They, whoever they are, say that patience is a virtue. But I’ll let you in on a little secret. I have a lot of room for improvement in that area. How ’bout you? If so, what if I told you God is willing and can help you be patient?

Interested?

First, I bet you don’t always lett God help you be patient with all. Because you’re human. And you fail and fall. Just has all the rest of us do. So, believe me, I’m telling myself this same stuff, too. Because I need to hear it as much as anybody (and more than a lot of people).

Here’s a little rabbit trail sort of on that question.

Colorado legalized pot back in 2014. And I drove on Colorado highways, a lot, for 30 years. But something I noticed, after they legalized pot, was the scent of pot coming through the vents and windows of my pickup just about everywhere I drove. And it wafted through the air during walks through the neighborhoods. And that includes the so-called “nice” neighborhoods.

If you’re a dope smoker, here’s a statistic I’m sure you won’t care about. But it’s still true. When you smoke weed, your reaction time is significantly slower. Sorry to be such a killjoy, but da facts is facts.

And that means the minority of us who don’t smoke pot have to just be patient with those who do. We have to tolerate the nuisance of the smell, the slow reaction times, and every other negative thing that comes with it.

I had to deal with what I call “drifters” as I made my way across town or across the state. I’m talking about drivers who couldn’t seem to be deliberate in their actions. They’d drift into different lanes. Or they seemed to have to make up their mind about turning. And then sort of drift around the corner. And if I added up all the time I waited on those drivers to respond to the changing lights, I could possibly add a few days to my life.

That’s what I mean about me lacking patience. And about needing God’s help.

(side note: those drifters are in every state, even here in “conservative” Florida)

OK, I know there are lots of reasons people resort to smoking pot. They use excuses like pain, depression, or physical “conditions”. And they’ll say a guy like me, who never smoked pot, will never understand. On some level, I suppose that’s correct. But I DO know that inhaling smoke of any kind is not a better answer than real foods, fresh air, sunshine, and plenty of good water.

But if you’re a pothead, you probably won’t. So, I’ll just have to…

“Be patient. Be wary. Sing songs and be merry.

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It’s not impossible. Although sometimes it can certainly feel that way. And you definitely don’t have to accept it if you don’t want it. So, think it over before you accept or reject your secret mission. Because the fate of the world is in your hands.

But it DOES have some immeasurable consequences for YOU.

So, what do you say, Ethan? Does this sound like a secret mission you’re willing to accept? Keep in mind, the “Secretary” will disavow any knowledge of you if you’re caught. But that’s no big deal compared to when your Creator disavows you. “I never knew you” are words you never wanna hear.

OK, enough with the Mission Impossible references. But one last comment on that subject. I think Tom Cruise, and his team, did an excellent job of serializing the last two installments of those movies. I’m very interested to see “Dead Reckoning: Part 2.” How ’bout you?

Anyway…

None of that truly has anything to do with why or what I’m sharing with you this time. The following four verses, in a rhyme/poem called “Secret Mission” was started sometime last year. And as I spent some time clearing my computer’s desktop this week, I found the first two verses in an unfinished Pages document.

So, I made it my mission, this morning, to finish it. And my motivation for sharing it with you, today, is that I hope it helps motivate you to share God’s love with someone else as soon as you get a chance. If so, here’s your…

In the first ray of light there was a message

There were no dots or dashes or impulses.

Then a voice, filled with thunder, in a whirlwind,

I appeal, with an urgency of purpose,

© 2024 Tony Funderburk

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There’s always tomorrow. Which is weird. Because tomorrow never comes. In the big picture, those two sentences aren’t mutually exclusive. So, “ride the wind” when it’s windy. Drink up when it rains. Sunbathe when others complain of the heat. Your days here on earth are very, very short. Don’t take yourself so seriously that you can’t sieze the moment with the enthusiasm of kids.

So, kids know how to laugh at things no one else can even see. They know how to be goofy and not care that mud got on the knees of their pants. And kids know how to love uncontrollably, hug unabashedly, and give undeniably.

If you’re not a kid, you were once one. So, if you concentrate and think back, you might remember what it was like to anticipate the newness of the next day. And the next. And the days after that. Especially when you knew your imagination could turn you into anything and take you anywhere.

Yesterday, in large sections of the middle of America, there were warnings of severe weather. And the messages included tornado warnings and watches. We saw messages on the electronic highway signs. And on the TV news. And in the weather apps on our phones.

As you might have seen, this past week, the town of Sulphur, Oklahoma was demolished by a tornado. And that’s a town I have a lot connection with. Because my Dad used to take us to that area to visit grandparents. We used to camp out nearby. And a couple of times we stopped by there, either on our way to have a blast at Turner Falls or on our way back home.

