few times. Getting past the whole molten lava and core of the Earth thing, the trade route would be very lucrative until you look at the globe to discover China is no where near the opposite side of the planet from Ohio. The closest we can get to going straight down and coming up on the other side would be Australia… which in itself presents some very unique opportunities.

I know I looked at the globe several times as a student in public education and it never occurred to me where China was in relation to being on the opposite side of the globe. I studied the world maps and passed the quizzes, tests, and exams, and at one point in my student career, could tell you the location of every continent and most large countries. I was fuzzy on some of the Russian states and Middle East countries, and to this day I still struggle with all the “-stans”, such as Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan (you know, the really common ones?). I only recently thought of the planet in terms of what is opposite Ohio if I happen to find myself digging another sandy hole (these are good thoughts to have as an adult).

Also recently, I wondered how people think of the Kingdom of God and how it is positioned in our lives?

Now, I know what you’re thinking: Come on, Glenn… China, Austrialia, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan are all real places, whether I can pronounce them or not. We can locate them on the globe and can even visit there. How can we compare these very real places to the Kingdom of God?

Easy. The Kingdom of God is just as real.

First, we need to recognize there are two Kingdoms of God referenced in Scripture: there is the one far away where God is enthroned and there is the one quite close where God is enthroned. The Kingdom which is far away is easily recognized as Heaven, is distant, and is the same kingdom referred to in the Old Testament. The Kingdom which is quite close is recognized as the Kingdom to which Jesus was referring when He said, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17) He could not have been referring to the one which is far away because He specifically states it is near, so there must be two – one far away and one quite close.

So, His kingdom is wherever He is enthroned, whether far away or near.

Second, the Kingdom which is far away is most likely considered unobtainable in this life, or at least a destination which must wait until our death. However, what about the kingdom which is near?

Let’s look at this more closely at this near kingdom with Matthew 5:3.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This is the first line from what is generally referred to as the Beatitudes. Going back to original language on this one brings to light a different meaning than being poor in the material sense, as some might think this is referencing. Actually, this can also be translated to saying, “Blessed are the humble in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” When we consider a strong willed child, for which I have been blessed with three, we often refer to them as having strong wills or strong spirits. So, in this passage, to be humble in spirit refers to how well we accept God’s will over our own – will we be strong willed about it or will we accept God’s will? If we can be humble in our spirit, or will, our promise is the kingdom of heaven.

What few people realize is the promise is immediate, not one for which we have to wait. As soon as we accept God’s will over our own, He becomes Lord over our hearts and is enthroned in our lives.

Wait! If His kingdom is wherever He is enthroned, whether far away or near and He is enthroned in our lives, then His kingdom is in our lives? Yes, let’s look closer.

When we consider our hearts, not our physical heart pumping blood through our bodies, but the heart to which we refer when considering our wills, our spirit, our intent, or our emotional state, then when we give our wills over to God, He is in our hearts. This is where the second kingdom of God exists in the here and now.

There are two kingdoms refered to in Scripture, the one distant and known by most as heaven, and the one near, where God reigns in our hearts and leads us in a far better way than we could ever hope to lead ourselves. This is an awesome promise for everyone, not just a select few.

I know some might think the whole idea of submitting to someone else is foreign and there is no way they would ever consider the idea. Yeah… they have it all worked out, don’t they? They never get upset, angry, depressed, or out of control? Let us know how that works out for you, huh?

From my experience, the only times I am upset, angry, depressed, or out of control is when I am exerting my will over God’s will and stepping out of His kingdom. Unfortunately, this seems to be a daily excursion, but with each mistake, it becomes easier to catch myself and return to His will, His kingdom. When I do, the anger dissipates, the depression subsides, and I find peace in whatever situation is challenging me.

I’m not saying it is easy, but it is worth it and the reward is immediate (just like the promise). “Blessed are the humble in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” When we accept God’s will over our own, we receive a blessing in the form of His peace, and we find a piece of His kingdom in our lives. This takes perseverance and constant effort… just like digging a hole to Australia.

Are you tough enough to accept God’s will in your life?

Glenn Sasscer

www.glennsasscer.com
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In our twenty-three years of marriage, and twenty-five years of being friends, my beautiful wife and I have learned to listen to one another, sometimes without using words. Does this sound strange, to be able to listen to someone without using words?

I believe a truly successful marriage has partners who listen in spite of using words, as we don’t often say what we mean or mean what we say. There is, instead, a method two people learn over a period of time to communicate without words, and hopefully around whatever words are spoken. We can pick up on subtle queues, expressions, or reactions and know what the other is feeling, even when the words don’t match up. There is a “secret of a presence” we have learned in just being together.

In Psalm 31, David illustrates “the secret of His presence”, introducing a very similar concept of knowing the Lord through our relationship with Him.  David writes,

“How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the scheming of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.” (Ps 31:19-20)

David is showing us how we learn about the Lord by being with Him, just as my wife and I learn about one another by being together, but David is also pointing out the strength which comes from only His presence. To paraphrase:

“All true strength comes from drawing near to the Lord. The measure of our strength is proportionate to our nearness to him!”

I think this is something we learn over a period of time in our relationship with Christ, but eventually we begin to figure out the closer we are to Jesus, the stronger we are in life. All the strength we are ever going to need will only come through “the secret of His presence” in our lives.

This is really not a secret at all, as Scripture repeatedly tells us to draw near to Christ and He will draw near to us, giving us a fresh supply of strength daily. 
 
The devil despises the Lord’s presence in our lives. And why not? The enemy wants us as weak as possible and Christ is our power source! I believe Satan trembles at the very thought of a believer’s nearness to Christ. This is why the devil will do everything in his power to rob you of the Lord’s presence in your life. He will lie to you. He will cause you to doubt Scripture is true. He will make it easy for you to skip through passages of Scripture without actually reading the words. He will fill you with fear of mockery and bolster your independence to make you think you do not need God. He will even give you the appearance of strength to keep you weak.

He will use anything he can, even “good” things, to keep you away from spending time alone with Jesus. He knows your time with Christ makes you victorious over the fears and anxieties of this crazy world.
 
The Word of God tells us we should pray without ceasing. This is unspoken prayer, anywhere, any time. Just as my wife and I communicate throughout our day without saying a word, this is the same sort of communication with God, our source of power and strength.  This is “the secret of His presence” in our lives, a continual communication without having to speak.  I have learned my most important prayers are those quiet whispers of thanksgiving and unspoken acknowledgement of His presence. This keeps me in the aware of Him and keeps me in “the secret of His presence.”

Are you strong enough for this secret?

Glenn Sasscer

www.glennsasscer.com
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