Book Hunt

Judging a book by its cover?

Written by Dr. Bill Bagents

I admit that I like books too much. Among my flaws, this one is relatively harmless and actually has some value. It’s hard to like books without benefiting from them. .

We sometimes bargain shop for the Overton Memorial Library books. It’s like treasure hunting. You never know what you’ll find, sometimes the covers or titles fool you, and sometimes the titles themselves prove to be a blessing. They invite introspection and improvement. .

Recent finds include The Twentieth Train: The True Story of the Ambush of the Death Train to Auschwitz. What a reminder of the stunning evil that men do! At the same time, what a reminder of the courage that some have in opposing and enduring savagery. My problems are seldom anywhere near as big as I imagine them to be. .

One title invites us to Discover Your Destiny. Does each of us have only one? Will that book include the spiritual, relational, family, and vocational aspects of destiny?

Another is Life-Defining Moments: Daily Choices with the Power to Transform Your Life. The cover suggests there are ten of those moments that are most significant. I can’t help but ask, “Really? Ten and only ten for each of us?” Obviously I need to read further.

A favorite recent title is Get Over It and On with It: How to Get Up When Life Knocks You Down. I love the realism. To the best of my knowledge, life knocks each of us down multiple times. Sometimes it does that with our help. Sometimes we just get blindsided. I hope there’s an art to getting up. I hope I can learn that art more fully, but I don’t look forward to the practice that it will take.

On a related front, I found The Stress Test: A Quick Guide to Finding and Improving Your Stress Quotient. The book seems way too brief, but we all know that good things sometimes come in small packages. I suspect that this book is going to expect me to work at identifying and reducing stress. Virtually everything that’s helpful seems to expect good thinking and hard work.

We found Organizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration. Not being a genius, I wonder how good I can be at identifying genius in others. Will I know it when I see it? Will I have wisdom enough to listen and learn?

The Art of Growing Older: Writers on Living and Aging intrigues me. There has to be an art to growing older. How can that art be learned? Are writers the best ones to teach us that art? Even if they’re not, might it be both educational and entertaining to let them try?

A novel, The Gate Seldom Found, stood out because of the endorsement. A somewhat famous man is quoted as saying, “If I could have only one novel on a desert island, this one would give me family, faith, and hope.” Wow! What a compliment. It makes me want to read the book now. But I’m prepared for disappointment. What connects with one reader might miss with another. As odd as I am, I’m likely to be that “other.”

If you’d like to evaluate any of these books, all are part of the Overton Memorial Library at Heritage Christian University. Most are housed within the Heritage Marriage and Family Resource Center.

Birthday Reflections

Another Reason to Celebrate

Written by Dr. Bill Bagents

Though it wasn’t one of the infamous round numbers, a recent birthday provided incentive for reflection.

It’s smart to find a measure of joy in your birthday. Others do, and it makes no sense to let them have all the fun.

Birthdays are fine times for pleasant surprises. I loved one card in particular. It had a message from The National Foundation for Lowered Expectations. It read, “Have An Adequate Birthday.” Irony, pragmatism, humor, and reality rolled into one simple card.

There are some things we all should do on our birthday. Take some time off. Buy a gift for somebody else. Buy yourself an odd little gift. Make a visit to a pleasant friend. Thank God for another year. Tell God that you know you won’t keep having these birthdays forever–and be sure you hear yourself telling Him that. Call and check on your parents—what a blessing to still have them around at my advancing age. Remember good times and good people. Think of heaven. Hold up the mirror of God’s word and ask, “What do I need to fix? How do I need to grow? What do I need to stop, start, or otherwise change?” Be glad that many people still treat us better than we deserve, and pray for those who don’t. Remember favorite birthdays from the past—relive the memories as vividly as possible. Watch a favorite movie again. Read some happy pages from a new book. Tell some wonderful people that you love them. In my case, be happy that birthdays come still and that they only come once a year.

Come to think of it, virtually all of those things would be good to do on any given day.

I know some good people who celebrate their half-birthdays. They mark the day that’s six months from their birthday and declare it their half-birthday. I have no problem with that, but it would never work for me. Logically, I’d need to get half-cards and half-gifts. I’d need a half-cake with half-candles.