Anyway…

I only brought this up because of how out-of-control winds can sometimes make sure tomorrow never comes for some people. Tornadoes are kind of like rattlesnakes. Both can strike fast and be deadly. But neither one can erase the future. Nothing can.

So, while you prepare your food and water and supplies for natural disasters, be sure you’re also prepared for the supernatural. If not, a tornado could spin you down to a mighty awful place. A place even kids’ imaginations don’t want to conjure up.

Avoid that at all cost. Fortunately the total cost, to avoid it, has already been paid. So, you can put your trust in Jesus. And when you do, a tornado would just be a whirling vehicle. And you could…

Monday morning put your wings on tight.

Check the weather. Is the blue sky blue?

Nothing better than to fly up high

© 2013

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My eloquence is subdued, tainted, and watered down by the second law of thermodynamics and a public school education. But I take heart in knowing that so is yours. Just kidding (a bit). But it’s true that we’re generally all less hearty and amazing human specimens than our ancestors. And I bring this up because, this morning, I’ve been thinking about the “Give me liberty” speech by Patrick Henry.  

And he spoke those words in a “fiery speech” to the Second Virginia Convention in 1775. I like this section of his speech where he said…

“This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery…”

Wow. If only there were someone in the House of Representatives or Senate who had the courage to speak that way these days. Because America has arrived at another “awful moment” which will define our character. Or lack of it.

Mr. Henry continued his speech with…

“It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country.”

Obviously he was a great orator. But apparently he forgot about the separation of church and state. (Yeah, right.)

And then the right honorable Mr. Henry added one of my favorite lines…

“Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.”

You can read the whole, famous Patrick Henry speech here. But here’s the section that contains the most famous line, which appears to allude to 1 Thessalonians 5, in the Bible…

“It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace “” but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

And here’s what I sang about liberty and freedom. Tune into the Rhyme and Reason Podcastto hear it.

Faith working through love”

Love leads into joy”

Freedom from the law that kills,

What law couldn’t do

So we have”

Chorus”instrumental”chorus twice

© 2010 Tony Funderburk

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I’m not a language scholar, and I don’t play one on TV. But I love language. I love words. How they’re formed. Why they mean what they mean. Where they originated. Take the word “comfort” for example. There’s a place in the Bible where Paul tells believers to comfort one another and to edify one another. And when he said that, he was talking about some of the most important things to ever happen in all of history. So, imagine applying his message to your regular, ordinary days.

You might see someone who seems sad and think, “Hmm…maybe I should cheer them up?” So, you give them a greeting card, or a flower, or a box of chocolates. But to truly comfort someone else means you’ll do what you can to strengthen them as much as you can. Ultimately it’s up to them to actually take the comfort, or strengthening, and face their day with courage. But it’s up to YOU to give that comfort. But how? Where do you start?

By coincidence, as I began to write this section, my old dog, Zazzo, began to do this thing he does when something’s bothering him. He doesn’t actually whimper, but he sort of makes the breath sound like he’s going to whimper. And he’s nothing if not persistent. Of course, I’m writing this important message about how to comfort one another, so naturally I can’t be bothered right now. So, I snap my fingers at him and point…which sometimes gets him to stop.

But this time, instead of stopping the whimper-less breath sounds and lying down, he got up (which is quite difficult for him at his age of almost 15) and came over to me. I sat the laptop on the coffee table in front me and waited for him to get to me. When he did, he leaned his head against my knee. How could I resist? I pet his head and stroked his neck, which he likes, and after a few seconds, he turned around and went back to his bed. Now, he’s lying down with no anxious breathing.

Never underestimate the power of touch. Your hand on someone’s shoulder. Or lips to someone’s cheek. The emotional healing power of simply touching someone with care is a gift from God. Use it whenever you can. I’m not talking about that nonsense you see from televangelists where they “heal” people on a large stage by smacking them on the forehead. Don’t buy that junk food.

Get the living-water-enriched meat of God’s word into your soul and spirit. That’s where strength and wisdom are. And that’s where you’ll discover how to comfort one another. Because that’s where true love is. Dive into those 13 letters Paul wrote, and you’ll see how God’s word and grace truly are sufficient.

Will you be able to comfort someone else today? Or will you be too busy? I encourage you (another word I love) to set your laptop or mobile device aside and use your power of touch…combined with God’s word. You can’t lose.

Here are the lyrics to the song included in this week’s episode of the The Power of God’s Love Podcast

You gave my heart

You gave me words,

I give you all…my worries and my fear.

You gave me nights…

© Cristina Miller 2009

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