I know other good people who celebrate their spiritual birthdays. They celebrate the anniversary of the date that they were born again by being baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:4-7, Galatians 3:26-29). Now, there’s a birthday worthy of continual celebration. .

A mistake or a mis-take?

For We All Stumble in Many Things

Written by Dr. Bill Bagents

Salt and Light

Watching and Wondering

Written by Dr. Bill Bagents

The recent snow caused notable disruption to school and work schedules, but I deemed our part of the weird weather a minor event. The newspaper came every morning. Mail delivery was uninterrupted. The power never failed. We didn’t miss a meal. So many in other areas did not fare so well. We were notably spared.

I’ll admit being perplexed by some of what I heard and saw. Why would anyone think that traffic lights no longer apply because there’s snow on the street? Why would anyone think it makes sense to drive at normal speeds on icy roads? What do people do with all that bread and milk they buy? Do they really think we’re going to be homebound for weeks?

There are things I loved to see under our recent weather conditions. I loved to see people checking on their neighbors. I loved to see families playing together and taking pictures so they can enjoy the memories all the more. I loved people who choose virtually any topic of conversation other than the weather. I loved how the beautiful white snow totally transforms the formerly drab landscape.

The snow worked out pretty well for me. I never missed a day of work and was blessed with major blocks of uninterrupted time. I was reminded again of the limits of technology and human knowledge. There was too little snow to feel compelled to build a snowman. Though I broke my 99 cent ice scraper on the window of the truck, Laura quickly found another one. Neither of us slipped or fell even once.

As surely as I watch and wonder during stressful events, others must do that as well. What do they see in us? Resilience? Flexibility? Patience? Wisdom? General good cheer and good will? Gratitude that things are as well as they are? Respect for God and His creation? Willingness to help others, even (especially) strangers?

As surely as we watch, God also watches. He doesn’t have to wonder because He knows our thoughts, fears, motives, desires, reasons, and opportunities. Psalm 139 documents that so well. What does He see when He watches us? I hope He sees growth, progress, improvement, and maturity. I hope He sees the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26). I hope He sees Christ being formed in us (Ephesians 4:11-16, Philippians 2:5-11).

Some say that crises and other unusual events reveal our character. Such things may cause us to lower our guard, forget our filters, and remove our masks. But we all know that life reveals our character. In so many small moments when we don’t realize that people are watching, they really are. Moment by moment we have opportunity to be salt and light to the glory of God (Matthew 5:13-16). What a blessing to use those moments well.

We don’t want to send mixed messages. We don’t want to make others wonder, “Am I seeing a real believer, or is this person just another fake?” This world needs more real-to-the-core, 24/7/365 Christians.

Super Dud

Great Expectations

Written by Dr. Bill Bagents

After two weeks of extreme hype, the 2014 Super Bowl stood little chance of living up to its billing. Still, I didn’t anticipate a super dud of a game. My team lost, but it’s worse than that. They were non-competitive and stunningly disappointing.

In this sin-damaged world, life has a way of failing to live up to the hype. The wedding ceremony will be magical with our groom a gallant knight and the bride a princess. But the armor seems to rust and the glass slipper doesn’t fit. Baby comes, the most beautiful baby in the world. But baby is expensive, exhausting, and high maintenance. Our work isn’t always appreciated at the level that rewards us. We take a vacation, the flight is delayed, and the whole cruise ship gets sick. We go to a movie, it’s not nearly as good as the trailer, and cell phones keep ringing.

How do we cope with the stress and strain of such realities? The following suggestions could help:

• Concentrate less on what we hope to feel. Concentrate more on the ways we can bring joy to those around us, especially those we love (Philippians 2:3-4).

• Learn to laugh at the absurd. Sometimes God changes our plans, and it works to great blessing (Acts 16:6-10). Sometimes, we don’t have a clue who changed our plans, but we’re still wise to wait for God’s blessing.

• Choose to find more joy in God’s day-to-day surprises (Psalm 19:1). A multi-colored sunset, heavy on the red. A bluebird on an extra-cold day. Banana pudding at potluck.

• Remember that it’s not about me. There’s peace and safety in not always being the center of attention.

• Find someone who is having fun. Sometimes their attitude is infectious. Some people have a knack for getting life right. God can use them to help the rest of us.

• Choose to lower your expectations. Only God is always right. Humans often fall short even when we try really hard. And we don’t always try really hard.

A New Year

Let Us Do Good

Written by Dr. Bill Bagents

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10).

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

I love to be set up for success. All my life I have been blessed by people who wanted the best for me, expected the best of me, and tried to help me do right. God continues to treat me far better than I deserve. Recent examples include:

• Being invited to speak for series and being assigned some wonderful topics • Being introduced by kind people who leave out the negatives and express optimism about the lesson that will be presented • Being invited to offer help during some crises and being thanked in advanced for the effort that will be made • Being asked to recommend some excellent people for new opportunities that seem tailor-made for their talents.

It’s a joy to be set up for success, but it’s also a joy to set others up to succeed. It’s one of the happiest applications of Galatians 6:9-10. We don’t get too tired to say a good word about the good work being done by others to the glory of God. When we summon the energy to do that, God will give us even more of His strength. We don’t get too tired to help those who are doing good work to the glory of God. Even if we can’t do much, every effort helps. Every effort counts. God never fails to notice.

We delight in equipping others (Ephesians 4:11-16). We delight in encouraging all things good. We don’t care who generates the idea or who first brings it to our attention. If it’s good, right, biblical, and encouraging, then we’re for it. We don’t care who is chosen to lead the effort. If that leader is one of God’s people, we’re onboard, happy, and willing to follow.

We delight in planting happy seed. “Have you thought about asking ___ to help. He has really impressed me.” “Maybe ____ could help us. She always has the best attitude.” We welcome fresh, solid ideas for advancing the kingdom. We love to see brethren grow, adding to their talents and their influence. We love the spirit of Philippians 2:3-4, because we know it is the very spirit of Christ (John 13:34-35).

What a joy to help set others up for success. What a joy to lead a conspiracy of encouragement in all things good. Such wise and active humility will be blessed by God.

Life Flow

Faithfulness in the Unpredictable

Written by Dr. Bill Bagents

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die…” Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Some weeks grab your attention more than others. Recently, we visited two funeral homes and attended two weddings within the span of four days. On the day of one of the weddings, our nephew and his wife welcomed the birth of their daughter. Within that same week, friends were bruised in a car crash, another friend had surgery, and yet another received a serious medical diagnosis. Life’s inevitable and unpredictable flow surely makes us think.

We never know what’s around the next corner, and that may be a huge blessing (James 4:14). It should move us to humility. It should move us to appreciate our wondrously changeless Creator. It surely helps us avoid worry (Matthew 6:34). It should always move us to prayer and to gratitude that things are as well as they are.

Parts of life’s flow are both pleasant and beautiful. We welcome the cooler temperatures and the changing of the leaves. If the Lord sends it, we’ll enjoy some lovely snowfall this winter. By the time spring comes, we’ll need the newness of the first green-gold leaves (think of Robert Frost, “Nothing Gold Ever Stays”). We love precious weddings when God blesses young Christians to create new homes. There’s nothing more joyous than a birth, whether the arrival of a new child or the new birth that Jesus emphasized in John 3. There’s even a beauty in physical death when it’s remembered in light of John 14, 1 Corinthians 15, and Revelation 14:13.

Parts of life’s flow are unimaginably difficult. The illnesses, accidents, and disappointments of this sin-damaged world often break our hearts. We see people we love enduring unfair trials. Worse, we sometimes see people we love causing great pain. Even worse, we sometimes find ourselves contributing to the trials and pains of others. All this makes us long for the righteousness, purity, and peace of heaven (Revelation 21:1-4).

There are at least three things that we want to do in every circumstance of life’s uneven flow:

•We want to trust God even more than we trust ourselves (Hebrews 6:13-20).

•We want to serve God ahead of serving ourselves (Matthew 20:20-28).

•We want to love God even more than we love ourselves (Matthew 22:34-40).

In terms of what might happen tomorrow, we don’t know. In terms of what ultimately happens to all who are saved by grace through faith, we are certain (2 Timothy 4:6-8, Revelation 2:10b). One day we will awaken in God’s tomorrow, in God’s presence. One day we will be reunited with all the faithful of all the ages. One day we will see Him face to face, “And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17b).

--Bill